The Latter Will be Greater!

Happy New Year! We just experienced the kick-off of 2020 and we're all looking forward to better things. It's never too late to make adjustments on your goals or resolutions. As long as you don't quit, you're still in the game. Maybe things don't look so good right now, but that's OK because those things are subject to change! In other words, they're temporary.

In the household of God, "We look not at the things which are seen, but at those things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary and the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

That's a really big deal, and it changes everything! It means our temporary struggles don't matter. And it means, we don't have to "stare" at life's challenges as if they're were no hope, because there is. And it's a hope that endures. 1 Corinthians 13:7 says, "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."  

We can rest assured that the God of the universe, the One and only Rock eternal, will keep His word concerning His promise. He is the God of His word. And that word is eternal. That's where we look!

Hope is never behind us, it's always ahead, therefore we look in that direction... forward. 

Forward to what? To knowing it's going to get better. If we stick with God, we'll be on the right path.
Which path? The path to the good stuff! 😊

Proverbs 4:18 gives us something to look forward to. Like an expectant mother, if we'll stay in the faith, (nurture it properly) there's coming a day when we'll see the glory of what's been developing inside us all along come to fruition.

"The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day." 

It means every day we're one step closer to fullness. It means every day gets brighter and brighter. (It gets better and better) That right there, should make you smile. Or at least give you some hope.

Here's something we can stand on... 

"Even though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great." 

So, where are we in life? 

Some of us just watched Super Bowl 54. We saw two teams tied at halftime. And we know one of them came out ahead. What really stuck out to me was the score at halftime. 
Which was, 10...10. 

Every time I see the number combination, 10 10 I'm reminded of John 10:10.

 "The thief does not come except to steal, kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10

As soon as I saw this, I had to take a picture. It's such a correlation to where some of us may be in our lives right now. In "Half- Time."  Maybe the "first half" of your life has left you injured and down on the field. But guess what, it's not over. Perhaps your opponent (Satan) has stolen, or destroyed something in your life. No worries, because you're not staying down.

It's only half-time and the score is about to change. Jesus has promised us life, and life more abundantly. If we'll cling to that promise like we're about to score in the Super Bowl, we will win!
Be encouraged, we're in the "second half" and it's about to get really good!

Do You Carry?

"Do You Carry"?  If you do, that's awesome. I'ts important to have some kind of defense mechanism living in our crazy society today.  Personally, my husband and I proudly support the NRA. My husband grew up on a large acreage of land in Northeast Ohio, so for him, hunting was his second nature. 

Anyways, that's not what I'm here to talk about. My question about "carrying" really isn't related to a physical weapon at all. (Although it is certainly wise to (legally 😎) own one. 

If you're going to carry a physical weapon, you may want to have some back-up nearby in your time of distress. I'm talking about hving a higher source of "fire-power" in your corner at all times. 

The weapons of our warfare...

"For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds. 
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. And we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  2 Corinthians 2:10

Wow! Evil forces are no match for our God. They don't want to mess with that kind of power. As a matter of fact, according to Isaiah 54:17... 

"No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you."  So we can see this thing is crystal clear. 

If God be for you, who can be against you?!!

But wait... there's more.. And this is the best part. As born again believers in the Messiah- Yeshua, Jesus Christ the Anointed One, the Son of the Most High God, we carry something so extremely precious on the inside at all times... HIM! 

Mary wasn't the only favored one. She carried the physical baby Jesus but we carry His Spirit. His life is inside of us. 

We are carriers of Gods glory!! His glorious Holy Spirit abides and "rides" with us everywhere.  And with that presence, we carry an abundance of love, mercy, healing, provison, joy, peace... I could go on and on. Because if we carry Him, we carry everything.

The world needs mending. The world needs God. That's why we carry the gospel of this wonderful news everywhere we go. 

I could expound on this wonderful, astounding truth forever, because there's so much to explore, although we've barely touched on such a deep subject, that such profound miracles abide in us.

😊😊😊😊😊😊💗💗💗💗💗   

Remember Who You Are

Have you ever questioned your "lot in life"? Have you ever felt like things haven't quite gone the way you thought they would? I know I have. If we evaluate our present conditions, surroundings, and dilemas we can be left feeling downright disappointed. I've been there. Standing in the middle in that negative force field trying figure things out, and make some kind of sense. But, what I found was to no avail because I realized something "magical." Something I've always known, but somehow forgotten. My assesments were all wrong.

I was looking at life as though I were cursed instead of blessed. And that is a flat out lie!
It was like I had a bad case of "spiritual amnesia" or something.  Had I forgotten who I was in Christ? Did I forget my true identity? Why was I looking at failure when I was actually victorious?  Why was my vision blurred?  It was like looking in the mirror and quickly forgetting what I look like. All  because the devil wants me to forget... that I look like Christ.  Now I remember, who I am. And I encourage you to remember who you are. If you belong to Christ, let Him define you.

I'm no longer a child of the flesh. I was born of Gods descent and made in His image and likeness.  He has broken the curse of sin and death and has blessed me with every spiritual blessing.  I have a bright hope-filled future in front of me. I am more than a conqueror through Christ. Greater is He that lives in me than he who's in the world.  I am not afraid. I am not sick, I am not broke. I am blessed.

