Brokenness by James MacDonald

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise (Psalm 51:17, ESV).

Before a horse can be useful to its owner, it has to be broken. An unbroken stallion is proud and strong. It will paw and snort and let no one ride it. But then a bit goes in its mouth, a saddle goes on its back, and someone climbs up and hangs on. The stallion immediately starts to buck, because it doesn’t want to be broken—but eventually it stops fighting and surrenders to the will of its master.

Sometimes we have that same stubborn, rebellious, self-sufficient spirit within us, and God often breaks those attitudes because they keep us from experiencing true intimacy with Him. 

Have you ever been broken? Brokenness is empty-handedness before God. It makes no demands. It is falling into the embrace of your loving Father and finding Him to be enough. It says not only “God, I need You,” but “God, You are all I need.”

What are some of the things God breaks? Here are some of the big ones:

Stubbornness. “I am going to do this my way.” If you are one of God’s children, that attitude is on its way out. You can fight with Him for a long time if you want, but your stubbornness will eventually be broken.

Pride. “I know better; I am better.” God hates pride in the hearts of His children. He hates it in my heart; He hates it in yours. People who have been greatly used by God have come to grips with the need to dispense with all pride and to humble themselves.

Willfulness. “You can’t make me! You can’t tell me! I’ll do what I want, when I want.” That’s willfulness, and it is also on its way out. God will use whatever He has to use to remove it from your heart and life.

Independence. “I can make it without You.” Nothing will inhibit your intimacy with the Father like an attitude of self-sufficiency. Recognize your weakness and rely on His strength.

God will use broken health, careers, dreams, relationships, promises, and hearts to rid our lives of the things that hinder intimacy with Him. Some say a loving God wouldn’t allow pain, but God’s love is not a pampering love; it’s a perfecting love. God is producing something in us—the likeness of His Son—and He is going to do whatever it takes to make that happen. You might want to get off the program, but any other path will lead you to a place you don’t want to be. 

You will never experience true intimacy with God until you are able to come before Him in genuine humility, utterly desperate for Him. You need to be broken. 

JOURNAL

• Describe a time in your life when you’ve experienced true brokenness before the Lord. What brought it about, and what resulted from it?
• What are some areas of your life you need to loosen your grip on and surrender to God now?

PRAY

Lord, I confess that I am naturally proud, stubborn, willful, and prone to believe I’m self-sufficient. I confess that I resist the thought of being broken, but I believe that, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Please help me to let go and allow You to have Your way in my life. Thank You that the more I surrender to You, the more intimacy I can have with You. God, you are all I need. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Jeanine Marie

Meet Jeanine Marie...we have been serving her in Love through Christ since June of 2010. Jeanine is currently an inmate at Homestead Correctional. On August 13, 2015 she will be released after serving almost 12 years. We would like everyone to pray for her as she transitions into the free world. I personally reached out to Jeanine back in June of 2010 through a random devotional that I sent. I was led by God to send devotionals to random girls to uplift and encourage them and Jeanine was on that list. Shortly after receiving our devotional Jeanine reached out. Since then it has been a beautiful and Godly journey serving her. I personally have grown to have a deep love for her. During this time her relationship with Jesus has grown and matured over the years. She started attending the Church services held by Church by the Glades in Coral Springs and her Love for God developed even more. 

Jeanine is beyond beautiful. She is honest and has lots of deep thoughts.  For almost the past 12 years she has kept up with her profession in there as a hair stylish. She loves all animals including all sorts of bugs...LOL. Her favorite is monkeys. She cares deeply. Jeanine means very much to my heart and it would mean so much if you can lift her up in prayer each day in the month of August.

 We believe in her and we know God has beautiful plans for her life. 

We speak this scripture over your life Jeanine...

We love you beautiful!! 

