The Raging Storm Inside

Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
Jesus responded, "why are you afraid? Have you so little faith!" Then he got up and rebuked the wind and the waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. 
The Disciples were amazed. "Who is this man?" they asked. "Even the winds and waves obey him!"
Matthew 8: 23-27


Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.  About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, "It's a ghost!"
But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," He said. "Take courage. I am here!"
Then Peter called to him, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you walking on the water."
"Yes, Come," Jesus said
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink.  "Save me, Lord!" He shouted
Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. "you have so little faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?"
When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. "You really are the Son of God!" They exclaimed.
Matthew 14:22-33

I just love these stories. They are such wonderful reminders to me in times of a storm. Most of my storms I'll admit are very emotionally based. As a women I think we struggle with more emotions than anything. We feel so much that many times we take our feelings as straight truth when they may be blinding us to the truth. At times they may even be hindering us from experiencing truth.
Even recently I have been faced with a raging fighting storm inside my heart and mind. It's hard to find truth of the matter when my brain goes every which way and I can't seem to find which way is up or down.
Truth about it though is that no matter how bad the storm the one thing I have stuck to when in the storm is Jesus.
Just like in the two stories above where even though the disciples had barely any faith that they were going to survive their immediate instinct was to reach out and call for Jesus help.  In the first story the disciples woke him up for fear they were all going to drown. In the second story Peter immediately cried out to the Lord to save him. Sure we can agree they had little faith, but the point is that they at least HAD faith. Though it was little they had enough faith to call upon the one they trusted to save them.
Also in both scriptures we see Jesus accusing them of being of little faith. Why did Jesus accuse them of having little faith if they had enough faith to call to him and trust He could do something to change the situation?
What the disciples lacked was the faith God had given them the same power to control the wind and the waves. God, through Jesus being with us, has given us the same power to control the waves, to walk on water. We have the power to shush the storm inside.
So, what does this mean exactly?
We are fighting a battle. We are in the midst of a war we can not see with our eyes but can experience with our souls. Our feelings are what entangle us in that war. It is what makes us feel that we are caught up inside of it. The war is a fight over you. The war is a fight over your heart, your soul.
The good and the bad, there really is that war going on. (God vs Satan) To choose to hold tight and fight off the bad, the scary thoughts that keep us feeling like we are suffocating and drowning in worry and fear. We have control and power to say, Jesus has won! I am on his side. Evil has no room in this place!
Put your foot down. Tell Satan exactly who you want to have win, and in turn who has just won that battle.
When the war is ragging and more than you can handle and you have taken your eyes of Christ but you still know he's there, that's the time you take what little faith you have left and just like Peter cry out "Lord, Save me!"
"He replied, 'if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.' " Luke 17:6
He Replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain 'move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." - Matthew 17:20
It doesn't take a ton of faith to do the impossible! The little bit of faith that may be left inside of you is all you need to be able to cry out and ask Jesus to catch your hand and keep you from drowning in the storms waging war inside of you

A mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds you will ever see, it's just a spec when holding it in your hand. According to both of these different accounts Jesus is saying that if you have just a spec of faith not only will he reach out and save you if you call on him, but with Him you CAN move mountains! You Can calm seas! You can crush the raging war inside of you that threatens to erupt you from the inside out. You can claim VICTORY OVER IT ALL!!! And through winning the war over the rage, you will find Peace like no other and a Joy that flows from the soul!
It's time to cry out, take the stand. Even if you seem to have lost faith that He loves you just choose to believe that He will save you from the Storm within. The rest of the saving grace comes after you cry out.
So we are left with two choices each time we face this storm inside:
1) Throw up our hands and give up, drown in the storm of worry and fear, assuming God just doesn't care about you and your 'little problems.'
or
2) Cry out "LORD, SAVE ME!" And watch Him lovingly reach for you, help you into a boat of safety and watch Him calm the wind and waves. He's not going to let you drown if you ask Him to save you.

Fighting the right battle

The bible is a two edged sword. (Hebrews 4:12)  So why are Christians using it to fight each other instead of using it for intended purpose to cut down the devil?  The only time we seem to quote scriptures and fight for what we believe is right is when we are fighting with each other trying to prove why we are right in our theology.
Stop playing the game of who is right, who is wrong, who knows more and who is more qualified. IF you are a Christian you are qualified to share the gospel of Christ. Let’s stop using the Bible for Satan’s purposes of side tracking us with our ‘knowledge’ and need for being right or wrong in the church and start using it for the intended purpose of fighting off the evil in this world. Share the truths with people who don’t know them. That was the intended purpose of the Bible. God had it written so we could learn, so we could be close to Him and know His truth and His voice and use His voice to fight off the devil. We are to use his voice to guide our everyday lives.

The Bible IS NOT intended to be used to fight Christians, to prove points, or get into useless battles of right theology and wrong theology. As long as we believe the basics that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He died for us we are in agreement of the only point that really matters and makes us Christians. We are to be using these truths to fight the real enemy, the devil. If that is the only thing we can agree upon that is O.K. because that is the point of the Bible. We are to let people know Christ, to have a personal relationship with Him. It has nothing to do with starting petty fights, engaging in battles of who memorized more scripture, who has more Bible college or who has the perfect set of moral values based on the Bible.
Preach Jesus crucified for you. Preach Jesus is the savior of the whole world. Preach his love that was given on the Cross for you. JOHN 3:16!

Ephesians 6: 10-13

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Read it again and again if you have to. The point in putting on the Armor of God is to fight not flesh and blood (humans) but the things in the world that you cannot see, the devil and his little army of misfits.

When you study, when you read, yes you are to share what you learned but the easiest way to share isn't by getting in heated theological debates, or standing there shouting that you are a great leader come follow me.  The point is to put what you have learned into practice. The point to reading and studying the Bible is to apply it so you are strong, not to fight humans but to fight evil.

As a Christian you are not to fight or try to convince each other of why you are always theologically right. The people you choose to pick fights with are just the people Satan is using along your path to distract you from actually seeing him.  The people who you meet God has put in your path to give you people to fight with. Most of those people who cross your path are on your side 100% but you’ll never know that because you want them to agree with you 100% before they can ‘fight’ alongside you.

To those of you who want to be leaders, just do the right thing.  If God wants you to be the captain of some army while here on earth there will be people who follow your guidance and the way you live your life.

As Christians we should be joining together, unifying even with our theological differences and preaching truth at the Devil, at Satan, NOT at each other!

You are a warrior in God's army. Don't fight each other anymore, because when we do we are killing our own army. It's time to turn around and fight who we are meant to be fighting! Let's show Satan and his army of clowns exactly how God can bring unity to His own people so that they can no longer stand their ground. So they tremble with the fear of God again. Let's take their wicket little smiles that they get each time there is a fight between Christians and turn that into a freaked out OH NO face where they realize they no longer have control over our lives, that we have caught on to his practices to side track us. Let us fight him! Let us put on the armor of God!

 Pick up that two edged sword and fight knowing that no matter which way we turn that blade he gets hurt over and over and over again!! 


I AM A WARRIOR OF THE LORD'S ARMY! 

The ruin of prom night

So it's prom season again!!! YAY! we get to see our daughters and sons go to a ball and get all dressed up for an evening to have a great time. But wait...


Are your daughters really going to think prom night was so fun in 2 weeks, a month, or in 10 years when the guy who they went with took their innocence? Is the fun and expectation of prom night going to be ruined by high school hormones?

Prom night is a great time. I loved dressing up, getting all dolled up. I still love it!

But parents, stop being so stupid! Stop encouraging your daughters to wear dresses that show way more skin than they should. When you buy that dress that is just a little too huggy, a little too low or both it encourages boys to be what we call 'boys.' They can't help it.  They are by nature attracted to the body parts your daughter owns. Boys will be boys especially when encouraged to do so.

Instead of allowing your daughter to pick a dress that is showing off just how gorgeous your daughter's body is by leaving little room for imagination, teach them to pick dresses that are flattering but not showing off their cleavage and thong lines. There are several beautiful dresses to pick from that are going to make her look just as much a princess and in many eyes even more of a princess than the girls who wear too showy of clothing.

