Tag: God

Posted on

Emotions

I have had a lot of days lately where I am stuck in my emotions.  Do you know what I am talking about?  The times when I just cannot shake the feelings this earthly, human, finite brain keeps rolling around as I try to go about my day.  It is sometimes maddening.  Maybe someone did something, something happened at work, or just life is crazy – regardless of why – it still knocks me off my game.

Being human and being a Child of God sometimes…often…conflicts with each other.  Philippians 4:6-7 says “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  And then, Galatians 5:22-23 says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.”

To be the light of the world, we do not get to always act out how we feel.  Our goal on this earth, as His children, is to show people His love.  I vow to do this more, regardless of how I feel today, tomorrow, 10 years from now – will you take this vow with me?

Live fearlessly in Him, dear friends.  Be blessed!

light

Posted on

The wonder of it…

When I was younger – I used to wonder what God thought of me, why He made me, what my calling was. No matter how many church services I went to, I still had no idea. I even got discouraged at one point because I thought the reason I didn’t know these things was because of a lack of care He had for me. But I was wrong. It wasn’t God’s fault, but my own. I had been seeking in the wrong places.

Growing up, I thought access to God was difficult to come by. It was similar to Buckingham Palace – there is pomp and circumstance you must endure in order to have access. But our King is not an earthly king. Our God does not live by our rules. Our Father would never restrict us from Him because we didn’t bow a certain way or wear a certain style of clothing. Nope – His courts are easy to access and are available to all.

One day, I decided that I was done wondering. I was tired of worrying that I wasn’t good enough or that maybe there was something wrong with me. So I stood in front of my mirror and asked God to show me who I was to Him. Show me what He sees when He looks at me. God is a God of answered prayer, folks. He showed me who I was and it sincerely surprised me. I had no idea how much God loved me. I had no idea that a simple prayer was all it took. That simple prayer started a journey that changed my life.

It has been a few years now since I started this journey. I must admit there have been hardships and trials along with the great revelation. But the truth is that these hardships were just a way for God to heal some of the wounds I carried.  As I sought Him in prayer, reading the Bible, and worship (corporate and personal) – I gained more and more access to His courts and His Kingdom – realizing that I am His daughter and someone who He has plans for…plans that blew my mind…overwhelmed me with love.

To you, dear reader – I challenge you to stand in front of a mirror and pray that prayer. Let God show you who you are. I think you will be amazed at what you find. My prayer is that you will become stronger in Him and know that you are loved regardless of who anyone says you are. That you are a son or daughter of a king. That there are great plans for your life…plans that God Himself holds in His heart. Don’t ever think you are worthless…because He would have never created you if you were.

Pray this with me: Lord, please, help me see myself the way you see me. Help me understand the plans you have for my life. Show me the path that will lead me to the things you desire for my life. I seek your face – not your hand and want to know you more. Lord, I love you. Thank you for all that you have given me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Live fearlessly and be blessed!

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother’s womb.

 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with You.

Psalm 139:13-18

fearful

Posted on

Dream….

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

  

Posted on

Greatest Power

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13:13
  

Posted on

Success 101

What is success to you?  Is it money, education, family, what car you drive, or who you hang out with?  What is the trait that binds all of those things I just listed together?  Yep, they are all dealing with the what we look like on the outside.  

1 Samuel 16 describes the anointing of David, the shepherd boy king.  Samuel walks in, sees these big, strong sons of Jesse and assumed that one of them would be the next King of Israel.  Oh, how he was wrong.  David, the littlest of them all, was anointed that day.  Why?  Because, despite what he looked like on the outside, God knew David’s heart.

In the same way, God knows ours.  He understands our strengths and our weaknesses.  He sees who we are and who we can become.  He has a purpose and a plan for us even if we seem like the most unqualified of the bunch.

God’s unfailing love and consistent grace is why we can achieve success.  It is not by how well we know our craft, but how well we know our Saviour.  Not how long we spend at work, but how long we spend cultivating a relationship with Our Father.  Because it is in Him we find life.

My friends, success without God is nothing…worthless.  David needed God’s guidance in order to build the Kingdom.  We need His guidance to do the same.

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” ‭‭James‬ ‭4:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Live fearlessly in Him! Be blessed!

  

Posted on

Peacemaker

Have you ever stood on something and felt like it was about to crumble right under you?  I have.  It can be scary.  No one likes falling.  No one likes to have an uncertain foundation.

Life can be like that.  Are just trying to make it and you are not sure if the foundation you built will hold you.  As an adult, this aspect of life makes me want to be a kid again like nothing else.

Life has dealt me with some of those moments.  It can be super stressful to not know what your future holds – especially when your fate is held in others’ hands.  There is one thing that I know for certain – it is my foundation that never failed me.

Like the parable of the house on the rock versus the house on the sand – no matter what comes your way – if you allow God to be your foundation you will be okay.

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God? (‭Psalms‬ ‭18‬:‭30-31‬ KJV)

Prayer: Lord, I ask you to help me trust you in everything.  Please help me understand that, no matter what life throws at me, you will always be there.  I thank you for being my foundation and the rock I can stand on no matter what.  I love you.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Be blessed everyone!

  

Posted on

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

Posted on

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

Posted on

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!

  

Posted on

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.

design