Ask God

One of my favorite pastimes in my youth was reading.  From the time I learned to read, I could remember reading everything I could get my hands on.  If I didn’t have a good book handy, I would read my textbooks from school!

After I was advised that reading textbooks for fun was really NOT fun, I moved on to other pieces of literature such as my grandma’s old newspapers and magazines.  My favorite section of the newspapers and magazines quickly became the advice columns.  Most of the topics discussed didn’t even relate to me; I just enjoyed reading it to find out the solution provided by the “advice giver”.  I often wondered what made the advice giver such an expert on life to have all the answers to all life’s problem.  This advice giver must be so wise to be able to tell a complete stranger how to improve their life after receiving a very small piece of information about the issue.  And this person who sought out advice from a complete stranger must be in a pretty desperate situation if they couldn’t find someone more qualified to talk with about the issue.

When I have a problem, the first thing that pops into my head is Matthew 6:33.  In Matthew 6, Jesus was giving instructions to his disciples on how to pray.  Jesus then went on to illustrate why they should never worry about their needs being supplied because God, their heavenly Father, would take care of them the same way He takes care of nature.  Jesus stated, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you.”  From the mouth of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, I am advised to seek God FIRST to solve my problems. WOW!

Who is more qualified to provide wise counsel when you are going through hard times; a stranger or God?  We can go straight to 1 Corinthians 1:25 for the answer to that question.  The scripture states, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”  Knowing the Bible, the Word of God, can help you figure out solutions to your own problems.  There is no need to go to some unqualified source for information on vital issues in your life. 

My advice to you is to ask God to help you resolve your problems.  He knows you better than you know yourself and He will never lead you in the wrong direction.  Learn to trust in God in all things and He will help you grow wiser.

You are where you are supposed to be...

Have you ever seen a postcard with a beautiful image of some exotic , tropical beach with the words “I Wish You Were Here” printed across the bottom?

 Have you ever been speaking to a loved one over the phone and shared a sentimental moment in which you or your loved one said, “Oh, I wish I were there with you instead of here…”?

Have you ever been in a tight spot which caused you such pain and distress that you wished, prayed and hoped with all your might to be delivered from that situation?

If you replied “yes” to any of those questions, then you were where you were supposed to be!

Several years ago, I came up with a quote, “You are where you want to be”.  I had heard enough people make excuses why they couldn’t assist me in my time of need.  I heard enough excuses of why people settle into mediocre lives.  I heard those excuses so often it sounded like a rehearsed speech!  I began to tell myself I would not make a habit of telling people, “Oh, I wish I could help you but…” or “I wish I could be there but…”  I was going to start being exactly where I wanted to be!  So if my heart was telling me to help a friend in need, even if it meant I would be overextending myself, I would do it to help my friend.  Or if my children wanted to do something spontaneous over the weekend, even if it meant I was inconvenienced, I would rearrange my plans to make them happy.  Most importantly, I vowed I would not live a life filled with regrets.  I would make the most of ever situation and circumstance and transform each “test” into a “testimony”!

My young adult years were very rough.  I went through so many trials and tribulations, it was impossible to determine where one ended and the other began.  I spent so much valuable time wallowing in guilt and regret; I was unable to realize that each new day is a new beginning.  One mistake doesn’t need to lead to a lifetime of mistakes!  It is important to learn from our mistakes and make better decisions in the future.  One of my absolute favorite verses is Psalms 40:1-3.  The author writes, “I waited patiently on the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire.  He set my feet upon a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.”  I memorized that scripture immediately upon reading it because I totally understood what it felt like to be laying in a slimy pit of mud and mire.  I desperately wanted God to rescue me from that place and take me to an exotic postcard paradise.  I prayed and I waited and eventually I was delivered!  I was no longer in the slimy pit because I no longer wanted to be there.

After I was delivered from that messy life, I was able to reflect on the things I had been through.  I realized that even though those times were not the best, they helped me learn valuable life lessons.  Those experiences put me in a position to relate to others who may be going through similar issues so that I can share my testimony and give others hope for a better future.  I was where I was supposed to be all along.

Do yourself a favor.  If you want a new life, pray to God and meditate on His word.  Be filled with His Holy Spirit and live a life that is pleasing to God.  You will see your life transform before your eyes like magic!  Don’t make up excuses.  It is never too late to change your landscape…

A Breath of Fresh Air

True Story:

“So, what made you want to become a police officer?” Mrs. Martinez asked inquisitively.

On this particular day, I was feeling rather broken and beat down.  I was not in a small talk mood nor was I excited to share personal information with a stranger.  Mrs. Martinez, however, appeared to be a very kind hearted person so I decided to let my guard down just a tiny bit.  “Well, it wasn’t my first career choice but I tried it after being referred by a friend and now I know it was the best decision for me.  I enjoy being a police officer and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” I replied.

Mrs. Martinez, with her bright, bubbly self, responded, “I asked because my nephew is in high school and he wants to pursue a career in law enforcement.  I love my nephew like he is my own son so I have been doing some research into the profession...”

Oh, another one of these people, I thought to myself.  Slightly annoyed but feeling the need to be blunt, I decided to give Mrs. Martinez a bit of “wisdom”.  “Well in that case ma’am, I would strongly advise you to encourage him to reconsider, especially if he is smart.  He can choose countless other professions that would allow him to have a good quality of life.  Law enforcement is not a career that I recommend to any young person.”  I felt very proud of myself after delivering that answer and was confident that the conversation was over however I was unfortunately mistaken. 

“What if someday one of your children decides they want to be a police officer?”  Mrs. Martinez asked innocently.

That question unnerved me.  My response clearly showed I was not at all receptive to that possibility.  “I will tell them no thanks! Do something else, anything else!  Just because I am the police doesn’t mean they have to be the police.  This job is highly stressful and highly dangerous.  It’s very demanding physically, mentally and emotionally.  I would rather they use their talents to explore other career options.”

Mrs. Martinez retreated into her bedroom and returned with a small book in her hand.  “I feel led by The Spirit to share this with you,” Mrs. Martinez stated confidently as she handed the book over to me.  The book was titled, “Psalm 91 for Mothers”.  “I can sense you will be open to the message inside this book.  I want you to know God is protecting you and He is also protecting your family.  Continue to have faith in Him and He will continue to guide your footsteps along the path He has designated for you to follow.  I won’t hold you up any longer.  I will be praying for you.”

My spirit immediately felt refreshed and rejuvenated as I listened to the words this woman of God spoke to me.  I truly believe God placed her in my path that day to help left me out of my funk and put my mind back on things that are of God.  Throughout life, we often feel the weight of the world bearing down on us and it may cause us to temporarily lose focus.  It is important to be in constant communication with God during those times so that we can receive His strength.  Not only will we be relieved from those heavy burdens but we can also minister to another who needs to be refreshed in the spirit.  I haven’t finished the book yet but I have meditated on the scripture multiple times since then and now I am going to share it with you…

Psalm 91 (NIRV)

¹ The person who rests in the shadow of the Most High God
    will be kept safe by the Mighty One.
² I will say about the Lord,
    “He is my place of safety.
He is like a fort to me.
    He is my God. I trust in him.”

God is a source of protection and shelter.  In Him, we find rest during turbulent times when we trust in Him to fulfill His promises. 

³ He will certainly save you from hidden traps
    and from deadly sickness.
⁴ He will cover you with his wings.
    Under the feathers of his wings you will find safety.
    He is faithful. He will keep you safe like a shield or a tower.
⁵ You won’t have to be afraid of the terrors that come during the night.
    You won’t have to fear the arrows that come at you during the day.
⁶ You won’t have to be afraid of the sickness that attacks in the darkness.
    You won’t have to fear the plague that destroys at noon.
⁷ A thousand may fall dead at your side.
    Ten thousand may fall near your right hand.
    But no harm will come to you.
⁸ You will see with your own eyes
    how God punishes sinful people.

God will provide us with wisdom to avoid pitfalls, temptations and other distractions.  Even when we feel alone, God is there to strengthen and encourage us.  Just as God is faithful to us, we must remain faithful to Him at all times and watch Him perform miracles, signs and wonders in our lives.  There is no disease He can’t cure, no situation He can’t overcome, and no person He can’t overpower.  We can face this world without fear knowing that God is with us. 

⁹ The Lord is the one who keeps you safe.
    So let the Most High God be like a home to you.
¹⁰ Then no harm will come to you.
    No terrible plague will come near your tent.
¹¹ The Lord will command his angels
    to take good care of you.
¹² They will lift you up in their hands.
    Then you won’t trip over a stone.
¹³ You will walk all over lions and cobras.
    You will crush mighty lions and poisonous snakes.

We must allow the Holy Spirit to fill us by praying, meditating on God’s Word being obedient to God’s Commands.  His way is the only way to salvation.  We will walk through this life as Overcomers if we allow His Spirit to dwell in us.

¹⁴ The Lord says, “I will save the one who loves me.
    I will keep him safe, because he trusts in me.
¹⁵ He will call out to me, and I will answer him.
    I will be with him in times of trouble.
    I will save him and honor him.
¹⁶ I will give him a long and full life.
    I will save him.”

God doesn’t promise our lives will be perfect.  He actually gives us a “heads up” that we will run into troubled times.  God will not allow us to be defeated if we show Him we love Him, trust Him and depend on Him.  God will send us a lifeboat when we are sinking.  He will save us from the wicked, evil ways of this world and bless us abundantly. 

Don’t ignore Mrs. Martinez when God places her in your path.  She can be the source of salvation sent by God to help lift you out of your pit of despair.  Life is frustrating at times; one day everything is perfect and the next day you feel like you’re dying.  We go through seasons of famine and seasons of plenty.  With God as our fortress and refuge, our shelter in times of storms, we don’t need to go through hard times sulking and looking pitiful.  We can continue to rejoice because we are confident that He is there to comfort us along the darkest valleys until we reach His glorious light!

