There's Something about the Water

There's something about the water that allows me to box up all my cares and give them to God. When life gets heavy and I need to let go, I go to the water. Salt water or fresh water, it really doesn't matter. But looking out over the water brings peace to my soul.

Kayaking has been a special pastime for me for a few years now. However, because of a frozen shoulder, I wasn't able to paddle for the past couple years. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to spend some time at the lake kayaking and it felt good. Getting out on the water, feeling the breeze in my face and the hot sun beating down was restorative.

As I paddled away from the shore, my heart turned to the Lord in prayer for many cares and pains that were on my heart. It felt like freedom to pass those things to Him. We had such a sweet time of fellowship!

Sometimes, life just sucks. There are so many negative things. There are unfathomable hurts and pains that seem to crush us beneath their heavy load. I was talking to the Lord about them, when He gracefully interrupted me and asked me to be still.

I surrendered to His call and allowed His beauty and peace to soak in my soul. I paddled up the lake and it was smooth and I seemed to speed right along. After a short time, I stopped and just soaked it in. I relaxed my paddle and listened to the water lapping on the kayak. The birds chirping on the shore. The noises of people in their yards at the lake. The wind blowing through the trees.

All this helped me focus on the God of the universe who created all of it. Who knows all that is going on in our world, and all that is going on in mine. The thing that continues to amaze me is that He cares about all of it. I simply rested in His goodness and mercy. After some time of rest, I began to paddle back.

I was in a place in the lake where you have to work hard to get moving. The wind was blowing against me and the current in the lake was pushing against me. In that moment the Lord nudged my soul. "When you are in sync with Me, listening to Me and following My way, willing to surrender everything to me - you will cruise along. But when you forget Me or ignore me and try to do it all alone, You will struggle and fight."

"Be still and know that I am God," Psalm 46:10 continues to roll through my mind and soul. Do you have a place where God speaks to your heart? Are you tuned in to God when the world around you is crazy and everything seems to be falling apart? Are you willing to surrender everything and follow Him?

Who Is Lord in Your Life?

Is God Lord of your life? How do you know?

 

"And Elijah came to all the people, and said, 'How long will you falter between two opinions?

 If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.'

 But the people answered him not a word." 1 Kings 18:21 NKJV

 

As I read this passage of Scripture, I began to ponder what God being Lord of my life truly means. Is He the One I go to when I have exciting news to share? worries that seem too big? financial burdens that seem insurmountable? a spouse or child who frustrate me? a job that is too difficult? Do I take these burdens quietly to the Lord or do I find someone to share them with and complain?

 

Is He my first choice when I am struggling or do I:

eat?

cry?

call a friend?

go shopping?

escape in a book?

run?

...

 

When God is truly Lord of our lives, we go to Him first, seeking His counsel and direction. Trust me, I am not pointing the finger at anyone. As I meditated on these thoughts, I was brought to a place of deep repentance and forgiveness. Choosing God first is what I aspire to. Though I am imperfect, He's working on me and guides me into deeper truth each time I seek Him. Trusting Him with those things that are tough draws us nearer to His heart. Admitting to our failures and seeking healing and restoration is a humbling and growing experience: one I wouldn't trade for anything.

 

My challenge to you is to pray and seek the Lord's direction. Ask Him how you're doing and open your heart and mind to hear the truth. Only then can we truly be humble enough to be repentant and seek restoration and healing. Growth is never easy, but it is worth it.

 

Blessings to you on your journey into intimate relationship with Christ, Natalie.



Trade Your Doubt for Peace

Doubt is a large issue in our world today. There is much going wrong from wildfires, to wars, from trafficking of human bodies to the selling of aborted baby parts. There are times when even faithful Christians ask, "God are you there?" Habbakuk is a great example of someone who doubted God. He is also a wonderful example to us when we may feel awkward about questioning God.

Habbakuk lived in a time when the world seemed out of control. He questioned whether God was there and if He cared. God replied and shared with Habbakuk that He was about to do some things that seemed unbelievable but in doing so, God's goal was to return the hearts of the people to Himself.

In all of this, Habbakuk decided to wait on the Lord and pray,

               "I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected," (Habbakuk 2:1 NKJV).

Is there something you are struggling with today or that you may be doubting the Lord's faithfulness in? Will you take time to "stand watch" and wait on the Lord? Will you take your questions to Him and wait for His answer? Will you trust  the Lord with all your doubts? Release them to Him today and claim the peace that He has promised. Things may not turn out the way we want, yet we can trust in Him to be faithful in all things.


May the Lord bless you and keep you, Natalie

(I highly recommend reading Habbakuk, it is a short book, packed full of truth. Blessings as you study God's Word.)

Walk This Way

"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." 1 John 2:3-6 NKJV

Walking in Christ's way is not easy. We have to battle the flesh and desires of our own hearts, surrendering them to Him and allowing Him to make uncomfortable changes in us. It hurts. Sometimes it pains so much we wonder if we can do it. But we can. Not in our own strength, but we must surrender to His will and His leading and step out in faith, in darkness sometimes and trust Him even when it doesn't make sense.

Does this sound insane? I understand completely. We live in a world constantly bombarded with people telling us, "Have it your way. You deserve it. You can have it all. You can have it now. Don't wait, just grab and go." These sayings are completely contrary to the way that God's economy works. Sometimes He grants us things instantly, sometimes He desires for us to wait, and sometimes He says no! That is the reality of it all.

Do you trust Jesus? Do you trust the Father? Do you trust the Holy Spirit? Do you believe that He loves you and cherishes you completely? Do you believe that He wants only the best and greatest for your life? Are you willing to submit to His leading and wait on Him? Are you willing to obey His commandments and seek His face even when the world is screaming at you loudly to do contrary to what He is saying?

Being a Christian is sometimes hard. That is the truth. Standing out and living to a standard that is higher than the world's can make it seem impossible. But Christ is greater. If you have given your life to Him, He is dwelling in you by the Holy Spirit and can speak truth and direction in your life if you will seek and obey Him. If you do not know Him but would like to know how go to
http://promisesforall.blogspot.ca/2010/09/greatest-promise.html
and pray giving control of your life to the Lord. He will be with you and guide you in all truth.


May the Lord bless you and keep you. In His service,
Natalie

Lenten Fasting

"Is this not the fast that I have chosen:

To loose the bonds of wickedness,

To undo the heavy burdens,

To let the oppressed go free,

And that you break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;

When you see the naked, that you cover him,

And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then your light shall break forth like the morning,

Your healing shall spring forth speedily,

And your righteousness shall go before you;

The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;

You shall cry, and He will say, 'He I am'." Isaiah 58:6-9 NKJV

 

 

My pastor has recently been promoting the idea of 40 days of prayer and fasting over the Lenten Season this year. He has been sharing the importance of fasting in our Christian walk with the Lord. As I have been praying and studying this again, chapter 58 of Isaiah has once more drawn me closer to the Lord's will and way of fasting and prayer.

 

I want to encourage each one who reads this post to prayerfully read all of chapter 58 and see what God is saying to you. As I have read and prayed and studied this passage of Scripture many things have been revealed to me but I would like to bring out a few important things that this passage shows us. If you have read all of chapter 58, you will notice that the beginning of this chapter gives us some warnings about fasting. Fasting is not a way to manipulate God to get something from Him. Fasting is what we do to draw closer to God and seek His will and way. It is not a spiritual discipline we do just because it is expected of us, but our hearts must be pure and our motives sincere.

 

When we fast with a pure heart and pure motives, He sees us and hears us and is delighted. Then He will answer prayer. Before you decide on what to do for Lent, pray and seek God's will for you. Does He want you to fast one meal a week, one day of meals a week, one item of food, or something else? There are those - for medical reasons - who cannot fast and I want to tell you that God knows and understands that. Maybe, He will direct you to give up a TV show, or coffee, or something else that is taking your focus away from Him. I urge you to seek Him and His direction for you in this. As you pray ask God to reveal anything in your life that is keeping Him from answering your prayers. Pray for courage and strength. Pray for forgiveness for any unconfessed sin in your life and accept His forgiveness.

 

When you are fasting, remember the second part. Prayer. It is no good to fast without praying. That is a diet. We are looking to grow deeper in the knowledge, wisdom and power of our Lord and Savior. We are storming the gates of heaven to break the bonds of sin and Satan in our lives and in this world. Prayer and fasting will overcome anything that is holding you down and captive. Pray in faith knowing that God is able to do "exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or think," (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV).

 

May He bless you in this season of Lent and draw you nearer to Him. I am praying for you dear one, and thanking God in advance for all He will do in your life. Praise His name. Natalie



Love With Abandon

 "Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind'." Matthew 22:37 NKJV

This commandment is not new. This commandment didn't start with Jesus. This commandment was instituted from the beginning of time. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth," Genesis 1:1. When God created the heavens and the earth He also created everything in them. There is nothing here that was not created by God Himself.

When He created Adam and Eve, He told them they could eat from every tree except one. They broke the commandment and disobeyed God. Eve listened to the serpent who asked a simple question and distorted the truth (for further study see Genesis 2-3). Rather than trust her loving Father, she believed the lie and caused all humanity to be born sinful.

Loving God does not mean just being a soldier and following orders to the letter, nor does it mean being a puppet and allowing someone else to pull the strings. Loving God is a choice we all must make for ourselves. Will we choose to love God, or not? Will we choose to obey God, or not? See, God being God, loved us enough to give us a precious gift (though some may call it a curse) called free will. He will not force us to choose Him or to love Him, we must make that a conscious choice for ourselves. Loving God means following His will and His way for us because we know He loves us and so we, in turn, love Him.

Can you choose to follow Him wherever that may mean? Would you choose Him over anyone or anything else? That is the reality of what He is asking. Jesus gave us this commandment first because it is the most important. When we put God first, the rest will come together. It may not seem so at first, but do you trust Him? Do you believe that He knows everything and sees everyone and every situation? Do you believe that He works all things for good, no matter how bad it looks?

Take time today to seek God and love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind. Pray and seek Him. When we do, He comes close to us. If you don't see it or feel it, keep striving because He is right there. He loves you precious one. He created you and has a plan for you. Put Him first and as Charles Stanley always says, "Obey God and leave the consequences up to Him."

Joy in Trials

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials," James 1:2 NKJV. Is this your reflex action when you encounter trials - to count it all joy? Congratulations to you if so, however, if not, welcome to the club. Now this is not a club I am proud to be a part of nor do I want to remain in it. I long to "count it all joy when I fall into various trials" and one by one slowly will learn to do just that if I consciously make the decision to accept trials with a joyful attitude.

The problem is that we have been deceived into believing that the Christian life is an easy one. We somewhere along the line bought into the idea that once we accept Jesus, everything will be easy and simple. I apologize if this is where you are. There is nothing recorded in the Scriptures that tells us that. Trust me, I have looked long and hard to find it. It's not there. However, Jesus tells us that there will be trials and tribulations but that we will never have to be alone in them (John 16:33, Hebrews 13:5). There is cause for joy!

When you read the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and study Jesus' life, there is nothing simple or easy about it. He had one trial right after another. Anyone who calls themselves a Christian is claiming "little-Christ" so we are guaranteed trials. John 16:33 concludes this way, "but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Isn't that a wonderful promise? We can choose joy because Jesus has overcome the world. Dear sister and brother, trust in the Lord, count it all joy, and store your treasures in heaven. Jesus loves you so much and one day when you close your eyes for the last time and look in the face of Jesus Christ, it will all be worth it. Whatever valley you are in, whatever mountain you may have to climb, whatever the trial or tribulation you find yourself battling, count it all joy and put your faith in Jesus.

Be Still...

Psalm 46:10 (NKJV): "Be still and know that I am God."

Advent season is here - we are looking to celebrate the birth of our Savior. We spend countless hours preparing for Christmas. Cooking, cleaning, cooking, shopping, cooking, wrapping, preparing, cooking... We want everything to be just right.

During the Advent season, will we focus on the Who of Christmas this year rather than the what - for instance, what am I going to eat, what am I going to wear, what am I going to get? Are we willing to take as much time to prepare our hearts (Christ's home) as we do our homes, the food, and all the trimmings? What if we took time to prepare our hearts as well as all the other stuff? What would happen if we took time to get alone before God and confess our need to control the season and all the "stuff" we feel is so urgent and ask God to lead us and allow Him to heal us and let Him take the lead?

Are you willing to  sacrifice something you want to do, to do something He wants you to do? Are you spending time alone in prayer and keeping your heart open to hear from Him? Are you praying for strength to be obedient to Him in all things this season?

Jesus holds all of us - and this whole world - in the palm of His hand. So what if the mince pies don't get made? So what if every ornament is not in place? Are those things really as important as spending time in His presence, preparing your heart for His coming?

Jesus came to this earth the first time as a baby. The next time He comes, He's coming for us. We must be ready. No amount of shopping, cooking, or cleaning will matter on the day the trumpet sounds. I encourage you to take time each day to get before the Lord - just you and Him. Find a spot that is quiet where you can spend time in His presence and ask Him to help you to "be still and know that He is God". Let go of the endless lists of to do's and focus on the true meaning of Christmas. "Jesus is the reason for the season" - let's give Him the welcome He deserves.

May the peace and the love of Christ be with you. In Jesus' joy,
Natalie 

Blessed Giving

"I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Acts 20:35 NKJV

It is at this time of year that I begin to think about what Christmas really means. Every store I go in - whether to pick up laundry detergent, ink for the printer, or milk - is clothed in sparkles, decorations, garlands, gift ideas, and Santa. I often wonder, "How did we get here? How have we as the human race (and especially Christians) gotten so far from the truth of what Christmas is about?" These thoughts challenge me to think about Jesus and His purpose and mission while He walked the dirt pathways of this earth and the mission He left all His followers with.

Jesus did not take, He gave. He was not a recipient, but a server. He left His home in heaven and became one of us that He might know the trials and temptations we all face. He ran with sinners and lowly people whom the religious people of the day didn't have time for. He didn't even have a place to lay His own head.

Christmas means different things to different people. What does it mean to you? The disaster in the Philippines makes me wonder if it is truly in our best interests to spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on ourselves. What if we each took even a percentage of that money and gave it to them? Would it make a difference? What if we all did it in the name of Jesus, a gift for Him this Christmas? What if we opened our eyes to those around us and saw those in need around us and gave of ourselves this year to make a difference in someone else's life? Would that please Jesus?

Need some ideas - volunteer for a food bank, homeless shelter, or soup kitchen; give of your time and resources in your community to help the organizations that are there to fill the needs of those who are less fortunate (examples: Red Cross, Salvation Army, YMCA, Teen Challenge, pregnancy clinics, volunteer at the hospital or nursing home, rehab. centers, reach out to a family in need and provide Christmas for them...). There are many ways we can give of our time, money, and other resources.

I challenge you to begin praying about what you can give Jesus for Christmas this year. It is His birthday we are celebrating. Listen carefully for His still, small voice and give to the One who gave everything for you. May He bless you abundantly as you step out in faith and obedience.

Blessings,
Natalie

Hungry? Thirsty? Get More of Jesus!

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV

I wonder if you are like me and have read this particular verse a number of time but didn't really see the promise contained in it. Take a few minutes and read it over and over, then really meditate on it. Drink in the truth of the Scripture. God has given us His Word to feed hungry souls, to quench the thirst of our parched cravings. He has given us the answer - Himself!

Lots of times we pray for stuff: healing for our family and friends, money to take care of our needs, answers to our prayers of all shapes and sizes and such things. Have we ever slowed down long enough to think about how many times we've prayed for more of Jesus? This is truly what we need. Please don't get me wrong, Jesus told us to bring our needs to Him and we should, but in the midst of that, we need to be praying for Jesus to come and fill us will His Spirit and invade our lives powerfully. We need His empowerment to go out into this corrupt and broken world to be effective for Him. There is so much hurt and pain, yet the Lord is sufficient for all the needs out there. If we would look beyond the physical needs and pray to be used by God in His plan for our world then we would see amazing things happen for Him. He sees beyond what we see. He knows far more than we could ever begin to imagine. He sees the heart and penetrates the darkness in ways unknown to humanity. What an exciting experience to be part of!! Will you join with me in praying for more of Jesus? Will you partner with Him to do those things He calls you to do? Will you trust Him to keep His promise to do "exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think?"

I'm praying for you. In Jesus' joy,
Natalie

RENEW our Pilgrimage

Each day we get out of bed and begin our day. How did you do it this morning? Did you roll out looking for your first cup of tea or coffee? Did you jump out energized and ready to get going? Did you open your eyes and praise the Lord for giving you another day, committing it to Him and praying for His direction and guidance?

We all live each day making choice after choice. Living a Christian life is more than going to church on Sunday, giving your tithe, and doing a few mission minded things throughout the year. Living a Christian life is turning it all over to the One who gave everything up for you; committing your life to the One who loves you so much that He would suffer and die for you. It is the realization that He wants all of you and nothing but the best for you.

Each day we can renew our pilgrimage by praying and seeking God's best for us. Learning to put our own agendas aside and asking the Lord to reveal His plans and people He wants us to connect with. This does not mean that we quit our jobs and forsake the things we have committed to (unless He directs us to), yet in the midst of life, He sometimes has divine appointments for us. There may be someone in your office or place of work who spends their free time alone who would really appreciate it if someone took the time to reach out and say "Hi, how are you?" caring enough to really listen. There may be a single mom in a grocery store with screaming babies who would like someone to simply smile and say a positive, encouraging word to her. There are opportunities all around us, right where we are to show the love of Christ. Are we taking the opportunity to pray and seek Jesus' guidance, are we open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit?

Second Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (NKJV) When we give our lives to Christ and commit ourselves to Him, we are no longer the same as we once were, nor are we alone. The Holy Spirit dwells within us and we are free to obey God. Taking the time daily to renew our pilgrimage and seek guidance from Him to see what is on His agenda will help us to live abundant lives (John 10:10). Are you willing to renew your pilgrimage and commit your works to the Lord? Dwell in His ways and seek His call, obey His voice and you will have abundant living.




Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of salvation offered by Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me each day to seek Your will and Your ways. Help me Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit to see the needs You want me to fill and fill me with the boldness of the Spirit and strength I need to be obedient. I pray for Your blessing as I step out in faith to follow you. In Jesus mighty and Holy name I pray, Amen.

REVIVE our Souls

Do you know how much you are loved? Do you realize that you are precious in God's sight? Do you realize Jesus died for you-to forgive you and cleanse you of your sins?

Step back for a moment and take a look at your life. Are there any storms present, brewing, or subsiding? If so, rest assured you are not alone. Jesus is right there to hold you up, to carry you, and to be "your sufficiency". He is able and can calm the storm.

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.  And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.  Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (NKJV accessed via biblegateway.com)

These disciples were physically with Jesus, in the middle of a storm, fearful for their lives. Yet, they woke Him, trusted in Him and He brought them through it all. We can learn much from this passage. Today, I want you to focus on giving it to Jesus, whatever your it is. The fear you have, the health issues, family difficulties, financial woes, spiritual lacking, or a range of other possibilities. Give them to Jesus and allow Him to take control. Pray, listen to His instruction, obey His voice, and raise your thanks to Him through praise, whatever your circumstance. Our God is able. Jesus is mighty to save and He's just waiting for you to seek Him.

Rest in Him

I had the privilege to share at Camp Peniel (in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia) this past weekend. They host a Ladies' Spa Retreat each fall in September and they invited me to be their speaker this year. It is always an amazing time for ladies to come together, get rested, be pampered, have fun, laugh, cry, and get filled up spiritually. There were many prayers prayed as this weekend came and the presence of the Lord filled the place.

I have always been amazed each time I go there, how the Lord makes Himself so real and my heart can be stilled in the beauty of such a wonderful God-given place. His handprints are all over it. This year the theme was nautical and my topics reflected that in "Faith in the Waves". On Friday I spoke about Resting in Him, Saturday was a time to Revive our Souls, then Sunday the Lord gave us strength to Renew our Pilgrimage with Him.

Do you take time to simply REST in Jesus? Is your life just too busy? If so, today is the perfect day to go to Him and pray for rest.

Matthew 11:28-30 says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (NKJV)

 

 

Have you ever seen a yoke of oxen? How many are yoked together? Of course, two. This is how Jesus wants us to be with Him. Yoked to Him, trusting Him to direct our paths and leading us in His ways and His timing. This is where we find rest. Trusting Jesus to go ahead of us. I pray for all you dear ones that you will call on the name of Jesus, yoke to Him, and trade in your heavy burden for His light one. May you begin today resting in Him.

 

May Jesus be your joy and your strength,

Natalie

Wanted: Brokenness

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart -

These, O God, You will not despise."

Psalm 51:17 NKJV

Look at your life for a few moments. Are you taking time to seek God's will for your life or are you "going it alone"? What breaks your heart? What breaks our Savior's heart? Do these things line up or are they far off the mark?

Taking time to examine ourselves is a quality in need of development in the North American (and maybe other) church. We are constantly reminded of grace - which I am so thankful for - yet there is more than grace at work. We serve the same God as Abraham, Moses, David, Deborah,  Esther, Mary, Peter, and Paul served. The above Scripture reference comes from David's heart and reflects a brokenness that surrenders fully to the Lord we serve today.

Are you broken? If not, will you allow God to break you? He will not leave you broken but,

 "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,

 And saves such as have a contrite spirit."

 (Psalm 34:18 NKJV)

Jesus died on a cross to save all who are willing to accept Him as their Lord and Savior without prejudice. He loves everyone. His heart breaks for those who are caught in the vicious cycle of sin, whatever it is. No one is beyond help. Does your heart break at the sight of sin in the news, in your community, in your home -  I mean break enough that you give it to the Lord to be in control? Or do you desire justice - dished out the way you feel it deserves?

What if we begin to pray through the news we see on the TV, computer, or hear on the radio? What if we begin to give all those things in our lives that are not pleasing to God and allow the Holy Spirit to direct our lives? What if our focus in the home started with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rather than self? I encourage you pray, seeking the Lord's will with all your heart and allow Him to break you, then to fill you with His Spirit to be hands and feet for Him, trusting everything to His direction. It may not be easy, but remember the eternal rewards are His to give. Those are not ones which will rot, rust, or be destroyed.

May you rest in Jesus,

Natalie

Complete Trust

Today I thought it would be nice to look at some Scriptures that focus our hearts on trusting the Lord. Times can be tough. Changes come that we are not always ready for. Time continues to tick away whatever our lives are experiencing. Trusting God with our lives and all the circumstances that come our way instill a peace within that nothing else can. Are you trusting God with all the what ifs? if onlys? and every victory, question, and frustration you are encountering?

I encourage you to choose a Scripture that speaks to your heart and write it out. Put it somewhere you will read it often, then memorize it.

"In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Psalm 56:11 NASB

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB

"Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him." Psalm 33:5 NASB

This is but a small sampling. Read and study the Scriptures and see what the Lord will reveal to you about trusting in Him. We serve the God of the universe. The one who sent His one and only Son, Jesus to bear the burden of sin. To be born, live, die, and be resurrected so we might find freedom from sin and be given the gift of eternal life.

Have you given your life, your all to Him? If not, my prayer for you is that you would seek Him and find Him. Pray for forgiveness of your sins and ask Him to dwell in your heart and guide your life. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelation 3:20-22 NASB

Never Separated

                                                   

What is going on in your life right now? Thinking about the people around me, there are many different circumstances people find themselves in each and every day. Some people are where they are by choice, some have no choice. I have friends who are going through mountaintop experiences: enjoying the presence of newborn babies in their families, waiting to have books published, finishing up college, preparing to graduate their children from high school, and such. I also have friends who are going through valley times: parents in long-term care facilities, illness of all sorts, times of struggle with family members, and the list goes on. Take a moment to think about your life. Where are you?

In whichever list you find yourself (and you may be going through times that place you in both), you can rest in the assurance that you have a Comforter and Redeemer in Jesus Christ. Paul was no stranger to tough times. In his life he was persecuted, beaten, shipwrecked, and imprisoned. But he continued to trust his Saviour. In Romans 8:38-39 he shares a promise we can cling to:

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,

nor angels nor principalities nor powers,

nor things present nor things to come, 

nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing,

shall be able to separate us from the love of God

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." NKJV

Did you see it? NOTHING can separate us from the love of God! I think of illness that robs a person of their faculties - that does not separate them from the love of God. What about  the loss of a job? No, that can't separate them from the love of God. Do you see? God's love is more powerful than anything. He is "the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last" (Revelation 22:13 NKJV).

Looking at where we are may give us perspective to see that God can work wherever He has us.

"To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:"

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

Remember, there is a time and season for everything. This season you are experiencing will not last forever. If you are experiencing a moutaintop time, don't lose heart. When the valley comes along, take time to look around. In the valley is where we grow, if we will take the time to focus on Jesus and not on the circumstances we find ourselves in. If you find yourself in the valley, keep you eyes on Jesus and be comforted in the knowledge that everything has a season, and seasons do not last forever.

Dear friends, keep your eyes on the Lord. Pray and draw near to Him.

Blessings, Natalie

This Means WAR

Around the world, even right now wars rage on. Some are for socio-economic reasons, some for freedom, some for religious regions, some for reasons no one can seem to remember. Do you realize there is a war raging on in the unseen world all around us. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickeness in the heavenly places," Ephesians 6:12 NKJV.

Every one of us is suseptible to the fall-out from this war. Believers in Christ are the target. Because we live to glorify God, we are the enemy. Satan likes to dress himself up to appear that which he is not. He has not earned the title of deceiver for no reason. He messes with our minds and many times we fall into the trap of agreeing with him and believing those lies.

For instance, looking in the mirror, I notice the gray hairs multiplying, wrinkles where the skin used to be smooth, extra pounds pulling at the cheeks and chin-I could go on but I'm certain you understand where I'm going. There are days when the enemy will whisper something like, "You're getting old, ugly, fat and no one loves you. How can they...just look at what you've become." In that moment, I have a choice. Will I believe and agree with what the enemy of my souls says OR will I take that thought to Christ and ask Him what He says about me? The choice is mine. It is quite simple to agree and then beat myself up for not dyeing my hair, not using a moisturizer when I was younger, and not shedding those extra pounds years ago. However, that is just what our enemy wants. Agreeeing with him gives him the opportunity to further assault us and our relationship with God.

The choice we need to develop is to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). In doing this, we can see what He really has to say about us.

You are made in the image of God. Genesis 1:26

He loves you so much that He died to take your place. John 316

He delights in you. Psalm 18:19

You are a friend of Jesus. John 15:15

These are just a few of the many things said about you. I encourage you to grab your Bible and read, study, meditate, and pray on the verses He shows you. When you find one that answers a negative thought you hear about yourself (or one you already believe), pray and ask God to heal your heart, mind, body, and spirit from the schemes of the devil. Give Him the permission to come in and cleanse you of your disbelief. Allow Him to fill you with the truth. Stand up to the enemy and fight. Do not allow him to manipulate and lie to you one more second. Take these thoughts to Christ. Fight the war against the enemy. Remember, we have one weapon in our arsenal; the Bible. The exciting thing is, it's the only one we need! 

I encourage your to memorize theses phrase (or better yet, look up and memorize the whole verses from the Bible) then claim them over yourself. Thanks to Jesus we can go before our Holy and Heavenly Father in prayer, trusting Him to reveal the truth. May God be with you as you walk in obedience in all you do.

With blessings,

Natalie

Wisdom in Looking Back

Hi all! I apologize for being so long since my last post. God has been doing amazing things in my life and I pray you can see Him working in yours too!! We serve a great God who is always near and always cares what we are going through. Of this I am certain. I have been reading through the Bible, following a chronological reading pattern, which I began in January. It amazes me how the Scriptures come alive each time I read it. No matter how many times I have read or studied an account or story in the Bible, each time there is a new lesson or promise to pick up. Truth is encapsulated within the covers of The Holy Bible.

I want to encourage you to pick up the Bible and begin reading it. If the whole seems too big, begin with a verse, then read a chapter, and then a book. It will amaze you how rich and wonderful the experience of relationship with God is when you read, study, and meditate on His Word. Romans 15:4 states it poetically. "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

There is wisdom in looking back. Not looking back at all the negative things in our lives, but looking back at the things God has done. When I read the account of God speaking to Moses, raising him up as a leader (as unlikely as that seemed), and giving him everything he needed to bring those people (great in number) out of Egypt and eventually to the Promised Land; well, it makes my heart race.We know He was able in Moses' time, so why do we think He is not able now? We are talking about the same God who does not change.

In Luke 1, an angel appeared to Mary, announcing that she would become mother to the Messiah. He told her, "For with God nothing will be impossible." (vs 37) If you doubt God, you may want to take the time to get to know Him better. I encourage you to grab a Bible and start reading. Pray and ask Him to open your eyes to the truth. Pray asking God to open your mind to understand all that you read. He will reveal things to you as you are ready for them. It is amazing what we can learn, how we can grow, and how much wisdom there is in studying the Word of God. May He bless you and be near you as you journey with Him.

With prayers,
Natalie

Who AM I In Christ?

Ever struggle with doubts and nagging thoughts that tell you negative things about yourself? If you do, what do you do next? Do you believe the lies of the enemy, or do you claim the truth about who you are as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ? Let's look at the truth. (There are many verses I could have used, but I chose just a few.)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2 NKJV

"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4 NKJV

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God." 1 Corinthians 2:12 NKJV

"Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him," Colossians 3:9-10 NKJV

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:29 NKJV

We have the privilege of being the living temple of the Living God. Wherever we live, whoever we are, if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, He dwells within us. These are the truths and promises you can trust. When there is a voice or person telling you untruths, claim these promises and release the negative words. Train yourself to focus on the truth, no matter how loud the voice of lies are.

I strongly recommend you take these verses and memorize them, hiding them in your heart so when the poison darts of the enemy are launched against you, your shield of truth will be able to extinguish them. We need to know who we are in Christ. His promises are there for us. What He has promised, He will fulfill.


If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, yet you would like to accept His gift of salvation, there is no better time than now to do that. If you would like to, click on this link http://promisesforall.blogspot.com/2010/09/greatest-promise.html to go to one of my earlier posts that will lead you through the steps to a personal relationship with Christ. After reading it, take the time to pray through the steps simply. You do not need to use big words. The only requirements are to admit you are a sinner in need of a Savior, accept the work Jesus did-dying on the cross in your place-believing him, and commit your life to Jesus, asking Him to guide and direct your life.

May God bless you abundantly. May He guide you as you grow stronger and deeper in the Word of God. Trust who He says you are.

A Giving New Year

I pray you all had a wonderful Christmas season. There is something very special about Christmas, the birth of our Savior. It is celebrated for a month, rather than simply a day. However, I want you to consider this celebration to last for the whole year rather than just for a season. What a wonderful gift we have been given, the promise of eternal life for all who will trust in the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior and give their heart to Him, believe in Him, and commit their life to Him. This is not just a promise at Christmas, but for each and every day.

Throughout the past month, I blogged about giving Jesus a gift for Christmas. What did you give Him? If you haven't given to Him yet, it is not too late. Decide now and give. Sometimes when we think of tithing (giving 10%), we only consider our money. However, what if we were to tithe our time too? What if we gave to God's people of our time and resources-money and all we have? Would the face of this earth be changed? What if we gave forgiveness, love, compassion...? What if we truly began to give of ourselves without thinking about what we would receive in return?

2012 can be a totally different year from the rest. This can be a year of giving. This can be a year of selflessness, being polite, and a year of radical Christianity. What if we would start to love like Jesus? What if we took His example and truly began to live like Him?

I challenge you to live a life of giving and trusting the Lord. Give it all to Him and ask Him what to do with it. He owns it all, we are only entrusted with whatever we have for a time. When we are gone, we cannot take it with us. May God bless you for your obedience and faith.

"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,

That there may be food in My house,

And try Me now in this,"

Says the LORD of hosts,

"If I will not open for you the windows of heaven

And pour out for you much blessing

That there will not be room enough to receive it."

Malachi 3:10 NKJV