The LORD your God is with you. He is a hero who saves you. He happily rejoices over you, renews you with his love, and celebrates over you with shouts of joy. -Zephaniah 3:17
Monday, November 11, 2013
Treasured By The King
I feel so blessed to be the person that God created. And He doesn't make mistakes either. Everything I like, dislike, smell, buy, eat, try, read, listen to, do. All of these things make me, me. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Unique, just like the one flower that stands out in a world of flowers. I couldn't thrive in just grass. I refuse to let anyone try to cause me to feel that I am less than the wonderful person God created. I don't look at the stars and try to change their shape or color to match my liking. I look at the stars and think they are beautiful. My creator made them. And to just think, we were ALL knit together with special gifts, talents and abilities crafted by God Himself. We were made to function in a way that God had in mind when we were first brought forth. I am amazed to think that inside each of us, God has placed a valuable treasure. Something that is yet to be truly discovered. I love the beauty and uniqueness of God's creation and people. If we try to change for anyone other than God, then we will miss out on the main purpose He had in mind for us from the beginning. We are not expected to change for anyone or try be something we're not. Don't allow yourself to be deterred from that very fact. Anything outside of that is far from truth. So, praise the Lord for His awesome works! Anyone who truly values you, will accept you and embrace you for all that you are and they will praise God, too! You are treasured by The King!
The LORD your God is with you. He is a hero who saves you. He happily rejoices over you, renews you with his love, and celebrates over you with shouts of joy. -Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is with you. He is a hero who saves you. He happily rejoices over you, renews you with his love, and celebrates over you with shouts of joy. -Zephaniah 3:17
Thursday, October 31, 2013
New Beginnings
Greetings Friends! I know, it's been way too long since my last post. I started this write this as we were nearing the end of July and now it is October and still haven't posted it. At the time I began this writing, we were still residing at the haunted apartment and I didn't have internet access. As I write this, we are in a house and still do not have internet at home (only on mobile), but I will post this soon. I pray God's blessings will follow you today and that you leave here refreshed and encouraged
As always, I wait to give a title due to the fact I usually don't know what my post will be about. Right now, I have the title New Beginnings come to mind because I think we tend to forget that God is the God of new beginnings. Each new chapter of our lives is a new beginning and so if you are getting out of a rough chapter in life, it's time conclude it with: "But God still has a plan!" or "And so my journey with God continues!" Whatever it may be, we can know that God is there waiting for us to turn the pages and is ready to help us continue writing our God story.
I have recently went through a difficult season in life and have been seeking the Lord constantly to help me use it for growth and change for the better. We all have that one area of struggle that seems to get at us from time to time. I am thankful that no matter what I go through or what changes seem to occur, God's love for me does not change. No matter what the enemy might be whispering or what words he uses in the mouths of others to discourage us, we have a high calling and God is always for us regardless. That is one of His countless promises we can count on! Lately, I feel like I fail too often to do what is right. Sometimes I just do what I want rather than what God would have me to do and then I go to Him feeling heavy hearted and awful. I just feel sad for people that don't know God. I know how imperfect I am and how lost I once was before I dedicated my life to Christ. I am not at all proud of the times I wondered off the good path. I grieve for those who continue to harden their hearts against the Holy God whom they will one day face. People can be so stubborn. I can be stubborn also. We are at war- all of us- believers or not! There is a war for the souls of men and there is a war against the work that we believers are trying to accomplish so that what we want to do will be ineffective. We need to fight hard to stand in the truth so that we will not be moved. We must pray constantly that we stay focused on our tasks and that our vision will not be blurred. Remember, the gate is very narrow and a few will enter.
I have just a couple things to add before I come to a close. The word endurance comes to mind. Do you know what it means to endure? It means doing things that we don't always enjoy because we know there is joy to follow. Don't miss out on the joy or look back with regret due to missed opportunities. We may not always see why God calls us to do certain things, but sometimes He may give us a glimpse. He will reward those who are faithful to Him. Hebrews 12:1 says, Run the race and stay in your own lane, the race that God has set before you. v2. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Look away from other things, look to Jesus! He finished the race, follow after Him. v3 Keep Him in view. Consider Him. Stay close. Don't let too much time or space come between you and Him.
Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
As always, I wait to give a title due to the fact I usually don't know what my post will be about. Right now, I have the title New Beginnings come to mind because I think we tend to forget that God is the God of new beginnings. Each new chapter of our lives is a new beginning and so if you are getting out of a rough chapter in life, it's time conclude it with: "But God still has a plan!" or "And so my journey with God continues!" Whatever it may be, we can know that God is there waiting for us to turn the pages and is ready to help us continue writing our God story.
