Trusted with Much

This verse has been popping up in my mind lately, 

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much." [Luke 16:10] 

God has been rewarding my faithfulness in the little things ever since I made the move over 9 months ago [what?] to Texas. In that very short period of time my faithfulness in the little has showered blessings upon my life. Understand though, that my Texas life has not always been gluten/dairy free cupcakes with extra sprinkles just because I am faithful. God will send you something new and exciting but there is a lesson to be learned within that blessing. God has given me lessons in the areas of confidence, self-esteem, patience, prayer, worship, communication, responsibility, grace, and even my personal finances. He's broken me down in order to make me a vulnerable and a willing vessel.

One giant area that I had been praying for but didn't honestly expect God to bless me in was the area of dating. For those in my life you may have heard the story and/or are currently seeing the story that is F&B. Our story is one that has been written by God from the very beginning. Even me being forward and giving Fabian my phone number... that had to have been a nudge from God right? Each moment of our relationship has been and will continue to be Christ centered. We're learning to navigate this road together as a couple rather than individuals. Very soon we will be navigating this journey into marriage!

I am stopped often by God, it's almost like He is pressing the pause button on my life. It's a real life selah moment, for God to show me the bits and pieces of each blessing and for me to see all those pieces as one giant picture. A giant picture that I prayed and believed God for! There is so much rejoicing in my life, in our lives right now that I want the world to know, "God's blessings are on the other side of commitment."
Commit to His plans for your life and not your own.
Commit to being faithful in the little without knowing what the 'much' will be.
Commit to serving Him with excellence wherever He places you.
Commit to an attitude that is willing and able.
Commit to a relentless pursuit of Him.

[engagement photos captured by: Lisa Fotu Photography]

Bee: Under Construction

I've always heard that what we see in the mirror as a reflection of ourselves is not our actual image. Well duh... it's a reflection. It's a representation of what we look like at that moment on the outside. What a reflection lacks is a clear representation of what is on the inside. What you're really feeling and all your emotions that are wrapped up in your feelings.

When looking in the mirror you can't see the hurt. You can't see the pain. You can sometimes see happiness if you're smiling but you can also hide a lot behind a smile. It's a hard place to put yourself in; a place where you stare at yourself and dig deep into what your outside may be hiding. But only you can fix you. It's in finding that place of solitude and really seeking and asking what is in the deep caverns of your heart and soul. Finding out what is in those dark places. God has a way of bringing light to those dark places in the right moment and the right time and through the right circumstances. 

That's the place I am finding myself in right now. I am in a place of freedom and solitude. A place to be alone with God and my thoughts. A place to really focus on blocking out the on going to-do list in my head. That place is hard! It takes some training and dedication to block out life and allow God to speak. Little by little God is speaking during the minutes where I can block out distractions. Those little words from Him are impacting my life in a big way. 

23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. [James 1:23-25]

Bee's Moving Y'all

It is with great excitement that I tell all y'all, I AM MOVING!!! I am taking myself out of Grand Rapids, Michigan and over 1,000 miles down south to Fort Worth, Texas. This decision has been about 9 months in the making and I never imagined myself making such a bold move. I started to feel in my heart such a love for Texas when I first went there on Spring Break this past spring. Something about Fort Worth felt like home. It also helps that I have an amazing Aunt and several cousins that live there. Another place that felt like home was Tree of Life. My cousin Gabriel is the Pastor at this incredible church. Everything about TOL felt so inviting and each new person I met and got to know felt like a long lost best friend. I loved the services and the classes and left Texas knowing I was supposed to be at Tree of Life.

