Overcoming Condemnation

 

 

 

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1

 

 

 

 

Read that whole chapter if you have about two extra minutes. Or remember to later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condemnation.

 

This is what I got when I typed it in on Google.

 

 

 

 

con·dem·na·tion

ˌkändəmˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun

noun: condemnation; plural noun: condemnations

1.

the expression of very strong disapproval; censure.

"there was strong international condemnation of the attack"

synonyms:

censure, criticism, strictures, denunciation, vilification; More reproof, disapproval; informalflak, (a) bad press; formalcastigation "a comment that provoked widespread condemnation"

2.

the action of condemning someone to a punishment; sentencing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I grew up knowing about God. I didn't know Him though.

 

 

 

We can all say we know about the President of the United States, but we don't know him.

 

 

 

There's a big, big difference.

 

 

 

Incase you've never read my blog before, (which I saw on my stats that someone in Ukraine read one of my posts recently... that's the first time from anyone from that country... so, hello to you!)

 

but incase you've never read my blog before I will give you a really quick background on me.

 

 

My name is Hannah.

 

I've been married nearly eight years to truly my best friend in the world.

 

We have a daughter and a son.

 

I'm nearly 27. (yikes, pushing 30!)

 

My dad was an alcoholic until I was 12 years old, which was when he was saved.

 

At 17 years old I accepted Jesus into my heart and repented of my sins.

 

A couple weeks later I was baptized.

 

I believe we don't make enough about baptism because we are supposed to do as Jesus instructed, but I don't believe that it is essential for salvation. I've watched people die sad and sickly deaths and they physically couldn't get baptized if they wanted to. My aunt and uncle were missionaries in Africa and they used to preach that you needed to be baptized because that is a needed part of salvation until the water in the village they lived in was so dirty they couldn't even get in it. So, they realized that couldn't and wouldn't preach that. The thief on the cross next to Jesus was not baptized. What about those two weeks in between the time I was saved and baptized? Was I not saved? Of course I was. My point is that I 100% believe in baptism and that if you can do it, do it! But whether or not you are baptized, I do not believe the Lord will deny you eternal life if you have repented of your sins and your heart is right with Him. Again, I do believe you need to be baptized if physically possible though. Okay... moving on!

 

 

 

 

I wasn't perfect before I was saved.

And I'm not perfect now.

 

 

 

 

My Uncle Zane preached two weeks ago at his church and he said to everyone, "I don't need to know all your dirty details." There's nothing wrong with telling your testimony. I have heard some people's testimonies over and over again and they will tell you enough for you to get "the picture" or "the idea." Not details that will be stuck in your head every time you see them... I also had a friend say to me something that I also totally agreed with. She said that so many girls hide behind being a "good Christian girl" and never telling people (other women) that that wasn't always the case! I think it's healthy to share your life before you were a Christian with someone who it would help and encourage, to the extent that you would feel comfortable with. Now getting up speaking on stage in front of 500 strangers... that's your call.

 

 

 

 

God doesn't expect us to hang out all our dirty laundry or bring out all the skeletons in our closets to prove how bad we were.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My dad was a drunk. My father in law has never touched alcohol of any form to his lips.

 

 

Mary Magdalene for sure had some issues. I know some women (who at least paint the picture!) who have it all together, all the time.

 

 

I told lies before I was a Christian. Maybe you have never told a lie...? I would like to shake your hand. Seriously.

 

 

I have a friend who slept around a bit before she was saved. Grant and I shared our "firsts" together on our wedding night.

 

 

 

While we are on the subject of sex... let me just throw this little nugget out there for ya. 

 

 

 

Do you know that looking upon a woman with lust is having adultery with her in your heart? That's what the Bible says. So to everyone who prances around with an imaginary medal on your chest that says "VIRGIN WHEN MARRIED" in big bold letters... although that is something to be commended for and I pray already over my children that they will share their first engagement in sex on their wedding night...

 

 

 

I pray for their PURITY above that.

 

 

 

Purity people!

 

 

 

Everyone has their own opinions, and they're entitled to that just as I am, but I believe the guy who looked at porn for the past 10 years up until he got married but he was a virgin... is just as impure as the girl who had sex once or 200 times before her wedding night.

 

 

 

Where do you draw the line then, Hannah? you ask...

 

 

 

 

Well, use some horse sense first off. Secondly, if it's making you want to lead to something more, it's wrong! Call me old fashioned or dumb or whatever. I don't care. I don't write for your approval anyhow. But, I know I'm right on this.

 

 

 

 

I know a girl who has all kinds of tattoos. I mean all kinds... I know another girl who doesn't have her ears pierced.

 

 

 

I know a guy who used to be addicted to meth. I don't even know what meth looks like, honestly.

Do they sniff it? Shoot it? Smoke it? Well, I'm thankful I don't know!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big lie. White lie.

 

Prostitute. Child molester. Rapist.

 

Jealous of your best friend. Gossips about everyone.

 

Expects everyone to wait on you. Because you're entitled to be respected and nobody else is.

 

Says every dirty word. 100 times a day. Says a dirty word only when really, really upset.

 

Kissed only the man you're married to right now. Did everything leading up to sex, but didn't have the final act of sex. Had sex a few times in high school and college. Or maybe a few hundred times.

 

Gay.

 

Had an abortion. Slaps your kids. Yells at them.

 

Beats your wife. Secretly hates your wife.

 

Had a full out physical affair. Emotional, texting only affair. Porn addict.

 

Drugs, every single day. Smokes cigarettes when stressed out. Overeats when stressed.

 

Laziness. Won't pay people back when you owe them. Makes people feel bad for you all the time, like you don't have any money. Ever.

 

Knows all the Bible and always has an answer but shows zero love to the lost and dying world around you because you're too caught up in your life and your problems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Are you any of these? Maybe not. But I have a feeling there is a good... No. A great chance that over half the people who will read this can find themselves in one of the sentences above.

 

You may be thinking... okay Hannah. Way to make me FEEL condemnation.

 

 

Well, I am going to leave you with a thought.

 

 

 

What if God sent his Son to die only for the people who had never drank, never made out with anyone other then their spouse, never cussed, never lied, never was jealous.

 

 

Well, my, my.

 

 

We cheapen and lessen what He did on the Cross of Calvary when He shed His innocent blood when we believe Satan's LIE, that we will never be good enough to be saved. Never be clean enough. Never be holy enough. Never be a strong enough prayer warrior. Satan is good at one thing. Lying. He led me to believe for the longest time that I wasn't ever going to be a powerful Christian because of anything I said or did before or after I was a Christian. He told me I will never be good enough for God. He tries to still do that to me in my relationships with others. I often find myself trying to win a friend over, when in reality, if they truly love me... they will love every part of me. Not just the Hannah who can do for them and make them laugh. But the Hannah who needs uplifting occasionally and may be moody sometimes and not have a single interesting thing to say. (Usually the moodiness is due to hunger, FYI.)

 

 

 

 

My point though, that I'm wanting so badly to make... is this.

 

 

 

 

You weren't perfect before you were saved. You aren't perfect now. I wasn't perfect before I was saved. I'm not now either. Your Pastor, your best friend, the televangelist, the homeless lady laying on the sidewalk. They never were and never will be perfect.

 

 

I believe in holy living. But I also believe we won't know true holiness and perfection until we step over into Glory. I want sin out of my life... "Big" or "small." It's all the same in God's eyes. Sure, different sins have caused different judgments to fall on a person or people, but sin in itself, no matter when you did it, before or after Salvation happened for you, no matter the degree, separates us from God and puts you and I in desperate need of a Savior and His forgiving Hand on our dirty lives.

 

 

Read that line I underlined above a few times and let it sink in.

 

 

 

 

Condemnation is from Satan. Guilt is from Satan.

 

 

 

But as a Blood bought Child of God, WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE HIM FLEE through the powerful and mighty Name of Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

 

Rebuke Satan! Read Roman 8. It'll turn your whole day and if you let it, your whole life around.

 

 

 

Thank you so much for reading.

 

 

 

 

Be a better wife...

 

 

 

 

Grant Daniel.

 

 

I am not nearly the wife I should be for him. Yes, I'm faithful in every way. I love him and would truly lay my life down for that guy. But, I have recently been really convicted about how I need to put him as the top priority in my life, even more then my children. Yep, even more then my helpless, innocent, can't take care of themselves, children. When God made Eve, He made her so Adam could have a help meet. Someone to help him. He told the man to leave his father and mother and to cleave unto his wife. Man and wife are to be one flesh. Not just spiritually and emotionally, but sexually too! Yep, you heard (or read) that right! We are one. That is pretty awesome to me! When I am sad, Grant is sad. When Grant is happy, I am happy. When he makes a decision, I help him make the right choice by praying for him. When he is hurt, I am hurt too.

