Striving To Be "Christ-Like"!

We have to realize we have an enemy... an enemy like no other. This enemy is who Jesus refers to in John 10:10.... the thief comes "ONLY to steal, to kill, and to destroy." Imagine that - ONLY to do harm to me (us)... he comes with only the intention to steal my confidence in who I am in Christ... he comes to kill relationships, to kill my body with disease... he comes to destroy faith, destroy my witness, destroy my reputation... BUT GOD! There's a 2nd part to that verse... "I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly." Jesus wants us to clearly see the contrast here. The thief, our enemy satan, comes with a purpose and plan for our lives and that is to steal, kill, and destroy us. Oh, but Jesus, also has a purpose and a plan for our lives. He wants to give us life and more abundant life. The enemy will try to steal what he can to make our life the opposite of abundant – he will lie to us until we start believing it, he will steal our joy, our pe...

This afternoon I was out getting some fresh air, walking down our driveway, and our hydrangea bush stopped me in my tracks. My focus immediately went to the dead bloom on the left. The Lord spoke to my spirit and ask me did I not see the pretty alive bloom on the right? Y'all, you want to talk about a wake up call! It doesn't matter how long you've been living for the Lord, it seems your focus immediately goes to the bad things going on in your life instead of the beauty God has for us. Especially, when you're in the middle of a battle. Whatever ugliness satan throws at us, there's another side full of beauty. I also immediately thought about the beautiful bloom being on the right side of our bush vs. the left side. In the biblical sense, the right side is seen as a place of honor and glory and goodness vs. the left side representing evil or being unclean. Spiritually dead (left) vs. Spiritually alive (right). The enemy will lie to you and tell you everything is dea...

I was so down and out and discouraged this afternoon, as I continue to fight through sickness at home, but I am doing better now. Anyway, the Lord told me to start going through all of these binders and notebooks (that I keep in my bookcase). This is literally all full of handwritten or typed out notes from me since September 2011 dealing with teachings, sermons, bible study, testimony notes and ministry notes of mine. (And this doesn't include all of my journals I haven't went through.) 10 years of notes. 10 years of God growing me and bringing me through. 10 years in which it is comprised of notes over 4 churches I was apart of that eventually led me to what I call my church of completion (until God calls me home), my blog ministry, and nursing home ministry. I just started reading through some of it and was just in awe to read over certain situations and areas God has grown me from or brought me through (I had forgot about) or grown knowledge in me about His word. It would t...