Tag Archives: believers

The First 100 days – Day 53 – Reputation?

This morning, I opened my email to get this message from The Pocket Testament League:

God at Work.

Dear Christine,

Do you have a reputation for sharing the Gospel? Mallorie in Aurora, Colorado, does! Here’s the story she posted to our website recently:

“At my workplace, I have been giving out the Gospels of John to people. A couple days ago, I ran across a coworker at the shopping center. He is a Christian, but he is having difficult times, and he told me he wanted to get closer to God. I asked him how is his daily readings with the Bible, and he said it wasn’t good, but he was told that I had given someone the Gospel of John. So now he’s reading the Gospel of John booklet!”

Mallorie was right to ask her coworker about his daily Bible reading. When we read the Bible each day, we grow closer to God, because it’s through His Word that His Spirit draws us. It’s through His Word that we learn of and are reminded of God’s love for us in Jesus. The small, attractive Gospel booklets are great tools to use to bring people back into the habit of reading the Bible every day.

The League has designed daily devotions to help you read the Bible faithfully. Each weekday, we’ll send a short Bible-centered devotion, along with a word on how you can apply the reading to your life. To find out more and sign up, simply go to Daily Devotionals on our website.

In Christ,

Mike Brickley
President

P.S. Get a reputation for sharing the Gospel with others. Keep a supply of booklets with you so you can hand one to the person who has heard that you gave the Gospel to someone else! You can order on our website at Order Gospels.

This weekend, we met several people at the RV Park. I was an evangelist for three things:

The Story of Texas Museum

From Inside the Museum

AND

Escapees RV Club

I also was an evangelist for putting scripture on the walls of your home.

The Names of the Lord

Jeremiah 29:11

But not once did I inquire about a person’s relationship with Jesus. Oh, I wore witnessing T-Shirts…the chicken’s way of evangelizing. Not once did I turn the discussion to Jesus. AND – it used to be that EVERY conversation I had, I turned so that I knew what that person’s relationship with Jesus was, and how to pray for them.

What happened? I wouldn’t have thought so, but I guess my fire went out. When I talked about the museum, I was insistent that these Canadians go and check it out! Now, they have left my life, and while they DID go and check out the story of Texas, and enjoyed it very much, I don’t know if they know the story of Jesus – which brings joy unspeakable. I was excited to talk to someone about the Escapees RV club, and meet ups, and what to do with the RV, but not once did I inquire in any way about their spiritual well being. I used to have the reputation that I always knew where people stood with the Lord. I had the reputation that if someone spoke with me for any time, they knew where I stood, and knew that I would be praying for them. I used to have the reputation of handing out salvation gifts…tracts, bracelets, my own cards. But this weekend, and embarrassingly enough, for many weekends, I did NOT represent.

I don’t believe it’s wrong to share common interests, but I AM the representative of Jesus wherever I go.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1 Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

There are so many ways to let someone know that you represent SOMEONE.

When giving a tip at a restaurant, leave a card with the MONEY tip.
Have a ‘business’ card letting people know who you stand for.
Having tracts to share that fit with common topics that come up in conversation
Plan of salvation bookmarks, cards, like the colors of salvation
Having pocket Bibles to give as gifts

There are SO MANY tools we can use here in the USA…where no one is allowed to harm us for our beliefs. And yet, I tremble and fear. And I am embarrassed that I fear man more than I fear God. I am embarrassed that I fear what man can’t do to me more than I fear for the souls of the persons I meet. This is NOT the heart of Jesus.

2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

That is a wonderful heart. But today, the beauty for me is the first part of this verse…

…but is longsuffering to us-ward,

God knows me…and He knows each of us. I used to think that if I didn’t share the gospel with someone, they’d go to hell. That’s another post…about how one plants a seed another waters. But I would share the gospel out of a guilt that if I didn’t, who would? I can’t entrust someone else’s salvation to someone else that may have a problem sharing just like me! But the point is…we are all along a journey, and we are all in God’s hands, and HE is orchestrating this whole thing. The purpose is NOT to condemn myself, but to quicken the Holy Spirit within, do a heart check, and plan ahead.

So – Where are you with Jesus?

Thanks for joining me in this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Links for scripture on the walls of your home:

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me!
Or follow me with the RSS feed.

