I tried using the directions but they are too complicated, I’ll just try to do it without the directions! Sound familiar? Sometimes it may feel like that when applying biblical instructions to your life. How do we apply the Bible to our lives? First, we must know  it. This can involve listening to it, reading it, meditating on scriptures, memorizing God’s Word, attending Bible study groups, and listening to Bible-focused messages. It’s hard to apply something you do not know, so it is important to actually read and study Scripture for yourself. On difficult modern  issues, we often treat the Bible as irrelevant. But the Bible is our instruction book on life, there are answers in God’s word to even the toughest problems. The thing is sometimes it’s a challenge to know when and which scriptures to apply to certain situations. How does an ancient book, written thousands of years ago, connect with our twenty-first century problems? You are getting divorced. You catch your child posting something inappropriate on the Internet. Someone in your circle is depressed. A relative was just diagnosed with an incurable disease. You don’t want to hand out religious clichés or just say have faith, you want to offer real hope and help from God’s Word. Sometimes this can be easy, but sometimes it’s like trying to put something together using the directions. The directions are so complicated you decide to just wing it without the directions.( that’s me). Usually we either mess it up or have a headache from trying to fix it and give up. This same concept applies to our lives and God’s directions. In order for the outcome to be good and eliminate unnecessary  headaches , we must learn how to be obedient and follow God’s directions. Life situations that causes anxiety or worry such as; financial crisis, exams, relationship issues, child discipline, death, and even losing a job, all have easy instructions to follow in the Bible. We have God telling us in Philippians 4:6 to “Do not be anxious about anything” . In Genesis 37, we have the story of Joseph which teaches us how to respond in a godly way when fired unjustly from a job, or treated unfairly, it helps us to maintain a perspective that God is working it out for our good. We are confident that the Bible speaks relevantly and authoritatively to problems such as anger, conflict, pride, fear and money. We tend to gravitate toward the scriptures that we know and are easy to understand, although they may not apply to the situation. How can we be sure we are using scriptures properly? How can we be sure we are doing justice to the Author’s intent? How can we be sure the Apostle’s meaning in the First Century applies to the present? The challenge is even greater when using the Old Testament. What does wandering Israelites about to engage in bloody warfare have to do with drug abuse, prostitution, sex trafficking, school shootings, etc.? A lot of questions, right? If you know the answers, feel free to share. This is what I know, the Bible is God’s revelation for believers of all ages, times, and places. It is good to use scriptures that speak specifically to our everyday experiences. We share the same struggles common to people of all eras, so we should expect God’s revelation to them to resonate to us. The Bible treats sin and suffering in such profound and multifaceted ways that no struggle,  no matter how complex, stands outside the Gospels truths. I cannot stress enough the importance of Bible study, not just in groups, but your alone time with God. My son taught me that, and I can honestly say it has helped me to understand even more deeply the Christ-centered perspective the Bible advocates. You will find fulfillment in the Word, you will get closer to Jesus, who will bridge the gap between the Old testament, New Testament and these modern times. The Bible is “Our book, because it is His book, and we are His!” I like that, don’t remember who said it. Although the Bible may not always give us a step-by-step approach to present problems unforeseen by biblical witnesses, because it was inspired by God, it provides a comprehensive view of people and problems that we can use. The first truth is, no matter the era, it is the same God, the same Savior, and the same Salvation. The second truth is Jesus revealed God’s Holiness, he showed us God’s wisdom, and in His death He illustrated God’s love. We may not be able to grasp everything about God(He never fails to amaze me) but we as believers know that he is limitless and we are limited in our thinking. That being said instead of going to the “easy” or familiar scriptures, dig deep with study, seek Jesus for answers and there is no problem or situation the Bible can’t help you with. After all it was written by man but inspired by God. Much Love….

I was asked the other day if I thought God brings people together or if marriages happen more as a result of our choices. This really is a God’s sovereignty versus our free will type question. I believe if we let him, God leads us to jobs, ministry opportunities, educational opportunities, relationships, so why not spouses too? His Word assures us that He is personally involved in, and concerned with our lives. So yes, I believe that God does divinely connect people together. That said, God still respects our free will. I believe if God has marriage in your future, he will bring that person in your life and He will use your choices, the choices of your spouse to be, and His sovereignty to make that happen. I believe the choices we make can position us for the day when the right someone comes along. I am by no means an expert on marriage but I do know that the Word says in marriage, two people become one flesh. So I think if there is one aspect we should be placing in God’s hand, it definitely should be marriage. Marriage will alter the course of the rest of your life. Your choice of a spouse is important. We need to pray and ask for God’s guidance, discernment, and wisdom. Then we need to pay attention when he speaks. Don’t ignore the signs or the gut feelings. Sometimes we just ignore God’s signs and answer because it’s not what we want to hear. Ok then, why did we ask in the first place? That is what I mean when I say God’s “match making” includes our freedom of choice. He is not going to force on us this man or woman who He has placed right in front of our eyes.

I really don’t think it is as simple as asking God and He will send that soul mate you’ve been waiting for. It will involve patience, and trusting that God knows what and who is best for us. Because again what we think we want may not be what’s best for us, (I don’t want him or her because fill in the blank). God can bring people together, but people also have to choose to make a relationship work. God is sovereign and can make a situation good, but it is up to us to stay committed to the marriage. I wish I had known this when I was married, but then again I did not know Jesus like I know Him now. I know now for anything to work in our life, our primary focus should be on Jesus as he brings people and things into our life. If you are searching for a spouse without first developing a personal relationship with Jesus, you are putting the horse before the cart. Our actions and thoughts have an impact on our outcomes. At the end of the day, God has a way of bringing people to where He needs them to be and somehow that balance includes both our free choice and His sovereign will. How he does it is one of those mysteries about God which we as mere mortals will never know, at least not in this life. I think the key to mold God’s sovereignty and our free choice is to make our choices only in obedience to him. So what do you think? Is God a matchmaker? Do you believe he has or will send you your soul mate?  Comment here or go to Face Book Emanuel group and comment. I really would like to know your thoughts. Love and Blessings…

The first bike I owned I was in my thirties. That is when I taught myself how to ride. I don’t remember having my own bike growing up. I remember watching other kids ride. They would take their hands off the handle bars and scream, “look no hands!” The first time I saw my son do that I was terrified. Actually the first time he rode without training wheels I was scared for him. I haven’t rode a bike in a long time, but I probably would still hold on to the handle bars like they were stuck to my hands, just as I do the steering wheel on my car. And the thought of no hands, I don’t think so! Don’t judge me; I’m a scary cat when it comes to any wheels! However, when it comes to our God, I am learning to have the fearless faith of a child. Look God, no hands! The type of faith that I can let go and let God. I know if I let the bike handle bars go, in my frightened state I would definitely fall. But even if I am afraid or unsure of a situation or circumstances, I can let go and let God and I will not fall! I’m sure you’ve heard it before. Let Go, Let God. This is not just a cliché. I know this for a fact because I am a witness. He has caught me over and over again when I let go. We are human and we are going to struggle with being afraid. God knew that we would be people who struggle with fear.  He knew that in this world darkened by sin, there would be many things to be afraid of.  If you search the Bible, the word “Fear” is mentioned 326 times.  Over and over again, God says, “Do not be afraid.” God is with us no matter what fearful time we are going through. He helps us.  We can’t do it on our own.  He gives us His Word to hide in our hearts when we are scared, His Holy Spirit to comfort us. However, it is up to us to take our hands off and let go, Look God, no hands! Even though I’m scared, even though I have no idea where I’m going, even though I’ve been hurt and abused, even though I’ve been diagnosed, even though I feel terrible, even though I lost a love one, even though I lost my job, even though I can’t pay my bills, even though…..look God, no hands! God did not give us the spirit of fear! We have to trust God and let go. If we don’t let go, fears tend to grow, sometimes out of control.  The more we are afraid, the less we live the life that God has for us.  Being afraid is like being in a prison, but God has set us free.  As His children, we can trust Him because that is what a  good Father does. When those training wheels were taken off my son’s bike, he trusted the person behind him to hold him up until he could keep going on his own. (it was not me because I probably would not have let go) And when the person let go, he kept going. That’s how our Father God works. When we let go, God holds us up. We still keep going; stopping is not an option, because we know God has our back. Father God loves us, Jesus died for us, He will not let us fall! We have to trust God more than we fear the world. I would like to ride a bike again; it’s on my bucket list, 🙂 I don’t know if I will take my hands off the handle bars, although God is helping me with putting my faith over my fears, so we will see. Have a wonderful weekend and stay blessed.  Much Love…

