Update on my life....

So it's been almost 8 months since I wrote last....I've been on an incredible journey. Since I last wrote to you all, I started back to school and have since been accepted into the nursing program. I start my first week of nursing school next week actually! In five months I will be an RN and then my plan is to continue onto graduate school. 8 months ago, God asked me and my husband to step down from our positions in ministry. It was heartbreaking, we also ended up leaving our current church. I didn't understand the situation and I fell at my heavenly Father's feet and begged for understanding and peace. But instead all I got was quiet love and my favorite psalm flooded my heart. 

Psalm 46..

¹God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
 ²Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
 ³Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
 ⁴There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
 ⁵God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
 ⁶The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
 ⁷The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
 ⁸Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
 ⁹He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
 ¹⁰Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
 ¹¹The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

When I left my church family, there were hurt feelings. People who I had held so close to my heart had fallen away from me, turned their backs, and had even spoken against me. I felt like my whole world had been ripped away. I had no one to turn to in those moments. My husband felt betrayed. Satan used every minute of it to cut away at my heart in attempt to harden it. And I regret to inform that he succeeded for a while. But God did not fail me, He never left my side, even when I was angry over what had been allowed to transpire. His unfailing love softened my heart and brought me back to his feet. I had blame in this situation as well. Most of what I saw as betrayal had been miscommunication. People I had looked at badly, suddenly I remembered they were human and just as fallible as I was. I realized that God allowed certain things to transpire, because that time and season of my life was coming to a close. He was shutting a door and opening another. I'm sorry for anyone I might have been unkind to. It was not my intention. But just as the Bible says, we see life like a racehorse with blinders, all we can see if the challenge right in front of us, we don't see what lies beyond that challenge or the prize on the other side. I pray the best for my former church family. I pray that God fills my church family's hearts with joy, peace, and love and that His work continues to be done there. I have forgiven all and hope in my heart, that those who I might have hurt will forgive me also. I will pray for you all daily...

With love,
Whosoever

In Him you will fnd rest...

So after much prayer, my husband and I came to the difficult decision of stepping down from ministry. Don't get me wrong, we are not leaving "ministry" entirely, but we are stepping down from the positions we hold at this moment. We both know in our hearts that we are called to serve and are confident that God will call us back in the game in His timing, but for now He is sitting us on the bench. We have had an extremely difficult year, those closest to us, know every excruciating detail. But we kept hammering away at the ministry and getting frustrated because it didn't seem right. Finally, like I said before, after much discussion with the Father, He laid it upon our hearts that it was time to step down. He kept bringing two words to up, "rest" and "healing". To be honest with you, Justin and I have not really taken the time for us, or our kids, to rest or find healing from this past year. What made this decision so difficult was not the fact that we had worked so hard at it, but the fact that we felt like we would be letting our students and our church down. But what God did was give us peace through our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our pastor was completely understanding and supportive and so were our students. Other ministry leaders were the same, God gave me peace that this was His will through the actions of His children. Our biggest fear was hurting our church, the bride of Christ. It is not something that I ever want to happen or anything I ever want to answer for.

I can not express how thankful we are to our church and our church family. They took us in as their very own, loved us, uplifted us, prayed over us, and guided us. Justin and I grew in ways we never thought we could. God used our church to prepare our hearts for the trials we have faced and to be leaders. But as our pastor said, "even leaders need rest". I know that God will use the traits He has instilled in us through our church to use us in the future. But for now, all we are doing is resting on the bench and waiting for God to call us out again.

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are

 weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

April's Fury....

The next to last post I made was about Salvation, and how to become saved. I couldn't bring myself to post again for almost a month because I wanted it to be the first post you saw when my page popped up. I posted it on March 30th. Now I sit in awe, shock and devastation as everywhere I look is destroyed. For those of you who do not know, on April 27th the state of Alabama was hit by 70 tornadoes according to wikipedia, though, I'm not sure that's accurate, some of the city's listed were hit by the same tornadoes. However, they have confirmed:
1- F5
6- F4
2- F3
4- F2
5- F1
2- F0

The info is still being decided, everywhere you look there is destruction... But one thing is sure for us. 36 counties in Alabama have been labeled a natural disaster, over 250 are dead, the reports are saying that only 8 are missing, but by the account of all the counties I have counted over 400 people not accounted for.  I can't help but be emotional while writing this, it's hard to put into words the devastation that surrounds our state. The communities flattened, communities that took over 30 years to build gone in less than 30 seconds. Mothers looking for their children under rubble, children standing alone and confused because their parents are dead or missing. Neighbors standing over a desolate piece of land, where their homes used to be. Our community has literally been ripped to shreds... What do you say after that? What words can you possibly speak to comfort a mother who found her baby's dead body? How do you explain that God loves them still and will heal us? So today's post is in memory of our state, of our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, who we loved and lost. Today's post is in honor of those of us left to carry on...



