In Whom Do You Trust?

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
but wholly trust in Jesus' name

                   Psalm 146:3
Put not your trust in princes,
    in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
    on that very day his plans perish.
Today I am meditating on this few words. How many times do we say these words or sing these lyrics and not live them out? I know I am guilty of it on a daily basis. We put our trust in people; friends, family. We put our trust in our talents. We put our trust in our government. We put our trust in our financial situations. Are seeing a pattern? Only occasionally do we truly put our trust in our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is okay to trust other people, but it is not okay when we put all of our trust in people and say we trust Jesus. Then it becomes believe it or not a form of idolatry.

When we put someone above Jesus in our lives we are committing the same sin as the Israelites did in Exodus 32. Moses had followed The Lord's command and brought them out of Egypt. In Exodus 24 God called Moses back up on Mount Sinai and told him to stay there. While Moses was gone the Israelites thought he was taking too long and was not going to return, so they said to Aaron,  “Come, make a god for us who will go in front of us. For we do not know what has become of Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt.” So Aaron granted this wish and told them to gather up gold and he formed a statue in the shape of calf. Then the people said “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” When Aaron saw this he built an altar around it. The Lord then became angry he told Moses to go back to the Israelites because they had become corrupt and turned to sin. He told them they had created idols given gifts to them and praised them for bringing them out of Egypt.

When we put our trust in anything other than Jesus we are committing the same sin that the people Moses had delivered from Egypt committed. Our Lord deserves more than us just saying that we put our trust in him. He needs us to show him that is he alone that we trust.

Psalm 31:6

I hate those who worship false gods. But I trust in the Lord.

Romans 4:24

They were for us also. God will make us right with Himself the same way He did Abraham, if we put our trust in God Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

Colossians 2:6

As you have put your trust in Christ Jesus the Lord to save you from the punishment of sin, now let Him lead youin every step.

Leave it All Behind and Listen to the Voice of Truth

This past weekend I got the privilege to attend "Xtreme Winter"---(A youth conference featuring various speakers and Christian artists all proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.) We left all 40-something of us early, and I mean EARLY Thursday morning. We had planned to arrive in Gatlinburg at around what was supposed to be 2 'o clock.....Well, traveling with 6 small children, 30 something teenagers and at least 4 grown men that have the smallest bladder in the Continental US we arrived at approximately 5:15. We arrived in one piece well all was intact except for one bus tire which had been popped due to a very elevated curb. Any who, once we arrived at our hotel, checked in, and changed clothes, finally the time had arrived to travel by foot to the convention center to hear the first night's speaker (whom I cannot remember his name) and worship with Casting Crowns. The speaker was great and then it was time for Casting Crowns. I was anxious at first about coming on this trip because I had been sick on and off the majority of the past few months, but as soon as Casting Crowns sang their song "Come to the Well" God let me know rather quickly that I was there for a reason! Worry is the sin I struggle with the most and it being around Christmas, which was my late mother's favorite time of the year, the struggle has been more prominent in my life lately. In the lyrics of this song it says repeatedly "Leave it all behind...Leave it all behind....Leave it all behind...and Come to the Well" And God whispered to me at that very moment, standing there very near the back of a convention center in Gatlinburg, TN that I just needed to let go of my worry, to.."Leave it all behind"...and Go to him "the Well". Then while I was fighting my worry and going over and over in my mind and wrestling with God about what he had just spoken to me through the song "come to the well" They began singing "Voice of Truth" and all of the lyrics meant something this time, usually I would just sing along with this song not actually meditating on what each lyric actually meant, but the two lines of this song that spoke to me the most said "The voice of truth tells me a different story. The voice of truth says do not be afraid." Then and there I stopped wrestling with God and realized I have really got to Let Go and Let God take care of all my anxieties and all my worries to truly be a follower of Christ I need to trust him completely. I had been listening to the wrong voice when I was worrying.. The voice of the liar tells you the incorrect story the voice of the liar says FEAR!  I mean sure I'll still have my days cause hey, I'm human but I need to remind myself daily that with my God ALL things are possible and he cares for me! I encourage you to give your worries over to God! I'm praying that anyone who struggles with worry that they have an ah-ha moment like I did and they realize that God can take whatever trial you are going through and turn it into a triumph!

God Bless,
Leah <><

Mission: Jesus

This past week I went on my first mission trip to Wichita, Kansas. To say the least I was a bit nervous at first.... Thoughts were running through my head; "what if I say the wrong thing" "what if I'm not ready" etc. I spoke to someone that I really look up to about this and he encouraged me with this scripture 1 Thessalonians 5:24 "The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it." And boy did he ever "Do it"!!! God blew my face completely off this past week! He gave me the strength and the courage to do things that I thought I'd never be able to do!!! I spoke to people I had never met before about their spirituality! If I can speak to people that I probably will never see again about their eternity then why do I find it so hard to speak to people I have close relationships with about their eternity? God gave me a brokenness for the lost this week stronger than it has ever been! I want everyone I come in contact with to know that I'm living for my Lord Jesus! I want everyone to experience the saving grace of Jesus Christ!! But someone has to tell them how they can experience this salvation and the love of a savior!!! I want to tell everyone about Jesus!!! Christ loves you and wants a personal relationship with you! If you will take that one step of faith and realize that you are a sinner and ask him to be lord of your life you can experience salvation that only comes from Jesus Christ!!Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3 ESV)It's not about a certain prayer it is about total repentance and complete surrender to Jesus and then asking him to be lord of your life then living your life for him everyday!!! Live your life for him!!! Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21 ESV)

I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice
To worship you, Oh my soul rejoice!
Take joy, my King, in what you hear
May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear

Jesus is the sweetest name I will ever hear! There is so much power in those five letters. It is the most powerful name ever! The name of Jesus brings peace, joy, grace, love and so many other things! I don't think we spend enough time telling you how much we love you Lord! I am trying to make it a point in my daily walk with you to let you know how much I love you through my words and my actions!
I love you LORD!

Leah <><

JESUS SAVES!

I encourage you to meditate on the words and if you feel the urge to sing and exalt the name of Jesus, by all means go right ahead!!!!! "We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Spread the tidings all around: Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Bear the news to every land, Climb the mountains, cross the waves; Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command; Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Waft it on the rolling tide: Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Tell to sinners far and wide: Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Sing, you islands of the sea; Echo back, you ocean caves; Earth shall keep her jubilee: Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Sing above the battle strife: Jesus saves! Jesus saves! By His death and endless life Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Shout it brightly through the gloom, When the heart for mercy craves; Sing in triumph o’er the tomb: Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Give the winds a mighty voice: Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Let the nations now rejoice: Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Shout salvation full and free; Highest hills and deepest caves; This our song of victory: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!" “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." -Romans 10:13 Leah <><

Family

      I have been blessed with a great family; a loving father, a brother, who even though we have our disagreements,  has been my best friend, and my late mother who was a great godly influence in my life. When my mother passed away and went to be with the Lord in paradise, I was 14 years old. When this happened it made me realize how much I needed God in my life. I was saved at the age of 10, even though it hurts me to say this now, I was a lazy christian.I was in church every Sunday but I wasn't praising Jesus every other day of the week like I should have been.
        After my mom died my best friend invited me to come to church with her on a Wednesday night. To be honest, at the time I did not want to go. I was trying to think of any excuse not to, but I didn't have one. I went to church with her and that night it hit me...HARD....that I wasn't giving God my all! Ever since that night I have attended church there. I have met so many great life-long friends. I have also had the priviledge of being a part of their Church Family. In the past year I have grown really close to one family at the church that I attend. I know that if ever, or whenever I need something or someone to talk to that they will be there for me. I know that God has brought us together for a reason. And in his own  mysterious way God has made me a part of their family. I would do anything for them! They would do anything for me. They treat me as their own. I appreciate everything that they do for me. Brent and Mandy have so greatly impacted my life and my walk with God. Mandy is the one person that I look up to. She inspires me everyday. I pray that when I grow up I will be as good of a mother and loving wife as she is. I pray daily that I will be the best godly, role model, that I can be for Abbey and Little B.

     Thank you Lord for both of the amazing families you have allowed me to be a part of! I am so blessed to have every single one of these special people in my life.

I  Love you, Lord!

Leah <><

Count your blessings...name them one by one!

This morning I started thinking about a favorite hymn of mine...
"Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by."

Do you take the time on a daily basis to stop and thank God for all that he has done for you? Or all he has blessed you with? Personally, I find myself (as bad as this may sound) thinking I'm "too busy". This morning  it has really hit me in the face how much God has blessed me with and how little I thank him daily. Instead of making time to fit quality time with Jesus in....I need to spend time with Jesus first and foremost, then fit my day around Jesus! I want to be Jesus centered. Thank the Lord today and everyday for all the blessings he has given to you!

"For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield."
-Psalm 5:12

Leah