But If Not

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Daniel 3:17-18

There are often times of uncertainty that we all go through in life.  Wondering what our next step will be.  In the midst of all this we are expected to have faith that in all things God is going to work it out. After all, that is what His Word says.  Even now when my life is in a state of flux and wondering what my next move will be, while trying to hold on the midst of it all, I question if my faith is strong enough.   Faced with opposition on every side. Individuals who mock the very faith upon which I stand and yet I still have hope.  As I think about this I am reminded about the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace.  After reading this story again I find myself asking if I would have had the same kind of faith.  It's easy to proclaim to be a child of God when everything is going good around you, while you are surrounded by other believers.  But what about in the workplace when you don't know who's a Christian and who's not.  Will you still continue to stand up for God?  What about while hanging with your friends when conversations turn to gossip and backbiting?  Will you continue to stand up for God or  just blend in smiling and laughing along in an attempt to fit in?  I would like to say that I would do the right thing and 'stand up for God'. But the truth of the matter is I don't know what I would do.  I need my job.  What if my standing up for what is right causes me to get fired?  To I have the faith to say that God will continue to 'supply all my needs according to His riches in glory'.   What about when dealing with friendships?  These ladies (gentlemen) have been my friends for years.  I don't really want to stir up any confusion.  And what about when you have been praying about something and you are waiting on God to answer that prayer.  Is your faith predicated on if God answers the prayer in the way that you see fit? Or are you able to proclaim boldly that you trust God as the three Hebrew boys did when faced with the danger of being thrown in a fiery furnace?

It makes me think of my current situation and how I am in the process of going through some major changes in my life. Here I am waiting on God to answer my prayer, beginning to see a little light at the end of the tunnel.  Watching God work on my behalf and starting to feel hopeful.  But in the midst of all this I had to ask myself, "What if the situation doesn't work out the way I would like? Will I be okay with accepting the results as God's will for my life?  Will I be able to say 'But even if He does not'?  You see, that's the kind of faith I want to have.  Life has shown me that things are not always going to work out as I would like it to.  That job I may really want may be given to someone else.  Someone who I may have thought to be a lifelong friend may turn out to be seasonal.  While I may be praying for healing, God may decide to deliver the ultimate healing and take my loved one on up to glory.  All these situations could easily shake my faith but God has just been to good to me for me not to accept that He knows what is best for my life.  And if He has determined to take me through the fire then bring it on.   If I have to be tried by the fire so that my life can be used as a testimony to help someone else then I am going to walk through the fire.  And while I may have to go through the fire I have decided to stand up for God.  My questions for you today is, " What will your decision be?  Daily we are faced with opportunities to be a witness for God.  At home, on our job, in the grocery store, at the mall.  Will you be that witness? 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

I come to You today in the humblest way that I know how.  Giving you all the praise You so richly deserve.  Father I ask today that You forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.  I know that in times past when faced with a situation of whether or not to stand up for You or blend in with the crowd, I have not always made the best decisions.  Today I make a bold declaration of faith.  You., alone. are the one, true God and in everything I am going to praise Your name.  In Jesus' Precious Name I pray Amen. 

Stop Your Complaining

Turn on any television , watch any new program, read any newspaper and you will find a plethora of bad news.  Not only that, but if you are anything like me and have a normal life with ups and downs, twists and turns, you don't have to do any of those things to find some bad news. All you have to do is look around you, open the mailbox, listen to your ungrateful child, miss a few hours of sleep, deal with a crazy boss or know-it-all coworkers.   And what usually goes along with all of that, complaining.  On any given day we could all find something to complain about.  But I wonder if every time we felt the urge to complain we actually thanked God, how much better our lives would be. 

The Psalmist writes in  Psalm 34, 'I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (1-4)

Now I was not there when he wrote these words, but I would venture to say that 'all was not perfect in his world'. The Psalmist chose to do something different.  Instead of looking upon his circumstance and how dark the night, he chose to look to God.  I often turn to the Psalms when I am at a loss for words to pray.  How fitting, when all may look bleak around you, to look to the hills from whence cometh your help.  That's really what it is all about.  The believer and the non-believer should have some distinct differences.  One difference is that even when we are tempted to let our heads hang low, it doesn't stay there for long.  We don't hope as those who have no hope.  Our hope is in God.  So stop your complaining and start praising Him.  For every reason you might have to complain I bet you  have something to be thankful for.  There are times in my life where I have a harder time finding those things to be thankful for I have learned that the reason for this is because I find myself looking for the extraordinary instead of finding God in the ordinary.  Things that I have started to take for granted like my family, good health, true friendships.  All these things that God has blessed me with.  When you come to realize that everything you have, you don't deserve, it becomes easier to 'bless the Lord at all times and praise Him continously.

Now maybe you haven't gotten to this point yet.  Verse 5 in the text above brings home the most important reason that we don't have to waste time complaining.  That reason is prayer.  Being able to lay it all out and tell it to God about it is something to be thankful for.  You don't have to worry about the perfect words or complete sentence.  All you have to do is speak from your heart.  And I am hear to tell you that He hears you. 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank You so very much for the privilege of prayer.  There is no greater relief than being able to come to You and pour out my heart, not just with request but in praise.  Lord I thank you for everything that you have done in my life. I know there are times when I have taken for granted the blessings you have provided for me.  Help me not to develop a spirit of complaining but one of gratefulness.  Help me not to be selfish in my prayers but selfless, giving You the honor you so richly deserve.  All these things I ask in Your Precious Name Jesus Amen.

Looking Up

I am often amazed at the different things the Holy Spirit reveals to me in my quiet time with God.  How the treasures in the Word of God are numerous.  I can read a story in the Bible that I have known since I was a little girl and all of a sudden the verses take on a whole new meaning.  This morning I was reading the story of the 'two fish and five loaves of bread'.  If you are like me you have probably heard this story all your life.  James Cleveland even sang a song about how 'little becomes much when you place it in the Master's hands'.   

Mark 6:41 says, Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them.  Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to he disciples so they could distribute it to the people.  He also divided the fish for everyone to share. 

The setting of this story takes place after Jesus had been teaching and by this time He had quite a large following.  Now the disciples still not getting the big picture and realizing the power of the Man with whom they traveled saw all the people and the late hour and just wanted to send them away.  I can imagine that they looked around and saw all the people and knew how hungry they were and thought to themselves "How are we going to feed all these people?  We better send them away before we insight a riot."  I can see their heads hanging low, discouraged, not knowing what to do.  They weren't thinking about looking up.  In fact, they were probably looking down.  It made me think about how I am at times.  When all I can see is the situation around me, the bills that keep coming in the mail, the need for a better job, the stress of raising children, and on and on.  Instead of looking up to heaven I'm looking all around at what I have and not what God can do with what I have if I would only give it to Him.  Case in point: Have you ever had that problem and  you decided to pray about it and all of a sudden little things start changing?  I have and so I know what a difference looking up to God can make!  What an awesome teaching opportunity this situation for Jesus! He knew the secret.  And He thought enough of us to share it with us. 

You see, it doesn't matter what you have or what your current situation may be.  You may be looking at your bank statement wondering what you are going to shuffle around this month just to make it to next month.  You might be saying that I have tried everything I can and my spouse still won't act right and I just want to give up.  You might be tired of being mistreated on your job but can't quit.  You have had about all the disrespect from your child and your family is on one right now trying to run your life.  Maybe you have a dream and you don't think you have the resources to make the dream a reality.  All you can see from looking around is what you don't have.  What is missing.  Maybe you are asking yourself, "When is it going to be my turn?"  My challenge to you today is that instead of looking down or looking around,  try looking up.  Looking up has a way of changing your perspective.  Realizing your limitations and allowing a limitless God to step in and give you what is missing.  Thanking God for what you do have and asking Him to bless it.  Your job, your house, your misbehaving child, your spouse.  Your family (however crazy they may be).  There isn't anything we can do in and of our own strength and when we try we are often disappointed.  The time has come for you to trust that God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory.  Allow Him to turn your 'little into much'  by giving it to Him and placing it in His hands.  Not holding on but letting go completely and then being obedient to His will.  And then step back and watch God!

