one
love
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
Luke 7:47
there is only one love that can bring healing, peace & joy
his name is jesus
friday dec. 20th 2024
blog 16: fear
Tonight as I was baking, cleaning, and wrapping presents at 12 am I ran into some very old gravy from thanksgiving. Gross! I know. I had to take the bag of moldy sauce outside to the garage bins which were on the side of the road for trash pick up. As I walked outside I noticed how quiet it was, even a little eerie…I continued looking around for murderers, loose dogs and “aliens” I just kept an eye out, you know? as I walked through the side gate I looked out into the dark backyard I stood there for awhile and felt my mind start to wander. I don’t know if you think like me but I was like what if a man comes out or something is there. We can do that right? Let our mind get away with all this crazy nonsense really.
As these thoughts came to my mind I felt a sense of confidence that nothing would happen . NO fear gripped me at all.
You see before I was saved I had fear all inside me. And I remember wondering why?? What am I so afraid of? I was scared of the dark , I was afraid of showering when no one was home, that a murderer would come kill me. I was afraid of hanging my hand off the bed because something might grab me, I was afraid of leaving my closet door open because something could be in there, I was afraid of going into stores because I might see someone and have to actually talk. THAT fear caused so much anxiety in me it was hard to do life sober. I was just a young girl full of fear all the time.
As I walked back into my house the Holy Spirit quickened me to this psalm…
Psalms 121:1-8 ERV
“I look up to the hills, but where will my help really come from? My help will come from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth. He will not let you fall. Your Protector will not fall asleep. Israel’s Protector does not get tired. He never sleeps. The Lord is your Protector. The Lord stands by your side, shading and protecting you. The sun cannot harm you during the day, and the moon cannot harm you at night. The Lord will protect you from every danger. He will protect your soul. The Lord will protect you as you come and go, both now and forever!”
My heart is so full as I read this. The Lord is really with me and if you have faith and believe He is with you too! In this day there is so much to be fearful of, I get it! All these drones and orb sightings can start to fill us with fear, maybe even fearing the end times BUT we have to be confident in the CREATOR! As parents we can fear for babies and start to think, what if this or what if that. BUT what will living in fear do for us? Being afraid all the time?
Just like this psalms says my strength comes from the Creator! Who made the mountains who made heaven and earth! He MADE THEM. He created it all and He watches over me and you so why be afraid?? Of what??
Life is too short short to live in fear. About anything! About the future, the past, kids, marriage, church, orbs etc. Do NOT allow fear to grip you!
Tonight I’m praying that whoever reads this would read that Psalms over and over till it takes root in the heart and makes its way up to your mind in the name of Jesus. I pray that you would KNOW the Creator and KNOW that He watches over you, to not fear but have strength in the name of Jesus.
love you friends ONE LOVE
friday dec. 6th 2024
blog 15: Commitment issues
It’s hard to commit isn’t it? There’s always the question.. Am I sure?I mean for me I’ve always kinda been a just do it type of person, without really thinking. Then change my mind the next day. I never fully committed to anything.
I remember this time I had long hair, almost to my hip. As i;m going blonde I decide I would like to have purple in my hair, I committed to purple… I hated it. That very same night …in a storm mind you!…I drive to my friends house and chop it off to my shoulders! Talk about commitment! One of the many times I switched things up. My mom would always say I was very….”fickle” is the word she used.
Fickle: changing frequently, especially as regards one's loyalties, interests, or affection.
I was constantly changing , I needed the next new thing, the next fix, the next thrill. I got bored and idle with life and sadly with people too. I had commitment issues.
I’ve had to learn to stay. To commit.
Even in the hardest of times I’ve learned this lesson…you stay to what you committed yourself to, you stick it out, you fight! For so long I was use to just giving up, or moving on to the next thing. This whole commitment thing was strange to me. Till I met Jesus.
Luke 14:16-24The Parable of the Great Banquet
16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet…
These people were too busy for Jesus. They had different commitments , more important ones. We can be like that huh? Yeah , no I can’t I made plans. Church? Today? Oh no, I have a date, im going on vacation. I’m tired, I have too much work to do. It’s Christmas time I have to shop. And on and on with excuses. We don’t really commit to Jesus. Ya we go to church on Sunday .. we carve out 1 maybe 2 hours a week for Jesus but are we committed to Him? Its good to be committed to work, family, friends and your household BUT it can never take the place of the commitment we have to Jesus.
So why? Why can’t we commit to Jesus?
We don’t know Him. If you knew Him , you’d love Him.
If you knew Him , you’d get it.
If you knew Him, you would say yes to things of Him and NO to things that are not of Him
If you knew Him. You. Would. Commit.
What does commitment even look like? I mean for me it reminds me of my marriage. I’m in love with my husband. I want to make him happy and please him. That is one of my goals and aims as a wife. So it is with Jesus , shouldn’t THAT be the goal? Are we aiming to please Him? Are we trying to get to know what even pleases Him? Are we trying to find out what He wants for us not just what we want for ourselves? I mean if He made us wouldn’t He know what’s better for us then what we believe to be best??
Or is it all about US and our commitments
Just like the parable, “I just got married I can’t.” I mean…understandable? The guy just wants to be with his new wife Yeno? (Wink wink)I get it! He just got married! BUT!!!
he didn’t KNOW who was calling for him.
He didn’t KNOW the person who was inviting him.
He didn’t KNOW what a honor and privilege it was to be called!
He didn’t KNOW…
If he knew he would’ve put EVERYTHING aside and went. He could’ve even taken his new wife I’m sure! But he didn’t know.
He didn’t grasp who was calling for him. Who was inviting him, and sadly that is us.
You see we make excuses. It’s very easy because our lives are busy busy busy. Trust me I get it. But when you KNOW who’s calling to you , who’s asking you to put your life down and follow HIM when you KNOW HIM….you will not be afraid to commit. You won’t have to count the cost when you KNOW Him.
The more I commit myself to Jesus the more I fall in love with Him. He has never ever failed me, not in providing , not in sustaining me , not in filing me with joy , covering me with peace , breaking off depression and anxiety! No! He has never ever failed me. No matter where I find myself HE COMES THROUGH FOR ME! So yeah, of course I’ll commit to Him! Even when I’ve been through the darkest darks in my walk He has still seen me through.
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
When you know Him you will commit fully to Him. It may be scary in the beginning, but the more you get to know Him through the word, through hard times. The more you will grow in you commitment to what He asks of you.
My prayer for you is that you would come to KNOW Him. You would see the importance of committing your whole life to Jesus. I pray that you would put away the excuses! That you would stop putting it off another day to really serve Him with your whole heart. I pray agaisnt the lies of the enemy that tell you its too hard, that drive fear into you with the word commitment IN THE NAME OF JESUS. Don’t be like these people who made excuses. Serve God whole hearty today. He’s calling for you.
LOVE YOU FRIENDS.
ONE LOVE
friday nov 22nd 2024
blog 14: suffering is good?
Everything we do is easy these days. Nothing is too hard anymore and we’ve become so accustom to EASY that doing things the hard or “old” way is like mmm yeah I rather not. Information is now so easily accessible to us about EVERYTHING, a famous saying in our family is..”let me google it”. Cooking is easier, like the air fryer! Before we would have to set the oven, wait for it to get hot, if its summer time it makes the whole house hot, then put in your dish, set a timer check on it and wait till it’s done then turn off the oven and that would be just for dino nuggets! NOW….two clicks is all it takes; temperature, time, put in whatever you want AND bam its done! AND it turns off after its done! Goodness I love that thing!
Then there’s Amazon! Amazing!
Target pick? Life saver.
I can literally get anything and everything I want at my finger tips. Hey I mean i ain’t mad at it BUT if I’m honest it has brought me to be lazy and not want to do things the hard way.
No need to get the kids out of the car and into the store standing in line at the check out all hot and sweating while they throw a fit. Or standing at the line where the lady is paying with coupons and they are doing price checks on items. Talk about being tested in patience! I’ve been there. Nope, everything is so easy now. And it’s funny cause we still complain! I digress.
But God has NOT changed, He is the same. Times and technology may change but His ways have not changed.
You want growth? It’s going to take hard stuff.
