Unless the Lord Builds It

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. ~ Psalm 127:1

We are giving a teaching on debt & finances tonight and I was thinking about this scripture, about how if God is not in the midst, not in the planning, not in at all, then the paper on which you plan out your budget isn’t worth more than paper, itself.  As I was typing up the notes, in preparation for tonight, I took a brief glance at Facebook and saw that Pastor Alex’s blog had a quote about this very thing.  “’Everyone was trying to dig out from under their mountain of debt; some made it but many did not’...I asked Pam how they had managed to keep their place…Pam said, ‘We got on our knees and asked God to help us keep our farm,’” (http://belifegiving.blogspot.com/2011/12/be-holy.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FVTVHC+%28Be+Life+Giving%29).

To some, just making ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck and feeling like you can’t breathe is like keeping a farm.  To others, it’s getting out of debt, out from under the mountain of creditors who call you each and every month.  And to each one, the Bible says there is hope!  Psalm 138:8 promises, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.”  It is not by my strength or my planning or my calculations that will make it all work out.  No, it is by the Lord’s strength and plan alone that His plans will succeed.  Whatever you are planning, whatever you are hoping for, whatever you desire, be sure you’ve included the Lord in your plans; for it is by His strength and guidance that your path will be made straight.  He will give you the answers you seek and the power to see them through.

When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted. ~ Psalm 138:3

~Heather Potts~

Valley of Dry Bones

A life without hope or a promise clung to is like a valley of dry bones.

To illustrate both the detachment of the Israelites from God, but also God's great love for His people, God led Ezekiel to a valley of dry bones, (see Ezekiel 37).  The Lord said that His people cry out, "Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off," (v 11).  I've heard this cry time and time again; not just throughout the Bible, but in everyday life.  When we are close to God,  nothing can touch us.  We are full of life and the world seems open to us.  But as we slowly drift from an intimate presence with God, we begin to dry up.  The promises we've taped to the bathroom mirror seem empty.  The visions we'd hoped to see come to pass are fading in the distance.  But the Lord is faithful and He wants to fulfill His promises.  Moreover, He wants us to be in His intimate presence again.  And He says, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them...'I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life,'" (vv 4-5).

What is it in your life that seems like a valley of dry bones?  What promise seems dead and without hope?  Into what dry area do you need to prophesy life and breath?  What vision, hope, dream, promise do you want to see live?  When the Lord led Ezekiel back and forth through the valley of dry bones, the Lord asked him, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And Ezekiel answered, "O Sovereign Lord, you alone know," (v 3). Even if you have nothing more than a faint promise, speak life to it as you cling to the Lord-who is life and who gives life-and watch it grow into a promise fulfilled.

This is what the Sovereign Lord says...'I will put my Spirit in you and you will live...Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it,' declares the Lord. ~ Ezekiel 37:14

Training to be Warriors

Train even your weaklings to be warriors ~ Joel 3:10

I’m in training right now.  I’ve joined a friend’s small group in order to have accountability so that I will train and condition my body to be first, in better health and condition, and second, to stay motivated enough to work hard enough to win two days off of work next year in a speed-walking contest.  Training, the getting up early on Saturdays and working out outside-no matter the weather, isn’t a whole lot of fun.  In fact, several mornings, I debated not going (which is why I need accountability or I really struggle to do it).  But after I put in the time and effort and saw the results of each training session I felt both excited and proud of myself.  I think that’s what Hebrews 12:11-12 is referring to, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.” 

Each time we take a step toward a goal, we are strengthening both our bodies and minds.  In walking, the faster you swing your arms, the faster your legs will move.  When I’m really tired and my legs feel as though they are going to give out, I tell my arms to swing faster and my legs follow suit.  This is the same thing, as we continue on toward our goal, no matter how tired or worn out we may be, we just need to keep going.  Because when we do we produce a harvest and we are no longer weaklings but warriors who are ready to go out and take on life’s challenges.

And now, O Lord, call out your warriors ~ Joel 3:11

From There

But if from there you seek the LORD your God… ~ Deuteronomy 4:29

Have you ever been floating on the water, whether on a lake or the Gulf, and noticed that after a period of time you gradually drifted away from where you started?  That can happen to us in our walk with God.  We’re going along, walking closely with God, but over time a million tiny interruptions come our way and one day we realize that we’ve drifted from the closeness we had to His heart.  Our first instinct might be to panic.  But no need to worry, for the Bible says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you…[for He has] loved you with an everlasting love; [and has] drawn you with loving-kindness,” (James 4:8; Jeremiah 31:3).

Where ever “there” is for you, you needn’t fear, for if you simply turn around and look for Him, God will be there.

But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. ~ Deuteronomy 4:29

Do You Want to Get Well?

Rather than trying to write God into our stories, we would be wiser to sit patiently with our Father and let him tell us his. ~ Redemption, Mike Wilkerson

I have a silly personality trait: I like to do math.  I like to figure out formulas on spreadsheets; I like to do calculations.  I used to play Yahtzee again and again just so I could figure out the average of my scores.  I like to play with numbers.  This silly trait of mine has helped in budgeting our family's money and writing a personalized debt-freedom plan.  When curve balls come our way, I actually like to sit down and figure out how to get us back on track.  But then I read the above quote and it's been poking at me ever since.  In fact, the other day, I was getting antsy, because I couldn't figure out how God was going to make it all work out; I couldn't make it make sense in my head.

On our way to church yesterday, we were talking about plans again and my husband said, "You can't figure out all of God's plans. Sometimes, you just have to have faith."  When we got to church, they were running through the end of the sermon and I heard Pastor Randy talk about getting a rhema--or personal--word from God.  So I figured the message was going to be great!  Perfect timing.  All I had to do was wait for the moment when God would speak to me.  I sat all through service and waited and didn't get "it."  At the end of service, when the emcee was bringing the service to a close, he told a brief story about a man who'd been crippled and had an encounter with Jesus (see John 5).  Jesus asked the man, "Do you want to get well?" (John 5:6)  To me, that seems like a pretty silly question, but the point is that we think--I think--we know how God's going to make it happen and the point to that story is that things are not going to be the way we can figure out, we must have faith.  I must have faith and "sit patiently with [my] Father and let him tell [me] his story."

According to Your Promise

May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. ~ Psalm 119:76


I've heard many pastors say that the Bible is God's blueprint for our lives and His Word holds the answer to every question we will ever ask.  In fact, several authors have tried to simplify things for us by writing books that contain 365 promises from God's Word and Q&A books written by topic, so that you simply need to look up a topic and several scriptures will be listed regarding that topic.  These little books are great and make nice gifts.  But these books, like the Bible, will be worthless if no one ever opens them up.  And if we never read God's Word, we're missing out on so many things He wants to tell us and teach us.


God wants us to know, for example, that we are made in His image; that He chose us when He planned creation; that it is His desire to lavish His love on us; and that He has always been and will always be our Father (Genesis 1:27; Ephesians 1:11-12; 1 John 3:1; Ephesians 3:14-15).  And that's just a small sampling of the things we will miss if we never open up and read His Word.  The Bible, like an elephant is a big thing to try to devour all in one shot.  But the way you eat an elephant is one bite at a time.  The same is true for reading God's Word.  If you've never read much or any of the Bible before, don't try to do it all in one sitting, or even in one month.  Do a little bit at a time.  I encourage you to get on a reading plan.  Christian bookstores have many bibles that have reading plans written into them.  I follow a reading plan from 66 Books (www.66books.wordpress.com).  


One other thing I would encourage you to do is to get a journal; it doesn't have to be fancy, I use a lot of spiral notebooks.  In your journal, record your conversations with God.  Record His answers.  Record the promises He makes to you, personally.  Record the things He teaches you.  In the back of every journal, I've got pages of the things He's taught me and the promises He's made to me.  With each new journal, I copy those things into the last pages, so that I can add to them and carry those things with me.  What promises and teachings will you carry with you?


Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. ~ Psalm 119:73
~Heather Potts~

He Notices

When we are more concerned with the opinions of other people than with what God thinks, we start drifting away from intimacy with Him…’I, even I am He who comforts you.  Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies…that you have forgotten the Lord your Maker…’ (Isaiah 51:12-13). ~ Jack Frost, Experiencing Father’s Embrace

We live in such a fast-paced society that more often than not, we will stop a supervisor, manager, etc. to tell of how an employee wronged us in some way, but rarely do we stop to tell an individual of how they were a great help to us.  We all want to be recognized for our hard work and great effort.  We all have these thoughts: I want to do a good job.  I want to be approved of.  I want my work to matter.  I work hard and I want someone to notice.

Father God wants you to know that He notices and He's proud of you.  No matter the kind of day you've had, He loves us just the same.  On our “good” days and our “bad” He is very proud to be called “Dad.”  He wants nothing more than  for us to spend our time with Him.  So the next time you are fed-up and throw your hands up, ready to give up, all because you think you screwed up, remember that Father God looks at you and He sees beauty.  He loves you and doesn’t care about the rest…and thinks you shouldn’t, either.

For the Lord is pleased with and accepts His [sons and daughters] favorably; He will adorn with beauty those who are afflicted, bowed-down, and downcast and He will raise them up into deliverance and great victory. ~ Psalm 149:4

Trust

We know our fears. 

We know our circumstances. 

What we don’t always know is what God is doing in the midst. 

When the outlook is bleak, when things take a turn you weren’t expecting, when you feel like the world all-around you is crumbling, what do you do?  Where do you turn? 

In His darkest hour, Jesus cried out to God.  But this was not a distant, unseen stranger.  This was His Abba Father, someone who was close to Him, someone He knew and knew Him with great intimacy.  Jack Frost, in his book Experiencing Father’s Embrace, calls intimacy “into-me-see,” because it’s being completely open and naked to another, just as Adam and Eve were before the Fall.  Jesus had that completely open and honest relationship with His Father so that in His darkest hour, He could say—without fear of punishment or abandonment—I’m afraid… ”Father, I’m afraid and I don’t want to go down this path.  But, Father, I know You so well and I trust You.  So Father, let it be Your will, and not Mine.  I trust You completely,” (see Mark 14:36). 

Do you have that relationship with your heavenly Father?  If not, you can.  It takes adopting an “into-me-see” attitude with God.  It takes trusting Him and talking openly and honestly with Him.  It takes listening to Him and following what He has to say.  Like with any relationship, trust takes trust, but the more you trust Him, the more you will trust Him.  If you trust Him with little issues, you will trust Him with big issues.  If you turn to Him in times of peace, you will turn to Him in times of distress.  Allow Him to be your Abba Father, with whom you share everything.  He longs to have the relationship with you.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment…We love because he first loved us. ~ 1 John 4:18-19

Joy-Prayer-Thanks

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; give thanks in all circumstances. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The difference between joy and happiness is what—or who—is inside of you.  Happiness will come and go based upon circumstances, but joy can be had always, in all situations, if you remember that it is God who calls us to and brings us through.  And in those times that you can’t seem to find joy, don’t stop praying.  The difference between prayer and worry is who you’re talking to and what it does for you.  God brings answers and comfort; worry brings stress and sickness.  And while you’re waiting for God to answer your prayers, dance in advance!  Thank God for it before you see it.  This will increase your joy, your expectation, and keep you focused on the goal and not the walking toward it.  And always remember: I can do all thing through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13).

Drawn to Redemption

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. ~ John 8:34-36

In his book, Redemption, Mike Wilkerson discusses why we struggle with redemption.  “You may have developed various means of dealing with what's been done to you--self-protection, hypersensitivity, catastrophizing to grab others' attention, never trusting anyone or depending too much on their affirmation, getting even, withholding yourself from others, becoming the aggressor, or self-medicating with any number of substances or pleasure.  In short, you may have constructed a comprehensive manner of life for surviving apart from God (Eph 4:22),” (56).  In this life you’ve created for yourself, you’ve cocooned yourself into an imaginary safety-zone.  But that safety-zone is a lie and God doesn’t want you to stay there.  He wants to open your eyes to the more that He has for you: True Freedom through Redemption.  “In delivering us from sin, God breaks the chains of slavery and beckons us to freedom,” (Wilkerson, 57).