We get upset when boys have one thing on their minds but yet as parents of daughters we don't put the reigns on what we let our daughters wear. There is no need to show that stuff off. Teach your girls to respect their own bodies, to love their curves yes, but to do so with modesty so that sex is not on the poor boys brain all night instead just enjoying each others company, laughing and showing each other real respect.

I have a little girl so I get that we want our daughters to be the bell of the ball when we help them pick out those dresses. But, when picking out those dresses lets teach them that being the bell of the ball isn't about showing it all, it's about class, dignity and self respect.

I also have two little boys and when they get older I don't want them being tempted by hormonally driven girls all over their high school who disrespect themselves thinking that getting attention because they have boobs is necessary. I get those girls will always be around and I won't be able to stop everyone but I do hope and pray my sons will find girls to take to those events who's parents respect their daughter. Girls who have learned self respect and who have been taught that being classy is about how you carry yourself and treat others, not what you wear or how quick you open you legs for a guy.

I get this whole post is probably old fashioned, annoying to many and too grandma ish. But I know for a fact that many women out there, who are in their 30's and 40's, when being open and honest will openly admit that the romances they had in high school were not something they would redo. There was no understanding of what Love and Respect really were.

 Let's teach our daughters to be the princess they are inside. Show them how to have beauty on both outside and inside. Let's teach them that it's ok to have self respect and stop teaching them the only way a woman can find any form of importance is through being excepted by the men around us finding us sexually attractive.

If you want your daughter to remain a virgin help her learn to dress to respect, not to gain attention from others so they dream of her at night when they go to bed. Teach her to not show off her sexuality but her beauty!! Stop saying you don't want evil of sex to ruin your daughter if you are going to dress her to attract attention from men all over the world. Your daughter is beautiful in those princess dresses but she is beautiful when she is in sweats and a t-shirt too.

Keep it classy people not slutty and all about a night of sex. Send your daughter off in confidence so you don't have to worry about bad things happening to her that night. Help her dress so you aren't sitting up biting your nails off in worry that she went 'too far' to say no. Teach her while she is young the real meaning of class and being a beautiful princess. Teach her it's ok to look pretty without needing to be sexy. And teach her to find men that treat her the way she deserves, with dignity and respect, not just looking for a warm body.

not a real princess

A real princess!!!

Let her enjoy life and teach her the way to live it without regrets, and limit her hurts by protecting her heart while she lives under your roof. God has charged you as parents to teach her and protect her. Let's encourage our daughters to find her real beauty!

Live or Die may Jesus be Exalted

Philippians 1: 19&20

Yes, I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Paul is once again writing out of Prison. The poor guy seems to always be writing to people out of prison. But Paul does not get down about his position of where he is.  He knows that all things work together for good for those who are called (Romans 8:28) He still lives with the mindset that living to serve Christ and exalt His name is the only purpose to life. 

He lives his life as a servant for Christ ( Rm 1:1 Phil 1:1). He serves Christ without fear of what others think. And to put it simply if others thought highly of him they wouldn't have been constantly finding reasons to put him in jail.

How often do you live your life every second like Paul did for the cause of exalting the name of Jesus? Often times we go into work, hide in our little cubical or section of the building and just reside there hoping no one asks us about our faith. The worst part is most of us live in fear that we are going to get fired, or going to get into some sort of trouble for being excited about sharing Jesus and lifting His name to the top of our lives.

Are you afraid to share Jesus? Do you back down when someone else comes along who says they don’t believe it? Do you have faith enough to believe that God has you in your job for a purpose far greater than to earn a measly pay check? Maybe there is only one person He has you there to share His great gift with, maybe there are 10. The point is you are wherever God has put you for more than just making money. God’s got all the money in the world to use to help you out trust me, He’s not worried about your finances the way you are.

I’m not saying stop doing your job and only shout Jesus name.  I am saying the people you work with should at least know you live to a higher standard than they do. Do you blend in with your co-workers or do you stand out as an individual who has integrity and love and kindness, never wavering, always willing to lend that helping hand. And are you the person that if someone asks you what makes you different  you would be bold enough as to share the truth of WHO makes you different.

