Little Brownie Bites

I had such a huge spiritual analogy when I was preparing snacks for my sweet and precious sister’s bridal shower.  I was responsible for providing all the tiny treats that we would need to dip into our chocolate fountain.  Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I had to dice the pound cake into bite size pieces, rinse the strawberries, plate the marsh mellows, and the brownie bites on a pretty glass serving tray.  However, while doing so, I found myself discarding all of the brownies that were not “presentable.”  I quickly tossed them to the side. Some were broken, smashed and not so perfect.  I couldn’t imagine putting those out on display.  Not for an event like this.  Not for all to see..."seriously, what would everyone think?"

WOW!  As I discarded each one, I couldn’t help but think about us (people/humans/the flesh) and how we see ourselves and one another.  We oftentimes have a way of feeling discarded and allowing others to be discarded.  It’s how the world views us, how we view others and sadly, how often we view ourselves. 

So very grateful beyond words that our Heavenly Father sees us so very differently.  He saw us before we were born and His very hands created us.  He did not make a mistake in forming one single human being.  NOT One Single Mistake!

Psalm 100:3 “Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” (NIV)

Psalm 139:16 “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (NIV)

We are #perfect!
Psalm 139:14  “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (ESV)

We are #chosen!

Isaiah 43:1 “…the one who formed you says, "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.” (NLT)

We are #loved!

Jeremiah 31:3 “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.” (KJV)

I remember feeling so inadequate and not so attractive most of my life.  I was very shy and had very few friends. I had insecurities about everything.  Never pretty enough.  Never smart enough.  Never thin enough.  Never this…never that…

PRAISE THE LORD, in walked my Sweet Savior!  He compassionately and tenderly told me that I was His.  I heard a voice unlike no other. He asked me if I could stop being so hard on myself and to see that I was made in His image?!

Genesis 1:27 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (NIV)

I know that it can be very difficult to see yourself as whole and lacking nothing.  I am speaking from experience as one who has held many misperceptions about herself and believed many, many lies over the years.  One being, I was not worthy to be loved.  No one ever told me that, it was just something that I allowed myself to believe based on my life experiences.

ALL Lies from the enemy! 

“he…does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

We continually allow negative images and negative words to dance around in our heads and we need to stop and replace them with God’s Word, God’s truth and God’s LOVE!  He is the only One who can reprogram our thinking and beliefs.  We cannot do it on our own. It will not happen overnight, but it will surely happen over time.

I received Salvation at the age of 43 and I turned 51 this year.  I still tend to beat myself up about my [weight] but that’s only because I fail to properly eat right and exercising is not my #bliss.  BUT in every other area of my life, God’s WORD has taken root and I know that I am so deeply loved, so perfectly accepted, so incredibly smart, so one-of-a-kind beautiful and so #forever HIS!

Let's make today the day that you begin to shake off the negative and replace it with the #positive!  One layer at a time.  One day at a time. One bible verse at a time.  Allow the Holy Spirit to walk with you through the scriptures and lavish His unconditional love on you.  With the HELP of the Holy Spirit, you will be and can be made new!

*NOTE: Also be very mindful of the company you keep.  Surrounding yourself with likeminded people, those who will encourage and support you will have a huge impact on how you feel as you move forward in your new journey.  Misery loves company so beware of those who have no interest in seeing you prosper in God's will.  That can even include those closest to you.

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (NLT)

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (NIV)

 

I hold my head high and I will walk in the belief that I lack nothing....even when the bathroom scale tells me something different :-)

 

-Yet, another day to praise Him...

Emergency Alert Tone

This morning I was sitting in my car listening to my favorite Christian Radio program.  The guest were Francis and Lisa Chan, and the topic was about their new book, “You and Me Forever.”  Living a godly life through their marriage. 

They were talking about how they celebrated their 20^th wedding anniversary by going on a Mission’s trip to Africa with their friend.  They talked about how amazingly incredible it was as well as spiritually rewarding.  And just as they were about to talk about ways we (Christians) can impact the future and God's Kingdom with our marriages and our families, the program was interrupted by the “Emergency Alert Tone.”  Needless to say, it was loud and thought provoking…

1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:4 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of god, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.

I immediately had an epiphany, I could so picture it:  Jesus came and He asked, (Sounding like a Father who cares) “What are you doing?  Why….that’s not what I told you to do?”

Mark 4:3-9 "Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. "Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil."

John 15:5  "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."

How incredibly cool would that be if He came back, gave us loving correction on the things that we shouldn’t be doing and then further instructed us on the things that we should be doing and then went back to be with His Father; withholding His wrath?!!

What if He just did a “practice drill?”  What if He were to give us a chance to get it right?!

(sounds so familiar doesn't it...)

Well He does give us that chance.  It’s called today…it’s called now!  We have the chance to do what Christ has called us to do and we can be ready when He returns.  All we have to do is turn away from ourselves and turn away from our sins and OBEY the Word of the Living God.  He is the One who matters most and His coming will bring Great Rewards for those who are found Faithful and a Great Judgment for those who are not.

Acts 17:31 "For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

We were not created to live a life pleasing to self.  We were created to bring glory and honor to the Most High God and to bear fruit in His name.  There are many who have not heard the gospel and many, many who still need the saving grace of our Savior.  We each have a role to play in God’s Kingdom work and we had better get busy showing the world, the lost and those who have been deceived what it looks like to be a Christian.

Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

2 Timothy 4:1-2 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction.

2 Timothy 4:8 "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness..."

Father, revive our hearts and start with me!  Use me in any which way you please because this life is Yours and not mine.

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

One day very soon, our Lord is returning.  However, no one knows when. We must prepare for His RETURN! (Matthew 24:36-44)

All we can do is to be found faithful in our Christian walk.  It can feel overwhelming at times and yes, there are many things in our day to day lives that pull at our attention.  There are many things that disrupt life and there are many circumstances that can attempt to steal our joy.  We have been forced to live in a world of sin because of our wicked flesh and our deceitful hearts.  We are surrounded by the enemy’s schemes to taint and tarnish our testimonies and we are battling with the will to do things our way.  And, although we live in the midst of darkness, we have a LIGHT! In Christ Jesus, we are overcomers and nothing can separate us from His loving arms unless He approves it!  AND That is something He will never do.  There are many things that He permits, (to test our faith and to strengthen us spiritually) but turning us over to the devil is something that HE WILL NEVER, EVER DO!  We however, can choose to turn away from God’s love and protection due to sin, anger, deception and pride, but those are choices of free will. (John 3:20-21)

Please don’t allow Satan to convince you that you are not loved by God, worthy to be called His and incapable of living a life of righteousness.  YOU cannot, but in Christ and with Christ you so are and you so can!  My life was one of confusion, chaos and lies.  I was wounded and alone in most of my life’s journey and JESUS so turned it #ALL into good! (Romans 8:28)  If He did it for me, HE can surely do it for you! 

Lord although we eagerly await Your arrival, please Father withhold Your wrath until all have come to know You!  In Jesus’ precious name, amen. (John 3:16-18)

Acts 3:19-21 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you - even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

Revelation 1:7  Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him--even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen!

-Yet, another day to praise Him…