The Rainbow...

There are times in our lives we walk through different storms. The wind picks up, the rain falls hard, the rumble of thunder is loud and the lighening is bright. We are broken, hurt, and beaten down emotionally. The enemy uses these times to speak lies to us, make us doubt who we are, what our character is, and forget who made us to be.

There are many out there who are walking through this type of storm. Some who are walking through a diagnosis, some who are walking through family issues, some who are walking through the hurt and disappointment of people in their lives. Each their own story, their own storm. Struck down by lies, question of character, and painful realities.

It's through these storms we are refined, and brought to our knees. Prayerful for the rainbow. It is through Christ that we are healed, we are redeemed, we are forgiven, we are restored. Jesus is our comforter, our strength, our support.

Today, I am praying for friends who are walking through these storms. May the sun peek through the clouds, and the rainbows appear. May the hope of the Lord be their strength. May they lean on Christ, instead of their own strength. There is a rainbow. He has so much planned for their lives - so much more than they can hope for or imagine.

Today, I praise God for His strength that He has given us through our storms. I praise Him for the blessings He has given us because of those storms. I thank Him for each day, and what it brings, whether a storm or a rainbow.

Lord, May today be a day of rainbows even through the storms...

In the beginning was the WORD

The WORD is defined as Christ through out the scriptures. The WORD is defined as the Lord speaking to us. The Word characterizes the Lord our God as Father through His Son, Christ Jesus. It is used to comfort those who fear, to sustain life. It is upright, and true. It proclaims Christ's work through the cross. It gives direction, gives refuge, it has power. It does not return empty, but accoplishes what the Lord purposes. It is a seed planted to grow. It is the sword of the spirit. It gives wisdom. It is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. It remains forever! *See references

The word is defined throughout scriptures. IT is CHRIST. It DEFINES HIM. It is what we should live by to gain wisdom, understanding and insight into who HE is. When we proclaim Christ, we proclaim scripture. When we twist scripture, we take away from Christ, his character, and what He has done for us through the resurection. We can't read scripture with out reading Christ, and we can't change scripture with out changing Christ. We need to hold tightly to the words of Christ in scripture, and hold open handedly the words of men who write/speak about scripture. Test man against scripture, test your thoughts against scripture, and use scripture to define you. We all sin. We all fall short, but through Christ we are redeemed. Allow the scriptures to disect your heart, your thoughts, your theology, your doctorines - Are they really based on the truth of the scriptures, or are they based on others interpretations of the scriptures? The prayer of my heart today, is as I read the WORD of God, Jesus Christ, my Savior, that my words be few, and HIS words resignate in my heart. That I may filter what is man's words, and what is His words. I pray this for you also, that your life be filled abundantly through the Scriptures and through the Love of Christ, that you may know who He is, what He has done, and know HIM deeply through the TRUTH of HIS WORD!


*In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5

*After these things the WORD of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Genesis 15:1

*And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every WORD that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

*Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the WORD of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. 1 Samuel 3:1

*For the WORD of the Lord is upright,and all his work is done in faithfulness. Psalm 33:4

*Bless the Lord, O you his angels you mighty ones who do his WORD,obeying the voice of his word!Psalm 103:20

*I have stored up your WORD in my heart,that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

*Every WORD God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30:5

*The Lord utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his WORD is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it? Joel 2:11

*“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my WORD be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaih 55:11

*But he answered, “It is written,“‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every WORD that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew

*The sower sows the WORD. Mark 4:4

*Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the WORD I preached to you— unless you believed in vain. 1 Corinthians 15: 1-2

*In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:16-20

*holding fast to the WORD of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Philippians 2:16

*Let the WORD of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

*For the WORD of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

*Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding WORD of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the WORD of the Lord remains forever.” 1 Peter 1: 22-25

*I write to you, fathers,because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men,because you are strong, and the WORD of God abides in you,and you have overcome the evil one. 1 John 2:14

*The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the WORD of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. Reveilation 1:1-3

God is faithful! Kylie's story! Happy 8th Birthday!!

8 years ago today, I was sitting in my living room, my contractions were getting stronger and closer together, and I decided it was time to...first get burger king, get a babysiter for Tanna, and then yes go to the Hospital..

After, a long afternoon of contractions, but no progress they decided to break my water. Kylie's heartrate started to get higher and higher, and soon was at a dangerous level... I remember, Bobbie, the mid-wife, saying "we are going to have to take her via c-section." I immediately paniced, and responded "no, I am not going to have a c-section! She's going to be fine." I remember the fear that came over me at that point. I had no idea what was happening especially when Bobby responded with "Honey, I know your scared, but if we don't do a c-section, she is not going to make it."

Without hesitation, I said, then let's do this. Tears running down my face, and uneasiness in my heart at what was about to happen, was just the begining of this journey of Kylie's first month. The c-section began, with Shawn holding my hand on one side, and Bobbie holding my other hand, both praying with me through the whole thing. The Lord is faithful. Kylie was born, she cried, and she appeared to be ok, beautiful, with a full head of hair.

We proceeded then to the recovery room, where I was completely numb from the medication. Rod and Ellen (Shawn's Dad and Step-mom),as well as, KC and Rita (Shawn's Brother and Sister and law) and a few of our youth group kids, and close friend's Chris and Kehla had come. Each of them holding our precious Kylie. Everything seemed fine. I held her for just a breif moment, when the nurse came in and took her to the nursery to do her tests etc.

After a while, they were wheeling me back to my room, and as we were passing the nursery I noticed a lot of doctors around a baby. I half jokingly and nervously asked the nurse that's not my baby is it? She wasn't sure, so she went to check. She came back, and said "Yes, I am afraid it is." My heart dropped, tears welled up in my eyes, and nervously asked "is she ok?" her response is "we don't know, she is having difficulty breathing, we are not sure she is going to make it."

What! My little girl was just fine moments ago! What is happening? I immediately begin to cry, and pray. God is faithful!

Soon, they wheeled my little girl into my room, her hair shaved off in a horrible shape of a mohawk, tubes in her head, nose, and chest, surrounded in this incubater of a crib. They told me to say good bye to her, as they had to take her to the Children's Hospital, as they still had no answers of what was wrong with her, why she was having trouble breathing, and whether or not she would live. (Praise God, the best Children's Hospital around was just across the street from where I delievered) So, I said my good-bye's tearfully and prayed as they wheeled her out the door and to the ambulance.

It was a long night of sobbing and very little sleep. I layed there in my bed, asking God, why? what is happening, not knowing whether my baby girl was going to live, and he gave me this verse: Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

I prayed... God is faithful!

The next 24 hours were very difficult. Between recovery of the c-section, my baby in the Hospital across the street in severe condition with no answers of what is going on, and really being alone through most of this, as family and friends, spent their time down there with her, and I was stuck in the hospital room, alone... yet God is faithful! He carried me through, and gave me a peace, that I could not ever explain - even in my fear, doubt, and sadness.

The hospital released me the next evening as I was recovering fine, and they knew how much I longed to be by my daughters side.

It was 2 days of no answers. 2 days of not knowing whether she was going to live, 2 days of heart-wrenching sadness, 2 days of fear everytime the phone rang of whether on not this was THE call... God is faithful!

Kylie's lungs would not inflate on their own, and the doctors could not figure out why. They were about to send her file to John S. Hopkin's University for a case study, when they discovered the answer... Her little body did not produce enough surfactan(which is a substance that keeps the lungs inflate. Kylie had premie lungs in a full term body.

We finally had an answer! God is faithful! Kylie spent the next 8 days in the NICU as they gave her all sorts of medicine's, she had all sorts of tubes in her body, and God worked on her little body.

