There is a song that I have been listening to for a little while. As I have said before, music lives in me and whether its listening, singing or playing to a song it means something to me. While I was in the car I had my music on and the song "We Believe" came on. I love the lyrics and I think they encompass everything that it is to be a Christian. There is one phrase in the song that sparks a passion inside my heart. I am going to share it with you before I go any farther.
"And the gates of hell will not prevail! For the power of God, has torn the veil! Now we know Your love will never fail! We believe, we believe!"
It is a really hard thing to grasp. It would be so easy to enter the gates of hell because they are always open and ready to take people away, but the thing is, that heavens gates are open as well and it only takes one thing to get you there. The gates of hell are powerful because Satan is powerful. He has a grasp on this secular world and he will gladly take you with him but what's even greater than his power, is the power of Christ. He is the one true King.
Bad things will happen to us in this world because we are sinners. This world is not perfect and we have to live in this world until the day that we die. Its hard to understand that God made this world perfect and it was us in combination with the devil that made this world imperfect. God sent His only son to save us from our sins. That means that when we die we can go to heaven because someone already paid the price for our failings. It doesn't, however, mean that we will never experience pain and loss.
The stronger that we become as Christians the harder Satan tries to break us down and put out that fire in our souls. It can be overwhelming. When we are suffering greatly, no matter what the cause of the suffering is, we find it hard to grasp the fact that our God is stronger. That's the thing, He doesn't wait for us to understand how or why He does what He does, He just does it because He is stronger.
Those lyrics have power because of how true they are. The gates of hell will NOT prevail because our God has saved us and our God will watch over us. There is no need for us to be fearful of Satan because God can and has overcome Satan and the gate of hell. They won't ever leave, but they hold NO power over us and the love that we have for Christ. Satan wants us to turn from God but our God is greater than any sin, pain, loss, hurt and suffering.
No matter what we spit at God His love NEVER fails us and I want you to know that because I know that. If I didn't know that I wouldn't be here today trying to make you understand the power of Christ and the power that He has over my life and over yours. So remember that OUR God prevails and don't ever forget that.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Friday, July 18, 2014
Turn to the Lord
Every year the kids come home from school with a paper that is requesting foster families. All around I see signs and poster advertising to potential foster families. My family is one of those families that took notice and decided to sign up for foster and adoptive care. At the time I was only about 13 years old, to me, foster care meant having a new kid in the home that we could play with. My parents went through training and we were placed with a four year old. It was my picture perfect dream life. I begged my mom to let me help take care of her and I did.
She got up for daycare, I got up for school and I would help get her all ready and organized for the day. She was my little sister and that's all I understood. Then one day (it had been coming) the state came and took her from me (us). I still remember that day as she looked through the back window of the car waving goodbye with a sad look on her face. That was the first real loss that I ever suffered and I blamed the state. With that child in particular, it worked out in the end because she was reunited with her mom and they are doing fantastic.
Then there was another. We ended up adopting her and again I was thrilled, its just what I always wanted. The state started calling us in to classes where we would speak about the greatness of foster care and adoption. Soon after the adoption we learned that the child had a mental illness that prevented her from bonding to the family and that caused her to have anger outbursts. The state, who had loved us so much, would not help. No matter how long we begged. We begged for them to help her heal and still nothing. This went on for three years. At that point I was already fed up with this government.
Following the adoption of the third child we were placed with a set of twins, who also had the same problems that the other child had. However, in my head it didn't matter because they were only 3 1/2 and I couldn't understand how a child that young could already have mental health issues. Following the twins, we received a baby. She was a beautiful, perfect gift from God. I believe that she was part of our answered prayer at the time. She had no issues at all, she slept, she ate, she played and she loved. She brought a new sense of love into our home.
She was removed from our home after a year. Now many people were quick to say that these kids were only foster kids. I have been told that I shouldn't love them all as much as I do. However, most of these kids had never even experienced love so they didn't care which way I loved them. I will not let anyone tell me how to love or not to love a child of God. It has taken me a long time to cope with being placed with children who need loads of therapy and are violent but you don't just give up on children of God.
