Reflections of His Glory

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. ~ 2 Corinthians 3:18

Each day is a gift.  An opportunity to become like Christ.  It’s a privilege given to us through Jesus Christ because when He died on the cross taking on our sin and rose again the veil was torn in two.  Because of Jesus we have direct access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18).  We can approach the throne grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).  And when we get in the presence of God His Spirit transforms us.  We reflect on His glory as we worship Him.

As we walk through this journey on earth there should be a difference about us as believers, God’s chosen people (1 Peter 2:9).  We should be lights that shine bright for Christ, this is our reasonable service.  So, as we breathe in and exhale, let’s breathe the sweet aroma of Christ on others (2 Corinthians 2:15). 

Let us endeavor to surrender our lives to Christ and spend time in His presence so that we can become more like Him; kind, loving, faithful, and true. We don’t have to strive, but trust God and His process.  Yes, this may include trials and tribulations.  But remember Jesus suffered and our suffering will not be in vain. The joy on the other side of that possible sorrow is that we are more like Him and others will be blessed because of it. Let us be the fruit of God so that others may see and taste of His goodness.

Father, as the song says, “let me come into Your glory.  For in Your glory there is peace and Your glory Your reveal yourself to me.” You show me who I am meant to be.  You are God and I want others to see You in me.  I want to glorify you in my everyday actions.  I want to be an instrument worship.  I want to be more like You.  I want to decrease so that You may increase. So I humbly thank You for each day that You give me.  Let me live it with purpose and intention.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen

Hard Lessons- worth it

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Today in my First 5 studies of Chronicles we looked at the consequences of following your own understanding.  The consequences of good intentions rather than God’s will and word. In 1 Chronicles 13:5 we read “ And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God.”  This has always been a hard verse for me to swallow.  In my finite understanding I just think Uzzah was trying to keep the Ark from following off the cart.  But it wasn’t supposed to be on a cart in the first place.  It was to be carried on poles by the Levites (Exodus 25:12-15). Uzzah, unfortunately was doing what was right in his mind, even though they were good intentions it was a fatal decision.

No matter  what we may think, good intentions or not, we have to trust in God alone.  We have to let His will be done and word be followed.  As I say this, I think of God’s grace because we are all doing the best that we can.  Which is why we need Jesus because our good(best) is not enough.  We have to be covered by blood and rest in the goodness of our Savior.  We have to continuously inquire of the Lord for every decision; big and small.  We have to trust God to make our paths straight.  We also have to remember that God loves us fiercely.  He doesn’t love us because we are so good, but because He is.  He loves us because  we are His.

Lord, reading passages like today make even more grateful for your grace and mercy.  Help me to understand Your will.  Help me not lean to what I think, but trust in what You say, what You do and Who You are.  Help me trust You with all my heart and always seek You first.  Help me to wait on You.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen

Humpty Dumpty

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. ~Isaiah 40:2

There is a nursery rhyme called Humpty Dumpty. “ Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.  Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.  All the king’s horses and all the king’s men, couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty back together again.”   I used to be that egg, broken and disillusioned with life.  I knew God, but I doubted.  I let the shame of my mistakes and the lies of the enemy keep from realizing the truth.

Today, I consider myself a Fabergé egg.  I am put together and whole.  I glisten with blessings.  I am valued and loved because the King put me back together.  King Jesus pulled me out the mire and muck of sin.  The King took the shattered pieces of my heart and gave me a new one.  He gave me a new way to love and a new way to view love.

His grace and mercy gave me a firm place to stand.  I am not sliding and slipping, but firmly placed on the Rock of Christ.  He has seen  to every detail of my life.  There is not a piece of me missing. What man can not do, God did and I am grateful.  He restored me and gave me a new life.  There is nothing that God cannot do and no one that He cannot save.  Give Him a try, you wont regret it.

Lord, I thank You for love and Your redemption.  Thank You for transforming me and my life.  You are a good, good Father and I love you.  In Jesus name.  Amen

A Praise to God

 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” 

(Psalm 73:26, NIV).

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve posted. My heart was heavy and zi was weary, but God is my strength.  God is my everything.  Today I would like to offer a praise to My God.  I want to praise Him for His faithfulness and honor Him for His holiness.

I want to thank Him for His daily presence.  

I want to thank God for Jesus that ushers in salvation and the Spirit that grants sanctification.  I want to thank Him for His wisdom and grace.  I thank Him for His covering.  I thank Him for being God.

Lord, You know what I have been through and You are seeing me to the other side.  Thank You Lord.  I love You.  In Jesus name. Amen

Victory in the storm

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.Isaiah ~43:2

My pastor is currently teaching us about victory in the storm.  Storms are trials and tribulations.  They look like grief over the loss of loved ones, sickness and disease, financial strain and hardships, depression, and lack of clarity.  Storms are not fun when you are going through, but one thing remains true- God is with us.

We will not be swallowed up.  We will not drown. We will make it to the other side.  We just have to continue to put our hope and trust in God.  He is our anchor and  sure foundation.

The enemy wants us to withdraw from God, but now is the time that we draw even closer to Him.  Now is the time to feel His breath upon our spiritual skin.  God is good in every season and in Joshua 1:9  He reminds us to be of good courage because He is with us.

Lord,  help us to cling to You in the midst of the storm,  strengthen our faith and let us feel your love.  Even when we don’t understand they why we know You are working it out for our good.  Help us to cling to the truth of You.  In Jesus name. Amen

Jehova El- My God

 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield[ and the horn[ of my salvation, my stronghold. ~Psalm 18:2

Jehova Eli means my God.  In Psalm 18 we find David praising and worshipping God for his deliverance.  David has a personal relationship with God.  It is intimate.

Just as God was a rock for David, He has been and is my rock.  God is my firm foundation.  I stand on the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is my King, Savior, and friend. My God is a deliver and refuge .  He is my safe space. My peace amongst chaos.  He is my anchor.

I have been walking with Christ for most of my life, but I still desire a more intimate relationship with Him.  I know that this obtain by spending more time with Him.  More time with His word.  It requires me to be still and hand the reigns over to Him.

As my pasture shared one Sunday, when I am still I can become more aware.  I can hear clearly His voice .  He reveals Himself to me.  He makes me aware of His availability.  I can go to Him about any and everything because God cares about the details of my life.  

And when I go to Him I can trust that He will respond.  The Lord hears us when we cry out to Him.  He will respond and assure us of His promises.  He will fulfill them all because He is God.  He does not lie.

My God is the only wise God.  Ruler of everything and I  grateful to know Him.  Grateful that veil has been torn and I have direct access to Him.  Thank You Lord.

Father, may I consistently make time for You.  May I be a doer of Your word.  You have granted me salvation and now May I continue to be sanctified; set a part for Your purpose in the Kingdom. Give me a clean heart and a renewed spirit.  Bless Your people.  In z Jesus name I pray. Amen

Chosen

 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”  John 15:16 (NIV)

I am preparing to go back into the classroom for another year.  I could retire, but God has not released me.  As I read the verse above I have a reinforced perspective about my calling as a teacher.  I did not choose this career, but God chose me for it so that I may do His work.  And the bonus is that He has helped and will help me to do it. 

I have an opportunity to touch many lives for Jesus.  I have the responsibility to bear fruit.  The fruit of grace that comes from knowing my Savior.  The fruit of gentleness and kindness because although I am in charge of my classroom I might be the only discipline with love that  my students see.

I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus as I walk through my school.  That  means less of me and so much more of Him.  I must decrease that He May increase. 

I pray that as I teach content and interact with my peers that others know Jesus. That I fulfill the purpose that He has for me.

Lord, I ask that You bless all the students that are returning to school and bless the teachers and staff.  May You get the glory in the schools.  May Your love abound.  Equip us to do your work.  In Jesus name. Amen

In His hands

 “The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” Lamentations 3:25-26 (NIV)

I received a call yesterday from someone dear to me.  The doctors want to take a closer look at her mammogram results.  She was calm and expecting me to be calm.  As I heard the news, I thought about my sick father-in law, my “sister-in law” who is going through treatment now, my friend who needs a liver transplant, and my co worker who is battling cancer.  Now this.  I was calm and I was encouraged by this fear person because she said what holds the key to peace.  “ I’m leaving it in the Lord’s hands.”

I have written before about this season of life.  It’s hard.  I pray and seek to pray for each person as God will.  I call on my God, the Almighty One and I leave it in His hands.  The outcomes of all these situations and circumstances I do not know, but I do know there is refuge in hope in the Lord.  He is mine their safe haven.  I know He answers prayer.  

I know that He provides a comfort that I never could and He is with His children.  He is good.  Yes, in the midst of what is overwhelming He is a good, good Father.  So I put it into His safe hands and rest.

