No More Quick Fixes

 Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you but because the pain turned you to God. 2 Corinthians 7:9 (TLB)

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Today in church our pastor  spoke about  recycling our  pain and  how  God uses our pain to  reveal to us our total dependence for  Him.  His message today got me thinking; Why is it   we spend so much time  trying  to figure out how to "fix" ourselves  instead of  relying on God and using  His word  as our life manual? We end up exhausting ourselves, we  ultimately are left with   more  questions than  answers when we  try to sort thing out on our own.  The truth is that we  cannot  be our own savior and  quick fixes only put  a  bandage on our  issues but when we  rely on Christ  He  takes on our  burdens  and  He  equips us  with everything that we need to  get to the  core of our  issues. He heals us from the inside out.  Today  give  the Lord  every  area of your life and trust  His process don't  be  satisfied  with just  getting  by. allow  God to get you through it!

Love,

Beating Fear

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 (NIV)

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These days we are experiencing  a  lot.  We  see so much going on in the news or  maybe there are things in our personal lives that   keep us  anxious  and  fearful.  It is easy to get  caught  up and to allow  fear to steal our joy.  But  fear  doesn't have  to defeat, us we can  turn it  around  by attacking  our  fears with  Gods  promises.  In  Isaiah 43:1  God  says He has redeemed us, called us  by name and declares that we are  His! There is  no better  feeling of security  than  knowing that  the same God that created the heavens and earth , molded us with His hands,  and gave  us  Jesus  Christ  promises to  stand with us  through anything we  will face.  We  can have bold confidence to meet every fear with the power of  God behind us!

Pushing Past Life's Obstacles

 I can endure all these things through the power of the one who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (CEB)

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We've   all come to a point where we  have  reached the end of our rope and  we just  want to give up. Life can get  hectic with all the  responsibilities  that we have and  the desire to reach,  perfection can cloud our vision.  Perfection is  not what we should be striving for  because  perfection begin and ends with Christ. But through Him we are fully equipped to  endure any obstacle because  with Christ all things are possible and  we are able to  push through  life's  obstacles.  You've  come too far to just give up; Shift your focus from your problem to your solution which is  submitting our concerns to God and  trusting Him to  work things out.

Finding Your Purpose

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.Do not forsake the work of your hands. Psalm 138:8 (ESV)

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I  believe  that we  all  have  the desire to  better ourselves.  There is  a  desire in all of us to grow and find what  our purpose is.  Sometimes  we  get caught up in our own routines and get set in  our ways that we   settle in to  a  stagnant  life.  If this sounds familiar then you recognize   the need to  break out  of  your comfort zone.



But what  if you  are unsure  of where you fit in  or  what your purpose  is?  It  can be  frustrating  to have the desire to   do    amazing things but  have  no clue where to   start.  A  good  place to  begin is to  start being  intentional about  spending  some  quiet time  before the  Lord in order to  find ourselves.  Then we  must  find  the  Lord and  absorb  His  wisdom.  Prayer  is  a  direct connections with   the Lord and it is  vital  in our  journey to a  better us.


We must  develop a  mindset that declares  that  God  will fulfill His  purpose  in our lives.  When  we  don't  believe that God can  use  us  we tend  to shy away from digging deeper  in  our pursuit  to  find our  purpose.  But  we  must do  the  complete  opposite we  must  pursue  Gods  plans for our  lives  so that  we  can  live to our  full potential.   Why live with a  stack of regrets  over things you could have done   when you  have the privilege to  tap  into  Gods endless resources?


We  can  live  life to the  fullest; Keep chasing after the will of  God and  you will  find  your  place in His  plan.   Everything that  you are  going through or  have gone through  play  a part in reaching your full potential. Remain focused ,keep  praying  and  keep  worshiping  God  because He is  faithful. Your story doesn't end with where you've fallen short  but it continues  where  your faith  meets the Lords  power.


Love,

He Makes All Things New!

18 “Remember not the former things,nor consider the things of old.Behold, I am doing a new thing;now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19(ESV)

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The  new  year is always  a time where we begin to  reevaluate  ourselves where we are  and where  we would like to  be.  We  come up with our   2015  game plan. We  join a  gym, we  begin to   clean up  our   diets and  we make  all these  plans to make  major moves in the new year. But as  soon as the   enthusiasm  begins to  diminish so does  our  motivation to see those plans through.  The truth is  nothing  will  change for the  better in our lives if  our heart hasn't changed.  

Real  change  can only  take place when we begin to allow  God to renew our  minds.  If we  are  holding on to  the very things that God wants to  free us  from we  become complacent  and  begin to fall back into old  habits. I  don't know about you but  I don't waste another year  going around and around   in the same  circle, with my own plans. I don't want to  get so comfortable in the  wilderness when I know that  God's intention for me is to reach the promise  land.

