Hello ... What Is Your Name?

For those struggling with the past because others just won't let it go!! Remember, no one is perfect and they constantly try to remind you of your past to keep from looking at their own. All you can do is be the bigger person, keep your head up and eyes focused on the ONLY ONE that matters and know that you are somebody special. God has you right where HE wants you, and HE has who he wants in your life. We all have regrets, we've all been defeated, we've all been lost, we've all been beat down, we've all had to make tough choices, we've all been hurt by lies and the dishonest opinions of others. Sadly some will choose to live their entire life in this state of defeat, but we encourage you today to take a look at the life you could have ... Best decision of our lives was to turn it all over to our Heavenly Father so that we could live a life free of worry, sorrow and drama. We are entirely too blessed to be stressed. Each and every day is a gift and a blessing from above, and we will not let the opinions and actions of others dictate our happiness. Be Blessed and May God's Grace and Mercy find a space in your lives.

Lyrics by:

Matthew West ~ Hello My Name Is ... 

Hello, my name is regret
I’m pretty sure we have met
Every single day of your life
I’m the whisper inside
That won’t let you forget
Hello, my name is defeat
I know you recognize me
Just when you think you can win
I’ll drag you right back down again
‘Til you’ve lost all belief
These are the voices, these are the lies
And I have believed them, for the very last time
Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, and I have been set free
“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I am no longer defined
By all the wreckage behind
The one who makes all things new
Has proven it’s true
Just take a look at my life
What love the Father has lavished upon us
That we should be called His children
I am a child of the one true King

Where Is The Compassion and Love

Compassion is something that is lacking in so many areas of our lives. What is compassion? Webster defines it as this: noun: a feeling of wanting to help someone who is sick, hungry, in trouble, etc. :  a sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it. So I ask you, how do you define it? What does compassion look like to you? Is it kicking someone when they are down? Is it playing off of someones feelings and emotions? Is it taking advantage of a bad situation? I'm sure most all of us would answer "no" to these questions, unfortunately our society as a whole screams an entirely different answer. I'm am terribly saddened by situations that are taking place right now in Ferguson, and my heart breaks for all of those involved. What was already a terrible situation is being made worse by the actions of a few. It has now become what seems like a race war and that just adds fuel to the fire and knocks us back hundreds of years. We have come so far and grown so much with racial barriers. To be thrown back to a time of hatred based on ones skin color is certainly a step in the wrong direction. When are we all going to realize that we are all God's children? He made us different on purpose not to be inferior to one another, but to learn and grow from each other. If you take a look at Genesis 1:26 it says: Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." Nowhere in that scripture does it say anything about any one particular race ruling over these things ... it says mankind in our image. We are all created in God's image just the same and our skin color does not determine who is less valuable in the eyes of the Lord. We are all His children and we are all loved just the same. Racism and hate come from the devil himself because he knows if he can keep us fighting one another then we are not following the most important commandment that God gave us:
Galatians 5:14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself".  What I am seeing right now is far from love, and I'm certainly not seeing any compassion.

I am just as upset as the next person about the incidents that have taken place. I'm saddened by the events that led up to it, and heartbroken for the loss of life as a result. My heart truly hurts for the family of this teenage boy, as does it hurt for the family of the officer involved. None of us will ever know the true story because sadly one party is no longer here to tell his side. Now following these devastating events more tragedy is taking place with hate groups coming together to protest. These people are coming together  in angry mobs because they are all going off of speculations and witness statements being released by the media. We are all old enough to know that the media is notorious for reporting things half way at times. They are all in such a hurry to break a story, that shortcuts are often taken and truths get lost. Then you see speculations about what happened. All it takes is just one person to light a fire of fury under just a few people and it spreads like wildfire. Out of all of these people lashing out in anger and hate not one of them was present during the altercation. You have more innocent lives being effected by the actions of a few that are lashing out and calling for riots. People are hating one another again simply for the color of their skin. I'm just gonna be real for a minute, first off I don't have a racist bone in my body. I don't see color and I certainly don't treat people different based on their skin color. Why? because as I have stated before, we are all God's children. You see last year I was put in the hospital and had to have a blood transfusion. As the nurses were getting me prepped they brought in the two pints of blood I needed; you can rest assured that I did not question the race of the donor. I was simply grateful for the generosity of those that gave in order to save my life. I didn't care what race they were, because guess what ... we are all the same on the inside, we were all created equal in the eyes of the Lord. So tell me this, with all the hate going on in the world right now, if you were in that same situation and needed blood would you question the race of the donor? Most likely not, because you would be just as grateful as I was to the faceless donor that was saving your life. So why hate each other in the flesh? Truth be told if some of these people now feuding with one another had crossed paths at any other time in life then they might have possibly been friends. Why does the careless actions of a few people dictate how we now see ourselves as a human race?

