Better to Worse to BETTER Revelation

Matthew 12:43-45 NLT

“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.  Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.  Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.”

I often hear from others that when they give their lives, hearts, and struggles to God - finally laying it down - that things get better but only for a little while and after that short while, things seem to get worse; worse than even what they were before. This scripture makes it even more clear for me for why that happens. There is a continuous attack on our identity, purpose, and will. It swings hard over and over, getting stronger and more forceful, more vengeful, with each swing, hoping to ultimately conquer its victim. I believe the moral of this scripture is to NOT GIVE UP, KEEP SWINGING BACK, AND STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE OF WHO YOUR GOD IS! We will win because God has already won!

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Mark 4:3-9, 14-20 NLT

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.  As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it.  Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.  But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died.  Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.  Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”  Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.  The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.  The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.  But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.  The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word,  but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.  And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Inspiration

Amen! EVERY new day is a blessing! We are here not for ourselves but for the world around us. There are so many problems in the world; so many hurting. We were created to make a difference. Let's not let another day go by wasted. Let's live with purpose!


#YouAreHereForAReason #Believe #Livewithpurpose #EveryDay #EverySecond

Inspiration

"Come close to God, and God will come close to you" (James 4:8a NLT). Hallelujah! "Make your life a mission, not an intermission" -Author unknown "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect" -Mark Twain #Inspiration #Faith #Believe #GodIsFaithful

Live.In.Peace Mr. Robert Milam: 3/15/1945 - 3/20/2014

Mr. Robert Milam, a good friend and Meals On Wheels client of mine, passed away Thursday. He had a beautiful heart and spirit and was confident in who his God is! He had a lot of medical diagnoses and had been in quite a bit of pain for a long time. I just spoke with his daughter and she told me that his organs shut down. One thing I know though is he is in NO more pain and is with our Lord Jesus! God bless you Mr. Milam! Till we meet again! :)

 Obituary

Urgent Prayer Need

Billy's Stepdad BILL CRABTREE has been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic CANCER that has metastasized. Please heavily PRAY for him, Billy's Mom Denise Crabtree, and the family.
 
Father, You are an amazing God. Hallowed be Your name. We pray for Your kingdom come and Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. You alone Lord hold the world together, know our every thought, and have a purpose in everything. We are clinging to Your word and Your love and KNOW that You will bring good out of this situation! Praying for a miracle. Praying for healing. We THANK YOU Father, for You Are Good! In Jesus' name, Amen.

Perseverence

Live.In.Peace Aunt Carol: 4/15/1937 - 1/1/2014

My Great Aunt Carol Nix went to heaven early this morning. She was a wonderful person with a wonderful heart. My Mom, Uncle Marty, Aunt Lana, and I had the privilege to visit her this week and pray with her; a memory I will always cherish. Also, she LOVED the Cowboys! Love her and love you family. Praying for all of you.

Photos taken 6/2013. Aunt Carol is in the blue.
Obituary

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 12

Day 12: I am thankful for my amazing friends - those who visited my family and I while I was in the hospital, those who knew me before my car accident and have been a part of my life these past 8 years, and those friends who God has brought into my life (or back into my life) since my accident. You all are such blessings to me, more than you know. What words could I form to express my gratefulness for you? Your love, compassion, kindness, prayers, faith, support, and time . . . Not just anyone can be the type of person you are and the friend that you have been to me. No, you are special. You each have an amazing heart. I praise God for all of you, especially those who are there for me today and help me when necessary! With all sincerity, thank you.

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 10

Day 10: I am thankful for the abilities I still have and what I can still do despite the abilities I do not have. I remember waking up in ICU after my crash. I could only move and feel my neck and head, see, hear, and think. With my vision, I saw my body laying in a hospital bed, I saw countless tubes, and I saw the pain but also hope in my parents' eyes. With my hearing, I heard talk about my care from here on out and ultimately the devastating words that I was in a car accident and am now paralyzed. The harsh truth became more real as all my (then) present and future hopes and desires seemed to at once slip from my grasp. All I could do was cry but the more I did, the harder it was for me to breathe.
 
I know what it's like to lose everything, even more than the little I've shared, but it is in that loss that I learned how incredibly blessed I still am and how obliviously blessed we as a people are. What a blessing to be able to walk, move, feel, see, hear, speak, and think. What a blessing to be able to hop out of bed in the morning, take a shower, and work. Or to be able to go to the bathroom on your own. We are so blessed yet don't realize it. We complain and aren't satisfied with what we have while there are millions of people thirsting for our blessings.
 