As  we move  forward into the new year I want to  encourage you  to leave  all the  toxic habits. friends and   relationships   from  2014 where they belong -behind you.  Moving forward    into 2015  resolve in your mind that  God is  doing  new things in your  life and  commit  to  allowing  Him to  change  your heart in the  areas that  are  keeping you  stagnant and  chase after  God  and His  propose  with  all that you have.

An Open Letter For  You:

I'd like to take   a  moment to thank  those who have  taken the time to  read and  share  my blog.  It really  does  means  the world to me. I've  posted   over  90+  blogs and I am excited about what  God is  doing in my life and being  able  to share what I've  learned with you.   I believe that everything  that  has  led  up to this point  in my life was  worth it and I am  honored that  God  is  pouring His wisdom into me.  My  desire is to  serve and move forward into my purpose and I know that  by the grace of  God  things will begin to fall into place.

I believe  that there  is  a  purpose for every  season  of our lives  and  I know that  where I am right now will prepare me  for  great things in the  future.  God  has  been so  faithful and I  cannot begin to thank Him enough but  I will spend my life  trying.  I  don't have everything  figured  out but I am going to trust  God for my  next steps.

This will be  my  last  post of  2014  I'm going to  celebrate and  ring in the New Year  with a grateful  heart and  a lot of  prayer. I hope that you  have a  safe and   happy time wherever you are  and that you will  be  blessed  beyond measure in 2015!  I'm  praying for  you and I love  you. 

 God  Bless!

Love,

Where Does Your Hope Lie?

31  but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength;they will fly up on wings like eagles; they will run and not be tired;they will walk and not be weary. Isaiah 40:31(CEB)

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When you read over today's  reference  verses  Isaiah 40:31 and  Lamentations 3:22-23 (CEB)  you'll   notice that   God  guarantees  us that  if we   put our  hope in  Him:


1.  He  Will Renew  your Strength: 

We don't have to rely on our  own strength  or  abilities to get through the seasons in our lives.  As we  begin to  be totally  dependent on  God we  can  trust that  the Lord will  fix all that  is  broken  within us and  set  us back  on our  feet again.


2.They  Will Fly on Wings Like Eagles:  

We  are  never  below  Gods  grace  we are right in the center of  His  mercy.  Every  morning   we  receive  new mercies.  So we  don't have to  carry the  burdens of  yesterday into today. There  is  no  circumstance that  God cannot   carry us  through because  He consistently meets our  needs.


3. They Will Run and Not  Be  Tired;  They Will  Walk and  Not Be Weary: 

No matter where you are ,  no  matter   if you  feel  like   you have nothing  more to offer, the  Lord will give you  just  what you need to   take  the  next  steps you need to  get through to the other side of  each difficult  circumstance.

 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

So you have  to ask yourself,  Where does my   hope  lie when I reach the end  of  my rope? Will I continue to seek my own  way or   will  I   finally  lay down  all that I have before  God and allow Him to fill me  with  his everlasting love and  wisdom? Trust me I know life happens and there  are  so  many  things that compete  for  our  attention  but  we  have to purposely choose  to  put  our  hope in God and not  what  we  see or  feel is going on  around us. Remember,  you are never  beyond  God's  reach.


The way that we can begin to shift  our  focus  is  through quality time spent  with God. Reading  His word and meditating on His promises  instead of   the things  that  leave of  anxious and cloud our judgement. The  bible is  our  life  manual  and our  best  tool to navigate through life. Friends are great,  a supportive  family  is amazing but  no one can restore you like  God.  So  today make sure that you  intentionally  give  God  your time  so that  He  can fill you up.  


Love,

Trusting God with Our Pain

 2 Lord, my God, I cried out to you for help, and you healed me.Psalm 30:2 (CEB)

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So  many of  us are  walking around with so much anxiety   in our  heart .  We  walk around  day in and day out  carrying the burdens and all of our concerns  to the  point of exhaustion  and    depression. Even when we  pray our  mind tends to  wonder into  doubt.   We worry through  every request  made to God and instead of  cultivating a  atmosphere to  hear  from God and receive  peace  we  turn it into   a session of double minded prayer and   doubting  Gods abilities.



There  is  no faith in worry; With every  concern that we  have  we  must  submit it  to  God,  leave it there with Him and  wait to  hear  His  instructions  for  our  next steps. Often times we grow  impatient and  we want to  take things into our own hands because we  have  not yet  begun to  trust  Gods  timing.  One thing we have to  keep in mind is that  within our own power we would only exhaust ourselves.  But when we  give everything to  God , He  will ease our anxiety and  guide  us through every season of  our lives.  


