Our Own Worst Critic

I often wonder when my life here is over, and I stand before God, what He will show me. I think He might show me the "could have been's" if I merely followed a different set of steps in my future. Far too often, I believe we pray for His direction in our day, but then we are the ones who get in our own way of possible success. Perhaps it is that we lack the confidence and faith to believe in the possibilities laid before us. I firmly believe that with my whole heart. Even if we have 100 people tell us that we need to go in the direction we believe God is leading us to, we second guess, judge ourselves and listen to the lies of the enemy that say, "You're not as good as you think you are."

We kill ourselves before we even get going. Even though there is gas in our tanks, we don't even want to grab the keys and jump in the car. But the honest point is that we don't know how close we might be to reaching the other side of the shore, if we simply give up. What is it is one more project to complete, that will start your business in a successful path? What if it is showing up one more day, prepared to tackle whatever lies in front of you, and then the path will open wide up? What if we are merely steps away from reaching that point, God has called us to, but we throw in the towel saying, "I'm done. I can't do this any more. I'm out."

What if it was merely changing how we view our attitude that day? There are so many what ifs, and it makes me curious, why do we tend to listen to the negative what ifs in our head, instead of what could be positive what ifs instead? I wonder if it is just a woman thing more often than it is with a man, because everything that we do and say, is all connected in a way. Everything touches something else in our life. I believe we are our own worst critic and while we pray for God to work in our situation, we are blocking the way. It's time to stop saying it's too late to begin again. To say you're too old to do something. It's time to stop accepting the lies of the enemy and start listening to that still small voice that cheers us on, and encourages us to keep moving forward. Stop quitting and start working harder to find out what God's will is for your life.

If you're unsure, pray for clarity. If you don't have the strength to go on, lean on God. If you will listen to the lies of the enemy, start listening to the whispers of the Spirit. In other words, girl, get out there and be all God has created you to be. Stop standing in the way, get out of the way and watch God work.

Today, I received another email from a big name Christian book publisher that they are closing their review program to everything but eBooks. While I can see their point in keeping costs low, there are so many that can't or don't have access to eBooks. I see this as another confirmation that I am meant to move forward in my path as a small business owner and slowly transition from a book reviewer to the new chapter God is laying before me. Whether I will continue to make wreaths and home decor for the next year or whether God is calling me to teach and encourage others, I will pray for wisdom to know the difference between what God's will is for me in my life, and what I want instead. I need to give it all up to God and walk in the path He has laid before me today.

How can I encourage or pray for you today?

God's Blessings!

Sometimes living in your start up small business can feel overwhelming at times. Especially when you go almost an entire week with absolutely NO sales. You begin to question everything. Why are people visiting my store front but no one is buying anything. It's like having people visit your store, just to look around and leave. So you begin to ask yourself, what prompted their initial interest in looking at my store anyway. Was it one particular product or just passing by looking at similar things that came up when searching.

So you second guess maybe your prices are too high and should you run a sale or offer a discount? But then you also trust yourself that you are not trying to price gouge customers either, but you still have to at least get paid for your time right? I mean it is hard not to get discouraged when some people are staying so busy, and you're sitting there listening to crickets. But then I think back on all the great business advice I've gotten that poses the questions, who are you selling to? What kinds of customers do you want? Are you merely trading product for product while making no profit? Does God even want me doing this with my time?

So like I told you before, I go to prayer. Although not as immediately as I should, but I do get there. Its hard when you begin to feel pressured as well, when your husband who supports the idea and the initial financial backing, but sees inventory piling up and nothing going out and you still say you need more things. What is a small business woman entrepreneur to do?

I guess the hard questions I have posed need to be answered. There are always those customers who will want something for free or at least as cheap as they can get it, and don't care if you make a dime or not. The ones that LOVE your quality but don't want to pay to get that quality in their products they buy. So I've started to rethink some of my items so I have both for those types of customers. Those customers who say, make me a wreath and money is no object, those who remain your loyal customers who despite maybe saying a few bucks will stay with you because they like you are and what you sell and your own shop integrity as well. There will still be those who will never be happy and I guess those are the customers I don't want.

I want the customers who understand a quality product doesn't come cheap and also understand I do have to make money otherwise why be in business. So for now, I am remembering all my life experiences that remind me to stand behind my business principles, give the very best customer service I know how and leave the rest to God. If He wants my business to succeed or fail, it is out of my hands either way. So for now I am trusting in Him, and if my inventory is getting a little full, I'll simply pray that he will lead just the right customer to me and let everything else fall into place. When I get out of my own way and let God do His thing, it is a true blessing to behold. And yes, my dry spell did end with selling 5 wreaths in just a couple of days. But more than that, it is a reminder that if I do things God's way and not Kat's, it will always work out in my best interests.

These are just a few of my latest creations to share with you and just to let you know, custom orders aren't any more expensive than others unless you really want the time and effort to create something amazing. If you would like to visit my Etsy store to see my creations, please click on Kat's Creations or you can comment below or email me at Katscreations777@gmail.com

Prayer Does Change Things

Every morning I wake up and immediately look at my social media feeds. From notifications on different sites to instant messages it seems the need for prayer is greater than ever and it breaks my heart. So many are asking for the immediate power most of us as Christians have access to and that is God's throne room with a simple prayer request.

I will admit it can be overwhelming at times because it seems as you run through your feeds, that is all it seems to be...someone dying of cancer, someone lost their job, someone just lost their home in a fire, divorce issues, relationship issues, job changes, and even healing for whatever is ailing someone.

So if it is so simple, why do we feel overwhelmed? Why do we read their post and agree silently that we will pray for them and move on to the next feed. If you're like me, you almost regret opening it to begin with because it can be so overwhelming. However what I don't believe we see when prayer is being requested is the response or the answer to that prayer. Those don't get posted as often as we would like, and perhaps if we did more of those as well, it might encourage more prayer because we can get validation in a way that it does change things at least on a visible level.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not questioning God's answers to our many requests, but I do know it can seem overwhelming when that is all you see in your news feeds through social media. But the one thing I can tell you is that prayer does change things. It begins a process that God is already aware of and it begins to make a difference in the spiritual realm, the one we can not see. One day we might have access to see what happens when someone stops what they are doing and prays for another, but for those of us that know God, it works. We just might not get the answer we want.

We might pray for someone to be healed of cancer, and it might be an every day prayer for months and then they get worse and die. Did God not get that one? Of course He did. He might have extended that persons' earthly time to give them a change to get in their final goodbyes and get their affairs in order, maybe to share their faith with others during the worst time in their life, but realize one thing...cancer didn't win. If they're a believer in Christ, they have been 100% fully restored, healed and are waiting for us in heaven. They just got their healing on the other side of this earthly life.

It's all about perspective and I don't mean ours, although... it wouldn't hurt sometimes to shift our own, but it is about God's perspective. What we don't see playing out before our own eyes but it is accomplishing all He has set out to accomplish by allowing these things to run their course. For some living their final day on earth...they might pray for one more day. One more day to tell those they love just how much they are loved, and how much of an impact they have had in our lives. One more day to spend enjoying all those little moments we take for granted trying to cross things of our perpetual to do list and miss out. One more day to enjoy the rain falling and listening and using all five sense to engage in this day.

Most of all, I hope that you take the time to pray for someone when they ask. Let them know that you are praying for them, not simply click a "Like" or a "Heart" on their social media page. Write a prayer if you have time so others can join in and affirm those thoughts. Most of all, keep encouraging them. We need a lot more cheerleaders in this world and prayer does change things. Keep on praying!

Does Your Prayer Look Like A Grocery List?

Most of us have no problem praying when there is a crisis in our lives or when all of our own results don't provide any relief for what we need, as a last resort. Makes you wonder what our faith looks like to an outsider who doesn't know God and is looking to us for what we do as Christians when it comes to prayer or living our lives for Jesus.