In talking with other foster moms recently it has become apparent that the state, though they are still begging for new families, does not treat their current families very well. When you ask for help, help is not there, when you pour you time, love and effort into the kids it doesn't matter. I can't imagine being part of a family who does foster care without also knowing that God is our Savior. Each loss, no matter how long you have had the child or children is still a loss. We have to trust that God had them with us for a purpose and for a reason. God has called us to help shape the children and bring them up in the way of the Lord. This is not only true for biological children but adopted and foster children as well.
I have to admit that unconditional love is something that I still struggle with but I can't find any other reason for all of those kids to be placed in our home, other than by the grace of God. The state isn't going to change, nor do I see them helping in the future so its time to turn to God. I say it so often and its a really hard thing to do but what is the point of all of this mess, if it isn't to glorify God and take care of His children.
Today I personally would like to say thank you to all of the foster/ adoptive moms and dads out there who are battling with the state. Its a lot like spiritual warfare and if you don't have on the right armor (the armor of Christ) then you are bound to lose. So together we stand, not backing down or giving up because this is the work of God that we are doing and we have to remember that we aren't doing this for the state, we are doing this for the precious children that God brought to this earth.
She got up for daycare, I got up for school and I would help get her all ready and organized for the day. She was my little sister and that's all I understood. Then one day (it had been coming) the state came and took her from me (us). I still remember that day as she looked through the back window of the car waving goodbye with a sad look on her face. That was the first real loss that I ever suffered and I blamed the state. With that child in particular, it worked out in the end because she was reunited with her mom and they are doing fantastic.
Then there was another. We ended up adopting her and again I was thrilled, its just what I always wanted. The state started calling us in to classes where we would speak about the greatness of foster care and adoption. Soon after the adoption we learned that the child had a mental illness that prevented her from bonding to the family and that caused her to have anger outbursts. The state, who had loved us so much, would not help. No matter how long we begged. We begged for them to help her heal and still nothing. This went on for three years. At that point I was already fed up with this government.
Following the adoption of the third child we were placed with a set of twins, who also had the same problems that the other child had. However, in my head it didn't matter because they were only 3 1/2 and I couldn't understand how a child that young could already have mental health issues. Following the twins, we received a baby. She was a beautiful, perfect gift from God. I believe that she was part of our answered prayer at the time. She had no issues at all, she slept, she ate, she played and she loved. She brought a new sense of love into our home.
She was removed from our home after a year. Now many people were quick to say that these kids were only foster kids. I have been told that I shouldn't love them all as much as I do. However, most of these kids had never even experienced love so they didn't care which way I loved them. I will not let anyone tell me how to love or not to love a child of God. It has taken me a long time to cope with being placed with children who need loads of therapy and are violent but you don't just give up on children of God.
In talking with other foster moms recently it has become apparent that the state, though they are still begging for new families, does not treat their current families very well. When you ask for help, help is not there, when you pour you time, love and effort into the kids it doesn't matter. I can't imagine being part of a family who does foster care without also knowing that God is our Savior. Each loss, no matter how long you have had the child or children is still a loss. We have to trust that God had them with us for a purpose and for a reason. God has called us to help shape the children and bring them up in the way of the Lord. This is not only true for biological children but adopted and foster children as well.
I have to admit that unconditional love is something that I still struggle with but I can't find any other reason for all of those kids to be placed in our home, other than by the grace of God. The state isn't going to change, nor do I see them helping in the future so its time to turn to God. I say it so often and its a really hard thing to do but what is the point of all of this mess, if it isn't to glorify God and take care of His children.
Today I personally would like to say thank you to all of the foster/ adoptive moms and dads out there who are battling with the state. Its a lot like spiritual warfare and if you don't have on the right armor (the armor of Christ) then you are bound to lose. So together we stand, not backing down or giving up because this is the work of God that we are doing and we have to remember that we aren't doing this for the state, we are doing this for the precious children that God brought to this earth.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Can't Back Down
Tonight a journey began. There are so many changes happening at my church. I guess you can say that there have been changes going on at my church for years now. Some leaders left us and I took it personally. I don't talk much about it because for me it was a real loss. Others have come and could only serve for a certain time. During that time they made fantastic changes that were a good preparation. It all led up to now. There was a point where my family almost left the church for good but God was telling us to stay. We didn't know why but I just had a feeling.
