Do you like me? Check "yes" or "no".

It's worth repeating that "Not only has He (Jesus) released us from slavery to sin but also from the bondage of having to prove our worth". 

That is a loaded statement.  The world we live in is so big on SUCCESS and accomplishments that we sometimes think we have to be successful or accomplished to be valuable.  Not true!

Your worth is not based on your merit, but on the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. 

So many people spend so much time, energy, money to look valuable so they can feel valuable.  But they only end up frustrated and in despair because their worth is based on what they FEEL about themselves, or how others feel about them, and feelings change with the wind.

Having to prove your worth, or be approved of by everyone, is BONDAGE!!  It will chain you up and make you its slave.  You will worship the idol of approval and you will pay for it.  Your sleep will be disturbed, your relationships surface-level, your emotions fried.  It is an empty, unfulfilled life to always be seeking approval and value.

Let me just state it clearly.  You are valuable.  You are acceptable.  You are approved.  Not because of what you've made of yourself, but because Jesus made Himself nothing, so He could free you from the bondage of approval addiction!

Stop trying to prove you are worthy, and start praising God because of who you are IN CHRIST!!

Blessings!

Ouch...That Hurts!

It's worth repeating that "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." (Proverbs 27:6)

Okay...let's be honest.  None of us REALLY like constructive criticism.  It's painful.  It can be awkward and uncomfortable.  But it is a sure sign of love from a friend.

When a friend is willing to put themselves out there to share truth with me, I may be wounded at first, but I am always better for it.  I am thankful for the friends in my life who are honest with me even when it hurts.

I am not saying that we should never encourage and uplift our friends.  But when it is time to say a hard thing to a friend, that shows true love.  Discipline flows out of love.

I am blessed to have people in my life that are not afraid to say the hard things to me...

All wounds hurt, but wounds from a friend end up making us better, like a necessary surgical procedure.  It may feel like a stab to the heart at first.. but it's not... it is the truth spoken in love, and it is an amazing gift of true friendship.

I hope you have a friend that can speak into your life... the nice words and the hard things, too..

Blessings!

Really? Me?

It's worth repeating from Psalm 8:3-4, "I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, Moon and stars mounted in their settings.  Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us?  Why take a second look our way?"

Have you ever felt small, invisible, forgotten in a world with SO MANY people?  Sometimes it's hard to believe that God can really see ME.  That He cares about ME.  That He is looking MY way.  That He wants be involved in my life.

When I think of all the BIG stuff I know God could be dealing with on a daily basis, my life seems so insignificant. But I am not.  My way seems forgotten.  But it's not.  He sees me.  He knows me.

You may feel "micro" today, but our "macro" God is looking your way...and He sees You!

Blessings!

The Damsel in Distress

It's worth repeating from John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I CAME to give real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of."  (NIV and Message combined; emphasis mine)

I must admit there is a part of me that is SO INTO stories about chivalry, knighthood, men of honor, the Round Table, King Arthur, Robin Hood... stories where courageous people STEP IN and rescue people.  They make wrong things right.  They stand for justice, peace, and freedom!  And they end up falling in love with a beautiful damsel who needs to be rescued...aaahhh..love those stories.  Robin Hood and King Arthur and Sir Lancelot are some of my favorite "rescuers".

I have been STRUCK by this verse in John 10 for the last few days.  Sure, I have read it before, have had it in my memory banks since I was a little kid, but the Holy Spirit made it come alive in such a strong way this week that I had to share it with you.  This verse moved beyond information to my mind to revelation to my spirit, and it has transformed my mind!

The thief comes...yes he does.   He sneaks in, he finds a crack in our armor, he weasels his crafty lies into our minds.  Sometimes he even comes with a heavy ambush and we feel crushed!!  And he does it to destroy us!!  Maybe you are under attack from enemy forces right now... The thief has come to steal your joy, your peace, your victory, your family unity.  The thief has come to kill your dreams, your faith, your hope.  The thief has come to destroy you...to take you out.  It is true... the enemy hates you.  He does not want you to have hope, joy, or peace!  He will try to pin you under his thumb.... But...

