A PLACE OF GOLD COVERED IN HELL

Oftentimes in life, we want things that appear to be “covered in gold” and they present themselves as the best of the best, but in reality, we are so blinded by the outside appearance that we can’t truly see what’s underneath the surface. A prime example of this was Abraham’s nephew Lot. Lot was a man who was more interested in self-gain and his selfish desires than the people around him, causing him to chase after the next big thing or anything that allowed him to come into more pleasures of this world that gave him more riches.

There came a point where Abraham and Lot had to separate to stop any further conflicts between their herdsmen as both men continued to acquire more assets. When they were going over the land Lot decided to take the land that appeared to be more fertile and had better water flow for pastures, but the land he chose included Sodom and Gomorrah. The very thing that looked like “gold” would be a place of ravaging sin and he would be right in the middle of it.

If you know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, then you know God DESTROYED everything and everyone in it due to its wickedness. Lot fortunately was spared from that destruction but before that Lot and his family were kidnapped along with every possession from one of the kings that was fighting for territory. Because Lot was so concerned about the things that he could gain, he never stopped to look deeper and consider all angles before making such a huge decision. Lot was in a city of gold but it was covered in hell.

In life, we will always be faced with opportunities to gain things from this world, but as believers, we must CONSIDER THE COST. Everything that looks good is not good for us and we have to use wisdom on this spiritual journey so we can make sure we are in alignment with God and where he wants us to be. Before making hasty decisions, include God in your planning so you don’t end up like Lot. Lot could have bypassed a lot of extra foolishness had he not been so caught up in his selfish desires, which not only affected him but his entire family.

Matthew 16:26 says“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” ESV

BE WISE PEOPLE OF GOD, AND CHECK YOUR DESIRES, DON’T GAIN THE WORLD AND LOSE YOUR SOUL.

RENEW.RESET.REFOCUS.

It’s been a little minute since we last talked, so welcome back!

During the time of my “taking a break” I was trying to pull myself back together and get out of the funk I had been in. I was not reading my bible like I normally do, it was hard for me to get back into a healthy routine for myself, and I found myself falling back into some old patterns to cope with all the many emotions I was feeling. Which essentially left me feeling very discouraged, far from God, and beating myself up thinking that God was upset with me because I was in a funk and I could not pull myself out of it.

Thankfully, all of those feelings I felt during that time have come and gone and right now I feel like my spark has come back and there is a newness that I am experiencing and it has allowed me to feel refreshed in more than one way. And I want to remind you that in your Christian walk, there will be moments where you feel lackluster and you will have to redefine what your relationship with God looks like, and He is okay with you doing that.

For me that required getting out of my head, and understanding that if God is not beating me up, then why am I treating myself like that? Not only did I have to do that, but I had to tell God how I was honestly feeling which allowed me to get over the hump and see the other side. I remember yelling at God and telling him I did not want to read, and I did not want to talk to him because I was upset, but I was open to sitting in silence with him until my anger subsided. Now I know a lot of you will think that’s weird, but over the years I have learned that God can handle any emotion that I have and He can take it. So that particular evening we sat in silence, and I allowed him to work on my heart posture, and by the end of our quiet time, I felt a nudge to open my bible and read again. And in that moment I got to experience another level of love that God has for me.

Sometimes, you will need to RENEW your mind in Christ, RESET, and REFOCUS yourself. What does that look like exactly you ask? Well, here are some tips to help you:

-Renewing your mind by challenging negative thoughts that come up and replacing them with God’s truth along with studying, praying, and seeking Him day by day even when you do not want to

-Resetting your perspective on what your relationship with God looks like because every season will not look the same and give yourself grace as you navigate those changes

-Refocus your heart to consistently put God first, intentionally including Him in every part of your life—literally, in everything you do

Just keep going to God again and again. Little by little, you’ll begin to draw closer to Him, and He’ll help you reignite that fire within you.

As always, I love you and God loves you and there is nothing you can do about it!

