Christian Peeps

Where Is Our Focus

2023-10-07T08:30:00.002-04:00

Good morning, Christian Peeps,

This morning I want to talk about our focus. Where is it positioned? On God or on the world? On the water? Or on Jesus?

So many times, we get our eyes and our focus off God and begin to look around us at other things. Social Media, Television, etc. and before we know it, we have lost sight of the one who is our joy. We then become depressed, upset, angry and sad. We wonder how we can even function when the world around us is so evil.

Well, the Bible gives us a story that speaks to this: Matthew 14: 22-33

Jesus Walks on the Sea

22 Immediately Jesus [a]made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now [b]in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, [c]“Be of good cheer! [d]It is I; do not be afraid.”

28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw [e]that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

33 Then those who were in the boat [f]came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

Has there been a time when you knew that Jesus was the answer? When you knew that if you would just keep your eyes on Him and not get distracted that you could experience joy and happiness? But it's hard when the distractions come. It's hard when we choose to scroll on social media or watch television, then to read our Bibles, or pray. I'm not here to judge anyone, I have been guilty myself. But it's like having a headache and knowing that if we take that ibuprofen, our headache will go away, but instead, we keep going, hoping it will just go away on its own. It's the same with living for Jesus, we know what to do to be closer to Him, we know that if we focus on Him, instead of the things of this world, we can be happier, our lives can be full of joy; but instead, we take our eyes off of Him and become infected by the world.

Today, my hope and prayer for us all is that we will stay focused and, in those moments, when we get our eyes off Jesus, that we will quickly call out to Him like Peter did and He will bring our focus back to Him.

Jesus is our hope, not the world, Jesus.

Be Blessed!

We Will Not Lack

2015-03-18T07:06:00.001-04:00

Psalm 34:8

Taste and see that the Lord is good
oh the joys of those who trust Him
Let the Lord's people show him reverence
for those who honor him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions go hungry sometimes
but those who trust in the Lord will never lack for any good thing.

A Dream Come True!

2015-01-23T17:30:00.000-05:00

I just have to blog what I am getting ready to do. Next Tuesday, I will be flying to Peru for a mission trip. I have dreamed of this opportunity forever! I am excited about what God is going to do in Peru. I have held a lot of jobs in my life, made different amounts of money, but nothing is as satisfying to me as serving others. I feel whole when I can reach outside myself and do something that affects others in a positive way. So going to Peru is huge for me! I don't have any expectations except that I want to be changed. I want to be touched and made whole. I know that sounds selfish, since the whole reason I am going there is to help others; but I believe that in helping others, its possible that the person doing the serving gets the greatest benefit. "It is better to give then receive", that's what the Bible says; and I believe that by giving you ultimately receive.

I am going to try and blog about everything that is happening. I am going to keep a journal and then blog it when I return since my internet service will be very limited. I am privileged to travel with some of the most amazing people that I have ever met! We desire all of your prayers and positive thoughts as we embark on this journey!

Stay tuned.....

2013-12-09T13:52:00.002-05:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! It is important that during this Holiday Season, we remember it is not what we get but what we can give. Luke 6:38 says: Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” It's not the gifts we give others but the love we show toward them. Money may help for a little while but love last so much longer. I hope you have a wonderful Holiday Season and you are blessed! Merry Christmas!

The End Of An Era!

2013-09-04T09:12:00.002-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! I am sad to say that this will be my last post for a while. When I started this ministry it was to uplift everyone before they started their day in hopes that in our discouragement we would know that God was there. I have been doing this for 5 years now but feel that it is time to maybe move on to another ministry. There have been many transitions in my life this year and this is just a number of doors that are closing for me. But I know that God is getting ready to open other doors and that excites me. I hope and pray that all of you have been encouraged at one time or another. Most of them were for my benefit for sure! God is so good! I love you all and hope that whatever ministry God leads me into next I can continue to touch lives for him. Always remember that God loves us all! That his will is for us to prosper, and to live in abundance but the key is that we first must believe that we are worthy to do so. May God richly bless each and every one of you!

With much love!

Theressa

Relinquish Control to God

2013-08-21T12:16:00.001-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! Often we find ourselves faced with yet another dilemma in our lives. We may worry or fret and often spend hours trying to figure out what we need to do, when really we can save ourselves lots of gray hair, upset stomachs and headaches by just releasing our worries to the one that has complete control. Just as we would let our children go on a first date, first sleep over, or just a weekend away, we have to let our problems go as well. We put our children in God's hands when they leave and relinquish control because once they leave us the control is pretty much gone. The same goes for our problems. Just as we believe that God and the angels watch over and keep our children safe, we also must believe that he will watch over and take care of our problems. He promises in his word that he will. So today, if we are struggling with worry, doubt, decisions, just turn them over, relinquish control and let God take over. It always works out in the end. God knows best! Be Blessed!