I have recently went through a difficult season in life and have been seeking the Lord constantly to help me use it for growth and change for the better. We all have that one area of struggle that seems to get at us from time to time. I am thankful that no matter what I go through or what changes seem to occur, God's love for me does not change. No matter what the enemy might be whispering or what words he uses in the mouths of others to discourage us, we have a high calling and God is always for us regardless. That is one of His countless promises we can count on! Lately, I feel like I fail too often to do what is right. Sometimes I just do what I want rather than what God would have me to do and then I go to Him feeling heavy hearted and awful. I just feel sad for people that don't know God. I know how imperfect I am and how lost I once was before I dedicated my life to Christ. I am not at all proud of the times I wondered off the good path. I grieve for those who continue to harden their hearts against the Holy God whom they will one day face. People can be so stubborn. I can be stubborn also. We are at war- all of us- believers or not! There is a war for the souls of men and there is a war against the work that we believers are trying to accomplish so that what we want to do will be ineffective. We need to fight hard to stand in the truth so that we will not be moved. We must pray constantly that we stay focused on our tasks and that our vision will not be blurred. Remember, the gate is very narrow and a few will enter.
I have just a couple things to add before I come to a close. The word endurance comes to mind. Do you know what it means to endure? It means doing things that we don't always enjoy because we know there is joy to follow. Don't miss out on the joy or look back with regret due to missed opportunities. We may not always see why God calls us to do certain things, but sometimes He may give us a glimpse. He will reward those who are faithful to Him. Hebrews 12:1 says, Run the race and stay in your own lane, the race that God has set before you. v2. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Look away from other things, look to Jesus! He finished the race, follow after Him. v3 Keep Him in view. Consider Him. Stay close. Don't let too much time or space come between you and Him.
Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Cleaning House Part 2
Thank you for taking the time to check out my blog. This is sort of a continuation of the last post I put up. I am a bit limited with time and need to get to bed soon. Life is still busy, busy! I am working a lot and we are getting ready to move. We have a less than a week till moving day and to be honest, we are at our ends with the apartment. As I think about everything that has happened and continues to happen there, I have a hunch as to what may be going on. The place gave me the creeps since the very first time we were shown the apartment. I felt uneasy and at first couldn't really grasp it. Not as much as I do now. I truly believe that what ever is there, was residing there since before we moved in. Perhaps it was conjured by a prior tenant or possibly someone who is residing in that building. This being (or beings) want us out and I don't think it intends to follow us out. Something demonic may be happening behind closed doors at that place. I would hate to assume but I have a pretty good idea as to why I think that.
We have boxes being tipped over and light switches still spontaneously being turned on and off, despite the fact I place duct tape over the switches. It gets ripped right off. Unfortunately, the activity seems to happen when my son is in a room by himself. What to make of this, I do not know. I am a firm believer in Jesus Christ. I wholeheartedly believe that He is in control and He has a desired work to do through this situation. I am using this as an opportunity to let you know that there is a very real battle going on. Good vs. evil. There is a battle for the souls of men. That includes you. It breaks my heart every time I hear someone misuse Jesus' name. I think of how He died for me and everyone in the world. I think of the power that is in HIS name. He has the power to shake the ground in which we walk and He has already conquered the grave. He brought me from death to life and I pray constantly for others to receive Him just the same.
I just wrote what was on my heart to share. Please take time to consider these things. Demons are real. They hate you, they especially hate God's children. Even more so, God is real. He is the Author and Giver of life. Jesus died on the cross and was risen. He is alive today! Demons are from the pit of hell and they want to drag unbelievers right down with them. If you want to delete me because I share this, that is fine. It's evident then that this has more to do with your eternal condition before God than it has to do personally with me.
The cleaning house continues and I am thankful that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I am always interested in hearing your comments and if you ever want to talk about God, feel free to msg. me. No question is ever a stupid question. Feel free to ask about my faith, the Bible and the strange happenings at our apartment. It's all linked together somehow. Good night!
We have boxes being tipped over and light switches still spontaneously being turned on and off, despite the fact I place duct tape over the switches. It gets ripped right off. Unfortunately, the activity seems to happen when my son is in a room by himself. What to make of this, I do not know. I am a firm believer in Jesus Christ. I wholeheartedly believe that He is in control and He has a desired work to do through this situation. I am using this as an opportunity to let you know that there is a very real battle going on. Good vs. evil. There is a battle for the souls of men. That includes you. It breaks my heart every time I hear someone misuse Jesus' name. I think of how He died for me and everyone in the world. I think of the power that is in HIS name. He has the power to shake the ground in which we walk and He has already conquered the grave. He brought me from death to life and I pray constantly for others to receive Him just the same.
I just wrote what was on my heart to share. Please take time to consider these things. Demons are real. They hate you, they especially hate God's children. Even more so, God is real. He is the Author and Giver of life. Jesus died on the cross and was risen. He is alive today! Demons are from the pit of hell and they want to drag unbelievers right down with them. If you want to delete me because I share this, that is fine. It's evident then that this has more to do with your eternal condition before God than it has to do personally with me.
