Category: Encouragement

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Good Enough?

What if I’m not good enough? Do you ever have thoughts like this?

Do you have that “one special someone” in your life? The one who knows your deepest secrets, your biggest fears, your worst failures and loves you still? That one who has been behind you for every success, cheering you on, encouraging you, applauding you, being there at the trophy ceremony to celebrate your victories?

That someone who will never leave and who will always support through thick or thin, good times or bad, that One is none other than our loving heavenly Father.

He loved us before we were born. He loved us when no one else knew our name. He loved us when we failed and disappointed Him and He loved us when we reached the pinnacle of success!

He can do no other. He IS love! He had His Son die for us. That’s who He is and what He does. It’s absolutely amazing to be in relationship with Him!!!!

“But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.” Romans 5:8 CEV

“So what should we say about this? If God is for us, no one can stand against us. And God is with us.” Romans 8:31 CEV

God isn’t waiting for us to fail so He can humiliate us or punish us for what we do wrong. He’s always with us – loving us, encouraging us to try, helping us to grow.

If you’ve ever battled with being “good enough” like I have and then come to a realization that there’s nothing that I can do to make God love me less and there is nothing I can do to make God love me more than you know what a wonderful joy (doesn’t even describe) it is to wake up each morning and say, “Father I love you. Jesus, I love you. Holy Spirit, I love you. And then to hear them say back, “We love you too!”

“Who can say that God’s people are guilty? No one! Christ Jesus died for us, but that is not all. He was also raised from death. And now he is at God’s right side, speaking to him for us. 35 Can anything separate us from Christ’s love? Can trouble or problems or persecution separate us from his love? If we have no food or clothes or face danger or even death, will that separate us from his love? 36 As the Scriptures say,

“For you we are in danger of death all the time.
People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed.”

37 But in all these troubles we have complete victory through God, who has shown his love for us. 38-39 Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:34-39 CEV

Nothing can separate us from His love. Good enough? We are for Him!

Now that’s a good way to start the day!!!

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Two Sides to the Coin

Do you ever struggle with the size of your faith? The disciples of Jesus struggled with theirs.

I often hear folks say, “I wish I had more faith or I wish my faith was bigger or stronger”. This morning I would like to share a couple of thoughts on faith and unbelief.

Imagine we are holding a coin in our hand right now. One side of the coin is faith and one side is unbelief. The outcome in the situations of our life are directly affected by the side of the coin that we are looking at.

There are many Scriptures when Jesus addressed unbelief in the hearts and minds of those that he was ministering too. In Matthew 13 it says that Jesus couldn’t do any mighty works in his own hometown because of their unbelief. In Mark 9 the man who had a demon possessed son brought him to Jesus for healing. Jesus answered if you can believe all things are possible to him to you. The father responded Lord, I believe – I need you to help me with my unbelief. After Jesus set the boy free his disciples came and ask:

“Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:19-21 NKJV

Jesus didn’t say that it was because of their “little” faith or even lack of faith but because of unbelief. He then goes on to say that if their faith was the size of a mustard seed, nothing would be impossible to them. And as a side note when Jesus said “this kind” goes not out but by prayer and fasting, He was talking about the unbelief.

Faith, simply put, is our belief that God not only can do but will do those things that He has promised. Abraham is our walking example of this. He had a lifetime of evidence to support his unbelief in being able to have a child. Barrenness for both he and Sarah. If they had gone to the fertility clinic, everyone would have laughed at them and sent them home. But thank God, Abraham didn’t listen to all the unbelief (his own or that of others) he was strong in faith.

“Abraham’s faith never became weak, not even when he was nearly a hundred years old. He knew that he was almost dead and that his wife Sarah could not have children. 20 But Abraham never doubted or questioned God’s promise. His faith made him strong, and he gave all the credit to God. 21 Abraham was certain that God could do what he had promised.” Romans 4:19-21 CEV

When we give our life to Christ and are born again, we are given faith as a part of our new nature. Romans 12 says that God has given all of us “the” measure of faith and then in Galatians 5, Paul tells us again that faith is a fruit of the Spirit.

We can all agree it takes faith to get saved. “For by grace are you saved through faith”.

Faith, believing that God will do what He says He will do, and grace, God giving us what we don’t deserve and can’t earn on our own. This was the time in our life that our faith in God was the smallest and yet it was enough to create the greatest miracle – salvation.

If we focus on the situation or problem in our lives that is causing us to worry, unbelief with win over faith. But if we go to God’s word, find His answer, feed our faith (Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God) and it will cause our unbelief to shrink.

