Tag: You are loved

We Are Called to Love Extravagantly

Good morning, Beloved!

I want to share something the Lord has placed on my heart. Let’s start by reading this verse:

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40, NIV)

A Stirring from the Lord

Recently, He has been bringing discomfort to my heart regarding how His children are treating others. Even in Church families, we are not living out the Second Greatest Commandment.

I asked the Lord, “Why aren’t we doing as you commanded?”
And He responded: “My children are too busy, too distracted, too exhausted.
You are carrying the full weight of responsibilities that I never meant for you to carry alone. You should be leaning on me and on each other.”

We are overwhelmed by the demands of life—our jobs, our families, our schedules. So much so that we don’t have time or energy for anyone else.

Even worse, sometimes we wear our “busyness” like a badge of honor. As if the more we “do”, the more others will be impressed and the more pleased the Father will be. But busyness is not a Holy excuse.

The Lord does call us to steward many things, but His expectation is that we look to Him for wisdom, strength, and strategy. That we consistently cast our cares on Him and spend enough time in prayer and in the Word to be strengthened and recharged.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)

We should also be able to look to our community, other brothers and sisters to love us, encourage us, and pray with us in our daily walk.

“As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)

A Word from Ephesians

Then, Holy Spirit caused me to stumble (literally, I happened to flip to this page) upon Ephesians 5.

1-2 Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. (Ephesians 5: 1-2, MSG)

And the Lord spoke again:

“My children are loving too cautiously. You want to support people from afar—without becoming too involved. You don’t want to share their burdens, give your time, or your attention.”

We fear that giving to others and loving others will mean less time and energy for our “priorities”. And when we try to do everything in our own strength, we give from a limited supply.

We need to look to the Father for supernatural strength and unlimited supply for stewarding our responsibilities and for the capacity to extravagantly love others.

Love from His Abundance

When He calls us to do something, He always provides the resources. He won’t lead us to do what He won’t see us through. We just need to ask. Spend time with the Father. Sit with Him. Pray. Read the Word. Let Him fill you. And then love others with the Love of Jesus—not from your lack, but from His abundance.

Loving others may be listening, encouraging, spending time in fellowship, helping financially, offering physical assistance, or simply being present. As we step out in obedience, may the Holy Spirit guide each moment so we can discern and love as needed.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. So my heart is full of joy. I will thank Him with my song.” (Psalm 28:7, NLV)

Jesus Loves You Extravagantly,

Alexis

He is the Good Shepherd

Hi Beloved! Wow, it has been a long time!

So much has happened in the last few years. I wrote the blog post below back in August of 2022. It’s a personal testimony about the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness! Since that time, everything has changed again, but I will share my recent testimony another time. For whatever reason, I had this saved in my drafts, but it was never posted. The Lord prompted me to share it now. I pray that it blesses someone.

August 14, 2022

I hope this finds you all blessed. After my last post, life got extraordinarily busy, but it was a blessed year. We sold our house, then while waiting for our new house to be built, we had to move all six of us into a two-bedroom apartment for two months. I also started a new job, my brother got married, we moved into the new house, the kids had to switch schools, and now here we are! I couldn’t have done any of it without God perfectly planning and orchestrating every step. Does the Lord ever give you a particular verse for a particular season? For me last year, it was Psalm 23.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23)

We had originally discussed selling our house this year, in 2022. After our youngest daughter was born, we needed another bedroom and a better layout.  However, in February of last year, the Lord prompted me to move sooner. I couldn’t even imagine packing up to sell at that time. I was still nursing my 10-month-old baby, we had tons of old toys and clothes that I didn’t have time to sort through, we were planning a spring vacation and of course, my brother’s wedding! I said, Lord, no way. I couldn’t possibly. Not with everything else going on right now. My husband also convinced me that we would need to put some money into the house and make updates before it would sell. We didn’t really have the funds or the time, so we thought planning ahead for next year was the best option. However, at the Lord’s insistence, I decided to set up a meeting with a realtor.

We were expecting them to give us a long list of updates to make and a small price tag on our house, once they were complete. Much to our surprise, they said they could sell it “as-is” for a great price!  That was much easier than we thought, but then where would we move? I wanted a new build, but my husband was more worried about location. All the new builds I tried to show him were too far for his liking. He wanted to start with the location, then look for the house. I wanted to get something brand new that we could purchase from the builder. It was definitely a seller’s market at that time. Inventory and interest rates were low and many people were over-paying and guaranteeing appraisals.

