Here I Raise My Ebeneezer

Remembrance... Such a beautiful and admirable word... Something I don't think we can ever do enough of in our lives.

I sure know the Israelite's sure forgot to remember God so many times in the old testament but truth be told I am just as equal as those Israelite's, I forget really easy... It is something I am so prone to doing especially in my prayer life sometimes. I pray and sometimes I feel like God doesn't hear me because my prayers never happen in my timing but that doesn't mean God isn't ever faithful.

He has proven Himself faithful time and time again not only in my on life but all through the Bible the firm foundation on which I stand forth upon the Truth. God's Word to human kind. He is faithful even when we cannot see what He is doing behind the scenes.

So many times in my life I try to be in control of my life and how things are suppose to go, but God always laughs when I make plans. But if anything time and time again His plans are way better than I could have ever dare dreamed or hoped for. Ecc. 3:11 " He makes everything beautiful in His timing."

His timing not ever my own but solemnly His and He is so good and faithful despite my unbelief... Today was a hard day because I don't understand what God is doing sometimes. I was standing in my garage tonight and looking at my piano and I was just so humbled and knocked to my knees about my unbelief with my prayer life. I prayed and prayed for a piano for the longest time and it didn't happen and I kept praying and it didn't happen finally one day it was a God send a couple on craigslist were selling it but they told me they wanted to bless me with it. That was God in His perfect timing, that piano reminded me tonight of God's faithfulness HE is FAITHFUL.

There has been so many times I look back on my life and how God has provided and He knows what we need to equip and sustain us... This is my prayer tonight that God would help my unbelief, for His ways are higher than my own and His thoughts are not my thoughts. He is good... Yes HE IS GOOD. So here I raise my Ebeneezer...

Matthew 7:9 "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?"

Light Counters Darkness

Light it is so proficient, there is a saying that states: darkness isn't the opposite of light but rather the absence of light.

This past couple of months I think has been the hardest season I have ever walked through but praise the Lord Almighty, that God is ever so faithful and will not leave nor forsake His children.

There has been a lot of darkness in my life this past couple of months and it has been really challenging to walk through but the one thing that has stayed constant is my Heavenly Father. And His faithfulness. There have been many moments that the darkness felt so surreal and I felt so alone. There were many nights that I cried out to God and felt like He didn't hear me or wasn't there. Then I started to get the picture of how many people in the Bible felt the same way I was feeling.

For example Joseph in prison I am sure he felt so alone at times wondering why he was in a dark place, yet he still clung so tightly to God. The Israelite's also felt alone crying out to God for years and years and then God finally answered their pleads and cries. Then I look to the most profound of all people, Jesus hanging on that cross He cried out the Father "My God, My God why have you forsaken me."  If anyone knows darkness it was Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane the darkness of that final breath on that wooden tree, hanging and bleeding for you and me. Jesus knows the pain and sorrow of abandonment, yet He was still obedient to God.  

Obedience is so key in the walk with Christ, there are so many times I am so stubborn and I don't want to listen but this past weekend I listened to God. This past weekend was the women's retreat with my church and God did the most profound healing work in my life. I will not lie I have so much darkness in my heart from my past but praise God that He is a God of redemption and is FAITHFUL to complete the work He has started in my life since I asked Him into my heart in October 2008. And for some odd reason I kept holding so tightly to the deep pain inside my heart thinking that I could fix myself, that I could redeem myself.. but most of all that I could save myself. And I found I got nowhere holding onto the hurt for so long. I thought I could but I couldn't and that is where Jesus met me this weekend. That I cannot run away from the pain inside of me any longer that I had to face it head on.

It was so beautiful the work God did in my life in the Barn where all of our sessions were held this past weekend, they set up miniature rooms and it was a quiet time of reflection and prayer and my goodness God met me. One of the rooms was title "Bedroom" and in our little work books they had questions for us to reflect on and I knew this would be the hardest room for me to face and this time I couldn't run away from God because I had no where to run so instead of running away I ran to Him and He met me and did a beautiful work.

I went out to the fire where I was alone and I told God I am not going to leave this place until you have done this work in me. And He did, He removed some of the most stubborn thorns I had rotting inside my heart like an infected wound He took out the infection. And He is true and He is my foundation to which my feet rest upon. He is my Rock and I will NOT be shaken anymore and sorry but Satan you have lost my God has won this VICTORY because forever my God will reign and He is victorious!!!!

