Christmas

New Year, New You

New Year.

New You.

Am I right!?

I’m certain God has spoken to you about the 2023 journey that we are all about to take. I’m certain He has placed God-sized dreams on your heart – ways to help His kingdom grow and thrive. If He hasn’t yet just keep praying. Be patient. He will.

He needs you, girl.

Now, here’s where the devil is gonna try and get you.

In “your” thoughts.

In “your” hang-ups”

In “your” own self-consciousness

In words.

In his words.

Because guess what – if God said to do it then you can in fact do it. You can bet your bottom dollar that the devil knows it. And that ol’ devil will try everything he can to stop God’s plan.

God will equip you. He will give you everything you need. He will get the job done.

You are the vessel.

He is the captain.

Trust Him.

Now, get ready.

Brace yourself for the storms. When God sends you on a trip, storms will be brewing. It’s inevitable. Most of those storms will be merely words thrown at you by yourself or by others. Words are powerful like that.

I’ve had someone say to a room full of people about me, “She’s not as Christian as she claims to be.”

That mess is gonna happen ladies. People are going to talk about you. They are going to bring up your now and bring up your past. After all, they are human, too.

Don’t. Let. It. Stop. You.

And don’t let it get to you.

Don’t let someone’s else’s words stop you from doing what God specifically told you to do.

After all, whose words matter?

God’s or humans’?

And let me add this – don’t be a part of someone else’s storm. Basically, if you don’t have anything nice to say ……. you know the rest.

This year – face the storms.

Face the storms because you know the Captain.

And your Captain is a good, good God who wants to use you to further His kingdom. He knows your potential. He knows you can do it.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

Jesus, thank you.

Jesus, today I am just here to say thank you.

So often our prayers quickly fill up with concerns, questions, doubts, and heart desires. It’s important to remember to give thanks to the Lord. He didn’t promise us a beautiful easy life. He did promise us to be a loving Father that walks along side us as we run the race set before us. (Hebrews 12)

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1

Does the Lord want to hear our concerns, questions, doubts, and heart desires? You know it. Fill your prayers with it. His ears and arms are open. But through this may we walk with gentleness and remember to give thanks. He sculpted us and made us in his image. He knows our heart. You don’t have to worry about that. He sees your worries. Your heartache. He wants us to run to his arms. Whether that is crying out for help or guidance or to voice our concerns. Through this – may we remember the scripture. Remember the Father’s everlasting love he has for us. He is good. He has been faithful and loving since the garden and will continue to be. With that knowledge, give thanks. Thank him on the good days. Thank him through the tough seasons that you’re unsure of his plan. It’s difficult. Trust me, I know. It’s difficult to find thankfulness when we live within a dark world. Let’s be honest, it’s difficult to say thank you when we feel like the plan within our mind would be a lot smoother. Thank him anyways. He understands our human nature. On the days it’s extra hard to give thanks, may the Holy Spirit fill your heart and mind with the goodness and faithfulness of Jesus Christ.

So today Jesus, I thank you. I know you want to hear from me. I know your ears and arms are open for me to voice my concerns, worries, doubts, and heart desires. I know you are faithful. But today Jesus I also want to emphasize how good of a Father you are, and give you ultimate thanks. I don’t say it enough. I want to thank you for being all you are. Thank you for loving this world, even though we don’t deserve an ounce of your love. Thank you for loving and guiding me. Even on my extra rough days. Thank you.

Freedom

Isaiah 62:4 “Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.”

I’m red, white, and blue through and through. I love the United Stated of America, it’s rich history and the ideals upon which it was founded. I’m so grateful for the people who fought and died in order for me to enjoy the freedoms that I have. But the older I get and the crazier the world gets the more I realize I’m no longer a citizen of this world. The words of Beulah Land echo for me.

Beulah Land,

I’m longing for you

And some day on

thee I’ll stand

There my home

shall be eternal

Beulah Land- Sweet Beulah Land

As a Christian I can wrap myself up in the fact that this is not my forever home. It’s just a tiny segment of the eternity that awaits me. When I gave my life to Jesus I became an eternal citizen of Heaven (Philippians 3:20). I have a house there. (John 14:2) I have loved ones waiting on me there. (2 Corinthians 5:8) On God’s timeline I’m already there (Ephesians 2:6). I will one day enter the gates and truly feel at home.

As we celebrate the freedoms we have in this country I pray that you also have the freedom that Christ provides. If you don’t walk in the certainty that there is something better and that your eternity is secure then make today be the day you give your life to Jesus.

Dear Teacher

Dear Teacher,

I know you’re exhausted.

But I also know that you are making a difference.

I know the state keeps adding more.

And more

And more.

But you are making a difference.

I know that for the majority of teachers this is a calling.

Just remember – God never promised His work would be easy.

He just promised it would be worth it.

This is my 5th grade teacher.

She made a difference in my life big time.

30 years ago she walked me through the Lord’s Prayer.

And last week she sat in a class where I was the teacher – my verse mapping class.

So Dear teacher, if this is your calling from God please keep going.

You’re making a difference.

You may not see it today.

You may not see it tomorrow.

You may not see it in STAAR results.

But maybe just maybe – in thirty years or so – one of your students will be spreading the love of Christ to others just like you did to her.

Dear Teacher, you ARE making a difference.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

Silent Obedience

The book of Acts is full of brave, honorable tales following the great Paul.

Paul’s conversion from murderer to missionary is prized and celebrated,

often overshadowing the obedience of Ananias.

The incredible, silent champion, Ananias.

God called average Ananias to seek out and speak to Saul, the infamous murderer.

Instead of making excuses or running in fear, Ananias responds, “Yes, Lord.”

He wasn’t distracted by the noise around him or fear within him.

He wasn’t concerned with receiving credit or glory.

He only wanted to obey God and impact eternity.

So, he followed orders, found Saul, and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Ananias didn’t walk on water, survive a furnace, or defeat a giant,

but his silent obedience set off a series of events that changed the world.

Ananias changed the life of Paul who planted churches and penned parts of the Bible.

So often, we believe that our service is ordinary and our obedience is unimportant.

The underlying truth is that Ananias was a silent champion who changed history…

and we are chosen to be silent champions too.

You were chosen for the family that you serve day after day…after day.

You were chosen for the classroom that you show up for every single day.

You were chosen to obey in every avenue and assignment that God gives.

✨That silent obedience often has the loudest echo.

The prayers you pray over your kids before bed every night.

The early mornings you spend reading your Bible.

The tiny ways you serve your husband.

The times you give and serve and love.

They may not be seen or heard by man,

but they are echoing into eternity.

Who am I?

Who am I??

Recently I attended a women’s retreat that our church sponsored. It was awesome! A great word was given, there were powerful times of prayer and the fellowship was a much needed time of laughter. As good as all that was the thing that had the biggest impact on me was a little handout that I received in a class taught by a sweet friend. It was a Bible reading plan about my identity in Christ.

I decided to verse map through those scriptures and my eyes were opened. The main weapon the enemy has is to keep us deceived about who we are in Christ.

DO. YOU. NOT. KNOW?

Paul asked that question of the Corinthians, but maybe we should be asking ourselves.

Do You not know that…..

The Holy Spirit lives in us!! (1Corinthians 3:16 ) We have been reconciled to God through Christ and His death on the cross. (Colossians 1:22) We are no longer God’s enemy; we are His children (John 1:12) We have a high priest that intercedes on our behalf. ( Romans 8:34) We can come near the throne of grace with confidence.(Hebrews 4:16) We are lights. We are salt. (Matthew 5:13-14) We walk in victory because Jesus rose from the grave.

(1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

Have we heard the gospel so much that it has become stale to us? Do we believe it? Do we walk in it? Christ died to set us free from bondage not for us to hang on to the heavy yoke (Galatians 5:1)

It’s time for us as the church to realize who we are and become the warriors we were meant to be. Put on your armor, grab your sword and put your boots to the ground. Let’s Go!!

I’m going to get Daisy to post the list of verses in the comments. I challenge you to dig in and see for yourself exactly who you are in Christ.

