The season of Advent is a period of both repentance and celebration. Christians spend time in spiritual preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ at Christmas. Believers remember not only Christ’s first coming to earth as a human baby but also celebrate his continued presence with us today through the Holy Spirit. Advent is also a time for worshipers to anticipate his return at the Second coming of Christ.   The word “advent” comes from the Latin term “adventus” which means “arrival” or “coming,” particularly the arrival of something or someone of great significance.   The lighting of an Advent Wreath  is a traditional custom that originated…

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”    –  Psalm 46:10 (NIV) It takes a lot of faith to successfully navigate through life. There are times when we must demonstrate our faith by speaking up or fearfully stepping out into the great unknown. We know from scripture that God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power ( 2 Timothy 1:7). This power is through His Spirit and is recognized by our faith. It is through this faith that we come to believe, we can do all things in the name…

Okay, so what is salvation and how do we get it? This is a deep topic one where I could talk for days, but there is no better way to answer these questions than from God’s Holy Word. Scripture has plenty to say about salvation and it all points to Jesus! I have listed some very helpful verses in different versions and I hope this brings enlightenment and clarification. I mostly hope you see that Jesus is enough, He is Everything! Live out your salvation! Definitions: The act of saving or protecting from harm, risk, loss, destruction, etc. The state of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc. A…

“My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.”   – Ephesians 3:14-16…

“For here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to take you out of these countries, gather you from all over, and bring you back to your own land. I’ll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. You’ll once again live in the land I gave your ancestors. You’ll be my people! I’ll be your…

       It was supposed to be a quick procedure. In and out. One night in the hospital. But that’s not what happened. My son experienced some complications because of a virus, and we were in for a two-week hospital stay.      To be fair, this wasn’t our first, nor would it be our last lengthy hospitalization, but I felt like this time I was under direct spiritual attack. I was tempted to doubt God’s goodness, to doubt his faithfulness, and to give up on my faith. But our God is so faithful. He keeps his promises. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.…

I never really knew Jesus, I knew of him, but I did not know him personally. My first introduction to Jesus was when I was nine years old and a neighbor took me to their church. I really enjoyed it but did not continue past that point because my family had to move, and I never saw that neighbor again. From that point on church was not a part of my life, nor was Jesus, until many years later. We all go through dark times in our lives, difficult times, times of struggle and we need something to help us through it. While I have had my share of difficult…

My testimony begins….      I had an idol, my career. I was a single mom raising my kids and my priority, as they became older work became my priority. I needed more in life, and thought I was finding it in my career. I was seeking love, compliments and acceptance, all of which I never had in my life. I was in an emotional abusive marriage to an alcoholic, and this left me lacking the security I needed, and caused me to search for it elsewhere. I attended a church in Southern California, but started to become more distant and became obsessed with work and moving up in the…

I don’t remember the exact day in the summer of 1990, but I do remember the moment I received my first sign from God.   It’s a moment that I believe everyone remembers because it is an awakening inside of you. A feeling of pure love and peace comes over you, total astonishment, a life altering moment. My boys were four years of age at the time and I was going through a very difficult time in my life. My marriage was not good. My husband at the time was very controlling and sometimes verbally and mentally abusive to me and our boys. To this day they are troubled by events…

       We all just want to be seen. Most of us want to hide the dark oceans within and only reveal the beautiful sparkling waters that are on the surface. The surface, this is what we show friends, family, significant others, and sometimes even ourselves. This can be seen in our social media accounts, conversations and day to day interactions. To be seen in the way we hope to be seen; this is a desperate cry to be loved. The truth is we all want to be loved. Most of us are so afraid to be vulnerable and show all of ourselves in fear we will not be…