I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
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Let’s Do Better

1/1/2021

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I sit in my pew as worship begins, grateful to be there. A few minutes in, an elderly gentleman who we’ve all come to love, enters cautiously with his 2 canes and smiling eyes that even a mask can’t hide. His gratitude to be in the house of the Lord shines. He not only exudes joy in his mannerisms and kindness, but he weekly thanks God aloud in prayer time; for the opportunity to worship, for his blessings and for us, his church family.
He gets it. He understands how blessed we are as a nation to have the freedom to worship. Getting to church is no easy task for him, but it’s worth it! He’s a veteran who fought for that very freedom, so his appreciation goes even deeper.
Why then are so many of us who are afraid of losing our freedoms and who have no physical impairments, still not joining other believers in worship? Why are we not bringing our kids up to know the Lord, to pray publicly, to read scripture? If even half of our neighbors attended Sunday worship weekly, we would fill our churches and have to build more! What a great problem to have! 

HEAR THIS...We do not need the government to make the changes we need in this world. We need heart changes, and that is God’s department! 


I assure you, left to my own devices, I would not choose to go to church, to read my Bible or even be nice. Only the prompting of the Holy Spirit does that! Most would say I was a hypocrite when I was stuck in a cycle of sin, but still attended church regularly. I know that God drew me in that one day each week to keep me from completely derailing my life. I’m a slow learner, but I got there! He is patient!
So don’t wait until you get yourself cleaned up to get into a worship habit...just show up! Let God do the cleaning up! It’s easier than ever now, because you can join virtually, and then eventually show up in person! Just step out and join in... you won’t regret it. The day of Christ’s return is closer now than ever, right? Let’s collectively make this world a better place


Find a local to you church. Just walk in. That’s what I did. We don’t have a theatrical worship band, we don’t have a well-known charismatic preacher, and we don’t have the bells and whistles that some come to expect. We are a very small congregation of imperfect people serving a perfect God. We do have Bible-based teaching from a genuine pastor and a praying church family who support each other emotionally, physically and when needed, financially. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. There’s room for you and your family at a church wherever you live! 
Let’s do better in 2021.We can be the change. We can use our voices, not as clanging gongs but as encouragers. We can be light in this dark world. We can be part of a great revival that this world so desperately needs! 
Heaven starts here when we join the kingdom of God and make disciples! Join a movement that actually makes an impact. Use your voice for the only truly worthy cause...to share the Good News of Jesus Christ! Happy New Year! 


 Hebrews 10:23-25
  Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near
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While we Wait

12/27/2020

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As we travel through the season of advent, we hear four familiar terms. Hope.Peace.Joy.Love. Each week we focus on what scripture says of each. These words   immediately bring a sense of relief. As followers of Christ, we know that his life, death and resurrection bring all these and more! However, it is easy to fall into worldly even contrary understanding of these terms. Many who celebrate Christmas have no idea what it is to be a follower of Jesus. Their understanding is from an earthly perspective, as opposed to a heavenly promise.


Hope for instance is a positive, uplifting word. The hope for a good day, a successful career or a good diagnosis bring positive thinking. But the hope we have in Christ truly is the only hope for a fallen people. We are helpless on every single front. Without the shed blood of Messiah, there was no hope. Sin separated us from God. Jesus made atonement. Our hope is in him alone; a confident expectation of God‘s promise. 


*1 Peter 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.


Peace. Don’t we all want it? Among nations, in government, within families, between friends, in our churches, at work....Peace in heavenly terms, though is where our focus should be. We were enemies of God.No peace or communication can occur between sinful men and a Holy God. Only through  Jesus are we able to boldly approach the Father and enter into relationship with Him. Peace on earth requires peace with God first. 


*Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.


Joy. Merriment and happiness come to mind. Weddings, births and reunions are joyous. But joy in its truest sense is described in James is really a response that we choose, knowing that whatever we face, good or bad, easy or difficult, sickness and health, we trust God‘s purpose and providence in it all. We know that joy does not mean happiness, it means contentment in Christ. 


*James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.


And lastly, love. How can we get this one wrong? Well, pretty easily actually! The emotion love is fickle and changing.The feeling of love leaves us breathless with happiness one day, and empty with loneliness the next. But the act of love, the verb is very different. The most important act of love was displayed at Calvary.. From God’s gift of Messiah came forgiveness of sin. This sacrificial love is like no other, and is the basis of all things Christian. 