We are all very familiar with the old saying "love is blind", and it's true, love really is blind. When you add love and compassion to the mix you begin to see people lifting each other up, not tearing each other down. No, I am not completely ignorant to the fact that we've all had to overcome some history. I am very well aware of the days of slavery and when women had no rights. I am also very aware of just how far we've come from those days. You see we all want to hate each other for things that none of us even had to endure. I hated to learn about things that people had to go through all those years ago. In my own flesh and heart I was angry at the people that did such awful things. Even now I watch movies and just get disgusted at how things once were. I just look at the television with tears in my eyes, and hurt in my heart, and wonder how someone could be so awful. Can't they see, we are all human beings, we are not animals for crying out loud. Yet, the ignorance went on for far too many years, and even today it is rearing its ugly head. I am saddened by things that we learn about in our history books. It makes me question so many things, even in current events I just shake my head and say why? Why God is there so much evil in the world? Why God is there so much hate? You start to hear statements that start off with: Well if there is a God? Or, Why does your God allow such things to happen? We are all so quick to question God, but it isn't God doing these things. It's the evil in this world, the devil that infiltrates our homes and hearts and leaves nothing but a path of destruction behind. We sit back and think of how terrible our current events are with school shootings, bombings and riots to name a few. We think about how bad that is and why on earth would a loving God ever allow innocent children to die. We begin to lose hope in mankind and start to even question our faith. My Papa used to say all the time "What has been, shall be again", and he was right. If you look back over the course of time you will see how history tends to repeat itself over and over. Every time in the face of adversity we seem to fall apart at the seams and start tearing each other apart. Pointing fingers and laying blame instead of standing tall together to overcome the obstacle that was placed before us. Each and every time we fall right into the devils trap.

John 8:7 says: When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." In this scripture Jesus is referring to a woman who committed adultery. In those times you could be stoned to death for committing such an act. You can see that Jesus has compassion for her so he challenges her accusers. Although, He knew what sins she committed He still loved her and forgave her of her sin. However, He also knew that no man among them was sinless. Just like today, not one of us has a completely sin free life. Yet we all stand on our pedestals so quick to throw out judgement and anger, ready to attack anyone that we feel wronged us somehow. This isn't the way of the Lord and it sure isn't loving our neighbors as ourselves. So many people standing ready to stone a man for a sin that was committed. Is it wrong for us to feel anger? Absolutely not, it is however wrong to sin in your anger. Both sides of this tragedy is hurting and no one wants to believe that the person they love is capable of doing such evil things. As I said earlier, no one really knows the truth or the intentions behind the events that took place in the middle of the street by either party. What we have now is a disastrous mess left behind with the devil dancing in the streets rejoicing at his victory. We have hate and division among us and we all know that nothing good will come of that. Ephesians 4:25-32 says:  Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you. 

I realize there are things that happen in life that are so gut wrenching and hurtful, and we just want to retaliate by whatever means necessary. I just urge you my brothers and sisters to think before you act. Think about the ripple effects of your actions, think about all the wrongs you are responsible for, think about the people you have hurt, think about the times you've had to ask for forgiveness, but most of all think about how you felt when you were shown forgiveness, love and compassion. Will it ever take away the memory or the pain, probably not, but it certainly won't hurt so bad. At the very least you can find peace when you show God's love and mercy to others.  I realize today's post didn't seem very inspirational, but there are times that we just have to be real. We have to stop and take in all the mess that is going on around us and try to find some middle ground. While my heart hurts I just don't see how fighting will help. So I choose to pray and love each and every one of you the way God loves me. None of us are without sin and none of us have any right to throw stones, so let's first start with ourselves and our own actions before trying to correct others. We are so quick to punish those who sin against us; yet we forget that the One without sin took the ultimate punishment for ALL OF OUR SINS so that we didn't have to. He lived a life free of sin, but took the beating and death sentence that we all deserved .... Now that is what I call LOVE.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is LOVE.

1 Corinthians 13:13 

When The Waters Are Raging On

Do you ever just feel like the waves of life just keep crashing in without giving you a chance to catch your breath? Do you ever wonder where God is during those times? Well He is right there in the boat with you. Sometimes in life He allows the storm to rage on. It is during these times that He is molding and teaching us. He may be teaching us endurance, patience, strength, trust or He might just be testing our faith into new levels of worship. Whatever His reason may be you can rest assured that there is a purpose behind it. So don't lose hope and don't get discouraged, because He is right there with you. He is walking along beside you and He can calm your storm at any time. So just keep pushing through, keep praising, and keep looking up because your breakthrough is coming!!!

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

You Are An Overcomer

Trying to overcome the negative in our lives can often times be challenging. We all deal with some type of adversity, for some, it's daily. We often times wonder why people do the things they do. Unfortunately, no one can really answer that question for you but that person, and their answer isn't always the truth. Sometimes they come up with an excuse or reason trying to lay the blame on you for something you did to them. They may even try to blame it on someone else. Although, the truth is, people do what they do to get a reaction out of you. Can we control the things people say and do? Absolutely not, but we can control our reaction and our response to them. We have to realize our own self worth and know who we are in God's eyes. Once you realize that then it doesn't really matter what people think of you, right? Well that is easier said than done. I know because some times these people are our family, they are friends that we've known our entire life and they are people that you never would have thought would turn their back on you. It's the people that mean the most to us that hurt us the deepest. We have all been on that path trying to turn our lives around and do better, only to have certain people constantly tearing you down. You will never make it, You will never amount to anything, You are just wasting your time they say. More times than not they will get you off track and put you right back where you started, leaving you feeling like a defeated failure. These changes for you don't have to be anything in particular, it could be making a big move, losing weight, changing jobs, going back to school, quit smoking, going to church, taking up a new hobby, making new friends, stop partying etc. 

