What is the Meaning of Christmas?

In my last blog I asked, "Do you know Jesus?"  He's the "Christ" of Christmas! Therefore, we celebrate His birth. This is important because He is the answer to our deepest human needs. Our greatest need is to be intimately related to God, the creator of the universe.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God resulting in separation from God who is our creator. Our rebellion has resulted in lack of self-control, hate, envy, anger, lack of peace in our lives.  These are results of our rebellion, called sin.

God is a just Holy God, requiring that sin must be punished by death of the sinner. The meaning of Christmas is that it celebrates the birth of God's redeemer, who was born to live and die for our sins, so that we can become children of God by receiving Christ as our Savior.

Do You Know Jesus?

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior and would like to receive Christ  you can pray to God by faith. God knows your heart and is not as concerned about your words as he is about your heart attitude. Be sincere, willing to forsake your sins and acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God.

You can pray as follows: Lord Jesus, I need you in my life. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I receive you as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. I give you control of my life. Use me and make me the person you want me to be. In Jesus Name. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer and received Jesus as your Savior, I would like to hear from you. You have started a new beginning in your life, and you need to grow in your Christian walk. It makes a difference when you are going through difficulties, knowing that Jesus walks with you through any situation.

Join a Bible believing church, pray daily, and tell others about your decision to receive Christ. God’s Word instructs us to assemble with other believers. Join a Bible study or activities in the church. Get involved and fellowship in a good church.

Feeding the Soul of God's Love

 How do you reach hurting people, who are lost, or have turned from God?  How do you reach people who have worry, and stressed in everyday life? How do you feed the soul of God’s love? What does that look like? Jesus has given us His instruction book, the Bible.  In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells us that our protection and security are found in the Lord not in circumstances.  Jesus commands us not to worry, not just once but three times. We should not worry about food, clothing, or the future. God promised to provide for those who love him. He promises us that He will meet ALL our needs.

So, what does feeding the soul of God’s love look like?  “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience,” Colossians 3:12. God has called us to be light and salt in a world filled with so many hurting people.  God created you and me for a purpose.  Through His people, Jesus spreads His love, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Spending time with God in daily quiet time, prayer, and reading His word are the only ways we can feed our own soul. That is, feeding the soul of God’s love in us.

Are You in a Frenzy?

I cannot tell you how many times I had started my day in frenzy. Have you ever started your day running behind because you decided to hit the snooze alarm for just 10 more minutes of sleep? Most of us have made the decision to hit the snooze for just a few more minutes. Fully knowing that decision would lead you to be late and possibly running behind the rest of the day, you do it anyway. I have on many occasions hit the alarm not just once but maybe three times making that extra sleep time become 30 minutes.

The day starts by rushing out the door, frantically trying to get to my destination. My mood becomes something indescribable. Just say I was not in the best of moods. At the very least, I didn't want the phone to ring, interrupting me and my work—work on which I was already behind. 

Thank goodness, over the years, I have come to realize that we do have choices, and reap their consequences. We also have responsibilities. I wanted everything on my time table. But, after many years I found a better way. 

I found I needed to start my day in prayer. The Lord tells us in I Thess. 5:17 that we should pray continually. I try to make choices that would be responsible and allow time to spend with the Lord. Prayer time starts my day with peace, thankfulness, joy. Whatever I run up against during the day, I know I can go to the Lord. He will give me the answer or resolve the problem. It is a matter of faith, trust, in the Most High God.

Our lives do not have to be in frenzy or out of control. You can have a life of love, joy, peace and comfort. How do you start your day?

Forgiveness, Do You Hold a Grudge?

Sometimes it is hard to forgive others when they have wronged us. When we hold grudges we open the door for the enemy to enter our life. The Bible makes it clear that forgiving others is a command not a choice, (Matthew 18:21-35). We have the choice to obey or disobey the word. But Jesus warns us that our experience of forgiveness from God will be blocked if we are not able to forgive others.

I realize that sometimes the pain may be so deep that it is almost impossible to forgive those who have hurt us so deeply. It is impossible for us alone to forgive. Only with Jesus are we able to forgive and completely turn the hurt over to the Lord. Even at the time Jesus was beaten and nailed to the cross He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do,” (Luke 23:34). In Mark 11:25 Jesus tells us, “Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”

Ephesians 4:31-32 says, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor or evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

God loves you and wants His best for you. Ask God to help you forgive and pray that the Lord will use you to show the love of God. You will find that God will bring you peace and comfort.

Respect Yourself part 2

Number of Sexual Partners	You have a choice in life as parents to step up and teach your children and grandchildren respect for their bodies. Sin starts with our thoughts, from what our eyes see, and leads to immoral behavior. We as parents and grandparents need to do better in protecting our children. High risk behavior can lead to HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted Disease (STD). Check out the chart below and see the risk of having more than one partner. You don't think it can happen to you? God warns us that living our lives carelessly can hurt us. Sexual Exposure Chart  (if every person has only the same number of partners as you) See chart below.	Number of People Exposed to
1		1
2		3
3		7
4		15
5		31
6		63
7		127
8		255
9		511
10		1023
	www.cdc.gov/std

Respect Yourself part 1

In today's culture almost anything goes. Television and movies are two major influences of our children and young adults. They are like the forbidden fruit that attracts us because something in us wants to experience what we realize we should not. God tells us to abstain from sex until marriage for a very good reason. He's trying to protect us from being hurt physically and emotionally.

You have a choice in life as parents to step up and teach your children and grandchildren respect for their bodies. Sin starts with our thoughts and from what our eyes see and leads to immoral behavior.

Marriage is special and God warns us in Hebrews 13:4, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”

God is the creator of man and woman bringing life into the world. In Romans 12:1 tells us, to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God.

God warns us in 2 Timothy 2:22, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Life Can Be Like the Ocean

Several years ago I took my children to Hawaii. We stayed on the Big Island at a hotel just a block from the ocean. I wanted the children to experience a place of beauty, but very different from where we lived in Missouri.

Life can be like an ocean, you never know when or where you're going to be stung. How can life be like an ocean you ask? That's what this blog is about.

We found a perfect place to set up our little camp. I watched the children as they played in the water. I decided it was time for me to join in on the fun so I entered the water. As the water rose to my knees I felt an intense sting on my left leg and saw a medium size jellyfish swimming between my legs. Before I could move I felt another sting, this time to my right leg. Needless to say, that was the end of my ocean swim. For the next several days I spent my time with legs elevated to reduce the swelling.

Your life can be like the ocean: you never know what poisonous creatures will attack without warning. It is like a new Christian who experiences their first attack of the enemy. Many times the new Christian is not prepared with the armor of God . It takes time to mature as a Christian. Unless a stronger Christian is giving encouragement and walking along side, a young Christian may call it quits. Do you know a new Christian that needs encouragement?

Sharing the Journey: When God Calls Part 2

Sharing the Journey: When God Calls Part 2: "G od instructs us to go out to the lost and be bold in our walk. It is sometimes difficult to witness for fear of rejection and we may feel ..."

When God Calls Part 2

God instructs us to go out to the lost and be bold in our walk. It is sometimes difficult to witness for fear of rejection and we may feel inadequate. Jesus was rejected so why do we think we would not also be rejected. Fear stops many people doing what they know they should do. We know fear does not come from the Lord so why do we allow the enemy to stop us doing the Lords work?

I had a friend tell me years ago that she knew she needed to go to her friend and share the plan of salvation but had put it off. My friend had received a call a month later and found out her friend was in serious condition in the hospital. By the time she got a flight and arrived her friend had died. She carried the guilt of waiting to share the love of Jesus for months. She had decided from that point on to witness to everyone she could.

