Breath of Life

Dedicated to Olivia Spolyar

If you’re reading this, you are a living, breathing human.

According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, breathing is to live, to exist. This simple explanation is a gift we receive every day. We are alive. We are breathing.

“Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person.” Genesis 2:7

God used the breath of life to create us. There’s something, striking, intricate, and brilliant about that. God did not just give us breath; He gave us the breath of life. We were not created merely to exist, but to live.

Recently, I lost a dear friend in a tragic car accident. Olivia was just 17 years old. My sweet friend lived 17 years of exploration, romance, and shining her light to the world. She was given the gift of art and creativity and used it to bring delight to many lives. Her imagination never ceased to astound me. She had the breath of life. She did not merely exist. Olivia lived every day to it’s fullest potential.

Through this loss, God has shown me the value of the precious time we have on this earth. God has revealed the true meaning of every breath we breathe and every moment we live. More than ever, I have understood and challenged myself to be intentional about everything I do. We do not know how much time we have on this precious earth. It is my greatest hope in life that others will love Jesus because of the way I live.

I leave you with these questions:

You may be breathing, but are you breathing the breath of life? 

Are you challenging yourself to be intentional with every moment you are alive? 

Are you merely existing or living?

About the Author :

Morgan Fisher accepted Christ into her heart in pre-school. At the age of 14, Morgan's passion for music and Africa led her to birth a non-profit organization, Bands that JAM for Africa. Morgan is currently a Social Entrepreneurship student in Nashville, Tennessee and pursuing Bands that JAM for Africa in South Africa when she is not studying.

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You Can't Hide From God

Have you ever noticed how every time you have an appointment with your dentist you spend extra time on your teeth? I am sure you brush your teeth daily, but right before your dental visit you may find you even brush more than once before your appointment to conceal any evidence of the candy you devoured the night before, or since the last visit some years ago. You figure if you brush and floss a few times, the dentist will not even notice, right?

What you do not realize, however, is that no matter how many times you brush and floss before you make it to that dental chair; it wouldn't make a difference. They are dentists. They are experts in this field. As soon as the dentist takes X-rays of your teeth you soon are found out. He can see what is truly going on inside. Tooth decay, stains, gum disease, and more. 

It is the same with God. Sometimes we try to hide the decay in our hearts with good works. We may be harboring unforgiveness, anger, or bitterness towards someone, but we feed and love on the homeless all week long. Maybe, you are a husband who attends church twice a week, serves in ministry, and works hard to provide for your family, however, what no one knows is that you struggle with pornography. But, you hide it well, right? Wrong!

God is omnipresent. 

God sees everything. There is nothing that you can hide from Him. God is everywhere, all the time. But this is good news to those who know and love God, because no matter what we do or where we go, we can never be far from God’s comforting presence. The bad news is that if we do not follow God, He knows that also. Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”

How is it that God knows so much about us? 

The Bible tells us that, God is always with us. One reason God knows us so intimately is because He is with us continually.

1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

you discern my thoughts from afar.

3 You search out my path and my lying down

and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before a word is on my tongue,

behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

5 You hem me in, behind and before,

and lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?

Or where shall I flee from your presence?

8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

9 If I take the wings of the morning

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 even there your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

and the light about me be night,”

12 even the darkness is not dark to you;

the night is bright as the day,

for darkness is as light with you.

(Psalm 139:1-12)

God not only knows us intimately; He is with us all the time.

This is one of the reasons that it is futile to run from God when we have problems in life with sin or with life in general. God is with us so He already knows. No amount of make-up or cute outfits can hide a decaying, diseased heart from God, because nothing can separate you from God or the love of God. Romans 8:39 says, “nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

No matter where we go – God is there. Jonah found out that you can run but you cannot hide from God.

How many times do we try to run away from God when He is seeking us?

Whatever, may be going on in your life today, stop running from Christ. Stop trying to hide from Him. Instead, run towards Him and fall at His feet. Don't continue to just clean and brush the surface, while in the inside you are spiritually dying. God loves you. He wants to give you a new heart—a clean and pure heart from the inside out.

Maybe you're in a difficult situation right now, and have suffered some kind of loss, been afflicted with illness or pain. Maybe the wound is still tender. Perhaps, it’s too early to know why it’s happening. Maybe, you may never know this side of eternity. But believe David; God has not left you. He’ll never walk away from you. You’ll never find yourself in a situation where God is not right there alongside of you to strengthen, help, and encourage you.

