I don’t know about you guys, but I needed a budget – a very small one – before we could do anything.  For the next couple of days (and most likely, weeks), I will share with you the remodel  (you get pictures and everything!).  I am vowing to myself and my husband that I will not spend over $30 per project so creativity is key.

I hope you follow along with me – I’m sure between all of us, we can come up with some beautiful ideas.  And finally, my living room can go from looking like a yard sale on the wrong side of town to flea market chic.  Hmm…’flea market chic’…I kinda like that.

Blessings to all,

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In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for a 47 inch LED, LCD, HDTV. 

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What usually happens when I stray off is God and I have a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting.  I put myself through so much self-condemnation that if I do one little thing that I ‘feel’ is wrong, or that will hinder my relationship with Jesus – I spiral downward.  It’s all a ploy of the enemy we face – to attack us using our own thoughts against us and moreover, using ‘religion’ itself to make us want to beat ourselves with a stick.

See, the problem isn’t that I wasn’t writing – I just had nothing to say.  But, having nothing to say – no words of encouragement, no witty observations and no divine revelations – is what made me feel as though I was a 1000 miles away from God.  Then that starts another dilemma…wondering why.

I was raised Church of God.  My grandfather was a preacher/teacher and my grandmother played the piano/organ.  I’m not sure if you know this but all COG preachers wives must play the piano – it’s in the rules.  (Totally kidding but I do think there’s an unspoken rule book – it details the height of the womens hair, really great dress patterns and how to host a church dinner using buckets of chicken and that horrible pea casserole that no one ever eats!)

Anyway, being raised in the way that I was made me extremely fearful.  How could I ever earn God’s love?  Was I really able to be forgiven?  ANd most importanly, what if I sinned again after I was forgiven?? 

Now, my Grandparents, and parents were only doing what they thought was right – scaring little children, talking about hell and basically letting us know that there was lots of work to do.  I mean, you want to go to heaven, right?

I say all that to say this:  we beat ourselves up way to much.  Yes, we suck.  We are born sinners and have horrible fleshy desires.  But that doesn’t mean that salvation, or extra measures of Grace are not available for us.  You may be beating yourself up as I’ve done but I’m here to tell you now, that is NOT of God. 

If you miss reading the bible for a day or two, if you don’t get your soaking time, even if you miss church, it’s okay.  God will freshen the desires of your heart if you find yourself getting a little off track – and, He will make you into the person He has created you to be!!  Some people don’t necessarily learn by reading anything, much less the bible.  Some people also don’t have the hours in the day that allow them to soak up Jesus. 

It’s not like these things aren’t important – they are.  Growing in Him and saturating yourself with His presence is always a great thing – He helps us sail through hardships and gives us ever increasing joy no matter what!  Just don’t freak out and best yourself up if you do something or find yourself feeling disobedient…just get back on track knowing that God loves you.  He always will. And, NOTHING can separate you from that love. 

Read Romans 3.

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“ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and God, with a terrific east wind all night long, made the sea go back. He made the sea dry ground. The seawaters split.”  Exodus 14:21

Wow!  When God parted the Red Sea, He did so with a wind that would work all through the night!  It’s incredible the things God can do in the dark…

I have been in dark places, places where I couldn’t see an out to save my life- places where all I wished for was a little light that could shine down on my problems, finances, my marriage, etc.  Have you ever felt that way?? 

I know my God – and I know that more often than not, He is working on our behalf.  Even in the dark places.  We may not ’see’ Him working but when light does come, we can see all His works manifested!   The seas will be parted and miracles WILL occur!  Just keep believing and trusting…the daylight’s coming! 

Blessings to all,

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 ‘Relax, Daniel,’ he continued, ‘don’t be afraid. From the moment you decided to humble yourself to receive understanding, your prayer was heard, and I set out to come to you. But I was waylaid by the angel-prince of the kingdom of Persia and was delayed for a good three weeks. But then Michael, one of the chief angel-princes, intervened to help me. I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia. And now I’m here to help you understand what will eventually happen to your people. The vision has to do with what’s ahead.’  Daniel 10:12-14  (MSG)

Waylaid: to lie in wait for or attack from ambush.

Have you ever been waylaid by the enemy?  I know I have – lots of times!  Most of the time, we’re waylaid when we’re sending up prayers – asking for answers, or even just trying to do what’s right in the eyes of God. 

Daniel was praying intently for answers, and for deliverance for him and his people.  He fasted and prayed for 21 days and I’m sure, it wasn’t easy.  His prayer just didn’t seem to get answered – it wasn’t because he wasn’t righteous, or a good man – it was because satan tried to stop the answer from coming.

God sent an angel the very first day Daniel prayed – the very first moment he uttered the words but, another angel intercepted that answer, an evil angel (demon).  We know that the ‘prince of the kingdom of Persia’ was a demon from the following:

1.  He must have been an angel since no human prince could have withstood Gabriel.  Moreover, Israel’s “prince” was the angel Michael (10:21), and it is reasonable to suppose that in the same context the “prince” of Persia was also an evil angel.

2.  Since this prince opposed God’s angel, he may safely be assumed to have been an evil angel, that is, a demon. 

3.   He is called the “prince of the Persian kingdom,” so Persia must have been his special area of activity.  Therefore this demon was either a powerful angel assigned to Persia by Satan or possibly he was Satan himself.  Persia ruled the world in that day, and Satan would surely have concentrated his personal efforts in this most influential area.  If the demon was Satan, it would explain why Michael, one of God’s most powerful angels, was needed to fight against him.   (sources: New American Commentary)

So, the evil angel, aka. demon, came to stop Daniel’s answer.  There was fighting and the demon tried to hinder the answer from being brought forth.  Imagine that for a moment…there is warring in the heavens on YOUR behalf! 

While this conflict was taking place, Daniel went through agony here on earth.  Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities and wicked spirits in high places.  Satan managed to delay the answer for a full 3 weeks and still Daniel did not succumb to the delay. 

We ahve an enemy.  He will do everything he can to make sure we feel defeated but we can’t relent!  We have angels warring on our behalf! 

I know there are times when we are praying and praying for answers and they just don’t seem to manifest.  But, you cannot despair.  As those prayers pile up so should your faith.  Then when the answers do come, and they will, they will burst forth like a flood.  And, not only will they sweep the answers through, they will sweep through new blessings.

The answers are coming…I promise!

Blessings to all,

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“And Abraham took Ishmael his son and all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among [those] of Abraham’s house, and circumcised [them] the very same day, as God had said to him.”  Genesis 17:23

I don’t imagine being circumcised is one of those things that you want to do!  I also imagine that there was a thought that crossed someones mind that maybe this could wait a day or two…

But, Abraham didn’t wait.  He acted on what God told him to do and he acted the very same day He told him to do it!

This scriptures speaks to us in such a way because it lets us know about ‘instant obedience’.  Every time God calls us to any duty – whether it’s something we don’t want to do or not – He is offering to make a covenant with us.  The work, or duty is our part and He responds with a special blessing.

The only way that we are to obey God in what He tells us to do is to do it ‘the very same day’.  Now, I’m famous for asking for confirmation and I believe God honors that.  If you need to ask for confirmation, that’s fine – but as soon as you know beyond all doubt, you are to act.  Alot of times, God will speak to me and it’s only my flesh that needs confirmation – I know the voice of the Lord – and it’s funny that I always seem to need confirmation when it’s something I don’t want to do.

I guess what I’m saying is that procrastination  only robs ourselves of His blessing.  A postponed duty will never bring in the fullness of the blessing that God intended for you to have. 

I read a quote once that says, “A true believer will crucify the question, ‘Why?’  He will obey without questioning.”

I make this my my promise today – I will obey without questioning.  Because instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is.  Delayed obedience is disobedience.

Blessings to all,

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Thursday May 15, 2010 was Ascension Day.
What is Ascension Day you ask? Well, that’s the day that marks the ascension of Jesus. Forty days after the celebration of Easter (the resurrection of Jesus), the church from all over the world holds in remembrance this Holy day.

Luke 24:49-53 says, “I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’ Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God“.

Though the ascension of Jesus doesn’t seem as momentous as the resurrection, it is!  Often times, people treat these two events as one in the same but that isn’t the case.  After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared repeatedly to eat with them, talk with them and instruct them as to the ministries they would lead and the deaths that some of them would face.  Jesus was, in fact, more human than they had ever fully realized and it was this Holy body, this divine person that they would hold near as they lived and died to proclaim His Kingdom.
As the disciples watched, Jesus was taken up into the clouds – the bible says that they were looking intently into the sky when “suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them: “‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go” (Acts 1:9-11). In His resurrected body, Jesus ascended to heaven, fully human, fully divine and entirely glorified!
On this day – the day of Ascension, the work God had completed for Jesus was finally completed. This Ascension was a living, breathing, public declaration of His dying words on the cross: It is Finished.
*Because of the ascension, the incarnation is not a past event.  Because of the ascension, we know that the incarnate Christ who was raised from the dead is sharing in our humanity even now.  And just as the men in white informed the disciples, so we carry in our own flesh a guarantee that Christ will one day bring us to himself.  It is for these reasons that N.T. Wright affirms, “To embrace the Ascension is to heave a sigh of relief, to give up the struggle to be God (and with it the inevitable despair at our constant failure), and to enjoy our status as creatures: image-bearing creatures, but creatures nonetheless. 
Truly, Ascension Day, a holy day falling inconspicuously on a Thursday in May, is the bold declaration that we are not left as orphans. In the same post-resurrection body he invited Thomas to touch, Jesus is accessible to the world today.  He ascended with a body, he shares in our humanity, extending his own body even now, and he is coming back for those in bodies. Christ is preparing a room for us, and we know it is real because he himself is real. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Blessings to all,

Parts of this devo should be credited to Jill Carattini is managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  (MSG.  Emphasis mine).

