Tag: life

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Laying the load down

Alone.  By yourself.  The only one.

Have you ever felt yourself in a situation where it seemed like the world is on your shoulders and there is no one there to help you carry the load?  Yes?  I know, me too.

Too many times, I’ve found myself in a place where I’ve felt like I’m all alone carrying the entire load of problems, failures, and possible outcomes all on my shoulders.  There is no one else there to help me.  If I fail, then that is it.  The world will come crashing down and it’s all my fault.

However dramatic that may sound on paper – I’ll admit, I’ve caught myself feeling this way.  I’m confident that you have too.  That feeling like it’s all up to me to handle is scary.  There is no other person who can get this done, help with this project or make this right.  If it fails, it’s all my fault.  And yet, the weight is too much for me to bear alone.

Friend, let me tell you – that whole conversation about how it is up to us to handle on our own is a lie from the pit of Hell.  You, dear friend, are never alone.  You do not have to carry everything all by yourself.

It is extremely important you understand that Our Father, the one who created the Heavens & the Earth, will help you carry your load.  You were never meant to do this life by yourself.  We are designed to be in relationship 1) with God and 2) with each other.

So next time you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders – close your eyes, take a deep breathe and lean into the presence of God.  Call on the Lord’s name and He will come to you (Isaiah 58: 9).  He is faithful to the end (Deuteronomy 7:9; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:3).

It is so easy to get caught up in life, in our emotions and the right now.  But do what Paul commands up so to in Philippians 4:8 – think on things that are true, that are holy, that are right and that are pure.  Many times, our emotions cause us to do the exact opposite.

The best way to combat the lies of the enemy is with the truth of God.  The next time you are going through a season where you feel as though you are carrying the world on your shoulders, remember these scriptures – even recite them to yourself out loud so you hear them:

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭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

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.””

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“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

Friend – remember this – you are never alone.  Ever. Put your load down and lean into God.

 

 

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Seeing Victory

Living on this earth can be so hard. It is in those hard times we either fall or rise above. The situations of life are usually out of our hands, but how we react to them is fully in our control.

My Aunt Carol drew the short straw. She was born to a mother who didn’t want her so her grandparents adopted her. Yes, she is biologically my cousin however, she is legally my aunt. Her parents loved her deeply and she lived a life knowing she was loved.

In grade school – Carol not only was diagnosed with a severe case of juvenile diabetes but also it was discovered her mind wasn’t going to grow passed a 3rd or 4th grader. She would never be able to be hired for even the simplest jobs because her severe diabetes and spent her life on government aid. When she finally got her own home, it was the greatest thing to ever happen to her.

Carol made some mistakes in trusting the wrong people in her youth. As she grew & matured, she started to understand some people are not for her. Thankfully, there were some folks who took her under their wing. It was through those folks when she really found Jesus.

When she was diagnosed with diabetes, the doctors told my grandparents that she wouldn’t live passed 30 years old. It would have probably been true if she didn’t find God. It was her faith in God that sustained her and kept her even when her body started to fail her.

When I would talk to her, she would tell me that God still had a plan for her and that is why he kept her here. Her faith helped her grow and thrive for years. Even when she could no longer walk or leave home, she had a positive outlook on life because she understood that life was a gift.

Carol stepped into Heaven this past Friday (October 25, 2019) just a few months from her 50th birthday, proving the doctors wrong. It’s sad she no longer is here, but I know that her faith in Jesus led her to Heaven.

Her body and mind are healed and whole…something she didn’t have on Earth. What a joyful thought to know she is finally able to know what it is like to have a body that works and a mind that understands. Even though I’m going to miss her, I am so happy she finally is whole.

Living life for Jesus means we will live again. Living for Jesus means that Heaven is our home. All the pain of this world will fall away as we step into God’s presence.

