The "JESUS NAME" Project

This morning I was reflecting on how fast the time is flying. How it seemed that 10 years were fleeting moments and how something that happened 2 years ago only seemed like yesterday. Then I started reminiscing about our family. My husband and I have 4 children. I will introduce my seasoned teenagers, I say this with a chuckle, Travis, our only son, is 17 and in 2 short months will be 18. Our oldest daughter, Hailey, is 15. And at this stage of her life, can’t wait to be 16! So she can get her drivers license, and claim more independence. Then there are our youngest daughters, Britney who is twelve and in 300 and some days will be 13! She has the count down going already. And our baby, Brooke, who in a few short days will be 11. I can remember so well, my oldest child, when he was small. He would hold my hand, look up and say to me, “Mommy you are the best mom in the whole wide world!” My oldest daughter would throw her arms around my neck and say the same thing. We share a lot of love, that makes little ones, feel so safe, loved and secure. I cherish those moments and they happened to frequent my days. They made me feel like those days would never end. They were always available for snuggles, kisses, hugs and giggles. My favorite moment,was holding their hands in mine. It seemed like time just vanished from those days to the present. When did their so tiny hands, that at one time, would only be able to grasp one finger (because that was their handful), grow into hands of young adults who now can’t wait to leave the safety of home and create their own lives. Britney and Brooke are only 14 months apart, so they literally are growing up at once, and are just moments from being taller than me! They adore their older siblings and I have noticed in Britney, wanting to be like her older sister. I can see the changes taking place inside of her. The moments where we would be goofy and dance around our living room, are now being replaced with, “Mom, I’m getting to big for this,” then jump in anyways! The desire not to, hasn’t taken over yet. Or having mood swings that at one time where just her big sisters thing, and Britney vowed she was never going to be like that. Well now it is her turn, this is all part of the process of growing and maturing.

I often think of how Jesus views us as we grow and mature in our journey with Him. I can remember when I was first baptized in Jesus name ( full immersion) then filled with the Holy Spirit.(evidenced by speaking in a new language) When this miracle happens, at that moment you are reborn! A brand new creature, all sins of the past are wiped clean and wow, did I ever feel clean! When you repent of your sins, truly have a change of heart and cry tears, for the things you’ve done in the past, things you are not proud of doing. You can have that gone washed away with baptismal waters. Become washed as white as snow, you can’t help but rejoice and praise Jesus. I celebrate His great love for us. When He fills you with His Spirit, words are hard to find that can explain how that feels. Knowing that the same Spirit, that was in Jesus, when He walked the earth is now inside of you is overwhelming. When you receive the Holy Spirit you will talk in a language that you have never talked in before, it can start out first sounding like babbling then emerge into a language very quickly. Suddenly a new walk has started for you in Jesus. He must feel so proud, when we say our first words, and take our first steps in faith. It doesn’t matter if we stumble, just as long as we get back up and go straight to our Heavenly Father, as he is waiting to hold us in His arms .He promises in His word to never leave us nor forsake us. He loves you so much, nothing will be able to change that. Just as you look at a newborn and marvel at how perfect the baby is, He too feels the same way about us. He wants to be involved with every aspect of your life. He cares about things we would never imagine anyone caring about. He wants you to have His gift of the Holy Ghost and to be baptized in his Name, more than anything, that is what sets you apart and makes you his! All of my pre-saved life I searched for this. I seen and experienced a lot of things, nothing comes close to this! We become His, we become part of his lineage.

A song that I love to sing goes like this,

Reach out and touch the Lord, as He walks by

You’ll find he’s not to busy, to hear your hearts cry

He is passing by this moment your needs to supply

Reach out and touch the Lord as he walks by

I want to encourage you today, Jesus knows who you are, where you are and what you are up against. He is never too busy to hear from you. When you feel unloveable, He loves you. When you feel discouraged, he encourages you. And when you feel there is no hope, He gives you all you need. He wants to be your main focus in life and in return he will give you a life so enriched with love, peace, joy and contentment. My Prayer for you is to have a life with Jesus you never thought possible…

My baby still holds my hand when we go for a walk. At times she will lay her head upon my shoulder and gaze up into my eyes with so much love and throw me this beautiful smile and say, “Mom you are the best mommy in the whole world.” Thank you Jesus, for moments like these….