Over the past few months our church has seen great change. The biggest change was in our numbers. Numbers are not important when it comes to worshiping Christ but there are just certain people, that when they are brought together changes happen for the better. Praise band stopped being a chore some time ago and it became fun. More recently, at least once a Sunday I get chills while up on stage because finally, the congregation is louder than the music. The sound of believers coming together through song is an experience that no one could forget.
Tonight a group of strong Christians got together to form a praise band. We are just in the initial stages but God's house was once again on fire! I keep saying that and I'm sure its getting old, but I pray that someday you get this experience as well. Walking into the church tonight, I had so many things on my heart. My grandma, my blood pressure, my family, the troubles that my friends are facing and so much more. On a side note, that's the wonderful thing about the church, they do not require you to leave your baggage at the door.
Being a leader is something that I strive to be but is still something that I struggle with. I am young and speaking in front of people has never been my strong suit. The moment that the music started playing it was like everything was lifted off my shoulders. Through music I gave it all to Christ. I cannot say that I will leave it all with Him because I have already said that surrendering is one of my weak spots.
A wise man reminded us tonight that as we grow together and become a vibrant, God loving, God centered praise team the adversary will take notice and he will go after us. It was a point that I had to really think about and take to heart. I have seen it happen before and I have seen the pain that it causes, but in these past few months I have also seen what its like for a group of God loving people to come together and sing songs of praise. There is nothing like it and nothing better than hearing the love of God pour into songs.
So I say get ready Satan because Gallup Hill Baptist Church is alive and roaring for Christ. Let our songs of praise be heard every where that they can because I'm not backing down and neither is this church family. We will not be quiet until every person knows the name of Jesus Christ and His mighty reign!
Over the past few months our church has seen great change. The biggest change was in our numbers. Numbers are not important when it comes to worshiping Christ but there are just certain people, that when they are brought together changes happen for the better. Praise band stopped being a chore some time ago and it became fun. More recently, at least once a Sunday I get chills while up on stage because finally, the congregation is louder than the music. The sound of believers coming together through song is an experience that no one could forget.
Tonight a group of strong Christians got together to form a praise band. We are just in the initial stages but God's house was once again on fire! I keep saying that and I'm sure its getting old, but I pray that someday you get this experience as well. Walking into the church tonight, I had so many things on my heart. My grandma, my blood pressure, my family, the troubles that my friends are facing and so much more. On a side note, that's the wonderful thing about the church, they do not require you to leave your baggage at the door.
Being a leader is something that I strive to be but is still something that I struggle with. I am young and speaking in front of people has never been my strong suit. The moment that the music started playing it was like everything was lifted off my shoulders. Through music I gave it all to Christ. I cannot say that I will leave it all with Him because I have already said that surrendering is one of my weak spots.
A wise man reminded us tonight that as we grow together and become a vibrant, God loving, God centered praise team the adversary will take notice and he will go after us. It was a point that I had to really think about and take to heart. I have seen it happen before and I have seen the pain that it causes, but in these past few months I have also seen what its like for a group of God loving people to come together and sing songs of praise. There is nothing like it and nothing better than hearing the love of God pour into songs.
So I say get ready Satan because Gallup Hill Baptist Church is alive and roaring for Christ. Let our songs of praise be heard every where that they can because I'm not backing down and neither is this church family. We will not be quiet until every person knows the name of Jesus Christ and His mighty reign!
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Send Your Glory Upward
The house of the Lord was on fire tonight at Gallup Hill Baptist Church. For a few months we have been planning this one day Upward clinic. We used to hold Upward Camps, this is how we have met some pretty awesome mission teams. Last year we chose not to hold the camp but when this year rolled around we decided to take a shot.
During our eleventh season of Upward this last winter, we did a lot of fundraising. During that fundraising we were able to pay for 17 scholarships for kids who wanted to play and couldn't afford it. By the end of the season we still had some leftover money that we put away. We did some research and realized that we had enough money in the bank to hold a one day clinic without charging anyone.
We began advertising for it all over the place but the response was very slim. We understood that it was summer, but we were kind of disappointed because this was a free event. None the less, we planned it and got the ball rolling. More disappointment came when we were looking for volunteers to help. We asked and held a training where only two other people attended. It was not looking good for us. I just asked God why it wasn't working. I mean really it was completely free!
Well God had the last laugh tonight. We had more than enough volunteers there to help this clinic run smoothly. We had ordered 40 basketball kits for this night but we figured that there would be left overs. As people started pouring in, our numbers grew and grew. We had a goal of 30 kids, we prayed that even that many would show up and they did. We had 48 kids in that gym tonight. 48 kids who worked well together, didn't fight, no one got hurt, and best of all, during the devotion they were quiet and they actually paid attention.
We had a wonderful opportunity to share the message of Christ not only to a great group of kids, but their parents as well. I was filled with joy and gratitude that God made this night so spectacular. It just goes to show again that when God is in control there's no telling what could happen. I am beyond thrilled that He provided us with this many children. We are so blessed to have had the funds to put this all together. Tonight we once again proved to this community that God is not dead in the town of Ledyard, that He is alive and roaring!
As you go to bed tonight stop and think about how God is working in your community. He will far exceed our dreams and goals if we let Him take control, because when He does He can't be stopped!
During our eleventh season of Upward this last winter, we did a lot of fundraising. During that fundraising we were able to pay for 17 scholarships for kids who wanted to play and couldn't afford it. By the end of the season we still had some leftover money that we put away. We did some research and realized that we had enough money in the bank to hold a one day clinic without charging anyone.
We began advertising for it all over the place but the response was very slim. We understood that it was summer, but we were kind of disappointed because this was a free event. None the less, we planned it and got the ball rolling. More disappointment came when we were looking for volunteers to help. We asked and held a training where only two other people attended. It was not looking good for us. I just asked God why it wasn't working. I mean really it was completely free!
Well God had the last laugh tonight. We had more than enough volunteers there to help this clinic run smoothly. We had ordered 40 basketball kits for this night but we figured that there would be left overs. As people started pouring in, our numbers grew and grew. We had a goal of 30 kids, we prayed that even that many would show up and they did. We had 48 kids in that gym tonight. 48 kids who worked well together, didn't fight, no one got hurt, and best of all, during the devotion they were quiet and they actually paid attention.
We had a wonderful opportunity to share the message of Christ not only to a great group of kids, but their parents as well. I was filled with joy and gratitude that God made this night so spectacular. It just goes to show again that when God is in control there's no telling what could happen. I am beyond thrilled that He provided us with this many children. We are so blessed to have had the funds to put this all together. Tonight we once again proved to this community that God is not dead in the town of Ledyard, that He is alive and roaring!
As you go to bed tonight stop and think about how God is working in your community. He will far exceed our dreams and goals if we let Him take control, because when He does He can't be stopped!
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
No More Control
I really struggled over what I wanted to write today. What is on my heart is very personal and I wasn't so sure that I wanted to share it. However, here it goes. Control is something that I have struggled with for a good part of my life. Those who know me, know that I have Fibromyalgia which is a pain disorder that sends pain through every nerve in my body. I have come to accept that I have this disease and I believe that God gave it to me so that I could one day help those who are fighting this same battle, and I have had that wonderful opportunity.
This is a disease that I am used to having but I have never gotten over the fact that I have no control over my body and the amount of pain that I am in. I have medicine but that can't fix all of the damage that this disease has done. That is one thing that I can't control.
I have actually made a list in my head (in the past) of all of the things that I can't control in my life. I tend to focus on those things. I found that I have no control over life and death. When I was 18 I lost my best friend to a motorcycle accident, I lost my grandmother before that, I lost a baby that I loved with all of my heart (she was foster and isn't dead but we have been removed from her life). More recently I lost my uncle and my Grandma, the woman who raised me along side my parents has a cancer that will be taking her life in the near future. I cannot control any of those losses. People have told me that part of foster care is giving the children back but until you have foster children do not be so quick to believe that its easy to give back the children that you poured your love and work into.
I can't control my health, I can't control who likes me and who doesn't. I can't control how many people come to my church or where my family choses to live.
There are a lot of things that I cannot control. So to compensate that I try to control everything else in my life and in the lives of those around me. If you happen to be close to me I am sure that you have seen my control issues. One issue surrounds my siblings, especially the one that is closest to me. She may be getting married but since the day she was born I have had some sort of control over her life because she was "mine". She was my baby sister and that gave me a sense of control, however now that her life will no longer be intertwined with mine I am having to learn to let go of my control over her life. Its so hard for me to do this. I also struggle with the fact that I cannot control what horrible things happen in the lives of those I love.
I am a follower of Christ and He is supposed to be in control but I have to admit that for so long I have not given Him control. I try to fix things myself and take care of everyone else. So I myself did a little experiment thinking I was so smart. I decided that after my church shrank smaller and smaller until all of my friends no longer attended and only 13 people went to church, that I would give it to God. I finally gave up my fight over forcing people to come to church because obviously it wasn't working.
I did that two years ago. The first of those two years, nothing really happened in the church, or so I thought. So I kept praying trying to leave control in God's hands. Well right now we have tripled that number. God has brought in so many people and I love each and every one of them. I don't even remember life without these people. I no longer go to church wondering which family will leave next, I go to church, look around and wonder who else will join our family. I let God take control of this situation and I guess you could say that He "passed" my test.
As I said before giving control over is the hardest thing for me but God has already showed me that He is in control. When I sit here and feel like my life is out of control, that's a true statement. It is out of my control, because the person who's really in control of my life is God, whether I want Him to be or not. When I stop fighting Him for control my life is filled with joy and blessings. So I am making this goal public. I will fight myself to turn control over to God. I'm sure that I am not the only one who needs to turn some things over to God. I have a lot to turn over and I challenge you to come along side me and let Him take over and make our lives go in the way He has them planned to go!
This is a disease that I am used to having but I have never gotten over the fact that I have no control over my body and the amount of pain that I am in. I have medicine but that can't fix all of the damage that this disease has done. That is one thing that I can't control.
I have actually made a list in my head (in the past) of all of the things that I can't control in my life. I tend to focus on those things. I found that I have no control over life and death. When I was 18 I lost my best friend to a motorcycle accident, I lost my grandmother before that, I lost a baby that I loved with all of my heart (she was foster and isn't dead but we have been removed from her life). More recently I lost my uncle and my Grandma, the woman who raised me along side my parents has a cancer that will be taking her life in the near future. I cannot control any of those losses. People have told me that part of foster care is giving the children back but until you have foster children do not be so quick to believe that its easy to give back the children that you poured your love and work into.
I can't control my health, I can't control who likes me and who doesn't. I can't control how many people come to my church or where my family choses to live.
There are a lot of things that I cannot control. So to compensate that I try to control everything else in my life and in the lives of those around me. If you happen to be close to me I am sure that you have seen my control issues. One issue surrounds my siblings, especially the one that is closest to me. She may be getting married but since the day she was born I have had some sort of control over her life because she was "mine". She was my baby sister and that gave me a sense of control, however now that her life will no longer be intertwined with mine I am having to learn to let go of my control over her life. Its so hard for me to do this. I also struggle with the fact that I cannot control what horrible things happen in the lives of those I love.
I am a follower of Christ and He is supposed to be in control but I have to admit that for so long I have not given Him control. I try to fix things myself and take care of everyone else. So I myself did a little experiment thinking I was so smart. I decided that after my church shrank smaller and smaller until all of my friends no longer attended and only 13 people went to church, that I would give it to God. I finally gave up my fight over forcing people to come to church because obviously it wasn't working.
I did that two years ago. The first of those two years, nothing really happened in the church, or so I thought. So I kept praying trying to leave control in God's hands. Well right now we have tripled that number. God has brought in so many people and I love each and every one of them. I don't even remember life without these people. I no longer go to church wondering which family will leave next, I go to church, look around and wonder who else will join our family. I let God take control of this situation and I guess you could say that He "passed" my test.
As I said before giving control over is the hardest thing for me but God has already showed me that He is in control. When I sit here and feel like my life is out of control, that's a true statement. It is out of my control, because the person who's really in control of my life is God, whether I want Him to be or not. When I stop fighting Him for control my life is filled with joy and blessings. So I am making this goal public. I will fight myself to turn control over to God. I'm sure that I am not the only one who needs to turn some things over to God. I have a lot to turn over and I challenge you to come along side me and let Him take over and make our lives go in the way He has them planned to go!
