My Destiny Today

Let me share a little background of my life. I was born to a mother who was addicted to drugs. Her problems were so severe that my father finally divorced her. I and my sister were adopted. When I was 12 my adoptive mother died. Then I went through a tumultuous period of wandering, drugs and alcohol abuse. At age 21, I found God, or rather should I say, he found me. His power went through me bringing healing and restoration. Out of this rocky start came an ability to connect with other people, especially women who were in pain; spiritually or emotionally. Combine this connection with a gift to teach and speak. This has made me who I am today. I am a leader of women; teaching, encouraging, ministering to them. I completed 3 years of Bible College, 3 years of Seminary and Chaplaincy School. I was Valdictorian of the Seminary graduating class of 2006. I was ordained as a minister of the gospel in 2011 through Christians for Messiah Ministry. Why am I telling you all this? Is it so you will think more highly of me? Nooooo! I don’t need approval from man or anyone else. Its just to share what can be possible. God has used me to touch hundreds of women by praying for them, teaching them, encouraging them. I am making a difference. My advice to you is to find what you feel most connected to in this world. Where do you want to make a difference? What gifts do you have that will be able to serve your passion? Whatever you do in life, its always going to be about connecting with other people.. “No man is an island” , said John Donne. He has given me the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:3 This is my true reality, not religion. Some of life’s greatest challenges and places we make a difference is in our own backyards. Having kids, raising a family is one of the most rewarding efforts where we can do. I hope you have found your connection for your life. If you haven’t yet, that’s ok, we are all on a journey, maybe you haven’t come to the curve in the road yet….You will make a difference.

Your Destiny

I read something interesting this morning by Rick Warren. He was talking about finding your destiny. He said (I’m paraphrasing), find out what disturbs you to the point that you say, “I am going to do something about that.” Then use your spiritual gifts to go out and make a difference. I thought that was really good. However, a lot of things disturb me, especially in our socio – economic state our country is in. But I am not a politician, so I will not be trying to change things in our political system or social system. But I can make a difference in my world. One way I do that is by teaching violin. I teach and give the gift of music to children who will be able to take that gift with them the rest of their lives. But there’s more. These children are so precious. Their time here with me is priceless. They come in and they tell me what their day was like. They tell me what they learned in school. They tell me about their baby sister. I listen. They mostly just want me to listen. Then I encourage them, with their violin playing, with their life. There’s more to it than teaching instrumental technique. Each one of these students is very special. What a joy it is for me to teach them. Somehow, in a small way, I think I am making a difference. Come back tomorrow and I will tell you another way I am making a difference. Until then, think of ways that you are making a difference. Share them if you like

Psalm 46:10

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 It can take a lot to be still and quiet our soul. There is so much vying for our attention. From cell phones, the internet, news, social media….there doesn’t seem to be much let up. That’s why we much make a conscience effort to push away from all outside interference and get quiet. I mean really quiet. Get your body, soul and spirit quiet and still. When you do, you can hear God speak. He is always wanting to speak to you and me; but because of the clamor we can’t hear him. I hope you can get quiet today and hear him speak.

Senior Believers Don't Give up!

Yes, even in your 50s and 60s God still has a calling on your life! Are you walking in the calling? It seems as though when we reach our 50s and 60s, we become stagnant. We dismiss our calling. We think we are too old, or life has passed us by. I see too many older people who give up when they reach a certain age. What is your passion? What are you good at? It is not too late! It is never too late! LIfe can be hard. Trials do come! spouses pass away. Kids grow up and move away. But Jesus never changes. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. The giftings he put within us are still there. He is still with us. He will still help us. He still has a purpose and a destiny for our lives! So pick yourself up and brush yourself off. Let go of the disappointments and see yourself the way God created you to be. You can do it. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Do Not Escape!

In this life trials will surely come. If you have lived a relatively problem free life up to this point….great! I’m happy for you. I am not a gloom and doom person but, I will say that everyone eventually goes through a period in their life where they are faced with a great trial or tragedy. When they do, they will experience a great deal of emotional pain. What do you do then? I have had my share of pain over the course of my life. From rejection to cancer, we have experienced it all! What do you do when faced with pain like this? I have come up with some do’s and don’ts that might help. DON’T escape your pain. It’s easy to just pull the covers up over your head and sleep. That’s escaping. Watching tv or movies a lot, is escaping. Spending all your time on the computer is escaping. Anything that takes away your time, energy and connectedness to your pain is escaping. DON’T Ignore your pain. Again…avoiding it, ignoring it, not feeling it. Don’t ignore your pain. It will eventually come in at full force for you to deal with. Think of all the wisdom you could be gleaning along the way, by facing it daily! DON’T react to your pain. How easy it is to start blaming someone for your pain. Finding weaknesses and things to criticize is not handling your pain. You will only make matters worse. You’ll be hurting more and you will be hurting those around you as well. DON’T medicate your pain. This is one that is very tempting. How easy it is to just have 2 or 3 more glasses of wine! Maybe you have access to pain pills! Numbing yourself to the point of not being aware of your pain is wrong. You can’t avoid the situation by medicating yourself to the point of numbness. You pain will still be there. DON’T become bitter. Everyone goes through something. Remember….. you are not the only one that is going through a hard time. Everyone you meet is facing a hard battle. I tell you all these because I have done them all to one degree or another. I have one more don’t. “DON’T throw away your confidence which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:Hebrews 10:35 My confidence is in the Lord almighty. He promised to love and care for his own. He promised that all things would work out together for the good to them that loved God. He promised never to leave us or forsake us. When we stop having confidence in God, we lose our source of strength! We all have a need for endurance! DO Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path! DO take some time for yourself. Do something you enjoy. This is a good way of releasing stress and recharging your batteries for your journey. DO find someone that you can confide in. Having a trusted friend nearby to share with is a great way to connect with peace. DO find the silver lining in your pain. Look for insights into how the trial is making you stronger. Maybe you have gained insight into life and love. DO ask for help when needed. You are not superman or woman, you cannot do all of it all of the time. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. There are people all around who are kind and compassionate. Restore your trust in the goodness of humanity. Finally…. DON’T waste your pain. Learn from it. Grow in it. Become a better, stronger person because of it. Gain wisdom and insight. Learn to love more deeply. You will become a more compassionate person because of what you have gone through. DON’T medicate your pain ……meditate on HIS plan

Find Rest

"Come unto me all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28

The Cracked Pot

"Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand"

Jeremiah 18:6

How many of us started out with a perfect life? No flaws, no mistakes, perfect parents and siblings. I venture to say not many. We may have entered this world as wonderful little babies, but soon discovered the our surroundings were challenging! If not our surroundings, then possible something within us was amiss! We can liken our lives as a piece of pottery that became cracked! If you have ever watched a potter at work, it is quite fascinating! They slap the piece of clay on the wheel and start to a spinning! Slowly an image appears out of the hunk of clay. It resembles something like a bowl, a vase, a cup or dish. Whatever purpose the creator deemed for that particular piece of clay. If he is forming the clay into its purpose and a weakness in the clay somehow emerges; the potter may do something hard to believe. If a weakness occurs, a crack may appear in the clay. With one swift sweep, the potter will smash the clay image that was forming and begin anew!

Can you relate to this picture so far? Have you been a vessal being formed for the master's use only to find out you had a huge crack in your person? Perhaps a crack appeared because of some trauma or hurt. Perhaps you were the victim of a terrible situation. Perhaps sickness came upon you and caused a huge crack of weakness. Whatever the case, there it was! No matter how hard you tried to maintain a life of joy and peace, it always seemed to leak out! Now the potter has come along and smashed you altogether! It couldn't get much worse!

Do not fear. This is all in the master potter's plan."But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemd best to him." Jeremiah 18:4 "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel." Jeremiah 18:6 While God was specifically speaking to Israel, we can take these spiritual truths and apply them to our lives.

Right now at this very moment God is remaking you into something beautiful. You still have a purpose and destiny. It may not have been what you thought. But that is O.K. Let God remake you into the beautiful vessal that only he can. Be pliable in his hands. Become a vessal fit for the master's use.

Do not despise being remade. It is for your best interest and for the will of God.