Quick Word

Ephesians 3:20-21

2011-08-22T07:50:00.004-05:00

Good morning!

Ephesians 3:20-21: 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. (The Message)

Yesterday was an epic day at church! It will go down in Genesis Metro history I bet! The sermon was titled "Dream On" so of course the band performed Aerosmith's Dream On and absolutely rocked it out! The singer is none other than my brother and man I am proud of him. I had no idea he could hit those notes!

Pastor Tim spoke about Joseph and how when God gives you divine dreams, you should be ready for doubters, traitors and possibly even assassination attempts! The Devil wants you to fail as your dreams fall apart. Many of us feel like we've wasted too much time or we are too old to be chasing after a dream. But that is exactly what the enemy wants! More than anything, he wants you to forget the dream altogether.

His sermon also reminded me of this Scripture since I am a consummate day dreamer. I can dream up all kinds of scenarios and plans. But nothing comes close to what God actual brings to pass! His Will is always bigger and better than anything I can ever dream up. He always outperforms, always goes over and beyond, always blows my mind with His goodness. But you have to believe He is able to do it! You have to believe He can do anything...even more than you can dream or imagine! Stop putting limits on God. Don't ever stop dreaming and believing for BIG things. Dream on!

Psalm 139:13-14

2011-08-12T08:21:00.002-05:00

Good morning!

Psalm 139:13-14: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

In honor of my birthday today, I thought I would post this Scripture! Birthdays don't mean much to me anymore now that I have children. It's all about them now! But God reminded me this morning how special I am too. Even though I am 34 years old, He has never forgotten the moment when He designed the plans and pattern of my life. How He knit me together perfectly and grew me a few weeks longer than my due date so that I could be born on August 12, 1977. He made me individually and set apart from all others. He stood back when He was finished and called me a Masterpiece! I will stand and claim that today. Even though I have no big plans and really it is like any normal day for me. But in reality, my life is cause for celebration only because it was such a wonderful work of the Almighty Creator and I will praise Him for it. For if He never made me, my husband wouldn't know true love for a woman and my children would never have been born. My Mother would never have gotten her baby doll that she loved and dressed up and my Grandmother would never have gotten her "Brownie Girl". Stop shutting your life short. Stop underestimating yourself and the importance you bring to others in this world. Stop discounting God's miraculous creation when He made you! Praise Him for you are fearfully and wonderfully made! I know I will today!!

And of course I leave you the The Message version because it is OH SO GOOD!

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you. The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.

Luke 18:16-17

2011-08-09T08:12:00.002-05:00

Good morning!

Luke 18:16-17: But Jesus called the children to him and said, “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.”

My church has another group of people down in Honduras right now doing God's good work. They are loving on children, helping in any way they can, working on the tilapia ponds, and praying for those in need. Our Promise Home Orphanage will be built soon and these children who are living in squalor in the current state run orphanage will finally have a nice place to grow and be loved. Two of the group are my mother and my brother. Words cannot describe the feeling I get when I see pictures on Facebook of them together, working and loving on these children. This one picture got me good! And it reminded me of this verse where Jesus rebuked the people for not letting the children come to Him. When I look into these children's faces, I see the Kingdom of God in all of it's innocence and wonderment. I know my mother's and brother's lives will forever be changed and they will never forget those hugs they shared and those prayers they prayed. I hope this picture brings you as much joy and peace as it has brought me!

Psalm 89:15

2011-08-04T07:58:00.000-05:00

Good morning!

Psalm 89:15: Happy are the people who know the joyful shout; LORD, they walk in the light of Your presence.

I was watching The Jesus Culture Awakening 2011 online last night and it was amazing! Hillsong was about to perform but before they came on, Sean Smith spoke to the humongous audience about a really cool story that happened to him when he first got saved. After his story, he led A LOT of people there to know Jesus for the first time and as he prayed, I realized how original he was! His words were so fresh and real, like he was speaking directly to Jesus. He started out his prayer by saying, "Jesus, BE Jesus in this place tonight!" SO cool! He then said something that really stuck with me and I've been thinking about ever since. He wanted to remind everyone that even though they were there in that awesome place surrounded by God's presence, it didn't mean anything if they didn't have God's presence in them. It's not enough to be in God's presence if God's presence is not in you. How cool is that?!

I know it must have been amazing to be in that place last night, singing and praising God. Feeling His presence move and infiltrate that place! But that awesomeness doesn't even come close to the times where I have been alone with Him and His presence was so heavy that it knocked me down! It is awesome to be in this type of corporate setting where His presence flows. But don't forget to make sure you invite His presence into your heart. He seeks that personal connection with you! Without it, those praises and songs are just words. And furthermore, it's always in those times when I am alone in His presence that I loudly hear Him and clearly see Him. Every promise I have ever received from the Lord has been when I am filled up with His presence, seeking Him out and having my own time of worship and praise with Him.

Don't just be in God's presence...make sure it is in you too!

Check out the Jesus Culture Awakening tonight and tomorrow live online. It's an amazing event and I know God is up to something!

2 Samuel 22:29

2011-08-01T07:49:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

2 Samuel 22:29: You, O LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.

I can't stop listening to this song! My husband and I got to see this band in concert a few weeks ago and the lead singer, Aaron was so humble and honest. He made sure to let everyone know that he is just a man and that even though people came to see him, he is no better than anyone. He rushed to the front after the show where his merchandise table was so he could talk to everyone. We got to speak with him for a bit and he is such a nice guy! Love supporting people like that! So go check out My Epic and buy their albums, the newest one is awesome!

Look up the words to this song online. "The darkness has no substance of it's own." "Someday when you come bringin' down the sky. The whole earth will be exposed before your light and there will never again be darkness. When your will is done."

When we talk about what the Lord is to us, we usually always say, redeemer, rock, counselor, Savior. But I hope you know He is also your lamp! All of us have times in our lives when the light bulb goes out and we are in the dark. Call upon Your Lamp and He will turn your darkness into light. Darkness has no substance against the Lamp!

Isaiah 40:10-11

2011-07-29T08:24:00.000-05:00

Good morning!

Isaiah 40:10-11: See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

Sometimes your day just doesn't go as you had planned. Well, it seems my whole week has been like that! I haven't slept a full night all week, this heat wave is making every one cranky, my children are stuck inside and because of their boredom, they decide to attack their poor mother, and because of their loud attacks every day, I think I got my first migraine yesterday and haven't felt well since. I feel run down, overused, beat up, weak. I try my best to have a good attitude but within minutes, I am defeated once again and the day gets longer and longer and worse and worse.

As I read this Scripture this morning, I realized that a lot of my problems stem from me trying to do everything on my own. I don't recognize that my Shepherd is right beside me the whole time. He comes with Power and yet I don't claim it as my own. I reach out to Him out of desperation once everything has slid downhill instead of asking for Him to fill me with His power while I am still on top of the hill, facing the day ahead of me.

This morning, I will let my Shepherd gather me in His arms this morning and hold me close to His heart. And God knows I need to be gently lead since I have 3 year old triplets attached to me at all times, making my hair gray and testing my mouths propensity to spew out curse words. :)

I hope your week has gone better than mine, but if not, know that your Shepherd is there for you and He comes in Power! He tends to His loved ones, He gathers them to His heart as He carries them and He gently leads those who have young. The moms all over the world thank you for that Lord! Have a great weekend everyone!

Psalm 40:1-3

2011-07-27T07:54:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

Psalm 40:1-3: I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.

This verse describes exactly what happens when you accept Jesus into our heart and are saved. You cry out to Him in desperation, with an open and repentant heart. He turns immediately to you, hears you and touches your life. He lifts you out of the suffocating quick sand that you were existing in. He brings you out of the dirt and filth and you feel clean again. Only used to feeling shaky and unsure, you are surprised when He sets your feet on solid ground and you can finally stand tall for all the world to see. Your old language is replaced by a new song of praise. Liberation feels so good that all you want to do is climb to a mountaintop and shout your new song for all the world to hear.

If you think you are stuck in mud and slime so deep that you can never get out, think again. God CAN pull you up and He CAN bring you out. There is nothing too big for God to extract. There is no mess too dirty that God can not only clean, but make it so that it looks as if it were never there in the first place. There is no condition that can keep God from making your feet stand sure and walk with purpose for all eternity.

He can bring you up.

He can bring you out.

He can clean you up.

He can help you stand.

He can put a new song in your heart.

The old can pass away; He can make all things new. All you have to do is cry out and watch Him turn.

John 1:29

2011-07-25T08:11:00.000-05:00

Good morning!

John 1:29: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

We've been talking a lot about the Lamb of God this past month at church. Last Sunday, my Pastor spoke of the resurrection and it reminded me that the crucifixion of Jesus would have meant nothing if it had not have been for the resurrection! He paid it all on the cross. All our blood-red sins are washed as white as snow. And then he raised Himself from the grave and is alive right where He is supposed to be, with His Father. I love this song we sang at church Sunday and I wanted to share it with the world in case you haven't heard it yet.

Praise the One who paid my debt and raised His life up from the dead!

Matthew 11:28-30

2011-07-21T07:48:00.000-05:00

Good morning!

Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The Lord was speaking verse 30 to me this morning as I laid in bed and listened to my kids already up early and watching TV. Over and over again. It takes me a little bit to get the hint. Oh, maybe I need to write about this this morning! I looked back at previous Quick Words and I had already written about this two summers ago. But I think because there are so many people who are weary and burdened right now that it needs to be addressed once again!

We all know this Scripture; it is one we hear a lot. But check out The Message version!
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fighting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Oh man that is good! Don't you just love God's Word?! Two years ago, I wrote about this Scripture because I was going through a lot at once. House problems, work problems, kid problems. All at once fell on top of us. But this version of the Scripture goes deeper than that doesn't it? How many people out there are tired, worn out and burned out on religion? How many people are so entangled in their lives that they can never get away and spend just 10 minutes alone with God? How many people feel like they have reached the end of their rope? How many people just want to let go of the rope altogether? Just drop the rope!! Go with God and get away with Him. He is the only prescription for recovery. Walk and work with Him. Watch how He does it! I bet you will find that how you were doing it is all wrong. His whole goal is to teach you how to live freely and lightly while doing His Kingdom work. I don't know about you but I am so ready to learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I am ready for my load to be lightened. I am ready to get away with Him and recover my life. I am ready to take a real rest. Jesus said, "Come to me." Will you come?

Revelation 5:12

2011-07-20T07:30:00.002-05:00

Good morning!

Revelation 5:12: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

I've always been taught that the way you end your prayers is, "In Jesus name we pray, Amen." When I heard my pastor talk about this Scripture last week, I decided I wanted to start using this instead. I want to teach my kids this now, so it will be engrained in them. The knowledge that Jesus is the Lamb that was slain for all of our sins. He deserves all the power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!

Check out this sermon from our church. Genesis Metro Church Click on "Latest Message"and if you listen to the end, you'll hear about this Scripture. The mp3 is http://www.genesismetro.org/media/audio/messages/20110717.mp3
Pastor Tim explains so eloquently what Jesus went through for all sinners and what really happened on the Mount of Transfiguration. Very cool!!

2 Timothy: 20-21

2011-07-19T08:14:00.000-05:00

2 Timothy: 20-21: In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets - some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing. (The Message)

Last October, while attending my church's Women's Retreat, I picked out from a tub of rolled up Scriptures 2 Timothy. It was an actual torn page out of a Bible so it was front and back which covered chapters 1-3. I knew instantly why I had chosen this one; why God designed for me only to read this Book. What I love about it is every time I re-read it, a different verse jumps out at me. Whatever I am going through, there are words in these few chapters that always seem to be exactly what I need to hear. And this morning was no exception.

I pulled out my Message Bible to compare the verses and somehow I just understood verses 20 and 21 better in The Message version. It's simple and to the point which totally describes me in a nut shell!

A lot of people struggle with knowing what God has called them to do. Is it a ministry? Do I lead a Bible Study in my church? Do I volunteer with a local ministry? Sometimes the thinking overwhelms us and then we just end up doing nothing because we don't want to get ahead of God. Excuses, excuses! I think this Scripture explains plainly what we ALL are supposed to be doing. And that is being a blessing to others. However that comes about, in our everyday lives, at work, with our family and friends, we are to be a blessing to others.

The more I read this, the more I kept asking, "How do I become the kind of container God can use?" First, I have to open my mind. I have to get out of my own way and realize that maybe this time, I don't need to be refined and proper to reach someone. Maybe the way to be a blessing to someone is get down and dirty. Maybe I have to go into the dark alleys where the trash is kept. Maybe I have to get out of my comfort zone and go where I usually don't. God is looking for containers He can use to present gifts to hurting people. But I bet most people expect it to come in a special golden box and not a cardboard box. It reminds me of the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. They finally find the Knight who guards the cup that Jesus drank out of at the Last Supper. All these beautiful and ornate goblets were displayed yet it was the small wooden cup that was the winner. God doesn't need the bright and fancy things of this world to bring people to Him. He Himself is bright and fancy...all that other stuff just gets in the way of His awesome Glory!

2 Timothy 3:17 I think goes great with the above referenced Scripture. It's a great ending to this message. I believe it gives us the perfect equation to accomplish becoming the container God wants us to become. "Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us." How do you know what God has for you to do? You get in His Word. He will put together and shape you. We are called to reach those who are hurting and lost. They may be in the dirty streets where light no longer shines. You may not speak as a refined and educated pastor but if you go and present yourself as something God has put together, it won't matter what you sound or look like, your container will be a blessing!

Who is God asking you to bless this week?

Romans 8:14-15

2011-07-18T07:54:00.001-05:00

Romans 8:14-15: For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba,Father.”

We've been singing this awesome song in church the past few weeks and I love it so much I wanted to share it with the world.

In honesty, I have not been living up to my true potential and birthright lately. What an honor it is to be called a daughter of the King and yet I take for granted a lot of the privileges that go with that title. I neglect the accessibility through prayer to my Father daily. I allow myself to exist in a weakened state instead of claiming the power that rose Christ from the dead. I unknowingly share in His glory; just a little bit still counts! Most of all, I put other indulgences in front of the King of the Universe. As you can see, I have a lot of work to do! But that's okay because we all do!

This song speaks to the true meaning of Christianity which is relationship. What a true relationship between a son or daughter with his or her Father should be. Acknowledging the freedom we have from the mistakes our earthly families made in our lives. Taking hold of the victory that is ours because of what the Father asked His only Son to do at the Cross. Thanking Him for driving the darkness out so that we could see again and for all eternity. There is nothing in the world that can separate us from His love but we sure do take the scenic route a lot of the times, don't we?!

It is my goal to reconnect back to my Father and step back into the role that I know He sees for me. I want to start seeing myself as the Princess He created me to be. The daughter who has a divine purpose and position to adhere to in His Kingdom. I want to make my Abba proud!

Love has a Name. Turn back to Your Father and reclaim your sonship today!

Romans 8:14-15

2011-07-18T07:47:00.001-05:00

Romans 8:14-15: For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba,Father.”

We've been singing this awesome song in church the past few weeks and I love it so much I wanted to share it with the world.

In honesty, I have not been living up to my true potential and birthright lately. What an honor it is to be called a daughter of the King and yet I take for granted a lot of the privileges that go with that title. The neglect the accessibility through prayer to my Father daily. I allow myself to be exist in a weakened state instead of claiming the power that rose Christ from the dead. I unknowingly share in His glory; just a little bit still counts! Most of all, I put other indulgences in front of the King of the Universe. As you can see, I have a lot of work to do! But that's okay because we all do!

This song speaks to the true meaning of Christianity which is relationship. What a true relationship between a son or daughter with his or her Father should be. Acknowledging the freedom we have from the mistakes our earthly families made in our lives. Taking hold of the victory that is ours because of what the Father asked His only Son to do at the Cross. Thanking Him for driving the darkness out so that we could see again and for all eternity. There is nothing in the world that can separate us from His love but we sure do take the scenic route a lot of the times, don't we?!

It is my goal to reconnect back to my Father and step back into the role that I know He sees for me. I want to start seeing myself as the Princess He created me to be. The daughter who has a divine purpose and position to adhere to in His Kingdom. I want to make my Abba proud!

Love has a Name. Turn back to Your Father and reclaim your sonship today!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1N3zac7648

Luke 24:3-6

2011-04-20T07:51:00.000-05:00

Good morning!

Luke 24:3-6: They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. "Why are you looking for the living among the dead?" asked the men. "He is not here, but He has been resurrected!"

I know this seems like a strange Scripture for Winning Souls Wednesday but that question the angels asked just jumped right out at me. That used to be the epitome of my life: looking for living things among dead things, thinking they would bring me joy. More than anything, I felt dead inside and desperately wanted to feel alive. I believe that is what everyone wants when they really think about it.

My mom got involved with a group when I was a teenager called the Landmark Forum. I have vague memories of it but after Googling it, I see a lot of people felt the same way I did back then. It is a cult! Self-help seminar, derived from Scientology, give me your money to obtain a revelation kind of cult. I remember them telling me I wasn't opening my brain up to them and then the other memory was the leader saying he could heal anyone's headache just by visualizing the pain and in layers, believing it to go away. They even tested it on a girl and of course, her headache went away as everyone was staring at her. What else was she going to say?! Thankfully, we did not stay long but looking back, all those people were just in search mode. Trying anything and testing whatever they could to feel alive and loved.

As we are about to celebrate Easter this weekend, I am reminded of my journey. Before Jesus, I always looked to dead, cold, inanimate, and lifeless things to fill me. After Jesus, the truth that He died on that cross for me isn't the end of the story. He doesn't rot in that tomb, dead and cold and inanimate and lifeless. He was raised from the dead and is alive! He is not a ghost that can never be approached. He is not a story trapped inside a book. He is not a deity that was with men thousands of years ago but we are left on our own. No! He is real, flesh and bone and sitting at the right hand of His Father, praying for you right now. Stop looking for the living among the dead!

Later that day, Jesus came back to His disciples and showed himself them since they still didn't believe He was alive. He said in verse 46: “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Jesus fulfilled this promise just for you! I promise when you realize and come to the truth that He is alive and He is what you've been looking for, your old life dies away and a new creation is born! It's an amazing feeling to feel alive and be able to envision a bright future. I was existing before Jesus but not truly living. As I look back, I always wonder...why did it take me so long?!

Happy Easter everyone!!

Exodus 3:13-15

2011-04-11T07:38:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

Exodus 3:13-15: Then Moses asked God, "If I go to the Israelites and say to them: The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, 'What is His name?' what should I tell them?" God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you." God also said to Moses, "Say this to the Israelites: Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.

God responds to Moses not with a name that would put limits on Him in any way. Instead, He replies with the statement that He is the permanent substance and foundation that always will be and act as He wills. He is all and everything we need, for every need and want. He was and is and is to come. He has been here before the stars and planets, He is here in this world that continually decides to deny Him, and He will be here when this world is nothing but a memory. This song is an awesome example of "I AM WHO I AM". Praise Him this morning, not because of what He can do for you but just because of who He is.

Matthew 7:13-14

2011-04-06T08:46:00.000-05:00

Good morning!

Matthew 7:13-14: Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

The Lord woke me up at 5:00AM with this Scripture in my head and I've been thinking about it ever since. Jesus is speaking about the Kingdom of Heaven in this chapter and the road it takes to get there. In John 14:6-7, Jesus declares HE is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. If we know Jesus, then we will know His Father too.

So the road that we walk that leads to the gate of Heaven is a picture of our salvation through Jesus Christ.

I very well could have been one of the many that did not find the narrow gate. I looked up narrow in the dictionary to get a better picture of the word. It means a slender width, minutely precise.

I started thinking back to when I was an unbeliever and all the reasons I used to come up with in my mind not to accept Jesus as my Savior. I heard it all but I just couldn't make the decision. It sounded like too much to give up. So I kept walking the broad path of destruction, with all of my junk and issues dragging along with me.

The gate is narrow because the path is only big enough for you to walk it. You can't bring your family along with you if you truly put Jesus first and take up your cross and follow after Him (Matthew 16:24). You won't have room for all the junk and issues because there is freedom and liberty in His salvation (Galatians 5:1).You can't try to be like anyone else because God has a special plan just for you; this is your journey (Jeremiah 29:11).

God knew it would be difficult to walk the narrow road because of all the road blocks the world throws at us. The Devil desperately wants us to miss the path that leads to that precious narrow gate and instead go along with the masses down the broad path of destruction that is so deceptively decorated with "fun" and "good times". That road is full of the mind set of it's all about me, and how can I make myself feel better and how much more stuff can I get to complete me. That road leads to death.
But once you turn down the narrow path that leads to that gate, your mind set changes to it's all about Him, and how can I bring Him glory, and what can I give to help others in need. That road leads to life.

Think about it...how easy is it to live for yourself, giving in to your fleshly desires, satisfying yourself before anyone else? How difficult is it to set your mind on unearthly ways, think of others before yourself, give first and then save, love your enemies, believe and trust in a hope that others can't see? Living for ourselves brings death and living for Jesus brings life. It may seem like the other way around when you are trying to make the decision on which road to take. I know it did to me 12 years ago. But since I chose the narrow path, I have never looked back. Nothing compares to His love! I found everything I was looking for and needed on that path and I will continue to walk it until it's my time to enter through that gate. To my eternal home.

Stay the course. Don't falter just because the road is narrow. Don't get tripped up by bringing more than you should with you on your journey or trying to be someone you are not. He is all you will ever need and He provides all you need to keep going. The narrow gate that is the entrance to Heaven is calling us all. Be one of the few who finds it!

Psalm 97:9

2011-02-21T09:40:00.001-06:00

Good morning!!

Psalm 97:9: For You, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; You are exalted above all the gods.

Exalt: 1. to raise in rank, power, or character. {EXALT} 2. to elevate by praise or in estimation. {GLORIFY} 3. to raise high. {ELEVATE} 4. to enhance the activity of. {INTENSIFY}

We sang this song at church yesterday and it is one of my favorites! Maybe because my brother who is the worship leader at church rocks it out! It is no longer an outdated hymn when the band starts playing. It is alive and anointed and powerful. And VERY loud! I can't help but lift my hands, display my best air drumming and dance like I am in a club! Somehow, I can see the angels doing the same thing in Heaven.

But this song also gets me thinking about what I exalt on an every day basis. Who am I exalting? What do I glorify? What is elevated in my life over me? Am I intensifying anything and if so, is it the right something? Lately, God has been in the middle for me with a lot of other things above Him. I don't know how it happens, small choices I am sure. Justifying my actions somehow. And then I sing this song. And I am brought to my knees. My heart cracks open. His love floods over me and I realize He is the One I am leaving below and behind and beside.

He is over all of the earth, all of Creation, over all the cosmos The Message version says. That amount of space is mind-blowing to me; I cannot really fathom. He created it all yet He cares for me. He is worthy of my exaltation and I hope as you watch this 9 minute video of Jesus Culture rocking this song out, that you will exalt and glorify and elevate and intensify your relationship with the God of all creation. The God that loves you.

Matthew 16:24

2010-08-25T09:42:00.000-05:00

Good morning!

Matthew 16:24: Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me."

This song as been stuck in my head all morning and thus has inspired me to write today.

The Cross before me.

The World behind me.

Though none go with me.

Still I will follow.

Easy to sing but much harder to do. This has become a daily event for me. This doesn't just happen once when you decide to follow Jesus and receive His salvation. It doesn't end there. The Cross is ever before me and I am always striving towards it. The World is always behind me, desperately wanting to draw me in deeper, pulling me further away from my goal. Most days, it seems like I am all alone. No one is with me. I am the naive child who believes in something I cannot see. I trust in a God others mock and defame. This World tells you as much as it can that following is for the weak. You are the leader and maker of your own destiny. You have to be a blazer of your own path to make a difference in this World.
Still I will follow...

On this Winning Souls Wednesday, the message I want to get across to everyone, saved or perishing, is that you are either following after the Cross or you are being dragged by the World. The two won't ever go together. Jesus said if anyone wants to come after me, they have to leave the world behind. Forget all of yourself and all of the junk that we have believed for so long is important, and take up your Cross. Follow Him even though no one would go with you. God loves to see that one person standing out and shining through the pack!

I found the Cross one night laying in my bed and I was changed forever. But it doesn't end there. Daily, I must take up my Cross and decide to live like Jesus as best as I can even though everything around me sways me in the other direction. Still I press on up that hill. Still I reach out to Jesus who makes being alone worth it. Still I will follow and come after Him.

The Cross before me

The World behind me

No turning back

Isaiah 42:1-9

2010-06-01T13:28:00.000-05:00

Good afternoon! Sorry this is going to be long but I've been away for a while!

Isaiah 42:1-9: "This is My Servant; I strengthen Him, [this is] My Chosen One; I delight in Him. I have put My Spirit on Him; He will bring justice to the nations. He will not cry out or shout or make His voice heard in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick; He will faithfully bring justice. He will not grow weak or be discouraged until He has established justice on earth. The islands will wait for His instruction." This is what God the LORD says—who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk on it — "I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous [purpose], and I will hold you by your hand. I will keep you, and I make you a covenant for the people [and] a light to the nations, in order to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, [and] those sitting in darkness from the prison house. I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, or my praise to idols. The past events have indeed happened. Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur."

Purpose: something set up as an object or end to be attained.

God's Son had a mighty purpose and He lived His life in pursuit of it. Everything He did was because of it and every thought was based off of it. It wasn't easy but He finished the race, He accomplished His Father's will, and He fulfilled every prophetic word that was spoken about Him.

God has been reminding me lately, through His Holy Spirit and through preachers, that He has the same type of purpose for me. Sure it may not be as important and extreme as Jesus' was! But I have something set up before me. There is an end that is supposed to be attained for me. Am I walking with Him, letting Him hold my hand along that path that will take me to that end? Or I am walking side to side, forward and backward, all the while shoving His hand aside, doing it all on my own?

See God has done all of this...Jesus came and fulfilled His purpose. It is done! Now God is doing new things. They are springing up all around us for the people who are doing His will, who are living their purposes. He will always be there to hold your hand through it all. He will even announce these new things before they occur! I can't wait to hear more about what God is doing and I am so glad it didn't end with His Son's death. Oh no...it transferred to us, His adopted, born-again children! We are the ones who are to be a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to set free the prisoners and those in darkness. They are all around us and they need Jesus! If you think you have no purpose, there is one that we all have in common!

I am jazzed about what God is doing in my life, in my children's lives, in my family. He is always tugging on my heart, leading me to new things, opening my eyes and pulling me towards my end. I don't want to get there and miss out! I don't want tomorrow to be my end and it be too late. I want to finish what I am supposed to do!

I hope you read and re-read and re-read again this passage. It is chalked full of God's goodness, promises, and love.

Isaiah 53:5

2010-04-02T11:11:00.000-05:00

Good Good Friday morning! :)

Isaiah 53:5: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

If this song doesn't just drop you to your knees, then I don't know what will. I get chills every time I hear it. I feel like I am right there with Him, on the mound, watching in expectation, sharing in His suffering. I never feel closer to Jesus than on Easter weekend. It makes me stop focusing on the world and it connects me to Him. This weekend is full of emotion for me and it's become a tradition in our house to watch The Passion of the Christ every Easter. I pray everyone has a blessed weekend and truly can connect like they never have before with ALL that Christ did for us that day. He did it all for you. You can have hope because He conquered the grave. Death couldn't hold him. He is Risen!

Isaiah 44:3

2010-03-08T16:29:00.000-06:00

Good afternoon!

