Red Cup Thanks

I love this red cup at Starbucks! It is my favorite color, so I don’t care what is written on it, I just love the color in general. RED! So much to be thankful for and what that color symbolizes. When many are fussing over the most meaningless issues, let’s give thanks for so much more.

I proudly picked up my cup today on my way to celebrate 15 years of service at my job in the area of Human Resources. It has been a journey.  My husband and I also cerebrated our 2nd year as lead pastors for our church. Both humbling experiences. Every week, we find a new reason to celebrate…this is the season we are in and my red cup is running over and filled with a lot of thanks!

WE WALK in our season of JOY!

I received this message from a dear friend this week that impacted my soul. “You know how it is, not a lot of people like happiness and you have reached a point of your life that you are happy and it’s OK to let everyone know. I’m happy for you because when you smile and laugh the whole place lights up and that is the spirit that only God gives. So continue doing what you are doing because God is with you. This is your season to blossom.”

I am going to keep walking in this season with peace. I will finish the course with joy and be a reflection. I know that we hit a lot of bumpy roads in life but we have to keep going the course that leads to life for us all. I have selected to walk that life. When I was miserable, I felt the weight of that so much. I carried that for a long time. My pain was evident. People passing me or coming in contact with me felt it too, that is how huge this was emanating from my soul. I hated this. I wanted to pass through and it didn’t even look or feel like that was ever possible –for that is how heavy the pain was upon my life.

Now that I have passed through that stage of my life, I have found a way to quickly turn to God. This was my only hope.

 Psalm 121
A song of ascents.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
He who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, He who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you—
The Lord is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm—
He will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

That is a promise from His Word. God is looking over me every single day of my life. I am not looking for trouble. I am looking for that continual peace! My pastor said this week during our bible study…
“Just stay in prayer and stay in the word.
When the devil sees you happy he wants to tear that down.
Anything that brings distraction in your walk.
AMPUTATE IT! 
CUT IT OFF!
It’s going to hurt but I rather walk around limped filled with the anointing then be put together and depressed.”

So anything that was bringing that distraction, I have decided to AMPUTATE IT! I have decided to CUT IT OFF! I am done with lies. I am done with the mess. I need to walk in truth, and if that is not happening then something has to be done immediately! Why wait? CUT–IT–OFF! The longer we decide to keep anything that frustrates our soul or hinders our walk with God the more we will have that imbalance. The more we will carry a weight. I am certainly not a perfect person, but I am a person that refuses to be caught in his lies! That part is something I have determined for me a long time ago! Now I walk in liberty and peace.

Am I missing things in my life? SURE! That is the truth, but as the pastor said, I would rather be missing a whole lot then be gaining a whole mess of mobocracy! All that I lack – God promises to complete – and that is what I seek. Please, don’t feel bad! He is just number everything for me and He should be the number everything for you too! That I will understand. That is what makes sense. Apart from that …what can we do successfully?

And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
2 Peter 1:4

I know I am not going to make everybody happy, but I promised God that I will do my best to make Him happy. That makes me happy! Trying to be something that everyone wants of me, never brought me happiness! I will do my best as His servant, yes I will strive to walk in love and no longer walk in lies.

For what God has for me and for you is GREAT and precious. So I don’t know what matters on the red cup that was released this year, but the red cup that God has for me, EVERY year runs over! His blood was shed for my life!