God is With You

In the moment we can be consumed by our emotions. Allowing sadness, anger, bitterness and/or resentment to take residence in our hearts. And sometimes instead of turning to God we turn away. We become consumed by whatever is failing us and are bound by it. God seems so far away and we are lost. Sinking into whatever state of mind we are in, sinking into despair.

In Psalm 73:26 it says, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." So even when you fail to pull it together, because Lord knows I am a hot mess Express and He has probably been rumbling the clouds and throwing a little lightening watching me trying to get my act together. My point is He is enought to pull it together! So pull it together sha!

Joshua 1:9 says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go"

It doesn't say, when everything is good He is there and when it's not Peace Out!

Matthew 20:20 "Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Not sometimes, not when He feels like it or isn't busy - Always!

We might not always like His answers and may never understand His ways, but know He is working it out eventually for good. So before you start thinking He abandoned you or us or the world, remember what He has done for you and what He will do for you and hold on to that.
Know that He goes before you and behind you to protect you and stands beside you to go through it all with you. He is gonna meet you right where you are, stand with you and love you through it! So don't turn away - He is ready with arms wide open.

God is Greater than any Mountain

If God was trying to get your attention would you be able to hear Him through the noise pollution of this world? Could He break through the noise of your mind?

As our lives slow down a bit, distractions are less, are we listening to what the Lord is saying?

Have you ever watched a movie or read a book knowing the outcome already? Taking your guesses, sitting at the edge of your seat, saying , "no what are you thinking don't do that" "don't go in there" and "geez, seriously did you just do that." We watch or read as the characters of the movie or book get swept up in their circumstances and distractions, losing focus of where they are, what they are doing and what they need. Becoming attached to these characters, we cry with them, we laugh with them and we want to scream at them. Just wanting what is best for them, wanting them to get their happy ending. We know where they should be and what they should do as we watch or read from the comfort of our sofas. We have the information, wanting to share with them, but can't. So we watch or read, waiting and hoping they make the right choices.
I imagine God feels the same way. He watches as we allow our distractions to steer us from our path, sitting at the edge of His throne saying, "no what are you thinking don't do that " "don't go in there" and "geez, seriously did you just do that" (okay, maybe not in those exact words, but hey we all need a little tough love sometimes). He watches as we get swept up in our circumstances and distractions losing focus of where we should be, what we should do and what we really need. He is attached to us like we get with characters in a story. He wants us to get our happy ending too! He tries to share with us what He knows, but we don't hear him. He wants to break through the noise, but we block it.
Our story is written by Him, but instead of letting Him direct the story of our life, we are trying to direct it and star in it. That's when the story gets flipped, ratings plummet and your story is cancelled. Don't let the noise in, focus on Him and let Him direct your story, you just follow His script and soon you will get that Happy Ending!

God is Greater than any mountain

Come to Him

Amidst the chaos I find peace, where you ask? Right here ... in The Lord's word.

This is one I have shared with a few ladies but thought it was quite fitting for this time.
We all experience stress in different ways. Sometimes we can pin point exactly where our stress comes from. Other times it is not so obvious and it can be multilayered.

If you have ever seen the movie, Shrek you will know the line about the onion. In it Shrek tries to explain to Donkey that Ogres have layers like an onion. Of course, the silly donkey doesn't understand it, but it definitely had me thinking a little deeper. (DreamWorks gets deep y'all). They took an outcast, ugly, scary ogre and gave him depth in one scene. Ogres like onions have layers and so do we. I know bear with me ... I'm taking a cartoon and an onion and delivering a message from God.
An onion is a bulb pulled out of the dirt; its outer layer dirty and peeling. It is then brought in to be cleaned. When it is ready to be used layers will be peeled away and of course the tears begin to flow. The layers might be chopped, cooked and or fried. However, the onion is handled - underneath it all, in its core is what is called a "sweetheart". We come to God broken and dirty, He makes us clean and then begins to peel away the layers. The layers of heartbreak, of sin, of grief and of physical ailments and sickness and the tears begin to flow. But underneath all our layers of weariness and stress is God's heart.
As we work through those layers we can find rest and peace in Him, because His promise remains and His heart is always within us.
God is peeling back those layers for us, getting down to the "sweetheart" of it all - Him. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

What are your burdens today? What are you stressing about?

Go to Him and rest your burdens at his feet! Let all those layers peel away and let the shackles and chains fall to the floor. You are His daughter, You are His son! ❤

Hope Fueled

I know, some odd words to use at this time, but I am fueled up with Hope. I have my tank full and I won't run out and why is that you ask?

Well, that's because His word is never empty, it doesn't return void, it doesn't cost us a thing, you don't need cash, credit or debit - it is free. Just pick up His word and know that He has never broken a promise, you will learn throughout the bible that every promise is still there, it is our commitment that fails.

We run out in a panic with our own promises to fix what is going on, only to break those commitments we made to Him.

In the story of Moses, the Lord sends Him to free his enslaved people from the Pharaoh, "Let my people go" he says or the Lord would send plagues upon the Egyptians. And the Lord does, when Pharoah's heart hardens. Yet right after a few of the plagues, Pharaoh asks Moses to plead on their behalf and he would release them, but he doesn't. I am not saying that the Lord has sent this plague, please do not misinterpret that. All I am saying is maybe we need to take some time to not just spend with our families, but with the Lord. Let your prayers rise up like incense! He will hear our cries in the wilderness.

Be committed to fueling up your Hope tanks!

There will be life after this, it might not be the same, heck I believe it will be better! Better than we can ever imagine, but if we stay stuck, stuck in our old ways, never refueling, we are in danger of running out and causing damage to our minds, bodies and spirits.

So don't dwell on what the future will be, don't let the uncertainty syphon out your hope, live now, take in the moments one by one, breathe, pray and Be still - Let the Lord fight for you!

Be Hope Fueled!

Honey Child

I would like to open up to everyone, well at least anyone who might read this post, something I have been struggling with and I pray it speaks to your heart.

I don't think fear has ever been in my vocabulary. I have along the way jumped into many careers and opportunities without hesitation. (I lost track around 35) Yet, recently I feared what God had in store for me, so much so I avoided it and filled my life up with many distractions. Some good, some possibly not so good. I love serving others, volunteering and helping anyone I can. I love to be involved in good things for my children's schools, my community, my church and my family all because I love them so deeply and profoundly I never want to see them in need or hurt. I like to be a part of making life just a little easier for any of them. I see a need and in seconds I am raising my hand to take the lead. It is second nature for me. Though I have cut back dramatically on what I participate in I am still distracted. (I know some of you might be saying really you cut back??!!) But I really have. In the last year, I have said no so many times, that I feel guilty about it. But that hasn't been the hardest part, here's the hard part to admit, though everything I was doing was good didn't mean it was God.

I joke often about I still haven't figured out what I am going to be when I grow up and I am now 44. (BTW anyone who wished me happy birthday and I didn't personally thank you, I thank you now, I have personally been in deep prayer) Trying to find my place in it all has really opened my eyes to see the distractions though seemingly good were not from God. And though sometimes those space and time fillers were by no means harming anyone nor were the intentions of people asking me to do things, my yes kept me from God's intentions for my life.

I don't say this for everyone to now never ask me to help again. LOL I really don't want anyone to get the wrong impression. Ask and if I feel led to I will. Because now I feel confident in God's word for my life.

What I want you all to hear is this:

I am blessed to have people reach out to me for help, for creative things going on in the community and for ideas, the fact that when someone has an idea for something, they think of me as the perfect person for the job is both humbling and gracious. But not everyone is blessed by an impression someone might have of them, not everyone can say that others seek them for things that are good. We as a society judge quickly others just as much as we judge ourselves. I have been on both ends of judgement. I judge myself, others have judged me and I have judged others. I ask that for the person with the grand ideas, see past the mistakes of others and give them a chance to be the perfect person for the job, be open to receiving help from the most unlikely. And for those being looked over after all your hard work, stand proud for your work isn't just here on earth. I get it though- it isn't fair and it hurts. We stand there in the midst of someone's celebration and can't help but ask why them and not me. Honey child, it wasn't God's plan for you and you have to trust his timing. And if you are too busy looking at God's plan on those around you, you are gonna miss the plan He has had for you all along. Our God is so great in so many ways, He made each of us different - all 7.7 billion of us and growing. If He can make 7.7 billion different fingerprints, can't He make 7.7 billion different plans, 7.7 billion different stories? He has a plan specially made for you, one that is not defined by your mistakes, not defined by your peers or anyone on the face of this earth. He made one plan with your name on it, now start living it sha!!

Our Story

Share your story! Valentine’s Day is coming!

Here’s our story: Michelle & Clint Gautreaux

How’d you meet? Randomly out, him smiling, me grumpy, kind of like we are now

How long have you been together: 19 years

Age difference: 4 years

Who was interested first? Him, but of course he will say me.

Who is taller: He is

Who said I love you first: do people really remember that?

Most impatient: most definitely him

Most sensitive: By sensitive you mean getting feelings hurt, uh neither one of us

Most crazy: I would say we would have to toss a coin.

Most loud: definitely me, but He snores loud

Most stubborn: yeah that's me

Falls asleep first: in his words "when this chair goes back, all I see is black"

Cooks better: Him

Better morning person: mornings what are those? when you with the fishing technician mornings with him don't exist

Best driver: He has had less wrecks, so Him

Post a picture of you and your Valentine

United

 Here is what you may need to know:

Take it or leave it

1. God is in control if we let him and release our free will and stop thinking we know what is best for ourselves when God is the only one who knows best despite what your mom & pops say, unless they are guided by God's word. He does equip you to know what's best for you - yet we are too busy to listen.

2. There is no comparison between our country and any other. Don't try to compare. Your complaints are void when you compare them to other countries that suffer the way they do. I have friends in other countries and they could only dream of the freedoms we have. Side note: Thank you to all who have served to preserve those freedoms, you are truly what this country should represent!

3. You might not like Trump, heck I don't care for him, don't care for what he says sometimes. Most of the time, my neck suffers from whiplash, because when I hear what he says I flip around and think, "Really, Trump". He says things when he is all up "in his feelings" and feeling attacked. It's human nature to react to daily attacks against you. Not giving him an excuse or condoning his words that hurt others, but I can't imagine what it would be like to be under fire daily and scrutinized for every move he makes. Being judged for each and every decision he makes down to his choice of hairstyles. (Like seriously, y'all that is what we really need to discuss, why are we not making that a bigger topic). He ain't perfect people, but I believe God ain't done with him yet and like all of us He has His hands full, but it will work out for the good! I have mad respect tho for a man who has enough moral courage despite putting himself in danger in not only another country, but also in his own. He made a decision to get rid of a man who is known world wide as a terrorist not just someone who was out to hurt just America. People feared him and Trump instead of backing down like everyone else did, he took a stand, much like most of our nation has done against him. His stand though was one of righteousness. He knew what a threat this man had become to many and that no one had the courage to RISE UP for fear of the repercussions. He has proven that no matter what comes his way, it will not stop him. Say what you will about him, but no one is perfect. I want at least one person to comment and claim they are and tell me they haven't said or done something stupid in your life that hasn't hurt someone. You are a sinner just as much as he is. Our sins are not on some grading scale, they are all graded as F's.

4. Iran is not mourning the death of this terrorist. If you believe people in Iran and around the world are not happy about this, you might want to get your head checked. Those mourning and seeking revenge, well let's just say they need their heads checked too. Most of the world is relieved and have just kept their mouths shut, due to fear. Those blasting it all over, just need confirmation through likes and shares that what they feel and believe is right. So I thank God for the those that are gifted with the gift of boldness and are fearless. I thank God that we as a nation didn't let this evil man continue his evil works.

5. Stop saying people don't belong here, go if you gotta go or learn our culture, learn our ways, learn our language. Yeah it would help, it would be nice, but that's not who we are as Americans. We were all foreigners when our families came here, none of us are pure breds - we all got a little Heinz 57 in us all. We all are immigrants who adapted, yet were respected for our beliefs so long as it didn't bring harm to others. America was founded on Christian beliefs and in those beliefs we must behave as Christians. "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40

We shouldn't let this divide us, this should be uniting us!

Much love to all of you!!