With God we can  begin  to see the light at the end of the tunnel because through  His  peace  we  begin to see things  more clearly.  God is  able to reach our  hearts in ways that no  one else  can. He  knows  exactly  what  to  say, what  and who to remove from our lives that is distracting  us.  By His  hands we were  crafted and by those  same hands  He is  able to heal us from the inside out and restore us as we  cry out to Him.



There is  nothing more humbling than  when we  have truly  given our  worries to God and  He  not only  responds to our faith but  He   exceeds our  expectations.  It is  amazing how  the Lord can  use the very thing that  we  have been carrying around so  long  to  renew our  faith . Today I  encourage you to  give  God  access to  every  area  of your life and all the  things that  are keeping you anxious.  Continue to  pray  and  cast  down every  doubt with  the promises of  God.  If you cry  out to  God  He hears your prayers and He will Heal you! 





Love,

With God All Things Are Possible

13 I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13(NKJV)

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It's amazing how  God  can reach  each one of  us   in  a  completely  unique way that is suited  to our  individual needs.   He isn't  limited  by  where we are in our faith,  our  circumstances  or  any  plans of the enemy.    His   abilities  are limitless  and so  is  His  love.  There is nothing that  we  cannot  do when we are  open and  receptive  to  the Lords direction .

The Lord  loves us so much  and   He  desires to  see us walk  boldly in  His purpose  for our lives. He doesn't  just  leave us to  sort things out on our  ow. He  has given us the bible as our life manual and the  gift of the holy  spirit  to   coach us  through   life and   grant  us  discretion.  It  feels  good to know that we have  so much  support.  While we   begin to trust  the  Lord with  our  journey  He  meets us  every  step of the way making sure that  we   find success.

No matter where  we find ourselves in life  we can be assured that  His power  rest in  us.   We  must    be  willing to  tap into  His  resources. He can use  us  just  as we  are and meet us  at the point of  our faith.   His grace is   sufficient  and If we are  open to   His plan   the possibilities are  endless for us.   All we  have to  do is is  accept  His provision by offering our lives to Him so that  He  begin to  change our hearts  and   mold us.

Don't  be  discouraged by where  you are in  your walk with Christ because   you are in  a place that is  less than perfect. Don't  fall into  the trap of    comparing  your walk with  other  believer. Although we all are    walking   a  path towards our  purpose everyone's  journey is  different.  What is  important  moving forward is  that  we let  go of  our  own abilities and  rest in  Christ's capable  hands.   You may not understand how things  will  come together   but  today  resolve to   trust  Gods  plan.

Love,

Open Communication

In my trouble I called to the Lord.I cried out to my God for help.From his temple he heard my voice; my call for help reached his ears.                               Psalm  18:6 (NCV) 

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I  don't  believe in luck or   happenstance;  But   I do firmly  believe  in sincerely  seeking  God through  prayer  and  the Lords  ability to meet me  at the point  of  my needs.  We are   blessed beyond measure   because the Lord has opened a  line of  communication  with us through  prayer.  We  can confide in Him with our  deepest  concerns; we can  trust Him with our heart, our   pain as well as  our weaknesses  and His love remains the same.  



He  never views  us  any differently  because of the areas we fall short in. His  compassion  is simply amazing. When  we come before the  Lord and  pour  our  heart  out  there is  no  need  to  clean things  up and    project ourselves in  a certain light  because  we are  concerned about   how  God  will react  to our pain.    The  Lord  accepts us  just  as  a loving  and  kind Father  would and He  cares about the things are on our hearts.


One of the  great things  about  the Lord is  His  ability   to completely  turn things around  in our life: There are no   big  jobs in His eye's, the question  we should ask ourselves is   if  our  faith is too small?  Do we   trust  the  Lord  enough to  be really  honest about  where we are and admit  that  we  need   His help?  There is  no  weakness in  admitting  that   you need help so don't  allow your  pride to keep you stuck in one place when God is  more than willing to take on your issues and  move you forward.



Why  spend so much  time trying to sort through your own issues  when you could  be  spending that  time   at the  feet of  the Lord.  Give your worries to  the  God and leave them there in His capable hands.  Today I encourage you  to  receive   His  peace and His  joy which  will sustain you.  Remember  that  his  peace and his joy are  things that will never diminish and  you can   rest  knowing that He has everything   thing handled.


Love,

The Weight of Your Words

 29 Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say. Ephesians 4:29 (CEB)

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I believe that so many  relationships  could be saved if we were  more  careful with our  words. Harsh words can harm you far more than physical pain because   the  pain of  unkind  words tend to linger  longer in our hearts and within our thoughts.  Unkind words  leave  emotional  scars.  Most of us  can  think back to  a moment  where someone said  something  very  hurtful to us.  We can remember  how it  made us  feel  and how long it  took to  move  on.

