Making Your Life Work

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT “I did it by myself,” “I am the captain of my fate.” These are a few examples of some perspectives on how to make life work. Everyday, millions of people wander aimlessly lost, seeking love and significance in all the wrong places without a clue as to how to make life work. We need always to remember Jesus’ reminder that “apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

When we try to make life work without the resurrection power of God at work in us through the Holy Spirit, we can be sure that we will never be able to make life work the way God intended. Many ignore their need for God when enjoying all of the pleasures and blessings of life without any of the heartbreak or problems about which we are warned will come time and time again in Scripture. Making life work in our marriages, parenting, relationships, finances, and work places often requires more longsuffering, patience, self control, and love than we can supply in our own strength. Jesus tells us that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. When we seek to be our own way, truth, and life, we are headed for trouble. Trying to make life work without the miracle worker is a futile pursuit.

Jesus not only promises but has the power to keep His promises to work all things for the good of those who love Him.

Friends, be encouraged in knowing that God has not forgotten you. There maybe many of you feeling displaced or as if there is no real purpose for you, except to work and make money, or to trot through life just existing. Friends, you have purpose, and your life has meaning. But it is a matter of perspective. How do you see yourself? How you see yourself or even how others see you is not nearly as significant as how God sees you. He says, you are the apple of my eye. Hmm so what does that actually mean? The term “The apple of my eye” is an old idiom and is first mentioned in the Bible in the Book of Psalms chapter 17 verse 8 (also in 3 other places in the bible) talking of guarding the apple of my eye. In those days the apple of the eye was actually referring to the pupil / cornea part of the eye. Sight is always considered a precious thing and during that time was no exception.

So the same way you would go to all lengths to protect and guard your eyesight is the same way you would love and protect someone you care about. God wants to do the same for us. But we have to choose to accept His Love. Love is a choice. The only way we can truly make our life work for us the way God intended, is to accept his love and his help. Once we accept His love than we will be able to accept all the blessings he has for us. And that will include feeling fulfilled in your life and having peace in your life wherever you find yourself today.

Friends, God loves us more than we can ever humanly comprehend. Remember this, “If you were the only person on the planet, God would still send His son to die just for you!”

Choices and Rewards

Hoping this finds you well and blessed today. I am an avid book reader and recently stopped by Ben’s Books on Center St. If you have never been there and love to read and like good company and a hot glass of tea, Ben’s is the place to be. He has a great choice of books and at really great prices. Nearly everyone is going to the E- Readers and they are nice, however there is just something comfortable about curling up in the recliner and holding an actual paperback.

I am currently reading a book titled Choices and Rewards, how to live the life God loves to bless by David Cerullo. It is a really great book. Many times throughout the book I am reminded that Gods promises are indeed conditional. I knew this before, but this book just gave me revelation.

Again and again, God announces that IF we do our part then He will do His part. Often times I think about how many Christians continually struggle in the same areas, year after year. Myself included. But what I am realizing is, while many times we are waiting on God to do his part…………he is waiting for us to do ours.

The book of Deuteronomy is a book of blessings and curses. Now, we ALL want to read about the blessings, but rarely read the part that talks about what happens if we are not obedient. And we wonder why we struggle so much! Now granted, we live in a fallen world, therefore bad things happen to good people. But more often than not we are a subject of our own choices. Good or bad. We all have choices.

I remember my mom always telling me, “What you think about most, is what you’re most likely to live,” and, “The decisions you make today will determine where you are 5 years from now.” Now, I never fully understood that of course until I was much older. But, she is really right on, with both of those comments.

Now, the decision I made to come back to California 5yrs ago, has determined where I am today. Had I not chose to come back, I would not be writing for the Driller. I may not have had the opportunities in a metropolitan area that I have here in the small city. God knew where He wanted me; He put it in my heart. But I had a choice. I could have chosen to stay in my comfort zone. I had a nice house and a great job working for a credit card company, my husband worked for the state. OR we could choose to step out in faith and move back to California, with no jobs and no home, totally dependent on God.

I can honestly say, although it has been tough. We have been more blessed since we moved back to Taft than ever before. But it is because we were obedient and because I have purposed it in my heart to serve God with all my being, and seek His kingdom first. God wants to bless us, but sometimes we get too comfortable and choose not to obey when we know God is calling us.