For some people change is very hard to accept and they don't like it at all. They don't like to see people move on from where they are, they don't like to see people succeed or do better for themselves. So they try to get in your head and discourage you in any way possible. Telling you lies straight from the devil himself about how you won't ever get any where. Lies that remind you of who you were and where you came from. Just because someone doesn't agree with your decision, doesn't mean it's wrong for you. They don't know what you are going through and they don't know how God is working in their life. So instead they talk bad about you or make negative comments about things that they know nothing about. It would be really nice if people would tend to their own life. When they are busy focused on God and their life then they don't have time to talk about, or gossip about someone else. It really is sad that some people put on their church face for the congregation, but in their personal life they are consistently messy and slanderous. They shout from the rooftops and pat themselves on the back for their own accomplishments of "private bible study" or their service is ministry. When the only One that matters already knows what they are doing. He also knows their heart. When you serve God be it in your personal time or in a public setting, you should only be focused on the approval of God and not the approval of man. It is rather hypercritical to praise yourself for deeds that you have done when you are only doing them for public recognition. If these people are in fact being true to God and walking out a genuine Christian love for others then they would not spread slanderous things about others. They would not encourage drama and they would mind their own business when it doesn't concern them. No one person is perfect we are simply forgiven and we all will make mistakes, but when people constantly cause friction in the lives of others, have they really changed? Are they being a true christian? Are they being like minded with Christ? These are the people that you really should try to avoid in your life. Unfortunately, the church is so full of people like this that are hypocritical and judgmental that is can be discouraging. You are trying to start over and start a new life for yourself only to have people look down on you with their self righteousness. 

So I encourage you today to just try to look past these people. Surround yourself with people that will care about and love you through prayer. They will pray for the same guidance and confirmation that you have been praying for, instead of causing turmoil and drama. Just remember that God can open doors that no one can close and He can pour favor out on every area of your life. Sometimes He may even have to remove you from where you are and take you away from the negativity that surrounds you. It's not running, it's taking a step of faith and walking out a path that God has set before you. So for your negative Nellie's and naysayers ... just because they don't agree with what you are doing doesn't mean it is the wrong decision for you. A very dear friend of mine shared these words with me and I genuinely believe them with all my heart "If it's God appointed, there ain't a demon in hell that can stop it". So, say farewell to anything and everything that is holding you back and take that step of faith into the arms of God. 

Don't be mislead: "Bad company corrupts good character."

1 Corinthians 15:33 

You Are Not Alone

Today it is with a heavy heart that we reflect on just how fragile life can be. Yesterday the world lost a man that brought much laughter into the homes and hearts of many of us. Although we may not have known him personally, there were many that did. Robin Williams was a beloved husband, father, son, among many other titles, but to us he may have been a way to escape. His ability to make us laugh through comedy may have made us forget our own problems, even if only for a moment. I don't pretend to know anything about him or about his situation. I like the rest of America am going strictly on what has been made public through news broadcast and media. With that being said, I find it so very sad that someone who brought laughter to so many quite possibly died by his own hand due to depression. Of course the official cause of death has not been released, I am again going off of media reports. Whether or not it was suicide is not the point I am trying to make today, although it does bring attention to a very serious matter and is what has prompted today's post. 

A very famous quote by Robin Williams says "I used to think the worst thing in life is to end up all alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel all alone."  I know for some of us we feel like we are all alone in this great big world. So we may stay in places and situations that we are familiar with because at least we aren't "alone". Sure it may be a terrible relationship or an abusive situation, but we find ourselves believing that there isn't anything better out there. We stay because we are scared of the unknown forgetting that we are completely miserable and depressed in the situation that we are in. Depression is a silent killer, it can not always be seen, and can often times turn into other addictions such as: alcohol, drugs, cutting etc. When someone is depressed they find other ways to "kill the pain" so to speak by trying to do things that make them forget. 