Isaiah 44:3: For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

I am so ready for Spring! Everything around me is dry and barren. Colorless and dead. Trees that were once full and tall are now sparse and brittle. But now, as the rain is coming and temperatures are creeping back up, grass is beginning to turn green. New life is forming on the trees. The land is absorbing life and drinking til it's full. The birds are chirping with delight as the sun is warming them once again. Soon, the trees will be full again and will be swaying and dancing in the wind.

I feel like this has been my life for the last few months. I'm dried up inside, gray and sparse. There isn't much too me Spiritually right now. I need God to pour out His Spirit onto me! We sang this song at church last Sunday and I didn't realize how old it was. It was written in the 1700's but it still is so powerful today. My favorite verse says:

"O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above."

I hope you enjoy David Crowder's version of this song and if you are in "winter" mode like me, I pray you give your heart back to the Lord and let Him water it with His Living water. I pray His Spirit will pour over you and your children and the blessings will be so much that you won't even be able to contain it! Amen!

Philippians 3:10-11

2010-02-23T19:58:00.000-06:00

Good evening!

Philippians 3:10-11: I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

This Scripture really stuck out at me today and I've thought a lot about it. We all want forgiveness and salvation and mercy and healing and redemption. But there is one more thing that Jesus did on that cross. He suffered and then He died and then He rose again. All that He did for us on that cross is what we are supposed to strive to be and do and receive. But I always forget about power. I always forget that the same power that raised Christ from the death is available to me!

I want to know Christ...all of Christ! It is not a surprise to me that I face things every day where I suffer because if I truly want to know Christ, I will share in His sufferings. All of the evil that He had to bear, I will never know. But it is my daily goal to know Him more, to fellowship with Him, to become more like Him...even in death. Not a physical death but a fleshly death.

Less of me...MORE OF HIM!!

Psalm 105:2

2010-02-08T09:44:00.000-06:00

Good morning!

Psalm 105:2: Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell about all His wonderful works!

This is one of my favorite worship songs of all time. Why? Because it's one I can keep singing and singing over and over again. It seems there is no end to it. When you sing it, you feel like you have a one on one audience with the Lord Himself. It's just you and Him. You are there to worship. To bow down. To proclaim He is your God. He is altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to you.

You will never know, how much it cost, for Jesus to see your sin, upon that cross.

No other words pierce my heart like those do. Gets me everytime! Brings me to my knees in worship. In humble gratefulness. In awesome wonder. In sweet surrender.

Enjoy the David Crowder Band and lots of other believers singing this great song, "Here I Am To Worship".

Psalm 31:2

2010-02-03T21:20:00.000-06:00

Good evening!

Psalm 31:2: Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.

Turn. Come. Be. Save.

All verbs God loves to hear from His children! He creates us knowing that one day, we will turn away from Him. No one is born perfect. No one is always righteous. Every one has that decision to make. Are you going to walk this world alone and make your own way? Or are you going to call out to God to walk this world with Him? Will you ask Him to turn His ear? Will you ask Him to come quickly to help you? Will you ask Him to be your rock?

Will you ask Him to save you?

Thank you Lord for turning, for coming, for being and for saving!

John 8:12

2010-01-25T19:58:00.000-06:00

Good evening!

John 8:12: When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Webster says that light means something that makes vision possible. I couldn't describe Jesus any better than that. He is the One thing that makes vision possible. You never realize how blind you are until you finally come to know Him. You never realize all the things you are missing that you couldn't see before without Him. You never realize how bad your eyesight is until you go to the best Optometrist in the world! Do you need vision? Go see the Great Light of the World!

Psalm 146:6-10

2010-01-12T11:02:00.001-06:00

Good morning!

Psalm 146:6-10: ...He remains faithful forever, executing justice for the exploited and giving food to the hungry. The LORD frees prisoners. The LORD opens [the eyes of] the blind. The LORD raises up those who are oppressed. The LORD loves the righteous. The LORD protects foreigners and helps the fatherless and the widow, but He frustrates the ways of the wicked. The LORD reigns forever; Zion, your God [reigns] for all generations. Hallelujah!

This just put a spring in my step, as my Pastor would say, when I read this! You see, I have been exploited and I have been hungry. I have been a prisoner and I have been blind. I have been oppressed and felt like a foreigner in my own body. But God brought me justice and fed me with His Word! He opened my eyes and raised me up. He loves me and protects me. He will continue to frustrate the ways of the wicked who seek to do my family harm. Don't you just feel like proclaiming, "The LORD reigns forever! He reigns for all generations. Hallelujah!"

I love The Message version of this too so I will close with that.

He always does what he says—
he defends the wronged,
he feeds the hungry.
God frees prisoners—
he gives sight to the blind,
he lifts up the fallen.
God loves good people, protects strangers,
takes the side of orphans and widows,
but makes short work of the wicked.

God's in charge—always.
Zion's God is God for good!
Hallelujah!

Isaiah 65:17-20

2010-01-07T20:13:00.000-06:00

Good evening!

Isaiah 65:17-20: "For I will create a new heaven and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind. Then be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy, and its people to be a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people. The sound of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her. In her, a nursing infant will no longer live only a few days, or an old man not live out his days."

Oh my heart is heavy today. I follow a photographer who lives in Hawaii and I've always loved her work on her blog. She helps other photographers and gives tutorials on different subjects. She's always been a help to me, even though I don't know her personally. She has 3 beautiful boys and she became pregnant again last year with another boy! His name was Gavin and he was born healthy and sweet and I enjoyed seeing pictures of him. And then, around Christmas time, he was put in the hospital. He contracted RSV and then Pertussis. He was very sick and was getting worse. He was beginning to suffer and yet I still really believed he would recover. He would get well. He would go home. He would grow up and rough house with his brothers. He would be their sweet baby boy and be spoiled.

Never did I expect to read this. Please join me in praying for this family as they face their worst fears and live their worst nightmare. Their lives will never be the same.

My prayer is that Gavin's short life will live longer than any one dreamed possible. I pray he can help other women be more aware and educated about illnesses, vaccinations and medical care for their children. I pray he will help all of us to cherish our children even more, realizing that life is short. You never know what tomorrow will bring. It could bring life...it could bring death.

But rejoice! One day, there will be a new heaven and a new earth. One day, rejoicing will be heard when there once was crying. The worst pain imaginable of losing a sweet little baby will not be able to be found. Babies will grow to be men who live out their days as they were meant to. Oh Lord come quickly!

So while you are praying for this family, trust what God says in verse 24 of the same chapter. "Even before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear." He knows what this family needs and will answer even before they call out to Him. And while they cry out to Him to help them survive this tragedy, He will hear them and be everything they need Him to be.

Sending you love and praying for peace that passes all understanding Natalie. God be with you and your family. Gavin is with his Savior; he is loved...he is whole...he is perfect.

Revelation 21: 5

2009-12-31T21:14:00.002-06:00

Good evening and Happy New Year!

Revelation 21: 5: Then the One seated on the throne said, "Look! I am making everything new." He also said, "Write, because these words are faithful and true."

For whatever reason, I am looking forward to this new year of 2010 than any other year I can remember. I think the last couple years have been such a blur for me. I was in survival mode, raising newborn, then infant, and now toddler triplets. I now have terrible two's to deal with but for the most part, we've got it down. Three doesn't scare us so much anymore. We just roll with the punches and as a team, Kris and I figure a way to handle things. I don't stress about them as much anymore and life seems to have settled down. Those are scary words to type...I may be jinxing myself here!

So with all of that said, 2010 looms shiny and bright in front of me. The unknown no longer scares me...it's now an exciting surprise! I believe change is gonna come...He is making everything new. His words are faithful and true. Miracles will be plentiful. Blessings will flow freely. Businesses will grow and be fruitful. Ministries will expand like wildfire and what was once a small group will reach worldwide. Love will break down walls and infuse hearts. Passions will increase...wisdom will guide us...favor will flow. New is coming.

What "new" thing are you waiting for? Write it down because His word is faithful and true! Have a safe New Year and I can't wait to start another year of Quick Word's with you. It's such a blessing for me to share with you in this blog and I hope this is only the beginning!

Luke 2:16-20

2009-12-25T13:12:00.002-06:00

Good morning and Merry Christmas!!

Luke 2:16-20: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

God's greatest miracle and plan for the world came that night in the form of a sweet baby boy. His plans are perfect, His ways are always right, and what He says always comes to pass, exactly like He said it would.

I loved watching my almost 2 year old children opening their presents and having fun with their toys. But the true meaning of Christmas isn't about how many gifts you have under the tree. It's about Jesus, it's about telling other about Jesus, it's about spreading His Word! I know my kids will be so excited every Christmas morning to see what the big man in red brought them. But I also want them to be excited about the miracle of Jesus' birth, His ministry during His life and His victory over death. I am so thankful for the greatest gift of all...Jesus!

I pray you have a peaceful and joyful Christmas with your family this year. I hope you spend time remembering the miracle of this day and all that it means.

I have so much to be thankful for...I will glorify and praise Him for all He has done, from that first Christmas to this one!

Luke 2:8-12

2009-12-23T09:28:00.003-06:00

Good morning!

Luke 2:8-12: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

I remember getting the call that my nephew was being born. I rushed to the hospital to find the rest of my family waiting outside my sister in law's room. We weren't allowed in but we knew it was going to happen soon. Hayden was the first grandchild. My first nephew. I had no kids at the time and I was so excited to meet him. We were all huddled together...quietly listening through the door. We heard the doctor, "One more push!" We hear Diane lightly moan....and then there is Hayden! Nothing like a newborn cry! We all busted out in laughter, tears, and cheers! His birth was such good news to our family and he brought us great joy.

So when I think of these shepherds, working all night with their flock, I wonder if they were waiting for their Savior to come. Wondering when it might be. Hearing rumors and hoping that He would come in their lifetime. All of a sudden, the glory of God shone around them and the news they had longed to hear was being spoken...to them! The ultimate baby shower was being held not too far away and God was inviting them! Can you just imagine the anticipation they felt as they walked towards that manger? There is just nothing more precious than seeing a sleeping, wrapped up, peaceful newborn baby. The innocence and sweetness is overwhelming. I cried as soon as I saw little Hayden, all wrapped up. His little button nose, pink cheeks and pouty little mouth. Love overtook me just looking at him. Can you imagine how quickly the strength left the shepherds knees as they stood there, staring at Christ the Lord?

The miracle continues tomorrow...

Luke 2: 4-7

2009-12-15T09:02:00.002-06:00

Good morning!

Luke 2: 4-7: So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

God's plans and His ways and His thoughts and His actions are always good and perfect, even if they don't make sense to us! I imagine Mary was pretty troubled to know that while she was about to pop, they had to journey to Bethlehem to take part in a census. Riding on a donkey is not how I want to be spending the last days of my pregnancy! There was no birth plan, there was no hospital. There was no hotel with comfy rooms for them to stay in. Mary had no insurance to pay for an epideral! It was her and Joseph together, a team trusting in God that He knew what He was doing. God brought them to exactly where He wanted them. Prophecy was being fulfilled. God brought those two together to accomplish His will. Everything came together so perfectly, yet while it was all happening, it seemed so unsettling and unknown. There was no colorful fanfare, no party, no triumphant entry. Jesus was not born in a palace, wrapped in the finest of linens and taken care of by His own staff of servants. There was no paparazzi...He didn't make the front page of the news...He was not the talk of the town. God brought the greatest miracle of all out of the lowliest of circumstances. A few select were told and were allowed to witness Jesus' first night of His life.

The greatest thing I have learned from reading about Mary and Joseph is that they went with the flow. They trusted the will of God and believed they were being used for a purpose. They were the perfect example of servants. As Mary held her first born son for the first time, I imagine she also knew she was staring at her Savior. Even though there was no room for them in the inn and they were stuck outside in a stable where they animals were kept, she was full of love and peace! She wrapped her baby up and placed him in a manager. The star was shining bright. They were coming to worship Him. It was beginning! Stay tuned...

Isaiah 9:6-7: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Luke 1:46-49

2009-12-09T09:47:00.002-06:00

Good morning!

Luke 1:46-49: And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.

Once Mary questioned the angel of how she would give birth being that she was a virgin and once she heard that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her and make her pregnant, I'm sure she thought all of this sounded very crazy! So the angel gave her even more information. He told her of her relative Elizabeth who was thought to have been barren was in fact 6 months pregnant! With this example, the angel proclaimed, "For nothing is impossible with God!" So what did Mary do, she hightailed it to Elizabeth's house to see if this was true. She told the angel she believed him but she just had to see this for herself! And as soon as she got there and greeted Elizabeth, her child leaped in her womb, I am assuming for the first time. The first time feeling your child moving and kicking is the most amazing feeling in the world! When Mary saw this, her heart couldn't hold in her song any longer.

In my experience, God has never given me information without following it up with evidence, directions, or guidance of some kind. He has never left me to figure out things on my own. I always feel him there with me, leading me down the right path and giving me the little nuggets of hope I need to carry on. Mary had the biggest news ever delivered to her so she definitely needed confirmation that she wasn't crazy. This was happening! There is nothing impossible with God! God's Will is always accomplished!

Mary finally realizes after seeing the miracle of Elizabeth getting pregnant that what the angel said was going to happen. The world was going to be changed forever...and it was beginning with her. Her soul rejoiced and her fear was replaced with singing and praise. From now on, all generations will call her blessed, not because she carried Jesus in her womb and gave birth to the Savior of the world. Elizabeth told her, "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" She believed! Her son was about to be born and she believed His Kingdom would never end! She trusted God even though she had no clue why He chose her, a humble servant.

Believe what God is telling you today and trust what He says will be done! He has done great things for you that will continue on for generations and generations. His miracle isn't done yet though...stay tuned!!

Luke 1:28-33

2009-12-08T09:21:00.003-06:00

Good morning!

I feel led to focus on the miracle that is Christmas this month so thus begins the journey of our Savior's birth!

