I sell Avon.  They have all sorts of wonderful products.  Things that make you look beautiful, feel your best, smell good, cute clothes, accessories, jewelry.  I get compliments all the time about my makeup, my necklace.  It's fun!

But Avon isn't able to sell "Joy."  We try hard to get people to see what we want them to see in us.  We put on a beautiful smile with a beautiful lipstick.  We cover our tired eyes with moisturizers and a lightening foundation to remove the dark circles.  We add blush to rosy our dull cheeks.  We fix our hair do to look "cute."  We spend hours in the mirror, checking and rechecking to make sure that we've hidden every flaw and every trace of stress.  We even add a beautiful fingernail polish so that when we touch someone they will see beauty instead of hurtful hands.

Don't take me wrong, I'm not cutting down AVON, I love it...and I love every single product they sell.  It is excellent quality and they work hard to provide the best.  And they do.  What I'm saying is that covering something up doesn't fix the issue, it masks it.  Once you correct the underlying flaw, then the cosmetics amplify what's already there!

So where do you find Joy?  What is it?  Where do you get it?  What do I do?  Can I buy it?  Can I sell it?  The Greek word, I learned is, χαρά, pronounced (chará).  It kind of sounds smart when you can tell people stuff about words in Greek doesn't it?  OK, the only reason that I did is because I don't like Websters definition.   It implies that you have to "get" joy from "someone".  But the Greek meaning states that you already have it, it just has to be recognized.  It's easier to awaken something that you already know you possess that something that you don't even have.  The Greek Meaning as found at "Biblehub.com" says: "extend favor, lean towards, be favorably disposed") – properly, the awareness (of God's) grace, favor; joy ("grace recognized").

You have favor my friend, which will produce joy once you recognize it.  It's the best cosmetic you can wear!

I wouldn't say in anyway shape or form that I am a perfect parent.  It’s nothing I have any clue how to do.  I grew up dealing with things like abuse, alcoholism, drugs, discord, divorce, chaos. Everyone was too busy to take time for real life…. But we did have love.  Not saying that anyone was “bad” growing up, it was just the environment that we were in.  So anything my husband and I are doing now is a direct result from God’s love with no doubt.  We didn’t learn how to be good parents from our Legacy although we did have some very strong influential people in our lives!  My husband and I decided a long time ago that we were going to make sure that we never became too busy that our kids felt disconnected from us.  We sacrificed anything on our end to be parents.  It goes so fast.   Season’s go quickly.  Life is so short.  Sometimes we’ve disconnected from people that have been unhealthy influences, just to keep a focus on our kids.  Their minds are shaped so quickly and it’s almost like you have to stay one step ahead remembering who WE used to be and that they have some traits that are just small versions of us.  

I have three key strengths that I believe are a direct result in our family being strong.

1) NEVER LIE!!!  We all do things we shouldn't.  Things we know we are not supposed to, things that others wouldn't approve of.  We make mistakes. I think the best choice I made as a parent is not to discipline the kids if they did something they weren’t supposed to as long as they own up to it and tell the truth.  We have my “hour long lectures’” as they call them, but they are void from “punishment.”  It keeps our connection strong and they love to be trusted so much that they just kind of fall into it naturally.  

2) NEVER SACRIFICE FAMILY TIME!!!   Everyone wants to be “individual” and that they want to become who God created them and not who we want them to be.  Connection, relationships and spending time together has become the only focus we have.  I think it's crucial.  If your kids are always in daycare or in their rooms playing video games, you are not investing in their lives at all.  I know, I know...we have to have two jobs to support our families, but if your focus is on money, or everyone else's business, your family will suffer.  

3) NEVER END A DAY WITHOUT INCLUDING GOD!!!  Listen, you and your family are being influenced by every media source out there.  Commercials, radio, billboards, religions, news reporters, friends, employers, politicians and anyone else.  We are in a quick paced, highly opinionated world and everyone wants you to know theirs and loudly.  If you dare disagree, you are pounced on, jumped at, singled out and shunned.  It's hard to be individual because everyone wants you to be like them... so what's the answer?  Be who you were created to be. Who were you created to be?  I don't know, but if you get into God's word, you will know for yourself.  Since our boys were 4 and 7 we have made it a point to read the Bible to them. Then we each share what our take away was from the scriptures.  Most times I learn more from them than they from me...we learn from each other, which is amazing.  I highly encourage it.

There you have it.  My 3 biggest secrets to my successful family!!!  Everyone has things that make their families strong...those are mine! 

Have a great day!

I've had some discussions recently about a root of bitterness and what it does to a person and to others.  I've been doing some study on sermons regarding the roots of bitterness.  This morning I shared with my husband some of the things I've learned.

