All Things are Possible!

It’s been a while and I’m not completely sure what has been the hold-up for me in writing this blog. I don’t want to say I’ve been rebellious, because that’s not what I’ve felt. I think I began to feel like it was me writing the blog and not me being a vessel for God to write through. Maybe I just needed a break. Either way, today I felt like the Lord had something to share through me, so here I am sitting at my computer sharing with you what he is sharing with me.

Today I went to church and was blessed by the message. The main theme was that change is hard, but we can change with Jesus. How true that is! I know I’ve attempted to make changes in my life and when it gets hard to continue, I’ve often times reverted back to old behavior in multiple areas of my life - Exercise! Eating! Sleep! Reading my bible! Writing! There are others that I just won’t name here, but you get the idea. 

The minister today said something that stuck with me – “change is a one-time decision with a daily commitment.” Wow! I sat with that and it’s still working on me. How many things have I given up on because I thought it was too hard? I realized today that it wasn’t too hard. I didn’t give it my all. I didn’t continue when I didn’t see the results I wanted. I stopped. And I wonder how much further along I’d be if I had stayed firm with the really good eating habits of years ago. Or if I’d kept writing that novel I started over a decade ago. Do you have things in your life like that? I don’t know if I’d call them regrets, but I definitely wonder if I somehow took the easy road and would be healthier, more mature, or developed had I stayed consistent. 

I feel our relationship with the LORD is similar – if we consistently flex our faith muscle, how much deeper would we be with Him? How much stronger would our relationship be? One thing is sure – the more we invest in a relationship, the stronger it will be. And the more we trust the LORD and what He calls us to, the more He will give us to do. The minister said today that God calls ordinary people to His extraordinary purpose. I’m a witness of that. In fact, my whole life reflects that. 

But I wonder about those things where I have not been consistent. Would the LORD have trusted me with more, had I done the work? I don’t expect I will know the answer to that until I stand before Him and have to give an account of my life. I know I can’t change the past, but with Jesus’s help, I can change the future. I can do what I haven’t done before and see how He takes my actions and turns them into results. Faith without works is dead (Jam 2:14).

The LORD is the God of the impossible, so I need to have confidence that if He can do the impossible, He can do that with me. Scripture says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” (Phil 4:13) even the hard things or maybe especially the hard things. That means I don’t have to try – I can do. May be hard, may take a while to learn, and may require me to get a little bit better every day, but I CAN do. As Yoda says, “Do or do not, there is no try.” 

Having a firm belief that we can do all things, takes the limits off. No more, I can’t do that because... Yes, we have some limitations to our skills and talents, but many of them not born to us naturally can be learned. Yes, it takes work, but if God calls you to something, don’t question why you. He made us – He knows us better than we know ourselves. He also knows where He wants us. He gives us the power to do what pleases Him (Phil 2:13). Take the next step as He directs even if it’s scary. He will never lead us to anything that is not for our good (Rom 8:28). We may not always like all the aspects of a thing, but God knows better than we do. Trust Him to do the impossible in and through you. 

As we end 2024 and begin 2025, let go of fear and step into all God has for you. Jesus came that we could have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Don’t squander it - live it to the fullest. All the best for a 2025 that blows your expectations away. 

Are you a Disciple or just a Believer?

So, I’ve been dealing a lot lately with discipleship and what it really means. In the past, I was a big believer that because trees are known by their fruit, if there was no fruit that looked or was like Jesus, others couldn’t possibly be saved. I know, it’s judgy right? It is. I’m coming to understand that believing Jesus is God’s son and that God raised Him from the dead, doesn’t automatically change our behavior and produce good fruit. Our time with the Word of God and in prayer, loving God and others as ourselves, produces that fruit (Gal 5:22-25). Being a disciple of Christ produces that fruit. 

Yes, we are a new creature when we accept Jesus (2 Cor 5:17), but if we don’t spend time with God, we will never start to look like Him. Have you ever seen a mature married couple of many, many years together? People say they begin to look alike. I’m not sure that’s completely true, but it works for this analogy. The more time we spend with the Lord and the more time we spend obeying Jesus’ instructions to us, the more we look like the one who saved and sent us. 

Salvation is amazing and I am forever grateful for it. It is the free gift of God – that He sent His only begotten son to die so our sins could be forgiven (John 3:16) and we can have life and life more abundantly (John 10:10). However, we are being sanctified (i.e., becoming more like Christ) as we walk out our life with Christ (Gal 2:20). That doesn’t happen overnight. We are born in sin and that nature scars us. The only way to truly heal is to allow God to do a work in us. Thankfully, He who began a good work in us is faithful to complete it (Phil 1:6). But we can influence how long we stay in the lessons – if we get it the first time and get out of ourselves, we may not have to repeat the lesson. I’ve been there and I didn’t like it. In most of the cases where I’ve had to live through the same lesson over and over, it’s because I wanted to do it my own way in my own time. 

Following Jesus is not convenient and it’s sometimes hard. But doing hard things shouldn’t scare or discourage us if they are worth doing. Discipleship is one of those things. Discipleship costs. To be a disciple, we must deny self, pick up our cross and follow Jesus (Matt 16:24-25). We may have to sacrifice our TV or video game time. We may have to stop shopping nonstop. We may have to step away from friends who draw us away from God. We may have to run from that one thing that we’re addicted to. Seeking God first and recognizing that Jesus is Lord and that we can do nothing without Him goes against everything society teaches us to do and be. But it’s what followers of Jesus are called to. 

As you think about your walk with Christ, spend a little time reflecting over what’s most important to you as evidenced by your actions……not what you say or feel. What do your actions tell you about what’s most important to you? If Jesus doesn’t get much of your precious time, is He really Lord of your life or is it still you or someone else? So, are you a disciple or just a believer? This is one only you can answer, but it’s an important one. While it may cost to take up our cross and follow Jesus, it is more than worth it. He is worth it!

Are you Praying Enough?

So, I know this is a loaded question, but it’s one that needs to be asked. Of late, I’ve been hearing a lot about prayer and praying – in devotionals, at church, in conferences. Prayer is a topic everywhere. And the more I look around me at the world we live in, the more I realize that I’m definitely not praying enough. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:16-18). Of course, I pray when I think about it and I pray when something is going on, but I look for God to move quickly and then I move on to the next thing. 

As we have been studying Genesis since the beginning of the year, I’m reminded regularly that God does not operate on my time table (look at Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). I have to operate on His timetable. He is a good God and great is His faithfulness (Lam 3:22-23). He is faithful to fulfill His promises (Heb 10:23), but that doesn’t mean that He owes me anything or that my prayer is just to get something from Him (transactional)…..or at least it shouldn’t be. 

Our prayer life is really about relationship with God. It’s the way we communicate with Him. So, for example, I talk to my mom every day, almost without fail. Yes, if I’m traveling or sick, I may not speak to her and my dad, but generally, they are a priority for me every morning. If my physical parents are a priority to speak with every day and they are hundreds of miles away, how can I ignore or take for granted my heavenly Father who is always with me? I can sadly admit that it’s pretty easy to do. Life happens and all the things that are going on throughout the day take on an importance they should never have. In this, I must repent. 

It's easy to say that God understands my life and my heart…..and He does…..He gets that I make other things more important than Him. I can only confess that, apologize/repent and commit to doing better. I have to set aside time for just Him and I know it won’t be easy. I know I will be attacked in this area, but that doesn’t change the fact that I need to make prayer the way I do everything. If I really believe that I belong to God and not myself, the things He says are important have to the be the things that are important to me. That’s not an issue with my worldly bosses – whatever they say is a priority becomes my priority. How is it different with God? 

Spending time with Him so that I know Him better…..so I’m not distracted by circumstances or people around me…..so I know without a shadow of doubt who He is and what He can do…..are especially important to my walk with Him. I always said I wanted to have a relationship with Father God like Enoch who walked faithfully with Him and didn’t see death (Gen 5:21-24). And so far, I’ve failed at that. Don’t get me wrong, I spend time with God, but I’m not walking with Him every moment of every day. That’s hard for me to admit, but I know I’m not always seeking His counsel in decision making and I’m not always listening to Him when I want to do something. If I want the fullness of God for my life, I need to seek His will and not my own. I know that….but the practice is not there yet. I have work to do and He has work to do in me (Phil 1:6).

Please pray for me as I pray for you that your prayer life would be strengthened and that your relationship with Father God would be deeper. We all need Him, I just think we don’t realize how much. Blessings to you!

Lessons Learned from Joseph

For the past several weeks, we’ve been learning about the life of Joseph in our study of Genesis. Most people know the story – he was a favored son who was sold into slavery by his brothers and later saved the ancient world by interpreting a dream for Pharoah. Whether you have a relationship with Jesus or not, it’s a great read. Joseph's story begins in Genesis 37 as a teenage dreamer. There are many lessons to take from his life (Gen 37, Gen 39-48). We’ll only discuss five of them here and the first one we see happened when he was just 17. 

