I just have to tell ya'll about a fun little adventure I just had today... such a sweet little Jesus blessing.
So Katie, a sweet young friend of mine and also my brother's girlfriend decided to take me on a little adventure today. I was given no details except that it would be Saturday at 5. And what a hilarious, fun adventure it was.
It began with us stopping at a family's house we both knew and giving away some Panera bread that her job let the employees have. I had no idea how that worked with what she had plan. Then we gave more bread away to my spiritual little brother. And then she decided to take me to Dunkin Donuts where we ran into my friend Alanna who just happened to be there. I was so confused and had no idea what Katie had planned. May I also say she was so hilarious, silly, and goofy the entire time. Finally... after she drove around in random spots and circling back, she ended up taking me to the true destination... Chipotle. Yummy!! It turned out everything beforehand was just a decoy, but yet it played out so well.
Well after gulping down a huge burrito we decided to continue our adventure by adding another person. We jokingly called it "kidnapping". This black guy started talking to us as we stopped at our "victim's" apartment. The guy asked if me and Katie were drunk. I replied that we did not need that to be happy. (I find it funny that that was not the first time I've been asked such things).We picked up my spiritual little brother Jesse (he is with me in my latest video) and we drove around talking. Then we stop at Burger King and Katie bought Jesse food and we continued great conversation which led to us praying for one another. I love Jesus and fast food. And I can't help get teary eyed when people so sweetly pray for me. We then literally ran to the car.
Our adventure was not over. We decided to go to Marcs and give more bread away to my little sister who was working there and other peeps we knew- mind you we had like ten minutes before the store was going to close. Then we headed to Walmart to find something for my sick brother Sam (also Katie's boyfriend). We found the perfect stuffed cow. Praise Jesus.
It's those delightful, simple things that are heaven on earth. Nothing beats just chilling with sweet people, talking about life and God, and praying and encouraging each other. And there was Jesus showing me Himself today... by living through a sweet girl who wanted to take me on an adventure and by living through my lil bro Jesse too. JESUS is awesome!!!!
May Jesus bless you with your own random little adventures. May you receive them and initiate them. :) Jesus loves you!!!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Yummy Instruments
Hi Ya'll,
It's been a little while. God recently got me out of feeling blue and getting lost in a dumb dumb pool of negativity. That happens when you listen to lies. But praise Jesus He uses people to remind you of who you really are. Now I am delightfully feeling like my real self again and enjoying the present and excited about the future.
Anyhozers... this is my first video welcoming my little brother in Christ, Jesse. I met Jesse at a Bible study and he is a true blessing and a delightful, fun little brother. Don't underestimate the young people folks. Jesus tastes great on anybody no matter age, race, color, etc.
This is a little revelation God gave me about instruments and God showed Jesse things too. I actually asked God to remind me the other day of who I was in Him and God sure did. Enjoy.
And remember you are all unique, beautiful, perfect little instruments in Christ and Jesus makes you sound sooooo wonderful and you are a delight to Him and blessing to everyone!!! May He tune you to understand who you are because of what He has done for you. Praise JESUS!!!!!
It's been a little while. God recently got me out of feeling blue and getting lost in a dumb dumb pool of negativity. That happens when you listen to lies. But praise Jesus He uses people to remind you of who you really are. Now I am delightfully feeling like my real self again and enjoying the present and excited about the future.
Anyhozers... this is my first video welcoming my little brother in Christ, Jesse. I met Jesse at a Bible study and he is a true blessing and a delightful, fun little brother. Don't underestimate the young people folks. Jesus tastes great on anybody no matter age, race, color, etc.
This is a little revelation God gave me about instruments and God showed Jesse things too. I actually asked God to remind me the other day of who I was in Him and God sure did. Enjoy.
And remember you are all unique, beautiful, perfect little instruments in Christ and Jesus makes you sound sooooo wonderful and you are a delight to Him and blessing to everyone!!! May He tune you to understand who you are because of what He has done for you. Praise JESUS!!!!!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Winnie Banov
I love this lady Winnie and her husband Georgian. They led our trip to Mozambique. If you want to learn from somebody look up the Banovs. They are parents of joy.
