A Woman of Will

                             Learning to Let Go One Step at a Time

Today I wanted to talk about a subject that affects women around the world. The subject is attachment. Attachment is an emotional bond to a thing, place or person. I've personally experienced all kinds of attachments. I remember being attached to my little doll when I was four. I remember being in love with a cartoon character only to find out he wasn’t real. How disappointing! Yet as a grown woman today I realize I'm still so prone to getting attached to things (sometimes almost everything specially at the mall) and people. Yet in all seriousness I believe sometimes in life we can get caught up in toxic and sinful attachments. The attachment to a habit that we just can’t break, maybe the attachment to clothes we don't wear or habits we can't break.

We can all identify with one. Some women love food so much they cannot control what and how much they eat, others love their phone more than they love their families (or so it may seem). My challenge for you today is to learn the steps you need to let go and break the chains of toxic bonding, no matter its nature. 

First of all , realize that you have the gift of will.

Sometimes we can be fooled by Satan into thinking that we have no say in our emotions, no say in our weaknesses and no say in our destiny. That is such a big fat lie! God gave us an amazing gift called will.

You can use your will for simple tasks and begin to train your body to deny itself. Start with baby steps. For example instead of focusing on how much soda you shouln't drink. Decide to carry a bottle of water with you all the time, you chose a healthy habit, now stick with it. This doesn’t mean you won’t drink soda anymore, it only means you’ll crave it less because you’re keeping yourself hydrated.

The same rule can be applied to our spiritual life. Often we hold on to the wrongs things and can’t seem to move on simply because we have nothing else without them. We are running on empty and are not spiritually hydrated. So take a baby step, don’t focus so much on how far you can stay away from sin, rather focus on taking steps closer to God. You can start by reading one bible verse as soon as you wake up. Maybe right before you go to bed. It can even be a prayer while you drive to work. The more hydrated you are the less you will thirst for those toxic habits in your life. It won’t be an overnight thing, but it will bring a new perspective to life on a daily basis.

Use the power of will for your benefit. Learn to say yes to healthy friendships. If you’re trying to get out of a toxic relationship, surround yourself with healthy friends that will support you through the transition. You can’t have a strong will until you use it and exercise it and build endurance. Work out your will, not focusing so much on the big No's but rather focusing on the Yes. Say yes to godly friendships, say yes to prayer, say yes to church and yes to humility. Learn to care for others and take those baby steps to train your will to do the right things. Soon you will be surprised to see how much victories you’ve had, how many chains you’ve broken and how many habits and toxic relationships you’ve ended, simply by spending more time being who you where intended to be, a woman with a will. 

Daily Bread | The Light

22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew Chapter 5:22-24

Although this passage is rather familiar to most of us, often we have overlooked some details about what Christ was really saying.

We know we are called to be the light of the world. Yet this passage goes a bit deeper in explaining just how to go about being a light to begin with. You see you can't light a room if you're not some sort of light source. This passage tells us that we must first be sure that the light within us is bright and shining before we can fulfill the calling.

We see in verse 22 that the light of the body is the eye. If our eye is good our light will shine. If our eye is evil our light will be dimmed and darkness will rule.
What exactly are we saying here?
Very simple. The light of the body is our eyes. Yet if we allow evil to enter through our eyes and into the body it will have a negative effect in our life and the light will no longer be light but darkness.

When we allow evil things to be set before our eyes, we are contaminating our whole body and our entire life is affected by that.
If we expose our eyes to immoral images on media, magazines or television, we are letting evil enter our lives. We live in a day in age where everything is permissible. You can read your bible and then open some fashion magazine filled with half naked women and immoral topics that have nothing to do with Christ. You see it is through those very practices that we are allowing the darkness of the world inside our heart and it is eating at the light of Christ within us.

Think about it, how often do we allow darkness to influence what we watch, what we read and who we follow on social media? It's sad to see Christian women following worldly celebrities and trying to dress like them, do their makeup and hair like them and forsaking godliness. If we confess Christ we must live as he lived and not as the world lives so we may shine the light of Christ in us.

In verse 24 the word tells us we cannot serve God and mammon. We can't read the Bible and then read romance novels with illicit and immoral references. Chick-flicks and beauty blogs have taken over the modern Christian woman and have now darkened the light of Christ in us.

Yet as women we can be stronger than that. We can claim back the light in ourselves and we can be a light to this world. We can cast out any darkness ruling over us. We can throw away those books, the magazines and anything else that has contaminated our life. We can cleanse our eyes with the water of life which is the word of God. We can fight the battle on our knees. We can say no, we can have victory, we can because God is with us!

