Breastplate of Righteousness-I pray you wear it well

Good morning Ladies,

I pray that God has blessed your week thus far, but if you are thinking to yourself I'm just getting by, you're wrong. You are blessed just to be alive and I thank God for you. I thank him for you because I am not in this battle alone, but even better than that- we have been declared victorious in Christ already. We must ladies finish strong in the fight for our lives. Join me this morning in getting dressed for battle, and I don't mean having a cup of coffee so you won't be grouchy. Although I have already had mine for the day lol. Let me ask you to reach for your Breastplate of Righteousness, you should already have on your Belt of Truth and if you don't just go back to the post on 03/12/12 and grab it. I will wait on you right here, so you may want to put on the first piece of armor before you put the rest of your gear on. I want you to be well prepared for this battle-after all it's your life.

Ladies, I am not attempting to frighten you, but we are truly in a battle for our lives, for our families lives, and the devil is aiming to kill us off. Remember he is a roaring lion seeking who he may devour. I have to give you more of that scripture because I want to make it perfectly clear, YOU ARE NOT IN THIS FIGHT ALONE. The scripture comes from

1 Peter 5:8, but I want you to read 5:9 as well because I am one of your partners in this battle. 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

So let us not waste time rather we like it or not we are all in this together, and you know in battle some of us - well all of us in this case gets wounded, some of us die, lose family members, turn to drugs, and the list goes on and on. However, my prayer is that although we are in this battle and again we must fight, none of us nor our friends and family will lose their eternal life. You see if you would take God at his word:

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, so that all that believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Above in verse 9 notice it states Christian brothers and sisters you see some of us may be in this battle but we may be on the wrong side. Let me make it plain. You are either fighting for Jesus or you are fighting for the devil, I am not going to take for granted that everyone reading this blog is saved. However, if you want to fight for Jesus and know that you are on the right side read the scripture below but also accept it as truth and do as it states.

Roman 10:9-10, 9"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved."

So now my sister's and brothers if your reading this and you believe the above scripture as I do than you are on the right side of this battle. Now lets go fight the devil and do some wounding of our own. The Breastplate of Righteousness is the next gear that you need to always put on. Think back to the Roman soldier what he would wear before he went out for battle the breastplate which would guard his torso, which comprised his fundamental organs like his lungs, heart and so on. Now I know what you are thinking David used a sling shot, well you and I are not David lol. God showed David special favor and he told us to put on The Full Armor. Without a breastplate ladies you could almost be sure of certain death or such a bad injury you may wish you were dead. However, with this breastplate on when the devil throws his daggers, arrows, rocks, and whatever other weapons he has such as: people who you thought were your friends but they betrayed you. The armor guards you against that. Let me go a little deeper, you see we are not in the Roman era now...but in a way we are. Its just that the weapons the enemy uses now are different. Examples: My husband cheated on me and left me, I lost my job, my kids are on drugs, I lost my house, or my co-worker committed suicide. To you and me these are weapons of mass destruction and can make one lose their mind if...and I say IF we did not have on the BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Now I know you're wondering where does that righteousness come in there, and what does it mean. It comes in because it makes the devil's attacks ineffective because we are righteous with God he helps us to stand firm when the trials and tribulations come. And you know sister when you are to weak to stand that's why Jesus has me and other sister's in the battle with you. Those blows that the devil throws out may wound you but not wipe you out of the battle, so what does the devil do?...Believe me he won't stop trying to take us out, so he goes back and inspect your tape and he does have you on video. He does not know your thoughts but he certainly know your habits, so if they are bad habits change them. Make the devil have to come up with a new play book. You have been filmed and reviewed by your enemy again and again. He will pursue you in a different fashion if he cannot get you in the old bad habits...be careful of that tall handsome man, he just might be a trick from the devil. As your mother have said or someone you know have said...what looks good is not always good for you. And the final thing about righteousness- I will let Proverbs tell you, and remember Proverbs is considered the book of Wisdom.

Proverbs 11:4,"Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death."

Until we gear up again ladies with another part of our armor, know that Jesus loves you and so do we. We are family...We are soldiers in the army of the Lord, fight well.

Let Go and Let God

Are you ever in your car, with the radio on and you’re a million miles away?  Thinking about work, school, husband, kids, friends, bills?  Well I’m sure that happens to us all more times than not.  Well today I was heading to school and I had the local Christian station playing in the background, it wasn’t a song I had hear before and it seemed a little young so I started to change it and thought “nah, I’ll just leave it”.  Well I didn’t hear any of it because my mind was wondering but out of nowhere I heard the lyrics “I don’t want to gain the world and lose my soul”…WHOA!  “Well hello there God, how are you today?”  Now ladies you KNOW that was God right?  So I just focused on those words and didn’t even listen to the remainder of the song.   I don’t want to gain the world and lose my soul……. I don’t want to gain the world, and lose my soul.  I just kept repeating those words over and over again, I don’t want to gain the world and lose my soul.  How powerful is that?  We are not here to please the world; we are here to please God.  We try so hard to please everyone, our boss, our husbands, our kids, our friends, our parents….but it’s not about them, it’s about Him!!

John 14:6 says I am the way, the truth, and the light.  Follow Him and allow Him to guide you.  Trust Him and know that He is there!  I was recently going through some issues and was upset the first day or two but the more I prayed about (and received prayers) I realized God’s got this, He’s got it under control so I just let it go.  I realize that is easier said than done, but it can be done.  I spoke with a friend about it last week and she was upset for me, and said “Brandy, you’re so calm and seem so peaceful about this.  If I were you I’d be frantic”.  I told her God has it in control and there is nothing I can do about it. I have no fear, no worry, no anxiety.  It’ll get taken care of, I’ll be taken care of…..it’s all good!!  You’ve just got to let go and let God.  God has given us so many promises has He ever not lived up to them?  Has He ever lied to us?  Has He ever not taken care of us?  The answer to all those questions is no.  We may not understand it at the time but instead of asking Him why, ask yourself if you’re handing it all over to God.  Ask yourself if you are letting it go, how can He help if you don’t let go?  How can your child learn to ride their bike if you don’t let go?  How will that bill be paid if you don’t let go of the check?  I saw a quote once that said something along the lines of “God removes things from your grasp so that your hands can be open to receive something bigger”.  So let go, so that your hands are open to receiving more from Him.  He’s got it to give, you’ve just go to accept it.  Here’s another quote for you Don't let your mind bully your body into believing it must carry the burden of its worries."

On that note, I’ll sign off for today.  It’s short and sweet blog today but need I go on?  Lots of love, and prayers for you all. 

I give you control...

Good Morning Ladies!

So how many of you have been living on cloud nine and dreading the moment when your cloud has to drop you back off into the world of reality? Well that's how I’ve been feeling lately. I have been feeling like everything was starting to fall into place. My prayers and patience were finally paying off and I felt like the Lord heard my cries and blessed me beyond belief. As things kept getting better and better I kept waiting for the moment when I'd have to live back in my reality with the ups and downs of life, which I was honestly dreading. But that's the thing, when things are going so great and the Lord is doing so many awesome things in our lives the devil likes to throw a wrench in there. He likes to test us and see if we'll take the easy way out and start living the way we used to. He wants to see if we'll give up on God's plan for our lives and try to make up our own plans. It's hard not to do what we want to do and to wait on God to answer sometimes, but I decided this time around the only plan I was going to make was to continue to trust God. I'm not going to let my faith waiver because everything in my life isn't going the way I want it to. I trust that I'm going through the things I’m going through because there is a lesson in it for me and for someone else as well. I also know that God trusts me to be different this time around and instead of taking the easy way out, stressing and crying, I’m going to take the more challenging way. I’m going to allow God to carry my burden and to lighten this heavy load. I'm giving him the reigns and as they say "practicing what I've been preaching". As I said before, this is not easy AT ALL for any of us, but it’s easier for me to do it this time around because God has shown me that he’s here with me through it all. He’s reminded me of what happens when I trust him (Proverbs 3:5-6) and I believe that just like he’s gotten me through so many other things in my life he will bring me through this situation as well. I wanted to talk about this because I know it’s something we’ve all gone through. Trusting God and then feeling like he’s not present when we need him, or trusting God and wondering why everything around us isn’t going the way WE think it should. None of us are alone in feeling this way, we are all human. The one thing I keep wondering is if God is allowing me to be tested like he did Job. How much of an honor would it be for God to tell the devil that you’re one of his trusted children who will not stray no matter what the circumstances? I don’t know about y’all, but I’m thinking, “Thanks God, it’s a heavy load to carry and I’m glad you trust me and all, but could you lighten this load for me just a little?!” lol! It’s like the Lord thinks we can do it all and then some! God thinks this because he knows that he’s here to help us through it all. We don’t have to do any of it alone, as long as we trust him.

            It’s not easy living by faith and on a prayer, and many people around you won’t understand why or how you’re able to do it, and that’s okay. You’re at a different place than they are, but maybe your strength and trust in God will help them start to trust God again. You just never know who’s watching and examining your life. J

I have and will continue to pray Colossians 1:9-14 for you ladies. I don’t have it memorized yet so I just try and focus on the major parts, God’s strength to get us through it all! J Please pray that prayer for everyone reading this blog and even those who haven’t. We can all use God’s strength in our lives!  

A song for you!! ‘From the Inside Out’ by Hillsong United

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbGgA2lIDjc


We hope to see you all on Sunday at 3pm!! We’ve only had a couple respond so hoping to get our final headcount no later than Friday!
 
Stay encouraged, inspired and motivated today and help someone else do the same! J

 Love you ladies! Enjoy this gloomy Monday and help put a smile on someone else’s face!

 Raynisia Nagel

A Woman After God’s Own Heart

           

Praise be to God for holding back his anger on us!!!

Good evening Ladies,

I ask for your forgiveness for me posting so late, but I have come to realize we may make plans but God has the final say in our plans. I planned to get up early this morning and I was all excited about writing you about another peace of the armor. However, I was blessed last night from a young man who I consider as a son, David - he works for KCBI the radio station. David, is truly a man after God's own heart, he blessed me and my daughter with reserved seats to see the preview of the movie coming out in March, October Baby. After viewing the movie God impressed upon my heart to purchase 10 movie tickets to give to my Pastor and our church Pregnancy Center. I will say this about the movie...it is to help all of us to save the unborn. God commanded us in his word to be fruitful and multiply, but devil being the liar that he is tells women its okay, no one will find out about your abortion. So today ladies I will speak about what the Lord has placed on my heart because it is not about me, but this blog is all about glorifying our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. By the way when the movie does release for viewing this month, please support it you will not be sorry you did. And I just want to say a special thanks to you David.

Today ladies, I will be coming out of the book of 1 Chronicles chapter 21:7-17, below you will see the scripture posted for you and I got it from the New Living Translation version.

Judgment for David’s Sin

⁷ God was very displeased with the census, and he punished Israel for it. ⁸ Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt for doing this foolish thing.” ⁹ Then the LORD spoke to Gad, David’s seer. This was the message: ¹⁰ “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the LORD says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.’” ¹¹ So Gad came to David and said, “These are the choices the LORD has given you. ¹² You may choose three years of famine, three months of destruction by the sword of your enemies, or three days of severe plague as the angel of the LORD brings devastation throughout the land of Israel. Decide what answer I should give the LORD who sent me.” ¹³ “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great. Do not let me fall into human hands.” ¹⁴ So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel, and 70,000 people died as a result. ¹⁵ And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But just as the angel was preparing to destroy it, the LORD relented and said to the death angel, “Stop! That is enough!” At that moment the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Araunah^[a] the Jebusite.

¹⁶ David looked up and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth with his sword drawn, reaching out over Jerusalem. So David and the leaders of Israel put on burlap to show their deep distress and fell face down on the ground. ¹⁷ And David said to God, “I am the one who called for the census! I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? O LORD my God, let your anger fall against me and my family, but do not destroy your people.”

Ladies, I want you to take notice of verse 16, I said to myself after reading it over and over again God truly loved David to allow him to see the angel. Can you imagine, you look up and you see this angel standing between heaven and earth and he has the sword in hand and about to wipe you and a nation out. Then I said to Jesus after shouting and crying out to him, Lord how many times have you held back your anger from me. I thought back to all of the times I should have been dead and just could not stop saying thank you Jesus for your grace and mercy. I suggest ladies that you read this story to the end because long story short. David was told what he must do from Gad and the message that Gad told him came from God. At the very end of the story it states:

²⁸ When David saw that the LORD had answered his prayer, he offered sacrifices there at Araunah’s threshing floor. ²⁹ At that time the Tabernacle of the LORD and the altar of burnt offering that Moses had made in the wilderness were located at the place of worship in Gibeon. ³⁰ But David was not able to go there to inquire of God, because he was terrified by the drawn sword of the angel of the LORD.

