There's Only One Choice...

Sitting back looking at my life, I see that I have everything I need and God is the one who gave it to me.  I look back and see the roadblocks He placed in the way to prevent me from making BIG mistakes when it came to my life choices.  I also see the blessings he has poured out on me when I needed them most.

It's amazing that when I didn't know him, He knew me.  He knew what was best for me.

Recently, it became real to me - how we go through life and relationships believing we have choices to make.  What I've discovered lately is that if you've truly chosen Christ as your Lord and Savior,  the choice is not yours, but His.  Whatever He wants goes.

Strangely, that was bittersweet to me.  I was glad or sort of proud that I've made that life choice, but also sad - knowing that those around me can choose anything they want, and I have no say in it.  I can't settle! I can't compromise! I have to choose Christ - even if that means losing someone I love or missing out on experiences with them as they choose the broader path.

I know that God will continue to bless my obedience and that the joy I find in Him can never be matched by my own efforts.  I am ever grateful that He chose me and am even more grateful that I chose Him.

God is awesome!  If you've never experienced Him personally, you should!  His thoughts are higher than our thoughts - that's because He's way smarter than us:)

Following is a video of a song by Trevor Morgan - one of my favorites.  Hoping you're blessed!

 

My Prayer for All this New Year

Ephesians 3:¹⁴ So I bow in prayer before the Father. ¹⁵ Every family in heaven and on earth gets its true name from him. ¹⁶ I ask the Father with his great glory to give you the power to be strong in your spirits. He will give you that strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷ I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. ¹⁸ And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. ¹⁹ Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you. ²⁰ With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of.
 

And may you know that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

Romans 8:³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”^[a]

³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

My Dad...I'll miss you. 

Conversations with an 8-year Old

I'm always amazed how God uses my son, Jack, to minister to me.  I hope he does the same for you:

In school Jack had to do a "I Have a Dream" Speech. "I have a dream that one day this nation will have no wars. I have a dream that one day nobody will fight. I have a dream that one day all kids will be friends. I have a dream that I will help kids. I have a dream that one day that kids will be nice to each other. I have a dream that one day everyone will be friends. This is my hope and faith. With this faith we will be able to play together. This will be the day everyone is happy." -- and the children shall lead them.

Jack's letter to Santa: Dear Santa, How are you this year? All I really want is for you to take it easy on yourself this year. Can you get something speshel from your slay like the poler express. Hmmm do you want something for Chrismis this year do you want a potholder? love, Jack. PS. How are all your reindeer?

Jack just said to me "Mom, do you know how much I love you?" I said how much? He said "All the way from heaven to earth". I told him he was sweet and that he was one my most favorite people. He said "You just filled my bucket" :) I love that kid

One day Jack said to me "Mom, tell the ladies (women from the bible study group) that I was made to be smart, funny and to love the Lord". If you think about it, that's what we're all made to do -- to be wise, full of joy, and to love the Lord. The thing this kid teaches me:)

Jack and I were discussing the body of Christ this morning and he said "I'm the guts". I asked him if that meant he was courageous or if he digests the word (bread of life) and sends it out to the rest of the body. He said “both”.

The Lord can even use SpongeBob to make his point - Jack told me that Squidward is wrong because the Lord says to love your neighbor and Squidward doesn't. Can't argue with that :)

We work on our house; we work on our cars; we work on our yards; we have to remember to work on our relationships as well. Like Jack said "Mom, its okay to work as long as you don't work all the time and ignore the Lord." He's so smart -- out of the mouths of babes.

Jack was watching this Goosebumps movie. It was about a girl who kept wearing her mask where eventually she couldn't take the mask off. Jack says that God showed him that we should be happy with who we are and not try to be something we're not. What an awesome lesson for all of us.

One day while at a friends house, she was watching a show about this man who was claiming to be Christ - he was a Puerto Rican man in his 60's with tattoos.  Without missing a beat, Jack said "Jesus has scars, not tattoos".  Amazing how this child isn't deceived but thousands of people are following this man and believing he is Jesus.

Jack and I were talking about divine healing. He said "Mom, you know why God can heal bones?" I said, "Why?" He said "Because he made bones. He knows how they work." I'm thinking duh! Why didn't I think of that? What? Ask the maker how to fix the thing that's broken. What a concept:) Out of the mouths of babes...

