Rejoicing Produces Joy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVIhb-c_4Tw

Joy of the Lord ~ Rend Collective

 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ~ Philippians 4:4 NIV

 

Did you know that rejoicing produces more joy? It’s been my experience that when I focus on praising God, I experience more peace and joy. I’ve also seen the opposite: griping and complaining lead to more of the same, which produce doubt, worry, and fear.

 

Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” I’m going to teach you a little bit of Greek. Rejoice means to “rejoice” or “be glad.” Glad, according to the dictionary, is a feeling of joy. And “always” in Greek means, “at all times.” Now you know that we’re told, dare I say commanded, to rejoice—or have joy—at all times. At all times means in all seasons and circumstances because the Lord knows that rejoicing produces joy.

 

Maybe you’re wondering why it matters. Let me ask you: Are you a stronger, mightier warrior of the Lord when you are walking and dancing in joy or when you are bound up in chains of bitterness, doubt, worry, fear, and defeat? God knows that not all seasons will be happy. He knows we live in a fallen world and that we are human, surrounded by humans. God is not calling us to be happy all the time. He’s telling us to choose joy, by practicing rejoicing in Him and all that He’s done for us.

 

Take a moment and check your heart. Check your words. If your heart, words, and thoughts are not a fountain of overflowing joy, then start with a simple change that will create an environment that is rich with rejoicing in the Lord.

 

Take an inventory. What has the Lord done for you, or for those you know, today, yesterday, last week, last month, or last year? Celebrate it. Thank God for it! Let your praise be lifted up to the Lord. And remember, rejoicing produces joy.

©Heather Potts 2023

It's a New Year

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

Because He Lives ~ David Crowder Band

 

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! ~ Romans 11:33 NIV

 

It’s New Year’s Day, and many will pause to reflect on all that the Lord has done for them in the past year, receiving encouragement for the future. When the girls and I reviewed all our prayer cards, we were encouraged at how many prayers the Lord had answered. We saw the faithfulness of the Lord in all He’d done. How much more will we fall in love with Him as we review the wonder of the Lord?

 

I love that the Lord is both unsearchable and can be found by those who seek Him, (Romans 11:33; Jeremiah 29:13). I am surprised by the voice of His thunder in the whirlwind and His choosing to speak to us in a still, small voice, (Psalm 77:18; 1 Kings 19:12). I have found that there are seasons the Lord calls us to be strong and courageous, promising to walk with us—to be with us wherever we go. And then there are seasons the Lord says to stand firm and see how He will deliver us, (Joshua 1:9; Exodus 14:13). Of the many aspects of the Lord, I think Paul nailed it in Romans 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” Isaiah 55:8-9 agrees, “’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,’” (NIV). 

 

Before we venture too far into this new year, take a moment to pause, reflecting on all the Lord has done and the prayers He’s answered. Then, as you move forward, dig into His Word, and uncover the mystery of His ways. I pray that as you seek after the Lord this year, you’ll stand in awe of Him, falling in love with the Lord, as He reveals the richness and fullness of His love for you.

©Heather Potts 2023

Ask Questions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG347euXoTM

A Christmas Alleluia ~ Chris Tomlin (feat. Lauren Daigle, Leslie Jordan)

 

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of Shaddai.

~ Psalm 91:1a NIV

 

We visited my grandpa and his girlfriend this past summer in Waukesha. When we got to her house, the first thing my children asked was if they could explore her house. How simple and natural for a child to want to explore? "Can I look around? Can I see what’s out there? Can I discover what I don’t know?"

 

Years ago, I attended an Excel class. My boss sent me on a mission: to find the answers to five different things. When the instructor asked us what we wanted to learn, a few of us gave our laundry list of things. One woman, however, gave the correct answer. She said, "I want to know what I don't know." 

 

That's the correct answer in studying the Bible, too. "I want to know You more," the song sings. "Let me seek Your face," the verse says. "I want to dwell in Your house, forever, that I may look upon Your glory and seek Your face." We're called to dwell, to abide. How can we do that if we're not spending time seeking, searching, and asking questions? 

 

I actually wrote this a few days ago, but hadn’t shared it, yet. This morning, as I tried to sit down and share, my phone was a constant explosion of texts. Our school is on a 2-hour weather delay. But since many of us haven’t experienced that at school, we had questions about when to go where.

 

My prayer for us, both today and during this season, is that we will ask questions: What does it mean to dwell? Who is Shaddai? What do things mean, and why do I need to know them? The Bible says we must enter the Kingdom of Heaven as little children. Little children ask questions, they seek, they want to know, and they want to learn. I pray we’ll enter this season with questions, and with a desire to learn more about the One Who sent His Son.

©Heather Potts 2022

Undeserved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91hHw1YPqxE

Communion ~ (feat. Steffany Gretzinger & Brandon Lake) Maverick City

 

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ~ 1 Corinthians 11:23 NIV

 

As I stood before the Table, this was the first time I’d had a hard time approaching and partaking. As I stood there, staring at the Elements, I heard Holy Spirit say, “You are under the impression that you’ve ever deserved this. It’s always been undeserved.” The word undeserved hung in the air. It wrapped all around me and sat on me. But it wasn’t heavy. Quite the contrary, it was entirely freeing.

 

un·de·served. Un- meaning, “not,” and -ed indicating past tense, left only deserve. What I discovered helped me understand why it was so freeing. De- is a preposition, meaning, “from…out of,” and finally, serve comes from Middle English, Old French, and Latin, all words being equivalent to “slave,” (dictionary.com). Undeserved, therefore, is not-from-slavery. It can’t be earned. That’s what makes it grace.

 

Though I was welcome at the Lord’s Table, as His Bride, from the first time I put my faith and trust in Him, it was 15 years ago that I heard Him call me there. In 2007, I was suffering from pain, and it wasn’t getting better. One morning at church, I received prayer for healing. During the prayer, Holy Spirit spoke to me about receiving healing from the Lord’s Table. He said, “When you take the Bread, see My flesh bonding with your flesh, healing your flesh. When you take the Cup, see My blood flowing through your blood, washing away every sickness and disease.” It’s been 15 years, and His words have never left me. Though I am not always good at utilizing this beautiful and precious gift, I’ve never, before, hesitated to eat at His Table.

 

Prior to now, any pain or sickness I’d experienced was something that happened to me, not due to my own stupidity. And that’s how the devil got me. It was easier to believe the lie that previous times of healing were “deserved” because they weren’t my own fault. This time, however, I didn’t deserve healing, nor to even ask for it, because I’d made a dumb choice. That’s when the Lord stepped in and called me back to His Table. Standing there, staring at the Elements, a few words from the Lord, and everything changed.

 

It's not deserved. It can’t be earned. And that is what makes it grace.

©Heather Potts 2022

What's Worth $200 Million?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ykr17QALNY

All He Says I Am ~ Cody Carnes

 

A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman—who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls. ~ Proverbs 31:10 AMPC

 

What could you get with roughly $200 million?

 

Here are some options:

·         25,000 sq. ft. mansion ($100 million)

·         "Portrait of the Artist Without Beard" by Vincent Van Gogh ($98.5 million)

·         High-tech 3D roller coaster ($105 million)

·         28 commercial wind turbines ($98 million)

·         13 miles of interstate highway in Florida ($100 million)

·         Hire Tom Cruise for a movie – or for the same amount, hire Chris Hemsworth, Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson, and Brad Pitt ($100 million)

 

What did Jesus purchase? My Savannah. Except He paid much more and said she was worth every bit!

 

Proverbs 31:10 says, “A…virtuous woman…is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls,” (AMPC). The going rate for 1 pure carat of rubies is at least $1,000. If I had the same weight in rubies as Savannah weighs in pounds, they would be worth about $200 million. But Proverbs 31:10 emphasizes that we far more valuable than rubies or pearls. Not only are we far more valuable, but God has been thinking about us…since forever!

 

Seriously!

 

2 Timothy 1:9 says, “[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us… [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of… His own purpose and grace… which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago],” (AMPC). Ephesians 1:4 further emphasizes this, “Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world…” (AMPC). Did you catch that? God was thinking about you eternal ages ago! I can’t fathom that and Google can’t explain it.

 

Knowing this, why do we—my girls and I included—still doubt our worth? Why do words, spoken by someone other than God still sting? Because we’ve believed lies.

