The Joy Of The Lord Is Your Strength

If you've lived long enough in this world, you know that the world and the people in this world are great at sucking out the joy in you. So when this happens, where do you draw your joy from? There is only one source of joy that will leave you stronger, and that is of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is your strength.

There I was laying on my bed, crying endlessly. I'd stop crying for a couple of minutes, but then the thought of the hurt would come back again and force more tears out of me. 

How could such a good and loving person that I depended on lead me to where I was? Instead of that person leaving me stronger, I found myself weaker with no joy at all. I prayed and asked God for words that would heal my wounded heart. It was at that moment when I heard the words "the joy of the Lord is your strength". 

What a beautiful truth that was. A truth that I desperately needed and maybe a truth that you need to hear as well. 

Maybe you've found yourself pondering at the thought of why good things in this world just don't seem to leave you stronger or fill you with joy. When we rely on things of this world to be our source of joy, it robs us of the very joy we wanted in this first place. Only God was made to fuel us with joy to strengthen us through the imperfections of people and life. 

This world was made to rob our joy, but the Lord was made to fill our joy. 

Nehemiah 8:10 says, "...This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." God knew that this world would only rob us of all joy and peace, which is why he reminds us to rely on his joy as our strength. God's joy will never fail and will always leave us stronger. 

Immerse yourself in God's truth and presence during your broken times and you will find yourself filled with joy that will only leave you stronger. God's joy has the power to move us beyond our pains, worries, doubts, and fears. 

God made this day for you to see his beauty and be filled with joy. He didn't make this day for you to be filled with sorrow and hurt. Psalms 118:24 says, "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Don't let satan rob you of the joy that God originally intended for you to experience this day. Rejoice because the Lord has given you this day to glorify him. 

Do you find yourself being robbed of joy? If the answer is yes, then ask yourself, where are you drawing your strength from? Who are you relying on for joy? If the answer isn't God, then know that whatever you are depending on will leave you with temporary joy. You will find yourself chasing after joy when God intended for his joy to chase after you.

Chasing after joy will not leave you stronger, but rather tired and weak. That's where I found myself at - chasing after joy through the things of this world. However, God wants you and me to draw joy from him because he desires to pour out his joy on us. You don't have to chase after joy because God wants to constantly fill you with his joy. Don't let anything rob you of the joy of today that the Lord has made. So remember, the joy of the Lord is your strength. 

Getting Help From The Lord

"Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me." Psalm 30:2

A lot of us are quick to point our fingers to God when things are tough and no sense of help is coming our way. Where is the God who is supposed to help us? How do we get help from God? 

Instead of making accusations that he isn't real or that he isn't helping, have you tried calling on him as if he's your only hope? God will not help those who don't ask for his help. 

So how do we get from the Lord? By simply calling on him. 

Just as if you were to ask help from a lifeguard, school teacher, or even your family, it all starts with you making the request for help. A lifeguard won't come down to save you if you don't cry for help. 

The good news is, you have a God who wants to help you, save you, and be real to you, but you must first accept him and call for his help. God is not just a God - he's your loving father who cares for you and has abundant blessings for those who are ready to accept it. 

The first step to getting help from God is to acknowledge that you are God's and God is yours.

  The order of psalm 30:2 is worth noting. David first says "Lord my God", then he calls on God for help, and then God healed him. For God to help you, you must first call for his help. But before you can call on God for help you must believe that you belong to God that he is for you. God loves you and is the only one who can save you.

God will never neglect the call of his children. Peter, a disciple of Jesus who was drowning in the sea cried out to Jesus and Jesus immediately saved him. Matthew 14:30-31 says, "..Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him."

Just as Jesus reached out his hand to help Peter, he also wants to offer his hand to help you. Call on God and you will find his helping hand in your life. 

Call upon the Lord because he is strong enough to save. 

Romans 10:13 says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Call on your heavenly father because he longs to be there for you. Only God can be your savior.

Get help from the Lord. 

Your Past Doesn't Have To Hurt You

We all have a past and a story. We may be proud of some stories, while other stories we may be shameful of. We try to forget the hurt of our bad past by hiding it in the bottom pile of our memories, however, your past doesn’t have to hurt you. 

I was worshipping and thanking God for the opportunity I had to share my clothing line and blog at a conference not too long ago. In the middle of my worship and praise, God reminded me of my past. 

A past that once hurt me, broke me and left me to shame. 

But to my surprise, as I was reminded of my past, it no longer hurt me but brought tears of joy down my eyes. Remembering my past reminded me of how much God loved me because I couldn't have been where I am today without his love and grace. 

Flashes of memories of what God has done for me in the past 2 years started to come in my mind. It was at that moment when I saw a loving father reach out to a lost girl to help her find her way out; bringing people into her life that she needed to have, putting a passion in her heart for God's purpose, and opening doors to make it happen. That lost girl was me and I could only have what I have today because of a loving father.

You too have a loving father who longs to transform your life into something beautiful. It doesn't matter who you were or what you did - God's love has the power to change your past that once hurt you to heal you. 

Ephesians 2:3-4 says, "All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh..we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ..it is by grace you have been saved." God loves you so much that your past doesn't even determine his love for you. He saved you not because you were worthy of saving, but because of his grace and love for you. 

You have the opportunity to have a fresh new start and live the life to the fullest through Jesus. God's hands are open, but you must give up your life to the hands of God for him to change your life. God has the power to use your shameful past for his glory. God can turn your pain into gain, your shame into his fame. 

Paul, an apostle of God who wrote most of the New Testament of the Bible had a bad past. He persecuted the church of God and killed many believers of Jesus. Despite all of this, God called him out to carry the gospel of Christ and to be the light to the world. Paul says in Galatians 1:15 "But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace..to reveal his son in me so that I might preach him.."

Just as God called Paul, he also calls you. God wants to transform your hurtful past into a beautiful story that will testify of his goodness. God wants your past that used to hurt you to now remind you of his love for you. 

God's love is what changed me, and it's his love that will change people. 

My past that once hurt me now heals me. My past now only reminds me of God's greater love and grace upon my life. Satan wants us to stay bounded by our past and will plant lies in our head that we can only be what we are. But God wants us to know that he has the power to use what once harmed us to bring light and hope to the lost - to further his kingdom here on earth. 

 Your bad past will not invalidate God from using you. 

1 Peter 2:9 says, "But you are a chosen people..God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." God went out of his way to pull you from the dark into his light. God is calling you to a greater life full of purpose that will leave an eternal impact to people. Will you answer to his call? Will you walk into the light he has prepared for you? God has plans to use you - everything you are including the good and the bad. So remember, your past doesn't have to hurt you. 

It's Not All About You

We live in a world that encourages us to have an "it's all about me" mindset. While living a life that's all about you and making decisions that only revolve around you may not seem bad, it will not open the way for you to live life to the fullest. The best of life can only be experienced when it's not all about you. 

