Do worries and anxieties keep you from enjoying life? Do you feel like you are trapped, hopeless, and alone? Well, STOP! I do not say this lightly, because I was there. I have known what it is like to be so afraid to live, that I choose not to live life. It is not the life you were created to live.
God created you to have life and have it with peace, joy, happiness. (John 10:10) Yes there will be troubles and pain that come your way, but if you believe in the One true God you do not have to worry. (John 16:33) You have the God of the universe on your side. He is there ready to send His angels to battle for you. You are not alone! (Exodus 14:14)
For too long I dwelt in the self pity party of life. I believed the lies that told me I wasn't good enough. I believed the lies that told me that God didn't care enough about my small problems to help me. Then He woke me up to the truth. I am doing a Bible study with a couple of friends right now on fear, and it has opened my eyes. I have read the scriptures we are studying many times, but they never touched my heart before, like they have now.
Let me share just one story that changed my perspective overnight this past week. In Exodus we read of the Israelites finally being led out of Egypt. No longer will they have to be slaves. As they are leaving, they come a river too big to cross. Behind them they see the Egyptian armies chasing after them. They are not coming to have a discussion. They are coming to fight. The Israelites at that moment had a choice to make; run for their lives or fight. Right? But wait, there was another choice. It's the choice that you and I always seem to forget we have. They could stand, be obedient to God, and let Him take care of the Egyptians. God had the perfect solution to their problem.
God always has the perfect solution. If the Israelites chose one of their human ways, it would have been a blood bath. But instead God delivered them in a miraculous way. He made a way for them when it appeared there was no way. He parted the waters and let them ALL cross. Then he flooded the waters again when the Egyptians, in pursuit, attempted to cross. Amazing.
I realized my life was built on the fight or flight thought. If a problem came up I went into either or those modes quickly, without thinking, and nothing was ever solved. In fact it usually got worse and I would have to make another fight or flight decision. Running never solves your problems, you just hide from them. Fighting doesn't solve anything either, and someone usually gets hurt.
Now, I choose to ask God what He would have me to do. I stand, and I wait on Him. It has only been a little over a week and I am still learning but I have to share it has been a peaceful week and I have had some hard attacks thrown at me. I did cry and have a moment of panic but it was a small moment. I didn't run or fight. I decided to go to God with it, and He is giving me the peace to stand. The storms are still going, but I know that He will calm them in His time. He has the perfect answer. I am putting my trust in Him.
"But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out there tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!" (2 Chronicles 20:17 NLT)
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
2013: A Year Without Fear.
Looking back over 2013, I realize it was a huge year for me. All of my life I had been consumed with fear. I was afraid of everything. My fear prevented me from living life to the fullest. Fear hurt my testimony as a Christian. If my God was so big and was all I claimed He was, why then, did fear rule my life? From the outside I hid it well, but those who really knew me saw it. They experienced it too. My family suffered the most from it, and it even hindered their lives.
In 2013, I decided to stop living this way. I was no longer going to let fear rule my life. It was the most rewarding year so far, and I look forward to more years like it. I made the decision that if my God is who He says He is, that I truly do have nothing to fear. I gave over my fears to Him and I lived life. What are some things I did, you may ask?
In June I took a motorcycle class with my seventeen year old son. He was afraid to ask to try because he thought we wouldn't let him. Again my fears almost prevented us from doing this together. But, I said no to fear and we took the class. I ended up having so much fun, I now own my very own motorcycle. I ride with my husband and son. We have had so many fun adventures together and made some great friends. My next goal is coming up this weekend. I am going to ride to Tortilla Flats in AZ. For those not familiar with this area its a winding road alongside a mountain with some drops along the way.
In Christmas 2012 my husband gave me the gift I've wanted since I was a little girl. My very own horse. I have been riding since I was sixteen but always had fear in me so I never truly let go and just rode. After riding with a very good friend for several months I watched how she rode. Seeing her just let go and ride, I decided to the same. I have had some of the best rides of my life. I have truly felt connected with my horse and become a better rider because of it. My goal this year is to learn to run some barrel patterns and attend a few fun events. I don't want to win a prize. Its about overcoming fears. Not worrying about going fast, or being better than someone else. Its all about getting out there and having fun.
One of the most amazing things I did, this year happened in Sedona, AZ. A few years ago my family took a trip there. My husband drove a jeep, with all of us in it, off road on the trails there. There was one part of the trail that scared me. I actually told my husband not to go down it, but he had to because there was no way to turn around. I cried, laughed in hysterics going down this area. It's called, “the Stairs.” Well, my in-laws came out this year for my husband's birthday and the one thing he wanted to do was take them on this trail. There were too many of us to fit in one jeep so not only did I have to go again, but I would have to drive it. The old me would have said no way. The new me said I will do it, but I have to admit I did it reluctantly. Well, we get out to the trails, and it was amazing. I had the most incredible time. I not only drove all the off road trails, but I also drove down the “stairs”. At the end I put up my arms and let out a scream of happiness. It was the best feeling in the world.
There is nothing that you cannot do. I know that if I can do all this anyone can. My in-laws were so amazed at the different person I was. I can truly say that it isn't me. But my God is so BIG and so amazing that in Him I truly can do anything. I also look at it this way, if anything does happen to me I am not afraid of where I will go. I know my home is in heaven. It may seem a little weird to think like that, but it helps. Life is meant to be lived and experienced. God put so many amazing things on this earth for us to see, to do, and to try. Stop saying you can't do something, and start saying with God there is nothing I can't do. Then start living!
In 2013, I decided to stop living this way. I was no longer going to let fear rule my life. It was the most rewarding year so far, and I look forward to more years like it. I made the decision that if my God is who He says He is, that I truly do have nothing to fear. I gave over my fears to Him and I lived life. What are some things I did, you may ask?
In June I took a motorcycle class with my seventeen year old son. He was afraid to ask to try because he thought we wouldn't let him. Again my fears almost prevented us from doing this together. But, I said no to fear and we took the class. I ended up having so much fun, I now own my very own motorcycle. I ride with my husband and son. We have had so many fun adventures together and made some great friends. My next goal is coming up this weekend. I am going to ride to Tortilla Flats in AZ. For those not familiar with this area its a winding road alongside a mountain with some drops along the way.
In Christmas 2012 my husband gave me the gift I've wanted since I was a little girl. My very own horse. I have been riding since I was sixteen but always had fear in me so I never truly let go and just rode. After riding with a very good friend for several months I watched how she rode. Seeing her just let go and ride, I decided to the same. I have had some of the best rides of my life. I have truly felt connected with my horse and become a better rider because of it. My goal this year is to learn to run some barrel patterns and attend a few fun events. I don't want to win a prize. Its about overcoming fears. Not worrying about going fast, or being better than someone else. Its all about getting out there and having fun.
One of the most amazing things I did, this year happened in Sedona, AZ. A few years ago my family took a trip there. My husband drove a jeep, with all of us in it, off road on the trails there. There was one part of the trail that scared me. I actually told my husband not to go down it, but he had to because there was no way to turn around. I cried, laughed in hysterics going down this area. It's called, “the Stairs.” Well, my in-laws came out this year for my husband's birthday and the one thing he wanted to do was take them on this trail. There were too many of us to fit in one jeep so not only did I have to go again, but I would have to drive it. The old me would have said no way. The new me said I will do it, but I have to admit I did it reluctantly. Well, we get out to the trails, and it was amazing. I had the most incredible time. I not only drove all the off road trails, but I also drove down the “stairs”. At the end I put up my arms and let out a scream of happiness. It was the best feeling in the world.
There is nothing that you cannot do. I know that if I can do all this anyone can. My in-laws were so amazed at the different person I was. I can truly say that it isn't me. But my God is so BIG and so amazing that in Him I truly can do anything. I also look at it this way, if anything does happen to me I am not afraid of where I will go. I know my home is in heaven. It may seem a little weird to think like that, but it helps. Life is meant to be lived and experienced. God put so many amazing things on this earth for us to see, to do, and to try. Stop saying you can't do something, and start saying with God there is nothing I can't do. Then start living!
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Showing Courage Amidst Trials
We all go through hard times. We can see the road ahead of us but we can't get through this giant, immovable road block. I've been there and know I can easily be there again in life. Its how we handle this time that matters.
I have learned to look into the Word of God to find people who have gone through similar trials. I gain my hope, my encouragement from their stories. Instead of believing the lie that I am alone, I get filled with encouragement that lasts. By reading the Word I also receive nuggets of wisdom that I can use.
Just recently I read a story in the Bible that did all this for me. I read about the life of Jochebed. If you are like me you might not recognize the name but you know her story well. She is the mother of Moses. When Jochebed was pregnant with Moses her country was in chaos. It was not the time to give birth to a son. All the baby boys being born were ordered by the king to be killed. Jochebed though does not lose not worry when she gives birth to a son. She instead risks her life and keeps her son.
She hides the fact he's a boy as long as she can. When she can longer do this she then does an amazing thing. She places her faith and trust in God. Jochebed puts her baby boy in a basket and into the river. I have always missed one part. The river she puts him in is the same river that all the babies are being told by the king to be drowned in. She though puts her son in to give him life. What blind faith!
