Category: Friendship

Food For Thought

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By: Jessica Huber 

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Revelation 3:20
20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

What a personal offer. That’s How much He Loves us. That’s How much He wants to be Involved. When we dine with someone, it’s not just about scarfing some food down and then off we go. It’s about conversation, intimacy, time set aside.

There is nothing like a dining experience with The Lord. We consume His Love and He fills us with His Peace. He is sure to have more than enough joy, kindness, and faithfulness to take and share.

John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Make Sure you Can tell the deference between His voice and the voice of the world. Know Him.

Get acquainted!
Notice that He Knocks, He doesn’t force or intrude.

Often times we don’t even realize it, but we are dining  with the wrong house guest. Feeding off of The wrong source of food. We end up digesting it and the result can be many things, confusion, fear, doubt, anxiety depression, regret, shame, negativity. Think of these as symptoms of an allergic reaction.

KNOW what to look for!

If these are the symptoms you are experiencing while dining, then the food is spoiled. Test the food and the spirit. Match it with the Word of God. The enemy loves to try and trick us with distorted truth and Mimicry.
Our flesh has an appetite for particular ingredients and the enemy knows that, he is sure to build a menu that appeals.

In this case it’s ok to be a picky eater!

1 John 4:1
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Philippians 1:9-10
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

Who have you been dining with? Are you taking the leftovers and feeding it to your friends and family?
If you are, then you need to make sure it’s safe and healthy.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

Are you hungry an hour later?
Do you need to medicate after eating?
Just a little food for thought.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Blinded By The Light

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By: Jessica Huber

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But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. Proverbs 4:19

When we have been in darkness for so long our eyes conform to it. When we are shown the light it can be a blinding experience. A normal reaction is to reject it, to put your hands up in defense and shy away from it. Even when the dark is a place full of failure, it’s familiar. It becomes a lair of half truth, creating a false sense of pleasure. It’s deceiving and while we are feeling our way around, we end up creating our own image of what the truth looks like. We truly do not know what makes us stumble. Until it’s exposed.

When we begin to step out of our past and allow God’s light to shine within our life, it’s not always the most comfortable experience. It’s not always easy to accept. We find that the coping mechanism we used while dwelling in the dark, are no longer useful in the Light.
When we have gotten comfortable with our half truths and believed them, they fight and try to hang on. They try to pull us back and talk us into justifying them. It is hard to come terms with our misunderstanding. It’s difficult to admit that what we once knew and previously followed, goes against the very Hand That Heals us.
Here is where the hope comes in,
Whether this is something you or a loved one is struggling through,
Hang In There! Don’t Give Up!

God is Light and In Him there is No darkness AT ALL!

Jesus Is The Way, The Truth and The Life
The Light Of Life!
He is the Alpha and the Omega!
When He Starts He Finishes!!!

John 1:5 says
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

When God’s word is revealed, we can either experience it as a RESCUE or a bust. That will take a little self check. If we are feeling defensive we can ask ourselves, why am I feeling offended to this exposure? No one likes to admit that they are wrong. So ask Him! Lord, what is making me cover my eyes? God help me to push any pride aside, drop my hands, help my heart to reflect your humbleness.

When Jesus revealed himself to Saul on the road to Damascus, he was blinded for 3 days. Goodness it’s no wonder, look at the darkness that Saul came from. Oh, but once the scales fell from His eyes, God used Him for Victory!

JESUS is All about the Saul to Paul Moment! He will bring this forth.

It may be bright and blinding at first but God’s light leaves no crack or crevice unturned. The dark doesn’t like the exposure so there Will be a bit of a battle.
The question is, how long will we fight?

Ephesians 5:13
But everything exposed by the light becomes visible–and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

When His Light is shown His Love flows, it reaches the eyes of the heart. It shows Truth In A Way that only Christ Can.

John 1:12
2Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

He is the Light that shines in the world! His Light Transforms The Mind and The Heart! It literally Gives Life!
Open The Shades and let Him In!
Then Shine that Light on a friend!

God Bless!