Last night in my bible study we were learning about foundations and that was also one of the key themes of the retreat was "what is my foundation?" And honestly I have forgotten for a long time on where my feet rest upon and I gave Satan a huge foothold and I let him try to sway me for too long.

Matthew 7:24-25 "Therefore whoever hears these words of mine and does them I will liken him to a wise man who built his house upon the Rock. And the rains descended, and the wind came and beat upon the house, and the flood waters rose but the the house did NOT fall for it was FOUNDED on the Rock."

Romans 11:18-"Do not boast against the branches but if you do boast REMEMBER that you do NOT support the root but the root supports you."

Ephesians 2:19-22-"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief CORNERSTONE, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit."

Romans 13:12 "Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light."

Jeremiah 17:7-8-"Blessed is the man who TRUSTS in the Lord, and whose HOPE is in the Lord. For he shall be like a a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the River and will NOT fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be ANXIOUS in the year of the drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit."

John 15:1-8- "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."

I cannot even begin to tell you how much Scripture is ringing the truth in my life and how much more vibrant it has become in my life. To begin with the first verse I posted that I forgot that my house is built upon the Rock, I have forgotten but Praise Jesus that He helped me to remember that my foundation is upon Him. A huge thing I have learned in these past couple of months is what is genuine support, it was never about me supporting God but God supporting me. I cannot support myself I have learned but that is where God comes in and wants to support me He is the one holding me with His righteous right hand it was never about me letting God down, for I wasn't the one holding God up. To have Christ as my cornerstone a firm foundation that will not crumble when the storms come, when the waters rise and the wind comes howling I will remain steadfast in the love of Christ, that He is ENOUGH to equip me and SUSTAIN me. To put off the darkness, I never knew how much darkness and brokenness was in my heart until I came to fully surrendering it to Christ to let the light of Christ shine in the darkest parts of my being and that LIGHT is glorious. To mediating on Jeremiah 17:7-8 blew my mind away last  night while reading it that BLESSED is the man who trusts in God that he is like a tree and my goodness I so desire to be like that tree. To have my roots go so deep in the Lord and to not be shaken and I am telling you God is starting that work in my life. That I don't have to fear when the heat gets turned up in my life anymore because where is my foundation? My foundation is on Christ and He is the vine and I am the branch, I am created to bear fruit in all seasons not just the easy seasons of my life but the really difficult ones as well. For my life is built on the solid rock and I am safe within His hands.

Tonight at my bible study one of the key points I learned NO-THING and NO-ONE can ever snatch me out of His hands, His love is enough for me and His precious blood that was poured out on Calvary is enough. I am so safe in His hands. For He has me and is not going to let go of me anytime soon. He has me... He is enough.

To conclude my thoughts tonight the man thing I am learning is I am safe within His hands and it is time for me to feel safe in His presence. Whom shall I fear if God is for me?

Blessings

Loved More Than the Sparrow

Loved.... that is what is on my mind right now

What does it mean to be loved? To accept love and how to give love?

We toss that word around so much in this culture but to get to the root of what it means? I sit here tonight in a coffee shop just pondering so many thoughts but the main one that is ringing over and over is that God loves me more than the sparrows... And takes care of me more than the sparrows. My life is anything but easy right now but one thing I know is HOW GOOD God is through it all. I was reading some of my devotions the other day and this quote from Charles Spurgeon appeared and moved me to tears.

"O child of suffering, be thou patient; God has not passed thee over in his providence. He who is the feeder of sparrows, will also furnish you with what you need. Sit not down in despair; hope on, hope ever. Take up the arms of faith against a sea of trouble, and your opposition shall yet end your distresses. There is One who careth for you. His eye is fixed on you, his heart beats with pity for your woe, and his hand omnipotent shall yet bring you the needed help. The darkest cloud shall scatter itself in showers of mercy. The blackest gloom shall give place to the morning. He, if thou art one of his family, will bind up thy wounds, and heal thy broken heart. Doubt not his grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that he loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness. What a serene and quiet life might you lead if you would leave providing to the God of providence! With a little oil in the cruse, and a handful of meal in the barrel, Elijah outlived the famine, and you will do the same. If God cares for you, why need you care too? Can you trust him for your soul, and not for your body? He has never refused to bear your burdens, he has never fainted under their weight. Come, then, soul! have done with fretful care, and leave all thy concerns in the hand of a gracious God."

