Do Not Fret

I dislike anything that has to do with dealing with car issues, financially and/or mechanically. These problems always seem to have a way of sneaking up and becoming bigger than originally expected. So I was pretty proud of myself that I thought I was slightly ahead of things when renewing my car tabs. Renewing my tabs means that every other year I must go and get an emissions test which I always seem to fail. So it wasn’t a surprise that yet again my car failed and I would need to find a trustworthy emissions certified mechanic to pay $150 to get a waiver to get my tabs. I would need to take part of a day off from work to drive to the mechanic and wait. My brakes needed new pads as well, but one thing at a time I kept telling myself.

After getting my car looked at and having them tell me all the things I needed fixed (upwards of $3000) I got my waiver and went on my way. Next stop emissions again and it’s only 2:30 so I will have enough time to get my tabs after that. Then all of a sudden I hear a sound & my brakes fail!! I press my brakes down as far as possible and veer off into a parking lot. Thank God I didn’t hit someone! I stop and catch my breath. I begin to pray and calm down repeating to myself not to panic, breathe. Next I hear loud as day, “Do not fret,” ok God I hear you. Over and over again, “Do not fret.” So now what do I do? Can I drive? Do I call someone? Who do I call? Again I hear, “Do not fret.”

Fret: To be constantly or visibly worried or anxious. Gradually wear away (something) by rubbing or gnawing. A state of anxiety or worry.

Some of you may be reading this thinking, “Everyone has issues and you’re complaining about a car?” Let me explain a bit further about why this hit me like it did. As a single mom I'm the only one. I don’t have a husband and I don’t have a boyfriend. The father of my child lives in another state and is rarely apart of our lives. My father lives somewhere else and there are many issues between us from my childhood. Most of my family is back home in Hawaii. I get in a panic, in self-reliance mode because I've been doing it by myself for so long (most of my life in fact) that scouring for every solution is second nature because if I don't do it who will? And no one likes a single mom who needs something; I mean they put themselves in that situation right? This is not to gain sympathy it is just simply facts about my life. It is a situation that many may not understand as they do not live it and others in similar situations will get. I am certainly not discounting the hardships in others’ lives or saying that being married is easier, because I don’t know that. What I have known all my life is it is up to me and I have no help. God has been teaching and molding me in the last couple years that HE is my rock, my fortress, my helper, my provider, my anchor, my husband, my heavenly father as well as my daughters. I do not have to fret if I trust him that he will provide at all times.

So I started my car up and tested the brakes to see if I could make it to pick up my daughter and make it home safely. I was able to make it home. I got out my Bible and continued to pray, “God, I don’t want to fret or panic please help me and give me peace.” I opened my Bible. I have been reading the Psalms recently and the night before I was reading Psalm 33-34 so I starting reading after that. First thing I saw was where I had written a couple years ago above Psalm 37, “Do not fret x3.” I laughed and began reading all the underlined verses regarding “do not fret.” You know those moments when you look up and think God you really hear me and you really where speaking to me?! Those moments thrill me beyond measure. Those moments are so intimate. I laid down for a few minutes in complete peace thanking and praising Him. I turned my fret into thankfulness (“a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”- Isaiah 61:3). God, thank you for blessing me with a car in the first place because many do not even have one. Thank you for providing me a little bit of money from my tax return to be able to use towards what needs to be fixed. Thank you for keeping us from harm so that we could make it home safely.

Many times when we fret and panic we make quick and usually unwise decisions. Instead, we need to pray and think things out prudently. We need to examine all the options and solutions. We need to allow God to lead us even if it is uncomfortable to wait on the best answer. We determine how we wait and how we react to situations. We must remember that God has a solution for EVERY problem and often times it is not something we expected, God is not usually conventional.

Do not fret means:

Do not lose sleep over it.

Do not allow it to control you, your emotions or your thoughts.

Do not allow it to create panic leading to an unwise decision or quick fix.

Do not allow it to steal your peace.

My prayer for you this week is that no matter what situations may arise that you do not fret, but allow God to meet you where you are. Allow God to be your provider and protector, you couldn’t be in better hands. As always, every one of you is important to the kingdom, so put your crowns back on, throw your shoulders back and act accordingly to what God says about you!

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Author: Leilani Glassmyer

Leilani is a single mom to a beautiful 4 year old little girl. She is in love with the Creator of the stars. Her mission is simple yet so big, to encourage and bring Jesus to all in need. To bring hope by loving people, writing, photography, music, poetry/spoken word and meeting people right where they are. Gods Grace is her air.

Wise Counsel

I am in a masters program for Mental Health Counseling, and a teacher of mine shared some scriptures with the class to help us understand the importance of being a counselor. She wanted us to know that is not only essential to have knowledge but to be spiritually sound as well. Christians often are in the position to counsel or give others advice without understanding the level of significance and weight that it bears. Sometimes people are seriously ill or hurting internally and need help and giving them a scripture, telling them to pray and sending them on their way is not the answer. I just want to share some pertinent and spiritual information as it relates to the role of a counselor [advisor]. This is only a small morsel of the vast world of counseling and definitely not me telling you to follow what I say. I am simply sharing what I have learned from my own perspective. These are not the views or beliefs of all counselors or professionals in the field; this is my subjective opinion.

Isaiah 61:1-4 (New Living Transalation) Says: The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released, and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago. They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations.

This scripture has several guidelines or principles from a Christian perspective that a counselor can use to understand one’s role when being called upon to help others.