*John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life


Hope, peace, joy and love… You can’t have one without the others! Our perfect God sent a spotless sacrifice for imperfect people in this fallen  world. 
Are you just celebrating a holiday this week, or are you a  humble sinner made clean by the Messiah whose birthday we remember. 
Are you celebrating a festival or honoring God? 
Are you hopefully seeking his presence or are your traditions of presents the focus? 
What are you waiting for? Just as God’s people waited generations for Messiah, we  need to be waiting hopefully for his return. Make no mistake, he is coming back! Let’s be his church; his bride, ready and waiting! 
*Hope for his triumphant return. 
*Peace as his death bridged the gap of sin. 
*Joy in all circumstances through faith in him. 
*Love because he first loved us! 
From the cradle to the cross, we celebrate Him! Have a blessed Christmas!
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Happy Ending

8/3/2020

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I woke with an uneasiness again today. The world climate is conducive to fear... of the unknown, of authority, of losing freedoms. No matter how you feel about current world and national events, you have probably also experienced a level of fear and angst. As I made my coffee and contemplated the plan for the day, I found myself scattered and unstable. The decisions I make daily are now made with trepidation. 
Do we visit loved ones? Attend church? Go to the store?? Are we jeopardizing our families health? Are we being manipulated? And what about schooling my children? 
The cyclone of concerns rushes in and causes emotional paralysis. Can anyone else relate? 
So I took my coffee to the couch with my loyal Chihuahua friend, Chloe and like every other morning, I flipped on the television. As I scrolled the channels I landed on the Hallmark Channel. Don’t judge! Who doesn’t love the promise of a happy ending? It’s a sure thing on channel 830! So, with five minutes left in the movie, instead of moving on, I proceeded to watch said happy ending. 
My mood changed. For real. And I realized something… 
As a Hallmark movie super fan, I know the outcome of most movies aired there, and I can’t wait for the end! I don’t get too stressed out,even during the conflict and climax parts of the drama. The happy ending is a gimme, so I just enjoy the subpar acting and lovely Christmas scenery! So, as a Christian, how am I traveling through this story of chaos called life… Pandemics, politics, pedophilia, racism, sex trafficking, divorce, cancer, death, family feuds, unemployment, financial woes… Add your own here________.
We are all part of this storyline where conflict is strong. The characters are encountering challenging crossroads, and pass their panic on to us. We see gloom, doom, sabotage  and despair. The tone is heavy and dark. The outcome, a mystery to all but the author. I am aware of the dishonesty, despair, death and uncertainty. But in this story, the ending is not really a mystery. You see,if you know the author, he gave you some inside information… An exclusive of sorts. 
 

Spoiler alert… The ending is glorious! Everyone who comes to know the author and creator of our story, Almighty God, will know the last scene and will anticipate it with joy. The ending will be even more glorious than the Hallmark kiss! Love wins… Unity becomes reality… Good triumphs over evil… No more tears, death, mourning or pain! 
The story we are part of right now is full of turmoil, yet God promises to walk with us through these tumultuous seasons. Here are just a few promises that God made to his people, and words spoken about God’s character by his prophets and the Gospel writers, that we can lean on in these uncertain times...

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you. Isaiah 43:2


Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7


13. “Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time.  Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.” ~ 1 Peter 5:6-7


 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39


Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:9


So start your days remembering God’s covenant with His people. Enjoy the journey...Live your life...Trust it will all be good in the end. Because of God’s promises and his gift of Jesus Christ, we can have courage knowing He has it all covered. Pray for the peace that passes all understanding, and rest in His promises.

If you don’t know the love of Jesus, please read about His saving grace in the Bible and turn to Him. He really is our only hope.
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Easter Poem 2020

4/17/2020

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It’s not about the candy,
The chicks, the eggs, or rabbit.
It’s all about eternal life,
And how everyone can have it.

You see, we are all born,
With a tendency to sin.
But God sent Jesus to make a way, 
For all to enter in.

To enter his holy kingdom, 
We need to be holy, too. 
But nothing we do can make us worthy.
Only a perfect sacrifice will do.

From the sin in the garden,
To our sins in present day,
A sacrifice to appease God is needed.
There is just no other way.

God knew we would need saving. 
We rebel, we sin, we run.
Away from his loving kindness,
Into our own version of fun.

He knew we would need a way, 
To make us holy once again. 
To cleanse us and forgive us.
So sacrificial law entered in.

The prophets spoke of Messiah,
To conquer sin, once for all.
They waited generations,
For this promise to redeem the fall.

Then lo, it came to pass,
Just as it was to be.
A humble birth, a human’s life,
God sent Jesus to die for me.

He lived, he taught, he loved, 
Like only a Savior could love,
He came not as a warrior king, 
But as a lover of souls from above.

He came to defeat sin,
And its power over man.
Jesus died and rose - just believe it. 
He made it so anyone can. 

So let your hard heart soften,
Let your eyes see and ears hear,
Jesus Christ makes away for us,
So to God we can draw near.

He is the spotless lamb.
He died once for all. 
He satisfied the father‘s wrath, 
That started at the fall.

So no more must we labor. 
No more must we live in shame. 
Jesus paid our ransom.
He saved us when he came 

Pray this prayer. “Jesus come into my life,
and in you I will abide.” 
Read his Word, pray and love each other.
Then boy are you in for a ride!

He will carry you and sustain you. 
He will bless and love you too. 
All he wants is your  love  back, 
And to worship him in all you do.

Thank you Father, for sending your son.
Thank you Jesus for dying for me.
I will live all my days in worship and praise,
Because you saved a wretch like me!
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Know Your Worth

3/8/2020

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 Know your Worth 


Know your worth.  A simple statement I have been needing to repeat to my teens and tween over the past several weeks. Being a kid these days is tough. I grew up in a simpler time, where although there were bullies and haters, it wasn’t as widespread or as brutal. At least not in my experience. For that, I am grateful. It saddens me when my kids go through painful stuff, but I am also grateful for the communication and closeness I share with them and that I also shared with their older siblings. My peptalks are always backed by scripture. So when I tell them to know their worth, I mean who they are in Christ. They are reminded that they are chosen, created in the image of Almighty God, for his purpose. That they are loved beyond measure by their Savior, who died so they may have life eternal and abundant. While others may say hurtful things, tell lies and ridicule, they can rest assured that they are not here to please those people. Their  purpose is greater; they are designed perfectly for God’s use. He gifted them each with treasures with which to serve God and his people.


 So, the tables turned and I find myself feeling “less than” as a result of, well, people. Even though I teach and tell my kids not to let negative people affect them,  I was struggling to heed my own advice. So through prayers, tears and despair, I heard those words spoken to me… 


KNOW.YOUR.WORTH.


I believe it was God‘s prompting, even if it was not his audible voice. I heard it loudly and clearly. So I stopped. I stopped replaying the tapes. I stopped internalizing. I stopped questioning. I began believing. I began rejoicing. I began praising. Because I am chosen, created in the image of Almighty God for his purpose, I am loved beyond measure by my Savior, Jesus Christ who died so that I may have life abundant and eternal. He gifted me with the very attributes for which people resent me, and it’s OK. He made me this way for his purpose and that is all that matters at the end of the day. 


Thank you, thank you Jesus! My redeemer, my strength, my everything. I pray everyone comes to know the amazing love of our God and Savior. I am grateful for a forgiving heart and a renewed spirit with which he has blessed me. His mercies are new every morning! 
Great is thy faithfulness!
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◄ Psalm 139 ►
New International Version Par ▾ 

Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17How precious to me are your thoughts, a God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand--
when I awake, I am still with you.
19If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.


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Know yourself,Love yourself

1/27/2020

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We know this statement to be true.....
If we have accepted Christ as our Savior and repented of our sins, then we belong to Him; we are forgiven, redeemed and new creations.

However, it seems that knowing we belong to Christ, knowing that we are coheirs, knowing that we are made righteous, does not make us instantly peaceful and joyous with who we are. But, why is that?

When we think of self-esteem, confidence and identity, we know we are to be secure in knowing we are God’s, we are chosen, we are beloved. But our flesh will dictate otherwise. We tend to look at our worldly identity more than our spiritual identity; where we live, where we come from, our marital status, our weight, occupation, education … you get the picture.


