My New Crown

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."   Isaiah 43:19 

This Scripture is fitting for me right now. God is doing a new work in me... and preparing me for the future that He has for me. 

Last fall, I participated in our local Healthy Eating Adventure and now I am Vegan (except for honey...have to have my honey), eating lots of fruits and veggies. I lost almost 20 pounds too! 

"...who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles." Psalm 103:5

Photo from 2012

And then, God prompted me to go natural in my hair color, which has turned out to be a beautiful gray, silver, and white. So my auburn Nice 'N Easy #111 hair is gone. My best friend blessed me by cutting it and giving me this fun, short style! I'm sending the hair to Locks for Love.

"Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness..." 2 Timothy 4:8

God has been teaching me about wearing His garments and crown (spiritually), but it turns out that the spiritual and physical worlds are connected more than we know. Somehow, my healthy eating and losing weight is connected to my spiritual robe and my gray hair to my spiritual crown.

What has God been teaching you? Do you see correlations between the physical and spiritual?

Book Review: Climbing With Abraham

Great 30 Day Devo to start the New Year off right!

Climbing with Abraham: 30 Devotionals to Help You Grow Your Faith, Build Your Life, and Discover God's Calling (Testament Heroes Book 1) by David Ramos (currently .99 for Kindle)

Overview: The Christian life requires an immense amount of faith. Often when frustrations and challenges arise, we are left wondering where God is. Thousands of years ago a man found himself in the same struggle. God had chosen Abraham for great things. But the man who would go on to become the Father of Nations had to first learn how to take the smallest steps of faith.

How did Abraham become a character of legendary faith? And how can we learn from his example so that we can become the great men and women God has called us to be? Climbing with Abraham is a thirty-day devotional which answers these questions. In this short book you will be challenged, inspired and taught how to become a faith giant! Start your journey today and take the climb with one of the greatest Biblical characters towards your purpose. 

 

Dawn's Recommendation: 5 of 5 Stars!

What I Liked: I love these one-page devos! They are easy to read, yet they encourage a deepening of faith. Each devo begins with Scripture reading. Then, as you learn more about Abraham, David Ramos encourages you to apply what you learn to your life. He closes each one with a Takeaway and a Prayer. Each devotion shares a powerful truth about God, and by learning more about Abraham and his interaction with God, we can begin to press into God, as well. God spoke to Abraham and even to Hagar, so why wouldn't He speak to us? Let this devo series take you closer to God Almighty! Here are a few topics that really spoke to me:

*Listening and following God
*Dealing with frustration
*Trusting God when His timing is not our own
*Making mistakes
*Trusting God's promises and being patient
*Leadership and spiritual responsibility

As I read each devotion, I have been journaling too and this has helped me apply what I am learning to my own faith journey. I think many readers will identify with the topics. Great devotion series!

 

Disclaimer: I received this e-book for free from the author in exchange for my honest review.

A Song for Sunday - This Is Christmas - Kutless

This Is Christmas by Kutless

Identity

courtesy morguefile, pedrojperez

We talked last night about how people have a mask on, like those who commit violence (recent shootings in Harrisburg, PA). They act tough, but are really cowards.

Some wear a mask that shows the world they are tough (bullies). Some, like me, wore a mask that did not cry and one that conformed to the world (in looks and behavior) just to survive school because of what the bullies did. 

Either way, bullies or victims...all wear a mask. They are not living in their true identities in Christ. He takes off the masks to reveal breathtaking light, holiness, worthiness, love, glory, honor, peace, joy...the list goes on and on.

I wrote this this morning, strumming it to the guitar.

Oh, teach me how to live...in my identity. 2x
I want to walk the way You walk.
I want to talk the way You talk.
I want to do the things You do, and even more.
I thank You for the power in me, for the authority.
For all You created me, to be. I thank You, Lord. I thank You, Lord.
Let me step into Your path and never go back.
Your holy hand will guide me, on the path to eternity.
Oh, teach me how to live.
Oh, teach me how to live.
Oh, teach me how to live...in my identity.


Believe the truth...your identity is in Him. There is no mask. Take it off and walk in His healing light.

Lift Up Your Heads

Lift up your heads, O gates, 
Lift them up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
Who is this King of glory?
         He is the Lord God Almighty. 
- Psalm 24:9-10

This Scripture has been coming to me over and over again. I feel led to pray it over friends and family, church and work, and over my town. Today, I realized that we are the gates, the doors. We are so heavy and burdened that we forget to look up. Our hinges are corroded and rusted in place. We are stubborn and stiff-necked. Lord, we feel stuck! We need You to free us, so that we can move in your love and grace and peace. If only we would make the first step; to lift up our heads, then we would catch a glimpse of the King. 

Lord, help us say yes to You. Help us let You in. You will lift and open our heavy doors in your strong hands. You are able to handle the burdens that have kept us down for so long. You are healer and deliverer. Redeem your church, your land, and your people, I pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.