Fly To Freedom

Like a single bird, flying through the sky,
we have the freedom to rise above the commotion
above the chaos below.
Like a bird, we have the ability to fly to freedom,
to have wings that won’t limit us but allow us to soar.
Like a bird that flies freely,
we don’t have to be bounded or chained,
but through Jesus we are free,
fly , free bird, wherever your wings will take you...

If you are a bird with clipped wings, if you are burdened by the things of this world, if you are tied down and desperately searching to soar. There is a way, a truth that will allow you to take flight. Your peace, your freedom can only be found in Jesus.

If your wings are broken, if you are finding it hard to fly-struggling to keep flight. If the wind is becoming too much, becoming too hard to fight. Know that you can be restored, your wings can be rebuilt, strength can be reclaimed with just the mention of Jesus’ name.

If you are new to flying, and a little scared to take the leap, to take the jump, unsure if you will fall or fly. Know that Jesus will give you courage, boldness to take the leap. Wherever He directs your flight, He will prepare you and give you the wings you need to soar.

You have the ability to not be bounded, to not be chained, the ability to find peace.  Your peace is found through your relationship with Jesus. When Jesus is the center of your life, your foundation, He alone provides the wings for you to fly. He provides the way to peace and He longs for you to be free: free from sin, free from the enemy, free from persecution and freely loved by your Creator.

Today it’s time to find your wings, to find the peace that comes with knowing Jesus. Today it’s time to let go of the chains that are holding you down and to fly freely. It’s time to sing a new song. It’s time to be free.

Fly, free bird, above the chaos and the commotion, fly to Jesus!

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

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

While You're Waiting, God's Working

So things haven’t turned out like you thought, time keeps passing, you’re waiting… The clock keeps ticking and your promise hasn’t unfolded yet. While you wait you reflect, reflecting on how today is like yesterday, how yesterday was like two months ago, how two months ago seemed like ten months ago….

You start to wonder, start to question what you heard, what you believe. Your heart might get hard, you might start to feel sorry for yourself, and others will tell you to quit.

“Quit holding on to something that no one can see.”
“Quit holding on to your hope that things will turn around.”
“Quit wasting time and move on.”

When our hope runs out we get hard, our hearts get heavy and our guard goes up. We no longer trust; we no longer believe that what we are waiting for will turn around in our favor. We believe the lie that these are the cards we have been dealt, so now we have to make the most of it. Then we run. We run in the opposite direction from God, from anything to do with someone else helping us. We run so we can control, so our hardships won’t happen.  And then we run right into the enemy's arms. The devil loves when we are down.  He loves when we lose hope, because it’s at this time, it’s this dangerous territory,  the devil wins.

Whatever promises the Lord has given you: restoring your marriage, a promotion, an increase, a new job, a family, a significant other, a companion, a ministry, a salvation, know that what the Lord speaks, He keeps.

While you are waiting, Gods working on your behalf, He’s working on all the promises He has for you.  With Jesus any situation, no matter how hard or how hopeless, can be turned, in an instant, if He is involved.

It isn’t up to you to turn your situation around; it’s up to you to turn to God. God's working on your behalf every day, every minute and every second, He never stops. Just because you can’t see it in the physical does not mean work isn’t being done in the spiritual. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, dust yourself off and rejoice that the creator of all beings is working on your behalf today.

                 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

  Hebrews 11:1

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

Who’s Writing Your Story?

We each have a story that details our memories, our experiences and our heartaches.  A story that identifies who we are, what we have been through and what we have overcome.  For some of us our story will outline what has crippled us, what bumps in the road we have experienced and will give us our very own war story: to tell, to remember, to define us.

But what about the story going forward? Who are you going to let write it? Yourself?  Others? Or the one that create you?

Will your story of the next year, the next five years, the next decade map out how you want events to unfold. Will you dictate how your life is run, will you single handedly write the details, page by page. Will you control each movement, each memory. Will you be responsible for each void or each mishap?

Will you let your family, friends or career write your story? Will your pages be filled with all the long hours on projects at work? Will your memories be filled with all the hours spent in meetings, conference calls and board rooms? Will your memories be full of doing things for others? Living the life they want for you?  Will your stories retell the times when people wanted something for you, and you put them first- ignoring what your heart desired?

Or will you story be the one that Jesus made for you? Will you follow His plans, His design, His reason that He gave you life? Will each breath be taken under the plan that you are working towards your purpose? Will your stories tell how much Jesus loves you? Will your life retell all the blessings He gave you? Will your memories be about how much love you showed, and how much love you received from the One that created you?

We all get a story. It’s up to us to decide who we will let write it. We can spend our time writing our own story- the story we think we should have. The story that we want, the story that we map out in our own minds. We can let others write our story for us. We can live for others and we can bury ourselves with work and family obligations.And when the time comes for us to tell our story, we will only have what others wrote. Or we can simply rely on Jesus.  We can live a life that is focused on His plan for us, so that when we tell our story it will be God’s story.

God loved us enough to give up His only Son, He loves us so much that He created us. Not only did God give us life, but a true purpose. Don't spend your time allowing others to write your story. And don’t spend time chasing things that don't align with the reason you were created. Let your story be the one God designed.  If you don’t know what that looks like, spend time with God, pray, read His truth- the Bible. In time you will gain insight and clarity on what your story is suppose to be.

Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand.

Proverbs 19:21 (AMP)

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose

Romans 8:28 (AMP)

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

Boldness Does Not Occur On The Sidelines

Boldness does not occur on the sidelines, a good word, spreading and sharing the gospel doesn’t happen while home alone.   When we don’t reach out we never get the opportunity to escape our comfort zones.

Being a follower of the Lord requires a certain amount of boldness, a certain amount of passion that at times can put you in situations that stretch, grow and strengthen you. When you get off the sidelines and move in the direction the Holy Spirit is calling you, when you lay down your fears because God is asking you to move, you can’t help but grow.

It has been on my heart to move from the sidelines, to get off the bench, and be obedient to God. When you feel nudged to go talk to someone, when you feel led to go pray with someone, when you feel convicted to give, Go. Move. Act. Don’t let fear, or hesitation creep in, don’t let the enemy win you over with your fears or with the “what-ifs.”

Walking up to a stranger, walking up to a friend to give them words of hope; to give them words of life, is the best gift you can give anyone.  People respond well to genuine love, care and compassion.  There are people you encounter everyday that need the words of life, that need to feel love, that need to be tenderly reminded that someone cares for them.

If God is placing on your heart to share your testimony, to reach out to a particular friend, neighbor, acquaintance or stranger, and you are afraid, or unsure, pray for courage, pray for boldness, pray for the words to speak.  If God is calling you, then He will prepare you.  You have to move your feet in order for Him to speak! It is time to step off the sidelines.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.

Deuteronomy 31:6

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

The Key to Happiness

We have all seen the book titles: the ten keys to happiness, finding a career that gives you joy, that if you love what you do you will never have to work a day in your life. We have seen countless TV shows, movies, read the latest bestselling books, been inspired by talk shows and interviews, yet it seems like we will never be fully happy, that our jobs still feel like work, that something is still missing.

That was me not so long ago; searching for the happiness I believed could be possible. I knew something more was out there, that there was more joy, happiness, peace to be found. The problem was I couldn’t find it. It didn’t appear in a career path, it didn’t appear in education, it didn’t appear in the things of this world. What I was looking for, what I was earnestly searching for was a relationship with Jesus.  When my love and passion for the Lord ignited I realize the relationship with Him was what I was missing.

The key to an unlimited supply of happiness, the way to receive joy that surpasses all understanding, the true way to get pure peace in your life is found through one relationship, through one name, Jesus.

When you have a true, genuine relationship with the one that created you, you are positioned in the best way to receive the greatest benefits: special favor, abundant blessings and unconditional love.  When you grow each and every day in this intimate relationship you begin to not only see how awesome your God is, but you begin to understand why you were created, what purpose you serve and you begin to see God in every single thing. When the details of your day matter, when you are doing the things you were designed to do, when the Lord holds you each and every day you cannot help but be happy, you cannot help but be successful.

If you are feeling that your life is going fine, but something seems missing, if you feel incomplete, if you feel like there is more out there, I cannot encourage you enough to look at your relationship with Jesus.

I personally searched tirelessly to find the happiness I have today, the happiness that can only come through a personal relationship with the Lord.  Jesus is the way to true and complete happiness, and the good news is He is available at anytime!

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

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