You can't see inside a heart....

The past few weeks I've been feeling pretty blessed.  I have a husband who loves me unconditionally. A daughter who thinks I can do anything.  A house, food, a car.  A God who is there for me even when I don't feel like it.  A support system of some pretty awesome family and friends.  What more could a girl want?? Sure we could use more money to pay the bills, but who couldn't these days?  Overall we are a pretty blessed family.  I try my best to thank God every day for all He has given me, even on the hard days.  But then tonight, I watched a video about what we would see if we looked into people's hearts and it touched me.  It touched me so much because right now, I know so many hearts who are weeping.  I know so many hearts who are aching.  And I guarantee you all walk by hearts like those every day, and you don't even know it. 

See in America, in the culture we are all growing old in, we are taught to hold it all in.  Act like we have it all together and need no one's help.  What do you do when you greet someone? You say, "Hey how's it going?" or "Hi, how are you?" And what is always our response?? "Good.  You?" or "It's fine" or "eh it's going".  No matter how we are feeling in our heart, we rarely say the truth.  Why? Because we are raised in a culture where they teach us that that person asking really doesn't care.  How many times have you asked someone how it's going, when you know darn well they are struggling, and secretly you are praying they just say fine and move on because you don't have the 'time' to listen. Or you won't know what to say? I promise almost everyone reading this has done that very thing at one point or another.  Because in America we get too darn busy worrying about ourselves to reach out sometimes.  It's true.  We all do it.  Right or wrong we are human and it's in our nature. 

But the thing is folks, the real question we need to ask ourselves is honestly, "What would Jesus do?" And it sounds so clique and so overused but it's so the truth.  We were made in God's image.  And if we were made in His image, we need to strive to be like Him. To try our very best on this earth to do what He would do.  Say what He would say.  Listen like He would listen.  It's not easy and we are gonna fail sometimes.  We really are gonna be too busy sometimes, and if that's the case, make it a point to reach out as soon as you can.  Because folks, I know way too many people hurting right now.  I know way too many people with broken hearts.  I know way too many people suffering.  And chances are....you do too.

Right now I can tell you with 100% certainty that somewhere on this earth, there is a dad who is working hard to overcome his addictions so he can be complete and whole and be with his family again. There is a man who has just been told he has months to live.  There is a mom who is watching her child go through so much hurt and pain that she just so badly wants to take it away for him.  There is a mom who is trying to keep it together for her kids when she just wants to fall apart.  There is a man who never thought he would get a divorce, having to do just that.  There is a husband and wife out there who are watching all their friends and family get pregnant, and they have been trying for months if not years and it's still not happening for them.  And the list goes on....

I'm sure you could fit people you know in your own life into some of the above.  Because these hurts are not uncommon.  In fact they have become very common because we live in such a broken world.  But just because they are common doesn't mean every story is the same.  Dig deeper into the hurt and every story will be different.

If we are all made in God's image, they why don't we start acting like it.  Why don't we as Christians stand up and say enough is enough. I'm not just gonna say I care, I'm gonna start showing it to anyone and everyone around me.  We need to start opening our eyes and see the needs of those around us.  See their hurt and in Jesus' love do what we can to show them His love. 

I challenge you in the next week to start really listening to people.  Take the time to hear their heart.  To see inside their heart and everything they are going through.  Everyone wants to know someone cares about their story.  God does, but He needs us to help show them.  Sometimes all it takes is a simple hug, a cup of coffee, a listening ear, or someone to just say, "It's gonna be ok.  We will get through this."

And remember, you don't always know what someones going through.  So when you walk by that stranger...always say hi and smile.  It just might brighten their day....even if for just a moment.

"He comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others.

When they are troubled,

we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."

-2 Corinthians 1:4

If you are hurting, may this song give you peace in knowing there is a God who is so badly wanting to help you.  This song brings tears to my eyes every time.  Enjoy. Praise Him.  Worship Him.

Hardest Job of all..

