If God sends you into it, surely it will be good, right? If he guides you there it’s part of his good plans for goodness in your life, right? And when it’s not good it must not be his will? We must have disobeyed somewhere if things got hard and we stepped into a mess. […]

1631 Intentional Storm & Personal Encounter

Daily Devotional with Pamela Crim | BIG Life Mentor

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Self-Improvement

Have you ever thought about what Heaven will really be like? I have a friend who was in a coma, and when she woke up, she shared her glimpses into heaven. She specifically remembers colors like her eyes had never seen before. Flowers and butterflies that were so beautiful they were indescribable. In my Daddy’s final day of life, the veil between Heaven and Earth had grown very thin, and he told me what he saw. He would burst out in a deep belly laugh and say, “Jesus is so funny.” Then Daddy said, “Everyone is so happy here.” One of the final things he said was, “Run to the light.”



I want to see those colors, don’t you? I want to be one of those happy people in the presence of Jesus. I want to run to the light of Jesus!



I grew up afraid of Hell. I knew absolutely nothing of Jesus, but I knew there was this fiery place of misery somewhere down below where sin was punished. And every time I did something bad, I was afraid of that punishment. My very first introduction to the thought of what Heaven would be like was through the song “I Can Only Imagine” in the early 2000’s. Did anyone else belt out these words in their car?



Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine



My friends, what will Heaven be like? Well, I can only imagine! But here’s what I know for sure … I WANT TO GO THERE! And I really want to go there with YOU! Let’s experience this together!



I have a strong case of FOMO. You know, the Fear of Missing Out. It eats me up thinking I might miss something great. I will sacrifice sleep. I will save up my money. I will go to crazy lengths to ensure I don’t miss out on good things. And my God is not only the giver of all good and perfect things (James 1:17), but he takes all the other things and he works them together to make them good (Romans 8:28). So, whatever God is offering and whatever God is doing is good, and I’ve decided I don’t want to miss it! I want to be in alignment with what God is doing and I want to be available for what he is offering.



Now, here’s the thing, I can’t see what God is doing and I have no way of knowing the fullness of what God is offering, I can only imagine it. But, it’s even more than I can imagine. More than I can dream of. More than I’ve ever dared to think. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”



Yes, I can only imagine, but it’s immeasurably MORE than what I imagine! And how does God do more? It’s right here in this scripture. It’s through his power that is at work within us! How crazy awesome of God to decide to do his work THROUGH US. How incredible that he has invited us to be part of his work and carry his power. That just blows my mind.



So, my sister, you and I have a job here. As the girls who carry this power to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine, we’re here to share hope with others. Hope of the future mind blowing beauty and goodness that awaits those who have accepted Jesus. We’re supposed to help them imagine how good Heaven will be so they too decide they just can’t afford to miss it!



1 Peter 1: 3-4 MSG, “Because of Jesus we’ve been given a brand new life and have everything to live for including a future in heaven – and that future starts NOW.”



Jesus gives us a brand new life and this new life he’s offering is something worth living for! You and I have something to live for! We are not hopeless, helpless, or stuck. Jesus has made a way for us! He has sealed our destiny. Honey, our future is beautiful!!!! But, God in all of his mercy and grace said, “I’ll even let you get started on eternity now.” He has made life here worth living for too. He’s given us a purpose, and knowing that you’re walking in your purpose feels so good! That’s his gift to us! We get to be part of his will unfolding here on Earth as it is in Heaven, and he unleashes his power within us. That’s worth living for!



The enemy tries to make our lives feel like they’re not worth living. He tries to burden and overwhelm us. He tries to turn our attention to all that is wrong and getting worse. But God says to take our thoughts captive and make them obedient (2 Corinthians 10:5). He says to think about the things that are right, lovely, excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8). Is that what you’ve been thinking about? Or has the enemy crept in and tricked you into thinking the thoughts he hides in?



Our thoughts either make life miserable, or make life worth living. God wants to give you thoughts that make life worth living! Thoughts that open your eyes to his power and make you say, “I can’t miss out on this!” Thoughts that have you imagining all God is working on for you and for your future. What is he working on? Well, I can only imagine!



Go ahead and imagine it! Imagine how God is working all the things in your life together for something good. Imagine how God is using you and your story to help others come to know of his love and mercy. Imagine how God is preparing Heaven for you!



This weekend I was studying the books of 1 & 2 Peter. While I was studying, I received a text from Sarah, an amazing woman I mentor. Sarah randomly shared with me a Bible study tool she was using called Enduring Word. It’s actually just a website (enduringword.com), but this website has over 11,000 pages of verse by verse commentary of the entire bible. Commentary that actually makes sense. Commentary that explains scripture and applies it to life.



One bit of commentary I read has me absolutely spinning! 2 Peter 1:4, “He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.” Now, dig deeper! God has promised us to share in the divine nature that escapes the corruption of this world. What is that? THAT IS HEAVEN! This goodness I can only imagine!



Here’s what the commentary said: How generous of God. He could have just rescued us from hell and not invited us to share in the divine nature.



I never thought about that. God didn’t have to offer Heaven to us. He could have just forgiven us and kept us out of Hell. He could have just cancelled our punishment, but not given us a reward. He could have made us do this life over and over again until we got it right. He could have offered us our lifetime, and let that be it. Done. Over. No more. But he didn’t. God went so far as to rescue us from Hell and invite us into Heaven!



What?!!!!!!! Why would God do that? Why would he go so far? Why would do all of this for me? For you? Because that’s God – he does more than we could ever ask or imagine!



And in God’s nature of doing even MORE, he not only has Heaven waiting for us, but he invites us to be part of his divine work here on Earth. Our future with God starts NOW! It is here! This is worth living for!



How is God working in what you’ve gone through to use it for good? I can only imagine.



What good plans does God have for your future? I can only imagine.



What will you do the moment you see Jesus face to face? Will you dance – will you stand in awe? I can only imagine.



What amazing adventures will you and I have together in Heaven on day 1 of eternity? I can only imagine!



I know this much … it’s worth living for!



Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela
Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim
Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

1654 I Can Only Imagine

Power of Prayer



This Friday unscripted Bible study and devotional digs deeper on the follow scriptures:



James 5: 13-20
1 Kings 17 & 18
Matthew 6:6



This episode also includes the 4 Sentence Prayer that helped bring me back to God.



Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela
Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim
Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

1653 Power of Prayer

Don’t wait for others to celebrate your life when it’s over, celebrate what God has done in your life TODAY!



This special unscripted episode was hosted live on Facebook (watch here: https://www.facebook.com/1249986681/videos/987406949413043/) as I share my testimony and celebrate all God has done.



Jeremiah 17:14, “O LORD, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone!”



I have been truly healed. I have been truly saved. Now God gets all the praise! HE DID THIS!



Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela
Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim
Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

1652 Celebrate Life Today

It’s exhausting trying to keep up the facade of how we want our lives to appear to others. We only choose the filtered photos where we look good. We only present our best days and our best moments. For some reason, we want to look better than everyone else, but why is that, and what is this doing to us?



James 3: 14-16, “But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice.”



Oh, well, doesn’t that just make sense. We’re so filled with our selfish ambitions and trying to make someone, anyone, envy this presented version of a life we’re living, and it’s caused complete disorder!



The MSG translation says it like this, “It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Wherever you’re trying to look better than others, things fall apart.” The way you talk, the way you post, the filtered and fixed up version … is this you trying to look better than someone else? Welp, that’s where things are going to fall apart!



And haven’t we? Haven’t we all been falling apart? We’re not together, we are divided. We are apart. We are in discord and chaos as things continue to fall apart.



So, what should we do? CHECK OURSELVES! Where am I trying to look better than others? Where am I trying to look like my life is better than someone else’s? Like what I’m doing is better?



And where are you doing this?



There’s nothing wrong with dressing up and looking nice, but when it’s to turn all the heads, that’s a problem. There’s nothing wrong with going somewhere beautiful and wanting to share it with others, but when it’s to make others think that where you are is better than where they are, that’s a problem. God is asking WHAT IS THE MOTIVE BEHIND WHAT YOU ARE DOING? The wrong motive will only have things falling apart in your life.



We have become a showy, competitive, obsessed with perfection, selfish people and we are completely falling apart. God’s word says this is earthly, unspiritual and demonic. Well yuck, no wonder we’re having problems, y’all!



But keep reading because we have the solution. James 3: 17-18, “God’s wisdom is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not two faced. You can develop a healthy and robust community that lives right with God and enjoy the results ONLY IF you do the hard work of getting along and treating each other with dignity and honor.”



God knew us getting along with everyone would be hard work, and he asks us to do it any way. Yes, do the hard work of getting along!



How hard are you trying to get along with the people at your work? Really, are you trying? God expects you to try … then try harder. That seems unfair, why should it be up to you to try harder? Well, you are the one hearing this right now, so that means God has chosen YOU to go first! Go out of your way to get along with the one who is so darn hard to get along with. Yes, for real, do it.



You always wonder when God is going to show up and speak directly to you about what he wants you to do. Well there it is! Do the hard work of getting along.



This scripture tells us how. Be gentle and reasonable today. Overflow with mercy and blessings. Don’t be two faced.



Oh, that’s our problem. We are nice to their face, then we turn around and talk about them. You’re being convicted right now to stop that. Two faced is not a representation of God’s desire for you. God is showing you better so you can do better.



Are you a good representative of God’s mercy and blessings when you’re driving? When you’re waiting in a long line?



How about when you’re at home? Yes, with your own family in your house, are you gentle and reasonable? The truth is, sometimes, Mama, you are completely unreasonable! You are re-dic-you-lussss. There’s not an ounce of gentleness in your outburst. If you could step back and hear yourself, you sound absolutely insane sometimes. Ughhhh, would you want to live with you? Would you want to be married to you?



God wants to ask you right now, are you TRYING to get along with the people in your home? Did you wake up today determined to do it right today, or determined to be right today?



Oh honey, DO IT RIGHT TODAY.



Yes, getting along can be hard work, but God expects his girls to do the work.



This isn’t about you. When you make everything about you, you lose the whole point of this thing. You are here to represent God’s love to this world. But when the enemy successfully trips you up in thinking you have to look better than everyone else, or be right about everything, then you lose the love you’re here to show.



Lord, convict us of our wrong motives. Turn our hearts away from the facade and the show, and let us overflow with your love and mercy. Humble us and help us show up better today.



We’re here today to do it right. To work hard at getting along. And that starts in our own home, that follows us to work, into our neighborhood, into the grocery store, and into the connections we have online. WE WILL WORK HARD AT GETTING ALONG. We won’t be two faced. We won’t be ridiculous and unreasonable. We will be the people we would WANT to live with, we would want to be married to, we would want to work with. We don’t need to be better or look better than anyone. We need to love better.



Repeat after me: I will be a freaking delight today!



Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela
Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim
Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

1651 Do It Right Today

A woman who reads his word, then applies it to her life. When you read “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.” (James 1: 19&20), a response is expected from you. That’s about YOU. It’s about how you have only been listening to speak. It’s about how you have been speaking before you process that thought. Girl, you can’t just say whatever is on your mind, because some of those thoughts need to be filtered out before they flow out. It’s about how you’ve been leading from frustration instead of love. It applies to you and action is required. God wants you to be a woman of action.



A woman who receives a prompting from his Holy Spirit, and does something about it. You know that little voice inside of you that says, “hey, you should reach out to that person”, or “this isn’t right in your life, it’s time to change it.” That’s God’s Spirit guiding your next steps. Now lift up your foot and step. Stop trying to make sense of it and trust God really does speak to you. He speaks to you because he wants you to be a woman of action.



Will you be the one God knows will go when he says go? Will you be the one who will be available when he prompts? Will you be the one who will respond in faith with actions over words? Or will you be the one who just sits there and talks about it? Will you be the one who complains about how things are today, but doesn’t do a darn thing to make it better in your own house? Will you be the one who is always too busy, always too unsure, and never quite good enough for the job? Hey, that is NOT what God sees in you!



God doesn’t see you as a girl who is stuck without a clear way of overcoming this. He sees you as a girl with the mighty power of his Spirit within her, and if you will start responding to his word in your Bible and his word in your spirit, you won’t spend another day stuck.



I know it sucks starting over. But if you hate starting over so much, how about this time you decide you’re simply not going to stop. This time you keep showing up in the strength God gives you and you push through. This time could be the last time you have to start again. A woman of action will embrace the suck, stop complaining about it, and just do it.



And again, GOD WANTS YOU TO BE A WOMAN OF ACTION.



James 1: 22, “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” I’ve heard a good sermon, I’ve listened to a powerful podcast, I’ve read an amazing book, and then I’ve done absolutely NOTHING with those words. Those words inspired me, stirred me, gave me great ideas – but without action, they were wasted. Inspiration is like gas, it will pass. You are bloated with inspiration because you keep buying more books, listening to all the podcasts, researching all the ideas, but you’re never doing a darn thing with all that. You’re just bloated. You need to get up and walk that out!!!! Honey, what good is the batter you keep stirring but never put in the oven? Bake this sucker and let’s take a bite!



As this scripture says, you have been deceived. You’ve been deceived into thinking if you just get more inspired you’ll do something about this mess. No you won’t. You know when you’ll do something about this mess? When you actually DO something about this mess.



You’ve been deceived into thinking there’s a perfect diet, and when you find that diet all your problems will go away. You’ve been deceived into thinking there’s a perfect man out there, and he’s not the one you married. So, when you get rid of this one and find the next one, you’ll be happy. You’ve been deceived into thinking it’s a new job you need, or a new house, or new boobs. You’ve been deceived. Maybe what you really need to do is treat your current job with gratitude instead of complaining about it. Maybe you need to clean the house you’ve got instead of thinking a new house would somehow magically make you more organized. Hey, maybe you just need to put on a bra today.



(Okay, please don’t send me hate mail – I know we’re back to the days of this whole ‘free the boobies’ thing, but I’m going to be a good girlfriend and just tell you, some of y’all need to put your bra back on. I say that with all the love in my heart, don’t hate me. It makes me really uncomfortable.)



Be DOERS of what God tells you, not just hearers. Don’t be deceived into thinking inspiration and new ideas and a label maker is all you need. No, you need to DO something with what God is telling you.



The next verses in this scripture have honestly always confused me. I felt as if perhaps it was some outdated reference that just wouldn’t make sense today. But I was wrong. I dug deeper. Verse 23-24, “Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was.”



Hmmmm … that didn’t make sense to me. I look in the mirror, then walk away and forget the kind of person I was?



When I don’t understand a scripture, I start researching different translations. Here’s what I found today. CHECK THIS OUT! This scripture in The Passion Translation says, “You perceive how God sees you in the mirror of the Word, but then you go out and forget your divine origin.”



Woahhhhhhhhh. God’s written word and the words he speaks through his Holy Spirit show me who I am. But if I don’t DO something with what he has shown me, I quickly forget who he says I am.



When God’s word tells you that you are strong and courageous, but you don’t believe it and act on it, you quickly forget that’s who you are in Christ Jesus.



When God’s word tells you that you are forgiven and redeemed, but you don’t talk to yourself in that way, then you quickly forget that’s who you are.



When God’s spirit prompts you and tells you you’re the one he has chosen for this job, but you dismiss yourself and talk yourself out of going, you quickly forget you were chosen.



You have forgotten your divine origin because you didn’t take action on how God sees you. When you KNOW you are his chosen, prized and beloved girl, you are moved to action in your life! You make changes that align with his will. You show up to places your prompted to go. You push through the struggle because you know your destiny has always been to be more than a conqueror.



Now verse 25, “But those who set their gaze deeply are fascinated and respond to the truth and are strengthen by it. They experience God’s blessings in all they do.”



What are we gazing at? We’re gazing at who God says we are. We’re focusing on the truth!



Y’all, I am fascinated by who God says I am. I am fascinated that I carry the power of God within me. How crazy cool is that?!!! I am fascinated that I bear the fingerprints of the master and he has called me his masterpiece. I’m fascinated by the supernatural strength I have access to. And this MUST LEAD TO ACTION.



I have to do something with this. I have to do something with all I’ve been entrusted with.



YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THIS!



Look in the mirror of God’s Word and perceive how he sees you. See you for who God says you are. Don’t forget that. Never forget your divine origin. You have good plans written for your life by the creator of the Universe. He’s good at fulfilling his plans! But here’s the thing, he won’t do it without you. He wants you to be a woman of action.



Do something about what he is showing you. Do something about the promptings of his Spirit you’ve been feeling. Do something with the words he has been giving you.



Inspiration and good ideas are great, but they fall short if all you do it collect them. While you’ve been listening today, God prompted you with something specific. What was it? Take action on that today. Don’t just be a hearer, be a doer!



Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela
Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim
Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

1631 Intentional Storm & Personal Encounter

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