Temporal things don't matter. They are subject to change.  My "lot" in life is full of the goodness of God. He is my Rock, my Shelter, my Healer. my Fortress.  He's my truest identity. I live in Him and in Him, I am strong. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. The joy of the Lord is my strength. I will not forget, but remember my roots. I am rooted in Him. Rooted and grounded in love.  I am established and secure in my royal position.

I am seated in heavenly places with Christ. Far above princpalities and powers of darkness. I am a daughter of the Most High God. I am a daughter of the King. I belong to the household of light. I am free from calamity and chaos.  My lot is peace.  I have inherited an abundance of righteousness.  I am right with God. Things go right with me and my children. My children rise up and call me blessed. My children are right with God, they are saved and blessed.

God is for me He is not against me. He fights for me. He makes my prosperous. He illuminates my path. I do not fear tomorrow. I know who I am. I am His.

Stretch Your Thinking

And just like that, it's summer! Already it feels like a hot oven out there! I live in Florida where things heat up quickly. We really don't have a wintery season. It goes like this. Our Winter air is somewhat cool, but the ground doesn't freeze. Since there's nothing to thaw, Spring temps can escalate to a quick "boil." And all through the Summer, we're still cooking! When Fall arrives, the heat tapers off but it's still quite steamy. 

I guess I don't mind it all that much. I'd rather be hot than cold. And I really like the beach!! Anyways, I said all that to say this. Even though we're in the Summer season. I'd like to stretch your imagination back to a cold winter night. It was a night like no other. They say it's always darkest before the dawn. I find that to be true. Especially on this night. It was the night that Christ was born. Yeah we think about this at Christmas, but it's so extraordinary, we should ponder it every day!
The day that Light came into the world to extinguish darkness.

But lets go back a little further. Like nine months prior to His birth. The day of "conception". Mary 's life was about to expand in every way. God saw her heart and knew she was willing to bear His word.

Her angelic visitor brought a message that would shift her thinking completely.

"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God wll give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 

"Then Mary said to the angel, "how can this be, since I do not know a man?" And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will ovrshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One is to be born will be called the Son of God." Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26)

The next five minutes was probably intense with emotion!

Can you even imagine? (Mary) ... Wow! What just happened?! I saw an angel! And he said I was going to be the mother of the Son of the Most High God! "Who am I that such favor has fallen upon?" She must have thought about this day and night. How could she ignore such miraculous news?

"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19

She must have had a hard time falling asleep that night. Day after day she held on to that word which came to her. This news was so astounding, maybe even hard to believe, because God had to send an angel to convince Joseph as well. Although she couldn't see any physical change right away, Mary felt different inside. She knew God had spoken. 

Let's move ahead to her second trimester. This is getting even more real! Her belly is starting to show. The Son of God is growing inside! She can feel Him kicking and moving about. Oh! What joy did flood her soul! For nine miraculous months, she carried Christ in her womb. And the Day of His birth was no less amazing. Her and Joseph would finally embrace the Son of God. 

What a glorious experience this must have been! 

I also have some amazing news for you. Are you ready to stretch your thinking and ponder it in your heart? When you're born-again of the Spirit of God, He overshadows you with the same Holy Spirit which covered Mary. Christ comes inside to live, in you!  Although we don't carry the physical baby of the Christ, and we don't have to. He only had to come once to fulfill His mission. No, we have the risen Savior abiding within! 

But I have felt Him "kick!" Sometimes when I read the word and get the revelation, it penetrates (as a sword should) it quickens, and "jolts" my spirit with life. And I know it's Him. This doesn't have to end. It's not a nine month pregnacy, but an eternal one. Stretch your heart to believe this impossible thing. Jesus, the Son of the Most High God, lives and abides inside. He fellowships with us, and gives life to our mortal bodies!  It's amazing grace, it's amazing news, and it's an amazing reality. There's so much to ponder. For we too, are highly favored and blessed!  

Stop Comparing Yourself To Others

Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt unsatisfied with the image looking back at you? I think we've all "picked ourselves apart" at one time or another. To be straight forward, it seems like I've dealt with this issue most of my life.  It sounds like this: "My nose is too big,"my hair is too thin... "Where did that wrinkle come from"? "My pores are too large"... "my skin is too red", etc.  I could go on, but I think you get the point.

But why do we do this? I think it's because we all want perfection. But the reality is, noone is perfect and nobody's flawless. The truth is, we will never be totally satisfied with our fleshly appearance because that's not where our true self image comes from. God made you by hand and He doesn't make mistakes! Your truest beauty abides inside of you.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". When God looks at you He doesn't see flesh. He sees your heart. But He can also see the man He formed in the garden. Prior to the curse, we were...perfect.

"God made man in His own image".  When we examine ourselves in a negative light, we're actually dissaproving of Gods sculpture, which is ...us.  Do you think Adam thought of himself less than anything? Before the curse started to steal his identity and break him down, he never once had an negative self image.  All of this self hatred comes from trying to "break a curse" that's already been broken.

Someone has broken it for us! The second Adam.... Jesus.  And guess what? We don't have to be sick no more, we don't have to be poor no more, and we don't have to be dead no more!!

Now that we have been re-instated to the Blessing, that nasty curse no longer applies.