This story amazes me when I look at it from her perspective. Jochebed was faced with difficult decision after difficult decision. She had to make choices that would affect her life, her families life, and this baby's life. Not once though did she stop and get overwhelmed with worry. Not once did she give up and lose hope. She put her faith in the One who would not fail her and she trusted He would take care of everything.
Moses went on to become a great man. He was the one who led the Israelites through the desert into the Promised Land. Jochebed's other son Aaron became High Priest. Her daughter Miriam became a prophetess. Her legacy lived on through the lives of her children. Her faith led to great things. Though she did not raise Moses for long, she was with him for a short time. This should speak volumes to us and could be a whole other blog for another day.
We can learn so much from her life. When you face difficulties that seem to have no answers, put your trust in the One who will not fail you. Humans will fail you. People will hurt you, give you bad advice, but your God will not. If you turn over your troubles to Him, He can take care of them. He knows the best plan for your life, if only you will trust Him.
I have learned to go to Him first now. Whenever I face something I have no control over, instead of letting fear paralyze me at a roadblock, I go to my God and give it to Him. I have learned that He knows what is best. Even when my problems can't be fixed right away, I know its all in His timing. I know when I give it over to Him, He has the best outcome for me.
I want to encourage you today if you feel like you cannot move, that you are trapped in your trials, to go to God and just let go. Don't let fear paralyze you. Show courage amidst your trials. Put your trust in the one worthy of your trust. Read in Exodus 1 the story of Jochebed again and learn from her.
I have learned to look into the Word of God to find people who have gone through similar trials. I gain my hope, my encouragement from their stories. Instead of believing the lie that I am alone, I get filled with encouragement that lasts. By reading the Word I also receive nuggets of wisdom that I can use.
Just recently I read a story in the Bible that did all this for me. I read about the life of Jochebed. If you are like me you might not recognize the name but you know her story well. She is the mother of Moses. When Jochebed was pregnant with Moses her country was in chaos. It was not the time to give birth to a son. All the baby boys being born were ordered by the king to be killed. Jochebed though does not lose not worry when she gives birth to a son. She instead risks her life and keeps her son.
She hides the fact he's a boy as long as she can. When she can longer do this she then does an amazing thing. She places her faith and trust in God. Jochebed puts her baby boy in a basket and into the river. I have always missed one part. The river she puts him in is the same river that all the babies are being told by the king to be drowned in. She though puts her son in to give him life. What blind faith!
This story amazes me when I look at it from her perspective. Jochebed was faced with difficult decision after difficult decision. She had to make choices that would affect her life, her families life, and this baby's life. Not once though did she stop and get overwhelmed with worry. Not once did she give up and lose hope. She put her faith in the One who would not fail her and she trusted He would take care of everything.
Moses went on to become a great man. He was the one who led the Israelites through the desert into the Promised Land. Jochebed's other son Aaron became High Priest. Her daughter Miriam became a prophetess. Her legacy lived on through the lives of her children. Her faith led to great things. Though she did not raise Moses for long, she was with him for a short time. This should speak volumes to us and could be a whole other blog for another day.
We can learn so much from her life. When you face difficulties that seem to have no answers, put your trust in the One who will not fail you. Humans will fail you. People will hurt you, give you bad advice, but your God will not. If you turn over your troubles to Him, He can take care of them. He knows the best plan for your life, if only you will trust Him.
I have learned to go to Him first now. Whenever I face something I have no control over, instead of letting fear paralyze me at a roadblock, I go to my God and give it to Him. I have learned that He knows what is best. Even when my problems can't be fixed right away, I know its all in His timing. I know when I give it over to Him, He has the best outcome for me.
I want to encourage you today if you feel like you cannot move, that you are trapped in your trials, to go to God and just let go. Don't let fear paralyze you. Show courage amidst your trials. Put your trust in the one worthy of your trust. Read in Exodus 1 the story of Jochebed again and learn from her.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Faithful in Prayer
As I was led to study Luke 18:1 today from a sermon preached last Sunday, I finally grasped a concept.
The NIV version reads, “Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” I have read this before. I have heard it growing up in church, but today it really meant something to me.
If you attended Sunday school as a child you most likely would have learned that Jesus hears our prayers. We encourage our young ones to talk to Jesus at any time, anywhere. He is always listening and always there for us. As a child that brings us comfort. I can remember being six years old and loving Jesus so much. He was my hero. I talked about him all the time, I prayed a lot, and I felt I had a best friend in Jesus. Slowly and sadly, I forgot how I first felt at six.
Today, this passage has illuminated that for me again. Recently I prayed with a group of friends and I was led to pray,” help me to believe like I did when I was six”. This morning that prayer has been answered. I truly feel in my heart again that Jesus is my hero, best friend, and that I can talk to Him all the time. I am once again comforted by these thoughts.
By reading further into Luke 18 and reading verse 8 we see that persistent prayer is counted as faith. I never saw those words before until today. Even though I knew the Parable of the Persistent Widow and knew I should pray continually, I always felt a little guilty. I felt that I was lacking faith by not believing that God would answer my prayer the first time. That was a lie I believed. The Word tells me the truth. It tells me that I should and I need to go to God my Father in prayer always, and persevere until Jesus returns.
Also how I pray is a big part of it. I need to go to Him with a joyful heart and with hope. I need to be faithful in my prayers. (Romans 12:12). I need to have confidence that if I am asking something that is in His will, that He will answer my prayer, BUT in His time. Praying in this way makes all the difference. Your heart will be right and you will feel that God-confidence rising up in you.
My prayer for you today is that this encourages you to begin praying, begin petitioning your Father in Heaven for His will in your life, and that you never give up. If you need to, find someone you trust to pray with you and encourage each other that God is hearing your prayers, and He is taking care of all you ask.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12 NIV)
The NIV version reads, “Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” I have read this before. I have heard it growing up in church, but today it really meant something to me.
If you attended Sunday school as a child you most likely would have learned that Jesus hears our prayers. We encourage our young ones to talk to Jesus at any time, anywhere. He is always listening and always there for us. As a child that brings us comfort. I can remember being six years old and loving Jesus so much. He was my hero. I talked about him all the time, I prayed a lot, and I felt I had a best friend in Jesus. Slowly and sadly, I forgot how I first felt at six.
Today, this passage has illuminated that for me again. Recently I prayed with a group of friends and I was led to pray,” help me to believe like I did when I was six”. This morning that prayer has been answered. I truly feel in my heart again that Jesus is my hero, best friend, and that I can talk to Him all the time. I am once again comforted by these thoughts.
By reading further into Luke 18 and reading verse 8 we see that persistent prayer is counted as faith. I never saw those words before until today. Even though I knew the Parable of the Persistent Widow and knew I should pray continually, I always felt a little guilty. I felt that I was lacking faith by not believing that God would answer my prayer the first time. That was a lie I believed. The Word tells me the truth. It tells me that I should and I need to go to God my Father in prayer always, and persevere until Jesus returns.
Also how I pray is a big part of it. I need to go to Him with a joyful heart and with hope. I need to be faithful in my prayers. (Romans 12:12). I need to have confidence that if I am asking something that is in His will, that He will answer my prayer, BUT in His time. Praying in this way makes all the difference. Your heart will be right and you will feel that God-confidence rising up in you.
My prayer for you today is that this encourages you to begin praying, begin petitioning your Father in Heaven for His will in your life, and that you never give up. If you need to, find someone you trust to pray with you and encourage each other that God is hearing your prayers, and He is taking care of all you ask.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12 NIV)
Friday, November 9, 2012
This is Me.
Today this blog is unlike any other I have written. This one is more for me than anyone else, but writing brings accountability and healing. I am almost 38 years old and I have come to the realization that I have wasted so much of my time in life consumed by fear. It has ruled my entire life for so long that I know I have missed out on some great things. Today I want that to change. I do not want fear to dictate who I am anymore.
I can remember as a young girl, around the age of 9 I think, watching a scary movie about the end times. I was so consumed with fear that I kept running to the bathroom to escape the movie, but it was playing on the loudspeakers in the bathroom. I could not eat that night and I just wanted to escape, but there was no where to escape to. That movie changed me. I went from being this innocent child in love with Jesus to fearing God and how He was going to destroy the earth. I changed that day and today I am just realizing how much.
To this day I still get the chills when I think of the end of the world. It can still cause me to have an anxiety attack. I am good at hiding it. I run to the bathroom, like I did when I was little and pretend I am sick or just hide out til it passes. I know that it has caused me to keep God at arms length and I have not grown as much as I could have. I don't want that anymore. He has called me into ministry and I need to be close to Him. I need to hear His voice and feel His full presence. Fear has to leave!
Growing up, I always worried about what other people thought of me. I didn't want anyone to not like me. It bothered me to the point where I would lie or not be myself just to have the approval of my peers. I hid who I was from my family, friends, and even myself. I was afraid to admit I liked country music because it brought on ridicule. I was afraid to admit I was a believer because my friends had strong opinions on what a "christian" was, and it was not good. I hid for so long that I lost myself.
I have been married for over 18 years now and for 18 years the fear of losing my husband has consumed me. The first 5-6 years of my marriage I spent accusing my husband of cheating on me every time he left the house. I was constantly afraid of becoming the next statistic of a failed marriage. I was heavily overweight and depressed and could not pull myself out. I started going back to church and I got better. I learned not to accuse Leo every time he walked through the door. Though, the fear of losing him still lingered. What if he woke up one day and realized what I was really like? What if he decided I wasn't worth it anymore? I had my ups and downs with weight and depression. I have wasted so many of our years together consumed by fear, and I have caused my husband more frustration and pain than I ever should have. It amazes me that he is still here. He still loves me and still wants to be with me. So for him, I am finally admitting my fear and putting it out there so that I can get rid of it once and for all.
I have been so afraid that I can't lose the rest of the weight I want that I jinx myself. Instead of being positive about losing the weight, I get wrapped up in what is not happening that I get defeated. And if any of you struggle with losing weight, feeling defeated hampers any weight loss. I make bad decisions because I already feel I failed so what's one more bad decision. Fear is a powerful thing. It prevents us (me) from having success in any area of life.
There is power in acknowledging we aren't who we appear to be. There is power in being real. By admitting it out loud, I can now clearly see the damage I have caused and see the need for change. I don't want to spend another day trapped in the fear of living life. I have lost so many years already, I don't want to lose any more. I hope that you all will not think less of me, but I cannot let my fear of approval keep me from speaking up.
I love my husband and I want to spend the rest of our lives together enjoying the time we have. I love my boys and want to do all I can to see that they develop into strong men and become all they were created to be. I love my friends and family and spending time with them. I will be me from now on when I am with them. I will lose the weight I need to and will not be afraid of failure anymore. I love my Lord, and want to fully serve Him the rest of my days. This is who I am and I am no longer afraid to be me.
I can remember as a young girl, around the age of 9 I think, watching a scary movie about the end times. I was so consumed with fear that I kept running to the bathroom to escape the movie, but it was playing on the loudspeakers in the bathroom. I could not eat that night and I just wanted to escape, but there was no where to escape to. That movie changed me. I went from being this innocent child in love with Jesus to fearing God and how He was going to destroy the earth. I changed that day and today I am just realizing how much.
To this day I still get the chills when I think of the end of the world. It can still cause me to have an anxiety attack. I am good at hiding it. I run to the bathroom, like I did when I was little and pretend I am sick or just hide out til it passes. I know that it has caused me to keep God at arms length and I have not grown as much as I could have. I don't want that anymore. He has called me into ministry and I need to be close to Him. I need to hear His voice and feel His full presence. Fear has to leave!
Growing up, I always worried about what other people thought of me. I didn't want anyone to not like me. It bothered me to the point where I would lie or not be myself just to have the approval of my peers. I hid who I was from my family, friends, and even myself. I was afraid to admit I liked country music because it brought on ridicule. I was afraid to admit I was a believer because my friends had strong opinions on what a "christian" was, and it was not good. I hid for so long that I lost myself.
I have been married for over 18 years now and for 18 years the fear of losing my husband has consumed me. The first 5-6 years of my marriage I spent accusing my husband of cheating on me every time he left the house. I was constantly afraid of becoming the next statistic of a failed marriage. I was heavily overweight and depressed and could not pull myself out. I started going back to church and I got better. I learned not to accuse Leo every time he walked through the door. Though, the fear of losing him still lingered. What if he woke up one day and realized what I was really like? What if he decided I wasn't worth it anymore? I had my ups and downs with weight and depression. I have wasted so many of our years together consumed by fear, and I have caused my husband more frustration and pain than I ever should have. It amazes me that he is still here. He still loves me and still wants to be with me. So for him, I am finally admitting my fear and putting it out there so that I can get rid of it once and for all.
I have been so afraid that I can't lose the rest of the weight I want that I jinx myself. Instead of being positive about losing the weight, I get wrapped up in what is not happening that I get defeated. And if any of you struggle with losing weight, feeling defeated hampers any weight loss. I make bad decisions because I already feel I failed so what's one more bad decision. Fear is a powerful thing. It prevents us (me) from having success in any area of life.
There is power in acknowledging we aren't who we appear to be. There is power in being real. By admitting it out loud, I can now clearly see the damage I have caused and see the need for change. I don't want to spend another day trapped in the fear of living life. I have lost so many years already, I don't want to lose any more. I hope that you all will not think less of me, but I cannot let my fear of approval keep me from speaking up.
I love my husband and I want to spend the rest of our lives together enjoying the time we have. I love my boys and want to do all I can to see that they develop into strong men and become all they were created to be. I love my friends and family and spending time with them. I will be me from now on when I am with them. I will lose the weight I need to and will not be afraid of failure anymore. I love my Lord, and want to fully serve Him the rest of my days. This is who I am and I am no longer afraid to be me.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
I am. The Problem and the Solution.
I am. I never thought those two small words would have such an impact on me. But now hearing them makes me stop and think about everything I say, and do. I was listening to the radio on the way home from work and the DJ was sharing that he read about a question posed to people in the 1920’s. They were asked, “what is wrong with the world today”. One man wrote “I am” and sent it in. At the moment I cannot remember this man’s name but I will never forget how he answered that question.
I realized that it still rings true today. Do you remember as a child playing with your friends when you would point to your friend when asked who was in the wrong? Then the teacher or parent watching would always say, “Be careful, when you point at someone you have 4 fingers pointing back at you.” If we stop and think, this simple saying and the two words “I am” could change lives.
Instead of looking for who to blame problems on we could open our eyes and see that we are part of the problem. I have a very bad habit of opening my mouth and saying the first thing that comes out of it. And admittedly, a lot of the times it is unfiltered. I haven’t processed the whole thought yet, and so what comes out is wrong. I can make a judgment statement without even meaning to because of my need to say something. This can be dangerous, because I have a teenage son at home listening to what I am saying. He is listening to me. Luckily, I have a very sweet husband who will point out to me what I just said. This helps me decide if this is what I really want to say or if I need to correct it.
I think maybe we can all take our freedom of speech too far. If what we are saying hurts someone do we really need to say it? If we are opening our mouths and spreading hate wouldn't it be best to keep it to ourselves? The Bible has a lot to say about taming the tongue. In James 3 there are many descriptions on just how hard it is to control. James illustrates through word pictures that though the tongue is small it is powerful. With your tongue you can bless and you can curse. Be a blessing. We are suppose to love not hate.
And as I ponder these two words I also believe that they hold the answer to the problems of the world. If I am the problem then I Am is the Solution. God told Moses in Exodus, “I Am”. In the New Testament, Jesus speaks again those same words. “I Am”. God our Father in Heaven is the answer. He is the Healer, Redeemer, and ultimate Judge.
As the arms of Christ we can bring more hope and less despair, more love and less hate, more truth and less lies. I encourage you to examine your own heart today. See where you are the problem. Instead of pointing out where everyone else is the problem turn all those fingers back on you. I am.
I realized that it still rings true today. Do you remember as a child playing with your friends when you would point to your friend when asked who was in the wrong? Then the teacher or parent watching would always say, “Be careful, when you point at someone you have 4 fingers pointing back at you.” If we stop and think, this simple saying and the two words “I am” could change lives.
Instead of looking for who to blame problems on we could open our eyes and see that we are part of the problem. I have a very bad habit of opening my mouth and saying the first thing that comes out of it. And admittedly, a lot of the times it is unfiltered. I haven’t processed the whole thought yet, and so what comes out is wrong. I can make a judgment statement without even meaning to because of my need to say something. This can be dangerous, because I have a teenage son at home listening to what I am saying. He is listening to me. Luckily, I have a very sweet husband who will point out to me what I just said. This helps me decide if this is what I really want to say or if I need to correct it.
I think maybe we can all take our freedom of speech too far. If what we are saying hurts someone do we really need to say it? If we are opening our mouths and spreading hate wouldn't it be best to keep it to ourselves? The Bible has a lot to say about taming the tongue. In James 3 there are many descriptions on just how hard it is to control. James illustrates through word pictures that though the tongue is small it is powerful. With your tongue you can bless and you can curse. Be a blessing. We are suppose to love not hate.
And as I ponder these two words I also believe that they hold the answer to the problems of the world. If I am the problem then I Am is the Solution. God told Moses in Exodus, “I Am”. In the New Testament, Jesus speaks again those same words. “I Am”. God our Father in Heaven is the answer. He is the Healer, Redeemer, and ultimate Judge.
As the arms of Christ we can bring more hope and less despair, more love and less hate, more truth and less lies. I encourage you to examine your own heart today. See where you are the problem. Instead of pointing out where everyone else is the problem turn all those fingers back on you. I am.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Lift Up Your Voice
Why is it we have no problem giving our opinions on politics? When asked, or even when not asked, we share our thoughts on what we believe is right or wrong. We don't hesitate to share what is on our mind. But when it is really important we hide our faces and hope that no one sees that we are not speaking. Recently at our church we hosted a domestic violence community discussion night. I learned that for too long silence has been allowing the tragedy of domestic violence to go on.
Many times there are warning signs right in front of us. There are women, children, and men in trouble and sadly we only make time when something has happened. We often times end up offering condolences for a life taken before it should have been. We raise money to help the children left behind. What if we could do something before tragedy strikes?
We can. You and I can do what we are called to do and be the voice for those who cannot speak. We can invest our time in getting to know our neighbors. If we see something that looks suspicious, instead of making judgments or looking the other way because we feel it doesn't involve us, we can offer our ears to listen. We can be the shoulder to cry on. We can be the friend that offers to go with someone to get counseling.
It is not our job to fix the person or their problem. You aren't called to solve the issue, or even to give your opinion. You are called to love. You are called to be there for your family, friend, neighbor, or whoever God has put in your life. And I believe God has given us many talented, and knowledgeable people to help in these situations. There are people who have devoted their studies and lives to knowing how to help. One of the biggest ways you and I can help is to get to know the people at our local shelters.
Technology today gives us no excuse for saying, “I don't know how to help.” Just a few minutes of research can lead you to pages of information on the internet that you can share. Donate your time, money, and resources to a local shelter that assists families affected by domestic violence. There are so many jobs we can do. Help sort donations, file paperwork, use the talents we have been given to teach a class. The ways you and I can help are endless.
I urge you today, to look into your hearts and find the love for others. Be the voice for those who cannot speak. Help the scared and frightened find the empowerment they need. Be the hope for the hopeless. Love the unloved. Together you and I can help to win the fight against domestic violence.
Many times there are warning signs right in front of us. There are women, children, and men in trouble and sadly we only make time when something has happened. We often times end up offering condolences for a life taken before it should have been. We raise money to help the children left behind. What if we could do something before tragedy strikes?
We can. You and I can do what we are called to do and be the voice for those who cannot speak. We can invest our time in getting to know our neighbors. If we see something that looks suspicious, instead of making judgments or looking the other way because we feel it doesn't involve us, we can offer our ears to listen. We can be the shoulder to cry on. We can be the friend that offers to go with someone to get counseling.
It is not our job to fix the person or their problem. You aren't called to solve the issue, or even to give your opinion. You are called to love. You are called to be there for your family, friend, neighbor, or whoever God has put in your life. And I believe God has given us many talented, and knowledgeable people to help in these situations. There are people who have devoted their studies and lives to knowing how to help. One of the biggest ways you and I can help is to get to know the people at our local shelters.
Technology today gives us no excuse for saying, “I don't know how to help.” Just a few minutes of research can lead you to pages of information on the internet that you can share. Donate your time, money, and resources to a local shelter that assists families affected by domestic violence. There are so many jobs we can do. Help sort donations, file paperwork, use the talents we have been given to teach a class. The ways you and I can help are endless.
I urge you today, to look into your hearts and find the love for others. Be the voice for those who cannot speak. Help the scared and frightened find the empowerment they need. Be the hope for the hopeless. Love the unloved. Together you and I can help to win the fight against domestic violence.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Women, Be Bold!
So, this blog may not appeal to you if you are not a woman, but I hope that you will share it with a special lady who needs encouragement to get out there and be BOLD! I am often saddened and frustrated to hear that a woman does not feel she can do what God is calling her to do because of her gender. It is surprising that even today there are people trying to stifle the call of God in a woman’s life.
Nothing frustrates me more than when I hear someone quote the one verse in the Bible (in Timothy) that says a woman is not suppose to be in leadership. People don’t take time to read the entire chapter of Timothy or even the entire Bible. They choose verses that fit their belief system and use it out of context.
Ladies listen up. There are so many powerful women in the Bible. You can find a prophetess in Judges 4 named Deborah. She was appointed a judge because of her strong faith and love for the Lord. People went to her because they trusted her. Priscilla in the New Testament was a hard worker for our Lord. She taught and ministered to people all around her on daily basis.
When God calls you to a ministry, nothing should get in your way. When He touches your heart and gives you the go ahead, do not let anyone stop you. Do not believe the lies thrown at you anymore.
I have a question for those of you who say women can’t be in leadership. Why do you not also say women have to cover their heads and be silent in church as is says in Corinthians? Why do you get to decide which verse is for today and which is history? What are you so afraid of?
God uses who He wants to use, we have no authority to dictate otherwise. Do you want to be responsible for stopping God? Do you want to face Him on Judgment day and try and explain why you thought you knew better than He? I don't. I choose to follow His leading and be obedient to who He has called.
We need to be more concerned with what is being taught. Our first question should be “does it come from the Word of God?” We should not be worried if it is spoken by a man or woman. We need to study our entire Bible and understand the history behind what Paul was saying. We need to learn what behaviors were occurring that needed to be corrected at the time.
A woman can be submissive and obedient to her calling at the same time. And God will use and empower her when He wants to. Just read the Word for yourself and see it in action. Now, women I encourage and implore you, to get out there and BE BOLD!
Nothing frustrates me more than when I hear someone quote the one verse in the Bible (in Timothy) that says a woman is not suppose to be in leadership. People don’t take time to read the entire chapter of Timothy or even the entire Bible. They choose verses that fit their belief system and use it out of context.
Ladies listen up. There are so many powerful women in the Bible. You can find a prophetess in Judges 4 named Deborah. She was appointed a judge because of her strong faith and love for the Lord. People went to her because they trusted her. Priscilla in the New Testament was a hard worker for our Lord. She taught and ministered to people all around her on daily basis.
When God calls you to a ministry, nothing should get in your way. When He touches your heart and gives you the go ahead, do not let anyone stop you. Do not believe the lies thrown at you anymore.
I have a question for those of you who say women can’t be in leadership. Why do you not also say women have to cover their heads and be silent in church as is says in Corinthians? Why do you get to decide which verse is for today and which is history? What are you so afraid of?
God uses who He wants to use, we have no authority to dictate otherwise. Do you want to be responsible for stopping God? Do you want to face Him on Judgment day and try and explain why you thought you knew better than He? I don't. I choose to follow His leading and be obedient to who He has called.
We need to be more concerned with what is being taught. Our first question should be “does it come from the Word of God?” We should not be worried if it is spoken by a man or woman. We need to study our entire Bible and understand the history behind what Paul was saying. We need to learn what behaviors were occurring that needed to be corrected at the time.
A woman can be submissive and obedient to her calling at the same time. And God will use and empower her when He wants to. Just read the Word for yourself and see it in action. Now, women I encourage and implore you, to get out there and BE BOLD!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
God Doesn't Need Us, He Wants Us.
Sometimes I believe we get so caught up in believing that God needs us to do something for Him, that we fail to recognize who God is. We can get into real danger of feeling bigger than we are, and believing that we are more important than we are. We need to stop and make sure that God is in His proper place before we begin anything He has called us to.
God is all powerful, omnipotent, creator of the heavens and earth. He is everywhere and no building can contain Him. (Psalm 104, Psalm 96, Isaiah 66:1-2) He spoke through a burning bush to Moses, He flooded the earth, He gave up His own Son to save us. That is who He is.
We tend to tell ourselves that God needs us to do His work. I’m not sure that “need” is the word God would use. He desires us to do His work. He wants us to receive the blessings from serving Him. He desires to reward us. But, no He doesn’t need us.
When we start believing God needs us, we also begin to elevate ourselves higher than we ought. We make ourselves feel self-important. We start to feel worthy to be recognized. “See what God had me do.” “Oh, I must be important to Him.” WRONG! He used a donkey to talk in Numbers 22:28. He doesn’t need you or me.
If we want to work for God, we need to humble ourselves and put ourselves in the right place. We are sinners, prone to make mistakes on a daily basis. If it wasn’t for His grace and mercy we would be nothing.
We are weak. Some of us have fears that consume us. If I see a mouse, it sends to me running to the highest point and screaming at the top of my lungs. Recently a grasshopper jumped at me outside and you would have thought I was being attacked by a bear. I am a lot bigger than these things, yet I am reduced to a shrieking woman. Why? I am human. Simple but true.
Fears are in all of us, but not God. He reduces cities to dust. He has killed people for lying to His Holy Spirit. He has no fear. He can use us and give us strength when we submit to Him. When we admit who we truly are, we can become powerful in Him.
So examine your heart. Realistically face who you are. Recognize who God is. You will be able to do so much more for Him, when you partner with Him. God doesn’t need us, He wants us.
God is all powerful, omnipotent, creator of the heavens and earth. He is everywhere and no building can contain Him. (Psalm 104, Psalm 96, Isaiah 66:1-2) He spoke through a burning bush to Moses, He flooded the earth, He gave up His own Son to save us. That is who He is.
We tend to tell ourselves that God needs us to do His work. I’m not sure that “need” is the word God would use. He desires us to do His work. He wants us to receive the blessings from serving Him. He desires to reward us. But, no He doesn’t need us.
When we start believing God needs us, we also begin to elevate ourselves higher than we ought. We make ourselves feel self-important. We start to feel worthy to be recognized. “See what God had me do.” “Oh, I must be important to Him.” WRONG! He used a donkey to talk in Numbers 22:28. He doesn’t need you or me.
If we want to work for God, we need to humble ourselves and put ourselves in the right place. We are sinners, prone to make mistakes on a daily basis. If it wasn’t for His grace and mercy we would be nothing.
We are weak. Some of us have fears that consume us. If I see a mouse, it sends to me running to the highest point and screaming at the top of my lungs. Recently a grasshopper jumped at me outside and you would have thought I was being attacked by a bear. I am a lot bigger than these things, yet I am reduced to a shrieking woman. Why? I am human. Simple but true.
