Devotionals for the Heart: Lost Keys, Prayers and God's Protection

The Lost Keys
A devotional by Heather Martin

“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.” ~Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

God hears our prayers and answers for our good.

Sometimes it is hard for us to understand why God answers the way He does and in the timing that He chooses, but we just need to trust that when our prayers aren’t answered when we expect, God is protecting us and it will be for our good.

I had to believe this on a morning when my sweet husband misplaced his keys! Now he often misplaces his keys, wallet, and I.D. for work. I joke with him that if he had a place to put all these things, like a man purse, this problem might be solved! Surely if I didn’t have a purse or place to house all of my things I might lose them more often too.

Anyhow, we usually whisper a prayer and locate those keys before he has to go to work, but not today! We looked right up until the last minute and those keys would not turn up. We prayed the whole time and I don’t know why they didn’t just turn up like usual. Frustrating, yes! But we both hopped in my school bus, I mean my truck, (it just feels like a bus since I drive four kids around every day) and headed to drop him off at work. I came home and searched high and low for those keys, I mean I looked every possible place you can imagine, and my Mom even helped me to tear the house up, still no keys. In my head, I would find those keys and have my Mom follow me to his job to drop off his car so he could be free to come home at his leisure. No such luck!

The last time he lost his keys, God impressed us to look in the garbage just before it was going to be picked up, and there were his keys! Surely if God could show us where those keys were then, He would certainly help us find them before the day was over. However, we still couldn’t find them all day! It was time to pick him up from work and I was disappointed to tell him that God had not answered our prayers to find the last set of keys we owned to his car. We would have to spend a couple hundred dollars to replace that set of keys!

When we finally reached home again, I was cooking dinner and I whispered a prayer in my head to help Colin find those keys, let him wake up in the morning and be on his chest, I prayed. No sooner than I finished this thought, Colin walks into the kitchen holding his keys! Wow! That was a quick answer! Had God just gotten tired of us asking and begging Him all day and just said, “Alright, alright. Let me let help him find those keys now. He’s suffered enough!”

My husband’s keys were hiding in a box that I don’t think any of us would have thought to look in (courtesy of one of our loving kiddos)! It was only God’s grace that allowed my husband to look in a small box that a toy came in to find his keys. A box that should’ve been thrown in the trash!

I believe that God was protecting Colin from something that day. He was looking at the bigger picture, looking into the future, like only He can and changing it for his good. I believe he was stopping something that could have been tragic. It was no coincidence that those keys would not turn up until we were all at home safe and sound.

When we get to heaven, I can’t wait to ask God why He wouldn’t let Colin find his keys to drive his car to work on June 3, 2017. I trust God. I believe that He hears every prayer because He does. We may not understand the ways or timing He chooses to move in, but we can have peace knowing that we have a Heavenly Parent (God) who is looking out for our best. We can rest assured that our Heavenly Father knows best.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heather Martin was born the last of six siblings in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was raised by an amazing single mother (Rebecca Trotter) and was taught at an early age to love God and how to sing! 

She graduated from Oakwood University with a Bachelors Degree in Language Arts Education and later received a Master’s Degree in Education from Kaplan University. 

Shortly after graduating she followed God’s call to minister. She joined the Stellar, Dove, and Grammy-nominated gospel group Virtue, which was founded by her two older sisters Ebony Holland and Karima Kibble several years prior. Virtue has used their talents to spread the love of God across the world! They have recorded 7 studio albums and have been the recipients of numerous awards.

God has not only blessed Heather professionally, but personally. She met her husband, Dr. Colin Martin, and they have been married for 14 years. They have four children: Colin Jr. 11, Harper 10, Clark, 7, and Charleston 5. In 2016 Heather started an online blog and vegan and allergen-friendly cooking channel called “Chef Mommy.” Heather (Chef Mommy) has cooked with numerous celebrities and top chefs to spread the news of healthy cooking and lifestyle.

In addition to this busy schedule, Heather enjoys, running, reading, writing and spending time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Heather:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherTMartin
Instagram for Heather: https://www.instagram.com/thechefmommy/
Instagram for Virtue (Heather’s singing group): https://www.instagram.com/virtuegirls
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chefmommyhm

Thankful Thursday: The Beauty of Serving a God Who Knows!

Dear Blog Friends,

It's Thursday and I'm thankful that I serve a God who "knows"!

Allow me to explain: Lately, I've been feeling bogged down by the cares, distresses, disasters and despair that are part of our world. I would wake up in a negative mindset and go throughout most of my day feeling that nobody truly "knows" my pain and understands what I'm going through. But then for the past several days, my negative train of thought was interrupted by the key lyrics to this song "He Knows" performed by Jeremy Camp. This song simply reinforces the truth that the Creator of the Universe (God) knows exactly what I am going through and He is with me in the dark valleys of life. But not only is He by my side, carrying me when I'm too weak to walk, He's watching over my every step and making sure that I don't fall to my death.

God is closely acquainted with our pain, hurt, and sorrow. He is the only One in the Universe who understands the human condition and earthly plight so completely and intimately. And only He is fully equipped to bring us through the toughest times.

When you trust God to be there for you, there's always a ray of hope in every storm of life. The Bible says that He will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). God deeply values us mere mortals because He created us and He wants what's best for us. He is near to the brokenhearted. He and His Son Jesus Christ feel your pain and the best news is that with they will not allow suffering to go on forever! One day, God's going to send His Son back to Earth to redeem His faithful followers and take us to Heaven. We will live better than happily ever after that we read about in fairy tales because it's a true reality for the future of those who believe in Him. God's faithful followers can look forward to an eternity filled with His Presence, Peace, Joy, and Love.

So in closing, allow me to soothe your soul with this truth: God wants to heal your broken heart. He wants to restore your mind. He wants to redeem your soul.

Will you let Him? Will you trust Him to be there for you? Will you allow Him to carry you through tough times and wipe the tears from your eyes? God loves you with ALL of His divine Heart! Always remember that truth and read Jeremiah 29:11.

And when you're feeling alone or like no one "knows" what you're going through, don't despair. Put your trust in the Lord because HE knows and He will help you.

God bless you!

Love,

Alexis

Words of Faith: Jessica's story about walking by faith and trusting God

Maker of My Dreams
A Words of Faith story by Jessica Alyse

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” ~Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)

I went to church. I did my homework. I attended college. I pursued a degree in psychology because that’s what everyone told me to do. It wasn’t until my sophomore year of college that it became clear to me that I was only doing what was expected of me.

I didn’t want to be a psychologist or an “art therapist,” as I referred to my future career. I picked it because it sounded awesome, would no doubt bring in a paycheck, and would help me transition into the real world.

Because that’s what you do.

I was all of four weeks into my second year when I realized this wasn’t for me. This wasn’t what I wanted. I had no interest in it. I had no interest in college, for that matter. I was there for the wrong reasons and I was miserable. I was there because that’s what you do. You go to college. You work. You make a living.

Because I’d spent my entire existence doing what everyone told me to do, I put a lot of prayer into that period of my life, trying to figure out which way was up and who I was as a person. I didn’t want to do what everyone else told me to do. That’s not me and those aren’t the desires of my heart.

When it all came down to one decision, stay the route or chart a new course, I chose the latter. Some might fault me for my decision to leave college and move back in with my parents. But what others think doesn’t matter, you know why?

Because it’s not about what everybody thinks you should do, it’s about what God planned for you to do.

The beauty of being a child of God is having an untarnished view of the purpose He created you for. Life isn’t a maze in the dark and we’re not fumbling around trying to find our own graves—no, not at all. Life is an adventure that should be based on bliss, peace, hope and wonder.

It’s about sunsets and mountains. It’s about oceans, acres, rain that falls from the clouds and snow that blocks our driveways. It’s about a baby’s first cry, a couple’s first kiss, a song that makes your heart skip a beat. It’s about finding strength on your knees (in praying to God) and conquering obstacles despite your fears. It’s about being loved and loving others. It’s about loving the person that God created you to be, a person He is already deeply in love with.

A lifetime is too short to spend doing what everybody else is doing—or what everybody thinks you should be doing. Don’t get caught up in the world’s definition of life. Seek a definition of your own. Build a castle on the foundation of your passions and dreams.

Look inside yourself and figure out what makes you truly happy. There you’ll find your passion. And when you find what you’re passionate about then you’ll find that your definition of living might be a little different from everybody else’s—but all in all, it gives you peace.

Your passion makes life worth living.

At the age of twenty, I quit doing what everybody else was doing and I started doing what He created me to do. I’m a writer. I tell stories. I discover healing in words and I find a way to share that with as many people as possible. I make people smile and laugh and cry. And through that, a little bit of life’s beauty rains down on all of us.

Some people don’t see my blessings the way I see them. That’s okay. Because, if this is where He wants me, then this is where I’ll rest. You should, too.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”~Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV)

~*~
Author bio: 

Writer, Dreamer, Daughter of the King. Jessica Alyse was born a dreamer. She used to tell stories about a bicycle that traveled to the moon and back. Her imagination has always soared beyond the expectations of reality and has brought her to a career in creative fiction. 

A storyteller, hopeless romantic, and follower of Christ, she encompasses the appropriate traits to create romantic Christian fiction, embellishing every story with southern charm and wholesome love. Dreams of becoming a professional screenwriter dance through her head each time she sits down to tie together characters and plot.

A Louisiana girl with a heart for Texas, when she's not writing, you can find her dreaming about the day her books get adapted into movies, practicing for her would-be singing career, or in the event of a football game, cheering for the Green Bay Packers.

~*~

Connect with Jessica:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writer.jessalyse/
Twitter: @writerjessalyse
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/writerjessalyse/

Words of Faith: Ralene's story on hope, healing, and believing in God

You Were Meant to Be
A Words of Faith story by Ralene Burke

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb."
~Psalm 139:13 (NKJV)

People often ask me when I started believing in God or when I accepted Jesus as my Savior. It’s hard for me to answer because, in many ways, I have always believed. I don’t really remember a time where I didn’t. Sure, there were times I rebelled or backslid, depending on what term you want to use, but I never stopped believing.

I couldn’t. It wasn’t in me. Why?

Because my very birth and survival were a miracle doctors couldn’t explain.

When I was born, I had a tumor in my neck. In a matter of hours, the tumor swelled to the size of a grown man’s fist in a newborn baby’s neck. I couldn’t swallow. I couldn’t breathe.

The hospital life-flighted me to a bigger hospital. The doctors told my parents that, without surgery, I was going to die. And, even with surgery, there would only be a 50 percent chance I would live. So, at only two days old, I underwent surgery to remove the tumor.

Afterward, I was flown in a helicopter across the country. Recovery followed with three months in the hospital. The doctors were sure that I would be mentally and physically handicapped. They were so sure (95 percent sure, if you want the number), they tried to convince my parents to put me in a state facility where people would be better equipped to take care of me. Of course, my parents refused.

From the day I was born through those first several months, there were so many people praying for me…So many people just pouring out their hearts, asking God for a miracle.

In the months after I left the hospital, my delayed development picked up quickly. By the end of my first year, I was pretty much on track with most other one-year-olds.

"From birth I have relied on you;

you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.

I will ever praise you." ~Psalm 71:6 (NKJV)

Today, you wouldn’t notice too many of the side effects of that surgery. Yes, there was some nerve damage. It paralyzed my left shoulder muscle, my left vocal cord, as well as a few others minor nerves. The one thing most people notice is my raspy voice from only using one vocal cord. If people are around me longer, they might realize I’m limited on how much I can lift and on shoulder movement on the left side.

No mental challenges, though. Unless you count my penchant for taking on too much. Or listening to the voices in my head—I mean, writing fantasy stories.

“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.”~Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)

It is by God’s grace alone that I am here today. It’s by His bidding that I have come so far and done so much more than the doctor’s ever anticipated. I remember, upon my high school graduation, my mom and I sent cards to the three hospitals involved with taking care of me at some point throughout my birth and recovery.

God is the Father of Miracles. He calls us to His side, invites us to join in the journey WITH Him. How do I have faith in a fallen world? How can I not? I look around and see all that He has done in the lives of so many people—and it is good.

~*~
Author bio: 

Whether she’s wielding a fantasy writer’s pen, a freelance editor’s sword, or a social media wand, Ralene Burke always has her head in some dreamer’s world. And her goal is to make it SHINE! She has worked for a variety of groups, including Realm Makers, The Christian PEN, Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, and as an editor for a number of freelance clients. Her first novel, Bellanok, was published as a 4-part serial! 