After another visit to Fort Worth this past summer I came back knowing that I was to follow what I was feeling in my heart from God. After sharing everything with my parents we began praying about it. [I'm a Christian... I think you have figured that out by now.] I kept everything I was feeling within the family and a couple close friends as I patiently waited for confirmation. 2 weeks after I shared this with my parents, my Uncle unexpectedly passed away. God just shook my world and flipped it upside down. One thing that my Uncle always encouraged me to do was to follow God's will. Every family member that I shared my heart with during the celebration of my Uncle's life encouraged me to do just that, follow God's will. After grieving the loss of my Uncle I continued to pray and go after the desire to move. I had come up with a plan but you know how that saying goes, "make a plan and God will laugh at it." That is basically what happened. God said, "Bee, I can handle it. Let go of the control of your life." As soon as I let go of the planning, everything just fell into place. I was released from obligations keeping me in Michigan and had decided that my business was going to close in June. I keep saying it but it's so true, never in a million years would I see my life taking this path. It's exciting and scary at the same time. I know it is all God and I am looking forward to what He has planned for me. I am sure it will include some cute cowgirl boots and lots of bbq.

Trust His Timing

Happy Monday! I thought I would start out my week by looking back at my very first post on this blog. All the way back in 2011. Talk about an enlightening experience... My first post was all about Romans 12. [Which I am still working my way through by the way.] This is what I wrote 3 years ago, 

"There are so many great truths in this chapter but the end of verse 3 was the first thing that stuck out to me. I read and re-read it and let it really sink in. Our lives are not meant to please ourselves. Just let that last sentence sink in for a second.

Are you living your life to please yourself?

Are you doing what you want to do just because you want to do it?

Have you asked God for direction in your life?'

I am praying very specifically about my future and everything that I am feeling in my heart to do in the future. And I am still chewing on the same verse I was in 2011. I think it's a verse that you can constantly use to keep yourself in check. 

Those last 3 questions are the same questions that I am asking myself and praying about right now.
 Are you living your life to please yourself?

Are you doing what you want to do just because you want to do it?

Have you asked God for direction in your life?
 My answers are a lot different than they were in 2011. I am not the same person I was in 2011. Hooray for growth! In 2011 God started me on a wild, crazy, and somewhat scary journey of owning my own business. Now, almost 4 years into that crazy journey of surrendering everything to God, I can still sense God working in it but also, wanting to bring more abundant life into well... my life.
What is that going to look like? I don't know. 
What will that require from me? I don't know. 
Will it be scary? Um, yes I am sure of it. 
Will it be exciting? YES! 
Will God equip me to tackle whatever He chooses to bring my way? You better believe it.
I am fully understanding myself as a child of God every time He confirms his will and direction for me. I am submerging myself in His word and getting an "ah-ha" moment every time speaks truth and gives me 'two thumbs up' to the desires he has put inside my heart. I am at a point where I am no longer relying on myself and what I can do for Him but what He wants to do for me. 
A COMPLETE SURRENDER TO HIS WILL FOR MY LIFE.
"It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone."
Ephesians 1:11-12

On Repeat: 'Closer' by Steffany Frizzell- Gretzinger

This song has been on repeat for the past week. You know how you just happen to re-discover an older song and the lyrics speak directly to the place where you're at in life? Well, that is what happened with this song by Bethel. The words speak right to the core of where God has me right now and how He is working in my life. I have let His love take over my heart and all that is inside of it, the thoughts, emotions, and desires. As I dive deeper into His love for me, God confirms the desires of my heart by showing me what is in His heart. It's a great feeling knowing that what God has placed in your heart is from Him rather than your own thoughts, feelings, or emotions. How great is Your love! 

Your love has ravished my heart

And taken me over, taken me over

And all I want is to be 

With You forever, with You forever

Pull me a little closer

Take me a little deeper

I want to know Your heart

I want to know Your heart

'Cause Your love is so much sweeter

Than anything I've tasted

I want to know Your heart

I want to know Your heart

Whoa, whoa, how great Your love is for me

Whoa, whoa, how great is your love

Pull me a little closer

Take me a little deeper

I want to know Your heart

I want to know Your heart

'Cause Your love is so much sweeter

Than anything I've tasted

I want to know Your heart

I want to know Your heart 

['For the Sake of the World' Bethel Live]

Don't put your hope in the boat.

I have learned a little lesson and wanted to share it with you.

 [please refer to what happened with Paul in Acts 27--- go read it. it's good.]

