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Reasons to Celebrate

Reasons to Celebrate

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We celebrated my pastor for giving 33 years in service to our church today. Everyone in the room could feel the excitement. 

He invited a guest preacher to speak, and you could tell that he had a lot of respect for this man of God. Past preachers, musicians, family, and friends all came to help him celebrate. Even our ministry partners from George, South Africa were there. It was a joyous occasion.  

It made me think about my life, and the things that I sometimes celebrate. 

My husband, and I made it a point to do something to acknowledge our anniversary every year. Sometimes, it was dinner with friends. Mostly though, it was just the two of us being grateful for one more year. I also made my birthday my own personal holiday every year. I take off from work, and do whatever I want for the whole day (I really look forward to it every year). 

But short of waking up every morning, that is pretty much it. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely don’t take that for granted, I just think there should be more to life than just waking up, right?

As I contemplated celebrations, those things seemed to pale in comparison to celebrating 33 years in ministry. Then I realized what I was doing. Why was I comparing my life to someone else’s? Why did I think that what my pastor had done was so much better than anything I had done?

God had to remind me what Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” He helped me see that life itself is reason enough to celebrate. Every day is reason enough to celebrate. Every breath is reason enough to celebrate. And waking up is a big deal, and it should be celebrated. 

So, I learned my lesson. From now on, I won’t look at others as my benchmark for reasons to celebrate. I will keep my eyes fixed firmly on the Lord, Jesus Christ who gives me life. He is the real reason any of us have to celebrate anyway.

Until next time…

Be blessed

We Can Never Pray Too Much!

We Can Never Pray Too Much!

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As believers we should be getting outside of our church walls to do something to make a difference in the world. 

Our world will never get better if we all lock ourselves in our homes, and shake our heads at the problem. The saying goes that if you are not part of the solution…you are part of the problem. I want to be a part of the solution. But what does that look like?

I think it looks something like this…

The children in our world deserve a chance. They should be able to experience what it feels like to run and play without the fear of being abducted or shot. Today, we hardly ever see little girls playing hopscotch or jacks, or little boys playing baseball in the neighborhood. It shouldn’t be that way. 

When I was a little girl, we ran all over the neighborhood, and we didn’t worry about coming home until the street lights came on. Our children today will never know what that kind of freedom feels like…not unless we do something about it.

One thing we can do for sure is pray. 

Pray for change. Pray for direction. Pray for strength. Pray for peace. Pray for your neighbors…and your neighborhood. Pray for those who don’t have a relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. Pray that God continues to show this world mercy. Pray because His grace is sufficient. Pray that love will grow more and more until there is no room for hate.

We can never pray too much. I know that may seem idealistic to some, but I believe it’s possible. The Bible says that anything is possible to those who believe (Mark 9:23). I believe. I believe in the power of prayer. And I hope you believe too. God’s word says that whatever we ask in Jesus’ name, He will do it (John 14:14). So, believe that it’s already done.

Don’t stop praying. And don’t stop believing that when the time is right…God will answer.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Let’s Have Church!

Let’s Have Church!

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God just continually blows my mind. 

I remember once when we were ministering at the nursing home God really showed up. He changed that place into a birthing room. You could feel that somebody was being delivered. Chains broken. Set free. 

When we arrived, some of the women were just praising and worshiping the Lord. They had their hands upraised and they were singing to the songs that one of the nurses had playing on her phone. It was amazing. 

We forget that even though they are now living in a nursing home, before they became residents, they were probably active in ministry. They were ushering in the spirit of the Lord and we could feel His presence there. You could tell that they had forgotten all about it being a nursing home…it was a sanctuary. And the hearts of the people were wide open to receive.

I love it when the word falls on fertile ground. 

When the word was brought forth, they were ready. God speaks to us in many ways, and today He spoke to me through the residents at that nursing home. He showed me that being shut in doesn’t mean that you are shut out. That just because you are not in church doesn’t mean you can’t have church. And it doesn’t matter where we are when we praise Him…all that matters is that we do. 

Until next time…

Be blessed

We are God’s Testimony

We are God’s Testimony

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Before the pandemic I used to attend a local Women’s Conference as a participant. But one year, God moved me to set up a vendor table, and I am so glad that I did. 

As you know from my previous posts...then again, maybe you don’t. My book has the same title as this blog, “Let My Life Be A Testimony.” The women who stopped by my table that day to talk to me about my book, began to share their testimonies, which just confirmed that I was doing the right thing.

Their stories ranged from being healed from cancer to being examples of faith for their children. Our stories….our testimonies are so important right now. The people that we influence need to know that we understand what they are going through because we have been there. I believe God is calling us to a higher work. One that will cause us to move out from that comfortable place. We are going to have to represent Him in the earth in a way that we never have before.

God has been preparing many of us. By shaping us and growing us to go outside of the church walls to minister to His people (and we don’t have to wear a collar to do it either). All we have to do is be willing to be used by God, and allow God to do what needs to be done. 

Most of us won’t think we’re up to the challenge, but God does, and He needs us to step up to the plate. We are in a battle, and the enemy is counting on us to be so distracted that we miss God. But don’t worry if you feel unequipped for the assignment, 2 Chronicles 20:15 says, “Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 

So stay close to Him in this season. Listen for His voice and know that we never walk alone. He is always there to lead us and guide us.

Until next time….

Be blessed

When Jesus Is In The Room

When Jesus Is In The Room

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Sundays are my favorite day of the week. I love going to church. I know we can praise and worship anytime we want, but there is something about praising and worshiping with a group of people who love the Lord like you do. Today, was one of those days. The Spirit of the Lord took over…and that’s exactly what should happen. 

We can’t be so tied to tradition that every service is just like every other service, and we shouldn’t want that either. We have to praise like there is nobody but Jesus in the room…

We shouldn’t hold anything back from God because He hasn’t held anything back from us. When it comes down to it…He is the only one we need to please, and the only reason that we do anything anyway. He has done so much, and given so much for us…that praise is the least we can do. 

And how about this…our praise is not going to look like anyone else’s and that’s a good thing…it is as unique as we are. God made us all different for a reason.

This week, just open your heart to Him without reservation. He deserves our undivided attention. Our time here on earth is so limited, don’t waste it on things that don’t matter. The way we praise and worship is not as important as acknowledging when Jesus is in the room. Do whatever the Lord leads you to do…and don’t worry about who may be watching.

Until next time…

Be blessed