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Lies, lies, and more lies

I hate lying.  I have never been good with it.  Most of the time, I get so nervous when I do lie that I know people can read it on my face.  I also hate being lied to.  It happens, though.  That is a part of our fallen nature.  I wish I could say that everything everyone ever tells me is the truth, but I know that is a naive way of thinking and impossible to expect.

The first lie ever spoken to a human being was in the Garden.  It was a lie that we believed almost immediately.  One thing to learn about Satan is he never changes.  He uses the same tactics over and over.  He will always lie to us to make us believe exactly the opposite of what God says.  Even convincing us that He, the one who bled and died for us, is lying to us.  How absurd is that?  Oh, but I can pretty much guaranty that you and I have fallen for his awful lies many times.

Lies are everywhere:

  • Life won’t get better – so you might as well end it now.
  • You are not made right so now you have to change…at all cost – including disfiguring your body to where you cannot go back.
  • No one loves you – no one ever has – no one ever will.
  • You will always be who you were – no one will ever be able to see you beyond who you were when you made that mistake.
  • You will never be as good as you once were – you messed your life up too much now.
  • You are a mistake.
  • You deserved to be treated like that.
  • You were made to be abused and thrown away.
  • You are no longer of value to this world.
  • You will never get married – no one would ever want you.
  • You might as well keep living in and doing that horrible thing.  You will never be good to anyone anymore.
  • Everyone is better than you.  Why do you think so much of yourself?
  • Because you look different, you are not as special as others.
  • Because your skin is a different color, you deserve less.

Unfortunately…I can go on.  Unfortunately, the lies you believe may not be up above.  Unfortunately, you may have lived with those lies a really long time.  But there is always hope!

“For You made the parts inside me. You put me together inside my mother. I will give thanks to You, for the greatness of the way I was made brings fear. Your works are great and my soul knows it very well. My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret and put together with care in the deep part of the earth. Your eyes saw me before I was put together. And all the days of my life were written in Your book before any of them came to be.  Your thoughts are of great worth to me, O God. How many there are! If I could number them, there would be more than the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.” Psalm 139:13-18

“Do not act like the sinful people of the world. Let God change your life. First of all, let Him give you a new mind. Then you will know what God wants you to do. And the things you do will be good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2

“Christian brothers, keep your minds thinking about whatever is true, whatever is respected, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever can be loved, and whatever is well thought of. If there is anything good and worth giving thanks for, think about these things.”  Philippians 4:8

“We do not use those things to fight with that the world uses. We use the things God gives to fight with and they have power. Those things God gives to fight with destroy the strong-places of the devil. We break down every thought and proud thing that puts itself up against the wisdom of God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Find hope in His words of truth.  Don’t ever allow yourself to be overtaken by the words of the eternal snake, but by the One who designed and created you.  He loves you despite your faults, your sins, and all the things that you hate about yourself.

You are His beloved.  No one can love you like He does.  I encourage you to get into His word and see what He says about you!

Pray this with me: Dear Father, who loves me unconditionally, help me determine the truth from the lies.  Heal the parts of me that were wounded from these lies.  Make me into who I am supposed to be – whole.  Tear down the strongholds in my mind, set up by Satan and all his helpers.  Help me accept me as you made me to be.  Forgive me for believing that you in any way made a mistake in making me who I am.  Help me become not only Your follower, but Your servant.  I want to follow you at all cost.  Thank you for being who You are.  I love you.  In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.

Be blessed everyone!

Lies and truth

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God sweats the small stuff

My goal this year is to read the Bible cover to cover.  There are some really interesting stories in the there.  A lot of stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Most know the story of the valley of the dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14).  I knew little more than that off the top of my head.  When I was reading it, the last few chapters were about the temple that the Israelites were going to build.  There were just figures…square feet and descriptions of what you do in this room or that room…for the majority of those chapters.

I asked God “what was the point in including this in your holy word?  Doesn’t this just pertain to those at that time and not now?”  The Holy Spirit replied “Brooke, I want people to know that I care about even the smallest details.  Don’t you get that from this scripture?  No detail is too small for me to not care about it.”  Boom – mind blown!  What a word…what a revelation! It made me realize that God cares so much about every little detail.  No stone goes unturned with Him.

What does this mean for you and me?  (1) God’s plan for our lives is well thought out.  Yes, there is a reason for everything.  It it has everything to do with how much He loves us.  (2) He sees and counts even the smallest things we do, good or bad.  (3) Nothing is too small for us not to ask.  No matter how small the need is, God cares about it (and us).

The God that spoke the universe into existence cared about the square footage of each room in the Temple.  If that doesn’t blow your mind, I don’t know what will.

