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We all have the power to change our negative thinking. You may not be able to stop the thoughts from occuring, but you are more than capable of replacing them when they do. When you have an annoying song stuck in your head, what do you do? You sing a different song.

Josie Tuttle (via creatingaquietmind)

The Choice is Yours

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Merry Christmas!!

I know this might seem strange but I think this might be the first time I am really understanding and appreciating the meaning of Christmas.

He was born on this day.
Go tell it on the mountain/o’er the hills and everywhere/go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!

Christmas is a reminder that He is with us and that He shines through us.

We are God’s firework display and we need to live our lives in a way that shows how AMAZING He is ALL the time.

Jesus came to us as a baby in a manger. All that wonder wrapped up in a baby boy. If He can appear in that form imagine where else He appears in our lives.

He is with us! Do you choose to be with Him???

Thanks Pastor Pete for bringing it home.

Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday Jesus!

I choose wholeheartedly to be with You.

Peace

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The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.

 

—Isaiah 32:17

What is real peace? According to Justin Davis’ , Bellevue Campus Pastor at Crosspoint Community Church (@justindavis) latest sermon peace is defined as quietness of heart and confidence in Him. 

That sounds pretty incredible, right? 

When have y’all ever truly felt at peace? Because, I’ll be honest with you that is an extremely rare occasion for K.Clark. I mean, I think it happened once back in ‘92 (j/k).

The opposite of this ideal state is troubled hearts and presence of fear. Now that sounds vaguely familiar…

There is a gap between our Vision of our life and the Reality of our life and we run around try to fill in that unsightly gap. We fill it with idolatry. We fill it with things that will never truly get us to the ideal state of true peace. 

There are 3 enemies of peace: 

1. Unmet expectations 

2. Unfair circumstances

3. Unresolved conflict

Now, I could write a blog for how each of these enemies affect my life but let’s just say that I get it. 

These 3 enemies cause you to stray and focus not on the goodness of God but on the negative meaning that you’ve ascribed to your current situation. Think about it, how do you deal with the 3 enemies above when they surface in your life? The way you respond to these questions will easily show you why you haven’t found peace. 

Peace is less about the absence of conflict and more about the presence of Jesus. Do you believe that He is always there for you and that He is your constant source of help? Are you confident in Him?  Things are going to happen but are you so caught up placing God sized expectations on yourself and others that you forget that there actually is a God? 

Take those enemies and confront them with the truth. 

1. Unmet Expectation= Only He can fulfill me. 

2. Unfair Circumstances= He has created and is guiding me along my path. 

3. Unresolved Conflict= He will fight for me. Check out Exodus 14:14.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

-John 14:27 


Sic Semper Tyrannis…

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Virginia is for lovers and it certainly is for me. 

I love the great Commonwealth of Virginia and am overly excited to spend Christmas with my family in Portsmouth. 

I now fly in instead of drive in but I’ll still be sending that gorgeous red Cardinal (our state bird) a kiss when I land at the Norfolk airport. 

My plans include: 

1. Mama Chan’s Chinese Food Restaurant

2. New First Baptist Church Taylorsville 

3. Lots of TV watching with mom (she is her chair and me in my love seat) 

4. Watching the Blind Side as I do EVERYTIME I go home! 

5. Movies with Auntie Brenda —what shall we see this time? 

And…that’s about all folks. The holidays are for respite, being with the family, and most of all celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ! 

Contrary to popular belief you can go home again. My home brings me back down to who I really am and it forces me to stop and reflect on all that is happening at work and in my personal life. My breathing changes when I enter Virginia and I finally exhale.