How we perceive ourselves mostly depends on who we believe.....do we believe God or the world? There is an obvious gap between what we should believe about ourselves and what we actually do believe about ourselves. This results in a colossal number of Christians walking around with severe anxiety, depression and stress. We take the opinions of others as gospel instead of believing the Gospel. On top of that,  when we speak to other Christians about improving or discovering ourselves, it is often met with a little pushback. It is misunderstood as self promotion instead of a desire to be free from fear and pain. I don’t believe discovering yourself has to be against God‘s will. I actually think the phrase “finding myself” can actually mean “I am going to look within myself, find the strengths that God has gifted me with and grow in them to glorify him and to have a joyous life.” 

So here is the meat and potatoes of this blog. I adopted a mindset from years of influence and teaching, in and out of church, that self-care was selfish. I actually thought it sinful and self-promoting. In my legalistic mind I thought I should actually deprive myself, keep my opinions to myself and just exist if I am a truly good Christian, particularly a good Christian woman. This led me to a defeated mindset… which led me to nowhere fast. Anything that would get me excited to prosper , that would promote self esteem or personal growth was immediately labeled as detrimental and avoided because of my fear of rejection and judgement. 

I know that I am created in his image. Does he want me to develop my gifts and become a useful servant at my best? Or does he want me to stifle my gifts, be quiet and simply let life happen? I know it’s a dance between humility and growth. But how can we know what our purpose is, who he made us to be, and how we will contribute to life here if we are too afraid to dig deep and reveal our identities? We are all unique. God is NOT intimidated (people are!) by our developing self worth when he knows that he is the source ! He delights in us.( most people don’t.)

When your child desires to play a sport, sing in a choir or dance a recital, you don’t hesitate to encourage them! As parents, we like to see our kids find their niche, develop their skill sets and thrive. How much more does our Abba father desire to cheer us on as we discover, layer by layer, who he made us to be, what gifts he has bestowed upon us, and how successful we can be? Don’t forget the source of your Power and gifting! But don’t stifle  your individuality and strengths either. Develop them! Embrace them! God gifted you with your tenacity, ability and strengths. Use these things to their fullest because you are all the things he says you are! And please do not let people snuff out your enthusiasm just because they disagree with you! Know who you are and love who you are! 


So, to summarize, humility is different from stagnation! Set goals. Work towards them making  sure your goals align with scripture.
 You may be wondering how to do that. 
It is important to study God‘s word. It is vital to understand that we do everything for his glory, to bring him praise and honor. This will definitely affect our goals, but with right knowledge , God promises to prosper us in ways that bring us closer to him and grow his kingdom. 

Keep growing in every way possible… Spiritually through studying scripture, intellectually through awareness, physically through right eating and care for your body and personally through praying for God to reveal who you are! What are your gifts? strengths?purpose? 

Surrender to God’s will, but don’t lie down, roll over and cower. God does not want us to merely exist! We are His pride and joy! He’s watching us and cheering us on!  

Stop putting limitations on yourself! Stand up, look ahead and move forward! The kingdom starts here, right now. Being in the kingdom of God is a state of existence, not an end of life goal. It’s not meant to be merely a destination after we die, like most of us were raised to believe. It’s just the beginning of eternity, so live it to fullest. It’s never too late to peel back the layers and discover who you are in Christ. You are a gifted masterpiece! Start living like it!


​Galatians 1:10 
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Romans 8:16-17
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men

Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago

2 Timothy 1:7
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.




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God Really is Good

4/3/2019

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My daughter recently posted an article that spoke to the phrase, “GOD IS GOOD.” The article addressed an example ...when one is dealing with a crisis situation, oftentimes a well meaning person will interject “God is good” into the conversation, not realizing how it may be misunderstood. I wanted to expound on the idea that, while it is a true statement, the phrase  can be thrown around flippantly and not really be all that consoling.


 I probably say it daily, seriously! I don’t say it because the sun is shining, because my life is rosy or because it’s payday. I say it because I know His attributes; I know His deep love for me, and I know what He desires for me. 


When we meet someone new, sometimes we feel an immediate connection. Just last week someone I had just met made me think, “Wow,we could totally be friends!” But obviously, when we enter into relationship with someone, whether a friendship or a romance, we learn about the person’s character before we are all in, right? 


