Early Signs of Spring!
With early signs of spring bursting forth out of the ground, I can’t help but think of newness! This very morning while sitting on my front porch, it was Sixty degrees. Even though it was raining this morning in Georgia, the change in the weather was beckoning me to go outside and enjoy, which I did thoroughly. It amazes me how that when summer is ending and autumn temperatures fall into the Sixties the air feels so cool, but after a long winter the Sixty degrees of early spring feels warm and inviting!
I filled my coffee cup, threw on my hoodie and parked myself in my rocking chair. I simply sat quietly and thanked the Lord for the sound of the rain on the roof, but soon while sitting there, I listened and watched as several different kinds of birds rushed in to my newly filled bird feeder, took a seed and chirped as if they were saying “Thanks Lady!” I also saw a Robin this morning which is always a wonderful sight to see. The gentle clinking of my wind chimes combined with the sound of the rain and the chirping birds made a beautiful harmonious glad song.
Something familiar began to bubble up inside of me that reminded me of when I was expecting my children. The expectation of something new and exciting was rising up! It was an overwhelming feeling that made me know that a change is on its way!
Isaiah 43:18-20King James Version (KJV)18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert
Many people do not like change, but we are always going through seasons in our lives! Some seasons bring more change than others, but regardless, God never wants us to become so comfortable that we stop expecting to see His goodness! We are to go from faith or faith and from glory to glory! When we give up on expecting new things we become stagnant and critical of others. We revert back to an orphan spirit. Although we may never verbally say it, when we see others blessed we think that God loves them more than He does us. God never withholds anything good from his children. He’s made everything available. If He led the Israelites to a land flowing with milk and honey, how much more does He have for us? But like the Israelites, we have to stop looking back and move forward in order to walk in God’s best!
Let me encourage you my friend when the Lord walks you through change, it is always good for you! Let the deadness of winter fall away. Expect to feel the warmth of the Father’s love embrace you and gently usher you into the newness He has for you. Get excited about the change and expect to see His goodness, I know that He will never disappoint!
Remaining in the Vine!
Accomplishing a goal is always reason to celebrate, but what happens when it seems that you’re partying alone? I feel as though I have been there many times. I accomplish a long time goal that I’ve worked on for a year or so only to have people say, “That’s great.”
What did I really expect? Did I expect others to be so thrilled for me that they throw their hands up in the air and shout Halleluiah! Don’t get me wrong, I actually have friends that would say those words, but when it really comes down to it, it is not even the way I feel about it myself that counts! I have discovered a key in my life! When “the rubber meets the road,” what really counts is that I’ve pleased the Lord! If I’ve pleased God then I will be satisfied myself. I have discovered that I can do nothing in myself! All gifting and talent comes from the Lord. He has enabled me to do what I do, so that I can accomplish what He has planned for my life.
John 15: 4 (KJV) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
My desire is to do what I was created to do! When I remain in Him, He helps me to accomplish my desires! When I accomplish a long time goal that I’ve longed to do, I actually do have a party! I have someone who does rejoice with me and over my accomplishments! He celebrates over every one of my victories!
Let me encourage you, to remain in the vine! Let Him co-labor with you to bring your desires to pass, it gives Him great pleasure! When it seems that no one is around to rejoice with you, know that all of Heaven is celebrating with you!
Resolution-A Call to Action!
Luke 6:45 (JKV) For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Okay, I am going to just cut right to the chase! I realize I may lose some people right here, but I hope that you will take the time to read the whole entire blog! A life full of happiest and contentment comes with a great price, but if you have not first resolved to know Jesus Christ who paid that greatest price for you, I pray that this will be your first resolve, your first step toward the resolutions that you make in the year of 2015! The second resolve is to get to know Him! Resolve to get into His word which is the Bible and find out How much He loves you, what He has to say about you and how He wants to help your situation. He is the answer and his word is a light to guide you in the right direction! He desires more than anything to be a part of your life, regardless of how messed up you may think it is! He is a loving and wonderful Master in our Mess!
Okay, with all of the above said, you may think it strange that I would have Scripture from the Bible and a trash can in the same blog, but I inserted the “pretty little purple trash can” to make a point! That although the trash can is all dressed up and looks like a designer’s special on the outside, it still holds trash! Regardless of how pretty the color, how sleek, or thin, it still holds trash. Now that we are taking steps into a brand new year, many of us have made resolutions in hopes of changing something in our lives for the better. We wish we could lose weight, we wish we could get that new promotion, make more money, or we wish we could be a better person etc…Well frankly we can wish all we want, but a resolution is not simply a wish, it is a call to action by faith! If we truly want change it must be in our hearts to want to do something to affect change! How many times do we make the same resolution year after year but in a week or two, we have moved on because we feel hopeless that true and permanent change will ever come?
If you are one that makes the same resolutions year after year, obviously you have identified areas in your life that you want to change or need to be changed. You have actually made the first step, which is to be brutally honest with yourself and say “yes I need a change.” In order to stop wishing to change you must on purpose resolve or began action to implement change. No I do not have a blueprint, or a formula to implement change, I only know that nothing happens if the first step is not made, than the second, third etc. If you do not make the first step, then you remain in the same place…You cannot get somewhere if you do not move….THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION!