Follow Instructions

My sister Crystal recently asked me how my blog was going.  I told her I was taking a break because 1.) my internet connection at home sucks and it is a pain doing anything online and 2.) I am spending most of my spare time writing my book.  Don’t worry; I am not abandoning this blog!  It has been quite some time so I am going to give a word that has been on my heart for a while.  An issue I often struggle with because I am just so extremely confident in my own abilities to handle life’s issues.  I am sure you may have this issue to.

FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS

I love being a parent.  Hearing the word “Mommy” escape from the lips of my children is the most amazing sound.  Okay, yeah, it can be annoying at times when I am focused on my work and someone wants a snack or someone wants me to read a book or someone just wants attention.  However, that word, coming out of my children’s mouths, makes me feel important, necessary and loved. 

With that said, my children are often calling upon me to help them with pretty much everything.  Assembling toys, completing homework, and building furniture are not my favorite pastimes but I find myself engaged in such activities pretty much daily.  And this, friends and family, is how I complete those tasks in three simple steps. First, I look at it and determine what it is and how the finished product should appear.  Second, I put it together and realize I did it the wrong way.  Third, I look at the instructions and re-do it based on how it is supposed to be done.  Simple right? HA!

Now honestly, how often have you attempted to assemble a piece of furniture or a Christmas gift or assist your child with their “hard math” by just winging it?  And how often do you find that you messed up and had to deconstruct the entire thing and start over?  How much easier would it have been to just read the instructions in the first place and avoid wasting time and energy to do something the wrong way?

The Word of God (The Bible) is life’s instruction manual.  Its pages provide steps to guide us in every aspect of our lives.  From childhood through old age, in relationships, in business, in the way we carry yourselves, God’s Word provides guidance on how to live a life which is pleasing in His sight and will put us in the best position to live a good life. 

Now you may say, “Michelle, you are full of crap.  I have lived my life according to God’s Word for such and such amount of time and my life stinks.”  Well, my answer to that would be, “I feel sorry for you because you obviously have no understanding of God’s Word.”  The essential part of following instructions is to have an understanding of the words.  If I am attempting to build a dollhouse and the instructions are in French, I will not be able to follow the instructions because I don’t understand French language.  The same goes for God’s instructions.  If you read The Bible and you aren’t able to comprehend the words, you need to get the “simple language” version of The Bible (I prefer NIV, NIRV or NLT versions over King James any day) and find yourself a good church home and attend Bible study regularly.   When you fully understand God’s Word and follow His instructions, you set yourself up to win!  Following God’s instruction manual clearly states that it won’t make us immune to hardship and pain but it will help us overcome those obstacles with grace and peace of mind.  There are so many illustrations in the Old Testament of people who were in relationship with God and proclaimed their faithfulness and devotion to Him.  Then somewhere along the way, they became entangled in lives snares and lost focus.  They failed to obtain a full understanding of God’s instruction or they just outright turned away from God.  Their mistakes had severe consequences.  Their stories should serve as examples to us of the consequences of failing to follow God’s instructions.  Learning from their mistakes can help us avoid making bad decisions in life. 

Have we learned anything today?  I hope so!  My prayer is that I stop living life according to the desires of my flesh and start living life according to God’s Word.  I pray that I stop making foolish mistakes that could have been easily avoided had I just used God’s Word to make better decisions.  I pray that I continue to be content with the cards dealt to me and be a mirror image of Christ so that my children will have a positive role model of how God prevails in all circumstances.  I pray that God’s Word reaches your heart and mind and that you are filled with understanding of His Will for your life and that you follow His Will, experiencing the joy that comes with having an intimate relationship with Our Father.  May His Word bless you and keep you all the days of your life.

‘Til next time…

Put God First

What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

What occupies your idle time throughout the day?

What is the last thing you do before you go to sleep?

Since I was first introduced to my iPhone, I have been addicted to it.  From the moment I awake until I fall asleep, I found myself glued to that thing.  I was always texting, playing games, checking emails, ordering products, the possibilities were endless!  I felt like the iPhone was my lifeline; like it held all my desires and needs.  Then I saw the movie “Wall-E”.  I felt like I was becoming one of those futuristic fatties who were glued to their electronic communication devices 24/7.  Instead of going to visit friends and family, it was sufficient to just send them a quick text or post on Facebook.  Instead of playing with my son, I was playing games on my phone.  I can’t even count how many times I burnt up dinner while I was busy preparing some virtual meal on my Restaurant Story app.  The iPhone, slowly but surely, became my idol.

I always thought of idols like those described in the Old Testament.  Animals created from gold and precious jewels that people would actually pray to and worship, literally.  I never considered the idea that an idol could be anything that robs my time from God.  Anything that has priority over God is an idol! 

