…if it be received with thanksgiving [1 Timothy 4:4]

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Isaiah 58:11

What an encouragement from the Word of God.

What God says, He does.

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Is It My Doctrine or God’s?

Oh, to see through the eyes of Christ we’d see the wrecked soul we are without Him. Praise God it doesn’t end there.

We are washed, cleansed by the blood of the Lamb? If so, praise God! If not, why not? Check out this page on Eternity.

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

I Have Redeemed You

“…I have redeemed you.”

  • Isn’t that powerful?

Sometimes we read the Word of God and it doesn’t grip our soul as it rightfully should; guilty here!

Today, let’s stop, re-read and ponder, “I have redeemed you.”

1. Who said it?

The Infinite, Creator God redeemed you. It is mind-blowing to rationalize. We really don’t comprehend the vastness of God’s love for us, but it is so.

  • The reality is humanity (mankind) doesn’t deserve the righteous redemption of God. Adam sinned which brought forth death (sin) into the world and death passed upon all men…that’s you and I. We are separated from God because we have sin.
  • God dealt with Adam and Eve, yet in His mercy and love He didn’t just leave us to rot and die. God hasn’t put the period at the end of the sentence for mankind…yet.

He deemed it so “I have redeemed you.” His actions display His ultimately love on the cross of Calvary. We were given a way back to Himself. We were given a way to redemption, it is called salvation which is through Jesus Christ. We were given a way to commune with God through the power of prayer and reading His Word.

  • Because of Jesus Christ all mankind’s sin can be individually blotted out — one by one, but you must confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised He from the dead. You must call upon the name of the Lord and you will be saved. It is His gift is free, but you must ask by placing your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone to get to heaven.
  • Just as sin separated Adam from God, our sin separates us from God. Christ made a way.

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Matthew 5:6

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Psalm 139:3

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Angels Unaware | a Tribute

This verse is so true!

What a joy to be reminded of this Truth today while spending time reading God’s Word together with my husband.

I remember the days when we lived in Jackson Hole, WY. Shortly after we moved to Wyoming from Pennsylvania, we found an awesome church to attend and became members of.

One service a man walked in our church, befriended our family and others and just became a part of the family of God — part of my family. He too, had “moved to town”.

Every Sunday as a child, I couldn’t wait to see Mr. Walt Saint! He became my spiritual leader, my adopted grandfather figure. He had white flowing hair and a beard to match. He was not excessively wordy yet when he spoke it came forth with a gentle powerfulness of Truth and it gripped my soul. He was extremely kindhearted, soft spoken, faithful, drove a cute little old car and every Sunday gave me a piece of pink gum.

Now as a kid, with very long hair, gum wasn’t something my parents bought us. Gum in long hair is no fun, but I was allowed to have my weekly Sunday piece from Mr. Saint.

I have no idea where he lived, what he did or even where he came from…but this I knew he loved me and cared deeply for my soul.

With the gum came God’s words…but never spoken like anyone else I had ever heard before. He spoke with such reality, power yet with gentleness, and had a depth of desire for my soul that blew me away, like he could see my soul…and tilted it while he planted God-seeds.

  • He made me want Christ more.
  • He made me see Christ more.
  • He made me desire Christ more.
  • I am eternally thankful for his godlike influence on my young heart.

When we moved back to Pennsylvania, which was a hard decision, leaving Mr. Saint was extremely hard for me. I didn’t want the influence to stop…I needed that influence, I wanted more. I loved that piece of weekly gum and our chat while I received it. I needed to keep growing…but he told me this, “It is time for you to go. You must obey, honor and love your parents. It will be okay, we will see each other again, someday.” He gave me another piece of gum, hugged me, never said “goodbye” and smiled from ear to ear. Tears were in his eyes, as well as mine, and that was the last day I saw my Mr. Saint.

Months later, we found out that Mr. Saint was gone. No one heard from him, no one had seen him, he was just simply, gone.

Whatever day Mr. Saint “left” Jackson Hole, it might have been physically but to those who were impacted by him…he never left us. I don’t know how many more people had the privilege of knowing Mr. Saint like I did, but after all these years I can hear his soft voice, see his face and clothes, feel the heat when the car door opened to get a piece of gum, I can see that bushy beard and soft flowing hair in the wind. I can taste that pink gum and feel the power of the Word spoken to me with love unguarded.

  • Was Mr. Walt Saint an angel?
  • To me, he was. He is.
  • Could I be wrong, maybe…

Years have passed seen those days, I have long to see him again, ask him were he went and why…but then again, sometimes things are just to wonderful that we just need to stay planted in the basking of what God has done or given.

So, that’s where I leave my Mr. Saint.

…that’s my angel story.