Living Water

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By: Jessica Huber 

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Have you ever gone through an entire day and not realized till the end of the night, that you didn’t really drink anything all day? You might have sipped on something like coffee to give you a boost or had a beverage during a meal but nothing of any true nourishment. When I have done this, I find myself standing in the kitchen at the end of the night, just chugging down water. It’s so good and refreshing and I’m thinking to myself, “WHY didn’t I just drink more throughout the day?”

“Well,  I was busy and I guess I didn’t think of it.” “I really hadn’t noticed I was thirsty until I was standing in this moment, refilling my glass!”

When we neglect to fill our body with the hydration it needs, it’s not long before we start to notice the symptoms. Muscle cramps and headaches, fatigue, even dry skin. These are the warning signs that our body is in need, sometimes we are not even aware until it’s too late. 

Isn’t it wild, how we withhold valuable care without even realizing? We can do this with our spiritual care too! Jesus said “I am the living water.” Our relationship with Him is what nourishes and refreshes our spiritual health. 

It’s easy to find yourself in a dry spell. We get busy and we forget that We Need His nourishment! We can’t get what we need by sipping here or there!  Before we know it we are weary and tired, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually. All because, we have withheld His Living Water. We may read a quick devotional or see a bible verse from an app, maybe even recall that visit to church, but it’s not enough. Don’t get me wrong, this is all beneficial, but it is not the same as taking the time to connect. We need to take the time to open up the Word and truly seek on a personal level. It’s about that closeness, that cultivating of the relationship. When we let the noise of the world replace our prayer time, our study, and Worship time, we end up feeling the affects of the neglect. We end up So stinking Thirsty! Except, instead of dry skin that is only surface level, we begin to feel the dryness of the bones. This is what our Lord says of dry bones  “I will put my Spirit IN you and you will live!”

Just like our bodies experience physical warning signs we need to be aware of our spiritual warning signs and reflect a bit. “Why am I weary today?” “Is this why my anxiety is flaring up?” “Today anger got  the best of me.” “Why was I  so offended and hurt?”  Is my  fear bigger than my trust?”

All Warnings that we are in need of major hydration! Remember He has put His Spirit Within! Listen to the prompts and cues from The Holy Spirit. Let Him guid you to that well.  Remember His promise.. YOU WILL LIVE! Soak It In! 

When it’s all said and done.. when we finally Cry out for Him, He is There and He is So Refreshing! Its then when we ask, why didn’t I just come to Him, Why didn’t I drink? Why did I wait until now?

We need Him always, not just here and there. He is our main source of Hydration. HE IS The Refreshing LIFE! Scripture tells us that Jesus said, if you drink the water I give you , you will never be thirsty again. So drink it and don’t put the glass down!

Read His word and let it be written on your heart! Share it, Pass it Around! Let It Be IN You, Welling UP and Over Flowing ALWAYS!

Don’t wait until the end of the night to pick up your glass!

Don’t wait until you are left reflecting on the troubles of the day! Give your body the Spiritual Hydration it needs throughout your days!

John 7:37

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.

John 4:14

but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

God Bless and Drink Up!

 

Pray for a Pause!

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By: Jessica Huber

 

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One day I over heard the kids fighting, My son had said something hateful and hit his sister. I said “that’s it!” ..”get in your room!” I rushed over, eager to lead the way, of course scolding and reprimanding him with every step. When I came back to where my daughter was, she was sitting in the room with the tv paused. I said, “what are you doing?” She said, “well I don’t want him to miss the movie, so I’m pausing it until he’s able to come back out.”
Seriously? I thought .. wow that’s love.
I said, “you don’t have to do that”, but she said, “no I’ll wait.”

It melted my heart.

The ability to hit pause when someone has hurt you, that’s something that we rarely see in most adults. This was purely reflected from Our Father. She was able to rest in the idea that the situation was temporary, but her love for him was not. Even though he was nasty to her, she cared that he really wanted to see that movie. Instead of allowing resentment to grow, she thought about his future feelings. Never mind she completely disregarded her own. I mean that’s pretty selfless.
God sure shows his pure love out of the innocence of his children. I can’t say I would have been as grace filled, heck I would have grabbed my popcorn, sat back and enjoyed that movie in peace!