Unfortunately, sometimes that can turn into alcoholism, drug addictions and attempted suicides. When someone gets to the point of feeling like there is no purpose in living any longer, they can't find the positive in any situation so they feel like that is their only escape. Sadly, their choice of escape is a permanent solution to what is most of the time a temporary problem. It really hurts my heart to know that there are people out there that do not know love. They do not know what it feels like to be cared about by others. They felt so alone in this world that they felt no reason to live, and for that I kind of blame society. We live in such a cruel world that children are taking their own lives because of bullying. Seriously, these days kids can be so mean and hateful. Let's face it, as adults we can admit to doing some pretty stupid stuff growing up. Some of it no different then what kids these days are doing. The only difference is today we have social media and so many outlets for tortured kids to be reminded over and over of the humiliation that they felt from a bad decision they made. Then it's not just their classmates that are laughing and making fun of them, it's all over the worldwide web, where just as many cruel adults are weighing in with their comments and opinions. In my opinion people go way too far when they hide behind the protection of their computer screens. They sit in the comfort and safety of their own homes doing and saying things that they would never dare tell someone in person. What ever happened to compassion and love? What happened to adults being adults and teaching their children right from wrong? We have evil misguided children because this world is full of evil misguided adults. Why not try teaching your kids to make friends with someone who is always alone? Or how about just teaching them not to make fun of people period? Just because someone is different than you doesn't make them weird or abnormal and it certainly doesn't make you better than them. 

Today let's be reminded that we are all loved. We are all created equal in God's eyes and we all have a purpose for being born. So if you are suffering today and feel like you are worthless, then let me remind you that you are somebody. You are loved and you are cherished. Just know that this earthly place that we walk among is only temporary. If you just accept your Heavenly Father into your heart and let Him fill the voids of your life where man has left empty then you will see your worth. You see God loves each of us equally no matter how bad we are; and no matter how much we try to deny Him. All we have to do is accept His love. His grace and mercy are never ending and He can wipe clean every mistake you've ever made. He can pull you out of any situation you are in, but you have to be the one to turn to Him. So for my brothers and sisters that are hurting let me share this scripture with you from Psalm 34:17-20 "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all of their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken." So you see, you are precious in the eyes of the Lord and you have a purpose. If you need prayer for anything then please do not hesitate to reach out to us because that is what we are here for. Let us help bring you up out of the darkness and into the light so that you can know what true love is. 

For my fellow believers, I challenge you to find ways to show love to others. I challenge you to reach out to someone who may be dealing with depression. I challenge you to not be so quick to judge each other when you hear rumors. We all know that everything we hear is not the entire truth, so why jump on the first band wagon that comes along with the latest gossip. Maybe instead of being so quick to believe the trumpet blower, you reach out to the silent party and offer prayer. More times than not the one blowing the trumpet is the one with things to hide. Although, placing blame and pointing fingers at everyone but themselves will keep the attention off of them. Playing the victim will keep everyone on their side, but be very careful when you fall into this trap because just because they shout the loudest doesn't mean they are being entirely truthful. While everyone is so busy tending to the trumpet blower the silent party is losing more and faith in human kind. They keep to themselves only to hear more and more of their business through the grapevine and only partially true. They lose friends and family members because they choose to not take part in the "he said, she said" game. They finally just accept all the blame because it just isn't worth trying to convince an army of people who clearly have all the one sided information. When in the grand scheme of things they don't have a clue!!! It is situations like this that we find out how strong we are. Sadly not everyone is as strong and they are only made to feel worse because they feel like they have been completely abandoned. They might make a final attempt to reach out and ask for help, but when they do ... they are made to feel worthless all over again because no one has ever gotten their side so they finally decide that it is no longer worth it. So they do the unthinkable and make a drastic decision to end their own life, because no one cares about them any way, right? 

Don't let this be your story, don't be the one that passes judgment on someone because of something you may have heard about them. Learn the truth, get the facts and then pray for all parties involved. Don't add to the chaos by continuing to spread rumors or by turning your back on someone that could literally be crying out for help. Take the time to find out the truth, and show God's love, grace and mercy in every situation that you may find yourself in. Someone reaching out to you may be their last attempt at saving their life, so don't be so judgmental. I am sadly reminded that people who have so much influence, fame and fortune are often times some of the loneliest, saddest people on earth. Always questioning if the people in their life genuinely cares for them and if they would still be there if all the fame and fortune were gone. Too many stars in Hollywood on the path to destruction, because money and fame can not and will not make you happy in the end. 

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34 

Note: Movie Recommendation ~ To Save A Life 

Fantastic movie that deals with a student's and Youth Pastor's first hand guilt at ignoring someone's cry for help.

Are You Pleasing God?

How can you be sure that you are pleasing God? Is just claiming to be a christian enough? Is going to church enough? Is saying the right things, at the right times, to the right people enough? Are you looking for approval and gratitude of man? Do you do the things you do with the expectation of someone taking notice and acknowledging your work? Are you boastful about the things that you do for others? Are you boastful about the time you spend in your private, quiet, personal times of devotion? If you answered "yes" to a majority of these questions then let us take a quick look at Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ." 

