A powerless sin

Good Morning! I love waking up feeling refreshed and renewed. This week has been such a fulfilling week in Jesus. We had such a great service Wednesday that was just full of music and an alter call. Then we had a really fantastic study Thursday with great discussion. Last night I slept soundly and of course like usual, I didn't want to get outta bed. You know if you met me years ago and we hung out that you would not recognize me today. Which basically shows me how much I have grown. Yet living day to day, it is so easy to get caught up in life that we forget just how much God is molding and making us. I wouldn't go back if you paid me, even now I have trials and tribulations yet they seem so minor compared to when I wasn't seeking a more intimate relationship with my Savior. One that when I do fall or stumble that I seek redemption, One that is fortified when I am with friends that are living like I am. One that no matter what knowing I have Jesus makes everyday worth being alive. I know how terrible and rotten this world can be, I am just thankful everyday for having Christ to make days wonderful! So we were in Romans 6 last night, "Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?" Romans 6:1-2 WOW! Literally, mind blown. This was such a strong conviction for me, how can we read this and not be struck. Let's be real, I don't know how your walk is coming or where you are reading this. I just know that when it comes to it, I blog for me. I blog because it helps me put into perspective all I am reading. Writing it out, putting my thoughts down helps me process all of them. If you get something from it as well, amazing because that is all God. In all of this I am just a vessel, one that is willing to share my life experience to bring glory and honor to God. For He is the only one worthy of it. Last night was one of those times I just never wanted study to end, because having the discussion we had and being able to fellowship and learn is where I just wanna live. That's where I want my home to be, Completely fused to Christ. Life here is a day to day chaos. It's so fabulous to be with the kids, and to be teaching them and vice versa. 12 "Do not let sin control the way you live;[a] do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God" Romans 6:12-13 YES! I so wanna be an instrument for Christ, a living example of His love. I know there will be moments that sin tries to take hold, Satan knows all the fragile spots of your heart. All those times that the ground almost seems invisible because your so lost.CHRIST knows you so much more, He formed you in your mothers womb, He gives us encouragement in His word. Take some time today for Christ, shut off the tv, open your word and just be renewed. "23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."Romans 6:23 Romans is a wonderful description of your life for Christ, Couldn't be any clearer. If your gonna stand up and call yourself a Christian, I hope its not just words to you. I pray it's in action and dying to yourself to live in Christ. Prayers and Blessings on a fortified weekend in God's word. S.

Looking for the light

Romans 5:21 (NLT) "So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." .

After spending day after day with the little munchkins, its always nice to have some time to sit and reflect about all that is happening here. It is actually after midnight but I just feel blessed to have time simply for me. I have turned on my past by rocking out to the sounds of Amy Grant, Twila Paris and some good old Michael W.Smith. One thing I will always be grateful to my parents for is encouraging us to be just as addicted to there music as they are. Which whenever I am in the mood for comfort tunes, that's where I turn. Isn't it as always as life goes there is a million things I could be doing with my "me" time. Yet I sit here and type it out which is so much more delightful.

Tonight we were in Romans at bible study and I just found this scripture to be so powerful. I was the one that read it aloud and I just wanted to stand up I just felt so encouraged. Praise God that it is His grace that rules over us. I cannot imagine living when sin ruled. No thank you, not that there aren't moments when it tries to take over because lets be honest: It does. The past couple weeks have been an absolute whirlwind. I feel like it never slows down, I always have these great plans: then the week is gone like that PFFT! Then again its almost November, when did that happen and excuse me did October even say Hello? I have been learning alot that I really need better management skills and the will to put into action. Children learn not by words but by actions and when I set examples I want all of them to be Godly examples. I get so caught up though, and I get beaten up by the day and then I do not present the best example for anyone let alone my kids. That's why I love sleeping , I feel like I'm doing a great job of demonstrating sleep. I will teach anyone that wants to learn by the way. If only my children were better students.

Thing 1 turned 2 this week, and today I cut his beautiful locks off. Photos soon to come. Just in the past week he has grown into such a little man. I hardly know what to do with myself most of the time. Tonight after I put him to bed he came out with arms wide open and smiling ready to give me a big hug. *MELTING* Then as soon as he got here he puckered his sweet little lips to kiss me. What do you say, I kissed his sweet little face and was like *BED!*. Even those moments consistency is the best thing for him. I already miss him being my baby! Little miss is such a site, all over this house and I know before I know it she'll be walking. That is how it always happens you barely blink and they're a year older and doing things you can't even imagine. I feel so delighted to have this time with them. I don't really care how frustrated or overcome I get, I wouldn't trade being with them for anything. If ever the time comes that I am not able to be with them for whatever reason, I wanna just cling to this time because it has been an absolute delight. God is teaching me more and more about friendship, I am learning all about the person I would like to be. More so the person I can be in Christ and alot less of me but more of him. Besides whenever I take over you shouldn't want to be my friend. I am not very friendly. No matter what I just am certain of God's love for me that is why he is taking me through my walk. One step at a time I am learning more about seeking His truth for my life. Prayers and blessings on your weekend sweet friends.
S.

Mercy came Running

It is so encouraging to hear songs that speak of how you feel. Mercy came running by Phillips,Craig & Dean is one of those for me.

7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ. Philippians 3:7-8 Many times I read scripture over and over. But then circumstances arise and that scripture has brand new meaning. It's almost like reading it fully for the first time. It's crazy to think how much life has changed in the past couple of years. I have come to a place in my life of certainty. A place that is not shaken by worldly views and a place that I'm completely comfortable to be in. A place that I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live. I don't know if you have ever come to a place like I have before. A place that you are overtaken in your own sin. That it becomes so dark that there seems like no hope. A few years ago I really fell hard from Christ, I fell from Him and was unaware of it .

"Mercy came running Like a prisoner set free Past all my failures to the point of my need When the sin that I carried Was all I could see And when I could not reach mercy Mercy came running to me" Mercy came running - Phillips Craig & Dean

That was me my sin that I carried was all I could see. God placed me in a study called "The Truth Project" It is taught by Del Tackett, and is one of the most eye opening things I've ever been involved in. One that I would do many more times if had the opportunity. During the discussion however , they spoke on my sin. They spoke on my sin without me having to be open about it. Just as God would have it we covered everything I was going through without having to say exactly what I was feeling. I was living as a bisexual, I knew that Christ had spoken that it was not correct, yet my sin had overtaken me to the point that I truly thought I was a bisexual. Not that I am a Christian and struggle with bisexuality. I had never called my sin what it was sin. I really just had gone with it, because it came to me as a fragile teenager. So I took it on just like you put on your coat when you leave. As study was ending and we left I called everyone and told them I wasn't bisexual I just struggled with that sin.I felt like a giant weight had been lifted off my chest. I cried all the way home and just thanked God for putting me in a place I had no choice but to see my sin for what it was. I think it's hard as christian's for us to be open that we to struggle with sin. That we are sinners like the rest, yeah we'll mention it but it's hard for us to be completely naked and unashamed that we fall just like the rest. We all sin , yet in Christ we are free from our sin aware of our struggles. I am happy to admit to you now that I have not struggled in many years. All due to Christ and his wonderful mercy, not that I don't struggle in other things. The struggle that had changed me, and made me a completely different person was gone. I am now a new creation in Christ. Psalm 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. I know we all struggle, in more ways than one. It has been on my heart for a long time to write this and I'm glad God finally gave me the opportunity to share it with you now. I pray you all have a great week and are filled with God's love and grace and mercy. S.