The Love That Saves

 

"Lord, I know my love could never be enough to save them--but I know without a doubt that Yours would."

Have you ever known a lost soul that led you to pray that specific prayer? Someone who touched your heart in such a way that left you with a sense of desperation and determination. 

Maybe it's a friend or a loved one. Or an acquaintance who left a powerful first impression. Watching people in the world today can be truly heartwrenching as so many are oblivious to what waits for them in eternity as they sit comfortably in their sin. You stand by as as outsider and watch as their life trends downward, traveling down that broken and wayward path. 

Knowing that while your love could never save them, the love of Christ is their only hope. They need to know of and experience the power of His mercy and grace; the freedom found in the forgiveness of sin.  

I've had this thought on my heart for some time and I kept thinking about Christ and all of the rejection that He experienced (and still does)

He loves every sinner, no matter what they have done or who they are.....yet there are so many in the world who choose to repeatedly reject Him. The world encourages us to look for happiness and fulfillment in all of the wrong things. They are living in filth and darkness with no thoughts of leaving it behind.. 

Maybe you're situated in a place of still praying for that lost family member or trying to witness to them openly. The best (yet sometimes the most difficult thing to) is to be honest with them in sharing the truth of what an eternity spent without Christ would entail.

How does the Bible describe Hell?

Eternal Separation: The continual rejection of Jesus Christ will eventually lead to eternal separation from God, in fiery flames of torment forever without the hope and peace that only He can give. 

"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15 KJV)

Eternal Suffering: This could be interchangeable with my other point, but it's important to double down on the fact that Hell is not a place where everyone is having a party and it is a VERY real place. Hollywood loves to either glamorize it or cut out its existence altogether, but you don't have to go there. You have the choice, and when it comes to eternity, that's the most important decision you will ever make.

"And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." (Revelation 14:11 KJV)

Eternal Sorrow: Continual rejection of Christ will lead to an eternity spent in eternal sorrow. The Bible tells us specifically that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth---pointing to rememberance of the rejection and sorrowful self reflected anger and regret. 

"And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Luke 13:42 KJV)

"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out." (Luke 13:28 KJV)

If you're in a place of worrying about someone you love, keep praying for them & keep doing everything in your power to witness to them and to be an example of who Christ is in their lives. 

Or maybe, you're lost and searching or in need of something to wake you up. Honestly, you won't find the peace you're looking for in this world. You'll never know what fullness of joy means because rejecting Him will keep you from all of that. Your heart will forever feel empty and you'll never know of the long-lasting comfort that He can give, even on the best of your worst days.

All of the love in the world---every ounce of good that you do would never be enough to save you---but Jesus will if you simply call upon Him.

He doesn't care about coming up into your mess, the very place where you've been hiding away. He wants to meet you where you are. He'll come sit with you and gladly come into your life if you will ask Him to save you and to come into your heart.

For His love is the love that saves. 

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

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

 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10 KJV)

The Source of Everlasting Strength

"Life may try to weigh you down, but never let it wear you out."

I love that the Lord placed that particular phrase on my heart while thinking about how certain circumstances in our lives can become truly overwhelming. I never enjoy shining a light on all

that I face physically, but I will today because it fits well within the message. 

Many of you may remember that I experienced COVID last September; as a result, I have dealt with lasting fatigue that carries no reasonable medical explanation, although I am absolutely certain that 

living with both cerebral palsy and PCOS may play a significant role.

It's now difficult to exert any amount of energy at all. Completing even the tiniest of tasks often feels the same as climbing Mount Everest. Some of those days it seems as if everything weighs me down and wears me out. (writing honestly)

I know many who struggle with SO much more than I do. I know I'm never alone in that battle.

Maybe you're experiencing one of those days today.

I have recently discovered a LOVE for energy-enhanced water drops. You can find them at any grocery store (I purchased mine from Kroger). I keep several flavors on hand but all of them contain caffeine, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12. 

I cannot go about my day without first fueling my body with a bottle of the enhanced water. It allows me to have more than enough strength to tackle everything on my to-do list. 

While in the process of praying and putting together the rewrite of this particular thought, I sat at my desk and happened to look over to the wall art I have in my office. I have always loved the theme of Psalm 27 that serves as the foundation for the powerful question that lies at the heart of my message today:

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

Would you say that Jesus is the strength of your life today?