When her head’s not in the publishing world, she is wife to a veteran and homeschooling mama to their three kids. Her Pinterest board would have you believe she is a master chef, excellent seamstress, and all around crafty diva. If she only had the time . . . 

You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, or at her website.

Words of Faith: God Restores

Lessons of Love and Faith
A Words of Faith story by Tawnia Ramirez

“We are people of faith,” was the declaration given to the doctor when he suggested removing Dorian from life support. It had been nearly a year since the motorcycle accident that taught each person gathered in the room the meaning of love, faith, and hope. The room was filled with family and friends. After giving glory to God, Dorian’s grandfather acknowledged that if doctors had had their way, “We would be observing the one-year anniversary of his death instead of celebrating his 23rd birthday."

Throughout the day I watched in awe as Dorian prayed, thanking God for his mercy while acceding to the plan he knew God had for his life. He sang spontaneously, laughed, told jokes, and culminated the day’s events by walking with assistance across the room to shouts, applause, and many tears. This day would not have been possible without the unfailing love of God, our Father and His precious Son, Jesus—Jehovah Rapha, the lord who heals you.

I thought back to the early morning call I received from my daughter. “Mommy, wake up! Dorian’s been in a motorcycle accident…,” she wailed into the phone. I listened in horror as she explained how her best friend since childhood was near death. His injuries were extensive. In addition to incurring a brain injury received on impact, he had broken his neck, arm, and leg, his lung had collapsed, and his eye socket was crushed.

After consoling my daughter with the word, I hung up and earnestly began to pray. Love compelled me to pray with an urgency and fervor I had yet to experience in my lifetime. I prayed based on God’s promises given in his word. “God loves Dorian more than any of us ever could,” I told myself. I was comforted. 3 John 1:2 (KJV) tells us, “Beloved, I wish above all things that you mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” This meant that God wanted him to live.

I have watched God’s love unfold during this process. The physical accomplishments: removal from life support, emerging from a coma, speaking again after months of silence, and eating without a feeding tube were all evidence of God’s love. His love was not only for Dorian, but for those who loved him as he assuaged each of us during moments of weakness. I watched my daughter’s faith expand as she trusted and relied on God’s Word. From going out of town in weekly increments to be by his bedside to posting scriptures on his hospital walls; she continued to encourage Dorian and show him the love of God through her actions. Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) became our battle cry when faced with setbacks and doubts. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

The most incredible act of love was watching Dorian, who in spite of his own circumstances, reassure a new patient that brighter days were ahead. There were similarities with their lives and injuries. The young soldier, like Dorian, had served his country; he was in the Army and Dorian was in the Navy. He sat in a wheelchair as his body appeared painfully contorted. Without the ability to speak, his hopelessness and sadness spoke volumes through his eyes. “I was just like you,” Dorian said from his own wheelchair. “You are going to walk again. I know you can do it.” I watched as he stuck out his fist and patiently waited for the young serviceman to touch it with his own.

After attending church with him the next day, my family and I began the trip from North Carolina back to Virginia. I rode home with my heart so full of God’s overwhelming love. I know we went to celebrate Dorian’s birthday but I felt that I was the one who received the gift. There is still an uphill climb towards total restoration. But I know he will reach his goal of walking completely on his own and not needing a wheelchair by his 24th birthday. Knowing God has an expected end for Dorian produces the hope needed to fuel our faith during this journey.

~*~
Author bio: 

Tawnia L. Ramirez was born in Brooklyn, New York. She spent her formative years between homes in Roanoke, Va. and Brooklyn. She earned a B.A. in Political Science from Saint Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia.

Ramirez is a contemporary Christian fiction author who believes that reading should be an unforgettable encounter. Having shared some of the experiences some of her characters have encountered, she has the innate ability to reach people on a personal level by transforming her readers so that her characters’ experiences become their own.

It is her goal to share the Word one story at a time; specifically as it relates to women and the issues they face by creating real stories that every reader can identify with during each stage of their lives. In her debut novel, she skillfully takes her readers on Janaye’s tumultuous journey to find Something More Than This.

Tawnia has been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) since 2008. She was named Best New Christian Author in 2009 by Christian Storyteller. Tawnia and her husband currently reside in Virginia with their three daughters. She is currently working on her second novel. To schedule Tawnia for a book club meeting, interview, reading, book signing, or other appearance, e-mail her at this address, contacts@tawniaramirez.com.

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Thankful Thursday: I Know Who I Am

It's Thursday and I'm thankful that I know who I am! 

Not what the world tells me I am, I know who I am in God's eyes. God sees me as beautiful, treasured, created in His image, and most importantly, He says I belong to Him (Galatians 3:26).

The world tells young girls and adult women who they are and what they should or should not do. You've got to look a certain way, act a certain way, dress in a certain in-season style, fix your hair with whatever trend is "in" and even speak and move in a certain manner. All of this--starting at a very young age and reinforced by the media, movies, magazines and sometimes your peers and other people you know--can do serious damage to a female's psyche and emotional well-being which is why I am SO glad that I know who I am in God's eyes.

Who I am is simply a child of God, one of His own. I can take solace in the Bible-based truth that God created me, He loves me and I am wonderfully and fearfully made as far as He is concerned. I don't have to live up to an airbrushed beauty standard that dominates magazines and pop culture. I don't have to talk a certain way, act or flatter my way into God's heart. Why not? Because He is my Heavenly Father and He loves me unconditionally.

Guess what? This post is not only for me, it's for you! Yes, YOU. If you are a human being on this planet Earth then the truth according to Psalm 139:14 is, YOU are fearfully and wonderfully made by your Maker who happens to be the King of the Universe (yes, there are other worlds out there created by God, we're not the only ones) and He loves you! Yes, the Creator of the Universe loves YOU and when He looks at you, He sees one of His own. You belong to God. Always remember that truth.

And who better to belong to, to be accepted by, to experience pure and perfect unconditional love from than the Almighty God?

It's a beautiful thing when you are treasured by the King and Creator of all humankind.

Allow these words to soak into your mind. Rest tonight on the truth that even if you don't have an earthly papa, you have a Heavenly Padre (Papa) in God and He will love you forever. God will protect you, He'll encourage you, He'll uplift you with His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10). God will send His angels to surround you and care for you. He will rescue you. He is your everything, all you'll ever need.

If you don't already believe in God, I encourage you to do so. Why? Because God believes in you and He loves you with all of His heart. God has amazing plans for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). Trust Him.

Love,

Alexis

True Love Stories: East Meets West…in the South

"From This Moment On" by Shania Twain is the song that comes to mind when I think of today's featured love story.

It's the story of a lovely lady who fell in love with a man who broke her heart. But that's not where the story ends. After going through a painful divorce and feeling like she hit rock bottom, God surprised Erica. 

Yes, the Almighty God is full of surprises! :) The Bible says He wants to give good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11). God believes in you and He's got the best in store for your life! *Jeremiah 29:11*

So what exactly happened to Erica after her divorce? How did she survive heartbreak? And what kind of surprise did God bring into Erica's life?

Read on to discover the answers to ALL your questions and more! :)

~*~
East Meets West…in the South
Erica’s true love story

Like any girl I believed in fairy tales and true love. I married thinking that everything would work itself out so long as we were both committed and in love. My world was crushed however after I soon found myself in divorce court. I couldn’t believe I had become part of the 50 percent statistic that I had sworn to never be a part of. Heartbroken and completely mystified, I decided that maybe I needed to work on myself first before I gave love another chance. I explored new hobbies and routines, but mostly worked on my relationship with God. My mother claims that God was sick of hearing me cry and sob that he finally said: “Okay enough already! I have something lined up for you.” That’s kind of what happened actually. One lonely afternoon as I was sitting by myself in the home my ex and I had built up together, my roommate asked for me to come meet someone.

He wasn’t in her room or anything; in fact he wasn’t even on the phone. She showed me his Facebook page and asked: “Would you mind if he came to visit us during Thanksgiving?” There he was, this adorable Marine Corp pilot all suited up and dashingly handsome. My goodness I thought “I’m in trouble.” David was a childhood friend of my roommates; they had gone to academy and the same church growing up. Their families were good friends too. He liked to come down to the southern tropics of Florida where we lived and visit my roommate from time to time. My roommate wanted to make sure we knew each other first before he made an official visit to our home. I figured since he was a good friend of hers, he could be my friend too. Besides it’s not like he would be interested in a train wreck like me—divorced, broke, and exhausted from life.

David didn’t care though, and I truly believe God had other plans. From the moment I started to talking to him, I knew he was different. I was of course skeptical because I remembered having those exact same butterflies when I had fallen in love before and it had resulted in total heart break. I introduced myself and told him that my roommate and I were happy to host him for Thanksgiving so long as he respected my house and my rules. Not only did he understand, he was comforting. He wanted to be my boyfriend right away, but I insisted on taking it slow and becoming friends first—he agreed, sort of. After hours and hours of telephone conversations, skype chats, and text messages David flew down and spent the holidays with us. He was everything and more. A true southern gentleman that swept me off my feet with his opening line of “Hello sweetness,” coated in a southern accent. I melted right away. Lord have mercy…I needed to stay strong.

It wasn’t easy but I managed. David was persistent and patient. He called me daily and even purchased me an iPad so that I could communicate easier with him. I was constantly showered with gifts and flowers from afar. He was finishing up instructor pilot training in Texas and I needed to fulfill my teaching contract in Florida. Long distance wasn’t easy, but we made it work. I think we both knew deep down this would end up in marriage, but I didn’t want to jump the gun. I wasn’t used to all this attention and was skeptical of his intentions and his legitimacy. Looking back I’m amazed he kept at me because I would constantly throw him lines like: “Why do you even like me? Don’t you realize I’m damaged goods? Stop calling me pretty, I have 10lbs to lose!?” Maybe it was his military training, but he persevered at winning my heart. A few months later with a custom made ring in his hand, he asked me: “Would you do me the honor of being Mrs. ***for the rest of your life?” Tears in my eyes I hugged him and said: “YES!”

As “Nicholas Sparks” as this story may sound, it really did happen. David not only won me over, he won over my family too. He met my parents; he conversed with them and asked how he could make me happy. When he asked my father for permission to ask for my hand, he agreed on the condition that we attend pre-marital counseling. Within 24 hours he had made an appointment with the base chaplain. When I met his family there was an instant connection. I was so nervous initially because I grew up in the suburbs of Portland, OR and here I was in the deep woods of South Carolina meeting my future family. That nervousness was quickly squashed as their true Christian character was revealed. I quickly realized that he had a wonderful family and his two loving parents had demonstrated to him day in and day out how to love.

This all took place when I least expected. I was in probably the lowest point of my life, and not even contemplating another relationship. I didn’t know it at the time, but my heart was getting ready for the love it deserved. God had a plan for both of us and we were both fortunate enough to benefit from it. Our wedding was nothing short of magical and one for the record books. 

Marriage is never easy, it takes work. A LOT OF HARD WORK. “But what God brings together, let no man separate” (Matthew 19:6). Never have those words meant more to me than now. I know that as we grow together and begin a family we will face trials and tribulations and triumph every time. Not just because of the love we have for each other, but because that our Creator (God) is the center of it.

~*~
Author bio: Erica and David have been happily married for three years now. They currently reside in California as her husband finishes his assignment. Every few years they pick up and move whatever the needs of the Marine Corp may be.

Erica has taught in the classroom for five years. She received her bachelors from Excelsior College in Albany, N.Y. and is pursuing her masters in Spanish Education online from Nova Southeastern University.

After California they will be heading to Georgia where Erica hopes to put her new education to use in a high school classroom.

They hope to be parents in the next year or so and ask for God's blessing as they embark on the journey.

True Love Stories:“Turn Another Corner, And..."

Basketball, ESPN, Garfield, and a teddy bear named Pooky, all played a role in the creation of the true love story featured today! :)

A love story that wouldn't had stood a chance if Marianne Evans did not allow God to take control and lead her in the direction of meeting the man who she'd marry after a whirlwind romance.

Curious to know what happened? Read on...

~*~
“Turn Another Corner, And..."
A True Love Story written by Marianne Evans

The last thing I wanted to do on that Friday night in early December all those decades ago was attend my dad’s company Christmas party. Seriously. A parental Christmas function for an eighteen-year-old? Thanks, but no. Still, out of obedience, I went.

The last thing Steve Evans wanted to do was watch his beloved Purdue Boilermakers lose a college basketball game on ESPN. Seriously. Anything would be better – even a tenant Christmas party being held at his apartment complex. So, he went.

From there, God took over, teaching me the truth that He leads—always. In this instance, as in so many others, had I turned another corner, my life would have been radically different.

Arriving at the party, Steve sat next to a charming, though abundantly chatty middle-aged woman. At one point, he was ready to leave, but the woman refused his exit. She took hold of his arm and said, “You can’t leave. There’s a woman coming – she should be here any time – and you really need to meet her.”

This well-meaning soul had no idea I was coming to the party. My belief is she simply wanted him to stick around and socialize. Out of respect, Steve sat down and resumed their conversation. Soon, my parents and I just happened to sit next to them and God’s push and pull went to work, unfolding in a connection that sparked immediately.

Steve and I spent a couple of hours talking, laughing, and getting acquainted. Meanwhile, our matchmaking friend moved on (six months later, we found out through a friend that she passed away).

When I left the party, Steve helped me put on my coat. We exchanged phone numbers. The next night, he called. Our first date was to see his church’s production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. He was so charming and sweet – and from then on, we saw each other almost every night. On the nights we didn’t meet, we shared lengthy phone-chats. We were both cat lovers and fans of the Garfield comic strip. We often shared laughs over Garfield’s antics – especially when his teddy bear, Pooky, made an appearance. We wrote notes and left them under car windshields. We followed a path to forever paved by what we knew for sure was the direction of God.

Steve’s Christmas plans included a visit to his family in Fort Wayne. I missed him terribly the week he was gone. But then, in the midst of Christmas hustle and bustle, I received what my family jokingly refers to as ‘The Deal Clincher.’ He sent me a flower arrangement for the dinner table housed in a beautiful pewter plate which I still display each Christmas. After all, it was his first-ever gift to me.

I think we discussed marriage the first month or so we dated. We just knew. And then came my birthday. We had plans to eat dinner together at my favorite restaurant, an Italian place with romantic atmosphere and wonderful food. We were led to a small room with three or so small tables which were empty for the moment. Chianti bottles decorated the walls.

After we were seated, Steve left the table, saying he had forgotten something in the car. He returned carrying a crinkly plastic bag with colorful decorations on the front. I recognized the logo on the front – it was from a children’s toy shop.

What on earth was he doing bringing a gaudy toy store bag into a high-end restaurant?

He sat down, handed me the package, and said, simply, “Happy birthday.”

Inside was a teddy bear. Pooky. Pooky’s paws were banded together to hold a ring box, which I opened through tear-blurred vision and with trembling hands. Steve, meanwhile, dropped to one knee and proposed.

We met in December, he proposed in February, and we married at the end of July. An unexpected, joyous whirlwind of a year. 

Through the good times and bad that Steve and I have shared during our 30-plus years together, I’m grateful I didn’t ‘turn another corner’ that night in December. I thank God for the fulfillment of Jeremiah 29:11. He had wonderful plans for us. Life and heart changing plans.

~*~
Author bio: Marianne Evans is a multi-award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction with over twenty titles to her credit. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He prompts her to create. 

Readers laud her work as: ‘Riveting.’ ‘Realistic and true to heart.’ ‘Compelling.’ Devotion, earned the prestigious Bookseller’s Best Award from Greater Detroit RWA as well the Heart of Excellence Award from Ancient City Romance Authors. She also earned wins for Best Romance of 2012 from the Christian Small Publisher's Association and the Selah award for best Novella of 2013.

Happily married and the mother of two, Marianne is a lifelong resident of Michigan who is active in a number of a number of Romance Writers of America chapters, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President.

Connect with Marianne:

Website: www.marianneevans.com

Blog: www.marianneevans.blogspot.com

Facebook Reader Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Marianne-Evans/308711716744

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarEvansAuthor

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/marianneevans

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marevansauthor/

~*~
Blurb for Marianne's book, Aileen’s Song:

All her life, Aileen Brewer has dreamed of singing on stage and winning the heart of Liam Douglas. When she sings, she exudes confidence and charm. Away from the spotlight, she's the shy, curvaceous woman who has always tried to maintain a sweet, Godly spirit despite her radical upbringing and a sense that she's not quite good enough.

During a music festival at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Aileen takes the stage with her three best friends, and Sisters in Spirit is born.

Liam, a Christian record producer, is captivated by the wallflower of his youth who has blossomed into a magnetic performer. He champions a record deal, and a quest for Aileen's heart begins, but can she find confidence enough to take command of the group...and accept Liam's love? Can Liam help her see the beauty of the woman she has become?

Dreams just might come true in ways only God could orchestrate...

Amazon Purchase Link

~*~

Blurb for Marianne's book, Sisters In Spirit:

Aileen, Siobhan, Kassidy and Maeve–long ago they made a purity pledge to God and a friendship vow to one another. Now this quartet is about to embark on the journey of a lifetime banding together as the Christian music group Sisters in Spirit.

Follow their lives and loves in this exclusive print offering of the entire, four-book anthology from Marianne Evans and Pelican Book Group.

Pelican Purchase Link

Powerful message from Pastor Steven Furtick

A New Way to See the Way God Sees Us from Elevation Media on Vimeo.

Standing at The Podium, sharing my God-sized DREAM

Today, the sailors on our God-sized Dreams ship have asked us to answer this question:

“Have you struggled to give words to your dream?”

My answer is "No" and…"Yes!" Allow me to share my story:

My dream since childhood was always to be a writer. I started penning stories at the age of 9 and later on that year, I began typing my stories into a word processor document on the family computer. Anyone who asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up received the same answer, “A writer.” Growing up, my dad would take my brother and me to the library and we’d pour into books. My brother would borrow books about dinosaurs and puppies while I would explore series like Sweet Valley High. As we got older, my brother’s interest in books faded a bit as he became involved in sports but my passion for the written word grew stronger to the point where my mom would make time to take me to the local bookstore where I discovered the Love Stories series. As a young adult you can often to this day, find me spending my free time at Barnes & Noble which for me is the mecca of bookstores. Whenever I step foot into that store, my dreams fill my mind—dreams of writing books that are displayed on their Christian fiction and Literature shelves, dreams of doing author book tours and having book signings in the store.

God allowed my dream to have a book signing to come true—twice! After writing my first book, Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories, I pitched it to the manager of my favorite Christian bookstore and he not only bought the book for the shelves but he agreed to host a book signing then a few months later invited me to return for a second (book signing)!

I want everyone who reads this post and takes this God-sized Dream journey to know that God is in the business of answering prayers! He takes all sorts of requests and does not mind if they’re big or small. God wants you to have faith in Him to answer your prayers in a way that’s best for you. Now back to my story…

My passion for writing led me to diving head first into writing classes once in college and pursuing a degree in Print Journalism. My thinking was that majoring in Print Journalism would help me to sharpen my writing skills and it did but along the journey, I found that in addition to my creative writing dreams, a new dream was being birthed—to be a journalist.

I found that I LOVE the interview process and writing news and feature stories felt like a breath of fresh air! My second passion, for photography, grew during this time as I found out how much I loved learning how to use a professional camera. My first camera was a manual Canon Rebel that used a special brand of Black/White film. Yes, this was before the digital camera wave. I’d always loved taking pictures of people and places but as I learned the skills of the trade in photography class, I began dreaming of (in addition to writing books and being a journalist) becoming a wedding and lifestyle photographer.

There it is—a dream that has not yet come true. It is a dream that I have not spoken about except to a trusted few. But now for the journey of God-sized Dreams, I am telling you! They say you have to speak LIFE to your DREAMS so that’s what I’m doing today. Yes, I still want to be a celebrated creative writer and yes, I still want to be an award-winning journalist. But YES I still dream of becoming a wedding/lifestyle photographer!

In closing, I’d like to circle back to today’s question- “Have you struggled to give words to your dream?” I’ve showed you what I meant by my initial answer “no” and now I will explain why I also said “yes.” While I love wedding and lifestyle photography, I have not pursued it yet for two main reasons: finance and fear. I cannot afford (finance) the necessary equipment right now such as the most vital piece, a DSLR camera (Canon is my brand of choice) and I have a fear of failure. But as soon as I am able to afford it, I most definitely will buy the camera and the only hurdle to get over then will me my fear of failure. And of course, I will need a steady stream of clients to keep my photography business afloat once it is established. Please pray for me.

So today I’ve spoken life to a dream I’ve kept quiet. I encourage you, my readers, to do the same. You don’t have to publish it online for the whole world to see. But you can start by praying to God about it and sharing your God-sized dream with people you trust. If you mention your dream in the comment section of my blog, I promise you I will pray for your dreams to come true according to God’s will, plan and purpose for your life. Always keep in mind Jeremiah 29:11.

Here’s hoping for dreams to come true in 2014!

Launching Your God-Sized DREAM in 2014

God-sized Dream = a desire in your heart for more of what God has for you. 

~Holley Gerth

Holley Gerth is one of my favorite writers! She works as a counselor, writer for DaySpring Cards, life coach and co-founder of (in)courage ministries. Since 2013, Holley has encouraged the readers of her blog to take a step of faith toward their God-sized dreams and it's been a journey that has blossomed into epic proportions! Now as 2014 is around the corner, Holley's begun a new venture through launching an official website dedicated to dreams called "God-Sized Dreams: Where Dreams Set Sail" and she invites you aboard the ship!

Every Tuesday, starting Dec. 31, 2013 and carrying on throughout the New Year 2014, Holley invites you, me and anyone who believes in their God-sized dreams to build community with like-minded people through writing and posting about your DREAMS!

Sound exciting? I'm on board as of today and I hope you will join us!

This post is my first link-up to the God-sized dreams journey. Holley asked us via her blog post today to share our God-sized dreams from 2013. Well here it goes:

The year 2013 was an exciting year for me because God made a way for me to publish my first book, Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories! It was a dream come true! It is a journey my readers know well because I wrote a Thankful Thursday post about it soon after my book was released in Sept. 2013. But for those of you linking up to Holley's God-sized dreams ship, you can read all about my publishing journey here.

Long story short, I did not know when my dreams to be a published author would come true but in 2013, it did! And God blessed me with not one but two book signings so far and the second turn out was even greater than the first! If you're interested in learning more about my book, you can visit the following sites:

My official author page on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexisAGoring

My book's official Twitter feed - https://twitter.com/pennedbyalex

My official website - http://www.alexisagoring.com/

I’m very excited to see what God’s going to do in this New Year 2014. Aren’t you?

Let’s journey together aboard the God-sized dream ship set to sail!

31 Days of Prayer: When you are too tired to pray

Truth is, sometimes you're too tired to pray. Not sleepy, just TIRED because the day-to-day demands and disappointments of life have worn you down. Sometimes situations you face may take every ounce of your energy. Sooner or later in life most of us arrive at a point where we know what it's like to feel like you're tired of praying and tired of going to church when your situation does not seem to be getting better. And it's when we're in those trying times that we need to seek God with more diligence and passion than ever before because God will NEVER fail you and no matter what you're going through, He is right there with you! So when you feel like you're sinking in the ocean of life, call out to Jesus Christ and trust Him to save you from drowning.

Recently, I went to a Christmas concert. The weather that night was very cold and while there was no long line to wait in outside in the elements, there was a five minute journey you had to make from the parking lot into the warmth of the church building. As we in the crowd of concert-goers neared the front doors of the church, there was about a two-minute wait in a very short line which would not have been a problem in perfect warm or breezy weather. But that night, it was so cold that we who were waiting outside the doors were shivering and then laughing. We laughed because this little boy who was about two feet tall and very small spoke in a big voice accompanied by a very serious look on his face as he said, "Lord Jesus!" We all laughed because we figured he was probably echoing what he hears the older people in his family saying. I think we found it to be funny because he's just a child no older than two or three perhaps four years of age and as one of the bystanders said, already "He knows how to call on Jesus!"

Precisely my point, just like that little boy who called on Jesus to save him from being out in the cold, when we feel like we cannot go on or we're overwhelmed or becoming jaded about life, it is still important to call on Jesus. And not just to call on Jesus but to know that He's right there with us and even when we cannot see past our pain, God is working everything out for us (Romans 8:28) according to His good plans for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11).

Finally, I'd like to share this song that was performed by gospel artist Tamela Mann at the concert. It's called "Take Me to the King" and it's for the brokenhearted and discouraged. My prayer for you today is that this song will encourage you in your walk with the Lord. I pray you will trust God every step of the way and keep seeking Him even when you feel that you cannot continue going through whatever it is you're facing. Remember, God is with you and be encouraged.

Here's the song:



P.S._ After you've taken your situation to the King (God), remember to leave it there at His throne. Don't pick up your problems after you've presented it to God, leave it with Him and trust Him to take care of it. I think that's why often at the end of this song, Tamela sings lines from the hymn I Surrender All because part of going to God in prayer and trusting Him to work it out for you is surrendering your problems, issues and suggested solutions to God because only He knows how to take care of it for you in a way that will be the best. So take it to the King and leave it there! :)

A message from Trent Shelton about trusting God

31 Days of Prayer: Your Circle

I have read and heard many different people this year give the same advice to their listening audience: "Know Your Circle" says Trent Shelton to the world, "Know your row," Sophia A. Nelson advises her fans and then on the local level, there have been people I know who have talked about how sometimes you need to change your circle of friends.

So why is it so important to know who you call a friend and to change your circle when necessary? Because not everyone is your friend and it's important to know the difference between someone who is there for you when you are in need and someone who is only around when you can do something to enhance their lives. Sometimes it's hard to tell a true friend from a fake. But that is where the solution comes in...Prayer is the best way to discern a friend from an enemy. Wondering who your true friends are? Pray about it. Seriously! Ask God to give you the spirit of discernment to show you who you need to keep in your life and who you need to let go. Pray and believe then trust you WILL receive an answer from God! You may not hear an audible voice because God speaks to us in many ways-- He may put a poignant thought in your head, send someone your way to say something that gives you an "A-ha!" moment and all of a sudden you know what to do, or God may just speak to your heart.

A lot of times we know what we need to do in life but are scared to do it. So if you KNOW that there are people in your life who are toxic and negative influences and they're hurting you and your progress then maybe it's time to let them go. Sometimes haters can be in your own family, Sophia mentions this in her video blog (Vlog) above and when that's the case...Listen to what Sophia says and then pray about it and allow God's Holy Spirit to lead you to the best solution.

It's important to not only pray for God to remove people who are NOT good for you from your life, but it's also important to ask God to SEND people into your life who ARE good for you! Ask God for true friends. Or maybe just one true friend. The older you get the more you will realize that when it comes to friendships it's not quantity that's important (as in how many friends you have) but it's quality that's key which means it's better to keep company with or two true friends than to be surrounded by a host of fake friends. Trust me, it's one of the best and most refreshing life lessons you will ever learn!

God cares about every detail of your life, that includes who you choose to call "friend". So today, let's pray for friendships. Let's pray for God to strengthen our resolve to not continue talking to or hanging around with people who are not true friends but are enemies in disguise. Let's pray for God to give us the spirit of discernment to know who is a true friend and who is not. And once God has helped us to discern who should stay in our lives as a friend and who should go, let's pray for courage to walk away.

Side note: Remember, letting go of friends who are not good for you does not mean that you have to stop praying for their life and relationship with God. The Bible tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:43-45). But it does NOT tell us to allow ourselves to continually be used or lied to and stay in the company of people who are hurting us.

Now in conclusion I have to add, if you feel that you have NO friends, you're wrong because Jesus Christ is your truest Friend and He will be there for the rest of your life throughout eternity! 

So be encouraged! God is in control and He knows what's best for you. But it's up to us to stay in touch with God through prayer and study of His Word (The Holy Bible) so that we may discern His will for our lives and then follow His plan. And in case you didn't already know, God's plans are good! :) Read Jeremiah 29:11.

Thankful Thursday: My first book

It’s Thursday and I am thankful for the publishing of my first book, Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories!

Words cannot describe the delight my heart and soul feels in finally completing my journey to become a published author!

Ever since I was a little girl, I DREAMED of this day and now it is here!

I don’t even know where to begin to share my sheer delight with you! But I will try by sharing a shorter version of my publishing journey:

My dream has always been to write books and so when I arrived in college, I dove head first toward developing my skills as a writer and to keep this story short, I will tell you that I prayed a lot about it and under God’s direction, studied Print Journalism. Soon I found that in addition to my creative writing pursuits, I wanted to become a journalist not only because I love listening to people and learning from their stories during the interview process but also because my second passion is photography and I love being able to capture life’s most memorable moments on camera. So I graduated with a degree in Print Journalism but did not land my dream job at a newspaper or magazine apart from a summer internship which did not end in me being hired.

My mom is an educator and after seeing my struggle, she suggested that I try substitute teaching because since I have a degree, they would pay me and I could stay financially afloat. So I faced my fears (thinking: “Manage a classroom of kids? All by myself?”) and absolutely fell in LOVE with the kids! So, after a year of working as a substitute teacher, I decided to become trained in teaching so I could be a teacher and a writer. I was exhilarated to be accepted into an alternative certification program which is geared to transition people who do not have a degree in Education, into the world of being a classroom teacher. And long story short, I failed. I loved the kids, the kids loved me and most of the parents applauded my work, but it just did not work out and so in June 2011, the door to education closed.

Now the backstory is that one day during the Spring Semester 2011, I was home sick and my dreams to become a published author were dancing in my head. So I decided to get out of bed, go to my computer and do some serious research on how to become a published author. And of course, I started off by looking up all of the big names in the publishing industry…Zondervan, Thomas Nelson, Harper Collins, etc. Somehow during this search--looking back, I see it was God directing me--, I found a self-publishing company called Crossbooks which is, according to their website, "an imprint of B&H Publishing Group, the trade publishing division of LifeWay Christian Resources." It was my first introduction to my destiny. So I called and unlike all of the other big names in the industry, less than five minutes later, a representative from Crossbooks who we will call M, returned my call.

I poured my creative heart out to M, sharing my dream to be a published author of books that inspire people to know their true value, educate and point them to Jesus Christ. And I explained what I had been doing all day—trying to get in with the big names in the traditional publishing industry. M kindly explained to me that it’s tough for new authors to get into the traditional publishing industry because traditional publishers tend to only want people who are: already famous, best-selling authors of multiple books or have a blog following of over 1,000 people. Since I did not meet those standards, M suggested I take the self-publishing route to my dream. He also told me how Lifeway and B&H Publishing have big-name authors on their roster such as Beth Moore. Really? Beth Moore? I thought. Tell me no more, I’m in! And so I signed up for a publishing package with Crossbooks.

