Tag: plans

Our Christmas Gift

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For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Do you find it odd our entire world celebrates Jesus’ birth?

Our secular world who seeks to elevate themselves more often than not?

Sure, you could argue Jesus’ birth has morphed into Santa, presents, and reindeer.

But even Santa is based on Nicholas of Myra, a fourth century bishop who left gifts for poor children.

Maybe the world isn’t totally lost. Yet.

How can you help your friends and family see the baby Jesus instead this Christmas?

Through you. Your witness. Your focus.

Jesus is the reason for the season. Overused phrase, yes, but it’s so true.

When you think for just a moment how deeply God loves you…..

When you ponder why God sent Jesus to earth…..

When you stop and realize how desperately you need our Savior…

You’ll discover the true meaning of Christmas.

Jesus came to earth just for you.

God missed His relationship with you that much.

He missed you and desperately wants that relationship back.

He wants you to trust Him. To love Him. To realize how much you need Him.

Because His plans for you are so good. The very best.

And to communicate that love, God set Jesus’ birth in motion.

That’s how much He loves you. All of you.

Begin to replace the commercialism of Christmas with the celebration of Jesus.

God’s peace on earth will come to your corner.

Your “why” you celebrate will alter everything. Real peace and real joy for once.

Let’s replace all the trinkets nobody needs. The gifts people return. Events we feel compelled to attend.

Replace it all with an increased devotion to Jesus, thanking Him for His gift. Himself.

Rely on Him for your peace as you dwell on the love He has just for you.

Let your celebrations stem from this and all of the gifts, events, and chaos will become worship to God.

While the world has lost the focus of Christmas, let’s keep ours, shifting back our focus to God and His precious gift of Jesus for you and for me.

Photos by Tristan Maness, Max Beck, Matt Botsford, &  Alda González-Cuevas on Unsplash

When God Warns You

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When they [the wisemen] had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” Matthew 2:13

God has plans and warns us in advance.

God’s warning might be a soft whisper, a quickening in your spirit, or a word from another.

Or, God might warn you in a dream, specifically outlining your next move and why.

That’s how God warned Joseph after the wisemen left their visit with Jesus.

God knew Herod’s plans and warned Joseph to escape.

And Joseph obeyed.

Reminds me of a dream I once had.

Living in a ground level apartment, our bedroom had a sliding door.

I had it open with the screen locked for a nice breeze.

Dreamt someone was in our home, stealing whatever they wished.

Woke me up. I stared at the gently blowing curtain.

Getting out of bed, I knew I should shut and lock the door.

Pulling aside the curtain, I saw a man. An intruder.

His hand was on the other side, trying to open it.

He ran away as I immediately slammed the door shut, locking it.

Collapsing on the bed with fright, I thanked God for warning me in my dream.

Can you imagine if he hadn’t? We had an infant in our room. A two-year old next door.

But all was well. God had perfectly protected us.

In life we will have trials due to the world in which we live.

But rest assured God has plans for you.

And if His plans for you need to be protected, He will warn you.

God’s plan could include heartache as you witness to the world God’s grace, mercy and love while enduring what he allows.

It could also include death as many martyrs can attest.

As Joseph trusted God to lead his family, we can trust God to lead us, too.

Lead us, God, into what You have for us.

Protect us from the schemes of the enemy as You foil his plans.

And deepen our trust in You as we fully submit to Your plans for us again and again.

Photos by Tanya Barrow, Brooke Balentine, Inbal Malca, & David Ballew on Unsplash

Christmas Crazy

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You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

What is Christmas?

What is your initial reaction to the word?

Pressure? Joy? Anticipation?

I’m guessing you feel all three.

I’ve always LOVED Christmas, but my word.

Pressure to shop, wrap, and mail the perfect gifts.

Pressure to plan and host multiple large Christmas dinners.

Pressure to keep up traditions like making grandma’s cookies, gather everyone for Christmas Eve church, and find festive holiday wear.

And don’t forget that family photo. Or scheduling everything when kids have very busy schedules.

Ugh.

It’s too much, isn’t it?