We always think we have plenty of time and will get around to telling the good news to people that need Jesus. We don't even know if we have today let alone tomorrow. There are so many hurting people that do not know Jesus. I pray that we do a better job in doing the Lords work. That we allow the Lord to work through us and reach out to the lost.

Sometimes God takes us to a place in life that only in the end we find out His purpose.

When God Calls

Sometimes God takes us to a place in life that only in the end we find out His purpose.

I met a man through my work place in 1999. The man was a client from the low income part of town. He was repulsive, unclean, vulgar and a drug addict.

He and I got along just fine, but my co-workers and I knew he could very well be a threat. He had made threats, but had not carried them out. I knew Jesus loved him and only He could make a change in this man's life.

Several years later as the man's health deteriorated he had to be hospitalized. I felt the Lord was calling me to visit the man in the hospital. He had no family to be by his side, or any friends for that matter. The man was now totally alone, and only had a few hours or days left on this earth. If he was ever to know about Jesus and His love, I had to go to this man's dying bedside.

I entered the hospital room in the late afternoon. He was lying down, perfectly still. The man was moaning and growling with his eyes closed. I checked with his nurse who informed me that he had taken his pain medication and nothing else could be done for him. I sat down beside his bed and began to pray. I opened my Bible to the Gospel of John and began to read out loud. As I read he began to moan and made growling sounds louder and louder. I just continued reading. By the end of John the moaning and growling had subsided. I prayed over the man and told him how much God loved him, and that Jesus died on the cross for all of his sins. I placed my hand on his arm and told him I would be leaving. I would come back the next day. To my surprise the man turned his head toward me and opened his eyes. There was such a peace about him and he had the most beautiful, clear, blue eyes that I had ever seen. I did not see the man I once knew, but I felt the presence of Jesus and his love for this man. Before I could return the next day he had died. I would not be surprised one day to see this man again in heaven. I believe when he opened his eyes he had repented and accepted Jesus into his heart. I was told that he never opened his eyes again before he died.

Sometimes God takes us to a place in life that only in the end we find out His purpose.

Overwhelmed? There is Hope!

It has been a week since tornadoes ripped through the United States. People around the world  felt the pain and sadness of all the people who lost loved ones or all their possessions. It can be difficult to understand why these tragedies take place.

We are not promised a troubled-free life in this world, but God has promised to be with us during those difficult days. He promises to lead us to victory if we put our trust in Him (II Corinthians 2:14). 

It is difficult  not to focus on our circumstances when we are in the darkest place we have ever been. It may be a tornado that took your loved one or every possession you owned.  It may be a divorce or finding yourself alone and pregnant. Whatever the circumstances there are answers to help you through your darkest hours.


The Lord hears our prayers and sees our tears. The Lord tells us to cast all our cares upon Him.
(I Peter 5:7). The Lord loves you!  He has promised to draw near to you when you draw near to Him  (James 4:7) Choose to trust God today.

Is Your Faith Shaken by Circumstances 

Okay, you are in a rut and have stayed there for awhile. You may be asking why

me God? This situation may seem uncomfortable, untimely or just plain not fair.

The reason you may be in this season is because God may be trying to prepare you

for a better life. The question is do you trust Him? Are you trying to control your

life, or are you depending on God? Do you trust in His promises? You may be in

a circumstance that you have no choice but to trust God. God tells us in Joshua

1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified;

do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

We do not know the future but God does, and He wants His best for you.

Enough Is Enough!

Do you ever feel overwhelmed? Do you feel you have reached your limit and feel like throwing in the towel? Do you try to be super woman? Jesus had a mission on earth and yet with all the hungry people He fed, healing the sick and raising the dead, He did not do all these things for everyone. God has given you an assignment also, and only with His direction and strength can you accomplish His mission.

Jesus was given assignments and when His work was done Jesus said, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do,” (John 17:4). His final words on the cross were “It is finished,” (John 19:30). God knows that we have a limit and can only take so much. The problem with most of us is that we try to take on the world in our own strength. We get overwhelmed trying to be super mom. God never gives us more than we can handle with His leading.