Needless to say, I had to quit my iPhone addiction cold turkey.  I replaced my iPhone with a less sophisticated phone and the only app I have downloaded is a bible app.  The first thing I do in the morning is read a daily devotional scripture.  I pray to God before I leave the house every morning.  I do these things so that I will begin the day with a godly state of mind.  Throughout the day, if I have down time, I may watch a little tv or socialize with friends and family but mostly I will take time to read the Bible and work on a project which would bring glory to God.  At night, before I go to sleep, I thank God for helping me make it through the day unscathed and for helping me make the most of those 24 hours. 

I have noticed I have much more peace and much more joy when I make God the priority in my day.  I feel less stress and I feel so much more hopeful.  There is a reason the first commandment is to love God with all your heart and put no other gods before Him.  When God comes first, all the struggles of the day seem small and you actually accomplish a lot more.  Devoting your minutes to God instead of social media, prime time television, secular music and activities, brings so much more fulfillment to life than any of those distractions the devil places in our path.  What is your idol today?  I challenge you to replace your idols with God’s word.  See for yourself how putting God first will transform you into a better person.

Parenting

My two children are my greatest blessings.  God gifted them to me at just the right time in my life and they have brought me great joy.  Since becoming a mother, I find that I have more motivation than ever to be the best I can be so that my children will have a positive role model in me and be inspired to accomplish the goals they set for themselves in life. 

One of my faults in parenting is that I often think of my children as my personal possessions.  As a child, I loved playing with dolls.  I cared for them like they were human.   I always kept their hair brushed and made sure they were well dressed.  I even talked to them like they were real and assured them of my love on a regular basis.  After my son was born, I treated him exactly the same way as I treated my dolls.  I always made sure he had nice clothes and shoes to wear, even if that meant I had to go without quality clothing and footwear.  I spent a good portion of my hard earned income on healthy food and quality child care.  I smothered him with my love and showered him with any worldly possession imaginable to make sure he was always entertained and well educated.  I always told him how much I loved him and I proved it by using all my resources to give him things and opportunities that I did not have when I was a child. 

I do the same with my daughter.  As a small child, I was very timid and shy.  I was often bullied and teased so eventually I learned to be tough as a means to defend myself.  After my husband and I were married, I prayed to God night and day for my daughter.  Before she was even born, I knew she was going to be the most beautiful, intelligent, confident little girl in God’s creation.  From conception, I called her my princess because I want her to be the beautiful, carefree child that I was not.  I always call her “my pretty princess” and have begun building the foundation for her to be the woman I want her to be.   

Then suddenly I realized I was making a terrible mistake.  I was imposing my will on my children instead of allowing them to seek out God’s will for their lives.  I was attempting to live vicariously through them, stealing their opportunity to make their own choices, and forcing them to be what I wanted them to be. 

After much prayer and meditation on God’s word, I am trying to transform my idea of parenting to allow God to have His way with my children and stop interfering with God’s plan.  I know I must trust God with my babies because they in fact are not mine.  They are not possessions like the dolls of my childhood.  They are God’s creation.  God allowed my husband and I to be their parents but that does not make us their owners.  We are to teach them God’s word and show them how to live godly lives.  We are not to dictate every step of their lives.  We must trust God to order their steps just like God has ordered ours.  I am confident that if God could do wondrous things in my life, He can do the same with my children.  No matter what God has in store for my children, I have to believe that they will be better off in His hands than in any plan I could ever possibly imagine.

Throughout the Bible, there are a multitude of stories of parents and their children.  I would recommend everyone to read those stories and be inspired.  The story I am most inspired by is Mary and Jesus.  Mary knew Jesus’ destiny the moment He was conceived.  How painful it must have felt to know her first born son would have to succumb to such a painful, torturous end!  How powerless she must have felt to stand there and watch her child murdered at the hands of those He was sent to save!  Yet she was obedient and never imposed her will upon her child.  She allowed God’s good and perfect plan to transpire and in part of her faithfulness and trust in God, we all are saved by His sacrifice!  Let us all be inspired to trust in God to direct the paths of our children for they are our future and only He knows their destiny…    

Be Quiet

When I am angry, upset, frustrated, stressed, I tend to make bad decisions.  During those moments, I often find my mind overwhelmed with thoughts and negativity.  In the chaos of those thoughts and feelings, I sometimes lash out and say or do things I regret almost instantly.  Then I have to humble myself and apologize to those I offended, something I am not usually excited to do...  I have wrecked countless relationships based on some wild words loosed from my lips in a fit of rage.  Sometimes the damage done in anger can be costly beyond what we can immediately repay.  Sometimes the damage done is irreparable. 

Between the busyness at home and at work, it is difficult to find a quiet place to just relax and clear my head so I can hear God’s voice in the midst of the chaos.  I have to constantly remind myself to use my time wisely.  Instead of having a large chunk of time to devote to God at a single point in my day, I find it easier to find God in multiple small moments during the day.  While I am in the shower, in the garage after I come home from work, while I am cooking dinner, and when I go to the spa to get my nails done, I pray and ask God to be my strength when I am weak and give me restraint when my flesh wants to cave in to evil.

