Christ is Still KING

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. ~ Proverbs 21:1

Our “king” is the President.  It doesn’t matter if our choice for President won or lost.  What matters is that we are Christ on the earth and we need to pray—pray that the President listens to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and is moved with compassion on behalf of God’s people.  Today is not a day of mourning, but of celebration because Christ is still KING!

Set Aside A Day to Rest

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. ~ Exodus 20:8

I was talking with a friend of mine the other day and told her that I work and work and work until I am so worn out that I give-in to sickness to justify my taking a break.  When I read these words, when I say them out-loud, I realize not only how dumb that sounds, but also how prideful.  The Bible says I am to, “Work with enthusiasm, as though…working for the Lord rather than for people,” (Ephesians 6:7).  I am to work with enthusiasm—with goodwill or kindness—not slave and slave and slave until I drop.  When I slave away, I realize it’s to win people’s approval, for my God loves me enough that He has said, “Six days you shall labor and do all your work but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God….Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy,” (Exodus 20:9-11).  God made holy—set aside or purposed for me—a Sabbath—a day of rest—so that I could enthusiastically carry out the work He has given me.  When I follow His plan, then I’m able to—in His power—carry out His desired work in my life with enthusiasm and great success.  However, when I ignore His plan, then I’m slaving away in my power and ability until I collapse in sickness and no longer enjoy the work the Lord has laid before me.

Father, thank you for revealing to me that while I’m not where I want to be, I’m also not where I used to be and it’s all for Your glory.  Thank you for showing me the way.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Perseverance Leads to Break-Through

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. ~ James 1:12

The Bible says that because God is the highest authority, when He makes a promise, He must swear by Himself as the utmost authority, (Hebrews 6:13).   If we believe that God is the highest authority, shouldn’t we also believe God will come through on the promises He makes to us?  I think the tendency is to believe at first—the first month, year, or even five years.  After a while, we begin to weary in the waiting and doubt creeps in, causing us to lose sight of who God is and all the other times He’s fulfilled His promises.

Isaiah 55:9, 11 reveals that God’s Word is greater than anything we can measure and when He speaks, those things happen.  His Word also says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19).  Unfortunately, the wearier we become the more we close our spiritual eyes and tell God we don’t see it anymore.  What we need to remember is that this life is not just about promises fulfilled, but about the journey there.  God’s Word says He wants to promote us from glory to glory, (2 Corinthians 3:18). “Glory to glory,” refers to a level of intimacy and maturity and along with that comes blessing.  As we grow closer to our Lord, we become more like Him and our walk is taken from its current level to a deeper and deeper level.  As we grow deeper and higher in our walk, the enemy fights harder to break us, but when we break-through, God’s glory is all the more.

In my own life, I’ve discovered that the areas of trial and testing are the same areas of break-through and blessing.  This kind of cycle has been referred to as strength- or endurance-training.  James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  Every new level requires more of me than the last.  And every time we journey between promises fulfilled, we are being “trained” so that when we reach the next level, we won’t freak out and we’ll handle it as if it’s the most normal and natural way to go about things.

What has God promised you?  What has been revealed and what hast yet to be fulfilled?  Thank God for what He’s already done in your life and praise Him that He loves you enough not to leave you there.  Eleanor Roosevelt said, “When you stop learning you stop living in any vital and meaningful sense.”  God’s got you here for a reason; ask Him to reveal it to you and then praise Him that fulfillment is on its way.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering…But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. ~ 1 Peter 4:12-13

And I Will Heal Their Land

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14

I was listening to the Joy FM this morning and the DJ’s were interviewing Jordan, a man whose story is one of the songs on Matthew West’s new CD.  Jordan grew up in a Christian home with wonderful & loving parents.  In college, he hurt his leg and got introduced to oxycontin. As happens with too many people, Jordan became addicted.  I listened to his story without too much emotion—yes I felt badly for the things he’d gone through, but he’s telling the story, so it must have a happy ending.  As soon as he “defined” himself, I became “attached” to the story.  He said, “I would now have to introduce myself as ‘Jordan, an addict,’ and I was ok with that.”  It was at that moment a light bulb went off and God opened my spiritual eyes and softened my heart and I thought to myself, “Does she think of herself that way?  Does she only see herself as an addict?”  I have a friend who has abused drugs and has seen herself as a victim, and seems to introduce herself that way.  Suddenly, my heart broke for her and all I could do was weep and pray for her.  My heart’s desire is that we would all see ourselves as we truly are: Children of the living God; Redeemed and freed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

A little over a year ago, I read a book by Mike Wilkerson, called Redemption: Freed by Jesus from the Idols We Worship and the Wounds We Carry.  This book changed the way I look at people and it changed the way I look at me.  It said that far too often we walk around with labels such as victim, addict, recovering addict, and the list goes on.  The author said that once you’ve accepted God’s forgiveness and accepted Christ into your heart and life you are no longer that label.  You are free; you are redeemed.  As you think about that, it lifts so many heavy burdens and you begin to feel lighter on your feet all because you have been made free.