100 days of moving challenge – day 53
100 days challenge- blog – check
25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:3-5
90 days Bible Reading – Song of Solomon
50 days T-Tapp – starting a new one – day 3

The First 100 days – day 45 – Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day.
St. Valentine’s Day.
A day for giving your heart away.

Deut 11:13;
Deut 13:3;
Josh 22:5;
1 Sam 12:20-24;

This is my desire
To honor You
Lord with all my heart
I worship You
All I have within me
I give You praise
All that I adore is in You

Lord, I give You my heart
I give You my soul
I live for You alone
Every Breath I take
Every moment I’m awake
Lord, have Your way in me

More lyrics:

The question is, when we give our heart to the Lord….what are we giving to him?

Jer 17:9-10 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.

One of the great things about God is that HE KNOWS what we are made of – HE KNOWS what our hearts are like, even if we don’t. And still He says “Come”.

Jer 29:13-14 And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

He doesn’t care so much about what our heart is like, He just wants ALL of it.

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment.

And then HE will grow the fruit of the Spirit within us.

To me, the beauty of Valentine’s Day is that it is an opportunity to spread the Love of God.

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

And that kind of LOVE is powerful!

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Prov 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

And love is our Christian calling card:

John 13:35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

And so, I conclude this Valentine’s Bible thought with the words of St. John:

1 John 4:7-11 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

100 days of moving challenge – day 45 -Sick
100 days challenge- blog – check
25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:1-2
90 days Bible Reading – Ecclesiastes
50 days T-Tapp – check – SICK
30 days – T-Tapp January Jumpstart- SICK

The First 100 days – day 38 – Love?

What is love?

1 Cor 13 says love is

patient
kind
does not envy
does not boast]
is not proud
is not rude
is not self seeking
is not easily angered
keeps no record of wrongs
does not delight in evil
rejoices in the truth
always protects
always trusts
always hopes
always perseveres
never fails

The fruit of the Spirit are:

love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self-control

I’ve been thinking about ‘love’ for a while, and in a conversation on a thread I wrote these thoughts:

“The thing is, the love is no better than the sinner that professes it. I know I don’t love 1 Cor 13…shoot, I’m still working on ‘love is kind’….and to expect that my partner is less human, as in more divine than I am is to have WAY too high of expectations. I don’t know about ya’ll, but my husband married a sinner, and I married one too. We’re still workin’ our way out of the past things that have got to be taken care of so we can move forward to more wonderful…we had divorce papers on the table 5 months before our 25th anniversary. It AINT easy…but my commitment wasn’t to Jim…my commitment was to God – and as long as HE says stay…my faith is held in the balance. KWIM?”

“It is so much easier to love when you are ‘in love’….those feelings make things easier…but also blind us sometimes! It’s the long haul work that deepens the relationship. Just this weekend, Jim decided to be less than divine…and you know what? I responded in a very less than divine manner! But after 32 years, we KNOW we are going to work through it…so it is safe to have hurt feelings, angry feelings, disappointed feelings…because LOVE is no longer a feeling..it’s a state of being that governs everything else.”

There is that ‘love’ that one feels when one is attracted to the other person, and doesn’t see any faults, because all they can see is the positive. It could be the beginning of love, it could also be the fruit of lust. My point is, it’s a FEELING.

The day one get’s saved, there is this feeling of exultation, deliverance from death and resurrected into life! It’s a wonderful feeling! Walking and talking with God all along life’s narrow way!

Then a trial comes along. And God doesn’t feel so close by. And it hurts. Life just happened. And now, this is the work of working out your own salvation with fear and trembling! This is the exercise program of our faith – when we don’t ‘feel’ it, when we want to quit because it’s too hard – when everything around us is dark and stormy, and obviously God is busy on the other side of the planet!

THAT IS WHEN FAITH AND COMMITMENT ADD UP TO LOVE.

We love because HE FIRST LOVED US. When did He first love us? while we were yet sinners. Job didn’t ‘feel’ God was near. And Job was not happy that God would not hear his prayer for death! And in the middle of that dark valley of the shadow of death – God spoke. His rod and His staff straightened Job out, and then comforted him.

Job loved God before this trial. And the trial had to be tough enough to refine Job. And afterward, Job loved God more. Job never denied God, nor cursed God, but Job struggled with the trial.

