Leavin’ on a Jet Plane….

….don’t know when I’ll be back again….

JUST kidding! I’ll be back May 8th. I’m leaving tomorrow to head to California to see my dad for a week.

I may or may not have time to really check in with you all so I just wanted to let you know!

Verse of the Day: Romans 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Trying to figure out what God’s will for our lives can be difficult sometimes. But the more we draw close to Him, the more we lean on Him and turn to Him for answers, He WILL make His will clear. We just need to “be still.”

Being still can be hard but in the end it’s worth it!

Good Morning!

It’s a good morning!
Wake up to a brand new day
This morning,
I’m stepping, I’m stepping, stepping on my way
Good morning,
You give me strength,
You give me just what I need
And I can feel the hope that’s rising in me.
It’s a good morning

Mandisa, “Good Morning”

Good morning y’all! I’ve been up since 5 and normally I’d be grumpy because I’m totally not a morning person but today feels different! It’s going to be a great day!

Oh don’t get me wrong, I’m still completely exhausted but after spending time in God’s Word I’ve determined that today will be a good day!

I came across these 2 verses today in Colossians that really spoke to me:

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

Wow. Powerful stuff right there. We are redeemed! If we know Christ, if we have invited Him into our lives, we are REDEEMED! We have been RESCUED from the darkness we lived in. He took our place and he bore all of our sins on the cross. He was rejected and despised for our sake. That’s how great his love is for all of us.

It makes me think of this verse in John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

That’s what Christ did for us! He laid his life down for us. He proved His love to US, it’s time we show that love to Him and others.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

I want my life to show God’s love to everyone I meet. I don’t know if you’ve heard of the group for King and Country but there is a song they sing called “The Proof of Your Love” that really speaks to me.

So let my life be the proof,
The proof of your love
Let my love look like You and what You’re made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love

for King and Country, “The Proof of Your Love”

I am constantly asking myself this question, “Do people see Jesus in me?” When I am out and about, do people see Jesus in the way I act?

 

Love Broke Thru

But you loved me enough to pursue me.

TobyMac, “Love Broke Thru”

I was a hot mess before I came to know Christ. Aren’t we all?

Before I experienced His love, I hated life. I was depressed, full of darkness.

But the Lord loves me so much that he continued to pursue me despite all the times I tried to flee from Him. But guess what? We CAN’T flee from Him, no matter how hard we try. He’s everywhere!

Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

Psalm 139:7-8

He is everywhere we go! It does no good trying to run from Him. He loves you too much to let you go.

I was driving down the road this morning when the song “Love Broke Thru” by TobyMac came on. I love this song.  It reminds me of God’s great love and how He broke my chains of darkness when He came into my life. He gave me light to replace the darkness that was engulfing me.  His love broke thru my stubbornness, my hardheadedness and my darkness. His love saved me.

He loves you! His love can save you as well!

TobyMac-Love Broke Thru

When love broke thru
You found me in the darkness
Wanderin’ thru the desert
I was a hopeless fool
Now I’m hopelessly devoted
My chains are broken
And it all began with You
When love broke thru
And it all began with You
When love broke thru

*Reblog* Anger, Bitterness, Anyone?

A great post from T. R. Noble! Really makes you think!

Are you harboring bitterness towards someone? It’s time to let it go!

Is there anyone you haven’t forgiven? Are you bitter? Does thinking about a past event or person still cause your chest to tighten and anger to rise within? ^ If any of the following is relatable, do you also feel like you are not connecting with God? Yeah, you may have guessed it. It is […]

via Anger, Bitterness, Anyone? — Inside Cup

Have Thine Own Way, Lord

We sing this hymn a lot in my church and sometimes I think we just mindlessly sing it without truly receiving the message. I know I’ve been guilty of it. But if you truly listen to the lyrics, they’re beautiful. And powerful.

God knows exactly what’s best for us and in His time we will receive it. We must trust Him completely. He will never fail us. He will never leave us, nor forsake us. We can rest in his promises because they are true and never failing. He will never break His promise.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

Isaiah 40:29

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future

Jeremiah 29:11

All we have to do is trust in Him. He WILL take care of us. 🙂

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Jim Reeves

Have Thine own way Lord
Have Thine own way
Thou art the potter I am the clay
Mold me and make me after Thy will
While I am waiting yielded and still

Have Thine own way Lord
Have Thine own way
Search me and try me Master today
Whiter than snow Lord wash me just now
As in Thy presence humbly I bow

Have Thine own way Lord
Have Thine own way
Hold over my being absolute sway
Filled with Thy spirit till all can see
Christ only always living in me

Waiting on the Lord

I don’t know about you but I am not the most patient person. I hate waiting.

I’m not as bad as I used to be, however, as I grow closer to the Lord. He is teaching me patience. He is teaching me to wait on Him. His timing is best. He is never in a hurry but He is always on time.

It’s hard though, isn’t it? Waiting on the Lord. His timing is not necessarily our timing. He knows what’s best for us. We may think we know what is best for us, in the moment, but ultimately it’s God who knows what’s best.

Still, it’s hard waiting.

I’m currently waiting on God for a specific need to be taken care of. I’ve been waiting for quite some time now. To me, it seems like God could answer the prayer immediately but God has His reasons for allowing me to wait this long. I’m being taught to lean on Him throughout the struggles this situation has caused. I’m being taught to rely on Him for all my needs.

I came across this verse in Mark that has become very dear to me in the past couple of weeks.

Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.

Mark 11:24

I have this verse taped up so I can see it every day to remind me. Keep on praying. As it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.”

I know that God knows what is best for me and it may not necessarily line up with what I want but in the end it will be exactly what I need.

That’s what I need to remember.  That’s what the Lord is teaching me.

 

What has the Lord been teaching you lately?

 

 

The Struggle is Real….

I’ve been struggling with my writing again as of late. I know the writing is IN me but I can’t get it OUT. All of you fellow writers can probably agree you’ve been in this situation before.

The dreaded writer’s block has struck again.

And it’s frustrating because I want so badly to write, to get my words out there, whether on screen or on paper.

Maybe my motives are all wrong. Am I writing for the right reasons? Am I writing for God? Because ultimately it’s about God.

Maybe I’m trying too hard. Maybe I just need to take a step back and figure out where I’m trying to go with my writing. Who am I trying to honor with my writing? Am I just trying to bring the glory to myself or am I honestly wanting to bring it to God?

To be honest, I think I already know the answer. But I don’t want it to be that way. Not anymore. I don’t want it to be about me anymore.

Real…my heart is aching to be real….

Point of Grace, “Fight”

I want to bring glory to God with my writing. I honestly do.  Colossians 3:23 tells us “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

In 1 Corinthians 10:31 it says “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

So right now…at this very instant…I’m giving this writing struggle over to God. If writing is what I am called to do then He will show me and give the words to write. I want my words to mean something. I don’t want my words to become empty.

This song seems appropriate right now. I know I’ve posted it before but I feel the need to share it again.

 

“Fight”
Point of Grace

How clever is my pride, how it deceives my mind
To think I am in control when I have really lost it all
How brilliant is my greed for what it says I need
And then I’ve come to find I’m empty on the inside

Real, my heart is aching to be real
So I am coming to You

All my broken motives, all my selfish dreams
All of my foolishness now I understand where it leads
I wanna be in Your love, I wanna be so much more
I know You’re reaching out so what am I fighting You for
So what am I fighting You for

How quick is my doubt to leave my heart without
The presence of Your peace so that I scarce believe
How pardoned is my guilt to crush the life You built
And to keep me far away from any kind of shame

Real, my heart is aching to be real
So I am coming to You

All my broken motives, all my selfish dreams
All of my foolishness now I understand where it leads
I wanna be in Your love, I wanna be so much more
I know You’re reaching out so what am I fighting You for

‘Cause only You can save me
And only You can change me
And only You can love me
Here I come, here I come
So I come to You

