*First Ministry Newsletter*

This is the first of, Lord willing, many newsletters to come updating ya'll on my journey in missions!  God is opening doors to serve and I'm excited to see what He does and where He leads me.  Please be praying for Eliason Family Ministry, my family is a huge part of this ministry; they do SO much.  Let's reach children with the gospel! :)

Mattew 19:14
"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Thank you to my church family and all those who supported me prayerfully and financially through the past 5 years of mission work in Bible Clubs; I am truly blessed.  Because you followed God's leading in prayer and support, God provided the ministry with a vehicle to travel to Bible Clubs throughout many states.  What a blessing - Thank you!!  I can’t wait to see the many ways God will use it!  Please continue to pray as I serve the Lord.

Now for the really exciting news!  God is opening doors to reach the children of Madisonville, Texas and surrounding areas. We know people are dying without knowing the love of Christ all over the world, but did you realize it happens right here? This Summer, July 13th - 24th, my family will be hosting a group of highly trained young adults who will be conducting Bible Clubs in the Madison/Walker/Leon County areas.  These young people have hearts for the Lord and want to see people come to know the Lord.  Lord willing, we'll even get to take  Bible clubs into the Madisonville schools during the upcoming school year, so the kids who are in the Summer Bible clubs, will continue to be discipled and grow in Christ year round.

I want to reach these kids right here in my "back yard" with the Gospel but I need your help. There are two ways you can help:

1. Commit to pray -      Please pray for us as we start this local mission work.   We need prayer warriors bringing these children and workers to the feet of Jesus  above anything else,  it is the most powerful thing you can do.

2. Financially -    Your support helps us reach kids with the Gospel and we use this support to buy  curriculum, bibles, food for workers, gas to get to  Bible Clubs,  candy/prizes for the kids, etc.   If God is leading you to financially support this ministry, you can visit www.Gofundme.com/reachingchildren.
 If you’d like to support this ministry in some other way, you can contact my family at Eliasonfamilyministry@gmail.com.

 But, most of all, we need your prayers.  Without Christians praying, battles could be lost.  Satan is real and trying his absolute best to stop any and all attempt of spreading God’s Word to this lost and dying world.  The world needs to be reached with the Gospel of Christ before it's too late.  Do not give up hope, God is still working; He's not finished yet.

Thank you again!


UPCOMING  SCHEDULE


MAY:

5/16 - Calvary Baptist Church Monthly Bible Club

5/24-30 - SMITE: Bible Clubs, Baton Rouge Area, Lousiana Tx

JUNE:

6/1-5 - BLITZ Trip - Bible Clubs, Carson MS

6/8-12 - BLITZ Trip - Bible Clubs, Little Rock, MS

6/22-26 - VBS Calvary Baptist Church, Madisonville, TX

JULY:

7/5-11 - BLITZ Trip - Bible Clubs, New Orleans Area, LA

7/13-24 - Daily Bible Clubs & Evening VBSs, Madison County Area, TX

AUGUST:

To be determined.


His,
Felice Eliason

Matthew
19:14

This Is Why I Go

So much has gone on in the past year.  God has worked in a mighty way and is still working.  He’s opening and closing doors.  It’s amazing to look back and see all God has done in my little part of the world.  I got to spend almost 2 months doing mission work and I'm praying with all my heart I can go into full time mission work soon.  God is opening doors and I'm trusting Him.  We’re there to show them what Christ’s love looks like; to show them that’s there’s hope through Christ.  We got to show a 9 year old girl who had been raped, the love of Christ and she accepted the free gift of salvation.  She will no longer have to go through life alone.  We got to see teenage boys and girls surrender to be missionaries and preachers.  God worked and we can’t take credit for any of it.  None of this would have happened if we were doing it.   I’m thankful God let me be there to watch Him work like He did.

     We're commanded to go and love.  Commanded to share the gospel with anyone and everyone.  Not everyone is called to go to a foreign country, but every believer is called to witness.  But, have we ever asked God if He wants you to go?  Have we told God, "Lord, send me anywhere..."?  So many Christians say, "Well, I'm not called to the mission field.  I'm just called here where I am."  If so, what are you doing about it?  Are we looking at it like the mission field it is or just living life like normal?  I am guilty of this way too much myself.  It's time we Christians stop thinking we have to be on a "mission field" to be missionaries.  We are to be missionaries in our home to our family, at work, at Wal-mart, at church, and any other place you may go.  We need to start standing up and accepting the call that God has placed on every believer.  

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." 

(Mat 28:19-20)

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." 

(Mar 16:15)

     This Summer I stepped back and watched as God worked in the hearts of people across 4 states.  God’s children were praying everywhere for the hearts of those who would hear the gospel this Summer.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

(Mat 18:20)

I  watched as God moved in each Bible club;  saw how big my God really is.  Satan pushed hard though, we could see it everyday.  He was fighting hard for the hearts and minds of the children and our Blitz team.  But, when Satan pushes, God’s children push back.

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. “

(1Jn 4:4)

Smile..

We knew that’s where God wanted us to be.  It sometimes felt like Hell’s playground and Satan was the bully, but instead of stealing our lunch money, he was robbing us of our joy and determination, while burdening us with doubt, worry, and trouble.

“ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: “ 

(1Pe 5:8)

 At times I know I was trying to push back in my own power, trying with all my might, yet failing every time.  It was a moment by moment battle, which couldn’t just be won by my might alone.  God was teaching us to not work alone, but to go in the strength of Christ.  We had the “go” part right, but started off not realizing the importantance of  “in the strength of the Lord”.

Psa 71:16 “ I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.”

We had to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

(Eph 6:10)

     That is where God wanted us, not in our strength, but in His.  It was daily giving to the Lord each bible lesson, each song, each bible verse, and each invitation.  Asking for His will to be done and not our own.

 

I would like to share a glimpse of what God did this Summer.   We were in some of the most impoverished places I’ve ever seen, where kids rarely get bathed, fed, and shown real love.  These beautiful children have so much love to offer and they’re waiting for someone to receive it.  So many of these kids have been abused and most of them in the worst ways.  They get shown the type of “love” that’s wrong.  They grow up in this.  So much abuse and it’s the only way they know how to love.  They’re longing and hurting for someone to really love them.  They don’t know what it’s like to have someone really love them and not want to selfishly use them.  It’s literally heart breaking.  But, for just a little while we get to go into these projects, neighborhoods, YMCA’s, Summer feeding programs, and places like that to show Christ’s love.  We get the privilege of loving these kids who don’t know what real love looks like, let alone have it shown to them.  The most painful part of this mission trip is leaving the weekly clubs each  Friday to go on to a new city the following week.  Leaving these children, who become your own, as they cry and beg you to stay, beg you to take them with you, and to not leave them.  They want to know if they’ll ever see you again and when you’re coming back.  So many of these children have had parents leave them and now we have to leave them too.  But, we leave them, knowing we have left them with the One that can show them real love;  the One who loves them unconditionally.  There are no words to describe what happens to your heart when a little girl in the ghetto asks to go home with you instead of back to her house, or when a little girl, demon possessed, receives Christ.  There are no words to thank God enough, or words to describe the relief, knowing there are a few more children Satan can’t have anymore. However, it absolutely breaks your heart beyond words to leave the kids who did not make a decision for Jesus, knowing that this week may be the only Jesus they ever get.  The only real love they ever see.  

