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

Mountains

 

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

Speak to the Mountains ~ Church of the City

I look up to the mountains;

    does my strength come from mountains?

No, my strength comes from God,

    who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

~ Psalm 121:1-2 MSG

Being sick is the pits! Truly, all trials are at least annoying and more often terrifying and draining. But what do we do when we’re stuck in these pits, these trials of sickness and affliction? We cry out for help. David was no different. 

I’ve heard that Bible scholars believe when David wrote Psalm 121, he was looking at the mountains for the soldiers who would pass over them. Because mountains have always been a symbol of strength, an immovable force, David might have been looking to the mountains searching for help. Don’t we all look to the mountains in our lives for help?

When we’re sick, don’t we look to doctors, medicine, or supplements to make us well? When we - or our loved ones - are battling addiction or mental/emotional distress, don’t we look to counselors and therapists for the answers? Of course we do, because those are the tools God gave us to help during trials. But those are tools and created things, which was David’s point when he answered his own question, “Does my strength come from the mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.”

In Revelation 1:8, Jesus reminds us who He is, “I am the Alpha and the Omega...who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” From beginning to ending, as the Almighty, Jesus is and will supply everything we’ll ever need. When we’re sick, Jehovah Rapha is our healer. When we’re feeling lost, Jehovah Raah is our Shepherd and guide. When we’re feeling abandoned and alone, Jehovah Shammah is the Lord who’s there. When we’re in the fight for our lives, our marriage, or our families, Jehovah Nissi is the Banner over us.

Whatever you’re in need of today, remember your help and strength don’t come from the created things that God will use. Your help comes from the Creator, Himself, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

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

Shoulders ~ for KING & COUNTRY

©Heather Potts 2021

Don't Quit

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIGV3ms_9eM

Worthy of It All ~ Bethany Wohrle

...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus… ~ Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV

When you’re running your race but cannot see the ending, you’re in danger of quitting too soon.

For the past two weeks, Brad has been battling a double ear and sinus infection. He has been in horrible pain. He felt like his left eye was being pushed out of his head, causing darkness on one side of his eye’s peripheral vision, and double vision on the other side. To help him, we’ve been praying; he's seen his doctor, and he’s taken essential oils and antibiotics. 

Last night, as we were drifting off to sleep, I prayed for him, again, outloud. Then, in my spirit, I asked God if it was handled. I know I heard God say, “Yes.” My night’s sleep was rather bumpy, but each time I would awaken, I would pray and praise, as “Worthy of It All” played in my spirit. Then this morning, Brad burst through the bedroom door. I jolted out of bed when he said his eye popped! I am relieved to say his eye is fine. He meant the tear duct in his left eye, which had been plugged, popped. He could see perfectly and ALL the pressure was GONE! PRAISE JESUS!

Though those days were long, it was only 12 days. Some of my friends have been waiting on God’s answers for years. Sometimes, when we’ve been in the trenches for so long, we can lose sight of what we’re fighting for and tend to focus only on what’s right before us. That’s why we’re told to fix our eyes on Jesus. Not only is Jesus our Finish Line, but He’s also our Victory, our Hope, and our Help. With Jesus before us, and Holy Spirit constantly by our side, we cannot fail if we don’t quit. Our job is just to take one more step, and then another. Then, before we know it, with our eyes fixed on Christ, we’ll be running towards Victory, empowered by His strength.

If you’ve been waiting on an answer from God, whether it’s been days or years, don’t quit! Just take another step, keeping your eyes fixed on Christ.

©Heather Potts 2021

Cry, "HELP!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2_ttKZUuxw

Hundred Miles ~ Passion (ft. Crowder)

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
Hebrews 4:16 AMPC

At the beach the other day, Elizabeth cried, “Shark!” but no one responded, because we were in Wisconsin. Had it been a Florida beach, there would’ve been a panicked response. However, whether in Florida or Wisconsin, you’d better not cry, “Help!” unless you really need it.

With all that’s gone on this year, just about everyone has been on high alert. Whether it’s the President, the schoolboard, or the news, when a major event is reported, everyone listens. But everyone’s attention doesn’t create the change we’re all wanting. Recently, I saw a post on social media that is a call to vote in the upcoming Presidential election. The sad part is that it convinces people their voice will only truly matter this coming November. But that’s not been true for at least 2,000 years.