Lord, You know what each and every person stands in need of.  You are our provider and shield.  You are our strength.  I ask that bless the ones going through trials and tribulations and their families too.  Strengthen us all and let us leave it in Your capable hands.  In Jesus name.  Amen

He is able

 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—  to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.~Jude 1:24-25

I haven't written in my blog this week because I really do not know what to say.  What does God want me to reveal?  I have had a lazy week.  The first of summer for me.  I haven't had any obligations so I have become the very definition of a couch potatoe.  Bing watching TV.  And today I feel like I have wasted an opportunity.  An opportunity to do more.

Sometimes I feel like I am not doing enough.  Like I'm not loving the Lord enough. I study His word, but I can't seem to hold on to it.  I pray that it finds good soil because I want to be  a strong woman of faith.  It saddens me, but then I am reminded that my salvation is not based on what I do.  It's not based on my striving, but its based on the work of the Savior.  Jesus who died for me and rose again.  

I believe in Him as I believe in the Father.  His word tells me that He is able to keep me from stumbling.  So I do not have to rely on my own strength, but on He who works in me.  Because of the shed blood of Jesus I am covered  by His righteousness.   I am so grateful.  Words are not enough to thank Him.

As for the guilt that enemy wants me to feel, I'm casting that behind my back because I know I work hard throughout the school year and I have worked this summer.  I  had a mental break and the work will begin soon.  My real work is not the content I teach, but the souls that I can reach.  God is in charge.  He knows my heart and I will not be yoked to bondage.

I guess I did have something to say after all.

Jesus, I thank You for the pause in my schedule to rest, but let me never forget that my real rest is found in You.  I thank You for the free gift of salvation and the mercy You give.  Thank You for keeping me upright and may i walk step in step with You.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Jesus

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.~John 3:16

God loves me.  He loves my neighbor.  How do I know this?  I know this because He sent His only Son to die for me.  Christ died an agonizing death.  A death where He took on the wrath of God for our sins; past, present, and future.  

We might say well Jesus was God so it didn’t cost Him much.  But Jesus was fully human and fully God.  His fully human nature without sin was mocked and beaten and nailed to a cross.  He was hung high and had to be separated from His Father because of the sin that was cast upon Him for our sakes.  On that Cross He died, but as a song says that not how the story ends because 3 days later He arose.  Victory over death.

Jesus is King. I need to always remember His sacrifice and humbly submit.  Jesus has already done enough, but my blessings don’t stop there because of His wondrous grace and mercy. Thank You Jesus.

Father I thank You for Your sacrifice and indescribable love for me and humanity.  May we all pause and worship Jesus the King who drank of the cup for us.  Granting us a path to salvation.  Let us never forget.  Let us live a life that brings honor to You.  In Jesuyname.  Amen

The mirror

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.~Psalm 139:14

I hate shopping.  I hate looking in the mirror and seeing the lumps and bumps.  It depresses me. I know that the majority of it is out of my control, but it is what it is.

Then I think about how God sees me.  I am reminded of His love for me.  I am more than my body and I do not need to compare myself to anyone or anything.  The Creator created me and He makes no mistakes.

I’m also reminded that it is good for me to look in the mirror, a spiritual mirror, and let the light of God shine on me so that I can see where I need Him to shape and mold me more like Him.  The enemy would have me down, but I will look up to Jesus and feel His love.

Lord, help me to see me as You see me.  Help me to choices physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually that reflect You and bring honor to You.  In Jesus name.  Amen

My refuge

 Nahum 1:7, “The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him” (NLT).

God is good.  He is merciful and kind.  He is a strong tower and refuge.  He is my resting place.  I’m in a season of life where family is aging and loved ones are passing.  It’s hard to see and hear the suffering of those who are ill.  I’m blessed to have many loved ones who still are with me and I shed a tear for those who are gone.  But I also rejoice knowing that their suffering is no more.  They are at home with the Father.  They are in God’s loving hands.  Peace eternal is their’s.  

Trouble comes, but I am not alone.  I have God.  I have my Father holding my hands and the hands of those dear to me.  I have a refuge and I trust Him.  I trust His timing and His Word.  I trust His love.  I am safe and I thank Him for His peace.  

Lord,  You know all things and all seasons.  You are my refuge and my strength.  You are God and I am grateful to be your daughter.  Thank You for all the many ways You come to my side and my family’s aid.  I love You.  In Jesus name. Amen

God is higher

 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.~Isaiah 6:1

I was praying this morning and God spoke to my spirit,”stop trying to bring me down to your level”.  I was trying to explain something in human terms that needed spiritual understanding.  God is so all encompassing and infinite.  I can’t explain Him in one complete thought.  There is nothing to compare Him to because He is incomparable.  He is God and His ways are above mine and His thoughts are above mine. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.(Isaiah55:8-9)

Don’t get me wrong, God wants us to understand Him.  He wants intimacy with us, but I need (we) to see Him though spiritual eyes.  We need to lift our eyes up as Jesus was lifted high on the cross. Everything is not going to fit into a neat puzzle box because God is bigger and grander than anything.  He is high and mighty.  He is all powerful.  He loves us to meet where we are at, but we shouldn’t mistake that for Him abdicating His rightful throne.

Lord, You are God.  You are mighty.  You are wonderful and majestic.  You are Lord of my life.  You are my God and I praise You.  Forgive me for those times when I try to relate to You with a carnal mind.  Give me spiritual eyes and ears so that I can learn of You.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Listen

 The one who has ears to hear, let him hear.- Matthew 11:15

Something stood out to me in my studies….familiarity and proximity does not necessarily equate to surrender.  I know God’s word.  I study it.  I pray.  But I have to be careful not to be prideful.  I have yet to obtain all the things that God has for me; all the ways He wants to transform me.

I have to hear His word with the intent and follow through of doing His word. If I hear what He is saying to me through the Holy Spirit and yet turn a deaf ear.  I chose not to hear.  I chose not to use the ears that He has given me.

It’s a blessing to be able read the word of God and understand.  He is revealing Himself to us.  He is showing us the way.  When I am convicted I must do more than regret.  I must acknowledge, surrender and turns towards that which He is pointing me to.   

The Lord convicted me to not be so familiar that I miss the new levels and layers that He is uncovering for me so that I might hear and listen.  I do now want to discount anything that He is revealing and miss my blessing.

Lord, I thank You for ears to hear.  Thank You for Your Spirit that guides and directs and also convicts.  I thank You for loving correction.  I thank You for Your word.  Keep me humble and hungry for You.  In Jesus name.  Amen

The race is not finished

 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.~Acts 20:24

I have two more work days of school left and then it’s officially my summer break.  Here’s the question though…Am I done?  No, because the ministry work that I do for Christ is ongoing.  I have to finish the race. Even in the summer there are opportunities to pour into others.  Whether it be our interactions with people in the grocery store, fellowshipping with family or worshipping in church we can make a difference for Christ.  We can share the good news about His love, mercy and grace.

This summer will be somewhat active for me.  I usually like to just chill, but God has other plans and it is for my good.  It is so that I do not get stagnant and develop stamina for the race He has set before me.  We all have a race to run and good news to share.  I pray that His word falls on good soil.

Lord, thank You for saving me and entrusting me with the good news.  May I run the race well and tell of Your marvelous deeds.  May someone know You better through the use of me.  In Jesus name.  Amen

The privilege of being a light

 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.~Matthew 5:16

We are living in a dark time, but I heard a minister say that we were appointed for this time.  It shifted my thinking.  I am living in a time with a purpose to be a light that shines bright on Jesus.  I get the opportunity to share with someone in a dark place the reality that Jesus is real. 

I get to be a beacon of love to others who may not otherwise see it.  I have had an entire year to impact the lives of my students and colleagues for the better, to imprint Jesus in their thoughts so that God can take control of their hearts.

I am not the light, just a reflection of Him.  He trust me and you with this mission as His children.  Anything that I do good is because of Him and through Him and it shines a light on Him in a dark place that is illuminated by the stars of His grace.

So yes, there are shadows and evil may look like it’s winning, but it’s not because God sits on the throne and His light illuminates everything.  He is the way. And when join together in unity think about bright of a beacon that is all over the world.

Lord, I thank You for the privilege and opportunity to be a light to others who might be walking in the shadows.  Thank You for works that You do through me and others.  Thank You for Your Son.  In Jesus name.  Amen

His loving eye is on us

 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.~Psalm 32:8

Yesterday, I came upon this post by Tamara Mowry  sharing the scripture above.  She broke it down in such a way that stood out to me and I want to share it with others. 

 Psalm 32:8 emphasizes God’s loving relationship with us.  First He tells us that He will instruct us.  He is giving us the directions for how to live.  He shares with us the boundaries that will keep us safe and warns us off the consequences of not aligning to His will.  But He doesn’t stop there because He says teaches us.

This hit home for me because as a teacher I show my students the way.  I scaffold lessons to help them learn and meet the mark and that what God does.  He doesn’t leave us alone to figure it out.  He teaches us the way to go.  As Tamara said, “He shows us”. 