The cleaning house continues and I am thankful that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I am always interested in hearing your comments and if you ever want to talk about God, feel free to msg. me. No question is ever a stupid question. Feel free to ask about my faith, the Bible and the strange happenings at our apartment. It's all linked together somehow. Good night!
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Cleaning House
I am so thankful for the little time I have right now to get a post written. I have been working a lot and life is just full of all kinds of chaos at the moment. As always, the name of my post is pretty random and based on whatever comes to mind. I am in the midst of working fulltime, schooling my son and also starting the process of cleaning and packing for our upcoming move. We are finally transitioning from apartment life to house life. I am so excited! In the meantime, there is so much that needs to be done and balancing out time has been such a challenge. I am looking forward to seeing the outcome of all of this.
Another type of house cleaning is in the works. As very few of you might know, my son and I have been experiencing some paranormal activity at our current apartment. We moved in last October and so we are actually nearing the end of our 1 year lease. I remember the strange vibe I had when we first went to see the apartment. It was in poor condition and despite that, the landlord is just a sweet lady and I knew that she would make sure things were in tiptop shape before we moved in. During the apartment showing, there was a young couple present. They were just cuddling in a corner and appeared sad. They didn't say anything while we were there. Not even when the landlord thanked them for allowing us to come through. I just trusted the Lord that this was the place He had opened for us to move to.
I haven't been able to shake off the creepy feeling at the apartment, then or now. There weren't anything major happening at first. It was just an odd sense I had that didn't seem right. As a past "ghost hunter" and now a believer in Christ for over 7 years, my view of the spiritual realm has changed radically. I don't sit around and dwell on the possibly that a spirit of a dead person trying to communicate with me. But anyway, shortly after our move I stopped working at the coffee shop and started attending school at the local technical college. I also picked up a part-time office assistant job at the tech. My son and I were constantly on the go. It was around Christmastime that we started to pick up on little things that didn't take long to set us off.
At first I'd notice that when I used the restroom in the morning and went to lay back down, the bathroom light would be back on. I am very avid of turning off all lights when not in the room. I checked on my son and he was still sound asleep in his room. It was strange and it made me nervous. I let my son sleep in my room on the airbed that following night. After my trip to the bathroom the next morning, I KNOW I had turned off the light. I went back to my room, closed the door and went back to bed because it was really early. My son was sound asleep. When we got up, I opened my bedroom door and right away, noticed the bathroom door was closed tight and the light on. My son did not get up at all or I would've my door creak. I am a very light sleeper. We both were pretty spooked.
On another occasion, when we were in our own bedrooms, I woke up to see one side of my closet door open. I ALWAYS sleep with the closet doors shut. I had a bad vibe right away and I no doubt began to think there was a demon trying to scare me. I was also woken out of a light sleep one morning by a child's voice that said, "Centipede!", as though it were trying to scare me. It sounded as though a child was right beside my bed and it was not my son's voice. I went to his room, and as you know it, he was sleeping soundly. I also woke up one morning and notice the storage door off the patio was open. I had a chair against it and there is a carpet on the patio. The fact the storage door opened from the inside was puzzling. It was very windy that night, but logically, it made no sense as to why it was open. Even testing it out to see how it was possible, made no sense.
I'm sure you're probably thinking yea right, she's out of her mind. This happened around November and Christmas of last year. It was then that we had another chain of events.
It was my son's weekend to stay with his dad. We were still fairly new at the apartment. In all honestly, the place gave me the creeps. I had a lamp plugged in on the dining room table and it made a nice soft lighting ambiance. I decided to sleep in the living room that night on the airbed. I moved the lamp into the kitchen so it would be more dim and I really like the soft light. I was like "Okay!" and then I went to brush my teeth. All of a sudden in the midst of that, I heard a loud whipping sound as though perhaps something fell. I don't know how to describe it. I paused the brushing and with raised eyebrows, walked out to the kitchen and it was completely dark. My lamp was aggressively unplugged by an unseen force.
We also started hearing unusual knockings in the walls. My son discovered it the first time it happened. I told him it was probably just the neighbor and told him to go to bed. It didn't continue that night. The second night, I had company and the knocking was more intense. I almost thought someone was pounding at the door. But it was in the walls between the kitchen and bathroom. It was crazy! I started to feel like something was there that shouldn't be. We checked with the neighbor on one side of us, which didn't seemed logical because it was 2:30am. She wasn't even home. We went back to my apartment where the knocking and pounding grew louder, mainly in the bathroom. When I used the bathroom, the knocking sounded like something was knocking right above my head on the wall. I pretty much ran out of the room screaming. It makes me laugh when I recall that moment. My son was getting something to drink in the kitchen and he saw my picture above the kitchen sink fall off. That's how loud it was. I felt as though I needed to get my Bible out and start reading Psalm 91. I remember my sis suggesting for me to read that at the time a new believer and if I got scared. As I was reading, I got so scared I was in tears. The knocking grew more intense. By the time I stopped reading, the pounding stopped completely. I was shaking and crying. It was odd for me to act like I did with having company over. After that, we all went to the living room, my son, friend and I. I said a prayer and we all went to bed soundly in the same room. I was so scared!
So, as time went on over the next several months, we've had many knocking and pounding episodes. Not just in the one wall between kitchen and bathroom. It started going from wall to wall. Recently, we've been experiencing a foul garlic smell that is hard to describe. It is hard to get rid of or cover up. It actually makes me sick, that smell. Also the lights started turning on and off, switches being messed with. If I put tape on the switches, it would be ripped off when my back was turned. I had a pastor and his wife over this past weekend to pray over the apartment. Nothing happened when they were over. However, the knocking has continued and the smell is still there. The last couple nights, we have heard knocking at our apartment door (in a secured building, mind you) and no one is at the door when I open it. No matter if I'm standing right by it or not. Thankfully, during my parents second visit to check things out, they were able to witness the knocking at the door. A real aggressive knocking as though someone was actually there, but no one is seen. It's just creepy!
In conclusion, my dad and I both heard from the Lord that this demon(s) must be cast out by prayer and fasting. I am so tired right now, but I will get those Bible verses posted at a later time so you know it is biblical. My son and I are staying with my parents for now until we rid the apartment of the demonic presence. My parents are convinced, as well as my neighbors, that something is amiss at our apartment. My parents thought I was making it up until they heard and smelled it for themselves. It has been about a year now with all of this going on and I am so glad we found a nice house to move into. I think that whatever this is, it wants us gone because of our belief in Christ. I do have some videos of the knocking and hope to get it up someday just so you can have an idea of what it was like. Of course, experiencing it first hand is a lot different.
We are sure to have a resolution soon and are going to see if it is gone, smell and all, by this Saturday. We are just doing as the Lord commands with all authority and power in Jesus' name. Please, stay tuned for Cleaning House Part 2, where I will have an update. Thank you for reading about all of this madness. I am so ready for bed now but I hope you are blessed with a peaceful night's sleep and think about God. Whether you know Him or not, just consider who He is. God. My life is amazing because of Him!
Another type of house cleaning is in the works. As very few of you might know, my son and I have been experiencing some paranormal activity at our current apartment. We moved in last October and so we are actually nearing the end of our 1 year lease. I remember the strange vibe I had when we first went to see the apartment. It was in poor condition and despite that, the landlord is just a sweet lady and I knew that she would make sure things were in tiptop shape before we moved in. During the apartment showing, there was a young couple present. They were just cuddling in a corner and appeared sad. They didn't say anything while we were there. Not even when the landlord thanked them for allowing us to come through. I just trusted the Lord that this was the place He had opened for us to move to.
I haven't been able to shake off the creepy feeling at the apartment, then or now. There weren't anything major happening at first. It was just an odd sense I had that didn't seem right. As a past "ghost hunter" and now a believer in Christ for over 7 years, my view of the spiritual realm has changed radically. I don't sit around and dwell on the possibly that a spirit of a dead person trying to communicate with me. But anyway, shortly after our move I stopped working at the coffee shop and started attending school at the local technical college. I also picked up a part-time office assistant job at the tech. My son and I were constantly on the go. It was around Christmastime that we started to pick up on little things that didn't take long to set us off.
At first I'd notice that when I used the restroom in the morning and went to lay back down, the bathroom light would be back on. I am very avid of turning off all lights when not in the room. I checked on my son and he was still sound asleep in his room. It was strange and it made me nervous. I let my son sleep in my room on the airbed that following night. After my trip to the bathroom the next morning, I KNOW I had turned off the light. I went back to my room, closed the door and went back to bed because it was really early. My son was sound asleep. When we got up, I opened my bedroom door and right away, noticed the bathroom door was closed tight and the light on. My son did not get up at all or I would've my door creak. I am a very light sleeper. We both were pretty spooked.
On another occasion, when we were in our own bedrooms, I woke up to see one side of my closet door open. I ALWAYS sleep with the closet doors shut. I had a bad vibe right away and I no doubt began to think there was a demon trying to scare me. I was also woken out of a light sleep one morning by a child's voice that said, "Centipede!", as though it were trying to scare me. It sounded as though a child was right beside my bed and it was not my son's voice. I went to his room, and as you know it, he was sleeping soundly. I also woke up one morning and notice the storage door off the patio was open. I had a chair against it and there is a carpet on the patio. The fact the storage door opened from the inside was puzzling. It was very windy that night, but logically, it made no sense as to why it was open. Even testing it out to see how it was possible, made no sense.
