This Is the Way; Walk In It

Ever wonder if the road you’re on will get you where you want to go? So many times I’ve been guilty of taking the wrong turn, maybe ignoring the warning signs that said there would be a detour up ahead or simply didn’t plan my route before I headed out. I’ve even counted on my GPS to be accurate. But let’s be honest, even computerized mechanisms aren’t always dependable. And as you could probably imagine, it wouldn’t take me long to realize I was way off course. A bit frustrated and confused, I’d be forced to finally admit I was lost and I’d have to pull over to a convenient store or gas station to ask for directions. There are also times when I’d be on the right road, struggling to miss the pot holes in my path and inevitably I would hit one here or there; causing the rims of my tires to bend out of shape. Well let me tell you it’s not an easy or cheap fix when that happens.

I find it true in my spiritual walk as well. I could be chucking along a road, happy go lucky, just knowing I’m on the path the Lord has led me too. But sad enough, eventually it becomes evident that I’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way and I find myself uncertain of my next step. And just like the bent up rims, if I’ve wondered off track too far and all alone, it can be a somewhat painful & costly experience as I get back on track, simply because I made choices along the way that were not in God’s perfect will for my life. And to be honest, sometimes, the detours just don’t make sense. It’s at those times that I have to trust that the Lord was protecting me from something up ahead. When this happens, I find it best to just stop and seek the Lord before going any further. I know without doubt that if I seek Him first and trust Him, He will give me clear direction on how to proceed.

What about you? Ever take a wrong road and find yourself just as frustrated? Let me encourage you today! If you’ve found that you’re on a road that is taking you away from God’s perfect will, just stop and don’t take another step. Ask God to show you what you need to do. Sometimes the direction the Lord wants us to go doesn’t make sense; maybe doesn’t appear to be a road that will take us where we thought we were going. Remember, that His ways are not our ways, but His way will always be the best way. That's why we need to seek Him first in all areas of our life.

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33 NLT

This Is the Way; Walk In It

The road I’m on is blurry; can't see what's up ahead.
I try to hear Your still small voice and follow what You said.
It seems there are curves and road blocks, no matter where I turn.
Oh God, please give me wisdom and help me to discern.

I'm empty Lord, before You, as I bow before Your throne.
Please help me seek Your perfect will and not travel on my own.
Sometimes the road is scary; lack of faith has jarred my soul.
I need Your Holy Spirit, Lord, to restore and make me whole.

I know that You’ll be with me, walking closely by my side.
I trust I'm on the road You choose; not walking by mere pride.
Help me reach the lost & hurting; share Your mercy & Your grace.

Use me as an open vessel as I continue on this race.

Please always stand before me; help me follow what You say.
Lead me by Your Holy Spirit; then help me trust You and obey.
Pour out Your many blessings; Your favor like a stream.
Give Your servant brand new visions to fulfill my every dream.

©Cynthia E. Bagaglia-Wood - March 24, 2013

So be encouraged today. In the words from King Solomon, “Trust in the Lordwith all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.’ Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

Be blessed my family& friends. I pray you walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all!
Cyndy

"This Is the Way; Walk In It."  Isaiah 30:21 NIV

 

 

Do You or Don’t You Want This Divorce?

Thirty-one years ago, a couple made a vow before the Lord and all who attended their wedding ceremony.  As most young couples, hopes were high that life would be an adventure full of dreams and endless possibilities.  Yet early on in the marriage, this couple experienced many bumps & obstacles along their path; some that would prove to be very detrimental to the success of their marriage.  As time took its toll, the obstacles became bigger; while the hopes & dreams started to diminish before their very eyes. What actually happened between the two of them really doesn’t matter.  What matters is how they responded to the situation.  It wasn’t long before the word “divorce” entered the wife’s arguments; soon to be a common word in her vocabulary; and eventually became a numbing sensation towards its actual meaning; the legal dissolution of a marriage. In an attempt to save the marriage, the wife sought out Godly counsel, while the husband refused.  

Needless to say, eventually this couple found themselves sitting before a judge; bewildered at their next step.  After listening to the wife’s testimony, the judge looked at both of them and said, “Folks, I’m confused.  Do you or don’t you want this divorce?”  The couple just looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders; neither one willing to stop the final process because each one was too stubborn.  Each was hoping the other would take the lead and stop it.  Unfortunately, neither one did.   After their last shrug, the judge slammed down his gavel and granted their divorce.  On the way out of the courthouse, the couple looked at each other and said, “What have we done?”  And with that, they both went on their way quite distraught.

 

Throughout the following year, this couple had remained amicable; especially because they had children together.  Although the bumps & obstacles didn’t go away, what took place within the next year, not many anticipated; not even the couple themselves. Their children prayed faithfully & other believers prayed as well that the Lord would restore this family.  And without fail, the Holy Spirit worked behind the scenes.  Little by little, the Holy Spirit drew this couple back to a place of remembrance of what used to be early on in their marriage; the things that mattered the most and what laid ahead for them as they went thru life.  And within that same year, the couple had decided to reconcile and remarry. 

Sound like a fairytale?  Well, I can assure you it’s not.

My husband & I were that couple over 16 years ago.  And trust me; this is NOT nor will it ever be a bragging moment.  It’s actually quite humiliating to say the least.  And I’m not going to try & persuade you that all has been hunky dory after we remarried; because the truth is, it hasn’t been. Just like everyone else, we still face bumps & obstacles life throws our way and no doubt, we will until the very end.  However, one thing is different this time; my response to the situations that come up. It’s different because I made a promise to the Lord before we remarried that the word “divorce” would never enter into our marriage ever again; and I’ve done my best to hold tight to that promise. Even though at times it seemed like it would be the easiest solution, I knew without doubt it wasn’t the right one.  For me, the right solution this time was & is to continually draw closer to the Lord; trusting that He is in control.   I understand that reconciliation isn’t right for everyone and in many cases, no longer a possibility.   Nor would I ever encourage anyone to reconcile with a spouse that may be abusive in any way. Fortunately for us, that wasn’t our problem.  So this blog may not be for you. 

However, I know there is someone out there that needs to hear this testimony.  To be honest, I resisted the Holy Spirit in writing it for quite some time now because I wasn’t ready to expose myself or my husband in such a manner as this.   But the Holy Spirit was adamant that I needed to share this story with you; whoever you are!  The Holy Spirit wants you to know that’s it’s not too late for your marriage to succeed; not too late for healing to take place; not too late to be restored and made new.  He wants to heal your marriage and restore your family; if you’ll just let Him.

Remember; divorce was never in God’s plan.  His plan was that a man & woman become as one and remain that way until the very end.  As a matter of fact, God hates divorce so much that in Malachi 2:10-16 (NIV) He warns men against infidelity and breaking the covenant of marriage.  I may be wrong, but, my thought is that He addressed this with the men because men are the spiritual head of the home.  God made man and woman as one, to be in unity with His Holy Spirit, to ensure their children would be Godly offspring and follow after God’s own heart.  

In the book of Matthew 19:4-6 (NKJV) even the Pharisees tested Jesus by questioning him about divorce. Jesus reminded them that man & woman are united into one flesh and no one should separate them. And of course they came back with the argument that Moses gave them permission to divorce.  But Jesus was already prepared to answer them when he said, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”  Matthew 19-7-9 (NKJV)

I’m not sure who I’m speaking to with this blog; but if you are a husband or a wife contemplating divorce or possibly in the middle of one, I’d like to encourage you to stop and seek the Lord before taking another step. Take time to draw near to Him and He’ll draw near to you. Maybe you’ve opened the door to divorce simply by speaking it and eventually growing numb to the reality of one; just like I did.   The Holy Spirit showed me that just speaking the word “divorce” cracked open the door and gave Satan a foothold into our marriage.  You have the power with the Holy Spirit to slam that door shut again.  Especially if you haven’t heard the judge’s gavel come slamming down on his desk, then, it’s not too late!  Simply repent and ask the Lord to help you; and He will.

Maybe you’re already divorced, yet, amicable with your ex-spouse and neither of you are remarried. Well, it’s not too late for you either. Ask the Holy Spirit to draw you back to a place of remembrance of what used to be early on in your marriage; the things that mattered the most and what lays ahead for you as you go thru life.  God is a God of reconciliation; a God of second chances.  And nothing is too difficult for Him; absolutely nothing!

Remember the old saying, “It takes two to tango?”  Well, it takes three to make your marriage work; the Lord, you & your spouse.  You can’t fix your marriage without each other and it can never be completely healed without the Lord in the midst of it.   He wants you to know that He loves you.  You are special to Him and He has a plan that can restore your marriage; if you’ll just let Him.

Wish I can say “It’s that easy folks”, but reality once again, it’s not always easy.  And I am not claiming to have all the answers; because I simply don’t have them.  The only thing I know and can be assured of is this simple truth; with the Lord, there is restored hope!

Be blessed my family & friends!  I pray you walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all!

Cyndy

 

 

God’s Appointed Time

Have you been tested in your character lately; dodging all the fiery darts the enemy throws your way? Does it seem like your hopes and dreams have been kicked to the curb and it’s left you speechless?

It's been my experience that when The Lord tests my character, it usually means change is on its way and the Holy Spirit is preparing me for what's up ahead. Doesn't mean it's going to be a bad change; but maybe one that will test my character in hopes of weeding out the parts of my will that interfere with God's perfect will for my life. So many times I tend to look at the road up ahead; speculating on my hopes & dreams coming to pass; only to find God has a different direction all together. And if I’m not spiritually prepared, the change will shake the very core of my character deep within me; leaving me feeling abandoned by God & confused as I try to figure out where I went wrong.

In the bible, we hear about great men of God that had their character tested time & time again; yet remained faithful to the Lord regardless of their present circumstance.  Joseph was one of those men. In Psalms 105:19 NLT, we are told, “Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character."

Think about it!  Here is a man that clearly loved The Lord, yet what he experienced until his appointed time, most of us could never fathom, let alone endure.

From the time Joseph was young, God placed dreams in his heart: dreams that would bring him down a road that would try his character relentlessly.   Out of jealously, his own brothers threw him into a pit; left him to die but eventually decided to spare his life and sell him as slave to the Ishmaelites (Midianite traders). The Midianites eventually sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Genesis 37:36 NLT

But as time went on, the Lord revealed Joseph’s character to Potiphar and he was placed in charge of Potiphar’s household and all that he owned.  But again, Joseph’s character would be tested as Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of rape that would cause him to be condemned and thrown into prison.  Yet, even then, God shined His favor on Joseph and the prison warden put him in charge of all the other prisoners.  Eventually, Potiphar had his chief cup-bearer and chief baker thrown into prison too.  While these two men were in there, they both had dreams that Joseph interpreted; dreams that soon came to pass.  The chief cup-bearer regained his freedom and position as chief cup-bearer to Potiphar and the chief baker was impaled on a pole and left as food for the birds; just as their dreams had warned them.

And still Joseph remained in prison for two more years before he would be asked to interpret a dream for Potiphar.  Once again, the Lord shined His favor on Joseph and Potiphar made him governor over all of Egypt. 

No doubt these trials Joseph faced weren’t fun and most likely the roads he ended up on were not the ones he anticipated when the Lord gave him those dreams at such a young age.  Yet he remained faithful to the Lord, regardless of his circumstance. During this time, Joseph’s character and faith in the Lord were both being tested and strengthened. It wasn’t until God’s appointed time that He allowed Joseph’s dreams to be fulfilled.

Maybe you’ve found yourself on the road to disappointment and discouragement lately. Be encouraged! God has not forgotten you. 

In His appointed time, the dreams He has given you will come to pass.

Be blessed my family & friends. I pray you walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all,
Cyndy   

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 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 4:16-18 (NIV)

Not Even a Stench of Smoke

Back in December, my husband came home and sadly shared with me that in mid-February, the factory where he worked would be closing its doors.  This was the third factory he worked at since 2005 that ended up closing up shop and my heart just broke for him.  All I could think of was, Oh God!  Not again!  Although I am normally an optimistic person, it took everything within me to stay hopeful; especially around my husband, who, by nature, is typically pessimistic.  And to be honest....there were many days I reminded the Lord of our faithfulness to Him regarding tithe & offerings and His promise to meet our needs.  Regardless of what February had in store, one thing we both knew and agreed on was the fact that we needed to remain faithful to the Lord.
And as luck would have it, February 2^nd he received a call and was told he was done working as of that day.  They were kind enough to offer him a severance package.  Although small, we were grateful that they had offered him anything at all.  

Thankfully, a few job suggestions from various friends & coworkers came our way.  As his resume was being sent out, we prayed & asked God to open the door that needed to open and close anything that needed to be closed. 

Then one day as I was talking with a friend at church, I mentioned that he lost his job and without thinking twice, I blurted out that he would never smell the stench of unemployment this time around.  And when I realized what I had said, I was a bit stunned to be honest.  But then I realized the Lord was showing me that He already had a plan.  We just needed to trust Him.  I soon found myself declaring it to my husband & family members. 

When we read the story in Daniel 3 NLT about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and how they refused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar, it blows me away when I picture how the Lord rescued them out of the fiery furnace.  We are told that King Nebuchadnezzar was so angry that he commanded the soldiers to bound & thrown all three of them into a furnace seven times hotter than usual.   It was so hot that the flames killed the soldiers as they threw them in.   And yet the bible tells us that the fire did not harm Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s bodies; their hair was not singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.  That’s right folks….Not even a stench of smoke was on them!  Whew!  Talk about a walk of faith!

Let me encourage you when I tell you that the severance package my husband received ended up being more than enough to sustain us until God opened another door.   My husband was out of work for three weeks and just started another job in another factory this past Monday. Filing for unemployment never came to pass.

And in the words of King Nebuchadnezzar, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”  Daniel 3:28 NLT

What do you need to trust God for today? 

Do you need a job?  Remain faithful no matter what your circumstance may look like.  Trust the God of our salvation. 

Is it a physical need?  Keep your eyes fixed on our Great Physician; the one that made you in His image.

Maybe it’s a fresh start with God.  Simply as ask the Lord to forgive you of your sins and invite Him to be the Lord and Savior of your life.   He’s knocking at the door of your heart.  Open it and let Him in.

The god of this world (Satan) would rather see you dwell on discouragement & despondency instead of dependence on the Lord & expectation in what He has in store for you. 

“For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.  He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” Psalm 84:11 NLT

Be encouraged!  He has not forgotten you!

Be blessed my family & friends.   I pray you walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all!

Cyndy

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-31(NIV)

Out Give God? Impossible!!!!!!

A couple months ago, I was visiting with a friend I’ve known for many years. As we talked, I quickly realized she was bitter regarding her financial condition. As she shared her thoughts, it was obvious she didn’t understand the Lord’s biblical principles regarding finances. She complained that she pays her tithe but never receives financial blessings in her life and just didn’t understand why not. She also couldn’t understand why others around her seemed to be blessed quite often. Clearly she was very angry, jealous of others and discouraged to say the least.

In love, I reminded her that when people face financial difficulty, most likely it’s because they made wrong choices regarding their finances. And I asked her if she paid her tithe & offerings with a joyful or begrudged spirit?” I believe it does make a difference.

In2 Corinthians 9:7-8 NLT we are reminded by the Apostle Paul where he is speaking about love offerings to other believers where he says, “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” (Just to clarify, Paul was not talking about the normal tithe we are supposed to give back to God. Love offerings are over & above the normal tithe.)

I shared with her that I believe if we give to the Lord using a tightly closed fist, there is no way to receive the blessings He wants to give back to us. It’s impossible when a person’s hands are not opened to receive the blessing. This is a problem with some believers that either refuse to pay tithe & offerings or they simply pay out of obligation and possibly with an underlying anger towards God that only He can see. I went on to explain to her that in ways she was robbing God. Well that didn’t go over too well.

But I reminded my friend that God’s Word is very clear in Malachi 3:8-10 NLT where it says, “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”

You see my friends….I love going to my home church& hearing the message that the Lord has for that particular day. But honestly….that’s not my favorite part of service. My favorite part is when I hear our pastor pray over our tithe & offerings and I see the offering bucket coming down our row. An excitement actually overwhelms my spirit man as I give back what rightfully belongs to my Lord.

The Lord doesn’t need your money. He already owns it all!

He’s not out to cause you hardship or pain.

His only desire is that you are obedient to His Word and that you trust Him and Him alone; not your money. Give with a joyful heart and open hands. Then be ready to receive the blessings He pours over you; more blessings than you could ever imagine or contain.

Truth is; a person can never out give God! It’s impossible!

Don’t believe me; see for yourself and let me know if you’re successful.

It really is that simple folks!

Be blessed my family & friends! I pray you walk in the Lord's total favor!

Love you all!

Cyndy

WERE THEY ANGELS?

Back years ago my daughters & I went out to dinner with a friend of ours. As we stood in line waiting for our seats, an elderly couple came in and stood behind us. The couple looked frail and my heart immediately went out to them as they stood there waiting to be seated. And so I mentioned to my girls & friend that we should let them sit first. Our friend didn't agree and actually got mad at me. However, when the hostess approached us, I immediately told her to seat the elderly couple first. Our friend was not happy but soon got over it. When the next seat came up, we ended up sitting right behind the elderly couple. (I was hoping we would. There was just something about them that captivated my heart.)

After eating dinner, our friend left to use the bathroom. As my daughters & I sat there talking, the elderly couple got up to leave and stopped at our table. The man looked at me, smiled and said, "May The Lord bless you & yours!" And with that they left. I felt so blessed that night!