When life gets busy, it can become very easy to be preoccupied with your own needs and live in your own bubble. That's where I found myself at. 

With a busy work schedule, bible classes, and my own personal projects going on, my mind was preoccupied with my own life and the things I needed to do. Finally, the weekend had come and I was able to attend the Propel Women's conference. 

One of the speakers there said something that touched me, and it was at that moment when God reminded me of a person who I had been praying for, but recently stopped because I was too busy with my own life. God poured a heavy burden on my heart for that person and I wished I had invited that person to the conference with me because I knew she would really need it. 

If only I had opened my heart and mind outside of my own world would I have remembered to pray for her and invite her to a conference that could have possibly impacted her life. 

Without me realizing, I had an all about me mindset and attitude. 

When our lives are focused only on ourselves, we blind ourselves from seeing the opportunities that God has to use us in this world. 

Living an all about you life stops you from living up to your full potential and purpose from God. Matthew 5:14 says, "You are the light of the world.."The verse doesn't say you are the light of your life, but the light of the world. We were created to shine in this dark world; to touch lives and point others to the hope of Jesus. 

Our purpose in life goes far beyond ourselves - our purpose is to be the light of the world. This world teaches us that we will have the best of life when we go after selfish ambition, but selfish ambition will only leave us empty and wanting more. Why do selfish desires leave us empty? Because God created us to be givers. True joy and fulfillment happen through serving others with the gifts God has given us. 

Our purpose in life is found in what we can give to others. 

Jesus said it himself that "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). God is not working towards making us perfect trophies for our own glory, but for his glory alone. When life becomes all about you, it draws you away from your true purpose and potential in life. Satan wants to keep your eyes on your own life so that you miss the potential and purpose you have in others' lives. 

Your calling will always revolve around others and not yourself. God is preparing you to be used to touch lives that only you were created to touch. He commissions each of us to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). We are all called to share the good news of Jesus to wherever God calls us to. 

Have you made life all about you? Will you open your heart and ask God where he wants you to go and to whom he wants you to share the gospel to? Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you into God's bigger plan for your life because it is only then that you can experience life to the fullest. True fulfillment lies in the investment of others, rather than ourselves. So remember, it's not all about you. 

What Are You Feeding Your Mind With?

In the face paced world we live in today, our minds are constantly exposed to more than hundreds of facts through social media, online avenues, and even the people we interact with daily. What thoughts and information are you choosing to absorb? It's important to watch what we feed our minds with because it has the power to impact our actions and set our directions. What are you feeding your mind with? 

Anxiety. Frustration. Anger. Those were the 3 things I found myself juggling with throughout the whole day. It was a busy week for me at work with many projects and deadlines coming up, and on top of that, I also had to prepare for my first Living Revelations booth at a conference that was coming up at the end of the week. 

The whole day I was complaining in my mind with how much work I had to do and kept repeating in my head that everything wasn't going to get finished in time. There, my road to anxiety started. From anxiety, I then became frustrated because things were not getting done the way I wanted it to be. Soon enough, my frustration grew to anger because someone who I had been working with started annoying me and nitpicking my work. 

When the day finally ended, I found myself restless and weak. 

I decided to open my devotional and spend some time with God. The first thing I read from my devotional was, "Our mind has the potential to take us away from where God wants us to be." It was at that moment when I realized that my current state of being weak and restless was not part of God's plan. 

Yes, God had opened doors for me to have a busy job for me to learn from and the opportunity to share my passion and calling through my blog, but none of that was created to leave me feeling frustrated, angry, and worried. 

Anxiety and frustration never come from God. I fed my own mind with negativity that led me to that state of restlessness. What we feed our mind with has the power to impact our actions and state of being. Everything starts from our mind. A simple secret thought may seem powerless, but it has the power to take control of our whole body. 

Our thoughts are what set our direction, and if we want to walk in the direction that God has set before us, we must feed our minds with the word of God and not with the negative thoughts that come from this world. 

Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may test and approve of God's will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will." The only way to see God's beautiful ways in our situations is by renewing our mind so that we can see from His perspective, and not our own. We can't always change our situation, but we can always change our perspective. 

To renew our mind will require us to feed our mind with good food, the word of God. What we feed our mind will determine the health of our emotional and spiritual state. Just as eating junk food will make us feel sick, so will feeding our minds with negative thoughts make us feel weak. To be strong we must eat healthily, and to have a healthy mind we must feed our minds with healthy thoughts. 

Feeding your mind with God's truth will keep you strong. 

We all want to be happy and full of joy, so how do we become this in a world that was made to suck out all of our energy? By feeding our mind with healthy thoughts. Philippians 4:8 says, "..whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think of such things." 

Do you find yourself stuck with anxiety, anger, worry, or depression? If yes, then maybe it's time to feed your mind with God's truth. Don't let Satan lie to you and tell you that there's no way of escaping these emotions in an unstable world because there is a way of escape, and it is only through the word of God. The fact that God loves you and has the best for you is enough to take you through the struggles with joy. So remember, what are you feeding your mind with?

Your Passion Has Purpose

We all have passions in life but many times, we put down our passion for jobs that seem more secure for our lives. It's easy to see our passions as hobbies or things of least importance, however, your passion was placed in your heart to be more than just a hobby to buy time. Your passion has purpose. 

Not too long ago I was given the opportunity to have a booth table for my blog and clothing line at a conference for college students and young adults.  I was excited because this conference was the perfect opportunity for me to share my burden and passion to help college students find their purpose and calling from God. 

I started to prepare what I was going to say and got everything all together. Finally, the day of the conference had come, but instead of feeling excited and ready, I was filled with fear and doubts. 

I began to doubt the whole purpose of my clothing line and started asking God, "What if my story and purpose doesn't resonate with anyone?" "What if I sound stupid and my passion to help others discover their calling from God was needless?"

Despite all these doubts, I chose to believe that my original intention to start this clothing line came from God and trusted that if he opened the door, then there was a purpose behind this all. And to my surprise, that was exactly what I found. 

Throughout the whole weekend of the conference, people came up to me telling me that they could relate to my story and really needed to hear that encouragement. It was at this moment when I realized that the passion that God had instilled in my heart had a purpose. God showed me that my purpose mattered and that there was a need out there for people to know they were made with a purpose from God. Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. I set you apart for a special work."

Satan tried to place lies in my mind telling me that the passions I had inside of me were useless to share to others. If Satan did that to me, then he will do the same to you. But I am here to testify that if you have a passion and burden for something in your heart, stick to it because God placed it in your heart for a purpose. 

The passions that God has placed in your heart was placed there to take you where you need to be to heal the broken. Don't ignore the passions that God has placed in your heart because your calling starts from there. 

Your calling starts with your passion. 

God placed that passion in your heart to take you to where he wants you to go - to the dark places where light needs to shine. 

Your calling from God will always start from the things you are passionate about. Paul, a disciple of Jesus is a great example. Paul's calling started from his passion to help his own people. In Romans 9:2 Paul says, "My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters." 

Moses is another great example. Before God used Moses to save the Hebrew slaves from Pharaoh, God first opened Moses's eyes to the hard life his people were going through and placed a burden in his heart to help his people. Exodus 2:11-12 says, "...Moses went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work." God wanted Moses to have compassion for what God was about to call him to do. 

Just as God placed a burden and passion in Moses's and Paul's heart before calling them into their purpose, so will he do with you. God will always call you to a purpose that you have a heart for and can relate with. Paul was called to serve his own people, the Jews because he himself was a Jew and could relate to them. Moses was a Hebrew and was called to serve the Hebrew slaves because he could relate to them. 

Whatever backgrounds or hardships you are coming from, know that it is happening for a reason and that God will use it to be a part of your calling. Your calling in life will always include sharing God's word and glory because we were all created to share his good news to the world in our own unique ways. 

What burdens is God placing in your heart? Are their people or groups of people you are feeling compassionate for? Where is your passion taking you? Don't ignore your God-give dreams and passions. God has placed certain burdens in your life to compel you to reach out and touch lives that only you could touch. The passions instilled in your heart were not placed there by coincidence but were placed there by purpose. So remember, your passion has purpose. 

Healed At The Feet Of Jesus

Matthew 15:30 "Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them." 

Where do you turn to when you've faced a dead end in your situation? Has your solution given you true healing and restoration? There is only one place to find healing and hope and that is at the feet of Jesus. 

There is power when we submit our lives to Jesus. Matthew 15 talks about how many who were blind, lame, and sick with no hope all ended up healed at the feet of Jesus. I'm sure the sick all tried everything they could to be healed but found that their only real hope was Jesus. 

You may not be physically blind, but are you feeling lost to what you should be doing in life? Blind from seeing a solution in your situation? You may not be physically crippled, but do you have a weakness or limitation in your life that is stopping you from doing what God wants you to do? Feeling crippled and weak from the struggles of life?

We may not be physically sick like the people in Matthew 15, but we can still relate to them because we all have some kind of brokenness in our lives that need healing. The good news is, we have a healer and that is Jesus. 

The greatest power you will ever find in this world is at the feet of Jesus. 

Healing happens at the feet of Jesus. It is when you lay everything down that Jesus will then take it and turn it around for your good. Jesus wants to heal you, but it starts with you making the first step to lay it all down at his feet. Give all your hopelessness to Jesus and he will start bringing miracles into your life. 

Just as Jesus was able to heal the blind, lame, and sick, so can he heal any of your shortcomings. Being weak and broken isn't bad news because you have a healer who can heal you.

  Be healed at the feet of Jesus. 

Prayer: 

Dear Lord, may my brokenness lead me to to the feet of Jesus. I surrender it all to you. 

Suffering Can Lead To Hope

1 Peter 4:13 "But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."

Suffering is not something we look forward too, but rather dread. However, God calls us to suffer and takes it a step further by asking us to rejoice in our sufferings. Why would God ask us to rejoice in our sufferings? Because our suffering can lead to hope. 

As much as suffering can seem like an unnecessary waste of time, it really is not. 

Your suffering has a purpose. God has a plan to use your suffering for His good. 

When we suffer in accordance with the will of God, the end result will always glorify God. Suffering for Christ is not like suffering from partaking in sin. The suffering that comes from partaking in sin leads to death, while the suffering that comes from partaking in Christ leads to life. 

Just as Jesus's suffering on the cross gave us salvation, so will our sufferings open the door of salvation for others' lives. If you are going through a hard time, persevere because your suffering will produce a testimony that will lead others to find the true life which is Jesus. 

Romans 5:3-4 says, "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope." Our sufferings were meant to give hope to the world. 

Jesus suffered so that we could have hope, and now he passes the duty along to you - to suffer for His glory.

Your suffering can lead to hope. 

No Hope Can Lead To Real Hope

We all need hope to preserve through the unknowns of life. Hope is the very essence that keeps society going. But what happens when you've lost all the hope you had in this world? Many of us believe that no hope leads to a dead end, but no hope can lead to real hope. 

A perfect example that shows how no hope can lead to real hope is the story of the lame man whom Jesus had encountered in Jerusalem.  Jesus went to visit a pool in Jerusalem that many of the disabled people would go to lie in for healing. There he met the lame man who had been sick for 38 years. Jesus asked him, "Do you want to get well?" (John 5:6). 

The lame man answered, "I have no one to help me into the pool..while I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." (John 5:7). Now, what was the lame man's answer to Jesus's question? His answer was not a plain yes, but was better than a yes. 

His answer was a yes with an understanding that he had no other hope in this world to be healed.

The lame man was at a point where he no longer had hope that anything in this world could heal him, but it was his lack of hope that led him to completely surrender to Jesus. Jesus was his only hope left, and it was at the point of the lame man's surrender that Jesus healed him. Jesus told him to get up and walk, and by the power of God, he walked. 

The lame man's no hope led him to find real hope, which was Jesus. The lame man knew he couldn't bet on the pool to heal him. How about you? Are you still betting on other things in this world other than Jesus to be your hope? Jesus can't be your hope until he becomes your only hope. It's when you understand that you've got nothing else in this world to hold on to that Jesus can then start to do miracles in your life. 

The only way to find real hope in Jesus is to acknowledge that there is no other hope than Jesus. 

The lame man was in a perfect condition to accept Jesus and his blessing because he knew he had no other hope. If you find yourself like the lame with no hope, don't be discouraged because that is the exact heart that God is looking for. He is looking for those who understand that this world has no real hope. God wants to show you that hope can only be found in Jesus. 

Hebrews 6:19 says, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.." No matter how bad your circumstances may seem, God's hope will hold you still. His anchor of hope is so strong that no storm can shake it. Jesus wants to show you what real hope is, will you surrender all else and hold on to him?

If you are still betting on something else to be your savior, then you will never meet the real savior of the world who is Jesus. If you're still hoping on your job to give you assurance in life, or your family to provide all you need, then you will never be healed from the worries of life. 

Jesus is the only one who can heal you from all the worries and doubts that life brings. Jesus is asking you the same question he asked the lame man: Do you want to get well? Jesus wants to heal you, but you must be willing to believe that he is your only healer. Let him be the foundation that you stand on, and you can be sure that you will never be shaken. Isaiah 28:16 says, "..whoever believes need never be shaken."

Accept Jesus into your life, and you will see him become more real in your life. He wants you to have faith in him through the good and bad. You can be sure that with Jesus, the end will always be good. Embrace your brokenness, because all that it is doing is leading you to your true healer, Jesus. So remember, no hope can lead to real hope. 

Finding True Beauty In Life

There are a lot of things in this world that we would call beautiful. But if we take a deeper look to the things that already capture our hearts, we will find that there is a greater beauty that exists beyond what we see. It's the very thing that we can't see with our eyes that is the true beauty of life. Have you found true beauty in life?