What I get from this scripture is that I must first determine my motives before doing anything in the name of the Lord. Is doing things for people a good thing? Yes, of course it is. However, if your intentions aren't pure, then you probably shouldn't do it. What I mean by that is if you are wanting to be praised and acknowledged by man then your heart isn't in the right place. You see God sees all and knows all. He knows the genuine motivation of your heart, and the reasons for you doing what you are doing. Going to church is great, but being in church every time the doors are open does not make you a christian. What makes you a christian is the genuine relationship that you have with your Heavenly Father. Sure being seen makes you look good on the outside, but it's what is on the inside that really counts. Serving in multiple ministries is great, but again is your heart really in it? Are you seeking and following the will of God for your life? You might be surprised to find out that God doesn't care if you serve on 100 ministries, what He cares about is how you serve. Are you passionate about where you serve? Are you putting your heart into it? Are you seeking God's guidance for the way you serve? Are you seeking His approval and His approval only? These are questions we should ask whenever we are serving in any area of our life. As Christians we get so caught up in telling everyone how great we are instead of just showing them. We tend to forget that letting your actions speak for you goes so much further than your words. Sure we can all talk a great game, but it's what you do that really counts. Do you serve selflessly in the areas that go unnoticed? If so than rest assured your works are being noticed by the only one that truly matters. Everyone wants to be center stage for our own glory and gratification, but those that work behind the scenes are the ones doing the greatest works.

Now don't get me wrong, we all want to be appreciated for what we do. There is nothing wrong with expecting a simple "thank you". However, we sometimes seem to want it from everyone. We want to be acknowledged for the works that we do. We want everyone to know what we did, but this isn't the way of God. If you are having to toot your own horn so to speak, then again you should re-evaluate your motives. When your motives are pure then others will acknowledge you, because they hear of your good works from others and not from yourself. We've all been caught in those situations when someone is going on and on and on about what they are doing and how much they are doing and how valuable their works are. This my friends is called being boastful. Let us take a look at
Matthew 6:1-7 Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. So that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." 

So again my brothers and sisters, I urge you to serve the Lord and each other with a pure heart. For those of you who already do this and may feel discouraged because your works go unnoticed; take comfort in knowing that God knows your works and He will reward you accordingly. Today I will leave you with this final scripture: Colossians 1:10 "So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God"

May you be blessed in every area of your life.

When You Feel Lost and Alone

When you feel lost and alone, fill your minds with whatever is true and right that God puts before us each day. Focus on the good and try to avoid negative thinking ~ This can be very difficult to do from day to day especially when it seems as if some things are done to purposefully provoke you. One verse that I find helpful in these type situations is 1 Peter 2:23 "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." It is so hard to do this because we are only human and our flesh just screams to lash out at those that come against us. Unfortunately, every time I have let my flesh take control, I am disappointed and I always seem to feel worse. I never feel better because I have let my emotions take over, and I've let myself stoop to the level of others who quite frankly don't even deserve my time let alone my precious thoughts and sound mind. I'm not saying that it will be easy by any means, because it will get harder each time a blow comes at you. I am in a constant battle with myself about the things that people do and say, but in the end I always find that silence is my best response. 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:8-9

The Struggle Is Real

"The struggle is real" ... A quote used by many in various situations. However, for some that saying; those four very simple words carry a whole new weight. What those words could possibly mean in so many situations to so many people is heartbreaking. For some of us the "struggle" really is real, and at times even devastating. Every one struggles with something, no one has a completely conflict free life. Some just struggle differently, some handle the struggles better than others. Some just try to completely ignore the struggle until it erupts into their life like a vicious volcano ... Spewing all over everything and everyone in their life. When it erupts it brings out the ugliness inside of us... The anger, the hatred, the deep dark thoughts buried down in our souls, the hurt, the tears, the insecurities. When these things start surfacing we begin lashing out at those around us. Our family, our friends, our children, our spouses, our co-workers and even complete strangers. Everything in our life is all of a sudden wrong and nothing is right. Our attitude is quick to anger, so our tongue is quick to spout without any thought for the words coming out. We begin to hurt feelings of those that mean the most to us. Why? Because we are angry, we are mad at the world and everything is coming against us. So our natural fleshly instinct is to go into protect mode. So we are instantly on edge always ready to attack anything that should come against us. The problem is when we get to this point we feel like everything is trying to attack us. 

The struggle really is "real", it's just real in different ways for each of us. For some it could be in the form of an addiction alcohol, drugs, sex, porn, gambling, spending, eating or any other addiction out there. For others it may be in their marriage, may be with their children, their siblings, their family members, or it could even be in their finances. Again, everyone is struggling with something. For me it is infertility. It's the lack of feeling like a woman, it's the anger that I have inside because I just don't understand. I'm angry, I'm hurt, I'm devastated, I'm broken, and I don't know what to do. I don't know how to fix it. Dealing with infertility is by no means a childhood dream for anyone, man or woman. No one ever says " hey, I hope some day I can't have kids". They might would say that they don't won't children, but that leaves the option open for them to have them later if they changed their mind. However, infertility takes that option away completely. You get no say in whether or not you have children. 

