Lord, I love the way you hold me!!!

Psalm 73:23 (AMP)

Nevertheless I am continually with You; You do hold my right hand.

 

Hello friends! I know it's been a few days since I last posted, but life has been happening so fast around me! My wonderful husband and I have been rolling with the punches that this crazy world has been dealing us, and I haven't been around the computer much in several days.

 

So today I wanted to give praise to the Lord first and foremost...that by praising Him through the storms of my life, He gives me added strength to face every day, push through the pain I live with daily and get through every day productively. He gives me the ability to enjoy the blessing of His Word..."But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. Isaiah 40:31AMP".

 

I rejoice in every day, and I dance around when I hear this song! Remember friends....Jesus rejoices with us when we continually praise him through EACH DAY of our lives, no matter what trials may come our way. I pray daily for all my dear family and friends, that you may all be blessed with all that the Lord has planned for your life! (Jeremiah 29:11)

 

 

You Are More ~ BROKEN & RESTORED

Can we minister to others when our lives have been far from perfect? YES!

One of the greatest joys of my life is when I have the opportunity to share with others a story about my life's experiences B.C. (before Christ). My life has been far from perfect, and it still is. I'm a work in progress, as we all are. I still have my vices and imperfections, but my life has been drastically improved now that I know not to be so hard on myself, and to share my life's experiences with others who are still struggling through things I did. It's amazing to see God work through me. So today I want to share with you the devotional that hit home with me, and I hope it will bring light to someone's life today, as it did mine.
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Broken and Restored

by Drew Randle

One of my graduates from years ago, an active youth minister in a local church, called me up not too long ago with a probing issue. Facts had surfaced that his wife was having an affair. The couple had sought counseling to no avail. They were in the process of divorcing. His questions centered around his viability for continued ministry. Was he invalidated for ministry because of the divorce? With much grace, I assured him that he was not, but this would be a difficult road for him given the reality of church-related ministry.

My counsel to this former student and friend was centered around the fact that he could minister in a most unique way through his brokenness. His brokenness over his impending divorce and all of the emotions that went with it positioned him for unique ministry to broken people walking through divorce or similar situations. He was puzzled at first, but then saw some great ideas for potential ministry: a broken individual could be restored and minister God’s grace to someone struggling with brokenness.

Or imagine this: a man claims that he doesn’t even know his best friend and mentor. Categorically denies ever having contact with him. In essence, he denies that the mentor and friend ever existed. How must the mentor feel? Especially since he was present when his friend denied knowing him.

Fictitious story? Not at all. This is the story of Peter's denial of Jesus.

Peter, the brave and impetuous disciple who, in a fit of male bravado, had once claimed eternal loyalty to Jesus, now actually denied knowing Him. The Gospels record that when Jesus looked at Peter in that moment of denial that Peter was broken and shattered. This once bold disciple was reduced to fleeing the scene in disgrace.

Have you ever felt like Peter, useless after a betrayal or failure? Or have you felt like the student above, broken by the betrayal or disappointment caused by someone else?

Thankfully, the story of Peter doesn’t stop with his denial of Jesus. Later in the Gospels, we find that Jesus restored Peter three times for the three times that Peter denied Him. In fact, Jesus’ restoration of Peter extended to Peter’s ministry as a disciple. We read in Acts 2 that Peter preached a powerful sermon on the Day of Pentecost, filled by the Holy Spirit, where over 3,000 people came to know Jesus. Quite the ministry restoration. Peter ministered out of his brokenness.

How can we minister out of our brokenness?

First, we can remember that Jesus is in the business of using our broken lives to touch others. We read in Paul’s Letter to the Church at Corinth that we go through trials to help those going through trials themselves. We live that out by walking hand in hand with those who are suffering while we ourselves are in the midst of brokenness.

Second, Jesus displayed a long-term commitment to Peter’s restoration even in brokenness. We live in a sinful, fallen world. Brokenness takes time to heal. Are we committed to walking with broken coworkers or family members for the long haul? What are the limits to our care for others when we ourselves are broken?

Third, success in our work is a result of God’s graciousness and an act of His Spirit. Peter could take absolutely no credit for the people that came to know Christ at Pentecost. He was broken. This harkens back to the Apostle Paul’s claim that “His strength is made perfect through weakness.” People who don’t view themselves as broken or weak will rely on intellect, physical prowess, wealth, etc. instead of relying on the Spirit’s power.

Do YOUR part today to help another.

The GOLDEN rule..... Do unto others as you would have them do unto YOU.

Many people know this "rule" but few LIVE by it.

On my morning devotional today I was reading about a young mother who took her children to school and stopped by a convenience store, where a young man sitting outside mumbled something to her as she walked by. When she went inside, the holy spirit stirred within her and told her to buy an extra bagel and give it to him on the way out. So she did, and when she gave it to him he lit up like it was Christmas. Later on a woman in her friend's bible study showed her a picture of the boy, thanking her for offering her son a bite to eat during his distress. It was a while down the road before the young mother felt the impact her small random act of kindness did, but it was worth her effort.

How many of us see others around us hurting, but do NOTHING to reach out a hand?

When I was homeless there were several times that I was hungry and would have appreciated anything someone gave me. There were times I had to panhandle to eat, and many times I would just stand outside somewhere and ask someone to buy me food, not give me money. Now that I am not so destitute, if I see someone outside a restaurant who looks hungry, I will offer to buy or give them food.

Spring 2012:

My husband and I had just left our Celebrate Recovery meeting at church in Clovis, NM, and we decided to go to dinner together. After a late dinner we decided to stop at Wal-Mart for something I needed. I ran inside and my hubby waited in the car for me. When I went into the store I saw a young lady sitting beside the coke machines with the hood of her hoodie pulled up over her face. All I could see was her hair and her hands, which you could tell were swollen and bruised from a long day. She looked like she was sleeping. When I came out of the store and got into the car, something tugged at my heart. I knew it was the spirit saying "Amy, you were there once. What would JESUS do?". I told my husband to turn the car around. I went up to the girl and woke her. She wasn't very happy about it, and wouldn't even lift her head to speak to me. I asked her if she was okay and she told me to go away. Then I asked her if she was hungry. We still had warm pizza in the car from our dinner together. When I offered her food she asked, "Is it warm?" I told her it sure was! She lifted her head and smiled at me with a painful smile. I got the pizza out of the car and asked her if she had somewhere to stay for the night, offering her a ride to the local shelter. She declined any further assistance, but accepted the food gladly. I told her "I've been where you are, and I understand how you feel. I want you to know God loves you and He's watching over you." When we drove away it was the greatest feeling I'd had in a long time.

My friends, I ask that as you go through each day you will strive to love your fellow man as YOU would want others to love you. Imagine what an amazing world this would be if everyone sought to live by the Golden Rule! Remember these scriptures today....

I love the way the Message Bible puts this scripture.... Matthew 22:37-40:
Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them."

John 13:34: "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other."

It is my prayer that we will each do our part to alleviate the suffering of another today and every day.

My Inspiration...

 

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I am a firm believer in that. And the Lord NEVER gives us more than we can handle. Sometimes I've wondered about that, because I have been dealt some things in life that I wasn't sure I could handle or not. But each trial has led to the perfecting of my faith, and giving me increased endurance. I know what it means in James 1:2-4.....

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. (Amplified Bible)

My passion for ministry is in bringing strength to those who are about to give up. I know what it's like to be in the gutter (literally). I lived homeless for nearly 2 years, and was addicted to drugs severely, so much that it nearly killed me and every relationship with friends, family, ANYONE, including God. The last person I ever thought would be there for me was the ONLY one who found me EVERY time I hit rock bottom. It was HE who carried me, and HE who rescued me!

 

It was 12 years ago that I was homeless.....and I just celebrated 9 years free from drug addiction.

Now I am Passionately Alive 4 Him!!!!

 



I am now happily married to the LOVE of my LIFE! I am praying that the next few months will bring us news of a pregnancy. I am 34 years old and my biological clock is TICKING! Ha, ha. No, really! I can't wait to start a family! I have started this blog as a way to reach out to others with similar interests and a passion for being alive like I have. Each morning I plan to post something that speaks to me from the Word as well as some of the blogs and websites I enjoy daily, or one of my bible studies. The goal of this blog is to INSPIRE others, that if I can turn my life around then anyone can!

Welcome to my new blog!!!

My husband and I share a blog (that only I post on, go figure) to keep in touch with people in our personal lives. I have recently found a desire to blog more regularly on my interests, and so I've decided that I'm making a new blog to do just that.