Faith In The Christmas Season

The story of Jesus' birth gives us assurance, confidence and joy because even though the waiting lingered for decades, God broke in at just the right time.

Are you in the midst of going through a tough or trying time?  Are you struggling with a lack of faith?  Let me bring you some encouragement and hope.  It doesn’t take much faith to get God's attention. When Jesus was here on earth he told the people,  "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you”  Matthew 17:20.  

I’m sure you have hear the saying “You can grow a tree in one day.”  That’s very true but here is some good news for you!   Jesus Himself  invites us all to begin with a tiny seed.  He encourages us to watch it grow and wait for it to become all that you dreamed it would be. This is a truth from Jesus’ own lips as we read in Matthew 17.  

I read the following in a devotional:

"We expect everything to be at our fingertips the moment we have the desire for it. It's a world we're growing into and it's addicting. We live in a world of easy downloads, instantaneous email, on demand and food prepared in a few minutes. Yet God finds ways of making us wait. Waiting and faith go hand-in-hand."

• We wait for the baby we've dreamed we'd hold in our arms.
• Some are waiting for their prodigal son to come to the end of himself and return home.
• Many of us are waiting for the phone to ring so we can return to a job with a normal salary and benefits.
• Others are waiting for an eye-opening spiritual breakthrough.

The Christmas Advent season is all about faith and waiting.  Let me ask you a question, what are you waiting on God for?  Have you been waiting days, week, months or even years?  Speaking of waiting,  God's people waited for years and I mean years for the Messiah but they held on to faith that His promises were true!  But the Messiah came!  God sent His son on that very day in Bethlehem.  As you reflect on the birth of Jesus reflect on the fact that God's timing is quite different from ours.  The story of Jesus' birth encourages us to not give up and to keep believing for what we are believing for.  

If you are struggling this Christmas season I encourage you to hold on to faith and to remember the promises of God.  He is faithful and will come through for you.   

#EmilysPinkPosts

Finding Joy In All Things

 

“It’s amazing that when you look at what you have, instead of what you won’t or don’t have, you usually see that in one form or another you’ve gotten what you wished for. “  Sara Frankl

Did you know that the most repeated command in the Bible is “give thanks?”  I had no idea until I read that statement.  Knowing that God asks us to “give thanks” in all things really challenged me and I had to ask myself if I had a heart that was overflowing with gratitude and joy so I did some digging in the Scriptures and I thought I would share those with you.

In Colossians 1:9-11 it says, “may you be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so as to walk in a manner fully pleasing of Him, being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,”   What exactly is this joy that is mentioned here?

I read the following in my morning time with the Lord this morning. "Biblical joy is a perpetual gladness of the heart which stems from knowing, experiencing, and trusting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christian joy is unaffected by outward circumstances. We look at Jesus to understand true joy: “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus knew that the will of God for His life was to suffer the utmost pain by dying on the cross to save us, sinners. Yet, despite Jesus’ excruciating death, he remained joyful, because Jesus understood the supreme glory that his death and resurrection bring God daily.” Annie Harris

Wow!  Can you imagine being joyful even as you are being executed on a cross?  I don’t know if I could have done the same thing that Jesus did for us.

Jesus had three kinds of joy that are mentioned in the Bible: Abounding joy, abiding joy and abundant joy. This is the same joy Jesus wants us to have. How to we find or have that same kind of joy? We can have that same joy by first surrendering our lives to Him. Then depending on God to see us through and not depending on our own strength. Also, obeying His commands will bring us joy and cause us to rejoice because His joy is in us.

Gratitude in all things is God’s will for us and it’s based on trusting his unfailing love.  We shouldn’t base our practice of gratitude on the circumstances of our lives.  They can change in a heartbeat.  One thing to remember is that our life without joy is meaningless and true joy can only truly be found in Jesus.

Have a blessed and joyful day!

Emily

National Daughters Day - A Mother's Confession!

My husband and I have been blessed with two beautiful daughters and three handsome sons.  I love all five of our children equally but I have to admit back when I was birthing children there was something so exciting when the doctor would say, “It’s a girl!!”   I remember after hearing those words with babies #2 and #5  I would say to myself.  Oh yes!!  I get to purchase all the dresses and bows and girly toys like dolls, Barbies and tea sets. 

 Things were smooth sailing raising the girls until they hit around age 12 and then I have to admit rough waters began.  When I think back to those years I wish I could have a redo but I know that’s impossible.  My parenting “girl” skills were not the best and when you combined that with all the hormones of them becoming teenagers it was a collision course for rocky times.  I have to admit mothering the girls in their teen years was hard and I put most of the blame on me.  When the girls would clam up  . .. so would I.  They didn’t talk to me so I didn’t really talk to them.  I felt like they were pushing me away and didn’t want anything to do with me so I just sadly did nothing out of hurt.  This is something I wish I could go back and change.  

Author Paul Tripp states that this strategy of mine was a parenting mistake on my part.  He says, "Sadly, I am afraid, many parents accept the moat that teenagers tend to build around themselves. They adjust to the lack of time and relationship with their teen who, only a few short years ago, wanted to tag along with them everywhere they went. They quit talking when their teenager quits talking. So, at the point where significant things happen, which the teenager was never meant to deal with alone, Mom and Dad are nowhere to be found.”

I know that the Bible commands me as a mother to teach and instruct our daughters in the ways of the Lord. (Proverbs 1:8).   The Lord wants us involved with our kids and that process definitely requires a relationship.  For me to have any kind of influence over my daughters it requires me to be close to them, be actively consistent and involved in their worlds even if they act like they don’t want it.  What I should have done was been more involved and more intentional about creating that relationship with my girls whether they wanted it or resisted it.   Thankfully the Lord forgave me for my mistakes and my girls did too.  There have been some very rough years which I take the blame for but thankfully the Lord heals and restores and that’s what He did with me and my girls.  Are things perfect today?  No but they are getting better with each passing day.  

If you and your daughter/daughters are having a rocky time or you fear you are on the road to that go to the Lord in prayer.  The Lord wants to hear our prayers concerning everything but especially our prayers for our children.    Author J.C. Ryle encourages parents with this quote, "The Lord is far more willing to hear than we to pray; far more ready to give blessings than we to ask them — but He loves to be entreated for them. . . . I suspect the child of many prayers is seldom cast away.”   . So never forget that prayer is the key to accessing our daughter’s heart so with faith and boldness we can ask Him to restore or strengthen our mother-daughter relationships. 

Building a close mother/daughter relationship can take time especially if there has been hurt and mistrust but don’t let that stop you from building and developing a friendship with your daughter/daughters again.  Keep the Lord in the center of it all and He will be there to see you through it all!  How do I know . . .. because He did it for me and my girls.  

My Word Of The Year For 2019

Each new year is filled with new hopes, dreams, goals, desires and sometimes the fear of the unknown.  💗 In order to pursue your dreams and desires, more than likely you will need to walk out of your comfort zone…you know that place where you feel safe . . .. into a place where it’s not so comfortable.  💗 So many of us want to do more, go further and see our dreams come to fruition but we wonder what’s stopping us from that pursuit.  💗Most of the time it is our very self . . it’s our mindset . . it’s believing lies, lack of confidence etc.💗

As a Christian, I daily remind myself of who I am in Christ.  💗That alone brings such confidence to my inner being.  💗If you haven’t ever done a Bible study on your Identity in Christ I highly recommend it. It will free you and liberate you and break the chains that we so often wrap around ourselves. 🙌🏼💗

The Bible is filled with so many amazing truths that if we will meditate and believe those things are true it will help pivot us forward towards are dreams, desires and all that God has for us.  💗For example, when I want to go out of my comfort zone but that lack of confidence is there I remind myself what Joshua 1:9 says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  👊🏼💪🏼💗 I keep repeating that verse and reminding myself I have nothing to be scared of for He is with me wherever I go and whatever I do.  💗When I feel beaten down and feel like I can’t go on I remember what Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  💗I could go on and on but I’m running out of room. 

My word for 2019 is CONFIDENCE.  💗Confidence to keep pursuing all what the Lord has for me and knowing with complete confidence as I move forward and walk out of my comfort zone that He is there right by my side to see me through. 🙌🏼💗 

I pray you have a blessed day and very blessed New Year!  Emily💗

How A Prayer Journal Becomes A Faith Builder

How many times have you prayed for something for yourself or for someone else and then you see your prayers answered? 💗 When that happens it is so exciting and it actually makes prayer exciting. 💗Most people think prayer is boring but when you really stop to think about it, you are having a conversation with God who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Creator of the universe and the Creator of you and me. 🙌🏼💗When you really stop to think about that, it takes prayer to a whole other level. I mean think about it . .. you have God’s ear. He knows . .He hears and then He moves. 💗 It might not always be in our timing or in our way but He is always faithful to answer. 💗

This is why I love to keep a prayer journal. I write down and date the things I am praying for and then once they are answered I go back and date that answered prayer request. 💗Do you know how exciting and what a faith builder it is to go back and read those prayer requests that have been answered? 🙌🏼💗 It really helps to grow your faith and give you an even stronger faith to stand on when praying for your unanswered prayer requests. 💗 

So take a few minutes each morning and have a conversation with God. Let Him know what’s on your heart and write it down in a journal or notebook. 💗 Stand strong in your faith and don’t be discouraged if the answer doesn’t happen right away. Let your faith grow in the waiting. Then at His perfect moment . .He will answer . . go back and write down the date. 💗 Your prayer journal will turn into a faith builder and will give you the strength and faith you need to pray for something or someone else. 💗 

Have a blessed day,

Emily

Trust The Lord Completely

In our day to day living it’s not unusual for us to have disappointments in our life.  Those disappointments  can cause us to only depend upon ourselves but that’s really something we need to unlearn as we begin to put our total trust in God completely and stop relying just on ourselves.  But sometimes trusting Him completely like that can be tough. How do we start trusting God completely?  Each day we must consciously lay aside our own plans and expectations and surrender our lives to Him. Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make."

💗💗💗💗

When I am going through a tough time or a disappointment I pray, “Lord, Your ways are higher than mine.” When I speak or pray that it shows I am leaving my troubles, burdens, trials and even dreams in His loving hands. As I  hand Him the keys of my life ,  I must stand confidently knowing that He’s able to lead and guide me perfectly. 

💗💗💗💗

Even in the midst of turmoil, God sticks with us and uses those challenges to shape us into incredible individuals. When we understand that, our way of thinking completely changes. No longer do we see our setbacks as failures or disappointments but we see them as moments when God is working, molding and shaping us.  This is exactly why we can trust in the Lord with all our hearts. He cares for us each and every day. He gives us what we need to thrive and live each new day. Even in the midst of trials and disappoints He pours blessing after blessing upon us.

💗💗💗💗

Trusting God takes a whole-hearted commitment each day but remember . . .we’re never alone in it.  Matthew 28:20 says, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” That my friend is something that we can totally take comfort in and makes each thing we go through so much easier. 💗💗 

Choose To Be Happy

I have lived approximately 19,020 days on this earth. If I live to 85 I have about 12,005 days left of my life. Only I can decide how I am going to live those next 12,005 days. Am I going to choose to be sad or happy…..at peace or in chaos……weak or strong……positive attitude or negative attitude.. As humans we have the power to decide how we are going to choose to live out each day.  

We live in a crazy, chaotic world. All you have to do is turn on the news to see just that. When I wake up each morning I have to decide what my mindset and attitude is going to be. Before my feet hit my floor each morning I think of 5 things I am grateful or thankful for. This way I am starting my day off on a positive note. I have to choose to not let the little things get to me. I have to choose to be happy and not sad . .. calm and not stressed . . .at peace and not anxious. Even when things start to bother you or if someone says something rude it’s all how we handle the situation and how we choose to spend the day we have been given.

 It’s not always easy but if we make a conscious effort we can live our days happy. Even when those around you might not be happy or they might just bug the heck out of you. It’s about finding the good in the bad...the happy in the sad. The positive in the negative.  

Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Even the Bible suggests we estimate how much time we have left on this earth so that we can truly think about how we are living each day. When you think about time and how fast it goes it really does shed light on how ridiculous it is to stay angry and unhappy. I am sure you have heard the phrase . .. “every day is a gift.” and you know what? It truly is . . every single day we have been given is a gift from God. 

How are you going to choose to spend the rest of your days on this earth. Don’t let the little things get to you. Use the wisdom God gave you & make an intensional decision to CHOOSE HAPPY. Only you can choose & build the daily habit of being happy. I leave you with this quote, "To build the habit of happiness, we must have inner joy & peace of mind in our lives. 💗

Love One Another

We live in a world where there is a lot of hate but we also live in a world that is filled with those who love one another. 💗 When Jesus lived on this earth He loved all kinds of people. He loved tax collectors, poor people, thieves, prostitutes, children and those who followed Him.  💗 He even loved those who were dangerous and difficult to get along with.  💗And guess what? His love is the same today as it was 2000 years ago.  

💗💗💗
Did you know that the New Testament contains 54 “one another” Scripture verses that teach us how to love.  💗 God calls us to love others, just as He loves us. How do we show love? We do this by forgiving, accepting and honoring others. 💗 When we are full of God’s love it gives us the ability to love others.  💗Let’s look at 3 of the 54 “one another” Scripture verses. 💗💗💗
Forgive one another - The ultimate example of forgiveness was displayed when Jesus hung on the Cross and cried out for those who were crucifying Him: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” We should forgive others even when they don't deserve it or ask for it. That demonstrates a love that keeps no record of wrongs.
💗💗💗
Accept one another To truly love someone, you must avoid trying to change the person for your own desires or purposes. Accepting love is patient and kind, even when we don't see eye to eye.  This however doesn't mean that we are to neglect the holy standard of what the Bible says in living a life of holiness.
💗💗💗
Honor one another Honor means to esteem someone as highly valuable. When we put others above ourselves, we are imitating the character Christ.
💗💗💗💗
Loving others isn't always easy, but we can by loving like Jesus loves which means forgiving, accepting and honoring others even those we don’t agree with or even those who we find difficult to be around. Our ability to love others comes from God. 1 John 4:7 says, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” Remember, it’s so easy to love others when we are full of God’s love. Have a wonderful Sunday.💗💗

What Are You Facing Today?

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 
💗💗💗
In this verse, Moses is reminding the people that God had promised to protect them, bless them, and fight for them.  Jesus made the same promise to those who believe in Him in Matthew 28:20 when he says “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” What a promise to remember! 🙌🏼🙌🏼 
With that kind of promise we can draw the strength and courage we need to face the day no matter what comes our way.  💪🏼👊🏼 What are you facing today? Have you been fighting depression, anxiety, low-self esteem, stress, sickness, marital problems, family problems or even financial problems? If so, hold on tight to the Lord! He is there to see you through and to give you strength, healing, encouragement, comfort and peace. The Word tells us to cast all our cares upon Him. Not just one or two but ALL our cares upon Him. So that means doubt, fear, worry, anger, bitterness, stress etc... doesn’t haven’t to stay attached to you. Be strong and courageous in the Lord and cast it off and let it go. Replace those things you face today with peace, comfort, freedom, healing, confidence, boldness, strength, courage and love. I promise you, you will feel a change...you will feel better and you will freedom.  🙌🏼🙌🏼

 I leave you with one more verse from Isaiah 41:10 that says, “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.” Another beautiful promise we have to hold on to. 💗💗 

Have a blessed day and if I can pray for you in any way please let me know. 

Emily

Moving From Fear To Faith

The last two years of my life have been filled with so many unexpected things. If you know the Bible you will know understand when I say I was in a Job moment. If you haven’t read the story of Job I encourage you to read it. Anything you are going through will seem like nothing when you read what happened to Job. 💗 Anyways, it got to be so much I actually said to the Lord, “How much more?” I really couldn’t handle anymore. I can’t say the things we have been through because they are very personal but as we walked through them these things hit me . .. worry, stress, anxiety, hurt, pain and panic. 💗 

How did I walk through the most horrible, painful and terrible two years of my life? I had to make a decision to believe what God says and not panic, worry or stress and just pray. 💗 I could have made the decision to stay in that emotional chaos that I was falling into but I had to choose to say no to those things. 💗 Now, I’m not saying I didn’t have my ups and downs because worry is just in our human nature. I also had many days where I was in tears but for the most part I let go of the anxiety, worry, stress and panic. 💗 I had to totally turn things over to God and either believe that His Word is true or it isn’t. I chose to believe it is true. 💗

As a believer in God I am called to faith not fear. I had to keep building my faith even in the difficult times by praying and staying in His Word. 💗I also had to choose to not worry my prayers or let them be fear based. I had to remind God of His promises and eventually my panic turned to praise. I had to turn my concerns over to Him. 💗What’s the most pressing thing in your life right now? Whatever that is replace worry with the truth of God’s love and power. 

Trust in God that He will do what He says. Isaiah 26:3 says, “Keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Him.” 💗 After my panic turned to praise , my praise then turned to peace. Paul the Apostle said, “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything that we can understand.” It’s hard to comprehend how it works but it does. 💗

So, just believe in God that He will. Don’t panic and just pray! Have a blessed Sunday!

Emily 

You Were Created For More

Thought For The Day - You can get busy living or get busy dying. It's your choice? What motivates you? Do you sleep in late? Do you wake up hoping for the day to be over? Do you have dreams that are locked inside because you think it’s too late or that they will never come to fruition? Shake it off people!! Wake up embracing each new day the Lord has given you. Live each day to the fullest by loving God, loving yourself and loving others. Be busy living for love, good and to make a difference in this world. You were created for something . . .find out what that something is and GO DO IT!  Comment below with what dream is hid inside you that you want to see happen!🙌🏼💗#sundaymorningmoment #motivation