I will leave you with this scripture.  Remember that you are special to Him and you can bring all your needs to Him, no matter how small.  Be blessed everyone!

 What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Luke 12:6-7

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The cure for inadequacy

I hate being wrong.  Not saying that I am never wrong…I am wrong all the time.  I hate feeling like I am not enough. We are human and once sin entered our world, there was an inevitablness to our being wrong…a lot.  I hate it, our sinful nature.  I so desperately want to do right and still, I continue to do wrong.  Thus, I feel so inadequate and unworthy.

Paul wrote almost half the New Testament.  He was one of the greatest evangelists and prophets in the Bible.  Yet, he wrote this scripture:

“So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.” (‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭14-17‬ NLT)

He struggled with the same internal turmoil I do.  Paul also was a man God respected and used in mighty ways.  Acts 19 describes how God gave Paul so much power that an apron or handkerchief that had brushed Paul’s skin were used to then bring to the sick & they were healed.  God gave Paul a great anointing and great authority. And yet he penned the scripture above.

I have to ask myself…am I inadequate and unworthy if Paul struggled with the same things I did?  The answer is a definitive yes.  On my own, trying to make it by my self, I will fail every time.  That is why I (as did Paul) need God.  I need His grace and mercy.  I need Him to live in my heart and to fill me up with Him daily.  I need to (1) pray daily, (2) read my Bible daily, (3) attend a weekly worship service at a local church and (4) try to live righteously the best I can.  In doing these things, through my communion with God, I will make it.

I encourage you, if you at all identified with my feelings expressed above, please spend time with God.  Acknowledge that He is the only way and the only truth.  Pray to Him that He reveal those dark recesses of your heart that hold you back.  Learn the Bible and let it feed your soul.  Join a local church where you can connect with people who struggle with the same things you do.  This will put you on the right track.

Prayer: King Jesus, without you, I am inadequate.  I need you to come inside of me and clean the deep-rooted things that fill my heart.  Help me stay on the road to righteousness.  I understand that it will be a daily struggle, but I am willing to make that effort.  Thank you for loving me.  I love you deeply.  In your name, amen.

Be blessed everyone!

  

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Carry

Life can get rough.  I get tired, I struggle, I have problems, I get busy, I don’t have time to do everything…I, I, I, I….  Too many times I get in a place where all I see is me.  For instance, right now, I have been given a new position at work and am currently in training.  Being tired and consumed with this new job, I have moments where I find myself only concerned about me…my issues…what I want and not concerned with praying, reading my bible, or serving others.  It is awful how I turn to wallowing when I get tired, hurt, or busy.  No matter what happens in this life, good or bad –  I need to remember one thing…I must continue to carry my cross.

When you look at the story of the crucifixion – you see how Christ could have easily backed off, became selfish for a moment, and walked away from the opportunity to save the world, but he didn’t.  Instead, he decided to do what he knew he needed to do, even though it cost him his life.  I am so very thankful for what his sacrifice did for this world and for mankind.  It also gives me conviction to do what I know I need to do rather than just what I feel like doing.  If Christ can hang on a cross for me, can’t I get up and serve in my church on a Sunday when I don’t really feel like it?  Or go feed the homeless despite being exhausted from life?  Or smile at someone despite me having a bad day?

Luke 14:25-27 says “Many people followed Jesus. Then He turned around and said to them,  “If any man comes to Me and does not have much more love for Me than for his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be My follower.  If he does not carry his cross and follow Me, he cannot be My follower. “

To love God more than I love myself, to put Him first even before my own family, to die to self daily is what I must do to be His.  There are days that my entire being cringes at the thought that I must serve.  I have had moments that I so did not want to do anything…at all.  I wanted to lay in bed and not move.  But then He reminds me of what He has done for me.  So I reluctantly pick up my cross and follow Him.

I encourage you, when you have those days that you have to fight to get out of bed, do it anyway.  Carrying the cross is hard, but being His makes it all worth it.  He’s got you, he loves you, he sees you, and he won’t abandon you.  Keep going and don’t give up.

Pray this with me: Lord, I am sorry for all the times that I complained about things not being all about me.  Thank you for your sacrifice that set me free.  If I must carry my cross the rest of my life, I will do that because I know that there is nothing greater than being yours.  Thank you for loving me, even when I was my most selfish.  Help me be all that you want me to be and live my life for you.  I love you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Be blessed everyone.

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A moment on the road…

Grace is one of the greatest gifts we have received from the Almighty.  It is how we can live now, in this time, without the regulations of the law of Moses.  The blood of Christ covers our sins – we can go to our Father with sincere repentance and our transgressions are blotted out.

