2015. The year for MORE.

Starting off 2015 it has been a bit rocky.  But I have one advantage in life, I have God beside me leading me.  It is certainly sometimes hard to follow but He shows me every time and in every instance He is in control.  God is so faithful and I will continue to follow Him and rely on Him to get me through this storm in life.  Starting off this year, I was reminded how much I am loved by not only my family but my God given family and how much they all support me through this storm.  Up until last year I would never give the devil credit in life.  But after a women's conference I came home declaring that all things are not God given and God breathed and gave some credit to the devil and sin taking our joy.  Since then, God has been even more present in our life and I have started to acknowledge when we do God things, the devil is trying to steal our plans and our joy.  So, this year, I declare that God will be the center of my focus but I won't not give the devil credit for trying and also that this is the year of MORE things in Christ.  More blessings, more love, more searching for God in all things, more reading His word, more searching for Him and His voice.  MORE OF HIM AND LESS OF ME!!  Praise God through this storm and every storm that will hit my boat in this race we call life!

God's Grace is enough for ME!

Last weeks devotions really focused on seeing God in all things.  My prayer this week is for me to recognize God in all things and to give Him praises through everything.  Life is still crazy busy but it is the way God has intended it to be right now so I am OK with that.  I just never want to go back to where God isn't worthy of all the praises in everything!  There was a time in my life that I walked life without God on the top of my triangle and I pray to never forgot something so simple.  Vision a triangle.  The left point is you,  the right point is the other person in a relationship whether it is a husband or wife, a child, a friend, a stranger or a situation or circumstance and the top point of the triangle is ALWAYS GOD!   If we remember that He is at the top and all of our relationships, situations in life and daily struggles are connected to God and His grace for us what can't we overcome?  God's grace is ever present in everything if we only seek it, acknowledge it and praise it.  TO GOD BE THE GLORY IN ALL THINGS!!!   Amen.

^{Romans 8:31} What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Busy Life

Busy life.  Busy mind.  Busy kids.  Busy roads.  Busy world.  Why does everything always have to be so busy.

Even on days like today that I was prepared for church dinner and had a day to do what I needed to at home without leaving it still seems like the day went by so fast and I didn't accomplish enough.  My mind is still cloudy and I am in constant prayer for a calm heart and eased mind.  In just a short while I will be heading out for serving dinner to the few members that have remained faithful in our church's season of change at the church and supporting the dinner ministry but before that I have a meeting with our new pastor to discuss the future of this ministry.  I have been very discouraged the past month with attendance or lack there of and am down on myself with the ministry not growing thus decreasing.  I am never bitter or discouraged when shopping, prepping or cooking for Wednesday night dinners and know God has given me the gift of cooking but is this the end of my season?  Am I to go onto something new?  Am I in Gods will....   A Time for Everything

    Ecc 3: 1There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—
2A time to give birth and a time to die;
  A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
3A time to kill and a time to heal;
  A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4A time to weep and a time to laugh;
  A time to mourn and a time to dance.
5A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
  A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
6A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
  A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
  A time to be silent and a time to speak.
8A time to love and a time to hate;
  A time for war and a time for peace.
    9What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?10I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.

As I read this I feel with emotion I haven't felt, the feeling that my season with the dinner ministry has come to an end.  Something I have worked so hard to build up hasn't been built up.  How do you turn from something you were once/are so passionate about and wanted nothing more then to bring in families to attend our Wednesday night services, to bring in the youth and elderly that may not have had a meal for the day.  To see your vision not come out the way you hoped it to be.  I just pray that God gives me the courage to start the next vision He lays on my heart with such boldness as he did with this ministry and not keep this failure in my heart as I know I have given it my all and the comfort knowing I did give it all I got.  Amen.  

IF God is for US, who can be against us...

So, at youth on Wednesday, their fearless leader preached a great message going into much detail about "IF God is for us who can be against us from Romans 8:30-37.

Here's a link to what he posted on Facebook in reference to it.

Romans 8:31 Video

I have been pondering on this since Wednesday night and it has really touched me to think deeply that God is always for us.  It's hard to wrap your mind around it really that God is for each of us, wants the best for us, gave His own son for us, good, bad, ups and downs,  God is always there and is always with US.

Do you always remember this?  Sometimes we just need to be reminded that God is always for us and always will be and that our faith and love should be in Him and then shown out to the world so those that haven't been shown that God is for them they can see it through us......

Live in the world not of the world...

Romans 12. Shows us the example of Christians working together to glorify God by using our individuality talents together to work for the same goal, sharing God's love and shining His light in the world. Romans 12:2 says, 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... One of my favorite sayings is, "Live in the world not of the world." As Christians we should wake everyday with a renewed mind and graciousness that the Lord has given us a new day to go into the world to shine His light. Just because you are a christian doesn't mean you can't do this or that in which the world does. It just means that in this or that you shine God's love and obey His commands that He has given his people. Romans 12:6-8 says, We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.... What I take from this is we should accept each brother and sister in Christ as their own person and love them for the gifts God has given them and thank God for the gift they may have that you/we don't. Romans 12 goes on to talk about love and humbleness and not to repay with evilness to those whom show evil but to leave it to God to repay. It is not our job, once again, to judge people, Christians or not, that is God's job, our job is to love and show God's love and spread word about His mercy and grace that is free to those who believe and ask. Amen..  

Cloudy Mind

To start this off right, I suffer from a cloudy mind very often and one of the reasons I started writing the blog was to help keep me accountable for reading and retaining and reusing my stories and reiterating God's work in me and throughout my life.  Yesterday and today have been really cloudy mind days with a chance of rain(tears) as it is not my hearts desire to be so cloudy.  Today's verse on my bible application is Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do.  Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above.  I found this fitting.  Even though my mind is cloudy with a chance of rain, I have a sense of peace and no real worries and I know that my goal is living to be more like Jesus everyday and to shine His light in everything I do and that never leaves my cloudy mind.  But with that goal, I strive to dig deeper and retain His words, His laws and what they speak to me each day and with a cloudy mind it makes this all most impossible, at least that is how it feels.  So with that all being said.  Please pray with me that God will make my mind clear and I will remain focused on His words and His book each and everyday along with my goal of being more like Jesus.

Thankfulness

So with this month being Thanksgiving, we as a family sat down on Halloween as we don't celebrate it and designed our own thankful calendar with something we are thankful for every day ranging from God, teachers, health, friends and strangers to love, peace, happiness and differences.  We called my step daughter on the phone as she was not with us when we designed it and asked her what was something she was thankful for, mind you she is 6 years old, and she responded with God.  Melted my heart!  Those are the fruits that we as parents get back saying," Your doing a great job raising children whom love God!"

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says,  In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. And is one of my favorite verses as I take it as you should give thanks in the good times, the bad times, the trying times, the easy times and the difficult times.  Praising God and giving thanks in everything is something I pray that my children will see and learn to do.  This also goes along with burning bushes and acknowledged that God is in everything and is everywhere.   Here is a picture of our calendar and our final product of our family project.  Happy Thanksgiving Month!