Do you run out with faith and perseverance not caring if you get fired from your job or kicked out of a place you like going too because of Jesus? Do you keep up with the Jones’ way of living life or do you keep up with Jesus way of life?

Know this, sharing your faith with all may seem scary at first, but when you fall in love with The One who saved you from ever having to go to hell it’s time you be thankful for it!  Embrace the truths of the life and freedom you have in this knowledge.  Daily pick up your sword and shield and ask Jesus to help defeat the fear that is in your heart.  Surrender your wants and desires to Him daily. Ask him to place His wants, His desires for your life on your heart as well so that you can be a trustworthy servant like Paul.

Be bold for Jesus each day, He will overcome the fear inside of you that tells you to shrink back. If Paul could be imprisoned and beat continually and continue to be bold so that Jesus was known everywhere then so can we. We have the same Father, same Savior on our side that Paul did!

 It’s time we start using our tools given to us to be bold, be daring, BE JESUS TODAY!!!!

Whether you live or die may your purpose for each day be Jesus exalted in your life today!

What If?

What would happen if Christians lived the way God intended them to?

What if Christians were to stop being scared what others thought of them and just live Jesus day in and out?
What If Christians weren’t worried about showing too much Jesus and scaring people away instead we were worried about not showing Jesus enough and keeping people from heaven?

What if Christians were to walk the walk even at home in their private life and not just when the people of the church were there or when it suited their purpose to throw a “that was for my Jesus” to make ourselves look good?

What if Christian’s goals in doing good deeds were to make sure we were bringing glory to our Father in heaven not to our own earthly name?

What if Christians actually took the Bible seriously that when we ask the Savior of the world to enter our lives we actually change and can do all the things that we read about other Christians from “back then” do? You know like casting out demons, healing the sick, helping the lame walk and actually having enough faith to believe that we have God right with us always every second of every day and He wants to shine His glory through us Christians by performing those acts in which we have the power to do through Jesus Holy name.

What if every day Christians got up not worrying if our day was going to be full of trials but woke up with a sword and shield and ready to face our day with a smile because we know WHO wins the war and we are on His side and He is on ours?

What if Christians stopped pretending that Satan isn’t out to get them and realize he is and we need to be armed and ready to fight his fiery darts that try to catch us and scare us back into silence about our Jesus?
What if every morning Christians woke up and jumped out of bed and chose each day to live for Jesus every second of every day you were in a relationship with him including when things get busy with getting kids off to school, running those thousands of errands or even just showering and brushing our teeth?

What if Christians wake up every morning and the first thoughts of their day is a prayer given to God instead of grumbling or complaining it’s already morning and you need more sleep?

What if every morning Christians faced Satan head on being mean and reminding him of his destiny not constantly allowing him to remind us of our past?

What if Christians stopped condemning each other, talking dirty about each other and were deliberately nice to each other building one another up instead of tearing each other down? No more name calling, back bighting, gossiping or trying to make sure we look like we are better than one another.

What if Christians actually acted like Jesus being firm but honest with the people who do religion for a show instead of to help others who need to know there is a Savior just wanting to love on them?

What if Christians joined hand in hand and started a real revolution to save the world from hell?

What if Christians stopped talking about revival and pray for a revival in our own hearts to truly be 100% sold out for Christ not worrying if your other Christian friends are coming along? Not worrying if our non-Christian friends think we are crazy?

What if Christians just believed with the smallest amount of faith that we are the only light of the world many will ever see and we are the only way people are going to meet Jesus?

What if Christians lived together with only one goal in mind which is to serve and honor the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords?

What if all of these questions we could actually do and find a way to bring a GOD revival to our world?

What if the Christian world took a change to be something God honoring? Can you picture it? I can and the picture I see would be so beautiful! WE would have revival, we would have a happy Father in heaven and we would all live lives of freedom. People who see all of us unite together in the one goal would see us change the world with all the power God intended us to have and they couldn't stop us no matter how hard they tried. The world, both this world we can see and the world we cannot see, would know that we are more than conquerors! The war we fight has already been WON! Let's unite together to let the world know that we KNOW this!

What if the Christian change started in you?

Are you ready?

Are you willing?

Will you actually do it?