David Crowder, in the song “How He Loves,” says that we are “drawn to redemption by the grace in [God’s] eyes.”  And it's the grace in His eyes that causes us to battle.  If all someone has ever known is that "manner of life," then to see something so peaceful, gentle, and non-judgmental in the eyes of Christ causes one to battle within themselves.  In the battle, the enemy says, "Don't bother, it will be more of the same." And at the same time, the grace we see draws us ever forward. 

Being enslaved is not a “rare condition.”  Jesus said that everyone who sins is a slave to it, bound in chains.  And every enslaved being wants freedom.  It’s the job of those who’ve been freed to lead and guide those still in chains, through love, to the One--the only One--who can make them free forever.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. ~ Galatians 5:1

Whose I Am

And He said to me, "My [child],  you have always been with me.  All that is mine is yours. ~ Luke 15:31

Confidence is having belief in yourself and your abilities.  I don't always have full confidence in myself when I'm in certain situations or doing certain activities.  I was talking to God about it and what He revealed to me was a gentle reminder of who He is.  God is confident around everyone, because He knows who He is.  As His daughter, I shouldn't lack confidence, either.

It's not about my activities or my circumstances, but about remembering who I am and whose I am.  God said that we have always been with Him and all that is His--His personality, His character, His attributes, etc.--is ours, we simply need to know it, believe it, and walk in it.

If there's an area of your life where you feel you are lacking, or could be more filled up, ask God to give you a revelation about who you are in Him.  You are His son.  You are His daughter.  You are His.

~Heather Potts~

Made Complete

In Him you have been made complete ~ Colossians 2:10

There is a story of an East European craftsman who makes vases.  He works with clay until the vase is paper-thin and without defect.  If there is even the slightest flaw, the vase is discarded and he starts over.  Once the vase has been fired, he delicately paints the inside.  When he has finished, the craftsman holds up the vase to admire it...and then he drops it into a metal box, where it smashes into a million tiny pieces (Standing Firm, Donna Partow).

For too many, that's how they feel their lives have gone.  That one day, without warning, the floor came out from beneath them.  And far too many think that's where they have to stay.  But when they do, they miss the best part of the story: Redemption!  This story doesn't end in a metal box because Christ didn't stay in a tomb.  He rose!  He set the captives free and healed the wounded and brokenhearted.

The craftsman doesn't leave the vase in the metal box.  He painstakingly glues each tiny piece back together.  All the broken places are now stronger than ever, but the vase isn't finished at this stage.  He works with pounded gold to make paint and covers over every spot of glue.  The vase, now complete, is more beautiful and stronger than ever before.

Jesus said that this life would throw us curve balls and try to defeat us, but in Him, we can have peace, for He has overcome the world, (John 16:33).  If you've been trapped in the metal box, call out to God who loves you unconditionally.  He longs to heal you in all your broken places, for in His love, we have been made complete.

What If It's More

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to His power.. ~ Ephesians 3:20

Every day I have a choice to make of who to listen to.  Fear says, “What if the future, the next step, this decision, etc., is not what I was expecting?”  God says, “What if it’s more?”  Courage is not moving forward because we are assured that the way is secure.  Courage is moving forward, believing that God is secure and we are secure in Him.  Every day, we are bombarded with voices, all clamoring for our attention.  The choice is ours alone, to which we will listen and follow.  Fear has the power to immobilize and shift directions.  But God has greater power.  It is God “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to His power.”  God’s power can take our wrong turn and put us back on track.  God’s power can take our pain and use it for His glory.  God’s power can make something out of nothing.  But it begins with our choosing to follow His direction, His voice.

So when the enemy lies to you and says, “Why bother.  It’s not going to be what you were expecting it to be,” what will you do?  To whose voice will you listen and follow?

Fear says, “What if it’s not what you are expecting.”  God says, “What if it’s more.”

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear… ~ 1 John 4:18

He Will Hold Me Close

Though my father and mother forsake me [neglect, don’t see the potential in me], the LORD will receive me [hold me close, see the value in me]… A father to the fatherless…God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing…in you the fatherless find compassion. "I will heal their waywardness and love them freely…” (Psalm 27:10, 68:5-6; Hosea 14:3-4).

What do you long for in life?  What are you missing?  Every one of us has a God-sized hole in our hearts that only our Father can fill.  Yes, we all have earthly parents—some of us lived with both and some of us didn’t live with either—but regardless, we have a Father in God.  He is our Dad.  If that’s a scary or intimidating thing, then perhaps you are comparing your heavenly Father to your earthly father, when you should be comparing your earthly father to your heavenly Father.  Your heavenly Father is perfect, through and through and He loves you with a divine love.  Here is one of the ingredients of divine love: “Sincerity…does not blaze out in passionate anger, nor brood over wrongs; always just, joyful, and truthful; knows how to be silent; full of trust; always present,” (Finis Dake Bible, 1 Corinthians 13:4 notes).  Perhaps your earthly parents were really good at holding a grudge, or they were passive aggressive, or they scared you by yelling a lot.  Perhaps they were down the middle, but still kind of absent.  No matter the conditions of your growing up and childhood, God wants to draw you close to Him.  He wants to hold, comfort, love on, and cuddle you. 

If this is something you are longing for, today’s the day you can begin to experience that with Father God.  He’s got His arms open wide and He’s waiting for you to run to Him.

[Father God’s love] flows most freely to those who are meek and lowly of heart and who will come to the Father like a little child in need of Daddy’s comforting love ~ Experiencing Father’s Embrace, Jack Frost

~Heather Potts~

He Loves You

TRUTH: My Father wants me to overflow with His love. ~ Experiencing Father’s Embrace, Jack Frost

Do you know that God loves you?  From the time we were little, some of us sang “Jesus loves me.”  And while He does, God also loves you.  He loves you like a father and not just any father, but your Perfect Heavenly Father.  He loves you unconditionally.  He wants to comfort you, hold you, nurture you, cherish you, adorn you with beauty, fill you up to completeness, and remind you of what it means to be His.  He is My Father…your Father, your Daddy.  You are His cherished one and He loves you.  He wants you to know that you know that you know—beyond head knowledge—how much He loves you.  Daddy loves you.  Think on that today, meditate on it.  Let Him heal you in your broken places and fill you in your empty places.  Remember today and always: Daddy loves you.

