Category: Confidence

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Increased Knowledge

For those of you who aren’t very tech savvy you will be able to empathize with me.

In the past week I have backed-up my old phone and activated and downloaded all my info to my new phone. Then I received my birthday present from Dave a couple weeks early – an Apple watch. Final tech treat was a GoPro camera which we will take to Greece with us in September.

My goodness I had to go to YouTube just to learn how to charge and turn these things on! I do ok with my laptop and my old phone (which had started to malfunction) but three new devices in one week put my brain on overload.

“But as for you, Daniel, keep these words hidden and lock up the Book until the end of time. Many will travel here and there and knowledge will be more and more.” Daniel 12:4 NLV

We are definitely living in a time when knowledge is “more and more”, increasing. Every year or so Apple comes out with a new phone, so do the others. More advancement. Technology hasn’t just aided communication but it has also brought great advancement to the medical field. In my younger years, a surgical procedure would require several days stay in the hospital but now those same procedures are considered outpatient surgeries and you go home in the same day.

I could go on with the list of advancements in industry – automobile, entertainment, travel, information technology and so many more. Knowledge is amazing, just what I have seen in my lifetime is mind boggling.

But I like simplicity.

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

“ God’s plan looked foolish to men, but it is wiser than the best plans of men. God’s plan which may look weak is stronger than the strongest plans of men.” I Corinthians 1:25 NLV

The Gospel of Jesus is simple and it’s unchanging. The love of God will far surpass and outlast the knowledge of man.

“Love never fails— but where there are prophecies, they will pass away; where there are tongues, they will cease; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” I Corinthians 13:8 TLV

Although the knowledge of this generation is greater than any generation before it will never compare to love of God. Technology will always require an update to function properly but the love of God will never fail.

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Sack Lunch vs Banquet

Several years ago Dave and I had an interesting experience at a local Mexican restaurant.

Just after we arrived a family came in and sat at the next table. As they sat their waiting for the waitress to bring their drinks I noticed the one little girl had brought in a sack from Wendy’s. As her parents ordered and enjoyed their chips and salsa, the little girl reached into the sack and took out her Frosty, fries and burger. I thought, how cute!

But now the life lesson.

“Jesus said to him, ‘A man gave a big dinner. He invited many people. 17 When it was time to eat, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come. The food is ready.’ 18 But all the guests said they could not come. Each one made an excuse…’

21 “So the servant returned and told his master what happened. The master was angry. He said, ‘Hurry! Go into the streets and alleys of the town. Bring me the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’

22 “Later, the servant said to him, ‘Master, I did what you told me to do, but we still have places for more people.’ 23 The master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and country roads. Tell the people there to come. I want my house to be full!” Luke 14:16-23 ERV

The Father wants to lavish on us the things He has prepared for us.

So many times we come to the Father’s table with our own provision – Abraham and Sarah had God’s promise for a son but they made their own provision and Ishmael was born. Not a good thing…

We have allowed the tradition of religion to tell us that we can’t or shouldn’t expect God to bless us or to provide – excuses – we aren’t worthy or “God helps those who help themselves” and the focus gets placed on us and not on Him. We begin thinking like the prodigal son who said “the servants in my father’s house are eating well, I’ll just go be a servant”. But our Father doesn’t want servants, He wants sons!

He wants us to experience the joy of our salvation – the great and precious promises that He has provided for us through the death of His son!

“Praise the Lord, O my soul. And all that is within me, praise His holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul. And forget none of His acts of kindness. 3 He forgives all my sins. He heals all my diseases. 4 He saves my life from the grave. He crowns me with loving-kindness and pity. 5 He fills my years with good things and I am made young again like the eagle… 8 The Lord is full of loving-pity and kindness. He is slow to anger and has much loving-kindness.” Psalm 103:1-8 NLV

Maybe this life lesson was just for me. Maybe you’ve never come to the Father’s table with provisions of your own making but if you have, let me encourage you to drop your sack lunch in the receptacle at the door and come eat freely at the table the Father has prepared for you.

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Let It Be

Reading through the Scriptures this morning I paused in several different places, reading and re-reading the verses, then saying “Lord, let it be as Your word says”.

You remember the words of the Beatles song – let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be, speaking words of wisdom, let it be. There is no other place that we should go for wisdom than to the word of God.

