DON'T RUN FROM THE LORD; RUN TO HIM!

Paul says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."  Many would take this scripture to mean Paul could do whatever he wanted and God would give him strength.  But my family & friends, that's not the heart of Paul's message.  The heart of his message is that he learned to be content whatever his present circumstances were at any given time.

In other words, Paul did not allow any situation; good or bad to dictate his relationship with The Lord. Bottom line - Paul tells us he draws his strength through The Lord; which is only done by drawing closer to The Lord.

So like the Apostle Paul, we need to learn how to lean on The Lord and be content REGARDLESS of our situation.  Don't run from The Lord; run to Him!  Then, and only then, REGARDLESS of our present circumstance, can we say with confidence, "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:10-13 NIV

"I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:10-13 NIV

Be blessed my family & friends! As you continue to seek The Lord and His understanding, may He pour out His total favor over each and everyone of you!

Love you all!
Cyndy

A FAITHFUL, SENSIBLE SERVANT

We (Christians) need to remember to keep our eyes on our present life while we stay spiritually aware of the future and our eternity.  In other words - while we are here on earth...we have a job to do. That job is to witness to those around us in hopes they will come to accept and understand the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Personally....when our Lord returns, I hope He finds me working the fields for His harvest.   What about you? Allow the Holy Spirit to use you right where He has you planted. Don't be spiritually lazy.

"A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.  I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.  But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,  and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 24:45-51 (NLT)

I pray as the Lord gives opportunity to reach the lost and hurting, we would take our servanthood seriously as we continue to plow forward; being affective for the Kingdom of God.

And remember -
All we need to do is share the gospel....It's up to the Holy Spirit to convince the lost to believe.

Now as you continue to serve Him, do it with a joyful heart and you will experience His total blessings & favor in ways you never expected.

Love you all!
Cyndy

A BIT OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE!

As I pulled into the Spotted Cow, a local ice-cream shop, the drive thru window was packed with a line-up of cars...and of course I entered thru the wrong drive. Determined to get my orange/vanilla swirl cone, I tried to inch my way into line, but the black car already in line forced itself ahead. But then I noticed the next car stopped to let me in line. As I got in line I said, "Lord, bless that person!" And without missing a beat, The Lord said, "YOU BLESS HER." My response was out of the norm because anyone that knows me knows I LOVE blessing others. But feeling way out of my comfort zone since I was in a drive thru for ice-cream, I quietly said, "But Lord, I have no idea who that person is and she may think I'm a bit whacked." And The Lord said again, "Bless her." Knowing my Lord's voice, I quickly said I would. But as I watched time tick away, I started getting a bit antsy and the thought kept whispering, "head home”, which was completely contrary to my Lord saying "Bless her." I quickly determined I was staying and was now on a mission to bless that lady and to obey God.

FINALLY!!! It was my time to order so I proceeded ahead. All I could think about was getting up to the window to pay for that lady's order. When I went to pay, I asked them to add that lady's bill with mine. When both bills were totaled, they looked at me, smiled and said, "You get $5.00 off your bill because your birthday is this month. Your total bill is $1.94." I was stunned!!!! I thanked them and asked them to tell that lady to have a blessed evening and the Lord blesses her. And I headed home....feeling blessed by The Lord simply because I obeyed His voice.

My point in all this is not to say, "Hey, look at me! I bought someone ice-cream!" But merely to say, if you know the Lord's voice, obey Him quickly! Don't disobey and sell The Lord short of a $5.00 ice-cream treat and risk missing out on the blessing He wants to pour out on you!

Oh and by the way...my birthday isn't for a couple weeks yet...so let's not age me before my time!

And just as a side note....
Being so excited to obey The Lord and bless that lady, I ordered the wrong thing for myself. I ordered an orange sherbet in a waffle cone....but I must say....it was indeed Moo-Moo-Lidious my family & friends! Simply Moo-Moo-Lidious!

Remember - We need to follow Jesus' example. He was the first One to give. And folks, He gave His all.

So I encourage you to "Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children." Ephesians 5:1 NLT

It's simple! "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.  Hebrews 12:2 NLT

Don’t know about you, but I look forward to hearing my Heavenly Father say to me one day, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master."  Matthew 25:23 ESV

I pray the Lord enlightens you, as you continue to seek His face for wisdom, knowledge and understanding. I trust He will pour out His complete favor and blessings; reminding you of His love and goodness towards all His people.

