Have you ever wondered if the way you live impacts your ability to be saved by God? Are you irredeemable because you’ve gone too far and wide? Thinking God could never forgive your sins because they’re unforgivable. I’ll have to disagree with you because I too use to think this way before Jesus saved me from myself. I now see God differently not because of anything I’ve done but through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Growing up, I did not go to church, read the bible or have a religious upbringing. In the summer, my grandma would send my cousins and I across the street for Vacation Bible School. I thought it was just to get us from hanging around outside playing games. We hated every minute of it but I believe the Lord used Vacation Bible School to plant seeds into our soul. From that moment on I always thought church was about following rules dressing or acting a certain way. Knowing and memorizing the scripture and only being able to be around the church community. At the time, I was too young to understand. Those religious thoughts did follow me to adulthood until God showed up and showed me something different. The story on how I was randomly saved one day is available on the Saved by Grace blog.

Before I was saved, I use to think the things I’ve done were not forgivable and that God was always judging me and wanted to bring his wrath and judgement down on me because of my choices. Recently, I read 2 Chronicles 30: 17-20 NIV.

¹⁷ Since many in the crowd had not consecrated themselves, the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all those who were not ceremonially clean and could not consecrate their lambs^[a] to the Lord. ¹⁸ Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone ¹⁹ who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” ²⁰ And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

The people were not walking in the ways of the Lord and Hezekiah being the good king at that time, was restoring the people back to the ways of the Lord. This was the first Passover they had in a while. I immediately thought the people were not going to be able to be apart of Passover since most had not consecrated themselves. But Hezekiah prayed that the Lord would pardon those who sets their hearts on God but were not clean by sanctuary rules. And God in all his graciousness healed the people. He could have been angry and had the earth swallow them up but God pardoned the people and healed them. I could not help but notice His compassion toward us even though we mess up so many times. He is willing to forgive us.  Also, that God changes his mind.

Throughout the Old Testament, I see God over and over again bringing judgement to His people because they refused to acknowledge and seek Him. God continually found ways to redeem His people, eventually sending His son Jesus down to earth to save us all. We are now all able to be saved. Romans 10:9-10 says

 ⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

The Lord is just so beautiful, and I truly don’t know another like Him. I say all this to say that regardless of what you’ve done you’re not irredeemable or unforgivable there is nothing God can’t forgive unless you willingly decide to reject him and not accept Him as Lord and Savior. I don’t want that for anyone. Once we accept Him into our hearts as Lord and Savior and are baptized in water we receive the Holy Spirit who will lead us into all truth and from there is where my life started to change. Be blessed and have a great week!

I know I’m late but Happy New Year! I hope you’ve had a great 2022 and if not I’m grateful you’re here today. “Today is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it” Psalm 118:24 NIV.  Be encouraged that if you’re still here there is still work for you to do on this earth. The Lord has put a plan and a purpose in each of everyone of us. It’s up to us to seek Him to find out what He wants us to do.

How do you seek Him you ask? It’s fairly simple through prayer, opening the bible and reading it. That’s it just finding time in the day and dedicate it to spending time with God. I pray that have a great day! Be blessed.

If you’re a mother, Happy Mother’s Day! I hope you’ve had a great day. My day was filled with chores and some lounging around. I need more rest now that work starts tomorrow. Pray for me! I hope you’ve spent the day loving on your babies and doing whatever it is you like to do. My day was spent sleeping in to 7am, spending time in worship and prayer, going to Starbucks, grocery shopping, prepping dinner, watching a movie and ended up taking a nap during most of it. I’ve been tired for a few days now but for some reason I am unable to take a nap during the day. Every time I try to nap, I just end up closing my eyes still awake then eventually getting up. It was a late decision to get to my laptop today and type some words before calling it a night. Encouraging moms this evening that you’re doing a good job. Our work is challenging but it brings much reward in the end. Keep pushing to be the best version of yourself and don’t be so hard on yourself when you fall short. May God continue to give you the wisdom and knowledge to care for your children in Jesus name. Until next time, have a great night!

Recently during a time of prayer, I said Jesus is home which is a something I’ve never said or thought of before until that moment. What does that even mean or look like? All I can think about is home, a place that ideally will be clean but not always, warm, inviting, a place to raise my family, care for my husband, a place to be myself without any judgement and a place to rest. The last blog talked about the cost of following Jesus; one being not having a place to lay his head. Jesus was always on the move during his ministry, continually being invited into the homes of others. What even makes a house a home? The people in it and I’m sure other things. We are in Jesus which makes him our home. The cost of following Jesus may leave you homeless, but Jesus is home He is eternal. The home is complete, all the renovations are done, and it was completed at the cross. He bore our sins, died and was resurrected on the 3^rd day. The veal was broken and restored relationship with man and God. He is our home here on earth and in heaven. Sharing this for the benefit of others, make time to go home daily. In Jesus name. If you don’t know who Jesus is but will like to He invites you in with open arms. Romans 10:9-10 says “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” May God bless be safe out there. Always ready to pray for you, email your request at effortministry@gmail.com.

Happy New Year!! Welcome to 2022 I know it’s been a while, I really wanted to see if God truly called me to this. It was getting really difficult for me to continue to write and manage my day to day. I guess that was the problem I was relying on myself way too much. I assumed it was not a calling for a moment, I thought this was something I was just doing for my benefit because others did not read any of the content, but God says different friends. I can’t go back and undo the 2-year break but I can start from here. I also wrote a children’s book last year that’s available here on Amazon.

With this new year upon us and all the challenges that seem to impact us with Coronavirus I want to encourage you today that there is someone with you in the mist of all this. Your Father in Heaven “will never leave or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) He is with you holding your hand during this time. Don’t forget to thank Him when you get a moment. All around me just seems difficult and challenging but I know what I am going through is nothing compared to what others are facing today. I pray for you today. I pray that God will give you eyes to see where He is in your today. May His peace that surpasses all understanding rest on your heart and mind. May you find comfort in him today regardless of what you’re going through. In Jesus name, Amen. Be blessed and have a good day!