Greetings!

What a great and awesome God we serve. He never leaves us...not for a moment. He is constantly there to help lead us to our most highest selves. His love is so massive...that we can't even begin to comprehend the depth of it. He is so much more than our words have a right to describe. His name is above all names. The word says that demons tremble at the sound of His name. It also says that when we submit to God, resist the devil, he has to flee (James 4:7). He has no choice. THAT is how big our God is. So why is it that we still get upset when people disappoint us...when they hurt us...when they act human....

I believe the reason is that we expect others to always put us...our feelings above their own. To treat us like they would want to be treated...to live by God's standards. We keep looking to them and not to God, and every time we do that, we will be disappointed. The thing is to love each other the way God loves us...unconditionally. I know that is easier said than done, but God knew that we wouldn't be able to do it on our own. First, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to save us, then He left us a helper...The Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us through all those times when our "flesh" wants to be in control.
We have to be willing to give up what we want and accept what God wants. In John 15:17 it simply says," This is my command: Love each other." Period. Not because you treat me right...not because I deserve it....not even because I want to...but, because God has commanded it.

So, this week, let God lead. Open your heart to Him, and allow Him to do a work in you. Put Him in the middle of every relationship--and then watch Him work.

Until next time...

Be blessed!

Greetings!

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. --Psalm 46:1

I have been thinking of things that I can do to keep moving in the direction God is calling me to, and I realized that God has been slowly taking me step by step to where He needs me to be. In the past, I have tried to rush that process because I felt that it was taking too long, or that I should be much further along than I am, but I know that God’s plan is perfect, and I am learning that when I wait on Him it works out much better for me in the long run.

Even in the work that I am currently doing…my manager doesn’t even understand how I got the job—and she hired me! I am doing a job I have never done before…I’m not sure why I even applied. Actually, this is the third time that has happened. And each time, once I had learned what God wanted me to learn, something happened to cause me to move.

The first time, I learned how to write within specific guidelines, and restraints. But, my work began to be repetitive. I was no longer learning anything new…just doing the same thing over and over. The second time, I was in a division that allowed me the opportunity to work with various types of people, and cultures…then, there was a big departmental re-structure, and I had to change departments. I am now traveling to different cities in the area, and speaking in front of groups…I am moving further and further from my comfort zone. I can see how God has used my secular work to move me closer and closer to my purpose in ministry.

This week, I delivered two presentations at work. I learned two things from that experience...one, is that people respond to confidence; and two, God is everywhere we are. I was one of several presenters, so I had an opportunity to watch and learn. Some presenters were really vested in what they were doing, and it showed in their presentations. Others were there because someone sent them.

I was so nervous, that I’m not even sure what I said. All I wanted to do was say what I needed to say and get back to my seat. When I was alone in my car, the Holy Spirit began to speak to me about my performance. The one thing that He spoke into to my spirit was that I was so nervous because I had taken my eyes off God. In that setting, I forgot that I could still rely on Him to help me in my time of need. I will never do that again.

I realized that no matter where we are or what we are doing, we need to always seek God's counsel…before, during and after. Our confidence is in Him. When we put Him first in everything we do, He will cause the work of our hands to prosper.

Until next time…

Be blessed.

Greetings!

This week was review time on my job. That’s when I get to see myself through someone else’s eyes. It’s an uneasy process for me. Not because I worry about how my manager sees me…it’s more because we have to do a personal review of ourselves, and I always struggle every year with how to handle that. I don’t want to sound too full of myself, but I know I work hard…I just don’t know how to translate that into a scale of 1 to 5. Of course, my ego says I should rate all fives, but realistically I know that may not be 100 percent accurate.  

As we sat down to go over her goals for me and those I had for myself, it made me think about how God sees me. I know that we are on the mind of God, and I want my life to please Him, but I know that I don’t always live a life that is pleasing to Him. I mean I try, but I fall short many times. Then, I came across this scripture, "Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them" (Hebrews 7:25—AMP).

This scripture says that I am forgiven. That Jesus Christ, Himself watches over me. That lets me know that I don’t have to worry about how anyone else sees me. I don’t even have to worry about how I see me. God thinks I’m someone special. If He didn’t, He wouldn’t have sent His one and only Son to save me.

So, this year I won’t struggle so much with that scale. I work for the Lord, and He has already approved me.

Until next time…

Be blessed!

Greetings!

 On my last post, I stated that I would do something every day to get closer to my purpose. This past week has been really challenging to say the least. My oldest sister became ill, and I had to put my plan on the back-burner. Actually, God may have used her illness as an opportunity to show me a few things regarding His plan for me.

First, I know that when I am pressed, I turn to Him. My faith did not waver. For some reason, before this incident, I felt that my faith was weak...that I needed to trust Him more. But when the doctors basically told us that my sister was in a fight for her life, my spirit began to pray. I refused to receive the doctor's report. I know God to be a healer, and I just knew He would get the glory from this situation.

Second, I took my mind off me. I didn't have time to focus on me or my problems. I had to reach down inside of me and focus instead on the God in me. Not on what I wanted from God, but on what God wanted from me. And, I believe God wanted to bring my family to a higher level of faith in Him. Family members that may not have prayed in a long time, began to pray...and they were praying for someone else.

Finally, I realized that my time is not God's time. And even though I know that...I still sometimes expect God to move when I want Him to. God is not our personal genie. He is not standing by waiting for our list of "I wants." He knows the outcome, He is just waiting for us to catch up to what He has already done.

If our purpose here on earth is to worship God, and to praise Him...in spite of our circumstances and situations, then I guess I did do something to get closer to my purpose. Praise God!

Until next time...

Be blessed.