My father in law, husband and myself helping to cut up a tree and remove it from a family's property



There are tons of videos on youtube and news websites you can view the tornadoes that affected all of us, but I need to end this post in saying thanks. In helping with the relief, I have met people from all over the country that have no ties to Alabama at all, but came running to aid us. Thank you to all of our first responders, police forces, national guard, red cross volunteers, firefighters, and just people who flew in to love on our state in our time of crisis. Thank you....

Psalm 46:1-2
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.

Secret Church

My last post was regarding the audience of people who have looked at my blog. I talked about how some of the countries listed are places that Christianity is not welcome, and in some of those countries Christianity is met with violence. How perfect is it that after my post, it was announced that our church would host "Secret Church", a 6 hour deep study on the persecuted Church. We will be watching it by telecast, along with churches around the world! Imagine, Christians from all over will come together, sing praises together, and pray together for our brothers and sisters in danger in the name of our Heavenly Father! I feel so privileged to be apart of it.

माय लास्ट पोस्ट वास रेगार्डिंग थे औडिएंस ऑफ़ पोपले व्हो हवे लूकेद अत माय ब्लॉग. इ तल्केद अबाउट हाउ सम ऑफ़ थे कौन्त्रिएस लिस्टेड अरे प्लेसेस ठाट छ्रिस्तिअनित्य इस नोट वेल्कोमे, एंड इन सम ऑफ़ ठोसे कौन्त्रिएस छ्रिस्तिअनित्य इस मेट विथ विओलेंस. हाउ परफेक्ट इस आईटी ठाट आफ्टर माय पोस्ट, आईटी वास अन्नौंसद ठाट ओउर चुर्च वौल्ड होस्ट "सेक्रेट चुर्च", अ ६ हौर दीप सतुदी ओं थे पेर्सेचुतेद चुर्च. वे विल बे वात्चिंग आईटी बी टेलेकास्ट, अलोंग विथ चुर्चेस अरौंद थे वर्ल्ड! इमागिने, च्रिस्तिंस फ्रॉम अल ओवर विल कामे तोगेथेर, सिंग प्रीसेस तोगेथेर, एंड प्राय तोगेथेर फॉर ओउर ब्रोठेर्स एंड सिस्टर्स इन दंगेर इन थे नामे ऑफ़ ओउर हेअवेंली फाठेर! इ फील सो प्रिविलेगेद तो बे अपार्ट ऑफ़ आईटी.

India is one of my biggest audiences outside of the United States. I want all of my brothers and sisters in India to know how much I am praying for you.

इंडिया इस ओने ऑफ़ माय बिग्गेस्त औदिएन्केस औत्सिदे ऑफ़ थे उनितेद स्टातेस. इ वांट अल ऑफ़ माय ब्रोठेर्स एंड सिस्टर्स इन इंडिया तो क्नोव हाउ मच इ ऍम प्रयिंग फॉर यू.

I know that in India there is conflict for Christians. I pray that you do not lose heart. Hold on to the old rugged cross and to our Father who is Almighty. He will never abandon you, never forget you! Isaiah 43 says...

इ क्नोव ठाट इन इंडिया तेरे इस कंफ्लिक्ट फॉर च्रिस्तिंस. इ प्राय ठाट यू दो नोट लोसे हेअर्त. होल्ड ओं तो थे ओल्ड रुग्गेद क्रोस एंड तो ओउर फाठेर व्हो इस अल्मिघ्टी. हे विल नेवर अबंदों यू, नेवर फोरगेट यू! इसेः ४३ सय्स...

 ¹ But now, this is what the LORD says—                              

   he who created you, Jacob,                                                

   he who formed you, Israel:                                                

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;                                   

   I have summoned you by name; you are mine.                     

² When you pass through the waters,                               
   I will be with you;                                                                

and when you pass through the rivers,                                     

   they will not sweep over you.                                                
When you walk through the fire,                                                 

   you will not be burned;                                                           
   the flames will not set you ablaze.                                       

³ For I am the LORD your God,                                                   
   the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;                               

I give Egypt for your ransom,                                       
   Cush^[a] and Seba in your stead.                                   

⁴ Since you are precious and honored in my sight,        

   and because I love you,                                          

  I will give people in exchange for you,                           

   nations in exchange for your life.                                
⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you;                             
   I will bring your children from the east                        

   and gather you from the west.                                     
⁶ I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’                          

   and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’                  

Bring my sons from afar                                                   

   and my daughters from the ends of the earth—          

everyone who is called by my name,                         

   whom I created for my glory,                                     

   whom I formed and made.”                                       

  बुत नोट, थिस इस वहत थे लोर्ड सय्स-
  हे व्हो क्रेअतेद यू, जाकोब,
 हे व्हो फोर्मेद यू इस्रैल:
  "दो नोट फ़ार, फॉर इ हवे रेडीमेड यू;
  इ हवे सुम्मोनेद यू बी नामे; यू अरे मिने

