Category Archives for Life of Faith

The Liebster Award

I must confess that I was pretty disappointed when I first started blogging and I did not accumulate a large following (and for the record, I still don’t have one). I would put links to my blog posts on Facebook and other social media sites and would feel so bummed that only a few, if any hit the like button or leave a comment. But after much whining talking to my husband about my disappointment, he reminded me not to get caught up in the numbers or lack thereof.  I was to remain focused on why I started to blog…to share Jesus. He reminded me that if I only reach one then my blog is a success.  Great advice, so I have been typing away, sharing my heart and aiming not to focus on the numbers.

Needless to say that I was pretty excited when I found out that I was nominated for the Liebster Award.  In short this award allows your blog to get more exposure and then gives you a chance to share other blogs with your readers.  I had never heard of this, but who doesn’t like to win an award?  A big thank you to Tanya at Williamstand for nominating me.  Her transparency and love for Christ is refreshing and has blessed me.  Be sure to check out her blog.

 

To accept this award I was asked to include 11 random facts about myself, which you can read here.

I was also asked to answer the below questions.

  1.  What activity do you do that makes you forget time and space?

A great conversation with a person who lives life with an undeniable passion!

  1. What is your all-time favorite movie?

Sound of Music!

  1. Do you dance in public when you hear your favorite song?

Absolutely!  I even sing along (off tune of course).

  1. Whose music are you listening to right now?

Good Good Father  by HOUSEFIRES II

  1. When Jesus called, did he say your name?

What a great question!  No He did not, I just felt His loving embrace and the weight I was carrying for such a long time lift.  I cried in a way that I had never cried before.  Hands down the most defining moment in my life.

  1. What 3 things make you happiest?

Spending quality time with those I love (Jesus, family and great friends).

Really good food

Accomplishing a longstanding goal

  1. Have you ever visited Jamaica?

Yes, as a matter of fact I was born there (York District in the parish of St. Thomas).  I moved to the United States when I was eight years old.

  1. What is the best writing tip you have ever received?

Write from your heart, edit later if necessary.

  1. If you knew blogging would be this hard, would you still do it?

Absolutely!  Writing is such a great outlet for me.

  1. Are you ridiculously happy?

Most that know me say yes.  I have many reasons to be and if you hang around long enough I will be sure to tell you!

 

I was also asked to nominate other bloggers with a small following. The following blogs have proven to be a blessing to me.  Be sure to check them out when you have a chance.

http://www.kendrabroekhuis.com/ Kendra Broekhuis

http://becomingchristinesmith.com/ Becoming Christine Smith

http://www.cherihartsfield.com/  At Home with Cheri Hartsfield

http://momonassignment.blogspot.com/ Mom on Assignment

http://familyhomeandhealth.com/ Family Home and Health

http://lashandalewismusic.wix.com/lashandalewismusic Lashanda Lewis Music

http://robertgladstone.org/ Heaven Rules

 

If you chose to accept my nominations, I ask that you answer the following questions and visit this page for the official rules on what to do next.

  1. What does your name mean?
  2. What was one of the most defining moment in your life?
  3. How do most people describe you?
  4. How do you describe yourself?
  5. Where would you like to be right now?
  6. What is the best yes you have received?
  7. How do you want to be remembered?
  8. Why do you write?
  9. What makes a day perfect for you?
  10. What is one of your favorite books?
  11. What is your favorite song?

Hope you accept the nomination, happy blogging!

 

 

The Spiritually Malnourished Need Real Food

Sometimes we dumb down God’s word when we evangelize.  But I submit to you that the spiritually malnourished need real food. They need to be fed the truth of God’s word.  But how can we feed them if we ourselves have not gone to Him for our daily bread?  How can I offer food that I myself have not tasted in a long time?

The world is in a crisis but this should not make the church afraid.  This is our time to let our lights shine, this is the time to invite the broken to come and feast on the Lord, the only one that is able to bring peace in the midst of chaos.  This is our time to put love on display.

Let us resist the temptation to water down the truth of God’s word with preservatives to keep our churches filled with malnourished souls.  Jesus has never been caught up in numbers.  He has always been about quality…life more abundantly.  Abundant life can only be achieved when we receive all that Jesus has to offer (the blessings, the correction, the humility and the suffering).  It is a package deal with an eternal yield.

I am all for dancing and praising God in service, but we must be careful that our church doesn’t become a full-fledged FLESH production.  The preacher saying things to satisfy the itching ears, having everyone whooping and hollering over false promises…filling them up for the moment but leaving them empty and spiritually sick after the “sweet high”  has rubbed off and they are left with the reality that they are still hungry.

Today’s “updated gospel” seem to have a lot of artificial sweeteners; things that Jesus simply did not promise.  Because truth is when the people don’t get all the new cars and big houses that the preacher promised, and when their sin is not challenged the souls are left with spiritual decay.  Take away the artificial fillers and stop making them promises that are not in His word.  No, not every believer will have a mansion and a fancy car. The Christian walk is not about how much we can accumulate now on this earth. True love is not about embracing every sin.  Forgiveness is not an option.  True believers aren’t always on mute in an effort to demonstrate the “love of Christ.”   And no you are not insulated from trouble just because you serve Jesus.

Simply put, the malnourished need to be fed JESUS.

Eating His flesh and drinking His blood, that which brings true nourishment

Come and taste and see that the Lord is good!

Come and feast on His word.

He is the only one that satisfies!

Isaiah 55:1-2 (NLT)

“Is anyone thirsty?

Come and drink—
even if you have no money!
Come, take your choice of wine or milk—it’s all free!

Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?

Why pay for food that does you no good?
Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.
You will enjoy the finest food.

 

 

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Don’t be afraid to share all of the Good News!

As believers we have all been given the mandate to share the good news with this world.  This is not an option.   The world is in need of truth. Sure most of us don’t hesitate to let people know that we love Jesus and for a bonus, we let them know He loves them too.  Not a bad sales pitch for Jesus and it keeps us in good standing with the one we are “witnessing” to.  No offense, just all love.

 

However, God is calling His church to step up our witnessing efforts, we have to go deeper.  It is as much about his judgement of sin as it is about his love.  We have to sound the alarm, HELL IS REAL and those that practice sin will spend an eternity there.  We have to call sin for what it is…SIN! We can’t be afraid to let people know that sin, their sin is offensive to God and there is a need to repent. The reality of being rejected is not appealing to most so because of this we sometimes hesitate to share in depth.  We have to be careful to not be more concerned about protecting our feelings than sharing truth that has the ability to keep someone from eternal damnation if they receive it.  That is just PLAIN SELFISH!   I am asking God to help me to get over myself, get over the fear of being rejected (because it will happen), and share with a boldness that is motivated by love.  How about you?

 

Pride: Some Symptoms and the Cure

I have a confession to make.  I don’t do well with correction, I am easily offended and I have held on to offenses a lot longer than I should. The more I go with God, the more this becomes highlighted.  I can give you many reasons and excuses as to why I am like this but the beginning and end of the story is PRIDE. Pride is great at hiding itself and has many symptoms.  However it is my desire to go deeper with God and I have been crying out for the fire of God to purge me…to cure me from this pride thing. 

As my Pastor said in one of his sermons, I struggle with being corrected when I think too much of myself.  I assume I have it all figured out.  It is also quite prideful for me to hold on to offenses when Christ has freely forgiven me.  The words of Philippians 2 has been shining the light on some dark areas in my heart.  It reminds me that I am to imitate Christ’s humility…the cure for pride.  He did not cling to His rights as God.  He emptied Himself of all His divine privileges. And how did He handle those who offended Him?  He freely gave His life so that they could be forgiven.  So that I can be forgiven. As I strife to imitate Christ I am believing that not only will I quickly release offenses but that I won’t be so easily offended.  I desire to come to a place of having “thicker skin.”  When I am more like Him, it becomes less about me so I am not always wrapped up in how they made ME feel.  I desire to have the kind of love that covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). True love, true humility.

James 4:6 tells me that God resist the proud but He gives favor to the humble.  I am not at all interested in being resisted by the one who is in control.  That is a scary place to be. If I am resisted by God, all my efforts will fail.  EVERY SINGLE ONE!   So yielding to His spirit and asking to be transformed into His likeness is a no brainer for me…eternal failure is just not that appealing.

The more I spend time in God’s presence the more I see myself.  I get a different view of me, I see the real me.  His fire brings the impurities to the surface.  And while this process is humbling, it is also liberating to know that I am being transformed.  As my husband preached on yesterday, I am not interested in being a modified or stagnant Christian. I want to be TOTALLY TRANSFORMED!  I want to become a house of prayer!  So today, I am asking the Lord to deliver me from pride and all its symptoms.  How about you?

 


 

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Holy Ghost Wildfire

 

I have really been thinking about the fire of God lately and quite frankly I DON’T WANT TO SHAKE IT.  I don’t want it to be a fleeting thought.

I want His fire to consume me.

I want to believe that He still makes visitations like He did in Acts Chapter 2.  The more I go with God, the more I hunger for His fire.  Not just for the power but for the purging.

I want to look more like Him…not thinking of myself more highly than I ought to, not striving to please man, not having an inward focus, and not putting a cap on my ability to love.  I want His supernatural love to flow through me….an overflow!

I can’t get to this place without His fire. I can’t live beyond what is normal without His fire. I won’t be willing to color outside the lines without His fire.

I want to operate in boldness and not be paralyzed by the possibility of being persecuted and not being liked. I want to speak His unpopular truths  without reservation even though I know there will be a direct backlash. Yes Jesus I want a Holy Ghost wildfire in me.  I want you to set a fire down in my soul!

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