Monday, July 14, 2014
For the Love of Children
Summer is a time full of weddings. I am of marrying age and many of my friends are married with families, even my little sister is engaged ready to be married. It's not like I haven't noticed that I am still single. Usually it would be the parents job to ask when I am getting married, but not in this house. In this house its the 7 year old that questions me. Every time we watch a "romantic" (well as romantic as a children's movie can get) she turns to me and asks me why I'm not married. My response is always I don't know.
I have to be honest and say that there are many times after she asks, that I turn to God and ask Him why I'm not married. Envying is talked about in the Bible and its not a good thing to feel. However, I am human therefore I am a sinner. Every time I see someone my age get engaged or married I am happy for them for a moment but at the same time I always turn and say, when's it my turn?
As I have said in the past, my family had the amazing opportunity to raise a baby for a year. At that point I was already an adult and I was in college. My role in the babies life wasn't like a sister, nor was it like a parent, I was somewhere in-between. When we lost her I felt like I lost a part of my heart, it has since healed a great deal but the pain is still there. What I envy more than marriage is when people my age have children. Beautiful, healthy, happy children who will not be taken away from their families.
This is something that I have been dealing with for such a long time. I know that I am young but in my heart, I know what I desire. I also know that right now God sees my entire future. I don't know when I will be married, nor do I know if I will be blessed with children, but what I do know is that God has all of the answers and that someday soon I will learn that plan! This is why I continue walking the path that I am on because the other path is far to depressing.
Sometimes God sends me little reminders about living in the present rather than wishing so hard for the future. He does this through the children in my life. I am blessed with so many opportunities to care for others children and I have had the opportunity to raise a set of beautiful twins for three years now. I don't know any of their futures but what I do know is that each and every one of them has a love for Christ, it is an unconditional, beautiful, magical love that is so hard to explain but so visible.
Between the singing, dancing and playing there is not much time left to dwell on what I don't have because what I do have is giggling away in front of me. There is nothing more special than sitting at the breakfast counter (or table) and hearing the kids begin to pray on their own or sing a church song that they had heard many days ago.
As believers we cannot just focus on saving the older unbelievers. Our attention should also be on the children and instilling in them the love that we feel for Christ. We must let them see the glory of God in our lives. Share with them the blessings of God and let Him work in their lives as well. Children are truly a gift from God and we need to nurture this gift whether they're your children or not they are all children of the One True King and its time to realize that they are such a blessing.
I have to be honest and say that there are many times after she asks, that I turn to God and ask Him why I'm not married. Envying is talked about in the Bible and its not a good thing to feel. However, I am human therefore I am a sinner. Every time I see someone my age get engaged or married I am happy for them for a moment but at the same time I always turn and say, when's it my turn?
As I have said in the past, my family had the amazing opportunity to raise a baby for a year. At that point I was already an adult and I was in college. My role in the babies life wasn't like a sister, nor was it like a parent, I was somewhere in-between. When we lost her I felt like I lost a part of my heart, it has since healed a great deal but the pain is still there. What I envy more than marriage is when people my age have children. Beautiful, healthy, happy children who will not be taken away from their families.
This is something that I have been dealing with for such a long time. I know that I am young but in my heart, I know what I desire. I also know that right now God sees my entire future. I don't know when I will be married, nor do I know if I will be blessed with children, but what I do know is that God has all of the answers and that someday soon I will learn that plan! This is why I continue walking the path that I am on because the other path is far to depressing.
Sometimes God sends me little reminders about living in the present rather than wishing so hard for the future. He does this through the children in my life. I am blessed with so many opportunities to care for others children and I have had the opportunity to raise a set of beautiful twins for three years now. I don't know any of their futures but what I do know is that each and every one of them has a love for Christ, it is an unconditional, beautiful, magical love that is so hard to explain but so visible.
Between the singing, dancing and playing there is not much time left to dwell on what I don't have because what I do have is giggling away in front of me. There is nothing more special than sitting at the breakfast counter (or table) and hearing the kids begin to pray on their own or sing a church song that they had heard many days ago.
As believers we cannot just focus on saving the older unbelievers. Our attention should also be on the children and instilling in them the love that we feel for Christ. We must let them see the glory of God in our lives. Share with them the blessings of God and let Him work in their lives as well. Children are truly a gift from God and we need to nurture this gift whether they're your children or not they are all children of the One True King and its time to realize that they are such a blessing.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Profession of Faith... Again
For a long while now I have
contemplated starting this blog again. I have done this once before and I said
that I would continue blogging but I didn’t. I got angry and bitter and I
didn’t want to think about the blessings that God was placing in my life. Recently
I have felt that God was calling me back to this “ministry”. This is my venue
for professing my faith and I have missed writing out my thoughts and
observations. So here I go again making another attempt at sharing God’s work
in my life.
