Unmovable

"At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken-that is, created things-so that what cannot be shaken may remain." Hebrews 12:25-27

Spring to Summer, Fall to Winter; seasons are so amazing to me. As the seasons change nature begins to adapt to these changes. During the Fall one of my favorite things begins to happen, the green leaves of Spring and Summer begin to change colors creating a myriad of red, orange, yellow and brown, which characterize the colors of the Fall season. The cool winds begin to blow during Fall, making way for the winter. As the trees are touched by the wind, they sway and the leaves that were once green with life began to fall to the ground. However, as we look at this change of season, trees hold one fundamental truth: even as the wind and change in weather blows the leaves from the branches, the base and roots of the tree remain intact. There is no change in them as a result of the shaking they are experiencing, the roots are planted firmly in the earth, unshakable, unmoved.

These trees are so reminiscent of our beliefs and what we hold to be true about our faith. Often there are times when the winds of life blow. We find ourselves caught in the middle of uncertainty, doubt, fear, unbelief and countless others things. As we grow in the light of God's word and begin to understand the fundamental truths that God reveals to us through His Word, we become planted and grounded in what our God says about us and to us. The foundation of this truth, which is God, creates a stable environment for us to plant our faith and hope. There are so many things in this world that come as an illusion to the truth. People hold their own sense of theology, beliefs and values based on their perception of what is right and wrong. However as believers, we don't have to lean to our own understanding, God has given us the foundation in His Word. As our lives are transformed by it, we become rooted in the unshakable, unchanging values of God. He promises in Hebrews, there will be a shaking of the earth and heaven, meaning that anything unstable is subject to fall away. As these winds of the world blow and God begins to separate the shakable (removable) from the unshakable (established), we want to remember to build our lives and thinking around the truths of God's word, which will be the only thing sure foundation we will have in the end.

Prayer: God, thank you for the opportunity to see and understand the light of your Word. I pray that you would plant my life in the unmovable foundation that is You. Grant me the opportunity to share this truth with others so that their faith can be established as well. -Amen

Got Power?

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory." Psalms 63:1-2

Have you ever taken a moment to think about how much God does for us on a daily basis? He wakes us with new mercy every day, gives us strength to perform various tasks throughout the day such as working, taking children to school, running errands, and etc. Whether you realize it or not, God is the source of our energy and enables us with the ability to do all that we do day in and day out. As we go about living our lives, it is very important that we take time to connect to the source.

In Psalms ch. 63, David expresses to God just how much he needs to be connected to him. He likens it to water in a dry and weary land, this was and currently is a necessity for our lives. Water is needed to sustain our lives. For a moment lets consider a modern day necessity, our cell phones. No matter the make or model, cell phones are a necessity on most people's list. Many will search high and low for their cell phone if its lost, while others buy the latest and greatest in cell phone technology for one purpose and one purpose only: to stay connected. My cell phone taught me a very important lesson about God recently. I have a Blackberry and just like any other phone, it has to be charged from a power source in order to function properly. If it does not get power from its source, it displays a message that says "Low Battery, No Signal Recieved" therefore causing the phone to be disconnected and unable to recieve and send out any type of signal at all no phone calls, emails, text messages or voicemails will be communicated from the phone when it is in this status. It gets nothing, zero, zilch, nada, nope! Nothing at all. If the power source is this important to a cell phone, how much more do you think we need to be connected to our power source? God allows us to connect and commune with him because he is the source that energizes and sustains us. As we allow him to provide power, we function properly and recieve the right signal, which is his direct instruction for our lives. Do you have power or low batteries? Need a power boost? HE is just a prayer away.....

Prayer: Lord, I acknowledge you as the Source of all things. I pray that you will balance my life and allow me to focus on spending time in your presence. As I lean and depend on you to be the source, I realize that you are the nessessity my soul seeks. Lead me to your throne of Grace where I can experience your resourceful power. I thank you now for this and all things. -Amen

Live New, Live Changed

"And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding. "Daniel 2:21

The day to night, the winter to spring, the young to old, the days to years....Change is all around us, all the time. Everything that is a part of who we are and who we know in this life is subject to one thing and that is change. Recently, I have began a journey to change some things in my life. They are things that I have targeted for enhancement, improvement and betterment. It is always good from time to time to evaluate the way you live your life and how it can become better if those things were to change. It is about being intentional about change and being very aware of the fact of how certain aspects are helping or hindering you. This could be as easy as changing a habit or deciding to change your thinking about something that has been a part of you for your whole life. Whatever level you would like to experience change, it is possible for you today. Why wait until tomorrow or the new year? Change for you can start right here, right now.
I once heard a quote that said, "Become the change you want to see", this means the destiny of the change that you would like to experience lies in your hand. It is up to you if you would like to live differently. Change does not have to be some big grandious occasion that has a bunch of bells, whistles and surprises. It is a process, something that takes place little by little, day by day. The true and living God is one of growth and betterment. Anything that is growing is constantly changing. His plan for us during every step of our earthly journey is to live better than the moment we previously experienced. The mindset to change is where we must start if we would like to see things differently in our lives. With God, change can begin right here and right now for you. Accept the challenge and begin to Live New and Live Changed.
Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to the things you would like me to change in my life. I know that I can experience the growth and expansion that comes from you on a daily basis if I would turn my heart to yours. Thank you for the ability to grow and experience the beauty of expansion on every level of my life. -Amen