Kinda scary when you think, that how you live your life publicly can impact the salvation of another person.I mean think about it. When your in church there may be a non believer who decides that they want to come to church to find out what Jesus is all about and they sit down next to you. What you do in those moments can adversely affect how someone might view life as a Christian. Do you grumble about the really bad day your having? Does your attitude reflect lemons? I mean think about it. So many of us can change how we look to the world in an instant the minute someone of importance walks up or say even a pastor. Like lightning fast.

It's not even in church that our actions and words can impact non believers around us. We, as Christians, know that there will be tribulations in our lives but do we complain about it to anyone who would listen? Are our lives completely different now that Jesus is in our lives? Do our prayers sound more like grocery lists of all the stuff we want God to bless in our lives right now or do we take the time to humbly stand in the grace and mercy of the Lord God, Creator of all?

Now I'm not saying we can't come before God with our petitions but for some, they see God as more of a Genie than anything. Much of our prayer has no power in it, because there is no heart in it. Sometimes we pray for something one time and because nothing happens, we give up. "Well that most not be God's will for me," and we give up. Or we pray for something to happen like the salvation of a non believer or the return of a prodigal believer and because we've prayed for awhile and nothing happens, we give up.

If what we believe we are asking for is the will of God, especially for non believers or prodigals, we need to keep on lifting them up in prayer until they die. Sometimes we are not sure we should be doing something or going somewhere and we don't know if it is something God would want for us, and what we need to do at the moment is pray about it. Think about it, if you're thinking about going out to a party or a bar, how would that sound to pray to God about it? We can also think about how it would look if we saw other Christians doing it, and then apply that to us. If we would look at someone else and think, man that isn't exactly living as a witness to God, then we ourselves, shouldn't be doing it either.

If you can take your request and add "Hallowed be Thy Name" to the end of it, how does that sound? If not, perhaps it's not something we should be doing regardless of our how brains try to rationalize it. Stay away from temptations. Remember they come in subtly and often times with valid reasons why. "Oh I should go to that party where I know people will be getting drunk and doing drugs, so I can be a good witness and maybe save someone!" Not going to fly!

Yet how easy is it to find the sin in other people's lives instead of taking a hard look at our own lives. We justify our sins, instead of looking at how we can improve our own spiritual lives. Our primary goal in our prayers is first of all, give some consideration that you are stepping into the throne room of God with your prayer request. The Creator of Everything in the World including YOU! We should have a sense for how awesome and incredible it is to be able to do that now thanks to the sacrifices of Jesus. Before that time only the Levites could offer up prayer to God. Now we can thanks to Jesus.

If you want to look at some great prayers, we should model ours after Jesus'. He gave us the perfect recipe for prayer in Matthew 6: 5-13 "And when your pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. This, then, is how you should pray: 

"Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed by your name. your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread. Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." 

Lets look at how he prayed to His Father. He always gave thanks from feeding the 5000, to the healing of Lazarus, to the heart wrenching prayers of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane to the prayers on the Cross. It was always making sure that His plans were lining up with God's will. So shall the same be said for us. To be a growing Christian, it needs to be evident in our prayer life. Our primary goal in prayer is to align our wills with God's. Not the other way around.

Today is an important day for prayer, tomorrow the first key vote in the Senate for the Obama-Iran deal takes place and we need to be praying that God will intervene. We need to contact our local Senators today to ensure they understand that we do not support this deal even though our current president is seeking to do it without the approval of Congress. Please take the time to pray that God will move in the heart of our leaders to do a supernatural moving of the Spirit and cause their hearts to moved in such a way that this does not pass. Remember it is our privilege to be able to pray as believers because of the spiritual power that is unleashed when we pray. Don't get too busy, in fact, if you're reading this, stop and do it right now.

Lord Jesus, 

We humbly stand in your glorious presence to thank You for being so righteous and just in everything that matters. You alone are worthy to make a difference in the lives of the leaders of our country who sit in positions of authority. Lord, we ask for a spiritual movement in the hearts of those that would agree to this deal between Iran and America and ask that you shake these men and women up. Appear to them in visions and dreams, showing them what could happen if they make this decision. Remove the scales from our own president's eyes and break his heart Lord for this great nation. Help him to see that this is a tragic mistake. Lord, we seek Your will in these matters and know that ultimately what happens does not go by unmissed by You. You are still in power and still on the throne. Help us to remember we are accountable for what we chose to do or not do in this matter. We seek Your guidance and we'll give You the thanks for it, for we ask this in Jesus mighty name. ~ AMEN!!!