Today I am sharing with you some of my own struggles; because I want you guys to know that my life is by no means a fairy tale. Throughout this blog I will share my own personal testimonies and let you guys in on some of the things that I have overcome. You see this blog doesn't come out of a perfect life, it comes from a life of struggle, defeat, hurt, disappointment, depression, divorce, abuse and brokenness. However, what I have found along the way is something that I can't help but share. I found the one and only true love that can and will help you overcome anything. "I can do all this through Him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13 I accepted that my Father in Heaven is my saving grace and I don't have to live a life of defeat. I can and will overcome my past and my hurt. It will take some time because I will and have gotten off course. Even now I have by no means arrived to a perfect conflict free life. I still struggle daily, add to the infertility issue four bonus children who I love dearly as if they were my own and you find a whole new set of challenges. So I guess you could say that by sharing with you guys, I am holding myself and my actions accountable in the face of adversity. I have to make my flesh stop and think before responding to issues in my life. I've been lost in the wilderness for too long and now it is time for me to come out to the light and be a guide to others who are lost. I don't think for a second that my situation is unique. I, unfortunately, am well aware of just how common my struggles are among my brothers and sisters. I realize that God has had a plan for me the entire time. He had a reason for allowing things into my life, just like He has a reason for allowing things into your lives. We may never understand any of it, but I promise you this, when you surrender all to Him and seek Him then you will at least have peace. 

Will your life be perfect when you surrender it all to Him? Nope, not by a long shot. If anything, it may become a little more difficult at times, but you will at least know where to turn. One thing that I tell myself is this "A life without struggle, is a life without growth". Just imagine yourself as a precious stone, in order for it to be molded and cut into something shiny and beautiful it has to go through some things. I'll share more on that in a later entry. Today I just wanted to share with you that it doesn't matter how lost you are, you can turn it all around. You see, you may feel lost and out of control, but God know exactly where you are. He is just waiting on you to stop running and turn around. He is there with arms wide open waiting for you to run into His embrace to find rest and comfort. He already knows all of your imperfections, but He loves you in spite of them. His grace and mercy are never ending and there is nothing that you have done or will ever do to make Him stop loving you. So stop trying to do it all on your own, and look up to where your help comes from. Accept your past mistakes and imperfections, forgive yourself and move on with the help of your Father. Think about this scripture and let it marinate for a while as you apply it to your life: But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 

So you see, you don't have to already be perfect and have it all together. God works miracles every day and every day He takes broken people and makes them whole again in His perfection. So don't think you have to have it all together before you come to Him. To Him you are already perfect, you just have to realize your own self worth and start living for Him. We are here for you, to lift you up through prayer and to cheer you on as you begin your journey. So let us know how we can pray for you. You can contact us through email ,Twitter (@God_Working_Daily) or even Facebook (God Working In Our Lives Daily). 

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

When You Are Blessed To Be A Blessing

There are so many times in life that we may be asked to help someone or may be lead to help without even being asked. In these cases we should always give with a genuine heart never expecting anything in return. Too often we hear about someone's troubles, but it isn't always from the person who is in trouble or in need. Unfortunately, we hear about their misfortune through the complaints of the one that helped them out. They are either mad because they feel like they are owed something or they are just looking for a pat on the back from someone else. Today's message is to remember that when you are blessed enough to give then do so with a heart like Christ. Give without any expectation and give without letting anyone else know. The true blessing of giving doesn't come from the repayment or even the gratitude of the receiver. The true blessing of giving comes from the multiplied blessings that your Father in Heaven will reign down on you and your life. Stay blessed and give with a pure heart because God knows the intentions of your heart even when man doesn't.....
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ~ Matthew 6:2-4

Just Be Still

Even in our darkest moments, we always have a place to turn. When the pain is too much and the hurt just keeps coming, turn your face unto the Lord and He will give you strength and guidance. Sometimes in life people will not only disappoint us, but will also hurt us. It is in these times that your character and faith are tested. You can let your flesh overtake you and lash out or you can give it to God. If there is one thing I have learned over the past few years, lashing out is never the answer. In the face of adversity the best revenge and response is to do absolutely nothing but pray. Pray for yourself, Pray for your situation and most importantly Pray for your enemies. There are times in life that people do things deliberately trying to get to you, and the best thing to do is ignore them. Is it hard? Absolutely, but just remember who you have on your side. Your Heavenly Father sees all and knows all, so forget about what is being said and done. Just focus on your walk with Christ and do what you know is right. Do what is pleasing unto the Lord and don't worry about the opinions of man. In the end you only have yourself to answer for. With that being said don't let the actions of others dictate how you will have to answer for yourself when you stand before your Father in Heaven. Hope you all have a blessed day  Feel free to share our page with your friends and family.
~ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Don't Be Afraid To Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone

There are no such things as comfort zones when you live for God. God is going to challenge you, push you, nudge you, and stretch you. Challenging you to toss off self-centeredness and live for him. Pushing you to put Scripture into action - to live a radical life of love, peace, and mercy in this world. To change your community. To speak truth and shine the light in a dark world.

This isn't about feeling good or living a cushy life. Like a potter shaping clay. God will keep working on you - poking and prodding and sculpting your life and character - as he makes you into the person he's created you to be. God has a purpose for you on this planet - and it won't be easy. But it will be worth it.