I told God when I get to heaven Lord you have to show me this footage, then I thought wait, Lord nothing is impossible for you. I am sure you can take me back in time just to see this for myself. Ladies, have you ever thought just how awesome our God is? I mean who would not want to see Daniel in the lions dean, was he petting the lion like a kitty cat. Who would not want to see Paul on Damascus Rd. when Jesus asked him...Saul, Saul why do you persecute me, and his response was Lord who are you. Yet, he had already spoken it he is Lord and at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess he is Lord. I want God to roll that beautiful footage, or again, and better yet take me there oh Lord to see it for myself. One other thing I want you to notice ladies. Gad gave David 3 choices of his punishment for his sin. I have said it before and I will say it again, in the bible numbers have a meaning and the # 3 means the Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Then Gad gave David his 3 choices from the Lord, either 3 years, 3 months, or 3 days. One would have thought that the 3 days with the Lord would have been a lot easier, remember everyone- what God has for us to do is not always easy, but I would never put my trust in man. David chose wisely, and what I love about my brother in Christ so much he was willing to have himself and his family destroyed but he would not purposely allow God's innocent chosen people to lose their lives. What sin have you committed against a Holy God but he has graciously held back his anger from you. This reminds me too that I should be more accepting of peoples flaws because I have so many of my own.

We praise you God for your grace and mercy and we thank you that you have left us examples of how to please you. I pray that God will keep and bless you all but please Lord teach us to turn from our sins whatever they may be. Lets ask God what plans does he have for your lives because he does have plans for us all. Be blessed and bless others and remember the prayer line is always open no matter what time.

The Catcher

Good Morning Ladies!

I first wanted to share with you that we will be doing only 1 blog post a day from now on. I think this will help make it easier to follow along and make sure that everything that each of us posts gets read! :)
     Yesterday I woke up late and wasn't feeling well so I decided that I would do my devotion last night when I made it home from work. Well of course I was feeling worse when I got home last night and couldn't even think straight so I went to bed. I kept waking up all night, 1. Because I didn't feel good and 2. Because I felt guilty that I didn't do my devotion yesterday, BUT when I read my daily devotion this morning it was exactly what God put on my heart to share with you today! :) Since it was so amazing I'm going to write it exactly as it appears in my 'Daily Bread' and then attach the scripture for you as well. If you don't have a 'Daily Bread' I definitely recommend getting one. It helps you with your daily devotion and it has about 3 months in it at a time.


Daily Bread:

Life is a risky enterprise. Sometimes we fly high, enjoying great success. But then suddenly we fall into deep disappointments and the haunting reality of failure, leaving our hearts wondering if there is anything worth looking forward to.

            At a funeral recently, the pastor told the story about a trapeze artist. The performer admitted that although he is seen as the star of the show, the real star is the catcher- the teammate who hangs from another trapeze bar to grab him and guarantee a safe landing. With outstretched arms, the flyer must TRUST that the catcher is ready and able to grab him. Dying is like trusting in God as the catcher. After we have flown through life, we can look forward to God reaching out to catch His followers and pull us safely to Himself forever. I like that thought. 

            This reminds me of Jesus’ comforting words to His disciples: “Let not your heart be troubled…I go to prepare a place for you. And…I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).

            Life is indeed a risky business, but be encouraged! If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, the Catcher is waiting at the end to take you safely home.

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Bottom of Form
John: Chapter 14

Jesus: ¹Don’t get lost in despair; believe in God, and keep on believing in Me. ²My Father’s home is designed to accommodate all of you. If there were not room for everyone, I would have told you that. I am going to make arrangements for your arrival. ³I will be there to greet you personally and welcome you home, where we will be together. ⁴You know where I am going and how to get there.

Thomas: ⁵Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the path?

Jesus: ⁶I am the path, the truth, and the energy of life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. ⁷If you know Me, you know the Father. Rest assured now; you know Him and have seen Him.

Philip: ⁸Lord, all I am asking is that You show us the Father.

Jesus (to Philip): ⁹I have lived with you all this time, and you still don’t know who I am? If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. How can you keep asking to see the Father? ¹⁰Don’t you believe Me when I say I abide in the Father and the Father dwells in Me? I’m not making this up as I go along. The Father has given Me these truths that I have been speaking to you, and He empowers all My actions. ¹¹Accept these truths: I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me. If you have trouble believing based on My words, believe because of the things I have done. ¹²I tell you the truth: whoever believes in Me will be able to do what I have done, but they will do even greater things, because I will return to be with the Father. ¹³Whatever you ask for in My name, I will do it so that the Father will get glory from the Son. ¹⁴Let Me say it again: if you ask for anything in My name, I will do it. ¹⁵If you love Me, obey the commandments I have given you. ¹⁶I will ask the Father to send you another Helper, the Spirit of truth, who will remain constantly with you. ¹⁷The world does not recognize the Spirit of truth, because it does not know the Spirit and is unable to receive Him. But you do know the Spirit because He lives with you, and He will dwell in you. ¹⁸I will never abandon you like orphans; I will return to be with you. ¹⁹In a little while, the world will not see Me; but I will not vanish completely from your sight. Because I live, you will also live. ²⁰At that time, you will know that I am in the Father, you are in Me, and I am in you. ²¹The one who loves Me will do the things I have commanded. My Father loves everyone who loves Me; and I will love you and reveal My heart, will, and nature to you.

The Other Judas: ²²Lord, why will You reveal Yourself to us, but not to the world?

Jesus: ²³Anyone who loves Me will listen to My voice and obey. The Father will love him, and We will draw close to him and make a dwelling place within him. ²⁴The one who does not love Me ignores My message, which is not from Me, but from the Father who sent Me.

²⁵I have spoken these words while I am here with you. ²⁶The Father is sending a great Helper, the Holy Spirit, in My name to teach you everything and to remind you of all I have said to you. ²⁷My peace is the legacy I leave to you. I don’t give gifts like those of this world. Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful. ²⁸You were listening when I said, “I will go away, but I will also return to be with you.” If you love Me, celebrate the fact that I am going to be with the Father because He is far greater than I am. ²⁹I have told you all these things in advance so that your faith will grow as these things come to pass. ³⁰I am almost finished speaking to you. The one who rules the world is stepping forward, and he has no part in Me; ³¹but to demonstrate to the cosmos My love for the Father, I will do just as He commands. Stand up. It is time for us to leave this place.

I know that’s a lot of reading, but the entire chapter was so important and I definitely didn’t want to leave any of the good stuff out! ;)

Jesus said that there is enough room for EVERYONE not just a couple of us! He’s going to personally welcome us when we arrive, that brought tears to my eyes. He’s treating us like we are the “super stars”, making a party for us, red carpet entrance and then there’s Jesus at the gate. How awesome is that?!

            I know you can read all of this yourself and get a clear understanding, but I wanted to share a couple of my favorite verses and what they mean to me. One of my favorite parts of this entire chapter is verse ²⁰At that time, you will know that I am in the Father, you are in Me, and I am in you.  Jesus is in us ladies! God dwelled inside of Jesus and now we are lucky enough to have a part of Jesus dwelling inside of us. That makes me so happy and I feel so honored to be one of God’s chosen ones! Another one of my favorites is ²⁷My peace is the legacy I leave to you. I don’t give gifts like those of this world. Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful.  I would take Jesus’ peace over anything this world could ever offer me! His peace surpasses all understanding. When we are at peace we aren’t stressed or fearful. But Jesus did give us a gift, the greatest one of them all, and that was his life.

            This entire chapter spoke to me in such a powerful way and I wanted to share it with you ladies. Some of us know where we are going and we know how to get there, but some may not know how to enter the gates of heaven, or maybe you just want to say this prayer again today because you’re turning a new leaf. Either way, please know that you’re not alone. There are so many others who are right there with you and there is enough room in Heaven for ALL of us! J I have written the prayer below please feel free to contact myself, Reda or Brandy if you would like us to pray it with you!

Dear Lord,

I admit that I am a sinner. I have done many things that don’t please you. I have lived my life for myself. I am sorry and I repent. I ask you to forgive me. I believe that you died on the cross for me, to save me. You did what I could not do for myself. I come to you now and ask you to take control of my life, I give it to you. Help me to live every day in a way that pleases you. I love you, Lord, and I thank you that I will spend all eternity with you.
 Amen.

Stay encouraged, inspired and motivated today ladies! Please help someone else do the same! Be a light in this dark world! J

Can’t wait to see all of you next Sunday for some yummy Mexican food!! J

Raynisia Nagel

A Woman After God’s Own Heart

Be perceptive

Wow, spring break week.  For those of you who have young kiddos in school know exactly what I’m talking about.  Working from home and dealing with fights, hunger, boredom (not sure how that is possible when there is hundreds of dollars worth of equipment outside to play with or thousands worth of electronics), moodiness, etc.  All while juggling conference calls and managing my emails.  WHEW!  However, playing 4 squares with my kids on my lunch break has been tons-o-fun  so praise the Lord for that. 

                God has tested my patience this week, whew LORDY, He has tested it.  Don’t those tests just drive you crazy?  It’s so hard for the little ones to understand that you need to work, and that you need to be left alone.  So in fighting back the frustration I try to explain for the 15^th time this morning that I need to work lol.  However, I think this test was about more than just patience.  I told my husband yesterday I NEED A BREAK, so when he got home I went and got a mani/pedi AHHHHHHHH that’s better.  No one is fighting, no one is jumping upstairs and disturbing my conf call and no one is tapping on the door when I finally take 5 mins to shower for the first time in 2 ½ days!!!  The girl doing my nails asked the normal questions, how long have you been married?  Do you have kids?  How many?  Then she said she had a 5 month old baby at home and her cousin was watching him because she had to work until 9pm that night.  Her husband works nights and she works days, she said her baby is so happy when she gets home.  And she finally got to see her husband Monday because she made him take off work to spend time with the family because they never see each other.    I’m thinking “WHAT??!?!?!  Here I am wanting a break from the kiddos b/c I’ve been with them while working 2 days straight and my husband has come home both nights and fixed dinner because he knew I’d been home with them and I’m COMPLAINING?  EXCUSE ME?”  I came home that night, enjoyed the wonderful meal he prepared and just sat and enjoyed the conversation between him and the kids.  I just sat back and watched their smiling faces and the excitement of the vacation today.  It’s amazing how selfish we all can be when you step back and look at ourselves in the mirror.  I absolutely love my kids but it can be trying at times, however, I cannot take for granted how wonderful I’ve got it.  I get to see them and my husband all the time.  So this test wasn’t just about patience it was about gratitude as well.  I’ve thanked God for that (somewhat annoying test) and this week when the kids are driving me crazy because the 5 of us are crammed in one hotel room after 5 hours in the car…..I’ll stop….I’ll pray for patience…then I’ll thank Him for the three little blessings that are standing in front of me.  Heck, I’ll thank Him for my husband too ;).  Today has been awesome, they are excited about our vacation that starts tonight and all happy.  God has blessed me with so many things and I cannot take them for granted anymore. 

                So thank God ladies.  Thank Him for the fights, for the chocolate ice cream on the white carpet, for the pen mark on your leather seat in your new car (thank you Lexi!!), thank Him for the noise, the laughter, the silly questions, and the constant interruptions (here is one kid knocking on my door now).  The teenager, oh Lord, what drama does he have for me hahaha (it’s truly amazing how dramatic teenagers can be and ours is a boy!!).  Goodness.  Learn from it.  If you don’t have kids, then you can thank God for all your mistakes.  When you lock your keys in your car, leave your cell at home and have to drive all the way back to get it, for the nail polish that is now permanently on the coffee table in the living room and all of life’s annoyances.   Set an example for the kids, your friends and your coworkers.  Be positive and let them see God in you.  I even heard my kids all day Sunday after church singing “It’s My Father’s House” it was awesome.  It used to be “I’m Sexy and I know it”. 

                We all have many annoyances, and difficulties in our lives but they are all blessings in disguise.  Slow down and take time to notice them and thank God for all you have, the good, the bad and the ugly…remember, it’s all beautiful because it is all His creation. 

Be positive and show grace and love…..

Won't You Be My Love...

Good Morning Ladies,

I hope everyone is having a good week so far! I was having my morning worship when this song came on, and I felt like it was Jesus asking me this personally. I attached the Youtube link, but also all the lyrics in case you can't view the video.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKG3Pwr04A0

Lyrics to Won't You Be My Love : Mercy Me

[Verse 1:]
When you fall asleep tonight
In your warm and cozy room
Know that I'm awake
And I've got no shelter and no food

[Pre-Chorus 1:]
I am not alone
My friends are broke and lost
Looking for someone to lead them to my cross
I need your help, I need your help

[Chorus 1:]
Won't you be My voice calling
Won't you be My hands healing
Won't you be My feet walking into a broken world
Won't you be My chain-breaker
Won't you be My peacemaker
Won't you be My hope and joy
Won't you be My Love

[Verse 2:]
The other side of the world
She is just a few days old
A helpless little girl
With no family of her own

[Pre-Chorus 2:]
She is not to blame for the journey she is on
Her life is no mistake
Won't you lead her to My cross?

[Chorus 1:]

[Bridge:]
To those I call My own
To those I've set aside
As spotless without blame
The chosen ones My bride

[Chorus 2:]
We will be Your voice calling
We will be Your hands healing
We will be Your feet walking into a broken world
We will be Your chain-breaker
We will be Your peacemaker
We will be Your hope and joy
We will be Your love

[Verse 1:]
When you fall asleep tonight
In your warm and cozy room
Know that I'm awake
And I've got no shelter and no food

[Pre-Chorus 1:]

[Chorus 1:]

[Verse 2:]
The other side of the world
She is just a few days old
A helpless little girl
With no family of her own

[Pre-Chorus 2:]
She is not to blame for the journey she is on
Her life is no mistake
Won't you lead her to My cross?

[Chorus 1:]

[Bridge:]
To those I call My own
To those I've set aside
As spotless without blame
The chosen ones My bride

[Chorus 2:]
We will be Your voice calling
We will be Your hands healing
We will be Your feet walking into a broken world
We will be Your chain-breaker
We will be Your peacemaker
We will be Your hope and joy
We will be Your love

While I was listening to this song I was thinking about these past couple of weeks and wondering if I've done even half of these things. Have I been God's voice calling, his peacemaker, his hope and joy and most importantly have I been his love? Have I shown his love to someone else that really needed to see it? It's so funny because I've been so busy trying to get everything right in my life that I never stopped to realize that it won't all be right over night. All the changes I want to make and the things I want to do in my life to please God are going to take time. I'm never going to be perfect. I know God understands this, but it hurts me to disappoint him. Sadly, we disappoint God daily, knowingly and unknowingly. There are times that a thought crosses our mind, or us not allowing his light to shine through us to help others, those moments can hurt God.

One of my biggest struggles has been, wanting everyone to be where I am in my walk with God. To be so excited about what he’s doing in our lives and want to share that excitement with others. The reality is, everyone isn’t me. Some people are introverted and I’m definitely NOT! Lol! I like to talk and meet new people and get to know them. Some are the complete opposite and I know that’s okay, but I guess I’ve just wanted someone else to share this burning desire to change their lives around and want to do as much as I do to help others. I haven’t thought about these feelings in a while, but my daily devotion mentioned some great points that helped give me a different perspective. It talked about Paul’s letter to the Colossians and how he thanked God for their spiritual growth. I realized that a lot of people may be growing in Christ and just because they aren’t like me doesn’t mean I should feel let down. Instead, I should be thanking God for their spiritual growth and asking God to help them to continue to grow spiritual. Check out this amazing prayer that Paul prayed for the Colossians’.

Colossians 1:9-14

“Since the day we got this good news about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We ask: Father, may they clearly know Your will and achieve the height and depth of spiritual wisdom and understanding. May their lives be a credit to You, Lord; and what’s more, may they continue to delight You by doing every good work and growing in the true knowledge that comes from being close to You. Strengthen them with Your infinite power, according to Your glorious might, so that they will have everything they need to hold on and endure hardship patiently and joyfully. Thank you, father, as You have made us eligible to receive our portion of the inheritance given to all those SET APART by the LIGHT. You have rescued us from dark powers and brought us safely into the kingdom of Your Son, whom You love and in whom we are redeemed and forgiven of our sins [through His blood].

WOW! As always, very powerful! Paul was praying for their knowledge and strength because he knew they would need it to “endure hardship”. He knew that becoming a Christ follower wasn’t going to be easy for them and that they would face more challenges, but he also knew that by praying this prayer God would honor it because Paul was one of God’s chosen ones. We are all one of his chosen one’s when we step outside of our old ways and allow God to transform us into who HE wants us to be. We are set apart by the light and that light is JESUS ladies. We are set apart from this world because we believe in him. That’s why I say our actions have to be different than what this world expects from us. We should be unique and stand out just like Jesus did. We can all afford to grow in spiritual wisdom and understanding and even in our walk with God.  I prayed this prayer for all of you this morning and I hope that you will pray it for others as well.

 

I hope to see all of you next Sunday at Uncle Julio’s! Excited to meet all of you! J

 

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Stay encouraged, inspired and motivated today and help someone else do the same! J

Raynisia Nagel

A Woman After God’s Own Heart