Love you all!

Cyndy

 

 

DON'T BE FOOLED!

If we believe people, money or materialistic things will make us happy and fulfilled, we are only kidding ourselves. Making anyone or anything else priority in our lives, instead of The Lord, will eventually leave an empty void in our lives that only He can fill!  All other replacements are just a temporary counterfeit. DON'T BE FOOLED!

"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."  Romans 15:13 NLT

And remember.....Be encouraged, be blessed and walk in God's total favor as you continue to draw close to Him!

Love you all,
Cyndy

Check out Bible Gateway and know the scriptures. http://www.biblegateway.com/

STAY FOCUSED, STAY PRAYED UP and PRESS ON

THE KEY TO PRESSING ON DURING TRIALS is making sure we are prayed up at all times. In other words, make sure we have a DAILY personal relationship with The Lord and not a relationship we just call on in our hour of need.  Being prayed up doesn't necessarily mean the trials won't be challenging and it does not guarantee the outcome will go the way we want it too.....BUT.....Being prayed up does keep us in tune with our Heavenly Father and gives us peace and assurance HE IS STILL IN CONTROL.

BOTTOM LINE.....

Our circumstance does not come as a surprise to God. He has a purpose and a plan. 

STAY FOCUSED; STAY PRAYED UP and PRESS ON FOLKS!

"Trust in the Lord with 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"Trust in the Lord with 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"Trust in the Lord with 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"Trust in the Lord with 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

And remember -
My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. Psalm 62:7 NLT

Be encouraged, be blessed and walk in God's total favor!
Love you all,

Cyndy

Check out Bible Gateway and know the scriptures.
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I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!!!

Ever have those times when you wish you could pick up a phone and call someone no longer with us on earth? Well, I've been thinking about my Dad a lot lately, wishing I could call and get some of his great "Fatherly" advice. As I thought about certain doors closing in my life, I started to grab ahold of the fact that in reality, it is God who controls my destiny, not man. The more I thought about it, the more reality smacked me in the face. With tear filled eyes, I looked up and began to literally yell...."I DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!!! I'VE BEEN FAITHFUL IN ALL AREAS OF MY LIFE!!!!! I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!!

And in a still small voice (and very calmly I might add) I heard The Lord say, "Really? You're going to throw a tantrum?" Ouch!!! Believe it or not, it was enough to stop me in my tracks. And then I realized what I had done. I yelled at God. And yes, I was throwing a tantrum just like a child with a parent. Filled with instant remorse, all I could do is cry all the more saying, "Oh God! It's YOU I’m angry with. Please forgive me!" He started reminding me of times my Dad would tell me no about something I wanted when I was young. Yet as I got older, I realized Dad was right all along. Being older and wiser, he knew what was best for his daughter; especially when I could not grasp beyond that moment. And in fact, doesn't the same hold true even more when it comes to our Heavenly Father? After all, He’s always available to talk to and He knows exactly what's up ahead.

As His peace flooded my soul and I sat quietly in His presence, the thought went thru my mind, “But, Lord, I still don’t understand.” And the Lord said, “You don’t need to understand. You just need to trust Me.” And then He reminded me of Jeremiah29:11 NLT, “For I know the plans I have for you,”says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Bottom line –

Do I now understand what lies ahead for my future? YES! GOD is in control and all I have to do is TRUST HIM! That my family & friends is all I need to understand. And the same holds true for you too! All you need to do is trust Him. Is it easy? NO, not always. But one thing’s for sure. Our Lord will not lie and His Word will not come back void.

Grab ahold of this folks and don't let it go!

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT

“It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it."  Isaiah 55:11 NLT

And so, my family & friends, I pray the Lord strengthens you and gives you peace; regardless of your present circumstance. I pray you trust Him as you continue to seek His face for wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Allow His peace to overshadow you this very hour as He pours out His complete blessings and favor to overflowing.

Remember, He is in control.

Love you all!
Cyndy

Check out Bible Gateway and know the scriptures.
http://www.biblegateway.com/

WILLING TO SAY GOODBYE

At the age of 18, my Mom boarded a ship as she said goodbye to living in Italy, a place she used to call home. Coming to America, Mom had to prepare herself to learn a new language and adjust to another country; different culture and different ways of living. She also had to do one more thing before becoming a US Citizen. She had to learn and understand about our government and what was expected of her.

Bottom line…

Mom had to agree to follow the laws of our land and take an oath to be faithful to America.  And I can say with certainty, my Mom has remained faithful as a US Citizen.

Well the same holds true when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  In essence, we are saying, "Yes, Lord.  I'm letting go of worldly ways and I'm going to follow You."  But to do this, we must be willing to say goodbye to the sinful ways of this world and grab ahold of the things of God instead. Does this mean we have to say goodbye to enjoying life?  Not at all. But it does mean we need to say goodbye to our sinful desires; things not pleasing to God; lust, greed, envy, drunkenness, sexual immorality and even strife.   My family & friends, clearly these things don't please Him.   

So today, if you’ve decided to follow Jesus, remember Philippians 3:20-21 NLT, where it says, "But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control." 

 

Bottom line…

We just have to be willing to say goodbye.

 

And with this, I pray the Lord enlightens you, as you continue to seek His face for wisdom, knowledge and understanding.  I trust He will pour out His complete favor and blessings; reminding you of His love and goodness towards all His people.

Love you all!

Cyndy

 

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AND THE SAUCE CAME TUMBLING DOWN!

When I do something.....whether good or bad.....I always seem to give it my all! And that's exactly what I did today.....started a pot of sauce early this morning and have been thrilled with the flavor as I tasted it throughout the day.  But oh no! I didn't just stop there. Because you see, when I put the sauce in containers, I wasn't quite paying attention when I attempted to cover it with a lid. As I put pressure on the lid, literally in slow motion, I felt and saw the container slipping off the counter and eventually make it's way to the kitchen floor! And of course....sauce flew all over the place as it splashed completely over me, hitting the bottom kitchen cabinets, the blinds above and even the ceiling.

As I stood covered in sauce, attempting to regain composure, the thought quickly occurred to me that sin is pretty much the same way. At the beginning, sin is normally fun.  But eventually.....the fun ends and there's a price to pay! When we try to conceal and cover our sin, the truth comes splashing all around us; hitting everything and anybody close by.  Funny thing though...When I looked at the sauce covering me a second time, I was immediately reminded how the Blood of Jesus covers a multitude of sin. And so it is....just as I was able to change into clean clothes, the same holds true about Salvation.  As we change our wardrobe from sin to redemption, the old sin no longer exists.

Good news!  Jesus already paid the price for our sin. All we have to do is admit we have sin in our lives and desire to be cleansed from it!  Then it's as simple as asking Jesus to forgive us. If you've never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, what are you waiting for? Get rid of the sin covering you before it comes splashing down all around you.  Just ask Him....and Salvation is yours!!!

And now.....
"Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us."  Revelation 1:4-5 NLT

Praying God's blessings and favor over you as you continue to draw close to Him!

Love you all!
Cyndy


http://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bloggergrid/  bgbg2

THE MASTER'S LINK: ‘COME…FOLLOW ME’

THE MASTER'S LINK: ‘COME…FOLLOW ME’: Over 30+ years ago, Jesus said to me, "Come...follow Me." And I did. The road has been far from smooth as I journeyed on with my L...

‘COME…FOLLOW ME’

Over 30+ years ago, Jesus said to me, "Come...follow Me." And I did. The road has been far from smooth as I journeyed on with my Lord, and needless to say, there’s been many bumps and turns along the way I never saw coming. But I continued to follow Him. Yes, there were days I'd jump ahead and attempt to take the lead, and of course, Jesus would just step back and allowed me to go on my marry way.  At the beginning, the road seemed smoother, at least for a short distance.  However, the pits I'd soon fall into were more than I could bare. But then, without hesitation and still very lovingly, Jesus would say, "Come....follow Me."

Battered and bruised from the journey, I'd pick myself up and continue to follow Him.  But again, along the way, I started grumbling…..."I don't get it, Lord! This path doesn't make sense!”  And eventually, I'd convince myself that I found a better route. Bored with the scenery and tired of our journey, I started finding the short cuts thru the neighborhoods to get us to where the Lord and I were going.  I even found areas where we didn’t have to stop for all the red lights and stop signs.  (You know…all the warning signals that tend to come our way.) After all, I was pretty sure I knew where Jesus was leading me....right?????

But as it would turn out, it was clear that once again I had taken the wrong blasted road. Oh how could I be so foolish? Everything seemed right. Plenty of options and opportunities laid ahead and certainly those were the roads I was supposed to take. I just didn’t understand; thought I could see up ahead clearly. Then I realized, I had forgotten to look up at the skies where clouds were forming and glooming over top of us. Dark clouds loomed as the storms broke loose in our path; storms strong enough that would soon make it impossible to see what laid ahead. 

Finally, after yet another failed attempt to be on the right road, I searched for a rock where I could just hide. A place where I could just lay down and give up my journey.  However, soon I'd feel His strong hand take ahold of mine and I'd hear My Master's voice saying, "Come....Follow Me." Yet in my weakness, I was still mesmerized with the storms and cried out, "But I'm tired and afraid! I don't have the strength to go on any further! Please....just leave me here because I'm not strong enough to make it on this journey.”

Jesus just smiled at me and said, "Will you trust Me?" And He continued to remind me saying, "So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic. For the LORD (that's Me), your God (that's Me again), will personally go ahead of you. I will neither fail you nor abandon you." Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT

And then Jesus said, “Come....follow Me.” Matthew 4:19 NLT

Be blessed my family & friends.

Love you all!

Cyndy

"Trust in the Lord with 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

http://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bloggergrid/  bgbg2
 

 

 

OH LORD, DON'T LOSE THE HARVEST!

In Luke 10:2 NLT, we see where Jesus instructs others, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

For many years I’ve done my best to witness to those around me. Wherever God may have me, my prayer is that He will use me for His glory and that I would be affective for His kingdom. Although I’ve failed miserably, I know there were many times He was pleased that I obeyed Him quickly. And granted, there were times when I would see the fruit of my labor. Unfortunately, there are still many fields where I generously planted seeds; yet very little has been harvested. Lately these fields seem to be at the very heart of my soul. As I cry out to the Lord, I find myself asking in desperation, “Oh Lord, don’t lose the harvest! Send laborers in the field where I sowed; laborers to water the seeds and more laborers to gather the harvest. Just…don’t lose the harvest!”

When we consider the world and its sinful ways, it is clear that moral decay has taken deep root into the hearts & lives of so many people. But as laborers called by the Lord to reach the lost and the hurting, it is our job to be witnesses to the ends of the earth.


Regardless of where the Lord has you planted, there is a harvest field just waiting for you to either sow seed, water or pull the weeds…...or maybe it’s time for you to simply harvest the fields. Whatever you are called to do, do it quickly, without hesitation and do it as unto the Lord. Maybe for some that means to tell others about Jesus and how much He loves them. While maybe others are called to walk in love towards others regardless of how they are being treated. Clearly those that hurt others are hurting inside themselves. Maybe your act of kindness is what is needed to break thru the toughest shell of a man. And trust me when I say, I know firsthand, that walking in love towards those that hurt or offend you is not an easy thing to do. But it is something we as believers must do.

Maybe you’re like me; just waiting for the fields to be harvested after so many long years of sowing. Allow the Lord to use others in your field. After all, it’s not our field and it’s not about us, my dear family & friends. It’s about the Lord and His glorious kingdom that await those who believe that Jesus in the Son of God.
If you are a believer, you have your place in a field. Allow the Lord to show you where you can be used. And understand, just because you may sow the seed, it doesn’t mean you’re the one to keep watering it or even the one to harvest the fields. The Lord may very well move you to another field once the seed is planted. Be open to His will; not your own. Whatever you do, don’t sit back and say, “Let someone else do it”. If you don’t go, who will?
You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest. But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. John 4:35 NLT

Oh Lord, Don’t Lose the Harvest!

Be blessed my family & friends! Praying that as you seek a closer walk with the Lord that His blessings and favor will pour over you like a flood!

Love you all!

Cyndy

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9 NKJV

THE MASTER'S LINK: Oh Lord, Don't Lose the Harvest!

THE MASTER'S LINK: Oh Lord, Don't Lose the Harvest!: In Luke 10:2 NLT , we see where Jesus instructs others, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge...

THE ONLY GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

Gifts we receive at Christmas no doubt will be nice. We'll enjoy them and possibly treasure some for sentimental reasons. And honestly, some we may not even like. But eventually those gifts will become old and fade away. Eventually they will blend in with all the other materialistic things we may own and just end up being something else that collects dust on a shelf. So we need to heed the warning in Matthew 6:19 NLT where it says, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.”

And yes, giving and receiving gifts is nice and so I am not suggesting not to give or receive them.  But I do want you to know there is ONE gift that will never grow old and will never go away. And that my family & friends is the gift of eternal life.  It’s the only gift that keeps on giving.

If you already know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that's awesome! You've already received this special gift!  But don't hoard it for yourself!  Remember to share it with others so that they too can experience all God has in store for them!

Or maybe you just need to make a fresh start with God or possibly you've never received this gift.  Did you know that God loves YOU so much that He gave His One and Only Son to redeem all of us from our sins? And YES! That includes you too! 

Over 2000 years ago, God allowed Jesus to be born of a virgin outside in a manger. You see, even though God owns the world, it wasn't about wealth and materialistic things. God’s only concern and priority was the salvation of people. And so when the time came for Jesus to be sacrificed, God literally stepped back and allowed His One and Only Son to die a horrendous death for you and for me.   And Jesus willingly went to the cross; was crucified; died and was buried!  But oh my friends, it didn’t end at the cross.  On the 3rd day, Jesus arose from the grave and is seated at the right hand of God! He did all this hoping we would make Him Lord of our lives.

All the wealth in the world can’t save you.  Materialistic things can’t save you.  Your job can’t save you.  And other people can’t save you either.    

Jesus reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

He is the Only One that holds this place of honor!
Jesus is the ONLY ONE that can save you!

So my family & friends, whether this is your first time of accepting Jesus or you need to make a fresh start with God, simply repent of your sins and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior of your life.  But not just part of it; all of it!  Won’t you accept His gift today?  Not sure what to do after you accept Jesus.  Simply pray this little prayer from Psalms 143:10 NLT "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing."

And then, my family & friends, you too will have this precious & priceless gift that will last for eternity! No one can ever take it away from you; it cost you nothing; and it will never fade away.

And remember...

It's the only gift that keeps on giving.

Praying God's richest blessings and complete favor over you as you continue to draw close to Him.

Love you all!

Cyndy

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

 

 

 

 

The Master's Link: JESUS SHOWED UP

The Master's Link: JESUS SHOWED UP: Jesus was quick to forgive....   I think about the woman who was about to be stoned because she was accused of adultery. I can just p...

JESUS SHOWED UP

Jesus was quick to forgive.... 

I think about the woman who was about to be stoned because she was accused of adultery. I can just picture it now: the Pharisees were standing around ready to throw a stone and Jesus showed up. And when Jesus started questioning them, they tried to trap Him into saying something that would incriminate Him too. But Jesus just bends down and starts writing something in the sand.  No clue what He was writing, but personally, I always thought He was writing all the names of the men she committed adultery with.  After all, it does take two to tango.

Yet they wouldn't let up and kept demanding an answer.  So Jesus gave them one that would change the course of that moment.  John 8:7 NLT tells us He stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”  And the bible tells us that one by one all the Pharisees left.

Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” John 8:10-11 NLT

This is truly an awesome testimony of just how quick God is to forgive us our sins. But folks, sometimes it seems we forget one of the most important things He said to this woman. 

"Go and sin no more." John 8:11 NLT 

Let me encourage you today to make a fresh start with God.  And when you do, let go of the things your flesh craves and cling to the things of God. I promise you....Jesus will show up!

Be blessed my family & friends!

 

Praying the Lord's total favor over-shadows each of you, as you reflect on His love, forgiveness and faithfulness! 

Love you all,

Cyndy 

 

 

 

 

 

FIGHTING YOUR FLESH?

Ever struggle with fighting your flesh in different areas of your life or am I the only one? Don't be fooled.  Struggles come in various sizes and shapes and they come to everyone; regardless of who you may be.   