We had around 75 - 80 in this YMCA bible club

     Yeah, it’s fun to go on mission trips and meet new people, but that’s not why we go.  We go because we’re commanded to go.  We’re commanded to love.  It wasn't a suggestion.  God didn't say “Go ye forth if you feel like it.” or “Go ye forth if you have time.” God said “Go”.  God said to love.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

(Mar 16:15)

“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

(1Jn 4:16-21)

 

Aubrey, age 6

The girl in this photo is named Aubrey.  She's six years old and God used her to really show me "faith like a child".  I was at a school one week doing a bible club for about 55 kids each day.  The last day of bible clubs for that week she raised her hand to talk to one of us during invitation.  I started talking her about sin and going over the wordless book.  I was telling her how we're all born in sin and how we have all sinned.  I asked her if she had sin in her heart and she told me no.  I went over what sin was again and asked her if God could lie, which she informed me that God only tells truths.  She told me what sin was and gave me an example.  I asked her if she had ever sinned before and she told me yes.  So, I asked "If God couldn't lie, that's means when Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned..." it means her too."  She said yes.  I then asked her if she died right then, where would she go?   I wasn't expecting what she was going to answer me.   She told me she didn't have sin in her heart because she had asked Jesus into her heart and He washed all the sin away.  I was kind of shocked, this girl was telling me she'd sinned, but didn't have sin in her heart anymore, and it was because she had already asked Jesus to wash away the sin and believed with all her heart that He did just that.  She told me she had asked Him that week.  I asked her if it was something we said during the bible club, and she told me that we said all we have to do is ask Jesus to wash away our sins and come into our heart.  She said she didn't ask her mom or talk to us, she just asked Jesus.  Child like faith.  That was such a huge blessing.  That one six year old girl who put her whole trust in Jesus Christ to save her.  When I was explaining the part of the wordless book, where Jesus raises from the dead, she stopped me and told me that her daddy did the same thing.  She told me that he died and he's alive again in heaven with Jesus.  I went over assurance of salvation and she just kept smiling. 

 This is why I go.  Because if just one more child accepts Christ, it's worth it all.   This is what I want to spend the rest of my life doing.  As long as God allows, I'll be serving Him somewhere.   

Counseling kids at a VBS we helped with...

Counseling...

Counseling..

This beautiful girl is Kyah.  She had major demon problems last year when we were
in Alabama with her, but she accepted Christ.  This year I got to see her again! 

This is Kyah's sister Janiah.  She also accepted Christ last year!

"Usie"

Teaching the Wordless Book...

9 teenage guys ages 13-17 at this bible club and all 9 received Christ!!

One of the best bible clubs ever!

This club I will never forget...

A.J., D., and I

They tried to teach me how to play basketball...

I was really bad at it...

They were really good at it...

Bible lesson...

Bible Lesson

Getting to pray with these girls was awesome!

Bible Club in a YMCA 

Bible club at a Boys and Girls Club

"Hershey", "Porkchop", and D.J.

All of these girls accepted Christ

I got to lead these girls to Christ

Missionary Story

My bible clubs kids at a trailer park in Missippissi

This is all for now. Be blessed.

~Beautifully.created~

The Little Missionary

     I just have to share something that happened today when running errands with my little brother, Adam.  This kid is amazing, and I say kid because he’s just 7 years old.  But, first I’m gonna give you some background on him. He accepted Christ May 11, 2013.  Shortly after, he made a “Share the Gospel Club” where he wanted to share the gospel with other kids and give out tracts.  He gets so excited about it, but he’s never given out tracts before.  He has such a sweet heart and is always very perceptive when people are hurting or need a hug.  I can see God working in this little boy.  Don’t ever let anyone say God can’t use you because you’re too young.

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12

     Today mom had me running errands in town, so Adam went along.  We headed to Walmart to pick up the items on the list and I handed Adam 5 tracts.  He’d been asking me to give him some, so I gave him some from my purse.  When we got there he said he just wanted to give them to kids, but it was morning and kids were in school.  Right after that, a lady and her daughter, which looked to be about Adam’s age, came in the store.  God opened the door.  Like I said, he had never given a tract out before, so he just held them and held them, looking pretty nervous.  He said he was scared, but I told him to ask God to give him courage and God would.  He stood there, closed his eyes and prayed.  I remind you again this little guy is 7.  I told him it’s easy after you give the first one.  He asked me if I was nervous when I gave out my first tract.   I don’t even remember when that was, but yes I was very nervous.

