Christ Strengthens

I'm finishing up Philippians this morning and my goodness there is some great content in chapter 4! These verses 4:11-13 are particularly close to my heart. Paul is saying he knows from the different circumstances in his life how to be low and humbled and how to abound or have an excess or be in abundance. He's been hungry and full, to suffer and to increase. But he goes on to steak his claim in this v.13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Over the last couple years, nearing 3 now, since my husbands accident I would understand these verses much better. What I thought were low points in my life didn't even compare to seeing the way my husband suffers often in pain. You can't look at him and see it and he would never tell you because he's just not like that but me and the kids see him everyday and see the little things that naw at his spirit, just to have a fully functional body is a blessing most of us take for granted. And in the pain of this last few years we have become closer than ever and have learned to just lean into the Lord for help, guidance and peace. I actually had this part of my bible marked up saying God gave me this verse in the middle of the night almost 2 years ago and he is still giving it to me today. It's not a cliche, it's a truth I have to breath in and depend upon.

When your low or when your high let Christ be the foundation that brings you strength. There is no amount of earthly goodness that can replace the peace of God. It is what truly brings unending joy in the midst of all of life's messes. 

Character of Christ

I am continuously blown away by the character of Jesus. Jesus descended from the Heavenly places to walk with Gods creation and then humbled himself completely beyond that creation. It's mind boggling, but something only the perfect Christ could do. In Philippians 2 we are called to be humble like Christ, the Bible says in verse 7 that He made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men.  It goes on to say that He humbled Himself in obedience even to the point of death! The Bible is full of reasons to praise God, just look at the character of Christ, a perfect man, and that is reason enough for many many praises!!!

Victory in Jesus!

I wonder what those who crucified Christ thought when His tomb came up empty on that Sunday years ago. After all some of the primary people who sent Jesus to his death were considered "wise men" some indeed knew scriptures so well they could quote it from heart but in a reality they were exceedingly unintelligent because they had The Christ face to face and denied Him. Their pride kept them from Gods wisdom. 

I can think back to times when I have had the wool over my eyes. I'm an ex-smoker for example. I loved smoking, I thought it was fine to smoke, I indulged in my own desires rather than living a life that kept myself healthy. I was sick all the time when I smoked, I was bound up in chains to smoking. It was on my mind all the time, I would buy cigarettes before putting gas in my car (true story)... I haven't smoked in years, 6 to be exact. Today I can't even believed I ever smoked, it wasted so much of my money and hurt my body. I feel so much healthier with out that in my life but there was a time when I was blinded to that truth, I believed the slogans, more over I believed the lie that I needed to smoke when what I really needed was God to cleanse me and heal me in that area of my life.

It's a sad story that some of the believers in the old days couldn't open their eyes to see God in the flesh right in front of them but I am so grateful today that Jesus in all bravery and the purest of love got up on that cross to die that He might glorify the father in washing our sins clean. Today is a victorious day because Jesus is ALIVE! He is risen and is as much alive today as he was on that first Sunday when they rolled away the stone!!!

Do you need victory today over something in your life? Tell Jesus, He is ready and willing to heal you and cleanse you! Is He working on your heart? Trust Jesus! If He began a good work in you Je will be sure to complete it! Has He already given you victory? Then praise Jesus today!!! 

Spiritual Armor

I drew this in my bible a long while ago and today as I close out my reading of Ephesians I am reminded of the spiritual war that wages all around us. 

Ephesians 6:10-12 says "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." 

As Christians we need to have an awareness that we have a real enemy out there ready to attack at any moment of weakness and then when we are strong, oh he really wants to break us then. Don't underestimate the devil, it's his number one priority to keep God from being glorified and that means bringing down believers, making them feel limited, bringing adversity against them and even distracting them so that their true purpose might not be fulfilled.

It's crucial we wake up everyday and dress ourselves spiritually, that we take up the armor of God so that we might not be caught off guard by our enemy. 

The bible tells us this in Ephesians 6:13-18 "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—” 

Wondering why life seems so hard sometimes? Have you put on the armor lately? I am the most vulnerable when I'm not prepared. Enemies are trained to know the weaknesses of their prey, be wise, be ready! 