1) The root of bitterness more than likely is against God, not really against others.

At first I rejected this.  I thought, no, I disagree, if anything my bitterness is against the people that have hurt me and I couldn't do anything to protect myself.  Then I thought a little bit more.  Perhaps I might be bitter at God.  Maybe...  like when I prayed for that prayer that didn't get answered, or the financial need that didn't get met, that business opportunity that fell through, the book sales that were near zero, that bully at work, or that rejection I feel, or that health issue that wasn't healed, that abuse that wasn't stopped, that rumor that others believed.

I talked to my husband about how Satan's goal in the garden was to get Eve to believe God was "holding out on her."  He wanted to set a bitter root in her heart so that she would begin to question God.  I then thought about how Satan used the same tactic on Job when he suggested to God that if God allowed Satan to not only kill his children, destroy his livestock and buildings, but also cause him disease, Job would curse God.  All in which God allowed. Satan wanted to set a bitter root in Job.  As we read Job, we see the process of how it could have happened, but how Job overcame it.

My husband Tony and I read about Saul/Paul last night in Acts with our boys, and my take away from that reading was that Paul had such a conversion in Christ from Saul to Paul that no matter what anyone did to him, stoned him, imprisoned him, spread lies, tried to kill him...he never wavered.  No matter what happened, he kept his focus on God's word and promise to him.  Do you know what God's promise to Saul/Paul was?  This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.  I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Does that sound like some great reward that would make you keep steadfast?  Interesting isn't it?  It was all Paul needed to remain faithful to the very end.

Are you praying for something that God hasn't yet answered or perhaps God has said "no" to?  Sometimes things take longer than our time.  Sometimes we do not get our way.  But like Job, Adam and Eve, Saul/Paul we have to trust.  Perhaps God has you on a mission, that produces suffering for yourself but seed for others.  Be very careful that bitter root does not get a stronghold, but if it does, it can be destroyed by love.

Hebrews 12:14,15
"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many" 

Ever get into a slump?  I do.  Daily sometimes.  

I think that one of the most wonderful things about being a Christian is that it is never boring.  Ever.  God has an agenda for you each and every day.  Sometimes we ask for his agenda, sometimes we reject his agenda, and sometimes we ignore his agenda and go our own way.  It opens the door for interesting days.

What is amazing is that, there is always so much more to know, to do, to grow in.  My cry is often, "Make me more like you Jesus."  That is a lot of work, and can get overwhelming, especially if we are ignoring or rejecting God's agenda.

Basically, today, I'm encouraging you to not get discouraged.  There's a lot of people telling a lot of conflicting ideas.  It can be a mixed up, upside down, inside out mess most days.  Take the time to ask God for his Agenda, and then be willing to line up with it.

Hebrews 4:12 NIV
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

I was thinking about my boys today and how proud I am of them.  I feel that my most important job is being a good wife and mother.  I have been blessed with having a employer who allows me to work from home, and I've been doing so for quite some amount of years.  A couple years ago, however a "government" type position came available and there was more pay, more benefits, retirement, and we were struggling financially.  Not to the point where where we couldn't pay bills, but the kind where we were just paying bills and not getting ahead.  Those two years would prove to be the worst employment decision I have ever made.  The stress that I encountered, the emotional turmoil it placed on my family, the constant "busy" but not going anywhere scenario. Becoming a "career woman" had taken place of being a "wife and mother"  and I was very much unhappy.  Even though my boys were old enough to take care of themselves after school and during the summer, I watched the 2 yrs fly by, and I missed out on A LOT.  That decision caused me to sacrifice the one thing that meant the most to me and caused me health issues.

I look at my boys now, one is driving and one is getting getting ready to, both are taller than myself and probably much wiser then me also.  I cringe to think that the time is upon us where one is getting ready to face independent life and knowing how fast time flew, the other will follow shortly there after.

I think back on the days when my boys were toddlers.  Our only Daycare Mom had moved and since that time, I determined that no one else would raise my children.  It would be my responsibility.  My husbands Mother lived 4 hours away and my Mother had a child still in school so we didn't have the help most people do in getting a break from our kids.  It was tough then...but we did everything with our kids.  No nanny, no babysitter, it was always Us and the Boys.  They were influenced and active in every decision we made, we stopped going out to any establishment that didn't allow children, and we focused on being a family.

I look back on what that decision did for our family.  We slowed down the busyness of life, we sacrificed money, we sacrificed friends, we invested in our family.  My boys enjoy church, they love Jesus, we still read the Bible as a family every single night without issue.  And we are close.  Very close.

