What are you doing?

The Lord really spoke to me alot today about being a Christian.   Christ-Like!  He told me that although we live in a world of sin that He uses us (Christians) to help lead the worldly people to Him.  If God didn't use people to help save others then there just may be a good possibility that WE wouldn't be where we are today. 

What are you doing?   Are you an active Christian?  I know for me,  I have to stay in His word for me to stay obedient but I also have to share my testimony and my walk with Him with others because it also helps me grow.  Praise God!!!!!

Let's step up and  get in the world!!  Reach out to others!!! Shout the truth and bring light into a dark world!!  

He has called us to be witnesses!!!!   Do you preach His word but then act in a different manner when others aren't watching?  HE does know your heart and sees your actions even when others don't!! 

So What are YOU doing?????     Much love to you ALL

Your sister in Christ  <><

Living for Him

Wow! It seems like forever since I've written but soooo glad and relieved to be on here doing this.  I do not have internet yet at home but praying to have it soon so I can do my ministry work!!  I'll write later about what's going on in my life but I want to say THANK YOU for all of the encouraging emails and awesome comments.  God is GOOD! He has given me such wonderful Christian friends!  Praise Him for that! 

I have had many people ask...How do I stay soooo strong during all of this???   Well, I am not a superwoman with all kinds of extra powers or something...LOL  I trust in the Lord!  He's my rock, My strength, my EVERYTHING!  I get down like we all do but I continue to praise Him for all He has done.  He has saved me!!!!  How can I let everything else around me get to me when I KNOW that I have eternity with Him.  This is only temporary!!  Don't get so wrapped up in your day to day life that you push Him away....The LORD is FIRST and the MOST important one to be focused on...and He loves you soooooo much!  My friend just wrote today about being ready for Jesus when He returns....Are you?   I am!!   I can't wait to see His precious face...HOWEVER until that glorious day comes... I PRAY!!!!!!!!

How do you pray?  I have always wondered if I say the right things?  Do I sound silly?  Why don't I sound like some of the people at church?  Do you ever think that too?   Well,  I may not sound like the pastor's wife but I do know one thing for sure.  He LOVES to hear my voice..He is the ONLY one that appreciates my singing  LOL  But He gets so excited that I give Him sooo much attention everyday (kinda like my puppy Koby does when I get home! )  THAT is why our relationship is soooo strong.  I am in LOVE with Him and my walk is the MOST important thing...Going out of my way daily to please Him.   I pray with a purpose!!!  Woo Hoo!

This is the reason why I stay strong during these storms in my life!!   I adore Him!  and, I PRAY!

Praise Him for all He does....Ask the Lord for the desires of your heart...Confess your sins or your struggles...and Trust that He's there with you!!

Your sister in Christ,

One year ago today....

I am not sure how to start this...I am very sad today.  I was not sure how I'd react to the anniversary of Katrina and I've stayed strong for the most part but all day I have felt a weight like never before.  Am I breaking down?  Am I finally coming to grips with this devastation or Am I just being human?

ONE year ago...I packed my stuff and my 3 childrens belongings  in a bag..clothes for 2 days..and panicked like everyone else.  I fed my animals...enough food and water for a few days...We evacuate quite often and we know about 3 days is as long as we stay gone.  I kissed the pets bye...having NO idea that a week later I'd be begging for anyone to get to our home and set them free...people were still needing to be rescued so my pets weren't on the top of the priority list. Before leaving our home, I made the beds and made sure the house was tidy..not knowing that our house would be flooded and we'd go back 2 months later to gut the house.. Our phones didn't work, we couldn't get in touch with friends/relatives and I didn't know what to tell my kids about their dad...because he stayed home.

 

ONE year ago...We lost our life as we knew it.  We lost regular conversations...The only thing you hear about here starts out...Before Katrina or After Katrina...that is how our lives are based on.  We share FEMA trailer stories,  What still needs to be done to our homes....and what we've been through. 

ONE year ago...I had no idea that a year from then we'd STILL be sharing one room, working harder than ever before and sometimes feeling like I'm in a dream trying to run but not getting anywhere.  The Lord has blessed me in many ways and through this storm my faith has grown tremendously stronger! Praise God! I just feel at times that the rebuilding process may never be over. 

ONE year ago...The countries worst natural disaster changed our lives forever and we are only ONE family.  I pray that everyone remembers Katrina today...The lives that were lost...The hearts that were broken..The homes that were destroyed..The people that can't get back home and the ones that have made new starts elsewhere..I know that our lives will be blessed even more in the future but it still hurts to see the city this way.. and that I feel sometimes we are a forgotten city.  With God ALL things are possible and I have to stay in His word to keep my walk strong but I had to write this because my entire life changed.....ONE YEAR AGO TODAY!!!

Lost Values

Lost Values!

wow that has been a subject surrounding me ALL week and weekend.  First off, I have to say that I had an awesome weekend of fellowship! I have just been so blessed being around such positive influences, learning and growing in the Lord, worshiping with others, and feeling the Holy Spirit just fill the room.  Praise God!

I've been single for 8 years.  I've had many people during this time try to set me up with men saying He has great values!  Oh my...that could mean anything.   To a worldly man, HIS values are great.  To a Christian man walking with Christ, HIS values are great.  It all depends.  I am Christian woman walking with Him,  I am 36 and live a life of purity.  I will NOT have sex until I am married and although I think that is great.....many (MANY!) men do not think that it is a great value I have!  What are your values?  The Bible says.....

Follow anything that makes you want to do right!  Pursue faith and love and peace. and enjoy the companionship of those who call upon the Lord with PURE hearts. (2 Timothy 2:22)

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well  (Matt 6:33)

If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for His purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.  (2 Timothy 2:21)

Evil desires lead to evil actions and evil actions lead to death (James 1:15)

Lord, I thank you for your unchanging love.  That you loved me when I was living a worldly life with unclean values.  I PRAISE you for your glory!  I SEEK you during those times of weakness, when the enemy tries to tempt me with worldly people and desires,  I TRUST you, that you'll never leave me or forsake me. Lord, I know that you are using me to bring others to Christ,  Lord, I know that through all of these storms that you have awesome blessings in my future.  Father,  I know that I will be rewarded for this life of purity and have eternity with you.  Lord, I lift all of those up in prayer that are stuck in worldly values,  that they may seek you and have everlasting peace and joy.  You are my light, my rock, my strength and my refuge.  In Jesus' precious name,  AMEN!!!!!!

Women!

Hey!  I've had a lot on mind the past week...and there are a couple of things I've been in constant prayer and asking God to please tell what to do.  Almost always He answers me clearly,  I KNOW it's His will and I accept whatever He tells me to do even when I do not understand why.  However, THIS week,  I am not sure I am hearing the answer from Him. Maybe it's me telling myself what I want to hear,  Maybe it's the enemy tricking me, or Maybe it is God!  So, last night I decided to hear Him clearly I need to be still..(like my previous posts)  Well,  He was clear..He told me that I am not the only woman that has issues to deal with, that is wanting answers right now!  He led me to the Bible to read and get all my answers.  It was awesome!  Here are only a few women that I pulled out to see what they had going on and how they handled it.

Eve~She had it all!  She was  beautiful and she had Adam, lived in a flawless paradise BUT she messed it all up by taking a bite out of the forbidden fruit..Despite her disobedience God still loved her.

Sarah~She was married to Abraham and wanted a baby so badly. She became impatient and  sent her maid Hagar to sleep with Abraham and Ishmael was born....BUT at 90 years old Sarah became pregnant and gave birth to Isaac.  God's promises are 100% but always on His timing so even though she thought she'd never have a baby....She did. 

Rebekah~A control freak! After 20 years in a loving marriage with Isaac. Rebekah got pregnant with twin boys. She focused ALL her attention on Jacob which led to hate in the neglected twin Esau..She was a big time liar and manipulated everyone and eventually Jacob ran away and never returned, She betrayed her husband and ruined their marriage and in the end her world was a complete disaster!

Peninnah~She was married to Elkanah. He was married to her and Hannah.  He was really in love with Hannah and gave Hannah twice as much as he ever gave Peninnah BUT Peninnah gave Elkanah several children early in their marriage.  She was a great mom but he still didn't love her so she turned bitter. She became obsessed with making Hannah's life miserable and she missed all the blessings that had been given to her in her life.  (I thought my name Shawna was difficult but these are really hard to say and spell! LOL)

I could go on and on....It's just amazing that even back then women really had issues to deal with.  Women today STILL deal with so many difficult issues.  The Lord tells me all the time that I am NOT alone even when I feel like I am the only woman that has ever gone through crazy things and reading about some of these others, I can see that it was hard even back then but one thing still remains God loves us so very much!! 

Blessings from a WOMAN of faith, 

Shawna  <><

Do you pollute?

I had to write this blog because the Lord has really been pressing this upon me.   Do you realize that what we say can bring poison into our lives....COMPLAINING releases poisons... We all complain from time to time but I know people that COMPLAIN about everything and all the time.  I have to distance myself from them because their poisons attack me too!  Complaining not based on circumstances, it's based on the attitude of your heart.  If you keep the right attitude during your times of distress, then God honors us. 

Let NO foul or polluting language come out of your mouth (Ephesians 4:29)

It's amazing how many changes you see when you accept the Lord as your savior,  and truly walk with Him in all that you do.  I know for me, It's really hard to be around  people because they curse too much,  they complain too much, they have a wicked tongue and it all makes me quite uncomfortable.   We really need to remember that our words can purify or pollute.     What comes out of your mouth?  Would you act the way you do if Jesus was standing in front you?  Would you curse if you were talking to Him?  We need to stay Godly and honorable and remember......The power of a word.   

When I was a young little girl (i'm still little, but not young..lol)  I used to always say Sticks and Stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me!  That is so untrue...Words hurt!  They don't just hurt US they hurt our Lord as well.  We need to focus on Thanking Him, praising Him, and worshiping Him, and let go of all these nasty words, complaints and negativity..He'll bless us soooo much.  He LOVES us!

The Lord will keep you in perfect peace if you keep your mind stayed on Him. (Isaiah 26:3)

Praise , Seek, Worship, Trust and Thank our God!

Love in Christ,

Shawna  <><

Psalm 46:10  BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD!!!!!!!

 

BE STILL!!!  Oh my Gosh, Having 3 kids, I've said that a million times!!  As a matter of fact I JUST said that to my two boys while cutting their hair on Wednesday...I always tell them IF you don't BE STILL then something not so good will happen, either I'll cut my fingers (which I KNOW from experience..LOL) or you'll have a bad haircut (which THEY KNOW from experience LOL)  I am the mom, I say BE STILL,  they do, We are ALL happy.

Well, God tells us to BE STILL all of the time..Do we listen?  I had a really yucky Friday..I had a long week, I was agrivated to start off with, I worked all day and just about the time I was getting off....I realized I hadn't spent any time with the Lord all day..Which is unusual for me because I wake up praising Him, and throughout everyday we talk....  but I still didn't have time (so I thought)  I'll wait until I get home and I'll sit and talk with Him and things will be great.  Well, didn't happen...I ran home, picked up my daughter, let the puppy out, was running to pick up my 2 boys and THEN...my daughter told me she wanted to quit her job...I was trying to tell her to give a notice and before you know it we are in a huge argument!!!!  Trying to argue with a 16 year old is very difficult!!!  LOL  She got out of the car...we didn't speak and I left and picked up my boys...I got home, had some frustrating mail,  I WAS MISERABLE!  CRANKY!  NOT SO FUN TO BE WITH! (Ask my 8 and 11 year old)   I sat down and said "Lord, what am I doing that is not so pleasing to you???"  "Why is the enemy attacking me today?"  Before HE could answer...I already knew. I put off time with Him and the enemy found a chance to get to me...and boy, did he!

I prayed all night,  It came to me...the scripture that I LOVE so much..Be still and know I am God...When we are still we can hear God!  When we get too busy (which we ALL do) we can't hear the Lord speak to us....I get rushed, I work fulltime, have 3 children, pets, live in a one bedroom apt!!!!!!  I get wrapped up in everything going on here in New Orleans and being still is just not that easy...BUT the enemy reminds me when I am not being still because he attacks!

Praise God!!  Saturday morning was great!  I prayed all night Friday night..I woke up Saturday morning giving God the glory!!!  My daughter and I made up..She went to work!!!  The boys and I had a great day!!!  God is awesome!!   Take that time to BE STILL so you can hear God's voice!  HE LOVES US SO MUCH!!!  Have a blessed Sunday!!!!    <><