A Little Humor with a Big Lesson

This morning as I was reading and taking my notes from the Word; I had the biggest laugh. God has a "sense" of humor and I just had to share it with you. I hope you find a little humor with a big lesson in this.
I am certain that you have been among a crowd of people that you have shaken hands, hugged, or just passed by that had such a wonderful scent or perfume on them.  After you hugged them, their perfume has lingered onto your clothes or in the air. Sometimes these scents are Very pleasing.
Then you may be with a person that doesn't have a nice body odor at all. You have to be around them for whatever reason.  You are sick to your stomach and your eyes begin to water.  You look for the first opportunity to walk away for a breath of fresh air.

Do you have these two scenarios in your mind? 

Now read:

2 Corinthians 2:14b
Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.

Now, when we live a life without God our lives "stink." Mine did. I had filthy and proverse words coming off my lips. I mean "I swore like a sailor." I acted with sexual immorality, lewdness, lustful pleasures, divination, and much more.  I stunk! I left a horrible scent behind me that lingered, like manure.
The only people that wanted to hang out with me were the ones that stunk with me. You know what I mean?  If I stepped in a mud puddle, I had friends who stepped in it with me. I didn't spread anything but distasteful knowledge.

BUT, here the Word says when we accept God's gift of salvation, God uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, it is a great sweetness; it is pleasing to the five senses.
If I lay in a bed of rose petals, will you follow me and lay in them also?  This is the what the Word of God does. It takes us from stinking like manure to the sweetness of rose petals.   You are closing your eyes, tilting your head in the air, and breathing in the sweet smell and love that lingers.  Now that is SWEEET!


Can you relate to the humor in this with the lesson at hand?  I just thought it was funny to see how God used one word this morning, perfume, to explain to different kingdoms.  God's just too humorous when you let him be.

~ Be encouraged you don't have to hang out in the pasture with all that manure anymore.

Encourage: Sitting on the Fence?

Encourage: Sitting on the Fence?: I hope that by now you have reviewed and taken time to put action to work and are beginning to have a transformed life. Please continue to p...

Sitting on the Fence?

I hope that by now you have reviewed and taken time to put action to work and are beginning to have a transformed life. Please continue to pursue a relationship with the Real Person of God today; don't just sign up for fireproof insurance.
I recently had a conversation with a man who said he "cannot believe God would send anyone to hell." I asked him if he has read Revelations 20 and received no response. This grieved me for the Word of God is alive and speaks ONLY truth. The Word is for those who have spiritual belief and not carnal belief.
It is for each one of us to decide what we believe in. But if you are still sitting on the fence or choose to believe there are other gods that will save you, make sure you know the history of your god.
My God says:

Satan's kingdom
Revelation 20:15
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

God's kingdom

John 14:2
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Dark Monday Morning or Friday Morning?

A friend of mine shared with me, a few months ago, that Pastors have dark Monday mornings. Pastors are work diligently during the week to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ on Sunday mornings. Their heart's desire is to bring "one more" soul to Jesus before that person dies and their chances of meeting Him is done. The pastor has one more opportunity to help their brother, or sister, to experience the freedom that they have found in Jesus. The experience, the wonderful taste of God's goodness is on the lips and heart of our pastor's. They have such a desire to bring the truth of God's word to light; that is for those that are truly seeking God's face in God's house. God is so good that He cannot be measured. It is infinite.
I have come to realize that my Friday mornings are sometimes a "dark Monday morning." You see, I have a desire for women to taste the fruit of God's goodness. I want you to know just how much God loves pulling you out of your pit. My heart wants to be lined up with God's desire for your life. I know it is good and pleasing to Him and I want that for YOU. 
I sometimes wake up on Friday mornings unable to smile, feel joy in my heart, and have a spring in my step. I couldn't understand it for a while, until my friend, Larry shared about Monday mornings for Pastors. Now, I realize it is when my Thursday evenings are filled with joy at the sight of many faces intrigued with what God is saying through His chosen people. It is the sorrowful heart of mine that sees a brother or sister in pain from past mistakes and realizing they need to repent and desire a good changed life. I try not to reflect too much on what I should have said or done differently. I attempt to not listen to the devil trying to tell me how under or over qualified I am for what God has ordained me to do. No, I seek to just serve God and speak His truth in those moments.  It is the other souls around me that my heart grieves for, rejoices with, and yearns for them to have a deeper, closer, broader relationship with God who cannot lie to us. A God that  love us with ALL he has and had, and desires for us to have so much more than we can think or imagine.
Sometimes it is easy for all of us to walk around and say I want this or I want that. But nothing in this life will compare to what lies ahead of us after we die. It will be a very enjoyable journey or it will be a tortuous one. God gives us free willpower. It is our choice to choose what we want and our selfish willpower or God's willpower for us. We have the opportunity to live a life now with peace and to pass into more peace after we die.  It is our choice to decide what action we will take. 
My heart aches for those who struggle with life, in constant torment over their fears and hurts of the past. It seems to be life that is forever having "bad things happen." 
You see, Satan doesn't know what your future holds, he only knows your history. It is your history that he brings to your attention and you decide to join him in reliving it or not.
Some people want to curse God after accepting His free gift because they believe God should just deliver them from their pain and suffering in a snap of a finger. We live in a microwave world, but God's timing is in an oven that works slow. God is a patient God, a loving God who wants to give you ALL of His goodness, peace, joy, love, faithfulness, and more.  ALL He wants in return is for you to love Him with All your heart, All your soul, All your mind, and All your strength. He doesn't ask for much from us.

Are you willing to work and take action with him and allow him to work in your life so that it will be a long life of goodness? 

~ Be encouraged that I sure have a desire that you will make that choice today. I encourage you to continue or even begin searching the scriptures and finding out about God's love for you. The bible is His love letter to you. Enjoy the writings, the love, the romance, the laughter, the suspense, and be changed forever.

Action

First, let me make a correction in a statement I know that I have said but in the Bible (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) it is not found. I have said that when Jesus Christ was on the cross and he cried out "My God, My God why have you forsaken me" that God could not look upon him because he was carrying the sin of the world on him. This is not true.  If it was, God wouldn't be able to look at you and me.
Also, I want you to know that my heart's desire is for you to have a deep, lasting, and loving relationship with the God who created you, God Almighty. This is not about having fire insurance and thinking that it is good to know God and accept the gift of salvation; then turn and do whatever your desire is. It is not okay for you to accept salvation and think it is okay to be a harlot.  When you accept Christ, it should be a life changing experience. Yes, it is difficult to change, but when your heart truly desires to have a relationship with a man who died on the cross for you and because of you, He is worth getting to know.

Okay, it's time to put what we've learned into action.  But wait, what did we learn? Look back and see that we've been talking about how to have a Christ centered relationship. First you have to accept the truth of who you are in Christ Jesus by spending time with Him. Gaining a greater understanding of what He says about you makes all the difference in your world.
Next, take your thoughts captive. Pay attention to what you are saying and thinking. Asking  yourself questions is okay even if you don't have the answer.
Now, we are going to find ways to placing these things into action and gain, perhaps, a better understanding of where you are to where you want to be, to where you want to go.
Let's get started.  Set your area up with a notebook, Bible, dictionary, a mirror (yes a mirror), writing tools plus a high lighter or two.  Then come back and ready for step 2.

Let's pray together since we are in this together, okay?
Lord, help us to cast all our anxieties on you. Show us, please what good is in us that you see. Help us to humble ourselves before you, strengthen us where we are weak, encourage us where we lack confidence. Lord, give back to us what the devil has stolen so that you may be glorified. Forgive us where we have fallen short and believed the lie that we are not worthy of having anything good in our lives.
So let it be, Amen.

You can't heal a wound by saying it is not there. In Jeremiah it says:
"They have healed also the daughter saying peace, peace, when there is no peace."

Romans 7 says this: "For what am I doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin  that dwells in me."

Recognition is the first golden nugget and you are seeing you want the good stuff. You have a wholeness of mind and you can make decisions based on truth. Yippee!
God says in Matthew 11 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Now, lets explore what Jesus says about you. Have you heard the phrase "Modest is Hottest"?
I am sure in Christ's day there were women who acted and dressed provocatively. These women are alluring to the eye of men, harlots as they are called.
Did you know there is writings that tells us how to act and dress?  Look at a couple of scriptures.
Proverbs 11:22.  As a ring of golden a swine's (dictionary: swine) snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion (dictionary: discretion). 

I don't know about you, but being compared to a pig is not attractive.  Have you had the opportunity to look at a pig and watch the way they act?  Have you seen a pig with a nose ring?  It is rather disgusting. That is what God used to compare a woman that shows her skin, wears mid drifts, has foul language coming from her mouth, finds her identity in having sex with others, and thinks she is all that and a bag of chips.  It is an ugly character to have.

Proverbs 21 says this:  A haughty (dictionary: haughty) look, a proud heart And the plowing of the wicked are sin. Even says something about our attitude and the way we should behave.

This is the upside.  Look into Proverbs 31 verse 10 and 11.  "Her" stands for woman and what a beautiful thing to be compared to?  Looking further it talks about how we should be trusted. This is a good time to highlight the good stuff in your bible. You will want to remember what the Lord says is good.
Is this how you want to be viewed, worth more than rubies and trusted? I sure did.  I got so tired of being mistrusted, feeling worthless and ready to commit suicide. I wanted something more and better. It wasn't until I found what I needed to change and found where to look for the answers that my life began to change for the better. Your life can change too but centering your life around Jesus Christ.

If you have a concordance book or can use the online Biblegateway or download e-sword onto your computer, you can look up words, scriptures, search words within the passages, and so much more.  This is a great tool to use to find out what God has to say about you.  The last scripture I encourage you look up within the concordance is what God says about you and an "apple".  

Enjoy your study, you are now on your own for a while.

~Be encouraged you are on the road to a healthy relationship with Jesus Christ.

Separated, Really?

"Believe, Achieve, Succeed."  It's the same with yourself and with God. You see, apart from God you can't do it but with God ALL things are possible.
Okay, so I am going to trust that you've been practicing falling to your knees and asking for forgiveness before the devil has time to even open his venom mouth. If not, let's start today.
I believe God has a sense of humor. I've been talking about taking every thought and emotion captive, asking for forgiveness before the devil can point the finger and accuse us of doing wrong, right? Well last night I just had to laugh. I was watching my favorite show (about the only show I watch), "Dancing with the Stars."  Every time I saw the Latin William Levy I was taking my thoughts captive. Not that he was captivating (right ladies?), but I sure paid attention to what I was thinking and where my eyes were roaming. I did turn the television off or change stations a few times. It was a lesson for me too.
Do we look at other people with lust or with the thought "God you did really well with this creation." I think the first is probably more likely to happen.
Considering what the Lord says about where our eyes roam, what comes out of our lips, and how we act is much more important to our integrity that anything else. We were talking to our youth group tonight about the scriptures that we could run to when we face adversity. It should not surprise me that at least four of the young adults didn't really pay attention to what was being taught. I asked the leader if I could ask the group a question. In turn he said "yes."  I got real with them when I gave them a directive as I give it also to you. "Raise your hand if you want to be separated from God." You see sin keeps us separated from God. He turned away from Jesus while he was on the cross because He could not look at him while he was carrying our sins. Just in case you're curious no one raised their hand either. I could see there were some that truly thought about what I said and others that didn't hear it at all. God's word does not turn void, so it definitely wasn't a question wasted. I hope you will ponder over it also.
 Most of us want a happier life, a life full of some really good stuff, but we are not willing to work for it. We would rather take the easy way out, get out of sin with a free card  or coupon. "I've gone forward, said my little prayer and got my 'get out of hell free card.' Now see you next Easter." Come on get real with me now. Most of us think we can do all this and go back to sinning. We've got the fire proof insurance. Would you call this living Christ centered?  Would you say that you can now have a full Christ centered relationship with someone?   I tried it and it didn't work for me. If it is working for you, please share with me your tactics.   My guess is that my comment box will be empty.
 Making a decision to truly live in a relationship with Christ in the center of it has so many more rewards.
A young adult friend of mine, Brett, told me "You can't go into a relationship expecting it to fail; the reason for dating is to find God's life mate for you."  I am thankful that a my young 18 year old made this statement. In the word it says in Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."
If you expect failure, most likely you have failure. If you think there is a back door open, there usually is one and you will probably walk through it. If you were to ask divorcees if they had this thought, I believe all of them would say "yes, I did." 
If you are loving the way Christ loves, you won't want a back door, the "d" word will not even be considered because your relationship is of Christ's will for your life and not your own.
In 1 Timothy 5:22 it says "Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure."  Wow, God even speaks on being pure when touching someone. I heard a young man say that him and his girlfriend didn't kiss because they wanted to make sure they kept themselves away from sin. I didn't even know this was in the bible when I was growing up; did you?
This scripture speaks volumes! If you see couples today, most of us hold hands, sit close to each other, suck face a lot, and the dress attire is not modest at all. I ask you, are the couples having a Christ centered relationship? Are you persuing a Christ centered relationship?
Perhaps now that we have at least one tool in our Christ centered relationship tool box, we should ponder on this for a while.
I hope that you are beginning to desire a very healthy relationship beginning with pursuing God and what He wants for your life. I hope that you are spending time getting to know him and enjoying his dotting over you.
~Be encouraged my friend, God loves you and wants to give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:3-5
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
⁴ Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.

First One Wins!

Hands on the swinging hips, chest pushed out like a rooster coming out of the hen house, nice black dress that is so skin tight that the shape of the buttocks shows the girls pantie line. 
Jeans are so tight that the wallet has left a trace mark on the back right pocket. The shirt fits so tight that you can see every ripple or non ripple from what is under the shirt.
I'm about to get REAL with you so hold on. 
Okay guys: who's tongues were hanging out and panting? Girls: who was biting their lower lip?
Now ask yourself this question.  Was it healthy to think that way? If I put your thoughts and emotions on a computer screen and showed it to the world, how would that make you feel?
How about your partner, would they mind your lust after this vision?
Now the devil wants you to go believe that it is all right for you think this way, say some things and do things that would please your flesh.   He is slick with words like "you want to tap into that wouldn't you?" "Ooh, that looks so goooood."  
This is wrong, wrong, wrong. God did not make you nor anyone else to be lusted over. It isn't what you see that matters but what you don't see.  How is the girls heart? Is it pure, honest, trustworthy? How about the boys? Is his heart gentle, kind, and self controlling?  By the way I've described it and Satan temps us is  to say that they are easy, sexually tantalizing, and needs YOUR attention.
The word tells us to take every thought captive and I agree with a pastor that recently told me to take every emotion captive too. Now that you take it captive what do we do with it? How about taking to the God who created you for a good life?
Growing up I didn't like being a tattle tale, did you? Although, I am sure I was one a time or two. Then I grew up and secrets became my life style. Now I am quick to tattle tale...on the devil.  I go to the Father and point fingers.  "Pappa, did you see what the devil just did?" "He had me watching that guy and my tongue was on the floor!" "Lord, he is good lookin' but I know you don't want me to be looked at like that, I'm sorry I looked at him that way."  Boom! I just slapped  the devil in his face by telling God what he did to me. Come on, don't you know that the devil is doing the same thing? 
In sixth grade I had a girl, Caprice, she dared me to strike a match and throw it into a steel trash can in the hall. As soon as I struck the match and threw it in the can; she ran into the principles office to tattle tale on me. Now, I was the one that got into trouble. Hey, you would do it to if you were dared!
Okay, so if I had taken the thought captive and thought about my butt being whipped when I got home, I might not have struck the match. If I had been the tattle tale first, Caprice might have gotten in trouble for bringing the matches to school. So now it's a race. The first one to the office is the better person. The first one to be a tattle tale to God is a better person, but not excused for agreeing wtih the enemy and his lies.
Remember, we have to submit, take responsibility for our own actions and ask for forgiveness.  The first one on her or his knees wins. I'd rather win against the devil any day than have to face my consequences...like a paddle.
Look, God created you. The word says you are fearfully and wonderfully made in His likeness. That means you are made for something good, not evil. You are made to be treated with kindness, gentleness, self control, AND have all these things also. God says you are WORTH more than rubies and gems. Ponder on that for a moment. Worth - More - Than - Rubies and Gems!  
 You are priceless, precious, and special.
God says you are _____________________.  Can you fill in the blank? Can you believe what He says?

If you have a difficult time believing the good in yourself, how about connecting with a friend and ask them what they believe that is good about you.  Then receive what they say, write it down, and know you have a great self worth by a Great God who created you. Remember seeing this phrase in Walmart?
"Believe, Achieve, Succeed."  It's the same with yourself and with God. You see, apart from God you can't do it but with God ALL things are possible.

Let's change our stinking thinking for something priceless and good.

~Be Encouraged today by being the first one to win!

Submit, Resist, and...Ahhh That Feels Better!

Have you believed the lie that the devil wants you to believe and that is "God is trying to take all the fun out of your life."  The truth is that God's will is full of life, His will is good, perfect and acceptable for you. You can read this good stuff in John 10:10 and Romans 12:1-2.
When we believe this lie it is then that we go out and look for fun and love. ♫ "Looking for love in all the wrong places" ♪ The problem is that we usually end up with a boyfriend (or girl friend) and actually end up in the wrong place and with the wrong person. We want some one to validate who we are. We want to hear from the opposite sex:  "you're pretty", "I love you," or "you're good lookin'."  When was the last time you looked in the mirror and told yourself these words?  When you can't look in the mirror and love on yourself with humility, it most likely means you do not know what love is.  I am not here to badger anyone, but I am getting real with you.
The truth is that God is love. We cannot change our minds about who we are without God because God is love. We can't do it on our own because we do not have freedom in Christ.  To have freedom in Christ means we make a choice to repent, offer forgiveness to those who have hurt us and for the wrong we have done in our lives. Repentance means to turn directions from following what we thought was good, when we find out it is evil. We can't do it on our own.  We need to "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."
Did you notice the first three lines?  "Submit to God." <-- Period. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." <-- Period.   Chew on it for a while, let it soak in.
We MUST first submit to Father God. The world, Satan, has told us all the years growing up it's about what you want. What is important is how you feel from the partner you have.  It's what you get from the person in front of you, the pornography, the animals, inanimated objects that is important. These things some how confirm who we are, validate our existence, make us feel important. Submitting to God is the critical matter, decision, and action to take before being able to have a peaceful, enjoyable life. Satan wants you to believe the lie that God is trying to take all the fun out of your life. Now really, let's expose our relationship just a little here.
Ask yourself these questions and answer them honestly.
1) Do I feel safe in sharing everything with my partner AND to myself?
2) Do I feel free to come and go as I desire with my partner?
3) I want to be with my partner all the time because I enjoy the company and discussions we have.
4) Is what happens behind closed doors a good thing, a beautiful thing, or let's not open the door at all because it hurts too much.
5) Do I feel good about me or my partner?
We don't know how to love ourselves or others until we allow God who is Love to love us. We should get to know His love first. "For God SO LOVED the world that he gave his only son." 
My son doesn't want to read, acknowledge, or understand Christianity. Christianity is nothing more than a name on an action of loving self and loving others.  We make it more complicated for ourselves and others.
My prayer is that you as well as my son and others, come to know that God is love. He is not a being who watches over you ready to beat you with a stick, keep you unsafe and in consistent torment. No this is the devil who lies to you saying it is God doing these things, placing the blame on a loving being.
Let's expose the darkness for what it really is.  Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He would rather you are separated from a God who loves you and to be hurting, unsafe, in bondage, fear, and your life sucked out of you. He is the one to blame, Satan,  for your rebellion, anger, and hate towards others and yourself.
Be encouraged God says he has a plan for your life, a hope and a future. He cannot lie for it is not in Him.  I invite you to come and know him as the father you never really knew, enjoy the love you never really felt, and the self worth you can have.  Let's come and have a Christ centered relationship with the Christ himself.
Are you ready? Talk with God today, ask him to show you how much he loves you, to be transparent in your life, change your attitude, and show you what Love REALLY is.
It wasn't until I truly rendered my life and my thoughts to God that he gave me the desires of my heart. You want to love yourself? Explore what God has to say about you, believe what He says about you, look in the mirror repeat it to yourself and then BELIEVE your own words. Pounds of hurt will be released off of your shoulders, hips, and your smile will be so much lighter.  Why? Because the chains will fall off.
~Be encouraged, you don't have to stay in bondage by the lies of the devil himself anymore.

Life Is As Complicated As We Make It

I was talking with my daughter this past week; as I listened to her, I could hear myself in her voice. Not my tones and sounds, but the desparation, worry, frantic fight or flight mood in her words and character. I thought "by the grace of God, there goes I."
Saturday, May 5th, I went to a woman's conference titled "Revealing Your True Identity." It was an amazing coference, I walked away refreshed, renewed, released, and  ready to accomplish my next assignment from God.
Sunday morning, May 6th, God began showing me my assignment and I went to work on it, but it isn't finished. He has me on a journey to write about "Christ Centered Relationships." Now, my first thought was like Moses..."me Lord?, why me?"  Have you ever seen a movie where a man watches his life on a movie screen or television? He sees all the things he's ever done. This is similiar to what God showed me. We walked through my history of relationships. Not just my boyfriends, but all of my friendships including my family relationships.
God has not released me from researching and writing about it, however, he has released me to begin writing about it to you. May the words written here captivate you, change you, encourage you, and place a renewed spirit within you to modify your relationships.
At the conference we were asked "May I get real with you?" This is the question I ask of you..."May I get real with you?" Sometimes we get caught up with what we should say and act because of how others respond to us. We are caught up in how we should look because of what the world tells us. We are more concerned with how others make us feel than how we feel about ourselves. I just want to lay it all out, hold nothing back, and be true to my calling on my life for your sake.
Let's take a journey...
As children we are validated by what our parents tell us, call us by name, and do to us. A child that is trying to learn how to do something for the first time, ask his mom to instruct him on how. She shows him, but when he doesn't understand her, she gets upset, she calls him a name and does it for him herself.  then says to him "this is how you do it stupid, don't be so dumb." She validated him by the name she called him.
As we grow up we validate ourselves by what we wear. My friend growing up had glasses. I thought she looked really smart.  I didn't make good grades and had the idea that if I wore glasses too I would become smart. I went to my parents and lied about my vision, went to the eye doctor and lied on the eye examination. I came home with glasses and now I have to wear them all the time. My grades didn't get better and it didn't better my life.
As we get older and in high school we develop physically from the inside out. Boys begin to notice the girls and girls begin to notice the boys. Word on the street now is that this has changed, but this is for another entry on another day; stay tuned. We become validated by what others think of our looks, our attire, and our actions.  Most of the time, we believe we are ready for the adult life ready to make decisions like an adult about sex, drugs, and education. Most of us, if we were honest, wanted to be popular and accepted then in turn do whatever it took to be noticed.
This is probably where most of us might agree that our lives changed and not for the better, but for the difference.  We begin with..."If I did things different _______" OR   "If I would had only done ______ instead."  These terms shows we have regrets.
I desire to help someone else not make those same choices by sharing my life story with them. I desire that those that are caught up in a world of messes, might come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ to make new and healthy choices. It is never too late to validate yourself by what another thinks and his name is Father God, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, and called by many other names.  No he does not have a last name like you might have been taught.
No His name is above all names and he has something to say about you that is not just good by Great. He wants a relationship with you. This is where we truly begin our journey.
I don't know where He is leading me, but I am willing to follow and find out what He has to say to us.
Will you join me?  I hope you do.
Until next time, be encourage you don't have to be who others say you are. You don't have to be labeled by your actions and you can change from who you are to who you would like to be. It just takes courage and a desire to allow someone to help you.  I am here for you.

Be encouraged, you are righteously loved by a righeous and jealous God,
Marjorie

Encouraged by You, Thank You.

As I have gotten older, I have had an opportunity to reflect many times on my days of youth. I have to chuckle now because I disliked math and numbers. Therefore my grades were not the best not even in the few math courses I took in college. Now writing...the most writing I did was "I will not __________" and the blank filled in was "talk while teacher talks," or "talk" or "I will listen to teacher." Again, writing was not my best subject. I disliked having to look up subjects in the encyclopedias. Back then computers and Wikipedia was not available, so dinosaurs such as myself, had to look things up manually. After researching for hours, I would have to write my papers and I stayed up past 10pm when 9pm was my bed time. Therefore, writing wasn't my forte.
Now, thirty one years later, I love writing and numbers. Again, I chuckle because this is my 200th entry on my Encourage site. As of today, I have had 3,625 views from you and others in the audience. This encourages me and I want to say "thank  you." I am sure that my grammar is off, my commas are in the wrong place at times, and I hit the publish key instead of the save or check spelling key causing you to receive an unfinished or misspelled entry or two. None the less, you read what I write. Most of what I write is God inspired, heart changing, life messes, or God's victories that I'm called to share. I don't usually walk away feeling prideful of what I've shared or written, but I do feel relieved sometimes. If I know that I have touched one person's heart by the words I write, it's worth it.
The Word tells us that "my ways are not your ways, nor my thoughts your thoughts." I can tell when I bring something to the tablet because usually I do not end up writing about it, but when it's God inspired I receive a note from a friend or a call that says "thank you, I needed that."
Have you ever had an idea and told others about it and then sat on it? Or, started the process but the pieces didn't fit together and it didn't' work out?  This is what happened to me. I thought God had called me to write a book of other women's testimonies and so I set out to find them. I did get a few, but it didn't fall into place.
Then in confirmation by a few friends they would comment with "you should write a book." "You should take your writings and put them into a book." I am beginning to listen. I do not know where to begin, but I have one lead and just may follow through today on that. I was told "get your work copy righted." So I will be on a journey to begin this. I ask you to join me in prayer over this path I am choosing. I need people in my path to help me along in knowing what to do, the right choices to make and the right people to talk to.
You encourage me when you take the time to read my entries. My hope is that you will pass my life lessons to others so that God's victories will be known and help them.

~ Today and Always I am Encouraged by You
Marjorie

Trusting in the Dark

It seems to have been a long time ago since I have felt so lost, but I have been these past few days. Most of you know that I have had many changes come in my life over the coarse of nine months. I have had so many great days and I still am.  I am experiencing love like I've never truly allowed myself to experience before. I am growing and I can feel the changes taken place because they are unconventional, strange, bewildering, and down right uncomfortable.
I am transforming from being lead by God Almighty to being lead by a man of God. This is the unfamiliar territory that has me feeling shredded inside.  I clung to the scripture from Romans 3:4 that said "Let God be true and every man a liar." I had to keep my guard up because I expected bad things to happen due to different circumstances. It's not that way today and in this new relationship I have trust, admiration, interest, and attachment.
No, my transformation is allowing God to use my spouse to lead me and I am to trust him. Have you ever played  the game called "Trust?"  There are many variations of it but this one takes two people. You wear a blind fold and your partner has to lead you around an obstacle course or vice versa.   You are in the dark, vulnerable to objects around this course and you have to trust this person is going to keep you safe from harm. This is the best way I know how to describe where I am at. I am that blindfolded person. I am placing my trust into someone I have confidence in and yet there are traps set before me all over by Satan himself.
Now, I am moving in one direction with my partner having a clear vision as to what he is suppose to do, but I am in the dark. God hasn't revealed to me what my part is in ministry, what my responsibility is or will be, and yet I have to trust in what God has revealed to my husband.
As I write this I wonder if I have a pride issue; uh oh! Maybe it isn't pride but independence that is shifting my ground. I was an independent woman. I took care of my bills, meals, car, rent, problems and God always showed me why I was doing ministry where He placed me. God didn't hide anything from me; until now.
What are we taught? Hebrew 11:11  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  So, as I will pull up my big girl pants, I am going to stop my crying, whining, and disgruntled attitude and change my perspective. I am willing to change for the better.
Oh please, don't think this is an instantaneous change. No, I believe it's going to take some work. However, I am squinting my eyes shut, clutched fists, I'm holding breathe and I'll jump right in when it's time to. Until then, I'll walk the diving board or plank until it's time to jump with trust.

So what are you facing today that is leaving you feeling alone, lost, and totally in despair? Are you looking in the rear view mirror? Are you uncertain of your future too? Be encouraged that you are not alone, we both are not lost, and we definitely are not in depair. We just need to change our perspective and position. We can do it, both you and I; together.  Ready?

I hope this has encouraged you as it has me today. I encourage you to live one moment at a time, one second at a time, accept hardships as a pathway to peace, taking as Jesus did this sinful world as it is, not as you would have it; trusting that Jesus will make all things right if you surrender to His will; so that you may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Jesus forever in the next.

~Amen, so let it be



Prayer came from the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr, it speaks volumes at a times of difficulty; yet brings a peace through the words spoken. Feel it?

~Marjorie