Knock Knock....Who's There?

Knock Knock. Did you hear that? Some one or some thing is knocking at your door. What door am I speaking of? The door to your heart. The Bible says in Proverbs 4:23 to guard your heart and to protect it. Why? Because, out of it flows the issues of life.

When your past comes knocking, when worry, stress, anxiety, self pity, depression, sucicidal thoughts, unworthiness, lonliness, doubt, ex boyfriend's from the devil, hurtful relationships, broken promises, or anything else that is not from God DO NOT ANSWER THAT DOOR! How? I'm glad you asked! It is just as easy as it is for you not to answer that phone call from someone who you certainly know you do not want to speak to. The same way when someone knocks at the door and you either aren't expecting them or you just don't want to talk. You have the power to choose which door you are going to answer. I love it when UPS or FEDEX show up at my door! I love it because I know I am going to receive something that I love! It's going to be something I am either receiving from someone or something I ordered myself. It is the same way with God and all the wonderful things he has for us!
When all those things knock at your door that are not good for you ask God to answer that door. I am reminded of a song by Chris Tomlin called "Whom Shall I Fear". There are so many powerful words in there that I am fired up about my God when I hear it! I especially love the lyrics " the God of angel's armies is always by my side". Wow! What an amazing thought! That means that when you go to battle God goes before you! God sends an army in for us. We don't have to fight that battle! The great news we already have is that the fight is over! The battle is won! When the devil tries to tell you about your present circumstance or past failure be sure to remind him of his past, present, and future! GOD WON! That's all there is to it! The enemy has no place in your life because Jesus took care of that by not only going to the cross but conquering death! He arose! He is alive! He is alive in you!
So, when those things come knocking at your door just say, "God, can you answer that for me?" When the doctor's tell you it's impossible, God's answer at that door is "ALL things are possible to Him who believes". When your crazy ex tells you you'll never find another like him/her.....you tell them GREAT! God has better for you. He has the BEST for you! When finances are low and your back to square one just remember that God's answer to that door is He will supply ALL your needs according to HIS riches!
Guard your heart. Don't let any thing or any one that is not supposed to take residency in your door. Don't even answer that door! God loves you. He believes in you. God's got your back!

Start Over

GAME OVER! Remember those words we used to see at the end of that addicting video game? Do you recall how many quarters or tokens it took for you start over? How many hours did you remain at that arcade game until you beat your last score or some strangers record? Did you hesitate to put "just one more quarter" in that coin slot? My guess is probably not. As soon as we knew that time was running out we were so ready to insert another coin in. Some of you reading this probably had quarters lined up on the little part of the screen so others waiting in line could see that they were so not going to be playing after you. Wow! Remember how easy it was to start over?

In life, many of us have come to what we think is "Game Over" and we are hesitating to insert just one more coin to start over. We hesistate to dream one more dream, to make one more call, to open our doors to love  again, to trust one more person, to pray one more prayer, or perhaps to believe God one more time. Is that you? Have you played the game of life and the words GAME OVER are flashing on your screen?

I have a word for you today. Actually, two words I want to tell you. Those two words are START OVER. Stop where you are and start over. God wants you to know that it is OKAY to start over. Some of you have fought so hard to get where you are in life and all of a sudden you ran out of time. Maybe you ran out of time to fix your marriage, to tell a loved one you forgive them or ask for fogivness before they took their last breath, or closed the doors to a business you thought was it, or maybe you have those words flashing on the screen to your life.

Let today represent another quarter. Grab that quarter and insert it into life one more time! There are so many great things God has in store for you. Don't give up. When life says that your game is over God says it's just beginning! When life says to throw the towel in God is saying to insert your faith one more time. Insert hope one more time. Insert prayer one more time. Insert trust one more time. Insert action one more time. Insert love one more time. God says it is ok to start over. He doesn't leave us when we are at our worst. He wants you to insert what ever that quarter represents ONE MORE TIME. And don't worry, there is no one else standing next in line to take your place. This is your life and God has created it for you!

So, if it is a business that failed or never got started.....START OVER!
If it is a failed marriage and you feel like the GAME OVER is flashing......START OVER! Don't give up!
If death has tried to end your life....START OVER! Your life is important!

Circumstances may be telling you GAME OVER, but I am here to tell you in the name of Jesus, it is just beginning!!

Find a need and meet it!

This season brings back many memories from last year's holidays. Being a family who went through a very rough time these past few years financially my heart is saddened when I hear of parents who are concerned with how they are going to be able to provide a memorable Thanksgiving or Christmas. I want to take time today to speak to you who wonder that same thing. I also want to speak to those of you who are in a position to bless others in need.

First, before Hector was laid off from his job we were a family who was more than able to be a blessing to families in need and to give when there was a need. We were never boastful of what we could do and never asked for recognition of what we gave, all the glory goes to God for his goodness upon our lives. We simply would hear of a need or knew of one and wanted to help with whatever we could! Whether it be opening our home to victims of Hurricane Rita or purchasing and buying extra Thanksgiving meals to buying gifts for needy children during Christmas we wanted to do our part.

Last year, it was completely different. Christmastime was especially hard knowing we couldn't buy gifts galore for our girls or perhaps even buy or cook an extra meal for someone else's family. As believers in God's word we stood on the promise that all of our needs were going to be met and that we wouldn't have lack in our home. We still had a roof over our head, food on our table, clothes to wear and shoes on our feet. We were thankful for everything we had in life. Our church always helps when it comes to the needy in our community and we wanted to help. We knew that if it meant blessing someone else so that they would know that God loves them we would sacrifice for our family. So we did! We decided to be a blessing knowing and trusting that God will provide a Christmas for our girls. We are not a superficial family so our girls weren't upset about not having gifts or the BIG gifts like everyone else. They were happy to help other children. I say that to say this, when you help someone else God will help you. When you put your faith in what God tells you to do he is not going to let you down! NEVER!!!! God is true, he is faithful, he is everything you need him to be! When it all came down to it we still didn't have the finances to buy a big meal for the holiday celebrations and we had to miss out on the fun holiday parties God still provided. He provided amazing friends who blessed our girls with gifts (not knowing what we were going through personally) and we were invited to many activities that gave our girls gifts.

This year, I am already planning what I want our family to do for others who are still in need. I know what it means to have your kids go without the gifts, or a tree, or even lights outside the house for Santa to see your home in the night! I know how that feels and I don't want any child to go with out. I may not be a millionaire (YET!), but I know a God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills and he will help me meet a need! That's the thing. MEET A NEED! You may not be able to meet a hundred needs but you can help meet ONE need.

Today, go out and find a need. It may be your best friend who is embarrassed to tell you what they are truly facing. It may be a single mom at church. It may even be that business owner that looks like they have it all together when deep inside they know that they are in need. GO out and meet a need this holiday season. In return, the bible says you will be given back that which you give!

Let this be the best holiday season we have lived! Generosity warms a heart like no one's business!

Love you all! I pray for those of you reading this that are the one's in need that God will move heaven and earth and send an angel in this community to help you. Keep your heart believing, keep your faith in God, keep expecting for things to get better! Life can and WILL get better for you, in the name of Jesus!

~Patty~

Zealous Youth Blogs: The Biggest Lie I Ever Told

Zealous Youth Blogs: The Biggest Lie I Ever Told: I've meant to confess this, my greatest mistake as a minister, my blunder of all blunders, the biggest lie I ever told!  As a young youth ...

Stronger

Wow! What a journey we have been on. I still remember the day we found out that Hector was laid off. The memory is there as if it happened yesterday afternoon. The wonderful thing about that is it doesn't hurt to think about it anymore. This December will be 4 years since our lives were turned upside down. Had it not been for hope in who God is, hope in his word, love and encouragement from friends and family, especially our church family we would not be who we are today. We are nothing away from God's love. 

It has been a long 4 years, but I am happy to say that life is better for us and things, a lot of things are lookin' up. My husband suffered a heart attack last year 2 weeks before his 40th birthday and as of a few days ago he is off of his medications (except cholesterol) and is doing great. His heart is doing wonderfully. I love that heartbeat! Sometimes I find myself laying on his chest just so I can hear that beautiful sound. I thank God for my husband's life. I am doing great. God has brought some amazing people in my life who have built my faith and have encouraged me to step out in new things. 

I wanted to write this to tell you not to give up! I know what it means to go through something so hard and hurtful that makes you feel like life as you know it is over. Today, I'm glad the life as I knew came to stop because this new life that God has given us is far more amazing than what we had. In the midst of your pain you may want to curl up in a dark room and stay away from the world, mostly from those who love you. DON'T do it!! You need them. God sends us the most beautiful people to get us through those tough times. Stay around people. I encourage you to stay around the people who are there to lift you up, and pray with you, give you words of wisdom, keep your faithatude in check! Yes, I said it! FAITHATUDE! We need to be sure to keep our faith in check. Keep your faith in God. He knows your ending from the beginning! He is fully aware of your current situation and he knows you're going to get through it. 

Stay focused on God and not your problem. Keep your eyes up towards heaven for all good things come from above. He knows your every need and he will take care of those for you. I don't have enough space to tell you how God met our needs through these last 4 years. He is just so amazing to his children! 

Hope! Hope and don't waver in it. Your life can and will get better! Trust God. He has a plan for you! 

Enjoying the journey, 
Patty 

Be a Giver of Hope

Choose not to let the problems of the world get to you. You can not afford to lose your joy. So, just because someone you know is going through a hard time or maybe it’s an event that has occurred in world and millions are living in anger doesn’t mean that you have to walk out those same emotions. Anger drains you. Frustration drains you. Sadness & depression suck the life right out of you. When someone is going through a battle in life or just having a bad day at work the best thing you can do is to be yourself. Lend an ear. Give some of your happiness to them. It does no good to your friend if you too, take part in their anger or frustration.

A reminder to those of you facing a difficult time right now would be to take a minute to look around & see what is good. There is more good than bad in this world. Look for it.

Hope is not.....

“Hope is not blind optimism. It's not ignoring the enormity of the task ahead or the roadblocks that stand in our path. It's not sitting on the sidelines or shirking from a fight. Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it, and to work for it, and to fight for it. Hope is the belief that destiny will not be written for us, but by us, by the men and women who are not content to settle for the world as it is, who have the courage to remake the world as it should be.” Armstrong Williams