Tag: God

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The Seed That Was Sown

This year (2014), my church declared the theme to be Greater. Greater things were supposed to happen this year for all of us. As I look back on my year – my idea of what a Greater year was not what God had in mind. It was a little crazy, a little chaotic, and a little painful. How is this greater?

If you understand God, you know that He works in mysterious ways. He sees the big picture & has our life all laid out before us, knowing each move we are to make in order for our life to end up where it should.

I truly believe, and declaring, that the things I (& many others) experienced is a time of Greater by way of purging the ground & in seeds sown. There are some seeds that need time to manifest, to create roots.

Trust that God (our Abba) has our backs!! He holds our world in His hands!

I’ll leave you with this Parable.

Be blessed, everyone!

One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’ “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. (‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭4-15‬ NLT)

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Shift, shift

Have you ever felt like things just keep going wrong? No matter what you do, you just can’t get it right.  So many believe that this is an attack – and it very well may be – but I also believe that God will do this in our lives when He is ready for something else to come in.  He must make room.  As a new year approaches, I believe that He is getting a lot of His people ready for new things.  If you are going through a situation like this – I encourage you to take some time and seek God;s face.  Let Him show you what your current season means.  I truly believe that we are going to start seeing a great shift in Christ’s people.

The following scripture was above the main stairwell at my University.  It always remained above our heads, covering us.  Let it cover you today.

For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Be Blessed

Shift

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#Change

There is a common constant on all our lives – change. One thing we all can agree on is: Change. Is. Hard. We want to be comfortable…in a place where we can predict what is going to happen next. In a perfect world, there would be nothing wrong with this because there would be no need for change. Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world – a world that desperately needs change.

God loves change – transformation. He loves to take people who are living in bondage & free them, thus bringing them in a state of transformation. Look at Paul, born Saul who was transformed one day as he traveled. (Acts 9:1-18) This man killed Jesus’ followers & then God decided to transform him into the first Evangelist – traveling the known world preaching about Christ.

The Bible is filled with stories like this. It is evident that God uses change for His glory. As a follower of Christ, I will bet that you have either endured change, are going through change right now, or about to endure it. You understand that it is hard. I can also bet that at some point in your life, you have fought change.

Change is needed in this world in so many areas. We have become complacent where we are until we are pushed beyond our limits. Chaos, then, ensues. This is not a good system to live by.

What if we decided today that we are going to become comfortable with change? What if we decide that we will make the change in our lives before we expect anyone else to make the change? What if we realize that change starts with us?

I encourage you to seek the face of God today – let Him show you the things in your life that need to be changed. As you take that Cross and bear it, the catalyst of your change will start changing those around you. Remember, you must be the change you wish to see in the world.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ NLT)

Be blessed.

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The hazard of juggling

I have had seasons of my life where I had a lot on my plate.  It is a part of my personality to do things.  If someone isn’t doing something and I see that it needs to be done, often I will try to make sure it is covered – most of the time taking on the tasks myself.  This is a trait that I am proud of, but it is also a trait that gets me in trouble.

I have just left a season of my life where I had way too much up in the air and trying to juggle it all.  Eventually, I found myself lying on my back with everything falling down around me.  It got to be too much.  The sad part was that I knew it was too much, but I had an issue with giving something up.

Being needed made me feel so good.  Doing things made me feel like I was needed – like I made a difference.  I wanted to have a place in this world.  Now, as I pick up the pieces of the mess I made when taking on too much, I see that I do not need to do all things to be important or special.  I was made important and special before I was put in my mother’s womb.  This is a fact for us all.  As you read this, know that you were made important and special the moment you were first thought of – not by your parents, but by the Creator of the Universe.

Let’s look at two different scriptures:  Exodus 18:13-23 –

 The next day Moses sat to judge the people. And the people stood around Moses from morning until evening.  When Moses’ father-in-law saw all he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone and judge and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”  Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to learn God’s will.  When they argue, they come to me. And I judge between a man and his neighbor. I teach them the Laws of God.”  Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will become tired and weak. For the work is too much for you. You cannot do it alone.  Now listen to me. I will tell you what you should do, and God be with you. You speak for the people before God. Bring the troubles to God. Then teach them the Laws. Make them know the way they must walk and the work they must do. Also, you should choose from the people able men who fear God, men of truth who hate to get things by doing wrong. Have these men rule over the people, as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. Let them judge the people at all times. Have all the big troubles brought to you. But have them judge the small troubles. So it will be easier for you. They will share the work with you.  If you do this and God tells you to do it, then you will be able to keep your strength. And all these people will go to their place in peace.”

and Psalm 139:13-14

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;  your works are wonderful,  I know that full well.

