I can...because of Jesus

A look at a few of Paul's words in Philippians.

Philippians 1:20b-21, I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.  For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 

Philippians 2:12b-13, Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.  For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. 

Philippians 3:10a, I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead.  I want to suffer with Him. 

Philippians 4:11b, I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.

Philippians 4:13, I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.

I have been contemplating my lack of contentment and in so doing I found myself looking at Paul and wondering how he claimed contentment?

He trusted Christ, period, whether he was to live or die, no matter what came.  He knew that He belonged to Christ and thus he would live for Him, regardless and he looked forward to dying.  In other words, he did not worry about what was happening to him or what would happen to him.  He trusted Christ.  Oh God, I want to trust You like this.  Give me the faith of a child.  

He tells me it is vital that we work hard revealing the fact that I am saved through Christ and to be determined to obey God, no excuses.  After all, God, Himself, is the one who works in me giving the very desire and the power to do what pleases Him.  Father God, please forgive me for trying to do things in my own power instead of using my energy to be determined to obey You.  I am often more concerned with what I am doing instead of whom I am doing it for.   I trust You to provide the desire and the power.  I do want to please You.  

Paul's desire was to know Christ and experience His mighty power.  Is that my desire?  Do I truly want to know Christ and experience more of Him or do I just say that I do?  Am I wiling to suffer with Him/for Him?  His contentment came with this and the fact that whatever came he knew he could do it because Christ would give him the strength he needed.  He was never left on his own.  Jesus, please give me the desire to know You and experience You more each day.  May I not be content with anything less than to know You more.  And may I trust, really trust that You will provide all the strength I need no matter what.  

Father God, may You receive glory from my life and this daily struggle to surrender fully to You.  I pray for Your strength to be content and full of joy.  You alone know me and understand my battles and yet You promise victory, ultimately.  May I put my eyes on You with more regularity and may I truly desire You as evidenced by my actions not just my words.  I know that anything is possible with You, Jesus.  Thank You for providing all that I need to live this life for Your purpose.  Have Your will and way in me...

The LORD is My Rescuer

Some verses from Psalm 18.

(vs 1)  I love You, LORD; You are my strength.   (vs 2)  The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.  He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.  (vs 3) I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and He saved me from my enemies.  (vs 4)  The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me.  (vs 5) The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.  (vs 6) But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help.  Help heard me from His sanctuary; my cry to Him reached His ears. 

(vs. 16)  He reached down from heaven and rescued me; He drew me out of deep waters.  (vs 17)  He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me.  (vs 18) They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the LORD supported me.  (vs 19)  He led me to a place of safety He rescued me because He delights in me. 

(vs 28) You light a lamp for me.  The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness. 

(vs 30)  God's way is perfect.  All the LORD's promises prove true.  He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.  (31)  For who is God except the LORD?  Who but our God is a solid rock?  (vs 32)  God arms me with strength, and He makes my way perfect. 

(vs 46)  The LORD lives!  Praise to my Rock!  May the God of my salvation be exalted!

Father, I thank You that You are my strength, my rock, my fortress, my protection and my savior.  You LORD, are worthy of my praise.  Once again, Lord, I have asked You to rescue me from the enemy of my soul and his deceptive ways of manipulating my emotions and You did!!  Thank You!  I have asked You to rescue me and draw me out of the deep waters and help me to cast my burdens on You and release them and You have given me the strength to do that!  Thank You!  Thank You, Lord, for taking delight in me.  Enable me to obey You and to be faithful as You are faithful.  Thank You, Lord for lighting up my darkness & for providing relief from the weight of it.  I praise You once again for Your rescue and that You never, ever leave me or forsake me.  

The Lord has been teaching me of late, the importance of coming to Him as a little child.  In complete trust, hope and a knowing that He will do what He says He will.  As as adult, I often find myself analyzing, actually overanalyzing, and trying to figure things out, particularly the things of God, rather than trusting Him simply as a child.  You know, taking Him at His WORD.  James 1:17b says, "He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.  He is trustworthy.  He will do what He says He will.  And I know it because He has proven it to me over and over and I am so thankful!

Father God, please continue to remind me to have the faith of a child.  Thank You for showing me so much and for refusing to ever leave me in the hard places alone.  You are there with me and when the time is right, You rescue me.  Help me to trust in You before the rescue seems apparent and take my worries to You and release them to You and receive Your peace regardless of the circumstances or my feelings about them.  Enable me to be intentional in holding onto the Truth of Your Word.  Forgive me for casting my cares upon You and not releasing them into Your capable hands.  Forgive me for lacking faith and trust in Who You say You are.  Thank You for Your willingness to always hear from me and Your desire to relieve me of the pressures of this world when I focus on You rather than on anyone or anything else.  Thank You that Your ways are perfect and all Your promises are true.  May I bring You glory today as I surrender my will to Yours, Jesus.  Thank You, LORD for being my Rescuer!

God's Guidance is BEST

Psalm 32: 8-9
The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advise you and watch over you.  Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control."

I do not know about you, but I often find myself being that "senseless horse or mule" referred to in the verses above.  It is maddening to me just how often I try to take charge of things in my life - particularly by overanalyzing and trying to figure things out.

The Lord reminds me over and over as I read His Word to Trust Him.  He has the plan for me and my family fully under control and He really does not need my input!  He is reminding me to put my energies toward being thankful to Him and focusing on Him.  Colossians 4:2, "Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful."  

Isaiah 30:15b, "Only in returning to Me and resting in me will you be saved.  In quietness and confidence is your strength." 
Isaiah 30:18, "So the LORD must wait for you to come to Him so He can show you His love and compassion.  For the LORD is a faithful God.  Blessed are those who wait for His help."    

He is good to repeatedly remind me to repent (return to Him) and to rest in Him.  It is in resting in Him that I find I can wait on Him and then quietness and confidence in Him becomes my strength.   I struggle to rest in Him.  I struggle with waiting on Him.  And yet when I turn to Him and share my heart in full disclosure in prayer and repentance, He shows Himself faithful and He does provide that rest, strength, hope and joy that can only be found in Him.  Then He reveals His path for me.

Father God, I am sorry that I am often like the senseless horse or mule that will have none of Your leading though I often mask it in ways that makes me feel like I am following.  Convict me Holy Spirit and do not allow me to walk so often on that particular path, but give me eyes to see and ears to hear as You lead along with a willing and pure heart that will follow.  I know that I know that You are trustworthy God and truly it makes no sense that I would continue to give in to my flesh and follow my own lead, but I often do.  Please God, transform me from the inside out and enable me to have full confidence in Your strength as represented by my actions not just my words.  I want to become better at waiting for You, Lord, instead of running out ahead of You.  Forgive me.  Show me the best pathway for my life and help me to walk on it in quietness and strength.  Give me a heart's desire to devote myself to prayer, being watchful for who and what You want me to pray about and to be thankful, regardless.  Thank You, Jesus, for Your provision, for Your unfailing love and for making a way for me to have relationship with God through the shedding of Your blood that paid my sin debt and for raising to life again guaranteeing me eternal life.  Please help me to walk in the abundance of what You already done for me in this life!  Thank You that I do not have to wait until heaven.  It's is all because of You, Jesus, Amen.  

Can I Honor God?

Psalm 50:14
Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.  

Thankfulness can be translated as confession, praise, thanksgiving.   This verse struck me as I realized just how hard thankfulness is for me.  It is a sacrifice that God expects and yet I often blow it off as unnecessary.  Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for many things and definitely for my salvation; however I find that truly in the depths of my heart I am not all that thankful.  I am constantly wanting something more than what I have - emotionally, spiritually and physically.  I find that contentment is a battle that I often lose.

Recognizing that in Psalm 50:7 God reminds me that "I am God, your God!" and that in verse 14, He requires thankfulness is rather eye opening for me.  I find that I have a surface level thanksgiving rather than a thankfulness from the heart and I find hope from the fact that God allows confession and praise along with thanksgiving to count!

Psalm 50:22a says, "Repent, all of you who forget me," and verse 23a says, "But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me."  

I realize I have taken bits and pieces of the Psalm to look at.  If you read the whole Psalm you will discover that God is quite put out by the Israelites and He speaks rather harshly or firmly.  He reminds them that He is their God, the I AM.  He reminds them that He does not need their sacrifices, that He is God and He "owns the cattle on a thousand hills."  That "every bird on the mountain and all the animals of the field are His".  That if "He were hungry, He would not tell them, for all the world is HIs and everything in it"!  He is the Judge of everyone! But look at the HOPE revealed.  We can repent.  And giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly HONORS Him!!  This is the path He has for us to walk.

Thanksgiving is more than words, it is an attitude.  This is the path He has for me to walk, one that is filled with a thankful heart.  I am to mean what I say and the proof is in how I live, not just in my words.  Words are sometimes easy, whereas follow through is not.

Father God, thank You for pricking my heart over my lack of thankfulness.  Forgive me for often saying I am thankful when truly I am dealing with a bad attitude.  Thank You that thankfulness is way more than flowery words but that it includes confession and a recognition of Who You Are.  I am thankful that You allow me the opportunity to bring You glory and I can do so with thanksgiving.  Forgive me for thinking that You need anything from me.  Thank You that though I often find myself in trouble, You always rescue me.  Thank You that You have rescued me for eternity for providing Jesus to pay my sin debt and saving my soul, but I also thank You that You rescue me daily and You want me to live an abundant life in the now and I can do this by developing a thankful heart.  You even provide the strength to do that!  I am never alone. You provide all I need.  All the time.  Thank You, Holy Spirit for giving up heaven to live inside of me!  Father God the depth of Your sacrifice astounds me.  Forgive me for taking You for granted so often.  Change me, Lord, help me to truly be more thankful from the inside out.  Forgive me for complaining and being ungrateful.  I want to honor You.  

The LORD: My Hope and Confidence

Jeremiah 17:5-9
5) This is what the LORD says:  'Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD. 
6) They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future.  They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land.  
7) But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. 
8) They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.  Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.  Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.  

It is that time of year where I and many of us are very aware of the trees around us, FALL!!!  Truly, I love fall.  The crispness in the air.  The subtle change of color in the leaves that then burst with radiant color.  Their beauty only surpassed by the sky above with it's rich blues or the multi-colors of a sunrise or sunset - for me preferably a sunset - lol.  Bonfires.  In our family celebrating the lives of our children.   Hiking.  And so much more...

For many, I know, fall represents an ending.  The fact that winter is fast approaching takes away from the ability to enjoy the moments of fall.  I can understand that too.  I find it so amazing that God has given each of us our own view point.  Every single one of us come at this life from a unique set of circumstances, experiences and way of viewing life dependent on so many factors. How absolutely mind-blowing is it that Christ understands us so intimately and loves us unfailingly!? HOWEVER, His TRUTH, His WORD is what never changes and it is to be our plumb line for life, not our viewpoint, not our circumstances, not our DNA.  I do not know about You but this is so freeing and fills me HOPE.   (Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.  He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.  James 1:17)

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

In this context in Jeremiah 17 "cursed" means to be "miserable".  When I depend on others for my hope and confidence or even in myself, "I am miserable".  I have lived this I know it to be true.  This is a battle I fight with unfortunate regularity.  Due to my own "bents" or my own personality, my circumstances, my viewpoint I tend toward trusting in myself and in others for my security.  I am truly grateful that though I battle this I am no longer bound by it because "in Christ, I am a new creation; old things have passed away, new things have come" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Sometimes, actually more often than I would like to admit, I forget that my old nature is dead and I allow myself to live by my old nature, in my flesh and I fall for the enemies tricks.  Before I know it I have allowed myself to trust in my own strength and in what others provide and just that quickly I have turned away from the LORD and emotionally and spiritually I am "like a stunted shrub in the desert" living as if I have no hope and feeling as though I am in "a barren wilderness."  In those moments, I find that I am like a tree that is dried up and has lost it's color, it's brilliance for the LORD.

I am so thankful that like the trees my life is filled with seasons.  When I repent of my self-sufficiency and pride, etc. I find that God fills my life with His brilliant color once again regardless of whether I find myself in the fall, winter, spring or summer season.  No matter how long each season lasts, I always have hope and I am blessed because of Jesus and His death, burial and resurrection on the cross.  My hope and confidence is truly only found in Him.

For me, it is a constant process of realizing my trust is in the LORD and the fact that He is my hope and confidence and choosing to walk in the truth of all that this means.  I want to be that tree that is "planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep in to the water."  And not be "bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought" and "whose leaves stay green" and "never stop producing fruit".  However, I know that this is what heaven looks like so for now I am determined to be better at embracing each season of life and recognizing God's hand at work in me regardless of whether my "leaves" are newly budding, vibrant green, brilliant colors, dried up and crusty or just plan gone.  My goal is to stop "worrying" so much over what my own leaves look like and focus on my Lord and trusting in Him!!

Father God, You know the deep desires of my heart.  Forgive me for so often losing sight of You and for giving in to the sin of pride and self-sufficiency.  I know that I can do nothing apart from You.  God, I chose to trust You for the seasons in my life.  Forgive me for spending so much of my time trying to figure out what You are up to and what I need to do rather than practicing placing my trust and hope in You.  Help me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and to love others as myself.  Forgive me for placing my wants and desires above You.  I want to bring You glory, Lord, regardless of the season I find myself in.  Help me to look to You and You alone, Lord.  Thank You, Jesus for never giving up on me and for always meeting me where I am, but for refusing to leave me there!

God's Love is Lavish

Pour our your hearts like water to the Lord.  Lamentations 2:19
He is the faithful God who lavishes His unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commands.  Deuteronomy 7:9
The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes.  He is close to those who trust in Him.  Nahum 1:7 

The combination of these verses has ministered to my heart.  I love the concept of pouring my heart out to God and finding the truth in the fact that He listens and cares.  In context in Lamentations this verse is asking the Israelites to pour out their hearts all through the night in desperation for their children and their country.  Applicable today, huh?!

Father God, I do ask that You will reveal Yourself to my children in ways that they have never known. I pray that their hearts will be soft toward You and they will surrender to Your lead throughout their lives.  I ask that You would not give our country over to the evil that is so pervasive.  I pray that You would enable us as believers to repent first and to love You and those You put in to our path in ways that reveal You.  Help me to pour out my heart in desperation for those who do not know You, Lord.  

In looking at Deuteronomy 7:9, I am taken by the faithfulness of God!  He not only loves me but He "lavishes His unfailing love" on me.  My response is to love Him and to obey Him - it is a cycle.  He loves me and I love Him and obey Him and He lavishes His unfailing love on me, then I want to love Him and obey Him more. Lavishes is such a cool word!!! Kind of like having love poured out on me!

Father God, thank You seems so inadequate for the amazingness of Your faithfulness and Your love.  And yet it is all I have, so THANK YOU!  Thank You that it isn't enough for You just to love me, but You lavish it on me!!! I am so blessed!! Help me to love You more and more and obey Your lead.  Give me ears to hear You and a willingness to obey, please Lord.  I know that I cannot do it in my own strength. 

Then Nahum 1:7.  The LORD is good!  Yes, He is.  A strong refuge when trouble comes!!! Absolutely. And He is close to those who trust in Him!!  He draws us to repent and to recognize His goodness and that He is in control.  He will protect us as trouble is part of this life.  But even more than all of that, which is HUGE!! He is close to us as we trust in Him!  In fact He lives within us by the power of His Holy Spirit.  I am never alone as a believer to face trouble or anything else! Knowing Him and getting to know Him more through His Word increases our ability to trust.

Father God, I do praise You because You are good, all the time.  You are not just a refuge, but You are a strong refuge.  You are the Almighty God and You allow me to have a personal relationship with You, through Jesus Christ.  Thank You!  Help me to recognize just how close You are to me as I walk this journey Your way.  May I surrender my will to You and be in Your Word so that I can trust You more!!!  I love You, Lord and I am so grateful that You first loved me!!

Jesus Is: The Word of LIFE

The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul.  The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.  The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart.  The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living.  Psalm 19:7-9 (NLT)

The Word, the Bible is described in many ways.  In these two verses alone the Word is described as instructions, decrees, commandments and commands.  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1).  And in John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and took up residence among us.  We observed HIs glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

We know that Jesus is the Word.

Look at what Jesus, as the Word through the Bible, reveals in these two verses alone.  His Word is perfect -- it revives the soul.  My soul!!! Your soul!!!  Revives?  The dictionary suggests several meanings for the word revives:  to activate, set in motion, or take up again; renew; to restore to life or consciousness, renewed, vigor, strength, or a flourishing condition;  to reanimate, to cheer; to be restored or renews as hope or consciousness.

Through spending time with Jesus, through reading His Word, meditating upon it I can be revived!!!  In a spiritual sense as well as in a physical sense.  He enables me to go on.  He is after all "the Way, the Truth and the Life" John 14:6.  

His Word has the ability to make us wise.  Wise is knowing the Truth but also wise in living the Truth as we obey what He reveals to us.

His Word is right, period.  And in it's rightness Jesus brings joy to my heart and yours.  If we read it and apply it and if we allow Him to apply it to our daily living then there is joy.  How?  Through obedience and being willing to listen for His Voice and follow His lead in moment by moment of daily living.  And those times that we don't obey then He leads us to confess that disobedience and trust His forgiveness therefore allowing Him to begin again in because of His faithfulness.  It says right there in verse 9 that His Word is clear and it gives insight for living.  Believe it!

His Word goes on to say at the end of Psalm 19 in verse 14:  "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

It is after spending time with Jesus, actually in Him, through His Word, that we are then able to have a heart, words and actions that are pleasing to our Father in Heaven, our LORD.  He is so good!!!

Father God, thank You for Jesus!  Thank You, Jesus, for being the very Word on the page that we can read and that has the power to revive me in my daily life.  Thank You, Jesus, that You gave Your Life so that I may have abundant and eternal life in You.  May I spend time with You and truly allow You to revive and renew me in ways that alters the way I speak and respond in my daily life.  Thank You for reminding me that You are my Rock and my Redeemer.  For reminding me of that all I am in You and of all that is possible because of You.  Thank You for bringing joy to my heart through Your Word.  It is because of Jesus, I pray, Amen. 

God Provides...Everything

Psalm 16 (NLT)
  (1) Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to You for refuge. 
  (2) I said to the LORD, You are my Master!  Every good thing I have comes from You. 
  (3) The godly people in the land are my true heroes!  I take pleasure in them!
  (4) Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.  I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood or even speak the names of their gods.  
  (5) LORD, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.  You guard all that is mine. 
  (6) The land You have given me is a pleasant land.  What a wonderful inheritance!
  (7) I will bless the LORD who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.  
  (8) I know the LORD is always with me.  I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.  
  (9) No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.  My body rests in safety. 
(10) For You will not leave my soul among the dead or allow Your Holy One to rot in the grave.
(11) You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of     living with You forever. 


I love the Psalms.  They are just so real, aren't they?  I desire to be real with people and know them as real as well.  David pours out his soul here in Psalm 16 and it resonates with me.

Keep me safe, protect me (HCSB), preserve me (NKJV) for I have come to You for refuge, for in You I put my trust (NKJV).  Trusting the fact that God is my refuge, He will keep me safe and He is my refuge is key.  I know that things happen that make me "feel" that I am not safe and yet the fact is that this life is not what is most important.  Our reality is that this life is only 0-100 years possibly but heaven is for all eternity.  God being my safety and refuge is in knowing that regardless of what happens in this life, He is trustworthy and He is preparing a place for me in heaven (John 14:3).

I must declare, in this life, by my words and my actions that He is my Lord and Master recognizing that every good thing I have comes from Him.  HCSB states "You are my Lord, I have nothing good besides You."  He is the very definition of goodness.  So any goodness I am capable of originates in Him.

I look at this Psalm and am reminded of His provision.  He provides safety, He is my refuge.  His very being is goodness.  The ability to take pleasure in others or in anything is from Him.  He is my inheritance.  He is my blessing.  He guides me.  He is always with me.  I can allow my heart to be glad (have joy) when I recognize all that He is and all that He does.  Notice in verse 10, it is all because of Jesus!!!  I am granted the joy of His presence and the knowledge that I will live with Him forever.

I have a choice, one I must make over and over.  Am I going to trust in Him and live in His ways or follow after the world?  Will I love others in the way He loves me?  Will I rest in the security that belonging to Him brings and allow it to stretch my comfort zone and be willing to reach out to others because I know I am secure in Him?

I love the example of David.  I can come to God with everything.  My fears, my frustrations, my joys, my hopes, my disappointments, the people that I love.  I can KNOW that He has me and them in the palm of His hand.  He is at work all the time and He has provided everything I will ever need all ready.

I need only trust in Him and wait for His timing.

This is a difficult task especially when I tend to forget that every single thing is all about Him and His strength and His provision, not my own!!  Truly, it may seem that I am oversimplifying, but the fact is we are guilty of making things harder than He ever intended - at least I am.

Father God, I am truly thankful for Your Word.  For the way that Your servant, David, expressed himself and thus shows me that it is acceptable and even pleasing to You when I come to You with all that I am facing.  Please God, enable me to look to You and place my trust in You moment by moment and be ready to share the love that You so generously poured out for me with others.  May I love as You love me.  Help me to rest in You, Lord.  In Jesus Name, Amen.  

Restore Joy

Psalm 51 (various verses from HCSB)
1) Be gracious to me, God according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.  
2) Wash away my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin. 
3) For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.  
4a) Against You - You alone - I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. 

6) Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within.

8) Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. 
9) Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. 
10) God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit with in me.  
11) Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.  
12) Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit. 

15)  Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare Your praise.  

17) The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit.  God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

I am struck today with my pride and rebellion, the constant battle to submit my will to His will.  I like things my way.  I like things to go my way and for others to agree with me.  I struggle with self-centeredness and self-righteousness throughout my day.  I have an opinion about everything and of course, I think it is the best one.  I am constantly battling against manipulating things to look my way or to suit me.  I have a sin problem.  And yet, I do desire to submit to the Lord and I recognize that even this desire comes from Him.

I look at Psalm 51 and I am overwhelmed with awe and gratitude.  The Psalmist David asks God for much and yet I know the reality of all that he asked for!! I am certainly blessed.  As are you if you have placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Will you reread the verses above and ponder all that Christ has done for you and me?

Father God, I thank You that You are full of grace toward me because of Your unfailing love and abundant compassion for me.  I thank You that through the blood of Jesus You have washed away my guilt and cleansed me from my sin.  I am conscious of my rebellion and my sin is ever before me.  I know that I can never measure up on my own and that I could not pay the debt that my sin required.  Thank You, Jesus for paying my debt.  Forgive me for the sin that I excuse and ignore.  Please reveal it to me and give me the strength to repent with godly sorrow.  I know that my sin is against You and You alone.  I know You desire a pure heart deep within me.  I pray that You would make it so and that You would teach me wisdom.  I do ask that You would enable me to know joy and gladness in realizing that all my sin has been blotted out and washed clean.  I do pray that You would create in me a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Forgive me where I have quenched and grieved Your Holy Spirit in my life.  Thank You for the truth of Your promise that You will never leave me or forsake me, period.  Restore to me the joy of my salvation and give me a willing spirit.  Yes, Lord, may I recognize Your Voice and obey.  Please open my mouth and enable me to declare Your praise at every opportunity.  God, convict me of sin in my life and break me in all ways that will bring You glory.  May I be willing to submit and have a humble heart before You.  Thank You again Jesus for the fulfillment of Your Word in my life.  Thank You that I know, that I know that You love me and that I am Yours.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.  

Hold on to Jesus - He Never Changes!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Hebrews 13:8
Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning.  Psalm 30:5b

In Oswald Chambers devotional "My Utmost for His Highest" he makes several statements that God used to bring me conviction and peace this morning.  "Once you have right relationship with God through salvation and sanctification, remember that whatever your circumstances may be, you have been placed in them by God.  And God uses the reaction of your life to your circumstances to fulfill His purpose, as long as you continue to 'walk in the light as He is in the light' (1 John 1:7)"

Anyone who knows me knows I have been floundering for quite some time.  Battling with emotions and dealing with depression in ways that I never knew possible.  Truthfully, I have spent a great deal of time being disappointed in myself and "the reaction of" my life to my "circumstances".  I still am.

I spent many years trying to be all that I thought a "good" daughter, wife, mother, homeschool mom, staff wife and friend should be and all of that under the umbrella of being a "good" Christian.  All the while I have sought the Lord to the best of my ability and yet I spent an exorbitant amount of time trying to be what I thought fit the mold of "godly" and not only just according to what the Word says, but what I thought others expected.  One of the biggest challenges has been my own tendency toward perfectionism and realizing that I can never measure up and being devastated that I disappoint.  I know what I am supposed to think, supposed to do, supposed to be and yet I haven't accepted the truth as often as I should to live victory in Christ, that of course, I don't measure up, no one does.  Yet, because of Jesus, God loves me and because of His righteousness I "measure up."

I have not handled the changes in life with grace as often as I wish I had, instead I have been angry, disappointed, hurt and grieved beyond measure.  I question God as to why He has me in this place and in His mercy, grace and forgiveness He just holds me and tells me to cease striving, stop fighting, be still and know that He is God - Psalm 46:10.  And yet apparently fighting and striving are what I do best - ha!  So He has had His work cut out for Him to truly teach me this.  I am on this Journey His Way and I am learning ever so slowly, but oh so gratefully, that He is faithful and that He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  I hold on to the fact that joy will come in the morning!

We all struggle in some way, shape or form, but we can hold on to the Truth of His Word and of Who He Is!!!

I am determined that I will trust God because I know He will give me the strength to do so.  He has me and He is fully aware of my shortcomings, of my circumstances and my desire to overcome.  I want to truly learn to rest in Him and be one of those  "who believes in Him, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within" (John 7:38).  And as a godly woman I once heard teach shared, His Living Water will then fill me to overflowing and splash out all over those I come in contact with.  I don't have to see it to trust that God will do this work in me if I chose to walk in the light as He is in the light and trust that I am right where He wants me to be.

He will do the same for you, my friend. Trust Him where you are...

Father God, You know the plans You have for me, plans for good and not harm, plans for my future and a hope.  You know exactly why You have me right where I am today.  Forgive me for doubting You and for not believing that You have everything under control.  Please Lord, may You increase and enable me decrease.  Forgive me for so often getting in Your way with my own ideas, plans and my emotions particularly.  Thank You for teaching me that it is okay to grieve and it is okay to be disappointed.  Thank You for reminding me that You never change and that my effectiveness for You is not the main thing but that my heart for You is.  I can trust You to make me as effective as You want me to be.  Give me ears to hear You and the strength to obey.  Thank You for the depression (though I still ask that You remove it) because it is that thing that You use to keep bringing my eyes back to You.  I trust that there is joy in the morning because I know You are there just as You are in times of weeping.  May I not wait for the joy or for it to look like or feel like I think it should but to be careful to praise You and thank You for what is right now.  Thank You for holding me, Father.  In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

THIS I KNOW, GOD IS FOR ME

Psalm 56:8-13
(8) You Yourself have recorded my wanderings.  Put my tears in Your bottle.  Are they not in Your records?  (9) Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call.  This I know:  God is for me.  (10) In God, whose Word I praise, in the LORD, whose Word I praise,  (11) in God I trust; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?  (12) I am obligated by vows to You, God; I will make my thank offering to You.  (13) For You delivered me from death, even my feet from stumbling, to walk before God in the light of life.  

My deepest desire in life is to do this journey called life God's way.  And yet I fall so far short so often that I get discouraged or I begin to question many things concerning my part in the journey.  I trust God is doing His part and yet I spend much time not resting in the knowledge that He has me and that He will always have me that I guess the truth is I have trust issues with Him after all.  I don't want to.  And I don't want to be completely honest here and say that I struggle more than I don't, but there you have it.

Anyway, I am intrigued by these verses this morning.  God, Himself, has recorded my wanderings - He knows everything after all.  I find much comfort in this today.  He understands who I am and what makes me the way I am.  He created me after all and though I often take matters "into my own hands" so to speak, He is still in control.  He still knows.  Thank You, God!  Thank You for understanding why I do what I do and for refusing to leave me there and for loving me regardless.

He has put my tears in His bottle?!  Wow.  A really big bottle ;)  Seriously, though, this gives me so much comfort as I ponder it.  He cares that deeply and knows me that intimately that He keeps up with my tears.  What a mighty, loving, wonderful God I serve!! Thank You, God!! Help me to understand Your infinite love for me.

My enemy and yours is Satan, not the people around us (Ephesians 6:12).  He must retreat when I submit to (call on) God (James 4:7).  How do I know?  Because God says so and He is for me!!!  Thank You, God!!!  May I do my part in submitting to You so that You can do Your part in making the devil flee.  

Do you see it?  Will you declare it with me?  THIS I KNOW, GOD IS FOR ME!!!

Look further with me:  In God (Elohim - The God) whose Word I praise.  In the LORD (Jehovah - The Existing One) whose Word I praise...what?  I trust... and because I trust in Him I will not fear!  I so want this to be an everyday reality in my life.  When I spend time praising God, looking in His Word for Who He is and then turning it back to Him in praise then everything else in life loses it's effect in the light of how awesome He is and then I am able trust Him more and fear stuff less!!  God, I do praise You because You are the One True God and there is No One Like You, period.  LORD, I praise You because You are the Great I Am.  There was No One Before You and You just ARE!! Thank You that in knowing this Truth my trust in You increases because Your Word shows me just how awesome You are.  Help me to remember this when it comes time to chose faith or fear in the next circumstance that comes up.  Thank You that I do not have to worry about what is done to me or might be done to me, You are here with me and You are able to handle it all.  

Thank You, God, for saving me and allowing me to "vow" to be Yours.  Help me to have a thankful heart and not take my salvation (the fact that You have delivered me from death) for granted.  Forgive me when I do just that.  Help me to recognize that though You have saved me for eternity, You save me (or rescue me) in many ways throughout each day as I stumble and fall.  May I do my part, Father God on this journey Your way to walk before You in the light of life!  Forgive me for growing weary and for being disobedient to not trust in You to renew my strength (Isaiah 40:30-31).  I praise You, Father, that You never grow tired or weary of forgiving me, of hearing my many words and that You love me unfailingly.  I praise You for Your faithfulness and I thank You for speaking to me through Your Word.  May I take Your Truth with me from here and not just talk about it, but live it in the moment by moment.  In Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen.  

Praising God through Psalm 86

As I prayed through Psalm 86 today God has lead me to praise Him by focusing on Who it says He is and His provision verse by verse.  I praise You, Father God...

(1)   You listen, LORD (Yahweh - the Existing One) & You answer.  You are rich.  

(2)   You are able to protect my life & You are faithful in doing so.  You are my God, personally, and   

           You save me.  You also provide the ability for me to trust in You. 

(3)   You are full of grace toward me.  You are available all day long. 

(4)   You provide joy.  You provide reason to hope. 

(5)   You, Lord, (Adonai), are kind, ready to forgive & abundant in faithful love to all who call on 

            You. I praise You for allowing me to call upon You. 

(6)   You, LORD,  hear my prayer and You listen.  You provide mercy.  

(7 )  You are available when I am distressed and You will answer me. 

(8)   THERE IS NO ONE LIKE YOU.  THERE ARE NO WORKS LIKE YOURS. 

(9)   All will bow before You and will honor Your Name.  I will. 

(10) You are great & You will perform wonders.  YOU ALONE ARE GOD.

(11) You teach me Your Way.  You enable me to live by Your Truth.  You give me an undivided mind 

             to trust You are who You say You are. 

(12) You enable me to praise with my whole heart & to recognize that You are the Lord my God.  

             You allow me to honor Your Name now and in eternity. 

(13) Your faithful love for me is great.  And You deliver my life from the depths of hell for eternity & 

              provide deliverance today.  

(14) You protect me from the enemy.  You are the Victor, period. 

(15) You are compassionate & gracious, slow to anger and abundant in faithful love & truth

               as You provide for me. 

(16) You see me.  You are full of grace toward me all the time.  You provide me with strength to do 

              what You call me to do.  You take care of my children and those that I love.  

(17) You reveal Your goodness in ways that I can recognize.  The enemy will be put to shame 

               because through Jesus, You, have provided all I ever will need. 

Oh Father God, thank You for allowing me to praise You!!!  I praise Your Holy Name.  Thank You for Your Word and for All Who You Are!!!  

  

No One Like You, Lord!

Psalm 86:11                                                                    Psalm 143:8
Teach me Your way, Yahweh,                                        Let me experience 
and I will live by Your truth.                                         Your faithful love in the morning, 
Give me an undivided mind                                          for I trust in You. 
  to fear Your Name.                                                      Reveal to me the way I should go
                                                                                       because I long for You.  

Let's define some terms according to Strong's Concordance:

Teach - direct, inform, instruct                                      Experience - to hear, listen to, obey
Way - path, journey, direction                                       Faithful love - mercy, kindness, goodness
Undivided - join, unite                                                  Trust - be confident, be secure
Mind - inner man, will, heart, soul, understanding       Way - journey, road, manner, path
Fear - stand in awe of, respect, honor                           Long - to desire

It so jazzes me to look up words - lol!

So what do we see?  First of all Yahweh in Psalm 86:11 refers to God as Jehovah (the Self-Existing One or Eternal One)!  It is often translated as LORD or God.  Think about His Name here for a moment; how He describes Himself.  Do You recognize the peace and hope that is ours just by knowing His Name???  He exists without any help from anyone or anything!  He is and always will be!   He is our LORD and our God!!  Praise His Name!!!

Do you get it?  It is because of Who He Is - His very Name, His very Existence that we can experience His faithful love, trust in Him, live by His Truth, have an undivided mind to fear His Name, to know which way He wants us to go and to even long for Him!!!  Wow, He is so very good to us isn't He?!?

He is ALL we need!!!

Yahweh, thank You for being Who You Say You Are!  Thank You that You ARE.  No one created You and no one controls You.  You are completely and utterly in control and fully trustworthy!  Thank You that You know all and You see all.  You are never caught off guard by anything in the big picture of life all over this world or in the small details in our personal worlds.  You are amazing!  Thank You for loving us!  Thank You for Jesus!  Teach us Your ways that we may experience You and all that You provide - love, peace, hope, joy, gentleness, kindness, patience, goodness, faithfulness, self-control, forgiveness, mercy, grace and so much more.  May we recognize just how trustworthy You are and see Your faithfulness in our day by day because You are ALWAYS trustworthy and faithful regardless of what we think we see or know.  Forgive us for our tendency to trust in ourselves.  Forgive us for making decisions on which direction to take on this journey of life based upon our feelings or own wants.  Help us to long for You, to have respect and honor for You in our actions and in our words.  Thank You for pouring out Your mercy and grace upon us over and over again without end.  There is No One like You, Lord!

Praying for each of us...

Ephesians 3:16-21
16)  I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit,  (17) and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith.  I pray that You, being rooted and firmly established in love, (18) may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love, (19) and to know the Messiah's love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  (20) Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us -- (21) to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen. 

Along with the Apostle Paul, I pray this for you and I.

Father God, please grant us, according to Your riches in glory, strength in the very heart of who You have made us to be through Your Spirit.  Jesus, I know You dwell in my heart and I pray that for each one who reads this.  Father God, may we truly be rooted and firmly established in Your love - may we hunger for Your Word and thirst for Your righteousness to be evident in our daily lives.  May each of us truly grasp as well as we can this side of heaven the expansiveness of Your love for us and for those around us.  May it be more than a head knowledge, Lord, but a heart-knowing.  May it be such that Your love overflows from us to others because we are truly filled with all the fullness that You provide.    May we each know that we know that You are able to do above and beyond all that we can think to ask or imagine according to Your power and may we know that it is You that are working in us.  Forgive us for falling so often to our pride in thinking that we can handle things on our own.  Forgive us for seeking other people and things with more diligence than we seek to know You, Jesus.  Please God have Your way in us and receive all the glory from our lives.  Thank You for the Truth of Who You are!  In Jesus' Mighty Name, I ask it all.  Amen.  

A Student of His Word and Prayer

Wow, what a journey.

Truly it is so much better when I chose to submit to doing it His way.  Oh how I look forward to heaven one day when His way is the only way!  But for now I am determined to submit to Him and prayerfully I become more obedient than not. I am so thankful that He never leaves me to do it alone and He keeps His Word regardless of what I see or think I know.

Psalm 86 has become particularly meaningful to me as I have mentioned before.  I challenge you to read His Word and allow Him to speak to you and in turn speak His Word back to Him.  Use His Word as a catalyst for what You need to share with Him.  Communicate with Him, do not just speak at God, make sure to truly converse - share and listen.  There is nothing like knowing, truly knowing that Your Best Friend is Your Heavenly Father, Your Daddy, Your Healer, Your Comforter and so much more.  He is the very best of everything and He wants a personal intimate relationship with you and me!  Incredible!!  He is so good!!!

As I was praying through Psalm 86 He prompted me to share with You a book.  It is called "How To Pray...When You Don't Know What To Say" by Elmer L. Towns.  It has been a while since I read it, but He reminded me this morning that I need to continue in the principles that are set out there.  It is  book written about using the Lord's Prayer as a model for prayer, Matthew 6:9-13.  Mr. Towns states, "When we pray the Lord's Prayer, we don't leave anything out -- it's the most complete and comprehensive prayer that was ever given to us."  He teaches us how to use the components in prayer not to just repeat the words of the prayer but to make it our own.  Priceless.

Do we ever consider becoming a student of prayer and the Word as we do so many other things in life?  We put so much energy toward learning - intentionally or even unintentionally - for our jobs, for parenting, to be a good spouse, how to shop more efficiently, our hobbies, etc. But do we put forth that same energy to practice prayer and the application of the Word?  I do not; however I want to and I want Him to increase my want to.

Our relationship with Christ is the main thing that matters in this life and EVERYTHING else is to flow from that relationship.  And yet we spend less time on this endeavor of walking with Christ (even to the point that we think maybe it isn't all that important) and that the busyness of our lives should take precedence - our social media time, our time taking our kids to one event to the next, education, furthering our careers, even trying to love people in the Name of Jesus.  How can we do all of these things when ultimately we end up doing them in our own strength because we are not talking over and taking each part of our lives to our Father?  As Christ Followers end up burned out, disillusioned, unimpassioned, weary, disheartened, ineffective, isolated and on and on, thus giving place to the enemy and giving in to his goal to "steal, kill and destroy" (John 10:10a NIV).  

I do not want this.  I have lived this.  I am still living this in many ways. And yet I cannot measure my effectiveness for Christ.  Not my job.  I am to continue in His Word and prayer and trust that He "has plans for me that are for good and not for disaster, to give me a future and a hope."  Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB).  

Jesus came that I might have "life and have it to the full" (John 10:10b NIV).  And that I will "know the Truth and the Truth will set me free" (John 8:32 HCSB)  Remember, Jesus is the Word (John 1:1); therefore He is the Truth and He is the one to set us free.  I must know His Word and I must have conversation with Him to truly KNOW it (Him) as Life not just as knowledge.

Yep, a lot to say today! I hope if I say it enough I will truly hear it and walk in it!

Will you consider what I have shared and come alongside me to encourage one another to put more effort into walking this journey of life His Way?  Remember, He gave us each other.

Father God, I praise You for being my Daddy.  For making the way available to me through Jesus to come directly to You as One who sees me through eyes of grace, who loves me as a daughter and have delight in me.  Teach me to pray, Lord.  Help me to not only say that I want Your Will but to obediently do Your Will in the moment by moments of my day.  Help me to trust You in those moments rather than trust myself or what I can see.  Forgive me for so often giving in to my own wants rather than trusting You for what is best.  Forgive me for doing more talking than I do listening to You, for trying to figure out the whys and whats in life rather than taking that next step that You reveal.   Thank You that You have everything covered, all the time.  You are never caught off guard and You know exactly where I am today in every way.  You have all those that I love in Your hands as well and once again, I know I can trust You with them as well as myself.  Help me to forgive and extend mercy and grace out of the abundance of what You extend to me.  Remind me.  Forgive me where I forget and where I become self-righteous.  Convict me and enable me to repent with godly sorrow, Jesus, in Your strength.  I do pray that You will deliver me from the ways that I chose to not walk in Your ways and thus give in to the desires of my flesh.  Give me Your mind, Jesus.  Teach me to renew my mind and chose to think on what is noble and right and good.  Help me to have a thankful heart and to chose to rejoice in You.  Restore to me the joy of my salvation and help me to recognize that You, Lord, are my confidence.  I fall so far short, but I am so thankful that I cannot fall so far that You let me go.  Your faithfulness truly amazes me, Lord.  I love You and I ask that You would please help me to live as if I love You, that my life will be way more than words.  Please allow me to bring You glory, Lord.  Use me however You will.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.  

Clothing Choices

Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another.  Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.  Above all, put on love -- the perfect bond of unity.  And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts.  Be thankful.  Colossians 3:12-15 ((HCSB)

As a Christ Follower I am God's chosen one.  I am holy because Jesus is holy (Colossians 1:21-22).  Because of Jesus I have the strength (Philippians 4:13) to follow His commands.  In Colossians 3:12 I am commanded to put on (or clothe myself with - in the NIV) heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  

Compassion - sympathetic consciousness of other's distress with a desire to alleviate it. 

Humility - the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people.

Gentleness - having or showing a kind and quiet nature; not hard or forceful.

Patience - bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint.

I have to ask myself what am I putting on?  What am I wearing?  I need to make a deliberate choice to clothe myself with these traits as God has commanded me too; otherwise I will likely have on my default clothing of impatience, judgment, unkindness or at least some level of sarcasm and have little love being exhibited in my life.  I so easily revert to the old ways (Colossians 3:5, 8)  It is a constant battle and process to surrender my life to Christ and walk in His ways rather than my own.  

I am so thankful that I do not have to do any of this on my own.  Aren't you?

I am told to accept others as well as to forgive them.  I can forgive when I remind myself that I have been forgiven much (Matthew 18:21-35).  It is not easy but I benefit when I am obedient.  

I am commanded that above all I am to put on love - clothe myself in love.  How?  I am Christ's and He is love (1 John 4:16).  I am to love others just as He loves (John 15:12).  I need to look for things in others that I can relate to and then I am able to begin to love them at least a bit.  

How do I benefit from being deliberate in choosing what I will clothe myself with?  His peace controls my heart and then I am able to be thankful.  Everything He requires of me is a process and He provides all I need to be obedient.  I need to surrender and be willing to be obedient.  I need to ask Him for His strength and then rely on Him. He is trustworthy.  He will provide. 

In each situation I find myself in I have to decide what I will be wearing :)  Am I going to show compassion or judgment?  Am I going to be kind and gentle or harsh?  Am I going to exhibit patience and acceptance or anger and rejection?  Am I going to forgive or am I going to be bitter?  

Choice after choice.  Will I walk this journey He has me on in His way or will I choose my own way?  What about you?  

Father God, thank You for Your unfailing love for me.  Your faithfulness that is great and Your mercies that are new every morning.  Thank You for forgiving me and making me Your very own.  Please Jesus, through Your strength, help me to choose to clothe myself with love, compassion, acceptance, forgiveness, kindness, gentleness, humility and patience.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, that You live within me and You give me the ability to walk in Your ways.  Forgive me when I react in ways that are not glorifying to You, particularly with my family.  Change me from the inside out.  Remind me of the Truth of Your Word throughout my days and help me to hear You and obey.  Help me to be thankful more often.  Thank You for providing for me more than I can think, ask or imagine.  Thank You for saving me and for refusing to leave me in the state I am in.  Thank You for the abundance of Your mercy and grace toward me...help me to extend that same mercy and grace to others.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.  

In Season or Out?

Psalm 1:2-3
...his delight is in the LORD's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.  He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and who leaf does not wither...

Delight - great pleasure or satisfaction
Instruction - an order or command
Meditate - to spend time in quiet thought

I am to take great pleasure or have satisfaction in the Lord's order or command (His Word) for me and then I am to spend time in quiet thought (of His Word) day and night.  A few things must take place before I can do this.  I must be spending time in HIs Word in order to recognize His instruction for me personally.  It is not my job to determine what the Lord's instructions are for everyone else, just for myself.  Then I am commanded to think on Him and the instruction He has for me at all times.

I will mediate on Your precepts and think about Your ways.  I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word.  Psalm 119 15-16

What do I find myself taking pleasure in?  What am I consistently thinking about?  Are these things lining up with the things I am taught in the Word or am I letting my flesh determine what my mind is engaged in?

In sitting here thinking about the analogy of the tree planted by streams of water and the fact that it bears fruit in season I have been struck by the fact that my job is to meditate and take delight in God's Word and His job is to decide when it is the season for me to bear fruit.  I am thinking rather abstractly here... I realize that we are to bear the Fruit of the Spirit all of the time... LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL (Galatians 5:22); however, I am referring to bearing fruit in the seasons of life.  Just like the change in seasons we face winter, spring, summer and fall in our lives.  The timing of the seasons is not up to us.  We may spend short or long times in each one or even experience different seasons in different parts of our lives at the same time.  For example, the empty nest can be seasons of both winter and spring.  Some things have ended and other things are just beginning.

Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.  I am the Vine, you are the branches, he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.  John 15:4-5

I often spend more time wondering about what I am doing or supposed to be doing rather than meditating on His Word, abiding In Him and then taking action when He instructs me to!  I work way too hard trying to bear fruit - to accomplish things or to appear a certain way - when I am to put my energies toward abiding in Jesus, in obeying His commands and trusting Him for the outcome...  for the fruit bearing if you will.  I am so easily distracted into taking matters into my own hands rather than looking to Him and resting in the fact that He is in control of the seasons in my life.  I must abide (remain in) Him in my thoughts and in my actions and quit spending so much time trying to recognize the fruit I am supposed to be bearing fruit.  I need to trust Him that He is working and that because I am meditating on His Word and seeking Him then I am bearing fruit according to what He has planned not according what I used to do, or what I think I should be doing.

Whether it is my season to be tilled, planted, watered, pruned, to bear fruit or to be re-planted is not up to me but up to my Father.  I have a choice to trust Him whether I am "in season or out".


Father God, I want to do my part in being in Your Word and finding satisfaction there and yet I know I cannot without the strength of Your Holy Spirit.  Forgive me for so often getting my priorities mixed up - in spending so much time trying to bear fruit rather than resting in You and trusting You for the outcome.  I do want to be that tree that is planted beside streams of living water.  I want to trust You for the seasons in my life and stop judging myself so harshly because I think I should be doing something that looks more like what I have always done and realize that I am in Your hands no matter the season and that You are at work in me regardless of what I think I can or cannot see.  Please give me ears to hear You as You lead me through Your Word. Give me strength to obey whether I understand or not.  And restore to me the delight that can only be found in You.  Teach me to abide in You and to meditate on You day and night.  Get my attention quickly, Holy Spirit, when I stray and please help me to step out of the way and bring You glory.  Change me from the inside out, Lord.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.  

An Undivided Mind

PSALM 86:11 (HSCB)
Teach me Your way, LORD, and I will live by Your truth.  Give me an undivided mind to fear Your Name.  
 (NIV)  Teach me Your way, LORD, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart; that I may fear Your Name.   
(NKJV)  Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your Name. 
(NLT) Teach me Your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to Your truth!  Grant me purity of heart so that I may honor You.  
(NIRV)  Lord, teach me how You want me to live.  Then I will follow Your truth.  Give me a heart that doesn't want anything more than to worship You. 
(MSG)  Train me, God, to walk straight; then I'll follow Your true path.  Put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I'll worship in joyful fear.  

Yes, Lord! May it be so.

I so struggle with a divided mind.  Do you?  I find myself going in 50 million directions -- at least in my mind.  I jump from one thing to the next as if distraction is an art form!!! And because I have allowed myself to become more and more distracted by this life more often than not anyway, I find that I am weary.  You know that weary to the core feeling that never seems to go away?  Yep, that's me.  Grief, disappointment, disillusionment, anger, frustration, fear, anxiety, and on and on.  This is a "gift" of a divided mind.  Not much of a gift, huh?  Exactly!

Thus this reminder from Psalm 86:11!
Please, LORD, teach me Your way and give me Your strength, Jesus, to live by the TRUTH of Your Word!  Remind me of what You have for me and help me to obey. Forgive me for so easily giving in to a divided mind and so quickly forgetting to renew my mind as You command.  Thank You for Your faithfulness!! Give me a heart that is pure and does not want anything more than to worship You.  Give me a fear, a reverence for Your Name that requires me to reign in my mind and surrender it to You when I go off on tangents that are my own.  You want me to have a steadfast mind that is in perfect peace, may I allow You to lead me in such a way that this is more a norm than a rarity.  Forgive me, Lord, that in this season of life where i feel like I should "know better" I seem to be more divided than ever.  Train me to walk straight and give me the strength to do my part and follow Your path, Your will.  Give me one heart and one mind that allows me to worship You.  I do not want to give place to the enemy in my mind by receiving his "gift" of distraction (or my own fleshly desire) rather than Your strength to focus.  You and I both know, Lord, that I cannot do this alone, nor do You expect me to!  Forgive me for so often living the day to day in  my own strength rather than in the power that You have for me as Your child!  Thank You, that You never ever leave me. You never ever give up on me. You never ever stop loving me, Jesus!  May I walk in Your way today, and not fulfill the lust of my flesh.  

Father, give each person who reads this a knowing that IF they are a Christ follower (they have confessed their sin and recognized they are lost and in need of Your salvation and they have gone on to accept You, Jesus, as their own personal Lord and Savior) that they are never alone and that You are at work in them to complete what You have begun. You have good for them and a plan that is just for them.  May they know what it is to have an undivided mind and a desire to worship You moment by moment in this life.  You want them to know how very much You love them - in fact Your love is unfailing, unending! And if someone does not know You as their very own LORD and Savior may they recognize their need of  You this very day.  Thank You, LORD, that You are at work in us and through us moment by moment and that in Your faithfulness, grace, mercy and forgiveness is peace of mind and heart!  May we receive all You have for us.  Thank You, Jesus!

Would you consider praying through the entirety of Psalm 86?

As You Have Received...So walk!