Hebrews 13:2 NLT tells us.....

"Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!"

I never did see the elderly couple again. But I've always wondered and even asked The Lord at times, "Were they angles?" And although I may never know, I do know this. When we left the restaurant, my daughters & I left more blessed than when we walked in. And unfortunately, our friend missed out on God's blessing that night.

So take time and show warmth, kindness or generosity to those around you.  That my friends is what hospitality is all about.

Don't miss out on God's blessings!

It's that simple folks!

Be blessed my family & friends! I pray you walk in the Lord's total favor!
Love you all!
Cyndy

 

Fix Our Gaze

In light of my accident back in October, I sort of chuckled just a bit as I read the scripture “No harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Psalms 91:10-12 NIV

Immediately the thought ran thru my head, "Lord, where were the angels when I kicked the curb and went flying to the ground?"  And immediately the Holy Spirit reminded me that they were right there: shielding me from a fall that could have ended worse than what it did.  As a habit, I tend to walk fast and with a lot of determination. When my left foot hit the curb, I literally went flying fast & hitting hard! But by the grace of God, I could have broke my neck, hit my head or smashed my front teeth. Although I didn't escape complete injury, I am very aware that The Lord was still with me and His angels did shield my fall. And let’s face it folks, sometimes situations in our lives just happen.

As I face surgery this morning, I am reminded & encouraged of the story in Deuteronomy 31 NIV, when Joshua was given the mantle to lead the people into the Promised Land.  The Israelites were facing an enormous army that could have annihilated them with no problem.  But they didn’t face this army alone.  Moses reminds the Israelites not once, by twice that “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” 

So when you face situations in your life and you think the Lord has abandoned or forgotten you, be encouraged and hold on to His promises.  And remember 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT  “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!  So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

Be blessed my family & friends.  Praying you walk in the Lord’s total favor!

 

Love you all!

Cyndy

About Our Father’s Business

For quite some time I have sought the Lord, asking Him to use me in ways that would glorify Him.  I asked that He open up doors of opportunity for me to reach the lost & hurting people; share His great salvation plan and restore hope to those who feel like they’ve reached the end of their road. 
And as I drove into work the other day, I was thinking about the different opportunities He has placed in front of me; especially this past year. Most of the time, I do my best to heed to the voice of the Holy Spirit; watching for open doors where I can share the love of Jesus and be a witness. Yet I also realize there have been times where I’ve completed missed His direction; ultimately grieving His Holy Spirit.

But think about Jesus for a moment.  He ministered to those around Him; wherever he went. At the age of twelve, He went with His parents to the temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover.  But when Joseph and Mary left, He stayed behind.  When they realized Jesus wasn’t with them, they hurried back and found Jesus sitting with the teachers of the temple.  The bible says all who heard Jesus was astonished at His understanding and answers. However, when His parents asked Him why He stayed behind, His response was, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” Luke 2:49 NKJV

In Matthew 5:1-2 NKJV it says, “And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.  Then He opened His mouth and taught them.”   When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.  And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:1-3 NKJV

Luke 8 NKJV tells us that He went through every city & village, preaching about the Kingdom of God.  But that’s not all He done.  As He walked from place to place, He ministered to those who were lost, blind and hurting spiritually.     

In Mark 5 we hear of how Jesus set a man free from an unclean spirit. And remember Jarius; the ruler of a synagogue who’s daughter was about to die?  He asked Jesus to come and lay hands on her so that she would be healed.  As Jesus was going to Jarius’ home, another woman who suffered from a blood disorder reached out just to touch His garment so that she would be healed.  Immediately Jesus stopped and asked, “Who touched My cloths?”  And when the woman came and fell down before Jesus, His response was full of compassion as He said to her,  “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

These are just a few examples of Jesus being used; wherever He was; at any given moment.

Plain & simple folks; Jesus didn’t miss an opportunity. 

And so I ask you, “Have you walked thru the open doors placed before you?  Look around.  There’s a mission field right where He has you.  It may not be the pulpit you’ve been waiting for; or an invitation out to evangelize before millions of people.  But it may very well be the pulpit God has placed before you at this time.  It’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss.

It’s not about us and what we think.

It’s about being “about our Father’s business”.

Be blessed my family & friends.  I pray you walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all,
Cyndy

Robbed From the Joy of Giving

This past weekend, as we drove home from Missouri, I started thinking about my brief experience at Best Buy as I ventured out on Black Friday.  All I wanted was a new flash drive to back up some important business files.  There were crowds of people in the store, but I didn’t notice any long checkout lines.  However, much to my surprise, the lines were formed against the side wall all the way across the store and wrapped all the way down & around as far as my eyes could see.  I was stunned as I looked at the people willing to stand and wait for that great deal they clutched tightly in their hands.  I looked at my flash drive, handed it to one of the workers and said, "I'm not standing in that line for this." And I walked out. 

Now let me clarify that I’m not a scrooge and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE giving gifts to other people; especially my family.    Money or credit cards aren’t the issue.  I can choose any time to go and spend money however & whenever I decide and I can also choose to rack up debt that will take me forever to pay off.  The thing that breaks my heart is what Christmas has come to represent; nothing but materialism.   And let’s not forget how outrageous people become over an item they want; even to the point of physically hurting others.  Seriously folks; is this what Christmas is all about?  When I look around and see so many hurting people; humbled by the life they live, while others with plenty continue to want more than what they can imagine, it robs my heart from the  joy of giving. 

We are reminded in Matthew 6:19-21 NLT “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.  Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

And so I ask –

Where are You, God, in all our plans?  Where is Your Son in this joyous celebration?  Have we really strayed that far away from You that we've forgotten the true reason we celebrate Christmas?  Oh, God, how You must feel robbed; robbed from the joy of giving us Your One and Only Son.  You sacrificed Your Son in order that we would be forgiven of our sins and live in eternity with You one day. 

Where are You, Jesus, in all our plans? Wasn’t it You that was born in a humble manager; You who walked the earth forgiving & healing others; You who were beaten & whipped beyond human recognition; You who were crucified on a cross and bore the sins of this world? Oh, Jesus, how You must feel robbed; robbed from the joy of giving us Your all so that we could be joint heirs with You.  Isn’t it Your birthday we are celebrating? 

Where are You, Holy Spirit, in all our plans? Are You just as grieved by what you see; grieved that we ignore Your direction; grieved that we turn a deaf ear to Your voice?  Oh, Holy Spirit, how You must feel robbed; robbed from the joy of giving us Your comfort; helping us thru situations we got ourselves into simply because we did not heed to Your voice. 

Heavenly Father….Thank You for all You’ve given me; Your Son, Jesus!!!!!  He is the best gift I’ve ever received!!!!!

Jesus….”Happy Birthday!”  You are My everything and I celebrate YOU!!!!!

Holy Spirit……You are and will always be….my Comforter!  I wouldn’t want to live my life without You!!!!

I am truly blessed and have all I need because I have my Father, His Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  What more could I ask for?

Don't be robbed from the joy of giving this year! 

Take time and celebrate Jesus and be sure to share Him with those around you!

Be blessed my family & friends.  Praying you walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all!

Cyndy

From Rags to Riches

Moses was an awesome example of someone with strong faith. Remember the story?

Pharaoh was fearful because the Israelites were starting to outnumber the Egyptians. And so he sent out an order to kill all Israelite babies. In an attempt to protect her son, Moses’ mother placed him in a basket and sent him down the Nile River. She watched closely as Pharaoh’s daughter pulled him from the waters and claimed him as her own. But when Moses got older and realized he was really an Israelite, he made a decision that would change his life forever.

He chose to follow The Lord instead of enjoying the worldly riches he had grown accustom too. Let’s face it folks, he could of had it all since he was raised the son of Pharaoh's daughter. And yes, it appears that Moses literally went from rags to riches from a simple little boat ride down the river. But we are told in Hebrews 11:24-26 NLT, "It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.”

You might think, really? That’s faith that he went from rags to riches and then back to rags again?

Oh contraire, my friends. The Holy Spirit revealed to me that the true rags were the riches of this world Pharaoh& his daughter had to offer Moses. Only when Moses chose to acknowledge his true identity in the Lord did he become rich.

God’s word reminds us in Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV,“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

And so I ask you my friends, what great reward are you looking for? Trusting in what the world has to offer you here on earth? What treasures are you clinging too? "He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage." Proverbs 11:28 NKJV

Looking to everything & everyone other than God to meet your needs? Matthew 6:8 NKJV tells us, “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

Are you lacking the faith to trust God and believe what His word tells you? Maybe you’ve faced hard times lately and your faith has been shaken. Let me encourage you to take time right now and ask the Lord to renew your faith in Him. Remember Hebrews 11:6 NKJV says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Look ahead just like Moses did and see your great reward. Then watch how God blesses you as you diligently seek Him.

Be blessed my family & friends and walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all,

Cyndy