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the awesome privilege of prayer.  It is during this time that I can come and share with you everything that is going on in my life.  Lord today I want to ask forgiveness. I have been guilty of looking at my current situation more than looking to you. I have been looking around and down, sometimes expecting limited people to meet my need.  But no more.  I look to You, Heavenly Father.  For You are the only one capable of meeting my every need.  Thank you for sustaining me even when I didn't realize it.  For keeping my mind and giving me peace.  I know that with You I can do all things.  It doesn't matter what my resources are because you are able to multiply them and make them enough.  Help me to be satisfied with 'enough'.  In Jesus' Precious Name I pray Amen. 

Better Days

It has been a rough couple of months.  Some mornings I just wanted to stay in the bed.  All sorts of things running through my head.  Every emotion you could possibly imagine feeling, I felt.  Usually when I feel this way I can find refuge in going to church, fellowship with other Christians, singing in the choir and hearing the Word of God imparted.  This time that didn't work.  After the loss of my Pastor I didn't feel much like going to church.  My heart was sad and it effected every part of my life.  Although I would much rather have taken some time off from life, I couldn't.  I still had people who needed me, my husband, my children, family, and friends.  You see, one thing that I have learned is that the life of an Encourager is often a lonely one.  Everyone is used to you being upbeat, always knowing the right words to say, being that person who is  'able to get a prayer through'.  We aren't supposed to be sad or have an off day.  Because of this we learn to build up fake walls that eventually come crashing down.  Because the truth of the matter is that as strong as our faith may be and no matter how much we love God, we get drained. When this happens we find ourselves looking for those who are able to provide refreshment and pour back into our buckets.  We don't set the expectation bar too high because we realize that everyone is going through something so we don't want to become a burden.  But because we know this, over the years God has placed people in our lives who we can confide in. Those who will pray for us.  The ones who see behind the mask. So you are probably asking yourself why am I telling you all this?  Because I know that each and every one of you reading this today sometimes get to the point that you are drained.  You are at the crossroads of life.  You don't know what direction to take.  You get in a 'funk' and you can't seem to shake it.  So what do you do?

There is a song that I love that I find myself singing at some of my most difficult moments.  The lyrics are as follows:  'When my heart is overwhelmed, my prayer is Lead me to the Rock.  Lead me to the Rock that's higher than I Oh Lord, higher than I'.  There is something about the words of this song that put me in a place of worship.  A place where I am no longer focused on what is going on in my life but instead I am focused on God.  And that is a good place for me to be.  It is in this place  that I find safety.  I am free to speak my mind, tell God all about my problems. My soul is rejuvenated.  My spirit is refreshed.  I often leave this song and move into another song that simply says, 'I'm in His safety, rest in His safety, the safety of the Lord'.  Are you starting to see a pattern?  As a Christian you simply cannot stay in a depressed, negative state of mind when you keep your mind stayed on Jesus.  Don't you know that your Heavenly Father wants nothing more than to bestow bountiful blessings on His children?  Some tangible and some intangible.  And as for me, while I love those blessings that I can see and touch, I am starting to learn as I grow older and wiser that I would much rather have the intangible blessings.  Things like peace and joy.  Man can come take all the other things from me but my God is no Indian Giver.  'This joy I have the world didn't give it to me.  The world didn't give it and the world can't take it away'.  That's good news y'all!

And that's not all...  I have also found that it is during this time that God is trying to get your attention.  He wants to take you to that next level. Time to go higher in Him!  He wants to see what your response will be.  Who are you going to run to?  Are you going to open up your Bible and let the Lord speak to you through His Word?  Are you going to cut back on your tv time to spend more time in communion with the Father?  Everything that you need is at your disposal. But as the old saying goes, "You can lead a horse to the water but you can't make Him drink."  God is not going to force feed the Word to you.  And I am just here to remind you that it is necessary for your survival.  If you are still going all week long only reading your Bible on Sunday, it's time to make a change. The Christian needs a steady diet of the Word of God.  Prayer is not an option; it is a necessity.  Allow God to transform you by the renewing of Your mind.  The God we serve is awesome and able to meet your every need.  The sky may look dark right now but remember, 'Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning'. (Ps. 30:5)  'They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary.  They shall walk and npt faint.  (Isaiah 40:30-31) 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

I come to You today standing in the need.  I'm not quite sure what is going on in my life right now.  But I know that when I don't know I can come to You for guidance and direction.  Help me to dig deeper into Your Word and listen for Your still small voice.  Help me not to look not only at my situation but to fix my eyes on You.  I am trusting You with every area of my life, submitting to Your will.  I love You Lord and I will forever praise Your name because You are Worthy!  In Jesus' Wonderfu; Name I pray Amen. 

Just Pray!

Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.  Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or is he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father, who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! (NAS, Matthew 7:7-11)

Do you believe in the power of prayer?  If so, let me ask you a question.  "Have you prayed about it?" Whatever it is that has you stressing out and worried.  A negative report from the doctor.  The threat of downsizing.  A marriage at the end of its rope.  A child that won't act right.  Depressed?  Disillusioned?  Whatever the case may be, the Bible tells us that we can come boldly before the throne of grace that we may find mercy and grace to help us right when we need it. (Hebrews 4:16)  So why do so many of us, including myself, not pray as often as we should.  Instead we spend our time worrying, stressing, and complaining to people who can’t do anything about it.  I can’t speak for for any of you, but after doing some soul searching, I discovered what my issue was... Trust.  Maybe like me you sing the song "I will trust in the Lord. I will trust in the Lord. I will trust in the Lord...until I die, 'til I die."  At the end of the day I had to ask myself do I really believe that God can do exceedingly, abundantly above all I could ever ask or imagine or are those just words that I just say because it sounds good.

I thought about the life of Jesus and how while He was here on earth He spent a lot of time praying.  How many times He went off to a place alone and spent time communing with His Father, especially at the most difficult times of His life.  And I just know that each time He went was with confidence, believing that His Father had the situation under control and was working it out on His behalf.  I have decided that I want to get to that point in my relationship with God.  Instead of always just saying that I believe that God can, knowing in my innermost being that GOD CAN and WILL!  That's what it's all about. Some of the most recent circumstances in my life have left me wondering.  I know what the Bible says and all the right things to do BUT.  That little three letter conjunction causing my faith to waiver. I needed to be reminded that people on earth may let me down.  They may not live up to my expectations but God is not like man.  All of His promises are 'Yea and Amen'.  Now that is something to shout about! As a parent I do whatever I can to give my children what they need and my resources are limited.  However, my Heavenly Father's resources are limitless.  He not only has whatever I need, He wants to freely give it to me.  I learned a long time ago that everything I have comes from God and when my limited resources stop that is where God begins and because of this I never run out.  

In the verses above we see three different ways we can go before the Father to get our needs met. We should be diligent in our prayers.  We must seek Him with a proper spirit and with humility and sincerity.  Ask with confidence and humility. Seek with care and application. Knock with earnestness and perseverance.  A couple of years back I decided to lose some weight.  While there were many crash diets out there I made the decision that I needed to change my lifestyle in order to achieve he results that I wanted. The most important thing to me was to have lasting results.  So I did just that.  I developed a healthy lifestyle.  That is what prayer must become to the believer.  We must develop a lifestyle of prayer.  In the same way that we wash our face and brush our teeth everyday, we must pray.  Pray without ceasing. (I Thess. 5:17)  The Bible doesn't say, 'Pray just when times get hard'.  God loves to hear from His children. What is it that you stand in need of?  Whatever it is have you prayed about it? 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Looking back over my life I see your hand of mercy and your grace.  I thank You for all the things You have done for me, many things that I didn't deserve. I am so grateful.  Lord I come to you on this day making a commitment to pray more.  Instead of taking things into my own hands I am going to give them to You.  No more worrying or stressing out about things beyond my control.  I'm placing it all in Your hands.  Thank You Father for answering my prayers, for providing a calm in the midst of chaos, peace in the midst of a storm.  In Jesus' Wonderful Name I pray Amen. 

Fight On

He said, "Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's. 2 Chronicles 20:15

Listening to the CD from this past Sunday morning's service, the music for the song "Fight On" began to play.  This song begins with the soloist saying, "In this walk we face many battles but they're not yours. They belong to the Lord..."  As I was driving home I begin to think about the senseless battles I have been a part of instead of turning it over to God.  The most recent one dealing with an employer who did everything in her power to keep me down to the point that I had started dreading each morning.  My mood would start to change on Sunday evening about seven o'clock..  I was miserable.  There were many times when I wanted to give up or give her a piece of my mind.  After all, who did she think she was? But something on the inside wouldn't let me give up.  I read my Word. I prayed without ceasing.  I gave it over to God and once again the stick-to-it-tive-ness that comes from having faith in God helped me make it through.  You see, I recognized that I was not in control and  that I needed to step back and let God be God.  He didn't need my help.  I also realized the reward in being faithful.  It was my job to continue being a light shining in the midst of a dark world.  And the very best thing about that, by being obedient to His Word and staying out of God's way, He was able to work out things for me far better than I could have ever imagined. I learned that sometimes I need to just 'Be Still' and see the salvation of the Lord.  Hold my peace and let the Lord fight my battles, VICTORY shall be mine. 

It doesn't matter what you may be up against right now.  Is it your relationship?  Your job?  Just someone who doesn't like you and does everything in his or her power to bring you down, scandalize your name.  Remember that 'your fight is not against flesh and blood'.  Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy.  He wants to keep you distracted. But you must give it to God and let Him handle it. I cannot stress enough how important it is to put on the armor of God.  It is the tool God gave us to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.   I have also learned that God can see the bigger picture.  He knows just what we can handle and as we continue in obedience, keeping our focus on God (by praying, fasting, reading His Word), He continues to make deposits in us that make us stronger and wiser.  We find ourselves ready to face anything.  Have you ever felt this way?  Maybe right now you are faced with an impossible situation. If so, I dare you to give it God, completely.  Perhaps in the past you have been guilty of giving up too quickly.  Instead of trusting God you tried to work it out on your own.  My encouragement for you is to "Fight on" but not in the traditional sense.  Not with words or with physical actions but use the power of prayer.  Get in the Word.  Praise God and let it be your weapon.  When Satan sees what you are going through and yet, you still have a smile on your face and a praise on your lips, he won't know what to do.  He may try and come at you a little harder but my Word tells me that the devil is already defeated so I am going to treat him that way.  I am not giving him any power.  I'm going to praise God in the valley.  In the midst of grief.  In the midst of what seems like hell on earth sometimes.  Through prayer and praise and the power of God I know that I have the victory and so will you!

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

I praise Your name today.  I worship and adore You just for who You are.  You are Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.  I know that it is in You that I live and move and have my being.  You are Holy. God you are Faithful.  You are Omnipresent.  You're my Rock.  You're my Deliverer. Most importantly, You are my God and I am going to serve You for the rest of my life.  I give my current situation over to You. I trust that You are going to work it out, not only for my good but, for Your Glory. And in the midst of it all I am going to continue to praise  Your name.  In the Mighty and Most Precious Name of Jesus I pray Amen. 

God Is In Control

''And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.  Genesis 1:3

Every now and then I find myself wondering how such a loving God could allow bad things to happen to good people.  I'm talking about the people who are trying to live right.  These individuals are making a true effort to do that which is holy and acceptable in the eyes of God and still can't catch a break.  Have you ever wondered this about yourself or someone you know.  I started today doing '40 Days of Faith' with Pastor Teron Gaddis of the Greater Bethel Church in Oklahoma City.  It's a simple challenge to read the Bible for 40 days straight and watch your faith begin to grow.  He began the study in the beginning and so I read the 1st and 2nd chapters of Genesis.  As I was reading the words, God is in control' erupted in my spirit and suddenly I was at peace.  Slowly I began to think about how God was here in the beginning and that everything was created by Him.  Maybe you are reading this wondering why all the excitement?  I will tell you.

God was here before the earth existed and He will be here until the end.  He didn't need a starter kit, an architectural design, a team of engineers or a construction team to create the world.  God simply spoke it into existence.  What does that mean for you and I?  It means that no matter what  we may be going through God can end it simply by saying that "It's Over".  He spoke and said, "Let there be light" and there was light.  In a nonexistent, dark world, God created light.  Is it dark in your life right? Dark in your marriage?  Dark at your job? Stricken with grief? Unsure of your future?  At the end of your rope?   If so, I am here to encourage you to hold on a little while longer.  The darkest hour is just before the dawn.  Have faith and allow God to speak light into your circumstance.  I am coming to realize that one of the best things I have in my utility belt is 'hope in God'.  It's just good to know that I have Him with me always. I am a child of the King and being a part of God's family has its privileges.  Not only that but I begin to think about the bad things that have happened in my life.  Those times when I almost 'Let go' but glory be to God, He reached down and grabbed me,  raised my bowed down head and gave me the strength to run on. I, then began to think about the things that could have happened but the Lord kept me from them.  He protected me from dangers, seen and unseen. 

I look back over my life and think about all the different ways God has revealed Himself to me.  I no longer have to talk about what I heard.  I am telling you what I know.  If God had not taken me through each and every phase of my life, I would not be the woman that I am today.  I speak with confidence when I say that He will be your Provider, your Shepherd (He provides all my needs), your Confident Keeper, your Rock in a weary land, your Protector (even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear not for He is with me).  He's given me that peace that surpasses all understanding.  A calm in the midst of chaos.  I haven't always been faithful to Him, but thank God He has been faithful to me. There isn't anything that happens that God doesn't know about.  Knowing God gives you some stick-to-it-tive-ness.  You don't take of running at the first sign of trouble.  Instead you get down on your knees.  You fast and pray.  You humble yourself and admit your wrong and ask God to continue His work on you so that you can be of service to Him.  You acknowledge that God is in control and you submit to His will. 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thou who made me and knows all about me, the good, the bad and the ugly but You love me anyway, Thank You.  Today I thank you for Your Word that is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my pathway.  I thank You because even in the worst circumstances I can still have joy, unspeakable joy.  Help me to remember that in my darkest hour, I still have hope and that because I have You everything is going to be alright.  I praise Your Holy Name.  I rededicate my life back to You Lord.  Use me as You see fit.  I will forever give Your name the praise.  In Jesus' Precious Name I pray Amen.

Know What You Have

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10, NLT

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere--in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8, NLT

 

One of the greatest weapons you and I possess is to know the things you possess as a Christian.  Every day I am learning that there are just some things that I don't need to be worried or stressed out about. I was just sitting here today thinking about how many times I have wandered around aimlessly, confused, and disoriented, unsure of myself and the direction I was headed when all I needed to do was tap into my source.  All this for nothing when I have the Holy Spirit in me to guide and direct me.   Some rights I have inherited simply because I am a child of God.  The problem that I have had in the past was that I didn't use my God-given power.  I have left my armor in the closet instead of gearing up from head to toe.  Everything from having my feet shod with the Preparation of Peace, my Sword of the Spirit, my Shield of Faith, my Breastplate of Righteousness, and my Helmet of Salvation, were all left in the closet.  And if you are anything like me there are days when you put it on as emergency gear instead of everyday wear.What good do they do me in the closet?

Today I want you think about taking a different approach to how you deal with Satan's tactics.  You do realize that as a child of God, 'This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. You are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world'. (Ephesians 6:12, God's Word Translation)  One of my biggest failures as a Christian has come in not recognizing my true enemy. My life became much better when I realized that my true enemy was Satan and that I could not fight him in my own strength. He wants nothing more than to distract you and to throw you off course.  He wants to get you so bogged down with conflict and confusion that you no longer hear the voice of God or feel the urgings of the Holy Spirit.  A precise reason why you must know what you have.  You have the promises of God and they are all 'Yea and Amen'.  But you would only know that if you spend time in the Word of God.  Be honest with yourself.  How often do you read God's Word throughout the week or  do you only open your Bible on Sunday's?  If so, you are missing out on so much.  How are you expecting to grow if you are not in the Word of God allowing it to perform its designed duty?  There are things God wants to share with you along this journey of trust that you can use in your daily walk.  He does this in part through His Word. I can't tell you how many times I have opened up my Bible and there on the pages was a relevant Word to my current situation. And by the way the Word of God is always relevant, whether for your current situation or something for your future. There are scriptures that let you know that you serve a God Promise, a God of Wisdom, a God of Strength, and a God of Refuge.  He left You His Holy Spirit who is there to guide you and direct you.  The Holy Spirit is there to help you deal with your circumstances but you have to know that He is within You and heed His warnings and direction.  Consult God in everything.

Another tool that is so not used is the power of prayer.  The scripture says that you have not because you ask not.  How can God do anything for you if you don't bother to ask Him?  I don't know about you but many times I walk around trying to do things in my own strength but it never works out.  It isn't until I turn it over to God that things begin to change.  I don't know what is going on in your life right now but I challenge you to tap into your source.  Know what you have!  Tupac sang a song that said "It's just me against the world."  He had it all wrong.  In order to make it in this world it needs to be You and God against the world.  It's the only way you're gonna make it. 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank You for being a God of promise, reminding me that I don't need to fear.  For You have given me power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and nothing shall by any means hurt me. Forgive me for being so naive and not turning to You for my every need.  Being silly enough to try to do it in my own strength.  Help me to be faithful in reading my Bible and in my prayer life.  Strengthen my commitment.  Help me to prioritize.  I know that I have what seems to be a million things pulling me in so many directions but I know that unless I have plugged in to You I will be no good for any of them.  I want to do better so that I can be of service to You.  In Jesus' Name I pray Amen.

Character

What does it mean to have 'character'.  Character is defined as 'the distinctive nature of something; having moral or ethical quality'.  I have always been taught that it is not just about what you say; it is about how you behave.  I can say all day long that I am a Christian but if my behavior contradicts those words then my character is in conflict.  I have heard many people say that God doesn't expect me to be perfect as though that is an excuse to continue behaving like those in the world.  I am not going to argue with this statement but I will say this: You will never be perfect but God has given you the tools to be better than you were.  You and I were born sinners but we are saved by grace and the blood of Jesus cleanses us and makes us white as snow.  We are going through a 'sanctification' process but that is by no means an excuse to sin.  I have been reading in the book of Philippians in my morning devotion time and I love how Paul put this very thought in Philippians 2:13-16. 'Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing. (Message Bible)

So the question that I had to ask myself was "Am I doing this?"  Am I 'working hard to show the results of my salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear'.  (v.12)  I must make the choice to make a change and trust that God will help me honor my commitment to Him.  That is what His Word says.  And I am hear to tell you that it is not an easy process.  Sometimes there are family members and friends who don't understand your decision...your choice to no longer participate in the negativity.  To boldly say "I really don't want to hear that when someone is always spewing venom about others not caring if it is true or untrue."  We all know those individuals who always have something negative to say about everyone. If you say a name, they have a story. I know because I have done it.  Not to that extent but I am just as guilty as the next person of either saying or listening to negativity about someone else. But it is not about what you have done; it is about are you allowing the Word to do its work (as a two-edged sword), cutting away and healing all in one.  This is by no means you trying to be better than anyone but instead I am working out my salvation.  Does is mean that I no longer slip up?  Definitely not!  What it does mean is that I am aware of my weakness and what tempts me and because of this I am more aware of the things that may make me slip up along this journey of trust. 

As a Christian I am supposed to be a light that shines in darkness.  Having character means this light shines brightly.  I cannot choose  when I want my light to shine.  When I'm with this group my light is shining bright. When I am with this group there is only a dim light flickering. On Sunday morning I'm in character, singing and praising God.  Before I get out of the sanctuary I've taken off my spiritual hat and put on one of the world.  Having character is about consistency.  It is also about refinement.  The word 'refine' has several different definitions.  There are two that stuck out to me the most. 1. To free from moral imperfections 2. To improve by pruning or polishing  You and I did not come into this world ready to conquer our sinful nature.  It is our natural state.  So God puts us in the furnace of affliction and exposes us to difficult situations.  Sometimes this means making decisions about those you keep company with. It means not participating in the latest gossip, having to be in the know about everything that is going on.  It means submitting to God and asking Him to remove those things from you that are not like Him.  Praying 'create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me'. (Psalm 51:10) You can't do it on your own, but you can do it with God's help.  I don't know about you but I want to be a person of character and I am willing to go through whatever process God wants to take me through.  My challenge to you is to take a God-look in the mirror and ask Him what are the areas that He wants you to get better.  What does He need to remove in order to make room for those things that change you into the child of God that He wants you to be in His service?

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your refining process.  Thank you for loving me enough not to leave me in my messed up sinful condition.  Lord I submit to the process.  Your will be done.  Search my heart and cut out anything that is not like You and at the same time replace it with those things that I can use to be of service to You.  In all that I do I want your name to be glorified. Help me to display the character that is befitting of a child of the King.  In Jesus' Wonderful Name I pray Amen.

What's It All For Anyway?

Sometimes the storm last so long it makes you wonder what is it all for.  You've heard all the sermons and read all the Bible verses.  You've even had a few personal conversations with the Father and yet you find yourself asking what's it all for?  At this point none of the regular scriptures that you have used in the past bring you to any comfort. Scriptures like Romans 8:28, 'And we know that all things work together for the good of them who love the Lord, who are the called according to His purpose'.  Genesis 50:20, 'But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive'.  Psalm 30:5b, 'weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning',  It doesn't matter that in the end it is going to turn out for your good.  You need relief right now.

As I am sitting here reading in the book of Philippians I come across a verse that helps me to put things in an entirely different perspective for this journey of trust.  This journey of trust has never been about me but all about God being glorified.  Philippians 1:12-14 helped to make things more clear. 

'And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ.  And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear'.

Paul was locked in prison when these verses were written.  But in spite of obstacles, dangers, and distractions, the message of Jesus Christ was still spread.  During this period of Paul's life, his faith was apparent.  When others can see you continuing to praise God in the midst of everything you are going through, they are encouraged.  And I have learned that when you praise God while you are going through the storm it changes your would be fatalistic outcome to one of hope and restoration. That's what is all about?  Sometimes the reason we go through is for others, so that they might see first hand the goodness of the Lord.  It's alright to read the stories of the Red Sea, the fiery furnace, the lion's den, a ram in the bush.  You can even shout over it.  But when I see my brother standing and testifying about how the doctors had given up on him and after a year here he stands singing praises to God.  When I hear my sister talking about how she hadn't paid a mortgage payment in a year and then she went to the bank and they had lost the paperwork so now she is living in a house that was paid in full.  These are stories that bring the goodness of God a little closer to home and it's most definitely something to shout about. 

Yes every trial that we go through is for our benefit but it is also for the building up of the body of Christ.  'Therefore we do not lose hope.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary inflictions are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal'. II Corinthians 4:16-18 So what is it all for anyway?  To strengthen us.  To grow us up.  'Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth'. Ephesians 4:14  God loves us too much to leave us in the condition we were in.  Accept His plan for your life.  Dig into the Word in times of weakness. Admit that you do not know everything and you need an Omniscient God.  Trust Him. Obey His commands.  And even in the midst continue to praise Him for He's worthy!

Most Gracious Heavenly,

Lately I have started questioning the purpose behind all this I am going through.  I know what the Word says and I know that I need You in order to make it.  But I'm weak.  I need something to go my way.  It's hard not to look at the circumstances staring me in my face and continue to have hope.  Yet and still I do have hope.  I have hope in You.  In spite of what it looks like I know that everything is going to work out for my good.  Give me strength Father to stand, to relinquish my own power and trust in You.  I will forever give Your name the praise You so richly deserve.  In Jesus' Wonderful Name I pray Amen. 

It Is Possible

There is a simple sentence that has been stuck in my head all day today, "My God has no limitations!"  It is as simple as that.  Whatever the situation, no matter what roadblocks others may have built, no matter what circumstances you may have created yourself through disobedience, God can turn the situation around.  I know that what you see right now may be a mountain that is too high to climb.  But my question to you is "Where is your faith?"  I swear sometimes I am my own worst enemy, tying the hands of God because of my own impatience and unbelief.  Have you been there?  Sometimes all we need to do is believe.