So ladies let's declare war on the world and begin restoring the light within us. Let's set our eyes on Jesus and his righteousness. Let's fill our eyes with his goodness and mercy. Let's shine our light!

5 Signs He really likes you

As women many times we find ourselves attracted to a guy and wonder if he feels the same about us. Today we will look at 5 signs he really likes you and the reasons why you might not like him after all .

1. He loves to flirt.                                        
 Although when a guy likes you he will turn a little flirty, some men just flirt with any attractive woman they meet or any woman for that matter. The truth is men generally enjoy flirtatious conversations and will usually engage in one as long as the woman goes along with it. I say most men but there is some exceptions. While most men will flirt given the chance there is those few who have set boundaries and are not willing to compromise. This is something to keep in mind. Take a look and keep your eyes open, is he usually funny and flirty with other women? Is that something you want in a man? Does he seem the kind of guy that could set boundaries for himself and be loyal to just one woman? Who knows you might just be one more in the list and it could be that what you are perceiving as possible attraction could just be him playing his cards.


2. Small talk.                                                  
Does he often ignore what you say and turn the conversation to something of his liking or something about him? It could be the weather or traffic but when a guy is not interested in deeper conversation he just might not be interested in you. You see when a guy really likes a girl he will wanna know everything about her. Even when he can't understand or relate to a certain subject he will be interested simply because you are and that means a lot to him. When a man really likes you he will also listen. He enjoys you're company and the conversation does not have to be entertaining, your company is enough for him and your conversation will always be welcome no matter the subject. If all he is looking for is a fling or FWB type of relationship, listening won't really be on his agenda.                                    

3. He will respect you.                                
One quick way to know if a man is really interested in you or if you're only a piece of flesh for his lunch, is in the level of respect he gives you. Men tend to respect the women they care about. You see when men really want a woman for keeps they will go above and beyond to impress her, to make her happy and comfortable. If a man really likes you for you, he won't push anything physical and will not even seem interested in that. Although men are naturally attracted sexually, they will abstain from it when they're truly interested in a deeper relationship with you. Men that are looking for a real relationship will show respect to the one woman they're pursuing. If anything some men can actually lose interest if the relationship gets too physical too soon. Real men will respect the woman they're pursuing and all women in general. Ask yourself if the guy you're into shows respect for women or does he objectify them for his own benefit? Again is this the kind of man you want as a partner?  

 4.He will work for it.                                
 When a man is interested he will do the effort. Effort to show you he cares. Effort to be around you even when his friends where going elsewhere . A man that has a thing for you will not hesitate to go out of his way for you. There will be no confusion. If a man want something for real he will make it obvious. He won't send mixed signals or play games with you. So if a guy you like is unavailable or too busy for you, chances are his not interested. Yes it could also be that he is shy or not very social but trust me when a real man is interested he will go the extra mile to win your heart. Yet if you're the one calling, you're the one texting and you're the one who is making the efforts, it might be time to come to terms with reality that either this guy is not into you or he is not mature enough to know what he wants nor pursue it , either way not something that is to your best interest.

5.It's not a secret                                        
Men are great at keeping their feelings inside but when a woman steals their heart they just can't stop talking about her. They talk about you with everyone and anyone. You won't be their "secret" friend (unless they've got something to hide) . They won't just be cyber friends or message you in the middle of the night but ignore you in public. A guy that's into you will welcome you into his group of friends, will tag you in social media and will introduce you to his family. He is into you and he is not afraid to show it. If he texts you but won't talk to you out in the open then there's a problem. If he is afraid that others will find out about you, chances are he has someone else to impress. Beware of men who want you as their text buddy but can't commit to a relationship. Don't let yourself become someone else's second option or plan B. When the right guy comes along you will be at the top of his list and you will be the only one on the list. He will wanna show you off to his family and friends. He won't be afraid of other prospects finding out he is into you because truth is he is.                                        

Well ladies, there you go. Make your conclusions and decide if this guy is really worth your time after all. If you believe in God and you're seeking a partner for life then I encourage you to let God do the work. Remember the story of Isaac and Rebecca. Abraham sent his servant to go find a wife for Isaac. The servant prayed to God for guidance and he had certain things he was looking for in the maiden that he wanted for Isaac. God answered him and he lead him to Rebecca. The word of God tells us that Isaac loved Rebecca and they where married. What a beautiful story of Gods providence. If you let God go and seek you a husband a partner, God will do it. God knows your heart and your desires. If you trust him and you leave the looking to him , God will bring the right man into your life at the right time. In the meantime you must keep your eyes on Jesus. Stay away from the lure of this world. A cute face can be a trap from Satan. So many women have fallen into this trap and my prayer is you will run now that you can before it's too late. Remember God will keep his promises to those who seek him.

