Good Saturday Morning!

Calling all prayer warriors! I believe in the power of prayer! My book has been officially released and is currently available at any online bookstore. My network circle is small and I need help in getting the word our about the book. This book really is a work of my heart through the transfromation from broken to bitter and cynical, to free in Christ and His presence in my life.

It is my desire to reach people and share the hope that I have found, to motivate them into getting into God's word and seeking His face on their own. Please pray for the successful outreach of this book to surpass all expectations and the many other books released on a weekly basis and that this book will be used in mighty and powerful ways. Thank you.

In HIS Time

Teresa

It Starts with the Seed

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2Coringthians 9:8

In Luke chapter 8 is the story Jesus told about planting the seed It is about a farmer who was planting his crops and as he scattered his seeds some feel on the path and got trampled and eaten by the birds. Some fell on rock and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no root system and no moisture. Other seed flel among thorns which grew up with it and choked the plants. The rest of the seed fell on good soil and yielded a crop a hundred times more than was sown. Jesus told stories using examples that could be easily understood to make a comparison to know how to live better in His plan.

So what is the comparios ot the seed story? It's about what we do with what we are givena nd that where and what we plant into our lives xomething will grow. The seed that fell on the road represent people who hear about God and the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but have no root. They believe for a while but in time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. The seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it and by persevering produce a crop.

That's the story of salvation, the story of who gets it and who doesn't. There is so much more than just accepting Christ, we then have to take Christ inside, plant him deep and let him cultivate our hearts (the soil) so that the seed of his righteousness can grow and become fruitful and his grace will abound, it will grow in abundance and we will no longer be just living we will be growing and producing more and more for the kingdom, by how we live. That abundant life that Jesus came to give will be really abundant.

Unfortunately in an attempt to make us understand what a wonderful gift we have in Jesus, we have learned that we are dirty rotten sinners and that's all we will ever be; sinners saved by grace. Grace is so much more than the way to salvation. It is the power by which we live and overcome.

I want to talk about the seed that fell among the thorns. I think this is the majority of Christians today. These Christians believe in Jesus, they accept the gift of salvation, they go to church, they pray and read their Bible, but are choked out by the worries and things of this world, like pleasures and the pursuit of happiness and they do not grow up and mature into what God intended them to be. Blessed is the man (woman) who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8

Now what seeds are you planting in your life? Are there too many weeds and thorns choking out your faith and the grace you need to live abundantly? You know that God is poerful, yet you have never really experienced that power in your life. Why? Is it because you are just a sinner and you are just darn lucky you have salvation you don't deserve any more than that? We don't realize that God's word is the see that gives us His poer to live more than just as survivors, in His power we have power to live abundantly, to have all that we need, to live in peace. to experience joy and yes we can be righteous. Righteous is being in good standing with God.

Who or what cut you off and choked your seed from growing into a mighty tree? What keeps you defeated so much of the time? What words do you hear the most? God's word that you are wonderful, you are precious, that you belong to Him or do you hear that you are ugly, unacceptable, stupid, good for nothing, and unredeemable? What we think therefore we are. Seeds now can represent thoughts. Whatever we plant in our mind and heart that is what we are going to produce. What are your crops yielding? Whatever we think about ourselves that is what we produce. I struggle with this daily. I know that God's thoughts are not my thoughts that He has good things for me, but until I get into my field and dig out the weeds and thorns of bad thoughts and attitudes that is all I'm ever going to produce.

Just like the farmer if he doesn't take care of what he has planted, but watering and weeding and fertilizing his crop won't produce much of a harvest. When it it time to go on to heaven what harvest will you and I bring to God? David prayed, test me God and know my anxious thoughts and sho me any offensive way in me and lead me in the way of everlasting.

Plant good thoughts produce good deeds. Change the way you think change the way you live. Are you having trouble thinking good throughts about yourselve, go to the Bible there are many good things God has to say about you. God's word is the seed; are you the path, the rock or the good soil that the seed has been planted in?

In HIS Time
Teresa

Unfortunately in an attempt to make us understand what a wonderful gift we have in Jesus, we have learned that we are dirty rotten sinners and that's all we will ever be;

What could be better than sisters? I went to visit the girls yesterday. I get blessed everytime I get to see them, not only getting to hold and love on them, but the precious woman who raises them blesses my heart every time and it gets harder and harder to leave her. She has such a sweet spirit I just love talking to her and visiting with her. I've fallen in love with my girls and wish I could see them every day.

The Book has been Released!

I can't believe it's finally here...I received word today that my long awaited release date has arrived. My book, My Devotion My Heart A Spiritual Encouragement from My Heart to Yours is now available to bookstores, so if your favorite store doesn't have it on the shelves ask them to order it for you.

Keep watching...for more information!

In HIS Time
Teresa

Directions Please

Directions Please

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:3, 4, & 23-24

You have to know where you are before you can get directions to where you are going. It's very frustraging to follow directions in an unfamiliar place. There are times in my faith I don't know where I am and for a while it feels like I'm lost looking in all directions for the right way to go. I have been moving along in my walk with Christ. He's right there with me, but suddenly there is a sense of loss, like "where do I go from here?"

Have you ever reached a pause in your faith, nothing really bad stopped you, you were moving right along doing what you knew to do, spending time with God, praying, reading your Bible filling your mind with the things of God, yet for some reason there is a crossroad maybe and you don't know if you should turn or go straight. Fear immediately tries to grab you with questions like; "Was I doing something wrong?" "Why is there is crossroad?" "Should I turn or keep moving straight?" Any wrong move and I'll be off the right course which could take a long time to get back on the right one.

Life is full of choices that can either keep us moving in the right direction, or move us in the wrong direction. Which way is right and which way is wrong? There are also choices that are neither right nor wrong. It can be hard to tell the difference. For me those crossroads or forkes in the road will appear when I've been moving along in my faith growing then something happens and I'm faced with a decision, either one is a good choice, it's not about right or wrong, it's just a choice with a significant outcome either way. Now what? Where do I go from here?

Faith walking is never easy, it takes a level of trust that we are never familiar with because the more we walk by faith, the more hidden the path seems to be. Just when we get used to the level of faith that got us this far we are faced with a decision that takes us to a whole other level. Where you and I came from is not where we are going. When we first believed we were young in our faith and we crawled away from that place of faith to the next place and soon we were walking, wobbly we may have been, but soon we got our footing and the way became smoother. However the further we walked the terrain began to change and the way was harder to follow, the path became narrow and obstacles littered the way.

The closer we get to God sometimes it seems the further He is away. There is a battle raging against us to keep us from God and His ways. Evil surrounds our path to keep us from the potential God created us for. The enemy will throw every distraction he can to make us fall or lose our way. Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him? ...How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although he gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teacher will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 3018-21

Sometimes all it takes to make the right choice at the moment is just standing firm in your faith. Just be still. Let God be God. Let Him lead you in the paths of righteousness, He will always give directions in the way that you should go. When you are faced with a choice that has no right or wrong way that is the next level of faith He is trying to lead you through. Follow Him wherever He leads and you will never go in the wrong direction when He goes before and behind you. The path may appear to be rough and rocky, but trust Him, He will make them straight and smooth with every step you take by faith, not by sight. What you can see is deceiving, what you look for in faith will never mislead you.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge HIM, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Long Monday

Mondays are always a little harder than the rest in a day's work, but the Monday after Spring Break is very difficult especially when the break was really nice. I got to spend time with my wonderful husband, I met and made some very special friends...and I got a very special gift I picked out She's barely three weeks old and I've named her Fancy Nancy...we may bring her little sister with us...just as cute but no name yet...

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog. I hope to share encouragement from what inspired my book of the same title. I've written devotionals now for almost three years. The book was an accidental on purpose project. I never thought I would get a book published, but God did. During a very difficult time in my life, everything in my life had gotten shaken up and I found myself not living my dream but my nightmare. When everything else was lost, God was there with His arms open wide waiting to take me in and show me who He is for me. I was right where I needed to be so that He could begin His best work inside.

I will post upcoming events about my book, which is brand new the release date is set for this month after which I hope to be attending book signings and book events to promote My Devotion My Heart. I have had two very special book signings at local businesses with friends that I treasure.

Janice Bryant hosted a book signing at her store, Something Special in Daingerfield, Texas in January. It was a very secial evening

Then Jolene Wilson hosted a beautiful Valentine Tea Party and book signing to promote my book to her friends and clients in her beautiful and peaceful home and Bed and Breakfast, Holly Hill Farm.

Both events touched my heart and encouraged me so much. Thank you Jan and Jolene for these wonderful events. God bless you!

From time to timeI will post current devotionals that I write daily, so check back often to receive something God may have for you.

God bless you.

In HIS Time

Teresa