God Before Men

Matthew 10:32 Jesus’ promise, “ Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my father in heaven.”

We are in a time where there is an obvious division between believers and non-believers. Unfortunately there are also a lot of believers who do not represent Christ which makes it all the worse when Christians take a stand for their faith. In my book, “The Growing Christian” I talk about Jesus’s characteristics and qualities.

Here’s a few notes from my book-

Qualities of Jesus:

“Alertness, Attentiveness, Availability, Boldness, Cautiousness, Compassion, Contentment, Creativity, Decisiveness, Deference, Dependability, Diligence, Discernment, Discretion, Endurance, Enthusiasm, Faith, Flexibility, Forgiveness, Generosity, Gentleness, Gratefulness, Hospitality, Humility, Initiative, Joyfulness, Justice, Love, Loyalty, Meekness, Obedience, Orderliness, Patience, Persuasiveness, Punctuality, Resourcefulness, Responsibility, Respect, Security, Self-control, Sensitivity, Sincerity, Thriftiness, Thoroughness, Tolerance, Truthfulness, Wisdom, Virtue.” - from Christway Counseling Center

“When you can aspire to these qualities like Jesus, then it is fair to say you are a Christian. I didn’t say a believer, but a true follower and representative of Christ. To represent means to be appointed to act or speak for (someone). That holds a lot of weight and yet we throw around the idea that we are Christians even when we continue living in a way that goes against who Jesus is and who He’s calling us to be. No wonder people are pulling away from the Church, and criticizing the people in the church. Satan works hard in the Church, no doubt about it. It’s a great place to stir up some self-righteousness, and hatred. If we are called to love thers, then there is no place for pointing fingers at anyone but ourselves. We are only responsible for our own actions, not others. We don’t have to agree but we can learn to love those who differ in opinion, politics, religion, sexual orientation, parenting, and so much more with God’s help and only with God’s help. It’s not always easy but through Him it is possible. No need to be self-righteous when we are daily sinners, and all of us fall short of the glory of God. If we are to be true reflections of Christ, then let us love like Christ did.” -Rebekah Van Natta: The Growing Christian

In regards to the world, it is important for us as true followers in Christ to remember, not to let the world dictate or steal where our identity and our truth lies. We are confident in who we are because our identity is in Jesus. The world or “Satan”, wants you to believe that your identity is within yourself to choose or to question. That is utter chaos and confusion and we know from scripture that 1 Corinthians 14:33 “God Is Not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace”. This leaves the confusion, the questioning of, and the “freedom of choice” to be persuaded and manipulated by Satan. This is not freedom but slavery! Do not trade your freedom for a lie, it will tear and wear you down and your heart will be hardened to hear or see any truth at all. The power of the Holy Spirit, God within you, allows you the true freedom of peace, love, light, and joy. This all comes from understanding that God is our priority over men, over the world, over ourselves. The fact that Jesus gave His life for us at the cross to save us from our own sin, is our saving grace to give up our worldly lives and surrender to the cross daily, so as to lose ourselves, so that we may find ourselves in Christ. Matthew 10:39 Those who try to gain their own life will lose it; but those who lose their life for my sake will gain it.” This is not favorable in our fleshly bodies, it’s not favorable in the world, but it is the only way to God. We must ask Him to help us daily and trust Him more than we trust ourselves and this world. Luke 6:22 “ Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.” While we should try to live at peace with everyone and show love and kindness, there will be times that the world will reject even that. This is when we need to stay confident in Christ, and choose Him over the world. God will work all things out for His good, ultimately he is in control, even when then world feels like its spinning off into another dimension and chaos seems to be unending. I have no doubt in my God, and neither should you!

Choose Him first over yourself, over men, over this world. If you’re a believer stand firm in your faith and be a representative of Christ in this ever changing world. Be the light, and love others, even when they reject or hate you. Pray for your friends, pray for our country, pray for those who are lost and confused. Trust God to intervene even if it doesn’t align with your plan, His plan and His ways are always better!

The Waiting Period…

I am in the window of the waiting period… 29 weeks pregnant and little William could arrive any day now!

Maybe you feel you’re in a waiting period as well. Could be a job, finances, future plans, your family, friendships, your goals and it can all feel so uncertain and overwhelming. Not necessarily in a bad way but in a heightened way, a little nervous and excited. Sometimes I feel a bit of anxiety and then a burst of energy, happy yet I’m crying, sad but I’m happy, energized and then depleted! It’s a lot of emotions and those alone can take you on a wild ride if not dealt with appropriately and kindly. Remembering of course we are always in control of our emotions (even though it may feel we are not), but one thing is for sure, we are not in control of the timing of things. God’s timing is very different than our own and it’s best we trust His timing over our own. Isaiah 55: 8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” That alone is such a huge relief knowing that God has bigger and better plans for us than we have for ourselves. Don’t get me wrong, it takes a HUGE amount of faith to trust Him during the waiting period, but when we do, we often find His ways are just so much better than our own. The faith factor changes a lot of how I live out my day to day. Having child like faith is a gift and happens when you spend time in His Word. It gives you the freedom to surrender and trust God in every area and aspect of your life. It grounds you, guards you, and protects you in all times, especially in the hard times or times of waiting. Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." I talk about this verse a lot because it is the absolute truth. God always works things out for His glory and His good and in His PERFECT timing, we need this as a daily reminder in continuing to build our confidence and trust in Him. Our own doing is not enough, our own successes are not enough, not even to bring complete fulfillment and joy! It is only in Christ and through Christ that we will have a long lasting, eternal joy, one that can never be let down even when we fail or things do not workout in our favor. This life alone is fleeting, and our temporary success and happiness will always come and go, but when we allow God to work in us and through us, letting all the glory be His, that feeling of success or fail, win or lose will last a lifetime in gratitude and/or humbleness. A favorite family bible verse and one that I grew up with as a child is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” It’s comforting to know God has the best intentions for His children. Yes we live in a fallen world so there’s no promise it will be easy, and Jesus tells us that in the Bible multiple times. One thing we can rest assured is knowing that God has a plan for each of our lives. It may not always be what we expect, or how we’ve envisioned, but whether it’s in this lifetime or the next he has plans for us to thrive, produce, and to give us hope and a future. This of course is all dependent on Him not ourselves!

I’ve been reflecting on Jeremiah 29:11 everyday as part of my surrender prayer to God during my waiting period. In fact I’ll share my Birthing Prayer with you…

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” You are my God and my Lord, I trust in you, and declare your truth and your goodness. Help me stay focused on you, give me your peace, your strength, and your endurance. Deliver this child with grace, and swiftness. Keep us safe in your hands and help us work together as a team for your glory in building your Kingdom.

I am encouraged daily knowing how much God loves me, and that he designed me specifically for a reason, and specifically to have this Child at this particular point and time. The world seems to have gone mad, and yet we stride forward. We need more Children of God, we need warriors and leaders to help this nation and bring people back to Him. I’m honored that God has chosen me and given me this child to be the salt of the earth and a light in the world. To be a reflection of Christ in a world that is so broken, so lost, so dark and in desperate need of their Savior Jesus Christ. I pray daily for my Childs spirit, calling Him to attention in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, asking for God to make Him a man after His heart, and an advocate and leader for Him. I support my prayer with scripture from the timeless truth, Gods Word the Bible. I am excited to meet William soon and start my “mom ministry” in instructing, teaching, and loving him in the ways of the Lord.

It is not a time to be fearful.

It is not a time to be silent.

It is not a time to lose hope.

God is so good, and His timing is perfect. All I can do is be patient and faithful to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and know that He has everything under control! My faith rests in Him and Him alone.

Be strong, Be encouraged, and Be patient during the waiting period. God has better things in store, don’t run ahead of Him, trust Him!

Prayer Over Panic

For the last 2 years I’ve been diving into Scripture and soaking up God’s amazing Word and His truth! I LOVE the Bible, it’s been my favorite read thus far, and I read a lot! I skip around a lot in the Bible, but I read the full book or story which ever I feel God calling me to read. Sometimes I find my readings through my Church service, a conversation, a prayer, a question. I just finished Proverbs (my favorite) and Revelation and I was looking for a new story to read. My dad had 2 other favorites other than Proverbs and they were The Book of Ester and The Book of Daniel. Now I’m very familiar with both stories but I’ve never read Daniel all the way through in the Bible. There was a great reminder of the power of prayer as I started my read in Daniel.

A brief back story on Daniel-

“Daniel was a Jewish young man, probably of royal descent. As a late teen he was among those deported from Jerusalem by the conquering Babylonians in about 605 BC. After three years of formal education in the language and literature of Babylon, he became an official in the royal household.

Daniel was intelligent, reliable, and had the gift of interpreting significant dreams. But more than anything else it was Daniel’s character that distinguished him from many outstanding government officials in the empire. He had determined early on to always do what was right, and, no matter what the awful price, he kept that commitment throughout his long and productive life.” Found on inspirationalchristians.org

When Daniel heard that King Nebuchadnezzar was going to kill all the wise men of Babylon because no one could interpret his dream (this included Daniel and his three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) he went to the King himself and asked for some time, so that he may interpret the Kings dream for him. The King agreed and Daniel went back to his friends to ask and urge them to plead for mercy from God by prayer concerning the mystery of the Kings dream so that they may all be saved (including the other wise men). Through prayer and petition, God revealed the Kings dream to David and David was able to save all the wise men. He also became an adviser of the King and was able to bring his three friends onboard who became the Kings servants and advisers.

OKAY…where am I going with this!

Prayer Over Panic!

Let’s discuss.

The moment Daniel found out about his and all the wise mens executions he DID NOT PANIC! He went right to the source, GOD. Not only did he go alone to God, he invited his friends to PRAY FOR HIM! Prayer is so powerful! In my study notes of my bible it mentions that “ Prayer is more effective than panic. Panic confirms your hopelessness; prayer confirms your hope in God.” THAT IS A MIKE DROP! This is such great reminder to trust in God and His plans. PANIC is another version of FEAR, and the Bible tells us in Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” If we have Christ within, meaning the Holy Spirit is activated within us then we can rest in knowing we’ve already won Victory in any and every situation. In 2 Timothy 1:7 it says, “ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Fear is a spirit, panic is a reaction to fear! Do not be afraid, God is with you at all times! Even when there are times things do not work out in your favor, trust that God has a plan to restore you and make good of the bad that has happened. Prayer is effective when you believe and trust that God is a good God and that he wants the best for you. Panic will allow Satan to use whatever tactics he has to pull you down and create the sense of fear, thus questioning God’s goodness for your life. DO NOT ALLOW FEAR, this will put a target on your back for Satan and he knows how to hit his targets right where it hurts. Reject fear in the name of Jesus! Praying on your own is absolutely a necessity in drawing closer to God, but bringing others on board to pray with you and for you can do even bigger things! In Matthew 18:18-20 Jesus said, “When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.” How comforting is that? God is so faithful to us even though we don’t deserve it, we need to be faithful to Him and trust Him and His will for our lives.

Faith over Fear, Prayer over Panic!

Be empowered in knowing that you can choose prayer over panic and faith over fear! Ask God for help in every area of your life. Ask Him to help you be a mighty prayer warrior, to be able to reject fear and walk by faith, to be able to claim the name of Jesus and believe and know that He is with you, and ultimately be able to fully turn to Him before turning to yourself.

Let’s put our faith into action so we can truly see God work, in the good and the bad times, being reminded daily that He will make all things workout for His good!

Choose to Pray instead of Panic.

Choose to have Faith instead of Fear.

Work that muscle, because God loves you and he wants the best for you!

Get in the Back Seat Sister!

