Free AND Independent

Today is the second day of school for my two boys and Uriah (my 6 year old) got up bright and early. It's not so much that he's excited about going to school as much as he's excited to ride his bike to school! You see he recently learned to do this about a month ago. Even though our older son Jalen (who's 7) knew how to ride his bike last year, Uriah didn't, so they both walked to and from school. However, it's a new day! Uriah's always been free to ride his bike, but he did not have the ability to exercise that right. However, now that Uriah can actually ride his bike, he's ready to exercise his new independence.

I live in the great USA and we have many freedoms and rights that people around the world do not. For example, the right to worship is one of them. However, even though many Americans are "free" to worship, they don't exercise that right. To take this even further, Jesus died on the cross to give us freedom from the land of sin, but yet some choose NOT to receive Him and be independent from that dictatorship. Therefore, without Jesus, you may have the right to freedom but not the ability to leave the land of sin.

One thing God showed through my son this morning is that as a Christian, I need to be excited about exercising my freedom of independence from sin. It's mine and I don't want to take it for granted. What about you? Are you a believer exercising your right of independence? If so, be excited about it! Read these following verses out loud as a reminder to yourself that you not only have the right to freedom, but you're blessed to exercise your independence!

Romans 6:1-3 (The Message) “So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we’ve left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn’t you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—anew life in a new land!”

6:12-14 (The Message) “That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day. Don’t even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember,you’ve been raised from the dead!—into God’s way of doing things. Sin can’t tell you how to live. After all, you’re not living under that old tyranny any longer. You’re living in the freedom of God.”

Blessed in the land of the free in the US and in Jesus!!

The Conception of a Dream

For years I knew that God wanted me to write a book. It was one of those dreams that was in me but it wasn't very pressing. I knew that someday, somehow, someway, God would give me more direction. Well, last year after our Corpus Christi Living the Life Women's Conference, the book idea was birthed from my message. The dream was conceived. I now knew what I was to write about!

As with any pregnancy, there is a nine month preparation period. Well, since last year's conference, life has been very busy and crazy (as it always is!), but with determined vigor and focused efforts, I made myself sit down and write. I'll be honest with you, it wasn't easy. At times I was so tired that I wondered whether I had anything good to say. At other times, I felt like I didn't have words at all. However, when it is GOD who conceives something in you, that dream comes from Him and so does the inspiration and motivation to bring it to pass. I endured my trying trimesters and kept on writing.

Due to unexpected life circumstances, it delayed me writing my book by my deadline. It was now mid June and as a result, I had to find a different editor and publisher FAST, not to mention additional monies! I was beside myself. I just prayed and asked God for His intervention. I was amazed at how within a two day period, God provided EVERYTHING I needed. Yes, within two days!! I received it as God's divine provision and affirmation that my book was His will and more than that, His message.

I now pause to ask, "So what about you? Has God conceived something in you?" I pray that the Lord will give you clarity, strength, determination and provision to help you bring it to fruition. Don't give up on your dreams! Yes, life throws us curve balls and we may be detoured or delayed, but choose to be determined and focused as you trust Him who gave you the dream to begin with. After all, it is still His dream. He just chose you to be the carrier. He is the one who brings it to pass!

Well, I'm eight months pregnant with "Living it Up! Four Lifestyle Keys to Help You Live the Life Jesus Came to Give" and my baby will soon be birthed in September. I'm a happy and blessed momma to be!! My greatest desire and prayer is that my book will help countless of believers (or even nonbelievers!) to grow in their personal relationship with God and live the life Jesus came to give in greater measure.

My prayer for you is that God will continue to develop in you His dream (or dreams) and that the pregnancy process will birth His destiny in your life in amazing ways! AMEN.

Draw Me Nearer!

As some of you may remember, our theme for last year’s Corpus Christi conference was “Reaching Higher” and our song was inspired by the woman with the issue of blood who pressed through the crowd to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. Well, this year, our conference theme is “Draw Me Nearer” and our new theme song was inspired by another woman found in the Bible.

As I was writing the lyrics for our new song, the Holy Spirit showed me a picture of Mary, the sister of Martha. Remember them? Imagine with me. Martha is frantically going back and forth from the kitchen to serve Jesus and whoever else was there. After all, this was her house and she was wanting to be a proper host. Then, out of nowhere, Mary decides to take a break to sit at Jesus’ feet. Well, as we know, Martha didn’t quite like that, but Jesus quickly reminded Martha that Mary had chosen the best part.

I don’t know about you, but I can probably relate most to Martha as there are always things to do, places to go and people to see. However, I am reminded by the Holy Spirit (almost on a daily basis!) that I need to slow down and spend some time before my Master and choose the best part. These two women loved Jesus. Martha was a servant. Mary was a worshiper and guess what? We can be both.

As you read the lyrics to our conference theme song this year below, I ask you to read them out loud and make it your prayer today. May we be reminded of Mary and how like her, we too need to take time out of our busy schedules to be still before our Lord and cry out to Him, “Draw Me Nearer!”

May I sit at Your feet
Let this world fade away
As You sing over me
With the unforced rhythms of Your grace

May I gaze into Your eyes
Will You speak life to me
Let Your words pierce my heart
May they bring me to my knees

Draw me nearer, closer to You
Take me deeper in the shelter of Your hiding place
Pull me further into the depths of Your endless love
Draw me nearer in the mysteries of
the mysteries of You

I cry holy cause Your worthy
I cry holy cause Your worthy
I cry holy cause Your worthy
I cry holy cause Your worthy