Devotionals

05 Jun 2015

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Authenticity, Devotionals With No Comments Permalink

The Birds Don’t Have A Care

Sticky Post By christinafaith On June 5, 2015 With No Comments

While away with my husband last week my heart skipped some beats because of finances. In the morning I went on the balcony with my Word and prayed to the Lord. In the midst of praying the Lord reminded me to look at the birds. As I looked at the birds I realized they had no cares.

I heard the Lord say, “If I take care of the birds why wouldn’t I take care of you?”

That moment was profound. The balcony faced the woods. All I could see were birds in their own individual areas eating. My soul began to be still as the Lord reminded me.

“I have you”.

If the cares of this world are choking you remind yourself that the Lord is in control if you allow Him to be. The weights can be lifted when we surrender our control and let Him guide us to our daily needs just as He does the birds in the air.

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15 May 2015

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My Heart Will Not Fear

Sticky Post By christinafaith On May 15, 2015 With No Comments

Fear is a damaging spirit. It comes in so many different forms. This last week it has been coming to me in an overwhelming way. However; I am choosing to fight back with the Word of God. Fear is a peace snatcher. You can’t live in peace and fear at the same time. I can’t imagine how Joshua felt when Moses died. Apart of him was deeply saddened but the other side was deeply excited for the next phase of his and the children of Israel’s lives. Moses led the people of Israel for 40 years and Joshua was his successor. When Joshua took the role he knew that the promise was to take the land of Canaan. Joshua saw the promise years before and believed that they could defeat the giants in the land of Canaan but the children of Israel didn’t believe; they feared.

Instead of taking a people full of fear into the land the Lord waited until that generation died off. Their fear caused them to miss the promise that God had given them. As I was being attacked by fear this week I began to think of all the verses that related to fear. Instead of living in fear I was and am determined to face fear head on. I recently launched a GoFundMe for mission trips and immediately I began to fear that they would not be funded. I saw God do it in Feburary however; I feared he wouldn’t do it again. Fear is a false reality of appearing real. (i.e. a liar)

Joshua must have had a crazy battle with fear because the Lord told him several times not to be fearful.

“Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:6-9

The Lord’s instructions to Joshua were to be courageous and strong. He was set up for propserity if he kept the law and didn’t become dismayed (fearful). We are all set up for success as well but we have the same instructions. In order to live a life of peace when fear comes we must stay in the Word of the Lord. The Word is our weapon. The Psalmist encourages us to not allow our hearts to fear even when an army is surrounding us (Psalm 27:3). Paul reminds us by way of Timothy “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). When I woke up this morning I was reminded that God didn’t give me the spirit of fear and anything that God didn’t give I dont have to receive.

We receive negative spirits when we accept them as real. If God is moving upon your heart to trust Him don’t allow fear to snatch God’s heart away from you. Jesus isn’t looking for perfect vessels He is looking for vessels that are willing to be molded. Look fear in its face and scream at it. Fear only has the authority you give it in your life. I am choosing to trust the Lord instead of the fear that is speaking to me. The Holy Spirit was left for us not to be troubled. Daily I am learning more and more that God has truly provided everything we need to live fruitful and victorious lives in His Kingdom if we would simply yield to the process.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.(John 14:26–27)

07 May 2015

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Devotionals, Writer With No Comments Permalink

Let the Light In

Sticky Post By christinafaith On May 7, 2015 With No Comments

This week has been an amazing experience of grace and knowing that God’s heart is to fix broken people and things. I am broken and everyone knows it. You are as well. That’s the crazy thing about life is that we are all broken but those that realize they are broken and open up to being fixed by the Holy Spirit in fellowship are the ones that win at life.

I want to win at life. The times that I have not won at life are the times that I crawl into this little space and run from my faith. I’ve started to pray some crazy prayers.

Jesus expose my darkness
Holy Spirit talk to me
Jesus fix me

I am very aware that I’m dirty. That’s never been the issue but I don’t understand the magnitude of my filth and I want to. I won’t condemn myself but I will praise Him that He loves me enough to send honest people into my life that aren’t moved by my talents or anything else to tell me the truth about me.

I want to know the truth. I want to know where I fall short so that I can stand back up. This process won’t be easy but it will be worth it. I ask a lot of guest on the show what their biggest struggles are often. Today I asked myself that question. My biggest struggle is me. I have lived a life full of trials and those trials often create walls and I need those walls to fall down. The great thing about Jesus is that He looks at your issues and says, “I knew all of that and I still love you”. He sent this amazing person called the Holy Spirit to dwell inside of me to help me with these issues.

Daily we are all being made to look like Him if we yield to the process. Open Up and let the light in.

