Make It An Easter To Remember

As we prepare to celebrate this Easter season I’m taken back to the summer of 2014 after years of seeking after God and fighting for what I thought was best for my life.

In summer of 2014 I surrendered my will and packed up my belongings and moved to So Cal.  Throughout my journey I had experienced God in the ebbs and flows of life but nothing like I’ve since my move, until I fully surrendered all I loved and lived for.  It was at this time I began to experience the Truth behind Scripture that references seeking God with all of our heart, soul and mind.  Deuteronomy 4:29& 30

I see clearly the hand of God at work.  But I needed to do my part.  Now at this time in life I can see newness of life for me.  The things of old have clearly slipped away.  Now this doesn’t mean I won’t have pangs as memories surface, and many of those memories are sweet.  But for the trials in life that worked hard to take me out, well those have been replaced with new purpose.

His plans for this next journey in my life are beginning to surface as He stirs within my heart the urgency to reach women in every stage of life and challenge them to seek after God with all their heart, soul and mind.  When doing this we experience the power of God living inside of us! The power many of us miss out on because we’re too busy attempting to do things in our own strength.

There is nothing God cannot do when we’re surrendering and seeking after Him!  This action provides God full access to use us without “us” hindering His plans.  Read His Word and you too will see the many acts of love, kindness, sacrifice, and power He displayed so others would be courageous enough to step forward and begin their journey with Him.  The forces working against us are the very things God is working out for our good.

In an ever changing, callous and confused world we live in, is there any doubt we need more Kingdom Keepers?  Together we can walk out “on earth as it is in heaven” and bring the Kingdom of heaven to this earth one life at a time.  As we prepare for eternity should we not be preparing others so they too can experience the love of God that transforms lives.

I want to encourage you to reach out to the women in your life and share the hope of Jesus this Easter season.  Spread the good news that Jesus has risen!

Let’s fight for each other vs. against one another as we seek freedom to live life abundantly in an ever changing world. The sacrifice God made for us clearly represents the sacrifice of a loving Father who desires us to experience all He has purposed for us.  Now we just need to take that leap of faith!  The faith that drives out fear and provides strength and wisdom to walkout our journey in the power of a living God who loves us.

Who would not want to test that out!

I challenge you today as we approach Good Friday and Resurrection Day to surrender those things that have you tangled up.  The remaining life “things” that work hard to discourage you and bring you down.  Step out and trust God to raise you up and stir up the purposes He has for the rest of your life.  And then go share the power of Christ living in you and how that is being worked out so others can be set free too!

Play it forward, Pray it forward!

May the blessings of our loving Father be upon you and may you experience the newness of Christ living and working through you.

Advertisement

One Day Jesus Said…

Luke 8:22-25

“Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.  In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

Have you found yourself drowning in the trials of life, and crying out for God to rescue you?

I know when I’ve gone through trials of any kind I become anxious for God’s intervention. I long for my day of reprieve!

But recently I’ve been pondering the question, “Can we become all we were created to be without experiencing the storms of life?”

So as I reflect I begin to cringe over what might have become of me had I not gone through uncomfortable seasons where loss and sorrow came crashing in.  What if I traveled this journey to never experience God’s hand of power over my life that refined me in the fire!  Or, to see God work his power in the healing of broken hearts, broken dreams, and failed health. These are seasons we try hard to escape but they’re also the seasons which bring us closer to God. It’s when these storms have settled down we find ourselves clothed in His image reflecting the glory of his love and power over our lives! What a beautiful plan for the pain that is inevitable in life.

And I can’t help but wonder if I would hurt for a broken world or just be happy I am not that broken had I not walked through some seasons that produced storms?

And what about the faith needed to overcome the evil schemes of the enemy God cautions about in his Word?  Would my compass reflect a woman of faith?

As much as I/we want our lives to be stress free we all know that is not “real” life.

Like the disciples that cried out and saw the power of God respond it’s my prayer we will continue our journey in confidence knowing we serve a powerful God.  Our God who desires to bring us to complete knowledge and understanding of His love for us through an unshakable faith.

May all your seasons leave you amazed by his love for you and yours!

Love. Changes. Everything.

 

 

 

From the beginning of time our world has been changing, evolving. We’ve gone from the beginning of time to what some are calling today, the end time. But no matter how you look at it, it’s been constant change. Each generation brings change, a new way of doing things and thinking about things.

Take the little # sign for instance. Over the years this little # sign has taken on a different meaning for people.

For example, #Pound or #hashtag?

I heard a funny story the other day of a guy who is considered a Gen X gave his gate code to his friend who is considered a Millennial and his friend could not get the gate opened to his complex. After numerous attempts he called to make sure he was entering it correctly. Yes, it’s 1-2-3-4# (pound). His friend tried again and as he said, 1-2-3-4 he stared blankly at the keypad looking for the pound sign. As he paused looking for the pound his buddy said, Oh I guess for you it’s “hashtag” and the gate opened.

Even the smallest change can impacts us.

Now I realize I am using a small example of change when I speak of the # sign but we all know change is inevitable.

God’s Word tells us to not conform to the ways of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. (Romans 12:2)

God’s plan was and still is to keep his people settled, secure and confident in that He is in control even when the world is in constant change. Some of the change we encounter will be uncomfortable but whether it is good or bad we must embrace God. In our embracing God fear will dissipate and we will then be able to live in the change without jeopardizing who we are and what we believe. This is when God’s love can shine through us and we can be the change in the world we want to see while remaining true to him and his ways.

Christians lived and shared their faith differently 2000 years ago than they do today. However, our God has remained the same. God does not change.  He is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8) We too need to learn to be creative in how we reach the world for Christ. We will need to open our minds and heart to how we share our story, and how we will love like God loves.

His command to love one another and to love him with all our heart, soul and mind is meant for every generation past, present and future. Whether it is #thatshowyouchangetheworld or #2015 this command was given for our good so we too would know how to walk in an ever changing world with dignity, truth, love and hope as we move toward the end time.