     After he prayed he was still scared, but he moved in the face of fear and gave out his first tract to a couple on the bread isle.  Adam was offering them a tract about salvation; he was offering them the Bread of Life on the bread isle.  He did it.  God moved a 7 year old to do His will.  There was no stopping him after that.  The wall of fear was no where to be seen, all that was left was a grin from ear to ear as he ran all over the store looking for people and giving them tracts.  He was rejected a couple of times, but it didn’t phase him in the least.  He kept moving. Walking to the truck after we were done in Walmart, he gave tracts to people we saw in the parking lot.  He even chased a guy back in the store to give him one.    I had about 30 salvation tracts in my purse and he kept coming back for more.  By the time we left town they were gone. He was running around the store beaming with the love of Christ and wanting to share it.  He was confessing before men that he was a child of God.

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 10:32-33

     He’s a 7 year old little missionary  following the command God gave when He said, “Go ye forth.”  Being a missionary doesn’t mean you have to go to a far away place, it’s sharing Christ with others.  That’s what this little missionary is doing.  “Such is the kingdom of heaven.”

“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 19:14

        "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"
        Romans 10:15



     I can’t think why God decided to bless this family with a surprise in 2006.  I look back to when I was just 11, we found out mom was having a boy and I cried.  I had prayed so hard for a girl, but when that little guy was born I fell in love.  I wouldn't trade him for all the girls in the world.  I love my little missionary.  He teaches me so much.  He is going without question, trusting without asking God why, and he’s showing me about child like faith.  I was reminded that no matter how small, weak, or scared you think you are God can and will use you.  Do I put this much  enthusiasm into sharing Christ?  Do I go without question, without asking God why?  Do I truly follow Christ?

Satan's Whispered Lies

     Sometime last year God started something in my heart.  A burden was growing in my heart for young girls.  He used several girls to really confirm what He had been trying to tell me.  I realize now He must have started this years ago when I was somewhere around 10 years old.  Our pastor, at the time, had a teenage daughter who gave me piano lessons every week.  But she didn't just give me piano lessons. She taught Wise Guys on Wednesdays.  I guess it was kind of like Awanas. But she invested so much in the lives of the kids in that little white church building.  She never failed to encourage us girls and she was always smiling.  She would have all of us little girls over for girls only Valentines parties.  I would sit and think, "I want to be just like her when I grow up". She had an amazing influence on my life.  I still remember my first piano lesson 11 years ago. I was so nervous, but she was so encouraging.  I wanted to be an impact on girls lives just like she was on mine.  But her dad resigned as our pastor so soon after we left that church. I lost sight of what she had  instilled in me.  I let Satan get a foot hold in my life and he was dragging me down faster and faster with every passing year.  Years later I would reclaim all of that, but that story is for a different blog.  Anyway, God put a burden for teenage girls on my heart by revealing the vast mission field within the girls of my own country at the beginning of last year.

     Satan is getting a foot hold in the hearts of girls across America.  He's using this world as his playground to spread his lies.  These girls are being lied to and not many people seem to be worried about it.  I keep finding teenagers who accepted Christ when they were a child, but it went no farther than that.  They aren't being taught how to be disciples of Christ.  They go into high school not knowing how to put on the armor of God and they fall victim to Satan's attacks.  If they've accepted Christ, Satan can't hurt them. But he'll do everything in his power to make them ineffective for Christ.  Anything he can do to stain, tear, and mangle their testimony for Christ, he will do.  He'll shoot every fiery dart in his quiver, aiming directly at their heart, and if they're not prepared, the arrows will stick and mar the heart the teens gave to Christ.

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." 
Matthew 7:13-15

     Over the Summer, while on a mission trip, Hannah and I were doing a 5-day Bible club at the Children's Home for Teens.  There was one girl who really made an impact on me that week. She was seventeen years old and five months pregnant.  My leader was giving the invitation and asked them to raise their hand if they wanted to know more about accepting Christ.  I had seen her listening to the invitation and something told me she was going to raise her hand.  I was praying she would.  Slowly, and somewhat hesitantly, she raised her hand along with another boy.  I led them through the plan of salvation again and the girl was crying as both of them accepted Christ into their hearts.  That' s when I found out she was pregnant.  She wanted to raise her baby right.  The boy immediately asked me to give him some verses on patience, so several of the young adults and I got a list of verses for him and brought it back to him the next day.  I couldn't believe the way God worked that week.  Five teenagers from that Children's home accepted Christ that week.  That was my favorite Bible club we did this Summer.  We were able to bring light into those kids'  dark world.  I cried leaving them that last day.  I still miss them.   While there, a 17 year old girl tried to convince me that I was focusing too much on God.  I was worshiping God, which was great she said, but I was focusing too much.  She told me that God wanted me to have fun, that He understands.  I tried to explain, to no avail though, that I was having fun and I was having the best Summer of my life.  Sadly, she didn't understand and had it so very wrong. But it's what she was learning.  That is the message that is being taught to my generation, "Just have fun". Satan is using everything he can to deceive us.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" 
1 Peter 5:8

    The book "As a Roaring Lion" by Paul Schwanke has a very good description of Satan. "Satan is our adversary, a word defined as an 'opponent in a lawsuit'. There has never been a money grabbing lawyer who could twist words and phrases like this pernicious pettifogger from perdition" 
Satan, like a lion, is making his way through the tall grass seeking those he can kill, cheat, deceive, and ruin.  There is nothing he loves more than deceiving the very ones Christ came to save.  He hates everything about God and tries to get even with God by hurting what He loves most.  He uses everything to spiritually disarm and wound us such as social media, music, and movies.  It brings God great sorrow to see one of His children fall, but He'll always be there with His arms wide open, waiting for His prodical son.

"Ye are of God, little children, an have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." 
1 John 4:4 

     Something that really disappoints me is seeing Christians post things on social media sites that are totally contrary to the Bible.  Just because someone else posted it doesn't make it true.  You can be helping or hindering the spiritual growth of others by what you post on a social media sites.  So, before you say something, post it, share it, tweet it, chirp it, or yell it, THINK first!  Know what you believe so you'll be able to discern whether or not something is appropriate.  This is very important to understand.  Think about what you're telling the world you believe. 

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 
2 Timothy 2:15

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" 
1 Peter 3:15

We need to know the difference between truth and Satan's whispered lies.  Someone posted a quote on a social media site recently that was very wrong.  It said, "My attitude towards you depends on how you treat me".  This is saying that Jesus was wrong when He said, "love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 22:39 ). We're supposed to love one another and treat one another as we would want to be treated, regardless of how they're treating us.

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" 
Matthew 5:44 

It's a whispered lie that speaks directly to the flesh.  This is what the world would teach us and satan is just hoping we believe it.  Lies, like this one, are everywhere.  Satan uses this world to tear down every Biblical value he can.  Ones that I see everywhere is "follow your heart", "trust your heart" or "listen to your heart". WRONG again!  This one deceives a lot of Christians, especially young girls.  The fact that our hearts are deceitfully wicked above all things isn't taught like it should be.

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." 
Proverbs 3:5-6

     Why on earth would we want to trust something we can't know and is desperately wicked?  We as Christians need to stand up for Christ.  We need to know what we believe.  We are called to be a light in the ever growing darkness and to plant seeds everywhere we go.  Especially as young adults, we should to be examples of the believers in everything we do.

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." 
1 Timothy 4:12

     When others see us, they should be seeing Jesus Christ in and through our lives, not only in what we say, but in our actions as well.  Unfortunately, the way we talk and act is how they judge our God. They judge God by our actions and words.

