Death To Life!

Zephaniah 3:17

"The LORD your God is with you,

He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

 He will quiet you with His love;

 He will rejoice over you with singing."

Palm Sunday!

This a poem that I wrote for Palm Sunday after church. Enjoy!

This amazing day God called His Son to prepare for His death
On the cross He would take His last breath
He went on a colt
where the people would revolt
screaming and shouting
praising and dancing
"Hosanna in the highest"

This is the day
to celebrate the way
Jesus came
for the world would never be the same
We will proclaim "Hosanna in the highest"

Remember today how He did travel
the journey on the gravel
let's sing
for Our King
And we will proclaim "Hosanna in the highest"

Seven Days of You: An Overview of Spring Break Fast!

Day One: No School, Yes Sabbath!

Success!

Sunday April 10^th, 2011

On the first day of my fast, I decided to give up school work. I usually check my classes that are online in the morning, but this day was different. I thought that Sunday was an appropriate day to devote my time to God instead of school work.

Sunday was such an amazing day. I woke up and got ready for church. At church we had a praise and worship service which is something that I really needed. Then from church my family came home, and I immediately did my quiet time with my Daddy. I was filled from my daily bread. After that I ate lunch, took an amazing Sunday nap, and blogged… twice. It was such a great day that filled my thirsty heart. I saw my older brother, and this was a blessing from God. I even had time to watch the new episodes with my baby brother because I was not consumed in homework.

John 8:32

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Truth: I was so consumed in my school work that I didn’t take time for my family, or the things that make my day.

What I learned?

It was hard to give up school work, but in the end I learned that it is way more rewarding to take a day for Christ.

Day Two: The Living Water!

Success! 

On Monday April 11^th, 2011 I kept my promise to God by fasting soda for the entire day. While I was drinking my glass of tap water, I reflected on what God did for me.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world He sent His one and Only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Romans 8:32

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

 Jesus is my glass of living water. 

Day Three: Good-bye negativity!

Success!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

I gave up negative thoughts about my image. I was renewed by the Holy Spirit from an encouraging verse that I wrote in my note cards.

Psalm 139:13-14

“For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.”

I have been struggling with negative views of what I look like, act like. But I know God created me so beautiful both inside and out. On the days where I think I am ugly and ashamed to go out of the house. It seems hard to look in the mirror on some days but now I know just how beautiful I am. It brings me joy to know that the Creator of Heaven and Earth molded me into a beautiful young lady.

Day Four- Giving up pride and gaining humility

Failed!

On Wednesday this past week, I gave up my pride. This was a rather hard task to do. At first I woke up knowing my task at hand, and I was fully equipped by doing my daily quiet time with Christ. But somehow during the middle of the day I failed BIG time. 

I was so prideful and overwhelmed by my feelings that day, I purposely did not listen to those who were talking to me then I would make them repeat it. I am so wicked, full of pride. I couldn’t even go twelve hours without being full of pride. 

Dictionary.com put their definition of pride as “a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.” This is exactly what I was displaying when I chose my feelings over paying attention to whoever was talking to me.

Proverbs 11:2

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” 

This verse has really taken a hold of my heart. I feel so bad for being so prideful. I repent, and God is now being so faithful by showing me how not to be that way. He is doing so major heart surgery to change me so that I don’t have to be this way. Praise Jesus for using this and turning it into His Glory!

Day Five- Introducing me!

Success!

On April 14^th, 2011 I decided to go the whole entire without my mask. It was hard at first but then I got the hang of it. Let me first explain what it means to be wearing a mask. I would hide all my feelings and bottle everything up without saying a word. I am good at faking a smile when really my eyes wanted to cry. 

However, I was able not to hide anything, and it felt amazing. It felt good to just breath and act like what I was feeling. It really helped that God brought back my sister, and she came home safely and healthy. It was an answered prayer. Praise Jesus! 

Psalm 89:52

“Praise be to the LORD forever! Amen and Amen.”

Day Six-Conquering Complaining

Picture Credit: Taken at a local fast food resturant, Rodeo Burger,and my sister thought it was perfect for this day of my fast because it was the same day I was doing the fast from complaining.

Failed!

This was extremely hard for me to do. When things go wrong in my day, the first thing I do is complain. I am guilty as charged as the justice system would say. I was so frustrated that the first complaint fell from my lips a little past nine in the morning. I knew that I failed this fast so my heart decided to continue to complain. It was wrong. I tried to stop but then I got caught up and continued to go with it.

