Read The Will

When rich or famous people die, one of the first questions folks ask is about the will. Who did they leave their money and possessions to? How much money did they have? Did they leave someone out of the will? Who will take over their business or have guardianship of their children. This is recently played out when Michael Jackson died. There was so much hype over the reading of the will.

But these are important questions to ask, and not just of the rich and famous. My husband and I each have a will and, trust me, neither of us are either rich or famous! But the will is important because it tells our loved ones what our final wishes are. What we want to happen to our kids, our home, etc. We don't want those decisions left to other people. The will is our voice.

What is an heir? A person who inherits or has the rights of inheritance. If I was a millionaire and died, my two children would inherit that money and share it 50/50. It would be theirs and they would have the right to spend it as they decided. If they were minors, I would provide a guardian to watch over the money until they were older. But the money is theirs and the will proves it.

Did you know that right now, there is a will with your name in it? At this very moment, you are an heir or heiress. Not like Paris Hilton or Caroline Kennedy. But you have a great inheritance already in store!

When you accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior your name goes in the will. When you accept that His death was the ultimate sacrifice for your sins, you get a share in the inheritance. When you acknowledge that He rose again on the third day conquering death, you get the right to share the wealth.

How do you know you're in the will?

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:16-17

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26-29

But what is the inheritance?

LOVE: Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. John 14:21

FORGIVENESS: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

THE NAME: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15:16

THE HOLY SPIRIT: If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17

PEACE: Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

ETERNAL LIFE: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

THE KINGDOM: Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21

Oh but there is so much more. You should go and see for yourself.

Know your inheritance. Read the Bible. Read the Will.

In love,

Mona

Sit and Hush

I wish I had a dollar for every time my grandmother Jessie told me, "hush your mouth!" Usually I was running off at the mouth at the wrong time. Talking when grown folks were talking, or speaking too loudly at church or just talking so much that I was getting on her nerves. "Hush your mouth!" She often yelled it. Sometimes she brought along a smack with it. But other times it was said out of clenched teeth in a whisper that seemed scarier than the yell or the smack. Jessie didn't play - you knew she meant it and you hushed right up!

Jessie's gone now and I know that I often need someone to tell me to hush my mouth.

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” Mark 4:39

I have read that scripture so many times in my life. Normally it speaks to the great and unmatched power of Jesus over the natural elements. In the story the elements were a real thrashing sea and hurricane force winds tossing the apostles around. They thought they were going to die. In our lives today those elements can be our children, jobs, health, marriages, finances, sin, - swirling madly all around us dashing us all about. Casting us to and fro and making us think that we won't survive either.

But today when I read that scripture I realized that Jesus was talking to me! He was telling me to PEACE, BE STILL!! My mouth is the hurricane force winds and my mind is the thrashing sea.

See, when I am going through something I pray and pray and pray and tell God that I have turned it all over to Him. In my heart, I physically lay it on the altar and walk away. "You got it Lord. Now handle that!"

But the minute I get a step away from the altar, my mind revs up like a NASCAR engine and my mouth gets full of air and off I go.

I wonder this and I question that. I wish for this and hope for that. What is God going to do? When is He going to do it? What if I don't like what He does? Why did this person say that? How come she treated me that way? Don't they know how I feel? I hurt. I am sad.

STOP! Oh yeah, I have to remember to worship God and thank Him for handling this!

I don't know who they think they are? I don't deserve this? Why did God let this happen to me? This fool needs Jesus! Why in the world hasn't God taken care of this? Yeah yeah...His time...whatever! Why can't I stop crying?

AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH! (That's Jesus screaming...not me!)

MONA!

STOP!

PEACE!

BE STILL!

HUSH YOUR MOUTH CHILD!

And when I do...when I let the Holy Spirit get that mind and mouth under submission. When I still the loud and raging voices in my head... THERE IS A GREAT CALM! If I can just hush my mouth I can hear Jesus whisper "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

I..... GOT..... THIS!

Today just sit and hush and let the Lord does His mighty work...in us and for us.

With love,
Mona