Ecclesiastes 1:14

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun;
all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

I can’t tell you how many times I have prayed these exact words; What DO you want from me Lord?

I truly love the Lord with all of my strength and all of my heart and all of my soul…but now what? For me, there is this constant, strengthening magnetic pull from within to serve, the only problem is that I have no idea what it is I am suppose to do. Most people that have witnessed me, and my behavior, this past year are probably convinced that I have some rare form of adult spiritual attention deficit. I hop from one mission to another in a heartbeat, continually waiting for that special one that is going to fill this great need of servitude in my heart. There have been times that I, myself, have thought there was something seriously wrong with my brain.

All I can say is that it hasn’t been for lack of trying on my part. Although none of my missions have filled the need in my soul, they have each nourished it in some way. The greatest thing I have achieved is a true love for people. In the past, I have always shied away from interacting with others. Maybe out of fear, maybe distrust, but more than likely just plain old lack of self-esteem. Other people seemed to have it all together and here I was still trying to figure out how to just be a decent wife and mother.

I have to admit that I started losing faith in my purpose. I gave everything I was doing 100% and yet nothing was bearing fruit as far as I could see. So I quit. Maybe the Lord didn’t have a purpose for me, so I might as well just do the dishes and be done with all my hopes and dreams of being a true servant. It wasn’t until I quit that I started to hear the Lord’s answer and it was nothing near what I imagined. In the quiet of my heart, He asked what I wanted. Of course this started another argument in my mind, surely He missed a prayer or something because I wanted to serve HIM. But no, He doesn’t miss prayers; He knows my heart even when I don’t, so why was He asking ME what I wanted? This definitely sent me into a tailspin for a while. Sometimes we get to thinking so much, that we forget how important it is to listen.

When I finally shut my mind up long enough to listen, the message was clear, God wants me to be happy. Whoever said that there is beauty in simplicity, knew how to listen when the Lord speaks. God doesn’t need you to change the world. That’s not saying that the world doesn’t need help, but seriously…He’s got it under control. Sometimes we get so full of our own knowledge and influence that we forget where it comes from. You alone cannot cure world hunger, you alone cannot shelter the homeless, and you alone cannot remove hypocrisy, hate and evil. What you alone CAN do is trust that all of the little things you do every day make a difference to God and HE ALONE can change the world. It’s an amazing concept I know, but definitely one worth experiencing.

Psalm 13:5
But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

You weren’t there
the night He found me
You did not feel what I felt
when he wrapped
his love all around me
and you don’t know the cost
of the oil in my alabaster box

- Alabaster Box, CeCe Wynans -

My husband and I were reading Genesis tonight, more specifically – the story of Joseph and how his own brothers sold him out because of jealousy. I got to thinking about character again … more specifically, attacks on your character.

If it wasn’t bad enough that Joseph’s brothers sold him out as a slave, his lot got much worse. Joseph found favor with Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh, and according to the bible “…his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand” (Gen. 39: 3). In view of the excellent character of Joseph, Potiphar placed great confidence in Joseph and he excelled — even as a slave.

Then enters Potiphar’s wife. She wanted Joseph — and tempted him, but loyal not only to Potiphar – but to God Almighty, he showed amazing strength and character above approach, but what did he get for his efforts? He was accused of assaulting his master’s wife and thrown into prison.

I’m sure many of you have experienced this, I know I have. You do everything you know in your heart that is right, and yet the weight of the world slaps you in the face and you wonder….why God? Where did I go wrong this time? I wonder if Joseph thought the same, or if he was 100% confident in the decisions he made.

I have to admit…many people have called me different in the course of my life. I use to take offense at that in the beginning, but the longer I live – the more I appreciate that I am different. I don’t want to be a cookie-cutter image of somebody else, I just want to be me. I get weary of people trying to pour me into the mold of what they think I should be, or what society deems ‘acceptable’, because I know that it does not reflect who I truly am.

According to the World English Dictionary, character is the set of qualities that make somebody or something distinctive, especially somebodies qualities of mind and feeling. Going by that definition, when people attack your character – I think it implies that that they don’t want you to be distinctive, they want you to fit the mold and go with what society deems acceptable. Isn’t this the sand-pit of youth? Peer pressure? Is there ever an age where we outgrow the need to be one of the crowd? To be accepted as who we are?

Sometimes I feel I’ve kept my mouth shut for long enough. Yes world…I do have a backbone! I don’t want to be like you, and although I’m sorry you don’t understand that, I’m tired of wasting time on the trivial matters that you find so important – - because as far as I’m concerned, they aren’t really that big of a deal.

Where is your money now?
Where is your power?
Where is your freedom?

I have faith, extraordinary faith. God works all things toward good and I believe that, no matter how many fingers you want to point at my mistakes. I never claimed to be perfect – just basically good, and I believe that this is the humbleness that God desires.

Call me lofty, egotistical – whatever word you want to plug in there

- but as the world fails you,
- and judges you,
- and condemns you
- – you remember these words:

God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

May God Bless CeCe Winans for this song! I just want to be me and love the Lord, I just want to be happy – and that’s okay – - so look in the mirror before you want to judge who I really am – because you don’t know the cost of my alabaster box!

I am no better than the woman at the well, but I know the power behind the throne – - worship whatever God you want, but I know for a fact that I am saved! Can you confidently say the same? Time is growing short, let the Lord fill your cup from a well that never will run dry!

L A U G H   A L L   T H E    W A Y   H O M E ! ! !

 

The Three Little Pigs  by   Chonda Pierce

Deuteronomy 4:29

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.

You are the single most distracting obstacle between your own failure and success. Each day you make a series of immediate decisions that ultimately shape the course of your life. Failure and success are not immediate procurements; they are slow fades evolving from the good and bad decisions you make each and every moment of your life.

Don’t ever believe that God does not have a will and purpose for your life. Even if you feel lost in the gray area between black and white – remember that your position in life today, has been your choice and yours alone.

Nothing can stand between you and God’s will, except you.

Right now, simply by reading this – you are reaching to find that will. You are seeking.

Matthew 6:31-34

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I woke up Sunday morning exhausted and mad. I found myself lying in bed arguing with my husband and he wasn’t even awake yet. We had spent all day Saturday out at the soccer fields with our 3 children . Beat by the sun I had collapsed into bed after haphazardly dumping some clothes into the washer and making a lame attempt to cook dinner. Still tired when I woke up the first thing that crossed my mind was I needed more help. I fumbled through making the coffee, glaring angrily at the dinner dishes that were still sitting in the sink and gleefully took the last clean coffee cup, thinking ’serves him right’. Walking outside I quickly sidestepped one of the kittens that had perched itself in front of the door demanding to be fed. You’re just going to have to wait, I told him, I can’t do everything. I sat there sipping my coffee watching the day dawn, getting angrier and angrier the more I thought of all the things that needed to be done. None of the kids had probably had a bath. I was sure the clothes were still sitting in the washer right where I left them. We still didn’t have anything to cook for the church pot luck picnic and it was highly unlikely we were going to make it to Sunday School…again. I heard my husband searching for a coffee cup in the kitchen and the guilt hit me. I looked back at the rising sun and started to pray. Dear Lord, I know there’s something wrong with me this morning – - I don’t want to take it out on my family. Please help me, I can’t do this alone, not today.

I peeked inside the window just in time to see my husband grabbing one of my collectible cat china cups then I fed the kittens so he didn’t blindly trip over them and break my china on the way out. With a smile on his face, he came out, gave me a kiss and asked if I was feeling better. All of the hostility I had felt for him all morning vanished. I sat there stunned for a minute – I have always believed in the power of prayer, but even so, I never stop being amazed when He answers them so efficiently.

My grandmother taught me when I was little to pray about everything, big and small. When I got a little older, I felt silly praying because none of them were ever answered. The boy I wanted to ask me out never did, the stylish clothes that would make me popular never appeared, my parents divorced, even though I prayed constantly that my family would stay together. My grandmother had fed me hogwash and I ate it up because I was a little girl stuck in a fantasy world where happily ever after still existed. As I continued to age, my prayer life became non-existent, and I got increasingly lost in a world that would never make sense. Bad things started to happen to me; drugs, alcohol, bad friends then eventually homelessness. That was the point that I decided to try the prayer thing again, after all it couldn’t hurt right? But these prayers were different than the prayers said by the little girl I had once been. They were angry prayers; I hate this, change this and give me, give me, give me. Did He answer? I didn’t think so at the time, but looking back after 15 + years, I can say absolutely, without a doubt. He took the hate and showed me how to love, He changed me, but not the things, and He gave and gave and gave, to this day He is still giving but I have learned now the importance of asking.

I come across so many people in today’s world that say religion makes no sense, Christianity is too hard and they are too busy to pray. These same people are also the first to complain about their lives, their circumstances and what they have in life. How is prayer hard? How can you be too busy to pray? You can lie in bed and mentally justify your actions because of what people have done to you. You can list all the ways you’ve been neglected, ignored and mistreated. You can have imaginary conversations where you put these evildoers in their place and plan ways to exact your revenge, but you don’t have time to pray?

You hear it over and over that there is power in prayer but have you ever truly allowed it to sink in. When you pray, the Lord gives you the power to accomplish the things that you can’t. When YOU pray, the Lord GIVES YOU THE POWER, but you must pray in order to be given that power. It doesn’t matter what you are praying about or what you are praying for, what matters is that you are praying. The Lord said, draw near to me and I will draw near to you. How much more simple can you get?

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength

The world seems to be going so fast in the wrong direction. I don’t know if any of you have ever listened to any of Bishop Jakes sermons – but they are pretty powerful. I work for several different churches and faith based ministries and I can’t tell you how tiring it is to try and figure out what each one truly believes.

Traditional churches are dying. I’m not saying that to be confrontational, I wouldn’t work for so many religious organizations if I didn’t believe that there was something in them worth saving. I’m sure many people would disagree with me very passionately on that issue as well, especially with all of the media exposure regarding different “Churches” in the news right now.

This link to T. D. Jakes sermon (7 Steps to a Turn Around) is about exposure. Exposure is a good thing but we have to remember that “pain is not prejudice”. We can’t judge all of the people within a church based on one or two worshippers that have chosen greed and fleshly desires over Christ. Satan’s mission is to destroy the actual body of Christ – which is made up of many wonderful Christians that exist in all churches, denominations and walks of life.

The persecution of the churches is beginning.
Don’t be so blind that you don’t see what’s coming.
People need to really start feeling what is going on
in their own homes, their schools and their communities.

Call it whatever you want to – but if you are in a church where there is no Spirit – you need to have faith and move on;
and if you are in a church that is being persecuted but full of Spirit – you need to have faith and stand strong;
and if you are in no church at all but know the Lord – you need to have faith and step outside the box;
and whatever you do – remember that the word of God is the supreme authority – NOT the words of man.

Nobody has the power to judge you or what you believe, that will always be between you and God alone.
It’s time to test all spirits and expose them for what they are – as painful as it may be on us all.

People need to step outside the box – get out of the closet – do something – walk the walk – make a difference in whatever walk of life God has placed you – there is a reason!

This is a snippet of a CNN commentary given by TD Jakes on behalf of the Potter’s House.  It just really hit me hard. The oppression of this world is getting heavier each day – we all need as much hope as we can find.

 ”…..Many people can talk the talk of King and his messages, but there are many who choose to focus on walking the walk. We walk the walk……”

“…In light of Alan Greenspan confirming what many of us have already suspected — that we are in the midst of a recession, I would ask all churches as well as the media to help guide and encourage us through the storm of fuel bills, lost homes, lost jobs and the untold effects of this recession.

I see this article as providing a battle cry to churches of all ethnicities and denominations to not allow the perceptions of the few to distract us and prejudice us from the needs of the many.

On behalf of the 30,000 members of our church and the 4,000 volunteers who work in our various programs, not to mention the staff and our countless supporters around the world who love our church and its work, please do not malign our identity or castigate our mission.

In the final analysis of why people attend church or why they select this church over another one, or follow this minister over that minister, the answer is simple; people go to a church where they feel comfortable, where they feel their needs are being met and where they feel that they are getting assistance with the many issues that confront them in these troubled times.”

This is part of a sermon given by Joe Stowell at the Moody Bible Institute

“I’m only fifty-seven, and I already find myself weary of the hollow thoughts of what few accomplishments I may have mustered in my life.  My failures continue to embarrass me.  The inadequacies I have carried with me since my youth still frustrate me.  My insecurities still trouble my soul.  And the praise of others has an increasingly hollow ring. I’m tired of worrying about what people think about me.  I’m weary of the carnal feeling that sometimes haunts me when someone talks about his favorite preacher and it’s not me.  Bottom line, I just get flat-out tired of me.  BUT I NEVER GET TIRED OF JESUS.  After all these years, I still find Him more compelling, more engaging, more awesome, more surprising, more fulfilling, and more attractive than ever before.  I never get tired of singing His praises or of watching Him perform.  I find Him to be gripping.  Absorbing.  Beyond comprehension.  And that’s why – along with Paul, my grandmother, Billy Graham and countless others through the years – I find myself longing to know Him better.”

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
Psalm 31:24 KJV 

Those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
Psalm 37:9 NIV 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 KJV 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2 KJV 

For we are saved by hope….
Romans 8:24 KJV 

Happy is he…whose hope is in the Lord his God.
Psalm 146:5 KJV 

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick….
Proverbs 13:12 KJV 

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer….
Romans 12:10-12 KJV 

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
Psalm 31:24 KJV 

Trust the Lord your God with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV 

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
Matthew 8:26 NIV 

…Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mark 9:24 KJV 

But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
Psalm 71:14 NIV 

For we are saved by hope….
Romans 8:24 KJV 

I can do everything through him that gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 NIV

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So my question is – - What happened to the sheep?
These shepherds are sitting in a wide, remote area,
tending their flocks, when
-BOOM-
they tear up the road on their way to Bethlehem.

Did they take the sheep with them, or leave them behind?

I am guessing that during this busy new ‘tax’ season in Bethlehem; large herds were not so welcome inside the city gates. After the awesomeness that the shepherds witnessed, I believe they must have had complete faith that their flocks would be okay, leaving them confidently behind in the shelter of the angels who had delivered the Good News. The shepherds left everything behind in order to see the newly born Christ.

This passage made me stop and wonder how much our own personal “flocks” might be distracting us from the word of God?

How focused are we when it comes to putting Christ first, before everything else?

Do we have the faith to hand over our flocks as the shepherds did?

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Can you even begin to imagine what this must have been like for Mary?

She was so young,
in the blink of an eye
she became the womb of the earth’s salvation.

She was pregnant and unmarried;
bearing a child in a lowly stable…

…but Mary “treasured up” all these things and pondered them in her heart.

How many times do we judge the circumstances, and condemn the journey, before we even know the Creator’s plan?

On this very day that we celebrate Christ’s birth,
we give endless trinkets to those we love,
but how many heavenly gifts do we truly “treasure up”?

Or are we lost in our own self-portraits of despair?

The shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen,
which were just as they had been told.

The angel had told the truth
– but don’t you think the shepherds already knew that before they left?
Did they ever really doubt like we do?

Or like Mary,
did they face that wind of uncertainty
leaving all they knew completely behind
in order to see and experience
the supernatural?

That’s where I want to be
– forget the sheep,
give them to the angels to tend…at least for tonight,

Christ the Savior is Born!

GOD REST YOU MERRY, GENTLEMEN

God rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay.

For Jesus Christ our Savior, Was born on Christmas Day;

To save us all from Satan’s power, When we were gone astray.

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

In Bethlehem, in Jewry, This blessed Babe was born,

And laid within a manger, Upon this blessed morn;

The which His mother Mary did nothing take in scorn.

O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our heavenly Father, A blessed angel came.

And unto certain shepherds, Brought tidings of the same,

How that in Bethlehem was born, The Son of God by name.

O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

Fear not, then said the Angel, Let nothing you affright,

This day is born a Savior, Of virtue, power, and might;

So frequently to vanquish all, The friends of Satan quite;

O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

The shepherds at those tidings, Rejoiced much in mind,

And left their flocks a feeding, In tempest, storm, and wind,

And went to Bethlehem straightway, This blessed babe to find

O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

The eagle soars because it’s not afraid. Born with nothing but the sky to look at, its aspirations could be no higher. From a hatchling the eagle strives to grow, craving nourishment, attacking its own kind to survive, pushing itself and others to make way for the world it wishes to see. The eagle doesn’t fail because of high expectations. The drop from the nest is a long one, but the longer the fall – the more time the eagle has to learn how to fly. The young eagle has no direction, only the wide open blue sky. Where there is no sky, they learn not to fly. When eagles tire, they return to the shelter of the wings and rest. They won’t ever get discouraged of leaving the comfort of the nest because they know what lies beyond is much greater and more fulfilling. How could they not jump from the safety of their cliffs when they know the freedom that lies outside? Nobody told them they could fly; they simply tried and realized they could. Eagles deserve to soar because they believe they can fly before they can.