Operation Christmas Clean Up

all of our hands holding
the most precious gift this Christmas

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Falalalalala
Tis' the season to be jolly,
Falalalalala

Oh, but Christmas Eve came.
Christmas Day arrived.
And then its the next morning - and all the hustle and bustle
all the baking, all the preparations that went into making it the "perfect"
Christmas is over - in less than a 24-36 hour period.

I usually leave my Christmas tree up until New Years Day then take down all the decorations that afternoon and evening.  Sadly, packing them away until next year, when all the tubs come back up and the inside of the house
starts twinkling with white lights, the house smelling like Christmas cookies, and carols all day long.  Its the time of year I love!  However, this year, I woke up the next day and thought, its time to clean up, get organize and get moving!  My husband was quite surprise as the roles are usually reversed.. he is ready to pack up and move on and I just want to sit and bask in the last moments of the season.  Not this year.  Something really hit me.  Matter of fact it was words that my husband spoke in his last Sunday's message (Dec.26th/ Click here to listen) He said, "For a Christian, Christmas isn't just a day, Christmas is an experience."  Those words tossed to and fro in my mind and jolted in my mouth as I chewed them before swallowing and allowed them to sink into my belly and nestle there.  Christmas isn't just a season, either, I thought.  While the decorations come down and get tucked into the basement for storage, Christmas goes on day in and day out.  See that precious baby came in a time of silence... there had not been a message heard from God in 400 years (the time between the old and new testament), but one night, one appointed night, a virgin woman gave birth to a baby, and the baby's cry broke the silence.  There wasn't a parade announcing this birth, there wasn't a banner blinking and tickets being sold, but nonetheless, God doing things in HIS WAY, not ours, sent a baby to be born - to be raised and then crucified- because he LOVED us.  Selah.

See, the season of Christmas reigns in our hearts, resides in our soul.  He is with us always, never leaving or forsaking.. he gave the ultimate gift, His life. So, while the houses lose their seasonal decorations, while we pack stuff away and put our houses back in order, may the spirit of Christmas continue to be in our hearts and  be on our lips so that we can give the gift that keeps on giving... Jesus.  He is the perfect gift to re-gift.

I am actually considering leaving my manager scene up all year as a reminder, that Jesus isn't a birthday to celebrate once a year at Christmas, but something that we can celebrate daily.  I want to engrave in my heart and mind, my children's hearts and minds that his birth broke the silence, his birth was the beginning of the ultimate love letter that signed off on the cross.  May the manger scene remind us he is the reason for all seasons... may God's gift to us always be in the forefront of our minds and the gift in our hearts that we continue to share.

New Year's Resolution

As the new year approaches, many will begin to make resolutions, a list of things that they want to change.

Maybe its weight loss, maybe it is to quit smoking, to get out of debt....

Whatever it is, just remember that it takes time, perseverance, and commitment.

It reminds me of a time when.....

I was standing in the kitchen, I was preparing my ingredients to cook dinner.  Often times, while I am doing house chores (being a Martha),

I will incorporate prayer (being a Mary).  This particular day, my heart was heavy -

And for no particular reason.  I just felt like something in me was stirring and

it I didn't feel like it was for pleasure?  

I began to pray like this, "Lord whatever it is, let it be so.  I know that I stand on your

word, that you mean all things for good (Gen 50:20)even when I can't see it.  You are the one who foresaw

my birth and who knows my death, you are the one who has directed my steps (Psalm 119:133, Proverbs 16:9), my thoughts aren't yours (Isaiah 55:8) and more times than not,  I can't wrap my mind around your thoughts and ways.  But I trust you..." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

And as I began to chop my onion, tears streamed.

Tears from just chopping an onion

but also tears from within my heart.

See I am like an onion and so are you.

We are pulled out of our old life (before Christ), and planted into a new life (with Christ.)

And things in my former life, didn't always smell pretty, look pretty or taste good!

As I am planted in my new life, and new nutrients are being poured into my new life (the Word, the Holy Spirit, the grace and mercies of God, etc.)  I begin to see that layers of me, need to be changed,

roots from my past life (hurts, rejections, abandonment, lies, anger, etc) need to be peeled away, bad parts cut out and thrown in the garbage, while the good parts of the onion (me) are kept and prepared, made ready, to be sauteed into a delicious, tasteful, appealing person.  

This can't all be done in one process.

See, God is good and if he revealed to me how awful I was, well

I, personally, would become discouraged.  Since he knows me, since he knitted me together

in the womb of my mother (Psalm 139:13), he knows the number of hairs on my head (Luke 12:7), he also knows what I can handle.  He knows the amount to reveal to me at one time and says, "Now, child, let's work on this."

As I walk this Christian walk, I am always learning.  I am always seeing. I am always striving.

No, not until Heaven will I be made perfect in his sight and sin there will no more be.

But until then, I am taking one layer at a time, and allowing my God to help me

discard the bad, save the good and become a person to his pleasing.

Will you do the same?  It's a powerful thing to do, but I challenge you sister to sister (or sister to brother) ask Him, Lord, show me an area that I need to work on, maybe its my spending habits, maybe its my temper or patience, or lack of kindness or selfishness, you name it!  And say Lord as you sift me, as you peel a layer, I know its going to hurt, that tears will be shed, that heartache can happen, but in the end, you intend all things for good, to prosper me, not harm me, to give me a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).  I trust in you.  Send those around me who will uphold me, encourage me, spur me on, pray for me and love me -- let thy will be done, in the mighty, magnificent name of Jesus, so I can become the child you intended for me to be.  Amen.

Oh, the process isn't always joyful, but the end result after time, work, perseverance is always pleasurable.

Work through it, stay the course, and see the progress will be more apPEALing than before the PEELing... ;)

What Gift Will You Bring?

"On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."  Matthew 2:11

Oh, Christmas time!

We shop and shop and shop some more!

We wrap, we stress and finance galore!

This first Christmas the shepherd came to the manager and brought themselves,

an act of worship.  The first time that Christ is worshiped by the wise man, the magi, they brought him treasures, gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  No one had to ask them to bring it, no one set up a list of rules that said you can only see the child if you bring treasures... nope, none of that happened, rather, from in the depths of their hearts they felt drawn to bring a willing sacrifice - to lather the Messiah with gifts.  

Gifts of significance at that... gold which represented his kingship, frankincense which foretells of his priesthood, and myrrh which signifies his death.

As I read this story year after year, and retell it to my small children, I can't help but to be marveled in the details of it this year.... I have thought day in and day out... as I come to Christmas this year, what gift shall I give my King?  What will I bring to him.... 

As I meditate and pray over this during the last seven days leading up to Christmas, I wonder, if there is anyone else out there like me.... who would love to give a gift to Jesus this year on Christmas morning.  

Have you been holding something back? Have you withheld part of your heart, your time, your treasure, your fruit of the spirit, etc? May the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob allow the Holy Spirit to visit you and speak to you, so that this Christmas you can lay a gift at the manager.

May the little drummer boy in this video speak to your heart!  God bless you friends.

The Star that Leads

There once was a star, that shone so bright
It caught the attention of some wise men one night
They said, "this is it, this is the one"
Then they gathered their belongings, a new journey begun...

Oh that star, how precious it is,
Yet, so many times, we blow it adrift
In our busy lives, time we don't take
Busy, busy, busy, no moment we make.

What is a star?
Something that twinkles.
Something that shines.
Something that gives off radiant light?

Why it says in the Psalm that it was breathed by God - Psalm 33:6
In the beginning, my God created this twinkling gift. - Genesis 1:1

The star led the wise men to a place where they found
a toddler walking, building, and talking
There they lavished this prince of ages
with gifts that would be used in the coming life stages

But what does the star do for me and for you?
Why the Bible being tried and true
Says a light I should shine, because Jesus lives in you
A light, a light, that should shine so bright
Not kept bottled up, but on a stand in everyone's sight  - (Matthew 5:14-16)

See just as the Star of Bethlehem did lead
The wise men to the Messiah that day
We are the stars that twinkle on Earth  - (Philippians 2:15)
And lead others to their second birth.

So as you go about your days
Keep the grumbling, complaining at bay
And look to the East in your daily walk
and let the love of Jesus shine from your talk. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

May this day and every day, you look for the chance
to be Jesus's loving feet and hands.
Just as once you were led to the cross
by someone who let Jesus's love and light shine from their heart. (Matthew 22:36-40)



Dear friends,


As the Christmas season is approaching, as fast and furious as it does, take time to remember the stars in your life.  The someone who took the time to share the love of Christ Jesus with you.  Maybe it was people all along the way, but whomever it was, it led you to him one day.  And just as a "star" led you, today you too can lead others!  In our walk, our talk, our actions, or time, in giving, and being the servant we are called to be... we can share the light that shines so bright from within our heart to someone who is lost, dark, cold and depressed simply by meeting a need, sharing a word of encouragement, inviting them to church or hey, picking them up and taking them, inviting someone who has no one to celebrate Christmas to your home to enjoy a time of fellowship... whatever it is, where it may be, be his light, shine ever so bright!  Twinkle, twinkle, my dear friends... Jesus's love never ends.  It is always there, never disappears!


So this Christmas season, remember the stars that were in your life, and be the star in someone elses life! And may your Christmas be the merriest and brightest ever!


