Looking Forward

"For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:11-13, HCSB). 

What motivates you? Lately, pictures of Corpus Christi have been motivating me keep up my runs, since I will be running in a long distance race there soon. There is this feeling within me that can emerge, though - a feeling that routine runs will wear away at me and drain my energy. When I remember why I am excited about that run in the future, my mind shifts. My heart lifts. I remember why I love to run, and even what may seem like a purely mechanic routine is a good time as I remember the end goal with its purpose and meaning.

As believers, we have this future hope that Jesus will return one day. This hope comes from God's promises. He is an unchanging promise keeper. God is Lord over all and Jesus, our Redeemer. With help from the Holy Spirit, we can seek to live our lives as His people, representatives for Him until He comes again to restore His kingdom on earth. My hope is that as we seek to follow God, we shift our eyes from obedience that can look like routine and see the underlying love for our Savior that can drive all of that.

Kelli Martin

Let's be a people who love Him from the inside out. Let's share with others and pray that they see that our obedience is a work of the Holy Spirit. Let's pray that God renews our hearts daily so we can reflect Him more.

"So we must not grow tired of doing good" (Galatians 6:9a, HCSB). 

"God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit in me" (Psalm 51:10, HCSB). 

Recommended song: "Absent from Flesh" performed by Sojourn Music. You can see a YouTube video here or listen to the audio version here. This song was inspired by the hymn written by Isaac Watts, and you can find the words to that here.

Now Publishing: Peace + Salvation

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns'" (Isaiah 52:7, ESV). 

This version stood out to me, because of the word "publishing" and because it is mentioned twice. In this verse, the Hebrew form of the word used means "to hear of man" (NAS Exhaustive Concordance). So, this news is from someone's voice. God can speak through us to bring news of salvation and peace to others.

The neat thing is is that we are meant to bring this news with full trust and remembrance of its truth. Remember how you have found peace and salvation:

• How have you found peace with God?
• When were you saved? What did He deliver you from? 
• How has the peace and salvation that you've found in God changed your mind, perspective, heart and soul?

Let's pray we get the chance to share this peace and salvation, and the root of it, with someone else this week.

Kelli Martin

Let's pray God gives us boldness and wisdom to "publish" the salvation and peace that last - the kind we find in Him.

"And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'" (Romans 10:15, ESV). 

Recommended song: "Rooftops" by Jesus Culture - you can listen to it on YouTube here

Clinging To The Cross!

Some of my favorite promises from God's heart that describe "Clinging to the Cross" are 2 Cor. 1:3-11, I must cling to The Cross in order to keep my hope set on Jesus!  As you can see in this picture, I Am Clinging To The Cross!  I am a desperate Christian, but in desperation I find hope and victory in Jesus! 

I pray you are encouraged to cling to The Cross if you know Jesus as your Saviour or run to The Cross if you need Him to be your Lord today, as you read these promises too! God Loves You!! Praise God for God's Promise to use everything you experience in life for His purposes, His Glory, His Salvation for Others!!  "...if we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation..." 2 Cor.1: 6 (please see below)  WOW, that makes all the negative experiences in life worth it all to know that God can use them ALL to share comfort and salvation with OTHERS...I sure have a lot of things to share with others as someone that was not raised in a Christian home and as someone that has experienced many sufferings as a believer...I pray this encourages you to be ready to share Jesus from the pain and persecutions that you may have or may be experiencing in life!


2 Cor.1:3-11 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.  We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us again. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."  Keep Your Hope Set On Jesus and Be Ready to Share Him with Others!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noSLw7v_kEM  (If I Could Just Touch The Hem Of His Garmet"!!!  Nicole C. Mullen)  http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=YGKG7NNX 

You Are His Witness!

"It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts Him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God’s way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: “The person in right standing before God by trusting Him really lives.”  Romans 1:16-17 (The Message)

As we read one of the most life-changing truths from God's Word from Romans 1, we see that Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, because he knew it was the truth that set him free.  Paul had witnessed the life-changing power in the hearts of those that he walked with, talked with, and most of all shared the gospel with!  As Paul journeyed for Jesus, his actions and his words empowered others to admit they needed God, believe that Jesus was the one and only Lord, and confess to others the truth that would set them free too.

As I look back at the miracle of my salvation, my life was dramatically changed in EVERY way and because of "...the power of God..." (Romans 1:16), I went home, the very day that I gave my life to Christ, and I became His unashamed witness (I did not know that I was being a witness, I just could not keep my life-changing experience and the love of God to myself :-) ! )  As I began to share Jesus on my little street in Houston, Texas, God began to impact the lives around me "unto salvation" (Romans 1:16) through His love that was shared through actions and the truth of God's Word.  I began to experience God as His witness for the very first time as I learned that many were also searching for direction and purpose in their lives.

As we share Jesus with others, our testimony is one of the most powerful things we can share.  How has Jesus made a difference in your life?  How has Jesus made a difference in your life years ago, months ago, weeks ago, days ago, today?!!  As His witness, we always have something we can share as Jesus lives and works in and through our lives as His followers....I believe that this is one way that God keeps me full of His courage to share the Good News of Jesus Christ as He defeats any fear, pain, or shame that the enemy tries to silence me with!!!!

Is the life-changing power of God alive and active in your life today, are you His fearless witness when you are at the store, at a resturant, at work, on twitter, on facebook, at school, in the bleachers at the ballfield, at the bank, when you are shopping, at the nail or hair salon, everywhere you go?  If not, what fear, pain, shame, or other obstacle, has the enemy tried to silence you with?  Throw it off, lay it down, give it to Jesus, trust Him and do what you did when you were first His witness!  " For you will be a witness for Him to all people of what you have seen and heard."  Acts 22:15 (HCSB)  "You are to be a key witness to everyone you meet of what you've seen and heard."  Acts 22:15 (The Message)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNS5tGUoBCs  ( I Am Not Ashamed Of The Gospel! - Heritage Singers)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euPKtGqcu0w   ( No Turning Back! - Chris Tomlin)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KsfwvpcQhY  ( Trading My Sorrows!)

A New Heart: Gentleness

"With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love..." (Ephesians 4:2a, NASB).

"You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your help makes me great" 2 Samuel 22:36 (NASB).

What does God's gentleness look like? Gentleness sees the beauty in God and His glory, as well as the way sin causes destruction. It acts with compassion. I love that another version of 2 Samuel 22:36b reads, "You stoop down to make me great" (NIV, 1984). When God sees us, He knows that we are His creation and that He loves us. He also faces that we aren't perfect, that we have sin in our lives and that we may be far from Him. God sees we need help. In our weakness, He is strong. The Lord seeks to:

• forgive us
• develop a relationship with us, a relationship based on trust in who He is
• clean out the sin in our lives
• give us the Holy Spirit to give us power to walk a fresh life with Him

God's gentleness uses wisdom and acts on love. How can we act in gentleness? We need humility in knowing who we are, as well as faith in who God is. We also need God's grace, love and strength.

Lord, thank You for showing gentleness toward us. Help us see how to live out this fruit of the Spirit. Help us show others that the gentleness we know comes from You, because it's a part of who You are. Amen.

For more on living out gentleness, see Galatians 6:1, Ephesians 4:1-2, 2 Timothy 2:25, James 3:13.

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo from www.alcsaguilas.com.

Merry Christmas!

"'Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, 
For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, 
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us 
In the house of David His servant - 
As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old - '"
(Luke 1:68-70, New American Standard Bible).

Jesus was the answer for the Jews and the world for a Redeemer, because He was God's fulfillment of His promise to send a Savior to the world.

"The Lord God of Israel," the faithful One (Psalm 18:2, Luke 1:70), who created the world and provides for it, sent Jesus. Jesus was born through the line of David (Matthew  1:1). This was important, because it fulfilled the old prophecies that God gave years and years before (Genesis 22:18, Psalm 89:3-52, Luke 1:32, Galatians 3:18). As my friend Jenna once said, "Jesus was God's Plan A."

Jesus did not Himself sin, yet His sacrifice paid the price for our sins (Hebrews 9:12). We see the all-powerful God's great love, kindness, and grace in that He sent Christ to us (Luke 1:76-78). Through Him, we are able to be forgiven from our sins, when we ask for it out of a genuine faith, so we can have this good relationship with Him and then walk with Him (Luke 1:79).

Enjoy celebrating our great Savior with loved ones today! Let us pray we get the chance to share who He is with someone else this week. Praise God that He is Emmanuel, God with us.

Best wishes for a merry Christmas!

Recommended song: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" by Sojourn Music www.youtube.com - "O Come O Come Emmanuel"

We pray they believe and confess Jesus as Savior and Lord

"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation" (Romans 10:9-10, New American Standard Bible).

Do you know anyone who has been adopted? In the past few years, I have gotten close to a few families who have adopted children. It has been inspiring and a joy to see people love each other as family, even when they are not family by blood.

Adoption is a great reflection of how God loves those who receive His call to be a part of His family. God already loves us, His creation. Do we know someone who has not yet received His invitation to lead us as the good and loving Father God?

John 1:12 explains, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (New American Standard Bible). God, most holy and righteous, sent His Son to die a death we deserve to die. If we receive His invitation by turning to Him and trusting in Him, then we are invited into His family, His protection, and His presence. His love and mercy draws us to Him and puts us in awe.