Let's face it.  Motherhood is hard.  Period.  End of Story.  Any mother will admit that to you if you truly ask.  And if they say it's easy, chances are they are lying to you.  Every time you think  you've got it all figure out and under control, the little dears switch it up on you and throw you for a loop.  You find ways to worry about them even when they are completely 100% fine.  Once you get through 1 stage, you are headed right into a new one.  It might be one that gives you a break, or it might be one that makes you want to scream and count down the minutes and hours until bedtime or nap time.  (Which by the way, those 2 times are sacred in our home.....completely and totally sacred :) )

We have been so unbelievably blessed with Maci. She has been such a good baby overall since birth.  Always has a smile for anyone willing to accept one (and even those that turn away grumpy, which rarely happens), listens to instructions (most of the time), and overall just has such a happy attitude.  We know how blessed we are and we get asked quite often if she is always smiling.  With that being said.....she isn't.  She isn't always smiling and we go through those awful stages just like everyone else. Maci just so happens to be like me when I was little.  To everyone else I looked so sweet and innocent, but trust me with my parents I could totally be a different story. Right mom? :) To the rest of the world Maci looks to be like a breeze, and most of the time she is.  But when the doors close in our home sometimes, we do get the screaming and tantrums.  The attitudes where nothing makes her happy and the buckets of tears.

This past week we are knee deep in a stage.  It could be she has just hit a point where she is realizing she can't always get what she wants or it could be that we are working on our last few teeth.  Yep girl only has 3 more left before her 2 year molars in the winter.  And can I just say she started out with only 2 teeth in January.  Yea just think about that.....10 or so teeth in a matter of a few months.  Mommas out there just feel my pain for a moment ;). 

The past few days have been difficult to say the least.  There has been screaming and whining and crying....from both of us.  There are times when I cry with her from being so exhausted with the day of fighting her on everything she knows she shouldn't be doing.  There are times when I want to just sit in the bathroom and lock the door.  And then there are times when daddy gets home and neither one of us can get to the door fast enough.  We have tried different outings and activities and she isn't satisfied with any of it.  She just going through a phase and I keep reminding myself of that.  But it's just so. hard.

But then out of no where God uses this little angel faced baby to speak to me and teach me something to simple that I sit there amazed.  Yesterday I was trying to get something done that I felt the Lord telling me to do.  As we were rushing around the house trying to leave after a rough start to the morning I couldn't find Maci's other shoe.  When you are already frustrated something so little can just send you over the edge.  I kept repeating "Maci find your shoe....Maci find your shoe." The poor girl just kept staring at me and to be honest it was making me more irritated.  Finally I said in a pretty gruff voice from being so mad that I couldn't find the stupid thing, "Maci! Find your shoe!" She looked at me puzzled and calming bent over to pick up the other shoe I was looking for....that was RIGHT in FRONT of her!  I sat down and started to laugh and she proceeded to laugh with me.  I felt so stupid.  What I was looking for all along was right there.  I gave my sweet babe a hug and kiss and off we went.

I didn't give much thought to that moment again until this morning on our walk.  It popped up into my mind again and then I heard His voice.  And once again I laughed at how simple the answer was.

"Daughter, I have all the answers to your life.  All the solutions to your problems.  If only you would remember that always.  There would be no reason for frustration and anger, if only you would trust me always."

I then just pictured Maci's face in that moment when she was like "Mom DUH!! The shoe is right here!"  And then I pictured God's face when He sees us searching so hard and He knows the answer.  All He wants from us is to ask.  All He wants from us is to trust in Him.  All He wants from us is to love Him.  It's such a hard one to do in such a rush, impatient, do it on our own world.  But if we did more leaning and trusting and asking on Him, our lives would be so much simpler! 

"Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You.  Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You."   -Psalm 143:8

I'm gonna leave you with this video.  Music touches the deepest part of me and this is one of my many favorite songs by Chris Tomlin.  Right now it makes me think of a very special family to our family that is going through some super tough stuff.  Always remember that when you think you have it bad, there is someone else out there who is going through something worse than you are.  If that's you, may this song give you comfort.

Have a Little Faith...