Can you see Him on the horizon?  Here He comes... to not only save the day, but to save YOU! Your hope, your peace, your dreams, your family!  JESUS CAME!  He came because He loves you and wants to rescue you from the attacks of the enemy.  He intervenes in our lives... He fearlessly steps between the enemy and you, says "ENOUGH", fights the battle FOR YOU, and then scoops you up as His Bride and rides off in victory... "Thanks be to God who ALWAYS causes us to triumph in HIS NAME"!

The thief comes...yes he does.  But there is so much hope in the very small phrase in John 10:10, "I CAME!"  When you feel the doubts and fears and anxieties that we all feel from time to time, remember HE CAME!!  He came to give you life.... to rescue all the damsels in distress!

Blessings!

Get off your face...get up and praise!

It's worth repeating that the time comes when we need to "stop praying about it and start praising God for it!" (Mark Batterson, in his blog)

It takes me a while at night once I lay down to fall asleep.  No, I am not an insomniac.  My brain just decides to start thinking about all the details in my life right when my head hits the pillow.  Sometimes it makes me crazy... then, I feel like I need to get up to write things down so I don't forget, but what I really want to do is JUST FALL ASLEEP!

For a while, I was praying that God would give me a good night's sleep... "Dear God, PLEASE allow me to fall asleep quickly tonight and just shut my brain off right when I lay down...Amen."

However, I am starting to take a new approach.  The Word of God says that God gives rest to the ones He loves... and He gives perfect peace to those whose minds STAY on Him.  Those are great promises...so instead of praying that God would grant me a good night's sleep and peace when I lay down, I am praising Him in advance for the promises He has already made.  It gets my focus off ME and onto HIM... I have even started praising when I lay down...thanking God for sweet rest...

This principle can be applied in so many areas of my own life... maybe you are feeling the same way.  Maybe you have been praying for a "prodigal" child to come home... and it's time to start praising God IN ADVANCE for his/her return.  Maybe your finances are in a mess, a family member has been laid off, and instead of begging God, you need to start prasing Him that He provides ALL that we need.  Maybe your marriage is falling apart, and instead of continuing to pray for reconciliation, you can start praising that God is working behind the scenes in ways you can't even see with your physical eyes...

However this may apply to you... maybe it's time to get up off your face, and get up and praise!!  Don't get me wrong, prayer is a NECESSITY.  I wholeheartedly believe in the power of prayer... BUT I also believe in the power of praising our God who is so much bigger than anything we ever face... and when I praise Him and see how big He is, it makes me that much surer that victory is on the way!!

Blessings!

Get Back Up!

It's worth repeating "We lose our way, We get back up again.  It's never too late to get back up again.  One day, you're gonna shine again.  You may be knocked down, but not out forever."  (TobyMac, "Get Back Up", Tonight)

Music gets me going.  I thank God for music all the time!!  There is such emotion, such feeling, such power in music, as there should be, since God created music!

This song by TobyMac has been playing in my house for the last couple days, my car for the last week, and I must admit I have found myself smiling inside an out when I sing it, and even dancing a little!

When our lives are in Christ, when we are found in Him, when we surrender to Him, we will always get back up from being knocked down.  When we lose our way, He will get us back on track again. 

In Micah 7, starting in verse 8,  is one of my favorite verses of Scripture:  "Don't, enemy, crow over me. I'm down, but I'm not out.  I'm sitting in the dark right now, but God is my light.  I can take God's punishing rage.  I deserve it--I sinned.  But it's not forever.  He's on my side and is going to get me out of this.  He'll turn on the lights and show me His ways.  I'll see the whole picture and how right he is.  And my enemy will see it, too, and be discredited--yes, disgraced!  This enemy who kept taunting, 'So where is the God of yours?' I'm going to see it with these, my own eyes-- my enemy disgraced, trash in the gutter."

