Athletes have to train to reach a point of higher endurance, greater strength, and stronger discipline to reach their goal of a higher level of competition. They don’t stay or want to stay at the same level they have been competing in. There is no ignoring the fact that the competition also have the same mindset. They want to level up! To level up they prepare. They prepare themselves in every area for those coming after them. The main goal of those coming is to make you drop a level or even remove you from the whole competition. Guess who else wants to drop you from your walk with Christ and doesn’t want you to get back up. He wants you dead. John 10:10 – The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

Training is part of the preparation.

• No one likes the pain that comes with the goal you have in mind.
• No one enjoys the pain, but what we do enjoy is: the results of our training as we reach and pass goals and make new ones.
  • Example: My sons trained for wrestling and Jujitsu. They hated the training, the soreness, the bloody noses, the scrapes, the dislocated collar bones, but when they stepped on the matt and the times, they were at the top of their game and were advanced to a higher level and winning. They loved stepping on the podium to receive their medal, belt, or sword.

My point is we have to go through the process and just because we are Christain doesn’t mean we are exempt from PAIN! We want to be exempt and to be honest when I first gave my life to God, I thought that I was exempt, but I am not. It just doesn’t work that way. Even Jesus endured the most extreme unimaginable pain on the cross all for YOU and ME! He did it, He went through the process because He trusted God the Father and His love. Even in His moment of asking is there another way but still he went through the pain of the process. Luke 22:42 – “Father, if you are willing, please take his cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

COMFORT is what we want to experience to our promise. It’s natural to want comfort, who doesn’t want to be comfortable all the time. We know that God uses the difficult circumstances that we come across in our lives to develop and transform us. John 16:33- I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. God is calling me and calling you to go through this process to experience the growth we need for what he is calling us for now and the next level coming. I know I will have to go through some pain to get to my promise, but being honest when I’m going through the pain, when I’m struggling to continue my walk, when I’m hurting, when I feel like I keep falling and every time it seems harder to get up, I forget this is the process to get closer to my promise. The pain is part of the process but just, HOLD ON! Hold on because the last time that I thought I wouldn’t or couldn’t get back up and by the strength of God I did, and you will too. I thought I just couldn’t continue this walk with God, but I am, and I want more. We avoid the pain through the process so just don’t try it but hold on because God will not let you go.

We want comfort! We want the easiest, smoothest, and fastest route to our promise. No pain, just easy and comfortable! The world will tell you to cover your sadness, anger, anxiety, or hurt with a pill, alcohol or something else. Don’t get me wrong if a doctor prescribed it then go for it but to use things to cover things up to not feel the pain will not make any of it go away. It will still be there! It isn’t gone! It’s covered up and hidden for a moment! BUT HOLD ON! GOD is standing with you, and he will not let you go.

We have to build, train, and search for THE ONE that can get us through the pain that seems like will never end but I want to tell you HOLD ON! That pain is temporary. 2 Corinthians 4:17- for our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

JUST HOLD ON! Hold on and look up and trust HIM!

The pain to your promise requires preparation. We have to train to be able to fulfil our purpose to get to our promise.

SO:

We will make mistakes…BUT HOLD ON!

We will want to quit…BUT HOLD ON!

We will fall …. BUT HOLD ON! Get up and keep going!!

I want you to know you aren’t reading this blog by accident. It has all been God’s plan. I encourage you as you read not to dwell in the pain but take some time in prayer and ask God, ” What are you trying to show or teach me?” As much as we want to, we can’t take short cuts. Short cuts won’t help you or build you up, it takes away from your growth.

JUST HOLD ON! The pain to your promise may make you feel broken but even broken, God will restore, transform, and rebuild you into a better version of yourself through him, making you stronger and wiser to be able to help others know that if they just hold on, the pain to the promise is life changing!

Genesis 19:26 – But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt. 

Judgement was coming to Sodom and Gomorrah!
God had mercy on Lot and his family. He sent warnings for them to escape before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah hit.
As you read this, I ask:

WHAT WARNINGS IS GOD SENDING TO YOU, TO YOUR FAMILY, TO THE
COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN AND EVEN YOUR CHURCH TO ESCAPE THIS BROKEN WORLD?

