Tag: bible

Money – Blessing or Curse?

On By CarmenLeave a comment

I’ll start by writing that that there is nothing wrong with being wealthy because God does give wealth to people. A great example of God’s benevolence is to King Solomon. He told King Solomon to ask Him for whatever he wanted. Because he asked for wisdom to govern His people, God told him he would not only give him wisdom, but He would also make him the wealthiest king ever. See 2 Chronicles 1 for the full story. God is indeed generous.

Many of us are not wealthy; some are middle class, some are poor. We are what we are because of God’s will and also because of our own choices. Wherever we are, the apostle Paul tells us in the book of Philippians that we should be content with our current circumstances. 

Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 
Philippians 4:11-12

I write from experience that our current circumstances will not always be our future. By this I mean if you are barely making ends meet today, it doesn’t mean that your tomorrow will necessarily be the same. I remember a time when I was single and had only $5 in my checking account. I was waiting for an overdue check from the company that I worked for and I was in a state of panic. My bills were paid for the month, including rent, but it was too close for comfort. I did not always manage my money wisely in the past, but by this time I had become conservative in most areas of my spending. I had been tithing my money for God’s work and had the habit of saving money, so I knew that God would not let me down. I continued to do without many material things that others seemed to be able to afford for a few years, but I learned valuable lessons and was a better person for it. That was eighteen years ago and I can honestly say that God has brought me a long way. My husband and I consider ourselves blessed by God in all that He has given us, even though we are not rich and we still have a mortgage.

When we prioritize God, we see Him work on our behalf. It may not be right away, but He will help us improve our financial situation if we continue to be faithful. If you find this hard to believe, He tells us to test Him.


"From the days of your fathers you have turned away from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the Lord of armies. "But you say, 'How shall we return?' "Would anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You?' "In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the entire nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and put Me to the test now in this," says the Lord of armies, "if I do not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruit of your ground; nor will the vine in the field prove fruitless to you," says the Lord of armies. 
Malachi 3:7-11

Although this was written by God’s prophet Malachi to Israel in ancient times, it still holds true for us today. If we prioritize God in our earnings, He will not only pour out blessings, He will keep what we do have in good shape. Most of us no longer grow our own crops, but we do have jobs and we have things that can break down. We have unexpected emergencies that require us to spend money. This is what God means by rebuking the devourer and not allowing him to destroy the fruit of our ground. In other words, He will keep your old car running as you prioritize Him. He will provide what you need to make it during those emergency situations. I for one can say this is true, because I have seen God do this very thing in my life. God provides for His children in ways that we cannot imagine.

All of those extra material things that we think we have to have or need can wait. It’s not that God doesn’t want us to have nice things, He wants our devotion to be to Him first. Then He will provide for us in His time and in His way. You may have heard the saying, “show me your checkbook and I’ll show you your priorities.” What or whom do we prioritize? If it’s not God, then we will miss out.

Let’s look at another verse concerning worldly riches.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for  yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." 
Matthew 6:19-21

For those of us who like “nice things,” this verse should help put things into perspective. Instead of spending all our money on the things that we like and want, God is saying to prioritize some of the money we bring home—for His kingdom. These treasures in heaven can’t be destroyed, but our material things here on earth wear out after a while.

How can we store up treasures in heaven?

First and foremost, we can share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others who may not know Him. This only costs us our time to learn how and to share Christ’s saving work on the cross. If you are not sure how to share the gift of Jesus Christ with others, I have included a link below for Dr. D. James Kennedy’s book, Evangelism Explosion, to get you started. Years go my church in Miami offered this course, so I took it and it taught me scripture verses to explain Jesus’s work of salvation and gave me field experience speaking to others about the Gospel. It was certainly worth the investment even when I had to make the time to attend and spend a small amount in course materials.

Second, we can give our tithe weekly or monthly to our local church and/or an organization that seeks to help those who need Jesus and who may be poor, hungry, persecuted, and affected by wars or natural disasters. Many of these organizations not only help alleviate suffering, they also share the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, we could give directly to others that we know are hurting and have limited resources. We can even take someone to lunch who is down and out to let them know that they are loved and valuable. We can also volunteer our time and talents which can positively impact someone who needs a mentor or friendship. 

Our lives are but a vapor and how we steward what God gives to us is what matters. I hope that when I get to heaven, God will say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” I know that when I am there, I won’t be thinking about money or the material things that I possessed here on earth. How about you?

May God bless you abundantly as you seek His will for your life.

Evangelism Explosion – Dr. D. James Kennedy

https://a.co/d/bmi9wLD”

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

Trusting God

On By Carmen1 Comment

What do you do when you feel deep inside that a life storm is on the horizon? You’ve seen the warning signs and you know that trouble is around the corner. You just don’t know if the trouble will directly affect you. I’m not writing about a person who has a habit of worrying, rather someone who has committed their life to Jesus and has walked with Him; someone who has acknowledged and experienced God’s blessings in their life, but now is in the middle of a storm. Life has been pretty good for a while, and now despite all your efforts a storm is heading in your direction.

This is what is going on in our life and I’ll explain, but first I want to share a scripture verse that can help bring perspective and assuage fear.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 
Isaiah 41:10

God gave us scripture (His word) for many reasons, one of which is to encourage us. His word is true and can be trusted. I know this personally because I have had occasion to deal with storms in the past and I have relied on God’s word to help me through each one. The anxiety could have done me in if I had not redirected my focus and belief to what God says. There were times during bad situations that fear would rise in me; I had to carry a notecard in my pocket with specific scripture to read several times daily. This helped me overcome my distress and although my future was unknown to me, God knew all about it—and He knows now. He also knows all about your situation that is causing you anxiety.

It helps me to really question my faith in times like this. I tell myself if I can believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, then I should be able to believe that He can protect me through a dark storm.

Reread the scripture verse above from Isaiah. He is telling us that He will uphold us, so we should hold on until God changes the situation or takes us through the storm. This means that we don’t give up if we don’t see results quick enough. It means that we trust blindly. A side note, we should also be open to what He tells us to do or gives us to do—even if it is hard or we don’t like it.

I remember many years ago listening to Dr. Tony Evans, senior pastor at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas. I had a cassette series of his sermons on faith that I listened to while I jogged around my neighborhood that helped me tremendously. I remember Dr. Evans saying “Life is full of trials; you are either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or about to go into one.” There is no way to avoid them, so we must accept this fact and learn to grow in faith in God. Below is one of the scripture verses that I memorized and still use today, thanks to Dr. Evans.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 
Hebrews 6:11

This verse has always meant so much to me. It has helped me understand that I must have faith in God before I see His answer; that I have to hold on to His word; and that He will reward me for my faith. This is one of those verses that I wrote down and put in strategic places that would remind me daily of my part, which helped to relieve my fears. I have good news for you, my friend—God will do His part! I am happy to share that I’ve been there, done that. May this be a blessing to you while you are walking with God through your storm.

If you are a Christ follower and you are seeking God and His will, He will provide for you in good times and difficult times. This provision comes not only in our basic needs like food, shelter, and money to pay the bills; it also comes as messages to us through the Holy Spirit while we’re seeking Him. What I mean is that God will speak to us through the Holy Spirit to keep us on His path and He will provide a word in time of need. For example, recently one Sunday while eating breakfast before I started getting ready for church, I was watching Dr. Charles Stanley on TV. “It just so happened” that Dr. Stanley’s message was about levels of faith—exactly what I needed to hear and be reminded of. God’s timing is perfect!

Our Current Situation:

My husband was informed a few weeks ago that there would be layoffs in the company he works for and has been with for many years. We have seen this coming in the last couple of years due to loss in sales. My husband is a diligent worker who treats his job like it is his own business. There are a few employees that report directly to him and he likes all of them. He is very upset that he may be losing any of them because he knows that they depend on their income to support their family. He is also aware if sales don’t improve he may very well lose his job. He is a few years away from retirement and we still have a mortgage to pay as well as life goals we want to accomplish including goals for a business we want to start when he retires. Meanwhile, I have just determined what God wants me to do after having a previous career in corporate America 30+ years.  I am now starting to write this blog to share with others just how good God is. This means that my husband is the bread winner and sole provider at this time.