Webster’s online definition of resolution:
1.The act, operation, or process of resolving. 2. The state of being relaxed; relaxation. 3. The state of being resolved, settled, or determined; firmness; steadiness; constancy; determination. 4. That which is resolved or determined; a settled purpose;
I personally love the definition of resolution, because it is a close definition to how I would explain my faith. Faith is not just a noun, but it is an action verb! Faith is having a strong belief in something and then acting on that belief. To make a resolution is a call to action! We must take action by first believing that we can change and then making a firm and determined decision to do things differently toward that change.
Okay, now it is my turn to be brutally honest! I am going to be very transparent. I have been like these “pretty little trash cans.” I am constantly doing an examination of my life to see if my motives are pure. They have not always been pure, and my heart has not always been kind toward others! I sometimes let things fly out of my mouth and when that happens, I am surprised myself. I have literally said, “Where in the world did that even come from? I didn’t think that was even in my heart!” I might have dressed myself all “pretty on the outside” but on the inside there was something that I needed to deal with. According to the Scripture in Luke 6:45 (KJV) For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. If we listen to what comes out of our mouths, it is a sure-fire way to see what is in our hearts! If we are kind and speak words of encouragement and love than our hearts are in good shape, but if our words are always full of bitterness, hurtful and resentment than “trash” needs to be dragged to the curb. It only takes us to hear our own words to know what is in our hearts! Maybe you are kind to others, but you speak badly about yourself! What is in your heart? Once you identify the problem it is a matter of making a decision by faith that with the Lord’s help you are going to change. Because I am a Christian, I make resolutions by faith. I then search the word of God and find out what He says about my situation. I try to make my decisions based on Scripture and by acting on what the Lord has already done for me.
Now, maybe what you have to change in your life would not be classified as “trash”, maybe you just need to make some small adjustments to help you be better, however I would say to you that if what needs to change is constantly hindering you or causing you to not be happy, or causing hurtful, harmful things to happen, then it is time to truly make a determined life choice. It’s time to resolve or act to implement what it takes to change! If it is not benefitting you, then resolve to throw it out, resolve to get rid of it, drag it to the curb. I also realize that I am making it sound rather easy, which believe me, I do not mean to make our actions of change sound like a walk in the park! There is a saying that “nothing in life worth having is free!” Let me encourage you dear friend, it will cost you something to resolve to change, but always remember that Jesus already paid the full price to help you and I to obtain the changes that we desire!
Blessings to you in 2015! I would love to hear from you so that we can rejoice together about the changes that have been made in your life! As I continue to write this year, I am sure that I will be rejoicing and sharing mine with you as well!
Expectations are High!
As we approach the New Year of 2015, I don’t know about you, but my expectations are really high! I want to be even more determined to see my dreams and God’s purposes come together in my life! Every year at this time I always take a step back and examine my year to see if I’ve done anything to make a difference, not only in my life but in those around me or those that the Lord puts in my path! I am happy to say that 2014 feels like a milestone for me. I really feel like I have made some headway toward the purposes of God in my life. I am also glad to say that I feel as though I’ve really shared His love with a lot of people and helped them to realize that God has a purpose for them as well! I can only expect greater things for the year 2015!
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
What do you want to see happen for you in 2015? Let me encourage you to trust in the Lord and hope for those things with an expectancy that He will not fail! If you have tried to believe for those things before and seemingly come up empty-handed, Press in and believe again! Make a quality decision ( a decision of which there is no retreat)! Determine that no matter what happens, that you will see great strides toward what you have hope to see! This is truly faith and it pleases the Lord when we refuse to give up and trust him!
As we move in to 2015, my prayer is that as I write this and you read it, that we can come into a prayer of agreement. I would love to come into agreement with you in 2015 and believe for God to do that BIG THING! Only you know what that big thing in your life is. What I do know is that regardless of how big we may think it is, to God it is but a small matter and it gives Him great pleasure to show you his favor! So right now, In the name of JESUS, my prayer is that the Lord will get that “Big thing” to you, or lead you to it, whatever needs to happen. That He moves all circumstances or hindrances to the side that you will have a clear path to move in the direction that you need to move! The Lord orders your steps and you will delight on your way! I rejoice with you that the doors of opportunity are opening wide and that you will see BIG Things happen in your life for 2015! I trust God to show you His favor as a shield and I declare over you that 2015 will truly be a HAPPY NEW YEAR! Amen….
I would love to hear a good report from those of you that came into the prayer of agreement with me! As the Lord answers your prayer maybe you could share it with me as this is what encourages me to press in to bigger things in my own life! I am excited as I know that the Lord does not disappoint and that He is ready and willing to move on our behalf! I leave you today with this blessing from the Lord!
Numbers 6: 24 (KJV) The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Happy New Year!
Authorartistmomof2 
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