5 Promises To Look Forward To In 2014

5 Promises To Look Forward To In 2014

The Lord your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save; 

He will rejoice over you with gladness, 

He will quiet you with His love, 

He will rejoice over you with singing. 

Zephaniah 3:17

1. God will be in with you, in your midst!

  

2. God (the Mighty One) will save you!

  

3. God will rejoice over you with gladness!

  

4. God will bring you peace, He will quiet you with His amazing, never changing, all encompassing, love!

  

5. God will rejoice over you with singing! Some versions say "with loud singing" just imagine that - God singing loudly, His heart full of gladness and love all over YOU! 

I hope no matter the circumstances you are faced with in the coming year, you will lift your cries, your songs, your heart, your everything, up to God.  Welcome Him into your life; to be your Savior, Redeemer, friend, comforter, help, guide, and joy...He is waiting for you to simply ask Him to come! 

God is good!!! I am so thankful for all He's done in 2013, and can't wait to see all He has planned for us in 2014!!  

Be abundantly blessed my friends!!

Happy New Years!  

Life Lessons

Life Lessons

Here I am about to turn the big 3 0 in a few months, and though I realize I still have much to learn, and many things left in my to do list...I also realize that there are so many lessons I have already learned.  

So here is a list:

• Banging your head on the counter from a hard sneeze, hurts really bad.
• Breaking your toe while doing the chicken dance, also hurts really bad.
• Being made fun of, hurts worse than either of the previous two things.
• The pain of loss, never quite goes away.
• Life is hard!
• When we hurt, God brings us comfort.
• When we are broken, God is our healer.
• When we are down and out, God lifts us up and draws us close.
• When we deal with loss, God becomes our strength, carrying us when we can't walk.
• When life is hard, God is our shield, our protection in every storm.
• God is good! 
• God's love is so amazing, unfathomable, bigger and better than anything we know. 
• God is the creator of the universe, He holds everything together; Yet He also knows the very number of hairs on our heads. 
• God wants to have an everyday, every situation, walking together, personal relationship - with us.
• We were created to love and praise God.
• When we put God first in our lives, everything else will fall into place.
• No matter where we are, what we've done, how good or bad life seems...We all need Jesus!  

I am sure I could put many more things down on this list, however, you don't really want to read that long of a post, and I think I've covered most of the important things already!  :) 

God Is So Good!!

Good Morning Holy Spirit - Chapter 12

Good Morning Holy Spirit

Chapter 12: Heaven On Earth

1.  Do you believe in healing by faith? Why, or why not? If not, state your reasons, not your feelings or emotions.

Yes! It is through faith that we are saved, and it is through faith that we receive healing.  Jesus said, "If you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move!' and it will be thrown into the sea".  Faith (even if only the size of a mustard seed) is an important part of the Christian life, without faith, you will not do anything, including receive salvation!

2. Whom does the Holy Spirit promote through His works? Is it you, God, Himself, or Jesus?

Jesus! The Holy Spirit always promotes Jesus, because believing in Jesus is the key to receiving all that God has for us.

3. What is the source of the Holy Spirit's gifts?

God is the source of all gifts, Jesus is what gives us access to God's gifts and the Holy Spirit is the one who delivers those gifts to us.

4. How do you know when the convicting power of the Holy Spirit is working in your life?

When you find yourself feeling the need to pray...that's the power of the Holy Spirit working in your life.  When you find yourself convicted of sin...that's the power of the Holy Spirit working in your life.

When you are full of joy and just can't help but sing praises to God...that's the power of the Holy Spirit working in your life.

When you find yourself facing a mountain far too big, and you find yourself on your knee's calling out for God's help...that's the power of the Holy Spirit working in your life.

He is the One who prompts us, nudges us, and constantly calls out to us, following us through our darkest hour and even into our brightest day...always making known to us that Jesus is the answer to all of life's problems.

5. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit has been given to you as a guarantee of ____________.

Eternal Life!

6. What is the greatest purpose of the Holy Spirit?

The greatest purpose of the Holy Spirit is to draw people to Jesus...then once we accept Jesus as our personal Savior, the Holy Spirit works in our hearts and lives, to help us to daily die to ourselves, and live in Christ.  He strengthens us, teaches us, comforts us, leads and guides us, anoints us, helps us pray, gives us rest and a whole lot more!!

7. Have you asked the Holy Spirit to come into your life? Have you asked Jesus Christ to come into your life? If not, you can do so right now by praying, "Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner.  I believe that you are the Son of God and You shed Your precious blood on the cross for me.  Forgive me of my sin. Cleanse my heart from all unrighteousness.  I thank you for saving me now. Amen."