Let it be!

In light of all we hear and see these verses are so pertinent.

“Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking. It is for peace that you were chosen to be together in one body. And always be thankful. 16 Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Everything you say and everything you do should be done for Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.” Colossians 3:15-17 ERV

Peace in Christ should rule our thinking.

Thankfulness should always be in our hearts.

The Word of God should live richly within us.

Everything we do and say should bring honor to the Father.

The Father has placed these things within us – peace, thankfulness, His promises. There is one more verse I would like to add to these.

“Let your light shine in front of men. Then they will see the good things you do and will honor your Father Who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NLV

We should be a shining light for all to see.

I can’t help but think that the light Jesus was referring to was the peace, joy, thankfulness and the promise we have from the Father. In all these things we are a conduit from the Father to those around us. When they see these good things, our Father will receive honor.

Say with me, “Lord, let it be”!

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I Owe What?

Recently we have had some expenditures that aren’t part of the monthly budget. We have saved to make sure the things we want don’t encumber our monthly living expenses. It can be a challenge to stay on budget.

I don’t know if you’ve ever had to create a balance sheet. Maybe you’ve applied for a bank loan or were starting a business. If so, you had to sit down and diligently list everything you owned and everyone you owed. It can be a bit overwhelming to see those two columns staring back at you in black and white.

While reading Romans I came across the Apostle Paul’s balance sheet and found that he was a man with a heavy debt.

“ I am a debtor both to Greeks and barbarians, both to wise and unintelligent: 15 so, as far as depends on me, am I ready to announce the glad tidings to you also who [are] in Rome.” Romans 1:13-14 DARBY

Paul said he had placed himself in debt to share the message of Christ with the non-Jewish world. Christ had enlisted him to serve, without renumeration, the citizens of Rome, Greece, and the islands of the seas.

I, for one, am extremely grateful that he did!

He followed the example of Christ who said freely you have received freely give.

Jesus said the same thing when He said that we should love the Lord, our God, first and foremost and then love others as much as we love ourselves.

Working on removing debt from our lives is an admiral and honorable thing but there should always be one debt that stays, the debt to love.

“You should owe nothing to anyone, except that you will always owe love to each other. The person who loves others has done all that the law commands. 9 The law says, ‘You must not commit adultery, you must not murder anyone, you must not steal, you must not want what belongs to someone else.’ All these commands and all other commands are really only one rule: ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’ 10 Love doesn’t hurt others. So loving is the same as obeying all the law.” Romans 13:8-10 CEV

He said we should be indebted to LOVE. Love balances on both sides of the spread sheet. It is an asset of the highest order but it is also a debt, although, not a liability.

Who in your life needs your love today? Your spouse, your children, grandchildren, your parents, co-workers, friends, casual acquaintances or a stranger on the street?

Look for opportunities to go into debt today, it will make your life richer!

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Held in Bondage

A new day! A fresh start – opportunities, potential, promise all lay ahead of you today. How will you spend the time that God has given you today?

If there are obstacles in your way do what Moses did:

“And the LORD said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water. Then say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.” Exodus 8:20 NKJV

Speak to that situation that is trying to keep you enslaved and tell it the Great I AM has freed you from its power. You have been moved to a place of victory through your relationship with Christ.

Is there a particular fear or apprehension that has you weighed down? Has anger and bitterness kept your emotions locked in chains?

“Loving God means obeying his commands. And God’s commands are not too hard for us, 4 because everyone who is a child of God has the power to win against the world. 5 It is our faith that has won the victory against the world. So who wins against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” I John 5:3-5 ERV

Joshua told us we would have good success if we kept our thoughts centered on God’s word day and night. Our faith strengthens when we are focused on His word.

“Always remember what is written in that book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can be sure to obey what is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything you do. 9 Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 ERV

King David told us to rise early and seek God.

“Show me your faithful love this morning. I trust in you. Show me what I should do. I put my life in your hands! 9 Lord, I come to you for protection. Save me from my enemies. 10 Show me what you want me to do. You are my God. Let your good Spirit lead me over level ground.” Psalm 143:8-10 ERV

Don’t despise getting up early. It’s God’s time of preparation, getting us ready for the day and a walk of victory!

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Eating Worms

As a kid, I’m sure most of you said this little chant once or twice. “Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, guess I’ll go eat worms. Big fat juicy ones, little, tiny scrawny ones, oh, how they do squirm.”

