One of the MOST important stories of the bible, God uses Mary!!  

Mary was with Mary, Jesus’ mother at the tomb. She experienced great sadness in her walk with Jesus.  So often we feel that a life with Christ is going to be carefree.. Honey let me tell you, a bullseye is now put on your back, BUT it’s also the MOST BLESSED PlACE!!! Blessed is she who believed the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!! Luke 1:45

Mary’s Encounter at the Tomb!

“Mary stood outside the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb weeping. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.”“Then they said to her ‘Woman why are you weeping?’ She said ‘Because they have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him.”

“Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
“She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him,’ Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” John 20:11-17

Because of her shock and grief, she isn’t fully in the reality of what’s happening. She doesn’t react to the presence of angels and she does not recognize Jesus. But that’s about to change!

Mary Sees the Risen Christ and Receives a Special Assignment

“Jesus said to her ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to Him ‘Rabboni!!’(which is to say, Teacher.)” Jesus said to her ‘ Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren and say to them.’I am ascending to My Father and their Father, and to My God and your God.’ Mary came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that He had spoken these things to her.” John 20:16-18

-     She was a sinner SAVED by grace

-     She was labeled by society, yet BRAVE enough to follow Jesus

-     She was a DEVOTED follower in love with Jesus

-     She was no longer used by men for their selfish purposes

-     She was HEALED, DELIVERED, & TRANSFORMED

-     She was EXALTED to a place of honor used by Jesus himself to be one of the first people he revealed himself too.

Some passages are from www.salt-clay.com if you’d like to read further

1.         What are some ways you think you’ve messed up that have disqualified you from being used by God?

2.       How has God healed, delivered, or transformed you?

3.       What are some ways you think God is going to use you to help bring others to Christ? 

Please take some time to reflect on these questions and know that God's not done with you!

Have A Life Overflowing!

1.         Do you know someone in your life with character like Nabal’s? Have you seen it bring about negative consequences? List a real life example.

2.       How can we be more like Abigail in our current situations?  Is there a circumstance you’re dealing with where you could stand up for someone else?

3.       How can we be more bold and courageous today? Give a specific example.

4.       What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?

Have A Life Overflowing!

The Shunammite woman is a character in the Bible who is described in 2 Kings 4:8-37. She is a wealthy, childless woman from Shunem who is known for her hospitality and faith. 

Story:

• The Shunammite woman provided meals and a place to stay for the prophet Elisha.
• Elisha told the woman she would have a son. 
• The woman's son became sick and died. 
• The woman carried her son to Elisha's bed, shut the door, and left. 
• The woman went to Elisha for help, and he raised her son from the dead. 

We will go into this story much deeper in the future, but I wanted to share the jist of it all, so you could see all that she had to go through to make it possible for Habakkuk to be born.  He was a prophet, that wrote the very passages we’re focusing on today.

Habakkuk 1:5

“Look at the nations and watch—
     and be utterly amazed.
 For I am going to do something in your days
     that you would not believe,
     even if you were told.

I want us to get excited about the fact that God’s working behind the scenes! I want you to get excited about the possibilities with God at the CENTER of your life.  I have seen so many miracles in my life, but those wouldn’t have come without me truly going ALL IN and making Jesus the center of my life.  BELIEVE, my friends!

So Habakkuk is complaining about life and the evil that is going on and seemingly allowed by the Lord, and the Lord responds to Him and says..

Habakkuk 2:2 -3

Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the vision
    and make it plain on tablets
    so that a herald[a] may run with it.
3 For the revelation (God already has a plan for your life and mine.  He has goals, dreams, and desires for us to complete.) awaits an appointed time;
    it speaks of the end
    and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
    it will certainly come
    and will not delay.

GOALS FOR 2025

1.         God

Verse:

2.       Health - 

Verse:

3.       Family - 

Verse:

4.       Career - 

Verse:

5.       Your Choice - 

Verse:

Happy Goal Setting and Have A Life Overflowing!

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

It Is Finished

28 After this, Jesus, [e]knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

I want us to stop for a moment to ponder on this great and heavy sacrifice Jesus  made for us. I want you to also think about what God went through watching His only son being tortured. What if that was your son/daughter? The absolute horror that was felt. This is what Jesus did for us, to ensure we could be with him forever. Because God LOVED us so much, he gave his only son.  

