Falling in Love

Have you ever fell in love before? It's amazing, right? You see an imperfect person as loved and cherished and you care for them. Love is CRAZY really. Love literally changes your life, whether you are the one loving someone or the one being loved by someone-love changes us!

Just recently I fell in love. My whole life changed and has continually changed since the moment I met the one I love. I started thinking about the one I love ALL the time! I started desiring to be with the one I love ALL the time. I longed to be there in the arms of the one I love and know that I am loved back-no matter what. There's nothing quite like it really! It's truly the greatest feeling and knowing in the whole world! To walk with the one I love, to talk with the one I love and to just know that no matter what-the one I love is never leaving, but staying faithful to me even when I fail over and over again. No matter what, the one I love loves who I am! It's that unconditional love that changes us.

The world throws this fake version of love in our faces and tells us that love is "here today and gone tomorrow, so love while you can!" The truth is-love NEVER leaves and we don't have to be someone we are not to be loved by anyone. Love is given freely and love is not a "if you are____ (fill in the blank) then I will love you..." Love is a choice. Love is sacrificial, love is faithful, love overlooks a multitude of wrongs and forgives. Love never fades, love is patient, love is kind, love does not envy, does not boast, is not self-seeking, love rejoices with the truth, love preservers. Love is so many things all in one! When you truly experience love yourself, you never want to go back!

Another exciting part of being in love is writing love letters! I LOVE writing (even though I haven't been on here in a long time, I'm sorry), and I especially love writing love letters! Love letters are the best-you can read them any time you want to remind you of the love a person has for you! Love letters are sentimental (or should be I hope), love letters are a way to freely express yourself to the one you love. Writing gets all of your thoughts out on paper and helps you release your feelings and emotions.

Love has literally changed my life. God is love..and that's the love I'm referring to at this moment. God has changed my life. Everything I've written about love is the things God has let me grow in in my relationship with Him! I am more in love with Jesus than I've EVER been! Yes, I do love in this way on earth, but nothing compares to the love I've experienced with Jesus! He loves me so much and has not ever stopped pursuing me and showing me HIS love, not my version of the kind of love He has for me-but His true, genuine love-the love HE HAS FOR ME! He desires to romance me! He wants my WHOLE HEART and my WHOLE LIFE! Something God has shown me recently is that He is jealous for me, meaning that He wants my whole attention! He wants to grow me and love me and show me amazing things in my relationship with Him. I have failed Him over and over and over SO SO SO SO SO much, but GOD STILL LOVES ME!

It's so incredibly difficult to be not literally in the arms of Jesus..because that's where I want to be! I know one day soon I will be with the one I love and that will be a beautiful day!

It's hard to be away from the ones I love on this earth..and I hope one day I can be with the ones I love-if I never get to, I know that they know down deep inside their hearts that I love them! God is taking good care of His children and I trust Him with my heart and my life! It's a growing process of trusting in God every day because it's hard to trust that He holds the future when I can't see it clearly.

I just want to encourage you to fall madly in love with your Father! God loves you tremendously and there's NOTHING YOU CAN EVER SAY OR DO or that ANYONE can EVER SAY OR DO to remove His never-ending, unconditional love for you! God loves you more than you love yourself or anyone else! I hope my love walk with Jesus just keeps growing!

Know that you are forgiven and loved and God is not mad at you at all! He has compassion on you and wants to hear EVERYTHING-the good, the bad and the ugly. He wants to talk to you about everything in your life. Read His love letter to you-The Bible and write love letters to Him! Go on walks with Jesus, sing to Him, talk to Him, listen to Him and never lose hope! Keep letting Him romance you and keep running to your Daddy God! He's got you! We are precious to Jesus. We are His. Don't stop! RUN AFTER GOD WITH ALL YOU HAVE AND ALL THAT IS INSIDE YOU. Know that HIS love compels you to Him, it is not of your own strength or ability that you can even love God outside of God because GOD IS LOVE!