                                                    "Strength and honor are her clothing"

The verse keeps me up thinking, what could the psalmist mean? What is strength? What is honor?
What strength could the virtuous woman of the psalms possess that made her so beautiful? 


You see the woman of proverbs 31 had a strength almost extinct in the modern day woman. She wasn't weight lifting or taking protein shakes. She wasn't running 10 miles a day or counting carbs. She was on her knees more often than we are on social media. She was busy loving others rather than judging them. She didn't have time for gossip in the midst of her humble service. She gave to the poor because she had received the eternal. She wasn't afraid because she knew whom she had trusted. She laughed at the future and walked in peace. She wasn't concerned with looking perfect but being faithful. She knew beauty is vain but labor gives fruit. She had faith because she heard his voice. She believed because she knew who had promised. She was humble because he was meek. She wasn't perfect but she was diligent. She did the right thing even if it wasn't glamorous . She followed God even when life got difficult. She loved, she gave, she served. There was no time to waste and everything to gain. She gained much honor because she walked with integrity. What a woman, what virtue and what challenge. If there's one word that could describe this woman it must be strength. Strength to submit the pride of the heart and the desires of the flesh . Strength to forsake the world and it pleasures. Strength to live day by day serving humbly. Strength to love those who have wronged us. She had a strength that can only be explained at the cross of Calvary. It was at that cross that one man being King surrendered all rights and paid a debt that was not his, to save those who hung him there. It is that same strength that defeated death and the tomb. That same strength that moved the stone. It is through this strength that we may live our Christian walk today and it is through that strength that we can have victory over sin. What about you and me? Are we walking in this strength? 

Christian Poems

"True Christianity"

How many times have we heard this phrase " Don't judge me by the way I dress! You can see the outside, but God can see the rest".
Have we forgotten what God said? " By their fruits they shall be known!" What irony! That we should say as an excuse; "God knows my heart" and right he sure does! For He wrote: The heart is desperately wicked! So which one is worse? The judgement of a man who can be fooled with a smile or that of a God who knows our every sinful thought and the things we've been hiding for quite a while? We say: Where does the bible say it's wrong? When we haven't even opened the book in the past month! We question: What's wrong with just one hug? But did you know that's where most pregnancies first begun? We say: Well the bible doesn't say tattoos are wrong! But we forget it does say : Don't be like the world. I mean how far do we have to go to call it sin? When remember God sees the desires we've kept within. We sure want Gods blessings but we run from commitment. Then we say: Well it's just not my conviction! Well what if a husband who cheated on his wife would use the same excuse as that? Would we still agree with that? Yet how many times have we been unfaithful to God? Assuming that sure nothing we do is wrong.

Spend less & Enjoy More

This morning as I was thinking on our budget for our next trip when I came across an old bank statement. It was quite a surprise. As I looked through it and began to highlight all the unnecessary spendings in that one given month. I decided I wanted to see our average spending on things we really didn't need. I highlighted the following purchases;

1.Eating Out
This included fast foods, ice cream shop, Starbucks , fancy restaurants and etc.

2.Online Purchases
While not in all cases, but in my case all my online purchases fell in the category of  "unnecessary "
Most included : shoes, apparel, toys for my son and etc.

3.Department Stores
It takes one to know one. If you're like me and you're being honest about your spendings you know the cold truth that if it was purchased at a department store it most likely was not a 'need'.

4.Thrift Shops
As I looked thru my bank statement I knew I could not include the thrift shop as a 'need' .
As much as I can tell you how cheap their stuff is and how much you will "save" I gotta admit every time I go in there my bank account is minimized and never maximized.

Those where my top four categories. If you have some others go ahead and add them to the balance. It was shocking as I added such small amounts how it accumulated  into a large sum pretty quick. I was surprised to see that I was spending around 1,100 per month. What? That's like three car payments ! Imagine all I could've saved. Where would that money be? Maybe I would've payed off a debt. Maybe we could've helped a needy family in church. My head was spinning I couldn't believe I was that person behind every purchase. I realized one thing. LITTLE can Become THOUSANDS!

