I love morning. I love the stillness, the quiet, the promise and hope of something new. My favorite part of the morning is my uninterrupted time with Jesus. I long for it every morning. The sweet moments that I get to read my Bible and pray. The time I get to pour out my soul. All my hopes, hurts, concerns and joy. There is nothing like bearing my soul and not be judged for it at all. I talk He listens, He talks and I listen. There is nothing I long for more in this world. I am not telling you this so you think I am super spiritual. I am telling you this to give you hope. To give you a way to stay constantly connected. Do you get up everyday and spend time with Jesus. Do you plug yourself into the power source for your day?
You see I am not a great person by nature, but it is the One who lives in me that is great. I have learned over the years that my life line is Jesus. I am not a naturally patient person at all. Ask my family they are giving a huge amen for this statement. However, with the power of Jesus in my life I am becoming more and more patient every day. I have to plug in to the power source to even begin to have the power to be patient. Every morning when I get up and spend time with Jesus it gives me all the power I need to get through the day. It is the truth in my life, the peace, rest, assurance, joy and wisdom I need for my day. I would not have these things if I was not plugged in. It will do the same for you if you just plugged in.
The Word of God is alive and active. (Hebrews 4: 12) Jesus is the very bread of life. (John 6:35) When I wake up in the morning I am hungry so I eat breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is how you give your body what you need to get through the day. When I wake up my soul is hungry so I feast on the Word of God and get full. I am filled with Spirit and have all the power I need to get through my day.
Spending time with Jesus every morning gives us the power to work in the Spirit all day. My power as the day goes on sometimes dwindles. I lose some of my charge and start to not work as I was intended to. I may get a little short with people because the day is hammering me. I may decide to ignore someone because I remember how they have hurt me. I may just flat out say things that are not Christ like at all. When this happens I need to plug back in. It is like a cell phone, you plug it in to charge it. You want your battery on your phone to be full so you can use it without fear of it turning off because of the lack of power. If the battery is empty there is no power and you can not use the phone in the way it was intended to be used. With no power the phone will not do what it was created to do. When we spend time with Jesus we get all charged up, filled with Him and are able to perform the tasks for which he created us to do.
I get up in the morning to plug in to Jesus. He has all I need. He fills me, my battery to 100%. I find the more time I spend with him the more I want of Him. I don't want to be plugged in and unplugged and then plugged back in. I long desperately to be constantly plugged in. I want immediate access to power source at all times. You would never worry about your phone turning off if it was plugged in all the time. I don't want to worry about losing power I want to stay at 100%.
How do we stay at 100%. We stayed constantly connected. When you feel like you are running low turn up some worship music. Focus on Jesus and His love. When you feel like the day is just to much return to your Bible and let the Words sink into your soul. When the enemy comes at you to destroy you pray scripture out loud! The Word is Alive and active. Stay plugged in to the power source stay constantly connected.
I will be honest with you these things did not come easy for me. It takes discipline and sheer want to. I have always spent my mornings with Jesus but not connected all day. Honestly I allowed the enemy to tell me that too much Jesus would make people not want anything to do with me. I allowed the lie to seep into my life and thought if I had to much no one could relate and I couldn't advance God's kingdom that way. Oh what a lie and I am happy to say that Jesus broke the chain of that lie. Truth is you can never have enough Jesus. You only become unable to relate to people when you become like the Pharisees who think they know and are better than anyone else.
It's hard work to stay connected but over time it has become easier and actually just natural. Sometimes when life is hard I want to eat, but I stop and go to the bread of life instead. Sometimes when I don't seem to have the answers I need I go to Social Media instead of the one who has all the answers. I wonder if you are like that? Do you go to others sources for your needs to be met? I don't think I am alone at all. I do know that when I plug into the power source I long to stay there. I long to stay connected so I can have the power to get through my day and do the tasks He has called me to do.
What do you need today?
Rest? Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Life? The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. the words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life John 6:63
Truth? Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:32
Freedom? It is for freedom that Christ has set you free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
Peace? And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Comfort? Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the father of compassion and the God of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3
Wisdom? if any lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
He has all you need. Everything you need He has I promise. Do you get up in the morning and plug in? Do you stay plugged in? Start today, moment by moment, day by day. Take the first step and pray for God to help you take the next step. Proven fact, it takes 21 days to make a habit. I challenge you for the next 21 days to plug in. Plug in when you first wake up. Start with your eyes fixed on Jesus. I promise you there is nothing like it. I promise you after 21 days you will not plug in because you feel like you have to but because you want to. Plug in to the power source and stay constantly connected to Jesus. You will be so glad that you did.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Power In A Name
POWER IN A NAME
What's in a name? A couple constants and vowels put together to form a word. Our parents give us a name when we are born so the world has something to call us. Some names are precious and passed down in a family. Other names are chosen for what they mean, or because our parents just liked it. Personally I am glad we are not named like the Smurfs who get there names from their traits. I fear my mother would have to name me Spastic. I like Melissa so much better.
There is one name that has such great power in it. A name that is above all names, that at the sound of it every knee will bow and tongue confess that he is Jesus Christ our Lord. (Philippians 2:9-11) A name that all you need to do is call on it and you will be saved. There is power in the name of Jesus.
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 2:21
JESUS, when you call on his name and believe in it with all that you are, you will be saved! He is the only way to salvation. He is the way, the truth and the life. (John 14:6) There is power in the name of Jesus.
I was challenged to put that to the test through the books I had been reading and my personal Bible Study. To call on his name in times of need and trouble. Not a huge time of prayer, which is great, but a simple Jesus when I didn't know what else to do. There are times in my life, I am afraid they happen often, when my emotions get the better of me and I can not remember all those scripture I have memorized. So I tried it, to just say Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus and I was going to use that power. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. I believe its not just for salvation but saved from every situation life throws at us. Every situation that threatens to rips us away from Jesus. I was bound and determined to use the Power of Jesus' name.
One day while trying to get homework finished, debating on when we could go outside, and if they really needed another snack I said, "JESUS, JESUS, JESUS." All three kids stopped and stared at me like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. I was shocked. They looked at me like they had never heard that name before. They all just stared at me. I am pretty sure they were thinking she has really gone crazy this time. They listened to rest of the afternoon, probably out of fear of another outburst. It worked or did it?
I tried a few more times and it just changed things for a little while. I was jut saying Jesus to say it and not believing in what I was saying. It was a distraction and a means to get what I wanted. We often do things and expect God to work for us when we get something out of it. That's not how it works. He loves us and absolutely wants great things for us but he wants us to believe. There is power in the name of Jesus but we need to believe. Believe that at his name every knee will bow. Believe that there are angels in heaven right now singing day and night "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God all mighty. Who was and is and is to come." (Revelation 4:8) Believe that when you call on his name you will be saved. We must BELIEVE there is power in his name.
With a contrite heart I was determined to trust in the name of the Lord.
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10)
That trust was put to test rather quickly. It had been a long day. The kind of day were nothing disastrous happened but everything seemed to go wrong. It was at the end of the day and I was at the end of my rope and my sweet 4 year old was at her strong willed worst. As you can guess there was about to be a major explosion. There would be no fireworks because they are beautiful and what was about to happen was going to be gruesome.
It was bath time and I filled the tub to just the right level and temperature. Well at least I thought so. My sweet little one hopped in the tub and screamed at the top of her lungs, "It's too hot!" I rushed over plunged my hand in the water to find out the water was LUKEWARM! I calmly told her to sit down and take a bath. She not so calmly told me no and it was still hot. I calmly asked her to sit down and even added in a please. I guess the please made her mad because she screamed a little louder that it was too hot. The water may not have been hot but this momma was passed hot. I closed my eyes and sang with belief
"Let it be Jesus, the first name that I call.
Let it be Jesus, my song inside the storm."
As I sang she started crying and telling me she couldn't sit down because the water was to hot. I looked at her and sang
"I'll never need another.
For me to live is Christ, For me to live is Christ."
Then in that moment she grabbed her heart and closed her eyes and sang
"God I breath your name above everything
Let it be, Let it be Jesus."
We smiled at each other and she sat down and finished her bath. Eric was cracking up laughing in the next room. He had been cleaning up her room and heard the entire thing. I couldn't help but smile. Sure she needed to be corrected but in that moment if I would have it would have been in all the wrong way. I needed Jesus in that moment to save me from myself. I called on him and he showed up in POWER. Right there in my bathroom. His presence was thicker than the steam and thicker than my emotions. I called his name and he showed up. What could have turned into a nasty side of me turned into a moment of showing me sweet baby what happens when we breath God's name over everything. He shows up because there is power in the name of Jesus. I smiled too because I knew Jesus was smiling down at the two of us.
Jesus' namehas power. His name is a strong tower, a fortress, a refuge for us to run to and be safe. (Proverbs 18:10) When we call on his name we are saved. Speak it today. Speak his name and believe in it. Speak his name when you are feeling down. Speak his name when you feel like everything is going wrong. Speak his name when you feel like you just may go right back to that cycle of sin. Speak his name when you feel like your worst self. Speak his name there is Power in the name of Jesus. Try it today and believe it I promise he will show up.
*Let it be Jesus is sung by Christy Nockels and the Passion band. You should listen to it. Its amazing.*
What's in a name? A couple constants and vowels put together to form a word. Our parents give us a name when we are born so the world has something to call us. Some names are precious and passed down in a family. Other names are chosen for what they mean, or because our parents just liked it. Personally I am glad we are not named like the Smurfs who get there names from their traits. I fear my mother would have to name me Spastic. I like Melissa so much better.
There is one name that has such great power in it. A name that is above all names, that at the sound of it every knee will bow and tongue confess that he is Jesus Christ our Lord. (Philippians 2:9-11) A name that all you need to do is call on it and you will be saved. There is power in the name of Jesus.
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 2:21
JESUS, when you call on his name and believe in it with all that you are, you will be saved! He is the only way to salvation. He is the way, the truth and the life. (John 14:6) There is power in the name of Jesus.
I was challenged to put that to the test through the books I had been reading and my personal Bible Study. To call on his name in times of need and trouble. Not a huge time of prayer, which is great, but a simple Jesus when I didn't know what else to do. There are times in my life, I am afraid they happen often, when my emotions get the better of me and I can not remember all those scripture I have memorized. So I tried it, to just say Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus and I was going to use that power. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. I believe its not just for salvation but saved from every situation life throws at us. Every situation that threatens to rips us away from Jesus. I was bound and determined to use the Power of Jesus' name.
One day while trying to get homework finished, debating on when we could go outside, and if they really needed another snack I said, "JESUS, JESUS, JESUS." All three kids stopped and stared at me like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. I was shocked. They looked at me like they had never heard that name before. They all just stared at me. I am pretty sure they were thinking she has really gone crazy this time. They listened to rest of the afternoon, probably out of fear of another outburst. It worked or did it?
I tried a few more times and it just changed things for a little while. I was jut saying Jesus to say it and not believing in what I was saying. It was a distraction and a means to get what I wanted. We often do things and expect God to work for us when we get something out of it. That's not how it works. He loves us and absolutely wants great things for us but he wants us to believe. There is power in the name of Jesus but we need to believe. Believe that at his name every knee will bow. Believe that there are angels in heaven right now singing day and night "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God all mighty. Who was and is and is to come." (Revelation 4:8) Believe that when you call on his name you will be saved. We must BELIEVE there is power in his name.
With a contrite heart I was determined to trust in the name of the Lord.
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10)
That trust was put to test rather quickly. It had been a long day. The kind of day were nothing disastrous happened but everything seemed to go wrong. It was at the end of the day and I was at the end of my rope and my sweet 4 year old was at her strong willed worst. As you can guess there was about to be a major explosion. There would be no fireworks because they are beautiful and what was about to happen was going to be gruesome.
It was bath time and I filled the tub to just the right level and temperature. Well at least I thought so. My sweet little one hopped in the tub and screamed at the top of her lungs, "It's too hot!" I rushed over plunged my hand in the water to find out the water was LUKEWARM! I calmly told her to sit down and take a bath. She not so calmly told me no and it was still hot. I calmly asked her to sit down and even added in a please. I guess the please made her mad because she screamed a little louder that it was too hot. The water may not have been hot but this momma was passed hot. I closed my eyes and sang with belief
"Let it be Jesus, the first name that I call.
Let it be Jesus, my song inside the storm."
As I sang she started crying and telling me she couldn't sit down because the water was to hot. I looked at her and sang
"I'll never need another.
For me to live is Christ, For me to live is Christ."
Then in that moment she grabbed her heart and closed her eyes and sang
"God I breath your name above everything
Let it be, Let it be Jesus."
We smiled at each other and she sat down and finished her bath. Eric was cracking up laughing in the next room. He had been cleaning up her room and heard the entire thing. I couldn't help but smile. Sure she needed to be corrected but in that moment if I would have it would have been in all the wrong way. I needed Jesus in that moment to save me from myself. I called on him and he showed up in POWER. Right there in my bathroom. His presence was thicker than the steam and thicker than my emotions. I called his name and he showed up. What could have turned into a nasty side of me turned into a moment of showing me sweet baby what happens when we breath God's name over everything. He shows up because there is power in the name of Jesus. I smiled too because I knew Jesus was smiling down at the two of us.
Jesus' namehas power. His name is a strong tower, a fortress, a refuge for us to run to and be safe. (Proverbs 18:10) When we call on his name we are saved. Speak it today. Speak his name and believe in it. Speak his name when you are feeling down. Speak his name when you feel like everything is going wrong. Speak his name when you feel like you just may go right back to that cycle of sin. Speak his name when you feel like your worst self. Speak his name there is Power in the name of Jesus. Try it today and believe it I promise he will show up.
*Let it be Jesus is sung by Christy Nockels and the Passion band. You should listen to it. Its amazing.*
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