I asked Jack if someone was going to disciple him what would be an important thing for them to know. Without skipping a beat he said "To know God and to Love God!" Enough said:)

One Liners from God

Following are a few of the one-liners the Lord has spoken to me through the years that have dramatically changed my walk and my life.  I hope they speak to your spirit and encourage and bless you - and possibly change you:)

1.     “We’re going to work on you!” –Romans 3:²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, - Imagine that.  When I started my walk with the Lord I wanted to point out all of George's flaws.  The Lord told me "No, we're going to work on you!  If George never changes, you need to!"  Ouch!  That hurt.  But that was one of the best things he's ever said to me.

2.     “There’s no such thing as a justified attitude” – Love your enemy; love your neighbor; love your wife; honor your mother and father; respect your husband - The Lord used this one on me when I thought it was okay for me to walk around self-righteous with my attitudes, excusing my behavior because others had hurt me.  Guess I was wrong again.

3.     “Love what you can love about them” – Philippians 4:8-9⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ⁹ The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. --  The Lord gave me this instruction for those people in my life who were not going to go away - my family - This made it easier to walk in love and share my Jesus with those who had hurt me. 

4.    “Don’t enable them to do what I don’t want them to do” – Luke 11: ⁵² “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.” -  This is what gave me permission to say "No" to people who I wanted to help, but didn't feel led to help.  It really lifted the burden.  The Lord didn't want me to hinder what he was going to do with them and their current situtation.  Many times we try to catch people before they fall so they never hit their knees.  Not always such a good idea. 

5.    “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” – Genesis 18:14  Anytime I feel overwhelmed, the Lord reminds me of this scripture.  Awesome! 

6.    “If I sent my son to die for you, what wouldn’t I do for you?” – John 3:16 For God so loved the world he sent his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life. (Parted the red sea, wiped out your enemies and you’re worried I won’t feed you?--silly girl)  The Lord uses this on me everytime I needlessly worry - which is anytime Iworry. 

7.    “They can’t undo the work I sent you to do” –  1 Corinthians 3:12-14 ¹² Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.  Sometimes you do a job and then people squash or destroy the good work you do.  The Lord told me this after I left a job and he made me realize it wasn't about the job they hired me to do but about the job he sent me to do.  Imagine that, it wasn't about me...

8.    “They don’t appreciate what I’ve done for them, what makes you think they’re going to appreciate what you do” – 1^st Corinthians 1:18 [Christ the Power and Wisdom of God ] For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  This helps me anytime I feel like people don't appreciate when I try to help or the squander the help that's been given to them.  It stops me from complaining -- because who could argue with that -  I could never compare what I do to what the Lord did. 

9.    “If you’re okay with God, you’re okay” - Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Many times people talk about us behind our backs and it hurts.  This has been a powerful statement in my life.  That if I'm okay with my maker, I'm okay.  Their discontent is on them.

10.  “For my growth and His glory” –Romans 5:3-5³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  1Corinthians 10: ³¹ Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. This is how I choose to live my life.  I want every decision, every action and every circumstance to grow me and glorify my father.  No matter what is going on with me or my family -- I believe God's growing us and that he turns all things for good for those who love him.  Awesome!

If You Love Me, Then Act Like It!

The first time the Lord said to me "If you love me, then act like it" was back in the mid 90's.  I was a baby Christian. I would play softball and then go to the bar with the girls after the game.  I didn't drink anything harder than a diet coke.  One night I left the bar, got in my car and smiled at the air freshener hanging from my rearview mirror that said "I Love Jesus".  That was when the Lord said to me "Then act like it."  Needless to say, I never went to that bar again.

A couple of weeks ago, I was offended by something George had said and I decided I'd dig my heals in until he figured out how to treat me.  After a couple of days of my nonsense, the Lord said to me "If you love me, then act like it!"  Enough said.

Knowing that George's love language is "Acts of Service", I began going out of my way to do special things for him.  I made him some muffins; prepared nice meals; made sure the house was in order and all the clothes put away.  The whole time I'm still hurting from the prior incident and he's still acting offended so this was a tough one.

