Oh My Goodness! The Escalator is OUT!

Escalators are moving staircases designed to carry people between floors of a building. We really don't think about them. We just get on them and allow them to carry us up and down as needed. It is mindless activity until......

Until...it is OUT of ORDER!

On my recent trip to DC, I travelled throughout the city via the metro system. This was the easiest way to get from place to place without having to deal with traffic. It was effortless until I reached an escalator that was not working and there was no elevator or regular steps. One would think, "That's no big deal. Just climb the escalator steps." If you haven't noticed, escalator steps are harder to climb when they are not moving because the rise between steps can be up to 16 inches. I am 5'3". I didn't have any choice but to pull myself up these high steps! Now that was a climb!

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is our escalator! He is there even when we may not be thinking of HIM. He is constantly lifting us up, carrying us when we need HIM. We go about our day, moving along UNTIL.....

Until!! Praise God there is no UNTIL! Where would we be without HIM. Imagine having to go about life trying to walk let alone climb without HIM helping us and guiding us.

I pause to say Thank you Lord for being my escalator and my elevator. You are there for me, even when I am not cognizant of my needs. YOU know what is best for me and continue to carry me, for I am your child! You are my strength! Forever and always!

Thank you!

Psalm 146:8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly.

Tangled Christmas Tree Lights???

People always say you can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle untangling Christmas tree lights! A twisted, tangled, wrapped up combination of wires and lights.

I have felt like those Christmas tree lights; all tousled and wrapped up. I am my worst critic. I can be so hard on myself in many aspects. I have been guilty of Not speaking negatively over myself, but NOT speaking positively either! Know what I mean. I felt like I should be able to handle it all. Throw all the balls in the air at the same time and juggle them. All of them are not glass, but in order to satisfy myself, I felt like I needed to treat them as if they were. “Are the clothes washed? Are the bills paid? Is the oil changed? Did I give the kids lunch money? Are the Christmas tree lights untangled?

Nothing like major events to wake me up though!

First: We have been having Women’s Conference at our church for the past two days! I have been truly blessed. We’ve had anointed women preach and teach, testimonies from two incredible women and an awesome psalmist! I felt like running around the church and that is exactly what we did this morning.

Secondly: My oldest daughter came home for a funeral today. Her girlfriend (in her twenties) died at home alone. Her baby was due any day. Both of them were buried today. My other girlfriend had her baby a few moments ago. She and her son are happy and healthy! Praise GOD! Two women, two boys, two different outcomes! And I was worried about the Christmas tree lights!

Two synonyms for wire are ropes and chains. I am grateful for the wakeup call. GOOD MORNING!! I have removed the ropes and chains that had me twisted and I have untangled the lights! I am Free! Free from what others may say or think. Free to praise! Free to worship! BUT most of all, free to free myself from me! I am free and pushing forward!

Ephesians 1: 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

FREE!

Turn on the Light! - It's Dark in Here

Stagnate: to fail to develop or progress, to stop flowing, become foul or to become inactive. Basically, NOTHING is happening.

Ever felt that way? Stuck!! Surrounded by murk and mire and unable to see your way out or through! It is very difficult to find your way in the dark. You can’t see what’s up ahead and you may lose your way. Progress is impeded in the darkness because we tend to step gingerly, trying to avoid the pain of stumbling or falling. If we become fearful, we stand still. We’re stuck until we can find the LIGHT.

The enemy would rather have it his way. He would have us to remain stagnated in darkness. Lucifer means light bearer, or morning star. He was once adorned in jewels and God’s light reflected off of him, causing him to appear illuminated. Ezekiel 28:13 (NIV) says, “You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. But he lost his light when he rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven. He is in constant turmoil for he knows that his days are numbered and he is already defeated. He is roaming to and fro, trying to smother the LIGHT that shines from within us by overshadowing us in darkness. He brings up things from out past, old hurts and circumstances. He doesn’t play fair. He may say we are unworthy or unqualified, but he is a liar!.... And as my mom would say “And the truth is not in him.”

The awesome news is that we don’t have to be stuck, confined or bound; especially in the dark. We have the upper hand. We have access to the LIGHT at all times. If you feel the darkness come upon you, pray! Plain and simple! What we need lives inside of us. The light is always available; we just have to turn on the LIGHT. How you say? Just call on the name above all names!

“Jesus!” The enemy will flee! “Jesus!” The enemy will cower! “Jesus!” The darkness will dissipate! “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!”

And at that name every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Philippians 2:10-11

I am Royalty!

"You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body, and I praise You because of the wonderful way You created me." Psalm 139: 13-15

In Rev. Richard Wurmbrand's book, "Tortured for Christ", he explains how God's existence and eternal life was explained to atheist in the Underground Christian Church in the Soviet Union. He made the following analogy: In summary, he said. " Why do we grow? In the womb, the embryo's arms, legs and eyes grow although there is not enough room to walk, reach out or see. The baby is growing in preparation for the life to come. He is being prepared for a place that he can not even see. It is the same for us as Christians. We grow in knowledge and in wisdom for a future place. A place that we can not see."

We are having a Women's Conference at our church in the next few weeks. Friday night is Lady's Only night with the focus on "Why do I feel so unworthy?" When I thought about the excerpt from the book and scripture, Psalm 139: 13-15, I was reminded of just how worthy we are. Even before we entered this world, our FATHER, took the time to shape us and knit us into what HE would have us to be. He had HIS mind on us, loved us, even before our hearts began to beat. Even before our limbs began to grow. HE took special time to prepare us to serve HIM, not only on earth but in our future homes as well. HE knew why HE was creating us. Our purpose was already predestined. We are fearfully and wonderfully made.

With that being said, how dare we feel unworthy? We feel unworthy because we are human. We sin and feel convicted because of our flesh. The enemy is steadily busy trying to convince us of our unworthiness. I personally feel that way at times. I don't feel worthy enough to sing to HIM, to pray to HIM because HE is just that magnificent. I want to give HIM by best and sometimes I feel that my best isn't good enough. I am quickly reminded by the Spirit, that I am HIS child. HIS chosen one. HE created me. HE loves me unconditionally and there is nothing I can do to make HIM stop loving me. Isn't that awesome!! Hallelujah!

The next time you are feeling unworthy, envision the baby in the womb; floundering around with no forethought of purpose. Then think of yourself, you that has been born AGAIN! Filled with HIS Spirit and love. Knowing that you are created FOR HIM and BY HIM. I know that I will.

Say it with me as we Push Forward.... I AM WORTHY! I AM LOVED! I AM ROYALTY!

You Can't Take My Joy

Written Nov 6, 2007 -I needed to be reminded today 9/4/2009

I woke up with a song in my heart that simply said "Not my Joy" In other words, God said, no matter what you are going through, the enemy can not take your joy.

I was feeling very discouraged. I couldn't shake it and I didn't know why I was feeling that way. It was nothing that anyone had said or done and it wasn't my circumstances. Nevertheless, I was still feeling that way. Before going to bed, I read in Terry Anderson's book, Knowing God Personally, that God will work all things together for good. Depression is the opposite of joy. Real joy is more than an emotion-it lies deep in the heart and comes only from God. (ecc 2:26) In the Bible, joy is described as 'the fruit planted and made to grow by God if we depend on Him to control our lives. Real joy can exist and grow even in the midst of sorrow and pain." Jer 31:13 says I will turn their mourning into joy and will comfort them and make them rejoice from their sorrow

God commanded me to share this,in other words, He warned me and told me I had to send this out so, I am sending it out of obedience in that it may be a blessing to someone. Maybe it is meant for you to share with someone else. We never know how God is going to work it out.

So ..we sing" You can't take my joy, You can't take my joy!!"


"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure, Do all things without murmuring and disputing. Phill: 2:13-14