The next thing that came in my head was the verse I had heard at the previous ladies conference I had attended " A wise woman builds her house"  and also Proverbs 31:10-31. We see the pictures of a wise woman. A godly woman who is wise in her spendings. You see what God  allowed me to understand was that He wants every part of my life to be pleasing to Him, yes even the way I spend my money.  I was convicted and ashamed of how badly I had handled my finances in the past. As we learn and grow together let's seek Gods guidance in every part of our life. As women of God and specially as keepers of our home, let's begin to make choices that are wise, that will bless our husbands, our children and at the end even we will reap the benefits. Having more is something our culture has become obsessed with. More clothes, more gadgets, more pleasure, more , more, more. As a wise woman we most be filled in Christ, satisfied in His providence for us. After all when we walk close to Him on a daily consistent manner we will experience more joy, more peace, more blessings and more satisfaction. God always gives the best at no cost to us.

I'll end with this final verse found in Isaiah 55:2 "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not?

When God Becomes a Burden

Do you see bible time and prayer as yet another chore?

As a homeschooling mom I can tell you many times I have struggled in this area as well. As moms and women we tend to get so busy and find our rest in social media or a few T.V. shows. The thought of adding yet one more thing into our "busy ' schedules can be terrifying, just the thought can make us feel exhausted. We almost want to scream, another one!?

 

However God never meant for it to be so. God meant bible study and prayer to be a garden of rest, a fountain of water and a place of peace. In our twenty four hours a day we have given priority to things God never meant to be there in the first place. We occupy our time and minds to things that will have little or no impact in our lives or others. Here are some tips that will help us renew our strength  and return to that garden of life that God has designed for us.

 

1. Work Life

Many of us have taken the role of working women when the husband has not stepped up to his responsibility, or when parents cant afford our college tuition. This situations are moments where we will need Gods grace and much sacrifice to allow God in our busy schedules and remind ourselves that the greater the task the greater the need there is for Gods guidance thru prayer and bible time. However for some of us work has become a stumbling block in our walk with God. We have focused on achievement and gain more than on godliness and service to our Lord. God uses work to provide our need but we should never abuse that to provide our wants. Lets cut back in work hours whenever we can. Sometimes this might mean giving up on luxuries or living on less income. Yet every sacrifice is worth it. If your job is taking the place of God in your life than we know something is not right. Pray and search your heart, it just might be that we are giving the best of our energy, heart and strength to material gain that will never satisfy.

 

2. Socializing

There has never been so much pull from social life on the family as there is today. Well with all the social networks and media that is available at our fingertips twenty four seven, lets add all the family gatherings, church activities, girls nights, outings and trips. While some socializing with Christian friends is needed we can mistakenly allow it to over power our lives and consume the little time we have left in our hands. We must learn to say no and begin to give God that time back. This can be the toughest when you have your phone lined up with notifications and emails accompanied with missed calls and messages. Turning our phone off can be another great aid. Lets take the steps necessary to allowing God to be our priority, who we follow and whos company can change us and help us love those around us even better.

 

3. Household Duties

The dishes are piled up and the rest of the house looks like a tornado just hit. I can relate to the feeling and the desire to desperately clean every inch and every corner. I love keeping my house clean and also allowing my family some space to make a mess knowing I will come back and clean it up after. I want them to enjoy a clean home and at the same time feel free to relax in it. One tip I can say with this is get up a bit earlier. When you eliminate other time wasters as mentioned above you will be surprised how much time you have left to do house work. Waking up a little bit earlier gives us the motivation we need to start our day on the right foot. It also provides the perfect moment to spend in peace and quiet with The Lord. While my family sleeps I can make some time for me and My God. This will energize you, and fill you with joy . The chores of the home will become easier as you approach them in a better attitude and as you clear up your mind from social media and noise. Take one task down at a time. Eliminate distractions like reading thru old notes you find, or watching T.V. while you fold the laundry. Texting or talking in the phone can also slow you down. Decide you will concentrate on the ask and not let anything you can control distract you. Time management makes a big difference.

 

There's many other tips I can share but talking about time, I don't want to take more of your time away. God bless you and remember to choose God first and He will help you with everything else.