One can relate these scriptural guidelines to the general ethical principles found in Clara E. Hill’s third edition of her book entitled Helping Skills.

Verse one of the bible says “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released, and prisoners will be freed” (Isaiah 61:1 New Living Translation). This scripture can be in connection with the principles of beneficence, and nonmaleficence. Beneficence refers to counselors being committed to help others grow and develop. Nonmaleficence speaks of not harming or neglecting one’s clients. God has called counselors to help by empowering others, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to use the God-given tools within to shed light on dark areas that need to be healed and strengthened. This would also allow one to see oneself as Christ does.

​Verse two states, “He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies” (Isaiah 61:2 New Living Translation). This verse can relate to the ethical principle of justice. Justice is a person having a fair opportunity to be heard and get the proper help that one would need to not just survive but live. Counselors have the responsibility to provide service to those in need who may not be able to pay or lack in some way. God has called his people to serve the poor and the hungry, and this may not always be of financial benefit, but it could be in the spirit of one’s mental and emotional needs. People are starving for more than just food.

​Verse three, “To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory” (Isaiah 61:3 New Living Translation). One could think of the principle of veracity in relationship to this scripture. Veracity is the counselor providing the client with the truth. Being genuine and honest is important, so that the client has something solid to lean on. The counselor can help give one the strength to stand firm in the power of the truth. A counselor can guide the client in seeing the truth of the matter instead of the deception or lies others, particular experiences, situations, or oneself may have been fed.

​The last part of the scripture says, “They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago. They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations” (Isaiah 61:4 New Living Translation). Autonomy and Fidelity connect with this final principle. A counselor’s therapeutic relationship with the client is important. Fidelity, meaning a counselor being able to keep commitments and confidential information private, so that one does not feel violated. Just these simple, yet complex things can help restore the idea of relationships in a client’s life. It can help restore one’s view of connecting and communicating with others in a relationship, and with God. When one feels as though a relationship is possible, one is able to understand one’s needs and boundaries in order to grow. This is where autonomy comes into play. Autonomy is a person’s right to make the choices that will empower one’s beliefs and values, as well as taking the necessary steps to put these things into action. A counselor has the ability to empower one to make decision that will ultimately benefit one’s life and the world around one.

​A counselor has a lot of power but even more guidance of Christ. Not only are the mental and emotional aspects being dealt with but the spiritual part of one’s self as well. A counselor can give a person an outline of what a healthy life and relationship looks like. God knows every part and intricate detail of one’s being and a counselor has the opportunity to walk along side him, through the intimate parts and places of one’s existence. This is only with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This role and level of access should always be taken seriously because the counselor has a hand in deepest areas of one’s life. This is why it is important for the counselor who is a believer to study academically but also biblically, so that when one does receive access within a person that leads to unknown realms, one will have the creator of it all throughout the process.

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Author: Francine Ott

Francine is truly thankful to have a relationship with God and is seeking Him daily for guidance and any opportunities to walk closer with Him in truth and love. Francine is a choreographer/dancer, teacher, and soon to be counselor who has a heart to see God's transforming power, renew, restore, and heal the minds, souls, and bodies of people's lives.

Uniquely You

I love people. I am a talker, and I love nothing more than to sit down with someone and have a conversation. The intricacies of the different stories and lives we live fascinate me and it blows my mind to see how big our God is and all the ways that he works so precisely in our individual circumstances. The way that each person expresses and describes their story differently is so interesting and telling of their personality, and I could watch and listen all day long.

I would be lying if I said I never wondered what other people thought of me. I know as well as any other Truth-seeking Christian that the only opinion that matters is God's, however, this doesn't keep me from wondering how I come across to the world. We are human. We see each other and immediately our brains process some sort of information: She's cute. She's funny. She looks mad. What's up with her teeth? Her legs are really short. I like her hair. I think she has two different eyes. Her nostrils are big.

We can be brutal without intention. There have been a few times recently that I have felt uncomfortable while I was carrying on a conversation with someone whom I've recently met, and I noticed them looking at various things on my face while I talked instead of making eye contact with me. It made me extremely aware of every thing I did and I wondered what their thoughts were. Did they hear anything I said? Was my breath bad? Did I have broccoli in my teeth? My biggest concern is always if I seem genuine. Now, wait a second before you go thinking that I'm a phony. The reason I worry about my authenticity is because I don't talk as easily as I type. I stumble for the words I'm looking for, and in the silence of the search, my comfort level goes into the danger zone.

I am not so much a fan of being vulnerable.

But I realized today that as much as I look to others for their approval or acceptance or just to feel like I'm not alone in being a weirdo, it's not about them. And it's not about me. I can't keep living day in a day out wondering what that girl was looking at on my chin, or why someone stopped following me on twitter, or how come that friend of fifteen years stopped calling. These thoughts should be fleeting and my mind and heart need to stay focused on being who God is calling me to be...even if that means it's the girl who shares too much and cries too much and uses the word awesome too much. As long as it's pointing to Him, and my heart is soft and pliable for His hands to work with, I'll be ok.

And He won't let me down. He won't let you down either. Trust Him and be who you are; everyone else is already taken.

Truthfully, we are all so consumed in our own flaws and too busy worrying about them to notice anyone else's. Wouldn't it be so incredibly mundane and boring if we all looked, acted and thought the same? Jesus came so that we may have life and have it in the full! So I think it is far past time to stand boldly and firmly as the person He created us to be!

Lovely. Brave. Spirit-filled. Honest. Joyful. Faithful. Kind. Peaceful. Self-controlled.

You can't strike out when you are true to yourself.

John 10:10

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

Galatians 5:22-25

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

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Author: Emilee Lowe

Emilee is a Christ following wife and mother who lives in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is a former hair stylist who is committed to being used by God in whatever way He sees fit.

Pure and Holy

I recently read some rather shocking information in a recent Christian Post article. In a survey of 716 Christians, conducted by Christian Mingle, released in January, only 11 percent said they would save sex exclusively for marriage. Instead, 60 percent said they would be willing to have sex without any strings attached, while 23 percent said they would have to be "in love." Five percent said they would wait to get engaged.

These are very alarming statistics. How could Christians, followers of Christ say that they would be willing to engage in sex outside of the covenant of marriage? And, not just engage in sex, but engage in casual sex without being in love?

Unfortunately, this happens every day. Boy meets girl. Boy takes girl out. And on first date, boy and girl have sex.

This is disturbing on so many levels. Our society has deemed sex outside of the confines of marriage as acceptable and normal. We can hardly turn on the television and watch anything without viewing a sex scene where premarital sex is not promoted.

We as Christians are not to be conformed to this world. But, we're called to point the world to Christ. Not to allow the world to point us to sin and compromise.

God's standards of purity and holiness are still the same even though times have changed and people would rather adhere to their own standards.

(1)And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. (2)Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1, 2 NLT)

What the world says is okay, is not okay in God's sight. His standards are still the same. He desires that we honor Him with our bodies. That we refrain from behaviors and practices that the world says are acceptable.

Just because coworkers, friends, family or your favorite celebrities are doing it, does not mean it is for right, nor is it for you.

When we present all of ourselves to God, seeking to please Him with our lives, that is worship. And it is absolutely beautiful to our Father. God want us to worship Him with our lives. To honor Him with all we have. One of my favorite worship songs is 'Here I Am To Worship'. There is one line that says, ' Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that You're my God.' Our very lives should release that sweet melody to The Lord. Everyday as we present ourselves as living sacrifices which are holy and acceptable, our lives should speak and say to our Father, "Here I am worship!" Choosing to remain sexually pure brings great honor to our Father. Listen to the words in the scripture below.

Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20 NLT)

God wants us, as His daughters, to honor Him with our bodies. To live holy before Him. To live in such a way that your life is rendered unto Him as a sweet smelling fragrance. Purity and holiness smells good on you and it's oh so sweet to Him.

Prayer: Father, may I always honor you with my body. Help me to flee sexual temptation and sin. And, to always remember that my body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. I can not do with it, what I please. I make a choice to present myself as a living sacrifice. One that is acceptable and pleasing to you.

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Author: Pamela Bell

Pastor Pamela Bell is a passionate, lover of God, who desires to see God's people walk in the knowledge of who they are in Christ. She resides in Mobile, AL and serves as an Elder at her church, Gulf Coast Christian Center. Pastor Pamela enjoys reading, spending time with friends and all things chocolate.

Where’s the Mission Field?

‘Tis the season… For spring break mission trips! It seems like almost all of my friends have headed down to Mexico for this week to minister in different ways. One group is going to build a house, and another is working at an orphanage. And here I am, sitting at home. While everyone was leaving, I was really bummed that I couldn’t join them. I was able to go down to that orphanage a few years ago, and I would love to go back. Last year, I didn’t go with the house-building group, and I remember feeling really left out when everyone came home and had bonded and made new inside jokes that I didn’t get. Overall, this spring break was not looking very fun for me: sitting at home alone because all my friends are gone and then feeling even worse when they all get back. But then I got to thinking about it… What is it about mission trips that is so special? Is it the scenery? Maybe. The friendships formed? That’s part of it. But the real thing that makes mission trips so awesome is something that we don’t have to go to another country to do: share Jesus!

It’s easy to feel left out or feel like you’re making less of an impact than other people when they get to go to another country and serve, and you’re stuck at home. But you know what? That is simply not the case. Jesus never told us that we have to go to a country that we’re not from in order to shine his light. He just told us to go into all the world (Mark 16:15). Guess what? Where you’re from is part of the world, and he wants you to evangelize there, too! That’s not a perspective I think of often. Especially if you live in a small town like me, it’s easy to think that there’s no way for you to make an impact. But that’s not true either! There are more people than you might think out there who really have never heard the gospel. Maybe they’ve heard of Jesus, but they haven’t all heard the real good news or why Jesus is even important. And how are they ever going to know unless we tell them? My pastor has told us that he grew up in a big city with lots of people, went to public schools all his life, and never even heard the gospel until he was seventeen years old, and his friend in his computers class told him about Jesus. Isn’t that crazy to think about? We get in our bubble sometimes, I think. It’s easy to assume that the people who aren’t Christians are all just people who have heard the gospel and rejected it. But the truth is that while that may be the case for some people, there are still people out there in this world – even where you live! – who have never, ever heard about it. It’s up to us to tell them! The mission field isn’t limited to foreign countries. The mission field is wherever you are.

I’ve heard the phrase, “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.” I don’t think I agree with that entirely because a lifestyle in and of itself with no explanation given for it can’t present the gospel to people. But I do think it makes a good point. How we live our lives and what we put on display for the world are the things that are going to make people want to know what we have that they don’t. Our lifestyles themselves don’t preach the gospel, but they can draw people to us, which allows us to preach the gospel to them. In Philippians 2:15, Paul calls us “blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom [we] shine as lights in the world” (ESV). That’s encouraging in one way, but it’s also a call to action! We have to live our lives in that blameless way that Paul talks about. People judge Christ based on the Christians they know. If they see someone who says she’s a Christian but doesn’t live like a Christian, people will assume that all Christians are hypocrites. You see how that works? We have to actively make an effort to live our lives in ways that will push people toward Christ, not away from him.