When a house across the street from us went up for sale, they received 45 offers! We heard other stories of buyers putting in dozens of offers with no luck. It made us hopeful as sellers, but hopeless as buyers. How were we going to be competitive in this market? With a new build, there are no bidding wars or worries about inspections or appraisals not meeting expectations. However, the biggest downside with a new build is the wait. Some build times were seven to eight months and with the supply shortages due to COVID, they could be even longer. I worried our house would sell quickly, but then we would be moving without a new home lined up.

Our realtor suggested moving into an apartment, which seemed almost absurd at the time. We have four kids and some apartments cost more than most mortgages. We also have a beautiful dog named Pepper and she is considered a bully-breed, so many apartments wouldn’t accept her. There was so much to consider and to worry about, but I couldn’t bear the weight. So, I decided to remove myself from the process. I said, Lord, if this is what YOU want us to do, YOU will do it. YOU will make the way. YOU will open the doors and YOU will carry the worry. Then He gave me Psalm 23. I received it in my heart and believed it. I felt such a peace to move forward. I decided my part would be to move with the Spirit and simply walk through the doors God opened.

We spent a few weeks packing and getting the house “show ready” before it went on the market. Since all of our family was in Denver, we had no help with the packing and nowhere to go during showings. So, we sat in parking lots, wandered around Target, and drove around in circles. I had two babies in diapers and one still nursing. It was early spring, so it was still very cold outside. There were so many showings, so many showings. We were cold and tired, but I meditated on the verse. The Lord leads us beside still waters and makes us to lie down in green pastures.

On Easter Sunday 2021, I received word that we finally got an offer at full asking price! We were so excited! Our first offer was full price. Then, just hours later, our realtor said that the buyer wanted to back out. Luckily for us, they had already signed the contract, so the earnest money was ours. But we were back to square one. I thought, what happened to this seller’s market? Where were all the offers? Granted our house needed a little work, but it was a nice house, with four bedrooms, on a nice lot. However, I decided that I couldn’t worry about it. I told God that I wouldn’t bear that burden. I didn’t have the time or the strength, so I didn’t.

We also had to start the buying process.  I said, Lord, please make this quick and as easy as possible. I then immediately had a feeling that the house would find us, so I didn’t even bother with a search. I knew everything we would see online would have so many offers that it would be impossible. I prayed that our realtor would have special insight and provide us with the perfect house. Then just two days later, I got the call. Our realtor heard about a house that matched our requests. It was a new build (which I was ecstatic about) and it was only 20 minutes away from our current house, in a great location, so my husband couldn’t complain. The only downside was that it was out of our current school district, so the kids would have to switch schools. I knew my teenager would not be happy about that, but we went to see the location and the model home because I had already said that if God was opening a door, I would walk through.

It was perfect – the price, the location, the layout. But again, I didn’t think we could get her on board. She was adamant about not switching schools and I did feel bad, as she was now in high school. So, I talked to her about it and as expected, she was angry and didn’t want to hear the details. I was in a tough spot because I thought it was perfect and I knew it wouldn’t be available long, but I was sensitive to her feelings as well. I tried talking to her later and she refused.

That evening, I called the realtor to let her know we had to pass. She tried to convince me to reconsider, but I said we couldn’t do it. That night, I couldn’t sleep. I had the overwhelming feeling that I made the wrong decision. So, again I said, Lord, if YOU want us to have this house, YOU please change my daughter’s heart and mind. I didn’t think it was possible, as she was so firm in her stance. Then, the next morning, she came to me and said, do you think you could call them back about the house? I don’t want to be selfish, and I want to do what is best for the family. I was stunned!

Does that happen to you? You ask God to move mountains, then are surprised when he does it? I was like, Lord, if that’s not a sign, then I don’t know what is! I called the realtor and by God’s grace, it was still available. We were in! That meant that we had to sell our house in less than a week because we couldn’t be approved unless we were under contract, so the race was on!

