Month: May 2017

I had a fun time sharing with the ladies at a brunch hosted by North Beacon Church of the Nazarene in Amarillo, Texas.  The theme for the brunch was Hats, Handbags & Heels in celebration of ladies in every walk of life; daughters, sisters, mothers, and the many types of work we represent.

Pictured L to R: Donna-Event Coordinator, Pastor Serina Nelson, me, and my daughter, Sydney

The room was filled with ladies of all ages and life-stations. They were there to celebrate friendships and family, and the worship helped prepare our hearts for a refreshing in the Spirit of the Living God.  We were poised for something positive to take home.

My presentation was entitled Elevator Shoes & Booster Seats: The Little Pick-Me-Ups of Life.  I discussed how the words we choose in our everyday language help frame our world.

Our words matter.

Words are the delivery system of the heart.

The apostles Matthew and Luke both recorded the words of Jesus stating, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matt 12:34; Luke 6:38)

WORDS are CONTAINERS.  Whatever we put into our minds are the ingredients with which we fill those containers.  Our words are the delivery system of the heart.  Our choice of words and the way we determine to deliver them combine to convey our message.

Our mindset determines our words.  So when we change our mindset by improving the content, subsequently, we alter and enhance the quality of our words.

The apostle Paul taught about our thoughts driving our words.  In his letter to the Romans Paul said we can be transformed by Christ so our minds are renewed. Addressing the Philippians, Paul said to have the same mind or attitude of Jesus in all our relationships. He also taught about focusing on Christ and on the good, positive things in life.

Because we know we can have the same heart attitude as Jesus Christ, even in the midst of life’s imperfections, we can still have a joyful heart.

I love to laugh!  In fact, I have a print hanging next to my vanity mirror that reads, “Laugh till your stomach hurts.”  I love this because laughter just feels good and this statement is reflective of what King Solomon said in Proverbs 17:22, Laughter works like medicine!

The week of this brunch the weather ran the length of the thermostat.  We had days of sunny, breezy 80s and days of cold, blustery wind and snow; all within a 36-48 hour period.  These weather patterns make getting dressed every morning an adventure, so for the brunch I chose to wear all dark blue with a lighter weight fabric.  It was too warm for leggings and boots, so I opted for sheer navy tights and pumps.  The car was loaded with my props and I took one last look in the full length mirror and I was ready to roll.

About three minutes before everyone began taking their seats for the program to begin, I tore my tights and created a run.  What could I do?  I took the platform and made the announcement we should have prayed against this, modeled the “wardrobe malfunction” and we all laughed and had great time together!

 

About three minutes before everyone began taking their seats for the program to begin, I had a wardrobe malfunction. What could I do?  Laugh!

Laughter works like medicine!(Prv. 17:22)
Exercise your smile today😂

Finally, let us choose our words well and deliver them as a gift to others. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Eph4:29)

Words.
Make or Break.
Hurt or Heal.
Destroy or Build.
The choice is ours when we speak or type.
Choose to HEAL, ENCOURAGE & bring LIFE!~Leah

 

 

 

 

As I prepared for a meeting yesterday my thoughts moved to the way we pray.  I am talking about the attitude of our heart, as we approach God which drives the words we speak and how we say them to the Lord.

The writer of Hebrews tells us in chapter 4, verse 16,

Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.

When we consider the words of this verse, let us consider the way we pray.  How do we speak to The Lord?  Are we full of self-pity, self-loathing, a poor sense of self-worth, complaints about our plight and the people around us?  If so, we are full of our selves and our focus is on how everything affects us rather than placing our focus on the Lord and the work of Christ.

Do we pray boldly?  This is not the kind of boldness attempting to manipulate God to do what we want (as if we could) but asking for God’s intervention in our circumstance, praying that His purpose be fulfilled and placing ourselves completely, without reservation, in His will to allow ourselves to be transformed into the people He desires.

While we like what this verse states, we cannot take it alone, because it is the completion of the two preceding verses, which say,

Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the   heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession. For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.

When we come boldly before God, honoring Him, recognizing He calls us to Himself through the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ which He provided; when we revere God for the ever-present, all-knowing and all-powerful God He is, we will then be filled with rejoicing no matter our situation!

When circumstances are difficult our emotions seem overwhelming, so our praise and worship become a sacrificial offering.

Let us always give a sacrifice of praise to God through Jesus. We do it by thanking him for all that he has done and also by talking about him. That is the sacrifice we make with our lips to his name. (Hebrews 13:15)

Speak boldly words of thanksgiving and praise, in prayer and in conversation.  When we face the most insurmountable circumstances and choose to worship God for who He is, we are offering to Him our most precious worship.

Our Lord desires to prove Himself in us and through us, in the mundane and in the miraculous, and everything in between!

Are we in a relationship with the Lord that is so close & intimate that we simply step into the recognition of His presence, knowing He knows us and we know Him?

I want to KNOW GOD as He knows me. I want to be wholly and completely His in a way that I am constantly aware of His presence. I want to LIVE HOLY, daily, and HIS GRACE EMPOWERS ME to walk uprightly & holy before Him.

When I wake each morning, I want to awaken with HIS songs in my heart. I want to step into the day knowing the GOD I serve, THE GOD of CREATION, THE GOD of MIRACLES calls me to HIS presence so HE can give to me, this day, EVERYTHING I need!!

I serve THE ONE, TRUE & LIVING, AWESOME GOD!!
May I be bold in my proclamation of HIM and may I pray bold prayers, KNOWING HE WILL ANSWER!

~Leah