Quotes, Scripture and My Thoughts

I’ve been coming across some really great quotes lately and I thought I’d share.

The first one is actually from the book I told you about yesterday by David Platt called “Something Needs to Change.”

Temporary earthly suffering, however severe, pales in comparison to eternal suffering, which last forever.

David Platt, “Something Needs to Change”

Wow, this quote hit me hard. He’s so right though! What suffering we go through here on earth is NOTHING like the suffering we’ll endure if we don’t make the decision to follow Christ!

We shall not grow weary of waiting upon God if we remember how long and how graciously He once waited for us.

C.H. Spurgeon

Another hard hitting quote. How long did God have to wait for us to come to Him?

If Jesus could forgive the people who tortured and killed Him while He was hanging on the cross, surely we can forgive whatever it is that people have done to us.

Marissa….(blogger) “Like an Anchor”

*hangs head* so much truth here.

A critical spirit leads to a heart of legalism rather than genuine service and faith

…. the critical spirit can’t rejoice because their focus is on themselves.

Dirke Johnson

I feel like this is self explanatory. But yes, because someone with a critical spirit is focused on themselves, they can’t see the beauty all around them. They are so focused on what THEY want, on what THEY desire that they are missing out.

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Here’s some Scripture that’s been hitting me hard as well. You know how when you are reading something over and you pick up on something that you didn’t really get the last time you read it? Yeah….

Because of his grace He made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

Titus 3:7 (NLT)

Sometimes I tend to struggle wit the fact that God loves me as much as He does. It’s so hard to wrap my head around the fact. I know everyone from time to time has struggled with this. His grace overwhelms me!

I once thought these things were valuable but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting is all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.

Philippians 3:7-8 (NLT)

NOTHING on this earth is as valuable as being a child of God. NOTHING.

Let your roots grow down into him and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:7 (NLT)

For the longest time, my faith was stagnant. I went through all the motions of being a Christian but never truly grew in my faith. Then one day I woke up and realized all that Christ had done for me and now my faith is truly starting to grow.

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If you have any quotes or Scripture you’d like to share with me, please do!

Something Needs to Change

I started reading David Platt’s “Something Needs to Change” the other day and while I haven’t gotten very far into it, I can tell it’s going to be something worth reading.

Synopsis:

While leading a team on a week-long trek of the Himalayas, bestselling author and pastor David Platt was stunned by the human needs he encountered, an experience so dramatic that it “changed the trajectory of my life.” Meeting a man who’d lost his eye from a simple infection and seeing the faces of girls stolen from their families and trafficked in the cities, along with other unforgettable encounters, opened his eyes to the people behind the statistics and compelled him to wrestle with his assumptions about faith. In Something Needs to Change, Platt invites readers to come along on both the adventure of the trek, as well as the adventure of seeking answers to tough questions like, “Where is God in the middle of suffering?” “What makes my religion any better than someone else’s religion?” and “What do I believe about eternal suffering?” Platt has crafted an irresistible message about what it means to give your life for the gospel–to finally stop talking about faith and truly start living it.

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For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Romans 10:13-15

A Critical Spirit

Such a thought provoking post.

Dirke & Lorna Johnson

I have a neighbor I call, Critical-Cathy. If it’s not someone’s yard that isn’t quite right, it’s a trash can left out too long, or too much noise the night before. She greeted me the morning after I had purchased a 2020 sporty-looking red Toyota Corolla. “I see you got a new car,” she said with a belittling tone and eyebrows scrunched a little to the left.

“A pre-owned one,” I said, hoping she wouldn’t judge me as extravagant.

“You know, the police pull red cars over more than other one’s. You better be careful.”

I quipped back, “It’s a good thing I don’t go over the speed limit, isn’t it?” Okay, I know I might have stretched the truth a tad bit. But, I felt like responding, “So should I take it back?” But she probably would have said yes, and then what would I have said?

It seems…

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Lay Your Burdens Down

I’m hurting again. I’m exhausted…again. My body is in so much pain that I just want to give up. But I know I can’t. This is a daily battle. It’s a battle that rages constantly, pulling me down with it sometimes. I don’t always win. Today feels like one of those days.

Fibromyalgia. Why must it exist? Bipolar disorder…why must I suffer? I just want to be normal. What is normal though? Does it even exist?

I am not writing this in order to get you to feel sorry for me. Rather I’m writing to get my thoughts out, to express how I’m feeling. But due to brain fog I can’t find the right words to truly express how I’m feeling. I have to save this as a draft, walk away for a little while, then come back. Most of the time that works but today I’m struggling. My brain just doesn’t want to work today.

As I was writing this, Jamie Kimmett’s song “Burdens” came on. Coincidence? I think not! This is ALL GOD!

I don’t have to fight this battle alone. The Lord is with me. He wants me to lay my burdens down, to give everything to Him!

Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the Lord your God will fight for you.

Deuteronomy 3:22

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.

Psalm 34:17

What’s Your Story?

Okay so I told y’all about Jamie Kimmett the other day. I fell in love with his song “Prize Worth Fighting For.” Well I decided to go on iTunes and look through his music. I found his EP and decided to purchase it because his other songs were equally as good. 🙂 (Seriously, go check his music out!)

But what really captured me was his story of how he came to know the Lord. I encourage you to check it out! https://www.jamiekimmett.com/full-bio

I love learning how someone comes to know the Lord.

I know I’ve shared my story before but here’s how I came to know the Lord….

I have been in church since I was 4 years old. I went to a Christian school up until 4th grade. I’ve heard about Christ nearly my whole life. I even participated in Bible Sword Drill and (not trying to boast here) made it to our Nationals. I had all the head knowledge of Christ, I could recite Bible verses at the drop of a hat.

I was saved, was I not? I was a Christian, right? That’s what I told myself.

Then the darkness came. I fell into a deep depression during my senior year of high school and I hated life. Gone were the days of reading my Bible and praying to God. I just didn’t care anymore.

Then it came time for me to go to college. I attended a local community college my first year and then after much prodding from my mother, I enrolled at the Free Will Baptist Bible College (now known as Welch College). I told her I would give it a try.

During spring break in 2003, I came home for a week and at church that Sunday, we had an evangelist come and speak and he said this one thing that turned my whole world around. He said this one thing that made me immediately realize I wasn’t a Christian like I’d been pretending to be. He said this:

You can be 99% sure of your salvation but your still 100% lost.

It clicked with me! I’d been leading a life full of hypocrisy. I wasn’t saved. I never had been. And just like that I headed to the altar, tears streaming down my face. I gave my life to Christ on March 16, 2003. I went back to school a new person. The weight was off my shoulders. The weight I didn’t really realize I was carrying. I was FREE!

Now of course that doesn’t mean life got suddenly easy. Satan tries his very best to bring me down and on some occasions he almost has. But with Christ on my side, I’ve been able to pull myself back up every time.

In 2008, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I should have seen it coming. I had all the symptoms back in high school but was only diagnosed with depression.

It’s been a struggle…having a mental illness and trying to live a Christ-like life. Satan knows my weaknesses and does everything He can think of to twist my mental illness in order to lead me astray from the Lord.

But I believe God will use my bipolar disorder for good. It says in Romans 8:28:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

So how about y’all? What are YOUR coming to Christ stories?

Work Hard

Work with enthusiasm as though you were working for the Lord rather than people.

Ephesians 6:7

One day we’re going to be held accountable for how we lived here on earth. How we treated others, how we responded to God’s will for our lives. Did we make the right choice? Did we harbor selfish feelings? Were we kind, respectful, and thoughtful?

Listen, I cannot speak for anyone but myself. Do I have regrets? Of course I do. Did I ever mistreat a person? More times than I can count, unfortunately.

But here’s the thing: GOD HAS FORGIVEN ME! Do I still sin? I hate to say it but yes, I do. I’m not perfect. I never will be perfect. But I have a heavenly Father who literally sent his Son to earth to DIE a sinner’s death on the cross. FOR ME! And FOR YOU!

Like me, I’m sure you all have that one family member who just won’t turn to Christ. They think they know it all or that God couldn’t possibly love them because of all they’ve done.

I’m here to tell you to not give up! Please, do not give up. Keep working at it. Because He loves every single human being and desires for all to come to Him.

Until the WHOLE world HEARS!

Cry Out to Jesus

In my devotions this morning I started a new plan on YouVersion titled “God’s Got This.” When we are up against a way, when life is coming at us from all directions and we don’t know what to do…..we need to cry out to Jesus. He alone will help us navigate through life’s never ending problems.

Psalm 86:7 says “I will call to You whenever I am in trouble and you will answer me.”

As you know, I went through a period where my faith became stagnant. I stopped blogging, I went through the motions when it came to reading my Bible and praying. I’m still struggling just a tiny bit but I know as long as I keep my eyes on the Lord, I will get back on track.

I was listening to KLOVE this afternoon and heard a new song called “Prize Worth Fighting For” by Jamie Kimmett. I immediately fell in love with it and added it to my playlist. Check it out!

Lately, been down so low
My faith seems to come and go
Some days, father, I don’t know
How did my love grow cold?

But You help me see again
This world is not the end
Jesus, my sweetest friend
You’re worth the suffering

Jamie Kimmett, “Prize Worth Fighting For”

This song….it really struck a chord with me (haha, see what I did there?…*hangs head* …nevermind. LOL) Anyway, this song has a lot of meaning in my life right now. I’m so glad I turned on KLOVE and was able to hear it in its entirety

What is a song that has a lot of meaning for you?

Top Fan!

I am a HUGE fan of Karen Kingsbury and recently entered a contest to have my name listed in her latest book as one of her top fans and I found out the other day that I WON! I am super stoked!

Congratulations!


I have chosen you to be listed in the back of my upcoming book, Truly Madly Deeply, as one of my top fans!! This book is dedicated to you!!


The thing is, I really see you as a friend, not just a fan. Your letter telling me why I should choose you as a Top Fan was so heartfelt, so personal. It truly matters to me that you care so deeply about my books.


I always say, “God puts a story on my heart, but He has you in mind.” Only He could do that, and because of Him, I am most blessed that you and I are forever connected!!

I had the exciting opportunity of meeting my favorite author of all time!

I’ve been reading Karen’s books since college. My friend, Tracy, lent me one of her books and I was hooked from the first paragraph!

I have an entire bookshelf dedicated to all her books. 🙂 And she has A LOT!

Karen knows how to draw the reader in from the first sentence.

She offers a writing course online at Liberty University and I totally wish I could take it one day!

For all my reader friends out there, who is your favorite author?

Stagnant Faith No More

Now I’m just a beggar in the presence of a King

I wish I could bring so much more

But if it’s true You use broken things

Then here I am Lord, I’m all Yours

Matthew West, “Broken Things”

Lately I’ve been extremely restless. I know I’ll have to bring this up to my doctor and I’m sure an increase of my medication will be discussed.

So many thoughts race through my head. Am I worthy enough? Am I smart enough? Am I….enough?

I just wish I could get these thoughts of inadequacy and unworthiness out of my head. Satan knows my weaknesses and he is definitely on the warpath. He sees me panicking and is ready to swoop in and set up camp.

I fear I’ve become stagnant in my faith. I feel I’m not moving forward in my relationship with the Lord. I am feeling so disconnected with God and I realize it’s my fault. God hasn’t moved, it’s ME that’s stopped walking.

So if you wonder if the prayers you pray

Are bouncing off the ceiling, you’re feeling alone

I want you to know, know

You are known

And if you wonder if you’re just another nameless face

In a crowd, well, now you’re home

I want you to know, know

You are known

Matthew West, “You Are Known”

Y’all. Matthew West writes great songs! I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song of his that I didn’t like. I think one of my absolute favorites is “The Motions.” Definitely check it out if you’ve never heard it.

This might hurt, it’s not safe

But I know that I’ve gotta make a change

I don’t care if I break,

At least I’ll be feeling something

‘Cause just okay is not enough

Help me fight through the nothingness of life

Matthew West, “The Motions”

I know I must make a change. I’ve been stuck in this rut for far too long. I’m tired of going through the motions as a Christian. How am I serving God by living like this? That’s easy, I’m NOT. I feel I’ve failed you, my readers.

How can I be a witness if, in my own life, I’m not living the way I should be? I mean, c’mon! My blog is “All You Need Is Jesus!” I feel like a hypocrite. But that is going to change. I am slowly getting back on track and back in my walk with the Lord.

1 John 1:9 assures me that if I confess my sins, He is FAITHFUL and JUST to forgive my sins.

Bear with me as I find my way again.

What Is True Christian Living (What Does NOT Make One A Christian?)

Such a thought provoking post.

Inside Cup

I’m going to try to write this as gently as I can. This topic is something I have been heated up about since I was 13 years old. It’s a topic that we very easily can discuss with finger-pointing at everyone else, except ourselves. I want to write this bearing myself in mind, and being open to falling short.

Another clarification I am going to put right at the beginning has to deal with godly living because I’m positive this is going to come up. Godly living is a fruit that comes from salvation, godly living does not give us salvation. Godly living is a process as we grow our relationship with Jesus Christ, something all believers should desire to grow in. A new believer should not be expected to have the maturity of a Christian who has been devoted for 30 years. See this post for my clarification between…

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