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." 
Matthew 5:14

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." 
Matthew 5:16

This is hard to do, especially when Satan never gets discouraged, tired, or gives up, as we often do.  Be aware of what's going on around you, and be ready with the armor of God.  This is Satan's world and it's full of evil that's laced with glitter and trimmed with excitement.  But, behind the lipstick and rouge, there's a deep dark evil pit trying to lure us in and devour us. This isn't just for those who don’t have Christ, like I said before.  If you have Christ, Satan will do everything in his power to tempt you and ruin your testimony.  He seeks to discourage us and steal our joy.  His goal is to make us ineffective for Christ's Kingdom.  Satan will do anything to distract you from God's will.  So, stand strong till the end, and keep running back to Jesus.

"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 
2 Timothy 4:5-8 

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~

~Philippians 1:6~

Fix Your Eyes

     Well, this  week has been exhausting to say the least.   My Dad started a new  work shift,  so he now has to be up at 5am every morning.  Since then,  we kids get up at 5:30am every morning.  It gives us time to say goodbye to Dad before he heads off to work, then we start our day.  Mom  asked me to create  a schedule for the week  and the first event I chose was Bible reading from 5:45am - 6:30am.  This week has been a hard  adjustment, since I have a hard time getting to sleep, but it’s amazing how much you can accomplish when you get up at 5:30 every day.  I love it, by the way.   So, on the plus side, seeing the sunrise every morning is worth rolling out of bed before the crack of dawn.

Anyway, God’s been teaching me a lesson throughout my walk with Him, and will probably continue till the day I die.  But, it seems  He’s been trying to teach it more so this week.  I’m learning to fix my eyes on Jesus, especially when I’m tired and don’t feel like reading my Bible in the morning.  It’s what I need to do!   When my flesh is screaming at me, “Just go back to bed!” for the first 30 minutes after I get up, Jesus is softly calling me to  His word.  He’s asking  me to walk a little closer with  Him today.   He’s saying, “Fix your eyes.”

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  (2)  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  (3)  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  (4)  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
Colossians 3:1-4


What is “losing a little sleep” compared to walking with the One who knit you together in your mother’s womb?  This world is full of evil of every kind and we can’t fight against it by ourselves.  We have to start every day with our eyes fixed on Jesus.  We have to stop making excuses such as, “I don’t have time to read my Bible,”  or “I’m too tired.”   I’ve made these same excuses,  I’m not going to lie,  but these excuses are a bunch of hot air.  Don’t have time to read our Bible?   Do we watch TV?   Do we read other books?   How about eating?   Are any of these more important than reading  God’s  word?

“For it pleased the Father that in Him should  all fullness dwell;”
Colossians 1:19

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and     increasing in the knowledge of God;”
Colossians 1:10

How are we supposed to “increase in the knowledge of God” if we’re not in His word?   Each of us should be a vessel, empty of ourselves and ready to be filled with Him;  dying to self  daily and giving up all youthful lusts.

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart form iniquity.”
2 Timothy 2:19

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 
2 Timothy 2:21-22

Let’s start our day off with fixing our eyes on Jesus in His word.   Don’t start backsliding and getting away from God.  For me, it’s missing a day of reading my Bible, and the next thing I know I’ve missed another and another.  It messes up my daily  walk when my eyes aren’t  fixed on Christ.   My preacher always says, “The best cure for backsliding is a good dose of  repentance.”  Are  we daily  in God’s  word,  reading and praying?  We can usually tell if we’re getting away from God, because the Holy Spirit will start convicting our  hearts.  When that happens, there’s no peace within.  Peace is restored after repentance, and that starts with prayer.

Recently, I was having a couple of doubts about prayer and the way God answers our prayers.  I was wondering if our prayers actually made a difference.  I mean, I believed they did, and I could think of times in my life where God answered my prayers in a really big way.  Also, there are many instances in the Bible where people prayed and it changed things.  But, I was asking myself  “Does it really do anything when I pray for someone’s salvation or a church member who’s sick?   What about a friend who knows Christ, but has chosen the wrong path?”  It may have been Satan trying to put doubts in my mind.  I was feeling like I needed some reassurance from God.  So, I started  praying.   Go figure,  right?  God answered.

