Just Being Honest

I know it has been a while since I have written. To be quite honest, some things happened in my life a few months ago that left me reeling and in a real battle with God. I was angry at Him. No, I was pissed off. I was at a place of doing things "His" way and the result was not at all what I expected. I found myself questioning His goodness. I found myself questioning why I trusted "His" way. I thought that as long as I was playing by the "rules" then things would work out perfectly. Right? At least that is what I believed.

I haven't written during this time because I really had nothing to say. That's a lie. I had a LOT to say, but I didn't think any of it would be of any use to anyone. After all, what do I really know about anything? I stopped reading my bible. I stopped reading the daily devotionals I normally read. I still attended church and it was the one thing that truly kept me going over the last few months. I am thankful beyond words for the house in which God planted me earlier this year because without the strong word of God I hear there weekly, I am not to sure I would have made it though the last few months as well as I have. 

What I have learned over this time is that God truly can take anything I can throw at Him. There is no anger too great. Even when I realized I was behaving like a 3 year old who didn't get my way, He still loved me. He has reminded me that His ways are always for my good. Even when those ways are not what I want or in the timing in which I want them. He has reminded me He is my forever provider. When all others in this world may leave me (and in one particular case without ANY explanation whatsoever), God is always here for me. Even when I don't WANT Him to be here. Honestly, there have been times I've asked Him WHY won't He just go away too? I mean seriously? Why doesn't He give up on me? It seems many others have? I mess up daily. I say and do things I vowed to never again say or do. And yet He remains faithful. 

This is what humbles me. 

He has reminded me of the dreams He has placed inside of me. He has reminded me of the "baby" He placed in my womb months, and even years ago. He has used my pastor to remind me of the process of labor. How the pain of transition is great, yet the result of the push is beyond words. I have seen how the last few months have been a time of transition. There were people, relationships, mindsets, and emotions that needed to be removed from my life. I don't claim to be completely out of this transition yet, but I'm feeling the time to push is just around the corner. 

So for now I will just keep breathing. I will keep my focus on the Father. 

2013 sounds like it's going to be a year of not just delivery, but FREEDOM!

Shake Loose!

Is there an area in your life in which you are imprisoned? Maybe you have a situation in which you feel trapped and are not able to see a viable way out of the situation. How is your attitude in the midst of your prison? Do you complain to everyone about how bad your life is at this moment? Consider how Paul and Silas conducted themselves while in a real prison:

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains came loose." Acts 16:25-26

Now that you have read those two verses....read them again.

Slowly. 

Are you feeling something within your spirit by the weight and power of this story? Consider the time of this event. It was about midnight. Imagine how dark it must have been. There was no electricity then so there were no streetlights. We don't know if the jail had any windows so there may not have been any moonlight in the cell. In all probability, it was DARK. We don't know the size of their cell, but I once visited the jails in Salem, MA from the 1600's and they were terribly small. Paul and Silas could have been in absolute darkness and pressured all around. They were likely not very comfortable. And yet they were not caught complaining. They were praying and singing to God! 

They must not have been singing quietly because the other prisoners were listening to them. In the midst of your prison, others are listening. Those who are enslaved are hearing your words. Unbelievers are also watching to see how your God is going to get you out of this prison. What kind of witness are you living? Do you gripe and complain in the way of an unbeliever who has no hope? Or are you singing hymns and living a life loud enough for others to hear? 

As Paul and Silas lifted their voices in praise, a violent earthquake came and shook loose the foundations of the prison. The same can happen in our lives! An encounter with God can shake us at our core in a way that we no longer see the prison surrounding us. The doors to what has held us will open and the chains on us will fall away! 

All this leads me to ask...why are you still in your prison? Are you spending time earnestly in prayer? Are you surrounding yourself in praise? When was the last time you shouted your praise to God? I'm talking a reckless abandonment to worshiping your creator? Dance like David danced! In the Bible, the tribe often sent into battle first was the tribe of Judah, the tribe of musicians. In order to win the battle they began with shouts of praise! It was praise that released Paul and Silas.

I pray each of you take the time TODAY to praise God for all He has done in your life. No matter how dark the prison looks at this moment, we each have a reason to give Him praise. The fact that you are reading these words means you have internet, you have vision, you have the comprehension of reading, you are breathing, you are free to read scripture without the fear of persecution! 

I am going to leave you all with a song often played at my church before the start of the service. SHAKE LOOSE! 

Fake Living Houses

Tonight I ran into an old friend I haven't seen in a while and we talked and caught up on what was going on in our lives. When the subject came up of where we were attending church and I asked if she was still attending the last church I knew her to attend, she responded with, "Yeah, I'm still hanging in there."  There are no words to describe how much her answer grieves me. When asked about our church home should we not answer with excitement? If talking about it causes us to become depressed, then perhaps we need to examine if this is the place where God wants us to fellowship. 

When we are planted in a life giving church it shows. It is also apparent when we are in an oppressive, dead, or spiritually controlling church. I have seen people in such churches and there is a spirit of heaviness around them. There is an inability to praise. There is a lack of light in their lives. They often appear to be walking with God, however it is a Judas faith. Just as Judas walked with Jesus, he was simply going through the motions. You can be serving in your church. You can be paying your tithes. You can be doing everything to give the appearance of a walk with God, and yet in your heart you are not "feeling" it. 

John wrote a letter in Revelation to the church of Sardis. In his reprimand he refers to them as  "having a reputation for being alive," but actually being dead. (Revelation 3:1)  He continues in verse 2-3 instructing them to "be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before My God. Remember therefore what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent." 

The church of Sardis is known for being "life-giving." However, the reality is the church is dead. There is the illusion of life, however it's members are spiritually perishing. Their works are lacking. Perhaps when it comes to serving within the church walls there are volunteers, but when it comes to stepping outside of the church, nobody shows up. There is encouragement and hope for such a church. They can throw out what has gone astray and strengthen the Godliness that remains. In the past they have not only heard, but received from God. The proper instruction has once been in this house gone dead. If they are willing to keep the original word they heard from God, then they can come back to life! However, repentance is necessary to resuscitate this house of worship. 

What happens in your heart when discussing your place of worship? Do you leave on Sunday (or whichever day you attend) feeling challenged in your walk, yet encouraged? Or do you leave feeling that you can check "attend church" off your "to-do" list? I am going to say something next that may offend some of you, but I feel it needs to be said. Is your church willing to operate their order of services according to the Holy Spirit? Or is their agenda and schedule more of a priority than what God wants to do during that time? If the latter is fitting of your church, it could be they have the appearance of being alive, yet in fact are dead. A church unwilling to allow God to move is unwilling to release their own agendas. Be very cautious of following this kind of leadership. This kind of leadership will also question when God is moving in your own life and cause you to doubt hearing His voice clearly. 

My prayer for each of you today is to ask if you are truly where God wants you to be. Do you attend a church because of a sense of obligation? Is it where your parents attended? Have you been there for years and are afraid to make a change? Do you fear losing friendships if you move to where God is calling you? Sharing from experience, making changes reveals  your true friendships. There are people who may be holding you back from stepping into what God is calling you to do and it is only by removal of those relationships that you can begin fulfilling your purpose. Count the losses as blessings! We should all be in a process of growth in our walk with God. This may mean we need to "graduate" to a different place of worship. Not all churches are the same. Some are content with being watered down and delivering a soft word. These are often referred to as "seeker friendly" churches. They want to make sure everyone is comfortable. However, as we grow and mature we need to be challenged. The reality is a soft word never truly changed anyone. Possibly for a season, but not long term, life altering, radical change.  It is only by hearing the unadulterated word of God that a heart is truly moved to repentance. 

This is a matter between yourself and God. Seek His guidance to ensure you are planted by streams of LIVING water!

Conversations on Islam

This evening I noticed my neighbor coming home after being gone a few days. She was returning from the hospital after having a baby. She invited me to come inside with her. We had conversed a few times in the past, but never actually sat down and talked. I accepted her invitation and joined her inside. Her mom was with her and they offered me tea and we talked about the baby. My neighbor is originally from Jordan and a devout Muslim. The mother mentioned to me that Friday is the beginning of their holiday. She explained it is similar in ways to Christmas for those of us who believe in Jesus. Her English is not fluent so she was having a hard time explaining it to me. 

My neighbor's father also came over while I was there. Within two minutes of him sitting down with us he began a conversation with me regarding Christianity and Islam. He explained to me his beliefs on Jesus and the Bible we follow and how the Quran holds many scientific facts. He detailed several things listed there that have been proven in science over the last 50 years. I can't say I debated with him, but I listened to him intently and did ask several questions in response based on what I felt the Holy Spirit was prompting me to say. And believe me, I was definitely praying for Him to lead me in everything I said! 

There are several statements the father made during our conversation that I found interesting. He explained to me how Muhammad came after Jesus and Muslims believe in Jesus also. He said the best part of it is because they believe in both, even if Islam is wrong, then they are still okay because they believe in both Muhammad and Jesus. However, if Christians are wrong, then we are not going to heaven because we reject Muhammad. When he explained this he was almost laughing as if to imply they are wise in their choice of embracing both "prophets." 

Another "point" he made was the Bible we read is not the real Bible. He claims there is a true hidden Bible in which Jesus states there will be another prophet after Him. However, the "leaders" of the time wanted this book hidden so as to not divert the strength of Christianity. He believes Jesus did not die on the cross, but was simply taken up to heaven. 

I find it interesting that I wrote yesterday regarding arguing the wisdom of the world against the "foolishness" of Christ. I truly believe these verses were given to me to prepare me for this encounter tonight. There were many scriptures I could have chosen to argue the statements he was making, however at the time I simply felt God leading me to listen. There were several questions I asked him that he was unable to answer. I asked him if Jesus did not really die and was not truly who He claimed to be, then why were all his followers and disciples willing to continue preaching His story even at the risk and often result of death. He stuttered as he answered it was because they believed in Jesus. He did not really answer the question. 

He also referred to the Muslim leaders we see on television and in the news currently. He said they are not true Muslims, but only claim to be Muslim because that is how they were raised based on the culture of where they live. In the same way our Christian leaders are not true Christians. In his opinion, the real war is not between Muslims and Christians, but between the leaders and the true believers of both religions. He stated the true Christian leaders are the ones you don't see. The ones who are Christian in name only and not their actions are given an elevated status and accepted more readily because they pose no threat. In his own words, a Muslim stated..."A true Christian is a threat to our religion, but most Christians do not really live what they believe so they don't threaten anyone." His statement was not meant in regards to a physical threat, but regarding a threat to changing someone's belief in Muhammad and accepting of Jesus Christ as the son of God. 

Friends, it is moments like these when we MUST know what our Bible says! If there is anything I learned through this exchange it is the importance of knowing why we believe what we believe and how to defend our faith. In our defending, we must be in tune with the Holy Spirit regarding not only what we should say, but also what we should not say. The biggest take away for me was how this man was very bold, with NO hesitation in explaining his faith. How many Christians are hesitant to discuss their faith? This man stated Islam is the fastest growing religion in America. He said it is not because they evangelize in the way of Christians, but because people are searching, reading the Quran, and realizing it "makes sense." This is a direct result of what I wrote yesterday regarding our attempts at understanding God through our human logic. If people are searching, are we giving them the real Jesus? Are we living out what we claim to believe? Are we showing love while being bold in our witness? Or are we so concerned with not being "offensive" that we are willing to let those around us perish in hell for eternity? Are we more in tune with being "relevant" to our culture than we are being obedient in following the true word of God?

"Jesus told him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."  John 14:6

Call Me Foolish

I want to pick up today with where I left off yesterday in 1 Corinthians.

"For to those who are perishing the message of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is God's power. For it is written:

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts. 

Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn't God made the world's wisdom foolish? For since, in God's wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached. For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God's power and God's wisdom, because God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength." vs. 18-25

What immediately comes to mind upon reading these verses is how often we attempt to reason the gospel to those who do not believe. In fact, I've known many atheists and agnostics who feel the way they do because they are attempting to understand Christianity through wisdom and they have never experienced the power of the cross. The reality is many Christians operate in their own wisdom as well. This is the reason why too many Christians live in the same way as the world. If we only have a head revelation of Jesus without ever having a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit, then we miss the one thing that will lead to true change in ourselves and in our lives. 

Our belief in the risen Savior is foolishness to the world. When we live by biblical values, we are called judgmental and old-fashioned. Living for a higher calling beyond whatever makes us happy is foolishness to the world. It is through foolishness to the world that we are saved. The disciples lived lives that seemed foolish to those living around them. To hear Jesus say, "Follow me" and immediately drop your fishing nets and never look back is complete foolishness! 

The verses here explain those in the world will stumble over our beliefs, yet when they are called and experience God's power they too can become as foolish as us! These verses give me so much encouragement in the face of persecution for my faith in Christ. Paul eloquently reminds us true wisdom is from God and His strength always defeats human strength. When I am weak in my flesh, His spirit makes me strong. When my human mind reaches its limits, His knowledge shows me new direction. 

Do you struggle with "understanding" God? My prayer for you today is to move outside of your earthly, human wisdom in regards to God and His word. I pray you experience a new and completely foolish level of wisdom in your life! I assure you when this starts to happen, you will begin to live life in a new way. You will have people, even other believers, begin to question your sanity. When that happens, hold fast to the word of God and let me be the first to welcome you to the "family!" 

Biblical Lessons on Division

Today I want to share with you some thoughts I had while reading 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

"Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.  For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe’s household, that there is rivalry among you.  What I am saying is this: Each of you says, “I’m with Paul,” or “I’m with Apollos,” or “I’m with Cephas,”or “I’m with Christ.”  Is Christ divided? Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. I did, in fact, baptize the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t know if I baptized anyone else. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to evangelize—not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect." 

Based on the current divisions within the church body, I would say Paul's words were not heeded as time passed. Perhaps the church in Corinth heeded them, but how quickly we disregarded them. There are so many things we allow to divide us within the body of Christ. Looking at the modern day church, it is apparent the spirit of division seen in Corinth is alive and well. 

Think about how often you have met someone who is a Christian and one of the first questions asked is where you attend church. Perhaps you ask this question yourself. Perhaps you have had people talk about a certain church or domination in a negative way. According to Paul we must all remember we are united "with the same understand and the same conviction." Do you associate yourself more with your church name or image than you associate yourself with the body of Christ as a whole? Can you fellowship with believers who attend a different church than you? Do you feel prideful regarding your home church when comparing to other churches? Is there boasting regarding how big the video screens are or is there boasting in how Christ is moving within the body there and the lives that are being changed? 

Let us not overlook the last line of the above verse. Paul wrote he was not sent "to baptize, but to evangelize--not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect." Paul is saying a gifting of clever words is emptying the power of the cross. This is evident by the number of churches headed by pastors with the gift of clever stories and anecdotes and a lack of churches with leaders who may not be as eloquent, but preach the power of the cross of Christ. Where has the power gone in our churches? Where are the miracles happening? I believe they are happening where the unfiltered word of God is preached. 

My prayer for each of you is to evaluate your own opinions towards other churches and believers who attend a different church or denomination. If there are prejudices that exist, I pray they are revealed in your heart and healing can begin. I also pray you would evaluate the reasons why these prejudices exist. Do you attend a church that frequently jokes about other church denominations? Does the leadership within your church discourage you from participating in fellowship with believers outside of your church? Pray about how to proceed if any of these apply to where you attend church. 

We will continue in 1 Corinthians tomorrow. 

Unity

"I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love, diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us. There is one body and one Spirit, just are you were called to one hope at your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:1-6

One of the most beautiful aspects of the bible to me is that most of it is written to believers. As I read these verses tonight I thought of how appropriate these words are today to those of us who claim a relationship with Jesus Christ. Each of us have a calling from God. When we begin walking in that calling it can be easy to become self-righteous and impatient with others. When we reach new levels of revelation with God it can be easy to look at others who have not reached the same levels and judge them for where they are in their walk. We are told in these verses to walk in our calling with humility and gentleness. 

It has been my experience that some of my harshest, most hurtful critics have come from within the body of believers. Those who should have extended love and been the most accepting were the very ones who formed "cliques" and excluded those who did not fit their standards of cool. Whenever we accept or reject other believers we are working against unity within the body. We are commanded here, as well as in other scriptures, to do all we can to live in peace with other believers. Unity is not hard to achieve when we are living in humility, gentleness, and patience. These do not come about by accident. The verse above shares how we are to be diligent in keeping the unity of the Spirit. It is only through the grace of the Holy Spirit that we can live in true unity with others. 

When we keep in mind that we are all serving the same God it is easy to lay aside our own personal agendas. So often I have seen disunity come about as the result of believers focusing on their goal or vision, while neglecting the true vision of God. If our goal is each to witness to others with the love of Christ, then no personal agenda should ever take precedence to that. No fancy leadership titles or positions of spiritual authority should separate us from the calling of someone who has just recently been saved. Again, we are all serving the same God. 

My prayer for each of you today is that you would experience in infilling in your spirit of humility, gentleness, and patience. If there are areas of disunity in your life, I pray for the strength to diligently renew those relationships. Remember, we are all serving the same Lord according to each of our callings. 

Not Our Battle

I was reading last night In 2 Chronicles 20 about King Jehoshaphat's actions when faced with an upcoming battle. There are several things that happened that stood out to me. The King was afraid. His first action when faced with an upcoming challenge was to seek the Lord and to fast. The fast was not only for himself, but for all of Judah and even the surrounding cities. Jehoshaphat realized the battle was not his alone to fight. So often when facing a challenge, we enter in without seeking God or sharing with those who are willing to go into battle with us. 

Jehoshaphat stood before those gathered and prayed: 

“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
“But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:6-12

Notice when he begins his prayer he does not immediately launch into sharing the needs of his people. He begins by acknowledging God and who God is and all He does. I feel he was not reminding God of His previous accomplishments, but reminding himself and those listening to his prayer. We need to do the same thing when experiencing a time of anxiety. Think back over the times in your life you have seen God move and list them as a reminder to all He has done already. Just like Jehoshaphat, humble yourself enough to admit you "do not know what to do," but your eyes are on Him.

The next scriptures give us the details of those gathered. All of Judah, including their wives and children, were within hearing. The Spirit of God spoke through Jahaziel saying, “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” (vs 15-17)

This is a great reminder to all of us to remember that the battles are not ours, but the Lords. We can often become so focused on the trial that we rely on our own strength and willpower in order to win the fight. In response to this word from God, the people did not boast. They did not celebrate in knowing God was on their side. Verse 18 tells us, "Jehoshaphat bowed with is face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord to worship Him. The Levites from the sons of the Kohathites and the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel shouting in a loud voice." Even as they were going into battle there were people appointed specifically for singing for God and some to praise His holiness! They sang "Give thanks to the Lord, for His faithful love endures forever." 

What might happen if we faced our battles in a similar fashion? What if instead of whining and complaining about our circumstances we bowed to God and sang songs of praise? What if our trust was fully in God rather than in our own abilities? In this story of scripture those coming to battle against Jehoshaphat turned against each other and the plunder was more than the people could even carry! God not only made them victorious, but sent them home "richer" than they were before the battle! 

How will you fight your next battle?

Plant Wisely

The last few days I have been thinking often about the power of our words. Not only how our own words affect us, but also how the words of others can impact our lives. I posted on Facebook a few days ago a status of "don't plant seeds you aren't ready to harvest." It should not have been a surprise when yesterday my pastor preached on the power of the tongue and also stated how a seed is anything that has potential. We often hear the word "seed" used in church and equate it with being financial seed. However, our words are also seeds. 

Every time we speak, we are releasing seeds into the atmosphere. Our hearts and minds are the soil in which these seeds can plant. We can also receive the words of others into our lives as well. This is why it is so imperative we guard our conversations. Many things said in a joking or playful manner can take root and being to sprout into real thoughts. This is why if you are married you should never even mention the word divorce. The thought can begin to take root and spread. Another example is in being careful where we place our hearts and trust as single women. Conversations can lead in various directions. We are to guard our tongue against lustful speech as this can lead us to falling into temptation if the opportunity presents itself. We must also guard ourselves against conversations with men regarding marriage and a future if both parties involved are not actually at a place where they are willing to pursue those futures. This is what I mean by planting seeds we are not ready to harvest. 

We can say things without realizing the full impact our words can have on others. For those of you with children, thing of times you have told your children you would do something, but then had to change your plans. Have you seen the disappointment on their faces? The same thing can happen to us as adults, but we usually hide our reactions better than children. 

We can change the whole direction of our lives by learning to guard the words we speak. This is not a new revelation, but something God has been showing us for thousands of years! 

"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.  Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.  Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.  Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.  But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh." James 3:1-12

We cannot expect great things in our life if all we speak is negative. If we enter into relationships speaking of the other person hurting us or leaving us just like all the rest, then we are speaking death into a situation before it even begins. In our jobs we can speak death or life over a promotion or raise. Remember, fresh and bitter water cannot come from the same opening. Are your words those of sweetness or words of bitterness? What are you releasing into your life and the lives of those around you through your words? 

Choose wisely your words today because they become the reality of your tomorrow.

Thinking Right

I'm willing to guess if I had the opportunity to sit down with each of you I would hear life stories that vary in ways, and yet share similarities. Many of us have things that have happened in our past that are less than pleasant stories. Some of us may be living in the middle of our pain and tragedy at this moment. No matter what has happened to us or how life has beaten us up, we have the choice on which things we will choose to focus our attention. 

If you have been the victim of abuse at some point in your life you have the option to remain in that moment or forgive your offender and trust God to heal your pain. Perhaps you have lost loved ones at an early age. You can concentrate on the pain of that loss or thank God for the time you had together. Circumstances in your life may not be what you would want them to be at this time. Each of us have the option to focus on what is wrong or to maintain our eyes on all that is right. 

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9

This is why it is so important to be aware of the influences around us. Do the television programs you watch help you to maintain a pure thought life. How about the music you play? Are your friendships ones that help you maintain your marriage or do they speak negatively regarding your spouse? Do you rehearse every hurt and argument or do you reminisce on everything they have done right and with love? 

I have found when I can get my thought life in order, my attitude follows. If I surround myself with negativity, then I will become negative. However, if I am maintaining my walk with God through worship, reading His word, and spending quiet time with Him, then my attitude becomes evident of peace, joy, and love. If you struggle in these areas, try posting scriptures around your house in places you know you will read them throughout the day. Have cd's of sermons in your car and instead of listening to the radio, listen to the cd's. Turn off the television at night and read your bible instead. You will be amazed at how quickly things begin to change in your life! The outside circumstances may not change, but your heart and mind will shift!

Beautiful Endings

Endings in our lives can be some of the most painful times to walk through. When it is the ending of a relationship we mourn the years spent with the person and also the loss of the dreams we had with them for the future. Through death we grieve the loss of the person and what they meant to us. Losing a job can leave us anxious for our provision. Leaving a church often reveals to us the people who are truly our friends and those who are friends of "convenience." There are many different endings we have to experience throughout our lives. 

As I am thinking on this subject this morning, the last words of Jesus on the cross come to mind. "So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit." John 19:30. This must be one of the greatest and most painful endings imaginable for all those who knew Him. His followers believed Him to be the King who was going to free them and save them from the lives they knew. Jesus made references during His life of His return, yet to those there on that day, how must they have felt upon hearing Him say "it is finished?"  This ending was absolutely necessary in order for Jesus to fulfill the scriptures. This ending had to happen in order for God to show His true glory. The same is true in our lives. 

The relationship that ended could be God saving you from future heartache. Perhaps it is because the person you were with was not the one God has chosen for you (Please note I'm referencing a dating relationship here, not marriage.) If we are tied to the wrong person, God cannot bring us the right one. The death of a loved one is painful to us, however if they are a believer in Christ it is the beginning of their time in Jesus' presence. The loss of that job could be because God wants to move you into a new career field. Losing those you previously considered your church family could be because God wants to reveal their true motives and bring you into true community with other believers. 

Without the death of one season, a new one cannot begin. Jesus could not be resurrected from death had He not died first. Notice the death of Jesus was a very public one. This was so everyone could witness the finality of His humanly existence. Sometimes the ending in our lives must be public also. This is so those watching can witness the resurrections we experience and see God working through ALL things! Never be ashamed of your endings. Use them to show God's power! If you are in your "tomb" time, hang in there! Even Jesus had to go into hell before ascending into heaven. 

Don't Miss the Point

Last night I attended an event for teens at the main campus of my church in South Carolina. I drove my daughter and three other teens down for this event. The main message of the pastor's message to the teens was to not miss the point of being a Christian. He shared an experience he had while speaking to a Christian club at a local high school. The meeting was at 7:30 in the morning on a Thursday and when he entered there were about 70 teens gathered. One "cool" guy was playing the guitar as everyone was worshiping. The pastor sat and observed the students interacting. He noticed one "nerdy" guy in the corner and watched as several times he attempted to insert himself into the crowd. Each time he was brushed off and pushed aside. He spent the rest of the time alone on the side. The point was how these students were so proud of themselves for getting up and early and gathering to show their love of Jesus. However, they failed to show the love of Jesus to another student. 

How often do we do this exact same thing? Do we take the time to notice those around us? Do we make eye contact with our cashiers? I have a major pet peeve with people who talk on their cell phones while checking out at a store. If you do this, then no I'm not sorry if I offend you. If I'm on the phone in a store I will ask the person I'm speaking with to hold while I purchase my items. A transaction usually only takes a few seconds. What if the person checking us out has not had anyone smile at them all day? What if your friendliness could be the bright point of their day? How about when you are at home and your children are asking for a few minutes of your attention? We can become so focused on our agendas, schedules, and plans that we miss out on the needs immediately in front of us. 

Jesus was always willing to be interrupted. There are several examples in scripture to show His countenance upon interruptions. In Mark 5 we find the story of Jesus traveling to Jairus's house to heal his sick daughter. As He is walking, the woman with the issue of blood touches Jesus, interrupting His travels. 

"Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” Mark 5:25-34

Notice Jesus was not mad at her interruption. In fact, Jesus could have continued walking without acknowledging what happened. Nobody else knew she had touched Him and been healed. She could have gone on her way and told others how she was healed. Yet, Jesus stopped to talk to her. Think about this....she had been sick with her issue for 12 years. Surely those following Jesus knew her and knew of her sickness. It is likely many of them had ostracized her from their circle of friends. What must their have reactions been upon seeing Jesus speaking to her? 

Jesus didn't care what others thought of him interacting with those who have been outcast from society! Do we care? Do we choose who we show love and concern to out of fear of what others will think of us for associating with the "least of these?" Or do we miss the point? If we only show love to those who are easy to love, then we are not living out the love of Jesus. If we only accept the "cool" kids into our circle and reject those who are not like us, then we are missing the point. I find I am guilty of this myself. I don't want to have any interaction with someone and they not leave me better for the experience. It could be something as simple as smiling at a stranger to taking a meal to a friend in need. 

I want to be interruptable!

Faith and Forgiveness

Every Sunday my 6 year old receives weekly devotionals from our church. The current topic for her devotionals is faith. Reading these verses every day has caused me to pause and think about what faith means to me personally. With all the prosperity and "name it and claim it" type preaching in the world today, it can become confusing as to why we should have faith. Do we have faith simply to have an idea in our minds of how our life should be and then God will fulfill our wish list? Is faith simply so we can live a comfortable life? What if what we have faith about does not align with the word of God or His plan for us? Is our faith alone what causes God to move on our behalf?

"So I tell you, when you pray for something, believe that you have already received it. Then it will be yours." Mark 11:24

For many the above verse is used as a reminder of God's promise to us. Looking at this one verse alone would lead us to believe God will answer us when we have enough belief. However, we cannot look at verse 24 without also continuing to read into verses 25-26...

"AND (emphasis mine) when you stand praying, forgive anyone you have anything against. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins."

Can we come to God believing by faith for something to happen and also harbor unforgiveness in our hearts? According to these verses, I would say it's impossible! There are so many things we need to address in our lives before sending up our wish lists to God. Matthew 6:33 is a reminder of this lesson. "But put God's kingdom first. Do what He wants you to do. Then all of those things will also be given to you."  I have found in my own life that by seeking God first, the things I once found important were suddenly irrelevant to me. When we seek God first, we begin to experience His love. We begin to comprehend His forgiveness and mercy. Just as the woman who washed Jesus' feet with oil in Luke 7:47, we see how much we have been forgiven which allows us to forgive others. 

Are you waiting for a breakthrough in an area of your life and it seems elusive? Have you been praying faith prayers for years without seeing any sign of a change happening? Are you also harboring offense and unforgiveness against someone in your life? If you have received the forgiveness of God, you MUST release the person who has caused you harm and pain. There is no way around it! Forgiving does not condone the actions of your offender or say what they did was okay. In the same way, God's forgiveness of us is not an endorsement of our sin. Even though we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He didn't wait for us to run to Him with an apology before He hung on a cross. 

I challenge you today to examine your heart for areas of hurt and pain that you are holding onto. Before praying for the next item on your with list, pray that God will help you to release the person you have been holding in the prison of unforgiveness. The reality is in most cases the person you think you are hurting is not even aware of how deeply they have hurt you. The only person trapped in this prison is you. Why waste another day preventing God from moving in your life? He's waiting on you!

Unleash!

I am a person who goes through cycles of reading. When I am in the mood to read, I will have several books in process at once. Once the mood leaves I have a hard time reading anything at all. Currently I am in one of the cycles of reading and have no less than six books around the house that I am in the process of reading. When I saw Perry Noble's book Unleash! was being released, all the other books immediately had to take a back seat. 

I first have to recommend always reading the Bible for inspiration and revelation into living the Christian life. No author can come close to imparting wisdom like the God inspired word recorded in scriptures. If you are looking for a companion to your bible reading, then Unleash! is a great place to start. Having attended a leadership conference at NewSpring Church several years ago, I knew the type of personality to expect in a book written by Pastor Perry. I was not disappointed. 

I read Unleash in two days! Each chapter was inspiring and I could not wait to read more. When it ended I was disappointed! Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

"God wants to hear us laugh. God is not after our begrudging submission. He is after our joy,"

"We can live a life that is unleashed because of whose we are, not who we are."

"...one of the most damaging enemies of the unleashed life: religion."

"God’s love is in Christ, not in our performance."

"...if you don’t let your past die, then it won’t let you live."

"We can’t live a truly unleashed life until we begin to understand how precious we are to God."

"The key to living a meaningful life is to focus not on what we want but rather on who Jesus is and what He wants for us."

"We will never become fully who God has called us to be unless we grasp that life is not about getting other people to serve us but about how we can serve others."

"As followers of Christ, our primary goal is not to be understood but rather to be obedient."

"One of the marks of a person who is living an unleashed life is that they can acknowledge the goodness of God even when they are experiencing hell on earth."

These are just a few of the points Pastor Perry Noble makes throughout this book. In his typical "no holds barred" style, Pastor Perry gives Christians a much needed kick in the pants to get out of the spectator stands and begin living the life God is calling them to lead!

 

The Name Jesus

What does the name Jesus mean to you? No, seriously. I want you to take the next 60 seconds to think about what that name means to you. If nothing is coming to you, say His name out loud. No distractions. No outside noise. Turn the television off. If you have to go into the bathroom just to get alone for one minute, do it now. I'll be here waiting for you. 

Did you truly just spend the last 60 seconds thinking about Jesus? Did you say His name out loud? If so (and I truly hope you did) what happened? I'm not asking this as a rhetorical question. I want you to comment with details of what happened when you spent 60 seconds uninterrupted while calling on the name of Jesus. 

Why do we call on the name of Jesus? There are many people who say His name with no reverence whatsoever. His name is used even as a curse or as a way of expressing extreme frustration. I refer to this as 'prank calling' Jesus. In my experience of calling on His name, He answers. It is up to me how I am going to receive Him when He responds. The most powerful times of worship during church have been simply when we have sung His name together as one voice. 

Think about these scriptures regarding the name of Jesus:

-"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (No other name will allow us access to Heaven)

-"...giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," Ephesians 5:20 (It's because of Jesus we can give thanks in all circumstances and for all things.)

-"that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10-11 (There is nobody who will not one day bow to confess Jesus as Lord. Whether it is here on earth or when they reach eternity, there is only ONE name that will remain!)

-"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 1:3 (Jesus is the name that brings peace)

I could continue listing scripture after scripture of the ways Jesus' name is used. He is so many things there really are no words to describe Him! Take the time today to say His name and spend at least 60 seconds in His presence!!

This is one of the songs we sing at church that seems to usher in His presence every times it's sung:

Denying Jesus

I know the people who read my posts are at various places in their walk with Christ. Today I want to do something a bit different and address this post to those of you who feel you have fallen away from your faith. You once had a strong faith in God, but now you find yourself denying Jesus and walking in a life you never thought you would be living. 

What happened that caused you to turn away from the faith you once had in Jesus? Did someone within the church body hurt you? Perhaps it was the reality of life that caused you to question your beliefs. Or did you succumb to a sinful temptation and because of feeling like a failure you turned away from your first love? 

I've found the greatest tool satan uses against us is shame. When we stumble in our walk, or in essence deny Christ, satan begins an all out assault to convince us we are no longer worthy of the call God has placed on our lives. As Christians, I see where all too often we assist satan in his efforts. When a brother or sister in Christ falls into sin, many are quick to discredit the giftings God has placed inside of them. We seem to forget they are human and immediately judge their entire lives based on one bad decision or moments of weakness. 

We need to look no further than the life of the disciple Peter in order to see how God can use those who have once turned from Him. Have you wondered what it would have been like to walk alongside Jesus in the flesh? If you struggle with sin you may think if you could just have a more intimate encounter with God, then you could defeat your giant. However, Peter physically walked with Jesus. He saw Jesus perform miracle after miracle live and in the flesh. He even walked on the water with Him! None of the other disciples had faith enough to step out onto the stormy waves! Peter proved his devotion to Jesus over and over again. He showed complete commitment right until Jesus' end. Or almost.

"Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.” Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!” A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept." Mark 14:66-72

What happened to the Peter who walked on water? Where is the Peter who was on the mountain with Jesus and heard the voice of God call Jesus His son? This Peter is not the Peter we have read about up until this point. Is this where you have found yourself? Like Peter, you may have wept over your decision to deny Christ. Or maybe you are numb to the choices you have made and see no reason to weep. Have you turned away from the body of Christ out of shame from your denial? 

It's important to know the story of Peter to know it did not end with his denial and weeping. He did not turn away and disappear into bible oblivion after this account. Peter's faith was renewed with a vengeance! He was the first man to see Jesus after His resurrection. Peter helped start the early church. He traveled in the name of Christ and performed healings and miracles. It is believed Peter was so bold in his faith that he too was murdered on a cross, but requested it be upside down because he was not worthy to die in the same manner as Christ! 

I would say Peter's moment of denial is what spurred him to such an unrelenting service to Jesus. So what will you do with your fall? Will you let it defeat you and let satan rob you of the plan God has for your life? Or will you use your stumble to propel you towards living a life greater in love with Jesus? Will you use it to give you greater compassion for others who have stumbled or turned away from their faith? Will you be forgiving when those in our church body are caught in their sin? I pray today is the day you see your call from God has not been rescinded! He still has a plan for you!

Sometimes You Don't Have Words

How much time do you truly spend alone with God? I have to admit I am guilty of filling my hours with things that have little to nothing to do with Him. However, right now I am in a season of life that is requiring me to make some big decisions. These are more than "what are we having for dinner" type decisions. They are decisions that could change the course of not only my life, but the lives of others. These are decisions that I would not even want to begin to make without making sure I'm following the Holy Spirit's guidance in how to proceed. 

Many times our first instinct in these kinds of situations is to seek the opinion of our friends and/or family. What we often fail to realize is that others can have their own motivations in the counsel they provide. They also never have all of the facts. We can attempt to fill them in on all the details, yet there is no way to fully explain all the thoughts, emotions, and actions that contribute to the decision ahead of us. God is the only one who knows all the details and even the ones you do not know. If your decision involves others, God knows their hearts in a way you never could. The Holy Spirit is the only one qualified to give an expert opinion.

Over the last few days I have found I'm spending a lot of time focusing on hearing from God. I am not sharing this to brag in any way. Please refer back to the second sentence at the beginning of this post. I'm reading books related to where I am in life right now. I'm reading scriptures. Worship music is playing almost constantly. A friend asked yesterday, "Are you always so full of joy like this?" I didn't really understand what they meant so they explained further. It occurred to me that my time spent in seeking God on one particular issue has spilled over into other areas of my life. 

Are there heavy decisions ahead of you? Have you already made your decision? Did you seek God before proceeding? Do you have peace about your choice? One thing I have experienced personally is a peace that comes from knowing when you are hearing from God. There will be people who will question your decisions, yet if you know you are following God, then their opinions do not matter. When you have direction from God, He provides His peace in order to sustain you from the backlash that will come as a result of your obedience. 

If you have not recently taken the time to get away with God, I strongly encourage you to take the time to do so as soon as possible. If there is a lack of peace in your life, seek Him immediately! His presence is stronger than any medication. I am praying for all who read this to have a divine encounter with God in a way they have never experienced before. 

I will end today with a song. This is one of my favorites that is sung at my church. I have yet to hear it and not also felt the spirit of God moving while it is being sung. The primary reason I am so moved by this song, and I believe God is also, is the part where the words end and simple moanings begin. There is something that happens in the spiritual realm when we speak to God in an unintelligible language. Satan does not have the ability to interpret our groans and utterances. The Holy Spirit moves on our behalf through our sounds. God knows the struggles in my heart. If I simply prayed in my own words I would be providing satan with ammunition to use against me. Even the bible talks about petitioning God in such a way!

"Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily." Psalm 55:2

Take some time today or tonight to seek God for the decisions you are facing in your life. I promise He will help you see the direction to take!

The Sweet Potato Saga

I have found there is one food my six year old absolutely abhors....sweet potatoes. Regular potatoes are not an issue for her, yet for some reason she has a strong dislike for the sweet variety. It was several months ago I made sweet potatoes without realizing it would turn into one of the biggest dinner battles ever. She cried. She pouted. She sat at the table for close to an hour over her refusal to eat sweet potatoes. She informed me several times she wasn't hungry anymore. Had I placed a cupcake in front of her, I'm sure she would have quickly found an appetite. She eventually ate the sweet potatoes, but not without the threat of punishment. 

Last night I tried a different approach by serving sweet potato casserole. I remembered she does not like sweet potatoes.  She made it painfully obvious the last time they were served. However, it is something I know is good for her. She resisted yet again, but did eat it with fewer tears than before and in less time. 

This morning as I was thinking about the sweet potato saga, I heard God remind me of how similar I am when it comes to Him giving me things that are good for me that I don't "like." There are times when God brings people or situations into our lives that are good for us even though we don't like them. It's through trials that we find out how strong we really are through Him. It's through hurt and disappointment that I have learned to trust fully in Him. Some life lessons I am slowly learning now that I am taking the test for the 20th time. Every time such a scenario is "served" I cry because I don't want it again. Just like my 6 year old though, the amount of time it takes for me to "get it" diminishes each time the test is given. The tears become less. 

What is the sweet potato in your life? Is there something God is telling you to "eat" because it's good for you, yet you turn into a child in your refusal to just listen to your Daddy? The next time you come to the table and find that meal being served, will you pout, cry and refuse to partake or will you trust Him to have your best interests and health in mind? 

This is Olivia during the first sweet potato dinner 

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask of Him?" Matthew 7:11

But What If......

Last night in conversation with a friend I made the statement of how most of the things we worry about never actually come to pass. We spent countless minutes and hours rehearsing worse case scenarios in our minds when the reality is few of these scenarios ever happen. People become paralyzed with inactivity because of all the scenes they have imagined. This seemed to be a profound statement to my friend who said they have never really thought about the consequences of worrying. 

Think back to the Y2K frenzy most people found themselves believing. Even if you did not create a stockpile of canned goods and water, it was hard not to find yourself going down the thought road of "what if this is the end?" There are people who live their lives now in preparation for the end of the world. They spend countless hours building bunkers, stockpiling ammunition, and isolating themselves from the rest of society. I'm not saying we should not be prepared in some way in case of an emergency. Most of us have fire extinguishers, flashlights, extra batteries, etc. in our homes. There are some things that are simply common sense. I put my seatbelt on in the car as a precaution, but not because I leave my house terrified of being in an accident. 

I wonder how high the number is of people in our country who take medication for anxiety. I've found the greatest stress levels in my life have come from my attempt to control things that are beyond my control. While walking to pick up my daughter from school this week I witnessed a car drive up on the sidewalk and hit a light pole head on. It was directly in front of the school where parents were standing to pick up their children and where children often play in the yard in front of the school. I have two options now in how I let this affect me. I could become anxious of it occurring again and vow to never walk that sidewalk and only pick up my child through the car line. Or I can thank God I was running a little late that day and not standing in that spot at the time this happened. Satan would love nothing more than to cause me to become anxious over something as simple as crossing a street I've crossed hundreds of times without incident. I know people who never travel far from home because of an extreme fear of flying. Anxiety has limited them from living life fully.

When thinking of anxiety, the real question is in whom do you place your trust? Do you trust God enough to believe He truly does have our best interests in mind? Do you believe Him to work all things out for His honor and glory? In the middle of your storm, are you able to get down in the boat and rest with Him knowing the winds and the waves could cease at the sound of His voice? Or do you find yourself constantly saying, "Yeah, I know all that, BUT....." Do you feel that if you don't take charge the world could fall apart? Do you lie awake at night thinking of all the negative possibilities of the choices you have to make in life? Or are you able to say, "Lord, I trust you in ALL things!"

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? "(Luke 12:25-26)

Talking Politics

I can't believe I'm about to go here, but let's talk politics. I'm not going to "endorse" any particular candidate or party. That is not what is on my heart today. What concerns me in watching the news, conventions, facebook posts, etc. is the venomous speech and the extreme loyalty to one man. Especially from those I know are professing Christians. I watch as friends who are in ministry share their feelings on the issues. Many of these posts are lacking in any love. Many are lacking in education on the very issues they are arguing. Again, please hear my heart on this matter. 

As Christians, we need to be extremely careful in where we place our loyalties and our faith. If our faith is placed solely in our government or in a particular political party, we run the risk of removing our loyalty and faith in God. If we feel our lives will be better or worse based on who wins an election, then we are forgetting the true source of everything in our lives. I'm not saying we should not be informed or aware of what is going on in our country. Yet it seems so many people become consumed, infuriated, and angry around election time. The greatest weapon of satan is the weapon of division. At no other time (outside of Sunday morning) is it quite as evident as in an election year. All you have to do is turn on the news and see the people standing across from each other yelling over police who are in place as a dividing line between the "sides" of an issue. 

My suggestion to each person when deciding how to vote (if you are voting) is to examine what issues would be closest to the heart of God. Does either candidate perfectly align with a Godly platform? No, neither do. I know friends who have said they would vote for Romney if he wasn't a Mormon and friends who say they can't vote for Obama based on his stance on marriage and abortion. Each of us need to examine our own hearts and ask WHY we feel led to vote for a certain candidate. Is it because of a party or a racial loyalty? Is it because it's how people expect us to vote or simply because it's the way we voted in the last election? Our decision in this (and all things) should all come back to scriptures. Do you trust in God's economy or the one resulting from the decisions of man? 

I would challenge everyone to do your research and search your hearts before November. Please know I'm not saying any of this to encourage anyone one way or another, but to simply take the time to truly seek God before seeking popular opinion (whichever side you find popular)

"Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods." Psalm 40:4

Single Ladies

I want to write today specifically to those of you who are single. First, I want to remind you there is beauty in your singleness and you can be 100% complete in Jesus without a man in your life. Our society makes every attempt to convince us there is something wrong with being single. Yet there are scriptures that honor being single. 

"I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord." 1 Corinthians 7:32-35

Your time of singleness is a blessing from God because it allows you to seek Him as your source, provider, and husband. When there is no earthly man in our lives, we learn to rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us. Our singleness should be a time to seek His face and not a time to sit in pity over being alone. It is by drawing close to God in our singleness that He reveals to us more of who He is, which is who we should look for in a husband. If we are not familiar with the characteristics of God, then how can we recognize them in a husband? 

I see so many women in unhealthy and ungodly relationships simply because they do not want to be alone. They compromise what they value in order to "keep" a man. Ladies, if you have to compromise yourself for a man, then he is probably not the man for you. If you are spending all your time with a man who is not from God, you are limiting God from bringing you the one He has chosen for you. I am saying all these things because I have been there. I have compromised my values because I thought that would move me closer to obtaining the kind of relationship I wanted. It's a lie. It does not work that way! The Godly role of a husband is to lead you deeper in your relationship with Christ, not lead you into sin. Don't compromise your purity in order to attract a man. A godly man will be attracted to your relationship with Jesus and not just your cleavage. 

If you desire a godly husband, be willing to wait for him. I truly believe when God brings him along, you will know rather quickly if you use Godly standards as your measuring stick. Ladies, don't chase him! Men are designed to pursue and when he finds you, he will give chase. The one for you WILL realize your value and not be willing to let anything happen to let you get away. He will treat you with respect and honor. If he says he will call you, he will. He will encourage you. He will protect and provide for you. 

Ladies, if you are in a relationship that you know is not from God, then you need to end it. It may seem difficult and scary, but it will be worth the pain! Allow yourself time to heal and examine why you compromised. Ask God what His heart is for you and be willing to follow His lead. It is only through obedience that He can pour out His blessing on you and a relationship.

Disappointments

Today's message may seem pretty simple, but it's one I have been reminding myself of this morning. Jesus is the only person who ever walked the earth without sin. That said, people will disappoint us. People will make decisions and choices that hurt us. The only person in whom we can place 100% trust is in Jesus Christ. He came to earth not to live for Himself, but to live for each of us. His motives were never selfish. He cried out for His future to be taken away from Him, but even though He knew the pain He would face, He was obedient unto death for each of us. 

There will be times when the actions of others hurt us. It would be easy to use these actions as a reason to write them out of our lives or to become bitter towards them. My battle is not bitterness, but of building walls against people when they hurt me. My instinct is to still communicate with them, but become very guarded. It is an instinct I have to fight because the situation may not always warrant such extreme action. As believers we are called to forgiveness, even when forgiveness hurts or doesn't make sense. 

The person I have found disappoints me the most has been myself. Nobody knows the dreams, goals, and desires inside of us quite like ourselves. We know the standard we strive to attain. It could be as small a disappointment as not getting the house cleaned when I planned to clean it or something like committing a sin I vowed to never commit again. It also involves making decisions not based on my needs or wants, but choosing in terms of how my decision will affect someone else. 

What I have come to realize is that if I disappoint myself as often as I do, then why would I expect others to never disappoint me? I can't even keep the "standard" to myself! This is why our relationship and trust in Christ is so extremely vital. His love and friendship never disappoints. When those we love on earth disappoint and hurt us, we must remember they are just as human as we are ourselves. This is also why our identity, worth, and value needs to be placed in Him and not in those around us. No matter what others do or how they change, Jesus always remains the same. 

"Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves. Each one of us must please his neighbor for his good, in order to build him up. For even the Messiah did not please himself. " Romans 15:1-3