If you prayed that prayer just now, you are a new creation, and God and all the angels in heaven are celebrating today because you have become a part of the family of God.  You will never walk alone, your heavenly Father loves you more than words can say...I am so glad I get to call you my brother or sister in Christ! Welcome to the Family!! 

I encourage you to find a local group of believers to fellowship with regularly, and start studying God's Word daily... God has great plans for you!! :o)

Good Morning Holy Spirit - Chapter 11

Good Morning Holy Spirit

Chapter 11: "Why Are You Weeping?"

1.  Why can't blasphemy against the Holy Spirit be forgiven? 

I think about the different hurts we deal with in life - physical pain will heal over time, but when someone speaks negatively about you and wounds your spirit, it takes much time, and an act of God to help you get past it, to move on and not have it effect everything you do.  I think that the Spirit of God is fragile or sensitive much like our own spirits are sensitive and fragile.  When you make the choice to speak against, or to insult the Holy Spirit, it causes Him pain, and when you purposefully harm God's Spirit, God will not forgive you for it.

2. Read Matthew 12:30-32. How can you be assured you will never blasphemy the Holy Spirit?

Matthew 12:30-32 (NKJV)

30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

The Unpardonable Sin

31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

If we love Jesus and desire to serve Him and walk with Him each day, we will not ever speak a word against the Holy Spirit...only those who do not love the Lord, and who do not care what His Word says, or what He thinks about their daily actions and decisions, will purposefully speak against a Holy Spirit.

3. How do you know the Holy Spirit is still with you?

As we go throughout our daily lives the Holy Spirit is faithful to convict us of wrong thoughts, actions, words, etc.  And He leads us to pray for someone or tell someone Jesus love them, etc.  If The Holy Spirit is still actively speaking to you, you know that He is still with you.  

4. Describe what it means to "walk after the Spirit." Read Romans 8:1.

Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

Free from Indwelling Sin

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Walking according to the Spirit, is when we make the choice to obey His voice.  When He convicts us of a sin, we quickly ask for forgiveness.  When He asks us to pray, we stop what were doing and we pray.  Obedience to His Voice = Walking in the Spirit.

5. For the next seven days, work on memorizing the seven works of the Spirit described by Paul in Romans 8. Write a short list of the good things that will occur when each work is manifest in your life.

Seven Works of The Holy Spirit as described by Paul in Romans 8:

1. There is power over sin.  -I will be able to make right choices and decisions

2. He will fulfill the law. -I no longer need to try to be perfect, He takes care of it.

3. He will give you the mind of God. -I have the mind of God working daily renewing my mind.

4. He will give you righteousness. -Even though I am a sinner, He gives me the righteousness paid for through Christ death on the cross.

5. He will give life to your body. -My body will daily be renewed and strengthened.

6. He will bring death to self. -It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives through me.

7. He will testify of your salvation. -Other's will see that I am different, they will see Christ in me, my life will be a light.

Good Morning Holy Spirit - Chapter 7

Good Morning Holy Spirit

Chapter 7: Wind for Your Sails

1. Describe in your own words what a Spirit-filled life is.

A Spirit-filled life is life full of the Joy of the Lord, love, forgiveness, humility, and complete surrender to God.  The Spirit-filled life is a life of power through the inner-working of Holy Spirit.  

2. What are the four main functions of the Holy Spirit when He is working in our lives?

The Holy Spirit working in our lives can be seen in multiple ways, but a few of the tell tell signs are these...

1. Your speech and focus will change, no longer does the world revolve around you, your wants, your needs, your desires...You start focusing in God, - instead of self-centered, we become God-centered.
2. A new song...When we are filled with the Spirit, we receive a new song in our heart...a song of joy, praise, deliverance!!
3. A thankful heart! When the Spirit dwells within you, in all things, good and bad, you will find yourself thankful!
4. A servant heart - just as your focus is no longer on yourself, your heart will now long and desire to love other people through serving, and helping.    

3. What is the author's answer to people who ask him, "Am I filled with the Holy Spirit?"

If you don't know, then you're not!

4. At what point does the Holy Spirit become available to us personally?

When we accept the gift of salvation.

5. Have you found it difficult, or impossible, to surrender yourself to the Lord? Try to pinpoint what is holding you beck?

At times I have found myself wrestling with the Lord, and most of the time it is when I come up with my plan and I expect God to make it happen.  The Holy Spirit has spoken to me on this, and it always come back to whether or not I trust Him.  It seems to me that I finally surrender one part of my life and think I have made progress only to turn around and realize there is a different part that needs surrendered. It is an ongoing thing, that all of us deal with, that is why Paul describes it as surrendering your life as a living sacrifice. A living sacrifice can get up off of the altar...so we have to daily and even multiple times a day surrender again and place our life back on the table, so that it is Jesus living in us.  