Even if you are stuck at home alone while all of your friends are away on a mission trip, don’t feel like you can’t have the same impact they do! Your mission field isn’t just a foreign country. Your mission field is wherever you are. Get out there and shine brightly!

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Author: Hannah Bryant

Hannah Bryant is a worship-leading, cat-loving, pizza-eating redhead who doesn't take much seriously apart from her relationship with Jesus. She is currently finishing up her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education at Southern Oregon University. You can finder her blogging at Redwood Seed, her personal blog. redwoodseed.com.

Servant Vs. Doormat

Throughout my life I have allowed myself to be used as a doormat. A “doormat” is a submissive person who allows others to dominate them. There are times in my life and relationships where I have allowed others to treat me unfairly or poorly in hopes of getting them to love me more or obtain more of their attention. I was always taught that putting others needs and wants ahead of my own was honorable and noble. What I did not understand is serving a person is honorable and is the highest form of love, but that being a doormat for others was a lack of love of myself and ultimately a lack of love for others. It has not served others or myself well.

A thought that I have pondered and struggled with is being a servant verses a doormat. Being a servant is a main theme in the Bible and as beautiful as it sounds I do not want to be a doormat. After lots of prayer and reading I have come to understand the difference and there is a BIG difference.

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”-Galatians 5:13

Many of us fear that serving people leaves us vulnerable and leaves us open to be taken advantage of. While others, serve people as a form of manipulation.

A servant does things for God.

A doormat does things for people or self.

A servant see’s themselves as an instrument of God.

A doormat see’s themselves as a victim.

A servant is free.

A doormat lives as a slave.

When we serve others with the understanding and design of God we serve because of our love for God. We serve because God freed us and we want to see others freed by His love as well and that is shown by serving others.

When we become a doormat for others we are usually doing so to get something out of it: ei: I let my boyfriend stay out all night without any consideration for me or I accept him calling me names because I don’t want to lose him. I will put up with all he does even if it hurts me because I want to keep him. So being a doormat is really not noble or truly loving someone, it actually is the opposite. It’s putting up with poor treatment to gain something from that person.

The Bible says, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’(Mark 12:31). Do you see that? How you love your neighbor is really a direct reflection of how you love yourself. So if you’re allowing yourself to be treated as a doormat, you believe you are and should be treated as a doormat.

So how do you know the difference?

If you are serving there will be no feelings of resentment or feeling taken advantage of, because you are serving for God and with the right mindset and motives. On the other hand if you are allowing yourself to be treated as doormat you will feel resentful, used and taken advantage of. You will be doing things out of obligation, with the wrong motives usually self-serving (though you usually won’t see it that way).

Take inventory of your feelings and motives. Forgive yourself and others and release them. You are loved and accepted no matter where you may be right now. Let HIM meet you where you are. Every one of you is important to the kingdom, so put your crowns back on, throw your shoulders back and act accordingly to what God says about you!

About the Author :

Leilani Glassmyer is a single mom to a beautiful 4 year old little girl. She is in love with the Creator of the stars. Her mission is simple yet so big, to encourage and bring Jesus to all in need. To bring hope by loving people, writing, photography, music, poetry/spoken word and meeting people right where they are. Gods Grace is her air.

Connect with her on :

Made Whole

Hey you. There’s something I want you to know.

You are a masterpiece.

A beautiful and incredibly special masterpiece.

You are not framed by wooden pieces, nor do you hang on a wall to simply look pretty. And you don’t cost hundreds of dollars.

You are framed by the very hands of God, and you bring beauty to this world just by living in it. You’re priceless.

You are a living, breathing, walking, talking work of Heavenly art.

Because God created you- in His image.

And being made in God’s image is nothing short of beautiful. As a matter of fact, it’s the epitome of beautiful. And you’re it.

This is what it looks like to be made whole in the image of God. 

But what does it look like to live whole?

“Fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

-2 Corinthians 4:17-18

First of all, we must live with an awareness of the kingdom of God. Do not live as if the world you live in now is the only word that surrounds you. Live with an understanding that the kingdom of God surrounds you and there are greater things to come! The kingdom is here, and one day it will be here in its fullness. You are a part of His kingdom, and kingdom living is the way in which we are called to live. It’s exactly what this world needs to not only see, but also taste, so dish it to them- freely and endlessly. “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”  -Psalm 34:8

Secondly, in order to live whole, we must acknowledge the Spirit within and allow it to guide us. We must welcome God into our hearts just as effortlessly as He loves and forgives us daily. You belong to Christ and because of this, Christ lives in you. As Paul tells the Galatians, “Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature,” (Galatians 5:16). We all know what sin looks like. We’ve all faced it and partaken in much more than we would even like to admit. With that being said, know that the Spirit of God within you is stronger than any earthly temptation that you will ever face. Fight your temptations with the Spirit as your sword and shield. Listen to your heart when you find yourself in another battle. Don’t back down to Satan. Instead, make him back down from you. Show Satan that you are made whole in the image of God and no one, not even his sinful lure can take you away from that.

And finally, in order to live whole, we must live our lives in relationship with God. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control,” (Galatians 5:22). We must show love. We must shout joy. We must provide peace. We must show kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. God gives us the gift of community because we were not created to ever be alone. The fruits of the Spirit are the embodiment of this gift. Community does not entail picking and choosing which acts of service you would like to do. Community looks like serving someone the second you see that they need help in whatever shape or fashion that you can.

Here’s an idea: Don’t turn your head from the homeless person you pass on the streets everyday on your drive to work. Even if you don’t have money to spare, say a prayer over that homeless person as you drive by the place of which you see them in passing. Ask that God will allow he or she to flourish in the riches of His love and then be guided by His Spirit to a place of opportunity. I’ve met many homeless people on prayer walks around my city and let me tell you, I’ve seen tremendously broken hearts that desperately scream for hope. Some of these stories are indeed heartbreaking, but many of them have somehow retained a deep faith. Get a group of people to do a prayer walk around your community and get to know stories of the homeless that surround you. I promise your perspective on life will take on a whole new meaning.  

Step out of your comfort zone. We are not called to live comfortably.

Reach out to your community. Show love. Do love. Be love.

“He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.”

–Proverbs 28:27

“Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

-Philippians 2:4

Above all, it is my prayer that you live with Jesus Christ as the focal point of your existence. He is the reason you have a heartbeat, and He should be exactly who your heart beats for.

Always.  

Every second, of every moment, of every day.

Always.

Be made whole.

“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” -Ephesians 4:14-21 (NLT)

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Author: Emily Townsend

Emily Townsend is a 20 year old southern girl who has a heart for loving Jesus, loving others, and serving the world. She is currently pursuing a career in ministry as she continues to fall madly in love with Jesus by the day. Emily is also obsessed with books, coffee, koalas, Pinterest, Pilates, and weddings. Her daily dose of life consists of a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus. You can also find her blogging on her personal blog The Joy of My Joy.

Give to Receive

In all that we do and deal with daily we forget to be kind to ourselves

I am sure it has not been an easy road for you. Sometimes we have to take on multiple roles and we are only one person.

In the midst of giving, you may find that you are extending yourself beyond what you have been called to do. In these moments you find yourself drained and trying to hold onto yourself in a way that makes you feel whole.

You are trying to grasp tightly to what pieces of you are left in order to survive. The very thought of allowing yourself to be vulnerable when you feel you have nothing left to give seems like such an unnerving place. It is a boundless space where there is nothing secure or solid to hold you up; but God is there.

It may even be hard for you to be affectionate or give something as simple as a hug because though it seems easy to some, there is a complexity that you feel when having to connect with another; there is almost a wall there.

When you do choose to connect or communicate, it is as if you are trying to fill a void; and though you decide to share yourself with people, it is in a way that allows them to feel and understand the great depths of love within your heart and not the voids in your soul.

Sometimes we make every effort to ensure that those around us not only see but feel like nothing or rather no one is missing. We try to come up with creative ways to extend ourselves more than we can. In our minds we almost believe that there is more than one of us to go around.

It is amazing how we forget so quickly that the God we serve is able to nurture and give nourishment beyond our human capacity.

Through all that we endure, God covers us. He helps us maintain and balance our lives and relationships so that they are filled with love, security, and peace; even when we do not feel that those things are there to offer.

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:19, 20 NLT)

You need support and love too but we like to pretend that help is not necessary for our survival. I definitely had to learn the hard way that we do not grow in isolation but rather in community; amongst other believers.

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17 ESV)

If you want to give and share, you must know how and be willing to receive.

About the Author :

Francine E. Ott is truly thankful to have a relationship with God and is seeking Him daily for guidance and any opportunities to walk closer with Him in truth and love. Francine is a choreographer/dancer, teacher, and soon to be counselor who has a heart to see God's transforming power, renew, restore, and heal the minds, souls, and bodies of people's lives.

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"Harboring unforgiveness in our hearts is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die."-Joyce Meyer

I have a confession. I have struggled with unforgiveness for a long time. At times I thought I had let go of it, and other times it is so blatantly obvious in the forefront of my mind that I can't seem to think about anything else.

The person I've been poisoning myself over probably doesn't even remember that I exist. They most likely have moved on with their life and forgotten all about the pain they caused. I can only imagine that they harbor no feelings of regret or remorse toward me, and that I haven't been torturing their thoughts the way that they have tortured mine.

I know better than this.

I could come up with a bunch of reasons why I still struggle, and why my trust has been tested and tattered and how I can't go back to the way that I was before the hurt was caused. I can explain why revisiting those scars, and remembering the pain reminds me of how far I've come.

But when I think about the excuses and the justification, it all falls short, because those details fail when put against the Word of God. When it comes to forgiveness, and letting go of the hurt, The Lord is clear on what He expects from us:

Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Nowhere in those scriptures does it say UNLESS. There is no acceptable excuse. And that can be a really hard thing to grasp, and swallow. It doesn't matter if she tried to ruin your marriage, it doesn't matter if he broke your heart, it doesn't matter if she took all of your money and lied about it, it doesn't matter if he ran over your cat. I know these are some hard circumstances. And we are all so human and naturally led by our emotions that we really want to hang on to those feelings of righteous anger.

But even if the anger and hurt and pain is righteous (you were wronged by someone by all definition,) you have to let them go. Forgive them.

Releasing them of the offense is actually the only way you will relieve yourself of the pain. This does not mean to let them hurt you again or pretend it never happened in the first place, but to move forward without holding on to that bitterness.

