As I’m getting back into a daily routine of quality Bible time, I feel as though I’m reading Scripture again like it’s the first time. Finding new and exciting life application and seeing the story in another light that I didn’t before. 

As many of you probably already know, the Gospel of John, was written by John, one of Jesus’ disciples who followed him, and saw firsthand all that Jesus did, and who he was.

This month of January, there’ve been a lot of things that have taken place. At this time in my life, Chapter 6 of John really hits home and rings true for me. I wanted to share some of my thoughts about it.

The chapter starts out with Jesus doing a miracle and feeding at least 5 thousand people with just a couple loaves of bread and some fish. There were even leftovers, so people definitely had their fill. To feed 5 thousand individuals, that would’ve been much more than a year’s salary for someone back in the day. That was a huge miracle, Jesus did, just because he’s God, and loved them.

Later on in the chapter, we read about Jesus being the ‘bread of life.’ I love reading The Message paraphrase of the Bible, because it uses modern day language and seems to bring the Scripture home more to heart. Now, I do understand it’s not a literal translation of the Bible. I do use other translations of the Bible in accordance with The Message. But I love how verse 27 is written. Jesus has just fed the people and says, ‘Don’t waste your energy striving for perishable food like that. Word for the food that sticks with you, food that nourishes your lasting life, food the Son of Man provides. He and what he does are guaranteed by God the Father to last.’  Point to ponder: Am I looking for a temporal insignificant thing from God that doesn’t last, or am I looking to God for who He is? That’s not to say we can’t ask God for something, but rather first and always foremost, look and focus on God and spend time just being with him is what he wants. He truly desires a friendship with us. But because of the lovingness of God, he gives us a free will to choose him or not. I’ve found often times and you might be able to relate; I sometimes run to, or try other superficial things to fill something that I know, deep down inside only God can fill. So I take that verse as a challenge to me, to first seek God’s wisdom and understanding before turning to other things. Verse 35 says, ‘’I am the Bread of Life [meaning, eternal life]. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever.” That verse is something that I strive to do, not just by saying it, but practically living that out, daily.  Another way to see verse 35 is no matter what may happen in life; I want to be so crazy about God in every area of life, so when life throws me a curveball it won’t rock me off my rocker.

Some very encouraging verses were 37 and 38, “Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don’t let go. I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me.”

The rest of the chapter, verses 60 through 71 hit home as well. In church this past Sunday, the guest speakers were talking about evangelism, and really living out what one believes, yet always being ready to give an answer to anyone who asks; not to be afraid about what questions may come, but with the joy God’s placed inside of us, share the good news of salvation with others, as God provides those opportunities. For awhile now God’s had a family member on my heart for a few years. I never really knew them growing up, but recently got back in touch with them, and they’ve really been through hell and back more than anyone I know. I hope that though the way I live, and Lord willing an opportunity to talk with this individual, they may see the love of Jesus and desire to know God on a more intimate level.

Now these next verses might not mean much to y’all, but they really encouraged me. “After this a lot of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: ‘Do you also want to leave?’” Jesus had just spoken to the multitudes about eternal life with Jesus, and that it is a free gift from God. His disciples, his close friends, left him because they didn’t want anything to do with him.  Jesus knows what it’s like to have friends leave and abandon you. That happened to me just a few weeks ago with someone I’ve known for many years. I’ve also had a friend betray me as well and I knew that individual for over 12 years. So even though Jesus, on earth was fully God, he was fully human as well. He experienced circumstances that we as humans experience and emotions and feelings we do as well. Very few people are meant to be in our lives for a lifetime. Another aspect of verse 67 is that we see how Jesus lovingly gives the rest of his friends who stay with him, the option of leaving. To talk about love, this shows how much he cares for them. He’s not a dictator at all, but gives them free will to choose to be friends with him, because they want to. Verse 68 and 69 express such devotion and commitment. “Peter replied, ‘Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We’ve already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God.’”

I understand this is might be random things learned that are diverse on the spectrum, but I had to share them, because it was just so encouraging to me. I hope in some way they might be encouraging for you or someone you know as well.

There is so much to be thankful for each and every year. Three things I am most thankful for this 2012 year are: 1) My relationship with God. For without him, I wouldn't be where I am today, or be the person I am now. It's all because of Jesus, that I'm alive. 2) My amazing Fiance, Johnny. God definitely knew what he was doing, when he created him. As a little girl, I always dreamed of the qualities I wanted in a husband. Johnny not only has met those, but has far surpassed them by leaps and bounds. He truly is my Angel from God, and the most amazing best friend a lady could dream of! 3) My cherished family. My family has been such a huge support and encouragement to me though the years. I am also thankful for my family-to-be as well. I love them all so very much, and I can't wait to finally be a Calathes here next June!