Keep Hope Alive

2013-08-16T09:06:00.000-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! "When the world says "give up", Hope whispers, "try one more time". It's that moment when we feel that we cannot try again, that we are tired of trying and not seeing results. But it's when we push through the feeling of wanting to quit and embrace hope one more time that something wonderful can and will happen. If we give up, then all chances of something happening goes away, but if we keep being determined to try again and again, then the possibilities remain. It's those possibilities that keep us going. It's those possibiliies that can make a difference. Don't quit! Don't give up! Let hope float! Be Blessed!

Destiny Calling.....

2013-08-06T11:35:00.002-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! What fires us up? What is it that everytime we talk about it or hear someone mention it just get's us going? Well that something could be what we were destined to do or get involved in. I believe it is the very thing that we feel burning in us that is our passion. Start paying attention to what matters. Start recognizing what makes us set up and take notice, or what makes us come alive. That is where we can start when searching for our destiny callinig. May we all get a hold of that passion and run with it like never before. We all have a destiny calling and if we miss it, it could be like a chain link fence missing a link. We are all needed in order to achieve what we are meant to do in this world. Be Blessed!

Only Today!

2013-08-02T07:53:00.002-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! God is the keeper of our past, our today's and our future. He can bring restitution for our past, strengthen our foundations today and place blessings in our future. Sometimes we just have to turn it all over to him and as humans that is the hardest part. We spend a lot of time dwelling on our past, too much time worrying about our futures and not enough time living for today. It's in the right now moments that our blessings exist. We can't hope to receive today when we are already focused on tomorrow. I encourage all of us to be here right now in every moment. Take the time to listen so that we can hear what is right for us now. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Be Blessed!

Love and Kindness Makes a Difference!

2013-07-19T09:51:00.001-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! Love and Kindness when shared blesses the one who receives it and blesses the one who gives it. That is a double blessing! Each time we reach out in love and kindness something amazing comes from it. Each day we have the opportunity to either do what Jesus did everyday he walked on Earth, or do what the world tells us to do. Jesus taught love and kindness and his message was powerful. His love was felt by everyone he came in contact with and they were changed. Let us strive today to spread the love of Jesus to everyone we meet. It does make a difference. Be Blessed!

Embrace Today!

2013-07-16T09:45:00.003-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! Living in the moment means embracing not what we expect the day to be, but what it will be. Everyday represents another day that we have great opportunities. Opportunity to love someone that needs it so badly. Opportunity to reach out to someone that is struggling with pain, disappointment, and grief. An opportunity to be the best person God created us to be. When we spend our time and energy trying to make the day turn out like we think it should we miss opportunities to change our lives for the better. Life will never be what we expect, but it will be what it needs to be. When we can accept what it needs to be then and only then will our lives change. God wants to do great things through us, but we make that impossible when we limit what we will allow him to do. Turn loose of expectations and allow God to show us his amazing plan for our life. Be Blessed!

2013-07-09T13:10:00.003-04:00

Good Afternoon Christian Peeps! “Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence.”

- Lin Yutang With hope we can forge ahead, we can invent what wasn't there, we can inspire those along the way. With hope we can open windows that were recently closed and create freedom to change the world. We must believe that tomorrows will be better, that life can improve, that happiness reigns and love abundantly abounds. With hope and love we make a difference always. The Bible speaks of hope, faith and love. Let's includes these in our lives and change the world. Be Blessed!

In Our Weakness, He Is Strong!

2013-06-28T09:46:00.002-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. II Corinthians 12:9 I am reminded of an event that took place not too long ago. I was invited to speak at a Women's Conference in Oklahoma. It was my first real invite and I was so excited. A little scared but excited. I studied, prepared, prayed and come that morning I was ready to go. I was supposed to be the first speaker on stage but the gentleman running the conference kept moving me back on the agenda. At first I was like that's okay.. I need to wake up some more anyway. But as I continued to get moved back, I began to say what's going on Lord? Everyone of the speakers ahead of me touched on part of my presentation and my confidence began to wane. I was just starting to get my inner whine on when a lady walked into the room and the holy spirit spoke and said that is why you are here. I immediately began to pray but also wonder if I should change what I had planned to say. Trying once again to work things in my own way. Well, needless to say, I finally got my turn but then my CD that I had recorded my soundtrack on wouldn't play. I was counting on that intro to lead into my planned speech. I had to take a detour and totally surrender my time on that stage to God. I had to depend on him to give me whatever he wanted me to say.....and he did. Afterward the lady purchased my CD and sent me a long email about how she really needed to hear those words that God gave me that day. It was then I realized that in my weakness God can then take over and really use me the way he needed to. I want to always be weak for Christ. I don't ever want to get in his way and take the lead. Thank you God for creating that moment of weakness so that I would let you be strong.

