Walking Together Towards God

We started the countdown to Christmas vlog last week. We find that it is an interesting way to show how we weave the gospel and following Jesus Christ in our daily lives as a family. We hope you enjoy it! Countdown to Christmas #12: http://youtu.be/DX6pzhCtoxQ

Marriage. That word brings many  emotions with it. It scares some people who are not ready and excites some who are looking forward to an anniversary. It brings mixed memories to those who may be divorced and anxiety to the singles who are still looking, waiting and wishing. I have learned a few things as a wife that I want to share with you today. Marriage is a gift. The very idea of marriage between a man and a woman comes from God. The earth was formed from nothing and is sustained by the Creator. He gives it to man as a gift and the woman is a gift to man from God. Marriage is the covenant relationship that replaces man's aloneness with a relationship that God calls "Good". So since it is a gift, we ought to thank God for it. How? By enjoying it, making the most out of it and using it to glorify Him every day.  Marriage is a journey. Most people are aware that most marriages start in one place and end up somewhere else.They start happy and full of ...

Yesterday I participated in a singles conference. When I was asked to speak, I kind of wondered what could this married woman have to say to other singles that would be of substance. To my amazement, God revealed something awesome to me and I would like to share it with you. Singles With Purpose: Anita Mckaney: http://youtu.be/L6Mc2pLwZcw

Maurice and I watched this movie about a week ago. It was a very interesting and intriguing story. A very decorated Doctor of science and his wife devise a way to "download his intelligence" into a computer since he is dying. It works, and then spirals into an all-encompassing, limitless base of knowledge and understanding once he is connected to the internet - the largest base of knowledge and information known to man besides God. In fact, he is compared to God in the movie. So let's say that the doctor represents Jesus here. He is a normal guy to everyone except for his genius intellect. There were those who opposed his ideas and thought he was rather radical. He even compared the possibility of his ideas to being god-like. This disturbed people. Even though he was respected, he also became feared in this movie. Once people knew he was dead, they figured that the threat was over. But, they was a small sect of people who knew that he was still alive but in a d...

Here I share my thoughts on certain passages in the book of Revelation. Please share your comments, questions and reactions.

I am not very familiar with stocks, bonds and trading, but I do know that you need money to make money. I do know that you can increase your earnings by giving up what you have. I know there is risk involved and that the greater the risk, the greater your potential reward. There is a world trade organization, but God says what profit is there in "gaining the world and losing our souls". I have been meditating on Luke 19:11-27. It is the parable of the 10 pounds. Ten servants are given ten pounds and told to Occupy until the owner of the money returns. Only 3 of them had anything to say when He returned. What happened to the other seven? One servant gains 10x what was entrusted to him, another 5x. A third servant "laid up in a napkin" the money given to him. The 3rd servant is rebuked for not presenting any gain and his money is taken from him and given to the servant that gained the most. When we trade, or invest what God has given us, we gain His f...

Are you yielding? What is there to show for your christian life? Watch this quick word about yielded and submission from a different perspective.

Balance has a new definition for me. It is more than just juggling several things well at once, it is being able to stand and not fall over. Balance is regulated internally, not externally. Its the inner ear that gives you balance, not the way you handle your day-to-day schedule. If we are to be Titus 2 women, we need a proper balance in our lives. I mean, we should be able to stand for God when others are falling away. In such a quickly changing world where people are giving up quickly on hope, Jesus Christ is our hope, our rock, our stability. He is the one who brings balance from the chaos that is our lives. Every morning it is essential for your life to get marching orders from Him. Let it be the first order of the day. Let Jesus be the weight that holds you down. So that your life will be in proper balance. Ask God to keep you from falling, falling into sin, back into old habits and falling into any beds or ungodly relationships. He brings balance to the mind heart soul...