 

It’s time to tell the lies, “No!” It’s time for them to go!

 

When we know—fully believe in our core-being—who you are in Christ, then the words of co-workers, family members, kids on the playground, or lies from your enemy won’t sting. Then, you can boldly say, I am: A Child of the King, Loved, Beautiful, Victorious, Joyful, Transformed, Favored, More than a Conqueror, More Valuable than Rubies, and so much more!

©Heather Potts 2022

For You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAIdo707Sac&list=RDHAIdo707Sac&start_radio=1

Freedom Reigns ~ Jesus Culture

 

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV

 

What did Jesus die for, for you?

 

You may say, "My salvation, of course." And that's true, He did, but He came for so much more. He came that you might have life and have it to the fullest. He came to break chains. He came to set captive free. He came to give sight to the blind. He came to overcome the world.

 

My mom and I attended women's event on Friday night. The keynote speaker was discussing the woman at the well and the shame she cared about her. Now, not everyone has known shame the way the woman did. My story certainly isn't hers. But that doesn't mean that the devil hasn't worked hard to put his shame on me. Just as I'm certain he has worked hard to put his shame on you. Perhaps you're still walking around wearing shame like a cloak.

 

The thing about wearing a cloak is that it feels so heavy when you're wearing it. It might be easily put on, but it's not easy to wear, nor does it feel easy to remove. Shame isn't meant to define your actions, but rather your identity. It says, "Who you are it's bad."

 

I think I will always ruin for the day that Jesus spoke to me about the cloak of shame I had to allow the devil to put on me. Gently, He approached me, and softly He whispered, "But I died for that, so you don't have to wear a shame like a cloak, anymore."

 

There's freedom in Jesus. He came to give us freedom! From our sins, from our past, from our future, from shame, from addictions, from defeat, from death, from spiritual blindness, and from the devil's hold on us. He came to give us freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, "Now the Lord is the spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." Make the choice, today, and cast off that cloak of shame. Walk boldly in the freedom that the Lord has given to you!

 

What did Jesus die for, for you?

©Heather Potts 2022

Keep Standing pt. 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gs3fg_WsEg&list=RD_Gs3fg_WsEg&start_radio=1

Dancing in the Minefields ~ Andrew Peterson

 

Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” ~ Matthew 15:25 NKJV

 

I am equally blessed and amazed that God has walked us through 18 years of marriage. I remember when I wasn’t sure that we’d survive the first 5 years. Neither the world nor our church set us up for success. Though our church wasn’t purposefully setting us up for failure, our premarital counseling went something like this, “You want to get married? Great!” There was no talk about covenant or roles or anything. We were left to figure it out on our own, which caused us both to fail, a lot! Thankfully, God walked us through many seasons—both painful valleys and refreshing mountain-top victories. It’s been in the hard seasons, especially, that we’ve had to rely on Jesus and the covenant promise we made with Him.

 

We really struggled in the infant/toddler years of our marriage. One day, as I was walking and praying, I literally cried out to God, “I will have nothing less than Your very best for me and this marriage!” Was I bold in saying it? Yes! Was I off-base in expecting it from God? No!

 

Matthew 15:22-28 tells the story of a woman who did the same thing. At first, Jesus didn’t respond to the woman’s request to heal her daughter. He even called the woman a dog, (v.26). But even that didn’t cause her to quit. In fact, it was her faith and perseverance that caused Jesus to respond to her. The woman refused to quit! She refused to accept anything less than healing for her daughter and she knew that Jesus could do it. Because of her perseverance Jesus said, “’Woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was cured from that moment,” (v.28). Even now, I am encouraged and humbled to pray with the woman’s boldness.

 

Sadly, over the past 15 years, the divorce rate has remained at about 50%, with most divorces happening either within the first 10 years, or years later, when the adults become empty-nesters. Remember, it’s not the length of our marriage or having children living at home that determines the success of our marriage. It’s our determination to stand, and keep standing, on our vows.

 

Whether your marriage is in a good, solid season, or has hit some dips and valleys, I encourage you to pray for your marriage and refuse to quit until Jesus answers you. Lord, protect our marriages. Keep us bold in praying for our marriages and families. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

©Heather Potts 2022