Just a lil something God gave to me....

Have you ever worked with kids? Kids love to color, do art projects, they love to play! Have you given crayons and a piece of paper to a child to allow them to make you a picture? They are so excited to color. They are happy that you gave them something that they can use to express themselves and also something that they can make to give to you. They want to make you something that will bring a smile to your face, so you can say "Good job! It's beautiful!". Our purpose as Christians is to serve the Lord. We are to be the light of the world and spread His good news. (Matthew 5:14-16). We are to be pleasing in His sight and bring a smile to His face so that He can say "well done my good and faithful servant"(Matthew 25:21).

Now what happens when the child messes up. They want another piece of paper. They want to throw the one that they messed up on, away and start all over with a new sheet of paper. Like the child who messes up, throws away the messed up paper, and asks for a new sheet to start over again....so we also are.

Like the child who might be upset because they messed up and don't want to start all over again...so we also are. But when you give that child a new sheet of paper...as sad as they might be...they begin to start over again. They begin to color a new picture, on a new sheet of paper, maybe with some different crayons. They forget about the picture that they just cried over, or just threw away. Y? Because they're focused on their new picture that is being made. They don't think about the old one again!

What was once messed up is now in the garbage! You are a new piece of paper! Just like the child asked to start over again, to have a new sheet of paper. When you asked Jesus to come into your life...When you said, "Lord I accept you as my personal Lord and Savior"...When you confessed with your mouth and believed in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God, that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9-11)...you asked for a new sheet of paper. You said Father can I try over again? Father I want a new piece of paper. Father I'm not who I used to be. Father I wanna forget about the old me. God throws the old paper, the old you away and never looks back at it. It is we who for some reason want to go back to that trash, pull it out of the garbage and hold on to it! Why? Let it be! When God forgives He's not like man to bring it back up. When He says it's done...it's done.

We need to move to the place God has called us to be. We need to get in position. He's calling His troops up right now. He's still recruiting it's not too late. We as His soldiers need to be out there on the battlefront. He already fought the battle. He's fighting battles for us that we don't even know of yet. Can we be an Army of One? The army of the Most High God and go out and spread His word. Can we put down some of the things that are holding us back? That are holding us down? That God has already thrown away? Can we be living, breathing, walking testimonies? In the name of Jesus I know we can! He created a new us. He threw the old us away. He gave us a new heart, mind, body. Let's be like the child and begin making a new picture. Let's help some folk out by giving them some food. The food of knowledge...the food that will sustain them....the food that will never have them hungry again...the food that is the Word of God!

Amen! Be blessed!

GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME

It's crazy to me how we listen to and believe so much of what the world says. We look up to celebrities. We listen to Tyra, Oprah, Steve Harvey, Dr. Phil. We can quote movies and songs. Isn't it crazy how we know all about Rihanna's life,Beyonce's career, Chris Brown, Paris Hilton, etc.? Why do we care about these people so much? Why do we jump to hear what the latest gossip is about them? We can sometimes get so wrapped up in the lives of these celebrities. We may flock to the store to buy their albums, clothing lines, accessories etc. We wanna learn the new dance move or the new "it" phrase. Why do we care so much to listen and follow people who don't even know us? Have you ever watched a sport game on television with other people and all of a sudden someone starts screaming at the television? And then someone might say, "you know they can't hear you!". DUH! It's true. We put so much time and effort into getting to know the lives of people that don't know us, aren't listening to us, and don't care about us! That's crazy! You know if we put as much effort into our Savior Jesus Christ as we do these celebrities...man!...we would be a happier people and less worried and stressed. Yes, it's a tragedy about what happened with Chris Brown and Rihanna, but what are we really doing about it by talking about it with others and reading the magazines. NOTHING. But as Christians what should we be doing instead? PRAYING.

So what are you trying to say? I'm saying that we should worry less about what Steve Harvey or Dr. Phil, or Tyra, or Oprah or anyone else in this world is saying and FOCUS more on what God is saying. He's got all the answers. When we spend time in His Word, we're spending time with Jesus. He cares about us. He loves us. He worries about us. When we spend time in the magazines and the television that doesn't equate to us spending time with the celebrities we're looking at. It just means that we're taking that time away from God. It just means that we're not spending time with the One who cares about us.

So...get your head out the mags, your eyes off the tv, and your mind off of the latest gossip. Get your head in the Word of God and see what He's saying. Instead of spreading gossip, spread the Good News. Pull your head out of the mags and put your head in the Book--the Bible.

PICK UP THE PHONE

"I'm not ready." "I'll wait until I'm ready to give up my lifestyle." "God knows my heart...He knows this is just how I am." "I'll wait until I get older to live right." "I'm young....I'm suppose to experience the world now...I'm suppose to make mistakes while I'm young."

Does any of the above sound like you? Have you heard it from someone before? Have you thought about or said any of those statements?

Those are all excuses; excuses that the enemy will use to truly make you believe what you're saying is ok. The Word says just come. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus says to Peter and Andrew, "Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." He didn't say after you finish casting your net into the sea. He didn't say when the sun dies down. He didn't say when you're ready. He didn't ask a question. He made a statement. He said, "Come." The Bible says they immediately dropped their nets and followed Him.

Can you imagine? The Word says, "At once they left their nets and followed him" (Matt. 4:20). How obedient was that! They didn't question what He asked them to do. It seems like they didn't even think about it. They just did it.

Is there something that God has been asking you to do? Is there something that He's been pressing on your heart? What are you waiting for? If He says "Go," then go. If He says "Wait," then wait. Be obedient and do what He's calling you to do. It may seem crazy to act before thinking, but that's what faith is. When we put our trust and faith in Him there should not be any doubts. We must always remember that He has our best interest at heart. He will never leave us or forsake us. He will never lead us astray. So when you hear His still, small voice, listen closely, and be obedient.

He's calling us all to be fishers of men. He's calling us all to be ministers. He's calling us to spread the Gospel. He's calling us all to tell others about Him. He's calling us all to save the lost and disciple the saved. He's calling YOU right now. Will you answer the call?

STOP, LOOK, AND LISTEN

Love. What is this thing called love?? We have love for our family, friends, spouses etc. When you get to a certain age people begin to ask you when you're gonna be getting married, where's the babies, where's the significant other, etc. When people question you, you then begin to question yourself. Should I be in a relationship? When am I going to get married? Who am I suppose to be in a relationship with? Is there something wrong with me for not being in a relationship? Am I suppose to be single? Will I be single forever? All of these questions. The one question that we sometimes forget to ask is what does God want for me? What does He want for our lives? Who does He want us to settle down with? As people we often listen to what our friends and family say. We listen to what our heads and hearts are telling us. At these times in the midst of all the advice, words, suggestions, etc., we should stop and listen to what He is trying to tell us. STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN! Stop worrying/doubting, Look with your spiritual eyes, and Listen for God's voice. It's easier said than done. I know. I know. But that's what He's telling us to do. He knows our hearts desires and His word says (Ephesians 3:20-21) that He is able to do immeasureably more than what we can think or imagine. His word tells us that He knows the desires of our hearts and wants to give that to us abundantly. Rather than listening to our own feelings, and our friends/families thoughts, we should just do as He says and wait patiently. In the mean time, while we wait, let's focus on allowing Him to work on us, in us, and through us. I mean I know personally that when it's my time and God reveals to me my husband, I want to be ready. I want to be ready for my future husband the way God wants me to be. And, I pray that He continues to work on my future husband in preparation for me. So...we must remember to focus on Him, stand on His word, have faith, and be patient. STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN.....God's got a plan. (Jeremiah 29:11)

My first blog!!

So, here goes...my first blog. I'm kind of excited about this. It's like an online journal of thoughts and stuff. God continus to speak to me and is always like "write that down Melissa write it down" and many times I'll be driving or in class and I'll write my thoughts down on a random sheet of paper and that's usually the extent of that thought. Well.....here's an avenue. I pray that, that which God gives to me is received by others. May He continue to use me to bless others. I pray that this is just the beginning of many blogs to come. As I write I pray it somehow blesses someone else and encourages someone to grow closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God bless you all!