When our conscious is "seared" as the Bible calls it, we become immune to the gentle tug of the Holy Spirit to lead us in the right direction. Like a person who has been burned, we are calloused to conviction. This is a dangerous place to be. One becomes so accustomed to sin in their lives that it does not worry them. It does not feel bad, it actually feels pretty good. The heart is incorrigible. You do not want to become numb to what is holy. You know you have gone blind when you can "see nothing wrong" with something that God has called sin. The definition of reprobate is an unprincipled person, destined to damnation and morally depraved. The only cure for the reprobate mind is the renewed mind. The old man must die completely. Renewal is the state of being made brand new. Ezekiel 37:1-14 speaks of dead, dry bones being brought "back to life". When we are dead to Christ, we cannot hear, see or respond to God's love. However, a ...

You reap what you sow. What you do comes back to you whether that is good or bad. But things are changing as the end times approach. Ministries are being birthed at an alarming rate. There is a famine for the truth when false teachers and prophets are so prevalent. No sooner than you can pray, God is answering those prayers! Behold, the days come,” saith the Lord, “that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. Amos 9:13 There is coming a time when the reaper overtakes the sower. The plow breaks up the ground to prepare it for seed. The sower plants it in the ground. He will be faster than the person gathering the harvest. One plants, one waters, but God gives the increase. The Bible tells us that the reapers are the angels. These are not "grim reapers" as portrayed in the movies, but reapers of the souls of those who are being gathered out of th...

When people refer to being inspired, it is often how they describe a feeling that motivates them to action. A word, poem, picture or nature are thought of as being inspirational. They cause us to be creative and give us big ideas. People often see inspirational people and think, "If they can do it, so can I"! People who inspire others don't often seek to be inspirational, they just are! The Word of God tells us that it (the Bible) was inspired by the Holy Spirit. (2 Timothy 3:16) . Men were impressed by God Himself to pen the Holy scriptures that we call the Bible today. It is God-breathed, or inspired. Well, while meditating on this, the Lord showed me the difference between inspiration and expiration. To inspire means to breath IN while to expire means to breath OUT. There is a regular, passive exchange happening in our bodies at all times. We don't think about breathing, we just do! It happens as a part of the respiratory cycle. Every time we expire, w...

Do you remember the little girl Rudy Huxtable from the Cosby Show, or was it her cousin Olivia? In one episode, she emphatically states "I KNOW my body" referring to understanding its function as if she were grown. This series spins from off of that memory. In the Body of Christ, we have many members, functions and opportunities to serve and be served by one another. Being a nurse, I have a unique perspective on the body - inside and out. I have seen bodies in great shape and in poor health alike. In all of the things that I have learned about the body, one thing remains the same. It is the same for all of us. Although many things vary from eye color to muscle tone, skin color to number of limbs, we all use our bodies in the same way, for the same purposes mostly. Meditating on the Body of Christ has led me to the same conclusions. We have one head, Jesus Christ. We are varied in our use and function in the body itself. We can build others parts while others never move. ...

The Bible can be used as a guideline £or dating, because wisdom comes £rom God. God included wisdom in the Bible and we are to live by every word o£ God. (Eph. 5:15-17) The £ollowing dating guideline is a paraphrase o£ something I heard over a decade ago and is the best approach to dating in every situation for everyone involved. There are four levels of a wise dating relationship: LEVEL ONE Platonic friends: Dating and making a point of having various CHRISTIAN £riends of the opposite sex. Guarding your a££ections (giving equal time to each friend, and not being totally alone with your date) have RECIPROCAL friendships. It is very important to, regardless o£ how much you like someone, be honest with yoursel£ and remain platonic friends £or a minimum of (I believe) six months. 1 Cor. 6:14-18. Amos 3:3, Song 8:4, Prov. 4:23, 18:13. 2 Tim. 3:5-7, Matt. 7:20-21 LEVEL TWO PIatonic special £riends ("boyfriend and girlfriend", or best friends...

Some people have a love affair with bread, pastries and carbohydrates in general. We are hearing more and more how we should cut back on carbs. They are filling, bloating & make you gain weight. But they taste so good! The Bible says that Jesus is the Bread of Life. He is our nourishment and sustenance. Putting this Living Word, Living Bread into our lives yields incredible results! As He was, so are we in this world. Jesus was the Light, we are lights of the world. Jesus was the Bread of Life, we are the bread as well. When life punches you in the face and you go through intensely heated situations as a christian,  just know that it's because you are Bread. God needs people who are willing to be "kneaded", those whom He can "fire up" for the Kingdom work ahead. You may be thinking, "I'm toast", useless, ill-equipped. You may even be scared to be used by God! Let me encourage you. Read Judges 7. It's the story of Gideon. He w...

We are the RE-Generation. We are the called out ones. We are the Church. If you are a mom or dad, you have a special responsibility to make sure that your children become disciples of Jesus Christ. Just as God disciplines His sons and daughters, we ought to discipline ours. No discipline at the time seems pleasant but yields fruit of righteousness in those who have been trained by it. My grandfather has often told me of stories about how he had to whoop kids who weren't even His!! Lol. A parent knows discipline is important because noo child stays that way forever. How would it look if a grown man acted like a 10 year old? We should be growing, maturing and reproducing more disciples.  Within the word generation is the word generate. You may rely on a source to give you strength and energy to do what you have to do, but as you grow you also rely more and more on the Source (the Re-Generator) who is God Himself and less and less on others. When babies are born they...

We have a problem at our house. Our kitchen sink is clogged. So you know what that means. My dishes are backed up and there are too many to put in the dishwasher. I actually have to wash them by hand. What??!! I know. Back in the day this was not a big deal. Get your hands dirty wash the dishes. But I'm spoiled. I don't want to get my hands dirty. I don't want to mess up my manicure. Even though I have a dishwasher I still don't want to wash the remaining dishes by hand. However, to ignore the clog or not handle the results of it would be a huge mistake! Thank God that Jesus was not so particular. He came in the form of human and got down and dirty for us. He did what none of the rest of us could do. He was perfect and yet he got himself dirty in order to redeem us and bring us back to God. Sin clogs up our flow with God. It keeps us from being useful in the Kingdom. It brings movement to a halt and attracts our enemies - pests! When the sin of our lives gets backed ...

It's not just "a guy thing" This video is taken from the "Woman 2 Woman" conference hosted by Changed Hearts: I Am Woman (www.changedheartsunited.com)

When asked by others if you love Jesus do you say yes? When asked if you desire to be used by Him do you say yes? When asked IF He can use you, do you say yes? Some people have difficulty with these questions. We often feel unprepared to do what God requires of us, but we shouldn't!  I Corinthians 1:4-9 We are equipped with Great Confirmation for the Great Commission. God gives us perfect affirmation through Christ who lives within us. The power to obey is not something we work up. It's not a conjured spell or the power of positive thinking. It is God working in you to do of His good pleasure. Any good in us is His doing. The power to do good is His as well. Matthew 3:17 With Jesus, God is well-pleased. We all desire to please God, to make Him smile but often still see ourselves as unfit to be in leadership or to be called a disciple of Jesus. Why is that? Sometimes, it really is our pride, or a false humility. "I'm so sinful, I could n...

We always talk about what it is to be unequally yoked, but what about Walking Together. Consider these things: Spiritual gifts As husband and wife, our spiritual gifts will naturally complement each other because they are both of the Spirit. Fruit on the same tree may look slightly different,  but we are attached to the same supply! Business Spouses are mutual benefactors from financial prosperity. We are one body and the support of your spouse in business translates to tons of growth (economically and for future generations). When you sow together, you reap together and twice as much! Dreams & Aspirations No one should be a bigger cheerleader of your dreams than your spouse! Do your part to support and encourage. You do not want to be the person who kills the dream. Ministry Like in business, sowing and reaping together has its benefits. We must always pray for one another that we will be directed by God as a couple. Your marriage has purpose and minis...

