We’re all in this together. But, even if others don’t follow our lead, we must continue to walk our own walk, because we all have our own personal relationship with God; regardless if other people choose to or not. Stay in step with the Spirit and walk by faith!

This is the awesome allegory that God has given me. I see how having freedom in Christ doesn’t mean walking independently FROM HIM but WITH HIM, and IN HIM!!! Our footsteps should be walking inside His footsteps! Sure, we will still have times where our footsteps will not always match up, but when we walk in FAITH, it’s more hit than miss! Perfection comes from He who IS; not US who are NOT!

How many of us want to be “right?” How many of us struggle with “perfection” and try so hard to follow the rules in order to have success in any area of our life? If this sounds like you, you’re not alone, because for too long, this has described ME.

I never thought of myself as a real perfectionist. However, I think I always have been and have never known it. I have always had a desire to “fix” people, and things (including myself). Not that it was all “bad” but I just wanted everyone and everything to be happy and to be all right. Don’t we all?

However, nothing and no one will ever be perfect or “fixed.” This is a sinful world, and no amount of our own goodness is going to perfect anything. The blood of Jesus is the ONLY thing that can effectively cleanse and remove sin and imperfections. If we are waiting for the moment when everything in our life becomes ideal and perfect, we will never exhale and we will always be burdened, and unable to breathe in the liberating breaths of life and freedom that we have in Christ.

We need to learn to be ok with imperfections. Not everything needs to be fixed. Jesus accepts us just the way we are and His blood covers all the imperfections. If we had to be perfect for God to love us, then He would love no one. Our works don’t determine His love for us, or the degree of His love. It doesn’t lessen or increase depending on how good or bad we are. He loves us; period. His love is continuous, invariable, and unconditional. REAL love doesn’t depend on emotions. Even if you are upset with someone, it doesn’t mean that you don’t love them. Love isn’t a feeling; love is being. Feelings come and go, but love, REAL LOVE, endures.

More and more I understand why we should have faith like little children, like Jesus talked about in Matthew 18:3. “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Having the faith of a child is having trust in God and being humble before Him. We ask GOD for His approval, for HIS guidance, and for Him to lead us by His Spirit; just as a child trusts in their parents to help and guide them. Children don’t tirelessly strive to follow the rules and beat themselves up over their mistakes. They live by FAITH in knowing that their parents always love them, regardless of what they do, and that they will be there to help them and correct them when needed. After all, think of how uptight and unhappy a child is when he lives for perfection. Perfection isn‘t peace or freedom, it‘s BONDAGE!

Justifying ourselves by works, and not faith, is enslaving!! We aren’t a slave to the law and to the flesh. Galatians 3:10says: “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” My study Bible puts it this way: “Complete obedience to the law is impossible for sinful man (Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? - Acts 15:10; For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. - James 2:10) All, then, who attempt to secure salvation by this route are doomed.” We should not “frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” - Galatians 2:21.

No accomplishment of ours will ever measure up to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. If we think we “earn” salvation , justification, forgiveness, or any other gift from God through works, we are saying Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice really isn’t what conquers all. Faith, not works, secures our salvation. If we think otherwise, we are saying faith isn’t enough and we are doomed to the curse of the law.

I have struggle so long with legalism; not even knowing that this was what it was called or what it was that I was struggling with. I struggled all the time with thinking I wasn’t good enough, or that if only I did things “right” I would be ok. I got so uptight over imperfections, and would be mad at myself for not being able to things the “right way.” I struggled so hard to please God, and deep down really did think that trying to please Him might make me feel better about my own salvation, as if I deserved it.

Well, the truth of the matter is, I don’t deserve it and never will deserve it. NONE OF US WILL! We are all sinners and NONE of us will ever make perfection. But, that doesn’t matter. Salvation isn’t based on us, it’s based upon HIM. It’s about CHRIST’S perfection; not ours.

Every day is a day of walking by faith. Every day we believe is a day of success, and completion in Christ when we walk in the Spirit. Every day that is spent believing in the Lord my God, justifies and saves me; not by the stuff I “do.” Even in the midst of all the mistakes, worries, and imperfections of life, it doesn’t matter. None of it changes my salvation. Nothing adds or takes away from it. It’s all about His mercy and grace.

If there is any “law” to fulfill, it’s only what Christ mentioned in Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” That’s the bottom line: Love God; love others. The rest will take care of itself.

Praise the Lord! Jesus, I surrender my “imperfections.” Only you make me complete. You cover my sins. YOU give me my salvation. I am free in that truth, and content in Your grace. Thank you for forgiving me and giving me freedom. It‘s all about YOU! Amen!

I am honored to announce that my Step-Father, Nathaniel Brown, just launched his myspace music page!! He has already made one CD, and another is on the way!! Please, check out his page, add him to your list, and get ready to tap your foot to the music!! If you don't tap your foot, you have just done the impossible. LOL There's no way you can't tap your foot when you listen to this music!! "Glory," as Nat always says. ;) LOL God bless you all!! Spread the word!

 http://www.myspace.com/nathanielbrownmusic  

THE BILL PASSED!!

Of course, we know that killing babies through embryonic stem cell research is wrong. That is why adult stem research would be more ethical, not to mention more beneficial. It shows more promise than that of embryonic stem cell research as well. So, why are the democrats voting AGAINST IT? ;) Gee, I wonder. They want to kill babies for a science that doesn't work, and yet still act as if they care about finding cures even though they have voted AGAINST FUDING ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH!! See for yoruself at this link to see how YOUR senators voted. (NOTE: Obama and Clinton voted against ethical research, but are always in favor of killing baby embryos. Raise an eyebrow, people. Something smells rotten!) Pass this on. Spread the word!

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00128

For a while, I have been feeling like there was something that I need to do for the Lord (and it's no small thing, let me tell you)! So, being that it is a BIG thing, I need to be sure, count the cost, and wait on the Lord. So, I asked Him for confirmation, and have been waiting on it. Well, sort of. I have been worrying and stressing about something that He hasn't confirmed yet, and that is what has brought me to the "stuck" place again. I didn't even know what was making me feel like my prayers were being hindered again. I thought maybe that I was being disobedient by not just doing what I felt I should do. Then again, Satan could be trying to manipulating me too. Round and round I would go and THAT in itself is bondage. How can I get close to God when I am a slave to worry and stress? After all, Jesus said in Matthew 6:27 "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Jesus doesn't want us to worry. We are to trust HIM and walk by FAITH!

So, there was the source: that is why I was stuck. Today, it became clear to me and I renounced and repented of my worry and over-analytical behavior and have resolved to wait on the Lord for confirmation. These verses affirm it even more:

1 John 3:21-24 and 1 John 4:1-6

21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

23And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

24And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

I didn't have confidence before God and confidence in prayer because I was in that distraction cloud again; put there by worry and stress. Worrying isn't walking by faith and that brings in fear, doubt, and a host of other sins and separates me from God's presence. I have trouble hearing the Lord when that happens, as do any of us. So, that wall had to come down and that cloud had to be cleared. Therefore, I rebuked, renounced, and repented of my worry, fear, and over-analytical legalistic behaviors so that I wouldn't have a mind enslaved in bondage.

Are you worried or stressed? Is there a "cloud" in your life? Do you feel distracted and hindered in your prayers? Where are you "stuck?" Give that place up to the Lord. He will pull you out of that mud. He will save you from the quicksand that so easily takes us under once we remain "stuck" too long. Cry out to Him, and He will save! I can't tell you how relieved I am, today, after being liberated once again!! Thank you, Jesus, for my freedom which was provided by You because of Your death on the cross that conquered sin and the grave! You are the resurrection and the life, and my freedom is in You, Christ Jesus!! I pray that all of us will know that freedom!! Amen!!

I got this forward and I was just amazed by it!! I hope you enjoy it as well!! God refines us, His precious silver, in the fire. Let Him turn you into something beautiful! God bless you!

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Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

This is a forward I read one time and I think it is very beautiful and powerful. Happy Easter!!

For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that
whosoever (YOU) believeth in HIM should not perish but have everlasting
life JOHN 3:16

It's a Wednesday night and you are at a church prayer meeting when
somebody runs in from the parking lot yelling, "Turn on a radio, turn on
a radio!"

And while the church listens to a little transistor radio with a
microphone stuck up to it, the announcement is made: "Two women are
lying in a Long Island hospital dying from a 'mystery' flu." Within
hours it seems, this thing just sweeps across the country.

People are working around the clock trying to find an antidote. Nothing
is working! California, Oregon, Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts. It's as
though it's just sweeping in from the borders.

And then, all of a sudden, the news comes out. The code has been broken.
A cure can be found. A vaccine can be made. It's going to take the blood
of somebody who hasn't been infected, and so, sure enough,all through
the Midwest, through all those channels of emergency broadcasting,
everyone is asked to do one simple thing: Go to your downtown hospital
and have your blood type taken. That's all we ask of you. When you hear
the sirens go off in your neighborhood, please make your way quickly,
quietly, and safely to the hospitals.

Sure enough, when you and your family get down there late on that Friday
night, there is a long line, and they've got nurses and doctors coming
out and pricking fingers and taking blood and putting labels on it.

Your wife and your kids are out there, and they take your blood type and
they say, "Wait here in the parking lot and if we call your name, you
can be dismissed and go home."

You stand around, scared, with your neighbors, wondering what in the
world is going on and if this is the end of the world.

Suddenly a young man comes running out of the hospital screaming. He's
yelling a name and waving a clipboard. What? He yells it again! And your
son tugs on your jacket and says, "Daddy, that's me."

Before you know it, they have grabbed your boy. Wait a minute!

Hold on! And they say, "It's okay, his blood is clean. His blood is
pure.

We want to make sure he doesn't have the disease. We think he has got
the right type." Five tense minutes later, out come the doctors and
nurses, crying and hugging one another .... some are even laughing. It's
the first time you have seen anybody laugh in a week, and an old doctor
walks up to you and says, "Thank you, sir. Your son's blood type is
perfect. It's clean, it is pure, and we can make the vaccine." As the
word begins to spread all across that parking lot full of folks, people
are screaming and praying and laughing and crying.

Then the gray-haired doctor pulls you and your wife aside and says, "May
we see you for moment? We didn't realize that the donor would be a minor
and we need .......... we need you to sign a consent form." You begin to
sign and then you see that the number of pints of blood to be taken has
been left blank. "H-how many pints?" you ask.

And that is when the old doctor's smile fades and he says, "We had no
idea it would be little child. We weren't prepared. I'm sorry sir, we
need it all!"

"But but .. You don't understand."

"We are talking about the world here. Please sign. We need it all!"

"But can't you give him a transfusion?"

"If we had clean blood we would. Can you sign? Would you sign?"

In numb silence, you do.

Then they say, "Would you like to have a moment with him before we
begin?"

Can you walk back? Can you walk back to that room where he sits on a
table saying, "Daddy? Mommy? What's going on?" Can you take his hands
and say, "Son, your mommy and I love you, and we would never ever let
anything happen to you that didn't just have to be. Do you understand
that?"

And when that old doctor comes back in and says, "I'm sorry, we've GOT
to get started! People all over the world are dying.

Can you leave?"

Can you walk out while he is saying, "Daddy? Mommy? Daddy?

"Why, why have you forsaken me?"

And then next week, when they have the ceremony to honor your son some
folks sleep through it .... some folks don't even come because they go
to the lake or the seashore ... some folks come with a pretentious smile
and just "pretend" to care. Would you want to jump up and say, "MY SON
DIED FOR YOU! DON'T YOU CARE?"

Is that what GOD wants to say? "MY SON DIED FOR YOU. DON'T YOU KNOW HOW
MUCH I CARE?"

"FATHER, Seeing it from YOUR eyes breaks our hearts. Maybe now we can
begin to comprehend the great Love YOU have for us."

The Spring

By Melissa

Their souls are thirsty and their mouths are dry. Yet, they never quench their thirst, and they don’t understand why.

They try to fill their pail with as much water as they can, but it only spills out and gets soaked up by the sand.

The saltwater doesn’t quench, and they only long for more. They long for something clean and fulfilling; something clear and pure.

Soon, they stop their searching, and focus on other things. They find pleasure in the distractions of the sea and the so-called “treasures” it brings.

They find pleasure in the shells, stones, and creatures, and things of the sea. They think they are happy, and no longer think of their deepest need.

But when they are tired, and their treasures glisten no more, their minds wander back to what they had been doing before. They think once again about their unquenchable thirst. Nothing they have found satisfies it, and the madness of that fact makes them want to burst!

So, they turn back to their distractions, and search for more “stuff.” They think that somehow they could be satisfied, if they just had “enough.”

They build castles and mountains and sculptures on the sand. They marvel at what they made; the work of their hands. They think they are clever and that their triumphs will stand. They take pride in their work and think themselves grand.

But the waves of the ocean, only come and destroy. It washes down their “trophies of glory” and takes away their joy. Nothing they have have satisfies for long. It all passes away; what are they doing wrong?

You think they would surrender and give up on their lusts; knowing everything that they accumulate only withers and rusts. But, now they try to satisfy themselves in other ways. So, in a vain attempt, they go out to swim in the waves.

The water is fun, until they begin to tire. Then, they discover, that they have been overtaken by desire. The current is strong and the waves are rough. They try to swim out, but it’s just too tough. They are tossed by the sea and almost drowned, until finally, by some miracle, they end up on dry ground. They had cried out for help and someone came to their aid. Someone had rescued them from those tumultuous waves.

As they finally see how foolish they have been, they suddenly think about their thirst again. All they have ever really wanted was water, and nothing else will do. So, they leave behind the ocean and sand and feel they know what to do.

Instead of searching for “things,” they go searching for a spring. They are now craving that pure water more than anything.

They have been seeking, and now it’s been found! They have found the clearest purest stream around! It’s crystal clear water, and they wholeheartedly drink! Their deepest longing has been quenched and they don’t know what to think!!

“Oh what fools we’ve been,” they exclaim in remorse. This spring had been so close all the time. If only they had just come to the source!

We are all wondering on that beach; just dying of thirst. All our misery could be ended, if we just come to the source FIRST!! Seeking pleasures and distractions to fill up our life will only leave us emptier and thirstier and fill us with strife.

The stuff of this world will never satisfy. We will only accumulate more emptiness until, in our misery, we die. We must search for the spring, and in its waters be content. In the waters of God’s love is where our best moments are spent.

This world must lay down its pride and seek after that spring. It truly satisfies; more than any other person or thing.

Come to the spring and drink abundantly. Jesus longs to quench your deepest longing, which is for Him, and to save thee.

Don’t spend your life on the beach. Seek the joy that is in Christ Jesus; who died for us each.

It's no secret that I am not a morning person. How many times have I whined and complained about it and begged for the Lord to help me feel rested and ready to greet each day?

Well, like so many problems, I wanted a solution badly, but I really didn't open up my ears to the Lord. I was upset that He didn't seem to be helping me, but it was ME that was holding back success. I wasn't helping myself with the very help God was offering me. I knew that looking up the right verses in His Word would motivate me, but I have been putting it off like I do so many things. Well, as I was sitting here whining and despairing once again, God urged me once again to actually do what He was wanting me to do a long time ago. My help from the Lord has always been there, I just didn't take it.

So, note to self, if I am not getting the help from the Lord I need, I need to remember to open my ears and eyes, SHUT my mouth, and truly open my heart to receive it. I mean, if one wants help, that's great! But, if you ask for it and then just stare at it without taking it, (or fight against it and continue looking for your own easier way) what good does that do? Man, I sure want to kick my own butt for this one and give myself a big resounding "DUH!"

How thankful I am that the Lord loves me and is patient with me. How relieved He must be to be watching me right now and sitting back and saying, "Whew! You finally got it! Now, was that so hard?" No, it wasn't hard. Looking up those verses and seeing the light bulb turn on was a piece of cake once I finally took the help I was offered! I WAS THE ONE making it hard!! GOD is the one that tries to make it EASY FOR US! Why am I constantly duped into thinking that what I perceive to be an "easy way out" is ALWAYS the hardest!! Just another one of Satan's lies. Buying into the "I'm going to do it MY WAY" is the biggest "GOTCHA!"  It's ALWAYS harder when we try to do things OUR WAY instead of GOD'S WAY! Satan knows it, and that's why he LOVES to enslave us into thinking that WE can do it ourselves. DUH! SELFISHNESS AND PRIDE!! How can that EVER help us?!

Well, here it is!! This is what God made for me. This will be the verses that I pray each and every day when I wake up. These beautiful affirmations of truth will be my energy boost to start the day. This is what will wake me up and encourage me first thing in the morning! Once again, I have to thank my wonderful and loving God; my motivating and inspiring coach.

If you have a tough time getting up in the morning as well, here's what I will be saying each day from now on to seize the beautiful gift of each day that God gives me!! It's all in our attitude and perspective, and if I wake up with the Lord's name on my lips and His song of love in my heart, how could I not get up rejoicing, full of joy, and ready to start the day!! Praise the Lord!! THANK YOU JESUS! Here's to being a productive Proverbs 31 woman!

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. - Psalm 5:3

IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, AND TO SING PRAISES UNTO THY NAME, O MOST HIGH: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, - Psalm 92:1-2

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. - Psalm 143:8

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. - Psalm 55:17

But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. - Psalm 59:16

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. - Psalm 30:5

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. - Lamentations 3:22-26

My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. - Psalm 130:6

The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. - Isaiah 50:4-5

Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. - Proverbs 20:13

In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. - Ecclesiastes 11:6