How many years of your life have you spent trying to run or hide from God? I want to challenge you today to give up the fight. Stop trying to hide and allow yourself to enjoy the love He wants you to enjoy.

About the Author :

Carmen Miller is happily married mother of 5 and wife to Jarrad. As Founder of Whole Magazine, and Co-Founder of God Over Porn; Carmen's heart's passion is to see broken women made whole through the power of Jesus Christ.

Whole Spotlight: Nicole Louis with Love Me 31

This has been an amazing year for us here at Whole. We have met so many wonderful women of God that are truly impacting the world with the love of Christ. It was through some of those ministries that, over a year ago, I met this month's Spotlight woman, Nicole Louis. It was a blessing for me to see her birth Love Me...31, a ministry existing  to encourage, empower, and equip women of God by striving to meet the Proverbs 31 standard of a true, godly woman. Check out our interview below to learn more about Nicole and LM31.

W: Nicole, can you share with our readers a little bit about your upbringing?

N: "I am a mover! I was born in California, moved to Arizona at the age of two, grew up there, moved to Texas at 19, and then to Arkansas at 20, and that is where I currently reside. I am one of seven children and grew up in a very loving family, goofy, but loving. I am bi-racial my mother is Caucasian and my father is African American, and that was a blessing and a curse for me. I was blessed to be who I was and have parents who instilled confidence of loving who I was, however, I had so many problems with girls who just did not like me because of the “ stereotype” that comes with mixed girls. People say we are all stuck up and think we are better than the next girl, so not true. I was determined to show the world I wasn't like that at all."

W: How were you introduced to Jesus personally?

N: "I remember going to church functions as a little girl, but my family was never really stable and consistent in a church environment. It wasn't until I was about 17 that I encountered Jesus for real, for the first time. My family had started going to a church in Phoenix and they had a winter retreat coming up that my mom forced my brother and I to go to. At first, I was pretty hesitant, I thought it would be a lame church trip where everyone sang, “ Jesus loves me this I know, “ and smiled all the time. When I got there and we had our first worship service, it was really late at night and I was tired, so I really wasn’t feeling it to begin with. At some point in the service, the pastor gave an alter call, and I just remember I started crying. I didn’t know why , and I did not know what it was, but the moment he said, “ if there is anyone here who needs to surrender their all to the Lord, raise your hand.” Before I knew it, my hand was high in the air and I had a counselor praying the prayer of salvation with me. It was amazing, by far the best trip of my life."

W: Can you tell us a little about your ministry Love Me...31 and the vision behind it?

N: "Love Me…31 is the result of a life full of mean girls and seeing the inner “mean girl” in myself. I saw a lack of Godly women who were standing up for one another and really walking life together as sisters. I saw more women being caddy with each other, waiting on the next girl to slip and stumble so they can get their shine on and be the next greatest thing in the church. These were women of God I was seeing acting this way, and I knew this wasn’t the life God had called us to, and I was just as guilty. Love Me…31 was designed to build and uplift women of God. I wanted to build self-esteem and confidence amongst all my sisters in Christ. The goal is to help develop women and teach them to love themselves, each other, and God. We live with 1 Timothy 1:5 mentality, “ The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. “ I really want to see myself, and all of my beautiful sisters desire to love out loud and love on purpose!"

W: What are some of the toughest challenges you face as a young single Christian woman today?

N: "Contentment can be such a huge struggle for me. I battle with just being okay with where God has me constantly. It can be so easy to look at the next person and desire what they have, especially if it looks good! I have to constantly seek God’s face so that He can remind me that my portion is perfect for me. He has me right where He wants me to be, and there is no other place that I should want to be than in His perfect will for my life. The struggle is real, but it is worth giving that area, really an area that you struggle with to God."

W: What does a Proverbs 31 woman look like to you?

N: "The woman in Proverbs 31 is my example for what a woman with God’s heart looks like. She is not perfect, but she works on being everything God asked her to be. To me, I look at my own mother as an awesome example of what the Proverbs 31 woman looks like. She is so strong; willing to do whatever it takes for her family to get to the place God designed for them. She is constantly reaching out to help people even when it might put her in an awkward position because her heart and passion for God’s people is amazing. The woman in Proverbs 31 is a servant and her heart is set on doing God’s work. She is not fazed by what the world is doing or saying because she is focused on what God is doing and saying."

W: What inspires you to press on, when the going gets rough?

N: "My inspiration truly is all of the women I come in contact with on a daily basis. The pure hearts I see and the honest transparency I get to experience with a lot of my sisters in Christ is so beautiful to me. They motivate me to do better and be better. I constantly get text messages, emails, and phone calls with encouraging words and loving support, It is awesome to have a few strong warriors in my corner that can pray for me, fast with me, and just let me cry it all out when things get rough. I have so many honest relationships that direct my eyes back to the cross and remind me that Jesus paid for it all and whatever I am going through, He went through it so trust Him."

W: What advice do you have for young women who want to launch their own non-profit organization someday?

N: "It is WORK. It is GOOD work, but nonetheless, it is work. However, know that if God called you to something, He will help you through it. There are some rough spots, especially in ministry that honestly sometimes, make you want to quit. It isn’t all roses and rainbows; you have to be diligent and focused. It requires a lot of patience. You have to be patient with people who don’t always understand the vision God gave you, you have to be patient with yourself when you start to feel weary (it will happen, but God has you), and you have to be patient with God. You won’t see your vision manifested right away, but slowly you will see everything God promised to you begin to unfold, and those moments are what make it all worth it."

W: What are 3 bible verses that have blessed you and why?

N: "Proverbs 31:30 – This verse was the first verse I memorized. Believe it or not, it was not John 3:16 ! I had a "Not of This World" Hoodie that had this verse on it, and I thought it was so beautiful that God goes against everything society tells us and says that “charm is deceitful and beauty fades, but a woman of God shall be praised.”

Matthew 28:19 – This verse has become so real to me recently. I had always heard “ this is the great commission,” but never got it until now. God told us to do this, He commanded us to make disciples, yet, the church is so busy playing the church, we forget to go out and actually be the church. We have gotten away from everything God told us to do, too focused on bodies in seats and not souls in heaven. It is a real issue, so I really want to live my life on a mission, a serious mission for the Lord.

Proverbs 31:25- I feel like so many women lack the “ strength and DIGNITY” part of this verse. The world is focused on how they can be more like Nicki Minaj, I want to focus on how I can be more like God, that takes more effort than the world thinks. It takes strength to be righteous and live holy, it takes pride and dignity in yourself to know that you are made in the image of an awesome God and you have to be bold enough to walk like a queen, because you are a queen. Plus, this woman laughs at the days to come, so she isn’t worried about the future because she knows God has her back that is beautiful."

W: How can we stay connected and up-to-date with you & Love Me...31

To stay connected with me you can always follow me on twitter , facebook, and instagram.

To keep up with everything Love Me..31 you can like us on Facebook, instagram, and twitter. and make sure to check out the blog at www.nicolelyric.blogspot.com.

About the Author :

Carmen Miller is founder of Whole Magazine and an unashamed lover of Jesus Christ, wife, and mother. Daily, she clings to God's goodness to cover her mess and purpose her days to live out her passion in leading broken women to Christ. She has a love affair with coffee, cowgirl boots, and her iPhone.

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Daughters of Tears: A Call to Cry Out to God

I’ll be honest with you? Shedding tears helps me now and then. There are days when I cry a lot, and I also have days when I barely shed any tears at all. Shedding tears for me feels like having a gigantic mountain of snow melting off my back. I have another confession: I cry a lot. It doesn't take a lot for me to cry.

“You’re a master of manipulation!” 

“You cry to get your way!” 

“Oh it’s because you’re a basket case!” 

I've heard these statements many times before, and maybe—for those who cry a lot like me— hear these things about themselves as well. On the other hand for those who don’t cry a lot, you attach these statements to those who cry in the drop of the hat; maybe you just desire to know why people shed tears. While it may be true, some are manipulators, attention seekers, or a little rough around the edges.

But there is this truth. We all cry.  For whatever reason. Shedding tears is a physical occurrence that let’s ourselves and others know that there is some sort of connection, expression, or emotion that has captivated our hearts.

Crying Myths:

•  “Crying isn't for men. Only women are supposed to cry.”
•  “Crying is for weak people.”
•  “Crying is a sign of insecurity.”

IF these myths were true then Jesus would have not wept because He felt empathy and compassion for Mary and Martha due to Lazarus death (John 11:35).

