Tag: peace

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Trust Issues

I love people. I love how each person is unique in their way.  We all see the world differently.  Sitting with someone who isn’t in the same culture, the same age, race, or gender as you and listening to how they see the world will open your eyes to things you’ve never thought of.  God has truly engineered us to be unique and be a masterpiece.  He made us all amazing creatures.

With that said, putting people in the same place as God in your life will cause great pain. We cannot rely on people to always be there or to always have our back.  We cannot put them in a place that, if they disappoint us, our world turns upside down.  No, people cannot be held to that standard.  The people I love will disappoint me and hurt me at some point.  And, in turn, I will disappoint and hurt them as well.  This is part of living in a world that has sin in it.

We must learn to rely on God first and put our full trust in God. He will never fail us.  When we do this, when we rely on God to be the perfect one in our life and not our loved ones, we can live a satisfying life.  When we don’t expect perfection from others, but love them for who they are, flaws and all, we not only have healthy relationships, but we also show them true, perfect love.

I encourage you to evaluate how you view the people in your life and how allow yourself to expect perfection from them. Know that sometimes people will let you down.  Give them the grace you want to see when, inevitably, you will let them down too.  Only put God on the pedestal of perfection.  He is the only one who will always be there and will truly never fail us.

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8

Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. Joshua 21:45

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

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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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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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Did Jesus love Judas?

In a ministry I am a part of, our ministry leader has asked us to take a look at the disciples of Jesus and look at the grace He showed each of them.  Below is what I have studied on and found in this journey.

There were 12 disciples -ALL Jesus chose. They weren’t a mistake and chosen for a reason. He knew the hearts of those who he chose and how they would decide to live their life.  Not one of them was perfect, but one has always been thought of as despicable – Judas Iscariot.

The man who betrayed Jesus. The one who sent Jesus to the cross. How awful was he? My question for you is – did Christ die for everyone BUT Judas? Was Judas’ sin too great to be covered by the blood?

Answer: NO! Jesus knew he had to die. Someone had to betray him. Reality is that Jesus was born to die. If Jesus decided to give up His purpose, he could have called the Angels down and the Cross would have had to be for someone else. But He didn’t. God used Judas’ sin for the good of the world. Jesus believed in Judas’ potential or He wouldn’t have chosen him and ministered with him. Just because Judas decided to make a horrible, awful mistake didn’t mean God still didn’t want him.

Every time we sin we decide that God’s law, provision, demands are not important and therefore, we are Judas. We sell our God to walk in greed. Yet, Christ chose us. Jesus doesn’t turn our back on us. He died for us!!

Think about this – if Judas hadn’t hung himself, but came to Jesus after He had risen to repent, would Judas been redeemed & restored?  I, personally, think so. Jesus chose Judas for a reason.

Remember this: Jesus chose YOU for a reason. No matter what you have done, you are not too far gone for the love of God to reach you. Don’t give up. Jesus atoned for your death 2,000 years ago. All you need is a repentant heart – go to Christ and ask Him for forgiveness.  Then watch Him turn your life around!
Never give up – always be blessed!
Much love, dear readers!
“I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:7-12‬ ‭NLT‬‬“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 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. This is my command: Love each other.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15:12-17‬ ‭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