We both know that God is our provider and that everything good comes from Him. We have seen Him change our lives for the better when there were storms before. We trusted Him and prayed for His help and guidance. He moved on our behalf which was seamless and better than what we could have asked for. There are so many stories of just how good God is that I want to share as I continue writing.

Remember His Past Faithfulness:

Around twenty years ago, I personally went through a massive round of layoffs with a company I worked nine years for when I was single and needed every penny of what I made. I had little savings and no family nearby. The one thing I did have was my faith in God. I was already seeking after God prior to this scary event in my life and was learning about Him through reading the Bible and listening to men of great faith. Dr. Evans taught me to remember God’s faithfulness in the past just as the shepherd David said to King Saul when he encountered Goliath.

And David said to Saul, “May no one’s heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!” But Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight him; for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior since his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a sheep from the flock, I went out after it and attacked it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth; and when it rose up against me, I grabbed it by its mane and struck it and killed it.  Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The LORD who saved me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, He will save me from the hand of this Philistine.” So Saul said to David, “Go, and may the LORD be with you.”                                 1 Samuel 17:32-37

God is pleased with our outrageous faith in Him! These teachings and truths are what got me through.

Within six months, I was rehired by the same company, but only part-time, which was okay with me as I had started working to build my own business as a wardrobe consultant.

As for now, my husband and I will go through this impending storm in our lives trusting God. This doesn’t mean that we are not concerned, it just means that we have another opportunity to grow our faith in God. It means that we will endeavor to learn from this experience and put it to good use. As a friend of mine used to say when a tough situation would occur, “I can’t wait to see what God is going to do.”

Going through a storm may not be easy, but God is always faithful! We increase our faith by walking with God through hardships so we can be a blessing to others who go through similar situations.

Heavenly Father, I pray for everyone out there today that is going through a storm in their life. Give them the encouragement that they need to follow You and to not fear. Help them to feel Your presence and to follow You in faith so that they too can see Your divine power at work. In Jesus’s mighty name. 

Below are some resources to help you through your walk of faith with God. I have listened to both Dr. Charles Stanley and Dr. Tony Evans for many years and they have always been on point in their teachings from the Bible. I consider them both godly men who have walked the life of faith with God. Even though Dr. Stanley passed into eternity last year and is now resting in God’s glory and peace, his teachings are still available. I have included links below to the messages that have helped me in the past to overcome my fear while walking with God through my life’s storms.

Dr. Charles Stanley – Levels of Faith in the Life of a Believer  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLuK_tSOxBk

Dr. Tony Evans – The Heroes of Faith https://www.ocbfchurch.org/downloads/heroes-full-series/

As always, I have a song to share with you that has been a great comfort and encouragement to me.

“Walk by Faith” – Jeremy Camp

What Does It Mean to Be a Child of God?

On By CarmenLeave a comment

A Child of God Has Eternal Salvation

First, to be a child of God, we must surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, the Savior of all mankind. In His word, Jesus says that He is the only way to God. When we know Jesus, we also know the Father.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

John 14:6-7

In perhaps the most well-known or memorized verse in Scripture, we are again told that we belong to God if we believe in Christ. 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Let’s also look at what the verses following John 3:16 say about being surrendered to Jesus Christ.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:17-18

A Child of God Is Granted Forgiveness of Sins 

Once we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, we are His! It does not matter what we have done in this life, our sins are forgiven when we repent. Yes, we start over with a blank slate. As far as the east is from the west, our sins are remembered by God no more.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our wrongdoings from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:11-13

I am sure that you have noticed the word “fear” in the above scripture verse. It may cause you concern, but no need to worry. Merriam-Webster has a fitting definition regarding fear of God: Profound reverence and awe especially toward God. If we belong to God, we need not be terrified of Him.