Luke 1:28-33: The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

I can honestly tell you that when I heard from God Almighty...a prophetic word regarding the birth of my son, I was floored, shaken and was rendered stoic after those words were spoken to me. And all I heard was, "You will give birth to a son and his name will be Elijah and he will be an important man of God." But can you imagine not only hearing, but seeing a glorious, magnificent, humongous angel speaking these words to you?! "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!" I am sure it was absolutely necessary that he said those words before he dropped the big news on her! "You will be with child and give birth to a son who will be called the Son of the Most High and His kingdom will never end!"

God's greatest miracle began with a young girl with a mighty destiny, unbeknownst to her. She received the message and praised God for it. Even though she was scared, knowing the ramifications of being pregnant without being married, while already engaged to another man! The disgrace. No one would believe her. The plans she had for her life had taken a drastic turn. She knew nothing would ever be the same again. Have you ever felt like Mary? I know I have! Today, God is speaking and wants everyone to know that His miracles begin in the most unlikely places and change lives forever.

Tomorrow, we will learn how Mary responded to this news...the news that would change her world and every other person's world...from generation to generation. His Kingdom will never end!

Psalm 100

2009-11-25T10:51:00.002-06:00

Good morning!

Psalm 100: Shout triumphantly to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Acknowledge that the LORD is God. He made us, and we are His - His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good, and His love is eternal; His faithfulness endures through all generations.

This is my all time favorite Psalm. It makes me happy. So does Thanksgiving. I just want to cry when I think about all that I have to be thankful for. My family is healthy, we have jobs, a roof is over our head, our house is warm and there is food on the table. Love abounds in my house and I have an awesome family. Tomorrow, we will all be together, eating and laughing and making memories. I just love this time of the year!

But what I am most thankful for is that Jesus forgave me, healed me, saved me, and made me a new creature. I am thankful that He died, just for me. And because of that, I will shout triumphantly to the Lord and come before Him with joyful songs. He is my God and I will praise and thank Him because He is oh...so...good! His love is eternal and will continue in my family for generations to come.

I pray you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Joshua 1:9

2009-11-20T10:46:00.000-06:00

Good morning!

Joshua 1:9: Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Amplified)

I've been needing a lot of reminding of this Scripture lately...have you? Seems as though I am always facing something terrfiying up ahead. But that only means God is using you and growing you and stretching you. Sure it doesn't feel good at times, but don't be dismayed! Facing the unknown can sometimes want to make you tremble in fear, but don't be afraid!

God reminds us this morning, "Have I not commanded you?!" This isn't a recommendation of how to live but a commandment! BE STRONG! BE VIGOROUS! BE VERY COURAGEOUS!

I have a photo shoot tonight that is probably my biggest and toughest task yet. It is outside of my comfort zone. What if I fail? What if I disappoint? STOP!
God is expanding my business and I will be strong, vigorous and courageous...full of confidence and ability! I will not be afraid of the unknown...instead I will embrace it. I do not have to fear because the Lord my God will be with me WHEREVER I go!

You may be facing something far bigger and daunting than a photo shoot today. Life may be so scary for you, that you are shaking as you read this. God is commanding you to stop and be strong, be vigorous, and be courageous. He is with you wherever you go and will help, complete and bless your situation in the most perfect of ways. His way.

Have a great weekend everyone and go ROCK this day today!

Ephesians 2:8

2009-11-18T08:53:00.002-06:00

Good morning!

Ephesians 2:8: For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God. (Amplied)

As we near the Christmas season, our minds are cluttered by what to buy our family and friends. This time of year beats you over the head with sales and marketing and savings and presents! Everything is new and shiny but seems to fade once the new year comes. All of those gifts are forgotten and you are usually in debt because of them!

But the gift that God gives is everlasting. It is meaningful. It is life-changing. It is fullfilling and satisfying. It is given freely just because He loves you. The faith that is inside of you takes hold of that gift and all of a sudden, you are made partakers of Christ's salvation! There is nothing you have to do on your own. It is simply a gift that you must reach out and accept. He does not beat you over the head. He does not lure you in with fancy andvertisments that don't live up to the hype. His gift of salvation will be the best gift you have ever received. You will want more of Him after the new year comes. All of your debts are forgiven and you will never forget how that moment felt when you gave your life over to Him and experienced that gift for the first time.

Sure it's fun to open present on Chrismtas morning but let's never forget the ultimate gift. Salvation wrapped up in free grace and opened with your faith!

To: My child
From: Your Loving Father
Because: I love you

Psalm 46:10

2009-11-09T08:56:00.002-06:00

Good morning!

Psalm 46:10: Be still, and that I am God.

Life bustling, thoughts racing, worry settling, priorities scrambling, hope failing, confusion invading, doubt creeping, passion fading, darkness looming, faith decreasing.

Stop.

BE STILL!

In the stillness of Him, life slows down, your mind is at peace, worry is given over to Him, priorities shift to Him first, hope is renewed, wisdom triumphs over confusion, belief stomps out doubt, passion comes alive, your world brightens leaving no trace of darkness, and faith increases and builds and shows you that you can conquer anything.

"They don’t have to understand you...be still. Wait and know I understand you...be still...be still."

Enjoy this Flyleaf song "Again" and go pick up their new alsbum. It is so good!

1 Timothy 4:14

2009-11-06T08:36:00.002-06:00

Good morning!

1 Timothy 4:14: Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.

I cannot tell you how many times I have been in need and relied on the elders of my church to lay hands on me and pray for me. The first time I can remember was when I was a baby Christian. I went to a Vineyard church, all by myself. I think I was crying from the beginning of the service all the way to the end. God was just breaking me because I needed a lot of help! I responded to the altar call which was very unlike me. I stood in front of this couple who was probably my mom's age. I didn't know what to do! But they could tell I was in great need. And not neglecting the gift that was in them, they reached out to me and spoke out loud what God was giving them to say. "Do you know someone named Ryan?" I raised my head, tears are now streaming down my cheeks, and replied, "Yes...that is my brother." They asked what was going on with him and I started explaining the trouble he was in with drugs and how he was far away from us. I wanted him to come home. So we prayed and thus began the journey of God breaking my brother and bringing him back to Him...and to us. Just like we had prayed! Now, he is a worship leader at a church and is certainly not neglecting His gift of music and glorifying God!

I wonder what would have happened if that couple, who I don't know from Adam, had neglected their gift and didn't come to church that day. What if they had just given up and decided to be selfish that day? God needs people to use and He has given each of us a gift. It may not be to be an elder of a church, but He can still use you in other ways. Don't be surprised when He speaks to you to go talk to that person, or call someone out of the blue, or be friends with someone you may not like.

For me, my gift seems to be helping people, in whatever fashion that God tells me to. I have reached out to people who have wronged me and in turn, found out that they were hurting far worse than I ever was. My battle with infertility has led me to reach out to some great women and I have friends now all over the country. We've shared our struggles together and grew closer to the Lord. And now, He wants me to continue in spreading His word through this blog. It's something I do not have experience in, yet I will not neglect it. I do have a busy life...working two jobs and raising triplets can do that to you! But I will not neglect the gift that God has given me. Maybe one day, someone will remember and speak of me the way I do about that wonderful couple. Glory to God!

What gift has God given you? Don't neglect it!

Psalm 55:22

2009-10-27T09:01:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

Psalm 55:22: Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will support you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. (HCSB)

I can't tell you how many times I have been shaken so bad that I was on the verge of falling. How many times I have stumbled. How many times I have taken the wrong road. How many times the right road seemed so bumpy.

So why was I so shaken if God promises that I wouldn't be? Because I never followed the first part of His command. I left the casting part out. I held on to my troubles for whatever reason. I wanted His support but I failed to give up my burden which was the one thing that was making my life so lost, so bumpy and so shaken.

The Hebrew word for cast is shalak and the literal definition is to throw, cast, throw away, cast off, shed, cast down. That throwing word keeps popping out and sticking in my mind. I am a very literal person and I like to see things so I can better understand. Maybe the next time my burdens are weighing me down and are getting to heavy for me to carry, I will literally take them off of my back, claiming this Scripture and praying over my problem, put them in a huge sack, tie it real tight, say my goodbyes and physically launch them up to God! He promises that He will catch them and forever take them from you. He promises He will support you. He promises if you do this, He will never allow you to be shaken!

It would ne nice to walk without feeling like you are about fall. The road is clear in front of you. You are light and free and without worry. You are dealing with problems with a clear head and a firm heart. You know your God is on your side and knowing that feels oh so good!

Get your big bag ready for that next burden seeking to weigh you down and cause you to fall over. Don't be shaken so bad that it causes you to leave the One who can support you and sustain you. He is the Almighty Catcher waiting for your best fastball!

Mark 14:60-62

2009-10-21T20:40:00.002-05:00

Good evening!

Mark 14:60-62: Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

All the things I could ever think or want to say about my savior, Jesus is in this 3 minute sermon. I wish I could have heard the whole thing. I bet it was amazing. I get goosebumps every time I hear it! Jesus is the Christ and He will be coming on the clouds of heaven. You don't want to miss that do you!?

Luke 23:39-43

2009-10-19T12:33:00.002-05:00

Good afternoon!

Luke 23:39-43: One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Whatever this man had done, it was bad enough to deserve to be put to death by crucifixion, the worst way a man could die back then. Even still, Jesus bore his chains and walked to Calvary for him. The reason Jesus died and the reason He came was for the life of that accused man, sentenced to die next to him. Surely, our sins are not so bad that they warrant death but even if they are, yes...Jesus came for your life too.

I love this song and the way the words play off of each other. It stretches my mind and gives me a new vision of how much that walk to Calvary must have torn Jesus apart. In all of my faults, frailties, and failures, He came for the life of me.

Isaiah 42:16

2009-10-15T08:46:00.002-05:00

Good morning!

Isaiah 42:16: I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

Seven years ago today, I was laying in a hospital bed, getting lots of love from my family, and getting ready to go into surgery to remove an ectopic pregnancy. In a matter of hours, I went from not knowing I was even pregnant, to intense pain and bleeding, rushing to the ER where I was told I was pregnant and that I would need emergency surgery...right away. My head was reeling. The pain was almost too much to take. I was tired. I was scared. I saw my husband scared for the first time in my life. This wasn't happening to me. It couldn't be. We had prayed for a baby and this is what we get?!

As I look back on these last seven years, I can tell you that I thank God for that little baby and the short life he/she had. For years I held on to that baby as "if only things could have been different". Now, I no longer live in the past but I celebrate what God has done by using that horrible night to benefit my future.

The good always outweighs the bad when it comes to God. Sure I had pain, and I was confused, and I still carry a hurt for that baby that only a mother can understand. But my husband and I grew closer together, I met the doctor that would one day deliver my triplets, our family prayed for us like they have never prayed before. God guided me down unfamiliar paths that I would not have chosen to walk down myself. He lit the right way before me and darkened the paths that I did not need to go down. I learned to lean on Him when the road grew rough and I watched in wonder as He smoothed them right before my eyes.

I shudder to think where I would have ended up had I gone through losing this baby, and the seven after it, without knowing the Lord was with me through it all. Life can painfully blind us at times, without warning or remorse. Who is going to lead you? How will you make it out? How will you get through the rough times?

God promises that He will do these things for you...He will not forsake you. He will not leave you where you are at. He can make that dark path before you illuminate like you have never seen it before! You may not know where you are headed but just take a hold of His hand and follow Him. He knows where you are going and trust me, it's a far better place than you could ever get to by yourself.

October 15th is ironically for me Pregnancy and Baby Loss Remembrance Day around the world. Check out this site and hug a friend you know is suffering today. If you have never lost a baby, hug your kids extra hard today for they are gifts from God!

To my crew of babies up in Heaven..."Momma loves you little angels and I can't wait to hug you for real one day. No matter how short your lives were, you were created for a purpose and I thank God for that!"

John 20:27-29

2009-10-08T19:24:00.003-05:00

Good evening! This was meant to go out yesterday for Winning Souls Wednesday but of course I am late. I blame everything on my kids! ;)

John 20:27-29: Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don't be an unbeliever, but a believer." Thomas responded to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed."

It took me a long time to believe and I feel like I went through many times where God was trying to show me His hands and asking me to put my hands in His side. But I just kept walking away and I kept ignoring Him. I was an unbeliever. In order to get my attention, He had to take over my mind one morning in the shower and gave me a vision that blew my socks off. Finally, I had seen His hands...I had felt those nail holes...I touched His pierced side. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that He was real. I saw Him and I believed.

But it makes me so excited when I think about my children and their opportunity to believe without seeing. They will grow up very different than I did and hopefully, they will know in their hearts way before I did that He is their Lord and their God. They will be blessed in more abundance than I will ever be and have unspeakably awesome favor for their entire lives. Because they will believe without seeing. This is my prayer for them.

He will show you His hands and you can touch His side that was pierced for you. Don't be an unbeliever...be a believer!

Nahum 1:3

2009-10-06T20:05:00.004-05:00

Good evening!

Nahum 1:3: The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will never leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

I love reading these short minor prophets' books. The Old Testament is so expressive and details how much God cares for His people. It hurts Him when He sees us turn away from Him. Yet He is still slow to anger. But don't mistake that for a lack of caring or that He is inept of taking action. He is and always will be great in power. Someone needs to hear that today! God will never leave the guilty unpunished. You may not see what is going on and it may not happen in your lifetime or on this earth. But those who have hurt you will not escape His judgment. How could one escape His path so big it is in the winds and storm? How could anyone flee from Someone so immense that the clouds are dust beneath His feet? The guilty cannot hide from the Almighty!

Now every time the wind blows my hair and I see the storms rolling in, I'll be reminded of God's great power. Every time I see the beautiful, majestic clouds being illuminated by the gorgeous sunset, I will know that God is busy punishing those who have hurt me. I don't have to dwell in the past over those hurts because God is on my side. He promises they will never go unpunished!

I hope that brings you peace today. The world is full of horrible news everyday and it is overwhelming at times. But our God is slow to anger and great in power. His path is in the whirlwind and in the storm and the clouds are the dust beneath His feet. He is in control, Hallelujah! Praise His Holy Name!

Revelation 21:2-4

2009-10-05T21:32:00.000-05:00

Good evening!

Revelation 21:2-4: I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

I just love the loving, almost romantic tones to this passage. God truly longs to see us, His church, beautifully dressed for Him. I seriously cannot wait for this to be our reality. To be able to dwell, to reside, to exist with God in the Holy City will be the end to all of our problems. No more tears, no more pain, no more death, no more crying. The old way that you are used to will no longer be.

This song describes this passage perfectly and when I listen to it, I can almost see the sky opening up and the new Jerusalem coming down. I can feel the tears being wiped away from my eyes. I am reminded of my eternal home that is awaiting me. I can see my loved ones that I have been separated from for far too long. I am pure and righteous before my God. I live with Him and He lives with me...forever.

"For eternity...all my heart will give...all the glory to Your name."

Ecclesiastes 3:11

2009-09-30T13:57:00.003-05:00

Good afternoon!

Ecclesiastes 3:11: He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

My mind is always wandering, always planning, always trying to figure things out. My life right now feels as if it is in a holding pattern. I am in a place that is not neccesarily bad but also not a place I want to be forever. What I dream of doing and becoming is not economically or financially possible right now. I am in a holding pattern. Destined for greater things for His glory but stuck in the issues of every day life.

But I believe it is temporary. Why? Because knowing what I was about to face before I ever got to this holding pattern, I stepped out in faith and reached out to God. I prayed and had the elders of my church pray over my husband and I. And God met us there and gave us instructions. He is very cool to do that, especially with my wandering and always planning brain! "This will test us and our marriage," he spoke through His messenger. "But this is temporary and we will see what kind of family we are when this is done."

I would rather not be here. I would love it if it were financially possible for me not to work and to raise my kids at home. I would love the extra time to volunteer and work in ministries. I want my hour of just "me and God" time that I used to have. With the stress of working full time, taking care of my almost 2 year old triplets, finding time to spend with my husband, connecting with friends and fellowshipping, paying bills, grocery shopping, and cleaning the house, my "me and God" time has decreased to the 30 minutes I get driving to work!

But reading this verse puts my heart at rest knowing that He has ordained this time in my life for a reason and He will make it beautiful despite how I feel about it now. I know that one day I will look back on this time in my life and be able to see growth and mercy and provision and miracles! There is no way I can fathom why it has to be this way but I will not wallow in defeat or despair, wishing things were different. God knows my beginning all the way to my end. He knows my children's beginning, their end and all those who will be touched by their testamonies. God is using this time to change us in ways we cannot begin to fathom. I pray we pass the test and come out fresh and renewed on the other side. I pray we come out beautiful!

Isaiah 43:21

2009-09-21T09:10:00.002-05:00

Good morning!

Isaiah 43:21: The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.

God created you to be with Him. Simple as that. He won't relent until He has it all. Your heart, your life, your love, your worship, your praise. He is so in love with you...His love is as strong as death...His jealousy is as demanding as the grave. I've never heard God described so passionately as He is in this song. This is not a sweet, feel good worship song. It is deep and intoxicating, desperate and bold. "I don't want talk about you, like You're not in the room. I wanna look right at You, wanna sing right to You." If you sing these words, you'll begin to worship on a whole new level. You'll feel like you have a one on one audience with Jesus Himself. You'll feel like the only reason why you were put on this earth is to praise Him. And then you'll understand and appreciate Isaiah 43:21 even more!

This song by Jesus Culture is a lot longer than this video. Go buy their album, Your Love Never Fails and be ready to worship Him for real, be ready to come alive, be ready to sing a solo for the Creator of the universe.

Romans 5:3-5

2009-09-15T19:25:00.003-05:00

Good evening!

Romans 5:3-5: And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

This Scripture always reminds me of that praise and worship song that sings over and over again, "He gives and takes away. He gives and takes away. My heart will choose to say, blessed be Your name!"

We all will be afflicted with something during our lifetime. In fact, more times than not I find myself being afflicted by one thing or another. It may not be a big deal to most people, but you are afflicted by it. It is something you are bothered by and it is hindering you. How do you handle those afflictions, those irritations, those hiccups, those bumps in the road, those problems that won't seem to budge?

In these instances, you can either withstand and endure or wither and fall apart. God wants to see what kind of person you are. We would be a pretty boring people if we never had anything to overcome, to have victory over, or to make us feel a wide range of emotions. Yes, I hate having to always be afflicted by something but I know that if I rejoice and be glad for what I do have and choose to look at my problems positively, then my character will be proven in the eyes of God. How awesome is that?!

Sure I won't always get it right the first time. I may throw a pity party and want to pull the cover of my head. I may throw my hands up towards the sky and say to God, "Really? This too on top of everything else?!" But I quickly remember that this is just a test. He has never let me down before...why would He let me down now? So as I endure being afflicted, I do the things I know I am supposed to be doing. Praying. Trusting. Tithing. Believing. My character is proven righteous and all of sudden, there it is. Hope! God always shows up and gives you those nuggets to help you carry on.

He gives you hope that does not disappoint, Hallelujah! He pours His love out all over you, all over your problem and all over your future. You will not stay afflicted for long. Sure there are times when that affliction is major and the hurt is more than you can bare. I've been there too. It took me years to realize that if I truly rejoiced through my affliction, my whole outlook would change, my endurance would create proven character and that character would produce hope. But I can tell you that this has been the greatest thing I have ever learned. Once I really got a hold of this, my life has changed.

The afflictions will never stop coming but neither does the love that God pours out on me. What a great word today Lord, thank you!

1 John 5:14-15

2009-09-14T19:38:00.003-05:00

Good evening!

1 John 5:14-15: Now this is the confidence we have before Him: whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.

Too bad it doesn't say "we have what we have asked Him for instantly"! That would be nice huh?!

In my experience, it usually doesn't happen instantly. In my experience, things that are special are worth the wait. In my experience, knowing He hears me and cares for me is more important than getting what I want, when I want it.

If you truly value God's will for your life over your own, then praying for what you want or need will happen. Trust Him. Have that confidence that at the perfect timing, He will come through for you. Be glad that your prayers don't just hit the ceiling. You don't have to go far when you are asking according to His will. He will hear you. He is listening. You will have what you asked Him for...in His perfect will and timing.

I hope this gives you confidence today. Keep believing and praying because He is still listening.

Matthew 21:9

2009-09-13T19:40:00.003-05:00

Good evening!

Matthew 21:9: Then the crowds who went ahead of Him and those who followed kept shouting: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!

These lyrics are my life's new motto. They've become my new purpose and call every morning when I arise to face each day. I hope they become yours too!

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to Eternity

Psalm 130:1-2

2009-09-09T21:12:00.004-05:00

Good evening!

Psalm 130:1-2: Out of the depths I call to You, LORD! Lord, listen to my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my cry for help.

Yes, I am having one of those weeks. Financial worries. Household stresses. My children's health. One thing after another.

Have you ever felt like you had to cry out from the depths of yourself to God? You can't get through another moment without Him intervening. You are crying out for Him to listen to you.

It's in times like these when the devil is sneakier than ever on his hunt to overtake and destroy you. Have the peace of knowing that the Lord is attentive to your cry for help. The answer is coming. He has already planned your escape from that problem. The check is in the mail. Blessings are hurriedly on their way to replace the curse that is crippling you. Healing and wellness are already yours in the name of Jesus. He is making a way where there is no way.

Out of the depths I call to You God. You and You alone. I praise You in advance for the miracles that are coming. Thank You for hearing me this week!

Colossians 1:13

2009-09-02T19:51:00.003-05:00

Good evening!

Colossians 1:13: He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The moment you invite Jesus into your life, you change instantly. The darkness you have known and are living in immediately disappears. You open your eyes to a new world. You are no longer dwelling in a dark pit. You are forever a resident of God's Kingdom. You have a new hope. You begin to see yourself and your life with a brand new purpose. Those mistakes you have made are no longer weighing you down and keeping you in the dark. For the first time in your life, you feel freedom because you've been released of the burden of sin.

He is the Almighty Rescuer. He can transfer you out of where you are faster than the blink of an eye. You belong with the Son He loves. Your home is waiting for you. Stop stumbling in the darkness and open your eyes to goodness and eternal light. Today is the day for redemption. You can be forgiven. He has already paid the price.

I promise it'll be the ride of your life and you'll wonder why it took you so long to be rescued.

Isaiah 48:17-18

2009-08-31T20:17:00.004-05:00

Good morning!

Isaiah 48:17-18: This is what the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who leads you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to My commands. Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

I am sure I have more times than I can count where I did not pay attention to what God was saying to me. But one stands out above all the rest. I cannot know for sure but I believe it could have been a turning point in my life where peace would have flowed like a river and righteousness would have crashed over me like waves.

God spoke to me as I laid on my bed, curled up in a fetal position. I was lost...alone...scared. What He said was so simple and I am sure it was for my benefit...it probably would have changed my life. "Get up and go get your Bible." I said no. Not only did I not pay attention and act like I didn't hear Him, I answered back and refused the benefits He had for me. He was trying to lead me in the way I should go but I refused.

I ended up back on His path but I took the long route and trust me, it was not so scenic. Maybe if I had known who was speaking to me back then I would have listened. The LORD of heaven, my Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel thought I was important enough to guide and protect and love and save. He knew exactly what I needed at that moment in my life. All I had to do was pay attention.

I hope you don't make the same mistake I did. God has done amazing things in my life and I am blessed and highly favored. But every now and then, I think back to that day. I will always wonder what could have happened that day. What miracles could He have done? Where would I be right now if I would have gotten up and did what He asked me to do? I hope that is one of the things He will show me one day. But I will have to live the rest of my life wondering what could have been. Peace and righteousness can be yours...the Lord is speaking to you...let the river and waves flow!

Psalm 134:2

2009-08-31T19:40:00.003-05:00

Good evening!

Psalm 134:2: Lift up your hands in the holy place, and praise the LORD!

I've had so many people ask me if I go to "one of those churches" where you raise your hands. I heard a pastor say once before that just like we hoot and holler for our sports teams, we lift our hands in worship to our God. I've always liked that explanation but now I have Scripture to back it up!

I got to hear this song live last week and believe me there was not a hand I saw that was down by anyone's side! Shout out to God with a voice of triumph! Lift His name up today unashamed!

1 Corinthians 13:2-3, 13

2009-08-26T19:48:00.003-05:00

Good evening!

1 Corinthians 13:2-3, 13: If I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so that I can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I got to experience the band Hillsong live last night and this is the name of their new album. Faith + Hope + Love. The only way I can describe it was being a fraction of how the angels worship Him all day long. I never felt so close to Him as I did while I was praising Him with all of those people! It was really amazing. But they showed this video that went along with their new CD and it really got me thinking. I've always loved Chapter 13 of this book but I usually skim over this part and go straight to the famous description of love.

God has really opened my eyes to the importance of what is in our hearts. Are we doing everything that we can think of to appear "godly" or "Christ-like" on the outside but our insides are rotten? Do we fill our heads with "knowledge" and study so hard that we sound like Billy Graham but treat those closest to us as strangers? Are we really examples of Christ's love to those who really need to see it?

The one thing that all humans have in common is our need for love. God is really showing me that not only do people across the world need love, but there are people in my own family who need love. Am I going to focus only on me, or am I going to reach out in love to those who are closest to me?

Having faith and hope is so important...but more important is to have love. To be love. To show love. Does everyone in your family know that you love them? Do they all know that you love Jesus? Are you loving your neighbor like your brother?

God's love is life changing and He thinks it's the most important thing of all. Get Hillsong's new CD and I promise it will start to open your hearts to all the love God has for you. You'll have no choice but to start loving on some people!

Psalm 63:1

2009-08-24T19:54:00.002-05:00

Good evening!

Psalm 63:1: God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You. I thirst for You; my body faints for You in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.

I have never been stranded in a desert but I don't think I need to be in order to understand how quickly my body would break down without the one thing it needs...water. I know that I wouldn't last a day being exposed out in the deadly sun. I've watched Planet Earth...I've seen the vast and dry deserts. It's the one place I do not want to be...stuck out in the emptiness where I have become the hunted. That is what the world would be without my God. I wouldn't make it a day without Him. Every day I find a reason to turn to Him. He helps me in so many ways. My body just doesn't work without Him.

God, You are my God...and I eagerly seek after You.

This song is a great example of this Psalm...Only You!

Psalm 55:16

2009-08-19T20:38:00.005-05:00

Good evening!

Psalm 55:16: As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord will save me.

You may have already tried once to talk to God or see if He is really there. I remember doing that a few times in my life. But it was never really genuine. My heart was not in it. I was half joking. I still didn't want to let go of all that I was hanging onto.

But when you do get to that point, when all you were hanging onto is gone or doesn't mean anything anymore, try to talk to Him again. But this time, get serious, open your heart, and call with all you've got. He will answer you if your heart is contrite and sincere. When you finally get to that point when you really need Him, He will be there. He will save you. You may have failed before to come in the right way but He never fails to hear you, meet you or save you.

Matthew 16:24

2009-08-17T14:58:00.002-05:00

Good afternoon!

Matthew 16:24: Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

This song is so moving, you truly can get lost in it. I love the desperation and longing that drives you to your knees in worship. There are some days when you just need to be with Him! You're coming after Him no matter what and I imagine that's exactly where Jesus wants you to be, all the time. I promise you won't be denied.

John 5:16-17

2009-08-16T12:19:00.003-05:00

Good afternoon!

John 5:16-17: Therefore, the Jews began persecuting Jesus because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus responded to them, "My Father is still working, and I am working also."

When Pastor Leszek Mocha from Poland read this verse this morning at church, it hit me between the eyes. "God is busy", he declared. "God's not sitting on the Throne, drinking His royal coffee! He is busy...working!" He is building His Kingdom, He is revealing wonders, He is healing the sick, He is setting captives free, He is touching hearts all over the world at the same time, He is creating lives and ending them, He is performing miracles, He is making all things new. He is always at work. He is always busy. And He needs workers to work with Him.

Am I working? Am I taking the time to focus on the Heavenly things or am I too wrapped up in this world? I believe God has so much for us all to do but we don't have a very good work ethic. We are selfish and lazy. Stubborn and unmotivated. Content and distracted.

I listened to Pastor Mocha's normal life where he lives off of $500 a month and his people have very little. But they are working, they are giving, and they are making a difference. We are a very blessed people but we get so used to accepting the news of this world that we are receding and we never look up and receive God's news...that we are blessed and that we will prosper. With just the slightest bit of effort, we could make such an impact. Every prayer you pray, every dime you give, every meal you make, every hour of your time you volunteer to help some else know the love of Jesus Christ will only build your harvest that much more.

God's word was spoken today...stop looking down where you can only see the tips of your shoes. Start looking up to all the blessings that are flowing out of Heaven to those who are busy working. I love it!

God is oh...so...good.

Psalm 139:15-16

2009-08-12T05:23:00.004-05:00

Good morning!

Psalm 139:15-16: You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day. (The Message)

God woke me up at 5:00AM to do this Quick Word...I was not planning on getting up this early on my birthday! Kris has an alarm clock that the kids like to play with and we didn't know it but it was behind our bed with the alarm set for 5:00 this morning. Thanks kids! I even tried to stay in bed after Kris finally found it, all the while God telling me to get up. I'll just lay here for 5 more minutes God. Yes. I said that to God Almighty. Unbelievable! But then one of my sons cried really loud for like 2 seconds and I just smiled and said, "OK, I'll get up!" I like how God uses all sorts of different things for alarm clocks in our lives.

He has this Word for you today and I think it is sweet that He reminded me of this today on my birthday. God knows every bit of you, inside and out. You were sculpted in His image, just the way you are for a reason. He has been with you before your body was even formed up until now and He will be with you forevermore. If you do not know Him like I know Him, I hope this Word will shed some light for you on how loving my God really is. If you think there is no one out there that understands you, you are wrong. If you think you stick out and just don't belong, you are wrong. If you think there is no purpose for you, you are so wrong!

Now that I have kids, it's all about them. My birthday just doesn't seem as important anymore...and that stinks because I love birthdays! But my Mom told me yesterday my birthday will always be important to her, she remembers that first day she saw me like it was yesterday. But God does too. Every day of my life He has planned out and purposed...to bring me here...to help you see the character of God. You are special to Him or He wouldn't have gone to all the trouble of making you and knowing every detail about you before you were ever born!

On August 12, 1977 I was born in Honolulu, HI with both of my feet broken and bent towards my shins. I was whisked away and my mom laid there, clueless and scared. But God had it all planned out. When I was 10 years old, my parents got divorced and my whole world crumbled. But God had it all planned out. Through those lost years, He was there when I thought no one else was. When I was 21 years old, I married a young man I was head of over heels in love with. I am sure my parents thought I was too young and were worried. But God had it all planned out. I got saved when I was 22 years old and I am 32 years old now. I am coming up on my 10 year anniversary with the Lord! So many awesome things have happened with so many hard times in between. But God had it all planned out!

Don't waste another second without Him. Don't worry about what you are worrying about...God has you all planned out.

Ephesians 3:17-19

2009-08-10T20:13:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

Ephesians 3:17-19: I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love, and to know the Messiah's love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with the fullness of God.

As I watch my children grow, they seem to do new things every day. I can't keep up with them! It just amazes me to see how smart they are and I am so proud when I realize they have learned something new. They are so proud too because when they do new things, they look to Mommy and Daddy for recognition and praise. And boy do we give it to them. We clap our hands and love on them and give them huge hugs!

I imagine that's how God feels when I finally get things or when I learn new things about Him or when I realize how much He loves me. I can just see Him clapping His hands and screaming with the angels, "Yea!! That's My girl!!". I can almost feel His huge arms wrap around me.

His love is better than life...it's amazingly powerful. Get ready, grab a hold of something and get ready for a wild ride. His love changes everything!

Isaiah 7:9

2009-08-10T08:24:00.002-05:00

Good morning!

Isaiah 7:9: If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.

Don't be surprised when you decide to walk this path where you follow Jesus that you will be given many opportunities to fall away...to quit...to make mistakes...to make the wrong decision. You will stumble...you will fail...you will fall, I promise you that. But will you get back up and stand firm to your faith? No matter what is going on around you. No matter how bad you messed up? Will you quit and leave when the going gets tough? Or will you stick it out and finish the race?

We all will fall short but if you don't get back up and learn how to stand though it, you'll never be able to stand at all. It is those tests and trials that we go through that teaches us how to stand firm so that we will be able to stand through it all. You think what you are going through is bad...there is always something bigger and worse around the bend. That is life.

Each trial I have faced felt like the worst ever...but I stood through it and never let my Jesus go. I survived and my faith grew. But the next trial was way worse...but I get through it...I stand firm. Maybe that is why I love this song so much. "Stand through the rain, stand your ground. Stand up when it's all crashing down."

Revelation 3:20

2009-08-06T20:56:00.002-05:00

Good evening! I am late with the Winning Souls Wednesday edition. Better late than never!

Revelation 3:20: Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me.

I don't know if this happens to everyone but it did with me and my husband. I can remember a long time ago hearing my name being called but I was all by myself. I heard it clear as a bell...Allison. Go get your Bible. Unfortunately, I said no. I did not open that door when I heard His voice and subsequently, I went hungry for years after that.

I also remember one night laying in bed and my husband asking me if I had called his name. I was almost asleep...so it wasn't me! He didn't open the door at that time either. But thankfully, Jesus always waits outside that door. Thankfully, we weren't too late.

Did He call your name too? Maybe He is saying something else to you. But because of this Scripture, I believe Jesus is always speaking. But are we always listening?

I love that what He really wants to do is have dinner with you! Intimate...fulfilling...special...fellowship...connection...relationship. All over some good food and drink!

JESUS ROCKS! I hope you open the door and let Him in today. Don't wait so long like Kris and I did. Life is too short...don't let another day get away from you without knowing what it feels like to sit down and dinner with the Savior of the world.

Psalm 123:1-2

2009-08-04T20:03:00.003-05:00

Good evening!

Psalm 123:1-2: I lift my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven. Like a servant's eyes on His master's hand, like a servant girl's eyes on her mistress's hand, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us favor.

I've been learning lately through lessons and personal experience that ALL of my blessings and desires can and will come from the One enthroned in heaven. I heard a pastor define favor as "uncommon advantage". I don't know about you but I've been needing a lot of uncommon advantage lately in my life. It's nice to know that when I need it, all I have to do is lift my eyes to Him and wait until He shows it to me!

Why is my first instinct to worry instead of pray? I waste so much time and effort trying to fix things on my own when all I need to do is look up. If I would just learn to envision myself as a servant girl, watching and waiting for my Master's hand that beckons me to come. If I would see myself as a servant who relies solely on my Master to give me all that I need, I would be watching His hand at all times! But somehow I forget...for some reason my gaze slips down, back to the world.

So if you need some "uncommon advantage" in your life and can't seem to find it, maybe it's time to start lifting your eyes to the One enthroned in Heaven. Just wait...the favor will come.

What are your eyes fixed upon?

Psalm 47:2

2009-08-02T20:46:00.002-05:00

Good morning!

Psalm 47:2: How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!

God is so awesome and this song just says it over and over again. "Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from Heaven above with wisdom, power and love. Our God is an awesome God!" We captured our children dancing and worshiping to this song the other day and I thought I would share it for today's Musical Mondays. If you ever need instructions on how to worship God, just watch a child. They are carefree and honest...warm and happy...unashamed and limitless.

Have a great week everyone!

Lezonlings Worship from Kris Lezon on Vimeo.

Isaiah 43:10-11

2009-07-28T20:34:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

Isaiah 43:10-11: "You are My witnesses and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. No god was formed before Me, and there will be none after Me. I, I am the LORD, and there is no other Savior but Me."

Whoa...no argument here! I can't think of a better Scripture for Winning Souls Wednesday! You can search your whole lifetime and there is no other Savior but Him. No Buddha, no prophet, no man or deity can save you. You are His witness and His servant that He has chosen. He wants you to stop looking elsewhere for answers and finally believe and understand that, "I AM HE!" I can just hear Him saying, "Look no further child, there was none before Me and there will be none after Me. I can save you...I am all you need!"

Lamentations 3:17-18, 21-24

2009-07-27T19:37:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

Lamentations 3:17-18, 21-24: My soul has been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is. Then I thought: My future is lost, as well as my hope from the LORD. Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The LORD is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.

I've been depressed before and have had my share of bad days, but can only think of one time in my life when I truly forgot what happiness was. That is not a fun place to be. When you've gotten to this point in life, you will usually be there awhile. This Scripture is not talking about your 24 hour deprivations of peace. This is the big time...you are in a hole of sadness...with no end in sight.

I was so close to never becoming a mother. I tried so hard to be positive, have faith, believe. But deep down, I was sinking into a trench where I couldn't remember what it felt like to be happy. The future that I had dreamed about for years and longed to have was lost. Year after year, problem after problem, failure after failure. Void of peace...unimaginable sadness...hopelessness.

But God never left me, even when I felt so alone. He always reminded me He was there. I remember having days when having a baby was all I could think about and many nights where I would cry myself to sleep. But I also remember those times when I could see my soon to be son's face, I swear I could. And I would press on. Hope would rise up in me, against all odds. I could have just given up...no one would have blamed me. But I held on and strived to get out of that black hole of sadness and hopelessness. The more I did that, the more I realized that as long as I had God's love, I would be alright. Even if my dream never came true, He would give me another dream. His love replaced that sadness and I found hope again.

I want to tell you today that His love can replace any sadness you have. You can have peace again. You can have hope in your heart again. You will remember what happiness feels like again. His never ending love is the key. His mercies are new every morning. Fight to get out of that pit...say it over and over again if you have to! The LORD is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.

I have happiness again in my life, peace flows in my life, and I have hope in the Lord. Not because my dream came true...not because I finally became a mother. Happiness, peace and hope are mine because of God's faithful love for me.

I love The Message version so I'll close with it: I gave up on life altogether. I've forgotten what the good life is like. I said to myself, "This is it. I'm finished. God is a lost cause." But there's one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left.

Psalm 33:4

2009-07-27T13:39:00.002-05:00

Good afternoon!

Psalm 33:4: For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

There are times when a person can only take so much. I've heard about so much death, so much sickness, so much pain this weekend. I just want to scream, and it's not even happening to my family. Even though I don't understand any of it, I do know that I know that I know that God is faithful. In the begininng, He is faithful. Through it all, He is faithful. In the end, He is still faithful. Whether we understand it or want to accept what is happening, He is faithful. He is good and loving toward all He is made.

Please pray for my friend Josh Ness who lost his step-dad just days ago from a sudden heart attack at the age of 55.

Please pray for little 5 year old Reagan, who has brain cancer with only weeks to live. She just got to have Christmas in July...read about her story here.

Finally, please pray for Stellan. This little guy has been through so much and he needs immediate prayers!

I love this song and it reminds me that no matter how bleak things look around me, my God is the Faithful One!

Psalm 117

2009-07-23T20:14:00.003-05:00

Good evening!

Psalm 117: Praise the LORD, all nations! Glorify Him, all peoples! For great is His faithful love to us; the LORD's faithfulness endures forever. Hallelujah!

I just feel like praising Him today...

I have so much to be thankful for...

God loves me no matter what...

God never stops doing good for me...

He is faithful...let's praise Him...give Him all the glory...His faithfulness endures forever.

Hallelujah!

I hope you've had a wonderful day...I can't complain at all with mine!

Luke 21:27-28

2009-07-22T19:21:00.004-05:00

Good evening!

Luke 21:27-28: Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near!

I was praying this morning about what Scripture would be today's Winning Souls Wednesday and was surprised when the Lord dropped this into my mind. It didn't sound very much like a Scripture I would use to lead people to Him. When I think about the end times, I tend to get anxious and my mind wanders around the "what ifs" and the "how is it's". The world is bad enough right now and still the Lord tarries. How bad is it going to get before when we finally do see that magnificent cloud beaming gloriously in the sky?

But this Word speaks of not a scary time but of a joyful time! His children won't be shuddering in fear but standing courageously with heads lifted high. While the world is suffering, our chains are falling off and freedom is ours for eternity. The world will be afflicted with God only knows what kind of sicknesses while we are receiving our new bodies that will forever be perfect.

The more I think about it, the more I can see now how this is the perfect Scripture to lead people to Him. Jesus is coming and I think He is trying to get us ready. Verse 33 of this same chapter sums it. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away but My words will never pass away." I hope these words that He spoke over 2000 years ago will bring you to realize that they are true for you too. Your redemption is near!

Matthew 5:13-16

2009-07-20T19:31:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

Matthew 5:13-16: "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It's no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men. You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

I love salt! I pretty much put salt on everything, even fruit. It brings out the taste in everything that I eat. I enjoy food so much more when it is salty! So I like to imagine myself as salt, being something that people like to be around and look forward to tasting. I like to think I bring out good in people and make things better when I am around. I hope that there is Someone inside of me that just oozes out to other people. They can't put their finger on it but they want to taste more of it!

Jesus is all light, there is no darkness in Him. So if He lives in us, His light should be shining forth from us at all times, illuminating the path for others to find Him. That is the whole reason why we are here and why we have come to know Him as Savior. If it were just for us, then the Kingdom wouldn't grow! It's our job to be the salt and the light of the world. Don't let your light be hidden under a "blanket". Don't let your salt lose it's taste. Let everyone see Jesus in you and give God all the glory!

Psalm 71:8, 23

2009-07-20T08:27:00.002-05:00

Good morning!

Psalm 71:8, 23: My mouth is full of praise and honor to You all day long. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You, because You have redeemed me.