#armorofGod #fortheloveofGod #biblestudy #bible #Jesus #God 

A Good Word

I know I can personally testify to this verse! I have struggled with anxiety my whole life, there's no rhyme or reason to it my brain just conceives certain things a different way and panic sets in. My anxiety got worse after my postpartum depression with my second child and at that time I was straddling the fence when it came to my relationship with the Lord. Sometimes the enemy uses the weakness in my flesh against me and targets my anxiety. But what he intended for evil God has used for good. At my lowest point with anxiety and postpartum depression I was stripped to a shell of my self, all I had left to draw on was an old familiar song from my childhood. Amazing Grace (a good word) pulled me through. I would sing it a thousand times a day in my head just to keep the thoughts at bay and I survived that very low time in my life. I learned that the best good words come from God, they are in the bible and they can pull us through the lowest of the low in our life. It is one of the reasons I am so committed to Gods word, I believe it, I have seen it manifests in the life of myself and others but also I need the renewing of my mind EVERY DAY! I need that good word from our magnificent Lord every hour, every day! 

#Godswordisgood #bible #readit #loveit #hideitinyourheart #anxiety #depression #postpartumdepression 

Passion Week Study

I finished my Passion Week study this morning! I can't tell you how this has been a labor of love for me. I'm no expert in theology but I take my study of Gods word seriously and to compare the four gospels side by side was an exciting journey! I have taken my study and been able to sit down with the kids every day this week and tell them what happened during passion week. I remember wanting to do this last year but I just couldn't get to it. I am so glad I set aside the extra study time for this critical piece in the bible. There really is nothing more rewarding to me that learning the scripture for myself and then to be able to share it with my children is just the cherry on top! Happy Wednesday friends, may blessings abound for you!!!

Name Above All Names

This verse is talking about Jesus! God raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand FAR ABOVE everything! His name is greater than all names and God put everything under His feet! 

Now I am often blown away at the greatness of the Lord that is revealed in scripture. Seeing His creation, His care even after the fall, His deep desire to know us. God is mighty, majestic and we are not on His level BUT what really blows me away is that His desire is a relationship with us for His glory!

Think about it, each of us have the one True King, the Creator of the Universe desiring us! I have seen in my on life the way He seeks and pursues me, even after crazy mistakes I've made, He still desires me! 

We are so undeserving of the free gift He gives us and I pray that everyone one take notice of the love that is ready and waiting if we let Him in. Jesus is our ultimate security, the one who does not fail, the one we can put ALL of our hope in!

Amazing God!

Many moons ago the actual Palm Sunday happened, it was real and it was the beginning to what we know of as our salvation. It was told by prophets. Everything before Christ lead up to it and today we can look back to the cross of Christ and have hope for the future. All of this was in Gods glorious plan from BEFORE the foundations of the earth were formed. When He called the world into existence as we read in Genesis 1 He already knew He was sending His son to save us. For God so loved the world! 

I thought about all of this and about the beautiful creation He formed as I painted these galaxy pages in my bible today.  He had His hand in everything, the stars, the sky, His son, our salvation it's all wrapped up in a plan made before this world was even in motion! Our minds can't even conceive the amazingness of God! 

Oh, give thanks to the Lord for He is good!!!

Keep Fighting!

Finishing up Galatians this morning. Galatians 6:9 is one of my favorites “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” The bible tells us in this very chapter that we reap what we sow but if we continue (long suffering :) to do good and we don't loose heart (key statement) then we shall reap in due season. 

God wants our good doing to be eternal not temporary or as the wind blows. He wants us to persevere and that good work to continue. We are to keep fighting the good fight even and especially when it's hard. 

Today is Palm Sunday and it makes me think about how Jesus knew when he made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem that it was the beginning of the end to his life as a human. Gosh I can't imagine the weight that bared on Him but he moved forward anyway. He fought the good fight for the joy that was set before Him! When you feel like giving up think of our Saviors mighty example!

Endure, persevere, and don't loose heart in doing a good work!!!

His Workmanship!

Everything about making this page was difficult, the paint wouldn't cooperate, the stamps kept messing up, layer upon layer I kept redoing, starting over. At one point my page was so thin I thought it would break. 

Maybe I'm just having one of those days where the combination of little sleep and the joys of being a woman has just got me down. Maybe I don't really believe the words on my page. Self esteem on my own isn't one of my best qualities anyway.