Grace. We all want it. Can we start giving it a little more? How about a lot more??

"If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking" - David Crowder Band - How He Loves Us

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

About the Author :

Emilee Lowe is a Christ following wife and mother who lives in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is a former hair stylist who is committed to being used by God in whatever way He sees fit.

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The Seed

As a former Kindergarten teacher, I have developed a great love for children’s books. One of my absolute favorite books is 'The Carrot Seed' by Ruth Krauss. This story is about a little boy who plants a carrot seed in the ground with the hopes that he would have a carrot someday. Everyone close to the little boy tells him that the seed wouldn't come up. His mother said it wouldn't come up. His father said it wouldn't come up. Even his big brother said that it wouldn't come up."

But, in spite of what everyone said, the little boy in the story still took care of his seed every day. He watered and weeded it diligently. And one day, finally, a carrot appeared just as the little boy had known it would.

I love this story, because it is a story about believing. A story about having faith. Having an unshakable faith, in spite of what the negative "voices" around you say. Believing that it will come to pass at the appointed time. We have to believe that all of the things that God placed in the ground of our hearts will come to fruition one day.

Let me ask you a question. Do you have a dream, vision or goal in the ground of your heart? Something fervently burning on the inside of you? But, others around don't see what you see nor believe what you believe? And, it doesn't always have to be people that tell us that it's not going to happen. What about our circumstances? Our past? What about things like our health and our society? All of these things speak loudly to us. And, unfortunately, they don't always speak in agreement with God or what we believe either.

Sometimes life loudly tells us that the vision or dream placed in your heart by an Almighty God is impossible.

Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45 NKJV)

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23 NKJV)

You must believe that the things God placed in your heart will come to pass at God's appointed time.

The Word of God tells us that God gives us the desires of our heart. This simply means that, as we spend time with Him, He causes our hearts to desire what He desires. He even causes us to desire what He desires for us. So, if God is the one that gave you the desire, promise, vision or dream, we can have peace knowing that He is faithful.

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NKJV)

Even when life, and sometimes, even we ourselves say it's impossible, we have to remember that with God all things are possible. The keywords are 'with God'. You have to also believe that your Father God loves you and will withhold no good thing from you. He wants to bless you because it gives Him pleasure to bless His children.

So, keep on believing. Keep on preparing. And keep on expecting. Because one day, it will come to pass.

Prayer: Father I know that all good and perfect things come from you. Help me to have faith, knowing that you take pleasure in blessing your children. Help me to also remember that you are faithful who promised.

About the Author :

Pastor Pamela Bell is a passionate, lover of God, who desires to see God's people walk in the knowledge of who they are in Christ. She resides in Mobile, AL and serves as an Elder at her church, Gulf Coast Christian Center. Pastor Pamela enjoys reading, spending time with friends and all things chocolate.

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How’s Your Spiritual Diet?

I have to confess that I’m a Taco Bell addict. I have no problem passing up most other fast food places without a second thought, but Taco Bell is my weakness! It’s a habit I’ve really tried to cut down on because even though I like it, I know it’s not good for me. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “You are what you eat.” A person who eats a lot of fruits and vegetables is going to be healthier than a person who only eats junk food. Have you ever thought about soul junk food? Our souls require nourishment. We can fill them up in a number of ways, but not all of those ways are healthy. We need a healthy spiritual diet just as badly, if not more so, than we need a healthy physical diet.

What we fill ourselves up with is important. It may seem like anything that fills up our soul hunger is good because it accomplishes the same purpose. However, a person who eats a healthy dinner and a person who eats an unhealthy dinner are both going to be full afterwards, but only one of them is going to be better off because of what she ate. I’ve heard it said that we are all born with a God-shaped hole inside of us, and we all try to fill it. Some people turn to God, who fills the hole perfectly. Some people turn to other things that may fill up parts of the hole but can never take care of the whole thing. I always thought that phrase was just talking about how some people become Christians and some don’t, but lately, God has been showing me that it’s not just about that. Some Christians still choose not to fill their God-shaped holes with God.

Where do you find your satisfaction and wholeness? You can be a Christian who loves the Lord but still doesn’t fill up her soul with the right things. I know I’ve been there. There’s never been a time when I’ve walked away from my faith, but there have been times where I’ve been looking to all the wrong things to fill up the hunger in my soul even though God is right there with me. I’ve eaten my fair share of soul junk food, and it’s shown. My spiritual health declines. As I look to other things to bring me the things that only God can truly bring me, my soul gets lazy. I spend less time with God because I’m getting temporarily filled with other things. I don’t think I need him because something else is giving me what I think I need. Unfortunately, the satisfaction that comes from things other than God never lasts. It’s only temporary.

There are lots of things that we look to instead of God for our satisfaction and wholeness. Some people turn to harmful things like alcohol, drugs, abusive relationships, porn, and the list goes on. If you are caught in the trap of those things, let me encourage you that it is not too late, and you are not too far gone for Jesus to restore and redeem you! Turn to him entirely, and please seek the physical help you need, especially if you are in a dangerous situation. If you are not involved in things that are blatantly dangerous or wrong, don’t judge those who are. We all make mistakes. If you do an honest heart-check, I bet you can find at least one area in your life where you’re looking to something other than God to give you satisfaction. A problem for me when I was growing up (and that still likes to rear its ugly head every now in then) was gossip. I found my satisfaction in being the one who was “in the know” and had the dirt on anything and everything. Gossip may seem harmless at first, but truthfully, it’s just as bad as the obvious vices we just talked about.

However, it’s not just “bad” things that draw our attention away from God. Even things that are good and fun and enjoyable are still not God, and putting them in his place is wrong. I know that I have a tendency to find my satisfaction in relationships with people instead of God. When I feel like people disapprove of me or don’t like me, I am completely unsatisfied, and I do everything in my power to change their minds. When I feel like I’m loved and appreciated by other people, I feel satisfied. Having relationships with people is not wrong in and of itself, but it’s wrong when I make my relationships my source of satisfaction. If you can’t think of an area in your life where you’re having this problem, ask God to show you anything you might be missing.

So how do we know when we’re finding our satisfaction in God and when we’re not? Sometimes it’s hard to tell! There are a few “tests” you can do, though, to find out where your satisfaction is coming from.

First, ask God! Psalm 139 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible because it really shows how loved and wanted we are. It concludes with a prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (verses 23-24 ESV). Ask God to search you and help you identify areas where you’re not finding your satisfaction entirely in him.

Secondly, watch what you say. Jesus said in Matthew 12:34, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (ESV). One way to figure out what’s in your heart is to listen to what you say. What’s the first thing that comes out of your mouth when someone makes you angry or frustrated? Is it one of the fruits of the spirit, or is it something hurtful?

Thirdly, evaluate your level of satisfaction. Is it fluctuating? Are you happy for a little while and then quickly need to search out another thing to provide satisfaction? If your level of satisfaction wavers, it is not coming from God. The satisfaction he provides is constant. The satisfaction other things provide is temporary. In Philippians 4, Paul talks about how he is able to be satisfied no matter what his life situation is because his satisfaction comes from God and not outside things. Whether his circumstances are great or terrible, he is satisfied in God.

Finding satisfaction in God looks different for everyone because everyone has different desires and needs, so I can’t give you a cut-and-dried way to do it. Once you identify places in your life where your satisfaction is coming from things that aren’t God, ask him to show you how to redirect your attention. He longs to be your satisfaction, and he’ll help you figure out how to get there. So make a resolution to cut out the spiritual junk food in your diet and trust in God to be your personal nutrition expert. He’ll help you figure out what to keep and what to let go of. He might ask you to let go of things that you’re clinging onto really tightly, and it might hurt to do so. Trust that he wouldn’t ask you to do it if it wasn’t going to be for your good.

Getting physically healthy takes a lot of work sometimes, and so does getting spiritually healthy. This process might be hard, but it will be worth it! The satisfaction God provides will never fail or run out. Rest assured that all the work you put in to become spiritually healthy is going to benefit you so much in the long run. God is right there waiting for you to turn to him, so don’t wait!

About the Author :

Hannah Bryant is a worship-leading, cat-loving, pizza-eating redhead who doesn't take much seriously apart from her relationship with Jesus. She is currently finishing up her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education at Southern Oregon University. You can finder her blogging at Redwood Seed, her personal blog. redwoodseed.wordpress.com.

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Do You want To Get Well?

It’s a valid question. Throughout the Bible, Jesus often asked hard and straight forward questions. His questions would usually stop people in their tracks; Jesus didn’t beat around the bush. As in John 5:1-9, 14 we see this story unfold;

“Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

Do you see that? There was a guy that had been at that healing pool and an invalid for thirty-eight years! That is like many of us. We have been stuck in situations or heart conditions left lame by choices or circumstances in life for years or even decades. Maybe you got divorced, or someone walked out of your life leaving your heart in shambles and perhaps left you a single parent. Maybe you were abused as a child and have continued to carry that with you into adulthood in turn leaving you a wounded child in an adult body and the relationships you’ve had have just been a repeat of your past. Maybe you have an illness that has left you on the sidelines of life. Whatever has left you lame, whatever those things have been or are, you do have a choice. This choice is a starting point to get well and it all starts with the question Jesus asked that man at the pool of Bethesda; do you want to get well? Do you want better? Do you believe Jesus can turn it all around and heal you, all of you? Let me tell you this, if Jesus can heal an invalid man, a bleeding woman and raise a dead man, then he can do ANYTHING! (“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”- Ephesians 3:20 )

This next verse always hits me in the gut because many of us fall into the trap of self-pity and excuses. Even today in 2014 when we have advanced in leaps and bounds we still tend to fall into this trap! “No one will help me.” “No one cares enough.” “But I am alone and no one calls me or checks to see how I’m doing.” Get out of that trap and do something! There may be people running up in front of you to get prayer during church, so what get up and get in line!! You have to try. You have to make the first move no matter how much the self pity wants to consume you. No one is going to do it for you.

7. “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

And then comes the best part! I just love this on so many levels. Jesus doesn’t say “oh poor guy, that’s so sad, people are so cruel.” No! He tells the invalid man to Get up, pick up his mat and walk! It’s a lesson in tough love; there are times when we need to be pierced with the truth (out of love of course). So he is basically saying to get up and out of your mess, clean up your mess and start walking. The act of walking is a huge act of faith. We often can become consumed and afraid by the hard work that will be inevitable in getting well and getting out of our lameness. Don’t be afraid of the hard work!

8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

Verse 14 is crucial to being and staying well. You must get out of whatever is making you lame no matter how hard it may be. Then you must continue down the road of healing, not allowing those things or sins to pull you back into that lameness Jesus led you out of. You have to be determined in your mind, body, soul and spirit to walk. For if you don’t do that you will fall back into whatever has made you lame in the past.