The Struggle by Jennifer Lawrence 

As I sit here studying on yet another sleepless night, I came across this very simple yet profound statement. As I read it, I couldn't help but think about how it related so much to my very own life. What caught my attention was the very first sentence ... "There are no such things as comfort zones when you live for God", because he is going to challenge us. He is in fact challenging me right now in a couple of different areas, but he did start out by nudging then he began pushing and now I can feel myself stretching. You see I am just happy and content being behind the scenes, ministering to people on a one on one basis. However, God has a different plan for me ... He for some reason feels the need to have me speak on a much larger level.  

I said all of that to say this... when you feel like you have "arrived", you may need to think again. God will always want us to do more. He will continue to challenge us in our lives, and when He sees that we are getting comfortable He will give you something else. I'm sure you guys have heard the saying "God will never give you more than you can handle" and I have also heard the response "I just wish He didn't trust me so much". Which makes sense, but as Christians our work is never done. There are too many unsaved souls out there for us to ever think we are done with what God called us to do. God allows us to go through trials and tribulations so that we can be a light to someone else. Our life is our testimony, no one has a perfect fairy tale that they have lived. We have all dealt with some kind of adversity, whether it be: divorce, abuse, addictions, death, illnesses etc...  So the next time you feel like God has given you more than you can handle; just remember that He put you in that situation and He can pull you out. God has complete control of our lives, but He also gives us free will to make our own choices. So when you are faced with a difficult task or situation, just stop and seek His guidance. You may not understand why in that very moment, but in His time He will reveal the answers to you. So in closing, I don't quite understand why He has called me to this particular task, but I will prepare myself to the best of my ability and leave the rest of it up to my God. Whatever skills and ability that I lack He will no doubt overcome, and His glory will shine through. I pray that I can be a vessel for Him to speak through. Thank you for your support and I pray that this blog will somehow be a light into your lives each day. I pray that these posts are reaching those that need them and I pray that they are speaking to your specific situations. Don't forget that we do accept prayer requests and will be honored to pray for you. May God continue to bless you richly. 

Do You know Your Worth?

Do you know your true worth? For some of us, we feel like we are nothing and we'll never be nothing. We are worthless and have no purpose in life at all. Well let's go ahead and stop that lie right now. That is a lie straight from the devil in the pits of hell. My Bible tells me this in  Jeremiah 1:5 "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations." ~ Well I don't know about you, but that tells me that I am somebody. Unfortunately, so many of us go through life being made to feel worthless and ashamed of who we are. We are beat down and broken to the point that we start to believe it ourselves. I don't know your specific situations or where you came from, but I know that you are not your past. We have all made mistakes and we are all sinners, but there is hope. We can all be forgiven of our past and move forward in life with no guilt of who we once were. One of my favorite quotes is by Oscar Wilde: "Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future". So take that simple sentence and put it to work in your life today. It doesn't matter who you are, what you've done, where you came from or how little you have; you can apply that statement to your life.

For my saints out there, remember that you yourself have a past; so let's stop pretending that we are perfect. We all have had to overcome something in our life and being judgmental is not what we are called to do. Let's go ahead and revisit Matthew 7:1-3 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" Now I'm sure that stepped on a few toes and ruffled a few feathers, if so then I apologize. However, I correct in love through scripture. We are called to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, not because they are like us, but because they are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Now for my sinners, come on and join the rest of us sinners that now have a future. Just because we are saved doesn't make us perfect by any means, what it makes us is forgiven. Let me share with you this verse John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." What that means is that God wants you to live a life free of guilt and shame. He understands that you have messed up and made mistakes. He is the author of your life He already knew the choices you would make; so stop being so hard on yourself. He just wants you to turn your life over to Him so that He can love you the way that you deserve to be loved. He wants to love you like only He can, there is no greater love than the love of your Heavenly Father. You see God created us in His own image, so you are perfectly and wonderfully made. Before you were conceived, God knew you and loved you. Life may have beaten you up a little and you may have gotten off course, but you are still His. You may have been lost, but He has always been there. He is just waiting on you to turn from the wicked ways of the world and recognize that you are His. He is waiting with arms wide open to take away the burdens that you carry around.

I will close with this, you are a precious jewel in your Father's eyes. Regardless, of what anyone on earth says, you have a purpose. Remember, God appointed you as a prophet to the nations, but you have to acknowledge and obey His commandments. You have to seek His Will for your life, and you have to know that you are a child of God. It is never too late to make a fresh start, all you have to do is pray a simple prayer asking God for forgiveness and invite Him into your heart (there is no specific prayer to pray, but an example is referenced below). Then live each day according to His word. Be blessed and feel free to send us an email if you need prayer for anything. If you prayed the Salvation Prayer, please let us know so that we can celebrate with you.

Resources: All scripture quoted was from the NIV Bible
Salvation Prayer: "Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I trust and follow you as my Lord and Savior. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In your name, amen" (PeaceWithGod.net)

Has Your Ship Sailed?