1 John 4:6
You are from God, little children, & you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 

You and I, as believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, are conquerors in Him.  Let that resonate a moment...

Why am I a conqueror?  Because Christ is in me by the power of His Holy Spirit and He is a conqueror, period.  Too often I make excuses, but I am weak (why yes, yes I am)...Matthew 26:41 & Mark 14:38 "Stay awake and pray, so that you will not enter into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." AND 2 Corinthians 2:10 "I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures because of Christ.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."  

Again, why?  2 Corinthians 2:9 "But He (Jesus) said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me."

My weakness is a given; however it is not to be my focus.  I am to look to Him and recognize all I am and all I have because of Who He Is!

My prayer for you and I is what Paul prayed:
  Colossians 2:2-3; 6-7
(vs. 2-3) "I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery -- Christ.  All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him." 
(vs. 6-7) "Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude."

If we go on to Colossians 3 we are commanded to "seek what is above", to "set our minds on what is above" - Christ!  Verse 3 states, "For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God."

We are also commanded to "put away all the following:  anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth.   Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self.  You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator."  Colossians 3:8-10

All of this and so much more is what makes us More Than Conquerors -- In Christ!!

Too often, almost daily in fact, I live as if I am defeated.  I do not want to!!! I want to remember and be reminded often of all that I am in Christ!!!  Do you?

How do we live this way consistently?  I struggle.  You struggle.  And we will continue to struggle until that glorious day when we are in heaven; BUT I am saying we struggle less if we remind one another of who we are in Christ.  If we pray for one another and let the other know that they are prayed for.  We are so isolated.  We go about our own business day in and day out without even realizing how little we are apart of community.  It takes much effort to be a part -- and yet I believe this is one of the tactics of the enemy - to keep us thinking we are to be busy, self-sufficient and unwilling to share the struggles that we all face daily.  Therefore we rarely live out what James 5:16 commands, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.  The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect."  And beyond the sharing, we are to PRAY for one another, not just share the struggle.  The burden is not lifted until we pray, but the enemy convinces us our time is better spent doing than being in prayer.  Remember it is Christ who is our righteousness, so we do not have to have it all together to pray for others!  I am so thankful!



Father God, You alone have made us more than conquerors through Your Son, Jesus Christ.  Thank You for Your provision and the fact that You are all sufficient.  Remind us and help us to step out and remind one another that we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him!  God, may we be rooted and established in the faith.  May we set our minds on You moment by moment.  Our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak, Lord, so please get our attention.  Forgive me for living as if I am defeated.  Forgive me for focusing more on myself than on You and TRUTH that You have provided all that I need to live victoriously.  Thank You, Jesus for forgiving me and making me Yours.  Thank You for being faithful all of the time, never wavering in Your love for me and for each of us.  Reveal Yourself to us through this day and give us ears to hear You and Your strength, Jesus, to obey.  It is because of Jesus I pray, Amen.

God's Promises

Excerpt from the book "Breaking Free" by Beth Moore:  "God has what you need.  He alone has unfailing love, and He wants to flood your life with it.  The fullness of God is not a one-time occurrence like our salvation.  Every day of our lives --to live victoriously-- we must learn to pour out our hearts to God, confess sin daily so nothing will hinder Him, acknowledge every hollow place, and invite Him to fill us fully!  Then we need to continue to fan the flame of His love by reading Scripture, listening to edifying music, and praying often.  We also need to avoid things that obviously quench His Spirit."  

Wow!!!  Psalm 90:14, "Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.  

I do not know about you, but this passage and the quotation above stirs my heart!  I want my life to be flooded with the unfailing love of my Father God.  I want to walk in the fullness of life.  And the thing is I can and so can you, because our Father promises and He always keeps His promises.
Thank You, Father!!
Psalm 16:11, "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." 

John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

I do not want to give so much of my life over to the thief and yet by my lack of discipline, or my unwillingness to do battle on my behalf, i.e. submit to God, resist the enemy (James 4:7), set my mind on things above (Colossians 3:2), walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of my flesh (Galatians 5:16) I am doing just that.  However, I find myself to be grateful over and over for God's faithfulness to reel me in and provide for me in spite of me.

Father God, thank You for Your many promises to me.  Thank You for Your unfailing love, for Your great faithfulness and the fact that You are my Good Shepherd.  Thank You for taking care of me and seeking me out no matter how many times I find myself off of Your path.  I do pray that You will get my attention and allow me to recognize, hear and listen to Your Voice and walk in Your ways.  Remind me to not just think about what I should or should not do but to confess to You and take the very next step.  Thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit so that I am never alone and the opportunity is there for me to experience Your presence and Your joy.  Give me Your strength, Jesus, to submit to Your lead and resist the ideas of the enemy.  May I spend more time with my mind focused on You than on my circumstances or wants.  May I delight myself in You, Lord, so that You may fulfill the desires You have placed in my heart.  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  God, help me to step out of Your way and do Your will.  Thank You for all that You are!!  Help me to walk in the victory that You have for me...

To Obey...

Matthew 21:28-31 HCSB

28) But what do you think?  A man had two sons.  He went to the first and said, "My son, do, work in the vineyard today."

29) He answered, "I don't want to!"  Yet later changed his minded went.

30) Then the man went to the other and said the same thing.  "I will, sir." He answered.  But he didn't go.  

31)  "Which of the two did his father's will?"  "The first," they said.  Jesus said to them, "I assure You:  Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you! 

32) For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him.  Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it didn't even change your minds then and believe him.  

In listening to my pastor preach on this passage I found myself to be convicted.  I am often the second son, polite and so outwardly well-intentioned to obey My Father and yet I get no further than the next item of my day than I have either talked myself out of what I think I heard God say to me or I rationalize it away with the thoughts that I cannot do it and surely He would not want me to.  

I spend so much of my time thinking about what I think I need to do rather than doing it!!  Forgive me, Jesus!  I also spend a great deal of time wondering why I am who I am and why I don't do things the way others do!  I realize it is ridiculous, particularly as I confess it to you.  But the Word says in James 5:16  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.  The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.  

I desperately want to be an obedient child of my Father.   One that trusts in Him to make the difference rather than constantly evaluating what I should or should not be doing.   I want to remember:

Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV) 

1)  "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, see your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 

2)  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  

What about you?  Do you see yourself in the parable above about the two sons?  What is God calling us to do?  Will we do it? 

Father, forgive me for so often making the statement that I am going to obey You and yet not following through.  I ask You to give me ears to hear You and to walk in Your Ways not turning to the right or to the left or even hightailing it in the other direction.  Please, through give me Your Strength, Jesus, to not get stalled looking at what I think or what I have or have not done but to fix my eyes on You and take the next step of obedience.   Forgive me, Father,  for not trusting You to truly have me and instead trusting in my own thoughts.  I pray that all who share in this journey Your way with me, Father, will confess to and pray for one another so that we may be healed.  I want to know the powerful effect of meeting with You and being changed.  May we reach out to those who are hurting and share our own struggles when it would be a benefit and may we share the hope that You have given us with those who do not know You.  Thank You for never being willing to leave me where I am, but constantly convicting, challenging and changing me.  I want to step out of Your way and bring You glory, Lord.  Thank You that You have made me to be who I am.  I submit myself to You once again and ask You to be my Lord and have Your way in me and through me.  It is all because of You, Jesus, thank You.