Shine His light, no matter how dark it may seem. Luke 8:16
Beware of venturing off on your own. It will leave you exposed and unprotected. Remain in the place God has you even if you want to be somewhere else.
“The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.”
Proverbs 18:10 NLT
I am an independent person. When I was a baby my aunt gave my mom the book How to Raise a Strong-Willed Child. This is a true story. I was that kind of kid. I wasn’t mean, but I wanted my way & found ways to get it. This can be a good trait to have in order to survive life, but it also can be a thorn in my side.
One of the hardest things I’ve learned as a Christian is that my way is not always the best way. I must rely on God. I’ve learned that the key to relying on Him is having a rich and fruitful prayer life. Going to Him when I want to take care of something myself. It is hard for me at times, I must admit. But it is necessary.
I encourage you to try this the next time you want to take control of a situation. Spend some time on your knees talking to & listening to Him. Allow God to fight your battles and teach you how to handle situations His way. You will see change in you & in those around you.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
Philippians 4:6 NLT
“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.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
Be blessed, dear friends!
Life isn’t all great times. I wish being a Christian meant all things worked out for me every time and all the things I wanted, I got. It doesn’t work like that, though. Life with Jesus has it’s ups, downs, and surprises.
My favorite verse of the Bible is James 1:2-4:
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
Paradoxical? Yes. But that is a major theme in the Kingdom. Things aren’t as they seem.
So, when you a friendship ends, you face rejection from a position you want, you have money problems, the person you thought was “the one” walks out, or your family is acting crazier than usual – don’t get discouraged or depressed. This is quite possibly a test of your faith. You are being set up to grow.
Like a plant being pruned, we must allow God to set us up to bloom. That may be painful, but it will be worth it in the end. Let your endurance grow so you can finish this race.
Be blessed, my friends. God has a plan & a purpose for you!
Definition of endurance: the ability to do something difficult for a long time
I wish I could tell you I am always good and never make a mistake. I wish. Reality is that I fail daily. Yep, daily. It’s terrible. No matter how good I am, there is always some bad in me.
Part of being human is understanding the bad parts of ourselves. Understanding that we will fail. No matter how hard I try to deny that I do bad things (which I do too often), I will always have to eventually admit that there are parts of me that are awful.
Don’t get me wrong, this blog isn’t all about how awful we can be. There are parts of me (and parts of you) that are amazing. There are attributes to us that God put in us – that God loves about us, that make us incredible creatures. We are God’s precious creation, one He is proud of.
But if we do not admit to ourselves and be brutally honest to ourselves and to God how awful we can be, then we cannot accomplish what we need to accomplish in this life. If we allow these sins, discretions, or mishaps to go on without working on them/correcting them – it can actually derail us. I don’t want to walk through life allowing pride to defeat me. What about you?
How do you and I defeat this foe called us? We use humility. We go to God and ask Him to not only forgive us, but to help us turn from our awful ways to become better people. If we live our lives on a culture of humility, very few things can get is down.
Paradoxical? Wouldn’t it be better if we were our own constant cheerleaders no matter what we do? In the world, maybe. But in the Kingdom, putting others first and allowing yourself to learn from your mistakes so you can grow is vital.
Don’t let your failures and sins get you so down you can’t get up. But don’t allow yourself to take those mistakes so lightly that you decide not to acknowledge them. Repentance and humility are the best road!
“The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”
Psalms 51:17 NLT
Be blessed, dear readers!
Remember that our lives are eternal and our God has it all worked out. Never allow your temporary circumstances to cause you to be in despair about your long term future.
I must confess something to you, readers: I’m not that physically strong. My upper body strength is almost non-existent. Once at the gym, I saw a barbell with no extra weights on it (about 35 pounds by itself) and almost didn’t get it past my chest. My legs are a little stronger, but not by much. It’s sad and I am working on correcting it. Haha!
But in seriousness, strength is a genuine necessity in this life. Yes, physical strength is important, but so is emotional, mental, and spiritual. If we lived our lives without strength, then we wouldn’t live very long.
When life gets tough, that strength is what helps us continue on this journey of life. Whether it is a physical illness, a relationship gone wrong, or financial instability – where and in whom your strength comes from determines how well you will weather the storm.
Proverbs 18:10 says: “The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.” When we put our trust in the unmovable God who created us, we know that we will make it out okay.
All too often, though, we are like the disciples in Mark 4:38-39. We doubt that God sees our situation or even cares. So we panic and cry out in despair. But quickly, as Jesus awoke and calmed the storm, they realized that He knew that they would be okay all along. (Mark 4:40-41)
“Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!””
Place your trust in the unmovable, unconditionally loving God who has your best interest at heart. Remember that God sees the whole picture and not just what you see. Run to Him in times of trouble and you will be safe.
Blessings to you dear reader. Remember where your help comes from!
I don’t live in the country, but the great thing about Texas is the country is always about 20 minutes away. When I get the chance to go outside the busy city and venture off to a slower part of the State, there are these wide space of just grass and farm. At night, there are amazing stars shining bright in the sky.
All of this is so beautiful, but it also reminds me of how truly small I am. Makes me wonder if, in fact, I can be used by the God of the Universe. Can I even make a dent in this world? We may be small, but we serve a big God.
The Bible is filled with individuals who partnered with God to change the world. Individuals who were just as small as we are. Moses, Abraham, Job, Peter, and John to name a few. But their faith in God helped Him guide them to their destiny to greatness.
Let’s look at a young man who was sent on a mission to find his father’s lost donkeys and found Kingship instead:
“Just then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked, “Can you please tell me where the seer’s house is?” “I am the seer!” Samuel replied. “Go up to the place of worship ahead of me. We will eat there together, and in the morning I’ll tell you what you want to know and send you on your way. And don’t worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.” Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?””
1 Samuel 9:18-21 NLT (emphasis added)
Israel had been run by Judges, but the people wanted a King, so God gave them what they wanted. Israel’s first king was a nobody that became a somebody in a matter of moments. God can do that.
Do you ever feel small like I do sometimes? Do you ever wonder if you can be used? Know that God sees you and knows you. He hasn’t forgotten you.
I encourage you to be faithful in something. Remember that Saul was found doing a service for his father. Go out and do something for someone who cannot do for you. I leave you with this scripture:
“Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.””
Luke 14:12-14 NLT
Be blessed, dear readers.
Have you ever messed up? I mean really did something stupid? I think we all can say yes to that for at least one moment in our lives. We all know the feeling of being awakened to the reality of our humanity.
I can remember driving one day and as the light turned green and we all started to move forward -I looked down for a split second and BANG! I totaled my car because the car in front of me slammed on their brakes & I didn’t see it. That was such a stupid mistake! I felt that horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that we all get when we do those kinds of irresponsible things.
There is a guy named Samson who I am sure knows what that “pit-in-your-stomach” feeling is all too well. In chapter 16 of the book of Judges, we see how Samson meets Delilah and falls in love. After lying to her about what makes him so strong three times, he finally tells her the truth. This is after her repeated attempt to take away his strength and send him off as the Philistines’ prisoner.
The moment his hair is cut, God leaves him and takes the mighty strength with Him. How awful is that? I don’t want to ever know that feeling. When his strength is gone, the Philistines gorge his eyes out and send him to grind grain in prison. This was one of those really stupid, irreversabke things, right? Wrong.
Judges 16:22 says: “But before long his hair began to grow back.” Samson prayed for his strength back and God honored the humility in that prayer and gave Samson back what he had lost. In that gift of grace, Samson killed more Philistines (Israel’s enemy) than ever before.
When we do something wrong, even when it is really wrong, we cannot say that we can never be as good as we once were. Yes, we have to deal with the consequences of our actions, but God honors those who humble themselves. Our God – Jesus Christ – understands what it is like to overcome adversity. He overcame the world’s adversity on the cross.
Never disqualify yourself just because you messed up. Take a note from Samson’s life: even when you mess up majorly, your life can still have meaning. Just humble yourself and go to God. Great things happen when we do that.
Be blessed, dear friends. No one can go too far for the love of our father to reach!
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
Psalm 139:7-10 NIV
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace and your unconditional love! Thank you for loving me even when I sin. Help me, Lord, understand and overcome any adversity I’ve allowed in my life. I humbly come before you because I cannot overcome it by myself. I don’t want the mistakes of my past to define my future. I thank you for giving your Son as a sacrifice so that I may live in this amazing grace. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
After all three steps:
(1) Humble yourself before God
(2) Kill the lies of the past and
(3) See yourself through the Father’s eyes
there is only one thing left to do. Walk boldly in who God made you to be. Step into the future with fervor. Don’t back down. Don’t look back.
I’ll leave you with a few scriptures to ponder. My prayer is that we all, including myself, truly understand why we are here and how much God honestly loves each of us. Be blessed friends!
“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT
“The LORD will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.”
Psalms 138:8 NLT
“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 2:10 NLT
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””
Matthew 28:19-20 NLT
After we humble ourselves and admit our worst faults to God (alimg with asking Him for forgiveness) & killing the lies that we have heard either from others, society and even ourselves – it is time to start seeing who we are in Christ.
I used to be baffled at the notion that I could have a significance in the Kingdom. I had no idea how much purpose I had inside me. Purpose the Father designed for me when in my mother’s belly. You, dear reader, have great purpose as well- designed just for you. You were created with a plan, a reason, and for this time. You are not a mistake.
I challenge you, dear reader, some time this week or even tonight to stand in front of a mirror, look yourself in the eyes, and ask God – the creator of the universe – how He sees you. Ask Him what qualities does He love and, if you’re brave, what qualities He doesn’t. Ask Him to reveal what your true purpose on this Earth is. Ask Him to show you who you truly are. And then, you wait for His response. I am sure that you will be surprised and I am sure there will be some chains falling. Because most of us do not know who we truly are.
Our Father loves us. There is no doubt. Let’s see what He says about those who call themselves Children of God:
“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” ) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”
Romans 8:35-37 NLT
“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”
John 15:16 NLT
“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9 NLT
Let the truth of who you are in Him rest in your heart and mind. Once you understand whose you are- the lies the enemy tells us are harder to believe.
Be blessed, friends. Remember whose you are!!
Prayer: Lord, there are times I have so much doubt about who I am and why I am here on Earth. Help me understand who I am in You and how you see me. In understanding my true self, help me walk out the calling on my life to fulfill the purpose placed inside me. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Boldly Radiant 