Bold: without hesitation or fear; courageous and daring

Fearless: without fear; bold or brave

Confident: having full assurance; excessively bold

God’s Word says we are His kids and heirs, which bring with it the full eligibility to cry out, “Abba! Father,” and expect God to answer us, just as He answered Jesus, (Galatians 4:1-7). Is someone sick? Cry to God for help and healing! Is someone in trouble? Cry to God for help and intervention! Is someone in need? Cry to God for help and provision! Are you getting the picture? God has the help and it’s our privilege and responsibility to call to Him for help.

James 5:16 says the fervent prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective. Fervent: passionate intensity. Righteous: Right standing with God. If you, as His son or daughter, are in right-standing with your Father, then you are expected to boldly, fearlessly, and confidently ask for God’s help, and expect and allow Him to fulfill your requests in His timing and way. You don’t need to wait for another invitation. Ask for His help, today.

©Heather Potts 2020

H.E.L.P.

https://youtu.be/cueulBxn1Fw

Help ~ The Beatles 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiK9S8iq4ek

Open Heaven ~ Hillsong

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV

Life really hurts sometimes. My grandpa Hayes is dying. Brad’s grandma is very sick and weak. Brad’s mom just had several blood clots removed from her lungs and legs, and now must live on tank oxygen and blood thinners, and simple things, like washing dishes, are too much of a struggle for her.

Hard times and pain are just as much a part of life as are joy and celebration. But often, we don’t know how to respond when we see others hurting and either walk away—afraid the pain is contagious—or fill in the space with plastic wrap answers and responses that don't really help the people who are hurting.

But there is HELP:

H - Hands. Compelled by compassion, we want to reach out and ease the pain. Try a hug, a phone call, or text just to say hello and remind them you’re here for them. 

E - Everyone. You can't do everything, but everyone can do something. What comes naturally to me may be a struggle for you. Try cooking/buying a meal, running errands, doing a chore (like laundry), bringing coffee, or sitting quietly with them.

L - Love. Love is what compels us to act. It's WHY we're moved with compassion. In the middle of the pain, those who are hurting just want to know they're still loved and not alone.

P - People. At the end of the day, we're all people. We need prayer, real encouragement, and people who will stand side-by-side with us, until the end.

If you're going through something, don't be afraid to reach out and let others surround you. And if you know someone going through a hard time, they don't need you to answer "why" it’s happening. Just be there in whatever way God leads you. Comfort them the way you've been comforted.

They're looking for help and God sent you.

©Heather Potts 2018

Greatest Impact

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. ~ Psalm 18:2 NLT

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. And while we don’t appreciate our school teachers enough for their countless hours, efforts, and prayers for our children, I think we also fail to see the impact that our church’s children’s ministries have on the whole family. If you have kids that still live at home, regardless of age, I encourage you (if you don’t already have one) to find a church with an emphasis on raising up the next generation. The children’s pastors, teachers, and countless volunteers at our church home partner with us to teach our children about God’s love for them, raising them up in the way that they should go, (Proverbs 22:6).

A partnership means that we, the parents, have a role, too. The first of which is a healthy relationship with God, then our spouse, and finally, our children. One of the pastors at our church wrote a curriculum for parents, which we were supposed to lead the semester that Brad hurt his back. Praise God we are through that season! This year, however, with the struggles we’ve had with Savannah, we went back to that curriculum, this time as the students. We needed HELP and, thankfully, that’s what the curriculum was called and gave us. Of all the things we learned, the most impactful was having daily Bible reading and prayer as a couple. While we’d been having individual God-time, we’d never done it as a couple. Reading scripture and praying together had the GREATEST impact on our marriage and, as a result, on our parenting and relationships with our kids.

First, I want to thank our pastor for the emphasis he puts on the next generation. I also want to thank all of our next generation pastors, leaders, teachers, and volunteers who partner with us in raising up our girls in the calling that God has placed upon their lives.

Second, I want to encourage you, if you are married—regardless of having children in your home—to start a daily Bible reading plan with your spouse. It will impact your marriage in ways that you could never have imagined and will be the greatest gift you give yourself.

©Heather Potts 2017