Be Blessed!

Sometimes Being Lost Is A Good Thing!

2013-06-27T08:18:00.003-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! Not until we are lost do we begin to find ourselves. Thoreau I believe we do not know to look for ourselves until we are lost. When we are traveling we may not even consult a map until we realize we are lost, then and only then do we begin to question, search, and look for another way. It's the same in life. We won't feel the need to look for ourselves until we become lost then we are forced to take a good look around and begin the necessary steps to find out who we really are! Thank God he allows us to get lost. It becomes our wake up call that we have strayed from who we are and need to readjust back to the original plan. So if we find ourselves feeling lost, take it as a sign, get quiet and look inside. It's time to find ourselves! Be Blessed!

It Goes Beyond Just Hearing!

2013-06-26T08:45:00.003-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! We can sit in on motivational speeches, we can read inspirational books and we can hear God's words about abundant living but if we do not have faith and belief in ourselves we can't go beyond what we hear. In order to put words into action we must first believe in those words and believe that it is possible. Our confidence in ourselves comes from within. It's that confidence that propels us into action. We were all created for a purpose but we must believe in that purpose and our abilities enough to make that purpose come to fruition. Works is what we can do, Faith is what God does. Be Blessed!

From Valleys to Mountain Tops!

2013-06-25T08:21:00.001-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! It's the foundation of our mountains that keeps us stable, it's the mountain tops that keep us going! We begin in the valley, gathering our strength and fortitude, counting supplies, and gearing up to begin our journey up life's mountain. Many times we will slip and return to the valley to regroup and decide a new route; then begin again to reach that part that sets us free. After many struggles, stops and starts, we finally reach the top. We take a moment in our exultation, recognizing love like never before wrapping the success around us and basking in the moment. Then, we turn and look to the new mountain and begin again. Life is full of valley's and mountain tops, joys and sorrows and we wouldn't have it any other way. Be Blessed!

Let The Blessings Catch Up!

2013-06-24T09:11:00.000-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! When we stop chasing the wrong things we give the right things a chance to catch us. There were never truer words for me. I have spent most of my life chasing the wrong things that I thought were the right things. Very rarely did I consult my maker to find out if we were on the same page. Hardly ever did I stop and listen to see if he had other plans. However, now, I am listening, I have stopped chasing and I am consulting Him in all things. I have a new peace that He is guiding me all the way. Turning my life over completely to Him is the best thing I have ever done. It's kind of exciting to not know what is going to happen but having that knowing that it's gonna be good. God works all things to our good! How exciting is that! Be Blessed!

Out With The Old And In With The New!

2013-06-21T08:23:00.001-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! Holding onto something that is good for you now, may be the very reason why you don't have something better.” ― C. JoyBell C. With open hands extended toward God, we accept new gifts. If we have our hands full already then how do we propose that God give us something better? We have to let go of the old things that we are still holding onto in order for Him to bless us with better things. When that something we are holding onto does not serve us anymore, it is time to let it go and await with expectation the new things he wants to give us. Out with the old and in with the new. Be Blessed!

Financially Broke, But Spiritually Sound!

2013-06-19T07:05:00.001-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! Broke Is not Broken. Being broke is not the same as being broken, losing money is not the same as being lost, and finding your balance is not something you can do on a balance sheet. Beliefnet We worry so much about our financial state. When we pay our bills, will there be enough money? But if we think back, how long has this been going on? How long have we been in this state.....on the mice's wheel still chasing the dream but getting more and more in debt. So why are we letting our financial state dictate who we are and what we do? Our spiritual worth is way more important than our physical worth, since when we die we can't take any of this "so called wealth" with us. So today instead of focusing on our broke selves, why don't we focus on what is broken? Why don't we say nothing has changed about my physical wealth no matter what I do, so why don't I take a leap of faith and let God show me spiritually what I can do. He says in his word that he will never leave us or forsake us...i'm pretty sure that means in all things including our finances. When we grow spiritually, we won't need to worry financially. Be Blessed!