At about a week old, they removed her breathing tube. She was breathing on her own! God is faithful. That day I got to hold her for the first time since I held her when she was born... Joy filled my heart. We left the hospital, and about 5 minutes after getting home, the phone rang... They had to replace the breathing tube. Her breathing was sparatic, and again, they had no answers, just more tests to run.

Again, another night of questions... yet God is faithful! When they removed the breathing tube, they scratched her lungs, which caused breathing to be difficult for her. They gave her antibiotics, and the scratch healed. It was time to remove the breathing tubes again... This time, they would do it surgically with a scope to see if anything else was going on.

We sat in the waiting room as she had this procedure done, and prayed... God is faithful. She came out successfully and breathing on her own. She stayed in NICU for another day or so, to make sure she was eating ok, and no other issues came up.

Kylie came home! Praise God, HE IS FAITHFUL!

Kylie's journey through her first 10 days taught us so much. We were challenged quite a bit. What if she didn't make it? Would we still be faithful? We had to let her go, and let God do what He does best. We had to commit her to Him. We learned very quickly that His plans are greater then ours. He is faithful!

Today, Kylie is 8 years old. Kylie is perfectly healthy! Today she has no breathing issues, no health issues, and stands before us as our unique, beautiful young girl. Today we hold just the memories of those first weeks of her life, and she has just two little tiny bumps of scars... God is FAITHFUL!

Kylie, is a blessing, a miricle, and has taught us so much. Each day is a treasure. We love you so much Kylie!

Happy Birthday!!

God is faithful!

Is it really all about Him in my life?

Christ should be central to all things. It should be all about Him. Christ in EVERYTHING. But is it?

I desire it to be, yet, I struggle with this. Too often my own sense of pride, confidence, self comes in, and I begin to allow self to trump Christ. Who am I in comparison to Christ? - NOTHING! However,

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in Glory." Colossians 3:1-4

I so easily get caught up in the circumstances, or the stuff around me, that my focus drifts, my mind wanders from the things above, and to the things here on earth. I need to be reminded of this daily - fix your eyes on HIM. This takes discipline, but what a joy, a priviliage, to be in Him - seated at the right hand of the Father in GLORY! Why wouldn't I want to make Christ central? Yet, it becomes so easy to be distracted from Him. Paul says it well in Romans 7:14-25

"For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law that is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells with in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwelss with in me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, bbut with my flesh I serve the law of sin."

Even Paul struggled with his flesh. Paul who continually put Christ as central in everything he did, even Paul struggled with this. WOW! So as Paul did I will cling to the cross knowing that there is no condimnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. "For the law of the Spirit has life and has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh for sin, he condemened sin in the flesh in order that the righteous reequirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit." Romans 8:1-5

Each day will be a struggle with sin. Each day there will be circumstances, thoughts, and flesh that will stand in the way of keeping Christ centeral in my life. It is up to me to decide if I will surrender those things and claim Christ, or allow them to consume who I am. Will I allow myself to get caught up in the moment, or will I step back take a deep breath, and bring it back to Him?

It is a journey, it is a daily walk, it is my desire to choose Christ and keep Him central. Is it yours? Will you walk with me on this journey to keep Christ as the focus? Can I join you on your journey?

What better way is there to this life then to be in Christ? Christ in me, Christ before me, Christ defining me? I then can stand in confidence of who I am in Him, not because of who I am with out Him, becasue apart from Christ, I am NOTHING!

To Him Be the Glory!

Abide...

John 15

English Standard Version (ESV)


I Am the True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.


To ABIDE in Christ is to live in Christ, to allow the Holy Spirit to dwell inside you so that you may bear fruit. To live in Christ, not in the flesh.

When going though the pruning process it is so easy to walk in the flesh. Emotions rush in and the sin-nature rises. Abide... allow the Holy Spirit to be your comfort, your peace, your steadfast mind. Set your mind on Christ and Abide. Trust the pruning, because with out it there is no fruit. Abide.

Lord, help me to Abide. Help me to submit my flesh to you, so that you may continue to abide in me. May my life produce fruit, because apart from you, I can do nothing. Lord Abide in me.

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might...

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Boy do I feel like this verse says it all today. I am blown away as God is moving so powerfully all around me. The wind is in the sails and He is moving in ways that I could never even imagine. Each day is a new testimony of the work He is doing in me, at Grace, and in those around me. How awesome is our God! He is bigger than anything that could stand against me.

yet, I see Satan kicking up the dust around too. He is trying so hard to cause heart-ache, doubt, fear, sickness, and pain in so many lives. He wants nothing more then to tear down the work that God is doing. He wants to tear down, rip up, and destroy trust, and relationships.

Our God is greater. We need to stand firm in our faith. We need to hold on to the gospel, and be Christ-centered. We need to put on the armor, and remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood, our battle is not ours to fight, but one to be placed in our Father's hands. Let's avoid being caught up in the trap of taking it on ourselves, allowing the theif to take our joy, and our peace. Take a deep breath, let go, and let Him guide the way.

Are you ready to walk on water?

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17


We are called to live by faith. We are to have confidence, trust, and belief in God. He is bigger than anything we can ask or imagine.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as it recaps those who had faith in God. Join me in reading this chapter:


1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two,[a] they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. (Copied from Biblegateway.com)

Throughout the scriptures we see many who wholeheartedly put their faith in God. They didn’t question what those around them would think, they moved forward with the call they were given, and God rewarded their faith.
So many of us (including myself) tend to want to walk on water, but let fear, guilt, others opinions, and our own doubt stand in the way of our faith. Walking on water is easy when you allow Christ to hold you up, carry you across, and you put all your trust in Him. What is God calling you to do? What ocean is He having you walk across? Are you putting your faith in Him, or are you sinking in doubt? My challenge to you this year is to walk on water – Put your faith in Christ. Let Him carry you to places that you never imagined you could go.

2012 Blow me away!

2012: Blow me away! I want to grow closer to Christ. Become more like Him. Know Him more. Be molded into the person He is calling me to. I want to be amazed by Him. Be lead by him. Seek Him. Put my wills behind to let His be first. I want to be blown away... I am excited about where God is bringing us. What He is doing in us, and being a part of something bigger than I can imagine. This past year has been amazing seeing Him work. Watching Him move. Seeing lives changed, people saved, and being blown away at what He is doing at Grace Community Church. I know He's got more in store for 2012. What are you looking forward to in 2012? What is He calling you to? Are you ready to be a part of something bigger than yourself? Happy New Year!!

Am I seeking Him, or following the wolves?

Throughout Pauls letters he addresses the need to stand for truth, beware of false teachers, and those who distort the gospels. This concept has become a passion of mine over the last year as I have walked through a few different situations where I have seen the gospel distorted, truth twisted, and people decieved. My heart is saddened by these situations, as I have seen people hurt, broken, and walk away from meaningful relationships, and for some even Christ. As I have been wrestling with this, I have even questioned my own heart. Am I standing for truth? Am I distorting it to fit my own agenda's? Am I really hearing God, or is it my own selfishness that is leading my decisions, the way I handled things? and as I have searched my heart, my soul, and have sought God in it, I praise Him that as I keep coming back to the scriptures, He is confirming my decisions in these situations. I have learned a lot through this year. I have learned more of who God is, how big is he is, and that he will continue to blow me away. I have also learned that there are those who will willingly walk away from this truth to fulfill their own desires, and claim to be walking in Christ. We have a choice to make... We follow Christ in all his Glory, we surrender completely to Him, and risk it all to shepard, love, and guide those around us, or we become like the wolves who lead people astray. Our actions, our words, and our lives reflect one of two things - either we live for Christ, or we don't. Have I lived a life that reflects Him? Have I been a shepard, or a wolf? Do I portray Christ in my life? We all need to examine our lives daily. Live for Him, and let Him do the rest. Galations 1:10 "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or, am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a 'servant' of Christ." I pray that my life refects one who is seeking the approval of God, not man. I know that I struggle with this - as I am a people pleaser by nature. I pray that as you read this, you also examine your heart. Seek Him. Let Him reveal truth to you. I pray that you will not be lead astray by the wolves, but allow the shepard to keep you close.

"I believe that God can do the unbelievable."

As I begin to hear the stories of families who lost everything this weekend from Hurricane Irene, I look around and see how blessed I truely am. As I sit here stressed about what volunteers I need to fill, or what tasks I need to complete, there are people, neighbors, brothers and sisters in Christ around me, wondering what volunteers are going to help them salvage what remains of their homes. They've lost everything. The damage is unbelievable...

Just as the disciples in Mark 9:14-32, so often I think that I believe, but neglect to see that there is such unbelief in my inner-being. Lord, help me to believe even in my unbelief that you are able to do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine, in the little things of my daily life, or the big things. Help my 'hope' become 'faith.' God you are great, and even in my little faith, you do mighty things. "I believe that God can do the unbelievable." He can rescue those who are homeless, those who are brokenhearted, those who have lost everything... He is able.

A new step in the journey

I am on the first step of a new adventure, a new journey in ministry. For about three years now I have felt God's pull on my heart to be more involved in Children's ministry. I have volunteered in both Graceland, and Promiseland during this time and absolutely love what God is doing in our children's ministry here at Grace!

After much prayer, I have accepted the position of Promiseland Director for a 1 year interim as Grace seeks to find a Full-time Children's Pastor. I am very excited about taking on this role, and watching how God works through me in the ministry.

God is blowing me away with what is happening here at Grace! He keeps going beyond my beyond in expectations, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us." (Numbers 14:7-8) God is leading me to new lands that are exceedingly good. I pray that he is pleased with me, and that he is glorified each day through this ministry!

:) May God bring you to a land flowing with milk and honey.

Some personal thoughts...

Psalm 19:14 ESV

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

This is my prayer.

I want to go deeper. I want my heart to reflect Christ's. I want my words to reflect those of His heart, not mine. I want to stand for truth, and not waiver, yet have a heart of compassion while presenting it. I want to to be acceptable in His sight.

My God delights in me. Do I delight in Him? Are my words, my meditations acceptable in His sight? I hunger for that. I want those around me to know his love by my actions. I pray that I do things out of a heart of love, and not a heart of self.

My journey in going deeper in my marriage, my motherhood, and my ministry needs to first be centered on Christ. My prayer is that I don't lose that focus. Christ.

Please pray with me that I get better at this. My heart, and my flesh don't always reflect each other.

Lord, may the words of my mouth, and the mediations of my heart be pleasing to you. I need your help in this! Amen.

Seek out Truth...

2 Timothy 4:3-5 ESV

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

As I write tonight, I am saddened by the mere truths of this. So many times we take scriptures, and twist them to fit our own agendas. We look to find people in ministry, Christian song lyrics, and guidance from friends and take the pieces of advice that suit our own passions, and fall into the trap of making our own desires, what we think is God's desire for our lives. It is so easy to become deceived, buy into the lies, and be blinded to the truth of the scriptures, and the walk away from the promises God has for us. Willingly, we walk down a path allowing pride and deceptions to cloud our emotions. We walk away from the truth and wander off into myths.

It is vital that we become aware how easy it is to allow emotions, and desires stand in the way of God's best for our lives and settle for less. By grounding our lives in the truth if the scriptures, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to us, and matching up the advice we are given to God's advice in the word, we can protect ourselves from deception.

Praying tonight that my life and actions can be an example of truth and not one that will lead others astray. May my words, my prayers, and who I am reflect those of Christ. I will fail, I am not perfect... but I AM FORGIVEN! I praise God for the cross, and desire to exemplify Him to those around me.

