Ambassador

Who do we represent?  Who are we an ambassador for?  Do you know that an ambassador is a representative for something?

Okay, I know all of us sport the proud jerseys for our teams!  My jersey win or lose is always Arkansas Razorbacks - Go Hogs Go and I am surrounded daily by LSU Tiger fans that rather loudly, constantly remind me that they are tiger fans (like I can't read your shirts)  I know I may have blond hair, but I know who you support!  It is written all over us who our sports teams are and I tell you proudly that if my nieces or nephews are playing I am probably next to the loudest in the stands.  (Pam wins)  We get loud with the support of whomever we represent in the sports arena.

When we love a particular person that is running for office, some of us will put stickers on our cars, banners in our yards, and let our names be printed on materials.  We support them rather loudly.  I don't really want to even go to far in this area, because truthfully I think we all need to send most everyone of them home and start over with all of them.  We are way past supporting a particular party or whatever...we just need to clean house like we do in the spring!  Anyway...no one wins this discussion just turn on the news.

Recently, someone dropped by my office and we have the cutest t-shirts with Scripture on them.  She loved them, but stated very simply no need to buy those.  I said, really?  Yes, young people don't want to offend anyone by wearing scripture on their backs.  What?  You will wear a sports team that I don't care, if you are a hog, a tiger, a longhorn, a buckeye, a sooner, a gator it offends someone somewhere, but you wear it proudly! Where are we folks?  What is happening to us?

Christ came and died for us and yet we don't want to be ambassadors for His Kingdom?  Today, from 2 Corinthians 5 we are told to be ambassadors for God and that He knows if we are sincere!  Oops, we don't want to offend someone, but we call ourselves ambassadors?  Now, I know we need to be careful with our approach sometimes and allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct, but what is easier than wearing a t-shirt that states who you belong to?  Nobody, but you picks the clothes you wear each day.  I don't comment on other peoples clothes, do you?  Unless, I like it.  Perhaps, it might cause someone to pause and think, but offend?  I don't think so and it if does...let it!  Start offending for God after all we don't mind offending others about our teams, do we?  Ponder this thought today.  

Choose to be an Ambassador For the Kingdom.  Next time you reach for your team's t-shirt pick the Kingdom building one.  We never know when game day is going to happen!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

YES!

Yes!  Yes!  Yes!

I'm always telling people we just have to answer Yes and it will forever change our journey to an adventure!  The key word is Yes!  God allows us to say yes or no.  The free will thing gets a lot of us in trouble, it would be so much easier if He made the choice for us, but He wants us all to say Yes we pick you LORD!

In 2 Corinthians 1:19 these words just spoke to me this morning ~ "For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between "Yes" and "No".  He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God's ultimate "Yes," he always does what he says.  For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" and through Christ, our "Amen" (which means YES)  ascends to God for his glory.  Don't you love this?  No wavering back and forth, nope it is a firm YES and His firm YES was definitely a firm YES for all of us!

No flip flop answers from Jesus, No maybe answers from Jesus, No no's from Jesus - HE SAID YES for you and for me!  Thank you Jesus for your resounding YES!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Stumbling

I love it when God shows you that without a doubt He wants you to look at a certain thing, a certain topic, a certain choice, a certain scripture, so He reinforces it for you! It always sends the chills up and down my spine, when I realize that the Savior of the Universe sees little old Debbie. What about you? Does it send the chills up and down your spine? Have you forgot to look for these moments lately, because you are so caught up in everyday living? It's so easy to do, but don't miss out on these special moments.

Reading from Romans 11: 11 this morning this verse caught my attention and gave me such hope. Did God's people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. God made the way for our poor choices or another way to put it our stumbles! When we step on the banana peels along our path and we are truly sorry and ask forgiveness God provides the way through Christ and this always just humbles me beyond words. I mean really think about it for yourself. It wasn't something easy, no He sent His Son for you and me. I truly can't even wrap my little, small brain around that fact, but I know it is true! I believe it with all my heart and I thank God for His provision, because without it I would be forever lost in all my stumbles.

I went on reading and came to Romans 14:12 - 13 which stated, "Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let's stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall." Indeed, let's don't throw a banana peel along someone else's path to cause them to loose their footing! So easy for us to entice another to join in our poor choices after all we all like company even if it's when we are able to take our tumble on the banana peel. Instead, we need to remember that encouraging another to stumble will cause us to answer for it when the time comes before God. I don't know about you, but I have enough that I will be taken to account for, but thank God - He loves me and I believe His Word that He forgives me, because I believe that He sent Jesus!

So, if you take a stumble today remember that God provides the way to recover!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Groanings...

Reading Romans gives each of us so much hope. Hope that is needed in a world that is in a hurry to get to the next point. We get to one point and it's on to the next and so on and so on.

The earth is groaning and so is everyone in it. Have you thought about recently how many earthquakes this old world is having? How often they are happening? The earth is groaning. Do you listen to the television and hear all the groaning happening around us?

