As 2010 comes to a close at midnight tonight, I am so thankful for all that has transpired in 2010. Some of what I have experienced has brought me true joy and on the other hand I've experienced some heart-ache. But through that heartache, God has grown me into what He has desired of me. You know what? I'm positive that you, the reader, have experienced those very same emotions this year as well. I heard something earlier this week that still seems to be running through my brain from Beth Moore while I was listening to a cd teaching of hers from the "Patriarch's". "The easy life does not make for a great story."
My life has not been an easy life, and some of that hard stuff during my journey on earth has come about because of my very own poor choices. I can also tell you that my great story is only because of the grace of God and His awesome capability to give me second chances.
As this year comes to a close, I want you to know as well, that God is a God of second chances. He loves you and if you will allow Him to, He will make your story into a great story.
Father, Your word tell us in Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." This speaks to my heart of second chances. As 2010 comes to a close and 2011 begins, there are many of us hungering and anticipating "newness". When we arise in the morning, may we realize we have a new slate, wiped clean, ready for that second chance. Thank You Lord Jesus. Amen.
Second chances offered here at Higher Grounds,
Yolanda
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
I'm still here!
Have you ever been told because your a Christian your life should or will be easy? Have you ever just had that thought, "My life should be easy because Jesus is my Savior"? Better yet, "So and so shouldn't do that, aren't they a Believer?"
I'm just like those of you reading this right now, I have my own share of troubles and heart aches. I hurt, I cry, and I make mistakes just as you hurt, cry and make mistakes. You and I are both being attacked by the enemy because Jesus dwells on the inside of us. But as Believer's you and I have the power to over come these hurts, mistakes and the enemy because of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Because of Christ's shed blood and God's healing Word.
I know, that as a Believer that I will have heartache and tears. Why? As a child of God, I have a target on my back by the enemy to come at me. The enemy will use who ever will succumb to him, to come at you and I. If we aren't careful, the enemy will use us as a pawn in his game. Let's not allow this to happen, Girlfriends. Remember, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit, POWER....to resist the enemy and not be used of him. I take great joy in this!
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8 But don't stop there! "Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 5:9-11 NIV.
Can you tell that the enemy has been on the attack? If so, are you resisting him? Standing firm? Wielding your sword, and placing your shield of faith? God sees your suffering, and He, Himself will restore you. And you can truly say, I'm still here! You know what I think are two things that the enemy gets worked up over from me? That I love and that I forgive because God loves me and has forgiven me. As Believer's that is what I believe we are called to do and to be...loving and forgiving. Can I do this every time, love and forgive? Absolutely not, this is still a fallen world, and like I said earlier, I still make mistakes/sin. What is important though, is that I am choosing to love and forgive more and more with every breath that takes me closer to heaven.
Father God, while walking through difficulties I thank You that You pour love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control on me, over me and around me. That in the midst of storms, there are rainbows. Father, the one You cast out of heaven is alive and well here on planet earth, but the Good News is....so are YOU! I've read the end of the book, YOU WIN! Father, thank You that while we have been punched by the enemy, we have not been knocked out of the ring. We stand and say, I'm still here! Only through God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit. Amen.
I'm still here at Higher Grounds,
Yolanda
I'm just like those of you reading this right now, I have my own share of troubles and heart aches. I hurt, I cry, and I make mistakes just as you hurt, cry and make mistakes. You and I are both being attacked by the enemy because Jesus dwells on the inside of us. But as Believer's you and I have the power to over come these hurts, mistakes and the enemy because of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Because of Christ's shed blood and God's healing Word.
I know, that as a Believer that I will have heartache and tears. Why? As a child of God, I have a target on my back by the enemy to come at me. The enemy will use who ever will succumb to him, to come at you and I. If we aren't careful, the enemy will use us as a pawn in his game. Let's not allow this to happen, Girlfriends. Remember, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit, POWER....to resist the enemy and not be used of him. I take great joy in this!
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8 But don't stop there! "Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 5:9-11 NIV.
