A New Normal- Our Daily Bread

Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. —Romans 6:4


"After my doctor announced that I had cancer, I tried to listen to what he said, but I couldn’t. I went home, pulled a blanket over my head, and fell asleep on the couch, as if sleeping could change the diagnosis.

When I finally gained enough strength to tell my loved ones, my friend Judy Schreur said something especially memorable. After expressing her sympathy, she said, “This is what will happen. You will feel really bad for 3 days. Then you will get up, figure out what you have to do, and get on with your life.” Then she added, “I think it has to do with death, burial, and resurrection.”



At the time, I didn’t believe it. I was sure that life as I knew it was over. Nothing would ever be the same. I couldn’t imagine feeling normal again. But she was right. Three days later I woke up and realized I didn’t feel quite so bad. And little by little, despite the physical misery of chemotherapy treatments, my emotional and spiritual condition improved significantly. I “died” to my old reality and was “raised” to a new normal.



Thankfully, God is in the business of resurrection. For those who have died in Christ, the death of one reality means resurrection to a new, glorious normal so that we can “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4)."
 — Julie Ackerman



"Jesus redeemed us and died in our stead;

In Him we died and rose from the dead.

No longer is death a thing that we dread;

The old is behind us, the new is ahead." —D. De Haan



"To be “in Christ” is to share in His life, in His death, and in His resurrection."





*Changes your perspective on the death, burial and resurrection; doesn't it? Lol, be blessed and remember Jesus died so we may live.

Joyce Meyer- Daily Devotionals: Continue Taking Steps of Obedience

I have to laugh at how God works. This weekend I was thuinking about certain situations in my life and I was about to give up and just forget the situation forever.  I haven't read Joyce Meyer in awhile and I was determined to read it today. I just wanted to share it because I know a lot of people can relate:



"Whatever He says to you, do it.

—John 2:5



Jesus' first recorded miracle took place while He was attending a wedding celebration. When the marriage couple ran out of wine to serve their guests, Mary asked her Son to do something about the situation, telling the servants, "Whatever He tells you to do, do it." Jesus ordered them to fill up several huge water pots. When they had done so, He directed them to draw out of the vessels the water which by then had been miraculously changed into wine (See John 2:1-11). Because of their obedience to Him, the physical needs of many were met that day.



If you are looking for a miracle in your life, make sure you are sowing seeds of obedience, because the Lord has promised us that if we do so in patient confidence and trust in Him, we will eventually reap: "And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint." (Galatians 6:9).



Sometimes when things are not working out the way we think they should or we are not receiving the answers to our prayers as quickly as we would like, we get the idea, "Well, since God's not doing anything, why should I? Why should I be obedient if it isn't producing results?" In such times we must realize that God is always working. We just may not be able to see it, because He usually works in secret. "



I pray that God continues to bless the Meyer family and use them to bring honour and glory unto His name. They always bless me.

Why Did You Doubt?

I don’t know if I told you guys before, but when I did my Daniel fast we would have prayer sessions after service on Sundays. LOL, I think its funny looking back because I never pegged myself as a prayer warrior but to have someone ask you to pray on their behalf is an honor. Any who, back to the story: Our former Youth President was asked to pray over us that day. I will always remember his prayer. He prayed that I would be a Peter. I remember not fully understanding why throughout the prayer he compared me to him but I asked God to reveal the purpose of it. So fast forward to today; I was reading my copy of Our Daily Bread and the scripture verse was the story of Peter and Jesus walking on water. I stopped literally on Matthew 14:31 (Amplified Bible) “Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” I have to say that verse was talking to me. I know what God can do, especially what He can do in my life. I am always the one who wants to jump out of the ship and meet Him even in the craziest circumstances but when I look around that’s when I doubt. If we just keep our eyes on Him in the midst on the winds and currents we can walk right up to Him. He won’t let us sink, so why are we full of doubt?

