Sweet Freedom!

Brayden and Riley were in bed the other night reading from a daily devotional book a sweet friend gave me. I love that Brayden wants to read from this each night. We have always done devotions and used a book on my iPod library, but I think it is neat that he took it upon himself to get that book out of my bag and look up verses he likes and reads them to me! Well I heard them discussing guardian angels after I tucked them in. I did not hear the whole conversation, but I heard them talking about how big and amazing they are. Then Brayden started singing to the enemy, "YOU CAN'T TOUCH THIS!" because he knows he has Jesus and the guardian angels on his side! I LOVE THIS!  Oh, yes MC Hammer said it best. LOL.

But this is so true! The enemy cannot touch us! We have a powerful God that we serve and His power lives in us! We speak his name and the enemy has to flee! We speak His truths and His promises and we pray powerful prayers and hell starts shaking! So why do we ever back away in fear and doubt?

THE ENEMY CAN'T TOUCH THIS CHILD OF GOD!

I had an amazing time alone with Jesus last night and he changed my heart and lifted weights in a way only He can do. I found sweet freedom in Him last night and I am so thankful for the weight-free walk I had today for the first time in awhile! I am ready to bust out of my skin I am so full of His joy, strength, and peace! And also- love- even for those who are against me! They know not what they do and I am able to forgive them, let go and walk in freedom- not the bondage that bitterness, unforgiving attitudes, hurt, worry, stress, negativism, doubt, and fear brings. I am able to throw those things off my back and walk away dancing and shouting praise to the one who brings this freedom- then only one that can bring this kind of freedom- and He is my faithful friend Jesus!

His freedom reigns in my life and allows me to dance with joy in the face of the darkness! It allows me to go to sleep at night on a dry pillow- not the usual tear-soaked one that I have been sleeping on  for months now.

Find your freedom today in Jesus Christ. He is our deliverer. He is our fortress. He is our strong tower. He is our place of refuge. He is our strength. He is our all in all.  You cannot and will not find everything you need in anyone else or anywhere else! Find Him and fall in love with Him- He already loves you unconditionally! Then allow Him to take whatever weight you have been carrying and SET YOU FREE!

What To Do-When In A Bad Mood

If you are in a bad mood- follow these steps below:

1. PRAY
2. PRAISE HIM

That's it. That is all that you need to do. Nothing too fancy, nothing too difficult, but...
RESULTS ARE GUARANTEED!!

I have still been dealing with some stone-throwers & fire starters as I have posted about recently and it just seems to be getting worse. I think what makes it even worse....besides that fact that I have done nothing to deserve the slaughter, is that I am such a people person. I love people! I love meeting new people, making new friends...and of course...I love TALKING to people...LOL. Because I love people- need people- I am a bit of a people pleaser too, and I have been working on that one. So this situation that has gotten completely out of hand....really, really hurts. So not only have I been crying my heart out, but now it has gotten to the point of putting me in a bad mood, and ready for this five foot blonde to fight back!

But I don't want to be in a bad mood. I am done crying over it as well! It is taking away from my life! So yesterday, while I was having a difficult time with this situation, Riley says, "you know what we need to do right now- PRAY!"

AMEN!

That is it- when you are in a bad mood- pray! And then praise God and I promise as you draw in near to Him- all else will begin to fade away!  This also works for if you're hurting, heart-broken, depressed, etc- isn't the amazing! Jesus is the cure all one to go to- THE ONLY ONE! Get on your knees- fall at His feet- and lay it all at His feet- LET GO AND LET GOD! Drop off your baggage and give it all to Him and let Him replace it with much better things to carry around like peace, joy, strength & love!

Then begin to get up and praise Him! Shout for joy for all that the Lord has done, is doing, and will do in your life!  Every time I have ever been in a bad mood, or hurting- if I pray and put the praise music on-He has always completely lifted my spirit and set my feet back on the solid rock and gave me the energy and courage to move mountains of bad moods and the situations that created them!

Now here are some other things you can do, but these are just for fun- the first two steps are non-negotiable,  unavoidable, cannot skip them, a MUST do!  These are just some you can choose from to continue to enjoy your day after being put back in sync by the amazing Savior!

*eat chocolate- now if you are like me and seem to lack self- control and instead of eating just a bit- end up finding that a bag (and I mean big bag, not single pack) of M&Ms is suddenly gone and there is no one else in the house to blame that on....then you might want to skip this suggestion!! LOL

*watch a comedy like The Proposal- I don't care how many times I have seen that- sooooo hilarious! And...hey watching Ryan Reynolds- another mood enhancer!! And when you get to the chanting in the woods part- YOU HAVE TO GET UP AND SHAKE IT!! That will cheer you right up!!  You can also put in the Christian comedian Chonda Pierce-she will make you laugh until you hurt! I am putting her into today!