Head knowledge vs. Heart knowledge: False Hope vs Eternal Hope

** A repeat post from FB - but one I feel is important to reshare!  Enjoy!

As I sat in the church during my Uncle’s memorial service, I heard of all the wonderful characteristics of who he was, how he portrayed so many “Christ-like” characteristics, and how much he was loved. I also heard a message that is often given at funerals of how he is now in heaven, and one day we will join him if we only believe in Jesus. It was during this message, I found myself to become unsettled. I felt the Holy Spirit stirring in my heart some thoughts as I heard the all too famous verse being quoted from John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
All we had to do is believe in Christ and we one day would join him in heaven. Hmmm… really all we have to do is believe. As I looked around the church, and watched so many people agreeing with this message the pit in my stomach grew deeper. Not because of the message given, but because there is more to it the just the knowledge of who Christ is, and the belief that he came and died on the cross for our sins, it is a matter of head vs. heart.
Many people understand and even believe in Christ, yet, have no relationship with Christ, and have not yet made Him the Lord and Savior of their life. Many even claim to be Christians, yet bear no fruit, or understanding what it means to be a Christian. They get it in their head, but not in their heart. Heck, even the demons get it in their head, they even believe in Christ, but to follow Christ is a whole different story. We see this in James 2:18-19 “But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works. "Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! “
This is all too common and really hit home to me today. I am saddened that so many have this false hope, that they too will be in heaven, because they believe that Jesus died on the cross, yet never accepted him to be their personal savior. We see this through Luke 13:22-30: “He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then he will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.' Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!' In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
We are told all too often that it is all so simple “just believe,” and so many “just believe.” It is head knowledge. It is a false sense of security that they too will be going to heaven because they believe that Jesus came and died for their sins. They believe that this is the answer that will win them eternity in heaven, and that they have nothing to worry about.

Believing who Christ is, is only a part of the key to heaven. Knowing who Christ is, having a relationship with Christ, and walking with Christ, living a life pleasing to him, is the answer. Having heart knowledge of who HE is, and becoming so close to him, that he says, Yes, Father, I know who he/she is! I paid the price on the cross for him/her. That is the heart of believing. It is so much more than just knowledge about Christ; it is the knowledge of his character, and so desperately striving to be more like him. I love how Paul puts this in Ephesians 4:17-32
“Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
I pray that I will have a relationship with Christ like this, bear the fruits of the Spirit, and on that day that my name is called in Heaven, I will hear the words “well done, my good and faithful servant!” I pray that you too will come to know the saving knowledge of who Christ is, and that you have the eternal hope that I have, not a hope built on false perceptions.

The Journey Begins...

God has been teaching me to step out of my little box and grow deeper in my walk with him.  As I journey through life, I pray each new challange and obsticle, brings me one step closer to understanding Him, and trusting Him even more.  The verse that has been really stretching my thinking is the basis of this blog's theme and now the heart of who I am.

Ephesians 3:20-21 "⁽Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

I have always had my limits on what God can do.  I still have my limits on what I expect him to do.  I put him in a box.  He fit nicely in my box.  I have had my doctrines, my views, and my understanding of him set before me even as a child.  I grew up knowing Christ as my Savior, and still had my box.

 God has been blowing my box up, bursting the seems wide open and going beyond my beyond.  Each new day, he has been opening my eyes and streching my comfort zones, and bringing me a little closer to understanding how BIG my God really is.  He is stretching me in ways that are uncomfortable.  Making me trust Him, when I don't understand, and blowing my mind in what He is doing with each situation.  He is calling me to pray, seek, and really get to know him.

Join me on this journey as I face the challanges and new mercies of each day as a wife of a pastor, a mother of three beautiful children, and in my own ministries.  I hope you are challenged, and encouraged by my posts, as I am real with you about where God is bringing me.... Going beyond my beyond.