During this time, the Lord began to minister and reiterate what he said to me.  In John 21:15-17  He asked Peter three times if he loved him.  Each time Peter said yes and each time the Lord told him to feed/tend his sheep.  In other words, he said "If you love me, then act like it."

Again in John 14:15 The Lord said if you love me, keep my commandments -- act like it!

So we need to act like it when we go to work; when we go to church; when we go home;  everywhere we go.

So I asked the Lord "How is that possible?"

He took me to Matthew 22:37-39 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind & in Luke 10:27 he says with all your strength – with everything that is within you!  That cracked me up.  I've read that scripture a hundred times.  It wasn't until that moment that I saw that it's a prerequisite to the second command– You shall love your neighbor as yourself -- as that is the only way we'll love like we should --If we put all our efforts in loving the Lord, it will flow over into all our othe relationships.

In John 14:21;23-24; 15:9-17 we see:

• Love is a command
• Love is a choice vs 23-24 - he doesn't say if you "can" - he says "he who loves" or "he who does not love"
• Jesus is our friend because he laid down his life; we’re his friend because we do what he commands.  Love requires dying to self and listening vs 13-14

In 1John 3:11, 16-23 we see:

• The command to Love is not a new thing v11
• Love is an action not just words v18
• Love gives us confidence towards God – we’re in good standing v21
• We love because it’s pleasing to God. v22

Without love we see in 1Corinthians 13:1-3;

• We're obnoxious
• We’re nothing
• We gain nothing

With Love we see in 1John 4:7

• We know God v7
• We See God v12
• We have boldness in the day of judgment v17
• We overcomes the world v5:4

So in a nut shell.  We don't love because it feels good or because the person deserves it, but because God deserves it.  

Oh and by the way, when I was obedient to God, He took care of the tiff between George and I.  Funny how that works--when we walk Godly, God shows up:)

I See God in Cartoons

It's always a blessing to me when people deepen their walk with the Lord.  When they have a new experience, receive a new revelation, experience a heightened sense of joy.

My friend shared with me that the Lord had spoken  to her in a cartoon.  She was amazed.  I was tickled.  What is so awesome about our God is that he meets us where we're at.  He speaks in ways even we can understand.

Think about it.  He spoke to Moses in a burning bush.  He spoke to Gideon through a fleece.  He reached Jonah in the Whale.  They didn't come to him; he came to them.

What makes my friend's experience even sweeter is that my other friend tells me a day later that the Lord spoke to her on the show "Super Why" -- for those of you not familiar -- that's a children's show -- she happened to be watching it with her granddaughter.

My son was excited last Sunday when the Lord spoke to him.  He's eight and he was in Sunday school.  He said the teacher asked where you could find a particular scripture.  He said the Lord told him "New Testament".  He raised his hand and shared the answer.  He was so excited!  The Lord gave him the answer and it was right.  Imagine that:)

I explained to him the Lord talks to us all the time.  We just have to listen.  I explained if he was far from me and I yelled his name "Jack".  He wouldn't hear me.  He was too far away.  But if he was right next to me, I could whsiper his name and he'd hear me.  And that if we stay close to the Lord -- in prayer; in his word; in worship -- in his presence, we will hear him when he speaks.

He then asked me to tell him some times the Lord spoke to me.  This question brought back a flood of experiences I had with the Lord.  He's never left me nor forsaken me.  He always was there in the times of hurt; correction; joy; and love.  The Lord is there at all times. 

I believe that just as the Lord spoke to Adam and Eve; Abraham; Moses; Noah and the list goes on -- he speaks to us.  He is a living God and a loving God.  He wants to direct our paths.

If you would like to hear from the Lord, ask him a question.  Continue to ask him until you receive the answer.  Ask him to make you aware so you don't miss his answer.  Per Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks recevies, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

There's a saying I like.  God answers prayer three ways -- "Yes"; "Not Yet"; "I have a better idea."

Continue seeking and be patient.  And be okay with God's "timing and better idea".  He truly does love all and wants and knows what's best for each of us.  If you trust in him and know He is God.  The rest is cake:)

As you experience more and more with God, your faith will grow; your trust will grow; your peace will grow; and your joy will grow.  So be blessed and know he is God:)

For those who have already experienced the Lord in new ways the following is for you: (In Him all things are possbile:)