Be a Fisher of Men

Recently, I've been thinking a lot about what Jesus has really called us to do. We were put here on this earth to glorify God, Praise His name, have a relationship with Him and do Kingdom work. Kingdom work means being a FISHER OF MEN!

  Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

Jesus asks us to rearrange all of our own priorities and become so in love with him. When we get a taste of his unfailing love and glory, we will be so determined to share His love with everyone. Once you taste and see that He is good there is no going back.

If we have the secret to happiness, blessings, health & wealth then why would we want to keep it a secret? Wouldn't you want to tell everyone how they could have it too?

That's what Jesus was talking about when he told Peter and Andrew that He would make them fishers of men. We can cast out our nets all by ourselves all we want but when you get divine direction and the help of the Holy Spirit, that is when our nets will be overflowing.

We can't force anyone to accept Jesus, only when they feel the Holy Spirit tugging on their hearts can they genuinely call out for Gods help and be saved.

So, when is the last time you were so on fire for God that you just had to share His love? When is the last time you told someone something that God did for you?

Most importantly, when is the last time you invited someone to church?

It's so easy to just focus on ourselves and what God is doing for us. What blessing we are believing for and what prayer will be answered.

Our walk with God isn't supposed to always be about us. It's about sharing.

God gives us blessings, miracles, answered prayers all for His glory! We can use our testimonies of great times and bad times to reach the lost. Most the time when we have a relatable story is when we are the best fisher of men!

I encourage you to share God's love more so you can be a FISHER OF MEN just like Jesus wants us to be!



Have You Been Freed?

I am so thankful to God that I am not the person I used to be. I became a servant and He truly did free me of my chains. I am no longer bound by the things of the past. The Lord has made me new! Praise God! Without Him, I'd be caught up in sin and walking down the right. I am thankful for forgiveness and grace. Without Him I don't know where I'd be today. I wouldn't have married my husband, I wouldn't have my kids or the life I live now with them.

It's crazy to know that God always has a plan and He knows what's best for our lives. Growing up and in high school I never thought I would grow up, give my life to Jesus, get married and start a family. Yeah, I always wanted to get married and have kids but living a life fully for God was never in my plans.

I was filling the hole in my heart with all the wrong things.

It wasn't until one exact moment that really changed everything for me. I had just graduated high school and I was dealing with a hard situation.... driving down the country road that I drove everyday to and from my house and crying like no tomorrow, I cried out to God.

"God, if you're there and if you're real...please let me know everything is going to be ok. Just show me some sign that it's going to be ok!"

Then I heard Him.

"Don't you know that I will always take care of you?"

I looked around the car. I thought someone was in my car and said that! I pulled over and cried and tried to figure out what I had just heard.

IT WAS GOD! He has answered me. He showed Himself to me and answered my prayer.

It was that exact moment that my life was going to change. I really believed God and that He was going to make everything ok. I really had faith that he was real and not just some plastic Jesus. HE was there! He was real! I heard Him for the first time.

Since that moment, my life had changed little by little. I became a better person. I wasn't selfish and high maintenance. I loved Jesus. I wanted to know everything about Him.

Here I am 8 years later and I couldn't have made a better choice. Yes, I grew up in a Christian school, went to church occasionally with friends but I was never serving Him. I always questioned if He was real and if people were wasting their time.

I'm here today to tell you that if you just have faith, He will free you of any situation you're in. He can completely transform the person you are into the best YOU you can be!

My chains were broken! I gained self confidence, I knew I was loved. I wasn't feeling the hole in my heart with worldly things.

In my persuit to fill the void, I was just looking for the King.

When I found Him, He welcomed me with open arms. I was finally where I should've been the whole time.

One thing you should know is that no matter what you've done...He always forgives and he erases our pasts! He also heals wounds and erases guilt and shame!

Praise God!

So, HAVE YOU BEEN FREED?

Shock and Awe

Last night, after I gave my 7 month old son a bath and put him in his PJs, I sat down and started scrolling through Facebook. I live in Arizona and all of my family and most of my friends live in Michigan or Indiana. Facebook is kind of my way of keeping up with their lives. Little did I know that what I read... would create a shock and awe in my heart.

My junior year at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana I roomed with 3 other girls, all of them golfers. I was the odd one out, being a cheerleader. I didn't know them well, had just had a few classes with one of the girls the previous year and found out they needed a 4th roommate. Throughout the year, getting to know these girls was such a blessing. They were so sweet and we shared life together for a time. A few years ago, one of them lost their mom in a solo car accident in Michigan. It was before she got engaged or even married. Tonight, I learned that another roommate, Kayla, lost her husband suddenly.

They have an 11 month old daughter.

I can't even begin to imagine. I instantly called my husband, who had just left our house to head to our church to help with youth group, and told him how much I loved him. I asked him to be careful as he drove and not be looking at his phone or be in a hurry. I can't imagine losing my husband, and I felt that I needed to to him for the 13th time today that I loved him. But as I sat there reading these posts about how people were shocked to learn this news, how their hearts go out to the family... the most important thing I read was... "Brad is with Jesus. Thank God for his salvation."

Do you know where you're going when God decides your time on Earth is through?

Jesus says in the Bible that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no other way to the Father (God), except through Jesus. Jesus commands us to love him with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength. That is the greatest commandment. In John, Jesus tells us that in Heaven, His Father's house, there are many mansions built for those coming to live with Him eternally. Jesus died the most excruciating death ever recorded, on a cross, for the sins that anyone has ever committed or will ever commit. BECAUSE HE LOVES US AND WANTS TO SPEND ETERNITY WITH US.

But that means we have to take action. Do you know Jesus? Do you have a personal relationship with Him? If He were to take you from this Earth tomorrow, do you know where you're going?

I do. Praise God, I do.

God asks us to come to Him, with honest, open hearts; to ask forgiveness of the sins we've committed. If you want to live a life that brings glory to God, ask Him to fill your heart and come into your life. God will help you live out His commandments and teachings. But you have to be willing to let go of yourself, to be on fire for Christ and sharing Him with others; you have to learn to change. The reward is so great my friends. God is so great. We may not understand His ways, His timing, or why He allows things to happen. But His blessings and His love for people is amazing.

Jesus loves you.