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

It’s a Command | Romans 12:10

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

The “S” Word is not a Bad Word

Many of us don’t like the “S” word…SUBMIT. We believe it brings bondage, it will restraint us (from doing what we want) thus constricting our power for or to control.

Let’s be honest, we like to feel like we are in control; we like to be in control. It feeds a hungry souls ache; it becomes our addiction and we want more. We fill ourselves with fleshly gratification rather than soul feasting on what only God can fill.

We fear to let God.

According to James 4:7 we are to submit ourselves to God. To submit brings freedom and blessings. It puzzles us to why we fear the letting go, but not God. That’s exactly why James is writing this very verse — God knows! The question we should be asking ourselves is: whose mindset have we fallin’ prey too?

We are to resist the devil.

What does it mean to resist? 1) to stand against; to withstand; to obstruct. 2) to strive against; to endeavor to counteract, defeat, or frustrate; to act in opposition to; to oppose. 3) to counteract, as a force, by inertia or reaction. 4) to be distasteful to. 5) to make opposition.

This is what we are to be doing.

  • The devil is always on attack mode.
  • You are always a target.
  • Never think for a second that he is on your side; that somehow you are on the same team.
  • Wake-up call! The devil will lie, deceive, take, mutilize, deform, gossip, trash, discredit, chew you up and spit you out.
  • He is bound and purposed for your destruction.

So if God is warning us…. to FLEE! to RESIST! why don’t we? Why do we dabble in sin, and justify it? Why do we stop, listen and taste the sin? Why do we take those specific steps to erosion and compliancy?

  • Why?
  • Simply put, we like it; we have throned ourself a god and don’t trust the Almighty God.

God knows the devils tactics.

If submitting didn’t matter, God wouldn’t have written so. If resisting didn’t matter, again, we wouldn’t be reading it from Scripture.

We do well to reconsider; to have a mindset change. James 4:7, this is for our warning, for our attention, for our own personal action to take place upon this knowledge from God.

  • Are you submitting yourself to God?
  • Are you resisting the devil or are you riding the fence — playing both sides?

Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee and God will draw near. Watch then, as you draw near to God His blessings are not far behind.

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Our Action(s) Testify What’s Within | Hebrews 12

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

“It” Wears Many Hats

Exhaustion doesn’t even begin to describe how I have felt over the past four weeks; four weeks that turned into five this past Friday.

It began with a slight cough which developed quickly into a full blown, nonstop fit of raging coughs, sleepless nights, fatigue, and left me almost voiceless.

After the first week, I went to see my doctor. This time, I said to myself, “I wouldn’t wait” (similar thing happened in February). Sure enough my lungs and airways were inflamed with infection; irritation deep within and slight fluid in the ear. A shot of steroids was given to me to get me ‘moving along’ quicker this time around. We stopped bye the pharmacy to pick up the mountain of meds and I did what the doctor ordered. I was fully convinced that I would be well very soon…

Week two.

We came to the decision it was time to make another doctor appointment because my symptoms were getting worse, not better.

X-ray’s were order. Round two of medicines started. Doc said, “If you are not any better in two days, I will admit you to the hospital.”

Sleep was been little, the sofa became my home. Breathing more difficult. Side affects increasing.

I purposed to do what must be done, try what I can get done and leave the rest undone because there was no strength nor breathe to do anything else.

Week four done.

Week five has begun.

Third doc visit resulted in more x-rays, round three with a specialist appointment is in the near future. All this to say, last Friday I broke…

  • I broke down in exhaustion, in tears, and in pain, in discouragement.
  • ‘It’ broke me. I didn’t want it too, but…it did.
  • I was so physically worn that I can barely lift my feet off the floor to walk. My body filled with agony, torn muscles from coughing so long, so much and so hard.

I hit that wall and said, “I’m done!”

  • My soul was discouraged.
  • My body was discouraged.
  • My mind was discouraged.

I wept, cried out to the Lord for deliverance, “Lord please, please take this from me!“…”Lord, please I am so weary and worn!”

➡ I do not share this for pity.
➡ I do not share this to have a self-pity party.

➡ I do share because maybe someone, maybe you, are in agony, weeping, struggling, worn, tried, exhausted, in pain and right now you need some encouragement…

Maybe “it” is a life situation or decision that must be made; maybe “it” is an illness that has struck your body or someone you love; maybe “it” has you worn to the last bone…I want you to know something, God is still there. He hears. He knows.

My friend, (preaching to myself here) we are so desperately human yet God knows that and loves us anyway. God heard Job’s cries. God saw Job’s pain. God answered Job’s prayers and God sees, knows, and hears us too (Job 41;42).

God takes our frailty, turns it on its head for His glory, gives us precisely what is needed and shows us Himself.

