This is the time...

Probably by now you are curious about the title of the blog, This is the time. I've been doing some soul searching recently and praying for God to give me guidance in an specific area. To spare all the details, I will simply say, this trial has been on going for over a year. I have sought out scripture, counsel from family & friends, and prayed. I share this blog to you that maybe you can take something away from it.

I have been learning that in life, there are seasons that we go through (graduating high school, going to college, moving away from home, getting married, losing a loved one, etc). In those seasons comes trails and tribulations. Solomon sums up in Ecclesiastes that there are all kinds of seasons in our lives, some good and some challenging.

"(3:1)There is a time for everything,

and a season for activity under heaven:

(v.2) a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

(v.3a) a time to tear down and a time to build,

(v.7) a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and at time to speak,

(v.8) a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace."

When my husband and I talked about this trial that I have been going through, we were searching for answers of what I should do next. I knew that the next action taken was going to affect both my husband and I (therefore we talked it out together). Jason quickly reminded me that if decided to close a door, it may just be for a season.

God has our lives planned out for us. While we do not understand the trail that we may be going through, there is a purpose. It has taken me a while to find the peace in the season I am transitioning into. However, I can say without hesitation, that it is time for me to rebuild areas of my life, to mend my heart & spirit, and to find peace. In order to get to this season, I had to make a tough choice (one that is personal and will not share here).

I say all of this because I want you to know...if you are going through a season that test who you are, know that God is still walking with you through the trial. God has never left my side. While I may not have held His hand through the whole trail, God kept His hand outstretched for me to reach. I have grabbed on to God's hand and I am ready to face my next season.

I will leave you with a quote that may help you through whatever you are going through..."This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But, it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning" Winston Churchill.

Dear Holy Father, I pray Lord, that when I walk through the valleys and climb to the top of the mountain that I never lose focus on You. While I go through different seasons in my life, help me to realize that it is only a season. Thank you for placing some of the most amazing spiritual people in my life to help guide me and support me in life. I pray for those Lord who may be facing a tough season, please comfort them through this time. In your Precious Son's Name, Amen.

Roaring Like A Lion

I LOVE music...not that many of you could not have guess that by now. There is something captivating about hearing a song that is able to saturate every emotion you experience. The first time I heard the song "God's Not Dead" by Newsboys was this weekend. To be honest, it came at a God Moment.

I have had my fair share of moments to be proud of in life (accepting Christ into my life, earning my bachelors degree, earning my Master's degree, and overcoming some hard obstacles). However, this specific blog is not to boast about me. Now I don't have children, Jason and I are enjoying our married life. Therefore, I have never really experienced what most parents (and other individuals) feel when someone they love does something AMAZING. That moment hit me Sunday at church.

This past Sunday I had a very humbling experience, watching my husband being ordained as a Deacon. He has been faced with this decision for a few years now. In his testimony he stated that the first time he was asked his answer was easy. No. Simply because he did not meet the age requirement. This year he accepted the responsibility to serve God and the church.

I am honored to be married to a man who lives daily for Christ. There are times that I am facing a mountain or stuck in a valley and my husband has such encouraging words. We started dating when I was still in undergrad. I would wake up some morning to e-mails that had Bible verses attached to them. Still today, Jason reminds me to give my worries over to God.

I write this blog not to brag about Jason but to make a point. God calls US, each and everyone of us, to do HIS will. God's will for you may be to serve as a Deacon, to teach a Sunday School class, attend a mission trip, participate in a church committee or to help out with VBS. Whatever you are called to do, remember this verse, "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the LORD your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul."--Deuteronomy 10:12

Below are part of the lyrics to "God's Not Dead" by Newsboys. Our God is most certainly not dead...He's ROARING in you...Are you listening?

Let love explode

And bring the dead to life

A love so bold

To see a revolution somehow

Let love explode
And bring the dead to life
A love so bold
To see a revolution somehow

Now I'm lost in your freedom

And this world I'll overcome

My God's not dead

He's surely alive

He's living on the inside

Roaring like a Lion

Dear Heavenly Father, please reveal to me Your plan. Show me how You want me to serve you. Continue to roar like a lion in me so that other's may come to know You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Plans for Tomorrows

Something I discovered about myself years ago is that I am a planner. I love to sit down and organize my schedule, it helps me with figuring out what comes next. I have always been the type of person who likes to know what comes next. A surprise in the schedule is often a hard reality to grasp.

The other day I was spending time with God and had one of those "ah ha" moments. I had already planned my New Years resolution out, or so I thought. The scripture that my devotion for the day was based on came from Exodus 23:20, "See, I am sending an Angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared." God had already planned ahead and sent an Angel to protect and guard them.

The second devotion I have been using is a unique devotion. The design is to be read like a letter from God based on a particular verse. God works in amazing ways and both of my devotions seem to correlate to the other. Proverbs 16:3 states, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

One of my all-time favorite verse is one that is relatively common. It also ties into the theme of this blog. 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.'"

I needed to set the tone (the many verses) to make the following statements. God had a plan for your life, He has had this plan for you for a while. When you were in your mother's belly His plan was unfolding. If we stress out, worry, or fret over plans (much like I do), we can miss out of HIS plans.

Sheri Rose Shepherd (2004) lays it out the best in her devotion: His Princess, Love Letters from Your King. She wrote (keep in mind these are Love Letters from Your King), "Because I love you, I need you to give Me back all your plans for today and for all your tomorrows. If you let Me have your day, I can then intervene with something special."

Dear Heavenly Father, You hold the master plans for my life. I pray that I can give you my today and all of my tomorrow in order for great things to happen. As I seek out Your will, please guide my steps. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.