Your comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.

 1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love,
but perfect love casts out fear,
because fear involves torment.
But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.








~~~Reflections~~~

Stepping out of your comfort zone, is not always an easy task. Every day you make choices that either bless you and help you grow spiritually or that allows types of fear to step in.  Anxiety, Stress,
Learning to stand on God's word can help you take charge of emotions.  The Holy Spirt can and embolden you, and give you the courage and the confidence to step out of your comfort zone.
Yeah your comfort zone, might feel beautiful. How are you touching others? Is God using you to share your His Love?  Are you sowing seeds in others lives?

Sometimes it seems easier to just go with the flow, and avoid potential conflict. The truth is that letting people walk all over you can increase feelings of stress, anxiety and panic attacks. It might eventually lessen your feelings of self-worth and play into ungodly fear. Fear begets more fear.

The good news is, you don’t have to live with fear as your state of mind. It’s God’s will for us to have faith, trust in Him, so that be make us perfect in his love. Casting out all fear.
It is not His intention for you to live in fear, He wants you to live in His Love.

 Love casts out fear. By knowing who you are in Christ, accepting God’s love for you, and focusing your thoughts on Him. You begin to harvest, faith, confidence and Love. Step out of your comfort zone and allows Love to grow within you. You grow as a child of God. Becoming more faithful to do what you are called by Him to do.

When the Holy Spirit directs you, Trust that the Lord is Love, and if God asks you to do something where you have step out of your comfort zone. Remember, He is the almighty, He has created the heavens and the earth. He formed you in your mothers womb. He makes the wind to blow, the sun to rise and set. How much more will he be there to comfort you when you step out of your comfort zone for Him?  You are harvesting Love.

The more you step out of your comfort zone, the easier it will become.

Have a Resilience is a mind set.

image source: Pinterest Kim Wilborn

Psalms 27:14
Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart.
Wait, I say, on the Lord.


.~~~Reflections~~~
How would you ever handle it if you lost everything you had today?
What would your next step be?
How long would you be depressed and upset and angry?

When you are a Resilient individual you are better able to handle such adversity and rebuild your life after a catastrophe, with a much more confidence, faith and endurance.  Having the ability to Wait on the Lord with expectation that He has everything under control. Can change your outlook to hope and faith in the face of adversity from illness, depression or difficulties and misfortune.

It is something you need to start your day with, everyday. challenges or not.
Having Faith, gives you strength to cope with stress and hardships. Having the Faith and Trust that the Lord will bring you through every situation and will give you strength.

Do not despair when you feel discouraged. It is  how you choose to deal with these difficult situations, that is the key.  Dwelling on Thoughts of your current situations  beings despair. By focusing with the mindset that God will help you through it. Waiting In anticipation of what the Lord has on the other side for you.
You will receive an abundance of Joy, by putting into practice.
The joy of watching when Gods plan is put in place, brings healing.

You can choose now to change your mindset. Being Christ like minded, doesn't just happen. How  the time to seek the Lord. Your relationship with the Lord, will be your strength in every situation. Anxiety, depression and stress will flee.  So wait with great expectations for the Lord to bring you through. Be resilient!

Prayer
Lord God, we ask the you would encourage us to wait on you Lord. With expectation knowing that you have something bigger and better in our future.  You have created the heavens and the earth, so how much more should we place our trust in you. Thank You Lord, for building our faith, endurance and changing our mindset. We trust you GOD, and we Believe, Have Faith that you are in control.

June 1st, 2017. 

Is your life a country song?

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18  

           Rejoice Always!               
       Pray without Ceasing           
     in everything give thanks         
     for this is the will of God           
      in Christ Jesus for you             
                                                        



~~~Reflections~~~



When there sees too be no hope, and your life feels heavy.
Like an old country song.
You know car broke down, lost your job, your health is failing,
doubt, confusion and it all hits at one time. No matter how hard we try to get things to together, sometimes life seems like its falling apart.

It is important to remember that God has everything under control.
This is the time to seek God. In every situation we should seek GOD. Going to him in Prayer and Giving Him thanks, for this is the will of God. This pleases GOD.

 For the season here on earth is short. The human situations are like a blink of the eye to the Lord. Our eternity is what we should be focusing on.

Prayer
Eternal God, we thank you for everything you do for us. Including this life and all our needs you supply in every situation. We are grateful for the beautiful gift of eternal life, Through your son Jesus Christ. Guide us Lord, so that we might always be able to find things to give you Thanks. Amen.

So let us find strength in Jesus, Keeping our Faith

2 Timothy 4:17

But the Lord stood with me and
strengthened me, so that the message
might be preached fully through me,
and that all the Gentiles might hear.

Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  
And the Lord will deliver me from
every evil work and preserve me
for His heavenly kingdom.
To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

~~~Reflections~~~
Wherever we go, who ever we happen to meet. We have the assurance that the Lord will equip us with His Word. So that the message might be preached through us. He will stand with us, and equip us. So that  His message will go forth.

His word does not say that we won't have obstacle , In this chapter we can see that Paul was abandoned by Demas. That must have been an obstacle. He had to send for Mark, for Luke was the only one with Paul. You see the Lord placed people in Paul's path, to send for Mark.
 He will deliver us from every evil work. He will preserve us for His Kingdom. For His Glory!

So let us find strength in Jesus, Keeping our Faith. For these things are but a blink of the eye. Our real treasures await us, a crown of righteousness, on judgement day.

Prayer~~
Thank you God for giving us the strength to stand even when circumstances seem impossible. Thank you Lord for being strong in my life. We can never make it without You. Lord, We invite you into every situation in our lives. Your reassurance brings such peace to us. To God be the glory.  

Jesus Knew no Sin

2 Corinthians 5:21
For HE made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us,
that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

~~`Reflctions ~~~
For God made Christ in the flesh without any sin. Pure. Spotless.
So the Savior could take our sin so that we might receive God’s approval through Jesus.

The Open tomb

Matthew 16:1-11 

He is Risen
Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might go and anoint His Body.
Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves..

“Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for the stone was very large.
And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.
He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”
So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed.
And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

The Lord appears to Mary Magdalene
Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.  She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.


~~~Reflections~~~
Insert yourself along side Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. Waking along the dirt path with on the way to the tomb, where Jesus's dead body lays.
Filled with sorrow, grief, and unbelief this event happened. 

Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, being witnesses to the many miracles, healings and even the dead being brought back to life, their faith had to be shaken. As they had just purchased the spices, that they might go to the tomb and anoint His body. Still in shock, after have witnessed the Messiah, being beaten and experiencing one of the most horrific executions, being left to hang until eventually death from exhaustion and asphyxiation overwhelmed his mortal body.

It was early dawn, on the first day of the week, and In their grief they wondered “Who would roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for them? When they arrived at the tomb. They saw the stone was already rolled away. there they saw a young man, who was dressed in a white robe and sat on the right side.

Panic struck them. Their bodies trembled, their heart raced. They felt faint and overwhelmed.
He spoke, "You are looking for Jesus, He is not here, For He is Risen. Go and tell his disciples and Peter that he’s going ahead of them to Galilee. There they will see him, just as he told them."
They went out of the tomb and ran away. In Shock, trembling and overwhelmed. They didn’t say a thing to anyone, because they were afraid. 

What a shock that must have been to see the Stone rolled away. Jesus's body not there. GONE!
Only a young man, dressed in a white robe.  However, Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons.  She was the first person who Jesus appeared to, after He had died and She did go and told HIS friends, SHE TOLD THEM " HE LIVES! "

In their grief and tears they did not believe her.

He is not here, for He is risen, as He said.

Matthew 28:6

He Is Risen

Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
And behold, there was a great earthquake,
for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
and came and rolled back the stone from the door,
and sat on it.
His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
But the angel answered and said to the women,

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

He is not here, for He is risen, as He said.

Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

~~~Reflections~~~
Just as Christ had said before, He will Rise, from the dead.
Resurrected! Jesus Christ died on the cross.
Jesus being in the human form come back to life after His death.

We have something to look forward to Our own resurrection.
At the time of our resurrection We shall be brought to stand before God,
knowing even as we know now, as Christ lives, so shall we live.

Our eternal glory depends upon our Faith that we believe the truth, and confess that Jesus Christ died for our sins. And he Rose from the dead, so that we may have eternal life.

If you would like to accept Jesus' free gift and become a child of God,
you can pray this prayer now.

"Lord Jesus, I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. I ask forgiveness for my sins and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for giving me the gift of eternal life. I want to turn and live a new life with you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Jesus. Amen."

obedient to death

image credit: https://www.facebook.com/SonOfGodMovie

Philippians 2:5-11

Let this mind be in you which was also in
Christ Jesus.
who, being in the form of God
did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
but made Himself of no reputation,
taking the form of a bondservant,
and coming in the likeness of men.

And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death,
even the death of the cross.




Therefore God also has highly exalted Him,
and given Him the name which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of those in heaven, and of those on earth,
and of those under the earth,
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Freed from Sin!

Romans 6:7
For He who has died has been freed from sin.

Son of Man Strives to Rise

Strive to Rise!

Matthew 20: 17-19

Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”








~~~Reflections~~~

 The Son of Man, who is Jesus, sets the example for us, that under any sufferings  that we go through, we should not dwell on the afflictions or sufferings. Only That we should thrive in faith that His glory will be revealed. That God has a purpose for all the afflictions that we go through.  Jesus did not become overwhelmed or terrified by the revelation of His sufferings that He was to endure. The Son of man, placed His Trust in God. Kept His focus on the third day. He Strived to Rise!

We should look at the things that are not seen, and keep our focus on the things that are eternal. For if we focus on the eternal things, this will enable us to call the present afflictions, nothing.
Keep focused, strive to rise!

Prayer
God we know that you hold the plans for our future. That you have good things in store for us. Help us, Lord to Strive to Rise! For we know that You have thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give us a future and of hope. That your grace abounds in us, and your word encourages us, keep our hearts focused, the we should not grow weary, In Jesus Name.


Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope
Acts 11:23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord