Be strong in Him!

This morning one of the things that came to mind was something that happened more than 15 years ago.  Our family had gone to Oklahoma for a weekend to visit David’s mom and dad.  While we were there I decided to go for a run.

 

I had lived on Grand Lake in the country in Oklahoma for several years as a kid and was used to the back roads to run or ride a bike on, but I had never gone for a run at David’s mom and dad’s house before.

 

Off I went on the parched, dusty, dirt roads.  Prayer is as much a part of my workout as the workout itself, so Jesus is nearly always first and foremost on my mind.

 

It was July in Oklahoma, prime time for picking blackberries, but also very hot and humid, so I only ran a couple of miles.  I ran as far as I was going to go and then turned around to head back to the house.  I got a few blocks from their driveway and, to my surprise, a big Rottweiler came charging out of a neighbors driveway.  I didn’t have time to think, but out of my mouth came, “Go home in the name of Jesus!!!”  I stopped because I didn’t want the dog to chase me.  After I had commanded it to go home, the dog stopped in its tracks.  Now, I don’t mind telling you that I was a bit fearful.  I’m not much of a fan of dogs in the first place, but especially not of big dogs with bad reputations that are foaming at the mouth and charging me.  Yep…I was a bit scared, but in all honesty, there was peace all around me.  I stood my ground with the dog, not taking my eyes off of it, and eventually it turned around and trotted off to its home.

 

This is a perfect example of how the enemy attacks us from time to time.  We can be clipping along and suddenly, out of nowhere he attacks.  We have to be vigilant to keep ourselves covered with the Blood of Jesus, keep the full armor on and be Christ centered.  Exodus 12:7-13,   Ephesians 6:11-18,  Hebrews 12:1-2   Never would I have believed that I would have been able to respond so quickly and appropriately to the dog.  Truly, I believe that it was Holy Spirit that spoke through me and guided my reaction to the threat.  Luke 12:12

 

Stay focused on Jesus my friends because the enemy goes about like a roaring lion searching for whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8   He may not devour just anyone.  He may only devour those who are not ready for the battle.

 

Be strong in Him!        

The River of Love

Today as I left the house, I planned on going to Starbucks to write and I thought I knew what I was going to write about.  But, on the drive in, I felt as if the Lord was telling me to get ready to go deeper…much deeper.  Earlier I had posted something that was near and dear to my heart about allowing God be God and allowing Him to move in the way that He wants to move.  FB post I believe that this is a word not only for me, but for the body of Christ, as well.

 

My next thoughts took me to a dream that I had back in the early to mid ‘90’s.  This dream has been very relevant in my walk in the Lord since that time and also birthed a song, as well.

 

In the dream I was on the shore of a River.  There were many people around.  Some were on the shore just hanging out, not entering into the River.  Some people were just barely getting their feet wet, some were waste deep, some were “on” the River on innertubes, but not actually “in” the River.  As I went deeper and deeper into the water, I felt the Lord calling me deeper and deeper with Him.  I remember when I got to the point that I could no longer touch.  There was a current, but not a current that carried me away.  My feet left the bottom of the River and I suddenly plunged under the water.  I remember being concerned about breathing, but then realized that there was no need to fear.  This was the River of God.  There was no fear.  Then I woke up.  It was my choice to go as deeply with Him as I wanted to.  He was and still is calling me.

 

What the Lord was showing me very, very early in my walk with Him is that it’s our choice how deep we go with Him.  In my dream, as He took me deeper and deeper into the water, He allowed me to see others who were just hanging out.  Yeah, they were children of the Most High, but they were just hanging out on the shore or just barely getting their feet wet.  Some were half in and some appeared to be “deep” in the River, but they were actually just on the surface, floating along.

 

I believe the Lord is saying that He wants us “all in.”  But, we have to be willing.  You see it’s a choice.  We need to make the choice.  He’s calling us deeper with Him.  He’s calling us to a place that we’ve never been before. I also believe that we’re going to have to set aside our traditional ways of approaching God…no playing church, which has become the norm in so many churches.

His ways are much higher.  For several weeks now, God has been saying over and over and over again, “My ways are not like your ways.”  He has proven it to me over and over again by turning around terrible situations for His good.  And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called for His purpose. Romans 8:28  When God speaks something, obviously we should listen.  But when He repeats it, I believe we need to pay special attention.  I believe He’s preparing us for the greatest move of God that mankind has ever seen.  Are you ready?  I know I am.  I’m all in.  We need to set aside our fears.  Set aside fears of the unknown, fears of man, fear that the “normal man made structure” of church is not being followed.  These things are not of God.  God is not fear.  He is Perfect Love and in Perfect Love, there is no fear.  1 John 4:18 


Now, don’t throw caution to the wind.  That would be foolish.  Ask Him for wisdom and discernment.  James 1:5   As you enter the River, test the waters to be sure it truly is God. 1 John 4:1  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  John 10:27

 

The River is set before you…jump in!!  Hallelujah!!  J \o/

Choose Love!!

As many of you know, one of my mission fields is at Starbucks coffee shop.  Over the past few years, I have become friends with a number of people of many different races, socio-economic statuses, etc.  There is a gentleman who has consistently been joining our group for the past two and a half years.  He traveled the world in his younger days, is quite a character and, for the most part, has been pleasant, until recently.  You see, the way I see this gentleman is where he is or isn’t in the Kingdom of God.  I know that God has brought him here because He has his mark on him…a mark for salvation.  According to the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit, this person, we’ll call him “Merle”, is either a back-slidden Christian or he has never known Christ as his Savior.

 

As the group of women, with the exception of Merle, has progressed to hearing, understanding and accepting the gospel, Merle has become increasingly diligent in opposing me, personally…and he’s extremely verbal about it.  This is very much a spiritual battle.  Now, I choose love, as challenging as it may be in the real time of the situation.  I’m not going to allow myself to push him away because I know what, or rather who, is behind these attacks.

 

You see, it’s not flesh and blood that we contend with.  It’s the enemy.  Ephesians 6:12

 

I have set my mind to not allow myself to be offended by him because it’s more important to me that “Merle” find eternity in Heaven, rather than in eternal damnation.  I have to take this all the way back to the cross.  How long did Jesus wait for me?  Was I arrogant and rude to Christians as they were planting seed for the Kingdom of God?  Honestly, I don’t remember the answers to those questions, but I probably was rude and arrogant, and I’m sure Jesus was very patient the entire time He waited for me to answer “yes” to His call.  Therefore, I choose to be the same to Merle.  We cannot expect non believers to totally be accepting to the call of salvation in Christ Jesus.

 

This point of this blog is not to pat myself on the back.  The point is to point us all to Jesus.  It’s the will of our Heavenly Father, our Daddy, that all should be saved.  2 Peter 3:9  In cases like this, we must turn the other cheek.

 

This gentleman has risen to another level of attack.  It’s quite turned into verbal abuse, of which I am well associated.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I stood my ground with him along with silent prayer in the moment.  This did not dissuade him in the least.  I have been in prayer about how to handle this situation.  And, although I don’t know what the course of action is, I know the One who does.  I am at rest with this.  And, whether or not Merle comes to know Christ as his Lord and Savior, I am choosing love for this elderly gentleman. My heart cries out for his salvation.  In the time that I have come to know and love Merle, his health has declined quickly.  He reminds me of my own earthly dad, especially in that he has chosen to disassociate himself with his daughter, which I know from experience is heart breaking.

 

I’m sure that in one way or another, we all may have someone in our life that comes to mind as we read this.

 

Choose love.

 

Choose to turn the other cheek.

 

However, you’re not a doormat either.  Know when to keep on keepin’ on and when to walk away.  Like I said earlier, I’m not sure of the course of action as far as what to say and when to say it. But I have set my mind that I will allow the Holy Spirit to show me what the course of action is.  Luke 12:11-12  

 

Know that if and when you find yourself in a situation like this, it is the enemy who is attacking you through the person, not the man / woman, themselves.  Set your mind to keep that perspective.  When the enemy sees that the person they’re controlling is taking steps towards the Kingdom of God, they kick up the attack through that person.  In fact, often, the attack will get much worse before it gets better simply because the enemy doesn’t want to lose…and, in this case, I DO believe that the enemy will lose.  It’s just a matter of time.

 

Count it all joy!!  James 1:2-8  God is not surprised by this situation, nor does He not have a plan for it.  I don’t look down on this man.  I look forward to what God’s plan is for him.  I also look for the ways that God is growing me through this situation.  I’ve heard it said that God is the ultimate recycler.  I just love this statement because it’s so true!!  God doesn’t waste a single thing.  If we allow Him, He will work all things for our good.  Romans 8:28    Hallelujah!!