In marriage, there are trials. And it’s in these trials that you work out your OWN marriage with fear and trembling. You may feel that the other person has abandoned you. You may want to abandon the other person. You may even want to kill the marriage with divorce at times. This is that dark valley of the shadow of death, where REAL marriages are made. When feelings have NOTHING to do with REALITY. This is where you practice 1 Cor 13, and this is where fruit is proven.

I don’t always feel saved – but I KNOW that I am.

I don’t always feel loved – but I know I am by God, and I know that my human counterpart tries to love me, as much as I try to love him. I KNOW that we have chosen love.

We don’t have a choice. Not if we intend to stay on God’s good side!

We are commanded to love.

WE ARE COMMANDED TO LOVE.

love one another…..

we love because he first loved

freely recieved freely give

love the church

love your neighbor

love your enemies

greater love hath no man but that he lay down his life for his friends

LOVE is NOT a feeling. LOVE IS A STATE OF BEING. LOVE IS A WAY OF LIFE. GOD IS LOVE – and God is NOT a feeling.

And when the first reaction to anything is love, then 1 Cor 13 and Gal 5 will follow in kind.

The first fruit of the Spirit mentioned is LOVE. And love has a huge definition. If we just work on being love – all the fruit will flow and life will be a little more like heaven in our hearts.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

100 days of moving challenge – day 39 – fighting cats and dog
100 days challenge- blog – check
25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:1-2
90 days Bible Reading – Job
50 days T-Tapp – check – OIP/HF, AL
30 days – T-Tapp January Jumpstart- day 12

The First 100 days – day 35 – Hurry Up!

I’m almost to the 2 month count down for going to Germany.
Before I go to Germany, I have to have this apartment packed up to move into our RV.
Before we move into our RV,

Triptich for Anna

I have to finish the painting I’m working on for Anna.

There is so much to be done to finish these paintings….there is so much to be done to pack for Germany….there is so much to be done to pack up(or rather, pack down) and move into an RV.

I feel like I am hearing this song over and over and over and over…hurry up,

The Triptich Separated

can’t waste time, hurry up, can’t waste time….racing with the clock!

I’ve written about racing, being in a race, how I’d love to do a triathlon race again(sprint….not iron man)…and how I’d love to be in better shape than I am.

But a new racing is hitting the fan…my heart. Tachycardia is a BAD thing. But anxiety is even worse.

Phil 4:6 NLT Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Matt 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

I am excited about going to Germany.

I am excited about moving into the RV full time.

I am excited to see Anna’s face when she gets these paintings.

I’m nervous, a bit, about flying for 10 hours with a service dog…I’m a bit nervous about downsizing for the RV….I’m a bit nervous about completing Anna’s paintings so that I can stand to see them hanging in her house.

Why should I take no thought, not worry, not be anxious? Because I have a promise:

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Is 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee: FEAR NOT, I WILL HELP THEE!

And there is this basic promise:

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?

So, with all my excitement, and with the short time, and with all that I have to do….my focus needs to be on this:

Matt 6:33-34 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.

What can I do more than what I am able to do? If I do all that I am able to do, then that is good enough. Getting caught up in the hurry up mentality will only make me too sick to enjoy ANY of the new things that are coming down our path.

And just in case those three things aren’t enough in the next two months, I also have to plan our three week vacation, starting one week after I get home(and that week is our move out/into week!).

“If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” ~ Martin Luther

“Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees.” ~Corrie ten Boom

There are more quotes about prayer at Christian Prayer Quotations

Prayer, a prayer time, prayer focus. My dear daughter reminded me today that the way I taught them to pray was to wake up saying “Good Morning Lord, thank you for this day…..” and to go to bed saying, “……good night, Lord, thank you for this day.” The point being, never stop in between.

Prayer combats the sin of worry…because faith displaces fear.

May we each be blessed today with what God puts before us to do…and to do that as unto the Lord.

Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Thanks for joining me in this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

100 days of moving challenge – day 35 – walk on treadmill
100 days challenge- blog – check
25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:1-2
90 days Bible Reading – 2 Chronicles 11-
50 days T-Tapp – check – SATI, OIP/HF, AL
30 days – T-Tapp January Jumpstart- day 9

Guest Blogger – What Do You do When the Pillar Moved, and You Didn’t?

