Its Been A While...

Its been a while since I last shared my thoughts,
Its been a while since I last saw you...
Its been a while since I last shared what was going on in my heart;
Its been a while...
But God is still at large in me!

Every day that I feel broken,
Every day I feel lost and confused;
Every day I wonder where my Lord has gone
I realize He is right with me just waiting me for to see...

Its been a while since I last shared my thoughts,
Its been a while since I last saw you...
But I want you to know that in that little while
My God has shown me how to surrender all...

And now my heart is filled with power,
The power that comes from knowing He is here with me;
The power that comes from a faith that cannot be broken
No matter what happens around me!

It may have been a while since things last seemed clear and simple,
It may have been a while since you believed you could overcome
All the things that are falling apart all around us
But take this time to know that God is very much in charge!

Thank You Father for the strength that comes from knowing that no matter

what I do, no matter how little I deserve Your love - I am YOUR masterpiece!

You created me for a purpose and a future and a hope and You aren't going anywhere!

You're right here with me!!!

In Jesus' precious name I pray,
Amen!

God's Better Way

Micah 4: 1-13







Its a New Year, we have a new President- its a time that we all try to talk about the spirit of Hope and opportunity that the New Year brings.




But in truth, its a very difficult time in the world! The Global Economy is terrible, people around the world are suffering, many are jobless, have serious financial problems; relationships are affected, health is affected - there are alot of negatives out there!




And the truth is that many of us, despite our talk of hope and excitement about all the New Year has to offer, many of us are very scared and very worried...




Micah 4: 1-13 talks about such a time... a time when things seemed hopeless and any kind of end to the hardship and suffering seemed impossible! Micah 4: 11-12 says:

"But now many nations are gathered against you. They say, 'Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!'

But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan..."

Jeremiah 29: 11. The Lord tells us:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

So what am I trying to say? Well, time has proven again and again that there have been MANY periods where we have to go through difficulty to serve God's plan. This may be the result of our needing to learn something; or maybe He is working out His better plan and its a part of the process to get us there.




Time has also proven again and again that He is ALWAYS there and ALWAYS is faithful and NEVER lets us down! His plan always proves to be the better way - even though during the hard times, we can't begin to see it - it always proves true in the long run!



Let me share with you one of my personal experiences: I consider my life to be very blessed! I have things better than countless people - and yet I worry, fret and complain about what to many would seem like insignificant things...



As a child, growing up, we were never wealthy. We had many tight times, but we always had enough. More importantly, we had great parents who taught us to have faith and to trust God in all things.



As an adult, I was lucky enough to go through some of the best times in my Real Estate career when I started. It seemed like I was born to do this and I, along with my husband, grew very successful! I don't want to imply that we never worked hard at it, because we did - but in truth, it was very easy then... We began to take alot for granted!



The past two years have been two of the toughest in our business... Alot has changed, nothing is easy anymore! But out of that high and then that low, something amazing happened: I found my way back to God!



That was His plan - if I continued to ride that high horse, I would have continued to fool myself that our success was our doing and not realised it was His blessing!



In the midst of the dark, low period, a brilliant light came into my life - I realised that though I had messed up and lost my way, God was there, waiting for me to wake up and come home! That started me on this journey to find and reach my God-potential; this journey of a committed relationship with my Lord and Saviour.



I was no longer a child in faith, believing in words only because it was what my parents taught me... I was now an adult, who took a step towards God and He reached out and caught me! What better plan could there have been? I can't describe to You how much that has impacted my life!



So here we are, at the beginning of a New Year, and its a period of hope, yes, but its also a low point, in that there is alot of uncertainty; alot of fear about the direction we need to take now in our business; about the future...



This Scripture today in Micah 4: 1-13 reminded me that sometimes the things God promises for our future don't seem evident or likely in light of what we're experiencing today. But the truth is that whatever is going on today is preparing the way for God's better plan.



So if things are scary or difficult or uncomfortable, don't give up hope! This time is a momentary detour leading us to God's best for us!

Thank you Lord, that even though we are always letting YOU down, You never fail us and are always merciful and are always planning for our good, for our hope and our future...

God Bless!!!

Happy New Year

As we go into 2009, I wanted to wish everyone a Renewal in Jesus... A renewal that will bring you so much joy, peace and LIFE in this New Year!

Some of us may have ended last year with a feeling that all is lost - but I want each of us to enter this year with a sense of HOPE - a HOPE that comes from the knowledge that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD, a HOPE that comes from knowing that God is able to resurrect dead dreams, missed opportunities, defeated finances, dying marriages and terminal friendships!

ALL we have this year is HOPE and FAITH... God will take care of the rest!!! Trust that God can energise you with new life and purpose and look forward to all that is to come...

Happy New Year!!!

Today's Prayer...

Philippians 4: 4-7

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Lord, You know the petitions in my heart... You know my fears and anxieties! I surrender them to You Lord - in Jesus' name.

Amen...

Friends

This week's teaching at church was on the subject of Making "Friendships" work.. Of course, that made me take a close look at my friends and aquaintances, and I have to just give GOD Thanks and Praise, because throughout my life, He has blessed me so richly with some of the most incredible friends and people...



Sure, there are a few "Consumers" out there - people that drain your energy and your spirit... But I have some of the most awesome ENERGISERS - people that WOW me by their ability to give and give and give! People who are always there; people who lift me up when I'm down...



I just want to thank God for Piggy (I know, nice name for a friend, right LOL) aka Karen! Its okay - she calls me Piggy too!!! :-) She is my Best Friend, was my chief bridesmaid, is my chief supporter and when I am down, her arms are wide open!!! She will tell me what I need to hear, be there for my Mom if I can't be and is just an incredible, wonderful friend!!!



I thank God, for PG, my cousin and friend, who loves me no matter what!!! I could tell her the most awful thing I've done - she loves me anyway and stands by me...



I thank God for Itzi, a more recent friend, but as a fellow God-Follower, she's my "Go-To Person" when I need help to stay on track - and she always does keep me focused on what I need to do to be in touch with God...



I thank God for my husband, my BFF Big Time!!! He is ALWAYS real with me; loves me; encourages me; challenges me; inspires me; enrages me (smile) yet makes me the happiest wife on the planet!!!! I love you Babe!!!



I thank God for my absolutely amazing family and extended family!!!! They are the foundation of everything I am and everything that is good in me!!! They are my cheering squad, my jeering squad (smile) and my 'Get Real' squad!!!



I could mention more - my cousin Robin, who is a true INSPIRATION in my life...



My sister-in-law Lana, who is another true and truly dear friend - supports and encourages me, is honest with me - and keeps me focused!



My sister-in-law Julie - she'll never let you cry!!! She is a ray of sunshine in a dark moment and she'll cry in private for you - but she won't ever let you quit!



Honestly, I have even more incredible people in my life - I could go on and on!!!



Over the years, there's one truth that I've always kept in focus: My greatest treasure in life has no material value, as such, but this is the prize I treasure above all else - my family and my friends...



Thank you, Father, for putting such incredible people in my life! I pray that I am even 1/2 as good a friend to them as they are to me!!!

Renewal

As I've been sharing my quest for my God-Potential; to step up and step out as God calls me to, I've also been thinking about my obstacles and praying for renewal through Jesus' work in me...

As I said yesterday, Jesus is still in the miracle business and I've been praying for HIS miraculous work in me so that all that holds me back from being better and doing more can be overcome through faith and His Power...

This morning, I came across this scripture:

Ezekiel 37: 1-6; 14

The Valley of Dry Bones

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in a valley; it was full of bones.

He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"

I said "O Sovereign Lord, you alone know."

Then He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord."

14. "I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord."

If ever you thought that all hope was lost or that any hope was wrapped up in your own power to overcome your obstacles, bad habits, or inertia, be assured by this Scripture that God and God alone can renew you, put new breath and spirit into your life...

He can - just ask!!!

Hope and Promise

This morning as I asked God to surround me with His presence, He sent me to His word, Jeremiah 29: 4-13:

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:

"Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there, do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel says:

"Do not let the prophets and diviners among you decieve you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them," declares the Lord.

This is what the Lord says:

"When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.

For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

I don't know of a stronger message of hope and promise - Lord, I seek you and I seek you with all my heart.

Take heart, God is with you - his rod and staff, they comfort you, so have no fear - rather, be filled with hope, for His promise to you is right there in His unending word!