Tag: life

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Him Before Me

God has gotten me through so much.  I would not be where I am or who I am if it were not for the Father’s unconditional love.  You would think that I would always trust God without question or fear after knowing how awesome He is, right?  But that isn’t the way the story goes.  Nope – I struggle too many times in simply believing God has it under control.

What is the deal?  I ask myself this all the time.  God spoke the world into existence and breathed life into dirt to make Adam.  But I want to trust my perception over God’s.  I think sonehow I know better than Him.  It’s laughable that I keep struggling with being able to believe that God has it.  All I got to do is just trust.

I had a moment this past week where I freaked out…thinking I knew things were going all wrong. But God kept saying – I got this!  Yet I still worried and stressed.  You know what happened?  You got it – I made it through just fine.  My perception was not reality.  

Yep, I’m not God.  It’s silly writing it, but the fact that I kept worrying after God said it was going to be okay meant that I trusted myself over the all knowing & all seeing Father.  I put myself in His position and put Him in the backseat.  If I would learn to give that up, I could live a better life.  When I realize that I don’t have the ability to make those calls – I would be able to enjoy the freedom surrender carries.

Paradoxical?  Absolutely.  Surrender = freedom.  “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Surrendering the trust you have in your own knowledge and ability to God and allowing His knowledge and ability to lead you – freedom will be yours.  I’m not saying bad things won’t happen, but when bad things do happen – you will have the tools to get through.  Because God honors those who honors Him.

 ““Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.” ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭2:30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Throw your trust in Him and stop trying to take control.  Let God handle the hard stuff.  Cling to Him and He will take you far!!

Be blessed my friends.  

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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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Small acts

Have you ever wondered who the person walking down the street, sitting next to you in church, or the coworker who you talk to on the elevator is?  Maybe you know their name – but you ever wonder who they really are?
I do…all the time. Each person is so complex. We don’t know what is truly behind that smiling face. You may never know who needs a smile, “Good morning!”, or a simple encouraging word.  
There are a lot of hurting, broken people in this world and showing the love of Christ doesn’t need to be over the top or extravagant. We can change the world one small act of kindness at a time!
Be blessed, dear readers. You are ALL world changers.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.””

‭‭John‬ ‭13:34-35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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You are…you.

Beauty.  We spend millions to look “beautiful.”  Botox, plastic surgery, make up, airbrushing, Photoshop. Yep, we have a lot of ways to spend our money on make ourselves at least think we are more beautiful.  We do this because our culture has shamed us to believe we have to look a certain way to be beautiful.

Especially women, we often find ourselves spending our free time worrying about how we look.  Granted, I will admit, grooming and a little make up makes us look a little more presentable.  But truth is, beauty is not society’s right to dictate.  Our Father, the one who created us, calles us beautiful.  Just. the. way. we. are.  Yep.  We were made beautiful.

Be proud of who you are.  If we all had the same body shape and size – it would be so boring! If we all had the same skin, hair, eye color – it would be so dull!  We are meant to be different.  We are meant to be who we are!

So start holding your head a little higher. Start to walk in more confidence.  And PLEASE, ladies and gentlemen, stop comparing yourself with others.  You are unique because without you, this world would be a little too stale.  We need you to be you.  More importantly, God needs you to be you.  He made you this way for a reason!

Be blessed, dear readers! Remember you are beautiful!

“You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way.”

‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