Pro-Life, Pro-Love, Pro-Women

I am a LIFE Runner and I will not be preoccupied with things that will try to pull me away from the ministry that God has called me to. Now is the time when reaching women in crisis is even more vital. An unplanned pregnancy is overwhelming on its own, but add a global crisis and it is exponentially compounded. Now is the time when all Christians must be even more diligent and committed to reaching out to the women who are carrying the future in their womb! These children are truly a blessing, they are a gift.

In America and other nations around the world we see the abortion industry continues to wage war against the unborn and promote abortion to the most vulnerable women in our societies. They tell them that abortion is the answer in a crisis but abortion is never the answer, especially in a crisis! 

If you are pregnant and scared about the future we are here for you and will help you in any way we can. Life is always the right choice, you will never regret choosing life for your child. God is more than able to supply for all of your needs. You don’t have to face this alone, we are here...

Time is a Gift

A few weeks ago most of us were still going about our daily lives. We were preoccupied with our usual things and living out our routines. Going to work, taking care of our households, gathering with friends, but now for most of us, that routine has been flipped upside down! 

“We all make time for what we feel is important in our lives.” ~Anonymous

We have been given a rare opportunity. An opportunity of time! For maybe the first time in many of our lives we are faced with more time at home together as a family than we have ever had and what a gift that can be! We can spend hours on social media letting worry overcome or try to hide away lost in endless Netflix binge watching OR we can use this time to let God speak to our hearts! To bring our families closer to the Lord together. To remember that our homes are our first place of ministry.

1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God‘s grace in various forms.

We were created for so much more than the routine! Our Identity is far too often planted in things of this world and that is a wake up call for many of us. As followers of Christ you are a child of God, redeemed and created to do Gods will! You are not of this world and have been called to the greatest commission as ambassadors of Christ! We all have a purpose and God designed you with something special that only you can do. This time of being locked in can be a blessing if we use it wisely! 

Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

These days of being home are a time to seek God on how we can make a difference or rise to another level. If anything, this is a reminder that time is short and people are perishing, and the world needs Jesus now more than ever! This time we have been given is an opportunity to spend more time on our knees, more time in the Word, more time waiting on God to reveal our hearts to us.

This can be an awakening to even bigger things that God is calling us to. We may be confined in our homes but we have work to do, we have people to reach, there are things that need to be done that God will ask us to do. Let us see this time as a gift, a gift to prepare us to reach a hurting world in new ways. 

2 Thessalonians 2:14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Love One Another

“I cannot do all the good that the world needs. But the world needs all the good that I can do.” ~Jana Stanfield

There is no greater thing we can do in this life than to love one another. In a world that is very “me” focused we are called to put others first and that is what we must do! I believe that this crisis is awakening community once again in our hearts. We are being reminded to look to the needs and the protection of those around us. 

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. ~Romans 13:10

This is a unique time where thinking of others is actually life or death for some. We are fighting an invisible enemy, an enemy that is deadly to some, that can be carried silently and shared without warning. Does that mean we should live in fear? No, we walk by faith, but we should be diligent to protect the most vulnerable and the community around us. 

This is a time that calls for community to come together by staying apart. We have been asked to make lifestyle changes to protect others, to stop gathering in groups and to avoid going out unless necessary. This is not too much to ask to save lives. 

No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. ~1 Corinthians 10:24

Out of this time of trouble we will see the best and the worst of humanity. We each choose how we will respond. Do we hoard supplies or leave things we don’t need on the shelf for others? Do we stay home as much as possible or carryon with life as if nothing has changed because we are young and healthy? Do we help out a friend in need even though we might be scared? We all must choose, so I pray we choose community by putting others well being first and protecting us all.

Miracles in this time can be the small (and big) acts of kindness that we extend to one another. God is asking His people to be the hands and feet of Jesus and in this case staying home may be the biggest act of kindness we can ever extend to one another.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
~Galatians 6:10

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

Today take a moment and breathe, this battle belongs to the Lord!

This attack that we are facing is truly threefold; it is an attack on us spiritually, it is an attack on us physically and it is in attack on us emotionally. As I started my Bible study and quiet time my heart was overwhelmed by the message God was laying before me. God is so present and available to us, we are not alone! It’s so vital to be in the Word and prayer to hear Him.

In 2 Chronicles 20 we read that Judah was under attack. The King Jehoshaphat turned to God as did the nation of Judah in this time of distress.

2 Chronicles 20:4 “So Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.”

In their time of distress they turn to God. They went to the true source of help and hope! They were facing three enemies, they were outnumbered and they knew it. Jehoshaphat prayed on behalf of his nation.

Jehoshaphat prayed;

“Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD before the new court, and he said, “O LORD, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You. Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying, ‘Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us. ’ Now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (they turned aside from them and did not destroy them), see how they are rewarding us by coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance. O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” All Judah was standing before the LORD, with their infants, their wives and their children.”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭20:5-13‬ ‭

God answered through Jahaziel;

“and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you.” Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭20:15-18‬ ‭

I cried as I read these words. A true reminder of our omnipotent and all loving God who does not leave us in our despair but fights for us! What must we do? We must seek God, we must not fear and we must stand in faith! 

When the time came the people of Judah began singing and praising and God destroyed the attacking army, by having them attack each other. At the scariest hour of their crisis they glorified God and He defeated their enemy!

God is the same today as He was from the beginning. He is unchanged! Now is our time to turn to God in full surrender, to seek Him, to trust Him and give Him the glory! Today is the hour to lift up our voices in thanksgiving, to praise and worship God and declare victory! 

Faith of a Child

Yesterday after the Prime Ministers announcement my daughter went to her room and emerged a few minutes later in a shower cap, had fashioned a face mask and put on safety goggles declaring “I’m here to defeat Corona virus!” 

I love her beautiful heart and all of this made mine ache just a little bit extra. The children don’t truly understand all of this, but it is scary and overwhelming for them. My daughter admitted that she has a hard time falling asleep because she is thinking about it. So we took time to listen and to talk about it to help ease the anxiety and we pray as a family throughout the day to remind her that God is in control.

“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”” ~Matthew‬ ‭19:14‬ ‭

While the world is trying to figure out how we get through this my kiddo is praying that her golden birthday (and it’s her double digits too) won’t be canceled. She prays about this every night right after she prays for protection of friends and family. It would be easy to disregard her fears about her party considering the magnitude of the situation at hand, but you know what it is important and it matters.

Let’s be sure to take time to come down to our children’s level right now and help understand what they are feeling and facing. Let’s be sensitive to their true feelings and use it as an opportunity to deepen their faith by teaching them to give these worries to God. In all of this the children need to be heard the most right now, and we need to listen. This will be something that they will never forget and helping them process it is our job as parents. These courageous kids are ready to battle an invisible enemy, as mine says “nurse Ella Mae is here, Corona is finished!”

“Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭8:2‬ ‭

Jesus is With Us

Whether we realize it or not, we think we have so much more power over our lives than we actually do. Panic is a result of seeing reality and realizing very little is truly in our hands. When the power we thought we had is taken away we find ourselves desperate and afraid, and in the midst of this global crisis this is a stark and sobering reality for many if not all.

This is a good time to take stock and realized where we may have misplaced faith, faith in things that can’t save us! Although this may take us by storm it did not catch God by surprise and He is still very much in control. God is with us and that is why we do not need to fear, actually God tells us not to fear! 

“And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8:24-26‬

When we read Matthew 8:24-26 it is easy to say “why did the disciples panic? Didn’t they understand who was in the boat? They had Jesus with them!” We can read this powerful story and sit back and say we would have remained calm, but if we look at today does our answer change? As a follower of Christ, Jesus is in our boat. Now that we are facing a raging sea like we have never seen are we able to stay calm or are we forgetting He is with us?

The world is going to panic, because without God this crisis is beyond comprehension. I can’t imagine facing this without Jesus, I can’t imagine how hopeless and scary it must be. Now is the time to shine the light of hope and truth for a world in darkness! We as Christians don’t do that by panicking, grumbling or responding like the world. We do that by being calm, by being peaceful, by being helpful, generous, kind and loving. When everyone is looking to take care of themselves we must be looking to the needs of others!

Jesus is in the boat, we are not alone. The storm may rage around us but we can carry the peace that the Holy Spirit gives us to those around us if we just trust in the One who can calm the seas. For us to do this we must be intentional in prayer and quiet time with the Lord, being filled with the Word in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Take this extra down time you have been given to draw near to the Lord, to seek Him on the things you can do to help reach the lost and those in need. This is the moment, the call has gone out, now is the time to rise my brothers and sisters. Shalom.

““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭

Jesus is All We Need

Today I am so thankful for a church that is so connected. I’m thankful for a Pastor who will deliver the Word online to encourage us and share what God has spoken to his heart. I’m thankful that we are the church, that the building isn’t the important part. I look forward to when we can gather again as a physically united group, which is truly important (Hebrews 10:25). I will miss the fellowship and the sound of our voices together lifting praise and worship but I am glad that I can enter into the presence of the Holy Spirit right where I am, at all times, that He is always with me.

If all of this has reminded us of one thing, it is that we truly cannot depend or rely on anything in this world. God is the only One who will not fail. Economies, nations, the world is all shaking ground but God is our Rock! He is our provider! Jesus is our salvation. Until this week I didn’t realize the things I still relied on, things I had misplaced confidence in, and I thank God for opening my eyes to them.

My hope, my help, my provision, my protection, my security, my health, my life, my salvation, everything I need and have comes from God alone. Because of this I have no reason to fear tomorrow, the uncertainty should not move me, my source has not changed! I pray peace over you my friends, the peace of God.

Jesus is all that you need, He is all that any of us need. If you don’t know Him, I pray today you will open your heart to Him, He loves you and He won’t fail you...

Step Out in Faith!

It’s a favorite used quote among Christians, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called” and it’s a powerful truth. The enemy wants us to feel inadequate, but we are not! What we lack God provides, where we are weak, He is strong. Where the words cannot be found, The Holy Spirit speaks. This is the beauty of saying “yes” to God when He calls you.

I have never been more amazed in my life then when God has asked me to step out of my comfort zone and do something I never thought I could or would. The Holy Spirit has always come and taken over, my job is simply to have faith and be a willing vessel to be filled. 

Today the world is facing new challenges and we can be sure that God will call us to answer in new ways. I pray that we all remember that we are more than able to do what God asks us to do in the Name of Jesus. Don’t be afraid to step out in faith and say yes, God will take care of the details! 

“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:11-12‬

Put Your Faith in God

I pray that as the world faces this global medical crisis, we rediscover what it is to be a community. That we take time to share (yes, share your toilet paper). That we take time to help. That we remember our neighbors and take concern of their needs.

I pray that the younger people will look well after the older people in the community. That those of us who have lower risk of complications will deliver needs to those who are higher risk so they can stay safe. That if we are sick we stay home and not cause others to be sick. 

I pray that we will put down the media hysteria and pick up the Word of God. I hope that we will use this extra time to connect with one another face to face in our families, putting aside distractions and seeing it as a blessing. 

I hope that in all of this we are reminded to always be people of prayer, turning to God in the good and bad, giving Him thanks and honor through it all. This virus is not bigger than God, but if we allow fear to overwhelm we let the devil win.

Be kind, be courteous, be wise, share and love one another...

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:16‬ ‭