We can all sit here and say we have faith and trust in the plans that God has laid out before us but how much do we 100% believe that and not worry one bit about what the consequences will be or if it's going to happen when we want it (which usually is right now)? Honestly it's so easy to say that we trust the Lord with our right now and our future.  It's so easy to say we have faith in Him that He will come through with all He has promised us.  But frankly there are probably very few times where we haven't even given it a second thought.  Where we had so much faith and trust in Him that we just did or said what He wanted us to without a second thought.  We are all human and it's in our nature to question and think it over.  Especially if it's something outside of our comfort zone or something we really don't want to do, or even something that scares us.

Right now our family is waiting on so many questions that have no answers.  We know God will get us where we want to be in His timing but it's so hard to wait when you so badly desire something.  While I was in the shower this morning, dreaming the dreams we have been praying and begging for; God put a memory in my mind where I had 100% faith and trust in Him where I didn't even question it.  I think of this memory often because it is so dear to me but I never thought of it in such a way that would give me so much hope in all areas of my life.

Those of you who are close with us know I had one very long tiring labor with Maci.  I woke up the day before she was born with contractions at 4:00 am and then eventually they went away until 1:00pm that day.  We went to the hospital that night and in the end I was in labor for 25 hours with over 4 hours of pushing.  At about 1:30 pm the day Maci arrived, the doctor came in and told me that he needed to start prepping me for a  c-section since my water had broke about 12 hours prior and things weren't progressing the way he had hoped.  Now if you know me at all, you know that it's very hard for me to stand up for myself.  Especially to a stranger.  I always worry about how people are viewing me.  But at that moment when he was telling me what I so badly didn't want to happen, it was like someone else entered my body.  Travis to this day still tells me how much he was shocked by how I acted at that point.  (As a side note, I"m a baby when it comes to pain ect so 'normal' Chrissy would have just wanted it all to be over) Instead of saying ok to something I didn't want to happen and becoming a basket case, I looked in that doctor's eyes and said, "No I CAN do this."  He proceeded to tell me about possible complications that could arise if we didn't, ect.  I looked at my nurses and at my sweet husband, then looked back in the doctor's face and asked how long he would give me.  "I'll give you 20 minutes, and then we need to do a c-section."  My response?

"I can do this.  God's on my side."

Within 2 contractions our sweet baby girl who was being so stubborn on coming out was out in my arms and crying away.  Still brings tears to my eyes as I think back on that moment.  I know the Lord was whispering in my ear, "Daughter trust me.  I've got your back.  I will make sure you are both safe.  You CAN do this.  Trust.  Have faith." 

I did not think twice about what needed to be done in that moment.  I trusted the Lord would take care of us and I had faith that He would fulfill what He told me would happen.  God knew how much I didn't want a c-section.  He knew about how much the idea of it scared me.

What does this all have to do with my every day life? I need to start having that kind of faith and trust in Him EVERYDAY.  I need to stop questioning why not now.  I need to stop trying to make it happen in my timing.  I need to stop fighting it when it's something I don't want to do.  When I need to say or do something in His name, I need stop being so scared about what the reactions of others will be.  I need to start living with total and complete faith in Him.  No questions asked. 

"Then Jesus told them, 'I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more.  You can even say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea' and it will happen.  you can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it."                                                                                                                Matthew 21:21-22

Help Me Find it.....

"In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.  So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has give you.  If your gift is serving others, serve them well.  If you are a teacher, teach well.  If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.  If it is giving, give generously.  And if you have the gift of showing kindness to others, do it gladly."               -Romans 12:6-8

Last fall I started a study on spiritual gifts.  I'm not gonna lie and say I was surprised by what it showed me my top spiritual gift was.  I've always known compassion was what mine was.  I'm not saying that to sound full of myself.  I actually didn't know that was mine because I thought I showed compassion to everyone, ect.  It has always stood out to me because of the 'bad' that tends to come with having it be up there in your list.  I can tell you word for word almost about all the times someone has hurt me.  And not because I'm holding a grudge, and not because whoever wronged me was so bad.  It's because hurtful words and actions have always cut me way too deep.  Deeper than most I would say.  My heart hurts just a little bit longer, it feels for those that most wouldn't even give a thought to, and it weeps for everything Jesus would weep for a little bit harder. 

