October 8, 2019

A Table Of Treasure

By Christina

“I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”
Isaiah 45:3

Sometimes we don’t realize just how special we really are. Underneath all the external we have hidden treasures ready to expose! And just like the scriptures reveals, He is the one that has given us this hidden treasure.

Most people struggle where they don’t feel important, valued, special, recognized, appreciated, noticed or even loved! But God is reminding us of this love. Reminding us of how treasured we really are.

I kept going to a relatives house for dinner. Having special feasts served at this tall table. Until one day I heard something drop while I was eating. It was actually a box under the table that I didn’t see. There were many hidden items. All arranged neatly in a storage section under the table. All the time I was eating at the table not realizing there was more valuable items underneath.

That is how we are. We don’t realize our full potential, our capacity, gifts and talents that God has hidden inside of us. Until we search deep. Until we allow ourselves to be seen regardless of what we think may happen. It takes courage, faith and hope to do the things God has designed for us. To be the person that He has called us to be!

You may think you are not worthy, not enough or fallen short! But God is calling you to believe the very best about YOU!

I encourage you now to step out in faith! BE BRAVE! You may have heard this before… but I remind you again. Don’t give up, don’t be compacent, don’t go back to nothing when there are SO MANY hidden treasures waiting IN you.

Here is what He is saying to you:

“Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.””
Isaiah 43:4-7 NIV

Remember, it is not just about the first things on display. There are hidden treasures inside that make you valuable in your own unique way! ♥️

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October 5, 2019

No Signal…

By Christina

Today I was driving up the narrow but fast Bronx River Parkway… It is like you are in a video game!  The driver in front of me becoming slower and slower until he became more abrupt and then quickly turned to get off the narrower exit –NO SIGNAL!

Here I am –frustrated –annoyed –and then I just pick up my pace and resume.

Don’t you detest that?  When you are driving and people either try to come into your lane without signaling or they are exiting the highway with no signal or warning at all! YEP! That is what happens to us all.  The NO SIGNALS of life. The things that take you off guard, off course, off track and literally by surprise.

You are focused, going in the direction you know and see fit and here comes the NO SIGNALS  of life. No warning, no heads up and no consideration of your flow and foundation.

There goes that! Right off the road or trying to disrupt your lane!

God tells us in His word.
“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘DO NOT FEAR, for I myself will help you,’ declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.  See, I will make you into a threshing sledge, NEW AND SHARP, with many teeth, You will thresh the mountains and CRUSH them! And reduce the hills to chaff. You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up and a gale will blow them away.  But you will rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 41:13-16

Those situations we encounter make us feel vulnerable and exposed.  Trying to catch us up in a world of emotions but that is not the place that will sustain us or set us free which is why in those moments we become the MOST resilient when we STAY IN GOD!

They are just like the wind and will be carried away.  Let it be! Let it go! It is in the hands of the Lord.  What else can we do in those moments where we are left without signal from PEOPLE.  In Christ we will have the stability that we need.  In Him –we will see how much that He has been signaling us all along in the INSIDE.  In the deepest parts of our soul and spirit where no one else can see or touch! That is the place that keeps us the strongest.

I hate being side-swiped, side railed or side tracked in anyway by the effects of PEOPLE!!!! I have to let that go and move in the lane that God has safely established for me.

I think I get so worried these days from the double impacts that I faced in July just breezing through normal situations.  One guy just drove right into my lane without signaling. Another lady three days later hits me from behind! Like how aggravating that was for me when all I was doing was driving in MY lane carefully.  It’s like no matter how careful you try to be and how much you invest in this stuff called life, your still gonna get side-swiped by the non-signalers of life.

I know we invest HEART! SOUL! TIME! MONEY! Wisdom poured out only to be later treated like nothing.  How many people have we literally poured into that are now gone by the wayside or on to other pastoring streams… it’s like you can’t keep or force them to stay, they have their own agenda. How many friendships, relationships or businesses have we invested in only to get those “no signal” moments.

Now what?

Now God! Always God! Before God! This should always be our center.

Hang onto that steering wheel of faith, the seat belt of His presence and Word covering you and trust that in that vehicle He is leading you to stay in your lane safely.  When it’s time to move –the signal that you need to get is the one that He will give you –not the peoples.

TRUST GOD.

TRUST HIS PROCESS.

Trust that the only place that He is leading you is deeper into His very presence where there really is no space for anything else BUT Him! ❤ That’s key.  Then everything else will fall into place right where it needs to be. Just like His Word says –you are gonna come out NEW and SHARPER!

No signal is God’s signal back to the heart of His first real love. To Faith. To Trust. To Hope. All that we need to be through Him.  So pick up your pace and resume with Him. Don’t allow others expression of no signal to divert all the ones that God has been showing you all along.

Amen and amen!

1 Comment | posted in Inspiration

September 23, 2019

FOUR YEARS LATER

By Christina

It’s not the load that breaks you down; it’s how you carry it.

Everyone has a different story in four years. So I am going to celebrate mine joyfully.

In four years I have gotten older, sharper and stronger.

In four years I lost great people and gained great ones.

In four years I have been in the best days of my life, family and ministry.

In four years I am just D I F F E R E N T.

In these past four years I learned to carry the loads of life in a different way.

Through prayer.

Through study.

Through timely fasting.

Not many but when I did them they were lengthy, sacrificial and worthwhile.

I can experience victory after victory through enjoying the God in me. Enjoying how to be still and quieter with Him.

Learning how to pick my battles.

I celebrate my own milestone because when people think I may be unqualified to be a wife, to be a mother, to be a pastor, to be writer, to be a professional or to do whatever —God has made me QUALIFIED!

I am qualified, selected and chosen to continue celebrating four years of the launch of juschrist4.com with over 400 blog posts and 2 published books! I am so grateful. All these things have been made possible for me.

I am more than able because it is not just the four years that taught me something of significance but the whole 44 that got me to this point of GRACE, LOVE, FREEDOM and virtue. I am not just a conqueror but I am more than a conqueror—He sees me as a champion.

Every step of the way, He reminds me…. Christina YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH ME. All things. You are getting stronger, wiser, sharper, and becoming more of a visionary then ever before.

I dare to be different. It costs me much, but I can safely share this with you readers….The loads of life didn’t BREAK ME, they BUILT me.

They will build you too!

Keep going! Never give up!

Celebrate your milestones and victories too.

It is only going to get better.

Seasons of difficultly only prepare you for the greatest seasons of breakthrough.

Scripture Reference

“I know what it means to lack, and I know what it means to experience overwhelming abundance. For I’m trained in the secret of overcoming all things, whether in fullness or in hunger. And I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty. You’ve so graciously provided for my essential needs during this season of difficulty.” Philippians‬ ‭4:12-14‬ ‭TPT‬‬

1 Comment | posted in Celebration, Inspiration, Loved Letters

September 17, 2019

Kingdom Generals 2019

By Christina

God did the miraculous at Kingdom Generals 2019.

I have been so busy, so tired and yes, so weary that I haven’t had much time for anything. Especially the things I love.

Reading 📖

Writing ✍🏽

Prayer 🙏🏽

Fellowship 👭👭

Just so many things. I am tired!

And I need these things in my life for survival.

I got to KG and these peeps really put it in… Pastor Jose, Cassy, Lady, Matt, Dave, Ike, Janet, Jillian, Nia, John…. and at night after a powerful first service we got to our pampered log cabin room. They went above and beyond as usual.

One thing I can say was special is that they got me a little tree pandora charm to add to my bracelet. That was sweetness. I love trees… obviously because they are so representative of how our connection is with God.

Encounter worship was just lovely and precious! I can be there all day… listening, hearing, and just in posture ready to sing my heart out to the King.

The speakers are all dynamic. The pastors, family and friends simply grateful. But God God God.. did you ever just sweep in a place and stamp a seal of manifested presence.

I wanted to cry all day. But I got up because I heard the prayers … over my family. God was moving in such a tangible way. Prayer warriors and intercessors were pressing in like crazy.

I spoke with God… “You know me and in everything I do I know You are there.” My heart prays too. Even when it goes through the big ups and downs… The many roller coaster transitions, I am praying in a different way. You spoke back and it was profound. I will meditate on Your truth day and night.

The impossible made possible is just knowing that no matter what moment or obstacle, You are there. I am grateful for who You are, what You did and what You continue to do that moves mountains.

“This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible! Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength. Where could I go from your Spirit? Where could I run and hide from your face? If I go up to heaven, you’re there! If I go down to the realm of the dead, you’re there too! If I fly with wings into the shining dawn, you’re there! If I fly into the radiant sunset, you’re there waiting! Wherever I go, your hand will guide me; your strength will empower me. It’s impossible to disappear from you or to ask the darkness to hide me, for your presence is everywhere, bringing light into my night.”

Psalms 139:6-11 TPT

2 Comments   |  tags: , | posted in Inspiration, Loved Letters, Prayer, Relationships, Rest