 

 

 

 

When I see Grant, I see a lot more than a tall, handsome, green eyed hunk. I see the person I am intertwined with. We are not always able to be together every second of every day, but we pray for each other while we are apart. That is the best way we connect I believe. Once I had Ray, I realized life wasn't all about just me and Grant anymore. It included a little tiny 7 and a half pound strawberry blonde haired girl who needed a lot of my attention. Since I nursed her, I spent a bit of time with her. He helped me changed diapers, do laundry and run errands, but still, life was centered around a little girl named Raylea.

 

 

 

 

Fast forward three years later, I give birth to a little 6 pound and 14 ounce boy who decided to come a month early. Life became even more crazy. I thought it was hard leaving the house with one kid. Let's just say after I had Jack, I had a new respect for mom's with multiple children! Today Jack is nearly a year old and he loves to find tiny things around the house and put them in his mouth. Pennies, paper, glitter, decorative plants... you name it. It goes in his mouth! He loves to get the end of the toilet paper and roll it out about 10 feet. He loves to try to grab the silverware (including the knives!) out of the dishwasher as I'm hurriedly trying to unload it. That's just a few things a typical 11 month old does... within 2 minutes. Raylea is nearly four so she has went through a ton of stages. Drawing on walls. Finding the scissors and cutting things up. Eating nearly all the cookies as soon as I get them out of the oven while I'm out of the kitchen for THREE MINUTES. I can't believe that didn't make her sick. Walking up to her Aunt B's house when I had no idea she even our house. (We live on the same land, but still, that's a 100 yard walk for her.)

 

 

Life keeps me busy nowadays. I used to have time to sit and talk to my dog and brush her hair and put it in a ponytail with a bow in it... and now her hair is so long it's covering one eye and her nails are like three inches long. Ok. Not quite that long, but they are long. Don't freak out animal lovers... she is headed to the groomer in the morning.

 

 

 

I love my kids. I have a friend who can't get pregnant with her own and so I know on a pretty personal level from talking to her about the stress and issues that come along with that, that having your kids are truly a blessing. My point to you though, is that it can be hard to not let the kids become number one priority when they need help doing everything. Diaper change for one, helping the other one wipe. Nursing one, making a grilled cheese for the other. Carrying one on a hip, holding the other ones hand. One is crying, the other one is too. I truly stay busy as a stay at home mom. I can't clock out like the job I used to have. I watched a movie lately and a lady says on it that her dream was to get married and have kids. This is my dream too. I'm truly living it. I don't want to clock out, that's not my point. My point is that when you have kids, they take up a lot of time.

 

 

 

That isn't what this post is about though.

 

 

 

How do I make Grant my number one?

 

After Jesus, of course.

 

 

 

Well, for starters, the Lord has really spoken to me over the past year that no matter how tired I am. I need to spend quality time with my man when I can. So, the kids go to bed around 8:30 or 9.

 

 

Watch some Netflix, talk about our day, read the Bible, pray, turn out the lights??...

 

 

 

 

 No matter what we are doing, if we are doing it together and showing each other we love and care for each other, that's what matters. I have been praying for Grant for a long time. For wisdom, for guidance, for anointing, for peace, for boldness, for more of God. But what I'm going to start doing more, is praying for myself.

 

 

 

 

I want to be a more submissive, godly, trustworthy, and just a good help meet for Grant Daniel.

 

 

 

 

I want to be always please him in every way possible with a servant's heart and sweet spirited attitude.

 

 

I'm just being transparent, as he always says when he preaches.

 

 

 

I want to be a better wife!

 

 

 

There is nothing wrong with that. I'm pretty sure every wife reading this could be a better wife, if she was honest and didn't let pride get in the way.

 

 

My calling in life is to be a momma, yes. But my first calling was to be a wife! I sure want to make God happy with my fulfilling of my callings. I want to be all He has called me to be.

 

 

 

God has given each of us, whether you're a wife or husband, the power through Jesus Christ, and what He did on the Cross, to be overcomers of all and to stomp satan into the ground.

 

 

Make plans this week to surprise your spouse.

 

 

It doesn't have to be a romantic dinner and rose petals leading to your bedroom... (although I'm sure they wouldn't mind that!)

 

It can be a simple note thanking them for all they do. Grant writes me a note often and last week he wrote a little one and had it sitting on top of a new Realtree hoodie he bought me. It made my day.

 

 

It can be a cuddle on the couch.

 

 

It can be you placing your hand on theirs and praying for them.

 

 

It can be breakfast ready for them before they are out of bed.

 

 

It can be a facial. Which Grant also surprised  me with last month. (He's good.)

 

 

It can be a box of donuts. Okay, maybe that is just something that would mean a lot to me.

 

 

It can be giving the kids a bath while your spouse rest on the couch.

 

 

It can be a kiss on the forehead when they least expect it.