So……Based on how He was treated in the events prior, how could He trust them to give him anything "nice" like a drink of water or wine in the first place? Furthermore, what would be the point since He would give up his spirit soon after? (From Stack Exchange on Biblical Hermeneutics)
 Jesus said, I thirst…my interpretation. Was he thirsty, perhaps but would that be a consideration with all the pain he was in.  I don’t think so, I fully believe that he said I thirst, because he thirsted for the Father. He was ready to go home to heaven for the fulfillment of his destiny, the REWARD which is the Father himself and his kingdom of heaven.  He longed to be home with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV

8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Phillipians 1:23-24 I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and

Numbers 27:1-11

Zelophehad’s Daughters

1 The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. They came forward

2 and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting and said,

3 “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the LORD, but he died for his own sin and left no sons.

4 Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.”

5 So Moses brought their case before the LORD,

6 and the LORD said to him,

7 “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.

8 “Say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter.

9 If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers.

10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers.

11 If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to have the force of law for the Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.’ ”

1. Don't be afraid to ask
2. Declare the truth of God's word
3. Put in your request boldly
4. God remembers your cries
5. You have not because you ask not, James 4:2
6. Receive!

Have ~A Life Overflowing

Psalm 34:17-20 
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
My friends we can stand on these promises daily.  Keep listening for the 3 steps to healing.  

1. Confess your pain and anger to the Lord.  My friends, God doesn't like to see us hurt, in fact he's angry too at the pain we must endure while here on earth.  We can come to him, cry out, yell, scream, and just get it all out.  We can ask why?  We can tell him how we truly feel.  He can take it, He's God Almighty.  He will lovingly listen just like a parent who wraps their arms around their children when they are hurting.  You can journal, go to counseling also, or just vent to a safe trusted friend or minister.  We must let it out, because holding it in will not do any good.  We must also ask for forgiveness from God for any sins we've committed due to our anger.  Anger is not a sin, so don't feel condemned, but if we've done anything out of that anger to harm God or others, confession is a good idea. 
2. Meditate on God's healing word.  Get a journal, a notecard, write it on your phone in the notes section.  This is one of the MOST powerful ways to get healing and victory in any area of your life, but it's something we do not do, at all.  We have an entire 1000+ pages of promises, healing, etc. that we don't utilize! Even if you take 5 minute a day!! Just 5 minutes guys where you put down the phone & meditate and memorize 1 verse a week.  It would be 52 verses a year and will DRASTICALLY change your life.  One verse is one I mentioned above Psalm 147:3 He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.  That's a great one to start with if your heart is broken due to your emotional pain.  We also have to remember that our pain goes deeper than just our emotions. It affects our soul, our minds, and our hearts.  This is why we need much more than just time to heal.  Time doesn't heal all wounds, God does.  Have you ever known a drug addict or alcoholic?  They're still at many years after the trauma occurs, not just because of addiction but because their pain is still there. 
3. Have the conversation - whether it be with a parent who hurt you, a spouse, an abuser(if possible), a friend, etc.  we have to have the conversation with them about how they hurt us.  We must also be open to asking forgiveness to them also for the hate we've carried in our hearts.  Forgiveness?/!! what?? but they hurt me first and the most. I know dear friend, I know, but that doesn't excuse our behaviour.  We can also ask forgivness of anyone we've hurt due to our own anger. Either way, clearing the air, while i know it can be extremely difficult, is the breeding ground for breakthrough, forgiveness, and miracles.  Pray over this conversation before you have it, that the Lord would soften both of your hearts and minds and that His will would be done in that. You'd be surprised at how much the other person was waiting for that more than you were. You might even get the apology you've always deserved.

As always, have  A Life Overflowing Friends!

What Does The Word ‘Freedom’ Mean In Hebrew?
chuphshah- liberty from slavery.  Sin is slavery!! 

– Psalm 146:7
“Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.”

What Does The Word ‘Freedom’ Mean In Greek?
politeia- citizenship.

James 1:25
“But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭61:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,”

Psalm 119:45
“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.”

Galatians 5:13 ESV
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another

John 8:36 ESV
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV 
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom

Be blessed my friends & walk in your new found freedom!! 

I pray you have A Life Overflowing!

Wow that's pretty powerful stuff, and God has a lot to say about making decisions and how to do it.

Join me for this week's episode where I show you 4 steps from the word of God to help you make decisions.

Scripture References:

Psalm 32:8 ESV
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

James 1:5 ESV
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 

Jeremiah 33:3 says
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Proverbs 11:14 says
Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

James 3:17  says
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Psalm 119:105 says
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Proverbs 21:5 says
"Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. 

Isaiah 30:21
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

Have A Life Overflowing my friends!

James 1:25 "But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does."

Isaiah 51:6
says, I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”

1 Kings 22:14
But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I shall speak.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:19‬ 
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes a heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.