Proverbs 3:5-6

I am not ashamed of the Gospel

Written by:

Mandy Carey-Founder 

Father of the Bride Ministries

Cape Coral, Florida

I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL, BECAUSE IT IS THE POWER OF GOD THAT BRINGS SALVATION TO EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES, FIRST TO THE JEW, THEN TO THE GENTILE. ROMANS 1:16

WEBSTER’S DICTIONARY DEFINES “ASHAMED” as, “feeling shame or guilt: not wanting to do something because of shame or embarrassment, a feeling of inferiority or unworthiness.

Romans 1:16 makes such a BIG statement. The Apostle Paul is all about LIVING, BREATHING, EATING, SLEEPING, PREACHING, and TEACHING the Gospel of Salvation. 

The Apostle is declaring to the entire world that he is ALL ABOUT JESUS! He makes it very clear.

In this one little verse, He is telling the WORLD, “I’m not who I used to be”. He is BOLDLY proclaiming to all who see him, all who hear him, all who know him, “it does not matter what you used to be! What matters is that you believe in Jesus and what He has done for you!

Paul’s life is a very real example of the grace of God coming to meet us right where we’re at in life. No matter who you are and what you’ve done, JESUS IS NOT ASHAMED OF YOU! NEITHER IS HE OR WILL HE BE ASHAMED TO USE YOU FOR HIS KINGDOM. HE WANTS YOU TO BE BOLD IN PROCLAIMING YOUR FAITH. HE WANTS PEOPLE TO KNOW YOUR PAST. HE WANTS TO MAKE THAT PART OF YOUR TESTIMONY. 

Remember, it’s not about who you were, but rather who HE, (Jesus) is in you! Don’t live your life Ashamed, but UNASHAMED!

Seeking His Kingdom

Matthew 6:33 (AMP)

But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

Happy and Blessed New Year...wow its 2015!! 

May this year be filled with all good things upon you and your families 

as you seek to know and love Him with all your heart.

As we walk into a New Year with new goals, resolutions, desires lets all take an inventory if we are truly seeking His Kingdom. I purposely used the Amplified version of this scripture to break it down deeper for you. First let me say, that I believe that this scripture is one of the anchors that keep our lives in His will. It's like when things are way off in our lives we can always come back to this scripture and do some soul searching with God. 

Take today to examine your life and heart. 

Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is your heart will be there also. 

Ask yourself....

Am I seeking FIRST in my life His Kingdom..by putting Him First in all things?

Do I give Him my first time in the morning or am I too tired or too busy?

Does my life show by actions and truth His way of doing things?

When I hear His word am I quick to obey?

Do I honor Him with my tithes (a tenth of all increase I received)?

Do I Love my neighbor as myself?

Am I in Love with Him?

Sometimes its just a matter of getting back to basics with seeking Him first. If your missing out on all the things that God wants to bestow upon your life, make it a point this year to start seeking Him first in all things. Lets be about the Father's business this New Year and watch His blessings overtake your life instead of you trying to get blessings they will just follow you. Our identity is found in Him alone, not anything else. Set your minds and hearts upon Him and you will experience the fullness of His Love, Peace and Joy.  

Declare This:

In 2015 I am making a bold statement for God..

I'm not going to let up, give up, back up or shut up..

I will declare by my life that He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords..

I will not be passive anymore,,

I will seek Him first in all things..

I will not allow my emotions or feelings to rule my life..

I will be obedient to His word..

I will love Him and others in actions and in truth..

And..

I put the devil on notice you have no place in my life anymore..

I am a daughter/son of the MOST High..

I will not be defeated by you anymore..

I rebuke you in Jesus Name that anything you try to use in my life that is counterfeit will fall..

I take a BOLD stand...

YOU WILL NOT..

STEAL

KILL or

DESTROY 

from my life anymore..

I claim this for my life in 2015 in Jesus Name..

I am highly favored..

I am who God says I am..

I love you Lord Jesus..

Thank you for giving me another New Year..

2015 is my year..

