Overwhelmed????

Why even try to re-preach something that has already been done? And done well I might add. Pastor Perry Noble is up front and honest. He is real and he is funny! This Pastor from South Carolina has preached a 7 week series that has rocked my world. Please take the time to listen to each and every one of these messages. I promise you, your life will be changed.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/newspring-church-sermon-audio/id128344835

What Do You Hear?

This morning I was in the laundry room folding a load of clothes. The wind blowing outside was howling like crazy. It seriously sounded like the house was going to fall down. I was not looking forward to going outside to feed the horse. I had developed a bit of a foul attitude and began to tell myself the horse could wait. Normally Brady would feed his own horse but I wasn't going to send him out in this weather. If Ty were home, he would have taken care of the horse. But it was left up to me. And even though Ty is all the way in Houston, I could hear him saying, "Heather feed that hungry horse." So when it came time to go outside I was prepared for the worst. Now I will be honest, it wasn't pretty outside. It was windy and bitter cold. But it wasn't near as bad as it sounded when I had been warm and protected inside the house. Don't we do this with our lives? Fear of what is seems like, could be like, or sounds like keeps us from doing what we should be doing. What has God called you to do that fear has kept you from doing? We can't listen to the voices that want us to fail. We can't listen to the voice of the one who doesn't even want us to try. Satan is a toothless lion. He is all roar and no bite. The only way he can defeat us is to come on strong and keep us from stepping out in faith. If God has called you, He will equip you. One of my favorite scriptures is Romans 8:31, "If God be for us, than who can be against us?" Don't miss what God is trying to do in your life. Enjoy the nice cozy feeling of where you are right now. But don't stay there when God calls. It may sound scary but let God surprise you. You'll be glad you obeyed. "Paint" was pretty happy that the sound of the wind didn't keep me inside.

Who is He?

God is talking but are you listening? God is showing but are you looking? God is asking but are you giving? God is loving but are you receiving? God is holding but are you surrendering?

God is and was and will always be. His character has never and will never change. He is a good God, a faithful God and a loving God. His Word is truth, it is just and it is unchanging. The bible says that we have not because we ask not. It says that He gives good gifts to His children. It says that He has a plan for our life. Not to harm us but to give us a hope and a future. The Word says that He provides all we need. Not according to what we have but according to His riches. And our God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He says He is with us always. Even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death He is with us. When we walk through the fire, we will not be burned. Our clothes won't even smell of smoke. He said that the stripes that He bears are for our healing. He is the Great Physician. He reminds us that nothing is impossible with Him. He doesn't want us to worry about life. He said to cast your cares on Him because He cares for you. He is able. The Lord said that in our weakness, He makes us strong. The Joy of the Lord is my strength. God sees us. He knows how many hairs I lost this morning in the shower and He knows how many remain. He said that He is my rock. And if I build my house on the rock the storms will not destroy me. He is my peace. He reminds us that if He be for us than who can be against us. He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords and the Bright Morning Star. There is no mountain too high, no valley too low and no river too wide to keep us from His love. He forgives, not just once but over and over and over again. He paid my debt that I could not pay. He loves me and He wants relationship with me. He restores and renews me. He does not keep a record of my wrongs. He doesn't sit in heaven with a pencil and a large eraser, writing and re-writing my name in the Lambs Book of Life. I am saved. I am redeemed. I am free. The same Spirit that raised my Savior from the grave, lives inside of me. I have been given authority. I am the head and not the tail. I am above and not beneath. I am a friend of the Most High God. But more than that, I am a child of the King. We have hope and we have a future. We have been given all we will ever need, to do anything we will ever want or be asked to do. We are victorious!

If none of this sounds like your life, it can. His name is Jesus and He came to give you life and life more abundant. You may be saved. You may be a child of the King. But do you know the character of your Father. Did you know He has given you some amazing things and you need to receive them? You may have once known but over time you have forgotten. Remind yourself daily of who your God is and who you are in Him. Walk with your eyes and ears open. He is talking to YOU! He is showing YOU! He is giving to YOU! He is loving YOU! He is holding YOU!

Run your own race!

A few days ago I saw a friends post on Facebook. She was commenting on being a working mother and feeling guilty when others say how important it is to be a stay at home mom. I felt her pain immediately. At this very moment I don't even remember who wrote this post but I know it is a common feeling among working mothers. So I decided to encourage all of us in running our own race in this life.

