Tag Archives: Abundant Life

Which Reins do You Hold?

The struggle is real!

We all struggle with some form of control.

  • For some, the struggle is real; so real; it is daily. The controller feeds off the vibrate, enthusiastic, satisfying, endorfen-filled adrenaline. Control within them covers depths of internal pain and unresolved sin, yet like a leech it cries out for ‘more, more, MORE!’
  • While others use control as an external weapon. They are violent. They abuse (mentally, emotionally, or physically) because they themselves have never dealt with their internal noises or sins. They have become mean and completely self absorbed.
  • For others, it comes more like a season or a storm. The ‘occasional’ that blooms and will blossom if not kept in check before a righteous and holy God; where repentance and forgiveness are sought, asked, and given.

The fact of the matter is — if you have a pulse, you struggle with control at some point in your life.

Jesus said…”I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7).

The question is — will you continue to hold your reins and think you’ll enjoy the ride of life or take hold of God’s reins and enjoy His ride?

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

Living

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

Note to Self

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

Caution! Caution! Caution!

  • How is your thinking doing today?
  • How do you view your sin? It is easy to pick out others sinful deeds rather than examine our own sinfulness before God.
  • How’s your thinking about your Saviour? Are you meditating upon His Word? Have you thought about Him at all today? Have you talked with Him today? Our actions speak louder than words.

There is an abundant life we can have…but it is only found and obtained through Jesus Christ. We can live this Christ-filled abundant live — John 10:10 tells us so, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.“

So my friend,

  • What ranks priority in your life?
  • What is number one? First place?
  • What rules you?
  • What does your sin look like to you?
  • What place value does Jesus Christ hold in your life?

Remember, our actions speak louder than our words — to God, to others, and to ourselves (if we are honest with ourselves). Let’s stop deceiving yourself and get living abundantly with God. God loves you!

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

Christ’s Empowerment in a Willing Soul = Christ’s Power

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

Was It Really Mary’s Magnificat?

I don’t know about you, but I have read over this passage many times before. Sadly, I had just seen Mary through the lenses as a “good girl” –the young, sweet, willing, obedient, submissive, yielding to the Lord’s calling in her life –the “good girl.”

  • These are precious, godly, character traits to possess –please don’t misunderstand me, but there is more to Mary than that.
  • Reading through this passage, I saw Mary in a new light.
  • I saw her relationship with God.

In Luke 1:46-55, many call this passage “Mary’s Magnificat” but is it really, “Mary’s?”

As I read this passage today, words started popping off the pages of Scriptures. I had to stop and start again. As I began to reread the Lord started His work in my heart…”Look Colleen, See.”

When you read Luke 1:46-55, you will begin to experience the inner most depths of Mary’s heart. The intermost being of who she is –who she was. You will quickly come to realize that, for Mary, it was never about Mary, even though she was a huge part of the situation. Nothing never pointed to herself, yet everything pointed in praise to God alone by word and deed from Mary.

This kind of verbal praise can only come forth outwardly when it is brewing forth inwardly. Her relationship with Christ was already overflowing before God sent an angel, before God did anything… Mary’s outward praise was just an outflow of her inward heart.

Because of her inward heart already prepared, already in fellowship with her Lord, her focus was already aligned. Centered. She wasn’t sidetracked by herself, on the great anointing or privilege of being “chosen” by God Himself, but rather on who and how great God is!

Her focus was God alone– ALL glory, ALL praise, ALL honor –past, present and future –is and was to and for God alone. It was just that simple. There was no other thought.

*Verses referring to the God:

  • (46) the Lord
  • (47) in God my Savior
  • (48) He; His
  • (49) the Mighty One; Holy is His Name
  • (50) His Mercy; Him
  • (51) He; His; He
  • (52) He
  • (53) He
  • (54) He; His; He
  • (55) He; His

*Verses referring to Mary:

  • (46) my soul exalts
  • (47) my soul
  • (48) His bondslave
  • (49) me

My thoughts on Mary today are much different. I am not putting Mary on a pedestal, but her example of godliness is well taken. If she was sitting down with us right now she’d be the first to say, “I’m no saint. But this I am –a child of God, saved by grace, in need of a Savior” with a sweet, humble spirit– I think.