Before I lash out in anger, I need to remind myself to be quiet and allow God’s peace to cleanse me of those negative thoughts and feelings before they pour out of my mouth or manifest themselves through my actions.  As a follower of Christ, we all need to remember the old way of doing business has to become extinct.  We can’t continue to have petty squabbles with our loved ones.  We can’t curse people out when they are mean and nasty to us.  We can’t allow the devil to drag us back to where we came from.  In the midst of the tumult and clamor, we have to take a second and really ask ourselves, “How can I resolve this in a manner which would make God proud?”  Or even take the classic saying, “WWJD?” 

Even a fool is assumed to be wise when he is silent.       

Call For Service

This past work week was a spiritually challenging one for me.  Each day, I handled calls for service regarding troubled youth.  It’s typical for me to respond to situations where children are behaving badly however this week was different.  It made me question my effectiveness not only as a police officer but also as a Christian.

I will start with Sierra.  A morbidly obese teenage girl with gender identity issues.  She is a habitual run away who is known to hang out with adults who will feed her cigarette and alcohol addictions.  Sierra was sexually assaulted multiple times and after the most recent assault, she made threats to commit suicide.  Sierra attempted to runaway yet again and her parents were forced to physically restrain her in an attempt to keep her home.  They were afraid she would make good on her threats to kill herself and felt helpless to stop her.  So they called me.  When I arrived to their home, Sierra stretched out her arms, ran towards me and hugged me tight.  I usually don’t allow people to hug me while on duty but I made an exception for Sierra because she looked like she needed it.  With her snot and tears covering my uniform, I thought to myself, “What can I possibly say to make her okay?”   As a patrol officer, I have a limited amount of time for each call for service.  It’s an overwhelming task to try and effectively fix a lifetime of pain and bad choices in a matter of minutes.  I did console her as best I could but I left her feeling like what I gave was not enough…

The following day, I met Lisa.  She was in foster care because her mother was serving time in prison.  Her extended family would not take her due to her anger management issues.  Lisa’s foster mother called for police assistance because she was she was tearing up the house in a fit of rage.  When I arrived at the home, Lisa burst into tears.  She said she was angry because she felt unloved and no one wanted her.  She said she wanted to go home over and over as she cried on my shoulder.  My heart cried with her as I once again searched for an encouraging word to leave with her.  When I left her, she appeared to be calm and in better spirits however I didn’t feel I gave her what she truly needed…

Last but not least, there was John.  At the end of my emotionally draining work week, memories of him came to mind.  John was one of my friends in high school.  We hung out occasionally in our neighborhood, laughed together during our brief moments away from home and school life.  He lived in an abusive home environment, often beaten by his father and older brothers.  He didn’t talk about it much but his wounds were obviously visible.  I wanted to offer him comfort, an escape, a safe place.  But I was a kid too and I didn’t believe I had anything to offer other than my time and attention.  John committed suicide in 11^th grade.  Whenever I think of him, I feel so much grief.  I wish I could’ve been his lifeboat in that raging sea he was drowning in.  I wish he could’ve received the help and the love he longed for so desperately. It eats at me that I did not save him…     

In our lives, we are sent to calls for service daily.  Some we are overly prepared for and some take us by surprise.  This is why prayer and bible study is so important!  You never know when God will guide you to a soul who needs to be saved and you will be called to lead them out of darkness.  Showing love, patience, kindness and sympathy can go a long way in the life of a person who is longing desperately for a ray of hope.  Extending yourself to someone in need of a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen can be that lifeline they needed to come out from that dark place.  Failure to immerse yourself in God’s Word will leave you tongue tied or cause you to utter empty, cliché words. 

It is my prayer that the Lord gives me the ability to answer His calls for service in such a way that I can be a vessel of His love.  I pray that God uses me to bring light to someone who is in a dark place and encourage them to find strength in Him.  I pray that God uses you, no matter where you are in life, to be aware of His Voice, answer His Call and be a beacon of light in this dark world.  We need each other.  In order to be a source of hope and comfort to each other, we need God. 

Answer His Call.

You Sent Me The Stars

I remember the sun
I remember the day
I remember the heat
From Your Glorious Rays
I could hold my head high
I could smile happily
I could feel confident
Because you were with me
Your Word deep in my heart
Songs of praise on my lips
You said You'd never leave
I had You in my grips
But then the sun sank down
Slowly the darkness came
Suddenly all alone
Why did You go away?
In the blackness of night
I sat sobbing with grief
My instinct to survive
Caved in to disbelief
I saw the wolves and snakes
Their glowing teeth and eyes
I felt myself transform
Into one of those guys
I knew that wasn't me
Because I'm not like them
I needed a way out
I needed Light again
So I cried out to You,
"Please show me that You're here
I need You back with me
I need You to be near."
My head was lifted up
My eyes were opened wide
I stood on my two feet
And then I realized
You had never left me
To suffer all these scars
All I needed to do
Was look up at The Stars...