Were it not for grace

Were It Not For Grace - Larnelle Harris

Time measured out my days
Life carried me along
In my soul I yearned to follow God
But knew I’d never be so strong
I looked hard at this world
To learn how heaven could be gained
Just to end where I began
Where human effort is all in vain
Chorus
Were it not for grace
I can tell you where I’d be
Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere
With my salvation up to me
I know how that would go
The battles I would face
Forever running but losing this race
Were it not for grace
So here is all my praise
Expressed with all my heart
Offered to the Friend who took my place
And ran a course I could not start
And when He saw in full
Just how much His would cost
He still went the final mile between me and heaven
So I would not be lost
Repeat Chorus
Forever running but losing this race
Were it not for grace

After sin comes shame

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”
It happened since the very beginning. Sin was introduced to the world and has been our nature til this very day. As women of God, as gentle, sweet and innocent as we might seem in the end we are  all just sinners saved by grace.
Let me ask you a question, "When was the last time you sinned and felt shame?
If we know we are sinners and the bible tells us that we are sold to sin, that there's none righteous not one! Then we surely would agree that sin occurs in our life even as believers .
So the question is not if we have sinned but rather if we have felt ashamed of our sin. So have 
you?
Did you know shame is a good thing? Yes the bible tells us about women who where godless, harlots, and shameless. In proverbs chapter seven we read about the temptress and again she is described as shameless . We read about the rebellion of Israel against God and they too where described as a shameless adulteress . 
A lack of shame is a display of a lack of care towards whatever God has to say. As women of God we must ask ourselves if when we fall into sin , we become convicted and ashamed. Do 
we? When we gossip? When we envy? When we lie? When we act or think on impure things? 
Is there a shame? Or are we so habituated to sin in our lives where we walk in shamelessness 
? 
My sisters sin will come, we are not perfect and we will fall but let us be ashamed of it and let us have a repented spirit. Let the shame lead to a genuine repentance and confession. May our falls lead to a real conviction and not to a careless indifference and conformity .
When true repentance manifests in the heart of a woman who seeks to be holy, then God can begin a restoration and his grace will always be sufficient no matter your sin.  Yes we can live in peace with God even with a sin nature but let us not ever use it as an excuse to deliberately dwell in sin.
For now my sisters we stand in hope knowing of God and knowing Him personally . Knowing 
He is holy. Be ye therefore holy as He is holy but if one has sinned we have a more abounding 
grace. May you be encouraged knowing Jesus offers forgiveness and his blood cleanses our hearts.

You can let go now daddy

It's 2:20 am on an early Friday morning. I'm sitting quietly in the fluffy mat of my bathroom floor. As much as I enjoy writing  I've never had the urge in the middle of my sleep and least of all during a dream. I can't explain the why I'm here then, simply writing. It could be because I'm thinking about him. His laughter is is echoing in my heart. His eyes are in my thoughts. The desire to hold him very closely has awaken me this early and left me wanting more. This man I write about has always been very strong. As I grew up in my eyes he could conquer and carry anything . His arms always brought security and comfort to me.  I can still hear his voice, though I haven't heard it in a while I could recognize it anywhere. Its the voice of my father, my daddy, my friend. I cherish beautiful memories with you.  Come to think of it I have so much of you in me ; the love for writing, nature, animals and an optimistic view of life.  So many beautiful memories of you and today the Lord  has granted me one more, a beautiful one indeed. I had the most beautiful dream I could ever ask for. My sister and I sat at a beautiful gathering , outdoors . There was a long table covered with fine food and drinks. There was many people around us all dressed in very fancy clothes. As my sister and I enjoyed the beautiful moonlight view and the garden setting my daddy walked up to our table. Happily and excited to see him we both stood up and greeted him with a hug. He responded the same with a smile on his face. But thru that smile I could feel something was wrong, he took us aside and asked if he could talk to us . We walked slowly with him thru the paths of flowers and shiny lights. He couldn't breath very well and he finally sat by a big stone and leaned against it. He was sweating a lot and his voice was low. He began by sayin, do you girls remember when you where little and you would sit in my lap, one on each side? Yeah we both answered. Can you girls sit here again? So we did, his hands on our hair and soft strokes back and forth. He continued saying, do you remember when you girls would play dolls?What I would give to buy you some beautiful dolls again and to watch the two of you playing with them again he softly laughed we all laughed for a moment.  He went on to say, remember when we all went out and we didn't know where exactly we where going ?We simply knew we where going somewhere but that's exactly what made it exciting.  He paused for a moment and stood quiet. He then said: I won't be here too long, I must go for now but I want you to know that we will go out on adventures again. I'll get you whatever toy you girls want, I'll watch you play dolls and ill let you sit on my lap. Please take care of your mother, tell her I love her. I will miss you girls and tell your brothers to behave and not get your mother upset. He began to breath very heavily and tears running down his cheeks kinda like mine right now. As he stood quiet my sister began to tell him how much she would miss him too. I then told him: Don't  worry daddy we are gonna go together to buy some dolls, this time I want you to choose one for me. We'll play by your side and we'll sit in your lap. I embraced him tightly and as I faced the moon I prayed within my heart, my God give me strength for we need your grace. I looked at my daddy again his eyes closing and he still said ill see you girls soon then. Yes daddy we replied. I'll see you soon we will be together again. He said I love you my two little girls. His heavy breathing stopped, and his eyes shut. I turned to my sister and said: his time has come. He came to say goodbye. I woke up in tears and in much joy, I'm gonna see my daddy again! I wanna embrace him and I know that I will.