That’s why the word says, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” Matt 22:14. That’s because few choose to answer. God gives you a choice every day. Will you serve him, and answer His call, and receive all that God has for you? Or will you choose to live in disobedience, (which is sin) and that becomes a curse. Friends, you have a choice, blessings or curses. Choose this day, to be obedient and God will reward you with far more blessings than you can ever contain. Be blessed and be encouraged. Email me at mywordshismessage@yahoo.com

You Are Wonderfully Made

You know God never ceases to amaze me. He is constantly stretching me, challenging me and keeping me on my toes. And truth be told, I LOVE IT!! I am so glad that He loves me too much to leave me the way I am. We all can improve, we all can grow. If you have stopped growing, regardless of age, than you should really take the time and seek the Lord. He is always trying to take us to the next level, but many of us get complacent. And friends, complacency is a tar pit! It will keep you bound forever if you let it. So I have chosen to tell the Lord, “Send me, use me, I will go, I will do it, challenge me, change me, and make me more like you.” I know many of you feel the same way and that’s awesome!  I want to encourage you to keep moving forward.

But I know for many of you, your worlds have fallen apart. You are struggling just to keep your heads above water. Whether the economy has struck you with fear, you have lost a loved one or maybe your marriage is falling apart. No matter where you are in your walk. God has not forgotten you. Let me say that again, God has not forgotten you! You have not been rejected by Him, you have not been abandoned by Him, though the world will fail you, He never will. He loves you more than your human mind will ever comprehend.

So whether you have been pushed out, pushed down, or let down, you can cry out to Jesus. He is as close as your heart. Friends, He has counted every prayer and bottled every tear. You are not alone! I know many of you are still waiting on Gods promises, your still clinging to the last bit of hope, friends, keep holding on. Your time will come, remember, when your going through hell, don’t stop and pitch a tent. KEEP MOVING FORWARD!! And keep believing, God is moved by our faith not by our emotions.

God has a plan for you and you are going to make it. Your life is far from over. You are in Christ and He loves you! And though the world has disappointed you, and people have let you down, God can be trusted, He is faithful to make good on His promises. All the promises in the bible are for you. They are not just stories we read about as history. They are alive, they are real, and they are for you. There is nothing good that God will withhold from you, but you have to step out and believe God for your victory. Start believing what God says about you.

What has God revealed about you in his word. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come. “(2 Cor 5:17)

Truth: I am born of God. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:26)

Truth: I am not fearful because I have not been given a spirit of fear. (Prov 28:1) the righteous are as bold as a lion.

Truth: We have been made the righteousness of God (Romans 1:17)

Truth: We have been saved by grace no more works. (Ephesians 2:8,9)

Truth: You are the apple of God’s eye (Psalms 17:8)

Truth: Nothing can separate Christ’s love from you, Nothing! (Romans 8:38,39)

So pick your head up, stand up tall, and put your head back, you will overcome and you will be victorious! You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Be blessed and be encouraged.

Let It Go…..

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I wanted to talk with you today about something that has been heavy on my heart the last few days. I’ve recently spoken to several people who with different life stories, share the same feelings of shame.It occurred to me that all too often we carry around way too much guilt. We often obsess over the past and what we could have or should have done. Or maybe it’s the things you shouldn’t have done that still plague you? Either way its not healthy. 

God say’s that he has forgiven us, then why is it so hard for us to forgive ourselves? We walk around in a haze plagued by our own feelings of guilt and inadequacy, that ultimately it becomes a stumbling block in our walk. 

I want to encourage you today to stand strong and try not to focus on the past. I know sometimes it is easier said than done, but you just need to make up your mind to do it. What I have learned with this subject is that God will not move you forward until your ready to let go of the past. 

And remember God isn’t concerned about what you did or didn’t do in your past, he is focusing on what you still can do in the future. If there is any example of a person who was really messed up in the Bible and by any accounts should not have been worthy of anything God had., it was Paul. 

But he turned out to be one of the most influential members in the bible. He was a man who used to kill Christians before he got saved, he was a murderer! But God used him mightily. So when you begin to feel inadequate remember that God does not choose people who are qualified in their own right. If He did than He would not get the Glory. And besides no such person exist !! 

Instead He chooses messed up people like you and me, because we know in our own strength we couldn’t do anything without Him. So what? You’re a Christian and you messed up, maybe you messed up big time and your feeling condemned and that God doesn’t want to use you now. 

Remember that Romans 3:23 says that ALL have sinned and have fallen short of the Glory of God. Every man, woman or child who was ever born or ever will be, Christian or not has a problem with sin. Again, learn to let go of that shame, guilt and feeling of worthlessness!! 

God has made you for a great purpose but He wont do anything with you if you don’t allow Him into the inner most parts of your heart. He needs freedom in your life to really help you. But He wont do it without your permission. 

I encourage you to let go of the shame of your past and begin to think and speak about your future in a positive way according to what God has placed in your heart, not according to what you have seen in the past or are seeing even now in the present. He has a great future for you. Believe it and confess it. Be blessed and be encouraged. 

To God be the glory.