Read that again... Let it sink it. I know something I deeply struggle with is at time overwhelming senses of anxiety. Fear of not being taken care of but it is over and over again a lie straight from the pit of hell. Why is it I can trust a POWERFUL God with my soul but when it comes to food, shelter and other "things" I flip out on God?

I am in a season where it is a daily thing to look to God to provide daily for me and not once has He failed me in these past 3 weeks yet that doubt still sits at the bottom of my heart. That doubt of what if God doesn't come through but then I need to remind myself that even if God doesn't come through that doesn't effect His character and He is LOVE, He is FAITHFUL, He is PEACE, He is JOY, He is KIND, He is PATIENCE, He is God alone. He delivered the Israelite's out of captivity and into REDEMPTION, He saw their pain and afflictions and delivered them. In this season that is all I can say is God is a God of redemption, though I may see the struggle He sees the final product. It is so easy for me to worry of the things I have NO control over. It is so easy for me to forget how FAITHFUL God has been, so easy for me to forget that if God can take care of the sparrows HOW much more will He take care of me!


Matthew 10:29-31 New Living Translation (NLT)
29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin. But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

1 Peter 5:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

God has got my back! He is faithful despite that I am faithless, to truly walk by Faith and not by sight is not an easy road because anxiety can creep so bad in this life and in this culture because we truly don't understand what it means to rely on God. But I have had a small glimpse of these past 3 weeks it hasn't been easy and I have had God knock me on my knees in humbleness to Him. To cry out on my knees of just how much I need HIM not just a once a week thing but HOW DESPERATELY I need Him every hour!!! I wouldn't have been able to handle these past 3 weeks if God wasn't so strongly holding onto me and the love and grace that He has lavished upon me. I don't deserve anything from God but because of His great love for me He now calls me His daughter. 

I am learning what it means to be part of God's family and it is life changing, God is ever with me and will go before me. I don't think I will ever understand the deep deep love of my Heavenly Father but one thing I know it is ENOUGH. HIS LOVE is enough. Even if I didn't have a home His love is ENOUGH. Even if I didn't have any friends His love is ENOUGH. Even if I don't have food in my belly His love is ENOUGH. Even if I "plan" things and my life doesn't go how I planned it His love is ENOUGH. Even if I don't ever enter into a relationship His love is ENOUGH.

His love is what sustains me and is upholding me in this time of my life and I am learning how I need it ever hour. I don't need anything else because as long as I have God I am sustain and SATISFIED. I have all I could ever imagine in Christ Jesus. For these momentary life trials are just a moment no SORROW can compare to that glorious day where I will stand face to face with my creator. No amount of pain, no amount of tears I cry will ever be able to SEPARATE me from the beautiful love of my Saviour. 

Romans 8:31-39New King James Version (NKJV)
God’s Everlasting Love

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It isChrist who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:


“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Trials and the pain it doesn't matter because God is bigger and greater than my pain. He is greater and His love is BETTER. He is my PORTION and my SUBSTANCE. He is a good, good Father. He is my PROVIDER and He is my HOPE. 

I am learning so much in this time in my life and I wouldn't have it any other way. For God is for me and that is ALL I NEED. I don't need anything else to be content, to bring me JOY. For it is the work God is doing in me which I cannot be silent about. I thought the best solution to the trials I am going through is to try to do it alone but God knocked me on my face and showed me I NEED Him and then I need others, I need the body of Christ. I need to be ok to lean on my brothers and sisters in Christ and not to do this walk alone but to let others help be the full functioning body of Christ. It is ok not to be ok, but it is ok to receive help and it is ok to let others in on my journey. It is ok and it is going to be ok. Because God is in full control and He cares so much about me. He loves me more than the sparrows. 

I tell the kids I nanny a lot who takes care of the birds and they say God. I ask them why do we sing worship songs to God? Because He is good. And when is He good? All the time. Even on good days? Even on bad days? Yes... He is good all the time because that is who He is!

My life may not be peachy keen right now but I know God is in sovereign control and my goodness how much glory God is going to get is so worth it. All the tears, all my fears, all those restless nights, all those lying on the floor crying desperately for God, all the moments of deep anxiety and all pain is going to be so worth it. And that is what my eyes are fixed upon is Jesus, for He is the only one who is going to be able to pull me through this and He has blessed me with some of the most God fearing people to help run along side me so I am not doing this alone. He is good that is what I have to say He is good. Situations and life can sometimes suck but God is GOOD. And that is enough. That is all I need....