I'm falling more in love with Jesus every day and I hope you are falling for Him too!

Love,
Traci

Finding My Voice

       
                Today I had a session time with my counselor and we discussed some very important things...One of which was "Traci, you need to take back the voice that was taken from you as a child." You have the power and ability to say "no" to things and to set appropriate and right boundaries..As a young child your boundaries were violated and you had no ability or power to take control, but now you must take back your voice and realize that you have one. You must realize that people will try and do try to cross your boundaries and you need to realize-you are no longer a victim like you were when you were younger. You are an adult and you have the power to protect the temple God gave you! You are the temple of the Holy Spirit and what people have done and do to you that hurt you, they are hurting God and His temple. Take back your voice...."

I have been in counseling for a little while to go back over things from when I was wounded in my past. I want to grow and be healed more and more. I want to be who God has called me to be and realize that everyone has a past and everyone has something bad and hard that they have gone through (maybe even more than one thing) but that does not make them bad or anything of the like. That's why we need Jesus. He took the weight and all the sin and wounds and pain and hurt from us. We are more than conquerors through Christ who lives in us. I have a voice that God has given me and He has a plan and purpose for my life. He works all things out for the good of those who are called according to His purpose. I am called and I am chosen. I am God's child and in my weakness' Christ is made perfect. I am finding my voice..

Mornings With Jesus!

God speaks to us in many ways. Just this last night I had a choice to spend time with God, or do other things that I thought were more important, like homework or reading a novel or a book about going organic and what that really means. Yes, I was tempted to do these things and other things too, but God showed me that I desperately needed to spend time with Him. He showed me that I have not made Him first priority in my life recently. Instead I have made my schedule and the things that I feel are important at the time my priority. That is wrong and I have known and felt terrible about for a very long time, but I haven't taken any action to make my spirit come in control over my flesh and the things I want to do. My spirit and the things of God need to rule any decision I make, no matter if they aren't necessarily "bad" things, but things that need to come last in terms of my order of priorities. God MUST be number one and without that set in stone, I can't go and move in the direction God has called me! God has never let me down or you down. He has been faithful and loving and patient with us and what do we do in return? We ignore Him, push Him away and don't listen. We think we know more than He does and we rule our own lives, when God really just wants us to submit to His plan and walk in obedience to Him. Things won't always be easy, but God is always there and He's there waiting for us to turn to Him. We all have a choice to follow the ways of the Spirit of God or the ways of this world and the fleshly desires. We all have a choice as to who we allow to influence us and the choices we make every day define who we are as a person! I encourage you to use the times and the things God does to change you from the inside out! I want Him to be number one, so I am making a conscious decision to do just that! I hope you will as well! If that means waking up early in the morning and spending time with Jesus-just Him and I, then that's what I'll do and what I did last night! That was the choice I made! I hope you are encouraged and continue doing good! Continuing in the things of God and in His word! He loves YOU! Remember that! You are becoming a reflection of Him! :) Keep it up!

Beauty

Girls, sometimes we forget these things, but the truth is...true beauty comes from within. God sees us without makeup and He sees us the way we are-our good and bad, all of it, yet He still loves us and calls us beautiful! Don't try to be like what the media says, instead be who God says you are! I am learning this as well! Be who God made you to be! You are beautiful and you don't have to show it off so others will see it! The right guy will come along and He will see YOU! When you dress immodestly, you are asking for heartbreak and your breaking the guys' hearts as well. We need to help them guard their eyes and thoughts! You only have one man just like all the men only have one woman for them...so why lure other women's future husbands to you? Don't you want to help men and women to remain faithful for each other! You're beautiful and if You (and I) believe it more, then we won't be insecure and feel non-beautiful! YOU ARE GORGEOUS! :) TRUST ME! God doesn't make junk and trash...on the other hand if we don't take care of ourselves, then that means that if we start looking less beautiful because of what we have done to our bodies, it's not God's fault, but our own. So we must believe the truth that we are beautiful and not dress immodestly and take care of our bodies!!! You are loved! Believe it!!! :)

Hope you are encouraged! :)

The Triangle Connection

Have you ever wondered how one meets and marries the right one? Well the answer is simple, just like this triangle above both the future husband and wife have to keep their focus on Jesus. It's like the two of you are a million miles apart (maybe), but if your focus is on God, you know you will meet them running right next to you in your race to the prize-God's kingdom. God is all knowing and He know's who you and I will marry. So our job is to trust in Him and run to Him in all times in our life. I know what it's like to feel lonely or to feel distant or afraid or nervous, scared or worried, but we must remember that fear and worry only destroys what we see ourselves as and what God sees us as. It is times of trust that matter, not fear and worry. Besides, isn't there a quote that says that worry subtracts 7 years from your life? I don't know if that's right, but I do know that trusting will make your and my faith grow stronger. I need stronger faith, that's for sure! I don't think there could ever come a time where I have had enough faith for my life. Life is a journey, so in this journey focus on God and everything else will fall into place, even the person you marry will one day be in your and my life, so we don't need to worry about a thing in this world! God's got it in His hands. We just need wisdom, strength, faith and trust knowing that no matter what happens God is STILL God and He knows our past, our present and our future! So let's TRUST HIM! :)

Remember this triangle if it helps you! :)

God's Changing Me-Journey

 (Here is an updated photo of me, btw)

Recently I have made a decision to do something that can be difficult and actually a couple of things are difficult in what I'm doing. I am just believing that through this decision that I will be what God wants me to be. I believe that God is asking me to do several things in my life, for my benefit, but for His ultimate glory! Those things are:
1) NO Facebook for at least a month, and then I will see what God desires and wants of me from there.
2) Read my Bible and Pray and spend time with God daily and make it a habit. He is my everything. He should and I always want Him to be number 1 in my life.
3) Think and say only positive things over me and my life as well as other people's lives. I am a child of God, an Heir to the throne of God, I am HIS!
4) Eat healthy. I want and think it's good to make my physical self line up with what I am doing spiritually. I don't eat TERRIBLE, but I don't eat the best way that I could be eating. My body is the temple of Jesus. He made me and I want to take care of the life He has given me and not fill it with things that are not of Him.

Now I want to explain in more detail each of these things I am doing and why. Through this what I call "Journey" I will be journaling every day to show and express my thoughts and how I am learning and growing in Him and to help me keep on track and see where I have come and express my feelings, thoughts and what I am learning more on paper!

The reason I chose to go without Facebook is not because I believe it's an "evil" thing or anything like that, but because I believe that for myself I have spent too much time on Facebook and am wanting to focus my attention on God. Also, I think that many people, including myself have consciously or unconsciously taken Facebook to a level it should have never been at. It has become people's relationships, instead of real life, person-to-person relationships. I think in my own life I unconsciously did it and didn't even realize it. Therefore I will be going without Facebook for a month. Facebook is a good tool, but can very easily be used in a wrong way.

The reason I want to read and study and spend time with God in His Word is because I have been lacking in that area. I haven't been reading it near enough and studying it as much as I should and desire to be. I have seen about 5 of my very dear friends fall away from God in the past 2-3 years. It really hurts and is hard for me to see. It actually makes me so sad to the point that I have become fearful of my own faith. I start asking questions like "am I rooted and grounded in God's Word enough? I hope I don't fall away from God...I wonder if I will be next..." I have been thinking those thoughts and it has scared me, so taking this "Journey" with God this month, I hope to cultivate a more deeper and personal relationship with God. I don't want to ever come away or pull away from Jesus. I ask God to create in me a pure heart and help me to always stay steadfast in Him and His Words! I never want to be away from Him or His presence. I always want to grow in Him and never leave Him or His plan for my life!

The reason I think I need to say and think positive thoughts is for several reasons. The first is that God has been showing me that I haven't been speaking positive things over my life. I say things that I know I shouldn't say about myself and it's because I've been believing the lies of Satan for so long and now I want to break myself from believing those lies. I often say "I'm not beautiful" or "No one will ever want to marry me...what am I? I am nothing..." BUT God has been recently showing me that even in these lies and other lies that I have believed for a long time that life and death is in the power of the tongue. I can speak right and positive things over my life or I can speak death and unhealthy things in my life. BUT whatever I speak and believe, it very well could and eventually will happen in my life. I know in my head the truth's, but I need to believe them in my heart. I desire to believe them and want to, therefore I am taking the steps I know how to start believing the truth's of God's Word. I am an Heir of Christ! I am His Princess, I am HIS forever and I love Him forever and unconditionally! I want my life to always show and be a reflection of Him, therefore I must believe God's truth's because God does not lie and His words are true and lovely!

The next thing I am doing on this Journey is eating healthier. I don't eat as healthy as I should and since my body is the body God gave me for this earth, I want to treat it well. I have to live with it my whole life and I am His child and am a reflection of Him, therefore my health and heart and spirit need to line up with each other. Everything needs to be where it should be in my body and if I don't treat my body right, I won't be able to honor God with my body. My body needs to reflect Him, just as much as my spirit and my attitude and heart! Everything needs and should come in alignment with God's Words in this. If I treat my body poorly and then say "God, why am I ugly, etc..?" It's not God's fault, it's MY fault. I want to make it a habit to eat right and think positively and not treat my body or mind or any part of me with disrespect for Jesus. I am HIS CHILD and HE MADE ME JUST THE WAY I AM! I need and should treat it well! :)

That is pretty much the idea of what I am doing this month! You are welcome to pray for me as I take this Journey in my walk with Jesus! Thanks!

Character

I found this quote above when I looked up the word "character" on google.com. I thought it had some truth in it and I like what it says. I believe it's saying that character is built and doesn't just happen and isn't like a natural talent that we are sort of just "born with." It takes character to just work on building character in ourselves. It's in the trials and pain of this life, it's in the hard times that proves what our character really is. Do we give up or do we keep going and be persistent and NOT give up, are we stubborn or go with the flow of the world? Do we do what's right even when it feels like the hardest thing we've ever done? What we choose to do in the hardest times in our lives proves who we REALLY are! Everything about our lives will determine which direction we will go-north or south/right or wrong! I'm not saying that it's not okay to make mistakes, but when we do make mistakes or mess up, what do we do? Do we give up and not try or are we stubborn and work on our problems because we want to be everything God wants us to be? What choices you make in your life builds who you are and who people see you as. Even the things NO ONE knows about builds who you are because you are who you are and even if people don't know about things in your life, the important thing is that GOD knows and He cares. He wants you to lay your cares and problems over to Him, because He will work it out in your life for YOUR good! God is a good God and He has already taken the burden that you are carrying. The sin and fear and every evil and hard thing has already been paid for! The debt is gone! Christ took EVERY pain you are holding onto on the cross and HE NAILED it there! I encourage you to let go of the things you are holding onto in your life! It's good to let go and give it to God! He will make your wildest dreams come true and even beyond that! There will be a price for you, and that is letting go and stopping what you are doing and holding onto! Give it ALL to Him! He wants you to know that YOU CAN TRUST HIM! He is here and He loves YOU and wants the best for you! It will build character in you! You will become the man or woman you want to be! Let God mold you and make you into ALL that He has made you to be! Don't hold on to your life! Let it go, give your life to God and let it be His life in you! :) Watch this video and tell me what you think and if this helps you!

Desperate For You

 God,

I love you and I thank You for everything You have done in my life. You are a good Father and a wonderful King. I am unworthy yet You love me and show worth to me. When I am sad and having bad days, you are always there. When life is hard like it is now, I know that You are faithful and You never break Your promises. I know I have not done things that are right and honorable. I know I have failed You many times and I desire and want to do what's right. Create in me a pure heart oh, God. Help me to have a Mary heart and spirit. Help me to be the kind of woman You want me to be! Jesus, You're all I need and ALL I truly want! You are perfect and Holy and I love You. I wish I was more like You and could do everything in life right and didn't have to deal with hard things. I know though that I live in a fallen world and things are hard, but I know that You are God and I trust You to take care of me. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me and here I am playing the harlot, chasing after other lovers/things in this life, when only You can satisfy my every need and desire. You are everything good and everything right. I desire wisdom and instruction. Help me to have a teachable and a heart of clay that is soft so that You can move it the way You want it to be. Help me to run after You and love You from the inside-out. Help me to have Godly character and a humble heart-willing to go wherever You lead me with a "Yes" heart! Help me to live it out and be the kind of woman You have created me to be. Help me to be like Esther and Ruth and Naomi, and Deborah and so many other great women of the Bible...Jesus make me the Traci that You want me to be and do what is right even when it's hard. Help me to hear Your voice even when it's really loud all around me! Help me to never be deceived or misled, but staying steadfast to Your word and Your promises. Help me to always feel Your Holy Spirit!

Jesus, You are my Husband, my Father, and the love of my life. I want YOU above all things that this world brings and offers...Jesus, please make me a reflection of You! Forgive me where I have messed up and failed and sinned. Help me to do things right next time. Help me to have the mind of Christ and to take every thought captive and make it obey Christ! You are everything that I live for! I love You SO much Jesus! I wait for You! Renew my strength Jesus!

Desperate For You Jesus,
In Jesus Name, Amen

Strongholds

What are strongholds? It's really simple, it's something that has a STRONG hold on your life. It's anything that is SUPER hard for you to work through and get over. Something the Devil uses against you because you are really weak in an area (or more than one area). It's not a good thing to have, but we all have strongholds in our lives somewhere. Strongholds can only be conquered through Jesus. He has broken every stronghold and everything that sets itself against God's Word. In conquering a stronghold I believe that there are some things that one has to do to get through strongholds in their life. The first thing is ADMITTING the stronghold/problem, this is important because without admitting and saying you or I have a stronghold we will never get over it. The second thing I believe is important to get over a stronghold is CONFESS. the stronghold/problem to a strong Christian who can help build you up in your faith, normally talking to someone of the same gender is best unless it's like a serious/legit leader of an opposite gender or something like that, but I believe that it is more safe that way. The third thing I think is important to conquer a stronghold is get PRAYER as much as possible. Get prayer because with prayer and faith that you can conquer the stronghold on your life, it can and will be done. The fourth thing I think that one should do is  CONSCIOUSLY make and effort and decision to NOT do or say or think those things again. FORCE yourself to resist the temptation when it rises. Don't let others or Satan or ANYONE tell you that you can't get over it because it's NOT true. You have the authority to tell it NO. Start making right decisions in the right direction and don't do or think or say those things that you know is wrong. Even when it hurts and is REALLY hard-resist and prove to everyone and yourself that you are an overcomer and you have God on your side and He will help you. Let Him live in you, don't do it on your own or you will fail. Even if you fail-ask God to help you every day. Think on things above, change your thinking, change your thoughts and actions. It's easier said then done, but the more you or I do it, the easier it will get because every time one resists temptation they are conquering the strong hold on their life. The next thing I think should be done is SPEND time with God daily and even multiple times a day. Instead of playing games or watching t.v. or going shopping or other things, spend time with God-it will grow you up. Listen to Godly counsel and walk in obedience out of a heart for Christ and the love He has for you. Realize you are weak and He is strong and without HIM you can do NO thing at all! He is all you have and can live for! He's GREAT and I know you can conquer these strongholds. There are some other steps and if I think of all of them I will make another post on it, but for now I think this is a good start. I am praying for you! :) <3 God is on your side, don't let the Devil lie to you and try to lead you off the track that God has for you! KEEP LIVING FOR JESUS. HAVE A RELATIONSHIP with HIM! IT'S THE GREATEST GIFT EVER!!! :)

Fear vs. Faith

Recently, I have noticed how our world is getting worse in many ways and fear has come up within me. I see so many terrible things happening within my peer groups and friends and around the world and it has really bothered me. So many don't really know the love of God and don't know Him in a personal way, as Lord and Savior and as Master and Father of their lives. Several of my, once close friends have fallen away from God and the reason I know this is because of the fruit I see in their lives. The "fruit" is not Godly fruit in no way. They aren't growing, in fact several of them are running away from the Bible and the truth and God's word. It really breaks my heart and I am a very sensitive and emotional person. I have a super compassionate heart, which makes me cry or makes me sad when I see people I know not following after God with all of their hearts, soul, mind and strength. It is very hard to see and watch. With all of this happening it has brought some fear into my heart about them, life and the future of our world. Some thoughts that come to me are, "If my "Christian" friends or once Christian friends are falling away from God, who will stand? What will our world look like in many, many years to come? Why are so many falling away? etc...?" I am just filled with thoughts, concerns, prayers and uncertainty. I don't want to be fearful or weak, I don't desire to be "drowning" in this. I want faith, not lack of faith. I want and I know God's heart and desire is that He wants those He made to worship and love Him with all that they are. I want to stand firm in my faith until death, always growing and loving God. I want to follow in His path and in His way. I can't walk my fear, but by faith!

Please remember that "without faith it is impossible to please God." If you are living or struggling in fear, I encourage you as I am beginning to do as this fear has creeped up, to replace fear with prayer and faith! We can and will walk by faith and not by sight. We will have faith and not fear, we will believe and not doubt. I will live and pray God's promises and pray for those I know and for the world and all people to know God. Faith is what I want, not fear!

Humble Amish and Denominations...My Thoughts

I watched a documentary on the Amish last night and I really enjoyed it, but it also got me thinking "Are we doing something wrong in the way we live? Are they? Or does God consider all of hearts when they are humble and all of our lives when they actually do follow after Him, a good thing and not sin, etc...?" Cause I want God to guide and move my life to honor Him. I want to do the right thing...As I thought about it, I have realized that God has many colors of worship, many different styles of people who love and honor Him and not one of them is "wrong" necessarily, or within reason, but I believe that He enjoys our lives to reflect Him in the way we live our lives and the way we think and what we do and say-that it does reflect the awesomeness of our Creator! People love God in different ways and to have different denominations and say that ours is "the correct/right way" over another form of love and worship to God, is not our place. Only God can do the judging, we just have to follow where GOD leads us in our lives, not where man or ourselves lead us and then I believe and know that God will honor us as we honor Him and put Him and others above ourselves!

I remember that God does say in His word that He hates it when we bicker and fight and argue with one another. If we are truly humble we wouldn't say we are, because that could be pride if we say "Ya! I'm Humble! I've learned it..." That's the whole point of humility, we are all growing and learning and changing. We are not perfect and in our imperfection and in our pursuit and love towards God and in our daily lives of worship, we can see and know that our lives will be Holy and Pure and Humble as we pursue our God-the God who made us and forgave us even when we fail and mess up, the God who is our Father and still speaks to us even when our righteousness that we try to do is like dirty rags to Him, but He is ALWAYS there and ALWAYS loves us and is pursuing our hearts. He wants all people of all races, of all backgrounds, of all denominations and all non Christians to love Him and to really KNOW HIM! He is a God of love and a God of mercy, but He is also a Righteous God who loves us and corrects us to help and lead us into the right direction for our lives!

So are the Baptist wrong? no, Are the Pentecostals wrong? no. Are the Jews wrong? no. Are the charismatics wrong? no, Are the non-denominational wrong? no. Are the Catholics wrong? no. Are the Presbyterian's wrong? no. Are the denominations of Christianity all wrong but the one you are in (it would take a LONG list and a LONG time to write them all out, so just add yours in your mind that that list..)? I believe that they are not, I think that every denomination and every church has a point where they struggle and are not "perfect" or are not 100% right on all things, but I do know that it is not my place to judge if someone is in the wrong or a denomination is in the wrong, but it is my job to look at the fruit of their lives and be the light that Christ has called me to be based on the Bible! We are in pursuit of GOD, not the pleasing of man. I know we all have our own issues with other denominations or even other church's within our denomination or people group, but we grow and learn and become all that God has planned. Now, I am not saying that ALL of them are right because there are Muslims and Buddhist and even Mormons who I think do not believe and follow after God because they (Muslims, Buddhist's, etc...) worship other gods that is not the TRUE and ONLY God. The Mormons have taken our of the Bible and have added things to it as well and if you read the last few verses of Revelation and several other verses throughout that BIBLE it says "Do not add or subtract...." and if they have, then that means that they have sinned and are not following in the Way, Truth and Life of God's word, but they all need to be reached and as a body and as followers of Jesus, we have to tell all about our marvelous Creator and God and Father! They need to know!

That's just my thoughts, what are your thoughts on this sensitive? Now, I am just learning about this and don't really know a lot and I am interested in what is right and what is true and I want to know what others have learned in this subject and if you have any wisdom or think I might be a little off, post a comment and help me! I want to learn and if I am wrong in this, then please use scripture of GOD'S WORD and show me what I am missing...Thank you! It's much appreciated! :) God Bless!

Who or What Do We Worship?

Things in this world do not matter. Everything that we all get will be gone one day, eventually our lives will face judgement. Everything will be accounted for. What do you think we should do and live for, since everything is passing away? Well the answer is Christ and His Heavenly Kingdom. He has plans for our lives and He has given us a choice to follow His heart and plans. He will not force us to do things. He is a gentleman and He has not made us His robots. Everything we do in this world is our choice. We have to admit that we do mess up and sin, but by God's grace and love for His children, He gives us new life and a new hope, only if we believe and put out trust in Him. Everything that I have is not mine, I would be willing and able to give all I have away. Whatever God wants to do in my life, I say "yes" to. I will not put things ahead of God in my life. God is God of my life, not things. You or I can always know if things of this world have become a god in our lives by several signs. Some signs that should tell you if you have made something other than God a god in you life is by: 1. What are you thinking about? If your thoughts are focused on a thing you like or want to get or something you have and that is where almost all of your thoughts go, then there is a big sign that you are making the wrong choices and that thing or even person in your life could take the place that your Heavenly Father is supposed to have in your life. 2. What do you spend your time doing? If you spend and focus your world around 1 thing or maybe even two things in your life, then maybe those things have taken God's place. We are to worship Him in spirit and in truth, not along side other things. Something that people tend to put ahead of God is not only things but people. 3. So, are you thinking about someone all of the time? Do they consume your thoughts? If the answer to one or both or all of these questions is yes, then you probably have made something a gods in your life. If Christ is not the center of our world and how we make our decisions and how we use the things God has given us i.e. money, then it's about time that we confess to God that we have sinned and need and want God to tear down the gods in our lives. Many people in other countries worship false idols or images, and that is a god as well. We need God's help and guidance and mercy to tear down god's in our lives. He can and will do it. We just need to turn our focus to God and pray instead of thinking about that thing or person all of the time. After you pray, then get prayer, then decide to use your money, if it's money for God's kingdom and find the joy in giving and helping those in need. God loves us and He wants to be the love of our lives! There is so much joy and fulfillment when we worship and love God, the only one true God! He's amazing! :) Tear down idols and god's and let's worship the TRUE, ONE AND ONLY GOD TOGETHER, IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH!! :)

Advent

Advent is a time to remember the true meaning of Christmas. Each candle in the advent wreath stands for one character of Christmas and of the Christmas story. For example Joy is one. In our family for advent we take one day a week for the four weeks leading up to Christmas day (Sunday is the day we chose) and we get together as a family to sing Christmas songs and read and hear a story of Christmas. We will light a candle and turn out the lights while we sing. Then one of the kids will blow out each candle that we have. We then pray and we are done with "Advent."

I really like Advent because it reminds us that Christmas is not about "Santa" or "toys" or any other thing, but it's about Jesus and how He came to earth to do the greatest thing of all. He showed love to the world the day He was born into this world. He took the form of a man and became a human for our sake. We did not deserve this wonderful gift, but He chose to give it to us. In that same way, love is a choice. Love is not forced onto anyone. We make a choice to love everyday and to celebrate Jesus and what He has done for us and in us and in the lives of so many. He has set us up, wiped the tears from our eyes and has given us a new life. This Christmas season I will rejoice and be thankful for all that He has done and I will love Him more! God is Love, so without Him I would not grow in my love for the lost and the people who need Him above all things!

The true meaning of Christmas is Christ coming to earth, showing love when we didn't deserve it at all! I encourage you to thank God for everything He's given you, even the very breath you breathe is HIS! Christ is the center of my world! I pray He is the center of your world! What are you choosing to do different this Christmas and how will you do that?

Why I Am Not Ashamed of My Testimony...

Many people may wonder why I speak so freely on the things of my past and the stuff that
has hurt me and I was wanting to tell you why I do it. I am not proud or happy of the things
that have hurt me in the past, by no means at all! I do know that I overcome by the blood of
the lamb and by the word of my testimony. My life is a testimony of God's love and mercies
and grace in my life! My life is not my own. The things that have happened to me have
happened (in different ways) to many other people around the world. God has given me a
splendid opportunity to use what He has done in and through my life to give hope to those
who don't have hope! I have something that they need-Jesus! I never, ever dreamed of
ever being where I am today! I have a LOT to be thankful for! God takes care of me and
all of His children!

The terrible family structure/life and history I had in my life is not apart of the person I am
today! I am a new creature, with a new future and a new life! The abuse and mistreatment
that was apart of my life is not what I am defined by. The things that happened to me were
out of my control. I was a child, living in terrible circumstances, but GOD used the things
of my past to create my ashes into something to bring glory to His name! The lies that I
believed are no longer there, the truth has set me free! I am able to live freely now that
Christ has done amazing things in my life! Without Christ, I don't know where I would be!
In all honesty, with the way I was heading and my family life, I can see the kinds of
choices I could have made. The life I could have had would have been dreadful, believe
you me!

We don't have to dwell on the things of the past. I make so many mistakes and will make
mistakes, but I know that God  is bigger and He is strong in my weaknessess! God has
forgiven those who have hurt me, so I have chosen to forgive those who have as well!
If we don't allow God to change us from the inside out, we can build up grudges and hate
in our heart, which causes us to not live a life of forgiveness towards others. We all deserve
death, but Christ has conquered the grave! We have a gift of eternal life once we accept
Him as our Savior and Lord of our lives!

I don't want the spotlight on me, I want it on Jesus! I give my testimony to others to show
others what God has done in and through my life! The things that have happened in my life
are a tool for me to use, given by God! He doesn't want me to live in the past, He wants
me to live in Truth, Love and in His perfect plan for my life. I am nothing without Him! He
gets all of the praise in my life!

I encourage you to speak and share what God has done for you, no matter the size! God
uses a life that is an offering spilled out before Him! He uses the broken lives and molds
them into something beautiful for Him! He uses everyone's life who gives Him the pen for
their story! Instead of taking the pen away, we have to learn to give it to the King, Creator
and All-in-All! It's an important step in being set free forever!


(P.S. I could talk a LONG time about this. lol)