If my Aunt’s life taught me anything…it is that Jesus is a sustainer and a redeemer. Carol would tell you that Jesus will help you through anything. If you don’t know Jesus, consider changing that. Consider accepting Him as your Lord & savior. Doing that will not guarantee that this life will be easy, but it will guarantee that you can overcome even the hardest obstacle.

Carol won. She was victorious. Her life was not in vain and she got her reward. Now, on the other side of Heaven, she is more alive right now than she ever was here on earth. What a promise God has for us who call him Savior, Redeemer and Friend.

“So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 NLT

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Peace of Life

To live a life of peace is to live a life of forgiveness. Letting go of what others have done to you or those you love and moving on with your life. Can you imagine what this world would be like if folks would live a life of forgiving others and moving on? No war, no hate, no confusion. But we live in a sinful, fallen world filled with pain and unforgiveness.

If forgiving people and moving on was easy, more people would do it. If it were easy to not hold a grudge and love people inspite of what they did to you, more people would be doing it. But it isn’t easy. In fact I’d say it is very difficult to let go of the things that deeply wound us.

Dare I say that it takes the help of the Holy Spirit to fully forgive and let go. I don’t think I can do that by myself in my own understanding. It is almost impossible. But with God, nothing is impossible.

Imagine the forgiveness Paul needed from his fellow believers. When he was Saul, he killed many Christians believing it was the right thing to do. When Jesus appeared and opened his eyes to his offense, Saul became Paul thus becoming a person who he once would have killed.

The gift of forgiveness was something Paul knew all too well. He needed it in order to fulfill his God-given calling. Because believers did offer it to him, his calling was fulfilled and they continued to grow in Christ.

Understanding that, he was able to write about forgiveness in some of his letters.

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

Colossians 3:13 NLT

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT

I challenge you, dear reader, to step out of the easy and try forgiving those that hurt you. Give up your ability to hold a grudge and let go of that offense. Lean on the Holy Spirit to help you.

Free yourself and let it go. That burden is not something you were ever meant to bear. Imagine what could be ahead of you if you leave that offense behind you? Only great things!

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Have No Fear

Fear. How many times have you dealt with that? Probably too many times…

Life is full of things to be afraid of – tragedies, loss, betrayal and pain. It seems we face bad things all too often in this place we are just passing through, don’t we? It’s hard and sometimes unbearable.

If we don’t keep our eyes on Jesus, this life will eat us alive. We will be so overwhelmed, we wouldn’t know what to do. But thankfully, we know the one who spoke this world into existence!

1 Peter 5:7 says “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” Think about that for a moment – what would it look like if you casted ALL your cares on God? How much better would your life be without the worry, anxiety or depression? Who would you become if you stopped being afraid?

1 John 4:18 says that if we fear, we have not fully experienced God’s love because we fear God’s wrath more than understanding His love for us (this scripture is paraphrased into my own words and in its pure form at the end of the blog). Not fully understanding God’s love for us can really hinder our lives.

Imagine if you gave someone a gift that you knew would alter their life forever and they didn’t fully believe you had good motives in giving them that gift so they put it aside, waiting to see if it all was phony? How would you feel?

That is how God feels when we (as believers) follow Him, but don’t fully trust that He has our best interest at the root of it all.

So I encourage you – the one who struggles with fear, depression, anxiety and/or mistrust in God – lean into Jesus’ love and let it wash over you like a wave. Give Him your fears, doubts and worries. Let God fight your battles and go to sleep!

Rest, my dear friends- God has already won the victory and there is nothing He can not help us with. Surrender and let Him lead.

“And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”

1 John 4:17-18 NLT

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Measured Uniquely

How many times do we compare ourselves to others? Probably a lot more than we’d like to admit. For some reason, we believe we need to “one-up” each other to make ourselves look better than the next. It’s like we cannot be enough if our neighbor is winning.

It’s a Biblical problem that goes all the way back to Cain & Abel. In Genesis 4, we meet the two sons of Adam & Eve – Cain & Abel. One was a farmer and the other was a shepherd. The farmer (Cain) offered God a sacrifice of vegetation and the shepherd (Abel) offered God a sacrifice of meat. God only accepted Abel’s offering and Cain got so jealous that he killed his own brother. Cain was forever banished to wander the Earth.