I remember being a new mother and struggling with breastfeeding. I had so many people telling me how important it was for my baby to get those first few weeks of breast milk. I remember feeling ashamed and embarrassed when I gave up and went to formula. Then there was the struggle with the boys sleeping with us. How many of you have had a family member or friend tell you how BIG of a mistake you were making in allowing your children to sleep with you? I remember trying to find just one person to tell me I was doing a good job. Just one person to tell me I wasn't ruining my kids. Even when I got someone to tell me I was okay, it still didn't seem to help. For every one person who encouraged me, there were five who told me I needed to do something different. The list could go on and on. How long is the pacifier acceptable? What is the appropriate form of discipline? I'm not going to continue because it hurts my head just thinking about it. But you know exactly what I am talking about. We all have our own stories.

This is why I write. IT'S YOUR LIFE!!!!! I am 35 years old. I've been married 11 years and I have an 8 year old child and an almost 6 year old child. I have finally figured out that this is my life. I am the one that woke up in the wee hours of the morning to feed my child. Was I a better mom for breast feeding or a better mom for getting some needed rest while dad took a shift feeding the bottle of formula? In the early 1900's, families lived in one room houses. Six kids shared a room with mom and dad. Did this ruin these children? Is your child ruined if he is encouraged to cry himself to sleep to develop a sleep pattern or if you rock him to sleep every night for the first year? People, there are far greater issues in this world. What works for you and your household? There is lots of great advice out there. Your mother and neighbor may have tons of wisdom. You may have a collection of best selling books on a plethora of topics. But their thoughts, opinions and ideas may not work for you. Just because they made the NY best-sellers list does not make them right in your situation.

To the mother who works out of the house every day, you are no worse or better for your choice. This does not define a great mother. What defines us in life is how we love each other. Do those in your life feel safe, loved and important to you? There are stay at home moms who are so focused on their soap operas and computer games that their children are raising themselves. There are also working mom's who come home refreshed and ready to give their children all the love and attention possible until bed time. Don't let others judge you for your choices in life. Let God direct you in every decision you make. You must live with your decisions and if it works for you and yours then GO FOR IT!

Be confident in who you are and what you do. Matthew 6:33, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." This is why a personal relationship with Jesus is so important. He is the only one who will give great advice every time.

Hebrews 11:1, "And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." It's your race so run it!

Trust, why is it so hard?

Yesterday Ty and I had to take off and land three times to get home from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. On our first plane ride I had a thought. We were speeding down the tarmac about to take flight and I said to Ty, "We sure do have a lot of faith in this plane and this pilot." In all honesty, every time we get on a plane we are putting our lives in the hands of the unknown. I have never met the pilot nor seen his resume before take off. I have never seen the flight log or been told the maintenance history of the plane I am on. I just walk on the plane, fasten my seatbelt and trust that I will make it to my destination without any complications. Why is this so easy to do? How can I hand over control to Southwest airlines but not trust the creator of Heaven and earth with my life? Hasn't He proven Himself enough. I will be honest. This is my greatest struggle in life. Trusting the Lord and giving up control. My favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understandings; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path."

This is something I will work on every day. I know it's a process and I am not willing to give up. I will trust Him even when I don't understand. I may have days of crying out to God with frustration but thank the Lord, He is okay with me being real. He loves me and He loves you. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "His grace is sufficient."

