Righteous Relationships with Susan Norris

Are you a victim of identity theft?

2012-01-27T02:04:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been in a store and witnessed a two year old on the floor kicking and screaming for his way while a mother looks on, horrified? Often someone older and wiser comes along with a sympathetic been-there-done-that smile and says, “It’s just a stage.”
Life is full of stages. We are all in one stage of life or another, or transitioning from one to another. You may be expecting your first child or sending your baby off to college. Perhaps, like me, you recently found yourself riding with a student driver and you're fearful of the day when he or she backs down the driveway alone. Maybe you moved into your dream house only to realize that you don’t know anyone around you. Are you in an extended season of singleness? Widowhood? Illness? Are you feeling kind of wobbly? Unstable? Kind of like your first time on roller skates?
Be aware. It’s times like these, when you’re most exposed, that the enemy will catch you off guard. He perches in the eaves, waiting for just the right opportunity to sneak in with his multilevel marketing scheme [John 10:10]. He’ll make you think his lie is truth and leave you empty-handed. It can happen. It’s spiritual identity theft.
Satan will use every method of technology and printed word he can find to tell you who you aren’t, thus defining who you are. And you’ll buy the lie hook, line and sinker. He is that good. He will be everywhere you turn—in the grocery store, the workplace, on the radio and television. Would you ever think of allowing a thief into your home? Of course not. But Satan will coerce you with his sly techniques, and you’ll invite him in without a second thought [2 Corinthians 11:3].
There is a way to beat him at his game; send him packing before he inflicts any damage. The Word of God is our sword [Ephesians 6:17]. When Satan begins spraying his lies like a water hose, stop him in his tracks with the truth [John 8:32]. When you resist him, he must flee [James 4:7]. He’s no match for Jesus. A mind saturated in the Word of God is better protection than any security system when it comes to identity theft.
It’s time to put Satan on notice. His days of identity theft are over.

Blessed Assurance

2012-01-26T03:32:00.000-08:00

Do you have life insurance? My Daddy is a life insurance salesman, as is my older brother, so I’ve heard about the reasons one needs to have life insurance my entire life. I’ve seen what happens to families who have it in place when tragedy strikes and the peace of mind it can bring them. When everything else in their world is out of control, at least their finances are secure. I’ve also seen the devastation that can take place in families that don’t have insurance, especially if the bread winner is the one who passes away. Some people wait until they are older to purchase life insurance and it is much more costly than if they’d gotten in when they were younger and didn’t have any medical conditions. Others simply don’t believe in it.
While life insurance provides for your loved ones after you die, the only assurance that will help you is the assurance that comes from having an intimate relationship with Jesus [Hebrews 10:22]. In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He is our only help and our only hope. There is no other form of estate planning that will care for life after death. As awful as it is to watch a family going through loss without insurance to provide for them, it is more awful to think of someone passing from this life to the next without the blessed assurance of Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Revelations 3:3 tells us Jesus will come like a thief when He returns, meaning no one will know when He’s coming. Because we do not know the hour or day of His return, we need not only to have our hearts ready, but we also need to work towards fulfilling the Great Commission [Matthew 28:18-20]. We aren’t called to be assurance sellers, but assurance givers. We have the gift of eternal life and it is our responsibility and call to share it. Who in your life needs to hear of the blessed assurance of Jesus? Don’t put off telling them any longer. The time is now.

Right On Time

2012-01-25T03:03:00.000-08:00

Do you wear a watch? So many people today have just forgone the idea of wearing a watch because they have come to rely upon their cellphone for the time. Either way, we like to know what time it is. Clocks are almost always posted in public buildings for us to check the time.
I am a watch girl. I like to have a watch on so with one quick glance at my wrist, I know what time it is. I also like to have clocks around my house for the same reason. A friend of mine gave me a beautiful clock for my office. It sits on my bookcase across from my desk so with a quick glance up I know what time it is. It also makes a ticking sound that can be heard in the quiet but can also be heard above my iPod. When she gave it to me she said "I know this ticks loudly, but it's on purpose. It will remind you to stay on God’s time, not yours."
Months ago the battery died in the clock and I just never got around to changing it. I was in my office last week praying through the things God has called me to and in particular, I was praying through the timing of everything. It was then I realized the ticking sound in my office was missing. I was no longer reminded to be on God’s time table, but I was trying to make things fall into place on my time table.
God’s ways are not ours and his thoughts are not ours [Isaiah 55:8]. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” The only way to be sure we’re doing what we’re called to do when we’re called to do it is to trust in the Lord completely; fully relying on His guidance and direction [Proverbs 3:5-6].
As I sit at my computer typing this message, I hear the ticking of the clock in the background reminding me the things God called me to do will be accomplished in His way but also in His time [Job 42:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:24].
Do you feel like you are striving to accomplish something and making no headway, like a hamster in a wheel? Pause and ask the Lord to reveal His plans for you [Jeremiah 29:11]. Once you’re certain He has called you to the task, then ask Him to reveal His timing. The Lord is seldom early, but He’s never late!

Forgive and Forget!

2012-01-24T03:18:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard the phrase “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me”? As a culture, we aren’t very forgiving people. We tend to forgive someone the first time around, but after that if they fail us again, we’re over it. We get the attitude of entitlement and the “you will NOT do that to me” and as one friend says “the gloves come off.”
Luke 17:3 says we’re to forgive those who repent. We’re not to keep score or hold grudges or smack them around, even if we think they deserve it. We are to forgive, period.
I love Peter. He is so impulsive and expressive, but he really does want to follow Jesus and be a good witness for Him. In fact, Peter wanted to make certain he had this forgiveness thing down, so he came right out and asked Jesus “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" [Matthew 18:21]. Peter wanted to know he was walking the line and doing what Jesus expected of him. He thought he was being rather generous when he offered to forgive his brother seven times. Can you imagine the look on Peter’s face when Jesus replied to him? “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” The King James translation says “Until seventy times seven.” That is four hundred ninety times. Jesus isn’t telling Peter to pull out a tablet and put a tick mark each time someone offends him until he reaches four hundred and ninety times and then be done with them. He is telling Peter, and us, to continuously forgive.
Over and over and over throughout Scripture we read of the forgiveness of God. Even as Christ as being crucified on a cross and mocked before men He said "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." [Luke 23:34].
When Jesus was asked to teach the disciples to pray, He taught them to say “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” [Matthew 6:12]. Luke recorded it in Luke 11:4 as “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.” We are basically saying to God “Use the same standard of forgiveness with me that I use with others.”
Fortunately for us, there is no limit to the forgiveness of the Lord. Psalm 103:12 tells us “as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” As God’s children, we are to forgive as He forgives, which is completely, keeping no record of wrongs [Ephesians 5:1-2].
Is there someone in your life you need to forgive today? Could it be yourself? There’s no greater time to throw away the record book than today.

You sound just like your Father.

2012-01-23T02:35:00.000-08:00

Are you a parent? If you are, maybe you can relate. On more than one occasion I’ve been correcting a child of mine or teaching them a lesson and when I open my mouth I swear my mother starts talking. The phrases, the tone, even the facial expressions take me back more years than I care to admit. My mother and I discussed this the other day through laughter. She has been an inspiration to me on so many levels, but especially when it comes to being a parent. I told her “Sometimes when I open my mouth you speak.”
After we hung up the phone, I couldn’t help but think about what I’d just said. Could the same be said about me and my heavenly Father? Can I say when I open my mouth to speak His words come out instead of mine. Proverbs 30:5 tells us “every word of God is flawless.” I wish I could say the same about my words, but sometimes they are smothered in flaws. King David must have struggled with some of the words that came out of his mouth too, because he penned a prayer to the Lord concerning his words. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” This should become our personal prayer on a daily basis.
If we are speaking in a way that is pleasing to the Lord and bringing Him glory, it isn’t by accident. We must be intentional in our word choice, tone, and the message we are attempting to convey to others. Only then will the words of our mouth be pleasing to Him. When we are willing to yield more than our thoughts and plans but also our words, the Lord will place His words in our mouth and we will become instruments of His goodness and grace [Isaiah 51:16]. Will you trust Him with your words? Can He trust you with His?

You're Priceless!

2012-01-20T02:34:00.000-08:00

What are you willing to spend money on? We all will cut corners to save money where we can, but there are some things we are willing to pay for, even if it's priced high because it is precious to us.
The value of anything is determined by the price someone is willing to pay. When my son, Sam, was in kindergarten, the art teacher wanted to raise funds to purchase new art supplies for the school. He had each of the kindergarten students make a clay bird ornament and paint it. Then he held an art show where the parents could come and purchase their child’s artwork. Each grade level made a different item and all of the items were displayed. I don’t remember what I ended up paying for that clay bird, but the school was able to purchase the art supplies needed. To this day, the bird ornament is very precious to me. It always has a special place on our Christmas tree because it is something my son made.
Christ determined your worth the day He died on the cross for you [John 3:16]. He placed a priceless price tag on you then He bought you with His own blood [1 Corinthians 6:19-20]. That is the highest currency possible.
Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you aren’t worth anything. To Jesus, you were worth everything and He paid the price in full. The value of anything is determined by the price someone is willing to pay and He paid everything for you.

Don't be a drama queen or king!

2012-01-19T03:18:00.000-08:00

Do you know any drama queens or drama kings? You know the type of person I’m talking about…everything is always over the top with them. If they aren’t feeling well, they aren’t sick, they’re going to die. If they have something good happen to them, they aren’t just happy but they’re ecstatic. They have very high highs and very low lows. They’re called drama queens or drama kings because their behavior is reflective of someone on stage overemphasizing a situation to get their point across.
Did you know there were drama queens and kings in scripture? Isaac’s son, Esau, is quite a drama king. He is big, burly and hairy. He is a man’s man. He loves the outdoors. He loves to hunt, but when he comes home from the hunt, the drama begins. I bet he could tell a story of the one that got away that would shame most fishermen and hunters of today.
In Genesis 25:29-34 we read of Esau coming in after a day of hunting. He finds his younger brother, Jacob, in the kitchen preparing a meal of lentil stew. Esau smells the stew and the drama begins. He demands the whole pot of stew his brother is preparing [Genesis 25:30 God’s Word translation]. He doesn’t just say he’s hungry and tired, but he says “I’m about to die….What good is my inheritance to me?” Well, if Esau is a drama king, Jacob is an opportunist and he uses Esau’s drama against him to gain what he wants. Jacob pushes the envelope demanding Esau to “swear on oath” that he is surrendering his birthright for a pot of stew.
Today the only time you ever seem to hear about birth order is when people are trying to label your personality type; however, it was a big deal in the Jewish faith in historic Israel. The firstborn male of any Jewish family had several rights and privileges not afforded the other children. “Primogeniture is the social custom of giving the firstborn son natural right to succeed his father as supreme head of the family.” This was like the passing of the crown from a king to his son. It came with power, fortune, and position. According to Deuteronomy 27:15-17 the firstborn son was labeled the principal heir, meaning he gained the majority of the father’s wealth, usually a double portion. While Esau flippantly agreed to the deal because he was hungry, Jacob held him to it at all costs.
We can easily see how Esau made a mistake. We may have even gone as far as to say we would never do anything like that, but we do it and we do it often. Our Father is the King of kings and the Lord of lord [Revelation 17:14, 19:16]. That means His Son, Jesus, is royalty. As children in the family of God, we are also royalty. As children of God we have the right to a great inheritance [1 John 3:1, Matthew 25:34, Acts 20:32, Ephesians 1:18]. Romans 8:17 says “Now if we are children, then we are heirs-- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” As children of God, we have an inheritance from our Daddy. He says in Ephesians 1:13-14 that the Holy Spirit is a deposit of the inheritance we will receive. He is our sources of power [Acts 1:8].
We trade our birthright, our ability to move with power and overcome the darkness of this world, with the enemy every time we believe him and walk in his ways instead of believing the Lord’s truth and walking in his ways. We wouldn’t dream of trading a million dollars for a dump truck of manure, yet we trade something of more value than a million dollars for things a lot worse than manure when we buy into the enemy’s lies and walk down his path.
Fortunately, we serve the God of restoration and we have the ability to take back what the enemy stole from us. We can resist the devil by the strength of the Holy Spirit, causing him to flee from us [James 4:7].
You are royalty. You have destiny. You have been set free and it is time to rise up as sons and daughters of the Most High and change the world!

Money, Money, Money

2012-01-18T03:17:00.000-08:00

Are you a saver or a spender? There seems to be one of each in every family; however, sometimes they aren’t complete polar extremes. My husband, Mark, and I will switch roles depending on the given situation. There are times he will willingly spend money (although not often) and I’m the tightwad, but it is usually the reverse.
While money is a topic few people like to discuss, when you take it a step further and talk about giving or tithing, people tend to run for the hills. They don’t want to hear about how you think they should spend their money. Therein lies the problem. We all tend to think of the money we possess as ours instead of recognizing it is all God’s. We try to determine how much of our money He is going to get instead of trying to determine how much of God’s money we get to keep.
God is very generous with us. He doesn’t even ask for a fifty-fifty split with us even though it is all His [Leviticus 27:30]. He’s willing to allow us to have the majority of it, yet we still gripe and complain about relinquishing the small portion He requires.
The Lord requires a tithe, which is the Hebrew word maaser meaning tenth or tenth part. We are to give the Lord one-tenth of our increase. That means He is allowing us to keep ninety percent of our increase. Now I don’t know about you, but that partnership is strongly in our favor. If I was approached by a business owner holding greater assets than mine and he wanted to form a partnership with me which would allow me to keep ninety percent of the gains, any analyst in the world would tell me to jump at it. I would be told I was insane not to make the deal, but when God, the Creator of heaven and earth, extends the same offer to us, we’re not happy with it.
In Luke 9:10-17 we read the story of feeding the five thousand men. Jesus told the disciples to feed the people with whatever they had. They had so little, two fish and five loaves of bread. They brought all they had to the Lord and He blessed it and gave it to them to share with the people. Can you imagine what was going through their minds? “Yeah, right, Jesus, this will take all of about three minutes before we run out and face a stampede.” It was humanly impossible to feed five hundred with two fish and five loaves of bread, let alone five thousand, but they trusted Him. They didn’t hold any back for themselves to eat after they’d finished ministering. They gave it all. When they placed all they had in the Lord’s hands, they witnessed a miracle. He used it to do His work and then had them collect the leftovers. Leftovers? The leftovers totaled twelve baskets; one for each of them. Now if that isn’t impressive enough, don’t miss the biggest “WOW” of all. They collected more than they started with because God’s economy is all about abundance, increase [vs. 17]. There is no lack with God. His desire for us is abundant life [John 10:10]. In order for us to gain the abundant life He came to bring, we must trust Him and we must trust Him with everything, holding nothing back. What are you trusting Him with today?

Let's go, let's go, let's go!

2012-01-17T03:11:00.000-08:00

Are you familiar with the expression “Go with God”? The other day I ran across a Henry Blackaby quote that made me pause. “You can’t go with God and stay where you are.” God is never stagnant. He is always moving. If we want to live in His presence with integrity as we’re challenged to do in Genesis 17:1b, then we have to be moving. We must be willing to go where He goes.
Abraham was called to go with God to a place he didn’t know and his response was immediate [Genesis 12:1-4]. He got up and went. Another time God called Abraham to sacrifice something precious to him and his response was immediate [Genesis 22:2]. Because Abraham was willing to move with God wherever he was called, even the difficult places, he dwelled in the presence of God with integrity and witnessed the power of God throughout his life [Luke 11:28].
Many of us are like the man in Luke 9:59-62 who are called to go with God. We want to get everything in order before we make the trip. We want things our way before we’re on our way. Jesus says people who do so aren’t “fit for service in the Kingdom of God.”
But what holds us back? What keeps our feet cemented to the ground? Fear! A spirit of fear is not from God [2 Timothy 1:7]. The enemy uses fear to keep us from going with God because he knows if we go, we’ll experience abundant life so he sabotages it whenever and wherever he can [John 10:10].
Fear and lack of faith keep us from our rightful inheritance. It is time to arise and walk in our destiny as sons and daughters of the King. Our King is waiting. He searches the whole earth looking for those whose hearts are committed to Him so He can fully support them [2 Chronicles 16:9]. Who will go with Him? Who will He find? Will you raise your hand as Isaiah did, even in the midst of fear, and say “Here am I. Send me!” [Isaiah 6:8].
There is no life in stagnant places. In order to truly live, we must learn to move with the Lamb. To quote one of my favorite missionaries of all time, Michael Mozley, “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!”

What did you say?

2012-01-16T04:38:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard a story of a young child mimicking an adult and an inappropriate word slips out? Yesterday I heard the story of a young man who came home from school recently and told his mom he heard the most awful word ever at school. You can imagine the vocabulary list that ran through the mother’s mind. The young man was mortified and refused to repeat the word when asked. Through some careful investigative work of the mother she learned someone said stupid.
We all laugh and think it’s cute he was mortified by the word stupid, yet we don’t realize the power of words. Words can curse and do harm when spoken over someone. If we hear anything long enough, we begin to believe it, accept it as truth, which shapes how we act.
Our mouths are very powerful weapons we use recklessly on a daily basis. Proverbs 18:21 says “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Obviously, the person who coined “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” was not a follower of the Word of God.
Words have the power to hurt. They have the power to destroy.
As believers in Christ, we need to make the same commitment King David made in Psalm 17:3b “I have determined that my mouth will not sin.” The King James version says transgress, which is the Hebrew word avar meaning “to cross over, pass over, penetrate.” It is in reference to a boundary line. “Spiritually speaking, when men move outside the requirements of covenant by committing sin, they transgress.” Simply put, avar means to violate the law of God.
The law of God is very different than the law of the land. It calls us to a higher standard. As believers, we need to sift our language through the Word. A good litmus test is if we wouldn’t say it with Jesus standing beside us, we don’t need to say it at all.
Romans 14:9 says “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Our words need to be life giving words that build others up, not tear them down. We were called to be imitators of Christ [1 Thessalonians 2:14]. Our words need to be words that cause others to notice the difference in us and prompt them to investigate what it is. There investigation should lead them to Jesus.
When our Father tells the angels stories about us and the words we speak, they should bring Him glory. What kind of story will He tell about you?

Shhh! Can you hear it? Are you listening?

2012-01-13T03:38:00.000-08:00

Is it ever quiet around your house? With teenagers and all of their friends coming in and out, a husband, a dog, a computer declaring “You’ve Got Mail” and the telephone, it is rarely quiet in my house. Organized chaos seems to be more the norm here.
I am very much a people person, so I used to hate the quiet. I am the one who thinks if two friends are fun, then twenty would be more fun. I love music and I would turn the radio on as soon as I got up in the mornings to catch the news and literally leave it on all day long without even thinking about it.
As many of you know, I’ve spent the last eighteen months writing a fiction book on the human sex trafficking of minors in Atlanta. After months of research and interviews, I spent countless hours alone at my computer working. In the process, I’ve come to love the quiet.
It wasn’t easy, mind you. I fought the idea of quiet through these months. Once I said out loud to an empty room, “The quiet is hurting my ears.” However, in the process of forced quiet, I’ve come to fall in love with it. Don’t get me wrong, I still need some music blasting, kids yelling for something they need downstairs from upstairs and the telephone ringing off the hook, but if I don’t have a time of quiet in my day, something just seems off.
Quiet time....people of faith talk about a quiet time, but when you ask them what a quiet time is you get various responses like: “It’s a time when I put on worship music and get before Jesus.” Others have said “It’s when I read a devotional or do my Bible study.” All of those things are great and I do them myself, but that isn’t really quiet time. Quiet time is the absence of noise…the absence of distractions…the absence of voices, including your own. It is in the quiet that we hear the gentle whisper of God.
The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. [1 Kings 19:11-12]
God is always speaking, but we aren't always listening. We are distracted by our world and we miss Him quite often. Hearing God speak doesn't have to be the exception. It can be the norm, but we must get quiet, which is more than just the turning the radio off. We must quiet ourselves before Him. Shhhhhh. Can you hear it? Are you listening?

Do you work for or with Jesus?

2012-01-12T03:05:00.000-08:00

Are you a doer? You know what I mean, someone who is always looking for a way to do for others or fix things you perceive need fixing? Most women are by nature. We were created to be nurturing, caretakers. While it can be an admirable quality, it can become a problem when we don’t keep it in balance.
Martha is a friend of mine who struggled with this issue. She was a doer in the biggest way. She loved to have people in her home and would go to great lengths to clean her home in preparation for her company. She would cook and cook to make sure she had all of her specialties ready to serve them for dinner. She worked without complaining unless her sister was around. Her issue with her sister wasn’t her presence. Her issue was her sister’s unwillingness to help her with the workload. You see, Mary was a curious one and she was bent on learning all she could from their guest. While Martha was scurrying around working all Mary did was sit in the family room with their guest and listen to His stories soaking them in and asking questions. If you don’t know my friends Mary and Martha, you can read about them in Luke 10:38-42.
Martha was so frustrated with Mary’s lack of focus on the work to be done, but Mary was oblivious to the work to be done because she was focusing Jesus. Martha wanted to do for Jesus. Mary wanted to be with Jesus.
As surprising as it may sound, Jesus doesn't need for us to do anything for Him. What He desires is for us to be with Him, because when we spend time with Him we get to know His heart for us and for the world. He wants to plant His heart for the world in our heart, so when we start investing ourselves in Kingdom work, we are working with Him, not for Him. Working with Him is the result of relationship. Working for Him is to gain acceptance and approval and He will never love us any more or less than He does right now. We don’t have to do anything to gain His love and acceptance. We already have it [Romans 5:8]. It’s why He died on the cross for us [John 3:16].
So what’s the difference in one working with Him and one working for Him? Motivation. What is your motivation for what you do?

