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Ever wondered if you even belonged on this planet?! I know I have.. be it my quirks, and perks =) or something as simple as how I perceive and process any given day or situation...people are different. I have laughed way too hard in the wrong moments, and cried watching the Animal Channel because I can't stand to watch when the baby deer loses mother deer and the lion comes and ---- you know what happens next. My heart can't take it!!! :( #circleoflife
But I've digressed. Back to the point. God is so creative in His placement that we often come into contact & even do life with people who are so different from ourselves. At times, it's wonderful, but other times it can cause us to question our belonging. It may cause us to run from problems we carry the very solutions to, and sometimes, we feel like aliens in our own homes - or countries, :-/ But - what if I told you that every bit of your different takes nothing away? ...That your difference only validates the reason for your existence. You are God's very intention.
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One thing I love about God is that He's not found scratching His head when questions arise or trouble comes. He's not at a loss for words, wisdom or solutions. He's not non-chalant or disengaged. He's concerned. A portion of His glory is wrapped up in our living. He's committed to our victory. He's committed to our testimonies.. even if they're not always what WE think they should be. All things work together. He secures the wins?
His role in this relationship is to lead us to triumph. Our role is to follow Him. "I'll take care of you..." He says."Because your problems are my problems." 
Happy Fall!
I love this season.. never liked it too hot or too cold so FALL and SPRING have always been my first loves. Yesterday, marked the start of warm apple cider and hot chocolate with whipped cream, baked ham, sweet potatoes, greens and cornbread, layers of warm clothing, scarves and high boots.. this is my kind of life, anything that suggests cozy living.. What relief is it to us that seasons change on their own.. no human effort required; that every 3 months or so the sky knows what to do with its rain, the wind, determines either to settle down or throw itself around, the air, is either packed with hot moisture or chill, and we... deal with it : ).. Whether you're a summer person or winter lover, it seems like we're all waiting for our preferred living conditions to arrive... we're all waiting for change to come... Dear Church Baby,Believe again. Believe always.. You're preparing in time, for life in eternity. Stay fresh. Stay open...teachable, and hopeful... Fix your eyes. Imitate Christ. He's Cornerstone.
***
God is faithful.
His hand and safekeeping is evident. Count it a privilege to have been marked at an early age for His service. To know better, see better, and be a light in this world.. To be taught before many discover...
Jesus - the answer.
Never lose your wonder. Never lose your awe.Stay on course... church baby.
***
Read "Dear Church Baby, Part 1"
Read "Dear Church Baby, Part 4"
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"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard....there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore." (Psalm 133:1-3)
Psalm 25:14-15: "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; He will show them His covenant. My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare."
Ephesians 5:18-20: "... be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father"
Ephesians 4: 15-16:"... speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love..."
"And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise."
Galatians 3: 29
"One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple."Psalm 27:4
1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "…Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body."
"Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.…"(Hebrews 10:35-36)
Playing small doesn't serve the world....
All your fun isn't worth a fail.
Is time like money, does it grow on trees?
Are you wasting yet another great commodity?
Your gifts and time, your heart -- opportunity.
Don't you pretend, when you and I know...
Yes, you and I know...
There's more, much more...
Wisdom will change your course.
Only courage will beg your try.
Try.
Yes...you must try.
You know, and I know, what you prefer...
You. Prefer. Peculiar.
Try... You must try.
Give yourself permission to fall.
Give yourself permission to soar.
Give your voice permission to speak.
Give your heart permission to roar.
Own. Embody...Live your truth.
Grow and Give...
There's more to you...
#SheaWrites
I'm a church baby.