I am reminded of the story of Jesus and His disciples on the boat when the storm arose.  What did they do?  They panicked.  They knew that Jesus was on the boat with them but at that moment when the waves were breaking into the boat and filling it with water, Jesus seemed far away.  And besides it was His suggestion that they go to the other side.  Didn't He know the storm was coming?  I believe He did.  I also believe that this was a test of their faith.  Apparently the disciples did not yet realize the power of being in the presence of the Lord.  And while you and I may not have His physical presence you do have Him living on the inside of You.  You also have the promise that 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'. Having God in your corner is better than an entire army on your side.  No matter how dark the night, how strong the storm, or how high the mountain, take comfort in knowing that God is with you.  Believe that whatever change that you need to happen, pray about it and believe.  Your faith should be consistent.  Others may count you out but take comfort in knowing that God has your back.  In the end He will be glorified.  Why is it that  You can trust God with your health but take your finances in your own hand by not trusting Him with your tithe?   Or maybe finances are not the issue but maybe your marriage has hit a rough patch and you've already given up instead of praying and asking God for restoration.  Maybe that's not your story maybe you can't sleep at night because you are afraid of what might happen, you are not believing God for protection.   How often, like me,  do you put natural limitations on a supernatural God? Doesn't the Bible say, "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. (Isaiah 55:8)  All too often I place God in my comfortable box, not believing that He can do the extraordinary.  Instead I believe that He will do what is safe and my prayers mimic these thoughts.  I make decisions based on what I can see with my natural eye.  I give up too soon, when God is just getting started.  I forget that there is always a purpose behind the pain. That for every trial God has a reason and I just need to hold on.  There is no situation that God cannot work out.  One thing you can rest assure is that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ever ask or think , but you must have faith. 

What have you written off as impossible?  Have you decided to accept the doctor's report?  Have you made up in your mind that your spouse will never change?  Have you decided that you will forever be stuck in this horrible job?  That you will never get ahead financially?  Whatever it is, my challenge to you today is to pray about it and then believe.  Believe that IT IS POSSIBLE.  After all the God I serve specializes in the impossible. 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your Word that comes to me in the midst of all my doubts and fears.  I am reminded that You know me better than I know myself.  You know what I am made of and what I am able to endure.  I keep reminding myself that this is a process, a journey of trust where you are shaping and molding me into the person You need me to be so that You will be glorified.  I may not understand it all the time but it's not about me.  Lord increase my faith.  Help me to be strong and find safety and stability in Your presence.  I'm giving it all to You Lord knowing that in the end it will all work out for my good.  In Jesus' precious name I pray Amen. 

Speak to my Heart

Speak to my heart, Holy Spirit
Give me the words that will bring new life
Words on the wings of the morning
the dark night will fade away
If you speak to my heart

Speak to my heart, Holy Spirit
Message of love to encourage me
Lifting my heart from despair
How you loved me and cared for me
If speak to my Heart

Speak to my Heart Lord
Give me your Holy Word
If I can hear from you,then I'll know what to do
I won't go alone, I'll never go on my own
Just let your Spirit guide and let your word abide
Speak to my Heart

I love the Word of God! It is a book that I can read over and over and each time the Holy Spirit may reveal something new to me.  Most recently verses that I have known since I was a child now have new meaning.  It is such a wonderful thing when the Word becomes a huge part of your life and you allow it to serve as that two-edged sword.  Sometimes it pierces and other times it heals.   Take for instance the scripture..Romans 8:28. You are familiar with this verse. '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'.  It is one of the verses quoted most often when you are going through something and someone wants to encourage you to 'fight on'.  I remember my first thoughts on this verse.  I thought it meant that if God is working it out for my good then I am getting what I want.  After all a loving God wouldn't deny me what I want.    So I was going to get the job, the house,  the car,  the man,  the woman. Whatever I was asking for I should receive. Give me, give me, give me what I want! And not in God's time but in my time.  I have been living a pretty good life.  However, as Christians we know that is not always the case. In fact, sometimes it is the exact opposite. The question that I want to pose to you today is one very similar to the one the minister posed last night. Is this scripture talking about comfort or maturity? Is it truly about us getting what we want in the end? And if it is about getting what we want....do we only want material things? And if we don't get what we want, how do we respond?

Those of you that have been reading this blog from the beginning know that one of the things I stress is that our lives on this earth should be used so God can get the glory. And this should be done by any means God's deems necessary. Even through our trials and tribulations. Even in the eye of a storm. We have heard the preacher say time and time again that you are either in a storm, coming out of a storm or getting ready to go into a storm. But have we come to grip with this reality? Yes, God blesses us and hopefully we thank Him for His blessings. Do we thank Him, on the other hand, that the storm that we are in is going to used as a testimony that will help someone else? Or are we looking for that silver lining? That end result that means I have a better job...a bigger house...a nicer car. For me, it depends. On what? How bad the storm is? Did I get a breather in between storms? How badly wounded was I in the last storm? I think about all of this. Am I sitting there thinking that God is going to get the glory? Am I thinking that I am going to be STRONGER, WISER, BETTER, SO MUCH BETTER? Not at all. But I should be....because His promises are true and it will work out for my good. And if I faced every storm, every obstacle with this very attitude, I do believe things would be better. If I could say like David said, 'I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor His seed begging for bread'. If I could 'hold to God's unchanging hand' or if I could just 'Keep Swimming' (Finding Nemo) I have often times heard myself say that 'I can make it through this situation because I know God has something better for me when it is over'. I have even made out my list of what that better should be. But the things on that list are things I can see and touch. They are not intangible things. Although it is those intangible things that make us survivors.

It's time to change it up.  Instead of always looking for the next big thing, learn to be content with what you have.  And if there is something that you stand in need of ask God to speak to your heart and give you the patience to HOLD ON until your change comes.  Life is difficult at times but God did not leave you out there to fend for yourself.  He left resources for you to pull from anytime you need it.  It doesn't cost to pray.  It cost you nothing to pick up your Bible and read it.  Stop looking for that temporary fix. That thing you want at the moment instead of what will be with you for a lifetime.  Allow God to make permanent changes within your heart and help you to see things from an eternal perspective.  It then end you will not only have comfort but maturity also.

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

stretched in order to receive.  Whatever the cost Lord, your will be done.  In Jesus' Wonderful name I pray Amen. 

Self-Evident

We hold these truths to be self-evident...

I borrowed these words today from the Declaration of Independence which goes on to say that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  I thought about these words as I sat and reflected on the goodness of God.  And as I begin to think about these things I couldn't help but begin to worship God.  You see, there comes a time in your life when you stop praising God just for what He has done for you. You mature spiritually to the point that you praise Him simply for who He is. 

So what things do you know to be true?  Are there things, spiritual truths, that you hold to be self-evident; meaning that they need no proof or explanation?   Have you had that experience in your life that when someone asked you how did that happen and your response was "Nobody but God.....enough said."  That experience where you are sitting on your couch or driving along in your car and you think for one second about who God is and you can't help but start to praise His name.  In fact, right now just say to yourself  "God is..."  (and fill in the blank with whoever God is to you) One of you reading this might say that God is a healer.  Another one of ypu might say that God is a provider.  Someone else might say that God is water in dry places.  That sister that just lost a loved one might know Him as a Comforter.  That brother who lost his job might know Him to be a Sustainer.  God is whatever it is that you need Him  to be.  And that is a truth that is self-evident. 

Exodus 3:14 says it best when Moses asked "Who shall I say has sent me?" and God replied unto Moses, "I AM THAT I AM."  Simply meaning, “I AM what I want to be, when I want to be it, in whatever revelation I choose. … I will do whatever I choose in what ever form I desire!” And all for your good and His glory.  It signifies that He is self-existent; that He is eternal and unchageable, always the same, yesterday, today and forever; that He is incomprehensible, there is no searching or understanding of His power; and finally that He is faithful and true to all His promises, unchangeable in His word as well as His nature.  And that is what this journey of trust is all about.  When times are hard and it seems that you have no where to turn, no way out, a bad doctor's report in one hand and a pink slip in the otehr hand, in the midst of all this you are still smiling.  The devil doesn't rob you of your joy.  Why? Because this joy that you have the world didn't give you and even though they may try there best to knock ypu down, you are not counted out because you serve a risen Savior.  There may be moments in your life where you feel discouraged, upset or even angry about your situation but don't stay there.  Stand on those truths that you know to be true.  Trust God who never changes.  He is able to be everything that you need Him to be. 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank You for being 'I am'.  Thatnk You that no matter what situation I may be facing in this life, You ar there to be whatever I need. In Jesus' Most Precious Name I pray Amen.

Trust and Obey

I started this journey of trust almost two years ago.  I have always been a person who loved to write but then one day the Lord spoke to my spirit and out of that conversation came this blog.  In the beginning I wrote many entries on the journey of trust that you and I as Christians walk each and every day.  When you get up in the morning, you make a conscious decision to give the day back to the Lord and allow Him to lead, guide and direct you or you decide to go about your day making your own decisions.  As I sit here now and reflect over the past year and a half, I can see so many times where I failed.  I didn't allow the Lord to be the 'Decision Maker' in my life.  How many times I spoke before I prayed.  I moved without allowing the Lord to direct my path.  I based major decisions on an emotional feeling when I felt the tugging of the Holy Spirit saying 'Be still'.  I had constant conflict within myself because in my mind God was taking to long.  I was leaning on my own understanding and giving God credit for things that He had not blessed and I had orchestrated on my own.  And time after time I found myself in situation that God had never intended for me to be in the first place. 

As I sat and reflected I was led to the story of Abram and Sarai.  Abram, who God had made a covenant with (Genesis 15:5) and Sarai who, after ten childless years after the covenant was made, became impatient.  An impatience that caused her to act.  An action that led to problems based ultimately on a lack of trust.  I can only imagine Sarai's frustration, perhaps feeling like a failure to her husband,  and then Abram who only wanted to make his wife happy. It was time to make a choice.   He could have just as easily told his wife 'no', that he was going to trust the covenant that God had made with him.  But instead, he did like I have done countless times, I did something to try and help along God. 

Today I stopped by to tell you one simple thing.  It isn't anything that you haven't already heard.  'God doesn't need your help'.  He has carefully and lovingly designed a plan for your life.  All He needs for you to do is trust Him.  To have a' firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, and strength of the one, true and living God'.  He hasn't promised you something and then forgotten about it.  He is not working to give you sloppy seconds, instead He was to give you the best of everything.  And this sometimes requires time.  It requires some preparation of your blessing for you and you for your blessing.  It requires some time spent in the valley so that you will learn to appreciate the mountaintop.  When I think of this analogy, I think about my children.  While I could spoil them and give them everything they want, I'm not.  There are some things that they are just not ready to receive right now.  They wouldn't appreciate it.  There will be things I give them that they don't necessarily deserve but I'm going to give it to them because I love them.  It is in this same way that God blesses you and I.  'While we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly'. Romans 5:8 You and I will never live a life that is good enough to receive the blessings of God.  And while I'm on this, let me put a damper in a misconception that I have been saying for many years.  Y'all know the saying,'I'm striving to be better'.  There was even a song that was sung in the choir.  The lyrics went something like this, "Lord, I'm striving, trying to make one hundred because ninety-nine and a half won't do".  There is one word in both those phrases that is biblically incorrect.  Can you guess what it is?  Striving.  The definition of striving is to 'make great efforts to achieve or obtain something'.  This word implies that you are using your own strength and anytime you are using your own strength that means God is not standing up in you.  (Blame my Pastor for that one.  He always said that as Christians we were always going around quoting and saying stuff that was biblically not sound.)  In other words, if you are striving then you can't possibly be leaning.  You most certainly aren't trusting because there is something in you that still believes that you can do this on your own.  Well, you can't.  The time has come to 'trust and obey'  Give up your rights.  Surrender to the will of God.  Give Him complete control of your life and then learn to enjoy the peace that comes from knowing that He has it all under control. 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

I have a confession to make.  I haven't been completely relying on You.  Instead I have been trying to work out my future in the way that I think it should go.  I don't want to do this anymore.  It's tiresome.  I'm giving up my rights and want You to take control of my life.  I don't want to make one decision without asking "Is this Your will for my life?"  And Lord if I don't hear from You then let me 'be still' until Your will is clear to me.  You promised Lord that You would give me what I need daily.  All I have to do is ask.  So Lord I'm trusting You.  You know what's best for me.  Thank You for being everything I need. Help me to rely on Your strength.  In Jesus' Wonderful Name I pray Amen. 

Empty

I have a confession to make.  I do not like going to the gas station.  I honestly wish that my car would magically fill itself up with gas.  Unfortunately that doesn't happen and because of this I drive around on 'E' quite often.  Now I can usually gauge how many miles I can go once the red light comes on but on one occasion I didn't guess right and so when I was less than two or three blocks away from the service station, I found myself on 'Empty'.  Why was I on empty that day?  Because I had run around all over town taking care of things for myself and for my family. I had my own personal agenda and stopping for gas, even though I knew it was necessary, would get me off schedule. I just kept telling myself I'll make it.  Each time I passed a service station I just kept driving.   I am sure many of you reading this have found yourself in a similar situation.  Maybe you didn't actually run out of gas in your automobile but you have found yourself drained mentally and spiritually. And you may have even told yourself that you'll fill up soon enough.  The problem arises when that time never comes and before you know it you find yourself overwhelmed, anxious, and stressed about things that at the end of the day are beyond your control. So what do you do when you find yourself on empty?

The Word of God is one place I turn when you find yourself on empty.  One particular place I like to go is the book of Psalms.  Many times throughout the book you find the Psalmist in a very similar situation, depressed, despondent, pretty much on empty.  Psalm 42 shows David, a man after God's own heart, was depressed.  His mind was full of doubts and fears yet he longed to be in the presence of God.  To David this was the only solution. He had learned the secret.  He found hope in God.  Life's experiences had taught him the value of true communion with God.  It didn't matter what was going on around Him; there was a peace and a joy in being in the presence of God, so much so that it was not an option but a necessity. 'As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God'. Ps. 42:1  As the human being needs water for survival, so does the child of God need to dwell in His presence.  In fact you should 'seek after' or 'pursue' the presence of God daily. 

Now there is one important thing that I must point out.  Being in the presence of the Lord has nothing to do with how you  are feeling. It has nothing to do with whether you are in the valley or on the mountaintop.  It's simply where you should want to be because you realize who God is.  To 'dwell in the secret place of the Most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty'. (Ps. 91:1)  In that place where you find protection from ever-present dangers, seen and unseen.  It doesn't matter about the supervisor or coworker who is out to get you, God protects you.  It doesn't matter about that person who wants to continue to use your past against you, God protects you and continues to elevate you to a place where they can't touch you.  It doesn't matter about the negativity in your own mind, the pressure that you put on yourself, that need to be perfect in all things...because as a dear friend said to me on yesterday, striving to be a perfectionist doesn't allow God to stand up in you.  You get to the place in your spirit when you realize that God is your 'All and All'.  He is EVERYTHING that you need Him to be and then some.  There is nothing that He cannot do for you and in fact, He is the only One who you never have to wonder about His motives.  So, you praise Him in the good times and the bad.  You learn that He is not just a Sunday morning God but He is a God in the midnight hour when you cry 'out to Him,  at two or three o'clock in the morning when you can't sleep, when all hell is breaking loose on your job, when you are wondering if it's all worth it.  When you are driving to work in the morning or if you are stranded on the side of the road on empty, cars passing you by and you throw your hands up in frustration, God is still God.  And yes, He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all you could ever ask or think, but that's not what this is about.  This is about praising Him even if the situation doesn't change.  Accepting His will for your life above your own desires.  You no longer have a personal agenda.  Your agenda is to do the will of God.  It's that simple.  There is no other place to go when you are on empty but to the presence of God.  In His presence there is fullness of joy.  There is protection. There is peace.  There is liberty in the presence of God.  In His presence you will find rest. You will find yourself going from empty to full.

Most Graciou Heavenly Father,

O how I long to be in Your presence, to experience all that You have planned for my life.  I submit myself to Your will and the plan You have for my life.  My prayer is for my trials to strengthen me and not to weaken me.  To realize the joy and benefit in serving the one, true God.  Forgive me for the times when I have tried to do things in my own strength.  I don't want to do this on my own.  I need Your strength and power to sustain me.  Feel me up Lord.  I know that in Your presence there is fullness of joy.  I praise You today for who You are, and for all that I know You are able to do. But today Lord I say that if you choose to leave me right where I am, that's alright because I just want to be where You are.  To remain in Your presence.  In Jesus' precious name I pray Amen. 

My Help

Difficult times in our lives not only reveal who we are but also sets the stage for who we are becoming. I call these times the 'In Between Times'. The time between deliverance out of Egypt and arrival into the Promised Land. Usually during these times we allow ourselves to become bitter and resentful over the smallest things. One of the easiest places to develop these emotions is when dealing with loss. Whether it be the loss of a loved one to illness, the loss of a child to drugs, the loss of a job to someone younger but less experienced than you or the loss of a spouse to another man or woman. All of these losses affect your deepest emotions and it is easy to allow your heart to become hardened. We, of course, think that the decisions we are making now will only affect the present but I beg to differ. It is those decisions that shape who we are in the future. Take for example the loss of a spouse in a divorce. Often times there are court battles over who gets what...the house, the car, the children. Want to see the worse in somebody just sit in divorce court one day. People are fighting so hard to get even that they lose sight of God altogether. Think about the loss of a dear friend. Someone you have trusted with your innermost thoughts only to have them share them with someone else. Realizing that person can't be trusted. It is during these times that we must really rely on God to guard our hearts and our minds. To keep our tongue from harsh words. To keep our ears from ungodly advice. To keep our feet from evil. Yes, we all go through the necessary grieving stages but we cannot use that as an excuse to treat others wrong. This is actually the time you should spend dedicated to prayer and reading your Word. You should surround yourself with spiritual friends, those who will pray with you and pull you back in when you are out there on that ledge about to put something in concrete that should only be in the sand. One of the most valuable assets you can have are Godly friends. Those that will pray with you and for you.

Each and every time we go through a difficult season of life God is waiting to see if we are going to trust him. Will we stand still and see the salvation of the Lord? If we are going to hold our peace and let the Lord fight our battles? We are ensured victory when we trust Him. The thing that I have learned through my failure is that my attitude while riding through the storm helps to determine how long I have to spend in the situation and also how much repair work has to be done after it's all over. A while back I was watching TBN and the minister who was talking asked a question that is very relevant to the subject matter I am talking about today. 'Is is possible to possess a vital faith that prompts you to be at your best while passing through a season of profound disappointment, unnerving chaos, or deliberating pain? If you had asked me this question six or seven years ago I would say no. Six or seven years ago when I was going through what I thought was my worst wilderness experience yet, I didn't see many positives. In fact, I crumbled. I couldn't take it. I wasn't prepared to fight with Satan. I wasn't strong enough to hold on to God's unchanging hand. I locked myself up in my house and did nothing else. I had my own private pity party, shut everyone out of my life and just gave up. I still remember the exact moment God spoke to me and told me to get myself up, He had work for me to do. It took me a minute to move in obedience but eventually I did. My life hasn't been the same since. So why am I telling you all this because that experienced increased my faith.  It was a part of the preparation process.  God was getting me ready to be a witness for Him.  Now when difficult times arrive in my life they really aren't that unexpected.  In fact, I know that as long as I am striving to do what's right in God's eyes and following His commands, Satan is going to come up against me.  I will have struggles.  At times I will become overwhelmed.  Yet in the midst of all my suffering, I still have hope.  My experiences taught me that whatever God places within you, no one can take away.  There may be times that you do not use what God has given you.  Nevertheless, it is always available.    I

Don't be fooled and think that  my faith in God has just helped me blaze right on through my suffering.  It has not.  It has, however, helped me to know where my help comes from.  I know what my resources are.  I find them in reading my Bible and in continuous prayer with God.  That is what I believe maturing in this Christian walk is about.  You allow God to change the behaviors in you that are not like Him.  You allow Him to give you a clean heart and a new attitude on life. You take the valleys in stride knowing that God is always at work and He is there to meet your every need.  You simply have to trust Him.   He had to show me that I am not just the God of your mother and father but I am your God. The one who you can depend on. There is one verse that I believe sums all this up.   "I AM..." (Exodus 3:6)

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

God who sees and knows everything that is going on in my life right now. I confess that I am weak. The flesh keeps telling me to give up but I know that I can make it because I have You, O Lord living on the inside of me. I'm asking you today to guard my mind. Guard my heart. Forgive me of all my sins and remove anything within me that is not of You. Lord I am doing my best to hold on. Help me not to do permanent damage while in a temporary situation. I am leaning and depending on You. I know You will see me through. I thank you God because You are gracious and merciful towards me. I love you and I praise You. In Jesus' Wonderful Name Amen.

From Good to Great

What makes an athlete great? Is it his/her desire to be great? A lot of people desire to be great athletes but very few achieve this status. Are they simply born with great physical ability, so that one day they just get up and win the gold medal in the 500-yard dash? I don't think so. They may start out okay at the beginning but pretty soon you will see them on the sideline, breathing heavy, bent over and begging for water. Why? Because they have not had the right kind of conditioning.

We've heard the saying 'the race is not given to the swift, neither the battle to the strong but to the one who endures until the end". (taken from Ecclesiastes 9:11 and Matthew 24:13) So how do we make it to the end - with the right kind of conditioning! This life we live is a marathon, not a sprint. We have to pace ourselves daily. We have to know when to pick up the pace and when to run slow and steady. We must rely on the Holy Spirit within us to guide us and direct us.

What is conditioning and why is it necessary? Conditioning is a process of behavior modification where a subject comes to associate a desired behavior with a previously unrelated stimulus. Some people believe that you can get in shape just by playing a sport. Not true. Just as in our Christian walk there are those that believe that things will be okay if I go to church on Sunday, read my Bible every now and then and pray sometimes. Now don't get me wrong, those things are necessary to your Christian walk. But the question that I want to ask you is are they going to get you across the finish line? If you only desire to get by with a passing grade then continue to do the bare minimum, but if you want to achieve greatness then you must put in the work. The bottom line in conditioning is stress, not mental stress but adaptive stress. As more pressure is applied your muscles become stronger and your build up the necessary stamina for endurance. You come to a hill, you know how to adjust your speed. You see when trials come in our life they are to make us better. They are teaching us to rely on God. These trials apply just the right amount of pressure at the right time to build up our strength so that the next time the devil throws something our way we are not easily swayed and ready to give in. We pray more. We read our Bible more.

Conditioning is a necessary part of your race. My challenge for you today is to work on your consistency so that you will be ready when the trial comes. There are times in this life when Satan will think he has you defeated. It's the end of the third quarter and you're down by fourteen points. Most teams give up. They go into the fourth quarter with a defeated attitude. But not you! You know that the secret to making it to the end and winning the race comes down to your conditioning and defense. When you know that you've been in the gym and exercised your faith, been a connoisseur of the Word and maintained a regular prayer life, you have no doubt that you are gonna be victorious! Your endurance is measured not by how you start the race but how you finish.


Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

I'm running this race called life and I need your help. I'm trying to get to the finish line but I've grown tired. Sometimes I just feel like giving up. I know I need to work on my conditioning, so I can achieve my goal. Thank you for the trials in my life. I know that they only come to make me strong. Help me to keep my eye on the prize. In Jesus' Wonderful Name. Amen.

A Safe Place

For the most part I am a private person.  I don't share much about my life and what is going on with too many people.  In fact,  I spent half of my life pretending to be this well put together person who has this 'crazy' faith.  No matter what I was facing I had to remain strong, never showing a sign of weakness. Now it may be okay for me to behave this way with people around me but it poses a problem when it comes to my relationship with God.  I begin to develop a pattern of  holding on to the very things that God so dearly wanted me to give to Him.  I found myself trying to solve problems that were way beyond my control.  I prayed but, even in prayer, I was guarded. It wasn't until I had a conversation with my Pastor that I realized that my being strong and trying so hard to act as if everything was okay was not giving God the opportunity to stand up in my life the way He wanted to.  In fact, it was hindering God from being glorified through my life.  I knew that this behavior was exhausting and so many times made me feel as though I was a failure when things didn't turn out the way that I had hoped.  There I was trying so hard to be all things to all people.  Fighting to live up to the expectations of people who at the end of the day didn't relly matter, all the while suffering silently.

When I was a little girl my mother had me and all of my siblings memorize the 91st Psalm. There were several other chapters that we had to memorize but this one has stuck with me my entire life.  I think of it now as I realize that the problem I experienced all those years (and even now tries to sneak back in) was a lack of trust.  I didn't feel safe so I tried to control as much of my life as I could.  Unfortunately I had been on the receiving end of several false friends. And there were times when I was not the best friend that I could have been.  Sidenote:  How easy it is to get caught up in a whirlwind of gossip and betrayal.  The next time you find yourself spending so much time talking about the lives of others, take a minute and look in the mirror.  What do you see?  Unless it is the image of the Son of God then I would advise you not to be so quick to talk about someone else's misfortune. All of us stand in need of God's forgiveness, His grace and His mercy.    Now back to our regularly scheduled program.... Let's take a look a the first couple of verses of this Psalm. 

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust (Ps. 91:-2)

Here the Psalmist paints a picture of the safety you will find in the arms of God. These verses give a vivid description of an intimate place of divine protection. There is no better place to be. In this place you can lay out all of your fears and insecurities. You can share your deepest, darkest secret without being afraid that it will be repeated.  It is in this place that you will find safety.  I often wondered why my mother had us learning all these scriptures.  I guess she was trying to share with her children the one treasure that a bad economy could never take away....and that treasure was the Word of God.  She realized the value of hiding it in our hearts.  She knew that there would come a time when we could not be comforted.  Those people and things that we had come to rely on would let us down.  She had a pretty good idea that we would grow weary because life would get hard.  She knew that our best laid plans may get crushed, that our hearts would be broken, that sometimes our money would get funny, friends would turn their backs on us and some friends we would simply have to walk away from.  All these things she knew and wanted us to know too. 

You see, there is value in realizing that as  a Christian you  have a safe place  that you can go to.  A place where you can speak freely.  You can let down your guard and not feel like you have to be 'okay' all the time. It is in this place of safety that you can let go of false realities.  You can scream and shout that sometimes life is unfair.  You're doing the right things and yet and still you are suffering.  It is okay to be broken sometimes.  God knows that you hurt and sometimes you are sad; that sometimes you don't feel like smiling.  And that's alright.  It's okay to acknowledge that you don't always have it together.  That you grieve differently than the next person.  That you wish you had 'the wings of a dove so you could fly away'.  It's time that you let all of this go.  Let God help you be the wife, mother, husband, father, sister, brother, friend, and coworker that He would have you to be.  It's time to stop living in the land of Should Be and start trusting in the One Who Is.  It's time out for leaning on your own understanding. Instead practice leaning on the everlasting arms of Jesus.  It is in those arms that you will find safety and security.  Rest in Him.

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

I come to You today in the humblest way that I know how, confessing my sins to You.  Lord for so long I have worn a mask, afraid to show my limitations and my weaknesses.  But now I turn them over to You. I don't want to be the strong one anymore.  In fact I want to be fully exposed so that You can continue to make the necessary changes in my life that make me more like You.  Lord I thank You in advance for the changes You are making in my life.  Help me to use them for Your glory to continue to help others along life's journey.  In Jesus' Name I pray Amen.

Let It Rain

Yesterday my daughter asked me a question.  She asked, "Mama is the rain necessary?"  I wasn't surprised that she was asking about the necessity of the rain because in her mind it was ruining her play time.  Saturdays are her time to spend outside with her sisters riding their bikes and playing kickball with the other children in the neighborhood.  My response was, "Baby if God decided to let it rain, then it is necessary."

Often times we experience periods of pain and sorrow, when our lives are topsy turvy.  We cry out to the Lord and are confident that He hears us but nothing changes.   Sort  of like this latest rain.  It began Saturday afternoon and on Sunday evening it was still raining.  The rain would be okay if it were just for a few hours or at night while I was sleep.  However when it starts to put a kink into my daily routine then it becomes a problem.  A continuous shower makes me wonder are there sunny days ahead?  So what is the purpose of rain?  Is it just to make us miserable?  To mess up our freshly done hair?  To dirty up our cars?  To keep us discouraged and depressed?  Even though it may seem that way on the surface, I stopped by to let you know that positive results can come from the rain. 

“And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil. And he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full. Deuteronomy 11:13-15

Why is rain necessary?  For growth.  Those of you who are babes in Christ need rain in order to become more mature.  And furthermore, if you are a mature Christian you need rain in order to bear fruit.  Without rain you are unable to fulfill the purpose that God has designed for you.  So don't be surprised when the rain comes.  Instead be thankful.  Begin to see the opportunity in the rain.  Thank God for the rain.  Tbe rain is reassurance that God has not forgotten you.  It is a fulfillment of the scripture that 'He who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns'. Phillippians 1:6  You may not know when the rain will start but you can count it a blessing.  There is one requirement though...that you obey the commandments of the Lord.  It doesn't matter how good you are in the eyes of man, what matters is how God sees you.  I read this quote in one of my daily devotionals that said, 'Where showers fall most, there the grass is greenest'.  So the next time the rain is falling in your life don't think that God has forgotten you. You may have to wait a while but just know that 'Waiting exercises our grace; waiting tries our faith; therefore, wait on in hope; for though the promise tarry, it can never come too late'. C.H. Spurgeon

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

I confess to You that right now I don't completely understand the purpose of the rain in my life but I accept Your divine providence and know that the rain must be a part of the process so that I may fulfill the purpose You have for my life. Help me to be obedient to Your commands and to be an example to those around me who may not be as mature in their Christian walk.  Thank You for the rain because I realize that without it I would not grow. One thing I know for sure...no rain, no rainbow.  And no matter what I will continue to give You all the praise You so richly deserve.  In Jesus Wonderful Name I pray Amen. 



A New Outlook

Sitting here today in my quiet time I have made a decision.  My decision is to have a new outlook on life.  Instead of fighting so hard to get out of my bad situation, I have decided to seek God more so that I can learn the valuable lesson that He wants to teach me.  Not only that  but I have decided to follow the Word and 'Rejoice always' (I Thessalonians 5:16) This means that I will be joyful always especially in the difficult times, no matter how long they may last, knowing that a loving and gracious God is working on my situation.  The last thing that I want to do is move before God tells me and then have to suffer the consequences.  I've done that before and the results have not been the best.  Learning to hear the voice of the Lord requires being still and listening.  God doesn't necessarily speak to you in a booming voice waving a big stick.  He can. However, more often times He speaks in a whisper.  But how can you hear Him if you are in an uproar and complaining constantly.  You can't hear what He is saying.  You can't hear Him telling you that He loves you more than anyone you know.  Everything He does has your best interest at heart.  Now that is something to shout about!  I am sure that you have had an experience where someone who said that they loved you really didn't.  They said that they had your best interest at heart but you found out later that they were working against you the entire time.  God loves you so much that He began working on your behalf even before you were born.  Then you gave your life to Christ and He began working to meet your specific needs.  Isn't He awesome?  I will answer that for you.  YES HE IS! 

I don't believe that we are instructed to 'Rejoice always' because God is wanting us to think unrealistically.  In fact, it 's the total opposite.  Rejoicing always is about having the confidence that an All-wise and All-powerful God is not only capable but willing and able to meet your needs.  I don't believe that you can truly rejoice until you have acknowledged where you are and decided to give up control to God.  That simple, yet sometimes, difficult act is the reason you can rejoice.  When you are in need do you go to someone who might meet the need or do you go to someone you are confident will meet the need?  Seems like a simple question with an obvious answer.  So why do we spend so much time getting frustrated with individuals who are incapable of meeting your need to begin with.  When you submit your request to God, you are placing them in the most capable hands.  Your acknowledgement of your helplessness give regard to the will of God.  There are several things that I do not know how to do and so I have know problem picking up the phone and calling a specialist.  For plumbing needs I call a plumber.  When my car breaks down, I call a mechanic.  This same concept applies to my mental and spiritual ailments.  When I'm depressed, I call on Jesus.  When I need healing, I call on Jesus.  When I am lost, I call on Jesus.  When my money is funny, I call on Jesus.  He can work it all out.  What is His specialty....the impossible.  Situations are what they are but even in the midst you can rejoice knowing trouble don't last always.  You might be in the valley now but praise God for mountaintops.  God did not bring you this far to leave you.  If that were the case He would not be true to His Word.  And I read that 'all scripture is inspired by God' and God is not a man that He should lie.  If He said it in His Word, it will come to pass.

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

The battle may not be over but I am going to shout right now.  I know that victory is on the way.  I'm going to praise You for Your faithfulness.  If you said it in Your Word, it will come to pass.  I'm going to trust You Lord.  I am not going to move to my right or to my left without direction from You.  Lord if you decide that I need to stay in this situation a little while longer I am going to do just that and cherish the valuable lesson that you are teaching me so that I can be a blessing to others.  Through it all I am going to praise You.  In Jesus' precious name I pray Amen.