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He is Risen!

I’d like to share this short video I shot yesterday to celebrate Resurrection Sunday! As Believers, we can rejoice over Jesus’ life, sacrificial death, and resurrection every day! Amen! Blessings to you!

Did this video encourage you? Please click “Like” or leave a comment below.  You can view more encouraging videos on my YouTube Channel by clicking here.

To get my blog posts e-mailed straight to your inbox weekly, and to get my free e-booklet MiraculousLovely Abroad: Lessons and Snapshots from the Mission Fields, click here.

To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com.

 

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Name Above All Names


madam3181 / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

 

When I look at this picture, I’m reminded that the name of Jesus is higher than any other name! (Philippians 2:9-11)

As we get ready to observe Good Friday and to celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection, I just want to encourage you that Jesus is Greater than anything you may be facing! We can trust Him no matter what!

I pray you will have a deeper revelation of how much Jesus loves you and that you will walk in that confidence knowing that nothing can separate you from the love of Christ! May you be so filled with Christ’s love that you overflow and express His love to others!

Have a blessed Holy Week! Rejoice, He is Risen!

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” (Matthew 28:6)

Did this encourage you? Please click “Like” or leave a comment below.

To get these posts e-mailed straight to your inbox weekly, and to get my free e-booklet MiraculousLovely Abroad: Lessons and Snapshots from the Mission Fields, click here.

For more encouragement, and to learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

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Tempted to Rebel?


Joe Shlabotnik / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

 

I went to visit one of my dear sisters in Christ the other day and she was telling me about some of her 14-month-old granddaughter’s latest escapades.

One of the stories that stuck out to me was about the time she caught her granddaughter pulling a piece of fuzz from the couch. The little girl mischievously looked over her shoulder to make sure grandma was watching as she slowly inched the foreign object closer to her mouth.

My friend obviously recognized the danger and flew across the room to grab the object out of her granddaughter’s hand before the curious toddler had the chance to eat it.

As I heard this story, it gave me a picture of what we must look like to our Abba Father when we’re getting ready to do something we know we shouldn’t do.

Ever find yourself tempted to sin and sheepishly glance over your shoulder to see if God was watching? C’mon, be honest!

I’ve had moments when I’ve said, “Lord if you don’t do X, then I’ll do YZ.” I know that sounds terrible, but it’s true.

Thankfully, my loving Heavenly Father just lets me vent and then calls my bluff. He knows I don’t really want to willfully walk outside of His plans for my life.

But even when we are tempted to rebel and sin, many times isn’t it because we think God wants to spoil our fun or because we’re not happy with how He’s answering our prayers? In reality, He’s like my friend who wanted to protect her granddaughter from the awful consequences of eating that piece of junk.

God knows how harmful our actions, thoughts, or attitudes can be. That’s why He’ll send us warning signs to stop us from going down certain paths.

I don’t know what you may be struggling with, but if you feel the Holy Spirit convicting you and warning you not to do something please heed His voice. He knows what’s best for you!

Thankfully, when the enemy starts lying to us and tempting us to sin we can:

Resist Him – “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

Fight Back with Scripture – Jesus was tempted three times while in the wilderness and each time He quoted Scripture. “Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Matthew 4:10)

Look for God’s Way Out – “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Confess our Sins and Struggles to Mature Believers – “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

Unfortunately, we sin every day though. The Good News is that as Believers we have forgiveness of sin through the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7). When we do sin, we can repent and ask God for forgiveness.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Isn’t it wonderful to know that God forgives us and loves us unconditionally? That doesn’t give us a license to sin. It does give us the security to know that we can turn to God no matter what!

God will give us the strength to overcome whatever temptations we may be facing! What an Awesome God we serve!

Did this encourage you? Please click “Like” or leave a comment below.

To get these posts e-mailed straight to your inbox weekly, and to get my free e-booklet MiraculousLovely Abroad: Lessons and Snapshots from the Mission Fields, click here.

For more encouragement, and to learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Compelled by Love

Lessons Learned from Missionary Heidi Baker

I first heard about Heidi Baker while on my short-term missions trip to Honduras last July. Some of my fellow missionaries were talking about the tremendous work God is allowing Heidi to do in Africa.

Of course, I was intrigued.

Just a few weeks ago, I got to watch the movie about her life called “Compelled by Love.” It’s the story of her 20+ years as a missionary to Mozambique and other nations. (Please see the film trailer above).