But I pulled it together and even as I set back and look the most beautiful thing about this page are these words "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

(Ephesians 2:10 NKJV) 

Oh that's refreshing to my soul, I am His workmanship! I don't have to worry about the screw ups or the do overs , He already knows about them, the ones in the past and the ones that will happen in the future, but He called me anyway. He adores me anyway, He is transforming me anyway, He loves me anyway. And because of Him and Him alone I am enough! #illustratedfaith #illustratesfaith #biblejournaling #biblejournalingcommunity #artworship #chosen #worthy #enough 

Spirit Walkin!

Long Post Alert!!! I'm pretty sure the boys that slept over last night for my sons birthday probably slept between 0-2 hours lol, I know Rob and I only slept a few. They are having so much fun though, who needs sleep! While they are jumping on the trampoline and Rob and Hailey are sleeping now I'm getting my quiet time in!

I really love Galatians 5, it lays out a simple illustration that we can all use in our lives. Are we walking in the spirit or in the flesh? "I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lust against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." (v. 16-17)

When I first read that a couple years back I remember having an lightbulb moment. My flesh is always going to be weak BUT the Spirit from the Lord that is inside of me is strong and it is fighting against the weakness that is in me, the weakness that is my flesh. I knew I needed to learn a better way, I needed to learn to walk in the Spirit! 

How do I know how to do that though? Well Galatians 5:19-26 goes on to tell us what are works of the flesh (even saying they are evident) and what are works of the Spirit. 

The fruits of the Spirit (v. 22-23) is a simple guideline. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." 

So when I am fearful I ask am I walking in faithfulness? When I feel anger arising am I leading in kindness and gentleness? When I am tired of a long term issue am I long suffering? In my daily interactions with others am I showing love, goodness and joy? Do I strive for peace? And the one that gets me the most am I self controlled? 

You see I spent a lot of years letting my emotions rule me, determine me even but there was only bad fruit from that. I don't want to plant seeds of anger or disgust or division so I strive against my flesh every day. It's not always easy and it's not always accomplished but I am trying and this section of the bible has helped to try to filter my actions in a way that might glorify God! 

Seek Wisdom!

Happy Thursday friends! Seek wisdom and let it be your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

Not By Works!

My son is into Greek Mythology right now, I get it, I remember when I was his age and the idea of all these "gods" intrigued me. It wasn't until I came to really understand the  loving nature of Jesus Christ that that I realized the idea of temperamental self serving gods really wasn't that cool. I love this passage in Galatians and I love our Lord for His character, like a true father He wants to give us a free gift of salvation. We can not justify ourselves by any work, no matter what works does not save us. Our flesh is tainted, it just is, but by the beautiful grace of God we are justified by faith in Jesus alone! I am grateful for the time in my youth when I discovered the one true God and even through trials, through walking away from Him for a period it has been the cord of faith that is tethered to Him that has been my life line. Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice on the cross, a work that only our savior could do to justify us! 

Truth Sets Us Free!

My reading today was Proverbs 2 and Galatians 1, it's interesting looking at these side by side because Proverbs 2 is about wisdom and states "When wisdom enters your heart and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil." (v.10-12) In Galatians 1 Paul is putting out a warning for those who preach another gospel saying "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.”

Galatians 1:6-10 NKJV

See Gods word is so good, we are promised wisdom in the bible, if we seek knowledge we will have understanding to see those who are trying to prevent the truth. We will be delivered from people who have ulterior motives (Proverbs 2:16) This is the way when we seek God and not man. 

It's not easy always living in this word, people become idols to us, and it's so easy to be lead astray but Gods word has to be the authority in our lives and when it truly is we are promised to see clearly the way of the truth! #truth #Jesus #wisdom

Rejected...

Rejection is a hard thing to deal with, there are times when we are faced with rejection for no reason at all. I can take heart in knowing that Jesus was also rejected and for no good reason, He came to share truth and light and for some reason some people could not live with the truth He was sharing and would rather have him crucified than listen. If you are feeling rejected today remember what the Lord says about you. You are a fearfully and wonderfully made creation and he has a plan and purpose for your life that can not be throttle by our adversary, the devil. 

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

I Peter 5:6-11 NKJV

A Free and Costly Gift

Jesus is an indescribable gift from God! A gift that was sent to this Earth to become flesh, to become sin, to die on the cross for all of us! I can think of a better gift I have received! Jesus Himself said in John 16:33 "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!" 

The way of the world is not peaceful, it is not full of true joy, and we are going to have suffering in this life. It's a fact, people will come against us, bad things will happen, hard trials and test will come but WE CAN live in the promises from His word and recognize that Jesus was a gift to us, free to us but very costly indeed, and the war is already won! So no matter what troubles you have in this life stand secure and be of good cheer.

Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgement You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the Lord."

What a promise! We have received a gift, He has won the war, He fights our battles and loves us eternally. I'm Praising God for such beauty in His love and strength this morning! #Godisgoodallthetime #noweaponformed #Jesusisagift #Gospelpower #fortheloveofGod #biblestudy 

God in Everything!

"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the Earth?" God ask Job as his opening statement in Job 38. The Lord goes on the reveal Himself in the creation, shaping and control of Nature, Heaven and even Space. We can see God in nature today, the way this Earth was so perfectly formed to sustain life, the way its creation is designed, points directly to a creator! So many things have to be in perfect alignment for us to exist the idea of it all being by chance is just ridiculous. I love how this chapter reveals a glimpse of the Lord in Nature. "Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war." Such powerful statements about his command over nature are blowing my mind this morning! God is in everything and as beautiful as this world was created that sinners would fill it I can only imagine how much more beautiful and amazing Heaven is in its full perfection! #awesomeGod #creator #seehimincreation #powerfull #scripture #Heaven #earth #nature #God #biblestudy 

It is well...

I woke up this morning with these words on my heart, determining to rejoice in this day regardless of the way Monday started out. My husband had a rough night, he was up at 2am with a raging head and neck ache and back at it again just after 6am. This morning his vision was blurry, last week in therapy his arms and hands went numb. I just go into my routine and try to stay strong but it is really hard some days when you see the person you love the most suffering daily, it's heart breaking. I know God has a plan for this pain, I know it and I am resolved to walk in His light regardless of the pressures or stresses this world throws at me. See I look at it like this I can go through this with or with out the Lord. Without is just a place I never want to be, been there done that, no thank you. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, it is well, it is well, with my soul. Keep moving forward, keep holding on! Oh for the day when there is no more pain or suffering 💗✝

True Love!

True love is what Jesus did for us! When we were still sinners He died for us, The spotless lamb of God became sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him! His love story for us is the most beautiful one, the most sacrificing and the most genuine! We love because he first loved us even those who don't know Him yet today He still wrote this love story for them and for us, He wrote it for all. So beautiful 💗✝

The Judgement Seat of Christ

4 pages of messy notes were made in service this morning! I love it when our Pastor preaches on something I have been curious about. Today's preaching was on the Judgment Seat of Christ! 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 Tells us that we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Scary right? Well here's the thing as Christians we have all been justified and will stand before Him as innocent because of the blood that was shed on the cross by Jesus! He will remember our sins NO MORE! (Romans 5:9, 8:1 Hebrews 8:12, 10:17) So what's the judgement for? Well there are two judgment seats, one for unbelievers (The Great White Throne of Judgement) and one for believers (Bema Seat of Judgement) This is where we will provide evidence of our faith and our fruits in this life will be rewarded! We need build on our foundation with something strong! Check out 1 Corinthians 3:10-15! What we do on earth IS IMPORTANT! 

I am just blown away, we don't even deserve what Christ did on the cross for us and now we will get rewarded too for living right and for the fruits of our labor. Oh how inspiring that is. 

You know as a mother if I am old and gray and my children have messed up over and over the desire of my heart will still be to forget the bad and remember the good and in the end I too would want to reward them for what they have done right! I am always hoping they will stay on the narrow path, I will continue to correct them to try to keep them there, pray through the good and bad times, I will forgive and in the end I will cherish the good in them! I am not saying this because I am a mother but because I have a Heavenly Father I want to be like, His nature in me not my own! What a great sermon! #filled #eatmeat

Taught by God!

Got up early to have my daily reading before a friend comes over for coffee at 9. I love the way the Lord can meet us in His word. Do you know the bible says many times we are Taught by God, that the Holy Spirit ministers to us directly. In fact in James 1:5-8 we are told if we lack wisdom to ask God for it. The Lord is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33) but He is the author of Peace! My reading today was on 2 Corinthians 4. People, false apostles, we're trying to lead the Corinthians astray and corrupt them (Satan's scheme) But Paul goes on to show that a true teacher is one with Pure Motives, not handling the word of God deceitfully. It is God who commanded light out of darkness and it is God who has shone light into our hearts to give the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Trust the Lord, don't try to imitate man or mans teaching, reach out to God for Wisdom and believe Faithfully He will give it to you. He is The Way, The Truth and The Light!