05 Mar 2015

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Authenticity, Devotionals With 3 Comments Permalink

How You Can Spend Your Snow Delay

Sticky Post By christinafaith On March 5, 2015 With 3 Comments

#Goodmorning on this snowy day with delays don’t get more sleep spend more time with the Lord. Grab your Bible, journal, pens, highlighters and worship music and go listen and talk to the King! He longs to hear your heart and speak life back into it. Remember thanksgiving and confession (repentance) open the door to His voice speaking. If you’ve been living wack He’s always available to clean you off. God’s heart is for us to dwell with Him forever not that we would dwell with Him when things seem to be going good. There are too many saints in living opposed to Jesus’ plan and purpose for our lives. There are too many saints living without faith in the God of the impossible focused on their jobs, careers and bank accounts. There are too many unsaved people yearning for truth looking towards the newest self help, yogi, mosque, temple, fashion trend instead of looking the Savior of the universe dead in the face and saying, “ need You, Jesus. Forgive me”. Daily we need Him in this hustle and grind of life. I was a sinner that didn’t know Him. Now I’m a saint that sins and needs Him daily! Jesus is for everyone! Now go spend sometime with Him.

19 Feb 2015

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Authenticity, Devotionals, Writer Permalink

She Loved Much

Sticky Post By christinafaith On February 19, 2015

My heart is exposed by your love. Continually remind me of what you have forgiven. My sins have been and are many. The more I am aware of my sin the more I am aware of how much you love me. Remembering my sin doesn’t mean I walk in condemnation, guilt or shame. Remembering my sin reminds me that I am loved and forgiven by Jesus. Everyone of my sins are cast into His sea of forgetfulness never to be charged to my account again. I know what I was and who I am. The woman with the alabaster box reminded me to be greatful for my salvation and to love much. Let our sins continually remind us to love much. If this spoke to you read it as if you wrote these words. #pagesfrommymoleskine

Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.“You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.“You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.”Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” -Luke 7 :44-50

13 Jan 2015

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Authenticity, Devotionals, Single and Anxious, Writer Permalink

Delight In God Today

Sticky Post By christinafaith On January 13, 2015

Writing a book is not an easy task. Writing a 50,000 word book in two months is even harder. It would be incredibly challenging for me to write this book in my own strength. Yesterday, I had the most amazing time with Jesus writing Single and Anxious. From 8am-5pm I wrote (with food and admin breaks). I had a new album by Brittney Wright on repeat and I poured out my heart to the single community. 5000 words spilled out of me. The difference between writing my first book and the second is the intentional delighting in the Lord. When I wrote Nickey’s Flesh I had a lot going on. I worked full time, directed plays, attended seminary and served at my local church. This time around I have time due to healing from my foot surgery. It is the most amazing experience to write, cry, pray and repeat. I realized yesterday that God desires for us to experience this on a daily bases not just with projects. He desires to be our delight all the time.

Delight- be refreshed; take pleasure in

Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. (Psalm 37:3-5)

When we seek Abba, Father we are refreshed. We are Christians because Jesus wanted to delight in us as His children. Jesus delights in us. Did you know that He takes pleasure in you? He desires for us to be delighted in Him as well. As an entreprenuer, writer, director I am always challenged by the implication of my faith in my work. I know that I serve a niche audience but at the same time I serve at the pleasure of Jesus. I don’t serve at the pleasure of the global audience. The freedom of delighting in God is trusting in Him. As we delight in Him he gives us the desires of our hearts. We don’t have to push and try to make things happen. We can rest in His will and He will do it. Today delight in the Lord and trust that He will do that which He has placed in your heart.

08 Jan 2015

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Blogging, Devotionals, From Start to Finish Permalink

4 Reasons to Walk by Faith

Sticky Post By christinafaith On January 8, 2015

Faith is an extremely delicate matter. Either you have faith or don’t. There isn’t an in between with faith. Many of us desire to launch companies, projects, leave jobs, and build a family. It’s one thing to say that you want to do something; it’s another thing to actually take the steps to do it.

We all have had those instances where we talk about walking on water but few of us actually get out of the boat. This year I am being forced out of the boat in a since. God has positioned me to look at Him and step out off the boat. While I am learning to look in His face and not in the face of my circumstances I will be helping you walk on water this year with things you desire to start and finish.

When the water seems scary think about the following four truths:

Faith is the only way to please God (Hebrews 11:6)
Faith Moves Mountains (Mark 11:22)
Jesus is waiting on the water to support you (Matthew 14:29-31)
If you think it then it is possible (Matthew 19:26)

Sight is the opposite of faith. I know that doubts creeps into my mind everyday. Doubt implores me to look around in order to doubt what I have set my faith on. Don’t allow sight to stop you from walking on the water in 2015.

If you have a dream think bigger! By allowing your hopes to remain small you starve your imagination. It is my hope in 2015 that through some of the resources that I release you will be able to Start and Finish.