I pray for those reading this that your prayer life changes in remarkable, unmistakeable ways and you begin to experience just how powerful prayer can be when it is unleashed by the believer of Jesus Christ.

Remember if you're knees are shaking, kneel on them.

What's the Point Anyway?

"What's the point?"

"Do anyone really notice?"

"What would happen if I never existed?"

If you're honest with yourself at some point in your life, you've probably said those things outloud or to yourself. I know I have, all of them actually.

I used to define myself by what I did.

What kind of job I held, the elusive job title, sometimes how much I made and how that impacted my ability to financially help support my family, even where I lived, dressed or what car I drove.

Silly now that I look back on all of that in my whopping 49 years of life here on this earth. God had such a bigger way for me to view things. All that matters to God is my life.

Me. 

Just the way I am right now, flaws and imperfections.

I will never be perfect this side of heaven but I am perfect for God today, just the way I am right now.

When I look back at my life, I can see God's hand in so many areas. All of them if I look long and hard enough. Through the trials I thought would consume and drown me, He was there all the way.

Sometimes it was me, trying to work through life my own way, but God never left my side. Often times the only one who left was me.

I try and take time each morning and remember to invite God into my day. Apart from Him, I can honestly do nothing. And at this stage in my life, I don't want to go it alone without Him.

I also spend time reflecting before beginning my day at one of those times in my life when I doubted I would get through something and see how God enabled me to get through it. Sometimes it was days to weather through that storm, other times years and even decades. Some I am still weathering through.

It's important not to forget God during those times. Those are our faith builders. They are what fuels our spiritual life to keep on enduring. To keep pushing forward when the enemy simply wants us to call it quits. Give in. Succumb to his will instead of God's.

I share this with you today because too many people are wondering about their place in life right now. Out of work. Loss of a loved one. Financial crisis that seeks to overthrow everything we've worked so hard for. Perhaps wondering if your life is worth anything. Perhaps your even questioning God to give you a sign.

Stop and realize that right where you are at this moment, is no accident.

God is caught off guard while He was busy handling someone elses crisis and failed to notice yours.

Sometimes all those prayers seem to go unanswered but are they really? Are you seeking your own answer to them instead of Gods? Perhaps that answer isn't the one you wanted. Perhaps the answer is No or simply the worst one we hate, wait.

What wait means is just that. Wait.

Not grow impatient because we think God isn't working on our situation. It may take 20 years to reach that break through moment, but it will come. If we don't step in and handle it ourselves.

If we ask God to handle it, keep on pressing forward doing God's will in your life. Not sure what that is, pray about that instead of your impatience waiting on God's answer. I remember a quote once that God's working on things when He appears to be the most quiet in your life.

Don't worry, be happy.

There's a whole lot of truth to that statement. If we remain negative, complaining all the time, who wants to be around us? We'll breed that negativity into someone else life. Refuse to be that way. It's the one thing we can change is our attitude. Go do something for someone else instead of complaining what isn't working in your own life. See how that will change your perspective!

This all brings me to my own blogging and sharing pieces of my life with others. Often times after looking back at going on almost 4 years you wonder if it's worth it. Does anyone even care you're doing this anymore? Does anyone even read what I wrote?

The answer is yes! Yes! YES! It matters to God.

I may not see the results of my efforts until years later, but often times God sends me an encouraging message. One that tells me to keep on, keeping on. Like the one I got in an email today. Only know besides encouraging me, it has rekindled that fire of the Holy Spirit.

I started my blog to encourage not only believers but mostly unbelievers in their day to day life. I lost sight of that along the way when life got a bit busy. Thanks to you my wonderful friend for giving this parched soul a big old drink today! You will never know how much your email meant to me this morning and thank you God for sending it to me when I needed it the most. You are always doing things like that and I thank you, Lord.

