What is a Living Testimony?

What does it mean to be a living testimony? It means we no longer belong to just ourselves we belong to Christ. We no longer speak just of ourselves and our accomplishments instead we speak of what Christ has done for us. What has Christ done? He has saved our very souls from judgment and cleansed us of our sin and he constantly intercedes for us with the Father. He is for us not against us. He died for our sins and rose again in victory with the keys to death and hell in his hands.

A living testimony is a retelling of a moment when heaven touched earth and touched our hearts. It’s that moment when we felt God move in our hearts and in our lives. It’s that moment when we set aside the sin that so easily besets us and felt the Lord move in our lives. It’s the moment when God spoke in his still small voice and we were actually listening and heard him speak. It’s the moment when we were still and knew that God was in charge of our lives. It’s the moment we put our faith in Christ and had a saving faith, believing that Christ died to save us from our sins and rose again and that he lives. It’s that moment when we realized we were a sinner in need of a Savior. It’s the moment when we did something kind for someone else and didn’t expect something in return.

It is when we speak that Christ is preached. Are we preaching of his love? Are we speaking of the way he’s come through for us?

Christ has come through for me in many ways. For one the fact that I have a job and have to get out of bed to go to work is a blessing from God. If I were given to my own devices I would lay in bed until noon and feel depressed because I stayed in bed too long. I am also blessed with a job that has a purpose. In my company we serve the community and our goal is to help others live better lives. There’s no better job for me. I can only have the strength to go to work each day with Christ by my side. If I tried to do a good job in my own effort I would fail. Thankfully I have Christ right beside me.

The word says we will “overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.” It is with our mouths that we confess Jesus as Lord of our lives. People are watching us and what they believe about you is what they will believe about Christ. What kind of living testimony are you? Do you honor Christ with your life? I know sometimes I do and sometimes I fall short. But I have given my heart to Christ and I love him and he loves me and it is because of that love that I am picked back up when I fall. I am comforted and I am given another chance and another day to try again.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death. Revelation 12:11

The word of our testimony coupled with the power of Christ overcomes Satan. We, with the word of our testimony and with the authority of Christ, overcome the devil’s schemes. I haven’t read the above scripture in context before and they are speaking of overcoming the devil in this scripture.

             To be a living testimony means that we no longer place our faith in the things of this world that are supposed to make us happy. Instead we put our faith in Christ and we live because he lives. Our eternal destination is secure; heaven is our eternal home. Christ is worthy to be praised. Hallelujah for his sacrifice to save us. I want to speak more of Christ in my life and speak less about me.

How are you a living testimony?

Know that we all fall short. I have in no way arrived. My life ebbs and flows.

What’s your living testimony?

Share it with me.

Genuinely Yours,

Amy Z

Not Good Enough or More Than Enough?

                Dear Reader have you ever felt like you’re not good enough? Have these thoughts run through your mind? I’m not good enough for that job? I’m not good enough for that degree? I’m not good enough for that man? Have you ever said to yourself I deserve no better than this in a situation that you couldn’t get out of? Have you been in an abusive relationship and said I deserve no better than this? Have you been in a dead end job and thought you were not good enough for a different one? Have you felt like you’re not a good enough daughter, wife, sister, son, husband or brother?

                I struggle with not feeling good enough. I don’t think I deserve the amazing job I have because I feel someone else is better suited for it. Don’t get me wrong I love what I do but I wonder sometimes am I good enough? I struggle with thinking I could be a better daughter, a better sister, a better friend, a better girlfriend (when I’m dating). When do we ever get to that moment where we feel good enough?

                Can I share something with you? I was in a good situation where everything was flowing well. People were encouraging me, praising me and in the moment it blessed me. I even felt like I deserved the encouragement and praise I was receiving. However, when I got in my car to go home a fleeting thought passed through my mind. It’s not enough. Can I just deviate for a moment? Isn’t it like the enemy to come in with a fleeting though and keep on moving? So I thought about it for a moment and because I believed the encouragement and praise was a blessing from God, I realized that by feeling like what I had been given that day was not enough then I was telling God that he wasn’t enough.

                Whew, chew on that for a moment. Thinking that God is not good enough to fulfill our heart’s desires or give us what we need. I said to God, O Lord really? Am I saying you’re not good enough? Dear reader that’s exactly what I was saying. By saying the gift he had given me was not enough I was saying God wasn’t enough. So that floored me and I felt humbled in that I’m grateful God let me see that I felt that way. Have you ever been there? I definitely have.

                So God peeled back the layers on this whole idea that I’m not good enough. It stems from a fear of abandonment from childhood that abandonment led to people pleasing, which led to not feeling good enough for anyone or any position I find myself in to ultimately believing God is not good enough. That’s no where I want to be but I am there in the moment.

                So on the drive home I prayed about this and I got to this resolution: it is more than enough. The job I have is perfect for my personality it is more than enough. God calls me precious, beloved and loved, I am a child of God I am more than enough. God chose me for the specific purpose he has for me. God is way more than enough, he has provided for me my whole life, he breathed life into me. Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for my sins is way more than enough. The Holy Spirit residing inside of me, his soul with mine, is way more than enough. My family is more than enough. My friends are more than enough. The church I attend is more than enough.

                What if instead of saying I’m not good enough we said I am more than enough? Couldn’t our lives be changed?

                 Wouldn’t things turn around in our favor if we would just change our attitude and start speaking life and love into our own souls?

                   I encourage you to say out loud, I am more than enough, a very important person is listening as you say these words…YOU. You need to hear it for yourself. There is no one that can help your negative self-talk but you. I could give you all the encouragement in the world but if you don’t receive it you will not benefit from it.

                Dear readers I so want you to be free from any bondage in your life. So I will leave you with two scriptures to chew on:

                The second half of this scripture is always quoted, but it usually leaves out the first. I bet you’re familiar with the part that’s always quoted.

                Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

                One thing I realized about not feeling good enough is feeling like what I have is not good enough. Let me say that at a deeper level, it’s like we’re telling God what you have given me is not good enough Lord. I need something bigger, something better. Let me tell you if you are not a good steward over something small that you have it will not bless you to have something bigger. God gives us an increase when we are able to bear it.

                 And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9.

For more scripture to meditate on I encourage you to look at 2 Corinthians 12:7-11.

It is when we are humble that we receive the Lord’s greatest blessings.

Genuinely Yours,

Amy Z

Small Dreams

I heard a song called small dreams and it got me thinking about my dreams. It got me thinking about the dreams other people sometimes think we should have. Like the dream of getting married and having children. I do hope to one day find the man who is meant for me and either have children or adopt children but society told me to get married when I was 18 and it didn’t happen. I was a very shy young lady and didn’t actually start dating until I was 30. I have not wanted to marry any of the men I dated. So I’m waiting for God’s wisdom to come through on the man I should marry. I want it to be the man that will love me like Christ loved the church. I want it to be a man who loves the Lord with all his heart, mind and strength. I’m willing to wait for that man. I’m not willing to pick the man myself because I don’t value myself quite as much as I should, and I definitely don’t value myself as much as God values me. I am precious to the Lord, but sometimes I forget that and want to settle for a man that doesn’t value himself let alone value me.

A few years ago my small dream was to just have a job. I started out at the bottom position in this job. A year after that I was promoted. Now that small dream has blossomed into a calling on my life. I have been promoted again and there is no job out there that is better suited for me than this one. I come into contact with people of all ages and I can make a difference in their lives by shining the light of Christ in the workplace. I have in no way arrived dear readers. I have my struggles and I have my days and sometimes I even question if this is really a calling on my life, but then I remember that when I was reading my bible in 2015 I had a question come to mind. 

What are you born for? 

I said to myself what was Joseph born for? 

For the saving of many lives. 

What was Jesus born for? 

For the saving of many lives through salvation. 

What was Esther born for? 

For the saving of many lives. 

So as I was questioning what the people in the bible were born for I questioned what was I born for? 

I believe that the Lord spoke to me in that moment and I knew that I was born for the career I'm in. I'm surrounded by a lot of knowledge and I believe it is the right place for me. At that time, I was in a lower position than I am now, I didn’t know how far I would go in this career. I just knew that God had a purpose for me there. I didn’t start out wanting a career. This career started with the small dream of just having a job. I tell you that small dream has grown into a calling and a huge dream for me. I didn’t know that by having a small dream I was taking the first steps toward a career. I was 34 when I started working where I am now. That’s a little late in life to start a career. 

I’m so grateful to God that he took a small dream and made it into something so much bigger. 

And you know what? 

I 100% believe it is for the saving of many lives. 

What’s your small dream?

Genuinely Yours,

Amy Z