October 9th, 2011. It has been two years.

Tomorrow will be mine and Jason's second anniversary. How blessed am I to have such an amazing husband. God continues to delight our hearts by new revelations and truths we must hold on to. Happy Anniversary baby.

As everything else in life, marriages aren't perfect but as Christians we must thank our Lord when He whispers truths to our hearts. If my life was perfect it would be pretty boring. I know we have those days where we fantasize of a perfect life. As women we wake each day with perfect hair and makeup, non burnt toast, and a totally productive day. I hate to say that this will never happen. However, isn't it refreshing knowing that we can make things new each day. For instance if we burn toast yesterday, we can hope with a new day we will not burn that toast. It is a funny example but very truthful.

Being completely honest I will say the Lord has stirred a lot in my heart. The Lord has stirred a lot in mine and Jason's marriage as well. I love that the Lord tells us when to "step it up."

Recently I came to a point in my walk where I knew that things were going to be different. I had asked God to show me things in my life that I needed to change. Boy did He. Refusing to be a "luke-warm" Christian, I dove in and I have been swimming ever since. This was not easy for me to do. You see God had been speaking to my heart for several months if not years regarding being a "luke warm" Christian. I can only assume I just thought I was doing enough in my life and then I suddenly realized that I would never be who God intended for me to be if I wasn't living 100% for Him. Understanding that, I began praying that God would show me things that were keeping me from living 100%.

It would take probably all night for my to write what God has shown me in this week of revelation. As long as I am living this revelation will never come to a close. As humans we are not perfect but as Christians we can work every day at being who God intended us to be.

I hope tonight's blog is seen as encouragement. It is my belief that we can use things in our lives as a ministry of encouragement to others and I pray that this blog is just that.

I will end with a few Bible verses that encouraged me this week. I can not tell you how freeing it is to one by one release things from your life that hold you back. Again this process never stops but our Lord is so faithful and I know He is walking on this path with me.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of the things [we] hope for being the proof of the things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses.

Matthew 15: 8-9 These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. They worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commands of men.

My prayer is that each of you greet tomorrow with a thankful heart and a desire for God to change your life.

God Bless,

MR

September 19th, 2011. I'm getting better at this.

I am not new at being a "blogger" but as I said in my last post, it had been a while since I last blogged. None the less, I am getting better at blogging weekly.

Even though my calender says that summer ends and fall begins at the end of this week on Friday September the 23rd, there has been a slight fall-chill in the air. I love this time of year!!! I remember being little and very excited that Halloween was getting close. There was something so exciting about falling into the mystery of Halloween , even though you knew there was nothing mysterious and certainly nothing be scared of. The cute tv shows on Nick or the Disney Channel that broadcast the same Halloween specials each year but you were so excited to catch it every year. I get that same giddy feeling every year and I am not a kid anymore. Ha! I can however, transition that feeling by decorating my new house in cute Fall decor and of course having a pumpkin carving get together. The giddy feeling of Halloween and Fall isn't lost when you get older. I'll make sure of that!!!! Yes, I'll be setting my tivo to catch those Halloween specials as well.

As this new season approaches I am so thankful to our Lord. I have been on a journey of sorts. Nothing too major outwardly but the internal change God has stirred in me is huge. I am learning from all that I can and I am blessed to be on this path God has laid for me. Some things I am learning are simple but others are a bit more difficult. I am learning to live my life based on what God's plans are for me and no one else's. Sounds simple enough but if you have been on that particular path you will know that it is quite difficult. Abandoning so many things that prior you never thought was a hindrance but God shows you one day so clearly what a stumbling block those things are in your life. Once God revealed that to me I feverishly began to pray and ask that God prepare my thoughts, body, and Spirit for that journey and battle that awaited. As Christians we come to a certain point when we realize that we can't but God can. I knew that I would not be able to move those stumbling blocks on my own, but I knew God could. Stumbling blocks are anything that keep you from being used by God 100%. Think about what is in your life whether it is your language, thoughts, actions, habits, or addictions. All of those are stumbling blocks. Some harder than others but they all do the same thing. They all keep you from totally being at service to our Lord. I tried to removed those blocks in the past but my mistake was trying to do it on my own. I needed God's help.

There will always be stumbling blocks in our life. It will be a constant battle to fight them. As long as we aren't doing it on our own and seeking God's help we will be moving forward.

So I guess Fall has become my "moving forward" season. May we all keep up the movement!

I receive morning and evening Spurgeon Devotional. Charles Spurgeon was an inspired man who was a brilliant writer and a courageous man of Christ. I will expand on Spurgeon a bit more in another blog but for now let me include a devotional from him that I received when I was beginning this journey not too long ago. Oh how the Lord is so sweet to us. He brings us comfort and peace in so many beautiful ways.

Mark of Divine Approval "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the Crown Of Life, which the LORD hath promised to them that love Him" (James 1:12). Yes, he is blessed while he is enduring the trial. No eye can see this till he has been anointed with heavenly eye salve. But he must endure it and neither rebel against God nor turn aside from his integrity. He is blessed who has gone through the fire and has not been consumed as a counterfeit. When the test is over, then comes the hallmark of divine approval -- "the crown of life." As if the LORD said, "Let him live; he has been weighed in the balances, and he is not found wanting." Life is the reward: not mere being, but holy, happy, true existence, the realization of the divine purpose concerning us. Already a higher form of spiritual life and enjoyment crowns those who have safely passed through fiercest trials of faith and love. The LORD hath promised the crown of life to those who love Him. Only lovers of the LORD will hold out in the hour of trial; the rest will either sink or sulk, or slink back to the world. Come, my heart, dost thou love thy LORD? Truly? Deeply? Wholly? Then that love will be tried; but many waters will not quench it, neither will the Roods drown it, LORD, let Thy love nourish mine to the end. -C.H. Spurgeon I hope you enjoyed that devotional as much as I did. By the way, if you are on Twitter, follow me at MReynolds03 Blessings, MR

September 8th, 2011. "Wow"

I have definitely neglected my dear blog in this past year. I must say a lot has happened! One of my goals through the rest of this year and certainly next, is to post my blog weekly. Well lets get to the news shall we?

So....

God has truly blessed Jason and I not only through our marriage but also through the progression of life. We recently bought our first house!!! After months of looking and praying, the Lord lead us to a home we love dearly. The house just spoke to us, ya know? We saw ourselves there and knew we could start a wonderful journey here. We are almost a month in and loving it more everyday.

Secondly, I just started a new job. Again, a blessing because I had been praying that God would lead and use me as He saw fit. Lead me to a place that He could use me and a place were I could give what He gives me daily. I really don't post names or personal info but lets just say it is in an amazing Christian/Christ-filled environment.

With all of that said I am still in school finishing up my Psychology-Specialty in Christian Counseling degree. I love that so much and I pray God continues to use me in this field.

With saying all of this I must say it isn't the good things in life that should make us value what God is in our life. I can honestly say it has been through my hardships that I grow to trust Him more. I could lie and say that I am this amazing person and my faith is "on-point' everyday but I won't. Being a Christian is more than just doing what God would have us do. Its growing your spiritual faith daily. Its not easy but we must strive for that every minute!

Sadly this weekend we must look back at the tragic event that was 9/11. It pains me every time I think of it. I remember where I was, what I was doing, and the people I spoke with when we watched the news that morning. We were all struck stiff glued to the tv crying, praying, and asking so many questions. It is important that we pray for those that lost loved ones and that we pray for our country. Please give thanks to all the service men and women, they are heroes. I can't even continue thinking I could give any amount of justice to this topic but none-the-less I felt I needed to speak of it in this blog.

I will end on this note. Love each other and continue to give each other grace, as the Lord gives us each day.

Blessings,

MR