You Have the Authority!

Y

     ou know those early-morning thoughts that just sort of pop into your brain and you wonder why in the world the Lord would direct your mind in such a way??? Well, this morning in the shower, of all places, God reminded me of a situation that happened just a few days ago and He gave me a scripture to go along with it; one that I don’t visit very often.

He reminded me of the other day when my son was getting ready to take a test in one of his college classes. He knew he hadn’t prepared nearly enough. He was out of town the whole weekend prior and hadn’t had the time to study.

But I remembered that the last thing he said before heading in for the exam was, “Well, I guess I just have to go in and take it like a man.” He said it half-jokingly because it’s something my husband always says.

But this morning, I thought….we don’t have to “take it like a man” or like a woman.

Because of Jesus, we can take each and every situation like the 

children of God that we are!

He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have

given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions 
and to overcome  all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not

rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names

are written in heaven." 

(Luke 10:17-20)

Amen!

You’ve been given the authority to rise up in His name and to trample ALL that brings fear and unrest! It’s not only a matter of “I can do all things….” But I can absolutely “trample” evil and then “REJOICE” because my name is written in heaven! Praise God! Taking on anything “like a man” implies that we’re continuing to go about life by our own strength.

I’ll admit, sometimes I fear looking at the balance in my checking account or maybe going through the mail and opening a bill. Fear and unrest can cripple me when I hand over the car keys to my son and watch him drive away (without using his turn signal). Fear wears many faces, yet none are of the Lord. God doesn't want us hindered by fear or unrest. What sort of witness are we to the “pre” Christian if we’re giving in to the fears of this world while our lips speak of undying faith?

Well, I’ll step down from my soap box now….just wanted to share my thought for the day.

Please remember that you are loved, sweet friend. You have been given the authority to trample  the snakes and scorpions in your life and to take each day as a precious child of God!

Be blessed,

Debbie

Photo credit

Rocks in the Soil (Revisited)

Even now…even after so many years of working the soil and tending the blessings of my little garden space… I’m amazed that God still teaches me life lessons in all that lies beyond the splintered gate.

I share a lot about my passion and love for my garden, probably because that’s where He speaks to me – there, in my space, in our time together, in the tending and in the doing; the sowing and the reaping.

Even now…even after all these years of the garden evolving and my faith growing…neither is without its “rocks;” those obstacles that hinder growth and divert a root’s path. Praise God that the rocks don’t kill the roots, but merely change its course! When God sets growth in motion, the roots simply go around or incorporate the obstacles somehow…yet continue to produce the blessing.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.             (2 Cor. 4:8-9)

Even now…even after all these years, He’s still growing me, allowing the rocks but also providing fertile soil. I praise Him for the blessings, for the lessons learned…and for the rocks.

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Cor. 9:8)

Wishing you Many Blessings

today and always!

Debbie

Tuesday Tips!

Good Morning Lovelies!! ♥
Welcome to "Tuesday Tips." Each Tuesday on the Christian Women's Voice Magazine Facebook page, you're invited to share your tried and true household tips; whether it be cleaning related, your awesome organizational skills, household finances, etiquette, ANYTHING that might help others to bring order to their lives and to their home.
The answers you share will be sprinkled throughout future issues of our (print) magazine. In fact, we're sharing a tip from "Stephanie" in our current Jan/Feb issue!!!! 

So, by sharing your tips, you're giving permission for your tip AND your first name to appear in our magazine!

So, come on...what helpful tip would you like to share with other women today????

An Opportunity for YOU!

Here's a little something that just might be of interest to you if you'd like to see your work published OR if you have maybe a well-organized or beautiful or inspiring space you'd like to share with the readers of Christian Women's Voice Magazine:

Be Not Afraid

Sometimes, I don’t mind the long stretch of road that ambles and curves between my house and the college. Sometimes, I don’t mind that we haven’t yet purchased a little car that will take both our kids to and from their classes. You can cover a lot of territory in those conversations shared when it’s just you and those you love and nothing but open road before you.

But just this week, with the afternoon sun peeking through the trees in my rear-view mirror, I made that turn where the tractors are parked and where workers pass through tall stands of flowers to gather arm loads of tall larkspur and delphinium for the local market.

She was a shiny black filly pulling against her lead rope with her handler struggling to tame her. It was the traffic. The cars and trucks and the chaos just yards from where she spun and kicked and where he remained calm but steady. Her young eyes sparked wild and her new mane shimmered in the afternoon glow when she flung her head. She fought, determined to pull free…determined to stand her ground, to rise up and overpower her master… to win her fight fueled by fear.

What do you fear today? Are you kicking and flinging your head, fighting against your Master who knows what’s best? He knows what you need before you ask.

“Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Matthew 6:8 NIV

You can trust Him as chaos looms so close.

The battle is not yours to fight, sweet sister.

It’s already won!

All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:47)

Be blessed today and always!

Debbie

To Save a Soul

You might know her.

She’s that friend, that relative, maybe even that woman at church or that other mom facing the same day-to-day choices and challenges you do.

She’s the one sort of sitting on the fence about her faith, sort of half-way believing and sort of going about life with an empty spiritual tank.

Empty and lost hoping worldly “things” will fill the void.

But they never do and never will.

You want to talk to her about Jesus, but just haven’t found the words or the opportunity. You pray about it and watch for the moment….

THAT divinely-inspired moment carved out of a little corner in the day.

You feel it deep inside.

You have to do this.

You need to do this.

You hesitate with the words.

What will you say?

How will you go about it?

“…remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20) NIV

Did you know that you’ll find the Prayer of Salvation on the last page of every issue of Christian Women’s Voice Magazine? We’re working on issue #7 and it blesses me to know that, in the past year, this prayer has been utilized in helping to win souls for Christ. It doesn’t get any better than that, does it?

God will lead you in conversation with your pre-Christian friend.

Let the prayer in the back of our current issue help her to begin a relationship with Him!

Many Blessings,

Debbie

Photo credit: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=8179&picture=flowers-and-tea-cup

Drag and Drop

Steam from my coffee cup swirls and I rub the sleep from my eyes. It’s an early morning with much to do and the bright computer screen pierces through the dark of 5:30am. I’m still hazy, trying to see and think clearly through my mind fog.

Even at this hour, the words and that same thought remain.

It’s the visual scenario I took away from last Sunday’s sermon. The thought of me sitting in a room void of all things and of all people…except Jesus. There’s only He and I with nothing but space and silence between us because words seem trite in His presence.

He’s sitting there open and ready to receive all that I hope to hand over to him. All the “stuff” weighing me down and bringing the strife…all the thorns of life that aren’t of Him.

Sort of like the computer screen glowing in early morning and the blinking cursor ready, waiting for that moment when I decide the burden is no longer mine to bear. Much like dragging computer documents from one full, oversized file into one with space available to handle it ALL.

It’s a simple drag-and-drop process, really.

I think of how I drag the worry, the fear, the inadequacies, one by bitter one and drop them into His capable hands. I drag ragged me to the hem of His garment and drop at His feet.

I drag the sharp words spoken in anger, the ones spun into the air without thought.

I drag the judging, the sarcasm and all the times I haven’t come through for those I love.           

I drag the guilt and the shame, too.

I drag the pain and hurt caused by others – it’s not mine, anymore!

One. By. Bitter. One.

I remove them from my mind and from my heart…from my “file” and hand them over.

It’s how salvation happens.

We come to Him dragging it all behind us; the ugly filth of it all. And He invites us to leave every shred of it behind; to leave it where it drops and cast not a single glance back - and to simply reach for His hand.

He’s there now ready for us all to simply drag and drop all that we have and all that we are…

to simply say “yes” to Him!

For if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)