Remembering the Mountains

Where to begin... that is a great question for thoughts that have been pondering in my head for the past little well more so long while..

I guess I will begin here, I love to hike and honestly it is so difficult at times but when you get to the view it is the most amazing breath taking just divine God created beauty...Beauty when I hear that word I do often think of raw nature the things in nature most people don't see the things God created to bring Him all the glory. Mountains can be some of the most majestic sights one can lay their eyes on. Even in Psalms it talks about mountains.

-Psalms 97:5

The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

God created mountains for a purpose, to which I have no idea but one thing speaks of them is they reflect God's majestic awe and wonder. Not a lot of people like the hiking up the mountain part, especially if you are out of shape... 

And honestly this has been my life for the past little while I know I am hiking a very steep mountain right now and it is killing me, my spiritual muscles seem to be giving in and are cramping up the higher I climb, and if anything Satan doesn't want me to make it to the top of this mountain for he knows the beauty and Glory God is going to get. And if one thing Satan hates is God getting glory... 

God promises us though that we are not ever alone on this journey...

-Deuteronomy 31:6-8 - Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. And the LORD, he [it is] that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

-Joshua 1:9 - Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee whithersoever thou goest.

-Psalms 55:22 - Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

 So why is it so hard to climb with God in the tough seasons, when we don't "feel" him near we have to keep trekking and perseverance is let me tell you really really hard at times, I know backpacking up the Rockies in Colorado my backpack at times seemed to be getting heavy to the point of weighing me down... Praise the Lord, that God is so good and carries our burdens for us He helps make the climb a little bit easier, oh yes friends it still is a steep climb up but God has got our backs. At times I know I don't feel that God cares about the small details of my life or I sometimes question does God really care deeply about the pain I am going through but my goodness yes He does. He requires some things from us though while we are climbing... He wants us to I believe 4 things, to Love Him with everything we have, to Trust Him, to Obey Him and to love others. 

I look in my life and I see deeply the areas I am struggling, struggling to love others especially but then my goodness it is no doubt that it is because I am not following what God has asked me to do. I am in a very interesting season in my life where I know what God is speaking to me but my heart is so rebellious towards the soft spoken words he has told me,.. one of my biggest things I am learning is I can never love people if I don't first love God with ALL of my heart, how can God enable me to be in a relationship if I am not giving God my whole heart first... Second trusting Him, it is another one of my deepest struggles it is so easy to get caught up in worry that I take my eyes off of Christ and then realize oh my goodness I am sinking... I have to trust Him, He is the author and perfecter of my faith, He knows when I rise and when I fall, He formed me in my mother's womb and scripture points saying He knows what is best for His children. So why, why do I worry? I have no legitimate excuse I try to make them but it all comes down to the lack of trust I am not putting in my beautiful Saviour. God asks us to obey Him, because again He knows what is best for His children. The season I am is so challenging because God has specifically told me to do something but my heart is so wicked above all things and I don't want to, I don't want to wait... 

But then I look at the reoccurring theme in human kind since the beginning of Creation. God asked His people to do something and what did they do? The exact opposite... For example

God: Don't eat of the tree of good and Evil 

Eve: Ok I won't eat of the tree I promise... 

God: Eve where are you? Did you eat of the tree that I told you not to? 

Eve: Yes.... Because well excuses, excuses, excuses

God: Abram you will bear a son 

Abram: Ok God I trust You

Sarah: God doesn't seem like He is fulling His promise sleep with my maid 

Abram: Ok... 

God: Sarah you will bear a child at 99 

Sarah: Laughs at what God has promised 

God: Ok Israelite's I just delivered you and redeemed you from the hands of the Egyptians and now here is the promise land 

Israelite's: Ok well we will just worship this golden calf because it brought us out of Egypt 

God; Because of your disobedience you will wander the desert for 40 years

There are many more examples in the bible but it is a reoccurring theme, humans are so prone to do the opposite of what God has asked and it doesn't ever end well and honestly I think it breaks my heart knowing I am just like the Israelite's, just like Sarah and most certainly just like Eve... I laugh when God promises something or question did you really say that? God doesn't joke when He promises something.. Lack of obedience with God ends with our hearts turning more away from God. I think so often in my life when I seem to be in a "desert season" or God why don't I see what you're doing, I have to think back to what the last thing God asked me to be obedient in was. And boom there is usually the solution to the problem. I know why my heart is so rebellious because we are sinners saved by grace. And I deeply know that the moments I don't listen to God I am deliberately disobeying Him and in the moment my flesh loves it but right after that I feel that distance, that longing to be back in God's presence in His loving embrace.  If anything I am learning while being a nanny is kids don't listen often and you tell children certain things so they will not get injured or hurt. So often this is how I am with God, I don't realize I am that child and God only wants what is best for me to protect me and love me. I just am so rebellious I don't want to do what He has told me because I think I know what is best for my life, but in the end I realize that God is always right He knows us better than we know ourselves.Because if we are not obeying God then we cannot learn to love people. 

The only way you can learn to love people is by learning to love Christ first, we look at the fruits of the Spirit and they are LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, long suffering and self control. Love operates as a verb in Christianity it means putting others before yourself. Again another lesson I have learned while nannying kids need that love, but it is a self less love you have to give to them or they will not receive it... It means their needs come before my needs it means that even if they throw a fit that I am still going to be loving in my ways and not ever take my frustration out on them. Loving others with a selfless love is hard but in the end it reflect solemnly the heart of Christ. Who loved me enough to give himself up for me. 

This season I am is a different kind of difficulty level than I have ever faced. But I am learning that mountains each have different elevation and steepness levels. I look back and see those other mountains I have climbed but seem to not be as difficult as this but then I remember each mountain is different and they all had amazing views.  It is not an easy climb and I wouldn't wish this on a single person but I know God is building my character in this climb and teaching me to let people in to come along side me to hike up this trail and share their water with me if I get a little thirsty. He is teaching me to keep going and not to stop but take baby steps if needed because I don't have to run up this mountain but I can enjoy the view while slowly hiking it. I know the biggest thing is God telling me to wait and I have to obey Him because the view will be worth the wait. The beauty is that when i get tired of this climb His yoke is easy and His burden is Light, that He will take away my backpack so it makes my climb a little more burden-less. What I can say Is God is so good and I am thankful for the mountains He has taken me over and the one I am climbing and the ones to come. I am thankful God hasn't ever left me nor abandoned me. I am thankful for the other believers on this hike that we can encourage one another to keep going..... 

God Bless you all... 

The Pages of Sweet Words Colliding together to Make Sense

I desire every day to be a godly woman...

But truthfully it is a struggle, it is a struggle because of the ways of this world

The BROKENNESS, the hurt, the media, Lust, pornography, the false teachers spewing what seems to be truth to just tickle the ears yet leave the soul dry and empty. Heck I cannot even go to the gym without looking at the TV's reflecting what "beauty" is suppose to look like on women. TV's stating buy this house and your life will be perfect, buy this make up and guys will passionately desire you. The things that state women can only be beautiful if you are a size 3 tan and have a six pack.

Honestly it is a struggle going through Instagram sometimes and seeing all the posting about gyms and the latest make up trend. I know I may seem that I am going on and on right now but I do have a point behind all what I am writing.

Here is my heart this world is so messed up and Satan really enjoys using this world as his playground. My point being when did we as Christians become so consumed with our looks rather than working on our character. Are we more concerned with losing weight than we are with living for the things that eternally matter. Now am I saying don't take care of your bodies by no means, our bodies were given us to take care of them and be good stewards of what we do to them. Am I saying to look all frumpy no, but my heart is more the amount of time we are pouring into non eternal things. The things that really don't matter in the end. Yes I work out to take care of my body, but more so it is so important to take care of your heart, our hearts are so PRONE TO WANDER and if they aren't plugged daily in the light of the Gospel we my friends will fall and go down our own selfish paths, I speak because I have been there.

Yes I believe a godly woman can be beautiful not to diminish her looks but there is so much more to being a godly woman.

"1 Peter 3:3-4New Living Translation (NLT)
3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."