XOXO,

THE PURSUER

Life has a funny way of bringing about twists and turns, and currently, I have been trying to navigate my life as the twists and turns have come up, and if I’m being honest, some days it’s been very hard for me. Stressors have seemed to scream a bit louder in my mind and ears, feelings of hopelessness have resurfaced more than once, and trying to pursue God during this particular time has been even harder.

The fire that was burning strong has simmered down in such a way, and all I see now is the smoke from the ashes of a fire that has been completely blown out. There is smoke still coming from those ashes thankfully, which lets me know my zeal is not completely gone, but it doesn’t feel good. It has made me question the God I know, and become hard on myself for not wanting to read, not wanting to listen to a bunch of sermons, not wanting to sit in His presence, and not even wanting to be in this space because I feel like I am upsetting God.

Despite my feelings, one thing that continues to come to my mind is that HE CHOSE ME BEFORE I EVEN CHOSE HIM. He is the God who PURSUES and CHASES relentlessly. He is so DEEPLY COMMITTED TO ME. And even when I don’t feel “like it” He still does, and that alone I am beyond grateful for.

Last time I told y’all, I wanted to run and hide, but this time I’m sitting and being still letting him continue to pursue me in even my discomfort. I’m learning more about His love and how unconditional it is, and there’s nothing that He won’t do to pull me back into him. But more realistically, there will be moments in your relationship with God where it feels a bit bland and it seems like you are just going through the days nonchalantly. But even in those moments, you are still being pursued by the One who has the whole world In His hands.

Take this reminder if you have ever felt like me before, or if you currently feel like this;

“You are the object of God’s affection, He has relentlessly pursued and will continue to PURSUE you!”

XOXO,

An Ordinary Woman Chasing After An Extraordinary God

DON’T HIDE FROM GOD, RUN TO HIM INSTEAD

This is a safe space, right? Well, these past few weeks have been very hard for me and I have been immersed in a multitude of emotions that I cannot explain, I have been extremely exhausted, irritable, easily agitated, somber at moments, and struggling with things that I thought I was done with. With me feeling all of these different things, it has made me want to go into my shell and just hide, more specifically hide from God.

I have struggled to push myself to get in the presence of God because I did not want to be vulnerable nor did I want to show myself to Him, although He already knows me inside and out. I am a person who is used to dealing with things on my own, and when I become off-balanced it’s easier for me to try to put myself together and figure it out in my strength, but I am learning that I need help that is bigger than myself.

When you are always the “strong” one, you get overlooked a lot by those around you. But God in such a loving way has allowed me to be SEEN and allowed people to pour into me and push me to keep chasing after Him, even when I feel like I can’t. They have prayed for me, encouraged me, and most importantly spoken to the woman I am in Christ allowing me to be reminded that I matter so much to God and I am the apple of his eye.

I have been reminded that God cares for me, and He wants to hear from me even when I don’t have the words to say. It’s been hard pushing myself to get in God’s presence but it has been the very thing I needed most. There is comfort in the presence of God, there is peace, there is joy, there is security, there is forgiveness, there is love, and so much more.

What am I trying to say? No matter what you are dealing with, DO NOT HIDE FROM GOD. He longs to hear from you and He wants to know about all that is bothering you. He is genuinely concerned, and even when you do not have the words to say, He can understand your tears. When you no longer have tears to cry, just sit with Him in silence because whether you’re speaking, crying, or being silent, He understands it all.

Make running to Him a priority and allow Him to give you exactly what you need because He knows what’s best for you. He has got the whole world in His hands, and that includes YOU!

Here are some scriptures for you to meditate on if you have experienced this or are currently going through this:

Matthew 11:28 (ESV)

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

Psalm 62:8 (ESV)

“Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him, God is a refuge for us. Selah”

GET BEHIND ME SATAN

One of the enemy’s greatest tactics is to talk you out of the will of God. We know this firsthand because while Jesus was in the wilderness he was tempted by the enemy three different times. Not only was Jesus tempted in those moments, but the enemy used Peter to tempt him to not go forward with what God was doing with His life. After Peter rebuked Jesus, Jesus’ response was some of the most powerful words spoken, and we can also declare those same words with the same power.

