Family

So I find myself this Christmas, being reminded by the pastor, that Christmas is a time for reconciling. God reconciled us when He sent His Son for us so long ago. The bible also tells us that we are to love others, forgive others, and care about others as He cares for us. We are in essence a light house that God uses to be examples of His love. As I sat seeking answers from God, I found an article that spoke it perfectly. So rather than rambling on or trying to say it better I'm just going to share the link.

http://www.great-bible-verses.com/bible-verses-about-family.html

Healer

Dear God,
 I know I haven't wrote to you in the past few days, but I know without a doubt that you have been with me.  I find myself sick today, no voice and an awful cough to match. So of course I found myself in a passage in which Jesus healed a sick woman.

Mark 5

²¹ When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. ²² Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. ²³ He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” ²⁴ So Jesus went with him.

   A large crowd followed and pressed around him. ²⁵ And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. ²⁶ She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. ²⁷ When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸ because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” ²⁹ Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
 ³⁰ At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
 ³¹ “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
 ³² But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. ³³ Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. ³⁴ He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”



   This woman didn't demand results or a second opinion of Jesus' work, she had so much faith that she was sure that if she could only touch His robe that she would be healed.  So often we demand results of God. We say, "God I need proof" or "God, I feel you nudging me, but I want a more clear sign".  But when asked by the disciples one time why they couldn't preform acts such as He did, He said this...

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth,

 if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain,

‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.^a”

Matthew 17:20

That's exactly what I imagine this woman was like. She didn't have brutal strength or super powers. She simply knew who her God was and didn't think, but knew that she would be healed. And she was. We as Christians need to stand strong in our faith. No more of this "Well, maybe God will take care of it." We need to be saying, "Our God is Yahweh! Ruler of Heaven and Earth! The Almighty, the Beginning and the End! He is Sovereign! Finally my God is crazy about me, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that I NEVER walk alone, and He has already proven that He will walk through hell and back to save me. So I know He will deliver me now."

I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

The bible says to stand firm, not an easy task but we are commanded to do so. So often the devil comes after me and I want to dig a hole and hide in it.  Today has been one of those days. But God offers us the armor to withstand the enemy, and the strength to stand.  So if you want to put it in everyday terms, put your big girl panties on and suck it up.  When you feel as though you can't go on any longer, rest only at God's feet. There is were He promises to restore our strength. We also have to stay in prayer, for ALL of God's people. Staying in prayer, standing firm, and never backing down is a high calling, however we were warned that the road of Christianity was not going to be easy. 

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Mark 8:34

Father, give me strength today to stand against the enemy, give me the love to be understanding of others, and give me the discipline to bathe everything I do and say in prayer.

At Your feet

So often I find myself searching for what You want to discipline me on today. I guess because I grasp the fact that I am a sinner and need to constantly be learning. But I find myself this morning with You waiting for You to tell me what I've done wrong and what I need to work on. I am constantly on a mission it seems, as a mom, a wife, a daughter, a ministry leader and a christian. I rarely find time where there isn't something I need to be doing. But as I sat today thinking of all the things I have to get done, I knew I needed to do quiet time with You. So here I sit and after deliberating the burdens I am carrying right now and praying, I finally heard one word from You Father. "REST".  I get so caught up in thinking of things I need to do that I forget to that You, my Heavenly Father, just wants to be with me sometimes.  It reminds me of times my husband will call my three year old daughter (who is also a busy-body just like her mom) and she'll say "what?" almost in annoyance as if she has tons of things to accomplish. He will smile and say, "Come sit with me, tell me about your day. I want to spend time with you." How many times have You asked me just to come sit with You and I've said "what?" in that same tone?

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
   will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.^[a]
Psalm 91:1

You didn't intend for life to be all hustle and bustle. You give us strength when we are at Your feet. You renew us. So many times I have found my self at the altar in service, not because of conviction, but because I just want to sit at Your feet. I just want to feel You. I need to see You, hear You. Father, I pray that I never forget that even though there will be times that I need discipline, that You are truly my Father and like a Father, You just want to hold me sometimes. Father, remind me to hit my knees and just rest sometimes. Thank You for renewing my strength today. Thank You for calming my soul.