Kids stuff right? Not so much – that feeling is all too prevalent in adults as well, but we just don’t sing the chant.

The feeling that we’re all alone and that nobody really understands, or loves us can be overwhelming. We’ve all had people let us down, turn against us or just ignore us as if we don’t exist.

It seems we are justified in our little chant. However, I’d like to give you a different perspective on that little song. I’m going to turn it upside down. Instead of seeing it as a declaration of self-pity, I’d like us to look at it as a jingle of provision.

A worm-eating bird is the perfect example of God’s provision. It doesn’t go out in the morning complaining that no one cares – it goes out singing, knowing that God will provide all it needs for the day.

“Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth much more than birds?” Matthew 6:26 CEV

That same Father is the One who promises to never leave us or forsake us.

“God has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will never run away from you.’” Hebrews 13:5b ERV

Now that’s good news but let’s read it from the Amplified version to get a greater understanding.

“for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5b-6 AMP

Please read that again. The Amplified version gives us the depth of the meaning of the words the way they were written in the original language. God, the Father, is intense and emphatic in declaring His love to us.

This is how God feels about us. This is how He feels about you! He’s there for you. He will not leave you. His love never fails.

Welcome the day with singing. Our Father is protecting and providing all we need and we’re never alone.

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My Heart Speaks

How often do you listen to your heart?

I know when there are big decisions to make that I get very quiet and listen to what God is speaking to my heart. I’ve been doing this for years. When our kids were teenagers they would ask about going somewhere or doing something and Dave and I would have to say, “We don’t have a peace about that”.

More often than not, it wasn’t what they wanted to hear but we had made a commitment that if the Lord didn’t give us a peace, if we felt uneasy, we wouldn’t give them our permission. But we were also honest with them to tell them we would pray about it further and if the Lord replaced the uneasiness with peace we would give them the go ahead.

“And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.” Philippians 4:7 ERV

It’s important that we keep our hearts open so we don’t miss the Lord’s direction.

“Good people have good things saved in their hearts. That’s why they say good things. But those who are evil have hearts full of evil, and that’s why they say things that are evil. What people say with their mouths comes from what fills their hearts.” Luke 6:45 ERV

Our hearts learn to speak in much the same way as a toddler learns to communicate. By repetition, a smile child learns “Mama, Dada, Drink, Cookie, No”. By the repetition of our thoughts and meditations our hearts learn to communicate. They can express love, gratitude, understanding, forgiveness, kindness and mercy or the opposite can occur, jealousy, prejudice, anger, criticism, hatred and selfishness.

“Don’t let me do what I know is wrong. Don’t let sin control me. If you help me, I can be pure and free from sin. 14 May my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock—the one who rescues me.” Psalm 19:13-14 ERV

I know when the Lord impresses my heart with verses like these I will have an opportunity to put them into practice very soon. He is directing my thoughts and wanting me to be a living example of His words.

“Lord, help me control what I say. Don’t let me say anything bad.” Psalm 141:3 ERV

Take a few more minutes this morning to fill your heart and mouth with pleasing words. At the very least if you have to eat your words they will be sweet!

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On The Rock

Yesterday I wrote about “Standing on the Promises”, a sure foundation, the Word of God, that won’t fail in the storms of life.

“So when God wanted to prove for certain his promise to his people could not be broken, he made a vow. 18 God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. 19  This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls…” Hebrews 6:17-19 CEV

This morning I woke up thinking of motherhood and how each of us ladies must hold firmly to the hope that God has given us for our children. How appropriate it is that Mary, the mother of Jesus, stood on God’s promises, in the midst of her storm .

“Then the angel told Mary, ‘Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you, 31 and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. 33 He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.’ 34 Mary asked the angel, ‘How can this happen? I am not married!’ 35 The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. 36 Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. 37 Nothing is impossible for God!’ 38 Mary said, ‘I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.’ And the angel left her.” Luke 1:30-38 CEV

In Mary’s day, the law demanded if a woman was not a virgin when she was married that she could be stoned. Mary was very aware of this. She knew that by consenting to what the angel said, it could cost her life. It would certainly cost her the relationship she had with Joseph, the man she was engaged too and could cause her to be shunned by her family and friends.

Mary knew the prophecies of the coming Messiah and that he would be born to a virgin so she consented. She would stand on God’s word and become the mother of the Messiah.

A young girl who was willing to obey God’s leading; who gave up her reputation and the possibly of family and friends to stand on the Word of God, changed history as we know it. A young mother chose to be believe God’s promises for her child. She held fast to God’s Word and stood strong in a storm.

If God’s word was the sustaining force for Mary, it will be for us as well. Mom’s don’t give up on the promises of God for your children.

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Make Over – Made New

At one point or another you have probably seen at least one episode of a “Make Over” show on television.

You know the ones – the DIY shows where they completely remodel a home. Some of them make over the person; new haircut, makeup, weight loss and wardrobe. There have been times when I’ve thought it would be nice to have someone create a hairstyle just for me and/or help me find a wardrobe that minimizes the faults and accentuates the strengths.

That my friends is a makeover.

But what about making something new? A new home or a new car, one that no one else has lived in or driven. What’s even more special is when it’s not only new, but custom. The floorplan, cabinetry, countertops, windows, room size, and the view have all been designed specifically for you. No room for complaint – it’s new.

Our Christian lives are like that, made new!

“ Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.” II Corinthians 5:17 CEV

Everything is new.

“Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. 32  Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ. 5 Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children. 2  Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God.” Ephesians 4:31-5:2 CEV

We are to have the same character as our heavenly Father. We are new in Him. He has placed His nature in us. For a long time, I didn’t see myself as new in Christ; at best, I saw myself as remodeled and truth be told, I saw the remodel as incomplete. Still struggling and dealing with old issues that would never really be fixed this side of heaven.

“Christ died, and we have been joined with him by dying too. So we will also be joined with him by rising from death as he did. 6 We know that our old life was put to death on the cross with Christ. This happened so that our sinful selves would have no power over us. Then we would not be slaves to sin. 7 Anyone who has died is made free from sin’s control.

8 If we died with Christ, we know that we will also live with him. 9 Christ was raised from death. And we know that he cannot die again. Death has no power over him now. 10 Yes, when Christ died, he died to defeat the power of sin one time—enough for all time. He now has a new life, and his new life is with God. 11 In the same way, you should see yourselves as being dead to the power of sin and alive for God through Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:5-11 ERV

Dead to sin and alive for God!

Made new!

Dead to the power of sin – dead to temper, lying, a critical spirit, gossip, self-pity. Dead.

“ But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.” Romans 3:24 CEV

A makeover is something we try to do, made new is something only God can do. I like His way better!

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Stand Strong

This morning I’ve been thinking about the course of events that brought Dave and I back to Arizona in 2014. We moved away in 1989. It was a long journey to faraway places like California, Washington, Idaho and Montana but eventually, we ended up back in my home state, Arizona.

Each place we called home, we made friends, and the Lord was faithful to always provide and care for us. However, there was a longing to move on and as the Lord opened the doors, we did just that. In 2014 we moved back to Arizona; we were home!

I have identified with Abraham on more than one occasion. God called him to leave his family and travel to an unknown land. He lived in a tent, not a permanent dwelling. He moved quite a bit. A famine took him to Egypt and a prosperous, growing herd of cattle caused him to relocate and allot part of his land to his nephew.

“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.” Hebrews 11:8-9 NLT

All the while, Abraham and his wife, Sarah, had no children. At age 75 God made Abraham a promise that he would be father to many nations. Abraham clung to that promise. You know the story; it wasn’t until Abraham was 100 years old that he was blessed with the birth of his son Isaac.

“It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. 12 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.” Hebrews 11:11-12 NLT

“He never doubted that God would do what he promised. He never stopped believing. In fact, he grew stronger in his faith and just praised God. 21 Abraham felt sure that God was able to do what he promised.” Romans 4:20-21 ERV

Abraham never doubted God, he never stopped believing and he felt sure that God was able to do what He promised. Sarah had her moments of doubt, but God reassured her that He was faithful.

I too had doubts and wondered what God’s purpose and plan was for me and my family. That’s when I learned to get up every morning and thank the Father for His faithfulness and abiding presence. I haven’t had to wait 25 years, like Abraham, to see a promise of God come to pass but I have waited 8 years.

What promise has God made you? Are you having to wait on it? Don’t give up, don’t give in. Never stop believing.

Stand Strong!

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