He IS Risen

Have you ever wondered why people say on Easter ‘He Is Risen’? English professors probably cringe at the improper English. Why not, ‘He was risen’ or He has risen’ or He rose. Or ‘He had risen’. He had and He has are the proper terms and in scripture in that moment on that day the angel does say He has Risen when Mary asked where is He. But today Jesus IS!! And was and will ever be. It’s an anomaly. Supernatural. Jesus IS & IS Risen. It is because he is alive today! He wasn’t ’was resurrected’ He IS resurrected. It is literally because Jesus came to live a pure life, became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins and rose from death and IS a LIVING sacrifice for our atonement. For Everyone! Not just me; not just for my children or for the people who try to do good. He IS Risen for the murderers, for the ones who despise Him, crucified Him, who don’t believe in Him even today. He died for ALL. Because we ALL have sinned and have all fallen short of the Glory of God. We owe EVERYTHING to Jesus. Period. End of Story. I cannot even describe in words what a personal relationship feels like with Jesus. It’s a peace that passes understanding; an indescribable Joy daily. If you do not know Jesus personally and do not have an intimate personal relationship with Him, I urge you to find a follower, a friend, a colleague, a pastor who teaches biblical teachings and learn about it or kneel right now and ask him into your heart. If you are alive and reading this, It’s not too late. Your life will be changed forever. Thank you JESUS for Easter because He IS Risen INDEED. So we do not have to be separated from God forever. We have an opportunity for everlasting life through Jesus. He IS Risen INDEED.

Matthew 25:5-7 ⁵The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

This is 47

This is 47.

I look back at the last 46 years. I think of my mom and dad on this day. 1978…Young and having their second baby. Mom reminds me as she looked out the hospital window the next day there was ice everywhere in Athens, Georgia. It blows my mind saying that as I am now a mother of 17 & 19 year old daughters. Time waits for no one. I just did an exercise in a Disciple Maker class at church that challenged us ponder on our lives. We wrote down 5 Lows and 5 Highs. In about 10 seconds flat I had written my lows. But as I pondered my highs in my life, I went well beyond 5. We know life is not always going to be roses and rainbows. If we didn’t have lows, we would not realize how high the highs truly are. We are quick to publicly shout to the world our highs. But I wish my lows on no one; however, they’ve made me who I am today. Most folks do not shout to the world about their birthday and shame how old they are but as you know my sister passed at age 37. That low caused me to change perspective about life for the rest of MY life. I’m here to celebrate 47 because you guys know I tell you always…Age is a privilege. I’m not going to say I like the greys and the wrinkles, but I’m exctatic that I am here. I know each additional day God gives me is a celebration AND that He has more for me to do here on this Earth for His Eternal Kingdom. So I’m here to say Praise Jesus…Hallelujah! He has chosen me to be 47! So cheers everyone 🥂🎉 I’m excited to see what the future holds bad or good. My birthday wish is for you to read Jeremiah 49:11, Ephesians 3:20-21, Phil 4:4, Phil 4:12, & Matthew 28:19 for my birthday. They’re some of my favs. Thank yall for all the birthday wishes. I love you more than you know 😘. #47 #happybirthday #joy #love #hope #salvation #eternallife #blessed

Synergy

I’ve lived and have traveled to many places but Alabama sunsets are THE most beautiful in the whole world. When I think of sunsets I know there will be another tomorrow. That is an absolute truth. The wind blows even though we can’t see it, if we drop something it falls to the ground and perhaps 1+1 =2. But let’s look at 1+1=2 in a different light.

1 Clydesdale horse can pull a weight of 8000 lbs. In theory if two Clydesdale horses are together then they’d pull 16000 pounds collectively. Contrary to logic, when 2 Clydesdale horses are put together they can pull up to 30,000 lbs almost double logically what they can pull. This is called Synergy. And when two humans come together endless positives abound. Jesus uses our hearts and minds to do extraordinary things together. 2 are better than 1. Next time when you think you can’t change the world, think again. Grab a friend and change your world, then those people change their world, and those people who touch those lives change their world around them, etc. It’s the ripple effect. 1+1+Jesus=Eternity.

Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them". 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken

King of Kings

On a Saturday morning recently I decided to be still for once and sat on the couch with my morning cup of coffee. I opened the Bible and read wherever it opened.  It opened to I Kings. To be honest, I thought this was going to be one of the boring parts where so and so begat so and so for history sake. Some of that was in this section…however contrary to my previous belief, it was rather interesting. I continued to read. King David the man after Gods own heart was getting old at the time and God was making his promises to Him and his heirs and the men that would be appointed kings.  It continued on with all the lines of Kings for years and years and years. There were 3 constant factors I realized in this reading. 1. Because David was faithful to God, God promised his line of heirs to be blessed and for the kings who were not faithful to God He did not bless. 