A few days later, by God’s grace, we received another offer that was a bit lower than asking, but we accepted. I was relieved, but then immediately wondered about the inspection and the appraisal. What if they found something? What if it didn’t appraise? Then again, I decided no. NO way. I don’t have the time or the strength to worry. Lord, you wanted us to sell, so please work it out.

Our sale was closing in May, but the new house wouldn’t be ready until July. The Lord blessed us with a two-month wait for our new build instead of seven or eight, but we still needed a place to live. I said, “Lord, you know what we need – something with a short-term lease and no dog breed restrictions that is in our area.” A tall order, but I knew God could do it! Nothing is too hard for God and with him all things are possible. Sure enough, within a week, we found a place that would be ready two weeks before we closed! Our applications were approved, and we were set!

The house sale went better than I could have hoped. The buyers asked for NOTHING after the inspection, which is very rare, and the appraisal came through for the purchase amount, even after another house down the street didn’t appraise. It was amazing! God is so faithful!

Our Lord is so incredible, He arranged for a new build (for me), in a great location (for my husband), with everything we wanted and needed, in our price range, that would be ready within two months, an apartment that accepted our dog, that was in our price range, and in our area, that allowed short-term leases, and a house sale for a fair price with no inspection requests! AMEN!

Why am I telling you all of this? Because if the Lord did it for me, He can and will do it for you! You can trust Him. I could have been so worried and stressed through it all, but I decided to trust Him and remember that He is a good shepherd. When it’s God’s will, nothing can stop it from taking shape in your life. When God opens a door, nothing, no man or devil can shut it. His plans will be fulfilled! If the Lord gives you a verse for a season, meditate on that verse day and night. Whatever you are facing today, be encouraged to know that the Lord will work it out and the outcome will exceed your expectations!

For this year, the Lord gave me Romans 8:28, and I can’t wait to see what the Lord will accomplish!

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Jesus Loves You,

Alexis ❤️

Keep Your Head Up

Hi Beloved! I can’t believe it’s the week of Christmas! December is going even quicker than it usually does. I hope you have a blessed Christmas and remember you are righteous, worthy, loved, special, highly favored, victorious, free, and forgiven!

Keep your head up, child of God. Don’t you know your worth?

The creator of the heavens and earth planned your days before your birth.

❤❤❤

Keep your head up, child of God. Don’t you know you’re loved?

No power exists that can separate us from our father up above.

❤❤❤

Keep your head up, child of God. Don’t you know He’s near?

Be strong and courageous, and live freely without fear.

❤❤❤

Keep your head up, child of God. Don’t you know His plan?

To prosper and to bless you. Keep you safe in His mighty hand.

❤❤❤

Keep your head up, child of God. Don’t you know you’re free?

Not bound by sin or bondage. Broken chains are all He sees.

❤❤❤

Keep your head up, child of God. Don’t you know His Grace?

Given to us in the form of His son. The perfect lamb to save the human race.

❤❤❤

Keep your head up, child of God. Don’t you know the truth?

As far as the east is from the west, is how far our sins are removed.

❤❤❤

Keep your head up, child of God. Don’t you know we’ve won?

The blood of one has saved us all. Jesus – the precious son.

❤❤❤

Jesus Loves You,

Alexis

A Love Like No Other

Hi Beloved! Happy Monday! I hope you had a blessed weekend. My prayer is that you have a revelation of who Jesus truly is and always remember that you are SO loved.❤

A Love Like No Other – Alexis Gonzales

It’s a love like no other, never changing strong and true
You didn’t have to earn it, so there’s nothing you can do
To make Him love you more or less, it’s firm and not persuaded
By your attitude or behavior, whether kind or agitated

You are precious in His sight, both now and forever
He’s with you day and night, through every endeavor
King of Kings and Lord of Lords, words sharper than a two-edged sword
What He speaks will come to pass, His promises fulfilled at last

You can trust His plans, every good and perfect gift is from above
Always concerned about us, His intentions fueled by love
Never forget who you are because of whose you are
Be bold and courageous, pushing further, raise the bar

We are more than conquerors in Christ, expect success in all you do
Everything you touch will turn to gold, others blessed because of you
You are not alone – He’s with you
Look to Him for strength, it’s made perfect in your weakness
He’s full of love, Grace, and meekness