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galatians 2:19-21

6. Write down the seven steps to meaningful prayer on a little piece of paper.  Carry it with you and refer to it when you pray.  Try to include all seven steps until they become automatic.

I am going to sit down and write these steps out, and I encourage you to do so as well.  Just a quick glance at my prayer life, I can see all of these steps at this time or that time, but not necessarily all at one time.  This is definitely something I want to work on.

7. If your prayers incorporate the seven steps, what is likely to come about in your prayer life?

When we incorporate all seven steps in our prayer lives, we will find that when we pray, the Spirit intercedes for us, and we really aren't doing most the prayer...it is the Spirit praying for us, which means our prayers are filled with more power and authority.

Good Morning Holy Spirit - Chapter 5

Good Morning Holy Spirit

Chapter 5: Whose Voice Do You Hear?

1. How are you led by the Spirit?

Everyday, as I go through my day - changing diapers, playing dress-up with my girls, cleaning toilets, washing dishes, reading Facebook status updates, or blogging, whatever it is my day holds, I am constantly having a private conversation with the Holy Spirit.  He speaks to me quietly through the scriptures, and there are times when I just know that I need to send a message to someone or to call and share something specific with a friend or loved one.  It is hard to explain, but it is just a quiet nudge, and suddenly I just know I'm supposed to do or say or write something.  It is an amazing, exciting and comforting experience...because I know that He is with me, in everything, He is walking with me, leading me, guiding me, and protecting me.

2. How early in the Bible does the Holy Spirit first appear?

In the very beginning...it was the Holy Spirit that hovered over the face of the deep, before God spoke anything into existence!

3. Define the breath of life that flowed through Adam's body?

The breath of life that flowed through Adam, making him alive, not just a body with flesh and blood, but with a spirit...that breath was the very breath of God...God the Holy Spirit blew over and into Adam, bringing him to life, and into communion with Himself.

4. What do we have in common with Adam, spiritually speaking?

Adam walked and talked with God everyday (since the scriptures say that no one has seen the Father, and that every time the father spoke it was like thunder, I think it safe to assume that when the bible says Adam walked and talked with God, it means God the Holy Spirit) and we have the same ability.  We can walk and talk to God just as Adam did, because the Holy Spirit is God and He is here with us everyday. Once Adam sinned, man could no longer could commune with God in this way, But Jesus paid the price, so that the Holy Spirit could once again commune with us daily.

5. Do you agree or disagree with the statement that "the Holy Spirit is God"? Explain your answer.

Absolutely! The Holy Spirit was there in the beginning, He lead the Prophets, Judges, and Kings of Israel all the way through the Old Testament, and He was there when the virgin Mary conceived the Son of God, and He is the comforter and teacher who leads us today...God the Father and God the Son, both work with and speak through the Holy Spirit.  Just as we are made of body, soul, and spirit, three distinct parts, but all in one person, God is also, three distinct personalities, but all one God. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit - We were made in God's image!!

6. What is the scriptural proof that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one?

In Genesis, God didn't say let me make man in my image, no He said let us (plural because God has three distinct parts) make man in our (once again it is plural) image (singular because the three are one). We are made in the image of all three distinct personalities of God...they worked together to create the heavens and the earth and though they are three distinct parts, they are comprised into one God.  

7. Worldly people haven't a clue about things of the Spirit. Why is that?

Because until you are born of the Spirit the things of the Spirit seem foolish to you.  It is only when you have accepted Christ as your Savior and have the Holy Spirit as your teacher that the things of the Spirit start making sense.  It is like listening in an unknown language...without and interpreter, you have no idea what is being said, but once you find someone who knows the language and they translate the words for you, then you can clearly understand and know what is said.

8. Reread the seven kinds of communion with the Holy Spirit. What steps can you take to activate them in your life?

Start spending time with the Lord.  Through prayer, bible reading, singing praise and worship songs, etc. The more time you spend with Him and in His presence the more ways you will start communing with Him.  When we commune with Him, we learn more about Him, and the more we know Him, the more we love Him, and when you love someone you want to spend time with them.  So the cycle will start and someday you will look back over time, and see just how much you have grown in your friendship and relationship with God. He wants to be your best friend, and in all reality He is, even if you have not recognized it, or returned the feelings, His love for you always has and always will be the same.  He loves you and me more than you or I could ever understand!

Good Morning Holy Spirit - Chapter 2

Good Morning Holy Spirit

Chapter 2 - From Jaffa to the Ends of the Earth

1.Do you talk with the Lord in your prayers as if He was a good friend who stopped by? Practice spontaneous and open prayer right now.

