Woke!

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

There is or was a popular hashtag going around about being woke.  #woke This simple tag was a call for people to look at the injustice that is around them.  Injustice that perhaps they ignored or wanted to dismiss because they believed that the horror and deceitfulness of man’s heart could not be true.  Perhaps some were content to stay “asleep” because to be “woke” required them to examine their own hearts and make some uncomfortable adjustments.

I stayed away from using this hashtag because I felt it was also connected to increasing division in this land.  However, I think today I would use it to call out to people in a slightly different way.  I would call out to people to awaken to the light of His truth that is displayed in the glory of Christ.  My call, and I firmly believe His call, is to awaken our spirits.  We need to be awaken to the reality that as believers we have Christ in us, the hope of glory ( Colossians 1:27). We have His Spirit, the very nature of God, indwelling in us.  Sealing us as a deposit ( Ephesians 1:13) until the day of His return and we receive an incorruptible body( 1 Corinthians 15:53).

Wake up!  Come out of the darkness and into His marvelous light. We must awaken our minds and hearts to the truth of God’s Word.  We are loved.  We have access to the source of power and strength to do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13). We can overcome because the Overcomer lives in us ( John 16:33).  We can walk in victory and freedom because of Christ.  His word tells us this truth in 2 Corinthians 3:17 -Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  Remember, His Spirit, lives within.  Let His Spirit waken our spirit so that we can experience the abundant life that He wants us to hav. 

We don’t have to be down and defined by the wickedness if this generation.  We don’t have to be anxious about injustice.  God sees and knows.  

Galatians 6:9 says “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”  So yes, the  injustices of this world are present.  Evil is present, but even so much more our Lord is present.  He sees and hears.  He will repay.  

He will also guide us, the believer, in the path of righteousness for His Name sake.  He will forgive us for our sins, we only need to confess and ask. We can trust Him and experience joy and peace in the midst of this mess. 

For those who don’t believe, you too can have Jesus living on the inside.  You can have access to His peace, faithfulness, strength, power and love.  You only need to choose today to trust and believe in the One who loves You and the One who saves.

Father, You have given us the truth.  You have given us your Spirit.  May we tap into the treasure that is you and be awaken to the truth of your love.  Let us see You, hear You, and follow You.  Father be gloried.  In Jesus name. Amen

Welcoming the children

He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”~Mark 9:36-37

Sometimes I can forget the gravity of my job as an educator.  Being a teacher is so much more than the curriculum, policies, and procedures of my classroom or building.  Being a teacher, in our schools and in our homes, places us on the front lines of welcoming the Father through our children.  

When we reach out to those who are our most vulnerable, to those who are seeking guidance, we must do so with an open heart and with love. We must look beyond what we see with the human eye and look at each of them with spiritual discernment.  

These are our children.  They are from all different races, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, and cultural experiences. They are our children and they are God’s children and we must welcome them.  We must love them.

We must remain open to the hope of who they will become in Christ Jesus.  We must plants seeds of righteousness in them.  We must cultivate the principles of God’s word in their lives.  We must love each of them with sincere hearts.  We must embrace them.  

Yes, times have changed.  Today’s classroom looks different than it did when I grew up.  I am shocked and saddened by what I hear from the mouths of babes.   Their innocence is being stripped by what they are exposed too. And sadly, we must take the blame for some of it as a community.  However, we still have an opportunity and a responsibility to expose them to Christ.  To welcome them with open arms just like our Father has done for each of us.  

Father, please bless our children. Forgive me for the times when I have backed away, throwing up my hands instead of praying for abs with those in my charge.  May I embrace your children as I embrace You.  May my love for them soften hearts just as you have tenderized mine.  May I be sensitive and obedient to your word. In Jesus name I pray.  Amen

Note to self: Stop Striving

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”~Psalm 46:10

I started this blog because I felt the Lord leading me to share with others the words that He lays on my heart.  I wanted to be an instrument of encouragement and a witness to the beauty of God as He continually transforms me through His Spirit ( Romans 12:2).

In doing so God has also allowed me a space to discover a love for writing and a means to process what I hear from.  A means of putting it down on paper so that I can make “tangible” those things that are intangible.  It has been a blessing to pour out myself to others for His glory.

However, I must also be aware of my propensity to strive to do His work rather than just trusting in Him.  God has called me to proclaim His word and He has graciously allowed me to be a participant, but I can not let the call supersede the One who has called me to it.  My good intentions fail in comparison to His will.  I must learn to be at peace and rest in just being the conduit He chooses to work through ( John 15:4).  I don’t need to create the work because He has already prepared the work for me in advance ( Ephesians 2:10).

No, I just need to be still.  I need to listen so that I can discern His voice.  So that I can hear whatever He tells me to do next.  I don’t need to see the outcome that He has already promised to me if I obey.  An outcome where His name will be glorified.  An outcome where others will be drawn unto Him as He is lifted up ( John 12:32).  An outcome of peace and the hope of hearing Him say, by the grace of God, well done my good and faithful servant ( Matthew 25:23).

This applies not only to the ministry, but in my everyday walk with the Lord. I must stop striving to be the perfect wife,  mom, or daughter.  I have to stop striving to get everything right on the job. Yes, I want my conscience to be clear before God and man ( Acts 24:16).   But He has told me to trust in Him, to seek Him first, to yield my life to Him and then allow Him to work it all for my good and His purpose ( Romans 8:28).  He will work  things out in my home, relationships, and on my job if I just learn to be still and trust Him to be God.  

I don’t have to strive for those things. No, all I have to do is surrender to His will and be still. Be still enough to see the amazing awesomeness of God completing His work in me ( Philippians 1:6).  He is God and He excellent at being God. I must keep myself out of the way and off of the throne where only He belongs. I can’t let my intentions create a mess.

Lord, this is not my blog nor is my ministry.  It all belongs to You.  Do with it as You will.  Do with me as You will.  May I be still before You and trust You to provide whatever it is You have for me to do. Forgive me for those times when I strive rather than rest in your sovereignty.  In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Give thanks..

You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.~Psalm 118:28-29

God is good and He is worthy!  He worthy of our praise and our adoration!  He is worthy of our devotion and all of our gratitude.  He is God y’all!  He is the One who wakes up.  He is the one who walks with us each day, even we try to run away because we act like we know better than Him.  And yes, He is God, the One who picks us up when we trip over our own feet.  He is Lord and He is sovereign.  He reigns wether we acknowledge it or not.  He is eternal. He is the beginning and the end.  He is God!  He is my God and I will praise Him!

So often I ask spend so much time in my prayer life asking God for everything.  He is the source, my provider, and I depend on Him.  Yet, it is also important that I take the time and make the time to simply offer praise and blessings to my God who gives me everything; things that I could’t even imagine that I need and want.  It is important to delight in God and to experience the peace and joy that comes from simply saying thank you.  

It is important to “prepare” for prayer.  To place your heart, mind, and body in a position of surrender to not only talk to God, but to also hear from Him.  To hear the whispers of love, comfort, correction, and direction that He speaks to our soul.  How awesome it is to know that my God speaks to me and you and that He gives us ears to hear and understand.  

Our God is great.  May we extol is virtues and express His character to others in the choices  we make today.  May we simply praise the Lord for all that He is!  In Jesus name.  Amen

May we be gentle

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ~Philippians 4:5

The world needs love.  They need to know that the Lord is near.  They need to know that they are not alone, forgotten, or overlooked.  They need to see for themselves that Jesus exist and that He cares about them.  The world can see this truth as we express His love through our gentleness.

Gentleness is defined as disposition, an inherent characteristic, towards kindness.  And kindness is defined as being friendly, generous and considerate.  So when we are gentle with others we are walking in humility.  We lead with a servant mindset thinking of others before ourselves. We follow after Jesus who was a humble servant giving His life for us all ( Mark 10:45)  

Being gentle cost us nothing but our pride and maybe a little of our time.   It does not take much to smile at a stranger or take the time to open our mouths and say good morning to a co-worker.  It does not take much to be patient with those who may move at a slower pace than we want in the grocery line.  It does not take much to think about if they words we utter will encourage or cause more harm. It does not take much to listen, really listen, to what others are going through and offering a kind word or maybe just lifting a prayer up on their behalf.

Gentleness can start in the home and be carried wherever we go.  Today I encourage us all to lead with a gentle spirit.  May we look for opportunities where we can express kindness and compassion so that others may know the Lord is near.  May I actions of kindness be used to touch someone today on behalf of our gracious Lord.

Father, may your spirit of gentleness flow through me and your people today.  In Jesus name. Amen

Lessons from a battery..He is the Source

He gives strength to the wear and increases the power of the weak.~Isaiah 40:29

Yesterday, the battery of my cellphone dropped suddenly and rapidly.  This was not the first time it happened, but it still caused a slight panic. I turned it off to try to preserve what little power remained,  but to my dismay it actually seemed to make it worse.  I use my cellphone at work so I had a charger with me.  I was going to be okay right? Wrong! 

I plugged my phone in expecting the battery bars to grow, but again it decreased.  Now I really was worried.  I use my phone to study, do my devotionals, connect with others in ministry and blog.  I also use it to count my steps.  This girl needs every step counted. So I was a little nervous. I prayed about it and the phone did begin to charge! Whew! Relief! Insert praise here!

It’s just a cellphone.  Batteries die.  It happens to everyone.  Why would you want to know my story, if you are still reading my post? Well, God teaches me through every day events and He brings me back to Him and some truths.  

First,  am not an energizer bunny.  I can’t just keep going and going and expect not to be drained. I have to be intentional about tapping into the source of my power and strength.

Secondly, I don’t have to panic when I become weary or feel depleted.  I can be recharged by spending time in His presence.  By fellowshipping  in His Word.  

And yes, I might need to be recharged several times in one day, but that’s okay because He is there with me.  Ready, able and willing to increase my strength and power so that I can fulfill my purpose.  I only need to look to the source, the real one-Him.

Father I thank You for increasing my strength and power when I am weary.  Thank You for being You.  May I  seek You and rely on You to empower me to do the work you have purposed for me.  In Jesus name. Amen

No jam is too big for God

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.~Psalm 62:1

I love the way my Father works. I say this often, but only because it is true.  His ways are indescribable, but oh so precious to me.  Today He turned one of the most horrific traffic jams into a jam session of praise and worship.  My Father created a space where my soul could find rest.  A time and space where I could look up to Him and find salvation.

Salvation for my mind and emotions that have been on a roller coast ride as of late.  Salvation for my body as I received the healing I needed to do this day.  Salvation for my weary soul as He poured His love into me.  Salvation from getting irritated by things outside of my control.  

My Father knew I needed more.  More of Him. More of His peace.  More time to simply sit at  His feet.  More time to meditate on His word.  More time for true rest that can only be found in Him.  He knew I needed it and He supplied just as He said He would. But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus ( Philippians 4:19).

God took the time to reveal Himself to me.  To remind me of  just how mighty of God I serve. So no matter what “ jam” you might find yourself in, remember that Jesus turned water into wine and my car into a sanctuary.  So He can turn what seems like the worst and the unbearable into a blessing beyond measure if we yield to Him.  Jesus is our rest and He is our salvation.

Jesus, thank You for hearing my prayers and thank You for answering my pleas.  Thank You for slowing me down and placing me in a place of rest.  You are my salvation and You are my peace.  In Jesus name I pray. Amen

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