Walking in the Light of His Amazing Love

"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another..." 1 John 1:5-7

As Christians we are called to walk in the light. To live a life of transparency. This does not mean that we have to share each and every detail of our lives with everyone we meet. However, we are to live in such a way as to be shining examples of the God we serve and the Holy Spirit alive in us. The God we serve is light and to enjoy fellowship with him and one another, we must flee the darkness of the world around us (v 5,7). Not only must we flee the darkness of this world, but the darkness of sin which dwells in each of us. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23       

Sounds like a hefty task doesn't it? Certainly it is, one that we as humans would never be able to accomplish on our own. That is why, especially at this time of the year, we must be grateful to God for the salvation he afforded each of us through the sacrifice of his son, Jesus. "...and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (v.7)

When I was a child, Easter meant a new dress, pretty new shoes and a basket filled with chocolate eggs, jelly beans and other treats. It was the one day of the year I knew for sure were going to church and that all my family would be there as well. After church service we would all gather at my grandmother or great aunt's house for Ham, mac & cheese, greens and homemade corn bread, baked in grandma's cast iron skillet.

Those are wonderful memories, but they do not begin to touch on the real wonder of why we celebrate Resurrection Sunday. To think that God thought so much of us that he would send his son to die in our place, for our sins, blows me away. That is truly an amazing love. I don't know about you, but I feel so unworthy. Yet, God made us worthy, just by creating us and loving us that much. "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour." Psalm 8:4-6 Wow!!!!

If you wonder what you have done to deserve such love, the answer is nothing! If you are wondering what you can do to repay such love, the answer again is nothing!

However we do have a small part to play in this drama. 1 John 1:9 tells us "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Also, in the book of Acts when Paul and Silas were asked "what must I do to be saved?" they answered, "...believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." Acts 16:30-31

Now that I am a mother, I want to be sure that my children have wonderful memories of Easter to carry with them into the future. But before we go shopping for the Easter outfits and baskets of candy, we sit and review the story of Good Friday, when Christ bled and died for our sins. And we rejoice in the story of Resurrection Sunday, when God conquered death and rose from the grave, so that we too could have everlasting life.

Before you get all dressed up and go to the party, it's important to know the who and why of what your celebrating. Confess your sins to God. Believe in the resurrecting power of Jesus Christ. Then you can get dressed up, go out and let your light SHINE!!!

Building Blocks

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins." (2 Peter 1:5-9)

Remember the building blocks we had as kids? Mine were solid wood, painted in bright primary colors and stored in a round container with a plastic lid and tin bottom. I LOVED those blocks. 

I spent hours coming up with architectural creations. The taller and more elaborate the better. One Christmas I even requested a second set so I could expand my vision and create an entire town, all centered around one "skyscraper" at the center. 

The verse I came across in my reading today, reminded me of those blocks. 

Our growth in Christ is just like building with those blocks. It's a gradual process which takes time and patience. As we study our Lord and His word and become more familiar with His will for our lives, we stack one building block upon the other, moving higher and higher, closer and closer to God.

So I remember once when I got my little town built, with my skyscraper at the center, I was so proud! But before I could drag my mom in to see my masterpiece, my cousin Embry, who had been hiding behind the door, walked through and knock it all down!!! He destroyed everything I worked so hard to build, in just a matter of seconds. I was devastated!

That is exactly what sin does to us. We can be moving along through life, doing all the right things, then WHAM!!! Sin creeps in when we least expect it and destroys all our hard work, leaving us devastated. We are left in the midst of a mess wondering why this happened and how can we ever start all over again.

But as Christians we have hope. Sin is a sickness we all suffer from. But as with Lazarus upon his deathbed, Jesus says "This sickness is not unto death, but to the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." (John 11:4)

That is why when sin knocks us down, we must get up. With Gods help we can right ourselves, dust ourselves off and begin again. We stand on faith, add goodness, knowledge, self control. We persevere, striving in godliness, mutual affection and love and through it all To God Be The Glory!!! 

Dance Like David Did

Hey gang, I'll need you all to respond to me on this one.

I was speaking with a beloved cousin recently. She was telling me about a blessing which she received. She shared the story with me she said, because she knew I would "get it". 

There was an issue she had been dealing with and had been in prayer over for a period of a couple years. Now that may seem like a long time to some of us, to be going through, but we must remember, God exists outside of time. My cousin is a soldier and she knows that God is faithful, so she never lost heart. She is familiar with Isaiah 40:31, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles..."

Well, in His time, God answered my cousins prayers and resolved her issue, better than she could have ever imagined! She received a call with the good news while at work in her office one day. She told me she had to place her call on hold, close her office door and do a praise dance, right then and there!!! 

I had to smile and praise God with her as she shared her story, remembering the many times I have had to give it all up to God, right where I was.

Unlike my cousin, I work in a cubicle - no full walls and no door. Over the years, most of my co-workers have become accustomed to my occasional outbursts of praise and worship. Sometimes the goodness of the Lord is overwhelming and you just have to let it out. Or at least I do.

Now I know some of you may be thinking, "tsk, tsk, how unprofessional." And you are correct, but in my world professionalism takes a backseat to praise!

I have always been intrigued by the picture painted in 2 Samuel 6. The israelites, led by David, were returning to the City of David with The Ark of God. (v.2, 12)  David's excitement is described in 2 Samuel 6:14, "Then David danced before the Lord with all his might and David was wearing a linen ephod."  An ephod was a priestly garment. Being made of linen it would have been thin and generally worn along with other garments, but this was all David wore as he jumped and twirled before God (and everyone else). Thus leading to the common saying that David "danced right out of his clothes." Now that is praising God!

But just as some people would frown on my public display of worship, Michal frowned upon her husband David as well. "Now as the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart." (2 Samuel 6:16)

The best part of this passage though is David's response, "...It was before the Lord who chose me instead of your father and all his house...Therefore, I will play music before the Lord. And I will be even more undignified than this..." (2 Samuel 6:21 & 22)

My sentiments exactly!!!

So my friends, tell me, have you ever indulged in PDW - public displays of worship. Have you ever had to close your office door, pull over your car, place a call on hold, rush to the restroom, empty conference room or office supply closet, and give God a "right now praise"? Or maybe you just do what I do and get your dance on right at your desk for all to see? If so, good for you! Take a moment to comment on this post and let me know of a time you danced like David did.

And for those of you who have been stifling your urge to praise publicly, consider this... What if you are the only Jesus they have a chance to see?

Blessings!!!

Obedience...A Show of Faith

God woke me up before waking the sun last Sunday. I had a horrible dream, which was out of the norm. I usually don't dream. When I do, it's almost always the Holy Spirit moving on me. That or the devil haunting me. I know that may sound strange to some of you, but I have found that the closer I draw to God and He to me, the more interest the devil has in me as well. I take it to mean he (the devil) sees me as a threat. I'm cool with that.

Anyway, I awoke from my dream and asked God "what the hell was that?" I'm not always at my best when awakened unpleasantly, I pray my Father forgives me. After a quick trip to the restroom, I settled to my knees at the side of the bed. I prayed for clarity, some sort of explanation for the disturbing dream and then I sat and waited. After a few moments of quietly going over the dream in my mind I was in tears. Then the Holy Spirit whispered to me "I know the plans I have for you."

I understood immediately. It was the Sunday after my birthday and I had signed up to do the scripture reading at morning service. It was first Sunday and I had chosen a scripture from a devotional I read earlier in the week. I figured it would tie in well with a communion message. Now the Holy Spirit was urging me to scrap that plan and follow Gods plan. Humph!

I wish I could say that I responded with immediate compliance, but that was not the case. The more the Holy Spirit revealed to me what God had planned, the more my urge to resist grew. Not only did God have a different scripture in mind, He wanted me to speak to the congregation. There was a message in the dream I'd had. Something that touched deep inside me to the heart of who I am as a woman, as a mother. God was showing me that it was from my mothers heart that I was to speak to the sisters, mothers and daughters of New J that morning. I had only one problem...public speaking is not my thing. I imagined what Moses must have felt when God told him to go before Pharaoh. I did not feel up to the task.