There is no improvement except through change. Change does not happen overnight. It is a process and sometimes we can lose our momentum. It helps me when I keep visible reminders on my bathroom mirror, at my desk, on the refrigerator, etc. I want to share with you a chart I keep at my desk as a daily reminder and review. It encourages me in my pursuit of change and fills me with scripture to know I am heading in the right direction.

 THE CHOICE WITHIN YOU

Choice #1- EVALUATE YOUR PRESENT ATTITUDES (Philippians 2:5). Are my attitudes today pleasing Christ and me?

Choice #2- THINK, IS YOUR FAITH STRONGER THAN FEAR (Matthew 21:21). Am I taking faith-action on my present fears?

Choice #3- WRITE A STATEMENT OF PURPOSE (Philippians 3:13, 14). Have I written, verbalized and acted on a plan to change my attitude?

Choice #4- DETERMINE IF YOU HAVE THE DESIRE TO CHANGE (Psalm 37:4). Change is possible if you I want it bad enough. Am I willing to pay the price?

Choice #5- LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME (Matthew 6:34). Am I allowing tomorrow’s troubles to sap me of today’s strength?

Choice #6- CHANGE YOUR THOUGHT PATTERNS (Philippians 4:8). That which holds our attention determines our action. Am I thinking on the right things?

Choice #7- DEVELOP GOOD HABITS (Deuteronomy 6:5-9) A I repeatedly acting on positive habits to overcome negative ones?

Choice #8- CONTINUALLY CHOOSE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE (Proverbs 3:31). Am I continually choosing to change?

 THE OPPORTUNITIES AROUND YOU

Opportunity #1- ENLIST THE COOPERATIONS OF A GOOD FRIEND (Deuteronomy 32:30). Do I meet regularly with a friend who helps me?

Opportunity #2- ASSOCIATE WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE (James 4:4). Are my friends helping or hindering my changes?

Opportunity #3- SELECT A MODEL TO FOLLOW (Philippians 4:9). Am I spending time with a person I admire?

Opportunity #4- LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES (John 8:11). What recent mistakes have I made which caused me to change?

Opportunity #5- EXPOSE YOURSELF TO SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCES (Luke 11:1). What positive event or person will I see today?

 THE GOD ABOVE YOU

Strength #1- GOD’S WORD (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). Am I receiving day strength from God’s Word?

Strength #2- PRAYER (James 5:16). Am I praying daily and specifically about my attitude?

Strength #3- THE HOLY SPIRIT (1 John 4:4). Am I continually filled with the Holy Spirit?

 Please read today’s Food for the Soul. I have shared my daily faith confession. Read it every day and memorize it if you can. I promise you it will have you thinking you are all that and a child of God! Because you are. Much Love…

This life is full of parasites that can suck the life out of you if you let them. (and I’m not talking bugs). It seems every day you ducking and dodging these parasites. Your home, which should be your escape, can also shelter them. What parasites am I talking about? I’m glad you asked. To name a few, there is low self-esteem, jealously, lying, despair and guilt. There is immorality, corruption and greed. There is fear, who nurses itself in your thought life, feeding off your inner struggles and hang-ups. And last but deadly; there is the past, which won’t let you go. That’s just a few. If we let them, these parasites will attach themselves to our life, and destroy our successes and stop our dreams and goals. Everyone has had to deal with these parasites at one time or another. We all have had a rough day or a “bad night”. The good news is there will be a morning after! It is then we can rejoice, because God has blessed us with the gift of another day! It is a new day, an opportunity to push any unwanted partners, curses, or fears that stops us from achieving our goals. It is a new day to regain control and realize we have the power! We can refuse to feed the parasites, and they will eventually die. We can think positive until every negative parasite is choked to death by our positive energy. We have the power!