I'm sure you're probably thinking yea right, she's out of her mind. This happened around November and Christmas of last year. It was then that we had another chain of events.
It was my son's weekend to stay with his dad. We were still fairly new at the apartment. In all honestly, the place gave me the creeps. I had a lamp plugged in on the dining room table and it made a nice soft lighting ambiance. I decided to sleep in the living room that night on the airbed. I moved the lamp into the kitchen so it would be more dim and I really like the soft light. I was like "Okay!" and then I went to brush my teeth. All of a sudden in the midst of that, I heard a loud whipping sound as though perhaps something fell. I don't know how to describe it. I paused the brushing and with raised eyebrows, walked out to the kitchen and it was completely dark. My lamp was aggressively unplugged by an unseen force.
We also started hearing unusual knockings in the walls. My son discovered it the first time it happened. I told him it was probably just the neighbor and told him to go to bed. It didn't continue that night. The second night, I had company and the knocking was more intense. I almost thought someone was pounding at the door. But it was in the walls between the kitchen and bathroom. It was crazy! I started to feel like something was there that shouldn't be. We checked with the neighbor on one side of us, which didn't seemed logical because it was 2:30am. She wasn't even home. We went back to my apartment where the knocking and pounding grew louder, mainly in the bathroom. When I used the bathroom, the knocking sounded like something was knocking right above my head on the wall. I pretty much ran out of the room screaming. It makes me laugh when I recall that moment. My son was getting something to drink in the kitchen and he saw my picture above the kitchen sink fall off. That's how loud it was. I felt as though I needed to get my Bible out and start reading Psalm 91. I remember my sis suggesting for me to read that at the time a new believer and if I got scared. As I was reading, I got so scared I was in tears. The knocking grew more intense. By the time I stopped reading, the pounding stopped completely. I was shaking and crying. It was odd for me to act like I did with having company over. After that, we all went to the living room, my son, friend and I. I said a prayer and we all went to bed soundly in the same room. I was so scared!
So, as time went on over the next several months, we've had many knocking and pounding episodes. Not just in the one wall between kitchen and bathroom. It started going from wall to wall. Recently, we've been experiencing a foul garlic smell that is hard to describe. It is hard to get rid of or cover up. It actually makes me sick, that smell. Also the lights started turning on and off, switches being messed with. If I put tape on the switches, it would be ripped off when my back was turned. I had a pastor and his wife over this past weekend to pray over the apartment. Nothing happened when they were over. However, the knocking has continued and the smell is still there. The last couple nights, we have heard knocking at our apartment door (in a secured building, mind you) and no one is at the door when I open it. No matter if I'm standing right by it or not. Thankfully, during my parents second visit to check things out, they were able to witness the knocking at the door. A real aggressive knocking as though someone was actually there, but no one is seen. It's just creepy!
In conclusion, my dad and I both heard from the Lord that this demon(s) must be cast out by prayer and fasting. I am so tired right now, but I will get those Bible verses posted at a later time so you know it is biblical. My son and I are staying with my parents for now until we rid the apartment of the demonic presence. My parents are convinced, as well as my neighbors, that something is amiss at our apartment. My parents thought I was making it up until they heard and smelled it for themselves. It has been about a year now with all of this going on and I am so glad we found a nice house to move into. I think that whatever this is, it wants us gone because of our belief in Christ. I do have some videos of the knocking and hope to get it up someday just so you can have an idea of what it was like. Of course, experiencing it first hand is a lot different.
We are sure to have a resolution soon and are going to see if it is gone, smell and all, by this Saturday. We are just doing as the Lord commands with all authority and power in Jesus' name. Please, stay tuned for Cleaning House Part 2, where I will have an update. Thank you for reading about all of this madness. I am so ready for bed now but I hope you are blessed with a peaceful night's sleep and think about God. Whether you know Him or not, just consider who He is. God. My life is amazing because of Him!
Sunday, January 27, 2013
You're Invited!
You can know that you will going to heaven when you die. Why live with uncertainty? I'm so thankful to know that I'm going to heaven to be with Jesus along with all who are His. I really want you know also. This could be your last day. God's invitation is open to all this very moment. RSVP now by placing your faith and trust in Jesus. He opened a special place for you when he died on the cross. Now is the time! Don't put it off. Time is limited...
Awake!
It is a peaceful, snowy evening here in Wisconsin. There's just something so beautiful about snow softly falling. There is this silence and glow. A moment to just be still and know that He is God. The One who brings beauty in each season. We can take a moment to consider all the seasons we face in life. Sometimes there are moments of trail, sadness, frustration, confusion. There are also moments of peace, joy, calm, thankfulness. Each moment worthy to be found in praise to God, who brings them all.
