Light the Way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SarPJv6rUiQ&list=RDSarPJv6rUiQ&start_radio=1&t=0

Hallelujah (Light has Come) ~ BarlowGirl

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ~ Matthew 2:1-2 NIV

This morning, as I opened the binds to share the light of our Christmas tree with the gray morning, I remembered that many will keep their Christmas lights burning throughout the night. It's not to alert Santa that "We live here." The reason is a symbol of the season. From the glory of the Lord that shone in the fields to the shepherds to the star that led the way of the Magi, God has used light to draw into His presence those who have been walking in the darkness.

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life," (John 8:12 NKJV). As Christ followers, we have His light in us. It's our responsibility to shine His light so that many—like the shepherds and the Magi—can hear the good news of great joy and find the Savior who is Christ the Lord.

Today, as you turn on your Christmas lights, remember, it's one more opportunity to light the way to the Savior who is Christ the Lord.

©Heather Potts 2019

Victory

https://youtu.be/yhyVW6sbZeA

Breakthrough ~ Red Rocks Worship 

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:57 NIV

Your victory is dependent upon your struggle or need. If the need is freedom from some type of slavery, then victory means liberation, being rescued. If your struggle is using overeating or overspending to compensate for your brokenness, using them as coping mechanisms, then your victory might look like healthy spending and eating habits. If your bondage is medical, then your victory might look like a clear scan or good doctor's report.

We all have battles and struggles. Jesus told us that we would have trouble: pressure, oppression, affliction, tribulation, and distress. But He gave us hope, saying, "Take heart! I have overcome the world! For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, (John 16:33; 1 John 5:4-5 NLT).

Perhaps it feels strange to talk about battles so closely to Christmas. The truth is, the enemy is relentless in his attacks, stopping at and for nothing to destroy your life. He will use everything to his advantage, especially the celebration of Christ's birth. Unfortunately, many people fall into despair during the holidays, believing the lie that they are alone, or worthless, having failed to achieve some goal.

God is mightier than any lie. YOU ARE WORTHY because He made you worthy. You are His and He paid the ultimate price for you, His beloved.

Today, believe that you have the victory in Christ Jesus! He gave you the victory--over sin, over sickness, over addiction, over bondage and brokenness, over depression and anxiety, and over every single lie the enemy has poured on you. It's time to stand up in victory! Let today be the day you begin claiming the victory that is yours in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 

©Heather Potts 2019

Defend the Goal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJB64RmJEDE

Rise Up ~ Skillet

Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. ~ 1 Peter 5:8 AMP

For fall sports, Savannah played soccer. Though she didn't steal the ball or score any goals, she absolutely loved it! As defender of the goal, however, she excelled! Her mantra as goalie: "Nothing's gonna get past me!" And it didn't!

That should be more than a mantra for us, when it comes to standing firm against the enemy. But if we're honest, we can get distracted and that's when the enemy sends his attacks firing at us. Fortunately, Holy Spirit reminds us to be the defender of our lives and families.

The devil, because he studies us, knows our weaknesses. When he strikes with fear, he goes straight for the jugular. Thankfully, Holy Spirit is always watching out for us and brings stories, friends, and scripture to increase our faith, enabling us to stand up to and stare down the enemy, till he flees.

During the holidays, our routines can change, and we can be off our guard, perhaps complacent with our prayer and Bible study time. We need to remember that the devil doesn't take a holiday, but relishes the fact that we might. For him, that's the perfect opportunity to pounce, creating all sorts of mischief, doubt, fear, and panic in our lives. Matthew 6:33 and James 4:7 say to first seek God's Kingdom and His righteousness, and to submit ourselves to God's authority, because doing so gives us the ability to stand firm against the devil's attacks.

As Christmas draws nearer and you're enjoying many fun activities, be sure to not get distracted. Through prayer and Bible study, keep up the defense and tell the devil, "Nothing's gonna to get past me!"

©Heather Potts 2019

My Expectation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45XfhE5DI_k&list=RD45XfhE5DI_k&start_radio=1&t=0

The Prayer ~ Danny Gokey & Natalie Grant

Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation…My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. ~ Psalms 62:1, 5 NKJV

It wasn't on the bookshelf or on the dresser. Disappointment set in when I couldn't find my camera, which I wanted for the girls' Christmas concert. Our phones, for all their "smartness," can't see anything but the glare of stage lights.

"Skating with Santa" had been on the calendar for weeks. Hours before, however, I realized Brad wasn't coming with us. Though it wasn't his fault, I was disappointed when, due to an allergic reaction, Brad needed to stay home.

Have you ever felt disappointed? Sure, you have; it's part of human nature. Disappointment occurs when expectations aren't met. I expected to find my camera and for the four of us to go skating, together. When those things didn't happen, I had unmet expectations. In the grand scheme, these are little things, but, when not addressed, they can become huge problems.

Psalm 62:1 shares the trusting and restful condition of my soul, while Psalm 62:5 is a statement to my soul, to rest and wait on the Lord. With the Christmas season in full swing, what is the condition of your soul? Are you full of trust, rest, and peace, or are you in need of a good measure? If you're in need, you're not alone. Many of us get caught up in expectations, typically regarding others, and are disappointed because we looked to the wrong things.

It's time to shift our focus. We can't expect people and things to fill us. Instead, we must place our expectations on Jesus and focus on the wonderful, beautiful miracle we celebrate this time, each year. When our expectations are in and from Him, they'll never be unmet.

©Heather Potts 2019

Believe Only

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVN-E1DLIoo

This is a Move ~ Brandon Lake and Tasha Cobbs

But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. ~ Luke 8:50 KJV

Do you believe in miracles?

Around the end of August, God laid a friend on my heart, so I reached out to her. Two weeks later, after no reply, I reached out again, because she was still heavy on my heart. After two more attempts, I called someone who lived nearby. Though 1500 miles separated us, I knew I needed to reach her. When I finally heard back from her, I discovered why. My friend was battling stage 4 cancer – her 5th bout with cancer – alone.

I felt scared for my friend and knew we needed reinforcements. After praying, I reached out to those who know her…and many who don't. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we prayed for and encouraged my friend. And God did what only God can do: a miracle!

Three months after God first pressed me for my friend, she told me the doctors can't find any cancer anywhere in her body and chemo has been suspended indefinitely!

In Luke 8:41, Jairus, a synagogue ruler whose daughter was dying, fell at Jesus' feet to plead for his daughter's healing. When Jairus and Jesus arrived at the house, many said it's hopeless, as she'd already died. But Jesus pushed aside their doubt and, to Jairus, said, "Fear not. Believe only." Are you in need of a healing touch, a life revived, a relationship made whole, a miracle? Jesus says to you, "Fear not. I AM here. It may not look the way or in the timing you think. But only believe that I will make it whole."

©Heather Potts 2019

His Name Is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXAzt4pUr3Y

O Holy Night ~ Carrie Underwood

For unto us a Child is born …
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

~ Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

Today was… different for each person I encountered. In a way, it reminded me of September 11, 2001, when everyone felt scattered, out of sorts, beside themselves, and gripped with fear.

The city where we live in Wisconsin is considerably smaller than where we used to live. In Florida, most places were typically a 30-45-minute drive… out of "season." Here, everything is "smaller." There's much more of a community feel, that stretches beyond the walls of your church. And I think that's why today was so… hard.

Word began to spread, about mid-morning, of a stabbing and shooting at one of the local high schools. The incident ended quickly, and students were evacuated off-site to be reunited with their families. But hours later, the fear – fear for friends and family members who attend and/or work at that school, fear of the unknown, and fear of could "our school" be next – was still overwhelmingly high.

On my way home from life group, I remembered a teaching about fear. My friend, Pastor Kim Anderson, wrote the book Live Not Die, in which she says that regardless of the battle before us, we must deal with the fear, first. What is the opposite of fear? Faith. And the opposite of anxiety? Peace.

Whether you are feeling shaken from a high school trauma, or the stress of bills, or any number of other anxieties the enemy would love to pour on you, it's time to stop the cycle of anxiety and tell the fear it must flee! Call upon the Name that is above all names, especially fear. His Name is, "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace," and He's waiting to comfort and to walk with you.

©Heather Potts 2019