Great Expectations

My big thinking gets roped in by pragmatism.

 

My expectation gets corralled by practicality.

 

My self-doubt squeezes the life out of hope.

 

I know this about myself and I can admit it. I know when and how that seed took root, germinated and grew. Over the years its been fed and watered. A child filled with expectation that wasn’t met, led to an adult who closely guarded herself; shielding herself from the disappointment of being let down yet again. So no expectation became the baseline as a means of self-preservation, albeit a false sense of security.

 

Years ago I heard a woman at church say, [bctt tweet=”“Never measure God’s unlimited power by your limited expectations.””] This simple yet profound statement resonates so deeply with me. Bit by bit God has been chipping away at my limited expectation. Inch by inch, layer by layer, I’m giving way to self to release the power of God at work in me to will and to do for His good pleasure.

 

Let God arise with GREAT EXPECTATIONS!

 

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her.

Luke 1:45

 

In her book #BEMORE Author Sandi Krakowski says, “Expectation is something God wove into our very being. The power of expectation is a gift from God. It is hope, the promise, the faith He asked us to place in Him.”

 

My hope in Him believes that:

 

~He will answer my prayers that align with His will

~He will continue to reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom

~I will see and experience more of His glory

~Goodness, mercy and favor shall follow me all the days of my life

~Out of my obedience He will prosper me and I will be a good success

 

I’m daring to trust God in places where I’ve never been. I’m asking God to surprise me. I am filled with great expectations.

 

With great expectations:

 

~I see my children having grown in wisdom and in stature

~I see my husband and I walking hand in hand on the beach wearing white linen in our old age

~I see myself inspiring the hearts of women around the globe.

 

What are you waiting in expectation for?

 

Expect greatness.

 

Expect the unexpected.

 

Expect God to surprise you.

 

Expect God to blow your mind.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

Breaking News!!!!!!

When God is trying to cement a truth in your heart, He will confirm His word. Sunday night after I wrote this post, right as I was about to fall asleep I opened the Book #BEMORE. I just happen to be on secret #40 which is LIVE BIG, DREAM BIG. She goes on to express what used to be my reality, “Too often we keep our lives smaller so we won’t be disappointed. We minimize our goals so we are less likely to fail.”
Yup, that was my old way of thinking but not any more.
Then this morning I rose to do my morning devotions and began a book called the 40-Day Surrender Fast by Dr. Celeste Owens. Wouldn’t you know, the title of Day 1 is Expect The Unexpected. 
I am in awe of God and eagerly anticipate with great expectation the wonderous works He’ll perform in my life.
Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News #LifeGivingLinkup Purposeful Faith

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Health Benefits That Pack A Punch

Warm

 

Peppery

 

Tangy

 

The backbone of any good curry.

 

Used for centuries as a dye.

 

TURMERIC

 

Turmeric, the yellow root with a jab and hook that can knock inflammation right out of the body, is powered by curcumin.

 

Curcumin, the chemical compound that gives turmeric its yellow color, packs a POWER punch.

 

Anti-inflammatory

 

Anti-oxidant

 

Anti-free radical

 

From a boil to a toothache, turmeric has been used for years to treat many conditions.

 

When paired with ginger, turmeric makes beans more easily digestible. When paired with pepper, curcumin’s power is more readily available for the body to use (bioavailability).
 

In studies its been proven to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

 

Studies continue to be conducted to determine its effectiveness in treating diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer’s.

 

In its fresh root form, it can be hard to find depending on what part of the world you live in. In the US, occasionally Whole Foods carries it. I’ve also seen it in Asian supermarkets.

 

2015-08-31 23.34.19

 

 

I generally take my turmeric in powder form. I purchase organic turmeric powder from my local food co-op. I place the powder in empty capsules or I added the powder to my smoothies. I also cooking Indian food at least once a week and turmeric is in there for sure.

 

[bctt tweet=”Try your hand at this Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie and release turmeric’s power to do its thing.”] These are health benefits that pack a punch.

