The Building Of Your Life

I wrote and published a New Years themed message earlier in the month that never felt as though it was finishable; following the Lord's continual tug on my heart to remove "What's Weighing You Down?" from Molly's Zone, He placed such a special thothought on my heart that I knew couldn't be left unwritten. 

The simple thought of buildings and the process of creating them exists as the foundational aspect of today's message....the mentioning of the word foundation especially carries significance because the structure will not stand without a solid foundation and you can't even begin to build it without following a blueprint. 

Have you ever attempted to put something together without following instructions only to be met with confusion, frustration, and eventual disaster? 

I began thinking about the DIY attitude that we all carry more than we'd care to admit (my own guilty heart is included on SO many levels) 

It's too easy to find ourselves wanting God to follow along with all of our plans, instead of humbly choosing to follow His. 

The message He gave me to write and share today is such an important reminder for every day; everyone needs it, including me, and I hope the thought speaks to your own heart as much as it did to mine. 

Why am I telling you this? 

Because there's SO much tragedy that can result from not following His plan for our lives. Jesus gave His life for ALL and He continually seeks to save those who are lost and on their way to Hell. (If you do not know Him as Savior, please do not shrug off the seriousness of dealing with eternity. Hell is a VERY real place.) 

What would a building look like if no blueprint was followed? What would your life look like if you didn't follow Jesus? 

The building of your life would forever possess an unsteady foundation that would never be able to withstand those circumstances 'that you never saw coming'; it's easy to be happy with those self made plans when it seems as though every detail about life is falling into place, but what happens when it all starts to fall apart in your hands?

A foundation of faith is ALWAYS important to have, but especially carries significance in times of trouble. Faith is what keeps you moving when you're unable to walk. Faith is what holds you steady when you are left without enough strength to stand. Faith is what helps you to hold onto joy through those moments where happiness is nowhere to be found. 

 

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:20)

A life lived without Jesus will forever lack a clear sense of direction or purpose; the youth of today comes into my thoughts as I'm writing this out. We live in a Tik Tok influencer obsessed society. Lost souls are aimlessly and relentlessly searching for the sort of peaceful satisfaction that the world will never be able to give them. 

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36)

"And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 10:38-39)

Living without a foundation of faith & having no sense of direction or purpose will slowly but surely pave the way for the eventual destruction of whatever you've built. As we're continuing into the month of January (we are officially half-way through) think about what you want to build on in the coming weeks and months ahead. I heard this thought on a favorite podcast recently and it truly resonated with me: 

Every day the Lord has given to us should be given back to Him. Let us not allow those days to be wasted.❤️

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:" (Matthew 7:24)

The Gift of Jesus

Three days stand between the world and the happening of another Christmas. I truly LOVE everything about the month of December, and I find the season of gift-giving both exciting and heartwarming. Nothing compares to the beauty of a well-decorated tree and precious time spent with loved ones. 

So much about the season is wonderful but the commercialism surrounding the holiday so often leaves many hearts forgetting the actual reason for the season.

That reason would be the birth of Jesus. We celebrate Him on this precious day (and we should honor Him with each day that we live, but that is another thought for another time)

I have thought a lot about gift-giving. I love to buy practical gifts; items someone uses daily and something that they truly need. 

As the word 'practical' has continually swirled around in my thoughts, I couldn't help but remember Isaiah 9:6; the sweet and powerful reminder of who Jesus is and how exciting and amazing His birth was. 

I can imagine so much planning going into every intricate detail just as parents often spend weeks or months preparing for Christmas, hoping that everything about the holiday will become a precious memory.

The presence of Jesus provides many wonderful and practical gifts that can and should be applied in our lives daily: 

The Gift of Counsellor refers to the infallible wisdom that He graciously provides all throughout His Word. Jesus is the ultimate advice giver and He will never steer you in the wrong direction.

The Gift of His Might: Many life circumstances leave families weakened and without any source of strength. You will forever need the gift of His might. Perhaps whoever stumbles upon my words today finds themselves traveling through some situation that proves to be overwhelming and difficult to understand. The gift of His might will provide you with every ounce of gumption you'll ever need to walk right through it. 

The Gift Of Eternal Life: The promise of an eternity to spend with Jesus is perhaps the sweetest gift of all. The gift of salvation is offered freely to all who are willing to accept it. Jesus loves you and His greatest desire is for you to place your life in His hands. 

The Gift of Peace: The incomparable peace that is experienced through knowing and trusting in Jesus truly IS wonderful. The world holds no promise of hope, but Jesus IS our blessed hope. The gift of peace comes from knowing that this world is not our home. 

May the focus of our Christmas holiday be more about celebrating the gift of Jesus and remembering the need for His presence in our lives. 

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6 KJV)

What Are You Eating?

 

We are truly living through dangerous days. Our surroundings are filled with unprecedented levels of uncertainty and unfamiliarity, and the continual presence of societal poison has now been thrown out into the open for the entire world to see.

The staggering amount seems quite overwhelming. Studies show that most of what we consume daily is considered harmful. The fast-food industry continues to crumble as many are now avoiding what they're selling. 

That only places the foundation for my message today----the nasty ingredients found in what we are consuming don't only exist in our edible food---they are within everything we take in through our senses---the music we listen to, the television shows we're streaming, and those little devices that occupy so much of our time (that last part was written from personal experience)

One quick Google search about the dangers of processed foods will show their harmful effects on our bodies. While we should care about our physical condition, we must also remember to be diligent about our spiritual health. 

It's so easy to drift away from what is healthy for us; spiritual warfare surrounds us and those areas are continually under attack. 

How can what we eat spiritually open the door to darkness? 

Where do the problems begin to surface?

Through The Condition of Our Heart:The spiritual condition of the heart is reflected in every aspect of life. The world often encourages you to 'follow your heart' but the Bible warns us that the heart is deceitful and that we are to keep it with all diligence. 

The Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines the word 'keep' as   "to preserve from falling, or from danger; to protect; to guard, or to sustain." 

Failing to guard the heart will leave it diseased and endangered. Jesus loves you and His greatest desire is for you to be healthy. We all need a check-up on the heart from time to time. How is yours looking?

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV)

"Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23 KJV)

Through The Condition of Our Minds: . You'll find so much about the condition of the mind throughout Scripture. It's often said that if you live without filling the mind with the truth of God's precious Word, the world will never fail to fill it with thoughts that are rooted in darkness, fear, and doubt. Perhaps you are facing an uncomfortable or uncertain situation at the moment. Pray about it, ask the Lord to calm you down, and think about what His Word says. He's always by your side and He'll always be there. All you need to do is trust Him.

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (Deuteronomy 31:6 KJV)

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV)

Through the Condition of Our Rest: The world is surely not a place of peaceful rest; endless turmoil surrounds us, and the power of spiritual warfare can keep you tossing and turning (literally and figuratively). Looking to Jesus will keep you resting in His perfect peace. This powerful truth is short and sweet, but it's so simple. There's never been a problem that God couldn't solve, and there's never been a battle that He couldn't conquer.

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8 KJV) 

Don't buy into the poisonous garbage of this world. Choosing to fill yourself with it will forever leave you hungry and without proper nourishment.

You may get what you want, but you'll never find what you need. 

It's often said that you are what you eat.

What are you eating today?

Questions And Answers (Revised Version)

 I have grown to love Bible study SO much more throughout the past few months. (I love listening to Scott Pauley's Enjoying the Journey as well...I started listening to his podcast in September.)

I have loved to learn since I was little and there's so much wisdom to be found all throughout God's Word. And because we are human, we will never have the capacity to know it all. 

(Sometimes we DO think we know it all, or at least I know I do.)

There will always be questions that run through our minds that we might not have the answers for, and that can be disheartening. Sometimes the process of waiting comes into play and that's never really easy. (That's another thought for another day)

It can sometimes to be difficult to accept that we don't know everything, but that there's Someone who DOES. 

His Word not only provides answers to the countless questions that we hold in our hearts, but it also has the power to breathe so many good things into our life: it builds our hope, strengthens our patience, and ultimately grows our trust in Him.

"He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good." (Proverbs 19:8 KJV)

Ready, Waiting, And Watching (Revised "Ready And Waiting")

  The Lord placed a thought on my heart several weeks ago and I just couldn't wait  to share. As we're continuing along on the journey through unprecedented and unpredictable days, the act of preparing and being prepared for anything is a MUST.

It is SUPER important to have ourselves ready, waiting, and watching for the Lord to return. The Bible says no man knoweth the day, nor the hour.....but would you be ready if that moment were right now?

I keep thinking about when I'm preparing to go somewhere. I have cerebral palsy, so sometimes I'm sort of a professional doddler. I take my good ol sweet time even when I shouldn't. 

But I have learned to move it along when necessary. I take my shower and get dressed long before it is time for me to be somewhere. Those extra moments that are sometimes left to spare are spent either tidying up an area in the house or simply watching out the front door in the event that I am waiting for someone to come and pick me up.

I have made the mistake of cleaning before getting myself dressed in times past and I was caught in a state of not being ready AT ALL when it was time to leave for wherever I was going. 

That's never a good predicament to find yourself in. 

It is SUPER important to be sure that you are already ready and waiting on the Lord in these last days. If you've never accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, please, don't wait around.

Don't worry about the mess you're trying to clean up.

Life is messy, and no one is perfect, nobody will ever have it all together. 

Be ready and waiting for Him to come; the time is drawing nearer with every day that passes. 

Don't worry...

Jesus will help you clean up your mess while you wait. 

 Just don't allow yourself to be caught unprepared. 

Be ready.

Be waiting.

Be watching.

"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." (Mark 13:32-37 KJV)

The Season To Start

How is it almost November already?!

It truly feels as though September vanished into thin air without a trace. And weren't we just at the beginning of October?

I have not had the opportunity to blog since unfortunately coming down with COVID in the middle of September and my heart is SO happy to finally share more of everything with you----my upcoming projects were understandably placed on hold.

I am so thankful to the Lord for His continuous love and care in every circumstance—even those detours that we don't quite understand. 

The passage of time presents us with numerous trials that were never meant to be fought alone; Christ gives us the power to have victory over all if we choose to trust in Him. If you've never trusted in Christ for salvation--you're missing out on something truly precious! 

The good news is that with the arrival of each new day, there are countless opportunities for new seasons to begin---life is ever-changing, but God is the One who never changes. 

Early September saw me celebrating the ninth anniversary of my cherished blog, Molly's Zone with a thought that was entitled Running The Race. I loved how the Lord placed that analogy on my heart for that particular post and I felt compelled to continue with that theme today by first presenting a personal challenge:

When will you be ready to start running your race?

It's important to note that while every good race eventually reaches a finish line---the runner must first decide to approach its starting point. While placing together my anniversary post, I couldn't help but think about those who haven't yet trusted in Christ as their Savior----those souls who are lost and on their way to Hell solely because they have never approached the starting point of their personal relationship with Him.

There are a multitude of reasons why someone may be hesitant to come to Christ, and whoever reads this, I want you to know that you're not alone in what you're going through. So many are facing similar daily struggles. Maybe the Lord has tugged on your heart for the longest time concerning eternity, and you just don't know what to say to Him. Prayers never need to be perfectly polished; they only require a willing heart.

One popular worldly belief is that people are strong enough to endure every season on their own; asking for help is often seen through the lens of the world as admitting defeat or showing weakness. Friend, leaning on Jesus through every season is NEVER the wrong thing to do. Humans are weak beings and we ALL need Jesus. By showing Him our imperfect weakness, we are then given His perfect strength to endure and embrace the challenges that come our way. 

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV)

Another popular worldly assumption is that someone is good enough or worthy enough for salvation by their own merit---society today continues to submerge itself into the culture of self-love and a sense of entitlement---while on the flip side, some find themselves drowning in depression or anxiety--maybe because of sickness or tragedy or just the general state of our surroundings---these truly are perilous times. Some feel as though they have committed sins that are much too powerful for Jesus to forgive. 

Your soul will never be too lost to be saved and your sin will never be too much to be forgiven, my friend.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9 KJV)

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved". (Romans 10:13 KJV)

Come and stand with Christ at the starting point of your race and He will lead you through to victory in ALL the seasons that life brings---the decision that deals with eternity should never be taken lightly and it is one that you will never regret. Jesus loves you beyond all fault and is seeking to save you from an eternity spent in the fiery pit of Hell and the agonizing pain of becoming forever separated from Him.

The world may leave you feeling empty and alone.

But Jesus never will, my friend.

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Proverbs 17:17 KJV)

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)

Are you ready to come to Him and start running your race?

The Turning Point (9/11 Remembrance)

I never usually share thoughts on Wednesdays, but the Lord placed a brief, but important message on my heart for today that couldn't go without a mention and should never be far from the minds of not only Americans, but those around the world as well. 

September 11, 2001 was a day that no one will ever forget

I was nine years old and in the fourth grade. The morning started out just as it always would. 

The atmosphere of the day changed instantly. Fear of the unknown filled the hearts of many. 

I can still remember the school being placed on lockdown and classmates being whisked away  from school every few seconds as no one knew what was to come. 

It was truly the turning point of our nation. Nothing about life or the world we are living in is as it once was.

Today we are faced with yet another point collectively in our nation and in our world. 

Another time where we have no idea what is to come. 

We must keep our eyes on Jesus and seek His guidance in all that we face. We must turn from all wickedness in order for our world to see true revival and restoration. 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus today, my friend. 

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV)

You Are Worth It to Jesus

 The Lord gave me a little something to share on this Wednesday mainly from my personal experience and for my own benefit, but someone else might need this today too. 

As I was growing up, I faced many challenges both physically and emotionally. I wasn't the most popular and I was always made to feel unworthy due to other life circumstances as well. By default, I became the overachiever with the underlying hope of proving my worth to those around me. (And maybe a little to myself too, okay a lot!) 

But now being older, I see that what I experienced wasn't all that unusual at all. This world is crazy, what it deems as acceptable and worthy of love changes by the minute and so many are left feeling as though they are worth nothing.

Even so, please know that through Christ's love, you are worth so much to Him. 

You may not be a somebody in this world, but you are somebody to Jesus.

That reminder came to me as I was in my kitchen this morning. We get caught up in doing so much with the wrong focus and we end up discouraged and defeated. (I know I have felt this way more times than I can count)

If you're saved, please remember the reminder above and keep it in your mind and in your heart. The next time you feel like nothing or that what you're doing for Him is meaningless, it's not. (Recycling a verse I heard on the Her Portion Podcast this morning, but I love it, and it put this thought on me in the first place.)

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9)

And if you're lost and without Christ, maybe you're feeling as though life just sucks and that nobody cares. Or maybe you have all the prestige but deep down still you're longing for something more. 

You mean so much to Jesus, too.

He thought YOU were worth dying for. 

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)

Running The Race (Molly's Zone 9th Anniversary)

September 1st will always be one of my most memorable days and I cannot begin the month without praising the Lord for all that He has done and continues to do in my life.

Nine years ago on this day was the starting point of what I can only describe as one incredible journey. Writing for the Lord was never something I imagined as part of my story.

But, I am oh so thankful for His perfect will for my life, because it is truly beautiful and so much better than any best-made plan I could have made for myself.

I still find joy in serving the Lord through my little blog and I love that He cares about it just as much as I do. Every word I write is His, every story I build comes from Him, and all the glory belongs to Him.

Though my body is now a little older and cerebral palsy grows more challenging with each passing day, I am thankful for the continual strength He gives both physically and spiritually.

I could do nothing without Jesus, and I love Him with all of my heart. No matter how much life may throw my way, I vow to stay faithful in running the race He has set before me.

I want to end today's post by including one of my favorite verses that references the power and strength that only Christ can give. He is SO good! 

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)

 

Confidence In His Work

 

Romans 8:28 is one verse that I have always considered as my life verse, though I'm also including Phillipians 1:6 as it is foundation of my message for today.

I have been thinking a lot about one of my worst qualities and I couldn't help but wonder how many of us are truly like this? Probably all at some point in our lives if we were truly honest.

I'm the worst at looking at a circumstance I'm either not entirely comfortable with or just flat out don't like with what I call "the small picture" perspective. In the past, I've initially said no to some of my greatest blessings...dragging my feet while internally kicking and screaming and just throwing a fit all because I wasn't entirely comfortable with what was going on or I didn't like what little bit I could see.

I still struggle with it at times, and I'm sure someone else still deals with it too. 

Friend, whatever you're able to see right now may not look promising. You may wonder how it's all going to turn out. It's easy to get upset when all we can see is a small picture.

But God sees the big picture of it all. He sees the finish line, and He is continually at work behind the scenes.

You may not be confident of a lot of things. There's not a sure thing in this world to lean on.

But you can be sure of one thing:

He will never quit on you.
He is always for you.
He is still working on you. 

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Phillipians 1:6 KJV)

The Love of Money vs. The Love of God

 

It will always be better to have a little bit with Jesus than a whole lot without Him. 

Friend, there's nothing in this world worth more than a personal relationship with Jesus, and certainly nothing more precious. Living requires money and yes, it IS a blessing when it helps to meet our needs, but no material possession is sweeter than knowing and following Jesus. Nothing fills up us more than than trusting in and leaning on Him, and nothing else ever will. 

It's easy to become consumed with the love of money, but it's always better to be swept away by the love of Jesus. It provides such sweet contentment, while the love of money always leaves room for complaint. 

Just want to share a few verses with you today:

"Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps." (Proverbs 16: 8-9)

"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."  (1 Timothy 6:10)

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6-7)