You May Not Be Able To Change The World, But You Can Change A Soul

Sometimes the problems of this world seem to be too much.  In the earth there is so much to be worried about: financially, personally, professionally and emotionally. Fear does not discriminate against anyone, no matter how much money you have in the bank, no matter how close you are to your friends or how successful you are at work; fear can strike, mountains of problems can build on top of us and the world will bury us, if we let it.

You may think that you are just one person and there is so much hurt, pain, strife in the world that you cannot possibly make a difference. However, the world is hurting because individuals are hurting. That if one person took the time to reach out to another, to show kindness, to show love that perhaps individuals would be hurting less and in return the world would be hurting less.

Fellow believers it's time to reach out to the wounded, to the hurting and to the lost. It’s time to show the love that we receive from Jesus to those who have not been introduced to that kind of compassion, care and tenderness.  Don’t focus on taking on the whole world at once, but spend your time with individuals- reaching a soul at a time. You have the ability to encourage others, that although the world is broken, Jesus can repair anything and anyone.

If you have been waiting to reach out to someone because you are fearful of what they might say, can I just say that kindness is a universal friend. People want to know that someone is thinking of them.  Today reach out to that co worker or family member who is hurting, reach out to that friend you have lost contact with, reach out to that stranger you pass by. You have the opportunity today to share good news with those people, to show them that someone does care about them, to show that they have a purpose and value and that Jesus loves them.

Today, don’t fixate on the brokenness of the world; instead focus on touching that one person whose salvation could be one nice word or one kind conversation away.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4  (NIV)

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

Show The World What God Has Given You

Every imperfection you see in the mirror, every line, every wrinkle tells the story of what you were created to be.  You are a treasure that is worth the highest ransom. You are a tailored package, a gift that was delicately made. Your every detail was a thoughtful plan, a complicated creation. You are a story that continues to unfold.

Your passion, your hobbies, your hearts desires tell the world in bits who you are, who you were created to be.  The love you give shows what kind of love you receive, the smile you show- showers others with the peace you know and firmly believe in. Your abilities, wisdom, maturity sets you on a path uniquely designed for you. A path that not only has purpose but that requires your skills, your courage and boldness to reach others. You have the ability to impact, a person, a soul.

Your past, your story, your wounds have shaped you into who you are today. Share your story- those details that allowed God into your life. Share how you overcame, how you were healed- those details that glorify the Lords might, power and love. Share how being connected to the Lord is the only way to go. When you share your story you never know who God designed to hear it. You never know who will be touched and impacted by it.

Show the world who you are today and share what God has given you!

However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”

Mark 5:19

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

For Those Who Are Avoiding, Running and Dabbling: Your Sin Is Fun, But It Will Never Be Enough

And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the godless and wicked?

1 Peter 4:18

If you are avoiding or running from the Lord because you don’t want to let go of things, you don’t want to give up your sins- can I advise you that the ways of the world will never fulfill you- they will never complete you.  Alcohol numbs, drugs mask, gambling steals and sin can be fun but it will never be enough.

Sin will always leave a void.

Sin will always leave you craving more.

Sin will rob you of the chance to have complete happiness.

If you believe in Jesus but are still dabbling in the things of the world can I ask you why you are putting your eternity on the line? What is keeping you from surrendering it all to Him that promises and promotes those who call Him father? Why risk an eternity of joy, abundance of happiness and a peaceful heart for a temporary break from reality?

False balance and unrighteous dealings are extremely offensive and shamefully sinful to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.
Proverbs 11:1

Ask yourself what the true expense is of flirting with your preferred sin; what is it worth to you and how does that compare to the ultimate choice of eternity?

Don’t spend one more day dabbling, running or avoiding the Lord.

Sell out completely to Jesus. If you need deliverance pray to Him, find a church, find someone to pray with, pray for deliverance and healing and surround yourself with good people who will encourage you.

When you stop running and stop dabbling the Lord can accomplish so much more for you! I promise if you truly surrender to the Lord you will never look back.

His love will be more than enough to fill that hole the world has left in you.

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

Through The Storm To The Shore

When you are trying to swim in the largest storm of your life know that God is there. He sees you struggling, He sees you trying to conquer the large waves and He knows you long for safety on the shore. While you are swimming and the waves keep coming over you, remember it’s not about what you can do alone in the storm. It’s about reaching out to the Lord. You are in the storm for a reason, and many times the only way out is to realize you cannot rescue yourself.

If the problem-baring storm was about our ability to save ourselves, then why would we end up in the storm in the first place? Couldn’t we fix everything ourselves before we got there? If the storm was about our ability to save ourselves then we would never put ourselves in the storm in the first place.

When we aren’t able to fix our storms, when a floatation ring doesn’t exist we immediately blame our circumstances, our close relationships, or the unfair ways of the world for the reasons things didn’t work out. We somehow manage to tell ourselves the lie that these are the cards we have been dealt and we must deal with them. Since we can’t fix it, we push blame elsewhere and then try to live with the lie that we have to live with the debris from the storm.

Can I challenge you with one idea? That perhaps it’s not the world, it’s not the people in our lives, that perhaps the reason we are struggling is because the storm is about us. That we cannot be our own heroes, that we are not strong enough or wise enough to solve the harsh storms that we face.  That no matter how much blame is pushed on others that it’s not about other peoples inabilities, or how they have failed us.

The reason why we are in the storm is because we need to understand that our weakness is a reminder of our dependency for the one that created us.

You are not in the storm for you to save yourself or for another person to save you. You are in the storm so you can clearly see your Savior.

 Getting through the storm to the shore simply starts with Jesus.

He will take you out of your storm, heal you and surround you with love. Don’t fight the waves any longer, instead give it all to Jesus and He will calm the waves around you so you can land softy on the shore.

Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble,

And He brings them out of their distresses.

 He calms the storm,

So that its waves are still.

 Then they are glad because they are quiet;

So He guides them to their desired haven.

Psalm 107:28-30

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

Randomosity: Part 5

Randomosity: The state of being or being part of random occurrences & activities. Also known as being in a state of complete randomness

 A few thoughts from this week: Many let the world run them.  Know that it’s never too late, no matter what you face to simply talk to Jesus. It all starts with one prayer, one conversation. Be encouraged today, the Lord knows what we face, He single-handedly can conquer any problem!

He, not for one single day gave up on you, even when you turned, even when you ran. He is always there. Today is not too late to start a relationship with Jesus. It’s not too late to open your bible, it’s not too late to praise.  Don’t miss your opportunity today to get straight with Jesus.  What have you given to the one that gave so much to you? He gave you life, He gave you freedom.  The world calls for a recipe of anger, mourning and fear but God calls for an abundance of joy, love and peace.  Put Him first today. Give Him Glory. Share His truth. Be thankful. Find Him in the BIG and little things.  He can be seen in everything. Thank Him for painting hope in the sky each morning, for filling our hearts with love and for renewing us each day.

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

You Are Worth It

Some of us have been trampled with problems, with decisions that lead us down a troubled road. Our past is ugly. Our sin is great and we have a hard time forgiving ourselves.

We run from what we did. We run from what we decided. We run from the truth.

We might consider our selves not good enough, we might say things like: “I messed up to much,” “I’m not even close to perfect,”  “I am ashamed of what I did.”

But the truth is we can’t go back, we can’t undo what has been done.

No matter what you are hiding from, no matter why you are running, no matter what you face- know that you are WORTH something. You are worth eternity, you are worth everlasting love, YOU ARE WORTH IT.

God created you for a reason and even though you have made wrong decisions, even though you might have known God but turned from Him, know that He is still waiting to hear from you.

He never gives up on you, even when you give up on yourself.

You can blame the world, blame the hurt, you can blame others, blame your circumstances or your past, or you can stop. Stop the blame, stop the hurt, stop running and stop holding yourself to an unworthy standard that God doesn’t agree with.

Go to Him, go to God and lay out all your hurt, your mistakes and your pain. He knows you have been running, He knows your stuff- yet He still wants you; He still calls you a son or daughter, His love never stopped, no matter what you did…

He thinks you’re worth it. He thinks your beautiful, even the flaws and the imperfections. God doesn’t require us to be perfect. He knows that we will fall short, but He does require a relationship with Him. Don’t spend another day trying to run through the pain of the world. Plant yourself with the Lord, talk to Him and proclaim that you are worth it because you are a mighty child of the most high God!

In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor,

Ephesians 1:7 (AMP)

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

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