My dear friend Phyllis Sather has written a beautiful blog about realizing that you missed the moving of the pillar.

“What would have happened if the children of Israel had one day decided not to get up and follow that pillar when it began to move?”

What pillar? The Pillar of the Lord, that was before the Israelites. When it stayed, they were to stay put. When it moved, they were to pick up and follow.

Ex 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

Here’s Phyllis’ blog “What do You do When You Discover the Pillar Moved, and You Didn’t?”

Thanks for joining me in this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

The First 100 days – day 31 – Represent

Christians divorcing and then claiming that they are acting as Christians, so why isn’t God giving them peace with their children?

The divorce rate among Christians is the same as non believers.

Christians protesting at funerals that God is happy with deaths of soldiers side by side with Christians saying God is love.

Christians dressing like Beyonce’, Madonna, or any other ‘American Idol’ type person – and then wondering why nobody takes them serious when they talk about holiness.

Christians going bankrupt because they cannot afford the great and wonderful church that GOD WAS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE FOR THEM.

Christians speeding down the road with the little fish on the back of their vehicles almost flying off. What a witness to the officer that pulls them over.

I have an old book – IN HIS STEPS, by Charles M Sheldon.

The popularity of this book started the WWJD movement. Of course, sometimes, it’s an embarrassment to see what folks with WWJD jewelry are doing, as they are ambassadors for Christ. Sometimes I wonder if the WWJD crowd ever read the book.

Here’s the intro:

What would happen if members of your local church pledged for an entire year not to do anything without first asking, what would Jesus do? An intriguing question, and the very one that motivated Charles Monroe Sheldon to write his Christian classic, In His Steps.

For some, following in Jesus’ steps caused misunderstanding and suffering: for all it meant an entire dedication of money, talent, and life’s work, rewarded by immeasurable peace and joy.

1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1Peter then goes on to describe HOW Jesus walked.

Here is an excerpt from the book:

“The church was the first in the city. It had the best choir. It had a membership composed of the leading people, representatives of the wealth, society and intelligence of Raymond.”

I am weary with being invited to churches that have the best choir, the most people, the best youth ministry and Sunday School (so you never have to deal with your children while you worship).

I want a church that embraces the Word of God. I want a church that asks “What would Jesus Do?” and they can KNOW what Jesus DID because they KNOW the Word of God.

The church we thought we would attend has had several things come up this year.

3 million dollar expansion project…even though God has repeatedly closed doors. So, everyone give give give!
Peace Peace when there is no peace. Preaching about peace being Jews and Palestinians living together with no borders, America with no borders between Canada or Mexico. People with nothing to divide them….that is Peace.
The first love in Revelations 2 is love of people. It wasn’t return to your first love – the joy of your salvation.
Youth program was watching movies like Transformers to teach Biblical principles.

The people are wonderful. The people love the Lord. But where does this lead?

Owing a huge debt, when the present building could be paid off.
Forgetting that we are a peculiar people, set apart to God – there is a difference between Christians and the world. And true Peace comes from being at peace with God – salvation, which sets a person at odds with everyone.
God is love of everyone..forgetting that God is the Just Judge, and He will call each man into account. God’s love is a tough love…not a fluffy good ol’ boy love.
Children are to be nurtured in the admonition of the Lord…the need to learn the ways of God from His word FIRST, not secular movies and tv shows.

Matt 7:13-14KJV Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matt 7:13-14 NLT “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.”

ONLY THE NARROW GATE – SMALL, NARROW, FEW!!!

Broad is the gate that leads to…..apōleia

destroying, utter destruction; a) of vessels
a perishing, ruin, destruction; a) of money; b) the destruction which consists of eternal misery in hell

The wide way is EASY! The path with Christ leads to persecution –

John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

And we are to have a DIFFERENT RESPONSE when the fight comes:

Matthew 5:10 Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This is the key – persecuted for righteousness sake.

John 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

The only way to be persecuted for Jesus’ name sake, is to be walking LIKE JESUS.

What would Jesus do when He was depressed? We know he went to the garden and prayed!

What would Jesus do when verbally attacked? We know that he held his tongue.

What would Jesus do if the congregation got to big? He got in a boat…he sent them away….they all created home churches.

What would Jesus Do about paying taxes? he paid them…supernaturally.

What would Jesus Do in a divorce situation? Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit are what a family is supposed to represent…they are one, and they cannot be divided.

John 10:30 I and [my] Father are one.

Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

He REPRESENTED THE GODHEAD!!!

And it’s by being ONE with the FATHER, SPIRIT AND SON, that we can truly learn to walk in Christ’s steps as HE walked with God:

John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Mark 1:12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

And this is how we are to REPRESENT CHRIST obeying His Father, and being filled of the Holy Spirit:

Rom 8:14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

How did Jesus walk? What did Jesus Do? He fulfilled this:

Eph 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Eph 5:24-25 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

We have No excuses:

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.

Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Moses pleased God – and he was the one that wrote the first five books of the Bible!

David pleased God – and he was the one that wrote most of the Psalms.

Peter, John and Paul pleased God – and they wrote most of the New Testament.

They DID NOT HAVE THE WORD TO TEACH THEM THE PATH! But, we do.

The rest of Romans 1 describes our country, and unfortunately, much of our ‘Christian’ identity.

WARNING WARNING WARNING!

Acts 28:26 ” ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

Acts 28:27 “For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'”

Rom 11:8 as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day.”

2 Tim 4:3-4 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

2 Thes 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2 Thes 2:11-12 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Jesus NEVER took pleasure in unrighteousness.

I confess, I do. Movies that do not represent Godly values. Doing things that are not the best for my body, or not doing things that ARE the best for my body. Gossip. Selfishness. Complaining. Nagging. Worrying. Laughing at jokes.

If I didn’t take some sort of pleasure in them I would quit doing them, right? As Dr. Phil would say “How’s that working for ya?”

It’s time to rise up and be the Christian that God defined….in His WORD made flesh. That is What Jesus Did Do. So, if we study what Jesus did do, in the whole Bible(Old and New) – we will have the answers ready for What Would Jesus Do, when we ask. But the real question is, does anyone REALLY want to do what Jesus Did?

And yet, that is the NARROW GATE, that is the NARROW WAY.

Matt 7:14 NIV But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

BE FOREWARNED BY THE 5 FOOLISH VIRGINS! We must keep our oil full until the Bridegroom comes…or we may hear:

Matt 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Matt 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Many…MANY…..

Matt 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Matt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Here is God’s promise:

Is 42: 5 – 6 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Is 42:7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Is 42:8-9 I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

God has a plan, and God will bring it to pass. And we have a responsibility:

2 Chron 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This promise is addressed to God’s children, called by God’s name. Who more responsible than those that go by the name of Christ?

We are not without help…God gives us many promises of His help…the point is, we must do as Jesus did…and turn towards Our Father, and focus on the WORD of God, so that we can know how to walk as Jesus walked.

Is 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

Four commandments have to deal with our relationship with God.

One commandment deals with our relationship with our parents.

Five commandments deal with our relationship with others.

God has a lot to say about our relationship with Him…because He is a jealous God!

God, through Jesus, told us that blaspheming the Holy Spirit is without forgiveness…so, God is not happy with anything that blasphemes His name. He will not shame us, and we should try to live so that we do not shame His name.

Phil 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Phil 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

We have been given everything we need to walk IN HIS STEPS. It is my prayer that every decision I make, I will begin with What Would Jesus Do? What Did Jesus Do? And then to say YES, LORD, and walk in that path, no matter how narrow or straight.

We need to make sure our ears are open, our eyes are open, and our hearts and minds are discerning God’s way. I pray each person that reads this will KNOW that Jesus is Lord of their life, and that they hear His voice, and follow Him. I KNOW that MY redeemer liveth – do you?

Thanks for joining me in this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

author note: the comment button is after sharing buttons, I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

100 days moving challenge – day -my goal, walk 30 minutes.
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading –
50 days T-Tapp – check
30 days – T-Tapp January Jumpstart- day

The First 100 days – day 23- burn that fat

Since this Fasting-For-Food project, I’ve been enlightened a bit about my eating habits. I’ve been enlightened a whole bunch!

Exodus.

Captivity. Slavery. Bondage.

It just kind of happened.

First, everyone loved Joseph…then, generations forgot Joseph…and then, “why are we bein’ so nice to these people?”

First, I just ate…it felt good, it never argued, and, with fast food, it was always there!!!!

Why didn’t the Israelites just get up and say “No More”, and walk out of Goshen? Why didn’t they just quit taken’ the stuff…and just leave?

Why don’t I just get up from the table and say “No More?” Why don’t I just stop eatin’ the stuff that’s killin’ me?

Captivity. Slavery. Bondage.

I have been held captive by food ads.

Seeing that Wendy commercial,

I can taste the fries! (side note – the new ones just aren’t as addicting to me…but then, I’ve eaten them anyway.)

THIS USED TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM!!!!!!! Well, true confessions, it still is.

The thing is…sugar, caffeine, chocolate, ice cream, french fries, Mike-Sell’s Potato Chips……

Yeah, a bag of Mike Sells, a tub of bacon cheese dip, a 2 liter of some diet pop….to make up for the calories of course…and I was in fat heaven! Comfort Food Chaos!

These are my issues. These are my food idols. These have held me captive.

Writing about this now, having not eaten any of these for 23 days, I can taste the banana split, I can smell the potato chips…and I am struggling to say NO – even though they aren’t even here!

I am 130 pounds overweight – at least. That’s the weight of a normal sized woman of 5’2″ stature. I cannot move like a 120 pound woman. That’s right, I’m over 100% excess person.

Here's my fat face!

Me at a campground with Gabriel

Sitting on the beach wall at Lake Livingston, TX

As is obvious, I need some help. I am trapped by my ‘addiction’ to my ‘idols’.

~it is now January 30, and I have since eaten a banana split, and pancakes for the sake of research. I even went to Wendy’s, but I could not bring myself to eat the french fries…so, I ate the salad!

I have suffered with health issues, because of the food I eat.

About.com has an article about how diet and disease correlate in a few cases. What does your doctor say when you have a major issue? Stop the high sweets, caffeine, fatty foods and eat more fruits and veggies.

MedicineNet.com has an article, Healthy Diet for Disease Prevention, about what foods TO eat for Healthy Living.

If we consider disease as a path to death, and health as a path to wellness and living life…then fat, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes type 2 are all consequences of choosing ‘death’ in our food.

CHOOSE LIFE!

Deut 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Deut 30:20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, [and] that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he [is] thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

The Bible does have a few things to say about what we eat….not just the legalistic following of the Jewish Kosher Diet.

The first thing – is fasting.

Deut 29:5-6 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot. Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I [am] the LORD your God.

Part of the Israelites’ process in the wilderness was not eating bread nor drinking alcohol. It was part of knowing that God was their LORD.

Isaiah talks about reasons for fasting:

Is 58:5 NIV Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?

Is 58:6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Is 58:7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

God doesn’t want fasting for fasting sake…but there is a promise for fasting to set the oppressed free…and break every yoke. Consider fasting as part of your sacrifice to God. There are many studies about it’s benefit…one is The Daniel Fast.

That brings me to a variation on fasting, the Daniel Fast, taken from Daniel 1, where Daniel refused to eat anything other than plant based foods, and water.

This book, The Genesis Diet, by Gordon Tessler, explains a lot about the types of food from the garden.

BUT HEAR THIS!!!! After the flood – God gave MEAT to man to eat!!!! Genesis 9

Romans 14 & 1 Corinthian 8 handles many of the discussions about what to eat.

And if anyone tells you that you should NOT eat meat…it is a doctrine of a demon! 1 Tim 4:1-5

1 Tim 4:1 -2 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

1 Tim 4:3-5 Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

My point, in all of this, is that God is interested in what we eat. And it IS between US and God…

Rom 14:5 Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. with

Rom 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

It is IMPORTANT, because we are putting it into HIS temple – because WE are the temple of the Holy Spirit!

1 Cor 3:16 – 17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.

I admit, I’m in an Egypt of eating, I have idols of food, I have addictions to additives. I confess that I am the temple of the Holy Ghost, and that I want the Godhead to dwell in me fully! And I have read how carefully crafted the temple items were made that were put into the Tabernacle and Temple. I admit, I do not take that much care, nor do I take care of myself as if I AM the temple of the Almighty God.