Fears are in all of us, but not God. He reduces cities to dust. He has killed people for lying to His Holy Spirit. He has no fear. He can use us and give us strength when we submit to Him. When we admit who we truly are, we can become powerful in Him.
So examine your heart. Realistically face who you are. Recognize who God is. You will be able to do so much more for Him, when you partner with Him. God doesn’t need us, He wants us.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Consistency Counts
When things go bad for us, who is the first person we blame? When our world falls apart where do we turn for help? Honestly, if I answered these questions a few months ago I would have to say I blamed God for the bad things in my life and I turned to friends for help. Now some of the friends I turned to were God fearing women and so they had some wise advice; but my point here is that I should have gone to God first. I have many Bibles in my house filled with the answers to life’s questions. I had access to the best Counselor 24/7. And I didn’t’ utilize Him.
Our faith cannot be based on how things are going in our life. We cannot only praise God when things are going our way. Psalms 34:1 says “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
We cannot place the blame on Him when things start to fall apart. We need to look to ourselves first. We are humans and our human nature is to gratify ourselves. We do things to make ourselves happy. Sometimes we don’t always make the best choices. Now, sometimes it is others that cause us pain. Still it is that person that hurt us, not God. We live in an imperfect world with imperfect people. We cannot expect to go through life and not get hurt.
If we want a consistent faith we need to lead a life consistently in Jesus. We cannot follow only the rules we like. Yes, following Jesus has rules. Have you taken a look at Exodus lately? There are ten very important rules in Exodus 20. We have a code to live by. Have you heard this before; love others as yourself? That didn’t’ come from some self-help author. It is straight out of the Bible, too. Mark 12:30-31, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
If we only take the time to read it we can save ourselves a lot of pain. Being a true believer is so much more than saying the sinner’s prayer. You have to live your life day after day for Jesus and follow His perfect model. Consistency counts!
Our faith cannot be based on how things are going in our life. We cannot only praise God when things are going our way. Psalms 34:1 says “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
We cannot place the blame on Him when things start to fall apart. We need to look to ourselves first. We are humans and our human nature is to gratify ourselves. We do things to make ourselves happy. Sometimes we don’t always make the best choices. Now, sometimes it is others that cause us pain. Still it is that person that hurt us, not God. We live in an imperfect world with imperfect people. We cannot expect to go through life and not get hurt.
If we want a consistent faith we need to lead a life consistently in Jesus. We cannot follow only the rules we like. Yes, following Jesus has rules. Have you taken a look at Exodus lately? There are ten very important rules in Exodus 20. We have a code to live by. Have you heard this before; love others as yourself? That didn’t’ come from some self-help author. It is straight out of the Bible, too. Mark 12:30-31, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
If we only take the time to read it we can save ourselves a lot of pain. Being a true believer is so much more than saying the sinner’s prayer. You have to live your life day after day for Jesus and follow His perfect model. Consistency counts!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
No more excuses, GO!
Often times as a believer we can wrestle with the never-ending question of “what am I called to do?” We read books written by famous authors; attend seminars hoping to glean the answer. We wait with our breaths held for the words to come. And you know what? They never do. At least they don’t come from these sources. Why is it when we have questions for God that He is the last person we go to? Why do we wait and wait for someone to tell us what to do? I cannot answer for you, but I know that for myself I have felt inadequate to search the Bible myself and find the answers. Or let’s be honest, we get a little lazy and want someone else to do the work and then just tell us what to do.
I have been taking a course on Evangelism and it has been so eye-opening. In it I am realizing the answer has been right in front of me all along. Take a look at Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. And again in Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Many other times Jesus tells us to go, preach the good news to all creation. It is repeated over and over so it must be important. Why did I never see it before? Why did I not see that as my calling? Partly I think its nerves, lack of confidence, and fear.
There is one more key piece of information that He tells us in these verses. We need to wait to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49) and then He will go before us, and He will give us the words to say. He will do the convicting and convincing. Our part is much simpler. We just need to open our mouths and share what God has done for us. Amazing isn’t it? We try to make it so much more than what it really is. If we would just go to our Father, read His word, then all these truths will be revealed to us. Study the gospels, study Acts, and commit today to seek the filling of the Holy Spirit and then GO!
I have been taking a course on Evangelism and it has been so eye-opening. In it I am realizing the answer has been right in front of me all along. Take a look at Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. And again in Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Many other times Jesus tells us to go, preach the good news to all creation. It is repeated over and over so it must be important. Why did I never see it before? Why did I not see that as my calling? Partly I think its nerves, lack of confidence, and fear.
There is one more key piece of information that He tells us in these verses. We need to wait to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49) and then He will go before us, and He will give us the words to say. He will do the convicting and convincing. Our part is much simpler. We just need to open our mouths and share what God has done for us. Amazing isn’t it? We try to make it so much more than what it really is. If we would just go to our Father, read His word, then all these truths will be revealed to us. Study the gospels, study Acts, and commit today to seek the filling of the Holy Spirit and then GO!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Be Careful Little Eyes
Most of us recognize these lyrics from the children’s song Oh, be careful little eyes what you see. It’s a catchy little tune sung for generations in Sunday school classes everywhere. We may know the words but do we really understand the meaning?
How do I look at people? How do I see them? Not just their silhouettes, but how do I really see them. Seeing people goes beyond their physical appearance. We see a mom struggling with her kids at the grocery store and more than likely the first thought we have is “why can’t she control her kids?” Maybe she is just having a really bad day. Maybe her husband just left her and now she is struggling with raising these kids on their own. We don’t know her story, yet we feel we can judge her by just a moment’s glimpse of her life.
Recently I learned about the child prostitution industry. For much of my life I had no idea it was going on right in the neighborhoods where I lived, shopped, and went out. Now that I know what is going on, I notice things. I see the ads for missing teens at my local Walmart or on the billboard signs and wonder if they are being enslaved in this industry.
I am ashamed to admit but for many years I looked at the prostitutes standing on the corner and thought badly of them. I judged them. I researched the topic as I learned about the child sex slavery industry and found that many of these teens who were trapped in this field are now the women we see on the street corners. I see these women now and I feel for them. I wonder what horrors of their life drove them to where they are now. There are so many heart wrenching stories of women who left home at a young age and needed money to survive. Then, they got addicted to drugs and life just spiraled downward. These women do not need looks of scorn from us. They need our love. They need our understanding. Some of these women are waiting for someone to rescue them. To show them they can have a better life. Instead of seeing these women as criminals, I beg you to see them as victims. Let you heart see them the way Jesus does. See them through His eyes. These women are His daughters. He loves all His children and His heart breaks for those who are mistreated. Shouldn’t our reaction be the same?
So I want to warn you to be careful how you look at people. You don’t know their story. You don’t know what is going on in their lives. Instead of looking with disdain at those around us, give everyone you meet a big smile and shine your love.
How do I look at people? How do I see them? Not just their silhouettes, but how do I really see them. Seeing people goes beyond their physical appearance. We see a mom struggling with her kids at the grocery store and more than likely the first thought we have is “why can’t she control her kids?” Maybe she is just having a really bad day. Maybe her husband just left her and now she is struggling with raising these kids on their own. We don’t know her story, yet we feel we can judge her by just a moment’s glimpse of her life.
Recently I learned about the child prostitution industry. For much of my life I had no idea it was going on right in the neighborhoods where I lived, shopped, and went out. Now that I know what is going on, I notice things. I see the ads for missing teens at my local Walmart or on the billboard signs and wonder if they are being enslaved in this industry.
I am ashamed to admit but for many years I looked at the prostitutes standing on the corner and thought badly of them. I judged them. I researched the topic as I learned about the child sex slavery industry and found that many of these teens who were trapped in this field are now the women we see on the street corners. I see these women now and I feel for them. I wonder what horrors of their life drove them to where they are now. There are so many heart wrenching stories of women who left home at a young age and needed money to survive. Then, they got addicted to drugs and life just spiraled downward. These women do not need looks of scorn from us. They need our love. They need our understanding. Some of these women are waiting for someone to rescue them. To show them they can have a better life. Instead of seeing these women as criminals, I beg you to see them as victims. Let you heart see them the way Jesus does. See them through His eyes. These women are His daughters. He loves all His children and His heart breaks for those who are mistreated. Shouldn’t our reaction be the same?
So I want to warn you to be careful how you look at people. You don’t know their story. You don’t know what is going on in their lives. Instead of looking with disdain at those around us, give everyone you meet a big smile and shine your love.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Life Lessons from Veggie Tales
I love watching Veggie Tales. My boys are older now, so I haven’t seen some of the newest ones, but I remember the ones I have seen. The catchy songs and good moral lessons are taught to us through talking vegetables that have no arms or legs. One song on my mind lately is from “Rack, Shack, and Benny.” A movie based on the story of the three men who were thrown into the furnace because they refused to participate in idol worship.
The song is called “Stand”. In this catchy tune they sing about standing up for what you believe in, and God will stand with you. What a great lesson for all of us. In the world today, we are tempted to just fit in. We have to be careful not to upset or offend anyone. But at what cost? When do we draw the line, and say enough is enough? When do we take a stand and not be afraid to share what we believe?
I am not asking us to judge others, so please don’t take it that away. We are called to love everyone, to help our neighbors regardless of what their beliefs are. Jesus didn’t ask someone what they believed or for a list of their sins before He talked with them. In fact He knew that He came to spend time with the lost, the broken, the hurting. He came to teach others about His Father.
So when do we take a stand? I believe we can do this every day in subtle ways . How do we take that stand? We start by not being afraid to bow our heads in public and pray before eating. We can be honest with people when they ask us our beliefs. Christmas is just around the corner. We shouldn’t be afraid to say “Merry Christmas”. We can wear a cross necklace or Christian shirt and not be afraid that others will judge us. I have been guilty in the past of hiding who I am for the fear of being judged and not accepted. The Bible warns of this. We should not deny God or He will deny us.
The media likes to portray “Christians” as crazy people who are hurtful and judgemental . How many times have you turned on the news to see them showing the angry mobs of “Christians” holding up signs hating and condemning homosexuals or girls seeking an abortion ? When a shooting occurs and they find out that the person claimed to be a “Christian”, they focus on that. How many times do we here about this one church in the Mid-west protesting funerals of soldiers and holding signs up about homosexuals? Do we ever see the people who have risked their lives to help a neighbor? I have to literally search for good stories. Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus ever tell believers to go out and kill those who are not following His ways. Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus spread the message of hate. Instead He encourages us to love one another. We are to show the world we are Christians by our love. We need to write letters to our local papers and let people know that the crazy people that the media portrays on television as “Christians” would not act that way if they were true followers of Christ. Over 10 years ago I wrote into a local paper after a “Christian” had bombed a local abortion clinic. I knew in my heart that a man following Jesus could never take the lives of so many people. They printed my letter to the editor and I was able to get the word out. I wanted people to know the truth. I was tired of letting the media walk all over the Christian faith. I took a stand.
You can, too. And you can be assured that when you do; God will be with you. There are people today in other countries dying for their faith. They refuse to deny their Lord and Savior. Yes, they may lose their life on this earth, but they know they are entering a new life when they die. They will be joining their Savior and no longer be persecuted. I pray that none of you ever have to face this kind of persecution. But let us learn from this example. Let us, not be afraid anymore.
In the famous words of a cute little asparagus, “stand for what you believe in and God will stand with you.”
The song is called “Stand”. In this catchy tune they sing about standing up for what you believe in, and God will stand with you. What a great lesson for all of us. In the world today, we are tempted to just fit in. We have to be careful not to upset or offend anyone. But at what cost? When do we draw the line, and say enough is enough? When do we take a stand and not be afraid to share what we believe?
I am not asking us to judge others, so please don’t take it that away. We are called to love everyone, to help our neighbors regardless of what their beliefs are. Jesus didn’t ask someone what they believed or for a list of their sins before He talked with them. In fact He knew that He came to spend time with the lost, the broken, the hurting. He came to teach others about His Father.
So when do we take a stand? I believe we can do this every day in subtle ways . How do we take that stand? We start by not being afraid to bow our heads in public and pray before eating. We can be honest with people when they ask us our beliefs. Christmas is just around the corner. We shouldn’t be afraid to say “Merry Christmas”. We can wear a cross necklace or Christian shirt and not be afraid that others will judge us. I have been guilty in the past of hiding who I am for the fear of being judged and not accepted. The Bible warns of this. We should not deny God or He will deny us.
The media likes to portray “Christians” as crazy people who are hurtful and judgemental . How many times have you turned on the news to see them showing the angry mobs of “Christians” holding up signs hating and condemning homosexuals or girls seeking an abortion ? When a shooting occurs and they find out that the person claimed to be a “Christian”, they focus on that. How many times do we here about this one church in the Mid-west protesting funerals of soldiers and holding signs up about homosexuals? Do we ever see the people who have risked their lives to help a neighbor? I have to literally search for good stories. Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus ever tell believers to go out and kill those who are not following His ways. Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus spread the message of hate. Instead He encourages us to love one another. We are to show the world we are Christians by our love. We need to write letters to our local papers and let people know that the crazy people that the media portrays on television as “Christians” would not act that way if they were true followers of Christ. Over 10 years ago I wrote into a local paper after a “Christian” had bombed a local abortion clinic. I knew in my heart that a man following Jesus could never take the lives of so many people. They printed my letter to the editor and I was able to get the word out. I wanted people to know the truth. I was tired of letting the media walk all over the Christian faith. I took a stand.
You can, too. And you can be assured that when you do; God will be with you. There are people today in other countries dying for their faith. They refuse to deny their Lord and Savior. Yes, they may lose their life on this earth, but they know they are entering a new life when they die. They will be joining their Savior and no longer be persecuted. I pray that none of you ever have to face this kind of persecution. But let us learn from this example. Let us, not be afraid anymore.
In the famous words of a cute little asparagus, “stand for what you believe in and God will stand with you.”
Monday, October 3, 2011
Getting Back Up
Recently I injured my left foot and had to walk around in a big cumbersome brace. I needed to give my foot time to heal so that one day I could take off the brace and walk on it again. As I was going through this I began to think about life.
In life sometimes we get hurt. Injuries occur and we need to take time to heal. Sometimes the pain goes so deep we are of no use to others, until we have taken time for healing . It’s not being selfish. It’s reality. My foot couldn’t support the weight of my body for a time. Forcing it to do so would have only resulted in further injury.
I believe this can happen in our walk with Christ, too. When we work side by side with other people, we can expect to get hurt sometimes. Sometimes, we can brush it off and keep going, other times it might hurt too much. It will take time to heal. And that is okay. You can’t minister to others when your heart is in pieces.
You need to take some time. In His word, Jesus says to the people, “Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) We need to listen to His wise words and allow him to be our place of refuge. Let Him be our strength when we have none. He can be the brace that keeps us on our feet. Rest in Him, and then get back up.
When you are ready, you can return to ministry. You can help others once you receive the help you need. But let me caution you never to get to the place where you think you don’t need to rely on Jesus for His strength anymore. Unlike the foot brace that can come off and be put away in storage, you always need your Savior by your side. Keep Him there in the good times, too and maybe the next time a storm comes along the blow won’t be so hard. Your fall may not be as hard and the injury will not take as long to heal.
Be encouraged. Just like my foot healed and I was able to walk again, your heart will heal and you will be able to help again.
In life sometimes we get hurt. Injuries occur and we need to take time to heal. Sometimes the pain goes so deep we are of no use to others, until we have taken time for healing . It’s not being selfish. It’s reality. My foot couldn’t support the weight of my body for a time. Forcing it to do so would have only resulted in further injury.
I believe this can happen in our walk with Christ, too. When we work side by side with other people, we can expect to get hurt sometimes. Sometimes, we can brush it off and keep going, other times it might hurt too much. It will take time to heal. And that is okay. You can’t minister to others when your heart is in pieces.
You need to take some time. In His word, Jesus says to the people, “Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) We need to listen to His wise words and allow him to be our place of refuge. Let Him be our strength when we have none. He can be the brace that keeps us on our feet. Rest in Him, and then get back up.
When you are ready, you can return to ministry. You can help others once you receive the help you need. But let me caution you never to get to the place where you think you don’t need to rely on Jesus for His strength anymore. Unlike the foot brace that can come off and be put away in storage, you always need your Savior by your side. Keep Him there in the good times, too and maybe the next time a storm comes along the blow won’t be so hard. Your fall may not be as hard and the injury will not take as long to heal.
Be encouraged. Just like my foot healed and I was able to walk again, your heart will heal and you will be able to help again.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Faith in the Dark
Do you know how it is when you go from a well lit room to a dark one? For a moment while your eyes adjust you have your hands stretched out in front of you trying to feel your way around so you don’t bump into anything. I experience this every night before bed when I leave our bright bathroom and enter our unlit bedroom.I kind of know where things are, so I try and stay on the same path, but little surprises can always pop-up.
This is how I believe we can sometimes describe faith. There are some dark times in our lives when we can’t feel our way around. We search for the right path and hope not to bump into something that will hurt. But it happens sometimes. For me, I came to Christ at the young age of 6 but I have gotten lost in the dark several times since then. As a teen, I gave up on God because it wasn’t cool to be a Christian. I stopped praying and attending church. I had some rough times then. After an unplanned pregnancy, I began to search for God again, and the light came back on. I cried out to Him for help and He was there.
As an adult, when hard times came, I began to doubt a loving God existed. I questioned why I was having so many hard times. I tried to hide in the dark, but I discovered even if you are surrounded by friends and family, it gets lonely in the dark. I was missing something. Slowly, as I began searching again for what was missing, I realized it was God. Faith gets me through all the tough times. Knowing I have a God I can count on helps me. When no one else listens, He does. When no one else sees my tears, He does. When I can’t get out of the bed in the morning, He gives me a push. He wants the best for me. As I realize all this, the darkness starts to get lighter. I can see what I am suppose to be doing. I can see where to go, who to help, and why I am here.
Faith is not about a well-lit path with everything easily laid out for you. You are not always sure of the way to go, and sometimes there are bumps that hurt. Some bumps are big while others are small. No matter the size or pain of the bump, you keep going. If I let each bump on my path stop me, I would not be where I am today. I have had well-meaning people hurt me. I have probably hurt others. We are all human and it is bound to happen. Tragic things happen in life. We live in an imperfect world where bad things happen. Young children get killed, babies die, loved ones leave us too soon. The list goes on and on. In one year, I faced so many different disappointments that it started to suffocate me. The light started getting darker as I focused on the bad. We have to search for the good. It’s there if only we will look. Miracles may not happen in front of our eyes every day. But there are so many small ones we miss when we don’t look. Trees growing in the desert, getting a job in a tough job market, and having a family to enjoy the good times with. These are only a few of the small miracles that take place everyday.
Faith is more like a dark room at first. You have to enter it, hands surrendered. You have to walk into it not knowing exactly where you are going, but trusting that you will begin to see more as you continue on the path. You keep moving no matter what gets in the way and keep searching for the light. It will get brighter. It begins with asking God to reveal to you who He is—a simple step that takes faith. You can’t see God’s holy face, but He will show you who He is in everything around you.
Just as your eyes get adjusted to the dark and you begin to see what’s around you, faith happens in the same way. You first have to take that leap and walk into the dark room. Once you do, things will start to brighten. The more you focus and the more time you spend examining, the more you will see. It takes time, just like anything else in life. The reward is more than anything you will ever receive here on earth. You will spend eternity living in a perfect world, with no disappointments, no tears, and no death. You will never be in the darkness again.
So, the next time you go from a dark room to a well-lit one, take a moment and pause. Decide if you want to take that leap of faith or stay stuck in the dark.
This is how I believe we can sometimes describe faith. There are some dark times in our lives when we can’t feel our way around. We search for the right path and hope not to bump into something that will hurt. But it happens sometimes. For me, I came to Christ at the young age of 6 but I have gotten lost in the dark several times since then. As a teen, I gave up on God because it wasn’t cool to be a Christian. I stopped praying and attending church. I had some rough times then. After an unplanned pregnancy, I began to search for God again, and the light came back on. I cried out to Him for help and He was there.
As an adult, when hard times came, I began to doubt a loving God existed. I questioned why I was having so many hard times. I tried to hide in the dark, but I discovered even if you are surrounded by friends and family, it gets lonely in the dark. I was missing something. Slowly, as I began searching again for what was missing, I realized it was God. Faith gets me through all the tough times. Knowing I have a God I can count on helps me. When no one else listens, He does. When no one else sees my tears, He does. When I can’t get out of the bed in the morning, He gives me a push. He wants the best for me. As I realize all this, the darkness starts to get lighter. I can see what I am suppose to be doing. I can see where to go, who to help, and why I am here.
Faith is not about a well-lit path with everything easily laid out for you. You are not always sure of the way to go, and sometimes there are bumps that hurt. Some bumps are big while others are small. No matter the size or pain of the bump, you keep going. If I let each bump on my path stop me, I would not be where I am today. I have had well-meaning people hurt me. I have probably hurt others. We are all human and it is bound to happen. Tragic things happen in life. We live in an imperfect world where bad things happen. Young children get killed, babies die, loved ones leave us too soon. The list goes on and on. In one year, I faced so many different disappointments that it started to suffocate me. The light started getting darker as I focused on the bad. We have to search for the good. It’s there if only we will look. Miracles may not happen in front of our eyes every day. But there are so many small ones we miss when we don’t look. Trees growing in the desert, getting a job in a tough job market, and having a family to enjoy the good times with. These are only a few of the small miracles that take place everyday.
Faith is more like a dark room at first. You have to enter it, hands surrendered. You have to walk into it not knowing exactly where you are going, but trusting that you will begin to see more as you continue on the path. You keep moving no matter what gets in the way and keep searching for the light. It will get brighter. It begins with asking God to reveal to you who He is—a simple step that takes faith. You can’t see God’s holy face, but He will show you who He is in everything around you.
Just as your eyes get adjusted to the dark and you begin to see what’s around you, faith happens in the same way. You first have to take that leap and walk into the dark room. Once you do, things will start to brighten. The more you focus and the more time you spend examining, the more you will see. It takes time, just like anything else in life. The reward is more than anything you will ever receive here on earth. You will spend eternity living in a perfect world, with no disappointments, no tears, and no death. You will never be in the darkness again.
So, the next time you go from a dark room to a well-lit one, take a moment and pause. Decide if you want to take that leap of faith or stay stuck in the dark.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Choices
Every day we face many choices. For me, most days start with, “Do I feel like getting out of bed?” I begin to ponder how many choices we all have to make. As I listen to a song by Francesca Batestelli, I learn even more about choices.
Do you realize that every choice you make says something about who you are? From the little choices like which shoes to wear all the way up to the big ones like; “ Is this the right guy for me?” Every decision you make has part of you in it.
I then started to think more deeply on this and on the choices I make. What do they say about me? What can others learn about me from the choices I make? I never realized just how important each decision in my life can be.
The lyrics of the song really spoke to my heart. Do the choices I make show that my heart is for Jesus, or do they show I am all about me? Do others see me as giving of myself unselfishly, or do they see me as doing things to get the glory?
As a believer, I know how important it is to show the world how the love of Christ makes me a better person. We are judged harshly by everyone. The people out there claiming to be Christians by spreading hate messages or predicting the end of the world cast a bad light on the true believers. I want my life to show the true Jesus. I want the world to see in me, a love that is for everyone. I want others to see my desire is to help every person I can because that’s what Jesus did.
Jesus chose to come down to earth in the form of man, to show the world He is the living Savior, and then to sacrifice His own life on the cross for me. All those choices are beyond my human comprehension. Giving up one’s life for undeserving, selfish people, who may not even chose to acknowledge Him for who He is. Now, that says a lot. Why would someone do that?
I believe it can be answered by one word—Love. So each day, I am deciding to make all my choices based on love. In doing that, I will follow Jesus and my heart will always be in the right place. Others will see my life as a person who loves them. That’s the choice I make.
Do you realize that every choice you make says something about who you are? From the little choices like which shoes to wear all the way up to the big ones like; “ Is this the right guy for me?” Every decision you make has part of you in it.
I then started to think more deeply on this and on the choices I make. What do they say about me? What can others learn about me from the choices I make? I never realized just how important each decision in my life can be.
The lyrics of the song really spoke to my heart. Do the choices I make show that my heart is for Jesus, or do they show I am all about me? Do others see me as giving of myself unselfishly, or do they see me as doing things to get the glory?
As a believer, I know how important it is to show the world how the love of Christ makes me a better person. We are judged harshly by everyone. The people out there claiming to be Christians by spreading hate messages or predicting the end of the world cast a bad light on the true believers. I want my life to show the true Jesus. I want the world to see in me, a love that is for everyone. I want others to see my desire is to help every person I can because that’s what Jesus did.
Jesus chose to come down to earth in the form of man, to show the world He is the living Savior, and then to sacrifice His own life on the cross for me. All those choices are beyond my human comprehension. Giving up one’s life for undeserving, selfish people, who may not even chose to acknowledge Him for who He is. Now, that says a lot. Why would someone do that?
I believe it can be answered by one word—Love. So each day, I am deciding to make all my choices based on love. In doing that, I will follow Jesus and my heart will always be in the right place. Others will see my life as a person who loves them. That’s the choice I make.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Reflect and Commit.
This is the time of the year that causes all of us to reflect on the past year and make promises for the next one. How many of us though break the promises before the second week of January is done? Why is it that January 1 seems like the magical time to commit to something and January 14 the day to give it all up?
I think the answer is simple. Instead of learning from our past mistakes we focus on the promise of a new start. As we are looking back on the past year we should study our mistakes. We should take a close look at what went wrong. If we learn from them, we might just have a higher success rate in this next year.
This all reminds me of the Old Testament. We are all so quick to judge the Israelites for falling away from God and giving up hope time and again. And then each time God would show He was faithful and they would return to Him. We make jokes about how many times it takes for them to get it. Well, shouldn’t we be doing that about ourselves? Doesn’t it take several times of falling and crying out to God, before we learn to pray first, before action? Don’t we all think we are just fine without God, and then find ourselves crying out to Him when it gets to tough? We are so much like the Israelites. I think we may even be worse. I am not sure if we would make it to the Promised Land in 40 years. I believe it would take much longer. We are all stubborn and believe our way is right.
This year I am praying that I truly reflect on the past year. There are some painful moments, but those are the most important. By reflecting on those, hopefully I can see mistakes I made and not make them again. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life wandering in the desert. I want to make it to the Promised Land. I want to see what a year totally committed to God looks and feels like. Will there be bumps along the way? Guaranteed. But, how I handle them should be a lot different
I think the answer is simple. Instead of learning from our past mistakes we focus on the promise of a new start. As we are looking back on the past year we should study our mistakes. We should take a close look at what went wrong. If we learn from them, we might just have a higher success rate in this next year.
This all reminds me of the Old Testament. We are all so quick to judge the Israelites for falling away from God and giving up hope time and again. And then each time God would show He was faithful and they would return to Him. We make jokes about how many times it takes for them to get it. Well, shouldn’t we be doing that about ourselves? Doesn’t it take several times of falling and crying out to God, before we learn to pray first, before action? Don’t we all think we are just fine without God, and then find ourselves crying out to Him when it gets to tough? We are so much like the Israelites. I think we may even be worse. I am not sure if we would make it to the Promised Land in 40 years. I believe it would take much longer. We are all stubborn and believe our way is right.
