Sharing the Journey

Last night, I had the privilege of attending and participating in a worship service where the Spirit of God was allowed to have His way.  The preacher came from Daniel 3:16-18: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.              His sermon title was from verse 18, “But If Not.”  The preacher reminded us that God is able to heal. He is able to deliver. He is able to bless us and work miracles. But if not…  Would we still praise Him? Would we still worship Him? Would we still serve Him? Like most present, I answered his questions wit...

Half way through my workout this morning my head began to throb mercilessly and I was certain I was going to be sick. I rushed to the bathroom and began to pray even as my mind wanted to worry. I hadn't had a migraine in a while and certainly not one that came this quickly or violently. All I could think was "God help." As the nausea subsided I tried to rejoin the workout but with the lights and the music I couldn't. I retreated outside thinking I'd call Aaron to come and get me only to realize I'd left my phone and my eye glasses inside. All I had was Jesus. And guess what, He was enough. After class ended, I retrieved my glasses and other belongings while trying to hold back the tears. Finally I made it home. I wanted to call someone, but Jesus said, "I'm here." I tried to plan my next step while also trying to figure out what brought it all on. Jesus said, "Trust me." Once I finally got my emotions under control, I realized the ...

Just the other day I wrote “I Am Not My Own”. Today, I was reminded of that fact again because, in all truth, I forgot. Just that quick. And I know it’s not just me that can get a revelation of God and His truth today, and tomorrow have no memory of it. I used to talk about the Israelites and how they grumbled and complained while in the desert. Not many days after leaving Egypt, loaded with gold and silver they’d effectively looted from the nation, they complained about a lack of provision. HELLO! Did you not see what God did back there? Have you already forgotten the plagues? Have you forgotten how God distinguished between you, His chosen people, and the Egyptians during those plagues? Have you already forgotten how the death angel passed over you and killed every other firstborn in Egypt? How could you so quickly forget who God is and complain? Today, I ask myself the same thing. I’m not complaining; I’m just not doing. I have been blessed to be a housewife for many yea...

  For as long as I can remember I’ve been something of a know-it-all. Not in a boastful, prideful sort of way (I hope), but in a… hmmm. Maybe it was boastful, in that I have always craved attention.   (Amazing what you learn about yourself when you sit down and allow God’s Holy Spirit to reveal Himself and thereby reveal the true you.) Anyway, I don’t remember a time where I didn’t want to be seen and recognized. I didn’t want to be looked over. Maybe it’s a middle-child thing; I don’t know. What I do know, is when I asked Jesus to be Lord of my life, I had to forget what I knew, and I definitely had to (have to) get over my desire to be seen and recognized. I’ve been a member of God’s family now for twenty-eight years – I’ve been a church member most of my fifty-two years but the two are not the same – and that lesson is finally beginning to hit home. You see, in the beginning, I wanted Jesus to be my savior. I did not want Him to be Lord.   Merriam-Webster d...

For as long as I can remember I’ve claimed Matthew 6:33 as my life verse. In the King James Version, it reads, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Talk about an easy task. But the talk was the only easy part about it. Someone once told me there are three stages of salvation. Stage one is a desire for fire insurance. This is the stage where you realize you are a sinner and bound for hell, but God. This realization leads you to ask Jesus to come into your life and save you from your sins. You need a savior from the fires of hell. This is stage one. (Bear with me and we’ll return to Matthew 6:33.) Stage two of salvation is the desire for blessings stage. Not everyone makes it to this stage because to get here, you have to learn a little more of the God you’ve invited into your life. It is obtained after you read your Bible or go to church and hear verses like Matthew 6:33, Psalm 37:4, Ephesians 3:20, Matth...