One frustrating thing that I've noticed throughout my walk as a Christian and as I post things on facebook, twitter or even this blog is that more often than not...to many instead of being encouraging, supportive, and prayerful...it becomes just a competition.  A oneupsmanship if you will.  If I say in a post...man I can't believe someone I don't know just favorited something of mine on twitter, another reads it and shortly after says hey someone who I don't know just tagged me on twitter and now I'm getting a million responses... If I get excited, want to share and say, God is moving at my church and here is how, another reads it and shortly after says well God is moving at my church too and plus He's doing so much more.  I see people vying for and trying to promote themselves into positions of others when it's not their place or possibly even their calling. Is this a competition?  Are we any different than the world environment?  

The Bible says in James 4:1-3, "What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures."  Why do these things happen? Because of walking in the flesh. When we walk in the Spirit, we won't fulfill the lust of the flesh.  Envy, jealousy, and greed won't rule and reign.  It won't be a competition.  We will want what God wants.  We will encourage, uplift, and support one another in our walks rather than tear down or try to "top" what they are doing.  We will walk in the calling that God has placed on our lives...not someone elses.

The Church needs to wake up and be set apart... BE Different.   It's not a competition...stop treating it like it is one.  We are in a race...a race for our lives.  In this race, we are to remember that the goal is to not only finish well, but to help as many others as we can to finish well.  Today, focus on the BE...attitudes...BE DIFFERENT!  BE YOU!  And... BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT!  It's not a hard thing when you've died to self, taken up His will and way, and care for others.

I am a clean freak.  When my environment around me is clean...my mind and spirit seem to be more at ease.  When it's not clean...I become a crazy woman...a real stress magnet.  Even though I know this, sometimes when life gets so busy, I find it very hard to maintain the cleanliness of my house.  I have two cats, a dog, a husband, and two grown boys living at home right now...and it's seemingly almost impossible when running from one place to another to keep up with the day to day mess. If even one day goes by where I don't clean, my house can look like a bomb exploded.  One day of saying...I can't do this... and whammo, I will have to spend hours cleaning to get it back in order and have my sanity and inner peace restored. I've noticed the same can happen with our hearts and spiritual lives.

When we spend time with God on a daily basis, focusing on His Word, a cleaning and refreshing is actually taking place. God is not only renewing our mind (making it fresh), He's purifying our hearts and renewing our spirits.  Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a clean heart oh God, and renew a right spirit within me.  When we don't spend time with God, we will begin to notice our spirits become cluttered.  We'll not react to situations in a Godly way, our peace will be robbed, our joy will be robbed, our spiritual vision will become blurry, and our hearts will become hard.  When we are in the Word everyday, God has a chance to bring out the impurities that we carry in us and wash them away.  Our spirits will be refreshed.

Before I head out into the craziness of life today...I'm taking a moment with Him so that He can clean my heart and refresh my spirit.  If life is getting you down and making you crazy...let Him clean the house of your heart and refresh you today.

Do you know that God is still a miracle working God.  Over the past year and a half we have seen God move mightily at HWA healing people of depression and sickness, and just in the past month we have seen confirmed by doctors and blood tests someone at HWA healed of stage one kidney disease and someone else healed of renal kidney failure miraculously.  I can tell you that this was not a man accomplished thing but a God accomplished thing.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  The Bible says in Matthew 4:23, "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people."

When He left, He said He would send to us the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit pours out His power through us to accomplish even greater things... and He tells us to lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.  When we act obediently to His Word, HE is able to accomplish those even greater things.  He wants His people to walk in victory...to walk in healing... to walk in His wonderworking power.  He wanted it yesterday, He wants it today, and He wants it forever.  It's ok to believe the unbelievable because when you know Him...you realize He's alive and well and still working today.  

As the wife of a pastor who allows God to freely move, I have full confidence that greater things from the Almighty God are yet to come...

Believe the unbelievable today!

Have you ever dealt with something that is deceptive?  The Bible says, "Be sober, be alert for the enemy goes around like a roaring lion seeking whom He may devour."  We have to be on guard...Some things may look so pretty on the outside, but when handled are dangerous or toxic. Take the swan for an example.  It is absolutely stunning to look upon but is considered one of the most deadly creatures in the world.  It will attack to kill and even drown someone it feels is a threat... or the blue ringed octopus...again so very beautiful, but emits a toxin when touched that could kill a human in a matter of minutes. ...And there is no antidote. 

This morning I've been doing some serious spiritual warfare.  As I woke up, all I could pray was God, I need your presence, I need to hear your voice and I need you to move in a mighty way on this day for my family...for my church.  I was drawn to read Psalm 100 which says, "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

God was telling me in this that not only had He heard me, He is faithful, and I needed to begin to worship... worship opens the door for the supernatural to take place...worship allows for the blinders to fall off and the chains to be broken... worship is imperative in spiritual warfare.  There is mighty power when we begin to worship.  In Acts 16:25-26, "But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened."  The chains fell down...the doors opened wide...and God's redemption became evident in the next verses as blinders fell off the guard's eyes and he turned to Him because of it all.  

My friend... He is mighty...and He is truth. His truth WILL shine bright, the blinders WILL fall, the chains WILL break and fall down ...and deception WILL be revealed when we worship Him...worship, and watch that roaring lion flee today.

This afternoon, I'm sitting here listening to, "We Believe," by the Newsboys... oh mannnn such a good song.  Today when we read the newspapers and listen to the newscasters all we can see are wars, rumors of wars, murders, massive catastrophic natural events, and these things could send any sane person heading for the hills in terror...   But we...we have a hope.  Our hope is Jesus Christ.  We can await His return for His church with expectancy...knowing that these things we hear about were foretold in the Scriptures and must come to pass...but they are only temporary.  What is not temporary is the eternity we will get to spend with Him if we know Him.

He is our Hope beyond all hopes...our King above all kings. In 1 Peter 1:3-5 it says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."  If we know Him, not only are we guarded by Him, but in Him we have hope.  Take a listen to this song today, and if you haven't already, put your trust in Him today so that He can be your Hope beyond all hopes. Today is the day of salvation...there's no better time than right now.

So last night I attended an "It Works" Party. I saw some really amazing before and after photos of hair growth and body toning with the products.  So, I wrapped my arms to see if maybe just possibly I'd end up looking like I had been toning them for years....unfortunately...my dream of instantaneous change did not come true.  Although a small change was visibly noticeable in the before and after, it wasn't drastic.  I was told one wrap was a treat and four were a treatment... SIGH....  I guess there is no overnight solution.  Do the "It Works" wraps work...maybe... but the jury is still out on that one. It could take days and several more wraps before the change I would like to see would ever take place.  

Change is hard, if you want your body to change...it definitely won't be an overnight thing, and you won't make it happen by doing the same you've always done.  Change requires change...change in habits, lifestyle, and focus.  I think if anyone really wants to see change in their body, they have to change the way they eat, drink, and how much they exercise, and it will require dedication and drive to accomplish that change.  The same goes for our walk with God.

The apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:12, "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."  He learned how to be steady in all things... it was not an overnight thing but rather a learned thing.  To grow strong in our walk with God to the point where we are immovable when "life" happens...is something that will require hard work and dedication to accomplish.  Trials and temptations will come...and that is a good thing because the more we exercise our spiritual body, the stronger it will grow. 

Food, drink, and exercise shape our physical bodies, but learning how to handle trials and temptations with the Word, prayer, and a lifestyle of living for Him shapes our spiritual bodies.  There is no miracle solution.  Both require work!  If you're feeling like you struggle through each and every day with your spiritual health waning ...and need to get it tone, the first thing to do is begin to renew your mind daily....feeding yourself with the truth of His Word.  The more you do it, the toner and stronger your spiritual body will become.  He will make your feet like hind's feet...strong and able to easily scale the biggest mountains.

Change is hard and sometimes long in coming...but it is not impossible.  You just have to get out there and do it.  Are you ready to make a change?

Tonight I'll be heading out to an "It Works" Party at HWA... You know that thing where you wrap your entire body with special wrap and come out looking like you never had a fat cell to begin with when all is said and done...Yeah that thing. Sounds unbelievable...and I'm definitely a skeptic. ...But still, I'm interested in checking it out to see if what they advertise is even humanly possible.  

Do you think it's possible?  

Well...was rising from the dead possible?  After Jesus rose from the dead, it is recorded that He showed Himself to more than 500 people. Even though He revealed Himself to people, Thomas (an apostle) couldn't believe it. He actually had to place his hands upon the scars in Jesus' hands and side to believe that it was really Him. Sometimes we mere mortals have to get in there and see it and feel it to believe it.  ...But then there are some times when we just have to believe.  It's called faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen.  Without faith, it is impossible to please God... with faith, we are saying... God, I believe that you are who you say you are and will do what you say you will do.  It is simple childlike faith...just trusting and believing the impossible from your parent even when you can't see or feel what you are trusting and believing for.

If you are a skeptic, well...sometimes that's ok...It's wise to be sometimes.  If you're a skeptic about coming to know God, "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him."  I promise to you that He will build your faith as He has built up mine through the years...as He built up Thomas'...and as He has built up so many others.  He is a good God...let Him make the impossible, possible for you today. 

Now here's to hoping "It Works" really works.  I'll let you know tomorrow. :)

I love to laugh and make others laugh...in fact, my nickname many moons ago was smiley...but the reality of life in general has wore on me.  ...And through the years, several people have said the same thing to me over and over..."You always look so serious." This morning...pondering this...You ever just feel like some days you're the Lone Ranger... looking for Tonto?  I know there are days I do... Life as the wife of a pastor can be very lonely and draining... Having to always put on the face of impenetrability, never showing any sign of weakness, and usually exuding all energy on others with not much being given back.  Ministry is a 24/7 thing... not that it's not amazing watching what God can do...but sometimes even the Lone Ranger just needed Tonto. The character of Tonto was very much like the Holy Spirit.  He helped to direct the Lone Ranger...to comfort him... to just be a friend ...and when they worked together, much was accomplished. 

Jesus knew that when He left, the disciples would need to be comforted and strengthened.  He said in John 14:16-17, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you."  When we feel like we are the Lone Ranger...God has given us Tonto in the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth, He is our Comforter, He is our friend...someone who will be with us forever, and it is He who gives us the power and strength we need to get through every day.

If you need a friend...know that Jesus has sent the Comforter...to not only be your friend, but to endue you with power that will have an impact for the Kingdom.  Lean on Him.  There are some days I have to remind even myself of this when there's no one else to lean on.  I need to lean on Him.

I feel like a kid in a candy store...Yesterday was such an amazing and relaxing day with so many moments to choose from that just filled and overwhelmed my heart... Kicked off our day making breakfast for our congregation.  Watching them eat, laugh, and have fellowship... well... words can't express how full my heart was even then. Followed by a great time of worship with so many little ones coming forward to lift and wave banners high in celebration. Seeing those banners fly held by those little hands took my full heart and melted it into a big puddle.  We continued our fun sharing about how our risen Savior's love can thaw a "Frozen" heart...as we watched those little eyes light up when Easter baskets filled with candy were brought out just for them. ...and then when I felt like my heart couldn't become any fuller...it did...hearing our congregation's laughter as my husband shared about our propane leak experience to drive home the reality that God is risen and still moves stones today. Spending that time with my church family was awesome....

But God had even more in store for me...we finally had the opportunity to spend time with blood family that we haven't seen in quite awhile... eating roast pig, watching kids and adults 4 wheeling, and just laughing as we shared our many stories.

Have I told you we have a good God?  He IS risen.... You can go to Buddha's grave...and his bones are still there... you can go to Mohammed's grave...and his bones are still there, but if you go to the grave of Jesus...you'll find the stone was rolled away and HE IS ALIVE!  HE LIVES...and because of all He has done...so can we.  We can have that abundant life He spoke of.  Acts 17:28 says, "For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'"  He has shown me that because He is a risen Savior... life can and will get even better...even better than a roasted pig and a 4 wheeler.  As we serve Him, be expectant for all He can and will do in our lives.  He is King of kings and Lord of lords...He is risen, and He is GOOD!

Last night, my husband and I joined some friends for a wonderful dinner, enjoying several laughs before getting ready to head to the Tabernacle, (a church in Orchard Park, NY), for Good Friday Service. During dinner, we joked about the sense of humor that God has...with the many prayers we had prayed, God had a very interesting way of answering some of them.  He is so funny.  

I'll share one with you.  One time shortly after I came to know Him, I remember just wanting to spend so much time with Him. I'm a very early riser, but when I first came to know Him, there were many late nights out with friends so I guess I slept in during that season of my life.  I remember one night praying before bed that He would help me to wake up early in the morning to spend time with Him...and then I went to sleep.  My alarm went off early in the morning.  I rolled over, shutting it off and then went back to sleep.  All of a sudden, I hear what sounded like rain.  I'm a light sleeper...and noises have always bothered me.  I got up to check out the window for some reason to see if it was raining... but it wasn't.  I thought it was odd, but went back to bed. Again as I was falling asleep, I heard the sound of what I thought was rain...but the sound got louder and louder this time.  All of a sudden, the ceiling opened up above my head and water fell all around me, soaking everything in my room.  I was definitely up then...no going back to sleep for me.  The man in the upstairs apartment had turned on his tub, and then fell asleep with it continuing to run.  Well you guessed right...it overflowed and thus the downpour. Some may call it coincidence...but I know better. God was revealing Himself to me even in this. I remembered my prayer the night before, and still chuckle to this day.  God has a sense of humor...and He answered my prayer.  It's an answer that I will never forget.

If you think about it, we are so much like Him.  We should be...we were created in His image.  My son, Josh, had been asking for a new computer for the longest time.  So one birthday, we decided the perfect gift for him would be just that.  I get a kick out of playing pranks on my children...so I decided to wrap up my computer for him and bring out the real one after. Josh was so excited...He ripped open the package...and then looked at me funny.  ...well here's a short video clip of my answer to his birthday request... https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=2062294361666&l=3420182437625644987

Laughter really does do good like medicine...He makes me laugh, and I'm sure I make Him laugh.  He truly is a God of laughter and rejoicing... If you are struggling today, know that God loves you so much and rejoices over you.. in Job 8:21, it says, "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting."  ...and in Psalm 16:11, "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."  God has a sense of humor...really He does, and He will share it with you if you let Him. Taste and see that the Lord is good!