In church service today, the message was about Spiritual Gifts and how we can apply them to our lives. When I took a spiritual gift inventory I found that my two strongest gifts are Faith and Wisdom. I laughed when I got the results because I am only 21 years old and I really doubted that my spiritual gift could be faith or wisdom. As Pastor went through these two gifts I began to see that I have had the opportunity to use these gifts and it was through this blog. No matter what has gone wrong in my life I have faith that God will get me through it. Don’t get me wrong, I have been angry with Him before but I could never turn away no matter how badly I may have wanted to.
There has been so much loss in my life and my family’s life for some time now and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. As I am watching the lives of those around me I am noticing that there is loss in so many of our lives. We are being attacked by the devil. I am surrounded by both old and new believers, but the key is that I am Surrounded. Over the past few months my church has seen so much growth and it has created a fire for Christ inside of me. My family is broken right now but no matter how bad things get, so many good things have happened. God has brought AMAZING people into and back into my life.
A few months ago I was in the midst of a family crisis, in which lives were threatened and fear and anger were the only two emotions I was feeling. On the day that the danger escalated to its highest was able to see God’s glory. I had the opportunity to witness not one, but two ladies in my church give their lives to Christ. It is inexplicable, the joy that I felt on that day. No matter how hard Satan attacked me that day, I will remember it, not as a horrible day but as a day where God’s glory shone through it all.
I have noticed that the stronger my church family grows, both as individuals and as a whole, there has been a lot of spiritual warfare going on. So many of us are fighting battles as individuals yet somehow God has placed us all together and the worse the warfare gets, the stronger our bond becomes. God is shining at my church, in my life and in the lives of people around me.
I leave you with this for the evening; the devil is bringing sorrow and loss into our lives. He wants us to turn to God with anger and place the blame on God. As my family faces more loss in the near future so I turn my eyes to God because He already knows how my life is going to play out. Satan banks on us turning away from God when things go wrong, but I have one thing to say to Satan: Nice try.
In church service today, the message was about Spiritual Gifts and how we can apply them to our lives. When I took a spiritual gift inventory I found that my two strongest gifts are Faith and Wisdom. I laughed when I got the results because I am only 21 years old and I really doubted that my spiritual gift could be faith or wisdom. As Pastor went through these two gifts I began to see that I have had the opportunity to use these gifts and it was through this blog. No matter what has gone wrong in my life I have faith that God will get me through it. Don’t get me wrong, I have been angry with Him before but I could never turn away no matter how badly I may have wanted to.
There has been so much loss in my life and my family’s life for some time now and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. As I am watching the lives of those around me I am noticing that there is loss in so many of our lives. We are being attacked by the devil. I am surrounded by both old and new believers, but the key is that I am Surrounded. Over the past few months my church has seen so much growth and it has created a fire for Christ inside of me. My family is broken right now but no matter how bad things get, so many good things have happened. God has brought AMAZING people into and back into my life.
A few months ago I was in the midst of a family crisis, in which lives were threatened and fear and anger were the only two emotions I was feeling. On the day that the danger escalated to its highest was able to see God’s glory. I had the opportunity to witness not one, but two ladies in my church give their lives to Christ. It is inexplicable, the joy that I felt on that day. No matter how hard Satan attacked me that day, I will remember it, not as a horrible day but as a day where God’s glory shone through it all.
I have noticed that the stronger my church family grows, both as individuals and as a whole, there has been a lot of spiritual warfare going on. So many of us are fighting battles as individuals yet somehow God has placed us all together and the worse the warfare gets, the stronger our bond becomes. God is shining at my church, in my life and in the lives of people around me.
I leave you with this for the evening; the devil is bringing sorrow and loss into our lives. He wants us to turn to God with anger and place the blame on God. As my family faces more loss in the near future so I turn my eyes to God because He already knows how my life is going to play out. Satan banks on us turning away from God when things go wrong, but I have one thing to say to Satan: Nice try.
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