😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.  As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast.  One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.  In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morningbut didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. – Luke 24:13-35. 

#MercyMe – Then Christ Came

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  As I was getting ready write to you this week, my husband Brian shared with me a line from a conversation he was part of earlier that day.  It’s easier to keep digging the hole you’re in, than to climb your way out.

What do you think about that?  It’s easier to keep digging the hole you’re in, than to climb your way out.  Have you ever or are you now experiencing this type of feeling of hopelessness?  The struggle could pertain to one aspect of your life…a couple…or it could snowball from one to the next, to the point that you feel everything you do is taking you a shovel full deeper. 

You didn’t get to that point because you had 50 shovels in your hands all at one time and you all of the sudden were 50 scoops deep.  No, you got there one scoop, one decision, one action at a time.  Which means your way out is also one scoop, one decision, one action at a time.  Start with one choice that you know, without a shadow of a doubt, you can accomplish.  If your struggle is spiritual, say an earnest prayer.  If your struggle is financial, say no to the $6 drink.  If your struggle is over eating and/or lack of exercise or movement, start by saying no to the food, just this once or saying yes to a 30 minute walk instead of watching a show on TV or scrolling through your phone. 

One positive choice that you successfully accomplish betters your position by two.  So how does one equal two?  Think of it on a line graph.  You’re standing at 0.  A negative choice/action takes you to -1.  A positive choice/action take you to +1.  Every time you make a choice or take action you will either move -1 or +1.  Every time you make an unwise choice, it will take you two wise choices to get to +1.  If you’re at -1, one wise choice gets you back to 0, then you need to make another wise choice to get you from 0 to +1.  So, it would take you one unwise choice + two wise choices to get you to where you would have been if you had made a wise choice in the beginning.

Let’s think about this for a moment.  If you made three unwise choices in a row, aka it’s easier to keep digging the hole you’re in, it would take you six wise choices to get you to +3.  Compounding unwise choices can feel devastating.  But when your sitting -50 scoops deep, one wise choice will keep you from digging yourself to -51 and bring you to -49.  Every choice, every action will move you positively or negatively.  The choice is yours.  Yes, there are some things in life that we have no control over, which is why it’s so important for you to positively impact that which you do have control over.  If by the time dinner time comes, you find yourself five points to the negative, then you have until bedtime to turn those five points around. 

One choice, one action, one aspect of your life moving in a positive direction, instead of negative, can provide you the motivation and determination to make another positive decision the next time.  And another positive decision after that.  You have what it takes…Free Will.  And you also have the One who gave you that free will, cheering you on to make that positive choice.  You are not in this alone, so don’t feel you have to do this on your own.  And that right there is your first positive choice.

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday via email.

#CastingCrowns – Slow Fade

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  Happy Easter!  It really warmed my heart and made me smile to see so many people on social media speaking of Easter, posting Bible verses, and just overall letting their faith in God be known.  I understand, speaking up and vocalizing your faith can be challenging and scarry.  It took me many years before I became comfortable speaking about my belief and trust in God.  For me, I just wasn’t confident in my ability to maintain a conversation with someone about Christ.  Especially when the other person would start quoting the Bible by chapter and verse.  So…I started reading my Bible more, which built a greater knowledge of God’s word and greater confidence in myself to have conversations.  Sometimes speaking of God is a matter of letting the Holy Spirit take over your words and speak through you.  That’s actually pretty cool to experience, when someone lets go and lets God take over.  We used to have this one priest that my dad would say, he has his voice and then he had his Jesus voice.  There really is a difference.  When you can tune into especially those conversations, it’s amazing how eye opening they can be.  Think about it for a moment.  When was the last time you experienced God speaking through someone?  What was said?  Did you realize it in the moment, that God was speaking to you?  Or did you realize it after the fact?  Did the conversation move you to action?  Or was it more of an affirmation, letting you know you’re where God wants you to be?

Over the past four to six months, I’ve noticed something rather exciting…more people are attending Mass at our local church.  My parents have also made mention of this fact.  Going to Mass is not about just showing up to say you went and grabbing a bulletin on the way out, as proof you where there.  Going to Mass is about experiencing and receiving God in His word and His holy presence in Holy Communion.  It’s about feeling the energy of the Holy Spirit moving in and through us, as all Three of Them prepare us to step out those doors and face another week of uncertainly, trials, and temptations.  Going to Mass is about regaining that which we lost during our moments of weakness in the world.  Going to Mass is about putting our phones down and spending some focused, quality time with the Lord.  And bonus…we get to sing, praise, worship, rejoice.  Going to…Participating in…and Experiencing God at Mass, is truly an experience with God like no other…if you allow yourself to be emersed in His presence.

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday via email.

#CoryAsbury – Reason To Praise

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  Jesus said…“Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me.  And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, ‘The Master has need of them.’  Then he will send them at once.”  Mathew 21:2-3. 

There is a lot of hope to be found in those two verses.  Was Jesus looking for perfect people that have their lives all together in a nice, neat little package?  No.  He’s looking for me and you…Go across the street and your will find an ass and it’s buddy.  Bring them to Me.  ‘The Master has need of them.’  You know it’s true.  We all have some donkey in us from time to time, and we all have a buddy or two that we hang out with.  So don’t be surprised when someone comes up to you, starts leading you to Jesus, and says the Master has need of you. 

Jesus is calling each and everyone of us because He has a need for us and a purpose for our lives…just as we are.  You don’t need to prepare yourself in any special way before you turn to Him.  He wants you just as you are, with all your thoughts and actions.  He knows them all, so there’s no point in trying to hide them.  If you are feeling any shame or guilt about any of your thoughts or actions, He is there to listen and lighten your burden.  Speak to Him, confessing your sins.  He is all about forgiveness and grace, and I know He has some ready and waiting for every one of us.  We just have to ask. 

It’s Holy Week.  The holiest week of the year.  And tomorrow starts the holiest three days of the year.  There is no better time then now, to reconcile yourself with our Lord.  He has need of you.

I would like to invite and encourage you to attend at lease one of the Holy Week services at your local church.  If you don’t want to go alone, you could invite your buddy to join you.  You know, the one that’s tethered next to you.  I pray that you may experience God in a very special way this Holy Week. 

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday via email.

#CrystalLewis – People Get Ready

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  My husband, Brian is a quiet guy, who is most comfortable just staying at home, and certainly not one for initiating a conversation with someone he’s never met.  So, to my surprise, Saturday as the congregation began to leave Mass, Brian leaned over to me and said “I have to talk to someone.”  And he took off like a bolt.  I thought “What the heck is going on?”  I caught up to Brian by the alter as he was introducing himself to someone he’d never spoken to.  God had told Brian to speak with this gentleman and invite him to consider volunteering with the Kairos prison ministry.  Yeah, that may seem a little bold and intimidating having someone you’ve never met come up to you and say “Hey, God told me to talk with you about serving Him.  Oh, and by the way, He wants you to serve Him in prison.”  I guess if you’re going to get out of your comfort zone, you might as well get all the way out.  After that conversation, as we were leaving the church parking lot, Brian also told me that God had placed a friend of ours in Arkansas, on his mind, so he said a special prayer for her.  I told him he should send her a message, because I’m sure she would appreciate knowing that he said a prayer for her.  It was a couple days before she responded, when she informed us that she was down because she hurt her back and how much she appreciated the prayer.

I guess Brian had his hearing aids turned up high or maybe his Bluetooth was connected to the Holy Spirit channel.  Either way, I very much enjoy and appreciate God moments like these.  Please share your God moments with me and help to encourage others to walk by faith as God is calling them.

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday via email.

#Rerrain – Big God

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  Sitting at Mass Sunday listening to the first reading, from the 16^th chapter of 1 Samuel, verses 1-13, I would say a not so ordinary perspective of this passage was brought to my mind.  There are multiple lessons in this passage, like:

Sometimes you have to force yourself to stop mourning and just move on.

Don’t judge someone on their appearance.

God focuses on your heart, not your appearance.

And then, this is what stood out to me:

Don’t limit what you offer God.  Present all you have and let Him choose how to best use what you have to offer.

Samuel receives word from God that God is sending him on a journey to Jesse of Bethlehem, to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as king.  Upon entering Bethlehem, Samuel speaks with Jesse, consecrates Jesse and his sons and invites them to join him at the sacrifice.  And so they did.  One by one Jesse presented his sons before Samuel, but the Lord was not seeing the king He was looking for.  Finally, Samuel asks Jesse, if he had any more sons that he hadn’t presented to the Lord.  Turns out, there was still one.  Jesse sent for David, who was tending the sheep.  Upon entering the sacrifice, the Lord instructs Samuel to anoint David King.

There are so many different aspects to you and your life, and I’m here to tell you that God made every piece of you.  He knows your heart and He is calling you to bring forth all that you are, so that you may do what He created you for.  Every piece of you is important.  Your puzzle will never be complete unless you bring every piece to the table to be worked and reformed into the complete picture of you.  So pickup those pieces of your life that you’ve let fall to the ground and see the amazing things God can do with you, when you are all in. 

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday via email.

#CraigAven – Every Part of Me

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  Because it’s very true, one of my favorite quotes is…”A mind once changed by an idea can never go back to it’s original form.”  I know I have mentioned this before, but the reason I bring it up today is because last week we finished watching season two of The Chosen.  I really didn’t expect I would have a reaction to the series like I have, but it’s interesting.  I’ve watched many religious based shows in the past, but this one has a lingering effect, in a good way.  I find that as I now read my Bible I’m drawing a little more from it and reading more with the writer/author in mind.  Also, seeing the looks and expressions on Jesus’ face during interaction with others is priceless.  A perfect example is last Sunday’s Gospel reading from John 4:5-42, when Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well.  As I heard the Gospel being proclaimed, it brought me joy to resee that moment in my mind and the pleasing look on Jesus’ face. 

Sometimes when I have a God moment, I get goosebumps, but I call them God bumps in those moments.  At one point in watching The Chosen, I got God bumps.  It was after the disciples ask Jesus how they should pray and Jesus started teaching them the Our Father prayer.  Hearing those words coming from the mouth of Jesus, WOW!  That sent a shock right through me.

Whether you are religious or not, I would suggest watching The Chosen.  It’s not just about faith, it’s about history.    

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday via email.

#TheChose

#SidewalkProphets – Chosen

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  What’s the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning?  What was the first thing you accomplished?  Were your thoughts and actions centered around you?  Were they focused and centered on someone else?  How do the thoughts and actions that begin your day carry you through your day?  Do they ignite a fire in you?  Do they move you to action?  Do they fill you with peace? 

Is it time to rethink parts of your life.  Is it time to put the first thing first?  How is God reaching out to you and trying to get your attention?  You know what He’s calling you to.  It’s time to move.  You will not be alone.  He will only call you to the journey He is willing to travel with you.  Think deeper.  Focus.  Listen.  Keep Him first.

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday.

#ConsumedByFire – First Things First

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you. Last Wednesday was Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Spiritually, it was the worst day I’ve had in…well, I couldn’t tell you how long. The first attack happened shortly after getting ready for the day. I headed out the door with a plan of attack, but first I stopped at church for Mass. That turned out to be a really good decision, because that gave my mind time to listen to God and with one line, “You can’t unsee what you’ve seen.”, He diverted me away and protected me from Satan’s first attack.

What made my spiritual battle so bad, was that I tried to handle the second attack on my own. That one did not go well at all. Actually, I was very mad and frustrated with myself for letting it happen. As I look back on the situation, I don’t recall even considering to talk with God and ask for His help. That just really sucks. Stinkin’ thinkin’ right there, thinking I could take on Satan by myself. Bottom line…I don’t ever want to go back there again!

I hope and pray your Lent is going better than the start of mine.  And if it isn’t, take a lesson from me…Stop right now and talk with God.  He will provide what you need to defend against Satan and his team of demons.  Saint Michael the Arch Angel, defend us in battle and be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday.

#TimMcGraw – Better Than I Used to Be

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  There are days that Brian and I are on the same page, communication is great, and we get a lot accomplished.  Then, there are other days that we look at each other as if we’re speaking a foreign language and can’t get anything accomplished. 

This is another one of those times that I know I’ve read and heard something multiple times, but this time it was like a light bulb turning on.  Genesis 11:1-9 told me that there is nothing wrong with the fact that Brian and I don’t understand each other all the time.  It wasn’t by God’s original design, but due to our human nature, God had to make some corrective adjustments which lead to Him confusing our language and scattering people all over the world.  Hmmm, come to think of it, maybe that’s why we have to search the world looking for our perfect mate.

When the whole world had one language and a common speech, they worked together, made bricks and baked them, and built a “tower that reaches the heavens”, so that they could make a name for themselves.  It’s still true today, we try to rely on our own knowledge, understanding, and abilities to better ourselves, so that we can stand above the crowd, have better things, and call attention to ourselves.  This draws us back 8 chapters in Genesis 3:5-6 when Eve chooses to eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden, so that she could gain wisdom and as the serpent said, “you will be like God, knowing good and evil”.  First of all, God created us, we didn’t create Him.  And second, He knows all of our strengths, weaknesses and what we can and cannot handle.  Some people may look at this as if God is just trying to control us, but I believe He cares so much for us, that He is trying to protect us from ourselves.  We can certainly be our own worst enemies.  Our God is a God of relationship.  He wants us to do this life with Him.  And when we choose to walk this journey with Him, we are able to see and better understand the loving and compassionate ways the Lord moves about in our lives. 

So the next time you find that your speech is getting confused and not understandable, take a step back and ask yourself…”Am I doing this on my own, for my own glorification and to draw attention to me?”  If the answer is “yes”, pause a moment, humbly ask the Lord for His guidance and wisdom.  He’s more than willing to share, if you ask.

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday.

#ElevationWorship&MaverickCity – Build Your Church