In Exodus, Moses is trying to juggle leading the Israelites all on his own.  It would eventually become too much and the system would crumble.  Jethro, his father-in-law and leader in his own right, saw the potential for disaster and decided to give him some advise.  I know that we do not all have that kind of authority in our own life, but we can take this lesson and apply it to our lives.  We can admit that we need people around us to help us with things.  We need to know our limitations.  We need to know that our worth is not found in doing things, but in who our Creator made us to be.

In the Psalm, David is explaining how God sees us no matter where we are (these scriptures are not included) and He will always be there.  Why, because we are His creation and we are created to be loved by Him (see verse 17 of the Psalm).  You don’t need to put yourself in harms way to prove your worth to people.  All you need to do is be you.  That is enough.  You are enough.

Be Blessed.

Juggling

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Wonderfully made

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’

A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭34-37, 39-40‬ NLT)

When I was in grad school at DBU, one professor spoke on this scripture. It has resonated with me because she posed a different perspective that I never had seen up to that point – in order to love people as ourselves, we must first love ourselves.

The concept at first seems selfish, at least it does for me, but when you start to look into the human psyche – our souls – you will find that we simply reflect out what we have inside.

That is why people have that saying – “When people treat you bad it isn’t about you, it’s about them.”

Ultimately, then, in order to serve & love others properly, we must first take care of ourselves. Not in a selfish or cruel way. Not because we are better than someone else. Not because I’m a Christian & they aren’t. Because we have a responsibility to be the best us we can be – because God made us as we are for a reason.

Ponder this scripture:

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! (‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭13-18‬ NLT)

We are all, each one of us, His creation; therefore, if one person needs to take care of themself, then we all do. To the one who we are to love with all our hearts, our minds & our souls, then we need to make sure they are worthy. Allow God to show you your personal value & worth. Let Him help you understand why it isn’t selfish to take care of you.

Be blessed.

th

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The Race

Are you a people pleaser? Well, I am. I absolutely hate when someone doesn’t like me. Odds are, I am going to come into contact with a number of people who will not approve of who I am and what I do.

There was a time in my life that this idea would consume me – so much that I would do everything to make sure it didn’t happen. That way of life is a slippery slope and I found myself in a place where I no longer knew who I was. That is not just a problem for me…but also for our Creator. He “knit us together in (our) mothers’ womb(s)” (Psalm 139:13). We are to work & please Him only, not others. (See Romans 12:2).

Now, my goal is to make Him happy. Do I still fall into the pattern of my past? Of course, I am human. But I don’t let it control me or change who I am. We are all too precious to compromise who we are in Him for someone else…who isn’t Him.

No, this post is not a post encouraging rebellion against authority. God has commanded us to list to authority and follow their commands – see Mark 12:17. We cannot make false gods of them, though.

One of my favorite quotes by Mother Teresa reads:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway

Also, ponder this scripture:

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1-3‬ MSG)

We are to live for the One who gave His life so that we can live. Follow His lead. Live like that & I truly believe you will know what it is like to be happy. Be you & trust Him – it is enough.

Be blessed.

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Confessions of a Control Freak

Trust – one of the most beautiful things in this world. There is something about someone giving you their trust – it shows you how much they value you. It is also one of the hardest things to give to people and yet is the one of the few components in a relationship that you need to be in relationship with someone. I think our society, especially, has an issue with trust as we are so independent. We take care of ourselves and then take care of those around us. Eat or be eaten, right?

How this is so far from the message of Christ. One thing that strikes me in the story of the time between when Christ is captured and before He is crucified is how He just takes it (see John 18). He doesn’t give His accusers the satisfaction of saying that they are right, but He also doesn’t try to run. He knows His assignment and puts up with whatever He needs to do in order to get His job done.

I am all for independence and fighting for what you believe in, fighting for your boundaries, and keeping your dignity. God does not want us to be miserable. He desires for us to be happy and content, living well. Is this always the case? No, it isn’t. Unfortunately, because we live in a world where there is turmoil everywhere – we will have to face trials.

If you are like me, when you go through trials – you try to figure things out. I can actually make myself sick trying to figure things out. I want to know what is going to happen when I take the turn in front of me. I don’t want to put myself at risk for being hurt or to be put in a more precarious position that I already am in. The issue with this mindset is that I do not control the universe. I didn’t speak the world into existence. I am not omnipresent or live absent of time. I am here on this Earth, walking this thing out, living day to day. I do not have the capabilities of controlling such things. I MUST trust God.