 

 

Just do something out of the ordinary.

 

 

I have my plans.

 

 

So make yours!

 

 

 

Have a GREAT week!



The first birthday that never was

Although our little baby went to Heaven after he/she had been in my womb for a mere six weeks, I still was able to form a love and connection with that child. I never got to hear their heartbeat, but it had been beating for a few weeks at that point. I never got to feel that first kick. I never got to kiss them on the cheek and tell them "welcome to the world, little baby," as I did my other two children.

Just a couple weeks I sat in church surrounded by three other pregnant ladies who all discussed their future plans. I was happy for them, but still sad for me. Sure, I had Ray, my two year old, but I don't think that the statement is true when people say, "at least you have one healthy baby here with you." Or, "at least you have Raylea."

A baby is a person, just like you. In or outside of the womb.

I had someone tell me it was my bodies way of "flushing itself out." Yeah, that could be put in the book called, "The dumbest things to say to a person who suffered a miscarriage."

What's amazing is even though I was confused being that we had wanted our second child for 13 months at that point, and for something so innocent and perfect as a baby to be taken from me in an single day, I still had peace.

Those who know me at all, know that it wasn't but a few months after that we announced our following pregnancy, little Jack Gannon, who is now 10 months old.

Here soon I am going to write a post on all the miracles God has performed in his little life.

I told someone yesterday I can't imagine not having Jack. If our baby who went to Heaven at 6 weeks in the womb would have been here, Jack wouldn't. Now, that's a very sad thought. I know why I had peace during that personal trial, and it was because God had a plan. A better one than me.

If August Shalom would have stayed here, he/she would have been one year old today.

Today is their first birthday that never was.

I think it's pretty awesome though that that baby is in Heaven. I will get to meet my baby for the first time in Heaven. Instead of a doctor or Grant handing me my baby, it will be Jesus. That is a moment I have to look forward to.

There are many birthdays of people that never were. The man who died of cancer at 36 never had a 37th birthday. The woman killed in a car wreck at 54 never saw her 55th.

In Heaven though... everything will be made perfect. We have a definition of perfect. But, how we define paradise isn't close to how awesome it really is.

I don't know what birthday I won't get to see.

It may be my 90th. It may be my 30th. It may be that I am raptured out of here tomorrow and I won't see my 27th. I am game for that! :) I am so excited to go home.

Sir. Ma'am. Kid. Child. Teen. Grandma. Grandpa. Baby.

You have no idea when you will celebrate your last birthday. I would love to tell you to go live out all of your dreams. Travel the world. Go skydiving. Get married. Live by the ocean.

That's all fine and dandy. But I am warning you to prepare for eternity.

You don't know when you'll step into it.

God gives us a FREE WILL to make the choice of whether or not we want to accept Him and live for Him. He won't force you. Neither will I. But I will continue to beg you to make the right choice sooner, rather than later.

The devil is a liar. You are loved, wanted and needed. That's a lie he played on me for a long time. Even after I was saved. He told me I had to win others over. I had every reason to be insecure. I wasn't pretty enough. I wasn't tall enough. I wasn't smart enough. I was funny enough. I wasn't whatever enough.

I can tell you this though, I may not be perfect and I sure never will be until I step over into Glory, but I know the devil wants nothing more than to defeat me in life because he knows he is losing in the end and he wants to take as many down with him as possible. He isn't going to play fair. He isn't going to say, "no blood, no foul." He wants blood. He wants just that actually. He wants me and you to die physically and mostly spiritually.

Speak this with me right now.

(I speak this out loud as I am typing this.)

Satan. Listen up.

You are a loser.

You used to make me feel condemnation over any of my past.

You have made me lie before.

You have caused me to feel jealousy, hatred and wrong feelings towards others before.

You have caused me to believe I am ugly.

You have made me believe I am worthless and I would be better off dead.

You have made me feel like I have no purpose.

You have made me feel like nobody likes me. Or even loves me.

You have tried hard to bring me down. And at times, I felt pretty low.

But, Satan, you have lost.

You have lost me.

You have lost my soul. My eternity. My family. My dreams and future.

Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life and their is NO condemnation found in Him.

His love is perfect and cast out all fear and evil, which is what you are.

I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.

You must flee from me because I have the power through the name of Jesus to demand that.

So, leave.

Run, actually.

I plan on stealing many souls you think you have gained and winning them over to God's Kingdom.

YOU HAVE ZERO CONTROL OVER ME.

___________________________________________

You don't know your last day. So, make it right with God before it's forever too late.



