Category: restoration

Grateful to Your Toes

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And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you. Ezekiel 36:26-27

A Christmas Carol is a popular Christmas classic penned by Charles Dickens well over a hundred years ago.

One cannot comprehend the panic Scrooge felt as he walked with the Ghost of Christmas Future, unless one has made sinful choices such as Scrooge.

Because Scrooge was so selfish, he was blind to anything but himself.

Increasingly becoming aware of his sin only that night.

The consequences of his actions finally spoke louder to Scrooge than his fleshly habits.

Finding him in the graveyard, he sees the man’s name so ridiculed in death pages before: his own.

Falling on his face, he begs the Ghost of Christmas Future for a second chance.

Scrooge is agonized beyond anything he’s felt before.

He recognizes he is literally doomed.

Doomed forever and ever unless given a second chance.

A second chance as a changed man.

Begging the Ghost, he claims to have changed.

Begs and pleads with all his might.

He finally understands his truly bleak future written by his choices lived his entire adult life.

Stop and imagine yourself. What if that was you?

Do you have sections of your life ugly to God?

So ugly you deserve eternal damnation, too?

We all do. All of us deserve death.

But Jesus. His birth, death, and resurrection bring us hope as we place our trust in Him.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

Let’s return to the question at hand: what ugly parts of your life do you still need to give to God?

Why haven’t you? What’s stopping you? Are you even bothered by them?

Scrooge wasn’t for most of his life. But when his eyes were opened, he was horrified.

Release your fleshly desires to God. Release your sinful ways, hurtful to so many.

Scrooge never cared about hurting others, but he did when he finally got it.

We don’t have the luxury of seeing future consequences of our sin.

But we do have the gift of God’s redemption. And second chances.

When Scrooge finally pried open his hands, he released his bitterness. His anger. His selfishness.

And in return he was given new eyes. And boy was he happy!

Releasing those burdens caused Scrooge to well up with joy unlike anything he had ever felt before.

Just like us, when we are forgiven by God.

Covered by Jesus, we are made new. Forgiven. Hopeful. Loved.

Bring your whole self to Jesus, this Christmas. Ask Him to show you any part you’ve neglected to give to Him.

Gather up your courage, give Him that ugly part, too, and welcome the healing He promises to bring.

Like Scrooge, you’ll be grateful all the way down to your toes.

Photos by Elin Melaas, David Abrams, Jez Timms, & Elliott B on Unsplash

Living From Forgiveness

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Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13

Are you living from God’s forgiveness for you?

If you’ve surrendered your heart to Jesus, He’s forgiven you all your sins.

Often we don’t realize just how sinful we are.

And when we do, God’s forgiveness means that much more.

Feels so great, doesn’t it? To feel forgiven?

I can remember lying to my grandfather when I was about six years old.

I had gotten the Little Professor calculator for Christmas.

Basically, it was a small light up math game and I couldn’t wait to sneak it into my bed.

What six year old wouldn’t want to see it lit up in the dark?

After I went to bed, my grandfather, who had been injured in WW2, slowly climbed the stairs, which were very hard for him.

Coming into my room, he asked me if he could see my new Little Professor calculator.

Not wanting him to have it, I actually climbed out of bed and pretended to look for it with him in my room.

Giving up, he said it was just fine. He’d look at it in the morning.

Back in bed, the calculator no longer held any interest. None.

My tummy felt awful lying to my grandfather.

How long did I hold in this lie?

An entire year. I literally thought about it almost every day.

It ate at me. How could I have lied to him?

One day I could no longer take it.

Climbing onto my father’s lap, I confessed.

I waited for my huge punishment.

As an adult looking back at this scene, I’m guessing my parents were trying to stifle a giggle.

They forgave me instantly.

I climbed down and felt like I could fly.

Ran to my brother’s room and played cars with him, even though that was my least favorite activity.

But I didn’t care. I was free. I was so happy. My smile was frozen to my face.

My six-year-old self began to live from forgiveness. It was pure freedom.

Ask for forgiveness if you’ve wronged someone. You’ll feel so much better, owning your behavior.

And if your offender fails to ask you for forgiveness? Forgive them anyway.

You’ll fling off the burden of offense and smile in spite of the situation.

Don’t let others block you from living from forgiveness.

Seventy-times seven.

Ask for forgiveness. Forgive others.

Choose today to live from the freedom of forgiveness.

Photos by Laura Pocho, Mary Blackwey , &  Ben White on Unsplash

Fighting Discouragement

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Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 42:11

I fight discouragement.

Do you?

Same lies in my head.

Unanswered prayers.

Unchanged people.

Who are we to question Almighty God?

We are but a breath in all of God’s created beings.

God’s ways are higher than ours.

Then mine. Then yours.

He is above it all.

Even unanswered prayers.

Even unchanged people.

Even the lies still swirling in your head.

Our job is to submit ourselves to Him, asking Him to make us new.

Then pray for what God lays on our hearts.

After we pray, we are to give it all to God.

The unanswered prayers.

The unchanged people.

The lies in your head.

Now we sit and trust.

Yes, we can pray, of course, we should.

But as you pray, resist the urge to scoop the burden back up.

God’s got it.

He’s got it and all the rest. Why?

Because He knows all things and loves your loved ones even more than you, you must trust Him.

And He loves you more than you know, too.

Those lies in your head?

Give them to God.

Remember Whose you are.

Fully and completely loved.

Repeat scripture aloud, retraining your brain.

Your prayers are not unanswered.

They are answered in God’s timing.

In the mean time, pray, believe, and trust.

God’s got the rest.

Photos by Steve Gribble 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

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

Image Bearer

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So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Colossians 3:10

God created us in His image.

Meaning, unlike the rest of creation, we can make decisions, have thoughts, feelings, dreams, and disappointments.

We are complex, not existing on pure instinct.

As the one creation made in the image of God, we stand higher than all the rest of God’s magnificent creation.

We have God’s image literally stamped on us.

Our capacity for love mirrors God.

Our capacity for jealousy mirrors God.

Our capacity for anger mirrors God.

On the other hand, we are nothing like God, because God is holy.

We live in a sinful world, constantly tempted to listen to our flesh instead of God.

We sin all the time and God is without sin.

However, Jesus took our punishment for our sins.

Because of Jesus, we can restore our relationship to God, our Creator.

We put on our new self, which is renewed in knowledge, bearing the image of God.

When you are God’s child, you put on who you are in His image.

Who you are is love.

Who you are is wanted.

Who you are is valued.

Protected. Safe. Chosen.

A bullet-proof vest against the lies of the enemy.

Oh, they still hurt and sting even, but the lies are not fatal.

They pierce you, but fall away because you are reminded of Whose image you bear.

Place your trust in Almighty God.

Ask God to remove your sins because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

Walk in the freedom He gives you as you clothe yourself in His image.

Allow God’s strength to fill you.

His peace to cover you.

And His love to ground you as you walk as a child of the Most High God.

Photos by Rhendi Rukmana, Alex Lopez, & Laura Rivera 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

A Christmas Carol

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Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 12:28

Ever read A Christmas Carol?

My eighth graders read it with me this past month.

I know we’ve all seen the movie or the play twice or a dozen times.

We know the story well.

But have you actually ever read it?

It’s so much better.

The text portrays the struggle like no movie can.

The struggle between selfishness and generosity.

Between hate and love.

Good and evil deep in one’s soul.

The wrestle between habit and change.

The text opens depicting Scrooge as a vile human being.

He’d rather kill the poor than shove meager crumbs their way.

He looses the love of his life because his “golden idol” has replaced her.

It takes trips to his past, present and future to finally change Scrooge’s heart for good.

Stave 4 depicts his future.

His soul is overcome with grief at how his sorry life is forgotten, all his worldly gains vanishing into the hands of thieves.

His grief is profound, even gut-wrenching.

At the end, Scrooge is found begging for the chance to change his future.

He is pleading with the Ghost of Christmas Future, desperate to know if there is still time to change what is to come.

To my eighth graders, I posed a question:

What if God showed you a movie of your future, based upon your character of today.

What would you see?

And I ask you.

Are the choices you make today creating the future God wants for you?

Or are you forging ahead on the path to destruction?

May it not be so.

Let us wake from our sleep, recognizing how much God can accomplish through us.

May we recognize the choices God brings to us and choose wisely.

And may God bless us, every one.

**originally posted December 7, 2019 as “Scrooge”.

Photos by Annie Spratt, Alin Andersen, & Mariana B. on Unsplash

Losing Control

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For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

I hold onto things too tightly.

When I do, I remain in control.

As more and more things climb into my hands, I stumble, dropping everything.

I stand, crestfallen at the mess before me.

Looking up, I see You, my God, are here.

Your arms are reaching down to me, inviting me to come.

To surrender.

I place my hand in Yours as You lift me onto Your lap.

Instantly feeling peace, I rest, knowing You are the great I Am.

I look down at the life I’ve spilled and because of You, the messy pile is gone.

You’ve organized all of it for me.

In it’s place is a nice neat row, everything in a logical place.

You’ve even added Your touch, causing it to look more beautiful than it’s ever looked.

Thank you for reminding me that You, God, are in control.

You are my helper. My shield. My protector.

You are the author of my peace.

My constant shelter in the storms of life.

Remind me to give you my daily moments.

Remind me to let You hold my days as you protect me, allowing my hope to dwell in the future plans You have just for little ole me.

Photos by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

Hairy Vacuums

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Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Does your vacuum become stuck when hair completely wraps around the spinner thing or is it just me?

Smelly rubber wrapped in junk doesn’t move well.

We must stop and dejunk it. Eww.

Grab a coin to open up the bottom.

Lay the vacuum down.

Taking scissors, carefully slice through the thick hair all the way down.

Pull it off in hunks, repeating the action again and again and again, while tossing it into the trash.

Continue until it’s all gone.

Needed to continue the vacuum’s optimal function. Admittedly a bit satisfying, yet completely gross.

How often do you dejunk your heart? Your mind? Your body? Your soul?

It must be a regular thing.

Like literally regular.

Sin can attach to us, causing us to muck up ourselves.

Attitudes creep up.

Fleshly desires become bigger.

And before you know it, back we are as full of junk as our dear vacuums.

Step back today and assess yourself.

What’s your focus? Your level of anxiety? Your resting face?

Choose to refocus on Jesus.

Allow Him to dejunk your heart once again.

Then choose again to focus on Jesus the next moment. And the next. And the next.

Cleaning hairy vacuums isn’t only completed once. It’s done again. And again. And again….

Just like cleaning out your heart. Choose to refocus on Jesus.

The only difference? It gets easier and easier to choose Jesus.

But cleaning out hairy vacuums? It’s disgusting every single time.

Photos by No Revisions, Corina Rainer, Ryan ‘O’ Niel, & Brian Lundquist on Unsplash

Rebuilding

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But now, I will heal and mend them. I will make them whole and bless them with an abundance of peace and security. Jeremiah 33:6

It was an incredibly beautiful picture.

Stunning, in fact.

Worth millions.

One day, cracks appeared.

Before you knew it, the picture literally crumbled.

Shattered into a million little pieces.

God allowed it to break.

Your picture. The priceless one.

But when He allows it to break, He doesn’t leave it in a pile of mismatched pieces.

Nope. He helps you put it back together.

Will it look the same? Nope.

Can’t.

But God, through His mercy and grace, has an even better picture for you.

Might take awhile. But rest as it’s all in God’s perfect timing.

Jeremiah reminds us God will make us whole.

And He will do it.

As He builds your new picture, some of the old pieces will fit. Others won’t.

It’s not your job to fashion, as He holds the directions.

He knows. All you have to do is sit back, allowing Him to use whatever tool He deems necessary.

Might be messy. In fact, it will be.

Very messy.

There will be times when you don’t understand the way He is rebuilding your picture.

You might even question it.

But don’t give up.

Don’t walk away with an unfinished picture.

Trust Him fully as He is the only one who can rebuild your picture absolutely perfectly.

He knows where each piece fits.

And He’s got new pieces, too.

The pieces He allows to stay will shine brightly as they have been touched by the hand of God.

Healed by His precious peace.

So keep going. Keep holding out your future to His capable hands.

Bring everything to His feet and He will rebuild your picture so it looks just right.

And you’ll love it, I promise.

Photos by Brigitta Schneiter, sarandy westfall, pine watt, Mauricio Sabino, & Olivia Snow on Unsplash

Battle Scars

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He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Scars are inevitable, yes?

You burn your finger age three and the new skin still looks off.

You scrape up your knee pretty badly and if you look close, it’s there.

Your sibling unknowingly slams your two year old pinky in the wooden door and twenty years later, the finger is still shorter.

You survive brain surgery only to have your hand burned from the leaking IV, requiring a skin transfusion.

You have a baby. Or four. Enough said!

What other types of physical scars do you have?

They could be permanent like the ones above.

Or they slowly fade when healed such as a bruise, blackened eye, or sprained ankle.

All of those scars are physical. Seen by everyone who looks.

But what about the hidden scars?

The ones on the inside of our hearts and minds?

Those matter too, but are not readily seen by everyone who looks.

Trauma produces scars.

Losing a spouse, friend, child, or parent produces scars.

Rejection either real or imaginative we repeat within our minds produces scars.

Even losing a job or custody battle produces scars.

As we all have various physical or hidden scars, let me ask you a question.

Do you let them define you?

When you do, it produces boundaries, placing you in a prison of sorts.

Do you allow the boundaries then produced define your steps, mood, or even thoughts?

Psalm 147 reminds us Jesus heals the brokenhearted. The hidden scars.

And He also binds up our wounds. The physical scars.

Don’t allow your scars to define you.

Jesus is our healer, wanting to bring you into freedom from bondage.

Allow Him to change your scars into the marks of Jesus Himself.

Allow Him to reveal His grace and love while closing your wounds.

You might still have the mark, but when touched, you will no longer wince in pain.

Galatians 6:17 declares, From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.

Ask Jesus to heal your scars.

And then live within His freedom from the pain.

Your marks are now badges of honor, touched and healed by Jesus.

Photos by National Cancer Institute, Diana Polekhina, & Olivia Snow on Unsplash

Running Free

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But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2

Are you running into the freedom God has for you?

Running from the lies you have believed?

Running from the temptations that once held you captive?

Running from the ill reactions you normally exhibit?

Malachi reminds us that when you fear God’s name, when you are His beloved child, He will respond with healing.

Healing your mind.

Healing your will.

Healing your emotions.

When you ask Him to change you, freeing you from nasty ingrained responses, He will.

He promises you will not only be free, but you will run like a wild animal.

Uncontrollably free.

Decide to trust Him.

Read His word, worship, and pray.

And run as you are free.

Smile because you are loved.

Rejoice because you are His.

There is no turning back.

Every time you are tempted to return to the pit, align yourself with God and run free towards Him instead.

Run forward with God, never looking back.

Photos by Malik Skydsgaard, sporlab, & lucas Favre on Unsplash

God-breathed

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The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Job 33:4

Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein. Isaiah 42:5

God breathed and life erupted.

His life filled what He breathed upon.

Creation.

The apostle’s baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Can you imagine anything better than the creation of life or the indwelling of God’s spirit within you?

When God breathes on something, life erupts. Multiplies. Becomes alive.

While at worship last week, I had a picture of God breathing on the ugly parts of life.

The sections of our hearts or lives that contain ugly, messy cobwebs.

With one word, God breathes and darkness disappears, clearing away the cobwebs.

Whoosh. God says, “I am breathing on all of your cobwebs. Cleaning them all away. Forever gone.”

What areas of your life do you desperately need God to breathe?

With His breath, you’ll replace death with life. Destruction with living. Selfishness with godliness.

Ask Him to breathe on your heart. Ask Him to clear away your cobwebs.

Cobwebs connecting to family members. Gone.

Cobwebs connecting to destructive habits. Gone.

Cobwebs connecting to ugly past sins, guilt, or shame. Gone.

Cobwebs convincing you God truly deems you unworthy of Him. Gone.

When you allow God to fill you with His breath, He will make all things new.

Breathe Him in and receive His healing. His power. His peace.

Breathe Him out and become His hands and feet. His witness. His proof.

All glory returns to God for creating us in His image, allowing us to experience the freedom, forgiveness, and purpose He has for us. Spread the word. To God be all glory.

Photos by Saad Chaudhry, Aaron Burden, & Hugo Fergusson on Unsplash

Healed

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I’m struggling.

Not been myself for years.

Everyday it’s the same song.

I wake up hoping I’ve been healed.

My Jewish faith has always been central in my family.

I keep the laws, heading to the tabernacle when my sacrifice is due.

We’ve waited for the Messiah my whole life.

Actually for generations now.

Sometimes my condition takes over and I can think of nothing else.

Honestly, I feel so useless.

Always feeling tired, needing to run to the toilet.

My condition also makes me unclean.

So I feel ashamed. Constantly.

I know God can heal me. He just hasn’t yet.

Maybe He won’t. Maybe this will be the way I always live.

I need to accept that if indeed my life will remain the same.

God can still use me.

But I’m so tired. Tend to feel sorry for myself if I’m completely honest.

Where am I standing? I’m in the city streets.

Today is going to be different.

I’ve heard Jesus will be walking through town today.

Heard simply amazing things about Him.

Miracles. Healing. Acceptance.

I need to see Him. He can help me if I can get near enough to Him.

I can feel it in my heart.

I’ve been waiting in this heat for awhile now. I’m so tired.

But I must remain standing. For Him.

Oh, I see a large crowd coming. They are so joyful and loud!

I see Him. Jesus is here! I can recognize Him from His eyes.

He is looking so loving at all of us, the crowd pressing against Him.

Ok, here’s my chance. I’m going to reach out and touch just the edge of His garment. That’s all I need to do.

Wow. I did it! Thank you, God!

Do I feel any different? Possibly? Could it be?

Wait. Jesus has stopped walking.

He has turned around, eyes searching the crowd.

Now He’s speaking, wondering who touched Him.

His disciples are confused as there are many surrounding Him.

But Jesus keeps looking for me. I just know it.

His eyes find me and I step forward trembling. I confess what I did, falling at His feet.

Jesus reaches down and helps me to my feet.

He called me Daughter! And said my faith had made me whole!

My suffering is now finished and I am to go forth in peace.

My body instantly feels completely different. I really am whole!

I am crying like a baby. I am full of overflowing joy and love from this man who noticed me.

This famous man, Jesus, sought me out and noticed me.

Yes, my body is healed, but He also healed my heart.

My identity has changed from unclean to daughter of the Messiah.

I must tell everyone He has come! Our wait is over! Hallelujah!

What do you need from God today?

Do you have faith He will help you, too?

As a Christian, our identity is fixed into God’s family as daughters and sons of the Most High.

Your Father in heaven will fill you with love and peace to overflowing each and every day.

Go to Him like this woman, believing He will help you.

And He will.

Because He loves and notices you.

Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9:20-22

Photos by Alekon pictures, Mario Azzi, Jeremy Bezanger, Priscilla Du Preez, & Alexei Scutari on Unsplash

Poor Little Me

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The poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. Psalm 34:6

We are poor.

Yep.

Without God, we are covered in sin and poor in spirit.

Within ourselves, we lack everything.

Yes, God creates us with wisdom, strength, and certain talents, but without God’s power, our talents are human.

Flawed.

Subject to our emotional whims.

As ourselves, we cry out to God and He hears us.

Not only does He hear us, but the Bible reminds us He saves us from trouble!

Astounding!

Why does God care to hear us?

Because He created us and longs to have a relationship with us.

But He gave us the choice.

When we choose to recognize how poor we are without Him, He answers us, rescuing completely.

Apart from God, we are poor.

Desparate.

Naked and alone.

But with God, we are royalty, covered in His redemption and love.

And with God, we are rescued.

Saved.

Acknowledge your need for your Savior, and He will immediately rush in, rescuing you from harm.

You might still have struggles or even extreme hardship in life, but with God by your side, you will not only survive the storms, but you will thrive.

Cry out to God.

He will hear you and save your little ‘ole self.

Photos by Susie Ho, bill wegener, & Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Simply Jesus

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If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7

Jesus, I need You.

I need You with all I am.

I need Your strength, because mine is all gone.

I need Your wisdom to see through all the worldly crud.

I need Your love to flow through me when mine seems to be used up.

I need Your compassion when I feel as though people deserve what they get.

Or mercy when people get what they don’t deserve.

I need your peace.

Your perfect peace.

The world at large is a mess.

And so is my little world.

Everything always demands my attention, yet You are all I seek.

May I measure every demand against Your will.

May I seek You above all else.

And may You fill me with everything I need as without that I am nothing.

Thank you for Your faithfulness.

Thank you for Your love.

And thank You for Your comfort.

As I settle into You, all I can do is be.

I so long to be what You want me to be.

I so long to do what You want me to do.

Guide me, Lord, into what plans You have for me.

Bring me into Your will.

For then, and only then, will I truly find Your peace.

You are my everything.

I so love You, my Lord, and Savior.

Photos by Cameron Venti & Drew Dau on Unsplash

Sin is Sin

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But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. James 1:14-15

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When you think about what Jesus died for…

All that He died for,  what do you think about?

Big bad sins?

Like cold blood murder?

Armed robbery?

Abortion?

Drunkenness?

Or smaller sins?

Like selfishness?

Snide remarks?

Envy or jealously?

Or, gulp, pride?

The Bible says a sin is a sin.

Meaning, all sins are equal before God as they are all not from Him.

In fact, sin is the opposite of His holiness.

Sometimes we think we don’t need God as much as that guy over there.

The guy who committed the bigger sin.

Once we think that, our pride sins and once again, we need the forgiveness of God.

When Jesus died for our sins, OUR sins, He died for all of them.

Big or small.

One or many.

Daily or even more often.

Jesus died for our choices.

He died for us.

Photos by Michel Paz, Aaron Burden, & Ben White on Unsplash

Restore

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Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:12

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Is it alright for Christians to bend to themselves?

Bend to the world?

No, but we do it anyway.

We forget about God.

We forget about His incredible sacrifice and salvation freely given.

David forgot.

In Psalm 51:12, he asks God to “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation”.

That tells me he needed to be reminded.

Needed to focus on what was important.

Verse 12 closes with this request: “…uphold me with a willing spirit.”

What?

David sometimes lacked a willing spirit to follow God?

David, who wrote the most beautiful prayers and praise to God in Psalms, at times lacked a willing spirit?

We know he did because he messed up.

Royally.

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Do you lack a willing spirit?

A willing spirit to follow what God wants you to do?

Ask Him to help you.

Ask God to uphold you with a willing spirit.

Means you want Him to fill you up with His power, keeping you firmly planted in what is right and good.

Before you do anything else, ask Him.

Ask God for a fresh infusion of the Holy Spirit.

Ask God to restore the joy of your salvation.

David, a man after God’s own heart, knew when he needed God’s intervention.

And so do you.

Sounds like a plan to me.

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Horribly Disappointed

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Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. Zechariah 9:12

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When you are horribly disappointed at something in life…

When there is not a thing you can do about it…

What then?

What is your response?

Wallow in self pity, relishing the mood of despair hanging over your head?

While that might be fun for a moment, it will send your mood straight into the toilet.

There is a better way.

I like to make a list.

A list of my blessings.

I try to keep it updated, but I admit, I do a horrid job at best.

Alternatively, you can also compare your bleak disappointment to something even worse.

That definitely puts things into perspective.

 The point is this: switch your focus to the precious things God has given you.

Like that list of blessings we all should have somewhere.

Or encouragement whispered to you from your dear friend or spouse.

Because, when you focus on the blessings instead of the disappointment, you will pass God’s test with flying colors.

And your mood will stay out of the toilet.

In fact, you’ll be quite pleasant.

Respond to life with grace.

Your example will be a stepping stone to God Himself.

A stepping stone to God instead of a stumbling block to Satan.

So, what will your next disappointment turn into…?

Life, or death?

Photos by Casey Fyfe & Matthew Smith on Unsplash

Rising From the Dead

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I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

Not literally rising from the dead.

I’m talking about spirit crushed, gut wrenching grief.

When you are overcome with grief from the very depths of your soul and you cry until you cannot cry anymore.

That kind of dead.

Times like those are when you feel like dying yourself.

Life really doesn’t matter anymore.

What’s the point of living when life is so gut wrenchingly painful?

Or maybe you’re dead in other ways: spiritually, emotionally, selfishly, or you’ve become callous towards life.

What’s a person to do to gain freedom from these prisons?

Turn to Jesus for healing.

Restoration.

Sounds simple enough.

But here’s the catch: you must reach out to Him.

He gives us free choice.

We can choose Him or not.

God wants to free us from a life or season of pain, but we have to reach out our hand to His forgiveness and love.

His healing touch.

Remember the man in the Bible with the withered up hand?

Jesus healed him.

But first the man had to stretch out his hand.

The man had to take the initiative.

He had to choose to obey.

Jesus said, “Stretch out your hand”.

As soon as the man did that, Jesus healed him.

Set him free.

So we have a choice.

Do we want to rise from the dead things in our life or not?

Do you want Jesus to fling wide the doors of your prison walls?

Just ask.

Be willing to do the work of whatever He asks of you.

And He will be faithful to heal all of your wounds.

How fast?

Not sure.

But I can promise you God will be faithful to you.

He’s done that with me over and over.

Sometimes I walk right back into those prisons.

Willingly.

Stupidly.

But every time I ask, every time…God shows up and frees me.

Every time.

Photos by Eric Ward, James Cousins, & Floreser on Unsplash

Redemption

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He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. Psalm 62:6

Always knew God would redeem us.

He promised He would.

And He always keeps His word.

But standing back and watching His plan unfold is different.

It’s breathtaking.

Leaves me speechless.

And I am part of His plan.

So is my beloved.

How incredible it is to know God is using us for His plan.

Literally the hands and feet of Jesus.

I’m struck with just how much God cares about us.

How can we know we are in His thoughts?

Details. Notice them. Pay attention.

The people He brings into your life.  Even the ones with you for a moment.

The EMS man, who rushes into your house, actually knows your family well.

Precious friends who pray for you and can’t wait to see your new diamond.

Circumstances He redeems or turns around and uses for good.

The job that was taken from you because God had a far superior plan in mind.

The cozy life that was stripped away causing you to depend only on God.

Does He lead you down wild paths that lead to nothing?

Nope.  There’s a reason behind His plan.

And awful circumstances?  He turns the ashes into new life.

Sitting here on the other side, I can simply attest to God’s goodness.

He turns sadness into joy.

How?  You must turn everything over to Him.

Trust that He will redeem you in His perfect timing.

I know He will.

It’s not easy, but there’s just nothing else you can do.

No possible way you can shoulder things on your own.

Let God take over and show you His redemption.

Then sit back and become part of the story.

Part of His plan.

Your ashes will turn into a beautiful story.

Like mine.

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Photos by Skull Kat, Nagesh Badu, & Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash

Choose to Move On

Published on by amylinnea7 Comments

Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8

Disappointment is real, isn’t it?

Life isn’t always a bed of roses.

Heck, roses have thorns, but they sure smell wonderful, so it is a mixed bag at best.

Life, that is.

Here’s the bottom line:  since we are guaranteed to be faced with multiple disappointments on a daily basis, how should we react?

Have a plan.  They are going to happen.

Often.

Regularly.

So – have a plan.  That’s half the battle.

Is it ok to be disappointed?

Sure. Absolutely.

It’s a real emotion. But don’t dwell on it.

What?

But that’s fun. It’s fun to feel sorry for myself.

I hear you, but don’t do it.

Feel disappointment, but then let it go.

Give it to God. Talk to Him.

Return to that daily constant conversation and tell Him your trouble.

Ask Him to take it and purpose your thoughts to return to the next task at hand.

When the disappointment sneaks back into your brain, throw it out and think about something great.

Go back to that list of details/blessings you created.

Remind yourself of how great your life really is.

The danger with disappointment is dwelling on it.

When your mind is consumed with it, your emotions fall to the pit and you become a mess.

Everything else in life is suddenly colored in a negative light.

Your entire life is now in the toilet.

Once you fall into the pit of despair, it’s hard to climb out.

It’s the difference of hours vs. moments.

Hours of crying and feeling awful vs. a mere moment of disappointment and moving on.

It’s ok to be disappointed.

It will happen.  So, have a plan.

Purpose to change your thoughts to God.

Talk to Him about it and ask Him to help you.

Move on.

He has your back, so take your peace.

Whether it’s a broken dish, a child’s bad attitude, or a failed marriage, God has it covered.

He holds your future, so live in peace.

The price of despair isn’t worth the moments of self pity.

Trust me.  I know.

Photos by Masako Ishida maco-nonch★R, Stephanie Mulrooney, & Anastasia Zhenina on Unsplash

God Himself Will Restore You

Published on by amylinnea15 Comments

God Himself will restore you. 1Peter 5:10

Really?

God, who created all things, will personally restore me?  He cares that much about me?

Yes, and more than we could possibly know.

We are in His thoughts.  He knows the number of hairs on our head.

When our lives are turned upside down…..when we don’t know where to turn as life gets messy…..when a pressing issue rears it’s ugly head, God will reach down, scoop us up into His arms, and restore us.  

Make us whole. Return us to a state of regeneration.  Health.

God helps correct our mis-steps and will restore us if we are relying on Him.

If we act before we are certain we have heard from Him, when we are faithful still, He will give us the help we need to turn back.

What?

I thought if we daily submitted ourselves, we would not make any wrong turns.

I know, but we are human.  Not perfect, remember?

The key is to keep submitting yourself, your time, your life to God.  

Because when you mess up, and you will again and again, God will be faithful to always guide you back to His ways.

How will He do that?  Impossible to know.

It’s just a promise we can cling to.

 Will we look the same when he’s done?

Nope.

When God restores, He makes all things new. In other words, even better.

So, not only does God promise to Himself restore us, but He will make all things new.

When you are in the pit of despair, cling to that promise. It will be alright.  

God has your back. Not only that, but He will bring you back to life.

Abundant life.

Sounds great, so how does a person grab onto this promise?

Surrender.  Trust.

Bow before the Almighty God and ask Him to redeem you and lead you into life everlasting.

When you surrender your will to Him, placing your gut level trust into His hands, He will be faithful to restore you.

Incredible.

Photos by Aaron Burden, Francesco Gallarotti, & Ben White on Unsplash