[I pray that you may] know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. ~ Ephesians 3:19

Overflowing

My sin not in part but the whole / is nailed to the cross / and I bare it no more / Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord oh my soul ~ "It Is Well" Horatio G. Spafford

They say that labor pains are the worst pain a woman can feel, but as soon as she holds her newborn baby in her arms, she forgets all the pain.  Forgiveness has that same effect.  The act of forgiveness is the most precious gift we can give...to ourselves.  It stops toxins from forming in our hearts, minds, and bodies because the root of bitterness is gone from our lives.  I'd both heard and seen my pastor walk someone through forgiveness, wholehearted forgiveness, but it's quite different when you walk through it yourself.  Nothing prepares you for the process, but there's also nothing other than possibly the labor experience to compare the after effects to.  Once you've let the offenses go and have been filled up with love, deep, unconditional Father God love, the pain of the sin that was committed against you and the pain of letting it go are so faint that you hardly remember they existed.  I can honestly say that I'm so filled with joy and such a deep understanding of my Daddy's love for me that anything that happened before this is just a shadow.

Thank you God for being so faithful, for not giving up on me, and most importantly, thank you for showering me with this amazing love that I always longed for but never really realized existed.  Thank you for being my Daddy.  Thank you for drawing me near. I love you!

For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. ~ Matthew 12:34

Things to Enjoy

[Focus] on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. ~ 1Timothy 6:17

  

The office where I work has half-cubes, so whatever you do at your desk, not only can everyone hear, but they can also see.  I got a new CD over the weekend that I was quite excited to listen to, but am unable to at work because some around me complain that they can hear it.  So I thought, “I’ll get headphones,” but it’s not in the budget for this month so I’d have to wait.  But here’s the coolest part: God reminded me that I already have headphones!  My God is big enough to create the whole world, but He’s also in the tiniest details that He will draw my attention to the fact that I have headphones in my house so that I can listen to my CD at work.  This wasn’t for anything other than my enjoyment!  Thanks God!

That's Enough!

"That's enough!" I said yesterday after several of my friends had sent me prayer requests.  It was time for some focused devil-defeating prayer!  When is enough of the enemy way too much of the enemy?  When we get fed up, stand up, and say, "That's enough!"  When we determine to stand in the gap for our friends and family members, that's when the devil goes running!

I implore you, don't let another day go by where you allow the devil to steal from you or the ones you love.  John 10:10 is crystal clear about the devil's M.O., "to kill, steal, and destroy," none of which we have to take lying down.  The Bible is also very clear about our position, "You are from God...greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world," (1 John 4:4).  But simply knowing our position isn't good enough; we must have follow-through to ward off the enemy. "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.  He prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith," (1 Peter 5:8-9).  The enemy knows that if he can't get you to back down from your stance on God's Word, then he's got nothing.  But if he can get you to waver, falter, and flee, then just like a lion pursues his prey, he knows he's got you.  That is why we must stand firm against him.

Today I challenge you: If you or a loved one is being attacked by the enemy, today is your day to stand up and say "No more!"  Don't let the enemy take any more ground than he's taken.  Today is your day to stand up and stand in the gap and defeat him!

Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the vast army.  For this battle is not yours but God's...Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. ~ 2 Chronicles 20:15, 17
~Heather Potts~

It's Not Yours

This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.’ ~ 2 Chronicles 20:15

Have you noticed lately that there are obstacles in your way?  Things are trying to grab you attention and make you focus on those things so that you will not have peace?  You are so busy focusing on your illness, your car issues, your lack of help, your past, problems with your children, issues with your spouse, bills you don’t know how you’ll pay, etc., that you have forgotten what peace feels like.  You are so distracted that if someone tells you to trust in the Lord, you’re almost more likely to give them a sarcastic comeback than a genuine thank you.  I’m reading a book right now called, Redemption, by Mike Wilkerson.  In this book we are told that this life we are living is not our story… It’s God’s and He is the main character (27).  Life is about perspective and if we will remember that this is God’s story and we are simply characters in the story He is telling, then we will be able to rest in Him, knowing that He really does have our backs and the outcome really does rest in and with Him.  One of the things that Wilkerson says that  humans struggle to maintain is shalom, peace (29).  The Bible says that we have access to “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,” through Christ Jesus, our Lord, (Philippians 4:7).

Whatever you are facing today, this is what the Lord says, “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you,” (2 Chronicles 20:17).

~Heather Potts~

Can't "Do" You Way

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ~ Romans 12:2

One of the "patterns" that we've been taught is to be ever in motion, to be "doers".  And while the Bible teaches us to be the hands and feet of Jesus, we are called, first and foremost, into a relationship with Jesus and not to be His servants, only. The renewing of our minds calls for something greater than "acts;" there are not "Ten Easy Steps" in order to see this transformation.  David Guzik says, "The problem with many Christians is they...are only concerned about doing...The life based on doing says...'Just tell me what to do. Give me the four points for this and the seven keys for that.' This life of doing will never know the transforming power of God because it ignores the renewing of the mind," ("Study Guide to Romans 12", Blue Letter Bible).

The renewing of our minds is a transformation that can only take place when we enlist the power of the Holy Spirit and we spend quality time with God, getting to know Him and hearing the truths He has to impart to us.  Renewing your mind is a paradigm shift in which you are not the action maker.  Instead, you need to invite the Holy Spirit to help you in this shift, for this is not something that you can cause to happen, but you can allow it to happen to you. Where ever you are in your walk, God wants to draw you deeper and closer to His side.  He wants you to have an ever attentive ear for Him.  This will never happen because of your efforts. Instead, "this transformation and renewing of our minds takes place as we behold the face of God, spending time in His glory," (Guzik). God is ever willing and always available.  All He needs from you is an invitation. Ask Him today and see how He'll transform you into a new creation.
~Heather Potts~

What's Locked-On to You?

Do not conform any longer 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

The word "conform" reminds me of the character Smith from the movie Matrix Revolutions.  As you watch the movie Smith will touch another person (or program) and as he does so, he will take over that person's body and will fashion them after himself, producing several copies of himself.  The word conform in this scripture is the Greek word syschēmatizō, meaning "to conform one's self (mind or character) to another's pattern," (blueletterbible.org).  The word "transform," however, reminds me of what a caterpillar does each year when it becomes a butterfly; it changes into a whole new creation.  The prefix "trans" means to change thoroughly.


In this scripture, we are being commanded to not allow the world--anything that is not of God--to wrap itself around us so that it begins to pattern our minds and actions after those things.  Instead, we are to become a new creation by renewing our minds through the study of God's Word.  In essence, if we do nothing, we will become one of "Smith's" victims and become a copy of him, in one of the patterns of this world.  But if we resist by locking our minds and actions on the things of God, we are promised to be changed into something new, something beautiful, something glorious.  It is only then, with our minds, eyes, and hearts locked on God that we will be able to recognize what God's will is-His good, pleasing, and perfect will for our lives.


~Heather Potts~

Baking

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ~ Romans 8:28

"He works [all things] for good together, not in isolation," (David Guzik, "Study Guide for Romans 8").

Think about all the aspects of your life: your mountaintops, your valleys, and every step in between.  God works in every single step and He uses them all to produce a beautiful masterpiece.  It's like baking, whether the end result will be a wedding cake, a batch of cookies, or a tray of brownies, the end result doesn't happen just because you crack open a few eggs.  The masterpiece happens because you combine all the ingredients, in perfect measurement, and bake them at the correct temperature for the needed amount of time.  The end result is determined by the specific combination of all the ingredients.  All of these deserts--cakes, brownies, cookies--have at least one thing in common.  But they are all different desserts because it's not the egg--just one ingredient--that determines the end result, but the combination of all the ingredients.

Whatever you are going through today, take comfort in knowing that God works all things together for your good: your suffering, your joy, and every step in between.
~Heather Potts~

Much Love

"I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love." ~ Luke 7:47

There’s a story about a young couple who, after about a decade of marriage, went to see a counselor.  They told him that they had no intimacy in their marriage—and they didn’t mean what the world calls intimacy—and  they couldn’t figure out why.  The counselor listened to their stories and then said the reason they lacked this important part to their marriage was because they lacked “Holy Submission.”  He said that Holy Submission is described in Ephesians 5:22-33 as the wife  submitting to her husband as her shepherd (someone who protects, guides, and watches over others) as the church submits to Christ and as the husband loving and giving his life up for the wife as Christ did for the church.  Near the end of the session, the counselor spoke to the husband and wife separately, but told them both the same thing: you are the key to making this work.

After 3 weeks, the couple went back to the counselor and he asked how they were doing.  The wife said that God showed her that through Christ, she had the power within her to change the things about herself and to begin to live the way the Bible called her to live.  The husband said he’d studied 1 Corinthians 13 (aka the “love chapter”) and tried to model the things he’d learned in it.  The counselor was glad that they’d made so many improvements in such a short amount of time.  He said it was truly God’s Word (and not the works of the counselor) that had caused this change in their lives.  The wife said one more thing that really stuck out to the counselor.  She said, “I know I had a big part to play in how we drifted apart…although I didn’t see it until we came to see you.  But I must say, more than anything, it’s the grace he’s given me to change that’s really helped me the most.  His love and forgiveness of me melted my heart and drew me to want to be a better wife to him.”

Jesus said that for whom much has been forgiven, by them much love will be given (Luke 7:47).  How can you show your spouse grace today?  Have they wronged you in some way?  A way in which the world would tell you that you have every right to hold it over their heads or even divorce them?  Forgiveness is allowing God to touch them, to work in their lives, and to correct what needs to be corrected.  Forgiveness means taking your hands off the gavel in the courtroom, because you are no longer going to be judge and jury.  Forgiveness isn’t the easiest act of compassion, but as it did for the wife in this story, it may be the key thing that will melt their heart and allow them to move freely toward you and toward love.  If you aren’t living the life you’ve always dreamed of, perhaps there’s a change that needs to be made.  Ask God to reveal anything in your heart that needs to be revealed or changed.  He promised He’ll show you the way.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

~Heather Potts~

Drawn to Jesus

Did you ever wonder what compels us to Jesus; what about Him draws us in?  In his book, Give it All to Him, Max Lucado tells the story of a girl with a bag full of trash.  He identifies a man who knows exactly what’s in her trash bag.  On the outside, her bag looks like everyone else’s—heavy, bulky—with no way to see the inside.  But somehow, he knew and his response to knowing was, “Will you give me your trash,” (23).  At his question she’s left wondering, “How could he know what he knew?  And how could he know and still be so kind?”  When the world sees our loads they offer up other suggestions: Your therapist tells you to talk about it, but at the end of the hour you still have to take your bags with you; your friends tell you not to feel bad; feel-great-about-life rallies tell you to ignore it and be happy, but eventually that wears off; and legalists tell you to work it off, (20).  And in the end, where does it all get you?

God says: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness,” (Jeremiah 31:3); “I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them,” (Hosea 11:4).  Even in our lowest, worst states, Jesus has loved us and God has beckoned us.  So really, the choice is totally ours.

And what about the girl, what happened to her?  When she approached the man and it was her turn to give him her trash bags, she hesitated.  But “His eyes compel her to step forward.  He reaches for  her trash and takes it from her. ‘You can’t live with this,’ he explains. ‘You weren’t made to,’”(35).

Regardless of what is in the bags, Jesus wants us to give it to Him.  There is absolutely no benefit that comes from carrying it—only harm.  So just as He asked the girl, He’s asking you: Will you give up your trash--your baggage—to Jesus?  Will you dare to chance living a life that’s totally free—free from shame, anger, rage, guilt, and pain—free to be a child filled with joy who dances in His courts?  “You can’t live with this….You weren’t mean to.”

They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD…They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more. ~ Jeremiah 31:12

Open Our Eyes

We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:8-9

God is so amazing!  He moves heaven and earth and orchestrates all things to work together for my good (Romans 8:28).  Now, when we are walking through the valleys in our lives, it doesn’t feel good, it doesn’t look good, and we may not see how it will ever be good.  But we can rest assured that if we are in Christ and He is in us that we have the power within us (through Christ Jesus) to turn this situation around.  It’s all about perception and having our eyes opened to more truth.  God said, “Lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes,” (Isaiah 54:2).  When God makes us a promise, it’s also a call in our lives to make more room and time for Him and what He wants to do in our lives.  It’s a call for us to go deeper than ever before with Him.  As we go deeper, He opens our eyes wider and shows us more truth.  It’s all about perception.  The things I see and know today, I wasn’t ready for even two months ago.  The things He will teach me tomorrow will be built upon the things He’s teaching me today.  Psalm 23:4 says that even though today I might be walking in the shadow of the valley of death, tomorrow, God may reveal that the shadow I thought was death was really the shadow of the cross and He had to open my eyes so I could see it clearly.  2 Corinthians 1:8-9 says that I had to be brought to a point in my life and walk to realize that I can’t do it on my own, but must rely completely on God.  And that’s ok, because God longs to work amazing miracles in my life!

Life is full of light and shadows.  Oh, the joy and oh, the sorrow, oh, the sorrow / And yet will He bring the day from night.  And yet will He bring dark to light / When shadows fall on us, We will not fear, We will remember, When darkness falls on us, We will not fear, We will remember, When all seems lost, When we’re thrown and we’re tossed, We’ll remember the cost, We’re resting in the shadow of the cross. ~ “Shadows” David Crowder Band

Power Thoughts

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect* the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. ~ 2 Corinthians 3:18

Last night I visited the small group “Power Thoughts,” where several amazing women are taking charge over their thoughts and their lives.  This book, by Joyce Meyer, teaches us to take our thoughts captive.  It forces us to examine the things we’ve heard and believed about ourselves.  It asks us to look at ourselves through the eyes of a loving God, who wants nothing but the best for us.  And it asks us to walk in boldness—boldness to believe that God loves us enough that He would not want us walking in anything less than in knowing the Truth about how He sees us.

This verse says that we are being transformed into God’s likeness—this is a process and doesn’t happen all at once or even in a few days.  A process takes a certain amount of time, and even Paul said that he didn’t have it all together, but “I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me,” (Philippians 3:14 TM).  That’s what God asks of all of us, that we would keep reaching out for Him, keep our eyes fixed on Him, and keep moving toward Him.  The one thing all the women had in common last night was their desire to live for a God who called them to reflect His glory in their lives by learning who they are in Him.  Amazing women, all of them!

When I Call

When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted. ~ Psalm 138:3

One of the things I love about my God is that He always answers me when I call.  Now, I don’t know if He answers me because I expect Him to, or if I expect Him to because He always answers me.  Sometimes His answers are simply to show me He loves me:  “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me,” (Isaiah 49:16); and “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).  Sometimes, He answers me with gentle encouragement: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak…but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint,” (Isaiah 40:29, 31).  And sometimes He answers me with bold and challenging encouragement: “Therefore, thus says the LORD, ‘If you return, then I will restore you— Before Me you will stand; And if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become My spokesman,” (Jeremiah 15:19); and “They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.’ [But I prayed],’"Now strengthen my hands,’” (Nehemiah 6:9).

No matter what situation I’m in and no matter what I’m going through, I know, without a shadow of a doubt that my God will answer me when I call Him.

Even Though

Even though I walk through the darkest valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. ~ Psalm 23:4

This scripture starts out by saying, “Even though…”  Even though is a conjunction meaning, “despite the fact,” or “regardless.”   In other words, “While I recognize that I’m currently in this situation, I fully expect it to change.”  In this scripture, the speaker recognizes that he is in the “valley of the shadow of death.”  The word “death” can be a physical death, an emotional death (such as distress), a mental death (such as depression), a relational death, it doesn’t give complete clarity.  Regardless of what you are facing or feeling, you don’t have to stay in that place. 

Romans 8 talks about life through the Spirit versus life through the flesh: “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace,” (vv. 5-6).  Regardless of how you got into this valley, if you have the Spirit of Christ living in you, then you already have the power within you to come out of it.  That is why the speaker in Psalm 23 can say, “I will not be afraid.” 

Whatever you are facing today: trials in your marriage, with your kids, with your family, health issues, financial issues, others, know that even though this trial may seem insurmountable, God is with you.  He is walking close beside you and you don’t have to be afraid.  He longs to comfort and protect you and show you the way out.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but [a Spirit] of power and of love and of a sound mind. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

~Heather Potts~

Don't be afraid; just believe

While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler, "Your daughter is dead," they said.  "Why bother the teacher anymore?" ~ Mark 5:35

There is a passage in the Book of Mark that talks about the dead girl and teaches us some things we need to remember when we ask Jesus for something.  1) Go the distance.  Jairus asked Jesus to come to his house to heal is daughter but before they got there, several people tried to get Jesus' attention.  However, Jairus didn't just give up and go home, he continued to wait for Jesus to make His way through the crowd and come with him.  2) Block out the nay-sayers.  After Jesus agreed to go with Jairus, two men came and reported that his daughter was dead.  But Jesus ignored them and said, "Don't be afraid; just believe," (v. 36).  When we've prayed for something, people are going to try to tell us to give up.  We must learn to block them out and keep focused on the power we have with us in Jesus.  3) Keep just a few close and put out the rest.  Ever heard of crowd mentality?  It's when one person in a crowd gets everyone else in the crowd to go along with what they say.  Keeping just a few people around you, sets up a barrier between you and those who would laugh at you and tell you it can't be done.  And those around you can remind you of the promises of God when you are feeling low and wanting to give up.  When Jesus went to the house of Jaius, there were many who were crying and wailing because they saw that the little girl was dead.  Jesus said that she wasn't dead and put out all who said she was.  Then He went inside with the few He had brought with Him and commanded the girl to rise...And she did.

Whatever you are facing, whatever you've asked and believed God to do in your life, following this example will help you get there.  And in the end remember the words of Jesus, "Don't be afraid; just believe."
~Heather Potts~

Expectation Builds Strength

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31

My two favorite holidays each year are Christmas and my birthday--and my birthday is Flag Day, so it's an actual holiday.  Every year, I look forward to them with great anticipation and excitement counting down the days till one of these two holidays arrives.  I know that it's going to be perfect!  I may not know everything that's going to happen on the day, but I know it's going to be amazing!  The anticipation builds as the day draws closer.  And when the day finally arrives, I'm not let down.  This scripture says, "they that wait upon the Lord shall have their strength renewed."  At first glance, that seems a bit off to me.  "Waiting" is generally not a fun act, because it's defined as being inactive and as something neglected for a time.  That sounds completely different than something that would build strength and encouragement.  But remember, the original text was in Hebrew and the original word is qavah, meaning "to expect."  We understand expectation.  When we are expecting something, we are looking forward to it and anticipating that it will happen.  Anticipation and expectation all build excitement and that, I can see, as building strength!

