Tag Archives: Grace

Take Courage

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But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. Matthew 14:27-31

I know it has been a while. I apologize for the lag. I have been trying desperately to get my thoughts together so they will be worthwhile to read about. After reading my daily devotional this morning, it hit me that it was time for me to write again.

I decided to talk about this particular scripture because it describes exactly how I was feeling. I pray frequently to God for guidance and assistance, he gives it to me and then I doubt it was his assistance. I begin to sink even after I hear Jesus say, “come” or occasionally “go”. Have you ever felt that? It gave me chills this morning when I read this because I have been struggling with a couple of things. I believe in those struggles that Jesus has said to me, “Chill out. Sit down. Be patient.” But unfortunately I do not know how. I am a doer. I think I’m chilling out but in actuality I am only appearing to be chilling out. I might be sitting still but my mind is going 100 miles per hour. I’m thinking about where am I going to find a job. Is this relationship going to work out? How am I going to pay these bills without an income? Is my son getting everything he needs from me? Then let’s not even talk about incorporating social media into that overloaded thinking process. Just thinking about it now makes me want to scream!

I believe that God made me sit down (and sit down for real) recently. I was hospitalized for 6 days. I have never in my life been in the hospital that long. The longest I’ve ever been in the hospital, I came home with a baby. So this was a rude awakening because it was so unexpected. I had been walking around with a blood clot in my leg for approximately 3 weeks and pneumonia for almost 2 weeks. No signs. No warnings. But now that I think about it, were there warnings? I try to keep myself so busy that any aches and pains are blown off. I knew my leg hurt but I nursed it myself. I knew I could barely breathe but I self-medicated (take that however you want). So finally when I could not take any more my body began shutting down. It was the scariest thing to ever experience not to mention to experience it alone. All I could imagine was my son coming home from school finding my dead body. That is what got me to move.

While in the hospital I would not allow anyone to bring me my laptop or tablet. I had my phone but I could only read so much of Facebook and Instagram. The television programs were a joke. So I had nothing but time to talk to God and do something different, listen. The interesting thing is the Holy Spirit has always spoken to me. I’ve just always blown it off as my own thoughts playing tricks on me. So the difference this time was everything that was said to me came to pass. I told the Holy Spirit I wasn’t ready to die but if it was my time, please make sure my son would be provided for and comforted. I was told to stop it but I did need to get my life in ORDER. I told the Holy Spirit I didn’t think I did my insurance stuff correctly and every time they took me for a test or gave me medicine I was racking up a bill I had no possible way of paying. I was told to stop it, I am your PROVIDER. I’m here and my bills are paid in full. Major rude awakening.

I have come to realize that the Holy Spirit has said to me, “come” many times and my soul was willing but my flesh was not. I would then sink and begin screaming out, “HELP ME!” Every time God reaches his hand out to me and catches me. My lesson from a couple of particular pitfalls I put myself in? Listen. I need to trust God with all my heart and not depend on my own understanding. God operates in such a way that we can not even begin to understand. His ways are so much higher than our ways. We just need to trust and believe. That voice in your head or that “gut” feeling or that intuition that you are feeling needs to be really paid attention to. It could be the Holy Spirit directing your path to greatness. Don’t sink.

Love you!

Kelly G.

Total Trust

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Don’t put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. What good are they? Isaiah 2:22

Your breath can stop at any moment. You could attempt to take a deep breath and be unable to catch your breath. It could be environmental issues, it could be medical issues, it could be self inflicted issues but no matter what the issue is you fail to catch your breath. The passage says that humans are as frail as breath. That means that you relying on people could be short lived. People can be unreliable, selfish and shortsighted. As easy as it is for you to lose your breath, it’s just as easy for a person to betray your trust.

When I go into any relationship, I usually tell a person that I will trust them until they make me take my trust away. I am setting them and the relationship up for failure. The only person that I should trust in any relationship is God. He is completely reliable. He has yet to fail me or forsake me. Instead of putting my trust in people and our relationships, I need to learn how to trust God’s plan for the relationship. Some people are put in our life for a season. When the season is over, know the purpose he or she had in your life was to assist you along your spiritual journey. When their time is up and it’s time for them to leave, don’t fight it. He or she served their purpose. Cherish and keep the memories but let them go.