   व्हेन यू पास थ्रौघ थे वाटर्स,
  इ विल बे विथ यू;
  एंड व्हेन यू पास थ्रौघ थे रिवेर्स,
    थे विल नोट स्वीप ओवर यू
व्हेन यू वाल्क थ्रौघ थे फिरे,
   यू विल नोट बे बुर्नेद;
 थे फ्लामेस विल नोट सेट यू अब्लाज़े
फॉर इ ऍम थे लोर्ड यौर गोद,
  थे होली ओने ऑफ़ इस्रैल, यौर श्रविऔर;
 इ गिवे एग्य्प्त फॉर यौर रंसोम,
     कश एंड सबा इन यौर स्टाड.
 सींचे यौअरे प्रेकिऔस एंड होनोरेड इन माय सिघत,
     एंड बेकाउसे इ लव यू,
   इ विल गिवे पोपले इन एक्स्चंगे फॉर यू,
    नातिओंस इन एक्स्चंगे फॉर यौर लाइफ.
         दो नोट बे अफ्रैद, फॉर इ ऍम विथ यू;
     इ विल ब्रिंग यौर चिल्ड्रेन फ्रॉम थे यास्त
          एंड गठेर यू फ्रॉम थे वेस्ट.
  इ विल से तो थे नोर्थ, 'गिवे थेम उप!'
     एंड तो थे साउथ, 'दो नोट होल्ड थेम बेक.'
  ब्रिंग माय सोंस फ्रॉम आफर
एंड माय दौघ्तेर्स फ्रॉम थे एंड्स ऑफ़ थे एअर्थ-
   एवेर्योने व्हो इस काल्लेद बी माय नामे,
 व्होम इ क्रेअतेद फॉर माय ग्लोरी,
 व्होम इ फोर्मेद एंड मदे."

Our God claims you! Loves you! And so do your sisters and brothers around the world! We are family and I will pray for you that way!

ओउर गोद क्लैम्स यू! लोवेस यू! एंड सो दो यौर सिस्टर्स एंड ब्रोठेर्स अरौंद थे वर्ल्ड! वे अरे फॅमिली एंड इ विल प्राय फॉर यू ठाट वे!

Also remember the words that Jesus spoke in John 15...

अल्सो रेमेम्बेर थे वोर्ड्स ठाट जेसुस स्पोके इन जॉन १५...

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’^[b] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’^[c]

"इफ थे वर्ल्ड हतेस यू, कीप इन मंद ठाट आईटी हतेद में फर्स्ट. इफ यू बेलोंगेद तो थे वर्ल्ड, आईटी वौल्ड लव यू स इट्स ओवन. अस आईटी इस यू दो नोट बेलोंग तो थे वर्ल्ड, बुत इ हवे चोसें यू आउट ऑफ़ थे वर्ल्ड. ठाट इस वही थे वर्ल्ड हतेस यू. रेमेम्बेर वहत इ टोल्ड यू. अ सर्वांत इस नोट ग्रेअटर थान हिस मास्टर. इफ थे पेर्सेचुतेद में, थे विल पेर्सेचुते यू अल्सो. इफ थे ओबेयेद माय तेअचिंग, थे विल ओवे यौर्स अल्सो. थे विल तरात यू थिस वे बेकाउसे ऑफ़ माय नामे, फॉर थे दो नोट क्नोव थे ओने व्हो सेंत में. इफ इ हद नोट कामे एंड स्पोकेन तो थेम, थे वौल्ड नोट बे गिल्टी ऑफ़ सिं; बुत नो थे हवे नो एक्स्चुसे फॉर ठिर सिं. व्होएवर हतेस में हतेस माय फाठेर अस वेल. इफ इ हद नोट दोने अमोंग थेम थे वोर्क्स नो ओने एल्से दीद, थे वौल्ड नोट बे गिल्टी ऑफ़ सिं. अस आईटी इस, थे हवे सीन, एंड येत थे हवे हतेद बोथे में एंड माय फाठेर. बुत थिस इस तो फुल्ल्फिल्ल वहत इस व्रित्तें इन ठिर लव: 'थे हतेद में विथौत रासों.'

We are not accepted because we are simply in this world, not of it. Be encouraged, that we stand for King of Kings! Do not lose heart, hold on, and please know that your brothers and sisters in America are with you in spirit and thinking of you... I am going to ask all of my family in Christ, to post a prayer for our brothers and sisters in India. I will translate it for you, so that we can encourage our brothers and sisters.