Simplicity

I woke up Christmas morning feeling so very blessed. The snow was absolutely beautiful and I couldn't wait to get to my mom's house for the day of festivities. But first my sweet potato casserole had to be made. So I put my Christmas apron on, turned on the television and got busy in the kitchen. For you to understand what I'm about to tell you, I must first explain one little story. A few weeks ago I was visiting with a close friend about the teaching podcasts I love to watch. The amount of knowledge available to the believer today is mind blowing. I have a long list of favorites. I made the comment that Joel Osteen is a great speaker with a feel good message. His teachings are practical and he offers good advice on "living your best life now". But, I shamefully must tell you that I told my friend that I like a little more Word in my teachings. I like to go a little deeper. Well, guess who was preaching when my television powered up Christmas morning? You betcha! Joel Osteen was sharing a sermon and I had already started peeling potatoes. So I decided to listen. Three times in his message I began to cry. At one point I looked up to see Joel tearing up as well. And all of the sudden everything became so clear. I was changing and growing in a 20 minute message. Joel Osteen was oozing with "The Word". I'm not talking scripture, I'm talking Jesus. Jesus was pouring out of every crevice of this man's being. I suddenly felt like a modern day Pharisee. When Jesus came to this earth, He entered in by way of a common couple and a smelly manger. At the age of 30, His teachings began to be recorded. He showed love and compassion to those that most religious people would walk by and scoff. He chose fishermen and tax collectors to be his helpers. He slept and ate in the homes of the despised. He spoke to prostitutes and lepers without fear of rejection. Jesus was and is the Word. And the Word is Love. The Sadducee's and the Pharisees did not understand the simplicity of Christ's message. He confounded the wise. They were looking for something "deep" and yet they didn't even recognize the well of never ending supply that was standing before them. What does it mean to go "deep"? Is it bible knowledge? Is it knowing Greek and Hebrew translations? Is it possessing more gifts than your Sunday School teacher? Or could it be more simple than that? The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek it's own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never Fails!" Christ made it very clear how important love was to Him. I will probably spend my lifetime becoming love. I don't want to miss Jesus looking for knowledge. In everything I do and say I want to look to Him. Joel Osteen is preaching love to a world full of hate. He is changing lives one message at a time. Not because of who he is or what he is capable of doing. He is changing lives because he loves Jesus! And this love shines bright for all to see. Now that is deep.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom!

This weekend God used a certain verse in Acts to speak to me and many others. It was an amazing story that has kept me smiling for the past couple of days. So this morning in my quiet time, I decided to go back and read Acts chapter 16 in its entirety. As soon as I began, something popped out that I had never understood before. By the way, this is not because of my own understanding. This is because the Holy Spirit points things out to me that without Him would seem like gibberish. He can do the same for you. Anyway, in the first few verses Paul and Silas have come to the town in which Timothy resides. And Paul has decided that he wants Timothy to come and go down the road with he and Silas. Now this is an awesome time for Timothy. He is being invited by one of the greatest missionaries and crusaders for Christ to go preach the gospel to the masses. I can't imagine what He must have been thinking. Pure elation would be my guess. But look at verse 3. "Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek." Now most days I would have just read this and moved on. But something struck me. I was reminded that in Galatians, Titus, who was also of Greek decent, refused to be circumcised before joining the journey with Paul to Jerusalem. He refused because he would not be put under the law by those who tried to argue his freedom. See many years earlier God called all men to be circumcised as a symbol of belonging to Him. But when Christ came, Paul discouraged circumcision because Jews continued to preach circumcision was a sign of salvation. Paul argued that you are not saved by works (circumcision) but by grace (Christ's blood). Circumcision had become a way for the Jews to hold their position over the heads of the Gentiles. Paul was called to preach salvation to the Gentiles and he refused to put law before grace. Not because of his own deciding but because of what Christ came to earth to teach. And in Romans 2:28 Paul says it best, "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God." Meaning, God looks at the heart. You are saved because God paid the ultimate price. It is a free gift never to be earned by hard work or being good enough. Today many followers of Christ do the same thing that the Jews of Paul's day did. They judge your church attendance, your bible knowledge, your volunteer statistics, how you dress, how you talk, where you go and with who you go. The Bible says, "It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts."

So I say all this to explain what caught my attention. Timothy was circumcised and Titus was not. Why? Was it because of Law? NO! Was it because of tradition? NO! Did he want to fit in? NO! Timothy was circumcised because he knew the people he was going to be preaching the gospel to and circumcision mattered to them. He wanted to reach every last person possible without anything hindering God's mission. Why did Titus refuse circumcision? Was he rebellious? NO! Was he scared? NO! (I would have been). He refused because those under the law were trying to rob him of his freedom in Christ. In fact, Paul said in Galatians 2:7, "God does not judge by external appearance-those men added nothing to my message."

God is a personal God. He wants relationship with each one of us. Timothy had a heart to reach people and He heard God say that circumcision would help break the barrier in the hearts of those who would hear the gospel. Would you be willing to obey God in doing whatever He asked of you? Even if it was painful? So which man was wrong in his decision. Surely two men can't do the total opposite and be right. But the fact is, Titus and Timothy were both right. They were right because they had relationship with a loving God. He spoke and they obeyed. Don't put God in a box. Let Him speak "rhema" to you today. Others need to see the Jesus in you and nothing should be hiding the light that shines inside. Don't follow rules, follow Jesus!!!