2. Most kings when they came to power became caught up in that role and failed to remain faithful in God; therefore, did not receive what they could have. They fell for the worldly fame and fortune. They stopped seeing the bigger picture.

The final Thing I realized through reading this history lesson was the more we obey God the more blessed beyond measure our lives become. Not that we selfishly obey God to receive blessings. That’s far from the truth. It doesn’t work like that. You can’t say “Well, I’m going to do good because God will bless me. That’s selfish. It’s quite the opposite. The more genuine, real, trustworthy, honest, giving, humble, running towards what’s right, self sacrificing we become the more blessings flow.  It’s quite simple. The more we walk in Christ’s footsteps the more Godly blessings you’ll see beyond our human measure. Take it from David…a man after Gods own heart. He had the favor of God. Remember, he was not perfect. Only Christ is perfect. David made mistakes; we can learn from his mistakes but he repented always and continued to strive to walk as close to God as humanly possible.  David became an excellent example of a leader that walked with THE King. I challenge you to read this section of the Bible with a new perspective.

 I Kings 15:30-32

This happened because of the sins Jeroboam had committed and had caused Israel to commit, and because he aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel.

31 As for the other events of Nadab’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 32 There was warbetween Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns.

Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Ephesians 3:20-21

20 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, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Power in a Name

Ever wonder why when we pray we say “in Jesus’ name” Amen? I never really thought about it until a couple months ago we had a sermon on power and the name of Jesus.

The actual name ‘Jesus’ is the most powerful name on earth. When we are down all we have to say is Jesus and we instantly feel peace. We feel happier, better, calmer….I know I do. And that’s literally the only word that comes out of my mouth… JESUS. It’s quite astonishing that one name can heal. One name can cast out demons. One name can break chains, bring walls down. One name can raise the dead. One name brings Peace. One name can instill courage.

It reminds me of the song we sing at church  “There is power in the name of Jesus”. There IS power in the Name of Jesus. His name is above all other names. This is not my opinion. Whether a person decides to believe or not, this is fact.

Acts 4:12 says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved".

There’s no other name like it! When we are saved, the Holy Spirit comes and lives in our being. We then have the power of Jesus name behind us.

This is incredible power that we have working through us.

May we be worthy of upholding such Power. There is no higher name. Jesus you reign above it all.

Hallelujah! In Jesus’ name AMEN!

Philippians 2:9

God gave Jesus a name that is above all other names, and at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow in heaven and on earth

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run to it, and are safe.

Luke 10:17. The seventy two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”

God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow”(Philippians 2:9).

Comparison is the Thief of Joy

I recently read this somewhere “Comparison is the thief of Joy”. It stuck with me for weeks. Ever more so in our society do we now see on social media, TV, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and the inevitable Facebook other peoples lives and what they’re doing, seeing, having, traveling to or experiencing.

I recall a time when we didn’t have any of these devices but we still came up with the saying (probably in the 80s) keeping up with the Jones’. As a kid I would look at what the popular kids wore or had or what they drove or the houses they were growing up in. Every so often that comparison crept in. Comparison back then though was usually only kept locally of who we knew or the people around us. Do you remember watching the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous with Robin Leech? That was then.  But now more than ever we see everyone one around us and everyone else in the world in what they’re doing immediately, or what they have or how much wealth they posses or how famous they are, etc. Then that comparison creeps in. Imagine our children with all this comparison. It leads to seeds of doubt, insecurity, inadequacy, jealousy, rage.

When I first started Real Estate I was worried was I enough? …Smart enough, old enough, educated enough? Insecurity and fear seeped into my spirit. My Mentor and Broker could sense it and gave me these wise words, “Just as we put blinders on a horse to help keep out distractions, noise and fear to keep them moving forward, keep your blinders on. Don’t look at this Agent and that Agent in what they’re doing, amount of sales, or years of experience etc. Do what only YOU can do.” That has stuck with me in many facets of life over the years not just my career. Comparing what you lack over someone else will steal your Joy in a heartbeat. Don’t do it! It reminds me of the parable Jesus taught about the talents and multiplying the talents. One person was given 5; one 2 talents and one was given 1 talent. The 5 multiplied his to 10, the one with 2 multiplied to 4 but the one became jealous and angry that he was only given 1 and buried it instead of multipling it. I always think of the person that received 2. He did not compare or become jealous of the one that received 5. He had his blinders on and worked with what God had given Him. And God said well done thy good and faithful servant to the one with 5 and 2.