Wow!!  Some of us need to get loud with our enemy today, and let him know that we are going to get back up.  We may be going through a trial right now, we may be in waiting mode, we may be going through doubt and pain, we may be benched for a time for our own sins, but we are going to shine again!  There is hope for us--but not for our enemy.  Someday he will get what has been coming to him for so long!

Hold on to Jesus today and to His promises for your life! 

Psalm 13 gives a great account of what to do when you you've fallen down somehow.  Starting at the end of verse 2, "Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me. (LONG ENOUGH--NO MORE!) Take a good look at me, God, my God, I want to look life in the eye, So no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face.  (notice: "when" i fall on my face..you will fall on your face sometimes, but the enemy better not laugh, because you will get up stronger!)  I've thrown myself headlong into your arms--I'm celebrating your rescue.  I'm singing at the top of my lungs, I'm so full of answered prayers."

The end of that passage tells us what to do:  Throw yourself right into Jesus' arms, Celebrate that He has rescued you, Sing praises at the top of your lungs (loud enough for your enemy to hear and for you to get it!), and thank God for answered prayers!  Wow!!  There's a great prescription for when you fall down...

If you haven't heard the song "Get Back Up" by Tobymac, that would be a great song to start singing OUT LOUD... you may even find yourself starting to smile inside and out... and maybe, just maybe, the beat might get to you, and you might start dancing a little... (in the privacy of your own home, of course...ha!!)

At any rate, if you find yourself down low, or lost, or broken, you will GET BACK UP AGAIN!

Blessings!

Playing Pretend

It's worth repeating that "...too often it is more important for a Christian couple to appear as if they have a healthy marriage than to really have one-- which requires disagreement, work, and real one-flesh unity in which both parties grow healthier." (Families Where Grace Is In Place, Jeff VanVonderen, italics mine)

One of my children's (I have three) favorite games to play is pretend.  One will say, "Let's pretend I'm a mermaid", and the other will say, "Okay, let's pretend I'm a dolphin", and then the other will say, "No, I want to be the dolphin", and then one of them will say, "Okay, you be the purple dolphin and I'll be the pink dolphin."  And then the scenarios start... "Let's pretend the mean mermaid put us in the sea dungeon and we can't get out..." and on and on they go, pretending away...

It's a fun game for kids, but unfortunately many of us don't grow out of pretending.  We pretend things are better than they really are.  We pretend we're doing okay when we're really not. We pretend we have it all together when instead we feel as though we're falling apart.  We pretend we have a growing, vibrant relationship with our spouse, but really we resent him/her for past hurts and disappointments.

Why do we do this?  I believe there's a couple reasons.  One is we just don't know where to start.  It's way too much work to have a godly marriage so we settle for a marriage that APPEARS godly and okay to others, but is anything but if we're really honest with ourselves.

Secondly, though, I think somewhere in our minds we have this idea that we have to APPEAR perfect or we won't be acceptable... and unfortunately, we find this "pretending disease" even in the church, where we are supposed to come as we are, confess our sins to one another, and sharpen and encourage one another.

We've all been there, right?  We're on the way to church, and we are in the middle of a heated argument... and then we walk into church and we are once again the Brady Bunch-- no problems, no hurts, no failures... then we leave, and go right back to the craziness that is our reality.

For some reading this blog, your marriage or circumstances may seem hopeless, beyond repair, and no one even knows because you are so afraid of being judged or the subject of someone's gossip circle or admitting that things are much worse than what they seem because that would be admitting failure.  And what would people think?  The truth is people are going to think whatever they want to think.  You can't control what people think.  But you can stop the "pretending" once and for all!

Can I just ask you to find someone you can trust and talk to them..be real..be honest.. We have to get to a point when we care more about getting healed then getting people's approval and acceptance.