Exodus

Captivity. Slavery. Bondage. IDOLATRY.

It just kind of happened.

But what do I do now?

2 Cor 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

2 Cor 6:17-18 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Glutton is sin. It is one of the most accepted, if not THE most accepted sin in the church today. God commands me to put off sin…tear down the strongholds and high places and go no more to them. For me…that means….Wendy’s. Yes – I’ve said it. That means to NOT start up the Steak-n-Shake habit again. No more drive through Cinnabon Pecan messes. BECAUSE they pull me down a path I do not want to go!

Pr 23: 2-3 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou [be] a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they [are] deceitful meat.

Remember the verse – let every man be persuaded in their own mind. I have no problem passing cigarette displays. I have no problem passing Captain Morgan or a Budwieser Poster. I do have a problem passing the apple pie at Krogers!

My definition of idol is anything that comes between ME and God. I am going to have to adjust it.

Idol: Anything that comes between me and God, or hinders my ability to be ready when God calls me.

Idolotry: choosing anything over what God has asked of me.

Ps 106:36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.

1 Sam 15:23 For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee….

But with confession, with repentance, comes forgiveness.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].

My life is a living sacrifice to God. I do not know why I thought eating didn’t have anything to do with it! The great thing about God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, is that HE loves me enough to continue to call me further on and further in!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

Almighty Music Video

I went to a conference and met a young man that is using his talents to further the Kingdom of God, and ministering to young people about courtship, and standing up for the unborn.

His family has produced this amazing music video. Please watch.

Abortion stops a beating heart.

I am ProChoice. Before the baby, it’s a choice. After the baby, it’s a responsibility.

For more information go to Almighty Music Video.

If you are pregnant, and need help – they have links there.

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

The First 100 days – day 10 – Mighty

I just realized it would have been neat to do something about the number of the day…”today is day 10, let’s talk about the 10 plagues…oh wait, let’s talk about the 10 commandments, instead!”

That’s not what is on my heart today. Today I awoke with the scripture “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty.” That’s all I got. Over and over and over.

Zeph 3:17 KJV The LORD thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Sounds good, eh? But, to get the gist of what Zephaniah was prophesying, I thought I’d read the whole book, all 3 chapters! And, I did it in English Standard Version, so I didn’t get stuck on the KJV terms.

Zeph 1:2 & 6 ESV “I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD…. those who have turned back from following the LORD, who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him.”

Zeph 1:7 & 14 ESV Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the LORD is near; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests….The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there.

And the cry to the true followers:

Zeph 2:1-3 ESV Gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation, before the decree takes effect —before the day passes away like chaff–before there comes upon you the burning anger of the LORD, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the LORD. Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.

A Warning to those that are supposed to be believers:

Zeph 3:1-2 & 4 ESV Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city! She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she does not draw near to her God. Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men; her priests profane what is holy; they do violence to the law.

To those that are supposed to know Him, and don’t….

Zeph 3:5 ESV The LORD within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail; but the unjust knows no shame.

God gave His believers a chance, with His word, with His touches in our lives, with His Son, Jesus Christ:

Zeph 3:7 ESV I said, ‘Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction. Then your dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you.’ But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt.

Zeph 3:8-20 Is for those that have not turned their hearts away from God – it is His promise for His coming Kingdom after the Tribulation. And then, there is joy.

Zeph 3:14-15 ESV Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.

And then – here’s the verse:

Zeph 3:17 ESV –

The LORD your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

And, the Creator of the Universe, the one that made me, that set laws into motion, that decreed behavior that would honor Him, and gave the only pathway to eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ, after having fought all that were my enemies says he’ll do this:

Zeph 3:18 ESV I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach.

I really embrace this one!

Zeph 3:19 ESV Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.

Change my shame? into praise? save the lame? gather the outcast? I represent this promise! I’ll take this one, too!

Zeph 3:20 ESV At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the LORD.

I don’t know about this one…I have no fortune to be restored…but I know where my treasures are laid up! The promise is that while life here is hard, there is a better day. The promise is that the Lord will return, just as surely as the ones hearing this prophecy knew that Jesus was coming. He came first as the servant King, to deliver us from our sins, so that we could choose to heed this exhortation:

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

ESV- He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

NLT No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

It is hard for me to imagine, the God of the universe doing this for me: Zeph 3:17 ESV –

The LORD your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

I can hardly speak at this thought…..I can only imagine….