14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.”

Here are a few questions to meditate and pray about:

1. 1. Do you want to get well?

2. 2. What has left you lame? Recognize it and acknowledge that it has left you lame. Get out of denial, denial only leaves you in bondage.

3. 3. Are you willing to do the work?

Dear Father, I pray for all of my sisters and brothers reading this. I pray that no matter what has made them lame and no matter how much pain they may feel paralyzed by that you will meet them where they are. Daddy, I pray that you will fill them with an overwhelming peace and a knowing that no matter what you are with them. Their circumstances are no match for you daddy!!! You did not give us the spirit of fear! We will walk in your authority! I pray healing and that the chains will fall off and stay off! I hear those chains falling to the floor!! Father, Abba, Daddy, Yeshua we love and need you not just some of the time but all of the time!! I pray all of this in Jesus most Holy and precious name, AMEN!

Every one of you is important to the kingdom, so put your crowns back on, throw your shoulders back and act accordingly to what God says about you!

About the Author :

Leilani Glassmyer is a single mom to a beautiful 4 year old little girl. She is in love with the Creator of the stars. Her mission is simple yet so big, to encourage and bring Jesus to all in need. To bring hope by loving people, writing, photography, music, poetry/spoken word and meeting people right where they are. Gods Grace is her air.

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Gentle Grace

Undeserved. Unearned. Unexpected. Unbound.

Grace.

Abundant.. Loving. Merciful. Unending.

Grace.

Infinite. Vast. Wide. Free.

Grace.

His grace is for you and His grace is for me.

God is so incredibly good in that He loves and provides for us unconditionally.

Always.

Whether or not you feel His presence or are even seeking Him, He is with you. Always.

No matter who you are, what you’ve done, or where you’ve been, you were saved with a very costly price indeed and still, His grace is given to you freely. God doesn't look at you and decide whether or not you deserve His grace. God gives His grace to you without any absolute hesitation. God knows you. He knows the desires of you heart. He created you. He wants you to want Him as the focal point of your existence. He wants the best for you because He loves you. Receiving His grace should be a reminder of all of these things.

You are not a sinner in the hands of an angry God. You are a sinner who is deeply loved and passionately pursued by your Father as He holds you in His sweet and gentle hands.

Grace comes in many shapes and forms of our everyday lives. Let’s take the shape of a heart, for example. Your heart beats with a beautiful rhythm everyday. God placed that heart inside of You with purposeful intentions; to find your rhythm in the world. You see, all of our purposes in the world piece their way together so we are able to achieve the mission of the world as a whole; as the family that God created for us to be. We are to live and to love and to glorify the name of God through all that we do, as His children.

It’s hard for me to fathom the grace of God. There are truly no limits to it. He provides it to us and we receive it. The simplicity of this truth is such an intricate beauty.

We don’t do anything to receive His grace. God gives it to us because He loves us. Grace isn’t given like brownie points. Brownie points have to be earned. Grace can't be earned.

But that's not all.

While we are sinning, God is still pouring buckets of His love and grace into our hearts. Let me say that again: We are receiving God's grace in the very same moments that we partake in sin.

He desires us and will do anything to catch our eye, captivate our heart, and transform us for His good. This includes remaining strong by our side as we dig ourselves in hole after hole of sin after sin. This, my friends, is grace. Unmerited. Undeserved. Unearned.

Grace.

Take a look at the incredible masterpiece that God painted for us to live in. Look at your surroundings. Do not always look straight ahead or you'll miss out on the beauty of God's creation. Look at the stars, the moon, the sun, the clear blue sky, the puffy white clouds, the mountains, the waterfalls, the rivers, the streams, the oceans, the trees, a flower in blossom, fresh dew on the grass.

Take in the smell of an approaching summer storm, rain as it is falling, fresh cut grass, the smell of the ocean, and the countless number of flowers that take bloom every year.

Listen to the beautiful symphony of nature. Listen to the birds singing, the bees buzzing, the pecking of a woodpecker, the thumping of a bunny, the dolphins talking to one another, the whales singing to each other, the late night "ribbit" of a frog.

Ah, and my favorite. Let us take a look at love.

Accepting God within our hearts. Childhood memories with those we cherish the most. Endless laughs. Genuine smiles. The love many of our grandparents share that we would roll over in a heartbeat to have. The smile of a newborn baby. The laughs and giggles of a small child. A family. Holding hands. Warm hearts. Someone to fill that missing gap. Taking that first leap of faith. Marrying the person who made all of your dreams and so much more come true.

We get to experience all of this at literally no cost.

Grace is so beautiful in that we get to not only experience it, but once we catch on to it, we are so transformed by it that we start to realize just how BIG God is and just how small we are. He can do anything.

Look at the dark holes in your life that were once filled with light. Guess what that was?

Yep.. Grace.

And by the grace of God, we are able to live out a relationship with Him and experience the very life worth living.

He knows us all by name, all 7 billion-plus of us.

Talk about incredible.

The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you.

Know this, and allow yourself to be transformed by one of the most beautiful truths in this world.

About the Author :

Emily Townsend is a 20 year old southern girl who has a heart for loving Jesus, loving others, and serving the world. She is currently pursuing a career in ministry as she continues to fall madly in love with Jesus by the day. Emily is also obsessed with books, coffee, koalas, Pinterest, Pilates, and weddings. Her daily dose of life consists of a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus. You can also find her blogging on her personal blog The Joy of My Joy.

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