1. You can’t share your dreams with everyone, not even those closest to you (Prov 14:16 NLT). You have to pray and be discerning about who you can trust with where God is taking you. Joseph shared his dreams with his brothers and because he was already the favored child, they were jealous and wanted to kill him. Was he oblivious to their jealousy or was he rubbing their noses in his dreams? We’ll never know, but we do know that when it was convenient, their own insecurities and hatred led them to selling Joseph into slavery. Of course, God orchestrated it so Joseph ended up in Egypt, where He was taking him to be elevated in time. However, the brothers’ actions were selfish and lacked compassion. One way or another, God would have moved so that Joseph’s dreams came true, but God gives us all the right to choose the path we will take, and the one Joseph’s brothers took was a sinful one. 
2. Don’t complain – do the work. Instead of complaining about his plight and focusing on what he no longer had, Joseph focused on doing the work. He learned the language and developed his leadership skills. He learned to organize and keep things in order. While he was waiting for what God would do with his life, he was busy preparing. He didn’t try to elevate himself, He waited for God to elevate Him. 
3. There is power in forgiveness (Luke 6:27-37). Even though Joseph was separated from His family for more than twenty years (part of that time in prison), he forgave his brothers for selling Him. He was not bound by the betrayal of his brothers. He didn’t hold anger against Potiphar’s wife who lied on him. He was free, even when he was in bondage. Joseph went on to live a fruitful life in a foreign land and God prospered everything he touched. By not holding on to anger, Joseph was able to take hold of his actions and respond, not react, to the things that happened to him. 
4. A man’s gifts will make room for him and bring him before the great (Prov 18:16). Throughout Joseph’s life, his gifts of organization and his godly wisdom brought him into leadership roles. We see it with Potiphar, the jailer and finally, Pharoah. Joseph diligently and faithfully did the work for whatever position he filled using his gifts and doors were opened unto him. 
5. God is ultimately in control. Joseph knew this and that God’s hand was on His life. Whether in Potiphar’s house, the jail, or as second in command of Egypt, Joseph always remembered God was with him and had His hand on Joseph’s life. Joseph refused to sin with Potiphar’s wife because, it was a sin against God even in slavery. Joseph knew God was with Him even when he was wrongfully jailed. He understood that his abilities were God given abilities. While God doesn’t control our actions, He controls the outcomes. At every turn, Joseph was obedient and he was elevated even in captivity. 

Remember that no matter what is going on in your life or what situation you face, God is a promise keeper. Remember to wait on His timing and not to make it happen yourself as we saw with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It never works out well - there are always adverse consequences (some that will last for millennia). Our sin comes out of our choosing in our own knowledge and selfishness, and not following God’s leading. Let's learn the lessons and live a more fulfilling life. 

God is Still Good

God is good! No matter what we are facing, He IS good (Psa 103:8). That is hard sometimes to grasp because the world can be a treacherous place and bad things happen to threaten our happiness and comfort. We tend to think of anything that makes us unhappy or sad as bad. But if we think about our lives, there are always things that cause great pain at the same time as things involving great joy (thanks Pastor Craig).

I recently lost someone who has been like an aunt to me most of my life and I will miss her dearly, but at the same time I just celebrated my mom's birthday. The fact that I am suffering this loss doesn’t make God any less good. If fact, the fact that I am grieving speaks to the love that I felt. When I consider the experience, I wouldn't wish away the years I had with her to prevent the pain of losing her. 

I recently heard the story of Katherine Wolf (thanks Desperate for Jesus), who provides some interesting perspective around suffering well. And finding joy in what we do Have, not what we don't.  This speaks to learning to be content regardless of our circumstances.  Even when it's painful or we have circumstances we can to choose to be joyful. The scriptures tell us to rejoice in all things (1 Thes 5:16-17; Phil 4:4). We have to remember He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28). He cannot lie (Tit 1:2), which means he is trustworthy. He does what He says He will do.

This is a clear reminder that God IS good.....not because we deserve it, but because that is who He is. We can trust Him! 

Are you selfish?

If someone asked you, “Are you selfish?”, how would you respond? I like to think I’m not very selfish and when I really take a look at myself, I have to admit I’m very selfish about somethings in my life. My time is one of those things. I love “me” time and I guard it like a sentry at Buckingham Palace. Some would say, there’s nothing wrong with that. And I would normally agree, but I will guard my time to the expense of what God may be calling me to do. 

We are called to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength; and then to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). And I find that I may be lacking there. I know, I’m not perfect and I will make mistakes or sin. But I thought I was further along than I am, until I did a bit of self-reflection. I realized that sometimes I “love” God when it is convenient for me or when my priorities are met. I found that sometimes I lose sight of the fact God created me for His glory and not the other way around. 

I sometimes put my own stuff ahead of His calling on my life. For example, I sometimes find myself playing video games, when I should be spending time with Him. Does that sound like a big thing? Not necessarily, but at the end of the day, that is me putting my own desires ahead of Him. I’m not saying He never wants us to have downtime or play time or whatever we need to be rested and able to pour out to whoever He brings our way. But I am saying, our motives matter. If the only one I’m concerned about is myself (which I’ve found is sometimes the case), I’m operating in an incorrect posture because we should be seeking the good of others (1 Cor 10:24). I know that’s hard because we live in a society that teaches us the opposite (Thanks Pastor Craig) – it’s all about us. But it’s not – it’s all about Him. 

To be clear, God does not want us to overdo it. He wants us to rest in Him – He will give us rest (Matt 11:28-30; Psa 127:2). He wants us to be healthy – our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20). He wants us to be ready to pour out or serve others – when we love others, God lives in us (1 John 4:12). In my selfishness, I don’t always make the best decisions for myself. Just like everyone, I want to do what I want to do and that doesn’t always line up with God’s expectations and directions to me. I have to remember that the old me was crucified with Christ and now Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20).

So, I’m dealing with myself on what I am “loving” more than God and what I’m going to do about it. It’s definitely a process and I’m starting with time and then I’m moving to the next area. I invite you to join me. Think about the area(s) of your life, where you are putting your own desires and stuff ahead of God and his purpose for you, then take it to him to help you with it. You are not alone (Deut 31:6). We all have at least a little bit of selfishness and need the power of the Holy Spirit to help us.

The Cost of Sin

We were born in sin (Psa 51:5). All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). God created us in His image but we exchange our understanding for His. That is sin – anything contrary to His nature. Ever since The Fall (Gen 3), we have been looking at God through the lenses of our own faithlessness. We don’t surrender to Him because we don’t really believe He is faithful and will provide for us. Somewhere along the way, we really began to believe that we were providing for ourselves. That if God didn’t come through, we could use our gifts and talents to take care of ourselves. We forgot that the Word is true – we can do nothing without Him (John 15:5). 

Have you ever imagined what sin really costed us? It costed us separation from God (Isa 59:2). Beyond the consequences that come with sin. it costed us our image. We were created in God’s image – set apart from everything else on earth, but sin took that away from us. It costed us our innocence. How many animals have died since creation to give us clothes to wear and cover our nakedness? How much has greed and love for money costed us? How much has selfishness costed us? How many lives have been lost to envy and hate and fear? How many have suffered because we were dependent upon ourselves for our livelihood and not dependent upon God to provide?

I wrote before that we don’t obey God because we don’t really trust Him. So, what did you give up on because you didn’t believe God could provide for you outside of your works? God is a provider and He owns the cattle on a thousand hills – he can keep you fed. What did you tell God “no” to because you didn’t really believe He would come through? God is a promise keeper. If He calls you to something, He provides a way to accomplish it, even when you can’t see it. Where was he sending you that you didn’t go, because you didn’t believe He would prepare the way before you? God goes before us to prepare the way. What are you not trusting God with because in actuality you don’t trust Him to take care of you? God takes care of His own and cares about what we care about. 

At the heart, sin is the result of our lack of faith in God (Psa 37:3-5). That is the root of it all. God is GOOD to us. We may not like the outcome, but I would bet if you look back over your life in Christ, you can point to the things that brought you closer to God and it won’t be the easy things. It’s the things that stretch and cause us pain that make us stronger (Rom 5:3-5). God uses them to build our character and our faith, showing us that He is our source, our redeemer, our protector, our everything. He also uses them to remind us that this is all temporary. We are not meant to stay here. We are visitors and He is coming back to take us home with Him – to the place that He is preparing. 

In the meantime, it is important for us to remember, Jesus suffered and died. We will suffer, too. We are not exempt from pain and problems. They will come, but He will be with us and deliver us (Psa 34:19). 

God is Holy

When you think about God being Holy, what do you think of? Some of us think about God judging us or His wrath. Some of us think of Him having an ego and being distant and not caring for us when life gets hard. But, if God is distant and doesn’t care about us or if all He does is judge us or release His wrath on us, why are we still here? Why hasn’t He destroyed us? Why does He allow us to remain? If the wages of sin is death, we all deserve to be destroyed. (Psa 103:8-12)

Jackie Hill Perry ministered tonight as part of the Desperate for Jesus (#DFJ2024) conference and she asked that question. It caught me off guard, because I’ve asked myself why would God put up with us or why does He love us so. I felt ridiculous, because the answer was staring me in the face. God is Holy – He is different than everyone and everything else (Isa 5:16). He is separate. His very nature is set apart from all things that were created – He is by nature GOOD. Not what we think of as good, by giving us the things we selfishly want or desire. He is GOOD and He is always being GOOD (Psa 100:5).  He works on the things in and around us that matter most – building us to be like Christ and trust Him like Christ trusted Him even until death. 

While we were created in God’s image, we can be tempted and give into the things that influence us. We have such limited understanding, we often reflect the miniscule knowledge from our experiences on God, not understanding what an insult that is to Him. God cannot be compared to anything else we know. He is far above anything we can think. His will is not consistent with ours (Isa 55:8-9).  He is the standard. That is why our minds must be renewed. The renewing of our minds is necessary for us to be transformed into the image of Christ (Rom 12:2) – back to the original. 

Because God is Holy, He cannot lie (Num 23:19), therefore He cannot lie to us. Because He is Holy, His Word is true. Because He is Holy, He is Merciful and that is why we are not consumed. There is none like Him (1 Sam 2:2). We take Him for granted, but He still shows us mercy that we do not and can not deserve. You may ask why I say that. When was the last time you looked at God as the standard and saw your weaknesses and sin? How did you stack up? Exactly! 

As you think about God’s Holiness, it should give you great comfort that He can be trusted (Heb 10:23). That He cares about the things you care about. Because Jesus is Holy, He loved us all enough to die for us to pay for our sins that we could be reunited with the Godhead. Even knowing the tremendous costs, Jesus (King of Kings and Lord of Lords) humbled Himself and stepped out of eternity to become a man to die for us – willingly. Because of God’s Holiness, we are not destroyed. Jesus paid the price and was destroyed in our place. Then, He got up with all power in His hands. He is Holy and Righteous and because He is, we are adopted and chosen (Eph 1:4-5). 

Praise God for His Holiness. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts (Isa 6:1-5)!

God's Will, Not Mine

Over the past week, I’ve really given some consideration to what it means to live in God’s will vs. my own. What I realized is that what we’re really talking about is obedience vs. rebellion to God’s authority. We are born in sin and our very nature is the opposite of God’s will.  Sure, we may be “good” people according to worldly standards, but we still have utterly wicked hearts (Jer 17:9-10) and are essentially all about ourselves. Given the right set of circumstances, without Jesus, we are subject to do anything. Even with him, we will on occasion step out of who we are in God in rebellion to seek our own. For every act of rebellion against God there are negative consequences, the biggest one is the separation it causes between us and our Heavenly Father. Rebellion is sin and wages of sin are death (Rom 6:23). We get a glimpse of the consequences to our rebellion to God’s authority in Gen 3 with the Fall of Mankind.

So, God’s Will is obedience to Him and His word and to act when He tells us to……to have such faith that we don’t worry about what the future holds and take the step that is directly in front of us knowing God has already worked out the details. When we move like He tells us to move, we show we trust Him with everything. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is saying “yes” when we don’t even know what we’re saying yes to, because we trust His leading and His love for us. 

When we strive to know Him better and we are transformed as we study His word and learn what His will is for us (Rom 12:1-2), our will changes to be more in line with His will (Psa 37:4). Our obedience is directly related to our level of trust in God and our belief that He loves us and has our best interest at heart, as well as, our understanding that He knows better than we do. When we disobey, we are really saying we know better than God does – just like the teenager who explains to their parents they don’t know anything the teenager is going through. Just like parents have lived what teenagers are facing and have good advice for how to navigate, God clearly already knows everything we are going through and will go through the rest of our lives. 

So, we have choices to make about whether we will seek to do God’s will – love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, body, etc., and love our neighbor as ourselves, or will we seek to do our own will – be all about ourselves and what we can get?  God is faithful (1 Cor 1:9) and He keeps His promises (Heb 10:23), but there are consequences when we go our own way and if we die in our sin, the ultimate consequences of death and hell. Accepting Jesus as personal savior, studying God’s word and following it is the best way to stay in God’s will. His will is that none would be lost (2 Pet 3:9), but that is a choice we get to make. We get to choose Him or not. Can you imagine what He can do with a willing heart and an obedient spirit? Open doors beyond measure and Him getting the glory as you walk out His calling on your lives, since we remember and acknowledge we are nothing without Him (John 15:4-5). 

Choose His will over your own and watch what He will do with your life. 

Faith and Works

How many times in your life have you let fear keep you from moving into something you believed was for you? How many times have you let life’s circumstances deter you from making a change? How many times have you allowed what others said to keep you from taking a risk? There have been many times I’ve taken a risk and it didn’t pan out, but I tried. Maybe those were the right choices, maybe not, However, I know I tried. 

It is impossible to please God without faith (Heb 11:6). So, we must believe in Him and believe that He will do exactly what He says (2 Pet 3:9-11; Rom 4:21). One thing I’ve learned over the years is that I can trust God to take care of me (Matt 6:26). From my first move to Florida to my latest move to Kansas City (which was not in my life plan), I have trusted that God had my best interests at heart. When obstacles come, I know that I will make it through them because I am His child and I am in Christ Jesus. 

Pastor Craig addressed faith this morning in his message based on the movie “Air,” about Nike signing Michael Jordan. It was very insightful to see how faith in the Lord can provide guidance for the way through. A couple of the types of faith mentioned during the message resonated with me. 

The faith to believe there is a way to accomplish something was one of them. I believe I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13) because God’s word says so. I don’t question whether I can – I really only question whether I truly want to. Don’t get me wrong – there are some things God has called me to that I didn’t want to do, but I did them to be obedient to Him. In the same way, there have been things I didn’t know how to do, but I believed He would guide me and He always has. 

Another type of faith was the faith to take a risk. When I accepted the position in Kansas City, I had never been to the area and knew nothing about it but what I’d found on the internet. I had no idea whether I would like it or not. I just knew I was supposed to be here. I had no idea how it would turn out, where I would live, how the job would go, nothing. I only knew two things – God was calling me to it and I was going to be obedient. Within that knowledge was also the fact that I knew if God was calling me to it, he would provide what I needed to do it (Prov 2:6-8). 

Remember, you can trust God, you can stand on His word and His direction. The problem is making sure you’re standing on His direction and not your own. Many times, we decide we want a certain thing and we step into it without waiting on or listening to God to move (Prov 3:5-6). God should be our first call not our last resort. If we listen and obey, we won’t have to make the sacrifices in the future (1 Sam 15:22). God is good, but we must operate in faith to please Him. Make sure your works (actions, decisions, etc.) align with His word (James 2:26). 

Temptation(s) Will Come

Ever thought that being saved would deliver you from temptation and from all the sins that we indulged in prior to salvation? Ever think salvation was a shield to being exposed to sin? Well unfortunately, we still live in a fallen world where the norm is being selfish and all about instant gratification and pleasure. This fallen world would have you believe as long as you like it, it’s good for you. It would tell you, get yours no matter the cost to others. This is why we must have a strategy for how we will deal with temptation, which will lead us to sin. 

According to James 1:14, we are tempted when we are lured and enticed by our own desires. So, how do make sure we are not lured or enticed by our desires? We need to know ourselves and spend time with God. The bible says God will give us the desires of our heart (Psa 37:4). So, if we seek Him diligently, His desires become ours. The more time we spend with Him, the less time we have to indulge the things that will draw us away from God. 

We are not strong (2 Cor 12:9-11). Understanding that about ourselves will help us to know that we can not fight our temptations on our own. We must flee from them (Matt 26:41). If our friends are bad influences on us, then we need new friends. If we have a habit that binds us and leads us away from God, then we need to change our habits and limit our access to make it difficult to participate in the habit. When we indulge in habits or activities that cause shame, in many cases, we listen to our enemy, who tells us we’re not enough or that God can’t love us since we are caught up or bound by something. The opposite is true – Jesus died for us when we didn’t even know Him. Jesus was set on the path of redemption all the way back in the Garden when he was introduced in Gen 3:15. At no time has God not loved us. Even when we don’t choose Him, He still loves us and His desire is that none would be lost (2 Pet 3:9). 

We have to remember that we have a very real enemy who HATES us because God LOVES us. He will use our desires and wants to lead us into sin, which leads to death (Jam 1:15). That is his ultimate play. The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10) and he will use all his tricks and tools to separate us from God. But the bible is true. I am convinced just like Paul that nothing can separate us from the love of God and if nothing can separate us from His love (Rom 8:38-39), we must always remember that we can come to Him when we are tempted and that He will always provide a way of escape (1 Cor 10:13). 

Temptations will come, but we don’t have to give in. Jesus has already triumphed over sin and death and because He has, we who are in Him can too. Be blessed. 

Blessing in the Struggle

How often do you think about what God has done for you? I know it’s something I think about often. I also think about what He’s doing in me and what He’s calling me to do. I hate to admit it, but I sometimes take what He’s done and Him for granted. Then, I’ll do something or not do something and I’ll need Him. It’s in those times I’m reminded of who He is. It’s in those times when I struggle and lean on Him that I learn who I am. It’s on the other side of many of those situations that I realize how blessed I am……how He kept me. 

But have you ever been in the struggle and you’ve thanked Him because you realized you get to go through it with Him? I know it sounds crazy, but for every struggle we have and go through with Him, we come out stronger. Have you ever thought to thank Him for the struggle because it draws you closer to Him? I find that I have been remiss in this area, too. When we’re in the midst of the struggle it’s sometimes hard to see the good in it, but God uses all things to work together for our good (Rom 8:28). We’re also instructed to rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all things (1 Thes 5:16-18). Regardless of the outcome of our situation, God is still God. He is still worthy.

In the times that I’ve surrendered situations to Him, He has never let me down. It’s not what He does. Situations have certainly not always turned out the way I would have chosen, but he knows better than I do. They have not always been comfortable or easy, but who has ever grown in comfort? Comfort is not where growth happens. Growth happens in struggle (Rom 5:3-5). Even children as they grow experience growing pains. If we are growing in faith and understanding, why would we expect it to be easy? As we follow Jesus, we are to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him (Matt 16:24) – that indicates sacrifice, self-discipline, honesty, reflection, and so many other traits. 

I recognize I’m a work in progress. While my outward appearance may look like I’ve arrived, I haven’t. No one has. We all have areas of our lives that need work. But, it is good to remember that the Master of all is on our side and holds us close. He will finish the work He began in us (Phil 1:6). Let us be obedient and do what he said. Let’s take a step back and seek Him in the middle of the struggle and ask Him to show us the benefit of it, not just to get us out of it. He’s never not working and we can be assured He’s blessing us in the middle of the struggle.  

God bless you!

Fathers

Happy Belated Father’s Day to all the dads, granddads, bonus dads, uncles, brothers, friends, etc., who pour into others and provide a fatherly perspective. You are much loved and much appreciated for all you do and who you are. 

Before I knew who I was, I knew I was my dad’s daughter. He provided my first sense of identity. From the time I could speak and share my name, I realized the name was not mine but his. I’ve carried his name and his protection all my life. He has shown me love and support. He’s provided for me when I couldn’t provide for myself. He affirmed me as his daughter. This is exactly what God does for each one of us. 

God, our Heavenly Father, sets the example for all fathers, but being human, they sin and fall short just like everyone else (Rom 3:23-26). God has always been the Father. He loved us when we didn’t even acknowledge him. When we ignored Him, He still loved us and made a way for us. He protected, provided and defended us. He knows every hair on our head (Luke 12:7) and made us all unique and different – none better than another, but with a multitude of gifts to build up His kingdom (1 Cor 12:25-28). 

What are we doing with them? While we are distracted by the need to be first or better, we lose sight of the fact that we will be judged on our works, not in comparison to others (1 Cor 3:10-15). We carry our own water and it gets weighed – we have to give an account of our own deeds. He is looking for us to do our best with what we’ve been given. His Holy Spirit will empower us when we give it our best (Eph 3:16). 

Our Father and our fathers, who strive to be like Him, show us better ways. They have plans for us to succeed (Jer 29:11). They make sacrifices for us (John 3:16). They love us (1 John 4:19). Whether you’re in a good relationship with your earthly father or not, don’t let the chance to spend time with him pass you by. Don’t have regrets, because none of us know how long we have (Prov 27:1). Take time and do your part. 

At the end of the day, we want to please God. He tells us to honor our father and mother that our days may be long (Exo 20:12). Don’t disobey. Forgive like Jesus did (Luke 23:34). Be blessed.

Who are you telling about Jesus?

Talking about Jesus can sometimes feel daunting. What do you say? Who do you tell about Him? What scriptures do you quote. I know I feel like I should know more about Him than I do and I feel inadequate or undeserving. Today, I learned that talking about Jesus all starts with a conversation (Thanks Willie Robertson).  How powerful is that? How profound? 

It made me think of all the times I discussed my relationship with Jesus and shared my faith. It all started as something else. Maybe the conversation started as the result of a work interaction or meeting someone on an airplane or looking for something in the grocery store. Or, maybe it was the result of seeing someone hurting and giving a word of encouragement. Sharing Jesus is more about my relationship with Him than any religious efforts. 

I’ve mentioned our Family Bible Study before and we’re still going strong. In addition to us attending churches in different parts of the country, every week, we intentionally talk to each other about Jesus. If you don’t have a family time together, maybe you assemble together with your church family on Sunday or another day of the week. Maybe you have a small group at church that you interact with regularly. But what about the other days of the week? Who should we be talking to about Jesus? The world, according to Mark 16. 

Jesus directed us to preach the gospel to every creature in Mark 16:15-16. Many think you have to be a preacher or a pastor to preach, but the word means to publicly proclaim or teach. We don’t have to be theologians to tell the good news of Jesus. Don’t get me wrong – it’s important that we study the word of God so we can use it as the weapon it is (Eph 6:17). Studying God’s word helps us to know His character, His voice, His will and His love, as well as His direction (2 Tim 3:16), but we don’t have to know scripture and verse to talk about the Good News of Jesus or to tell someone what He did for us.

The real question is whether we care enough about people having a relationship with Jesus to talk to them about Him. I can honestly say I don’t want anyone to be lost, even the people I don’t necessarily like. I want all the people around me to find Jesus and have eternal life and not be condemned (John 5:24). As an ambassador sent by Christ, I’m responsible to love God first with everything I have and then love my neighbor as myself (Matt 22:36-40). 

I’m to look beyond my own comfort because the souls of others is more important that my being comfortable in situations. I know the Holy Spirit will be with me and since God did not give me a spirit of fear but one of power, love and a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7), I can talk about Jesus even when it’s uncomfortable. I don’t know what God will do with my obedience and I don’t know how it will impact the lives of those around me. 

So, the question remains, who are you talking to about Jesus? If you find the answer lacking, it’s not to late to get started. Share the love of Jesus and see what happens. Even if it’s hard, remember you’re being obedient to God’s Word – He’ll be with you. He’ll never leave you alone (Heb 13:5).

Where are you from?

When was the last time you met someone new? What were the first few questions you asked them? If you’re like me, you asked their name and where they are from? It’s always a nice way to connect with people. You may have had an idea of where they were from based on their accent or the things they said. The place we’re from influences the things we say and do. 

Given that, the question is where are you from? According to scripture, we (Christ’s followers) are citizens of Heaven (Phil 3:20). We are not from this place. So, why are we so focused on what happens here? Well, we are surrounded by it. It’s easy to get pulled away from what we know to be true, when we’re surrounded by something different. 

This world is full of contradictions to God’s word and will – we are surrounded by anxiety, worry, selfishness, lack of self-control, hate, envy, lust, etc. If you really take a step back and look at the world around us, it is a sad, sad place. And many of those in it are sad, sad people. Just last week, I heard of HIV rising among those 14-35 years old – disturbing. No wonder people ask me often how I can smile when things are so bad around us – well, I’m not from this world. I don’t respond to issues the same way the world does. 

I am light and salt (Matt 5:13-16). I can choose to follow God’s leading (with the help of the Holy Spirit) which is set apart from this world. I’m not better than anyone in the world, but I have relationship with God and I’m saved by grace (Eph 2:8-11). So, I’m a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). When Jesus saved me, He made me new. God tells us to be anxious for nothing (Phil 4:6-7) and provides guidance for us. When I take His yoke, I will find rest (Matt 11:29). I have joy even when things don’t go my way (Rom 12:12). I love my neighbor as myself (Mark 12:31). I don’t put myself ahead of others (Phil 2:3).  

We are different and that is a good thing. We are a peculiar people and a royal priesthood (1 Pet 2:9). We don’t belong to ourselves. We belong to God – Jesus bought us with His blood (1 Cor 6:20). The Holy Spirit sealed us and resides in us (Eph 1:13-14). I’m a citizen of Heaven. Where are you from? 

Note: Thanks Pastor Craig – you led me here with today’s message. 

The Desires of Your Heart

Have you gotten everything you desired? I have not. And I’m so thankful I haven’t. I’ve been walking with Jesus a long time but there have been things I wanted that did not line up with The Word. Some of those times, I’ve sought them myself to a detrimental end. Thank God for His faithfulness (Deut 7:9) and His love (1 John 4:8) – He has kept me even when I stepped out of line or made some unhealthy decisions. The scripture is true that once we are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-10) – nothing can separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:31-39). 

When we consider the desires of our heart, we must think about it a little differently and in context with the rest of the verse….and God’s character. Psalm 37:4 says to delight in the Lord; and He will give us the desires of our heart. If you remember back in January, I wrote a blog about God not being a Genie ….. meaning He will not just do because we ask Him when something is not in His will. 

To be clear, God wants us to be fulfilled and to have joy regardless of the circumstances, but not out of alignment with Him because there is no real joy or peace outside of Him. If what we are asking for doesn’t align with who He is and His will for us, He will not do it. The verse in Psa 37 brought home that if I truly delight in the Lord, He will change my desires and my heart to align with His word and His way. He is the only one who can change the heart, which is desperately wicked (Jer 17:9). 

So the more I delight in Him, the more my ways and desires will line up with His. I will want to please Him instead of myself. I will make Him Lord and not want to be lord over my own life. I will recognize my need for Him and be open to move when He says even if it’s not necessarily what I think I want, because I trust Him. When we delight in the Lord, His desires become ours and even though we may be tempted, He is there to provide a way out (1 Cor 10:13). He will never leave nor forsake us (Deut 31:8). 

Look at the patriarchs and matriarchs, they were flawed men and women God used to bring about His plan for salvation and show us how His love never fails (Psa 136). Despite all the mistakes they made, God kept His promises to them and their descendants. It’s cliché but who wouldn’t want to serve a God like that? So, do you want your desires or God’s desires for you? As for me, I will delight in the Lord because I want Him to change my desires to align with His. I hope you’re with me.

Who do you represent?

As we walk through life, we are regularly asked the question, “who are you?” There are many ways we can answer that question. We are a compilation of so many factors. I am a daughter, an engineer, a female, a supervisor, an employee, a homeowner, a reader, etc. Above all of them, lies my relationship with God. I am His child. I became God’s child when I accepted Jesus and became one of His followers. 

When we become followers of Christ, we become Ambassadors of the Kingdom of Heaven, our home, to the world (2 Cor 5:11-21). What is an ambassador? An ambassador is a person of high rank employed by a government to represent it and transact its business at the seat of government of some other power. So, we are citizens of Heaven (Phil 3:20-21) and as such, we are assigned to represent God here on earth and transact His business. 

Pastor Craig said it best today, we are ambassadors “of Christ sent by God to show love on earth as it is in heaven.” God chose us before we were born (Jer 1:5). He works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure (Phil 2:13). Whatever assignment you’ve been given (and we all have an assignment), that assignment is given to fulfill God’s will. 

I’ve said before and it bares writing here that we all have gifts and talents afforded us by God that He will use for His glory. Our job is to move as the Holy Spirit leads and to go into all the world and announce the Good News of Christ (Mark 16:15). We are to love God with everything and love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). Being an ambassador is not necessarily about the big gestures or proclamations.  It is about how we maneuver through our everyday lives. Listening to someone’s story, providing a meal to someone in need, clothing someone without, etc., are all some ways we show God’s love to those in the world around us. 

As ambassadors, we represent the Most High God. That means we are always “on” to do His bidding. We have to study His directions and stay in close communication with Him to know how and where we are to move. The better we know Him and His voice, the better we can follow and do His will. 

So, take a quick look at your life and be honest with yourself. Who do you represent? Choose today, who you will serve (Josh 24:14-15), because tomorrow is not promised (Prov 27:1).

You Are Enough!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, god moms, step/bonus moms, aunties, foster moms, friends, etc.! Never question that you have a significant impact on those around you – make sure it’s a great one. 

My mom has played such an important role in my life – she’s been a supporter, she’s inspired me, she’s set standards for me, she’s enforced the rules, she’s been my friend. She introduced me to Jesus at a very early age – not just with her words, but her actions. I hope you have been blessed with a mother who has been all those things to you as well. She’s the one who always told me I could do anything through Christ – she told me I was enough. 

Do you feel like you’re enough? I know sometimes I forget who I am and I allow what others say to me or what I say to myself to distract and depress me in the moment. But, the fact of the matter is that if you’re in Christ, you are enough. You’re good enough. You’re smart enough. You’re pretty enough. You ARE enough. 

According to scripture, we are God’s masterpiece in Christ Jesus to do good works that God already planned for us long ago (Eph 2:10). Can you imagine that God in creating you, made you for a specific purpose in Christ Jesus? So when we were saved by the power of Jesus' blood, we are saved to do the good works God created us for. We are not saved by any good works, but we are saved for good works (Eph 2:8-9) – to live out loving God first and loving our neighbor as ourselves. 

In a message this morning, Pastor Craig said something that resonated with me. We are not put in a place only for a purpose but to bring purpose into the place. God’s will is that we would go into all the world and share the good news of Jesus (Mar 16:15-16). Everywhere we go we are to take Him with us and show Him to others. You are enough to go into any arena and bring Jesus with you. 

Never allow fear to keep you from stepping into a place God is sending you. He will never send you to a place He has not prepared you to go. Yes, you need to have Him with you. We are not able to go in by ourselves and be successful, but we are to step in. You are enough in Him to go wherever He is calling you. Don’t let anyone take that away from you. 

You are Valuable

How often do you get caught feeling bad because you weren’t able to do something well or you made a mistake and had to work extra hard to make it right…..or others had to help you make it right? When was the last time you got some feedback from your supervisor and it made you feel as if weren’t doing your job? When was the last time you didn’t feel supported? How did you feel the last time someone implied you had a lot to learn and it made you question your value? 

I was recently reminded we are not what we do. God has given us a purpose and gifts to apply wherever He takes us, but what we do is not the complete story of who we are or where our value comes from. Our value rests with our creator. How much are we worth to Him? We were worth the life of His only Son.  

Can you imagine? Creating a being and that being turns on you as soon as it perceives a better deal from a trickster (Gen 3). The being is caught in a trap that can only end in its eternal death and condemnation, but the Creator finds the being so valuable that He sends His only begotten Son to die so that the being might live (John 3:16). I’ve said before, “The value of something is how much someone is willing to pay for it.” So, if that is the case, our value lies in how much God paid for us, not in anything we bring to the table. 

So when someone makes you feel little because of mistakes you make or because little to complain and degrade, remember that the Lord determines your value and that everything else is temporary. Maybe it’s a test or a lesson. Either way, God is already working on your behalf. You are never alone. God is a refuge and a strong tower to protect against your enemies. He’s got it and nothing takes Him by surprise. 

He gave His Son for you. You are valuable, no matter what anyone says or does or whether you feel like it or not. Your value is not found in the things you do. You are more than that. 

Promotion? What now?

Ever been placed in a position you thought you were not ready for? One where you didn’t have the credentials? One where you felt like an imposter? Well, you’re not alone. I know I’ve felt as if I was in over my head on more than one occasion. But what can you do? What steps can you take to help you navigate when that happens? 

Pray. Seek God and His righteousness first in all you do (Matt 6:33). When we acknowledge Him, He will direct our footsteps and he will guide our way (Prov 3:5-6). As we seek Him, He will add all the things we need so we don’t have a need to worry. He will provide wisdom and understanding for us as we walk out what he’s called us to. 

Don’t worry. Worry is the opposite of prayer (Phil 4:6-7).  Worry drives us away from God and makes us believe we should handle issues on our own. We can’t. We need God in all aspects of our lives, leading and guiding us. When we begin to make decisions and choices apart from God and His guidance, we get in trouble. 

Do the work. When we get into positions where we feel over our head, we seek to learn. Do the work we can do as if working for the Lord (Col 3:23-24). One thing I’ve learned is that God will not do what we can do on our own. It’s up to us to give whatever God calls us to our best. Our role to further God’s kingdom. So, we do whatever we can do – study that book, practice that instrument, get that degree, learn that language, etc. When we do what only we can do, we leave the rest to God. He cares for us and He will take our burdens, if we allow Him to (1 Pet 5:7). 

Stay humble. We can do nothing in and of ourselves (John 15:5). We don’t even own our emotions. So, we have to remember it is only in God that we live, move and have our being (Acts 17:28). When we remain humble, we remember that God elevates us (1 Pet 5:6). When we remember that God is in control and owns everything, we are reminded that we are only a small part of God’s plan and that none of us are more important than others. All God’s children are part of the body of Christ and we all have a role in God’s kingdom. 

Have faith. We know God is with us always. He won’t leave us, so we are never alone. No matter the circumstance, we belong to God. As you pray, believe He will do just what He said (Matt 21:22). He is a promise keeper. If He said a thing, it will happen. 

So, when someone (including yourself) says you don’t deserve a particular position or you can’t do it, remember you can do all things through Christ (Phil 4:13) and that promotion comes from God (Psa 75:6-7). When we don’t seek it ourselves and God moves us, He does not make mistakes. Rest in that knowledge and give it everything you’ve got. 

Faith and Doubt

Recently, I’ve been studying the book of Genesis and what has jumped out at me is how while Abraham is known as the Father of Faith and he’s known for being willing to sacrifice Isaac, he was still a man who doubted God along the way in certain areas of his life. It was the doubt of Sarah having a baby that led to the birth of Ismael (Gen 16:1-4). More than once, it was Abraham’s fear of being killed that led him and Sarah to lie about their relationship leading rulers to believe they were only brother and sister (Gen 12:10-20; Gen 20). 

On the other side of that, it was his belief in God that led to him leaving his family behind and going to a place that God would show him (Gen 12:1-7). It was his belief in God that kept him from taking anything from the King of Sodom (Gen 14:22-23). It was his belief that God keeps His promises that led Abraham up that mountain to sacrifice Isaac (Gen 22:1-19). How are there two sides of this man, Abraham? Faith and Doubt. 

Like Abraham, I find myself in the same situation. Now, I’ve never created an Ismael and all the issues that brought (at least I don’t think I have), but I have definitely had my doubts about whether and when I was to move on something I had heard from God. I’ve also moved without seeking His guidance and it’s been an absolute mess. What about you? 

Do I believe God? Yes! Do I believe His Word is true? Absolutely! But I struggle with my role in the plan and sometimes I wonder if God really has me or if I need to do something on my own. Every time I do, it doesn’t turn out well, but sometimes I forget that He cares for me (1 Pet 5:6-7)…..that He is working all things for my good (Rom 8:28). Sometimes I get ahead of Him and want to push things along because I’m tired of waiting on His timing. 

Thank God for grace and mercy or I would have been destroyed by my own devices. As the father of the boy, with the mute spirit, said, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” I sometimes forget that all things are possible to those who believe (Mark 9:17-27). It’s so easy to get distracted by what is going on around me or what I want to accomplish, that I sometimes lose sight of God. 

I get so busy with the work that I lose sight of the Master and His plan for me. Yes, we were created to do good works (Eph 2:10), but not in the absence of the One who sent us. This is one more reason to keep our mind stayed on Him. If we stay focused on Him and His direction, the works we do will be for His glory and we won’t get distracted in the midst of them. As we focus on Him and not what’s happening (or not happening) around us, our faith and our relationship with Him will grow. 

I can say I have more faith than doubt and I’m growing more every day. What about you? Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief. 

Life in the Rock

Sorry this entry is late, but I’ve been in Italy with all it’s history and culture since last weekend. I had the opportunity, while in Rome, to see the Colosseum and Vatican City where Michelangelo painted scenes from Genesis on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel as well as The Last Judgement on the altar wall. I also saw St. Peter’s Basilica. I’m not sure what I expected but it was overwhelming to take it all in.

After leaving Rome, one of my best friends and I traveled South to Naples and the Amalfi Coast where we stayed in Sorrento (I can highly recommend visiting). While there, we took a boat tour around the Island of Capri, a resort island dating back to the Roman Empire. It’s known for its high-end shopping and celebrity guests.

While it was beautiful to see from the boat, one thing that stood out to me as we toured around the island and observed some marvelous rock formations and amazing florescence in caves and grottos was the life that was growing out of the walls of rock that made up the island. I’ve seen the phenomena before but today it hit differently. It amazes me how life can grow out of the most desolate places. Out of limestone and sandstone, you see trees and other vegetation. Where does it come from? Scientifically, your guess is as good as mine. However, we know that all life is from God.

His amazing creation will continue to flourish and grow because He created it to do just that (Gen 1:9-13). If the God we serve can create vegetation and all life from nothing, surely, He can bring forth life from rock where no life should exist. Just as the life He once created in the garden still thrives in the most unexpected places, we, too, who are one with Christ find our life and hope in the Rock. The Lord is our rock and our fortress (2 Sam 22:3; Psa 18:2). It is in Him that we can take refuge and be protected. He is our deliverer.

When things get hard and it feels like dreams and promises have died, remember, there is life in the Rock. Jesus is the stone which the builders rejected who has become the chief corner stone. (Psa 118:22). He only is our rock and our salvation (Psa 62:2). We can do all things through Him (Phil 4:13).

The Sacrifice

Happy Resurrection Day! This year feels a bit different. Maybe it’s my first full year in MO or maybe I’m just growing or maybe it just is different. Either way, this year, I’ve spent more time contemplating the sacrifice Jesus made so that I could be saved. 

This past week, instead of continuing our study in Genesis, I switched things up and focused on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Since Genesis introduces Jesus (Gen 3:15) and the blessing He is to all nations of the earth (Gen 12:1-3), it was easy to tie what we’ve been studying to Mark 15. The lesson resonated because it is sometimes unfathomable that God would love us so. 

That He loves me this much given all the mistakes and intentional sin I’ve committed over my lifetime, touches me in ways I never imagined. That He knows me better than I know myself, but still wants a relationship with me blows my mind when I reflect on it. I don’t know about you, but when I think back over my life, I realize that I deserve death and damnation, but Jesus. He took all my sin and failures with Him to the cross and now I have eternal life because of what He has done for me. I hope you have it, too. 

When I think about what He endured so I could have this gift, I get really emotional and am subject to cry. Let’s think about it for a minute. Jesus, who had done nothing wrong, was betrayed, abandoned, arrested for false accusations, taken from court to court, ridiculed, beaten, bruised, whipped and bloodied, spat upon, and nailed to a cross (Mark 14:43-15:46; Luke 22:47-23:56)….all so I could be free and no longer bound to my sin. More than all of that, He, who had been with God forever, allowed Himself to be separated from God…..for me. He knew what He would endure and still, He chose to do so. Then thank the Good Lord, He got up on Resurrection Day (Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12)

I know I still mess up, but it gives me a renewed determination to do God’s will and put Him first. It makes me want to put others ahead of myself. It makes me want to please Him. I owe Him everything and He owes me nothing, but He keeps on blessing me. As we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, let’s remember His sacrifice and move closer to being the living sacrifice we are called to be (Rom 12:1). 

Are You Self-Aware?

When was the last time you sought feedback on your behaviors from those around you? When was the last time you reflected on areas in your life where you can improve? Regularly, I try to take some time for self-reflection with a focus on finding gaps and determining ways to close them. It’s really easy to just do what we’ve always done. However, we all make mistakes and don’t always realize the impact those mistakes have on others. We also don’t always realize the way our regular behavior impacts others. 

It’s easy to miss our gaps and blind spots because we don’t know what we don’t know. If we don’t surround ourselves with people who will tell us the truth (Pro 27:5-6), help us identify our blind spots, and give us some perspective about how others see us, we may miss opportunities to grow and make sure our behavior lines up with the Word of God. James tells us to be not just hearers of the Word, but doers, too (Jam 1:22). If we don’t seek feedback from others, we may think we’re aligning and find out something different. 

The Bible tells us that a tree is known by its fruit (Luke 6:43-45). We can’t always tell if we’re sweet or not. That’s why we need a community of people who love us and want what is best for us. In their desire to help us be the best we can be, they will have the hard discussions and love us anyway (Pro 17:17). Pastor Bill always says everything we need is in a relationship and he is correct. When we are in a relationship, we are less afraid to be vulnerable. If we’re worried about being judged or rejected, we will attempt to live in a space where we are fake, wanting only to see ourselves superficially……and only let others see us that way. We believe we can protect our hearts and our feelings by only letting people know us on the surface. 

Until we are courageous and willing to meet ourselves where we are, we won’t live a different life. We won’t see our level of contentment rise. We won’t be free. As long as we’re living a lie, we will be bound by it. The truth will make us free (John 8:31-32). We have a choice to know ourselves so we can deal with the things in us that are not consistent with who God says we are.  Let’s seek self-awareness so we can move the needle and be more like Jesus. 

Pain is Necessary

I know you read the title and think, “Not so.” Pain is not good. No one wants to feel pain. Pain is an unwanted part of life. I can’t say you’re completely wrong. You’re right no one wants to feel pain, but pain teaches us life lessons. We don’t want the pain, but in some cases, we need it. 

Do you remember the first time you touched a hot stove……after your mother or guardian told you not to? I do. The pain of touching that stove taught me two important lessons. It taught me, I never wanted to touch a hot stove again. It also taught me that I didn’t always make good decisions, i.e, being disobedient was not helpful. What about the first time you decided to exercise? That soreness was not fun, but you had to push through the pain to the other side to get lasting results. Or the loss of that close family member ‘before’ their time? It was painful and I was angry. I couldn’t understand why God took her so young or why she had to suffer before He did. I still don’t. 

Jesus told us in this life there was be many trials and sorrows in John 16:33. So we can expect to have some pain in this life. The real testament is what we allow God to do with our pain. Psa 147:3 tells us “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Are we seeking Him in the midst of our pain, remembering that all things work together for our good (Rom 8:28) or do we allow the pain to drive us away from God? It is only as we seek God in the midst of our pain and confusion and suffering that He will grant us peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:6-7). 

It's in the middle of the pain and suffering that we have an opportunity to give God glory for who He is, even if He doesn’t take the pain away. How powerful is that? What a testimony? According to James, our trails help to make us more mature (Jam 1:3). If we worship the Lord in the midst of whatever our circumstance, our perspective changes. We realize He doesn’t owe us anything. We realize that He is Good, no matter what comes. We realize that He is always working on our behalf, even when we can’t see it. 

None of this means we love the pain we’re in, it just means we don’t allow the pain to dictate our thoughts and actions. As we are being transformed into the likeness of Christ, we must die to self (Gal 2:20). That is painful especially when we like parts of our old life that don’t honor God. One thing I’ve learned is that God is faithful. He can take our honesty and our imperfections and still use us for His glory. He is amazing and for those of us in His family, He chose us for a purpose and plan (Jer 29:11). As He is making us into who He wants us to be, there will be pain, but we can rest assured as we are being molded and made, it is only temporary. We have the joy of our salvation and hope of our future with the Lord. Accept the pain as a part of life and press through. God will be with you through it. 

The Word of God is Truth

When we think about the Word of God, we usually think of two things. We think of Jesus, who was in the beginning with God and was God (John 1:1). We also think of the holy scriptures. According to 2 Tim 3:16-17 in The Message, “Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.” 

Today, we’re focusing on the holy scriptures which show us the truth. As we seek truth, we seek God’s Word. It is the Truth. In God’s Word, we learn who we are as Christ followers. According to Ephesians 1, we are blessed, chosen, predestined to adoption, accepted, redeemed through His blood, forgiven of sins, and sealed with the Holy Spirit. That is the truth. Whenever we tell ourselves something different or someone calls us something different, we can stand on these declarations because this is directly from God’s Word. It doesn’t matter how we feel or if our thoughts don’t line up with the Word. The Word is true. 

This is one of the reasons it’s so important for us to know the Word of God. It is a strong weapon for us against the wiles of the devil. According to Heb 4:12, the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. The Word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. It is through God’s Word that we distinguish between right and wrong. God’s Word does not return void (Isa 55:11). God’s Word accomplishes everything He speaks. God keeps every promise He makes even when we step out of line and make bad choices. If God speaks a thing, it happens because He said so. 

While so many today live lives according to their own truth and what they want to do, whether it helps or hinders anyone else, we can stand on The Truth. God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psa 119:105). Through it, we know the Truth and the Truth will set us free (John 8:32). 

No Compromises

Recently, I was listening to one of my favorite artists and ministers, Cece Winans, and she was discussing how we as Christians are called not to compromise our faith (1 Cor 10:14-22) and our relationship with the Lord to achieve anything. Sometimes that means making hard decisions. Turning down opportunities that don’t honor God. She reminded me that the devil will open doors and provide opportunities as well. His goal is to lead us away from what God has for us and away from honoring God. 

The devil’s jealousy of us leads to hatred and any door he opens for us is intended to lead us astray, especially since He is out to steal from, kill and destroy us (John 10:10). That being said we have to remember that we are God’s children first and all the other characteristics are added on top of that. For instance, I’m God’s child who happens to be female, black and an engineer. That is something I must remember in all I do, so I don’t make compromises about who I am or lead a life where I compromise for popular opinion. 

At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is God and His will (Pro 19:21). Jesus said He was the only way to the Father (John 14:6); therefore, He is. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). When we lean on our own understanding and lean on our opinions about things, we’re not only wrong, but insulting to God (Pro 3:5-6). For us to ever thing we know the mind of God, outside the Bible, is absurd. What we know about the world and everything in it couldn’t fill God’s thimble. The Holy Spirit may reveal something to us, but if it doesn’t line up with scripture and honor God, it’s not of God. God does not contradict Himself or violate His own directives. If what we are doing in any way contradicts the Word of God or God’s will, it is not Him. 

If we truly want to serve God, we have to follow Him (Matt 16:24-26). We have to sacrifice our fleshly desires and allow God to raise us up. In remembering, this journey is not about us, we find that we are in need of God to do everything. We recognize that we can do nothing without Him (John 15:5). We are not our own (Gal 2:20). Our gifts will make room for us (Pro 18:16), but it’s up to us to make sure we don’t get distracted by the noise. Public praise and attention feel good to our flesh, but it will never replace the intimacy that a close relationship with our heavenly Father provides. Denying our flesh makes us stronger in the spirit (Gal 5:16). Let’s stand on the Word and not compromise our relationship with God for anything. It’s not worth it. 

Just Say No!

Sin is insidious and destructive. We always think of the “bad” sins – stealing, murder, adultery, etc., but we sometimes lose sight of the “small” sins – little white lies, lust, envy, etc. There are too many to count. And it doesn’t matter if it’s a little sin or a big one (Jam 2:10), all sin separates us from God (Isa 59:2). It also brings shame (Prov 18:3). But we can ask for forgiveness, and God will. Then the cycle continues. 

What happens to us if we continue to indulge in the sin? We become complacent and ignore the Holy Spirit’s chastening us (Prov 3:12). If we consider ourselves Christ's followers and we are not being corrected by the Holy Spirit when we sin, it is something of which to be concerned. Are we in a real relationship with Jesus as we proclaim or is it a relationship with the idea of Jesus? 

Today Pastor Groeschel taught about giving up pornography. He pulled no punches and then he provided a direct strategy to counter the temptation. He also said sin grows in the dark (John 3:19). As I listened to him, I realized we should treat whatever sin is dominating our lives similarly. We should confess the sin and seek forgiveness (Psa 32:5; 1 John 1:9), decide what we will do next time we are tempted, and seek the Lord for wisdom and strength to see and take the way out that He provides us (1 Cor 10:13). We have to remember that God is faithful to forgive our sins when we ask with a sincere heart.  

We can say “no” to sin in our lives. We who are in Christ are new creatures (2 Cor 5:16) – we are not the same people who gloried in sin before we were saved. While we still sin occasionally, we can’t stay there. And when temptation comes we can say “no” because God never leaves us with no escape. With God’s help, we can just say “no.”

If you’re interested in the message from Pastor Groeschel today, you can find it here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP1LWv2syeE. 

Be blessed!

Stop Comparing!

When was the last time you compared yourself to someone else? A co-worker? A friend? Someone on social media? What did you find? Were they ahead of you in some area of your life or not? Married? Kids? Wealthy? Fit? There are so many ways we compare ourselves to others. I know I have. And every time, it left me feeling inadequate in some way. I could do this differently or I could be better in this way. Not because I necessarily needed to be better, but because I didn’t feel as if I measured up. Their lives were so together. They were so perfect. 

The longer I’ve lived, the more I’ve learned. No one’s life is perfect. People show others what they want others to know. So those perfect pictures on Facebook or Instagram are the pictures chosen to share. They are not the full picture of the life behind the camera. No one shares the heated discussions or more unsavory parts of their life. It makes us feel better to share the good times, but not all times feel good. 

When we look at others and think their life is so much better than ours, we lose sight of our own. Our life shouldn’t look like anyone else’s, because we are not them. We need to remember we are all different and have different experiences. While we are focused on those differences, we are not making progress in our own lives. Comparing ourselves to others is a sure way to get distracted from the reason we were individually created. The Bible says our gifts will make room for us (Prov 18:16-17). If that’s true, and it is, that is where our focus should be. Utilizing our gifts for God’s glory that he blesses us and opens doors no man can shut (Rev 3:8). 

We have unique gifts and talents God will use to bless His church and to be glorified. Don’t waste time wishing life was different. Get up and walk according to God’s word so life will be different. Don’t allow others' good fortune to make you doubt God’s goodness to you. He is good (Mark 10:18) and He keeps His promises (Gen 46:27), but He fulfills them in His time, not ours. Just ask Noah and Abraham. Have faith and obey and watch God move – even in the little things (Heb 11:8-9).

What Voices are You Listening to?

All around us things happen that impact our lives. Many times, we internalize the entire situation. If I had done this or if I had done that, it wouldn’t have happened. Maybe that’s true, but since we can’t see the future and we can’t change the past, dwelling on that is futile. If we’re looking at it to determine what we should do next time we face a similar situation, great. If we’re looking at it as a way to punish ourselves for not doing better, it’s a waste of time. 

We need to learn from our mistakes so we don’t keep making them. But, if we are dwelling on our mistakes such that they paralyze us from moving forward, we are doing ourselves and all those around us a disservice. We are also denying the power of the Holy Spirit. 

We can do nothing on our own, but the bible says all things are possible with God. We either believe that or not. A caveat, God will not do anything that opposes His character. So, He’s not going to support sin. He cannot. But if our desires align with Him and His word, when we commit whatever we do to Him, He will establish our plans (Prov 16:3). 

This also means with God, my circumstances don’t define me. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, more than I can ask or think according to the power that works in me (Eph 3:20). If God is able to do that, His voice is the only one I should listen to. His is the one that really matters when it comes to knowing who and who’s I am. He made me so He can define me. 

This morning Pastor Craig said, “The voices that consume you will control your life.” That was so profound to me. It all starts with a thought. What voices are influencing your thoughts about who you are and what God has called you to do? Are they consistent with God’s voice or are they contrary to His word?

What does God say about His children? We are chosen. We are the head and not the tail. We are forgiven. We are set apart. We are above and not beneath. We are adopted. We have a destiny. We have redemption in Him. We’ve been purchased. We have the ability to get wealth. Through Him, we are more than conquerors. We get up. (Deut 8:18; Deut 28:13; Eph 1; 1 Cor 6:20; Rom 8:37; Prov 24:16) These are just a few of the things we should dwell on. If contrary thoughts are taking up residence in your mind, take them captive and start listening to God’s voice. His word is true and alive and sharper than any two-edged sword (Psa 18:30; Heb 4:12). 

Remember, to hear His voice say the things above and to know you are His, you have to accept Jesus as Lord. The bible says everyone who calls on the name of the LORD, will be saved (Rom 10:13). It requires us to get out of our own heads and our own way and accept that we need a savior…. that we can’t do it on our own. If we call on Him and confess our sins, the LORD is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us (1 John 1:9). So what voices are YOU listening to?

Remain Teachable

Do you ever feel like you learned all there is to know about a particular subject? Do you feel like the expert? Do you think you’ve got it all figured out? I know I do sometimes and as soon as I think that, I learn something new. 