I crawled into bed and tried to go back to sleep. I shut my eyes but couldn't close out the memory of the dream I'd had. I wanted to hide under the covers and sleep away the assignment I'd been given. The Holy Spirit was having none of that. It's impossible to run from God when he lives in you.

So I climbed out of bed, grabbed my notebook and wrote down what God had for me to say.

All morning I wavered back and forth. I prayed for God to give me the courage to do what He intended. Then the Holy Spirit whispered to me, "have faith."

Soon the time came and I took the podium. I breathed deep and hoped that my New J family was prepared to receive what I had come to say. I hoped they would believe not only in me, but my father who sent me. I gave them what I came to give, just as it was given to me. Then I took my seat, feeling full and knowing that my Father was smiling down at me.

Not only was my obedience rewarded with the warmth of the Spirit in my heart. God gave me confirmation that it was His plan all along. I was sure of it when a later announcement as well as Pastor's sermon tied in perfectly with the scripture I read and the message I was given to deliver. I smiled and thought, "Ok God, now you're just showing off."  

We Say / God Say's

We Say...

I miss you my love.
I have been away for quite some time now,
Living life on the edge,
Going my own way,
Making a mess of things really.

I know you must be tired
Of the way I come and go,
Taking your love for granted,
Treating our relationship as if
It's as seasonal as the Holy days.

Even when I am here,
I am not always focused on you,
Putting other things ahead
Of the time we spend together.
I have a problem with priorities.

But you know my heart
And though I may not always show it,
You are important to me,
I know I need you in my life
And I love you more... than most things.

It's cold and lonely out here
In this world I have created for myself.
My friendships are faulty,
Love relationships shallow,
Happiness is fleeting at best.

So I make my way back to you,
Discouraged and dejected
Feeling a failure, for all my efforts are folly
Head down, heart broken,
Will you have me?


God Says...

My love, I have missed you,
Though I have been nearby all along.
Remember my promise
Never to leave, nor forsake you
Though you often turn your heart from me.

Yes, I grow weary
Of your propensity to wander
However, there's nowhere you roam
That I cannot see you
You are my sheep and I your shepherd

But my child be careful
Not to provoke my wrath, for I am jealous
Before me you shall have no other
Your heart, soul and mind
Belong to me

It is my will to spend each day
With you in the Garden.
I wait for you under shade trees
With flowers and sunshine
With which to adorn your hair.

You were not meant
To traverse the darkness of this world alone.
Death nor Life, Angels nor Principalities,
Height nor Depth, nor any creature
Shall separate you from my love.

Come home child.
Hide here in the shelter of my wings.
In the secret of my tabernacle, come rest.
I shall set you upon a high rock.
No condemnation child, but everlasting life!

Take Me to the Water

Acts 2:38, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (NIV)

December 4, 2012 I received confirmation that God still answers prayer and that He still inclines his ear to the desires of my heart. On that rainy, cool, Sunday morning, my middle son, Ean, committed his life to Christ and was baptized. Talk about a proud mama, I am still riding that emotional high! As a christian parent, the moment your child accepts Christ is a wonderful victory. It is a great feeling of accomplishment to, as Prov. 22:6 says, "train up a child in the way he should go..." (KJV).  Ean was the third of my four children to embark on Gods path. I was filled with joy and great peace watching my child begin a journey to his own personal relationship with The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

This day was made all the sweeter because I prayed 5 long years for it! Ean was always my Prodigal Son. From a very young age he would wander off on his own, preferring to scout out the mysteries of the world solo. From age three on, Ean was the child I had to search for in the grocery store, the one who would be missing when I turned around from the deli counter. When he got a little older, Ean would leave the house and be gone for hours. Upon his return, my worried questioning was met with a nonchalant "just went for a walk". Ean always had a knack for disappearing, which drove the protective mother in me nuts.

As the years went on and he became a teenager, Ean became more and more isolated from the family, preferring the company of his friends or his own brooding solitude. One Saturday evening when Ean was 15, I was fussing for he and Juan to get their clothes ready for church the next morning. They both began pleading their case for staying home. I figured they just wanted to lounge around and play video games, which I felt they did too much, so I insisted they get their butts in gear and do what I said. At that point, Ean turned to me and literally sneered "I don't believe in your God and I am sick of you forcing me to go to church with you every weekend!"

Well!!! You could have stuck a fork in me at that moment...I was done! He had completely knocked the wind out me, as if he'd kicked me in the stomach with his size 15 shoe. I spent the next week, wrestling with  that shocking declaration. Did he really mean it? Where had I failed as a parent? Was my son doomed to hell? Where had I gone so terribly wrong? Was there anything I could do to save him? Finally the Holy Spirit moved on me and said simply -PRAY.

And that is what I did. I had prayed for all my children consistently throughout their lives. I prayed for health and recovery when they were sick or hurt, safety when they were active at play and in sports, protection when they were away from my watchful care. I prayed for their futures, that they would have love, joy, peace and success at whatever they set their hearts and minds to do.

BUT NOW I began to pray for the salvation of their souls. I pleaded with God to show himself strong in my children's lives. I prayed that they would have a thirst for Gods word, a hunger for His promises. I prayed that the Holy Spirit would take up residence in them and that they would develop faith as large as the mustard tree, not just the seed. I prayed that one day my children would see the face of God. Since I began praying in this way, three of the four have come to Jesus. Hallelujah, He answers prayer!

Never give up on those you love. Never be afraid to witness for Christ. You may be all the God they see!

(To the one who still doubts, there is no time like the present, I know your heart. God has kept you through many trials, there are more to come. Walk with Him, study His word. Accept Him and He will answer your questions. He will put an end to your doubts. I love you and I will never give up. I am always in prayer for you. God knows your name!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Hi all! I know I have been missing in action through out the holiday season, but I am back. There was soooo much going on in the last month of 2012 that I could not find time to get it all down. I am a firm believer that nothing beats writing about life except LIVING it. So I will sometimes put the former on hold for the later. But don't worry, I have stored up all the smiles, laughter, tears (happy ones) and news to share with you all!

So, it's a New Year and I am just grateful that God has allowed us all to move forward. I love saying Happy New Year, because it reminds me of that wonderful tingle you get when you receive or purchase something new. There is always an element of excitement when wearing a new outfit, carrying a new purse, driving a new car. Nothing beats the thrill of a new relationship, the optimisism of a new job or the sweetness of a new baby. Well, I want to pose to you that we should be as excited about each new day as we are about all the above mentioned events in our lives.

I pray that we all remember the reason for the season during the holidays (pronouncing it Holy-days helps me). But let's face the truth, we all like getting those gifts on Christmas morning! Well I'm here to tell you that God gives us a gift each and every day we wake. Rising with the sun each day is a blessing in itself, but add to that the gift of being able to see the sun, being able to hear the alarm clock, being able to stretch arms and legs, having feet to place on the cold floor and the ability to STAND! Whoohoo!!! It's like Christmas all over again!

Now I will admit I am not the brightest ray of sun when the alarm clock goes off in the morning. I wish I was one of those women who are up before dawn, spending time with God and His word, preparing breakfast for my family and singing  songs of zion as I usher each family member out to their day. NOT! But I do manage to roll over after the alarm sounds and whisper a heartfelt thank you to the Father each day. Once I get going (usually after brushing my teeth) I may hum or sing through the rest of my morning preparations. And once I get a steaming cup of coffee in my hand...Watch out now! I'm a true soldier on the Lords battlefield then, with the Lords praises continually in my mouth.

I say all this friends to say, this New Year is a gift. Do something NEW with it. Step out on faith and do something you've always wanted to do. I am. I have decided that 2013 is my year to take my writing to the next level. I will promote my blog. I will attend a christian writing seminar. I will pray that God continues to bless my heart with His word and my mind with understanding, that I may share it with you all. I pray that you will all walk along side me in developing this ministry. Your prayers and comments are truly appreciated. Let me know how I'm doing!!! Please feel free to share what God lays on your heart when you read my articles. Also, let me know if I can stand in the gap for you as you decide what NEW thing you are going to do this year. Trust Gods promise that we "can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13, KJV) Don't let fear or doubt hold you back from being great for God! Take the daily gift of life that God so freely gives and do something FABULOUS with it, "...that God in all things may be glorified..." (1 Peter 4:11, KJV).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!