Journal of Faith: Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling Philippians 2:12

As I get ready to celebrate Memorial Day when we remember the veterans who have served in the armed forces I can't help but think about Ephesians chapter 6. I think of those who have armored up for not only this country, but for God's country.  We should be eternally grateful to these people, and as we remember them for their bravery  not just for America's sake but also for the sake of the people of God.  Some of us have stood in the gap for others, and many people still are standing in the gap for us.  Many men and women have risked their lives, and some given their lives, to protect/prevent us from disaster both physically and spiritually.  The Kingdom of God is real, and we Christians have residency there.  Just as the veterans of our country there are veterans of the Kingdom of God.  Paul was a veteran for example, and he gave up his life for the sake of the gospel.  Every person who has stood up against evil in this world and held up the b...

I love to walk.  I will walk just about anywhere, and in that way I used to feel like nothing could stop me. I never imagined that my life would take me anywhere that my feet couldn't go.  As I look at my future walking is no longer an option.  If I am to move forward I will have to fly.   The apprehension that I have for changing how I carry on is due to the fact that in order to fly I must first jump off of everything that I am familiar with.  For a woman who values security this is not normal or in any way appealing.  Why is it so easy to trust myself and so difficult to trust God?  I have failed myself more times than I care to remember, but God has never failed me. Lord help my unbelief!  In spite of my insecurities I am now choosing to embrace my wings and try this flying thing again.  I have done it before, but I forgot how to fly after I fell really hard once.  This time I am taking another person in tote with me, but if God c...

I never used to be one of those girls that tried to get attention in any way that required the feminine touch. If it weren't for spell check I wouldn't even be able to spell the word feminine in this blog, but I have found that I have God given permission to flaunt.  Some of you might be scared by this statement, but the truth is that there is nothing wrong flaunting if you know what to flaunt.  F or some women it's their hair, shape, clothes, food, or attitude that they put up for the world to see. Other women flaunt their intellect, wealth, work ethic, or family ties.  Whatever it is that makes people look on in amazement and jealousy is the most flaunt worthy.  The problem with flaunting is that the things change.  Hair can fall out, hips can expand, money can run out, and age can play tricks on our minds.   What you flaunt today you may be ashamed of tomorrow, and others may look on in disappointment or devious satisfaction that you aren't the wa...

I feel really frustrated sometimes when I re-read the verses that talk about doing good for people who hate me and praying for people who use me.  I really don't want to pray for people who I feel like haven't earned my prayers.  Some people you never want to see again when you leave this world.  I know it sounds horrible, but if we are all honest with ourselves there are certain people we are okay with ending up in hell  That is just the flesh in us rearing its ugly head.  I need to rebuke that sometimes. God loves everyone, and we should show that to everyone.  Sometimes it even hurts our feelings to do so, but that is simply because we need a heavier dose of Jesus in us.  It is just another little reminder that God's ways are higher than ours and his thoughts higher than ours.  When I think about it really it is imperative for me to pray for everyone that has or is doing me wrong because if God does a mighty work in their life it might change t...

I love the song This is My Father's World.  It reminds me that this temporary home is still under the jurisdiction of God almighty, and it must follow the rules that God has set for it.  That means that every promise that God made to his baby girls and boys has to come true no matter what this world tries to do.  God's will for this world can not be stopped because this world is subject to him.  That also means that this world better also watch how they treat us.  As the children of the master of everything it would not be in the best interest of anyone to try to harm or hinder us because we are members of the royal family.  We have authority and power because our daddy is the King. This world has to submit to us and the royal decrees that God has set in place for us.  People may not like us, but there is nothing they can do to change our status or God's.   There can be no overthrowing of the government because God is unstoppable, and that means ...

I just recently went out of town with my son for the first time, and I was scared out of my wits because I thought he was going to do his regular terrible twos and ruin the trip with my friends.   To my amazement he acted beyond his years.   He traveled like a champ!  When we made it to our destinations he was pleasant with everyone, and I can count on one hand how many fits he had.  He ate like a gentleman and he was a polite as can be.  My friends were impressed.  They told me that sometimes they look at people's children and wonder what they were teaching their children, but that they saw that I was doing great.  I really needed to hear that because I was at the breaking point when I went to see them . I have been tired and frustrated trying to potty train him and remind him of his manners and appropriate ways to express himself.  I thought that all my hard work was for nothing because he continued to yell all the time, fight to get things th...

1Chorintians 13:13 "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."   As I asked the Lord where faith, hope, and love, which is also called charity, fit into my vision of the growing flowers of our souls he gave me a wonderful expression.  Hope is the posture that we take to receive blessings from the son/sun.  Faith is the stalk, stem, or maybe trunk that grows and holds us steady as we live out what we believe.  Love is when we give away what  we have grown .  I had the most difficulty understanding how love fit into my flowering picture. In this instance love wasn't even the word used. It was called charity.  God showed me that love is charity because it is giving without the requirement of a reward for ourselves.  Love shows itself by how we give ourselves to others.   When we give simply because we care without hidden motives that is love(charity)....