You can ask the Lord to help you accomplish His will for you. Ask Him to remove the little to-do lists that are unnecessary in your life. The Lord will organize your life and take control if you allow Him.

Where Are You God?

Are you in a place that you feel discouraged or doubt  that  God hears you? Some of the most successful ways the enemy attacks us is to rob us of joy, weaken our endurance in waiting upon the Lord, and steal our hope.

It is not uncommon that we sometimes question, “Where are you God?”  Even believers in the Bible were faced with being discouraged or doubting.  If we approach the Lord sometimes with faith, sometimes with doubt, we are being double-minded. It affects the power of your prayers.  Mark 9:23-24 describes a man who asks Jesus to deliver his demon- oppressed son. Jesus told the man, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” But the man's reply was “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Faith and trust in God's word comes from reading and staying in the word. You can come boldly to God to ask for peace and  help with your unbelief.  God wants to draw you closer to Him, and uses your difficulty to get you to totally depend on Him. We are not in control of anything, and God wants His best for you. Give God a chance. Psalm 138:7 says, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.”  The hardest things are to wait upon the Lord, to see the change, or to receive an answer.  It is during this time that God can give us strength,  grow us, and deepen our relationship with Him.  God is listening.  If you would like to know Jesus or would like prayer you can email me at Sheila@singlemomsjourney.org.

Can You Have Lasting Hope and Peace?

Do you or someone you know seek  hope or peace in their life?  You can have both!

The good news is the Heavenly Father is the God of Hope. Everything in life can be shaken, but God is faithful in His promises. God will lead you during those storms. And believe me storms will come. The difference is in trusting God.  He will lead you to victory. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "I know the thoughts that I think toward you says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

When you trust God and you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you have the promises of God and the peace of knowing He is in control. You have to give God all your problems big and small. Jesus died on the cross for you and the only lasting peace is in Jesus.

Personal Relationship

It is amazing that the Creator of the universe wants a personal relationship with us. He created us in His image. Not even the angels have the kind of  relationship we can have with the Lord.  Thank you Lord for your love and intimate relationship.

Do you know Jesus Christ? Do you have a personal relationship with  the one that loves you and wants to give you hope, joy, peace and His best for you?

There is Hope Girl!

Have you been knocked down in life?  You may be down, but you don’t have to stay down! You don’t have to give up! There is an answer for the problems or confusion you are going through.  Faith, hope and trust are needed to pick yourself up. The question is how do you do that?

Many single moms look for someone or something to fill a void in their lives; and many times they make the wrong choices. The great news I have for you is that there is hope even when you don’t know where or to whom to turn!  You can have peace, joy and hope instead of frustration, confusion and uncertainty. The question is: do you know where to turn?

I’ve been where you are now, you have to trust in someone or something that is worthy of trust. You need someone who not only has answers for life, but also the power to do something about your life. One who wants to give you a kind of life that is full of meaning and purpose, one that overflows with joy and peace.

We may try or think we are in control of our lives but we are not. We may make right or wrong choices. We are free to choose, but we may lack the wisdom to choose wisely. How then are we to live our lives? Sometimes we tend to forget that adversities or problems draw us closer to the Lord.  If we would only trust in Him who knows all things, we would be so much better off.

Is There Hope for the Struggling Single Mom?

It's tough making it out in the world especially in today's society. For a single mother trying to take care of her children, home and job, it is almost impossible.  Sometimes you may feel discouraged, broken and hopeless.

I know there was a time I felt like I was the only mother going through the struggles and challenges of raising two children. I didn't know where to turn or who I could talk too. It is important that you know there is hope for the struggling single mom. You do not have to go it alone. It doesn't matter where you live or your nationality. We all have the same problems and need someone to reach out too.

 Whether you have been divorced, never married or widowed, being a single mom can be overwhelming. Share your journey and helpful support to the single moms that may still be going through those challenging times. What has worked for you?