440 Days Saved - A Walk with Christ
*What is Unseen*
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

What do you see when you look at a paper towel roll?

Last night at dinner my 4 year old son gasped and started to point at the kitchen sink! He said, "Mom! Mom! Can I please have that telescope!" I looked over by the sink and had no idea what he was talking about. He said, "That telescope, right there!" I looked again and saw nothing. Then my husband said, "Oh, you mean the paper towel roll." My son said, "Yes, yes that thing!"
We laughed!

Faith is so much like this! Children see things so clearly but our prideful adult eyes can't always see. We have been told what faith looks like and how to obtain full grace but many look and choose not to see! Many see a paper towel roll when others can look at the cardboard paper and immediately see a telescope! It's not about what we physically see with our own eyes! It's more about what is unseen and what we believe we will see that truly matters!
The Challenge:
Go out into the world today with childlike eyes! Try to see what children see in the most ordinary of things! Blessings all around!

439 Days Saved - A Walk with Christ
*Key to the Gate*
I am the gate whoever enters through me will be saved. John 10:9

I have discovered my purpose but I'm sure now more then ever what my distinct calling is. My purpose is to share about Jesus which is no shocker there 😉 but more specifically to share about the details of his life here on earth!
I asked Karla what gospels in the Bible are solely about Jesus! She said to start with Acts. I think for now narrowing my bible studies to Jesus life will help clarify things for me and therefore help me share the details of his life in more depth.
Reading Acts today I am fascinated by Jesus teachings. All through the Bible he makes it very very clear how to get to heaven! He never left us guessing! In Acts tonight it was all reconfirmed! We can all be filled with the spirit of the Holy Spirit and feel fully content as one in the body of Christ! Jesus says to Repent, be baptized and accept him as the son of God! That's the key to the gate!
The Challenge:
Since the path to heaven is narrow why take a chance? Ask for forgiveness and be baptized in Christ name! That will get you on that narrow path and more importantly the key to the gate of your salvation!

438 Days Saved - A Walk with Christ
*A Good Man*
"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

I had to go to my least favorite place this morning. Da da da....the post office! Ahhh!! Thanks to my renewed spirit in Christ I see goodness instead of annoyance. And I stay calm!
The line was so long and slow today. I watched many roll eyes and sighs in frustration. When I finally got up to the counter I thought the post office man would help me stamp my forty three envelopes of crosses to send out but no. So I stood there to the side stamping all the envelopes. I sat my two year old up on the counter and she was restless.
Just then goodness came. A man in a bright yellow coat came up and helped me stamp all the envelopes so I could get done faster. This man chose to make a good moment out of waiting in the long post office line. This man is a good example of finding good and good things to do for others in the most unlikely places.
I then of course gifted him with one of our Purple Crosses and thanked him for his good deed for the day!
The Challenge:
When others do a random act of kindness for you share a Purple Cross as a thank you and praise our fathers name!  This little Purple Cross has so much power, use it! 💜 #PurpleCrossMission

Lea Live:
Copy and paste on Facebook to watch!
https://www.facebook.com/michelle.otoole/videos/10211578968569566/

437 Days Saved - A Walk with Christ
*Forever Children*
See how much our father loves us. For he calls us his children, and that is what we are.

We were all going around the Thanksgiving dinner table holding to our tradition of sharing what we are thankful for. When it came to my 4 year old sons turn he said the sweetest thing. He said he is thankful for God watching over us. I looked over at him smiling and was very proud!
My 2 year old daughter then said she wanted to give her pacifiers to baby Jesus. She then said, "Heaven!" It was so cute. So yes this weekend we are going to say good bye to her pacifiers and give them to baby Jesus.
My kids continue to surprise us with the little ways they know the Lord. It has been said that children are closest to God. People then drift but many times if a child is close to God they will return back to God when they are older. These are the moments I'm joyful that Jesus is whom my children look up to and desire to learn more.
The Challenge:
Were you close to God when you were younger? What made you feel close then? What made you feel distant from him? Knowing how we connected to God as a child is a good way to connect with him as an adult. God adores his children and we are forever children in Gods eyes!

436 Days Saved - A Walk with Christ
*He Cares*
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble James 4:6

I had an emotional moment in my car on the way to my parents for a Thanksgiving. I was all alone so I took the time to pray out loud and talk with God.
Do you know that praying for people when they don't know it is the largest form of love you can offer someone. I felt a push to pray for one of our friends. This person walks and talks as if the Holy Spirit guides them but he does not believe in God. I feel, like me, the Lord is very protective of this friend of ours. I just hope our friend wakes up and sees the Grace bestowed upon him before it's too late because I know God is waiting for this particular prodigal son.
I then began to cry! I thought, "Who am I?" How was I so fortunate to be a chosen one, one the Lord knows me by name and one the Lord picked out to be saved. It was a humbling moment. I felt special but God reminded me salvation was my choice; A choice all are given but few take.
The Challenge:
Being with the Lord is not a entitled right. Those who have chosen salvation are humbled and feel a sense of awe that the almighty Lord cares for their little soul.

435 Days Saved - A Walk with Christ
*Taking Flight*
And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

I was asked last night by my brother in law how it all came about that I was saved. I told him that it was a mixture of feeling incomplete and feeling completely in awe of our Lord and all the prayers he answered for me.
My brother told me he remembered a time when I was going with the ways of the world and emerging who I was with the men that I dated. He was worried he offended me but I was not offended one bit. A part of my ministry work and shedding my cocoon is being completely vulnerable and honest with who I was and woman I am evolving to be.
My times as a caterpillar had expired and I accepted my wings at age thirty three!
Did you know that Jesus himself began his ministry at age thirty? Before then he was observing and preparing.  He too was once a caterpillar and when he finally felt ready he exploded out of his cocoon, was granted his wings and fulfilled a great prophesy of changing the world!
The Challenge:
A simple question - Are you slugging along observing like a caterpillar, preparing in your cocoon or are you fully now ready to evolve into a butterfly and take flight?