" The LORD’S loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness" Lamentations 3:22-23

If I didn't believe this promise, there wouldn't be a whole lot to look forward to every day I woke up. Not because my life isn't blessed, because it is. But, because of the loving kindness of the Lord and His wonderful mercy, I can stand in freedom every day. I don't have to wake up in dread, but I can wake up in faith, believing that the One True God is in control over this new day and His mercy is indeed new and He is ever faithful to bring me through whatever I will face...

"...I am the Way..." John 14:6

Many people are hurting so badly, and they are crying out for help. The problem is, they are not willing to receive the help they need from God. The truth is, no matter how much we may want or need help, we are never going to receive it until we are willing to do things God's way. Its amazing how many times we want help, but we want God to do it our way. God wants us to do it His way. In John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the Way." What Jesus meant when He said, "I am the Way," is that He has a certain way of doing things, and if we will submit to His way, everything will work out for us. But so often we wrestle and struggle with Him, trying to get Him to do things our way. It just won't work.

The point is that too often people are trying to find some other way to get help rather than by doing things God's way. The Bible plainly teaches that if we will learn and act on the Word, God will bless our lives. For example, the Bible teaches that we are to live in harmony and peace with others and to forgive those who have done us wrong. If we refuse to do that, what hope do we have of receiving what we need? If we don't do what we can do, then God won't do what we can't do. If we will do what we can do, God will do what we can't do.

"For whatever was written was given to us for our learning, that through patience and comfort of the scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4)

I need Jesus every, single day. Without Him, I fail...

Jesus said "Blessed are the meek, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" Matthew 5:3 the meaning for meek is 'spiritually humble'. A promise of the Lord is that He gives grace to the humble...(1 Peter 5:5)

This has been so heavy on my heart in the last few years and recently I know without a shadow of a doubt the will of God for my life...to reach out to people who are broken hearted and desperately need the touch of the Lord...I am one of those people. So are you. We all need a touch from Jesus. The thing is, we have to let Him.

Peace

the push of a wonderful man

By nature I like to think of myself as an observant person. iI like to people watch, study the complex infrastructure known as "relationship", and attempt to understand the human heart...I was a little overwhelmed when I had to examine my own...

In the last year, I have been wrestling with myself. And along with that wrestling, there has been a person who has changed my life...I thought I understood men, (yes, go ahead and laugh) how they think, act, or why they think a certain way or act a certain way. It has been both frustrating and completely mind blowing at the same time to realize I didn't...not a clue! And there is a reason I didn't(I'll write about that later). But, God has used the difference of this man in my life to change it, never to be the same again. I have been both humbled and enamored, molded and redone. There have been times during this process that I have cried and been mad but mostly...challenged. Challenged to be different, be better, to look through different lenses, the lenses of Christ (the Word). For the first time I have been pushed to jump off my comfortable cliff and into the arms of a Savior who is the WHOLE meaning of life...And this person pushed me.

You see, I met this person, and through him, God has used to change my life. These last 12 months I have been pushed, stretched, humbled, and encouraged. Because even though before, I knew redemption though Jesus was THE only way and that in order to follow Him you have to also pick up your cross as He did, I still didn't have the experience of trial and difficulty in front (or behind) me. What I knew of the Lord and believe was definitely put to the test this past year. I encountered attack from the evil one, difficulty, financial struggle, emotional struggle, and stress. But, one thing I never lacked was an unwavering belief that I was not alone and that I was unconditionally loved. That the fire I was called to walk through, the 'valley of the shadow of death' that i crawled my way though, I was called for a purpose...I was called because the King had dealings with me...

This last year He has stripped me of pride,'comfortability' seeking desires, and insecurity in myself and He replaced it with true wholeness in Him, peace, and FULL dependence and reliance upon who He is...we really, truly are nothing without Him. Because He is everything... So, whether He calls me to live where I currently am now or to live on a clay floor or maybe even in a tent or for that matter in my car...without delay, I have to go because through the fire, through the teaching and molding (which isn't over I may add) He has carried me and taught me that its not about me. How can we (His people) give less to Him then our heart and life when He blesses us with so much.

So, with that, I add that God puts people in our lives for a reason. And though not always easy, there is purpose in His plan...and I don't believe for one minute that all I have walked through this last year was not planned...God blessed me with a steady, only deepening, enriching love that I am SO thankful for...he (you know who you are) has been the stable grip that has kept me holding my head up in the joy of the Lord. And let me say that I (we) have found the beauty and necessity of walking together in Christ...and that the Love of God will calm any storm you face as long as your heart is firm in love. Thanks for the push.