He Came - He Died - We Received

⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:⁹ about sin, because people do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;¹¹ and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.  John 16:7-11

Advocate:  a person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person, cause, etc.; a person who pleads for or in behalf of another; intercessor.

Jesus speaks to His disciples, working diligently to explain the upcoming events, using words to console the disciples and help them through what lay ahead.  Jesus, knowing what waits in the near future for Him, focuses on encouraging the disciples to stay strong.  The reason for what is to come far outweighs the dark, treacherous, painful and horrid events.  Jesus took the Cross, received punishment and died a horrendous death to allow our Advocate to come!

Our Advocate never leaves nor forsakes.  Our Advocate guides, guards, protects and loves with every step.  Our Advocate offers a hand.  Our Advocate must be asked into our situation.

Life and Easy cannot flow in the same sentence.  Life correlates to difficulty, confusion, questionable, trying, disagreement or adversity.  Life can also correlate to joy, peace, comfort, understanding, strengthening, maturing and love.  Depending on the chapter of your story being revealed, emotions can run rampant.  We don’t always understand the path laid before us; but, rest assured my friend, Jesus died so our Advocate could come alongside and help in any and every situation.

Our Advocate stands strong when we want to crumble.  He supports our decisions when following the Will of God.  He provides the words required to explain our faith, love and stand in life.  He wipes the very tears from our face that this troubled world caused to fall.  He helps discern when life throws a fork in the road on our path.  Our Advocate helps, defends and pleads for our lives. 

Clinging close to Him keeps our lives free from adversity.  We can find joy in every situation, knowing full well that even the greatest of trials is bringing maturity in our spirit to better prepare for Heaven.  It is then we will meet our Advocate face to face.   

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.  James 1:2-8

Happy Thursday!  Take the hand of your Advocate and face the path laid for your life? 

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig   

Would You Like a Phenomenal Ending to Your Story?

“Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions”. . .

. . .“Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten”  

~"Unwritten", by Natasha Bedingfield

A blank page offers endless opportunity.  A blank page in front of you, pen in your hand, provides a way for any story to unfold.  A blank page could fill with drama, love, anger, sadness, tragedy, etc.  If you hold the pen, you hold the power.

Have you ever held extreme passion for a goal in life?  Have you ever poured every bit of your being into a plan?  Have you ever taken on a chapter in your story as though you were the hero?  Have you ever found yourself at the end of a chapter in destruction due to what decisions the previous pages contained? 

PUT DOWN THE PEN, MY FRIENDS.  The lyrics from “Unwritten” may need a little adjustment in my opinion.  Live your life with arms wide open toward God.  Today could be where your book begins; BUT, the rest is not necessarily unwritten.  A blank page does not necessarily exist each day.  Plus, just a side note. . .if I opened a dirty window, I do not believe the sun would illuminate anything but a whole lot of nasty that requires a soap and rag!  :-)

What if we approached each day with eyes focused on pages and pages filled with directions from God?  What if we put down the pen and released the pressure of writing an acceptable story?  What if we let go and let God?

³⁰As for God, his way is perfect:
    The Lord’s word is flawless;
    he shields all who take refuge in him.  Psalm 18:30

²³The Lord makes firm the steps
    of the one who delights in him;
²⁴ though he may stumble, he will not fall,
    for the Lord upholds him with his hand.  Psalm 37:23-24

My dear friends, He is the ultimate Author, Creator and Savior.  He knows exactly the plans for each day that will fulfill your purpose here on Earth.  He knows each sentence that will lead to an ending of, “Well done good and faithful servant.”  Avoid years of writing the wrong story.  Avoid draining all your energy trying to fit in another’s story.  You have your own story, page after page of direction all laid out to follow.  Seek your Author.  Put down the pen.  I assure you, when looking back upon each page written by God, you will fill with praise and thanksgiving. 

¹⁶Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.  Psalm 139:16

Release your inhibitions!  AT THE CROSS!  It is there you will find peace, comfort, joy and purpose.  He will take all the pages in the past written by the wrong authors and turn them into a miraculous ministry leading to a phenomenal ending to your story!

Staring at filled page before you, face this day in confidence that God will fulfill the promises written!  Have a blessed day.

 A NEW Day!  Will you hand over the pen? 

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig   

Will You Choose the Path of Construction?

Slave:  a person who is the property of and wholly subject to another; a bond servant; a person entirely under the domination of some influence or person; a drudge (a person who does menial, distasteful, dull, or hard work).

Freedom:  the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint; exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.

Servant:  a person in the service of another; to be useful or of service to; help.

Once held captive to sin, we slaved daily to accommodate the desires of this world.  Remaining in bondage to money, time, weight, status, opinions, people, approval, etc., we worked diligently to please whatever strangled the very breath out of life.  A drudge remained our title.  We worked menial, distasteful, dull and terrible tasks keeping us on the path of destruction.

