Category: Faith & Encouragement

I absolutely love Sundays because it normally includes church, breakfast and quality time with family. I love Jesus, to eat new things and love on my family. It’s a great way to start the week. I’m so happy to share what my lovely daughter said about me this weekend.

My daughter: Mom, I don’t want to be mean but you need friends.

Me: Huh? Laughing. Your bored aren’t you.

My daughter: Yes

I laughed at the time but after thinking about it she may be right. Have you ever been surrounded by people but still feel lonely? I know I have. I struggle with building new relationships because I do not trust people easily or their intentions. It breaks my heart that others may feel the same way or are going through the same thing because it’s not easy. Here we are in 2017, surrounded with ways to connect but the connection is just not there. Authentic connection. The feeling of loneliness has a way of just creeping in sometimes, when it’s so quiet and I feel so alone. I know that God is always there because His word says it. He will never leave or forsake us. If you feel lonely today like you have no support or genuine relationships with others. His word reminds us that He will never leave us. Maybe I just need to start drawing closer to him and pray about it. God can change our perspective, our hearts and mind. We are never alone, God knows and sees everything. Being lonely sometimes is good thing, even Jesus had to go to quiet places and pray. God can give you a spouse, family, and friends in unexpected ways but seek Him first. My daughter suggesting I need new friends made me realize that maybe I do. In the meantime, I will look at feeling lonely sometimes as an opportunity to pray to the Creator of the universe. I hope this encourages you today, have a great week!!!!

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

Before I was saved, there was a deep longing in my heart that something was missing and I could not pinpoint it. Anxiety and fear made me feel like I was always running and chasing the unknown. To this day it’s still hard to explain to others the holes in my heart that Jesus was able to mend. I’ve been working on this post for over two weeks now. I just could not put into words what I felt lead to share. I did not experience love until Jesus found me. I honestly thought I loved others and maybe I did selfishly. But it wasn’t until I experienced His love in my heart, it was different I genuinely loved people I did not even know. I loved people in the grocery store, people riding by on their bikes or walking while I’m driving, people in the elevator etc. I was given a heart for children that I did not have before, a love that’s unexplainable. So what exactly is love? According to my bible dictionary, love is strong affection, desire, or devotion. God heart is probably the size of the earth or larger because he has enough for each and everyone of us. God loves you and He loved us first by sending His son Jesus to die on a cross, be buried and resurrected on the 3rd day, so we can have a relationship with Him. God reveal to me His love and my life will never be the same. Let’s love one another more. Have a blessed week!!!

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:10-12

My brain wonders sometimes, which I’m sure happens to everyone but I really shouldn’t. It goes places it has no business being and I want to keep my thoughts obedient to God. Paul reminds me to think of these things. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬. Recently, when my thoughts start to go where they shouldn’t I begin to sing/worship and my thoughts start change. Sometimes I have to mediate on the word over and over again until it stops. This has helped me get through some really tough days. Hope you have a blessed week!!!

The second week of the year is officially here. So exciting I hope your New Year resolutions are still in full swing. I’m writing today with the hope of encouraging someone that God is always there in the mist of everything. I’m struggling with always feeling like I’m fighting maybe not fist fighting. But fighting the struggle of life, like paying my bills or disciplining my children, or hoping that the trash is taken out on trash day, or that everyone at home does what they are suppose to do. I could go on all day with examples. But I just want peace, peace, peace and some more peace. The life where everyone does what he or she should do when they should do it. I woke up this morning just tired, I wanted to tell my family I was going away for a few days. Instead, I got still, lifted my request to God and worshipped Him. Graciously He sustained me. Praise the Lord, I’m so grateful. Couldn’t imagine my life without Him. I don’t even know if sharing this would encourage someone today but I hope it does. Don’t give up, just seek Him. Happy Sunday!!!!

Welcome two thousand and seventeen, it’s a true blessing to be here and have the opportunity to meet you. Last year may have been rough for some, I only say that because that what it looks like on my newsfeed. Today is the day to hit refresh and start again. We all fail at things in life but the goal is to learn from the mistakes and try again. It’s in the quitting where we miss out on the blessing. No fight is too big for God. I have realized that small changes tend to stay with me much longer than drastic ones. My goal is to live in the moment more and be more alert to what is going on around me. Have a better relationship with our Father and seek Him first. The other day I started a vision board and it was half filled with items. This scripture came to mind, I’m sure it was the Holy Spirit. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well Matthew 6:33. I hope this encourages you today. May the Lord guide you and strengthen you everyday.

A third definition of fruit is a usually sweet food (such as a blueberry, orange or apples.) When we abide in Him the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22.) The fruit of the spirit is sweet and such a blessing to be lead by the Spirit keeps us in check. God presence is a gift He does not owe us anything. I would really love to live a life full of fruit. I want fruit baskets in every area of life but I know that it takes disciple, practice and can be a process. In order to bear good fruit, we need order, our homes need order and our jobs need order. We are not in control God is. Praying that your week will be filled with fruit, have a great week!!!!!

The second definition is being the part of the plant that has the seeds in it (such as the pod of a pea, a nut, a grain, or a berry.) The definition reminds me of the master who goes on a journey and entrusts talents to his servants (Matthew 25:14-30.) If you’ve never read the parable here is the very short version. The master gives one servant five talents, another two and the last only one. On the master’s return, the servant he have five talents too gained five more. The one he gave two talents to gained two more. But the servant he gave one too was afraid so he went and hid his talent and wanted to give it back. The master called him wicked and lazy because he did not put the talent at least in bank to gain interest until his return. He took what was given to him and gave it to the one he gave five talents too. This part of the plant has seeds, which are distributed during the journey, and we have to use the gifts and talents that God has give us to be fruitful by sharing what we know with others.

When I think about bearing fruit, I think about trees bearing apples and oranges. Fruit is something that I can see, touch, and taste. But when it comes to the Bible and Jesus’ walk what does bearing fruit really mean? During Jesus’ ministry, He offers living water to the woman at the well (John 4.) A fig tree was left with just leaves, He commanded to never bear fruit again and it withered (Matthew 21:19.) I noticed from reading the Bible regularly that Jesus analogies and parables include water, seeds, trees and fruit. My curiosity prompted me to do some research? The Merriam Webster dictionary defines fruit using three definitions and one is a result or reward that comes from some action or activity. John 15:4 say Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. Jesus is the source and as long as we remain in Him. Fruit is the result of remaining in Him. In order to remain in Him, we must listen to what His word says and do it. Have a blessed week!!!!!

Have you ever been afraid to pray because you felt afraid or ashamed of what you’ve done? I know I have and I struggled with this. I thought so many negative thoughts about myself because I did not know how much our Creator loves us. I felt unlovable, unworthy of love, not good enough, scared and alone. I’m still a work in progress noticing everyday how much the Lord is changing me from the inside out. There is nothing you can do that God can not help you get out, pause NOTHING, no problem is too big for Him, He created the entire universe, and He is that big. Big enough for our worries, concerns, problems or whatever we’re facing. Jesus loves us so much that He would have died even if you were the only person on the entire Earth to save. God is all knowing there is nothing you can hide from Him. He knows what you facing, what you’ve been through, the worst thing you have ever done. He wants to change you if you let Him. He wants you to ask and you shall receive. For His word says”ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and the one who knocks, the door will be opened” Matthew 7:7-8 NIV. This is one of my favorite verses. He is waiting for you to knock on the door. He wants to bless you, just ask in Jesus name. The power of prayer will set you free. Have a blessed week everyone!!!!

If you don’t know God or who Jesus is and you would like to get to know him. 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.”