She is not my enemy

Hello Ladies
It's sure a beautiful Friday morning, it's windy and cloudy. The kind of weather I love whenever I'm writing. However I know many times days like this may seem too grey to enjoy but we must learn to look at the beauty of all things God puts in our paths. I wanted to talk about a subject this morning that occurs very often in women and ladies everywhere . When even being christian doesn't mean this wont happen to you. That unpleasant feeling when she walks into the room . When you hear her name or she simply just gets in your way. I'm talking about the lady in church or at work or maybe at school. The one you simply don't like. If you're like me you might have even thought of reasons why you don't get along and why it's okay to avoid her. The reality however is much deeper than that. Like any delicious fruit must come from a tree, must have a root somewhere. The same is our feeling of rejection towards specific groups, individuals or sisters in Christ. We must examine our hearts, often we will find that when we dislike someone the root of the problem is not her, but our evil heart. The bible tells us that out of the heart comes all evil things. Could it be that we are fooling ourselves into believing that she's gotta change and not me? The heart of a godly woman must identify the enemy and then take it captive under the obedience and rule of Jesus. So we realize that we have an enemy, an evil heart who takes our most godly intentions and turns them into pride, who finds the faults and imperfections in others but never seems to mind it's own. How is it then that when it comes to loving others we trust it so much? We must love even when our heart doesn't feel like it. Many women find themselves struggling to accept someone else simply because their heart is blinded with sins such as jealousy, envy, bitterness, insecurity and guilt. We must return and repent. Lets begin to identify our enemy and fight the battle in much prayer. Pray not that God changes her, but that he may change me. We must love our sisters, we must pray for them and serve them humbly. Remember Jesus died for her just as He did for you. He loves her, He has plans for her life. Could it be that maybe God wants to use you to bless her life? Remember the story of Jonah when God asked him to go preach to the people he considered his enemies. Jonah disobeyed God and ran from His presence yet God gave him a second chance and showed mercy to him. Can we receive the same mercy and accept the second chance God is giving to us today? We might be the instrument God wants to use to win the souls of those very people we dislike. My sister let us seek The Lord that He might change us within so we can reflect His love and compassion to others.

Update

This simple update to my readers, letting you know I will resume posting as often as I can. The Lord has been working mighty things in my life and I can't wait to share much of it with you ladies. For now all I can say is I'm thankful for the God I serve and His power to restore broken hearts.

Abortion song

A song of Death

Sing rivers of blood and cold instruments of hate. Play your favorite song and sing it with the voice of your adversary. The voice of your first love and the voice of your murderer. Play the instruments with what's left of your little fingers and bloody hands. Sing the pain you've experienced in silence and in darkness . Sing and cry out , rise up and sing to the world . But how will you sing ? How will you open your trembling mouth? How could you begin to tell your story in the tomb , in shattered pieces and ashes? What a sorrow and oh! the horror of it all. By the thousands you're gone. In the darkest of places, in secret your short life has ended. Your song erased and your cry forgotten. If you could speak , would we stop to listen? Little voices of unseen souls. My beloved little ones. Despised of this world and hated by your own. Unborn child, who is no more, arise and sing all as one. Sing your last song all you who no longer exist. Forgotten and afflicted ones, little people and memories left behind. Tell this world of all your pain, your dreams of love and desires for an embrace. They will never come to be, they will never be a chance and never a choice. Sing little ones, broken in pieces, bloody and burned, arise as you are, let the world see the horror of it all. Sing the song of death, sing it all out loud, thru the world and thru the air send whispers of your pain. Hide no more in secret, display our shame for once. In your scars and pieces is found truth. I sat in the ground, I fell to my knees oh! My  Lord and my God! What have we done? We've murdered by the millions and sacrificed our own . Our sons! Our daughters! My God ! Please hear our voice and awaken us before the horrors find us.  The day is dark and the light no more. We stumble in the bones and flesh of those who died, we bath in blood and eat with guilty hands. We have bore the death of many. Oh! Nations awake! The graveyards are full and the crimes too many. Voice sing once more for your creator He will embrace you ever so gently, he will dry your tears and mend your little bodies. There's a new song of hope for you. The Father is awaiting , he has prepared a home for you. There will no fire burn or instrument destroy. No one can take away what now is yours. The promise is for you, Gods love will comfort you.  Sing a song of death not for yourselves but those who live, for though we breath we are more dead than you. We feel nothing and see no pain. We are buried in our sins and lost in our shame. Sing and mourn for those of us who live may we repent before death finds us too. 