And if you are a Christ-follower, ask God to help you be a safe person for people to be real with.. a person who prays instead of gossips, a person who loves instead of judges, a person who listens and doesn't always have to give advice...

I personally love when people are real with me... I know then that I can be real with them, too!

So, stop pretending... There are people who love you and accept you..the REAL you in your REAL life circumstances... and there is Jesus..oh, how He loves us!

Blessings!

Question only God can Answer

It's worth repeating that "Jesus was given to provide life and value to each one of us." (Families Where Grace is in Place, Jeff VanVonderen)

There are some questions that only God can answer. One of those questions is, "Do I have value?"

Whenever we start looking to others for an answer to that question, we begin to give other people power over us that is not theirs to have. If I am so concerned whether you think I am valuable, than I am going to do whatever it takes to make you think I am valuable. I am going to keep trying my best and doing more and more to earn your approval. I am going to act the way I think you would like me to act instead of being myself and comfortable in my own skin. And that is too much power to give anyone in your life....yes, even your spouse, your parents, your closest friend.

Our value comes from God alone. He created us and He validates us! Do you remember when John the Baptist baptized Jesus? The heavens were torn open and the Father validated Jesus by saying, "This is MY Son, in whom I am well pleased." Jesus was validated by the Father. He could take all the criticism and insults from the religious leaders, He could handle the people who didn't believe in Him, because His value was not found in whether people approved of Him or not.. His value was found in His Father, and His Father was very pleased with Him.

If you find yourself looking for value in what others think of you, or even in the tasks or job you perform...STOP! That is a dead end that leads to some great pits-- depression, self-pity, resentment, bitterness, pride, etc...

Look only to God for value and worth... that is where life begins! Can't you just feel the freedom in getting to be who God created you to be...HIS child, in whom He is very pleased!!

Blessings!

New Wardrobe!

It's worth repeating from Galatians 3:26-27 (MSG), "Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe--Christ's life, the fulfillment of God's original promise."

I must confess that this passage is a little deeper Theologically than what I typically tackle in this blog, but these verses are truly freeing once they are understood. When we go to God's Word, and we bite off a passage that seems tough to chew, we need to pray for wisdom and understanding. The book of Proverbs makes it clear that we are to get wisdom in this life even if we get nothing else!

As I read this verse, something clicked in my brain which sent a signal to my heart, and I had immediate joy! Wow!! What God does for us is so much more than give us a fresh start, a clean slate, a do over, a second chance, whatever you may call it...

God saves us, by no work on our own, I might add at this point. Jesus baptizes us into the family of God, and then He says to us, "Now you can start life all over... You can try again... You can find better tools to live by... Now go and make me proud!" NO! NO! NO! That is not what Jesus says. We can not live the Christian life on our own anymore than we can save ourselves.

This is the beauty of the work of Christ. We get so much more than a fresh start or a do over. We get the life of Christ as our life. We get the Spirit of God living the Christian life through us as we yield and surrender our will to the Father. We get a new wardrobe!

Let's be honest, if all we got was a do over, we would end up exactly where we found ourselves to begin with... lost, empty, shamed, sinful. I don't want a do over-- I don't want to try harder-- I want the Spirit of God to fill my Spirit, and live through me-- a new life with a new source! A new wardrobe from a new designer!

Jesus doesn't find us, wash us up, and leave us naked to try to find the right clothes to wear in this new life. He clothes us with everything we need for life and godliness. We don't start with the Thrift store wardrobe and move up to the 5th avenue wardrobe. We are clothed with the life of Christ from day one of our salvation... and just have to walk in it... by walking in step with the Spirit, and dying to our will.

We have more than a fresh start...we have a new identity! We were sinners before... Now we are saints of God... with a brand new wardrobe!! (One that does not have to be laundered... and all the mothers said AMEN!!)

Blessings!

New Book Review!

It's worth repeating from John 8:32, "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

I am participating in my first ever blog tour for a newly released book, and I am thrilled to be able to share it with all my blog followers!

My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself is the newest work by Susanna Foth Aughtman. In this witty, tell-it-like-it-is book, Aughtman shares personal stories as well as Biblical teaching in an attempt to get "tired supergirls" everywhere to discern and dispel the lies of the Liar and embrace the Truth found in Jesus Christ.

Aughtman, a mother of three, and a pastor's wife, is refreshingly vulnerable and honest about her own struggles, and not afraid to speak the truth in love to all who are willing to listen.

So many women are bound by the lies of the Liar, the enemy of our souls, and are desperately wanting to be set free for good! Aughtman addresses several lies we may believe about ourselves, and the truth that will set us free from the lies in short chapters that make it possible for even moms of young children to get through!

Some of the lies that are addressed are, "God doesn't hear me", "I need to be good so God will love me", "God caused my problems", "God can't use me", and "God is disappointed in me."

Aughtman's easy-to-read, and witty writing style makes this book enjoyable to read, and helps women to not feel condemned for believing lies, but to feel a sense of hope that Jesus can set us free with the Truth in His Word.

I laughed, I cried, I prayed, and I thanked God once again for giving us the Truth so we can be truly free!

I highly recommend the book to women of all ages. The discussion questions in the back make it an ideal study for women's groups of all ages and sizes, as well as a great resource for individual study. Check out My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself and begin a journey toward sweet and lasting freedom!

Available now at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

And if you would like to get to know Susanna a little more, here is the link to her blog: http://tiredsupergirl.blogspot.com

You can find My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself at Amazon!! http://www.tinyurl.com/goodbangs

And the winner is....

It's worth repeating from the Apostle Paul (who, for the record, is one of my favorite writers to quote!!) when he was writing to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 13:8, "We're rooting for the truth to win out in you."

I don't know about you, but sometimes I can get on my soap box over the dissolving of absolute truth in our society as a whole. I will confess I sometimes worry about the effects it will have on my children that they will grow up in a society that believes the only constant about truth is that it is constantly changing. How can people know the truth and be set free if the truth is always changing?

I have seen firsthand what deception looks like when it takes over someone's mind, someone's emotions, and even someone's soul... I have seen people who knew the truth at one time become bound by lies that could destroy them, but they are living their own truth... what seems right to them, and we who know the Truth know where that leads. The way that SEEMS right to us is not necessarily right at all, and can ultimately lead to death. I have seen marriages die because people did what SEEMED right to them. I have seen children abused and neglected because people did what SEEMED right to them. I have read in history about dictators who tried to wipe out entire nations because it SEEMED right to them. How can people be held accountable if there is not an absolute standard? How can we reach people who have become so deceived by the enemy that they are following their heart, instead of following the Spirit of God?

It may seem cliche to so many, but the truth is that sometimes all we can do is pray for the Truth to win out... to rise above all the lies... to set bound people free!! Are you rooting for truth to win out in your husband? your wife? your children? your "not-yet-saved" family? our government? our schools?

I will confess I am not a cheerleader... but if there has ever been something I will cheer for, it is for God's Truth to go, fight, and WIN!!

Are you with me?

Blessings!

By the way, tomorrow I will be writing a post based on a book that is all about lies and truth! You will not want to miss it! I will also have info on how you can get your hands on a copy of the book! It is especially for women--old and young!

I'm coming out!

It's worth repeating from 2 Corinthians 7:9, "You let the distress bring you to God, not drive you from him. The result was all gain, no loss."

Distress has a special way of bringing out our true colors, and exposing our coping methods (Spider Solitaire, anyone?). Trials and stress also have a way of showing how much we trust God. Will we trust Him even when life is not going the way we thought it would? Will we turn and run toward Him when pain breaks our happy bubble or will we let our questions and doubts turn into bitterness and despair?

When we run toward God and trust Him completely even when our world is falling apart, we may not be able to see anything good happening at all... We may not see the end of our trial, but God does... and when we turn to Him the results from our trials are ALL GAIN!!

This passage in 2 Corinthians continues in verses 10-13, "Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain... And now, isn't it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You're more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you've come out of this with purity of heart." (emphasis mine)

The truth is trials will pass. How you come out of them is your choice. Will you let your trial bring you closer to God? Or will you let it be another reason you won't trust Him completely?

My prayer is that when I come out of trials (and I will come out!), I will come out with a pure heart... that's what I long for... a heart like God's heart.

Blessings!

Tough

It's worth repeating: "This is not how it should be. This is not how it could be. But this is how it is... and our God is in control."

These words were penned by Steven Curtis Chapman after the tragic death of his adopted daughter, and are the first words in his song, "Our God is in Control" in his most recent album, Beauty Will Rise.

As I listen to this song and so many others on this album, I can hear the pain, agony, and questioning in Chapman's lyrics, but I am also encouraged by his faith-filled proclamations. I can feel myself fighting the fight of faith with him...pushing through my pain and doubts to God's presence and power.

There have been many times in the past year when it has been hard for me to say that God is in control.

Today I attended a funeral for a young woman who seemed to have so much more life to live. I watched a mother and father and brother and husband grieve deeply and wonder how this could happen... and I had to ask God, "Why?" When I think of her sweet, young children, my heart breaks, and I wonder "Why?"

There are so many questions I can not answer. There are hurts that words can't describe.

I do know that out of the hurts in my own life, beauty is rising. Spring is coming. What was once completely ashes and ruins is being rebuilt. What has been broken is being restored...and being made better and stronger.

I will always have questions. But in my heart I will keep believing...

God is in control. And He loves me. And sees me. And cares. And can handle all my questions.

Blessings!

the fruit of suffering

It's worth repeating that "people who have never suffered in life have less empathy for others, little knowledge of their own shortcomings and limitations, no endurance in the face of hardship, and unrealistic expectations for life." (Timothy Keller, Counterfeit Gods)

Wow! This is quite a quote...loaded with truth! I, probably like you, do not enjoy suffering. In fact, if I had the choice, I would choose to NEVER suffer.

However, there is fruit that comes from suffering that doesn't come any other way.

Recently, in my life, I am learning to embrace suffering because it can lead to brokenness...and open my heart up to God in a brand new way. I have come to the place where I can say, "I would never have chosen these circumstances, but I appreciate who I am becoming through them." I can honestly admit that I couldn't say that for a while...but by God's grace, I am able to say it honestly... and even thankfully...

When we go through suffering, several things happen if we choose to embrace it and not get bitter, resentful, or swallowed by self-pity... (thanks to Timothy Keller for pointing these out!)

1. We will have increased empathy for others. Show me someone who is judgmental or apathetic toward someone who is suffering, and I will show you someone who has never experienced true brokenness in their life. But the truth is they probably will someday... and will need people to be loving and empathetic toward them...

2. We will have a greater knowledge of our own shortcomings and limitations. I have learned more about myself in suffering than in times of peace... Some of the things I have discovered about myself I don't like... I don't like my shortcomings... I don't like that I have limitations, but I do... and I can not be all things all the time. I can not be strong all the time. I am a human being with human emotions. This helps me to rely on God more than ever when I am confronted with my weaknesses.

3. We will learn to endure. One of the greatest lessons I learned is that suffering does not have to do me in... I can not only survive under it, but I can learn to endure with joy and peace because I know that I KNOW God is with me and has my best in mind. His perfect love casts out my fear that I will not make it through.