If you like the song – please support the band Mercy Me – I have.

1 The 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

I told the Lord, no one wants to read such a downer of a blog. He said “write it.”

I told the Lord, no one would read this blog, and He sent me to 1 Thes 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The Lord’s return is closer now than it was in Jesus’ day or Paul’s day – and the world is fulfilling all of the prophecies. But, we can be encouraged that the God of all creation has chosen each of us, and as long as we are on God’s side…His return will be like the arrival of the allied forces into the concentration camps of Nazi Germany. Rejoice!

Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

To the Only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 24-25)

Thank you for joining me on this journey,

…show me that God was right…and leave a comment here, saying you read this.

…and please, if you think this is relevant, share it with others…we need to gather the faithful, and to strengthen one another in Christ.

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing beneath the shadow of your wings.

100 days challenge – moving – check
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading – check
50 days T-Tapp – check
21 days Fasting for Food – check.

The First 100 Days – day 6(94 left to go)

Yesterday’s readings were in Exodus. Exodus 1- 15.

Ex 4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

The background is that God chose this man before he was born (Ps 139:13-16) as He does all of us.

Jer 1:4-5 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Moses is a type of Christ.

Born in troubling times.
Had to be hidden from those that would kill him
Taken to a pagan culture to grow
Jesus jumped the gun when he was 12
Moses jumped the gun when he killed the Egyptian
When revealed, his country turned on him.
Jesus spent 30 years in obscurity.
Moses spent 40 years on the other side of the mountain.
Moses delivered his people from the slavery of Pharoah
Jesus delivered His people from the slavery and penalty of sin
Moses was prophesied by Jacob and Joseph
Jesus was prophesied by, well, the Old Testament!
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

But Moses doubted his calling, even with a burning bush, heavenly voices, and all that. He told God he couldn’t do it.

And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I [am] not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I [am] slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. (Ex 4:10)

Likewise, Jeremiah, after hearing God’s words, said:

Jer 1:6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I [am] a child.

Even Jesus questioned before His ministry started. When Jesus was told to turn water into wine for a family wedding, he turned and told His mother “it’s not my time yet.”( John 2:4)

Other examples:

We have Jonah, and
Abraham and Sarah,
Peter,
Hosea,

and so many others that didn’t feel like they were up to the job. Even Jesus struggled with His ultimate calling:

Mark 14:34 – 42 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

AND THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE:

And he said, Abba, Father, all things [are] possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

Each of us feels weak to do what God has called us. Isn’t it interesting that we can think we are good at something, but that may not be what God has called us to do? Or what God has called us to do, we don’t feel good enough to do it?

In response to our questions, our doubts, our fears God says:

Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Ex 4:11

And then, he lets us know that He is not going to leave us alone:

Ex 4:12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Jer 1:7-8 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I [am] a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I [am] with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

Even Jesus was encouraged by His Father before going to the cross on the Mount of Transfiguration:

Matt 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Whatever God is asking us to do, He had a plan before we were born for us to perform it.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Whatever skills God is asking us to use, He created them within us, when he hand made our mouth, eyes, ears, hands and whatever else we may consider a liability. These are marks of GOD’s ownership of us…these are what make us special. And our weakness, disabilities, handicaps, whatever, give Him the greater glory when His works are done.

1 Cor 12:9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

If we could do it in our own strength – what glory is there for God? The greater glory, is when we give it all to the Lord, rest in Him, and just go with the flow.

1 Tim 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Moses delivered a lot of people…because he walked with God. Moses talked with God. Along life’s narrow way. And now he knows that:

He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart…..

You ask me how I know He lives,

He lives within my heart!

Here’s another:

Because He lives – by ignighter

And that is the point…If Jesus lives within our hearts, then we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us! (Phil 4:13)

And, we are called to be the light of the world.

Moses brought the children of Israel out of the darkness of Egypt.

Jesus brought the children of God out of the darkness of sin.

We are to give light in the darkness to call others to Him.

Shine your lights! Polish those lenses! Make white your robes, for your redemption draws nigh! Thanks for joining me on my journey.

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi