A Time to Wait...

There are times in your life when the pressures of this world, which have been patiently hovering over your shoulders, settle in and take their desired position. All of a sudden, you feel the weight of those pressures build to the point where you can barely take it anymore. Perhaps the deadline for a decision you must make is closing in, and you have not yet received the direction you prayed for. Perhaps the bill collectors will not leave you alone, and you don't know how you are going to make ends meet this month. These pressures build, and anxiety, stress, and fear set in, robbing you of the peace that comes with knowing and trusting in God's word.

“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.” (Psalm 37:7a)

Trust that he will act in that quiet moment as you abide in him and patiently trust in him. Trust that he will meet all of your needs, though he doesn't promise to give you everything you want.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

The answers to our prayers do not always come as we imagine or hope they will. In a time of financial crisis, you may get a phone call to work overtime or an opportunity to take on a second job. Not nearly as exciting or effortless as winning the lottery, but the need has been provided for. Perhaps your children need new shoes for the school year, and an old friend calls with a bag of shoes and clothes that her children have outgrown. Not the latest, coolest styles, but the need has been provided for... along with an unseen need of gratitude and humility.

Sometimes the actual need is not what we see at all. For example, the strain in your finances may be a consequence of living irresponsibly. The Lord knows that your actual need is to feel that pain for a bit to change your lifestyle. The need is more about clarity and change, than it is about getting more money. The good news is that through this difficult learning period, he is with you. He won't let you drown, and he will continue to provide for your needs. Through it all, he is building your faith in him and strengthening your relationship with him.

God has perfect timing; he is never late and never early, he is always right on time. He will never deny us the things we need. It will take patience and a lot of faith, but it's always worth the wait.

Time for a Little Gardening?

Have you ever had trouble hearing God’s voice?  If we are honest, we all have experienced that at times.  Or perhaps we believed he had spoken something to us in the past, and now we are facing doubts that it was really him speaking. It is not uncommon for Christians to struggle with doubt and discouragement in this area. We so desperately want to hear him, and believe he is truly guiding us each step of the way. We are exercising great faith each and every day as we trust in a God whom we cannot see, and there are seasons in our lives that our faith can seem so small and we find ourselves unsure of our relationship with our heavenly father. Dry seasons are expected to come.  We won’t always remain on the top of the mountain, and if we are not careful we may succumb to that feeling and quit growing and moving forward.

You should know this truth: God is the same God no matter what season you are in;  and he always desires to speak to his children.  The challenge is that you can’t hear God when your mind is crowded with thoughts, worries, fears, and plans; or if you always have the radio or TV on.  If you constantly have your phone against your ear when God calls and all he gets is a busy signal, you are most likely in the midst of a lot of distractions. Often we confuse busyness with productivity, and they aren’t the same thing. If you keep going and going but you aren’t spiritually growing, you are busy- not productive.
The Bible teaches that distractions are like weeds that grow up in your mind and heart, just as weeds grow in a garden.

Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with it and strangled it (Luke 8:7) 

The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. (Luke 8:14 )

How much effort does it take to grow weeds? Well...None. Weeds are actually a sign of a neglected area. When you neglect your time with God, the weeds start to grow in your life.  Luke says that life’s worries, riches, and pleasures can be those weeds.  Yes - pleasures!  Weeds can appear to be quite beautiful, as in the picture above.  Those distractions in your life can be fun with friends, or even another ministry work for God!  But as much fun as this distraction is, or as much as you may be doing a work "for God", if you are not hearing him or growing in him, this activity is a weed.  In order to remove your weeds, you must learn to slow down your busy mind and remove distractions. When God spoke to Elijah, it wasn’t in a wind or earthquake or fire, it was in a gentle whisper. If you want to hear God speak to you, you have to be quiet. Be still before him. Slow down and ask him to reveal anything in your life that is distracting you from being able to hear his voice. God probably doesn't want to have to compete for your attention. He is with you this very moment wanting to have intimate fellowship with you. But YOU need to be the one to pull those weeds!!

Gifts From Above

Did you know that when you were adopted into God's family, you were welcomed in with gifts of love, that were specifically chosen for you since before you were even knit together in your mother's womb?  God gave each one of us special and unique gifts that we are to cultivate, grow, and use for his purposes.  He gave us these gifts out of love, but not just for our own enjoyment.  In fact, it is safe to say that the primary purpose of these gifts is much more for others; to lead the lost to the Lord and build and lift up the church. You have been equipped to be a part of this glorious mission.

There are 3 groups of gifts that God has given to us. There are manifestation gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-10) which supernaturally reveal the power of the Holy Spirit through a believer.  There are ministry gifts (Ephesians 4:11) that help the functioning of the church, and are often a full time calling.  And finally, there are motivational gifts.  This post will focus on motivational gifts. 

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously.  If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.  (Romans 12: 6-8 NLT) *emphasis mine

The Scriptures highlight seven motivational gifts, given to us by grace.  It is your choice and your responsibility to use these gifts to serve others.  In this Scripture, Paul tells us to use our spiritual gifts to serve others and to do it with excellence. If you are keeping your gifts to yourself,  you are not being obedient to God's command.  There is a wonderful analogy in the book Discover Your God-Given Gifts, by Don and Katie Fortune (a book I highly recommend).  They compare two bodies of water: The Sea of Galilee and The Dead Sea.  The Sea of Galilee has water coming into it and flowing out of it. Therefore, the lake is fresh and useful; it supports life. The Dead Sea, the saltiest body of water in the world, has no outlet and keeps all the water that it reserves.  Because there is no water flowing in and out, there is no life.

If you are truly flowing in one of these gifts, you are likely enjoying what you are doing and you are doing it well.  Understand that one person cannot flow in all of these gifts. Enjoy and be thankful for those who have a completely different gift than you.  Their gifting is for your benefit! We are all a small part of one body, and our strengths and weaknesses are purposefully designed so that we need each other to function smoothly as God has planned.

I believe that the Lord is asking you if you have opened up his gift to you yet. Perhaps you have and you are not sure what to do with it, or you are keeping it to yourself because your personal life is too busy.  Perhaps you fear the vulnerability or potential manipulation that can come when you serve others.  Friends, don't be like the Dead sea! Take time to seek the Lord and ask him how he would have you use this gift for his glory.  Your pastor can be a great resource for advice as well.  Have faith and open your gift from God, hand-picked especially for you.  Choose to be like the Sea of Galilee, and allow the Lord to flow through you to others.

True Friendship

Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’ 1 Samuel 20:42





One of the greatest stories of friendship in the Bible is the story of Jonathan and David.  Two men, who in reality should have been rivals, were able to see past all that surrounded them and see the true heart of one another.  Jonathan, the king's son, had a very kind heart and was the closest, most committed friend to David. They made a vow to each other that no matter what they faced they would remain loyal friends.  Perhaps the most difficult challenge they faced was when David was afraid for his life because Jonathan’s father, King Saul, wanted David dead.  Jonathan loved David and made a plan to protect him from his father.  David and Jonathan faced very difficult times.  Many situations occurred in their lives that could have easily destroyed their friendship, but they took their vow of loyalty to one another very seriously.  They looked past each others flaws and mistakes and continued to see each others' true hearts - no matter what anyone else thought of them.

Are you fortunate enough to have a friendship like this in your life?  David and Jonathan knew the true meaning of friendship.  They weren’t just committed when it was convenient for them. They weren’t just committed when the other one’s behavior was perfect.  They weren’t just committed until the other one's flaws were revealed.  They were committed - period.  We need this same type of friendship in our own lives.  We need to be able to be real and vulnerable with our closest friends and at the same time create a safe place for them to be who they are - with all their good and bad.  We can’t choose to commit to friends only until they disappoint us or let us down or until we find parts of their personalities annoying or frustrating.  We must be committed and loyal at all times -  just like David and Jonathan.  The Bible is built on the foundation of relationship.  It all starts with our relationship with him, and shows his desire for us to build relationships with people in our lives.  To build a relationship takes work!  We can’t hibernate or wait for others to pursue us.  We must make an effort to reach out and show interest in other people.  We must be careful not to live our lives in seclusion.  This is not God's plan for our lives.  Without relationships, we stunt our spiritual and personal growth.  Sometimes its easiest just to hang out with that one same friend all the time, or to only spend your free time with your spouse and kids.  Spending time with your family is obviously very important, but it is just as important to invest in other relationships.  Your time may seem limited, but it only takes a little effort to take the first step. 

Your challenge this week is to make a decision to grow to the next level spiritually and personally.  Ask God to put one person on your heart whom you could start to build a real relationship with.  Make it a point to connect with them whether by phone, email or Facebook.  Don't worry about the process so much;  just get it done.  Set a date for coffee, exercise, or even a play date with kids.  If you are blessed with a friendship like this already, examine your own heart and the kind of friend you have been.   What areas can you improve upon to become a better friend?  A true friendship brings a true peace to your life.  Work this week to cultivate friendship and peace in your own life.  It is not likely that you will need to help your friend escape death, but it is the little things, and honoring the promise of commitment, that make all the difference!
  

Exploratory Surgery

Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23, 24 NIV)

Have you ever undergone exploratory surgery?  In an exploratory surgery, the physician is invasively taking a look on the inside to see what is wrong with you.  For weeks, months, or years, you have endured some painful symptoms, and have lived in uncertainty and fear - only to receive no answers from the medical field.  You have likely seen more than one physician or specialist to diagnose your problem.  But neither testing nor imaging have revealed any answers, and there is nothing left to do but go under the knife to “explore” more closely what the problem might be.  Aside from fear of the unknown, this process is also quite painful.  Post surgery, there will be pain, medication, and healing - and hopefully answers.  Though answers are not guaranteed.  You will also need to rely on family and friends to help you through the healing process.

The scripture above reminds me of spiritual exploratory surgery.   For quite some time now, you have been enduring consequences of sin in your life, and you may not even be aware of what the cause is. The resulting symptoms may be holding you back from living your life to the fullest in the manner God has planned for you.   But if you ask him to search your heart for any offensive way within you, there is good news – he will perform exploratory surgery on you, and his search will yield the answers you seek!  The process may be painful and costly.  You may truly not like what you learn, or what needs to be done to turn things around in your life.   You may need help from family and friends to get through a time of repentance, healing, and restoration.  But God will answer you, and will provide you with everything you need to rid yourself of the offensive way and turn your situation around.  When you allow him to have his way in you, the outcome is guaranteed.  You will be better for having undergone the process.  As a child of God, you have access to the greatest surgeon known to man, with unparalleled skills and an exceptional bedside manner.  He is gentle and loving, and will help you through to an end you may not even see yet.  Trust in him, take a risk, and book yourself on his surgical calendar today!

Where There's A Will...

Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”  The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”  Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?  Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?  But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”   Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.  Luke 5:18-25

Jesus was preaching in a house in Capernaum when four men came with a very sick friend.  They had heard of the healing touch of Jesus.  Filled with hope, they were determined to get their friend to him.  Unfortunately, they were unable to break through the massive crowd to get their friend in front of Jesus.  The situation looked impossible,  and I'm sure they felt quite discouraged.  So many times in our lives, we face obstacles to our desires and falsely believe that God has different plans for us - that his will is different than our desire.  This is the quitting point for many of us.  But these four men had a burning desire that they would not and could not let go of.  They refused to quit!  Eventually they decided to take their friend onto the roof of the house and lower him down to Jesus.  They chose to do whatever was necessary to get their friend in front of Jesus.  True desire always finds a way.  When you have a true desire to do something for God, there is nothing that can stop you. True desire is overwhelming and will cause you to press on - no matter what!  Do you still have that kind of spiritual desire in your life?  Have you underestimated your ability to move mountains in the name of Jesus?  Pray today that God will remind you of his highest and greatest desire for your destiny and give you a burning determination to see it accomplished!   Challenge does not mean God's resistance - it is often the challenge that truly prepares you for your destiny.  You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength, through the knowledge of him who has called you; for greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world!

Choosing Contentment

There are times I find myself struggling with being discontent.  I am a stay-at-home Mom. I adore my children and I put my heart and soul into grooming them for their present life and their futures. I teach them life skills, educate them, mentor them, play with them, and protect them.  Being home to care for their needs is the greatest blessing! (Right??! ) Well... It should be.  And at times it truly is.  However, it doesn't always feel that way.  At times it can be quite exhausting and the rewards of my effort often take a long time to see.  Sometimes I feel like a broken record that no one listens to and I begin to wonder if am I making any difference.  Some days I feel like I’m a glorified babysitter who  is eagerly waiting for the kids' bedtime to come so I can have a little selfish "me"  time. I have days I wonder about my own identity and my own dreams.  Maybe I should be doing something new so that I can have a better sense of accomplishment of who I am.  Then I will feel better about myself... right?   That’s usually where the holy spirit likes to interrupt me and remind me about being content.  I believe the enemy places discontentment in our hearts to shift our focus from the priorities of what God has called us to and we start to do things for your own selfish gain.  No matter what your career is, discontentment can be a major road block from living God’s best for you.  When he calls us to something, he is looking for us to do it with excellence - even if we feel it is not as great as we wish it were. Perhaps you feel underpaid at work or you are embarrassed that your job carries no fancy title.  Maybe you are living through some unfair circumstances.  Maybe you have dreams that have been hanging over your head for years, but you see no way for them to happen due to your life's schedule. Let me ask you this question:  Have you made the choice to be content in all circumstances? 

Contentment basically means satisfaction; being at ease and at peace with each situation. We might even define it as being comfortable in your own skin, in who you are and all you do with your life. If we are not careful we can think it comes from wealth, personal achievement or material possessions. But contentment rarely comes from these. Paul learned this lesson. He was one of the most ambitious men in the Bible.  He was driven to succeed, to excel.  And he had accomplished quite a lot in his life.  But he also suffered a lot as an apostle and follower of Jesus Christ.  He suffered horrible beatings, shipwrecks, and being thrown in prison. Yet he could still write these words: I have learned to be content. Paul had discovered the secret of contentment. The secret was not found in life's experiences. He learned that contentment is a work of the heart and about attitude in all situations. Contentment comes from trusting God when life is unfair.  Where did we get the idea that life is always fair?  Life is a mixture of joy and sorrow, blessings and burdens, achievements and tragedies.  It’s okay to admit that life can be unfair.  When life treats us unfairly, we can choose to become bitter, angry, and depressed. We can take on the a victim's mentality, or we can place our trust in God; trusting that God will take care of us in every situation.  No one can escape from an unfair world.  However, we do have the choice of how we’re going to respond in the midst of it.  What will our attitude be?  Our quest for fairness can rob us of our contentment, unless we choose to place our trust in God even when we can’t make sense of what’s happening.  Contentment begins when we realize that we can still trust God even when life isn’t fair.  Contentment also comes from being certain of God when life is uncertain.  We can let this uncertainty paralyze us, or we can do what Paul did and use uncertain times to let us experience the wholeness and peace in God.
Through everything Paul went through, he discovered that God knows how to take care of his children in uncertain times. God will meet all of our needs, and even let us discover a higher purpose in tragic events.

Contentment comes from living for others in the name of Christ.
Philippians 1:21 says, “For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.”
Paul teaches us that we never truly find our life until we begin to give it away- to our children, our spouse, to someone in need, to Christ and his work.
Our flesh says that contentment comes from what we gain and get for ourselves.  Christ teaches us that we find life when we give it away for others.
The self-centered life becomes empty and meaningless. True joy comes from serving others. True contentment comes from what I give to others, not what I gain for myself. Trusting God when life is unfair; being certain of God when life is uncertain, living for others in the name of Christ instead of living only for ourselves...that is the secret of contentment.

So wherever the path of your life has brought you, I want to encourage you to choose to be content and at peace with where you are.  Take pride in your position and career.  Be grateful for all that you have, and don’t spend your time dwelling on the future so much that you forget to give your all in the present.  Don’t focus on your failures and all the things that you are not.  Rather focus on all that you are!  Choose to be content.

Get Ready!

Are you equipped and ready?
Do you want the greatest victory?

“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. (Matthew 24:42-44 NLT)

Are you prepared for the coming of Christ?  Have you ever been woken up from a dead sleep and felt like there was a thief breaking into your home or car, and you needed to get out of bed to check and see that all the windows and doors were locked and the kids were safe?  I have.  In fact, I have had this dream three times over the past five years.  It brought on an overwhelming feeling of fear, and then strangely, a feeling of peace. The Lord spoke to me as that peace came. "I will come like a thief at night, unexpectedly. So get your home in order."  I wasn't sure what all that meant at that time, but I was not afraid.  I began to seek out what the truth says about the word he had given to me, and some important questions emerged.

1.  How deep, rooted and real is my relationship with the Lord? Am I giving him my first fruits? Am I  sacrificing the things that hurt the most?

2.  After my commitment to the Lord, am I putting my spouse above worldly things?

3.  Am I truly nurturing, educating, and grooming my children up in the Lord?  Am I meeting their emotional and spiritual needs?

4.  Am I being a good steward of my finances?

5.  Am I doing the work the Lord wants me to do, both inside and outside of the church?

Friends, it takes a lot of hard work, a lot of tears, and a lot of prayer to get your home in order.  Did you notice this dream first occurred 5 years ago and it took 3 times for the Lord to finally get my attention?  I am still working hard to get my home in order!  The best thing about our Heavenly Father is that he is right here walking with me, and he will walk with you too if you put him first and allow him to lead you. His word says he will give you the strength!

Revelation 16:15 says,  “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”   Be equipped and ready at all times.  Get  your home in order.  Scripture promises that you will be blessed.  Make this the season of preparation for the coming, and obey the Lord today. (Matthew 24:46) You are on the winning side and the victory will be yours!

Identity Crisis

 One of my favorite songs by Casting Crowns is Slow Fade.  It speaks to the destruction of a family through the sin of adultery, although the principle of the song can be applied to numerous sins, such as addictions to gambling, alcohol, and pornography.  The heart of the song speaks to the fact that this destruction does not occur overnight.  It is a slow progression of wrong choices, and things that may seem innocent in the beginning that lead to the eventual break down of a person and then the family.

In the case of adultery, it can start as a simple, flirtatious compliment from somebody that makes you feel good.  You return a harmless flirtation back, and it begins.  Especially in today's age of technology, with smart phones, texting, Facebook, emails... there are numerous ways to reach out to people and develop a relationship without even needing to see the person.  The problem occurs as you begin to look forward to these encounters and they begin to take over your thoughts.  You begin to notice all of the things that irritate you about your spouse, and you become completely consumed with this new "relationship".  The harmless flirtation progresses to overt sexual suggestions, and soon even that isn't enough anymore.  Before long you find yourself confronted with a decision - a black & white line that you would never have crossed in the past is now a little gray and less clear.  That one decision (after a series of "safer" wrong decisions) can lead to the destruction of two entire families.  This is why Jesus said that to even look at a woman with lust is wrong:

"You know the next commandment pretty well, too: 'Don't go to bed with another's spouse.'  But don't think you've preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed.  Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body.  Those leering looks you think nobody notices - they also corrupt." Matthew 5: 27-28 MSG

Once your heart is corrupted, you may face an identity crisis.  Previous to this, you were a child of God.  The Holy Spirit of God lived in you and led your daily choices.  Now- although you are still a child of God and have his Spirit within you- you are choosing to ignore your God and walk in outright sin.  You begin to believe that you have no right to even pray to God because you are living this life of sin.  You are distancing yourself from the most important relationship you will ever have.  He is still there, wanting to pull you out of this mess and save you and your families.  But you aren't listening.  Your character and the person you have always been begin to erode.  Speaking to a lost world about the goodness of the Holy Father becomes a challenge for you.  Who are you to talk to others about living a life for God, when you are living this life you have chosen for yourself?  Your testimony is tarnished.  You forget that the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galations 5:22) are still within you.  You can choose to stop this downward spiral and reclaim the person you were created to be.

The enemy has come to destroy families.  His methods are insidious.  If you are not going through this in your own home, I guarantee you that you personally know somebody who is - although you may not be aware of it.  Please forward this to everyone you know - I am praying over each person who reads this devotion.  I am praying for the deception to end - that "good feeling" you get from whatever sin you are walking in is a lie.  It will not last, and it will destroy everything you have worked to gain in your life.  At the heart of your sin is a selfishness that must stop today.  Turn back to the Lord and pray for the desire to choose the right thing, as a first step.  And please know this:  your identity is secure.  You remain his precious child.  He will help you through this the very moment you allow him to.

Quit Staring at Yourself!

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

Ugh... Monday!  Have you ever started off a Monday thinking about everything you have to do to survive the week?  All of the problems you need to solve, all of the catch-up work you need to accomplish, all of the issues in your life that you wish you could just eliminate with a blink of your eyes...

You could sit and ponder on these things for a very long time, and just get deeper into the muck - OR- get the focus off of yourself and focus this week on how you can make another person's life easier.  If your struggle is at work, focus on the interests of your boss, your employees, and your customers.  If your struggle is with friends, think of what you can do to bless them this week.  If you have a stack of paperwork hanging over your head that seems insurmountable, think of the people on the other end of that paperwork who need you to get through it. 

You were created by a loving Heavenly Father who loves you deeply.  But he did not create you for you.  He created you for the benefit of others.  This life is not about you, and how things should be easier and better for you.  However, as you get the focus off of yourself, I have a feeling all those issues looming over you will start to fade.  As you value others more than yourself, God can take over and work out your troubles!

This week, look at your "to do" list and see how you can tweak it to be focused on others.  Be a blessing, and you will be blessed.

Trusting Others

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,  so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. (Romans 12:4-5)


Trusting in others can be a real challenge for some of us.  The freeonlinedictionary.com defines trust as, “Firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing.” There are so many people who guard their hearts, and put up walls around themselves – not trusting anyone. They believe that if they don’t become vulnerable enough to trust someone, they won’t be disappointed or hurt. I contend that without trust, you don’t know what it is to live or to grow. I believe that without trust, you will not realize the full potential for your life. We were purposely made with different skills, gifts, and talents. As a result, we must depend on (trust) one another to achieve fullness in our lives.

Of course, there is a risk involved in trusting another fallible human. We can be hurt. We can be disappointed. I guess when that happens, we need to refocus our trust to God, to help us through the hurt and bring some meaning to it. However, without taking a risk to trust someone, we miss out on the fullness of love, on the excitement of working on a great team, on the thrill of achieving a long sought after goal… Our marriages will not be whole and our children may not grow into whole adults.

There is so much to lose in your life by not allowing yourself to trust others. If you struggle with trusting others, I guess the question is how do you begin? Well, I suppose it is like any new discipline. You have to make a conscious decision to begin, and weigh the pros and cons for your life. You need buy-in for yourself that it is worth the risk. Think of areas in your life where you have not trusted someone, and what the consequences were. What good could have happened if you had trusted that individual? Purposely decide on one person to trust – someone close to you. Start small – test the waters. It is about allowing yourself to be vulnerable to others. It may be a bit intimidating at first, but the payoff is so big!

With all that being said, the Bible has much to say about trusting the Lord, and not putting your faith in man. It is important to remember that we all fall short of the glory of God. We are sinners. We make mistakes. You can be hurt when you trust man. Be in prayer over what to be vulnerable about and who to be vulnerable to. But know that we were created to need each other, and as we allow ourselves to trust others our lives will be richer.

“You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you don’t trust enough.” – Frank Crane

My Defender

How I love you, Lord! You are my defender.  The Lord is my protector; he is my strong fortress. My God is my protection, and with him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe.  I call to the Lord, and he saves me from my enemies. Praise the Lord!  The danger of death was all around me; the waves of destruction rolled over me.  The danger of death was around me, and the grave set its trap for me.  In my trouble I called to the Lord; I called to my God for help. In his temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help. Psalms 18:1-6)

Have you ever found yourself playing the game of defense to the point of frustration, discouragement  or possibly full on defeat? Sometimes it can seem we have to defend ourselves more than we wish when it comes to doing the things in life we believe we are called to do. Maybe you feel judged, disrespected, or frankly, just not taken seriously. Being in this position never feels good, and it may cause you to feel like throwing in the towel all-together. Friend, be careful not let anyone or anything stop you from fulfilling the divine call of God on your life.  When God places a certain call on your life it should be considered a great honor.  But with the call will come obstacles and challenges. The bible teaches us to be ready for these. In fact its actually a good thing! The message translation of 1 Peter 4:12-19 reads: 

Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. If you're abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It's the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. If they're on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that's a different matter. But if it's because you're a Christian, don't give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name! It's judgment time for God's own family. We're first in line. If it starts with us, think what it's going to be like for those who refuse God's Message! If good people barely make it, What's in store for the bad?
So if you find life difficult because you're doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he's doing, and he'll keep on doing it!

Fulfilling the call he has placed on your life will often take laying aside your pride, your fear of rejection and your offenses. Emotional sensitivity can often overtake you and be a very tough thing to push through but with the Lord's help you will make it! He is your defender! This battle is not yours, it is his, and it will take a complete surrender of self. We often try to take matters into our own hands and defend ourselves; but a sign that you truly trust him as your defender is letting go and letting him handle the tough stuff. You must ask him: "Lord, what would you have me do?” And then just stand and do the thing that God says for you to do. Maybe it is taking the high road and being silent when someone hurts you with their words, or loving people who have laughed at your dreams or honoring someone who has criticized you. Whatever it may be, when you allow God to be your defender you will find yourself growing in character. You will become more like him and he will reward your good behavior. You must hold on to what God has said about you and not walk away from the path he has placed you on just because others do not understand you or do not like you. Let God be your defender today and everyday!

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Decisions, Decisions...

Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5)

Making good decisions starts with a willingness to lay down your desires to God's perfect will and humbly follow his direction. The problem is that most of us don't know how to figure out exactly what God's will is in every decision we face, especially the big, life-changing type of decisions. 

So what is the correct way to make to make Biblical based decisions?  Well, the first step should be obvious, but we still can find ourselves neglecting the most important key- which is prayer.  We must always begin with prayer!  It is very important to enter prayer with a heart that is ready to obey and trust His direction.  We don’t want to pray just to let God know what our personal plans are.  If you are going to ask for His wisdom then you need to trust His ways will be right even if it means not getting what you pray for.  Remember He has your best interest in mind and He always knows the final outcome of any decision you will make. Be ready to accept God’s answer.  I'm not so sure that God will reveal His plan if He knows already that you won't obey. Submission is hard but there is always a reward with obedience. Decision making often requires us to use our faith muscles quite a bit.  It could be a process, and it takes time; so don't be in a hurry for a concrete answer.  Be patient and don’t move until you have complete peace about the direction.  Also make sure to evaluate and gather information that can help bring clarity for you. Most importantly be sure to search what the Bible has to say about your particular situation. If you have a difficult decision to make it is always wise to seek Godly counsel.   Proverbs 15:22 says, "plans fail for lack of counsel but with many advisers they succeed."   Don’t hesitate to ask for some guidance from a mature believer.  Make sure you choose someone who will lovingly tell you the truth, and not just tell you what you want to hear. Lastly it might be a good idea to make a list of priorities that God would have for you.  Ask yourself if this decision will bring you closer to Him, if it will bring glory to Him, and how it will impact or affect the people in your life.

By this time you should have quite enough information to make that final decision. Be honest with yourself and take the direction that the Lord leads you in.  There will be times when there is no right or wrong answer and you can make your decision based on personal preference.   If you have come to your decision with the sincere intention of pleasing the heart of God, and incorporating Biblical principles and wise counsel, you can then move forward with confidence knowing that God will work out his purposes through your decision. Romans 8:28 says that we know He works all things together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Trust Him and trust his process.  He will not lead you in the wrong direction.

**For similar post on making some challenging decisions, read Navigate Uncertainty

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Leave Vengeance to the Lord

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.  Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.  Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord.  Instead, do what the Scriptures say: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you."   Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.  (Romans 12:17-21 NLT)

Wow.  This is a tough one.  Not only are we to restrain ourselves from seeking revenge on those who wrong us, we are to forgive them.  And not only are we to forgive those who wrong us, we are to do them good!  Now that is going just a bit too far, don't you think?  Why in the world would our God ask us to do good to those who wrong us?

I think it's important to know that the Lord would not ask us to do what He has not already done.  Remember, as He was hanging on the cross to die for our sins- as He was being tormented and mocked- His response was to pray for them,  “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34).  Remember also that His ways are higher than our ways.  He has a greater understanding of what revenge, anger, resentment, and unforgiveness do to our souls.  Forgiveness frees us from so much pain.  Doing good to those who hurt us not only frees us, but it shows them (and others) the love of God, and is a huge testimony to our God's greatness.  You may not think of yourself as a sales representative, but you are.  And the product you are selling is a relationship with your Savior.  You have no idea what your act of obedience will do for the soul of that individual, and for the souls of those who witness your forgiveness.  Doing good conquers evil, rather than perpetuates it.

I do want to clarify that the focus of this devotional is the opportunities you have each day to forgive others.  The focus here is not on violent crimes and what should be done with the offenders.  However, even on a more "everyday level" there are actions that deserve consequences.  There are things that should not go unpunished.  But leave vengeance to the law, and to the Lord.

If being free from the pain of anger, resentment, and unforgiveness is not enough motivation to release the need for revenge, I will provide one more motivator for you: "God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy." (Matthew 5:7NLT).  I'm not sure about you, but I know that I wrong my Heavenly Father daily.  And daily He shows me mercy.  I don't want Him to start giving me what I deserve!

I know it is a long and challenging road to become more Christ-like.  But as we seek the Heavenly Father and His Kingdom, we become more like Him and lead others to a relationship with Him as well.

Don't Be Discouraged

So be strong and courageous!  Do not be afraid and do not panic before them.  For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you.  He will neither fail you nor abandon you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

If you are feeling discouraged, you are not alone. And even though God makes many resources available to us, Christians are not immune from discouragement.

Discouragement is defined as the opposite of, or the absence of courage.  It makes us less confident and less hopeful; and our obstacles can seem even bigger than they truly are. When a person is discouraged they are easily saddened by failure or criticism.  Fears grow and hope for the future seems to fade.  We can lose our interest in things we love and even become doubtful of our future- wondering if we’ve gotten it all wrong up to this point, or if our goals and dreams will ever be reached.

Is that where you find yourself now?  Take heart friend!  God's Word can help you cope with, and even conquer discouragement.  But before we look at His Word, let's look at some potential reasons you may be feeling discouraged.

A very common cause of discouragement is delay of desires.  For example, if a loved one promises to help you with a project that is very important to you and delays for a day, there may be disappointment, but not likely discouragement.   Discouragement only comes as day after day passes and the thing you expected never happens.  Delay of a promise or an expected situation is at the root of discouraging feelings.  Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when desire comes it is a tree of life." Has your hope been deferred due to certain things that never seem to happen in your life that you thought would? Does it seem your desires keep getting delayed?

Other causes of discouragement may include fatigue, relational or work related difficulties, frustrations, loneliness or past failures- just to name a few. We all face these feelings at one time or another, so what does God’s Word teach us we should do in these times?  I have three words for you today: Faith, Hope and Love!  

Faith lifts you up when life lets you down. "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." (Hebrews 11:1)  Faith keeps us strong when things get rough, when life lets us down, when people disappoint us, and when dreams go unfulfilled.  Faith sees past what we feel and how we see ourselves. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Yes, He said hope!  We must continue to have hope no matter what does or does not happen in our lives.  Keep connected to the Lord even through your discouragement, knowing that he has a plan that is greater than your own. In addition, ask God to keep your heart filled with love.  Always love the Lord, even in suffering through difficult seasons.  Never forget his love for you, and his willingness to die on the cross and suffer a brutally painful death for you. If God allowed his own son to suffer, why, then, would he keep us from suffering?  There is a purpose for your pain as well. He loves you more than you can ever imagine and he didn’t bring you as far as he has, just to let you down permanently.  Trust him today, friend.  Hold onto faith, don’t lose hope, and always remember and trust in His love! 

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Break Free!

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do this I keep on doing. (Romans 7:18-19)

Perhaps you have felt like Paul at times. You Love the Lord and desire to please him, but you find yourself falling again and again to the same struggles. Your flesh always seems to win.  Addiction is a lie and a trick from the enemy to keep you from living a free life.  Addictions can come in many different forms.  Your battle may be with food, sex, prescription drugs, shopping, or alcohol, to name a few. Whatever your personal battle may be, please know that the addiction is lying to you.  It entices you, and you begin to believe you need it to make it through the day. You say to yourself: it will be the last time; just one more; I’ll stop tomorrow; I simply can’t control my impulsive behavior; it won’t hurt anyone.  NOT TRUE!  DO NOT BE DECEIVED!  God knows the choice you made, and every choice you make has consequences. Addiction is bondage, and can cause depression, anger, anxiety, and low self esteem. Addiction holds you back from reaching your dreams, in fact addiction usually kills your dreams!  Addiction can separate you from your loved ones.  You may have less love to offer them, and at the same time it can be hard to accept their love due to your guilt and shame. You are not the only one involved in your addiction.

Addictions are a powerful force, but the Lord has promised to give us the strength and wisdom to overcome.  God knows our sinful nature, and nothing we battle takes him by surprise. It is natural for the desires to come, but He wants us to make right choices.  Remember that all temptation starts with a single thought.  What you do with that thought is up to you. The Bible teaches us to take captive our thoughts. When the thought comes you can immediately choose to replace it with a new healthy thought. Do not allow yourself do dwell on the addictive thought.  What we put into our minds determines what comes out!   In the book of Philippians, Paul tells us to reprogram our minds with pure, honorable and admirable thoughts.  Take inventory of what you are watching on TV, the music you are listening to, and the people who you surround you. Ask yourself if these influences help you avoid the addictive behavior, or cave into it.  We live in a world that is so filled with self- indulgent quick fixes. However, overcoming addiction is not done with a quick fix. It usually takes dedication and hard work to break free. Pray and ask the Lord to help you to indulge on the pure things in life.

... but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6b-7)

It’s time to break free today!  Freedom will come from making right choices.  For some of you, this will mean seeking professional help.  For others, help from a friend or accountability partner.  Ultimately, it will come from putting God’s words into practice!  You can do it!  And when you DO over come the addiction, please know that your story can empower another person with the same struggles.  Note that I said WHEN you do, not if you do. God will use you and your story!

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. (Romans 6: 12-13)

Field Guide

Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them.  Nothing will injure you. (Luke 10: 19)

Yesterday we spoke about the reality of the spiritual warfare you are in.  Today we wanted to show you just a snip-it of the field guide (AKA - the Bible) and how you can use the Word to combat the enemy.  Remember, this is a battle in your mind.  Satan is a manipulator and will slowly erode your faith with lies and partial truths.  This started back in the garden of Eden when he spoke to Eve, "Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?" (Genesis 3:1b).  Unfortunately for Eve, she did not remember God's actual words, "You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden - except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die." (Genesis 2:16b-17)

Today, let's peek into the field guide, and see how God's Word can address some of the lies we face today.

LIE:  I cannot be loved by God.  I am a sinner.  My sin is too big to look past.

• TRUTH:  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

• And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (Ephesians 3:18-19)

LIE:  No matter what I do, I cannot break free from this debt.  I just have to accept that some of us were made to be poor.

• TRUTH:  Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!  Wealth is a crown for the wise; the effort of fools yields only foolishness. (Proverbs 14: 23-24)

• Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8)

LIE: I am not good enough. I am unattractive, too heavy, too thin, too tall, too short...

• TRUTH:  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14) 

• TRUTH: For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

LIE:   I am too good to be doing this job - I deserve better than this.  I deserve promotion or more responsibility.  It isn't fair that he got the promotion instead.

• TRUTH:  Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:21 NIV)

LIE:  I will never get anywhere in life.  I am a failure.  I have no future.

• TRUTH: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

This is such a small sampling.  There are over 3000 truths and promises in the Word of God, but the only way to discover them is to sit down each day and read.  As you begin to find and speak these truths into your own life, it may feel strange.  You might not actually believe what you are saying.  But remember, God's Word is a sword.  He has given you authority over the enemy, and in speaking His truth, your are beginning the process of changing your thought patterns and discovering victory over the lies.

This is War!

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)

Did you know you are under attack?  Satan is the enemy of your soul, and he has you in his crosshairs.  He has a variety of methods, but his battleground is always the same - he attacks your mind.  Financial problems, sicknesses, jealousy, self-doubt, and pride are just a few of the ways he will start to unravel your faith.

The first step to fighting the battle is to recognize you are under attack.  If you understand that our God is a God of peace, order, and freedom, that will help bring some clarity to your situation.  Doubt, uncertainty, and anxiety are a few clues that things are not of God.

Once you recognize the attack, got ready to battle!  You should be prepared for battle at all times.  God supplies the armor, and He tells us to put it on and keep it on.   

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:14-17 NIV)

In any battle, there is offense and defense.  The verse above teaches us that our faith and our salvation protect us from the attacks of the evil one (defense).  The Word of God is what we use to fight back (offense).

Some Guidelines for Battle:

1.  Put on the garment of praise. Isaiah 61:3  Praising God through your battle has been proven time and time again to lead to victory.  The Battle of Jericho is a great example.  "The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, 'Shout!  For the Lord has given you the town!'" (Joshua 6:16)
2.  Fellowship with the Lord. In John 15:5, the Lord says, "I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
3.  Walk in love and selflessness. Satan's goal is to steal, kill, and destroy.  It is easier to accomplish this when he separates you from relationships.  Love confuses him a bit, and frustrates his plans.
4.  Repeat and memorize scripture.  Whether spoken out loud or to yourself, the Word of God destroys the lies of the enemy.  This is your greatest weapon.

Satan may be a crafty manipulator.  But once you recognize his strategy, you see that he hasn't changed his tactics much over the years.  We have the most effective strategy to overcome him in our hands - it is the Word of God.  Don't get off course by trying to use physical or worldly solutions.  The battle is of a spiritual nature.  You need to fight this one differently, but with God as your General, you will see victory.

Steadfast Confidence

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. (Hebrews 10:35-37)

Sometimes life has a way of throwing the unexpected at us. The Bible teaches us to be ready in season and out. He wants us to be prepared spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Being ready and prepared for any season will help to build our confidence in our relationship with Him and also our confidence in ourselves. The Bible promises us many blessings when we follow Him, but it in no way promises that our lives will be picture-perfect or that everything will always run smoothly.  God wants us to seek him not only when times are bad but when times are good as well. Sometimes when unexpected, negative experiences occur, our confidence in the Lord slips.  We wonder why He would allow us to struggle with that certain situation. We also can lose our confidence in ourselves and think that maybe if we were more spiritual these things would not have happened. Or maybe we have just messed up too much for God to even care. On the other hand, life might be going just fine but you may be dealing with insecurities or negative thoughts that can be hindering your confidence as well. Either way, God wants us to seek him not only when times are bad, but also when times are good. He wants us to maintain confidence in who He is and he wants us to maintain it in ourselves as well.

Why is confidence so important? First of all, when our confidence is rooted in Christ, we can have stability and peace when tests and trials come. Confidence allows us to step out and be bold in doing the things He has called us to do. It will help us to take appropriate risks without being held back in fear. It will help us try new things, meet new people, and get ahead in life; and we can live our lives not being overly concerned about what others may think of us. Wow! that sounds very freeing doesn't it? 

The scripture helps us to understand that we should not look to the right or to the left when things begin to happen that we did not expect. Keep your focus and keep your confidence strong in the Lord.  Hold on to your trust and your faith in who he is. God already knew what you would face in life and nothing catches Him by surprise! He knows the day and time you live in. He is with you each and every step of the way, and He always knows the final outcome of your situation. He is your strength. He will uphold you. He is your defender. He is your problem solver; and your security comes from him. There is no need to over-analyze your situation if you have complete confidence in Him. He is the author of your story so trust that he already knows what will happen in the next chapter. Trust his process. Ask him what you can learn from each experience in life. The good and the bad. Ask Him how you can grow.  Choose to have full assurance and rely on him to meet your needs. 

For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. (Proverbs 3:2)

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Where is Your Focus?

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

You know how it is.  You are driving along the road, when off to the side you notice something - maybe a kid flying a kite, a beautiful home, a red 1965 Pontiac GTO parked in a drive, or maybe some commotion with police cars and firetrucks.  And before you know it, your car is veering in that direction.  You can't help it.  It's because wherever you focus your eyes, you are automatically drawn.  The longer you focus on something, the greater the chance you will be drawn to it.

This is such an important principal.  It's why the Lord told us to keep our focus on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.  He knew the danger we would be in if we allowed ourselves to be consumed by this world.  We are chosen to be set apart from the world.  We must actively choose to focus on things above.  Think about yourself for a moment.  Would you consider yourself to be a positive person, or more on the negative side?   Now think about what fills your head each day.  What you see and hear everyday impacts your thoughts, your beliefs, and ultimately, your life.  I'm not suggesting that you should live in ignorance to the world around you, but I am suggesting you keep your negative intake to a minimum- as much as possible- and balance it out with a much heavier dose of the positive.  Perhaps you are a very positive person, surrounded by positivity - great!  But this does not only apply on a spiritual macro-level, it also applies on a micro-level to the details of your life.

For example, if you are on a "diet" [blech!  I hate that word], and you focus on the things that you can't eat, where is your focus?  On the very things you wish to AVOID!  So how long do you think you can restrict yourself?  Instead, focus on the positive.  Whether your goal is improved numbers in your lab work or pant size, focus on that goal.  Focus on new, healthy foods that bring life and vitality to you.  You'll make mistakes.  That is okay!  Just continue to pick yourself back up and focus on the positive.

Are you miserable at your job?  If you are, chances are that you come home day after day listing all of the irritating things that occurred that day.  You don't miss one piece of everything that is wrong with that place!  Focusing instead on the positive can make your day so much easier.  This will look different for everyone.  Maybe it is developing skills while you are there (free education) that can carry you over to a better job.  Maybe you can focus on small changes that you can make where you are at to improve the current atmosphere.

Here is a quick experiment:  I'm sure you have been to a zoo once or twice in you life, right?  Well right now, I want you to NOT think about a giraffe with his long neck and brown spots, munching on some leaves of a tall tree with those big lips of his.  Well?  Do you have that image in your head... even after I told you not to think about it?  The only way to change your thoughts is to change your focus.  Change your focus... change your thoughts... change your beliefs... change your life.

 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

Freedom Awaits

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

I wanted to shift gears for today, and share a personal story with you.  It was such a powerful moment for me, and I pray you will be blessed.

My daughter is 7 years old and is graduating first grade this week... and she is still a thumb-sucker.  She has tried and tried, and has been unable to break this habit.  So last night I casually mentioned that she really needs to quit sucking her thumb by the time she goes into second grade.  This led to a complete melt-down.  She struggles with this so deeply.  She desperately wants to stop sucking her thumb, but believes she is powerless to do so.  She has all of these terrible thoughts about herself and how "stupid" she is as a result.  It is such a battle within her, it's painful to watch her go through it.  Just like anyone else may struggle with addiction, this is hers.

Last night she was inconsolable.  I decided that it was time to abandon the trite "please help me God" prayer, and teach her what it really means to turn to God in a time of need.  I had her cry out to God for help - out loud, not in her head.  She was a little embarrassed, but she did it.  And her prayer was simple, sweet, and pure.  It was honest and from her heart, and she melted mine.  She asked for His help because she wants to stop and she can't.  When she was done, I prayed over her, casting out the lies that Satan has put in her head.  I filled her head with the truth of Almighty God.  When she is weak, she is strong because His power is made perfect in weakness.  She can do all things through Christ, who gives her strength.  By the end of the prayer, her spirit was light and free.  It was such a defining moment in her little life.  I know this will be a struggle, but last night she chose to believe in God for her freedom.  I stand with her and will do the same.  She has the honor to see the power of her God in a meaningful and tangible way at age 7!  When her freedom comes, she will know that it was only by the love and power of her Heavenly Father, and not by her own strength.  Think of what that will do for her in the future when she faces something else that she feels hopeless in.  She will remember how her God came through for her when she couldn't do it on her own.  She will know that she is loved in a mighty way, and that it will turn out okay.

As I shared this story with a couple of friends, it was interesting to me how they each pulled a different message to apply in their own lives.  I am resisting the urge to wrap this story up with a point, because I think there are a handful of points to be made.  Instead, I will let the Holy Spirit work it out in you.  I would love to hear what this means for you. Be blessed and know that you are all in our prayers.  Our God is so good.  His glory will shine through my daughter's life, and His glory will shine through yours... if you let it.

Gain Your Passion Back!

“How can we gain our passion back?”

“Why do we feel different?”

“Is being different a bad thing?”

“How can I feel free?”

We all have had passion at one time. If it was as a child, a teenager, or young adult, you have had it. Passion for God, your loved ones, your children, or your career. Passion is a compelling emotion of feeling and desire. Passion and love play hand and hand. If we want our passion back, we need to understand how to love and how to receive love. Passion gives us meaning and purpose for life and it is freeing when we know what our true passion and destiny is. We need to meditate on God's Word and be still to hear the whisper of the Lord. When we stop seeking the Lord and take our eyes off of Him, we lose sight of what His Word says about us. The enemy slithers his way into our thoughts, and how we feel about ourselves. We start to mold and conform to stereotypes that we aren’t. The first step to gaining our passion back is to go back to the place in our life were we once felt that passion.  The second step is to understand what God wants for us and who we are in Him. We need to understand that God made all of us different. If you have children, then you know what works for one may not work for the other. Feeling different is a good thing. God’s Word says to set ourselves apart from the world. I bet there are some people that have walked through life feeling different. Feeling different with friends, family and even in their own church family. I understand those who feel that way. I also felt that way at one point in my life. But, I got GREAT news. You are CHOSEN (that is why you feel different). Stop fighting with being different and just embrace it. Start being REAL with people! People, start accepting those people for who they are and not what they do! Love them because that is what our God does. Remember our GOD is LOVE!

 1 John 4:16 “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” You are ADOPTED into God’s Kingdom! He made you special. You are fearfully and wonderfully made!

 (Psalm 139:14 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” I think you get my point. 

My prayer for all of you is this: Let’s Gain Our Passion Back.  Embrace who God says we are and ignite the Flame. The Holy Spirit had spoken through a great friend of mine and said “Fan the Flames.” A lighter doesn’t ignite itself. You have to ignite it on your own. Once your Flame ignites, start fanning the flames. And pray that the people that are around you will catch it. But they have to be open to the Flames. So I want to challenge you “Ignite your Flame and Fan the Flame.” Let’s start a WILD FIRE to the world around us. I hope this will motivate you to understand Gods LOVE so you can LOVE yourself, LOVE others, and with that, your passion will come back. Because that is God's promise. I truly Love you all!!!!!!!! Also remember, for some, this may not come over night. Baby steps and setting a good foundation will build great balance!