I prayed that God would forgive me and make me strong to beat this awful sin. It breaks my heart when I complain. As the night grew on, it got a lot better, and I stopped complaining. God heard my cry for help, and came to rescue me from this struggle.

Philippians 4:6

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

I know that complaining will be a struggle by God is making it a change in my heart to stop doing it. Instead of complaining I will try to be thankful and content to what God has given me.

Day Seven- Cell Phone Chaos

Success!

I love my phone. It goes with me everywhere. In fact it is sitting right now next to me tempting me to use it 24/7. I feel like I use my phone as a distraction in my relationship with Christ. Since I have been distracted with my phone I feel like I haven’t spent enough time with God. I feel like I put my phone before God which I never want to do. However, I will say that I use my phone to witness to my friends, be an encourager, and most important display the love of Christ.

I have been in the Old Testament lately which means I have been really focusing in on idols. I feel like an Israelite wandering in the desert when God is showing me to His plan, and I turn away because my phone seems more interesting than spending time with my Abba. Now I need to mention that the Israelites did not have cell phones but they did have gold idols that they would bow down. It is considered to be idol worshiping when I get distracted by a cellular phone.

I went the whole day without my phone. In fact it was off the whole day and plus seven hours more. I will strive to be completely free of this and continue to pray.

This was truly the hardest fast that I did, but I was able to do it because the Lord is my strength.

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

I pray that this post encourages you to pray about your struggles. Give it to God, beloved. He is holding your hand through everything. I learned a lot during this spring break fast. God has showed me so much, and I truly believe He has wonderful things in store for me to experience.

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Spring Forward, Leave the Bondage Behind

This is the perfect time of the year where people tend to do their spring cleaning. They become overwhelmed with the long, winter sweaters in the closets and tired of looking at the cob webs in the corners of the ceiling. It is not an official day in the calendar; it is a personal choice. You choose the day to restock your closest with your new spring outfits.

My concept of a spring break fast is to clean out my “junk” that I carry in my heart, so that I may prepare a season of new life. I need to do a fast for a week to prepare and challenge my heart; it is to grow my faith. I choose to do a whole week with individual day-by-day fasts because my heart is filled with cobwebs and dirt that consumes my personal relationship with my Savior. Every day I hope to give up or take away a chain of bondage for that day. This will give me time to reflect, pray, dig deeper in the Word, and grow the seed that is inside of my heart. 

Seven items/sins that I will give up each one, one day at a time.

1.   Cell phone: One day during my fast I promise to fast my cell phone entirely. No texting, calling, and playing games for the entire day. I will leave my phone off. This will be hard, but I have Christ to strengthen me. 

I must note that owning a cell phone is not a sin. It is a sin when we put it before God in our rating scale of time. This is why I must fast my cell phone because my time that is for God goes to my phone, and it is not right at all. 

Also, it is important to note that every time I think or try to turn-on my phone, I will go straight to prayer for the Lord to keep my path straight and guard my heart. 

2.   Negative thoughts: I will fast negative thoughts regarding my life, my situation, or anything else for one day in hopes of making it a life-term commitment. I am generally a happy, smiley gal, but I still struggle with this issue of negative thoughts. I want to be able to praise Jesus in every circumstance that I go through. Giving up negativity is important to getting on to the walk of freedom. 

3.  Giving up pride and gaining humility: In one day during my fast, I would like to break down the wall of being prideful. I want to use this time to gain humility by serving my brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ. I have noticed lately that I put a lot of time investing in myself when I need to take time to be there for my siblings in Christ. I want to be able to listen instead of talking, and to actually hear what they are saying. 

4.   School work: This day will be a relieving for me personally. This semester has been time consuming. Yes, I am blessed to be able to go to school. However, it is getting to be so stressful that I worry too much about school all the time. Instead of focusing on what God has planned for me, I worry about homework, what’s due when, projects, and various tests. It has been stressful so I need to take a day to focus, pray, and ask God for wisdom. 

5.   Conquer complaining: I complain about the smallest events in my life, and it is starting to frustrate me. I feel that I need to stop that I can become content with what God has given me. I need to be giving thanks to my Father. One day in my fast I will try my very hardest to not complain about the situation that I am in or things that bother and instead praise Jesus for all He has been giving me. Praise Jesus for revealing this struggle to me! Now I can be set free from it. 