I am so thankful for the abilities I have and praise God for them. He amazes me all day long for even allowing me to have what I have. Even though I can no longer use my fingers, there is still so much I can do. Even though I cannot move my legs, I still have a voice, my mind, and my faith and I will never give up. #ToGodBeTheGlory

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 9

Day 9: I am thankful for my church Covenant Church McKinney! I started attending this church in 2010 and since then, have grown tremendously in my faith and knowledge of my God and my self. There is something so amazing and awesome about this church. You can feel it when you enter - the people, the atmosphere, the worship team, the worship music, the sermons, and the prayers - something about this church just strikes you and penetrates through to your heart. All stress, worry, and burdens lift upon entering. As soon as the music begins . . . boom! That "something" hits you again and you realize what it is: God, like never before! His presence is so thick, so captivating, and so real at this church. You can't help but release all the pain, hurt, and struggle you have up to God and as you do, there is an instant feeling of His love, peace, joy, healing, and restoration. Such a transaction in itself is a miracle. I have grown so much, in so many ways, the past 3 years from being a part of this church. I now am confident of who my God is and who I want to be and I owe it, in large part, to this church. Much love to my Covenant family!

http://www.covenantmckinney.org/ 

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 1

I've decided to jump on the 30 days of Thanksgiving! 

Day 1: I am thankful for my Father, Christ, & Holy Spirit. When I rededicated my life (a couple years after my accident), I finally reached that point where I was ready to give up my self and live for God. I asked God to reveal Himself to me, my purpose, and how much He loves me. The experiences I've had; the revelations, prophetic words, and spiritual gifts I've received, and all the prayers that are beyond coincidence that I have seen answered ... I could never deny Him or live without him. And although this life with paralysis is difficult, I would never go back. I didn't know who I was, I didn't grasp the love of my God or family, I took EVERYTHING for granted, and I lived for MYSELF, never satisfied. I was broken, shamed, abused, and discarded by the world. God has shown me who I am and who I'm not, what's important and what isn't, and most importantly, who HE IS. Oh His love and presence... they absolutely captivate me. You have my heart God. Truly. I love you.

August and September Speeches

August 3, 2013 - Speaking to Biblical Community Church's youth located at 810 Lookout Dr., Richardson, TX 75080 at noon.

September 8, 2013 - Speaking to Christ United Methodist Church's youth located at 3101 Coit Rd., Plano, TX 75075 at 6:45pm.

September 18, 2013 - Speaking at MADD's Plano Teen VIP located at 900 E. 15th Street, Plano, TX 75074 at 6:15pm.

Happy Independence Day!

In honor of Independence Day, I wanted to thank all of our military men and women who have fought and are still fighting for our country and for freedom. May God bless you!

The Hunger Site is a great website that is full of opportunities to stand up for your beliefs and for what is right regarding many economic, social, physical, and personal issues. The website has an area of prepared petitions and all that is needed is your signature.

A petition that caught my attention is titled "Tell the Pentagon It's No Crime to Share Your Faith" and it states:

Several recent events have caused a great deal of alarm among those who are concerned with religious liberty. The heart of this issue is one of conscience and freedom of religion: soldiers who "proselytize" their faith face reprimand or court-martial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

In a statement, the Pentagon tried to assure the faithful that military personnel would not be court-martialed if they "evangelized." Unfortunately, "proselytizing" and "evangelizing" are virtually synonymous terms, leaving service members vulnerable to a subjective interpretation of the Uniform Code.

This is truly a First Amendment crisis. The First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech…". No matter what God one worships, as Americans we all have the sacred right to share our faiths.

Join us in asking Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to remove any prohibitions against proselytizing from the Uniform Code of Military Justice and respect the First Amendment rights of service men and women.

Click here to view and sign this petition!   "Tell the Pentagon It's No Crime to Share Your Faith." The Veterans Site. Web. 4 July 2013.

Fundraiser #1 for Toby Mills

We are raising funds for Toby Mills, my boyfriend's best friend since middle school, who was in a serious car crash last September and is quadriplegic and paralyzed as a result. Not only is he paralyzed but his injury is much worse than mine. He damaged and nearly severed his C4 spinal cord segment which is very high on the spine (actually in the neck). The area of the spinal cord that is affected and the amount of impact and damage to the spinal cord determines what an injured person can move or feel. The higher the injury level on the spinal cord, the less ability and function a person has. Also, a person with spinal cord injury is classified as either paraplegic or quadriplegic. Paraplegia refers to a person that cannot move (or possibly feel) lower body extremities due to damage in the back. Quadriplegia refers to a person that cannot move (or most likely feel) all or parts of both upper and lower body extremities due to damage in the neck. The high spinal cord damage Toby obtained unfortunately has left him with only the abilities to blink, eat, speak, think, and move both his neck and one forearm (very) slightly. He has lost the abilities to move and feel below his neck and encounters daily struggles with pressure sores, breathing troubles, bladder infections, and loss - loss of independence, privacy, and all the abilities the average person takes for granted. We often think we have it bad, but then comes along someone who has it much worse. Toby spends most of his days in his hospital bed watching T.V., waiting only for night to come and another day of doing the exact same thing.