One of the greatest pictures of God’s grace is found in Acts 9.  Saul, a Pharisee and Bible scholar of that time, took it upon himself to get rid of all these “Jesus followers” that kept popping up everywhere.  One day, on the way to Demascus, Jesus himself shows up, confronts him about his actions, and converts him.  As you know, Paul became one of the greatest prophets in that time and wrote half the New Testament.  

Let’s think about this for a moment – God sees a man killing off His people and says “I want that one.”  Makes no sense to this human brain of mine.  If it was up to me, I would have taken him out.  But that is why I am not God.  His ways are not like our ways.  He sees us differently than we see ourselves.  His love is unconditional.

This type of Grace is available for all.  You feel like you are unlovable?  Guess what?  You aren’t!  If God can take a man who is killing off His own people & show Him love, He can show you love too.  No matter who you are, what you have done, who you have hurt – He can make you new.  You have  to just be willing and trust that He will do it.

Let’s pray: Jesus, thank you for who you are.  Thank you for loving me just the way I am.  I know that I have not done anything bad enough that your grace cannot cover.  I ask you, Lord, to wash away all my sins.  Come into my heart, Lord, and show me your ways.  Also, Lord, help me show others grace like you have shown me.  In your precious name, amen.

Be blessed, everyone.

  
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The Feast

The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. (‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭1-6‬ NLT)

How many times have you read that scripture?  Probably hundreds…kikr me. How many believe the promises in this Psalm?  Do you apply those promises to your life?

Sometimes God has to remind me that He protects me & prepares a feast for me.  Even when He gives me a peek at great things to come, I have a hard time trusting Him.

 I know I should trust Him, but my fleshly mind wants to try to apply logic where there isn’t, at least earthly speaking.  God works in a different realm than we live.  Because of this, His works rarely make sense to out sheepy brains.

I just went through a season of receiving confirmation after confirmation that something is going to happen…from God…and I was still anxious that it wouldn’t happen.  I knew I shouldn’t feel that way, but these earthly centered emotions got in the way.  My Father (and yours) already laid it all out before me.  I just had to wait for supper time to enjoy the feast.

Are you waiting for something, you know it is coming due to confirmation from the Holy Spirit, but you continue to struggle with doubt and anxiety?  Wait and trust.  The wait is worth it.  Let Him lay out the fine china and make that extra dessert.   It is all gonna be great, I promise.

Pray this with me: My dear Father, thank you for always taking care of me.  No matter how many times I doubt your works, you continue to do for me.  Forgive me, Lord, for not trusting you.  Help me do better. I love you with my entire being.  In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Be blessed, everyone.

  

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Stand…

“God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:10 NLT

My heart hurts for the Middle East Christians who are being killed, tortured, hated, forgotten…may the Lord bless them and give them a great reward for staying strong in their belief in times like this.  They are truly my heroes.

We can learn a lot from them, especially those who have the freedom to worship however we like…people like me.  I hate a little conflict.  Even a tiny fight with a friend makes my world start to spin because there isn’t peace.  My fellow believers, we need to get over the ache of a little conflict and realize that persecution for doing RIGHT can be a good lesson to learn.

I know you are saying “What???  Has Brooke lost her MIND????”  But, think about this – when we are persecuted, we start to understand the plight of Christ in His last day.  He stood up, was spat upon, beaten, tortured, stripped naked, and hung on a cross to die.  If only Satan knew that instead of killing Him off, He just gave Him the rights to the Kingdom…

To our brothers and sisters in the Middle East who are continuing to stand up for what you believe – I applaud you.  May Christ reward you greatly.  May we, here in a world with much less persecution, learn from you and start standing up for what we know is RIGHT.

May all those who worry about making the person next to you mad so you don’t share the truth with them – remember that even just a little persecution brings us closer to who Christ is.  Stand up, speak up, and live a life without fear!

Prayer: Father, bless those who are being persecuted for your sake, especially those in the Middle East.  Give them great rewards and send them peace here on Earth.  Help us, those who live in a much easier situation, stand up with our brothers and sisters and not back down to just a little conflict.  Build up an army of believers that will do whatever we need to do to make sure your truth is known.  And make me one of your warriors in that army.  I love you.  I thank you for being you.  In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Be blessed everyone!

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Footsteps

Generations – my church’s theme this year. I have been thinking about this a lot lately – about whose legacy I am living out. I find it interesting that my maternal grandmother retired from the insurance business and now I currently am working in insurance. I am walking in her footsteps and find it very special. Her husband, my beloved grandfather (we called him Papa) – was one of a kind. I wish the entire world knew him because I truly believe they would fall head-over-heels in love with him. I am a little partial, though.