Any Carrie Underwood fans?? Carrie Underwood has a great song called, “Jesus Take The Wheel” and if you haven’t heard of this song, where have you been? This song was released in 2005 the chorus goes like this-

Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands
'Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
And save me from this road I'm on
Jesus, take the wheel

This is a great visual of how we should be living our lives, allowing God to be in control instead of our own selves. I was having a very passionate conversation with my sister last week about the world, people, Jesus, and how manipulative and cunning Satan is. As I was talking these words came out of my mouth, “Get in the back seat sister!” hence why I’m writing this blog! I was speaking from a place of sincere love for those who choose themselves over God. If our intention is to be the driver of our own lives, we should know that we have a shot gun buddy named Satan always willing to sit beside us and help us navigate on our own…into disaster! The opposite is having our intention set on Jesus and allowing Him to take the wheel and be our driver. Satan is super smart! A little whisper of his lies here and there can turn into a full on belief of his lies repeated over and over again. We entertain them by listening, which eventually turns into believing, and then we act on them.

Let’s be honest, none of us like backseat drivers! Backseat drivers are annoying, irritating, and super distracting and thats exactly where Satan wants you. Frustrated, irritated, lost, confused, angry, driving in circles (which get’s you no where), going backwards, or getting lost! He’s the worst shout gun buddy and he will always call shot gun when you decide to drive yourself. It’s just too easy, and why not? You are totally vulnerable when you decide to choose your self over God. God is your protector, he’s your shield, your fortress, your rock, your leader!

Psalm 18:2 “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.”

When you decide to take on Gods role, and mind you, we cannot because we are not anywhere close to being able to replicate the God of this universe, we will always fall short! It’s not your fault, it’s just the sin that came with the territory of this fallen world. There’s a reason why Jesus came to do what He did for us. In John 14:6 “ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He is the only one who defeated sin perfectly and won the Victory that we undeservingly are able to receive when we place our faith, our belief, and trust in Him. There is no in-between when it comes to believing in Jesus and trusting Him. You are for him and with Him, or you are against Him. This is not sugar coated to make you feel good, this is the Word of God. And the coolest part is Romans 8:31 “ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? If we are choosing God, and trusting Him to be in absolute control over our lives, if we are choosing to let Him be the driver of our lives, and we are secure in knowing that he will make all things work out for His good, then why wouldn’t we hop in the back seat and let Jesus take the wheel?

I know it’s not that easy, (MRS. CONTROL FREAK WRITING) But with God’s help and surrendering daily, anything is possible! Matthew 19:26 “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Take the back seat and allow Jesus to take the wheel of your life! Again, “Jesus answered, “ I am the way”! He knows the way! He knows whats best for your life, he knows you better than you know yourself, trust Him and walk by faith, surrender to Him DAILY in being the driver of your life, to be your strength and your refuge, allow Him to shield you and protect you, because He wants the best for you! Even when life turns upside down, AGAIN rest in knowing God makes all things workout for His good, so yes it will be a daily TRUST and SURRENDER in order to be able to let go and let God. When you do, you crush Satan and his disastrous plans for your life. You tell him, “Get behind me Satan” because you’ve accepted the Lord Jesus Christ to take control of your life and no one but Him gets to determine where your life is going to take you. That obedience, and faith will be your guiding light, your truth, and your way! You will never get lost with God in the front seat driving, even when you don’t understand, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit you will receive the peace that goes beyond all understanding and most of all you will have the faith to get you through whatever and wherever God takes you!

Say it with me!

Jesus Take The Wheel!! AMEN

I Hate This Table

I have a story that reminds me often of a time I felt stuck with no way to make a change. As simple as this story is, and as funny as this story is, it is rooted in a sad truth that most people in this world experience daily with deeper aches and pains that come from the lies and burdens of this world, and of Satan. Let me share my story and then unpack it!

Years ago I had bought a simple high top square table that fit four. It was perfect for me because I was living by myself in a 850 sq foot, 1bed/1bath apartment in Denver. Shortly after the purchase I moved back to LA and moved in with my boyfriend (now my husband) and his son. It worked for a bit, but at some point we ended up pushing the table into a corner and hardly would use it. I remember staring at the table from the living room often and would say, “ I hate that table”. I don’t know what it was but I really hated that table. It felt awkward in our space, we never used it, and it took up space! Daily I would stare at that table, and think “I hate that table!” This went on for years! It never crossed my mind that I could get rid of that table and get a new one. I was stuck with that table, and that table was stuck with me! Maybe I felt, I can’t afford a new table, it’s a stupid idea, what’s wrong with this table?, we should be using this table, why don’t we use this table? I have no idea, but I was stuck thinking this is as good as it’s going to get! One day, maybe it was God I heard, “ Just get a new table!” It was the first time I actually had the eye opening thought of yea! I’ll just get a new table, one that we can all use as a family, use as a work desk, and gather our friends around. It was outrageous and brilliant! A new table, who knew that could actually be done! Silly right? What was all that about? I sold my table for $100, and bought a nice long wooden table for $400 from Facebook Marketplace (killer deal!) and we still have the same table to this day, and I LOVE THAT TABLE! We’ve used the heck out of that table and it’s still in great condition. We use it for family dinners, work, work meetings, family gatherings, hosting dinners, and more! It’s a great table!

