He Does Not Change

 To tell you the truth I have been down for while......part depressed, part illness and the rest, just life. We made a big move at the end of 2015 for a job for my husband. It sounded great, it looked great on paper, but sometimes things don't always work exactly like you think they will.

Struggles.....we had a few. About the time it felt like we were getting settled in, I was diagnosed with COPD and CHF. it was blow to say the least. I walked around a little bit dazed for a while. I just couldn't figure out how this happened. You know how it goes, you start reasoning. I tried to do everything right,so that I would not get any type of illness like these. I was angry, sad, scared....you name it. Finances got a little rocky. I had a daughter getting married. I have a son graduating high school. It was a lot going on.

Depression crept in. Thats how depression will do you though, it's a creeper. It certainly doesn't announce itself at the door, right? Throw a bout of pneumonia and strep throat on top of that and it is the perfect storm. There are times I want to quit. Sit down and stay down. The illness alone is difficult some days. If it was just the illness, I think I could manage better.

Today my oldest daughter shared a post on facebook from her church about the dreams that God has given you and which of those are you going to go after in 2017. That post gave me a nudge....and I remembered.....

I remembered that I am the Daughter of the Most High God, I am an Overcomer, I am Resilient, I can make it. He calls me Worthy, He calls me Friend, He is the Lifter of my Head, He is my Source, He is the Grace Giver.

I remembered the dream He gave to me. How that He gave me the ability to tell a story, to write, to speak. I always dreamed of touching people's lives, inspiring them, watching people be set free from any and all bondages.

I remembered that He is a big God and just because my address changed, just because my health changed, just because the job situation changed.....He did not change. The situations I face may be beyond my control, but they are not out of His reach.

I'm going to go after the dreams He gave me...I'm hoping you will do the same.


Still walking this journey with you, my friends,

Regina

How Does Jesus Look on You?

Confused. Heartbroken. Anxious.

I think that about sums up how I feel in the midst of this war-zone like atmosphere we are seeing this week.

Then on facebook I see people saying that this is just a sign of the end time and God told us what to expect. If you know me at all you know I HAVE to say something to that. WOW. so we are just supposed to accept these actions and turn the other way because its a sign that the end is near? Is that what we think Jesus meant? Is the church that calloused over? It sure seems that way.

Yes, I can certainly read my Bible and see writing on the wall. However, God is still a God of love and forgiveness too. The end has not happened yet. We are still here having to navigate these new waters. I can't just turn my head and shrug it away. Is that what God wants? I don't think so. As long as we have breath, let's show the love of God to people. This crisis, demands that the church stand up and show God's grace.

These acts are related to a spirit of hatred, a spirit of confusion, and a spirit of racism. We have to combat these spiritual attacks. Our enemy is not flesh and blood. Our enemy wants to destroy humanity from the inside out.

 Can we climb down off our self-appointed, Bible thumping righteousness for a second and just take in the actual people and their hurts? You say it is the end time, so what are you doing about it? Are you reaching out to people? Are you telling that God forgives? Have you told them there is still HOPE? Can you quit preaching long enough to ACT?

The families whose lives have been shattered through all of this probably will not accept your biblical theology, but they just might accept an act of love, of grace, or mercy, and or forgiveness. They need someone to listen. They need our prayer. They need to see Jesus walk among them and the way He does that is through you.

Represent Him well today.

I am HIS

  I am God's child....even when I mess up and do the things I don't want to do, I am still His child and He still loves me. Look guys, none of us get up in the mornings with the thought of intentionally doing wrong, causing pain or hurt. We don't wake up dreaming of being so angry that we lash out at others....but sometimes we do those things and worse. In those moments, God never quits loving you, He never gives up on you, His love endures forever!

It's just like our own children, they make mistakes as well....and sometimes they will lash out at us in anger. Do we stop caring for them, do we stop loving them, do we exchange them for a new child? No, we would never do that. That is the same way God cares about you.....

If you find yourself doing things that you know you shouldn't, and you feel that all is lost.....take comfort today....God still loves you and wants you to just turn around and run toward Him! He will wrap you up in His arms, He will listen to your cares, your frustrations, and anything else you are feeling because He cares so much for you today!

Walking with you on this journey,
Regina

photo credit: David Bowman 
contact@bowman-art.com

Moving on From Here

Election day has come and gone....some of you are very happy with the outcome and some of you are not. I want to address the ones that are not.....

Many of you may feel worried, stressed, unsure about your future and the future of the United States. So I ask you today, who is your trust in? Are you looking to God as the author and finisher of your faith, or are you looking to Barack Obama to supply every need you have in life? The Bible is clear, that man will fail us, but God never fails. The United States may go through changes as a nation, but God never changes. We may face hardships, and uncertainties, but God's word says He will never leave us nor forsake us. I am confident in those things. 

Having faith in God, does not mean that your life and the life of this country will always be the smoothest sailing. We may go through some rough waters, we may face storms that will feel like we are gong to be overtaken and our ship is going to sink. The night may look dark for you, the hours may seems like they will never pass.....but stand strong. Don't be dismayed, don't be overcome, your God is still in control of your life. And in the end that is what matters right? It matters who is controlling your life.....is it God or is it man? Who are you going to put your trust in today? 

The Bible is also clear that we are to pray for our leaders. The President, regardless of who he/she is, has a difficult job, and I am sure feels insurmountable responsibility. The Bible does not say only pray for him if you agree with him....it just says to pray for your leaders. So let's do that. Let's pray for him and his family. I was troubled last night, when I heard and saw some different tweets and messages from people who were unhappy with the outcome....I saw people say that this man would be better off out of the picture. Before we began to make those statements, let's stop and think....Barack Obama, is a husband and a Daddy first, he is someone's son....how horrible that would be to see a family lose their husband and father, to see a mother lose her son. Let's not promote those kinds of thoughts. It is wrong. My prayer is that his family is always protected, that he is kept in good health, that he will turn His heart to the one true God and rely on Him for wisdom and clarity of mind for decisions that he must make that will affect so many people. 

Prayer is our only hope now....we call ourselves believers...then let the believers step forth and call on their God at this time. Quit hiding your heads in the sand and just complaining all the time....step up to the plate that has been set before you.....maybe God is waiting on you to bend your knee to Him, to acknowledge your devotion to Him and see Him as your only hope. Let's act like it now...let's surround this man with prayer and allow our faith to be made stronger through this. 

Another thought is this, we look to the President to make things better....let's make things better in our own homes first. Let change begin in you and your family first...as that happens it is like a rock being thrown into a pond...the ripples just keep spreading further and further out. Eventually that will spread to our nation. As Christians we are always criticizing what we think Barack Obama believes in his heart about God, but what do we believe in our heart about God? Is He really first in your life, or are you holding others up to a higher standard than what you can reach yourself?  It's a tough question...but one worth answering truthfully. 

Our nation will only suffer if we do not pull together now, heal this divide, and move forward. Your candidate may have lost the race last night, but our God is not defeated. He is still on the throne, He is not shocked nor dismayed...put your faith in Him, make Him first place in your life. Then, cast your cares and worries on Him....His shoulders are big enough to carry your burden, and His arms are wide enough to wrap around all of us and shelter us from any storm. He is the peace giver....not anyone else. God alone can comfort you, give you peace, give you rest.....don't get it confused and think that man can do those things because he can't.....

We worry about struggles and trials that we may face now.....why are you worried about that? Again the Bible is clear, that we as believers will have trials to overcome here on earth. Through those difficulties our faith is made strong. We can identify with Christ through our struggles, as He too had to endure the crucifixion and cross....that was a struggle too, wouldn't you agree? 

Don't lose your hope today....your hope is in God alone......this is just another part of the journey we are on, we have to just keep walking....

Regina