Category: Faithfulness

Time to Pause

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Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7

Stop walking forward.

Pause, just for a moment.

Sometimes we push forward, forgetting to look behind us.

To remember. To refocus. To pause.

While you’re stopped, look around.

What do you see?

There are little bits of glory all around you.

Bursts of God’s miracles in your life.

The awe of creation.

The miracle of life.

Things that make you smile, because God knows you.

Now look behind you.

Do you see God’s faithfulness over the years?

There’s a long line of proof God has walked with you.

Some of it is easy to see, other parts are not.

Looking back should re-anchor your feet as your heart fills with hope again.

Hope as you dwell within the promise of God’s continued faithfulness.

Now look forward.

Do you see the hills and valleys laid out before you?

Or maybe you see a mountain, and you’re not sure what waits beyond.

As you keep God’s faithfulness from the past in your heart, reach out and grab His hand.

You are surrounded by God and all He has done for you.

His faithfulness will remain as you continue to seek Him for your future.

Stop, notice, and remember.

As you reflect often, God will continually fill you with His goodness as you purpose to walk with Him alone.

You might face mountains.

You might face valleys.

But as you take God’s hand, remembering His complete faithfulness, you’ll confidently continue forward.

Why? Because God’s faithfulness is never-ending.

Pause. Notice. And keep moving forward with God.

Photos by Joyce G on Unsplas

God’s Ways

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For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

How can we possibly understand God’s ways?

Why or how He chooses this or that?

Why did the giant tornado coming towards our house decide to disappear, saving our home and destroying others instead?

Why was another friend diagnosed with cancer and I’m still spared?

Why did God allow my former husband to break up our family?

Why does He allow some things and spare others?

I’ve asked myself this many times.

While I’ve asked, I’ve never allowed myself to question God’s love or faithfulness.

I know He allows things for His purposes.

When we walk through the darkness of life with His peace, the world sees our witness.

And sometimes that’s it. The answer. The why to God allowing this or that.

Our world is chaotic when not dependent on God alone.

That’s why our difference as Christians begs the world to watch.

Will you accept the mantel God gives you?

Whether it’s a sickness, death, or a house torn apart, God’s plan is above all earthly things.

We can ask Him why, but we must never question His love or faithfulness through it all.

He promises to walk through all things with us, our mountain tops, valleys, and everything in between, anchoring our witness to Him and Him alone.

Photos by insung yoon  &  Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Sneaky Lies

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So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:6

Adam and Eve were living in the Garden of Eden.

Spectacular food, unspoiled by death or disease.

Can you imagine how flavorful it was?

Probably beyond our wildest dreams.

Gorgeous scenery.

Lounging animals.

No schedules or work demands.

Talking with God every evening.

Just the two of them in paradise.

For how long had they been enjoying God’s creation?

Not sure. But it definately ended abruptly.

There were two trees alone in their glory: the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

The Bible clearly states the second tree was off limits. Completely.

No eating from the knowledge of good and evil tree.

It was God’s protection over them.

One day a serpent opened its mouth and talked to Eve.

Was that unusual? Having an animal or reptile talk to you?

Eve doesn’t act surprised. In fact she listens to what it has to say.

Eve had all the knowledge of God’s goodness surrounding her each and every day.

She talked with God every day.

Yet she chose to believe the serpent instead.

The serpent told her the forbidden tree would make her wise like God.

When those words were spoken, Eve’s eyes were convinced of its truth.

She saw the tree as good for her.

She saw a lie as truth.

What lies do you see as truth?

Lies about yourself? Others? Your future?

Eve didn’t consult Adam. She merely repeated the lie as fact.

And Adam believed it, too.

Instead of consulting each other and then asking God, who created all things, they believed a lie.

True, they did not understand lies existed, as they lived in a perfectly created world.

But the words went against all God had spoken to them.

Ask God today what lies you currently believe as truth.

Seek His truth over all things in your carnal mind.

We don’t have the luxury of living in the Garden of Eden.

But we do have access to God.

He wants to talk with you every day, too.

Filter your thoughts with His, seeing through Satan’s sneaky lies.

Photos by niko photos, Jeroen den Otter, Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦, & Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

Flip It!

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Those who trust in and wait on him will not be put to shame. Psalm 22:5

What crushing disappointment has sent you into despair?

Or maybe it’s just a simple one, causing you to question your entire life?

Or maybe the direction you thought God wanted for you is a clear NO?

Ok, maybe I’m being a bit dramatic. Let’s take it down a notch.

When you are faced with a NO from God, what is your reaction?

Despair? Anxiety? Begging for Him to open the right doors when He’s clearly shut one?

Questioning yourself, your actions, and God’s actions as well?

Scheming how to change the situation so it will fit into God’s plan for your life?

We all do it, right?

But when disappointment stares us in the face, what if we flipped it over?

What if we flipped disappointment over, revealing God’s hope and peace?

As someone who trusts God for your every breath, you want to remain within God’s plan for you, yes?

You want to remain obedient to what God has for you.

And your NO from God is just that. An answer from God.

Your NO is God keeping you right where He wants you.

Underneath His protection, grace, and plans for the amazing future He has for you.

As you patiently seek God, waiting for His YES, smile.

Smile at your disappointment, because God has even better plans for you.

Yes, you might be disappointed for the moment, but you can smile, knowing God is looking out for you.

He’s planning something even better.

The wait will be totally worth it.

Photos by Jonathan Marchal, Wes Hicks, Christopher Machicoane-Hurtaud, & Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Calling You

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But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

God is constantly calling on you.

He’s calling you higher, to live more honorably within His strength.

Or He’s calling you to come home.

To lay it all down.

To finally submit, allowing Him to direct your steps.

When He calls, what do you do?

What is your reaction to Him?

Scrooge, from Dicken’s Christmas Carol, was called multiple times before he finally changed.

The story begins with his nephew calling on him to celebrate Christmas.

Then two gentlemen ask for a donation to charity.

Some carolers sing to him through the door.

Marley, his dead partner for seven years that very night, appears and Scrooge still refuses change.

Scrooge keeps walking through that night, witnessing the past and future, only begging for a chance when he sees his lonely grave.

While our moments are not as bizarre as what Scrooge experienced, God still calls us.

Do you notice?

What did you do when that thought popped into your head, asking you to act on something?

Or when that person came into view, did you talk with them?

Did you answer the phone when they called you?

When the sermon appeared on your social feed, did you watch it?

When the prayer meeting calendar invite reminded you, did you ignore it or attend?

God’s ways are higher than ours and He is constantly calling us higher.

Up from our sinful selves, or continuing up if we are already His.

When He calls, will you answer?

Photos by Adria Berrocal Forcada, Ambitious Studio* | Rick Barrett, Dawn McDonald , & Allef Vinicius on Unsplash

Audio Book News!

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Surprise! A couple of months ago, I did a little thing. Professionally recorded my entire book!!! It was tons of work, but so much fun! Who knew tummies made that much noise? 🙂 My audio recording of Trusting God with Every Breath is now available on Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify, and other platforms! I had great fun recording it at Tesco Productions (that link will take you to my article on his site!) the end of November. It’s humbling to be asked to record your words, knowing God plans to use each one.

In other news, my publisher shared I sold about 60,000 books on Amazon the past six months! AND- I was in the top FIVE of three categories for about a month, staying as #1 a few days! Super fun, I tell you! Thrilling, actually!!! As God continues to use my book, I am reminded how He is in control, and I am not. God’s plans are higher than ours. Isn’t it delightful to know we are in His thoughts?

I do have a humble request. If you have my book, could you please give it a review on Amazon? My publisher specifically asked for video reviews as the book’s popularity keeps growing. Written reviews work well, too!! I really REALLY appreciate it! A whole lot 🙂

Through all the stuff we do each day, we must remember our Helper, who stays by our side.

Keep your thoughts close to God.

Keep asking Him to guide your ways.

Keep nestling under His protection.

Keep close, allowing Him to fill you with His strength, love, and peace.

Because, He will. 🙂

Directing Your Steps

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In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9

Does God direct your steps?

Do you allow Him to plan your days?

When you wake up, what is your first thought?

Often we decide what is next.

We decide what is on the agenda.

But is that the very best?

When you look back at your life, what steps will be the most memorable?

Which ones will come to mind?

Sure there are big steps like marriage, the birth of children, the death of loved ones.

But even those are made of little steps in between.

The dating years that led up to your wedding day.

The long days of pregnancy, leading up to the birth.

Years of moments with your loved one before their last.

When you think of your childhood, lots of little steps create the emotion you feel when recalling your youth.

The millions of tiny moments with your children create the fond yearning of wishing to hug their little selves just one more time.

Healthy eating, exercising, or any healthy habit consist of directing step after step.

Bad ones, too, unfortunately, arrive just the same way.

Ask God to direct your steps.

He wants the best for you. The very best.

It’s never too late to start.

And today is a great day to begin.

Photos by Lacey Raper, Renaud Confavreux, Samuel Foster, & Jake Hills on Unsplash

Thinking of You

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How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Psalm 139:17-18

Before Jesus was born, God was thinking of you.

Deciding to send Jesus to earth, God had you on His mind.

Because God was thinking of you, He sent His son, Jesus, to earth.

For you and for me.

Because He was thinking of us.

He wants us in a relationship with Him.

And because of sin, a relationship with us is impossible.

Except for the sacrifice of Jesus, God’s son.

Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins.

Our sins separate us from God.

But when we trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are covered by His sacrifice.

Our sins are wiped away.

Completely. Totally. Forever wiped from our record.

Even though you were years away from the time of Jesus, God thought of you before that first Christmas Day.

Over two thousand years before you were born, God thought of you and your eternity with Him forever.

God thought of you when He sent His son to die.

God thought of you that first Christmas morning.

God thought of you when He set the plan in motion.

When Gabriel was talking to Mary, God was thinking of you.

He was thinking of everyone who would be impacted by this earth shaking event.

God thought of you then, and He’s thinking of you now.

You are constantly in His thoughts.

Thoughts for good all the days of your life.

As you embrace this precious Christmas season, turn your thoughts to God.

He’s already thinking of you.

Photos by Pascal Debrunner on Unsplash

Emmanuel

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To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17

What if Jesus never came?

If there was no Silent Night, Holy Night.

No Away in the Manger.

No O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

No Merry Christmas.

Life would be pretty different, wouldn’t it?

No hope for us as we are Gentiles.

Not under Jewish law, which would most likely still be the case for the Apple of God’s eye.

The Jewish people.

As Gentiles, we’d probably believe in some pagan god.

Like the Romans or Greeks had.

Sounds depressing.

Shall we dive even deeper?

What if God didn’t even exist?

Like literally, God is not here, there, or anywhere?

If all this life is for nothing?

That when we die, that’s it?

Pretty awful, isn’t it.

Let’s try it.

Are you upset today?

Nobody cares. Nobody to help you. Nobody to give you any peace or hope.

Confused about life and need advice?

Again, nobody cares. Nobody to help you. Nobody to give you any advice at all.

Feeling badly and need healing?

Nobody cares. No hope there. You are stuck suffering for quite awhile.

Want people to do what you want?

Try yelling. Whoever yells the loudest gets their way.

Want something?

Push and shove your way to the front. You deserve it.

Hate the truth?

Is there even truth?

Lying is normal because there is no standard of right and wrong.

Diving deeper still, there is no moral absolutes because there is no God creating order out of chaos.

A life where anything goes.

Chaos is the order of the day.

Every man for himself.

I can’t take it anymore.

Aren’t you just relieved?

We don’t ever have to experience a world without the existence of God.

When we are upset, need advice or healing, God is right there.

In fact He’s always with us.

And He paved the way for our eternal salvation when He sent Jesus on Christmas.

Emmanuel. God with us. Forever

Photos by Erwan Hesry, David Beale, Annie Spratt, & Josh Boot on Unsplash

Ready to Come Home

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And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  John 10:28

When will it be your time?

When will God decide to call you home?

Will you be ready?

Because ready or not, God will call.

He might give you a big long warning.

Like a diagnosis that doesn’t seem to leave.

Or He might take you in the blink of an eye.

A vehicle accident or fall.

Doesn’t really matter how you go, does it?

The point remains this.

One day you will leave this earth when God calls you home.

Will you be ready?

You won’t have any second chances when He calls.

What’s your hold-up?

Pride? Wanting to live for yourself?

Are making your own selfish choices for a blip of time worth eternity separated from God?

Not only separated, but eternally miserable? Like forever?

I can promise you what will be worth it.

Bowing your knee to God, who created all things.

It will be worth it when He calls you home, but it will be worth it, too, while you live here with us.

The peace that passes all understanding will blanket your sweet self when you rest in the knowledge that God is in control and you are not.

God’s strength will enable you to do great things as you rely on Him alone each day.

His wisdom will provide direction when the path of life looks cloudy.

Allow God access.

Allow God access to all of you.

Then when God calls you home, you’ll rest in peace.

And those you leave behind will as well, holding to that hope of seeing you again.

My sweet student buried his mother yesterday morning.

He and his brothers bravely carried her to her grave.

She was a precious girl who loved Jesus and her family, too.

Holding them in their grief, they have Jesus.

I cannot imagine if they didn’t. If they had no hope.

Reach to Jesus and trust Him with your heart. Your everything.

Be ready when He calls you home.

Photos by Liane Metzler, Terren Hurst, Sabine van Straaten, & Ben White on Unsplash

Hardest Thing

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Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:13

What do you think is the hardest cross to bear as a Christian?

Let me put it another way.

God asks us to become more like Him.

When we accept God as our Savior, He begins to transform us into who He made us to be.

We begin to walk His path, noticing what He notices.

We begin to speak to others, speaking with the words He wants to share.

We begin to have compassion, spreading His love to those around us.

When we ask God for His salvation, we become His.

His to transform.

But we’re human with human desires, wants, feelings, and actions.

Plus our soul is full of cracks from lies, and our broken world.

When God asks us to forgive others who have not asked, it’s a bitter pill to swallow.

For me, this is the hardest thing God ask of me.

Why?

Because it’s personal.

Personally painful when the other person doesn’t deserve it.

But when I don’t forgive, that person continues to strike blows after the words have faded away.

On the other hand when you forgive, you simply release that person back into the arms of God.

You let the offense fall away from your tightly gripped hands.

You allow the boulder to roll down and off your back.

Is it fun to hold onto unforgiveness because you’re justified?

Of course.

But is it worth the cost?

The cost of your peace?

The cost of a broken spot in your relationship?

Nope.

God forgave you for way more then He’s asking you to forgive now.

You didn’t deserve it either.

But God forgave you all your sins.

All your sins from yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Allow God’s strength to help you release your unforgiveness.

I know, they don’t deserve it, but that’s beside the point.

God asks us to forgive. Period.

Swallow your pride, forgive, and let God move in your life and theirs.

God will help, and His peace will rush in, helping you each time you choose to forgive.

Photos by Jametlene Reskp, Cody Otto, Felix Koutchinski, & Patrick Fore on Unsplash

That Sneaking Feeling

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But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26

You know that feeling?

The one that says you should do something?

That nagging suspicion you should comply with?

