My Christmas Prayer...

My prayer for this Christmas is simple, but quite complicated. It's cliche but real...

My Christmas prayer this year is that every single person out there would feel loved by at least one person... and would have some love to give. I pray everyone would have family to come home to, whether by blood or by choice. I pray each person feels an overwhelming sense of gratitude for what they have been given, that we would look beyond ourselves and seek to give to those in need. I pray the broken hearts could be mended by the power of a loving Heavenly Father. I pray we stop trying to fix people and instead wrap our arm around them and walk with them. I pray we feel the presence of our loved ones in Heaven, in those precious moments that we wish they could be here to share. I pray every child we know is loved and cared for. I pray we learn to believe in ourselves and believe in others. I pray we accept that Jesus loves us, no matter what we have done or where we have been or what we will do tomorrow... and that our hearts can rest in the simple promise that one day we will see Him face to face and hear Him say He loves us... no matter what.

You are beautiful. You are worthy. You are loved. Completely.

Merry Christmas my loved ones...

Traits of a Great Man.

A great man is not perfect. A great man is not without sin or fault. A great man does not try to be God.

But a great man does have a repentive heart. A great man leads with strength. A great man is dedicated to his family. A great man is letting God mold him through his weakness and he is becoming a better creation in Christ with each new day. A great man is obedient to his Savior, even when the world is pulling him in a million directions.

I know this because I was raised by a great man. When I think of my dad, I think of a man who is dedicated to his wife and children, through the good times and the bad times. When I think of my dad, I think of a man who always protected his little girl and made sure everyone knew she was precious to him. He encouraged her to follow her dreams, and push her a little more when she tried to give up. He always had her best interest at heart. His home was a refuge from the world. Though he was not a perfect man, he knew what was most important in life, and sent that legacy on with his grown children.

Sound like another Father you may have heard of?

And eventually, that great man would give is daughter's hand in marriage to yet another great man. A man who is dedicated. A man who works diligently to provide a home and safe place for his Bride and her children. He will encounter tough times in this life, but he will continue to be obedient to his creator and the plan He has in mind for his family. He leads with strength and integrity. He puts others before himself, and has a servant's heart. He pours into his family, cultivating them and takes great pride in the legacy he will leave. He is a great man, who recognizes he is in need of a Savior.

He too, is a mirror of the great man that he calls Heavenly Father.

This young man has taken his Bride. Together, they will face this life... one day at a time. There will be good times and there will be hard times. They will make children together and teach them the love of Jesus. They will walk humbly with their God... This great man is helping this woman to be the precious creation her Heavenly Father has in mind for her. Much like her daddy, this man is helping her to achieve her biggest dreams. He respects her, and treats her as if she is more valuable than rubies. He has children with her and helps her raise them up for greatness. He protects her, provides for her and is painting a beautiful picture of Christ's love with her through Marriage. This is a great man.

Lord, these men are a mirror of You. They are leaving a legacy because they are loving their families the way that you loved us. You gave it all up for us. You want the very best for us.

Oh Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing this simple woman with such great men. Thank you for my daddy, who was raised by a great man. Thank you for my amazing Husband, who was also raised by a great and dedicated, hardworking man. Their legacies live. My son has so many great men in his life to look up to... not only these great earthly men, but You. The Prince of Peace and King of Kings. You fill the places of our Hearts that not even our Earthly fathers can fill. My heart overflows with gratitude.

Men, the example you set for your family is important. Whether you had a good dad or not, your Heavenly father loves you and will Guide you. Women, whether you had a dad who loved you or not, your heavenly father thinks the world of you. You are so precious. He wants you to find a man who respects you and takes care of you. Our heavenly father has more love for us than we can even comprehend. Let Him heal your broken heart.

"You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by it's deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4: 22-24

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2

Not just a little nice girl.

"You're not good enough...

You're not as pretty as her...

She's a better mom...

You've already made a mess of things...

It's never gonna get better...

You don't deserve to be happy...

You can't..."

Just give up..."

Satan loves putting these thoughts in our head. He loves when we think of such things... And every new self degrading thought just adds fuel to his burning fire... He feeds on destruction.

We have started to believe many of these things. Slowly, the world is engulfing us. There are days when we feel our heads are barely above water. We don't think we can go on...

But there is hope. We have a powerful God on our side. We have the tangible Word of God at our fingertips. We have the freedom to pray, to worship and talk to Jesus Christ every second of every day.

Satan trembles at the thought of that.

Guess what?

Satan does not want you opening your mouth to praise a mighty God.

He does not want you to forgive that person.

He does not want you to pick up your Bible & dig in God's word.

He does not want you to admit you are in need of a Savior.

He does not want you to use your talents to make the world better.

He does not want you to fight to the death for that marriage.

He does not want you to believe in yourself.

He hates the power that prayer has in our lives.

He HATES when we fall to our knees in worship of our powerful God who will break our chains and set us free!

Satan loves that we questions our God.

He loves that we think we can handle life on our own.

He chuckles as we say we can make this marriage work without Jesus.

He smirks as we give up on ourselves and others...

But guess what Satan?

Listen to me good...

I serve a God who is bigger than you. I serve a God who's grace covers me and frees me. I have His word engrained into my heart, therefore living out in my life. I have a God who I can call on at.any.moment. And together, we will squash you and your destructive ways. We claim victory over our lives IN JESUS' name and you are UNDER OUR FEET!

Do you know why? Because Prayerful lives are Powerful lives.

When you tempt me, I will Pray.

I will throw the Living Word of God IN YOUR FACE.

Everyday, I will arm myself with Christ's Word, His armor that protects me and gives me STRENGTH to defeat you in every tempting and difficult moment you throw my way.

.......

Now, You listen to me beautiful one:

Don't you dare let Satan make you think that you cannot be set free from bondage through Christ. You are GOD'S GIRL (Beth Moore).

This is what God says about YOU:

"You are beautiful. You are worthy. You are precious. I have given you the talent to do many great things in this life. You deserve the good things in this life. Every day you breath is so important to me. YOU are important. I want you to know that I am PROUD to be your Daddy... your Heavenly father who loves you more than your Earthly father. You have what it takes. Listen...

I Love You. I Adore you... more than you could even begin to understand. I am with you. Every. Step. Of. The.Way.

Through Prayer, I will flood you with confidence.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am THE LORD YOUR GOD." - Isaiah 43:2-3

I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a woman after God’s own heart.

I hope I never stop looking on the bright side of things.

I have faith that there is always good to be found, even in the worse situations.

I wonder what would happen if people stopped pointing fingers & examined themselves more.

I always smile. (Okay, not always, but most of the time :)

I need Jesus. Everyday.

I adore my husband & son more than you could imagine.

I enjoy a good cup of coffee and early morning walks.

I think every woman should find a man who treats her like a princess.

I never want to stop learning.

I dislike when we complain without doing anything about it.

I admire people who walk humbly through this life, putting others before themselves.

I take lots of pictures.

I give thanks daily.

I dream about what my son will be when he grows up.

I am an optimist.

I write. It is my passion.

I believe every person has a purpose & the potential to do great things in this life.

I know God’s word is the foundation for my life.

I want to make an impression in people’s hearts.

I will encourage someone everyday.

I love living this life that God has given me, through the good & the bad.

What about you?

Are you enough for me?

Quiet moments. Down time.

What do I do with this time? Usually there are plenty of distractions. Busyness, friends, family, facebook, activities, church events, movies, small group, grocery shopping, work. So much to do with so little time. Life is good.. Crazy, on the go...

Do you think that God may stop us for a reason? Does he slow things down or take something away to grab our attention? Are there seasons of life when we don't have much of a choice than to turn to Him? Are there moments of desperation for a reason?

I have such a blessed life. So many people who love me, an amazing husband, a beautiful baby boy, my health, the list is endless.

But I often wonder if HE is enough. If I lost everything, would my God be enough for me? Do I praise my God because my life is so good? Would I continue to praise Him if everything I hold dear was torn from my hands? I say my God is good, but would these words leave my lips if I hit the ultimate pit of life?

Is God just an addition to the wonderful life I live? Or is he the core? Is he the first thing I think about when I wake in the morning and lay my head down at night? Do I breathe Him? Is he closer to me than my own skin?

The answer to this may change from day to day, because life just happens that way. Some days I am so passionate for my Savior that I can feel him seeping through the pores of my skin. Then there are days when he seems so far away, like I couldn't feel Him even if he touched me.

Isn't life crazy like that? Some days are good and some are pretty bad. Life is easy, then life is hard.

My life lately has had a lot of down time. Living in a new place, not knowing many people has been a battle on certain days. I love people. I thrive on being around people and feeling that closeness between humans. Lately I have noticed that my best days have been when I'm super busy. I have a lot to do so I don't have time to miss people or feel lonely or even to seek my God.

But I don't want that. I don't want a life full of activities to make me happy. I want a soul full of Jesus. I want to experience His joy even in those dull moments of life.

I want my focus to be on bringing Him glory. If I stop and think about it, there is no down time at all... I want to grow in God's word; His love letter to me. I want to cultivate my marriage and be the best wife I can be to the man God gave me. I want to teach my son to love others like Jesus did. It is easy to slack on these things in life because we feel "Blah" at times. But praise the Lord that every day is a new day! A refreshing chance to start over and try again.

I want everyday to be about bringing Him glory, not about what activity will make me feel good. I want Jesus to be more than enough. I want to seek His presence passionately. I want to believe His word and rest in the fact that He truly is more than enough. I am open to knowing what God is trying to teach me during this season in my life.

There is nothing in this life that I will have to endure alone. He is walking with me every step of the way. Whether life circumstances are amazing or heartbreaking, MY JESUS IS ENOUGH! Thank you Jesus for making me believe. My joy is in you. I will seek you all the days of my life.

No matter how far you look on this Earth, nothing will ever satisfy the inner parts of your soul like Jesus will.

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith." Hebrews 10:35-37

Three words...

Wherever you are... whatever problem, pain, season, struggle, fear...

You need to know...

God loves you.

Because sometimes you just need to hear it...

He loves you in your brokenness, in your insecurities, in your sin, in your anger, in your confusion...

God loves you.

Because sometimes we just need to be reminded...

The creator of the Universe has called you by name, you are His. (Isaiah 43:1)

Three little words... cliche. But true. Deep. Real.

How amazing... Right where you are. In this moment..

God loves YOU.

Breathe Him in.

....

Our flesh may fail us, but your spirit never does, O Lord.

Stripped.

Money, fancy cars, smiles, high heels, education, status, jobs, etc... all things that help the world go round. Part of life, part of you and I. Material things, Chipper facebook status', a painted face or designer label. The world.

Who are we if we are stripped of these things? One of my best friends pondered this question aloud one day... It made me think, what are people hiding behind? What are people really like when they leave the crowd and sit in their bedroom? Who are they? Where are their thoughts? What are they thinking about?

What is our purpose? At the end of the day, when the lights are out, the make up is off, the party is over, the kitchen is cleaned, the clothes are dirty... what is left of us? Is there more beyond what strangers and acquaintances see on the outside?

Is there substance? Something deeper? A passion? A yearning to live out what our hearts are on fire for? Or do we wake up to get dressed and put on a show for the world, thinking of ourselves.. What can the world give me?

Do we fight for something? Strive for something? Ache for something? Do we think about such things? Can we change the world?

Who can we be a friend to? Who needs love? How can I show others I love them? Will people see my heart through the life I live? Who is hurting? Who is struggling at this very moment? Who is just barely hanging on? Who can I encourage? Who needs a little push? Who needs my time? My money? Who just needs someone?

There are so many distractions... so much going on.. Life is good for me but someone out there is hurting, aching. We are blessed but someone else feels they have nothing. Life is not about us. How can I get ahead? I want the best car... I will prove to them... I don't need anyone... Walls go up.. How can this really fulfill a person?

I need to be a friend, I need to help, I need to give. Not about me but about them, and that makes us. I will help you and you help me... Give and take but mostly give... have my hand, my help, my money, my heart. Let me show you how the Father loves. Let's hold hands and go through life together... stripped. No show, nothing on the surface... but deeper. These are my fears, what are yours? Let's cry together & not pretend life is perfect... then let's rejoice in the name of the Perfect One.

This is me, flaws, sin, guilt, shame, brokenness. All of us, at some point will break, but we will have each other... And the love of Christ. Together. Me and you... them and us... One. Praise God for the love of a brother and a sister.

Praise the Father, who takes brokenness and makes a new creation, takes sin and makes a testimony, takes death and breathes new life, takes flaws and makes art, takes shame and makes a miraculous discovery. Praise to the one who heals, fills, and conquers. Praise. Be. To Him. He loves you and me. We love, because He first loved us. He loves. us. Stripped. For who we are, so shall we love others.

Let us be reminded:

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [2] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Now that is deep. That is substance. That will not fade. I hope I have this. This is what it's all about.

What kind of day are you going to have?

We live in a world that can easily be a dark place. Beneath the surface and in the many cracks of life are slivers of negativity, anger and gossip.... just waiting to engulf us and lead us away from the light. It's interesting how quickly we can become a part of this if we are not careful. We all have a past... we have hurt people we love and we have been hurt. Some might think that since life has dealt them such a yucky hand, they are going to give nothing back but a bunch of "Yuckiness". There are people in the world that complain, they are bitter, they are mean for now reason, and they have this idea that nothing in life will ever be good. Even if we are not those types of people, we still have our moments.

Complaining does not get us anywhere in life. Yes, we all do it and we need time to vent about life, but eventually, we have to move on. If we continue to surround ourselves with negative conversations and continue to dwell on the little inconveniences in life, we are never going to be able to see the good.

I have had many conversations with people about optimism and a positive attitude, and some would say that life is just never going to get better no matter how many times they say life can be good. But I am convinced that what we say, what we think, what we give to others, whether good or bad, is what we will be surrounded with on a daily basis.

There are plenty of situations in life, such as cancer, death, terminal illnesses... that are real problems. These things are not easy and they give us the right to complain, be angry, question God, and to wonder if life really is all that good. It is inevitable that we will all face this one day, if we do not go first. But even in these situations, eventually God will want us to heal and be able to move on and see the good in life again.

On the other hand, there are things in life that we just need to deal with and move on from quickly. I am talking about small everyday things that come up. Every small setback can't be the end of the world. If you say that your day is ruined, than it is going to be. If you say it's just a little set back and it's not going to ruin your day, than it wont.

If we speak words of kindness, encourage one another, practice patience, listen to one another, offer our help, tell ourselves we can do anything we set our mind to... than these are the things that will fill our days, and they will have a positive affect on us. If we walk around with our heads down, dragging our feet, having something negative to say about everything... these are the things that will fill our day... and of course that's not going to be a good day.

In life situations, we can either choose to be a part of the problem or part of the solution. Maybe we need to stop complaining so much about what life isn't, and focus on what it is. Stop focusing on other's flaws, and highlight their strengths. Stop worrying about what could happen, and focus on how to move on from what has already happened. Stop telling ourselves we can't, and remember that with Christ, we can do anything.

Life is short- Over before we know it. Will we spend our time sulking through the imperfections or take those imperfections and make something good? I believe there will be moments of unhappiness, but I do not believe God would want us to go through life unhappy. The one thing life and others cannot control is your attitude and your outlook on life. No one can steal your joy without your permission.

I write this, because I too need to be reminded. When I get down on life, one of you can show me this :) We all need a little push sometimes, because life is hard.

If just for today, let's look at the good and have a positive attitude.

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8 (New International Version)

There is beauty everywhere...

...We just need to take the time to notice :)

(Taken from my iphone in San Diego, Ca. May 23, 2010.)

"Remember that at any given moment, there are a thousand things you can love" :)

--David Levithan.

Thankful

Originally posted by Mindy Clark on January 30, 2009.

I am thankful that even when I think I've got things together in my life, God stretches me a little more, teaches me a little more, reminds me a little more... I am thankful that my life in this world will always be a work in progress. I'm never going to be "at" the perfect place in life, but this is my life, right now... and God's plan for me is perfect.

Today there is a lesson to learn, a person to love, problem to solve, a time to be tested, a moment to embrace, a picture to take, a friend to make, a song to sing.... I am thankful that even when I am looking forward to so many of the wonderful things God has for me in the future, that he reminds me of the beauty of today... and to cherish it.

Today I am thankful for every blessing, every burden, every challenge, every person, every moment... I am thankful to be alive today. I am thankful that God has given me a joy that does not have to be circumstantial, but through him, I have joy everyday. This is beautiful.

And all I can say is... Hallelujah.

"Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his miracles". Psalm 105:2

Thoughts...

I am currently reading a book called, "The Sacred Romance" by Brent Curtis & John Eldredge. I've only gotten into the 3rd chapter so far, but I am really enjoying it. Something that caught my attention as I was reading is this:

"In the end, it doesn't matter how well we have performed or what we have accomplished-- a life without heart is not worth living. For out of this wellspring of our soul flows all true caring and all meaningful work, all real worship and all sacrifice. Our faith, hope, and love issue from this fount, as well. Because it is in our heart that we first hear the voice of God and it is in the heart that we come to know him and learn to live in his love. "

"Starting very early, life has taught all of us to ignore and distrust the deepest yearnings of our heart. Life, for the most part, teaches us to suppress our longing and live only in the external world where efficiency and performance are everything. We have learned from parents and peers, at school, at work, and even from our spiritual mentors that something else is wanted from us other than our heart, which is to say, that which is most deeply us. Very seldom are we ever invited to live out our heart. If we are wanted, we are often wanted for what we can offer functionally. If rich, we are honored for our wealth. If beautiful, for our looks, if intelligent, for our brains. So we learn to offer only those parts of us that are approved, living out a carefully crafted performance to gain acceptance from those who represent life to us. We divorce ourselves from our heart and begin to live a double life."

"The heart does not respond to principles and programs; it seeks not efficiency, but passion. Art, poetry, beauty, mystery, ecstasy: These are what rouse the heart. Indeed they are a language that must be spoken if one wishes to communicate with the heart. It is why Jesus so often taught and related to people by telling stories and asking questions. His desire was not just to engage their intellects but to capture their hearts."

"God tells us in Proverbs 4:23, 'Above all else, guard your heart. For it is the wellspring of life.'

-Sadly, most of us watch the oil level in our cars more carefully than we watch over the life of our heart."

Some of my thoughts right now:

We have become so immune and somewhat numb to hurts and heartbreak, that we separate ourselves from our hearts, putting on a tough exterior and acting like we don't need anyone's help in life. If we work hard enough, make enough money, suppress our feelings, or convince ourselves we are just fine living in solitude, than we will have lived an impressive life. We have become so independent and self-minded that we begin to keep people & God at arm's length because we have somehow separated ourselves from the wellspring of life that is called our heart.

It is okay to hurt sometimes and express our feelings. It is okay to ask questions or ask for help. It is okay that we don't have the answers to all of life's questions. If I am living through my heart, that is when I am truly living for a purpose that God created... I don't want to float through life just existing in my earthly things.

So I ask myself this: Am I hiding the real me behind my bank account, my busyness, my hurts, my status, my religion? Or Am I living through love and cultivating a relationship with Jesus Christ, who gives me a real and true purpose in this life? Surely there has to be more to this life than the American Dream...

I'm going to let this stir in my heart this week.

Thoughts?

Vulnerability.

vulnerable |ˈvəln(ə)rəbəl|adjective:susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm.
I believe this is one of Satan's favorite places for us to be at in life. He loves to see us weak. Just when it seems like we are barely hanging on, that's when he will attack. He indulges himself with our insecurities, hurts, fears and is just waiting to use those things against us. When we are struggling, that is when he will attack all the things that are most important to us: our faith, our marriages, our families, our abilities, our confidence and our dreams. He will do whatever he can to steal our joy and throw us the lowest of blows in hopes that we will fall apart.
But the Word of God is bigger than this.
Scripture says, "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
We can have peace knowing that the Bible is full of God's promises to us. We just have to believe.
"For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does." -Psalm 33:4
Satan may try to attack and steal our joy, but because of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, even in the hardest of times, we can cling to hope through the Word of God.
"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4

Good enough?

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Matthew 9:12-13. It reads:

"When Jesus Heard this, he said, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor- sick people do.' Then he added, 'Now go and learn the meaning of this scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners." Matt 9:12-13

In my life, I have been surrounded with so many wonderful people who just feel like they are not good enough to attend church or pick up a Bible. My heart desires to convince these people that Jesus does not expect perfection from us. That was the law before Christ died on the Cross for us, but because of Christ's death, we have the freedom to serve Jesus despite our sin.

I remember before I began my relationship with Christ about 6 years ago, I struggled with guilt from my past. Silly that things from my past held me back from a relationship with my Savior, who just wanted me, sin and all, to come to him how I was. I thought I had to 'fix' myself and clean up my messy life before I could be in a relationship with Jesus.

I am so thankful that Jesus grabbed hold of my confused heart and told me to come how I was. It is up to Him to fix me. When a dear friend of mine passed away during this time in my life, I was quickly reminded of how fragile and short life is. I desired to be in relationship with Jesus, not because I was scared to die, but because I wanted to live the rest of my life with a purpose. I only have a short time on this Earth, and I want to spend that time introducing people I love to Jesus. I want us to spend eternity in Heaven together.

So my friend, if you are reading this and you have been holding Jesus at arms length because you are ashamed of a life you have lived so far, I am here to tell you to stop trying to fix yourself. Jesus did not come to save perfect people, but people like you and I who struggle with different forms of sin on a daily basis.

Don't waist anymore time wishing that you could be good enough for Jesus. He desires to change your heart and use you for a much bigger purpose than you or I realize. Let today be the day.

A Chance.

Originally written by Mindy Clark on December 27th, 2008.

Sometimes life is good...

Sometimes, not so much.

Sometimes we win...

Sometimes we fail.

Sometimes things are exciting...

Sometimes, things are pretty lame.

Sometimes we feel loved...

Sometimes we feel alone.

Things are always changing and nothing on earth is predictable. There are good days and there are bad days. Laughter and tears... But there is always hope in each new day. Circumstances change and people change, But the love of Christ remains the same. His promise is true and his love never ceasing.... He gives the hope of a new day.

With each new day, He gives new opportunity. Each new day is a fresh start. A chance to forgive. A chance to grow. A chance to encourage. A chance to renew. A chance to help someone. A chance to smile. A chance to make the most of it. A chance to go for it. A chance to learn. A chance to persevere. A chance to love. A chance to work it out. A chance to achieve. A chance to make a difference. A chance to create. A chance for laughter. A chance to decide. A chance to live for today. A chance to hope. A chance to embrace all that is good.

Sometimes we just need to believe He has a plan for us.... and take a chanceon Him.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” -Galatians 6:9

Does Prayer really change things?

Does Prayer Really Change Things?

I think this is a question that many people have probably asked themselves at some point in their lives. Whether you know Christ or not, I think it’s a legitimate question. It’s made clear in the bible that if we would just pray, and ask God for something, it surely will be given to us.

If God tells us that we can come to him and pray at any time, why is it so hard for us? When a friend asks us to pray for them, do we really? Or do we just say we will because it is what they will want to hear?

This topic of prayer is something my church and my small group have been discussing together and challenging one another in. I think many of us are skeptical at times about if prayer really does change things; if God really listens, or if it is even worth our time.

Just as it is hard at times to spend time in God’s word, I think it can be equally hard to spend time in prayer. Especially in our society where there are distractions everywhere we look. We are also very busy people, who need answers to everything right away.

I think now more than ever, God wants us to slow down. He wants to teach his children patience and discipline. We are spoiled with technology and how quickly we get things done now. Believe me, I totally take advantage of all the new technology and social networking and I think there are many great aspects and benefits to it. But I think we need to remember to balance it with a little old school bible reading, journaling, time in prayer, and laying hands on a friend and praying with them. As much as I love the communication through technology, I hope we don’t lose the sometimes uncomfortable face-to-face, physical touch and small gatherings of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Do I believe prayer changes things? Yes, I do. I believe it gives me time with my Heavenly father; to praise Him, to thank Him, to give Him my burden, to ask for His guidance, to show gratitude for the people He has brought into my life, to let Him know I am lost without Him. It brings me a sense of humility and patience. But this is just from my own experience, I cannot answer the question for you.

To me, it is much more than just asking him for help. It is a beautiful act of Worship that brings me closer to my Heavenly Father who I so desperately need to guide me everyday. And I hope I will engage in this more.

Even though we study science, have college degrees, build fast computers and do just fine on our own; we still need Jesus.

Our small group has challenged each other to be intentionally praying for one another. I pray that we will let our guards down, as well as our skepticism and even hurt feelings from other people; And just let God move. I pray he will use this little group of people to cause a wave of prayer that will change things for the glory of God.

Thank you God, for your Son Jesus. So that we may have the opportunity to come straight to you with our problems, praises, and requests. You are so near to us. Help us to realize that this week.

“You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” -John 14:14

You never let go.

I will admit that I have felt a little distant from God lately. I know he is here with me, all around; yet I have not felt intimate with him in awhile. It's not uncommon for Christians to fall into a rut when it comes to our walk with God. Sometimes it's not even on purpose, but we just get so busy with life. I think this is the case for me right now.

This morning I put my worship playlist on shuffle, and the first song that came on was "You never let go" by The David Crowder Band, which also happens to be one of the songs on my blog. This song is so fitting right now. Even when I have become so busy with life, Jesus never let's go. He never stops tugging on my heart or reminding me of how much he loves me.

In November, our baby boy was born. It was seriously the most amazing experience in my life, alongside my wedding day. I love spending countless hours with my son; holding him, feeding him, changing him, playing with him, singing to him. He has brought an unspeakable joy into the hearts of Marcos and I. With this said however, I realize that I have put God on the back burner.

I have hardly picked up my bible or prayed as my soul longs to. I was reading today and this is a verse that stuck out to me.

"The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name." - Psalm 119:131-132

I don't know about you, but as a Christian I'm not okay being stagnant in my walk with God. I don't want to just be comfortable where I'm at in life. I want to be continuously seeking my King and learning how I can better serve him in the hopes of changing this world for HIS glory. Even if it is in the everyday, repetitive things like being a wife and mommy. Or for others, a student or co-worker. No matter the life-stage we are in, whether we are young or old, single or married, working or taking care of babies; God is at work in our lives and he is using us for a bigger purpose.

Sometimes in life, things are so good that we forget to make God a part of it. He should be the biggest part because it is he who made it happen. I think this has been the case for me lately. I am so comfortable in my life right now, but I pray that is no reason for me not to trust or lean on my sweet Jesus every single day. I don't want to just be intimate with my heavenly father when life is hard. I want that Divine Romance every day.

Today my prayer is this:

Lord, thank you for the amazing blessings you have poured into my life. I have such a grateful heart, yet I feel stagnant in my walk with you. Help me to prioritize my time so that I make time for you. Help me to spend more time in your word so that I can be the wife and mother you created me to be. Just as the best thing I can do for my son is to love my husband; I know the best thing I can do for both of them is to love my Jesus. I don't want to be a lazy christian. I want to seek more of you. Lord, draw me close. Use me.

p.s. Thank you for never letting go :)

Amen.