Shifting your perspective

I picked up very early on in my marriage that my husband loves taking road trips. How did I discover this, it was easy, because he decided it would be fun to do a road trip for our honeymoon! The first hours of the trip, I drove while he poured over maps and enjoyed views along the way. All this fueled his passion for adventure. This road trip at first did not fuel my passion, especially in my car that did not have air conditioning, no power windows, no cruise control, and we were traveling through the deep south in July with high humidity, unexpected thunderstorms, well you get the picture.

While he studied maps (this was before GPS and smartphones), I became more frustrated with each passing mile that did not seem to come fast enough. My husband on the other hand enjoyed the unexpected twists and turns to reach our new home in Quantico, Virginia. At first, I was a bump on a log, though my heart kept prompting me to shift my perspective.

With God's help, I began to discover what fueled my passion. The spark slowly ignited to want to find what fulfilled my mission in this new adventure called married life. As I asked God for guidance, He revealed the importance to find joy in the journey. He helped me discover my gifts and talents that led to me planning the routes with my husband while creating the memories along the way. Just reaching my destination soon was not enough. I discovered how to shift my perspective from where I was to where I want to be in the journey.

Romans 12:6—Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them. AMPC

What fuels your passion? What gifts, talents, and qualities has God planted in you? Have you let excuses stop you from pursuing what motivates you? It is important to understand what drives you because knowledge allows you to pursue your passions. Passion never retires, it just needs to be ignited. If given the opportunity, it will propel you to not just go through life but grow through life.

Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing.– James 1:2-3 VOICE

Blessings,

Cindy

The Power of The Cross

My life changed forever the summer of 1970. I still remember it so clearly as if it were yesterday and not 51 years ago. I was about to enter eight grade and turn twelve years old. My sister and I flew from Southern California to spend several weeks with both sets of grandparents who lived in the Midwest (Missouri and Iowa respectively).

One message was clear as we spent day in and day out time with each of them, they not only believed in Jesus, but they had also accepted Him as their personal Lord and Savior. It was not a Sunday or Easter season kind of faith; it was authentic and real.

First my sister accepted Jesus as her Savior while watching a televised Billy Graham crusade. I sat with her watching the crusade each night and though we talked about her newfound faith, it was not until a few weeks later while visiting the other set of grandparents, I accepted Jesus as my Savior.

I remember my grandmother reading about heaven in Revelations and asking her how I can go there, and with love and care she shared the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection and this time my heart opened and received this gift of salvation.

I will never forget how the peace that passes all understanding flooded my soul. I knew I was a new creation right then and there. Before we left to return home to California, my grandmother gave me a precious gift to wear as a reminder of what happened that summer. It was a cross necklace, and each time I wore it, I was reminded of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death for me. It represented everything that Jesus did for me that summer and the power in what Jesus did on the cross – power that set me free. I was now a new creation.

I want others to experience that freedom and understand the power of the cross. So, each Spring, I renew my commitment to stop reliving the past. I fix my focus on Jesus and allow the power of cross to live in and through me so others will come to Him.

We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!– Hebrews 12:2 TPT

Easter is the perfect time to ask Him into your heart and your life. Maybe you already have, then renew your commitment to stop reliving the past and focus on His promise of a new day with all its potential and possibilities. Allow His grace and renewal to blossom in you as a reminder of this new season, just like the spring blossoms bring forth the promise of a new season.

Jesus loves you. Happy Easter!

May God's goodness overflow to you in a special way this Easter-filling your day with His joy and your home with His love.

Cindy Dennis Ministries

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace. –Romans 15:13 NIV

What the world needs more of:

Our world values beauty, then heart.

Profession, then passion.

Being served before serving.

Conformity over creativity.

But the world needs more of:

People before profit.

Being faithful over being famous.

Respect first, revenue second.

Progression over perfection.

Kindness and compassion above all other things.