You will be empowered to move mountains, heal the sick
Stay 10 steps ahead of the enemy, confound him, though he’s slick
You will come out on top, His word says we will win
Covered by His precious blood, no longer bound by sin

His love has no boundaries, no limits, it never ends
To us it’s freely given, often hard to comprehend
If He didn’t withhold His only Son, will He not give you all?
Chasing you down are His goodness and mercy, even though we stumble and fall

Because you are a new creation, you can have great expectations
You are so loved, His greatest prize
The Holy Spirit makes you wise
To become all you’ve been called to be, heirs to the throne, you’re royalty

Jesus Loves You,

Alexis

The Battle

Hi Beloved! I can’t believe it’s been over a year since my last post. We were so busy in 2021 and this year was no different. I’m working on a post about how God perfectly orchestrated our house purchase/sale. Everything worked out for our good and His glory. Amen! So, please stay tuned. I hope to get it up next week.

In June 2021, we attended my brother’s wedding. It was such a beautiful event! I’m so happy he found the perfect partner and that I have a wonderful, new sister. The day after the wedding, my aunt gave me a journal as a gift. The Lord prompted me to begin writing songs, poems, and special revelations in March 2020, but receiving this journal was the push I needed to get started. I’ve been writing as often as possible and I want to share some of the poems I’ve written, over the next couple of weeks. As always, if you want me to pray with you or for you, please reach out! I hope you all have a blessed Advent season. ❤

The Battle – Alexis Gonzales

The war has been won, but the battle’s still on
We’re training, preparing, forgetting no one
Collecting the lost, no matter the cost
The clock’s running down, but we’re gaining ground
No, it won’t be easy, there’s an adversary
Also trying to collect as many as he can carry
But God’s Army is strong, some under pressure so long
That the coals turned to diamonds and grief to a song
Preparing us for such a time, He can turn things on a dime
He can use everything you’ve been through for your good
It wasn’t all for nothing, He knew you would
Rise from the ashes a new creation, victorious, pointing others to their salvation
He’ll sometimes let us walk through the fire and let things come down to the wire
To make us durable and of great faith, but He’ll always take us by the hand
And lead us to a firm rock on which to stand
He’ll be the 4th man in the furnace, protecting us, no ashes burn us
We won’t even smell like smoke, He’s true to every word He spoke, every chain and
bondage broke
He wants you for the cause, so jump right in, no need to pause
Not of your own, but of his strength
His grace abounds for every stage, He will be with us through it all
Even to the end of the age

Jesus Loves You,

Alexis

What Does the Bible Say About Peace and Love?

Hi Beloved! Happy Resurrection Sunday! He is risen, hallelujah! We thank you, God, for the gift of your precious Son. Because of His sacrifice on the cross, we are joint heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven and have the right to live healthy, whole, and prosperous! Amen!

I want to finish off this series with verses from the bible about peace and love.

PEACE – The Lord gives us peace that transcends all understanding. Even if our circumstances change and we face difficulties, our peace cannot be shaken or taken if it’s rooted in the Lord.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

“I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land.” (Leviticus 26:6)

“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)

“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39)

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

“Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13:11)

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.” (Ephesians 2:14)


“Then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you; and be sure of this—that I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20)

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)

LOVE – We love because God first loved us. He so loved us that He gave His one and only son to be crucified for our sins. Jesus took the punishment we deserved, so we could take the blessings He deserved.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34)

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)

“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—” (Ephesians 2:4-5)

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

Beloved, I hope that you are blessed and encouraged by God’s word. Please let me know if I can pray for you! Have a blessed week!

Jesus Loves You,

Alexis

What Does the Bible Say About Fear?

Hi Beloved! Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I hope you all are having a blessed week. I want to continue this series with Bible verses about fear. Did you know that “Fear Not!” is the most repeated command in the Bible? I have not personally counted, but it’s said that the command, “Fear not” or “Don’t be afraid” is repeated 365 times. One for every day of the year! Overcoming fear can be challenging. We must take an involuntary emotion and make it a voluntary choice.