 

Choose Love!!     

Know who you are in Christ!!

I recently had a conversation with someone where, going into it, I thought that we were on the “same ground,” so to speak.  I soon found out that this wasn’t the case.

 

I’m writing about this, not to condemn or put down anyone, but rather to share what I have experienced so that others don’t get caught in a snare of the enemy, which is something that could have easily happened to me in this situation.

 

All in all, I have to say that this is not a situation that I will knowingly repeat.  Although there was some good that came from it, overall, I believe it was an attempted snare of the enemy to bring me down mentally and emotionally to attempt to keep me from moving forward with the Lord.  As #JoyceMeyer says: “New level, new devil!”  #Truth

 

In a nut shell, while sharing what the Lord has done in my life.  In one sentence that took merely seconds to speak, this person, had I believed what they said and allowed it, could have wiped out the true meaning of the past 8-10 years of my life. What I mean by that, is that had I not known who I am in Christ, I could have received the words that this person spoke over me and made the decision that I was no good and the past decade of my life I was a complete failure. Now, that being said, yes, the past decade has been extremely challenging.  However, I can see God’s purpose and training in every trial that has come my way.  I was told that I wasn’t praying effectively and that I brought all of the trouble on myself because I allowed it to happen.  Nope!!  Not sorry and not gonna receive that.  Am I perfect? Absolutely not.  Did I bring all of this on myself?  No, not in the least.  Could I have handled some situations better?  Possibly, in some situations.  But, I know now that I could have. Where, in the midst of the situation, I did the best that I knew.  It’s called training.  God is training me to fully and completely be who He created me to be. And, quite honestly, I’m not going to beat myself up for mistakes that I have made in training.  God doesn’t beat me up over it, so why should I beat myself up?  Does God correct me?  Yes, but He never beats us up.

 

There are certain spirits that I’ve sensed about the geographic area that I live in for a long time now.  I have wondered what it was / they were and about a year ago, the Lord revealed it, or at least part of it, to me in a dream.  Not only did He show me what it was, He showed me that He has used it for my good. Romans 8:28  He has used it to train me…my “college” …Holy Spirit U. My years haven’t been wasted years.  They have been training years and He has used incredible opposition to shape me, mold me, train me, strengthen me, stretch my faith and trust in Him.  He has used this situation, as well, to allow me to see just how far He’s brought me from only having an idea of who I am in Christ to knowing who I am in Him.

 

Do you know who you are in Christ?  The definition of know: have developed a relationship with (someone) through meeting and spending time with them; be familiar or friendly with. You see because I spend time with the Lord, not on a regular basis, but as a lifestyle, I have come to know Him.  I know that He is with me always, whether I feel or sense Him or not.  When I sin, I repent immediately and ask Him to help me.  Because I abide in Him, I have come to know who I am in Him, therefore, allowing me to see or know when something or someone is speaking something that doesn’t line up with the Word of God.  Now, am I saying that I have “arrived” and have nothing more to learn in this area?  No, not at all.  What I’m saying is that I know who I am in Christ at this moment of my life and I believe that as long as I continue the lifestyle of walking daily, actually, every moment of my life being led by the Holy Spirit, He will continue to grow me in all areas of life. Romans 3:12-14

 

So, as a Follower of Christ, I encourage you to strive to know who you are in Christ if you don’t already.  Ask Him to show you who you are in Him.  He is faithful and will show you in His own way and His own timing. 1 Corinthians 1:9  Be diligent, patient and alert. Proverbs 13:4

 

As for myself in this situation; I have been praying for this person…praying peace, love, joy and prosperity.  Matthew 5:44   Remember, it’s not flesh and blood that we contend with, but principalities, powers and rulers of the darkness of this age.  Ephesians 6:12  I have examined myself in the situation, allowed God to show me anything that I do need to change about myself, because there is always room for improvement,  and am acting accordingly.

 

Know who you are in Christ!! 

Just a bit messy...

This morning I was making scones.  It’s become a weekly thing I do for the ladies and I who meet Saturday mornings at Starbucks to color, share and support each other through life.  It’s a very therapeutic and delicious time for us!

 

The process of baking scones has not come easily.  One time they come out great another time, not so great.  I haven’t been able to figure out what I did the few times they were great compared to the not so great times.  I began asking the Lord to show me what I was doing differently.  First, He showed me that I had switched cookie sheets.  At some point, I had increased the recipe and in doing so I changed baking pans and that made all the difference in the world.

 

Next…scones can be a bit messy to make.  I have to get my hands in the mixture to break down the butter with the flour.  Then slowly add in the egg and cream mixture. This produces a “loose dough” that is not quite all together.  When I dump it out of the bowl to flatten out, it tends to go everywhere and I do my best to keep it from scattering everywhere.  This morning, I found that I was laughing at myself attempting to “keep it together” and not be so messy.  Laughing out loud, I spoke out loud, “Lord, I must look silly trying to keep from making a mess.  How would You do this? You must know a better way.”  He spoke to my heart that sometimes thing are messy.  It’s just the way it is.  But the end result is good.

 

I just love that way He teaches me!!  Yep, just like this scone recipe, sometimes life is just plain and simple…messy.  In fact, probably more often than not, life is messy.  But as long as we have our eyes fixed on Him…not looking to the right or left…but, fixed on Him.  The end result will be good.      

I'm Not Where I Used To Be...Thank God!!

I’m inspired to write today because I believe that a shift has taken place in my life.  Two years ago, 2014, everything in my life was coming to a halt.  I could literally envision big gears slowing to a complete halt.  In July of that year, slowly, very slowly, things began to move again and seemingly in a new direction.

 

The Angie that you see today is far from the Angie of 20, 30 or 40 years ago.  I owe all that I am today to my Lord and Savoir, Jesus Christ.  Without him, I don’t believe I would be here today.

 

By the time I was 36 years old back in the spring of 2003; I was shut off from society.  I was depressed, working through tough issues that had been suppressed in my life for years and years.  I wasn’t in denial.  I just didn’t even realize that they existed simply because of the way I had been raised.  Hang with me for a moment…   I have a friend who is from Poland.  She was an Olympic swimmer.  Once I asked her about what it was like growing up in a communist country.  She said that she didn’t know the difference until she began to compete in other countries outside of Poland.  It was then that she could see how life was different than what she knew in her own country.  That’s how it was with me.  I had been brainwashed to believe that the way I was living was truly living.  Jesus was healing me and bringing me out of that miry pit I had been raised in.

 

Now with that said, life has been challenging.  But, one thing I know.  I don’t have to look too far from where I stand to see someone who has had a tougher time than I have.  That’s just the way it is.  I don’t think I’m a special case…nothing like that.

 

So…in 2003, I found myself, angry, depressed, lonely, confused and barely able to function and often bombarded with suicidal thoughts. Many of you have heard my story about how, at this time of my life, the only person outside of my family I really ever spoke with was the barista at my local coffee shop and how, years later, God has moved me into a ministry at my local coffee shop.  What I’m about to share with you is another way that God has taken something from this time of my life and is turning it into a ministry to help other women who have had a similarly challenging life.

 

One day during this time of my life, I began to think, “Is this all there is to my life?”  “Something about this isn’t fair…it isn’t right.”  “Why have all of my plans come to an end?” “Am I going to be ‘that person’ who was voted ‘Most Talented’ in my class to end up dead by my own hand?”  I was crying out to God…and He had a plan.

 

For several years I had been making pepper jelly.  I would give it away as gifts.  Most people liked it so much that they would encourage me to sell it.  Suddenly, the idea came to me that I should sell it at the local Farmers Market…so I did.  When I look back on this, all I can see is God’s Hand at work because, in the midst of the depression, anxiety and dysfunction, I could not have done this on my own.  What I realized later is that He used this to get me back into society.

 

At the Farmer’s Market, He placed me next to two of the most wonderful Christians I have known.  They were loving, kind and accepting of me.  They had five grown daughters of their own, but said that I could be their “adopted daughter.”  Tom and Mary were wonderful Christian examples to me.  Although Tom has gone on to be with our Lord, Mary and I still visit.  She is 86 years young and still is blooming for the Lord wherever He plants her.  She’s quite and inspiration!!

 

So, for several years, I sold pepper jelly at the farmers market.  It was a very successful business, but then that season in my life came to an end.  God began to move me into another purpose.  Music!!  Music was / is a passion.  He began to move me in that direction once again. The pepper jelly hobby went on the “back burner.”

