Everything about who we are and what we do once we decided to give our lives to the Lord and chose to start following Him has always been about staying close to Him..and by staying close to Him we keep ourselves protected and we keep ourselves shielded and covered from the ways of this ole wicked world in which we all live….so the moment that we decide to pick up our crosses and the moment that we decided that we were following Jesus was as well the moment that we chose to stay in a committed and holy relationship with Him..for daily it’s all about Jesus and what He desires and pleases from us…it’s always being about His business and not at all about ours….it’s all about being and staying Kingdom minded…and not at all worldly minded…for you see guys…we are to have our lives free from the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life for all of this things are not from the Father but from this ole world…1 John 2:16…we are to be free from drama…we are to be free from bitterness…we are to be free from anger…we are to be free from all of that bondage that held us and controlled us before Christ…but daily we choose to as I said stay close to the Father..no one keeps that relationship with the Lord for us other than ourselves…we decide to love Him..and adore Him..we decide to make time to pray, to read the word and to worship and place Him above all that we are and all that we do…we decide to please Him in with our actions and our thoughts…for we know that man always looks at the outward but that God looks at the heart..1 Samuel 16:7…we understand that God is our help and that we are to be living and pleasing Him..so by staying close to the Father as I said we grow a loving and committed relationship with Him…so when satan comes around knocking on our lives doors and bringing up our past or trying to get our goats so to speak…We always know that there’s nothing he can do to us that our Lord and Savior doesn’t already know about…so we  take them cares of ours and them burdens and we give them to Jesus…because the Lord fights our battles for us..for He tells that vengeance is mine and I will repay says the Lord..Romans 12:19..and we understand that we overcome evil with good..Romans 12:21…we understand that in this world we will have tribulations, trials and troubles…but that the Lord tells us to be of good cheer for He has overcome this ole world…John 16:33…Praise the Lord…and we understand that we always are being tested and tried by that ole enemy…but as well we understand that God sometimes allows things to happen and take place maybe so we can see just how far we still do have to go and come in our walks with Him..for we know all to well that it’s easy to live this Christian life in which we all live when there’s peace…and there’s no storms..and there’s no troubles or trials that we have to face…but it’s another whole story when things begin to happen…and people begin hating on ya..and life throws obstacles your way…that’s when our so called true colors come shining through…so sometimes we are being fought…but as well sometimes we are just being tested…so I say pray constantly stay close to Jesus always…and then ask of Him what it is that He is trying to show you…and for him to help you get through it and grow, mature and learn while your going through it…but either way rest knowing that God is for us and that God has us all covered…and that we are to always be the best we can be for the Lord…sometimes it takes humbleness from us and our parts…sometimes it’s takes asking for forgiveness…and sometimes it’s just letting us see us for who we really are..and sometimes that’s not an easy thing to see…for others always recognizes and see the mistakes that others makes but always fails to see their own…but as the scripture says why beholdest the mote that is in your brothers eye but considerest not the beam that is in your own eye…first remove the mote from your eye and then you can see clearly to remove the beam from your brothers eye…Matthew 7:3..and as well I read this today and I thought it was a very wise and wonderful statement and it said this….as fire fighters it said they are taught not to throw more fire on a fire but water instead to help put the fire out..same thing when speaking of spiritually that we should do…we should never throw fire upon fire but we should always throw water upon it..and help to put that fire out…for you see guys…to be different and to walk and live in the light of the Lord then we have to be different..and by being different we do differently then the way that others do things..we choose to turn them cheeks and we choose to rise up above it and as I said stay close to the Father..holding on to His nail scarred hands…for when the Lord is with us we all know that all is well and that all is well…but when we get self in the way..and we choose to do our own things that’s when troubles arise in our lives…so let us all walk in the spirit and in doing so we won’t mind the things of the flesh..Galatians 5:16…always abiding and as I said always staying close to the Father…and as the quote reads and as the quote says, let us choose to be the change in which we want to see in this ole world..and guys it starts with you and it starts with me..for little is much when God is in it..let none of us labor for wealth or fame..for there is a crown and we all can win it…if we go in Jesus’ name..Amen and Amen!..so we all say less of us Dear Lord..and more so very much more of you..for the word says, Blessed are those in which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled…Matthew 5:6..so I say here’s my cup Lord I lift it up Lord..come and quench this thristing of my soul..bread from heaven feed me till I want no more..here’s my cup fill it up and make me whole…In Jesus’ name I do ask and pray…Amen and Amen…Be blessed today my dear sweet friends and remember wherever you go and whatever you do, Be a light for our Father, Much love to you all, Mandi