Can you tell that the enemy has been on the attack? If so, are you resisting him? Standing firm? Wielding your sword, and placing your shield of faith? God sees your suffering, and He, Himself will restore you. And you can truly say, I'm still here! You know what I think are two things that the enemy gets worked up over from me? That I love and that I forgive because God loves me and has forgiven me. As Believer's that is what I believe we are called to do and to be...loving and forgiving. Can I do this every time, love and forgive? Absolutely not, this is still a fallen world, and like I said earlier, I still make mistakes/sin. What is important though, is that I am choosing to love and forgive more and more with every breath that takes me closer to heaven.
Father God, while walking through difficulties I thank You that You pour love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control on me, over me and around me. That in the midst of storms, there are rainbows. Father, the one You cast out of heaven is alive and well here on planet earth, but the Good News is....so are YOU! I've read the end of the book, YOU WIN! Father, thank You that while we have been punched by the enemy, we have not been knocked out of the ring. We stand and say, I'm still here! Only through God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit. Amen.
I'm still here at Higher Grounds,
Yolanda
Monday, December 13, 2010
Where is your radio dial set?
Do you remember when you were a child riding along in the car with your parents listening to the radio? What would happen as you traveled for miles? The radio station you were tuned into began to fade as you listened to your "favorite" song in the whole world, and then static. The station was gone and one of your parents reached over and began to tune into another radio station.
That has been on my heart all week long as I believe the Holy Spirit revealed this to me in a spiritual sense. We tune into God's word, ride along with the bumps of life and those of us in Christ now that the Enemy is alive and well on planet earth adding to those bumps. Yet if we aren't careful as we travel along in our days we can journey through out the day(s) moving farther and farther away from God and the tuning of His Word, and the next thing we know....there is static and we begin to reach for a totally different station instead of the One True Station, Jesus Christ.
I pray that in these busy days of Christmas, New Years, family, birthdays, office party's, etc. that we will be found soaking our shield of Faith. I felt like our Sunday School lesson was just for me yesterday, as we have been learning about Spiritual Warfare and putting on the armor of God. It is a beautiful and encouraging way to end the lesson God gave to me for my own life, and I pray that it encourages you as well. Ephesians 6:16 NIV "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.". How many arrows, ALL. Which arrows? The flaming ones! Where do they come from? The evil one!
Father, Thank You for the lessons and guidance we find every time we spend time with You and in Your Word, our road map for life. Lord, You love us so much, more than we can even fathom. I am thankful that I know that I know that You and the LOVE that You pour into us trumps evil. Father, today, You and I together, we will extinguish ALL the flaming arrows of the evil one. I'm going to strive to keep my radio dial tuned in with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. I ask these things, In Jesus' Name. Amen.
With love at Higher Grounds,
Yolanda
That has been on my heart all week long as I believe the Holy Spirit revealed this to me in a spiritual sense. We tune into God's word, ride along with the bumps of life and those of us in Christ now that the Enemy is alive and well on planet earth adding to those bumps. Yet if we aren't careful as we travel along in our days we can journey through out the day(s) moving farther and farther away from God and the tuning of His Word, and the next thing we know....there is static and we begin to reach for a totally different station instead of the One True Station, Jesus Christ.
I pray that in these busy days of Christmas, New Years, family, birthdays, office party's, etc. that we will be found soaking our shield of Faith. I felt like our Sunday School lesson was just for me yesterday, as we have been learning about Spiritual Warfare and putting on the armor of God. It is a beautiful and encouraging way to end the lesson God gave to me for my own life, and I pray that it encourages you as well. Ephesians 6:16 NIV "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.". How many arrows, ALL. Which arrows? The flaming ones! Where do they come from? The evil one!
Father, Thank You for the lessons and guidance we find every time we spend time with You and in Your Word, our road map for life. Lord, You love us so much, more than we can even fathom. I am thankful that I know that I know that You and the LOVE that You pour into us trumps evil. Father, today, You and I together, we will extinguish ALL the flaming arrows of the evil one. I'm going to strive to keep my radio dial tuned in with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. I ask these things, In Jesus' Name. Amen.
With love at Higher Grounds,
Yolanda
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