Ok, you may say I’m ashamed and I am broken. I have let these parasites suck the blood out of me for so long, I feel powerless and I don’t know where to begin. Begin by thanking God for the morning after, a new day, with new mercies.No need to feel ashamed. In the Kingdom of God, the good, the bad, and the ugly all have equal opportunity. God has no respect of person. In fact, faith is the only thing in this world where there is true equal opportunity. Everyone can come to Jesus. Doesn’t matter what you have or have not done. God will not look at morality and good works. He will look at your heart. He looks at the faith that lives within. The morning after, just believe that you are a child of Abraham and God does not lie. You will find the power to stand up, release the grip of parasites and boldly walk into your destiny.  The promises of God are waiting for you…. Much Love

This past weekend I started to fill a bit overwhelmed with everything I have going on. Because I have been God’s side kick lately, he showed me just what to do. I forgot about myself and what I had to do, and went out to serve others. Monday morning I was refreshed, feeling better and peaceful again. This is why I know it is important to keep God first in your life. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. When he is first everything else works out. Sometimes in the hour of success, fame, and good health, we sometimes put God on the back burner. It’s so easy to get caught up in this life with work, school, and family. We often fail to realize we are allowing these things to trump the One who blessed us with them in the first place. We have our plans and agenda, and sometimes spending alone time with God, studying his word , attending church, Bible study, missionary work, or whatever else he calls us to do just does not fit in the schedule. We argue, hey, there is only 24 hours in a day! I am so thankful that God does not feel that way about us! Scripture say’s one day is like a thousand years to God and a thousand years are like a day. What this means is that God is not bound by time as we are. He does not put us on the back burner!

Look at Solomon. He was God’s choice. (1 Chronicles 22:9).Solomon’s reign began in a blaze of glory.  He had high position, great wisdom, and countless riches. Solomon was only nineteen when he reigned as king. His rearing was under the religious and wise Nathan. His choice of wisdom from God was a divine choice (1 Kings 2:1-9). Solomon had many wife’s, princesses, and concubines. Because of the influence of his wives, Solomon compromised his faith by worshiping foreign gods. (1 Kings 11:3)  Solomon was a great and glorious King but Solomon’s heart was not fully devoted to the Lord. (1 Kings 11:4) So God became angry with Solomon. God could not overlook the disobedience of Solomon to His clearest commands. The judgment was upon Solomon. If you read the book of Ecclesiastes you can see Solomon’s despair. He did not have a heart at peace with God.  In the beginning Solomon was blessed. Rise to such prosperity and power as Solomon enjoyed has its dangers. We face those same dangers today when we put possessions or people in front of God. Our God is a jealous God in the sense that He expects full devotion, not merely a partial lukewarm commitment. Worship belongs to God and only to God.

God desires to be at the center of everything, and every time I have made it a point to keep Him there, my life is better because my perspective is in the right place and my faith grows as a result. If you want to experience victory, blessing, and protection from God, put him first in your life. When God blesses us in any capacity, it is to be a blessing to others and to help build His Kingdom. We should always make time for God because he always makes time for us. Please read Food for the Soul, I was so excited about the books of Kings I could not stop writing.  Much Love…

I have always loved to read. Put me in a library and I could stay there for hours. When I was young, I was an impatient reader. I would sometimes flip to the end of a book to find out how the story ends. I wanted to know ahead of time how the mysteries would be solved, would the lovers end up together, and if I could expect a happy ending or not. As I grew older that bad reading habit changed. Although until a year ago I thought of life that way. I wondered if I would marry again, or if it was God’s will for me to remain single. I wondered how much time I had to do all the things I had not done, I wondered about my business and career, I wondered about my son, my grandchildren, my family and friends. In other words, I wanted to read the end of the book, avoid all of the in-between chapters and find out exactly how my life story was to end. The funny thing is no matter how many signs and clues I looked for, it never turned out the way I expected it too. Now that’s good if you’re reading a book or watching a movie, I like surprises, not so much when it’s your life story.

