Benefits of taking up your cross.

Its the month of septemeber… Yay!

that means its the hubbys birthday! That also means its mommy and daddy time lol. That’s what I call it when Chuy and I get to get away for a couple of days. I love it. We decided to go to Napa Valley . We love it there. We go down to Calistoga to the mineral pools to soak in the hot water of the fresh geysers from under the earth. If you haven’t tried this you should make a planned trip to go and experience this piece of heaven.

We stood at Indian Springs in Calistoga. They have the best pizza you ever tasted from Sam Social club restaurant located in the hotel.

One day we were driving into town and I came across the scripture..

Mark 8:35-35 “Jesus called the crowd together with his disciples, and said to them, “if anyone wishes to follow me as my disciple, he must deny himself (set aside selfish interests), and take up his cross (expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come and follow me. Believing in me, conforming to my example in living and if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in me. For whoever loses his life in this world for my sake and the gospels will save it from consequences of sin and separation from God.

When I read this God began to speak to me. Pebbles, do you know the life that you get for being my disciple he asked. I sat there and opened my heart and said speak Lord. He said “It can be hard to follow me…. The reason being is its not about you anymore. Its all about me and my kingdom. You take up your cross and follow me and my ways. You follow my example and my character. I was listening….

What does it mean to pick up your cross? Its all about living for God. Being obedient to his will for your life and not our fleshly desires. Its to be spirit led rather than being led by the flesh. It’s also a sacrifice. ALOT of sacrifice.

let me be honest, it is hard to do this. why? because there are going to be some things that God will have you do and ask of you that will not be easy at times but if we do his work, he will do ours!

It is literally pushing your whole self to the side and acknowlodging him in all that you do. Its about paying attention. Checking yourself always. Its about going to him when making decisions “Lord, is this your will for my life? If it is then open the door. If not slam it shut! If its not your will than I don’t want it. Following God and putting him first is a serious thing. Its about helping out the body of Christ. Lord, Who can I help for you? Its being a servant. Servants are leaders and leaders are servants.

I believe that we are peculiar people. Deuteronomy 14;2 for you are holy people (set apart) to the lord your God; and the Lord has chosen you out of all the peoples who are on the earth to be people for His own possession.

Definition of peculiar: A property of privilege belonging exclusively or characteristically to a person.

Its about helping out the body of Christ and being his arms and feet. I always ask him “Lord, who can I help for you today? Is it a easy walk? not all the time but its also not easy without him so might as well give it a shot and go DEEP in!

BENEFITS OF PUTTING GOD FIRST

okay… You ready for this? This is some good stuff right here!

The benefits of taking up your cross. When you do this let me tell you with everything inside of me, God takes a SPECIAL care of you. If you are walking with him, what does that mean? That you are right next to him! I had a friend of mine tell me about a vision God gave him. He seen a city on a hill and Around the city was very large thick concrete walls. It was a protected city. God showed him that God and his shield is in that city and when you are next to him you are very close to him and very protected. He seen arrows flying in from outside of the concrete walls trying to attack the people but the arrows could not get to them. My friend seen himself outside of the walls of the closed in city and God spoke to him and said “You are not next to me and it doesn’t mean that I don’t love you, it’ll just take me longer to get to you… WOW! Im telling you that when my friend told me about this vision it has never left me. I always check myself and make sure that my family and I are in the closed in city next to my heavenly father. You might ask, How do you know if I am following him? Well simple. Look at yourself, examine yourself. Are you producing any fruits of the spirit?Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

Acts 8:10 For I am with you and no one will attack and harm you. For many people in this city belong to me!

Following God and putting him first is an act of obedience and every act of obedience to Gods will is a seed that reaps an abundant harvest! A harvest of Peace, joy, blessings, heaped upon blessings to you and your household.

When jesus sees us living for him there is a special trust that he has in us. When we live for him so many burdens that we carry get washed away. Pain, fear, worry, pride, jealousy, unforgivneness, strife, anger, religion and the list goes on and on.

We can spend our lives just living for ourselves and doing what we want to do and not fully letting God in and when we do this we will end up needy and unhappy. God has not called us to take care of ourselves. God has not called us to in-reach but to outreach! Reach out to others and God will reach into your life and take care of all of your needs and desires!

Don’t be afraid to trust yourself with God. Give yourself away, sow yourself as a seed and get ready for a great life.

Johnq 12:24 Let me make this clear: A single grain of wheat will never be more than a single grain of wheat unless it drops into the ground and dies. Because then it sprouts and produces a great harvest of wheat- all because one grain died.

I always look at my world around me and Im in astonishment of my life, my kids, my marriage, and my work with God. I owe it all to putting him fist and not me. I know by putting God first not only affects me but my whole household. My kids and husband benefit from my obedience. We also carry a beautiful fragrance wherever we go! Man, I love that. We stand out, we stand firm, safely and seculry! We get peace. A unexplainable and remarkable peace. An indescribable joy that is overflowing that is like a rushing river that is flowing from in and out of you and into every place of you and your home. Ive had many people tell me that there is a joy and comfort, and happiness and inspiration that sparks in them every time they come visit. lol! It is so remarkable.

This is a very long blog but I can go on and on about all of the benefits of putting God first. Following God and putting him first closes the gates to hell and opens the windows of heaven and its power to affect many people.

Matthew 10:39 All who seek to live apart from me will lose it all. But those who let go of their lives for my sake and surrender it all to me will discover true life!

Luke 9:24 For if you choose self-sacrifice , giving up your lives for my glory, you will embark on a discovery of more and more true life. But if you choose to keep your lives for yourselves, you will lose what you try to keep.

I will close with this. If you are ready to take up your cross its time to go to your secret place and go before the Father and tell him that you are ready to put him first and ask him how. He will be so excited to show you. Call on the Holy Spirit and ask him to lead you and teach you how to become one of Gods disciples. When you do this get ready to set yourself up and your family for great blessings. Get ready for a life that you always dreamed of. You will still go through trials and tough times. No one is exempt from that but now God will be right next to you so you get out of your situations much faster!

I pray in the name of jesus for breakthrough whoever read this blog. I pray for excitement , faith and most of all surrender. I pray for fiery faith and boldness and a spirit of determination. I pray for more reaching hands and feet in the body of Christ. We need you! Thank you Jesus and Amen 🤍