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Getting To Where God Is

10/24/2014

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When God wants to do something awesome through you, He has to get you from where you are to where He is.  Perhaps the trial/hardship/temptation/your current situation is the way to where He is.   

I know to our natural thinking and reason; that seems bizarre.  How could a majestic, powerful, loving, all-knowing God take us the way of hardship to find where He is?  I have to be ok with not knowing the answer to some of those questions.  I have to trust in God’s Word, His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts.  (Isaiah 55:9)  I choose to trust that God’s eternal plan supersedes my temporary plan.  That God’s greatness for me is far greater and more meaningful than my current situation.   

When you hang tight with your faith, when you overpower the shadows of fear with faith…you’ll make it to where God is.  You’ll find your destiny.  And your current situation will be what you needed to equip you when you get there.  

Whatever season you’re living in, whatever your current situation is, if you will see with eyes of faith, you will see that God is whoo-ing you.  He has a plan... He loves you and has an awesome plan for your life!

Live each moment.  Enjoy your current situation.  Find the strength to live each moment.  Find the determination to enjoy your current situation.  Knowing that you know when God wants to do something awesome through you, He has to get you from where you are to where He is!

Let me know when your current situation has led you to where God is, and what great things He is doing through you!

Julie
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And the Chase is On!

10/14/2014

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Why do we chase things?  Why do we chase people?  Because we believe the reward or bounty once we get it, will be worth the chase. 

At points in the chase, you will have to pause, reflect and reevaluate if the chase is still worth the effort and time that you’re investing in it.  Perhaps the once sought after bounty has lost its luster and now no longer holds the weight of the expected outcome.

Then, there are those times that we just like to chase.  We find exhilaration in the quest and that’s the factor that motives us to keep chasing.  I don’t know what to do with that mindset; perhaps I’ve had it myself and just haven’t realized it.  I find with this mentality, one really doesn’t care about the bounty of the catch as much as they thrive on the chase. 

I have been the one on the chase because I am seeking the outcome.  I want the prize.  When you’re on that path, it’s most profitable to check in with God often, to see if what you’re chasing is in line with what He wants for you.  You will find that God will allow you to chase, as long as you’re willing to chase…but you’ll wear yourself out and become tired…very tired because it doesn’t seem the effort you’re exerting is gaining you any ground.  “Wanna wear the t-shirt I got from this experience?”

Have you ever feel like what you’re chasing are things that you shouldn’t have to chase?  Me too!  There are some things that just ought to be.  That some things that are, should just be, as a result of knowing Jesus.  Right?? Yet, they somehow just aren’t there. 

I have found that if I chase God and after God with the same tenacity that I chase after other “stuff/people/relationships” I would benefit greatly.   In fact, I probably won’t have the need to chase the other stuff. 

I think by instinct that we have a need to chase; perhaps it’ part of our makeup at human beings that God gave us when He created the every fiber of our being.  As with all things, what God gives, the world distorts and we stray away from things that will benefit us and bring Glory to God.  Like chasing….I would say that God gave us that need to chase, because it’s supposed to be for Him. 

Well than, with that revelation, I’ve got some adjusting to do…how about you?
 

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Fried Eggs in Bacon or Butter??

10/10/2014

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(So this blog is intended for humor purposes and food for thought)

The Great Debate:  What if we choose to argue about things that didn’t matter, like which way the toilet paper should go on the roll.  Or like, do we say “on today” or just “today”?

What if we argued about stuff like, which tastes better, eating fried eggs cooked in bacon grease or eating fried eggs cooked  in butter? 

Sounds silly, but honestly, life is too fragile, temporary and enjoyable to be arguing about stuff that makes you more angry, bitter or fosters a sense of entitlement, breaking your peace and interrupting your joy.

I’ve always heard the phrase, “Choose your battles.”  There’s wisdom in this statement and it reminds me of Joshua 24:15 that puts all of us on blast, “choose this day, whom you will serve.”  It seems it all comes down to choices, but at the foundation of all of the choices we are privileged to make, is the decision to choose Christ.  Once you make that choice, everything else is secondary. 

I started this blog with the words, The Great Debate.  So I will close this blog with this thought, The Great Debate may not be worth debating.  Your peace and your devotion to God are presidential in your life.  Avoid the things and situations and yes, even the people that rob you of your peace and loyalty to God.  Not every opportunity presented to you for debate is worth the cost.  Instead, laugh more, keep a proper perspective and propose the question of which tastes better, eggs fried in bacon grease or eggs fried in butter to the one who wants to debate you.  LOL


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RECOMMIT

10/10/2014

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For the Ladies….