Here at Your feet, I lay my past down
My wanderings, all my mistakes down
And I am free

Here at Your feet, I lay this day down
Not in my strength, but in Yours I’ve found
All I need, You’re all I need

Jesus, Jesus, at Your feet
Oh, to dwell and never leave
Jesus, Jesus, at Your feet
There is nowhere else for me
There is nowhere else for me

Here at Your feet, I lay my future down
All of my dreams, I give to You now
And I find peace, I find peace

Jesus, Jesus, at Your feet
Oh, to dwell and never leave
Jesus, Jesus, at Your feet
There is nowhere else for me
There is nowhere else for me

Here at Your feet, I lay my life down
For You my King, You’re all I want now
And my soul sings…

‘Cause I am free (here at Your feet)
All I need (is at Your feet)
I find peace
We’re at Your feet
We’re at Your feet

And I am free (here at Your feet)
All I need (is at Your feet)
I find peace
We’re at Your feet
We’re at Your feet
We’re at Your feet
We’re at Your feet

Here at Your feet
I lay my life down

~Casting Crowns

Come lay it down

Father, I know that we are told to lay it down with You when our hearts are burdened, but I guess it's human nature to hold onto it.  We want to fester on it and let it stew, we don't like to admit we can't fix a situation. In lamest terms we try to take control instead of just handing it over to You. But in Job 40, You spoke this

⁸ “Would you discredit my justice?
   Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
⁹ Do you have an arm like God’s,
   and can your voice thunder like his?
¹⁰ Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
   and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.
¹¹ Unleash the fury of your wrath,
   look at all who are proud and bring them low,
¹² look at all who are proud and humble them,
   crush the wicked where they stand.
¹³ Bury them all in the dust together;
   shroud their faces in the grave.
¹⁴ Then I myself will admit to you
   that your own right hand can save you.

You were challenging Job, telling him "Tell you what, if you think you know better, fix this and then I will admit that you know better." Of course he didn't, and he admitted that You were Sovereign.  But we have all been in Job's position before, trying to take things into our own hands.  But I am done, Father I know that I don't know what is best for my life and I'm laying my burdens down at Your feet. I know that as my Father You will run to aid me in my times of trouble, that you will never forsake me. In Psalms 46 it says

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
   an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
   and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
   and the mountains quake with their surging.^[c]

 ⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
   the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
   God will help her at break of day.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
   he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

 ⁷ The LORD Almighty is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our fortress.

 ⁸ Come and see what the LORD has done,
   the desolations he has brought on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease
   to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
   he burns the shields^[d] with fire.
¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
   I will be exalted among the nations,
   I will be exalted in the earth.”

 ¹¹ The LORD Almighty is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our fortress.



Father, I'm running to You today. I know that You will handle what ever is thrown at me as long as I focus on You. Thank You for loving me and wanting me. I love You and praise You!

Servanthood

Today was the day that we went to feed the homeless and take them the clothes we have collected for a month. What a humbling experience. Ms Ola a lady who walked up was not homeless but was from the church next door. She was there to feed them breakfast that morning. We had no idea that they served them meals or had a clothes closet. She blessed me so, when she broke into tears and said "Thank you Jesus, you knew how much they needed this."  She hugged me and Justin.  As I watched her speak to the men and women there, they spoke to her with such respect and you could see their admiration of her. Not because she was nicely dressed or had money. She was dressed in her sweats, her hair pulled back, in old tenni shoes, and hustling around on a mission. They looked at her that way because she loved them and chose to use her time to serve them.  In normal terms you think of a servant as having a master and serving that master. So to some it may seem odd that a lady who had a job and her own life would be a servant to the homeless. But I looked at Ms Ola and thought of what a wonderful example of Jesus she was. In the days of the bible, washing feet was for the lowest of the low. To wash someones feet meant shame, anyone of value just didn't do it, it was the job for the least of the servants. But in John 13 Jesus did just that...

⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
 ⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
 ⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
 ⁸ “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
   Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
 ⁹ “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
¹⁰ Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
 ¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

~John 13

Jesus said that he had "set the example" and that we were to follow it. That we were to serve one another no matter our statuses.  In verse 17 he said "now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." I feel so blessed today. I have never met such warm hearts.  Father thank you for the opportunity you gave me. Thank you for Ms Ola and all the "Ms Ola's" out there that are serving You by serving others. May we all follow the example!

Amazing Love

So, I spent yesterday cleaning, watching Christmas movies and putting up trees.  My kids were so excited, especially my four year old son who inspired me to go all out this year. He saw houses decorated on our way home Wednesday night. As any mother I would walk through fire and back for him. He is my only boy and my first born and is the excitement in my life. So watching him made me ponder just how much you loved us. Father, I couldn't do it, I couldn't hand my son over to save humanity. The thought of it tears my heart up. But You, You loved us so much that You sent Your only Son to be the sacrifice for our sins.

I John 4:9: "In this was manifested the love of God toward us,

because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

Father, I long to love like You do. To give until it hurts as You did so many Christmases ago.  I pray that this Christmas season that we all love as You do. That we are nothing but shining examples of what happened so long ago.  May we never get so caught up in the hustle and bustle that we forget the reason why we celebrate this season in the first place. Thank You for loving us....

Commision my Soul!

"Commission my soul with a fire uncontrollable

for this great cause, to save the lost.

Open my eyes to the reason I'm alive,

Oh Lord, I'm ready now, I'll follow You"

~Citipoint live

Though it's not talked about as much as it should be, we are called as Christians to take care of the homeless, orphans, and widows. Pretty much, we are called out to help any brother or sister in need.

"If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother." Deuteronomy 15:7

"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11

"But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish." Psalm 9:18

" Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise, says the LORD, I will protect them from those who malign them. " Psalm 12:5

"He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy." Proverbs 14:21

"He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God." Proverbs 14:31

"He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done." Proverbs 19:17

"If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered." Proverbs 21:13

"A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor." Proverbs 22:9

"He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses." Proverbs 28:27

"Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:9

"She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy." Proverbs 31:20

"Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." Isaiah 1:17

"The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them."

"Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'" Matthew 19:21

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Matthew 25:35

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18

Think that's a lot to process? I only picked out a few! My heart is on fire today as I prepare for tomorrow night. Our college group is hosting a lock-in for our youth and preparing them to go and serve the homeless of our city the next morning. Our college group, Impact, has collected tons of clothes and plan to go down to southside and hand them out. We are calling it OPERATION WARMTH. There is something truly amazing about giving to others. Justin and I have been with this group for a year now and they don't get excited about too much, but when we asked them to do this with us a month ago, you should have seen them jump in excitement! How it blessed my heart to see that our group would rather go serve the poor than go on a retreat. Father I feel so blessed today. I can't wait to get out there and serve my brother's and sister's and tell them that it's all because of Your love.  I pray many hear Your name and come to know You! Father, I ask Your blessing on this, I also ask that you place angels around our students.  Protect them and give them strength and courage to speak Your word boldly. Father I pray that we all go with open hearts that You might change us. Thank you for everything you have given us...

If you would like more info on operation warmth you can visit IMPACT's event page on facebook
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/event.php?eid=108887259180786

Job

Alright God,
So I opened my bible and you led me to Job. I'm only a few chapters in and so far you've got me. Here was Job, a pleasing servant of Your's, You even stated "There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.(Job 1:8)" You gave satan permission to test him, just not to take his life.  So here Job was on a normal day and in moments everything was taken from him. I mean to think about it in present day terms it would be as if a person was going about their day as normal and suddenly they get the news that they have lost their job, their bank accounts were cleaned out, every possesion and their home destroyed, and finally their children were killed in a horrible freak accident.  I can't even imagine the pain and anguish Job must have felt in that moment. But the amazing thing is instead of looking up and asking You "Why God, why would you allow this. I have done all you have asked of me." He, in his mourning looked up to the heavens and praised Your name.  It really puts a whole new meaning on the phrase "Praising You through the storm".  But I think the most profound thing Job has said so far in my reading was in chapter 2.  You allowed satan to test him by sickness, Job broke out in sores, according to the bible from the bottom of his feet to the crown of his head. While sitting in agony, Job's wife looks at him and asks “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!(job 2:9)”  Pretty much she was saying, you have nothing left, why are you still holding on?  So here's where Job got me, he looks at his wife and says “You are talking like a foolish^[b] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? (job 2:10)” 

So many times we christians seem to think of You as a cure all pill. When in fact we were warned that the christian walk is anything but easy. In John 16:33 Jesus stated “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” It's not about being worry free or never facing heartache, everyone and I mean everyone is going to face it at some point and time. It's about never walking alone. Knowing that despite what comes we walk with the Almighty. Like I said, I'm only a few chapters in but I know that in the end You restored Job giving him twice what He had before.  You restored him and promise to restore us.  Though my circumstances have not ever come close to Job's, this past year I have faced many, many hardships.  But with each hardship Justin and I have grown in You. You restore us, not to the same as we were before, but to something better.  I knew even at the age of 13, knelt on that altar giving my heart to You for the first time, when You told me that I was going to do work for Your kingdom that it was going to be hard.  I knew the same at the age of 15 when You told me that I would go into the ministry. I also knew it at the age of 22 when You led Justin and I to reach out to a generation that is falling away from You. But with each time, You put such a fire in me! You filled me with a peace and a want to jump up and change the world.  I wonder if that's what kept Job going. Was it a peace and a flame that You placed in his heart for You? Was it that Job knew that You would never forsake him and would restore him?  I also wonder if Job had any clue that a couple of thousand years later, a 23 year old would open her bible and You would speak to her through his story.  Did Job know he was part of a bigger plan?  I sometimes wonder in times of trouble, if I'm not part of something bigger that's going on of which I will never see the results, but is for Your glory. Either way, Father I want in times of trouble to not throw up my hands in anger. I know there have been times I have given up over such little things, but I don't want to be that way anymore. If anyone had excuse to lie down and say God I can't go on anymore, it was Job. So if he could hold his head up and praise You, then I have no excuse. Father thank you for everything! I am so blessed. You have surrounded me with people who love me and lift me up when I feel as though I can't go on! Thank You for allowing me just to sit in Your presence.
Laura

I am a whosoever

My name is Laura,

I am a wife, a mom, a sister, a daughter, a granddaughter, a student, a minister, a sinner, I am a whosoever saved by God's grace alone!  My Lord and Savior, Jesus, said one of the most significant things that would affect the world. In John 3:16 He stated "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  By speaking the word "whosoever" it meant that it wasn't an exclusive club, but rather an open door. That word meant that regardless of your past, regardless of your present circumstances that anyone can turn from their wicked ways and give it all over to God and be saved.  Thank you Father for your amazing grace! You knew we couldn't ever live up to what we should, but loved us so that You made a way for us to be with You eternally. You have set me free!  I owe it all to You and so now I want to follow your ways.  I want to walk in a room and people just know that there is something different about me. You said in John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  Jesus gave this command. Not a request a command. We are called out as Christians to share not only His story but His love! We should be known for our love more than anything! I fear as Christians that this is the last thing we are known for. When people think of Christians, they think of stiff people in nice dress on sunday mornings glaring with judgemental glances. I don't want my life to reflect that, the only thing I want to reflect is my Jesus. So I am going to love as you do Father. No longer will I look at someone and judge them by their appearance, but I want to see them through your eyes. I want to see them as a child that you are chasing after.  Father give me the strength to love like You, care like You, be gracious like You, forgive like You. Father....transform me.
Your child,
Laura