Depression

Although people tend to think of depression as a mental, emotional, or spiritual issue, it is also a physical issue. It may not have a physical cause but it does affect the body. Many people who are depressed report physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches , and bowel irritations. The body also typically feels sluggish, lethargic and achy. An effective tool to help the body as well as provide mental and emotional recharge is physical exercise. Clearly physical workouts affect us emotionally. God designed us as whole beings. When your mind and heart are aching your body is affected as well. It is common for a depressed individual to feel an abundance of guilt and or shame. Guilt can be a helpful alarm system that signals when we have sinned against God and others. However if the guilt is true and appropriate, then it can be dealt with in a healthy way by confession and repentance and then moving on. Depressed individuals tend to hang on to guilt and more often than not make it about themselves rather than their behaviors, resulting in shame. If the guilt is false guilt as is often the case in depression, or if shame exists, then the individual needs to understand the grace and mercy of God. Depression triggers are different for everyone. Some of these include: work stress , burnout, family/relational conflict, poor eating/ binging habits, sleeping habits, alcohol and drug abuse, chronic medical conditions, post partum, feeling overwhelmed, and unresolved grief. Those who are depressed become overwhelmed easily and may need assistance with setting reasonable and realistic goals. Identifying time wasters and making lists to prioritize can greatly assist in small yet forward moving steps. Finally a depressed individual will find amazing relief in Gods word and prayer time. It is a relationship with the source of all peace, joy and faith that can bring the best out of us. Bring comfort to the hurting, forgiveness to the guilty and love to the forgotten. In Jesus anybody can find the cure for life's toughest problems. We must not walk away in difficult times, rather we must seek Him ever more with a desperate cry and He will heal us and comfort our souls.

Thou shalt not commit Adultery

Friend, can we do a heart check here? Are you dabbling in an emotional or physical affair with another man? Do you find yourself in a pit of sinful attraction? There's nothing worse than being blind to sin. Emotions and attachment have been paving the way for your destruction and you don't even know it. Maybe you're in denial, or you try to minimize it to a simple friendship . The reality is when it comes to consequences, pain, misery and guilt there will be no minimizing, no turning back. Look to Gods word for warning signs. The Lord does say to you : My daughter give me your heart! Let me ask you this, is your heart entirely Gods? Or are you giving it away to another person? To an addictive relationship? If you're ready to be honest about your sinful attraction here's some signs that might describe you.

You find yourself thinking of this person often, looking for ways to somehow run into him, or openly seeking moments to meet for lunch, making up excuses to text with him, or even dressing up every time his gonna be around. You're feeding the monster that will destroy your honor, your purity and maybe even your marriage.

If you look forward to his emails, talk on the phone or send IM's to each other, if you hide this friendship from your husband ... RUN. Delete all accounts, change numbers/email addresses, and repent. Get accountability from a friend. Confess to someone as soon as you can. Repent before The Lord, and look for God in prayer and scripture . Memorize bible verses that deal with adultery, self control, and purity. Avoid triggers such as keeping gifts, pictures, or cards. Avoid places, songs and contact in all ways possible. This will be much easier if you replace the old relationship with a good strong relationship with The Lord. Begin with prayer every morning, confess and ask for victory. Read your bible when you're feeling tempted to return. Cry out to The Lord. Get involved in women's ministries . Healing will take time but it is very possible with Gods help. Stay connected with your husband and begin to invest time and effort in your marriage. 

We're not saying men don't do this either, but today we're looking at our own actions and going to take the necessary steps to be in line with God's Word and live in His glorious freedom. Deal?

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." ~Titus 2:11-14

A calling for change

I'm not about to write a post asking the readers to give it a like if you love Jesus, I'm not gonna put a beautiful quote that reminds you how good you are and how good you can become, I'm not gonna say everything will be okay because it won't. There's a desperate calling of the Almighty God to this nation, to its people and to You! It's a calling to repentance! That means you realize you're making everyday choices that go against what Jesus left in his word. We are loving the world and becoming more like it everyday. We love the very things God hates, we pursue pointless passions and forget the laws of God!! How can we say we love Him? God doesn't want a "like" He wants your entire life, but when reality hits, most will turn away. Some people will never change and others will when it's too late. Wake up nation! Wake up !!