Who comes first?

2012-01-11T02:36:00.000-08:00

Have you ever camped out for concert tickets? What about sale items the day after Thanksgiving? There are certain things we’re all willing to sacrifice sleep or time for because we want to be first. While we may allow others to go before us when we’re entering a coffee shop, we may not be as willing when we’re entering a door to a general seating concert or to purchase the coveted toy during the holiday season would we? There are times we want to be first at all costs.
In Genesis 4:3-7 we read about Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve. Cain preferred to work the soil and Abel was more of an animal guy. When the crops came in and the herd had multiplied, both Cain and Abel took a portion of their increase and presented it to the Lord. Verse 3 says “In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.” At first glance we would be impressed by Cain’s actions. God provided what Cain needed to grow the crops and produce a bountiful harvest, so he gave some to God as an act of gratitude. We do it all the time on Sunday mornings, right? God provides for us financially so when Sunday rolls around we give some of what God has given us back to Him for His house. It sounds good until you read verse 4 and then you realize the problem.
Verse 4 says “But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering.” Did you catch it? Only one word separates what Abel did from what Cain did. God looked on Abel’s offering with favor, but He didn’t with Cain’s offering [vs. 5]. Cain gave some of the fruits of the soil and Abel brought the firstborn of his flock. Abel put God first and as a result the favor of the Lord was with him. Cain, while he didn’t cut God out of the bounty, didn’t put God first. He chose to put himself and his needs, wants, and desires ahead of God.
How many of us say God is number one in our lives? Most of us if asked by someone would say God is more important to us than ourselves, but does our time and checkbook reflect it? Are we giving God some of our time and some of our money or do we give to Him first, and the best of what we have? Do we write our check to the church first and then pay our bills or do we give to God from what is left when all the bills are paid? Do we carve out precious time to meet with God each day or do we mumble a prayer over our meals and as we’re falling into bed?
God deserves our best not our leftovers and afterthoughts. Those who put Him first have favor. Matthew 6:33 says “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” That’s favor. Luke 12:34 says “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” We need to give to God what is right, not what’s left.

What are you looking at?

2012-01-10T02:46:00.000-08:00

Have you ever noticed your windshield is bigger than your rearview mirror? There's a reason for it. Many of us spend the majority of our lives looking back instead of looking ahead. It plays out in novels, movies, and television shows. Even sports enthusiast focus on the great plays of yesterday.
There is a time and place to glance in the past and remember. It was a practice of the Israelites to remember all God had done for them [Genesis 8:20, Genesis 12:7, Genesis 35:7, Judges, 6:24]. They demonstrated this by building altar’s to the Lord after He had done something great for them, so they could remember and tell their children about it, but they didn’t camp there.
It is great to gain strength from remembering the goodness of God, but we must fix our eyes forward. Let’s face it, if we drove our cars with our eyes fixed to the rearview mirror, we couldn’t get very far before we crashed, possibly injuring ourselves or someone else.
Lot and his wife left Sodom and Gomorrah because the Lord was about to destroy the cities. His wife was so concerned with what she was leaving, she looked back instead of forward and she paid for it with her life [Genesis 19:26]. Jesus was asking people to follow Him and one man said he would but first he needed to go back and take care of some things. Jesus’ reply was “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” and then man was left behind [Luke 9:62].
Your past may be filled with great experiences or it may be a nightmare you’d just as soon forget. Either way, you need not focus on it. Your focus on it could cause you to miss opportunities right in front of you. It’s okay for a quick glance back, but keep your focus on what is before you. Paul said it best in Philippians 3:13-14 “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” No matter where you are in life, in difficulty or in the greatest place every, we should turn our gaze forward and fix our eyes on Jesus. If life with Him is our goal, then He needs to be our focus, not our past. What are you looking at today?

The Waiting Game

2012-01-09T05:51:00.000-08:00

Are you a take charge kind of person or do you wait patiently to see how things happen? I am definitely a take charge kind of girl, which works well for me except when the Lord tells me to wait. Waiting is one of the hardest things in the world for me to do. Waiting patiently is almost impossible. God must know that about me, because the word patiently is only used nine times in the NIV. Seven of those times the word is preceded by the word wait.
Psalm 37:7 says “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” In Psalm 40:1 King David says when he waited patiently for the Lord, the Lord heard his cry. Hebrews 6:15 says “And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.”
Abraham waited patiently on the Lord, but Sarai did not. Let’s face it, she was an old woman and God had said Abraham would have a child, from his own seed. She started thinking about the reality of that taking place and decided she had to do something, so she decided to help God out. Obviously, from her point of view, God couldn’t possibly pull it off on His own, so she came up with plan B.
In Genesis 16 we read how Sarai determined the only way Abram would have a child of his own was to have it with her slave, so she gave her slave to Abram for him to sleep with her. What happened? Well, Sarai got what she said she wanted. Hagar got pregnant, then Sarai got mad at Hagar, she got mad at Abram and ultimately she got mad at God because the plan didn’t work. There was only one problem with Sarai’s anger. It wasn’t directed at the right person. Sarai had no one to be angry with except herself. She had taken matters into her own hands instead of waiting patiently on the Lord and trusting Him. You see, with God there is no plan B. He always operates with plan A in mind because He knows no one can thwart His plans [Isaiah 14:27].
Man am I having to remind myself of this lesson daily. I have a hard time waiting. God called me to do something and I have done it, now the rest is up to Him. The only problem with the situation is I don’t wait well. You think He might be teaching me something here? What about you? Are you waiting for Him to act in a situation in your life? Is it driving you crazy? Well, friend, you have two options. You can intervene and help Him out (like He needs our help) and end up with a mess like Sarai, or you can wait patiently on the Lord and know that, like David, He hears you. So what’s it going to be?

What are you reading today?

2012-01-06T05:26:00.000-08:00

Do you like to read? What types of books do you tend to read? I like just about anything except science fiction. The Bible has every type of story in it you could imagine. There have been many times I’ve read a historical work by Francine Rivers or Liz Curtis Higgs and immediately gone to the Word to read the story in true form.
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is one of my all-time favorite books and it is one I’ve given as a gift countless times. It is a New York Times Best Seller book and has been flying off bookshelves for twenty years. It is based on the book of Hosea. I’ve read books based on Jacob, Leah and Rachel [Genesis 29-48]. I’ve read books based on the Song of Solomon. I’ve read books based on the book of Ruth. All of these have been top sellers in the Christian bookstore because the stories are intriguing, captivating, and full of adventure. The same is true of action stories. Who wouldn’t want to read a story about the underdog taking out the giant? Indiana Jones has been a famous character for over twenty years, but Ezekiel 37:1-14 is more bizarre than anything Indi encountered in all of his adventures, and it is true.
The greatest book ever written is the Word of God. It offers of love, overcoming, redemption, war, sex, family dysfunction, you name it. Not only is it a good read, but you’ll gain far more than entertainment by reading it [2 Timothy 3:16]. The Word of God breathes life into you and equips you for whatever you’ll encounter in your day. And just think, you can tell people you know the author personally. Why not take some time to read it today?

It's time to take a stand against human trafficking!

2012-01-05T06:01:00.000-08:00

How old to you have to be to make a difference in the world? Some believe they have to be grown, moving up in their career, have an impressive salary, and be established in the community to make a difference. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. It is yet another lie of the enemy we so easily believe.
This week over forty-four thousand high school seniors and college students have gathered in downtown Atlanta at the Georgia Dome for the Passion 2012 conference. Some people may think of this as any other Christian conference. After all, the worship was incredible with some of the top worship leaders in the country and the some of the biggest names in ministry took the stage to teach. However, the thing that impressed me the most was the action the conference brought. They didn’t wait to get home to put into action the things they’ve been speaking about; they have gone into action this whole week.
The outreach began as they arrived. Each student was asked to bring a new bath towel and a pair of socks for the homeless. They collected over a hundred thousand of each. Can you imagine?
The main focus for outreach was to raise awareness and funds to battle human trafficking. Over 27 million people are slaves today in our world. Most people think it is primarily in other countries, but the reality is it is happening in our country as well. Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry. There are more slaves in this generation than any other time in history. The human sex trafficking of minors grows daily in Metro Atlanta as well as across our nation. Passion 2012 collected over a million dollars in donations- from high school seniors and college students who have little to no money- to say enough is enough. They gave a hundred thousand dollars to the mayor of Atlanta to train their police officers on how to identify sex trafficking and how to help the young girls they rescue.
1 Timothy 4:12 says “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” If you want to make a difference in your community, there is only one requirement….you have to be breathing. It’s time to get in the battle, take a stand, become a voice for the voiceless, put your money towards what you say matters to you, and become part of the solution. Today over 300,000 minors IN THIS COUNTRY are at risk of being sold as sex slaves. These are our children, in our towns and cities, purchased by our citizens for someone else’s financial gain. The average age of the victim of human sex trafficking is fourteen years old but police have rescued girls as young as nine. The life expectancy for a victim of human trafficking is seven years. So tell me, what are you going to do about it?

Prepared to Fight!

2012-01-04T05:08:00.000-08:00

Do you run away from an argument or do you seek them out? There are some people who would rather argue than breathe. There are other people who would hide from another person rather than engage them in an argument.
Jesus didn’t do either. He wouldn’t run and hide when someone started taunting Him but He didn’t jump in their lunch either. He would listen to the issue they presented and He would stick to the issue. He also never attempted to argue on His own. He brought His Father into it with Him. He would use the Word.
In Matthew 4:1-11 we find the story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by Satan. Three times Satan tried to poke the bear and get under Jesus’ skin so He would react and fly off at the handle in an attempt to teach the devil a lesson. Jesus wasn’t stupid and He wasn’t a coward. Three times He addressed the devil’s poke by focusing on the issue, using the Word to respond and refusing to allow His ego and emotions to get in the way. In verse 4, verse 7, and verse 10, Jesus says “It is written” and then shut the devil up with God’s Word. Jesus didn’t pull out a scroll and look for chapter and verse, He simply quoted it.
In order for us to fight the enemy as Jesus did, without allowing our ego or emotions to get involved causing us to stumble and sin, we need to know the Word of God. We don’t simply need to be familiar with it; we need to know it like we know our own name. Joshua 1:8 says “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” The only way we will know the Word of God is to spend time in it, reading it, studying it, and seeking counsel from it.
When a fight comes looking for you, don’t flinch. Do what Jesus did. Stand tall, stick to the issue, and use your sword [Ephesians 6:17]. When you do, the devil will flee [James 4:7]. To quote the famous Bon Qui Qui “That’s how we do it!”

I believe...do you?

2012-01-03T05:12:00.000-08:00

What would you do if power, resources and ability didn’t stand in your way? When you close your eyes at night, what do you dream of doing? What’s stopping you from doing it? Before you make your list of reasons why you can’t do what you dream about doing, I want you to look up Matthew 19:26 and read it, because I believe it will wipe out all of your excuses…that is if you truly believe it. [Side note here, I’m not going to give you Matthew 19:26. I really am going to make you look it up.]
You see, we say we believe in the Word of God. We read it, we quote it, some of us teach it or preach it, but in order for it to come alive, in order for it to make a difference in our lives, in order for it to empower us, we have to truly believe it. We have to believe it is alive, active and applicable to us. Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Now that’s powerful….that’s alive.
If we believe the Word of God is true, then we need to act on our dreams. We need to take words like “can’t” and “impossible” out of our vocabulary. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus said "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." When we have faith in God and His Word and we’re willing to try to do what He plants in our hearts and minds to do, we will be astounded. Nothing is impossible with God [Luke 1:37]. Nothing means nothing… “no part, share or trace” of anything.
Orphanages are started in third world countries because people had the audacity to believe God’s Word. Murderers give their lives to Jesus because people took God at His word. Movements like Passion and One Thing were started because ordinary people who had a dream decided to trust the Lord and His Word. Marriages are restored and people one step away from death are living today because of simple faith in a man named Jesus and what He said.
So I’ll ask you again, what would you do if power, resources and ability didn’t stand in your way? What do you dream about? Don’t you think it’s time to start making your dreams a reality?

2012... A year full of possibilities!

2012-01-02T07:03:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! There is something wonderful about a new year beginning. You start with a clean calendar, just waiting to be filled with adventure. The slate is clean. Some of us will hit the ground running and have the calendar filled with commitments and dates to remember before the sun goes down and others will slowly navigate themselves through each month, one month at a time, trying not to get overwhelmed by the things “to do” or the “shoulds” put upon them by others.
The wonderful thing about a life with Jesus is He makes all things new, especially us. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” ANYONE means anyone. There are no limits on who can experience newness of life with Jesus. His heart is for all to come into a saving relationship with Him [2 Peter 3:9]. But praise God, He doesn’t just stop there. Like those crazy commercials on television: “There’s more!”
Isaiah 43:19 says "Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” If there is a situation in your life that has been stagnant or unmoving, behold, He is going to do something new. If you’ve been battling an illness or beating the bushes for a job to provide for your family, behold, He is going to do something new. Don’t miss it! Don’t be the one who is unaware of the movement of God. Take time to get still before Him, get familiar with His voice and His character so when He moves, and He will move, you won’t miss it. He has great plans for you in 2012 [Jeremiah 29:11]. Make sure you don’t miss out on them!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T12:41:00.000-08:00

“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. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”[Isaiah 9:6-7]

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” [John 1:1-5, 14]

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

To all my faithful followers,
I cannot thank you enough for taking this faith journey with me. Your emails, comments, retweets, and Facebook messages have blessed me tremendously this year. I love how the Lord uses what He is teaching me to bless others along the way.
I pray you have someone special to spend Christmas with this year. I know no matter where you are, you’re not alone. The Lord is by your side. I plan to take the week of Christmas off to focus on the Lord and my family. I pray you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I’ll meet you back here in 2012.
Blessings,
Susan

Give The Gift of Christmas!

2011-12-23T05:28:00.000-08:00

Do you have someone hard to shop for on your Christmas list this year? You know the person I’m talking about; the one who is extremely picky, so no matter what you buy, it won’t be the right color, the right size, or right fit. Maybe it’s the person who has everything so finding something unique and special is almost impossible. It can be frustrating.
There is one gift you can give to anyone and everyone on your list. It always fits. It’s always the right size and it never goes out of style. It’s the first gift of Christmas…JESUS! There is nothing in the world that will bless your friends and family as much as Jesus. He came to meet our every need (not want).
Isaiah 61:1-3 tells us He came “To bring good news to the afflicted… to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
This Christmas season, whether you choose to exchange material gifts or not, be sure to give Jesus to all you meet. He is the answer to their question, the solution to their problem, the way, the truth and the life [John 14;6]. You give Him in the words you speak and the deeds you do. You give Him in the smile you pass on to those you pass by. You give Him when you pause to pray with one who looks like they’ve lost all hope. There are endless ways to wrap Jesus and give Him to others. Jesus is Christmas, so this year give Christmas away.
Merry Christmas to you all!

How far are you willing to travel?

2011-12-22T03:35:00.000-08:00

How far would you travel for Jesus? Would you be willing to travel eight hundred miles to see Him or is that out of the question? It is estimated the Magi traveled eight hundred miles to see the Christ child. They took this trip on camels [Matthew 2:1-12]. The thought of riding on a camel for over eight hundred miles over the course of two years with nothing to guide you but a star couldn’t be easy. It took dedication. It took determination. And they were willing? Are you?
How far would you travel to share Jesus? There are people who travel all over the world on short term mission trips and to be long term missionaries to share the Gospel. They recognize the power of Romans 10:14-15 “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’" Are you willing to put your life on hold for a season or even a couple of weeks to take the Gospel to a foreign land? [Isaiah 6:8]. Or are you willing to sacrifice a Starbucks or two to send another to share the Gospel? Would you hold off on buying a new car for a season so you can support a missionary for that season instead?
How far would you travel for Jesus? Would you be willing to cross the street to invite a neighbor to dinner? Would you be willing to take a dinner to that single mother around the corner? Would you be willing to teach the young boy without a father how to throw a baseball? Matthew 25:40 says "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me."
This Christmas season we are reminded Jesus traveled from heaven to earth for you and me [John 3:16]. How far are you willing to go for Him?

Then God stepped in...

2011-12-21T03:36:00.000-08:00

Have you been contending for something without seeing results? You’ve done all you know to do and you’ve cried out to the Lord asking for His intervention and nothing appears to change. Don’t give up. God hasn’t forgotten you, even if it feels like it [Joshua 1:5].
Sometimes our answers come quickly, while we’re still praying [Daniel 9:23]. Other times we are left waiting and wondering. We know the Lord will not leave us nor forsake us [Deuteronomy 31:6, 8]. When we find ourselves in a season of contending without a change in our situation, we can find our peace in the goodness of God [2 Chronicles 6:41].
Elizabeth and Zechariah had prayed for years on end for a child, yet she was barren. She was “well along in years” as her husband gently put it in Luke 1:18. Everything looked helpless, and then God stepped in and everything changed. An old woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son, but not just any son. One who “will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will never take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of righteousness- to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” [Luke 1:15-17].
When God answers He brings “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” [Ephesians 3:20]. We don’t always understand His ways or His timing in situations, but we can trust Him [Psalm 62:8, Psalm 115:11, Isaiah 55:8 and Romans 15:13].
Is there a situation in your life you need God to step into? Cry out to Him. He will answer you, it just might come wrapped differently than you expect.

What is in a name?

2011-12-20T03:23:00.000-08:00

What is in a name? Shakespeare had Juliet ask this very question in Romeo and Juliet. Her response to her own question was “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
In our culture, names are typically chosen by going through a baby book while you’re expecting your child. Some people will use a family name or a name of someone who has had a major impact on their life. Then there are those in Hollywood who come up with names that make you wonder if any thought at all went into the selection or if they just happened to be having breakfast while choosing a baby name. Let's face it, Apple or Coco will become the subject of ridicule at some point in life, probably on the playground.
In Biblical times, names carried meaning. When we read through the scriptures, we tend to gloss over names, especially if they are hard to pronounce; however, God wastes nothing. If He went to the trouble to have the name recorded in the scriptures, we need to recognize there was a reason. He let us in on something by including the names.
The Christmas story is recorded in the beginning of the book of Luke. Before we get to the birth of Christ, we read the prophesy of John followed by his birth. Luke 1:5 says “In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.” By looking at the names in this verse, we can uncover a deeper understanding of what God was saying to us.
Most of us know Herod was part of the royal family. He was the king of Judea and known to be less than kind. Zechariah means “remembered of Jehovah.” For one who had longed for a child of his own, it was important for Zechariah to know he was remembered by God. He prayed and prayed for a child, yet in his old age he remained childless. His name alone was a source of strength.
Next we come upon the name Abijah, who was in Zechariah’s family line. Zechariah gained his heritage from his family line. Abijah means “my father is Jehovah.” That’s pretty awesome. Zechariah came from a line of people who were the children of Jehovah. He waited on God to remember him and his prayer for a child and now we know he could wait in peace because he had the favor of God. He was Jehovah's child. I don't know about you, but I'm partial to my children.
Following this long introduction of who Zechariah is, we read of the birth of his son, John. God didn’t just answer his prayer for a child, but he gave him a son, which in that day was big stuff. It was better than winning the lottery.
As you read through the scriptures, try not to gloss over the names mentioned. Research them. God may be trying to teach you something about the time period, the people or even yourself. As Christians, we, like Zechariah, are children of God. He remembers us when we pray. His favor rests upon us simply because we’re His. Don’t give up when you pray for something, even when you’ve been contending for a long time. God hears you and He will respond. You won't always get what you want, but He will always give you what you need. When you come before the Throne of Glory, remember who you are!

Do you know who He is?

2011-12-19T03:48:00.000-08:00

What songs take you back to your childhood at Christmas time? Is it Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer or Frosty or is it another carol? For me it is the old gospel song “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” which was always sung by our minister of music, Rob Rollins. He has the most amazing voice and as he sang the line “we didn’t know who you was” the reality would always hit me that we still don’t. No matter how much we know the Lord, no matter how long we’ve been walking with Him, there will always be more to learn about Him. We can always go deeper.
Jeremiah 33:3 says “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” There is so much for us to know and the best teacher is Jesus Himself. As you seek to know Him more, pause and ask Him to reveal Himself to you. In John 17:3 Jesus prayed to the Father about His followers and He said “Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” The desire of His heart isn’t for us to secure our ticket into heaven, but for us to have a deep and abiding relationship with Him, which is the result of time invested on a regular basis [John 17:11].
This week as you focus on baby Jesus, seek to know the man, Jesus, so when you come face to face with Him in heaven you won’t have to say you didn’t know who He was.

Do you have room for Him?

2011-12-16T03:18:00.000-08:00

Do you have a situation you’re expecting God to show up in? Do you have in mind what it would look like if He did arrive on the scene? Would He ride in on a white horse like prince charming and rescue the day or would He simply walk into the room and speak causing things to shift? Could He show up in an unexpected way, a way that doesn’t look like God and still meet your deepest need? Certainly He could. He’s God!
Too many times we determine how God should move or what He should do in our given situation to rescue us, provide for us, speak to us or guide us.
Over two thousand years ago, God came on the scene in the most unpredictable way. Who would have ever imagined God, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Almighty King of kings and Lord of lords would enter creation as a helpless baby? In Luke 2:6-7 we read “While they were there, the time came for the Baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
God reminds us in Isaiah 55:8 His thoughts are not our thoughts nor are His ways our ways. God knows what He’s doing. He’s not in heaven just winging it. He has a plan and all is going according to plan, even when it may not appear to be. He could have had Christ born in a palace with a team of doctors and servants standing by to assist. He chose to bring Jesus into the world in a stable with only the animals witnessing His birth. He had His reasons, even if we don’t understand them.
Just because things aren’t going the way you’d like them to go doesn’t mean God has checked out of the situation and abandoned you. In fact, it is most likely the complete opposite. He works in mysterious ways and if we will trust Him and make room for Him in our life situations, believing He knows best, we’ll eventually see His fingerprints. Are you willing? Do you have room for Him?

He's got this!

2011-12-15T04:08:00.000-08:00

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’re wondering where God is? Based on the circumstances you’re facing, He appears to have taken a vacation. We know there is nothing farther from the truth. God promises over and over in His Word that He’s there for us [Deuteronomy 31:6, 8, and Joshua 1:5]. He said He will be there when we cry out to Him [Jeremiah 33:3].
So if we know He is with us, do we believe He is able to intervene on our behalf? In Isaiah 50:2 God is speaking. He says “Was my arm too short to deliver you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you?” The obvious answer is “NO!” There is nothing impossible for God [Luke 1:37]. In fact, Matthew 19:26 says “with God all things are possible.”
He created the heavens and the earth [Genesis 1:1]. Everything that is, He created. Therefore, everything is subject to Him. God trumps circumstances! No matter what your situation or how bleak things look when, you factor God in His peace falls upon you [John 14:27].
What is your situation? What are your circumstances telling you? Don’t stop there or distress and despair will settle in. Go one step further… What is GOD telling you? My current favorite verse (I have different ones all the time depending on what I’m going through) is 1 Thessalonians 5:24: The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it. God is faithful. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" [2 Corinthians 9:8, emphasis mine]. What do you need to trust Him with today?

What we have is an opportunity!

2011-12-14T03:07:00.000-08:00

Don’t you hate it when things go wrong? You pour yourself into something and then the wheels fall off the bus? Do you get frustrated when this happens? In college I worked with a guy named Guy. When problems would arise causing others to get frustrated, he would reply “We don’t have a problem here, what we have is an opportunity!” He was a little quirky but his positive outlook on things caught on and defused bad situations and caused people to look for positive outcomes instead of give up hope.
In January of 1819, an organ repairman traveled to St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf to repair the church organ. While he was there, the priest and the organist taught him a song they had recently written. The organ broke just before Christmas. How could they celebrate Christmas without music? In an attempt to have some type of music for the church to enjoy for Christmas, these men wrote eighteen short and simple lines and set them to music for two voices, the choir and the guitar. This is how the most popular Christmas carol of all time, Silent Night, came to be. If the organ had been repaired prior to Christmas, one of the world’s favorite carols of the season may not have been written and sung for almost two hundred years.
Romans 8:28 says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” What appears to be a problem in your life right now? Are you willing to place it in the hands of God to see what He does with it? When you do, it is no longer a problem, but an opportunity.

Never Hidden!

2011-12-13T03:21:00.000-08:00

Do you have a favorite hiding place for Christmas presents? A place that is secure from the snoopers in your household? My husband has hidden gifts in the exact same place since we got married- under the guest room bed. I know this, not because I’ve snooped and found anything, but because after the holidays the vacuum cleaner invariably picks up shopping bags when I vacuum the guess room. Personally, I prefer to be surprised. As I’ve said, for twenty years now he has used the same hiding place and I have never snooped, not once.
There is one Christmas present that wasn’t hidden. It was delivered and announced to one and all. It was the first gift of Christmas- Jesus. The birth of the Christ-child fulfilled countless prophesies about the birth of the Messiah [Micah 5:2, Daniel 9:25, Isaiah 7:14, Psalm 72:9, Isaiah 60:3 and Hosea 11:1]. It was announced to shepherds in the field so they could witness and proclaim it [Luke 2:8-15]. And He is available to the entire world [John 3:16].
It’s Christmastime. What are you waiting for? Your present is present. Why not take a moment to get familiar with Him?

Light up the darkness.

2011-12-12T03:17:00.000-08:00

Are you troubled by some of the things you see going on in our world today? It appears darkness is taking over. If we didn’t have the Word of God filled with promises, it would be easy to settle into despair.
In Ephesians 5:11 Paul says “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” How are we to expose deeds of darkness? After all, what can one person do?
One person with Jesus is a majority. When we fail to be intimidated by the size of the obstacles we face, the Lord can use us to accomplish great things.
In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus says “You are the light of the world.” He tells us not to hide our light, but to showcase it. Wherever we go, darkness is dispelled as the light of Christ shows up. Have you ever been in a really dark room before and lit a single candle. It is amazing how one little flame can light up and entire room. Darkness no longer remains. The same happens when we enter into a situation. We carry Christ with us. When Christ is factored into a situation things change.
What situation looks impossible to you now where you feel one person couldn’t possibly make a difference? What if that one person was Jesus? Do you think He could change things? Ask Him what He would have you to do in the situation? You might be called to pray and nothing more. Don’t be discouraged. Prayer changes things. You might be called to act. Whatever you’re called to do, you can trust you aren’t doing it alone [Deuteronomy 31:6, 8].
Its mighty dark in this world, but you can help change it by living out Matthew 5:16. “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

What do candy canes and Christ have in common?

2011-12-09T02:52:00.000-08:00

Do you like to eat candy canes? I’ve always been a fan, because I love just about anything peppermint. I love making the peppermint chocolate bark, I love peppermint tea, peppermint hot chocolate, and peppermint candy.
When you look at a candy cane, you instantly think of Christmas. Years ago, someone penned a children’s book, The Legend of the Candy Cane, explaining how the candy cane points to the real meaning of Christmas. The candy cane dates back to 1670, when a choir director at Cologne Cathedral in Germany molded a sugar stick into the shape of a shepherd’s staff. At the time the candy sticks were all white and given out to children during the traditional nativity service to pacify them during the long services. The adding of the stripes and the peppermint flavor didn’t occur until the early 1900 in America. In the 1950s candy canes began being produced by machines rather than by the time consuming handmade process.
While the candy cane wasn’t necessarily produced to reflect Christ, through the years the different features of the candy cane have come to represent Jesus. It is said the candy cane represents a shepherd’s staff because Jesus is the Good Shepherd [John 10:11]. If you turn the candy stick upside down, it is in the shape of a “J” for Jesus [Matthew 1:21]. The three stripes of red on the candy cane are said to have two meanings. One says they represent the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit [Matthew 28:19]. Another references Isaiah 53:5 that says “By His stripes we are healed.” The red stripes are symbolic of the blood of Christ that was shed for our sins [Hebrews 9:14]. The white represents the purity of Christ and the purity He offers to all who believe [Isaiah 1:18].
This Christmas when you see a candy cane, may it serve as a reminder of the One who loved you enough to peel back the curtain of heaven and come down to set you free so you could be with Him eternally [John 3:16, Hebrews 9:15]. While you’re at it, why not give away some candy canes this Christmas season and take a moment to share what they represent. Consider them the evangelism tool of Christmas.

2011-12-08T04:05:00.000-08:00

Are you familiar with the song The Twelve Days of Christmas? It is a rather lengthy Christmas carol listing a variety of gifts someone gives to a loved one for Christmas. While the items listed in the song seem bizarre to us today, they were common in the time the song was written; however, they were actually code for spreading the Gospel from one generation to another.
There was a time when Roman Catholics were not allowed to share their faith in England. From 1558-1828 they were forbidden to openly practice their religion. Wanting to pass their faith on from generation to generation called for creativity on their part. Under the guise of a song, believers were able to share their faith with another.
What would your life be like if you couldn’t openly celebrate your faith? Would you choose to believe what you believe and keep quiet or would you share your faith no matter the cost?
Many believers around the globe are faced with this decision today. We are very fortunate to live in a country where we can openly profess our faith in Jesus Christ and share that with our friends and family. It would be a tragedy not to take advantage of the opportunity while we have the freedom to share our faith.
Acts 1:8 says we will be Christ’s witnesses across the world. Matthew 28:18-20 commissions us all to take the Gospel to the nations. What creative ways are you implementing to share the truth of Jesus Christ with those you encounter? You may not write a clever song to share the message, but you have been called to share it nonetheless. There is no time like the present. Who will you give Jesus to today?

The Song's Hidden definition:
My True Love= God
Me= The Christian
Partridge in a pear tree= Jesus
Two Turtle Doves= Old and New Testament
Three French Hens= Faith, Hope, and Love
Four Calling Birds= Four Gospels
Five Golden Rings= First Five Books of the Bible
Six Geese A-laying= Six Days of Creation
Seven Swans A-Swimming= Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Eight Maids A-Milking= The Beatitudes
Nine Ladies Dancing= Nine Fruits of the Spirit
Ten Lords A-Leaping= Ten Commandments
Eleven Pipers Piping= Eleven Faithful Disciples
Twelve Drummers Drumming= Twelve Points of the Apostles Creed

You're able. Are you willing?

2011-12-07T02:36:00.000-08:00

What are your grammar pet peeves? My biggest one to date is the inappropriate use of the word “myself” by countless people who should know better. I’ve heard educators, writers, public speakers, politicians, radio celebrities, pastors, and every other walk of life use the word “myself” when they should use “me” or “I” in its place.
Another grammar pet peeve I have is the inappropriate use of the word “can” in place of the word “may.” When I taught school, I would bust my students on this all the time. They would approach me and ask “Can I go to the bathroom?” My response was always the same: “I don’t know, can you?” Can asks “do I have the ability” and may asks “do I have permission?” [Now that I’ve spouted off both of these, you’ll catch me doing one or the other and there I’ll be with egg on my face. Just for the record, if you do catch me implementing either of this grammar mistakes, please call me out.]
When you recognize the word “may” relates to permission verses ability, some scriptures jump off of the page as you read them. Ephesians 1:17-19 says “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that 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 the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Paul asks the Father for permission rather than ability. We were all created with the ability to have wisdom and revelation to know God. We were created with the ability to know Him.
We will not gain that understanding by accident or without assistance. We need the Spirit’s help. When we ask permission from the Holy Spirit to know the Lord more, He opens our hearts, our minds, and our spirits to know Him. That’s a beautiful thing.
No longer do we have to sit by and look at the great men and women of the faith, like Billy Graham and Mother Theresa, and wish we could have what they have. We can, if we’re willing to seek it. Are you willing?

The coming of the Christ-child...

2011-12-06T03:49:00.000-08:00

Does your family have an Advent calendar in your home during the Christmas season? The word Advent means “coming.” Advent is a time when we celebrate the coming of the Christ-child. There are many ways to celebrate Advent. Books and calendars are readily available with Scripture readings and stories about the coming of Christ. Many churches celebrate Advent by lighting a candle and reading a specific Scripture of the coming of Christ. Another way we celebrate Advent is by gathering together with friends and family and singing carols of the coming of Christ.
A popular carol, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, is a song of Advent. The song speaks of some of the names of Christ, the first being Emmanuel, God with us [Matthew 1:23]. Next the Lord is referred to as the Rod of Jesse. Christ came through the line of David, who was the son of Jesse [1 Samuel 1:16, Isaiah 11:1, Matthew 1:6, 16]. Christ is also called Day-Spring, “the dawn of the approaching eternal day” [Luke 1:78]. Finally, He is called the Key of David. Jesus is the key to eternal life. By coming to earth and dying on a cross for our sins, He unlocked eternity for us all [Isaiah 22:22].
As you celebrate the season of Advent, take time to meditate on the words of the carols of the season. They have been passed down from generation to generation and survived the test of time, because they carry the Gospel message and sing praises to the King we all anticipate.
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

What are you holding onto?

2011-12-05T03:42:00.000-08:00

Do you consider a half-truth a lie? Is partial truth enough for you or will you only accept the whole truth? In a court of law, partial truth isn’t enough. In fact, when you take the witness stand in a court of law you are asked to raise your right hand and take the following oath: “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?” Half-truths hold no value.
Today some people look at scripture as a suggestion or guideline rather than a standard to live by. Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He Himself is truth [John 14:6]. John 1:14 says “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Therefore, Jesus is the Word and the Word is truth. The Bible is truth, period. We have to accept it's all true or none of it is true. We can’t pick and choose which part of it is true and applicable to our lives today and what isn’t. If so, what would the standard be for making the choice? Who would determine what we take and what we throw away?
There are religions today that profess they believe in the Bible; however, they only believe their version of it, which isn’t the Bible because it has either had portions of the Word removed, doctored, or they’ve added to it. Revelation 22:18 says we aren’t to adjust the Word of God or the Lord will deal with us harshly. It isn’t a first draft that needs editing. It’s the real deal. As Charles Sineath likes to say “God said it; I believe it; that settles it!”
Galatians 1:7-8 says “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” We aren’t to buy into the distorted versions of the Bible or the Gospel. They are only half-truths at best.
In 2 Corinthians 11:3 Paul warns believers: “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” We must cling to the full counsel of the Word of God and sift what we hear through it to determine if it is truth. It is the only way we can protect ourselves from the enemy’s deception.
In John 8:8:31-32 Jesus told the disciples: “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." What are you holding onto today?

Jesus is the reason...........

2011-12-02T02:40:00.000-08:00

Do you enjoy listening to the old Negro spirituals? They stem from songs sung by slaves about their dependence on the Lord. I think my favorite has to be Amazing Grace, however a familiar Christmas tune is from this genre. Go Tell It On The Mountain was based on the tune of the old spiritual “When I Was A Seeker.” The words to Go Tell It On The Mountain were penned in 1907 by John Wesley Work, Jr. The song calls believers to tell everyone everywhere about Jesus. It is the song version of the Great Commission [Matthew 18:18-20].
Believers hold the gift of life in their hearts and we’re called to share it with all we encounter [John 14:6]. It is not a suggestion rather a command. You’ve heard it said “Good news travels.” There is no better news than the new of Jesus. It is referred to in scripture as the Good News.
Psalm 145:4 says “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts." Acts 1:8 says “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 ends of the earth." We are to tell any and all we encounter, offering them the opportunity to know the Christ-child as Lord and Savior.
Go tell it…whether you’re on a mountain top or standing on the shore. There is no better news that Jesus. He isn’t just the reason for the season. He’s the reason for everything!

We Three Kings

2011-12-01T03:23:00.000-08:00

Do you like singing Christmas carols? Caroling was always a family favorite growing up. We’d make huge pots of hot chocolate and chili and everyone would come over. Daddy would build a raging fire in the fireplace and Mom kept the oven working overtime baking cookies. Everyone would gather for dinner and then we’d bundle up and head out to spread our holiday cheer throughout the neighborhood while Mom kept the fire going and the hot chocolate simmering.
We Three Kings was a popular carol we’d sing and then we would debate whether there were really three kings or not. The story of the of the Magi is found in Matthew 2:1-12. Matthew 2:1-2 state “Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’” Nowhere does it specify the number of Magi present. It only indicates Magi came and they came from the east. Because of the word “we” in verse two we know there was more than one. It has been assumed there were three based on the number of gifts presented to Jesus when the Magi found Him [Matthew 2:11].
They presented Him with gold, frankincense and myrrh. Each of the three gifts was quite valuable and some scholars believe these items financed the holy family’s quick escape to Egypt [Matthew 2:13-23]. The three gifts were also very prophetic in nature, symbolizing who and what the child, Jesus, would be.
Gold was the treasure of kings and Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. “The burning of frankincense was an important part of ancient Israel’s worship of God. This gift indicated that the child, Jesus was God.” Myrrh is a spice that was used to embalm the dead, which is suggested to point to Christ’s death of the cross as the Savior for all.
We Three Kings was written by John Henry Hopkins, Jr. [1820-1891]. This Christmas when you sing or hear the popular carol, keep in mind the King it is about and raise your voice in agreement with the final verse fixing your eyes on the bright Morning Star.
Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, alleluia!
Earth to heaven replies.

Time to Take Inventory

2011-11-30T03:27:00.000-08:00

Have you ever worked retail? I worked in a couple of retail stores through college. One of the days I dreaded the most was inventory day. Granted it was mindless counting, but I was always concerned I would miscount or overlook something.
Sometimes we need to quiet ourselves and take inventory of our lives. After all, why do people take inventory in a store? They want to know what they have, what’s been sold, given away or stolen. They are taking an account of what they have to work with. We need to do the same thing with our lives. We need to know what we’ve sold or traded away. We need to know what we’ve freely given away and we need to know what’s been stolen from us. Only then will we know what we have left.
In Psalm 139 we read that God already knows the tally of our lives. He knows where the chips fall and He still stands by our side waiting. He waits because He loves us- mind, body and spirit. He knows the plans He has for us and He’s waiting for us to partner with Him [aka. surrender to Him] to bring those plans about [Jeremiah 29:11].
How long has it been since you’ve taken inventory? If it’s been a while or if you’ve never done it, today might be a good day to start.

Words are powerful. How are you using your power today?

2011-11-29T03:27:00.000-08:00

Do you ever go to craft fairs or artisan shows? They tend to pop up close to the holidays. I attended one a few years ago with a girlfriend and saw a hand-painted sign I strongly considered purchasing for myself. I know, I know, at Christmas time you shouldn’t be buying things for yourself, which is why I didn’t buy it, but I wish I did. It read “Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.” Now do you see why I felt like I needed that sign?
Many of us say things first and think second. It isn’t a lovely trait to possess and God has graciously been working with me on that issue for more years than I’ll admit. My mother used to say if it goes through my mind it comes out my mouth and doesn’t slow down anywhere in between. Apparently, more people have a problem with this concept than just me, because God painted His own sign on this topic and He hung it in Psalm 141:3. It reads “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” It may not be as comical as the sign I saw at the artisan show, but the point is still the same…we need to guard our words, choosing them carefully.
Proverbs 18:21 says “The tongue has the power of life and death” which is pretty powerful. The words we speak either bless and build others up or curse and tear others down. The choice is ours. We can make excuses for our words: “I was just tired; I didn’t mean it.” Or we can play them off as a joke: “I was just kidding.” The fact remains there is power in the spoken word. God created the heavens and the earth through the spoken word and He is very clear about the words we need to speak [Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28].
Romans 12:14 says “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” Even when people treat us poorly, we are to bless them. By doing so, we stand out. It is so unusual, people will have to ask why and then we have a captive audience to share the Gospel.
Many call Christmas one of the most stressful times of the year. We have the opportunity to change that for people by blessing them. Speak life. Speak love. Speak hope. Whatever you speak, remember the power of your words.

The Beauty of Brokeness

2011-11-28T03:12:00.000-08:00

Does your church have stained glass windows? My current church home does not; however, the church I grew up in had stained glass windows behind the altar. They were beautiful pictures of Jesus at His birth and then as a man. I remember spending many Sundays lost in the beauty of the stained glass window instead of the message being shared. Sitting out in the congregation I could notice the many beautiful colors used to create the picture and see how a single picture could tell more than one story depending on how the light hit it.
Did you know that stained glass windows are made up of broken pieces of glass? The artist takes several shards of glass and arranges them in such a way to create something beautiful to the eye. If you get close enough to put your nose to the window, you’ll see the broken pieces of glass that are put together, but when you pull away from it, all you see is a beautiful picture.
When trials and troubles come into our lives, difficult circumstances that seem harsh and hurtful, we question if God is there. Is He aware of what’s going on in our lives? Does He even care? Friends, God works everything together for good [Romans 8:28]. He told us we will experience trials [1 Peter 1:6-7]. He also promised nothing will come our way He won’t help us with [1 Corinthians 10:13]. He will never leave us nor forsake us [Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 and Joshua 1:5].
James 1:2-4 says “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” The Lord uses the difficult times, the broken pieces if you will, to create something stunning “that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Trust the Artist who is creating a masterpiece out of your life. Whatever you’re going through, good, bad or otherwise…is not an accident. It has purpose and it will yield glory to the One who is worthy, if you’ll allow it. The choice is yours.

A much better view...

