Tag: life

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Speak Life

Words – we use them every day, in every culture, race, gender, and country.  They can heal and they can harm.  We can use them to change the world or destroy it.  Words have power.

Have you ever asked yourself why?  Why can words destroy or repair, raise up or cut down?  How can our words be so powerful?  It’s simple – we are made in the image of God – the God whose words brought this world into existence.  A word from Him can change the entire universe in an instant.

When we understand that, as an image of our Creator, our words can change the course of our destiny, crush a relationship, or bring healing to a wounded soul – we understand the power we have.  You are powerful, my friend. No matter how insignificant you feel, life and death are in the power of your tongue.  Make your words worthwhile – bring life from your words.

So many times, I’ve said to myself – “I know (this) or (that) is going to happen!” and it does.  I just spoke things as if they were, whether it is good or bad.  If what I spoke was negative, I would be in trouble.  After a few hard lessons, I started to watch my negative speak.  I am a human so I fail from time to time, but I know the better I speak life, the more blessed I am.

I encourage you – if you have a bad habit of speaking death over yourself, I encourage you to take the rest of this week by only speaking life over yourself, your job, your family, your husband/wife, your children, and your friends.  Don’t allow your words to stunt you.  You hold the power to a better life – use it!

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

  

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Freedom

Have you had to endure something hard in life?  Have problems dealing with those issues now?  Here are some words from scripture that will help you find freedom:

  
Whatever you have endured, know that God has a plan for it to work out for YOUR good. You just have to give it to Him.

  
Know that God has been there from the beginning. Know that He understands and wants to help. You must allow Him to…He doesn’t force Himself on us. That is what makes Him a good, good Father.

   
 
Give it over to God and let Him fight your battle. Don’t allow avoidance, anger or repression be your go to. Let the Father take it off your hands and start walking in freedom

Abide in love. Love is what changes the world – not violence, hate, addiction, etc….but LOVE. Walk in that Love and you will walk in Freedom

Be blessed everyone!

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You are enough

Be you.  No one else can be you.  You were created for a purpose, a plan, there is a reason you are here.

I stated in my bio that I have always been considered a little strange.  It’s true.  I dance to my own beat, do my own thing.  I have always been that way.  Some people get me, love me.  But I have had my critics as well. 

 As I finish my last few months of my 20’s, I have to admit – I no longer care how weird people think I am because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Designed by my Father to be who I am.  And so are you!

Be bold enough to be you.  Forget who everyone else says you are.  God holds your true identity.  Let His opinion rule!

I am loved.  You are loved.  Not for the things you & I do, but because we exist, were created, and am who we are.  Do not ever forget that!

“O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:1-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Be blessed, dear friends, and live fearlessly!

  

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Peace

This world is full of chaos, problems, violence and hate.  It is on every corner, in every family, group of friends, and even in the church.  We are humans, therefore filled with sin.  That is a fact so naturally, peace is not a quality we are free to live in.

So, how in the world can we expect to live in peace?  How can we, in any way, be able to sleep at night after a young man, obviously disturbed, walks into a community college and kills people for being Christians?  It is not something we can do on our own, live with peace.  If we rely on our own ability, peace will never come.  

Peace comes from the Father, the one who created this world, who is all knowing, all powerful, all loving.    If we place our trust in knowing that He has it in control, He knows what is going on, and He cares for us – we can be free to live in peace.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”” John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Give up your worry, chaos, unforgiveness, pain, issues over to God and allow yourself to rest in His peace.

Live boldly, dear friends, and be blessed.

  

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Redeemed

Redemption – defined as “the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.”  A word used in the church, but I think not many truly understand.  That is because our human brains cannot fully wrap our heads (or hearts) around it.  In reality, our society has little space for such a concept.

Have you ever seen a celebrity “fall from grace” and then try to get their life right again – only to be reminded of their past transgressions over and over again? That is the goal of our advisory – who isn’t our neighbor, church member, friend or foe.  It is the work of Satan himself.  He makes it very difficult to walk in grace, if we give him power.

Do I believe there are consequences to every sin?  Yes, of course there is.  But grace says the consequences are not a death sentence.  Once you have given your life to Christ, accepted the gift of redemption through the Cross, and make amends with those you hurt – you should get up and move on.

Don’t allow anyone or anything working for the advisory tell you otherwise.  You are redeemed, made new, whole again.  Walk with your head held high.  Love those who remind you of your past.  Let God fight your battles.  Don’t let Satan win.

If you struggle with this – I encourage you to place these scriptures somewhere you can see them everyday:

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” Ephesians‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Titus‬ ‭2:11-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” I Corinthians‬ ‭7:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians‬ ‭1:13-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Get the enemy out of your mind & put on the mind of Christ.

Live boldly, dear friends, and be blessed!

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Don’t Grow Weary

I used to have a desire to be seen in doing good.  I wanted a chance to “be something” and would not always treat people like I should.  I am not saying I was ruthless or even malicious.  I am saying I was prideful and impatient.  I wanted my reward now.  I was also insecure – I wanted to know I was needed by people.  Man, it was a stressful season for me…because I never got what I wanted.  I did good, but grew weary.

It wasn’t until a faithful mentor in my life explained to me that it doesn’t require me to overwork myself to get things done – in essence – I am not that great.  Ouch!  But oh so true!  I grew weary because my focus was not on what it should be.  I was doing good for the soul reason to further myself when I should be doing good because that is what I am supposed to be doing.

I should do everything unto God and not worry about who sees it…He sees it.  This revelation began to birth in me a peace that allowed me to love people like I never have because I no longer looked to them for my worth.  I looked to be a blessing to them.  I learned that, at the end of the day, God has my back and I don’t need to be noticed, seen, or praised by others.  Don’t get me wrong, those things are great, but they are not necessary to fulfil the calling on my life.

Being faithful unto God, leaning on Him, learning that it takes all of us to get the work done has been an epiphany that set me free.  I no longer allow myself to become weary because my source is Him.  Pride can suffocate you like nothing else.

I know you are asking yourself why I decided to share this with you…here is why – because the way our society is set up, we can get lost in the desire of others’ approval and it become our downfall.  We see it in celebrities all the time.  The church and those of faith cannot follow that pattern.  We must remain humble and under the hand of God.  That way, we do not seek something from a fellow person that they cannot give.  

I know there are going to be days that I will fail at this and fall back to my old ways, but know that I need to find my way back.  Will you join me on this journey?

Live your life free of expecting things from others.  God will ensure that you are taken care of.  He will make sure you get what you need.  Just keep doing good.

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:9-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

  

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Be still

“The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.””‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I went and saw War Room this weekend.  Great movie.  It speaks on the notion of prayer and how we need to do our battling in that realm rather than trying to do it ourselves.

It got me thinking so I wanted to encourage you because it encouraged me – go to God with your problems and let Him take care of it.  He is the only one who can make things right – I have learned this the hard way.

Have faith and trust in Him.  You only need to be still….

  

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Greatest of these….

Bold love changes the world.  Love those who can’t love you back, give grace to those who don’t deserve it, and forgive those who won’t change.  

“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.””

‭‭I Peter‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

  

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What are you made of?

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”‭‭James‬ ‭1:2-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

  

  

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Prayer – it’s a world changer

I am tired.  Tired of:

  • People dying because they are of a certain race
  • People dying because they are in law enforcement
  • People dying because someone hates them
  • Babies dying because they are unwanted
  • People dying because of their religion
  • People hating one another
  • People not caring about their own children
  • People not knowing Jesus
  • People hating one another
  • Slavery still existing in the form of human trafficking
  • Homelessness still existing
  • People just simply not caring

I am ready for: the Love of God to overwhelm this world and eradicate all hate, anger, rage, and frustration.

We need to pray – prayer can change the world.  Will you join me?

“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