In All Situations Run to God!!!

It’s amazing how we can run toward God in the bad times, but ignore Him in the good times. Why? Why do we only pursue God when we are in need or in trouble? Is God not responsible for the good? Did He not breathe life into us? Does He not think of us? To paraphrase James 1:17, every good gift comes from God. He made us. He thinks of us. The fact that He sent His Son to die for us should be revered. Instead, we run only to Him when we need Him. Unacceptable!!!
God has been good to us. It doesn’t matter if we are going through or are conquering things we thought we couldn’t. Overcoming, perseverance, blessings are all gifts from He, Who loves us. Why can’t we run to Him in joyous times? Ecclesiastes 7:14 lets us know to be joyful when we are prospering, & when times are bad, we are to remember that God has made the one as the other. In other words, God is in control!!!
This I leave with you, in times of trouble or times of triumph, run towards God w/ praise, love, & obedience & not only when you need Him! We serve a loving, merciful God!!!

Turn It Over to Jesus

I am not perfect. I’ve been struggling for awhile in my spiritual walk w/Christ. I love the Lord Jesus. I strive for perfection. I’ve also allowed some sins to go on. I struggle w/ the flesh as the Word has let us know. The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41b). I had a good cry to the Lord. I could feel Him listening to me as I told Him about how I feel Iike I can’t live up to His expectation. He let me know He knows me. He knew e from the womb. He also reassured me that’s why Jesus came down. Also, I was to come to Him. He would take care of me. I just simply had to give it to Him. We need to stop holding on to things, and simply give the to the Lord. He can handle them. There is nothing to hard for Him.

#stoptryingtohandleitbyyourself #giveittoGod #KingJesusSaves

Memorial Day

     Thank God for the brave soldiers that fought for this country. We enjoy freedoms that many don’t have. I recognize & appreciate all of the soldiers that have died for me. I, also recognize those that have been oppressed by this government but were willing to fight for us. I, especially, give shout out to the Native Americans. As a member of the Toronto O’odham tribe, it’s important for me to salute you. #thankful

Take Back Your Image!

When will I ever get confidence? For years, I’ve tried to get something that should be there. The Lord gave us His Holy Spirit, & yet, I suffer from self esteem issues. What is wrong w/ me? Am I resurrecting the old man? The old man should have been crucified (Romans 6:6). When we are in Christ, we are a new creature & old things are gone (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is His Word.  Why can’t I shake off this issue?
For starters, the answer can truly be answered w/ how is my prayer life? Am I praying to the Lord? What am I praying for? Why haven’t I began that consecration that I was so supposed to do earlier? There is my answer. I’m lapsing in the areas that I should be prospering in. There is no such thing as a lazy Christian, but yet, that is what I have become.
I take the time to go to the gym. I take the time to talk to my friends. I take the time to do overtime, & watch sports. Where is my time w/ the Lord? Where is my prayer and watching. “Watch & pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak,” Matthew 26:41.
It’s time to stop lapsing!!!
PS…for those in the struggle w/ me, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalm 139:14. Be bold in the Lord, knowing this.

What Are You Thirsting After

What am I thirsting after? This question I pose to myself after hearing the Word today. The Pastor was speaking about the interaction between Jesus & the Samaritan woman. She had 5 husbands before the man she was with. The Pastor pointed out that we couldn’t judge her as many of us were guilty of thirsting after something else besides God.
The truth is that I know what I’m thirsting for. I know what I’m chasing for. I know that I need to get rid of that & thirst for a spiritual relationship w/ the Lord. My thoughts, my focus, my wants should be directed towards that relationship instead of what I’m chasing after now. #factsarefacts #truthsaretruths
In order to prosper spiritually, we need to thirst after Jesus, Who is able to give us that water where we will never thirst. He is able to meet our needs. Our priorities should be shifted to Him. May the Lord guide us in where we need to go. May our hearts burn after Him.

#SeekJesus #ChooseJesus #JesusisLife

Let The Lord Guide Your Path

For too many years, people have been doing things their way. Results: ungodliness mess. Psalm 119:105 tells us that, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light until my path.” In other words, His Word, guides us; it directs us where we need to be, how to govern ourselves accordingly, & how to help others. We, create bad situations for ourselves. It’s time to stop being independent and beginning dependent on the Lord Himself. Jesus is the only One I trust. Who are you allowing to guide you?

What’s Consuming You

 [17] And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? [18] And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is , God. [19] Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. [20] And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. [21] Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. [22] And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. [23] And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! [24] And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! [25] It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  Mark 10:17-25 KJVS

For this young man, giving up his possessions was asking too much for him. Is it asking too much of us to give up something we possess-something we cherish? What is consuming us? For some, money consumes them. They feel that money will keep them afloat. While money does pay the bills, money is gifted from God to us. He is the ultimate provider for our needs.
For others, their lifestyle consumes them. Living a carefree life provides them w/ joy. I can honestly say that it is empty joy as true joy comes from the Lord Himself. (See Galatians 5:22-23).  No matter what is consuming them, it is driving them away from the Lord. The Lord wants us to draw near to Him (James 5:8). He wants us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, & follow Him (Matthew 16:24). God wants a relationship w/ us. There need not be any distractions. Whatever is consuming our time, we need to get rid of it. A time well consumed is a time spent w/ the Lord.
Trust the Bible, following Jesus & denying ourselves will be well worth it in the end.
God Bless!

Going Through

This week has been trying. I love God, but I’m going through. I feel like I’m failing His tests. They’re really simple tests, but I’m struggling w/ my flesh; I’m struggling w/ my emotions. I was really rude w/a customer on Friday, not controlling my irritation w/ him. I’ve been feeling out of it, teaching Sunday school. Also, I feel like I’ve become puffed up. I don’t want that. I want to get back on track for the Lord.
        During this trying time, w/ the Lord’s help, maybe I’ll be able to draw closer to Him. I know that I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13). Pray for me as I will pray for whomever reads this. I know that I will get through as the Lord has let us know that we’re more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). I will conquer this, & whatever you are going through, as long as you have Jesus, you will conquer your issue as well. God bless.

The Devil is Not Your Friend

John 8:44 KJVS
[44] Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

The devil is not your friend. A liar & a murderer can never be your friend! He is like a lion, seeking to devour whomever he can (1 peter 5:8). Don’t let him devour you. It’s easier said than done, but we have our weapons to fight him. Ephesians 6:10-17 tells us about the full armor of God. Wear it, embrace it, use it!. Here’s praying for a glorious day for all of you!

The Day After...

Psalm 23:1-6 KJVS
[1] The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. [3] He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. [4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. [5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Even though I had a rough day yesterday, I know that my Lord is able to keep me. I made amends & reconciled w/ a loved one. I also recognized that the devil is trying to pull me down. I say no! The Lord is my Shepherd, not the devil. The Lord is Whom I will follow. All of the days of my life, I will dedicate to Him, even if they are trying. May this Word bring a blessing to someone. God Bless, my brothers & sisters in Christ,

P.S. Keep your heads up. We will not bow down to Satan!!!

There is No Such Thing As A Smooth Sailing

The devil is roaring his ugly head. I can’t say that it shouldn’t have been expected. When things get great, when the Holy Spirit comes into the church strengthening his people, the devil will come after you. the devil doesn’t want what he has already; he wants what he can’t have. When we say yes to Jesus, the devil gets angry.
For the past few weeks, the Lord has been in the Church. He has been strengthening us. I can literally feel His presence. While this has been happening, He has been helping me on the job, making it easier. It’s been an exciting time for us. The devil wasn’t going to take it lying down.
For the first time in awhile, I began getting a little down. Yesterday, i was battling w/ my irritation towards someone in the church (It’s me-not her). Today, i was late to work because of 2 wrecks. I was irritated. I should have immediately prayed, but I got angry.  I later realized my mistake, repented & prayed. Then, my bladder was full during the 2nd wreck. It was awful. I, thankfully, got to a restroom in time. Ultimately, I ended up late. I got to work with a non pleasant attitude. I talk time was significantly up. My stats wee awful. My tone was not pleasant. It was not the way I wanted to start my April off.
Thankfully, the Lord showed me that this is to be expected. He allowed me to know that my blessing Is near. The devil doesn’t want this for me. He wants to steal it from me. The Lord also let me know that it’s about how we react to the situation. Do we try to handle it or do we take It to God? If you answered the latter, you would be right. We have to give it to God.
Despite this manic Monday, I’m still blessed. The Lord is still w/ me. The devil has lost the war. I’m not worried about the devil. He will meet his doom in a few. I want to please my Lord. It’s not about me, but about He!!!

P.S. Brothers & Sisters, keep pressing your way In the Lord. Don’t let the devil scare you into missing you blessing or from pleasing God.

The Holy Spirit Is Moving

     Church has been so good lately! I can’t wait until next Sunday. The Holy Spirit has been coming in, and working w/ His people. His presence has been felt. It’s such a wonder feeling. His presence is definitely welcomed & much needed.

      The Holy Spirit dwells in the believers of Christ. As believers, we need to be tapping into Him. He has an important role w/ us...It’s amazing how powerful He is! He can change things for you...just let Him work in you. The Holy Spirit is here to comfort, to strengthen, & guide us. He also helps us remember His Word. We need Him everyday. So, having Him come in & strengthen and refresh us, is much needed and wanted.

     Don’t quench the Holy Spirit! Let Him work in you! I guarantee He will make things a lot better for you...God Bless you all!!!

Less Complaining & More Praying

Alright, here is my rant of the day. Complaining is not going to get you anywhere. It really isn't, & airing out your grievances about the opposite sex is only going to make you look wretched to others. As a Christian (if you are one), stop complaining & start praying. That is all.✌🏻

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love," 1 John 4:18. This country is allowing fear to dictate policies that are inhumane. I understand the need to protect our country. I encourage it, but this is not protection. We are keeping people out of this country that are going through some ungodly experiences. Yes, there are some people that want to hurt us. Again, I understand this, The majority of immigrants are not desiring to harm us, but want a chance at a normal life. Muslims are not bad people. My experiences with Muslim Americans have been pleasant. The woman that took my blood was the sweetest person that I have ever met. She was just like me. The only thing that differentiated us was our religion & skin color. I work with a Muslim American. Again, no problems. How can we justify this act? If we have Jesus, we have no fear. We have no paranoia. 2 Timothy 1:7 states "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Let us not allow fear to consume us, but let Jesus overwhelm us w/ love & peace. Be loving & peaceful to others. Show compassion! Allow the Lord to do His thing! God Bless!

#lightthelamp

Light The Lamp

     President Trump’s victory does not give anyone the mandate to mistreat others. Recently, I have had my intelligence questioned, & have been called sweetheart. Let’s get this straight: I’m NOT your sweetheart! Insulting others is no way to get what you want. I treat people w/ respect; I expect the same in return. You may throw shade, but I light the lamp (Matthew 5:15-16)! I will not repay you w/ vile, demeaning insults but w/ love & compassion. Then, I’ll lift you up in prayer. To paraphrase the former First Lady, Michelle Obama, when you go low, I’ll go high. To my fellow sisters, let’s lift each other up. No more tearing each other down. To the men, love women as Christ loves the church. With that said, pray for this President & for him to be successful. We’re in this all together. Having said that, I will not be your Jack to your Rose…That is all. #Godbless #love #politelydisagree #lightthelamp

Dear Atheists

Dear atheists,

Your lack of belief is your problem & when you die, it will be permanently your problem. As a Christian, I pray that is not the case for you because I love you & Jesus loves you. I pray that you find your way to the Way, the Truth, & the Life. In the mean time, please stop hurting people that are already hurting. If you don't like the material that is handed to you, politely discard & keep on moving. Your constant complaining is really, not to be mean, but senseless nagging. You want to remove statues & Nativity scenes when you can simply look the other way. You want to remove crosses when it honors our fallen, when you can simply look the other way. It does not impact you. Now, you complain about a comfort leaflet. Really? Now, others won't get that comfort. They will get some material that probably won't be as comforting. It's time for you to shake the devil off & grow up. Think about others-not yourselves. God Bless!

Election Day

     Thank the Good Lord that election day is almost here. The nastiness & viciousness of this election have left a bitter taste in my mouth. This has been a worldwide embarrassment. We have sunk so low as a nation, it will be hard for us to climb out of it. Of course, if we have the Lord Jesus Christ, He will get us out of it. Having said that, it requires that we go back to the Lord. 2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV states, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." We have to humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, & turn from our wicked ways. We as a nation have to admit that we need help, & stop allowing sin to pollute our nation. My hope is not in any man; it's in the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this nation will turn back. I pray that my brothers & sisters in Christ will draw closer to Jesus. I pray that I draw closer to Jesus & that I, too, get back on track.

     Praying for this Nation.

Beauty

     I have been struggling w/ my body image for awhile. It seems to have increased w/ the weight loss. The Word of God let's me know that I'm fearfully & wonderfully made. "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well," Psalm 139:14 KJV. I love this scripture, but I still struggle. My body seems to be blah. I'm disgusted w/ the shape of it . I try to tell myself that it will be better when I get the skin removal surgery.  Yet, I can't help but feel that I will be disappointed no matter what.
     No matter what, societal pressures do not help. I try to ignore what society values. However, I look around & see all these skinny, beautiful blondes. Even though I'm a size 12 & no longer 380lbs, I still fill fat. Beauty is dictated by society, but also by ourselves. The truth is that I have to accept my body & my image. If I was supposed to be something else, God would have made me something else. Prayerfully, this self loathing will go away.

Prayers for a Sister.

Restraint is a Blessing

     I have to say that I believe that the ability to restrain oneself is a blessing from the good Lord. Let's think about it; restraining yourself means you're not allowing yourself to do something that could be destructive: emotionally, mentally, spiritually, or physically. One of the fruits of the Spirit is Temperance, which is self control (Galatians 5:22-23). Clearly, God would have us to restrain ourselves. After all, He has restrained Himself.
     God has given us mercy, grace, & compassion. By this, we are allowed to see another day. We're allowed another chance. God could destroy us, but He hasn't. I have lacked temperance in my food, causing me to become overweight. Praise be to God for the surgery & help losing weight, but I have found myself slowly losing control. I have also lost temperance in my anger, allowing myself to cuss. I'm hurting myself physically & spiritually. As I'm blogging, I'm ignoring my stomach telling me to stop.
     Restraint is much needed in our lives. God has it. Don't we want what He has? Don't we want paradise? Don't we want an eternal home with Him?

Restraint in Actions-not Just words!
Mary

Lacking

     It's been awhile since I've blogged. Reasons: laziness, sin, & barely clinging to my Savior. I haven't abandoned Him, but I haven't been pleasing Him either. I pray to get back on track and not just cling, but firmly grasp Him. He is my Lord; He is my Savior. He is my All in All, and yet, I have fallen away from Him. What is wrong w/ me? Simply put: the Bible a day, keeps Satan away. If I'm not reading His Word, I gave no sword, I have no armor. I'm weak. I have nothing protecting me. That's what I have allowed to happen. Pray that I get back on track my Brothers & Sistersn in Christ.

With Love,
Mary