One Body, Many Members

Have you ever felt like you really didn't have much to offer? Have you ever felt that your gifts or talents are of little importance? Or, maybe you feel or have felt like you don't matter? Think, a moment, about how it makes you feel and when you are having those feelings then revert back to what the word tells us. 1 Corinthians 12 speaks about how there are many parts to the body and that one is not greater than the other. The person to your left may have one gift, while the person to your right has another. Neither one is more or less important, they each serve a purpose. Don't we all work under the same spirit? In verse 11-12 of 1 Corinthians 12 speaks about the different gifts under the same spirit. It reads:

12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. 12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

Remember that we were uniquely created by God and the gifts he bestowed to us are of great importance. There was a time when I felt I didn't have much to offer. That my gifts and talents were not significant. I saw gifts in others and in my opinion those gifts were better. The number one thing I was doing wrong was comparing myself. The second was devaluing what the Lord had placed inside of me by thinking that my gifts are not needed to complete the body. In 1 Corinthians 12:21 it says this: "The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"

We all represent something and we all create one body. Each and everyone one of us is needed to complete the body. I encourage you to have faith in God and what he has given you. Whether you feel you have a little or a lot to offer, give it to him and through that he will honor it and you will see your purpose. Believe that you are a woman of worth and walk in that truth. Don't allow feelings of inadequacy creep in and tell you that you can not do this or that! The word tells us in Philippians 4:13 that:
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Patience is a Virtue!!

Well, this morning started off just grand. For some reason or another, my grumpiness decided to kick in at full force. I have been fighting it off for some time now. Nothing could go right this morning, not my clothes, not my hair, not my drive to work. So (go figure) that I would hit traffic. I can not stand to be in traffic. All I see is a ton of cars and all of them with there brake lights on. This is just great!! Did I mention that I don't have a lot of patience? I don't have patience for anything really. When I want something, I want it right then and there. I wanted to be at work. I didn't want to sit in traffic and wait. I tend to have little patience when things do not go my way. I'm being honest here. This is something that God is working on in me. I have little patience for people that ask me the same question over and over again, mainly grandparents (okay, I realize it's not there fault). Don't get me wrong? --I'm not rude, but it kills me inside. Living in a day where everything is fast forward, and it takes only seconds to get your requests, how do you have any patience? I am struggling with this. Which brings me to what the Lord decided to tell me as I was in traffic. Patience is a virtue (uh yeah, that I don't have). I felt him telling me that I need to be patient. See, I get kind of excited quickly and will jump to do to many things at once, but he is saying "wait on me," be patient. By showing me how impatient I am in the little things (in life) how can he trust me with bigger things. If I get so irritated because of traffic, how can I sustain the things for which he wants to bless me. I must have patience and wait on him. Here are a few scriptures relating to patience.



For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. Hebrews 10:36



I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry Psalms 40:1



Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. James 1:3



But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure. Romans 8:25



With Love,

Crys

Seeing and hearing from God

Have you have had an experience with the lord that was so incredible that after that precise moment you wished you were right back in that place. His spirit softly speaking and ministering to your every need. I stood before a creek with the sun brightly shining, the sound of flowing water perfectly in sync. It sounded like a melody from heaven and there at that place God was in the midst: walking along and telling me to give it all to him. When he comes it is in such a powerful way. I almost felt like I couldn't stand. I almost lost all feeling and I started to feel increasingly numb. But it was an amazing feeling, it was amazing freedom. Standing before him willing and ready. Ok Lord, it's taken some time, but I'm here.! I'm where I'm supposed to be. When we seek after him fully, it's indescribable of how he touches us. I can't even explain the feelings and emotions that were escalating throughout my being. I am experiencing him doing a mini-surgery within my heart. I could feel the knots as they began to loosen. The chains that were once bounded have been lifted. I used to feel like I lived under a grey cloud, that would never leave . It felt like I was being suffocated and couldn't breathe. This was the darkest time of my life, wanting to be free of bondage, yet not willing to let God in. we can be as resist as we want, but there came a time when no longer could I resist. Now I live day and day by his grace. With a little resistance being shed off everyday. Being free in him is so liberating. Letting Go and letting God --wow! I had this experience and I pray that I continue to let go of myself and allow him to work through me. I am so thankful for his grace and love and that I don't have to live in that state again. I'm now living in an attitude of gratitude. I pray all of us would allow him to do his work and be free in him!

Faith without Works

After giving my life back to Christ I've found that his word is so much more evident in my life. The scripture has begun to live out through me. I am finding that through his word I am living out his will and actually living to be an example of his love. Today I heard some discouraging news. A friend of mine who had once battled cancer is facing a possible relapse. My initial thoughts were to pray for her and her husband. Then all of a sudden the lord is shining this bright neon light above my head with words that read "Faith without works is Dead." Wow! I continued to hear that in my head, repeating and repeating. Faith without works is dead. Ok Lord are trying to tell me something. Taking this in I sat and thought. I have always understood the meaning of this, yet now it was speaking something new to me. For the first time I realized that I can pray for this couple and request prayer for them. I can stand back and ask the lord to do a miracle and heal. Don't get me wrong all these things I should do. But he is telling me something different. He is saying "GO" go and share the love of the most high. Go and tell them about your God, the one who heals and restores. "Tell them about me" I hear the lord saying. My faith is not for me alone, it's for everyone I come in contact with, we are to go and preach the gosepl and share his love. This is where the works comes in. So often us as Christians tend to forget the "works" part of faith. Yes it is great to have faith, but what are we going to do with that faith. I need to step out in faith and do his will. What will you today today?




With Love,

Crys