Thank you for the gift of being able to share what you bring to my heart each day. May everything I write and share bring glory to YOUR name and spread the message of Hope to a dark world in need of light.

Yard Sale or Garage Sale Items?

It's early in the morning. The sun is on the move to rise above the eastern sky and head west and the breeze is still cool. One of my favorite times of the day when things are still quiet. Peace still exists.

Then you begin your quest. You make sure you have an adequate amount of small bills and head out, looking for the signs you are bound to find on street corners, whether taped to poles or propped up in cardboard boxes, but they all point to one thing. Yard Sales or Garage Sales.

Whether you have one of your own for the purpose of clearing out space in your home, garage or yard or simply on the hunt for something you need, a bargain awaits. It seems like lately however, yard sales or garage sales are everywhere. Before you use to find them only on Saturday or Sunday mornings, but now they begin as early as Thursdays now. In some cases they run the entire week.

With the latest additions of reality shows like the Antique Road Show and now Pawn Stars, American Pickers, and Auction Kings, everyone is looking for a deal. Lately your junk is someone's else's treasure. Whether it's in search of some long lost childhood memory or fulfilling a need you have, these sales are now going full force.

I've even had the pleasure to share with some bloggers who have captured their latest finds and have come across some amazing bargains. Even if you can't wait for a sale, you can always find something you're looking for on Craig's list or now even Freecycle. We just found a video game system we had growing up, and got quite the deal. Sorry Steven and Caitlyn! We'll keep checking for you!

So it begs to ask the question, where did this all start? When did buying someone's junk become the latest fad? It certainly isn't because you feel that you will snatch up some priceless treasure someone didn't realize that they had. I think it's because deep down inside we're all still searching for something. Something that may fulfill a need, a want, a desire, or a hope for happiness. Yet in this search for a treasure among someone' junk, we find what we are looking for, the price is perfect or often times it can be negotiated to what we would love, a smile appears on our face when the deal is secured and off we go back to our car. It's truly a win/win for both buyer and seller.

Sometimes, we are searching for treasures that most don't see. It may be a cobalt blue glass vase that speaks to our heart because our grandparents may have had one and we are searching to find a way to reconnect to that memory or perhaps decorate a room with unique knick-knacks that tell a story. But someone along that way, genius was discovered. Someone who would turn useless stuff into a great treasure.

Much like what God does with us. He takes us at often times at our complete worse and smiles once He sees us sitting like junk on a shelf. He sees the value behind our facade, deep into our hearts. There is no price too great for Him to pay to purchase us. We are worth every single penny. No matter what condition God finds you in, He is satisfied with you just the way you are right this minute. No need to rush off to be refurbished or restored before He'll pick you up! Nope, He wants you just the way you are. God knew all along right where you'd be, He's never going to give up searching for you.

You are priceless in His eyes, always will be, no matter your condition. So stop worrying about being perfect. Be willing to turn yourself over to God right where you are at now. You will make His day and all of Heaven will stop and celebrate over your decision. The best part, is that you will never find yourself unworthy in His eyes ever again. We place the value on ourselves, but to God, you are the best thing He's ever discovered and created. We only have to believe it.

The best part is that it will completely change your life forever. If your willing, of course?

What do you have to lose?

If your tired of feeling less than perfect, looking for acceptance and unconditional love and want more out of your life than what you've been getting lately, invite Him into your heart. He stands at the door, are you willing to let Him in? What can it hurt?

Believe me, it will completely change your life for the better! Here's all you need to do:

1. Talk to God. You don't need anyone's help. Just stop where you are right now and ask God to change you. Tell Him how difficult your life has been up this point. Ask Him into your life.

2. Ask God to forgive you for failing to meet up to His expectations for your life. Believe He will change you and love you unconditionally. Believe He is the only one who can completely change you. Believe that He is the one true God and that He died for you to pay the price for all your sins, past, present and future. That He rose again on the third day and is now residing in Heaven, waiting for all of us to join Him.

3. Ask Him to show you the path for your life now. Open a Bible and begin reading what life is really about. I'd suggest start in the book of John. Read it like you were there and ask God to reveal Himself to you through His word.

