Living Above the Sun Ministries

Coming home last weekend from a visit to family in Tennessee, my heart was so heavy with all sorts of burdens.  Tears escaped my eyes all day.  On the ride down the mountain I was quiet as my brother drove, every once in a while a tear dripping down my cheek.  I didn't want to feel all of  this, I had been silently crying at my desk that week anticipating the visit.  My anxiety and panic was through the roof, I announced, "I'm not going."  But I had to go, I'm in the Lord's Army.  So here I was, serving my family in a difficult situation and fully loving them with all my heart and emotions.  I wrapped my arms around them, and I loved them right where they were.  I couldn't speak, just tears. God reached down to me and comforted my heart with a song, and on the mountain I penned... "God Loves me in my darkness, and calls me to His light, He is reaching out for me, bringing me back to His side.  God loves me in my failures, and calls me to...

  "For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man."  Matthew 24:37-39 I tried to write on Cain, Able and Seth, but I have more questions than I do answers.  I also ended up doing a study on the biblical theological idea of "carpology," the study of seeds.  Genesis (and the whole Bible) is full of references of seeds.  Very interesting study.  A main thing I gathered regarding Cain is that he was a "bad seed."  He did not have the seed of righteousness in him as Able and as Seth...yeah!  Quite the rabbit hole to go down.  So moving on to Noah after deep thought of beginnings.   I read this a few nights ago and it was such a blessing to me and helped my mind ...

"These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." -Hebrews 11:39-40 True faith has the courage to count on Salvation, this is why it is the pinnacle of all of faith. From Able to all the great prophets of old never received salvation, or the new covenant. They never knew personally, THE Messiah, but they believed in the promise of a Redeemer, the promise of Jesus, and of a new covenant. What makes them courageous? What put these great men and women on faith into the hall of fame? Faith believing Salvation. 1 Peter 1:10-12 tells us: Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glor...

"A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants." -2 Timothy 2:24-26 Every Tuesday night I serve in my churches Addiction Ministry. Many people get squimmish and shocked when I mention the word addiction and ministry all in one sentence. I can only imagine what mental image they have in their mind. Some people joke, and say things like, are you going to see the addicted people tonight? Some other people question why I serve in this particular ministry, what do I have in common with these people? God has taught me a lot through this ministry, and even more He has lead me to some wonderful friends. He is growing me in this ministry. Go...

Often times in the Bible we are referred to as the sheep of God’s pasture, and that Jesus is our Shepherd. I was reading in the book of Ezekiel the other night. As some of you know, I’m reading through the Bible in 90 days again. Anyway, Ezekiel has become a favorite book of Bible of mine. Chapter 34 is about God being our Shepherd bringing us back to the sheepfold. Ezekiel 34:12-16 New Living Translation (NLT) 12 I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. 13 I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. 14 Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and give them a ...

"Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan." -Ephesians 1:11 Does everything in the world take place according to the will of God? Questions such as these relate to, and address the providence of God, and thus you have proposed a theological question. Apparently the founders of the state of Colorado believed that everything takes place according to God's will. The state motto affirms: Nil sine Numine, "Nothing without providence." The state seal pictures the all-seeing eye of God. Can we today believe that everything in our state, nation, and world fits into the divine plan> Are God's eternal purposes actually being achieved in our perplexed world? God's purposes in the world often include judgement as well as evident progress. Whether we can or cannot see them, the Creator's plans are being realized throug...

So as of Monday, I am reading through the Bible in 90 days again. I think I will make this a yearly thing. Monday evening as I started reading in Genesis, I picked up on things that I had somewhat missed in all my years of reading the Bible. As many people have stressed in my life, you are never done learning about the Bible, and God and His divineness, and supernaturalness. Hebrews tells us that the Word is alive and active! That in meaning there is always something to learn. So here is what I learned Monday night through my tired eyes. There were 2 trees placed in the center of the Garden of Eden. One was called, The Tree of Life, and the other, The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. You see, when Satan tempted Eve, he asked, "Can you eat from all these trees?" Eve replied, we can eat from them all but the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. God didn't exclude the tree of Life. Only after Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil did God...

Last Friday as I was visiting my Grandmama in Kingsport, TN, I got up and got the paper from the porch. I did not know that the Kingsport Times News would contain such an article that would leave me sleepless as tonight, and somewhat of a haunting thought that the future of our churches are diminishing. What a shame! Here are some quick facts I'd like to share with you that I read in this article which by the way this is from a Methodist standpoint, an article based on Methodist church interview: -In the next five to ten years, 1/3 of all churches across all denominations will close. -In the last 10 years in the United Methodist Kingsport district, membership, and numbers of professions of faith and attendance all have declined and 8 United Methodist churches have closed. -Statistics say that 74% of people in Sullivan Co. don't attend church on Sunday morning. The population of Kingsport according to a 2010 census was 156,823. Stunning. Heartbreaking. The article...

A few weekends ago my Aunt Linda gave me a book called, "The Seeking Heart" it is a book compiled of letters written by a Frenchman by the name of Fenelon. His name has stood for spiritual depth and insight for 300 years. Seeking Christians throughout the years have turned to his writings for their quest of a deeper walk with Christ. This book is not for baby Christians, it is for people who have been walking with the Lord for quite sometime. My Aunt felt like I was ready for it. His works are challenging, they are for the devout and understanding Christian. It is my prayer that I would always have a seeking heart after my Father, and creator. And not just seek with my heart, but seek HIS HEART. We can always trust His heart when we don't understand things, or trace His hand in things. So I pray that if you already are not, that you will seek God. That you will allow Him to soften your heart, and that you will humble yourself to a place where God can began to m...

Tonight I went to a thing at my church Elevation where the guys were honoring the girls. It was so refreshing to see. Car doors were being opened, cars valeted, being waited on, a sweet hand written note, decorations, being ushered to our seats! They told us we were beautiful, stunning, gorgeous, pretty, fantastic....It was fantastic! They honored us by speaking life into us. On top of it all, we were all dressed up! We also had our pictures taken all dressed up. However, I skipped that because 1 I was by myself, 2 I felt ugly and fat and 3 girls were driving me crazy...just sayin ya'll. I never went to prom, I've never really dated, so tonight was some what special in that though it wasn't really a "date" thing I felt like I was being treated as if I were on a date. I don't remember ever being honored in that manner by a guy. I can't tell you if a man as ever respectfully told me I was beautiful. A lot has to do with my self image, I've ALW...

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3 Yesterday I drove my grandma a nursing home in Monroe to see her friend from church that had recently gone into the nursing home. It's a real joy to be in the presence of older people and hear them talk about the Lord. For so many years I was under the impression that all old people knew Jesus and were saved. But that is not the case, my eyes were opened to this truth when I was on a mission trip to Detroit, MI in 2008. We did a concert at a nursing home and several people accepted Jesus as their Savior that day. It blew my mind! Yesterday as my grandma and I were sitting in her friends room, her friend said "I love Jesus so much, but I just wish I could see so I could read my Bible. I can't see, I love God's Word." So my grandma volunteered me to read some scripture. So I did. Of course this ladies Bible w...

I do my best thinking in the shower, I do not know why but I have come to decide I'm hanging a white board above the shower so when Jesus starts talking to me and revealing things to me I can start writing! I have so much I want to share! I am also excited to be blogging from my new house in my new living room in the perfect spot, my little thoughtful corner... This semester, more than ever at my school, I have been stepping out boldly in my faith proclaiming that Jesus is the way. This is so important to understand, and I hope what I am about to lay out here will make sense to you. These are wonderful insightful things to think about I feel. Also know that whatever I say, I say with experience; the whole been there done that, learned now I'm teaching you. ;) When we step out in faith God blesses us, and gives us honor. My sister and I were talking about this. This is what she said, "Each time you step out in faith you grow spiritually. Your character grows, your p...

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you." -Psalm 84:11-12 Refrain: Trust and obey, for there's no other way To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey. Refrain Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, But His smile quickly drives it away; Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, Can abide while we trust and obey. Refrain Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, But our toil He doth richly repay; Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, But is blessed if we trust and obey. Refrain But we never can prove the delights of His love Until all on the altar we lay; For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows, Are for them who will...

"Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go ." -Joshua 1:9 10 years ago or so, my youth leader Mrs. Patsy Surles gave me this little pillow hanger. Mrs. Patsy had a huge impact on my life in the developing years of my life. This verse has meant a lot in my life, this pillow has hung on my door in all the different places we have lived reminding me that "the Lord is with me wherever I go." In the context of this verse we read that Joshua's new job consisted of leading more than 2 million people into a strange new land and conquering it! Without God new things can be frightening. God assured Joshua He would be with him, so He is with us when we face new challenges. It's been challenging for me personally to move as much as we have. I've been uprooted and taken away from my friends and job and home, but through it all God has always been with...

I think Oedipus has become a favorite of mine. I call him, "Oh-Edipus," but really the O is silent. Haha, one of the funny things about being homeschooled through high school was when I came across words I didn't know how to pronounce I just sounded them out and did the best I could. It's kinda pitiful...I guess that's why I've loved college so much, I have a teacher in the room. I first learned of Oedipus and watched the play in my Theatre Appreciation class last semester. I loved that class, and my professor...awesomeness. Anyway, I'm sure you're tired of me talking about Theatre Appreciation class all the time, it was very life changing for me and in the way I percived life, which for me is HUGE! Some of the themes in Oedipus are, the limits of free will, and willingness to ignore the truth. Oedipus is considered to be a tragedy play. Typically the protagonist of a tragedy commits some terrible crime without realizing how foolish and arrogan...

"If grace is an ocean we're all sinking" The story is found in John 4, the story of the woman at the well. There are many things we can learn from this story, and many different perspectives can be seen. However, there is one central and key lesson, and that is Jesus is our living water. We are all that woman at the well because we are all in need of grace, love, and forgiveness, and that is exactly what the living water represents. Jesus crossed all barriers to get to this woman, and that is what He does with you and I. This woman was a Samaritan! Jews did not talk to Samaritans...but Jesus did. At the same time we have to realize that in order to receive that living water our sins have to be exposed. Later on in the chapter, Jesus calls her out on what she had done. He didn't condemn her, but He said I know all these things about you but drink of me and my living water and you'll never thirst again! The story is told of a boy who grew up in an impoveris...

"I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline: Let them sit alone in silence beneath the Lord’s demands. Let them lie face down in the dust, for there may be hope at last. Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them and accept the insults of their enemies." Lamentations 3:20-30 The Lord has laid it on my heart to share my story with you of the past few years of my life. I have been in a time of fervent testing, but in that testing seeing the Faithfulness of God. This is my...

"‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams." Acts 2:17 Church, my brotha's and my sista's, I believe we are living in the last days. My sister and I talk about it often. We don't know the day or the hour, but God does; and Jesus is so ready to come get His children and I can't help but imagine Jesus sitting on the edge of His throne just waiting for God to tell Him, "Go get 'em! Bring them home!" What I'm about to lay out here is very true...no I won't be predicting dates...but I can tell you what the verse about tells us in Acts is very true. Prophesy will happen, visions will be seen, and dreams will be dreamed. I want to talk about the Holy Spirit in this post, as apart of our "The Power of the Church" series. I believe His Spirit is in face being poured out on all, and I particula...

"They all met together continually for prayer..." Acts 1:14 Not long ago I did a series on prayer, if you look back in the December archives, the series was entitled "How Effective is Prayer?" You may find it helpful to look back and refresh your mind on what prayer really is. Sometimes it's easy to loose sight of understanding how important this is in our Christian lives and what God expects of us. We remain in a constant dependence on God. In order to accomplish God's purposes in the world, it requires us to devote ourselves to relentless prayer in the church. Prayer demonstrates our selflessness and God's self-centeredness. When we come to realize that it is impossible for us to accomplish His purposes in our own strength, we express our dependence upon God through prayer. When you read the story of the early church in the book of Acts, for some prayer was fundamental, rather than being supplemental. They were dependent on God's power. Ev...

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." -James 4:10 Humbleness is the opposite of pride. God has been talking to me a lot about being humble, and he has certainly continued to humble me, and keep me humble over my short life. In reading the book, Radical written by David Platt, He challenges Christians to give up the "American Dream." The whole idea of health, wealth, and prosperity and surrender fully to a holy God with all that we really have and say "take me, and use me." He'll humble you alright. Is it worth it? Yes. I speak from experience, so hear me out. First and foremost, I've never had a lot, I'm only 22 so life is just getting started, hard to believe with all that I've gone through in life. However, I've always had a roof over my head, and enough food to eat. I got my first job at a hospital as a stock clerk, I loved my job and I made a little more than minimum wage. I was far from having my ...