Have you ever seen something put together wrong? We all have. Just the other day at work, I saw a little decorative sign that was upside down. Whoever put it together placed the rope on the wrong side of the picture. Compare that to God "assembling man." Do you think He's constucted us improperly?... No! A thousand times "No"!  May we never direspect Him in such a way.

We look the way look today is a result of time, and how we took care of the body He gave us. We've all made mistakes, Which Christ has forgiven. The point is, don't look at the "old man" anymore.  He died with Christ, you have been made new.  Once again you've been made into the image of God 💗

"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things have passed away: behold, all things are become new."  2 Corinthians 5:17

We don't have to look at the "old us" anymore.  Our self image comes from the One who lives in us. When you think about the price He paid to set you free, you no longer see the mess. If we purpose to "shake off the lies" concerning our appearance, inside and out... we'll be free from comparison. 

Whenever my dog gets up from rolling on the ground she's got dirt all over her, but she doesn't let it stay. Almost instantly, she shakes it all off! We need to be like that!  Shake it off!  You're not dirty!, you're not inferior, and you're not bad looking!  As a matter of fact, you're good looking! 

After God finished His creation, He said it was good!

Just a few days ago, I got my hair cut. I used to wear it up everyday to hide the damage I caused it over the years. Needless to say, I've always wanted strong, healthy hair.  Hair that looked normal.  Anyways, I took the leap and got the "dead stuff off", literally.  Although I don't look like the picture I showed the hairstylist, I'm okay with that!  God made me, and I'm happy about that!

Moving Forward in 2019

Happy New Year! Can you believe we've moved into 2019 already?  The older we get it seems like time zooms by quicker and quicker with each passing year. Wouldn't it be great if there were only a pause button?

Ahhh, if we could just re-live the "good old days".  Although we can't freeze or preserve our favorite moments in time, like a canning jar they're sealed up tight right inside our hearts. The good news is we don't have to look back longingly, because your latter days will be greater than your past.  (Haggai 2:9)

Every good thing in our past can be used as "stepping stones" towards something greater. 😃

Time doesn't go backwards it's always moving forward. That means our best times are in front of us, not behind us. Every sixty seconds another minute goes by.  Minutes turn to hours - which become days, days become months, which grow into years. This isn't a bad thing. It all depends on how we look at it.  

Yesterday is over. The bad stuff is behind us. Don't drag it to another day. In other words, if we had a bad day, or even what seems like an awful year, so what. Let it go.  Don't "get stuck in the past". We don't even have to look back. Wer'e not going that way. Take all the good and "carry it over". We are promised better things!  We've got a bright path ahead of us.  Proverbs 4:19 says this: "The path of the just is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter, until the full light of day".

That means, that your future, which is as close as the next minute, will become brighter and brighter and brighter! Doesn't that make you smile! 

Let me share something good with you. On the morning of New Years Day 2019 I was putting on my wrist watch and glanced at it in a peculiar way. I was puzzled for a moment thinking "do I need to set my watch ahead"? Like Daylight Savings Time or something. "Oh, it's New Years Day, I don't need to adjust my watch".

As I thought about it further I realized that something spiritual had occurred. My year had changed, and so did "the time in the spirit". It's a "New Spiritual Year".  Not just for me, but for you as well. It's sort of  like Spring-forward, but we've gained much more than just an hour!

I believe that God is bringing forth dreams and manifesting His bounty more quickly than we've imagined.  

He's moved His "clock ahead" in such a way that He's speeding things up for our good. And I believe it's approaching fast. 

If we look ahead in such a way and expect Gods' promises to be expedited, we'll anticipate each day with joy, knowing full well that He who promised is faithful to bring it to pass. If there's a dream inside you that's living, it shall soon be birthed. In order to keep the dream alive, you must feed it with hope. 

Look for God inside of every second, and every minute of every week. He never leaves. Seek Him every month, keep finding Him- all year long, even throuout eternity... what astonishing Light we will see up ahead. Our outlook for tommorow is good! We may not be able to freeze time, or "capture it in a bottle" but we have something much better, we can fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.  

We'll see the brightness of His coming, we'll see His word coming to pass, we'll see our future so exceedingly bright and illuminated with Gods love. We we're never meant to have a dull day or a dull life. 

As we approach the next minute, look for Jesus. Just the mention of His Name changes everything.

2019 and beyond is full of promise. You're not waiting on God, He's waiting on you. He is your compass, move forward in Him.  💖

Why Doesn't God Intervene?

Although it may not look like it, feel like it, or seem like it, God is intervening. Right now Jesus is at the right hand of the Father - interceding for us.  (Romans 8:34) The word intercede means to intervene. It means that God the Father and God the Son, is getting involved with you and your life.

The Bible says that Jesus is praying for us. He is our Intercessor - A person who intervenes on behalf of another, especially by prayer. Jesus is our Advocate. He defends our rightful place. While the devil is busy accusing the saints, Jesus is pleading the blood.

He shed His blood to pay for every sin. He shed His blood to heal every disease. He shed His blood to break the curse of sin and death. His blood sacrifice is the way to live with God forever.

John 10:10 - Jesus came that we may have life, and enjoy it to the fullest.

The abundant life, the curse-free (blessed) life belongs to us. Why?
Over 2000 years ago, Jesus intervened on an old rugged cross.

