“TIME TO SURRENDER”

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The moment of salvation is the most important time in any day, any year, for any person.

This special time is different for each of us because it IS special. This time has been designed especially for you, by the One who made you. He knew exactly what it would take to produce surrender, since this is exactly what the Christian life is.

Some were young and had child like faith as they trusted God to be their Lord and Savior.

Others were in their teens, and by some chance were lead to a revival or youth retreat that changed their lives forever.

Then their were some whom it took a divorce or maybe even a death or illness to wake you up and get you to your “surrender point.”

Some were addicted to drugs and both physically and mentally captured by this beast known as “fun”….Until the fun stopped and the consequences rolled in, bringing you to the bottom so you would finally LOOK UP!!

Then their are those who struggled their entire life, and at the moment of death FINALLY surrendered, right before meeting Jesus.

Although God does allow us to have consequences, He doesn’t produce evil.

BUT He does use it for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose!!

Any time you meet Jesus, it is a special day.

No matter how you get there….Running, walking, jogging, or even crawling!!

It’s your special day.

Any time we come, He will accept us with open arms, but we MUST surrender to new life.

2 Corinthians 5:17~Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

The only way to have new life in Christ, is to let Him have YOUR LIFE.

The good, the bad, the embarrassing, the hidden, the so called fun, the pride….ALL the things that we think we can’t live without… but aren’t “really living” with!

These strongholds in our lives keep us from the life He planned for us, but can all be released if surrendered.

That’s the key.

We must let go and let God lead us.

Without this change, there’s no evidence of new life in us and Jesus can’t shine through a life full of sin.

You see, we as Christians are called to be ambassadors, not adulterers.

We are called to be conquerors, not live in consequences!

We are chosen, not someones last choice!

We CAN resist, not reduce ourselves to our temptations!

IF, AND ONLY IF, WE SIMPLY SURRENDER….

Everything.

Starting with our hearts, then releasing every part of who we are to the only One who can change us.

If you do not know a specific time and place where you experienced a life changing moment, where Jesus moved in and you surrendered, the time is now.

Right this very second.

Even if you think you were saved, but have never experienced a “new life” change and never fully surrendered….IT’S JUST THE RIGHT TIME!!

RIGHT NOW!!

IT’S YOUR MOMENT!!!

He wants to help you, all you have to do is ask.

2 Corinthians 6:2~For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

 

 

 

“Prayer Deficiency”

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Do you feel tired? No matter how much sleep you get, you still run on empty.

Are you experiencing weight gain? Eating seems to be the only comfort you can find lately.

Are you tossing and turning all night and can’t sleep? Your mind runs a million miles a minute and you can’t turn it off.

Do you have suicidal thoughts? Satan continues to whisper to you how unloved you are and that you wouldn’t even be missed.

Do you feel weak? The temptation has gotten so heavy, you are there…willing to risk it all just to find any temporary happiness.

Do you have anxiety? Your always on the edge…trying to please, trying to keep up, trying to figure things out.

Do you find it hard to smile? Life is just hard. All it is, is one big struggle after another. Right when you think your above water, another wave crashes in on you. You’re carrying so much weight, the simple act of smiling seems like too much effort.

Do you feel irritable and aggravated? At any moment you could explode. Things can be going well and in a split second you are screaming and yelling, saying words that cut the soul of the people you love.

Do you know Jesus? He is the healer.

Do you want to get better? He is the medication.

Do you pray? You must ask if you want help.

Prayer is like oxygen to our bodies. We can’t live without it. We first become weak, tired, and lethargic. After only 9 minutes without oxygen our brains begin shutting down. Prayer is exactly the same way. After the first few minutes of your day without prayer, our bodies start feeling weak, tired, lethargic. We get bombarded with temptations, irritations, distractions, and busyness. It’s a spiritual battle throughout the entire day!

WE ARE PRAYER DEFICIENT!!

Lets begin today taking the first 9 minutes after opening our eyes…. filling ourselves, and the ones we love with prayer. Lets stop before we even get started to begin the day efficient not deficient. 

Father~ Thank you for the ability to come before your throne. I know that you love me. I desire to serve you Lord, and want not only your instructions for this day, but also your attitude. I need your breath of life to fill and fuel me so that I can do the things before me today. I’m tired. I’m weary. Draw me near to you from the second I open my eyes, leaning on your strength, not my own. I know you want me to be efficient, not busy and deficient. Slow me down as soon as I awaken, to first…fill myself with the oxygen I need which only comes from YOU!

