Called To Love

If you have ever been in a long distance race you find that the closer you get to the finish line, the harder it is to stay focused and push past your pain, anguish, and discomfort. Your thoughts and feelings come into play encouraging you to stop, convincing you that you have done enough. Our journey in life is like that race, the closer we get to our goals the more distractions we encounter. Satan gets in our ear, reminds us of our pains and discomfort and encourages us to just stop. Ecclesiastes 9:11 says; " ... the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong, or bread to the wise, or riches to the discerning, or favor to the skillful; rather, time and chance happen to all of them." Once again, Satan is on his job, adjusting our focus off of what God has already promised us... Don't let him deceive you, lie to you or rob you of what God has told you. Don't let Satan allow you to be an accomplice in overturning your own blessing. God has given us wha...

Growing up I had a very interesting childhood. There were very few girls in our family for many years. I did all the things the boys did like, climbing trees, playing baseball, racing barefoot, making zip guns and so forth. As I look back I've taken for granted one unique thing that I experienced as a child. I was taught how to be blind. I have an aunt who lost her sight at an early age. We spent a lot of time together, so I had to learn how to lead her around from the age of about 4 years old. I often asked what it was like to be blind. She would blindfold me and lead me around the house to show me how she navigated without sight. She showed me how to read braille, how she traveled outside and so much more. It is something that actually comes naturally to me now and allows me to ofter navigate through an unlit house with little difficulty. As I wake up in the morning, my phone often alerts me to the news of the day and lately it has been very dim and dismal. If you concentrate o...

There is a Christian comedian who did a presentation explaining how we know our purpose, our "What", and how we can easily demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and application of our "what". He added a caveat to it which focused in on the emotional connection of our "what" to our "why", which explained how our "why" should be the thing that takes our "what" to a whole new level. This way of thinking applies so well to us connecting our "what" of GLORIFYING GOD to our "why". What are you defining as your "Why"? What is that thing that takes your "What" to a whole new level? I know that I can clearly identify my "Why"... its to honor God with my service each and every day of my life. Whether it is in my home, I will honor him and model that before my family. Whether at my job, I will honor Him by living my faith before others. Even when I am in a casual situation, my life, my wo...

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 If you've ever lived in a small community, you will often find that everyone knows everyone else through kinship or friendships. You will find that many family members and friends have grown up together,  gone to school together, and even worked together. They may not have the same last names, but they are connected through a common bond of community. Christ defines your community. Your purpose defines your connectivity to every aspect of your life and those with whom your path crosses. Your purpose has appeared in your childhood, teenage years, young adult years, and adulthood. Your purpose is defined and cultivated in your education, career and social connections.  No matter what you do, or where you go, when following Christ, your purpose will always connect you to God's will. So Stay Connected. Be Blessed,...

"These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart." Deuteronomy 6:6  Have you ever taken one of those tests that "begin with the phrase, "Read everything carefully before doing anything"? It continues on with a list of things you are to do like, Put your name in the upper right-hand corner of this page. Circle the word NAME in sentence two. Draw five small squares in the upper left-hand corner. Put an “X” in each square." Many of us have fallen victim and completed those test to find out at the end that if we only followed the instructions given at the beginning of the test, things would be less stressful, easily completed, and somewhat enjoyable. As we go through the stresses and test of our day, we find ourselves doing the same thing. Rather than being receptive to the Holy Spirit and listening through prayer and devotion, we start going down our list and going through the motions that often lead us to situations that waste our t...

 "A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance" John 10:10 HCSB Have you ever had those days when you face the most unexpected emotional hits from the most unexpected people?  Maybe a family member, a co-worker, or a stranger says or does something that rubs you the wrong way and knocks you off your square. You end up holding that "thing" all day. That "thing" eventually effects how you treat others. Where did that "thing" come from and why? The answer is Satan. Satan orchestrates ways to steal, kill and destroy your character and your witness. What best way to hide God's Glory from His people than to persuade them to take the focus off of Him. How do we combat the devices of the enemy? Take the face off the person(s) and take the fight to the enemy through prayer. When you do that, at God's command, an angelic army stands at the ready to help you throug...