For the past 6 weeks, I have been working on my Christian clothing line and store website. The project was fun, and best of all, I had a message that I wanted to share to young women through my clothing line. However, as much fun this all was, the process was definitely not fun.

Issues came up one after another and I was dying to finish up. 

Finally, after going through 3 web developers and countless shirt designs, my first shirt and store website was complete! I found myself staring at my completed finished work filled with joy. How beautiful was this all! Although all of that was beautiful, what really touched my heart was knowing that God put this all together from day one. 

Don't get me wrong, seeing my shirt and store website complete brings me great joy, but I realize that the true beauty is the God who was behind it all. From receiving the inspiration for my clothing line, to meeting a photographer who was willing to take pictures for me for free, and to meeting an illustrator who was able to put my vision on paper, all of this I credit to God. 

Life becomes more beautiful when we realize that behind it all is the Lord at work. 

David in the bible was a man who knew what true beauty was in life. Psalm 27:4 says, "One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord.." It's amazing to see that out of all the things that David could ask God for, he only asked to dwell with the Lord and to gaze at his beauty. 

David knew that everything beautiful and wonderful in life all led back to God himself. He didn't talk about gazing at the things of this world because he knew that behind it all was his beautiful creator, God. The beautiful sky we see everyday and the green pastures that surround us are all beautiful, but they all point back to the almighty God who created it all. 

It's not the very things of this world that should intrigue us, but the almighty power of God at work. God has the ability to do anything; to turn brokenness into beauty, to make the weak strong, and to make what is impossible possible. 

This is what true beauty is - that a God with such sovereignty and power would love us and put so much attention on us, even when we least deserve it. The job promotion you got may have been great, but knowing that God gave it to you when you didn't deserve it is the beautiful part. Your friend who's lived a change life may be beautiful,  but knowing that God was able to change someone who was doomed for destruction is what touches lives. When we look closely at our lives, we will find the true beauty of life points back to God.

I was touched with my clothing line and store website because I knew that it all came from God. Even though I am so undeserving, God is still willing to use me and make it all happen for his glory. 

Have you found the invisible yet real beauty of God in your life? God wants to show you his beauty because he loves you. He wants to show you who he is and be real in your life - will you let him? The more you spend time with God and realize how much you need him, the more you will start to see his beauty in your life. Reflect on what God is doing and wanting to do in your life, and know that God is not finished with your life yet. He has more amazing plans for you that is yet to come. So remember, God is the true beauty in life.

- Check out my new shirt and read the purpose behind it at livingrevelations.com/shop -

Seeing God's Beautiful Ways

We all hear about how amazing God's ways are, but have you seen it in your own life? Have you seen the beautiful outcome of following God? God's desire is to show you how beautiful he is and his ways are in your life. 

There was a time in my own life when I couldn't see the beauty of God's way. I would hear other people talk about how God did this and that for them, but I just couldn't see it in my own life. 

It was not that God was not moving in my own life - the problem was I was not letting God move in my life. 

A lot of us (including myself) complain about not seeing God's miraculous ways in our lives, but it is because we don't give God's way a chance. Doing things our way will not open the way for us to see God's way.

To see God's way starts with us surrendering our lives and accepting Jesus as our Lord. We cannot accept Jesus and still give in to our fleshly desires. It's one or the other; either God's way or our way. Satan will try to place lies in our mind telling us that we can still experience the fullness of Christ even with living the way we want to live. But the truth is, the only way to experience Christ to the fullest is to give our fullest to God. 

Accepting Jesus means we give ourselves away in exchange for Jesus. 

We cannot accept Jesus and still choose to live our own lives. To accept Jesus means we agree that he is better than us. 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, "..For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" We are the darkness, and Jesus is the light. Our sinful nature and Christ's holy nature cannot be in harmony. One must win over the other. 

It is when we truly accept Jesus that we can then see his beautiful will and plan in our lives. Accepting Jesus is a choice we have to make everyday. Our flesh and the Holy Spirit are in constant battle because we are still living in the sinful nature of our bodies. Therefore, we have to make the decision to die to ourselves daily. 

Romans 12:1-2 says, "..offer your bodies as a living sacrifice..then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will." What a beautiful promise this is, that when we sacrifice our life and follow God's way, he promises a good and perfect outcome for us.

God wants to show you the beauty of his ways, will you choose to let go of your ways and accept his ways no matter the cost? There will be days when you don't feel like following God's ways, but remember that his ways are guaranteed to end with a good result. 

Just recently I felt lazy to do the ministry God has called me to do. But I am glad that I obeyed and followed through because I was able to see God use me to touch a girl's life and to plant a seed of truth into her heart. I realized that I accepting Jesus is a choice I have to make everyday. I have to say no to myself and yes to God daily. 

If I had not obeyed God's way, I would never have been able to see God's beautiful ability to use me to change someone's life. 

God wants to show his beautiful ways in your life, will you let him? Will you take his invitation to take over your life? Accepting Jesus has a cost, and that cost is you. But it is when you give yourself up that you can then see the beauty of his ways. So remember, see God's beautiful ways in your life. 

Getting Past The "Good" Life

Many of us were were raised with basic morals; to treat others with respect and how you would want to be treated. But Jesus took living the good life a step further. He showed us that there is so much more available to us when we get past living the good life.

The problem with focusing on doing good is that doing good can only go so far.

I definitely saw that happening in my own life.

I was focused on living a "good" life that even when I was hurt and angry at others, I would still force myself to do nice things just for the sake of looking nice and loving.

I asked God, "How is it wrong for me to show love and kindness to others even though deep down I know it's forced?" I mean, I was still living a good life right?

But God's answer to me was simple and direct: That's what a Pharisee does - they do for the sake of doing, and nothing good comes out from it.

It was at that moment when I realized that what I was doing may have looked good, but it wasn't producing any real goodness to my life and anyone else's life.

1 Corinthians 13:3 says, "If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not love, I gain nothing." We give to the poor and do good things because we want to show love to others, but if our intention of giving is just to look like we are loving, then we have gained nothing except a false representation of love.

Why spend all our time and efforts for nothing? Yes, you are living a good life when you give to others regardless of what you may feel inside, but you definitely are not living a Godly life.

God calls us to be Christ-like; to love with no boundaries. 

The problem with living a good life is that once someone does wrong to us, we are no longer obligated to love them. But when we live the Christ life, love no longer has any boundaries and we are still obligated to love.

In John 13:34, Jesus says, "A new command I give to you:..As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Jesus showed us what true love was, so we too are obligated to love others in that same way.

We are not called to live a good life, but to live Christ-like. Jesus was falsely accused, spat upon, and crucified, yet he still loved. In fact, his very last words were, "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do."

Jesus fulfilled his calling from God to show the world what true love is. God is also calling each of us to fulfill a greater purpose that goes beyond living a good life; that is to show others what true love is by displaying it in our own lives.