Much love and many blessings to my sparkling friends.
I love each and everyone of you and pray that this Christmas is different then any other you have experienced! 


In His Amazing Name,
Michelle

Run Through the Washer

As I sat in Sunday morning service, I couldn't help but begin to look at the 
miserable person I am... meaning, the person who is inadequate, the person
who has so many inner flaws, the person who feels she can't live up to
anything God would ask her to do.... and then, I was interrupted in thought
and taken immediately (in my thoughts) to an all too familiar place in my home...
THE LAUNDRY ROOM!


I began to see myself putting clothes in the washer, thinking this is a never ending
job (come on ladies, like the clothes needing clean never stop!)  As I put each piece
in, I checked for stains, some had them, some did not.  I checked the pockets 
for unwanted tissues and toys joining the soiled clothes.  When it was sorted and 
the washer was full, I added something... blue liquid, known as detergent.
And, then I understood.


My thoughts were stained, I need to wash them.
I needed the blue liquid, but not laundry detergent, instead I needed to pick
up the Word of God, and cleanse them with truth.  
"You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8:32


I began to weep.
I felt like it was a David moment in my life... a psalm pouring from my mind and heart through my lips.
Lord, WASH me of these ideas that don't align with your word.
Lord, CLEANSE me for I cannot do it on my own. 
Lord, whatever needs BLOTTED OUT... let it be so!


And then, I cried, " Create in me a pure heart, O God,  and renew a steadfast spirit within me" Psalm 51:10.

I began to confess my fears, my doubts, my feeling of inadequacy...
and one by one they went into the washing machine and I poured the detergent in
and left the service clean.


Maybe your heart isn't facing doubts, maybe its not even fears, but in all of our laundry baskets we have soiled clothes... some not stained, some stained or sour smelling... for some of us it is unconfessed sin and as a result we feel far from God,  somewhere under the dirty basket of clothes our joy of salvation has been misplaced,  our inner song has disappeared, the praise from our lips has silenced. ... as you do your physical laundry this week (Sheets, kids clothes, your clothes, etc).... may you have a God experience.  May it be a time to release, confess, and talk with your Abba Father.  Girlfriend, empty your laundry basket and let him wash you with his love and his peace.  Much love and blessings to each of you.  I am praying for you.


I would love to hear about your "Laundry Experience" email me your testimony at michelle@shestepsministry.com

A Thankful Heart

"Hear these praises from a thankful heart.

Each time I think of you the praises start.

Love you so much, Jesus,

Love you so much....." - Hillsong, Love you So Much

I love this song!

I just want to stop this week and take moments to reflect on Jesus!
To allow my lips to praise him everyday with the

thankfulness that flows from my heart!

It is so easy to say thank you for all that you "know".... like

Thank you Jesus for keeping us safe, providing food, clothing and shelter!

Thank you for my babies born with all fingers and toes!
Thank you for a church.

Thank you for ________________.

And not that being thankful for those things isn't important!

But what about the things we can't even see happening????
Like the angel that God sent and kept you from being hit by another car?

Or the healing that occurred before a bad diagnosis?

And the list could go on!

Sometimes, and more times than not, we need to have a thankful heart

for the things SEEN and UNSEEN!

I love in the book of Ezra 3:11, "With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: ' He is good, his love for Israel endures forever!' And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid!"

Girlfriend, we are Israel today! Won't you join God's people and with praise and thanksgiving sing a song from your heart to God; he is good and his love for YOU endures forever!

The Note

by Michelle Georgiana

The power in words.

The power in words.

Again, the power in words.

There are many who fail to let their words come out, so they stuff their voice.

There are many who fail to keep their words in, so they fire arrows.

There are some who open mouth and insert foot.

There are some who know exactly what to say at exactly the right time!

And there are some times......

Sometimes, we just need to take a moment and stop

Stop the drying of dishes, folding of towels, cleaning house, staying late at work

and instead take a moment to pick one person, actually,stop and pray for God to show you

one person that could use a note! And not just any note... but one that is

encouraging.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." I Thessalonians 5:11

Taking time to tell someone they are special, taking time to say or write a card that only takes 3 minutes of your time - can make a huge difference in their day, their week, their month, their year or life!

Here's a tip: Keep a box of blank cards, postage stamps, and pen in your desk or nightstand so that they are there and ready to go! One note, 3-4 sentences, covered in prayer - a mark in a person's mind and heart... priceless.

Final Instructions, straight from 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹ but test them all; hold on to what is good, ²² reject every kind of evil.

²³ May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

Be blessed, sister! And may your words lift the soul of one that is downcast, bring a smile to one who just needs a pat on the back, or be soothing lotion that moistens a dry patch in someone's life. Your words have life and death... choose to speak life daily, every step of the way!

Christmas 2010

Brightly Wrapped Presents Christmas

Shop Shutterfly for elegant custom Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

You Are It!

I came across a great story, that reads like this:

This is the story about four people named Everybody,

Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody

was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could

have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that, because it was
Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody

could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody

wouldn't do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody

when Nobody did what Anybody could have done!

Wow - have you ever been the Somebody, Anybody, Nobody or part of Everybody

that knew something needed to be done! That saw a need of a neighbor, but decided that her grown children will come and take care of it; saw a broken down car and an elderly man walking the side of a busy highway and said, "Well its a dangerous world, and instead prayed that Jesus would send someone to help him!" or knew a family was struggling financially around Christmas and Somebody thought for sure that the pastor would be aware and have it handled?" The list of scenarios can go on and on!

Let me say, don't assume that anybody, somebody, or everybody is aware! Sometimes God lays things on our hearts and minds, gives us insight that maybe nobody has - and its to see if we are willing to give beyond what we have, to reach out and love someone by a simple gesture of going to fill up a gas can for a broken down fellow, or handing a gift card to a struggling family with no strings attached other than, "May God bless you."

If more of us could step out of our assumptions that somebody was handling it - and we would step when God lays it on our heart, think about the love that would be shared, the heartaches that could be soothed, the worries that could be put to bed!

This season, reach out to someone in a way you never have. You never know what blessings will be bestowed to both the receiver and the giver. (I will note that caution and wisdom should be executed in all situations, where there is a will there is a way. I don't recommend picking up a stranger, but going to the next gas station and picking up a container of gas and dropping it back off would be safe and relevant. God's word says, "but if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 4:29 You will know if its a God ordained moment- he will be there.)

The Bible says, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7 Don't do because someone tells you to do it; do it because God leads you to.

Tag, you are it, girlfriend! Go be a blessing!

I would love to hear your story of how God laid something on your heart and how you took a step to follow him! Email them to me at michelle@shestepsministry.com

Tangled

Oh, the wondrous joy and complexity of womanhood!

I am a woman.
I am a child.

I am a wife.

I am a mother.

I am a teacher.

I am a friend.
I am a family member.

I am a church member.

I am an employee/employer.

I am a homemaker.
I am a chef.

I am a coach.

I am a cheerleader.

I am a nurse.

I am a ______________. (fill in the blank.)

Yes, the many hats of a woman. From the rising to the setting of the sun,

we take on all these different "I ams ..." sometimes wearing two hats at once.

Like, take a moment girlfriend, finish your sip of coffee so you don't choke,

but think about yourself in the mirror putting on 2 or 3 hats at one time - what words come

to your mind? I look ridiculous? I can't even balance them all on my head? How am I going to put on the next hat, when I can't handle these 3???? You may even be bursting out in laughter accompanied by emotional tears, because of the silliness yet TRUTH of the moment.

But isn't that it - we try so hard to do "all these things" to be "all these things" and we get

TANGLED UP in all the hats we are trying to balance on our head.

There was a gal in the Bible who got caught up in the hats. She always had to have a tidy house, be in the kitchen cooking meals, preparing for guests to arrive, feasts... and her name was Martha.

Luke 10:40, "But Martha was distracted by all the preparation that had to be made...."

Busy. Very busy. And she felt her busyness was justified.

She opened her home to the Messiah, Jesus.
Everything had to be in order.

Everything had to be ready.

Did you ever just get TANGLED UP in all that had to get done?

Its kinda like RAPUNZEL let down her hair and kept trying to walk, but the hair was

so much she couldn't handle it. She kept tripping on it and falling down - it KEPT GETTING IN HER WAY!

Sometimes, to be honest I will read, Proverbs 31:10-31, and quite frankly, knock my

aging knees, crinkle my wrinkles in my forehead, and just, well -become STRESSED OUT.

Thinking, I don't think I can live up to all this - and without realizing it, I just picked up another hat to put on my head!

Here's the reality....

Jesus called us to one thing.

It was the one thing that Martha didn't see.

But it was the one thing, her sister Mary did...

Luke 10:39, "She had a sister Mary, who sat the Lord's feet listening to what he had said..."

Girlfriend, put down the hats.

Wipe your stress from your forehead, put the hats to the side

and take time to sit at your Papa's feet.

He desires your attention.

And when you sit and bask in his presence, waiting on his word, guess what...

he will tell you which hat to put on

and you will glow beautifully.

There will be no burst of anguished tears,

but I can see the single one trickle down your face

because He that loved you said, this is the hat you are to

wear, my beautiful daughter, and I love you. Wheat peace
will wash over you from your highlighted hair to your pedicured toes.

May this Word burn in your ever beating heart,

that you take time and sit with Abba, Father -

God's blessings on you girlfriend, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Amen.

What's in your wallet?

Yes, I mentioned wallet? But I am not talking money....

I know, whew! You probably thought I was going to mention

the all familiar words of my husband, "BUDGET!"

But relax your pretty ponytail - I am not going there!

Rather, I went to see the movie, Secretariat (which was fabulous by the way).

There comes a point towards the end of the movie where the horse trainer, Lucien Laurin, pulls out his wallet. And when he opens it up, he doesn't take out money, but instead takes out

old newspaper clippings... do you know what the clippings were? They were all the races that he lost? He carried in his wallet, FAILURES!

I immediately had this thought... how many of us, carry in our wallets (no matter how pretty or what name brand they are) failures? We just always keep them tucked in our back pockets or wedged in the mess of a purse... and not so much physically, like Lucien, but spiritually. You know that envelope of failures - that when a new opportunity arises, we just remember the past, the things that didn't work out so well and even maybe "blew up in our face." And instead of embracing the new opportunity, we high tail past it, because we wouldn't dare want to subject ourselves to another failure... our hearts couldn't handle one more.

And what happens in our spiritual wallet, it just becomes fatter with the failures and what ifs, rather than increasing riches! I have found I have learned more from my failures, and that the cumulative of failures have geared me, prepared me, groomed me for success. That had it not been for the failures in my life, God couldn't have turned them around for the success of an open door I walked though. Do you get what I am saying?

That just as Lucien, carried those failures, there came a point, where he burned them up and in his mind decided, that today was a new day! Girlfriend, today is a new day! God created you not to boot scoot and boogie past the opportunity, but to seek him first (Matthew 6:33) and when he opens a door (Rev 3:8), for you to take your favorite pair of knee high boots and walk straight through that door, knowing this - failure or success, God said go, and you said, "Here I am, send me. (Isaiah 6:8).

This week, take a good look at your spiritual wallet? What's in it?

-List of hurts that keep you from trusting?

-List of failures that keep you from trying?

-List of rejection, that keeps you isolated?

-List of ___________, that keep you from ____________?

I challenge you to empty your wallet, seek God, and when he says it is time, my daughter, my beloved one, to go, I dare you to go, with your head held high and your heart content knowing this, that he who sent you will not forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) - rather, he will be your team mate the whole way. Natalie Grant's song, "Daring to Believe" has a great chorus, it says this:

I'm waving goodbye to my pretty little life

taking your hand and crossing the line

Daring to leave the OLD me

Shout it out loud, I'm NOT ASHAMED!

Diving in now so NOT afraid

Hello to all that you see

And everything that you made me

I'm daring to be!

Commit this verse to memory:

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

That's My King! Do You Know Him?

Today, I want to just focus on all that Jesus is!

Sometimes, we get so bogged down with worries, fretting, stress, busyness, ministry, work, kids, family, marriage, friendships, bad news, no news, diagnoses, death, etc... and we just need a spark to help us to see all the good, that God is love, that he is good and his mercy endures forever.

I would like to extend a challenge to you, I want you to take a piece of paper, write the letters A through Z down the left column and throughout the next 15-20 minutes, I want you to write one word or phrase that starts with each letter of the alphabet that describes Jesus. Then I want you to tuck this in your purse, wallet, book bag, briefcase, car .. wherever you can, so that at any time today you get stuck in the "muck" of life - you can pull this out and be reminded HOW GREAT OUR GOD IS!

Let me get you started....

A- All powerful

B- Breathtaking

C- Counselor

D- Deliverer

Here is a video that will get you cheering and smiling this morning! May it bless you as you write this list and as you think on what is good today! Be blessed girlfriends!

Trouble viewing?  Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upGCMl_b0n4

Expectations

Every day, we encounter different people, different scenarios, different circumstances, different - well, just different experiences. Usually when we head to school, or to work, to college, to the homestead (wherever) we have an expectation of what that "situation/experience" will be like?

Have you ever had an expectation not met?

The guy you were dating or maybe are married to, didn't do that big birthday surprise you had hoped for? Or maybe, the kids didn't have the house picked up when you got home from work? Or maybe the mother in law didn't offer to help clean up after the big Sunday meal? Or a book did not live up to the recommendation of a friend? There are many scenarios, but one thing consistent - what we thought was, wasn't. It leaves us feeling disappointed, sad and sometimes downright agitated with a side of grumpiness.

Been there, girlfriend, on multiple times in the thirty plus years I have lived.