May sound like God is selfish, but He isn’t.
God deserves such grandeur, such attention, such praise, such worship and devotion. He is God. We are not. This doesn’t stop God from loving us.

  • It is enough that He would bring glory to Himself through us, but He also uses that source of glory to Himself for our perfection, for our molding, for our fashioning us into HIS likeness.

In the midst of vallies or while we stand on the mountaintop, God is using “it” to create in us a masterpiece within us…one that is more glorious than we can image. This is not selfish, this is love.

Last Friday was a really hard day — both physically and spiritually, but today, today is a new day with sickness included to become perfected into what God is leading me through at this time.

➡ God is perfecting you. Job saw with his spiritual eyes who God was/is.

➡ Job trusted God to be God; we must trust Him as well.

  • I want to grow in Christ.
  • I want to be healed spiritually and physically.
  • I want to say, “I know that You can do all things, and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained. Therefore [I now see] I have [rashly] uttered that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, please, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct [and answer] me.’ I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You.” Job 42.

God loves you, friend! Remember, today is a new day with “it” included to become perfected into what God is leading, fashioning us to become through this time. Take courage.

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful Empowered.}

CHRISTianity

It has everything to do with Christ and nothing to do with us. Our self merit, self will, self dedication, self attempts or vindications all fall short.

Isn’t it a wonderous thing that it doesn’t hinge on us but Christ. You know you fall short; Christ is forever faithful.

Is Christ your religion or relationship?

“Christianity without CHRIST isn’t Christianity.”

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

How are you Livin’?

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Your Story Isn’t Published…Yet!

If you are roaming this Earth my friend, your story is not published yet. God is still in your writing process.

  • Trust Him.
  • Obey Him.
  • Hope in Him.
  • Follow His leadership.
  • Love Him.

Your story can impact eternity.

He cares for you!

Enjoy your journey in Christ!

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Are Your Wheel On?

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Perfectly Unable

So thankful that in my limitations, God is boundless. I needed this today and thought maybe you did too. I am so imperfect in and of myself and unable without Him, but truly thankful that He is perfect and loves me boundlessly even in my boundaries.

My friend, whatever surrounds you today (internally or externally), remember the Lord knows we are unable, but He is also keenly aware that through Him, He is able to do great and mighty things with our unableness.

You are empowered because of Him!“and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength” Ephesians 1:19 (AMP)

Praying you have an God-encouraged day!

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Psalm 71:3

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

How’s God Lookin’?

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

This! God Can.

This is where I am at right now…my quiet place.

Well, I am not actually sitting on this porch at the moment, but I did several weeks ago. Our friends let us use their pool and while I was done swimming, the others continued…and this is where I ended up.

We had just come off an incredible week within our church. If I can brag for a moment, we have the best church ever! The Spirit of God was moving in souls, people in one accord serving Christ, salvations declared! Total Jesus high. God has been so good to us and I stand amazed in Him.

You would think though, that after seeing God’s mighty working hand so powerfully I’d be full of spiritual energy, ready to conquer the next mountain, but that is not where I was.

  • I was tired.
  • My body was shutting down for the night and it seemed that I was the only one in are family doing so.
  • Bless his sweet precious heart, my husband, who has energy for the both of us, times 10! My ‘Energizer Bunny’ was well…energized; simply fulfilling, being who God had crafted within him to be, which I love. (Going to brag one more time) He is an amazing man: loves God, passionate for souls, faithful, trustworthy, steadfast, giver, the list goes on…
  • But I wasn’t feeling the energy or the strength; all I felt was deadness! I was lagging behind both physically and spiritually.
  • It wasn’t his fault. He wasn’t the problem; he didn’t do anything wrong — the struggle was me.

That night, I was feeling the pains of tiredness, fatigue, exhaustion yet my Energizer was still going, planning, doing, creating, blossoming, and living life for his Savior…and we weren’t on the same ride.

  • Have you ever felt that way?
  • I had a decision to make that would change my outcome for better or worse.

It matters what we do when the reigns of life squeeze us; when our weaknesses strike, when strength is given…it matters!

That night I went to my quiet place; dove into the Word of God and sat…

…and sat!

It took time for my soul to begin to clear. The external and internal noises were louder than the voice of God — ever been there?

Sitting there, purposefully trying to listen, I heard my Savior say, “My grace is sufficient for you — My love, My mercies are poured over you, Colleen. They are always available regardless of your situation: my strength (power) is being perfected in your weaknesses. Be glad…glory, boast in your weaknesses because the power of Christ in you completely enfolds you. I love you. Now rest!” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

  • God filled my empty soul.
  • God renewed my physical body.
  • God redirected my mind, thoughts, and focus.
  • God gave me rest.

And…He can do the same for you!

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

God is Looking

Do you see the evidence of God’s hand in your life through answered prayer?

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}