It’s going to take discipline
It’s going to take trust
It’s going to take faith
It’s going to take WAITING…
And dare I say it’s going to take suffering
Romans 8:17-18 “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Jesus went to the cross to be brutally murdered. In our human nature and way of thinking , that looks like defeat and a horrible defeat at that, we see he suffered. BUT what happened next? There was a waiting period, it took 3 LONG days. I’m sure those days felt like forever to the disciples. That’s how it feels in suffering sometimes. When is this ever going to end!? Where’s the silver lining?
BUT we all know the story. On that third day He ROSE! And how the glory so outweighed all the pain.
That’s how we must view our suffering and our pain. IF we are in Jesus , IF we are living a life that is honoring and obedient to Christ we never lose!
We hear scriptures like:
To die is to gain
To have joy in trials
To take up your cross
We cringe at these things. We feel sorry for ourselves that we have to endure such things. But that’s just because we haven’t seen the glory of God through the suffering. We haven’t truly yet seen the resurrection power that comes through and after the suffering.
1 Peter 5:10 "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you"
God has called you for more than just suffering , for more than just gritting down on our teeth and going through the storm over and over again. There is glory in suffering IF we can seek God and see what He’s doing through it. I remember my pastors sister testifying about suffering, she had lost her daughter to cancer. Talk about suffering! I remember her saying “you have to be ready to suffer for Christ” immediately I starting crying because I didn’t want to! I didn’t want to hurt or feel pain. But later in my walk I was in THAT exact thing. Pain and suffering. And God met me there. Not only did He meet me there. He built me up there, He strengthened me there. He filled me there. He sustained me there. I fell more in love with my Savior there in the suffering.
Romans 5:3-5"We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope".
NOW when hard times come up, when suffering starts to take place I’m able to stand on this scripture, NOW I understand this scripture. Ohhhh okay Lord, I get it.
You wanted to build my faith, my trust, my discipline, my prayer life, my reading, my worship. You brought me through suffering to produce exactly what it says perseverance; character and hope. Ahhh okay I get it.
We NEED to get this revelation. The Lord doesn’t want us to look at suffering in a human mind set. No. It’s all for a purpose friend. Every single thing. The good the bad the suffering.
Today my prayer for whoever reads this is that you would run to Jesus in your suffering, you would seek the Father like never before! I pray that every part of suffering would produce exactly what the scripture says , perseverance, character and hope inside you. Remember the Lord is with you, He hasn’t left you to suffer alone. He loves you. You can make it through this with Jesus. I promise.
I hope you were blessed . Till next time.
LOVE YOU FRIENDS.
ONE LOVE
friday nov 8th 2024
blog 13: the abundant life project
What does an abundant life look like?
For me it used to be all about the things.. having the nicest car, having my hair and nails done. Had to have the shoes, jewelry, clothes, latest phone, and the next trendy thing. An abundant life for me use to look like THINGS. I had to always be doing something. I could never just be still, going out as much as often was what “satisfied” me. If I had all that, that was good. That was a good abundant life for me.
Till it wasn’t anymore.
Before I knew Jesus I had to keep feeding myself stuff. Stuff stuff stuff. Always the next best thing. We can be like that even as followers of Jesus right?? We think like that right?
“If I could just get this amount of money then I’d have a satisfying life” “If I just marry this person I’ll be set” “if I can just get HERE then I’ll be good” , and we even pray for things like this which is NOT bad, BUT they are NOT how you get the abundant life. They will never satisfy that part of us that wants wants wants, needs needs needs. At some point these things will run out, fade away or disappoint you. They do not last.
So what IS an abundant life? How do we get that? We all want it.
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:9-10 NKJV
Another translation reads:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 NIV
And..
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10 NLT
Jesus is the way of an abundant life. To accept Jesus and follow Him. To be a sheep and be lead by Him. To ask for guidance in ever part of life.
Most time we want to lead. We want to call the shots on where to go next, without even seeking God first. We do what we FEEL or THINK is right. Which leads us to become tired, worried and overwhelmed.
The abundant life looks totally contrary to what you may think. It looks totally opposite to the ways of the world and our own way of thinking. The ways of Jesus are backwards. Loving God is the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done in my entire life. I’ve never in my life been so at peace and joyful. Do I have hard days? Do I struggle with temptation and frustrations? Of course! But I feel I’ve come to this mystery of a fulfilled life and it’s as Jesus says. Coming in through Him. Knowing Jesus more and more every single day will lead you to the life you so desperately crave and desire.
The first step is accepting Jesus. Inviting Him into your heart and your life. Coming to the realization that you NEED a Savior and you NEED Him every second of everyday. That you cannot do it on your own.
Second is reading His word daily. So much so it becomes who YOU are. Doing this corrects us, teaches us His ways and encourage us in life.
Last is applying everything you read into your actual day to day life. Doing as Jesus shows through His word. Becoming more and more like Him. To put in to practice all we’ve learned and read or to go with OUR OWN WAY. Every day and situation is an opportunity to be more like Jesus or more like the world.
You cannot have an abundant, fulfilled, satisfying life without knowing Jesus. Without following Jesus. If you’re reading this and you are a follower of Jesus but you don’t feel fulfilled, I would challenge you to take those 3 steps. As Jesus says in this passage, the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The devil, the world, the things of this world will only leave you hurting or chasing for more and more. It comes to steal your joy, kill your hope, and destroy your peace.
We were meant to have an abundant life!
We were meant to have a satisfying life!
A full life!
Even in the hardest of times it IS possible to have this because of HIM.
My prayer is that you would start on that path to get to know this abundant life.
Jesus did not die on a cross for you to be left hopeless, and in despair. He said I have come so that they may have LIFE and LIFE more ABUNDANTLY. Amen.
LOVE YOU FRIENDS.
ONE LOVE
friday nov 1st 2024
blog 12: jesus wept
Jesus wept. The shortest verse in the entire Bible yet one of the most powerful.
In John chapter 11 Jesus is going to see a really close friend who has passed away, Lazarus. By the time Jesus gets there , Lazarus has been dead for 4 whole days now. As Jesus gets into town He is met by Lazarus’s two sisters Martha and Mary, both grieving their brother. I’ve read this account in the Bible many times, but never really actually took time to understand it or stop and picture Jesus weeping.
I thought maybe He shed a tear or choked up but recently I was watching The Chosen and I really liked the way they brought this scene out. Jesus starts to cry and everyone is a little taken back especially His disciples. As I’m sitting on my couch I start to cry! Isn’t it crazy and amazing to know that Jesus feels what we feel? He doesn’t just dismiss it. He doesn’t just say “get over it” or “really? You’re crying over that again?” NO! His heart hurts with us. He feels everything with us!
I love knowing that the God I serve is concerned at the things that concern me. From the very big things in life to even the smallest things that can ruin my day the Lord cares about it all.
He is so personal with us.
There is a supernatural encounter that takes place when you’re truly broken . It’s not only biblical but I’ve experienced it myself.
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit
I’m sure all of us have been to a point where we are broken, and crushed in spirit. I’ve had those times when I just sit there and have no words. I just cry and cry. But can I tell you and encourage you, after that deep heartbroken cry a comfort that goes beyond understanding. IYKYK!
If you haven’t done that in awhile. I encourage you to bring it before Jesus. I understand that it’s hard for us. We’ve been told “suck it up” “don’t let them see you cry” or even “stop crying!”
Sometimes we can cover up all that we feel just by staying busy. We don’t want to feel everything or anything at all. We don’t want to get on our knees or talk to Him because we know that right when those knees hit the floor it’s over! The tears will come and we don’t want that. We don’t want to open up those old unhealed wounds again. We don’t want God to show us what we need to work on or how we need to forgive. So we stay hard. We stay stuck. We stick to…“Don’t let them see you cry”.
But…”Jesus wept”.
If Jesus can cry I think it’s safe to say we can too.
Another thing I always think about is , why did Jesus cry if He knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead? He knew it was a happy ending! Why be sad!?
But I realized even though Jesus knew…they didn’t know! And that broke His heart.
Ugh! That brings so much comfort to me. That my Jesus feels for me. Even though He knows these things in my life will turn around, or they are for my good. Even though He knows the outcome, it doesn’t change the fact that He still hurts with me. He still comes along side me and cares. There’s been times where I wondered what He was doing and I was sad, but Jesus never ever just dismisses how we feel. Ever. This is PROOF that He cares.
“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
Verse 35 Jesus wept.” John 11:33, 35
Sometimes in our pain, suffering and even questioning we can feel alone, or that God doesn’t even care. Don’t allow the devil to lie to you. Don’t allow the devil to tell you God doesn’t care about your situation. NO that IS A LIE!
