My Everything

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Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.  Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4, 5 NLT)

It took me a minute to figure it out. I was used to being at the top of my game; I wasn’t a stranger to losing, my life was blessed… I had no reason to think otherwise.

Then the trials came, the testing began, and God began to allow His purifying fires to burn. I started to lean to my own understanding. I trusted in my own strength, my own intelligence and my own knowledge to get me through. Yet, all that I had by myself was not enough.

And when I inevitably came up short, I grew frustrated. When I failed, I was depressed. When I missed the mark, I got angry. When I took wrong turns, I lost precious time.

Like I said, it took me a while, but I figured it out. Once I figured out that I had to make God my source, it all fell into place. God had to be my main source. Read the rest here!

Closer to God

Check out my article that is posted on EmpowerMoments today!

From the earliest I can remember, I have loved to learn. I was a voracious reader and read any and everything I could get my hands on. I was the child who wanted summer break to be over, so school could begin again. I read through encyclopedias and highlighted new words in dictionaries. I just wanted to know everything!

My spiritual journey has reflected the same characteristics. Even at a young age, I took notes on Sunday sermons. If something interested or intrigued me, I would research it more on my own time. My father, who was a pastor, would be the recipient of all of my curious questions on Christianity and the Bible. I loved attending conferences and workshops, and eventually my quest for knowledge led me to seminary.

Although we serve a majestic, holy and awesome God and will never be able to tap into the fullness of Who He really is, we have the privilege of getting to know more about Him every day. Our God does not stand off looking down on us. Through Jesus Christ, we are able to come close to the Lord and get to know Him intimately... CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST!

Chasing After the Best

Our society is obsessed with getting the best. We want the best job, the best house, the best clothes, the best cars. People overwork themselves so they can have more money to go to the best restaurants, and buy the best shoes and handbags. Even worse, people are in seas of debt after chasing after the best things that money could buy. Even people who supposedly have the best are still chasing after bigger and better things.


We put so much emphasis on outer appearances. We want other people to see us and admire us. We want to appear like we have it all together. We want to project to the world that we are enjoying the best things in life.

We don't want them to know the truth. We don't even acknowledge the truth ourselves.

Chasing after the best things the world has to offer only leaves you feeling emptier than when you began. No matter how much money you have to buy all the best things you can order, you will still want more. You can never fill an inner void with physical things.

It is only Christ who can fill that ache on the inside. Only true relationship with Him will bring contentment and peace. Jesus is the only One who can bring real satisfaction.

Maybe you are saved, but you find yourself still chasing after what the world has to offer. You might have Jesus and still feel the need to run after other things to make yourself happy.

You already have all that you need! It's one thing to accept Jesus as your Savior, but it's another to accept Him as your Lord.

Allow Jesus full access to your heart. Give Him precedence over every area of your life. Spend time with Him, talk to Him, read His Word, spend time in worship. And watch how your life changes.

You'll see that void begin to fill. You'll learn what it's like to walk in perfect peace. You'll discover how you can be content in any situation. You'll be able to live with real joy.

With Christ in your life, you already have the best. Don't discredit the Gift you received when you received Christ. When you put Jesus as your Lord, all that other stuff you thought was the best will show up. But, you know what? It won't even mean as much to you anymore. Because you'll know you already have the greatest treasure of all: Jesus Christ.

Verse of the Day: But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Luke 12:31

Have a Seat!

I've mentioned before that I consider myself to be a Martha. I am a person that likes to make sure that everything is in order, on point, and all details are addressed. I feel more at ease putting together projects and activities. I like planning and organizing. Just like Martha, I always want to put my best foot forward and make sure that things go forth in excellence.

The question is, when God shows up am I too busy worrying about what I'm doing for Him that I miss out on His arrival? When the Lord just wants to sit and talk to me, am I too concerned with arranging some grand gesture that I miss out on a powerful word? In my focus on trying to please Him with my actions, am I overlooking times for relationship building?

We all want to use our talents and gifts to make God smile. We want to use what He's given us in a way that will make the Lord proud. I'm sure Martha was an anointed hostess. She was vibing in her gift when Jesus came to visit. She probably felt that she was doing her part to make Jesus happy. She probably felt that all of her running around behind the scenes was needed for Jesus' comfortable stay in her home. No wonder she complained that her sister wasn't helping out.

Yet Mary recognized something that Martha missed. Mary saw that Jesus had come to their house for a reason. He didn't come to eat fabulous food or look in wonder at the decor of the home. He came to talk with them... He came to minister to them... He came to reveal more of Himself to them.

So Mary plopped right at Jesus' feet and drank it all in. Martha missed the memo.

Are you missing the memo right now? Are you running around preparing all these grand gestures for the Lord when all He really wants is to sit and talk with you? Are you so busy looking at what needs to be done/has to be done/should really be getting done that you're ignoring the fact that God is saying it can get done later?

More than anything God wants our hearts. He wants a relationship. He wants intimacy.

Sure, He appreciates your actions. He enjoys the fruits of your labors. But what He loves more than anything else is you. He wants more of you.

Before, during and after all of your planning, arranging, and organizing, make sure you take the time to sit at the Master's feet. Take the time to listen to what the Lord is saying. Before you run around getting busy with what you think will make Him happy, take some time with Him to really hear what is on His heart.

Verse of the Day: Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:38-42