 

I was such an insecure person.  It’s all I had known simply because of the way I was raised.  I feared being in front of people by myself.  In school I had no problems performing because I was always in a group.  But, when I had to perform by myself, I would very nearly loose it.  In high school, I had gone to try out for the All State band.  I got so nervous and upset that I literally had to run to the bathroom to vomit simply because I had walked into the school where the tryouts were taking place.  All these years later, this dysfunction was still in me and needed to be removed from my life.  I followed the leading of the Lord.  I tried out at my church to be on the worship team and was told that I could be on the team, but that I had to be in the choir to be chosen.  So, I joined the choir.  This was a stretch for me because choir is not my gig at all!  But, along with being in the choir, the Lord led me to get a set ready and play at my local coffee shop.  I did it, but, I would be a nervous wreck the entire day that I would be scheduled to play.  I did this for 18 months and on most nights to an empty coffee shop…all the time, the Lord was working this fear out of my life.  I would get discouraged sometimes because I was singing in an empty coffee shop, but then I would encourage myself because I knew that I had to be faithful in the small things in life.  I wouldn’t allow the discouragement to take over.  The last coffee shop gig I did was to a packed house of people who were obviously enjoying the gift of music the Lord has placed within me.  Then, as quickly as the coffee shop door had opened, it then closed.  God was moving me to the next step in the process.

 

I believe it was the next day after what I now know to be my last coffee shop gig, I was called and asked to lead worship at a local outreach.  That began an 18 month training session in leading worship for me.

 

Now, even though I wasn’t selling pepper jelly at the farmers market, I would still keep it on hand and give it away or even sell a few jars here and there to loyal customers.  One Sunday I was at the outreach getting ready to lead worship and I had taken a jar of pepper jelly to give to the pastor.  As I handed him the jar, the Lord spoke to me that I should use the jelly as a way to help people.  From that moment on, I knew that some day, God would put everything in place to do just that.  That took place October 4 of 2009, nearly seven years ago.

 

Today, I believe the time has come to move the pepper jelly from the back burner to a full fledged non-profit organization.

 

I was in Starbucks, as usual, talking with some of my homies.  I had recently made some jelly and gave away the leftover jars.  They were raving about it and expressing the need to mass produce it.  It was then that I shared what I believed I would eventually use it for…helping abused women.  Now, what I didn’t know is that there was someone nearby who overheard what I was saying, liked my idea…AND…her job is to set up non-profit organizations.  All I can say is that God is amazing!!  A few days later this person approached me and explained that she had overheard what I said and that she had some ideas for me.  Long story short, we met and she literally lay out in front of me what I need to do to get this project up and running.

 

Now, the goal is for the Angie’s Pepper Jelly to be a 503(c) non -profit organization that will not only produce jelly for sale and partner with other organizations to help abused women financially, but also to serve as a place for women to work, earn a wage and gain self esteem and a new skill set to help put them back on the road to success in their lives.

 

I have set the goal for a year from now to have this up and running.  I have put this in the Lord’s hands and will continue to do so.  I believe that He created this to help me out of a challenging dysfunctional time of my life and then will continue to use it to help many, many others out of similar situations.

 

I hope that you can see how God has moved in my life to give me the life of abundance that He speaks of in John 10:10  The enemy comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly.  These are the words of Jesus.  It is His will that we live an abundant life…in all aspects…physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, etc.  He wants us to be healed so that we can help others.  God’s word says in 3 John 1:2,  “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”   You see, yes, I was a mess.  But I have allowed God to take me out of the pit, clean me up and work through me to help others.  As my soul prospers, He wants me to prosper…and that means helping others in the way that He leads me and guides me.

 

I pray that if you are going though a challenging time, that God will show you what you need to do or need to allow Him to do in you.  He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.  Put your trust in Him and allow Him to show you what He created you for.  This life is but a vapor in the whole scheme of things.  Don’t waste the time that’s been given to you.

 

Vapors vanish quickly.    

 

Looking for a Drive Through Break Through?

In our fast paced world of drive through banking, groceries, alcohol, meals, and even marriages, I fear that few understand the benefits of long suffering.  It's like the commercial (local commercial??) where the guy yells; "It's my money, and I want it now!" It's advertising that if you have long time installment payments coming to you, you don't have to wait, you can get it all now...for a price, though.

