FROM MESS TO MESSAGE

Let us be honest. Most of us, if we have lived long enough, have messed up at some point in life. Big mess or small mess, it is still a mess. When I share my past (I do not revisit the past too much, unless it is necessary to share my testimony) I often say, "I was a complete mess!" Well, my mess was no big deal or too big for God. My mess became my message.

I am one of many who like to consider herself a walking billboard who tells the world just how Jesus will totally transform your life for the better, if you allow Him to do so. My mess has become a message of love, compassion, freedom, and acceptance. I can love like I never thought I could simply because of Jesus. I have a heart for those I had little compassion for before I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I can testify to a life of freedom one gains when Jesus is welcomed and loved. I am accepted and I feel accepted. Jesus will not reject me, but the world will.

It took me a few years to really accept the fact that God truly loves me with all of my flaws and faults. I used to ask myself, "How can a complicated and messed up person like me be loved so much?” Today, I know it is true. You see, all of those broken messy pieces were gathered by God, put back together, and made into a gorgeous piece of work. What happened for me is not only for me. He also wants to do it for you.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NKJV

Be blessed.

I'M EXPECTING, ARE YOU?

Spending alone time with Jesus is a precious time for me. Sometimes, I go to Him with such heavy burdens I know I ought not to carry, so in that time, I give them over to Him. Afterwards, I walk away from prayer with peace because I know He takes care of anything troubling me. Other times, I just sit and listen to Jesus. I have nothing to say, but my heart is always ready to receive what He has to say to me. Then there are those times when the unexpected happens.

That was the case this yesterday morning during prayer. I had a list of the people and things I wanted to pray about it. I have family and friends who are not saved and do not know Jesus. I have family and friends who need restoration in their families. Well, there was much more on the list, but let me just say, only the Lord needs to know who and what was on the list. Anyway, before making requests and voicing my concerns to Jesus, I asked Him to make my time with Him different. Just something different. I asked Him if He would do something unexpected.

After I prayed and sat in silence, I waited. I guess you can say I was expecting the unexpected. All of sudden, the unexpected happen. Maybe Jesus honored my request to remind me that He hears me. Maybe it would have happened anyway, even if I had not asked. Maybe my request was honored simply because I asked and expected to receive just what I had asked. Only Jesus knows. What I will say for sure is when you make a request of Him and never look for the answer to come, then there should be no surprise when you do not receive.

I keep a sense of expectation each day. I expect to see miracles at anytime. I am excited to see the miracles we often think of when it comes to Jesus. You know, someone on a death bed one day and walking around with a clean bill of health the next. Or when blind eyes can see. But, I look at the people carrying on with their normal duties each day and think, "Oh, what a miracle." When I look into the mirror, I recognize that I am miracle. Just the whole idea of how God made man is a miracle, all by itself. So you see, I am always expecting Jesus to show up and show out someway and somehow.

What are you expecting from the Lord? Or is the question, "Are you expecting from the Lord?"

Be blessed.

WEEDING OUT & CUTTING OFF

I was just sitting here thinking about what to blog about, and God reminded me of something. A few weeks ago, a dozen beautiful roses were delivered to me at my place of employment. I normally take them home, but decided they would hold their beauty a lot longer in my work environment instead of my home. I was right. Each morning I would go into work, check the water level and break off the dead leaves and wilted petals where needed. One morning, as I pulled away the dead lead leaves, I was reminded of the pruning process. I know those roses were not going to continue to grow, but the act of removing the dead things made me think of the process anyway. After the removal of the brown leaves and wilted petals from the rose bouquet, I was left with beautiful healthy-looking colorful roses.

Pruning: 1. means to cut or lop off; 2. to cut or lop superfluous or undesired twigs, branches, or roots from; trim; 3. to rid or clear of (anything superfluous or undesirable); 4. to remove (anything superfluous or undesirable) (taken from Webster’s Dictionary)

God prunes us to weed out, cut off, or to get rid of the ungodliness. He prunes us to shape or mold us, to make us better. We are pruned by the trials, pressures, and problems we endure or face. God also uses people to prune us. Well, He can use anything to prune us. We do not go through the spiritual pruning as some sort of punishment from God, but it is a process that will make us healthy in order to bear more fruit. We are pruned because He loves us. I am not saying it is fun or easy, but it is necessary.

God wants us to bring forth fruit in abundance and in order for this to happen, spiritual pruning is necessary. God has a unique and higher calling and purpose for our lives. He knows what is best for us.

¹ “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will^[ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:1-8 NKJV

Be blessed.

ARE YOU READY FOR A FRESH START?

It is January 01, 2011. Today is the start of a new year. It is okay to reflect on the past year. But just reflect, do not dwell. One cannot pretend that the past has no impact, but the past should not dictate the future. It is easy to smile about the good things that happened and frown about the bad. Well, let the good and bad propel you to the next level. Today is a new day. Today starts a brand new year. Are you ready for a fresh start?

Many of you are saying, "Yes! I'm ready!" I hope you are ready for the new things God wants to do for you, in you, and through you. If you have left the past in the past, I think you are ready. Are you ready to embrace change, because it is inevitable? If your answer is yes, I am more convinced that you are ready? Do you see the mistakes, stumbles, and mishaps of 2010 as stepping stones and lessons learned? Yes? Now, I know you are ready for a fresh start.

Do not become overly concerned about what you did or did not do in 2010. Focus on the present. Make it a point to be prayerful about all you do. Let God be in control of your life. Let Him order your steps. When you pray to Him, be prepared to be obedient. You will be lead to places unknown. You will be guided to approach and sow (words of encouragement, warning, and perhaps, financially) into others. You will be removed entirely from your comfort zone many times. In all you do, trust God. He will not lead you astray. Anything or anyone He guides you to will only lead to blessings. He will bless you to be a blessing. Just remember, blessings are not only material or financial. Spiritual blessings exist, too.

I am ready for the new thing God wants to do in my life. I embrace the new. I am forgetting the things of the past and looking forward to those things which are ahead for me. I suggest you do the same. How far can one go if he keeps looking back? I am ready for a fresh start. Are you? I sure hope you are ready for all the new things made available to you this year.

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13,14 NKJV


 Be blessed.