Author: wjsammons

Trust

Y’all, I want to brag on God for a second and give you a little insight into how amazing he truly is. We all have a testimony. I know growing up others thought I didn’t care about my education. But school was hard for me. Today it is not any easier, I just have to work really hard to understand and learn. But one thing I never want to stop doing is learning. God called me into education, and I have enjoyed every second. When He encouraged me to go for my masters, I wasn’t sure he really knew what he was asking me to do. Of course, with His help, I completed that about 3 years ago. Well towards the end of the school year things for me started changing. I had a strong desire to attempt an add on certification to my masters in Instructional Leadership (administration). So I talked to Ricky, and I applied, got accepted, and started before school was out this summer.
 
I have just completed my first round of classes, and I can honestly say they were challenging. They pushed me to my limits and then some. I have learned so much through this journey already, and I am so thankful that God led me in this direction to show me that if I only trust Him, He will see me through. This girl who almost failed high school is working on a ‘second’ masters. Today I have my final grades in both my courses and in one I have a 98, the other I have a 99. Folks, Only GOD could make this happen. “What the enemy meant to harm me, God has turned around for His glory.” The devil has tried to stop me since I was 6 years old. But I was a fighter, I never gave up. Then I met Jesus! That gave me a different kind of fight. Life may not look like you want it right now, but keep trusting God. I have a few more classes to take, but I know, “he who began a good work in me will see it to fruition!”
 
If he does it for me, He will do it for you! Trust him/REST in Him! (I’m not looking for congrats, likes or good job!, I just want you to see that I was once a sinner lost in this world and I am not saved and have an advocate who has made a way in my life as no one else can!)

Everyday

Review of Scripture

Today I want to start with these scriptures from the book of Acts. They are important and really struck my heart this morning. The people of God had just received the Holy Spirit in the upper room and now they are beginning to meet as a group of believers. It starts with EVERY DAY! Why do you think the author uses everyday? Why not occasionally or once a month or even on the sabbath they devoted themselves? I believe that there is an importance to everyday.

These people came together to break bread in the temple. It wasn’t to gossip about what Jim and Jane are doing or not doing, the troubles of the day; oh no, they came together to praise and worship the Lord, their Savior. To gather to pray and read scripture. To get to know their Father! To draw close to him. Seeking for his guidance for the day. In return, God added to them daily those that were being saved!

What does this mean to me?

I feel like God is telling us here to get up and everyday seek him, praise him, read his word? Not just on Sunday and daily people will he added to the church. It doesn’t have to be on Sunday at church that people are saved and added to the church. We have the power within us to pray with others, speak God’s word and love them like no one else can! Let’s stop judging people by how they look or dress, how they talk or if they live a different lifestyle than you do! Let’s start loving people with the Love of Christ. Many of the people who are turned from God do so because God’s people have forgotten how to love them! Let’s be the hands and feet of Jesus, reach out to the lost and hurting world we live in and talk about our FATHER and how much He loves them. Be the light that brings life to someone else’s life! Let’s stop gathering together to gossip or talk about others, let’s gather to draw closer to Him.

Keep pressing moving forward, never looking back! The enemy wants to keep you focused on what your not doing for a God, focus on what you are. Keep that in front of you so that your moving forward to the things of God and not dwelling on the things that were not moving you in the direction you have been called. Laying those things down before God and moving towards the prize that he has stored for you! Don’t walk away! Push through the fear or anxiety that is trying to keep you away from loving people like Christ intended for us to.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for waking me up today. Thank you for the new day of Grace and mercy that goes before me. Give me wisdom in my words and keep my heart pure before you. With clean hands and a pure heart I ascend my heart to you Lord. I want to see people the way you do, I want to reach out to them and love them like only you can. Father use me today to touch someone with your words through your spirit. Thank you Lord for the sacrifice you made to give us the abundant life! Help me to use this life to glorify you!

In Jesus Name,

Amen

STAND

Image result for armor of godEphesians 6:11-13

In these scriptures the Lord tells us to stand! He also enlightens us on how it is possible to stand in the mist of a battle. I love the picture above because it shows things that we can not see ahead of us and that this guy is preparing himself. Many years ago I stepped up to lead a class for ladies. Just a few weeks before the class began, I was told leadership had changed. At the time I took that as a blow to my ability to lead. Instead, it was God protecting me for what was to come.

The battles we face are not pleasant and we tend to look around us for support rather than looking up (to Jesus).  My first reaction in the midst of battle is not to say “Thank you Lord,” but to ask “Why!” But God has shown me through trials how to STAND. We are not just fighting against man, the word tells us we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against cosmic powers of darkness. So, this tells me that man can do things that hurt us, but it’s those actions that are being manipulated by another power, the power of darkness that schemes against us. Have you ever had someone say lies about you? What if those lies could cost you? My oldest son called DHR on me when he was 16 because I wouldn’t allow him to spend time with friends I knew were up to no good. These friends told him that if he called and reported me for child abuse, they would remove him from the home and he could live wherever he wanted to. In this cases with them. Within 24 hours a case manager was at my door to interview the boys and my husband. The case manager had no desire to talk to me and seemed to have his mind made up when he came to the door I was guilty. After he spent several minutes speaking to each of my children, I went to the door thinking I was next, I looked out and he was walking to his car!! I ran out and asked, “Are you not even willing to hear my side?”  He told me he thought he had all he needed and turned to walk away. I began to cry and said, “This is my career on the line here, you are not the one who has lived in a house with this child afraid for your own life, to only have him turn and lie about you!” He stopped, turned around and asked me if I would enlighten him on what I meant. We walked to the front porch and spoke for several minutes as I gave him a run down of all the craziness that had been going on in our home. Things no mother should ever have to deal with from her own child. See we will face battles we never wanted to face, it may not be a wayward child, but could be sickness, or death of a loved one. But the word encourages us to stand and then tells us how we can do it. as women today, we face many attacks. The enemy wants us to believe we are not enough, but that is not who God says we are! If we can hid the word in our hearts and know who we are in Christ, we won’t waiver in the battle. Don’t waiver ladies!!! STAND firm knowing your God is for you!! My attack was against my character! I was not about to allow the enemy to put that label on me! I was a good mom. I raised my boys to know the Lord. I knew this was an attack and I knew how to fight it. In prayer and the word.

Ephesians 6:11″Put on the full armor of God so you can stand against the schemes of the enemy. 13 says, “Take it up so that you can resist the devil!”

There are two things here I would like to focus on, Putting on the armor and taking it up. If we don’t pick up the armor (Word) we can’t put it on (use it in the midst of a battle)! In other words, if we don’t pick up the word and hide it in our hearts for the day of trouble what will we put on? It is so important for us to STAND in our times of struggle. When I walked through the 3 years of hell on earth with my son all I could do was trust God and that His word was true. It was during those times that the word hidden in my heart carried me.  The very moment it all fell apart, the moment the case manager knocked on my door, all I could do was trust what I knew. The word of God. It was my sword in my time of battle, I knew that he would bring to light the lies of the enemy. However, it was all the other armor that covered me and protected me as well. The belt of truth,  breastplate of righteousness, shoes of steadiness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (the Word). Over the course of a few months my case was closed; however, my son was not living with us. I had to trust and have faith that God would protect him and one day bring him back to me. As a mom the hardest thing to do is to let go of your child and not hear from them for two years, but all I could do was STAND. If we don’t put on the full armor, the word tells us we wont be able to resist the evil. It says Eph 6:13 “for this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist the evil day, and having prepared everything to take your stand.” Let me encourage you today, that no matter what the attack of the enemy! STAND! If you are not prepared spiritually, link shields with a sister-in-Christ who will truly pray with you about your situation. A friend who will hold your arms up to praise when you are too weak to do it on your own. Let’s go ladies and do what God is calling us to do..STAND!!!

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We lift you up today Father God, for you are worthy. Thank you for loving us enough to be real with our hearts, to tell us the truth even if it hurts. God as I pray and put on the armor of God that you gave me help me to put it on so that I am ready in the time of battle. I know troubles will come and I want to be ready. Help me as I read your word to understand it so I can use it. Thank you for meeting my every need today Father.

In Jesus Name Amen!

Stepping Out of the Boat

Matthew 1boat4:22-33 takes place just after John has been beheaded by the king. Jesus goes out on a boat to be a lone. Jesus needed some time alone with His Father. He was hurting . Yet when he returned to the shore, he healed others even though this heart was broken.  Jesus saw a need and he met it. Not surprising. After all of this the disciples wanted to send the people back to where they came from; but Jesus said NO. Feed them! They were dismayed and not sure how it would be possible to feed so many people. Have you ever felt that way? It is kind of funny to me because they are sitting with Jesus and still doubting the miracles he can do. HE fed over five thousand people of 5 loaves. You may be wondering how this all ties together with stepping out of the boat? Just wait…..It gets better: Jesus sent the diciples on their way by boat to the other side of the river. He wanted to be alone. The diciplies boat wass tossed about by the wind and waves; however by morning the disciples caught a glimps of something walking across the water towards them and were terrified! Jesus called out to them. Peter’s desire was to be with the Lord so He asked him to call to him so he could join him on the water. so, Peter stepped out of the boat trusting that He could walk on water. So he stepped out in faith! It was when he allowed fear to grip is heart that he began to sink. He took his eyes off of Jesus and put them on the situation! It was the moment he cried out to Jesus that He reached his hand of mercy out and pulled Peter out of the water!

Isn’t it just like us to fear before we find faith? Maybe we know in our heart that God has us, but fear holds tight to our hearts. It’s just like us to take matters into our own hands. However, we need to be patient and wait to hear God says “Come.” He wants us to step out of the boat and onto the water even if we are afraid. It is not about fearing the that step of faith, but knowing that we can trust God to pave the way when he calls us out of the boat. We may not always know what will happen next, but no matter what does His hand is not too short to reach you where you are! It’s right there in the middle of our storms we lose sight of what God is reminding us all along of and that is to hold on to our FAITH! Why was he reminding Peter of his little faith? It’s because we have to build up our faith by spending time with him and allowing the word to take root in our hearts in the good times, so when the waves are crashing adn we want to trust him, we do. When the storms are not surrounding us its those times that help us to keep sight on Him through the bext storm. When Peter began to look at his circumstances, the moment he took his eyes off of Jesus he began to sink. Sometimes we tend to look back on our circumstances and wants to remind us to keep our eyes focused on Him, because it’s when we look back that we hear those familiar voices in our head and we start to drown. If God is calling you to do bigger things than you think you can do or if he is speaking to you to lead in church or the community it is time to step out of your boat! Don’t wait on when you are ready! Have faith to know he has you through your entire journey!

Are you in over your head today?  Jesus is reaching his hand down for your to pull you out today. Take a moment to talk to him, to refocus your vision on him. Has Jesus told you it is time to step out of your boat? Take that step of faith, keep your eyes on Jesus and what he is calling you to do. Don’t wait!

Payer: Dear Heavenly Father,

Today I know you are calling me to step out in faith. Help me to trust you along the path you have chosen for me. It may not be what I thought it would look like but it is what you have for me. Help me to hid your word in my heart so that I can hold tight to those in the mist of my storm, for there is where you will carry me. I trust you in every circumstance because you go before me and clear my path. Thank you for your love and mercy. Thank you for the grace you have given me as I walk this journey closer than ever with you.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Are You Holding Onto Negativity?

 

As I was reading 1Peter2:1-13. I felt like the Lord gave me 5 points he wanted me to share about our health. When I talk about health, I don’t mean diet…I feel like God is drawing me to learn to be healthy mind, body and spirit. One thing I have learned about my body is that when I am stressed, my whole body is effected. I began to pondering on how this affects my overall health. I know spiritually it was changing me. My body began to pay the price as well. So after reading 1Peter2:1-13 God revealed these 5 points.

1. Rid yourself 
– rid yourself of all malice talk, slander, etc… we can look at this as being towards others, but let’s looks at this scripture as how we speak or treat ourselves. God doesn’t want us to slander ourselves. Don’t speak about yourself in such a way that the word doesn’t say. 
2. Come to Him
-he is our living stone. He is the one thing that can bring healing, comfort, peace, etc. bring those things to him. If we hold on to #1 and don’t rid ourselves of those things, our body can become sick. Then we bring it to
Him! He’s telling us to come
To him… don’t wait. Don’t carry the things your holding onto.
3. Abstain from sinful desires. Whatever that desire is. It’s not healthy for you. It’s a sinful desire!! Overeating, lack of self-control, gossip, pride(in the talking your self up or talking yourself down). If we abstain from these things our spirit man will be on top and our spiritual health will improve, therefore your physical health will improve.
4. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles.
– it’s bad enough the unsaved thing Christians are hypocrites, let not give them any more ammunition. Let’s be sure to love the unlovable, love the broken and hurting. This is what will draw others to Christ and in return your spirit, body and soul will be healed. Remember we are the light to a dark world not a judgmental voice that doesn’t glorify God.
5. Submit yourself to human authority. 
-sometimes especially if you work you want to speak negative about our boss or someone in leadership over us. It could just be a decision they made that we didn’t like or it could be a major issue. But if we submit ourselves to the authority God has placed over us we will have peace. In return our health.
6. Glorify God
– if we do 1-5 God will be glorified.

This scripture talks about coming to Jesus, to be a living stone, we may be rejected by people but we are chosen by God. As women we struggle with that rejection and for some of us the being chosen by God doesn’t seem like enough; But I promise you, it is more than enough. Take your cares to him. If we hold on to negative emotions it begins to affect our bodies. Then once our bodies are affected it begins to cause sickness and disease. Remember what God’s word is reminding us of today. Together let’s walk out a journey of healing and wholeness, let’s walk our journey to healthy living Mind, Body, and Spirit!

Helping Women Pursue Christ

God laid it on my heart over two years ago to start a ministry for women. A place that we can feel safe to share and be real. A place we can help hold one another accountable in love. A place we can learn and grow. A place to become healthy vessels for him. Not one of us is perfect and we definitely have not arrived in the arms of our Savior yet; therefore, we need each other. We need encouragement. Let’s help one another along this journey. Today I am moving forward, jumping off a cliff so to speak into the hands of the Father and starting what he has called me to. I hope the things I post here will help you grow and learn along the way. Let me know some things you would like to discover as we grow. I will allow God to show this group what he desires to show. I am starting out with health. WE need to be healthy mind, body and spirit. Let’s jump in together.