All my broken motives, all my selfish dreams
All of my foolishness ’cause I understand where it leads
I wanna be in Your love, I wanna be so much more
I know You’re reaching out so what am I fighting You

All my broken motives, all my selfish dreams
All of my foolishness now I understand where it leads
I wanna be in Your love, I wanna be so much more
I know You’re reaching out I don’t wanna fight anymore

I don’t wanna fight anymore
I don’t wanna fight anymore
I don’t wanna fight anymore
I don’t wanna fight

Favorite Bible Verses

Hey y’all, today I thought I’d share with you all some of my favorite Bible verses:

• Jeremiah 29:11-13, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
• Psalm 40:1-2 “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and hear my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
• Psalm 46:10 “He says, Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
• Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
• 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.
• Romans 8:31, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
• John 16:33 “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!

 

What are some of your favorite verses? I’d love to see them!

 

People, Get Ready!

In Matthew 24:36-44, we read that absolutely no one but the Father knows when Christ is coming back. Not even the Son. He will return when we least expect it. We need to be ready!

My heart aches for those who don’t know Christ yet. He could come back at any moment and the thought of losing my unsaved loved ones to hell just breaks my heart. The seed has been planted in their lives but they just won’t take root. Their hearts are hardening with each passing day and I’m scared they are going to die without Christ in their lives.

So please pray that I might be a better witness to them. That they will see Jesus in me and want to know Jesus as their own.

Live as though Christ will return TODAY!

People, get ready! It will happen in a blink of the eye!

Do you know Christ as your personal Savior?

People Get Ready, Jesus is Coming–Crystal Lewis

Lord I’m ready now
I’m waiting for Your triumphant return
You’re coming so soon
This world has nothing for me
I find my peace and joy solely in You
Only in You
I want the world to see that
You’re alive and living well in me
Let me be a part of the harvest
For the days are few
He’s coming soon

People get ready Jesus is coming
Soon we’ll be going home
People get ready Jesus is coming
To take from the world His own

There will be a day
When we will be divided right and left
For those who know Him
And those who do not know
Those who know Him well
Will meet Him in the air
Hallelujah
God is with us
Those who do not know
They will hear “Depart, I knew you not”
For my friends you see
There will be a day when well be counted
So know Him well, know Him well

Need You Now

I watched “I’m Not Ashamed” yesterday for like the 4th or 5th time. And as always, I bawled like a baby at the end.

I don’t know why I’m so drawn to Rachel Scott’s story but it really intrigues me.

In the movie there is a song called  “Need You Now (How Many Times)” by Plumb.  It’s a great song.  I urge you to listen to it when you can. And if you get a chance, watch “I’m Not Ashamed” It’s a great testimony to who Rachel was and what she stood for.

It will be 19 years on April 20th that Rachel went to be with her Lord and Savior. Her story continues to inspire many, myself included. Her love for Christ was evident. Here is an excerpt from her journals that were published not long after her death. She wanted to be different from her peers. A God fearing Christian. Not a “worldly Christian”

Reading this posts the question: What kind of Christian do I want to be?

Need You Now (How Many Times)–Plumb

Well, everybody’s got a story to tell
And everybody’s got a wound to be healed
I want to believe there’s beauty here
‘Cause oh, I get so tired of holding on
I can’t let go, I can’t move on
I want to believe there’s meaning here

How many times have you heard me cry out
“God please take this”?
How many times have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing?
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.

Standing on a road I didn’t plan
Wondering how I got to where I am
I’m trying to hear that still small voice
I’m trying to hear above the noise

How many times have you heard me cry out
God please take this?
How many times have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing?
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.

Though I walk,
Though I walk through the shadows
And I, I am so afraid
Please stay, please stay right beside me
With every single step I take

How many times have you heard me cry out?
And how many times have you given me strength?

How many times have you heard me cry out
“God please take this”?
How many times have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing?
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.

I need you now
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.
I need you now
I need you now