To keep this story short, the main challenge in my self-publishing journey was money because when you go this route, you have to finance the process as opposed to traditional publishing where they take care of all the costs for you. But the benefit with Crossbooks as a self-publishing company is they, as far as I know, offer all the services of a traditional publisher and you still get to keep the rights to your book. God made a way for me financially and at first, I thought my book would be published by Christmas 2011. But then I was advised by a well-known Christian author to make sure I have a book editor go through my book before I publish it instead of relying on my own editing skills because if I want my book to be taken seriously, I need to have it professionally edited.

God helped me find an excellent freelance editor named Sally whose special skill is in knowing how to edit an author’s book without removing their “voice” or messing with their writing style. God made a way for me to pay my editor and she sent my book back to me with all of the suggested edits. I was overwhelmed because she wanted for me to change entire scenes, character names, places and so much more of my book—okay not that much but at the time it seemed that way—and so I did not touch my manuscript for all of 2012.

So what changed between 2012 and now? Earlier this year (Winter 2013), I had a talk with one of my pastors and I shared my news that I was working on a book project. Before then, I had not told anyone outside of immediate family. And immediately, my pastor admonished me, “Alexis! Why didn’t you tell me before that you were working on a book project? THIS could be the book that puts you on the map! THIS could be the book that launches your dreams to be a professional writer! You need to get this finished!” And then he added, “A lot of times, we sit around waiting for God to move in our lives when God is waiting for US to MOVE!”

And so I moved! One weekend in March 2013, I sat at my computer and tackled the content edits to my book and surprisingly, finished it all during that weekend. And my project just started moving forward from there: I resubmitted my manuscript to my editor, she applauded my work and performed the copy/line edit and sent it back to me for proofreading; the three talented professionals whom I asked to write an endorsement for my book all read my manuscript and sent their endorsements to me in a timely manner; my preferred book designer, Brenda McClearen, created my DREAM cover for my book and my book went into the final stages of production with Crossbooks in August 2013.

And then by surprise, I found out on the evening of September 7, that my book had gone LIVE a few weeks earlier than I thought it would which was great news!

So here I am, a newly published author and I am so grateful to God for taking me on this journey and making a dream of my heart come true!

All I have to say to you now is, God is AWESOME! And my pastor was RIGHT, sometimes we are waiting for God to move but not doing anything about it on our end. So if you are in a similar place where I was—overwhelmed by the work required to make your dream come true—I challenge you to MOVE! Trust in God and go with it! If it’s meant for you as part of God’s plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11), it WILL happen BUT you have to WORK for it and keep in tune with God through His gift to us, prayer.

I’d love for you to buy my book! It’s available on Amazon.com, Crossbooks.com, BarnesandNoble.com and you can also order it through my official website, alexisagoring.com!

Thank you for reading this testimony in its entirety! I hope and pray that God will make a way for you in whatever you may be going through and that God will bless you with your realizing that your GREATEST dream has already come true—you are LOVED, by GOD! 

I encourage you to share your dreams with the One who loves you most (God) and to trust Him to, in His perfect timing, make it happen!

Love,

Alexis

WHO defines YOU?

Sharing the blessing :)

Dear friends,

I was thinking of you today and I thought that I should share a few inspirational stories with you. :)

The first is of a brave, compassionate little girl named Tori Svenson, who reached out to help someone in need, not knowing that she needed help too. God worked behind-the-scenes (in my opinion) to make a dream of Tori's come true during her time of need. See the story here:


The second story is about a youth pastor named Pete Garza who used to run with the wrong crowd until God answered his praying mother's plea and won Pete's heart. Pete gave his life to Jesus Christ and never looked back (except to share his story to help others). The interview featuring Pete's story aired tonight on Breakaway which is a program that airs every Friday night on WGTS 91.9 FM. You can hear it here- http://wgts.org/2012/01/27/breakaway-pete-garza/

I hope and pray that God will move in your life in mighty ways! Let Jesus Christ into your heart and He will transform you from the inside, out. :)

If you need prayer or want to share your story feel free to leave a comment on my blog and I will write to you in response.

God bless you, dear hearts! :)

Love,

Alexis

*Jeremiah 29:11*- "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." :)

Jeremiah 29:11

Dear friends,

A quote written by Holley Gerth really made me think and I'd like to share it with you:

"God had good plans for His Son-- but they still included a cross."

After reading this quote, I've realized the value of Jeremiah 29:11...Yes God loves us, Yes He has good plans for us but he's not promising that it's always going to be sunshine and roses. Sometimes, life throws you curveballs, sometimes you may have the rug pulled out from under you, sometimes you may wonder why God is allowing (name it) in your life. It's then, that you've got to remember the sacrifice of His Son. Jesus Christ is One with God the Father and Holy Spirit. Yet even He took serious mental, physical and spiritual hits (worse than curveballs or having the rug pulled out from under you) all throughout His time and ministry on this planet Earth. Now, most (if not all) of us mere mortals want to call it quits after enduring a trial-by-fire once. Imagine enduring trials-by-fire for all of your life and having the people you're trying to save (the reason for enduring the trials by fire) hate and do all sorts of cruel things to you-- that's only a little of what Jesus went through during His time on this Earth. 

Back to the quote-- when I read that the good Lord our God had good plans for his Son but did not leave out the years of pain and heartache that His Son would endure in order to save the world (quite literally) I am inspired and gain a healthier, more positive perspective on my own trails because it's then that I am reminded of the bigger picture, one that spans worldwide, one of which you and I are each an important detail, each needed to make the picture complete. God had a purpose for the cross in Jesus Christ's life-- to save the world from their sins and eternal death. God knew that with the sacrifice of His Son JESUS on the Cross of Calvary, the story of salvation would begin and the stage would be set for every human being to have a chance at eternity. 

I know, it's not easy to thank God for trials...but remember, God has a higher purpose for everything He allows to happen to us and His plans for us go past our lives on this Earth...The Bible says, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him"(1 Corinthians 2:9, King James Version). God has great things in store for all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ. Remember, God loves us with His life and He wants us all to be saved, that's why His good plans for His Son included a cross. :)

Be blessed!

Love,

Alexis