This year I am praying that I truly reflect on the past year. There are some painful moments, but those are the most important. By reflecting on those, hopefully I can see mistakes I made and not make them again. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life wandering in the desert. I want to make it to the Promised Land. I want to see what a year totally committed to God looks and feels like. Will there be bumps along the way? Guaranteed. But, how I handle them should be a lot different
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas lives on!
Christmas is my absolute favorite season of the year. It always has been and always will be. I love putting up the tree and decorating it with the unmatching ornaments. The ones made by my kids, the ones I just thought were to cute to pass up, and of course it would not be complete without my Precious Moments ornaments.
But now, that Christmas day has come and the evening settles in, I get a little melancholy. Christmas always comes and goes so fast. This year as it comes to an end, however, I am filled with new thoughts. As a believer does Christmas really ever end? Doesn't the meaning live on in my heart? Shouldn't the joy I feel the urge to spread at Christmas continue on? It really should. The message of my Savior should not stop with the end of Christmas. His story goes on. It doesn't end at His birth. If it did, it wouldn't be so amazing.
What really makes Christmas amazing is the whole story. How my God came down one day and became a baby. He crawled, cried, and felt the touch of a mother's hand. He was rocked to sleep at night, and saw the same stars that I do now. He felt the warmth of the sun upon His skin and walked miles on hard dirt. Then He taught of His Father's love, and how to live life. He showed the way to everlasting life. He went through hard times, and had to say goodbye to loved ones. He saw the pain that this world brings. Then He paid the ultimate price and gave up His life for me. He willingly died so that I don't have, too. He paid the price for all my sins and set me free.
His life should be celebrated everyday. Songs should fill the air of His love all the time. Joy should ring out from sea to sea all year long. Christmas is just the beginning of the story, and it is not the end. So this Christmas even as I take down the decorations and pack them to be put away, Christmas will stay in my heart the whole year through. Joy will come each day, with each new dawn. I will celebrate my Savior's life each and every day. Won't you join with me and let Christmas live on. Have a blessed Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
But now, that Christmas day has come and the evening settles in, I get a little melancholy. Christmas always comes and goes so fast. This year as it comes to an end, however, I am filled with new thoughts. As a believer does Christmas really ever end? Doesn't the meaning live on in my heart? Shouldn't the joy I feel the urge to spread at Christmas continue on? It really should. The message of my Savior should not stop with the end of Christmas. His story goes on. It doesn't end at His birth. If it did, it wouldn't be so amazing.
What really makes Christmas amazing is the whole story. How my God came down one day and became a baby. He crawled, cried, and felt the touch of a mother's hand. He was rocked to sleep at night, and saw the same stars that I do now. He felt the warmth of the sun upon His skin and walked miles on hard dirt. Then He taught of His Father's love, and how to live life. He showed the way to everlasting life. He went through hard times, and had to say goodbye to loved ones. He saw the pain that this world brings. Then He paid the ultimate price and gave up His life for me. He willingly died so that I don't have, too. He paid the price for all my sins and set me free.
His life should be celebrated everyday. Songs should fill the air of His love all the time. Joy should ring out from sea to sea all year long. Christmas is just the beginning of the story, and it is not the end. So this Christmas even as I take down the decorations and pack them to be put away, Christmas will stay in my heart the whole year through. Joy will come each day, with each new dawn. I will celebrate my Savior's life each and every day. Won't you join with me and let Christmas live on. Have a blessed Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Give Thanks
It's that time of year again. Today people everywhere are getting up early to get the turkey in the oven. The houses have delicious aromas for hours. The Christmas music starts to get played on the radio. The cool weather is a welcome relief, here in Arizona, at least. I love this time of year.
Families will gather around the table today and share what they are thankful for. Time to put aside petty squabbles and enjoy all the blessings we have. I wonder how many of us though, will thank our Lord? Don't get me wrong, I think it's great to be thankful family, pets, and loved ones. I myself am thankful for my wonderful family. But we would have none of this if it wasn't for our Lord. He created this entire world. He gave us our families. He willingly went to the cross and died to pay for all our sins. I don't know anyone else who showed that much love and continues to do so. Do you? So, let's give thanks this year to Him, also.
And there are other important people who don't get enough recognition. Our service men and women. Some of them are even fighting for us today. They don't get to sit around a table with their families and enjoy a grand feast. They are out there with fellow soldiers fighting for our freedom. Some will even give their lives today. Give thanks to all those men and women who have so willingly put others first.
May you all be blessed this Thanksgiving day, and enjoy your families. If your family is far away, give them a call and keep them close in your heart. Be thankful you have the opportunity to say I love you and don't let the day end without doing so.
Families will gather around the table today and share what they are thankful for. Time to put aside petty squabbles and enjoy all the blessings we have. I wonder how many of us though, will thank our Lord? Don't get me wrong, I think it's great to be thankful family, pets, and loved ones. I myself am thankful for my wonderful family. But we would have none of this if it wasn't for our Lord. He created this entire world. He gave us our families. He willingly went to the cross and died to pay for all our sins. I don't know anyone else who showed that much love and continues to do so. Do you? So, let's give thanks this year to Him, also.
And there are other important people who don't get enough recognition. Our service men and women. Some of them are even fighting for us today. They don't get to sit around a table with their families and enjoy a grand feast. They are out there with fellow soldiers fighting for our freedom. Some will even give their lives today. Give thanks to all those men and women who have so willingly put others first.
May you all be blessed this Thanksgiving day, and enjoy your families. If your family is far away, give them a call and keep them close in your heart. Be thankful you have the opportunity to say I love you and don't let the day end without doing so.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Amazing
I want to share with you an experience I had on Friday, October 15th that was amazing. I was called by God to go and talk before 800 people at a local event about child sex slavery. It was a five minute talk with slides, and it had to follow the format that was set up. There were other presenters that evening, too. I was in the second half of the evening, so I watched the others go before me. They were all fantastic. I grew a little more nervous as my time approached. I drank two bottles of water backstage before my talk trying to keep from getting a dry mouth out on stage. My time came. I walked out on stage and started out a little nervous. During my first slide I froze after I got out my first two sentences. Finally, the words came back into my mind. I began speaking and I felt my mouth getting drier and drier. I wished I had brought another bottle of water out with me. I felt my tongue get bigger and I felt I could barely talk. I got through all my slides and left the stage feeling I had let God down.
Then the most amazing thing happened. I had people coming up to me, telling me how great my talk was. They told me they could feel my passion for these teens. I had a couple of ladies tell me that they cried. Another woman approached me and invited me to be on her local talk show. I had a college professor of journalism approach me, and wanted to talk more about the subject. She is looking for something for her students to do an in depth story on. I don't tell you this to brag about myself. Quite the opposite. I want you to know that this was not me. It was a miracle. That is the only way I can describe that these people were touched. Out of obedience I did as God asked of me, and opened my mouth. He did the rest. He poured out the words. He made the words passionate and understandable. I still am so amazed as I think on that night. I did nothing at all except walk out on the stage a willing vessel to be used. I want to encourage you, if God is calling you to something big, don't be afraid to take that step. He will do what needs to be done. If He needs to be your voice, He will. As long as you surrender to Him, He will do something amazing with you. It will be something you will not forget.
I am so glad that I experienced this, because I know God is not done with me yet. I know that He is calling me to do more to help end child sex slavery. I know that some of it will be scarier than speaking in front of all those people. But, now I also know that I have nothing to fear, because my Almighty, Amazing Father will be there with me. He will protect me, show me the way, and be right at my side. I learned that as long I step out in obedience, He will take care of the rest. That is an awesome feeling to have. I pray that all of you will have something like this happen in your life so you can experience it first hand.
Then the most amazing thing happened. I had people coming up to me, telling me how great my talk was. They told me they could feel my passion for these teens. I had a couple of ladies tell me that they cried. Another woman approached me and invited me to be on her local talk show. I had a college professor of journalism approach me, and wanted to talk more about the subject. She is looking for something for her students to do an in depth story on. I don't tell you this to brag about myself. Quite the opposite. I want you to know that this was not me. It was a miracle. That is the only way I can describe that these people were touched. Out of obedience I did as God asked of me, and opened my mouth. He did the rest. He poured out the words. He made the words passionate and understandable. I still am so amazed as I think on that night. I did nothing at all except walk out on the stage a willing vessel to be used. I want to encourage you, if God is calling you to something big, don't be afraid to take that step. He will do what needs to be done. If He needs to be your voice, He will. As long as you surrender to Him, He will do something amazing with you. It will be something you will not forget.
I am so glad that I experienced this, because I know God is not done with me yet. I know that He is calling me to do more to help end child sex slavery. I know that some of it will be scarier than speaking in front of all those people. But, now I also know that I have nothing to fear, because my Almighty, Amazing Father will be there with me. He will protect me, show me the way, and be right at my side. I learned that as long I step out in obedience, He will take care of the rest. That is an awesome feeling to have. I pray that all of you will have something like this happen in your life so you can experience it first hand.
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