    No life will ever be lived without some sort of struggle. You may have made it through one trial just to stroll into another. You may find yourself situated within the calm before the storm in oblivion to what's just up ahead.

Only the Lord can provide the everlasting strength that we need in every area of our lives; drinking up every ounce of the water that is His Word and soaking in every truth will never fail to give us more than enough to face the challenges that come our way. 

Whether it be physical strength to power through infirmities, you can count on Him to carry you through.

"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)

Or maybe you're dealing with a difficult person in your life or attempting to witness to an unbeliever, and it just doesn't seem like you're making any sort of progress. Sometimes all you can do is wait on the Lord and simply trust in His timing while continually praying for the courage to keep on planting seeds. 

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say on the Lord." (Psalm 27:14)

The world is filled with such sadness, and the presence of evil seems to be everywhere you look. I know that we all could use some emotional strength as the days continue to pass by, and the only source of strength that is truly everlasting comes from the Lord. Whenever I encounter a rough day emotionally, this verse never fails to be an encouragement to me:

"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)

Is He the strength of your life?

 

Now Is The Time (Part 2)

 

At the beginning of May, you may remember that I published a piece on the blog that was entitled, "Now Is The Time" and I shared it as the first installment of a two-part mini series.

My heart is wanting to finish out the rest of my thought; the first part dealt with our time on Earth having a limit, and it will forever be true that tomorrow is never promised...

Have you ever heard about someone reaching old age and "living on borrowed time?"

I'm sorry to tell you that this particular expression is not only exclusive to some, but it is rather true for ALL of us.

Webster's Dictionary describes the word "borrow" as to take and use (something that belongs to someone else) with the intention of returning it.

I thought about that while piecing this together in my mind and I couldn't help but want to write this out: What are you doing with the time that God has given you? Are you making every second count for His glory?

Or have you been living for the world and all of its temporary pleasures?

It's often said by the youth today that "you only live once" and so many souls live in the moment, for the here and now. But it's SO important to live out your faith and to make it all count for Jesus.

And no, you won't be perfect but all He needs is a heart that is willing. This generation needs Jesus now more than ever. YOU need Him more than ever.

Each day that we have is such a GIFT. Now is the time to make it all count for Him.

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise , but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:15-17)

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (James 4:14)

A Place of Refuge

 Thinking about all of the storms we have faced throughout the past few months (not to mention the tornado watch that currenly looms in our area) leaves me pondering over this little verse and an accompanying message that the Lord laid on my heart to share. 

I have become quite the storm tracker as we've come into warmer weather, it seems as if every few days something new and unusual comes about. 

Tonight we have the aforementioned tornado watch and I have kept praying for the Lord to place a hedge of protection around my home. 

I couldn't help but think of those who are without a place of shelter while storms pass through in their lives...both literally and figuratively. 

Those that are in need of refuge from whatever storm they may be dealing with. Life struggles are inevitable but leaning on Jesus will give your heart somewhere to run to when it all becomes too overwhelming. (We are truly living through some perilous days) 

You need to run to Him.

He wants you to trust in Him. ❤️

He never guaranteed that life would be without storms.

But He DOES promise protection in the midst of them. ❤️✍️

"For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall." (Isaiah 25:4)

Remaining Steady In An Unsteady World

The Lord placed this tiny little thought on my heart that I hope and pray could help someone today; it is such an important reminder that I know we all need and so often forget to remember. 

I was beginning my cleaning adventure for the day by making my bed when I noticed that I was feeling woozy; I take Metformin twice daily and have always known to take it with food, however I have this horrible habit of doing so on an empty stomach.

While Metformin is used in prevention or management of diabetes, it also serves as a first line treatment for polycystic ovarian syndrome (a disorder that creates hormonal imbalances and often induces insulin resistance in the body.

The medicine affects glucose levels and if I choose not to eat before it goes into my system, my blood sugar will drop. I usually have to have a snack in order to bring it back to normal, even if it's with something as simple as a banana. Then I'm good to go on about my day. 

As I was thinking of how to place this thought together, I read that glucose is our body's primary source of energy...you absolutely need it in order to have the ability to think clearly or to walk without stumbling. 

I thought about how so many of us go on about our every day lives without first fueling our minds through prayer and time spent in God's Word. I am SO guilty of this too. This world is full of craziness and confusion. 

So much so that it's becoming harder to see through the haze and even more difficult to walk in it. 

Keep praying and keep spending time in God's Word even if its only for those few quiet moments on your busiest day because it is absolutely necessary to do so. 

Time spent with the Lord will never go to waste. 

Time spent in His Word will forever keep you safe from stumbling in the midst of an unsteady world.

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (Jude 24-25 KJV)

Now Is The Time (Part 1)

Have you ever thought about what a precious gift salvation truly is? 

The Easter celebrations may be over, but I am still thinking about the sacrifice made for all of us on that old rugged cross and the hope that one can have by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.

I've thought a lot about life throughout the past few weeks and how short our time on this Earth truly is. I still can't believe I'm now thirty-three. It seems as if I were celebrating my sixth birthday only yesterday.

My heart immediately travels to those who are still living out their lives without Christ; those lost souls who are without help and without hope.

I've heard and read stories of so many people who have made promises to get saved once their lives got better. Someday, they'd have it all figured out...

Only that someday would never come.

I think of the level of rejection that Christ experienced (something none of us could ever comprehend) and how much of it He still goes through today. He felt that YOU were worth dying for. The depth of His love remains limitless. His compassions fail not and His mercies are new each and every day

Just know that life is never figured out, and no one ever has it all together. Don't wait around for that someday that will never come. Jesus loves you more than you could ever imagine and wants to save you from an eternity spent without Him.

Tomorrow is never promised. 

Maybe you've felt that tug on your heart that just won't go away. Maybe you're ashamed of what you've done or where you've been. 

Jesus doesn't care about that. 

He loves you beyond fault.

And there's nothing sweeter than His mercy and grace. 

Now is the time to surrender your heart to Jesus, for another opportunity of tomorrow may never come.

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14)

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)

A Smoldering City

 If today were your last living day, do you know where your eternal place of residence would be? Would your heart be ready and fully prepared to meet Jesus at any given moment?

I think everyone would collectively agree that the world we are currently living in could only be described as a chaotic and crumbling mess. So many tragedies have taken place within the last several months as well, such as weather-related disasters, massive flooding, widespread fires, aviation incidents, and growing presence of global turmoil.

We are truly living through perilous times within a smoldering city.

A noteworthy fact: Did you know that fire often smolders for weeks before its flames ever make an appearance? And in those beginning stages, sometimes even an odor isn't always detectable. 

I thought that was both interesting and a little bit frightening. It's somewhat unthinkable to consider the possibility of looming trouble long before it becomes noticeable to the naked eye. 

But it's not impossible. 

That's exactly what is happening in our world today.

Yet many precious souls are STILL so blinded with their hearts remaining deceived; they are living in total oblivion and are currently unable to see the dangerous presence of evil and the eventual destruction that lies ahead for them. It's sadly not unusual for some to laugh and joke while on social media about the promise of Christ's return. The Bible provides a stark description of scoffers in 2 Peter Chapter 3:

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God, the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." (2 Peter 3:3-7)

 I've come across the following thought numerous times and it is so true: 

While the world prepares for war, Heaven is preparing for a wedding.

Jesus loves you and He so freely offers the precious gift of salvation. The verses that are included below are two of my favorites and I could not go without sharing them today. The truth of God's Word can sometimes be stark but His love for all is straightforward and beautifully evidenced all throughout Scripture.

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

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation". (Romans 10:9-10)

Won't you come to a place of repentance and settle the matter of your eternal residence today?

 

When Your Heart Is Overwhelmed

I was listening to The Goodness of God this past Sunday morning while getting ready for church and I couldn't help but have this thought:

As we look around the world we are living in today, it's easy for our hearts to feel overwhelmed and somewhat forlorn as you watch situations develop.

Isn't this world an absolute mess? 

Even on a smaller scale, day to day life can be messy and overwhelming too. Some days might not all be the best, but I guarantee you that His goodness can be found somewhere in every one of them.

I think we could all use that reminder sometimes. I know that my heart needs it every day. 

No matter what your day looks like, God is still God and His goodness is ever-present. He is our greatest source of shelter from the enemy through times that are about as bleak as they can be. 

When you are without the strength to stand, you can always lean on Him.

When your heart is overwhelmed, you will forever be able to place your trust in Him. 

"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah." (Psalm 61: 2-4)

I Need You, Lord

When the days seem long, and the nights get tough

May my heart always remember that You are enough

As my thoughts become jumbled, and my walk becomes weary

Lord, I am forever thankful, for I know You are always near me

When the skies are hazy, and the nights seem long

May my hearr always remember that You've never steered me wrong

As the light grows dim and my walk grows weary

Lord, I still praise Your name, for I know You are always near me.

"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." (Psalm 34:18)

The Way of Wisdom

I don't know about you, but I am LOVING the slightly warmer temperatures and the bright sunshine that is beginning to come through my window every morning.

The Lord placed this thought on my heart several days ago; I know just about every area of the country felt the unusual sting of brutally cold winter days that were filled with snow and ice. After the first storm, I attempted to leave my house and my foot got hung as I tried to manuever through the aforementioned snow and ice combination on my own; the second wintery wave led me to fall off the side of my walkway and into another batch of snow that was fortunately soft. There were no injuries and I am still praising the Lord for that! ❤️🙌

I began using my walker as a way of steadying myself throughout the remainder of those wintery days. Thankfully we are FINALLY coming into bright and sunny weather and I have now been able to put the walker away and out of sight.

I don't know why the Lord gave me this particular thought but I couldn't help but think of this hymn I've listened to so many times. 

🎶Lord, I can't even walk without You holding my hand.....🎶

The seasons of our lives are ever-changing. While it may be easy to remember to lean on Jesus through those cloudy days, how often do we put Him away when the sun is shining bright? 

My friend, you need Jesus as much on those sunny days as you do when the skies are grey. 

You can't move through this life without Him. 

You can't even walk without Him holding your hand.

Making the decision to walk in His wisdom through every ounce of weather that life gives will keep you from becoming stuck or stumbling when you least expect it. 

"I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble." (Proverbs 4:11-12 KJV)

Remembering and Reflecting

We are riding into the final week of January; my greatest hope is to share all of what God has given me for the month within these last few days. We got a late start on Molly's Zone for 2025, but my heart remains so thankful for what God is allowing me to do for His glory.

I named this message "Remembering and Reflecting" because in my heart I know that some days are never meant to be forgotten.

I believe that the most crucial aspect of remembering and recalling the valleys we have traveled through will always be reflecting on the victories that the Lord gives us.

I will forever pause and reflect on the day of January 30, 2005. I LOVE sharing this part of my testimony because it teaches such a simple, yet valuable life lesson:

No amount of fire that is put into our lives will ever too much for God to put out. There is no valley where victory isn't possible. 

Mom and I lost nearly everything we owned after experiencing the devastation of a house fire. It's unimaginable to me to think that two whole decades have passed since that horrible life altering day.  That moment will forever represent a turning point in the storybook of my life. While effectively bringing one tumultuous chapter of our lives to an end, the events of that day simultaneously marked the beginning of another.

I always love remembering and reflecting on every ounce of God's goodness that pulled us through such a difficult season. The outpouring of love and support that was received will forever be one of my favorite blessings from the Lord.

It's tough remembering what all was lost that day. I think of my seven-month-old puppy, Tobie. I hate that her last moments were spent hiding in fear. It hurts me to imagine the thoughts that were running through her mind. 

Mom and I made it out of the house with our trunk of pictures, the Bible I received on the day I got saved, and precious keepsakes from time spent with my Mamaw Ruby that would have been irreplaceable. It is still such a blessing to know that He remembered my love for her and made sure those belongings were kept safe. (They made it out on the first load we took to my grandmother's house; unfortunately, we were never able to return)

I cannot bring today's thought to a close without praising the Lord for who He is. 

The Lord gave me the sweetest little closing thought that I hope and pray will be an encouragement to you as you go about your day: 

You may feel the weight of the world on your shoulders; you might be living as 'stuck' in the fire that is your situation, but you can always count on Jesus to walk you through it.

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” (Isaiah 43:2)