We are raising funds for:
a) Toby to have a computer with adaptive technology - aide in independence and quality of life
b) Inpatient and at-home rehabilitation - aide in physical health, independence, and quality of life
c) Adaptive equipment and tools for daily living (eating, getting in and out of bed, etc.)

We plan on having on-going fundraisers for Toby as he has many needs and desires and currently does not have insurance. His first fundraiser, "Tools for Toby," is an online fundraiser but is only the beginning! The direct link is http://www.youcaring.com/Tmills.

Ways you can help:
1) Pray
2) Donate money
3) Send Toby or Amber, his girlfriend and caregiver, an encouragement card or helpful resources (9433 Olive St., Princeton, Texas 75407)
4) Share this email and spread the word
5) Help us get more fundraisers started
6) Offer knowledge or help - visiting with him, praying over him, care sitting to give his family a break, etc.
7) Make him and his family meals

We have a couple restaurant fundraisers in the works and will keep you posted on those!

Toby's girlfriend, Amber, has honorably remained by his side. You can contact her at aweglowski21@gmail.com or 469-951-7863.

Father, we lift up Toby and Amber and pray that their faith will not fail but be strengthened. When all they see is struggle and defeat, Father, again, strengthen them. Let them experience you personally. May their eyes and hearts and very being be opened to you and who you are. May they understand how much you love and care for them and how you are there for them and always have been. May they look to you for understanding. Reveal purpose, truth, and guidance to them Holy Spirit. Father, we ask for doors of opportunity, blessing, and healing to be opened to them. We trust you God and thank you for saving Toby and their relationship and for your amazing calling on their lives. I see the greatness you have in store for them and praise you God for that revelation. Father, may their spirits be lifted, encouraged, motivated, and empowered and may your people enter their lives and bless them. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Thank you supporters. May you be eternally blessed.

Life Update

Hello family and friends!


I have been good and just finished another semester of school. I have been at UNT for a year now studying social work and love it! I have been learning so much about people, society, behaviors, and especially, myself. I also have been growing a lot in my faith and spending a great deal of my time volunteering. I have been speaking for MADD since 2009 and for the YMCA since last June. And for a little over a year, I have been volunteering at Meals On Wheels as a "well check" caller to 55 clients every Monday. These three things - school, growth in faith, and volunteering - have opened many doors for me but more importantly, they have been preparing me for the life ahead of me and affirming the personal revelations from God about myself, my future, and my purpose. And I look forward to further opportunities to use my skills and talents once I graduate in May 2016 (from taking only two classes per semester)! My family has also been doing well (minus the major foundation work and sewer leaks in our house)! My boyfriend Billy recently started a new job which he enjoys and my sister Natacha moved to Colorado at the beginning of May with her boyfriend!

This summer I plan to continue volunteering but am interested in gaining experience with the homeless. We have one homeless shelter in my county and it happens to be in my hometown. I am not sure how I can help at the Samaritan Inn but I definitely plan to get plugged in. I also have plans to update my website (three new pages) and create several fundraisers for my boyfriend's best friend who is paralyzed. Be on the look out for his fundraisers!

Go and Be Event - Helping and Meeting the Needs of McKinney Residents

Go and Be is a whole event where we deploy all our 3e McKinney partner churches to make a statement: there's a God in heaven who loves the people of this community, and we get to bring people that news through our humble acts of service. Let's join together as families, groups and as church family to serve our local communities with outrageous service, bringing a little bit of heaven to earth. This year, our primary focus will be on revitalizing one specific area in east McKinney, the Rockwall community. As we partner with the City of McKinney, 3e McKinney, Habitat for Humanity and Volunteer McKinney, we are accepting a God-sized challenge to show the love of Christ by renovating 25-30 homes.

  

April 20, 2013   this will be prep. Day for the projects, cleanup, power washing and some construction and scraping.  Getting ready for the paint to go on the home.

April 27, 2013 will be the big day.  One of the major projects will be painting, also landscaping and maybe some construction.

For those that want to meet the residents and not paint, we will also do surveys that day. I will provide a quick training class on how to complete form so ask for me.  So this is just walking house to house talking and blessing the people of the community.

All events start at 8 am and go to 4pm each day, but come when you can and leave when it is needed.

Please visit the 3e website to sign up as a volunteer or you can contact Leroy Smith.

Tentatively we are supposed to park in a truck parking lot at 800 elm st, mckinney

Smith, Leroy. "Go & Be Event." Message to Tonya Winchester. 15 April 2013. E-mail. 