 Paul Tripp, who is a pastor, author, and international conference speaker said, “We do not need to know everything we think we need to know.” He wrote, “Thankfully I am not the author of my own personal story. Your story isn’t an autobiography either. Your story is a biography of wisdom and grace written by another. Every turn he writes into your story is right. Every twist of the plot is for the best. Every new character or unexpected event is a tool of his grace. Each new chapter advances his purpose.”(New Morning Mercies)

 Wow, speak that truth Mr. Tripp! And thankfully I have come to realize how true that is. Our life story is written by God, and just like any other author, only He knows what each chapter brings and how the final chapter will end. We as humans do believe we need to know what’s going to happen in our lives, at least just a little peek. That’s the enemy talking. God does not withhold anything from us that we need to know. With God’s help, I am learning that in the in-between chapters, He is working on my character. He is teaching me trust, patience, and how to wait on him through the unknown. Just like the characters in the books I love to read, my character has unexpected twists and turns and trials, many of them out of my control. But the author always knows how the story will end before the characters do. Now that I have a relationship with Jesus, I no longer have anxiety and fear about what will happen in my chapters ahead. I depend on my Author, Jesus who said, “For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” I can depend on Him to lead me to a great place which will bring Him glory. As my story continues, I want to be a witness through the very last chapter, that although life tried its best to write my story, I did not give up, I let God shape and mold me into the character he made me to be. I love my God, my Author. Much Love……

Long before I had to write things down and plan, I wrote things down and planned. I used to do it because it helped me stay in control of things, it also always gave me a feeling of accomplishment whenever I finished what I started and moved on to the next thing on my list. I was a control freak. I never tried to control anyone else, my motto was and still is; you do you and I do me. No, I just wanted to be in control of my life. When I reflect back, I spent so much time on trying to make sure I was on top of every and anything that might disrupt my plans for my life. That’s a hard job. No, that’s an impossible job. No wonder I was so stressed. And trust me, stress breaks down your body and mind like nothing else!  It took my life turning upside down to realize I am not in control of nothing, not even my own life? I had to be broken to the point where there was nothing left, no money, no home, no pride, just sick and tired. And that is when I reached out and gave God what was his in the first place, my life.  Thankfully I knew about God, always have, he was with me the entire time when I thought I was running my life, he was with me when my life as I knew it fell apart, and not once did he stop me from being foolish. I had to reach out to Him and give myself to Him. Oh. My. Goodness! Finally, I could exhale! It felt good. And now I can breathe, I can relax; I have this peaceful joy, no matter the circumstances or situation. And I got to not just know about Jesus, but to have a personal, intimate relation with him! Part of God’s plan is for each of us to have a personal relationship with Him. Listen, children do not have control over their lives, we as parents nurture and guide them. Every important decision is made by the parent while they are under age; we want the best for them. That is how our Father in heaven feels about us. He is a good Father. Our children, once they reach adulthood and sometimes puberty, want to be in control of their own lives. We as children of God do the same thing. Should we make plans and set goals in life? Absolutely!  But setting goals is not about what we want to do with our life. It is about what God wants to do in and through our life. We were created for a reason, and God has a specific plan for each one of us. God created the world with a plan in mind. God is not a God of confusion and disorder. He is a God of order and peace. We must learn how to plan and set goals that please Him and line up with His Word. Are you waiting to exhale? Give God your life and breathe again. The Word has a lot to say on this subject, read today’s scriptures in FOOD FOR THE SOUL. Much Love….

There is this story about an old man who lived in the country with his son. He had a beautiful horse that he loved dearly. One day a rich man was passing through and saw this beautiful horse. He offered the man a lot of money for the horse but the man refused to sell. Then not too long afterwards the horse broke through the fence and ran away. The village people came and said how sorry they were; they said, “If only you had sold the horse to the rich man at least you would have the money. Sorry this happened to you, this is terrible.” The old man said, “Good or bad, who knows?” A couple of weeks later the horse returned and he had six or seven wild horses with him. The village people said to him, “How wonderful, now you have your horse back and you have more horses. This is great!” The old man said, “Good or bad, who knows?” One day while trying to tame one of the wild horses the old man’s son fell and broke his leg. The son walked with a limp from that day on. The village people came with their sympathy and tears because the man’s son had been injured and now was crippled. They said, “This is the worst thing that could have happened.” The old man said, “Good or bad, who knows?” A war broke out and all young men were being recruited to fight, except those who had some type of limitation, like the old man’s son who walked with a limp. The village people were happy for the old man, they said, “It is a blessing that your only son will not have to leave you.” And the old man said, “Good or bad, who knows?” I could go on and on with this story because that is how life works. When bad or good things happen in our life, we must know that God is in control of both. All good things come from God, and if he allows what we think is bad, he still is in control. I know from experience sometimes what you think is the worst thing that could happen to you, can turn out to be the best thing that has ever happened to you. And what we may think is the best thing that has happened, could very well be the worst.  The point is, if it’s good, thank God, and if you think it’s bad, thank God. Don’t be like the village people and let life determine your joy. The good news is that when the Holy Spirit lives in you, you can go to Him for truth and wisdom, because good or bad, only God knows. Just something to think about. Much Love……

What can I say about Judas Iscariot? He was one of the twelve disciples, the one who betrayed Jesus. His father’s name was Simon. He was the treasury for the Lord’s ministry, which lets us know he was not an imbecile. You would think that Matthew would have handled the money because he had been a tax collector. Judas was a theft. That’s it. Scripture does not reveal much more about Judas or his background. Commentators have suggested many possibilities to explain Judas’ character: Love of money; jealousy of the other disciples; fear of the inevitable outcome of the Master’s ministry, an enthusiastic intention to force Christ’s hand and make him declare himself as Messiah, a bitter, revengeful spirit which arose when his worldly hopes were crushed and this disappointment turned to spite and spite became hate, all these motives have been suggested. I don’t know. What is clear is to me is that Judas was a self-serving thief. He was stealing funds from the Lord’s money box, which shows he was full of greed. He did not care about the poor. Judas was not in tune with Jesus, rejecting the Lord’s message. To the poor, Jesus preached the gospel. And for the needy, Jesus taught that we should go out of our way to help them. The scriptures do not state why Judas betrayed Jesus. However since he was paid its possible the only reason was for the money.

 Two things I know; One, Judas went against the teachings of Jesus’s by stealing, which left an opening for satan to enter. And two, Jesus knew that the devil would possess Judas and use him to accomplish satanic objectives. Jesus knew that ultimately His battle was with the evil one. On an occasion well before His final trip to Jerusalem, He implied that the devil would be involved. Jesus said, “one of you is a devil.” Jesus also said at the Last Supper, “woe to that man by whom the son of man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” Because Jesus came to die for us and none of this was a surprise to Him, you may ask did Judas even have a choice? Yes he did. God always gives us a choice. Adam and Eve had a choice. Acts 1:25 says that Judas went “to his own place,” the thought being the place of his own choosing. So it is not that Judas was foreordained from eternity past to go to hell, without opportunity to be saved. Instead, he chose to reject Jesus and suffer the consequences of any person who rejects the Savior.

 I can’t comprehend how Judas walked with Christ three years, heard Him preach day after day, and witnessed  Him live by what he preached, and still betrayed Him. We can learn something from Judas. We cannot go to church Sunday after Sunday, and sometimes Bible study through the week and think that our mere presence there will keep God pleased with us. We must put into practice what we learn from God’s Word. We must be doers of the Word, not just hearers, or just like Judas, we leave an opening for satan to ease in. If you have experienced betrayal from someone close to you, you know it is disappointing and very painful. Sometimes you want to get revenge. But think about this, after Judas betrayed Jesus, the devil thought he had won. The demons just like the religious leaders probably threw a victory party. Yea, party over here! However, in three days, God raised Jesus from the dead. We may have a Judas on our job, at school, in our family and yes, even in church. No worries, because God will take care of the Judases of life. Our business is to be faithful as long as He gives us breath and energy to serve! Please read today’s scriptures in FOOD for the SOUL. Much Love…