My grandfather only wore cowboy boots – it is a Texas thing. I loved walking around in them. They went all the way to my thighs as a young girl and I couldn’t even bend my knees, but they were my grandfather’s so I didn’t care. My heart longs to walk in his shoes today – be kind to one another, love people, take care of them. I hope I am making him proud. Another habit of his I am trying my best to immolate is reading the Bible every day. He loved that thing and you can tell it was well used when you looked at it.

Having a heart for God’s word is a vital part of having a relationship with God. John 1:1 speaks of how the Word of God was there in the beginning, it was with God and it was God – speaking, of course of Jesus Christ. Knowing the Word brings us closer to who Christ is – having that in our heart will make us like Jesus. It will also help us know when the Enemy himself is setting a trap for us so we can avoid it and not succumb to his advances.

I encourage you to spend a part of your day taking in the Word of God. You will be happier and more at peace than you ever have been. No need to be super ambitious and try to read the entire book in one sitting. Just take a chapter a day to start out. Let it flow over you like a refreshing spring. Do this and watch your life change!

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105 NIV)

Pray this with me: Father, I thank you for the Word you have provided. I want to learn it and hold it in my heart. As I start to read your word, speak to me. Show me things about my life that I need to know. I want to know you better and carry your word inside my heart. Help me continue with this good-for-me habit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Be blessed everyone!

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One is the loneliest?

This past weekend, I was able to take a small “staycation” in a town just outside Dallas.  It was nice to get outside the normal and take a step back from life.  In all truth, that is all that I thought I would get out of it…a small break from reality.  God had a different plan.

If I can be transparent for a moment – I can admit to you that I have at time struggled with loneliness. I feel so alone sometimes that it brings about sorrow.  I know that this is not just a state for my fellow singles, but for all people.  We long for someone to know us.  We want someone to understand us on a deep level – am I touching any nerves here?

I sat and ate my fast food breakfast in the park as a “start” to my day when the overwhelming sense of His presence came around me.  Feeling so safe and secure, even the small anxiety of being a single female in a park without someone physically with me fell away.  An overwhelming sense of freedom came upon me.

This feeling of freedom, being totally loved, totally cared for – that nothing was going to happen to me – carried me through the entire weekend.  What a wonderfully eye-opening experience the Holy Spirit gave me.  That, no matter if I look like I am alone physically, without another human there, I will never be without Him.

For those of you who understand what loneliness really is, whether you are single, married, a teenager, or anything in between – know that God loves you.  He made you and understands who you are.  He wants you to understand and see that no person can fully fulfill that need for relationship in our lives.  We need to have a relationship with Him first and make that our foundation.  Once we have that, we will never feel alone again.

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. (‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭7-12‬ NLT)

Pray this with me: Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for being my companion.  Thank you for walking with me in all circumstances.  Help me to understand in my loneliest times that you are still there with me.  Don’t let me use the people in my life, even a spouse, to try to fulfill only what you can fulfill.  I love you with my entire being.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Be blessed everyone!

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The Tomb

Have you ever wanted something to happen – something that would transform your life – something that God has promised you will happen – and all you see around you is any and everything that contradicts that your promise is going to come to pass?  We all have seasons in our lives like this.  We know that healing will come, reconciliation will come, peace will come, jobs will come, finances will be made right, joy will be felt once again – but it seems like those things we know will happen are so far away and seem impossible to reach.

The disciples had a season like this – and it lasted just 3 days.  I can almost guarantee that it was the longest 3 days of their life, though.  When their leader was captured, killed, and laid to rest.  Can you imagine their grief?  Can you imagine the doubt they held in their head that Jesus would rise up once again?  The fear that have encompassed them must have been unbearable.  Their dream had not only died, but tortured and humiliated.

Then, everything changed!  Sunday arrived and the supernatural happened.  What was humanly impossible became real!  Their dream came alive again! (See John 19 & 20)

Do you have a dream that you doubt will ever come to pass?  A dream that God Himself placed in your heart?  Do not give into that doubt!  You will see it come to pass.  Just know that there are supernatural things happening that we cannot perceive.  God has us all in His hands.  All we have to do is trust Him!

Pray this with me:  Lord, I cast down the stronghold of fear and doubt right now.  I know that what You have promised will come to pass.  I have faith that You will do all things in my life, no matter how humanly ridiculous it may be.  I thank You for Your grace and mercy, for your precious Son who bled and died for me.  But oh how marvelous is the gift of His resurrection!  We give You honor, dear Lord.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Be blessed everyone!

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