वे अरे नोट अच्सप्तेद बेकाउसे वे अरे सिम्पली इन थिस वर्ल्ड, नोट ऑफ़ आईटी. बे एन्कौरगेद, ठाट वे स्टैंड फॉर थे किंग ऑफ़ किंग्स! दो नोट लोसे हेअर्त, होल्ड ओं, एंड प्लेअसे क्नोव ठाट यौर ब्रोठेर्स एंड सिस्टर्स इन अमेरिका अरे विथ यू इन स्पिरिट एंड थिंकिंग ऑफ़ यू... इ ऍम गोइंग तो आस्क अल फ़ो माय फॅमिली इन च्रिस्ट, तो पोस्ट अ प्रयेर फॉर ओउर ब्रोठेर्स एंड सिस्टर्स इन इंडिया. इ विल ट्रांस्लाते आईटी फॉर यू सो ठाट वे कैन एन्कोउरागे ओउर ब्रोठेर्स एंड सिस्टर्स.

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You today, begging forgiveness where I have failed. Father I ask today that you pour out Your presence not for me, but for my sisters and brothers around the world who are in fear simply because they are taking a stand for You. Father I pray that you set angels out to protect my family in other countries. I pray that You put in them a fire that no threat can ever extenguish! Father I pray that they know peace beyond understanding through You! Father I pray that they know that they never walk or stand alone! Amen...

दार हेअवेंली फाठेर, इ कामे तो यू टुडे, बेग्गींग फोर्गिवेनेस वेयर इ हवे फैलेद. फाठेर इ आस्क टुडे ठाट यू पौर आउट यौर प्रेसेंस नोट फॉर में, बुत फॉर माय सिस्टर्स एंड ब्रोठेर्स अरौंद थे वर्ल्ड व्हो अरे इन फ़ार सिम्पली बेकाउसे थे अरे तकिंग अ स्टैंड फॉर यू. फाठेर इ प्राय ठाट यू सेट अन्गेल्स आउट तो प्रोटेक्ट माय फॅमिली इन ओथेर कौन्त्रिएस. इ प्राय ठाट यू पुट इन थेम अ फिरे ठाट नो थरात कैन एवर एक्स्तेंगुइश! फाठेर इ प्राय ठाट थे क्नोव पास बेयोंद उन्देर्स्तान्डिंग थ्रौघ यू! फाठेर इ प्राय ठाट थे क्नोव ठाट थे नेवर वाल्क और स्टैंड अलोने! अमन...

Salvation....

So I'm doing a special post today. I was looking at my audience on blogger, which gives me the stats of my blog. Stats like, how many people have looked at it and what countries it has reached. The statistics amazed me and I'm completely claiming God in these stats. A small town girl from Alabama could never have done this on her own, want to see what I believe to be God's work? Here's the stats

My blog has been viewed this many times in these countries...

United States 304

India 23

Canada 11

Australia 6

Lithuania 5

United Arab Emirates 3

Germany 3

Denmark 3

Hungary 3

Malaysia 3

Pakistan 3

Mauritius 2

Singapore 2

Thailand 2

Croatia 1

My blog has gone around the world, literally. So as I looked at these, I began to start looking over my blog, I realized that I have shared so much of my heart, I have never shared how salvation through our Lord, Jesus, happens.  I also realized looking over the list, that Christianity is not looked at kindly in some of the countries and worse than that in a couple. 

So anyways, this all got me to thinking about if I had one chance to say something to anyone in the world, I would want to say this... GOD LOVES YOU, HE HAS ALWAYS LOVED YOU, AND HE WANTS YOU TO SPEND ETERNITY WITH HIM!!!  So I am going to share with you what it means to be a Christian and what steps it takes to enter into God's presence.

Let me start by saying that becoming a child of God is not a ritual, there is no secret incantation, or magic words, there is no magic lamp to rub so that He will appear. It is as simple as this. He is right next to you, right now.  He is looking at you, knowing your reading this and saying, "I really do love you. I've been waiting for you your whole life."

This is so so so very important, I pray that if any post is ever read it be this one. Because I understand how God changed my life, I know how important it is that I get this right. So I'm actually going to copy and paste this from another web site. Because I'm afraid I won't word it right, and I want more than anything for you to have the love and joy I have in my Heavenly Father. So here goes.

"

You're not here by accident. God loves you. He wants you to have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus, His Son. There is just one thing that separates you from God. That one thing is sin.
The Bible describes sin in many ways. Most simply, sin is our failure to measure up to God’s holiness and His righteous standards. We sin by things we do, choices we make, attitudes we show, and thoughts we entertain. We also sin when we fail to do right things. The Bible affirms our own experience – “there is none righteous, not even one.” No matter how good we try to be, none of us does right things all the time.
People tend to divide themselves into groups - good people and bad people. But God says that every person who has ever lived is a sinner, and that any sin separates us from God. No matter how we might classify ourselves, this includes you and me. We are all sinners.
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

Many people are confused about the way to God. Some think they will be punished or rewarded according to how good they are. Some think they should make things right in their lives before they try to come to God. Others find it hard to understand how Jesus could love them when other people don't seem to. But I have great news for you! God DOES love you! More than you can ever imagine! And there's nothing you can do to make Him stop! Yes, our sins demand punishment - the punishment of death and separation from God. But, because of His great love, God sent His only Son Jesus to die for our sins.

"God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

For you to come to God you have to get rid of your sin problem. But, in our own strength, not one of us can do this! You can't make yourself right with God by being a better person. Only God can rescue us from our sins. He is willing to do this not because of anything you can offer Him, but JUST BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU!

"He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy." Titus 3:5

It's God's grace that allows you to come to Him - not your efforts to "clean up your life" or work your way to Heaven. You can't earn it. It's a free gift.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

For you to come to God, the penalty for your sin must be paid. God's gift to you is His son, Jesus, who paid the debt for you when He died on the Cross.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

Jesus paid the price for your sin and mine by giving His life on a cross at a place called Calvary, just outside of the city walls of Jerusalem in ancient Israel. God brought Jesus back from the dead. He provided the way for you to have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus. When we realize how deeply our sin grieves the heart of God and how desperately we need a Savior, we are ready to receive God's offer of salvation. To admit we are sinners means turning away from our sin and selfishness and turning to follow Jesus. The Bible word for this is "repentance" - to change our thinking about how grievous sin is, so our thinking is in line with God's.

All that's left for you to do is to accept the gift that Jesus is holding out for you right now.
"If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Romans 10:9-10

God says that if you believe in His son, Jesus, you can live forever with Him in glory.

"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16
Are you ready to accept the gift of eternal life that Jesus is offering you right now? Let's review what this commitment involves:

I acknowledge I am a sinner in need of a Savior - this is to repent or turn away from sin

I believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead - this is to trust that Jesus paid the full penalty for my sins

I confess Jesus as my Lord and my God - this is to surrender control of my life to Jesus

I receive Jesus as my Savior forever - this is to accept that God has done for me and in me what He promised

If it is your sincere desire to receive Jesus into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior, then talk to God from your heart:

Here's a Suggested Prayer:

"Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I do not deserve eternal life. But, I believe You died and rose from the grave to make me a new creation and to prepare me to dwell in your presence forever. Jesus, come into my life, take control of my life, forgive my sins and save me. I am now placing my trust in You alone for my salvation and I accept your free gift of eternal life."

provided by http://www.sbc.net/knowjesus/theplan.asp

If you prayed that prayer, if you accepted Jesus as your personal saviour, then I want to welcome you to the family! I can't wait till I get to sit across from you at the table in heaven and see you face to face my brother or sister!

Father, I come to You in prayer today for my sister's and brothers all over the world. Father, you know their needs, their hurt, and their fears, I pray that today you allow them to feel Your presense. Let them know that you are near always. Father, please don't ever let them feel forgotten. But allow them to see how precious they are to You. I love you and I praise You!!!

Do not fear...

I have been watching reports on world events and you have to love my family who is always up for some bible discussions. Our latest discussion led us to talking about revelation and the second coming of Jesus.  I have to be honest, looking at all of the crazy things happening in the world, I have pondered if our Lord will come back some time soon.

It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.

1 Corinthians 15:52

The bible says it will happen when we least expect it.  I honestly have feared this moment since I was young and first heard of it.  The whole idea of the world colapsing as we know it, the dangers and trials that will come after. The thought of the anti-christ walking among us.  But as an adult, I have come to have peace about it. Revalation is a hard book to read for anyone, but my husband and I decided to read it last year together. My inlaws also read through it and it often becomes the discussion. What will it be like, will God allow us to see the destruction? Or will He shield our eyes? Will it come tomorrow? or ten years from now? Will it come 100 years from now?  What will the rapture look like? Will we just dissapear befores peoples eyes like a vanishing ghost? Will we rise up on clouds to our Father? Will we know everything immediately? Or will we get to sit at our Father's feet as He tells us great tales? Will I know who my family is when I get there? Or will the glory of God be so much that I won't care?

I have so many questions! I have a tendency of not wanting to be suprised. I want to know what will happen, when it will happen, and how will I feel about it.  I guess I want to control it.  That's always been my biggest delihma with God, I want to control things that happen to me, I want to have a say.  I never thought I wanted to let that go, until the day I did. I will never forget how free I felt in that moment! Along with the control, guilt, and worry left me as well! I have to remind myself daily to let God handle it. That I don't have to be in control, God's got me, He won't let me fall.

Throughout the Bible, it says "Fear not".  Some people say it's in there 365 times, I won't claim that, simply because I don't have the proof to back it up and I would never want to talk falsly against God's word. But I do know from reading that it is in there a whole lot!  Many times it is followed by the fact that we serve the God most High! Like in Psalm 46

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.



In verse 10, God states, "Be still and know I am God;". He wasn't saying, "Hey there's nothing scary out there." Of course life is scary! There are terrors all around us, no matter where we live, no matter our race, no matter our background, no matter our age, no matter our size, we are all afraid of something.  God didn't say that life would leave us untouched.  He said, "be still and know I am God." Be still, don't be scared, do not fear, because I am God, I am the I AM, I am your Father, I love you and nothing can stand against me!

It was once said, "Courage is not the absence of fear, but acting despite of fear!"  Which brings me to David and Goliath....

For those of you who don't know much about the story, David was a young boy who defeated Goliath, the Giant. But first I want to give you an idea of what yound David was up against....

Goliath was a Phillistine warrior, estimated to be about 7 feet tall (if you read a newer translation of the bible it states over 9 feet tall, but according to the dead sea scrolls and other older hebrew text he was about 6'9 so that's what I'm going with.) and his armor weighed about 126lbs and his sword was about 15 lbs.   The average height, according to the research I've done, of the men in the bible was between 5'2 and 5'6, so you can see how they would have seen Goliath as a giant.  It would be like putting someone even shorter than me, up against a NBA star! Not to mention, he's hauling that armor and sword around like it didn't weigh anything, his armor weighed more than a typical middle schooler!

David was a faily young boy as the bible puts it.  In fact while the Isrealites shook in fear not knowing who to send to fight the giant, David volunteered. King Saul, didn't want to send him, he thought it would be suicide for the young boy. But after much persuasion, King Saul allowed David to go...

³² David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”

 ³³ Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

 ³⁴ But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, ³⁵ I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. ³⁶ Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. ³⁷ The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

   Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”

³⁸ Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. ³⁹ David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

   “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. ⁴⁰ Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

 ⁴¹ Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. ⁴² He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. ⁴³ He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ⁴⁴ “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”

 ⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷ All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

 ⁴⁸ As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

 ⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

1 Samuel 17:32-50



David didn't go into the fight believing that he was actually big enough to kill the giant, but on the belief that our God is the God most High and He will not forsake us.  Just like David we are going to face giants in our lives. So we can go into battle knowing that, even though the situation may be scary, our God will never forsake us either!

Another saying I love it this, "Don't tell God how big your problem is, tell your problem how big your God is!"

My prayer today is for me and all my brothers and sisters, Father I pray that when giants rise up and threaten and terrorize, that we stand strong, knowing that with You all things are possible, and nothing can stand against YOU! I love You and praise You!

Esther

So I got into watching movies yesterday and decided to watch "One night with the King".  Wow, God is on a roll with me this week. It is about Esther.  Outside of Mary, she's probably one of the best named women of the Bible, but to be honest, I really didn't know anything about her other than she was a queen and obviously did something great in God's name (Otherwise, why would we hear of her so much in the bible?).  So I got to watching it and was just sucked in. It's an amazing story of how once again, God will take someone who seems so insignificant and do great things through them.  This was a trailer to give you an idea...

I guess I got sucked in, because Esther was this orphan, who was well educated, and a dreamer.  She dreamed of Jerusalem, but just as she got permission to go, the King was looking for a queen and sent his guards to round up young women from the land. Esther was one of the girls taken. She hid her faith from everyone so as not to be killed, but when the kingdom decides to kill all the Jews. She had to come forth and ended up saving the Jews from genocide.  She was terrified of being killed. Wouldn't we all be, but this young woman sought out God and gathered the courage to stand against a Kingdom!  One person can make all the difference.

OK, so I have to admit, I still have the little girl side of me, that totally fell for the whole Cinderella side of the story. I mean think about it. It is a rags to riches story in a way. Not to mention a Jewish girl who's race had been exiled to Persia, became the queen of the Kingdom. Then there's the side of me who is a bit of a tomboy who longs to be strong and courageous like Joshua. She pushed all fears aside and offered her life for the lives of her people! I can't imagine more courage than that!

I have to love my buddy Micheal, he sent me this text yesterday afternoon right after I watched this movie.

"The next time you feel like GOD can't use YOU, just remember...Noah was a drunk, Abraham was too old, Isaac was a daydreamer, Jacob was a liar, Leah was ugly, Joseph was abused, Moses had a stuttering problem, Gideon was afraid, Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer, Rahab was a prostitute, Jeremiah and timothy were too young, David had an affair and was a murderer, Elijah was suicidal, Isaiah preached naked, Jonah ran from God, Naomi was a widow, Job went bankrupt, John the Baptist ate bugs, Peter denied Christ, The disciples fell asleep during prayer, Martha worried about everything, the Samaritan woman was divorced more than once, Zaccheus was too small, Paul was too religious, Timothy had an ulcer...AND LAZARUS WAS DEAD!!!!"

So the question today is not "Will God use me?" It's "How do I prepare for God to use me." Esther was in a sticky situation to say the least, but she kept her heart open to God, kept her faith, and acted when God commanded her to do so. 

