Striving To Be "Christ-Like"!

A couple of nights before my surgery last week, and all throughout the day before my surgery, this is the song that I listened to and it brought me so much peace and comfort. I remember checking my Facebook memories and my YouTube home page and this video was in both my FB memories and at the top of my suggested videos on my YouTube app. Let me tell you, it doesn't matter what you're facing God will bring you comfort when you need it the most. There are no coincidences with Him. Sometimes it's in the words of a song, the prayers from others, the gentle reminders from His Holy scriptures, or through a dear friend just reminding you to "be still and know that He is God". It doesn't matter if you've been living for the Lord a few years or many, or you've had one surgery or many (like myself), at times you're going to find yourself in need of some encouragement. That precious and needed encouragement will show up right on time, everytime. If you're...

I know this world is not my home, and all of this is only temporary! I'm almost 41 years old and God has mercifully brought me through 40+ surgeries and procedures, plus another dozen hospitalizations outside of that not necessarily related to surgeries. In fact, I am in the middle of recovering from surgery number 41. I wanted healing and did not want to be in the middle of another shunt revision surgery, yet God said "no" but He's kept me and brought me through and His healing was flowing all in the operating room. It was a complicated surgery, it was double the time, so much could have caused me a long recovery or extra time in the hospital, yet it was a final success, and I am recovering in God's healing hands. Those surgeries are not counting all of the multiple dozens of in-office procedures I have endured and hours upon hours spent in waiting and exam rooms for doctor appointments or hours spent at the emergency room. Most of it remains a blur to me now. I ...

In the midst of troubling times it is easy to give up on your faith. It’s easy to praise God when everything is good in our lives... when we have a good job, great friends/relationships and everything seems like it’s falling into place. We are so happy. We say “Thank you God for everything and my awesome life!” That’s easy to do. But, what about giving God glory through the pain, struggle, betrayal, disease and sickness? Trusting Him through it all. This is something I am still learning myself… To give Him glory when the pieces just do not fit quite yet or quite right! Never doubt the love and the goodness of God to you. He doesn’t promise a storm free life, but He does promise to be the anchor in the storm so that you will not be overcome! Trust Him daily. Trust Him hourly, minute by minute, and learn to trust Him moment by moment. It is learning to trust in Him at all times and in all things. God's resources will not only get you through, but you will truly grow to experience Him...

God said to him, “Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel." - Genesis 35:10 Jacob not only gets a new name in this scenario; he gets a new identity. Jacob means “heel-grabber,” “supplanter” or “deceiver.” But Israel, his new name, means “triumphant with God.” You would expect that from this point forward Scripture would refer to him by his new name, Israel. But if you keep reading, you will see that for the rest of his life he is called both Israel…and Jacob. I have often wondered, “Why would God give him a new name if he was still going to use the name Jacob?” And I realized, it is probably because change is complicated. Just because you have a transformed life does not mean that you are not going to have the same struggles. It is a process. God may call you Israel, but you will still feel and act like Jacob sometimes. I just want you to know that God is comfortable in the conflict. He's not intimidated by your inadequacies. You kn...

The enemy is doing everything he can to keep God's people tired, exhausted, bogged down, overwhelmed, opressed and depressed... as the enemy's time shortens he works overtime. But, for those who are truly saved and looking for God it will soon all be over, so hold on just a little bit longer. I feel the tug in the air when it comes to the tug-a-war that goes on between the enemy's angels and God's angels over people's souls. I can feel it in my spirit and though it leaves me drained, I continue to trust GOD in all things. I have faced and fought one of the greatest spiritual battles of my life, in years past, but I made it through much stronger and God shaped me up so that I am now truly ready for His return. In the end of that battle, I learned how to keep my mouth shut and pray admist false accusations, through being set up, and to forgive others who did not and will not apologize and were not even sorry. I begin to realize what Jesus went through on His way to th...

Sometimes we just need God to remind us that we are not forgotten, that He is our burden bearer, our rest, our peace, our source of strength, our refuge, our very present help in time of need, and everything else we are in need of! I am thankful that He loves me enough to remind me of who/what He is to me! 🙌♥️ LORD, EMPTY ME OF ME SO I CAN CONTINUE TO BE FILLED WITH YOU... I always need less of me, more of You... Lord I'm hungry, thirsty, and desperate for Your Presence!

The word Shekinah is from the Hebrew word “shekinot” and where God is said to “settle in” or “dwell with.” This word means where God is dwelling, settling, or where His Divine Presence is! I'm thankful for this word! I'm praying for God's 'Shekinah Glory Covering' over our (my) minds; it covers/protects the mind in the middle of the enemy's distortion, distractions, doubts, discouragement, and lies (of fear)!