I’ve written this blog today to tell you. He cares. And more than that His heart hurts for what your heart hurts for too. Just as much as I want to comfort my babies when they get hurt or are sad , Jesus wants to do the same and even more so for you and me. Especially in those times of trouble, grief, confusion, and pain. He wants so much to comfort us. Today my prayer is that wherever you find yourself today that you would know that Jesus CARES. He feels with us. In the BIG trials in life and even in the small everyday things. Take courage today in knowing you are not alone. That you serve a God who is holding you every single step of the way and that He feels for you.
I hope this spoke to you friends, I love you!
ONE LOVE
friday oct. 25th 2024
blog 11: I don’t know
I remember the time my aunt was diagnosed with cancer. Ugh I loved her so much. She was my entire childhood. When I think of being little she is in every part of it. We were neighbors growing up. As I got older we would cook. laugh and just have the best time singing oldies and dancing in her kitchen. She was just the most beautiful person. Never ever did I see my aunt lose her cool and get angry. She was always smiling, always positive, always loving. When she got cancer it was a surprise to us. And everything starting happening super quick. My uncle called my dad asking if we could come pray for her. Of course we said yes.
When we arrived, her side of the family was already there. Lots of them (which I never knew) were very strong Christians. We all took turns praying over her, laying hands, and quoting scripture. You could feel the presence of God in the room.
I remember talking to God on my drive home after praying for her one night. I was crying and asking Him to heal her. I was really really believing for a miracle.
This was my request to him :
“Lord I know you can do it. I know you’re who you say you are , a healer , a miracle worker. Please heal her. I don’t want to be made out to be a liar Lord because I know you can do it!”
In the end she passed away a few months later. I was left with the empty, heart wrenching question ..WHY!?
I don’t know…
I’ve found in my walk, that sometimes the answer is “I don’t know”. I’ve had many season and situations happen where I thought WHY!? Why Jesus!? The thing I came to realize is this, that God says…
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
I know it’s a hard thing to do, to stop and come to the realization that He knows better than me. Especially in such distress and turmoil. But Gods word is true, He is who He says He is. He is good. Knowing that the Lord has seen us through some of the hardest situations can give us faith that He will see us through again and again. Even if the outcome was not what we wanted or were expecting.
These ways and thoughts are so hard to understand for a nonbeliever.
It doesn’t add up, it doesn’t make sense. How can such a loving God do these things they ask? How can He allow these things to take place?
But they can never come to understand until they truly know Jesus.
In death the Bible says :
“Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.”2 Corinthians 5:8
Apart from death there are really hard things we go through in life. Maybe a betrayal of a spouse, a financial burden that doesn’t seem to lift or it could be a battle in the mind that is constant.
We again are left to ask why?
I don’t know why God allows things to happen . But what I do know is that..
“We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28
AND
James 1: 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Nothing is for nothing with Jesus. Even the worse things in life are to draw us closer to Jesus. And in return, we grow in our faith. We grow in knowing our Creator. And we are able to comfort those who go through the same trials as we have.
”3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
If you find yourself asking God why? That’s okay. Sometimes its okay to not know the answer. It’s okay to say “I don’t know”, but remember to stand on what you do know.
I pray that if you’re going through the season of WHY? That these scriptures will be an anchor for your soul. That you would lean in to them and allow them to pierce your your heart and take root for your soul.
My hope and prayer is that you would leave this blog feeling confident in the I don’t know. Because even when we don’t know we can have confidence that the Savior, the Comforter, the Redeemer, the Healer, the GREAT I AM knows what He’s doing.
I hope this spoke to you friends, I love you!
ONE LOVE
sunday oct. 20th 2024
blog 10: seek & find
The craziest stuff happens to me. But I truely believe it’s because I’m seeking it out. We recently went to visit friends in Idaho which was a blast. The morning of, around 4:30am as I’m helping pack the truck. I start to feel a little stressed and worried about the kids and this long 8 hour drive. I hadn’t slept all night and was bombarded by negative thoughts.
Just then this car coming down the road is blasting and I mean BLASTING a song. I can hear the bass thudding. I start to get a little on guard you know? Just then I can hear “I sought the lord and he heard and he answered, that’s why I trust him that’s why I trust him” I just laughed, looked up and said “thank you”.
I was expecting some worldly music with the way this car was bumping down the road! Haha. I got all on guard. But nope just the Lord speaking. Now that I think about it, thats how my husband and I like our worship music too!
You see, Jesus is always speaking…Jesus is always speakin’ when you’re seekin’ . Hahahah oh gosh I’m sorry. That is, as the kids say CRINGE.
But it’s so true!
In every little and big thing in this crazy life He’s always talking, He’s always showing us something.
Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart”
Every single opportunity in life is an opportunity to FIND God.
It may be an argument that leaves you angry. Seek God!
It may be an uncertain decision. Seek God!
It may be an impossible situation. Seek God!
In a time where you are confused, filled with worry, stress and even in despair. Seek God!
I remember a time when I kept asking God why!!? Why!? Why does this happen? Why me? I wasn’t seeking God. Honestly, I was just complaining. I was just throwing a pity party. Don’t get me wrong there are times I vent to the Lord.(a lot of times) I tell Him how annoyed, angry, or hurt I am. But then I have to SEEK Him. I have to ask the question, “Lord what are you trying to show me, please speak to me”, Followed by reading His word.
Sometimes the answer is not always what you want to hear.
You may have to check yourself.
You may have to apologize, or take some accountability.
You might have to let go of things or actually DO something!
Usually for me like 8 out of 10 times it’s what I don’t want hear.
Now more than ever I believe Jesus wants to make Himself known to YOU and ME! He’s just waiting for you to open the door. He is just waiting for you to sit with Him. My friend and I were speaking recently. We were discussing how relationships work in the world are no different than your relationship with Jesus. Can you imagine if me and my husband only spoke once a week or once a month? I would know nothing about my husband. It’s the same with Jesus. You have to seek Him out. The world is getting crazier and louder by the minute. It’s distracting us from the very thing we need to do, from the very thing that will bring us peace, joy, its distracting us from the main line of communion with our Creator. As followers of Christ it’s our responsibility to go to Him, not only in prayer but in His word. The Bible says:
“in the beginning was word and the word was with God and the word WAS GOD” John 1:1
Jesus is the word of God. The Bible is Jesus. You want to know Jesus? You NEED to read Him.
He wants so much to love on you. He wants to show you how to conquer those things in your life. He desires to teach you His ways through HIS WORD. The world does not help you. The world will always leave you. It may seem like it wants to make you happy and bring peace, but its a lie! It will always leave you hurting and grasping for more. You can never be satisfied fully with the things of this world .Drugs, alcohol, porn, sex , people, food, NOTHING will give you what Jesus can give you. Wholeness, fulfillment, purpose, love, joy, peace, rest and the list goes on. The more I read Gods word, the more I get close to Jesus. It’s literally a well that never runs dry.
Have you ever been so parched and so thirsty that when you finally get that big glass of cold water it’s soooo satisfying!?
That’s how Jesus is. When you seek Him and Find Him. It’s so satisfying to every part of your being! And the beautiful thing is that never ever runs dry. You will never get to a place while serving God and be like “welp I’m all done now.” Never! It’s never ending. I have read the book of James atleast 20 times or more! And I still find something new that leaves me with my jaw to the floor in amazement!
Jesus is never ending with His giving.
All you have to do is SEEK Him. Read His word.
John 4:14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
When we are Seeking Him and staying close to Him. We will never run dry, we will never be parched or unsatisfied with Jesus and the things of God!
If you have lagged in your Bible reading or given into the distractions of this world. Take this as a sign to get back into the word!
Get back to the living water. He is calling you back! Or if you have never actually sought God through His word, try it! Look up John and start reading. The world has nothing for you. When you truly seek Jesus with all your heart everything will come together. In the good times and the really hard times, it will always come together because His word says:
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
I hope this spoke to you friends, I love you!
ONE LOVE
sunday oct. 13th 2024
blog 9: grateful
I remember a time when Sundays were a day of being stuck in bed with a pounding headache or wrapped around a toilet throwing up. I remember getting text messages reminding me of all the stupid things I had did and said.
My mind would start to fill with embarrassment, guilt, and shame.
I remember I would think, okay now I need to get high. Just to escape my own thoughts.
So, that’s what I did.
Recently I’ve been reminded of where I was, to where I am now. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for my life now. Peace, joy, and love are things that cannot be bought. You can never buy these things and even if you find them in THINGS those things will eventually fade away.
At first I thought the answer was sobriety. I got sober for awhile but that never took away the guilt, shame, pain , anger, or frustration. I was just a sober miserable person. I always wanted to start over. I knew that’s what I needed I just didn’t know how to find that. I remember I would tell my dad. “If I could just move out of town it would get better”
I wanted to try and run away.
I wanted a way out.
I needed an escape from myself, from my past, and mostly from my own mind!
Then I met Jesus.
I had a supernatural encounter with Him. And I learned…
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation. The old has passed away; behold, the NEW has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Woah! I could get a whole new start? Everything I have ever done or been a part of can go away??
The answer is YES!
It’s a really hard thing to try and explain how addictions were taken from me but they were. I love this portion of scripture. Jesus heals a man who has been blind since birth! When he heals him and the religious people question how was he healed , I love the man’s answer.
“I don’t know who the man is but I was blind and now I see.” paraphrased John 9:25
It’s so hard to show people every little detail of where God has truly healed me. All I know is I was an addict and now I’m not!
I was depressed and now I’m not!
I had panic attacks and now I don’t!
I’ve heard people say they aren’t sure what their testimony is. To that I would ask. “What has God seen you through? What is something you had no idea how you would get through but God got you through it? THAT IS YOUR TESTIMONY. Some of us are going through it right now. I love that our testimony never really stops. We go through things to be able to lean on Jesus and then watch Him get us through. And then share to the next person!
These are the things to be grateful for.
You know that’s what really KEEPS ME.
When its an early Sunday morning , my husband is driving while I’m doing my makeup and can see my three beautiful kids in the back seat. The sun is barely rising, the air is crisp, on our way to CHURCH!! My mind and my heart can’t help but be so grateful. Before I would be waking up in a random house full of shame on a Sunday. I’d be waking up hurting from a hangover or needing another fix of some kind of drug. Some Sundays I woke up still messed up from the day before. I remember a Sunday I woke up in a Applebees parking lot because I had drank so much. The same sunrise , the same crisp air. But I just remember feeling SO EMPTY. SO ALONE. SO BROKEN. When I had nothing left and I came to church is where I met Jesus. In an instant I felt SO COMFORTED. SO SEEN. SO WHOLE. Just like the man in John. I don’t know how He did it. But He did! He’s been so good to me. Over and over again. I wish I could write down all the ways He’s came through for me and continues to. In my mind, in my marriage, my finances, the list goes on. I don’t even have the words to express how many different ways He’s come through. In return I serve Him with my life.
I am so free!
If you’re reading this and you struggle with addiction of any sort. Or you feel bound to shame , guilt , depression, anxiety etc…let me tell you. I am a living testimony that if Jesus could do it for me He can do it for you!
The biggest lie is that you have to get yourself together before coming to church before coming to Jesus. He just wants you to come to Him, jacked up and all.
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29 Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves. 30 My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.”
You will never regret, asking Jesus to help you. I promise. He is everything you need and everything you never knew you needed!
I hope this spoke to you friends, I love you!
ONE LOVE
Friday oct. 4th 2024
blog 8: name this blog
The other day I was putting my youngest to sleep. I put her on my king size bed with pillows around…I know I know she needs to be in a safer place. Don’t worry! We’re putting the crib together tonight! Give me a break she’s my third child! lol
After I lay her down I go into another room and watch her put herself to sleep. I have her in this little weighted sack and sometimes she’s isn’t ready to sleep so she kinda rolls around like little caterpillar. None the less I have to be ready to jump up and grab her if she starts to get to close to the edge.
There are times I just sit there and watch her sit up and babble or play with her bottle and I am in awe of how beautiful and silly she is. It really is pure love. Then there’s times I look at the monitor and she’s a little too close to the edge …(remember crib is up tonight! lol)
That’s how God the Father is with us. He looks at us in awe and love. But when we start to get close to an edge there He comes to save us with his mercy and grace.
Now my baby is on the move, she loves to jump around and even has fallen off the couch head first once. I’ve now started showing her how to get down backwards off the couch. Slowly she tries but now she’s a little more cautious after her fall.
I’ve learned in my walk it’s out of love that God disciplines us and corrects us. Just like how I’ve had to show my baby to gently get off the couch so that she doesn’t get hurt , that’s how He is with us. He has given us the Holy Spirit to help us get off the couch safely lol.
He has also given us His word has a guide line for what to do and what NOT to do in this lifetime
Confession moment:
The other night my YouTube took me to this dating show. I was intrigued, as I was watching they started talking about sex. At first I was like eh it’s whatever , but then I started to feel the conviction. I felt the Holy Spirit tell me. “This is doing nothing for you spirit.” “Why are you allowing this in?” In reality it’s just garbage. Was it entertaining? I mean I guess but nothing more than that.
I believe we as Christ followers think like this way too much!
Eh it’s just a show
Eh it’s just a drink
Eh it’s just song ,
Just a concert
Just a friend
Eh It’s just a…..
I feel so compelled in my spirit to speak about sin but another part of me doesn’t want to hurt peoples feelings. But you see when I came to Jesus I didn’t know much! I didn’t know that sex outside of marriage was a sin, I didn’t know getting drunk was a sin, I didn’t know LYING was a sin!
I even had to really question it.
It took someone to tell me . Then it took me to read it for myself. I had to see that it actually said that. And it did.
So my friend out of Love for you I tell you these are a few things that are sin. You cannot get close to the Father , or have freedom if you’re choosing to still do these things.
One scripture that always holds me accountable is this..
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God
I love the next verse
11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
You see that was me, I was once all that! I come from all of that. My MIL asked me as I told her some of my crazy stories …”did you not have any morals ?”
I paused for a second …”mmmm no, no I didn’t”
You see I was so engulfed in the world and the things of the world , how could I know these things were wrong? Everyone did it, everyone seemed to be having fun, it all seemed okay.
I did NOT know Gods word.
I didn’t know Him.
I didn’t know that He has instructions for me to live a freeing life, a joyful life , a peaceful life.
People get it wrong they say ..”dang you’re brain washed ..you can’t drink or party or do what you want?”
To that …I say what my first pastor would say “yes my brain is washed, washed from all that garbage” - Pastor Art.
The path to heaven ..its narrow. Few find it.
Because it does take a discipline that’s not of this world. It takes a mind set that goes against everything . It goes against our own human nature . To get that power over yourself it’s NOT you, it is ONLY through the Holy Spirit , the Spirit of God , the Helper that you can truly get there.
The only reason I am not drinking or smoking weed right now is because of the Spirit inside me. That’s the truth.
Matthew 7:13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
We have to hear this. Because the Lord loves us and doesn’t want us to perish. We have to STOP being like the world . Partaking in things the world does. Sin is simple. It’s anything that separates us from God. That could be social media. Maybe there’s some things popping up in your explore page that take you down a path you know you shouldn’t be on.
Get rid of it.
Maybe your social media feeds you full of fear and worry because of the horrible things in the world. That send you into losing hope and being anxious.
Get rid of it!
Maybe there’s a friend who feeds you all this negativity and pulls you towards the world.
Get rid of them.
Now more than ever it is NOT the time to play church. It’s not the time to say you’re a Christian but you go against everything God is calling you to be and not to be.
These things may sound dramatic, but look what Jesus says …
Matthew 5:29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Wow right! We have to know ourselves. As followers of Christ it is not just going to church on Sundays and saying we love Jesus that will be getting us into heaven.
It’s denying yourself , denying what your flesh wants. Truly transforming into the imagine of Christ in all ways.
I get it! It’s hard! It’s so hard these days. There’s distractions right in our hands, sin is now right at our fingertips , but I feel such an urge to write this. Jesus is coming back sooner and sooner if you just look at the world all the signs are there.
The world is getting ugly.
God gave us His word so that we would not be blind sided to the signs of the end. Hes given us His word so that we can be aware. So that we don’t get caught off guard.
Maybe you’re new to this whole following Jesus thing, and you’re still stuck in these things. THATS OK! It took me awhile to stop smoking weed, it took me awhile to get rid of habits and hang ups, and I still mess up. The Holy Spirit is so gracious with us. But I was very very grateful that someone told me about sin. I was thankful that someone told me the truth. Then I could do whatever I wanted with it. That’s why I feel compelled to tell whoever is reading, that sin will separate us from God IF we stay in it. God is calling people to walk the narrow path. FEW find it. Few!! We have to be the few.