Then believe, you are now a perfect child, a heir to the throne of God, a prince or princess that will live forever in a kingdom far perfect from the world we live in now, and that when this life ends, yours will not! You will dwell in a perfect place filled with streets of gold, and no more tears, death, fear or pain exists. Trust me, Heaven and Hell are very real places and there will be no partying in Hell, but there will be in Heaven. The choice is yours today! I hope you make this the best sale ever in your life!

What to Do When Things Don't Go Our Way!

What to Do in Critical Moments of Tough Times

Matthew 26:36-46

³⁶Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." ³⁷He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."

³⁹Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

⁴⁰Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. ⁴¹"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

⁴²He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

⁴³When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

⁴⁵Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

I loved this study I just completed on Sunday. It is about dealing about what to do when things don't go your way.

It's how we handle things that demonstrate who we are and what we are made of. Its what we do in times when we must make a decision in the face of difficulty will lead us to our own gardens of Gethsemane, will it be my will or God's will?

Life is full of those decisions and opportunities through our life. Do we get a divorce or ride out the storm and stay committed to God and our marriage? Should I take this job that requires me to travel so much and pays more or keep a lower paying job closer to home?

In the above scripture we find that Jesus repeats His request in prayer to God three times. This is rarely ever done anywhere else in the Bible.

Here are the three steps we much do when faced with a decision in a critical or tough time.

1. Involve Seeking the Will of God ~ Jesus prayed for the same thing three times and only one thing remained on His mind, the will of God. His supreme concern for his entire life was always about the will of God. "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." ~ John 6:38 NIV

The will of God was never forced on Jesus. Let's compare the two gardens of the Bible, the Garden of Eden and the Garden of Gethsemane.

Garden of Eden

Adam and Eve were the occupants.
They ruined life for all of us here on Earth from the way God intended it to be.
They were broken in their relationship from God.
They hid from Him.
The sword was shown to keep them from returning to Eden.
Their decision was made by using their own will and sin came upon the world.
Not thy will but by my will.

Garden of Gethsemane

By Jesus being in the Garden of Gethsemane, He healed us.
Our relationship with God was restored.
Jesus bared His soul in this Garden.
The sword was put away when Peter cut the ear off the guard. Jesus told him to put it away.
Jesus showed us it was not His will that was being done but God's will.

Our plan and purpose should be that we are seeking, finding and doing the will of God everyday.

How can you know the will of God?

Spend some time with God, read His word daily and pray. He will reveal it to you. The closer you are to God the more you will understand His will for you.

2. Doing the Will of God ~ Some times we can struggle with this. Jesus did. He was taking all the sins of man on him.

You know what you should do but you don't want to do it. This is what we all face. This is where the struggle lies. Your stress is nothing compared to what Jesus faced that night in the Garden. There has never been a greater suffering than that which takes you to the brink of death. His sweat become blood. There is a medical condition known for this called hemotrodosis, which is when stress is so bad due to tremendous stress and anxiety that the capillaries below the surface of the skin break. Our heart rate and blood pressure go through the roof.

So what was Jesus so stressed out about? A cup. What is that cup? It is the wrath of God that would be poured out on Jesus as punishment from his father. He is facing the judgment from God for something that He didn't do. He only knew of God's love up to that point.

So the cost for doing God's will ~ Jesus understands more than you know. When we are struggling, begging God not to allow us to go through it, and it's not always easy to do Gods will. If it were easy, everyone would be willing to do it. Jesus was willing to go to Hell if it meant He couldn't save us, but because he knew that it would mean saving all of us so we could have an eternal home in heaven, He did God's will. The war was won at the cross but the battle was taking place in the Garden.

3. Surrender to the Will of God ~ Jesus calls God, My Father or Abba, which means Daddy or Poppa in Arabic. The only place Jesus prays to His father like a child would.

The thing to remember that if we defy God's will, the cost will be too great for you! You have to looks at the cost versus benefits of doing God's will. Benefits = approval of God. Cost = Saved us from living forever in Hell based on our sinful life. I think that the cost will always be worth it in the end. Who would ever chose otherwise?