A Child of God Has a Relationship with the Father

God wants a relationship with us and He created us for this very reason. This relationship is unlike any other that we have or have ever had before. It is a relationship with our Creator whom we can depend on and who will never betray us. If we want to have a relationship with Him, we must have a complete surrender of the heart, meaning we walk with Him in obedience. We can tell Him anything. He already knows. He knew from the beginning of time everything about us. And He loves us just as we are. But, He does not want us to stay the way we are; rather He wants us to be more like His Son, Jesus. So, how do we achieve becoming more like Jesus? We remain (abide) in Him—we obey Him. Let’s look at what Jesus says about this.

“Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them in to the fire; and they are burned.”

John 15:4-6

One way that we remain in Christ is to ask Him for wisdom, which we are told to seek. We also get wisdom from reading His word and we are instructed to meditate on it daily. The more we read the Bible, the more we understand. If we continue to read it throughout our lifetime, we will find new treasures each time we read it. We can read God’s word many times over for the rest of our lives and never run out of new revelations. As we read and meditate upon God’s word, the Bible, we should do what it says to do—apply these instructions to our lives. This applying of instruction is abiding in Christ, living according to His will. It is not always easy because Satan will try to deceive us and twist God’s word. As I mentioned in a previous post, “Relationship with God-Part 2,” this is why it is crucial to fellowship with other Christ followers—to help us in our daily walk with God. We need others to help us understand God’s word, pray with and for us, and walk with us through our struggles.

A Child of God Receives Divine Protection

Once we become a child of God, we receive His protection. If you are a parent, you naturally protect your children. You teach your children obedience and when they step out of line, you give them consequences to help them learn that their wrong actions are not good for them. You want the best for them and you will go to any length to protect your child. This is the same for God, except that God is all powerful and thwarts the evil intended by Satan to destroy us. When we walk in God’s precepts, we are divinely protected. 

The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time and forever.

Psalm 121:7-8

There are times when we are blindsighted by circumstances in life that we never saw coming; or even times when we do see trouble on the horizon and we don’t know what to do. God’s children have hope and know that He will intervene and protect us. Today, there are circumstances we see that are a threat to our way of life and even our existence. What would we do if we had no hope? It’s sad to write this, but many people today live life without God and therefore have no hope.

A Child of God Receives Provision

Our very existence depends upon God. We can’t breathe without the oxygen that God has placed into the atmosphere. We can’t eat without the food God has provided for us. We can’t drink without the water that God sends from the heavens. We may acknowledge these facts and understand that all these good things come from God, but do we believe this about everything else? What about our family? mortgage or rent? work? education? transportation? clothes? rest and relaxation? God provides all our needs and even some of our desires as well. In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples to not worry.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span? And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow, they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:25-34

Can we agree that God provided for us when we were babies and He is still providing for us today? If so, we can be certain that He will provide for us tomorrow. Our part is to trust Him, no matter how uncomfortable our circumstances may become, for He is with us always.

A Child of God Receives Blessings

The greatest blessing that we could ever receive as a child of God is eternity in Heaven with our Savior Jesus Christ. There will be no evil in heaven; nor will there be tears, worries, or failure. Further, scripture tells us that we, His children, can not fathom what God wants to give us—not only in Heaven, but in the here and now, on this earth.

Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the human heart, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.

1 Corinthians 2:9 

There are so many blessings that God gives us just because He loves us. I know many of you have received special blessings that God has given just to you that you cherish and I would like to hear about them.

I will share a few of my blessings from God that I thank Him for lately:

My husband, my parents who are still living in their eighties, my golden retriever Bella, the ability to work from home—and one that I never even thought to ask for—wild blueberries growing in my back yard. When we purchased our home in South Carolina three years ago, one summer day a few months after we moved in, we discovered that we had lots of blackberries in our backyard. I had a true déjà vu moment! It took me back to my childhood in Louisiana where I picked blackberries with my sweet grandmother. I remember the fun we had picking them and then later making a quickie pie with them. All I could think was wow—what an unexpected blessing! It was like a warm, cozy moment that transported me back to my childhood.

As I close, I am reminded of the great sacrifice Jesus made for me. I am a child of God; I am no longer a slave to past sins or failures.

It is my sincere prayer that anyone who reads this blog today and has not yet surrendered their life to Christ Jesus will do so today and become an heir to the throne of Heaven. 

I hope you enjoy the special song below that I have included for your listening pleasure.

“No Longer Slaves” – Jonathan David and Melissa Helser

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

Relationship with God – Part 2

On By Carmen15 Comments

Once you’ve accepted Christ’s invitation to be the Lord and Savior of your life, you will want to strengthen your relationship with Him. The way to do this is to learn about Him, that is to read about Him, to seek Him, to commune with Him. God wants us to know about Him and He wants a relationship with us. He has given us His Word, His Holy Scripture in the form of the Bible.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

THE BIBLE IS A GIFT FROM GOD

Over the years since my salvation in Christ, I have heard and read about Bible reading plans. Some of these include reading the Bible in a year. This will require dedication and time daily to study the Scriptures. You will need to carve out a set time that works best for you based on your work and personal life. Some people (including me) prefer to wake up early in the morning before they start their day with their families and/or work. I like reading the Bible first thing because I have uninterrupted time with God to study His Word and I feel that I start my day off with good news and the ability to meditate on or practice what I learned for that day. Other people may have time to read on their lunch hour, and still others prefer to wait until evening after the children have gone to bed and the chores are done. One factor to consider is whether you are an early riser or a night owl. There have been times that I have read morning, noon, and evening. What’s important is that you read consistently each day. If you miss a day here and there, don’t fret, it happens to all of us. Just start again the next day and keep reading. God is not looking for perfection, He sees our efforts and knows our intentions.

When starting to read the Bible, many wonder where to start. Some say that it is good to start in John in the New Testament. Here you will find John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Everything in the Bible points to Jesus, the gift of God, and promise of salvation. The Old Testament is full of prophecy that points to the promise of our Savior; the New Testament is about the life of Jesus and His redeeming work on the cross; and the last chapter, Revelation, is about His second coming and eternal rule over all the nations. I won’t recommend where you should start, but I have always started in Genesis and read all the way through to the end of Revelation. Each time I read through one version of the Bible I immediately start another version. There are many versions available and the hardest one for me to read was the King James version. I promise you that I read it in its entirety! It took a little more effort, but was completely doable.

Before reading each day, speak with God in prayer and ask Him to show you what He wants you to understand and learn. Also, remember to meditate on what you learned and maybe even practice it for that day or talk to someone else about it who reads the Bible and is a Christ follower. There will be times that you may not understand what you are reading and that’s ok. Perhaps after talking to your friend who is also reading, you may understand better. There have been times that I have searched for online comments by Christian sources that I have followed and trust in their knowledge of the Bible. There are also study Bibles available that explain the context which references the time and customs when the chapter was written. Also, you can reach out to the pastor of the Bible-believing church you will be attending.

FELLOWSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR WALK WITH CHRIST

It is important that you attend a church that teaches from the Bible. You may want to go to several churches before you decide which one is right for you. And remember, ask God to show you where you should attend and He will make it clear to you. When my husband and I moved from Florida to South Carolina, we started searching for a new church home. This was during COVID, so it took some time because some churches were just starting to reopen their doors. We attended many different churches before we decided on one. We would go to one church and then another, until we gravitated toward one church in particular. The primary reason to choose a church is that it teaches from the whole Bible with Jesus as the central theme, and all honor and glory are given to God—not man. There are other attributes that are important such as a youth program, Bible study, the worship ministry, men’s and women’s ministries, financial stability, outreach programs, and for my husband and me—cultural diversity in the membership.