We tend to put love in a container labeled "good people", and hate in a container labeled "bad people". However, God wants love to be put in a container labeled "all people." Will you get past the good life and choose to live the Christ life? Will you answer to the greater call in your life?

God has made great plans to use your life, but that can only be fulfilled when you choose to make Christ real through your life. So remember, get past the good life and get to the Christ life.

What's Your Plan?

Life is like one giant puzzle that we all strive to figure out. We have big goals and dreams, but where do we start? How do we get from where we are now to what we want to become? How can we be sure that our plans will work out? What's your plan?

I don't know about you, but I'm the type of person who needs to plan things out. Whether it's about what I'm going to wear the next day or how my life will look like in 5 years, I'm need every hour of my life planned out.

I find it frustrating to go through life without a plan. But here's the big issue with that: My plan will not get me to where God wants me to be. 

For us to reach our God-given dreams, we must follow God's plan. However, God's plan is not like any typical plan that we would make. His plan doesn't always give us the details of what will happen tomorrow or what the next step will be.

God's plan is simply for us to obey him one step at a time. God might not tell us what he wants us to do tomorrow, but he will always tell us what he wants us to do today.

If you're like me who needs to go through life with a long-term detailed plan, then it will be hard to accept God's plan. But the beauty of following God's way is that his way is always good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12:2).

Life is one big puzzle that we all are trying to figure out. We frustrate ourselves by trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together, when God just wants us to follow his directions one puzzle at a time.

God will show you where to put the right piece of the puzzle that will build his beautiful plan for you. It's when we try to figure it out on our own that messes up God's beautiful picture for you. To get where God wants you to be will require his help and direction. What is God calling for you to do today?

God will never tell you the big picture of your life then leave you to figure it out on your own. He wants to walk life with you and lead you every step of the way. Proverbs 3:6 says, "In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Many times we make things more complicated by trying to figure things out, when God is only asking us to obey what his tells us to do, and to trust the rest to him.

Joshua is a perfect example in the Bible whom we all should follow. He knew his calling and purpose in life which was to lead the Israelites to the promise land that God had promised. Instead of setting up a detailed plan to accomplish this big task, he sought God's direction and had complete faith in everything God asked him to do.

Every command God gave, Joshua would do. No matter how ridiculous God's request were, Joshua obeyed and kept his faith in God. Whether it was trusting God in crossing the Jordan river to marching around Jericho seven times blowing trumpets, Joshua did it all.

Because Joshua obeyed every direction from God, God opened the way for him to go through the Jordan river on dry land, and to conquer the city of Jericho. Joshua 5:1 says, "Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites..their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites."

Joshua was able to fulfill God's plan for him because he followed God's plan, and not his own. May we all be like Joshua and follow God with faith and boldness. It's when we start thinking about "how"we are going to do things that stops us from doing anything.

God says "do"and he will take care of the "how".

Trust that God has the perfect plan for you. It's when you don't follow him when life gets complicated. Wait on God and let him walk in front of you, guiding you wherever you go. Isaiah 26:8 says, "Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you.." God has great plans for you, but it starts with you getting up and doing what he calls you to do everyday. So remember, make your plan to be God's plan. 

A Love That Fuels

We all desire to love others, but why is it that at times we find our love to be dry? Loving people can be exhausting if we are fueling our love from the wrong source. What source are you fueling your love with?

There have been times when I found myself struggling to love those around me, especially when they did things that hurt me.

It happened recently with a close loved one of mine. I had expectations from them, and waited for them to give me the love that I desired.

I waited...waited..and waited, and at the end I found myself left deeply wounded and not loved.

I simply just didn't have the motivation to love anymore.

I wanted to love them, but why couldn't I love them? It was at that moment when God revealed to me the reason why my love was running dry: I was using the wrong source and motivation to love.

I was depending on the other person to be my source and strength to love. But the problem was, I was waiting on a person to love and fill me when they were never made to love and fill me. Only God was made to love me.

When we come to know God more, we will see that his love is satisfying and overwhelming. God's love overflows in us so that we can pour out his love to others. If we wait on others to love us first before we love them, then we will find our love for them at a constant dead end because their love was never made to fuel our love. Only God's love was made to fuel us.

God's love fuels us to love others. 

It's when we accept Jesus's unconditional love that we can then love others back. We can't give someone what we don't have. We can't pour out love to others when we ourselves don't have love in us. And that perfect love can only come from God. 

God loves us even when he knows we can never be good enough to please him. God chooses to love us even while we were sinners, and he calls us to love others the same way. We must love others even when they do not deserve it. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

God gave us the example of what true love is, and that is choosing to love others despite who they are or what they did. True love is loving without expecting anything back from the other person. Jesus loved us not because we were holy or would had something to give him, but because he chose to love us. 

Once we have received God's love, we can then pour that love out to others. Let God be the source and strength for your ability to love others. 1 John 4:19 says, "We love because he first loved us." We can love others despite them hurting us when we experience God's love for us. God's love is greater and will surpass all the pain we experience from others. 

You can love others because God has loved you. Before you try to go our there and love people, be sure to receive God's love in your heart first. You are all called to be the light of the world, and that can only be done when you have a heart that has been changed by God's love. God's glory shines even brighter when you love the undeserving. 

May we all be overfilled with God's love so that we can pour it out onto others. We can love others as God has called us to when we stop expecting love from others, and start taking in the love that God has given to us. So remember, God's love is a love that fuels. 

A Past That Can Be Erased

We all have past mistakes that we would love to erase from our lives. Unfortunately, in this world our mistakes cannot be erased; they are either marked in our records or written in people's minds. However the good news is, through Jesus we can have a past that can be erased. 

I've made a lot of mistakes in my life - some were small ones, and some were big ones.  There have been moments when I would wish that I could go back in time and change my previous ways. I'm sure you have had those moments of walking down memory, wishing for this and wishing for that. 

But the good news is, we don't have to have helpless wishes to change our past because we have a God who has the capability to erase our past so that it no longer defines who we are. 

Isaiah 43:25 says, "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." 

How beautiful is this, that God himself is the one who blots out our transgressions. He chooses to cover our sins with the blood of Jesus, so that when he sees us, he no longer sees the sin in us, but sees the holy blood of Jesus covering us. 

Even when we don't deserve his love and mercy, he freely gives it all to us. He blots every offense we have made against him by the blood of Jesus. 

God chooses to not see you as sinful so that you can be untied with him. That is what I call true love, forgiveness, and mercy. We don't have to force God to forgive us, because he chooses to forgive us. Just as the verse says, he chooses to forget our sins for his name sake, so that his glory can be displayed in us. 

God erases our past mistakes and sees us as a new and clean canvas with potential to display his beauty. 

God doesn't see you by what you did, but sees you as a clean canvas with potential to display his glory to this world. God chooses to give you mercy so that you can be transformed and free to live out the purpose he has made you for. 