Do you see how destructive comparison can be? Do you know that this isn’t God’s desire for us? Do you understand that God created each of us uniquely for a reason and purpose – to walk along side each other rather than against each other? (Isaiah 64:8, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 4:16)

Lisa Bevere says in her book Without Rival that God doesn’t love us equally, but uniquely. We are all made so intricately God cannot love us all in the same way, but His love for us is tailored to who He made us. (See Psalm 139:13-16)

Our focus should be running in comparison to Jesus. He is the one we should compare ourselves with & only Him. Jesus came to Earth not only to die for our sins, but to be our example. Set your gaze on His journey & not on your neighbors as comparison.

When we look over to our neighbors- we should be doing it to encourage, help or show love to them. When we care about each other & understand that we are meant to work with each other than against each other, the Body of Christ can thrive.

“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.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT

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Hello Refresh

Rest…that has been something God has wanted me to pursue this year. That is one thing I have a hard time doing – not being in control & in the middle of everything. One thing that is not “natural” for me. I know some of you can relate.

Busyness is a common place for me. It is my comfort zone and it helps me define my worth. Yes, that is right…without something to do, I have a hard time seeing myself as important in this world. Without doing something – will people love me as I am? Will God accept me?

Am I good enough to just be me without offering anything to the world? Is it enough for me to not have 5 things happen all at the same time? If I’m not drowning in stuff to do, am I doing it right?

Oh, but when God says to do something, you should do it. I’ve learned this the hard way this year. God is a good Father and will step in if His children are stubborn. That stubborn child is me. Lord, help me.

God had to shift things up so that I would pay attention. Let me just tell you this – it is much easier if you just listen to God. Remember this next time you – yourself- want to be stubborn.

Don’t get me wrong, the fact that God stepped in is a place of celebration for me. This is because I know He cares and that I am His. Hebrews 12:6 says: ““For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”” It is a blessing to be disciplined because it means He calls us His.

One thing God has helped me understand in this season is that He is in control. That He can be trusted. One of the reasons I was so busy was because I wanted to be in the middle of everything because I couldn’t trust that I would be cared for. I know, silly to think about how God won’t take care of me when He is so good however, that trust is not too easy to walk out.

Faith is a strange thing. When you don’t trust God with everything, you cannot have faith in Him with your whole heart. This is a problem for someone who lives for God – because your life contradicts itself. That was me. I was not allowing God to move in me like He wanted to.

So – now, after God got me alone, I had two choices. I could learn to lean into Him or walk away from Him. I chose to lean in. I wish I could say that it was easy, but it wasn’t. I could never imagine myself walking away from God, but it was still so hard to lean in and trust.

Let me tell you this – as I lean in closer, the more and more I see that He knows best. That His healing is not here today and gone tomorrow – it lasts. That whatever I face, He wants to fight for me (Exodus 14:14). And He can be trusted with everything – whatever it may be!

So if what I just described is something you have faced lately…know this – you can lean in and you can trust God. He will not leave you or abandon you!! Reach out to God, repent for not trusting Him and start following His lead.

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”

Psalms 91:1-4 NLT

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33 Things I’ve Learned in 33 years

I’m going to turn 33 in a few weeks and it feels so strange.  When you reach 30, birthdays don’t have the same meaning they did when you were a child.  Ha!  But you also realize there are a few things you know (and lots of stuff you don’t, right?).

I did this last year and I wanted to do it again.  Here are 33 things I’ve learned in 33 years:

  1. Jesus really and truly is the only way. He is the beginning and the end. He is the light in the dark. There is no one like Him.
  2. Love someone because they deserve to be loved. Don’t let how you treat others be dependent on how they treat you
  3. “Haters” aren’t worth your time. Learn from your encounters with them – see the parts that you need to work on and keep on going.
  4. Apologize quick. Forgive quicker.
  5. Rest is important. Make time for it
  6. Every person is valuable – no matter what they’ve done.
  7. Being humble may look weak to others, but in actuality, it shows great inner strength.
  8. Let God lead you everwhere you go. If He isn’t going where you want to go, that place isn’t for you.
  9. Life is made up of little steps you take one at a time. Don’t give up, don’t stop, just take it one step at a time
  10. Investing in others is the greatest investment you can make
  11. Being selfless won’t win you any awards, but you will sleep better at night
  12. Doing something for others without any strings attached gives you peace. It also helps you appreciate the things others do for you more.
  13. Empathy is important
  14. Sometimes saying “no” is necessary
  15. Friendship is a beautiful thing – cherish those who allow you in their life
  16. Leadership isn’t about titles – it’s about attitude. How you handle yourself determines if you are a leader or not – regardless of how many titles you may have
  17. Enjoy the small things of life – don’t wait for the big things to come
  18. Strength comes from God – not in money, people, or things
  19. Time with God is never wasted
  20. Learn from your elders and learn from those younger. They each see things differently than you
  21. Be kind, it’s much easier
  22. Don’t take yourself that seriously.
  23. You can hold tight to your values and still love others where they’re at
  24. Don’t cut people down, but hold others up
  25. Pray for others and do it without telling them. That allows God to get all the glory
  26. God will never forsake you. He sees, He knows, He understands
  27. Singleness isn’t the end of the world. It really is a gift.       Spend the time getting to know who you are.
  28. Perspective is very important. How you see your life determines how you live it. Make sure you see it for what it really is
  29. Life is but a vapor – make each day count. Make sure you are living on purpose and make sure you tell those you love what they mean to you.
  30. There will be some people who won’t get you. That’s okay. Be who God made you to be anyways.
  31. Love yourself good so you can love others good.
  32. No one has to do anything for you. Appreciate other’s kindness.
  33. Never, ever take life for granted. There are many people who would give anything for one more day.

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Less is More

In our world today, to get ahead, you must talk yourself up & make a name for yourself. You have “people” who work for you & your endeavors. This seems very real to us here & understandable. It’s his things work. But the Kingdom of God is paradoxical – almost self-contradictory. With the God’s Kingdom, you must become less to be more.

““But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Matthew 23:8-12 NIV

If you want to work for God – you must serve. Humility is the currency of God’s Kingdom. Be careful about making it about you – because God will always outshine you.

Serve God & serve others. The more we do that, the greater God’s Kingdom becomes.

I ask you to join with me to commit to being more humble & genuine in your walk. I know this is an area I always need work & I would love for you to join me.

Let’s build God’s Kingdom & bring glory to His name!!

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Persistence

Did you grow up with a weird last name?  I did – and I still have it.  Gaigalas…it’s one of those last names that make people nervous to say.  Ha!  It’s Lithuanian – which I am 1/4th.  Lithuania is a small Eastern European country by Latvia and Poland near the Baltic Sea.  With its beautiful countryside and amazing architecture – it is also a country known for its resilience.

One of the greatest stories of resilience is the Hill of Crosses in the town of Šiauliai.  It began in the mid-1800’s when the Lithuanian people rose up against the Russian Czar’s regime and, as a result, many of their families remains were not able to be buried.  So, instead of a traditional burial, they placed crosses to honor them.  It was a show of defiance against oppression.  Thus began the hill of crosses.  It was a place where the Lithuanian people could pray, reflect, and find hope.

In the 1940s – the country, which had been independent for some years – were overtaken by the Soviet Union.  In a communist regime – any form of religion is forbidden therefore, the Hill of Crosses was a prohibited site.  As a stubborn and persevering people, they were not going to allow the KGB to stop their efforts of building the Hill of Crosses.  Through the course of the 30+ year oppression – there were Soviet soldiers stationed around the hill, the new crosses and figures removed, and the Soviet soldiers bulldozed the hill a few times.  None of this deterred the Lithuanian people from continuing to build this hill.  In 1991 – Lithuania became a free nation – no longer under communistic rule.  At that time, the Hill of Crosses was no longer under threat of destruction and it started to grow (and overflow!).  They estimate that the number of crosses, Christian figurines and other religious relics on the hill is 200,000!