The movie was a wonderful testament to what God can do through a yielded life! What made the evening even better was that Heidi was there and spoke to the audience afterwards. What a blessing to see her spend most of her time on the stage on her knees, before her open Bible. She ended the evening praying for those called into full-time missions, the NYC leaders and pastors that were present, and others.

She’s a humble woman, yet powerful! She walks in the authority God has given her. That’s inspiring to see.

I’d like to share just a few lessons based on the film and what Heidi said to those in attendance:

Live a Life that Continually Says, “YES” to God – Heidi knows she has a BIG God and she’s not afraid to say, “Yes” to Him. She has made a habit out of continually surrendering to God. We’re called to do the same. No, we don’t all have to move to Africa, but we are called to obey and be led by the Holy Spirit.

Be Compelled by Love – Heidi doesn’t serve God because she’s afraid He’ll be angry with her if she doesn’t do everything He says or because she’s trying to earn His love. She does it out of her extreme love for God. Once we understand God’s love for us, we are set free to serve Him out of our genuine passion for Christ.

Spend time with God – Heidi shared that she makes it a priority to spend 5 or 6 hours with the Lord every day. She knows that we need to be filled before we can pour out to others!  We may not be able to clear our busy schedules to spend hours with God, but we can make some adjustments to be with our Maker. We can also talk to Him throughout the day.

Work with God – Heidi said she sometimes pictures herself as a little girl who is standing on her daddy’s shoes and walking with Him. (Guess she’s a Daddy’s Girl too!) She’s thrilled to be a part of what God is doing on earth. Many times it seems we’d rather wrestle with God or try to somehow boss Him around, instead of simply joining Him in His plans.

Heidi’s story reminded me what a privilege it is to be about our Father’s business. God is looking for willing vessels to fill so we can overflow into other’s lives.

Your mission field may be right in your office, on your block, or under your roof. I encourage you to be faithful. Love those around you. Obey God. Shine for Jesus. Trust Him to do the rest.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)

Did this encourage you? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please hit “Like” or share a comment below.

To get these posts e-mailed straight to your inbox weekly, and to get my free e-booklet MiraculousLovely Abroad: Lessons and Snapshots from the Mission Fields, click here.

For more encouragement, and to learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Reach Just One

 KatieDavis

I’ve had Africa on my mind lately.

I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the book “Kisses from Katie” by Katie Davis, who at 18 left for a short-term missions trip to Uganda for a week and ended up moving there. She adopted 14 girls, nurses sick children and adults back to health, and helps provide education to hundreds of kids! She’s still just in her twenties!

Last weekend, I got to see the movie “Compelled by Love,” which focuses on the amazing work that God is allowing Heidi Baker and her husband to do in Mozambique. (More on that next week).

Both women are humbly serving the Lord in the unique areas where God has called them. Both work with the destitute. They see poverty, illness, and extreme need up close and personal on a daily basis.

I can’t help but think that there will be a special place in heaven for Katie and Heidi!

God bless them for answering the call and saying, “Yes” to go and be the hands and feet of Jesus in Africa!

But you have to wonder, how can they keep from being overwhelmed by all the needs?

The common themes that I see in their lives are that they trust in God’s strength wholeheartedly, they are sold out completely for Jesus, and they choose to love the one right in front of them!

They know they can’t solve all the problems and meet all the needs. Not all at once. Not with just their own two hands or even with a large team. Instead of getting discouraged and giving up, they live to love the person in need that God places in their path at that moment.

I’m reminded of the parable of the Good Samaritan that Jesus told where He illustrated what loving your neighbor looks like. The Good Samaritan’s plans were interrupted. He was traveling and going about his day when he saw the man who was beaten, stripped of his clothes, and left to die on the road. The Samaritan could have ignored the man as the priest and the Levite had done. But he chose to take action.

“… when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’” (Luke 10:33-35)

My, what compassion he had on the man!

What about you and me? How are we doing with loving our neighbors? We don’t have to go all the way to Africa to help people (although if God calls you to do that, by all means GO!) There are people with needs all around us. It can get overwhelming to say the least.

But it doesn’t have to.

As you’re reading this, perhaps the Holy Spirit is bringing someone to mind and prompting you to help that one person. Not everyone. Today, it’s just that one. That friend, co-worker, senior citizen, wayward teen, etc…Maybe the Lord is asking you to call them, visit them, take them out for a meal. Will you obey that prompting? Will you stop and reach out to just that one?

I pray that God would soften our hearts so that we would respond to the needs we see around us and pour out the love of Christ. Yes, that we would shine for Jesus wherever He places us.

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25: 37-40)

Did this encourage you to be a blessing right where you are? Feel free to leave a comment or hit “Like” below.

To get these posts e-mailed straight to your inbox weekly, and to get my free e-booklet MiraculousLovely Abroad: Lessons and Snapshots From the Mission Fields,  click here. You can find MiraculousLovely on YouTube, Pinterest and Facebook. For more encouragement, visit www.aboundingfaith.com.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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The Master Storyteller

Foter / Public domain

 

I still remember being all excited about receiving my master’s in journalism, but as all of us fussed around with our caps and gowns before the graduation ceremony I couldn’t help but look around at the graduates in all the other majors and think, “um, I’m getting a master’s in … telling stories?”

It seemed a bit odd to me, especially since that’s what my undergraduate degree was in, but even now I can’t think of anything else I would have rather studied at the time. One of the best parts about journalism for me was telling other people’s stories and giving them a voice. The pen really can be mightier than the sword.

Back then, I also enjoyed being in seemingly full control of my life.

I had no idea that just a few months later I would be lovingly surrendering my life to God!

After giving my life to the Lord, I soon realized that I was no longer the one writing my life story. As much as the writer in me would like to direct how my script unfolds, over the years I’ve learned the beauty of continually surrendering the pen to Jesus and trusting that His plans for me are far greater than anything I can imagine.

What a delight it’s been to follow Jesus on this journey! Even with all the twists and turns.

Jesus is the Master Storyteller. It humbles and amazes me to think that Jesus would take time to carefully weave the story of my life together, with all its intricacies and nuances.

Sometimes He gives me glimpses of what’s up ahead, which I’m so grateful for! Other times, He completely surprises me and keeps me on my toes. When something unexpected comes up, no matter how unpleasant, I’ve learned to remain calm knowing that this didn’t surprise Jesus. He’s not making things up as He goes along.

Consider this:

  • Jesus Knows Everything! “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13)
  • He Already Knows How Our Story Will Turn Out! “My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139: 15-16)
  • Our Steps Are Ordered By The Lord: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

As believers, we can trust that Jesus is writing our stories with love, grace, and mercy! And as a Good Shepherd, He is committed to leading and guiding His sheep.

What if we don’t like or agree with how our story is being written? We can rebel, go astray, and take matters into our own hands. The choice is ours.

As believers, the loving shepherd will welcome us back after we repent. That’s the beauty of Grace and Mercy.

But why break fellowship with God and run from His plans for us? Why not trust that He knows what He is doing and that our story will work out exactly the way it’s meant to be?

If you’re struggling to hand over the pen to Jesus, could I encourage you that Jesus loves you and wants the best for you? Yes, that will include times of tests, trials, and tears. That’s part of the human experience. But God will see you through all of that. As God said to the nation of Israel:

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

We don’t know all the details about our story, but God Almighty does! The pen is safe in Jesus’ hands. After all, He is the “author and finisher of our faith”. (Hebrews 12:2 KJV)

Let’s see what’s in the next chapter!

“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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Did this encourage you? Feel free to leave a comment or hit “Like” below. To get my free e-booklet MiraculousLovely Abroad: Lessons and Snapshots From the Mission Fields and to get these posts e-mailed straight to your inbox, click here. Find MiraculousLovely on YouTube, Pinterest and Facebook. For more encouragement, visit www.aboundingfaith.com.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

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No Greater Love!

heart tree2

I had to snap a picture of this tree I saw last spring. It looked too much like a heart for me to ignore. Doesn’t it make you smile?

As people everywhere get ready to celebrate love this time of the year, it’s good to remember that every day is a great day to celebrate God’s love for us!

We tend to think of love as being heart-shaped like the tree above. Really, God’s love is shaped like a cross. Love came down when Jesus was born, and the ultimate act of love was when Jesus paid for our sins on the cross on Calvary and redeemed us. As Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

The Bible, which is God’s love letter to us, is filled with examples of God’s extravagant love for us! Here are just a few verses to encourage you:

God’s Love for Us is Beyond Measure: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19)

God Won’t Stop Loving Us: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

God’s Love Lasts: “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10)

God Showed Us His Love By Giving Us the Ultimate Gift:  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)

To read more verses about God’s love for us, feel free to read my post from last year Love is in the Air.

I pray you will feel God’s amazing love today and every day! Blessings!

 

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

 

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10 Lessons Learned from Mom

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My Mom’s birthday is coming up, so allow me to pay tribute to one of the strongest and most faithful women of God I know! I’m sure that a big reason why I am who I am today is because of my Mom’s wonderful example, God’s Grace, and my mama’s PRAYERS!

Below is just a taste of all that I’ve learned from my Mom! May it bless you as well.

Don’t be Afraid of a Little Adventure! – At the age of 27, my Mom left behind her entire family in her home country and boarded a plane to the United States. She dared to come with only a work visa and a suitcase. She didn’t know one soul in this country. Not even the family she was coming to work for. Talk about guts! Perhaps that’s part of the reason why I can board planes to just about any part of the world.

Follow Your Dreams – My Mom went to a beauty academy in her home country and had her own beauty shop by the time she was 23. After a few years here in the U.S., she opened up a beauty shop in our neighborhood with the help of my Dad. She would go on to successfully run it for 25 years! Yes, much of my childhood was spent watching customers walking around in rollers or with dye in their hair and breathing in the hair spray and nail polish fumes. My best friend and I used to pretend to be aliens while sitting underneath the beehive hair dryers. I have all those memories because my Mom had the courage to follow her dream of opening up her own salon.

Hold onto Jesus, No Matter What! All hell literally broke loose in my family when my parents divorced. My Mom ended up raising my older sister and me, caring for our two dogs and bird, and running her business on her own! It wasn’t easy, but God stepped into all that chaos, brokenness, and trauma and rescued my Mom. It was out of that ugliness that Jesus saved her and gave her peace, joy, and love.

Take a Stand for Jesus. My sister and I freaked out when we found out that my Mom had left the Catholic faith and was a born-again Christian. We feared she had joined a cult! We thought she was a traitor. But my Mom stood her ground and continued following Jesus. That decision changed the course of our family!

Serve God with All Your Heart! – My Mom was one of the original members of the church she ended up attending for more than 20 years! Over the years, she served as a Sunday School teacher, usher, deacon, prayer team member, and food-pantry volunteer. You name it, she did it! She even had an online radio show with another prayer warrior and preached at various events in her church. My Mom is a servant with a capital “S”.

Trust God to Fulfill His Word! – God means it when He says you and your household will be saved (Acts 16:31). A few years after my Mom got saved, my sister also became a born-again Christian. A few more years later, I finally got saved. God’s Word is True! Don’t give up on your loved ones that are still lost because God surely hasn’t!

Always be a Student of the Word – My Mom has been to seminary and has taken many Bible study courses over the years. She loves reading her Bible. She can read it for hours! She doesn’t hesitate to pull out her Bible dictionaries and commentaries when she wants to understand something further. She really is a life-long learner. May we all continue studying to show ourselves approved. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Family Comes First – My Mom is the kind of person who will drop everything to help her children and grandchildren. Back when we were younger, my Mom wouldn’t hesitate to close her beauty shop early to drive me to skating practice and would wait in the car until I was done! She would also pick up my sister or me at night when we would get out late from our after-school job. Were we spoiled? Probably. Did we feel loved? Absolutely!

Let God be Your Vindicator – When people wrong my Mom, she doesn’t get even. She does something way better. She goes to the throne and lets God handle her battles. And He does! (Romans 12:19)

Let God Reward You – My Mom delights in helping those in need without expecting anything in return from them. She enjoys accompanying her friends to their doctor appointments, translating for people who struggle with English, or praying for people who are going through hard times. My Mom just has this grace for helping people. God finds creative ways to bless her for her servant’s heart.

Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you! Thank You!

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”  (Proverbs 31:30-31)

 

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

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Delay or Divine Interruption?

s_ripperton / Foter.com / CC BY-NC

 

I ended 2013 literally with a bang. I got into a minor fender bender three days before the new year. I’ll spare you the details, but suffice it to say that a guy collided into my car trying to beat me to a parking spot. Everyone was fine, thank God. But it was so not cool.

Especially not when you’re with your Mom and you’re dropping off stuff to the local Goodwill! We also had plans to visit another store and then to go to one of our favorite restaurants to eat Salvadoran food. We had a full schedule!

But time ticked away as we waited for the cops to arrive. Then more time escaped us as they filed their report.

I remained calm. We were so thankful that we were OK! But I was just a tad nervous after this ordeal. I thought about just going home. But we pressed on. We went ahead with our plans even though we literally had gotten sidetracked.

Here’s where I started to see God’s Fingerprints.

My Mom and I had a lovely time at the restaurant. We had already finished our meal when a lady sitting across from us started chatting with my Mom. She then came over to sit with us! The lady mentioned she was Honduran. My Mom mentioned I had been to Honduras on a missions trip just that July. I gladly showed her photos of my trip and shared some of the amazing testimonies.

The lady was stunned and asked us lots of questions about the Lord. I live for these moments!  So my Mom and I got to share our faith with her and even got to pray for her.

As I looked into the lady’s eyes and told her that God loves her, she started to cry. She couldn’t stop hugging me at the end of our time together.

On the way home, the fuzzy picture started to get clearer.

Was the accident that afternoon good? No. Was having to wait for the police report good? Nope. But what the enemy meant for evil, God turned around for good! (Genesis 50:20)

Our decision to continue with our schedule, despite our delay, allowed us to be at the restaurant right on time. Yes, right so we could meet a lost sheep who desperately needed to hear about God’s love.

Will God go to extremes and allow wrenches to be thrown in our schedules just so He can send us on divine assignments to minister to someone who is hurting? Yup! That’s part of the joy of serving the Lord!

The next time your plans get stalled or your to-do list gets interrupted, take a moment and look up and look around and ask the Lord if He hasn’t placed you in that situation for a divine purpose! Remember, everything happens for a reason:

 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

Did this encourage you?  Feel free to leave a comment or hit “Like” below. To get my free e-booklet MiraculousLovely Abroad: Lessons and Snapshots From the Mission Fields and to get these posts e-mailed straight to your inbox, click here. To find MiraculousLovely on YouTube, click here. To find MiraculousLovely on Pinterest, click here or on Facebook, click here.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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My Ode to Joy!

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Rejoice like it’s 2014!

Happy New Year! I pray that this will be an amazing year filled with much evidence of God’s Love, Faithfulness, and His Sovereignty! Blessings to you! I hope you enjoy the post below!

I’m not a New Year’s Resolution type of person, but I do like to write out goals for myself for the year. I also love it when God shares a word or theme for me for the year.

His word for me for a couple of years has been “Believe!” That evolved into “Believe and Receive!”

The word that I feel the Lord is impressing on me for this year is “JOY!” As a pastor recently prayed over me, the JOY of the LORD is my strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)

What I love about Jesus Joy is that the world can’t take it away from you. Circumstances can’t dampen it. Your mood can’t ruin it. People can’t touch it.

The JOY that comes from the LORD is unlike anything else.

It remains constant, immovable, and unshakable. Not like happiness that comes and goes.

Happy is GREAT, but JOY is even better!

You can’t buy joy. It’s something that comes from within like that spring of water welling up inside of you that Jesus talked about in John 4:14. It’s part of that abundant life that Jesus promised to give us in John 10:10.

It’s also the second fruit mentioned, right after love, in the Fruit of the Spirit list found in Galatians 5:22.

Yes, JOY is part of our inheritance as Christians. I find that it’s closely connected with Trusting God, Walking by Faith, being a Prisoner of Hope, and Knowing who you are in Christ!

The apostle Paul knew about this joy. That’s why despite all the hardships he went through, and even while he was under arrest, he could still be content and encourage the church in Philippi to, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

Friend, do you know about this joy that I am writing about? Are you experiencing this joy that cannot be extinguished despite all the fiery darts the enemy tries to throw? Oh, how the enemy of your soul would love to steal your joy!

Are you familiar with this unspeakable joy that cannot be contained and that comes from knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior, as it is written:

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8)

This joy doesn’t mean your life here on earth is perfect. However, thankfully this joy gets brighter after having faced your fears and walked through fire and finding that Jesus really was with you all the way! I pray you all experience this joy!

Even if you’re in a place right now that seems less than joyous, here are just a few verses to encourage you. May they bless you today and throughout the year!

  • “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” (Psalm 126:3)
  • “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” (Psalm 126:5)
  • “Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.” (Isaiah 61:7)
  • “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…” (Romans 14:17)
  • “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
  • “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

I’d love to know what your “one word” for this year is! Please share it in the comments below if you’d like. If you’re just starting your walk with the Lord, Congratulations! Please visit the Info for New Believers/Seekers page.

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I’m happy to be participating in Bonnie’s Faith Jam this week!

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