Now I’m not saying be lazy, or not have ambition to have goals and aspirations in life. Nor does this mean if you have many things in life, that aspirations and possessions are a sin. Both are far from the truth. What I am wanting to express is be happy in what YOU are given!  For there is so much joy to be had in this life if you have Jesus in your heart.

Jesus said, Because I live, you will also live. On that day, you will realize I am in my Father and you are in Me, and I am in you. (John 14:19-20). If you have Christ in you, you are enough.

I need to mention a final point.  We also sometimes are our own worst enemy. We beat ourselves up in thinking, we don’t have enough money. We don’t have enough house or we don’t travel enough or if I just had “fill in the blank” then I’d be happy. Check yourself in those moments. Stop stealing your own joy. Put your blinders on. Be thankful for what you’ve been given. Do everything to the best of your ability. And never let anyone steal your JOY.

Matthew 25:14-30 parable of the talents

Phillipians 4:12 know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.

John 15:11
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full.

God Said

Have you ever really and truly just broke this down and thought about these two words ‘God said’.? I was in church probably about a month ago and I heard these words with a fresh perspective. Because we’ve all heard these words over and over again in our lives I’m certain at some point. But in that moment, a whole new level of peace rushed over me. The magnitude of these two words put together is truly all we need in life. We can take peace, heart, comfort, take love. It’s like a big bear hug with both of His arms wrapped around us all because ‘God said’. We see these words in the beginning of the Bible, “God said, ‘let there be light’.” He said, “let Us make mankind in the image of Us”. God said, “all things work together for good to them who love Him according to His purpose.”

Do you hear me as you are reading these words? Do you hear yourself speaking my words to you? God is saying “I’ve got you”. And He doesn’t have us just in the easy times or in the hard times or the mediocre times. He’s got us ALL. THE. TIME. God said, “there is evil in the world but take peace. I have overcome the world.”

If we heard no other words for the rest of our lives, we should be the most peaceful people in all the days. Because God said, we have nothing to worry about because God said we have nothing to fear because God said we may be in a moment in our lives where the enemy is coming upon us and the Red Sea is in front of us and we feel like we have nowhere to turn, but guess what? God said I will part waters. I will make a way. God said, “ I will redeem you from all your sin.” If you have asked Jesus into your heart and surrendered your life to Him, then you know of this peace I’m referring to. And if you don’t know, you can go to Him right now in this moment and surrender your heart and ask Him to come into your life and take over!

God said It is, it was, and it will become. Period. End of story. we can stop right there and be at continual, eternal peace.

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Genesis 1:3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Exodus 3:14 says, "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM”

Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose"

Begin Again

I’m just gonna shoot it to you straight today and ask a direct question. Do you go to church? Like for real. Not ‘yes on occasion’. Not ‘yes at Easter, Christmas and New Year’s’ or ‘Easter and Christmas’. Not a ‘couple times a month’. I mean do you go to Church every Sunday, every Wednesday if your church has Wednesday church… like every Sunday. And not just every Sunday I mean err Sunday. Ok, I hear you right now… all your excuses. ‘I work on Sundays’, go on a Wednesday. ‘Someone hurt me at church’ Ok, but what about the other 999 people at that church? Are you really allowing one person keep you from YOUR relationship with God? That is the enemy using that situation to keep your soul away. These are just a couple excuses. But stop. ‘I’ll watch online’. That’s good on occasion when you cannot be physically in church; however, don’t allow our technology today limit you from physical worship with others.  Let me put this into perspective. Our timed calendar gives us 24 hrs a day 7 days a week 365 days a year. Let’s break that down to just 1 week. That’s 168 hours each week…and we can’t seem to give God about 1.5 of those to worship Him and have community with others that are trying to do the same? Do you realize how much more your soul would grow and be at peace if you gave 1.5 hours a week to Him? (And who knows what God will do with more!) Let me remind you we are Mind (spirit), Body and Soul. Would you go a day without feeding your body food? We go to work and feed our mind with work or our purpose or are on the path to achieving our purpose by attending school, vocational school or college. So that leaves the soul. The Soul is like a desolate land starving for a rainstorm. We get our soul food from God’s Word, meditation and prayer; from community of others; from worship and pastors/mentors/teachers that help us grow deeper into Gods Word. I encourage you. Beg you; you must feed your soul because if you don’t the world will. Our culture is big on 30 day challenges right now so I challenge you to take this next 30 days and go to church atleast every Sunday morning. Pick one… any one. Pick 4 different ones if you want but pick them as long as each teaches from the Bible and is Christ centered. If you haven’t been to church in a while and are embarrassed because it’s been a while (that’s your excuse)… Begin again. If you go a couple times a year, take this next Sunday and begin again. We make food for our bodies a priority So make your soul a priority in your life. Make God number 1 in your life. Go to church for the next 30 days. I have absolutely no ounce of doubt it will rock. your. world.