 

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY SMOOTHIE

 

1 Cup Coconut Water

4 Ice Cubes

½ Mango peeled and diced

½ Cup Pineapple

2 Leaves with stem Bok Choy

½ in X ½ in piece Ginger

¼ tsp turmeric  

 

Blend all ingredients in HIGH SPEED blender until smooth.

 

Enjoy!

 

Anti-inflammatory smoothie

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

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Into The Thick Of It

To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness in and health, to love, cherish and to honor til death do us part.

 

It’s easy to hold when your sex drive is high and your spouse is giving it up daily.

 

Everyone is happy when times are better, bills are paid and food is plentiful.

 

Richer days are appreciated when two incomes are flowing and income is steady.

 

When both parties are in good health, the world is theirs for the taking.

 

What then becomes of the marriage when the storms of life hit?

 

How do you feel about your spouse when you are into the thick of it?

 

The most immediate, fleshly reaction is to probably resist your spouse instead of fiercely clinging to them.

 

It’s difficult to hold when you know a spouse has been unfaithful.

 

It’s challenging when being married delivers more worse days than best and you are like two ships passing in the night.

 

The tension is palatable when accounts are overdrawn and credit cards are to their limits.

 

How do you cope with a spouse that is sick? The drug addicted or pornography addict spouse? The mental ill or the physical ill spouse?

 

When these times occur feelings of love can turn to hate and some may even consider to death do us part by their own hand.

 

If you’ve ever felt that way, can I get an amen?! If you feel this way right now just stick with me for a few more lines.

 

I would venture to say your spouse has probably had to deal with some of YOUR mess too.

 

[bctt tweet=”Maturity in marriage calls for one to relent. For another to repent. For one to say, “I’m sorry”.”]

 

For one to determine not to walk away. For one to forgive.

 

Thank GOD….

 

Our agape love for Christ enables us to do virtually the impossible.

 

When HIS love floods our hearts we are able to love those who have mistreated us, betrayed us, and berated us including our spouses.

 

I give thanks for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, teaching, direction and the power that supersedes the flesh. My husband works MOST of the time. He works 2 jobs, 7 days a week and has done so for 12 years now. Over the years I’ve prayed for family time today. Well last week he was off work so I had that family time that I so diligently prayed for….BUT….his presence interrupts “MY” flow. He asked the children to do tasks in the middle of homework time, he let them play video games on a school night (cringe), he’s made us leave out later in the morning, though we were still on time for school.

 

Yes I was all up in my feelings. Again, but GOD! The Holy Spirit bought my own prayers for family time back to my remembrance. So the flesh had to bow down while the spirit rejoiced and gave thanks for answered prayers.

 

When your prayers are answered, be ready to receive them.

 

This weekend I was in Marshall’s with my husband and children. At the checkout we had laughs with the cashier as she tried to understand how all these shabby chic wall collage items were going into a man cave. My husband left before me to load the children in the car and the cashier asked me,

 

“You really love him don’t you?”

 

To which I replied,

 

“Mmm, yes. That’s my MAN. I love him. I do. I do indeed”

 

My marriage has faced many days of the worse and it seemed that better wasn’t even on the horizon. With no examples of marriage, we came into our union reckless and unprepared. Based on what we’d seen growing up, our solution was to battle it out. We were two rams with locked horns. But we had to learn marriage and self-centeredness are incompatible.

 

[bctt tweet=”True love is not self-seeking. It gives and gives and gives some more.”]

 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

 

Happy to be running into the thick of it securely tied to MY MAN as we run life’s two legged race together.

 

[bctt tweet=”There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage. ~Martin Luther 1566″]

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Life Fully!

 

Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News #LifeGivingLinkup, Purposeful Faith, #Grace&Truth, #DanceWithJesus

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The Power of YES

“Don’t!”

“Stop!”

“No!”

 

Words uttered way too easily, way too often, especially when you’ve got a toddler around who you are really trying to protect.

 

But what if….

 

Just what if I gave myself a Hall Pass to YES.

 

There is such control in the “NO”.

 

There is such power in the “NO”, though it’s really just a fraud.

 

Liberty is released in the “YES!”

 

Chain are broken with the resounding YES.

 

YES to giving myself permission to BE the person God created me to be.

 

YES to living fully in this moment, not wallowing in the past or living a fantasy of the future but FULLY present.

 

YES to giving my husband room to parent the Father way without interfering.

 

YES to nurturing my children’s unique personalities and proclivities even if theirs are different than mine.

 

YES to BEING MORE and not shrinking and retreating back into the safety and false security of my box.

 

YES to delightfully obeying Christ since I say I follow Him.

 

YES to moving forward even when feeling afraid.

 

Oh the places you’ll go when you give God your YES.

 

Unshackled, the power of YES is ready to flow uninhibited.

 

In a booming voice, with a resounding shout, I say, “YES!”

 

Happy to connect with other in this Five Minute Friday free write on the word YES.

Also connecting hearts with these friends sharing the Good News #DanceWithJesus, Grace & Truth

 

 

Photo Credit

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A Little Help From My Friends

I get by with a little help from my friends….

 

So goes the line from a popular song by the Beatles. The song goes on to say I get high with a little help from my friends. Now I’m not sure what type of high they are talking about but the friends I have help me go higher in Christ. My friends pray for me when I have no words, they make me laugh, they selflessly help me and they love me.

 

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:17

 

Friendships have always meant the world to me. I have been so blessed throughout my life to have great friendships. From friends that were only in my life a short period to having a life long friend. My bestie and I have been linked together for 35 years now.

 

Friendship is close to the heart of God. We see many examples in the bible of friendships. One example is that of David and Jonathan. Jonathan even risked damaging his relationship with his own father out his loyalty to his friend.

 

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24b

 

A friend corrects when necessary, sharpens, encourages, listens, builds up and loves unconditionally. In good times and bad, a friend is your corner man who cheers you on and patches up your bruises.

 

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

 

So to all my friends, you know I love you a ton. I thank God for you in my life. There’s a saying, which says to have a friend you must be a friend. I believe friendships are a necessary part of life and makes traveling the road of life easier. Give the proper investment of time to nurture your friendships. I know there will be seasons that you will be more available or less available than others, but friendships are reciprocal and require maintenance.

 

Since I’ve been blogging, God has connected me virtually with some new friends. I am truly amazed at how God transcends time and space to connect spirits in unity to worship the King and to further His agenda here on earth.

 

I’d like to invite you to visit a few of my blogging friends. With some I connect as a mother, a wife, or a ministry leader. With some I connect over shared experiences. But with all these ladies, we share a deep love of Christ and use the blogging platform to spread the Good News. So pay a visit to my girlfriends and leave them a comment. For indeed the Lord says it is good and pleasant when we dwell together in unity. Like Aaron and Hur holding up Moses’ arms, ladies we are victorious when we hold one another up. So here’s to iron sharpening iron and for being my sister’s keeper.

 

Brandi Jefferson-Motley @ Encouragement for Your Journey

Brandi sings like an angel and prays like a warrior. Her nuggets of encouragement make you want to give the Lord a SHOUT!

 

Tai East @ A SPIRIT-Kissed Soul

Mmm…Tai’s hunger and thirst for God and examination of scripture leaves me looking forward to my quiet time with God, excited for what new revelation I’ll receive.

 

Kelly Balarie @ Purposeful Faith

True humility here. Kelly unabashedly lays out her heart and when she does, God’s love floods her and the reader.

 

Candace @ Candace Creates

My sweet friend Candace is demonstrating that we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. She candidly shares her testimonies and is helping others be free.

 

Susan B. Mead

Susan is a living witness that God gives beauty for ashes and joy for pain.

 

Thanks in advance for visiting my blogging friends.

 

In what ways will you nurture your friendships today?

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

 

Photo Credit
Happy to also connect with these friends sharing the Good News #WordsWithWinter Purposeful Faith, #LifeGivingLinkup

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Healthy Kids Lunches

Tater Tots

 

Fries steamed in a plastic bag with wholes in it

 

Rubbery hamburger

 

Beefy Mac

 

Sloppy Joe

 

Pizza

 

Fruit cups

 

Cardboard tasting chocolate milk

 

This is what I remember about school lunch. Then in high school I moved with my vegan father and began packing my lunches daily. Tempeh sandwiches and wraps became my new favs.

 

back to school lunch bags

 

When I had just 2 children, their lunches were Pinterest worthy. They had bento boxes laden with artfully decorated food.  I used molds, animal toothpicks and cutters. Well, 3 children later, I’m just looking to get something healthy in their bags that they won’t throw away. For more on getting kids to eat right, check out one of my most popular posts by CLICKING HERE.

 

So PBJ’s aside, here are some of my go to healthy kids lunches for my tribe of 5.

 

Beverages are limited to water and rarely chocolate almond milk. I used to give 100% organic juice but stopped that to cut down on sugar.

 

Burritos

Leftover Chipotle At Home comes together in a tortilla for a quick and easy lunch.

 

Burrtios

 

 

Pita pizza

I always keep whole wheat pitas in the freezer. This is a lunch the children can make and pack themselves.

 

Pasta salad

Make one big bowl and the family can eat this for a few days. The variations are endless. HERE is an easy one that my children enjoy.

 

Corn muffins w/ string cheese & carrot sticks

Use THIS vegan Corn Muffin Recipe

 

Taco Salad

I can remix this from some of the above Chipotle At Home ingredients. Or you can try THIS recipe.

 

Side Bites

Fruit

Mini cucumbers

Carrot sticks

Cherry tomatoes

Hummus

Nuts

 

Snack

Make THESE healthy bars to replace sugary granola bars

Popcorn

 

 

I’m always looking for inspiration. What are some of your favorite healthy kids lunches?

 

IMG_1770

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

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Back To School Prayer

Supplies?

 

Check.

 

back to school backpacks

 

 

back to school lunch bags

Uniforms?

 

Check.

back to school uniforms

Haircuts and hair dos?

 

Check.

 

From the looks of things four of my five children are ready to begin another successful school year. But temporal things aside, I don’t know if my mama heart is ready to release them back to school. Each year I feel like I’m sending my precious little flock into a den of wolves. Coming out from under my safety and protection, I willingly hand them over to be influenced by peers, taught by people who may not share my values and exposed to all manner of who knows what. Oh, my mama heart is rent in two. To be in the world but not of it is difficult enough for the mature believer, but how is a child to navigate this treacherous terrain? Even if your children aren’t leaving your covering for school, they are growing and maturing each day and will one day leave the nest.

 

Mamas let us cover them in prayer. Let us hedge them in. Let us instill His Word in their hearts that they may not sin against Him. Let us dwell with them in the shelter of the Most High. And let us stand on God’s promises regarding our children. Sit with your babies and prayer this back to school prayer with them.

 

Mama’s babies:



I love you so much. Oh how I thank God, Most High for trusting me enough to be your mother. We serve a God who is all knowing, all-powerful and all loving. He loves you and I with an everlasting love. God’s plans for you are for good, not evil to give you a future and a hope. The steps of a good man are ordered and I’m delighted to witness you taking steps toward your purpose each and every day. You will not walk in the path of evil but you will walk in paths of righteousness for His namesake. And when you do that, goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life and you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. You will be mindful of what you allow your eyes to see and your ears to hear. You will grow in wisdom and in stature, in favor with God and with man.

 

God has given you a brilliant mind. Use it to its maximum potential. Take firm hold of instruction but above that get wisdom, as it’s the principal thing. You are an obedient child who has great respect for those in authority. You will be quick to listen and slow to speak. When necessary you will calmly make a wise appeal if you disagree, standing up for righteousness sake. You are the salt and light of the earth. Let your light shine bright so that your teachers and classmates feel and see Jesus’ love in you. Don’t hide your love for Jesus. Let it show through your gratefulness, your kindness, your joy, and your self-control. While there may be many distractions at school, focus your attention on what is right, true, honorable and praiseworthy. You will not seek to fit in but will recognize you’ve been set apart by God. You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. God has given His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. Continue to love God with all your heart, all your soul and with all your strength. I am blessed because of you. The world is blessed because of you. You are blessed TO BE a blessing to others. I give thanks in advance for your amazing 2016-2017 school year.

 

(For my non-parent readers, you can pray this with a relative, God-child, neighbor, etc. Hey you can even pray it over yourself)

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
Happy to connect with friends sharing the Good News #WordsWithWinter, Purposeful Faith, #LifeGivingLinkup, Grace & Truth, Dance With Jesus

 

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The Dirty Little Word

We hear the word and we cringe.

 

It evokes feelings of loss of control, being weak, giving up or giving in.

 

Poor thing, it has a bad rep.

 

But truth be told, it’s the road to redemption, the pathway to freedom, the lane to liberty.

 

SUBMISSION

 

[bctt tweet=”Truth be told, it’s the road to redemption, the pathway to freedom, the lane to liberty: SUBMISSION”]

 

We dove into this topic with Part I of this series The Way Of The Master. You can read that by CLICKING HERE. So here I’m picking up where I left off with the HOW. I am a person that is open to learning. But I need to know HOW to do what you’re suggesting. So here’s my take on how we can submit ourselves to the Lordship of Christ.

 

Humble Crucifixion

 In order to submit, we have to acknowledge that our way isn’t the only way. We have to acknowledge that we don’t have all the answers. Our minds tend to think we know a lot and pretty much have it together.

 

The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God;

it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:7-8

 

But true humility knows and recognizes that we have nothing and are nothing apart from God. And as a Believer, my life is not my own anyway because I was bought at a price so I ought to just take up cross and follow Him. When we humble ourselves, He exalts us in due time. When we submit to one another, we demonstrate the love of Christ and He is glorified.

 

[bctt tweet=”True humility knows and recognizes that we have nothing and are nothing apart from God.”]

 

Consider The Source

Recognize the authority, HIS authority in your life. When you respect a person and consider them credible, you listen to them and take their advice. My former co-worker, Mrs. Delia, patiently, lovingly spoke into my life. I considered her credible as an authority on parenting as she had successfully raised several children. I knew her to be a credible source of information on marriage as she had navigated the highs and lows of married after having been wed to her beau for nearly 50 years. And I also listened as she shared the gospel of Jesus Christ. Her love for the Lord was evident in her love, patience and compassion for others, including myself. She truly modeled Christ’s love and when I was ready to taste and see, it was she who walked Roman’s Road with me. She indeed was a credible source to whom I listened and acted on her advice.

 

Consider your standing with Jesus and His track record. A ruler divine from the beginning of time. All knowing, all-powerful and everywhere all at the same time. He kept you from disease when you were promiscuous. He kept you from hurting yourself or others when you thought you could take no more. He kept you alive when you were driving in unsafe conditions. He answered your prayers for salvation, healing, provision and protection.

 

I would say He’s more than credible.

 

Have Ears To Hear

Since we’ve already established that we don’t know everything, we don’t have all the answer and there is ONE who is credible that does, let us hear what He has to say. Hearing from God requires us to be still, minimizing internal and external distractions.

 

Be Quick To Obey

I tell my children, “Delayed obedience is disobedience. Slow Obey = No Obey.” Then the Lord gently reminded me that I had to take my own words to heart. As a journalism student I was taught to always gather the 5 W’s & the H. And I try to execute that same strategy with God…It doesn’t work that way friends.

We are not only to be hearers but doers of the Word. And that doesn’t mean DO only after you have all the answers. Besides, you’ll never have all the info upfront so get to moving. When you plan a vacation a year or more in advance, do you have every bit of information upfront? Do you know the exact weather forecast for the second day of your trip? Do you know exactly what you’ll eat on the 4th day? Do you know who will fly your airplane? NO! But you book your flight, your hotel, and your ground transportation and may even buy new clothes not knowing exactly what’s to come. So why do we demand so many answers from our Heavenly Father who knows all, sees all and loves us with an ALL-consuming love? Mmm…

Let’s learn to trust and obey friends. Here’s a little nugget on obedience.

 

 

If you’ve turned over the reins and Christ is guiding your steps, kudos friend. I’m praying for your continued obedience to take Him at His word. For those on the fence, what’s standing in the way of your total submission to Christ? Let me know so I can pray for you.

 

Submission is not actually the dirty little word after all but a means of experiencing Christ in a deep, meaningful, transformative way.

 

Take a knee and submit today.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

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Happy to connect with friends spreading the Good News #DanceWithJesus, Grace & Truth

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The Way Of The Master

A lone man methodically hanging laundry.

 

Unassuming yet powerful.

 

Those around him know there is something more beneath that quiet demeanor, something special, something deeper. After a personal attack, his true identity becomes known. A legend turns real. He is a master, the master. A young man falls at his feet in total surrender asking to be his pupil. He says to the teacher, “If you desire master, be my teacher.”

 

The scene is one from a movie called Ip Man II about the trials of a martial arts instructor. How striking it was to observe this student readily fall at the feet of this respected teacher in total submission. To come under this master’s authority, the pupil would receive guidance, training and instruction and the pupil had absolute faith that the master would deliver skills needed for survival.

 

It would behoove us to take a lesson from the student in this movie. Oh that we would be quick to fall at the feet of Jesus in total submission. Friends, that we would be QUICK to obey the Lord. As we fall, let us surrender our will and prepare our hearts to receive instruction from him. When the young man fell at the Sensei’s feet, he wanted a piece of the master. He wanted to learn how to be disciplined like him, how to fight like him, how to be like him. And as Christ followers, we to ought to want to look like, walk like and talk like Jesus.

 

A disciple is not above his teacher,

but everyone who is fully trained

will be like his teacher.

Luke 6:40

 

Likewise we must bring ourselves under the subjection of our Master. As I was working on last week’s post on discipline, it got me thinking about people we view as disciplined and martial artists came to mind. You can read that post by CLICKING HERE. In addition to being disciplined we view martial artists as obedient. The master is held in great esteem for his knowledge, skill and ability. The master is often seen as having quiet courage, gentle fierceness and absolute discipline and self-control.

 

Doesn’t our own Master possess all these qualities and then some?

 

Is Jesus not all knowing, all-powerful and everywhere all at the same time?

 

Is HE not the bravest of the brave?

 

Is HE not the sacrificial Lamb and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah?

 

Is HE not one who always does the right thing at the right time?

 

Submit to God and be at peace with him;

in this way prosperity will come to you.

Accept instruction from his mouth

and lay up his words in your heart.

Job 22:21-22

 

We obey our bosses, law enforcement officers, coaches, and doctors. We would do well to have at least that same level of obedience to Christ, submitting to Him wholly, without reservation. How many of you have received a prescription from a doctor, taken it to the pharmacy, paid your hard earned money and taken the pill all without asking the doctor any questions, without seeking alternative treatments, without researching the medicine or even reading the literature that comes with the medicine?

 

Yet our flesh screams in opposition to fully submitting and obeying Christ. Even now you might be mad at me and ready to close this post. Our flesh, the carnal man, the SELF that needs to be tamed is always at enmity with God, but praise Him that greater is He that is within YOU! The spirit at work in you enables you to submit to Christ’s authority in your life. If you are a kingdom citizen you come under the subjection of your ruler, Christ and you are expected to adhere to His commands. And Jesus himself showed you that even He submitted, doing the will of Him who sent Him. When you gave your life to Christ, you surrendered your rights.

 

I have been crucified with Christ;

it is no longer I who live,

but Christ lives in me;

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me

and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

 

Many see submission as:

Bondage

Prison

Suffocating

 

Submission IS:

Freeing

Liberating

Security

Protection

 

And submitting to Him, as scary, daunting and crazy as it may seem, is a sure way to be led in paths of righteousness for His namesake. It is a surefire way to have goodness and mercy following you all the days of your life. Submitting to Him is a mark of a true disciple.

 

Stick with me on this journey because I have a feeling we’ll need to dig deeper in this topic as we fall in total submission, following the way of the Master.

 

I know…this can be a tough one. Let us pray.

 

Lord you be high and lifted up above all the earth. Father I thank you. You are good and your mercy endures forever. You are faithful and communicate your love to us time and time again. Without you God we are nothing so I thank you for your promise to never leave nor forsake us. Only You can create in us a clean heart and a right spirit and that is what we need in order to fully submit to your Lordship. Without your guidance and leadership we are as sheep without a shepherd. But praise be that you are the Good Shepherd. Let us be obedient sheep that know, hear and follow your voice as you lead is in THE WAY everlasting.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Photo Credit

Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News Purposeful Faith

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Walking On Water

I am honored to share this space today with my sweet friend, Brittney Carlson. A worship leader at my church has a new song out called I Am (Miracle). Part of the chorus says, “I’m a living, breathing, walking, talking, moving miracle.” And this is what I see when looking at Brittney. I have witnessed her live out her faith. When faced with life threatening illness, I have seen her look death in the face and proclaim, “Oh death where is your sting?” Whether in a class to grow, teaching students & adults or serving, Brittney consistently ministers grace to those who come into contact with her.

 

Having grown up in a broken, dysfunctional, blended family, Brittney discovered the hope, peace, love and security that can only be found in Jesus Christ. With a heart for at-risk youth and broken women, Brittney serves nationally and internationally. This past year she resigned after dedicating 11 years to teaching at-risk children here in the states to pursue her dream of returning to Japan to share the gospel.

 

The Lord had recently been speaking to me about water. So when I read Brittney’s recent newsletter about walking on water, I knew I just had to share it with you. It was confirmation of what the Lord is calling many disciples to in this season. In fact, I was attending an aerospace convention just yesterday and a woman I just met there relayed that she too was trusting God and walking on water!

 

The spirit is moving friends!

 

So let’s hear from Brittney.

 

Stepping out onto the Water

 

But Jesus immediately said to them: 

“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied,

“tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said. Matthew 14:27-29

 

The story of Peter stepping out of the boat is always brought up in discussion on stepping out in faith vs. waiting and preparing. For the past four years I have gone back and forth wondering if it is time for me to step out in faith. Each time I decided to be smart and practical. I thought about the security and certainty of the things I had: a home, stable salary, medical insurance, retirement, benefits and more. I overanalyzed all the things that could happen to me without those things. As a result, each summer I resigned my teaching contract and each year since has been like Ground Hogs Day. For the past four years, I have moved houses and changed jobs hoping that would settle my restlessness and silence the tugging on my heart and mind, but it didn’t and it hasn’t.

 

I keep hearing God’s voice: “Come. Step out of the boat. Trust me and come.”

 

So I am.

 

So I will.

 

As of June 24th, I chose unemployment; as of July 1st I chose homelessness; as of Oct. 1st I will chose to be uninsured… I chose all these things to free myself to step out of the boat. After four years of hesitation and storms, I step out in faith, confident in God’s promises. Though like Peter the winds are strong and the voices of nay sayers can be heard… “What are you doing? What about a salary? What about insurance? Where will you live? What if you don’t raise the funds? What will you do? Maybe it is not your timing? Why don’t you wait another year? Get back in the boat! What are you thinking”… I am stepping out of the boat and trusting God to guide, provide, lead, and catch me if I start to fall.

 

I am stepping out onto the water. Keeping my eyes on Jesus. Praying for God’s help as I try to ignore the sounds of the wind and waves around me. Reaching out to Him as He reaches out to me calling me to “Come”.

 

Your Sister and Friend in Christ,

 

Brittney

 

Brittney

 

 

To learn more about Brittney and to partner with her in sharing the gospel with the 2nd most unreached people group on the planet, please connect with her by visiting:

 

www.BJC2Japan.org

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

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