In his blog, Be Life Giving, Alex Anderson said that Jesus expected that His prayers would be answered and as sons and daughters of God, and as the body of Christ, we should expect nothing less, (http://belifegiving.blogspot.com/2011/07/ladies-and-gentlemen.html).  He said that as Jesus expected, we, too, should expect to have our prayers answered.  Don't just wait around--as the world waits--for your prayers to be answered.  Instead, expect that they will be answered.  Expect it, with great anticipation, as you would expect your favorite holiday to come this year.  Expect it; picture it; look forward to it!  Those who look forward to something with great expectation and anticipation will have their strength renewed.  They will be able to keep moving forward, because their expectation motivates them.  Keep looking in expectation!
~Heather Potts~

See by Faith

The more I seek you, the more I find you.  The more I find you, the more I love you. ~ "The More I Seek You," Kari Jobe

Five or ten years ago, it was common to see WWJD everywhere, on bracelets, Bible covers, t-shirts, etc.  The concept was if Jesus was here, what would He do or how would He respond.  What if we rearrange that a little bit and change our focus.  What if we determine to see and hear Jesus in everyone; how differently might you respond?  You see, when you focus on Jesus, and look at the world through spiritual eyes, you're no longer seeing fleshly earth suits, you're looking past that into the pain or the joy of who they are underneath.  Now, by faith, cover them in the love of Jesus.  Do they become easier to love if you see Jesus instead of whatever their earth suit is doing?  Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me," (Matthew 25:40).  We all want to do everything for Jesus, but sometimes, there are people we don't have that same attitude toward.  If you saw the face of Jesus instead of theirs or recognized His affect instead of theirs, would it make it easier to act and respond in love?  Ask God to anoint your eyes, to give you spiritual eyes, that you may see by faith instead of by sight.  Even Star Wars knew, "Your eyes can deceive you. Don't trust them."

We live by faith, not by sight. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7
~Heather Potts~

Lay them down

Take my fret, take my fears, all I have I'm leaving here.  Be all my hopes, be all my dreams, You're my delight, my everything. ~ Only You, David Crowder Band

Jesus said, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest...Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you...Cast all your anxiety on the Lord, because he cares for you," (Matthew 11:28; Psalm 55:22; 1 Peter 5:7).  All of these verses beckon us and tell us that we have a part to play.  Jesus wants us to live worry-free, fear-free, and care-free.  Looking at your life, perhaps you are wondering how to do that.  If He is a perfect God, can't He just take these things from me?  No, because He gave us free will and we choose to pick them up again and again when He has asked us to lay them down, to give them to Him, and not take them back upon our shoulders.  In his devotional, The Daily Chase, Tommy Tenney writes, "God would not tell us to 'lay aside' something if we were not fully capable of doing it.  It is not that we cannot; it is that we will not. We have established habits and imposed things upon ourselves that have nothing to do with the gospel," ("The Job of Unloading is in Your Portfolio, Not God's").  Jesus has given us a prescription, a plan, for us.  He says, "Lay down your way, your thoughts, your agenda, and take up Mine.  I promise that I will sustain you, if you will only let Me.  I promise that you will have rest, if you will only listen to Me.  I promise that you will not stumble and fall, if you will only follow where I lead you to go."

~Heather Potts~

Who do you expect to see?

Part of perception is expectation.  When I look at you, who do I expect to see?  God says, "See, I am doing a new thing!  Do you not perceive it," (Isaiah 43:19).  The answer depends upon what we expect when we look; through which lenses are we looking?  The word perceive is defined as recognition through the senses, but we know that our senses can deceive us and, therefore, we must look through better lenses than our human eyes.

Expectation is like a filing cabinet.  We have different expectations for different people for different reasons.  Think of all of those expectations as locked up in a filing cabinet and when someone approaches, you open your file on them and review it as the two of you interact.  If Lucy's file is filled with "gossip, cheat and liar," I'm bound to react to her in a very bound-up and protected manner, regardless of how she is acting or treating me.  I cannot  see her any other way, because my lens is colored with those expectations and I can't see clearly through them.  If, however, I read "grace-giver, confidant, encouragement, and BFF," I will view her through the lenses of those expectations and my reactions will be quite different.

If you determine to see Jesus in everyone, you will see them differently and you will respond to them differently, as well.  Jesus said, "Fix your eyes on Me.  What you are going through is just a dance and I am your partner.  Consider how you would act in response to Me.  Keep your eyes firmly set upon My face and your issues will begin to melt away."


Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. ~ Proverbs 4:25

Dance with Jesus

Fix your attention on God...Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. ~ Romans 12:2

God is so amazing!  He always knows what we need, even if we don't.  He says, "Fix your attention on Me."  That word "fix" means to hold tightly, firmly, to become set, permanent.  Pastor Justin spoke this weekend about how the enemy is sizing you up, trying to keep you away from Jesus and trying to distract you from being effective.  With our eyes fixed on Jesus, the enemy can't distract us, because He is all we see.  But it's when we take our eyes off Jesus, even for a split second that it's easier for the devil to get in the next time and with every look away from Jesus, there is suddenly more and more distance between Him and us.

But Jesus is always there, waiting for you to notice Him.  And when we do come back to Him, and draw close again, He leads us in a dance.  When you are dancing with someone, you are close.  When you dance with them long enough and focus on them, you can feel their movements and you begin to flow with them.  As they step, you step.  As they sway,  you sway.  Jesus wants you to dance with Him.  He wants you to feel His heart beat and for yours to beat with His.  He wants you to feel Him breathing and for you to breathe with Him.  He wants you to feel the fluidity of His motions and have you move in step, in motion, with Him.

Fix your eyes upon Jesus.  The places He's leading you to and the things He's asking you to do, He'll show you the way.  Keeping close to Jesus allows us to move in immediate response to His request.  Just dance with Jesus.

Cling to God

Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them.  You must not serve them or bow down to them. ~ Joshua 23:7

I was listening to an old sermon entitled, “How to Stop the Pain.”  In it, Pastor Alex said that when we’re hurt by events in our lives, sometimes we will make a vow that we won’t do those things or live that way, etc.  He said that when we make these vows, it’s because we’ve judged something and the very things we thought we were swearing against seem to follow us throughout our lives, but they are worse for us than for those we judged.  For example, if your parents got divorced and you saw the pain it caused in your family, you may have vowed that you were never going to live like that.  Except that in your life, things are much worse.    Jesus said that we are not to swear or make vows, not “by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool,” (Matthew 5:34).  The Bible also says that if we swear, “by heaven or by anything else…you will be condemned,” (James 5:12).  These seem to be very harsh words, but when we swear, or make an oath, or take a vow, we are binding ourselves to these things.  The word “condemned” is from the Greek word krisis (which is where we get our word “crisis”), means “separation,” (blueletterbible.org).

God said that instead of binding ourselves to foreign things—things that are not of Him—we are, instead, to “hold fast to the Lord your God,” (Joshua 23:8).  In our most desperate hour, we tend to shut everything and everyone out.  We make vows which we think will protect us, but really cause us more pain and anguish.  God wants you to cling to Him, bind your fate to Him.  He promises that if you do, He will continue to fight for you and move the things that would attack you out of your path.  If you’ve been hurt and made a vow of any kind, it’s not too late for you.  God simply asks that you release the person or thing you’ve judged.  Let it go.  Ask God to forgive them and to forgive you.  What He wants most in the world is to not have anything separating you from Him.  Lay down those things and draw near to Him today.

Every promise [God gave] has been fulfilled; not one has failed. ~ Joshua 23:14

Training

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6

Often times, this verse is referenced so that parents will teach kids about Jesus, so that as they grow up, they will always have Jesus.  I think this also refers to other types of training that kids receive.  Kids learn by hearing, seeing, and doing.  Usually the "doing" is based upon what they've heard and seen.  If children experience acceptance, security, love, grace, forgiveness, joy, and freedom, then as adults, they will both show it to others and seek it out for themselves.  But, of course, the flip-side of that is also true.

Kids don't pay attention to, "Do as I say, not as I do."  Generally it's more, "Monkey see.  Monkey do."  Jesus told His disciples that they were to obey the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, but they mustn't do as they saw others do, (see Matthew 23:2-3).  Several times, Jesus said, "Come, follow me."  Jesus wants to retrain our brains.  He wants to show us a whole new way of living: in freedom.  In church we sing, "In Your Freedom I Will Live," by Hillsong.  In God's kingdom, we are all little children.  God wants the opportunity to train you up in the way you should go.  No matter what you've lived through or what you've done, God has the power and the desire to teach you a new way: His.  All you simply have to do is ask and receive.

Lord, I know that I haven't been fully in the position you want or have designed for me.  Help me to lay down my former training and agenda.  Help me to forgive anyone whom I've judged for not showing me Your way.  Help me to release them, and Lord, please forgive me for judging them.  Father, I truly want to be a child and live in freedom in Your Kingdom.  Please train me up in the way that I should go.  In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

You Answered Me

On the day I called, you answered me ~ Psalm 138:3

Today was my Grandma and Grandpa Erkilla's 59th wedding anniversary.  I wish my grandma was still alive to have celebrated it.  My grandparents had an amazing love for each other, but even more so for God.  One of my favorite qualities about my grandma was that no matter her age, she was always a kid in God's Kingdom.

Sadly, not every marriage is a Grandma and Grandpa Erkilla and not every wife knows she is a kid in God's Kingdom.  Many marriages never make to 59 years; some never even make it to two.  The Bible says, "On the day I called, you answered me."  It's comforting to know that when I need Him, I can call out to God and He will take time from answering prayers, opening doors, revealing things, and spend real, personal time with me.

No matter what you're going through, what struggle you may be facing, know that God loves you immensely! He will always stop to answer your call.  He wants to cuddle with you and hold you in His lap and comfort you.  He wants you to know how important you are to Him and that in His Kingdom, no matter your age, you should be free to be a kid.

Victory Belongs to the Lord

As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky, and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites. ~ Joshua 10:11


This is a great battle story about how God told Joshua fight against enemy kings and defeat them.  Joshua was obedient and did as God commanded. This verse says that these kings "fled before Israel".  But who does it say was winning the day for Joshua?  Was it his army of mighty men?  No, it says that the Lord killed more of the enemy with hailstones than the Israelites killed with their swords.  This is because victory truly belongs to the Lord.  We start to fail and falter when we begin to think that we are the cause of victory in our lives.  But the truth is that God doesn't need us.  He didn't need us when He created the heavens and the earth and He doesn't need us to defeat a human enemy.  But the crazy and amazing thing is that God wants to use us.  He searches the hearts of all the men on the earth, looking for someone who will be a vessel that He can use.  All it takes to be a vessel for God is a willing heart and obedience.  God wants to do a mighty work in and through you, but He can't do it if you won't be open to Him.  Open your heart to God today and see what He won't do in your life.

Deciding Factor

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." ~ Luke 5:4-5


There are over 3,000 promises in the Bible and for each one, there is a premise--something we must do in order to get the promise.  In the verses above, the promise is the catch and the premise is to put out into deep water and let down the nets. But between the promise and the payoff (the promise fulfilled), there is the deciding factor--the time in which we determine if we are going to be obedient.  Obedience is doing what was asked of us the first time and with a good attitude by someone in authority.  Waiting till something is convenient, or going through the motions grumbling all the way, is considered by most parents as disobedience.  God's the same way: He wants us to obey when He calls and with a good attitude and not when and how we feel like it.  All of the heroes  we have in the Bible would be lost to us if they had each waited till they felt like it.


The next time someone in authority over you--whether it's God or your boss--asks you to do something, be determined to do it.  Now, the person doing the asking may not be the one doing the rewarding, but God knows your heart and He will reward you.


I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve. ~ Jeremiah 17:10