What if we made a conscious effort to hit pause.
What if we actually Applied God’s Truth to Our Life!
What if we chose to hit pause in the very moment we are wronged. The actions and behavior of others , have absolutely no right to afflict our Godly heart. We can’t let the hurt override the love. What if our trust was in our Father to step in and handle the situation appropriately? What if we rested in that? What if for once, we disregard our feelings and we choose to rise above them.
We have the ability to hit pause and pull from His Beautiful Strength. God’s Holy Presence is always ready and available to help us within that moment..,IF we choose to go in His direction.
If we let our emotions stifle His light, then we are only hampering the very thing that is able to heal and overcome. It’s that same Grace and Love that was once given to us.

My son did have to endure the consequences for his actions that day. The beautiful part was his chance to witness a moment of grace. When he walked out of his room and saw his sister waiting for him. I knew in my heart that he received a lesson that he would be able to carry on with him.

Scripture says, above all love one other Deeply because love covers a multitude of sin. When we allow ourselves to be a vessel, his light projects and exposes the situation for what it is.

Be Still and Let God be your defense.

Two wrongs do not make a right, so counteract the wrong with Christ!

Romans 12:17 says do not pay back evil for evil, instead respect what is right for all men.

Ephesians 5:13
But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

With man this is impossible, but with God All things are possible.
Even if you have to say this out loud.

IM Hitting Pause!

Then Pray!
Lord you are my defense, you are my justice system. Lord thank for your deliverance!
Lord I ask for the strength to Love this person right Now! Help me to remember that I am living in a temporary attack! Help me to stay open to your counsel! Lord, help me to choose your love over resentment! Help me to rest and Trust that you have this situation in your hands! I receive your peace, help me to hold onto it! In JESUS Name! ❤️️

Pray for a Pause!

Watch Out! When we Vent the pot, the Steam is Hot!

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IMG_4562.JPGBy: Jessica Huber

 

Watch Out! When we Vent the pot, the Steam is Hot!

So many times we get together with a good friend and the RELEASE begins! We UnlOaD! Are we doing ourselves a disservice? We have to look at it through spiritual eyes and ask, are we being harmed by the excess steam?
It’s definitely good to have a close friend to discuss our concerns and share our life experiences, but we need to be mindful of the atmosphere that we are creating. It’s not good for us or the friend lending the ear. I’m not saying to bottle everything up, but sometimes it can start a frenzy of unnecessary negativity. We need to remember to be careful that in the process of sharing our concerns, we are not taking back what we have previously placed in Gods hands.

Let’s say you are serving as the sounding board, as brothers and sisters In Christ, we need to be the ones steering the conversation in His direction. We need to be Charging the Faith and witnessing with truth. Be an encourager, notice when your friend is too close to the situation, notice when your friend is in danger of looking through worldly eyes. Be that for them! Point out scripture, reassure them That God is in control!

Its critical to Have God as our number One Go To!
Give it to Him and Trust! Pray that in the meantime, He will strengthen your self control.  Ask Him to fill you with His Comfort and Peace. He is the Only one that can take care of this situation properly. Give it and Leave it!

Every time you complain or Hash a situation out Again, unfortunately your taking it back into your own hands.
Next time you or your friend decides to bring a vent session to the table, first ask ..

Have We given this problem to God yet?

What will we gain from talking about this?

If you are looking for a prayer Warrior, by all means proceed! If you are looking for someone who can encourage and point you to Christ and His Word, then proceed! If you need a little cry, let the floodgates Go!
But…
If you see that the conversation is leading to reliving worry and hurt, then .. Drop IT! You are at risk of being burned!
If God has it, then You do not need to stir up emotions that are already being dealt with! Stay In Gods Peace!
Talk about something that makes you Smile!! Enjoy this precious time with your friend, laugh!

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

2 Timothy 1:7                                               For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

God Bless!