A second chance

Have you ever felt as though you have totally failed?  I know that I have, especially when it comes to God.  Even though I have an understanding that I can never let God down, because he holds me up in His right hand and He doesn't need me to suceed to be great, after all, He is God!  But I still really get down on myself when I feel like I have not met his goal for my life.  I mean, I really feel awful!  I also have a tendency to look at God and say "Father, how could you ever want me. I'm not even worth the trouble.  What do you see in me?"  I got to this point the other day, the same day that I posted "Don't quit, Your very best".  So, I found myself sitting on my floor and crying out to God, "I'm sorry..." I felt so worthless.  I sat there with my bible in front of me, it was closed and I began to pray, "Father guide my hand".  Finally I flipped open the bible and my right hand was laying on the beggining sentance of Isaish 43. And this is what the Father spoke to me....

Israel’s Only Savior

 ¹ But now, this is what the LORD says—
   he who created you, O Jacob,
   he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
   I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
² When you pass through the waters,
   I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
   they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
   you will not be burned;
   the flames will not set you ablaze.
³ For I am the LORD, your God,
   the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
   Cush^[a] and Seba in your stead.
⁴ Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
   and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
   and people in exchange for your life.
⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
   I will bring your children from the east
   and gather you from the west.
⁶ I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
   and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
   and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
⁷ everyone who is called by my name,
   whom I created for my glory,
   whom I formed and made.”

 ⁸ Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
   who have ears but are deaf.
⁹ All the nations gather together
   and the peoples assemble.
Which of them foretold this
   and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
   so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
¹⁰ “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD,
   “and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
   and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
   nor will there be one after me.
¹¹ I, even I, am the LORD,
   and apart from me there is no savior.
¹² I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
   I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “that I am God.
 ¹³ Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
   When I act, who can reverse it?”

WOW! God started this statement by stating how He is God who formed us, but then He goes straight into telling us not to be scared, because He has REDEEMED us. We have been redeemed, our transgretions wiped away.  Then He said that He has called us by name, you have been called by His name, the holiest of all names! And then He said something that brought tears to my eyes, "you are mine." The God of the universe claims us as His own. He goes on to tell us how we will not walk through trials alone, and how though it might look scary, He will let no harm come to us.  And then He says it again, "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you," Wow! We are precious and honored! And again He says I love you! Then God says again, don't fear, He will call all of us called by His name from all over the earth. He will not let anyone hold us back from Him. He calls us his wintnesses, and says that He is the only Savior. But then He says something at the end something that stuck me like lightning.  Something I should know, but we all need to be reminded every once in a while, He says this..."When I act, who can reverse it?"

Why is it as christians, that we question God when He tells us to do something?  I mean I get it, If crazy uncle Bubba tells us "What you need to do is this!" and it involves a getaway car, then by all means, question away!!! But we are talking about the Creator.  We're talking about the One who formed you. Of course He knows best, He knows the future!  Why would we even consult anyone else?  We are His, He loves us a million times over and beyond. He promises to deliver us.  He says that we are precious in His sight. And He states very clearly that when He acts no one can reverse it! 

So I wrote this today thinking of how I was feeling about myself the other day, and how God just lifted me with it. Number one, God is God, His greatness is not dependant on our actions, He doesn't need us to be the Ultimate, rather He chooses to be with us. He stoops down out off His heavenly thone to pick you up.  Number two, if you are saved, you are called by His name. You are redeemed.  Matt Pitt, a local pastor, once said, that when we look at God, broken and feeling lost, knowing that we failed and asking God "Can I please start again?" God's answer is "ALWAYS!"  We may give up at times, but He never gives up on us. He always wants you, always loves you, will always come back for you. Finally, the christian road does get rocky. At times it can be down right trechurous! But we never walk alone. When God acts, noone can reverse it. If He tells you to do something, it's because He has prepared a way for it to happen. So walk with confidence today, that you serve the one true God! You are His child! You are His love! You are called by His name! Stand up and stand out!

Don't quit! Your very best!

If you have never watched facing the giants, I am telling you that you are missing a blessing!  It is an amazing story of how our God can take something so small and make it into greatness. The clip above is my favorite part of the entire movie.  Brock who is somewhat of a troublemaker and has a bad attitude about what his team can do is called out by the coach. He tells Brock to do the death crawl again, in which he has to crawl feet and hands with another team mate clinging to his back. Brock then asks, "want me to go to the twenty yard line?" The coach replies "nope I think you can go to the fifty." Brock's response is "I can go to the fifty without my teammate on my back." The coach comes back with, "I believe you can go with him on your back." But there is a catch, the coach asks him to do it blindfolded, because he doesn't want Brock to quit when he has more to give. Brock laughs at the idea, but agrees. All the team is in laughter as Brock starts down the field, but then you see them in awe as they start to stand up and watch. Brock begins to get tired, and the coach begins telling him "don't you give up, you've got more." Brock struggles on, but then begins to cry out in pain, "IT HURTS!".  The coach is now on the ground crawling with him, "DON'T YOU QUIT ON ME! DON'T YOU QUIT ON ME!! YOU'VE GOT MORE IN YOU THAN THIS! DON'T YOU QUIT BROCK!! DON'T YOU QUIT! YOU KEEP GOING!" Brock continues to struggle, reaching for more and more, crying out "IT'S TOO HARD!". Coach is right there with him, yelling and encouraging him on. Finally Brock collapses and says "I can't go anymore. I don't have anymore." The coach, lying on the ground next to him tells him to look up, "Brock, you in the end zone."

How many times as Christians are we walking blindly in faith, screaming out "IT HURTS! ITS TOO HARD! I CAN'T GO ANYMORE!"  And there is our heavenly Father, screaming back at us, "DON'T YOU QUIT! DON'T YOU QUIT! YOU'VE GOT MORE IN YOU THAN THIS! YOU KEEP GOING!!!"  God has placed in us a strength, a potential, that we don't even realize we have.  And when we get to a certain point, we give up because we know that we reached to goal that was expected of us. God wants us to exceed all expectations. God has proved throughout time that He works by taking the person you least expect and doing something great through them.  But you have to be willing to push it, to give it your all, to negotiate with your body to find more strength when you think you have none left to give and know that God will honor those who honor Him.

 My challenge for all my brothers and sisters in Christ today is this, watch the clip above. If it won't load go to youtube and look up "don't quit facing the giants". Watch it again and you place yourself in Brock's position and put God in the coaches position. Then ask yourself today, what obstacle are you facing that God is yelling for you, "don't quit on me!" Pray about it, if you feel led, share it and allow your brothers and sisters to pray for you today. Feel free to post it below this, I promise that I will pray with you. Imagine what our faith would be like, if none of us quit.

Father I come to You today, asking for forgiveness. I have failed at this.  I have failed in times of ministry, in my family, and as a christian. I have given up, when I know that you will never give me a task that you have not given me the strength to complete.  I have given up when it got hard and when it hurt. I have not listened when you told me not to quit. I have been selfish and had a bad attitude about what you told me do. Father, help me to see what you see in me. Don't give up on me, keeping yelling and encouraging me like the coach to not quit. I love you Father and I praise You!

life is a highway...

I'm planning on doing my day 6 tonight, but I can't help but think of a conclusion my husband and I came to the other night. As Christians, we talk often about how God has set a path before us, or stay on the straight and narrow road. We happened to be going down the interstate the other day and the comment came about, that our lives are like the interstate. God lays down this big road in front of you and gives you a destination.  Hypothetically, you have a car that never runs out of gas and everything you need in the car, because we believe as Christians that God provides all we need. So it makes sense that you would just floor it right? An straight road, with no red lights, and all we need. So why wouldn't we have a lead foot down this open road?



Yep just a big ole' open road to God. So why is it that we find ourselves not rolling on it sometimes. My husband and I came to the conclusion that it is because the devil has set up tourist traps! That's right! Tourist traps!

I mean seriously, the kid in all of us, wants to see the worlds largest McDonald's!

or the hole in the rock!

and who wouldn't want to stop here?

You can't tell me your not the least bit interested in eating with a giant cowboy!

and why is it we all want to know what "the thing" really is?

The devil gets us trapped, by going, "Oh just take a break for a little while, look I have fun stuff over here! Aren't you tired of traveling?" And we fall for it, we take the exit, knowing that it will put us off course, knowing that we should keep our eyes focused on the prize. I can't think of a better example of this other than when I was about 10 years old. My grandparents were taking me and my cousin Amy to Disney world.  We drove, and to a 10 and 6 year old, it is a terribly long drive. But so worth it! We were going to Disney world after all! But I remember, it was probably about 35-40 miles outside of our condo, Amy and I saw a billboard "Largest McDonald's Playground, NEXT EXIT!" Oh we begged my grandpa! "Please, please, please, PLEASE!!!!" But my Grandpa would not waiver on his decision that we would stay the course. He knew that it would throw us off schedule and something much greater awaited us ahead. How I love my grandpa, for filling my life with Godly examples! Just like Disney world awaited me and Amy, something much greater awaits all of us! God has planned greatness for all of us, none of us were made to sit idly by and watch others!

Another reason we get off course is this,

We go the wrong direction because we do not consult the map.  I believe that we as Christians are failing at staying in the word of God daily. Notice I said we, I am totally including myself in that statement. We have a map right in front of us, and here in America, the freedom to read it! So many of our brothers and sisters through out the world, would do anything for the freedom to read it in public and to share it. But some face penalty of death for even dreaming such. We take it for granted! I want to end this with a verse that has God has spoken to me many times with....

Hebrews 12;1-3
 ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.



 Father, it's my birthday today, thank You for creating me for great purposes for Your honor. It is my prayer this year that we as Christians will truly fix our eyes on You! That we will ignore the tourist traps and stay the course, I pray for all of us, that we do not grow weary or lose heart and that we all find strength in You!