The Peace that I desire...

Unshakable Peace
Philippians 4:5-7

The Lord has only good plans in store for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). You may go through difficult times, but God promises to use every trial to build "good" into your life (Romans 8:28). When Satan tells you to worry, God has the opposite in mind. He wants you to trust Him and to experience His peace on a daily basis. How do we gain and retain the true peace of God?

• Recognize your dependence is on God. The heart that finds its identity in Jesus Christ is a heart of peace. The person who rushes here and there to solve his own problems quickly can become a person of strife and worry. Take responsibility for your actions, but let God have the reins to your life.

• Pray. The enemy cannot defeat you when you are on your spiritual knees before God in prayer. This is the true pathway to unshakable peace.

• Trust God. When thoughts of fear invade your mind, tell the Lord what you are feeling and claim His presence as your protection and shelter. David prayed, "Strengthen my arms so I can bend a bow of bronze." In other words, "Strengthen my faith, Lord, so I won’t doubt your goodness."

• Focus only on God. Don’t cling to negative thoughts. Set the focus of your heart on God and His possibilities. When God views your life, He sees only potential. You can live life to the fullest because Christ is alive in you and all things are under His feet.

G.R.A.D.S.....I am so blessed!

I am so blessed to be surrounded with an awesome group of girls (and guys) that passionately pursue Jesus! For the last 3 years, God has given me the privilege to invest in the lives of college age students. This group G.R.A.D.S. (Growing Radical As Devoted Singles) are not only my ministry, they are my dear friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. They bless my life more than I could ever express to them in words. They teach me so much and I praise God for each one of them. We are co-laborers together in Christ pressing on for His Glory. God continues to use this group to bring joy, laughter and accountability into my life. I honestly don't know what I would do without them...except maybe drink a little less Starbucks and get a little more sleep!!! :) They are my blessing from God and I am so very thankful for the opportunity to invest in their lives. I praise God for the work of His hands in each one of their lives...to Him be ALL the Glory! G.R.A.D.S. ...You 'da Best! Love you guys!!

Gift from the heart...

I have learned that it is truly "better to give than to receive"...however, this year God has been teaching me to be a receiver along with being a giver of myself. Last week I received a gift that came from the heart. One of my customers brought to me a priceless gift. She is one that has walked the journey with me several times to Zambia and knows and understands the passion I have for the people of Africa. The gift she gave and made was this quilt inspired by my many trips to Zambia. I was completely overwhelmed. I had never received a gift so beautiful and to know the hours of love that were put into it. The detail that was envolved, the time that was sacrificed and spent....makes this gift so very precious. The name of the quilt pattern "Anazi" intrigued her and in looking it up, she found it to mean "Song of Africa"...how appropriate. Thank you Susy for your gift of love....at the same time, this makes me think of another gift I have received that cannot begin to compare...and that is the Gift of Love given to me by my Savior, Jesus Christ. Such a gift that cost Him His life...a sacrifice that cannot be put into words. The labor of love that He went through for me and for you...Thank You Jesus, for your unspeakable gift.

Food for my Soul...

This devotional and the scripture that was used ministered greatly to my soul...my prayer is that it does the same for others.

Dr. Charles Stanley
December 4, 2006
Those Who Hurt
Mark 10:46-52

When we’re in pain, we may question whether God cares or even knows what we’re going through. Our difficult circumstances can give us a wrong view of Him. Scripture teaches that our three-in-one God is omniscient. In other words, He knows all things. No actions or persons are hidden from His sight. The past, present, and future are all laid out before Him. (Psalm 33:13-15; Hebrews 4:13)

1 Chronicles 28:9 tells us, “the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts.” Because of this, He knows us intimately. And with His perfect knowledge, He understands what we really need. (Matthew 10:29-30) God’s love and concern for us do not change, even if our pain has resulted from our own sinful actions.

Jesus repeatedly demonstrated God’s loving concern for people. He met with Nicodemus, one of Israel’s religious leaders. And without condemnation or accusation, Jesus showed him the way to God. (John 3:3) He also visited Zaccheus, a man whose financial dishonesty had hurt many. Jesus even initiated conversation with the Samaritan woman, a social outcast. He also delayed His journey in response to the cry of a blind beggar. He showed compassion to Bartimaeus and affirmed his faith.

Through what we saw Jesus do in his life, we can be sure our heavenly Father cares about us. God’s love extends over us like a canopy. He wants us to come to Him with our questions and pain. Don’t allow trials to cloud your thinking about God’s deep concern for you. Accept Jesus’ invitation and bring your burdens to Him. (Matthew 11:28)

Worth it All...

"I don’t understand Your Ways
Oh but I will give You my song
Give You all of my praise
You hold on to all my pain
And with it You are pulling me closer
Pulling me into Your ways
Now around every corner
And up every mountain
I’m not looking for crowns
Or the water from fountains
I’m desperately seeking
And I’m frantic believing
That the sight of Your face
Is all that I’m needing
And I sing to You
It’s gonna be worth it
It’s gonna be worth it
It’s gonna be worth it all
I believe this, we believe it…
It’s gonna be worth it
It’s gonna be worth it
It’s gonna be worth it all
And we sing,
You are worth it
You are worth it
You are worth it all, Jesus
You are worth it (all my tears)
You are worth it (all my pain)
You worth it all…Jesus."



This is a song that I have been listening to over and over tonight. My mind is on Eternity, and my prayers are continual for the body of Christ. Over and over I get news of heartache and pain within the body and my heart goes out to my brothers and sisters in Christ. As I listen and meditate on these words one word comes to my mind: perspective. This song reminds me of what my perspective needs to be continually...and that is Eternity. I love how the phrase says "The sight of Your face is all that I am needing". It was said once to me that our life here on earth is a mere 7 seconds in Eternity...kinda puts things in perspective. Still I wonder in my heart why the heartache and pain here on earth? How does one cope when their world is turned upside down. Another phrase that stuck out to me was "You hold on to all my pain, and with it You are pulling me close, pullin me into Your ways..." Not that it takes away the pain, but looking at heartache and pain through Heaven's eyes....it does draw one into the ways of our Creator. No, we cannot understand His ways for Scripture tells us that they are higher than our own...but in His ways, we are drawn closer to Him and when we are drawn closer to Him we get to see from His perspective versus our own. When I stop and really consider what Eternity will be like, I have to know in my heart that in light of everything here on earth...it will be worth it all...with one glimpse of His face. Until then, I want to remain faithful in desperately seeking after Him for the sight of His face is all I am needing. Lord Jesus, please give peace and comfort to those who are hurting tonight. Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Being in the Way of the Lord

My reading today found me in Gen. 24 where a particular verse stood out to me. Verse 27 says "And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth I being in the way, The Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren."

As I meditate on that phrase, I being in the way, The Lord led me, I am challenged in my own walk with the Lord. How many days am I walking in the "way" that the Lord is walking. Or how many days am I "in His way" of what He is trying to accomplish in my life. This man in this verse found himself walking the same way that the Lord was walking and was then led of the Lord to accomplish the task before him.

Question for the day....Am I walking in the way of the Lord, so that He can lead me; or am I in His way?

Thankful

All day long, I cannot get the song "Count Your Blessings" out of my head...which is a good thing. I have been reflecting all day on all the many blessings I have been given. Today, I was especially grateful for the freedom and opportunity to share Jesus openly with all of my customers. My God is so faithful to open the door and I praise Him for giving me several opportunities to speak about Him today. How cool is it for a customer to ask..."what is God doing in your life?" and to openly share all of His many works and blessings....all praise to Him! I am so blessed...with family, that go above and beyond for me, for friends, that love unconditionally, for my work family, that are the best group of girls to work with, for my GRADS girls...that have no idea how they bless my life....and most of all, I am so so so thankful to my Jesus for going to the cross and standing in the place of blame for me....as I type this the song is playing...."for He alone is worthy, for He alone is worthy, for He alone is worthy...Christ the Lord". I am so thankful that He is the Worthy One, the Holy One the One that alone is worthy of ALL praise....Lord Jesus, I love you!