Lord, this person on our mind who does not know You, please help them believe in You and Your Son, Jesus. Help them believe in You and confess their sins, so they can have a mended relationship with You. We pray they confess and believe, so they, too, will be a part of Your family.

More verses on this: Matthew 10:32, John 5:24, John 20:31, Romans 10:13, Joel 2:32
Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo from stlfamilylife.com.

The Season of Thankfulness to God!

♥2 Thessalonians 2:13♥ "As for us, we can’t help but THANK GOD for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always THANKFUL that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth."

This time of the year is one of my favorite! Attitudes of Gratitude are all around us as we Thank God for blessing upon blessing!

This time of the year causes me to thank God for saving my life from the dark pit of lostness! Generational Lostness!! As a first-generation Christian, I heard about Jesus for the very first time ever in my life when I was in my 20's and I RAN TO JESUS! I THANK GOD that He has totally changed my life in everyway! Then God began to reach my loved ones one by one year by year, even though some of the years of waiting seemed like FOREVER, but God is Faithful!! My husband became a Christian 4 months after I gave my life to Christ, but it felt like a long season of waiting as God taught me how to pray and wait on HIM!!

This time of year is such a special opportunity to Thank God!! What would you like to Thank God for? Who are the ones on your life that you are praying and waiting on the Lord "to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth." ♥2 Thessalonians 2:13b♥ I must encourage you to Keep Praying as I count it a privilege to pray with you as we NEVER GIVE UP because God Is At Work~His Timing Is Perfect!!

Dear God, Thank You for Being You!! Thank You for having a plan for each and everyone of those YOU LOVE and have a HOPE & a FUTURE for!! We trust You, we love You, we wait on You, and we THANK YOU for taking care of everything and everyone that is on our hearts and minds!! In Jesus' Name, AMEN!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xgxn9DW1ng (Thank You, Lord by Hillsong)!!!

where do you run?

"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing."
-Zephaniah 3:17, ESV

Making new goals for the year really makes me sit and think. In reflecting on the past year, I can see how I need some "rehab" in areas of my life. Someone once told me that if computers were just repaired, then we would not have to buy new ones every few years. I do not know much about computers, but I do believe that God does not wish to throw us out, and He has the unique ability to "repair" us.

It baffles me how God is not only is pure and just, but also forgiving. In Zephaniah, I see how God is just. In chapter 3, verse 17, we can see how God has this joyful love for us. He:

• is with us
• saves us
• takes delight in us

So, God, ruler over all, loves us. He wants us to know Him, follow Him, rest in Him.

Where will we run this year?  How can we help others see how He loves?

Some songs, with links to youtube.com, that stand out to me:

• "Tremble" by Nichole Nordeman – "Face down on the floor/Do I dare to take the liberty to stare at you?/Oh, let me/Oh, let me not forget to tremble."
• "What a Miracle" by David Crowder Band – "O King of Kings/Our Sacred Joy/What a miracle/You come for all."
• "Okay" by Flyleaf – "It's too important for us to forget/...God will hear and save/God will hear and save us."

Praying!

http://www.syatp.com/

Today is See You At The Pole, a day set aside to PRAY for Students of all ages, Teachers, Administrators, Leaders and Parents!

Please stop right now and PRAY as The Lord leads you! Please include PRAYING for SALVATION for those that NEED JESUS!!

Please share any way that we can PRAY for YOU!!

God Answers Prayer!!

Matthew 6:9-13 "Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven...

Everyone Needs HOPE!

"There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!"

Romans 5:3-5 (msg)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jer.29:11-13 (NIV)

Romans 5:6-8 (ESV) "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."!!

As God's witnesses, as the constant changing circumstances around us are often very difficult, we have a great opportunity to share the ONE truth that NEVER CHANGES=JESUS! Right now in our communities as we look around us there is such a huge opportunity to share JESUS because of all of the uncertainty and questions about the future that are in The United States of America and the WORLD! Just like it is written in Romans 5:6 "for while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly..." Our world is full of people that are searching searching searching for someone & something that they can put their trust in that will not let them down or change! We have THE ANSWER to every one's needs and His name is JESUS!! JESUS is who equips us and calls us as His Gifted2Go witness♥

WOW, like me, do you remember what it was like to be lost (without hope)? Lost people look and live like lost people! Romans 5: 6-8 compels my thoughts right back to the time in my life that I was LOST and how desperately I was searching for Peace and Purpose "weak and ungodly" and NEEDING JESUS~PEACE WITH GOD & HOPE for my future...how many people around us right now are needing HOPE & PEACE? Would you join me and make a "who needs Jesus" prayer list?

As followers of Christ, our hope is in Christ Alone, not in this world! The more difficult times grow around the world, the greater opportunity we have to share JESUS!

Today is a great opportunity to share your personal testimony with someone today that needs Jesus. Here are 3 simple steps in sharing your testimony:

1. Share what your life was like before you gave your life to Jesus Christ:


2. Share how your heard about Jesus and the day you believed and surrendered your life to Him:


3. Share about how your life has grown and changed because of Jesus. Who are some of the people that you have been able to share your testimony with? You are His witness as you share your testimony with others!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sKcw9_PQYA (The Wonderful Cross!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y83-vMeWc9E (You Never Let Go!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMSd7XQE5yk (My Hope!)

First Christmas!

"With my own eyes I've seen your salvation; it's now out in the open for everyone to see: A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel. Jesus' father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words. Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary his mother, This child marks both the failure and the recovery of many in Israel, A figure misunderstood and contradicted—the pain of a sword-thrust through you—But the rejection will force honesty, as God reveals who they really are."
Luke 2:30-35 (the message paraphrase)

"For my eyes have seen Your salvation." Luke 2:30 (HCSB)

I will NEVER forget my first Christmas as a first-generation NEW BORN Christian...I was a 22 year old married young mother that accepted Jesus 07/21/85 and now I was celebrating JESUS for my very first Christmas (12/25/85)! My husband had just become a NEW Christian a few weeks before Christmas and WOW did we have so much of JESUS to Celebrate-tears flow from my eyes just remembering such a MIRACLE my life in Christ Is! When I read "The Christmas Story" from The Book of Luke~Chapter 2 for the very first time in my very first BIBLE, I could not hardly take in each word without Joy bursting from my heart and tears gushing from my eyes...I didn't just read these words, I felt them just like they are written in Luke 2:32-35, "with my own eyes, I've seen your salvation" and I wanted EVERYONE to know HIM & celebrate JESUS with us! "This child (Jesus) marks both the failure and the recovery of many..."; that is what my First Christmas represented so deeply I can hardly express it to you in words...a life that had been radically "recovered" from darkness into His Marvelous LIGHT...a LIGHT that I will NEVER get over and hope to PROCLAIM to others so that they too will experience JESUS now and for eternity!!
I have many examples I could share with you of Christmas' before Jesus came into my life and set me free with His Gracious Salvation...God uses those memories to remind me to never forget what it was like being LOST and use those feelings to reach out to others that NEED TO BE FOUND~BORN AGAIN...My First Christmas began as a grown woman of 22 but I felt like a new born child that the manger represents to me in so many ways!! God has my heart gripped with memories of my life "before Jesus & after Jesus"...let me just share that EVERYONE is searching for real meaning in this world and they will NOT find it until they meet JESUS and FOLLOW His Light everyday, there is not doubt that I know how to reach out to those that are searching searching searching...if we do not lead others to JESUS, the STAR of BETHLEHEM, they will continue to search in darkness that leads to an empty Christmas of unmet needs that Jesus so wants to fulfill!
What a JOY & PRIVILEGE to give the greatest GIFT that we could GIVE this CHRISTmas...Let's Share JESUS with someone that is searching searching searching for the cry of their heart=JESUS!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OIWymhNEbw
(Cry In My Heart!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hls8lCHtSS0
(Glory To God In The Highest!)

between the celery and the cucumber

Confession: this is my first time to blog! I am excited to join you ladies here! Please hang in as I give this a try... :)

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men..." (Colossians 3:23, New International Version)

After my dad and I tried to beat the rush to the grocery store before the 4th of July, I realized the power in this verse. After weaving through isles of people trying samples, ordering meals for their families, and debating over seemingly endless varieties of pasta, my dad and I reached the cash register with our collection.

A petite brunette with her hair pulled back bagged our groceries and we began to talk. I told her thank you as she bagged, and a couple of moments later she asked if that was my class ring on my hand. I said yes and then noted it was actually my college ring.

Her eyes lit up as she said that she is getting her high school senior ring in about a month, and that she is hoping to go to college to be a nurse. Suddenly, she looked down. She explained that she got into trouble last year, so she is actually a year behind in school.

My heart broke that her disappointment in herself seemed to drag her down. We talked about how much nurses were needed today. Inside, I did not want the past to puncture her confidence in the future. As my dad finished paying, I told her, "You have so much to look forward to now. Best wishes."

That night, I wondered if there was more I could have said to show her God's love. Looking back, I could have encouraged her to put her hope in God. I would have loved to share one of my favorite verses, Isaiah 40:31 (Holeman Christian Standard Bible):

"but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."

Every moment counts. I do not clearly see how I will impact the world. Yet, I thank God that whatever we do, even in the hurry of getting ready for celebrations like Independence Day, His light can shine through us!

"For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
'I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles,
to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" (Acts 13:47, HCSB)