Identity Crisis

By Arianna Reed

We live in a fast-paced world where as Veruca Salt would say, “I want it now!” Anyone familiar with Willy Wonka? At times, the pace can be so quick that it often leads to stress, and we forget just how rich (like chocolate) God has intended life to be for us with Him. We know that as believers, we lean on God to give us strength and to walk by faith. Many people may feel lost and not know the rewarding experience of having a relationship with Jesus. More than ever, in present day, people have a void, and in their humanness, they try to rely on their own understanding. It is a common theme to ask the question who am I? ​

Shall we visit a Bible verse, in Proverbs 3:5-6 the scripture reads “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your path straight.” Now we know that this doesn’t imply life will run smoothly 24/7 but having Jesus as our guide in this world makes the journey more fulfilling. Let’s get back to the question many ponder, who am I? ​

September 20th, 1991, at the early hours of the fourth hour, a baby girl was wrapped in pink and born to complete a family of four. We all enter this world the same way; we come from our mothers' wombs, and we are all children. So, you are reading this saying okay, yes, we all are born. A connection to the question who am I, is we are all children of God! He carefully designs each one of us. The scriptures below are all a testament of His love for us as His children.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
1 John 3:1

“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 1:12-13

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again, to fear, but you received a spirit of adoption to God, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” The spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.”
Romans 8:14-17

“So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.”
Galatians 3:26

It is so wonderful to read the scripture to have these reminders and strengthen the relationship we have with the Lord. So, we all come as babies, that is the same for all of us, who am I? I am a daughter, I am a sister, I am a wife, I am a mother, I am an aunt, I am a friend, and I am a scientist! That is God’s unique design for my personal journey. God has a personal journey for you as well, that He desires to guide you on. Above all else, I am a CHILD OF GOD!

Do Not Be Disappointed

By Susan Price

A number of years ago, I was in my car bumper-to-bumper on Route 128N. The traffic was moving as slowly as a sloth on a tree, and cars were frantically changing lanes. I kept my gaze on the road and immediately noticed a car swerved into my lane. Whew, I thought, glad I was moving at a snail’s pace. If not, I would have crashed into this car. As I waited for traffic to accelerate, I noticed the bumper sticker on the aforementioned car in front of me: “Blessed is he who doesn’t expect for he will not be disappointed.” What a funny bumper sticker that has actually stuck with me for these many, many years as it revisits and truly resonates with me time and time again.

How many times in my life have I expected more than what I had actually received!! Maybe it was a return check in the mail, a tax return, a promotion, a gift, etc., and when I opened that piece of mail or gift, my jaw dropped with disappointment and dissatisfaction. Why did I even think that I would be receiving more? From where did I get that notion? Was I possessing an entitled heart, spirit, attitude, and mindset during those times?

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:10-13 (NIV)

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NIV)

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

I thank God that He always provides for my needs (not my greed), and He never disappoints when we place our total trust and confidence in Him.

White As Snow

By Susan Price

White as Snow Today is a snow day here in New England, meaning no school and a day already added to the June calendar informing us that the onset set of “suhmuh” vacation will be a day late (providing we don’t have any more snow days this scholastic year). As I was looking out my kitchen window, I could see the snow coming down so lightly, so smoothly, and so peacefully. I wondered how these minute substances could create so much snow in the long run!! Our area is predicted to receive 5-6 inches of this white stuff. Pure white coming down, after which it will turn to black when the plows hit them and when the cars drive over them.

As I was reflecting upon the snow, I was immediately drawn to the condition of my heart. I liken it to the temptations that come to my mind daily. They tend to come in slowly and gradually, oftentimes looking naive and calm yet oh so alluring. If I don’t squelch them immediately, they will increase in intensity, comparable to the descending snow. If I allow them to infiltrate my mind and heart, I may become desensitized to the Holy Spirit and be enticed to merely yield, surrender, and engage in that sin. Ultimately, my uncontrollable nature will lead to a blackened heart, pretty much like the snow after the plows and cars drive over it. What usually follows when yielding to sin is that I have an overwhelming sense of guilt and condemnation. “I blew it again,” I say.

It’s not over, praise God!!! I can be restored, forgiven, and encouraged. So, dear friends, there’s ALWAYS victory in Jesus!!! There’s a new beginning in Him!!

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1 (NIV)

Spiritual Warfare

By Susan Price

HOW CAN I BE VICTORIOUS IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE?

After a truly beautiful night of worship at our Prayer and Praise service, I felt more energized, closer to God and just overall happier, more content, more joyful and peaceful. I felt as if I had been lifted up into the heavens!! How glorious!!!! Charged and redirected!!!!! Praise God!!!

Fast forward to the following day, and it was as if the tide had turned in my house; sickness had invaded our home; our bodies felt weak; we were not feeling our best; our previously scheduled activities for that evening had to be cancelled, and we were very discouraged. I asked myself what had transpired over the last 24 hours? From an elated spirit to a downtrodden one…..

The enemy of our soul, Satan, tries very hard to get us easily frustrated, discouraged and perplexed. He attacks us when we are at our most vulnerable points. Since we live in a fallen world, we are often subject to things in our lives going awry from time to time. Do NOT despair for He truly is working in our lives.

What do we do when this happens? What do we do when the ground upon which we stand seems to be falling?

The takeaway from last night’s service was to keep on keeping on… to continue to praise God and to continue to pray to God. Yes, God inhabits the praises of His people!! Each and every time when we praise God, He dwells in our words and expressions of adoration!!! Praise Him in the midst of the battle. Praise Him during the intense trial. Praise Him for the victory to come. Trust Him that He will work it out for His glory and for our benefit despite us not seeing the answer immediately.

Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
- Psalm 22:3

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
- Ephesians 3:20

Get dressed for the battle!!!!!! Since this warfare is spiritual and not carnal, do I just sit back, cringe and let fear set in?? NO!!! We must put on God’s armor:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all of this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
- Ephesians 6: 10-17

Remember, God is for us!!!

The battle is not yours, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15)

BE ENCOURAGED, MY DEAR FRIENDS!!!! WE HAVE READ THE VERY LAST PAGE OF THE BOOK (BIBLE), and WE WON!!!!!!!!!!

Fact, Fantasy, Fun, Fallacy

By Susan Price

I thoroughly enjoy communicating with family and friends, whether they live near or very far from me. In just one click, I can read and hear about activities (live or in written form), for example, connecting with my dear friend who lives in Australia, getting updates from a colleague in Italy, and watching videos of my sister’s adorable dog in California. One of the platforms available at no cost is Facebook and Facetime, 2 apps through which I can view pictures, read about their adventures, celebrate their promotions and family updates, share in their retirements and victories, and even mourn their losses.

In all honesty, too many times, after reading their posts, I have felt a subtle spirit of envy creep inside of me, wishing that my life could be like theirs at that particular moment. Of course, I do not live in their homes, nor do I truly know what is really going on in their lives. We tend to post the good things that are happening in our lives. We are not boasting but sharing all the blessings occurring at that specific moment in our lives. (I think that I do a sensational job of embarrassing my kids… LOL)

When this happens, I see it as a red flag and immediately do a self-introspection. It is an opportunity to praise God for all that He has done and is currently doing in my life. He has made me just the way I am for which I must be exceptionally grateful. One of the verses that come to mind is:

Psalm 139:14-16 New International Version (NIV) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 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.

What a beautiful reflection of who we are in God’s eyes. He created us uniquely. He made me different from everyone else. I have worth and value to Him. He isn’t finished with me as of yet…. We’re still under construction. Perhaps my Facebook families and friends with whom I connect are a bit ahead of me in some areas of life, but remember, God is working to finish the beautiful work that He started in me!!! In YOU, too!!!!

"We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves"
2 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV)

So, my beautiful, talented and precious friends, don’t lose hope... God has wonderful things in store for us.

Less Is More

By Lisa Ward

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and
where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot
destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of
your heart will also be.
Matthew 6:19-22 (NLT)

It started about a year ago, purging, that is. We just had too much stuff! I have always been a saver. “Waste not, want not.” Have you heard that saying before? I lived by it! I never liked throwing anything away. Putting it in a landfill didn’t seem right. Someone could use this. We spent money on it. What if we needed it in the future? I had every excuse why I needed to keep something. I can fix it up, I can sell it, and I can give it away. And I did fix, sell, and give away a lot of things, but we had more stuff than we could manage, more than we needed or would ever need. Craft supplies, office supplies, dishes, tools, clothes, furniture, home decor...you name it, we probably had it. Hoarder is a word we would use a lot but our home didn’t look like the ones on that TV show. It was clean and organized (for the most part) but it was becoming a burden.

Hoarding riches harms the saver.
Ecclesiastes 5:13b (NLT)

We watched Gabe Bult on YouTube and read “The Minimalist Home” by Joshua Becker. It sparked something in us. We had enough. We said no more!

Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.
Proverbs 15:16 (NLT)

No more feeling guilty. No more estimating what we spent on these things or who they once belonged to. We started giving more things away, throwing more things away, refusing to accept things from a well-intentioned family who thought we could “use it.”

Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
Luke 12:15 (NLT)

We had boxes of paperwork and trinkets from parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. I thought, who am I to get rid of this? Some of it was older than us! It’s history, it’s memories, It’s our family story. But are these items really going to bring them back or turn back time? Of course not. Our memories of them won’t be forgotten just because we no longer have these things.

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
Colossians 3:2 (NLT)

We had decorations we didn’t like anymore (but they were still good) and clothes that didn’t fit. So are we going to leave them to our kids so they could be burdened?

Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.
Psalm 119:37 (NLT)

We went through box by box, drawer by drawer, room by room, and got rid of so much stuff! This feeling of being free from stuff outweighed the guilt of getting rid of the items. After the floods in North Carolina and now the fires in California, we are even more aggressive with letting go. We could lose all of our earthly possessions in an instant. Our time and energy can be better spent helping each other and enjoying each other’s company, not being held prisoner by so much stuff.

Remember to do good and share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
Hebrews 13:16 (NLT)

We are not getting rid of everything, but we are prioritizing the real value of each item and asking ourselves “Is holding onto this item hindering our relationship with God, with each other? Is it adding value to our lives, real value?”

Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.
Luke 12:21 (NLT)

It’s been an emotional journey. We still have a long way to go, but it is absolutely worth it!

Savoring Summer's Blessings

By Susan Price

Summer has always been my most favorite season for many reasons, one of which is the warm weather of which I am extremely fond. My mother tells me I was born on one of the hottest days of the year: July 4th. I guess that it's just an innate characteristic of why I adore this season. In fact, if it is under 80 degrees outside, I am cold... Brrrr.....

Another reason why I love the summer is that my son creates an incredibly wonderful garden in our backyard each year. I love the fact that I can more or less grocery shop a few feet away from my garage. Through his vast labors of love, we are able to enjoy a variety of healthy meals. In the photo above, I had gathered some peppers to make stuffed peppers. The alluring colors of the vegetables really drew my attention to the fact that our Lord created and supplied this bountiful and healthy food for our bodies. Our bodies surely benefit from all of these natural vitamins and minerals.

I am mindful of that scripture verse:

Psalm 34:8 (NIV)
"Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."