I was thinking about this scripture in relation to the revelation I received this morning.  God said that when we pray He will heal our land.  How does He do that?  By opening our spiritual eyes and giving us a revelation; by calling us to pray for others that they would have a God-encounter where they could learn that they are free because they’ve been redeemed.  When we pray, God doesn’t wave a magic wand and turn a toad into a prince or a pile of garbage into a pile of money.  When God’s people humble themselves and pray, God moves mightily and people are healed—sometimes physically, sometimes emotionally, sometimes mentally, sometimes all of the above—and when people are healed, the land is healed.

First Impressions

Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known ~ Habakkuk 3:2

I heard my husband tell his mother that he and I are not like some people they know.  The people he was referring to are Christians, but had put a bad taste in the family’s mouth.  The unfortunate result being that my husband’s family assumed all Christians were like that and if that was the case, they wanted nothing to do with any Christians.

First impressions can have lasting results.  With this in mind, it’s more important for me to be genuine with others.  We are living in a broken world.  Habakkuk 3:2 calls for miracles and the hand of God to move in our lives.  If we are not the hands, feet, and love of Christ, how will people ever know He is real or really cares for them?  A thought to ponder: When people see me do they see Jesus and would they want to meet Him after interacting with me?

Lord, I pray that I would be an expression of your love in others’ lives.  Help me to be a breath of fresh air and carry the aroma of Christ with me.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

But thanks be to God, who…through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. ~ 2 Corinthians 2:14

Relentless Pursuit

I recently overheard a friend of mine in a conversation with another person.  My friend is someone I trust and respect and so his words surprised me.  He was trying to encourage another person to know they were special and that people cared about them.  In trying to convince this other person, my friend said, “They could have easily abandoned me because of my actions.  But instead they’re practically beating down my door to let me know they still care, that I still matter, and that they love me.”  I was so taken by what my friend said.  He was relentlessly pursued by people who refused to let him slip through the cracks.  It reminded me of how God pursues us, with that same relentless pursuit.  To God, it doesn’t matter how long we’ve been gone, or even what we’ve done.  As soon as we turn toward Him, He runs to embrace us.

Thank you, Father, for all of those who have been Jesus to my friend, who tirelessly called, encouraged, and loved him.  Thank you Lord, that that is how you love each one of your children.  Most of all, thank you that this is how you love me.  Father, I pray that I will show this same kind of relentless pursuit to another so that they will know they haven’t been abandoned and are completely loved by You.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. ~ Luke 15:20

The Sovereign Lord is My Strength

The Sovereign Lord is my strength ~ Habakkuk 3:19

I read a devotional yesterday that said having children transforms you into someone you never would have become without them. Several years ago, when people would ask me why I didn't have kids, I would tell them because I was selfish and if I had kids I would have to change.  And today, I realize how true that statement really is.  But the blessing of Savannah is not about the sacrifices that Brad and I are making.  The blessing is in the character-building and strength-training we are receiving, as well as the joy of having her in our lives.

No one could have prepared us for how the first three months have gone.  In fact, had they told us, we might not have begun this journey.  But here we are.  Our little Savannah is 3 months old.  She's healthy and happy and we are better--our marriage is better--today than even on the day she was born.  And why, because the Lord has us on this journey.  On day 1 of any exercise program, the task of getting into shape or losing weight seems daunting.  But day 93 doesn't look near as scary as day 1.  That's where we are: day 93.  Our little girl is 93 days old or 13 weeks or 3 months.  Her life has just begun and there are many more challenges to come, but because the Lord is our strength, we will get through the next 100 years, just like we've gotten through the past 93 days: relying on the Lord as our strength.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. ~ Habakkuk 3:19

in2meC

The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. ~ Genesis 2:25

We all long for intimacy, but are often afraid of in2meC.  We are afraid to stand face to face and “naked”—totally open in every area—before the One who created us.  And why?  Because the world taught us to be afraid and ashamed.  He calls out to us to share with Him our secrets, our desires, our needs…but we don’t.  We look at Him and think, “I can’t.  I’ve messed up. I’m not worthy.  He would never really want to give me the desires of my heart.”  I remember several years ago a friend said to me, “God wants to know your desires.  Tell Him.”  I said that I couldn’t. I was afraid. What if He didn’t want to give me my desires…what would I do then?  I’d be devastated.  Lovingly, my friend said, “He placed those desires inside your heart.  Now He wants to share them with you and make your dreams come true.  But you need to share them with Him so He can reveal them to you.”  I hesitated.  And then began to cry and said aloud the desires of my heart.  My friend looked at me and smiled and said that I’d moved one step closer toward an intimate relationship with my Father and that He longs to share this kind of open relationship with me.

In what areas of your life are you “fully clothed” before your heavenly Father?  He wants you to shed your fears and the lies that you are not worthy.  He loves you and longs to share life with you.  He longs for a relationship that is in2meC and is not ashamed.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. ~ Isaiah 61:1-3

Focus on His Eyes

“Why have we fasted,” they say, “and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?” ~ Isaiah 58:3

A relationship is based upon “knowing” a person; knowing their personality, likes, dislikes, what they stand for, and what they don’t.  It’s considered to be “using” someone when you only hang around them because of what they are doing for you.  As a society, we frown upon that and are disgusted when we see it happening.