Matthew 11:28~Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

 

“Act like you know”

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Our beliefs don’t make us who we are, our actions do.

Hmmmm…. This made me think.

I believe in Jesus, but there was a time in my life my actions didn’t prove that I did.

I got saved at the age of 19 on my way to the club with some friends. My aunt had a vest of mine and I went by her house to get it. We talked for awhile, and that night she lead me to the Lord.

Right before leaving, she reminded me that Satan was the author of confusion. That he would try to make me doubt my salvation AND my Savior.

I remember getting in my car and crying talking to the Lord, telling Him I knew if I died in a car wreck, that I knew Id go to heaven. I BELIEVED!!

I never made it to the club that night, but because my friends didn’t change, eventually I was lead back to the same places, only this time God talked to me while I was there.

He would bring to my attention the clothes people were wearing, including myself.

He showed me how drinking alcohol would blur peoples perception. He would trick them into believing Satans lies about what fun was and lead them down a road of destruction.

Eventually, God wouldn’t allow “His girl” to hang out in those places. I didn’t belong there and I KNEW IT every time I was in the wrong place.

Although I believed, God still had a lot of work to do in me.

Believing was the core of my faith, but I also had to learn to act like it!

That has continually followed me through my walk as a Christian.

God has given us instructions, His Holy Spirits guidance, but also a free will to choose to act like we know Him or not.

Just like the night I met Jesus, I remind myself that Satan wants me to doubt my salvation AND my Savior!

Today I am reminding myself that I am His and even though the negative thoughts come that say I cant trust again, that it will never “not” bring tears to my eyes just at the thought of the past, that I must choose to act like I know!!

What I do know is that I am a LOVED daughter of the most high King!

With Him I can do all things!

I have all the power living inside of me to resist the temptation to coward down or give up when I fail!

I can forgive!

I can trust!

I can love!

I can hold my head high through the gossip!

I can AND WILL defeat this battle and the next!!

And until I “believe” it myself…..Im gonna act like I know, and tell myself Gods truths because I don’t have to act like I know Him……I DO!!

1 John 3:19~Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so that we will be confident when we stand before God.

 

“CHANGE ME”

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From the moment we’re born we begin a life of change. We go from infant to toddler, toddler to teenager, and teenager to adult. Gradually changing over the years.

Then we get married….We think were all grown up and the changing is over.

BOY ARE WE WRONG!!!

That day everything we ever knew as “normal” changes.

We no longer go to the same places our single friends go.

We don’t sleep alone.

We will never again only have ourselves to think about.

We now have two sets of laundry to wash.

We now have two to prepare a meal for.

We don’t live at the same address.

We don’t even have the same last name!!!

EVERYTHING CHANGED IN ONE DAY!!! With one decision to say “I will.”

THATS HOW GOD WORKS!!!

All we have to do is say “I will,” and He will produce the change in us.

I love the way He uses the covenant of marriage to represent salvation.

It’s about agreeing to the change…..

A change of heart when we accept Jesus into our lives.

A change of the places you go.

A change of the way you act.

A change of the way you dress.

A change of the way we forgive.

A change of attitude as we become more like Him.

A change of even our name, as we become a new creation in Christ.

Like in marriage, we represent our husbands when we take on his name. After salvation, we take on HIS name.

Where we fail in both is that we forget the glue that holds it all together!! GOD!!! We think we’re strong enough to do it on our own.

We need Him for this!!

We need His help to be the wife He created us to be….So therefore we must say “I will” to change.

We need His help to be a Christian who represents His precious and holy name….So therefore we must say “I will” when He directs.

We need His help to say “I will” be submissive to His Holy Spirit and to our husbands.

Now…It’s our job to say “I will”, but it’s Gods job to do the changing.

It’s our job to ask, and His job to deliver….even if we don’t like the answer!!

Once we marry, we gain a power tool that most women do not tap into….PRAYER!! As his wife, God honors your prayer for him more than his own mama!! Now you know your mama can pray for you because she knows you like know one else!!

As a wife, it’s your job to know your husband like know one else does!! He should be your very best friend. Once again, mimicking our relationship with Jesus!!

Even if we don’t like what we know, we do know WE can’t change him. We can only pray, and allow God to do the changing in him AND us!!

He knows us better than anyone else…

He knows our thoughts.

He knows what were going to do before we even do it.

He knows the number of hairs on our head.

He knows where we fall short.

He knows what we need to change, and since He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow….He doesn’t change!!!

HE CHANGES US!!!

The only thing He ask of us is an “I will”….just like your wedding day.

2 Corinthians 3:18~ So all of us who have had the veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord-who is the Spirit-makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.

Once again, just like in marriage, as we remove the veil, we reveal the glory of the Lord, as we say “I will allow you to change me.”

“DEAR LORD”

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Dear Lord,

I have so much on my mind today….You Lord, are my one desire. Life without you would be meaningless.

Thank you for redeeming me.

Changing me.

Loving me.

Using me, and blessing me!

There is so much to be thankful for….

I ask you today to take my life, and everything in it, to glorify you. My marriage, my parenting, my business, my finances, my service…. EVERYTHING!!!

I will obey and do as you lead.

Help me to do your will Lord. Today, tomorrow, and forever!

Help me to put into action what you lay on my heart, not just have “good ideas.”

Bless every reader of my blog and bring them back to this site to get your word, not mine.

I ask you to heal marriages, heal diseases, change and mend hearts, break generational curses, break chains of addiction, defeat depression, bring home lost souls, and much, much more!

Bless the lives of your women who love and serve you Lord.

Fill our lives with YOUR love, allowing us to “WALK IN YOUR LOVE” all the days of our lives. So when we finally get to meet you face to face, you will say “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

I love you.

START EARLIER

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There’s only so much time in a day.

Not until I became a mom, and a working mom at that, did I really understand this statement.

Before my daughter came along I had all the time in the world to do anything I wanted. I had time for myself, my husband, my mama, my friends, my church, and worked more hours! I even at times found time to lay and read an entire book in one day! I can remember even being “bored.”

How did this one little person take up so much of my time?

Not until I realized that she wasn’t “taking it” did I understand it was something I desired and freely gave her.

I tried the balancing act of doing everything faster to get it all done, but although it looked perfect, it was sloppy on the inside.

I wanted to produce the same results as a working mom that a mom who had the privlidge of staying home. For sure this could be possible!

It wasn’t.

But what it was, was exhausting to try an meet the guidelines I’d set for myself.

During the first year of working mommy-hood, I decided to change up my routine.

If I wanted to read my own Bible, and also wanted to read hers with her, I’d have to have more time.

If I wanted snuggle time that I so often missed because I was working, I’d have to find a snuggle moment!

If I wanted a wanted a play date in the park, I’d have to DO IT TIRED!!

If I wanted some time alone with my husband-without feeling guilty for not seeing or spending any time with my daughter all day either, I’d have to have MORE TIME!!

Where would this time come from?

The only time I had that wasn’t already “full” was the morning.

Now let me admit, I LOVE MY SLEEP!!! There’s nothing better then waking up on your own, with no alarm clock, and just feeling rested. Sleep is something we need!! But I found out I could go on a little less sleep, and my body would run even better, with less irritations, if I just STARTED EARLIER!!

I refused to let my job, and everything outside my home get the “best” of me!! I wouldn’t allow my co-workers and customers at work to get all my smiles, prayers, and laughter and walk in my door frowning!

There had to be a reserve for my home.

My husband would get a bigger smile than I gave someone I didn’t really know. I would get him a refill of tea at dinner. I would TAKE THE TIME to read bedtime stories even if we didn’t get the 10-12 hours of sleep doctors say kids need.

I would start earlier in the week planning meals, so my dinner preparations wouldn’t be confusing and end up eating unhealthy or eating out.

I started earlier, taking the time to get on my knees, first thing in the morning, inviting God to do all the things I had to do that day with me….. Not for me.

Giving me the ability to do everything He’d placed before me with excellence. Not rushing like a maniac!

Especially when I was tired, which was AFTER work when I arrived to my “real job” at home!

I started taking time to pray little “right before” prayers.

Right before picking my daughter up at school…. that we’d have time to talk about her day and maybe even have time to grab an ice cream.

Right before walking in the door at home….that my family time would be filled with love and laughter.

Right before seeing my husband….that I’d show him with the expression on my face how much I’d looked forward to seeing him all day.

Right before starting dinner….that our meals would give us time to stop watching television and look and listen to one another.

Right before tucking my daughter into bed….that this time wouldn’t last forever and I must absorb every second possible, not rush through it.

Right before going to bed….that my marriage bed would be blessed with excitement and energy. Creating a passion for one another that would last for all of our lifetime together.

Starting earlier gave me the time to slow down, pray, and focus on what’s important. I was able to see clearly what God had entrusted me with for “such a time as this.”

That even though I didn’t have the time that a stay at home mom and wife had, starting earlier in prayer, and inviting God to be the instructor of my time, He would multiply my efforts and my little became a lot.

Ecclesiastes 3:1~There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

Esther 4:14~You were made queen for such a time as this.

 

 

 

START OVER

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My last post was on STARTING. As soon as I posted that and made the decision to write daily, I FAILED!!

Not after a month.

Not even a week.

Just one little day.

I sat there feeling discouraged, wondering why I had such good intentions the day before and it all fell apart on me over night.  I was exhausted mentally and physically and slept in…..WAY TOO LONG, which is not the norm for me.

I had made my plan to get up earlier since it was my day off and really “get started” early.  Not at all what happened!!

Why was I immediately becoming attacked?

Satans attack is on our STARTING because if he can keep us from starting, he will never have to try and tempt us to stop.

He knows once we START stepping out and allowing God to lead us through our imperfections and bad habits, we will experience His power!!  He knows we will become empowered not in ourselves, but through His Holy Spirit. That, my friend makes us UNSTOPPABLE!!!

Remember….Satan doesn’t attack things that aren’t a threat to him!!

Your marriage is a threat!! Start honoring your wedding vows, start appreciating, start forgiving, start trusting, start “really” loving. Even if it feels like your getting nowhere.

Your children are a threat!! Start teaching them by example, start making time for them when there is none, start listening to them when they “just won’t stop talking”, start loving them enough to say “no” when necessary, start turning the television off and have quality time, start cuddling instead of playing candy crush or waisting precious time on Facebook.

Your finances are a threat!! Start tithing, start giving when you feel lead…. even if you don’t have it, start looking for ways to glorify His name and help others.

Your prayer life is a threat!! Start praying even if it feels like your not breaking through or doesn’t feel comfortable. Start covering your husband, children, friends and loved ones in a blanket of His love.

Your devotional time is a threat!! You can’t hear Gods voice if your not seeking His direction!! Start reading 15 minutes a day. Even if it feels like you don’t understand a word you’ve read. You are forming the most important thing…. A HABIT!!!

Start over.  Start over.  Start over.

And if you have to start over again tomorrow, it’s ok. Just continue starting over and over until you one day awake and its a part of who you are.

Zechariah 4:10–Do not despise these small beginnings, for The Lord rejoices to see the work begin.

JUST START

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When we stumble, whether its our diet, our homes a wreck, our marriage is a wreck, we’ve said things out of anger we can’t take back, or just feel like life is too busy and just too much!! Our schedules overloaded and honestly, its exhausting to even think about…..

We know we need to go on a diet, but keep eating not just a cookie but the entire pack of Oreo’s!

We know we need to cuddle with our babies and read bedtime stories, but are “Just too tired tonight”, “I will tomorrow”.

We know we need to pay our husbands some attention and have all these ideas of what we will do tonight to make him feel loved, but fall asleep as soon as we get in bed.

The days, weeks, and even months go by.

We know what we need to do but are just too busy and too tired.

You think about it every day, and yet fail again. What do we do about this?

JUST START!!!

Start right where you are.

Whether its 7:30 or 9:30, take 5 minutes to stop and read one book with your child.

Whether you’ve shaved your legs or taken a shower or not, cuddle up to your man. Wrestle for one minute, just touching and laughing with one another.

Whether you’ve overeaten and feel like you may as well eat as much “crap” today as you want-“You will start Monday”. STOP!!! Start right now choosing to feel better and have more energy so you can do the things that really matter. (They usually come at the end of your day when you are almost out of fuel).

Make an action plan. Even if it doesn’t work, it will get you started and you will become encouraged. Even if tomorrow you must start again, YOU MUST START!!

Most importantly, PRAY. PRAY. PRAY.

Ask God for His help. If we could do it without Him, we would be!! He’s been waiting on you to finally ask…..

Job 8:7-And though YOU STARTED with little, you will end with much.

Love takes ACTION!!!

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Love has become a mixed-up term with little meaning.  People say it with ease, but don’t tend to show it with their actions.  Love is the greatest of all human qualities and is an attribute of God himself.

1John 4:7-8  Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God.  Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.  But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Everyone believes that love is important, but love is usually thought of as a feeling.  In reality, love is a choice and an action.  Love involves unselfish service to others.

Sometimes it takes dropping by and seeing someone when you don’t have the time, just to give a hug and a “touch” of love.

Maybe Gods telling you to send a card to someone to let them know they’re thought about, not knowing they feel so lonely and unloved, they’ve become depressed and contemplate suicide.

It may just be a mere smile that you give to brighten a persons day who feels they’re unnoticeable and unworthy of love.

God may be calling you to do something way more challenging and love a person who does not deserve it, or maybe hasn’t even asked for your forgiveness…. Knowing that shame may be whats keeping them in bondage.

You may feel lead to love by praying for someone who had an affair with your spouse, or abused you as a child. DO IT and find your freedom!!!

1Corinthians 13:13 Three things will last forever-faith, hope, and love-and the greatest of these is love.

Faith is the foundation and content of God’s message; hope is the attitude and focus; LOVE IS THE ACTION!!  When your faith and hope are in line, you are able to love completely because you understand how God loves you.

It may never be easy to love certain people, but when you make the tough choice to love them anyway, the rewards are always worth it.  The Bible says “Love never fails,” and when you refuse to love, you miss out on God’s best.  God is love, and when you release love, you release God, and He becomes responsible for the outcome.  When you release something, you must ACT and let it go and let it flow!

ACTION PLAN:  Release love every moment into every situation today, every prayer and every thought…It will strengthen…and cast out fear…it’s the one solution that always works.

 

Give Back What’s Expected

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Gods word says that “To whom much is given, much is expected”. We are instructed to give according to the blessings given to us by the Lord our God. (Deuteronomy 16:17)

What blessings has God given you that your expected to give back?

Has He given you a blessed, healed marriage? Then He has given you much and you are expected to help others find that same victory in their marriage…… GIVING HIM THE GLORY!!

Has He broken the chains of addiction to drugs or alcohol in your life? Then He has given you much and He expects you to minister to others SO THAT THEY TOO CAN KNOW THERE’S FREEDOM IN JESUS!!

Has He given you children after having an abortion, allowing you to have a visual reminder of His forgiveness in your child? Then He has given you much and expects HIS SON TO BE GLORIFIED IN THE WAY YOU RAISE THEM!!

Has He given you a job that supplies all the needs of your family? Then He has given you much and expects you to work with a good attitude….. KNOWING YOU WORK FOR HIM, NOT YOUR EMPLOYER!!

Has He given you a talent to not only play a sport, but to master it? Then He has given you much and expects your actions on the field and with your teammates TO REPRESENT AND HONOR HIM!!

Has He given you a home and family that you never had? Then He has given you much and expects you to love them as He loves us…… ALLOWING HIM TO BE THE CENTER!!

Has He given you a bonus check that was unexpected or blessed you financially? Then He has given you much and expects you to meet someone else’s need so their prayer can be answered……REVEALING THE POWER IN PRAYER!!

Has He given you a beautiful body? Then He has given you much. He expects you to carry yourself like the royalty that He created you to be, not revealing to the world what was designed only for the pleasure of your husband……SHOWING HIS STRENGTH IN ABSTINENCE!!

Has He given you freedom from cancer? Then He has given you much and He expects you to tell others about His healing power, so they too can believe it and receive it for themselves…….REVEALING TO THE DOCTORS AND THE WORLD HE’S THE MASTER OF MIRACLES!!

Has He given you wisdom? Then He has given you much. He expects you to study and know Him through His word, sharing with others what you’ve learned…… LIFTING HIM HIGH!!

Has He given you the gift of listening? Then He has given you much. He expects you to listen TO and FOR His voice, so others will be drawn to Him by your words or silence…… ALLOWING HIS VOICE TO BE HEARD!!

Has He given you faith? Then He has given you much. He expects you to confidently and joyfully share Gods glory with others so they can experience freedom from fear and worries of this brief life……REVEALING OUR ONLY HOPE IS IN HIM!!

Has He given His Son to die on the cross for your sins? Then He has given you much!! He expects you to KNOW HIM and RECEIVE His gift of eternal life. To know you are no longer a slave to sin, that our sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin would lose its power in our lives……MAGNIFYING HIS RESURRECTION!!

If God gave us so much, what can we give or give up today that’s hindering us from the life He’s called us to?

He died to BREAK the power of sin. All He expects from you is to believe!!

John 3:16-17 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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 

It starts with giving Him your heart. Then day by day, walking in His Love, giving what He expects…… YOU!!