I'm coming after it with you.. 

I shall not fear you are with me..

I will take boldly all the promises of God this year..

My love ones I claim will be saved this year..

Prodigals come home NOW in JESUS NAME..

Abundance is mine this year..

I will no longer survive but thrive.. 

I will GIVE more..

and 

I will seek your way of doing things this year and all these things will be added unto me...

in Jesus NAME..

THANK YOU GOD

I LOVE YOU LORD GOD

and 

I will make you proud of me Father for it is you that I live for.

Thankfulness

“WE thank you Lord for all your blessings upon me and my family.”

As I prayed and asked God what He wanted me to write for the November Issue of Pink Love Ministries, I heard the word “Thankfulness”.  Last October, my husband went to prison.  In December of 2013, my daughter went to prison.  My health started failing and my mind was tormented day in and day out missing 2 key pieces of my family puzzle heart.  I wondered how I was going to do this on my own and who was going to help me now.  I felt abandoned, hurt, angry, and so many more emotions and feelings.  For a long while, I thought why we have to go through this all the time.

Why can’t life just be ok and we have little problems and they are solved easy.  But it’s in the pain, the trials, the tribulations, the anger, the grief, and the heartache that we learn to be THANKFUL and to stand on our FAITH.  It is through all this that we learn valuable lessons and wisdom so that the next time we have to go through something we can take what we have learned and apply it to our life situations.  It is these lessons that show us who God is and how to be “STILL AND LISTEN” for guidance and instructions to live our lives right.

Will we fail?  Probably…Sorry but truth is truth and we are still human.    The difference is if we have Jesus in our hearts and He is the author of our life story, then we have a way maker, a healer, a doctor, a lawyer, and any other help we might need along the way.  He is there to take us by the hand to make the first steps so he can walk with us the whole way moving obstacles that need to be moved and leaving ones  that we need to  walk over ourselves.  We have to face obstacles, but with Jesus there is no impossible.  The word is not even in His vocabulary.

Isn’t it wonderful that we have a SAVIOR who loves us unconditionally, guides our path, and gives us wisdom.  Sometimes in life we complain about paying bills and giving up our money to make sure we have electric, gas, water, etc.  But we shouldn’t complain because there are people out there who can’t turn on a light switch, make a bed, take a hot shower, or even cook for themselves.  They depend on others to do it for them.  There are people who cook and serve the homeless, they bring out blankets and sleeping bags, they bring sandwiches, socks and toiletry bags to those who otherwise would not have these things.  The homeless people are so thankful for what they get and they show it with smiles and big thank you and sometimes a hug and hand shake.  I know this because I have been on both sides of this fence.  I was homeless and then God delivered me from crack cocaine 

and homelessness on March 14^th, 2007.  I was so thankful that everything I did from turning on a light switch to taking a hot shower every night, that I would thank God for each and every thing He blessed me with.  People probably thought I was crazy when I would holler “Thank You Jesus” but I did not care because I was ecstatic over my Abba Daddy and how much He loves me and takes care of me.  He blesses us every day that we wake up and breathe our first breath.  We should be thankful EVERYDAY NOT JUST THANKSGIVING DAY!  Thankfulness is a feeling, emotion, and action all wrapped in one 12 letter word:

THANKFULNESS

One thing I  am thankful for today is Steve and Trachena Muchnick, Surrender40, Pink Love, and Spinky Pets for the love, care, hononesty, truth, help, arms to hug, and lips to speak the Word of God into my family and I’s lives every day. They are an awesome couple who show their big God hearts to everyone.  There is no difference with them.  They love each and every person they encounter with total love and non sugar coated truth from the Word of God.  My family loves these two so much and we are so appreciative of them being a blessing to us from God.  We love you Both!!

So as of this day, please make sure to thank the ONE who gives you LIFE over and over every day.

Sincerely Yours

Jesus loves you and so do I.

Cheri Carlisle Bradford.