4. I develop realistic expectations for life. The truth is that life is not a "happily-ever-after"... it is more of an "acceptance-with-joy" life. Suffering helps me to accept more than I thought I could. I can accept that people will fail me. That I will not be perfect. That my children will not be perfect. That life can seem very hard, even unbearable at times, but that God came to help me with my REAL life, not my IDEAL life. Real life comes with real challenges and real disappointments. Knowing that, and accepting that, can keep me from total devastation when my expectations aren't met.

These are just some of the "benefits" of suffering... and I type that tongue-in-cheek!!

I would love to hear others if you have them...

Blessings!

Big Feet, Small Feet

It's worth repeating Job in Job 23:11, "I've followed Him closely, my feet in his footprints, not once swerving from His way."

I have small feet... This, as far as I am concerned, is a good thing! Usually, it's the really small sizes and the giant scary sizes (to me) that are left over at the clearance shoe sales... so I tend to be able to get good deals on shoes! In the last year, I was getting hand-me-downs from my 12 year old niece... and i love free stuff! Soon, I will probably be able to wear the same size as my own daughter... and I am all about saving a buck!

This winter, with the crazy snowfall we've had, has given me yet another reason to love my small feet... When I go to walk a path in the knee-high snow, I tend to trip and fall, but when I walk in the footprints of my husband, who has much bigger feet than I do, the way is much easier, and my feet, and the rest of me, stay a lot warmer and drier.

I love what Job says about following the Lord closely, putting his feet in our Shepherd's footprints. There is so much peace in that for me. I follow behind and put my little feet in the huge feet of the knowing, caring, "has my best in mind" Shepherd. Sometimes He leads through easy pastures, sometimes through the Valley of Death... but I do not have to fear because He is leading me...

I run into problems when I get out in front and try to forge the path on my own... I lose my direction... I am not sure where I am heading and how to get there... I make decisions that end up harming me because the Shepherd was not leading me... I was trying to lead myself..

I encourage you today, and encourage myself once again, to let the Shepherd get out in front... let Him lead you... you FOLLOW him... into paths of righteousness, by still waters, through the valleys, and up to the mountains... He knows the way... you just put your feet in His footprints..

Blessings!

Convinced

It's worth repeating that "Three-fourths of receiving anything from God is being convinced God wants us to have it." (Steve Sampson, You Can Hear the Voice of God)

When I read this quote, my mind automatically doubts. I am such an analytical person, that to say that exactly 75% of receiving from God is being convinced He wants us to receive, I think, How can you give such an exact number?

However, in my own journey, I am learning many lessons about faith and could attest to the verity of this statement. One lesson is that I tend to have more faith for others than I do for myself... Sure, God wants to heal Joe-Bob, and He wants to provide for Sally-Jane, but when it comes right down to it, I am not always convinced He wants to do those things FOR ME!!

So for me, faith has become not just believing that God can and will, but that He wants to!!! He wants to heal ME, He wants to restore ME, He wants to speak to ME...

I love the story in the Gospel of Matthew about the leper. The leper says to Jesus that if Jesus WANTS TO, he could make Him clean. And Jesus simply says, "I want to. Be clean." He WANTS TO!

That gives me such encouragement and builds my faith... It CONVINCES me that God wants to move on my behalf...

Are you convinced??? Your own "convincing" could be the key to unlock the door of receiving all God has for you... at least it's 75% of it!!

Blessings!

Work and Energy

It's worth repeating that "It was God giving me the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it." (I Corinthians 15:10-11, MSG)

This is a quote from the apostle Paul, one I am so grateful he said...

I am entering a new chapter in my life. Actually, I feel like I have several chapters being written at once, but I am entering into a season of ministry again. I am excited, but also a bit hesitant. I tend to be a doer. I do the work. It is my energy doing the work. I get tired. I become anxious that there is work. I get angry that I allowed myself to have too much work. I pray. I surrender. I feel better. Back to the beginning.

However, I truly believe this ministry chapter of my life is going to be different than the previous chapters. First, I have decided to let God bring the work to me. I am not going to promote myself to get ministry jobs... I am going to let God bring to me what He has for me. There is so much peace in that for me. Can't you just feel the relief in not worrying about planning your future perfectly??