I want to encourage you to read the Message from Romans 5 -8 it says it so beautifully! So many verses that speak to me...Romans 5:18-19 - Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right!

Another, I love is Romans 6 - Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us! Hallelujah! I love Romans read it for yourself!

We live in freedom because of God sending Christ for each of us! WE have hope, we have light, we have eternity and freedom! Indeed, Romans reminds us to quit the groaning and start the shouting hallelujahs!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Parts

When I teach in a class with lots of older people I am always amazed that they have begun to feel that their time is done in kingdom work. We've done our time, so to speak is the message that I get from some, not all.

Reading this morning from 1 Corinthians 12 beginning in 12-31 about how many parts make up the body, it struck me it takes every last one of us! Verse 18 says it beautifully, "but our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it." The Kingdom needs all of us!

When our car's motor messes up? Will it run? Nope, not without the repairs. It needs all of its parts to run. The same is true with the body of Christ. God developed a plan that includes each of us in a particular role. He doesn't have to use us, but He wants to use us. So His plan does include you and me. Do we want to let Him down? It makes me think of when we disappoint our parent or another loved one and the pain they feel because of our disappointing them. God gets disappointed with us and I hate to think about how often...but we will not even go there. No, we will stick with how it takes each and everyone us with the plan that God developed with each of us in mind.

Today, use the gift that God gave you. If we each use our gift, the world will shine brighter today!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Mystery

Mystery books, do you love them? I love a good mystery. One filled with how, when, where, why, and so many other questions.

God's mysteries are good too. Oh, we will never figure out the answers, but it is fun to discuss and toss around. I wonder if? I wonder how?

I love that God is sooooo big, sooooo much more than our small brains can possibly comprehend that never ever will we figure it all out. God doesn't need us to figure it out. He just wants us to trust and believe in Him. He knows the hows, the whys, the ifs and we don't need to concern ourselves with it!!! I love it!

If you are wondering one word jumped out at me this morning it was mystery from 1 Corinthians 4 about explaining about God's mysteries. I don't think any of us are capable of explaining His mysteries and that gives me a great comfort! A comfort in knowing that we serve a MIGHTY, POWERFUL SAVIOR who doesn't need to explain anything to anyone!

Trusting and walking by faith,

Debbie

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

The Same or in Harmony

I love this photo! The tulips are in harmony with one another.

Reading from God's Word the verse from 1 Corinthians 1:10 about living in harmony with each other just grasp my attention. Do we as a people exist in harmony about anything anymore?

Pause think about the United States is it an argument about everything? I refuse to watch much of the television news anymore. I don't watch the debates, I don't watch the commentary on Fox or CNN...Why? Everybody wants their own way and it is just a shouting match! Truthfully, I just see a bunch of people that don't really care about where we are as a country it's about where they are as a person. They seem to want more power and this is the way to achieve it. It's not about where is our feelings SHOULD BE with we are ONE NATION UNDER GOD. When we as a nation were great we were definitely one nation under GOD! Look back over history our nation was formed to find religious freedom and now if we even mention God we are nuts...we are crazy...what does that have to do with anything? Look back...let history speak for itself. Our forefathers didn't force anything on anyone yet they knew that GOD was leading us and we consulted with Him. Now I wonder if our leaders consult God before making decisions that cause us to fight rather than live in harmony. Or perhaps we as a group aren't praying for our leaders? Today, pray for Our President, pray for Our Congress, pray for anybody that is in a role of leadership to come together and back where we stood as a nation once upon a time - ONE NATION UNDER GOD!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Be a cheerleader today!

Did you ever want to be a cheerleader, but just didn't fit the requirements? Well, you do now!

We are all able to offer words that help those that cross our path everyday! WE might offer you look fabulous today, your smile is just contagious, I love your outfit, you always make my day so much better just by being in my life...so many ways to encourage those around you! Today encourage someone!

The reading today from Paul was to the people in Thessalonia and he was encouraging the people. Days were going to be tough, but they could do it! Always keep thanking God and keep pleasing Him not the people. Paul warned the people tough times were coming and soon and you know it! Be strong and be strengthened by God's Words. Encourage, Encourage, Encourage share God's love and be a friend today!!!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Inside our jail cells

We make choices daily that forever affect our journey! We makes some good ones and others it feels like we place ourselves inside a prison cell.

A cell where we wonder, if we will ever be freed again. Reading, this morning from Acts 16 where Paul and Silas find themselves inside a prison cell for talking about Jesus I was struck by their actions while inside the cell. What did they do? They prayed and sang hymns to God!

When we find ourselves inside our prison walls for whatever reason, do you find yourself singing hymns and praising God? What a witness these two men were to all around them and then God provided and earthquake to open the doors and chains to fall off and still they set an example for all of us to learn from they stayed put...They did not run! Knowing a man's life would be at stake they stayed put and witnessed by their example. Imagine, this scene in your head. Wow, what a testimony this jailer had to share with all that would listen. A man that was about to kill himself knowing the price was going to be his life, if these two men had escaped. He just knew they had and was about to take his own life, when suddenly this voice shouted, "STOP!"...