Remember God is merciful and loving , just like I watch my baby on the monitor and when she starts to get close to the edge I run in there are, that’s how God is with us. He doesn’t want us to go down the wrong path. He doesn’t want us to be away from Him. He loves us beyond what you can even imagine. He sends people into our lives to go along side us and help us in this life. He’s given you all the tools you need to not only go against what the world is enticing you to, but to have true freedom over it ALL!! With freedom comes joy, and peace. Don’t let the enemy lie to you as you come to the end of this blog. I’ll leave you with His word and a challenge in your prayer time.
Hebrews 12 :5-6 MSG “Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?
My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline,
but don’t be crushed by it either.
It’s the child he loves that he disciplines;
the child he embraces, he also corrects.”
My Prayer today is that we would really ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the things in our lives that are pulling us away from God and help us to truly turn away from those things. I pray that we learn who God is in His love and mercy for us. That he corrects those He loves.
I hope this spoke to you friends, I love you!
ONE LOVE
Friday sept. 27th 2024
blog 7: joy in the trials
It’s easy to be a follower of Christ when things are good right? When life is good, you and your spouse are vibing, co workers are chill, money in the bank, everyone’s getting along. Oh yeah, its easy being like Jesus then.
It’s the times when chaos breaks out is when the rubber meets the road. When life gets hard, money is tight, when everyone seems to be coming against you. When you’ve been betrayed and mistreated maybe even lied to. These are the moments when everything you have ever known and been taught come into practice.
James 1:2-4 NKJV“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
I had read this portion of scripture so many times and always thought, “count it all joy while going through hard times? That doesn’t make sense. Why would anyone be happy during such a hard time in life??”
Then I found myself there.
I was going through a firey trial in my marriage. I remember the day THIS scripture came to life for me. I’ll never forget. I was doing the dishes just crying talking to God. When all of a sudden I felt His embrace. I felt so comforted, I felt so loved on, like I’ve never felt before , I felt strength, peace and JOY so much so I started to laugh and be filled . then I got the revelation. Wow!!
Joy in trials!
It’s in those darkest of places that Jesus will find you. He’s found me there plenty of times. But the joy is in the patience and endurance of your faith. I felt the Holy Spirit show me THATS where He can show off. Its in the trials of life, when YOU DECIDE TO TRUST, WHEN YOU DECIDE TO WORSHIP, no matter the circumstance.
Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.
When we stay focused on the situation instead of seek God. When we point out all the bad,or go to the world for answers that won’t bring the JOY.
You know what’s amazing? JOY is infectious! In this portion of scripture when Paul and Silas break free from prison there is a jailer. Hes afraid after all the door fly open, but long story short they end up giving him the gospel and he welcomes them into his home. Look what happens…
Acts 16: 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with JOY because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
We have no idea the impact in passing the test of these trials. People are watching us. They are looking to see what our reaction will be to lifes trials. Will we get angry? Will we fold? What will we do? If you have kids your kids are watching you. Unsaved friends are watching. Unsaved family , co workers etc.
Another version says it like this
James1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything
These hard times in life are tests. They are a testing of your faith. Do you trust God in that are of hard times so much so that you have joy? It only comes through KNOWING who GOD is in these times can you experience that JOY. Allow these trials to be what make you draw closer to God not further away.
Allow these hard times to be what turn you into a more loving and merciful follower of Christ, not one who starts to hold grudges and get bitter with life’s struggles.
Hard times they can literally make or break you. They test your heart, your mind, your prayer life, they test if you REALLY know your Savior.
They turn you into Jesus or they turn you into the world.
The joy came because my faith had been tested and I was choosing to love like Jesus. Through the trial I was growing not only in my walk but in knowing who my Jesus was. THAT was where the JOY came from.
The trials are opportunities to grow closer to our maker. In doing so we are filled with love and JOY.
I’m telling you friend you go against your own way , go against the way you would respond in a difficult time. You will absolutely feel not only the peace of God but the JOY!
I didn’t do much in this time, all i really did was cry out to God. Literally cried haha! Sobbed! He knew my heart, He knew that I had denied what I wanted for what He wanted , He knew I was coming after Him.
He knows the hard time you’re facing right now. And because He loves you so much He desire you to grow in your faith through it. What is faith? Believing what you cannot see.
He desires through the hard times in life you would trust Him.
You would seek Him.
You would come to know Him.
Stop doing it YOUR way. Stop doing it in YOUR strength. Stop responding how YOU would.
When we go through trials it says the “testing” of our faith. Don’t keep failing at the test. Put on love. Grow in patience with one another.
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.But the greatest of these is love.
I pray as we go through our day. We would look at hard times, hard people, hard situations as OPPORTUNITIES to be able to grow in our faith. Grow in being more like Jesus. In return we will be filled with JOY knowing the testing of our faith is MATURING us in love and patience!
I Pray this blessed you . Love you friends.
ONE LOVE
Friday sept. 20th 2024
blog 7: tRuth or a lie?
“Your life sucks”
“You have nothing to offer”
“You’re ugly”
“You’re fat”
“God can’t use you. You know what you’ve done.”
These are just a few of the LIES straight from hell that try to bombard our minds .For me they seem happen at the strangest time. The other day I was putting my son down for a nap as I looked around at the messy room , that voice snuck in “your life sucks”. They can come after a victory, after you feel like you just conquered something.
In these moments we have 2 choices
Feed into the lie , welcome it , start to go down a list of reasons why our life “does” suck.
Repeat Gods word.
Sadly there’s been many times the lies from the enemy have stolen my joy, my peace , and my hope . I would hear the Holy Spirit gently nudding me to go another away . To get back on the path of truth ,but I chose to go with the lies , I chose to believe what the enemy was telling me rather than what I know to be TRUTH.
After I had my last daughter I had really bad postpartum which lead to me taking medication. I heard the voice telling me (the lie) “you need this medicine , without it you can’t get anything done” “you have no peace without it” “you have no control without it” I started to believe I NEEDED it more than I needed my Savior .We think that because we serve God we are exempt from these attacks. Its actually the opposite, the devil HATES that we are serving Jesus. The devil hates our marriage, he hates our kids, he hates to see us joyful in the things of God. So he will come in and try to grab your mind. As followers of Jesus , WE HAVE TO GET THIS…now more than ever. The enemy wants you to remember the past and dwell on what could have been. What does Gods word say?
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.
He will try to remind you of the things you’ve done, the failures. But Gods word says :
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
What a liar the devil is! He may be lying to you at this very moment as you read this, because thats how he is. Anytime there is truth he comes agaisnt it. Anytime you humble yourself, there he is trying to fill your mind with “you’re going to let them talk to you like that?” “you’re going to let them get away with that?” YOU SEE we have to understand THIS IS A BATTLE OF THE MIND. He is trying to steal your peace, your joy, and your hope.
The biggest lie I’ve come to know is when you fall , mess up, fail in your speech. Here come the lies “you blew it” “God doesn’t want you anymore” “He doesn’t love you anymore” That is the biggest lie!
Gods Word says:
Proverbs 24:16 For a righteous man may fall seven times. And rise again,
Romans 8:38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I feel so strongly today to share the tactics of the enemy . The strategies of the powers of hell.
It may seem like your bumping heads with your spouse , constantly fighting with a family member , hey it may even sound like your own thoughts but what does the Bible say?
Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. “
We are in a spiritual battle. All around us, all the time . There is a reason we are to put the armor of God on daily! There’s been many times in my walk where I start to feel anger rise inside me, anxiety TRY to flood me or even depression try to sneak in and I have to step back and see the attack ….
This is one of the many reasons I love worship . Its Gods truth through music. You have to fight friend! Fight for your marriage, fight for your spouse, fight for you family, fight for your friends, and fight FOR YOURSELF. Life is too short to live a life with grudges, worries, stress. Jesus did NOT die on the cross for you and me to live a life of despair and hoplessness! I had so many scriptures come to my mind as i wrote this. Its not what I say, Its Gods word. Im sorry but its not going to be your goodness or positive thinking that will silence the enemy, it may work for a time, but its ONLY THROUGH GODS WORD THAT THERE IS POWER! when the devil came after Jesus. Jesus used Gods word, He spoke it to the devil .