6.  Soda: I use to drink a lot of soda when I was younger. Then I started to drink more water. The purpose of giving up soda for a day is to reflect on the Living water called Jesus Christ. Every time I take a drink of water I would like to thank Jesus for filling me up with His Holy Spirit. This should become a daily reminder of what Jesus did for me on the cross. He gave me life.

7.  Hiding behind a mask: I promise to give up hiding behind a mask for one day during my fast in prayer that it will become a life-term goal. I want to be a transparent woman of Christ wearing my feelings on my face. But more than that I want to strive to tell my friends and family what is going on with me. I like to hide behind a mask because I do not want anyone to worry about me. Truth be told I am done with being this little girl who cries at night when no one can hear her. I want to cry, laugh, smile, and rejoice with those who I love. No longer will I have the burden of being a hypocrite to my feelings. 

Let’s pray! 

Dear Father,

I pray that you will fill me with your Holy Spirit, and give me the strength to clean my heart out. I pray that I will start the process of being set free. Help me Father! I want to make a positive impact to those around me, and it starts by what’s in my heart. Lord, I give you my list of things that I struggle with. Guide my every step. I praise you Father for everything that you have provided me with. Thank you!

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Psalm 27:Part Four-Blessings From Your Hand!

Blessings can come in many different sizes, shapes, and colors.It is like getting a wrapped present that Our Father has sent us from Heaven. The name tag is neatly written with a black boldface pen and reads " To: My child From: Your Father! I love you Child of mine!"

I got a huge blessing a few weeks ago, not out of the random but by waiting on the Lord. This is how it happened through prayer, waiting, and trust. 

I love to pray; it helps us talk to our Heavenly Father and create an intimate relationship with Him. As we pray to our Father, we can cry out, ask for requests that are on our heart, and chat to Him about what we are struggling with. Prayer leads to a stronger and more personal relationship with Him; prayer is the gateway to a better tomorrow.  Prayer leads to blessings in your life because of answered prayer requests, or maybe God had a different plan and it turns out to be way better than you expected. Blessings are gifts from God.  

I have found that through praying to my Savior, waiting on the Lord’s perfect timing, and trusting that He will provide are all events that I have seen before a blessing has occurred. This is to encourage you: take heart and wait on the Lord. He will make your path straight and guard your every step. Just trust that He has plans of good for you because He does. 

Psalm 27:13-14

“I remain confident of this:
   I will see the goodness of the LORD
   in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
   be strong and take heart
   and wait for the LORD.”

Beloved, I pray that you will continue to give your requests to God through prayer then wait for an answer, and be blessed by the trusting in the Lord to provide. When we give it to God, He will pour out the blessings; they can be small or huge either way He will send blessings to you. 

Picture Credit: Google Images

Psalm 27-Part Three!- Teach Me!

This story is based on Psalm 27:7-10, and it was recent in my timeline. Tuesday March 29, 2011 was a very difficult day for me filled with challenges, struggles with sin, and my favorite: cries out to God. It was a struggle but I got through it. I think it is very awesome that even though I had a terrible day, God was still there for me. I need that amazing truth every day, not just my bad days. 

Bad: I felt alone even though I was in a sea of friends.

Good: God was still there for me.

Bad: I stressed and cried over this whole situation.

Good: God heard and answered my prayer. 

Bad: I had to go through with Tuesday.

Good: God used it for His Glory, and taught me a lesson with it. 

Psalm 27:7-12

“Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
      Be merciful and answer me!
  My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
      And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
  Do not turn your back on me.
      Do not reject your servant in anger.
      You have always been my helper.
   Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
      O God of my salvation!
 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
      the Lord will hold me close.
 Teach me how to live, O Lord.
      Lead me along the right path,
      for my enemies are waiting for me.
Do not let me fall into their hands.
      For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
      with every breath they threaten me with violence.”


Let’s Pray!


Dear Father,
You have created this day for your Glory, and I am sorry for making it all about me. I know that I will have bad days but Father I know it is to make me strong. Teach me your ways, O LORD. I need You in my life every day. I pray that You will embrace me with one of your hugs to let me know that You are here.

Thank you Father!

In Jesus Name,
Amen!