2011-11-18T03:07:00.000-08:00

What scriptures stand out in your mind as ones people quote frequently? John 3:16 is probably the most common verse ever spoken “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Another verse that seems to get a lot of face time is Jeremiah 29:11 “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.” I’ve heard people speak this verse over young men and women as they are about to go to college or venture into the mission field. The verse is very encouraging.
Did you know the Lord had Jeremiah proclaim verse 29:11 to the Israelites while they were in captivity in Babylon? He was assuring them, even though they were in captivity, they would see a change. He reminded them their circumstances did not define their reality or their future.
The same is true of you and me. No matter what our present circumstances may look like, the Lord holds our reality and our future in His hands. In an instant, He can bring about a dramatic change. The key to living in peace during hardship, to not being overwhelmed by our circumstances, is to fix our eyes on Jesus [Hebrews 12:2]. While our circumstances can and will change, He remains constant. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Instead of focusing on what is temporary and could change in the blink of an eye, why not focus on the always loving, never changing Jesus Christ and rest in the assurance that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” and His plans are never thwarted [Philippians 1:6, Proverbs 19:21]. It’s a much better view.

Dear Friends,
I will be taking Thanksgiving week off to spend time at home with my family. I pray the Lord blesses you with a wonderful week full of fun, food, family, friends, and fellowship with Him. I’ll meet you back here on November 28th eager to see where God takes us.
Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving,
Susan

United we stand, divided we fall.

2011-11-17T03:35:00.000-08:00

Don’t you just love the Psalms? I was reading Psalm 133 this morning and was moved by its simplistic yet powerful message.
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.” When there is unity among the body of Christ, the Lord bestows blessings. Why does the body of Christ focus on our differences instead of on our similarities? We have various denominations in the Church. The differences between the denominations were established by men, not Christ. Nowhere in scripture do we read about different denominations. Followers of Christ are referred to as THE church [66 times in the New Testament]. When the body of believers bickers among themselves over things that aren’t essential to the faith, we aid the enemy is his goal to destroy the church [Luke 11:17].
Yesterday I was blessed with a phone call from a dear friend in Ghana. When I travel there, he and I minister together. We travel the country spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to any and all who will listen. In the nine years I’ve known him, we’ve never discussed the differences between our churches. We both agree Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and that is the message we proclaim [John 14:6]. Things are done a little differently in a Ghanaian church than an American church. The differences aren’t stumbling blocks because the message is the same: Jesus.
Who among us wouldn’t love for the Lord to bestow blessings upon us? I’m sure we’d all gladly stand in the blessing line. Romans 12:18 says “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” When you encounter those who do things differently than you, ask yourself this question: Are we in agreement in the essentials of the faith? If the answer is yes, then let the rest go.

I’ve heard it said “In the essentials unity, in the nonessentials liberty, and in all things love.” We need to remember the lost are watching us, taking in all we do and say, and trying to decide if we are the real deal. They don’t need to be a part of strife and dissention. There is enough of that in the world already. Their decision to become part of the body of Christ may depend on your witness. Will your words and deeds lead them to the cross or drive them further away?

Be thankful!

2011-11-16T03:47:00.000-08:00

What are you thankful for? As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve found myself really pondering what I’m thankful for and have been sharing my praise and thanksgiving in my Facebook postings daily.
The first few days are quick and easy, I’m thankful for my husband, my children, my parents, my brothers and their families, and for Jesus. Then I found myself really thinking about the many blessings that I have and tend to take for granted, like my washing machine and dryer.
When I was in Ghana the first time a young girl in the orphanage invited me to help her do laundry. After an hour of squatting with no stool, washing clothes in cold water with a bar of soap as hard as a brick, my perspective changed on doing laundry at home. The few times I start to complain about the piles of laundry, I remember Josephine and thank God for my washer and dryer.
Psalm 100:4 says “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. We are called to be a people of thanks. When we begin to walk in a posture of thankfulness, we recognize how truly blessed we are and our problems and circumstances seem to get smaller as our pile of blessings grows larger.
What are you thankful for? Please post a comment and let us know so we can join in the praise party. I am thankful for faithful readers who take the time to pick up the phone, stop me at a ballgame or post a comment to tell me what this blog means to them. When I receive those messages of encouragement, then I turn and give thanks and praise to my Father, because He is the one who called me to write and the one who gives me the messages I share. To Him be the glory! A thankful heart is contagious. Don’t believe me? Try it and see.

Walk the Talk

2011-11-15T04:13:00.001-08:00

Are you on Facebook or Twitter? If you are, then you’ve seen lots of posts of famous quotes like “Be the change you want to see in the world” by Gandhi or “Spend time reading and receiving the Truth every morning, because the world will only lie to you the rest of the day” by an unknown author. Maybe you’ve seen people post their favorite Scripture verses like Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” or Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” These things are encouraging, but do they make a difference? Does it change how we live?
What if we all decided to live our lives like our Facebook and Twitter posts? What if we decided to be the change, to spend time in the Word, to rejoice in our days and trust in the LORD? That would make a difference. It wouldn’t just impact us and the way we see our lives and the situations that come our way, but it would impact everyone we come in contact with throughout our day. Let’s face it, other people would notice and some would be nosey enough to ask you the profound question everyone would be thinking…”What’s gotten into you?”
Jesus said in Acts 1:8 we are to be His witnesses everywhere we go. He told us in Matthew 5:16 to let our light shine because it would cause others to praise the Father. Our actions impact other people’s view of God.
I love Frank Edwards, the pastor of my church when I was a teenager. The first time he spoke to our youth group he said, “Your life may be the only Gospel some people read. Make it a good read.” The reason so many people have a problem with Christians today is we say one thing and do another. It’s time we started walking the talk.
I want to challenge you to live out your Facebook and Twitter posts. If you do, lives will be changed, starting with your own!

Let go of it, Linus!

2011-11-14T03:40:00.000-08:00

How many of you grew up watching and reading the Peanuts cartoons? If you’re familiar with them, one thought comes to mind when I say the name Linus…his blanket. He always had his blanket with him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an episode or cartoon when he wasn’t dragging his blanket around, collecting dust wherever he went. It’s referred to as his security blanket in some episodes, and Linus refuses to part with it.
Many of us carry our worries, cares, and problems around with us like Linus does his blanket. We drag them behind us, weighting us down. As we drag them through life, they collect more filth, thus weighing us down even more. Like Linus, many of us find security in what we carry. We like to complain about them and say we wish they would go away, yet as one woman put it when confronted: “I hate it, but at least I know what to expect.” We find some sort of odd comfort in dragging our problems, worries and concerns around with us.
God never intended for us to live life this way. He tells us in John 10:10 that He came to give us “abundant life”; some translations say “life to the full.” Abundant life or full life doesn’t include hauling along a pile of worries with us everywhere we go. Jesus died on the cross to take all of those with Him [Isaiah 53:5]. When we carry our burdens around with us giving them the ability to impact our lives, we are negating all Jesus did on the cross. Psalm 55:22 says “Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.” 1 Peter 5:7 says “Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.” He cares and He has gone to great lengths to demonstrate His love for us [John 3:16, Romans 5:8].
In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus recognizes we’ve got a heavy load. He offers to trade it for His load, telling us “"For My yoke is easy, and My load is light." So what are we waiting for? We have the opportunity to trade our heavy load with the Creator of heaven and earth for a lighter load. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty certain anything I’m carrying is no match for God. He can handle it and He’ll do a much better job with it than I will. Only He can take junk and cleanse it making it whiter than snow [Psalm 51:7]. It’s time we trade in our filthy blankets in exchange for what the Lord has for us. Are you willing? I promise He has something better for you.

Thank a veteran today!

2011-11-11T05:57:00.000-08:00

How many of you know a veteran? I had an uncle who served in the Korean War and Vietnam, and my great uncle served in World War two and Korea. When I was a little girl, I really didn’t think much about it. It was just what they did. They put on a uniform; they traveled on an airplane and did their job somewhere else. I didn’t understand the risk or the sacrifice.
When I started teaching, I got a close view of what our soldiers sacrifice. I had a kindergarten student, Scotty, whose father served in Project Desert Storm. I held him as he cried and dealt with his father’s absence at five years old. I learned from his mother the strain his absence put on her and the children, the constant fear, wondering if and when he would return home safely. In the past few years I’ve had two close friends serve overseas. One friend left his wife and two children to serve in Kosovo and another left his parents behind to serve at a young age in Iraq. The military had a face then. It was personal. People I loved and cared about were putting their lives on the line for me and my family.
In John 15:13 Jesus said “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” The men and women of the armed forces do this for each of us every day. While we wake up in the comfort of our homes to the sounds of our loved ones, many of them are waking up in places we’d never imagine sleeping to the sounds of gunfire and explosions. While we’re hugging our children and spouses and saying goodbye for the day, they are clinging to pictures, drawings, emails, and Skype time to be close to theirs.
Take time today to thank a veteran for serving to keep our country safe and pause in prayer for those who are still out there defending our country, our beliefs and our lives. Find out how to send an encouragement card or email to someone serving. Locate military families in your community and lend a hand. Be creative. We need to let our military know that we care for them and support them. It is the very least we can do for all they do for us.

Where do you go when trouble comes knocking on your door?

2011-11-10T02:51:00.000-08:00

What do you do when trouble comes knocking at your door? When someone at the company has to be let go and you were the last one hired? When the doctor calls with different results than you expected? When someone you thought would be by your side forever exits? Where do you go? Who do you turn to in difficult times?
The world would have you turn to selfish pleasures and indulgences that would numb the pain or harden your heart so you can no longer feel anything. The problem with the first solution is, the numbing factor wears off and you’re still left to face the difficulty before you. The latter solution doesn’t just block the sorrow from reaching your heart, but also the joy.
God offers throughout Scripture to be the place we run to when difficulties come our way. Isaiah 12:2 says “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation." Jeremiah 16:19 says “The Lord is my strength and my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” Psalm 9:9 says “The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” Psalm 18:2 says “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” The list of Scriptures promising to be our Rock, Redeemer, Restorer, Provider, Help, Refuge, Shield, and Strong Tower is as endless as the list of names we have for our God. No matter what the situation, He is there for you.
What are you facing today? Is it frightening? Do you feel like you’re facing it alone? He has promised He will never leave you nor forsake you [Deuteronomy 31:6,8, Joshua 1:5]. Whatever you have to walk through, He will walk through it with you [Psalm 23:4]. He will take you to the victory side of things it you will trust Him. What or who are you turning to today?

Thy Word

2011-11-09T03:23:00.000-08:00

When was the last time you got a new Bible? Last night one of the ladies from the Atlanta Bible study presented me with a new Bible. It is the “God’s Word” translation. We like to read our text from a variety of translations and several weeks ago she read from the God’s Word translation. We all loved it and I commented that I had never seen that translation before, so she ordered one for me.
There’s something special about a new Bible. The crispness of the pages and the smell of new leather, it’s very inviting. I found myself excited to pull it out this morning and see what the Lord had for me.
What draws you to the Word of God? 2 Timothy 3:16 says “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” however, I think we could add to the list. It brings a peace that surpasses all understanding to the soul [Philippians 4:7]. It gives direction [Psalm 119:105]. It is our immediate connection with Jesus [John 1:14]. It is our weapon of warfare [Ephesians 6:17]. We could go on and on.
Regardless of the translation of the Bible you possess, take time today to read it. The Lord will use it to feed you and strengthen you for your day. Meditate on what He feeds you throughout the day until your body absorbs it and it becomes a part of you.

Promises, promises!

2011-11-08T04:37:00.000-08:00

Do you like it when someone keeps a promise to you? Of course you do; who doesn’t. We all like to be able to take people at their word, when we can trust what they say and pledge to us.
Scripture holds countless promises from God. In order to know what those promises are, we need to spend time in the Word studying scripture. God is always true to His word. If He promises you something, you can take it to the bank. He will follow through; however, sometime He places conditions on His promises. There is something required of us in order to gain the promise. If you do this, then I’ll do that.
Jeremiah 11:4-5 is an example of an if/then promise. “Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God. Then I will fulfill the oath I wore to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey- the land you possess today.” If the Israelites obeyed God, He would give them the land He promised and be their God. So, why didn’t the ancestors already have the land? They failed to possess the land because they failed to keep up their part of the promise [Number 13:26-14:30].
Are there promises of God you want to see come to pass? Have you done your part? Have you done all God asked you to do in order for the promise to be fulfilled? If you’re not sure, ask Him. One thing is certain… He’s honest and will tell you the truth. It may be that He hasn’t purposed it to happen yet. The only way to know is to ask.

Worry, worry, go away. Don't come back another day!

2011-11-07T03:34:00.000-08:00

Are you a worrier? Do you give time to playing the “what it” game? Some people worry for the sake of worrying, however, others worry about real day to day issues, like basic needs. God is very clear on His thoughts of worry in Matthew 6:25-34. He doesn’t just suggest we not worry, He commands us not to worry. He commands us because He knows when we worry we are dividing our attention between Him and another, which is a sin. Ouch! Did that step on anyone else’s toes or just mine?
Matthew 6:25 it says “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes?” Therefore means “as a result.” When a verse starts out with the word “therefore” we need to look at the preceding verse to find the connection. Verse 24 says “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
If we choose to serve God, then we must put our full focus on Him and trust Him to meet all of our needs. He promises to in Philippians 4:19. When we put our focus on our needs rather than our God, we are attempting to serve two masters and God has clearly stated it isn’t possible. Our need becomes an idol and takes our attention away from God.
So where does worry come from? You don’t have to look far to find the culprit. Satan is trying to kill, steal, and destroy us [John 10:10]. He knows if he can cause us to shift our focus off of God he is one step closer to success. Worry goes hand and glove with fear. God says He didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control [2 Timothy 1:7]. So if God didn’t give it to us, it has to be from the enemy. Do you see how this vicious cycle starts?
So what do you do when fear or worry come knocking at your door? Simple- send it to Jesus. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” You’re not going to gain a thing by worrying, but you stand to lose a lot. When worry comes knocking at your door, pass it to Jesus and watch what He does with it. It’s no match for Him. He will demolish it and give you a peace that surpasses all understanding [Philippians 4:7]. Now that’s what I call trading up!

Bless us to make us a blessing!

2011-11-04T03:09:00.000-07:00

What is your favorite holiday? I love them all because I love to celebrate, but I have to say the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons stoke my fire. I am a natural giver. I love it. Jesus said “It is more blessed to give than to receive” and I can attest to the fact [Acts 20:25]. There is nothing more exciting to me that shopping for the perfect gift for someone then watching them open it or doing an act of service and seeing the surprised expression.
Jesus was and is a giver. He gave health [Matthew 8:13, Mark 5:24]. He gave life [John 11:25, John 11:43]. He gave basic needs [Matthew 14:15-21]. He gave peace [John 14:27]. He gave love [John 3:16]. He gave wisdom [James 1:5]. These are just a few of the many things Jesus gave to those He walked among and He continues to give to His followers today.
Why? Why would Jesus give and give and give? Because He gains great joy in providing for those He loves [Matthew 7:11]. He is blessed by blessing others. If we could grasp this concept and put it into practice, our lives would never be the same. Keep in mind tangible gifts are just one way of giving. You can also give acts of service, words of encouragement, quality time, and physical touch. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:8 “Freely you have received, freely give.” You are never more like Jesus than when you give freely to others. The great thing about the economy of God is when you try to bless others, you gain the blessing.
Nothing we are given it solely for us. Everything in the economy of God is increase. We are to take what we are given and use it to bless others just as Jesus did with the two fish and five loaves of bread [Matthew 14:15-21]. The young boy was given the lunch by his mother. He in turn gave his lunch to the disciples. They in turn gave the lunch to Jesus and then Jesus blessed it and gave it to over five thousand people. Whatever we give with a willing heart into the hands of the Lord will only bring increase. Lord, bless us and make us a blessing!

Fruit tasters needed...apply within!

2011-11-03T03:03:00.000-07:00

How do you feel about television evangelist? I’ve heard everything from “they’re all quacks” to people sending them money to support their ministry. Some people say it is hard to know if they are the real deal or a phony. So what is a believer to do?
Job 34:4 says “Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.” The word discern in this verse means “judge as if in a legal case.” We are to weigh the facts and come to a sound decision on the validity of the person and their message. The process would be easier if you could ask questions and probe a little, but sometimes you don’t have that opportunity. Matthew 7:16 says “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?”
One way we can discern if they are the real deal is by looking at their fruit. Are they yielding fruit that lines up with the Word of God? They can’t plant orange seeds and reap apples [Matthew 7:17-18]. If they are sowing truth, then they should be yielding fruit that lines up with the truth of God’s Word.
John 14:16-17a tells us the Lord sent us the Holy Spirit to be our counselor in this life. When we aren’t sure about the origin of the fruit we’re investigating, seek wisdom from the Counselor. He will guide us and direct us every step of the way.
Finally, by having knowledge and understanding of the Word of God we will know if something contradicts the Truth. Whenever I spoke with the students at Lovinggood FCA, I told them not to trust anything I said or anyone else for that matter. I strongly encouraged them to test everything they heard by lining it up with the Word of God. If it was a match, then it was a good word to hang onto, however, if it contradicted the Word of God, it was to be cast aside. Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- His good, pleasing and perfect will.” The more time we spend in the Word, the more our mind is renewed, enabling us to determine right from wrong.
There’s a lot of fruit thrown our way. Some of it is good and some of it is rotten. We need to be aware there are plenty of people who teach and preach in the name of Jesus, but their teaching and preaching does not line up with who He is or His message [Matthew 7:22-23]. The enemy has been a poser from the beginning of time and he is all about taking rotten fruit and trying to pass it off as good. Through discernment, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God, we will be able to spot rotten fruit from a mile away and turn from it. God is looking for excellent fruit tasters. He will provide all the training we need. Apply within!

Are you ready for a workout?

2011-11-02T03:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever committed to complete a workout program, such as Insanity or P90X? Have you trained for a race of some kind? Both require a high level of dedication and commitment. Not only do you have to commit to do certain things, such as wake up extra early or set aside chunks of your day, but you have to be willing to abstain from certain things. Your body requires more rest so your muscles can repair, so you might have to give up late night television or going out late with friends and family. You may have to turn down certain engagements because they interfere with your commitment to train. You may also have to pass on certain food or beverage choices, because they would sabotage all of your hard work. While the efforts may appear to be extreme to some people, the benefits outweigh the sacrifice. Your body will display the external benefits of your commitment, but you also gain internal benefits such as a stronger heart and increased strength.
1 Timothy 4:7a-8 says “Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” We all understand we won’t have a physically fit body without training, dedication and sacrifice; however, many of us want godliness without the work. It isn’t possible. Just like you have to make choices to support your physical training so you will succeed, you have to do the same in your spiritual quest. There may be things, practices, or people you no longer expose yourself to in order to remain focused on your goal.
We must recognize we reap what we sow spiritually also [Hosea 10:12]. If we are willing to meet with our Trainer daily and give Him the commitment and dedication and athlete gives to their sport, we will reap a life of godliness. It won’t come easily, but then again anything worth having is worth working for, isn’t it? There’s no time like the present to get started. Let’s build some spiritual muscle!

Gotta light?

2011-11-01T03:49:00.000-07:00

Have you ever tried to maneuver your way around in the dark? It isn’t easy. You can’t see where to place your feet. You never know if you’re about to step on something or in something causing you trouble or great pain.
On my first trip to Ghana, we were leaving an event late at night. The village children wanted to walk me back to where we were staying. With the missionaries approval I was led off with a child holding each hand. They took me deep into the bush, telling me it was a short cut. Dark takes on a whole new meaning in Africa. There are no street lights or parking lot lights helping to guide your way. You might as well be in a building with no windows or doors in the dark trying to find your way around. I had a flashlight, but the batter was low, so I honestly had no more light than if I’d struck a match. At one point we crossed a bridge, and I use that term loosely, over a small creek. The children told me to be careful and watch where I put my foot because I didn’t want to fall through the bridge. Black cobras swam in the water below. I was thankful for the light I had, no matter how small, because it kept me from harm.
The Word is like a flashlight for us, lighting our way as we walk the path of life. Psalm 119:5 says “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” The Word of God illuminates where we are, the choices we’re facing, and points out the right one to make. It is there to protect us. 2 Timothy 3:16 says “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” which makes it helpful along our journey.
If I had simply carried my flashlight with me through the bush but didn’t turn it on, it would have been of no use to me. The same is true of the Word of God. We have to use it for its intended purpose in order to benefit from it. Carrying a copy of the Bible in our car or purse without using it won't do much for us. Unlike a flashlight, if we study and meditate on the Word of God, it becomes a part of who we are and we’ll have it when we need to use it [Psalm 119:11].
Take some time to store the Word in your heart today. You never know when you’ll need it and this way you won’t have to leave home without it!

Is purity possible?

2011-10-31T03:28:00.000-07:00

How can a young person, really any person, stay on the path of purity? Have you ever given this question any thought? Would it encourage you to know God has?
Psalm 119:9a says “How can a young person stay on the path of purity?” It obviously must matter to the Lord because He went so far as to put the question in His Word. Purity is a big deal to God, because He knows what happens to those who do not remain pure. He knows how impurity doesn’t just wreck lives, it wrecks families and futures.
If you look to our culture, the idea of purity is almost nonexistent. The modern day philosophy is if you don’t get AIDS and you don’t get pregnant, then you’ve dodged a bullet. Anything else gets a green light culturally speaking. No wonder our young people have difficulty maneuvering their way through this. Sadly, our young people aren’t the only ones who fall in the area of purity.
The Good News is God has the answer. If you continue reading in Psalm 119:9 He clearly tells us how to stay on the path of purity: “By living according to Your Word.” Living life as the Word of God directs is how to remain on the path of purity.
You see, the world says anything goes, but God doesn’t. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 says “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” Holy means set apart. He’s calling us to live life differently.
Having an understanding of what God calls love helps us to live a life of purity. The word love in Scripture can be philia, eros, or agape. Philia is the Greek word for brotherly love or friendship. This is what you feel for your BFF. Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, derives its name from Philia. This is the bond between friends that carries you through time.
Eros is the love of things that bring you pleasure and are discarded when they ceases to bring you pleasure. This is the kind of love you have for inanimate objects, such as computers, cell phones, cars, etc. You love your cell phone and you enjoy using it, but when a newer, faster model comes out you’re more than willing to cast the one you have aside to acquire the latest technology. Now your old phone doesn’t get its feelings hurt and say “She just used me. She pushed my buttons and then cast me aside.” Of course not, it’s an object created to be used.
Agape is unconditional love that is selfless and loves even when love isn’t returned. This is the love God has for us [John 3:16, Romans 5:8]. It’s safe to be vulnerable in this type of relationship. God intended for sex to reside in agape love relationships between a husband and a wife [Genesis 2:23-24].
Agape love is spoken about throughout Song of Solomon. It is the love 1 Corinthians 13 speaks of in verses 4-13: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
When we gain a true understanding of the word love, we will look at our relationships differently. To be a people of purity, we have to do things God’s way. Apart from Him we will fail, and fail miserably [John 15:5].
Ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal any misconceptions you have about love and sex. Ask Him to show you how He would have you relate to others, what is appropriate and what is inappropriate. Reflect upon your relationships with others and make sure they’re in line with the way God’s Word calls us to live.
You’ll be amazed by what He reveals. He’s not standing by waiting to kick us when we’re down. He is for us and He desires to give us abundant life [John 10:10]. When we open ourselves up to His best, He won’t let us down. 1 John 4:8 tells us God is love…God is agape. His desire for us is to live in His agape.

Workout Time!

2011-10-28T03:43:00.000-07:00

Have you ever tried to get back into working out after a long break? It has been four months since I’ve been able to work out because of my ankle injury. I started back this week with weight lifting and I have to say I feel like a wimp. Just before I injured my ankle I was considering purchasing more weights because I had worked my way through all of the weights I had. This week, I’ve had to start with the smallest weights I own and they’ve been difficult.
The same can be true in our spiritual walk. If you’ve gone a long time without regularly meeting with the Lord or if you’ve never had a quiet time, I don’t recommend you start off with reading a whole book of the Bible in one sitting nor have a two hour prayer session. You’ll get frustrated and quit before you even get started. Take it slow, one step at a time. You don’t want your time with the Lord to be something you dread. You want it to be something you look forward to, eagerly anticipate.
Just like working out is important for us to be in the best physical health we can, spending time alone with Jesus is critical for spiritual health. Even Jesus, the Son of God, knew He needed time alone with the Father [Mark 1:35]. If the Son of God needs it to get through His day, we certainly do.
When the disciples walked the earth with Jesus, He was their teacher. He used the Word of God to teach, rebuke, correct, and train them [2 Timothy 3:16]. When we pause to read and meditate on the Word, we are allowing Jesus to be our teacher [Jesus 1:14]. There is no better source available to us. When we take time to quiet ourselves before Him and soak in who He is and what He has to say to us, it changes us [Psalm 46:10].
It’s time to begin your spiritual workout program. Your trainer is none other than Jesus. The tools you need are the Bible, an open heart, and a willingness to sacrifice time each day to learn and be filled. Your spiritual health is depending on it. Are you ready to begin?

Run, Forrest, Run!

2011-10-27T03:38:00.000-07:00

Are you a runner? I have said on more than one occasion I only run if someone is shooting at me. In reality, I have been known to run, but I simply do not care for it at all, especially when I can reach the same destination by walking.
My younger brother, Steve, is an Iron Man. Four years ago this month in Florida I watched him complete the race. It was an amazing accomplishment and fascinating to watch. He swam 2 miles, biked 113 miles then ran 26.2 miles all in the same day because he wanted to do it. CRAZY! I truly think people who put themselves through that kind of agony are nuts.
I captured his race on film for him. I would snap a couple of pictures at one point, then jump in the car and race ahead to meet him at another stop. Several of the pictures show his concentration and determination written all over his face. He’s actually only looking at me in one shot. Every other picture shows him focused on the road before him. His goal was to complete the race- to cross the finish line- and he kept his focus there throughout the entire race, no matter how difficult it was from time to time.
Our goal is Jesus. Philippians 3:14 says “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Just as Steve had to keep the finish line in his mind’s eye throughout the Iron Man race, we must keep Jesus in our mind’s eye in the race of life. Hebrews 12:2 says “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Jesus endured a lot to get to heaven to open the door for us to enter. He endured far more than you or I could imagine, yet He did it willingly to have relationship with us eternally.
Sometimes, we feel like we can’t endure what we are facing. During those times, the Lord builds us up and strengthens us through the body of Christ [Proverbs 27:17]. Just knowing someone else is for us, cheering us on can spur us to go the distance [Ecclesiastes 4:9].
As I’ve said, I don’t like to run; however, I did run a 5K back in the spring for Not For Sale. It was for a good cause and I was able to walk and run the course. As I drew closer to the finish line, I heard music playing and cheering. People who didn’t know me, who had already made it to the finish line were standing there cheering me on. It sparked something inside of me and caused me to run harder and faster than I thought I could.
As believers, we need to remember we have a crowd of believers who have gone on before us who have crossed the finish line and they are cheering us on. Hebrews 12:1 says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Each one of us has a race the Lord has put before us. We’ll encounter others along the way, but the race we are running is our race, marked out by God for us to run. It’s your time. What are you waiting for? Run, Forrest, run!

Walking the Talk!

2011-10-26T03:39:00.000-07:00

Have you ever read a segment of Scripture and wondered how on earth you could possibly apply it to your life? I’m sure we’ve all felt that way from time to time. Some parts of Scripture seem easier than others to put into practice; however, as followers of Christ we don’t get to pick and choose. We either accept all of it as truth, applying it to our lives, or we reject it all.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” How many of us have been able to fulfill that Scripture on our own? None! There is not one of us who can will ourselves to walk this out. Fortunately, further down in verse twenty-four we read “The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” God never intended for us to walk this journey alone. He knew we weren’t capable of living out Scripture in our own strength and it was never His desire. He desires a relationship with us [John 17:20-21]. He created us for relationship with Him. He made it possible for us to have relationship with Him and to succeed in living out His will for our lives [John 3:16].
So let’s look at 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. “Rejoice always” doesn’t mean we have a throw down party when our lives fall apart. Rejoice means to take delight in, to be glad. God isn’t saying be happy when someone you know dies, rather, take delight in knowing you aren’t alone and God will carry you through [Deuteronomy 31:6,8, Psalm 23:4]. “Pray continually” doesn’t mean we have to lock ourselves in a closet and pray twenty-four seven without being able to function in society. Pray continually means to maintain an ongoing conversation with God, asking His advice, sharing your victories and crying out to Him in your pain, without ever shutting Him out. “Give thanks in all circumstances” simply means recognizing that even the hard times can be good times with Jesus and thanking Him for believing in us and our ability to persevere with Him [Romans 8:28, James 1:2-4].
When we put these things into practice, then we will find ourselves in the will of God. Now I don’t know about you, but I think that’s a place I’d like to reside for the rest of my life.
What do you have to rejoice about today? Is there something you need to talk over with Jesus, but you’ve kept Him at arm’s length on the issue? Have you failed to thank Him for all things, even the bad things that come your way? He’s by your side, eager and waiting, to usher you into His perfect will. Will you let Him?

Which culture are you living in?

2011-10-25T02:38:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed almost every aspect of the Christian life is counter cultural to the American culture? The America culture says it’s all about self, what you can do, and what you can acquire. Kingdom culture says it is all about Jesus. Matthew 16:24 Jesus says “"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” The American culture says it is a dog eat dog world and remember you’re number one. Kingdom culture tells us to treat others the way we want to be treated and not to think too highly of ourselves [Luke 6:31, Romans 12:3]. Jesus is number one. It is completely counter cultural.
Psalm 112:7-8a says “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;” The “they” this verse speaks of is the righteous, followers of Christ. It doesn’t say bad things don’t come their way. In fact, we’re promised trouble will come our way [John 16:33]. What it does say, is we will not fear what comes our way, because our trust is in the Lord.
Peter demonstrated, in Matthew 14:25-31, if we focus on our Lord rather than our circumstances, we will experience amazing things. 2 Timothy 1:7 says “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” It doesn’t mean we don’t experience fear because of what we can muster up on our own. It means we don’t give in to fear because we know our God is bigger than anything we fear.
The Kingdom culture mindset is “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
The American culture is known for worry, stress, and anxiety. The Kingdom culture is known for rest and peace. You decided which culture you’re going to live in…the choice is yours. Will it be the American culture or Kingdom culture? As Joshua 24:15 states, I’m choosing the LORD and Kingdom culture. What about you?

Where are you hiking? Are you hiking alone?

2011-10-24T02:34:00.000-07:00

Do you like to hike? I enjoy hiking Kennesaw Mountain when I get the chance. There are lots of trails all along the mountain. You and I could both hike up the mountain and back and never see one another unless we were on the exact same trail.
In our world today, people of other faiths would like for us to believe that all roads lead to God and as long as we’re on a path to God, we’ll reach Him. Matthew 7:14 says “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” So many people are being misled by the “all roads lead to God” mentality. Jesus did not mince words in John 14:6 when He said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” While there are many pathways to religion, there is only One pathway to God and that’s Jesus. It isn’t exclusive, as some people would like to convince you. The Lord has opened Himself up to anyone and everyone who would seek Him. His heart is that none should perish [John 3:16]. The Christian faith is inclusive, but specific [John 14:6]. All are invited to be a part of it, but there is one way and one way only to obtain it.
David Platt talks of how he was on a mountaintop talking with a Buddhist and a Muslim about their beliefs. One of the men said they were all alike in their pursuits, but just reached the goal differently. David asked them if they believed God was at the top of the mountain and they all took different paths to reach Him. Yes, they said in agreement. But David quickly pointed out the major difference. In every religion in the world except Christianity, mankind is trying to climb the mountain (so to speak) to reach God, but in Christianity, God came down the mountain to reach man [John 1:14].
In order for us to encounter the Lord Jesus Christ, we need to be on the right path, the narrow path, searching for Him. When we search for Him with our whole heart, we will find Him [Jeremiah 29:13]. The good news is the search for Jesus doesn’t require a huge hike up a mountain. All we have to do is call upon His name and He is there. Jeremiah 33:3 says “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
What path are you hiking today? Is it the narrow one that leads to the Lord? Even though it is a narrow path, others can follow you to Him. We may have to go single file, but we can still have others following us to Him. Reach out today and invite someone to join you in your journey to Jesus. There are so many lost, without hope, without direction, without a clue. You hold the answer, the gift of eternal life. It’s time to share what you have with others and ask them to join you for a hike.

Stand!

2011-10-21T03:04:00.000-07:00

What are you willing to stand for today? People take a stand for a variety of things. Some examples are politics, animal rights, health issues, and individual freedoms and rights.
What exactly does it mean to take a stand? The Free Dictionary defines it this way: “To take up or maintain a specified position, altitude, or course.” Wonderopolis says “Standing… is active. When you stand, you take action. That’s why standing is associated with believing in and supporting a cause.”
Isaiah 7:9b in the NIV says “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” The Message puts it this way: “If you don’t take your stand in faith, you won’t have a leg to stand on.” And finally, the King James Versions says “If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.”
All of these translations imply choice and action. God could have made us love Him and taken the choice from us, but who wants to be loved by force. That isn’t love. Love is a decision. We must choose to love another and when we choose to love the other person, we demonstrate it through our actions, what we say and do.
What are your actions saying about how you feel about God? Would others look at your life- the things you say, the things you do, what you give yourself to, what you invest your resources in, what breaks your heart- and determine you are a lover and follower of Jesus? The Word clearly tells us in Matthew 7:21-23 there will be people who will come face to face with Jesus claiming to know Him and He will say “I never knew you.” There wouldn’t be enough evidence to support their claim of knowing Him and serving Him through words and deeds.
My pastor, Tom Tanner, tells a story of feeling convicted to literally take a stand for Jesus at a church service so he stood up in his chair. He said he knew it was weird, but he also knew God told him to do it. There was only one other person in that church standing in their chair and it was his wife. Sometimes God may call you to do some really radical things. If you love Him, nothing is too great for Him to ask of you. He stopped at nothing to take a stand for you and me. What will you do? The choice is ours. We’ll all give ourselves to something and take a stand for it, either God or self.
There’s an old hymn that should be the mantra of believers: “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.” The only sure foundation we can stand on without slipping is Christ. In 2 Samuel 22:2-3 David declares “"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior-- from violent men You save me.” God said David was a man after His own heart [1 Samuel 13:14].
What is your heart after? What are you pursing? If it isn’t Jesus, then you won’t be standing long.

A Man After God's Heart!

2011-10-20T05:29:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been out of the country? My heart’s desire is to travel the world to see the faces of the different races and nationalities I’ve prayed for this year and share God’s love with them. I have been blessed to go to Ghana, West Africa four times. I find when I go there I am the one who comes away from the trip richer. When I’m there, without the distractions of everyday life,I'm blown away by the ways God reveals Himself. One of the ways He always speaks to be is by watching my friend, Eddie, in action.
Eddie Nsafoa is a mighty man of God I met back in 2003. He greeted me with an enormous smile and a holy hug the first time I met him. We instantly became close friends and over the course of that trip he became “closer than a brother” in many ways [Proverbs 18:24]. Eddie is a poor man by the world’s standards. In our country, we say we live “paycheck to paycheck” if things are tight. Eddie lives job to job as a driver and completely trusts God in between. He is the living, breathing example of Mark 12:41-44. He doesn’t give out of abundant wealth; he gives out of extreme poverty and he gives all he has.
On my last trip to Ghana we took gift bags for Eddie and his family. We gave each of them a new pair of shoes, two new outfits, toys and candy for the children, household items for his wife, Regina, and Bibles for Eddie so he could give them away at his crusades he does in the bush. There was a great celebration in their house as they opened their gifts. We were showered with hugs, kisses and blessing, but what happened next was my undoing.
Eddie spoke to his children in Twi and immediately they left the room and went to their bedrooms. When I asked him what was going on he said, “Oh, Mommy, you have blessed us richly. Now we must bless others who have so little.” He sent his children to their room to gather a pair of shoes, two outfits and some toys they had to take to a family in their village who had great need. I was driven to tears. When I asked him why, his response came quickly. “Oh, Mommy, you teach us to do this every time you come and bring us something new. You sacrifice to get to us and bless us so we must sacrifice to bless others.”
Eddie, a pour Ghanaian man, has taught me more about living out my faith than I have ever taught him. He truly embraces and lives out Luke 6:31, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Today is Eddie’s birthday and so today I pay tribute to a mighty man of God I have been blessed to call my brother and my friend. May we all learn from and live like Eddie Nsafoa, a man after God’s heart!

A Good Marinade

2011-10-19T03:38:00.000-07:00

Do you like to cook? It is one of my favorite things to do. I love cooking on the weekends when we’re not rushing in a million different directions. I can take time to try new recipes or pull out old favorites.
I like creating marinades for meat to soak in for the day before putting them on the grill. By soaking in a marinade over a long period of time the meat becomes infused with the flavors of the marinade. This only happens when it is allowed to soak for a period of time. If I just place it in the marinade for a few minutes, I won’t even taste the flavors when it’s cooked. The marinade will only be on the surface and will burn off when I put it on the grill. It has to soak in order for the flavors to penetrate the surface and impact the flavor of the meat. The heat of the grill is what makes the flavors of the meat come alive. Heat intensifies the flavors throughout the meat making an average cut of meat taste like choice meat.
What do you allow yourself to soak in each day? Do you soak in television, social media, movies, books, or the company of other people? What about the Word of God? Do you soak in it? Psalm 46:10 says "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." To truly soak in the Lord, you must take time with Him. This isn’t a rush job if you want His Word, His Spirit, His character and personality to permeate through you. Just like a rush job of marinating meat doesn’t change the flavor of the meat, a rush job with the Lord will not change you. Psalm 37:7a says “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him” not rush through. We have to be patient and willing to wait for God to do His best work.
Trials and troubles are a part of life [John 16:33]. They are the heat that reveals what’s inside us. Everyone experiences them, even sold out believers. As one pastor said “You can’t walk into who you’re walking beside.” If you’re walking beside the Lord, you’re bound to run into the enemy. Let’s face it, if you are for Jesus, the enemy doesn’t like you. In fact, he hates you and wants to bring harm your way [John 10:10].
Fortunately for us, the later part of John 16:33 says “I have overcome the world.” Jesus is an overcomer and He protects His own [John 17:11, 15.] 2 Thessalonians 3:3 says “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” So, when the heat of life comes at you, if you are strong in the Lord, the only thing that happens as a result of the heat is the glorification of God [Ephesians 6:10]. He rises to the surface. Now that’s a win-win situation.
On our own, we’re just average at best and we really can’t accomplish much of anything [John 15:5]. However, when we soak in the presence of the living God and allow Him to permeate us, we become royalty and nothing is impossible [Luke 1:37, 1 Peter 2:9]. What are you soaking in today?

Have you eaten today?

2011-10-18T03:06:00.000-07:00

Have you eaten breakfast today? It’s been said breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Research shows children who have breakfast before school have a higher performance rate than those who don’t. They also have less behavior problems, get along well with others and are less likely to be obese. These results have sustained the test of time and have caused school systems to begin making breakfast available to their students each morning. Breakfast is important for optimal health.
Charles Poliguin, a world leader in strength and health education, says people who eat breakfast are leaner, are less likely to develop the disease of diabetes, are smarter, are less likely to turn to addictions, are less likely to die prematurely, have more friends and are overall happier people. Please pass the cereal and milk, right? Who wouldn't want that to be their situation, right?
These same results can be applied to your spiritual diet. Psalm 34:8 says “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” Jesus offers Himself to us but it is up to us to take advantage of the gift He’s offering. To have optimal spiritual, mental and physical health, we need to feast on the Lord daily. Remember, apart from Him we can’t accomplish anything of worth or value [John 15:5]. When we take time to sit in His presence, to fill our empty places with His Word, then we have something to sustain us when we face the world. We’re less likely to look to the false gods of our culture to fulfill us when we’re full of the Lord. We make wiser choices throughout our day. We’re more likely to be carriers of the joy of the Lord, thus making ourselves and those around us happier [Nehemiah 8:10b].
Just as those who starve themselves from nutritional sustenance will get weak, sick, and eventually die, those who fail to feast on the Lord grow weaker in their faith and will die without feeding their soul what it needs to be healthy.
What have you eaten today, if anything? Is it quality or is it junk? Will it sustain you for the long haul of the day or will your energy fizzle out.
Psalm 28:7 says “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.” Feast on the Lord today so you’ll have strength to face whatever comes your way and joy to carry you through.

What's your story?

2011-10-17T03:11:00.000-07:00

Do you like to hear a good story? I do! I especially love listening to an older person share their stories of life long ago. It never fails, they always have some captivating hook or draw and I’ll sit on the edge of my seat throughout their entire tale waiting for the moment when trial turns to triumph.
We all have a story to tell, with the climactic point when everything turns around. It’s called our testimony and it is meant to be shared. Psalm 107:2a says “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.” We are meant to share our story. We don’t have to tell it from a stage or in a large group setting, although some of us will. It may be one on one, but either way it carries the same impact. Something within us stirs when we hear about the Lord redeeming another. If we don’t know Him, we’re drawn to the story in hopes that this Jesus can do the same for us. If we do know Him, we celebrate with the angels as another lost sheep is found by the Shepherd and brought back into safety [Matthew 18:12-14].
Acts 1:8 tells us we’re called to be His witnesses to the world. The Greek word for witness is martus, which is where we get our word martyr. As we share in the sufferings of Christ, as we overcome struggles in life, we testify to the goodness of God. We share with others how He carried us through and how He was more than enough to get us to the other side of our hardship.
Revelation 12:11 speaks of those who are victorious in Christ. It says “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Your testimony is important and the telling of it strengthens your faith and the faith of those who hear it. Your message may be the very one that leads another to Christ.
So, what’s your story? How has Jesus changed your life? I’d really love to hear from some of you. Post a comment and tell us how Christ moved in your life. We’ll all be blessed from it and gain strength!

Step 1: Pray!

2011-10-14T03:10:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to the school of hard knocks? You know the one I’m talking about, where they give you the test first and then teach you the lesson. It’s not easy. How do you handle it?
So many times when difficult things happen in life people ask “What can I do for you other than just pray?” as if prayer isn’t going to impact the situation at all. Other times people will try every solution possible and then turn to prayer as a last resort.
Pray carries more power than any other human action. It changes things. Prayer raises the dead [John 11:41-44]. Prayer rescues people from bondage [Acts 12:5-17]. Prayer brings provision [Matthew 14:18-21]. These are just three examples of how sincere prayer brought about miraculous results in Scripture. I’m sure if we polled everyone reading this, we could all testify to a situation where prayer made all the difference in the world.
What difficulty are you facing today? Before you take any other action, pause and pray. What happens just might blow your mind!

Which way do we go?

2011-10-13T03:48:00.000-07:00

Have you ever gotten lost while driving somewhere? If you have plenty of time to get to your destination and a full tank of gas it isn’t nearly as stressful as if you were running late and on fumes. I think men invented the GPS so they’d never have to stop and ask for directions again. Between a GPS and a road map, you can get virtually anywhere you want to travel.
God knows we need tools to maneuver our way through life. He promised in Hebrews 13:20-21 to equip us with whatever we need. He has given each of us a roadmap for our faith journey [John 1:1, 14]. If we will study it and refer to it on a regular basis, as He did, then we’ll be familiar with the terrain we’re traveling [Mark 1:35]. He also equipped us with a GPS [Acts 1:8]. The Holy Spirit talks to us and guides and directs our ever step to make sure we remain on the proper path along our journey.
The devil will come around and try to trip you up by putting up detour signs [John 10:10, 1 Peter 5:8]. Even if he can’t keep you from your destination, he will try and slow down your journey, get you frustrated, or cause you to quit. James 4:7 reminds us to “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Life is a journey, not a destination. We need to realize there may be bumps in the road, sharp turns, and lots of pot holes, but God is familiar with the road. He knows the easiest way to travel it and He is willing to give us the information we need to make the trip with as few complications as possible, but we must be willing to pause and ask Him for directions.

Are you tired of sitting in pig slop?

2011-10-12T03:47:00.000-07:00

Are you familiar with the parable of the prodigal son? It can be found in Lik1 15:11-32. A man had two sons and the youngest son wanted his share of the estate. He took his money and left home, squandering it away on wild living [vs. 13]. He wound up hiring himself to feed someone's pigs because he had to earn money to eat. Keep in mind, Jews thought pigs were the lowest of low, so this wasn't just a farming job he was doing.
Can you imagine? You used to live in a nice house, with servants, where you wanted for nothing and now you're envying pigs because they have food to eat. Whenever slop starts looking good to us, we know we’re in a bad way.
Verse twelve says “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!’” He recognized how even the servants had it good in his father’s house and he longed to return.
The son had a change of heart, a turning so to speak. In verses eighteen and nineteen he recognized his sin and was determined to return home and hire himself out to his father. Now that is a humble and broken heart.
While the son is gone, the father is desperate for him to return and waits for him day after day, wondering if he’ll see his son again. Can you picture this father looking down the long driveway each day, longing for his son’s return? He just wants another glance of him, a chance to throw his arms around his son and tell him that he loves him. The father’s heart is for his son, yet he can’t restore the son until the son chooses to return. The son has to return to activate the process.
The same is true of us. The Father is ready to restore us, but we must return to Him to activate the process. If your life feels like you’re living on a pig farm, you have to ask yourself “What went wrong? When did I step out of the Father’s plan for my life and start living my own plan?”
The Father has great plans for your life; however, we have to embrace His plans and His way of life to live out those plans [Jeremiah 29:11]. We can’t do things our own way and then when the wheels fall of the bus ask God where He is. He isn’t the one who moved?
In order to live the life with the hope and future God promises, we have to stay on His path without taking detours. If we do take a detour, we can’t just complain about how it stinks and expect God to step in and fix it. That’s like one kindergarten child slapping another and then saying “Sorry!” when he gets placed in time out, only to slap another child the minute he gets out of time out. Sorry isn’t repentance and it won’t trigger God’s activity in a situation. God requires a repentant heart, a turning from our ways to God’s ways.
2 Chronicles 7:14 says “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
If you find yourself sitting in slop, it’s time to turn to the Father and all He has for you. He will not force Himself upon you. You have to release Him to work in your life. The change is up to you. So I ask yourself, are you tired of sitting in pig slop? Then go home, because your Father is waiting for you.

I thanks God for dirty dishes...

2011-10-11T03:12:00.001-07:00

Do you like Scotty McCreery, this year’s American Idol winner? My daughter, Laura, is a huge fan. This weekend we purchased his debut CD, Clear as Day. He has a lot of cute songs on it, but the one I found myself drawn to is entitled “Dirty Dishes.” Now before you start laughing, you have to read the lyrics.

Mama hollers "Supper time,
And don't make me tell you twice
Wash your hands and wipe your face.
The table's no place for your toys,
And try to use your inside voice,
Don't dig in 'til we say Grace."
So we put down our forks and bowed our heads
And then she prayed the strangest prayer ever said:

I wanna thank you Lord,
For noisy children and slamming doors,
And clothes scattered all over the floor,
My husband workin' all the time,
Draggin' in dead tired at night,
My never ending messy kitchen
And dirty dishes."

We all got real still and quiet,
And daddy asked "Honey, you alright?"
She said, "Dear, ain't nothing wrong,
Noisy kids are happy kids,
And slamming doors just means we live,
In a warm and loving home,
Your long hours and those dishes in the sink,
Means a job and enough to eat.

So I'm gonna thank You Lord,
For noisy children and slamming doors,
And clothes scattered all over the floor,
My husband workin' all the time,
Draggin' in dead tired at night,
My never ending messy kitchen

For my little busy bees
Beggin' mama, mama can you please?
Always wantin' me to call their name
Loads of laundry pilin' up
Their arms cushed into the (?)
In those little sticky kisses
And dirty dishes,
And dirty dishes...

The premise of the song is to thank God for what you have and see the beauty of all things. God is the creator of all things [Ecclesiastes 11:5]. He works all things together for good, even things that may be tiring, cumbersome at times, or even repetitive [Romans 8:28]. We can choose to look at the bad in our circumstances or we can choose to look for the God. This song looks at God in the midst of the chaos of the life of a housewife.
Your chaos may not come in the form of piled up laundry and dirty dishes. Maybe your chaos is files stacked high, phone calls to make, trips to take and deals to make, but no matter what it is made up of, you can find God in the midst of it if you look for Him [Deuteronomy 4:29, Proverbs 8:17 and Jeremiah 29:13].
Pause for a moment today and ask the Lord to give you a new perspective on your circumstances. Ask Him to reveal His purposes in what you’re going through. You might just find you have your own lyrics to write.

Got Joy?

2011-10-10T03:34:00.000-07:00

Do you enjoy reading the Psalms? I find each time I read a psalm I learn something new and exciting. I was recently reading Psalm 100 and made an interesting discovery I’d like to share.
It’s only five short verses, but there is a powerful message hidden in it for us. Take a moment and read it.
Psalm 100: “A psalm. For giving thanks. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Did you see it? It is so simple, if we’re not careful we’ll miss it. Psalm 100 is a psalm of praise and celebration. It is an expression of deep rooted joy. Nowhere in the psalm does the writer mention good or bad things happening to him. His total focus is on the Lord and His splendor. Simple! Complete joy is rooted in focusing on the Lord and His splendor…not on what He has or hasn’t done for us…. not on what He has called us to do or caused us to walk through. The complete and total focus of the psalm and the psalmist is the Lord.
No matter what you’re walking through, what God has or hasn’t done for you or through you, if you want to experience deep rooted joy, there is only one way. You must cast your eyes upon the Lord, “the author of our faith” [Hebrews 12:2]. It is in Him we find complete joy [John 15:11]. Anything else is just a poor man’s substitute. Nehemiah 8:10 tells us “the joy of the Lord is our strength” and it is this strength that will carry us through any circumstance in life.
If you aren’t feeling very joyful, you might ask yourself “What am I focusing on?” Turns your eyes upon Jesus; you’ll never be disappointed.

Here comes the bride....

2011-10-07T04:23:00.000-07:00

Are you married? If so, do you remember your wedding day? I recently read a story of a bride who had her whole wedding hijacked by an overbearing mother-in-law to be. The bride wanted a small, intimate wedding with their closest friends. She had an elaborate social event of the season with four hundred guests. The bride only knew twenty of those four hundred.
It all started when the happy couple told the groom’s parents they only wanted a small engagement party, like a backyard barbeque. The mother of the groom said she didn’t want to entertain in her home so she moved to a more appropriate location. That location turned out to be the country club patio and the intimate occasion had one hundred sixty people attend.
Needless to say, the bride didn’t get what she wanted. She didn’t get what she expected. She had no one to blame but herself. It was her wedding and it was up to her to make the preparations. Instead, she allowed others to take over the preparations without consulting her and she got what she got…disappointment and dissatisfaction. She wanted a do over, but many times in life there aren’t do overs. Some things are a once in a lifetime.
So where am I going with this? We, the church, are the bride of Christ. We are responsible for making ourselves ready for the wedding with the Lamb [Revelation 19:7]. We have to take personal responsibility in the preparations. We can't count on our pastors, Sunday School teachers, parents or Bible study leaders to make us ready. We simply can’t defer to another.
How do we make ourselves ready? How do we prepare? We get to know our Bridegroom and what is important to Him. We spend time with Him daily [Deuteronomy 10:12, Psalm 63:4, Luke 1:37, John 17:11, 21]. We rid ourselves of anything impure [Psalm 51:10, 1 John 1:9].
We cannot neglect our preparations and expect it to go the way we want when Christ returns any more than this bride could neglect her wedding preparations and have the dream wedding she wanted.
It’s time to get busy. There’s a wedding in your future and you want to be ready when the Bridegroom arrives.
Mark 13:32-37: "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back-- whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'"

When the praises go up, the blessings come down!

2011-10-06T03:20:00.000-07:00

How are you today? Are things going well or are you going through a difficult time right now? When things are going well, it is easy to be upbeat and positive. You walk with a skip in your step and as my mama likes to say “Life is good!” Praising God seems natural.
What about when you’re in the middle of a difficult situation or in a full blown crisis? What do you do when you’re not sure how you’re going to pay the bills or how you’re going to hold your marriage together? Or when you have a wayward child who is doing the very things you prayed he or she never would? Do you praise God then?
The praise of our Lord should never be tied to our circumstances. He never ceases being who He is because our circumstances change. Hebrews 13:8 declares He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 2 Samuel 7:22 says “How great You are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like You, and there is no God but You, as we have heard with our own ears.”
Our problem isn’t going through difficult circumstances. We all have those from time to time [John 16:33]. Our problem is when we focus our attention on the greatness of our circumstances instead of the greatness of our God. When we focus on the greatness of our God, we will praise Him in all circumstance. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 says “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Years ago at my very first speaking engagement, I was blessed to meet two ladies who understood this concept. One had suffered a failed marriage and the other had battled breast cancer. They blessed me with a gift to remember our time together. It was a small, colorful plaque they purchased from a street vendor at a craft show going on that weekend. It reads “When the praises go up, the blessings come down.” The plaque hangs over my kitchen sink as a constant reminder to praise God for He is worthy of my praise and I am blessed!
The blessings aren’t necessarily the removal of our problems. The greatest blessing is knowing how great our God is and that He will be with us no matter what we face.
Take a moment today to reflect on how great our God is and tell Him about it. I promise you, you will be blessed!

Remember........

2011-10-05T03:05:00.000-07:00

Do you get together with friends or family and reminisce of times gone by? This week I gathered with my Ghana Girls, otherwise known as the GGs, because we are at the one year anniversary of our mission trip to Ghana. We sat around the table, sharing lunch and stories from our adventure across Ghana. Some of the stories brought extreme laughter while others brought tears. It strengthened each of us to remember all God had done in and through us a year ago.
Throughout Scripture, the Israelites are brought into remembrance of the faithfulness of God, and at times their lack of faithfulness. In Nehemiah 9, the Israelite gathered to celebrate the rebuilding of the wall. Ezra brings out the scrolls and reads of God’s faithfulness to His people from Abraham to their present day.
Psalm 30:4 says “Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.” Even today we are called to put ourselves in a posture of remembrance of all God has done for us and through us. It strengthens our faith when we see from our own testimony how He hasn’t left us or forsaken us [Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5]. It is one of the reasons we come together as believers [Hebrews 10:25]. We encourage one another with our testimony of His goodness and faithfulness.
Take a moment and reflect on the things God has done in and through you in the past year. You’ll find His fingerprints everywhere, even when you didn’t feel His presence at the time of struggle. He is with us. He goes through the tough stuff with us, by our side [Psalm 23:4]. Would you be willing to share a story or two with someone else? It would strengthen you and them at the same time.
I would love it if a few of you would post a comment of a time recently when God showed His faithfulness. He is faithful and it is time to testify.

Refuse to be distracted!

2011-10-04T02:36:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been doing something you felt God called you to do and experienced opposition? Nehemiah knows what it feels like. He felt called by God to return to Jerusalem from exile and rebuild the wall around it. He went to King Artaxerxes and received his blessing to go and do as he desired.
Almost from the moment he arrived in Jerusalem, he had opposition coming at him trying to avert his efforts. He, and those who went with him, finally finished the wall. All they had left to do was hang the gates and Sanballat and Tobias came at him again, trying to distract him and lure him away from his task. His response is recorded in Nehemiah 6:3: “I am doing a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave and go down for you?” I love it! Nehemiah refuses to be distracted by the enemy.
When the enemy’s tactics didn’t work, they regrouped and tried to sow seeds of fear in Nehemiah and the people. Nehemiah’s response to fear was simple…prayer. Immediately after the enemies spoke fear into the situation, Nehemiah went to the Lord in prayer addressing the very thing his enemies presented [Nehemiah 6:9]. Just six verses later you read the wall was completed and it was completed in record time.
Can you relate to Nehemiah? I can. As some of you know, I’ve been working on a book about the human sex trafficking of minors in Atlanta for over a year. The book is written and now I’m down to the final editing stages before it is submitted to publishers. The enemy has tried to throw every distraction imaginable in my path and I have clung to Nehemiah 6:3 declaring “I’m doing a great project and I cannot go down.” As I am in the last days of the project before submission, I’ve seen him try to plant seeds of fear and I have followed Nehemiah’s example and run to the Lord in prayer the instant those seeds try to take root. John 15:1 calls the Father the Gardener and if there’s one thing a gardener doesn’t like is weeds. He’ll pull them out by the roots. The Lord has done the same thing with the fear the enemy has attempted to plant in my heart.
What has God recently called you to do? Are you meeting opposition? Don’t lose sight of your project. Paul encourages us in Philippians 3:12-14 to “press on toward the goal.” If we will follow Nehemiah’s example, we will see God move in us and through us and we too will do things beyond our abilities [Nehemiah 6:15]. God desires to see you succeed in the task He has given you and He is right by your side every step of the way.

Time to engage!

2011-10-03T03:49:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been in a difficult situation and wondered “Where is God?” We know, according to Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 and Joshua 1:5, He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. We know He is for us and if God is for us, who can be against us? [Romans 8:31] However, at times, we feel like no progress is being made.
Reading through Nehemiah, I was drawn to Nehemiah 4:9: “But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.” The thing that stood out to me in this verse wasn’t that they prayed to God, but they also took action. They put their trust in God knowing He would be faithful, but they stepped up and did their part.
God isn’t our servant; He’s our Daddy and He wants us to be about His business, even when that business is protecting ourselves from harm [Luke 2:49]. Our relationship with Him is a partnership. We must work with Him, bringing to the table whatever we have trusting in Him to make up the difference. Let’s face it, when the disciples brought five loaves and two fish to Jesus to feed over five thousand people, it wasn’t much. When they paired what they had with what Jesus brought to the table, it was more than enough [John 6:13].
Not only did the Israelites partner with the Lord in Nehemaih, but they partnered with one another to face the battle before them [Nehemiah 4:16]. God tells us in Proverbs 27:17 we are to sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron. We come together making one another stronger and better because we are part of the body of Christ [1 Corinthians 12:27]. To quote my mama “That’s what families do!”
Nehemiah 4:20 reminds us “Our God will fight for us!” He is capable of doing it alone. He chooses to allow us to partner with Him.
What are you facing today? You’re not fighting it alone, but make sure you’re fighting. Don’t expect someone to come to your rescue while you sit. Ask yourself: Is there something I can do? Are there others around me who will come beside me and help me carry the load?
Even Moses had to have others come beside him in battle [Exodus 17:10-12]. Ask Lord for help. Ask Him to show you your part in the battle, and ask Him to send reinforcements. God always wins and when He’s on your side, so do you! It's time to engage.

Dream on.........

2011-09-30T03:06:00.000-07:00

Have you watched the new program, the X Factor? It is similar to American Idol; however, there is no cap on the age and the auditions are before a live audience with a panel of judges instead of in a room with only four judges. We’ve watched a few episodes of it and have been blown away by some of the talent. It’s been great to see people older than twenty-eight, the American Idol cut off age, that have ripped the roof off of the place with their voices.
There was one contestant in particular who stood out to me. This woman was forty-two years old. When Simon asked her why she was trying now, she said it was her last shot. She said she’s been singing since she was a little girl. She tried to make a go of things when she was younger; however, the man in her life told her she was a loser and she couldn’t sing. Not only did he beat her physically, but he beat her emotionally and mentally. Once she was given the “Good luck” cue from Simon, she began to sing and a star was born. The crowd erupted early on and didn’t settle down until after she finished her song. Simon, the doubting Thomas of the panel, kept saying “Wow” over and over. Needless to say, she heard “yes” four times and she’s on to the next level.
The Lord has plans for each of our lives [Jeremiah 29:11]. Many times He plants those seeds in our hearts when we’re young children. The enemy will do anything and everything he can to squash our dreams and try to make us believe our dreams are impossibilities. “Nothing is impossible with God” according to Luke 1:37. We also know “apart from God we can do nothing” [John 15:5]. When we take our dreams to Him and place them in His hands, the sky is the limit. Look at what He did with five loaves of bread and two fish [Matthew 14:21, Matthew 16:9, and Mark 6:44]. With Jesus, Peter walked on water [Matthew 14:29].
We need to pay attention to who we’re listening to and who we’re allowing to handle our dreams. Are you listening to the deceiver who came “only to kill, steal and destroy” or the One who came to give “abundant life” to you? Proverbs 16:3 says “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” That includes your dreams. You can trust Him with them. After all, He’s probably the One who planted them in your heart.
What are you dreaming today? Do you have a burning desire to do something different with your life, change career paths? Trust Him with it. Is there a book burning inside of you or a song that needs to be sung or you’ll burst? Trust Him with it. Joseph will tell you from first-hand experience, God likes dreamers and He likes to make their dreams come true [Genesis 37:5, Genesis 45:4]. He is the dream giver and the dream maker. You don’t have to click your heels three times in a pair of ruby red shoes. You don’t have to make a trip to Oz with a witch’s broomstick. You simply have to crawl into your Daddy’s lap, put your head upon His chest and tell Him your dreams. Place them in His capable hands and hold on tight. To quote Stephen Tyler of Aerosmith, “Dream on, dream on, dream on…..”

Access Denied!

2011-09-29T03:29:00.000-07:00

Do you have caller ID on your telephone? It’s great because it allows you to screen your calls. Now, I’m not one to just ignore phone calls, but there are times- like dinner time- when I don’t want to be interrupted. If I’m working and in the zone, I don’t want a phone call to interrupt. There are some phone calls we need to take and others we simply want to avoid.
The same is true with thoughts. We are not responsible for thoughts that come to our mind, but we are responsible for those we accept. It’s like someone knocking on your door…you can’t control who knocks, but you can control who you allow to come in your house.
We live in a sinful world. We only have to pick up a newspaper or turn on the television to see proof, yet we are called to be in the world and not of the world [2 Corinthians 10:3, 1 John 4:4]. We are clearly instructed on the thoughts we should allow access to our minds in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things.”
When there’s a knock at the door of your mind, screen it. You only have to accept the thoughts you want. You control what thoughts have access to your mind. If a thought isn’t one you care to embrace, then send the message loud and clear: ACCESS DENIED!

Check the records!

2011-09-28T03:11:00.000-07:00

What has God called you to do recently? You’ll know the call is from God if there is no way humanly possible you can make it happen. He rarely asks us to do anything we can do in our own strength, because everything He does has an underlying purpose of creating and strengthening a relationship between us and Him.
In the book of Ezra, the Israelites were called to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. In the first chapter of Ezra we find Cyrus, king of Persia, made a proclamation throughout his kingdom declaring the exiles were to return to Jerusalem and rebuild it. While the Israelites were in the process of building the temple, they faced some opposition. Does that sound familiar to you? You feel like the Lord has called you to do something and in the midst of it, you face opposition. To make matters worse, Cyrus was no longer king. Darius was now king. So the opposition traveled to King Darius trying to stir up trouble for the Israelites. King Darius, not knowing of the previous proclamation given by King Cyrus, sent the opposition to stop the construction. When the Israelites were challenged by the opposition, they basically replied “Check the records.” They challenged the opposition to have King Darius check his royal records and see if Cyrus ordered the reconstruction. King Darius found the Israelites to be correct and then he gave them his full support, but he also offered them his protection from anyone who stood in their way.
We need to realize we have the same weapons at our disposal when the enemy comes knocking at our door demanding us to stop whatever we’re doing. We need to tell him to check the record, the Word of God. God has given us work to do, as recorded in His Word, and we don’t have to listen to or obey the enemy. Matthew 28:18-20 or Acts 1:8 are just two Scriptures that proclaim our call to share the Gospel throughout the whole earth. We also have more promises than we can count throughout His Word and when the enemy tries to tell us otherwise, we don’t need to get angry or frightened. We simply need to tell him to check the records. The Record will prove our point. The battle isn’t ours to fight; it’s the Lords. And the Lord always wins! Always!
What have you been called to do, but felt incapable of doing it? The Lord has your back. He will work in you and through you to make it happen if you allow Him to do so. Let us never forget 1 Thessalonians 5:24 “The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.”

Don't forget to stop at the filling station!

2011-09-27T02:35:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like you’ve run out of gas? You’re out in the world doing all you can for Jesus, but you’re just exhausted and can’t seem to muster up enough energy to get it all done. This attitude puts our focus on us and our abilities instead of the Lord. He never asked us to do anything for Him other than have a relationship with Him. We’re the ones who put rules and regulations on how it is supposed to look. All He ever wanted us to do it “come” to Him [Matthew 14:29].
Many people get so caught up in works they miss the relationship. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.” It’s not about works. We can’t do enough, give enough, or pray enough to get into heaven. It's the result of God’s grace. All Jesus is interested in is a heart-felt, intimate relationship with us. He made it so simple; we make it so difficult.
If works were required, then the man on the cross beside Jesus didn’t stand a chance. In Luke 23:39-43 we find the two criminals being crucified with Christ. One of the criminals mocks Jesus, but the other rebukes the mocker asking him “Don’t you fear God?” [verse 40]. He then goes on to state he’s guilty of sin, but Jesus is sinless. He acknowledged Jesus and then asked Him to remember him when He came into His Kingdom. Jesus’ response in verse 43 was beautiful: "I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise." The criminal couldn’t do any works at that point to get into heaven. He was hanging on a cross with no hopes of coming down alive, yet the Lord said he would enter paradise. Why? Because all we need is the forgiveness of the King of kings and the Lord of lords to enter paradise. Why do we make it so hard?
Jesus tells us He knows we’re weary and He offers us rest [Matthew 11:28]. Many of us are weary because we’re busy trying to do so much for Jesus. Did He ask us to? Did He give us a check-list for entry to heaven? All He asks us to do is “come” to Him. It’s that simple.
Don’t get me wrong. I know faith without works is dead [James 2:26]. We just have things in the wrong order. We’re so busy doing things for Jesus; we fail to be with Him. We become human doings instead of human beings. He wants us to “be still and know” Him [Psalm 46:10]. He wants us to have intimacy with Him; then, out of our intimacy, out of an overflowing heart, we will do works. The works will be the evidence of our love relationship with Him, not our ticket into heaven because we have enough punches on our card to say we did enough.
Get alone with the Lord today and just “be” with Him. Allow Him to fill you up with everything you need to get through your day. You need to have a full tank so you won’t run out of gas in the middle of the day. He’s ready to fill you and you don’t need your wallet. He’s already paid the bill in full. Fill her up!

Don't leave home without it!

2011-09-26T03:24:00.000-07:00

Do you ever run late for an appointment? Please tell me I am not the only one. Well, thanks to my family, I know I’m not alone. This morning my son had planned to leave for school around 7:30 a.m.; however, it was more like 7:45 a.m. when they pulled out of the driveway. As I turned to walk inside, I saw all of his lacrosse gear in the garage floor. That was going to be a problem for him because he has lacrosse practice later today. He’s the goalie, so he stands there while his teammates shoot lacrosse balls at seventy to eighty miles per hour straight at the goal he’s standing in….he needs his gear. Without it, Sam would get injured and couldn’t even die if hit in the right place unprotected. I ran to the phone and called my daughter’s cell phone telling them to turn around and pick up his gear.
We’re the same way. We go through life with the enemy firing shots at us that can take us out if we aren’t protected. In fact, his plan is to make direct contact with unprotected areas to bring about the most harm possible [John 10:10a]. God knows this and He has made provisions for us to keep us safe. Ephesians 6:10-18 is about the armor of God we are to put on daily for our own safety. This doesn’t just magically appear on our bodies because we are believers. We must take time to collect our armor and assemble it on our bodies each day. When we fail to do it, we’re sitting ducks. Sometimes we go through our days so quickly, rushing here and there, we forget it. This is why the Lord calls us to be part of a body [1 Corinthians 12:27]. We are to be there for one another and sharpen one another [Proverbs 27:17]. If we notice someone going through life without their armor on, as their brother or sister in Christ we need to call them back to claim their gear. It’s sitting there waiting for them, but they have to pause long enough to retrieve it.
What are your plans today? Where are you going? Have you taken time to collect your armor and put it on today? If not, turn around, because it could be deadly to leave home without it.

Sway or Stay?

2011-09-23T02:55:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had to drive in inclement weather? Last night I had to drive home in the rain. It really wasn’t what I would classify as inclement weather, but as I drove I found myself reflecting on a time not too long ago when I did drive in snow and ice.
I was supposed to be the opening speaker for a women’s conference in Woodstock, Georgia. The weather forecasters were calling for one of the worst snow and ice storms we’d had in some time. It started snowing by late afternoon with no signs of stopping. The conference had sold out and there was a waiting list of women wanting to attend. I couldn’t bail out. I prayed about it and felt a strong "go" in my heart. As my friend and I climbed in the car, I kept thinking back to when my daddy taught me how to drive in snow and ice. “Take is slow and steady, stay on course and you’ll be fine.” The thirty minute drive took well over an hour and a half to make, but we made it. We passed multiple cars in the ditch and car accidents along the way. Some of the cars we saw in the ditch were people who had carelessly flown past us, with no regard for the conditions of the road. We drove slow; we drove steady; and we stayed the course and made it to our destination.
The Christian life isn’t smooth sailing. Nowhere in Scripture does the Lord promise easy living for those who believe. In fact, He tells us we’ll have trouble [John 16:33]. We can’t let a little trouble scare us from what God promises us. He promises us abundant life [John 10:10]. The pathway to the abundant life may be difficult, even traitorous at times, but we cannot give up. We must take it inch by inch, mile by mile until we reach our destination.
Just like Nehemiah had nay-sayers coming to him trying to discourage him and derail him, some of the obstacles we encounter may actually be people [Nehemiah 4, 6]. We need to keep our focus on the goal before us and reply as he did in Nehemiah 6:3 “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" The enemy will do anything and everything in his power to stop us from doing what God calls us to do and when he does, we have a choice to make. We can either allow him to distract us and take us off the path or we can refuse him, like Nehemiah, and stay the course until we reach victory. What’s it going to be? Sway or stay?

Too blessed to be depressed!

2011-09-22T04:09:00.000-07:00

Do you find senior citizens fascinating? I love hearing their stories and their wisdom. This past Sunday I greeted a visitor to our church who was at least seventy years old. She was tall wiry with her hair in a bun. Her skirt was just above her ankles and she had a shawl. Now it’s been a long time since I’ve seen anyone wear a crocheted shawl. I couldn’t help but wonder if she had been a librarian or a teacher earlier in her life. She just had the look. You know what I mean, don't you? When our eyes connected, I smiled at her and inquired “How are you today?” Her reply was quick, without reservation, “I’m too blessed to be depressed,” and off she went as the service began. I never saw her again, even though I looked for her. Anyone who can spout off wisdom in a six word sentence captures my attention.
If you think about her reply, it truly applies to each and every one of us, even those of us going through difficulties. You may be going through a medical nightmare right now, but you live in a country where health care is available and you can obtain it quickly. You might be going through financial struggle and hardship, but you live in a country where churches and organizations are available and willing to offer a helping hand. You might be going through relational difficulties, but you live in a time when technology is so amazing and easily accessible you can research agencies, support groups, and various forms of help.
Most importantly, no matter what you’re going through, you’re not going through it alone. You have Jesus. He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us [Deuteronomy 31:6,8; Joshua 1:5]. Your friends and family may be too busy to step in when you feel alone, but the Creator of everything promises to be there and be available to you. He won’t just send you on your way and wish you luck; He will walk through the trials and troubles with you [Psalm 23:4]. He’s on your side, on your team. The good news is if He is on your team, you’re on a winning team. John 16:33 says "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
In Matthew 5:3-12 we find the Beatitudes. Jesus declares many people as blessed, but they aren’t necessarily the ones you or I would call blessed. Let's face it, we don't look at those experiencing the loss of a loved one and say, "Wow, she's so blessed." Yet, the Lord says those who mourn are blessed. That is because He thinks differently than we do [Isaiah 55:8]. Things that appear to be problems or hardships may actually turn out to be blessings in disguise.
The enemy would love for you to feel like the world is against you and there is no hope in sight. With Jesus, there is always hope. It isn’t over until He declares it over. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:31-39 if Christ is for us, then who can be against us. That’s Good News, no matter what you’re facing today. You’re not alone. You not only have Christ with you, but you have access to His resurrection power in your circumstances. Doesn’t it feel good to know you’re on the winning side. You will stand in victory over your trials and hardships. So hold your head high and boldly declare, without reservation, you are too blessed to be depressed.

Don't be led astray!

2011-09-21T03:09:00.000-07:00

Have you ever apologized for something but didn’t mean it? You know what I’m talking about. You feel obligated to apologize, but you aren’t truly sorry for what you’ve done or said. The Israelites seemed to do this frequently.
In Hosea six the Israelites make a pitiful attempt to repent for what they’ve done to get back in God’s good graces. They’re like little children on the playground who got caught doing something wrong so they apologize through gritted teeth. The Lord is no one’s fool. He isn’t fooled by empty words. He searches the heart and understands our motives even when we don’t voice them [1 Chronicles 28:9].
The Lord doesn’t seek rituals, practices, false apologies or sacrifices. He desires relationship, covenant relationship. He wants the type of intimacy indicated in Hosea 2:19 “I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.” He doesn’t want us to play at having a relationship with Him. He wants the real deal.
Unfortunately, the Israelites were fickle. They were devoted to the Lord one minute, then turned on Him the next to prostitute themselves to other gods [Hosea 6:10]. Their position changed more frequently than the tide.
Now before we jump into judgment, we have to ask ourselves this question: Have we prostituted ourselves out to other things? Breathe! I’m not implying anyone is selling themselves on a street corner; however, we’re all guilty of giving our time, attention and resources to other things before God. We don’t always put Him first.
How many of us will spend hours in front of a television or on Facebook only to climb in bed and declare we’re too tired to read the Word or we fall asleep before we get to the second sentence of our prayers? How many of us will stay up until the wee hours of the morning finishing a good book, but won’t crack open the Good Book? How many of us treat ourselves to a trip through the Starbuck’s drive-through several times a week, yet say we don’t have money to spare when we receive a support letter from someone going on a mission trip? You get the idea.
The enemy is subtle [Job 24:14]. 2 Corinthians 11:3 says “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” Christ wants our pure devotion. He wants to be first, not last. He wants our best, not our leftovers. Let us not be misled by the tricks and traps of the enemy. When we give the Lord what He desires, He returns the favor [Psalm 37:4]. What are you devoted to? Who and what are your priorities? Only you can decide.

The Choice Is Ours

2011-09-20T04:32:00.000-07:00

Do you spend much time reading in the Old Testament? I’ve been reading about the kings following King David and it has been fascinating. Some of them are vile, evil people who thrive on getting as far away from the things of God and God Himself and the results are always the same. God takes His favor off of Israel and Judah when their kings rebel. That isn’t to say God moves away. God is always present; however, He isn’t always active.
For those who serve God faithfully and “do right in the eyes of the Lord” as you read in the Old Testament, the favor of the Lord remains with them and the protection of the Lord is always present. Even when common sense would tell you Israel or Judah should lose, they don’t, because God goes before them fighting their battles [2 Chronicles 20:15].
It all seems so simple, yet we make it so difficult. 2 Chronicles 27:6 says “Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God.” Then you drop to 2 Chronicles 31:21 and read of King Hezekiah “In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.” Verses like these are splashed throughout the Old Testament. The bottom line is when you do things God’s way, He is with you and you reap the benefits of His strength, His provisions, and His knowledge. When you do things apart from God, the wheels fall off the bus.
John 15:5 states it best. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” Apart from Jesus and His way of doing things, we will fail. It may seem like we’ve succeeded in the eyes of the world, but eventually, the truth will prevail and everyone will recognize our plight.
Who are you walking with today, the world or Jesus? There is no gray area here. You cannot be divided. It is all or nothing. You’re either walking with Jesus or you’re not. He never leaves us nor forsakes us, as He promises throughout Scripture; however, our God is a gentleman [Deuteronomy 31:6,8, Joshua 1:5]. He will not force His ways upon us. If we chose not to walk with Him, He will allow us to walk in destruction. The choice is ours [Joshua 24:15]. What will you choose today?

Get cleaning!

2011-09-19T05:30:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like it’s time to declare chemical warfare on your house? We’re constantly on the go in my house. With writing, cooking, laundry, lacrosse and football games to attend, church, homework to monitor, college applications to supervise, and so forth, I’m doing well to keep the piles of mail from overtaking us. I keep things fairly tidy, however, I still need to set aside a day to do the deep cleaning. You can only overlook things for so long before they begin to impact everyone. You have to clean regularly so you won’t become overwhelmed with filth. You have to stay on top of things.
King Hezekiah noticed the disrepair the temple of God had fallen into and he declared warfare on it [2 Chronicles 29]. He called together the Levites and the priests and told them to consecrate themselves to the Lord so they could then begin cleaning up the temple and consecrating it to the Lord as well. In verse five he states “consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary.” Consecrate means to dedicate. He called them to dedicate themselves and the temple to the Lord again. They needed to do this because they had allowed things to enter the temple that were unclean, defiling it from its purpose.
We have the same thing happen to us without realizing it. We allow things to enter our minds and /or our bodies that don’t honor the Lord, thus they defile us. Just like with our physical homes, we need to clean our bodies, the temple of God, regularly to avoid being taken over [1 Corinthians 6:19]. We cannot tolerate defilement. The Hebrew word for defilement is niddah and it means impurity, filthiness, of idolatry, immorality. We must act as the gatekeepers of our minds and our bodies, only allowing that which honors God to enter.
The best way to keep a house clean and keep the workload from overwhelming you is to do a little each day. The same is true with keeping your body and mind pure. If we will take time daily to come before the Lord, asking Him to search us and reveal areas we need to clean, then we won’t wake up one day feeling overwhelmed and helpless by the mess we find [Psalm 139:23-24].
Effort is required to get the job done, but when you’re finished, it blesses everyone. It’s time to roll up your sleeves and start cleaning.

Rules or Relationship?

2011-09-16T03:51:00.000-07:00

Are you a list person? There are all kinds of lists people make. There are grocery lists so you don’t forget necessary items or worse yet, buy things you don’t need. There are to do lists for work so you plow through the pile of things on your desk. There are even to do lists for around the house. But could you imagine a to do list for a spouse?
1. Arrive home from work on time. 2. Compliment her on what she’s wearing when you walk in the door. 3. Kiss her and ask how her day was. 4. Make several comments throughout dinner about how delicious it is. 5. Hold her hand while watching television…and so on. How totally bizarre!
We quickly see the absurdity of a list for loving a spouse. It isn’t about lists. It’s about relationship. You cannot go methodically through a marriage and expect to have any quality of relationship. It would be robotic, without real emotion or connection.
The Pharisees were experts at lists and rules. They governed their every step. Their connection to God revolved around lists and regulations. In John 18 Jesus is arrested and taken to the High Priest for questioning before He is taken to Pilate. As I read through chapter 18, I was jolted by how list and rule driven they were. They were totally okay with taking the life of an innocent man, however, they refused to enter the palace to talk with Pilate because it would have made them ceremonially unclean to partake of the Passover meal. Are you kidding me? They were far more concerned with ceremony than relationship. They were so busy following the rules of God they totally missed Him when He was standing before them in the flesh.
People do the same thing today. It’s morning, so I have to do my quiet time. 1. Listen to two worship songs. 2. Read a passage of Scripture. 3. Copy a key verse in journal. 4. Pray the prayer list and don’t forget to tell God how great He is. Okay, now I can put that aside until I climb into bed and say my prayers asking God to give me a peaceful night’s sleep and a great day tomorrow.
There has to more to our connection with Jesus or we’re simply wasting our time and we’re in for a rude awakening when we stand before Him and He declares “Depart from me. I never knew you’ [Matthew 7:23, Matthew 25:41]. Our God is all about relationship. Throughout John 17 Jesus is talking to the Father asking for His followers to be one with Him just as He is one with the Father [John 17:11, 21].
There is a difference between someone you’re acquainted with and someone you’re in relationship with. A relationship requires talking openly and listening intently. It is based on common interests and includes a willingness to sacrifice for the other. You look forward to spending time together. It isn't a chore or something you check off of a list. You think about the other person and wonder how they would respond to situations you face. You seek their advice. You share your successes and your failures, knowing they will be there to support you through both, just as you are for them.
Are you more interested in the rule or the relationship? I know which one Jesus chooses. What will you choose today?

Lesson Learned!

2011-09-15T04:26:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard the phrase “Give credit where credit is due”? Praise is very powerful. Some people will do just about anything to receive praise, but blame is another story. People run from blame and will point the finger elsewhere. Mankind has been doing it since the beginning of time. In Genesis when God called Adam to account, he blamed Eve [Genesis 3:12]. When Eve was questions, she blamed the serpent [Genesis 3:13]. It would appear we’ve learned nothing from the Garden of Eden.
If you spend any time reading through 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, or 2 Chronicles you’ll find the kings were quick to revel in the glory bestowed upon them after battles; however, the glory belonged to the Lord. Few of the kings seemed willing to pass the glory on or accept any blame for their actions. The Lord provided His full support to Israel and Judah when they were fully surrendered to Him; yet, when they acted arrogantly, He showed them Who was in control.
2 Chronicles 25:8b says “God has the power to help or to overthrow.” Unfortunately, many of the kings learned the hard way. They would win a battle and accept the glory given and even take in foreign gods and begin consulting them only to find Yahweh wouldn’t tolerate sharing. He’s a full custody kind of Father. In 2 Chronicles 25, king Amaziah learned that the hard way. You would think he would have recognized the patterns of the kings who served before him, but he didn’t.
Have we learned anything from the Garden of Eden when it comes to praise and blame? How do we respond when something good happens in our lives? Do we give glory to God instantly or do we soak in it a while? When we get that promotion we’ve worked for do we thank God or pat ourselves on the back? When things go our way in relationships do we thank God or do we brag about how smooth we are?
What about blame? Do we instantly look for another to blame in a situation? I grew up with an older brother, David, and a younger brother, Steve. When Steve was about four years old, Mom caught him sitting behind the sofa striking matches. When she found him, he looked up at her with his big, blue eyes and said “David did it.” Now David wasn’t anywhere in the room, but Steve knew someone was going to get in trouble and he didn’t want it to be him. Unfortunately, that seems to be our first response. If we own up to our mistakes, it is because we’ve made a conscious effort to do so. It’s not a natural response. It’s not how we’re wired.
If we’re not careful, we will find we’re no wiser than Adam and Eve or the kings that followed them. We must spend time in the Word learning from the mistakes and victories of those who have gone before us. We can learn quickly what to do and what not to do, without having to face punishment ourselves.
I don’t know about you, but I prefer to learn the lesson without having to suffer the punishment. I’d have to say I learned a lot from my older brother. I could watch him go through life and learn quickly what to do and not do, just based on the parents’ response to his actions. I became a quick study of what got him in trouble and made mental notes not to go there.
Life is a hard teacher. Many times we have the test first and the lesson comes later. We need to take as many opportunities as possible to learn from others before we’re tested. Then when a test comes, and there’s always a test, we can pass with flying colors!

Guaranteed Victory!

2011-09-14T03:51:00.000-07:00

Are you under any stress right now? Are you going through a difficult time? So many times when trouble comes our way, we get frustrated with God. We feel like we’re doing the best we can to live life according to His Word and we still come up against difficulties. Why can’t it just be easy?
Well, easy is usually boring and if there is one thing God isn’t that would be boring. I cannot imagine a more adventurous, action packed, energetic life than a life lived with Jesus. If we are students of His Word, we shouldn’t be surprised when trouble comes knocking at our door. He told us it would happen. We just like to forget that part of the story and hope it won’t pan out.
In John 16:33 Jesus clearly states “In this world you will have trouble.” Now I don’t know how clearer He could be. The Message tones it down a little and says “In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.” I’d categorize things I've gone through more as trouble than simply difficult. The King James Version really paints a clear picture when it says “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” Tribulation is defined as “grievous trouble; severe trial or suffering.” Have you experienced it? I’m sure we’ve all walked through a season of life we’d call a severe trial before.
So, why does God allow His children to go through times like these? Simple…He loves us. James 1:2-4 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Jesus wants us to lack nothing, therefore, He allows us to go through situations that will make us complete.
Now before you think, “Oh, that’s easy for Him to say, because He’s kicked back in heaven avoiding the mess” remember His promise to us in Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” He is with us no matter what we’re going through. This is good news, friends, because the rest of John 16:33 says “I have overcome the world.” The Message uses the word “conquered” instead of overcome. It is the Greek word “nikao” and it means “to conquer, to carry off the victory, come off victorious.
I can walk through just about anything as long as I know I’ll be victorious in the end. I’m too competitive to throw in the towel and quit, especially when I am guaranteed a win as long as I stay in the fight. With Jesus there is always victory!
Whatever you’re walking through today, hang tough. You’re not walking through it alone and you are guaranteed victory. Cling to your partner. He can take it. He’s a winner, every time!