Are we allowing God's Light to shine through our prison cell?

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

Today, reading from Galatians 3:23 reminded me of the old hymn Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know...

Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak until the way of faith was revealed.

Thank you Jesus!

Sinners all of us. Oh our sin may be different, but we are all sinners! Only way to Our Heavenly Father is through His Son and we must believe. We cannot earn it, we cannot be good enough, we cannot do anything Jesus did it all on the cross for each of us.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

How?

How can I?

What a question that each of us should give some thought to - what is the man saying in Acts 8?

The man only knew of the old testament no written word about Jesus yet. No one had spoken about Jesus with him, but still his heart was searching for answers. Jesus was pursuing him.

Today, we have people all around us that don't know Jesus. Some think they do, Some don't want to, Some have never even heard of Him, Some balk at the thought of Jesus, Some love Him with all their might, but are afraid to stand up for Him, so do they really believe? So many thoughts went through my mind when I read this statement. "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" The original greek word was Hodegeo which meant leads on ones way. Are we leading any one on their way? Are we leading them the right way?

I guess what was really placed on my heart is are we leading people along the way? Are we sharing Jesus with others by our walks? I love WWJD, because truly our actions sometimes speak louder than our words. Are we truly walking the talk or just running at the mouth? I ask these questions aloud, because I am searching my own heart for truth as I write. Any time, I write I am also asking the same words of myself. Never ever do I want anyone that reads this blog to think I think I've got it all together. I fail moment to moment, but I want to improve moment to moment as well. I want to share what Jesus did for me with others. Yes, He died on the cross for me. My Sins cost Jesus His Life. He would have died just for me or just for you! He loves each of us this much.

Today, ponder are we leading people the right way? How do you define the right way? I am very Kingdom minded and I know that God loves me enough that He sent His Son to die for me and it's not much to ask of each of us to share this with others by our actions, by our words, by our journey! Go today and lead!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Oh to be different

Reading today it wasn't a particular passage that just took my breath away it was a person and that person was Stephen. Yes, he was unique! Yes, he was brave! Yes, he was special! Yes, he was different! He stood up for what he knew in his heart was true!

When was the last time that we did that? Oh, I like to think I will stand up, but would I really? If my life were on the line like Stephen's would I still stand tall? It is my prayer that I would, but we never know until we actually are in those shoes! Imagine, yourself in Stephen's sandals for a moment. You are shouting to a crowd that doesn't like what you are saying, but you give the history from many, many years to people that knew the history themselves, but refused to believe one part of the history. Christ the Messiah.

He called the leaders of the day out in front of everyone. He was going to make them take a stand. Could you be that brave? Could I? He tells them they are deaf to truth and a heathen! Imagine it! An angry crowd with everyone against you. Shouting their anger and they were enraged, but Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit saw the glory of God with Jesus at the right hand of God and he told them! Knowing full well what this would mean for him. The rocks begin to hit him and he is shouting for God to forgive them of this sin! Do you feel the rocks hitting you? Do you feel the pain with each one? Do you still beg forgiveness for the ones throwing them?

Going through this imagine this morning I knew full well that indeed I felt the pain of the rock being thrown, but I also felt the pain of the realization that indeed I don't beg forgiveness for the one throwing them.

Lord, indeed I ask you to help me be more like Stephen and ask forgiveness when I feel the stone come against me. Only through you will I be able to forgive I need your strength to show forgiveness never on my own will I be capable. I love you Lord and know that through you I will be able to forgive. Amen

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

That's your problem

Have you ever had a situation and you wanted someone to understand, but it seemed no one cared? It wasn't their problem or situation - it was yours?

Well, Judas betrayed Christ. He realized it and went forward declaring he had sinned and that they were about to kill an innocent man. The response was your sin is your problem not ours. Judas realized what he had done. I don't think this ever captured me before today oh I knew he went forward and tried to change things, but the words caught my attention today. Judas admitted his wrong and tried to change things, but it was too late for the others. Judas was so grieved he hanged himself, but he admitted his sin before everyone. Do you think he was grieving being found out as a betrayer not what he actually did? I do and here are my thoughts as to why he was grieving and begging them to see thew wrong he had done.

Judas was being treated like an outcast. He was outcast from the disciples. He was now outcast from the people that purchased his betrayal. Judas made his own choice of betraying Christ and his remorse wasn't truly about receiving forgiveness from Christ or at least this is my thinking he wanted forgiveness of the group that allowed him to complete the betrayal or to appear to the disciples that he was sorry. If he were truly sorry, wouldn't he have spoken directly to Christ? Wouldn't he have hit his knees begging forgiveness? Instead, he runs out and hangs himself.

Our choices may cause us grief, but do we ask forgiveness truly because we want forgiveness or is it about something else entirely? Do we truly ask Christ to forgive our wrongs or is it about appearance?

Sweet blessings,

Debbie