Leaving a Legacy

I remember reading Our Daily Bread and it mentioned leaving a legacy. I wonder what I will be remembered for? I hope that I will be like my church mother: Mother Goddard. She was an on fire, loving, sweet and praying woman of God. It was a blessing to know her and to know she prayed for me and my family. When she passed I cried because I knew I would never hear her voice or have to tell her no as she tried to give me money like she did when I was younger, lol. Whenever I think about her now, I can’t help but smile. I want people to be able to do that when I am gone. I want them to say that I encouraged them and prayed for them when they didn’t think or feel like anyone was there; I was the one that reminded them how great God is. I want to be someone who lived a life for Christ. What do you want your legacy to be?

Behind the Building

I just finished reading “Our Daily Bread” for today and I have to say I am moved. The topic is about doing work behind the scenes. I am one of those people that feel that God has called me for the background things and to be honest I love it. I love the fact that I am in the background making sure things go smoothly because without the background work how will anything get done?......Any who….Yesterday I went bowling with my co-workers for the Junior Achievement. I had so much fun! I haven’t gone bowling in a while. I would have loved to have gone with my church family because it would have been tons of fun! I made sure that I showed Christ in me at all times.

Favorite Blogs

Every morning, it’s the same thing. I read my Daily Bread, read my Bible for the text that is in the Daily Bread, look up the verse in the Amplified and NIV version, and figure out what I am going to blog about while I read my favorite blogs. So, I decided to share them with you. I think it’s very hard to find a blog for our generation of Christians these days. Either they’re far left or far right. I am the kind of person who wants to read about how God affects your outlook on life, and everything in between. I am trying to figure out how to share everything because I feel that by me being open I might be able to help someone in the same situation as me. That being said let me list my favorite blogs and tell you why I love them. Hopefully you will share in the addiction with me. (They’re not listed in any order.)

1. The Scottish Wisdom (http://www/thescottishwisdom.blogspot.com)
I love this blog because of David’s (the blogger) hilarious topics as well as his blogs that make you think. David is a Christian (He’s a Bible School student) and a musician as well. It’s interesting to see what goes on in the mind of an artist.

2. Girly Girl (http://girlygirl.typepad.com/girly_girl)
This blog belongs to Kristin Billberbeck (author of The Ashley Stockingdale Series). She is a Christian Chick Lit writer, so in lame man terms: I LOVE HER! I love her sense of humor, her honestly about topics that happen in everyday America, I just love HER. The fact that she’s so open about everyday experiences, her minor shopping addiction, her kids, and her opinion of TV (especially American Idol) makes me like her so much more.


3. Bethany Dillon (http://bethanydillon.sparrowrecords.com; http://www.myspace.com/bethanydillonmusic)
Bethany is one of those rare, one of a kind people. You can’t help but love her.
From her music, you can tell she is love with God and wants to make music that shows that. Bethany’s blog is a funny, laid back type of journal. Its like she is talking to her friends and updating you on what you miss. (It’s not updated daily.)

4. Brooke Fraser (http://www.myspace.com/brookefraser; http://www.brookefraser.com/blog )
Okay, I will probably one day not love talking about her as much as I do now…but I highly doubt that. Any who, Brooke doesn’t blog daily. Her blog is more occasional and I like what she talks about. She talks about various topics: concerts she went to, her husband, writing her album, touring, etc.

5. Apricot Tea (http://apricot-tea.com)
Okay, this is the only secular blog I read. I like her blog because she’s a fashion addict like me. She talks about marriage, fashion, her family, experience, etc. She is honest and open about a lot of things. That’s why I like her.

6. Christa Ann Banister (http://christabanister.typepad.com/heythereitschrista)
Christa is another Christian Chick Lit writer (Around the World in 80 Dates & Blessed Are the Meddlers). She writes for magazines and gives reviews on movies and music. She makes you look forward to her blogs.

7. Erynn Mangum (http://www.erynnm.blogspot.com)
I love Erynn! She’s a Christian Chick Lit author that makes me excited that there’s someone out there who writes for Christians. Her humor is very much like mine and I love her characters. Any who, her blog is very hilarious! I love her sense of humor. She also throws in Bible verses, reflective thoughts, etc.