FEAR – Our circumstances can cause fear to rise up in our hearts, but we can stand on God’s promises and choose to lay down our fears, burdens, worries, and cares. If the Lord tells us not to be afraid, then we can trust Him to fight for us and cover us with His protection. It is through our confidence in Him that we have the power to overcome fear.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

“For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” (Isaiah 41:13)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

“Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’ ” (Isaiah 35:4)

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;” (Psalm 91:2–5)

“You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you.” (Deuteronomy 3:22)

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

 “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

 “But now, this is what the Lord says…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)

“Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’” (Mark 5:36)

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” (Psalm 55:22)

“Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time.  Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Beloved, I hope you are blessed and encouraged by God’s word. You are deeply loved and highly favored.

Jesus Loves You,

Alexis

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. There are no greater commandments than these.'” (Matthew 22:36-40)

Hi Beloved! I hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving. Now here we go, full steam ahead toward Christmas! During this busy time of year, let’s remember the true reason for the season. I know I get so caught up in Christmas preparations that I hardly take time to reflect on the birth of our precious Savior, but this year, I’m committed to making a conscious effort. And as the year comes to a close, I just want to share a message that has been on my heart.

We can probably all agree that 2020 has been a year of tremendous change. As Christians, we sometimes wonder how to respond to political, social, or economic upheaval. This year, we’ve been confronted with many serious issues and the solutions are not always clear. Disagreements and opposing opinions abound. Whether it’s regarding the pandemic, politics, or other current issues, it’s sometimes difficult to have a civilized conversation with someone that has a different opinion because everyone is so passionate about their position. It can be hard to understand why some people think or feel the way they do and we won’t all agree or understand each other at times. Nevertheless, the Lord wants us to remember His two greatest commandments. Above all, love Him and love others. Our response as followers of Christ should be love.

I want to focus on the second commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself, as that is typically the most difficult of the two. In Matthew 22:36-40, (see above) there are no stipulations. He didn’t say, love your neighbor as yourself, if they agree with you politically. Or love your neighbor as yourself, if they have the same beliefs, hobbies, or interests. Just love your neighbor as yourself. That doesn’t mean we have to love their ideas, words, or actions, but we should love the people.

Now, let’s look at what the bible says about how to love others. Romans 12:10 says, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Though it’s easier said than done, what would the world be like if we all put those principles into practice? Can you imagine? What an amazing place it would be! It may seem far-fetched, but we can do our part. Though we can’t control others, we can control our own actions and honor God by keeping His commandments. It won’t be perfect, we will stumble and make mistakes, but let’s pray for His perfect love to abound in our hearts. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7).

Beloved, as you reflect on the events of 2020 and look ahead to next year, be encouraged and filled with hope, even in these times of uncertainty. Let’s love and care for each other and remember that the Lord is our constant. Love Him and trust Him. He is still on the throne and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Amen!

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Jesus Loves You,

Alexis

Rest in the Finished Work of Jesus

“But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” (Hebrews 10:12)

Hi Beloved! It has been too long! I hope this finds you safe and well! My last post was at the start of the pandemic, when things began to shut down and we saw changes we’d never seen before. Never did we imagine ourselves still in this position many months later. But God, He saw these changes well before they happened and has already ensured our health, peace, and prosperity. I believe now is a time of tremendous growth and I pray you are seeing God’s work in your life! If you are still waiting for your prayers to be answered, keep standing on His word. This is going to be a season of breakthroughs!

Though times may look dark, don’t worry and don’t fret! The battle is the Lord’s, so the victory is ours! When fear, worry, and doubt begin to creep into your mind, remember Jesus’ finished work on the cross. He died to give us a path to Heaven, physical health, and mental peace. Once Jesus rose from the grave and ascended to Heaven, He sat down at the right hand of the father. This act of “sitting down” means the work is finished. The High Priests of the Old Testament were always standing, always working. But in the New Testament, Jesus is our High Priest and he is resting because he has finished his work. He’s conquered the enemy and given us the victory! “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Beloved, this is true no matter the circumstance. You might think, “But you don’t know what I’m going through! I lost my job and I can’t pay my bills!” Or “I am having pain in my body and I am not getting any better!” The Lord knows exactly what you’re going through and wants to deliver you. The best thing you can do is to let Him! Rest in Him, so that He can provide for you according to His finished work.

