iShineInMinistry

Deuteronomy 6:5 (NKJV)

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner (two days, yay!) I have love on the brain and I bet you do too. Some of us may be thinking about someone we care about, perhaps a husband, best friend, parent, child, someone we disciple, a sibling or anyone else that means a lot to us. I know that we enjoy certain people because of their lovely qualities, character or if we are honest…some of the perks that come with being associated with them (ouch, but it’s true, let’s be real)! While this is the case a lot, we must remember that we are called to love, fully, sincerely, unconditionally and with a heart of mercy and grace. My question is…are we truly doing this? Are we even truly doing this with the Lord?

Let’s be honest here, we are such fair-weather people sometimes. When we get our way and the praise reports are coming in, we are all about feeling the love. However, when we see things turn south or disastrous due to our own actions or because of this sin-filled, fallen world, how does our perspective on love re-route? Are we quick to demand, get revenge, ignore, un-friend or do something else to assert ourselves and show that no one takes our love for granted? Are we quick to stop paying attention to the Lord as much? Do we even realize how much we take others’ love for granted ourselves? Do we mention how much we take God’s love, grace, mercy and loving-kindness for granted almost daily?

This Valentine’s Day, I want each of us to take a self-inventory of our hearts, our motives and our actions. Let’s ask God to search our hearts so that we can really show true, devoted love to Him and His people this week and all the days of our lives.

Psalm 139:23-24 (NKJV)

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 46:1 (NIV)

God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

Lately, “You need to relax” has become my favorite saying. I currently use it around sassy babies, dramatic friends and basically anyone that happens to be in my line of vision that could potentially dull my sparkle with their negativity or drama. While I realize there are many hard things going on in our lives, in our world and in pretty much every minute of the day…I think this advice is much needed, because it gives us an opportunity to take a moment and understand that God is still in control.

We have to stay in that thought process…God is in control. There are so many crazy things coming at us at all times. This is the only truth that will remain; it’s a constant for us! When mayhem and madness ensue…God is in control. When our plans fall through, God is in control. When we don’t get our way and want to throw a tantrum, God is in control. When God specifically tells us that in this world we will have trials and trouble, but take heart, He has overcome the world…that just proves that God knows and is still in control!

Let us remember to take this truth to heart in every moment of every day. In every situation, whether joyful or heartbreaking. In all circumstances, whether we want to believe it or not…because it is true! We need to relax, and then remember who is in control. We need to lift our eyes to the hills and know where our help comes from. We need to say it is well with our soul. We need to say though He slay me, still I will trust Him and let God continue that faith work that He started in us. No one ever said going through the refiner’s fire would feel like the steam room or sauna at the day spa…but we can have peace and know that God is there with us.

Psalm 46:5 (NIV)

God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her at break of day.

Psalm 90:12 (HCSB)

Teach us to number our days carefully

so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.

Happy New Year – and welcome to 2017! This is the year to take the time that we have more seriously. We can’t have #greatexpectations if we are letting our lives slip away in the mundane, useless and quite honestly boring occurrences that we allow to overtake the minutes and hours of each day. This year, I think that we all need to evaluate how we spend our time and make a genuine effort to do what is best for our lives. Here are some things to consider as we use our time more wisely:

Am I saying yes to certain events/outings/gatherings just to say that I have something to do?

Do you find yourself at events or other types of venues and just think to yourself, “Why am I even here?” or “This is three hours of my life I will never get back” or “I feel more drained/frustrated/lonely than I would if I would have done something else right now.”? If any of these thoughts or flickers of doubt come to mind as you pray about what you say yes to…chances are, you need to learn how to say “no thank you” and move on to things that are better suited for what God wants for you.

This may be harder to do than you think. Sometimes, we may just stay in our comfortable funk because at least we know how it will end (usually in lack-luster disappointment, but at least there are no surprises); however, this is the year to have great expectations. So, go…get a life!

Am I saying no to things that are actually worthwhile to do something unhealthy/unproductive, sit around watching television or scrolling through social media for hours on end?

Are there things that may actually help you grow closer to the Lord or assist you in becoming more responsible, consistent and godlier in character that you are avoiding? Are you skipping out on things that could potentially expose areas in your life that need help because if you don’t search your heart, you don’t have to surrender? This is a disservice to your life and to the God who sent His only begotten Son to die for your sins and set you free from a life of destruction and deception. Now you are just deceiving yourself and basically backsliding.

Once again, pray, go…and get a life! This life will be one that truly reflects Christ instead of a façade of shallow that no one knows deeply (because you don’t want them to see who you truly are). Go serve, go fellowship, go get discipled by someone that is further along that you are, go live life more abundantly!

Are the things that fill my time beneficial to me in the long run or eternally speaking?

Are you just doing fun things with Christians that really have no value whatsoever and calling it fellowship? This seems to be something we are all guilty of at some point, yet none of us will admit it. Are you getting lost in a fantasy world and not living in reality? Are you slaving away at work, basically merely existing and receiving a paycheck every two weeks? Are you volunteering for everything, whether or not you feel called to it so that you can be a “good Christian girl”? Are you going forth into all nations to make disciples when the Lord specifically called you to minister to your unsaved family?

There are so many things that could look good on the outside that leave us empty and/or lacking on the inside.

Let’s make sure that we are listening to the voice of the Lord and not just talking at Him all the time with a list of suggestions masked as prayer. Also, we need to pray more; what could possibly be a better use of our time than that? Let’s make the most of this New Year and do what truly matters. Can we all commit to making efficient use of our time and doing what is pleasing to the Lord and our well-being so that we can sparkle for Him this year? Let’s do this together…I will pray for you and you can pray for me!

Ephesians 5:14-16 (NKJV) 

Therefore He says:

“Awake, you who sleep,

Arise from the dead,

And Christ will give you light.”

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Psalm 31:15 (NIV)

My times are in your hands…

Think about five things that take up most of your time. Now think about a few things you would like to incorporate into your life this year. Ask the Lord to help you balance and help you say, “no thank you” when necessary. Then, pay attention to anything He may reveal to you.

We are starting off 2017 with a fabulous guest psot from Dasia...one of my favorite teenagers! Take a look at her exhortation to us as we start this new year of wonderful blessings!

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

~ Proverbs 16:3~

This has been a crazy, unpredictable year, and a new start is about to come: 2017! With the New Year comes more goals and resolutions from people set for a different outlook on life, attitude, or anything else. Usually, these "resolutions" only last for a few days at the most. But as others want to be new for 2017, we as Christians should have goals to serve God and spread His word. And not just for a week or so, but forever! For all of our lives we should show who we are and how God is working in us.

When people set goals such as getting fit, it's a great motivation to work hard and look good. But striving for Christ is so much more rewarding in the long run. You are receiving eternal life.

Like any normal person trying to follow God, it's hard. It can be super challenging to stay with Him throughout all of the hardships and distractions of the world; this was especially true in 2016. I know for me, sports, school, and just everyday life always sidetracked me to a place where I'm basically almost blinded. I'm so caught up in the ways of the world I forget the most important thing in my life!

For 2017, being close to God is the best aspiration you can have. Whatever happens this year, decade, or lifetime, He's going to be there for you.

We are literally in the last five days of 2016…the year of #TheCharmedLife. The last 361 days truly have been filled with ups, downs and everything in between. Now, with all of the year’s events behind us, we get to sit in the presence of the Lord, seek His face and ask for a sparkly-lit path as we enter 2017.

What are you thinking of for this upcoming year? Do you feel called to pray more? (we all should). Are you thinking about serving more? Would you like to change jobs, be more active in your plans for a future husband and family, move to another state (or country) or in one statement, just surrender to the Lord more? Whatever your thoughts for the year, I think we need to make sure that our number one focus is Jesus so that the most amazing plan will fall into place.

Personally, I have decided that 2017 is going to be the year of great expectations. God is clearly up to something in literally every area of my life…so I can expect amazing things to come of it if I’m faithful and obedient. I can also expect to praise the Lord as I grow in godly character when the trials and valleys hit in addition to having a grand old time when life is glitter and rainbows. I can expect opportunities to grow my trust in Him, step out in faith and learn how to be more diligent, more patient, more kind and gracious. I can expect the joy of the Lord to be my strength and carry me through the next 365 days (or less depending on what the Lord has in store…rapture perhaps)!

Let’s make the most of the next five days, enjoying life, seeking God and asking for Him to show us the way that we should go. It will be wonderful to start the year off in the right perspective…won’t you join me?

On Saturday, December 31st at 1pm (Eastern Time), please take 30 minutes to pray about the upcoming year with me. We can pray about our lives, our country, our church, our friends, family and other things that we would like to bring to the throne of grace. I look forward to being on one accord with you on that day.

Blessings, Hearts and Hugs,

Jacquelynn Marie