There must be more to going to church than just "going to church."Perfect attendance has nothing on an actual relationship with God.Church babies.. still need to come to Jesus.Church babies...still need to get saved.Church babies are still in need of relationship....And I know, because I am one.***You've seen it all. You've seen mess; You've seen miracles. You've seen the glory of God fill a room to where no man could stand to teach, or preach.. or sing, or dance...You've seen flesh on parade. You've seen how important it is to have an extended family beyond your extended family - you've experienced its challenges. You've seen your blood relatives leave, you've seen them stick around.. You've seen yourself... in different seasons of life - still press your way..still seek, and find -- no end to a limitless, MIGHTY, faithful and loving God. You've participated and you've experienced...then life taught you, so you'd know for sure... JESUS is the main attraction. There is literally nothing more appealing - no man, and no gift, more capable of drawing a lifelong, committed crowd or heart than Jesus. We must always remind ourselves... "JESUS is why I'm here.... JESUS called me into this family. JESUS has a plan for my life .... I'm here because of HIM. We can get so easily caught up in the parties and services, the fun, the fellowship, the minor meetings and major rehearsals that we become too familiar with how good and pleasant it is that we would even be together, too familiar, and sometimes even take it for granted. We forget that with each year we share the pew with our neighbors - perhaps we should be growing closer....Closer, to one another...closer to our Father. Iron should often be sharpening iron, and we can't be afraid to love one another because we're called to more, we're brothers and sisters. We learn that offense should never separate us and love should always bind us. We learn that we do have an enemy, but it's not one another... We learn that each trivial distraction in life, in church - or outside of it, was only meant for our decay....we learn that we're smarter than that. We learn that Jesus is still the answer. Never be too proud, church baby, never be too familiar. Don't get "used to it." Don't get tired. Don't get lost in "knowing it all..." Never let your familiarity remove you from your reverence. Don't let it remove you from your commitment to knowing Him more. In all you've seen, in all you've experienced, in all you've come to know...there's still so much more. Read "Dear Church Baby, Part 4"
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"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard....there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore." (Psalm 133:1-3)
Psalm 25:14-15: "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; He will show them His covenant. My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare."
Ephesians 5:18-20: "... be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father"
Ephesians 4: 15-16:"... speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love..."
"And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise."
Galatians 3: 29
"One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple."Psalm 27:4
1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "…Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body."
"Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.…"(Hebrews 10:35-36)
I woke up one morning, and all I could hear was... "Never give in to the never lies...." "Never give in to the never lies..." ...I don't remember having a bad day prior, or a restless, sleepless night, but this one thing rang out in my heart over and over and over again... it was as if I'd need it for life.. and I do. Funny thing is, we all do. EVERY single discouraging suggestion comes from the enemy. And every single thing that comes from him is a LIE. It's math. It's easy -- but.. What lies have you allowed to take a deep seat in your heart? What defeats have you wrongfully accepted? The enemy will always strike where your hardest battles are fought. And though turbulence is his greatest weapon - defeat is his fate. So WATCH what you allow to linger in your ear gates... And watch what you say, because that's what you've accepted. ...Watch what lurks; trample lies with truths. Never, ever, don't you ever believe...
Never give in to "the never lies."- You'll never start your business. - You'll never succeed. - You'll never be forgiven. - You'll never forgive. - You'll never get over it. - You'll never be good enough. - You'll never be loved. - You'll never be healed. - You'll never finish. - You'll never have kids. - You'll never lose weight... This list will go on, but only if you let it. And Jesus didn't debate with the enemy, so neither should we. As the father, the author and creator of lies... If he's talking, you can trust, it's unbelievable. Life or death? It's in your reply .. because as a man thinketh, so is he..
You can, and you may....
You will have whatever you say.
***
PRAY for God's best and remember He's a good Father.
A child has access to his Father's good favor.
"..For God has said, "Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5(b)
If there is a "never," that sticks around.. that lingers long and won't let up..
Make sure it's based on faith and not fear, make sure you recognize the voice you hear..
Never. Give Up.
Never. Give. In.
Never ever, don't you ever...
NEVER give into the "never lies."
Scripture References:2 Corinthians 10:5: We demolish (and cast down) arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. John 8:31-32 … So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:44(b): He (The enemy) has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 10:5, 14: (5) A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers...(14) I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.. John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:28: I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me. Philippians 4:8: And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 1 John 4:18: There is no fear where love exists. Rather, perfect love banishes fear, for fear involves torment, and the person who lives in fear has not been perfected in love. Psalm 43:3: Send out Your light and Your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling! John 15:7: If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 1 John 5:14-15: And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for. Hebrews 11:1: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, (it is) being convinced of what we do not see.
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