It may seem odd at first, talking out loud to someone you can't see...but I have found that the times when I speak to Jesus as if He is right there, like a friend who came to visit, these are some of the most wonderful times of communion and closeness.  I encourage you to try it!

2. Do you need to suffer for God to take you seriously? Why, or why not?

No! I believe that there are times of suffering, and those times help us to draw on our faith in Jesus, and when we walk through the hard times leaning on Him, we come out stronger than we were before. But even in the good times when we call on the Lord He hears us, and is right there with us.  We should always lean on the Lord and trust Him, and stay in close communion with Him whether in good or bad times.

3. How do you interpret the author's dream about being a prisoner in chains and led down endless stairs?

I believe that the Lord was showing Benny, that he was slowly being pulled and lead down into the evil and darkness of sin.  It was showing Benny that he had a need for a Savior.  

4. In the same dream, what is the symbolism of the angel's appearance and the shackles falling from the author's hands and feet?

The Angel in the dream represented Salvation through Jesus, when we accept this amazing gift, His sacrifice on the cross pays the price for our sins and we are set freed from our chains and burdens and He brings us out of the darkness into His glorious light.  

5. Does God use dreams and visions to send messages to "ordinary" men and women? describe a dream that seemed to carry a message for you.

Absolutely! God has given me many dreams in my lifetime, and though I have not always understood them right away, in God's time He reveals what they mean.  Just this last December God gave me a dream, it would take too long to tell the whole thing, but the gist is this...

All my friends and family were gathered together at my house, and before we had time to realize all of what was going on, I mean by the time we heard, saw, and recognized it for what it really was, a huge bomber dropped two huge missiles on either side of the house.  Everything for miles around was gone, Everyone was in a panic trying to figure out what to do, Flames were lapping the side of the house and coming through the windows...I ran to get my girls out of their beds, and as I returned to the living room I woke up.

At first I focused on the panic, terror and horror of seeing great destruction all around, and living through such a terrible experience, because it was as real as a dream can get...Real!!  But for the next two weeks the Lord faithfully showed me through sermons I heard, scriptures I read, devotionals I read, even songs I heard on the radio, over and over again God showed me that this dream may have been a warning of something terrible coming, but that is not what God wanted me to focus on.  He wanted me to know that no matter the terror, or the fear, He is here, protecting us.  Not even huge missiles landing right outside our house can get through God's covering of protection.  I believe this dream is more a promise of protection from whatever may come, than a warning of things to come, and I am so thankful that God loves me enough to give me this promise personally, not just for me but for my friends and family as well. Thank you Jesus! You are so Good!!

Good Morning Holy Spirit - Chapter 1

Good Morning Holy Spirit

Chapter 1: "Can I Really Know You?"

1. Has the Holy spirit been a distant third person of the Trinity to you? What must you do to bring Him into your life?

No! As I've grown in my walk with the Lord, each day the Holy Spirit is here with me, teaching me, leading and guiding me.  I've had dreams and visions, and I've had him speak clearly to me.  He is so gentle and kind, patient and loving, His presence is so wonderful! I am thankful everyday for my closest friend.  The truth is, the Holy Spirit is with me, and fills me, He knows my thoughts, my hopes and dream, and He knows all the bad things, just as He knows all the good things about me.  But He loves me anyways!  I love spending time in His presence, and learning more and more each day!

If you do not have a personal and daily relationship with the Holy Spirit, all you have to do is accept the gift of salvation through Jesus' gift on the cross, and then confess your a sinner and ask the Holy Spirit to come, teach, lead, guide, and fill you, He will come if you invite Him!

2. What do people filled with the Holy Spirit look like? Are they somehow different? How would you recognize them?

I believe that some people who are filled with the Holy Spirit may at times have a glow like Benny Hinn describes in this chapter, but more often than not, they look normal on the outside, but you will find that they are peaceful, they have wisdom, they have power in their prayers, and they consider God their best friend...these people stand out because of the fruit of the spirit permeating their life.

3.Have you ever witnessed a healing, or other miracle, attributed to the Holy Spirit? What is your definition of a miracle?

A miracle is when something that is physically and scientifically impossible, becomes possible.  Examples of this include, physical healing, financial provisions, sometimes it even can be something like a change in the weather.  I have seen the Holy Spirit change the weather because of a prayer of faith, I've seen God provide when there was just no other way, and I've seen Him heal people...the husband of a dear friend at church, was on his death bed just a few weeks ago, with the doctors giving him no hope to live, but God had other plans, and the doctors and nurses are now calling him Lazarus Man.  

The dead walk, the bind see, the deaf hear...So amazing!!

4. What is the mission of the Holy Spirit among us?

I believe the mission of the Holy Spirit is to lead and guide us, and comfort and protect us, as He is teaching us to be like Jesus!

