As I have said in my last post, I have heard many powerful quotes that are based on scripture.  Scripture we truly live by daily.  Another one is Colossians 3:15 which says, “Let the Peace of God rule your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body and be thankful.” This is another one that leads me thru difficult decisions.  I once heard a preacher who was name Roberts tell a story that the Lord spoke to him and said, “2 plus 2 equals 4 Roberts.”  When something just doesn’t seem right or things just don’t add up, then it’s not what you should do.  Many times we have to make decisions about our home, our children, job, purchases, etc.  I have learned over the years that if I have a check or an uneasiness in my heart/spirit or things don’t add up that it probably not right.  I have learned the hard way – by disregarding the check and living through that decision that I should have never done.  Painful – Yes! If I just would have realized this simple truth, I could have saved myself a lot of heartache.  So if you have a decision to make, let the peace of God rule your heart.  Let His peace direct you.  Let that peace of God guide you.   

Over the years, I have been taught many saying that seem more important today than ever.  One of those sayings is…. “Never make a long term decision on a short term emotion.”  In Genesis 25, we are told the tale of two brothers and the older sells his birthright to the other.  Esau was hungry – a temporary emotion or feeling.  The birthright was such a life time benefit with blessing that would reach a long time.  Yet Esau made a long term decision on a short term emotion. How many today are making life long decision all because of a short term emotion?  People get upset yet are willing to leave everything they have worked for.  People lose a job and take their life because they can’t see the future.  These are small examples but so true.  Emotions are so temporarily.  Everything is subject to change.  Small children are a great example of emotions.  One minute they are fine – the next they are screaming their heads off – then the next they are fine again.  Don’t make any hasty decisions.  We have a policy at my house that we never make a difficult decision at night.  We must sleep on it.  We must ensure we have a clear head and a peaceful heart.  Whatever you do in these difficult days, Never make a long term decision on a short term emotion.

I have always heard the King David was a man after God’s own heart.  He was a man known as the shepherd boy that tended to his father’s sheep – known for killing a lion and a bear to protect the sheep – known for killing the giant Goliath who insulted Israel – known as the author as Psalms who played his harp and sung unto his God.  Yet I was reading and thinking about when King David was rebuked by Nathan the prophet in 2 Samuel 12. 

Nathan said to King David in verses 7 and 8, “Nathan then said to David, “You are the man!  Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul.  I also gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these.”  

So think for a minute what Nathan just said.  He says to David, “If you wanted more, The Lord God of Israel would have given you anything additional to what you already was given if you had asked.”   So all David needed to do was ask God and he would

This past week, I’ve been reading Ecclesiastes from King Solomon.  I absolutely love Proverbs and have all my life but I can’t stay there.  King Solomon, son of the great King David, is described as a fabulously wealthy and wise king of the United Kingdom of Israel.  Probably more known for his wisdom, he had about 700 wives and 300 concubines and a whole lot of money to take care of all of them and the children. Yet, with all that power, money, prestige, and anything a person could want or desire, He says in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NASB, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.  For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”  What does this mean?  I’m glad you asked.  No matter who you are – No matter your status in life – No matter where you come from – when it’s all over, everything will be judged.  Even those things that were hidden and you thought no one saw or heard.  Everything you did both good and bad – God will judge.  So the greatest thing to do is Fear God and do what He says to do! 

In Mark 4:36-41, Jesus and the disciples were on the boat going to the other side.  Many of the disciples were fisherman.  So they were use to being on the water every day.  They knew the boat, the water, the clouds and the storms.  They lived on the water – they understood the storm clouds.  They were not like me – an every now and then person on a boat – well ok never on a boat person.  So when you think about the events and the storm that had to appear, it must have shook them to their core.  It’s kind of like me in finance/accounting for all of my professional career 31+ years.  Many times, people get all upset and panic regarding financial issues or payroll.  I usually know what has happened and brush it off as ‘its this or that.’  Don’t worry!  So this storm had to be one they had never seen before. One of the once in a lifetime storms. It terrified them so much so that they woke Jesus up who was sleeping below.  Now honestly if Dad is taking a Sunday nap, you don’t wake him unless the house is on fire.  (You know what I mean). Jesus of course speaks to the wind and the sea and everything went back to normal.   In Verse 40 the

Today, the Lord blessed us tremendously with even the little things.  We set out to Commerce GA looking for a 28 foot commercial truck for the disaster relief project.  We looked around at various dealers and parking lots.  We had stopped for lunch and ate in the car with the windows down.  Pastor says “do you hear that?  They are drag racing!”  So we drove over to the track and sure enough they were racing.  Pastor drove up to the ticket booth trying to find out some information.  The precious lady gives us the price ($15 per adults) and then says “you guys go on it and check it out.  It’s about to rain and they are trying to get qualifying in.  Go up to the stands and watch.”  Shocked, amazed and excited that is exactly what we did.  There was no one there but two other family in the stands.  For 2 hours we sat there watching drag racing.  What is amazing to me is several months ago, we had gone to this very track and my husband said one day guys when we can I would love to take you to the track so you could see it.  As a kid, I remember going to the Don Garlit

Don’t let ANYONE stop you!  I write today with a heavy heart that I wonder if anyone else has dealt with the same struggle I have experienced.  When I was a child, I loved to sing – in fact, I still do.  But as I wrote in my book (Pursuing Him in spite of Them), I had a youth pastor couple whom I looked up to tell me to my face that I couldn’t sing.  They said I wasn’t worth their time for development.  It affected me so deeply.  A year later when I went to Bible College, they had a Praise & Worship program you could attend however since I was so effect I didn’t pursue it.  It was because of my singing that my husband and I got together that Fall weekend and it has never been the same!  Recently, I heard a Women of God in an interview (please note: I worked for the couple and created/set up their accounting in the church) say that it was her mission to help women fulfill their purpose.  As I listened to this well sought out Women of God whose childhood was similar to mine, I thought “Wait a minute!”  After all the hours I spent there, personal dinners and errands I did, etc you never once asked what my desire was. Never once invested in me.  Since I am an accountant, everyone just assumes that

As we celebrate 10 years at Ignited Church in Lavonia this weekend, it still seems like yesterday.  I have been going thru tons of pictures this week.  In my walk down memory lane, I can’t help but say “Thank you Lord I didn’t quit.”  You might be thinking – What?  Quit?  (You would need to read my book to understand just a few opportunities that I had to quit.) Yes quit!  We are all given an opportunity to quit.  We all will face some type of struggle – a mountain – a crossroads or a difficulties that will require us to answer the question ‘Will I continue?’  In my short life, I have had many opportunities to quit – quit God, quit church, quit life and just say forget it.  Like Paul said in Phil 3:12, But I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus.  There is something on the inside that says I have been fighting to see what God has planned for me and if I quit now I might have been right at the door.  My breakthrough might be right around the corner.  I can’t quit now!!!  I am so thankful Jesus didn’t quit when it got hard and difficult on the cross.  He even said “He could have called a legion of angels if He wanted to.”  But He endured the greatest hardship of all.  He paid the ultimate sacrifice for a crime He

Several years ago, I struggled with a decision I had to make at work.  You see previously, I had agreed with the upper management to complete something regarding my life yet my heart was not for the corporate world.  Pastor was like ‘do what you feel in your heart. I am with you.’  But I struggled with – “I am to continue down this path or should I quit?”  I had prayed about it (well I thought I had).  Then one Sunday morning during service as Pastor was preaching, he said, “The Father is saying everyone does what they want, but no one asked me.”  Sitting on the front row, I thought someone had just socked me right in the gut.  It hit my spirit so hard that I was speechless.  Frankly I have no idea what the rest of the message was about.  Have you ever been there?  Can I get an Amen?

So that afternoon, I begin to study the scriptures.  I feel like when you get something in a service like that then you should go to the Word of God to back it up.  If the voice of the Lord is speaking, He will Never – I mean Never – contradict what He has already said in His Word.  So of course, I prayed and as I begin to read, I think the words jumped off the pages and I sat there in Awe!!!

It seems these days that everyone I speak with is afraid.  Afraid of what might happen – afraid of what will happen – afraid of today – afraid of tomorrow.  Yet what really concerns me is these folks are Christians.  It’s one thing when you don’t know God but a whole different thing when you do know God.  2 Timothy 1:7 says “For God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.”  One translation of that verse says “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” Timid means to show a lack of courage or easily frightened.  This is exactly what I am talking about.  It seems the Church of Jesus Christ has turned into a bunch of scaredy cats.  The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives on the inside of you (Romans 8:11)!!!  Think about that for a minute – Selah! In Luke 10:19 declares “Behold, I give unto you power to tread (walk) on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”  So if the same spirit that raise Christ from the dead combined with the power He has given to walk all over the enemy, so what are you afraid of?  Matthew 10:28 clearly says to fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul but rather fear him which is able to destroy both should and body in hell.”  Now please understand I’m not talking about doing