29 Oct 2014

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Authentic Life, Devotionals With 1 Comment Permalink

Memories of my Absent Father

Sticky Post By christinafaith On October 29, 2014 With 1 Comment

Writing is extremely therapeutic for me.

I don’t know why but recently thoughts of the past are popping up in my mind.

Thoughts of the lies, the confusion, the turning points, the moments that I thought were normal.

Two years ago I discovered a photo of my father on Facebook. It wasn’t a photo I was proud of.

It was a photo of my father heavily influenced by drugs and alcohol.

It was a photo of him with the woman that was getting high with him when he overdosed.

It was a photo that sent me back into a place of mourning.

Not mourning his death but mourning the father I never got to know.

I have very specific remembrances of my father.

90% of those moments had to do with him being high.

The rest of the moments had to do with him saving me from a really ratcheted situation of having sex with a family members around the age of 9 who were around my age.

He knew so much more than I did.

I was innocent.

Not the innocent of being untouched innocent.

I was innocent of what that moment would have done to me.

Recently, I have really been praying and thinking about what to write about on the blog. I am not interested in the numbers as much as I am interested in helping people live authentic lives in the image of Christ.

I have a story for everything people tell me.

My life is but a mystery to me.

I have gone through so much that even today I don’t realize the impact of moments like the above.

My father was a protector.

He wasn’t the typical protector. He wasn’t there when I needed him.

He was a protector at selective moments.

Often times we tend to think of moments as bad and good. I am truly learning to see the good in all moments. God can use any and everything to show us Him.

People ask if God is all powerful and all knowing why doesn’t he stop pain and suffering.

I instead ask God how I can learn from my pain and suffering.

How can I love the man I never got to know. I am the daughter of a drug dealer who was a victim of the system.

When people speak of my father they never mention anything negative. He was an amazing soul that was held under the power of his own desires.

I don’t know what my father was running from. I don’t know why he did drugs, gambled, sold drugs, gave away all his money.

I don’t know much about him but the small stories I have of him and those others tell me. But what I do know is that his absences made me a fighter.

His absences made me realize very early on that there was something more to life than what I was experiencing.

His presence made me realize he loved me but didn’t know how to express it.

What are you holding on to? Can you see the good in any of it? What moments hold you hostage that can actual reveal that God is always there; even in pain and suffering.

31 Jul 2014

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Thirsty for You

Sticky Post By christinafaith On July 31, 2014 With No Comments

photo via vcferry

God’s promise is that rivers of living water would burst forth from our innermost being. We don’t always experience this abundance of living water. We are often dry with barren wells. We ignore the yearning & beckoning of the Holy Spirit only to continue in our own weariness. If this has been you it’s time to unplug the stopper in our hearts.

You don’t need others to agree with you in order to access the presence of God. God wants ALL of us not just the morsel of weak praise we give Him. So many of us are dumbing down our lives in order to fit into this world when He’s called us to be change agents. We can’t change the culture if we long to be like them.

Let our hearts cry be:

I want the depths of God
I want the mercy of God
I want the righteousness of God
I want the abundance of God’s love
I want the manifest presence of God in this dying world
I want the thirst of God

Let us build our foundation on the Rock so that when all else fails we will stand (‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭48-49, Ephesians 6:10-18‬ NASB)! Let us become thirsty for Jesus, our thirst for this world will only leave us dry.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭6-8‬ NASB)

28 Jul 2014

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Devotionals, Featured Posts With No Comments Permalink

No Mediocre

Sticky Post By christinafaith On July 28, 2014 With No Comments

Lately I’ve been extremely observant of how people respond to the blessings of God.

What has popped in my head is the hook of TI’s song “No mediocre”. The actual song is anything but amazing however; the concept when placed in the hands of the Lord is revolutionary.

God doesn’t want mediocrity from us. I’ve seen so many people settle at the mountain top simply to look at the view. The mountain top isn’t the only benefit of the mountain. Inside of the mountain are rivers, animals, food, gold, diamonds etc. What do we do with the opportunities God gives? Do we simply look at them like a diamond engagement ring or do we grab hold of what He’s doing? I know I’ve lived in a deep underlying fear over the last 8 years waiting to see the top of the mountain instead of seeing the resources of the mountain available to me NOW.

How about you? What are you afraid of? Are we waiting around for the opportunity when it has already arrived? Are we lost in what we think it will look like? Are we living in false humility denying our God empowered gifting the ability to be developed, fine tuned and expanded?

The definition of mediocre is: of only ordinary or moderate quality; neither good nor bad; barely adequate.

It doesn’t mean that you don’t do anything or that you aren’t attempting but that you have failed to fulfill your potential ability. Instead of settling for the mountain top let’s dig into the mountain and discover the true economy of God. It’s greater than what we have been expecting or desiring to see.