As I was reading the morning devotion on air this morning, the word “RECOMMIT” stood out to me.  It grabbed my heart and rattled my mind….shook my spirit.  (Did you feel the world stand still for that brief moment?)  LOL 

Many of us ladies of God take hits from the enemy.  Hits to knock us down to the depths of despair.  Hits to sabotage our faith to the point of despondency.  Hits to knock the wind out of our sail and leave us in the valley of low self-esteem and the hallway of insecurity.   Hits to deceive us into agreement that this is only happening to “me.” 

The enemy is a liar.  He lies 100% of the time.  There is no truth in him.  And he can never be trusted.  Whatever is contrary to the Word of God is contrary to the Will of God and therefore, is resistant to the plan of God for your life and situation and needs to be burned!  God is an all consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29) 

So…this word “RECOMMIT”, what stuck in my spirit was that many of us need to do just this.  We have been committed because our love for God is great.  We are faithful and we are caring.  We are devoted to living a life for Christ and we purpose to do that in our everyday choices and living.  But…perhaps there’s a need to “RECOMMIT” to the One, True Living God. 

Re-commit implies again, repeat, a do over. As a married couple has been married for several years, they may have a desire or need to recommit their lives and intentions again in a renewing of their vows ceremony which shows the world that they still remain faithful to the original commitment they made at the beginning of their marriage.

So it may be with us, ladies, we need to “RECOMMIT” ourselves, our minds, our intentions, our future, our expectations and ultimately ourselves to God again.  Recommitment can strengthen what is already there, can fortify the borders and propel us.  

Perhaps, the missing element on your spiritual journey with Jesus is “RECOMMIT”.  Ladies, you are a queen to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Remember at the beginning of this blog, I put the devil on blast in his tactics toward us.  Once you identify the actions of the enemy in your life, the fingerprints of destruction are leaving a print in your joy, it’s time to “RECOMMIT” lady of God.

Dust yourself off, adjust your crown, refocus, “RECOMMIT” and keep going!  There’s a big world out there waiting for you!  Go make your mark for Jesus.

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Be Where You're Suppose to Be.....

10/10/2014

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Commitment…

This word reads like any other word in the English language.  In fact, we hear this word much in the Christian vernacular, so much so that perhaps, at least for me, I have lost the severity of its meaning.  Perhaps I’ve lulled myself into a state of apathy regarding its meaning and expectancy. 

In my morning devotion today, it was centered about Titus 2:7 that lays out the challenge for us to be an example in everything….. We do that by remaining committed not only to God, but to the place we are. 

We understand, for the most part that being a follower of Christ requires or expects commitment from us.  But somehow, that instruction of remaining committed proves to be a challenge because of difficult circumstances and trying situations.  We  know that we are to remain committed; but yet, often without intention or notice…our commitment weans.  
 
According to
dictionary.com - commitment means the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself, a pledge or promise; obligation.  Which mostly, is doable as long as things/situations and people are tolerable.  Things and situations don’t even have to be favorable, but at least tolerable.  It’s when things aren’t tolerable that the true test of commitment comes into play. 

I made a commitment to Christ on March 27, 1992.  It was at the altar of a church that I surrendered my will, my life and my future to the One True God who met me at the point of humanness.  I didn’t understand at that point, and how could I possibly understand the depths of what that commitment entailed.  And all these years later, I’m still not fully aware of the depths of this word commitment.  I know I have experienced really hard times that were way beyond my comfort zone and I have been pushed to the point of no return; so I thought and….God’s commitment to me has remained.  In that, I find peace and prayerfully the power to remain committed to Him as well. 

I find myself complaining, grumbling and having a rotten and ungrateful attitude in my relationship with God.  Because somehow, my intention is to remain committed to Christ; yet I want to leave the unfavorable circumstances as quickly as possible.  How does that work???  Does that work??? 

Today’s devotion hit me with this:  “A commitment means you’re to be where you’re supposed to be.”  The same way Christ stands before the Father on my behalf, is the same way I am to stand where He has placed me.  Through the hard and difficult times, through the turbulent waters that feel like they’re overtaking me, through the bowls of grief and bursts of frustration because it’s just too hard….I am to be committed to be where I’m supposed to be.  In my commitment to remain…I am fulfilling my commitment to Christ as His follower. 

Surely, as you’re reading this…God could change the situation and circumstances in an instant and relieve me and you of the hardship, yet He may not.  He may instead want us to remain committed to Him by being committed to the difficult times and hard places. 

Thank God for His grace which allows me another opportunity to do it His way and not mine.  That same grace is afforded to you every time as well.  May we, together, be resolved in our commitment to Christ by remaining committed to be where we’re suppose to be. 

God has an awesome plan for your life!!

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    Thoughts from Pastor
    ​Julie

    Love Jesus.
    Love people.
    ​Love yourself.
    ​Be Grateful. Live well. ​Serve.









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