Battling same sex attraction

Fist of all let me share with you the fact and truth that you're not alone in this struggle. Even when your desires and or actions can be secret to many, they're never hidden from the Lord. Let me continue by assuring you with the bible truth that Jesus Christ loves you fully and unconditionally. Your sin is no worse nor different than mine or those of others. Though you might not see how right now but the truth is you have a great blessing in being different. What I mean is you can see God at a perspective that many will never understand. Having said that we must understand that love does not justify sin under any circumstance. Just as any other sinful inclination , desire or passion we must submit it under Gods laws.  My desire should never over power that of Gods commandments. Unfortunately we are sinners and sold to sin. It will be a battle thru our lives and thru the years here in earth, but if God is your anchor, your rock and your foundation, if you have given Him your heart, he will equip you and strengthen you. Don't beat yourself up, don't let anyone's judgement affect you. Know in Jesus there is no condemnation  but forgiveness not so we will dwell on sin, but rather so we may humbly acknowledge Him as holy, pure and sinless. So we may humbly seek Him and humble ourselves before Him. Stop fighting, stop hating yourself. You're of much value to God. In Jesus you can find victory, purity and forgiveness . The pleasure this world offers, the emotions that you can fulfill will never compare with the true joy and peace that come when you give your burdens to Jesus, when you deny yourself and begin to follow Him. Many are the afflictions but God will be with you thru every single one. I encourage you to seek God in prayer and in His word. Look for a friend who can mentor you. Know that there's always a new beginning for those who have faith. Giving in to our sins will always bring misery, destruction and pain. Jesus loves you!! No matter what!! He loved me, a sinner saved by grace. He can give you a different life today!

On Death

I'm writing this paragraph as I sit by my fathers bed in a hospital. He has been very ill for almost two years. A few days ago he had a feeding tube placed on his stomach. This illness has been killing him slowly. Even thru the pain and discomfort there has been moments when a glimpse of his old self comes back, thru a smile, a movement, or a laughter even. As I reflect on the life we have here and the fragility of our bodies and our very existence. I cannot fully grasp the meaning of life, the reality of death and the fact that nothing lasts forever. So many of us are wasting away in pleasures and accomplishments that have no eternal value. One day each of us will face a death bed, a burial , a grave yard. No riches, no beauty or talent will matter there. Life will end and death will knock at your very door. A day of judgement will come for all of us. When will we realize nothing will matter then?

What will you say to the One who formed you and gave you life and every ability to enjoy it? What will you say to the One who gave his life to pay for your every sin and error? The God who can count every strand of hair , every leaf that falls on every winter. He who knows your every thought and every word before you speak it? What will you offer to repay? Will you repent then? Will you cry tears for forgiveness then? Will you believe then? Will your pretense buy you grace ? Will your empty words mean anything? But what about those wasted years? The indifference and hardened heart? An account will be required, a price will be demanded. A price that was payed long ago in a wooden cross. Filled with blood, the Son of God was torn to pieces for your sake. Jesus Christ calls you today! For in the grave there is no hope, for in death there is no will. The same spirit that moved creation, the same voice that cried out in the desert speaks to your heart today! Repent! Repent! Turn away from your sins, believe in Jesus! Turn from your wicked ways and receive the blood that cleanses. Drink the water of life and you shall never be thirsty again. The clock is ticking , the days are fading, don't over look it and don't forget it. Your life will be over. The chance is now! The day today! Doubt no more and don't waste more time. I plead with you and even now Repent! Receive His grace! Call out to Him!

Dignity

Women want men to value them and respect them, but how can men do it if women don't respect themselves? They give their hearts and bodies to the first loser with a cute smile. They advertise their figures as a public display of sensuality that only brings them heartache. Don't expect him to care much about something he won so easily.

Fashion

I've come to realize that fashion for girls and women is being designed with one purpose in mind and that is to show as much skin as possible while drawing as much attention to shape and form, it does not surprise me for society itself has been exploiting women and their bodies thru media and philosophy. The devaluation of women has had a devastating impact in our culture, home and even within the Christian realm. Sadly young girls are choosing fashion over dignity. They've forgotten their bodies have value, theyre treasures to keep safe. Like a precious keepsake behind a protected glass , we must protect our body and honor it in the way we dress.