Thank you for helping!! I can guarantee you will be blessed!!

Urgent Prayer Request

Two nights ago, a good friend of Billy's (my boyfriend) was in a bad car crash and is now paralyzed with a complete C6-7 spinal cord injury (exactly what I have). He is currently at Parkland Hospital in the ICU.

Father, we lift up Toby to you and praise You God for his life. We pray God that You will guide the hands and tests of the doctors and bless Toby with a miraculous recovery in the name of Jesus. God, reveal Yourself to him and his family in a fresh new way. May they learn of Your grace, love, and goodness and may they learn who their God is through this tragic situation. Speak to them God and protect his children as they search for answers. God, we know You have a special plan for Toby and I pray that Your will be done in his life. Father, prepare and strengthen Toby and his family for the road ahead. Give them endurance and help them to persevere. We refuse the report of the world and release the report of the Lord. Cover him and his room with Your healing and guiding spirit. Father, we pray for strength, sensations, movements, and all abilities to return in the name of Jesus. Holy Spirit, awaken his body. Awaken his spinal cord we pray in the name of Jesus. I pray that his girlfriend be encouraged and feel Your spirit. Help her through this as well. Thank you God again, for saving Toby. May he grab hold of this second chance and arise as the man You created him to be. I pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

Select "Will Pray" if you prayed this prayer. If this blog was sent directly to your email, please visit the blog page and select the box "Will Pray." Thanks. Please share.

June 16, 2012 (Wreck Anniversary Cont'd)

On June 16, 2005 I was in a near-fatal car wreck which left me paralyzed, broken in spirit, and confused about my purpose and life all together. It has been a difficult journey and I've had a lot of growing up to do but I would not be who I am had it not happened. I have been reconnected with my Savior and learned many invaluable lessons and revelations that prepare the way for my future and for who I was created to be.

In early May, I received an email requesting that I come share my story with a group of at-risk teens at the YMCA in McKinney, my hometown, on my 7th year wreck anniversary. I knew instantly that it was meant to be and without hesitation, accepted the request.

Part of what I shared with these teens is that we are the way we are because we were made for a specific purpose. We each have our own unique set of interests, talents, abilities, and life experiences which shape who we are. Which ones are unique to you and how can you use them to reach others? To rescue others? What have you overcame that others, who may have no direction, are still struggling with?

 

For me personally, I had a very difficult time fitting in when I was in school, I have had several experiences where I have been taken advantage of by friends and even guys, I have experienced losing almost all of my friends, I have had experience with drugs, and although I did not like to drink, I had a bad experience with alcohol which landed me in this chair. As for my interests, I enjoy speaking, being a leader, and helping others. And it is in these moments that I am living in accordance to the experiences, interests, and abilities that I have been given that I truly feel joy and feel that I am fulfilling my purpose. There is no greater feeling  and that is why I encourage you to take hold of what you have been given because everything that life is about is to constantly prepare you for your future.

May today mark a new beginning for all of us. Life is meant to be lived and we are meant to help others. Let's open our hearts and minds to our true purpose and actually living a life of purpose. Every day is an opportunity to learn, grow, produce, and bring about change. There are so many people that are lost, lonely, depressed, and in lack and there are just as many social problems in our world that need tackled. What have we been waiting for? A push? A shove? Count this as one. Let God use you. Help others. Love others. Forgive.

Father, We give you our hearts, our minds, our lives, and our relationships for Your purposes. Mold us God. Work in us. Speak to us. Lead us. Convict us. Open our eyes Lord so that we will see with Your vision. Reveal to us the hurting, the lonely, the broken-hearted, and those in need and how we can help. Provide us with opportunities to serve. May we stop living for the world and for ourselves and start living for you Lord. Forgive us God for our selfishness. Give us a kingdom mindset. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

KEEP Asking & You Shall Receive; KEEP Seeking & You Shall Find

Many people are familiar with the "ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find" scripture but did you know that the scripture has an even deeper meaning? Persistence. I have included passages from Luke 11 (story also found in Matthew 7:7-8) and Jeremiah 29.

Luke 11:5-10 (NLT) – Then, teaching them more about prayer, [Jesus] used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NIV) – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity."

God has a reason for everything and His timing is always perfect. He is near. Is there a prayer or need that you keep asking for and seem to get no answer? Or is your need so big that you do not even bother asking for His help? I hope this encourages you to ask, seek, not give up, and be persistent! God is interested in you and every detail of your life. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6, NASB). And remember, God may just be answering "not yet." In waiting, we develop strength in who we are in Christ and also learn to trust not in ourselves but in God.

Great (short) devotionals by Rick Warren:

When God Says 'Wait'

The Difficulties While God Delays