My final prayer

 

 

 

 

I received a text the other day from my sister that had a link to a blog in it. It was from a mothers point of view. She was talking about how there will come a day when it will be the last time you wash your daughters hair, or tuck them in bed, or read them a story on your lap. Ya, pretty much made me sad, but it was an excellent reminder that we need to take in every day and moment with our kids, no matter how crazy the days are.

 

 

The next day my friend Rachel sent me the same blog and I told her my sister had sent it to me and I was writing a blog on an idea I got from the blog my sis and her had sent me.

 

 

 

 

So... here goes my thought.

 

 

 

I won't keep you terribly long today as I have a little man who is a professional crawler now (very fast at it, I might add!) and I truly have to keep my eye on him every second.

 

 

Raylea Jo, my almost four year old, is on a trip having revival in Oklahoma with my husbands parents. Who knows... this could be the weekend she gets saved! Not kidding!

 

 

I pray for a young salvation for my children and my nieces and nephews and so should you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the Lord terries...

 

 

There will come a day when I will not have to help put the toothpaste on Raylea's toothbrush.

 

There will come a day when I will not need to change Jack's diaper.

 

There will come a day when I won't get to carry all of Grant, Raylea and Jack's dirty clothes across the house from the hamper to our laundry room to wash, dry, iron and put away.

 

(I just recently started ironing by the way... I'm getting better!)

 

 

One morning, if she goes to Heaven before I do, I will wake up and not have a missed phone call from my Aunt Kay, as I do everyday... who's a best friend to me. She is actually Grant's blood aunt, but since him and I are "One flesh," that means she is mine as well!

 

 

One day I won't get to pick up Raylea and carry her out of her carseat to her bed as she hugs onto my neck.

 

 

There will be a day when Grant may not be strong enough to lift anything I need him to, in or outside the house. He will be older and weaker one day.

 

 

One day Jack will know all of these words and colors and names I try teaching him every day.

 

 

One day I will sit here and type up a blog to post and not have kids and even a dog to be jumping on me.... I think that is one of the saddest thoughts I have had yet...

 

 

One day I won't be able to just drive over to my mom and dad's house and sit and talk.

 

 

One day I won't get a package in the mail from my Granny, sending my kids toys from the one little store they have there in Melbourne, Arkansas.

 

 

One day I will set up a Christmas tree, all by myself with Grant watching me, likely smiling, as our kids are grown up and at their own homes decorating with our grandkids.

 

 

One day Raylea will be all grown up and it won't be quite as a big of a deal for her Papa Danny to take her to Casey's for a donut and biscuits and gravy every morning. Who knows though, that will probably be something they do together the rest of their lives!

 

 

One day I won't have brown roots to cover up with highlights, but I will have grey.

 

 

There will come a day when we won't be able to ride on the kiddy rides with Raylea at the fair anymore.

 

 

All of those last time moments seem pretty sad, don't they?

 

 

Well, I will tell you of one, which will make your heart want to explode with happiness!

 

 

 

One day,

 

it will be the last time you will ever pray for God's direction.

 

 

the last time you will pray for your Dad to be saved.

 

 

the last time you pray for your older brother to commit his whole life to God and be safe while fighting in war.

 

 

the last time you pray for your Dad who sits in a jail cell, alone every single night.

 

 

the last time you pray for a child of your own.

 

 

the last time you pray for God to remove the insecurities you have carried inside of you since you were a child.

 

 

the last time you ask God to deliver you from a habit which has kept you bound.

 

 

the last time you pray and beg God for His will to unfold in your life.

 

 

the last time you ask God to remove the thoughts of your past from your memory which seem to haunt you no matter how much you read and pray.

 

 

the last time you pray for finances to come through. Which is the same prayer you pray each month when the bills are due and you want so badly to tithe and not do it begrudgingly.

 

 

the last time you ask God for wisdom.

 

 

the last time you ask God for anointing from Heaven to fall on you before you preach.

 

 

the last time you pray for your sister to be faithful to the house of God.

 

 

the last time you pray for your Aunt who is an alcoholic and used to be a pastor's wife.

 

 

the last time you pray for your daughter's salvation.

 

 

the last time you pray protection over your children.

 

 

the last time you pray and ask God to send you the right mate.

 

There was a last time I prayed for a mate. I was on a fast and I asked God to show me if Grant was the man I was to marry one day, and He clearly showed me he was.

 

 

the last time you ask God to heal your marriage.

 

 

the last time you ask God for forgiveness.

 

 

 

 Perhaps it will be the last time you pray a certain prayer because God will answer you here and now.

 

 

But, there will come a time when we won't have to or need to pray at all.

