So here we are again my time to blog….. We all know this is not my strong suit, but God sometimes asks us to go outside our comfort zone.  So here I go….. Again  lol.  We all have shoulders.  At least I think so.  They are perfectly placed at the top of our body under our brains but above the heart.  Why do I mention this? Because we think with our brain and feel with the heart.  To me, the shoulders are important to shoulder so much. When you lift weights the shoulders are important to lift the weight to keep from it falling back down on you. 

Now why I really said shoulders are important to me is because I use mine a lot.  I shoulder a lot of things on my own.  I do not share well with others all the time. Case in point: someone will ask how are you?  I say good or fine when in reality, I am on the verge of tears at any point.  But I don’t say that because it would bother someone or make me look weak. I want to think it is not wanting to be a bother but it really is just being PROUD.  I always want people to be honest and tell me what they need.  I would tell people my shoulder is there if they needed it.  But you know what?  We have to be honest with people. If they ask how are you?  Be honest.  A dear friend asked the other day how I was doing?  I said well if we are being honest, Life stinks. Overwhelmed with some life things, and brother has cancer.  But on the flip side I know God has it as well. 

I have been through a few different journeys lately in my walk with God. I have a favorite song I turn to and - go figure - it has the title of “SHOULDERS” by King and Country.   The lyrics are amazing.  When we are in trials or feeling of no end to what is going on the ultimate shoulders we need to turn to is GOD.  How?  Through prayer, reading the Bible and talking and reaching out to others.  Using their shoulders.  God is there to carry us through. He is wanting to help us to lift us up and see us thru the test we are going thru. He does not want us to drown or fail.  He wants us to ultimately turn to him.  He has after all carried everything on his shoulders when He carried the cross up the hill and bore all our sins. If he can do that can He not listen to our prayers and help us through what we are going through now?  

So when I want to cry because I am weak emotionally or hurting physically,  I need to turn to God.  His shoulders are ultimately the biggest there are and they are evident in His people. So open up and be transparent. Let others know when you need prayer. Let God work through others and you. 
Take a second and listen to the song and may it be the blessing to you that it has been to me.

Man this song is my life right now. Crazy life may be an understatement. I feel from the time my feet hit the floor it is go go go go go go.  I just feel like a cheerleader.  My daughter's best friend would love that.  I feel in the world we live in we go from one thing to the next and often we do so much that we feel so tired and  our lives are in utter chaos.  I know I start the week on Monday and by noon I am saying to myself or to my co-worker "Is it Friday yet?"  Really we are wishing our lives away, WHY?  Because they are CHAOTIC. But who made them that way? We did. We added all the things on the Google calendar. We signed up for the extra things. We okayed the sports, the plays, the clubs, the scouts, and so forth. 

The other day I found myself just sitting and the tears falling.  I was just thinking I could not take it anymore, the overwhelming thought that I am going in all these different directions and not doing anything well.  Was I depressed? No, just realizing that my priorities have been disjointed.  While I have strived to make God number 1, He has been - but not with my full attention. I wanted God to help but I was not being all in. I need to just, as the song says, Breathe. I feel the first thing I need in the day is my coffee but I really need my time with GOD. What if we all just started our day with God…… What if we took time to be with HIM and just be?????? Leave the chaos of life behind for a bit. Focus on God’s will for us. Let His strength fill us. Let Him take the Chaos on for a bit.  Let Him take the cancer, diabetes, schedules, bad grades, work, and finances.  We so often just say "I got this, I can add one more thing to the calendar" but then walk past the Bible and don’t open it, or say I will pray for someone and then go to the next thing and forget. We are human and I am by far the most guilty of all of putting off things or just getting so busy and overwhelmed with life that I feel "what more can I take Lord?" when something goes wrong.  But then it is in those times that He is bringing me back to HIM to realize I am not to take it on my own. It was never intended to be ME.  It was US.  If we are Christians, we have the Ultimate coach trainer in our corner.  

​Back to the wishing our lives away comment earlier….. Yes we are all looking forward to the weekend when it is the week day, but what about the lost souls?  If we are so focused on wishing time away we will not have the time to fulfill Matthew 9:37-38 “harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few…..” If we all took a few minutes and just reached out to the person we passed and acknowledged them gave them a nod or a kind word… That might be the difference, the seed planted to lead them down the path to God.  But if we are so focused on our CHAOTIC life, our heads are in our phones and running thru the things we have left to do. We may miss the opportunity to be a blessing or even better let someone be a blessing to us from God. Trust me in writing this it still hit me hard.  I need to just stop and just be with God for a few minutes every day.  So listen again to the song by Jonny Diaz “Breathe”,  and be still with GOD and give Him some time and let Him help you.  I am trying; even as I write this God is speaking to me to continue to rest in HIM and be…………..   Is it an answer to all right away? No, but it will help with the burdens and schedules we carry be a little more manageable day to day if GOD is NUMERO UNO.

 Everyone knows the saying God does not give us more than we can handle. In reality, we often leave off the most important part of that phrase, the end WITH HIM. God may allow us to go thru things good and bad but it is never more than we can handle with Him.

I have learned over the years that when we try to do things on our own no matter how hard the trial or circumstances we may do ok or we may flail like a fish. Why is it as Christians we feel we can just do it on our own? We are not superheroes or last time I looked I was not although if I were I want to be like Wonder Woman! But in all honesty I would rather be following God and doing His will than have some cool super power. Back to the concept I was trying to get across; TRIALS, OBSTACLES, and other UNFORTUNATE EVENTS….. Where do you turn when things get rough? The easy answer is to say Oh I of course turn to God. But do we? Do we cling to the verse Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. I would like to think that I am always going to cling to that but here lately it has been a struggle. God has definitely been sending some things my way that have me leaning on Him because I cannot do it my own.
​
Of course our first instinct is to see how can I get out of this situation? How can I fix this? What can I do to make this right? I bet this is not entirely my fault or I bet if I do this this will happen… Any of this sound familiar to you? Do we see a common thought or word there? The word (I) yes you got it. Our society is full of ourselves we need to come back to putting others first. An example, when a trial comes reach out and help each other. If it is your trial, reach out to fellow Christians and ask for prayer and support. Matthew 18:20. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. We just need to trust in God. He just asks that we trust Him to take control of the situation. John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace, In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

​We need to realize we can try all we want to do things on our own. It may look as if we have it under control but in reality we have nothing under control without God. We need to remember in our times of trials and crisis to go back to the basics. Pray and get into God’s Word. We are not super human. God Gives Us Only What We Can Handle With HIM.   

2016 We made it.  Ok, some of us may be saying that or others may say Holy Crap where did 

2015 go?  I am in the latter group, don’t get me wrong I am happy to make it to a new year and 

all.  But seriously, where did the time go?  Where did my time with my girls run to?  Why did I 

not spend more time reading the Bible and spending more time with God in prayer?  Epic Fail 

for me.  :-(

Let me ask a question that annoys the living daylights out of me.  What New Year’s 

resolutions did you set for this year?  Why did I ask it if it annoys me you ask?  I think it is the 

fact that people expect everyone to have these super lofty resolutions.  Well, I personally never 

make mine then I get discouraged and give up.  What is the point, I want to lose weight, 

exercise more, be more organized……… These have all been mine at some time.  But really 

where do we see Jesus in these.  Of course, He wants us to be healthier and smarter and more 

time conscientious, but what He really wants is us.  I am not saying we cannot do those things 

but we need to be doing more for His cause as well.  How can we further His kingdom?  I know I 

can do more.  I can witness more and not be shy.  Who cares what people think, I am sure they 

would rather hear it now than be burning in hell later thinking why did she not take the time to 

tell me.  We are a generation so focused on ourselves and how others perceive us that we have 

lost sight of what God desires.  So many times we think oh someone else will tell them, or 

someone else will do it.  Really, I am over that mind set.  I am ready to be used in whatever way 

He sees fit. 

So what am I saying in all my rambling, I am saying look at the verse Phil 4:13 I can do all 

things thru Christ who strengthens me. And Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said 

with man this is impossible but with God all things are possible. God said it we are not alone He 

has our back.  I have been teaching the kiddos this in children’s church. God will help us.  He is 

waiting to.  This is where we have to think about things in the NEW YEAR, but more importantly 

I am asking you to think about it for the rest of your life.  Instead of New Year’s Resolutions or 

Goals, let’s make them life goals for Christ.  What can you do for Him from here on out?  What 

is He asking of you?   Maybe it is to support your local church, participate in activities your 

church has, get to know people in your church better or all of the above.  LET’S SET OUR GOALS 

for Life around JESUS.  Let’s implement the song “Do Something” by Matthew West.

Recently we were having a leadership meeting, Pastor Jason asked a question.  Are you pouring into 
others?  Interesting question in my eyes.  Interesting in that he is wanting us to be transparent.  
Transparency is the way God intends us to be, so here it goes.  Back to the question, are we pouring into 
others? Or more importantly am I pouring into others?  I truly find it hard to be transparent.  I love to be 
a servant and help others but always behind the scenes.  Never do I find it hard to teach the little ones 
or the older ones, but I believe this is not what the Pastor is talking about.  I find it hard to reach out and 
pour into those my age and older. 

Jesus poured time and time again into the disciples and those around him.  He was preparing them for 
when He would no longer be around.  We should be doing this as well.  We should take His example and 
do the same.  Hebrews 10:25 Not neglecting to meet together, as is the  habit of some but encouraging 
one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  This verse is important in that we need 
to be pouring encouragement into each other.  This is a time filled with sorrow and tragedy.  Many 
people are searching for something and they do not know what that something is.  How many times do 
we cry out to the Lord saying Why don’t you do something!!!!!  Like the Matthew West song “Do 
Something” God did something He created us.  We are to pour into each other.  We are to reach out to 
those around us in our church in our community and families.  We need to show them the love of Jesus. 
He came to save the lost and that is everyone, NOT just the WEALTHY.  Everyone because as we know, 
No one is perfect we all need Jesus and we were all born sinners.  Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and 
fall short of the glory of God.

So back to being transparent, am I pouring into others?  Well peeps the answer is this.  Sometimes I do. 
Sometimes I try. Sometimes I reach out to people and feel they shut me down.  At these times you try 
not to let your feelings get bruised like an apple.  But in reality, it is not about you or me it is about the 
other person and Jesus.  It is always about Jesus isn’t it?  I want to motivate everyone to look into their 
hearts and search themselves if they are being transparent as well.  I am going to do my best to be more 
transparent as a few of the ladies in our church have gotten me to be a little more transparent recently, 
I still have a long way to go.

How short?  We do not know. We are not guaranteed a certain amount of time on this earth. 
I often think to myself, 

"Lord, can you please let me give the crystal ball just one quick look!" 

" Just how long do I have?"  

"How long can I party, and live it up before I really have to start living and witnessing for you?"
  
I think we have all been in a spot where we felt we were invincible.  We could conquer the world and 
nothing was going to stand in our way.  Unfortunately, something does stand in our way.  Time!!!!!!   

We have a limited amount of it.  As Christians we need to be using it wisely to be His disciples to spread His 
word.  

I was reminded of this recently as I drove to a viewing for a friend's dad.  Time can be an enemy or a friend. I mean, we need to be stewards of the time God has given us to use for Him.  I wish when I lost my dad at his viewing I would have taken that time to share Gods plan of salvation with more people.  Sure, I said he is in a better place he is going to be in Heaven because I know that is where he was going.  But really Ang, come on you can do better.  That is what I bet my dad would have sat up and said to me if he could have and after I picked myself up off the ground I would have said, "Yep!"  People, the song that says time is on our side is not the case.  Time is limited, I am afraid.  Look around read the obituaries.  Too many people are dying tragic deaths and at various ages.  Our own kids are being touched by death, a reality that from which we wish we could protect them.   We do not understand why God takes some people and not others.  Why do drunk drivers survive and teens die?  Why does cancer take so many lives and so many teens die so young.  WHY WHY WHY????? The answer is God has a plan and we are not always privy to the why but the response we need to have is that God gives a command to go and tell others Matt 28:19-20.   

Let’s do it peeps.  Let's go and tell people about Jesus. Tell our family, tell our friends, and tell our non-
friends. We need to be ready for Jesus to come back.  I know there are people that are not ready. People 
that I may be able to reach but only by the grace of God.  Who is ready to go and reach the people 
around us?  Time is not on our side.  BUT the TIME is now and God is waiting for us to make the move.  
He will give us courage and the words to say.   Let’s go CommUNITY Church.  It is time to be a witness for 
the Lord.