The past few months I have honestly been wondering, "Why me Lord? Why do I have to carry this burden?"  Because honestly sometimes it is a burden.  To lay it all out there, I have often wondered why I find myself praying for those who have done some awful things to Gods people.  My heart aches badly for those who do things that are not in God's will.  And sometimes, I don't want to feel sorry for them, but it's written in my heart. It's written in my heart that God still loves them, and weeps at what the world has come to.  So I've been asking a lot, "why me?" 

Very recently a dear friend sent a text message to me telling me to read Romans 12-14.  And that's where I got the above verse from.  And that's when it all came rushing in like a flood:

God gave ME this gift.  He gave it to ME for a reason.  A reason I won't know until I accept that I'm supposed to have it.  I'm supposed to feel a little harder and stronger.  I'm supposed to weep a little bit harder and longer.  Those people who I don't want to feel for and do, I'm supposed to feel that way towards them because it leads me to my knees in prayer for their souls.  Because if I don't, who will? I'm part of the body of Christ.  And in the body of Christ, every part is vital. 

So this is a challenge friends.  Whatever God may have called you to do or be, do it for Him.  Give it to Him, all of it.  Even if you can't understand why He made you that way, I promise you He did it for a reason and you just don't know it yet.  And honestly you might not know why until you get to Heaven.  But I plan to open up my gift and let it soar.  Whatever He wants to do with it I'm gonna let Him.  I'm gonna stop fighting it and just let it be. 

A few months ago while coming back from Willmar a song came on the radio and I remember falling in love with it.  I wanted to remember it so badly but of course I forgot and hadn't heard it since.  The message was exactly what I wanted for my life right now.  My cry out to the Lord.  Well guys, seriously when I started writing this that song came on the radio.  God is so good!! Brings tears to my eyes every time I listen.... enjoy :)

A must read for us Christains living in today's world

My heart has been so very heavy the last few weeks.  Things I've seen on the internet and Facebook have been weighing heavily on my mind.  Making me start to wonder how on earth I am going to be able to raise Godly children in such an ungodly world.  I am so not one to talk politics on social media sites because frankly, even friends and family can be so cruel when someone has a different belief than they do.  Most of the time it's completely fine for them to plaster their opinion all over Facebook and yet I know if I put up a belief of mine I would be condemn and ridiculed.  I would be beaten down to the ground with their words and hateful speech of a God I so dearly love.  There would be words twisted, books twisted and everything in between.  If you know me, you know where I stand on hot topics of the world.  If you know me, you know I'm not a judge, I'm not a fighter. 

As I got on Facebook this afternoon, yet again my heart got heavy.  Facebook can be such a fun thing and lately it's become such a not fun thing.  I've seen fights and hurtful words being spread around on all sides of arguments in today's world.  I've also noticed most of the time, it's a very one sided fight.  I guarantee you if you go on your Facebook you will clearly see which side of a certain fight is the only side being shared around.  I started to pray and dig into what God wants from us who love Him so dearly.  It breaks His heart to see so much hate and anger and sin going around.  And that's how I came to the book of Jude.  I will be honest I have never read it before today.  It has brought tears to my eyes this afternoon.  It is a short book in the bible, and frankly I cannot just choose one verse of it to share because it is all way to good, and something us Christians living in todays world need to be reminded of.  Therefore I am going to re-type it here so you don't even have to lift a finger to search for it.  If you have a bible I encourage you to go grab it and look it up.  I have highlighted most of the end of the book.  The end is things us Christians need to be doing to stand up for our faith and our God. 

"I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love.

Dear friends, I have been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we share.  But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to DEFEND the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people.  I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying God's marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives.  The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.  

So I want to remind you, though you already know these things, that Jesus first rescued the nation of Israel from Eygpt, but later He destroyed those who did not remain faithful.  And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged.  God has kept them securely chained in the prisions of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgement.  And don't forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion.  Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of eternal fire and God's judgement.