Back before maps, flashlights, GPS, and other similar technology, someone looked up all the stars and made an ingenious discovery.  The stars are patterned in such a way, one could be guided from here to there just by following the stars.  The Word of God is a Light in a cold, dark world.  God's Words are our stars. 


You are never alone.  You are not a victim of your circumstance.  You are not a failure.  You are not defined by your mistakes.  God's Love is greater than all those obstacles in your path.  God's Love is strong enough to lift you up, wash you clean, and set you on The Path to Righteousness.  And even when you are distracted and lose your way, you can be guided back to Him by meditating on His Word.


All of creation has a purpose.  Temptations are built to strengthen our faith.  There is no struggle we can't overcome with God.  Have faith and...


LOOK UP AT THE STARS!

Forgiveness

When a person harbors unforgiveness, it can have grave physical consequences.  It causes muscle tension, digestion becomes inhibited, blood flow becomes restricted and the immune system is weakened.  Psychological and medical studies have shown multiple benefits of forgiveness.  Forgiveness can result in improved mental health as it reduces feelings of anger, anxiety, fear and depression.  Counselors have used the power of forgiveness as a tool to assist victims of sex related crimes, substance abusers and cancer patients overcome a negative outlook on life and pursue positive thinking. 


So now we know forgiveness is a tonic to the mind and body, but what about the soul?  Let's take a look at a couple real life examples of the power of forgiveness.
Saul of Tarsus.  He was a vicious man.  He was taught that Jesus was a fraud and Christians were terrorists.  Saul made it his business to extinguish all Christians from the planet to end the spread of Christianity.  Until one day, Jesus sought out Saul and made Himself visible to Saul.  Upon seeing Jesus and hearing His voice, Saul repented of his sins and became the most prolific prophet in the New Testament.  He even changed his name to Paul in an attempt to put his past life behind him.  Jesus' sacrifice on the cross made it possible for a murderer like Saul to turn from his wicked ways and be recreated into Paul, one of the biggest proponents of Christianity.


Jeffrey Dahmer.  He was a pedophile, murderer and cannibal.  Anyone who remembers his story would recall Dahmer as an evil, disgusting, wicked human being.  He lured young men into his home, drugged, raped and tortured them, then murdered them and ate their flesh.  The worst part is he was found to be fully conscious of his actions.  He was not considered insane; he was just evil and filled with hate.  After his conviction, Dahmer was sentenced to prison.  While in prison, he was inspired to attend church services and eventually accepted Jesus as his savior.  The Word of God transformed this evil man into a born again believer.  He was murdered while serving time in prison.


One of the biggest issues I faced when I rededicated my life to Christ was forgiveness.  It was nothing for me to forgive others but for some reason, it took quite some time for me to accept God's forgiveness.  I wasn't into such heinous acts as Saul and Dahmer however the life I led before Christ haunted me for so long, it was just difficult for me to accept that I was worthy of forgiveness.
I have learned there is nothing we can do that is so terrible that God cannot forgive.  With God, all things are possible, including unlimited forgiveness.  When we repent (admit we were wrong, seek God's forgiveness and turn away from ungodly habits) God erases our sins from His memory and cradles us in His loving arms!  It's an amazing feeling to know how gracious and merciful our God is!
In return for His forgiveness, we must forgive others who commit evil against us. As children of God, we must follow His lead and mirror His steps.  As Jesus hung dying on the cross, He cried out to God for the forgiveness of those who wrongly persecuted Him. 
Forgiving others has positive effects on our souls because by mirroring God's grace and mercy, we become closer to God.  Our actions will inspire others to desire a relationship with God.  So let's shed any hatred, any bitterness, any burdens and choose to let go of unforgiveness.  Let's celebrate in the power of God to forgive each other and accept His forgiveness!

What am I worth?

Parents give their children validation. There is a correlation between the average child's self esteem and his/her relationship with his/her parents.  I have a degree in sociology therefore you can trust what I just stated is true.


For most of my life, I struggled with low self-esteem.  My mother often told me how beautiful, intelligent and talented I was and so did many other people in my life.  Inside my heart, I did not believe it was true.  Even after I received Christ as my Savior, I continued to struggle with these feelings.  John 3:16 says God loved the world so much, He sacrificed the life of His Only Son so that we could have eternal life.  I understood this meant Jesus' sacrifice absolved me of my sins but I didn't feel like I deserved His forgiveness.  I struggled with regret of all the terrible things I had done while "in the world".  In an effort to determine why I did not feel so great about myself, I put my memory tape on rewind and attempted to recall who or what made me feel so low. 


I began to recall the few and brief moments shared with my father.  I remembered a time he took me to his job when I was very little.  He bought a pack of plain M&M's for me and I thought it was the most delicious thing I ever tasted.  Like manna from heaven!  Maybe that is why I am so obsessed with chocolate...  I remember he picked me up from school on my ninth birthday.  I was so happy to see him, I burst into tears and hugged him with all my strength.  I heard a classmate say, "She acts like she never seen her dad before."  The truth is, that was the first time had seen in about three years.  Our meetings were always few and far between.  I believe was around 10 or 11 when I wrote my dad a letter and I asked him why he wasn't around for me and my sisters.  At the time our living situation wasn't the best and I felt if my dad was around, he would be able to make things better.  He responded to my letter and said I was a pessimist, I should value the time we had spent together and not dwell on negative things.  He never said he would visit more often.  He never said he would call or write more often.  He made absolutely no effort to resolve my concern.  Instead, he called me a pessimist and left me to assume I was ungrateful and unworthy of his love and care.