2022

Happy 2022 🤩

I’m so excited for this New Year. I feel so much hope within my soul. I feel refreshed. I feel renewed.

Last year my word was “Focus”. This year God gave me the following words “Focus on the Mission”.

I immediately felt like I failed for a whole year because ummmm that’s the same word. My teacher’s pet self hung my head in shame until I truly listened to what God was speaking to me.

It is the same word.
But it’s not.

Same word.
Different focus.

I’ve been diving into 1 Peter 2:9 this morning has my focus verse for the year and just wow. It’s packed full of beautiful promises and a charge to proclaim those beautiful promises.

I’m excited for 2022, y’all.

Let’s open our eyes to what God has already given us, done for us, and the promises He will not break.

And let’s tell everyone.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” 1 Peter 2:9

If you have a word or verse I would love for you to share it with me. 💛 I would love to write it in my prayer journal and pray over it and you.

Keep Going

As we look back at our 2021 resolutions slash goals slash unreachable nemesis that we will never obtain – insert whatever emoji that made you feel right here – what grade are you giving yourself?

Pass or fail?

A+ or F-?

And what is that grade based on?

Is your mindset more grumbling or more growth?

If I’m being honest I think we should all get an A for surviving this crazy Covid era – end of story. I think we should all get an A for just showing up. For not giving up. For not losing our ever loving minds through all of this mess.

I digress.

I personally do not do resolutions anymore. Reason being, about 12 years ago I decided that every single year my goal every single day would be to get over myself.

Nowadays, I think that’s what we call “an unpopular opinion”.

To get over SELF. Listen y’all, when we do that – when we are truly putting others first like Jesus did – then we will find the true joy and peace that only comes from God.

Put others first.

Put self last.

Do I fail at this?

Absolutely. 100 percent.

Do I still keep working on it?

Absolutely. 100 percent.

Another thing I do every year is choose a “word” to focus on for the next 12 months, which makes my little word loving heart so very happy. I’ll share mine tomorrow, and I hope you’ll share yours as well.

I’m all about goals, and I’m all about growth. But more importantly, I’m all about grace.

As 2021 comes to a screeching halt, maybe you’re feeling like you didn’t quite measure up to what you set out to do. Maybe you’re even feeling a little bit of that two step forward three steps back mentality.

Just remember this, as long as you’re going then you’re still growing.

Keep going, sister.

Keep going.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Jesus stays

Anyone else get the Christmas blues? I mean we’ve built this celebration up since September thanks to the Walmart and Hobby Lobby.

Christmas everywhere. Christmas explosion.

I love it. The lights, the devotionals, the poinsettias filling church sanctuaries and the Christmas hymnals that go right along with them.

Then December 26th hits and moms all

across America start losing their minds – ripping the decorations down quicker than they put them up. Raise your hand if that’s you.

But don’t let the abruptness of the Christmas crash let you feel down, sister. The celebration shouldn’t stop. The lights are coming down but the one true light will never stop shining. The poinsettias will wither, but the love Jesus has for us never will.

Let that light shine within you all year long.

Let others feel that Christmas glow radiating from every pore of your body all year long.

December comes and December goes, but Jesus stays.

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” – John 1:4-5

All He Wants

All He wants is your heart!

Many people feel as though God, the Creator of All things, is so far away and that He couldn’t care less about them or their needs; God has so many other “important” people to listen to. To hear their individual prayers wouldn’t be worth His time. They believe to speak to the Almighty is for people who are “worthy” and for some reason those who aren’t have to “work” to somehow be just that.

The amazing truth to break down those lies is that God so loved the world that He sent His ONLY begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting LIFE!

God loved us then, and He still loves us now! Jesus paid it all, that through His sacrifice we can have peace and oneness with God! That through His blood we are equal heirs to the kingdom of Heaven! None of us are worthy, but when we accept Jesus as our Lord then His worthiness becomes our own!

When we give our whole hearts to God then can we truly break down those lies of the enemy that have made us blind to all the goodness of God! – Faith Sanchez