So why in the world does everything look so bleak? It looks that way because we look at life through our own eyes. We see everything in the natural. But that's not how we're meant to see.  The devil wants us to see in the natural and respond to what we see. He shows us lack, sickness, doom and gloom, etc.

Through the eyes of faith we see the supernatural. "We walk by faith and not by sight." (2 Cor 5:7)

"For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

2 Corinthians 4:18

The Bible calls faith a substance. It's evidence of the things we are yet to see. (Hebrews 11)
The time it takes between standing in faith and seeing the answer is called trust. 

Abraham wavered not at the promise of God despite the barrenness of Sarah's womb. Although it took many years to manifest, that promise came to pass. God is faithful. 
I know it hurts to wait. I know it's hard. But yet, we have One Whom we can run to. 

Think of it like this. When a child falls down and skins their knee they run to Daddy. Daddy picks them up, binds up thier wounds, then He kisses where it hurts - to make it all better :) 
The child smiles and joyfully goes back to playing. 

That's the exact same thing our heavenly Father does for us. Do you know that the Father gives kisses from heaven? He sure does! When you run into His presence, nothing on earth matters. It all melts away. He gives joy for mourning and a garment of praise instead of a heavy heart. (Isaiah 61)  

He is a burden lifter, a bondage breaker, a lover, a friend, a mender of brokenness. When we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. And when He is near, you know that everything is going to be alright!  As we look at life through the word of God, we see the goodness of God is coming straight for us. Expect it! 

When you are pregnant with His word and expect it to birth glorious things in your life, they will surely come!  O taste and see that the Lord is good. 

God Fixes Us

The Broken Vessel

If you've ever dropped a glass on a hard ceramic floor, then you know it ends up in a million pieces. Within seconds, something that was once whole, becomes broken and scattered to every corner of the room. I've had these accidents a time or two, and I know it's no easy task to clean up. Immediately it becomes a danger zone. 

As soon as it happens I'm stopped in my tracks because... I'm usually barefoot.

As I tiptoe out of my mess, I go for my shoes and call out a warning, "Don't come in here, there's broken glass on the floor"! That impact has shot undetectable pieces of glass everywhere! And those tiny shards become razor blades under my feet. Sometimes I sigh, and think, "that was my favorite glass". But it gets swept up and dumped in the trash, never to be used again. Sometimes, I feel like that glass. 

The Bible refers to us as vessels. A vessel that carries a very precious treasure, the presence of God. And guess what? We're His favorite glass! 

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us...

We're afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but to driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."

 2 Corinthians 4:7

Like the fragility of the glass, we too, are all so delicate. Perhaps like the glass falling to it's demise, you've fallen a few times. We all have. There's a place we call "rock bottom", and it really hurts when we hit. Our hearts are very fragile, they too can be fragmented, and strewn about. The lowest place we can go is to the floor, but it can be the best place to find restoration. You see, God cares a lot about our brokenness. 

The bible says, He is near to the broken hearted and saves those that are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18).

He knows the heaviness of a broken heart, He hears the splitting and cracking. And He alone, can make us whole. Just like a loving parent, He comes running in to save us.

He's different. He doesn't scold, or make us feel bad, He simply starts gathering and restoring.  He sees the fragments of hopelessness, the scarred pieces of failure, the sharp edges of depression and the sting of defeat. He sees everything broken in our spirit. even the hidden things. 

And just like a gentle, loving Father, He disposes everything harmful and puts us back on the shelf of life, completely whole. Everyday we get a brand new start, with a brand new heart. Yesterdays disappointments are gone with the trash and we anticipate with new hope.

Let us never forget the power of the cross. Jesus became broken, for us. Remember, when He said, "this is my body, broken for you." (Matthew 26). He became crushed and broken for us, And by Sunday, all wholeness was restored. And since He was restored, we are restored... to a whole new life! 

Though we may fall many times, we can reach for His hand.

"A righteous man may fall seven times, and rises up, but the wicked shall fall by calamity." - Proverbs 24:16

Do you remember Humpty Dumpty?  He sat on a wall and had a great fall; all the kings horses and all the kings men couldn't put Humpty together again! Men will never be able to fix us, only God can.

"He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds". Psalm 147:3

We have a personal Carpenter- Jesus, who puts us back together. When the devil starts speaking trash, remind him that his future is bleak, not ours. God has good plans for us. Hope filled plans. Plans to prosper us and reinstate us to perfect health. (Jeremiah 31)

When it seems like all hope is gone, look up, your Redeemer is drawing near.

"He gives beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that we may be called trees of righteousness, a planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified".  (Isaiah 61)

 

No Longer Slaves

"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" John 8:32.

Knowing the truth is what sets us free. It's lies that bind us, trap, hinder and imprison us. God sent the Truth (His Son) to set us free. In John chapter 14 Jesus said, "I am the way the truth and the life".

So who are we? As a born again Christian our identity in is birthed in freedom. Remember the account of Abraham? He had two sons. One by a slave woman, and the other by the free woman, His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born because of the promise. (Galatians 4:22)

We too are born of the "free Seed" which is Christ.

Who we used to be?  Enslaved to the devil, born into sin.

The definition of slavery:
1) A person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.
2) A person who works excessively hard.

Back in the 1800's slaves had to wear a metal badge around thier neck identifying them as slave property.  Such as the one below.

Although slavery has long been abolished, there remains another type of slavery which still exists.  Spiritual slavery. It's not a mandatory incarceration, yet without the knowledge of this "abolishment," many still suffer it's hard laborous punishment, and it imprisons the soul.

Prior to becoming a Christian, we were once slaves to sin and slaves to the devil. He used to own us. Yes, he was our master. His evil commands were all we knew. They were how we were led.

Until we discovered...we had a Redeemer. One who bought us at the highest price, in order to set us free. Now we are led by the Good Sheperd, who leads us beside the still waters. Without chains!

1 Peter 1:18 " It was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect".

Remember when Moses led the Hebrews out of bondage, on the night before they left, the blood of a lamb stopped death from entering thier homes.  Each Israelite family was instructed to place the blood over the lintel and the doorposts of the home.  When the death angel passed through, it passed over them because of the blood.  (Exodus 12:23)

Likewise, we also have an "Exodus" of our own. We can leave the devils domain and never look back. As a born again Christian, we belong to God and the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) has been applied to the doorpost of our heart. Now death can not enter in, it must forever...pass over us.

No longer will we wear the "badge" of the devil, but we "wear RED". When the devil sees the blood, he has to flee.  He has no power over it. And just like kryptonite weakened superman, the blood weakens the devil.

We are no longer slaves to death, fear or sin. They have no rightful hold on us.

"The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death". 

Romans 8

HOPE is your strongest fuel

My life is built on hope. Without it, I'd surely sink. Hope is an amazing thing. Actually It's quite powerful. Imagine trying to drive a car without gas, it won't budge. Or how about trying to function daily without food, we'd die.

Natural food does nothing for the soul, it only affects the body. Though we eat to stay alive, inwardly we're starving! Spiritual food is essential to fuel the heart and mind.  Hope is that fuel. If you have hope, you've got the greatest asset on the planet!

Without hope, we're depleted, and spiritually bankrupt. If there's one thing the devil wants to steal from you, it's hope. If he can take that, he knows you'll be empty. He wants us empty!

In the area of finances, we know that assets can be turned into cash. It's similiar with hope. But hope is much more powerful. Although money is required for trading goods & services, it doesn't feed the soul. We can survive without money, but we can't survive without hope.

When you mix no money with no hope, that's a quick ride to the bottom of the barrel. I know what it's like to hit rock bottom.  I've wallowed around in self pity, considered my demise, sobbed endlessly, focused on all my failures, given up- a thousand times, yet I always had the option of looking up.

I'm well aquainted with the lowest place, like a sunken ship... thinking "it's over", "I'm done"! Yes, I've said all that and more. Because that's where the devil speaks the loudest. I've been there. But thankfully, there's nowhere to go but up. I had to make a decision, should I believe the lies or choose the truth. I had two different entres to choose from. I chose life and hope brought me up! Hope is a quick ride to the top, everytime.

This valuable asset converts dreams into reality.  It's a substance that converts empty into full. It transforms death into life. Depression into joy, and turmoil into peace. It turns sorrow into laughter. It transfigures darkness into light. Hope never ends. Look at the book of Hebrews.

Now faith is... the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

If we want to please God, we must have faith. As we can see from the scripture above, faith and hope work together. The Hebrew writer goes on to explain that it's impossible to please God without faith.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that comes to God, must believe that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him."  (Hebrews 11:6)

If we have no faith, then we have no hope. This is actually an insult to God. This basically tells God, that we don't trust Him. We don't want to be in that condition. We can trust Him. He is faithful to perform His word. He's the God of truth and the God of hope. If you're empty He can fill you! 

Here's some spirit fuel...

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with confident hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit".  (Romans 15:13) 

Isn't it fun to say, "filler up"? (Back in the day when we had gas station attendants). Or we might say, "top it off". I rarely fill my gas tank, but some occasions call for it. Like taking a lengthy road trip.  

Isn't it even better to fill up with premium? Sure it is. Here's something incredible to ponder. How about being "topped off" and filled up, to overflowing with hope?! (GOD) 

He's the God of hope. Hope energizes us. I'm not talking about the flaky stuff such as, "I hope so".  That is NOT Godly hope.  Godly hope is weighty and confident. Remember it's substantial.  

Faith is certain and sure of things hoped for.   In the face of NOT seeing, yet we believe. The Bible calls this hope an anchor for the soul. If you are anquored in the word of God, you won't be tossed about by the winds of fear and doubt. 

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure, it enters the inner sancuary behind the curtain".  

What's behind the curtain?  ... GOD! Wow!  Our hope goes behind the curtain, and straight to God. 

He sees our faith in that hope. And that's where amazing things start to manifest! 

So back to this energizing fuel called hope. I can relate this to something I recall from my childhood. Do you remember those "hand buzzers"? They were kind of a gadget type of thing. My brother would hide it in the palm of his hand and when I shook it, it buzzed and vibrated! Not pleasant, because I weren't expecting it. 

I don't know how else to explain this, but there's a  really good kind of vibration and almost electrifying tingle that goes staright through me when I tap into the deep levels of the HOPE that's in God's word.  It's almost as if I'm getting "zapped" with His premium energy source! 

His word is FULL of hope. Hope makes us strong.