How many offenses have you made to God? You might have counted each offense you have done to God, but God does not count any of them as long as you confess your sins and change. Don't stay guilty with your past mistakes, because even God himself sees them no more.  

We would never be worthy enough to carry the gospel and God's glory to this world if it wasn't for what Jesus did on the cross. For we all have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), but because God chose to sacrifice Jesus for us, we have been made right with him. 

John 3:17 says, "For God did not send his son to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." Whatever you have done or whatever you are going through, know that Jesus is never there to condemn you, but to give you hope and a way out so that you can live life to the fullest. 

God has empowered you to live with no more shame. He has set you free not so that you can just waste your life away, but so that you can have another chance to pursue your God-given purpose in this world. 

His mercy has the power to transform your life. He chose to blot out each mistake you have made so that you could have another chance to experience his love and fulfill your purpose in this life. Don't let your past hold you down, because God has made a way for you to be free. So remember, you have a past that can be erased. 

What Price Tag Have You Put On Jesus?

We all set "mental" price tags on the things we have because everything has its own value. The "price tags" we set show how much the things are worth to us. The more we spend time on something probably means it is worth more than the things we spend less time on. But the most important question you should ask yourself is, what price tag have you put on Jesus?

It has always been easy for me to say that I love God and would do anything for him.

Easy, until the day he asked me to let go of something that meant the world to me. One by one, he asked me to let go of things that I had truly desired and planned to do. They were all tests to see how far I would be willing to sacrifice for God.

At this time, I thought I was ready to give Jesus everything that I had, until he finally asked me to let go of the last thing that meant the most to me. At that moment I told God, "I'm sorry, I can't do it. Why would you ask for something that means so much to me?"

It was a devastating moment because it was in that moment when I realized I had put a price tag on Jesus; and that price tag was limited to my very own selfish desire. Yes, Jesus was worth a lot to me, but not worth more than the very thing he asked me to let go.

But as I was praying and crying to Jesus for help, I realized one truth that penetrated in my heart:

Jesus placed a high price tag on me - His life. 

He was willing to give up himself and everything he had for you and me. 

The day Jesus was crucified on the cross was the day he paid the price for your salvation through sacrificing his own life. You were that worth it to him. He was willing to give up anything so that you would be saved and have eternal life. But how about you? How much is Jesus worth to you?

1 John 3:16 says, "We know what real love is because Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters." If we are asked to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters, how much more should we give up our lives to Jesus, who gave up his own life to us?

You should give Jesus everything you have because he gave up everything he had for you. Jesus wants all of you because he gave up all of himself for you. It's only when you surrender your life to him when you can rise up and accomplish his purpose in your life; his beautiful and perfect will for you (Romans 12:2). 

God will never do anything to harm you. Everything that he asks is meant to glorify him and bless you. Abraham is a perfect example in the Bible who was blessed by God because he valued God and was faithful to him. 

God asked him to sacrifice his one and only son, Isaac. Abraham obeyed without any hesitation. But the moment he was about to slay his son, an angel from the Lord stopped him. God was only testing Abraham to see how far his faith in God was. Because Abraham was faithful to God and was willing to sacrifice the very thing that meant the most to him, he was greatly blessed by God. 

Genesis 22:16-17 says,"..because you have done this, and not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars.." Just as God was faithful to Abraham, so will he be with you and me. 

I'm sure Jesus knew the whole time that I had a low price tag for him, which is why he asked me to let go of the very thing that was stopping me from loving him completely. We all will be tested by God just as Abraham was tested, but through it we will see the beauty of Christ in our lives. May we see that Jesus is worth more than anything else in this world. So remember, what price tag have you put on Jesus?

Are You Focusing On The Right Thing?

We all have the choice of where we place our focus and attention to in life. There are many responsibilities, tasks, and relationships that we value, but which should we focus on? Your choice of focus will determine whether you will have a life that is desirable, or one that misses the mark. Are you focusing on the right thing?

Recently, I've been caught up with my things to-do list that just never seemed to end. Each day I found myself crossing off things I had to do, but the the time that I had didn't seem to be enough for me to finish all that I had to do.

Each day was like a race with time, using every second that I had. I was busy with my full time job, starting my own Christian clothing line, blogging, and studying for my bible class.

But there was one thing that I neglected on my things to do list that should have been my priority, and that was my time alone with God.

It wasn't that God was displeased at my works for him, but he was displeased with where I was placing my focus on in life. I became so focused on my work for him that I started cutting short my time with God. Even doing things for God can displease God when it becomes of greater importance than God himself. 

I was so excited with starting my Christian clothing line that all my focus was placed on that. I thought that my works would fulfill me with joy and peace, but the more I focused on what I needed to do, the more I was overwhelmed with burdens and worries.

What caused these unnecessary burdens and worries? It was because my heart was focused on the wrong thing.

It can be easy for us to believe that our jobs and careers will fulfill us, or that our marriages will fill us with satisfying love, but the truth is all these blessings can only come from God. We want a good job because we are seeking for security, but security only comes from God. We want to get married because we want love, but fulfilling love only comes from God.

When we focus on other things, we loose sight of the real blessings that come from God. Our works cannot provide us security, peace, joy, hope, and all the other desires we have in our hearts. All these things can only come from God, who brought together the works in our lives.

James 1:17 says, "Every good gift comes from above, coming down from the father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." We must focus on the giver of the gifts, and not the gifts because the source of blessings comes from the giver.

When we focus on God, our hearts become opened to receive the blessings that he has for us. Blessings do not only come in monetary forms. God's blessings include his faithfulness in our lives, his peace in our hearts, his loving voice in our ears, and his bursting love in our souls.

When we place our focus on God, it opens our eyes to see his faithfulness, our ears to hear his loving voice, and our hearts to receive his unconditional love. 

That is what I call a blessing.

God has so much that he wants to pour out in your life, but are you giving him room to pour into your life? Are you focusing on him? Your works were never made to please you - only God was made to please you.

Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Jesus Christ." God has all you need, but you must keep your eyes focused on him so that you can follow his path that will lead you to a desirable and blessed life. So remember, are you focusing on the right thing?

The Beauty In Waiting

Many of us live in a world that exposes us to the joy of instant gratification. We all want things now and hate the waiting game. Whether it be waiting in traffic or waiting 1 minute for the internet to go on, we simply hate waiting. But, there is beauty in waiting. 

It's been a while since I had received an inspiration from God to create my own Christian clothing line. But the first moment it popped in my head, I went straight ahead and started designing. 

Without praying or waiting on God to see what He wanted me to do, I started asking people I knew to make some sketch designs that I had envisioned. 

Inside my head I thought, "I could do this, how hard could it be." But what I soon found to realize was when I did things without the help of God, it opened more opportunities for frustrations to come. 

The designs were not coming in at the time I wanted and none of them were what I desired. Frustration after frustration, worry after worry, it all started to stress me out. It was at that moment when I realized I should have waited on God's direction and timing. 

So that started my journey on waiting for him. But in the midst of my waiting time, I continued to nag and complain to God, "God, when can I start this? When will the design be ready?"

I then stumbled upon a verse that brought peace into my heart. It was Psalm 121:3-4 which says, "..the one who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."

It's hard to go through the waiting season because it seems like nothing is getting done. It might even seem that God is doing nothing, but during our waiting time we must know that God is still working. He will ask us to be still, but it is so that he can do what he needs to do for us. Our God will never sleep or take a break on us; He is always working for our good. 

God doesn't need our whines and worries to be on time. I was wasting my own efforts worrying and whining to God, when the whole time he had it all under control. If only I knew that in the midst of me waiting, he was preparing something great for me. 

It has now been 6 months since my initial idea to start my clothing line, and praise God he has provided me with a designer that instantly was able to sketch out my vision.

I have also been praying for a christian photographer to help take pictures of my upcoming shirt line, and to my amazement, not only did God provide me a christian photographer that was willing to help me, but he provided one for me with no charge. The photographer even offered to provide models for the photoshoot and promised to handle it all at with no charge. 

God provides and is always at work for our good. Even when we he asks us to wait, it doesn't mean he has forgotten what we needed. He is telling us that he's got it, and he has the best coming for us and we only need to be still and trust in him. 

He knows what you need, and will provide you more than what you could even ask for. Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.." 

Whatever God may be asking you to wait for, trust in him and enjoy the waiting season because he is preparing something great for you. He doesn't ask you to wait because he's not sure what to do, but he always knows what you need and he only asks you to wait so that he can give it to you in His perfect timing. 

Your waiting time is a beautiful season for you to see God's marvelous works about to be displayed in your life. 

The waiting season can be the most unbearable time, but if you see it through God's eyes, it should be the most beautiful time in your life. It's during your waiting time when God is working the hardest for you. 

Just like waiting for an artist to finish his masterpiece, wait on God to finish your masterpiece. So remember, there is beauty in waiting. 

Laugh Without Fear Of The Future

Who doesn't fear the future? We all do because not a single person on this earth can tell us what will happen next. Scary, isn't it? But, there is a way we can live life full of joy without letting our fears control us. There is a way that we can laugh without fear of the future. 

As I was going through my Bible time, I stumbled upon this verse:

"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." (Proverbs 31:25)

Oh wouldn't we all love to face the future with laughter? 

I sure wished I could. 

It was such a beautiful verse, yet not a beautiful verse living in me. There I found myself scared, depressed, and helpless just thinking about my future. Not for a second could I think about my future and laugh. 

I was at a point where God had asked me to let go of something so dear to me, and I couldn't help but fear the future. It didn't make sense, and I felt like I just made the most ridiculous move in my life. 

But it was at this moment when God reminded me of this truth that I needed to sow in my heart:

God loves me, and he is a good father. 

I finally realized the secret to that Proverbs 31:25 verse -it's a simple concept, yet one that makes all the difference. Knowing how much our God loves us is the foundation we need to be able to hold through the struggles in life.

Yes I had doubts of where God was taking me, but I went back to the foundational truth that he loves me, and will always lead me to his best. 

God wants you to know that you are his beloved child, and he is your father. He loves you, and wants the best for you. Whatever and wherever he is taking you, trust him because he loves you. This is a fact that nothing and no one in this world can take away. 

Romans 8:38 says, "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the power of hell can separate us from God's love."

God's love for you will never fail nor fade. His love will never fail to please you, fill you, and strengthen you. Your father in heaven loves you so much that he wants you to go through the journey of facing the unknown with joy, knowing that he will be with you through each step of the way.

We all laugh when we are happy, but the kind of laughter that God wants to give to you is not one that comes from happiness, which is an instant state of contentment based on a circumstance. Instead, God wants to give you laughter that comes from joy, a contentment that is not based on our circumstance, but in the Lord alone. 

True joy can only come from God. You can have joy no matter what you face in life because it is fueled through hope in God. You can laugh without fear of the future because you hold the firm truth that God will take care of you. Nothing in this world can give you assurance that you will be ok, but God can if you put your trust in him and obey him. 

God loves you, and that is all you need to know to make it through. So remember, laugh without fear of the future. 

Do The Impossible

The world teaches us that nothing is impossible, but their definition of impossible is still limited to the scientific laws that exists. God's definition of impossible however has no limits or boundaries. Raising the dead, healing the sick, and other unexplainable events do have an explanation for them - and that all goes to God. With God, you are empowered to do the impossible.  

I've seen some people do extraordinary things such as prophesying, healing the blind and disabled, and even casting out demons. I have always thought that those gifts were given only to certain people, and I automatically assumed that I wasn't one of them. 

I even admired the disciples of Jesus from the New Testament. Disciples such as Paul, who was used greatly by God has a legacy that still goes on until today. He healed the sick, grew the church by thousands, and casted out demons wherever he went. It was in this moment of admiration when God spoke a truth into my life: 

"You, are also called to do the impossible."

God didn't write the bible with the miraculous stories of the disciples to leave us in amazement, but to inspire us that we too by the Holy Spirit can do the impossible. The Holy Spirit who helped Paul is still the same Holy Spirit that lives with us today. 

We are living in the New Testament days, the same days that Paul was living in. Jesus had already risen and left Paul with the Holy Sprit. We too are living in the days where the Holy Spirit now reigns on this Earth. If the bible was still being written today, your life would be a part of the New Testament, just before the book of Revelations. 

The same Holy Spirit that was in Paul, desires to use you in unbelievable ways. Mark 16:17-18 says, "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues..they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." 

You are called to do the impossible. 

No matter who you are or what you did, God desires to use you greatly to show off his glory to this world. The Holy Spirit was given for you to do the impossible. You too can heal the sick, cast out demons, and change this world. Through doing the impossible, you will uncover the power and realness of God to this world. Now is the time to show the world who God is. 

Evil is only growing, and it can only be stopped by the glory and truth of God. Be that disciple of God who shows the world that our Lord is alive. If you want to change the world, the best way to do it is through the Holy Spirit. Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to use you to your greatest potential?  

Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." God has so much in store for you that you can't even imagine. He has a greater purpose for you in this world, and it is your job to let him use you for his glory. 

In the beginning stages of my Christian journey with Christ, I just wanted to know what I needed to do to be right with God. Now, I want to know how far I can be used by God. I want to know him deeper and to see his amazing works upon my life for his glory. Whether it be healing the sick, prophesying, or even saving a single soul to Christ, I want to do it all. 

Do you want to see how far God can use you? You are not excluded to do the impossible, and God plans to use you to advance his kingdom on Earth. You are called to do something greater than yourself! So remember, do the impossible. 

Be A Blessing

It's easy for us to give when it is for a good cause or to those we love, but what about giving to the undeserving? To those who least deserve our blessing? Being a blessing can actually be harder than we think. So how can we be a blessing?