Living Purpose, Finding Balance

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matt 6:33
I believe I learned one of the most important lessons of life yesterday. It was something that I heard about, but I got an opportunity to put it into practice. The lesson was about Balance. In a world where we are constantly juggling career, family, church, chores, activities and just life in general, it is very easy to lose sight of balance and what is really most important. About 18 months ago, I was in a lot of prayer and seeking God's heart about my purpose in life, since then, he has revealed to me my purpose for living and I have began to live out that purpose. I read in Rick Warren's book "The Purpose Driven Life" that sometimes when you are living for purpose, it is not a matter of doing more, it is a matter of doing less while maximizing purpose. When I read this, it completely defied how I had been living my life, I was under the impression that the more you do, the more you matter. This mentality was causing me to run from here to there to everywhere trying to accomplish multiple things at the same time, to my disadvantage, it was not a balanced process at all.
Currently, my life's purpose is beginning to take shape and I can see God's hand in what I am accomplishing for him. Recently, I was presented with an opportunity to do something that I love to do. I was excited about the opportunity because I am so passionate about what I was asked of me. Then God spoke and said, "Is this within purpose right now?", as I was asked this, I thought about balance and what would become of purpose if I threw this thing into the equation. It was not in the realm of purpose so I declined the opportunity. Purpose causes a realignment of priorities and an adjustment of your will to God's will. Purpose brings balance because our will revolves around God. Balance breeds Purpose because it frees us to up to focus on what is really most important. He will test us to see if we will really do what he is calling us to do, which is seek his kingdom through accomplishing his purpose. The decision is not always easy, but the benefit is maximizing your life for his purpose.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me a purpose for living. As I live allow me to balance my life around your will for my life. Open my eyes to see what you are doing around me, you have given me all the tools to do what you have asked of me and I pray that I will maximize those things for your glory. Amen

Mount Up!

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

Eagles are one of the world's most majestic and sought after birds. The characteristics they posssess are unparellel to any other bird in the animal kingdom. Eagles fly at the highest altitude of any bird and they are the only birds that can look directly at the sun and not be blinded by the brightness of its light. Eagles are indeed very special creations. However, they like all birds have a process by which they must learn to fly. When their parent has nurtured them in the security of the nest long enough, they are pushed out of the nest to flap their unsuspecting wings and learn their first lesson in flying. The little eagle stumbles of course, unaware that they have the strength in their wings to pass their flying test. The reassurance that they have unknowingly is that their parent never take their eyes off of them while they are learning to fly. The parent's protective wings will shelter their little eaglet even when they seem to be falling from the nest.

This depiction of the eagle is lovingly similiar to how God deals kindly with his children. He teaches us the lessons of life, instructs us on which direction to go and then we are given the test with his intention that we pass with flying colors. God promises us in Isaiah 40:31 that he would give us strength if we wait on him to lovingly lead us. If we do what we are called to do for him, he will strength "our wings" to fly high and prevail over everything that we face along the journey of life. Is God calling you to "mount up" today? If so, obey him at all costs and your strength will be renewed beyond what you could ever imagine.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me your strength. I stand on your promise that you would renew me to walk through the situations of life. I trust and believe that you are faithful to me and that regardless of what have called me to do, I will not grow weary in it. Thank you for being the source of all strength. -Amen

Boundless Praise

"Because your love is better than life, I will praise you. I will praise you as
long as I live." Psalms 73:3-4
Have you ever been at a point of indecision? There is no help in sight and
you don't know what to do? I have been at that point more times than I can
count and at that point, it seems sensible to act senseless. The feelings
of anger, disappointment, frustration and discontentment come almost by default.
But it is in those times when we have exhausted all natural resources that God calls us to do something completely out of ourselves. He calls on us to praise him. Cry out to him in these times of uncertainty. Praise has changed so many situations in my life including one that happened just this morning! I know He can undoubtedly do the same for you.
The point that he wants us to understand is that we are made to lean and rely
on him. He wants to provide for us and fill us with his joy regardless of the state
that we are in. It doesn't matter where you are on the road of life, praise will
elevate, strengthen and most importantly invite God to dwell in the midst of
whatever is going on in your life. Praise is the doorway to release a supernatural
move of God. When you decide to praise God, you are saying to God, "I entrust this
to you, I exalt you above it." Sometimes it takes an unlikely response to get a
supernatual solution. Go forth today and praise God regardless of what you face.
Remember He is Exalted on High!
Prayer: Lord Most High, I thank you for reigning over my life and the situations
of it. I exalt you above all that I am facing today because you promised to be my
supernatural redeemer. I lift my hands and praise you above all. Amen

* I'm blogging from my phone this morning,
sorry about the picture. I'll post one soon. :)

Love ya lots, Alexis Lior