I could go on with this, perhaps I'll write a "Hope II" blog. I'm sure I will. There's so much more. For now, I'll close with this:

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew thier strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint". (Isaiah 40:31)

The word, wait here, means to hope. If you're waiting on the Lord, it means you're expecting. And that's called healthy faith! Keep hoping in the Lord, He is faithful in all His ways.  

Praise More...Bark Less

Have you ever noticed how happy a well loved dog is? I find it amazing that God made animals that can feel love and desire it. In the case of our little dog, it seems as if we are her whole world. And I don't know about your dogs tail, but it seems like ours has beat the record for tail wagging!  I'm not positive, but I think that means shes happy and I really think she smiles!

All I have to do is walk in the room and she wags her tail. If I get down on the floor and look in her eyes, her tail gets wagging. If I leave the house for five minutes, then walk back inside, you guessed it, her tail is wagging. Not to mention her numerous leaps of excitement she demonstrates as we are reunited. LOL. If we're gone for hours, it's off the charts "tail wagging" when we come back.

It's crazy that they miss us and want us to be home. For some reason they crave the fellowship of their owners. Let's talk about their appetite. They're always hungry and always happy when the food comes out.  Just like us, they like to eat. 😏

I got to thinking, If our pets get that excited about us, how much more does God take pleasure in having fellowship with us!?  A trillion times more! I'm not comparing God to an animal in any way. I'm simply saying that he shows His love in marvelous ways. If anything, I'm saying when I'm in the presence of God, if I had a tail, it's wagging so much it may fall off!  LOL!

Just like our dog begs for treats, we hunger and yearn for God. "Our daily bread" is God feeding us, everyday! As for me, when I learn something from God, I'll say something like, "oh that's good"!  Just as if I took a bite of something yummy. If we're hungry to learn, then we'll always be fed. The difference with God is, He never gives leftovers, we always get fresh. There's no scraps at His table, we receive only the best. 

If only we'd praise Him more instead "barking" out our requests, we'd find joy in each moment and pass every test.  Praise more, thank more, and you'll bark so much less. 

The "Open Book" Test In 2018

Ever taken a test that you were'nt totally prepared for? The answer is yes, because we all have.  Looking at lifes questions, we wish we had all the answers right in front of us. Are we all taking the same test?  

I'm pretty sure we are. And I 'm pretty sure I've failed many times. When life doesn't go the way I want it to, who can I pin the blame? My past? My circumstances? The people around me? Has God done me wrong?  No, no, no and NO.  

Is there anyone else in the classroom that should be filling in the blanks besides me? Of course not. Especially since I have the opportunity to open up the textbook that has all the information I'll ever need. Since life is filled with ongoing trivial questions, we've all been given the same answer key. You may have guessed it, the Bible. Yep, that's correct. 

I have no intention of telling you what you should or should'nt do, but I know what I need to do. 

It's solely my responsibility to pass "my tests". This doesn't mean that I'm alone. God will never leave me. But the times when I've missed it are because I didn't follow the written instructions. 
My plans, goals, and aspirations for 2018, and the rest of my existence, is to dive into the Open Book more than ever before!

There's no "5 step" process to success, and there's no "quick fixes".  But there is victory. Present victory. One that can never be removed from your personal record. 

Your victory is all throughout the Bible. Even when things look horrible on the outside, that doesn't change the eternal finalized truth in the word of God. I encourage you, continue to press on, move forward, and rise up to the seat that's already yours.


"For God has raised us up from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms, because we are united with Christ".  Ephesians 4:18

The truth is, we've already won. However, let's suppose I'm looking at the answer key, but I refuse to believe it or I don't agree with it, so I choose my own way. Well, that means I'm going to fail. 
God has "set us up" to win. So win. 


The truth is, we have the "answer key" to life, we have The Answer, (Jesus) and we have inward direction. (follow Him)

"2018, your only 365 days, we are eternal".  We can Ace this!

Glad Tidings of Comfort and Joy

It's that time of year again and the Christmas rush is upon us. It seems like as soon as the Labor Day picnic ends...it's the holidays! For some excited bunch, they're ready to hang the lights, while others want it to slow down. But sadly, for many, this time of year stirs up depression, anxiety and stress.

We know the devils consistent at being unruly, but he acts up even more during the holidays. After all, we are celebrating the birth of the Messiah. He's just trying to distract the world from those glad tidings of comfort and joy.  

Tidings are defined as: news, information, a report or a word. Well, on the night of our dear Saviors birth, God sent a heavenly host to announce the glorious news of the Christ child. The promised One had arrived - our Lamb of God, Redeemer, Lord and King was wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. This reminder of Gods eternal Gift entering the earth realm, has the enemy on the prowl. 

He hates the gospel, but there's nothing he can do about it. He can't change the course of eternity.

  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, 

but have everlasting life".  John 3:16

He came! And He still lives! He's everything God said He would be and more! We can rest in the truth of the amazing gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the Gift God sent.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, 

Prince of Peace".  Isaiah 9:6

The next time you're tempted to stress in the season, just remember Who's on the throne. No amount of earthly goods will ever come close to the Gift of God. It's indescribable!

We don't have any reason to be depressed. Especially if we have loved ones who've passed on, we are joyous in the promise of eternal life. 

The devil's a liar, he's lost against God. As children of God we inherit Gods blessing! 

We have the Prince of Peace residing in our hearts and the Wonderful Counselour Who hung the stars. Things look very bright for us! 

I know it's tempting to get caught up in stress, but we don't have to take it. We can take the Gift of God instead. The next time you feel anxiety coming on, I want you to close your eyes and look for Jesus. 

Picture yourself unwrapping everything promised in Him. Smile and be comforted, because you are victorious! It's a guaranteed win. With God nothing shall be impossible!

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas, let your heart be light, from now on your troubles will be out of sight, have yourself a merry little Christmas, make the yuletide gay, from now on your troubles will be miles away..."   

Great Minds Think Alike

Have you ever had an instance where you thought along the same lines as someone else on a particular subject? This happens to me many times. My husband and I will be having a discussion and sometimes I'll be thinking of a similar concept before he says it. This can happen with anyone.

When our thinking aligns with what the speaker says, we usually give ourselves the compliment, "great minds think alike". And it's true, as long as we're thinking like God. And trust me when I say, you didn't come up with it first, He did. He's the one who brought it to your remembrance. The truth is, He's the greatest mastermind of all.

If we want our minds to be great, we need to think like Him. And the great news is, we can! He's given us A "backstage pass" into His very own mind. When we know someone who's mastered something or has become a professional at his skill we say, "Man, I'd like to pick their brain". We say this because we value their advice and high level of expertise. In other words, we want to know what they know!

Well, there's no one on the planet smarter than Jesus. Everything you see, and don't see was made by Him. He's the Architect of all. If your looking for a "brand name" that's on everything, it's JESUS!

 "For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him, and for Him. He is before all things, and In Him all things hold together. 

And He is the head of the body, the church".  He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things, He may have preeminence. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him".  - Colossians 1: 15-19

You may ask, "how can I pick His mind"? God had you in mind before the creation of the world,  so He's had this figured out for a very long time! His plan was to never leave you alone. :)

"For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one know the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God. That we may understand what God has freely given us". 

As a born again Christian we have His Spirit living in us so that we may follow His lead instead of our own. great minds do think alike, but He will always be greater.

My Hiding Place

When I was little I loved being outside. We were fortunate enough to have a decent amount of land which backed right up into the woods. And with a large lawn comes a large amount of mowing and raking. Every Spring, Summer and Fall my dad would spend most of his time doing some type of gardening. He was always planting something new!

I liked exploring the woods but oddly, one of my favorite places to relax, was underneath a large Forsythia bush in our front yard. As a child there was plenty of room in there to be concealed. Although I really wasn't hiding from anyone, I just liked the way It felt being covered from the outside world.  Another favorite of mine was our Lilac bush. I often sat right up against it as I pulled those fragrant flower clusters towards me for a fresh scent. But the larger of the two became my hide-out. The Forsythia.

After all these years I can still recall peering through those branches. As I sat under the canopy of it's bright yellow flowers I could see out, but no one could see in. So it became my secret place.

It was quiet and peaceful just to sit there and do nothing. There's something about being hidden that comforts the inner man.

Everyone likes to "get away" or escape to find solitude. That's why we like vacations. Not necessarily are we excited about a week of entertainment, but rather for a time to dwell in peace.

Fleeing the pressures of life allow us to become invigorated and refreshed. While resting from work heals the body, spiritual rest mends the soul.


Life changes a lot when we become adults. It demands our full attention. Obviously I can't go back to my childhood "hide-out" anymore. And truthfully, I don't have to. Because I've found a better ONE.

I don't even have to run off to some strange exotic land to find rest, true rest is found in God.

"Yes, my soul finds rest in God; my hope comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken". ~Psalm 62:5

As I look back I can understand why that live plant which covered me gave me comfort. It was symbolic of the Tree of Life, my Jesus. His living presence covers me from the outside world, providing protection and peace.  According to Colossians chapter three, I am now hidden in Christ.

"Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory". 

I didn't realized it back then, but now I know... He was right there with me, every time I hid.
and He's never left my side. 

I strongly believe that when it's my time to go to heaven, it won't be long until me and my Jesus will sit together under those bushes. 💗

Finding Help in Time of Need

Have you ever needed help and looked around intently, but there was no help in sight? We've all been there. For some reason this inconvenient absence makes us uncomfortable. In these solitary moments we're greeted with, "Please ring bell for service."  

So we ring. and wait. And in the same manner like a microwave dings, we expect someone to pop up right away. While we're delayed, we persistently ring, ever more passionately, thinking it might solve our dilemma, when in reality, it just agitates the matter.  

A few days ago I was walking by a counter with one of those bells. It brought this thought to mind, "Wouldn't it be nice if there were a bell I could ring to get Gods attention, because I really need Him right now!" 

If only He'd interrupt this season of difficulty and make it end!
Let's face it, we all need Gods help, and we always will. Have you ever felt as though He were absent, not around, or not even aware when you need help the most?? 

Remember that huge storm that was about to overtake the disciples and Jesus was.... sleeping?  "Ding...! Ding...! Ding!! 

"Just ring the bell louder and harder, perhaps He'll come quicker", "Wake up Jesus! Don't you care that we're perishing"?  

Jesus was present on the boat, He never left. But that wasn't the issue. The issue was a lack of faith which surmounted in fear.

I was doing the same thing. Inwardly I was crying out for God's help - no bell, just my alarming thoughts. And during that loud thought process, right there in that store, He told me to write about this. And just like those waves became quiet, my heart responded to His voice. That anxiety subsided and turned into peace. 

The giants we face may seem overwhelming, but they are no match for our victorious God - Who resides on the inside of us. 
I looked up the word reside, it means -  

Have ones permanent home in a particular place; to lodge, live in, stay in, or occupy.

That's amazing!!! He's always home -in us. And...since He never leaves, abandons, or departs, His word is never even paused! It's living, flowing, transforming, and helping us, on a continual basis. 
If we abide in the Vine, we'll bear much fruit! 
Whoa, even the fruit of PATIENCE? Ha-ha. Yes.

Even when we feel like we're alone, we never are. We have the promised Holy Spirit, the Helper Himself on stand by. 

Instead of picturing abandonment, we can picture Jesus always wearing His favorite shirt, that reads..."Ever Present Help."  :) 

 Psalm 46...

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, thought the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts up his voice, the earth melts. 

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done... it goes on to say...

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 

We're not actually waiting on God to do something. "It is finished". We're simply waiting on ourselves - to grow up in faith. As we dwell in the tabernacle of His presence, we will mature and become stronger. 

Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

He is Emmanuel.. God with us. 

Get Rid of the Noise

Like many people, I've dealt with a lot of noise in my mind. I've struggled with depressing thoughts of failure throughout my life. I'm sure you're aware that this type of thinking can harass us - if we let it. This is where we have to silence the noise.  

Negative, lifeless thoughts come from the enemy and they only produce mental noise, that tries to block out the sound of truth. 

Let's look at the difference between sound and noise.

Sound is natural and pleasant to hear. Consider how you feel when you hear the morning birds softly chirping and singing. How does listening to a beautiful song comfort the soul?
Sound has the God-given ability to bring a peaceful state of mind. But what is noise?

According to Google dictionary, noise is often characterized as unpleasant, loud or annoying. It's even been known to cause physical harm such as: increased heart rate, anxiety, hearing loss, severe nervousness, as well as a lack of concentration.

Throughout our daily lives we encounter lots of noise. Sometimes it begins to drown out our ability to concentrate. This mental noise must be turned down!

This happened to Peter. As he was walking on the water, the waves produced threatening noise which brought fear and distraction, so he began to sink.

After Jesus pulled Peter up he said: "why did you doubt?" Doubt is noisy, flustering, and fearful but faith is calm, quiet, and confident. Faith creates a pleasant- sound mind. It keeps us anchored, instead of tossing to and fro. Unshakable peace enables us to be much more productive. 

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul." Psalm 23

Think about laying down in green pastures, or strolling alongside  still waters. This "noiseless" environment evokes relaxation, bringing restoration to our soul. When something's re-stored it's  put back in it's former condition. So what's the best sound? In my opinion, it's the sound of love. 

When GOD (love) speaks...it's heavenly.

"Behold the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east; and His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth did shine with His glory. 

Ezekiel 43:2

It's easy to understand that sound creates a pleasant atmosphere, while noise does the opposite. Think about how you feel standing near a waterfall, or listening to the sound of gentle waves lapping against the shore. Why do you think spas use soothing sounds, they use it for therapy.

Thankfully we can turn to GOD for daily, weekly,... eternal therapy! We can ignore the noise of doubt by turning it off as quickly as it starts. As we tune in to the frequency of the Spirit of God we will encounter the reassuring sound of peace, hope, confidence and personal direction. 

Photo taken by Melina Gioffre Fuda

Water Walking Faith

Every day the disciples walked with Christ they witnessed another miracle. Everywhere they went, they saw the power of God in action. Can you imagine the mental gymnastics as they watched in wonder?! I'm still bewildered.  

How about the baffling feat of walking on water? That's pretty unforgettable, especially for Peter.

It's one thing for Jesus to walk on water, but for Peter to do the same? I'm pretty sure he thought about that day the rest of his life. (Matthew 14:22)

Now, we haven't heard of anyone walking on water lately, yet there remains great symbolism and an important lesson from that act. It's quite possible to walk over every stormy circumstance, instead of sinking in fear.  

Our faith in Christ is what holds us up. However, if we're not in faith, we're in fear. But He's called us to leave behind those entangled nets of fear and follow Him completely.

Even while the storm is peaking and it seems like God is sound asleep, let us never forget, He's given us the very same "water walking, wind talking" authority & power Christ used to bring the calm.  

Do you think Peter was afraid to step outside the safety of the boat? Of course he was. But He fixed his eyes on Christ and he did it anyway. As long as he kept his focus in the right direction, unhindered by everything going on around him, he walked right on top of a dark, stormy sea. It was only when he looked at the taunting surroundings that fear caused him to falter.


We're still being called out of the boat. When everything's calm, there's no need for water walking faith.  But when it's dark and stormy, we're gonna need those water shoes. 

Is it really possible to ignore the swirls of lies, and disregard the waves of intimidation that try to grab our attention? We know that it is. Peter, the forerunner, a follower of Christ, has set the example. When we purpose to make Christ our horizon, no storm in hell can make us sink. 

Set your sights high and your gaze upon Him, and you'll safely reach the shore!