In the same way, these people - who claim authority from their dreams - live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at the supernatural beings.  But even Michael, one of the mightiest angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses' body).  But these people scoff at things they do not understand.  Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction.  What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain who killed his brother.  Like Balaam, they deceive people for money.  And like Korah, they perish in their rebeillion.

When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord's love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you.  They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves.  They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain.  They are like trees in the autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots.  They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds.  They are like wandering starts, doomed forever to blackest darkness.

Enoch, who lived in the 7th generation of Adam, prophesied about these people.  He said, "Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgement on the people of the world.  He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires.  They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want. 

But you, dear friends must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said.  They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires.  These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you.  They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God's spirit in them.

But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life.  In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God's love.

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.  Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgement. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sings that contaminate their lives.

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.  All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord.  All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present and beyond all time! Amen!"
-Jude NLT

 

Taking a plunge into a little bit of the unknown

With much nerves and excitement I'm writing this post.  It is truly amazing looking back over the past few months and seeing how God has slowly been nudging me to make a change.  Eventually sometimes He does have to start screaming in my ear but this time it just took a series of serious nudges before I said "Ok Ok. If this is what you want for our family I will take the step out of my box and do it."

You see many many months ago I was talking to a dear friend who was doing Mary Kay.  I remember having multiple conversations with her about the company and her trying to convince me I could do it.  Pretty sure I laughed in her face every time she said that but God bless her heart for thinking I could be successful at it.  If you know me at all, you know I barely wear make up period.  A little eye liner and a little mascara and I'm good to go. ;) That was nudge number one. (And no this doesn't end with me becoming a Mary Kay Consultant.)

Then this winter I started feeling like I was supposed to be doing something on top of my photography business.  I wasn't sure if God was trying to tell me to go back to a part/full time job (which I really didn't want to do) or what exactly the desire was.  Trav and I talked about what we thought I should be doing, if I should be looking for part time evening work ect.  I think we did this on and off again for a few months.  Neither of us really wanted me to start working again like that but we were still feeling like there was something I was supposed to be looking into, we just couldn't pin point what. 

Finally last Thursday evening I went to a sweet friend's house for her Lia Sophia party.  Pretty much just went to see her beautiful face and eat her delicious food ;).  On the drive home I started feeling that same nudge again.  There was something I was missing and something I should be doing.  The next day I started looking at all the different companies like Lia Sophia.  You know the ones where you are your own boss and have parties in peoples homes?  I knew Mary Kay wasn't my thing and I knew Lia Sophia wasn't my thing.  I'm a girlie girlie but not when it comes to jewelry and make-up.  I knew I wouldn't succeed in that venture.  Then Pampered Chef came to my mind.  I began to think of the amazing products I currently have in my kitchen and how much I love them.  I thought about the party I went to last Spring and how much fun it was to sit around with my girlfriends, eat some yummy food, and look at some amazingly tempting products I wanted in my kitchen.  So what was the next step? I prayed and prayed and prayed all day off and on about it.  When Trav got home from work we talked about it and prayed some more.  Saturday I emailed a gal from Pampered Chef wanting more information on how it all works and prayed some more.  During this time I talked to a few girlfriends and of course mom and got their take.  All of them were so encouraging and positive in thinking I could do it. 

Last night Carla called me back.  We talked for over 45 minutes about it and I got all the details.  Honestly so much less scary than I thought it would be and she seems like such an encourager that it gave me the confidence I was seeking.  But of course what did I need? Another night to sleep on it and pray some more.  Big decisions are a difficult thing for me.  I like to know what I'm doing is the right choice for me and my family and of course know it is something God wants for us.