I will never forget in Africa how I got so drunk in the Spirit after Winnie shared the good news. I went over to her and hugged her and said, "Thank you for believing." Her response to me was, "Thank you for believing." I hope you enjoy how Jesus tastes off of this lovely lady.
I will never forget in Africa how I got so drunk in the Spirit after Winnie shared the good news. I went over to her and hugged her and said, "Thank you for believing." Her response to me was, "Thank you for believing." I hope you enjoy how Jesus tastes off of this lovely lady.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Manifesting Love
Fruit naturally results from love. When couples are wildly in love all they are concerned about is loving one another and in their love for one another wonderful little surprises can happen along the way. Love cannot help but to manifest itself. And the greatest moments of love bliss is where the manifestation of love starts. Now I am in no way saying that we have physical, marriage intimacy with the Lord, but I am saying that marriage is simply a representation of the greater union we share with Christ. This glorious union began with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and could not help but manifest in the lives of all human beings and could not help but also fix every human being through the cross. I cannot imagine the fellowship Father, Son, and Holy Spirit had! And now we are joined to that union through Christ! It no longer becomes an effort to love others. We just be ourselves and enjoy being loved on by our God and loving Him back and naturally you will produce the greatest fruit. A father and mother cannot help but radically adore their new born baby and pour everything into it. And every person God wants to love on and birth life out of. He wants His children to have their mother's eyes, similar quirks, and more. Truly He allows us to become Fathers and Mothers of His children.
The whole reason Jesus died and fixed us was so we could enjoy love and love. It is who we are now. It is the most wonderful thing. Simply let Jesus love you. He always has and He always will. And enjoy being His love slave and enjoy the manifested results of love. Maybe you will see druggies and prostitutes turn from old ways and be soooo happy and drunk on Jesus, maybe you will adopt an orphaned child, maybe you will write books that lift up hearts of people around you, maybe you will create movies that stir the soul, maybe you will build houses for the poor, maybe you will be an ear to the elderly, or anything. There are no limits and rules on LOVE. And then when you get a little too wrapped up in the "kids", your loving Husband will pull you aside and assure you He will take care of the children, get you to let go all your concerns, and just love you.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Something yummy from McVey
A friend/big brother in Christ had this posted on his facebook. I just had to repost it. Steve McVey is another wonderful guy with deep revelation of the grace of Christ. A few more peeps I like and trust are Georgian and Winnie Banov, Heidi and Rolland Baker, John Crowder, Benjamin Dunn, Steve McVey, and John Eldridge.
"Grace throws parties for returning prodigals without saying a word about their sins. Grace pays everybody the same regardless of what time of day they began to work. Grace restores dignity to whores that everybody else wants to stone. Grace hugs the diseased leper (or AIDS patient) that nobody else wants to touch. Grace looks past a person’s behavior and sees the person for who they are in the eyes of God. Grace is irrational to the thinker. It is unfair to the judge. Grace is foolishness to the achiever. It is a waste to the selfish. Grace is a mistake to the disciplinarian. It is shame to the religionist. But it is a stream of water to the thirsty. It’s freedom to the imprisoned. It is life to the dead. Grace is rest to the tired. It is another chance to the failed. It is hope to the despondent. It is a way out for the lost and a way in for those who can see the Door. Grace. It’s not a theological premise. It’s not a doctrine. It’s not a philosophy. It’s not something to be balanced with anything else. It’s not even the most important thing. It’s The One Thing – The Only Thing. It’s a Person – a Person who has held you in His heart before the first molecule existed and One who will never let you go."
Steve McVey
"Grace throws parties for returning prodigals without saying a word about their sins. Grace pays everybody the same regardless of what time of day they began to work. Grace restores dignity to whores that everybody else wants to stone. Grace hugs the diseased leper (or AIDS patient) that nobody else wants to touch. Grace looks past a person’s behavior and sees the person for who they are in the eyes of God. Grace is irrational to the thinker. It is unfair to the judge. Grace is foolishness to the achiever. It is a waste to the selfish. Grace is a mistake to the disciplinarian. It is shame to the religionist. But it is a stream of water to the thirsty. It’s freedom to the imprisoned. It is life to the dead. Grace is rest to the tired. It is another chance to the failed. It is hope to the despondent. It is a way out for the lost and a way in for those who can see the Door. Grace. It’s not a theological premise. It’s not a doctrine. It’s not a philosophy. It’s not something to be balanced with anything else. It’s not even the most important thing. It’s The One Thing – The Only Thing. It’s a Person – a Person who has held you in His heart before the first molecule existed and One who will never let you go."
Steve McVey
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Here Goes
Well, I am actually going to let you all in my life a little bit and get a feel for what has been going on around me.
First off I am about to be shown God's grace manifested in what lately has felt like a big old storm. My work basically has been a negative mess. Everywhere I turn some complaint is spouted and no one ever has any solutions or ways to help fix things. I feel so bad for the children because it seems we are all far too concerned about ourselves. And my usually giddy me was starting to somewhat crack. Praise Jesus for my Bible study peeps and family who reminded me of who I am and the Christ inside of me. I don't have to try to be joyful or change the atmosphere. I can just be me- who is the joy of Jesus and just be the atmosphere. Others may wallow in lies if they like, but I do not have to. So this week is my last week before break and here goes nothing. Glory to glory for sure. Gulp. I know Jesus has this. I am definitely out of my comfort zone, but I am very glad He does that to me.
Also God is beginning to show me many more radical things. Things of which I am still processing myself. They concern God's love and how far salvation goes. I'm going to drink more of this up first and then I am sure it will show up more in my writings.
I also am very much longing for snow. It was really neat when I was running the other day after feeling really down from work a few flakes began to fall. Such a sweet Jesus blessings. I am sure I will get my white Christmas.
O, did I tell you all I am an aunt. Well she (I think she's a she) isn't born yet, but I still consider myself her aunt now. She's already kicking in the womb. I believe she's going to be a dancer or at least like dancing.
Jesus blessings everyone.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Perfect Love
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out all fear." (1 John 4:18 NASB)
Many times I've looked at this verse and simply thought that God's perfect love meant we don't need to be afraid of anything. We can live our lives with no fear. And yes, that is all very true. But God has been showing me today that there is so much more involved.
If one looks at the entire context of John 4 we see that it is about outward manifestations of love. This perfect love does not just keep us from getting afraid of things, it is the power that compels us to love. It is our greatest weapon.
During my prayer time with God today He was showing me that perfect love is what Jesus used when He was about to go to the cross. If you read in Luke: 42-44 we can see that before the cross fear was present. Jesus knew the pain and agony He was about to face. I mean we are talking about one man dying the death of every single human being on earth. But love was stronger then fear. And His love cast the fear aside and made it possible for Him to be the hero of everyone.
Now this perfect love of Christ is in us. It fuels us. As Romans 5:8 states we first come to know this love that was demonstrated to us by Jesus' death on the cross, then come to realize that this love casts all fear aside, and then realize that "the love of Christ controls us." (2 Corinthians 5:14)
We can see this perfect love demonstrated in many seemingly "fearful" situations and how love has conquered. First look at Christ- at twelve He had no fear but was teaching religious leaders; He had no fear of being tempted by women when He spoke to the women at the well (see we have His perfect pure love too that causes us to not fear a dead flesh and dead lusts/temptations); and to Him declaring to His Father at the cross about those mocking Him "Father forgive them for they do not know what they do." (Luke 23:34 NASB) Then look at Stephen who was controlled by this same love- as Stephen was being stoned to death he too yelled for God to forgive his accusers. Then look at Paul who was beaten, ship wrecked, thrown in jail, and so much more the whole time totally confident and possessed by Christ's perfect love. Then of course one can look at modern lovers like Heidi and Rolland Baker who left all to serve orphans in Mozambique Africa; Georgian and Winnie Banov who travel all the world and even speak at garbage dumps; Benjamin and Stephanie Dunn who love on lepers with no fear of getting ill; people who adopt children who are handicapped; mothers who chose to give all for their children; couples who chose to forsake their old way of life to join together in marriage; and so much more.
Love is the most powerful thing. Love is God. God is love. And love looks so simple. Just check out 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. But the amazing thing is there is nothing stronger. Instead of picking power, anger, lighting bolts, swords, etc... God chose perfect love to conquer the world. And perfect love looks like Jesus defeating all wickedness and imparting all goodness to the world. This perfect love that shoves fear aside to take that bullet declaring "I love you." And it is this perfect love that has been imparted to us. We live for love just like Jesus did. We are obsessed with love. And actually Jesus chooses to love though us. We are one with him and feel how He feels about others and cannot help ourselves but to love. We are so connected to Him that we do not know if it's His love we are feeling for someone or our own or a mixture. And our response/reaction to anyone and anything is love.
Now you might be wondering why I shared this video with you about the very cranky bear. Check out that sheep in the story. Love casts her fear of that cranky bear aside. Instead she loved that bear and love won. Love always wins no matter what or who tries to oppose it.
Enjoy being controlled by Christ and His perfect love. Love is so fun and so addictive and it so works.
Many times I've looked at this verse and simply thought that God's perfect love meant we don't need to be afraid of anything. We can live our lives with no fear. And yes, that is all very true. But God has been showing me today that there is so much more involved.
If one looks at the entire context of John 4 we see that it is about outward manifestations of love. This perfect love does not just keep us from getting afraid of things, it is the power that compels us to love. It is our greatest weapon.
During my prayer time with God today He was showing me that perfect love is what Jesus used when He was about to go to the cross. If you read in Luke: 42-44 we can see that before the cross fear was present. Jesus knew the pain and agony He was about to face. I mean we are talking about one man dying the death of every single human being on earth. But love was stronger then fear. And His love cast the fear aside and made it possible for Him to be the hero of everyone.
Now this perfect love of Christ is in us. It fuels us. As Romans 5:8 states we first come to know this love that was demonstrated to us by Jesus' death on the cross, then come to realize that this love casts all fear aside, and then realize that "the love of Christ controls us." (2 Corinthians 5:14)
We can see this perfect love demonstrated in many seemingly "fearful" situations and how love has conquered. First look at Christ- at twelve He had no fear but was teaching religious leaders; He had no fear of being tempted by women when He spoke to the women at the well (see we have His perfect pure love too that causes us to not fear a dead flesh and dead lusts/temptations); and to Him declaring to His Father at the cross about those mocking Him "Father forgive them for they do not know what they do." (Luke 23:34 NASB) Then look at Stephen who was controlled by this same love- as Stephen was being stoned to death he too yelled for God to forgive his accusers. Then look at Paul who was beaten, ship wrecked, thrown in jail, and so much more the whole time totally confident and possessed by Christ's perfect love. Then of course one can look at modern lovers like Heidi and Rolland Baker who left all to serve orphans in Mozambique Africa; Georgian and Winnie Banov who travel all the world and even speak at garbage dumps; Benjamin and Stephanie Dunn who love on lepers with no fear of getting ill; people who adopt children who are handicapped; mothers who chose to give all for their children; couples who chose to forsake their old way of life to join together in marriage; and so much more.
Love is the most powerful thing. Love is God. God is love. And love looks so simple. Just check out 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. But the amazing thing is there is nothing stronger. Instead of picking power, anger, lighting bolts, swords, etc... God chose perfect love to conquer the world. And perfect love looks like Jesus defeating all wickedness and imparting all goodness to the world. This perfect love that shoves fear aside to take that bullet declaring "I love you." And it is this perfect love that has been imparted to us. We live for love just like Jesus did. We are obsessed with love. And actually Jesus chooses to love though us. We are one with him and feel how He feels about others and cannot help ourselves but to love. We are so connected to Him that we do not know if it's His love we are feeling for someone or our own or a mixture. And our response/reaction to anyone and anything is love.
Now you might be wondering why I shared this video with you about the very cranky bear. Check out that sheep in the story. Love casts her fear of that cranky bear aside. Instead she loved that bear and love won. Love always wins no matter what or who tries to oppose it.
Enjoy being controlled by Christ and His perfect love. Love is so fun and so addictive and it so works.
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