If you said yes you are willing to be the Christian change in this world first of all I want you to pray and just open your heart to God the Father. Let Him fully take over your soul. Surrender every piece of your life every area every selfish desire to God and give Him full reign over your life to use you as He sees fit. Ask Him to help you in the areas of unbelief and ask Him to use you to bring glory to Himself not you as a person.

After that I want to encourage you to get serious! Tell a friend, in fact tell several invite them over. Let the Joy of the Lord fill your life and erupt and overflow onto the lives of all the people you touch; your spouse, your kids, your co-workers, your church friends and anyone you come in contact with.

Jesus doesn't nor ever did condemn you

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "let anyone of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

"No one, sir," she said.

"Then Neither do I condemn you," Jesus Declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Notice once Jesus had made his point with everyone else that they shouldn't be so quick to judge everyone else's sins he doesn't turn back to the woman and tell her to clean up her life first and then come back to find him.

No his response was sincere, "Neither do I condemn you. Go leave your life of sin."  He doesn't switch it around say "Go leave your life of sin, and then I won't condemn you."  He doesn't condemn her even while having been caught in the act of the sin (adultery).

Jesus has no intent to make anyone ever feel condemned for the choices they have made. He wants them to feel loved, feel cherished, feel wanted.

John 3:16-17  For God so Loved the world that He gave His ONE Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son to the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved.

No read those verses again and replace the word " the world" with your name


John 3:16-17  For God so LOVED (your name) that He gave His ONE Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His son to (your name) to condemn (your name) but that (your name) might be saved.


God came because He loves you, He wants you! He doesn't need you to fix yourself first before you come to Him and accept everything. He wants you to come to him sinful, dirty mess. It doesn't matter if you are an adulterous person, if you are a liar, if you have killed someone, if you have a bad temper that rages out of control. He doesn't condemn you if you are gay or straight living with your significant other and unmarried, pregnant with only God knows who's baby. Really God wants you as you are right now! Because guess what? He didn't send Jesus here to condemn you to hell for your actions but to save your from going there.

God loves you! He loves you so much! He made you in His image, he made you with a purpose and it's not to feel judged or condemned it's to be free in Him! If He wants you to change aspects of your life He will tell you He will help you and He will change your heart to wanting to change whatever He says He wants changed.

He wants to give you a clean, new heart. A fresh slate. A free spirit! He wants you so badly! Don't let the other's view points of this world smoother the truth out of you that God wants you, He made you, He is so so proud of you! He seeks to have a relationship with you to bring you life so you may have it and live it to the fullest.

When God Asks too Much

Sometimes God asks us to do things that we think are out of our ability to fulfill things that seem like they are too much for us to do alone. Sometimes God takes our willingness to serve Him and asks us to do things that make us uncomfortable, things you don't want to do. You may feel under qualified or not enough or know someone you think could do the job better.

Just remember that God knows who is the best fit for the when and where. If He has asked you to do something He knows what He is doing. Trust that He sees the big picture even when you don't.

If you feel like God is asking you to do something you don't have a heart for then ask Him to change your heart. If you are sincere about wanting to live your life committed to serving Him he will give you the abilities, the tools, the resources and the heart to succeed in what He is asking of you to fulfill for Him.

Take your fears, your worries, your troubles place them in-front of God with an open heart that says "yes Lord, I hear your calling. I will do as you say. I am worried. I am scared. But, God, I choose to trust that You will fill in the blanks where my questions of the when's, the how's and the why me's, so that I know and the world will know that You are The One leading me. I say yes to what you are asking, but You oh Lord My God, You have to lead me through this, you have to be my guide for I am blind to each coming step. I have a heart that is willing but a mind Lord that can't comprehend or fathom the picture and that freaks me out! So Yes, Yes Lord with my whole heart I want to follow your leading. Lord, erase my doubt, my fears and the inner most parts of me that fight against wanting to do what you ask and give me a whole new heart that desires the same things for my life that You see Father and a mind that is steadfast on the truth of your leading me."

When we are totally honest with God the Father about how we are feeling (not that He doesn't know these thoughts already) but it makes you both aware of where the starting point is. God just needs a willing soul from you and He WILL direct the rest as long as you keep surrendering each step to His Guidance.