Johnny and I recently were in Philadelphia for about 3 weeks, and got to visit the Amish country for a day. As we were driving to each Amish location, I saw just how simple they live. From plain clothes, to working hard in the fields each day, not to mention all the laundry the women wash by hand and leave outside to dry each day. It reminded me of how much I take for granted every day. I'm also reminded of how many people I know who are struggling in life right now. Whether it's finding a job, trying to make ends meet, or just having a lot of difficult stuff going on in their lives.

This Thanksgiving that we all recently celebrated, reminded me of not just the special people and family I'm thankful for, but also for the every day luxuries I enjoy that I take for granted so often.

I think it's ironic how each year most Americans take one full day just to be thankful to God for what we have, then turn around the following day and try and get all the best deals we can, while pushing and shoving just to make sure we get the latest greatest item. Now before you get your feathers ruffled, I'm not saying shopping Black Friday is a bad thing. As a matter of fact, I'm a huge fan and enjoy shopping every year. But my point is this...instead of having 1 day each year to have Thanksgiving, let every day be a day of Thanksgiving for what we enjoy and are blessed with. If you put things in perspective, we really are more blessed than we know.

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful week of being thankful to God for everything He has given us. Let's take the challenge to find at least one thing each day this upcoming year to be thankful to God for. Some days it might be difficult to find something, but there will always be something to be thankful for.

Bountiful blessings to each and every one of you!

Hi Friends!

I hope y'all are enjoying a wonderful transition into the Autumn season. Here in Florida it is absolutely beautiful! It rains almost every day for a bit, greenery is everywhere you look, and many fantastic beaches are within about an hour's drive. But the thing I love the most is being much closer to my amazing Fiance' Johnny. He is God's greatest blessing to me!

I have to admit, it has been difficult leaving family and cherished friends behind. There isn't a day that goes by, that I think of a family member or one of my amazing girlfriends. But I've learned a valuable lesson in all of it...

It really got me thinking about what I put most of my time and energy into. What is it that I truly value and cherish most? What is it that I put my reliance and trust in. Not to say that family and friends shouldn't be close. Nothing could be farther from the truth. But my point being, I had put my most important relationship on the back burner....my relationship with God. I was wondering why I was feeling this 'feeling.' I realized I had got all caught up in the excitement of moving to Florida, and enjoyment of being with my Fiance more, that I didn't choose to make time for God, as I did before I moved.

First and foremost, my relationship with God should be priority one. Not out of a legalistic mentality, but rather love, because I owe my whole life to Him. I wouldn't be where I am today without Him. Then, comes family and friends. It's like a foundation for a home. If your foundation isn't set right, everything else fails. I want my love for God to overflow into all my relationships I have (ie. Johnny, family, friends, etc.).

As y'all know, I love listening to music and discovering new songs. Recently after I moved to Florida, I heard a song entitled, 'Finally Home' by Kerrie Roberts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukyynPEHmnA I've listened to it pretty much almost every day since I've been here in beautiful Florida. It is a great reminder of what our focus should be on. What it is that drives us, and gives us motivation to keep on about our daily lives each day. What makes us want to the best we can be? Basically, what is our hope and purpose in, and why? I hope that as you listen to the song, you feel the same way I do.

On a personal note...I've been reading a wonderful pre-marital book entitled, 'Marriage on the Rock' by Jimmy Evans. I've always been told that one of the keys to a successful marriage is about being selfless. For example, whenver you see or talk to couples who've been married for a lengthy amount of years, you usually see how much they truly care for each other, and are wanting to better the other person. It finally clicked. It made me think, not only in marriage do I want to be selfless and giving everything I can to Johnny, but in every day life as well. How can I better someone's day and make them feel special as well. Life can be soo much richer if we choose to not focus on ourselves, but rather the other person. Lesson learned....marriage is not about what you can get out of it, but rather how much you can give to better the other person (your best friend).

Ever wonder what God has planned for your life? What does He want you to do; or how to use you to bring glory to His name?

The answer I seem to come up with in one word is, Story. The power of a life transformed by the Gospel and God’s great work in one’s life, speaks volumes. Just think of it, as many of us do on a weekly basis, of meeting up with friends and family to keep in touch; God desires us to do the same thing about Him, and the work He’s done and still doing in our lives.

Growing up, I always thought I never had much to share about Jesus, except the fact that He commands my destiny and is the most important thing in my life. As I’ve come to realize, we all have something exciting to share to the world about who Jesus is. We all have different stories and everything, but no one testimony is the same as another. We’re all different and unique in our own God-given ways.

I’ve attached a link below of a wonderful woman, Heather Williams. She’s a new Christian singer/songwriter. Listening to her testimony made me realize God allows certain things in our lives to happen for a reason (draw us closer to Him, teach us a lesson, etc.) And what we do with those events, tells everyone around us, what we’re made of, and what God’s transforming power can do in one’s life.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7cnMDwdm3k&feature=related

So I encourage y’all to never underestimate what God wants to do in and through you. Simply live out what you believe to be true from God’s Word.  And, as God provides those opportunities to share with others your testimony, take it and see what great things God does because of that.

May God bountifully bless you this week, as we share God’s transforming work to those we see on a daily basis!

Wow! I didn't realize how fast time has gone by since I've posted on the blog. Please forgive me for the long lapse of time.

During this lapse of time, I have since gotten engaged to the greatest man God could ever bless me with! Honestly, I never thought I would have the joy of getting married, given mistakes I've made in the past. But our God is a God who restores, mends and heals our hearts once they've been broken. With God blessing me with my future hubbs Johnny, I'm reminded that God truly desires the best for each and every one of us. Right now, John and I are enjoying wedding planning and planning for our future together. It is our prayer and hope that we are a light to our generation of what a godly marriage looks like, amidst a culture where a marriage founded upon Jesus Christ, and full devotion to one another is foreign.

I want to encourage you who are reading this, that no matter what's going on in your life, where you are, or what you've done, God loves you! Yes, I'm sure you've heard it a million times (especially if you grew up in church like I did). But think about it....God chose to create such a beautiful masterpiece as you!! He (God) thinks the world of you! He created it for you to enjoy. Furthermore, He wants nothing but the very best for you! If you're single right now, I encourage you to bask in the love of our Heavenly Father who loves you more than any person could ever love you in a lifetime. Take the extra time you have now, to draw close to God, let Him remind you of who you are in Him. Patiently continue to wait for the special, treasured one, God has picked out just for you. The waiting can and will be difficult at times, but I promise you, as one who's been where you are, it is totally worth the wait!!!

I'd like to share a new song I heard last Sunday in Church. Some of you might have already heard it before. It's called, 'Holy' by Matt Redman. No matter where we all are in life right now, we can worship God, for who He is and His sacrifice for our sins, so we can spend an eternity with Him, forever. I hope you are able to worship Jesus through this song; not based upon what is going on in life, but for who He is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ8MFn4yikA 


Bountiful Blessings to You, in Your Walk with our Great Savior!!

Good Morning Ladies!!

I just heard this song, this morning and wanted to share it with you. Nichole Nordeman sings about our beauty in Christ. The music video has characters from Veggie Tales because it was originally made for one of their films. But I love the lyrics, and I pray you are blessed by it bountifully today!!

You are Loved!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orc4TuIO56s&feature=related

 

Is there something I’m holding onto that I know I need to let go, and place in God’s hands?

Do I have any resentment, unforgiveness, bitterness, anger or rage for someone(s), something/event?

Why am I holding onto ‘this’ soo tightly? What is holding me back from trusting fully that God can handle ‘this’?

How is holding onto ‘this’ affecting my life daily? How has it overflowed into my relationships with others?

These are some questions to ponder, as you listen to this song. I want to share this ‘Dangerous’ song by KJ-52 which I heard just last week, because it is soo profoundly true.

Dangerous: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM7gUpKB2MQ

If you don’t already know, God really uses music to speak to me in a special way. When I heard this song for the first time, I was reminded of where I once was, many years ago, and where God has brought me today.

I don’t know your story of what’s happened to you, or who’s hurt you soo deeply. I can say, as one whom has been healed by God and restored from abuse, that God is saddened by the injustices done to you. He wants to be your hero, who mends your heart and soul.

I short little testimony…Many, many years ago, I had bottled up a lot of hurt and brokenness that had occurred over many years to me by an individual. With continual wounds, I felt as though I never had time to heal from the previous wound. Why? I was holding onto the injustices done to me, as a way to control how I ‘handle’ the situation/circumstance. I didn’t realize I was only doing more damage to myself by bottling it all up, because I finally erupted like a volcano early in college. It was soon afterwards, that I discovered that God doesn’t desire or want me to carry that unnecessary burden. But instead, trust Him and give all of it over to Him. I also learned that God wants to use what we’ve gone through to glorify Him, and bring others to His saving knowledge. If we choose to hold on soo tightly, where we’re white knuckling it, how can we truly walk in the freedom of forgiveness that He desires us to enjoy? Furthermore, how can we grow in deeper trusting relationship with our Heavenly Father if we’re holding onto something that we’re not meant to carry?

I know this is a tough thing to discuss and bring up. I understand this is something can is often, easier said than done. I mention it though because, as one whom God has healed and helped relinquish to Him all the hurt and pain of physical/emotional abuse, He desires the same thing for you too. It’s the most freeing thing. God is no respecter of persons (He doesn’t play favorites), and wants to use your hurt and what you’ve gone though and turn it around into a beautiful masterpiece.

Let’s strive to quickly surrender hurt when it occurs, and extend forgiveness in the same way God, our Heavenly Father does for us on a daily basis.

Many blessings to you, in your walk with Jesus! You are loved!