After that, I recall many moments when I accepted less than what I should have.  I allowed myself to be used and abused by people.  I did not care much about my progress in school or my work ethic at the dozens of jobs I had.  I didn't believe anyone truly cared about me and I didn't care about myself or others.  I often questioned why I was ever born, to live such an awful life with one stumbling block after another and no relief in sight.


God's word became my relief.  This world had given me nothing but salt for my wounds. God's word was like medicine to my wounded heart.  The more I read about people who were filthy and disgusting creatures transformed into God's sons and daughters, I knew there was hope for me too.  But I had to believe it!  I had to allow God to replace the seeds my father sowed in my life with seeds that would produce positive, healthy thoughts and behaviors.  At this point in my life, I don't have room in my brain for negative thoughts.  I push those thoughts out with God's words of encouragement. 


I know God loves me if no one on earth does.  I know God thinks I am beautiful on my ugliest day.  I know God is proud to call me His daughter even when I fail.  I don't have to beg God to give me the time day because He is always present in my life.  I was not worth much to my dad but that doesn't even matter to me anymore.  I am not defined by the opinion of others.  God says I am priceless!  God is The Father and He has validated me.  What are you worth?  You are so valuable, a stranger gave his life for you, before you were even born, so that you would not have to suffer the penalty of sin (which is death), but you would have the opportunity to turn away from sin and have a life filled with joy, peace and love for eternity!   


In case you haven't noticed, scriptures and videos are hidden in the highlighted texts so be sure to devote a couple minutes to reading His word and get your mind right. Thank you and God bless you.

What is "tangible faith"?

define tangible: easily seen or recognized; able to be touched or felt

define faith: strong belief or trust in someone or something

There was a point in my life when I was just flat out tired of struggling.  I struggled with feelings of loneliness, inadequacy and regret.  I was completely bankrupt from paying one consequence after another for foolish choices I made.  Some days, the burden of my sins were so great, I literally felt the weight on my back was so heavy, I could hardly move.  Other days, I felt as if I were drowning in a sea of all my failures.  I wanted so much to be able to just drop that burden and run far away from it.  I wanted to be lifted out of the sea and feel oxygen in my lungs.  I wanted to have peace and joy and love in my life yet I had no idea how to obtain it.

Then one day, I suddenly remembered a scripture from my childhood.  The first time I read this scripture, it meant absolutely nothing to me but somehow, over a decade later, I was able to recall it word for word. 

     "I waited patiently for the Lord.  He turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit; out of the muck and mire.  He set my feet upon a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my heart, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."

I searched fervently for the source of these words.  I wanted so desperately for the Lord to rescue me from that pit of despair like He did for the author of Psalms 40. 

I began to read the Bible all day, every day in search of an answer to all my problems.  As I studied the Bible, I felt myself transform.  I no longer felt overwhelmed with those terrible feelings.  Slowly but surely, I felt all those burdens drop from my back.  I felt myself rising from the sea and bursting up to the surface.  I felt like I could run for miles without stopping.  I could breathe easy and enjoy life.  It didn't happen overnight, it was a process.  I never found any particular scripture which uncovered THE answer to all my problems but I found something better.  I developed a relationship with God!  I obtained an intimacy with Him through my Bible study and found exactly what I had been longing for all my life!  God washed away all that muck and mire which almost destroyed me and replaced it with overwhelming feelings of peace and joy and love.  It was as if I died and had been reborn into a brand new person! It was just so amazing.

As I grew closer to God, every aspect of my life changed.  I became a better mother, a better wife, a better friend, an overall better person.  I began to appreciate life more and treasure all God's blessings.  I viewed the world differently and made better choices.  Sometimes I have flashbacks of who I used to be and compare her to the woman I am now.  It brings me to tears because I am so thankful that the Lord delivered me from my former life and gave me a brand new start.          

So, what is a tangible faith?  I will tell you in case you haven't figured it out on your own. 

God is not a mystery.  God is not a fairy tale.  God is not "the opium of the people".  God is not some far away being, seated on a throne in the clouds, unapproachable and unattainable.  God is not reveling in our misery, tossing sinners left and right into the burning abyss of hell.  All of those myths that nonbelievers constantly try to force feed us is a load of crap.  God is everything.  God is everywhere.  God exists in the past, present and future.  God sees all and God knows all.  Most importantly, God lives inside each and every one of us.  God encrypted us with His DNA and manifests Himself to us constantly.  Why is that so difficult to believe?  After all, we put so much faith in the man made devices we use to access the internet, talk on the phone and watch TV.  We have no idea how that technology functions yet we obsess over them like idols.  We purchase food from the grocery store which is harvested, prepared and packaged by the hands of strangers.  Yet we have faith in its nutritional contents and consume it without considering it may be tainted and harmful to our bodies.

