As we continue to reflect and celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is one thing that we must keep forefront. We must remember that when Jesus rose from the dead, he made the IM-possible, POSSIBLE. While many people doubted, and many others questioned, Jesus came and showed not only who he was but who he would always be.

I don't know about you, but there are times in my life where I have things happening that make me think, there is no possible way out of this. My mind quickly feels with doubt, fear, and concern. Why? Because it is easier to doubt and worry than it is to trust and wait. 

When you believe and wait on the Lord, you are leaning into the understanding of God, not the understanding of self. And if I can be honest, trusting and waiting is not always the easiest thing to do. But when we look at the life of Jesus, we see what trusting and waiting can produce and we see how even impossible situations can be made possible.

So today, I want to say to you, do not fear when IMPOSSIBLE is looking you in the face. Do not fear when it seems as though nothing is going to move in your favor. Instead of worrying about the what if's, get your focus on the one who can make even the most dead issues in your life, rise again. If Jesus can get back up from the grave, he can rise your situation up and move in a mighty way. Do not allow fear to hold you, don't let naysayers distract you, don't allow self-doubt to take you off course. Instead get your focus on the WAY MAKER knowing that he did it before and he can do it again. 

Your situation, your problem, your current position is not over. God is still moving! He did it before, and he can do it again. He is making the impossible, possible! Don't give up & don't give in. God is with you!

What areas in your life look impossible? Let's chat and pray for one another!

One of my favorite things to do is find resources as a Christian, and not just any resources, free resources. Since I have been able to find some faves, I wanted to share with you guys. I hope these resources will help equip and encourage you in living your life for Christ. Lets get started:

#1 YouVersion

The YouVersion app is an app that has the Bible in over 60 different versions. This allows you to find the Bible version that is most simple for you to understand. In addition having a copy of the Bible at your fingertips there are tons of Bible plans to help encourage you to spend time in the Bible every day. I love the reminder option that will allow you to be reminded to read your Bible daily, even for the plans. And finally one of my favorite features is the verse of the day, which gives you a word of encouragement from God's word each and everyday.  ​Click here to check out YouVersion!

#2 Memory Bible

Okay, Memory Bible has been a great tool for me. My goal for 2019 has been to memorize scriptures and this app helps me to do just that. The app gives you different options for scripture memorization as well as a reminder daily to memorize your verses. If you are looking to increase your Bible verse memorization and need help doing so, this is the app for you! Click here for the Memory Bible app!

#3 Strong Concordance (Online)

Some time ago a friend of mine gave me a huge copy of Strongs Concordance, and while I held onto it as long as I could, I ended up letting it go once I realized there was a free version online! The Strongs Concordance helps you to understand the Greek and Hebrew words and meaning for words in the Bible. It is great to know the word of God, but it is also beneficial to understand those words that you do not understand. If you are looking to know the meaning of words in the Bible, this tool is for you! To check out Strongs Concordance click here!

Well friends, that is it for Part 1, please be sure to come back next week for Part 2! Also list below any free resources that you love for growing in your relationship with Christ!!

In 2016, I went on a journey, a journey to read the entire Bible through in a year. I fought and fought to do it, yes I love God, yes I love his word, but I found myself set in my ways. I was a New Testament type of gal...I was a deep devotional/study type of gal...so in my mind I was okay. And while I studied certain books time after time, I never could say I had read through the entire Bible. Crazy right?

So on January 1st, 2016 I set out on a venture to spend the next 365 days reading the Bible. I journey through from Genesis to Revelation, with a daily passage from Psalm (thanks to the YouVersion app). I found myself reading stories I never knew existed in the Bible, I found myself getting answers to questions I had always wondered about, but most of all I found myself drawing closer to Christ.

If I can be honest, reading the Bible is tough, it's not always easy to understand, it presents a lot of questions and the stories at times may not make sense. But the truth is when we read those stories, and we venture to go deeper we begin to lean not unto our understanding, but the understanding of God. There are so many things that reading through the Bible can teach, but it is in vain if you are not getting closer to the Lord in the process.

One of the things that we as humans tend to do, is hide our emotions. In hiding our emotions we never expose who we truly are. The thing about God is that he not only sees who we are, but he knows us at our core. And even though he knows us and all our flaws and screw ups, he still love us. Isn't that amazing?

God loves us so much that he came in the flesh as a sacrifice and laid down his life for our sins. You see, that is what the good shepherd does. Prior to this point of the text, the Bible talks about hirelings, those who are get paid to tend to the sheep. The thing about hirelings is they had no vested interest in the sheep. Since there was no attachment to the sheep, when thieves and robbers came, hirelings would not stick around to save the sheep, the would run. So when we get to verse 14, Jesus distinguishes himself as a good shepherd, one that will risk it all for his sheep.

When it comes down to it, I do not know too many people that would willing lay their life down for you, even when you've messed up and done them wrong. The Lord, Jesus Christ, made a choice to lay down his life before you messed up, before you strayed away, and before you knew who he was, that is how much he loves you!

Lets talk...How have you seen God as the Good Shepherd in your life?

​"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert" Isaiah 43:18-19 (KJV)

Happy New Year everyone, welcome to the first blog of 2019! Ah! Don't you love a new year? The new year often gives us new opportunities to make significant changes in our lives. So today let's talk a little about that opportunity.

The thing we must understand about opportunity is that it is nothing more than an idea when you do not feed it, and allow it to grow into something more. Think about the people who set a resolution to lose weight; you can't lose weight if you leave it as an idea. You have to put in the work; you have to go to the gym, you have to change your eating, you have to be better. 

When we read the scripture in Isaiah, God is telling Israel, I want to do something new inside of you, but you have to change. Letting God do something new in us requires that we let go of our past. We have to get rid of our past ways of thinking and move forward into what he has for us. The thing I love about this passage is that although God told them to forget their past, he also said take a moment and reflect on what I brought you out of. In other words yes it is okay to reflect on your past for a moment, but do not stay there.

Much like the children of Israel, I believe that in 2019 God wants to do some new things in us, but we have to let him. Our old mindset can't go into the new territory For us to move forward we have to let go of the things holding us hostage. 

We all have a past, we all have a yesterday, but we can not allow our yesterday to keep you from a beautiful tomorrow. God does not require you to map your tomorrow out, all he asks you to do is trust in him. So can we let go and trust him today? I know it might not seem easy, it might not always make sense, but when you let go and truly trust the plans God has for you, I believe that greater is coming.

Let's talk, what new things is God trying to do in you in 2019? I encourage you not to miss it! Let's stop focusing on the place that held us captive and let's move forward in 2019! 

Today Lord, I want to say thank you. Thank you for the Christmas season and what it represents, the birth of your son, Jesus Christ. As we celebrate this holiday season, never allow us to forget what it is about, Jesus. Isaiah 9:6 is a reminder that you are the everlasting God. Lord God allow your eternal spirit to rule and abide in the hearts of this generation today. I pray that your love pours out and that your people know they are never alone.

Lord your word also reminds us that you are the prince of peace. I ask that you be peace in this season. Protect the hearts and minds of those who are facing loneliness in this holiday season. Many have lost loved ones and are hurt and confused. Lord, I pray that your peace will pour out and that they will feel your stillness even in the midst of sorrow. Please comfort the hurting and lost heart in this holiday season. 

Lord finally, I ask that this holiday season brings reconnections. Allow us to reconnect with family and reconnect with friends. Allow hurting relationships to be mended and allow love to abound. Let our hearts also to be reconnected with you. Let this time be a time that we reflect on your goodness, your faithfulness and find joy in knowing that you sent your son for us. Let this holiday season be one of love, happiness and joy. Let your light to shine! Amen.

Heavenly Father, today I thank you for life. I thank you for breath in my body. Lord, I understand that as long as I have breath in my body, I have the opportunity to get it right with you. Lord, I realize that I am a sinner, and my sin keeps me from you. Lord God today, I want to renew my relationship with you. I confess that I am a sinner, but your word reminds me that you are a God of forgiveness. Today I say I am sorry and I ask that you forgive me of my sin. 

Your holy word is a love story. It is a story that shows me how much you love and care for me. You love me so much that you sent your son to die on the cross for my sins. I believe your word; I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I know that Jesus not only died, but he rose again three days later. Jesus died, Jesus rose, and Jesus lives. He lives and walks with me every day. Lord Romans 10 says that if I confess and I believe, I shall be saved, today, I accept the gift of salvation.

Today I open my heart today and invite you in. I ask Lord that you have your way in my life. Lord, I understand that I need you and that I can not make it in this thing called life without you. I pray that you change me from the inside out. Help my life to reflect you more and more each day. I ask that you rest, rule and abide in my heart and my mind. Amen.

​Lord as I come before you today, I am reminded that you are love. Your word reminds me that you love me and that you call me to love others. 1 Peter 3:8 is a reminder that you call your children to display love, sympathy, and compassion unto others. The love and compassion that we show is a direct reflection of the way that you shine it upon us. 

When those around us are suffering, Lord remind me to have patience and to be kind. Never allow me to forget that everyone is on a personal journey and throughout the path of life, people require patience and love. Help me to love those around me as you have instructed me to. As your love shines through me, allow that love to lead others to you.  Amen.
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"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)

God, throughout your word it reminds me to present myself with a heart of thanksgiving. And today Lord I just want to say thank you.  Your word says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that I am to give thanks in ALL things. I am thankful because, throughout all things in my life, you have remained faithful! Lord, you are good even when life is not. 

I want to thank you for health, life, and breath in my body. I know that it is not by mistake that you have woke me up and allowed me to see another day. I thank you for clothing me in my right mind. I thank you for giving me a mind to get up and to serve you day in and day out. Lord, I thank you for the people in my life, and right now I pray a prayer of protection over all of them. I thank you that I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food in my stomach. 

And Lord, most importantly, I want to thank you for my relationship with you. I thank you that even when things do not look or feel how I think they should, you are working things out for me. You are the driving force in all that I do and in who I am. And I ask that you continue to lead me and guide me, allowing me never to forget who you are in my life. Lord you are good, you are faithful, you are constant, and Lord I thank you. Amen!

Heavenly Father, I come to you once again. Today I come to you filled with gratitude. I have a heart of thanksgiving as I know that I can rest in the fact that you are with me. God there are times when I may feel alone, but your word is a sure reminder that I am never alone. Matthew 1:23 reminds me that your name is Emmanuel, and that means that you are with me. Lord God I pray and ask that in the times that I feel alone that you remind me that I am never alone. Lord I ask that you comfort my heart in times of doubt and fear. Allow me to have peace in knowing that I do not have to walk through anything alone. 

When I go through good times you are with me, when I go through bad times you are with me. In all stages and in all seasons, you are with me God. I thank you God that you are the constant in this thing called life. You not only died to save me, you died to be with me. I thank you Lord that you allow me to have a relationship with you. As you walk with me Lord, allow me to never forget to continue to walk with you. Lord I thank you that you are Emmanuel, and that you promise to be with me. Amen.
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