But, here is something that I began to see, something that God started to show this brown eyed girl. Often times, the expectations that I had were expectations that had no chance of being filled. For example, if I watched a romance movie and saw this strapping man, sweep the girl that he loved off her feet by pouring out his love for her in words that would melt any womans heart, handing her a rose and saying let me whisk you away to a spot where we can relax and just enjoy us. Then after watching that movie (or shall I say, soap opera), expect my husband to possess those same qualities - chances are I will end up disappointed! The movie isn't a realistic expectation of the men walking this Earth (now there are an occasional few, but the reality is - no man can be the guy in the movie everyday). So, something God showed me was that I was putting expectations on people in my life that the reality was only GOD himself could fill in my life. Holes in my heart, voids in my life - things that I thought about and toiled over could never be calmed until I let JESUS come in and say, "Quiet, be still" (Mark 4:39) and the storms in life (inside of me, usually) just stop at his command.

So I challenge you, if you are struggling in areas of your life - my question is this....

what is your expectation of that person/ thing - and why do you have it?

Is it because it’s a realistic expectation (is it a characteristic possible of possessing, such as kindness or patience) or will you end with disappointment, because its really only a void in your life that Jesus himself can fill?

It is a challenge, but I guarantee if you are bold enough to ask, God will allow the Holy Spirit to show up in your life and point out how you are expecting someone to do something only God can do for you. He wants to fill any void or hole in your heart, he is already waiting with an outstretched arm (Psalm 136:12) - he is just waiting for you to grab hold.

Your First Cup of Coffee

- Give it to God!

So many times I hear, I just don't have enough time in the day!

I mean the words come from other people's mouth along with these

"sugar plum" lipstick coated lips! It seems like I just lay my locks on the pillow

and kiss the hubby good night, before the blaring "BEEP BEEP" of the alarm goes

off and the new day is upon me! Whew - its exhausting!

Through my life I have had hard seasons, green grass seasons, leaves falling seasons, and sweltering of blessings seasons. To each there was a story for the greater good (usually me learning something about "me" that needed refined!) Anyhow, the best seasons in my life have been when I get up in the morning, and my dear hubby faithfully has my coffee pot full of hot coffee (I prefer Dunkin' Donuts -wowzer its good!); I smell that coffee, pick it up in my hand and carry it straight over the the kitchen table, where my coffee, Bible, and my body all have a daily meeting with God.

The neat things is this...

As I sit at the kitchen table, the hair is in shambles, there is no makeup on, my pajamas are still wrinkled against my body from where I slept - I am completely in my "morning makeup!" Pure, messy, but my heart and spirit just can't wait to dive in and read God's word. I look forward to this every morning - opening up his Word and reading it, even if I can't digest every morsel, just reading it and then chatting with God about my discoveries, my heart throbbing questions and laying worries down.

My first cup of coffee is my best cup of coffee -

Its when I walk with God, just like Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden.

My place isn't plush and in order and luscious or anything to be envious of...

Oh, but the time I spend right there during that first cup of coffee, the very first thing

I do in the morning - that, my friend, is more beautiful than any words I can type.

So I challenge you girlfriend to girlfriend -

before you go to bed, if you say there just isn't enough time in the day to give a part to God,

wake up tomorrow morning and get a hot cup of coffee (or tea...), break bread (God's word) and dive into a conversation with someone who loves you more than anyone on this Earth could.

May the season that you are in right now in your life be enriched from your CHOICE to make time for Him. The Bible says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." I would say that where our heart is will be where we spend our time.... we make time for what we want to make time to do.

Where's your heart? I pray it lays with the hot pot of coffee and the Word of God in the morning. May you be richly blessed in your day as you put God first.

Stuck!

A Pillar of Salt

Genesis19:26 says, "But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt."

A pillar of salt? My, what a way to go!

I have often read about Lot's wife, (Whose name isn't mentioned in this passage)

and thought about "why she would look back?" I can't understand why she would look back when she was being saved from destruction and despair? When God said, go, why didn't she run straight ahead never taking her eyes off her destination? Why didn't she cling to her husband as he lead her, the priest of her home, out to the place God had called them to go? Instead, she looked back and as the Bible said, she turned into a pillar of salt. A pillar, a column of some sort serving as a monument, as one standing alone, made out of salt.

Again, I thought, now what sort or significance does this have in my life? This one verse in the Old Testament.... typically read over and thought maybe for a moment, yeah, she blew it, but for some reason, I am intrigued and reread this verse, meditate on it and ponder, "Why?"

Interestingly, in the New Testament it is said, in Luke 17:32, "Remember Lot's wife!"

Okay, wait a minute girlfriend, we found this verse twice in the Bible. Again, her name isn't mentioned, just her reference to her role. Again, I think - why did she look back, and why now are we being warned to not be like her?

You know what I think girls, I think that sometimes we don't get to where we need to go because we are always stuck looking BACK at what we lost - what was destroyed, what was hurt, burnt, and thrown out - we get moving forward and then something trips us inside and we have to look back ,re-hash in our mind, toil, ponder and wonder "what if..."

