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.
Like the prodigal son’s father watched every day for the return of his wayward son, God watches for your arrival.
For your restoration.
If you are completely lost, when you decide to return to God, He’ll scoop you up the second He sees you, forgiving you completely.
If you are wandering away, stepping off into self-focus, not relying on Him, the moment you decide to return life’s burdens to Him, He’ll take them back in an instant.
Because He’s always watching for you.
Watching out for you as you walk with Him, guiding you around the rocks so you don’t stub your toe.
Showing you which path to take, when the path splits in two.
And protecting you with His umbrella when the dark storms arrive.
He’s also watching for you when your choices take you apart from Him.
When you’re determined to make it all on your own.
When you selfishly trudge on alone, thinking the entire world is against you.
It’s not, and God’s available to give you His peace.
He longs to have a relationship with you.
What are you waiting for?
God, who created you and all things, craves a relationship with you.
He can make all things new.
He can cross your every t and dot your every i.
Effortlessly.
Why wait?
Whenever you are ready, God will be there.
Always.
Because He is forever watching for you, His precious child, to return completely unto Him.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6
God made us human.
Flesh.
And when we have not recognized the need for our Savior, we live according to the flesh.
Ourselves.
Satisfying our every “need”.
Romans says when we set our mind on ourselves, it leads to death.
Death.
Literally the opposite of life.
But when we have recognized our desperate need for God, giving ourselves over to Him, we begin to live according to the Spirit.
That means life.
As Christians, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, helping us to live according to God’s will and plans.
We set our minds on the things of the Spirit.
And that, my friends, brings life and peace. Ahhhh.
But is it possible to choose death instead while living within the Spirit?
Yes, because we are human.
God allows us to make our own choices, choosing between living in the flesh or the Spirit.
It’s easy to tell if you are choosing to live within the Spirit.
Are your words producing life and peace or death?
Are your actions reflecting life or death?
Do your decisions cause others to recoil in death or thrive within life?
Setting one’s mind is critical, God says so.
Means you purposely align yourself to God’s ways through His Holy Spirit.
It’s a choice.
And then it’s a choice to stay fixed on God.
Choose to set your mind on God.
Ask Him to help you and His faithfulness will continually point you to life.
“Sir,” asked the demon who was tiny but had a large voice.
“What do YOU want,” demanded the demon in charge whose name escapes me.
“I found someone I can dominate. I’m sure of it. Look.” The tiny demon with the large voice pointed at a man sitting in a comfy chair. The man was starring at his phone. Life swirled around him unnoticed.
“Fine. He’s practically lost anyway. Go,” shouted the demon in charge whose name escapes me.
Demon #2, who was tiny but had a large voice, shrank away, excited to show the demon in charge his moves. He had just learned some new tactics. This man seemed like the perfect opportunity.
Demon #2 crept up to the man who was starring at his phone while life swirled around without him.
Whispering into his ear, demon #2 reminded the man of his failures, disappointments, and poor life choices. Causing the man to become uncomfortable, he suggested a snack even though the man had recently eaten.
The man shuffled to the refrigerator, pulling out some food. Balancing the food with his hands and phone, which he never put down, demon #2 startled the boy who immediately began running into the kitchen, knocking into the man. Food went everywhere. The phone went flying.
The man who usually starred at his phone while life swirled around him found himself yelling at the boy. The boy, who was only four and looked up to the man, began to cry. Instead of comforting his son, the man tried to find his phone. Finding it under the table, the man picked it up and gasped. The screen was broken.
The man who usually starred at his phone while life swirled around him swore as he began cleaning up the mess from the boy.
After cleaning up the mess, the man sank back into his chair, looking at his phone. Thankfully, he realized it really wasn’t broken at all. It was merely scratched. All was well. Demon #2 suggested the man did not need to apologize for yelling at his son. After all, his son was in the wrong!
The man sighed, agreeing with demon #2. Forgetting all about his snack, the man settled his focus once again onto his phone. Life continued to swirl around without him.
Demon #2 found the boy crying in his room. All alone, demon #2 began to whisper lies, confirming the thoughts the boy was having. “Your dad doesn’t really love you. He cares more about his phone than you. He ignores you because you’re boring. You’re not worth his time. You’re so clumsy anyway. You should stay away from him.” The boy sniffled as he listened to the lies from demon #2.
Checking back in on the family later, the woman wondered aloud to the man why the boy was so upset. The man didn’t have any idea, although he barely heard her as he was still on his phone while life swirled around without him. The woman left the room wondering what she had done to the man. The boy continued to feel unloved. The man continued watching his phone as life swirled around without him.
Demon #2 reported back to the demon in charge, whose name escapes me. “Sir,” began demon #2 who was tiny but had a large voice. “I influenced not only the man, confirming his previous believed lies, but I successfully planted new lies into the boy and woman, confirming them with actions from the man.”
Putting down his paper, the demon in charge whose name escapes me, looked up in surprise. “Well, that’s more like it,” he replied. “Maybe you’ll work out down here after all.”
Grinning, the tiny demon with a large voice said, “Yes, sir! Looking forward to more torment, sir!”
Demon #2, the tiny demon with a large voice, revisited that family many times. Over the years, he repeated the unloving lies into the boy, who was now becoming a man. This was almost too easy…
Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. Psalm 119:133
I know, you have control over your reactions, but not over the actions or responses of others.
You have no control how other people will react or sometimes not even care.
You also have no control over circumstances thrown your way.
Sickness, job loss, inflation, an inconsiderate spouse, ungrateful children, the threat of war.
You can only control your reaction.
What does your flesh immediately do when faced with any of that ugliness?
Become wrapped in self-pity as unloving or fear try to walk back into your mind?
Seems justified, yes, but that choice brings darkness.
Walks you away from God and His love for you.
What if instead, you began to thank God for walking with you, for providing you a continued walk with His peace?
And what if you continued to thank God for your circumstances and His provision for all things we pray?
You’d be slapping the devil in the face for sure.
I don’t know what you think, but to me, when we step out in faith while slammed by life outside our control, there’s a bigger hallelujah sung behind us.
Bigger than when we are simply obeying God through flowery, sun-shiney days.
When we choose to ignore our pity party, celebrating God’s goodness instead, the sting sent the devil’s way is a little more obvious to him.
A little more painful. A wee bit more disappointing.
The devil knows you, knows your weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
Why give him a good time instead of you?
Give him a bad time. An absolutely horrid time.
Keep showing him Who is boss over you. And it’s not him.
While life is often completely unfair, remember God is always kind and just to you.
He’s always with you no matter your attitude. And that’s not fair to God.
So resolve to give the devil a hard time by ignoring your fleshly cries, filling yourself up with God instead.
In return your days and nights will be even better.
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. Hebrews 3:1
What do you measure your life with?
The yardstick of worldly success, fame, or money?
The ruler of putting yourself first?
Counting your possessions, 401k statement or stock market?
Or just God?
When we measure our life, we decide how happy we are or not.
How content we are, how peaceful, or fearful we have become.
Your focus equals your measuring stick.
What you focus on helps determine your level of contentment.
Take your family for example. They are needy, sometimes too much so, and you find yourself in a bad mood with the work load.
You are focusing on what you are unable to do at that moment while stuck helping others.
Focus instead on God and what He has you doing at this moment. Make your work an offering to Him.
Changes your mood.
God must be our first focus, our second, our third, and on and on it goes.
When you change your perspective, your measuring stick disappears.
When you focus on knowing God is always with you, walking beside you every moment, life suddenly brightens.
Remembering your inclusion into the family of God Himself yields the ultimate acceptance.
You don’t need the world’s love. It’s fleeting anyway.
God allows us wonderful times here on earth, but when you focus on those, disappointment is right around the corner.
Focus on God and His love for you.
When you put Him first in all things, you’ll begin to depend upon Him more and more.
The demon in charge, whose name escapes me, is upset.
He’s a champion for the dark side.
Here is his rant.
I am discouraged. First the overturn of Roe vs Wade.
Good grief, it was so utterly easy deceiving Americans for almost 50 years now.
Guess we relaxed our efforts too much, thinking the law would never change.
Who would have thought those Christian prayers would ever really help?
I sure didn’t. Especially not after this long.
Time to work on the states. Surely most will keep choosing death. They think it’s a choice, but I know the truth.
What? The court decided coaches can now pray after a public school game?
On the field? In public? Like out in the open? Are they crazy?
Need to ramp up the violence. Let’s concentrate on the cities with less police protection.
What about the Christians? I’m not worried. I know how to get them.
Let’s take him over there.
I know him well. He looks spiritual, but underneath, he’s a mess.
He’s full of self-pity, one of my favorites. Tends to affect him every night about 7pm.
Becomes morose thinking of his family. I know how to stoke that.
Sometimes, he doesn’t crumble under the lies, because he prays, bringing the power of God into the room.
Not tonight. I got this.
Look – he’s thinking of his family. I’m going to plant a doubt, telling him they don’t care a whit about him.
Neither does his wife. Good. He’s quite upset. Perfect.
Let’s keep going, as this is quite fun.
I’ll whisper, ‘You’re nothing. You’re old and it’s almost over anyway, so what does it matter…’
Haha, good. He bought it. Closed his eyes and tried to escape.
He’s done for the night. Who else can I torment? Time’s wasting.
Now we will peak into his evening as the demon in charge, whose name escapes me, determines the next assignment.
“Who’s got her?” shouted the demon in charge, whose name escapes me.
“I have her, sir,” answered a tiny demon with a large voice.
“Excellent, #2”, replied the demon in charge, whose name escapes me.
“Want me to apply the usual tools, sir?” asked the tiny demon with the large voice.
“Yes, #2. Full report when you are done,” answered the demon in charge, whose name escapes me.
Running to the girl, demon #2 assessed the situation.
He saw her sitting at the table, heads in her hands. It was late. He saw no one else up.
“Fabulous!! She’s staying up past her children and husband. She’s all alone, ready for my thoughts,” declared demon #2 with a large voice, although he whispered not wanting to disturb her.
Whispering into her head, demon #2 said, “You’re right. No one ever cares. Certainly not your family. They couldn’t care less about you. You might as well leave. Would they even notice your absence? They could live totally fine without you. You are not needed. You are useless. You are stupid.”
Sitting back, demon #2 witnessed her reaction. While the words began to take affect, she started to cry. Confirming the lies from demon #2, she agreed with his words, blowing her nose from the tears, which were beginning to flow from her weepy eyes.
The angels were stirred. Immediately, they circled her, knowing her heart and loyalty to God. They began to whisper God’s truth, combating every lie from demon #2.
Demon #2 sat up, scared. “Crap, they are negating my lies.” Immediately, he began to whisper more lies into her head.
Suddenly, the girl was aware of two trains of thoughts entering her head: the angels and demon #2.
Burring her face into her hands, demon #2 thought he had won. He started to celebrate, a smile erupting on his ugly face.
All of a sudden, the girl yelled, “NO.” She began agreeing with the angels, opening her bible to read. Her lips declared the name above all names, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”
Demon #2 shrank back in fear, recoiling from that powerful name.
Immediately, he ran back to his nest, more comfortable among the evil comrades.
“Back so soon?” asked the demon in charge, whose name escapes me. That demon was certain of demon #2’s triumph.
Shuttering in fear, demon #2 replied, “Sir, she was helped by the angels from On High. They came and I didn’t know what to do. She began agreeing with them. And sir…she even declared that name. Jesus.”
“NOOOO,” cried the demon in charge, whose name escapes me. “Next time, I will personally accompany you. We must not let that girl out of our grip. She’s too important. Her mission from God MUST be accosted no matter what. Do you understand me?” He roared in anger.
And that ends our story. Demon #2 went on to worry about the next assignment. The demon in charge, whose name escapes me, went on a giant rant for a long time, certain to pull out all stops the next time he could encounter the girl.
The girl remained in her home, unaware, or partly aware of the spiritual battle swirling around her. Knowing she needed to remain whole, she began to pray deep in her heart, wanting to remain always loyal to Him, deciding from then on to listen closely only to His voice.
Are you loyal to Him? What might the dark side say to you when visiting your thoughts? Will you choose to believe God’s truth today and always?
I’ve always loved planting flowers, but I’m talking food.
Growing your own food. Like actually growing literal food.
We grew some tomatoes and jalapeño peppers last year.
While that was fun, this year’s garden is even funner. 😉
We have acorn squash trying to spread their vines over everything else.
Carrot seeds looking lovely, their soft green tops reaching high above the soil.
Watermelon, pumpkins, cucumbers, herbs, and a whole box of flower seeds!
Tomato plants sprouting up from throwing old tomatoes into the garden soil last fall.
We won’t discuss our sad strawberry plants, yielding a total of 3 strawberries so far.
You get the point. We have 96 square feet of growing goodness. I can’t wait.
How’s your garden? Need to yank some weeds? Redirect your plans back to God?
We all have seeds cast our direction, that with the right ingredients, can take root.
Believing a lie, confirming it with situations, watering it with self-pity. That root would be hard to yank.
Yet, immediately refusing a lie planted in your head, would remove it instantly.
Fertilizing your garden with God’s truth and wisdom would then create a garden where sin’s seeds fail to take root. Or would at least take more effort.
Is your garden full of God’s truth? Are you able to yank these weeds easily?
Gardens like that regularly see fruit. Sometimes there’s a drought, but it’s not because the soil is ugly.
Or is your garden soil so full of weeds, truth can hardly begin to grow?
Squash and cucumber vines love to grasp anything they can, clinging to the next plant in their path.
We must be diligent to shape the vines, freeing the plants they wish to cling.
Like those vines, we must be careful to keep our garden free from not only weeds, but things in our life that want to choke out everything else. Even the good things.
Time to put on your gardening gloves, tie that sun hat around your neck, and dig into the dirt.
Gardens only flourish with purpose. And your garden, hidden within your heart, will only flourish with God.
Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. Psalm 25:12
Christianity is really very simple.
We are nothing without God.
Less than nothing.
Sinful, destined to live forever apart from God.
God created us. Loving us so much, He threw us a lifeline.
Jesus died in our place.
When we believe in this free gift of salvation, God is forevermore with us.
Abiding literally in us.
That’s the simple part.
When we choose God, He resides within our heart.
With God in us, why do we ever allow worry to peek out?
God will take care of it.
With God in us, why do we nurse our fears?
God is bigger than any fear and He is taking care of everything.
If we really trust that God is dwelling within us, His power is a billion trillion quadrillion times more than any stupid fear, doubt, or worry.
Remind yourself God is here.
God is here and He is bigger than anything you face.
With Him by your side, you can be filled with His perfect peace as you face whatever comes your way.
How dare we become so wrapped up with ourselves, we forget Him?
Repent and move forward with your complete trust in Almighty God.
Become so dependent on Him your mind is trained to immediately squelch fear with faith.
Going forward, replace fear with trust.
Replace unnecessary stress with peace.
Psalm 25 reminds us God will instruct us when we fear Him.
Will you fear Him, trusting His plan for your life?
Thank you, God, for saving us not only for eternity, but saving us from ourselves. We are nothing without you. Continue to remind us of your awesome presence constantly residing within us. With You continually on our mind, we can remain within your perfect peace as you instruct us in the way You choose for us. Amen.
Moms are the most underpaid, under acknowledged, under revered bunch.
Not only do we grow humans from within our bodies, we grow them in our hearts.
Children, whether natural or adopted, are extensions of ourselves.
We ache when they cry. We rejoice when they laugh. We cry when they fail.
I can remember my eldest. I had pre-eclampsia, so my feet were puff balls.
Literally swollen and blue if I stood too long, which means like a few seconds.
He was 2 weeks late and I labored all day and night for him.
Having no drugs, I can remember referencing Eve’s sin while in the throes of labor pains.
But when he was born, it was literally all worth it. The pain evaporated.
Motherhood is like that. Sacrifice. Emptying of ourselves for another.
There is no relationship like it.
When these humans become adults, we let them go. Off into the world, exploring for themselves under the protection of their childhood.
It’s no easier, folks. My eldest recently married the love of his life. Wasn’t there as they privately wed before a judge.
I love them so much, but it hurt not attending their wedding.
But it’s their choice. Sigh.
As mothers, we must do our very best. We continually sacrifice for them, whether it’s when they are small or grown.
Mothers are always there for their children. Not letting attitudes pass, but we are their constant.
Yes, we face multiple disappointments. But we are still there. A constant in their life like God is for us.
What an honor. Thank you God, for allowing us to be your hands and feet to others.
Help us to navigate the waters of motherhood as you would want us to act.
Fill in our cuts and bruises, which seem to reopen with a child’s actions.
Only with Your constant presence may we even begin to excel at this, the toughest job in the world.
For Mother’s Day, we mothers choose to honor God, our loving, constant help.
God, who gives us His strength, when ours is never enough.
God, who gives us His love, when ours is all used up.
God, who gives us His peace, when ours last nerve has been clearly trampled.
God, who hears our every complaint and joy, yet never chooses to leave our side.
God is our constant. Our everything. He will always be your faithful companion as you navigate the calm or troubled waters of motherhood. Give Him your family again today. He will make you a happier mother today.
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8
When God goes before us, He knows before we do.
He sees things before we do.
He feels things before we do.
He literally clears the path before us.
Picture a shepherd or a warrior.
Taking their weapon, they sweep the weeds, creating a path for you.
Scouting their eyes, they notice dangers.
They note possible wild animals.
Depressions in the earth.
Approaching weather.
Even good things, they notice.
Then He runs back to you, walking by your side.
He’s your protector.
Your shield.
He’s your dad.
Never leaving.
Always available.
For your safety and wellbeing.
How can I ever be afraid or discouraged with God going before me?
Facing an uncomfortable situation?
Picture God already going before you, literally clearing your path.
Picture Him running back to walk with you every step of the way.
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:15
Is it?
Is your life wonderful?
George Bailey’s life was.
But He didn’t see it.
All he saw was what he didn’t have.
He chose to view life through that lens.
The lens of what he didn’t have instead of what he possessed.
He had little material wealth.
His job was stressful as a loan officer in a small town, riding through the depression and WWII.
Yet through his control and influence, he seemed to hold things together.
Until his Uncle Billy, who lost the $8,000 on Christmas Eve, sent George over the edge.
Because he viewed his life considering his many problems, he was filled with despair when control slipped through his fingers.
God proceeded to teach him a lesson by way of his guardian angel Clarance.
George began walking through his town as if he had never been born.
That messed with him as he no longer saw love by giving or receiving it.
No wife, children, job, or legacy.
Even his friends no longer knew him.
When George saw all of this, he realized what was truly important, beyond the money crisis gripping his soul.
He had a precious family who loved him.
He had multiple friends.
He lived in a wonderful town.
And he mattered.
What lens do you look through to see your life?
Do you look past your blessings, gazing only upon your problems?
Or do you look past your problems, focusing instead on your blessings?
Guessing we won’t wake up tomorrow, looking at our life as if we never were.
Also guessing we won’t have a dream tonight that, like Scrooge, takes us into our past, present, and future dependent upon our present choices.
But we can decide to repurpose our new year, looking to God for our strength, wisdom, and peace.
We can walk in George’s shoes, realizing how material possessions simply do not matter when love is absent.
We can remind ourselves how every moment in our lives is placed by God.
And that we matter to not only God, but dozens, if not hundreds of other people.
This new year, walk with your head held high.
Connect with others and in the process, you’ll connect others to Him.
It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to Himself. 2 Corinthians 4:13-14
It’s impossible.
But God.
Utterly unattainable.
But God.
Completely devastating.
But God.
Simply too much.
But God.
It’s like you’ve forgotten all about Him.
His power.
But God.
Two words with big meaning.
Heard this phrase years ago, don’t remember where.
Today, those words plopped back into my brain.
But God.
The first word is a conjunction – a coordinating conjunction if you care to know the type.
Connects words and phrases together.
One could use the conjunction and instead.
And God.
That works as we include God.
Not as powerful in my humble opinion.
But God shows me everything stops because God enters.
It’s all impossible, except for one variable: God.
Almost like you’ve forgotten the climax to the movie, or the surprised twist at the end.
By placing the phrase But God at the end of your story, there’s hope.
A future.
More to come.
And that future has the all powerful, all knowing Lord writing the end of your story.
Each situation, big or small, can include God.
But it’s up to you.
What words will you utter when faced with difficulties?
Why me?
Or –
But God.
Go ahead and ask God why He’s given you this trial.
But end your whispers with But God.
Ask Him to finish your story.
He has a beautiful ending, if you’ll only let Him enter in, bringing Himself in all His glory.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1
There is absolutely zero condemnation when you are His.
God’s.
When you have given your life to God, the world’s condemnation no longer sticks.
It’s no longer your identity.
You are covered, instead, by God Himself.
Chosen.
Loved.
Valuable.
Are you still living under your old identity?
Your old condemned self?
Why?
Whatever for?
Because it’s what you know.
Your old ways are safe.
Known.
When you face trials, you revert to old labels.
Because they are like old familiar blankets.
Wrapping up in self-pity feels normal.
Clothing yourself in anger feels justified.
When you choose to become God’s, you are changed.
Your identity becomes new.
Condemnation falls away.
Fear goes.
Anxiety flees.
But only if you choose to stay under the new identity from God.
The choice is yours.
Romans 8 reminds us God declares we have no condemnation when we are His.
But He gives us free will.
You can choose at anytime, to walk from under His wings.
Out from His identity for you.
Your old identity is out there.
Easily attainable and readily available.
But with it comes the usual fear, anxiety, and angst.
Because it also includes the absence of God’s peace.
Reaching for your old identity results from walking in the flesh.
In your own sinful self.
Romans 8 urges us to walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh.
Because when we walk with God according to His will, we are within His peace.
Not condemned.
Choose every day to walk with God.
Choose every day to refuse the pull of the flesh.
When you do, condemnation will fall away as God Himself remains.
He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:4
Adonai El Roi is the Hebrew term for “The God who sees me”.
Meaning this: God sees you.
God, who created all things, sees you.
You.
Little ole’ you.
Ever feel invisible?
I know you aren’t, but you might feel unseen.
Not cared for.
Unvalued.
Invisible.
You might be among the living, but feel dead inside.
When we do not feel valued, we feel dead.
Invisible.
But God sees you.
He sees all of you, the good, bad, and the ugly.
He sees your heart.
He sees your dreams.
He sees your ever hopeful anticipation and your extreme disappointments.
Is that enough?
Only if you allow Him to cover you.
Because He sees you.
Psalm 91:4 reminds us that “He will cover us with His feather and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
He covers you because He sees you and He cares to be your comfort.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8
Are you living in the authority of one whom God has saved?
Are you remembering God’s promises, pointing your very existence to Him?
Are you seeking God’s face for the souls of your family?
Are you asking God to show you how you should serve Him today?
Our eternal salvation is for later.
When we’re standing at the judgement seat of God.
But Jesus saved us for today.
He saved us to be His witness.
He chose us to spread His good news.
He uses us to be His hands and feet to those we meet.
Yes, God died to save us from our sins.
For eternal life praising His name.
But He also saved us from ourselves for today.
Today and tomorrow.
For the world.
The world needs to see your salvation and what that looks like.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29
Ever wonder why God takes it?
Our smelly stuff or sin, whatever you want to call it?
I bring it up, because it’s not His.
None of our smelly sin is His.
Never was, never will be.
Why does He choose to take it?
He is holy.
Pure.
Undefiled.
Author of all things.
Literally the Most High.
And yet He wants us.
Not only us, but our stuff.
Our messy lives.
Our problems.
Our very messed up selves.
He wants our unloving attitudes towards children who selfishly taunt us.
He wants our broken hearts, which yearn for uncomplicated stories.
He wants our problems, dripping with unforgiveness.
He wants all of us.
God, who is pure and void of any sin, wants us.
Unbelievable.
If you remember the Old Testament, there was attonment for sin.
God had rules.
But with Jesus, the transaction was paid.
And with that, God continues our relationship with Him.
Because He loves us.
He created us for love.
For relationship with Him.
I find it incredible that God, who is completely pure and undefiled, wants a relationship with us.
We, who bring complicated and messy problems to Him, are wanted by God.
He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. 2 Samuel 22:17-18
Insults, heard or implied.
Words that bring death.
When sitting near these toxic fumes, there’s not much we can do.
Especially when directed towards us.
They can explode out of nowhere.
Suddenly covering you with filth.
Covering you with filth you believe.
Covering you with lies you begin to agree with.
All from insults hurled towards you.
Like an arrow piercing your soul, words can carry death.
While they can carry death, the arrows don’t have to deliver death to you.
It’s your choice to accept the lies or not.
Your choice to keep the painful arrow stuck where it hit.
What is your other choice?
To yank it out, immediately forgiving the sender.
Impossible in your own strength.
Literally.
But that’s where God comes in for you.
When you ask God to cover you with His feathers, He will protect you.
Literally, He will.
Emotionally, and spiritually, He will cover you.
Protected by God, arrows will still come.
They will be hurled at you with frightening speed.
But – by choosing to ask God to keep you whole, you won’t absorb the arrow’s poison.
Sure, it will try to pierce your soul, spreading it’s toxic substance.
And until you are trained to immediately refuse with God’s help, it could hurt.
Even for awhile.
But every time you yank out the arrow, God’s peace will dispel the poison.
Even heal your wound.
But you must ask Him every single time.
And as you retrain your reactions to insults, God’s feathers will become stronger.
So strong, the arrows will fall away as they bump you.
Who are you going to believe?
An insulting arrow filled with someone’s jealousy, selfishness, or evil intention all filled with lies?
Or who God says that you are to Him?
Choose to remember Whose you are.
Choose to remember Who your Father is.
The One who desires to protect you from everything evil.
Humble yourself, and ask Him to protect you.
Protect your mind, body, soul, and spirit from anything not from Him.
Apart from God, we can do nothing, especially avoiding arrows filled with poison.
Psalm 121:7-8 reminds us that God will keep us from all evil.
He will even keep our lives.
Safe.
Secure.
Even more – He will keep our going out AND our coming back now and forever.
Amy Linnea 
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