I love this song so much. When I sing it, I truly feel like my lips shout for joy! Because I am no longer the person that I was, my mouth is full of praise. I could go on all day telling you the stories of how He has redeemed me. I pray this song becomes one of your favorites to sing to Him.

With everything...

Psalm 116:1-2

2009-07-14T19:58:00.004-05:00

Good morning!

Psalm 116:1-2: I love the LORD because He heard my voice; He heard my call for mercy. Because He has turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.

This is a special edition of Quick Word because today is it's one year anniversary! These are the verses I used for the very 1st Quick Word that was emailed out to just my friends and family and now it has spread to China, India, Africa, Malaysia, England, Italy, France, Central America and Canada. I emailed out that 1st Quick Word as my six month old babies napped and now they are 18 months old and are in daycare all day as I am now back working full time outside of the home. So much has changed but these verses still hold true! God is doing amazing things with me and my family. He is not done with us yet and neither are my appeals for mercy. He will always turns His ear to me as long as I live. His Word is spreading, He is working and moving and lives are being changed. If it's only mine, then it was worth it! I look forward to another year with you and I pray that the countries double and that we see new wonders that we've never seen before.

Please share with me your favorite Quick Word, whether it was emailed to you or here on the blog. I'd love to hear from you about what God is doing in your life!

I'd like to add another verse from the same Psalm that sums up Winning Souls Wednesday. Verse 13 says "I will take the cup of salvation and worship the LORD."

Take it...that cup is yours!

Romans 12:21

2009-07-14T19:36:00.003-05:00

Good evening!

Romans 12:21: Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

Evil needs only a crack in the door to be able to come in. You won't even know it has entered at times. But before you know it, evil has taken over. It's won and you are conquered and you wish you could just go back and make sure that door was closed.

I wish I could not only go back and close that door today, I wish I could deadbolt lock it!

But you can't go back, you can only go forward. You can turn around, face your back to that evil, and simply decide to do good. That good will push that evil right back through the door, just like that. You can conquer it, no matter how long that door has been open. No matter how long that evil has been winning, you can be victorious.

Don't let it get the best of you...get the best of it by doing good.

That is my goal from now on...no more striding the fence. No more questionable movies. No more leaving that door unlocked. I have too much to lose and I will not be conquered. Good will ooze out of me at every opportunity and I will conquer over what is trying to destroy me. Thank you Jesus for giving us a way out and second, third, and fourth chances!

John 8:36

2009-07-12T14:36:00.002-05:00

Good morning!

John 8:36: So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

There is no other worship song that gets me moving like this one! When the Son sets you free, He sets you free in every way. The Message version says, So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through. Through your mind, all through your body, your complete soul, your marriage, any and all relationships. You are indeed free and that should make you want to dance! It should make you want to run with your hands held high, waiving happily that freedom and liberty are yours!

I pray this song kicks your week off on the right foot...dancing and free!

Jeremiah 15:11

2009-07-11T12:43:00.003-05:00

Good afternoon!

Jeremiah 15:11: The LORD said: Assuredly, I will set you free and care for you. Assuredly, I will intercede for you in a time of trouble, in your time of distress, with the enemy.

Please join with me and pray for the Martino family. They are literally going through hell right now and need your prayers. Thankfully, God promises and assures us that He will care for us. He will stand in between you and the enemy when he is attacking you. When distress and trouble come, God intervenes and sets us free. I am sure it will be awhile before this family feels like they are free but with God's help, all things are possible. Right now, I am just praying that they will survive this time of trouble since to me, it is the worst time of trouble I can think of.

Hug your children tight tonight...remember there are those who would do anything to do that again and can't. Have a great weekend everyone!

Matthew 5:6

2009-07-09T19:58:00.002-05:00

Good evening!

Matthew 5:6: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they are filled.

It's only been four days since I am no longer a stay at home mom, with time in the morning to spend in my Bible and pray and study. How quickly I feel empty! How quickly I have become hungry! This week has been so full of changes but the one change I don't want to happen is for my quest for righteousness and to be close to God to wain or cease all together. It's only been four days and I need to be filled!

I promise going back to work will not interrupt my relationship with the Lord and what He has called me to do. The Quick Word will go on...I may not be on time every morning but I will do my best to keep sharing with you what God is sharing with me. And if I do that, I will be blessed. And that is what is most important to me!

Check out The Message version...I LOVE IT!

You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

I couldn't have said it better myself!

Matthew 11:28

2009-07-08T08:18:00.002-05:00

Good morning!

Matthew 11:28: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

I will promise you that knowing Jesus as your Savior is the best feeling in the world. There is no other love like His. I can also promise you that even though you know His love, it doesn't exclude you from having trials and troubles. There are some days where you feel that you are forgotten. Some days seem too tough to handle. Everything seems to always come crashing around you at once, and over and over again! I remember having days like that before I knew Jesus' love. I was hopeless, never knowing if my circumstances were going to change. Never knowing if good was going to come.

I have had a rough past 5 days. Saturday, our A/C in our house went out. July in Texas is not a good time to go without air conditioning. Nothing we could do until Monday since it was a holiday weekend. So we packed up and moved in with my mom, triplets, dog and all! We also realized Saturday that our dryer had gone out too. So that was supposed to be fixed Tuesday. Monday came and it was my first day back at work, starting a new job. The kids' were starting daycare for the first time and we were busy getting them ready in the morning. I missed them so much and was so ready to see them by the end of the day. As soon as we got them home, the throwing up began. All three kids at the same time. Kris and I were going back and forth, cleaning up puke. Comforting babies. It didn't make things any better being that I was also sick! We scrambled to find arrangements for them yesterday since they would not be able to go back to school. It's been a crazy weekend and the week didn't start out like I had planned and wanted it to. But, the dryer got fixed, the A/C got fixed, the kids got better and we only had to survive one night of puking.

God took care of us. We were weary and we knew we had a place to go to get rest. We knew we would make it through. That is the priceless assurance of having hope. You can have it too by knowing Jesus as your Savior. Yes He takes your sins away. Yes He can heal you in every way. But He also has made Himself an open door, where you can always come and find rest. If it's been awhile since you came to Him and found rest, then I bet you have been weary long enough.

Psalm 23:5

2009-07-02T07:39:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

Psalm 23:5: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.

"The presence of my enemies" can mean so many things! You don't literally have to have an army beating down your door, waiting to attack you. Many things can feel that big to you: financial problems, marriage problems, self-esteem problems. Life is full of "the presence of my enemies"! Some days it seems like it's too much to take and even before you get out the door in the morning, you've already lost.

But God says He prepares a table for you right in front of, face to face with your own personal enemy! While that presence is bearing down, meant to destroy you, God says, "Take a seat! And not at just any old table. Sit at the King's table with Me." And while you are safely seated at His table, He will anoint your head with oil. The Hebrew word for anoint here is dashen, and the literal translation is to be fat, grow fat, become fat, become prosperous, anoint. While "the presence of my enemies" are waiting to attack, I am getting filled and becoming fat with prosperity...so much so that I am overflowing! Hallelujah!

The next time you sense that problem is turning into "the presence of my enemies", stop and see the table that God has prepared just for you. He is there with you...let Him anoint your head with oil and fatten you up with goodness and prosperity. You will be overflowing with Him so much those enemies won't stand a chance!

Romans 10:9, 13

2009-07-01T07:14:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

Romans 10:9, 13: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Such a simple proclamation, yet it feels like the biggest task in your life when you are about to make it. In fact, it is one of the most meaningful times in your life. You will remember it forever. Don't enter into lightly or flippantly. You are taking a stand in your life and declaring before the world not only what you believe, but who you are from here on out. Your life will change forever. You will be on a new roller coaster, different than what you've been on before, but this one is much more fun and satisfying. So, when you are ready, get alone with God, call out to Him and make this proclamation. Most importantly, read Matthew 13:1-23 about the Parable of the Sower. Make sure your seed falls on good ground! God wants to create purpose and passions in you and He can't do that if you are excited and joyful in the beginning but fall away soon after. This is forever...make sure you are ready for this commitment. Sounds like I am talking about having children right?! Well, to me it is very similar. The love we have for our children and the way we view them is the same way the Father loves us and views us. He wants a relationship with you that lasts an eternity. His Hand is ready to write your name in the Book of Life. Come and start your new life today!

1 Peter 5:6-7

2009-06-30T08:02:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

1 Peter 5:6-7: Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Next week, I'll begin working outside of the home, back in the mortgage business that I have been out of for two years. A lot has changed in two years! I've been worried lately about how I am going to do. Will I remember everything? Will I struggle in a job that I once excelled at? Will I be able to handle the pressure and stress of that job and still be able to be there for my family as a wife and mother? But in the midst of all those questions, I know that God's mighty hand is above me. I believe He can lift me up and help me to excel when everything around me says I am supposed to struggle and fail. I will give all these concerns over to Him. Why? Not because I am not strong enough and not because I am a weakling who can't handle any kind of problem. Because God cares for me! He doesn't want me to live each day, struggling on my own and taking care of everything I need to do, while being weighed down by anxieties and fears. He will gladly take them from us if we would just humble ourselves and give them over to Him. Knowing that those concerns are off my mind now, I can look forward to next week instead of being fearful of it coming. I love The Message version of this Scripture so I will close with it. I feel it speaks directly to me and I hope it does to you too!

So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.

Psalm 46:10-11

2009-06-29T13:33:00.002-05:00

Good afternoon!

Psalm 46:10-11: Be still, and know that I am God...The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

I love when storms roll in. I love standing outside, listening to the trees painfully sway in the rising wind, watching the sky turn all sorts of colors, and seeing the beautiful but awesome lighting rip across the sky, illuminating everything in a way you've never seen before. When storms roll in physically and spiritually in your own life, things are very similar to the weather storms. Unfortunately, you don't get the opportunity to stand outside and watch it roll in and then go inside and hide from the devastating effects! Even though the storms come and hurt as we go through them, God is always with us. It is scary and terrifying, painful and crushing. But if we would just be still through it and know that He is with us, that He is our fortress, and simply that He is, then riding out that storm won't seem as bad.

I hope you are not in the midst of a storm right now, but if you are, I hope this song brings you comfort. I hope you are able to praise Him while you are hurting and scared. Trust me, you will get through this and you don't have to do it alone.

Galatians 3:14

2009-06-26T07:30:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

Galatians 3:14: He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

I think we need to be reminded this morning of the blessings that are ours because of what Jesus did for us.

"You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you. The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them." (Deuteronomy 28:3-14)

Doesn't that sound good?! All of this can be yours and there is no law that you have to follow. No restrictions, no guidelines, no hindrances. Jesus came and died so that we could be set free...all we have to do is believe! By faith we can receive these blessings. By faith we know in Jesus, we are one with Abraham and his relationship with God Almighty. By faith we receive the promise of the One Jesus said would stay here with us to help us and comfort us...the Holy Spirit.

We don't have do act a certain way or be good enough or go to the right church. Knowing Jesus as your Savior, believing He died for you, is all you'll ever need. Take hold of these blessings today...they are yours by the redeeming power of the blood of the Lamb!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Romans 16:20

2009-06-25T07:38:00.002-05:00

Good morning!

Romans 16:20: The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

I've just learned of yet another child who is battling cancer, Cameron Varnell. Please click on his name and visit his Caring Bridge site to learn more. He needs our prayers but when I read this Scripture this morning, I thought of him. I haven't gone through such an ordeal with my children but I imagine that the one thing I would need through it all would be peace. Anytime you are battling the unknown, you need peace. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, it is so hard to find. But God promises that His peace will soon crush Satan under our feet! This is what I am claiming for Cameron and all the other children who are being attacked by the enemy. He will not win. These babies will survive and win, and one day, tell of how they crushed this disease under their feet. They will one day tell others who need to hear of the God of peace that they so desperately need. God has a reason beyond our reasoning why this is happening. We do not need to fear. We do not need to be afraid. God will give Cameron and his family peace as they watch Satan being trampled under their feet.

You can finally be at peace too...trust in God, who gives peace that passes all understanding. The Devil will be crushed under your feet too...very soon.

Matthew 18:12-14

2009-06-24T07:19:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

Matthew 18:12-14: "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost."

I love this Parable because I can just see God with His flock and then seeing one of His children wandering away. How sad He must be and upset that they are now lost. The cool thing is, that sheep may not know where it is but God does. We may lose our way and not be able to find God but He always sees where we have wandered off to.

I remember as a little girl having a Children's Bible and reading it, being fascinated with the stories and pictures. I was ready to learn more but never got the opportunity. Divorce happened and division ruled my life there on out. And if you do not know the Lord, then things just get worse after that happens. I was a sheep that was once innocent and with God, but wandered away and never knew it. I thought those were just stories in that book...no one told me the Truth.

But oh how happy the Lord was when I finally was found by Him! That night as I laid in bed and prayed that prayer of salvation, Heaven rejoiced as I returned to the flock. I wish it would have been different. I wish as a young girl, someone would have told me the Truth and led me to God's love. I imagine I would have been spared a lot of heartache and trouble. But God has used those lost years of mine and turned them around for good. Now I am able to help people, other sheep who have wandered away, find their way Home again.

You may not even know you are lost, but you know something is not right. There has to be more to this life than this. Well there is! There is a mighty God who is watching and waiting for you. He will leave His flock to come find you and will be so happy when you finally love Him back!

Psalm 118:24

2009-06-23T07:38:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

Psalm 118:24: This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

I have two more weeks left with my babies before I have to put them in daycare and go back to work full time. As I was praying this morning, I asked God to let me savor every minute I have with them, good and bad. Everything is about to change and our lives will be so different. I was rambling on and then the Lord brought this Scripture in my head. I repeated it out loud and instantly I was at peace. Instead of worrying about how everything will work out and how different our lives will be in the future, I need to focus on today! This is the day the Lord has made...He brought this day about and is giving me two more weeks of time alone with my babies. I will rejoice and be glad and make the most out of this time I get to spend with them.

But this is a good Scripture to hold onto for any day that you are facing. Whether it be eventful or humdrum. Take every day that you are given as a gift and be joyful and glad in it. Start every day with a spring in your step and a cheerful voice. I am thankful I have a few more days with my children. What are you thankful for this morning? Tell the Lord and then rejoice and be glad in this day He has made!

Revelation 5:11-12

2009-06-22T07:42:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

Revelation 5:11-12: Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

WARNING: Do not listen to this song in public, unless you don't care about people seeing you crying and making a fool of yourself! :) I challenge you to turn your volume up, get on your knees, stretch your arms up towards the heavens, and sing as loud as you can, just like the angels...and praise the Lamb!

Psalm 93:4

2009-06-19T07:42:00.004-05:00

Good morning!

Psalm 93:4: Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea - the LORD on high is mighty.

This Scripture made me want to be in Hawaii, staring at the sunrise and watching the huge waves crash onto the shore. If you've never been to Hawaii and seen for yourself the awesome power and beauty of the waves there, then you really need to go! I found an awesome picture that I thought would illustrate this Scripture.

It takes my breath away how beautiful this picture is and at the same time, I would be scared to death to be out there! You can just imagine what is on the other side of this picture, what you can't see in the back of that wave. It looks like it is building and building and growing and growing! So strong and mighty and able to destroy anything in it's path. Yet the Lord on high is mightier.

So if you feel like you are the person on that surf board, about to get hammered by the ever chasing thunder of the great waters, put your trust in Him for He is able to handle all of your needs. He is mighty and tough enough to fight all your battles for you. Nothing is impossible for Him. He can silence these waters in a split second if need be.

And if looking at this picture doesn't scare you and all you see is beauty and magnificence, than know that how beautiful this wave is, the Lord on high is even more lovely and perfect. He is awesome and spectacular! I remember being on a beach in Hawaii, staring at the waves in the sunset. I doubt I will ever forget how beautiful it was. But it makes me smile knowing the Lord is even more breathtaking and worthy of my praise!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Leviticus 26:9-13

2009-06-18T07:48:00.002-05:00

Good morning!

Leviticus 26:9-13: " 'I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.' "

I went to church last night which I usually don't do on Wednesdays. We are usually busy with the kids and since they go to bed before church ends, we can't go as a family. But I really knew I needed to go last night. So I went by myself and our guest speaker was Pastor Jackson from Uganda and he was amazing! I'm telling you God smacked me over the head with truth I've never heard before and I will never be the same after last night! Please visit his website and learn about his ministry in Africa. They are experiencing revival over there and it is so exciting to see Jesus at work!

The Scripture he used last night was so powerful and I wanted to share it with you today. I pray it speaks to your heart like it did mine last night. I believe God has so much more for us all than we can ever dream or conceive. I believe we can have favor, an uncommon advantage over anyone else in our jobs and in our world. I believe blessings will be poured out so much that we won't be able to contain it and we'll have to make room for more! I believe God wants the absolute best for His people. He loves us and is not out to get us. And I believe He has given us His only Son so that the bars that surround us can be broken...we can live free, with our heads held high.

But the most important thing I want to point out is that yes, He does all of this for us...IF we follow His decrees and are careful to obey His commands (v. 3). Get the idols out of the way...stop bowing down to them! Follow after Him and obey what He says and these promises are yours, in Jesus name!

Have a blessed day everyone!

John 14:5-6

2009-06-17T07:24:00.002-05:00

Good morning!

John 14:5-6: Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Most people can really relate to the words in the song, Amazing Grace. "I once was lost, but now I'm found. Was blind, but now I see." Without Jesus, I had no clue where I was going. I remember vividly after I got married, my step-mom asked me what I was going to do. Was I going to stay in this job or go back to school? What was I going to do with my life? Didn't I have a plan? She was worried about me and those are important questions to ask. I guess I thought getting married was the fix it solution. I thought it was going to solve the emptiness that I felt inside. Of course it did not, and six months after I got married, when I tried to picture my future, all I could see was darkness. Honestly, I tell you that I was sitting at my desk in our little apartment one day, looking out the window and trying to envision in my mind my future, and I couldn't see a thing. I am a really good daydreamer too, but I could come up with nothing. I remember thinking that was really strange. My mind had never been black before. I am almost certain it was so black so that I could finally realize Who could make it light.

Jesus is the way. Whatever train He is moving on, trust me you want to catch it! Jesus is the truth. Everything else you try to cling to will fail you, but His Word never disappoints. Jesus is the life. You are lost until you find Him and are blind until you see the Light. Following His way and truth and life brings you to God the Father. How awesome is it that through Jesus, we can know God Himself!? There is no other God besides Him and Jesus provides the ladder to get to Him...for all eternity!

Do you not know where you are going? Have you lost your way and are struggling to get back? Cry out to Jesus and He will show you the way. He will show you the truth. And He will show you the life you were always meant to live! Come out of that darkness and join me in the Light.

Psalm 57:2-3

2009-06-16T07:33:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

Psalm 57:2-3: I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends his love and his faithfulness.

This was the first time God has ever woken me up in the middle of the night and given me my Quick Word! I just remembering hearing "send" and knowing that was going to be in the Scripture in the morning. I started reading and was led to Psalm 57. Of all the words in this Scripture, why did God point out the word send to me? What is so important about that word?

I've been struggling lately to know exactly what to do and what direction to move in. I am sure I am not the only one! I have been crying out to God for awhile now because I feel like I'm lost in the dark, grasping at all sorts of different things in order to find what is right. In my heart, I know God will work this out and He will show me in His timing what to do. But this Scripture shines a whole new light on how God works.

Yes God loves me and is faithful but He sends that to me for a reason. It is not just there to be there. No one sends something without a purpose behind it. His love and faithfulness are not just given to me, they are sent when I cry out to Him! I picture huge angel couriers delivering to me straight from heaven the perfect things that will clear all darkness away...His love and faithfulness. He will save me and deliver me and make my path clear before me.

What is hotly pursuing you? What do you need deliverance from? God will fulfill your purpose...just keep crying out to Him and keep watch for that awesome package that is being sent to you from heaven! Faster than any FedEx or UPS, you will receive God's love and faithfulness that reaches to the heavens and stretches to the skies.

Matthew 24:30

2009-06-15T10:49:00.002-05:00

Good morning!

Matthew 24:30: "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory."

One of my new favorite songs! I can just hear the angels singing and praising with us as we sing...Your Glory is here! One day, we'll get to see Him, on the clouds...coming with power and great glory! I don't imagine any knee will be able to stand...all will bow and fall to the ground as we finally get to see Him! Have a wonderful week everyone!

Isaiah 60:1-2

2009-06-12T07:31:00.004-05:00

Good morning!

Isaiah 60:1-2: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you."

Just one of the benefits of being His children! In the midst of the darkest and gloomiest day, light has come to you. During the worst tragedy, the glory of the Lord rises upon you. No matter how negative and dreadful the world has become, we can arise and shine! Others may be shrouded by darkness and cannot see, but we as children of the Lord, are illuminated by His glory that appears over us. He makes a way through the darkness for His children. For His people, He rises so we can arise. Wow! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Isaiah 46:4

2009-06-11T07:52:00.004-05:00

Good morning!

Isaiah 46:4: Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

I imagine by the time I am old with a head full of gray hairs, I will be able to look back on my life and see it filled with many mountains and valleys. Great high points and blessings and just as many low points and tragedies. Joy and suffering. Happiness and pain. Through it all, through everything, God is there to sustain us. He supports us and supplies us with all that we need to make it through. He nourishes us and prolongs us. He bears with us so that we can handle the journey through the valleys and celebrates with us when we make it to the top of the mountain!

You are His creation that He loves and takes pride in. If you take the time to make something yourself, with your own hands, it is special to you and you will do anything to make sure it is safe! Well God took the time to create you and bring you into this world. He doesn't do that and then just leave you. He carries you and transfers you from one place to another while continually supporting you. He sustains the weight and burden of all that life has to throw at you while at the same time comforting you and keeping you going. And most importantly, He rescues you from all danger, from yourself, from Hell. No longer are you a prisoner...you are free!

I used to hate the idea of me getting old. But now, it doesn't seem so bad!

Isaiah 9:6

2009-06-10T07:20:00.004-05:00

Good morning!

Isaiah 9:6: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Four things I needed desperately in my life: someone to go to for advice and counsel, anytime of the day or night, about anything without fear of rejection or ridicule; someone who was so strong and powerful that just being near them infected me and made me capable to achieve anything; a father who would never leave me, lie to me, or hurt me, and would love me for all eternity; someone that could bring peace to every part of my broken soul and body.

I didn't have to spend money to get it or wish I was good enough to have it or go looking far and wide for it. All those things I needed came in one great package, tied up nice with a big red bow on top! A child was born and given to us as a gift, and His name was Jesus. All you have to do is receive it, open the box, make Him your own and show Him off to the world! Your very own Wonderful Mighty Everlasting Prince...just for you!

Ephesians 6:7-8

2009-06-09T07:48:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

Ephesians 6:7-8: Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is a slave or free.

Imagine if everything we did was as if Jesus Himself was standing right there next to us. How awesome would our prayers be? How quickly would all the everyday things that become more important to us melt away? Gossip would never begin in the first place. Hate-filled words would be quickly silenced and replaced with uplifting and loving words. Meaningless quarrels between friends and families would cease and deep relationships would grow in their place.

I believe God wants us to use that word wholeheartedly a lot more often! If we are serving, praying, loving, believing, and trusting wholeheartedly, it means we are completely and sincerely devoted, determined and enthusiastic! If we pursue everything wholeheartedly, then we are completely committed, free from all reserve or hesitation. We need to stop worrying about what everyone around us thinks or says about us. For it is God we are living for and working for and serving for. He will reward those who do good in His name. He wants to see hearts that are open and willing to do His will!

Will you incorporate this word more as an adjective that describes you? I will if you will!

Luke 9:23-24

2009-06-08T07:35:00.004-05:00

Good morning!

Luke 9:23-24: Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."

I love the words to this song because it reminds me of this verse every time. "Everything I once held dear, I count it all as lost." Nothing compares to knowing the love of my Savior and feeling Him living in my heart. I hope you enjoy this song this morning and that it sets your mind back on Him. I pray we all daily take up our cross and follow Him. Lead me to the cross Lord Jesus!

Philippians 4:4-5

2009-06-05T07:49:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

Philippians 4:4-5: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

I used to read this as just a bunch of sentences jumbled together just because. But now that I read it again this morning, it flows differently for me and I understand it better. I don't believe the Spirit of God inspired Paul to just throw some random sentences down on the page together. I believe it was meant for a reason that these short sentences are grouped together.

The word rejoice means to feel joy or great delight. When I think of the Lord and everything that He means to me, I begin to feel joy in my heart and I delight in Him! But I think Paul is saying...don't just stop there! Keep going...keep rejoicing! Rejoice again in Him and the more you do, the more your heart softens and your countenance changes. Gentleness oozes out of you...you just can't help it! Soon, everyone will start to see your mild temper and soft speech. It will be soothing to them and I believe that joy that you feel in your heart will be visible to all too. And then, most importantly, after you have delighted in Him and rejoiced and your whole day has changed and is sunnier and brighter...He is there with you. He is near, you can feel Him. It feels as if you can reach out and touch Him. The feeling is overwhelming and it makes you want to rejoice all over again!

So if you haven't guessed what my advice for you this weekend is yet, it's rejoice in the Lord always! And again I say...REJOICE!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Psalm 147:10-11

2009-06-04T07:26:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

Psalm 147:10-11: His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

I've been struggling with the decision of going back to work full time (outside the home!) for awhile now. I hate the thought of leaving my children with someone else to raise them, someone else to play with them, someone else to love on them. When I pray I find myself sometimes spouting off to God the things that I can do best for them, my talents in going back to work, my thoughts on all things! So maybe this Word is just for me today. I don't think God cares to hear all about what I can do or want to do! I believe He is waiting for me to put my trust in Him, respect His authority in my life and surrender everything over to Him. Instead of praying for what I need to do, I need to start placing this situation over into His hands and asking Him to work it all out. He delights in those who fear Him, not in ones who rely more on their own abilities and then ask Him to help them out when they aren't strong enough! He delights in the ones who puts their hope in His unfailing love, not ones who worry and hold onto their children like they are their possessions.

Whatever your situation may be, it will never work out for good until it is fully handed over to God with great respect and reverence, and you let go of the reigns and hope and trust in His love for you. He loves my children more than I do...He created them! He has a plan for them and from past experience, His plans don't always line up with my plans! I am so thankful I was able to stay home with them as long as I have. We've survived for two years on one pretty small income only by the grace of God!

I believe He is moving and He is not impressed with any skill of mine that is for sure! I only move along with Him because of His great love for me and my family. I will continue to keep Him first in my life because without Him, I am nothing. And I know that He will bring the right job along and the perfect person to take care of my children...because He loves me...forever and ever. Amen!

John 7:37-38

2009-06-03T07:14:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

John 7:37-38: On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

Dried out, cracked and brittle was a really good way you could have described me...pre-Jesus! I always had an attitude that made most people standoffish of me and even intimidated. The years of being dried up on the inside began to show on the outside. It felt like I could never get well inside. I knew something was wrong with me but could never put my finger on it. I had heard the truth from my mom and others throughout my life but nothing ever seemed real until I made the choice to step out in faith and go to a small church that was being held in an elementary school. The moment I stepped into His house, I felt different. His presence was all around me and those streams of living water started flowing in me, watering every dry branch, filling every empty hole, and hydrating me from the inside out.

I believed in Him and suddenly, His Spirit was creating a new me! No longer was my exterior hard and cold. No longer were my insides falling apart. There was new life inside of me, nurturing and growing gifts and passions and dreams. I was made whole once again, no longer whithering away but flourishing and beautiful!

Are you thirsty? I was. Is nothing satisfying that emptiness that you feel in your gut? Me either.

Jesus said all you have to do is come and drink...He will do the rest!