I look at this story and think about how we, as the Body of Christ, must be as resilient as Lithuanians were when we get knocked down or our dreams get “bulldozed”.  The world is becoming a place that is hostile to what Christianity teaches.  I just read that the government of China tore down a Christian Mega Church this week.  ISIS is killing Christians.  Even in America, we are finding it harder to express ourselves without opposition.  The world is becoming a hostile place to worship Jesus freely.

If we want overflow, we must persevere even in this hostile climate.  The Enemy will do everything he can to take us down, make us believe we cannot do something, or that we are not worthy of something.  If we can continue to be persistent and build our own hill of crosses – how great a tribute would that be to Jesus?  Sharing Him with others, speaking truth in love when it is no longer “politically correct”, or even worshiping freely for our international brothers and sisters – how much would that shake the world around us?  How much do you want the overflow?  Are you willing to continue to fight when you are under siege?  God works everything out for our good, y’all.  Keep pushing and don’t let the enemy keep you down.  Our victory is just around the corner!

Romans 8:28 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.

Galatians 6:9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

 

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The Answer

If you are anything like me, then you carry a lot of weight on your shoulders. Not physical weight, but symbolic weight.  You feel like you have to solve every problem and make everything right; you have to make sure everyone is pleased with what you do and if you don’t do any of these things – you are a failure.  These are things we feel like we can control…oh, but we can’t.  Nope, we aren’t that powerful.

If you are a control freak like me, then you must admit that there are things out of reach for you to change and that you cannot make everyone happy.  It’s so hard sometimes to deal with that, but it is life.  We MUST put our trust in God.  We MUST allow God to fight those battles.  And we MUST not allow ourselves to carry burdens we were never meant to carry.

As I have confessed above, this is me most days.  So when I say that having this problem is in connection with a BIG pride issue we MUST face (and repent from) – I am speaking to myself also.  Pride will destroy us if we allow it, even when we mask it by telling ourselves we are helping others.  We will not be able to solve all problems and we will not be able to be the superhero to every story.  That is Jesus’ job.

The book of James is my favorite…it really is.  I love how direct he is and doesn’t sugar coat things.  It’s awesome.  James 4:6 says “But he gives more grace.  Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’”  Dear fellow control freaks – when we get into a spiral where we feel like a constant failure, maybe it’s time to humble ourselves before God and admit that we took too much on.  Repent of the sin of not fully trusting God and let His grace wash over us.  It’s a soothing thing to let that grace wash over our “pride” wounds we gave ourselves.

Jesus is always the answer – we are not.  People that don’t know Him need someone to show them what is the answer.  We need to always point to Him in everything we do.  I know that many of us mean good when we try to constantly make things better for everyone around us and solve everyone’s problem, but that isn’t our job.  Our job is to love – God and people (Mark 12:29-31).  That is it.  If we do this without getting in the way of God doing His work, then we are successful.  And, when we fail to do this – because we will – if we go to God in repentance, then we are successful also.

The greatest way to fix this problem is to dwell with God.  If we stop 1) reading scripture, 2) worshiping Him, and/or 3) healing wise counsel/preaching/teaching – then we can get into a spot where we feel we need to take on more than we need to.  God is our refuge and strength and He is always the answer!

Psalm 46:

God is a safe place to hide,
ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
the tremors that shift mountains.

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city,
this sacred haunt of the Most High.
God lives here, the streets are safe,
God at your service from crack of dawn.
Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten,
but Earth does anything he says.

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
breaks all the weapons across his knee.
“Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
loving look at me, your High God,
above politics, above everything.”

 Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

 

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