We all have put our hope in something at one point or another. An acceptance letter. A job. A man. A vacation. It's something we want to happen. Something that we desire. Something that we expect. However, back to Paul [here's another chance...go and read Acts 27]. God spoke to him and told him to pass on the message to the whole boat that they would not die in the storm. They would land safely but, their boat would be destroyed. 

I think a lot of time we put our hope in the boat. The thing that we truly desire becomes our boat. We use it to carry us through things. To bring us from one part of our life to another. To get us safely from Monday to Friday. However, when God decides to send a storm our way, our boat doesn't hold against the storm. If our hope is in that boat, we are crushed. Bring on the froyo because life as we know it seems to be over. Our hope should be in God not the boat. 

Now that your focus is off the "boat," learn to take your focus off the storms that God brings your boat through. Know that God still has his hand of protection on you in the middle of the storm. Begin to focus on the future that God has promised you. Just like Paul told the prisoners, "keep your courage." Take your courage and separate it from your conditions. Your courage is under your control. Feed your courage instead of your fears. Understand that God knows your hopes [he actually gave you them] and will align them with His hopes for you when the time comes. Your dream job may not be His dream job for you. Don't make it your boat, because we all know what happened to the boat. 

44 "... everyone reached land safely."

Let It Go

Did I get you to start singing that frozen song yet? As much as 'let it go' has been played [71 times] and sung at my home it's time to let that song go!  Let that song go but don't let the phrase go. There is wisdom in it. I am applying it to my life, pretty much every day. It's hard to apply it to your life though without bursting into song. Most [if not all] of the time if I am trying to hold onto something that I want. Something that I want to happen, want to buy, or want to do. I mean why would I let go of something awesome that God has planned for me? That would be silly. By holding onto things that I want I can delay the plans of God. He looks at my life and says, "Bee still doesn't get it, but she will and I will open the door for her when she decides to let go of the handle."

What God wants is more important than what I want. 

God's vision for my life is more important than my personal vision. 

With that said...

Things to let go: 

the possible summer vacation with my brother [he just broke his ankle...]

Mr. Prince Charming
those crumbs that are always left on the counter after the first person in house makes breakfast

negative self talk

control [ouch!]
shopping for a bathing suit [oh... the struggle]
this
strangers constantly asking me what grade I am in [um.... I graduated in 2005.]
kettle corn popcorn
any future plans I have for my career

This print is adorable and is a great reminder. 

 I can't help but burst into song when I see it. 

What do you need to let go? 

"I know what I'm doing"

Jeremiah 29:11

11 "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." [NIV]

11 "I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." [The Message]

Ever since I graduated high school [a long time ago...] I had some direction from God. I knew that God wanted me to work with children and he directed me on a path towards an Education degree. After 2 years in college God threw me a curve ball. A degree change, a school change, a couple extra years of school later, and I really knew God's plan and direction for my life. Confirmation after confirmation. Open door after open door. [Granted, in the moments when I would get off course He would politely pick me up, correct me, and put me back on track.]

I would have never pictured myself in the place that I am today. All the children that God has brought into my life for me to train, educate, and minister to have been such a blessing. It was all God. I could not have planned it by myself. I would've royally messed it up. I would probably be un-happy and struggling had I tried to make my future happen without God. With that all said, what's next? I have been praying and asking God that question. "What's next?" All I know is whatever he has planned for me next is nothing close to what I can even imagine. 

Jeremiah 29:11 

"Chill out Bee, I got this. I see and hear your hopes and your dreams. I haven't forgotten about them. I got it all under control." [my personal translation.]

Tweetable Truths

I have been listening to Tree of Life podcasts of their Sunday words in anticipation of visiting in April. My cousin, Gabe is the Pastor of this church. I love hearing what God is saying to him and his congregation. I like to call his words, tweetable truths. Everything is so on point and can be condensed to 140 characters. He keeps it real. Each of his messages will speak into your life, challenge you, and encourage you in your relationship with God. I know it is challenging me. I am so encouraged to have a cousin that is a man of God and providing a great example to all of us primos under him.
(Trust me... there are a lot of cousins in my family.)
Feel free to tweet out any of the truths that I have gotten from his words. 