Followers and Leaders Needed....Apply Within!

2011-09-13T03:11:00.000-07:00

Would you categorize yourself as a leader or a follower? No matter what your answer was, you’re correct, because we’re all called to be leaders and we’re all called to be followers. Jesus calls us all to follow Him [Matthew 4:19]. Yet, He also calls all of us to lead others [Matthew 28:19].
When we answer the call to follow Jesus, He never intends for us to follow from a distance like Peter did [Mark 14:54]. If we so, we may find ourselves denying Him just as Peter did [Luke 22:34]. Peter denied Christ because he was concerned for his own skin. Jesus was clear when He taught "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” [Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, and Luke 9:23]. Jesus knew Peter’s heart and when He had risen from the dead, He took Peter aside to restore Him [John 21:4-22].
Peter wasn’t the only one to deny Jesus after choosing to follow Him. In John 12:42-43 we read about several leaders of the people who chose to follow Jesus but failed to make it known to the people. The Message puts it this way: “… a considerable number from the ranks of the leaders did believe. But because of the Pharisees, they didn’t come out in the open with it. They were afraid of getting kicked out of the meeting place. When push came to shove they cared more for human approval than for God’s glory.”
Ouch! Does that step on anyone’s toes? I have to admit, there are times when I struggle with the desire for human approval. Let’s face it, who doesn’t want to be liked by others? What are we willing to sacrifice for the approval of men? We have to be willing to be mocked or outcast from a group if necessary for Jesus. To do anything less would separate us from Jesus. Jesus promises He will never leave us nor forsake us, so if we aren’t with Him, guess who moved [Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5]? It only takes one word to get back…Jesus!
If we’re going to lead others to Jesus, we need to have a close relationship with Him and be willing to let others know it. Mark 8:38 is clear “If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father's glory with the holy angels."
You have to choose who matters most to you, man or Jesus [Joshua 24:15]. Both is not an option presented. Jesus is an all or nothing God. He chose you [Ephesians 1:4]. There is a sign in front of you waiting for you to take action: Followers and Leaders Needed. Apply within!

The Goal is to Protect the Goal!

2011-09-12T05:45:00.000-07:00

Have you ever watched a lacrosse game? Some say it is a cross between hockey and soccer. This is the fourth year my son, Sam, has played lacrosse for his high school, but it seems like twelve seasons instead of four, because they have a league that plays in the fall, the official season is the spring and then they have a summer league to keep in shape. After all of these seasons, I’m finally starting to understand the positions and rules a little.
Sam is the goalie for his team. It is his job to guard the goal and allow nothing inside. He has three defenders who assist him in this process. Their job is to protect the goalie and the goal as well, but the buck stops with Sam. There are plenty of times when the defenders take care of the opponents by intercepting the ball and sending it back to the other side of the field, but sometimes the opponents get past the defenders and then it is up to Sam to keep the ball from gaining access to the goal. He can stop is by blocking the ball, causing it to bounce off of him or his stick or he can catch the ball and send it far, far away. When he catches it and throws it away, it is called a clear.
As I sat at his game this weekend, I saw this game in a whole new light. It was a picture of what we are to do with thoughts and ideas that come our way. We have a lot of information thrown in our direction throughout a given day. Some of it is useful and some of it is harmful and can lead to corruption and some of it cases us to worry unnecessarily. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
There are many ways we can do this. Think of the goal of a lacrosse game as your mind. Our defenders protect the mind by keeping the thought from coming close to our mind. We do this by choosing wisely what we expose our mind to on a daily basis. What are you reading? What are you watching? What are you listening to? When you choose to expose yourself to things that aren’t contradictory to the Word of God, you are defending the mind. Philippians 4:8 says “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.” By applying this verse to our lives we allow the defenders to do their job and protect the mind from corruption.
Sometimes; however, a thought will slip by the defenders and threaten the mind. At that point, we need to deflect it or catch it and throw it far, far away. We deflect it by averting our eyes and placing our focus on God. Jesus did this in the fourth chapter of Matthew when the devil kept trying to twist scripture to serve his purposes. Jesus used scripture to stand true and deflect the lies of the enemy. When we catch it and throw it away, we take it to Christ and ask Him to remove it from our minds, as far as the east is from the west, so we will not stumble into sin. We "clear" our minds. We’re promised in 1 Corinthians 10:13 Jesus will provide a way out for us when sin comes knocking at our door.
Just like Sam has to practice his stick skills to keep himself sharp for a game, we have to practice our skills as well. We do this by spending time in the Word and with the Lord. Then when the corrupt or worrisome thoughts come our way, we are quick to act keeping bad thoughts from entering our mind and taking root. The goal is to always protect our mind so nothing gets in scoring a point for the enemy.

Do you trust Him?

2011-09-09T03:13:00.000-07:00

Where were you on September 11, 2001? I am certain it will be forever seared in your mind. When we got up that morning, we never could have imagined the world as we knew it would change forever. I was standing in the gymnasium of North Cobb Christian School as the chapel speaker for the day. The speaker topics had been assigned to us when we agreed to speak. I remember struggling with my topic. How in the world was I going to teach elementary school children about the omnipresence of God? Omnipresence: to be present everywhere at the same time. While the topic seemed rather deep to me for elementary school children, the Lord knew we would all need that truth to hold onto within the hour.
I talked to the children about the wind. We know when it is windy. We can feel it and we can see evidence of its existence, but we can’t reach out and touch it. The same is true with air. We know it exists because we see the evidence of it. All we have to do is look at someone and watch them breathing in and out to know air is present. When we hold our breathe we feel the absence of air. The reminder of the day for the children was “Just like air, God is there.”
Moments after I left, I learned what was happening to our country. I sat by the television, like many of you, and watched the horror unfold. There were more questions than we had answers, but we had one truth we could hold onto: Just like air, God is there.
He was with each of us as we watched. He was with the family members of the passengers on flight 93 as they called home to say their last goodbyes. He was with all who lost their lives and He was the One who led many people out of the crashing buildings. He was the Comforter for those who were trapped and for those who never made it out alive.
I cannot begin to explain why some died and some lived. Only God knows the answers to those questions. But I do know God is love [1 John 4:8]. I know He is faithful and true [Revelation 19:11]. I know He will never leave us nor forsake us [Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5]. He and His mercy are trustworthy [2 Samuel 7:28; 1 Corinthians 7:25]. No one can snatch us from His hand [John 10:28]. His plans for us are to prosper us and not to harm us [Jeremiah 29:11]. He desires for us to have abundant life [John 10:10].
The enemy would have us live in fear because of what took place. But I choose to live in faith. Our God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine [Ephesians 3:20]. He hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control [2 Timothy 1:7]. Our money is stamped with a phrase that declares “In God We Trust.” We need to start living out what we declare. Will you trust Him today?

Relax! He will do it!

2011-09-08T03:07:00.000-07:00

Do you ever find yourself questioning your calling? What if you’re not in the right place at the right time? What if you don’t hear clearly from God? Or worse yet, what if you miss it completely? The good news is it isn't up to you.
In 1999 I was at a retreat and the Lord clearly spoke to me and told me I would be ministering to women. The retreat happened to be a youth retreat and I remember thinking “You mean youth, Lord, right?” Over the next few years the Lord started moving me into positions of ministry until Righteous Relationships was founded and I began ministering to women on a consistent basis. Not too long ago I was speaking to a group of teenagers and I remember thinking “God, I thought you said I’d minister to women.” The reply made me laugh. “You’re the one who put the age limit on them, not me. They may be young, but they’re still women.”
There are countless examples in the Bible where the Lord has done the same thing. David was a shepherd to a flock of sheep, but the Lord changed his job title to shepherd of men [Psalm 78:70-72]. He took Joseph from the safety of his home to become second in command in all of Egypt [Genesis 30-41:44]. He took twelve men from their chosen professions and made the pastors, teacher, evangelist and church planters [Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John].
What is His plan for you? You may not know the answer right now and it is okay. If you will surrender yourself completely to whatever He has for you, He’ll make sure you end up where you need to be to do what He has called you to do. It isn’t up to you; it’s up to Him. How freeing is that revelation? Rest in the knowledge of 1 Thessalonians 5:24: “The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.”

Caught between the Red Sea and an Egyptian army!

2011-09-07T03:08:00.000-07:00

What are some of your favorite Old Testament stories? I love so many of them I’m not sure I could choose one as my favorite. I do; however, remember the first movie I saw based on Old Testament teaching. It was the Ten Commandments. I think I had to see it three times before I stayed awake for the whole thing. It used to run on network television once a year and with commercials it was a three hour movie. I would fall asleep before they made it to the Red Sea every time. The first time I saw them approach the water with the Egyptians pursing them, I was scared to death for them. I remember thinking “There’s no way out. What are they going to do now?”
As a young girl, I hadn’t memorized the stories of the Old Testament, so I didn’t know what happened next. I sat on the edge of my seat as the Lord ripped open the sea allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground. It was amazing and I couldn’t budge if I tried. I was in awe of God.
So many times we look at our own circumstances and find ourselves caught between the Red Sea and the Egyptians and think “There’s no way out. What am I going to do now?” We fail to include the God factor in our situation. Psalm 77:19 says “Your path led through the sea,Your way through the mighty waters, though Your footprints were not seen.” Even though God isn’t always visible to us, He is always present. We have a promise in Deuteronomy 31:6, 8, and Joshua 1:5 that says He will “never leave you nor forsake you.” Just because we don’t see Him standing before us doesn’t mean He isn’t there. The Word promises He is always with us.
We also know “nothing is impossible with God” no matter what the situation may look like [Luke 1:37]. In fact, Matthew 19:26 says “with God all things are possible,” therefore, the word impossible shouldn’t be in our vocabulary.
In Isaiah 55:8 we read “’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD.” The Lord isn’t bound by the laws of nature or time. He created them and He can work around them. No matter what you’re facing today, it isn’t impossible, regardless of what your circumstances may say. If you will “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” even if that straight path happens to be through the Red Sea.

Jesus always has a plan.

2011-09-06T03:11:00.000-07:00

Do you know the shortest verse in the Bible? It’s two simple words and it’s found in John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” What on earth made Jesus cry? John 11:1-44 is the story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus.
Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha. Jesus loved this family. He had a history with them. After all, Mary was the one who broke open the bottle of perfume and anointed His head and wept at his feet under the scrutiny of the Pharisees [Matthew 26]. Yet, when Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus telling Him Lazarus was sick, His response wasn’t what they expected. Verse 6 says Jesus stayed where He was for two more days. The Message says what we’re all thinking: “oddly, when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed on where He was for two more days.” It seems odd that Jesus would delay going to a close friend near death, yet He did.
Can you imagine needing Jesus to show up in your circumstances, crying out for Him to come and Him saying “Okay, thanks for sharing,” and then He remains where He is. Can you relate to the frustration and abandonment Mary and Martha must have felt? Have you gone through times when you’ve wondered where God was in a situation and felt like you prayed and nothing happened? The story doesn’t end with verse 6. In fact, in verse 4 Jesus clearly stated the sickness wasn’t to bring about Lazarus’ death but to bring God glory.
Clearly God’s ways are not our ways [Isaiah 55:8]. The disciples are trying to figure out what’s going on when Jesus finally tells them in verses 14-15 “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Jesus was willing to let Lazarus die for the sole purpose of raising him from death to glorify God and to strengthen His disciples. He knew a greater good would come from Lazarus, Mary and Martha going through this difficult time. He didn’t have a hard heart where they were concerned. In verse 35 He stood outside of Lazarus’ tomb and wept, not because Lazarus was dead, but because of the pain and suffering Lazarus, Mary and Martha had to endure. Jesus knew all along He was going to bring Lazarus back from the dead.
Sweet friend, if you are going through a hardship and you’ve cried out to the Lord and see no signs of Him, believe! He is faithful and He will never leave you nor forsake you [Deuteronomy 31:8]. He’s not on vacation. He’s working on your behalf. You can trust Him, even when it seems like you can’t, to take care of you and deliver you from whatever you’re facing.

Baaaaaaaa!

2011-09-02T02:49:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been around sheep? I've seen them in pettings zoos, but that sums up my experience around them. They are soft and seem to seek attention, but they don’t appear to be very intelligent. Those who raise and care for sheep are called shepherds.
I did a little research and learned there are several things a shepherd must do to raise healthy sheep. The first job of a shepherd is to provide a sustainable water supply so the sheep do not become dehydrated and get sick [John 4:14]. Secondly, they need to feed their sheep at least once a day; however, twice a day is preferred for optimal health [Mark 1:35; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:24]. A good shepherd also provides work and activity for the sheep to exercise them and keep them healthy and strong [Luke 2:49; Matthew 10:8; and Luke 9:2]. He also provides shelter and protection for the sheep [Psalm 61:3; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 62:7; and Psalm 91:2]. A shepherd will lay down his very life if necessary to protect his sheep [John 10:11, 18].
Sheep have never been accused of being very bright. They’ve been known to go astray [Isaiah 53:6]. Fortunately, a good shepherd will go searching for a lost sheep until he finds it and brings it back into the flock [Matthew 18:12-13].
In Biblical times, when shepherds were herding sheep from one location to another, they would put them in a common pen at night. When it was time for them to move the next day, the shepherd would open the gate to the pen and begin calling out to his sheep. Those who recognized the shepherd’s voice would begin moving towards him as he directed; however, the other sheep would back away from him to the back part of the pen. The shepherd’s voice would be able to coax his sheep to do anything.
In John 10:27, Jesus says “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He does everything listed above to take care of His sheep. If you are lacking provision in any of the ways listed, it isn’t because Jesus hasn’t provided. He is waiting for us to respond to His voice. Whose voice are you listening to? Whose voice are you following today?

Ready for class?

2011-09-01T04:07:00.000-07:00

If you want to learn a new skill, would you prefer to sit under a teacher of that skill or their assistant? I don’t know about you, but I would go straight to the source. I’ve always been one who sat on the front row so I could get as close to the teacher as possible so I don’t miss anything. If I truly want to learn something, then I don’t want to take the risk of missing a thing. I want to absorb all I can.
I have been in church since I was a little girl. I’ve attended Sunday school, the worship service, revivals, retreats, Bible studies, book clubs, you name it. If it had to do with learning about Jesus, I’ve attended it; however, I have to say the greatest education I’ve ever received has been in the most intimate of classrooms. It has been one-on-One with Jesus. He is the greatest teacher of all. Let’s face it, why would we want to hear something second hand when we can hear it directly from the source. Second hand information isn’t allowed as testimony in a courtroom because of the chance of its fallibility, yet many of us rely completely on second hand instruction of the Word and Jesus as our only source of enlightenment.
King David knew the greatest teacher of all. He knew the priests and the elders in the synagogues could only teach him so much. To learn all he wanted to know about the Lord, he would have to go to the source. In Psalm 25:4-5 he cries out to the Lord to be his teacher. “Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God, my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.” The message puts is like this: “Show me how you work, God; School me in your ways. Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth. You are my Savior, aren’t You?”
There is no greater teacher than the Lord. There is no danger of the instructor misinterpreting the text or not gleaning the incorrect meaning. He is always available. There’s never a conflict with His schedule. He can meet you anywhere and He loves the topic.
Don’t get me wrong, I am a student of Kay Arthur, Beth Moore, C. S. Lewis, Oswald Chambers, A. W. Tozer, and the list goes on. I learn a lot from them, but they are not my primary teacher. They are a source by not THE Source. My greatest insights into the Word of God, my “ah-ha” moments come from my time alone with Jesus when I ask Him “What does this mean? How do I apply this to my life? What are you trying to tell me here?”
The door is open. The Teacher is in His classroom, ready and eager to teach you mysteries. Remember His promise in Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” It’s time to learn the great and unsearchable things. Pull up a chair. Listen. Class is about to start and you don’t want to miss a thing.

Cream of the crop or bottom of the barrel?

2011-08-31T03:37:00.000-07:00

Do you like leftovers? My husband and son love leftovers. Sam will eat leftovers for breakfast, no matter what they are. I’ve come downstairs some mornings to find him eating salmon, asparagus, and mashed potatoes for breakfast. Yuck! If we don’t have leftovers in the refrigerator, he will declare “we have nothing for breakfast.”
My daughter and I aren’t huge fans of leftovers. Interestingly enough neither is God. Exodus 23:19 tells us to "Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God.” [Emphasis mine] He wants the cream of the crop, not the bottom of the barrel. Proverbs 3:9-10 says “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Basically, when you chose to honor God first instead of last, He will provide for your needs.
In Malachi 1:6-8 the Israelites were charged with bringing dishonor to the Lord by bringing defiled sacrifices to the altar. Instead of giving the Lord the firstfruits, the best of what they had, the Israelites brought Him the defective and the animals they didn’t want…basically, the leftovers. We look at this and we all agree they were wrong, yet we may not recognize when we do the same thing.
Do we give God our time each day? If we do, do we give Him the time of day when we are most alert and able to focus or is it when we’re about to fall asleep at the end of the day or barely awake in the morning? Do we give to the Lord financially? If so, is it the first check we write or is it the last one, after we’ve paid all our bills and covered some of the extras we want? Do we give what we’re comfortable giving or do we give to the point of sacrificing? Are we willing to sacrifice so the Lord can have more than a tithe from us?
King David understood a gift to the Lord should cost something [2 Samuel 24:21-24]. If we give the Lord something that was given to us, then where is the cost? Where is the sacrifice?
What are you giving Jesus? Is there sacrifice involved? There are many things you can sacrifice for the Lord: sleep, time, talents and financial resources to name a few. If there is no sacrifice involved in what you’re giving, what needs to change? The value of anything is determined by what someone is willing to pay or sacrifice. Is what you’re sacrificing a clear reflection of how much you value the Lord? These are questions we all need to ponder, pray about and then take action where the Lord leads us. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Children of God

2011-08-30T02:35:00.000-07:00

Do you remember studying slavery in school? The job description of a slave was pretty clear: Do whatever you’re asked without question. Do your job and disappear. Blend into the woodwork, so to speak. When your job is complete, you disappear until your next job.
A slave is given a place to sleep and food to eat, but it will not be in the main house. A slave doesn’t always remain with the same master; he or she can be sold, traded, or released. A slave’s quarters are removed from the master’s quarters, and they usually pale by comparison. I doubt any of us would sign up, willingly, for such a role.
A son or daughter, however, is completely different. A child dwells with the father where he dwells and eats from his table. The father provides for the needs of his children and protects them. He may ask a child to do a job here or there, but it is with him or for him. A father takes pride and pleasure in his children.
While a child by birth may or may not be the desire of a father, a child by adoption is chosen and intentional. You never hear the father of an adopted child refer to them as a surprise or an accident.
As Christians, we have been adopted into the family of God. He chose us. Ephesians 1:5 tells us “He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will--.” We weren’t an accident or a surprise. He sought us to bring us into His family. He desires to have us dwell with Him and He with us [Psalm 101:6].
In John 8:35 Jesus tells us “Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.” John 1:12 says “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—“
We are His children and it is time we stopped living as slaves, who have no place with the Father, and start living as royalty. We need to embrace and walk out the words of Jake Hamilton’s song, the Anthem, “I am royalty! I have destiny! I have been set free and I’m going to shake history! I'm going to change the world!”

If...then

2011-08-29T03:00:00.000-07:00

Do you remember learning “If…then” clauses in grammar school. In science class it was called cause and effect. If you do A, then B will happen. People use “if…then” statements constantly without realizing it. You can find them in Scripture as well, and we need to pay close attention to them. God tells us the results we can expect if we do things a certain way. It's better than getting a stock tip before Wallstreet opens.
One of the most commonly quoted Scriptures is “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” People who aren’t Christians say it also; they are simply referring to a different truth than Christians. What you may or may not be aware of is that phrase is the end of an “if…then” statement. It tells us how we will find the freedom we seek in seeking the truth.
John 8:3-32 says “To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’"
What is the condition required to know the truth and be set free? What follows the “if” in the sentence? “Hold to My teaching” is the requirement to reap the benefit of knowing the truth and being set free by that truth. To hold to something is to cling to it. Jesus is saying we should cling to His Word, thus cling to Him, and then we will know freedom [John 1:14].
What are you clinging to today? Will it reap the benefits you desire? It’s not too late to cling to Jesus.