Matthew 18:19-20 Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.

Hebrews 10:25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

John 15:4-5  4 Abide in me, as I also abide in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Peach and Purity

I recently went back to the farm in South Georgia with my daughters to visit family. It was a perfect February South Georgia weekend filled with flatland pastures for miles, picket fences, pine trees, small towns, country churches, afternoon slow drives along the lake and memories of a place I once lived; sweet tea and some of the best home cooking on the planet. Amongst our visit includes none other than our beautiful cousin named Dana. I’ve had the pure pleasure of being a member of Dana’s life for over 25 years. We are almost the same age with her just a little younger by 3 years. Dana was born with Down Syndrome yet that never stopped her from living the most fun filled, hard working, Jesus loving, in church volunteering, beaming with joy life. She has a smile that lights up everyone immediately in her presence. Early on she decided she wanted to be called Peach. And so it was 🍑. Peach color was painted in her room and peach anything is what she wanted around her. The purest of pure the Georgia Peach she is. For some of you reading let me explain. A Georgia Peach is a modern term for a southern belle; mannerly and proper, Jesus loving, the most lady of ladies in the southern state of Georgia. Sharp as a tack, Peach graduated from High School and worked for years in the court system and in the banking industry as her career. Don’t expect to put anything past her; she will crack a joke on the wit of a whim. She immediately spreads the purest form of Joy when she steps in the room. She exudes Jesus’ love in her life. To meet Dana is to meet an example of a daughter of Jesus. She has incredible parents and a Proverbs 31 mom. But Peach is in a league of her own burning a lasting impression of devotion to Jesus and people, illuminating joy and contagious laughter throughout all the people that she has graciously allowed to be a part of her life. I cannot help but share to anyone that reads this, the eternal impression she makes day in and day out on this earth. She has challenged us daily through her years to remember what’s important in life and that is love in the purest form. Love for one another; diehard love and devotion to a life for Jesus with a servants heart. She spreads eternal Joy and laughter, peace and hope in her living legacy. I challenge us to be more like Peach with pure hearts, love for one another and spreading eternal Joy. I will forever be changed and challenged by Peach and her living legacy of love

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you.

I Timothy 4:12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Stop and Be

This was to be written in January. Forgive me in my own procrastination and “busyness”.

January is usually a slower month for me. In years past I use to hate January. Christmas is over. It’s depressing and cold. Dark and Gloomy. Long. But recent years I’ve used it for its good. To slow down. Stay in more. Reflect, be more aware of all the good around me, look forward and prepare for the hustle and bustle of the rest of the year. As I was doing yoga one morning in January the instructor said, “Stop and Be”. That really resonated and burned into my Brain since that day. Speak both words aloud. STOP & BE. It reminds me of when Grandma always said, “stop and smell the roses”. With our world today we have so many distractions for our time… multiple social media platforms, tv, work, emails, texts etc to keep us “busy”. We have FOMO (fear of missing out) and comparing our lives to each other trying to do the best, be the best, be the most beautiful, be everywhere and into everything that it robs us of what truly is important. Our culture now makes it almost impossible to “stop and be” and that if we do we are doing something wrong almost.

Remember back in 2020 when the world “Stopped” and stood still for a moment? In the moment perhaps we were worried about what was to come but God is ALWAYS in control. I knew then that that time too would pass and we would be Looking back (not wishing for Covid by no means) but wishing for that time that stood still again.

Time with God and our true friends and family, relationships and rest are what’s most important in life. So in this writing I wanted to stress deeply how it’s so important to not get caught up in our society’s distractions and to say it’s ok to “Stop and Be” every month! Not just in January. We must take Grandma’s advice to stop and smell the roses because we will wake up one day and the “roses” be gone. What she was stressing so is that the world does not stop. WE must stop and be present and enjoy what’s in front of us because time flies. It does not slow down for anyone.

I challenge you in every month this year not just January to “Stop and Be”, listen to Grandma, stop and smell the roses, be present, reflect on the good things and look forward to the things to come. And trust me…good things are coming!

Psalm 46:10 Be Still and know that I am God.

Exodus 20:8-10 Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy.

Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.

Psalm 118:24
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.