 

 

 

If you have asked Jesus into your heart, made him LORD of your life in every area, and you're allowing Him to transform you on a daily basis into the man or woman of God he intends you to be... one day when you die, you will go to Heaven.

 

 

 

We will bow, lay and worship at His feet, I believe whole heartedly.

 

 

God is so big, we can't quite imagine seeing Him or being in His presence.

 

 

God can be so small though, He can fit into my heart.

 

 

Many people want to see and touch something to know it's real.

 

 

When testing out a car, we want to test drive it.

 

 

When eating at new restaurant, we want to eat something popular on their menu.

 

 

When we hold cash in our hands, we hold it up to the light to make sure it isn't counterfeit.

 

 

 

Someone asked me 8 years ago how I knew that God was real.

 

They genuinely wanted to know.

 

 

 

 

I told them I couldn't see Him with my own eyes. I can't touch Him. I am not smart enough to even know where to take them to show them all the places that have been found, which line up exactly with what the Bible says.

 

 

I told them though, I knew God was real because I could feel Him.

 

 

 

 

 

I told them I knew He was real because I was very hard headed and stubborn in my ways as a teen and when I got saved on March 15th, 2006, every single desire I had changed. It felt out of character to me to be rude to someone. It felt out of character to me to be around someone who was cussing and telling dirty jokes. It wasn't natural for me to want to be popular and to fit in as I did all through school. I used to bend over backwards for people trying to win their friendship so I would be accepted by them and ultimately everyone in my school. Whether they were the biggest nerd with the thickest glasses, or the biggest jock, or the outcast who nobody could get to talk, I made friends with them. Not that that was a bad quality, but I felt a need to be wanted and accepted by people much more than God. I liked being liked. I liked people telling me I would be homecoming queen my senior year. I liked the fact that the most popular guys and girls in school wanted to be around me. I liked the fact that I made everyone laugh. I liked the fact that I was popular and didn't sleep around like a good portion of the girls in my school did. (My mom believed that if she didn't talk to me about sex, I wouldn't know what it was, therefore I wouldn't want to do it!) Well, I will definitely say she was right on that! I was just about the biggest prude in school. One "boyfriend" (I never even held hands with the guy!) straight up asked me when I was going to "put out." I said "when I get married I will do that." And he took off in his truck and that was the last day he was my "boyfriend."

 

 

When I became a Christian at 17 years old, I was still in High School, but I soon realized God showed much mercy on me for allowing me to not lose my virginity before I was to get married. I am not embarrassed, but I am proud to say that Grant and I both had sex for the first time on our wedding night. We were each others first! That is something that is rare and special and young kids need to know that God intended it to be that way. Sure, you can mess up and God will forgive. But there are consequences to sin and I believe the devil will try to use your past against you until you put your foot down and tell him THE PAST IS THE PAST. So, do that if you haven't already! Jesus didn't die on the Cross for virgins and people who got saved at 5 years old. He died for the drunk, the girl who gave herself away at 12 years old, the child abuser.... all the same. He died to cover it all.

 

I told you a little bit of my background because this is what I explained to that person asked about God's existence. He is real! He is real because He changed me totally. I have peace which I didn't before. Everyone tries to find peace... Drinking, having a sexy body, doing drugs, cheating on your spouse, having an abortion or even buying new clothes isn't going to answer your problem, friend. Only Jesus. Only Jesus.

 

 

ONLY JESUS.

 

 

 

My point of this post is to let you know...

 

 

there will be a last time you pray. Whether it's a prayer of thanksgiving for all He is and has done, or if it's a prayer of needing Him to come through for you somehow.

 

 

 

 

 

Hold fast, child.

 

 

It's almost done.

 

 

Fight this fight with everything in you.

 

 

You are a conqueror through JESUS CHRIST.

 

 

Pray and live today knowing you won't always have these circumstances. Whether they are good or bad ones. Enjoy today.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for reading what I have to say. I know there are much bigger names and better writers out there, but I know God has given me a gift to write and I don't have to be "the best" or "most popular," because I know I am making Him happy. Have a wonderful and GOD filled day.



The Cross is Enough

 

 

 

 

Last night Raylea and I were watching a kids movie and the children's parents had died.

 

She wanted to know why they died. She wanted to know that they would be okay. She then started crying and said, "but I want you to live forever and not die!"

 

I explained to her that when I was a "little girl," (17 years old to be exact) I accepted Jesus into my heart and that when I do die that I will go straight to Heaven and live there forever and ever!

 

Well, being that she is three years old, she wasn't able to grasp how awesome that is and she still cried!

 

She said she didn't want to leave our home and she wanted me to stay here with her!

 

 

Well, in the next year or two she will better understand what I tried to explain.

 

 

 

You know the verse about training a child in the way they should go and when they're older they will not depart from it? To me it also means that you can train them to NOT serve God. And when they're older, they will not depart from their evil ways.

 

 

 

How I view and seek and worship God, is how little Raylea will. And now Jack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm reading a book right now, and the first page says an amazing, yet simple line that I have pondered upon all day.

 

"In other words, in the sacrifices under the Mosaic Law, the priest didn't even really look at the sinner; he looked at the sacrifice."

 

 

 

Hallelujah.

 

 

That is something to shout about whether you're Pentecostal, Church of Christ, Methodist or Baptist!

 

Or whatever!!

 

 

GOD DOESN'T LOOK AT THE SINNER. HE LOOKS AT THE SACRIFICE!

 

God doesn't look at YOU, liar.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, homosexual.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, thief.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, adulterer.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, child molester.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, drunk.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, gossiper.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, jealous person.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, woman who had an abortion.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, woman who tears down your husband.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, teenager who cusses at your parents.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, home-wrecker.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, drug addict.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, woman who dresses sexy for attention.

 

God doesn't look at YOU, racist.

 

 

 

The LORD of ALL, the ONE TRUE GOD, the FRIEND who will NEVER leave you.

 

THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.

 

 

He looks at the Sacrifice.

 

 

JESUS CHRIST.

 

 

Jesus Christ gave his life, he endured not only physical pain for you and I, but he carried every sin of mankind the day he died.

 

 

 

 

 

When I asked Jesus into my heart, He didn't look at me and say, "Look at all your sins. You are as a filthy rag. Just look at you."

 

 

NO.

 

 

He got down next to me as I knelt at that alter, and cradled me in His perfect love.

 

 

What Jesus did on the Cross of Calvary was enough for Him. I didn't have to do anything to earn salvation or His Holy Spirit in my life. I admitted I was a sinner and confessed to Him with my whole Heart and asked Him to be LORD of my life.

 

 

 

Yes, God knows my name and yes he sees me! But, the point is that he doesn't see a SINNER, He sees the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross and that someone is accepting that gift and making Him the LORD of their life!

 

 

 

Parents, you're leading your kids towards God, or away from Him.

 

 

There is no grey here!

 

 

Lead them to Him, while you still have the chance!

 

 

 



Deer hunting and the devil

 

 

 

 

 

I guess because there was a couple days of cooler weather with one being rainy and then a chance of rain for today, it's made me all ready for Autumn. I know, I need to enjoy the Summer, but boy, there is no season like Autumn! Cooler weather, leaves changing colors, cleaning out the fire place and getting it all ready for our first fire of the year.. (which I usually do as soon as its below 60 degrees.)

Coffee all day, cinnamon rolls for breakfast, homemade soup, both of my kids' birthdays...

 

 

 

Autumn means a lot of things to me. But one thing it means, (and has meant since I was literally born) My dad went pheasant hunting a couple hours after I was born, November 17th, 1988. But, it means hunting!

 

 

 

Growing up I went hunting with my dad, little brother and eventually after I met Grant, I went with him, his brothers and dad as well.

 

 

There is just something about sitting outside amongst all the woodland creatures, waiting for the big buck to pass by. Well, I have only killed two bucks, but that's two for two shots for me! Both times I was by myself and for some reason I felt like I really accomplished something special. I'm not as serious about hunting as my dad, brothers and Grant. But, I always make a special memory anytime I climb up a stand or sit in a blind with one of them, or by myself!

 

 

I was thinking as I was cleaning up after lunch about how we do so much to prepare to kill a deer. We prepare for that one kill, literally all year sometimes. We put corn out to get the deer used to coming to one spot throughout the year, mostly in the summer and the fall. That way, when we are sitting on a stand that is on a tree about 20 yards from the corn pile, we know there will be some action at some point that hunt.

 

They shower in scent free shampoo and body wash. Once I saw gum that was camouflage and scent free! (I'm not sure why a person would even care to chew it then, but that's just me.)

 

 

Grant will go months before the season opens to put up new stands and check safety of old ones.

 

They set up cameras to see what and what time something is coming by.

 

We dress from head to toe in camoflauge. Grants choice is Realtree Xtra.

For Christmas last year, Grant gave me a pair of Under Armour hunting boots. They are pretty sweet. Mostly, they are a whole lot more comfortable then my cowboy or rain boots!
Man, I sound like a serious hunter, don't I?

 

 

Sometimes we wear a mask or put paint on our face.

 

I feel like I have my hunting face on when Grant slaps a little green and black paint on my cheeks.

I'm sure I look slightly crazy to everyone.

But, I look extra cute to him though! So, it's all good.

 

 

More important than any other item, is the weapon.

 

It depends on the season but there is muzzleloader, bow and rifle.

 

 

All year you practice and shoot at targets. You perfect your shot.




The devil is whole lot like a hunter.


He prepares. He watches. He takes pictures. He learns our schedule. Our habits. Our weaknesses. Our strengths. Our whereabouts. Our interest. The type of people we run around with. What we like to eat and drink. Our bed time. When we wake up. What we like to wear.



He knows a lot about you.


I'm not going to say we are all deer just waiting to be shot and killed by the devil himself, but I will say if we are not putting on the whole armor of God EVERY day, we are making it that much easier for Satan to gain victory and eventually, yes, kill us.


He is hiding in your television. He is wearing lots of Realtree Xtra. His camouflage actually works a lot better than anything we could find at the store.

 

 

 He hides in the music you listen to. Even some that have the title "Christian," on it. He hides in books and magazines you read. He hides in advice that is given to you by so called good Christian people. He hides in your daily routine. He hides in your Social Media. He hides in your relationships at work. He hides under lots of leaves, sticks and dirt called PG-13 movies, Country love songs and that non-Christian boyfriend you have.


He hides in your medicine. He hides in your diet. He hides in your thoughts. He hides well.


Again, he hides well.



So, you better think like a deer. No, think like a 200 inch buck that has survived 10 years in the wild.

Look up high. Look down low. Hunters sit really still and sometimes barely breath when a deer is passing. So, you can't be a dumb deer. Just because you're young in the Lord doesn't mean you're naïve either. You maybe have been saved for 50 years and you are naïve.


Get on your knees and talk to God. He will talk back. Open your Bible and be ready to learn. He will teach.




We must be ready to fight the devil and WIN.


God, through His POWER and HOLY SPIRIT has given us a way out!



One of my favorite things to do is rebuke the devil! He has no power over me and mine!



The devils hunting season is 24/7, 365.

BUT, it's about over for him.



Get YOUR game face on, Christian!


We know who the winner is in the end, and it's NOT SATAN or his followers.




It is GOD ALMIGHTY and I AM ON HIS SIDE AND HE IS FOR ME.



You are either for or against God. There is no gray here.


So pick which side you're on.


I'm on the winning side.


Join me?
 



That was before the cross

 

 

 

 

Saul stood there with a hardened heart.

He looked into the innocent eyes of those around him,

Christians being murdered as he held their clothes.

The images of blood and death were etched into his mind,

hatred and evil filled his life.

 

But, that was before the cross.

 

 

A father who drank for years and years

and didn't seem to care where it took his family.

Gambling, drinking, parties and sin

that's the life he lived.

He looked into the innocent eyes of those around him,

a wife and four kids whose destiny he was choosing.

 

But, that was before the cross.

 

 

 

Seventeen years old, two rows back,

she sat with arms crossed, fighting the conviction she felt.

She wanted to be like her dad and thought so much of him,

she closes her eyes during the alter call and saw the reflection of herself.

Innocent eyes stared back wanting freedom from the girl she had become.

 

But, that was before the cross.

 

 

 

 

Saul got converted and now his name is Paul.

A preacher of the cross.

 

The father gave it all to Jesus and led his family in a new direction.

A Sunday School teacher and man of God.

 

One of the four kids that was his, was me.

 

I was the seventeen year old girl who was running from God.

 

 

That was all

 

before I came in contact with the cross.

 

 

 

My life is changed and yes, I am a hard headed Christian.

 

Nobody will change my mind about what Jesus did for me.

 

There was a song I heard once called Hard Hearted Hannah at a festival when I was kid.

 

 

That was me. I was hard hearted Hannah.

 

That was all before the blood stained cross was applied to my life.

 

 

That's the problem with most people living and breathing on this earth right now.

 

That may be the problem with you.

 

It isn't your spouse. It isn't your kids. It isn't your boss. It isn't your best friend. It isn't your cousin. It isn't your dad. It isn't your mom. It isn't your pastor.

 

It's you.

 

 

 

 

You have never came in contact with it.

 

You are living a life that is "before the cross."

No hope. No happiness. No peace. No haven. No rest. No joy. No love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I ask you, are you living your life before or after the cross?

 

 

He's coming back.

 

 

He died once and He will return once.

 

 

Don't miss it.