The Pulpit

The Pulpit

The pulpit is the place where God's messenger blows the trumpet every service. I heard a message once by Bro Mark Copeland and he made the very profound statement, "If this trumpet won't move you, then that trumpet won't move you." He was referring to the preached Word of God being like a trumpet (blow the trumpet in Zion) being blown. He said that if we get so stuck in our ways and have so much pride inside of us that we don't allow the preaching of the Word of God to move us, then how in the world can we expect to go to Heaven? I heard this message back in 2006 and, to this day, it has never left me. 

God, I don't ever want to get to the point in my life where I don't allow the man of God in my life to preach it straight to me. Every time I go to a church service, I want to be willing and ready for my Pastor to preach to me. We've all heard it, "No matter what it takes, I must be saved..." but do we really mean it? Are we willing to forgo the embarrassment of our Pastor calling us out, in front of the whole church, about something we've done in order to make sure we are right with God and that our eternity is our focus? 

I, along with so many, have gotten so wrapped up in the here and now that I don't allow my focus to be on what really matters. Eternity. Heaven or Hell. It's real, folks. It's not just a superstition. There are so many people out there who have decided to trade their eternity for temporary satisfaction. 

Oh trust me, I have been tempted and, at times, I wasn't sure it was worth going through everything I've had to go through. I questioned and doubted my relationship with God. I questioned if the life I am living is really truth or if it was just a made up religion like so many others out there. I had to go through an extremely rough time in my life to get to where I am at today. No, I am not perfect (I will be the first one of many to admit it); I have a really long way to go to achieve perfection. One of the things I have learned in life - you don't get good to get God, you get God to get good. I, for one, am extremely thankful that God has not given up on me. There was a time in my life when I honestly wanted to give up on everything - but God, in His mercy, looked down and saw this pitiful person trying to make it on her own - blaming herself for everything life had thrown her way, trying to punish herself for things she had no control over, trying to conform to please everyone around her - and reached out His Hand and picked me up out of the muck and mire that I was in and set me on the Rock to stay! 

I know the struggle isn't over - it ain't going to be over until Jesus comes back for His Bride. However, I do know that, as long as I put my trust in Him, Jesus will be there to carry me through the hard times. I have decided to put my faith and trust in God. I would rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season (Hebrews 11:25). God is great and greatly to be praised! I am so thankful for everything He has done for me! I don't know what my future holds - but I know Who holds it! 

Photography

Here are some photos that I have taken (with my iPhone, so please keep in mind they have not been taken with a professional camera) within the last 6 months. Let me know what you think...

I'm Glad I Know the Peacespeaker!

I woke up this morning with this song on my mind. I thought I'd share it on here. Even in the midst of our pain and struggles, God is there to speak peace into our lives. Even when we question life's worth and purpose, God is there to give us worth and purpose for which to live. Like the song says, a storm can rise up, without warning, and surround our life - but even in the midst of the storm, there is a calm...

Calm = Jesus :)

Jesus is the only One Who has the power to say "peace, be still" and have the winds and waves obey. So why worry when a storm cloud comes your way? Jesus is near to drive away the fear in our lives every single day - we just have to call on His Name and trust that He has everything in control.

Who We Are In Christ

Something for each letter of the English alphabet. Accepted, blessed, chosen, delivered, elevated, forgiven, God's workmanship, healed, innocent, justified, kept, loved, more than a conqueror, not condemned, overcoming the world, predestined to sonship, quickened, redeemed, sealed, to His praise, unto His glory, victorious, washed, xcrucified, yoked, and zealous. 

There are many people who struggle with their "Identity in Christ" - people you come in contact with every day, people who you consider to be close friends. I understand that this world is so messed up and the enemy of our souls is out to get us every day. I understand that it's "easier" for us to listen to the negative in our life all the time - it's natural. However, we, as Christians, need to develop a "new natural" and, by developing the habit, make it natural for us to focus, automatically, on the good and not the negative. So, instead of listening to that sly ol' fox, we need to listen to the Voice of our Creator! 

What does God's Word say I am in Christ?

• I am a child of God ~ John 1:12
• I am a branch of the true vine , and a conduit of Christ's life ~ John 15:1,5
• I am a friend of Jesus Christ ~ John 15:15
• I have been justified and redeemed ~ Romans 3:24
• My old self was crucified with Christ, and I am no longer a slave to sin ~ Romans 6:6
• I will not be condemned by God ~ Romans 8:1
• I have been set free from the law of sin and death ~ Romans 8:2
• As a child of God, I am a joint-heir with Christ ~ Romans 8:17
• I have been accepted by Jesus Christ ~ Romans 15:7
• In Jesus, I have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption ~ 1 Cor 1:30
• My body is the temple of the Holy Ghost ~ 1 Cor 6:19
• I am a new creature in Christ ~ 2 Cor 5:17
• I have been made one with all who are in Christ Jesus ~ Galatians 3:28
• I am no longer a slave, but a child and an heir ~ Galatians 4:7
• I have been set free in Christ ~ Galatians 5:1
• I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God ~ Ephesians 1:4
• I am redeemed and forgiven by the grace of God ~ Ephesians 1:7
• I have been sealed with that holy spirit of promise ~ Ephesians 1:13
• Because of God's mercy and love, I have been made alive with Christ ~ Ephesians 2:4-5
• I have boldness and confident access to God through faith ~ Ephesians 3:12
• I was formerly darkness, but now I am light in the Lord ~ Ephesians 5:8
• I am a citizen of Heaven ~ Philippians 3:20
• The peace of God guards my heart and mind ~ Philippians 4:7
• God supplies all my needs ~ Philippians 4:19
• I have been made complete in Christ ~ Colossians 2:10
• God loves me and has chosen me ~ 1 Thess 1:4

There you go, folks! You can't argue with Scripture! Just sayin'....

God's Peace Which Passeth All Understanding

            6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

            7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

            8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

~Philippians 4:6-8~

        I have had this passage of Scripture on my mind since last night. I know of several people who are going through some major stuff right now in their lives. I have been praying for them. I am not necessarily praying for their trial to be over (God might want them to go through it. And, if He does, there is a reason). One of the main things I have been praying for is for the peace which passeth all understanding to consume them. I was praying for someone last night at our weekly church prayer meeting. This person is going through a lot right now. I am not sure why, but I know God has a purpose and a plan in all of it. I just pray that God's Perfect Peace will totally consume this individual. I have gone through some stuff in my life, not a lot (compared to most people), but I am definitely not asking for more =P. I can remember times, in my life, when I honestly did not think I could go on. I remember there being times when I would go to the church and just cry out before God for Him to take whatever I was going through away from me. I remember crying out to God to give me peace. Yes, I wanted the storm to be over. Yes, I didn't understand why I was going through whatever I was going through. Yes, I wanted answers. I wanted to know why. But, I learned a long time ago, God doesn't always tell you why. God doesn't always offer an explanation. So, in addition to my begging for a reason why, I also begged for peace. And you know what? I can remember countless times of it just being God and myself in the sanctuary...and I could feel His Arms wrap around me. I felt safe in His embrace. Safe enough to know that it didn't matter what life brought my way, I was going to trust in God. I will be the first to say that I have not always trusted in God. So many times, I "easily" forget the times with Him and the feelings of peace I felt. But I am still here. I have fallen...time and time again. But I am still here. There have been so many times where I have felt that I could not go on. But I am still here. I remember my Pastor saying that the reason tests you, is because He trusts you. God allowed Job to go what he went through, because He trusted that Job would make it through that storm. The storms and trials we go through, in life, will hopefully make us stronger. If we survive the storm, we will be stronger than before. Don't give up in the middle of your trial. Don't break God's trust. God trusts us to make it through the trials He allows us to go through. Don't let Him down. Don't let yourself down. Don't let your family down. Don't let your friends down. Don't let your church down. And don't give the devil the satisfaction!

        Just a little bit of what has been going on in my mind since last night. God won't always tell you why you are going through your storm, but He will give you Peace.

I Will Trust In You

You are my hiding place.

You always fill my heart with songs 
of deliverance

Whenever I am afraid.

I will trust in You.

I will trust in You. 

Let the weak say,

"I am strong

In the strength of the Lord."

I will trust in You.

~Michael Ledner

I have had this song on my mind a lot lately. In life, we go through things that can't always be controlled. We struggle. We go through storms. Storms we can't control. But the thing about us, as humans, is... we keep trying to control the storms in our lives. No matter what. Storms that we try to control, never had a good ending. Sometimes, our storm doesn't end at all...as long as we try to control it. But...once we give control - complete control - to God, then, even though we are going through a storm, we can trust that God will bring us THROUGH the storm. So many people, in life today, say they believe in God, and they even say they trust in God, but...when the true test comes, they still try and take control of their storm. The thing is, and this has happened with me as well, we finally get to the point where we trust God. We give the situation, whatever it may be, over to God. But...once we see God doing something in our situation that we don't agree with, we try and take control again. That is not true trust. It's either we trust in Him, or not. God, help us to fully trust in You - no matter what life brings our way.

Just something that has been on my mind the last few days. I struggle with this daily. There are so many things going on in my life, and I try to take control. I'll be honest, it's scary handing the reins over to someone else. It really is. But it's not like we are handing them over to a stranger...we are handing them over to the God who created the universe! I think He knows what He's doing! I know, easier said than done...so, just take this as a challenge. I am challenging myself as well. Let's try and give control of our lives to the One Who created us! Like the song says, "I am strong, in the strength of the Lord. I will trust in you!"

God's Handiwork...

I am just sitting outside by the river watching the water and the question came to me, "how can someone seriously doubt the existence of God?" I began to ponder that for a while. There are so many things in our daily lives that we don't realize God is there working in every situation. I know there have been many times I have deeply questioned God's place in my life... But I can honestly say I don't think i have ever actually doubted God's existence. There have been so many scientists throughout history who have tried to prove there is no God. It can't be done. And, yet, people still try to do it. Why? What is the point of spending your life trying to disprove the existence of God? I don't know. I really don't. 

I walk outside and without even realizing it, I see he handiwork of God. The sky, the sun, the clouds, the grass, trees, rocks, water, the moon, the stars, birds, deer...skunks :-)  I just don't understand how someone can take an honest and open look outside and.... Deny, or even question, the existence of God. 

Anyways, that is just what I was thinking about this evening. I am just sitting by the river and decided to randomly write this down....