God-sized Vision

The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. (Genesis 13:14-16 NIV84)
You may know that Abram (Abraham) became "The Father of Many Nations" even though he and his wife were old. God worked it out His way & His timing. Is it just me, or does anyone else sense God doing a mighty work in our generation? People of all ages are turning their hearts to the Lord & taking drastic measures to protect their children/grandchildren from being sucked in by this world & it's empty promises. Listen to God's voice because He may be telling you to look at where you are & show you where you are going (how He's going to use you if you're willing)... Takes steps today toward that vision!!

Want a Peaceful Lifestyle?

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7 NLT)

It is our job to develop a more peaceful lifestyle, so that when life becomes challenging, we can hear God's voice & sense His peace.

Here are some steps to take:
1. Choose the way you spend your time wisely. Schedule your time so that you are not rushing around.
Joyce Meyer says, "Hurrying is the flesh trying to do more than the Holy Spirit is leading you to do"

2. Get good at saying, "No." You know what your priorities are and how your calendar looks. Make a habit of putting your answer off until you can think things through.

3. Avoid procrastination! This is a joy and peace killer. Practice the self-discipline God speaks about to do what needs to be done, so you can rest when it's time to rest.

4. Eliminate distractions, interruptions or too much noise in your home. I cannot handle the TV being on when my kids are running around playing. Set up windows of uninterrupted office time (get a babysitter if you must). Set healthy boundaries!

5. Schedule in breaks for yourself to re-energize. Do something you enjoy doing: read, sit outside, play a game with kids, drink tea, listen to music.

6. Be flexible and make adjustments along the way to save time & trouble. Ask God for inspiration and wisdom in this. Using paper plates when you won't have time to do dishes is one example. One of my favorites is streamlining errands (I'm going to be out anyway - I'll stop by the store).

7. Pray & Listen. God desires for you to do what you can to create a peaceful home & life. Ask Him for wisdom & guidance. Then do what He says!

Meditate!!

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:2, 3 NIV84)

I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11 NIV84)

I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways. (Psalm 119:15 NIV84)

Whether you read or truly meditate on God's Word will make a difference in your thoughts & in your life. The more you think about Jesus & what He taught, the more you will be like him. Then you will be better able to identify sin, beat temptation, and think more positively, so that you can win victories over addiction, idolatry, doubt, fear, shame, and anything else the enemy uses to prevent you from living God's best!! It really is that easy!!

Little Irritations

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5, 6 NIV84)

I have no problem trusting God with the big stuff; it's the little things that really get to me...in my heart I know God is giving me a chance to learn patience, trust, & humility. Why do we feel we are entitled to have everything go our way or to have everything just perfect? I want to get to the point of saying, "Not my will, but yours." I want to move past the minor irritations and rest peacefully knowing I'm not in control!

His Perfect Plan

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6 NIV84)"

I love this verse! Here's the truth:
1. God finishes what He starts
2. If you are redeemed, He began a good work in you - His perfect plan!
3. We will not be complete until the other side of heaven or Christ's return
Paul has written this to encourage a church plant in Philippi. It is in the scriptures to encourage you! A perfect plan from God's perspective looks very different than our perfect plan. Trust God to mold you (sometimes through adversity & trials) into His masterpiece!

Half Empty or Half Full?

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. (Philippians 4:8 NLT)

Is your glass half-empty or half-full? Do you focus on the blessings of your life or the things you wish you had? Your heart & mind steer your body & what most people don't know is that they can take control of their thoughts. 2 Cor 10:5 says "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." "Negative thoughts are fuel for discouragement, depression, and many other unpleasant emotions"(Meyer). We must believe the best about ourselves & others & focus on truth in every tough circumstance we find ourselves in:

1. God is in control
2. God has a plan for my life
3. I am fearfully & wonderfully made
4. God works for my good
5. We all fall short
6. Give grace & grace will be given

The list of truths go on & on!!
None of us are entitled a happy, easy life!! We are to pursue a holy, God-seeking life!! Becoming more like Christ is a molding and shaping that is quite painful at times. It's death to our ways & our thoughts and a spiritual birth to God's ways and His thoughts. It doesn't happen overnight!!

If your glass is half-empty, maybe you don't realize that a half-empty glass is better than no glass or water at all!!

O' Be Careful Little Eyes What You See

The Amplified version of Psalm 1:1 says: BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. (Psalm 1:1 AMP)

In short, stay away from sin and anyone or anything that can cause you to sin against God!!

This is not easy to do in a society with such high moral decline.

Remember the children's Bible song, "be careful little eyes what you see....". The song goes on to tell us to be careful what you hear, what you do, where you go, and what you say. Put another way, we cannot underestimate the power our senses have on our moral character!!

A well known quote offers this warning: 'Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.'

God loves you and wants to bless your life, but He can't live where there's corruption and immorality - clean up your input, influences, and your choices and expect God's blessing as a reward!!

Blessing & Favor

The LORD makes some poor and others rich; he brings some down and lifts others up. (1 Samuel 2:7 NLT)

God lifted Esther up out of obscurity to save a nation - God's supernatural blessing & favor was on her every step of the way. She was confident, obedient, & hopeful. Things would have gone drastically different had she veered from God's plan... changing the course of history as we know it! Do you want God's favor & blessing on your life? OBEY GOD which always means stepping outside your comfort zone, going against what you "feel" like doing sometimes, and even enduring extended periods of trial or waiting which are equally difficult, right?

What you don't want is for God to remove His favor & blessing and leave you to your own devices. A life without the Lord is a life not worth living! It's a life in vain!

Live with purpose! If you belong to God, you've been chosen & you know who you are!! It is your job to show the lost world a different way!!

Breach the Dam

Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. (Proverbs 17:14 NIV84)
3 things that will cause strife in your life: wrong words @ the wrong time, pride which says we must have the last word, & convincing others of our opinions. "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45). If you have strife, pray for a heart that says, "I don't need to be heard or right all the time". Arguments rarely lead to an agreement. The enemy uses them to put wedges in our relationships. Even if the other person is wrong, you standing your ground rarely leads to a God-glorifying end.

Here are 3 constructive ways to solve conflict/strife:

1). Tell the person you care for them too much to argue with them. Plan to discuss it in a constructive way at a later time when emotions are not heated.

2) Simply agree to disagree and don't bring it up anymore.

3. Practice humility which says, " I'm not always right or have the right motives". You can still share and stand on the truth without fighting for your rights.

It is impossible to have a conflict-free life!! But you can continue to please the Lord in your conflict by choosing the right words, attitudes, actions, & reactions. Remember that only God has to know who is right and that He ultimately is the judge of people's hearts. So, zip your lips & breach that dam!!

Stop Blaming Your Past!

Hebrews 4:13... "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Facing the truth about yourself is scary yet essential in your journey with the Lord. We are living in a broken world with broken people and everyone around us has been hurt, abused, or let down sometime in their past....some more than others.

But God is well aware of your pain and your past!! However, His Word tells us that we are still accountable for our own actions/reactions. If you are "In Christ", you are responsible and accountable for every word, thought, or action, no matter what has been done to you!!

We must all start taking responsibility for our actions and stop blaming our past or other people for the way we act. Use the power of God's Word to transform you into being the best you can be for God's glory!!

Stop Tormenting Yourself!

"and everything that does not come from faith is sin."(Romans 14:23 NIV84)

Have you ever thought about the fact that worry is sin? Worry is an action that is caused from a lack of faith and according to the scripture above everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Worry even has a "dark" denotation.
Worry is defined, "to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret". Why would we want to "torment" ourselves or suffer when we have a loving God who already knows about tomorrow & is working everything out for good (maybe not the way you planned).

John MacArthur says that "Worry is the sin of distrusting the promise and providence of God, and yet it is a sin that most Christians commit perhaps more frequently than any other."

Do not confuse worry with a legitimate concern...

Worry focuses on the problem Concern focuses on the solution
Worry is generalized Concern is specific
Worry causes more problems Concern solves problems
Worry is often unfounded Concern involves a legitimate problem or challenge

If you dig to the root of worry, many times you will find selfishness. We desire for things to turn out the way we think is best which usually involves no waiting, difficulty, pain, or suffering. If we simply focus on His will and pray, it will always work out the way it's supposed to!!

I found dozens of quotes about worry from all kinds of people and they all say similar things.

"Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere." (Glen Turner)

I love this one:
"For a peace of mind, resign as general manager of the universe" (Author unknown)

God created the universe and does a much better job at running it than us!!
He's everywhere at all times - we cannot fathom his realm of time & space!
He never sleeps and has your circumstances all under control!!
So, stop tormenting yourself over something that hasn't even happened!! It's a waste of precious time, energy & robs you of peace and joy. Live in the center of God's will (the only safe place to be) and stop worrying!!

Frustrated? Let God be God

When troubles ganged up on me, a mob of sins past counting, I was so swamped by guilt I couldn't see my way clear. More guilt in my heart than hair on my head, so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out. (Psalm 40:12 MSG)

I read this Psalm from David in the message. It has a powerful message of God's provision and grace and our patience.

Don't let the only time you ask God for help be when you deserve it. When God helps at those times, we attribute God's help with our good works instead of on God's grace and mercy.

Joyce Meyer says, "when you feel frustrated , it is because you are living by your own effort." Wow! God is speaking directly to me. I'm convicted! I struggle with frustrations and need to let God be God during these times. Many times, there is nothing I can do to help the situation anyway.

Frustration is "a feeling of dissatisfaction, often accompanied by anxiety or depression, resulting from unfulfilled needs or unresolved problems." It comes from frustra meaning "in vain". Another Wow!

I guess there's no such thing as "godly frustration", is there? I even get frustrated when people are clearly disobeying God (including myself) or when my kids don't fear God enough to discontinue their mean comments toward each other.

Since I don't want to frustrate God's work in my life and in others, I need to heed God's Word and accept God's help in this area, extend grace, and remember that God can and will fulfill all my needs as well as others'.

Victory in Suffering

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2 NIV84)

God is not glorified through our suffering; He is glorified by the right attitude during our suffering. How do you have a right attitude? Look to heaven and know that God has a purpose in it specifically for you. This life on earth is not all there is.... Thank you Jesus!!

Why do we remain bitter, angry, wounded and depressed? Perhaps it's because our focus is inward, downward, and backward. We need to focus outward, upward, and forward to achieve the victory which is God's will!!

Suffering is any pain or distress. So, for many, this is part of everyday life. We have so many opportunities to obtain victory through the way we choose to think about our circumstances as we enter, travel through, and finish!! I want to finish well, don't you?

We have the freedom to live a victim-free mentality!! So drop the "woe is me" and choose the "Great is thee" and be set free!!

Pain to Passion

These words were taken from Isaiah 61:1-3:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to...
1. bind up the brokenhearted,
2. to proclaim freedom for the captives 3. release from darkness for the prisoners,
4. to comfort all who mourn,
5. and provide for those who grieve
6. to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
7. the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and
8. a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV84)

What a beautiful display of God's healing power!! He not only wants to heal physically & spiritually, but also emotionally. The human race is so broken in this world with abuse, abandonment, betrayal, disappointment, judgement, criticism, and the list goes on. Jesus wants to heal ALL your wounds and restore your joy!! That's good news!!

My pastor once said, "Turn your pain into passion" and do something great for God's kingdom!! That has stuck with me ever since because I was currently traveling down a painful road.

Here are few real life examples of people turning pain into passion:

1) A 24 year old, adopted at 10 from an an abusive @ neglectful home, spends her days loving on children & giving them what she didn't have.

2) A wife & mother of 2 boys uses her pain from a teenage abortion to save babies' lives everyday at a women's pregnancy center.

3) A mother of 4 serves with single moms, in a faith-based support group, who want to better their lives after her sister cut ties, moved out & back into her old lifestyle.

There are many examples, even in Hollywood, of people using their pain to help others. Could you be added to this list? God wants to do just that!!

So take off your garment of despair, mourning, and darkness, and put on gladness, beauty, praise, and God's light!!

Heart and Mouth

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." (James 1:26 NIV84)

"...For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45 NIV84)

"I give to the poor, go to church, and pray to God." You do all these "religious" things, yet the overflow of your heart (your mouth) speaks disrespect, dissension, negativity, and judgement? James is saying your religion is worthless!! In other words, your mouth can ruin your witness to the outside world and defile your God-honoring spiritual activities.

Cleaning up up your mouth equates to cleaning up your heart. Make 2012 the year for a "heart revival"!!

A friend gave me this Revival Prayer List...ask yourself those questions, confess your sins, and experience personal revival!!

http://www.basicministries.dreamhosters.com/Revival_Prayer_List_revised.pdf

The Bible also says to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV84). In other words: Think like Jesus and focus on truth! To do that, you must know Him. To know Him, you must read His Word & spend time in prayer with Him. It really is that simple...

Don't let yourself be deceived Christian... Cleaning up your heart will inevitably clean up your mouth...cleaning up your mouth will allow others to see Christ in you like never before!!

No Excuse for Ignorance

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV84)

The Israelites were learning a tough lesson on trust and obedience in their journey to the Promised Land. They were put to the test and failed over and over. I would like to think I would have done things differently. The truth is...most would have followed the crowds in complete ignorance. We have no excuse today for ignorance!!

We have a Bible... In fact, lots of them!! We even know what happens in the Bible...or at least, the traditional Bible stories from childhood....Adam & Eve, Noah's Ark, or Jonah and the Big Fish!!

How many pages of scripture does it take to convince us that God is serious about love, sin, forgiveness, trust, and obedience?

Look around... Could we not plug our own names or other's names, change the scenery a bit, and write the same basic stories of sin & disobedience and their consequences? How about stories of forgiveness, redemption, restoration, deliverance, and changed lives? The Bible has it all and it all still applies today!!

I find it so interesting that Jesus quotes the opening scripture when he was being tempted to turn a stone into a loaf of bread during a 40 day fast in the desert. Even the Son of God uses the truth found in scripture to battle the enemy!!!

Between the Rains

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. (James 5:7 NIV84)

The title is taken from a lesson out of the new Beth Moore James Bible Study. James is speaking to the people about patiently waiting on the Lord and providing them an analogy to further his point. This applies not only to waiting on rain for the harvest or waiting for Christ to return, but also to the time between the Lord's outpouring in our lives.

There are seasons this side of heaven when God's presence is so vibrant and real and seasons when we doubt He's even there. Let me tell you- He is still there!! It is during those "dry" times (between the rains) when our faith is being tested the most. We might think God has moved on, when actually He has moved under (Moore).

I can personally tell you that my family has experienced almost an entire year of a "dry" season after our relocation to Virginia away from family, church family, friends, and serving. I see God's hand and blessing all over this past year though!! We've remained faithful, expectant, and patient and are seeing the cloud on the horizon. This new year has brought a new church campus location (tech issues @ the original), serving opportunities, the next step in fulfilling my dreams of becoming a professional organizer, plans for a Mercy Mall location.... the clouds are rolling in... Let me go grab my umbrella ....there's going to be lots of rain in 2012!!

Break Free from Your Stuff

Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. (James 5:3 NIV)

You have lived on earth in luxury and self‑indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. (James 5:5 NIV84)

You will find these verses under "Warning to Rich Oppressors" in the NIV, but it's called "Destroying Your Life from Within" in the Message translation. The Bible is very clear about how material wealth/money can create a wedge between us and God. In the Beth Moore James Study, she shares a phrase that ancient Latin moralists used: "amor sceleratus habendi, which means "the accursed love of getting."

Accursed means under a curse, doomed, or ill-fated which is fitting considering that a "love of getting" leads to addictions including hoarding and shopping. This can lead to unmanageable debt, failed marriages and relationships, and the list goes on.

We can't take our "stuff" with us!
There is no true security in "stuff"!
Too much "stuff" is difficult to manage!
Someone could be using the "stuff" we're hoarding.
"Stuff can quickly become an idol"

Hoarding and Self-Indulgence can begin with a heart of fear, lack of security, and the wrong perspective. Pray for a "giving" heart and let God be your Everything!!

Stand Firm!!!

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV84)

Stand firm!! Don't let this world and all it's philosophies sway you!! Don't let your difficult circumstances cause you to question God! Don't give in to the least bit of temptation! Forgive & move on!

Henry Blackaby gives a great explanation of God's work. He explains that God is working all around you; you must join Him in his work. You know He is working when lives are being changed! Don't sit in your "Christian bubble" and expect to be used by God! Plant and water seeds of faith simply by seeing every conversation, question about God, opportunity to serve, request for prayer, and solicited opinions as a chance to do God's work - He's working all around you! Join Him! It WILL NOT be in vain!!

Love IS (based on 1 Cor 13:5)

"It is not rude, it is not self‑seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Corinthians 13:5 NIV84)"

Changing the definition to what love IS based on this passage...
Love is courteous in behavior & speech, selfless, generous, and devoted to the welfare of others.
Love is self-controlled and calm in all situations, and it is forgiving and willing to move gracefully into the future for God's glory.

Since "God is love" (1John 4:8), when you act out in love, you take on his character & being!!