An Amazing Worship Experience

On October 13, 2014 I got the chance to participate in an extraordinary experience of a lifetime. I don't know if you are familiar with Tasha Cobbs, but if you aren't, stop what you are doing and Google her music right now. You may know her by her hit song "Break Every Chain." 

My friend Nicole and I left our children at home with the husbands, and hit the road, and drove to Greenville, SC where there was a live recording of her newest album. Nicole and I were two of 4000+ worshipers, and the Spirit of God met us all in the building. 

The new songs we heard that night will be released as her newest album in a few months.

During the live performance, a few special guests came out surprise us with a few songs. Jamie Grace hit the stage to worship with her acoustic guitar. 

A few other well known gospel artists came up to sing. When Kierra Sheard opened her mouth to sing, none of us could stay in our seats.  

We were created to worship God. It was an amazing experience to worship God with thousands of other people. When we were all on one accord of worship to God, the glory of the Lord fell in that place like never before. God showed up and showed out! I left the concert feeling like a million bucks, and my life will never be the same. 

Go For It

Earlier today, as I pulled up to my apartment building, I saw something that really blessed me. There was a small girl, no taller than 4'10 and no older than age 8 sitting behind a stand with a sign that read "LEMONADE - $1.00." When I got out of my car, she bashfully greeted me with her head down and said "Would you like to buy some lemonade?" "Of course I would...and thank you," I said with a soft smile as I handed her a dollar and proceeded to take the bags out of my car. As I made several trips from the car to my front door unloading grocery bags, I passed the small girl selling her lemonade only to see her being continuously declined for more sales of her lemonade. Sadly, I turned and went in the house.

Stubborn

At times, I have been known to be pretty stubborn. In fact, if I had to describe myself, I think I could accurately use stubborn as one of my best character traits. Once my heart is set on an idea and my mind is made up, it takes a lot to change my feelings. Sometimes, if I do a little research, or gain better insight on a topic or situation, it may be a little easier for me to change my mind - but even then, there is a high chance that I will still stand headstrong on my opinions. When it comes to my faith, I show those same unwavering characteristics. When I tell folks my testimony, I get one of two responses. I either hear, "I can't believe that," or I just simply get a stare from that person as if I was crazy and had five heads. When placed in a predicament such as that, I always get excited because it's just another opportunity for me to be an example of how awesome God really is. I believe in miracles. I believe that Jesus Christ is a healer. I believe that if I ask God for anything as long as I'm in His will I can receive it. Some things might sound unbelievable and situations may look crazy but I believe that my God is big enough to do whatever, however, and whenever He wants to. I expect God to work a miracle in my life everyday - and He has not let me down yet.

Perception is Everything

"Miracles happen everyday, change your perception of what a miracle is and you'll see them all around you." 

-Jon Bon Jovi

In my toughest hour, I learned that how you view yourself, others, and the situations you are faced with will determine how you live your life. I decided to make up my mind to always see everything that happens to me as a blessing. If I recalled the last three years of my life and told my story to others, many people may say that I went through "hell on earth." At the time that I was going through all that I was going through, my mind and emotions may have agreed with those people - but my spirit had hope in God that things would soon get better. My perception of it all is what kept me going. I chose to see that the hard times that I was faced with was ultimately for my good. I made up in my mind that I was going to become better from my circumstances and learn my lessons from my mistakes. I decided that no matter what happened I would always keep pressing on in the things of God and not give up. In the process of it all, He continued to give me strength and in the end, I am stronger, wiser, and more mature because of it all. I can only thank God for every trial and tribulation - those times have made me into the woman I am today. Every day, I put on the mind of Christ by changing my thoughts to line up with God's word (Romans 12:2). When the enemy tries to steal my happiness, my joy, and my peace, I run to God who is able to sustain me through it all.

James 1:2-4 MSG

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do it's work so you become mature and well developed, not deficient in any way.

                      "If you just change your perception, your whole life will change."

                                                                                                  -Jason Green                     

Fullness of Joy

Joy (noun) - the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying

In the bible, the psalmist says that in God's presence there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). From experience I have come to realize that in God's presence, not only is there fullness of joy, but peace and love. No matter how I feel, no matter what the circumstance may be, I know that I can always go to my secret place and find the Lord. When I spend time with God, I can cry my eyes out in sorrow or I can dance and sing praises unto Him. Whenever I need a refreshing, or someone to run to in my time of trouble, without fail I know my God is always there. He sees my heart full of joy as I dance before Him and He hears my faintest cry when I can't even utter a word. Whether I am at home alone or in a crowded room full of hundreds of people, whenever I feel God's presence, there is a joy that comes over me that I can not explain. The goodness of God's presence is so overwhelmingly sweet that it sometimes makes me smile from ear to ear, and other times brings me to tears of happiness because of the gratefulness that flows from my heart. There is a song that says 'Hide Me, Lord Hide Me...Hide Me Lord in Your Presence .." and that is my daily heart's cry. I want to live in God's presence every day of my life where there is restoration, peace, strength and joy. There is no place I would rather be.