As I drove home in the rain today, I was thanking God for another "car wash"..lol. My car was filthy from the previous snow storm and in need of a shower from heaven. It was great to know that I was safe and dry inside while the Lord was making Jackie (that's my car's name) all clean again. She looked like she just came from the car wash minus the wax. I was inspired to get cleaned up myself! Maybe I am the only one who gets their praise on in the shower. There is just something about being clean and pure before God that lends itself to praise. Many people sing in the shower. It's refreshing and there is a certain "newness" and "freedom" one can express while getting all clean. While taking my shower, the Lord reminded me of this past week's Wifestyle Image Network Youversion study on Miriam (http://www.a.youversion.com/events/320058). I could suddenly relate! Miriam, who was Moses's sister is remembered for leading the women in pr...

God is a Provider! We all have those moments where we are unsure that God is leading and guiding our lives and relationships, marriages and careers. Often, we can only see so far ahead. In our frailty and sin, we tend to doubt and question God's concern for our future. Jeremiah 29:11-13 KJV For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord , thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. God has an "expected end" and destination for us. When we stay in His will for our lives daily, we will not drown or be led off course as we navigate through life. Even in the storms of life, God in his sovereignty has paved the way! Each morning,  seeking His face and praying over our day, sets the course. When I wake up, I look at my map to determine if I am still ...

In this video, I discuss Genesis 38 & 39 which tell the stories of Tamar (Judah ' s daughter-in-law) and Potiphar's wife. Here are some other things to think about: What all does this seed represent? What things in your life are acting to prevent the seed from growing or developing? There are seasons of seed-bearing and harvest. Where do you find yourself now? How do you know? I would love to hear your feedback on this study as well as questions and/or comments!

Rachel did it! She stole the idols from her father and hid them in her tent. Then she covered them up and sat on top. When her dad comes to see if they have been stolen she says "Forgive me for not getting up dad, I'm on my period. You know how that is". He believes her and moves on. Have you ever just told a straight out lie to someone's face, even someone you love and care about? Unfortunately,  I have and I bet I'm not alone. Rachel ' s sin, like ours most times, started way before the lie however. She wanted and coveted an IDOL! Perhaps she was hoping that the god of fertility would give her more babies or that her sister would stop competing with her for Jacob ' s affections. In any case, she did not seek God, she wanted a false god and lied to protect it. How twisted! Idolatry is putting anything in place of the One, True God. The bible never says that Rachel repented. We may never know, but we do know what we covet after in our own hear...

This week we are taking a closer look at Leah. She was the tender-eyed sister of Rachel who Jacob loved even though they were both married to him by trickery of her father. If that was not enough family drama, we see a constant rivalry between these two sisters over who can have the most children by Jacob. As I read and studied, the Lord began to reveal to me how women often respond when they are hated by the men who are supposed to love them. What happens when you are the unloved wife. In the world's gospel, everyone deserves to be loved and if you are not, you need to ditch that zero and find a hero! However, in bible times, it was not that simplistic at all, and what was even MORE important than a healthy marriage was a healthy baby. Now He Will Love Me Once married to Jacob, Leah had several sons and with each birth, she thought that surely she would know her husband's love. Notice that sex was not love to her. She desired his heart. No all of us wives have the heart ...

Questions for Discussion & Reflection 1. Have you taken of communion unworthily? How can you change that? 2. Fasting is essential. Are you holding fast or taking communion? Is this what you should be doing at this time? 3. If you are married, communion should be part of your lifestyle. How can you improve your sex life to the glory of God? 4. Unity in the body was the prayer of Jesus in the book of John chapter 17. Read this prayer and pray with Christ!

Rebekah was a hard working girl. She had her priorities in order and was doing what she was supposed to be doing. While drawing water from the well she showed a stranger generosity and hospitality. Little did she know that her act of kindness would be a blessing in her life and that she would be married in the next few days! When we focus on the path that God has given us at the moment, we open doors of opportunity for blessings to come and overtake our lives.  Rebekah was not afraid to take a chance on God. When God speaks we should obey immediately. When we are in right position then we can move quickly in obedience to God's will for our lives.  Unfortunately, like most of us, Rebecca did not stay in right position all of her life. Her heart began to sway towards one of her sons in particular. Her focus changes. The Bible says that our hearts are deceitfully wicked. Rebecca allowed her affections for one of her sons to distract her and caused her to be deceptive...