The Essence of Who I Am

    A few years ago, I found myself in such a dark place mentally and spiritually. I felt like a failure. I couldn't measure up to what and who I was supposed to be. I truly thought that my husband and children would be better off without me. I felt like I was more of a hindrance to my husband's ministry than a blessing. I also felt like I was doing everything wrong and "messing up" my children. I remember silently crying myself to sleep at night feeling so defeated, but I kept it all to myself. Not even my husband knew what I was battling inside my mind.       The devil had filled my head with so many lies, and now when I look back, I can't believe I fell for them. I  didn't have a relationship with God. I never took the time to really pray and get to know Him. I prayed at church but not really at home. I had gone without a refilling and renewing of His Spirit for a long time. I was trying to be a good person without the help of th...

      In Matthew 22:35-39, a lawyer comes to Jesus and wants to know what is the greatest commandment. Jesus responds saying, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." In this passage, Jesus gives us the order in which we are to love:                                                                                           #1 Love God                                                 ...

     Thirty-six days into the new year, and some of us have most likely already given up on our New Year’s Resolutions. Maybe you’ve cheated on that diet or skipped out on going to the gym. Maybe you forgot to read your Bible or didn’t have time to pray. And maybe, as a result, you can’t get back on track; so you’ve given up. Maybe you weren’t seeing the results quick enough.       Old habits are hard to break, and sometimes we may find ourselves gravitating right back to them. Why? Because it is human nature. It’s not comfortable saying no to ice-cream or having to exercise every night. It’s not comfortable making new friends when you are socially awkward or having to study every night in order to get good grades.      Let’s talk about our spiritual goals and resolutions now. It’s human nature to give up on those too. In Romans 7:15, Paul said, “ For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do ...