IF these myths were true David would have not expressed his emotions through the book of Psalms and revealed to us that he was sometimes depressed, in despair, and spent many days and nights crying out to God.

IF these myths were true then Jeremiah would not be known as the “weeping prophet”. Jeremiah cried because he constantly suffered agony, pain, and ridicule for telling people what thus saith the Lord.

IF these myths were true then the women who had lived a sinful life would have not anointed Jesus’ feet with an alabaster jar of perfume and wet His feet with her tears (Luke 7:38).

IF these myths were true then God would have not told us to cry out to Him! God reminds us in His word to cry out to Him when we are going through hard times and when we are not going through hard times. He said in His word that He is attentive to us when we cry out to Him. Since God let us know that God listens to us when we cry should encourage our faith in Him and be at rest.

Cry out!

The book of Psalms is loaded with chapters of David crying, pleading, groaning, and moaning to God to save, help, and deliver him. Look at some of these things that David wrote in Psalms. We can say these things when we cry out to God when we need to be saved, helped, and delivered by Him. From time to time we may even feel just like David. Do these sound familiar to any of us?

Psalm 34:6 (NIV)

“This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.”

Psalm 57:2 (KJV)

“I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

Psalm 130:1 (KJV)

“OUT of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.”

Psalm 69:3 (NIV)

“I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail looking for my God.”

There are many more Scriptures that can reveal what was in David’s heart. He felt pain, discomfort, burdened, perplexed, but there is great news! There is encouragement when we cry out to God. God wouldn't tell us to cry out to God if it doesn't give us strength or relief. If we are oppressed, depressed, weary, drained, or tired God still encourages us to cry out.

God hears us and encourages us as we cry out. Though we are afflicted He gives us energy and strength to press through.

Psalm 10: 17 (NIV)

“You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed in order than man, who is of the earth may terrify no more.”

God will not ignore you and hide his face from you when you cry. God is listening. He knows what you’re going through. He just wants you to come to Him with your tears. Ask Him for help and He will!

Psalm 22: 24(NIV)

“For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.”

God is mighty. God operates with a strong hand. He is the only One who can deliver us. He is the only One who can bring us out. When our hearts are broken into pieces, God steps in and saves us. He is close to the down and out. God is greater than all of our afflictions.

Psalm 34: 17-19

“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Secondly, in the midst of tears we may feel that God has left us and forgot about us. God promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. We are on His mind and He thinks about us. He is concerned about us. He cares about us. He loves us. Jesus Christ felt this way when He was crucified on the cross (Matthew 27:45). David thought that God forgot about him because he was being attacked and tormented by his enemies (Psalm 42:9-10). Trials, tribulations, and attacks from the enemy can make us question that God has left us to fend for ourselves. God fights for us. God is our vindicator. God is our refuge. In addition to that, God keeps record of every tear we shed (Psalm 56:8). Our tears aren't even despised by Him so why do we think God forgets us?

Now that we have accounts of people in Scripture who have cried including our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I hope we are encouraged to seek God’s face whenever we have tears in our hearts and our eyes. Here are some instructions on how to release tears from ourselves and right onto God.

Step One: Allow the tears to come and don’t hold them back.

This is easier said than done. I remember there was a time in my life when I held every tear inside. I didn't know how release what was inside of me so overtime the pain grew. Once I let them out (in private or to someone I trusted and confided in) I felt better. I felt even better when God told me to cry out to Him whenever I needed to. If this is hard for you, give it a try. When you feel the urge to cry, try and go off somewhere where it’s just you and God and let the tears roll. Keep in mind what made you tear up or cry. This may sound crazy but if you continue to weep, continue. Everyone needs a release. That may be your time to do so.

Step Two: Approach the throne of grace to receive help, grace, and mercy that you need. In other words, PRAY!

Prayer is vital in every believer’s life. Without prayer we’re not connected to God. Without prayer we will not hear what the Spirit of God is saying. Tears, groans, and moans count as prayers to God. This is also praying in the Spirit. It’s not just limited to speaking in tongues. The Spirit intercedes on our behalf. The Spirit KNOWS the will of God. Since the Spirit knows why we are crying, groaning, or moaning, and knows the will of God, we can cry out even when we don’t know why or understand. All of this is located in Romans 8.

Step Three: Praise and worship Him!

We ought not to stay down because we cry. It’s easy to weep and be distressed while we are going through, but God is worthy to be praised! God reigns forever. God is Almighty! God is Awesome! Having an attitude of gratitude in the midst of our troubles puts the focus on God and gives Him the praise that is forever due to Him!

“…weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning!” – Psalm 30:5 (KJV)

[photo source: Whispers of the Heart]

About the Author :

Kendra Jackson is a young woman with a huge passion for Jesus, Evangelism, and salvation for all people. She has decided to dedicate her life to teaching, preaching, Evangelizing, and encouraging all people from all walks of life to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ through and by hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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Cast Your Cares Not Your Confidence

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

As believers we have been specifically instructed to cast our cares and our burdens on the Lord. The one thing we are told not to cast away is our confidence in God. Yet, we tend to do the opposite. In the process of rebuilding our lives as we press forward to do what God called us to do, we oftentimes find ourselves bogged down with the burdens, cares, distractions and issues of life. We do not realize we are carrying such heavy loads until we buckle under the pressure. The end result of refusing to cast our cares is a loss of confidence in our God.

Carrying heavy mental and emotional burdens causes us to lose our strength because we become weary in the well-doing. When we lose our strength, the enemy of our soul can wreak havoc on us, because we no longer have the fortitude to fight the good fight of faith. When we lack the fortitude to fight, we lose our confidence and ultimately our reward.

In Nehemiah 4: 7-10 (AMP), the Jewish exiles have returned to Jerusalem and have begun the process of rebuilding the city. The walls of the city are broken and burned. There is a lot of rubbish and mess to clean up first before putting up the walls. There are enemies constantly harassing and taunting them as they attempt to rebuild: 

“But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were going up and that the breaches were being closed, they were very angry. And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem, to injure and cause confusion and failure in it. But because of them we made our prayer to our God and set a watch against them day and night. And [the leaders of] Judah said, The strength of the burden bearers is weakening, and there is much rubbish; we are not able to work on the wall.”

Similar to these builders, oftentimes in our lives, we have a lot of rubbish to clean up in order to start fresh. We are walking in the aftermath of the consequences of some of our own poor choices, the actions of others, and other circumstances beyond our control. In our humanity, we often run in our own strength to do the work of rebuilding our lives, only to realize we simply cannot bear these burdens alone. On top of that, the enemy harasses and taunts us also. We awkwardly attempt to carry our burdens and use our spiritual weapons of warfare at the same time and stumble in the process.

The key to casting our cares so we can rebuild our lives and walk in our purpose is to humble ourselves. We must humbly and openly admit to God that we cannot run our own lives in our own strength anymore. We must admit to ourselves and to God, our way is not working. We need the energy of God – the energy of Grace in full operation in our lives for us to rebuild, heal and move forward. In 1 Peter 5: 6-7 (AMP) we read:

“Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, Casting the [c]whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, [once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you [e]watchfully”

Note, before God exalts us we must first humble ourselves. This implies, if you are proud, you will think you are strong enough and smart enough to handle all of your burdens by yourself, thus not needing God. Then after we humble ourselves we must cast the all of our anxieties, worries and concerns on Him. When we truly allow him to carry our burdens, then we are able to do the work of rebuilding our lives in the energy of His grace as Jesus promises in Matthew 11:28-29 MSG:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

With Christ carrying our burdens, we are able to rebuild our lives in a state of inner peace because we are no longer carrying the mental and emotional burdens of our problems anymore. Grace empowers and enables us to fight the good fight of faith. Grace is what enables us to walk in confidence with our God by our side carrying our burdens on a daily basis. When we are rebuilding without the burdens, we no longer cast away our confidence – our confidence increases. We will be able to rebuild and receive our reward because “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:6).

[photo source: Flickr, Shannon Lee Miller]

About the Author :

Maria Breeden has been an undercover writer for many years and has just recently obeyed her calling to write for the glory of God. She is a single mom, a full-time corporate bookkeeper and is actively involved in Reaching, Teaching and Releasing at New Hope Church in Durham, NC. You can also finder writing on her blog, Ladies Loving God.

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Remember Who Holds Your Hand

My niece has been living with us for five months. She has a 15-month-old son and I love him as though he were my own grandson.  Life has changed so much here. Toys litter the floor, cartoons play on the TV and silliness reigns. I do not mind making a fool of myself just to see his face shine with adoration or laughter. 

By far one of the greatest joys is when I hold him, he gives me a kiss on the cheek or I take his little hand in mine.  I have found we hold hands when playing, but I also reach out and grab hold of him to steer him the right direction.  I think back and remember life with my now grown children.  I often held their hands to keep them safe while crossing the street or to keep them from getting lost in a crowd. Whenever they stumbled or lost their footing, I'd grab their little hands and pull them closer to keep them from falling.

That’s what God does for us.

Inevitably as we journey through life, we encounter stones and cracks that threaten to trip us up. That’s why it’s easy to identify with the psalmist, who said, "My steps had nearly slipped". (Psalms 73:2)  If I had a dollar for every time my steps slipped!

We all face a variety of issues that threaten to make us stumble. For the psalmist, seeing the prosperity of the wicked caused him to question the goodness of God. But God squeezed his hand and reassured him, given the judgment of God; the wicked do not really prosper.

True prosperity, the psalmist discovered, was found in the fact God was always with him: You hold me by my right hand (vs23). And just for good measure, God reminded him He would also guide him through life and ultimately welcome him home to heaven! (vs24).

Next time you stumble, remember the powerful hand of God is holding your hand and walking you through life --- all the way home! -Joe Stowell

I love the following stanza from an old hymn:

Many things about tomorrow
I do not seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand! -Stanphill

I pray you are all touched by the precious and true words of Stanphill. It is a good reminder for us all to remember that when we feel alone...secluded by what we are going through... afraid...or we land smack dab on our faces...we do not suffer alone. God is right there with us – standing on the other side of the veil...in that unseen world of the spirit. Oh, to see through the veil. One day each of us will walk through the veil and we will see the world, which surrounds us now, though for now it remains unseen. Perhaps, one day we will see all the activity that occurred all about us when we were so unaware because Jesus was interceding for us.

Stop for a moment, close your eyes and envision Who is holding your hand right this moment.

Psalm 73:23  “Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand”.

Be strong...be encouraged...hold tightly to His Hand.

About the Author :

Dori Cass is a wife of 29 years and mom to two adult children. She has spent her adult life active in Womens, Children's and Youth ministry. She finds that she writes a lot about faith which are the nuggets mined up out of a decade long journey in the wilderness walking with a husband whose life changed completely when he was injured on the job as a police officer. You can find her blog, Heaven's Confetti.

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What Dating Has Taught Me

Engagement is amazing.

Last month, my boyfriend of nine months asked me to marry him. The whole evening was entirely surreal, as we basked in the new-found reality that the next season of our lives will culminate in us becoming "Mr. and Mrs." There is still much processing to do, as we soak in the joy of engagement and attempt to understand, by God's grace, what is the mystery of marriage in all its fullness!

What's funny is I actually composed the latter part of this post on our eight month dating anniversary. But I did not publish it. I guess I felt like the legitimacy of understanding anything about dating finds its place moreso upon engagement, the beginning point of lifelong commitment, and not before that time. And of course, my thoughts are humble ones, at that; take them, or leave them. But in re-reading the post this weekend, the points still stand! And I would love to share them with you all.

What I have learned up to now continues to humble me by revealing the miraculous grace of this Christ we worship with our lives. Knowing Him, knowing His love, makes all the difference in our relationships and is richer than any other form of "love" this world offers. (If you have questions about Christ and why His love is truly better than life, I'd love to have a conversation; email me.) Certainly, these thoughts are not even close to being exhaustive--but they are a start.

One thing I do wish to say as a premise: peoples' thoughts on dating derive from their unique experiences (and hopefully from Scripture truths at the core). This means that no one person's thoughts, ideas or opinions can be used as an absolute template for your own relationship--because each one is beautifully unique! I say this because I was the girl who would read another couple's story and think, "Uh oh. Mine hasn't been exactly like that. Should I be worried? Maybe this is wrong..."

It is so easy for our healthy desire to learn from others to morph into a desire to mimic others, especially if their story is God-glorifying (which is a wonderful thing, and we need people to tell their stories so Jesus can be glorified). Just saying, take my thoughts with a grain of salt; but take Scripture at its very word. There, and only there, will you find any eternal wisdom for your unique situation.

Anyway, here are some things that dating has taught me (without a complete elaboration upon each point):

1. God is most concerned about the condition of my heart. Am I looking to be served, or to serve as Christ loved me and gave Himself for me?
2. God wants me to seek what He values the most, not what the world values.
3. I don't always need to pray for clarity. I do need to pray for wisdom and an attitude of submission to the Lord. 
4. It is possible to never feel like the pursuer. 
5. "Communication is key" is the truth. Invest in solid communication.
6. Romantic comedies have a deeper effect than I wanted to believe. Think seriously about the stuff you watch.
7. Dating is the time to form godly, intentional habits. 
8. My boyfriend is not like my girlfriends (praise the Lord). Differences are a good thing.
9. Honesty, whether giving it or receiving it, is a true test of character and grace.
10. Laugh. A lot. It is good medicine for the heart.

So there you go. I do not have time to draw out each point right now, so if you have questions about any one specifically, email me or comment below. I would love to go deeper with you. Thank you for letting me share my thoughts with you.

"By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." (John 15:8-9)

Gracious Lord, all the days of our lives may we abide in Your magnificent love for us. Teach us in all wisdom, that we may know the riches of Your grace. By Your love, teach us to love. We worship You and long to know You more!

About the Author :

Kristen Leigh Evensen is a writer, blogger and singer/songwriter. She writes on faith, identity and Scripture at The Identity Project. Her articles and blog also appear on iBelieve.com. Her desire is to see women transformed by the Gospel! Follow her on Twitter and on Facebook.

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Mary, Did You Know?

Can you imagine what it would have been like to be Mary? To be told that you were chosen to bear God’s only Son?

It’s not like Mary knew it was coming. She was just an average girl leading an ordinary teenage life. No, she didn't attend a public high school every day. She didn't have a Facebook account—or even WiFi, for that matter. Now that’s hard to imagine!

However, I’m sure she had many of the same emotions that every teen experiences: Feelings of rejection, failure, depression, perhaps even loneliness. She could have even been struggling to find a purpose for her life.

I can imagine God watching her and thinking, “Mary, you have no idea. You can’t even comprehend all that I have in store for you.”

I wonder if—when God sees us crying out to Him—he thinks the same thing: “If only you knew what I have in store for you. If only you knew, then you would face every day with a smile rather than a frown.”

"With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine." ~Ephesians 3:20 (NCV)

Jesus came into this world to bring hope. 

He came to bring light in midst of the darkness. So don’t lose hope that God has something incredible in store for you. You weren't created by accident—and as long as you follow God wholeheartedly, the events of your life will not occur just by random.

Because you have been made with a purpose.

“All the days planned for me were written in your book before I was one day old.” ~Psalm 139:16 (NCV)

“Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” ~Jeremiah 1:5 (NCV)

Sure, you probably won’t become conceived by the Holy Spirit—but the anointing that God has given you is just as important. Even if it seems small to the world’s eyes, it means everything to God.

“But you are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. You were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” ~1 Peter 2:9 (NCV)

Ultimately, the plans God has for you aren't about you. They’re about Him. They’re about bringing light into this dark world. God didn't choose Mary to bear His Son so she could receive glory and feel important, but so that she could be a vessel in which God uses to spread His Good News.

You may not feel qualified to do anything “significant” by the world’s terms. But God, the Creator of the Universe, has qualified you and placed a special anointing on your life—a purpose that only you can fulfill! And through that, you will have the opportunity to spread His Good News. What an amazing privilege!

"He used a virgin who was a nobody to give birth to a Somebody who could bring the Gospel to everybody." ~Unknown

So the next time you feel unimportant or hopeless about your future, just imagine God looking down on you and saying, “If only you knew…”

“No one has ever seen this, and no one has ever heard about it. No one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” ~1 Corin. 2:9 (NCV)

About the Author :

Tessa E. Hall is a 19-year-old author of Purple Moon, her YA Christian fiction novel, published September 2013 by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She has a passion for youth ministry, especially in the area of the written word. She also loves acting, music, Starbucks, and her imperial Shih Tzu—who is named Brewer after a character in her book, as well as her love for coffee.

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Too Blessed to Be Stressed

I’m overwhelmed. Stressed out to say the least. Between school, work, family, side jobs, and extracurricular activities, I am 100% spread thin. Finding time to do anything that I enjoy is becoming harder and I am fighting to see the payoff in the end. Through it all I have constant encouragement and support, but sometimes it can be hard to not look up to God and say “Please! Can I just have a quick moment to breathe?” But then He reminds me, “Rochelle, remember my child, these are the very things that you once prayed for.”

How can I not feel ashamed for asking God for a break? He is completely and totally right. At some point, whether it was a week ago, a few months ago, or a year ago, I was praying to Him about one of the many things that I have going on. Always making sure that I let Him know that I am completely fine with His will, whatever it may be. And then I get it! The very thing that I prayed for and when the going gets tough, I ask for a break. How could I be so ungrateful? And then He reminds me:

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 ESV)

When God gives us the desires of our hearts, know that He never meant that once we got them that hardships wouldn't come with them. If they didn't we wouldn't need Him anymore. He wants to make sure that no matter what comes our way that we will remain fully dependent on Him. He wants us to know that when we go through struggles and difficult times that He is right there waiting and yearning to nurture us and to uplift and strengthen us. The more we trust in God during difficult times, the more we prosper and become stronger examples of what He is capable of.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17: 7-8 ESV)

When we put our trust in God He will make sure that we never fail. He will see us through every situation, every hardship, and every bit of our journey. He is not the kind of God who will bless you and then leave you. He will see you through each phase of your blessing, both the good and the difficult, and He will make sure that you are prosperous enough to bear fruit even in a drought.

Don’t worry or get caught up in all of life’s ups and downs. Be still, be steadfast in faith, and surrender your trust to God and watch what He will do. You’re too blessed to be stressed.

About the Author :

Rochelle Burnley is a queen of all trades. She loves the Lord and desires to spread His love and light to everyone that she is blessed to touch. A producer by profession, she intends to use her gift of storytelling to spread the good news and to represent Christ. A proud Baltimore native, Rochelle leaves trails of purple along her life's journey. She is a chocolate connoisseur; as well as a lover of good movies, music, books, and food.

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Brokenness and God's Healing Power

Broken. One of those words that doesn’t bring a lot of joy. Who wants to be broken? 

Broken things. Broken bones. Broken relationships. Broken vows. Broken homes. Broken hearts.

I assume we are all on the same page and don’t want that word to describe much, if anything, in our lives. In fact, the only phrase with broken in it that I can think of ever wanting to use is “broken fever.”

For a while, I’ve tried to figure out a different word to describe my family other than broken. Initially I thought it was just too negative. I started trying out different descriptive words. Wounded. Bruised. Hurting. Anything but broken.

I wanted to stand up and holler, “We are not broken!” 

But you know what? I believe we are. And I’m realizing that that’s OK. We are broken but healing. God,the Great Physician, is fixing up all the broken parts.

A couple of things have brought me to this conclusion. The first was reading this verse:

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies" (2 Cor. 4:7-10).

After reading that verse, I looked up the meaning of “jars of clay.” One of the definitions said that the jars of clay would have brought to mind a common household jar—probably inexpensive and fairly easy to break. It would probably have cracks and chips from being well used. 

There is so much to get from this verse, but the idea that struck me was that the brokenness of the jar of clay allows what’s inside to be seen—to flow out. 

The brokenness of our lives allows God to shine through us. Oh my goodness, that sounds like some really syrupy sweet quote to post on Facebook. Unfortunately for all of us, I can’t think of a better way to say it.

I just know that when everything in my world went kablooey, God was the only explanation for why I didn’t personally go kablooey. It was abundantly clear that the strength I had to move forward came from God and God alone—“the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”

One of my first fears following the shattering of my marriage was that my testimony was toast. I kept thinking of all the people who would think we were just absolute frauds. I felt like a fraud. Or maybe I should say I felt like I’d been defrauded. Everyone, including me, thought we had a great marriage. How could I speak about my relationship with God if everyone thought I hadn’t been honest about my relationship with my husband?

But God showed me my testimony wasn’t about what I could or couldn’t do. My testimony is what God has done and is still doing in my life.

And He worked mightily in those days following the shattering. He loved me and my children through our church, our homeschool community, our neighbors and even the city where my husband had worked. God provided for us in amazing ways. He gave us peace and even joy in the midst of our pain and breaking. It was Him, all Him.

Just as light shows through or water pours out of cracks in a broken pot, Jesus shows through our brokenness.

About the Author :

Sue Birdseye is an author and single mom of five kids that range from 4 years old to 17 years old. Her book, When Happily Ever After Shatters (Tyndale House), is in bookstores. This post was adapted from her blog, uptomytoes.com.

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