I can so relate to the Apostle Paul; especially where he shares with us in 2 Corinthians12 NLT about having a thorn in his flesh.  That thorn was Paul’s reminder that he needed the Lord in his life and that in himself, he was not strong. And folks, I am just as weak as Paul and many of you reading this blog today.  I have found that fighting the flesh doesn't work simply by wishing worldly desires away.  Trust me when I tell you I have tried many times; only to fail when I try within my own strength. And quite honestly, it tends to be a daily battle; with some days tougher than others.  You heard me right; just being honest. 

However, I also know that when I cling to Jesus and His word, that is the only time I am successful in choosing what pleases the Lord over what pleases my flesh.  I know without doubt I can lay every emotion, whether good or bad, at the feet of Jesus.  I know He takes every temptation from that moment.  But here’s the key.  I have to be willing to let it go and remove my hands from snatching it back if I really want His help.  And trust me when I say, there are times it takes everything within me to push thru my flesh and in what I want versus what I know to be right in the eyes of God.  So folks, I’m not denying the hold our flesh can have over our spirit man.  That’s why it’s so important to cling to God’s word; reading it daily and allowing it to take deep root within us. We need to allow His word to ultimately make the necessary changes within our hearts and minds; renewing both on a daily basis. 

One of the scriptures I hold tightly too is found in 2 Corinthians12:8-10 NLT, where the Apostle Paul shares, "Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 

Many times I find myself begging the Lord, just like Paul, to take every fleshly temptation or desire away from me too.  However, I only find the strength to walk away from those desires when I quickly obey the prompting of His Holy Spirit.  If I don’t obey quickly, I fall prey to the sins of this world, just like everyone else. 

And in case you may be wondering, there is a middle ground and the bible is very clear about too!  Don’t think you can trick the Lord by pretending you don't struggle in the same way. Don't be fooled.  The Lord knows our very thoughts and every desire within our souls.  He knows everything about us; including our fleshly desires.  

In Revelation3:15-16 NLT, The Lord warns us where He says, "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

Folks...don't ride the fence. Don't you think it's time to stop lying to yourself and admit that without the Lord, you too are weak? It's actually liberating to know we don't have to be strong when we have the Lord in our lives. He prefers that we be weak and that we draw our strength only thru Him.   

So why not take a moment right now to make a fresh start with God? It's as simple as repenting of your sins, acknowledging that you need Jesus and asking Him to be The Lord and Savior of your life. 

 

It really is that simple folks! 

 

Be blessed my family & friends. Praying you find strength in the Lord as you cling to His promises found in His word.  Know that His total favor will pour over you with renewed strength  as you continue to draw close to Him.  

 

Love you all!

Cyndy

TOUCH NOT GOD'S ANOINTED

Soon after posting my last blog, THE LITTLE CHURCH UP NORTH, someone asked my thoughts regarding the balance between not “murmuring” and resolving honestly dissenting opinions with leadership. And folks, in my opinion, there is a big difference in resolving honestly dissenting opinions with leadership and the murmuring that goes on in the pews and outside of the church.

First of all, leadership is there for a reason and I honestly believe we need to respect and honor those the Lord puts in authority; whether in a ministry or at work.  Romans 13:1-5 NLT tells us all authority is from God.  Secondly, according to Merriam-Webster dictionary, an opinion is nothing more than a belief, judgment, or way of thinking about something; what someone thinks about a particular thing and it is certainly not considered “fact”.

If the problem is with a particular leader of any sort, (Pastor or teacher), then, here is my stand on it; especially knowing they are called to a higher level of accountability. Preaching or teaching heresy is definitely a problem but should be handled biblically.   Matthew 18:15-17 is the biblical reference I would follow, although I believe these steps should be taken regardless of who it is. If I questioned something I would go to that particular person and ask them (in love) to clarify just in case I took something out of context. I know too well how I could misunderstand something.  Personal experience has shown me how easy it is for a person to speak out of “self”, especially when talking in front of a group of people.  It doesn’t mean they meant to speak it; rather self may have surfaced which happens to everyone since no man (or woman) is perfect.

If it’s about materialistic things like how the church is run, how it’s decorated or anything that has nothing to do with reaching the lost, I honestly can’t find anything that would support folks in the body of Christ to complain just because they don’t like something. Just because a person may or may not like something doesn’t make it right or wrong.  And it certainly doesn’t determine winning souls for the Lord, which should be our first and foremost mission as the body of Christ who claim to be Godly. 