Where did this all come from?

All the pressure to perform.

Pleasing people instead of pleasing God.

Christmas plans are not all bad.

In fact, they’re mostly amazing. They’re purposeful. Full of future memories.

Activities, presents, baking, and creating memories are not what’s bad.

Those things become sour when you remove your focus from God to the season’s needs instead.

When you shift your focus from the baby in the manger to the gifts under the tree. Or the lack of gifts under the tree.

If you recognize that sour feeling start to bubble up, it’s time to prioritize your super long and detailed list.

Start by asking God what He wants for you this Christmas.

Think about your gift list, but don’t obsess.

Bake some cookies, but sneak some in from a friend or, gasp, a mix.

Embrace your new holiday meal of lovingly baked premade lasagna or chili from the crockpot.

Do you even remember each gift from your childhood?

Nope. Your kids won’t either.

Memories are created when surrounded by love and family.

If you focus too hard on making everything perfect, the memories might be soured by your attitude. Or lack of joy.

Christmas is a time for joy.

Joy for our Savior’s precious birth.

And joy from our precious families.

When Jesus was born, all he had was his family.

We don’t need all the stuff in order to make Christmas memorable.

All we need is family and Joy to the World the Lord has come.

Really ponder what God has done for us by sending Jesus into our world.

Nothing else even matters.

Photos by David Beale, Dan Kiefer, Josh Boot, & Bruno Martins 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

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

All We Need

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Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,

Now scornfully surrounded, with thorns thine only crown;

O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was thine!

Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call thee mine.

What language shall I borrow to thank thee, dearest friend?

For this thy dying sorrow, thy pity without end?

O make me thine forever, and should I fainting be,

Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to thee.

Be near when I am dying, O show thy Cross to me!

And, for my succor flying, come, Lord, to set me free.

These eyes, new faith receiving, from thee shall never move;

For he who dies believing, dies safely in thy love.

—————

This hymn, written about 1300 years ago is so familiar during Holy Week.

The monk who penned these words focused on the depths of Jesus’ love for us.

The love Jesus displayed on the cross is unlike anything ever witnessed before or since.

His willingness to give Himself for us, His beloved, shows how deep His love ran and still does.

Jesus has done everything possible to bring us to Himself forever.

He made atonement for our sinful selves, bridging the gap forever.

He came to earth, died for our sins, and rose again.

How can we not respond?

Give Him your love.

Give Him your life.

Give Him your whole self.

Unbelievably, He gave all of Himself for you. For me.

As we reflect on His sacrifice for us, may we long for more of Him.

May it be our joy to call Him mine.

May we never outlive our love for Him.

May our eyes never stop seeking His perfect plans for our lives.

And may our faith ever increase as we accept His love and sacrifice for our continual sinning selves.

Jesus, we are not worthy of you. We are more than grateful of what you did for us on the cross.

We give you our hearts afresh today.

Renew us and free us from the prisons we create.

And one day may our death find us believing, safely in Your love.

Photos by Thanti Riess, Samuel McGarrigle, Pisit Heng, & Patrick Fore on Unsplash

Your Choice

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When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Exodus 3:4

Moses was going about his day.

It was any normal day, aside from the fact there was an unusual burning bush.

The bush was on fire, yet it was not changing. Not consumed by the fire.

It was literally just a bush on fire.

Moses noticed the bush.

Then he stopped and made a choice to approach the bush, investigating further.

God was the flame on the bush.

He was there waiting for Moses.

What if Moses had merely glanced at this phenomenon, continuing instead on his way?

Verse 4 says God revealed Himself after Moses chose to investigate further.

It says when Moses turned aside, then God revealed Himself.

Is God waiting for you in some way?

Are you walking towards God, asking Him to reveal the plans He has for you?

Might require you to walk towards it. To make a choice.

God always gives us a choice.

To recognize our sinful ways, asking God to save us.

To fling off our old destructive patterns, submitting to God instead.

To walk with God every step of the way, sometimes doing things we never thought we could.

God has plans for you, for me.

They might not look like you think they should.

But when God shows up, stop and notice.

That’s what Moses did, but I’m not convinced he knew right away it was God.

Maybe his spirit begged him to investigate.

Or maybe he was naturally curious as God’s creation.

But Moses stopped and turned towards it.

And when he did, God revealed Himself to Moses.

Seek God and walk towards deep in your soul what you know you should do.

Apologize to who you need to.

Speak words of life to those that need it.

And with your whole self, ask God to fill every part with Himself.

Ask Him to help you notice what He asks of you this day.

And when you do, He will faithfully reveal Himself to you, just like He did so many years ago.

Photos by Ndumiso Silindza, Ankhesenamun, Traolách Conboy, & Joel Muniz on Unsplash

Still Good

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As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore. Psalm 125:2

Even if, God is still good.

Even if my daughter has cancer, God is still good.

Even if my family looks different than what I planned, God is still good.

Even if holidays are not what I pictured, God is still good.

Even if our country elects the leader I don’t choose, God is still good.

Even if the world erupts in war, God is still good.

Even if I don’t look the way I wish, God is still good.

Even if my parents go their separate ways, God is still good.

How do I know our God is still good even if?

Because in the midst of it all, God holds all things in His hands.

He created all things.

The world and all it contains exists only because of Him.

And when humanity fell apart, He redeemed our broken world through His Son, Jesus.

Because He loves us.

Yes, He allows free choice, which is why there is sin.

And yes, He allows sin to affect us.

But rest assured, He still holds you in His hands.

In fact, He surrounds you with His perfect peace when you surrender it all to Him.

He has plans just for you.

So even if the worst happens, God is still good.

Always and forevermore.

Photos by Jeremy Bishop, Ales Krivec, Steve Carter, & Yannick Pulver on Unsplash

I Am Yours, God

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Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24

You know my heart, Lord.

You created it.

You fashioned me in every way.

My talents.

My hopes.

My dreams – all of them are from You.

I want to know You more.

I want to trust You with all that I am.

The moment I wake, may You be on my mind.

When I close my eyes at night, may my thoughts remain on You.

You have my best in mind.

You created me for a higher purpose.

Reveal Your plans to me, O God.

May I recognize Your divine appointments.

May I minister Your peace to those around me.

May I comfort those who are sad.

May I rejoice with those who share.

May I pray with those who need Your touch.

And may I be a living extension of You.

Photos by Rula Sibai, Annie Spratt, Nong, & Gary Yost on Unsplash

Casting Vision

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I pray the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power, and dominion. Ephesians 1:18-22

How do you see valleys in your life?

How do you view circumstances you wish were different?

Strained relationships you wish were closer?

Undelivered dreams or plans you thought were from God?

What if you reread Ephesians 1, applying it to your situation?

God has great plans for us.

Often we cannot see what they are, but Ephesians reminds us God has called us to a great hope.

To the riches of His inheritance to us.

And to dwell within His great power, which raised Jesus back to life.

What if you looked at the broken things in your life in light of God’s power?

Viewing them instead with eyes of hope, promise, and life?

Within our flesh, things can look pretty grim.

And sometimes they continue in that way, but God is always sovereign over all.

But – if you looked instead with heavenly eyes, circumstances and people would look different.

Human reasoning or God’s miraculous power?

Begin to live from the power God has for us.

See relationships healed with God’s strength.

Smile at the future knowing God is in complete control.

Look past your current circumstances, looking forward instead to what God has for you.

Walk with your head high as you contemplate God’s victory instead of casting your eyes downward in defeat.

Yes, God is over everything with complete control.

Yes, we don’t know what He plans with every little thing.

But you can rest assured He wants good things for us, His children.

Good things in our flesh may not always match up with the good He has for us.

But it doesn’t matter.

Because God is with us always.

He goes before us, behind us, and next to us, surrounding us with His peace, strength, and love.

Cast your vision on God’s hope, inheritance, and power.

As His voice becomes louder within, you’ll see life brighter and brighter, royally disappointing the devil along the way.

So instead of shrinking with fear, rejection, and lies, choose instead to shine with God’s hope and infinite power living inside of you.

Photos by Ran Berkovich, Denys Nevozhai, Bud Helisson, & Joel Muniz on Unsplash

Remembering His Faithfulness

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I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Psalm 77:11-12

Do you remember?

Do you ponder all God has done for you?

All He has done for others?

Better yet, do you keep a record?

A journal of all His faithfulness?

I have one. It’s not great as I admittedly forget to write things down. Regularly.

But I’m going to get better. Way better.

One could write volumes each day, couldn’t we?

If only we could see what God sees.

What He protects us from.

What our prayers do in heaven.

What plans He has for us.

How near each day He really is to us.

We’d be in utter awe.

Jaw on the ground type thing.

Psalm 77 begins with crying out to the Lord.

He is troubled. So troubled he cannot speak.

His mind works, though. Sound familiar?

He begins to ask himself if God’s steadfast love has forever ceased?

He then sets his mind on God.

He decides to focus on God instead of his present misery.

On God’s promises and faithfulness.

He determines to remember and ponder what God has faithfully done for him and others.

He reminds himself God was always there, going before. Preparing the way.

While we cannot see God’s literal footprints, imagine them.

Picture God walking with you, sitting with you, watching over you while you slumber.

God wants to be your first thought when you wake and your last before you sleep.

If we had a glimpse into the spiritual realm, we’d never have anything before God. Ever.

God’s authority is here. As a Christian, live within His sovereign authority.

Ask Him for eyes to see all He does for you.

And choose to remember God’s faithfulness to you today and always.

That reminds me of my book.

Yes, I wrote a book. So excited!!!

Actually, God wrote a book for me. It’s a DAILY devotional for women taken straight from my blogs. 365 devotions. WOW, right?

It’s called Trusting God with Every Breath. Subtitle of my blog.

It’s a tangible reminder of God’s faithfulness to me. Written evidence. Now that I think about it, I do record His faithfulness.

Book is due September 5th. Hard to believe, although I’ve been working on it for over a year now. So much work, but so rewarding!

Anyhow, God is good. Even in the times of “if”, He still is. He’s got you and He’s got me. What more could we ever need?

Photos by Gui França, Naassom Azevedo, Jonathan Borba, & Aaron Burden on Unsplash

——————————————————————————————————

My book! 🙂

Preorder on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Trusting-God-Every-Breath-Devotions/dp/1424566142/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=trusting+god+with+every+breath&qid=1689979878&sr=8-1

Local? Having a launch party on 9.10 @ Stories Coffee on 114/Davenport from 1-3! See you there!

More Than Able

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Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 4:20-21

Are you ready for God to work in your life?

He is.

He is more than ready.

Are you?

Are you willing to put in the work?

Meaning, set yourself aside so God can use you?

You might say yes, but do you understand the cost?

It could cost relationships that are dear to you.

It could bring you confusion at times when you fail to understand His plans.

And it could cost you your very life.

But God is able to do more than we could ever possibly think or imagine.

Imagine allowing Him to use you as He sees fit.

He has great plans for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that 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.

God’s perfect peace surrounds you when you are within His will.

When you suspend your personal desires for God’s instead.

His plans for you might include simply loving others who utterly dislike your existence.

You can remain peaceful, simply loving, not retorting anger for anger.

Or He might have you react in a kind way when every fiber of your being screams for justice.

God is more than able to provide you the strength only He can to fulfill the plans He has for you.

Big or small, the plans He has for you are so good.

Allow Him full access knowing He is able to do far more than we could possibly imagine.

Apart from God, we are one thing.

But working together with Him is another matter entirely.

Choose Him afresh.

Place your little life into His capable hands.

React how He wants you to react.

Love how He wants you to love.

And live how He wants you to live.

To Him be the glory for ever and ever, amen.

Photos by Marivi Pazos & Margaret Jaszowska on Unsplash

Gardens

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I’m so excited. We have a garden!

Ever plant one?

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.

Photos by Kelly Neil, Kenan Kitchen, Bonnie Kittle, Markus Spiske, & Zoe Schaeffer on Unsplash