One day, standing at a dead end, a hand reached out of nowhere.  A voice spoke softly, lovingly.  The choice of freedom appeared for the first time.  The prison door of slavery unlocked, open wide.  Only one requirement of us existed to accept such offer of freedom.  We must step out of the prison, leave all we know behind and press toward the prize held by this Savior. 

Walking a new path, feeling light as a feather, we now have purpose.  Serving our Savior creates meaning in this life.  Waking up to a noisy alarm creates joy instead of dread.  Useful tasks occur in love.  Helpful hands bless God’s children.  We now work noble, pleasant, exciting and beautiful tasks keeping us on the path of construction.

God desires freedom for each of His Creations.  Free will shoves its way into life, creating an option of temporary pleasure.  The choice of temporary leads to one bar at a time building a prison around our soul.  Once built, the devil locks the door.  Only one key will fit. . .the Cross.  Our Lord and Savior shed blood to release us from prison.  We no longer need to slave to sin.  Freedom waits.  Will you accept it?

Freedom comes to offer life, meaning, purpose and a plan.  Freedom comes to offer Eternal living with God.  Freedom comes to save.  Freedom unlocks the prison.

I received freedom years ago; but, transforming my soul from slave mindset to servant mindset takes work.  The two can muddy together and find a Christian slaving to serving.  Hang with me here. . .

If we serve at every opportunity that exists, we end up in bondage to serving.  The serving becomes more for the world than for God.  Saying yes at every offer not only exhausts a person, but also deprives another from finding a place to serve God.  Saying yes to every offer builds resentment toward the task at hand. 

Serving in this world must align with God’s Will for YOU!  We cannot serve per God’s Will for another’s life. Pray once the prison door opens and listen to which way God desires for you to step.  God desires each us to serve wholeheartedly with the abilities instilled during creation. 

Finding my gift, talent and ability is difficult.  I have spent too many years conforming to the world, remaining in prison, and lost me along the way.  I look in the mirror without a clue as to who the reflection represents.  I know a few skills I can complete with success; but, I fall in the pattern of caretaker to the extreme every day.  I work diligently to make those around me have an easier, more comfortable life.  I want to fix everyone’s pain and sorrow.  I end up running in circles, building resentment towards those failing to lighten my load and others still sit in pain/sorrow.  In my mind, I manipulate my actions to seem like service to God; but, getting to the bottom of it reveals a prison of people pleasing. 

The door remains open since choosing freedom.  I can run with arms flailing toward the hand leading down a path of construction.  Yet, I find myself too often tiptoeing on the path of destruction.  It is a choice DAILY!  Daily, we must renew our minds with Truth.  The enemy prowls around holding another lock, waiting to imprison our souls.  He will not win; for, my God already won the battle.  I will make a conscience effort daily to choose serving my God rather than remaining a slave in this world.   

A NEW Day!  Slave or Servant? 

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig   

Created Beautifully!

¹You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.  ² You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  Psalm 139:1-2

Amazing!  Our Almighty Father, Lord and Savior, knows everything about us.  He knows each thought running through our mind.  AND, He still loves us completely!

¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” ¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.  Psalm 139:11-12

Indescribable!  Our Savior will go to the greatest depths to be with us.  He remains perfect, sinless and holy; but, even when sin throws us into the darkest of pits, He waits with a mighty outstretched hand.  When storms rage, leading us down the path of destruction, He waits with healing arms.  We cannot hide from our Creator; but, the choices leading to darkness will create a distance in our relationship.  I have always and will always fear the dark.  The darkness blinds, places us at risk for attack and nothing good happens after the light of day ceases.  Stay in the Light!

¹³ For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  ¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.  ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  Psalm 139:13-16

Unexplainable!  The formation of our unique, wonderful and beautiful bodies remains unfathomable.  God took the time to thoroughly create each specific detail of our lives.  He knew the features required to fulfill His purpose.  I spent years condemning every feature of my body.  I based my worth on the image seen in the mirror.  Could my thighs fit in the diameter of my hands?  Was my stomach flat as a board?  I based success on numbers reached each day.  Did the scale reveal the smallest number seen yet?  How many calories did I ingest this day? 

I did not understand the worth in me – plain and simple ol’ me!  I did not need use an eating disorder to cry out for help.  I did not need to take control of every situation.  I am fearfully and wonderfully made for a purpose.  God wrote my story at birth.  Somewhere along the years, I jerked the pen out of His hands and gave it to the devil.  Big mistake! 

But, our God offers endless Grace.  He picked me up out of the deepest pit.  He took my broken pen, torn/tattered book and began writing a beautiful story.  He took all those dark chapters and edited the sentences to become a ministry rather than a mess!

²³ “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.  1Corinthians 10:23-24

Every day, I have free will to jerk the pen back and begin writing.  Every day, I have the choice to place worth in my eating disorder, numbers revealed or the image in the mirror.  Every day, I could veer off the straight path.  I know the difference between living by feelings or living by faith.  Destruction always occurs living based off feelings.  Peace overwhelms every situation lived by faith.  I desire to walk alongside God and leave my eating disorder as a distant memory. 

Today, whatever pit, darkness, storm or struggle comes before you, know full well that God desires to help you.  God created you for a purpose.  You are His Child.  You are beautiful.  You are wonderful.  Go in this world and spread the Light!

Day SIX!  Who holds the pen for your story? 

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig   

Gotta Have Faith

²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  Genesis 50:20

¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  Galatians 5:16

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:13

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

Hundreds of Scriptures enter my thoughts daily.  I have Scripture cards in every room.  I read through the Bible often.  I know full well that the Truth will set us FREE!  I also know full well it takes more than just reading Truth to set us FREE!  You gotta have faith!  You gotta believe with every piece of your heart that God will do what He says!

Easier said than done.  My dear friends, there are hours in the day I just want to run and hide because of the fierce battle before me.  I desire so strongly for others to understand the Power of God in this life.  The enemy will prowl around bringing destruction among situations until the day Jesus returns. 

The enemy uses the weight of the world to invite us into a pity party.  Joining in on the pity leads to selfish gain here on Earth.  “What about me?”  Joyce Meyer puts it perfectly in her preaching when discussing this self-spoken question.  Our lives, our purpose and our decisions cannot be based on pity for self.  Pity parties host thousands of undesired memories.  The enemy takes those, causes us to dwell, and then builds a selfish wall around our hearts.

I suffered too many hours of my life with an eating disorder.  I am no longer a victim to such illness.  I am a survivor.  I must work diligently to stay away from pity parties.  I must remain on the recovery road.  I must avoid undesired memories that led to using my eating disorder to cope. 

I am thankful for my eating disorder.  I say that because, without it, I may never have found the Cross.  My husband may have never discovered a relationship with God.  I would never have begun writing.  Hundreds of relationships never would have occurred.  I would not be me!

Yes, the enemy desired severe harm when enticing me with an eating disorder.  But, my God, my Father, my Lord and Savior turned every ugly hour into good!  He brought His Power into the situation and provided immeasurably more than ever imagined.  He provides the daily strength required to remain in recovery.  He loves me every step of the way.

He will do the same for you.  No matter the past or current situation, He will work all for your good if you believe and trust in Him. 

Day FIVE!  Will you believe? 

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig  

Euphoria? No Thanks!

Thousands of self-help books exist.  Countless studies reveal how to find peace in all situations.  Every time you turn the corner, life hands a fix to all problems.  Take a few minutes to scroll through Pinterest and all life’s concerns will be handled in just 5 easy steps. 

Euphoria: a state of intense happiness and self-confidence.

Anything less cannot be accepted in society.  The world holds the way to euphoria.  When life gets tough, hold your head up high, do whatever it takes to put on a smile and appear unshaken.  Be tough.  Emotion shows weakness.  Push through.

 

FRUSTRATING!  I lived years striving for constant euphoria, hiding any emotion other than happy.  A smile painted on my face, I left the house daily to face more of this thing called life.  Completely broken inside, I needed a fix.  In came a way to numb out those undesired emotions.  In came a friend to confide and provide a quick peace.  In came my eating disorder. 

Whether it be an eating disorder, alcohol, excessive shopping, smoking _____, illegal drugs, sexual sin, etc.; life offers countless quick fixes.  These temporary peace moments help an individual reach euphoria.  On the outside, the individual appears strong.  False advertisement leads to buried emotions left to stew.  Eventually, nothing in this world can fix such emotions.  Though the individual works harder and harder each day engaging in chosen activity, the emotions overwhelm and overtake.

The world fixes.  The Cross heals.

God created people to live in harmony together, building each other up in this broken world.  God created tear ducts to provide release of sadness.  God created a heart to feel compassion towards others.  God created the brain to navigate through situations with logic.  God created emotion to be used for good.

Let us allow emotion to come, take it to the Cross and then use it CONSTRUCTIVELY to live this side of Heaven.  Emotions bind relationships.  Let your guard down and share with one another.  Turn to those God places in your path and live together.  Don’t try it alone.  Loneliness leads to reaching for a fix to cope.

Be on alert, the devil prowls around seeking to destroy.  Be on alert for others who may be blinded by this world.  Help another see the Light.  Help another out of the pit of euphoria.  Help another find the path to the Cross. 

You don’t need to be fixed.  You are not broken.  This world is broken.  You need healing.  You need a good cry, a tight hug and Jesus to overtake your life. 

An eating disorder took my life, stole years of happiness, destroyed relationships and damaged the beautiful body God created.  Thankfully, angels along the path kept me alive.  Little by little, my vision improved and I saw the Light.  I am okay just as I am; but, I am not at the maturity level God intends before entering the pearly gates.  I will make it day by day, one visit to the Cross at a time, feeling each emotion and taking one step at a time down the path laid before me.

You can too!  Your emotions matter!  You are worth it!    

Day FOUR!  Will you choose the Cross over the World today?

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig