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Jesus, Friend of Sinners

I have been thinking a lot about the spiritual battle going on the county next to mine here lately. For those who aren't familiar with what is going on, I will elaborate. A group of atheists from up north have decided to try and aide a fellow atheist that lives in Henderson County by making a fuss over a Nativity Scene on the courthouse lawn in Athens,TX. They want it removed and/or they want to post their own banner beside it that reads:
"At this season of the Winter Solstice, LET REASON PREVAIL. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."


Silly, I know. If someone truly did not believe in Jesus- why in the world would someone fight so hard against him? Why not just roll your eyes and walk on by? Because there is a Jesus! He loves every single of us so much that while the world was still sinning- He died on a cross for us! "Us" including the non-believers! 


I have seen a lot of hatred being slurred about on social networking sites about this matter- from Christians as well as atheists! Christian people wanting these non-believing people to "burn in hell" and to leave them and their Nativity Scene alone. Instead of showing these people Jesus, all they are showing is how easy it is for Satan to come in and ruffle their feathers!


I have been praying for the upcoming rally that they are holding this weekend in defense of the Nativity Scene. I pray that my brothers and sisters in Christ step up and step out and show the world who's face they seek. I pray that every non-believing heart be witnessed to and made a believing heart and that nobody be turned away or turned off by the foul behavior of God's people. Be lights on a hilltop.


There is an awesome song by Casting Crowns from their new album, 'Come to the Well' called "Jesus, Friend of Sinners". It has such an amazing and personal message for everybody! Here are the lyrics:

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Yeah...

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of thieves
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
No one knows what we're for only against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah...
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

A Meaningful Christmas.

 I Saw this quote today on Facebook and fell in love with it:
"Whenever Christmas begins to burden, it's a sign that I've taken on something of the world and not Christ." Anne Voscamp

It's so easy to get caught up in worldly splendors during this time and even easier to get caught up in tangles of debt and stress!  This year, I have completely turned around what Christmas traditions I had and started focusing more on giving. I don't want my daughter raised the same way that I was- and that is only seeing Christmas as an opportunity to stock up on worthless junk. It's not about junk- it's about Jesus! And Jesus told us, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for  Me."
 I praise the Lord for His sweet Spirit convicting me and always putting me right back where He wants me to be so that I can lead my child in a way that honors him.


Interested in giving this year?? Here are a few of the places that I am using this year.

http://www.cometogethertrading.com/
http://www.compassion.com/
http://www.worldvision.org/m/tt1


May God bless you all!

Intentionally intentional.

Here lately, I have decided to be more intentional with my role as mother and wife.. and tonight even Aunt! The turn-out is such a blessing, too!!

 A few weeks ago, my distressed heart was wondering "How in the world can I fix all of this?? Why can't I just get everyone to be the way I think Jesus wants them to be?" And then after intensely praying and crying out to the Lord about it, He directed my eyes towards a column written by a woman who had faced something similar to what I was facing. In her column, she talks about how she looked to the scriptures and came to Titus 2 and realized that it was HER who was not living the way she was supposed to- and that was that she was not submitting to her husband the way that God called her to. She saw herself as better than him and emasculated him with her faith. Upon receiving that heart check-she started complimenting him daily and letting him feel and know that he was respected. Though  it was extremely difficult at times, it eventually worked and brought them both closer to the Lord and to each other.

Back to MY story. I love that since I have been making it an intentional thing to pray with Molli and even (When I can) Jazzi, they both love to pray. Example, tonight Jazzi wanted me to pray over her "hurt" toe.. so afterwards, she and Molli laughingly prayed back and forth to each other while shouting "Amen!!''. Some might find that silly and petty.. but it made my heart smile that my two year old babies love to pray.

Dear Lord, these children are Yours and You love them so much. Please, Lord, equip us with wisdom so we can pour Your gospel into their precious little hearts. Amen.

Sharing His Love

I love Jesus. A lot.

I love this scripture:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
John 15:16

First of all, I am so THANKFUL that HE chose ME. Me being this pitifully sinful woman. He loves me though.. so much that He was willing to die for me so that we could be together.

Second, He appointed me to go and bear fruit. I have noticed recently that nothing makes me as happy as when I get to talk about Jesus with someone. It is pure joy.

Lastly, my fruit should abide.

Tonight was very special to me. I have been praying about tonight for months and months. I love how God makes a way for me in this life. I pray that He continue to bless me in this journey and that he give me the wisdom and strength that I need  to keep on sharing His word and His love.

Tis the Season..

...for awesome kitchen creations!

I absolutely love this time of year. Friends, family, FOOD, and people all over celebrating Jesus' birthday!

I spend a lot of time in my kitchen during this time baking all sorts of goodies in hopes of making their recipients smile.

My sister has never done any of this, So I was so glad to be able to let her experience this with me. She had a blast, by the way! LOL! Tonight we smothered everything in chocolate and sprinkles while listening to beautiful Christmas music from my favorite Christian artists.

Photography Blogging| Baby Josie

Here are just a few of the pictures that I have taken of new little Josie! Isn't she precious??

Photography Blogging| The Marshall Family

Meet the Marshall's!

Bryan, Amber, Triston, Sarah, Briley, and Josie (in Amber's belly)

Wittle Bitty Baby..

Today, I got the privilege of photographing one of the Lord's most precious little wonders.. a newborn baby.

Clothed.

This week has been sort of hectic for me. Two trips to Dallas Love Field Airport can stress the body and nerves out. Sin after sin can stress the heart and soul out. Even hearing of sin can and will weaken one's (who cares) heart. So this week, I've had my fill of it all.
But, the joy of it all comes through my exhausted soul craving Jesus. 
As I dropped my husband off at the airport today and got back on a busy and hectic I-35 in Dallas, I kept telling myself (in spirit) "Wow. Jesus has me covered. I am so completely safe right now." I had no panic the whole way driving home with my screaming toddler in the back. I literally felt his calming, nurturing presence on me. Almost like a warm, cozy blanket which led me to thinking about the scripture in Romans 13:14 about clothing yourself in Christ. haha! I am not sure that's what my dear brother, Paul, was talking about (Actually feeling clothed in a warm Holy Spirit blanket) But that is what came to mind.
And as I dwelt on that, David Crowder was singing through my car speakers:
"Can I lie here in Your arms
Can I lie here in Your arms
My only calm is You
Save me

Can I lie here in Your arms
Can I lie here in Your arms
My only thought is You
Save me

Can I lie here in Your arms
Can I lie here in Your arms
My happiness is You
Save me

Oh how lovely this place
To be with You
To be with You

Oh the brightness of Your face
Here with You
Here with You"

It was so wonderful to be able to cruise around Dallas with my Jesus. haha! So wonderful that I couldn't wait to get home and spend more time with Him through reading His Word and prayer. 

This is what my Saturday night looks like tonight. A nice, cozy, candlelight evening with my Bible, Books, and Savior.

Whom Shall I Fear?

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me." John 15:18-21

I have really been thinking of this verse this week as I have followed the Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani news. For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, Yousef Nadarkhani is a Muslim Christian pastor in Iran. That is HIGHLY looked down on around those parts because Islam is the main "religion". They drug him through a court-type system and gave him three chances to recant and denounce Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He didn't. So now he and possibly his family (wife and small children) are facing execution!

Had I have heard of this a year ago, I would be more furious than confident. I wouldn't have known this bible verse to think of immediately.

But, The Lord works so wonderfully through his followers. Just this week, I had my mind blown and perspective changed- Praise be to GOD. I recently switched churches (I really felt the Spirit leading to this church) and I have received personal spiritual blessing after spiritual blessing. One of many is that I can now attend a daytime Beth Moore bible study on the book of Daniel. Just This Week we went over the events that took place with Meshach, Radshach, and Abednego. "King Nezzar" (Veggietales shortened name) wanted the world to worship HIM and those who didn't were going to immediately be thrown into the BLAZING furnace. When his music played and everyone bowed down, Meshach, Radshach, and Abednego were still standing- refusing to denounce God and worship an idol! 
Here is what I gathered from Beth Moore's study of these events: Before the were thrown into the furnace, there were 3 possible forms of deliverance.
1. They could be delivered from it and not have to face it at all (God blows the fire out, or changes someone's heart..ect, ect.)
2. They could be delivered through it (Which is what happened) and they survive and their faith be refined.
3. They could be delivered by it and die and go to heaven.

This rocked my mind. I dropped so much worldly fear after this bible study meeting because, all along, here I am, scared of getting cancer, scared of flying on an airplane, scared of the WORLD. Not that now I want to go and jump in front of a bus or anything like that, but of all of those scenarios, WHOM SHALL I FEAR??

A day or two after this spiritual enlightenment, I heard the news of Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani and thought of this. I know that his heart is humbled and ready to see Jesus' sweet face (if scenario 3 is the course the Lord wants to take him on). Either way, God is so good.

Photography Blogging|The Alvizo Family

Meet Michael, Kayla, and Cassondra!