DO YOU KNOW YOUR WORTH?

Mar28

God has really placed on my heart to share something with you that very few people know. As hard as it is, I know the importance of what I’m about to discuss and we are all at a very critical point in life. Many of you have been fighting and wrestling with your own self-worth. In doing so, you tend to look back over the course of the years and see all the pain, the loss, and the suffering but not your true worth. Let me explain…

As a child, I was physically abused. It led me to feel worthless and unloved. For so many years, I wrestled with the pain and suffering in a very quiet, lonely manner. In protection of my family, no one was aware of the situation. So I continued to deeply hurt all by myself, weeping silently while the shame and guilt consumed me.

For years afterwards, I felt like I didn’t deserve happiness. So, I dated all the wrong guys, lived well below my talents, lived rebelliously; and quite frankly, just never believed that I could be someone lovable or better than what I was living.

Needless to say, I lived a very self-defeating lifestyle and learned how to push away others when they showed me what real love was. I simply couldn’t understand why they cared about me. I was so broken; I allowed people to hurt me and, in turn, I hurt others as well. Until God showed me differently and I learned what I’m telling you today!

For those of you who have been hurt, abused, shamed or felt neglected and lost…I HAVE GREAT NEWS!

YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE WORTH TO GOD AND YOU DESERVE HIS BEST!

Throughout the Bible, God used murderers, prostitutes and very evil men to show His amazing glory. So, no matter what has happened to you in life, no matter what people have said about you, no matter what you think of yourself…God sees someone beautiful and blessed.

So today, I ask you to release all the pain, hurt, anger, frustration and suffering of the past years and look forward to your amazing future that God has for you. (Philippians 3:13-14) Ask Him to restore all that you have lost. (Joel 2:25) Ask Him to fill you with His incredible love. (Ephesians 3:19)

You are a one-of-a-kind. So, be brave and bold; walking out in faith to the most amazing journey of your life. With God, all things are possible (Mark 10:27). So, let go and be truly free! Give Him your cares, worries and doubts. (1 Peter 5:7) Watch Him bring you the most amazing and wonderful life He has specifically, in store, for you! His amazing grace is upon you and 2025 is going to be your best year ever! Believe it and Receive it! It is your time to shine!

No Room For Guilt and Condemnation

Mar26

Have you ever noticed that as you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your past has its way to remind you of your ugly ol’ self? It seems like every time you take a step forward in faith, you get bombarded by negative thoughts or people trying to remind you of who you used to be; trying to make you feel guilty, condemned or like a hypocrite.

Your past is just that…your past. It does not define who you are now in Christ. You are a new creation and the old has been released (2 Cor. 5:17). So, let go of your past and let God continue working within you; creating the beautiful person you are meant to be. For who He sets FREE is FREE INDEED! (John 8:36)

Jesus was the only person, who walked on this earth, that was perfect. We all fall short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23) However, through Jesus, our future is very different. He already paid for every one of our sins (past, present and future). So, when you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior; you were washed as white as snow, your sins were forgiven and God no longer remembers them. (Romans 8:1-39)

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Whatever you do, do not allow yourself to be pulled into feeling guilty nor to respond to the negativity. For God is your vindicator (Romans 12:19). So, let go of any guilt, condemnation, pain, anger or sorrow and ask God to send His love towards that person or thing that is causing the unnecessary emotion. Place it in God’s hands and feel the weight of the world lift off your shoulders.

Just remember that God never calls the qualified, but, makes us all qualified through Jesus. So, fly like an eagle and soar to your new heights for there is no room for guilt or condemnation. Christ wiped your slate clean! You are a NEW CREATION in Christ so be bold, brave and beautiful in all that He calls you to do! Thank God for His new beginnings, Praise His Name and grasp your FABULOUS FUTURE; for the best is yet to come!

People Pleasers

Mar25

There are so many demands and peer pressure in our world today. If I asked you, “Who are you?” would you answer with your job title? Would you answer with the sport you play? Would you answer the way your friends or family see you? What would you say?

More time than not, you would answer this question quickly and with some sort of a title. But do you really know who you are and what truly makes you happy?

I ask this question because there are way too many people trying to be something they are not. They want to fit in with the crowd. They want to look like someone else. They want to be popular. But, the problem with this is that most are unhappy deep within themselves. I can tell you from experience that it never is all its cracked up to be nor can you please everyone.

As Christians, we tend to be “yes” people. Yes, I’ll help you. Yes, I’ll be there. Yes, I can do that project. And so on. Unfortunately, most of us take on too many obligations which create pressure and stress within our own lives; losing the very essence of who we are.

When we try to please people around us, we tend to make them happy while making ourselves miserable. The key here is to learn how to make ourselves happy first. This is not selfish, by no means. When we make ourselves happy and be who we really are, then that happiness overflows onto the people around us; creating a wonderful, loving environment that has more impact on others than just trying to fit in.

Let’s see what the Bible says about who we are:

We’re a child of the Most High God (John 1:12)
We are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17)
We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
You’re a friend of Jesus Christ (John 15:15)
You have been chosen by God (Ephesians 1:4)
God looks at the heart of a man, not his outward appearance (Samuel 16:7)
The king greatly desires your beauty (Psalm 45:11)
You are a sweet aroma to God (2 Corinthians 2:15)

If God sees us as a beautiful child then don’t you think the best thing we can do is love ourselves in a meaningful, humble way. I’m not talking about having an ego and thinking you’re all high and mighty. What I’m talking about is, loving the person you are, loving yourself just as you are, and knowing that you are beautiful just the way you are.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t wear what everyone else is wearing or you’re not driving the best car or you don’t have the biggest home on the block…what matters is that you are happy from deep within your mind, body and soul.

There are always going to be naysayers or people who want you to be something you are not. In Romans 12:12, we are specifically told “not to conform to this world…” For when you are walking in God’s love and loving yourself, it will spill over onto others. It will bring such peace and joy within your life; you’ll wonder why you haven’t done it before. In Colossians 3:15 we are told to “be led by peace in making decisions”. That is so much more important than doing things out of obligations.

Things don’t need to feel like a chore when you help someone. If it comes from a deep passion within yourself, it will catapult the love you feel onto those around you. This calm, stable and relaxing state of mind is the ultimate, rewarding experience. People will notice the change. People will realize that they too can enjoy life fully and will want to know how you do it. That’s what it is all about…helping others from this standpoint of peace and leading by example. It is more powerful than you realize. Making a difference comes from the love inside of you; knowing who you truly are in Christ and allowing it to flow into others. We all have received our very own special gifts and abilities (1 Peter 4:10) and we need to walk in these given talents. It is a very rewarding experience.

SO…TODAY IS A NEW DAY!

EMBRACE YOURSELF! For when you do, you will become an amazing person that will make a huge difference in the world around you. For there is no better place to be than walking in your DIVINE DESTINY, being the person you are meant to be. Believe it! Live it! There is no one else like you so stop trying to be like everyone else.

CELEBRATE YOUR UNIQUENESS…YOU ARE VERY SPECIAL! YOU ARE ONE OF A KIND!

The Wonderful Aromas of Thanksgiving

Nov28

Ah, the wonderful time of Thanksgiving. Sitting around the table with family and friends. Enjoying each other’s company filled with happiness and laughter. And, we certainly can’t forget about all the turkey, trimmings and pumpkin pie. What a glorious day to enjoy each year. The wonderful aromas filling the air.

But, have you ever taken a moment to look at the word, Thanksgiving. Do you realize that it can be broken down into two words? THANKS and GIVING!

When I think of Thanksgiving…sure, I remember all the wonderful memories of the years gone by. Cooking in the kitchen, enjoying the laughter, and watching football on TV. It is an amazing time for all to be had.

Have you ever realized that it could and should be a daily occurrence? Every time we wake up, we should THANK THE LORD for a new day. We should be thankful and grateful for the amazing day He has in store for us. It doesn’t matter what our circumstances look like at the moment. He has the answers and His ways are far beyond ours…so, we should be thankful that He will provide, heal, strengthen, and guide our steps.

We should also wake up each morning and be on the lookout of GIVING to someone in need. Giving is not just financial. You can GIVE a smile. You can GIVE time. You can GIVE kindness. You can GIVE a helping hand. There are so many ways to GIVE to our fellow man without breaking the bank. We just need to keep our eyes open and be ready to move when God shows us the way. It can be something as small as opening a door for someone. The key here is not to miss a moment; for giving is a beautiful way of living. You never know what that person is going through and you just might be God’s answer to them.

Let’s take a quick glance at what the Bible says about “Thanksgiving”:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Psalm 107:1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.

See, every day is filled with opportunity. It can be filled with anger and depression or it can be filled with love and laughter. We all have a choice to make every time we wake up in the morning. So, from now on, how will you treat Thanksgiving? For me and my house, I will serve the Lord and continuously be thankful in all things and give wherever He leads me.