Well ladies and gentlemen, this morning I officially emailed Carla and said let's do this!!  I am so excited for all that it could and will bring to our family!! I am so excited for all the people I am going to get to meet in the next few months.  I still have to 'officially' get everything set up but within the next few days that will all be done.  :)

I'm not going to lie though friends, I am going to need my family and friends support in this.  If not by hosting a cooking or catalog show (which I so hope you will be doing because they literally are so much fun!), but by praying for me on this new adventure.  Not only will it get me out of the house a few times a month (which is something all us mommas need sometimes), not only will it hopefully bring in some extra cash for our family, not only will it help me meet more people to hopefully become some of my photography clients, but I also hope it will help me bring the love of Jesus to everyone I meet.  When I am at someone's home who I don't know, I want them to be able to see Jesus in me.  Because that's the ultimate goal for all of our lives isn't it? :)

Have a wonderful week and I will be talking to a lot of you very soon about a grand opening party :)

The Devil Isn't Allowed Here....

In the past few weeks I have started a few different studies beyond my Jesus Calling morning devotional.  One of which is a study that is truly hitting me in the heart and slowly but seriously letting Jesus work on it and mold me more into what He wants for me to be.  The on-line study is through Proverbs 31 and is on the book by Karen Ehman called "Let. It. Go".  A wonderful book about letting go of control over you life and letting God take the reins.  Simply amazing but that isn't truly what I want to share with you today.

There is someone who tries to enter my life every time I go deeper into my relationship with Jesus.  Someone who is so completely jealous of my relationship with Him.  Someone who wants my attention to be on him and him alone.  This person appears every time I open up my heart to my Savior and say, "Lord change me.  Change my heart.  Make it what you want it to be.  Come into my heart and soul and clear out the junk."  Every single time I say those words, there is someone who loves all the junk he sees in my heart and will do and say anything to get me to hold tight to all the junk I so badly want to throw away.  This person isn't welcome in my home.  He is not welcome in my heart.  He is not welcome in my life.  Yet he is so sly and good at what he does that it is so easy to without knowing it open up a window and letting him come crash on the couch for awhile.  If you haven't guessed it by now, his name is the devil.

You would think that after putting my trust in the Lord for so many years and having this happen every time that I would be on the look out and see it coming.  But friends, I never see it coming.  It catches me off guard almost every single time.  That's how the devil works, when he sees an opportunity he is going to take it.  He is so clever that whatever God is laying on my heart in that weeks study to change, the devil usually attacks that the hardest.  I'm going to be completely transparent with you, this week it was this very verse:

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” ~ Proverbs 15:1

I get teary-eyed just thinking about it guys.  Anger is such an easy thing to give into as human beings.  Hurtful words sometimes can come flying out of your mouth before a second thought is even given.  Hurtful words can cut and cut deep.  And ladies.... the devil knows.  He knows how easily as human beings we can fall into anger and everything that follows it.  He knows that relationships are the easiest thing to go after, and the easiest thing to hurt those relationships is in fact anger.  So let me tell you, he has been working hard to enter this home and make a boom.  Every day there has been something new he has used to try to stir up anger and harsh words in this home.  And if I'm being really honest, there are a few times he succeeded. And as much as that makes my heart hurt, I'm so very thankful I can bring those moments to Jesus, lay them down at His feet and not carry that burden and start fresh again.

Therefore I want to take this time to publicly declare that the devil is NOT welcome in my home.  He is NOT welcome near my family.  He is NOT welcome to try and break up my relationships.  He is NOT welcome to slip through the window unnoticed and crash on my couch.  I am a daughter of the King and that's where my heart belongs.  Every time he tries to bring this family down, all it does is bring us to our knees and cry out for Jesus.  Every time he pushes us to the limits, all it does is make us work harder to become more and more like Jesus.  We aren't perfect and we will mess up but boy do we have a Savior that loves us, holds us in His arms, and let us know it's all going to be ok. 

As always I'm going to try and keep my eyes better pealed for ways the devil is going to try and attack.  I challenge you all to do the same.  Try hard to block him before he even tries to knock on the door.  Every time you draw closer to Jesus, I promise friends he will try to bring you back his way.  Don't let him.  Cling tight to our Lord's hand and His promises.  I promise He will see you through whatever the devil tries to throw at you......

~Chrissy