 

You see, so many believe that the dreams that God has placed in our hearts don't come to pass overnight, there's something wrong. I've literally had people tell me that there was something wrong because the dreams that I believe are from God haven’t come to pass yet. That is a lie from the devil and is nothing but discouragement that was spoken to me through another Christian. Sure, I could push people around, tweak things in my favor and do what needs to be done to get what I want when I want it, they way I want it. But...would that be God's will for my life? Would it be His plan...or my plan?  Just because we hit what feels like a bump in the road, doesn't necessarily mean we're doing something wrong. There is learning in the journey. There is stretching and growing and testing of our faith in the journey. Don't despise the journey.  Don’t despise the possibility of long suffering. For myself, I come from a family who didn't know God for generations.  God has exposed and broken off so many generational hindrances that I can’t even count them.  I’ll say it again.  There is purpose in the journey.  Don’t despise long suffering through the journey.

 

The problem is that in today’s drive through society, most of us want it now.  We don’t want the journey.  We don’t want to endure long suffering.  We want instant gratification.

 

About 25 years ago, the Lord called me back unto Himself.  I wasn’t raised in a Christian home.  However, I had been fortunate to have attended a church camp where I received Christ as my Savior.  (At that point in my life, nightmares and sleepwalking which had occurred several nights a week came to an immediate end.) But since that relationship was hindered because my family wasn’t a believing family, I was nearly 25 years old before I was drawn into a serious relationship with Jesus.  I was broken…completely disabled by depression.  But, God!!  Two weeks after inviting God back into my life via Benny Hinn ministries, (Those of you who despise his ministry should realize that it takes all kinds of people to do God’s will.  None of us, including myself, have 100% of the answers.) God healed me instantly of the depression that was crippling my life.  God began the process of cleaning me up, preparing me for the purpose that He had created me for.

 

It’s been an interesting 24+ years. I’ve had good times.  I’ve had bad times.  But, one thing I can say is that there has been purpose in every moment of it.  Is there something wrong with me because my dreams didn’t come to pass immediately?  I can honestly say, “No!”

 

You see that depression, although I had been healed instantly from it in the beginning, did return.  It’s been something that I’ve had to deal with for many years.  But now it doesn’t have a hold on me like it did.  God healed me at the time because He saw fit that I should be healed.   But through the years, He has taught me to not only see it coming, but to fight it off with spiritual warfare.  It’s been a process of growing in knowledge, wisdom, and patience…all taught by the Holy Spirit simply because I have allowed Him into my life to do so.

 

I have had my moments where I didn’t understand why things happened the way they did.  I had moments where I’ve even been angry with God.  But, what I’ve learned is to always talk to God about it, whatever the “it” is for that moment.  He is so kind and loving and He cares about what we care about.  When I don’t understand something I ask Him and He shows me, in His timing.  This is why we should never despise the journey, and sometimes the suffering is long.

 

I’ve had many mountain top experiences, but I’ve had many valley experiences, also.  That doesn’t mean that His purpose for my life isn’t going to happen, because it will.  But when it does happen, it will be in His timing, not my own  This is a journey and we must do the walking.  Sometimes I have taken a step of faith only to see that it wasn’t the right direction.  He is ever so faithful the show me the way.

 

When I was getting ready for church this morning, all of these thoughts were rolling around in my head.  At first I thought this was going to be a one or two sentence “status update” for facebook.  But, as I began putting my thoughts down in my notes as David drove us to church, I realized that there was more to it.  Then…one thing I SO love about God is how He confirms things to me through other people.  Much of what I’m talking about here is what my pastor spoke about in his teaching this morning…including the “drive through mentality” that we have here in the western world.

 

Folks, it’s time to examine our hearts.  Do we truly want a meaningful relationship with God or not?  It’s our choice.  Jesus never said that a life of following, believing, trusting, and growing in Him would be easy.  But, I can tell you from my own experiences that it is worth it.  I am so different from the person I used to be and it’s all because of my own personal journey with Jesus.  I long to be more and more like Him.  I long to know and love Him more.  I long to hear His voice daily and throughout the day, not just in a single moment of prayer.  It is a journey, led by the Holy Spirit, and trusting that He knows what is best for me and any given moment.

 

My prayer is that any and all who reads this will experience a hunger for the God of all Creation no matter where you are in your walk of life…whether you know Him well, or not at all.  If you’re breathing, God has a purpose for your life.  It’s a matter of whether or not you choose to walk out your journey with Him.

 

Choose life.  Choose the journey that may involve long suffering instead of the supposed “drive through break through.”  You won’t be sorry. Your life already has divine purpose, but do you choose to live out that divine purpose?  Reach out to Jesus now.  He is there for each and every one of us, but we must choose him.  Choose Jesus.  Choose life.