Friday, April 29, 2011

Safe and Sound

The record breaking storms have passed and the sun is shining.  We have made it through the storms this week.  Our town was blessed.  We are all safe and sound right?

Yes we are safe, but what about sound? 

Throughout the Mid-South area we experienced severe thunderstorms and twisters with minor damage compared to other cities in the U.S. leaving us safe, but maybe not so sound. 

The enemy can torment your mind leaving you with fear.  He can get you worrying and imaging the worse-case scenarios and all the “what if’s” you can thing of….  But remember what 2 Timothy 1:7 says….


2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Not worry, but peace!!  Not fear, but power!! 


Dear Lord,

Please help us to not listen to the enemy’s lies and focus our minds on You. Give our hearts peace and a sound mind.  Amen!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

My Painted Heart


I have faced a lot of difficulty, pain, and heartache in my 26 years.  The pain I have suffered has made me who I am today and I wouldn’t take that back for the world.  God can turn any bad situation into beauty.  I was completely broken up inside with nothing left.  God knows exactly what he is doing and has allowed everything that has happened to me with a great purpose in mind.  Just think, we are his pride and joy…the apple of this eye…the most precious thing that belongs to him…he proved that when he sent His one and only son to die on the cross for payment of our sins in order to purchase us!!

We are so precious to Him!

What is the MOST PRECIOUS thing that belongs to you?  Something you have purchased?  Something that has been given to you?  Let’s say a small glass vase has been passed down in your family for many generations and it now belongs to you.  It’s precious to you…your whole entire family line for generations has owned and cherished this small glass vase which tells a story that runs all of the way back to the latest your family were able to trace on your family tree.  It is now in your hands to take care of, watch over and protect.  It is precious to you and you are in charge of it…it’s YOURS!!  I’m sure you would make sure that you knew exactly where it was at all times and if you decide to take it into another room and place it another spot in your house you would make sure that it would be safe there in that new spot.  Whatever you decide to do with it or wherever you decide to place it, you will have its best interest in mind ALWAYS.

That’s the way I like to think of it.  God’s ALWAYS aware of where we are and what is happening in our lives.  If something will help us build character or help us grow stronger in him, then he will allow the stormy winds to swirl in our lives.  He is there and never leaves during the storm, but is smiling inside seeing the end results which is his ultimate plan.  Of course at the same time he is hurting that we have to go through such pain but is very understanding and has compassion as we face that storm.


I have deep scars from past wounds (experiences) but that is what keeps me desperate for Jesus!!  Never a day goes by that I am not constantly reminded that I NEED him desperately EVERYDAY!!!

James 1:2-3 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

There was a time in my life that God wasn’t apart of it like he is now, only because I didn’t allow him.  Those were lonely, dark days that you couldn’t pay me enough money to relive.  If it weren’t for those experiences in my life I wouldn’t be who I am today. 

That’s what we are…God’s creation!!  We are like a painting that he is working on. 

He has got all his paint colors out, jar of water, paper towels, brushes and the grand idea of what picture he wants to paint. 

He has got this apron on and is all ready to go!!  With excitement he takes his first stroke on the blank solid white canvas and thinks to himself “This is going to be a good one!” 

Time passed and the canvas now has beautiful shades of color.  When he begins to mark the color black into the picture we start to wonder what is going on and why is this happening?  I don’t like the color black!!!  Who likes the color black??  It’s ugly!!  I don’t want that in my life!!!  It’s not even a pretty color!!! 

We must have the color black painted in our hearts.

 No it’s not a pretty color, but it is necessary…all together it makes the picture!!  Adding black to the painting is what makes it become beautiful.  What would the Mona Lisa be without black?  It wouldn’t be the beautiful famous painting as we know it…that’s for sure!

When I look at my past hurts I see pain, but when I look at the whole picture I see Gods fingerprints all over this beautiful story he is writing in my life. 


What a beautiful story God has written!!  He is not finished yet!!

This song “Before the Morning” by Josh Wilson says it all….click here to listen!


Dear Lord,

Thank you for all that you have done in my life and are still doing today. You are the reason my heart sings!!  Once there was only brokenness in my life, but you have mended me back whole.  I am now healed and even better than before.  I am thankful for the scares I have in my life because they are simply reminders of what you can make into beauty.  I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for the painful experiences that I have faced.  I look forward to more beauty that you bring into my life each and every day. Amen!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Laced with Grace...Choose Joy


Today I shared a devotion over at the Laced with Grace entitled “Choose Joy”.

Don’t forget to Choose Joy during the difficult times in life. 

It’s so easy to forget that we have a place to go and gather peace, strength, and everlasting joy during the trials of this life.  It’s so easy to sit and sulk over all that has gone wrong and walk around with your head down. 

Nehemiah 8:10 says, “…Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  Choose joy.

When everything seems to come crashing down all at once and you don’t think it could get worse.  Everything seems to be going all wrong and all your plans fall through.......

Click here for the rest of the devotion!


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