I love being a Mom... it's the most important job I have, and I love being a wife to a Man that walks along side of me keeping Christ as our center.  We've made so many mistakes in life, and yet God held on to us.  I love that.  I love that through our chaos, God can bring perfect order.  I love that he gave me a chance to learn how to be a good wife and a great Mom.  In reality, I didn't sacrifice anything.... Yet, I gained everything with Christ as our Center.

It should never surprise me that each day God is preparing a way for the following day. Yesterday in my pout, God put scripture in my heart.  It was listed on yesterdays blog.  Today I understand what He was trying to tell me.

If you've been reading my blogs, you know that I received some unsettling bad  medical news.  For the last couple weeks I went though a process of connecting with God, rebuking the enemy and asking why.  It wasn't until yesterday's seed and today's Bible study that truth just clicked.

Where does sickness come from?    .....

I bet you instantly said the enemy didn't you!!!  I did up until today, but today my mind was renewed.  I'm going to step on some toes here and possibly create a follower of short lived haters...but I want you to take what I am about to say and consider it.  Why?  Because I believe that there is life is in this message, and because some of the lies of Satan will be destroyed though it!

Jesus didn't die on the cross so that we could still walk around in sickness.  He came and redeemed all... including your health.  He took back ALL power of the enemy.  Would you agree with that?  ALL POWER...  right?

We also know that we ARE wonderfully and uniquely made, perfectly in God's image.  Do we agree with that?

Ok, we know that we are to take ALL thoughts captive right?  We are supposed to let go immediately of lies of Satan, or they become strongholds.  Would you agree with that?

We know that we live in a world of blame.  It's always someone else's fault because after all we are only human correct?  Do you believe that?

So...let me put this in perspective for you to consider.  You are perfectly and wonderfully made.  Jesus redeemed you from all power of the enemy, actually removed ALL Satan's power and authority and set you free.  The only thing that Satan has is the ability to tell lies. That's it.  You know that he has no other power correct?  He doesn't have the power to put sickness on you, because Jesus removed his ability to do so.  So what causes sickness? Ready to take some responsibility here???  Take a big gulp because you can handle it.... YOU create sickness from your thoughts and your lifestyle.

Why do I suggest that?  Because if you have the power to choose, you have the power to change. It's time to take your power back.  God gave you the power to choose.  He has removed any power Satan has over you, including sickness.  He has given you the ability to HEAL through your thoughts and your lifestyle.  As Jesus is in you...so you are.

Maybe you need to forgive.  Maybe you need to stop worrying about money.  Maybe you need to stop eating sugar, maybe you need to walk a mile a day, maybe you need to give your kids a hug, maybe you need to spend more time with your kids.  Maybe you need to get rid of addictions...maybe you need to stop watching the news, or indulging in pornography. Maybe you need to stop gossiping.  Maybe you need to stop blaming you Dad or Mom. Maybe you need to stop spending so much time in Google and Social Media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linked In...maybe you need to meditate on the word of God and renew your mind.

Ready to take responsibility and take back 7 times what Satan stole from you?  Let's go get it!!!  Know the truth and the truth shall set you free.

Yesterday, some things that I've been praying really hard about, hoping, trusting, depending on, fell through. Not one, but THREE different ones that should have secured an opportunity for several purposes.  THREE...right in a row!!!  REJECT!  REJECT! REJECT!  I called my husband and I vented.  "I'm a failure" "I wanted this to do so much better" "I don't have the Midas touch for certain!"  "I worked so hard for weeks on this!!!, I prayed" but God answered someone else's prayer instead!"  It's like on that movie Twister when Jo is talking about the tornado that picks it's location: "You've never seen it miss this house, miss that house, and come after you!"  I seem to be the house God keeps missing!!!

Yes, I was pouting.  But still valid points and raw emotion and a very common reaction when things go wrong for me.  Maybe I'm the only one in the world that does this.  I'm just being honest and blunt with you because then I can be honest and blunt with myself.  I'm not saying it's right or wrong, I'm saying as a Christian, I can and do get frustrated and I love Jesus more than anything.  Does that mean I'm not a Christian if I don't understand it all or have it all put together?  Well that is what some would like you to think isn't it.

Truth is, I don't have the answer to why things like this happen.  Why people can pray for success and get it, and others struggle.  While some people live in poverty and some in riches, while some people are healed while others are not.  I like the response that Jesus gave when his disciples sought out a reason that the man was Blind.  They saw the blindness as a punishment, because they asked Jesus who's sin caused it, his own or his parents.  Jesus answered it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

So that the works of GOD might be displayed in him.

Psalm 10:12
Arise, O Lord!  O God, lift up Your hand!  Do not forget the humble.  Why do the wicked renounce God?  He has said in his heart, "You will not require an account."

As a Christian, I am learning a lot of things... God is full of wisdom and there never comes a time where the lessons stop.  A never ending teaching, with never ending lessons, full of never ending gifts.

I suppose if you read through my blogs, you would find lots of flesh articles, lots of God Moments, lots of frustration and lots of joy.... I listened to someone preach the other day suggest that we are failing as disciples because we haven't been taught how to disciple.  For the first time, I rejected it.  That's nonsense!  God put everything you need, in your heart, in your mind, and in your DNA to become a disciple of Jesus.  You were created by GOD.  You can sure go to a lot of classes, or college, you can put notches in your belt for the years you've studied, or the degrees you've been given...but I'm here to say that all you need is you and God and gift of freewill and the willingness to make a bunch of mistakes, let a bunch of people down, but set your sights like flint to Jesus.

I love knowing that God has given us the gift of freewill.  Satan is here simply to make suggestions to you, to choose his way over Christ.  It's really actually interesting, as God did create him for that purpose.  Without it, you don't have anything that would give you the opportunity to choose.  Sure you can go ahead and make Satan into a great big monster, and a great big mountain...with scary demonic features... or you can see him, as what gives you the ability to choose.  If YOU have the POWER to CHOOSE.  YOU have the POWER to CHANGE.

Thank you Jesus.

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you 
life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 
Deuteronomy 30:19

Bad news, circumstances, bad reports, gossip, arguments.  They are EVERYWHERE.  I don't mean to beat up on Facebook, because it's not the program, it's the content and the hearts, but by the time I'm get on Facebook and shut it off, I've just read 10 negative comments to every 1 positive and my spirit isn't very happy by the time its done.

I was watching a segment with Betty White and she kept saying, I am so lucky to be this healthy and still working!  Most people would give their eye teeth to be doing what I am doing.  I am so blessed and so thankful!  She also said I am ridiculously optimistic.  I loved that part.  "ridiculously optimistic".  Can you you imagine this day and age, people being ridiculously optimistic?

I don't want to beat you up, what I do want though is for our world to be a better place than we left it.  Everyone is saying America isn't what is used to be.  We are going down hill fast.  We better do something.  It's the Christians fault, it's the non believers fault.  We are trillions in debt...it's the government.  We live in a very negative world and if you see it that way, America might just be going downhill... if you see it that way.

I joked with a good friend at work and whenever we would say something the other didn't like, the response was "WHATEVER"!  One day scripture followed whatever and it reminded me of perspective and attitude and how it shapes a life. 

But don't stop at 4:8 make sure you read 9... it tells you the outcome.

Philippians 4:8-9 New International Version (NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Everyone is talking about it.  End times.

I bet if we could go back and capture Y2K moments, everyone was talking about it then too. Or when Hitler was in power attempting to eliminate the Jews.  But when it is going to happen and should we be afraid?

I watched a Christian TV network yesterday and I heard some things that I had to shake my head at.  I even laughed and made fun of some of the things.  I think it's important for any person to discern and ask God directly for wisdom.  I think it's important that every person get into the Word of God.  The BIBLE and seek God's face.  We have to stop feeding into fears.  I heard a very well known Pastor talk about we have to buy 8 gallon containers of pancake mix so when end time comes we will have good tasting food.  But maybe it's not end times, maybe it will just be a hurricane or something.  Or when Social Security runs out and we have no money.  Oh brother... why are you spreading fear in God's name to earn a dollar?

Now, I am not against tithing at all.  I think you should invest your money into good places.  But what concerns me is that we are confusing people by preaching "money" all the time, we are being asked for money around every corner and for every need or want.  Money is not what makes God work.  I sure hope you know that.  Money helps missionary's work.  It helps church doors stay open, it can feed the poor, it can dig wells for fresh water.  But money does not buy a ticket to heaven, or faith in God.

I am just a little ol' Christian, with no Pastoral Leadership or Degree.  I am not pretending to be someone spectacular like Dr. Phil, or Oprah.  I am "just Ang" with a great big heart for God, who believes that you cannot take money in exchange for the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is a FREE gift.  You don't have to call anyone to get it, you don't have to be a Pastor to receive it.  You don't even have to be good.  You get it by asking Jesus into your heart.  Anywhere you are at, at anytime.  Jesus didn't die for money....remember Judas? He died to save you.  He didn't remain dead.  He rose, and is now sitting at the "right" side of his Father. He freely gave the "Holy Spirit" to us so that we may live a life of abundance.  Not in money, but in spirit.  

Acts 8:18-24 New International Version (NIV)
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”