Or maybe the way leadership brings on God’s word isn’t in agreement with someone else; but again, it doesn’t make it wrong.  We have no way of knowing how the Holy Spirit is working in others that may need to hear the sermon the way it was said or done.  Isn’t it best to reach even one lost soul in hopes they accept Jesus instead of being critical about something that adds no value or purpose to someone’s salvation?  As “seasoned Christians” it is our job to sit and intercede with expectation that not one lost soul would leave without making Jesus the Lord of their life.

Honestly folks, if I can’t respect someone in any type of leadership, then, I remove myself from under their leadership.  That includes my job, church ministry or the church all together.  In a church setting, it would be better for someone to leave and find a church that works for them instead of being partakers in causing separation or division and ultimately destroying the church.

Personally, I tend to tread very carefully when it comes to other believers; although honestly, not always successful.  The scripture that comes to mind is Psalms 105:15 where we are warned not to touch God’s anointed. As Christians, no man (or woman) has the right to decide who God anoints and who He doesn’t?  I’d rather err on not touching anyone (even verbally) versus being wrong and stand in judgment before the Lord. Just not worth it to me.

One thing I know for sure - Murmuring, bickering & gossip do nothing but destroy the church and the church family.  

On a final note; one day I was sitting and thinking about the church that closed and I sobbed like a baby before the Lord.  From that moment, The Holy Spirit kept encouraging me to write about it.  But with many attempts, I just couldn’t put it in a normal blog like I was hoping too.  Then one day the Holy Spirit told me to write it again, but this time He said to write a poem and so I did.  Every time I tried proofing the poem, I would break out in tears as I read the Lord’s response to the church.  Although a gentle rebuke, I do think the Lord is calling His children, all of us, to a higher level in unity in Him.

And folks, it really is that simple!

Be blessed my family & friends. Praying God's total blessings and favor pour over you with wisdom, knowledge & understanding as you continue to draw close to Him.

Love you all!

Cyndy

“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,” 2 Corinthians 1:21 NKJV

GOSPEL OR HERESY?

Being a Christian isn't about what denomination a person belongs too. Being a Christian is all about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. All churches have man-made doctrine that set ideologies members or partners agree upon. These values should be based according to God's word and not man’s likes or dislikes.

The question we should be asking ourselves is, “Does my church preach according to the gospel or do they preach heresy?

Too many times people depend on the person behind the pulpit to be infallible. However, although held at a higher accountability by God, the truth is, all pastors in all denominations are just as human as everyone else; none are perfect. Many times there is an expectation put on them to be perfect, which isn't possible; nor is it fair to the pastor behind the pulpit.

Folks, there’s only one way to know for sure if the Gospel we are hearing is the true word of God and that is to hold ourselves accountable. Along with hearing the Gospel preached, we need to read & study the scriptures ourselves. The Holy Spirit is more than sufficient and willing to impart wisdom & understanding to anyone who asks. James 1:5 NKJV tells us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

The Gospel is meant to build, encourage, strengthen and even challenge believers to draw closer to the Lord. It’s meant to reach the lost & hurting people of this world to a saving knowledge of the only One that can save their souls; Jesus Christ.

The bible tells us in Romans 3:22-26 NLT, "We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus."

Bottom line –
I have yet to find a perfect person; including myself. So in reality, the lack of perfect people makes it impossible to have a perfect church. It’s all about believing in Jesus and making Him the Lord and Savior of our lives. Salvation nor forgiveness can be earned or bought. And folks, we certainly do not deserve either one. Yet Jesus made it possible for anyone simply by asking Him to be the Lord & Savior of their life. That's all there is too it!

Maybe you don’t have this personal relationship with Him or maybe you just need to make a fresh start. My friend, it's not too late. Take a moment now; repent of your sins and invite Jesus to be a part of your life. You need to do nothing more to earn His love or forgiveness. The price was already paid the day Jesus bore our sins on the cross. And remember – By asking Jesus to be the Lord of your life, it puts you in right standing with God; simply because He loves you more than anything.

It really is that simple, folks!

Be blessed my family & friends. Praying God's total blessings and favor as you continue to draw close to Him.

Love you all!
Cyndy

"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." James 3:17 NKJV