• You will often experience breakthrough outside of your comfort zone.
• God never changes, so my future is secure.
• When I understand that God is a person, I will be more personable with him.
• If you teach, people will come to learn. It doesn’t matter where you are. 
• There is nothing too difficult for God. God is all powerful.
• We treat people based on their value to us.
• God is a promise keeper.
• You don’t fail, you just keep taking the test again.
• Jesus did not come to modify your behavior, He came to modify your thinking.
• In the kingdom of God you receive first before you do anything. 
• No one can tell you who you are but God. 
• God is not finished with you yet. He will never give up on you. 
• Righteousness is correctness of thinking. 

You're Not In The Drivers Seat

This past week the winter has been brutal. It leaves the streets in horrible conditions and you're taking your life into your hands when you leave the house. This past week my brother was in a car accident on the freeway. Yes, scary. The person in front of him hit an ice patch and started fishtailing. He had to work to stay in control of his vehicle and keep others around him safe. While keeping his car in control he hit an ice patch and spun out into a guard rail at about 50mph. Another car behind him spun out and hit him. I am so glad that he is safe. His car however, poor Genevieve has been laid to rest. 

It made me think about one of my favorite verses, 

Matthew 16:24 

Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am." 

My brother shared with us that while he was driving to school on that snowy morning he was thanking God for all the doors that have opened up for him in the past two weeks. He told us that minutes before he got in the accident he had said, "God, I put it all in your hands." God knew what was going to happen. My brother was not in the drivers seat.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

What does the Bible say about TESTS?

Tests. 

Ew, no one likes them. Right now high school students are breathing a sigh of relief because end of semester exams are done. College students are prepping and cramming for their next exam. Whether you're in school or not, tests will always be a part of life. Life tests are not pass or fail. 

They are pass and continue to work to pass. 

And even when you pass the test, you may have to pass it over and over again.

1 Corinthians 10:13

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

James 1:2-4

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

What does the Bible say about PRIDE?

My favorite thing to do when I hear a little nugget of truth is to go here and type in the subject. Recently it has been pride. OUCH. The nugget of truth that led to this was,
"The more you admit you can't do something, you stab pride and kill it."
I am someone who likes to control of what I do the majority of the time. I am not one to easily admit that I can't do something. I will work hard to figure it out on my own. I have a hard time delegating. I enjoy hearing a "good job" or "wow, what you did is great!" (I mean who doesn't like to hear that?) But all those compliments feed my pride when God is taken out of the equation. 

Proverbs 10:17
The road to life is a disciplined life;
    ignore correction and you’re lost for good.

Proverbs 11:2

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 29:23

Pride lands you flat on your face; humility prepares you for honors.

The opposite of pride is humility. Humble yourself unto others and God. He will give you grace to wipe away the pride. The more I honor God with what I do and use my life for Him the less it becomes all about me. 

John 3:30 
He must increase and I must decrease. 
1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.
Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

His Rest

In a season of hustle and bustle, take time to put some things to rest in your life. Your own plans and your own dreams. Put them to rest and let there be some peace. In the season of rest God will bring His blessings and His very best! Once you fully realize that you are not the author of your life story, and let Him fully take over everything, you will be in a constant state of peace. 

However, if you continue to take control of things on your own and not let God help, you will be in a constant state of unrest. 

This is a lesson I am learning (and continue to learn). God has subtle ways to put me back on track and remind me to let go of the control and just rest in Him. 

Lessons from a Toddler

Getting to spend my week with some incredible little kids is the greatest career and blessing ever. I spend my days playing and training them but the kids teach me some great lessons too.
I thought I would share one with you.
So, if you don't play with blocks on a daily basis like I do, let me explain the process for you. You dump out all the blocks, start building, using different size blocks you make the tallest tower you can until it falls over (or someone else knocks it down). 

Where are you going with this Bee??? 

Building a block tower is a great picture of your daily life. You can make an incredible tower that is strong and sturdy or your can make the skinniest tower that will get knocked over as soon as someone sneezes. What does your life tower look like?
What/who do you set as the foundation of your life? What goes on top of that? What are your priorities? What takes up most of your time? What do you talk about the most?
 I went through a season where my tower was really messed up. I had put myself as the foundation of my tower. Which, you will always let yourself down and your tower (life) will constantly be falling apart. It's like building your house upon the sand. Obviously the rain is going to come and wash your house away eventually.
I really took an inventory of my life through prayer and others speaking to me about the craziness that my life had become. Putting God as the foundation will keep your life strong and sturdy, no matter how many blocks you decide to pile on top of it.

^{Matthew 16: 24-26 [The Message]} 

"Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?"

Friendships

Friendships are important. The right friendships are even more important. 

A friend can hold you accountable for everything that you say and do. 
A friend can let you know if your shoes don't work with your outfit. 
A friend will always remember your birthday. 
A friend will pick you up when you fall. (or laugh at you, if they're a close friend.) 
A friend will listen. 
A friend knows your coffee order. 
A friend says nice things about you even when you're not around. 
A friend understands that most of the time, chocolate will solve the problem. 
A true friend is revealed during hard times. 
A friend forgives. 
A friend will dream big with you. 
A friend is always happy to see you. 
A friend will have no shame when singing in the car with you. 
A friend is someone who knows all about you and still chooses to be your friend. 

But what does the bible say about friendships? 

Proverbs 13:20 

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. 

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. 

Proverbs 18:24

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Job 6:14

He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. 

Proverbs 27:19

As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. 

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 

Proverbs 22:24

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

It's okay to get mad.

Emotions are a part of life. Happy. Sad. Mad. Each one is bound to show up at some point in your day, week, month. You get it. Dealing with emotions is tricky, I think it's especially harder for girls to deal with their emotions. Girls are so emotional!

Bottom line, we shouldn't be ruled by our emotions and being a girl doesn't give us a free pass to be a roller coaster of emotions. Emotions need to be controlled.

You can control your emotions in different ways

eating froyo 

singing 

running 

removing yourself from the situation that is making you upset 

smiling (whether you're happy or not) 

crying 

laughing 

most important: (i think) PRAYER

This past weekend has been an emotional one. I'm not perfect, I still get upset and overcome by my emotions. I sometimes need to slam a medicine ball on the ground at the gym to let off some steam. I will admit to emotional trips to get froyo by myself. (maybe more than one?) 

Dealing with emotions is always going to be a learning process but God has got my back and only wants the best for me.

He allows opportunities for me to be tested and allows me to grow from each test. 

Praise God for that! 

Read Your Bible: James

I have been reading James this week while I have been recovering from surgery. There are so many great truths in James. It's a short book in the bible (only 5 chapters) and is an easy read. However, to really soak up all the truth you gotta take your time. I am taking it one chapter at a time to really understand and apply the truth to my life.
Here are some great truths found in Chapter One. 

verse 2: "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. 

verse 5: "If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help." 

verse 10: "Prosperity is as short-lived as a wild-flower, so don't ever count on it."

verse 15: "Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer." 

verse 18: "There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures." 

verse 22: "Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!" 

Deny Yourself

God has really been hitting home an issue in my life and boy is it a tough one to tackle. I am sure everyone deals with this too... I mean no one is perfect. Selfishness. Yup, it's a tough one. Along with selfishness comes the need to be in control of everything. I think the longer I work for myself as a business owner the more control I seem to take over everything in life, even the little things. I have the, "I'll just do it myself because I know how I want it done"attitude.

Matthew 16:24-26

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? (NIV)

^24-26 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for? (THE MESSAGE)

God is always working on us and making us into who He wants us to be. Submitting to God is the first step into allowing him to make us who He wants us to be. That is the first step in getting rid of selfishness and the need to control everything. Placing it into God's hands rather than my own. 

Sunday Sermon Notes: March 17

I realized that it has been a while since I posted some sunday sermon notes. Despite being pinched several times by the kids at church because I wasn't wearing green, church was great. I always enjoy taking a break from life and spending a couple hours (yes...a couple hours) in God's presence without distraction of my phone, work, and life. 

My notes from the sermon end up being powerful one liners that could be tweeted or placed in a status. They are easy to apply to your life and are written in a plain but powerful way. Pastor Jim spoke on Joy again this Sunday and it was quite timely. I sure needed some JOY! 

Enjoy!

Notes from Service: 

• Be filled with the spirit because then you're taken out of your own hands. 
• We are our biggest problem. 
• Make a decision and then just follow Christ. 
• God is looking for a Joshua/Caleb spirit. 

Hebrews 12:2

² Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

• There is a joy that awaits those who are faithful.
• The best joy you can have is God's joy.
• When the storm on the outside of you moves to the inside, then we have a problem. 
• Joy of the Lord is your buoy, it will keep you afloat. 
• Joy is a gateway to a greater anointing. 

Acts 12:49-52

⁴⁹ And so the Word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through Christ] scattered and spread throughout the whole region.

⁵⁰ But the Jews stirred up the devout women of high rank and the outstanding men of the town, and instigated persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their boundaries.

⁵¹ But [the apostles] shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.

⁵² And the disciples were continually filled [throughout their souls] with joy and the Holy Spirit.

• In order to maintain joy you gotta dust bitterness off your shoulder. 
• You want the Lord to visit you, stop complaining. 
• Joy-----> Holy Ghost
• Rejoice-----> Re-joying: it's an act of your will. 
• Hard things in life will stop up your well but you have the power to unstop it. 
• Get out of the realm of your feelings and get into the spirit. 
• God doesn't need your help to keep things steady. 
• God doesn't claim those things that don't see things from His viewpoint. 

Acts 20:7-12

⁷ And on the first day of the week, when we were assembled together to break bread [^[a]the Lord’s Supper], Paul discoursed with them, intending to leave the next morning; and he kept on with his message until midnight.

⁸ Now there were numerous lights in the upper room where we were assembled,

⁹ And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting in the window. He was borne down with deep sleep as Paul kept on talking still longer, and [finally] completely overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead.

¹⁰ But Paul went down and bent over him and embraced him, saying, Make no ado; his life is within him.

¹¹ When Paul had gone back upstairs and had broken bread and eaten [with them], and after he had talked confidentially and communed with them for a considerable time—until daybreak [in fact]—he departed.

¹² They took the youth home alive, and were not a little comforted and cheered and refreshed and encouraged.

Breakthrough in my PJs

Church was cancelled this morning due to illness, but that didn't stop me from having church. I woke up with such a desire for something new and fresh for my life. I remember saying to my friend on January 1, "It just feels like another day. I know it's a new year but it doesn't feel any different to me." God has shown me that I cannot curse my 2013 by looking back at 2012. What happened last year, happened last year. It is a new year, a new beginning and God has some incredible things in store for me and for this nation in 2013. 

I tuned into The Ramp for their morning service and had such a breakthrough! The minister Jason Adair spoke from Deuteronomy 11. I had such a visual of what God has for me in 2013 after hearing his word. 

^{Deuteronomy 11:10-12 (the message)} 

^10-12 The land you are entering to take up ownership isn’t like Egypt, the land you left, where you had to plant your own seed and water it yourselves as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are about to cross the river and take for your own is a land of mountains and valleys; it drinks water that rains from the sky. It’s a land that God, your God, personally tends—he’s the gardener—he alone keeps his eye on it all year long.

Because Egypt was a desert, in order for the Egyptians to get water they had to dig their feet into the ground and drag the soil to get the water their seeds needed. God is bringing us to a land where God will water our seeds. Our seed is our relationship with God. The God given desire within us to live out His kingdom on Earth. 

It's no longer going to be a fleshly act by me to water my seed. No longer will it be a struggle to obtain the water in order for me to grow. God's presence is going to rain over my life and cause my seed to grow.

 ALL YEAR LONG!