If it’s for any sort of reconciliation or compliance with God’s way for you, that’s the Holy Spirit.

He’s whispering to you what you know you should do.

So do you do it?

Why not?

Pride.

Wanting to satisfy your pitiful flesh instead of humbling yourself.

Very tempting, I know.

It’s our natural tendency to feed our flesh instead of what God wants us to do.

Conflict within ourselves is when there’s a choice: our flesh or God.

Helps to remember a couple things.

First, life is so temporary.

The moments we have are fleeting and will never return.

Should we make those moments count, bettering our future?

Or fill the moments with ourself on the throne, never getting those wasted moments back?

And second, as God sees us behaving, what do you want to show Him?

An ungrateful attitude or someone who is learning to put others first?

Do you want to grieve the heart of God or help Him smile?

You could also flip that.

Do you want your actions to cause a win for the Enemy or make it even harder for him to have you?

That little small voice deep inside our head is the Holy Spirit.

He’s there, helping you know exactly what next to do.

The questions is, will you?

Will you listen or keep ignoring Him?

Photos by Luca Zanon, 青 晨, Robert V. Ruggiero, & Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

Can I Have It?

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Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

Her back ached as she stumbled along the path.

Taking a tissue, she wiped the sweat from her brow.

“How much longer,” she thought aloud to herself.

“When will this load go away? I’m so tired of carrying my entire life every single day.”

She knew why it was so heavy.

She simply couldn’t resist keeping decisions for her alone to make.

She liked that so much, issues multiplied in her bag daily, adding to the weight.

Approaching a hill, she saw a figure, standing on her path.

He looked tall. Kind. Strong.

As she drew near, she recognized who He was. Jesus.

The relief almost caused her to fall down, yet she caught herself.

“Jesus,” she called, “can you please help me?”

Reaching out, she caught his arm as He steadied her on her tired feet.

He placed His hands on her shoulders, removing the burden from her back.

He easily lifted it, placing it down on the ground.

“Why, my daughter, are you carrying something so heavy? Have you forgotten Who I am?”

She looked up at him, unsure of what to say.

He peered into her burden, lifting out the first rock.

“Your marriage. Can I have this one?” Jesus gently asked.

She nodded her head.

He reached in again, this time lifting out three rocks.

“Your children. Can I have them, too?” Jesus asked. “They are safe with me.”

She nodded, tears running down her cheeks.

As Jesus kept reaching into her burden, he brought out all of her rocks, including her job, future, friends, home, and identity.

And each time, she willingly gave them up as Jesus instead placed them into His bag He so easily carried.

Willing to give up control, she whispered, “Thank you, Jesus. You have freed me beyond my wildest dreams.”

Jesus smiled at her, held out His hand, and together they walked down the path of life.

She was now skipping and smiling, fully reliant once more on her God, who created her and her precious little life.

She knew life was back in order with God taking her worries.

Reading her thoughts, Jesus bent down to whisper, “Now don’t try to pick these back up. You were not made to carry them. I was.”

And she wholeheartedly agreed.

Photos by Karsten Würth, Thomas Schweighofer, Marc Rafanell López, &  Olivia Snow on Unsplash

Tasting Suffering

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And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10

How do you identify with Christ’s suffering?

Not a fun topic, I know.

Can’t we all just identify with his happy traits instead of his suffering or forgiveness?

Because Jesus came to earth fully human yet fully God, we can identify with Him when our humanness overwhelmes us.

When life on this earth is less than celebratory.

As mamas, we give our bodies over when producing life.

Our bodies are literally changed forever. Marked with our child.

Further, we give ourselves to them for care.

Whether a child grows within your body or heart, you are forever changed by that child’s mere existence.

Jesus gave his body for us.

He willingly gave up his body for our salvation.

Does all of human creation daily cry out songs of thanksgiving for His sacrifice?

Nope. Not even close.

How many have been lost, not clinging to God’s plan for salvation?

Not recognizing Jesus’ human suffering on the cross for us?

What does Jesus think when those who are lost come to mind?

When those who have rejected His sacrifice beg to do life instead all on their own?

He has compassion.

He sees them through love.

He still wants their heart.

And He doesn’t give up. Ever.

Mothers sometimes get the short end of the stick.

But when we do, we must look to Jesus’ example of love.

He keeps loving even when others don’t love Him back.

Even knowing some would reject His willingness to sacrifice for their eternal life, He still went to the cross for them.

As we keep walking forward during the more uncomfortable times of life, may we look to Jesus’ example and love all anyways.

Photos by Camila Damásio, Larm Rmah, JESHOOTS.COM, &  Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Boundary Waters

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Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

Boundaries. Do you have them?

We all create boundaries with many things.

Not accepting a call from an unidentified caller.

Staying in our personal space when out in public.

Not interacting with previous flings while in a serious relationship.

Adhering to the law of paying for what you buy.

Obeying the road’s speed limits.

Ok, maybe not that, but you get the point.

Boundaries are necessary to keep us and others safe.

To keep us under the banner of right and wrong.

How about your time?

Do you create time to recharge?

We all have a limit button, and when that’s pushed, we find ourselves on empty.

Mamas regularly find themselves in this camp.

Running on empty, we continue to give ourselves away when our littles are, well, little.

When mine were young, I scheduled a quiet time right after lunch each day.

My welcome hour of relative peace and quiet.

Baby took a nap, and the other three played, read, or slept on their individual beds.

For one blessed hour all were contained.

And the best part? I was alone.

I needed that time to recharge.

That boundary was my sanity saver.

As they came running out after the hour was up, I was super happy to hug them once again.

What about when kids are older?

On normal nights I had a 9:00 kitchen closed rule.

Stay up however late you want, but you’re in your room after 9pm.

Gave me an hour without any fuss before I went to bed.

Finally, as we recharge ourselves, don’t forget your prayer time with God.

That’s when your heart is focused on Him as you read the Bible and pray.

My time is from 6-6:30am.

I’ve already exercised, showered, and my coffee is nice and hot.

As I drink in the goodness of God (and my coffee!), my mind rests on what is truly important.

And if you have a houseful of children while having your prayer time?

Hang a sign on your door that reads, “Mama loves you, but Mama needs time with Jesus to love you best.”

We all have boundaries, and they usually lead to our personalities or preferences.

Certain boundaries are necessary to fully give your best.

As you regularly pour out your life to others, make sure you carve out time for Jesus to pour into yours.

After all, you matter just as much the others you care so very much about.

Photos by Annie Spratt, Sue Winston, Daria Lyalyulina, & Masaaki Komori on Unsplash

Living Within God’s Presence

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Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:4-5

Picture living within the blessing of God.

Within His purpose for your life.

What does that look like?

Peace resonating from the depths of your toes.

Comfort knowing you are obeying God’s will for your length of days.

An absence of fear knowing God is right by your side.

Sound good?

Of course it does.

Let’s keep going.

Living within God initiates a constant conversation with Him.

After all, it’s not possible to know Him without talking with Him. Constantly.

You begin to share all the details of your day.

As they happen.

No, you’re not literally talking out loud all the live long day, but you know, in your head.

Constantly referring everything back to God.

Asking Him for wisdom.

Patience.

Mercy and love.

As you are tempted to look within yourself for solutions, fear creeps back.

Like an old weed that never completely dies, it rears its ugly head at the least likely moment.

But when you live within the presence of God, you don’t allow that weed to take root.

You cancel the lie with the truth of God.

You push the worry away as you remind your brain how God is in control.

Your heart remains at peace while you purpose again to focus on God. On His truth.

When you choose to live within God’s presence, it’s a moment by moment choice.

You purpose to focus on God.

And when you forget, you plop yourself back into His arms as you again refocus your brain.

Training yourself takes time.

Retraining your brain that is.

But as you choose God moment by moment, it will become easier and easier.

Before you know it, you’ll react less within yourself when life bumps you.

Our life has so many choices.

Too many if you ask me.

But there’s one choice that is easy to make: choosing to focus on God.

Ask God to help you and He will be more than happy to accommodate you.

After all, He loves you like nothing else.

Photos by Luke Thornton, Pascal Bullan, Elijah Grimm, & Allef Vinicius on Unsplash

Freedom Walk

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The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11

Are you as free as you can be?

As Christians, we profess to be free from death, sin, and the grave.

Free from eternal damnation.

And yes, that would be correct.

As a Christian, you have placed your trust in Jesus, and He has paid the penalty for your sin.

So, yes, technically, you are free from all of the above.

But what about freedom as we step upon this earth?

Are you walking as if you are free?

Just because you are free from the penalty of sin, does not mean you are free from its effects.

Do you feel pitiful and ugly when someone ignores you?

Do you feel a rush of anger when someone wrongs you?

Do you feel sarcastic while belittling someone who doesn’t understand you right away?

Do you put others down, lifting yourself up instead?

Do you put your needs first, serving your number one above all else?

Do you refuse to look at life through the lens of another, wanting your way instead?

How are you at listening?

Or, gasp, asking for forgiveness when you are wrong?

How are you at even admitting you are wrong?

Do you help others before asked?

Leave the room better than before you walked in?

When we do not clothe ourselves with the fruits of the spirit, walking as Jesus did, we are not free.

When we jump to satisfy ourselves over others, we are not free.

When we listen to lies in our head, we are not free.

When we become defeated in our many mistakes, we are not free.

Only with the power of God, can we break the chains that bind us.

Speak Jesus’ name over what binds you.

Over your flesh that speaks louder than your spirit.

Cancel the enemy’s assignments and send it to the dry desert.

Ask Jesus to cover you with His wisdom, power, strength, and joy.

And remember, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.

That, my friends, is freedom.

Photos by Michael Baccin, Rikke Hembre, Anita Austvika, & Olivia Snow on Unsplash

Not Convenient

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For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

If you suddenly found yourself feeling in a way that is opposite of the Bible, would that change things for you?

Justifying this new self you are sporting?

Let’s say you decide you’re now a boy who prefers boys.

You know God’s views.

Do you live out your sin, justifying it as your true self?

Or do you continue to give yet one more thing to God, knowing He will sustain you every time?

Let’s say you grow to detest your marriage.

Do you embrace living alone, justifying your pitiful reasons?

Or do you die once again to self, giving your marriage back to God?

Does Christianity need to fit you or do you need to fit Christianity?

Does your faith change when your flesh cries out for sin?

Or do you cry out to God when your flesh shouts loudly to be satisfied?

Christianity is not built for convenience.

It’s never convenient to put down yourself, honoring others and your commitments.

It’s never convenient to seek God’s will above your own.

It’s never convenient to see others through the lens of God’s love.

It wasn’t convenient for Jesus to die for your sins.

Yet He did.

Even in the midst of your flesh, seek the will of God.

Seek the will of God over the will of flesh.

This life will last but a short time.

And when you die, you’ll suddenly become very aware of how necessary it all was.

Necessary as you look into the eyes of the people who were led to Jesus through you.

Necessary as you see those touched by your testimony.

Necessary as you see your family following you into heaven after praying daily for their salvation.

Following Jesus is never convenient.

But it is necessary. Absolutely necessary.

Our very lives and the lives of others depend upon it.

Photos by Clay Banks, Andrey K, Vasilis Karkalas, & Ben White on Unsplash

Your Crown

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The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Why do we allow others to reduce us to tears?

Why do we allow another’s insecurities to confirm lies in our heads?

Why do we allow another’s foul moods to bring us to our knees?

Why do we let others affect us negatively?

Because we are human.

Flawed, too.

We mess up, going back to that lie we believed about ourselves.

That lie that seems so real such as “I’m not worth it” or “I’m an absolute failure”.

I’m amazed at how immature I am.

Even when I know better.

Instantly how pitiful I can become when reacting to another’s very flawed actions.

It’s in those moments we must stop and straighten up, or our crown will fall from our head.

Remember your crown?

Meaning, remember your place in this world?

You are a child of the Most High God.

THE God. The One who created all things.

The One in charge of your past, present, and future.

The One who causes the sun to rise and set in the evenings.

The One who gave you your quirks, desires, and personality.

The One who gave you dreams and talents to fulfill them in His timing.

Do not let the opinions of others negate who God says you are.

God says you are His daughter. His son. His beloved child worth dying for.

He gave His everything to capture you for eternity.

That means you are priceless.

The next time you find yourself in a less than stellar situation, do not allow yourself to stoop for another’s crumbs.

You are worth more than crumbs.

But if your crown falls off, please stoop to pick it up.

Its place is on your precious little head.

Photos by Ashton Mullins, Nathan Mcgregor, Jametlene Reskp, & Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Remaining Fragrance

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Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3

I wonder how long the expensive fragrance lingered on His feet.

If the smell remained days later.

Guessing for a few it did.

After bathing? Probably.

Nard was expensive due to its high quality.

It was usually reserved for royalty, sealed in an equally expensive alabaster jar to preserve the special fragrance.

It was the best money could buy.

Mary poured it out on Jesus because of Who He was.

The Son of God.

Our Messiah.

The King of Kings.

How about 6 days later.

Do you think the fragrance lingered still?

That’s when Jesus was arrested.

Through the trial?

Through the flogging?

Through the agony on the cross?

What if God’s timing allowed the fragrance to whiff here and there while Jesus suffered?

Reminding Him of His purpose and identity.

Whiffs of sacrifice and worship while enduring.

How about you?

Do you recognize when God does that for you?

Notice.

Notice the goodness of God amidst the suffering.

Notice the love of God while enduring.

Notice the fragrance of God, who goes before you, stands behind you, and is always right by your side.

Jesus was fully God, yet fully man.

And God was there for Him, too.

Photos by Elena G, Tom Crew, Alicia Quan, & Danie Franco on Unsplash

Minutes in Hell

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Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

As we remember September 11th, the iconic images float before us once again.

A tower on fire.

Screaming sirens.

Plane slamming into the other tower.

Confused faces.

Firefighters running towards the chaos.

Blackness engulfing as the towers fall.

Silence and death creeping towards more victims.

We saw it in real time. We witnessed the horror. We try to make sense of the evil we saw.

Can you imagine the terror overtaking those souls as they waited in hell?

47 minutes. How long Flight 11 was in the air before slamming into the North tower.

48 minutes. How long Flight 175 was in the air before crashing into the South tower.

34 minutes. How long Flight 93 knew they were hijacked before crashing themselves to the ground in PA.

56 minutes. How long the South tower was on fire before collapsing to the ground.

100 minutes. How long the North tower was on fire before collapsing to the ground.

Minutes that seemed like eternity.

Minutes lived in uncertainty and fear.

Minutes which became their last.

Those in the planes or towers suffered while waiting.

Waiting for certain death on the plane or the unknown in the tower.

In an instant all went to meet their Maker.

Were they ready?

Were they ready to meet God?

We never know when our last day will arrive.

Could be today, could be tomorrow.

Or maybe in a few years.

Guessing none of these precious people even thought about death that morning before events erupted.

But that didn’t matter, did it.

We must be ready today as God doesn’t guarantee our tomorrows.

As those precious people waited long minutes in hell, their life ended, quitting the turmoil surrounding their end.

But if we are appointed to meet God, and we’re not ready?

Our hell will last for all of eternity.

Those minutes will evolve into hours, days, months, years, and decades, turning onto forever.

Forever separated from God.

Forever living in agony.

Forever living in hell.

We try to imagine the hellish moments endured by those precious people on September 11th.

We cry out from the depths of our souls at the injustice of their suffering.

Yet it will be nothing compared to our eternity apart from God.

The choice is still yours.

Where will you spend eternity?

Choose wisely. God has already chosen you.

Photos by Martina Mainetti, Aidan Bartos, Tim Mossholder, & Ben White on Unsplash

Come On, Let’s Go!

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For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. Psalm 62:5

My first phrase as a child, was something like, “Come on, group, let’s go!”

I’ve always wanted to keep the move on.

Forget ahead.

Time is wasting!

Are you waiting on God for anything?

Usually we are as we always want something.

Are you waiting for God’s timing on something specific?

Or directions as you know something is about to change?

When waiting on God, we tend to wrap ourselves up in what we want.

What we want when we want it.

And that’s like now, right?

Or yesterday!

But there’s more.

When we are waiting on God, we tend to become anxious or worried as things are not moving fast enough for us.

And we become anxious because we think we know best.

Better than God.

And when we dwell on what we think should happen, and begin to feel anxious as we wait, fear moves right on in.

Worry and anxiety do not reveal God’s plans, instead keeping us bound to fear.

Do you want to see God’s plans?

Keep trusting Him, asking Him to reveal them to you in His perfect timing.

In the mean time, trust.

Trust He’s on the move.

Trust He’s got the plans.

And trust He knows best for you.

He’ll nudge you to move here and there.

And when He does, make sure to pay attention.

Don’t just sit there as a lump on the log, waiting for God to do everything for you.

When you pray and wait, actively participate in His plan. His solution.

Allow Him to work through you as you wait and as you walk into His future planned just for you.

Photos by Scott Higdon, Pawel Tadejko, Max Goncharov, & Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

Foolish Talk

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A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. Proverbs 18:2

What do you think as you read that verse?

Do you immediately think of people who fit the bill?

I do.

I think of arguments or conversations where the other person is obviously the fool.

I feel bad for them.

I’d hate to be the fool.

And when I further think about it, I understand the other person’s problem.

They are so focused on themselves, they only want to share themselves, not stop to understand the other point of view, which is usually mine.

I think of people who are quick to speak, seeming to reply so quickly, they couldn’t have possibly even listened to me. Or tried to understand.

So foolish!

Taking no pleasure in understanding is when a person thinks only of their retort while the other person complains.

They know they are right and only want to express their almost holier than thou opinion, never wanting to ever understand the other person.

We can all identify, yes?

But what if that fool is you? Me?

How often do we stop to understand the other person?

Or do we only want to express our opinions as we are certainly right about this and most other things.

Do you see how foolish we look when we stay stuck behind ourselves?

Even if your opinion is the correct one, will the other person see it when we are so focused on ourselves?

When we are so focused on spewing forth our wise words with the absence of understanding?

A person doesn’t have to say all that’s in their head.

We can listen, ask questions, and offer our opinion in a gentle manner.

Reminds me of Proverbs 15:1, which says, “a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger”.

A fool doesn’t seek to understand, instead pushing to insert his or her opinion.

A wise person seeks to understand, sharing their opinion when it’s appropriate.

I know we see others as fools.

Let’s not forget to look at ourselves as we sometimes are the biggest fools around.

May God set a guard over our mouth, watching the door to our lips (Psalm 141:3), so we no longer remain the fool in our relationships.

Photos by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Silencing the Tempter

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And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. Luke 4:13

The devil will come tempt you when you were at your weakest.

That’s when he comes.

Do you know when he came to Jesus?

After Jesus had fasted for 40 days.

Luke 4:2 says Jesus was hungry.

Probably the understatement of the year after not eating for 40 days am I right?

After fasting 40 days, Jesus was physically weak.

But that’s when the devil came.

When does the devil come for you?

When does he visit, tempting you to sin or simply help you off the straight and narrow?

When you are weak.

When is that exactly?

Is it after certain situations?

After you listen to lies in your head?

Do you feel weak every day?

When the devil tempted Jesus, He rose up in his weakened state and refused every lie the devil threw at Him.

He refuted the devil’s statements with scripture.

God‘s living word.

Every drop of God’s word breathes life with the power of the Almighty behind every single syllable.

God reminds us, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Put your name in that.

God’s grace is sufficient for me.

God’s power is made perfect in me.

Absolutely incredible. Looking at verse 10, when we are weak, we KNOW God’s power is working through us.

When I am weak, I am strong because Jesus covers me with Himself.

When I am weak, I am strong because Jesus’ strength literally replaces my weakness.

Replace means exchange, so my weakness is exchanged for the strength of Almighty God.

Reminds me of 1 Peter 5:7 which calls you to cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.

Put your name in there.

I cast all my anxiety on Jesus because He cares for me.

Time to tell the devil enough.

Next time he tempts you, because he will never quit, stop him with the word of God.

You’ll send him packing, wondering if he should return.

Photos by Mike Hindle on Unsplash

Recognizing God

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And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. Mark 5:6

That man? He was severely under the enemy’s thumb.

Filled with many demons, this man was completely controlled by them.

As soon as Jesus stepped out of the boat, this man ran to Jesus.

Actually the demons ran to Jesus as this man was not in control.

The demons immediately recognized Jesus and what was their response?

To cower and run?

No. They immediately went to Jesus.

They begged for mercy.

So Jesus sent them into the pigs, which caused the pigs to drown themselves in the sea.

The man was left completely calm in the absence of enemy control.

I wonder why the demons response was to run to Jesus instead of run from Him?

Clearly the demons had gained control of this man for quite awhile as verses 1-5 describe.

Yet when the Son of God was in view, the demons ran to Him.

They instantly recognized the power of God over them.

So they begged for mercy.

What about us?

Do we recognize the power of God over us?

God’s absolute authority? His soverignty?

If God saw what you did yesterday, would you fall on your knees for mercy?

Or would you justify your actions?

Honestly never thought we’d learn a thing from a demon, yet here we are.

God is the author of life.

He’s the beginning and ending of time.

He created all things.

He has all authority on heaven and earth, yet we seem to forget.

We live like we’re the boss. Like we are in control. Like we can do better.

We even live like we think we are listening to God when we clearly sometimes we do not.

We must do the hard things.

We must forgive. We must love. We must live under the authority of Almighty God.

Ask God to help you as we all have much to learn when recognizing God.

Photos by Annie Spratt, Adrian Infernus, Humble Lamb, & Ben White on Unsplash

Wise or Foolish?

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The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

Proverbs 15:2

We all want to have knowledge.

That’s the ultimate pursuit of man, isn’t it?

Don’t we want to know all things so we can have absolute control?

The pursuit of knowledge is how sin entered the world.

Adam and Eve wanted to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

They wanted to be like God, knowing everything.

Genesis 3:6 says …when the women saw the tree was desired to make one wise….she took of its fruit and ate it, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

But they weren’t wise.

We are still reaping sin’s consequences every single day.

When you are wise, you have knowledge.

Actually you have good knowledge as the Hebrew verb “commends” from Proverbs 15:2 means to be good, well, or pleasing.

Whatever the case, the wise person has the good kind of knowledge.

The kind that furthers you onto God’s plans.

Matthew 12:34 gives us a reason the wise have knowledge.

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Wise people follow God. Fools do not.

What is in your heart?

If God is your focus, your heart will share wisdom as you speak.

If you are your focus, your heart will share folly as you foolishly speak.

When speaking, ask God to cover your words.

Every one.

We all speak folly as fools sometimes.

But as we continue to press into God, becoming more like Him, our words will gain wisdom as our hearts overflow with God’s love, mercy, and grace.

The next time words pour forth from your mouth, stop and notice.

Are they wise or foolish? Do you feel humble or proud? A servant or a king?

Even if you can’t figure it out, your heart knows. And so does God.

Photos by Fiona Murray-deGraaff, Aaron Burden, & James Cousins on Unsplash

Ruling Over Sin

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If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it. Genesis 4:7

Murder entered our world within years of God creating man.

Second generation to be exact.

Cain, Adam and Eve’s firstborn son, killed his brother, Abel, over jealousy.

Cain was jealous of Abel’s favor with God.

Abel had offered God a firstborn lamb for his offering.

Cain merely brought an offering of his fruit from the ground.

Not the best nor the first.

Almost wonder if it was an afterthought when he noticed Abel’s offering.

God warned Cain. Wanted to know why he was so angry.

But God assured Cain, telling him he could still offer himself.

But God also warned Cain about the sin knocking on his heart.

We all know what Cain chose.

He chose death to his brother, which led to death of the life he had always known.

Is your sin worth losing your entire life as you know it?

We often don’t weigh the consequence of sin before we plunge into it.

What sin is knocking on your heart?

Remember God’s power over sin, death, and the grave.

He’s already won.

Sin is crouching at our door, but we must rule over it.

You can kick it to the curb with God’s strength.

God will help you overcome the cling of sin in your heart, choosing the life of God instead of the death of self.

But God leaves it up to you.

Cain opened wide the door to sin.

What about you?

Photos by Mónica Obando Molina, Nicolas Falgetelli, Peter Lloyd, & Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash

Walking From Above

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But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13

Do you know how God sees you?

Do you know about your assured value?

Daughter of the King. Son of the Most High.

Chosen. Valued. Loved.

Do you live like that matters?

It’s hard on earth, yes?

It’s hard when life is cluttered with noise.

Noise from frustrating situations.

That noise can become louder than the voice of God.

It regularly reduces us to our emotional state of mind instead of relying on our sound mind from God.

Are you shrinking down, low enough to be surrounded by the noise of this earth?

Or are you rising tall, listening instead to the voice of God?

When you look up and remember, the noise of the world fades away as you listen to who God says you are.

Not in an arrogant ignoring your duties kind of way.

But living with renewed purpose.

With a smile on your face.

Because He knows.

He cares, and He is never leaving your side.

Picture yourself in a beautiful gown.

Or if you’re a guy, fitted in a brand new suit.

You are clean and fresh, standing tall in your new clothing.

You stand up. And as you keep your face towards Gods, you grow taller and taller.

Suddenly, the things of this world are tiny as you rise above.

The noise fades and all you hear is God’s whispered words of love over you.

You walk around, barely noticing the cares of this world, as you walk while under His provision.

You are more than the longings of this world.

You are more than the problems of this world.

You are more than the issues you will always need to face.

You are more because you are His.

Stand tall. Rise above.

Photos by Chelsea Bock, Dave Hoefler, Jack Sloop, & Ion Fet on Unsplash

Living from Above

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Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. Luke 21:34

Are you stuck in the mud of life swirling around you?

Dwelling too much on plans, disappointments, or perfection?

You will only have this day one time.

One time.

How are you spending your time?

Obsessing with the nitty gritty life details?

Or doing your best while allowing God to work through you?

A year from now will you remember what you did today?

Will you remember that situation that wrecked your day?

Unless it’s a truly tragic situation, which does not happen often, you won’t.

You won’t remember that specific annoyance.

So why are you letting it invade your thoughts now?

My grandmother loved to remind us that not much matters when you look down from the balcony of heaven.

Garden bugs, broken washing machines, hail, misdelivered packages, or ungrateful children.

None of that really matters when you think about perspective.

Yes, God calls us to deal with life.

And deal with life we should.

But what really matters when you stop and think about it?

Eternity.

Yours, and everyone else’s.

What are you doing to help others to that end?

When you get to heaven, will you regret not fixing more homemade meals?

Will you regret your clothing size or your address?

Nope. You will see how short life really is.

You will see how you fit within the space of God’s line of people.

And that, my friends, is but a blip.

We have this day only one time.

Let’s make it count for the kingdom of God instead of the kingdom of self.

Photos by Maria Cappelli, Jen Theodore, Thanti Riess, & Ben White on Unsplash

Lace Them Up!

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I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called… Ephesians 4:1

Are you lacing up your tennis shoes?

Making sure they are on tight?

Double knot or single?

When you lace up your tennis shoes, you’re getting ready for something.

Something requiring walking, running, or simply going about your day.

I like to put lotion on my feet before I don my socks. You?

When you put on your tennis shoes, you are readying for something more.

You are prepared. You can now walk on legos (ouch!), in the great wide world, or simply in the yard.

Lacing up your tennis shoes is similar to preparing your heart, mind, and soul for the day ahead.

Preparing for the day, we open our Bible.

We read a devotion book (I know a great one if you need it, haha!).

We meditate on scripture.

We pray for God to fill us up with Himself afresh.

We lay our burdens again before the feet of God.

We pour out ourselves, so we can be filled with God’s mercy and strength.

When we begin our day listening to Jesus, we are ready for whatever the day holds.

And you know that could be anything up or down, as we live among a broken world.

But when you purpose to ready yourself, God will help you face whatever comes your way.

It’s like lacing up your tennis shoes.

Your feet are ready to walk on whatever.

And after spending time with Jesus, you are ready for whatever comes your way.

Spend time with Him each morning.

Read His word and pray.

And just sit.

God wants to speak to you.

And when you’re done, your laces will be all tied and ready to go for whatever God has for you this day.

Photos by Lee Campbell, Kristian Egelund, Sophia Kunkel, & Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Bye, Bye Bacteria

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My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

Well today, I’m a bit grumpy.

Just over two days ago, my face erupted again into a painful bacteria infection.

Folks, it’s ugly inside and out.

The pain and burning is like nothing I’ve ever experienced.

Except for the last time this happened.

Three months ago, was my first time driving down into the depths of you know where with my bacteria enemy.

That time was worse as I did not have medicine right away, and when I finally got some, it didn’t work, leading me into another round a few days later.

Sheer misery.

Like this time.

Except this time, I was able to score the drugs that worked. On the first day!

Still waiting for them to wipe it all away, but I’m thankful.

That was God’s handiwork.

He’s also helped me through friends, knowledgeable in healing me with natural products.

I’ve become a walking experiment.

Oregano oil is really awful, but helps heal wounds and fights bad bacteria.

Worth it.

Coconut oil (not melted as I don’t care anymore) can be eaten instead of swallowed.

Really helps destroy bad bacteria, which I am in dire need of.

I picture the medicine and oils running around my body, searching to destroy the bad bacteria when sighted.

I could go on with a few more examples, but you get the point.

When we are ill, we become desperate for it to end. Yes?

Desperate enough to ingest things I never thought I would!

Makes me wonder how desperate we are for God.

It’s easy to ignore Him when life is expected. Calm.

But those are the times we should continue clinging to Him, expressing our gratitude for all He does for us.

For all He is for us.

So here I sit. Waiting.

Waiting on God to move or use the tools handed to me for relief.

But that’s ok.

Waiting before God begs us to trust Him.

To trust this too shall end.

He will come through.

I know this because of all the ways He’s been faithful to me.

What do you need to lay before the Lord today?

What do you need to trust God with, even when you seem stuck where you are?

Be still and know that He is God. Psalm 46:10

Photos by Kristine Wook, kazuend, &Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

Let Go and Live

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And when you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25

How many offenses do you carry?

How many follow you while you go about your day?

Dozens?

Hundreds?

Thousands?

Even one is too many.

Why?

Because offenses discolor our moods.

They cloud the lens we view life.

Not only do offenses keep us in moods not worthy of companionship, they cause us to stink.

Ever been around someone easily offended?

You tend to step back, because you don’t want to get near their odor.

Those people are obvious.

But there’s another type of offense.

It’s the subtle hurt you carry because of unforgiveness.

Yes, it’s probably justified as you were wronged, but you still have a choice.

You can choose to let go and forgive, or keep the hurt and the offense.

Choosing to keep it close, bitterness enters your heart and mind as you begin to dwell on the pain.

And that causes you to stink.

When you don’t forgive, you allow the offender to continue hurting you.

You let them win again and again.

And there’s no winning.

Unfortunately, you’re the big loser with unforgiveness.

When you choose to forgive, you simply release it back to God.

You are asking God to cover the offense with His peace and forgiveness.

As you ask God to help you forgive, He rushes in with His peace to cover the wrong done to you.

Doesn’t mean you reconcile with the person, justify the hurt, or anything of the sort.

You simply let it go, so it does not control you anymore.

We talk a lot about control, because as humans we want control.

But you know as well as I, that we cannot control other people.

We cannot make them humbly apologize.

We cannot make them change for the better.

And we cannot make them be nice to us in the future.

But you can change yourself.

You can release it to God, asking Him to help you forgive that person.

You can choose freedom.

But it’s all up to you.

I know it’s hard to forgive when the other person seems to get away with any and all things.

But don’t allow the real prisoner to be you.

With God’s strength, you can forgive, freeing the prisoner. You.

Photos by Annie Spratt  and  Kiwihug on Unsplas

No Match for God

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For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything. 1 John 3:20

Ever realized something about fear?

When fear speaks into your life, it’s about the present.

Your current circumstances.

It fills you up with worry about what may happen when presented with your current situation.

Except it’s so sneaky, you begin to think fear can perfectly predict your future.

I know because we listen. We listen so well, we believe it.

We believe the lies of fear.

Why does the devil try to wrap you up in fear about your future?

Because the devil, who is fear, doesn’t know your future.

He likes to predict it for you, but he has no clue.

The future fears you dwell upon are simply fiction.

Made up to scare you.

Paralyze you from acting on the will of God over your life.

But you know what is absolutely real and complete truth?

God’s promises for you.

He knows the beginning from the end and God’s promises to you will not return void.

When God tells you in Isaiah 41:10 NOT to fear and He is WITH us, holding us up with His right hand, you can believe it.

Because He said it, He will do it.

Or in Jeremiah 29:11, God tells us He KNOWS the plans He has for us. And they are very good, FULL of hope and promise, not harm.

That flies in the face of fear’s lies, does it not?

Finally, God promises to NEVER ever leave us. Deuteronomy 31:8 also reminds us God will not forsake us.

God is with us always and He’s not turning His back.

So when fear whispers into your ear, turn your head towards the promises of God.

Fear is full of lies, and God is full of truth.

Fear plays to your weakness and God is your strength.

When we are weak, He is strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

Thank you, God, for being our strength.

Fear, your lies have zero chance anymore.

Photos by Virginia Marinova & Joel Muniz on Unsplash

Is It Well with Your Soul?

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When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows, like a sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.

Tho’ Satan should buffet, tho’ trials should come, Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin- oh, the bliss of this glorious thought- My sin- not in part but in whole,
Is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh, my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trumph shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, “Even so”- it is well with my soul.

It Is Well with My Soul by Horatio G. Spafford, 1873

God created us with a body, soul, and spirit.

Our body is temporary. No surprise, but we have an expiration date.

Our soul is our mind, will, and emotions.

It’s our human side that generally drives our decisions.

Works in sync with our body.

We decide to eat poorly (our will) because we’re grumpy, and our body is affected.

Then our mind and emotions feel guilty and we pledge to do better until the next time something annoys us.

Then the cycle continues.

Our spirit is what communicates with God.

It’s what is broken when we have not given ourselves to God.

When you continually ask God to fill you with Himself, your spirit can reign over your mind and soul, transforming them according to God’s plan.

Bringing me back to my original question.

Is it well with your soul?

Your mind, will, and emotions?

You can only be well with your soul if you focus on Jesus.

If you give Him your burdens.

If you allow Him to work through you as we cannot do this on our own.

If you allow Him to give you His peace in the midst of a stormy season of life.

It is well with your soul if you can remain calm when attacks come your way.

It is well with your soul if you can continue loving others when instead they cause you harm.

It is well with your soul if you do not dwell on negative thoughts, but instead praise God even if.

The writer of the hymn, Horatio Spafford, was a Christian, who endured tragedies like Job.

First he lost his son, then his sprawling investments during the Great Chicago Fire, and finally his four daughters on a boat to Europe. Only his wife survived.

While going to rescue his wife in Europe, he wrote the words to the hymn while sailing over the spot his daughters perished.

Enduring the loss of almost everything, his focus remained on God.

His soul was well, meaning his mind, will, and emotions were fixed on God.

Only when Jesus is your single source of peace can it be well with your soul.

Not another human.

Not any circumstance.

Not even yourself.

Only Jesus.

Humans regularly fail us.

We regularly fall short.

But Jesus never has, never does, and never will.

Allow Him to be your all in all as you seek Him first and declare to all it is well with your soul.

Photos by Nani Williams on Unsplash

Agreeing with Sin

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For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food…..she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:5

How long do you think Adam and Eve were in the garden before listening to the devil?

A month?

A year?

Too bad Eve never experienced pain free childbirth, yes?

That was part of her punishment from God.

But back to the devil.

Why did Eve almost immediately believe the snake over God?

Guessing this was maybe the first time she had spoken with it?

The devil played to Eve’s desire for more.

Wanting to be like God. Or maybe living as her own god, knowing everything our God does.

Did Adam help his wife resist?

Nope. He happily ate, too, when given the opportunity.

No protection for his wife, just partook in the snack.

After they finished, they were immediately changed.

Changed for the worse.

Knowing they were naked, they made themselves clothes, hiding from Almighty God.

First of all, imagine walking with God every day, talking about this and that.

Wow.

Now imagine the panic of your daily walk approaching, knowing you have done the ONE thing you were not supposed to do.

I’d hide, too.

But you can’t hide from God.

Nothing can be hid from Him as He knows all things.

Imagine God watching Adam and Eve eat that fruit.

Probably similar to watching your own child do something naughty.

Except this was when sin actually entered God’s perfect world.

A little worse, yes?

When Adam and Eve obeyed the snake instead of God, they awakened what separates us from God.

Our flesh crying out for control.

Wanting our way over God’s.

The desire to satisfy our flesh over God’s commandments.

Fulfilling that leads to sin.

What are you hiding from God?

Release everything to Him as He wants your everything.

Tell Him what you’ve been hiding, not sharing with a living soul.

He won’t turn away. He’ll help you change.

He knows it anyway.

Photos by Dee., Kristina V, David Vig, & Emmanuel Phaeton on Unsplash

Kerplop

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Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. Psalm 37:24

The long school year finally came to a close.

Where was I with under an hour till the bitter end?

In a heap on the floor.

After missing the last step while waltzing down the stairs to assembly, I heard my ankle make a weird sound as I fell to the floor.

Happy summer to me!

Lying on the ground with my head on the stairs, I contemplated what had transpired.

Didn’t have to sit alone more than a couple of seconds before my friend came rushing to my side.

Not wanting to throw up or faint, I laid there quietly, unable to do much else.

My friend summoned help and over the next bits of time, I was covered with God’s provision.

While resting on the dirty stairs, I was cared for. All my needs answered.

When I was at my lowest, God never left my side.

He was in the people who came, helping with different things each time.

He was in my husband’s schedule who had not left for a job hours away.

He was in the friend who recommended where to go.

He was in the doctor’s office that helped me in and out in under an hour.

He was in the details.

He always is.

Yes, He allows things. Suffering.

But He’s always right there along with you.

We can have peace amidst our trials because we know Who is with us.

God goes before us, is beside us, and is behind us.

Every single day.

Even when we go kerplop.

We have no idea how blessed we really are.

Photos by Lindsay Henwood, Denys Sudilkovsky, Kelly Sikkema, & Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

All the Little Things

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Even to your old age I am He, and even to your advanced old age I will carry you! I have made you, and I will carry you; Be assured I will carry you and I will save you. Isaiah 46:4

Do you recognize the absolute pleasure of watching God take care of you?

We try so hard to control our worlds.

Our environments. Our decisions.

Our current and future moments.

We try, yet fail so often.

We can’t possibly ever reach perfection: perfect control of our worlds.

But that’s not our job. It’s God’s.

God is the one who controls all things.

He ultimately holds our breath in His hands.

When you try to manage yourselves, we rely on our own strength.

Our own wisdom.

Our own humanly flawed brains.

I for one don’t remember all I should. You?

Do you fret about it?

Suddenly become anxious when you, gasp, mess up?

You shouldn’t. Just try your best. God’s got the rest.

Went to a fun Mexican restaurant last weekend with my sweet husband.

For some reason, I used my credit card to pay and we went on our merry way.

The next day, I was first at the register, so I reached into my wallet to pay for our mulch and plants.

My credit card was missing!

My husband paid our bill, and we discussed where the card could possibly be.

At the restaurant from the night before!

Quickly we called and sure enough, it was waiting for me. No extra charges, just a sad, lonely card.

What a relief! I’m coming!!

Here’s where God comes into this picture: I rarely pay a store when the two of us are together.

What if I had not tried to pay for our mulch?

When would I have noticed the missing card?

Probably days later as I am a school teacher, never needing my card during the week.

God prompted me to use it, so I would notice it’s absence.

Isn’t God so kind?

But that’s His heart.

We learn a lesson (take back your card when you pay!), but He gently guides us along the way.

Stop trying everything on your own.

Do your best, and let God do the rest.

He’s much better at it, anyway.

Photos by Luke Ow, Vitolda Klein, Schiba, & Ben White on Unsplash

Forgiveness

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Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and pure heart. Psalm 24:3-4a

What does it mean to have clean hands and a pure heart?

It’s one who seeks God. Who seeks God’s will, purpose, and plan for his life.

One who seeks the face of God.

One who lives within the forgiveness of God, extending in turn forgiveness to others who wrong him.

One who lives humbly under the authority of God.

One who stands in awe of God’s power, remembering Who is ultimately in control.

One who walks daily with God, obeying His written word and the promptings within his heart.

Clean hands require God’s grace, mercy, and strength.

There is no possible way to successfully rely on ourselves instead.

We are dependent on God. We must remain dependent on Him.

He gives us strength to obey His word.

He gives us grace for others when we must forgive.

He gives us peace amidst the storm.

He gives us salvation from our sins.

But we must choose to clean our hands.

We must choose to walk with God, asking Him to fill our hands with His plans.

Extending forgiveness to others ranks high on the “later, Lord” list.

But how can we have clean hands and a pure heart when we harbor un-forgiveness?

Even if it’s not deserved, we must.

We must forgive.

Doesn’t mean we are now forgetful or best friends with the offender.

Means we let the offense go, allowing God to heal our hearts.

I did that recently. Someone who has known me a very long time.

I let it go. And you know what? It freed me.

God reminded me how much He has forgiven me.

Immediately I knew it must be extended to others.

My person didn’t deserve it.

But neither do I.

I don’t deserve God’s forgiveness.

Want to ascend the hill of the Lord with me?

God wants us to have clean hands and a pure heart.

Includes forgiveness.

Ask Him to help you, and grab those shoes. The hill looks lovely.

Photos by Joseph Liu, Adrian Jakob, Tim Wildsmith, & Thomas de LUZE on Unsplash

Broken Bars

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I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect. Leviticus 26:13

The Israelites were slaves in Egypt for a long time.

One day is actually too much.

But God rescued them, bringing them out of slavery under Moses’ leadership.

God broke the bars of their yoke, which was incredibly heavy as slaves.

He freed them, causing them to lose not only their yoke, but instead walk completely upright.

They were no longer prisoners.

One can only walk upright without a burden on their back.

Ever tried to carry something heavy or awkward?

We usually stoop at least a bit.

Or what about internal burdens not physically seen?

Those are usually bigger.

The pressures and weight cause us to walk around slightly hunched, eyes downward, gloom written on our faces.

Even our eyes look sad when we are under the yoke of burdens, which become our prison as we constantly feel the pressures, not aware of any escape.

God reminds us in Leviticus of His deliverance from slavery. Of the prison the Israelites were dwelling.

And He also reminds us He has broken the bars of that yoke, allowing us to walk uprightly.

Do you want to walk uprightly as one who has received God’s peace and strength?

Eager to break out of your prison?

Have you given your burdensome yoke to God?

Those pressing situations causing you to stoop over with anxiety or fear?

He wants to break your yoke, allowing you to walk out of your prison, into the freedom He has for you.

As you release all things to God, He will straighten your back, causing a smile to spread across your face.

Walk uprightly. Smile. Look others in the eyes.

You are God’s beloved one. He has your life in His hands.

And He has all the stuff you worry about, too.

When you place your trust in God for not only your salvation, but your life here on earth as well, your prison doors are opened.

Give God your relationships, your jobs, your addictions, your future, and more.

And don’t allow that yoke to reattach as worry and fear begin creeping back into control.

God is more powerful than your burden.

Allow Him to take it off.

He’ll even help you with the transfer.

Now don’t worry about where He put it.

Just pray and trust Him instead.

Doesn’t it feel great to stand tall again?

Photos by Artem Beliaikin, Daniel Born, Daniel Krueger , & Ben White on Unsplash

Scattering Seeds

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And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. Mark 4:26-27

Ever become frustrated by a lack of growth in an area?

Could be yourself, a loved one, or a friend.

God’s timing is not always our timing.

Preaching to the choir, I know.

But our job? It is to remain faithful to the call God has on our lives.

Part of our call is to pray for the lost, asking God to soften their hearts.

Part of our call is to encourage others, pointing them to the One they can trust.

And part of our call is to be His witness.

God’s hands and feet to those we meet.

While we usually don’t see any changes, seeds are scattered. Planted. Watered.

You might be the one who scatters that seed.

Or maybe you planted a seed specifically.

Or maybe your job was to water the seed. Again and again.

We often don’t know what role we play on another’s journey to God.

But as long as we are doing our part, we can anticipate the harvest.

But sometimes we don’t even know we are planting any seeds.

We are unaware people are watching, weighing our words or actions with God’s gentle whispers.

And one day, when that harvest pops through, we are surprised as anyone!

Let me give you an example.

Last year I had two pots of pansies on my front porch.

Not sure what kind, but I know now. How do I know?

I have several little bunches popping out of my mulch in full bloom.

Did I plant them? Nope.

Did I scatter the seeds? No, but the plant did.

And this spring, I am enjoying the harvest.

Plus now I know what kind of pansies I had last year.

As you go about your day, praying for others, think about the seeds you are scattering.

It’s pretty incredible to be a part of someone’s story to Jesus.

May we all keep pursuing Jesus on behalf of others we know and don’t know.

And someday soon, may we see a glimpse of the happy souls we love rejoicing with their faith in God.