I want my life to be about God.

How about You?

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

*NASB

9.5 Weeks That Changed My Life

Ten years ago today (01.28.2009-01.28.2019), we stepped into the doctors office filled with immense sorrow and great hope for the future.

Exactly a week before that visit, my sweet husband’s mother entered into Heaven’s gate. She was only 67 years old.

I remember that day well. I was pregnant, 9 weeks and caring for our two little ones while my husband was at the hospital with his siblings. The call came, it was 8:35 pm “I was reading in Psalms about entering heaven and Mom entered” my husband spoke quietly.

We lost greatly that day and in the tomorrow’s that followed, but heaven gained richness filled in a woman called Marguerite Ann.

That was Tuesday, January 20, 2009.

A day and a half later, I noticed some spotting. As the next days continued our concerns grew. We made the phone call. Being 7 hours away, Mom’s viewing and funeral that Friday and Saturday, we stayed. In silence between ourselves and God, we did a lot of praying, watching, resting, and giving it to the Lord in the midst of loss, dealing with extended family, and grief.

As we sat in that office (01.28.2009) we still clung to life. By this time, the spotting was lessening. Hoping against odds we never expected to hear the next words…

“There is no baby.”

“Wait. What?
What did you just say?
How can that possibly be?”

That is impossible!

  • I had felt this little one for weeks.
  • I had questioned if I was further along then we thought because of all the movements I had felt.
  • This was impossible.
  • There IS a baby!

Again, those words pierced through my soul…

“There is no baby.”

  • “Maybe you already miscarriaged, or maybe you will in the next day or two.” The words were so cold. So removed. So lifeless.

We walked out of that office with a scheduled appointment in two days.

Numb.
Shocked.
Grieving.
Filled with questions.

What took place in the following days, the Lord kept us in the palm of His protective hand.

The next day included an ER trip which we were told, “I see a sack.” Hope was restored which created more questions.

Later that evening, I did not feel well. I thought maybe a shower would help. In that process, severe pain struck my body like a torpedo exploding into a battle ship. The hit was so powerful that it paralyzed me. The struggle to breathe was intensive and my body turned into a board.

We called for a sitter.

By the time we left the house for the ER, my body had calm down enough that I was able to walk out of the house. When I took that first step down off the porch my body released itself from it’s grip and I was covered in blood, and my breathing became much easier. Later we found out why this happened.

The trip to the ER we spent in prayer giving our little one to the Lord and our lives into His hands. Praying for a miracle. Praying for strength to accept His will. Praying what words could not express or speak, but Jesus Christ was our advocate and we knew it.

We saw a cold, lifeless, removed doctor turn into a compassionate, caring, patient man because of Jesus Christ. They took every concern or every care we had for our baby, for my life, and doubled, tripled checked on our behalf. For this we are incredibly thankful for.

  • Through a exploratory surgery (01.29.2009), it was discovered that I had an ectopic pregnancy. My right fallopian tube ruptured sending blood all throughout the inside of my body causing the severe paralyzing pain and inability to breathe. We take comfort that by this time, our little one was already safe in the arms of Jesus.
  • Our little one spent almost 10 earthly weeks with us. Some find it hard to believe, we don’t question God’s time.
  • We thank the Lord for every week we had with baby Woodruff #3. God has given me the blessings of feeling, not sight, with this little one. For weeks, our little one was alive, alert, and very active in my right fallopian tube; this gift was from the Lord, a treasure I cherish.

Today, and for the past ten years now, our little one walks on streets of gold because of Jesus Christ! The assurance of eternal life through Jesus Christ is a priceless, gracious, and merciful gift from our Lord. The hope we have in Him, that one glories day we shall see Christ, our child, Mom, and others –heaven is sweeter!

God is the author of life.

We were told that if we didn’t conceive within the next year are chances for future children would drop to 12%.