*GET UP AND SHAKE IT! (as stated above) Dancing always causes my mood to mellow out and then once I really get going- gives me energy and brings happiness and smiles (or laughter if you have seen some of my moves)!  I love to dance!! My boys and I all do, so this step is always going on in our house if you need to stop on by Club Christina to shake your groove thang with us! I would list some song suggestions, but I would hate to have some judge my taste in music, as stated earlier I already have enough casting stones going on in my life....but I do know that Salt-n-Peppa said it best, "There's only one true judge and that's God, so chill and let my Father do His job"! :)  He knows my heart and His view of me is the only one that matters! I do all things for Him and His glory and as much as I love people, and will continue to love people, and...we know I will continue to talk, lol, I know that my confidence comes from Christ alone and you can throw stones all you want, by my Savior has a shield around me and allows me to stand firm in His presence no matter what situations are stirring up trouble in my life!!!!

OK, well....I guess that is my second post today...lol..that is what I love about this blog- I just start typing/writing in this journal of mine, and allow God to work through me and teach me, change me, mold me...gotta love it!

*you can also try these suggestions (they work for me): going to the beach, going to an aquarium, playing games with family and friends, paint, take a bubble bath, exercise, go to The Cheesecake Factory (lol- well I guess this step should be mentioned before the exercise because then you will need to exercise after the indulgence), talking of course always works for me too- so go have brunch with a buddy- which is what I am  on my way to do now! Soooo....

I hope you have a great day today! Always seek God first....all else will work out!

And the Winner Is...

The award for most encouraging scene from in a motion picture goes to....
The Death Crawl scene from Facing the Giants

The award for the most challenging scene in a motion picture goes to...
The Death Crawl scene from Facing the Giants

The award for the most motivating scene in a motion picture goes to...
The Death Crawl scene from Facing the Giants

The award for the scene that- makes me weep no matter how many times I watch it and reminds me that with Christ I can get to the end zone no matter how much excruciating pain I have to endure or no matter how many obstacles I have to navigate; with Christ as my joy and strength I can do all things- goes to...
The Death Crawl scene from Facing the Giants!

Yes...I  watched Facing the Giants last night. It has been that kind of month and I needed that movie. I have seen it so many times and yet every time I watch it....I bawl my eyes out the entire movie and just want to jump up and cheer- ready to take on the world knowing that when it comes to all these battles with the enemy-
The winner is....
JESUS AND CHRISTINA!!
Applause please :) Sing with shouts of joy and praise because we got this! I'm taking my trophy home and that is one thing I will proudly dust and keep shining; remembering daily that we already win- so take a deep breath and enter the scene of life- facing it with my award winning grin!

Every scene from that movie were exactly the words I desperately needed, just the reminders I had to hear- NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD AND I WILL PRAISE HIM WHEN I WIN AND PRAISE HIM WHEN I LOSE!

I won't go into too much more because YOU MUST WATCH THAT MOVIE if you have not seen it! I think I am going to have to play the death crawl scene every morning before I start my day!! I will let the main message of that scene and so many other powerful messages from that movie speak for themselves when you watch it...seriously you have homework- go watch that movie- the teacher is telling you to!

But, I want to share the powerful thought that the Lord just laid on my heart. I turned on my computer just now knowing that I wanted to write something on my blog- you see this is my journal and every time I write it is a time of reflection, learning, growing, seeking God for myself...and then as I write I also pray God will use what I have written to draw others close to Him as well. So, I knew I wanted to journal this morning- I needed this time to seek after God and gain His wisdom and peace- there have been several times that I am really not sure what the outcome of my writing will be- or what the message will be- or exactly what lesson God is teaching me is until I begin to type it it. Today is one of those times.

Imagining the death crawl scene and thinking of all that I have been facing this last few months, the verse came to me:
Matthew 11:28-30 (and this is Jesus talking!)

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened 

and I will give you rest. 

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 

for I am gentle and humble in heart 

and you will find rest in me. 

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF LIFE ON OUR BACKS AS WE CRAWL TO THE END ZONE! WE HAVE TO LEARN TO LET IT GO AND REST IN GOD!!!!! 

We are already victorious so forget the weight (life's painful circumstances, all the worries, all the battles you are facing)- DROP THAT LOAD OFF YOUR BACK, Get up from the painful, thigh burning death crawling position- I mean, I am too old for that mess anyways, I will be 35 this month! (remember when we were kids and that seemed sooooo old? lol)

It is time to stand up and start RUSHING TO THAT END ZONE  AS FAST AS MY SHORT LEGS WILL CARRY ME- WEIGHT FREE!!! JESUS IS STRONG ENOUGH TO HANDLE IT- SO GIVE IT TO HIM AND "RUN FOREST, RUN!" (that movie quote fit here well, lol)

AND OF COURSE DON'T FORGET THE VICTORY DANCE IN THE END ZONE :)