He is sending warnings, but are we hearing them or ignoring them? God was so merciful that he sent angels to warn Lot and his family, and still, they had to be rescued by force to leave and with specific instructions.

What warnings and instructions has God sent your way?
Or can I ask? Are you banking on the same mercy that was given to Lot and his family because they still hesitated on what was about to happen.

Genesis 19:16 – When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hand of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful.

Their Instructions were: ESCAPE, RUN, DON’T LOOK BACK OR STOP!

Genesis 19:17 - When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!

If, as I am giving this message, you begin to think or wonder what the instructions are for you,
your family, your community, and / or the church, I want to tell you:

REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE!!

Luke 17:32-33 – 32) Remember what happened to Lot’s wife. 33) If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it.

We know the story, we know what happened to Lot’s wife?

She suffered an INSTANT death! Why?

1. She was disobedient after being given direct. and specific instructions.
2. She was rebellious.
3. She didn’t trust, she doubted, and she didn’t believe the warnings of what was to
come.
4. She longed for and desired for what she was leaving behind, and what did she do:

SHE LOOKED BACK AND TURNED INTO A PILLAR OF SALT.

Salt is a double-edged sword.

It can be used to preserve and enhance taste, but too much can destroy. Lot’s wife paid the
consequence for her looking back.

Is there something God is telling you not to look back on? Do you see that if there is and you ignore the warnings and look back, it could cost you more than you wanted to or thought you’d have to pay. Lot’s wife paid with her life.

You see, she chose death when God offered her far more than what she stopped to look
back at because she thought she wanted what she left behind more.

Delaying, lingering in the things of the world, we are doing the very same thing as Lot’s wife.

I ask you: Are you ready to pay the price for a moment to look back at something that
God is trying to rescue you from?

It’s not easy! It’s not easy because maybe you’re like me and say I’m just used to that way
of living, but I come to tell you that you’re not that person anymore. For me, God has been trying to tell me that for so long because I keep looking back to the woman I used to be. I keep looking back, trying to do things the way I used to all because I feel God isn’t moving fast enough. Who am I to tell God he isn’t moving fast enough when He has been present in my life through the hardest moments trying to move me away from who I was to who he is calling me to be. To be truly transparent, I sat in my living room in tears reading:

2 Corinthians 5:17- This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 

My new life has begun! I don’t need to look back at what was! Because God has the promises, he
gave me and more ahead of me. AS I write this I want you to know: YOUR NEW LIFE HAS BEGUN!

REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE!!
DON’T LOOK BACK!

Lot’s wife was given the escape plan to be spared of the destruction that was to come. All I could
think of was: Why wasn’t what God had for Lot’s wife good enough?

Then…then… I could hear over and over was: WHY ISN’T WHAT GOD HAS GOOD ENOUGH
FOR YOU MELISSA? So as I sat and wrote this, I began asking God to forgive me because I know what he has for me is more than good enough and far more than I deserve! I’m walking forward to what God has for me despite what lies behind me.

I challenge each and every one of you reading this blog to REMEMBER LOTS WIFE! Let go and don’t look back! That life you leave behind isn’t for you anymore! Run towards what God has for you! Don’t stop to look back at the lie that the enemy is trying to get you to go back to. He wants you to believe that what you leave behind is better than what God has for you. It’s a lie! Keep going, look forward, and Chase after God.

Isaiah 44:22  - I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free. "

Sin has caused us all to fall short at some time in our lives. Not one of us can say we haven’t sinned because we are human, we make mistakes and fall to sin. You reading this have sinned, I writing this blog have sinned, and even the person you least expect has most likely sinned. Romans 3:23 – For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. There is not one perfect person. Romans 3:10 – As the scriptures say, “No one is righteous- not even one.

Sometimes we fall so far into sin and end up paying a cost we never wanted to pay and find out that the cost is much higher then we ever thought. Never did we think the walk back to Christ would be so difficult.

We look and it seems there’s no way out, it looks completely dark, and then it just begins to feel like it is just easier to stay in the sin. You find yourself so deep in this lie of the enemy, this sin that now you feel like your climbing and climbing and getting nowhere, you feel like your trying to run back to God and you realize your still in the sin, you try to hide and hide but the sin still finds you and you end up staying. Why stay, when God provides a way out.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – The temptations in your life are no different from what others expereince. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptations to be more that you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

It’s hard to get out because satan will stay steady in your ear reminding you over and over of your sin. Satan calls you by your sin but God call you by name. Isaiah 43:1- But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you, O Isreal, the one who formed you says, “Don’t be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

The strategy, the scheme of the enemys is the hope that you will begin to believe the lie and allow that sin to define you. This world we live in today is so broken that everywhere we turn, everywhere we look, sin is there and the enemy will use it all to steal, kill, and destory. John 10:10 – The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purposes is to give the a rich and satisfying life,

Sin is missing the target that God has for us.

Sin is breaking His laws

Sin is what is separating you from God.

Sin is death!

I want you to know, that even covered in sin God is still waiting , and watching for you to come to or return to Him. The enemy will try to stop you by calling you alcoholic, addict, adulterer, thief, liar, and so much more BUT GOD calls you HIS. He came to set you free! He came to redeem you! Ephesians 1: 7 – In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, accordign to the riches of His grace

Redemption is paying the price to purchase something; paying a ransom.

Through redemption we are forgiven when we ask and so your sin, my sin – PAID FOR!

Sin blinds you and separates you from God in such a way that it is incredibly hard for you to see how much He loves you. I can’t give a comparison of what His love looks like because that love is true and pure that it is even a greater love than that of the love a parent would have for their child. So if you’re a parent and you know you love your child to no end, can you imagine how great the love God has for us is? I don’t have to remind you that He gave his only son to die for us. John 3:16 – “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

His love is true!

His love is real!

His love is unlimited!

So stand up and stand tall with confidence and faith that your sins are forgiven when you ask.

YOU ARE REDEEMED!

What are your plans for your life? Most of us can give a general answer but what I want to ask is:

Are they your plans or are they the plans God has for you?

I will tell you about my own life before I chose to accept God in my life, I lived my life the way I wanted and how I wanted. I lived my life believing no one would or could change anything about how I wanted to live.

What I can see now that I didn’t then is that my steps were always ordered by God –

Whether I wanted to believe it or not.

Whether I was going to be obedient to his word or not.

Whether I was going to continue to run or not.

Whether I took the long way or the short way.

The plans for my life, have always been ordered and determined by God.

I come to tell you, whether you believe it or not your steps are ordered too.

Maybe as you read this you are thinking, “well she’s writing this because she has it all together and that’s why its easy for her to walk the path God has for her.”

Let me tell you, if I sound or if you seen me and I look like I have it all together well I give God all the honor and praise because it is the peace I receive from our mighty God. Its the peace that I can feel from him as he continues to calm the storm around me when all I want to do is find the easiest, fastest, and safest way off the rocking boat.

If I sound like I have it all together, I want you to know that the enemy has come what seems like over and over punching me in the face and taking me out at the knees. He comes repeatedly thinking he came up with the best strategy, assignment, or attack he sent my way, has me out for the count. Let me just tell you, it’s not that I have it all together it is the peace of God within me knowing he orders my steps. I know now that I may have been hit so hard that I fell to my knees but I am in the best position to bring it all to God and to praise him even through the storm. I get back up because, THE ENEMY IS A LIAR AND DEFEATED! He tried and continues to try but what he intended for harm God turns it around. Genesis 50:20 – You intended to hard me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of any people. I wasn’t and won’t be out for the count, I am receiving…THE KEY to the strength, the love, the peace, the direction for what comes next and so much more.

I stand up! I keep going! It hurts, its hard but I’ve learned that even if the path before me isn’t completely visible to me with my natural eyes, I walk trusting ‘THE ONE’ leading me through it one step at a time.

My excitement in sharing this encouragement is that, THE KEY isn’t just attainable to me but it attainable to all who will accept God in their lives and trust him as he orders their steps. So stand up because the enemy is a LIAR and DEFEATED!

Let me tell you, I was a mess. I cried every single day. I was mad every single day. I wanted to even die at times to not feel or hurt. I wanted to stop this Christian walk so many times because all I saw was hurt after hurt and attack and after attack knocking me down over and over. One day was different. I remembered when God said, “Give me a chance” and I did, my life changed. He gave me a key to HIM. A key that was always there that in the past, I just over looked it or thought it wasn’t for me. Now I realize now, it’s the key I have always been searching for in my life. Only my own plans weren’t fit for that key because God had other plans for me. This key has given me the love, the peace, the strength, and so much more in Christ that I never knew really existed.

I am not saying I’m perfect or happy every second of the day because I am human. I have struggles, cry, and breakdown in emotions. I write telling you, it’s only God that has transformed me from a woman that would fight, argue, and walk away from anything that would make me feel vulnerable or too transparent, to a woman that trusts God with my whole heart knowing, I may not be an artist but I trust the painter who holds the paint brush for my life.

So I leave you with this thought…

What are your plans for your life and are you willing to let go of your ways for God’s ways, to pick up that key that holds everything you been searching for in HIM?

Daniel 3:14-18 – 14) Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I set up?15) I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you reuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to recue you from my power? 16)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17)If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18)But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue up.”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego got ratted out! They were turned in to the king for not following an order to bow down and worship the golden statue. The king gave them one more chance. This so called chance was really one more chance to bow down to a statue they knew didn’t deserve the honor. One more chance to sin against God and really to bow down to the world. One more chance to chose life or death. One more chance to reject the world or be part of it.

As you read through this, I ask you where do you stand when your one more chance comes around? What does your one more chance look like to you and those watching you?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood before the king and boldly stated they didn’t need to defend their decision. They would not bow down to their god, they confidently declared that the God they served would deliver them.  They could stand boldly before the king because they knew the ability, the power, and authority of God.

My question is Do you know the ability, power, and authority of God?

They knew God would save them from burning in the furnace and even save them from the king.

Again I ask: Do you know that God can and will save you from this burning broken world.

They boldly declared that EVEN IF…EVEN IF he didn’t, they wouldn’t go against God.

And in all those questions at times people walk away because this Christian walk is just too hard. Often times people end up believing the lies that it is better to bow down to this broken world we live in because things seem easier. I remind you again that nowhere in the bible does it say we won’t have struggles or trials. In fact, the bible says:

John 16:33 – I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Can you still boldly proclaim that you trust Him and keep walking through the fire, through the storm?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t back down, they didn’t stray away from what they knew God would and could do. They wouldn’t deny God EVEN IF… His plan was different from theirs.

I want to ask : Can you and will you stand tall and together trusting God through all things EVEN IF… his plan isn’t looking like what you thought it would. Let me tell you at times it can be hard. So hard, but I come telling you that if you trust God with your everything, even in death for his honor and glory, YOU WIN!

Weather the death be life, a relationship, a job or whatever it may be, stay faithful in all situations and remember what the enemy meant for evil God intended for good.

Genesis 50:20 – You intended to hard me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

How deep is your love for God?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego displayed the deepest love for God. Today we actually see many do have a love for God and serve him but in their own selfish ways. They will serve God but still love the world, still sin, and love themselves more.

1 John 2:15 – Do not love this world not the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were bold enough to say, EVEN IF he doesn’t.

I leave you with this thought:

Are you bold enough to deny the enemy when things come against you and be obedient no matter the cost?

EVEN IF… the cost seems too high, Can you still say, “ I will not bow down to no other god by MY GOD ALMIGHTY!

Hebrews 11:1 - Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 

I think that we have all heard of some type of Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame consists of the greats in certain categories in different areas such as sports, music, arts, cars and more.

Hebrews 11 is a chapter of the greats of FAITH!

I shared this devotional at my church, and I shared with them, how I did not want to share this message. I didn’t want to share it because lately, my faith has been a little bit of a struggle. When God placed this in my heart I was at work and as I sat there alone, I was just asking God “Why? Why do you want me to share this message when just two weeks ago I had to take time from work because I just didn’t feel good. I felt completely overwhelmed with everything and just wasn’t sure I could keep going on this walk with Him.” I needed a day for myself because I still was set to give this message but the only thing that I kept thinking was, God the promise you gave me, and my family looks nothing like the life I am living right now.” He then set me straight and told me, “IT DIDN’T LOOK LIKE IT TO THEM EITHER!” and well all that was left for me to say was… “Ok, I will give the message.”

By faith, they believed!

By faith they walked in obedience!

By faith they never lost hope!

By faith, the universe was created!

By faith, Abel offered his best!

By faith, Enoch was taken by God, not having to experience death!

By faith, Abraham left the land he knew for one he didn’t know!

Even when tested Abraham offered up his son Isaac!

By faith, Sarah was given the power to conceive!

By faith, the walls of Jericho fell!

By faith, Moses led the people to cross the Red Sea as if it were dry land!

And that isn’t it, there’s more! I pray that what you take with you after reading this is that these are the greats, they were written into this chapter in Hebrews, the Hall of Faith because they are examples of what it means to live by faith. They never lost hope even when they saw no evidence of their promise.

I asked myself, “Am I a good example of what living by faith looks like?” I immediately remembered and asked God to forgive me for complaining about sharing this message because right now the promise he gave me doesn’t look like the life I am living.

So, I ask you:

What example of faith are you displaying with your life?

Where does your faith lie? Because being honest most times we have no problem walking by faith when everything is going great, but can you still live by faith when you feel you have been going though trial after trial and storm after storm and you still can’t get through the storm.

Nowhere in the chapter or even the whole bible does it say that living a life following Christ would be easy. So, I don’t know why I wanted to think that I should not be having any trials or struggles. God has always had a plan for me, just as he does for you, but remember so does the enemy, but his plan is for destruction and for you to drop and walk away from your promise.

These greats all had trials, hardships, and doubts just as we do but they still lived by faith trusting not in what they could or couldn’t see but believing in THE ONE that gave them the promise.

Their natural eye couldn’t see the promise, but it didn’t stop them from hoping for it by faith.

They heard God and by faith they were obedient.

But, I wonder if we can take a moment t think of the times that God has told us to do something and we just did it despite what it sounded or looked like, as these greats did in Hebrews 11. As for me, I am getting better at not questioning and just moving forward and believing that if God said it then it will be done. I’m not saying that I don’t or won’t struggle but I will move by faith as he leads me.

They all died being in this Hall of Faith chapter as being on of the greats and lived by faith. I want to tell you that you could be the very example God is trying to use for someone to see that he is the same promise keeper as he was back then, today and always. Be the example to those that have lost hope and think living by faith is impossible. We need to show them that we serve the God that makes the impossible possible. Like I said, I have been trying to live my life like these greats even as I know that my life is nowhere near the things they had to go through but like them I want to live by faith knowing that if God gave me a promise, then it will come to pass. Even if, right now I don’t see the evidence of that promise.

I leave you with this thought:

IF YOU WANT TO PLEASE GOD, THEN LIVE BY FAITH!

Isaiah 43:19 - For I am about to do something new. See I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. 

That new thing! It has begun! Can you see it! Your new thing is right there, its attainable, if you reach for it, its yours, BUT…are you ready? Don’t let go of your promise just because in your natural sight that new thing seems to dark to see any light shine though or it keeps slipping through your fingers because you’re too focus on the old.

Maybe you messed up! Maybe you took a wrong turn! To be honest who hasn’t messed up or take more than one wrong turn. Can you look past whatever wildnerness or dryness you find yourself in and set your eyes on THAT NEW THING GOD has for you? Is it hard…Yes! Can it be in done…Yes! Phillipians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Do you have room for your new thing? Everything you have been going through hasn’t been for nothing. He’s been preparing you to recieve THAT NEW THING. Can you open your eyes? Can you open your mind? Can you open your heart? Can you open your hands and stand ready to receive that new thing? I sit here writing and feel how much God has been trying to give me if I could only stop focusing on what I see as too hard or too far gone. I am overjoyed feeling HIS love that I know THAT NEW THING, isn’t just for me but for you too.

Let that old thing go! Let it go! It was never meant for you to a hang onto. Don’t risk keeping something that is time to let go of and that the enemy has been using to keep you from reaching for THAT NEW THING or even feeling as if you do not deserve THAT NEW THING. God is ready to give you THAT NEW THING, BUT.. are you ready to recieve it? God won’t give it while your still hanging on to the old.

Is that old thing worth THAT NEW THING GOD has for you? What is that old thing you are holding on to? What do you need to do to let it go? Do you need to say ” I let that old thing go!” Say it! Say, ” I let it go, God Im ready for MY new thing.”

Don’t let that old thing keep you from walking into your victory. Your victory is THAT NEW THING you been praying and fasting about, that maybe you thought was too far gone. I write this to tell you that however you came across this blog, it wasn’t an accident. God knew you needed to be encouraged and wanted you to know…. YOUR NEW THING IS READY! ARE YOU?

Hebrews 11:1 - Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 

This verse has been in my heart over the past weekend. I ended up sharing it at church but even then all I kept hearing was…. HAVE YOU NOT SEEN?

Even as I shared it to help remind those in church but also it was a big reminder for me. Over the weekend read and reread the verse, I began to ask myself this very question:

HAVE YOU NOT SEEN?

I don’t know if anyone reading this at times struggles with having faith through whatever the situation, battle, or trial you are going through because to be honest sometimes it is a struggle for me. Its hard at times to believe for the things that you can’t see when everything in front of your eyes at the moment doesn’t look good at all, it looks like there is no hope, or even that no matter what you do things seem to be getting worse.

I want you to know God’s power is something we can’t always see in a physical sense like we want to and I want you to know, even as I can feel the joy of the Lord so strong and a smile so big over my face knowing nothing can take it away from me because even now God is still telling me:

HAVE YOU NOT SEEN?

Have I not seen that my heart was broken in a million pieces since about the time my mom passed away back in 2008. Receiving the news to come home from Germany because she doesn’t have much time and knowing the time that she was given was shorter than the flight home. I tell you that on top of this heartache, life happens and other things began to pile up on top. I began to ask myself, how can I not see that God has mended my heart and continues to heal the hurts of my heart through every circumstance and trial. I may have been a stubborn person and wanting to seem tough and as if nothing could hurt me but as I feel the love that God gave and continues to give as he picks up every broken piece of me and is forming me into a new creation. I pray that same love radiates through me and touches those that may not know this love.

HAVE I NOT SEEN?

Have I not seen, that as much as I ran away from God and the idea of coming to church and let alone changing my whole life to serve him. I did attend church as a kid but not consistent. I went with my aunt on an occasional Sunday and always wanted to go to the VBS. How was I missing the fact that I never wanted to come to church and now not wanting to miss church because I want to have an encounter with THE ONE that has never left me. He never left me, even during the times that I rejected him over and over. I am not saying I am a perfect Christian because I am far from it and because the bible says there is not one perfect person. Romans 3:10 – As the scriptures say, ” No one is righteous – not even one. I praise God for him finding me when he did because without him, there’s no way that the things I’ve gone through would I even still be standing, let alone sitting here typing the words to this blog for the person or persons that run across this blog. There are people out there thinking there is no God, God isn’t working, or that God has left them. I want you to know that you reading this blog is not a accident or coincidence. It is your appointed time to discover who he is and experience him and his power in a way you never thought possible.

Maybe you’re at a point where you just have been struggling to believe God’s word or his promises over your life, but…..

HAVE YOU NOT SEEN?

Have you not seen the evidence of his power working in your life? Have you not seen forgiveness given in circumstances where it wasn’t deserved? Have you not seen the healing power in a health situation that the only answer the doctor could give was that there was nothing left to be done and if you haven’t witnessed that power, can you believe for it if such a time should come? Have you not seen a healing of the heart in a time when it seemed as if there was no way for that heart to be mended back together. Then to realize that God has mended it to better and stronger. Have you not seen transformation and redemption where and in who you never thought possible? Have you not seen the power of God make the impossible possible? Have you not seen a love given when it is so undeserved because honestly we all fall short at times and realizing his love never ends and his mercy is new everyday. Lamentations 3:22-23 – The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. ²³Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

I leave you with this thought:

WHY HAVE YOU NOT SEEN?

James 1:2-4 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I sit here thinking, ” How did I get here? How did I get to this point?” Not just today but all last month was all that I kept saying to myself and also the reason I skipped a month to post a blog. Beginning this week in my prayer time I could hear God tell me, “Your resilient!” That’s where I say, ” how did I get to this point, where I pray, and can clearly hear him say “You’re resilient!” and because I feel like there is too much going on in my head or I’m like the disciples on the boat in the storm and I just want to get off, that I still chose to not believe that word could even describe me. I even know what the word means, and I still wanted to look it up. Resilient: (a person or animal) able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult situations or conditions.

How did I get here? How did I get to this point?

This point is me allowing the lies of the enemy getting me to dismiss a characteristic trait that God gave me and in my prayer time to top it off. One day this week I was even thinking of sending out a text to my pastor, my best friend, my niece, my sons, and my sister asking them if they thought I was resilient. I ended up not because I thought, “they will all probably just say yes.”

How did I get here? How did I get to this point?

This point where I needed to hear the opinion of another person, when God clearly gave me the word in my prayer time? How did I get here? How did I get to this point are phrases I’ve played over and over in my head for quite some time and as I type this blog out I think why have I allowed the enemy to keep me here the entire month last month and creeping into this month? Maybe you were led to read this blog because someone you know read it and thought it would encourage you and I praise God if you are encouraged. Maybe you have been feeling like you been beat down and dragged so far down that there is no possible way of getting up as you endure yet another trial, battle, or struggle. As I was encouraged to write this for myself, I felt there maybe someone out there feeling the same way and need to read that they aren’t the only one and that there is hope and that we have a God walks every step with you. Those thoughts that creep in telling you, “QUIT!” “YOU CAN’T!” ” YOU’RE DONE!” I’m here to say, ” KEEP GOING!” YOU’RE NOT DONE!” and “YOU CAN” I don’t know your trial or struggle but God does and I can testify, he does help you through it all. Will you let him?

Each of the many trials you have faced or will face has grown you in ways you never thought possible and has made you stronger in areas you never thought you could be strong. You are resilient! You have persevered! Your faith has been tested time and time again as the enemy hopes to destroy you, your promise, your legacy, and the calling over your life. Maybe you have been feeling completely drained, exhausted and at the end of your rope but I remind you as long as it is God at the end of that rope, you will continue to grow and get so much stronger and closer to “THE ONE” that has been with you every step of the way. Will we fall short, sure we all do but we make it a point to get back up and keep fighting the fight. Know that the enemy has strategized long and hard to test your faith in hopes of TRYING to get you to quit. The last thing that lying devil wanted was for you to believe that you are resilient and could persevere despite the battles trying to destroy you. But know that what the enemy meant for evil God turns to good. Genesis 50:20 – ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.  Your testimony may be the very one someone needs to hear to turn from what they saw as destruction to walk toward the hope we find in Christ. Take a moment to realize, you did keep walking, you are still standing even after every hit and punch made to knock you out, you still got up!

Know that you are set apart and you can keep going and walking toward your promise and victory. Realize that God is about to take you to that next level because if you’re anything like me, you forget that it is what you been praying for and he is simply answering your prayer by growing your faith in him and strengthening you for the process you are going through. He created you to be resilient and to persevere and through Christ you can do all things as it says in Philippians 4:13.

If you take anything with you from reading this, I pray it is that:

YOU CAN!