Easter costs less...

Last night I saw a Wal-Mart commercial. The catch phrase was, “Easter costs less at Wal-Mart” I could not get that phrase out of my mind. It just bothered me. Now, do not misunderstand, I love to buy Easter candy – the girls baskets, ruffle socks, and dresses are already purchased! But it was the phrase. Easter costs less.

Easter represents the greatest cost, the greatest sacrifice, the greatest love we will ever know. Easter cost the perfect Son of God His life. If Easter cost less, we would not be able to have an everlasting life in eternity with our Savior. Rejoice in great praise that the ultimate cost was paid for us…

why wait

I got to talk to a lady at the gym the other day. She started talking about why she was working out. She told me that she was going on vacation in two weeks and wanted to be is great shape. Then she said, I may have waited a little too long!

I thought about her comment while I was running. I do the same thing spiritually. I wait until the very last minute to consult God on my life. I wait until the week before I make a huge decision, then start praying about it. I wait until I am sick, then I pray for healing. I wait until the money is tight before I ask for provision and guidance where my finances are concerned. Why do we do this? What would happen if we consulted God the moment we had a thought…the second an opportunity arose, what if He was the first person we told about it? Why not live our lives in such a way that HE is our constant go to instead of our last resort…

investment

Sunday at church I spoke to a new couple that was visiting. I invited them to our SS class. The young lady said, “we are moving in a month and we don’t want to invest in a SS class and then move away.”

I didn’t know if I was more disappointed in her answer, or more disappointed that I understood her answer. Why do we do that? Why do we not take time to invest? Because we are afraid? Because we have been hurt too much in the past? Because we are lazy?

What is God calling you to invest in that you keep putting off? I challenge you today to let go of whatever your reasons are for staying away...for staying guarded…invest in God’s love today…the return will be worth the risk.

i forget

This morning, I got off the treadmill and walked over to get the sanitizer spray stuff. I walked back to where I was and began to clean. Well, I walked back to where I thought I was. The guy next to me had left, so I just guessed. The only reason I knew I was cleaning a random unused treadmill is that the lady behind me started giggling. it was funny! So I just cleaned a few of them for good measure!

The odd part was that it took me all of 23 seconds to forget which treadmill I had been on. I mean really? How could i forget so quickly? Hmmm...

James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."

I am quick not only to forget my treadmill spot, but also to forget my Father's Word. Today, do not merely listen to the word, Live the Word.

before and after

Today, I was talking to my health mentor. I have finally reached all the goals we had set. She asked me to send before and after pictures. My first response was "puh-huh" the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if people can tell a difference in my life before and after Jesus. Can they tell that all my sin has been washed away? Can they tell that I am secure in my eternal salvation and that I worship the One King of Kings? Do I live my life in such a way that someone could see that my after is much better than my before?

the book

The other day, a friend of mine loaned me a book. It had been read many times over. When I held this book in my hands, I could tell it was treasured. As I looked at the book a question came to my heart…

If someone asked to borrow my bible, could they tell I treasured it? Could they tell that it has been read…or would the pages still be crisp because it is only opened on Sunday mornings…if at all? Why is it that we can read books time and time again, but the one book that is our guide, God’s Word…remains unopened? If someone asked to borrow your bible right this moment, would they have to wipe off the dust?

to please...

Yesterday, the girls and I were getting ready to come home from OKC. Lily said something about how excited she was to come home. My mom hugged her and said, “Don’t you want to stay at GG’s?” My mom said this to her out of love and in a joking manner, but Lily’s immediate response was, “I want to stay here…” In an instant, I saw my tiny daughter in a different light. Her heart is so beautiful. She has such a precious recognition of others feelings. Already at age 3, she aims to please.

Why do we strive so greatly to please other people in our lives, and please Jesus only when it suits us. Galatians 1:10 “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Our lives should be lived in reckless abandon to our Savior. Pleasing Him through our worship of Him.

name

Hi friends –

Yesterday as I was reading through emails, I noticed that each person in my life refers to me as a different name. To list a few:
Meagan, Meggs, Meggy Lou, little bit, box girl, platinum x2, logozo, x-imus, large frame, Meagan Beth, John’s wife, Momma, Babe, Meggs Lozeau, Mezcan…well you get the point. As I thought through this, I thought about how I mean something different to each person in my life. Just like God. He is

Abba – El Shaddai – Resurrection – Savior – Shepherd – The Way – The Truth – The Word – Elohim – Adonai – Yahweh – Shalom – Alpha & Omega – Ancient of Days – Christ – The Deliverer – I Am – King of Kings – Protector - Immanuel – Lame – Messiah – The Rock – Redeemer – Jehovah Rohi – Jehovah Jireh – Jehovah Rapha – Lord of Hosts -

He is all that we need. Call His Name – He will answer…

thoughts

Hi everyone! First I must apologize for the lack of writing the last couple of weeks. I don’t have any great stories to tell today. I just want to put my heart out there in an effort to remain transparent as I try to live my life as see through as I can. For a couple of weeks now, I have really been struggling. A few weeks ago I took my first teacher certification test. I failed. From that day until now, I have let satan convince me that I am just that…a failure. The sad part is that when I listen to satan once, it is very easy to let his thoughts consume my own – blocking out all TRUTH from Jesus. My entire family was sick for about 8 days which definitely added to the weight of stress and exhaustion. When I am in such a downward spiral of letting satan win, sin takes over. I stop reading God’s Word…stop praying…stop looking for God’s light and guidance because I am now convinced that I am all that satan says. Instead of rejoicing in who God KNOWS I am. Throughout this process, I stop writing. In his lies, satan convinces me that no one really needs to read what God is showing me. So I stop. I have started to write this email a hundred times, but the deceiver wins by reminding me of my failures and filling me with the fear that if people really knew my struggles, their love for me would be no longer. Today that ends.

Today in my effort to be transparent, I tell you that I have been letting satan win in my life. This morning when I woke up, I finally heard God’s voice. Calling me out of the darkness. This morning I listened. This morning as I drove to work, I decided that I would be different. I turned off my sad music and put in my Avalon. I let the words of the songs seep into my heart and ached to hear more of what Jesus says to me. This morning I yearned for TRUTH…and it was there as it always is…without fail.

Know today that if you are in a place of darkness, if you have become very comfortable in that place, you are not alone. God has not stopped talking to you or wanting you or loving you. He is there. It is time to take satan’s thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. And if you can’t do this on your own, I am here. I am able to pray for you in a most empathetic way. I ask that you not give the darkness one more moment. Join me in the light…it is wonderful.