There are times when I will struggle with this for days. As a result, I must repent. Why? Because not trusting God is actually a sin. We are telling Him that we know better than He does – with is rebellion. That is the original sin. I am making more of this situation than I need to – all is asked of me is to trust Him and follow Him. Simple, right?

Ponder this scripture: When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. Isaiah 43:2 NLT

For all you fellow control freaks – know that whatever you must endure, God will not allow it to consume you, but will be right there beside you (Matthew 28:20). God has it all planned out. Just trust Him!

Be blessed

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We are all Anne Frank

I was recently watching a movie where, for one scene, they visited Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdame. I have read her diary and learned her story, as many have, but while watching the movie, a concept hit me that I have not given much thought – Anne, someone who is pretty much known world wide as giving a voice to the victims of one of the world’s worst genocides – died at the young age of 15 not knowing how great her impact on this world will be. It is all because her father decided to publish her diary that we now know who this old-soul is.

Very few of us will have this type of world-wide legacy, but do we fully understand how Our Father can use even the simplest of things we say & do without us even knowing it? I don’t think so. I honestly don’t think we understand the authority God gave us when he created us in His image (both male & female). See Genesis 1:26-27.

How often do we say or do things without thinking, especially when we are around people we don’t know? A lot, at least for me – if I am perfectly honest. Are we considering the fact that God may be bringing people into out lives for even just a moment so we can show them Him? Or how He can use us to answer a prayer? Like Anne Frank, our impact on people’s lives may never be fully understood by us, but to those we, even briefly, come into contact with are potentially changed forever because Our Father is using those little, somewhat insignificant things to change the world.

I dare say that we have a responsibility, first to God and then to each other, to always be us and don’t waiver because we had a bad day or people wouldn’t like it.

Ponder this scripture:

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭14-16‬ NLT)

No matter how small the thing is – a smile, holding the door open, a thank you – it can be used by God because we are made in His image & there is no thing that He does that leaves a small aspect.

Be blessed.

anne

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The Real Truth

Truth – “the real facts about something” is how Merrium-Webster defines that word. To put that on paper, it seems simple and straight forward. In the real world, though, there is a lot of false things that are disguised as truth.

For instance, you only live once, so why not try it? Or, if it feels right, then it is right. That is our world’s philosophy right now, but I wouldn’t classify us as being in a good place. In many ways, we have lost sight of the truth.

Think on this statement by Christ:
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬ NLT)

To me, this says that the only real truth is in Christ Jesus. Everything else is false. How can we access the truth? By reading His word (John 1:1). The Bible contains life’s road map to how we need to live.

When we stray, when we stop believing the real truth, when lies control our lives, which happens to the best of us – how do we get back on track? Seek His face and notice the things that are going on in our life. Evaluate the quality of your life. Are things going right or wrong? Do you have a love for your life? If things are not all too pleasant, ponder this:

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭5-8‬ NLT)

Open a line of communication with Our Heavenly Father and let Him lead you where you need to go. Don’t let lies bring you down. He loves us too much not to chase after us. Let Him catch you and guide you.

Be blessed.

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Same place, same boat

Oh how very different we all are. There are really no two people that are alike. God designed it that way. We are all his creation & masterpiece and sincerely valued by the God of Angel Armies.

How ironic that we ultimately are all the same? Maybe not in look, character, or personality…but in reality, there is one sure thing that binds us together as one body – our desperate need for a savior.

I don’t care how holy or evil one may seem, we need the Cross daily. No one is perfect or Devine except for the God-head. So many times, though, we get it mixed up.

One thing I discovered as a counselor is how deeply Our Father loves each of His children, no matter what they have done. It struck me speechless many times His deep, pure, unconditional love He has.

Thus, we must understand that we cannot treat those who do horrible things as second class citizens or as if those of us who are “good” are more deserving. Why? Because everything you do to people, you do to God. (Matthew 25:40)

Therefore, we must treat people well not because they deserve – we need to treat people well because we are doing it for God. Of course, we need to honor our own boundaries because we need to treat ourselves well, too. If we treat people the way they deserve to be treated, then no one, including ourselves, would ever be respected. Ultimately, without the Cross, we are all disgusting.

Remember that we are ALL in need of a savior every day, that God loves ALL His creation, and we must do to people what we want done to us. (Luke 6:31)

Take a peek at this scripture:

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8-10‬ NLT)

Remember that homeless man, the sketchy lady you run into, or the thug on the street…they were all created for a purpose by our creator, just like you!

Be blessed.

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