I’m saddened to say that when I read this scripture, I realized that’s where my motives were with God…I had shifted my gaze from His loving eyes to His hand, just waiting for it to open in my direction.  Now I know that He is a merciful and loving Father and has forgiven me, but I’m sad about the intimacy I missed out on.  I was more concerned about what He could do for me than what He wanted to do in me.

Father, you deserve my true worship.  Thank you for opening my eyes to my motives and actions.  I pray that I would keep my eyes stayed on you, trusting you to know exactly what I need, when I need it.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. ~ Isaiah 58:11

You Will Find Me

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ~ Jeremiah 29:13

Every evening, during Savannah’s bedtime feeding, Brad and I pray that God will give us the tools we need and teach us how to be good parents to our daughter. 

In the last two weeks, our daughter’s behavior has changed.  Almost overnight she decided that she didn’t want to take her naps and she wanted to eat a bit more often than what was normal for her.  She was fussy more often than she’d been in recent weeks.  After four days straight of this new behavior, we reached out for help—both with medical professionals and with our friends. 

After another several days without improvement, we decided it was time to reach out again to medical professionals.  I don’t know what made that day different, but I remember I was feeding Savannah before getting ready for work and I just prayed—almost in tears—“God, teach me to be a good mommy.  Help me to know how to help my daughter.”  I got to work and made some phone calls and set up an appointment for Brad to take Savannah in to be seen and hopefully get to the bottom of this, or at least get steered in the right direction.  Before the appointment time, I remember having the Holy Spirit whisper to my heart, “I will be found by those who seek me with their whole heart.”

Brad called me after the appointment to let me know the good news: Our daughter is going through normal changes.  She’s healthy.  We are good parents.  We are all going to be OK.  I needed to hear that.  I needed to hear that I hadn’t done something to “mess up” my child, and that she’s not the only one going through this.  We were given information that explained what was going on and the approximate length we can expect that she’ll be out of her “normal” routine.  It also reinforced all the things we were already doing.  We were already doing the “right” things and we didn’t even know it.

Thank you God, that when I need you, I can call upon you and you will answer me and come to me in my time of need.

You Need the Key

Every door has a key and I’ve just found ours.

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it. ~ Genesis 4:7

I can’t believe it’s been a year and a half since God opened my eyes to how this verse applied to a situation in my life.  Because this scripture had been marked in my brain as a reminder about maintaining control, I didn’t realize God was talking to me again about a current situation when this verse began to play like a tape in my mind.

Over the past several months, Brad and I have been praying and believing for God to move mightily in our lives.  Our prayer: Close all the wrong doors so no man or spirit may open them and open the right door so no man or spirit may close it.  After months of frustration and listening to a friend’s testimony, I began to realize that God had been “closing all the wrong doors,” just as we’d asked.  So we began to thank Him that He’d already opened the “right” door and asked Him to lead us to it.

I ran into a friend the other day who said, “You must be missing something.”  I was so frustrated at that comment…but God revealed to me tonight that he was right and that “something” was huge to God.  Our actions and our words can define us.  If we are not careful, sin will master our lives, cutting off the hand of God to bless us.  But as I discovered tonight through talking with God, we can master sin and don’t have to be mastered by it.

We’ve wanted God to shut all the wrong doors and open the right one.  Every door has a key and I’ve just found ours.

Without Love

The Holiday Inn was booked so we decided to spend the weekend at All Children’s Hospital…

Well, ok, not really. I mean who really “decides” to go to a hospital, especially for their 5-week-old baby?  I really must say that if there’s ever a need to take a child that age to a hospital, All Children’s is really the place to take her.  Everyone was so nice and considerate and handled us with kid gloves…except for one person.  After we were discharged and safely home with our little angel, I began to decompress and unwind.  As I thought about how one person treated us, making me feel horrible about my mothering abilities, and how all the others had made us feel like it would all be “OK,” this verse came to mind: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal,” (1 Corinthians 13:1).  This scripture is from the “Love” chapter and I’ve never thought of it in regard to anyone other than family or friends.  But really and truly, we interact with human beings—some going through life’s trials and some just going about their everyday lives—and as such, need to treat everyone with “kid gloves.” 

Father, thank you for opening my eyes to see how one person’s tone, words, and actions can raise a woman up or send her crashing in pieces to the floor.  Lord, I pray that I would walk away from this experience would make me a stronger person, but would also increase my capacity to love others the way they need to be loved…the way that I need to be loved. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Do Not Forget

But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel. ~ Psalm 106:13

I have notes on my bathroom mirror & in my journal, all to remind me of the great things—the miracles—the Lord has done on my behalf.  All of these reminders and still I worry, still I wonder how it will all turn out.  How can it be that I can know the awesomeness of His power and might and still wonder about making health insurance premiums or buying diapers or other things that I worry about, but God does not?  And God does not worry, because everything belongs to him, from the depths of the earth to the mountain tops, (see Psalm 95:4).  And I have seen His great and mighty power, so why do I worry?

The answer is painful: Because I have forgotten, ignored, and put out of my mind all of the things He has already done for me.  Just like the Israelites forgot all that God had done for them in Egypt and at the Red Sea, still they turned away.  The sad part is they didn’t look at it as turning away.  They just saw themselves as moving steadily along, as they always had.  But in the end, it became disaster for them.

Lord, I don’t want my foolishness or my need for answers now—before you are ready to reveal them—to be the reason for my missing the things you want to do in my life.  Father, I pray that you would not let me run ahead of what you are trying to show me and accomplish in my life.  Help me to always remember the miracles, especially as I look at my daughter, and even as I realize that my husband and I have made it this far together and now with her.  Thank you for all the things you have already done and still have to do.  I pray that I would always remember that even when I can’t see how You will get it done, that it is not for me to worry about, but it is for me to trust in You to do it.

This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord. ~ 2 Kings 3:18

My Trust

Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust ~ Psalm 40:4

What is faith if it’s never tested?

What is love if it’s never stretched?

What is trust if it’s never asked of us?

What’s the point if we don’t walk them out in the hard times, as well as in the good?

My two favorite verses are becoming clearer to me every day.  “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world,” and “everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith,” (John 16:33, 1 John 5:4).  We are never given the opportunity to overcome anything if life is always perfect inside our little bubble.  But we don’t live inside of bubbles; we live in the world.  God asks us to be a shining light to the world, but we’re only able to do that when we’re tested, stretched, and asked.

Thank you Father for showing me that trust is only trust when I use it, faith is only faith when I follow, and love is only love when it’s unconditionally given.

Whatever this world may throw at me, I choose to make You my center, my core, my trust.

Surrounded

[Jesus] did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother.  ~ Luke 8:51

As the days and weeks draw closer to the birth of our baby, Brad and I are putting the finishing touches on preparing for her, including believing and speaking over how we expect the delivery to go.  From the very beginning of her life inside me, I’ve been praying and speaking over her and over the delivery.  I’ve had so many people tell me it can’t and won’t go that way.  But the Bible assures us that there is power in the words we speak and if I’m going to look forward to and speak over the event, it may as well be good, (see Proverbs 18:21). 

One of the things we’ve been advised to do is to have a birthing plan in place.  Now, after reading their suggestions, I think most of the items are a little odd, but nevertheless a birthing plan is necessary so that the hospital and those attending me are clear on our wishes.  While there’s still more to discuss, there are two very important things we want implemented for the delivery: We want to have worship music playing, as Savannah reacts to it the best and most and it will keep us focused on God and the beauty of the miracle that He’s bringing forth.  We also want only Brad and I, along with whatever necessary medical staff, in the room.  This is for two reasons: 1, it started with Brad and I and God and 2, it will keep only the things we are speaking and believing for in that room.

In the story of the “dead” girl in Luke 8, Jesus would not allow anyone in the girl’s room except His disciples, as well as the girl’s parents, who had sought Him out.  It’s very important, in every event in life, to keep only those around you who are believing, speaking, and walking in the same direction as you.  All others are either going to deter you or get you to believe and speak something else, something other than the promises that God gave you.

A Spirit of Self-Control

Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it. ~ Genesis 4:7

It’s been reported that in the third trimester of pregnancy not only do the symptoms of the first trimester come back, but they are intensified.  Yesterday was the day that it all seemed true for me.  I couldn’t find anything to calm my heartburn and everything, including drinking water, seemed to trigger it.  I was exhausted, having gotten very choppy sleep.  And emotionally, I was both drained but at the same time, charged.  Something happened at work that frustrated me.  I wisely, decided I would ignore the situation until another day, when I thought I would be calmer.  All the way home, I questioned my reaction to the situation: was I reacting to due to stress, due to lack of sleep, due to hormones, due to pride, or a combination?  In talking with my husband, he said it was just a test, saying that the end of the marathon is never easier than the beginning, but crossing the finish line in victory is so sweet.

This morning when I woke up, I realized that while physically, medically, my hormones may be coursing through my body, effecting my emotions, my thoughts, and my reactions.  Spiritually, I didn’t have to succumb to any of that.  God whispered His promises to me and those are the things I’ve chosen to stand firm upon: I have the mind of Christ; I was not given a spirit of fear, but one of Power, of Love, and of a Sound-Mind and Self-Control (1 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Timothy 1:7).  And because of that, I have the power to keep myself calm in the fact of temptation and of adversity.  I don’t have to let my emotions control me.  I have been given the tools and the power to overcome them.  Just because many have fallen prey to it doesn’t mean I have to anymore.

Thank you, Father, for this beautiful and amazing promise you have given to me today.

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ~ 1 John 5:4

All Is Yours

My child, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. ~ Luke 15:31

It’s difficult to understand the depth of this scripture if you don’t understand the depth of the One who said it.  In a world that believes that “change” is the only constant, words like “always” and “never” get cast aside because they can’t be true if change is continuous.

But again, to understand this scripture, we must first understand the One who said it.  It was Father, our heavenly Father and He is:

Elohim-power & might; Jehovah-Nissi-The Lord our banner (who goes before us and lifts us up); Jehovah-Rohi-The Lord is my Shepherd (guide & protector); Jehovah-Rapha-The Lord is my healer; Jehovah-Jireh-The Lord will provide; Jehovah-Shalom-The Lord is peace;  El-Roi-the strong one who sees (who opens our eyes); and more.

When God, our Abba Father (the one who tenderly loves us as His own sons and daughters), tells us that all—everything—that is His is ours it includes all of His love, all of His strength, all of His wisdom, all of His provision, and so on.  I know you ask, “How can this be, when I’ve lost my job, my hope, my income, my car, my friends, my parents, my childhood, my health…?”  The answer lies in Jesus Christ.  Romans 13:14 tells us we are to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.”  That phrase “put on” means to “clothe” or “sink into” (as you would your favorite sweatshirt or jeans).  When we “put on” our Lord, we put on His character and everything that was available to Him and that is how everything (all) that is God’s is ours.

Have Faith

It’s not going to be in the way you can figure out.  You must have faith.

I come from a family of planners.  We know 6 months in advance plans for Christmas or vacationing or whatever.  That being the case, it should come as no surprise that I’ve had Savannah’s nursery basically done for a while now and she’s not due for another 13 weeks.  Being a planner keeps me organized and on target.  But sometimes it’s a hindrance, as I tend to focus more on what I can do—in my abilities and strength—and less on what God can and has done for and through me. 

God has given us visions for our lives—for our marriage, for our individual growth and ministry, and for our kids.  And I truly believe they will become reality.  But sometimes I trip over myself, because I feel as though I have to plan it all out.  And I get frustrated when I can’t figure out all the details ahead of time.  I was having one such day when God said the above to me.  At this past 1^st Wednesday service, Pastor Mark said that faith was simply an attitude of trust, like trusting that the chair will hold you when you sit down.

This past weekend was Easter and Pastor Randy used my favorite scripture throughout his message:  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world, (John 16:33).  To “take heart” is to have hope and courage.  This scripture doesn’t say, “In this world you will have trouble and you’re on your own, so get to figuring out what you’re going to do about it.”  No, Jesus said that He’s taken care of it.  Take heart!  Have courage!  Have faith and trust that God’s already taken care of it.

Daily Bears Our Burdens

“It wasn’t your burden to bear.”  “But I did bear it.” ~ Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. ~ Psalm 68:19

Isn’t it interesting, when we are in close relationship with someone, they know when we are having a good day and when we are not.  Sometimes, through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we even know when a friend or relative is in need, even if they are far away from us.  No matter how close we feel in our relationship to God, He’s ever present in our lives.  When we weep, He weeps; when we rejoice, He rejoices; when we dances, He dances with us; when we feel as though we just can’t go on, He picks us up and carries us. 

Psalm 68:19 says that He daily carries our burdens.  He does this for two reasons.  1) Because He’s already in relationship with us. God knew us before we were woven together in our mothers’ wombs.  He knows when we need Him and He is always there for us. 2) Because He wants us to be free to enjoy intimacy with Him.  If we are always bogged down by all that live throws at us, we will never be free to enjoy a relationship with Him and never really realize all that He has for us.

Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall. ~ Psalm 55:22

From Your Captivity

Then the LORD your God will restore you from [your] captivity, and have compassion on you ~ Deuteronomy 30:3

We read this scripture and think, “But I’m not in captivity, I’m free.” To better understand what captivity is, we need to first understand freedom in Christ.  God longs to restore or return each of us to a place of intimacy with Him, where we are free to fall into the arms of a loving Father and Friend.  True intimacy is complete trust.  Do you feel free enough to trust God with your whole life, your whole heart, all your finances, and every single one of your burdens?  If the answer is no in even one area, then something has you bound and you are in captivity to it. 

Some examples of captivity or bondage are debt, workaholism, addictions of any kind (doesn’t have to be just to drugs and alcohol; could be shopping, eating, etc.), could be a need to be needed or a need for approval and so serving with a wrong heart and wrong motives, anger, depression, and the list goes on.  So how do we break free from these bondages, from our captivity?  The scripture says “then the Lord will restore you;” how do we get to “then”?  When “you return to the LORD your God and [listen to His voice] and obey Him with all your heart and soul,” (Deuteronomy 30:2). Father is constantly calling out to us.  He beckons us to turn (or return) and have relationship with Him.  He says, “Call upon me and I will give you rest; you are my treasured possession; allow Me to carry your burdens, they are not too difficult for and, yes, I want them all,” (Matthew 11:28; Deuteronomy 26:18; Psalm 68:19; Psalm 55:22).

What He asks is not too difficult.  Freedom is not far away.  It’s simply turning and asking Him to restore you to a deeper relationship with Him.  No need to worry; He’ll show you the way.  Simply ask Him to show you and then listen as He speaks to you.

I Never Knew

I never knew when I’d be born, take my first steps, or my first fall…

I never knew when I’d have my first crush, my first heartbreak, and then my next crush…

I never knew if I’d get married, let alone want to…

I never knew if I’d want babies or if I’d enjoy feeling them growing and moving inside of me…

I never knew how hard and how long the enemy would attack me…

I never knew how deep I’d have to dig, firm I’d have to stand, or how many times I’d be on my knees before my Father’s throne…

But God knew. 

And He knew that He’d walk through it with me, giving me the strength and power to overcome.

Long before the creation of the world, God saw me and He smiled.  He called my name and it made Him laugh.  He created me in His image and it filled Him with delight.

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty…If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. ~ Psalm 91:1, 9, 10

Stork Song

Carry each other's burdens. ~ Galatians 6:2

I've heard many pastors use storks as an example to us as to how we should live life together: by caring for each other and carrying one another's burdens.  There are many interesting things about storks, such as their nesting habits--the way stork mothers take care of their stork babies--and the fact that storks are mute, but use bill-clattering as their way of communicating with each other.  However, it was their flight habits that most of the stories I've heard centered around.  It's said that storks fly in flocks, as most birds do, but the thing that makes storks stand out is the way they take care of each other in flight.

These birds are flying several hundred miles together.  Because storks spend a lot of time gliding, if one stork is injured, it can rest its wing on some of the others and still be able to travel with the rest of the flock.  There's another unique quality to storks and it's in the way they take care of their sick and hurting.  If one stork falls away from the flock, two other storks will also leave the flock--allowing the rest of the flock to move on--and go to be with the stork who fell away.  They will remain with that stork until he either recovers and the three can rejoin another flock, or until he dies and then the pair will rejoin another flock.

There are a lot of hurting people in our world right now, and I don't just mean those you've never seen the faces of, but those you see everyday, whom you know and talk to quite often.  When we see people hurting around us, do we act like storks, offering to take them a meal, to pray with them, to hold them when they cry, to stand with them until they recover?  Or do we just keep walking, thinking someone else has got it?  Perhaps we offer words like, "Call if you need anything," and somehow feel put-out when they don't call, or say the words, but just keep moving on with our busy lives and packed schedules.

In a family or tribe or flock of people, we need to take the time to listen to one another, love on one another in a personal way, with a personal touch.  We are all busy, living our packed schedules, but perhaps there's something we can learn from a flock of storks.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers. ~ Galatians 6:10

Expectant or Pregnant

But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. ~ Isaiah 40:31 AMP

Because we use the terms “expectant” and “pregnant” so interchangeably, their significance and meaning have gotten lost.  To be “pregnant” could mean “with child; fertile; full of meaning; of great importance or potential,” (dictionary.com).  But expectation is so much more.  Expectation is a constant and persevering state of looking forward to and anticipating something will happen.  So if expectation is anticipation—a knowing, if you will—that something will happen and pregnancy is having the potential that something will happen, which would you rather be?

In the middle of the night, an angel of the Lord went to Mary and said that she would carry and deliver the Son of the Most High God.  Upon hearing the news, she became filled with expectation and said, “May it be to me as you have said,” (see Luke 1:28-38).  You don’t have to be pregnant to be filled with expectation.  If expectation is looking for God to show up and knowing that He will, then we can and should all be expectant.

My prayer is that as challenges come, I would continue to look with expectation for the Lord, knowing that it will renew my strength and power and I will be able to mount up close to God as an eagle; and that I will run and not become weary, and walk and not become faint or tired.  Thank you, Father.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Never Leave Nor Forsake You

I will never leave you nor forsake you ~ Joshua 1:5

For the longest time, I thought those two words, “leave” and “forsake” were the same thing, but the truth is, it’s much deeper than that.  The word “leave” here means “fail.”  God is telling us that the promises He’s made to us, He will not fail to fulfill.  He won’t change His mind and He won’t forget.  God is making us a promise that He will not fail us; He will not fail to bring forth the promises He’s made to us.  The promises He's made to you, individually, He won't fail to fulfill.

The word “forsake” means to abandon.  God will not abandon you.  If you’ve ever been hurt, perhaps by a parent, a spouse, a friend, you may understand what it feels like to be abandoned.  Perhaps no one’s ever physically abandoned you, but you feel cut off and emotionally alone.  God promises that He will not abandon you.  In the middle of the night or the wee hours of the morning, you are never alone because God is always with you.  He cares about and for you.  He will never fail you and He will never abandon you.  God promises to be with you, always.

He Chose the Wood

"Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering...These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen…acacia wood…” ~ Exodus 25:2-5

I was recently doing a study on the details with which God designed His Tabernacle, Ark, etc. and I realized I didn’t understand the point of the wood.  I understand His choosing of the precious metals, beautiful yarn, and fine linens, but not the wood.  What was the significance of His choosing acacia wood for making His Holy things? 

When I began looking into it, I discovered that acacia wood is beautiful, light-weight, and practically indestructible.  In realizing this, I began to consider how God has created each of us.  To God, we are beautiful and perfect for every calling He has placed upon each one of us.  Just like in choosing this wood, our purpose may not be obvious to the world, but God knew exactly how He was going to design us and the work for which He would call us.  Without Christ, we are not like this wood at all, but when Christ is in us, we reveal His glory and are able to lean upon His indestructible strength.

No matter where you are today, God will meet you how and where you are.  Your walk is not about being “Super-Christian” and conquering the mysteries of the Bible in a single bound.  Instead, your walk is constant, continuous, tailored to fit the way God designed you.  Just like God first designed this amazing wood and then chose it for His Holy things, He’s done that with you.  He’s designed you just the way He wants and needs you to be—beautiful and amazing in His sight—and then called you for His Holy things.

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

No Fear in Love

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear *involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.  ~ 1 John 4:18

We know that fear is nothing more than False Evidence Appearing Real, but I’ll take it one step further and say that fear is a lack of trust.  As God’s Word says, “the one who fears is not perfected in love.”  God is that love and those of us who live in or with fear have not yet been perfected or encompassed by it.

This fear can be broken down into many different categories.  There’s the fear of abandonment, which keeps you from speaking up for yourself in a healthy and respectful manner.  There’s the fear of rejection that keeps you from standing up for what is right and true.  The fear of rejection can also be coupled with the fear of failure and/or the fear of success, all of which can keep you from fulfilling your dreams and God’s purposes for your life.

Fear is a great immobilizer.  God put warning signals in our brains to send out as messages to our bodies to keep us from harm.  Satan, however, twisted it to keep us from the things God intended for us.  One thing, above all others, that fear keeps us from is understanding and living in a perfect relationship with God our Father.  Because the enemy has used our earthly relationships with other the men in our lives—our fathers, uncles, brothers, husbands, boyfriends, etc.—to cause us fear in some way, we reflect that back onto Father God and we are kept from having the perfect relationship with Him—the One who is able to cast out all our fears and protect us.

If there is only one scripture you study and get to know better, make it this one.  Allow Father’s perfect love to displace your fears.  Allow His tenderness to sink into your bones and seep into your heart.  Allow His peace to overcome your thoughts.  Allow His joy to replace your fretting and grief.  Allow His promises to replace your worries.  Trust in His love enough to allow it to replace your fears.

Do No Be Deceived

Make the work harder for the men so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies. ~ Exodus 5:9

How many times has it happened that we receive a Word or promise from God and the enemy immediately ramps up his attacks against us?  I think it happens every time.  It reminds me of Jesus’ teaching in Mark 4 about the farmer who sows seed, which is the Word.  For some people, the Word is sown into their lives, but either due to their having no root or being deceived that word is chocked out of them (see Mark 4:16-20).  When the enemy assaults us with these attacks after we’ve received a Word from God, we need to remember two things: 1) The enemy cannot create something new—as God can—he can only produce a counterfeit of the Truth.  That means if God promises us blessings by following His path, the enemy will come in with a “short-cut” that sounds similar to God’s promises, but will only lead to pain & death in the end.  2) the Bible tells us  that the devil is the “Father of lies” and has come to the earth to “steal, kill, and destroy” all that God has given us and promised to us (see John 8:44; John 10:10).  The devil has come to distract us.  Just as Pharaoh, upon hearing that Moses was sent with the message to let God’s people go, increased the pain of the Israelites, the enemy will try to increase our pain so we are so distracted with what’s in front of us, we will have no time to focus on God’s promises.

Jesus promised us, “In this world you will  have trouble.  But take heart, for I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33).  Jesus knew that as soon as we received a promise from God, the enemy would pounce on us to distract us from going after it.  But, Jesus also assures us that He has overcome the world and the enemy  has no real power over us as long as we continue to walk by faith and not by sight.  So ask yourself today and in the next weeks and months: is what I’m going through as good as all that God has promised me?  If not, don’t be afraid to open your mouth and tell the devil he’s a liar and you’re not going to listen to him anymore!

Trust & Go

The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."  But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me." ~ 1 Samuel 16:1-2

How often do we hear the word, “Go” and fret about it the way Samuel did?  We hear God calling us, but somehow His words fall flat.  It’s as though we trust that He was big enough to create the world, but not that He’s strong enough to protect us in it.  I’ve started reading Linchpin, by Seth Godin.  In his book, Godin talks about being indispensable in our jobs or in the things we are passionate about and doing so by standing out, taking a chance, and following the road less traveled.  He said, “No one is a genius all the time…But we are all geniuses sometimes…[Our] problem is that…we trade our genius and artistry for apparent stability,” (1, italics mine).

That’s where Samuel was—and where we often are—when God calls to us: stuck in apparent stability.  But if we’re going to see the promises of God fulfilled in our lives, then we must trust the One who’s sending us.  We must trust the One who made heaven and earth, who so intricately knit us together in our mother’s womb, who hemmed us in on all sides, that when He says, “Go,” He will journey with us, (Psalm 146:6; Psalm 139:13; Psalm 139:5).

Lord, thank you for opening my eyes to how foolish I’ve been in hiding behind my apparent stability.  Thank you, Father, for your promises to walk with me and to never leave nor forsake me.  Thank you for gently loving and nudging me the way you do.  Only You could love me so well.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Just Believe

Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” ~ Mark 5:36 (NIV)

We all have naysayers in our lives.  Some people simply  thrive on negativity and chaos, while others simply don’t know another way and think, “what you see is what you get and you can’t do anything about it.” But Jesus said we have to look beyond what we can see.  If we continue to walk by sight only, and not by faith, we will be trapped and controlled by our fear.

Jesus also said if we have faith the size of the world’s smallest seed, nothing will be impossible for us, (see Matthew 17:20 NIV).  What is it that you need?  A synagogue ruler needed a miracle for his dying daughter.  A friend needs healing after a heart attack, stroke, and infection.  A mother needs relief from morning sickness and health and strength in her whole body.  A couple need income so they can raise their child the way God wants.  And to every person and every situation Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

For we walk by faith, not by sight. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV)

~Heather Potts~

So Take Heart!

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. ~ John 16:33, NIV

I’ve always loved this scripture.  I think it’s because it tells an honest story about what we encounter in this world, but also encourages us with the Truth.  I learned a long time ago that the word “but” negates anything that comes before it.  Here, Jesus is telling us that this world is not just going to give us butterflies and bunnies all the time.  Unfortunately, hardships will befall us.  But He does end there.  He says, “But take heart!”  That’s exciting, and even more encouraging is that Jesus wasn’t the only one who had the power and authority to overcome. 

Jesus told us, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father,” (John 14:12, NLT).  We might ask, how can that be?  And the answer is through grace.  Grace is not only favor, but also power.  In Ephesians 1:19, it’s described as “immeasurable and unlimited.”  And in 1 John 5:4, we learn that this power to overcome the adversities in our world are extended to us, too, “for everyone born of God overcomes the world.” 

The next time you are facing something that seems insurmountable to you, just remember to take heart!  For it was not only Christ who overcame, but He also extended that power to us, as well.  So take heart!

Distractions

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 10:35-36

A distraction is an interruption; anything that divides our attention or prevents concentration. 

The above scripture says to not throw away my confidence, but to persevere.  That means acknowledging the distraction (I’ve discovered that if I try to just ignore it, it doesn’t go away), evaluating if it needs to be dealt with, and then moving my focus and energy back to the things to which God has called me.  Let me give you an example, which happened just this last week.  The company I work for was sold.  On Friday, before the end of the day, we were told that we were losing some benefits, and that some others would cost us more money.  This was a distraction, but not one that I could ignore.  It needed to be assessed and dealt with.  This weekend, my husband and I sat down and looked at our new options for insurance and then we tallied up the cost.  Then we looked at the cost of the benefits they were taking away from us.  In the end, the total “cost” is over $1,000 per year.  A thousand dollars is a pretty substantial distraction.

But then this morning, I began to evaluate my perception and my perspective of this situation.  If perception is discernment, then my perception is that the financial loss is nothing more than a distraction.  If I take my focus off of this one circumstance and remember all that God blessed us with over the past year, I’ll realize that He blessed us with well over 2 times that amount.  And because this is just a distraction, I need to remember to not throw away my confidence in my true Supplier, who meets all my needs and to continue to persevere so that I will receive all that He has promised me (Philippians 4:19; Hebrews 10:35-36).

And then I began to look at my perspective.  If perspective is value, then by wallowing in self-pity, I’ve placed a much higher value on my feelings than on my faith in God and on the value of my family.  By continuing to stress over this situation I’m telling God that He is not big enough to take care of us and His promises are worthless.  Hebrews 11:1, 3 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see…By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”  It is not my faith in my employer or myself or anything of this world that will supply all our needs.  It is only faith in God and in the promises that He has revealed to us.  And it is only by my standing firm on those promises that I can rest assured that “he who promised is faithful,” (Hebrews 10:23).

So the next time distractions come, evaluate them, deal with them, and then go back about the Father’s business in confidence.

It's a Get-To

It’s a “get to,” not a “have to” ~ Pastor Mark Childers

With all the circumstances, situations, and conversations we are involved in everyday it’s not surprising that our response is not always the best.  However, our actions or reactions are all based upon our perception and perspective of each situation.  Perception is how we look at the situation determine, “what’s really going on.”  For example, you share news with a friend that you’ve just been blessed beyond belief and their only response to you is one of anger and rage.  Your perception gives you the ability to look past their “outward” attitude and realize that there might be hurt going on inside and their reaction is simply the pain talking.

Perspective, however, is looking at a situation and evaluating every aspect to determine its level of worth.  Those you determine have a higher level of worth are the things you tend to hold on to and remember, while the other items tend to be discarded.  In the situation above, your perspective will determine how you feel as you walk away from it.  If you value your friend higher than your own hurt feelings, your perspective will label the situation as something to the effect of, “my friend’s in pain and needs extra love and prayer.”  If, however, you value your own hurt feelings above your friend’s, then your perspective will probably label the situation as, “Note to self: don’t share future blessings with that person.”

Both perception and perspective are very important in every situation.  The Bible says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,” (Colossians 3:23).  If we walk into every situation with that in the forefront of our minds, our perception and perspective will be more focused on, “I get to…” interact with this person, love on them, show them grace in a difficult situation, do my best, honor them, etc.  If we are focused on “have to”, it removes our joy, and we begin grumbling and complaining.  Take a look at  how you view things.  The Bible calls us to “do everything without arguing or complaining,” (Philippians 2:14).  Try to stay focused on “get to”; make it a priority to have it be your first thought in every situation and see how it changes your perception and perspective, no matter what the circumstance.