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

Rejoice!!

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
-Psalm 118:24
This was the verse that I read this morning. And it really got to me. So many times I don't feel good or don't want to get out of bed, and immediately, I get myself into a negative state of mind from the get go. I realized that I need to remind myself every day God gives me, that he kept me on this Earth for another day for a reason, definitely  not by accident! I need to use this day to bring glory to his name in everything that I do! While doing this I need to be rejoicing in all that is good and from my Abba, Father!!!So I encourage you to start out your day by spending a few moments with your Lord in prayer and in his word. He gives the best advice and encouragement ever!!! Then you will have something to rejoice about All the day long! Jesus--his love, compassion and unending joy!!!! Pray for him to fill you with the fullness of him!!!
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. -Ephesians 3:19
 I'm going to leave you with one last scripture.
      I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. -Psalm 34:1

Jesus Loves you!
Leah <><

Made to worship!

  Worship is an everyday occurence it isn't just what we do or where we go on Sundays and Wednesday nights. Worship is more than praising Jesus through song and his word for an hour and then going back to "everyday routine". Worship should be our routine we need to praise God day in and day out! 
Worship-
noun
adoring reverence or regard
Worship-
verb
to feel an adoring reverence or regard
--- Worship isn't just a place, it is a feeling of adoration that we need to give God daily! One of the synonyms for worship is glorify. As Christians we need to bring glory to his name. Everyone will worship something even people who aren't christians will worship something and you will become like what you worship. I don't know about you, but I strive to give God the glory in all things and to worship him 7 days a week and 24 hours a day! I want to become christ-like in everything!  

Phillipians 2:5
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."

I also want to share with you a blog that Brent Colley wrote. Check it out: http://bamcolley.blogspot.com/2010/03/worship-is-not-event-its-lifestyle.html

Glory to God,

 Leah <><

How Great is Our God?

If only this question could be answered to it's fullest extent.
     There are so many great things about our God. He is healer, power, strength, helper, salvation, life, splendor, wonderful, awesome, amazing, good, light, indescrible, incomparable , faithful, with us, mighty, GREAT! These are just a few characteristics of our God but  even if I filled this whole post with words that described God  it would no where near compare to the greatness of our God! Sometimes I find myself discouraged because I wish there were a better phrase than "I Love you!" To express my love for my Lord! But then I remind myself that God knows me and he knows how I love him! God is Joy! So I ask you "How great is our God?" Please feel free to answer in a comment expressing the great things God has done or is doing in your life or just  simply some characteristic I haven't mentioned!