If you read my blogs , i pray the one thing you get is to run to Gods word. Run to the Word. You want to know Jesus? You desire to be a better follower of Jesus. Run to His word! No podcast, sermon, or worship song can take the place of knowing Him through His word. Those things are good but they can not take the place of sitting and studying Gods word. THATS WHERE ITS AT.
I would love to end with a prayer…
“Heavenly Father I thank you for exposing the enemy, I pray that whoever is reading this RIGHT NOW that they start to be filled with a FIGHTING SPIRIT. Maybe they’ve been fighting and doing good and they’re tired . I pray for breakthrough Lord, I pray they would run to Your word for a refilling! I pray for supernatural strength. I pray for the one that doesn’t understand the battle yet, that You, Holy Spirit would teach them, draw them to Your word. Help us Holy Spirit to not be distracted, to not give into the LIES the enemy tries to plant in our minds. Help us to see the battle is not in the flesh but in the spirit. Its only with You and Your word Jesus can we conquer the powers of hell. Teach us. We love you . We praise. Amen.
I Pray this blessed you . Love you friends.
ONE LOVE
Friday sept. 13th 2024
blog 6: good and faithful servant
Its crazy to me that one day we will all experience THAT one thing, Doesn’t matter how much money you made, if you were popular or not, the house you had etc. Death is something inevitable for all of us. But as followers of Jesus our hope is on that day we hear “well done good and faithful servant”.
We’ve got so caught up in ourselves, our own desires, our dreams, what we want . We forget to include God and ask Him what He wants for us and better yet what He wants FROM us. I remember reading that scripture “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” Psalm 37:4 BUT it doesn’t stop there the following verse reads (verse 5) “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this” As I grew closer to the Lord my heart started to change , my desires started to change. I no longer wanted what I wanted. It was no longer all about me. We are so selfish aren’t we? We will do things. but only if it benefits us right? If there’s any kind of sacrifice we won’t do it and if it makes us uncomfortable forget it!
I have to be so bold to ask…if this is you and how you think, do you REALLY know Jesus?
There’s a parable Jesus told in the book of Matthew 25:14-29 . I would encourage you to read it! There’s a lot in there , But basically the master or main guy (GOD) gives three servants a portion of His goods . One he gave 5, one 2, and one just 1. The first two double what he gave them, but the servant with just one good hides it because he was afraid of his lord. Sound familiar? God gives us the ability to do so much but because we are afraid we are like this servant . We don’t do anything with ourselves. We sit there saved by grace every Sunday , not doing much. Don’t get me wrong salvation is a beautiful thing BUT you were not meant to sit stagnant. Look at the exchange between this servant and his lord.
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant…”
DANG! thats intense. You see this servant didnt KNOW his Lord. He didn’t know the One who gave him the goods in the first place. I believe Jesus is showing us NOT to be like this servant. i would again encourage you to keep reading because it gets real towards the end of this parable.
Ok so what does a good and faithful servant look like? IT looks like Jesus. We have to KNOW who He is to mimic Him. He is fully selfless. The bible tells us that the Son Of God came to SERVE and NOT BE SERVED. (Matthew 20:28) Not only did He show us the most prime example of selflessness on the cross , He also showed us as He washed His disciples dirty feet. YUCK that must have been really gross. I have a weak stomach now , I probably would throw up haha!! BUT He did it!! He lowered Himself to the lowest of the lows.
The Son Of God lowered Himself to serve us.
Before ending I have to bring out the good in serving, So what about the servants who DID do something with what they were given? Look at what he tells them..
verse 21 & 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
There it is again the beautiful word JOY! Enter into the JOY of the Lord. When you live to serve others and put others above yourself the supernatural JOY that comes over you is undeniable. Is it hard? Ya its hard after a long day of work to go hang out with someone, or being with kids all day not having a minute to yourself haha! (rant over). Its hard to put the things you want to do on a Saturday on hold to be able to help out someone else (whatever that may be). It goes against our human nature, Aren’t we called to different? Called to be in the world but not of it? Everyone always uses this scripture for how you dress and what you look like, but i believe its deeper. I believe its different in the heart. Serving people, putting others above you is so fulfilling! I would dare you to try it. I would challenge you even. Lets not be like the servant who hides what God gave him. What did Jesus give you? All of us have something. As followers of Christ lets stop being so selfish , lets start really asking the Lord to give us a servants heart, A heart for people , a heart for others , a heart for the kingdom of God. In this you will step into a whole new sense of JOY!
I Pray this blessed you . Love you friends.
ONE LOVE
Friday sept. 6th 2024
blog 5: Action required
Don’t you just hate when you see “action required” on your tv.
Man! Did someone not pay the bill ?
Is the wifi unplugged ?
What’s the password again??
Usually for me someone starts crying because they can’t watch their show .Then we have to do exactly as it says take action.
Jesus is just the same .
It’s nice to think we can just pray pray pray and it will happen and prayer is good and powerful but SOMETIMES it does take action. Most times I feel.It’s all throughout the gospels when Jesus heals .He calls us to do something, He said things like …
“Go and sin no more”
“Take up your mat and walk “
“Go wash the mud from your eyes”
God calls us to action . There’s always something required . There was a time in my walk when my husband sat down from worship for his own reasons . We were going through a lot in our marriage and I was pregnant. Pastor then asked if I could lead worship.
In my head I screamed HECK NO! but I felt the Lord gently remind me He would be with me.
Every single Sunday morning I cried because I didn’t want to lead worship. I felt broken , tired , and pregnant haha!
But each time I knew God was molding me .In those times that you don’t want to do something where you’re really saying No , really begging God not to have you do it . Where you say choose someone else, I’m too tired, I’m too old, I’m too young ,
I have kids! that’s where God is calling you to take action. Why not you?
It may seem like something small and insignificant even.
Giving up a Saturday to help the church outreach.
Giving of your time to someone who is hurting .
Maybe it’s even stepping into ministry for the first time. All these things we like to say “oh so and so will do it, they got it covered” NO God is calling YOU. Yes YOU. We believe Jesus can heal us but we don’t want to do the things he calls us to do:
Take up your cross daily
Deny yourself
Take the yoke
These things sound horrible when you read them at face value like that. Like a parent giving you a rule . But oh my goodness is there so much freedom and healing when you do these things.
Sad to say I’ve learned these things the hard way. I went in circles many times just praying about IT but never doing anything to change IT. When I decided to change IT (my it) then everything changed .
I pray there’s something God is showing you right now as you read. That IT is coming to the forefront of your mind to change.
Now the question is . Will you take action?
Even if that means actively seeking forgiveness or actively forgiving.
Actively forgiving? What’s that look like?
Maybe you don’t bring that thing up anymore
Maybe you actually go out of your way to say something opposite then what you mind is telling you to say. As you practice forgiveness and take action to forgive those ones who have hurt you , freedom builds in you.
What about love?
Love is action right?
Didn’t LOVE die on a cross for us. A man named Jesus died on a cross for you and me so that we could be forgiven from sin and connected to the Father . No longer was it about religion and keeping a law, but was all about relationship with the Heavenly Father . So that He could mold us EVERY DAY into who we are meant to be. But it takes action…it takes you to get up and read your Bible , it takes you to seek God in prayer outside of church days. It takes you to do this everyday. And again. When you do this there is freedom, healing , peace and so much JOY!
There’s a story in the Bible of a man who didn’t take action. It can be found Matthew 19:16-22. He was a young man who was very rich . he came to Jesus asking how he could make it into heaven Jesus tells him to keep the commandments which are
18 You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and yourmother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
He then tells Jesus I have done this since my youth. So Jesus being Jesus of course gives him a challenge. Jesus always goes after our heart. He searches those things in us to see basically how down we are for Him for reals. It’s like ya I know you do all that but will you give me EVERYTHING.
Jesus wants every part of your life . Not just the church days my friend .
He goes on to tell this young man that He knows He has a lot of money to go and sell it all to the poor and follow Him .(paraphrased)
What does the rich ruler do ? Does he take action?
Verse 22 “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
In my experience with breakthrough and receiving true freedom I’ve found that when I really didn’t want to do something like really really didn’t want to do something that’s when I had a choice . I could take action OR I could walk away like this young man.
It’s a choice .
What action is God asking you to take ?
It’s that very thing you don’t want to do where God wants to mold you into who He’s calling you to be.
Trust me friend there is so much freedom in doing those things.
So much purpose and fulfillment when you go against what YOU want and say yes and take action to what JESUS is calling you to do.
Today I pray that you would ask the Lord what that thing is. Where do you need to take action??
Let’s not live the same anymore!
Let’s take action!
I love you friends, I hope this blessed you.
ONE LOVE
Friday aug, 30th 2024
blog 4: More than enough
You have to get to a place where Jesus is more than enough. Even if you end up with nothing . Didn’t get the guy ,finances suck, marriage is in shambles ,world is going crazy. He is all you need. Now if your stomach sank as you read that then I encourage you to read on or if you’re nodding your head like YESSS then enjoy this blog.
Let’s be real this is life. Life doesn’t always have a happy ending. But how do we get to that place where Jesus truly is all we need? How do we fall totally in love with Jesus ? How do we find confidence in Him really being the ONLY thing we need?It sounds nice to think of but how does that actual happen?
TESTIMONY TIME! lol
Well for me ..it started when I had nothing else . I ran out of options . AA , therapy , medication , exercise, counseling, while all that did helped a bit it just did not give me full freedom .
To be totally honest I had been in the hospital a few times .Panic attack episodes, self cutting, I was literally going crazy.
I was so tired but the drugs and the thoughts of all the ugly things I had done and things done to me would just play in my head over and over and over again. So I would need something to silence those thoughts . Which lead me on a vicious cycle of self medicating.
Until my brother actually had his own episode . He legit was demon possessed . Voices speaking out of him and all. He had opened a door to allow the devil to latch onto him. Long long story really short . Instead of taking him to the hospital and calling him 51/50 and diagnosing him as a schizophrenic . He was able to tell my parents he had opened a door . Which made my parents realize what they were dealing with . It was not flesh and blood but spiritual. They ended up at my aunt and uncles house where they prayed over him and BAM! Voices gone! Addiction gone! Fully delivered just like that!
Which leads me back to myself . My brother now starts going to church and my sister in law keeps inviting me every single Sunday. Every time I say “yeah maybe”. I wasn’t anti church or God . I knew about Him but that was it. I remember being so anxious to go into the building I took a few xanex just to get through the door. I attended for a few Sundays until the 3rd Sunday I ended up raising my hand for salvation which I knew nothing about but the way the Pastor preached I needed that Jesus he was talking about . The one who could heal me who could free me from myself. I needed THAT. So I went up and said the sinners prayer which just means I believed in my heart that Jesus is who He says He is and could heal me.
Now after that nothing changed . My problems were still the same. Same drama, same thoughts ,my past hadn’t just disappeared but something was different . I knew I didn’t want to drink or smoke so I was trying to abstain from that. Which meant no more friends , no more ‘social life’ everything I ever known and lived I no longer did. I was truly living in repentance without even knowing it (turning away from sin) Which leads me to the moment Jesus became enough for me .
It was a worship night at church which again had no idea what that meant. As I started driving to the church, I could hear what now I know to be the enemies voice in my head . He was reminding me any and every terrible thing in my life. One of his famous lies to us is “don’t forget when…”. As I’m driving I now start to feel sick to my stomach. I remember crying and even telling Jesus , “I’m sorry Jesus but I need a drink” I remember literally holding my head the voice was so loud BUT somehow I ended up at the church . I went in and I remember the worship leader at the time asked everyone to lift their hands . So I did it.
Right then I had an encounter with Jesus.
As I closed my eyes there was a bright silhouette of a man with his hand stretched out . It was just the outline of his body that I seen bright like gold on the right side of my peripheral . He said “I’m here, I’m with you. I’m here I’m with you” he said it twice.
Right then I opened my eyes and worship leader said “I’m not sure who this is for but Jesus wants you to know that he’s here he’s with you”
I was in awe!!!
Now quick side note! I’ve done some crazy things , some crazy psychedelics before but NOTHING I’ve ever experienced was like this . Ever!
I literally drove home with my mouth wide open . Like what the heck just happened!
You see I was really really REALLY seeking freedom.
I was really really going against what I wanted the drugs the alcohol.
I really really really wanted a change .
I wasn’t sure how that looked or what that entailed I just knew I couldn’t live how I was any longer.
You see when you seek God like that! You WILL find Him . My mind was made up before I ever met Him and He knew that. He knew I was seeking something . He knew I needed Him. He knew I was done with the world . He knew. Jesus knows when you’re for real or not.
In the Bible there is a women who is sick with an issue of blood. Basically home girl is having her period 12 years without ending! 12 years!!! Omg can you imagine ! Horrible! She needs a miracle not only is this terrible for her but she’s an outcast because she’s seen as unclean. This is where she seeks Him. I’m sure she didn’t know much about Jesus but she heard just like we all have heard “He can heal you”.
She was like I need that!
What does she do?? She thinks “okay let me just touch him. Let me just get a little touch from Him and I’ll be healed.” So here’s Jesus walking with a huge crowd around him. Everyone is pressing up against him BUT this lady reaches with everything she has and touches just the very fringe of His robe . Just then Jesus stops and says who touched me? The disciples are like, “ahh we’re all touching you Jesus everyone’s pushing against you” Jesus then looks around for who touched Him. There’s another account in the bible where he says “I felt healing power leave my body” . Then the women confesses that it was her and he tells her, her faith as made her whole and to go in peace .
You know what blew my mind is that everyone was touching Jesus . I’m sure people were shoulder to shoulder with him. I’m sure some were pushed into him. But no one was healed BUT this lady, and I’m 100% sure a lot if not all had something they needed healing from .
So many times we come to church but never get healing. Why?
Can I ask if we are after Jesus like this lady. Is our faith like her.
Are we desperate like her?
She just like me had ran out of options.
It even says that she had paid doctors lots of money but not only did she not get better she got worse .(ref Mark 5:25-34)
Look I’ve been in a place where I needed Jesus and then I’ve been in a place where I NEEDED Jesus . There’s a difference. We like to say as Christian’s ya I need Jesus. Hes all I need. But when you’re at a place where everything has crumbled and you actually have nothing .
That’s where you actually seek Jesus and He becomes all that you need. '#IYKYK
I had a need and Jesus filled it .
He continues to fill it.
I realized I am nothing without it .
I have nothing without him.
If you have no need for Jesus in areas of your life you won’t find Him. Sometimes we don’t realize we will give Jesus a part of us but not all of us. Are we bold like this women?Not be ashamed of what people may think. I’ve had to come to a place where I didn’t care what anyone thought. Boogers and all at the alter , i didnt care i was getting my miracle! It says this women was trembling when Jesus was asking who touched Him. Its scary to be vulnerable. Its scary to be bold in faith
BUT THATS WHERE YOU FIND OUT THAT JESUS IS MORE ENOUGH
Ya I feel crazy in my mind . I need Jesus !
Yes I struggle with these thoughts I need Jesus !
Yes I have issues I need Jesus !
Hello! Let’s not play like we have it all together . Let’s not pretend like we’re all good! It’s okay! Honestly , for reals come to this place. This is where you actually seek out Jesus and you find Him! He knows when you’re doing just like this women , when you’re actually at that place where you’re out of options.
Not when you’re seeking Him but in the back of your mind you’re like “well if this doesn’t work I have medication”
If this doesn’t work at least I have ______.
You fill in the blank .
NO!
Healing is when you truly believe Jesus is more than enough
Freedom comes when you have nothing else left. Friend we were never ever meant to live in turmoil in drama and chaos . As a follower of Christ you were never meant to live struggling constantly. Jesus said:
“I come that you may have life and life more abundantly” John 10:10
“whom the son sets free is indeed” John 8:36
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9
There is freedom , there is healing , there is joy. But the question is , is Jesus enough for you?
I love you friends, I hope this blessed you.
ONE LOVE
Friday aug, 23rd 2024
blog 3: Mere men?
Hello. SO I sat here for awhile thinking how to open this blog. But this time I don’t have a story or catchy illustration. lol!
Before I get into this blog I have to say I did not want to write about this. I went back and fourth to a few different topics, but the Holy Spirit kept showing me scriptures that lead to this very thing. This is beyond me , so I will try to put in words the best I can.
Thinking like a mere human being (mere men)
This way of thinking goes totally opposite of how we are wired to think. Which not only makes it HARD but IMPOSSIBLE without the Holy Spirit. yes! IMPOSSIBLE!
Mere humans see the world through THEIR eyes. Spirit filled people see the world through Gods eyes. Mere humans look at the state of this world and are filled with fear, worry and anxiety. Spirit filled people KNOW God is in control no matter what. Mere humans go off what they feel and their emotions. Spirit filled people stand on Gods word and His promises.
A mere human cannot understand that everything works together for those who love Jesus. How can things that are so horrible work for good? Its is incomprehensible to a mere human.
BUT! how we Christians/Followers of Jesus think like this so often. PSH! ME! more than I’d like to admit. HELP US JESUS! Paul tells the Corinthian church. “I wish I could tell you the things in the Spirit, the mysteries of God but you’re too carnal. Your thinking is like the world. You’re lead by your mere human thinking” (paraphrased 1 Cor. 2 & 3)
Jesus rebukes Peter in Matthew 16:22-23, not only does He say get behind me satan but He tells him you’re thinking like a human, seeing the situation from a human perspective. Poor Peter was just thinking how we would right? Our bestest friend in the whole world is saying terrible things are going to happen to them. Peters like “Oh heck no! I will NOT let that happen”
BUT that was the plan of God.
He wasn’t seeing in the Spirit.
He was thinking like a mere human being,
How many times have we robbed ourselves of what God was trying to show us, teach us, correct us , GROW us in all because of our mere human thinking.
God is always speaking, Hes always showing us something (now more than ever) Even in the really bad situations. It is OUR job to go after Him for the answer. To seek the Spirit of God, ask the Holy Spirit to connect us to the Father, Take us out of our own way of thinking. It is so so hard, because naturally it is just who we are. I feel i am constantly praying under my breath, “help me Lord to be like you, to see like you”.
In Colossians chapter 3 Paul tells us because we are made new in Christ to set our mind on HEAVENLY REALITIES. woah. Heaven is more real than the world we are in now. Even Jesus! though we cannot see Him , He is more of a reality than anything in this world. He has and always will be.
There’s only one way to reach this kind of thinking and I’m sorry but its not found in social media, podcast, or the news.
It is only and always will be found in His WORD!
Those things want to steal your mind to be set and focused on THIS WORLD, NOT the REALITIES of heaven. How are we suppose to have a spirit filled way of thinking when we are consumed by this world?…It cannot happen.
As i end can i leave you with a challenge for a week. Till next Friday, to put down the remote, Fast from social media, reality TV, movies etc. And just pick up your bible and read everyday, The world is clawing for your attention at every turn.
Instead of the time you would be scrolling or binge watching your favorite show, read His word, pray, worship, pour into someone, ask someone to pour into you!
It isn’t easy! I get it! but lets TRY!
Lets fill our minds with Him and not think like mere men.
I love you friends, I hope this blessed you.
ONE LOVE
Friday aug, 16th 2024
blog 2: Can’t give WHAT YOU DON’T HAVE
“Leila, I physically cannot give it to you.”
I told my oldest daughter as she pushed out tears from her eyes. All this because she wanted pizza for lunch, haha. Don’t feel bad she had a lot of options quesadilla, PB&J, mac n cheese and the list goes on. But sadly ..no pizza. I could not give her what I did not have. Literally!.. I could not poof it into thin air.
I remember reading a specific portion of scripture when i was newly saved it was the two greatest commandments.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul. Second love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22: 37-39
I remember crying out to God, “But Lord, I don’t love myself! I hate who I am”. How was i suppose to give love when I didn’t have it in me? Its impossible!!! I could not give what I didn’t have.
Maybe you find yourself there. Unable to love yourself so you can’t give it . Or maybe forgiveness isn’t in you so it’s very hard to forgive even the smallest things. Could it be patience? Gentleness? what about joy? GIVE JOY? YESS!!
Maybe you lack joy and everything you see and speak is negative? Its hard for you to see the silver lining . You cannot give what you do not have. Joy is something the enemy is after. It trips me out that while David cried out to God to restore his salvation, he added to restore his _____ ? do you know?
his peace? his strength ? NO it was his joy! Psalm 51:12
The enemy and this world want nothing less then to rob you of all these things. So now the question is , how do we get them? How do we get these things in us?
I am no scholar, theologian or counselor but what I DO know is Jesus CAN fill you with these things, not only for yourself BUT for others!
Have you ever walked away from a decisions like “UGH why did I do that again? Or walked away from a conversations acting the same way , getting the same results.
IDK about you BUT IM TIRED OF BEING THE SAME!
I was getting really frustrated and angry at the same stuff. I had to step back and look at me and ask WHY?
I didn’t have IT in me.
Jesus desires to go into those places no one knows about, the hard stuff…the places you’ve put a wall around, chained up locked and thrown away the key THOSE places. You know what i’m talking about. It reminds me of surgery , its painful, it takes some time, but let me tell you friend there is so much freedom! You were never meant to stay the same after saying YES to Jesus.
So what is it today that you find yourself not being able to give? Could it be that its just not in you? You can’t give what you don’t have.
John 15:5 reads “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do NOTHING”
the answer is Jesus. cliché answer? SORRY! lol this isn’t a self help thing . This is a ONLY BY HIS SPIRIT THING!!!
The more we purse Him, the more we ALLOW Him to go into those places the more we will start to see the change…the transformation . It’s a choice my friend.
Ya gotta open the door and talk to Him. He’s standing at the door and knocking. Just let HIM IN and talk with Him. Revelations 3:20
Today I pray we would truly ask God to change us. To fill us with the things we lack so that we can GIVE.
Lets not stay stuck in a place where we cannot give because we do not have.
I would like to end this blog with a prayer:
Heavenly Father I thank you that you love us so much, that you don’t want us to stay the same. You desire to see us made well, made new , made whole. I ask Lord that whoever reads this would ask You to reveal those places they need a surgery in, I pray they wouldn’t be afraid to go there because they are in the BEST hands. You are so gracious and kind to us Lord. Thank you! Thank you for your love and kindness. Put that hunger in us that we would desire to be made whole , we would desire to be better, we would desire to read your word and grow! We love You! We praise You . In Jesus name, AMEN!
Thank you again friends for taking time to read,
ONE LOVE
Friday aug, 8th 2024
blog 1: cleansing
The other day my sister in law came by to have a play date . While we were outside my 10 month old was in her jumpy in the grass as the big kids played in a water splash pad thing. All of a sudden the sprinklers turned on so we ran in. We were already getting wet but that was our “oh no time to go inside” excuse haha! As I looked outside I forgot the baby’s jumpy . Shoot! Eh oh well the water will clean it off . The next morning I went out to grab it, as I walked outside it was pretty messy from all the water with puddles and mud, nonetheless the jumpy was cleaned off. I was reminded of when it rains.
When it rains it gets pretty messy , its muddy , it may get windy things fall off and break but after….after, its greener, the flowers start to bud, new things start to sprout. I love how it smells and looks after a good rainy day. so fresh and new!
The past few days i’ve had ‘encounters’ with people where I’ve had two options:
Option 1: Say what’s on my mind and give in to my emotion (flesh)
Option 2: Wait & pray (spirit)
I chose to wait. I chose to keep quite. I went to my room. Alone. I got on my knees at the end of my bed and broke down crying. Those ugly cries the ones that have been deep in the pit of your stomach. The ones you really can’t stop. The ones that hurt but it also feel so good to release!! I told God “I’m tired of doing good!”. Then I was reminded of a scripture a dear friend gave to me just JUST LAST MONTH!
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for’ at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Today the word that’s been placed in my heart is CLEANSING. God wants to fully cleanse us from our words, irritations, anger, temptations, negativity etc. Ultimately cleanse us from ourselves to be more like HIM.
Sometimes its that same person doing that same thing that urks you..that’s where the CLEANSING is.
Or that child that just pushes the right buttons in you..that’s where the CLEANSING is.
Maybe its a thought or a reminder of your past that sends you down a negative way of thinking and leaves you frustrated…that’s where the CLEANSING is.
God takes us through these hard times and difficult situations because He wants to build us to be just like HIM. My prayer today is that we would respond like JESUS no matter the situation.
Respond OUT OF CHARACTER from yourself and be the character of JESUS!
Is it hard? UM DUH! haha YES! But its necessary to grow. Pray, be filled with His word and you can do it!!
Thank you for taking the time to read my very FIRST blog! more to come, Let me leave you with this scripture friends. ONE LOVE
Romans 5:3-5 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.