Not too long ago I was faced with a difficult situation to either give or not give to someone who was in need. They came to me asking for money, but the first thing that came to my mind was, "Why should I give to you? Maybe you should have been more responsible with your expenses!"

In my mind, they didn't deserve my help. I left the situation with "I don't think I can help", but it was at that moment when God challenged me with two choices: 

Do you want to be a blessing to them or not?

It never occurred to me that I could and should be a blessing to those who don't deserve it. I always opened myself to being a blessing to good causes; missionaries, non-profit organizations, ect. But God opened my heart to what his own heart desires for - To love the undeserving. 

1 John 3:16 says, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." Jesus spent most of his days serving those who were disliked and least respected in the community. He laid down his life for the the adulterer, tax collectors, criminals, and even you. 

He sacrificed his life for us while we were sinners and underserving of his grace and mercy. He gave us eternal life when we didn't deserve eternal life. Jesus did all of this out of love, and he expects us to walk in this kind of love for others. 

Be a blessing to others by giving what they don't have and deserve. 

The heart of a true giver is one that gives without any reason but to love. May we all live lives to give than to gain. Where in your daily life is God calling you to show love to the underserving? It's those who least deserve our love that can benefit greatly of God's love and mercy. 

Christ laid his life down for us, unworthy sinners. He calls us to do the same by laying down our lives to those who may not know Christ or even to those who hurt us. Be careful to not limit your ability to be a blessing. It can be easy to target our blessings only to those we want to bless, but we must be a blessing to all. 

The only way to be a blessing is to live as Christ lived; a selfless life full of love, grace, and mercy. 

When you bless others, you yourself will be filled and blessed. Proverbs 11:25 says, "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." Live the life that God has called you to live. He wants you to experience life to the fullest, and by being a blessing, you will have that. So remember, be a blessing. 

Why Should I Do The Right Thing?

Many of us would say we value integrity, but do we really? What if no one is looking? The truth is, we all desire integrity, but actually doing it when the stakes are high can be challenging. So why should we do the right thing?

I'll be the first to say that I have not always held up my integrity the way I should, and it usually happens whenever I can justify myself for not doing what I'm supposed to do. I would take off from work by using my sick days to do errands or just to stay home when I didn't feel like going to work.

I would justify my actions by telling myself, "It's fine, everyone does it. You have worked so hard and accomplished a lot this week, you deserve a day off."

How would this hurt me anyways? 

But it wasn't until I heard my friend's story when my eyes really opened to the truth of why we should do the right thing. She was sharing with me her testimony of God's pure goodness in her life. She had received a call from Disney asking for her to do a job interview (which she had never even applied for).

However, she had just came back from a vacation and had no more vacation days to use to be able to do the interview. What would most people do? They would probably lie and use their sick days to do the interview.. I mean it's Disney!

But what did she do? She said no.

She refused to use her sick days to do the interview because she knew it wasn't right to lie to her current company. The amazing story was a year later, Disney contacted her again to come down for an interview. This time she did have enough vacation days so she went off to do the interview and by God's grace, she got the job on the spot.

Her testimony reminded me that God is always in control. God doesn't need our creative and manipulative wrong ways for us to receive what He has planned for us. When we choose to do things without integrity, we are choosing our way instead of God's way, and if we want the best that God has for us, it will only come through following His way.

It can be hard to choose integrity especially when we aren't content with what the results that it will bring, but we must remember that God's way is always better, and His ways is what will lead us to true life. Proverbs 10:16 tell us clearly that "The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death."

When we choose to do things our way, it shows that we don't trust in God. Do you trust God? Do you believe that everything he says is 100% true? The best way to answer that is by your actions.

It's only through walking in God's path that we can inherit his blessings and live our lives to the fullest. We think that doing wrong when no one is looking will not hurt us, but if we continue walking on this path, we will slowly drift away from the blissful life that God has set before us. Integrity is the only way to enter onto God's path, and God's path is the only way for you to achieve the great plans he has planned for you.

Integrity is the secret pathway to success that many people miss. 

This world teaches us to take shortcuts and to manipulate things to get what we want, but the truth is, living this way will never lead you to long-term success. To make it until the end, you need integrity, and unfortunately, not many people find it. Matthew 7:13-14 says, "..For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Will you follow the majority of this world or will you choose God's way, the secret treasure to life? Even if people aren't watching, God is watching. What God sees is far more important than what people might see you do. 

Promotion, success, and life all come from God alone. When you trust in God and choose the path of integrity, you will always find yourself content and blessed. His way will be hard, but it's the only way to have a prosperous life. So remember, do the right thing. 

Try God

We are all human beings who have the same basic needs and desires; the desire for joy, love, peace, and happiness. We're all fighting through this life to have these things, but have you found them yet? I found that there is only one way to get that, and it is through God. Have you tried God?

I've lived almost my whole life knowing God, and when I say knowing God I mean hearing about him from sermons that my Pastor would preach, my Sunday school teacher, and even from friends and family.

To sum it up, I basically knew about God from other people, but I never truly found him myself.

And that made all the difference. 

Because I never truly had a personal relationship with God, he wasn't anything more than just a God who created me, and if I believed that he existed I would go to heaven. But this knowledge of God did nothing to help me.

I never made God Lord over my life - I was Lord over my own life and made decisions in life based on what I felt was right or wrong. Just like you, I too was searching for love, joy, and a worry-free life. But soon enough, I found that without God, I could never have these things.

The more I did life my way, the farther I was from having joy and peace. Finally, I was at the bottom pit of my life. So what did I do that changed my life till this day?

I gave God a try. 

I decided to seek him personally, to study his word, and to follow his truth by living it out. This meant letting go of my life and letting God have it. I realized that it was when I laid my life down that I personally met Jesus, and that's when I found what we're all looking for; joy, peace, love, and happiness.

If you are seeking serenity and joy in your life, I encourage you to find Jesus first, because then you will have it all. Galatians 5:22 promises us that when we have Jesus in us, we will obtain love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Who wouldn't want all these things? God was not only created for "certain" people, he was made for everyone, and that includes you.

Love, joy, peace, goodness, gentleness, and self-control..God has it ALL for you. 

We are all hungry, and the only thing that will satisfy our hunger is God. Try God yourself, and you will then be able to taste and see his goodness. Imagine someone telling you about a good restaurant, in fact, you even read amazing reviews about the restaurant. These things might persuade you that the restaurant food is good, but it's only when you go to the restaurant and taste the food yourself that you will then be 100% sure that the food is good.

This goes the same with God, listening about him from other people might sound good, but you will not be able to taste his goodness in your life unless you give him a try yourself. Get to know God, and you will find that he is all you ever need in life.

I'm not here to persuade you that God is good, but I'm here to tell you to try God yourself. I did, and I found that my life has been filled up by him alone. Psalms 34:8 says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good.." So remember, try God.