So often life can best us down to a pulp – it’s during these times that we tend to believe the lies that the enemy keeps telling us.  It’s as if he’s beating us over the head with a huge stick!  But, it’s OUR CHOICE to trust that God is who He says He is.  To believe and know unequivocally that through God, we will receive healing and abundant Grace for every trial and storm we face.  God means to carry us – we don’t have to carry ourselves OR our frustrations – give it to Him and leave it.  Don’t pick the problems up again – the load is just too heavy!

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Are you ready?  Okay, Go to Genesis 12 and read scriptures 1 – 9.  We are going to talk about a new vision…

In these scriptures, God instructed Abram to leave his country, his relatives and his fathers house.  And, God told him to go into the land that He would show him.  So, first, God told him to leave but He didn’t necessarily tell him where to go…yet.

The Bible doesn’t say but I don’t imagine that leaving everything he’d ever known and walking into the UNknown was something Abram wanted to do.  Often times, I think that’s how God works.  He wants us to ’step out’ of our comfort zones into the callings that He has for our lives. 

Comfort zones are just that – they’re comfortable.  I don’t know about you but when I get comfortable, I’m usually useless.  Piled up in the recliner with my jammie pants on, flicking through the tv.  I don’t want to get up – I am a non-functioning creature at that point. Think about it – how are you when you’re truly comfortable?

But God seeks more from us – He wants us moving towards our goal, our callings at ALL times in one form or another.

Something else about comfort, God wanted to remove Abram from the land, the home and the people that he’d grown comfortable with.  Joshua 24:2 states that Abrams family worshipped other gods.  They weren’t causing Abram to dream big, Godly dreams – instead they were weighing him down.

God wanted so much more for Abram.  Abram had been looking at the same vision as everyone else – the same sky, the same tent, the same people.  I imagine at times it was stifiling for a godly man like Abram to share the same vision as his un-godly relatives.

Do you feel stifiled by your circumstances?  Is God asking you to ’step out’?  God may want to move you from your comfort zone – you know, God rarely keeps us in familiar territory!  It probably won’t ‘feel’ easy to do…in fact, stepping out in faith can be incredibly hard but it CAN be done.  You may not even know where you’re supposed to go next after you do step out but that’s okay! Like Abram, it’s that obedience to take the first step that dictated the rest.   Trust in the One who is calling you. 

Being comfortable isn’t worth missing your adventure in Christ!

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I once heard someone say (when they were asking to pray the sinners prayer with someone), asking this person if they had ever made a mistake – basically, sugar coating a horrible thing like sin into a helpless one like a mistake.

Well it’s time we call a spade a spade.  No matter how awful it sounds or makes you feel.  We are sinners.  Some of us are saved and walking out a walk not bound to sin any longer but there are still some of us that are trapped in sins snare.

There are things we are commanded to do by God.  There are behaviours we are supposed to exhibit – if we don’t, we are in sin.  Plain and simple.  Lust, pride, unforgiveness, greed, lying, gossip – all examples of sin.

Now, please don’t think I’m calling you out – this includes me too!  I am not sin-less.  Only one man can claim that honor!  But, we have to know that when we disobey the commandments set forth by God and dishonor His Word then we are IN sin. 

Let’s look at some scripture.  Grab your Bible and read Genesis 3 – here we find the account of the first sin.

Adam and Eve had no worries.  God placed them in a beautiful garden with everything they could ever want or need.  I hear people all the time say that, ‘if I didn’t have this (insert problem here), I could follow God more easily’ or ‘If my husband would just act right, I could do what I’m supposed to do in Christ’ or even, ‘If all my bills were paid, I could have more faith!’  See, the problem comes when our relationship with God is conditional.

Adam and Eve had NO worries.  They had NO bills, NO stress, NO nagging or gossip, NO lust or greed – but the one thing they did have: free will.

Isaiah 14:12-14 gives us an insight into the enemy’s will.  Basically, it’s an account of satan’s gospel.

 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn!  You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!  You said in your heart, ”I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.  I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 

It wasn’t enough for him to be the anointed angel – he wanted to be God!  Does it make sense now??

Every sin we commit makes it root in satans words, ‘I will’.  Of course, the opposite of ‘I will’ is ‘Thy will’.  Thy will denotes obedience.  I will denotes disobedience and selfishness.  God wants to bless us, to grow us, to give us hope and a future (Jer. 29:11) but satan means to thwart God’s blessing by tempting us to seek our own will!!

Sin is a product of the heart.  Jeremiah 17:9 says that the heart is more decietgul than anything else.  Moreover, one of the meanings of the Hebrew word for decietful means, one who lies in wait.  Wow!

Sometimes, we can let our heart convince us that we deserve the one thing that we’ve been denied.  What harm can it do?

Psalm 106:15 says that God gave them their request but sent leanness into their soul.  We can justify our disobedience and our sin but nothing good or righteous comes from it.  We can’t change our hearts, only God can.  And, when we give it to Him completely to Him, He can make us new.

Friends, I ask that you look closely at your heart – clearly and objectively.  If there is any sin there, confess it and ask God to do His glorious work within you.  You have so much to offer Him and He desires to have your whole heart.

Choose Thy Will – not your will.

Blessings to all,

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