Tag: God

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How’s the view?

Can I be honest with you readers? Christians do not always have it all together. Nope, we are lost at times. Sometimes, we even get discouraged. We are like sheep who forever need a shepherd. I am a sinner in need of a Savior every day. On my good days and on my bad days I need Jesus.

It’s life. We sometimes find ourselves in a hole where life becomes so overwhelming we don’t know which way is up. I wish Christianity was all rainbows and sunshine, but it isn’t. It’s scary and uncertain when life takes unexpected turns. We don’t always have it together. But we know the One who does.

We often allow our situations to skew our view of life. This world doesn’t determine the outcome of our life. No, we do and how we relate to God and our view of His grace. When we go through things, when we find ourselves in a dry place spiritually (it happens to everyone), and when life becomes overwhelming — our success is based on where we place our trust.

Do you trust your own view of the situation – the way the world sees it – or do you see it through the eyes of God? Is your faith in how things look or in God?  How easily we can get stuck in seeing things as we perceive them. But we must realize God has it all in His hands. We just have to trust Him and His plan! It is perfect!

So don’t get discouraged when things don’t happen the way we think they should. God knows and sees all. Place your life in the the One who has nail-scared hands and all things will work out for your good!

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.””

‭‭John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:4-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.”

‭‭Nahum‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28-30‬ ‭NLT‬


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Take A Coffee Break

It’s good to be a go-getter; a doer.  Someone who gets things done.  You are an asset to any team.  You are needed in the kingdom of God.

Always doing, going, accomplishing can be hard on the body, the mind, and the soul.  No one can go, do, be constantly.  You need rest.

Make sure you take time to rest, rejuvenate, and repair.  It isn’t healthy to keep going and going like the Energizer Bunny.  God didn’t mean for you to not get rest.  In fact, He rested:

“On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭6:30-32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Be intentional with your rest.  To rest is to get yourself back to where you are 100% you.  So you can give more of yourself to those who need you.  As a Child of God, rest should become a priority in your life.  Because God needs His warriors to be strong.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:1-2‬ ‭NLT‬‬


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Focus

I don’t know if you have ever heard of Jackson Pollock.  He is an American artist during the middle 1900’s who created some very interesting art.  His paintings were very abstract and considered to be in the Expressionism movement.  One interesting characteristic of his paintings was that he loved to use the “splatter” technique…or at least that is what I call it.  He will take paint and sling it all over the canvas creating an image.  If you ever get to see one of his paintings in person, you should.  They are intriguing.

At the Dallas Museum of Art, they have several Jackson Pollock works.  Since I live in Dallas – I’ve been able to stand in front of them and try to…make sense of the painting.  The one painting that I just cannot figure out is called Cathedral.  Supposedly, you are supposed to see a church in all the messiness.  I cannot see it.

m-cathedrl

Can you see a Cathedral in this painting?  Or does it just look like a mess?  I think it is very much an interesting piece of art.  It is even more amazing in person.  But I cannot make out a defined image in all the splatter.  It is probably because I am not able to focus on what I need to in order to see it.  Let me know if you can see what I cannot.

Life can be like that.  We can look at our life and see nothing but a bunch of mess.  It is frustrating trying to make sense of it all.  But God sees things differently.  He knew you even before He formed you.  You were always in the plans.  No one…absolutely no one is or has ever been a mistake.  To Him, it all makes sense.

We just lose our focus so many times because we dwell on the RIGHT NOW rather than realizing that life isn’t all about the right now, but often about what lies ahead.  Our lives, if painted on a canvas, may look a little like a Pollock.  But God looks down and sees each splatter, drop and stroke.  And He can use it for His glory and our good.

Be blessed dear readers.  Remember to keep your focus on God and not on what is going on around you.  Keep your heart and mind right – don’t allow life to get you down.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 – For everything there is a season,
    a time for every activity under heaven

Jeremiah 1:5 – “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.
    Before you were born I set you apart
    and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

Philippians 4:8 – And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Hebrews 12:1-2 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Colossians 3:2 – Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Matthew 24:13 – But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

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What is it good for?

War is a part of our reality. I may live in Suburbia, USA and not physically see it outside my door, but many in this world do. War makes you paranoid and scared. There is no safety when you are at war. It is a terrible place to be in.

War goes on in the spiritual world too. My pastor this week spoke on how the enemy comes as a lion ready to pounce. That is how he is. We are never free from those attacks either. War is all around us.

But we can win this war if we understand a few things: (1) that our battle is not with others, but with Satan and all his army and (2) to defeat the enemy, you need a type of warfare – which is prayer. You will not win this war without the aid of God. In order to win any spiritual battle you must let Him lead.  

So don’t give up – don’t allow the enemy to get under your skin. Just go to God, find rest in Him, and let your heavenly Daddy take care of it. Yes, you might have to walk through some valleys and yes, it is going to be hard. But our Abba wants to see you succeed.  

Speak victory over yourself, your situation, and all those involved. Let the enemy know he has not and will not win. This war has already been won a long time ago on top of a wooden cross at Calvary. 

Be blessed dear friends!

“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

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Table for 1

Alone.  By yourself.  No one with you.  Ever feel that way?  Feel like you are doing life with “me, myself, and I” only?  I’m sure we all have felt this way.  It is a part of life and we go through seasons of time that we must face things…alone.

I use italics because, in reality, we never are 100% alone.  God is with us.  He sees all and knows all.  This is truth for believers and unbelievers (Psalm 33:13, Hebrews 4:13).  God is always there.  No one is hidden from Him.

Regardless of how you live your life, you will go through trials.  It’s reality.  There will be times when it seems no one is on your side.  I want to tell you that this thought is a lie.

You are loved.  It doesn’t matter how many people despise you, you are wanted.  It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, all you need to do is ask for forgiveness from God and he will make you clean again.  Find rest in Him when the world tried to remind you of the things you once did but are now under the blood.  

If you have breath in your lungs, you are not too far gone to receive the love and mercy of our Lord Jesus.  There is hope and you are never alone.  Be blessed, dear readers!!

“Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭68:5-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:8-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“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

““I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.””

‭‭John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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Circling

Imagine what Israel felt like walking around and around and around the mountain. An 11 days journey took 40 years. How discouraged would you be? 
This isn’t Gilligan’s Island – it isn’t some glorified storyline to entertain; this was the reality for an entire generation. This wilderness season lasted the rest of their life.  

Have you felt like you are in an everlasting wilderness season? Feeling like it will never end and life will not get better.  

But I want you to remember that God never left the Israelites. He sent manna from the sky to feed them and eventually, God ended their nomadic season to possess the land promised. God kept them and his plan remained the same – even if it took them a little longer to see it out.

No matter how long your wilderness season has lasted, God hasn’t forgotten you. He has a plan and great things are ahead. Cling to God, listen to his voice and follow his lead. He will start to make rivers in your wasteland!!

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and owls, too, for giving them water in the desert. Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so my chosen people can be refreshed. I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:19-21‬ ‭NLT‬‬ (emphasis added)

““When we were at Mount Sinai, the LORD our God said to us, ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough. It is time to break camp and move on. Go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the neighboring regions—the Jordan Valley, the hill country, the western foothills, the Negev, and the coastal plain. Go to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, and all the way to the great Euphrates River. Look, I am giving all this land to you! Go in and occupy it, for it is the land the LORD swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to all their descendants.’””

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭1:6-8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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Faithful

Finding yourself in a place of worry, fear or anxiety is easy. Life is hard, not just for some – but for all people. We can become so overwhelmed with ourselves, our circumstances, and what is wrong that we forget one crucial thing – God is faithful.
Our Lord never changes – he is who has always been. When he tells you he is going to do something, believe it. He doesn’t belong in this carnal, messed up world that we live in. No, in fact, he is working all the pain in our lives for our good and his glory.
I have had too many moments in my life where I didn’t put my faith in him as I should and allowed worry to consume me.  I have taken up the practice of saying out loud – “God, thank you for your faithfulness” every time I feel worry or fear come over me.  It is telling him I am trusting his plan in spite of my emotions and reminding myself that he is still God.  Doing this brings peace over me.  God is sooo faithful!!
Be blessed dear readers.  Live and love boldly!!
“Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him. Therefore, you must obey all these commands, decrees, and regulations I am giving you today.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭7:9-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬
“Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:90‬ ‭NLT‬‬
“True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, “You will be proved right in what you say, and you will win your case in court.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭3:3-4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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Our Strong Tower

Living in Texas, I am accustomed to thunderstorms. They often don’t scare me, but I’ll admit there are times I do get uneasy. As a child, my relationship to storms was very different. Even the smallest rain storm would cause anxiety because I was unsure of what may come.
My life of faith in God is described very similarly. Before I truly knew God deeply, I was often fearful when things got crazy, hard, or sad. But as I grew and started to learn that God had me – I learned that there is no need for fear.
Dear reader, you may not know the how, when, or what of God’s plan for a reprieve in your storm, but know that He always has a plan. There is nothing that happens that He doesn’t know about (see Job 1:6-12). So there is no need to worry.
Look at what happened when Jesus died on the Cross. Jesus himself told the disciples that He will rise again (see Mark 9:21 & Luke 9:22). But there was still doubt in Thomas’ heart – he had to put his hands in Jesus’ wounds to believe that the Lord had risen (John 20:24-29). Sometimes, our miracle is staring us in the face, but our faith is too small to see it.
When you stand upon the promises of God, great things happen. Have faith and don’t falter. Trust the plan God has in place & learn to use faith to make it through!
Do you struggle with faith? Remember this: “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬ – so get into the Word of God. Read it daily. You will find yourself gaining faith. As you gain faith, your relationship will grow with God.
Storms come to all, that is fact, but we don’t have to succumb to them. Keep your head up!
“The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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Love

Let’s turn from hate and turn to love.  Let’s let love unite us.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:38-39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. 

All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:1-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬ (emphasis added)

“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Lord, be with this country, be with the families of those whose lives were taken unjustly around the country this week, bring unity, destroy hate, and protect all people from injustice.  Please, no more killings, no more fear, no more division!  In Jesus name, Amen!

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Accepted

When I was a child, I was afraid of God.  I am not speaking about a healthy fear of God, but a feeling of distress about the idea of God.  It was rooted in the idea that God was very legalistic – you do wrong and it’s over for you.  There was no grace in my idea of God.

Unfortunately, too many in the world see God as a legalistic, smoting, I will abandon you if you do wrong type of God.  It makes my heart hurt that so many believe God to be so cruel.

If we get down to it, yes, God deals with right or wrong actions/thoughts/etc. in black and white terms.  There are no blurred lines when classifying something a sin versus not a sin.  And, yes, Hell really exists.  But God is truly a loving, caring Father.  He does not classify the person based on their sin because we are all sinners. 

God’s love is eternal.  It existed long before we did. His love isn’t given to some and not given to others.  Thankfully, all we need to do to experience his grace is accept Jesus as our Savior.  Easy, simple, done.  

My favorite part of who God is that God loves you even before you accept him. He cares for you even before you accepted him.  He wanted you long before you wanted him.  That is grace and that is love.

Even if you are reading this and you have been a believer a long time – remember this!  Remember that you were known by God long before you knew him.  His grace was there before you needed it.  Accept it and move on.  He wants you to live your life in peace!

“He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103:10-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 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 ‭2:2-10‬ ‭NLT‬