In Matthew 16:23, Jesus turned to Peter and said “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have me in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Had Jesus not been able to recognize the spirit behind the person, he would have given in to the temptation and never walked the purpose and plan God had set for Him. And just like Jesus responded, we must do the same thing.

Some of the enemy’s tactics look like;

-Planting seeds of doubt in your mind

-Distracting you with worldly temptations

-Minimizing your calling

-Using people around you to discourage you from pursuing God’s plan

When Jesus told satan to get behind him, He was able to boldly say that because He knew the word of God inside out and He had the word written on His heart. He relied on God for strength and used discernment to recognize the tactics of the enemy and resist his influence.

The next time the enemy tries to talk you out of God’s will, I want you to square up with the enemy and declare out loud, SATAN GET BEHIND ME NOW! You do not have power or dominion here and I am going after EVERYTHING God has for me, because his purpose and plan for me are perfect!

If you truly believe that with all of your heart, mind, and soul, you will see the victory on the other side. You are VICTORIOUS!

Stay Encouraged Y’all!

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“WE LISTEN & DON’T JUDGE”

I know you all have seen the viral trend on TikTok where people sit down with others they know and tell secrets or things they don’t like and the listener says “We listen and don’t judge”, but I would just like to say God started that trend long ago before it became popular. God has been allowing us to come to Him as we are, without any judgment and He allows us to talk freely with Him without any judgment.

God invites us to come to Him as we are, with every imperfection and burden. But when we are walking with those around us, are we still operating in that grace of not judging what others do?

In the Bible, we are encouraged to approach others with humility and compassion instead of judgment, and we are to consistently self-reflect on our deeds before pointing out the deeds of someone else. Essentially this all ties into a bigger command this is to LOVE. We are to love one another as Christ loves us in all that we do.

Here’s some biblical context for you:

Matthew 7:1-2 says “Do not judge, or you will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Matthew 7:3-5 says “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? First take the plank in your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (NIV)

As we are continuing to become more and more like Christ, that means we have to let love and grace guide our interactions.

I challenge you to go into this new week being mindful to not judge too quickly without first looking at yourself. And when you look at yourself first, it will humble you in such a way because we have all fallen short in areas of our lives and done things not pleasing, and guess what? God still loved us just the same.

BUILD YOUR HOUSE

Once upon a time, three little pigs decided to build their own houses…. I know you all know the rest of that fairy tale, but if you don’t let me give you a brief introduction. Each pig built their house using different materials such as straw, sticks, and the last bricks. When the big bad wolf came along he huffed and puffed and blew the first house made of straw, he continued to go along and found the second home made of sticks and blew that one down too. He later came across the third house made of bricks and no matter how much he huffed and puffed he could not blow the brick house down because it was STABLE.

Now in our lives, we have another “big bad wolf” known as the enemy, who is seeking to devour and destroy at all costs. But when you have built your house on a solid foundation you can withstand the blows that come your way because you are planted. Building a strong foundation is not something that comes quickly, it takes a lot of hard work, combined with making the right choices as you grow in Christ and continue to mature.

What does that hard work look like you ask?

The beginning of a solid foundation is accepting Christ as your savior because a personal relationship with Him is essential. Then you have to actively engage in scripture so you gain wisdom and more understanding. Next comes staying in constant communication with Him through prayer. Add living out your faith and putting it into action as you continue to build. Now you cannot do this all on your own, it requires you to have some support so you will need to connect with other believers so you can stay strengthened and encouraged and have accountability. Last but not least, practice love and obedience to God’s commands.

When you put all of those elements into your life, you have built a solid home on a solid foundation that will help you stand strong through life’s trials and remain steadfast in your faith.

We are building our homes BRICK BY BRICK!

“He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” Luke 6:48

WARNING BEFORE DESTRUCTION

How many of you have ever received a warning before something bad happened? I am going to raise both of my hands to this question because not only have I seen it in my life, but it is a recurring theme in the Bible.

The definition of “warning” is a statement or event that indicates a possible danger, problem, or unpleasant situation especially one in the future. When we are driving we see stop signs that are colored red to let us know to stop at certain crossings, before crossing over a railroad track, lights will flash to let you know the train is coming through, at work you may get a warning before receiving a write-up, and the list goes on. But what do you do when God gives you a warning and you do not take heed?

The best people to study regarding this would be the Israelites. Throughout the Bible, God gave the Israelites many many warnings through various prophets and leaders. Some of those warnings were about turning away from sin, disobedience to His commandments, and idolatry. Now, God in His merciful nature, consistently warned the Israelites of his impending judgment should they continue to walk in rebellion, and sometimes they did despite the warnings that were given.

Even in looking at how God treated the Israelites, we see His true nature and desire for all mankind. God is both compassionate and just, and He longs for us to turn away from sin and be restored in relationship with him. God’s warnings are motivated by love and provide us with the opportunity to repent and transform, and in that comes redemption.

I have received so many warnings from God and chose to actively walk in rebellion, and unfortunately, I have had to suffer the consequences of my actions. My consequences did not feel good, however, God loved me enough to let me experience the pain so that I could learn the lesson and take heed to the warnings early on. Nonetheless, they ultimately turned me back to God and in those moments he also brought me restoration.

I simply say all this to say, don’t wait for what’s on the other side of the warning! Take heed now, and listen, because disobedience is costly!

Don’t take God’s love for granted and know that every warning set in place is only to PROTECT YOU!

UNFAILING LOVE

People say if you want to hear God speak, open His WORD, so that’s exactly what I did, and I ended up in the book of Hosea which is in the Old Testament. For those of you who do not know, Hosea was a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel during a great time of moral and spiritual decay. Hosea talked to God consistently and God talked back to Hosea, and his life was a living parable.

One of the radical things God commanded Hosea to do was marry a woman named Gomer, who would be unfaithful to him. Now imagine God commanding you to do the same thing with a person you were going to marry. A lot of us would not have been able to do that, especially in this day and age that we live in. However, what seemed radical, was God showing how Israel was unfaithful to God through idolatry and sin.

Despite Gomer’s infidelity, Hosea had a persistent, unfailing love and it mirrored how God was with Israel despite them turning away from Him, and He is still showing us that same kind of love today. The definition of unfailing is without error or fault; reliable, steadfast, constant, sure, endless, and perfect. God has an enduring love for all of his people and a willingness to forgive us no matter how far we stray, and there is no greater love than that of our Heavenly Father.

God seeks to restore rather than punish and he wants you just as YOU are. He has a true desire for us to be in a genuine, faithful relationship with him. All you have to do is turn away from anything pulling you away from him and repent.

As you enter into this week I want to leave you with this to meditate on, especially those who are filled with shame and condemnation:

Romans 8:38

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God loves you, I love you, and there is nothing you can do about it!

Happy New Year!

Hello Everyone!

If you are new here, welcome, and if you are returning heyyyy. The Lord carried us through the entire year of 2024 and He has graciosuly allowed us to enter into 2025. I don’t know about you but there has been a stirring in my spirit, and I am excited about it because I know God is up to something.

Often times we fill the first few days of the new year writing out goals, making vision boards, creating new routines, and the list goes on, but you don’t often hear people talking about giving their year over to God or even including Him in the planning process. So I want to challenge you all to allow this to be one of your biggest years yet, and we can all do that by making this a GOD YEAR! It is time for us to get in the trenches with God this year and surrender our own plans over to Him so that His will becomes ours and His desires for us becomes our desires.

I pray that in this year you will grow closer to God in a way like never before and that together you will walk hand in hand. As you honor him may He honor you, and may you see all that he has for you. The time is now, so let’s continue to pursue Him with open hearts that are willing to sacirifice and lay aside anything that will hinder us in 2025.

As always, God loves you, I love you and there is nothing you can do about it!

“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