A year and eight months later, we were with child with baby #4. This didn’t come without fears or learning to trust God with this child. Her name means, “God has answered” because her two older sisters prayed every night for “a baby in Mama’s belly” for a year and eight months…and GOD ANSWERED!!

  • God hears.
  • God answers…in His time.
  • God hears the broken hearted.
  • God comforts & heals the grieving soul.
  • God never forsakes His own.

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

Who is God to You?

  • We hear.
  • We see.
  • We experience.
  • We choose.
  • We decide.
  • We deny.
  • We accept.
  • We….

Maybe, just maybe, if we chose to put ourself aside for just one moment to stop presupposing we knew who or what God is, but rather came before Him & His Word with simple child-like-wide-open unbias eye, untainted heart, and unskewed minds….maybe, just maybe, we would grasp His understanding of who and what HE IS for who and what HE SAYS HE IS, not what we think He is.

It would be then, that we would begin to understand the attributes of God. It would be then, that we would begin to hear, to see, to experience, to choose, to decide, to deny, to accept, to know God for God…prehaps like the very first time you met.

  • Revelation 2:4-5

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

Does Your Breath Count?

Measuring this earthly-life in God’s scope of eternity will change your here and now for all your eternity to come.

  • How do you chose to give out your given-breath? Are you selfish in it’s usage or are you without borders in praise to the One who gave it to you in the first place, because you know without Him you would have no breath?
  • We only know right now…the next second is unknown and not promised.
  • Make now count & enjoy your Lord!

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

Is the Solution to Try Harder or Let Him In? What does God say?

img_20171013_103839_998000-339584810.png

“You have to stop loving and pursuing Christ in order to sin” –there is a fear in writing or saying such words. A fear not in physically writing them or saying them for they are true; rather a fear that a hearer will only listen to their own evoking fears and guilt thus not seeing God’s love for them; therefore, not instilling a fire of love to begin within the them because they love God.

Actions that are driven by fear and guilt are not an antidote to lukewarm, selfish, comfortable living–it is LOVE!

Our relationship with Christ should never be out of duty, obligation, or slavery, but rather craved from a genuine desired love for God. We need only look no further than the cross– where God demonstrated His love for us that while we were YET sinners; Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)! God’s love hasn’t changed.

When we love we are free!

  • Galatians 5:13-14
  • Psalm 63:1-5
  • Loving God and loving people –isn’t that what it is all about?!

Lukewarm living and claiming Christ’s name simultaneously is utterly disgusting to God–when we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that it isn’t very fulfilling or joyful to us, either, but the solution isn’t to TRY harder, fail, and then make bigger promises, only to fail again.

It does no good to “muster up” more love for God, or to will yourself to love Him more. When loving God becomes obligation, one of many things we have to do, we end up focusing even more on ourselves.

So what do you do? The answer lies in letting God change you! He wants to change you, He died so that we could change!

  • Remember His counsel to the lukewarm church in Laodicea? “HERE I AM! I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK. IF ANYONE HEARS MY VOICE AND OPENS THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN AND EAT WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME” (Rev. 3:20).
  • His counsel wasn’t to “try harder,” but RATHER LET HIM IN!!!
  • James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and HE WILL come near to you.”
  • Jesus died on that cross to save us from the bondage of SIN; not just save us from hell.
  • John 10:10 “I (Jesus) have come that you may have LIFE — FULL abundant life!” He was talking about this lifetime.
  • I NEED GOD TO HELP ME LOVE GOD and if I need His help to love Him it would stand to reason I need Him to love others: who are perfectly fault-filled…like you and I.

Excerpts taken from Crazy Love by Francis Chan; further comments written by Colleen Woodruff.

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

Rethinking 

Hank isn’t changing. He is a cranky guy. He has been cranky his whole life, and not just about church. He does not effectively know how to love his wife, his children cannot relate to him, and He has no joy. He’s been going to church his whole life — 60 years and nobody is surprised. Nobody in the church is surprised that he stays cranky year after year. No one is particularly bothered by it. It is as if we expect it — that’s just Hank. Nobody is expecting him to be more like Jesus year after year. Yet the Bible does expect it. The writer of Hebrews offers the following challenge:

“You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. And a person who is living on milk isn’t very far along in the Christian Life and doesn’t know much about doing what is right” Hebrews 5:12-13 NLT

The Greek term used in the New Testament for disciple is ‘mathetes’, which simply means “learner.”

As Bill Hull has written, the wrong question for the church is: How many people are present? The right question is: What are these people like?

After people become Christians, the goal is for them not only to learn how to live like Christ, but to actually live like Christ. This involves nothing less than radical life change. If this is not happening, then discipleship is not happening, and rethinking must take place.

Excerpt taken from Rethinking the Church by James Emery White [pg 66-67]

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

Do you know your Jesus?

the Strength to Obey

Obedience.

This word means many things to different people: for some it is a scary even dirty word, while others totally disregard it in any form, while others struggle with it but do sincerely try.

  • Obedience isn’t to be feared if it is given, asked, taken, followed, submitted too through the thoughtful, loving, directed guidelines of Scripture.
  • Obedience is one of the foundational virtues that Jesus forms in those He calls. He gives us the strength to obey as we make the choice to obey.
  • Obedience is one of the chief ways we demonstrate our love for God. Not singing Christian songs. Not going to church services. Not having quiet times. Not taking mission trips or doing loving things for others. Yes, yes, yes, all of these are fabulous, needed things –you should be singing to your Lord for that is one way you can give Him worship. You should be active in your local church, for that is where you use your God-given talent(s). You should be having daily devotions/quiet time alone with your Lord, for without that time with Him, how will you grow? Taking missions trips will change your life forever (spiritually and mentally for you see more than yourself, your needs, your world, and you see God, His people and souls that need Him)! We should be loving others — to our brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as loving souls so much that we tell them about our incredible Savior so that they may know Him too! But do you hear what Jesus said:

“If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15).

  • Don’t you see?
  • If you love HIM first and foremost all those other things fall into place. (the small list above for example)

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and (and then) all these things shall be added into you” (Matt. 6:33).

Our list isn’t finished yet…

  • Some, in our finite beings, have chosen to accept, believe, and trust wholeheartedly what biblical obedience is; what it looks like, and how it is to be given or asked. Not because they think they are super spiritual but because they have chosen before God that despite what their flesh tells them, despite what they were falsely taught (unknowingly and knowing), how they feel, or what has happened to them in the past, God’s way is the only perfect way. God knows what He is talking about, God is God, therefore, obedience to Christ to non negotiable. He is Truth!

Obedience in Christ brings freedom.

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

Naps: Biblical or Not? 

This was just to great not to share. I saw this on a friend’s Facebook page today and I died laughing. Oh how good laughter is to the soul {Proverbs 17:22}.

See…NAPS ARE BIBLICAL! Aren’t we to be putting-on Christ? 🤗

Hope you have a smile on your face! Have a blessed day friend,

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

a thought to consider…

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

Unlimited God

Thank you Lord!

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

God Said it, BUT…

God said it. Written words printed in red and black.

Life giving words.

But, does that settle it?

  • We say these words so flippedly but often we mean, “God said it, but I’ll pick what I what to follow from the Bible.”
  • Or “God said it, but I have a better answer or opinion God.”

➡Proverbs 23:6-8 says, “Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies; for as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, and waste your compliments.” (nasb)

  • This “wicked man” also means, evil man or stingy; for he/she is like one who is inwardly calculating (Prov. 28:22).
  • As “he thinks…so he is” has the meaning of reckoning in his soul; his/her behavior, one who manipulates.
  • “Not with you” means this person (the wicked man/women) is begrudging the cost.
  • “Compliments” = don’t waste your pleasant words.

➡Psalm 114:4 says, “Do not incline my heart [consent to or tolerate] any evil thing, or to practice deeds of wickedness with men who plan and do evil; and let me not eat of their delicacies [be tempted by their gain].” (amp)

➡Proverbs 26:24-28 states,

Here are two over versions for our study:

CEB– Hateful people mislead with their lips,

  • keeping their deception within. Though they speak graciously, don’t believe them, for seven horrible things are in their heart. They may cover their hatred with trickery, but their evil will be revealed in public. Those who dig a pit will fall in it; those who roll a stone will have it turn back on them. A lying tongue hates those it crushes; a flattering mouth causes destruction.
  • AMP– He who hates, disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit in his heart. When he speaks graciously and kindly [to conceal his malice], do not trust him, For seven abominations are in his heart. Though his hatred covers itself with guile and deceit, His malevolence will be revealed openly before the assembly. Whoever digs a pit [for another man’s feet] will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone [up a hill to do mischief], it will come back on him. A lying tongue hates those it wounds and crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.

Either you are this man/woman or not.

  • We could make the arguments that we all struggle with sin; that we are on this side of Glory, but are we not to be entering into His rest NOW?
  • Are we not to be becoming “holy for He is holy” NOW?
  • Are we not to transformed into newness of life, NOW?
  • Weren’t we transformed into a new creature the second we accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior?

Jesus Christ isn’t fire insurance. Jesus Christ is this life NOW and in the life to come!

  • My friend, if you are a Child of God, saved by His undeserving grace yet freely given His amazing loving grace called salvation, we are NOT to be this “wicked one.”
  • We ought not to be reigning (living) in our flesh and glorying it. This is contrary to God’s perfect law, will.

How are you doing today, believer? Who is sitting on the throne of your life? Who reigns? God has much bigger plans for you. Stop. Turn to Him and repent. Live the full life in Christ He has planned for you!

You will never regret the choice of Christ!

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

Christlikeness

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:1-13).

7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself (Philippians 3:7-21).

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

The Call to Obey is Worth it!

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

Kintsukuroi

You ask, what is Kintsukuroi?

Gold filled pot

The Japanese art of Kintsugi, or Kintsukuroi, repairs broken pottery with seams of gold or silver. This repairs the brokenness in a way that makes the object even more beautiful than it was prior to being broken.

The Process:

  • This first healing spot is always near the base, which is the strongest piece left after being broken.
  • Just like the ancient Japanese ceramic repair tradition, we carefully stand the largest broken piece in sand. Piece by piece we mend the ceramic and allow to dry. This time consuming process is critical and necessary for proper binding.
  • After all the pieces are in place, we accentuate the cracks and smooth them out. The final step is to fill the seams with gold flaked paint. Just like the human race, no two are alike.

What a symbolism of what Christ sees in us. What Christ can do in us…if we are only, but willing.

  • The pottery doesn’t fight back. It doesn’t reject its maker or handler, it simply allows. Allows itself to go through the process of time, pain, and rebuilding.
  • The pottery is actively conforming, be handled, shaped, filled into its usability.

Like the broken or cracked pottery, it is when we surrender “our pieces” to God then He can take our pieces, center us, put us together (ever so gently), then fill us in with Himself (His Word, which is purest gold) to be more beautiful than we began. The end results are more glorious than we can imagine.

  • How humbly shocking this thought is: God loves us that much; loves us much that He, Himself, will handle us personally –every detail.

My friend, are you grasping onto pieces of your life that only God should be holding? Caring for? Healing? Rebuilding? Filling in with Himself (gold)?

  • Let Him have them.
  • However “your pieces” came to become part of you, those pieces don’t scare God. His love for you hasn’t changed. God cares about your soul…you!
  • Allowing God to have “your pieces” fulfills His ability to complete His masterpiece in you! No one else can fulfill it, only you can! That’s the beauty…Christ in You. He is the only true filler.
  • As a child of God, you have a God-mission that only you can complete. Will you let Him create? Will you complete your mission?
  • You can through Him! Don’t allow “pieces” to stop you.
  • Allow Him to fill you and come forth as gold.

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

1 Peter 5:10 | Wonderful, Merciful Savior, Thank you!

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