I am facing some challenging times right now. Being a near fulltime college student, trying to balance out being a mom and working. It's not an easy season. However, God helps change my perspective which is often tainted by fear of the hows and whys of it all. It begins by recognizing who He is vs. who I am. He does make all things possible (Matthew 19:26). I have every reason to believe that. Why? Because I know Him and I have experienced His power in my life. One can only truly be convinced by experiencing Him personally. How? By believing that Jesus died and rose again on your behalf so that you may be free from the penalty of sin and death. Not only that but also to be raised to life with Him...by faith! Yes! (John 3:16 & Romans 10:9). Salvation is closer to you, more than you could ever know! Your heart in which to believe and your mouth to confess. You can know that your enternal future is secure. You can have peace.
Lately, I have been waking up at 3am quite often. This isn't unusual for me, but I'm finally to the point where I want to know what God may be trying to do during that time. For a while, I have been thinking that it is something Satan is doing to interupt my rest. I understand that nothing happens without God first allowing it. God would never allow something to happen that would cause me harm. Whatever it is, He is using it for good somehow in my life. Again, it comes back to knowing who HE is and what His purpose is behind it. As much as I want that extra hour or so of sleep, I need to trust that God has a bigger purpose behind my waking up and He will honor my acknowledging Him in the midst. When I wake up at 3am, my attitude should be to outwardly and openly praise Jesus for waking me and allowing me to be apart of his grander plan. It truly is a privilage!
Here are some verses that encourage me to awake and shine for Christ:
Ephesians 5:14 - Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
John 5:30 - I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Luke 22:43 - And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
Mark 8:35 - For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray without ceasing.
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Just to name a few!
I am considering ministering more from home. My pastor encouraged me about that today. Sure my schedule is quite full. However, there is always more than enough time to do God's work. Whatever it may be. If you're reading this and out of curiosity want to know more, feel free to email me at delightinthetruth@hotmail.com. You don't have to live life in uncertainty anymore. There are answers to all the questions you have about life. All of what I could possibly tell you would be out of the Bible. I'm excited to share about the Lord and it is my prayer you will come to know Him, too!
Till next time...
I am facing some challenging times right now. Being a near fulltime college student, trying to balance out being a mom and working. It's not an easy season. However, God helps change my perspective which is often tainted by fear of the hows and whys of it all. It begins by recognizing who He is vs. who I am. He does make all things possible (Matthew 19:26). I have every reason to believe that. Why? Because I know Him and I have experienced His power in my life. One can only truly be convinced by experiencing Him personally. How? By believing that Jesus died and rose again on your behalf so that you may be free from the penalty of sin and death. Not only that but also to be raised to life with Him...by faith! Yes! (John 3:16 & Romans 10:9). Salvation is closer to you, more than you could ever know! Your heart in which to believe and your mouth to confess. You can know that your enternal future is secure. You can have peace.
Lately, I have been waking up at 3am quite often. This isn't unusual for me, but I'm finally to the point where I want to know what God may be trying to do during that time. For a while, I have been thinking that it is something Satan is doing to interupt my rest. I understand that nothing happens without God first allowing it. God would never allow something to happen that would cause me harm. Whatever it is, He is using it for good somehow in my life. Again, it comes back to knowing who HE is and what His purpose is behind it. As much as I want that extra hour or so of sleep, I need to trust that God has a bigger purpose behind my waking up and He will honor my acknowledging Him in the midst. When I wake up at 3am, my attitude should be to outwardly and openly praise Jesus for waking me and allowing me to be apart of his grander plan. It truly is a privilage!
Here are some verses that encourage me to awake and shine for Christ:
Ephesians 5:14 - Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
John 5:30 - I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Luke 22:43 - And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
Mark 8:35 - For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray without ceasing.
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Just to name a few!
I am considering ministering more from home. My pastor encouraged me about that today. Sure my schedule is quite full. However, there is always more than enough time to do God's work. Whatever it may be. If you're reading this and out of curiosity want to know more, feel free to email me at delightinthetruth@hotmail.com. You don't have to live life in uncertainty anymore. There are answers to all the questions you have about life. All of what I could possibly tell you would be out of the Bible. I'm excited to share about the Lord and it is my prayer you will come to know Him, too!
Till next time...
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Better Late Than Never
Just a quick note: Below is a post that I wrote sometime before Christmas. I didn't have internet access at home during that time which is why it took me so long to get this posted. I hope you all are having an excellent New Year so far! God bless.