In addition to showing us, He comes beside us and counsels us with His loving eye.  I think of the Spirit, the Helper, that is available to all believers.  The indwelling of the Spirit that leads us on the path.  God talking and walking with us.  He is intentional.

What a precious gift we have in Jesus.  What a loving Father.  We are not alone.  We are loved and precious in His sight.

Father, I thank You for having Your Word go forth.  Thank You for the seeds you plant in our hearts and the growth that comes.  Thank You for teaching us and counseling us.  Thank you for showing us the way.  Forgive us when we falter.  Help us to get back up and keep moving on.  In Jesus  name.  Amen

Worship Him

 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.~Romans 12:1

Today is a gift.  Another opportunity to praise and worship God.  Because of His great mercy and faithfulness we should make the most of each day by praising and worshipping God through our thoughts and actions.

Each of has a purpose and when we seek to fulfill that purpose we are worshipping the Lord.  Using the gifts that God has granted each of us to up build His z kingdom is worship.  Aligning ourselves to His will and choosing His way is worship.

Yesterday, I was prompted to choose my attitude and approach for the day.  It was a play on the word Tuesday, but every day we are given a choice to position ourselves for victory as we worship the Lord.  Even on the the rough days we can still choose to trust Him.  Choose to praise, honor, and worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord. ( Colossians 3:23-24).  Whether that be teaching, singing, working in an office, serving as a greeter, being a caregiver or a mom. Walk humbly with God and worship Him. Let your light shine so that others may see God.  

Lord,  today is a gift; an opportunity to worship You.  I do not have to wait until Sunday.  I can praise You right now through my actions and deeds.  I thank You for this opportunity and join with fellow brothers and sisters by lifting your name on High.  Forgive us when we fall short and help us to continue to put You first. Hides us behind You Jesus.  We will give You all the glory, honor, and praise.  In Jesus name. Amen

Steady

 Jesus Will

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. ~ Psalm 1:3

The word steady was used by a friend to describe me.  I immediately thought of this word.  It's not me that is steady, but Christ in me the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).  The hardship of battling with depression and anxiety is present, but my God is greater and because I tap into Him I can still yield fruit.

I am abiding in the Vine.  He is doing the work.  I am just yielding and letting Him have His way.  I am trusting that God is taking my good and my bad and working it for my good.(Romans 8:28)  Its shaping me and making me into the woman of God that He desires me to be.

So as my friend spoke life into me, I speak life into others.  You may feel fragile.  Like fine glass that might shatter, but remember Who is holding you.  Remember who holds your hands.  He will keep you steady.  You will bloom where you are planted.  The hardships will not overtake you because God has given you the way of escape-"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

For those who might be thinking my blogs are sounding familiar that is because battling with anxiety and depression is an ongoing battle.  But God delivers me from the oppression of the enemy by allowing me to share the truth of a mighty deliverer whose mercies are brand new everyday and every minute.  The battle comes, but He gives me the victory.  I just have to stay in position and disposition to receive it.

Lord, I thank You for another day.  I thank You for light in the shadows.  I thank You for victory.  I thank You for the steadiness of You.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen

I'm a Witness

 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. ~ Psalm 136:1

Lord, You are mighty and You are great.  There are not enough words to express the wonders of You.  You continue to bring me out of the traps that enemy tries to ensnare me with.  Every time depression would dare lift its' head, You put Your foot on its neck.  You save me.  You spare me.  You remind me that You deliver me from my afflictions( Psalm 34:19) You see me and You hold me.  You wipe every tear.  You comfort me as only You can.  Thank You for having your hands on me.

Lord. It is You who calms the storms that arise in my life.  You give me a spirit of joy.  Hallelujah!  You give me peace because of Your grace.  It is You who allows me to overcome.  You are a blessed Father and I blessed because of You.  Thank You.  Thank You.  Thank You.

I know that I am not the only one who deals with hard days and battle depression and I know that I am one of of many witnesses of how God is a deliverer.  I am a witness of enduring love.  If you are in a dark tunnel or dealing with a some form of hardship, hold on.  Know and trust that the Lord is their.  Even if it is a sliver of light, head towards it.  He is Your hope and He wont let you down.  He loves you just as much if not more than He loves me.

Jesus, I thank You.  Father, I love You.  Holy Spirit, I continually need You.  Bless Your people Lord and thank You for love.  You are great and mercy goes deep.  Thank You for the opportunity to praise You.  Forgive me and cleanse me of any and all sin.  Cover me with Your blood.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen