Giving Thanks, Always

https://youtu.be/6-1ro5ZOFCc

Praise Before My Breakthrough ~ Bryan and Katie Torwalt

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16‭-‬18 NIVUK

These three short verses are commands every Christian is expected to follow. There are some days that verse 18, “give thanks in all circumstances,” might be the hardest to follow. Last weekend, there was a tragedy in a town about two hours from us. Recently, some friends have passed away. Over the past two weeks, I have been struggling with some health issues. But in all these things, we are called to give thanks.

The notes in my Bible for verses 16 and 17 are about choice and focus. We can choose joy and focus on Christ, both of which produce a thankful heart, regardless of circumstances. Or, we can choose to stew in our mess and focus on the problems, both of which will likely lead to a bitter heart and depressed mind.

Romans 8:28 says, “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.” The phrase, “And we know,” is both something we discern and learn over time as God continues to show His faithfulness in our lives. “God works,” is God infusing His power with ours, to assist us in our circumstances. “For the good” doesn’t mean that things are good, but that God is working in us and using all things for our good. He does this so we’ll see His love and faithfulness, and then share what He’s done, bringing glory to God.

Friends, on this day that we purposefully set aside to give thanks, let us remember three things:

1. Be joyful - even when things are hard, God’s Spirit produces joy.

2. Pray continually - keep communication lines open with God. Even prayers that begin in pain and anger can end in beauty and peace.

3. Give thanks, always - the Lord Almighty, God of Angel Armies, is on our side, working all things for our good.

...If God is for us, who can be against us? ~ Romans 8:31 NIVUK

©Heather Potts 2021

How Did God Surprise You?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_2aX_i4qpM

All Things New ~ Big Daddy Weave

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, 

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; … “

~ Exodus 15:1 ESV

As a family, we usually share the best part of our day, but because another close friend’s loved one went to be with Jesus yesterday, we were having a hard time thinking of the “best thing.” Instead, it was, “How did God surprise you, today?” Savannah said she had many friends to play with at recess. Elizabeth said her friend told her lots of jokes. That began lots of laughter, with each of us sharing our corniest jokes. I might have won, because Brad just shook his head when I began my joke...

While I shared many of the cool things God did for me, yesterday, I kept the biggest close to my heart, in that moment. In the middle of the day, a friend found me to see how I was doing, in light of the sad news. She said to take a little break in her office and just hug her Bible. I found her Bible, but instead of hugging it, I opened it, feeling that God had something to say to me. Her Bible was bookmarked in Exodus. Chapter 15, verses 1-2 about leapt off the page.

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, 

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;

                              . . . 

The Lord is my strength and my song, 

    and he has become my salvation; 

this is my God, and I will praise him, 

    my father's God, and I will exalt him.

While this passage was not written from similar circumstances to mine, the message is still the same: God’s people know His great Name and sing of His triumph and victory! Because we have been crucified with Christ, we also share in His victory over death and the promise that we WILL see our friend, again, when we, also, go to be with Jesus. 

If you are hurting today, whether due to the loss of a loved one, or another burden, let your gaze settle on the Lord. Take in the fullness of who He is and His faithfulness. Then, let your praise rise to meet the Lord who is your strength and song. 

©Heather Potts 2021

Where Were You?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH0PmaKxOtA

Too Good to Not Believe ~ Cody Carnes

‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.’ ~ John 11:21-22 NIVUK

Recently, my prayers felt dry, empty. One morning, I asked Holy Spirit to help me to pray, again. Then, in the way that only He can, Holy Spirit led me to my answer.

John 11 opens with the news that Lazarus is ill. Instead of going to Lazarus immediately, Jesus doesn't begin the journey to His friend’s home till after Lazarus died. Before He’d even arrived, Martha ran out to meet Jesus and said, “Lord...if you had been here, my brother would not have died,” (v.21). In essence, “Where were You?” 

Have you ever asked that of someone? Have you ever asked that of God? Where were You in my need? Where were You in my suffering? Where were You when we were praying for healing? Martha’s attack, though out of pain and anger, was not unleashed upon a stranger, but on a very close friend. That realization answered my questions about my prayers. Because I know that God is with me and He hears my prayers, I expected Him to answer when we prayed fervently for Brad’s sick friend, and again when we prayed for another friend’s mom, and again when we prayed for someone else. But when each person either passed away or kept getting worse, it became harder and harder to pray and believe that my prayers were being heard.

Jesus was not troubled by Martha’s attack, nor is He by ours. Only someone who cares about the relationship cares enough to ask, “Where were you” in their pain. Instead of rebuking Martha, He redirected her focus to the truth: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” (vv.25-26). The most important answer is not Jesus’ reasoning for how He answered our prayers, but our answer to His question: Do you believe? Do you trust Me? 

The Lord has done His job, and He continues to remain faithful and trustworthy. Our job is to pray fervently, walk purely, and believe wholly. If you’ve been feeling dry in your prayer life, it’s time to ask yourself, “Do I trust Jesus? Do I believe?”

©Heather Potts 2021

Gaining Insider Information

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOgYFwFemB0&list=RDMOgYFwFemB0&start_radio=1&rv=MOgYFwFemB0&t=5

Better Word ~ Leland 

But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. God is generous. He enjoys giving to all people, so God will give you wisdom. ~ James 1:5 ICB

Thank God He’s generous!

I heard the girls say they needed me, as they changed into pjs. Since I was doing laundry, I assumed they were “out of” something. But they wanted to show me some dark reddish/purplish marks on Elizabeth’s chest. It clearly bothered the girls to see them, so I tried to remain calm, even as I peppered Elizabeth with questions: Did you fall? Run into something? What did you do during recess? None of her answers explained the marks. Since it wasn’t causing her any discomfort, I said we’d watch it...for now.

Do you know that we serve a generous God? He’s so generous that even a plea or thought of, “God, I need You in this,” is enough to get an answer, to gain “insider information.” Later, while checking the girls’ room to ensure I had all the dirty laundry, I found Elizabeth’s shirt from that day...with a reddish/purplish stain. I told Elizabeth to see if the marks would wash off… They turned out to be paint. While it was both a huge sigh of relief and a bit funny, that moment was a great reminder of the generous heart of God.

James 1:5 says God is generous and will give wisdom to everyone, liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding. Though we found a quick fix, not everything is that easily solvable. But in the weeks when the sickness and pain linger, when your body acts in ways that aren’t normal for you, when your kid is acting up, or even when the money runs out before the month, we can ask God for help--for wisdom--and expect to receive a generous amount!

What questions do you have, in what areas do you need help, in which situations do you need God’s wisdom? Ask our generous Father who enjoys giving us wisdom.

©Heather Potts 2021

Wherever-Whenever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UUZXgKo7ic

Dancing on the Waves ~ We the Kingdom

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. ~ Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

While some days feel great, others feel more like this:  

How NOT to have Quality Time with God in 5 Easy Steps

1. Wake up late

1. Rushing definitely helps clutter and rattle the mind!

2. Get distracted

1. Pulling out the grocery or to-do list will help distract you.

3. Keep your Smartphone handy

1. Interrupting texts, emails, and updates will get you off-course in no time flat!

4. Fuss at yourself

1. Self-condemnation fills the mind with so many loathsome thoughts, there’s no possible way to concentrate.

5. Quit

1. Give up and go on with your life. Who needs quality time with God, anyway?

While this is a little tongue-in-cheek, I bet you can relate to one or more things on that list. The enemy works to distract us from our time with God. He hates it--fears it--when we “get down to business.”

When the girls were very little, I was really missing the hours of quiet time I’d had with God before they were born. But with a toddler and an infant, long-gone were quiet minutes, let alone hours. I remember feeling shameful when I told the women in my mom’s group that I had no time for God, because the earlier I got up, so did my kids. And by the end of the day, I was too tired to even give God my leftovers. One of the women in our group gave me some much-needed wisdom. She said God gives us what we need in each season and stage of our lives. She said God doesn’t care what it looks like or when and where it happens; He just wants a relationship with us. God and kids spell “love” the same way: T-I-M-E. It doesn’t have to be a big production. They just want us to be near and have us “present” with them.

Maybe this isn’t your season for an hour of quiet time. Maybe this season is a prayer-walking during your lunch break, or a worship session in your car during your 30-minute commute. My friend Andrea used to say that God created us all differently, but knows us intimately enough to speak in ways that we need and will hear. Maybe yesterday was a wash and the time you tried to carve out just didn’t pan out like you’d hoped. Brush yourself off, move on, and try again. Or better yet, ask God when and how you can meet with Him. If you’re listening, I bet He’ll both tell and show you. He promised that when you seek Him, He’ll be found by you.

©Heather Potts 2021

Rinnâ

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4KEgwLDLHw

Don’t Tread on Me ~ We the Kingdom

The Lord your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.

~ Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV

I grew up in a pool, and for many years, on a swim team. Though I competed in other events, I preferred backstroke, because I could see my friends cheering me into the wall. It helped to have friends and family cheering. It’s a lot harder to keep up the discipline of a strong finish when no one’s there for you. I use the analogy of swimming, because it’s what I know, but it’s true of every sport and all of life. The reason stadiums hand out annoying noise-makers is to encourage the players, especially when their team isn’t winning. It helps to know you’ve got someone in your corner, someone who’s on your side.

As I sat down to pray this morning, the line “He will rejoice over you with singing,” from Zephaniah 3:17, seemed to leap out at me. The phrase, “over you with singing,” is the Hebrew word rinnâ, which means, “shouting for joy.” I have some friends who are walking through hard battles. Sometimes, especially when the battle is long, it can feel like God is “busy elsewhere,” and has forgotten us. But the truth is, He’s always with us and never loses sight of us. In fact, He’s constantly cheering us on, encouraging us, and shouting with joy and pride at our progress:

Come on, Son! Come on, Daughter! You’ve got this! You’re more than a conqueror! You’re an overcomer! Don’t give up! I’ve got you. Don’t quit! Just a little bit more. Just a little farther. You can do this. I’m right here with you!

Hebrews 12:1 says we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, people of faith sent by God to encourage us and show us the way. Just like it encouraged me as people cheered for my swimming, we’re encouraged and strengthened when we know we’re not alone. Regardless of who’s telling us we can’t, God sent His Spirit to dwell within us, reminding us of what we can do in Him. My prayer is that, as we allow God’s love to quiet us, shutting out the noise, we’ll hear Holy Spirit cheering us all the way to a strong finish.

©Heather Potts 2021

Lifted Hands

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8uKldEUrPE

House of the Lord ~ Phil Wickham

Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You... I will lift up my hands in Your name. ~ Psalm 63:3-4 AMPC

In his book, “Give It All to Him,” Max Lucado shares the story of a group of people whose bodies ached and were bowed under the weight of the baggage they carried. Each carried his own - not wanting it, but unable to get rid of it. Then one day, they saw someone they knew, except he no longer had his bags. He stood upright and looked...free! He told them, “The Trashman took my bags -  all of them! And he’ll take yours, too, if you’ll give them to him.” Curious, the group followed the crowd toward the trash heap, where the Trashman stood atop, accepting each person’s bags. They saw the agony in His face and the toll it took on His body, and still He asked for each bag. When it was the next person’s turn, she struggled. She wanted to be free, but not cause agony to an innocent man. Then, the Trashman looked at her with love in his eyes and asked, “Will you give it to Me?”

Jesus asks the same of us. Not just once, but each time we pick up the bags. And when the enemy uses people to hurt us, and heaps bags of pain and shame upon our shoulders, Jesus loves us and says, “That’s not yours. Will you give it to Me?” That’s what He said to me. And, just like the man in the story, when you drop the bags and cast off the shame, you can feel the difference! The joy bubbles inside, bursting to break free and worship the Lord!

Father, I pray for those who are carrying bags, today, who are weighed down by things they were never meant to carry. Whether they have never known You or have walked with You for many years, Jesus, I pray that today they’d accept freedom. In the Name of Jesus Christ, I command that the voice of the enemy be silenced! No more will he convince people that they must carry these bags, believing they’re stuck with them because of what they did, or because they picked them up, again. Jesus, shut down and silence every lying tongue! Let only Your voice be heard, Lord. Let only Your offer be received. Let today be the day people would drop their bags, and lift their hands and lives in freedom and praise! In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My whole being shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips ~ Psalm 63:2‭-‬5 AMPC

©Heather Potts 2021