I say this to my team and almost anyone else – we never arrive. Whether it is enhancing our skills for work, finding better ways to manage our finances, communicating better with our families, or learning more about the Lord - there is always more we don't know. Life is all about the journey. Hopefully, along the way, we are learning to be more like Christ (Rom 8:29). 

How do we grow to be more like Christ? Study the Word of God and do what it says (Jam 1:22). Seek God first and let Him direct our steps (choose to follow) (Pro 3:6). We’ll never fully get there while on Earth, but it is a lofty goal (Phil 3:12-15). One we should strive for every day. Christ is our model, the one we are seeking to be like…..in all things. The thing about being more like Christ is that, it is transferrable to all aspects of our lives – our relationship with God, family, friends, co-workers, our work, etc. (Col 3:12). 

If you ever think you’ve learned all there is or you know it all, please take a step back and reflect. There is always something new to learn….a new way to do things we never thought of; a way to avoid going forward; an avenue to try, etc.  And, we can learn it from anyone – a peer, an elder, someone young, or an enemy (Pro 1:5). Lessons come from all sides, we just have to be open and teachable to receive the lesson. 

We never arrive! We have to remain teachable. If we don’t, pride will meet us. Pride goes before the fall (Pro 16:18). Pride is not our friend. He sets us up for failure, shame, and embarrassment (Pro 11:2). He makes us believe we can make it on our own. We can’t. We need help. As long as we remember we are still learning no matter how old we get (hope to live a long time), we will always be moving forward to a better place.   We will always see things as fresh and new. We won’t get stale and complacent. We’ll look for better ways. So, always remain teachable. You never know what you’ll learn or how far you’ll go.

God is Not a Genie!

Somehow in the past decade or so, we’ve gotten to a place of entitlement – thinking if we want it, we should have it. No real consideration to how we get it, but that it should be ours on principle. That is what has led to crimes to stealing things instead of working for them. That has led to murders over shoes and other nonsense. Somewhere along the way we got the idea that our happiness was the main thing – as long as I’m happy, it doesn’t matter about anyone else. It’s all about me. 

Along with that, people have come to believe that God should give us whatever we want, whether we believe or live according to His word and way or not. People believe He is some kind of genie or like Santa Claus. He is not. God loves us and will take care and provide for us (Matt 6:33). However, he does not jump at our beck and call or respond to our every whim. He also does things His way. He is not limited by our expectations. He owns everything and can choose to do what he wants to do with and to it (Deut 10:14). 

So, when we ask Him for anything He gets to decide whether or not He will do it. Sometimes the answer will be “No.” Not everything we want is good for us in the long run. God will protect us from ourselves. One thing He will not do is do for us what we can do for ourselves. So, when we make bad choices and we put ourselves in a predicament or even if someone else puts us in a predicament, we have to make better choices and take better actions to deal with the situation. Should we seek Him in the situation? Absolutely, but when He gives us an answer, we have to be ready and willing to move on it. For example, we are in debt (that we created) and now bill collectors are harassing us to pay, we need to make better choices, i.e., stop spending what we don’t have. It may mean we have to do without something else – cable, going out for lunch, shopping, etc. Those are things we can impact. Might God bless us in a miraculous way to get us out of debt? Sure, but until He does, we have work to do. Instead of spending the income tax check on a new TV or a new car, we pay off the debt. We have to be responsible and have self-control (2 Tim 1:7). 

God will provide us a way out of every situation, but we have to take it. We have to choose His way, which may be painful or uncomfortable. God is a loving father but he is not one who will give us indiscriminately when we have not shown we understand how best to take care of those things he gives us (Matt 25:14-30).

If there is no food, the Bible says that if we don't work, we don't eat, so that means we need to get a job. Or God is providing for us in another way if we can’t make enough to support us. For a child who doesn’t have food at home, in many cases they get a meal at school. There are food pantries and church giveaways. Just because God doesn’t provide for us in the way we expect or want, doesn’t mean He is not providing. Sometimes, we have to move past our own pride to see God. Pride goes before the fall (Prov 16:18-20). We’re so worried about what others think that we forget their opinions don’t matter. See past your pride and deal with the actual situation at hand. God sees you (Gen 16:13). 

He is not a genie, but He is a loving father who wants each of us to live in the purpose for which He created us. He wants our lives to honor Him. We must look beyond our own desires and wants and surrender to Him (Isa 55:8-9). He knows what’s best for us. If we trust and seek Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts – because they will align with His will and His way (Psa 37:3-5). Seek Him. Trust Him. Follow Him. He’ll help you do what you can do. He’s got the rest. 

Slow Down and Meet God

For the past few weeks, Pastor Craig (Life.Church) has been ministering about having healthy habits and I know my habits aren’t the best, so I’ve really leaned into what he’s taught. I’m working on how to put the things into practice and started a bible plan today to get me started. I raise this because I’ve talked about resting before, but today I saw a practical example of how we pour out and pour out and pour out and if we are not replenished, we won’t be effective. 

Our staying busy may be the very thing that destroys our ability to do whatever God calls us to. We have to get still and recognize our weaknesses and vulnerabilities and other shortcomings so we go to the One who can meet us with them and make us whole. While I listened to the message, I went into denial mode. Do I stay busy because I’m afraid of failing or I’m afraid to be too quiet and hear all the voices tell me I’m not enough? Or am I just a bit self-involved and need to think about how “important” I am to the process of getting it all done? 

Whatever the case or the excuses, I’m not following Jesus’ example. Jesus regularly went off alone to spend quiet time with God (Mark 1:35; Mark 6:46-47; Mark 14:32-39; Luke 6:12). He did not depend on His human body to carry Him through. He leaned and depended on the Father as His source. The first thing Jesus did after being baptized and being acknowledged as God’s beloved son, was to go off for 40 days and nights to be with God, to be strengthened in His spirit (Matt 4:1-11).  

I don’t consistently spend time with God and wait to hear from Him. I do read a scripture passage and study for bible study and pray regularly, but not consistently and intentionally. I can be pretty haphazard – catch time when I find it. I mean, I don’t know about you, but I make time and give attention to the things I want. How insulting is that to God? 

I know He’s always with me, but He created me and gave His son for me. I owe Him more than that. I owe Him all of me. And beyond owing Him, I love Him. I want to please Him. I can’t do that if I don’t know Him intimately. The more private time you spend with anyone, the more you get to know them. You get to understand their likes and dislikes, their quirks, their nuances, their humor, how their voice changes depending on mood, etc. If we want to know God intimately, we have to spend time with Him. Be still and know that I am God (Psa 46:10), the Psalmist wrote.  

At the end of the day, if I really recognize that He is the most important one in my life, I have to make sure I meet Him regularly. I need to plan for my time with Him. I’m working on my time and place of meeting, but He is that important and I need Him. Everyday! In Every way! I know I’ve been in a place in the past where I was worn out and it was my fault. Going without taking time to be filled is not healthy for me and anyone I’m impacting. 

Lord, give me grace and perseverance to seek you intentionally and consistently. Give me courage to face the parts of myself I’d rather ignore. Help me past my fear of failure and disappointing others to a space where I can quiet the noise and hear you! Amen!

Less is More

I’ve gotten a rude welcome to the Midwest this week. I’ve lived through my first snowstorm and subzero temperatures, all while fighting an ear/sinus infection – not fun. While the 5-6 inches of snow were beautiful, they put a damper on the week and limited the ability to freely get around. While I was stuck at home, when I wasn’t working, I spent quite a bit of time playing video games and reading books. Shopping! I did spend some time with the Lord, but I allowed other stuff to take up time and serve as a distraction to me. I also took some time to do a little more unpacking – finding that I have way too much stuff and need to unload it to someone who needs it. 

I have so much stuff that I don’t have enough room for it. I folded clothes and added items to the giveaway pile. What are you allowing to take up your time? What stuff is taking space that Jesus should fill? Matt 6:19-21 tells us to not store up treasures on earth but to store up treasures in heaven. So, where are your treasures? Are you busy making more money? Buying more stuff? Wasting more time? I know the feeling. Me, too. 

I realized today during the message from Pastor Craig that I have been operating in a way that makes the stuff way too important. I have all this stuff and I have a hard time letting it go – because of course I’m going to need it at some point, because can you ever have enough stuff? Yes, you can. In fact, most of us have more than enough. 

Isn’t that how the serpent in the garden convinced Eve to take from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen 3)? He convinced her that more was better. He fooled her into thinking that what God had already given them in the garden was somehow not enough. He made her question God’s authority and believe she might know better than God. And Adam just stood by and let it happen, doing nothing to put a stop to it. So whether he agreed with her actions or not, he mimicked them when it came right down to the wire. Their destruction and ours all started with a desire for more when less was enough. They had all they needed, but it wasn’t enough for them. In exchange for their desire and the poor decision of not following God’s leading, all of humanity paid the price. 

So, what are we losing by our desire and actions to get more? What will it gain us? What good is gaining the whole world and losing our soul (Matt 16:26)? All the stuff we can obtain is temporary (2 Cor 4:18) so what good will it really do for us anyway? Let’s remember that less really is more.