  “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.  (14)  Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  (15)  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  (16)  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  (17)  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.  (18)  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.  (19)  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;  (20)  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
James 5:13-20

     **Elias, in verse 17, is very similar to my last name Eliason.   Pretty cool.  Random fact for the day.


It was like God was saying, “Here you go.”  Right there  He tells us, if any among us are afflicted, pray.  Afflicted means  to distress with continued suffering.  Those who are suffering around you, whether by persecution, finances, marriage, etc.,  pray.  “Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”   Effectual has an interesting meaning which is, “Possessing or exercising adequate power to produce a designed effect; completely efficient.”  Prayer  works; it accomplishes a lot.  I still stand in awe over the fact that God does hear our prayers and cares enough to answer them.  He’s calling us to be prayer  warriors.   Verse 17-20 talks about a man named  Elias, who was “a man subject to like passions as we are.”  He was tempted to sin like us, and made of flesh just like you and me.  But, he was also a man of prayer.   He prayed earnestly about the rain and God answered his prayer.   Our prayers availeth much, so as we go throughout our day, let’s remember to keep our eyes fixed and prayers fervent.   God is teaching me to keep my priorities in the right order.   Are your priorities in the right order?  Who comes first in your life,  God or self?

  “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.  (21)  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  (22)  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.  (23)  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:”
Philippians 1:20-23

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~
~Philippians 1:6~

What's Your Reflection

How much time do you spend in front of a mirror?  How many times a day do you do a “mirror check“?  As a young lady, I know, for me at least, it’s a lot, although maybe not as much as other girls, but more than enough.  The amount of time in front of a mirror isn’t exactly what I’m focusing on; it’s more the time spent trying to improve our outer beauty, apposed to time given improving our spiritual beauty.  God’s not looking for hair that is straighter, curlier, most hair sprayed, or most glamorous.  He’s looking for a humble heart, and a beauty that only comes from knowing Him. There’s a beauty in holiness.

“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the

beauty of holiness.”  

          Psalms 29:2  

“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 

1 Samuel 16:7  

If God doesn’t look at the outward appearance, why on Earth do we focus on looking the very best?  We spend so much time in front of a mirror, making sure our make up is done just right or making sure our hair is gelled and spiked just enough.  I’m including myself in this.  I’m not saying it’s wrong to look nice, I’m not saying that at all.  What we need to focus on isn’t the outward beauty this world strives for, but the spiritual beauty that is on the inside.  Spiritual beauty is gauged by the Word of God. The Bible is our spiritual mirror.  So, what mirror are you using more??  Or, an even better question would be, what is it reflecting?  When we read God’s Word,  what is God trying to tell us?  Read verses in Matthew about being the salt and the light, then ask  yourselves, “Are we being that light for Christ that can’t be hid?”

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” 

Matthew 5:13-14  

What about chapter 6 of Matthew, where do we put our hearts?

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  

Matthew 6:19-21  

We can’t forget about a very convicting verse in Mark either.  It makes us ask, “Do we really love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength?”  Do we really?

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”  

Mark 12:30  

Can we really love Him with every inch of our being? Can we love Him like He loves us? The answer is no.  We’re not perfect.  But, He does want our all, though we may be small and have little to give.   He wants us to give our all, no matter how small, everything we have and holding nothing back. One of my favorite examples of only having little to give, but giving it all, is when Jesus fed the multitude. There are 4 accounts of this event, but the one that God used to impact me was the account that mentions the boy.

“After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 

And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 

And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 

Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.” 

John 6:1-11  

He was just a boy, but he gave all he had to Jesus.  It‘s a lot more than we can say we‘ve done sometimes.  Just like the boy, I don’t have much to offer Jesus, but He doesn’t need much.  He took the five loaves and two fish and used the boys small offering to do amazing things.  You may be saying something like Simon Peter said.  What is one Christian against this world? It’s just a drop in the ocean, right?  Well, look what God did with one boy giving his all.  Have you given your all?  What does your reflection look like?

~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~

~Proverbs 4:23~