Trials: a True Test of Heart

When you are faced with a trial, when things don’t go as you have planed, when you feel like you are losing hope-what direction will your heart choose? Will you choose your own way, or His way?  Will you go back to the world or move your trust and faith forward with Jesus. Who or what will you let guide your heart? Will your soul stay cemented in the Truth, or will you grasp any worldly thing, to escape, to run, to ignore the pain?

When things don’t go your way, when nothing seems right, remember its bigger then your circumstance, it’s larger than your situation. For what truly matters is your response to those situations. When you feel like things are falling apart do you find company with misery? Do you throw yourself your own pity party and try to escape into the world? Or do you thank God that this trial is happening. Not because you enjoy it, but because you trust Him. That the pain won’t last, that the enemy is a liar, that your faith can’t be shaken, that God has a far greater plan, that ultimately God will reclaim what the enemy tires to steal. Staying true to God when things are hard is a test.

If you always win and are always right, you never really know where your heart is and where your heart wanders. The bad times, the shaky times, and the unplanned times become a true test of our heart; a test that examines where our heart defaults.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Romans 8:18

It’s in these times we must remember God has a beautiful and orchestrated plan for us. And ultimately what is important is that we trust Him. That we give Him glory through the trial, because on the other side of the trial blessings will be abundant, increases and growth will occur at a level that is larger then we know.

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12

You are fearfully and wonderfully made
(Psalm 139:14)
Melissa

Showing Them Jesus

Do you know that you can represent Jesus each and every day-by your actions, your works and your attitude? The encounters we face each day are opportunities to show love, indifference or hate.  When you are around people, visiting, passing them by in the hallway, greeting your neighbor, socializing with people at work; each encounter you are doing much more than simply saying words. Each conversation you have the opportunity to show your heart, your compassion, your empathy, your joy and your peace.

Words are the tool you use to show it.

Don’t underestimate the situations you are put in, the people that you are exposed to and the timeline of events, God is strategic. He puts you in situations for others to see your heart, your beliefs and your stance- to essentially show others that Jesus is with you.  Because we are believers we know that God loves us, therefore because of his love we can love others. We express that love by our actions and our words.  A simple greeting, a kind message, an uplifting compliment are more than just words, they are expressing that we can show love because we receive love.  Giving a gift, doing a small favor, holding the door open for someone else is more than a discreet gesture; these are some of the ways we show we are thinking about someone else. They show our compassion and our benevolence.

Use your words cautiously, complete your actions carefully, and think of them all as opportunities to show someone the goodness of Jesus.  Don’t underestimate the small day to day things, because the care for others, the adoration, the love, the compassion in your heart will be noticed. People will know that you are different, that you have peace and calmness in your life, your happiness with show through your words and by your actions; ultimately non- believers will want to know why.

What do you have that makes you so different?

Don’t underestimate the small details, for the details together are what make the bigger picture. The picture that through Jesus you can have the same happiness, joy and love that has been shown.  The next time you say a kind word or do a nice gesture, remember you are showing them a little bit of Jesus.

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!  But the people who belong to this world don't recognize that we are God's children because they don't know him.

1 John 3:1NLV

You are fearfully and wonderfully made
(Psalm 139:14)
Melissa

Making God a Priority When Busy Keeps Getting Busier

The excuses of I’m tired,  I don’t feel like it, or not today I will do better tomorrow all come across our lips from time to time. The burden of life chores, duties and immediate obligations takes over.  The jobs never seem to end or work always follows us home. We get burned out or put under so much pressure we can’t clear our minds apart from the distractions. Perhaps something has changed, we received more responsibility, more recognition, we got promoted, we started school, found a new goal or hobby. Distractions come in various styles, sizes and ways, and perhaps one could argue that they are the devils favorite and best way to keep us from the word, prayer and fellowship.

                When we are exhausted from the day, when the distractions have depleted us, we tend to have no energy and no desire to do anything else that seems like work.

                Perhaps the thought of reading the Bible seems boring or that you have so many other things to do you don’t have time to pray….

                We all, at some crazy chaotic point in our lives, have felt this way. We have 24hrs in a day and yet we still need more time to do all we want, to accomplish all we need to.  The enemy loves it when we think this way, when we are stressed about time, when our earthy duties take away from the time we spend in the word reading, worshiping and praying.

                The devil loves to steal the time we would normally give God.

                It is up to us to be aware of how our distractions and outside obligations impact our time with God, we have to keep God as the priority and we have to be willing and able to shake off some of the distractions.  Set time aside to read the word, if you are having trouble fitting in time to read the Bible focus on reading a verse a day, schedule time for it. Make it a priority. It is up to us to make time for prayer, you can pray anytime, anywhere and the benefit is God is always there to hear you. Driving in the car, in-between meetings or classes, wake up a few minutes’ earlier, turn the TV off a few minutes sooner. Pray when you are tired- God can give you energy, more strength to keep going. When things seem hard, or you need help, pray. God can give you grace, favor, wisdom that you wouldn’t otherwise have.  And ultimately sometimes we just have to do things when we don’t feel like it; because it’s the right thing to do, because our emotions can’t run our lives and because God is the priority. Sign up for the bible study, get involved with people at your church, read your daily devotional, get involved.

                  God is a priority.

                Where you spend your time shows what you deem as important.  We are all busy and that will be unlikely to change, as we age we grow,  as we grow we get busier, so grasp this now- that God doesn’t come after the rest of your day, but God comes first and should be involved throughout your day.  Remember the devil and his distractions want you, Keep God first and the devil will continue to be defeated.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

You are fearfully and wonderfully made
(Psalm 139:14)
Melissa

A Love I Never Knew

You loved me before I even knew you.
Your love runs deep, more love then I ever knew.
For my love was lost, when I turned to you.

You brought me under your wing.
Protected me, shielded me when I couldn’t see.
Oh Lord I give You all the glory.
For you lifted me up, when I fell, and you strengthened me when I was weak.

You are a God of forgiveness, of mightiness and greatness.
You transformed my soul, into what I wished to be.
Now my eyes are open and I can see how you are in every single thing.

For I have found in You a calmness, a peacefulness.
That can’t be found outside of You; now I worship You.
I won’t look back, for the past gave me Your present, a gift of eternity.
And a love I never knew.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:7-8  

You are fearfully and wonderfully made
(Psalm 139:14)
Melissa

Warrior Anthem

I am a mighty child of God, I am a strong warrior, I follow the path of righteousness which is full of strength, power and determination, I rise above, I conquer, I have a hedge around me,  I defeat my enemy because my God gets the victory.  I have the greatest protection, the best army, the most skilled counselor. I can’t be stopped.   If I fall, I rise again by saying my God’s name. I have the highest favor, an abundance of blessings, and a table formed around my enemies.  God has made me a warrior and my strength is because of His strength. I am strong, I am bold, I am courageous and I fear no enemy because Jesus made my way.  When I am in trouble, I persevere by saying His name. My God has made a way for me even when there seems to be no way.  I am a mighty child of God; I am a strong warrior, not because of me, but because of the one that came before me, Jesus.

Psalm 23:3  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Micah 7:8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The LORD will be a light to me. Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. Psalm 27:1   The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;   your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made
(Psalm 139:14)
Melissa

It’s Time to Wake Up

Too many of us walk around in a cloud, consumed by the day to day task that we have to achieve, the unending to do list of errands, family obligations and countless meetings. We focus on the events of the day and the problems that come with them.  Our life becomes what bill has to be paid, what we will cook for dinner tonight, what kid needs to finish his homework, how many meetings we have for the day….

            We get so bogged down with these day to day task we simply forget that this life on this multitasking earth is not really what we are living for.  We get so distracted that we forget God. We forget about eternity and ignore Heaven and Hell.  In fact, when you compare eternity to the average 78 years humans spend on the earth, the time on this earth it’s just a blink.  When are we going to wake up from behind our desks, wake up from the  8 to 5 clock, the chores, the earthly duties, the distractions and remember that, all this on earth is just temporary; and the priorities of our life, putting God first instead of our list of distractions, determine where we spend eternity.

            When are we going to wake up that when we die on this earth our day to day task wont matter?

            When are we going to wake up and realize that the harsh reality is no one escapes death on this earth?

            We never know when it will be our time, you see we all have invisible timers and we never know when they are going to go off. We walk around simply unaware that my timer, my clock would go off. We seem to think we are invisible or that, its not my turn today. Yet, we never know. God created us and He alone decides when we leave.

Every day matters.

            On my heart I have an urgency for a wake up call for those who don’t know Jesus, who spend there days filled with the worries of the things of this earth, who don’t have a relationship with Him yet or perhaps know Him but haven’t made Him first in there life. The time is now to put God first, to make Him a priority in this very hour to not trade your fate in heaven for the mundane task of this earth. Focus on the big picture, on Eternity and on Heaven. God and a relationship With Jesus is the only way to get there.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:13

So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:6

You are fearfully and wonderfully made
(Psalm 139:14)
Melissa