Now this text we need to take it in its original context but it does apply to today. And all scripture is useful for teaching. God isn't stating that we have to not look beautiful and He isn't saying it is a sin to look nice, but what about your heart are you tenderly caring for it the way God wants us to care for it? Are we pouring as much time into the Word of God as we are the gym? Are we spending as much time at Jesus' feet as we are the vanity station? Are we spending as much time praying and seeking God's heart as we are clothing shopping. I know I can't answer yes, but I do know I am getting a lot better at being a good steward of my time. Because beauty will fade it is a given fact I know I am not going to look as young as I do now when I am 70-90 years old. But I do know that if I keep my heart so in twined with God's heart that is what is going to matter. I don't understand why many people don't get this today. We can't be godly people if we don't spend time with God. Yes we can say oh but Makayla you don't know I go to church each week! I have been there and yes you can go to church, but Bible reading isn't meant for one day a week, I ask you are you daily spending that time in the Word it is a reason it is called daily bread for a reason. Jesus is the way the Truth and the Life and I have found over this past month the more I get into the Word NOTHING I REPEAT NOTHING else deeply satisfies. It shows we were wired for more than this earthly living. Because once you begin to get in the Truth it breaks chains, because you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.


Which brings me to another point and I know a lot of you may hate me for stating this but ladies this is wired for you. Modesty.... Now I know that word is very much hated in this society because we have become a feminism culture. And I know the argument oh it is the boy's fault if he stumbles because of something I wear. Well I have done numerous hours of research on this matter and God made men visual. God made them that way, the way they think about sex is actually linked to the part of their brains where breathing, eating and normal daily activities take place in the brain without thinking about it. Oh but Makayla you can't say that because you are excusing them if they sin. No I am not those were not my words, Men are responsible for the sin they commit, women are responsible for the sin they commit. But what I am saying is dressing in such a way to not even cause our dear brothers to stumble. Media does enough of that I have talked to some of the most godly men I know of they have stated "I cannot even go into a grocery store and not even run into the temptation of lust due to the magazines". That hurts my heart so deeply, and what hurts my heart even deeper is knowing I may I have caused my brothers to stumble. There is a reason why the Bible brings up how we should dress to the women because that is how God wired men to be visual. God created both male and female in His image and both of us are fearfully and wonderfully made. Not only to my brothers do I want to dress modestly but I want to be a light and an example to my brothers who do not know the hope of Christ yet. I want to reflect the heart of Jesus, Jesus warns deeply about causing other brothers or sisters to stumble. There is a deep reason why Paul talks so much about to stay away from sexual immorality because it will destroy you from the inside out. I want to make sure I never make my brothers stumble that is my heart.

Ok on now the next tangent persay... What exactly is a godly woman you may ask? Well one famous scripture that comes to mind is Proverbs 31

The Sayings of King Lemuel

31 The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message,which his mother taught him.

O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows,
do not waste your strength on women,
on those who ruin kings.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.
Rulers should not crave alcohol.
For if they drink, they may forget the law
and not give justice to the oppressed.
Alcohol is for the dying,
and wine for those in bitter distress.
Let them drink to forget their poverty
and remember their troubles no more.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.
Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
and see that they get justice.
A Wife of Noble Character
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.

She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.

She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.

She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.

She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.

She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm clothes.
She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.

She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.

Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

This is one of many descriptions in the Bible of what a godly woman should be.

This is what I DEEPLY desire to be, I want God to transform my life from the inside out DAILY. And we cannot do this on our own strength we NEED Him, we need Others, we need to be gracious with ourselves when we do slip up and sin. We need to REALIZE how DESPERATELY we need a SAVIOUR. To redeem us to make us His clean, pure, spotless bride. We need His word to cleanse us and rid every ounce of wickedness, sexual immorality, gossip, self centeredness out of our lives. We cannot live as godly women if we don't let the Gospel transform our lives from the inside out. If we don't realize how truly broken we are and we need Jesus to fill the cracks in our lives. My point of this blog post was not to ensue condemnation or guilt by no means. I mean this when I say this I speak this in love and I want you to know my heart. I want you to know I can only speak on these things because God has done these things in my life and is doing these things in my life. Conviction sucks yes I fully agree but thank God that He disciplines those He loves and only the Holy Spirit can convict all I can do is point you back to what the Word states. We are nothing without Christ and I need to be daily reminded of that. Who I am and who I was and who I will be is all because of the grace of God. To walk in grace because my heart is so prone to wander, I get this idea that I know what is good for me but in the end I don't. I try to write my own story but as soon as I try to take the pen from God's hands I end up with a 3 years old attempt at words which are just scribbles in the end. I need God to write my story even though it may be hard at times because we want to control. But God knows what He is doing and makes everything beautiful in His timing.

He is doing a good work in my life and yes I am not a definition of a godly woman but I ASPIRE and work towards making God the number one thing in EVERY area of my small life.

"Charm and Beauty is fleeting but a woman who FEARS the Lord is to be Praised."

Proverbs 31:30