I am so thankful to have this opportunity to write a new post. We do not have internet at home. However, I am thankful to have the means to write and just get it posted later. Which is usually when I make it to the coffee shop up the road. I am being so completely and utterly blessed in my journey with Christ. It can be so easy to look back with regret, as I recognize the time that was wasted in pursuing other things that didn't offer anything of eternal benefit. God has been faithful to bring me times of refreshment through His eternal springs of Living Water...His Word. I have so much to share and am going to take my time as I have it to tell of the glories of God in my life.
Christmas is just around the corner. Less than 2 weeks away as I write this. I am thankful for the season to give. Yes, we can give all year round. However, Christmas is a time where hearts are prepared to receive. Through the years in my walk with Christ, I have truly learned to appreciate the gift of giving. Of course it is fun to receive something from someone and the thoughtfulness behind it. However, there is a joy that is given when giving. That to me is only part of the underlying beauty of Christmas. It was God's joy to bring forth his Son Jesus. He knew that we were in need of a Savior and that by faith in Him, we would receive the gift of eternal life. God could have no greater joy! John 3:16 is a great reminder of this very truth. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." That is the gospel. And with that, I hope you will consider what it is you are really celebrating this Christmas. Without Christ, there is no Christmas. It is then, just a vain holiday with no real meaning behind it. I am so happy to know the true meaning of Christmas!
Well, as of late, I have been experiencing a variety of different trials while trying to maintain my closeness to the Lord. There have been challenges with my son at school and at home, struggles with work, struggles in the body of Christ, personal challenges in areas of my life where God desires to use me and help me grow. There are numerous things going on and I am just bursting with joy. Yes, joy! When the going gets rough, it means God is working and our foe, the devil...doesn't like it. There are things going on behind the scenes that we don't always see, but God sees it all. And in just the right time, those things will be brought to fruition and we will have a greater faith because of it. So, with all of this going on, I began reading the book called When the Enemy Strikes by Charles E. Stanley. I actually borrowed it out to someone and since it wasn't being read, I asked to have it back. What is interesting about this, is the date that I took it home again and started reading it. December 7th, this past Friday. When I opened the book to the first chapter, called The Face of Evil, the first sentence reads this: "I still vividly remember how I felt on December 7, 1941." I was thinking that it was no mere coincidence that the date was the same, but only 71 years later. I am already nearing the end of chapter 5. Timing is just so right when seeking after the things of God. Truly it is. I opened my Bible earlier because I was just in the mood to read. I didn't know where I would read but I had it on my heart to get into 1 Corinthians. I read 5 Chapters and decided to stop. After doing some things around the apartment and for my son (Yes, we finally moved!), I decided to get back to reading that book. I'm reading along where the author is talking about spiritual discernment. There is some scripture, so I finish off that portion of the chapter by reading it, then would take another break from reading. It sounded so familiar, those verses. Of course, at the end of the scripture, I notice the reference is 1 Corinthians 2:9-12. Well, that explains why it was on my heart to read that book in the Bible. It was God's way of confirming His Word to me. I have had a lot of experiences just like this and it never fails to amaze me. My prayer lately is that I would experience more of God's supernatural power in my life. He has a way of magnifying the little things we often find passive or insignificant. He longs to fill us with joy in experiencing not just the things He does, but His timing of it all. It reminds me to....stop! God's timing is always perfect. There is no reason to worry or hurry. Worrying doesn't add time to our life, it takes away. Hurrying only causes us to miss out on the little things God is doing in between the bigger things. Hurrying even cases mistakes. These little events and things that happen while we pray and wait will add to our faith, while He is working on the bigger things. The path He guides us on is filled with all kinds of wonders, but they are hidden things and we should be ready to expect the unexpected. It all happens in accordance to HIS timing. After all, Ecclesiates 3:11 says that God makes everything beautiful in its time. Consider also, Isaiah 42:16 which says, "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them: I will turn darkness into light before them and make rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." Isn't that lovely? So haaaaang on.....the wait will be well worth it!
Thank you again for taking the time to stop by my blog. I hope that you are enlightened and encouraged to go spend time with God and get more familiar with His Word and His ways. Did you know that there are things He longs to reveal to you only? That way, you can experience His power for yourself and then go and tell others about it...increasing your faith and theirs? It is true. Your God Story is a perfect example of that. We all have a story to tell. Just like snowflakes look exactly the same to the naked eye, none of them are alike. They are all unique from each other. So the same is with our God testimonies. You may think that your God story only resembles the millions that are out there and isn't worth telling. But truth be told, there is a uniqueness in your story that makes it your very own and unlike that of anybody else. It is very worth telling. Embrace the beauty of your own personal God story. All the things that God is doing in my life are adding to the beauty of my God story. I am so excited to share and hope that you will, too! Enjoy the Lord!
Have a safe, peaceful and Merry Christmas!