So lets unpack this…

This is where a lot of people live their lives…STUCK. Stuck with feeling there’s no other way, this is just it! This is a classic reoccurring strategy of the enemy, Satan. His motive in our lives is to John 10:10 “kill, steal, and destroy”. His mission is to bring you down, keep you feeling stuck, and keep you from living the abundant life that God has planned for you. Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”. Imagine what this means! God has immeasurable plans for our lives, he has nothing but unconditional love for us, and wants to see us succeed humbly for His glory! We all have choices in life, it’s one thing God made very clear in Genesis when he gave Adam his one and only rule, to not to eat from the tree of knowledge. Satans plan is to ultimately deceive us of God’s good plans and truth for our lives, leading us from trusting God into trusting oursleves. When we start believing Satans lies, we then usually act on them and then fall into his trap, and it’s a hard trap to get out of when we solely believe, “this is what it is”. This could be an addiction, an idea, a flaw, past trauma, a dream, a goal, it’s unlimited! Satan now has you questioning God’s goodness as he slowly puts doubt into your mind where you are now lacking the confidence in God, so it’s you, on your own, your own efforts, good luck! Being a believer in Christ we understand that we cannot do anything on our own, but with God’s help we can! John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” But still, the world is fallen, and it’s easy to be misled. When you are misled, you are left defenseless and open to attack, you are now STUCK. You also are now in place where you believe it can’t get any better, thoughts like, I’m doomed, this is just how it’s going to be, maybe I deserve this, I can’t change, this is just who I am, poo poo attitude! Satan has really run a number on you, and you have just accepted his offer to give up and believe his lie. I have worked very hard at rejecting the negative thoughts in the name of Jesus, and let me tell you something…it works! Claim it, believe in it, speak it, “ I reject that thought in the name of Jesus!” We must put on the full armor of God daily to protect our minds, our hearts, and our souls or we will be easy targets for Satan to run us down into the ground. Listen! You can create change anytime you want! If you're stuck, ask the Lord for help, he is ready and willing to help you, but you must surrender, ask, and trust Him. Here’s an empowering reminder Romans 8:31 “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” God is with you and He is for you, do not let Satan take a seat next to you on your life journey, tell Him, Matthew 16:23 “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns”, because this is your one and only life you get here on earth, and you will not permit, give clearance, or any authority to his disastrous ways for your life. If you hate that table, get rid of it and start a new! Ask God to remind you to stay firm in His truth when times feel uncertain, when you feel stuck, lost, or broken. Give God permission to be the great commissioner in your life, and know that He wants great things for you. Trust Him and walk by faith, take the authority He has given you through the Holy Spirit and use it to guide you in your earthly walk and align it with His plans for your life. You’re never too far gone, and you’re never really stuck. Do not rely on your own self to “help yourself”, rely on your creator who has a beautiful life for you in this life time, and when this life is over. Continue asking for His help daily, and allow those who surround you to reflect the image of Jesus so that you may stay on the path God has intentionally and creatively planned for you. God is good, and He loves you! AMEN

Get Rid of Pride ASAP

In this day and age, what are a few things that pop into your mind when I say PRIDE?

Could be a rainbow flag, could be you as a proud parent, pride in your job, pride for success.

But what is the real meaning of pride and how does it affect our everyday living when it comes to scripture?

The root of most of our sin usually stems from pride. Pride is PUTTING SIN INTO ACTION, and just so you know God Hates Pride. Pride is basically “My way or the highway!”

Proverbs 8:13 “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech.”

Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Proverbs 16:5 “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.”

Definition: Proud/Pride: feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one's own achievements, qualities, or possessions or those of someone with whom one is closely associated. Having or showing a high or excessively high opinion of oneself or one's importance.

Don’t get me wrong, I often find myself proud of my accomplishments or proud of my husband or sons accomplishments which is good, but the difference is, who do I give the glory to? Myself? Them?

No, it should be God.

In the theological sense, pride is defined as an excessive love of one's own excellence. As a deadly sin, pride is believed to generate other sins and further immoral behavior and is countered by the virtue of humility.

Here are some things that often start with Pride: sin, never being wrong, not needing God, dependency on self, not being able to let go of things, un-forgiveness, being unapologetic, bitterness, resentment, our glory.

These things blind you from the truth, putting yourself up on a high pedestal , causing you to twist scripture and justify your own sin, believing you are in the right even when it contradicts the Word, and ultimately replacing God with Self! We lose sight that everything that we are and everything that we have are not because of our glorious amazing selves, but by of the grace and love of God.

A small idea of someone who has Pride could be as simple as someone who is unwilling to ask for help or someone who is always defensive…about everything!

Even coming from a physiological point of view: “One of the most significant roots of pride in psychology is low self-esteem and self-worth,” says Lea McMahon, a licensed professional counselor and an adjunct psychology professor in Houston. “When people feel bad about their own flaws and insecurities, they tend to mask them with feelings of pride.” She adds the goal of pride is often to deceive others with the image that one is perfect and flawless. Fear of vulnerability, excessive childhood praise, and lack of self-accountability also contribute to unhelpful pride, according to McMahon.

HELLO PARENTS! Excessive praise and lack of self-accountability! This is the age we are living in!

We believers in Christ should know that with God we are valued and loved, even though we will and can never be perfect, he loves us anyway! We must realize that our value comes from God and not the eyes of the world.

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you” Jeremiah 31:3

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8

Gods love for you is infinite! So who does that leave to tell you, you’re not valuable, that you’re not worthy, or to go ahead and bask in your glory, that you’ve earned your accomplishments all on your own, that you don’t need anyone’s help?… Satan!

1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or anything in the world (the world belongs to Satan). If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

God is clear here when he tells us, not to conform t0 the world, do not love the world or anything of the world, that this life is fleeting and one day it will pass away. God is not telling us to abandon our dreams, our goals, or to not be proud of our accomplishments but he is reminding us not to forget who gave us life, who gave us our abilities, our opportunities, and the grace needed to accomplish and succeed our goals. It is through God and God alone, John 15:5 ““I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

The opposite of Pride is Humility.

Romans 12:3 “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Luke 14:11 “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Definition: Humility: a modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness.