He is Here Among Us!

2013-06-17T08:22:00.001-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! “I sought to hear the voice of God and climbed the topmost steeple, but God declared: "Go down again - I dwell among the people.” ― John Henry Newman I think sometimes we feel that God is out of our reach. That no amount of prayer will reach him. But we must recognize that God is not out in the cosmos somewhere but here in our hearts and if we have accepted him in our spirit. He dwells here among us, not in some obscure location. He is in our quiet moments when we take the time to listen. He is in those sad moments when we just need a shoulder to cry on. He is in those moments when tragedy could have struck but his hand intervened. He is God and he is here! Be Blessed!

Nestled Safely in Amazing Grace!

2013-06-12T08:39:00.001-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! Are we weak and heavy laden today? Take it to the Lord in prayer. He knows our every weakness, we can just take it to him in prayer. One of the songs I heard this morning says, "I am nestled safely in Amazing Grace. I love the word nestled, it denotes a feeling of warmth and safety. That is what the Father does for us. He takes us and nestles us warmly and safely into his Amazing Grace. I am thankful for that grace. By his grace we find salvation, by his grace, we are forgiven and by his grace we are restored. Let's God's grace nestle us today, and supply all our needs. Be Blessed!

God Is There....Always!

2013-06-11T08:37:00.001-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! Yesterday, one of the cats I had rescued but stays gone a lot, made his way back to my house and meowed loudly until I fed him and fed him and fed him. Needless to say my first thought was how dare you stay gone for days and then come back expecting me to feed you no questions asked. But then my next thought was how many times have I done the same thing to my savior. Gone for days without giving him a thought, just going about my busy life until something happens and I need him, then here I go, running back to him praying loudly for help. The great thing is, just like the prodigal son, God accepts us back in, supplies our needs, loves us unconditionally and doesn't judge us for where we may have been. What a lesson in love. God is there, no matter how far away we get he is always right there to take us back into his arms and make everything okay. Be Blessed!

Stop and Listen!

2013-06-06T12:56:00.001-04:00

Good Afternoon Christian Peeps! Sometimes it's hard to know if we are making the right decisions or not. Maybe it's because there is a struggle between our heart and our head. I can remember needing to make a serious decision and I really wanted God to let me know if it wasn't the right one. I remember saying, "OK God, if this isn't right, show me in a big way"... because sometimes I can be dense. Well, right in the middle of the situation I saw a flashing red stop sign going off in my mind. That was the first time that had happened so I knew immediately it was a no. Since then I have prayed that I would become more sensitive to hearing or feeling what is the right decision to make. God is faithful to lead us and guide us in the right direction if we will pay attention to all the signs and listen intently to our hearts. Be Blessed!

Can We Commit Like Ruth?

2013-06-05T09:27:00.001-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! Ruth stated in the Bible that wherever Naomi went she would go, she was adamant about staying with Naomi and later she received a huge blessing. I believe that we have to become committed to the purpose that God has placed in us, even when we aren't sure of what that is. I believe that although we may not get the big picture all at once that He will begin to show it to us in increments if we truly trust in him. Ruth didn't know at the time what was down the road but she was determined to stay committed no matter what that meant. Today is the day to recommit to that purpose to decide to trust no matter what it looks like to us. Stay strong! Be Blessed!

Mary or Martha?

2013-06-04T08:09:00.003-04:00

Good Morning Christian Peeps! Being busy is not necessarily being productive, it's just being busy. There is a story in the Bible about two sisters, Mary and Martha. When Jesus came around Mary found herself at his feet listening and hanging onto every word. But Martha was a doer, always working, always staying busy. She believed that she was accomplishing great things by cooking food, and cleaning the house, but those things did not matter to Christ. He just wanted to share his love and the gospel and speak into their lives. What about us today? Are we the Mary who takes the time to stop and listen; to glean wisdom and knowledge or do we just keep right on barreling through with our busy things that we do. Are we being productive or just being busy? I think it's a great question to ask ourselves. What is all this busyness getting me? Where is it taking me. If we are not affecting lives the way Christ would then are we being productive? Does all the material things in this world really make that much difference? Do they truly make us happy? I don't want to be just busy, I want to be productive. Father, help us to slow down and reassess our lives. Help us to truly do the things that you would want us to do and affect the lives of people around us. Let us do away with the busy work that so distracts us from your true purpose and let us dwell in your Holy Place and find what it is that we need to truly be doing to be productive in your Kingdom. Thank you! Amen! Be Blessed!