Do you ever find yourself in a place of doubt, worry and wonder? Have you ever thought to yourself: Is it too late? Has my ship sailed? Did I miss the boat? I think we all have at some point in our life. It is in these moments that we feel as if we are drowning in this thing called "life". Well I am here to tell you that there is hope. You don't have to face it all alone. You don't have to go through life by yourself, no matter how alone you feel. Sure some of us have large families, spouses, children, parents, siblings etc, yet you still feel all alone in this great big world. You feel like you have no one to turn to. You feel like if you admit your fears then you are admitting failure and defeat. When the truth is all you have to do is look up. We question so many things in life: why did God allow this to happen? why did God take this away, and why is God not blessing me? or a better one why is God punishing me? You see God never punishes us, yes He may allow things to happen, but He doesn't punish us. It is during these times that all He is waiting for is for you to look up and acknowledge that you do in fact need Him, and admit that you can't do this on your own. Sometimes He lets you hit rock bottom because the only place you can go from there is up. Psalm 121:1-8 says:

I lift up my eyes to the mountains

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the maker of heaven and earth

He will not let your foot slip

he who watches over you will not slumber;

Indeed, He who watches over Isreal

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day, 

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm

he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

So when you get to the point of giving up and feel like there is nothing going your way, then stop trying to do it all alone. Just look up and acknowledge your Father in Heaven and let Him lead you back to the blessings that He has waiting for you. God does indeed have a plan for our lives we just have to be willing to listen and follow Him wherever He may lead us. Sometimes it isn't the best situations or the nicest environments. Sometimes He calls us to places that we never imagined ourselves being, but rest assured He is there with you. God will never call you or lead you into situations that He isn't prepared to get your through. What we must do, however, is not be afraid to move. When He says "go" then you go without fear or hesitation; because when it is God appointed then there is nothing that can stop it. Whenever you get to a place of doubt then refer back to this scripture ~ Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you, "says the Lord, 

"plans to prosper you and not harm you, 

plans to give you a hope and a future."

Thank you for visiting with us today. It is our prayer that you will find peace and comfort in our Heavenly Father no matter what your situation or circumstances are. Remember we are here to pray with you and for you because prayer is the most powerful weapon against the enemy. You have a purpose here and you are precious so don't ever let anyone tell you any different. Be blessed and we look forward to connecting with you tomorrow. 

Note: All scripture quoted today was from the NIV version of the Bible.

How is God working in your life daily?

This seems like such a silly question, yet so many of us seem to forget that He does in fact work every day in our lives. Unfortunately, we are just too busy to acknowledge His presence and existence  daily.  Sadly the typical Christian attitude and lifestyle saves Him for our Sunday mornings, and for some of us our Wednesday evenings. How much better would our day to day lives be if we included His presence in them? I know personally that when I wake up each day with God in my heart, my day goes much smoother. So how can you begin to acknowledge Him daily?

1.) Acknowledge that just the simple act of you waking up is Him giving you another day. Each day          is a blessing and a gift and should be treated as such, because somewhere in the world someone else didn't wake up. ~ Psalm 118:24  This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

2.) Be thankful for just the little things in your life. Thank Him for waking you up, for your job (no matter how much you hate it), for providing you food to eat, a roof to  keep you safe, a bed to allow you comfort to sleep, your spouse, your children, your family, your freedom to worship Him, thank Him for all of the little things that we take for granted each and every day. ~ Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

3.) Forgive yourself daily .... You are not perfect and no one else is either. So cut yourself some slack and realize that in life you will mess up, you will make mistakes, but it isn't the end of the world. Acknowledge and admit to your mistakes and learn from them, don't make excuses for them. We tend to get so caught up in our pride that we forget that it is okay to admit when we are wrong. We are all going to fall short of perfection and make mistakes and that is okay. God doesn't expect us to be perfect.  ~ 1 John 1:8-10 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that His word has no place in our hearts.

4.) Love Yourself as God loves you. I know this is so hard, even for myself. I get so angry with myself at things from my past or things that I may do or say. I forget so easily that God has already forgiven me and He doesn't love me any less. Acknowledge that you are His child and just like your children you can't do anything that will cause God to stop loving you. ~ Romans 5:8 But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

These are just a few things that we can begin to incorporate into our daily lives that will help us to acknowledge the ways that God works daily. There are so many other things that we can do to help us begin to change the way we think and that is what this blog is being created for. To help those that are lost and hurting and may not know the love of Christ. This post is specifically for those of us who do know Him, yet take His existence for granted. We as Christians are called to share the love and that is what we hope to do. By starting this blog it is our prayer that it will reach those that are in dark places and feel like they have no where to turn. Each day we will post encouraging words that will include scripture. There may even be times that we will post personal testimonies and share how God moved in our lives. If you need prayer for specific situations then please feel free to send us an email and we will pray privately for you. All requests are confidential and will be kept private.

Thank You for taking the time to connect with us. We look forward to seeing how God begins to move in your lives and situations.