So it is with God. When you don’t know Him and someone tells you how good He is, you don’t have to take their word for it! I’ve dated “good” guys and had friends who were “good” people  according to others’ recommendations. But until you learn about their character and motives for yourself, you are certainly going to enter in cautiously. I believe this same approach is useful when seeking God and when that still small voice inside is nudging you toward Him.


 As a believer, I know His character, I know I trust Him and I know He will always be my solid rock. I don’t believe this because someone told me God is good and left it at that. I know this because many people told me God is good and they told me why. They also pointed me to the Bible, which confirmed that indeed, He is good. 


I will leave you with two reasons why I know He is good.




1. I was lost in a life of sin and self gratification.. He offered me a way out and saved me.


2. Despite a lifetime of bad decisions, he has continually carried me through difficult times and given me strength to navigate through the consequences of those decisions. 
OK, three! 
3. He has promised that this is my temporary home and he has an eternal future of joy waiting for me! 


I encourage you to get to know Him for yourself. If you’ve been curious about what it means to be in a relationship with Jesus Christ, to believe in the God who loves you, I encourage you to start vetting him. Do the research. Don’t take my word for it, although I would not lead you astray. Take his Word for it. His promises are abundant and He loves you! The Bible is a love story already written about you and your relationship with God! Jump in and check it out. It’s a story with a happy ending, and you will discover with each chapter and verse that God really is good.



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March 02nd, 2019

3/2/2019

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Simplicity=Clarity

Well, I did it! I started spring cleaning! Well, kinda. I haven’t actually begun stripping my home of the dust and dirt from the winter, but I have started to declutter some areas that desperately need my attention. In true procrastinators form, I am avoiding the dirty work and starting with some other items that need addressing.


 Subscribing to every single list of helpful hints, daily devotions and “how to organize your life”blogs has become a problem for me. The fact is, I know most of the things that these articles are telling me. And truth be told, I maybe read 2% of the things that come through my email like that. So, unsubscribe is the mission! Department store and retail emails are KILLING my budget! It’s tough to ignore a great sale when you are me! But out of sight, out of mind. This is an attempt to trim my budget and eliminate another time waster! See ya later retail temptation! So I am systematically unsubscribing and deleting all of those unnecessary things that clutter my email.


The second thing I am eliminating is my Facebook habit! I love to hate Facebook. I need it for my business, and I do love it for keeping in touch with out-of-town family and friends. The inspirational quotes , articles and prayer requests are the good parts! But even scrolling through all of those is actually taking more time than it would to just open my Bible, read some truth and spend time in prayer. The atmosphere of political posts, complaints about the weather, and just the general a la carte fake news is a real downer. People are seriously losing friends and alienating family members with every keystroke. Technology has enabled us to broaden our circle to the point where we are completely lost within it. Hoping to get back to basics and only check Facebook for business purposes and a quick check up on my peeps who I don’t see regularly. 


The third thing is my book collection! I love books! That is a fact! But it seems as though I have gotten a little crazy with my purchases, particularly clearance book sales! Instead of focusing on one book at a time, I have begun many books, but finishing even one is daunting! By reducing the overwhelming number of books on my shelf (and the 7 on my nightstand!)I hope to hone in on those that will be most beneficial and enjoyable. 


And lastly, my office space! Chaos is too tame a word to describe the overwhelming amount of paperwork that needs to be sorted and filed. I can joke that I know where everything is and brush it off for a while. But at this point, if it weren’t for the IRS and my credit score, I can envision torching it! Maybe a bit of an overreaction, but it’s a real mess! My hope is that when that is organized, I will no longer avoid doing my office tasks because I won’t have to bulldoze my way to the surface of my desk! 


So while the housework needs to be addressed, sometimes starting in the messiest place begins with our minds and what is causing them to be overwhelmed. For me it is the unnecessary excess of both tangible and digital things. Once I’ve decluttered there, I can begin to make my house a home again!  Maybe you also are overwhelmed by the very things you thought would be helpful. Lets purge together and simplify our lives, even a little bit each week. Simplicity = Clarity . Lets do this! Have a great day !
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Battle Ready

11/1/2018

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Each struggle we face, every single conflict, and the tough stuff of life give us opportunities to grow. I know this. But somehow this realization, I thought, would keep me from the pain of them all. For whatever reason, I was sure I could handle more because I knew God was going to use it to grow me and to glorify himself. Silly me. Knowledge is good. Wisdom is great. Understanding is vital. Nowhere in God‘s word does it say we will skate through life pain-free just because we are saved by His grace. As a matter fact, the opposite is true. Depression, persecution and the enemy attacks are to be expected. There is still a temptation, even as a believer, to take the wheel and try to go it alone; to push through on our own strength.
 
God does not, however leave us alone in these battles. His Holy Spirit remained with us when Jesus left the earth, and comes into each and every battlefield of each and every war in which we are engaged. I remember the first time I heard about the full armor of God. I was a new believer. I was teaching Sunday school to preschoolers. One of the kids came with a costume, the full armor of God, and we reviewed the scripture. I thought it was cute. I had no idea at the time what power that scripture held or how much It would be needed in my Christian walk.
 
 Ephesians 6:10-18 The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
 
Being strong in the Lord and in his mighty power is quite different from doing it alone with internal fortitude and a “hear me roar” mindset. That will never be enough. Be confident. Be strong. Be mighty. But acknowledge that you are those things because of who you are as a child of God. The world says bigger, stronger, and faster; blaze your own trail and look inward for strength. But left to our own goals and our own power sources, we will fall short. God calls us to look to him for strength. God says we are fearfully and wonderfully made and to do all things as if you do them for him. He really does have a plan to prosper us. We need only call on him and seek his will.
 
The full armor of God will help us fight the real enemy, Satan. Think of every conflict, bump in the path and road block you have or are experiencing. Look at how Satan is using people and circumstances to undermine and destroy. Look at any conflict or negative in this world, and realize who is behind it all. Only God can defeat the Devil at his games. Only love will drive out hate. We can stand firm in truth, righteousness and readiness without fear because we have the gospel of peace as our end goal.
 
The shield of faith and the helmet of salvation protect us from the enemy’s attacks. The sword of the spirit and prayer are the only weapons we need and they are always available to us as we face challenges, big and small. Praying earnestly for God’s will in our lives, for his strength to face adversity, and his power to be all we were created to be is the basis for success. That is real power. Supernatural power! So it’s ok to be a rockstar warrior, to blaze a trail, if it’s for the right reasons and with the right motives, giving glory to the one who made us able.
 
I praise Him daily for moving me forward, out of my comfort zone and sometimes right into battle. I remember that His Power is at work, His armor shields me and His weapons protect me as I fiercely drive through the battlefield of this life. The victory is His-It’s Mine-It’s Ours. I share in it because He loves me.
 
Let prayer preface every day so you are battle ready!
 
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Seeking Stillness

6/16/2018

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The white water hurries noisily across the rocks drowning the sound of people, music and cars. The sweet spot in my day. There is something about water that brings me peace in the midst of pain; calm in the chaos. Scripture reminds us to be still and know God, to feel his presence. To be still is a verb; it requires deliberate action. I’m pulling away from the turmoil to rest in him. Like the deer pants for the stream, I come into this place longing for God‘s presence; aching for his healing balm and needing to drown the voices in my head.
Solace enters in when distractions are removed. My focus is on my unsettled soul. My desire is peaceful joy. I cannot achieve it on my own. I can look at my home and envision a new style,  but it does not come to fruition without action. Likewise, I can imagine a day without anger and frustration, but without a move into the Word, it’s a fantasy. The cyclical regret of frustration, resentment, anger, and guilt is never ending unless it’s interrupted by a force stronger than itself. Scripture tells me to be anxious for nothing. It is a command from God, not a suggestion; A tried and true solution, not an idea. We sometimes act as if the Bible’s title is  “A Helpful Guide to Get us Through the Rough Patches.” It is so much more! “ How to Do Life for Dummies” is more fitting! The Bible is life. It gives life where there was a death, it creates life where there was none.
 A deep sigh and a recommitting to His way not mine. His word, not my feelings; contentment not contention. I find him in His creation, his Word, and always deep in my heart and soul. Sometimes I just can’t hear Him for all the static. So grateful for these still moments that bring me back to Him.
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    Terri Moore

    Welcome to my blog page where I share tidbits of my life experiences. I hope you find my posts entertaining and inspiring! My testimony is a result of my trials. God is faithful, and I hope to glorify Him with my words and witness. May you be blessed!

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