Have you ever had a season or a time where you’ve been humbled? One of the ways God builds our character and our trust in Him is to humble us, and often times it's not a fun journey or experience. There’s pain, disappointment, heartache, loss, obstacles, and variations of trials to build us and mold us into becoming the person God has intended for us to be. We often fight His way, or forget His way, but God never stops pursuing us and refining us. He is always working on us and guiding us back to Him no matter which way we go. If you’re stubborn or persistent and stuck in your own ways, you are dealing with pride and pride will open the doors to many other “sins” that can lead you down a destructive path. A verse I recently read in Proverbs 25:28 is “ Like a city whose walls are broken down is like a man who lacks self control” If our defenses are down we will allow the enemy to enter (body, mind, soul), if we have self control, it’s similar to having a wall of defense and protection. God is our defense and our protection, He is our safeguard! We must trust Him as we walk through the good times and the bad times. Acknowledging that He knows best, and when we succeed and overcome that it is through the grace and love of God, to acknowledge Him, and thank Him for interceding on our behalf and allowing us the success in His name for His glory. Humble yourself before the Lord and praise Him for the successes and accomplishments that presented themselves before you. Be proud of your hard work, but always remind yourself that your success’s in life and your great accomplishments in life are gifts and opportunities for building Gods kingdom for His glory, bask in His glory not your own. That takes some surrendering and some humbling, but with God’s help we can do that!

WHATEVER

I love Steven Curtis Chapman, a Christian singer/song writer who I’ve been listening to since I was a kid. One of his songs that played on my playlist recently reminded me that it doesn’t matter what the world thinks or what I think I should be doing as long as it is WHATEVER God is calling me to do. This I always refer to as being in full alignment with God.

A few verses go like this:

I made a list, wrote down from A to Z
All the ways I thought that you could best use me
Told all my strengths and my abilities
I formed a plan it seemed to make good sense
I laid it out for You so sure You'd be convinced
I made my case, presented my defense
But then I read the letter that you sent me
It said that all you really want me from me is just

Whatever, whatever You say
Whatever, I will obey
Whatever, Lord, have Your way
'Cause You are my God, whatever

We often forget that God really just wants our hearts, and if we’re being obedient to what he is calling us to do then everything else will fall into place according to His plan. It might not look like the plan or picture we originally saw, but remembering to walk by faith in accordance with what He’s asking we can rest in knowing the end result will be even better than our preconceived ideas. It’s that trust factor, that faith muscle that’s so hard to activate and use on a day to day basis. That’s why I commit everyday to reading the Bible to help keep me focused and to stay on track, because this world and our lives can be so distracting. From Proverbs 16:1-4 it says, “ To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue. All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. The Lord works out everything for his own ends- even the wicked for a day of disaster.” We can see here that King Solomon (which is the wisest man to ever have lived) is telling us that the final outcome of our plans is in Gods hands, and it’s truly on us to ask for his help in guiding us as we make plans. If they are in alignment with Gods plans for our lives we can trust in knowing they will work out. We can think at times that our motives are coming from a good and Godly place, but honestly and I’m guilty of this too, it can come from a selfish place and God is going to give us a self check and make sure it’s for His glory and not our own. That’s a reality check! As it says, “commit to the Lord WHATEVER you do” this is the most important part of our daily choices is that true commitment to listening, planning, asking for His help and guidance, and trusting Him to work it out in His way and His time that we will find success in our planning. Even when things are out of our control, and there are others at us or against us, heck even our own sin, this could be illness, disasters, death, loss, addictions, etc, God can use the wicked (the bad, sin, evil, immoral, wrong, ungodly, etc) to create plans for our good. He’s God, He can use and He can do anything! As I’ve mentioned before, sometimes this can take time, I mean like years, decades, who knows, but trusting God and surrendering your timeline to Him allows him to work in your favor for you and at a much quicker pace than you making Him continually having to work to get you back His path for your life. FAITH!! ACTION!! You must have faith in order to be successful in trusting Him. So whatever! Do whatever He says, the only way to know what he’s asking of you is to spend time with Him and also by reading His Word.

How do we know our plans will succeed?

1. Your plans must be put into action

2. Trust God through your plans with the ability to ask for His continual guidance

3. They must align with Gods truth

4. They must be real-life conditions

5. Your heart must be in the right place, not a selfish place

God is good, and His ways are better than our own. Trust in knowing God loves you, and he wants the very best for you no matter what. So do WHATEVER HE SAYS, AND WHATEVER HE WANTS, and He will bless you!

Disobedience or Mid-Life Crisis?

2 Timothy 4:17 “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.”

Most of us wait for bigger and better opportunities to happen rather than move into them unknowninlgy. Rightfully so, it is scary to make a huge change or a huge move when you just don’t know what’s next. Of course we need to be smart about making big changes, but this is where the power of faith comes in, and by faith I mean, a lot of it! I’m sure there are many moments in your life that you may have had some major opportunities present themselves to you, but the risk of making those bold changes to your life weren’t enough to bring about the change of the unknown future. Fear possibly? That’s usually it! Maybe you had a situation where you felt completely drained and lifeless at a job or a career that you’ve been in and you feel this perpetual, continual, same, same life that’s now driving you crazy and you need change but don’t know how to start and what that will look like at the finish. Fear…again! This may be a wrestling point for you with your life, with God, with joy, and with peace. A moment where you’re questioning God and everything about your life. It all feels likes it’s going downhill, you’re numb, you’re angry, and your patience is not at its best. Some call it a “mid-life crisis” but I’d like to call it “disobedience”. Let me explain. What I’ve learned along my faith journey with God, is you HAVE TO TRUST HIM! We are called to be in relationship with Him, and in any relationship there must be trust or there is no foundational truth to rely on. If we are to fully trust God with our lives, that means we must trust and lean on him with our ENTIRE LIFE. Husband, Wife, Kids, Finances, Jobs, Careers, Family, Friends, Your Talents, Your Gifts, Your Desires, Your Plans, EVERYTHING! It’s not an easy task to surrender your life and everything that comes with it to God, but if you truly trust in knowing he wants whats best for you, than you MUST surrender and give Him control. Sometimes but not always you will have the opportunity to wait, but more times than not, you will not be able to wait to make bold moves. God wants to see you put your FAITH INTO ACTION, he wants to see you be obedient to whatever he is calling you to do. It’s a two way relationship, if God is telling you to shake things up, LISTEN to Him! There may not be a safety net that you can see, but if God is God, and you’re being obedient to what he is asking you to do, then you need know that God has your back and that HE is your safety net!

This can only happen when :

1. You Surrender Your Life to God

2. You Spend Time with Him

3. You Trust His Plans Over Yours

If this is the case, God will guide you and move you into making bold moves and bold changes! If not, you will most likely settle and find yourself feeling like you're in a “mid-life crisis” questioning God and questioning your life! Do not let Satan bring fear into your life and talk you out of being obedient to God! Satan want’s you to be miserable and living a mediocre life, BUT GOD want’s you to have an abundant life filled with joy and peace. God always gives us the strength we need to do what he asks us to. The strength may not be noticeable until we step out into faith and begin doing the actual tasks. It’s like the saying, “ when one door shuts, another door opens”. This is applying your faith and putting it into action and TRUSTING God’s timing and guidance over your own for the right door to open at the right time. Remember, often times we must shut our door first before God opens the other one, this will take a lot of faith but also remember, when you’re obedient to what God is asking you to do, trust that He will provide another way and you can rest in knowing His way is always going to be better!

So Sink or Swim

So Sink or Swim, I’m Diving In! I’m either all in, or all out! It can be a good or bad thing, but for what I’d like to share today, it is absolutely necessary! Being a believer is not enough to be all in for God. To make a point that maybe you’ve heard before or maybe not, but EVEN THE DEMONS BELIEVE IN GOD. In James 2:19 you’ll read “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” So sure you’re a believer, that’s great, it’s a good step in the right direction. BUT, are you a TRUE FOLLOWER? This is all referenced in my book, “The Growing Christian: Two Paths of the Christian Belief”.

Being a believer is definitely a good start, but the real question is, how are you living and leading your life? What are your priorities? Who comes first? Is it your plans or Gods plans for your life? Who do you hang out with and what kind of influence do they have on you, and vice versa? What are you watching and listening to these days? What comes out of your mouth when you speak? Do all these things align with God? If not, then you’re not truly following Christ and being a true representative and reflection of Jesus.

What I found for myself, was all my life, I was living for ME and I mean truly myself! Of course I believed in God, I would pray here and there, I had faith, I tried my best to trust Him but HE was not what I depended on at the end of each day, it was really myself. I never realized how lost I was until I was found, and Jesus was the answer! The moment I surrendered to God I was all in! I didn’t even realize it, but He gave me this fire that ignited my soul and renewed my mind and my spirit. My heart that was hardened by this world had softened and my eyes were spiritually opened to the truth, and it’s like they say, “the truth will set you free"! And it did..

How do you go all in? You cannot do it on your own, you’re going to need the HELP of the Lord! You can simply ask Him to help you surrender your old ways, surrender your old life, surrender your dreams and your desires to Him so that he can sort them out for your good! Asking for Help is an important step in learning that He is in control. I mean really! He is GOD!

First, invite the Lord into your life by saying and accepting and believing that Jesus is your Lord and Savior. Claim it and activate it because once you do that you get a really cool gift, it’s called the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is your action guy, he now lives in you and helps guide you on your path toward God. You can speak to Him as he is part of the Trinity 3 in 1, Father (God), Son (Jesus), Holy Spirit (God within us, the Activator). Ask him to help you, guide you, strengthen you, and utilize him because we absolutely need him in this world!

You cannot live your life half in, half out it simply does not work that way. There are only two ways, Gods Way, or Satans Way. Unfortunately most things in this world are Satans ways, which means committing your life to God will be challenging at times, but trust in Him and ask for His help daily because, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 We have already won victory because Jesus won victory over Satan the day he laid down His perfect life for us! Go all in, He’s so worth it in this life, but especially in our enteral life to come.

I’ll leave you with a snippet of the song “Dive” by Steven Curtis Chapman

My heart is racing and my knees are weak
As I walk to the edge
I know there is no turning back
Once my feet have left the ledge
And in the rush, I hear a voice
It's telling me it's time to take the leap of faith
So here, I go

I'm diving in, I'm going deep, in over my head I wanna be
Caught in the rush, lost in the flow, in over my head I wanna go
The river's deep, the river's wide, the river's water is alive
So sink or swim, I'm diving in

There is a supernatural power
In this mighty river's flow
It can bring the dead to life
And it can fill an empty soul
And give a heart the only thing
Worth living and worth dying for, yeah
But we will never know the awesome power

Of the grace of God
Until we let ourselves get swept away
Into this holy flood
So, if you'll take my hand
We'll close our eyes and count to three
And take the leap of faith
Come on, let's go

No Survivors

There’s a song by Jeremy Camp called No Survivors where he talks about dying to his old self and his old ways.

You told me it's Your battle, God, so I need You to fight
'Cause if I'm gonna live then there's some things that need to die
My ego, my pride
My grip on my life
Throw it all into the fire
And leave no survivors