We tend to try to make a square peg go into a round slot. It doesn’t work. No matter how much you try, it won’t work. No matter how much you plead, it won’t work. No matter how much you try to manipulate it, it won’t work. It’s just like relationships, if it isn’t meant to be, it won’t work. Stop putting all your trust in that person and then getting upset when they let you down. Remember God is the only one that is completely reliable. We can rely on his unfailing love and trust in his plans that he has for us.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. Trust in the Lord not people.

Be incredibly blessed!

Kelly

Being Burden

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Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. Matthew 11:28

A yoke is used on an ox to move a heavy piece of equipment. The equipment and the yoke was too heavy for a human to use or to have a donkey to pull it. Both the yoke and equipment needed a strong animal to be able to pull it to get the job done. I’m sure it tired the ox out but that’s what they were there for, to carry the heavy load. There are many of us carrying burdens that weigh us down and tire us out like a yoke on a ox. Those burdens come in the form of abusive relationships that we don’t know how to get out of or the use of alcohol or drugs to self-medicate for the pain we’re experiencing or guilt of things we should not have done or said. But what I love about this passage is it says, “take my yoke upon you….. the burden I give you is light.” That means remove that yoke and give it to God.

You’re probably saying, “that’s easier said then done.” But have you ever tried it? Have you ever just stopped worrying or stopped the guilty thoughts long enough to ask for God’s help. Every time something that is worrisome enters your mind you should image yourself removing your yoke and handing it to God. Visualize being freed from the bondage of worry, guilt, depression, addictive behaviors and/or any sin that has you convicted. God’s has rest for your weary mind and soul. Find solace in that. Don’t carry that burden any longer. Trust God with all your heart, mind and soul. Give it to God and rest.

Be at peace my friend.

Love you always!

Kelly

Be Still

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He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

My devotional this morning had the above scripture included with it. As I was reading it, I was thinking I should really go back to bed because I’m tired. But then I had to stop and think what was I really tired from. I had not done anything too significant that would cause me to be worn out. Then I realized that I am mentally drained.

I tell people that I am fully trusting in the Lord, which I am, but sometimes my brain wanders to the unknown. When I’m saying that I am not worrying about not having a job or how my bills will be paid, that little gnawing feeling creeps up over me. I have to constantly speak a affirmation over myself to bring myself back to a place of peace and trusting God totally. So this morning when I read the scripture, I understood it differently.

God says, “Be still, and know that I am God”. For me it means that a job is not what supplies all your needs (though it helps) but it’s God who does. Be still and know He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the beginning and the end. He is the one that create us and we know that we are wonderfully and fearfully made. So that means that no weapon that is formed against us can prosper! Sometimes those weapons come in disguise as thoughts. We have to hold captive those thoughts that are not in line with God’s word. I know it’s tough when things look a certain way but that’s when we definitely need to understand that we walk by faith not by sight.

Today, my friend, I challenge you to being still. What I mean by that is when you feel those anxious thoughts rising up in you, get still. Stop what you’re doing and say affirming words over yourself. What I’ve been saying is, “God is the supplier of all my needs. I am not in want.” I encourage you to try it. Grab those thoughts and make them obedient to God’s word. You can do it because the bible says you are more than a conqueror!

Be abundantly blessed today!

Love you with the love of Christ,

Kelly

Testimony Tuesday

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” ‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you.’ So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:39

My nephew took his own life. I cry almost every day because of that. I love him so much and I miss him even though he lived far away from me. I had a comfort that I knew that he was alive and well. To know now that I can no longer tease him, or hear his voice call me Auntie Kelly sarcastically hurts deeply. But I am not mourning like someone who has no hope. I praise God every day through my grief. I believe that God’s way is higher than my way and God’s thoughts are higher than my thoughts. I do not question why this happen and more importantly why did my sister have to go through this. I believe in God wholeheartedly and I’ve realized that my faith has grown more intense since my nephew’s death.

When I read today’s scripture in my devotional I knew that I was supposed to write about this. We might not know why we have to face such adversity and pain but we have to remember that our adversity gives us an opportunity to testify about God’s faithfulness. When we tell people about the pain we have experienced (or currently experiencing) and tell about God’s grace and mercy, we are bringing people closer to God. That’s the most important thing that we can do in our life. Introducing someone to God’s salvation or helping someone to grow closer to God is an awesome feeling. And we are being obedient in telling “how much God has done for you.” So I encourage you to testify. Someone needs to hear your story. Someone needs to know how you got to be where you are in your spiritual walk.

Be encouraged. Tell your story. Testify about God’s grace.

Love you with the love of Christ!

Kelly