If we want to be in control of the situation, God will let us. It’s like your two-year-old trying to tie their shoes. They say, “I want to do it!” You know they don’t know how, but they insist. So, you watch them strain and struggle. You want to help, but they won’t let you. You don’t want to rip the laces from their hands, so you wait. Eventually, they give up. “I can’t do it!” That’s where you come in. “Let me help you”, you say. You never wanted them to have to figure it out on their own, but they wanted to be in control. But, once they hand over the laces, you can help. It’s the same way with God. He will never rip the laces from our hands. He will let us try to solve our problems as long as we want, but he’ll always be ready to grab the laces when we’re ready to hand them over.

So, how do you rest in the finished work and give up control? It’s by having faith, by believing that God is on your side and that He will work all things for your good. Then, you turn every worried or anxious thought into a prayer. When you find yourself saying, “Oh no, now what am I going to do? What about this, what about that?” Instead say, “Lord, I know that you see my problem and I know I have victory in Christ Jesus. I don’t know how this will work out, but I know it will be for my good.” Then let it go and rest. “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

Beloved, remember that I am always here to pray with you or for you, so please reach out. Be well and God bless!

Jesus Loves You,

Alexis

The Lord Is Our Constant

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

Hi Beloved! I hope you and your family are well. What a crazy time it is! It’s quite nerve-racking for the recovering control freak (talking about myself here) because things are changing every day. Right when I think I have a good grasp on the situation, there are new developments. Now, schools are closed even longer, malls have stopped operating, restaurants are shutting down, and daily life keeps changing. This situation is unprecedented, so there is no blueprint for us to follow.

We can all become fearful in times of uncertainty. Whether it’s the fear of financial distress, the fear of inconvenience, or the fear of falling ill, it can be difficult for us to stay cool, calm, and collected. But, during these troubling times, we can look to the one who never fears, the one who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never gets nervous, worried, or flustered. He never waivers. Though we may face uncertainty in the world, we can be certain of His promises. We can pray for His peace and strength when we are fearful and weak. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Beloved, we can rest assured that He ALWAYS has a plan. Though we may be shocked and caught off-guard, He knows the past, present, and future. Satan develops these new diseases and strains of viruses to steal, kill, and destroy. But God is always 100 steps ahead. He saw this coming long ago and has been at work orchestrating a plan for your protection, healing, financial difficulty, and restoration. Satan is trying to catch up to God, not the other way around. 2 Chronicles 20:5 says, “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you…‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us’.”

Things have been difficult and there may be more changes ahead. This time of year, life is so full. We were planning vacations, graduations, weddings, baby showers, dance recitals, and it has all come to a screeching halt. Many parents have been scrambling to find childcare and/or keep up with online school assignments. Some have experienced sudden layoffs or a sharp decrease in business. Others have contracted the virus and some have become very ill. Things have changed so drastically in such a short time. It reminds us that nothing in this world is promised and things can change in the blink of an eye. But, our Lord is constant. He is the one we can count on, no matter the circumstances. We can have faith that He will always bring us through the valleys and set us on the mountain top. He is in control, will always deliver, and will never leave us. “Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22)

What Satan brings for harm and destruction, God can turn around for our good! He will restore what has been lost, 10-fold! Remember that the cross has the final word, so let’s keep our eyes on the Lord and be at peace. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Beloved, will you join me in this prayer?

Dear Lord,

We thank you for the many blessings in our lives. We know you love us so much that you gave up your one and only son, so that we could be joint heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven and be blessed with health, wholeness, and prosperity. Lord, we also know that you see our sufferings and trials in this fallen world. But, you have overcome the world and we know you have a plan for our protection and restoration. We pray that this virus is quickly and completed eradicated and believe for complete healing in those that have contracted this illness. Lord, please be with the parents that have taken time from work or had to make difficult adjustments to care for their children while schools are closed. Give them your wisdom, grace, and peace. Speak your reassurance to those that have lost jobs or have businesses suffering in this time of change. We know that you have a plan to prosper us and not to harm us. For those that have had to change special celebrations, we pray that you comfort them and easily make a way for them to restore what has been postponed or canceled. Lord, we stand on your promises as a constant in our lives. We know that you are in complete control and have already given us the victory over Satan’s plans for chaos and destruction. You will turn this situation around for our good and prosper us more than we can imagine!

All these things we believe and receive in Jesus’ name,

Amen!

Jesus Loves You,

Alexis