The Bible contains proof of God's existence.   In its pages, you will find stories of people in relationship with God.  You will often find them seeking God's favor and desiring to be closer to Him.  You will find people who were I pain and trusted God for healing.  Some of these people may even temporarily lost faith but God continued to be present in their lives and their faith was restored.  When you choose to accept Jesus as your Savior, after you commit to seek God's heart, His Spirit will speak to you.  When you are guided by His Spirit, you will obtain a fresh perspective of life.  You will become wiser and make better choices.  You will have peace in times of turmoil.  You will have unspeakable joy during sorrowful moments.  You will have love overflowing inside your heart and you will never feel unworthy anymore.

God can save you from your pit if you allow Him to.  God can transform your life.  God can give you a testimony that will demonstrate to the world how good He is.  You must seek Him, pray often and  meditate on His word.  Surround yourself with people who are also focused on being closer to God.  There is evidence that God exists but you must open your eyes to see Him...

    

God Inspired Gifts

I have been in the process of writing a book for several years.  And not just any book, THE EPIC!  Between my work schedule, my family life and my spa appointments with May Ling, it is a challenge to find time to devote to my book.  My resolution for this year is to devote time to finish THE EPIC. I have a God Inspired Gift of writing (and you thought I was going to say comedy...lol) and I have decided to use my gift for His divine purpose.  My challenge to the world, should you choose to accept, is to put your God Inspired Gifts to use. 


God has bestowed upon each of us, individually and specifically, particular gifts.  These God Inspired Gifts enable us to perform different services in the body of Christ.  Our service, regardless of how big or small, is a blessing to those who receive it.  It is important to take pride in your service as it is a reflection of God to the world.  Your service has the potential to lead people closer to God  or push people further away.  On one of my quick grocery store runs, I had a hand cart filled with 12 items.  I was in a rush so I hopped in the "10 items or less" line.  The evil cashier took one look at my stack of groceries, shot approximately 5,000 daggers out of his eyeballs, and said, "You have more than 10 items."  I replied, "Yes, I know. Do you want me to get in a different line?"  He proceeded to ring up my items with a bad attitude.  I became so angry, I vowed never to get in his line again.  It has been over a year and to this date, even if he has no line, I will wait in a different line to receive service.  On the other hand, May Ling always has a positive attitude when she sees me walk into the nail bar.  No matter how many services I request, even if I don't have an appointment, she is always polite and kind.  She treats me like her daughter and I leave her presence feeling like a pretty princess.  Because of her positive impact on my life, I always see her for the services I want and reward her with a hefty tip.


Oftentimes, people forget worldly possessions, positions and favor are temporary.  In the blink of an eye, you can be robbed of your possessions.  At the wave of a hand, you can be fired from your job.  With the snap of a finger, you can lose the love of your friends and family.  The only thing that is guaranteed is God's love for those who serve Him.  God's love is eternal.  God's love never fails.  God's ability to strengthen you and allow success in your endeavors is everlasting.  How awesome is that?! I am so amazed each day I wake up, knowing God's hand is guiding my every step.  As I use my God Inspired Gift to bring glory to Him, He will not only bless me beyond my wildest dreams but He will also use me to be a blessing to others.


God used David to fulfill a particular purpose.  Read for yourself: II Samuel 5  David began his life as a sheep herder and eventually became a king!  David started life as an everyday, average person but he used his God Inspired Gifts and ultimately led a nation of God's chosen people.  II Samuel 5:10,12 states "and he became more and more powerful because the Lord God Almighty was with him.  And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel."  David's power did not come from his own personal abilities.  His power came from God!  David was not named king of Israel for selfish purposes.  He used his position to uplift the entire nation!  When you serve God with your whole heart and allow Him to direct your path, you can be like David.  You can have success and use your position to be a blessing to others.


Last but not least, I was drawn to Jesus' parable of the talents when I made my resolution to complete THE EPIC.  The parable tells a story of a man who distributed bags of gold to three of his servants.  Two of the servants invested the gold, doubled the amount originally received and offered it all back to their master. The third servant chose to hide his gold therefore he did not receive any interest or benefit from it.  The master was thoroughly pissed with the third servant for failing to use the gold as an investment opportunity.  He wound up taking his gold back and kicked him out into the street. WOW!  The master was so impressed with the other two servants, he allowed them to keep the gold and the interest earned so they could continue accruing wealth.  DOUBLE WOW! We can compare this parable to our God Inspired Gifts.  Are were wasting the gold our master has given us by hiding it?  Or are we investing our gold to bring glory to the kingdom of God?  Whatever your God Inspired Gift is, use it for a Godly purpose and you will reap eternal benefits.  I guarantee you will find peace, joy and success when you follow God's path for your life instead of spending all your good years working hard for temporary reward.