I think these 2 verses are strategically placed in the Bible to remind us that...

if you continue to look back over your shoulder to the past, you will become a pillar of salt and never move forward into the land that God has called you too. Even with hurts and losses in the past, it is never God's desire for us to stay there - it is his desire for us to move, step by step, into the new land, land flowing with milk and honey, to walk with him hand in hand - bride and groom strolling together looking ahead to what awaits us.

To my girl pals (and any guys that may be reading this) -

No matter what your past was, don't forget what your future can be!

It doesn't mean forget all those experiences from before, but it does mean, turn your pretty head around and let your baby blues, dark browns or green eyes focus and gaze on where God is calling you to walk.

Won't you do it today - don't be a pillar of salt, rather be God's girl and walk into the new day one foot in front of the other heading to the place he has prepared for you.

Where's My Easy Button?

Oh, the blasted laundry is piling high!

The referee stripes as mom are never washed off... there is just constant bickering amongst the kiddos! The bills need paid, dishes loaded, the house cleaned, oil changed in the car or maybe a bad diagnosis, a failing marriage, broken friendship or squashed dreams and your list, like mine, can go on and on and on!

Quite frankly, the whole list of things to do is a drag.

Where, oh where is that EASY BUTTON!

I would love to push it and see the massive amount of work vanish before my eyes...

Come on, who wouldn't want a fairy god mother who waves a wand and says "Bippity Boppity Boo" and POOF its done! Homework 100% correct, Sunday school lesson thought out planned and complete, laundry - get this -washed, folded and PUT AWAY! Bills paid with a nice suruplus to hire a cleaning lady?? Come on, you have your list, wouldn't it be nice to just press that stinkin' red button and it be DONE! Restoration, healings and day to day ordinary stuff - just finished and you can move on.

But you know what...

I have a feeling that an easy button would just brew trouble!

If we didn't have things to do, experiences to take in, stress to manage -

we would never be able to pass along the "know hows" of overcoming, conquering

and succeeding!

And if we sat around and didn't do the LIST OF STUFF that dirty our nails and weather the skin on our hands, we would have no wear and tear to show of any accomplishments. We would have no experiences to share with our children and others as we endure, PERSEVERE and honestly, people who sit around and have nothing to do tend to conjure up ideas that birth trouble.. thank you, IDENTIFY THEFT, HACKERS, etc.

I think when we are in those moments of "HOW AM I GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS" - we need to do the time tested strategy, "When life gets to hard too stand, kneel." We need to pray. We need to reach out to the One who knows ALL WAYS and has plans, strategies and techniques that are already pre-approved! (Just check out his Word. Psalm 120:1, Psalm 116:2)

You know what else, we need to persevere.

A friend of mine has recently begun running marathons. I asked her how it was going...

She said, "You know what I have learned in the few races that I have run? That you need to sprint in the beginning, then find a pace and just keep it, just PERSEVERE and if you keep going you will be able to get out ahead ,because many sprint too hard and fast in the beginning and fall towards the back, but if I can keep my pace and sprint the last mile, I do okay."

The Bible talks about persevering...

• I Cor 13:7 says about love, "It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
• James 1:12, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."
• James 5:11, "As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."

And finally, in the last book of the Bible, it says this:

"You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary." Revelation 2:3

Girlfriend, just keep it up, keep going! All that you are doing is impacting people that are around you - don't give up, don't quit, your crown is waiting for you and the bridegroom is proud of you!

The Woman, The Baby, The Dragon

I'm so drawn this morning to a passage in Revelation, chapter 12... it goes as follows:

^1-2A great Sign appeared in Heaven: a Woman dressed all in sunlight, standing on the moon, and crowned with Twelve Stars. She was giving birth to a Child and cried out in the pain of childbirth.

^3-4And then another Sign alongside the first: a huge and fiery Dragon! It had seven heads and ten horns, a crown on each of the seven heads. With one flick of its tail it knocked a third of the Stars from the sky and dumped them on earth. The Dragon crouched before the Woman in childbirth, poised to eat up the Child when it came.

While, this passage refers to Mary, her son, Jesus Christ, and the devil... I can't help but draw a parallel in my life and I am sure many other ladies reading this will find truth in their own personal life... (you may need an extra cup of coffee to get through the thoughts after reading this one) May the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob enlighten your understanding and stir the yearning in your womb to carry on until the return of Christ Jesus.

The parallel goes like this... (its not intended to distract or take away from the work that God does in this passage in relation to Mary and Jesus, but rather to help us take an insight into our personal life and draw applications.)

Once upon a time their was a woman who loved God with all her heart. She was God's chosen vessel (v1), hand picked before she was every born to carry a specific purpose. (1 Cor 3:5) His hand even knitted her together inside her mother's womb, carving her eye lids and forming her heart. (Psalm 139:13)

As the girl grew in physical form, she also matured spiritually, eating her solid foods so she could distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:14). And then God, who has planted the purpose into her DNA from the time of conception, allowed her to feel the first flutters of the life (the plan, the purpose) she carried within her, for this specific time. She began to see that she was a light unto the world, (Matt 5:14) not because of who she was, but because of who HE was living in her.

The lady who sought God with her whole heart, (Psalm 119:58), remembered the conception of the purpose and plan. She fed daily, she sought her Father, and waited (Psalm 46:10).

The time came for the baby (the purpose) to be born. Much anguish surrounded the lady, she was overwhelmed by thoughts, emotions, uncertainty, yet, could not shake the reminder that God controls the doors (Rev. 4) it was her responsibility to walk through it. But the thoughts of birthing the baby and knowing that a huge and fiery dragon stood on the other side poised waiting to eat the baby (Rev 12:3-4) shook her.

Selah. (Pause and reflect)

Have you ever had a God given dream or knew your God given purpose, and you felt the flutters like that of a new mom feeling life growing in her womb, you sought God, searched his scriptures, called out to him in prayer and knew that this is why you were called for this time and this place? Yet, the time came to birth and you were so overwhelmed, oppressed that you didn't want to birth the baby because you didn't want its head bitten off once it took its first few breaths?

Here is the great news, girl!

The scripture goes on to say this in Rev 12,

⁵She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. ⁶The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.

Rev 4:2 says after he walked through the door, "At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it."

This tells me something really exciting, that gets the caffeine in my body cranking, when I go through and birth the purpose, dream, plan, baby (whichever name you want to go with) - that at once God's Spirit guides, directs me and as in Rev 12:6 - the woman fled into the desert to the PLACE PREPARED for her BY GOD!....

Wow - when I am obedient to him and carry out fulfilling what he has planned, he has an army ready to fight off the dragon, he has a place prepared for me where he will care for me. That to me girls is exciting, and helps this chick say, I can walk through that door, I can fulfill this plan he has for me, I can do the task he has purposed for my life.

I need another cup of coffee so I can Selah. Won't you join me?

Why Me?

Sometimes, girl, we think... why does this always happen to me?

The same story, circumstance, statements recur and recur ..... what in the world is wrong with me. Can you chime in here...... ever feel like your favorite pair of spiked heel boots always step in the gum that had been chewed and spit out, smudging the "newness" of them?

I know I have personally been there - where it seems no matter what the SAME" thing kept recurring, kind of like what you will see in this video clip!

(please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM watch the video clip then come back and join me )

The amazing thing is this ... for whatever reason in our pretty little heads, we think that if we keep doing life the way we always have done it that we will get a different result. Kind of like the BIG BROTHER in this video clip- but you know what he finds out.... that if you keep doing what you always done you will keep getting what you have always gotten and many times that is HURT after HURT after HURT.

So what can we do, we can:

1) Change our perspective about about the other person involved... sometimes we just focus so much on the "negative" (especially in a relationship or friendship) that we forget about the POSITIVE. If you are going to say something negative, stop, and instead say something positive and uplifting.

2) Change the people that are surrounding you. I remember my parents being very selective about the crowd that we would "run with" as teenagers... and I really thought it ridiculous and unfair... but let me tell you, that the people that surround you day in and out have more influence in your life than you will ever care to admit. People have said for many centuries, you become like the people that you hang around. Yes, Jesus sat and ate with the tax collectors, so yes, we do have to have interactions with the "world" - but there is definitely a balance. People who are believers need to be YOKED with other believers, especially when seeking wise counsel.

3) Change your patterns... if you aren't reading your word, READ it, get a reading plan and stick to it, find an accountability partner. If you are slacking in your prayer life, then schedule a time just like you would a doctor appointment and KEEP YOUR APPOINTMENT. The key here is do something DIFFERENT!

Change isn't easy for anyone... many times change can create ripples, just keep in mind the end result. Its easy to stick to what we are already conformed to, but can be much more rewarding to wait it out and work the clay and mold something new! Ahhh... the journey of life... yes, girls, we are doing life... it isn't always rosy cheeked and pretty, but it is LIFE - let's make the most of it that we can, even through mascara running down our cheeks for hurts - always remember HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD - and that his plan is the ultimate purpose for our existence. So clean off those streams after you get those tears out and doll yourself all up and grab a cup of coffee (or tea or cocoa) and find a new groove to walk to the next day - you never know what is coming next, but HERE WE GO!

God Bless!