Second, I am going to let Him provide the energy to do the work He brings. I have found that when I quiet myself before Him, when I stop striving for perfection, when I surrender my plans to Him, He gives me the energy and even an excitement to do His work!! I am so thankful that He gives the energy I need... especially since most of my energy gets used up by my very energetic family. And He knows that. There are times I feel no natural energy, but as I allow God to put His work and will in my heart, I feel a supernatural energy from within, and can't wait to get working on what He has for me... Can't you feel the excitement of not having to become addicted to caffeine and an imbalanced lifestyle to do the Lord's Work???

As I begin this new chapter, I think I will title it... "God-Initiated Opportunities... No Coffee Required!"

Blessings!

Fathers Needed! Finger-Pointing Discouraged...

It's worth repeating from I Corinthians 4:15, "There are a lot of people around who can’t wait to tell you what you’ve done wrong, but there aren’t many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up."

If there's one thing I have learned in my life through my experiences, it's that people respond to the shortcomings, sins, and weaknesses of others in different ways. I am not saying that the way they respond is inherently wrong...but definitely diverse!

When we are confronted with the humanness of others, the fallenness of others, we have a choice to make. We can pounce on them and remind them of everything they've done wrong (which they have probably done to themselves more than we can imagine), or we take the time and effort to help them as friends and even family.

It is my goal in life to be the latter.

It says a lot about who we are by how we respond to the faults of others. If we have truly experienced the mercy and grace of Christ, and the restorative power of the Holy Spirit, who are we to withhold it from the people around us who need a father, and not a finger-pointer?

I would love to hear your comments...

Blessings!

Grading My Diet

It's worth repeating from 1 Corinthians 8:8 (MSG), "Fortunately God doesn't grade us on our diet." And we all heaved a sigh of relief for that one!!

I know that is kindof a tongue-in-cheek way of looking at this scripture, but the truth is some of us think God is our schoolteacher who gives us a grade for everything we do. Sometimes we get a failing grade and sometimes a passing grade. We feel really confident when we are passing, and really crappy (pardon the term) when we are failing. This is a dangerous mentality to have!!

When we live out of this self-righteous mentality, we cheapen grace...we cheapen Christ. In and of ourselves, there is nothing we can do to earn God's approval... we already have it. He gives us an "A" because of Jesus, not because of our own merits.

For someone like me, this seems too good to be true. I am a "performer". I perform for approval, whether man's or God's. Somedays I am on top of the world, and other days the world is on top of me, depending on how I think I have performed. To be released from the "grade-earning" mentality is so freeing, in theory. However, it is very difficult for someone like me to live in that freedom.. maybe you are in the same boat..the same sinking boat, where you are rowing and rowing to keep the boat afloat in your own strength... hoping God will give you a pat on the back, an "A" for being so strong!!

Today, God wants to being to free you AND me from the performance-based life and transplant us into a grace-based life... can't you just feel the peace in that life?? I give it an "A+".

I would love to hear your feedback on this...

Blessings!

Making Someone's Day

It's worth repeating that we may not be able to change the world, but we can make someone's day. This thought comes from the book, Love Mercy, by Lisa and Ty Samson.

I sometimes get anxious when I think of all the people who need help and love and mercy and compassion. I want to be able to reach them all... I want to adopt every hungry, hurting, abandoned child. I want to give to every charity that is making a difference. I want to hold the hand of every hurting person. I want to hug every lonely person. I want to rescue every young lady who is a victim of the sex trade industry. And I want to do it NOW!!!

This thought from Lisa and Ty Samson is one that brings me back to peace. I may not be able to get to everyone today, but I can get to SOMEONE... I can help someone smile, I can hug someone, I can hold someone's hand... And to that "someone", it will make a difference. I will make a difference... and that means the world to me!

Blessings!