I love the imagery and truth about this song, it’s so true! If we are to follow Jesus, he tells us we need to be born again through Him meaning, we are surrendering our old ways and taking on a new life in Him. The old has passed away, and a new has begun. It takes a lot to let go of the control in our lives. Control over our plans, our desires, our future, our entire life! I’m sure someone has asked you before, if you’re a Type A or type B personality more than once in your life. Basically, Type A is considered competitive, aggressive, and time urgent AKA (control freak)! Type B is more laid back, easy going, and patient. I’ve always been more of a Type A personality and my family will tell you, “Rebekah, is a control freak, Rebekah likes to be in charge, Rebekah likes to be the boss, Rebekah will tell you what’s on her mind, etc..”. My sister was always Type B so I guess you could call me the bossy twin. I absolutely know how hard it is to let go of control, there are many times throughout my day where my need of control kicks in, but with God’s help I know I’ll continue to get better. In regards to surrendering my life to God, somehow that was a lot easier. It made all the difference when I let go and let God! Life feels easier, lighter, there’s a sense of peace, freedom, joy and relief. If you believe God is God, then you can rest assured no matter what He has your best interest at heart! What does that mean? It means “do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 God knows what’s best for each of us, it’s best we give it to Him to sort our messy lives out and help us get back or continue on the path he has intended for us. I never struggled much with ego or pride but those two things will hold you back along with un-forgiveness. If we are being intentional in letting God be in complete control of our lives, we must give up our old ways and our old self. We all have things in our lives we know don’t add value, so why give those things any power over us? Anytime we step in the way of God and try to be in control, we get in the way of His plans. Not that His plans won’t happen for our lives, it just might take a little longer! I personally am done with delaying Gods plans, I know His plans are always better than mine and I am willing to give up my control and allow His will to be done in my life. Of course I will have times that I worry or stress about the little things, it’s only natural for our humanness to kick in. The important thing is knowing God will work all things out for our good, and if we can keep that mindset then with the help of the Holy Spirit we can choose to rest in knowing Gods got it! Going back to Matthew 6:25-33 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Strengthen your faith in God, know He is a good God, and that He knows and wants what’s best for you. By surrendering to Him daily, and asking for His help to let go and let Him work, you will see and feel the victory and it will set you free! Giving God your control over your life might feel scary, it might feel like you’re giving up everything! Your priorities will and must change, this includes the way you live your life, how you do things, say things, what you watch, what you listen to, your hobbies, your interests, your relationships and more. There should be an understanding that you’re not giving up this life, but you are renewing it! You are being given a fresh new start, a new set of eyes, and a new life that is infused with, in, and through the Holy Spirit. This will ultimately draw you into closer relationship with God and others and bring you the ultimate peace and joy you’ve been searching for. You’ll forget the old ways, because your new ways will be better and more rewarding. If you don’t believe me, then give it a try :). I was skeptical too, but GOD is bigger than our hearts, and our minds, and he will bless you for trusting and walking with Him in bigger ways than you could ever do on your own. I don’t want any survivors of the old me, I love the new me, the new me that is filled with the Holy Spirit, of truth, and of peace. Join me in being renewed through Christ, all you have to do is accept and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. Ask him to fill you with his Holy Spirit to help guide you in letting go and letting God work on your behalf.

The Truth about Discipline

As a step-mom, an Entrepreneur and athlete, I know a lot about of the importance of discipline for both myself and as a parent. A lot of people view discipline these days as an act of abuse or condemnation. They may see it as a form of exile or Un-forgiveness, or that somehow discipline won’t help them in a positive light or even their children. Some people don’t discipline their children because they don’t want to enter into conflict or make their child angry (life is short and precious you know). Even within an individual the lack of self discipline could lead one down a path of unhappiness, unfulfilled dreams, and disappointment. Cause and Affect: Lack of motivation and will with ones job, self-image, family, or even their walk with Christ. Discipline. It sounds like a harsh word, and nobody really likes the idea of being disciplined. However, coming from a biblical stand point, DISCIPLINE is defined as: STRENGTHENING, PURIFYING, TRAINING, CORRECTING, PERFECTING. Why wouldn’t we want these things for ourselves and our children? Just because you mess up, or make a mistake, it should not be a condemning act that comes from discipline but of love and redirection. If you really love someone, and if you really love yourself then discipline is a must. It’s not enough to be submissive these days because we don’t want to enter into conflict with someone or we don’t want to redirect our own fallen ways . I’m sorry, but grow up! Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” It’s time to mature as we come into our own in this world. The standard for Christian maturity is Jesus. Ephesians 4: 13 “Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” This means we are to reflect the characteristics of Jesus! I’ll tell you one thing, Jesus faced a lot of conflict in his day and he did it gracefully and lovingly. Conflict doesn't have to be doom and gloom, it can be a place where we get to grow as an individual and as a parent. Conflict can be an opportunity to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, see from another point of view, to give a deep look into your own values, and potentially learn how to find resolution! It can be truly powerful to face and deal with conflict, when it comes from a place of love and understanding. God allows us all to be tested at moments, and sometimes it's just the fallen broken world that gives us the trials and setbacks but at the end of the day, the intention should be to build our character! Overcoming challenges, conflict, conquering our fears, standing up for what’s right even though it’s hard, making healthy and wise decisions. Implementing discipline into our individual daily routines and into our households to help hold us and our children accountable, all builds character! Character in a positive light brings forward strength, endurance, patience, love, understanding, a sense of peace, respect, and will power! If you do not discipline yourself or your children your character will be a reflection of shallowness (lack of depth, character) instead of depth (a deep rooted foundation). We all need a foundation to be rooted in, if we are not, we will be like the leaves blowing in the wind, aimless, and aloof. My foundation is in Christ who gives me strength, comfort, peace, and wisdom. Root yourself in the truth, and the truth will ultimately set you free. Free from your fears, your lack of confidence, your heartache, your traumas, and your immaturity. Growing in Christ has been the biggest gift I’ve ever been given. His salvation, and his love are so overwhelming and it all was possible through the discipline of spending time with Him each day. Take advantage now, don’t wait! God gifts us with a new day every day. Be disciplined because you are seeking growth and change, and you want an amazing life for yourself, for your children, and your family. God wants you to have a great life too, trust Him, and ask Him for help to give you the discipline to make the changes you need in your life. Whether it’s your personal relationship with Him, your job, your health, your children, your spouse, your friendships. Whatever it is, God can handle it, and you can too with His help!

This World Will Never Be Enough

Ever stop and realize once you get something you’ve been wanting, you still want more? This happens more often than not! For example, Andy and I went to St. Marteen for our Baby Moon recently. We had been talking about going to St. Marteen for the last 2 years since we were last there. It’s our favorite place! We thought, this is just what we need and afterwards we’ll feel refreshed and re-energized, and ready to conquer the world. We were there for 10 amazing and relaxing days, and after coming home and back to real life within 2 days of being back home Andy looked at me and said, I want to go back to St. Marteen. If that example doesn’t work for you, let’s go with a purchase. I know there’s things we all want to add to our home, or our lifestyle that we think will make us happier, and they do…for a while. I have bought so many things where I get so excited for a week, maybe two, and then at some point, I forget all about it, and it leaves me wanting something else. Ever heard of Spring Cleaning? That’s the time when kids are about to be out of school, the holidays are over, and your house is feeling pretty cluttered and full. It’s a time of transitioning from Spring to Summer, and I don’t know about you, but in the summer less is more, if you know what I mean! When you start going through your closets and drawers you start wondering where the heck did all this stuff come from? It came from that one purchase, the one you really wanted, and then quickly became the one you forgot all about x 100! The stuff, adds up, but somehow even with more stuff we still feel like we want more. Ever find yourself purging to get rid of stuff only to buy more? What’s that all about? It’s that feeling of, if I just get this, it will make me happy and then I’ll be fine. I’m not saying don’t buy stuff, and don’t go on Vacations! I’m simply saying, we are always longing for more, there’s nothing truly satisfying here on earth. I can go as far as stating, If I only had a husband, if I only had kids, if I only had a dog, and so on and so forth, then I will be truly happy, but is that so? Is that realistic? Does that really solve all of our problems to unhappiness? So my question is, can this world ever be enough for us? If we live here and die here, why is it that we have an urge to be satisfied on this earth but can’t? It seems even with success, money, and fame, it’s just not enough. The only thing that makes sense to me is that there can be no true satisfaction in this world because it is not our final destination. This earth, is not our final home! Of course it can’t truly satisfy all our needs because God does not reside here. Our truest satisfaction can only come from one thing.. God. He is all we need, He is the source of life, and He is the only way that leads to true freedom and joy. I always express to friends that I don’t want to be happy, I want to be joyful. Joy is something you can have even when you’re unhappy. Happiness is just a feeling, it comes and goes, but joy is something much deeper. It’s a sense of peace, hope, love, and understanding. In both trying times and in the good times, joy remains. The things in this life will always disappoint you, whether people, things, or situations because the world and each one of us is full of sin. Nothing is perfect here, which is why it’s so important to remember that through the grace of God and His love and mercy, we have an opportunity to live and reside with Him in a perfect place where there will be absolute satisfaction and no disappointment. So fear not! Although we have time here on this earth, it’s a great place to humble ourselves daily in knowing God is all we truly need, and everything else is just extra. So, make your purchases, climb the ladder to success, get married, have a family, go on vacation, buy that item you’ve always wanted, but remember, none of those things will bring you true satisfaction and thats okay. Keep God at the front of your mind and you will never be disappointed.

Plant the Seed

How do we get going in life? Where does our foundation come from and when did it start? Usually this happens at a very young age, your parents plant seeds. Whether it’s them knowing or not, they do! My parents definitely planted the seed of Jesus, Respect, Discipline, Love, and Hard Work. All of these things took time to grow through trials, challenges, obstacles, and some heartache, but ultimately the life I live today is a reflection of the seeds my parents planted. We all have our own journeys and paths to figure out in life. Coming from a fresh new perspective from being “Born Again” in Christ, I can see the seed my parents planted in me at a very young age has finally taken root and is growing. About 2 years ago I started surrendering my daily life and plans to God. I asked Him what His Will was for my life instead of the question what is it “I” want for my life. Once I started doing that daily, my life has forever been changed! Yesterday at church, it was Mother’s Day and our pastor talked a lot about what parenting and motherhood looked like in the eyes of God. There was one thing that really stood out and I wanted to share! He mentioned the importance of instilling God’s intention and desire into our children from the beginning. It reminded me of what my parents did for my sister and I. It makes so much sense and yet I never thought about it for my child to be. Having my new little one on the way has given me the motivation and empowerment to dig deep in Gods truth in the hope of teaching my son at a very young age that God is ultimately in control, and that he wants amazing things for his life. So instead of asking my son, what does he want to be when he grows up, my hope is to plant the seed of truth in asking him, “What do you think God wants you to be when you grow up? What do you think God’s plans are for your life?” This way, he has an understanding that there is a greater plan for him specifically designed and created by our great and good God. This in return will allow him to understand that his life is not his own, that God has his best interest at heart and by submitting his dreams and desires to God, God will direct him according to His will and His plan for his life. I mean, how empowering is that for a kid to know the biggest most greatest God is on their side and has amazing things in store for them?! I want to help my son start trusting God as he grows into his own and this can start from the very beginning! God is so patient in waiting for us to know Him, it makes it easier to help guide our children when we start planting the seed and then watch them grow. They won’t be perfect, but I’m confident that they will always go back to their foundation if the seed has been planted. With that, lots of prayer!

“In the beginning God”

We all have a beginning, and thankfully through Jesus we can all have new beginnings everyday. God has changed my life in every way. From the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual he has transformed my mind and my soul and I am forever grateful. It really all started when I asked Him to help me. Help me to know Him and to seek Him. At the time I didn’t even understand what I was asking for other than I needed change and I knew I wasn’t capable of doing it on my own, I had tried many times. What I didn’t know was the complete change He would bring into my life. Everything from my relationship with Him, my husband, my family, and my career. It’s a true statement that I have been born again, because I feel like a completely new person inside and out. I almost can’t remember the old me, although I know the old me existed. I’m starting this blog to encourage others to look to God, and to turn to Him to be rescued from their sin that holds them captive. Whether knowing it or not, all of us naturally are sinners and are a slave to sin, it’s not even a choice, we cannot help ourselves. This does not mean you will live a perfect life, but when you decide to surrender and give your life to God he gifts you with two things. One His Holy Spirit which will help guide you in this world and help you stay close to Him. Two, His Salvation which is your freedom from your sin and its consequence. Because of your free gift of salvation you will have an eternal place to rest with God when your time is over in this world. I am constantly in awe knowing how sinful a person I can be, and how much God loves me anyway. Whether you’re a believer or not, we all have two paths we can choose from. My path toward God has given me a new life and a new foundation so much that I feel the need to share. I hope you’ll journey with me and find the light and life of Christ through my writings.