5. If you want the Bible to come alive for you, what must you do?

If you want the Bible to come alive, you must ask the Holy Spirit to be your teacher...He will open your eyes to see things you've never seen before.  You may have read the Bible in it's entirety, but if the Holy Spirit was not teaching you and guiding you, you missed a lot! As you read with the Holy Spirit as your guide, the scriptures suddenly leap off the page and you find yourself with a deeper understanding of what God is saying in His Word.

Friends!

" A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away."

- Arabian Proverb

I had the privilege of joining a fun group of ladies for a girls weekend at the coast.  We laughed, we cried, but more importantly we sat down face to face, we looked each other in the eye, we got to know each other personally, and we grew together.  It was so incredible to see how God would put two women together for a game or project and then to see how their lives connected and touched each other.  The scripture "two are better than one, for if one falls down the other can help him back up" comes to mind.  God is so good to bring people into our lives who can encourage us, and come along side of us to help us along the way.

You see, God doesn't want us to go through life isolated and alone.  He created us to have friends! Some may only be in your life for a short time, others may be there for all time.  Either way, God has put those people in each of our lives for a reason and with a purpose.  

One of the things I realized this weekend is that we can't go through life expecting the friends to just come to us.  Relationships are hard work, we need to be willing to take that first step and reach out in love.  If you are struggling with the friendships and relationships in your life, or the lack of, remember to go the extra mile, send a card, go out of your way to say hi, be the best friend you can be. Just a simple smile may brighten someones day, and that person may just be the good friend you are looking for! 

Unshakable Faith - Day 46:Walking With God

Unshakable Faith

Day 46:Walking With God

1. Have you accepted your invitation to draw near to Him?

Yes, I so long to be close to my Heavenly Father...I hunger for more of His Word and His presence in my life...I spend hours studying, and getting to know Him...I also talk with Him and spend time just listening to Him as He speaks to me...I love the Lord more than anything...He is my everything!

2. Have you sacrificed all of the things that distract you from becoming closer to Him?

I have given up many things that were distractions to me, but I sense the Holy Spirit nudging me telling me that there are other things in my life, that distract me from spending time with Him, and growing in my relationship with Him.  You see, God already knows everything about each one of us.  He made us, and He knows our every thought and even the number of hairs on our heads.  We are the ones who need to learn more about Him, and to draw near to Him...If there is something in our lives that keeps us from doing what we need to, to get to know Him and spend time with Him, we need to sacrifice it, let it go, give it up, the trade off is always worth it.

3. "There is nothing that says we cannot walk with God to the point that He just takes us up like He did Enoch. Could this in fact be what the rapture really is?"

I would love to walk that closely with God! WOW!!  And I agree that there is not anything in God's Word that says it is not possible, if one man could do it, any of us could...but I believe that the rapture of the church is when Jesus returns for His Bride (the whole church,  all Christians)...Not just a few christian's who grow close enough to God that God takes them.  

Unshakable Faith - Day 39: The Exile

Unshakable Faith

Day 39: The Exile

1. Would you agree that "Man now dwells in a place of continual strife"?

Oh my goodness, yes! It seems that "Man" can't get through one day without some kind of strife.  We all work hard to try to accomplish our goals and make our dreams a reality, but there is constantly something coming up that is a source of strife. Sickness, financial issues, relational issues, and even natural disasters...when the droughts or floods, or earthquakes happen it causes strife in whole communities, and even whole countries.  

Strife is a daily part of life, only when we are walking daily with God, and being obedient to His Word, can all the blessings and favor of God be poured out on our lives...that doesn't mean it becomes a walk in the park...there is still strife, but God provides every need, and protects you and brings you through every storm.

2. Are you more task-oriented or people oriented?

I am definitely a mix...but I think a little more people-oriented than task-oriented.  I love spending time with people, having time to sit and chat or visit, or get a group together to play games and just hangout, is my idea of a fun time.  I love going to large events with lots of people, seeing old friends and catching up.  But I also, am a detail-oriented, task-oriented person...I love making lists and marking things off...When I make a list and by the end of the day am able to mark of most of it, it thrills me! I love coming up with ideas, and figuring out just how it should go, and putting it all together.  But then again, most of my ideas, tend to be about helping people, getting people together, etc.  So yeah, my love for people comes through even in my all my task and list making!

3. Is your church more task-oriented or people-oriented?

Hmmm, this is a close call...I think it definitely has both qualities...but I'm leaning towards people-oriented.  Our church is a great place.  I love the people, we have great Pastor's and leaders, and the heart for missions and reaching out to people is huge!  We not only have the normal children's, youth, and adult ministries...but we have a storehouse that gives food out to hundreds of families each month, we have a ministry that provides sleeping bags, coats, clothes, and other necessities to the homeless camp in our city, and just this last year we gave over $100,000.00 to missions.  The Love for people is the propeller of all of the tasks we do.  And I am so excited to see what God is doing through this church!

Unshakable Faith - Day 38: The Covering

Unshakable Faith

Day 38: The Covering

1. Had you before considered that when the Lord made a covering for Adam and Eve by shedding the blood of an innocent animal, that it was a prophecy of the atonement that Jesus would make by shedding His blood for our sins?

I have read that portion of scripture multiple times, but I never made the connection...what a beautiful way for the Lord to show us His plans and provisions generations before it was to come.  This is a great reminder to me, that God is in control, and He is working in every situation to bring us all to the place of close communion and fellowship with Himself, He loves us enough to go the distance and do the hard work on our behalf, because He wants to be with us for eternity...What a wonder God's Love is!!

2. Have you ever refused to go to the cross and tried to carry the guilt of sin yourself? If so, you are saying that the cross was not enough.

Accepting the gift of forgiveness and salvation through the cross of Jesus, at times can seem almost to easy.  The office supply store known as Staples, has the red "easy button" in all their commercials, in fact you can buy little toy "easy buttons" to put on your desk as paper weights.  But the idea is that when some task seems like too much, or you don't have the time, you just hit the "easy button" and the task is done for you.  Many times in life we think it would be nice to have a real "easy button", but we don't realize that Jesus has given us the best "easy button" ever...all we have to do is call on the name of Jesus...He is enough, He will cleanse us, restore us, heal us, provide for us, and protect us.  I encourage you to accept the gift He has given to you...and stop struggling and trying to do it on your own...We can never do enough, all our good will never out weigh all our bad...We need Jesus!

3. You can have confidence to enter into the very presence of the Lord, not because of anything you can do, but because of the blood of Jesus.

It is only through the blood of Jesus that we find restoration, and redemption...Allow Jesus to cleanse your heart of sin, you will never be the same, those burdens that weigh you down, the cares and worries, the sickness and pain, give it all to Jesus, and let Him make you whole today!

Unshakable Faith - Day 37: The Curse On Man

Unshakable Faith

Day 37: The Curse On Man

1. Why was the harmony, communication, and fellowship with the Creator profoundly damaged by sin?

God created everything to work together in harmony, but when Adam chose to disobey God even though he knew it was wrong, it brought about this curse that we all live under...If Adam had made the choice to obey God, even though his wife had been deceived, the harmony, communication and fellowship with the Creator would not have been as severely damaged, it might not have been damaged at all.  I think the same is true for us today; when we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are made new.  But when we continue to make choices that are wrong, it affects the blessings of God being poured into our lives.  God has great plans for us and blessings He wants to give to us, but we have to be obedient to His Word in order to receive them.  It is so important for us to do our best to obey, serve, and honor the Lord in all we do.  

2. In everything you do, are you looking for the redemptive purposes of God and the restoration of all that was lost through the fall?

I can't say that I look for God's redemption in everything I do, but in most things, yeah!  I am learning to look for God's hand at work even when we can't understand why something is happening.  I've come to realize that maybe we see something as bad, or undesirable, but God in His infinite wisdom uses even those situations to work out His good and perfect will in our lives...Sometimes it is not clear to us what God is doing, but that is where faith comes in...we need to learn to trust Him, even if we don't fully understand. Trust me, it is not easy to do, but I am learning that it really is the best thing to do!

3. Have you overcome your natural resistance of authority with the true spiritual authority that is rooted and grounded in love?

Not completely! I have come to realize that when I get upset about something someone in authority is requesting of me, many times, I would have willing done that very thing on my own, it was just the idea of them telling me to do it, that caused me to not want to do it.  Which is absolutely silly! I have had the Holy Spirit nudge me, and all the sudden I realize what a child I am being, my attitude is all wrong and all because someone asked me to do something, I was already going to do!?!  So I have been working on making myself stop, pray, ask for God to help me adjust my attitude and then I make myself go on and do the task with a good attitude.  I tend to think of the song by Steve Curtis Chapman -  Do Everything - "Do everything you do to the glory of the one who made you, cause He made you!" 

Unshakable Faith - Day 35: The Curse On The Serpent

Unshakable Faith

Day 35: The Curse On The Serpent

1. Have you been feeding and strengthening satan's domain in your life because you have fallen into carnality?

No, I find it important in my life to be careful of what I watch, listen to, read, etc.  I've found that just cutting out certain types of movies and t.v. shows, etc greatly improves my ability to stay on a steady course in my walk with God.  When something I watch, listen to, or read is completely contrary to the life Jesus led and calls us to live, it is not helpful to me, if anything it is a hindrance to me as I daily learn to walk by the spirit and not by my fleshly desires.

2. Is your spirit growing stronger by fellowship, sharing the gospel and exercising the spiritual gifts that you have been given?

Yes, I work daily to feed my spirit through Bible study, prayer, praise and worship music, etc.  As well as spending time with other believers, who are encouragers, accountability partners, prayer partners and all around great friends.

3. Are you pursuing the course of love in all you do?

If yes, you will grown in the nature of the Lord, because God is love.

Yes, I want God's love to fill up my life and flow out to touch the lives of those around me.

Unshakable Faith - Day 33: The Voices

Unshakable Faith

Day 33: The Voices

1. Have you countered satan's tactics by developing your own ability to hear the Lord, understanding what He is saying, and obeying His voice?

Yes! It is so important for us not only to be able to hear His voice, but to distinguish the difference between His voice and the voices of those whose only goal is to lead us away from Him.  One way to develop your ability to hear Him and know His voice, is by spending time in His Word, in His presence and with other mature believers who can help lead and guide and teach you.

2. Can you quickly and easily distinguish His voice from all of the other voices in the world?

Yes, over the years, I have come to know God's voice and to cherish the words God speaks to me.  It is such an amazing experience to have a close personal loving relationship with the King of all Kings!  I am so thankful that He loves me and wants to spend time with me, not only that but He provides for me, and protects me...I am awed by the care and love He gives everyday!

3. Have you ever attended or are you attending a "dead" church?

Thankfully, I can answer this question with a resounding, "No!" I have been blessed to be a part of some wonderful churches...churches that are very much alive and living empowered lives through the inner-working of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of not just the Pastors, but in the hearts and lives of the congregation as well.

Unshakable Faith - Day 23: Marriage

Unshakable Faith

Day 23: Marriage

1. Have you experienced a spiritual sensuality that is released through the love and union of the spirit and soul that physical sensuality can never compare with?


It is a beautiful thing when a husband and wife have a connection of the spirit and soul...The physical connection is beautiful too, but it is meaningless when the other two are missing.  God created marriage,  and He created man and woman to need not just the physical, but more importantly the spiritual and soul connections with each other.  


2. Can you attest that it is the devil's strategy to turn your strengths into weaknesses and use them against you?


Satan is crafty, and sly, if he can take something God has given us for good, and make us use it in a bad way, he will do his best to try it.  We need to be careful to recognize Satan's schemes and to also recognize what our strengths are and how God intended us to use them.


3. Do you understand that the perversion of you nature is Satan's tactic to keep you from unity?


From the very beginning when Satan deceived Eve into eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, his goal has been to separate us from our heavenly Father.  Misery loves company, and Satan is miserable because of the choices he made, that caused God kick him out of heaven. So now his goal is to keep as many people as possible from getting to enjoy Heaven, when he knows it is not an option for himself.  The discord he sows is all a part of that goal, and when we come together in unity and serve God as God intended us to do, it makes Satan's skin crawl...it puts fear in him, because the power of the Body of Christ is directly correlated with the unity of the Body of Christ.  That is why unity is one of the things Satan tries to defeat first... without unity we are lot easier to defeat in other areas.

Unshakable Faith - Day 22: Fellowship

Unshakable Faith

Day 22: Fellowship

1. What do you think of the statement that "God alone was not enough for man"?


It seems a little odd to me.  God is more than we could even describe with words and yet he wasn't enough?  It makes since to me that God saw that man needed someone of his own kind to be a helpmate but I don't think it is true to say that God wasn't enough, giving Eve to Adam was all a part of the big picture, God's plan from the beginning.  Eve was God's provision, just as a food box from a local church could be God's provision for a hungry family.  God takes care of all of our needs, our hopes, dreams, and desires.


2. Have you chased many fruitless endeavors because you wanted to prove something to your self?


I am guilty of chasing fruitless endeavors at times but I don't think it was always to prove something to myself.  I, by nature, am a people-pleaser... I will go to great extents to make someone happy, even if they never even take the time to notice all the effort it took on my part.  I am learning to be a God-pleaser and not a people-pleaser, it is a hard habit to break.


3. Have you reached out lately to someone who is lonely?


Yes, I have had times in my life when I was the lonely person...so when I see someone else going through the same thing, I want to do all I can to help them know there is someone out there who loves them and is there if they need them.

Unshakable Faith - Day 19: God and Man

Unshakable Faith

Day 19: God and Man

1. If your spiritual hunger for the supernatural is not filled with a relationship with God, the void will be filled with spiritism and the demonic supernatural.  Have you witnessed this experience in yourself or others?


Through out my life I have seen many people who, lacking a relationship with God, tried to fill the void, and when one thing didn't work they would move on to another, and another. Generally speaking, the things they try progressively get worse and worse, until they are doing things they never thought they'd ever do.  It is so sad to see a life destroyed, when the answer they are looking for is right in front of them.  You see God made us all to have a God shaped hole in us, so that we would long for and desire to be with Him.  But He also, made it easy for us to be with Him...We don't have to get cleaned up first, He loves us just as we are. His love will help us and direct us if there are things we need to change.  But we will only be able to know what needs to change, and have the ability to change them when we are walking with God.  God is right there waiting for us to turn to Him, He is not some far off God we have to go dig out of some hidden cave. He is right here! All we need to do is call out to Him, and He will answer!


2. Have you learned that it is better to loose everything than to lose your relationship with Him?


Yes, There is nothing in this world that compares with Him.  It is through Him, and for Him that I live.  If God were not, none of us would be either! 


3. Christ fully functioning through you is confirmed when all of the gifts are functioning through you.

1 Corinthians 12
The Gifts of the Spirit
1 "Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 

2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 

5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 

6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 

8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 

10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. 

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 

13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 

14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 

16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 

18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 

19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 

20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”

22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 

23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 

24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 

25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 

26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 

28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 

29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 

30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 

31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way."

Unshakable Faith: Day 16 - Unity

Unshakable Faith

Day 16 - Unity

1. Do you agree that women have strengths and perspectives that men do not have, and men have strengths and perspectives that women do not have?


Yes! I believe that God created men and women with different strengths and perspectives, so that when they work together they compliment each other...where one is weak the other is strong and where one might view the situation one way the other can view it differently to help get a better view when they work together.  God did not make any mistakes when He created us, we just need to learn to appreciate our differences and learn to work together, instead of trying to change each other.  


2. How have the roles of men and women been severely challenged in this time?


The roles men and women have today are much different than they were even 200 years ago.  Some of the changes are good, and others are not so good.  Since the focus of this blog is on helping women grow in their daily walk with Christ, I am going to focus on us girls for a moment.   Today it is not uncommon for women to act as the leader in the home, however, God created us to submit to our husbands...this doesn't mean that we are not as important as our husbands or slaves to our husbands.  What it means is that the husband should be the leader, making choices and decisions for the family based on what is good for everyone involved.  And then we, as the submitting wives, come naturally under the protection of our husbands.  God set it up this way, to protect us.  When we stop doing things God's way, and try it our own way, we end up with huge problems.  I encourage you today to start allowing your husband lead, God wouldn't have set it up the way He did for no reason, so trust God and submit to your husband, and just see how the Lord blesses you both!


3. Have you witnessed or heard about great churches and movements that have died with the death of their founder(s)?


It is sad when someone spends their life working and building something they hope will make a difference for many years to come, and then as soon as their gone, it slowly dies and soon it is just a long lost memory.  I think many times this happens when the church members expect the leader to feed them, and they never grow up to feed themselves.  God did not give us pastors, prophets, and teachers, to hand feed us all of our days.  God gave them to us as leaders to help us as we read and study and grow on our own.  If you depend on your Pastor to feed you each Sunday and hope that it is enough to get you through till the following Sunday, you have missed the point.  Just as our bodies need physical food each day, our spirits need spiritual food each day...once a week is not enough!!  We need to make sure we are taking responsibility for our own spiritual growth and not constantly depending on our Pastors, teachers and leaders!

Unshakable Faith - Day 13: Diversity

Unshakable Faith 

Day 13: Diversity

1. What are your thoughts about evolution?

Well, I learned a little about evolution in school, and I've had some conversations with people who believe it as a fact.  But nothing I've seen, heard or read has ever made me question my firm belief in a Creator who lovingly and thoughtfully created everything that lives and breathes, every rock and stone, every drop of water, every molecule and atom, all in just six days.  

2. Do you agree that the mingling of races brings forth new revelations of His creativity within the bounds He has set?

Yes, I think each and everyone of us, whether or not both parents were of the same race, have been made special, unique and beautifully.  God never makes a mistake, no one is created better or higher than another person, we are all equal, we are all loved by God.

3. Do you harbor religious racism? Have you been a victim of religious racism?

No, I don't harbor religious racism.  We are all a part of the body of Christ...does an elbow have any right to think it is better than the knee...they are two different parts of the same body, and they both have their purpose.  We may be different, or believe differently about this or that, but as long as we are trusting in Jesus for our salvation, we are a part of the same body.  We need to learn to love each other and come together in unity. We need to learn to focus on the things that we have in common.

I can't say that I've been a victim of religious racism, but I have seen it and the effect it has had on people.  I believe this is something that breaks God's heart...God wants us to love one another, not tear each other down because of some petty differences.