Harsh  words kill potentially   amazing  relationships  everyday.   So I want to  encourage you  not  allow your pride and the need to be  "right"  begin to   alienate  the  people around you.  If  people are unable to communicate with you in fear of  your reaction you will begin to miss out  on   important connections .   Having a  good  circle  of  friends or a companion  is  a  beautiful thing but  in order for these relationships to grow the people in your  life  need to be  able to trust you  with their  thoughts and their  feelings.

We are  all wired  differently, some  hold things in  and then  explode  suddenly  without  warning  and  then others  just say the  first thing that  comes to mind; Neither  are  effective  in a  relationship. To be  effective in any  relationship  you should  always  choose  to give   grace to  others in the same  manner that God freely gives His  grace to you. This means   you should  think   things  through before you speak and  practice  not  reacting based  on  your emotions. 

Remember, every word  counts,   so    manage your emotions  wisely.  If  you have  been carrying around the  pain of  rejection, hurt or  bitterness towards someone  it will eventually manifest itself  through  your  words.  Ask  God to check your heart instead of carrying all those  negative emotions   day in and day out.  We  all need  a heart  check  from time to time  so  take an  honest  inventory  of yourself  and   present  it  to God  so that He can fill in those  gaps.

Lastly  remember this.  "Everything that you think doesn't need to be  expressed."  Take the  time  to  really  listen to  your loved ones, ask God  to   grant you discernment  when it  comes to  your  words and  allow the holy spirit  to guide you in  choosing  what's  appropriate to say and how to be more effective in  communicating with others.

Love,

Test of Your Faith

 2 My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, 3 because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience. James 1:2-3(NCV)

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When you read    James 1:2  it   can  be a  difficult  concept to wrap your mind around. I don't know about you but  when I  read this  I have  some questions.  How  can   I  find  joy  within my  troubles?  My  situation isn't  fun,  I am  uncomfortable  and  what I am dealing with  is hard.  When you get to  verse 3 it  makes  things   a bit more clear,  

"Troubles test your faith, and  this will give you  patience"

While you are  feeling  anxious and you don't know  how  or  when  things  will  work out  ask yourself ,  will you stand firm in your faith  and  trust  that the Lord will get you through it   will you pass the  test of faith?  When you are  going through  a  rough  time    it  forces you   out of your  comfort  zone   and  you must  decide that  your  problem isn't  bigger than    God's ability  to  sustain you.


Trusting  God's plan for  our lives   requires   a lot  patience  from us because  we must completely let go  of our own  logic and totally  rely  on  God's timing.  We  often  view  letting  go as   defeat   and  we  struggle with  not  being in  control.   The truth  is   that   we  can only  win when we  let go and  believe that  God is in the midst of your  trails  working things out on our  behalf.


Don't  be  mislead by  defeating thoughts that try to weigh you  down or the  things that  try to  distract you from moving forward.  God  would never  allow you to    go through a  trail  that  had  no  purpose.  Every things that you have gone through or  are  currently  going through is  a  stepping stone towards  and stronger  more  patient you.    Don't  despise  the process just  trust  God and He will take  care of  the  rest.

Love,

Let God Fill Your Voids

Then Jesus said, “I am the bread that gives life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.John 6:35 NCV

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Over the  years I've  learned   that  the Lord is   the only one that  can  really  renew  me from the inside out.   Everything else that I've  tried to   use  to  fill voids   only  work for so long  and  before  I   knew it   I  realized that  I  haven't  filled the  void  at  all  but I've only  covered it temporarily. 

For  a heart that  is  broken  and  a spirit that is  shaken there  is nothing  like the  loving  touch of   Christ.  Jesus  promised that  those  who  seek Him  will  have  life   and  that He  would  fill every  area in our lives where we  are  experiencing  lack. This is good  news,  it means that we don't have to  carry pain,  we don't  have to be  weighed  down by  the burdens  of  life  because  the   Lord  is   willing  to take on everything that  is weighing us  down.

  I can tell you from   personal experience that  when  you use  your own  methods to  cope with  life's up's  and  down's it  will always  lead  you back to where you  started in the first place.  A broken heart and loneliness will try to  convince you that  a relationship, people and things will make things better; But  I'm  here to tell you that those things are  only temporary  quick fixes.  When  we really   let  go and  trust  God with  our pain  He  will masterfully  mend every piece of your fractured  heart.

Don't waste  another  day or  another  moment  trying to sort things out on your  own,  surrender   it  all to  the  Lord  today.   Declare that every thing that   has kept  you pressed  down  has  to be  submitted  to the  power  of Christ.  With  the  Lord  on  our  side  there is  nothing that  we  cannot    overcome and  with Him we win.   Don't  give up, continue to worship your way through it and  know that  the Lord will  guide  you to the other side of your pain right into victory.

Love,