Once you decide on the church that you want to attend, you should attend regularly and get involved. It may take a few weeks before you get to know some of the people, but make it a point to reach out to the members of this church. Remember the old saying, “To make friends, you have to be a friend.” Yes, you must make the effort to get to know people. When you do, soon you will start to be invited to the different programs that the church offers. Make it a point to introduce yourself to the pastor and his wife. They may be busy talking to others after church on occasion, but wait for your opportunity to talk to them. The leadership wants to meet you and know what they can do to help you in your walk with Christ. They will help you get connected in programs that you need or have an interest in. The reason to get connected is not so you will have a social calendar full of events; it is so that you can connect with others that have walked with Christ during both good times and trials. They will be more than happy to help you with your struggles and celebrate your victories.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

I remember when I first started attending a new church in Miami many years ago, I made a promise to God (after I surrendered my life to Jesus) that I would do whatever He wanted me to do. I was sincere. It wasn’t but a few weeks later that there was a request at this church for volunteers at a pregnancy center. I felt in my spirit that God wanted me to get involved and I did. I contacted the pregnancy center, signed up for a Saturday orientation class, and became a volunteer at the center closest to my home. I could not have imagined how God would use me in this opportunity to counsel young pregnant women (and sometimes their husbands/boyfriends) on the sanctity of human life. It was a joyful experience for three-and-a-half years to volunteer weekly at this pregnancy center while meeting many who were determined to keep their babies and counseling others who were scared and wanted to make a good choice for their lives. I also gained a few friends that I know were and still are praying for me to reach God’s potential for my life.

I could go on and on about all the doors God opened for me to get involved in this church. There were many and I walked through them as He led me. What I gained in return was far more than I could have ever imagined or asked Him for. He is so good to us! I made so many dear friends and met women who wanted to help me and walk alongside me in my walk with Christ. There were many who were praying for me. Others taught me God’s word, gave me a safe place to talk about my struggles, showed me kindness, invited me into their homes, paid for Christian conferences (that I couldn’t afford and would never have asked for), taught me leadership skills, and gave me opportunities to grow in leadership. God only intends good for us and HE makes the way. We just need to be willing to follow His lead.

A NEW AND MORE JOYFUL LIFE

Jesus promises us that we will have an abundant life while living on this earth. We all want to have deep inner joy and feel like we have purpose in the here and now. As we become a doer (not just a hearer) of God’s word, we will find that our walk with the Lord leads us to a purposeful life. We grow in confidence in Him to achieve goals that we never imagined we could. And when the difficult trials of life come, we learn who our provider is—our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we have walked with Him through the storms, we understand that He loves us and cares for us and will never forsake us.

“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.”

John 10:9-10

My prayer is that you will allow God to show you His love and mighty hand that will make a way for you. May you also reach your full potential in Christ Jesus and enjoy the abundant life.

Below is a song that I have included for your listening pleasure. Music was and still is a great enjoyment and support that helps me in my walk with Christ. I hope you enjoy it too.

“I Surrender” – Hillsong

See my previous post Relationship with God.

Relationship with God

On By Carmen16 Comments

For those who may be struggling and are looking for a better, joyful life and would like to taste and see the goodness of our Lord Jesus, it is only an ask away. You can ask Him to be Lord of your life, to forgive you of your sins, and to direct your path going forward. 

For He says,


“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8

If you surrender your life to Him, He will guide you in the way that you should go and you will indeed have a fuller, more joyful life here on earth and eternal life in heaven. This does not mean that you will not have trials and suffer hardship in this life, but as you trust in Him, you will experience His closeness and power in your life. You will understand true joy and experience the peace that surpasses all understanding.

My friends, we are all going to die and pass into eternal life. What’s important is for us to know where we are going. If we know the Lord Jesus, if we surrender our lives to Him and abide in Him, we don’t have to be afraid of dying. In fact, we can look forward to eternal blessings and peace with Him.

His word tells us


For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:16-17

Below is a beautiful song that I want to share with you.

“O Come to the Altar” – Elevation Worship


I pray if you have never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, that you will today.

Also, see my post Relationship with God – Part 2.

May God bless you.