“…My cup runs over”  Psalm 23:5

Have you ever run out of gas?  If you have, then you know how horrible it feels.  I remember many years ago running out of gas on my way to school one day.  I was driving early in the morning on some back roads in SC.  ”Without warning”, my car car engine stopped.  I began to panic as I maneuvered my car to the side of the road.  In examining the dashboard for “clues” as to why the engine had stopped, I discovered that I had run out of gas.

In those days, cell phones were not as easily accessible as they are now.  So, I began walking to class.  Thankfully, a college professor gave me a ride to school and my mother helped me later in the day with my “empty tank” situation.

I love the gas feature on my current car.  It tells me how many miles I have left to drive before reaching “0″.   Trust me, I know that my car will make it to “0″.  But I don’t want to find out how far it will go on “0″ before it stops.

As children of God and workers in His Kingdom, we also run ourselves down to “0″ sometimes.   God wants us to use our giftings, anointings, talents, and skills for His glory.  His Word says that we are to be “salt” and touch people’s lives in many various ways.  However, we also have to use wisdom and keep a close check on our “gauges”. 

We may fool ourselves into thinking that we are making a difference for Him, but friends, if we are “running on empty” then we have absolutely nothing to give into the lives of others.

 As I sat at the piano this morning singing and worshipping, the Lord brought this old song back to my memory (written by Richard Blanchard).  It was a blessing to me.  I hope it blesses you, as well….

Like the woman at the well I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy;
And then I heard my Savior speaking:
“Draw from my well that never shall run dry”.

Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more–
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

There are millions in this world who are craving
The pleasures earthly things afford;
But none can match the wondrous treasure
That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.

Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more–
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

So, my brother, if the things this world gave you
Leave hungers that won’t pass away,
My blessed Lord will come and save you,
If you kneel to Him and humbly pray:

Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more–
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

He WILL fill your cup!  He WILL fill it to overflowing!  It simply takes a deliberate act of “lifting up your cup” to the Lord, being willing to remove the “unhealthy things” in your life, and allowing Him to pour out His Spirit over your daily decisions and activities.

*Photo above taken from www.photobucket.com

Covenant.  What is covenant?  Where did the term come from?  How can it be explained?  Is it important in our lives?

There’s much to learn about covenant and the importance it has in our lives.  Covenant in the Old Testament was ”a set of promises with rules and conditions, whereby an agreeable or profitable relationship may exist between two parties. A covenant can be the express will and testament of one party, by which the other party, if compliant, gains an inheritance.” (taken from www.simplybible.com)

Covenant was made between God and man when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, thereby setting the “law” or “letter” in place for His people.

Covenant or “contract” was made between two people when they were doing business together and required each person to pierce their hand or wrist and mix their blood to “seal the deal”.

In the Old Testament, when one entered into covenant, he/she  basically promised to abide by a set of rules and regulations.  But God sent Jesus into this world to deliver us from the old covenant and bring life through the new covenant.

2 Cor 3:6-18  says, “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life.”

The old covenant resulted in anger, punishment, and even death.  The new covenant extends peace, forgiveness, grace, and life.

You see, we enter into covenant with our spouses, children, friends, family members, etc.  But my friends, let me be very clear - our most important covenant relationship is the one we have with our Heavenly Father.   He ALWAYS gets our first, our best, our loyalty, our commitment, and our obedience – above all other relationships! 

It is through Him that we are saved, called, and destined for His purpose.  Galations 3:26-27 reminds us that “…by faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God.”  It’s the blood of Jesus that flows freely to you and me so that we can walk in covenant with the Most High God.

There have been times in my life where I’ve had to choose between my loyaly to a friend and my loyalty to the beliefs and convictions that God has embeded in my spirit.  It’s never easy to make that choice, especially when you love someone.  But it’s the ONLY choice if we want to walk in complete obedience to the will of God and His covenant with us.

NEVER should our covenant with another person come before our covenant with our Lord!

Hang in there, Friends!  Christ came to give us abundant life.  When you accepted Him as your personal Savior, you entered into the greatest covenant known to man.  You are covered by His blood, saved by His grace, and guided by His Almighty Hand!

~Picture above taken from www.freefoto.com

Life is funny, isn’t it?  With all it’s “twists and turns”…..We sometimes think we’ve got it “all figured out”.  But God…  God has a bigger plan!  While we see only in part, He sees the whole picture.

So many times in our lives, we are placed in relationships, positions, ministry, or situations that we think will last forever.  We plan things out in our own minds.  Then, we begin to feel the winds of change begin to blow and know that God is about to do a “new thing” in our lives.

For some, change is difficult.  For others, change is welcomed.  But no matter how we feel, change is often necessary.  You see we hang on to the familiar because it’s comfortable, predictable, and easily seen.  But it’s in the “trusting the Lord with all of your heart” that we are able to step into the new seasons that God brings into our lives.

New seasons are not always accepted by others around you. 

Why?  Sometimes, our friends & relatives feel left out, rejected, hurt, or even angry about the decisions we make.  I have learned over the years that when people respond this way to simply lift them up in prayer.  Never do we intentionally hurt or reject; but our greatest desire should always be to walk in obedience to what God lays on our hearts to do.  

Maybe you’ve had that experience in the past.  Maybe you’ve been on the other side of things where you were the one who was hurt or disappointed in someone else’s decision.  I heard someone recently say that when we respond in anger to what someone else believes God has called them to do, it’s our “uncrucified flesh” rising up and ‘acting out’.

I certainly don’t want my “flesh” to rule my “spirit”.  How about you?  You see, true friends celebrate together (even if they don’t agree)!  True friends pray for each other, encourage each other, and maintain honesty with each other as each marches toward their destiny!  

Maybe you’ve been going through some seasons of change.  Friends, let me encourage you today:  Trust in the Lord with ALL of your heart.  If He tells you to jump, ask Him how high.  Complete surrender to the will of God sets you up to be blessed.  Don’t be a people pleaser….Be a God pleaser!

All too often, we go through life making one decision after another without thought to the importance of the choices we make on a daily basis – how those choices affect others, our reputation, or more importantly God’s Kingdom.

Every day, we are faced with choices – some that are very important, others that are simply part of our everyday lives.   As I was talking with someone a few days ago, I was vividly reminded of the need to have confirmation from the Lord on my decisions.  Of course, I’m not talking about whether I should eat a hamburger or a piece of chicken for lunch….but those critical decisions that have the ability to alter our circumstances.

1 Corinthians 3:13 reminds us that there is coming a Day when all of our works will be tried by fire.  The fire that Paul is talking about in this passage is the purest fire of heaven.  It burns away every choice we’ve made, every deed we’ve done that wasn’t done for the right reason – even if it was a great success here on earth.

People cannot see the intent of our heart or the true motivation behind our decisions; but let us not forget…God sees it all!  

Selfishness, lack of integrity, lack of accountability, pride, envy, anger, rebellion, unforgiveness, lust….All accomplishments made through avenues that are lined with these things will be as dust in the eyes of our Father.

Selflessness, integrity, accountability, humility, love, care, patience, obedience, forgiveness, self-control….All accomplishments made through avenues lines with these things will receive a reward.

Let me encourage you today, make choices that bring honor to the Name of Jesus.  It may “cost” you something today, but the reward will be worth it!

I saw a homeless man walking down the street this week.  He was pushing a buggy that was over-stuffed with plastic bags of various items that I assume were important to him.  As I watched him push his cart down the sidewalk, my heart became overwhelmed with grief.  I began praying for him and crying out to God, asking Him to use this ministry more than ever before to touch people and change lives.

So many times, I don’t feel like I do enough to reach into the lives of people and touch them for His glory.  It is so vital that we keep our minds set on the ultimate goal of bringing people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ,then discipling them and empowering them to reach their destiny in Him.

As I cried out to God in regards to this matter, He reminded me of the various ways our ministry has touched people throughout the past few months.  Many of you participated in these outreaches either by donating money, donating items for the garage sale, interceding,  or volunteering your time and “muscle power”.

I want to take this opportunity to say “Thank You!”  You have “planted seed” in “fertile ground”.  Your seed is not taken for granted!

We pray for you, believe with you, and expect God to multiply every “seed” you plant!  We set our faith with yours and speak blessings over each of your lives!

Below is a list of outreaches that you have helped make happen over the past few months:

• Garage Sale -  To raise funds for Outreach to the Homeless Community in our area
• Outreach to the Homeless Community – Where food, blankets, and Bibles were provided to each person who came
• Thanksgiving Baskets – Baskets filled with fresh turkey, vegetables, bread, dessert, and all the “sides” for a complete Thanksgiving dinner
• Operation Christmas Family – Where 3 families were chosen to receive Christmas gifts
• Firemen’s Outreach – Where our volunteers supplied “a meal fit for a king” to the local Firemen who were working on Christmas Eve
• Child Sponsorship – Every month we sponsor two children, James & Stella, from Kampala, Uganda
• Christmas for Sponsored Children – Every year we send Christmas presents to James & Stella in Uganda
• Single Mom Assistance – Assisted a single mom in our area with getting documentation needed for the “Back To Work” program
• Prayer Vigil in D.C. - Where we helped sponsor an intercessor to go to Washington D.C. and participate in a prayer vigil for our country
• “Married & Lovin’ It” – Marriage Conference where we were able to speak into the lives of couples
• Blanket Donation – Where we donated blankets to a community of migrant workers
• A.R.K. – Random Acts of Kindness – Where we purchased a tank of gas for someone’s car, purchased someone’s meal anonymously, given random small gifts  to strangers, purchased groceries for families in need, etc.

With your help, this ministry is able to “touch people and change lives”.  Together, we can change the world – one heart at a time!

Sometimes when we go through difficult times in our lives, the enemy tries to whisper in our ear and tell us that we’ve been forgotten, overlooked, or ignored by God.  But the Word of God tells us the complete opposite.

The enemy comes to “steal, kill, and destroy”, but Christ came that we might have “life and life more abundantly”.  Psalm 91:2 says, “That’s right – he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards.  His outstretched arms protect you – under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.”

When challenges come our way and circumstances look dim, that’s when we can stand on the Word of God firmly against all schemes of the enemy.  Don’t give up!  Don’t give in! 

When you’ve reached the end of your rope, tie a tire to the bottom and enjoy the ride.

Get in the Word.  Seek His face.  In His presence is victory!

photo above from www.freefoto.com

In the hustle and bustle of life, it’s extremely important to keep balance in our daily activities, relationships, and responsibilities.

When things seem out of control, it’s good to re-evaluate your commitments and be realistic with prioritizing and/or elimnating each of them.  Below are a few tips to help you do this:

1. On a sheet of paper, write down everything you have commited yourself to or are responsible for (include family responsibilities, church responsibilities, jobs, extra-curricular activities, etc.)
2. Highlight the things that are ABSOLUTELY necessary
3. Place an “X” over the things that could be eliminated

After completing these three steps, number 1-5 on a separate piece of paper. 

List in order of importance the highlighted responsibilities.

Remember, your priorities should follow this standard:  God first, family second, then other responsibilities in descending order.

There’s a popular country song that has the line, “Live like you were dying”.  Think about it…..It might help you maintain your priorities!

Come join me tonight at 7:00 pm

Lake Region H/S

 Eagle Lake, FL

ONE HOUR OF PURE POWER!

Exciting!  Relevant!  Life Changing!

As a mom, minister, wife, friend, business woman, and music teacher, life gets “a little crazy” at times.  Most days are spent helping the kids with school, running them to gymnastics or dance, working, ministry, cleaning, and “putting out fires”.

Years ago, I realized that I had to find a way to “create balance out of everyday chaos”.

If you struggle with keeping balance in your life, you might find that balance by incorporating the following:

• Color Coded Calendar – Get a calendar (month-at-a-glance).  Write in appointments and re-occuring responsibilities 3-6 months out.  Color-code (i.e. Orange = family, Green = special appts., Blue = business, etc.)
• Make a List – Get a small, spiral bound  notebook.  Write each day of the week on the top of the paper.  List appointments accordingly by importance or time.  If a task isn’t completed on the assigned day, move that task to the next day.  When all tasks are completed for each day, remove that sheet from the notebook.
• Disperse Household Duties – make responsibilities age appropriate for kids. 
• Use Your Electronic Secretary – Allow voice mail to answer calls.  Return calls at a convenient time.  This is not being rude.  It’s managing your time wisely.
• Make Meals Easier – Use a crock-pot to prepare meals.  Prepare extra food when cooking so you can freeze the left-overs and use them on a busy day.
• Combine Errands – Look at your week and group errands together so your “running time” is used to it’s fullest potential.
• Carpooling - Trade driving the kids to sports/activities with a friend.  
• Kid Swap – Trade babysitting hours with a friend.  This will give both you and her several hours of “alone time” to run errands or go to appointments that are not kid appropriate.

There’s much to be said about prioritizing.  I’ll share some great tips with you about that next time.

You don’t have to feel like things are “out of control”.  Take a little time to implement these proven steps for creating balance in your life.  You’ll be glad you did!

*photo above taken from www.freefoto.com

Years ago, there was a very popular song entitled “The Anchor Holds” sung by Ray Boltz.  This song, which became one of Ray’s biggest hits, was written by one of his friends who had lost a child. 

I thank God today that I don’t know the agony of losing a child!   But I understand the challenges of going through difficult situations.  Many of us have never had such tragedy as losing a child; but have walked through situations where we didn’t know how we were going to “get to the other side” or at times, how we would even get out of bed to face another day.

Fear, depression, anxiety, doubt, and even unbelief can creep in unexpectedly if we don’t “stay on our guard”.  The enemy begins whispering in our ears, telling us one lie after another. 

When we allow him to create a “crack” in our faith, he won’t stop there.  He’ll keep applying pressure on the crack until it becomes a huge “sink hole” (something we Floridians are very familiar with).

As we’ve walked through our own battles, the Lord directed me to the scripture noted above.  I love The Message interpretation!  He also reminded of that old song, “The Anchor Holds”.  I want to share those words with you:

The Anchor Hold
I have journeyed
Through the long, dark night
Out on the open sea
By faith alone
Sight unknown
And yet His eyes were watching me

The anchor holds
Though the ship is battered
The anchor holds
Though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
As I faced the raging seas
The anchor holds
In spite of the storm.

I’ve had visions
I’ve had dreams
I’ve even held them in my hand
But I never knew
They would slip right through
Like they were only grains of sand

I have been young
But I am older now
And there has been beauty
That these eyes have seen
But it was in the night
Through the storms of my life
Oh, thats where God proved
His love to me

If you’ve going through the storms of life, hold on to Psalm 20 and allow the words of this beautiful song to be your testimony today.   Allow them to bring hope and determination in your life. 

 DON’T GIVE UP! Everything’s going to work out!