I am so thankful to have this opportunity to write a new post. We do not have internet at home. However, I am thankful to have the means to write and just get it posted later. Which is usually when I make it to the coffee shop up the road. I am being so completely and utterly blessed in my journey with Christ. It can be so easy to look back with regret, as I recognize the time that was wasted in pursuing other things that didn't offer anything of eternal benefit. God has been faithful to bring me times of refreshment through His eternal springs of Living Water...His Word. I have so much to share and am going to take my time as I have it to tell of the glories of God in my life.
Christmas is just around the corner. Less than 2 weeks away as I write this. I am thankful for the season to give. Yes, we can give all year round. However, Christmas is a time where hearts are prepared to receive. Through the years in my walk with Christ, I have truly learned to appreciate the gift of giving. Of course it is fun to receive something from someone and the thoughtfulness behind it. However, there is a joy that is given when giving. That to me is only part of the underlying beauty of Christmas. It was God's joy to bring forth his Son Jesus. He knew that we were in need of a Savior and that by faith in Him, we would receive the gift of eternal life. God could have no greater joy! John 3:16 is a great reminder of this very truth. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." That is the gospel. And with that, I hope you will consider what it is you are really celebrating this Christmas. Without Christ, there is no Christmas. It is then, just a vain holiday with no real meaning behind it. I am so happy to know the true meaning of Christmas!
Well, as of late, I have been experiencing a variety of different trials while trying to maintain my closeness to the Lord. There have been challenges with my son at school and at home, struggles with work, struggles in the body of Christ, personal challenges in areas of my life where God desires to use me and help me grow. There are numerous things going on and I am just bursting with joy. Yes, joy! When the going gets rough, it means God is working and our foe, the devil...doesn't like it. There are things going on behind the scenes that we don't always see, but God sees it all. And in just the right time, those things will be brought to fruition and we will have a greater faith because of it. So, with all of this going on, I began reading the book called When the Enemy Strikes by Charles E. Stanley. I actually borrowed it out to someone and since it wasn't being read, I asked to have it back. What is interesting about this, is the date that I took it home again and started reading it. December 7th, this past Friday. When I opened the book to the first chapter, called The Face of Evil, the first sentence reads this: "I still vividly remember how I felt on December 7, 1941." I was thinking that it was no mere coincidence that the date was the same, but only 71 years later. I am already nearing the end of chapter 5. Timing is just so right when seeking after the things of God. Truly it is. I opened my Bible earlier because I was just in the mood to read. I didn't know where I would read but I had it on my heart to get into 1 Corinthians. I read 5 Chapters and decided to stop. After doing some things around the apartment and for my son (Yes, we finally moved!), I decided to get back to reading that book. I'm reading along where the author is talking about spiritual discernment. There is some scripture, so I finish off that portion of the chapter by reading it, then would take another break from reading. It sounded so familiar, those verses. Of course, at the end of the scripture, I notice the reference is 1 Corinthians 2:9-12. Well, that explains why it was on my heart to read that book in the Bible. It was God's way of confirming His Word to me. I have had a lot of experiences just like this and it never fails to amaze me. My prayer lately is that I would experience more of God's supernatural power in my life. He has a way of magnifying the little things we often find passive or insignificant. He longs to fill us with joy in experiencing not just the things He does, but His timing of it all. It reminds me to....stop! God's timing is always perfect. There is no reason to worry or hurry. Worrying doesn't add time to our life, it takes away. Hurrying only causes us to miss out on the little things God is doing in between the bigger things. Hurrying even cases mistakes. These little events and things that happen while we pray and wait will add to our faith, while He is working on the bigger things. The path He guides us on is filled with all kinds of wonders, but they are hidden things and we should be ready to expect the unexpected. It all happens in accordance to HIS timing. After all, Ecclesiates 3:11 says that God makes everything beautiful in its time. Consider also, Isaiah 42:16 which says, "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them: I will turn darkness into light before them and make rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." Isn't that lovely? So haaaaang on.....the wait will be well worth it!
Thank you again for taking the time to stop by my blog. I hope that you are enlightened and encouraged to go spend time with God and get more familiar with His Word and His ways. Did you know that there are things He longs to reveal to you only? That way, you can experience His power for yourself and then go and tell others about it...increasing your faith and theirs? It is true. Your God Story is a perfect example of that. We all have a story to tell. Just like snowflakes look exactly the same to the naked eye, none of them are alike. They are all unique from each other. So the same is with our God testimonies. You may think that your God story only resembles the millions that are out there and isn't worth telling. But truth be told, there is a uniqueness in your story that makes it your very own and unlike that of anybody else. It is very worth telling. Embrace the beauty of your own personal God story. All the things that God is doing in my life are adding to the beauty of my God story. I am so excited to share and hope that you will, too! Enjoy the Lord!
Have a safe, peaceful and Merry Christmas!
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