We must keep looking at Jesus, he is the one who shows us what faith in God can do. He is our example.

“We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:2 ERV

As we look at Him and all that He did our unbelief with decrease and our faith with grow. It’s like putting weights on a scale – we simply decrease the unbelief.

We have God’s word that “mustard seed” faith is more than enough to move mountains. So go move some mountains.

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Advice From My Professor

I had a professor in college that would say, “If I say it’s significant, if I repeat it once it’s important, if I say it a third time write it down, it will be on the test”.

He was true to his word. We learned quickly.

You will notice that these morning writings follow a theme. Generally they will deal with our relationship with God the Father, his character (love, kindness, protection) and I always try to bring a message of encouragement and hope which dispel worry and fear.

When it’s important I will be repeating it time and time again.

When we lived in Montana we lived about 15 miles from town. Kaci would call to tell us she was off work and headed home. She would ask if we needed anything before she left town. Her dad would always tell her “remember to slow down through the willows, you never know if a deer is going to jump out onto the road”. This wasn’t an occasional reminder, it was daily.

She asked me once if he thought she wasn’t being careful. I told her no, but  as her dad he felt it was his responsibility to keep her safe and so as long as she drove that road he would be reminding her to slow down and be alert. The reminder was the expression of a loving father.

You know God, our heavenly Father, does the same with us. In the Old Testament He gave his message through prophets. In the New Testament the message came through Jesus and the apostles. The messengers were different but the message was the same.

“I love you and I want relationship with you. Listen to and obey my words. Life will go better when you use My wisdom.” Now that’s the Kristi paraphrase but Scripture says it like this:

“Be faithful in obeying the Lord your God. Be careful to keep all His Laws which I tell you today. And the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 All these good things will come upon you if you will obey the Lord your God. 3 Good will come to you in the city, and good will come to you in the country. ” Deuteronomy 28:1-3 NLV

or

“Listen to and obey all the Laws I am telling you today. Love the Lord your God. Work for Him with all your heart and soul. If you do, 14 He will give the rain for your land at the right times, the early and late rain. So you may gather in your grain, your new wine and your oil.” Deuteronomy 11:13-14 NLV

Listening to the Lord and obeying always came with blessings.

“Only be strong and have much strength of heart. Be careful to obey all the Law which My servant Moses told you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left. Then all will go well with you everywhere you go. 8 This book of the Law must not leave your mouth. Think about it day and night, so you may be careful to do all that is written in it. Then all will go well with you. You will receive many good things. 9 Have I not told you? Be strong and have strength of heart! Do not be afraid or lose faith. For the Lord your God is with you anywhere you go.” Joshua 1:7-9 NLV

We’re his children and His Word is his loving reminder of what’s important.

Let me ask you, when your kids were little how many times did you tell them to brush their teeth before they went to bed? Or how many times did you instruct them to say please and thank you; yes sir and no sir? How often did you instruct them to wash their hands, eat with their mouth closed, look both ways before crossing the street? Over and over again we repeated parental instruction.

Jesus used words like “verily, verily” which meant I’m telling you a truth, listen up. He also repeated the concepts of God’s kingdom by telling parables. A parable was a practical story with a godly principle as its basis. Remember the one of the prodigal son?

The son wanted to go off on his own. He made mistakes. He squandered his money and when he hit rock bottom he went home. The Father was waiting, waiting with open arms. Waiting to embrace his son and make his life good again.

The Apostle Paul wrote most of the books in the New Testament. The books were letters to churches in different areas where he had preached. In each letter he was reminding the believers of the things he had taught them while he had been with them personally. One of the major themes of Paul’s writings was joy and peace.

“Be full of joy always because you belong to the Lord. Again I say, be full of joy! 5 Let all people see how gentle you are. The Lord is coming again soon. 6 Do not worry. Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need. 7 The peace of God is much greater than the human mind can understand. This peace will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7 NLV

How appropriate it is for us today. Be full of joy, pray, don’t worry, be guarded by peace. Yes, that’s worth repeating!  I can guarantee life will test us daily to see if we come up with an answer to be joyful, pray, don’t worry and have peace.

Let me close with these words of repetition from the book of Psalms. I will encourage you to read chapter 118. The repetition in these 29 verses is overwhelming. This whole chapter has one purpose and that is to remind us that God’s loving kindness lasts forever. When we are mindful of that fact, it makes it easier for us to be full of joy, free from worry and bathed in peace.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His loving-kindness lasts forever. 2 Let Israel say, “His loving-kindness lasts forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron say, “His loving-kindness lasts forever.” 4 Let those who fear the Lord say, “His loving-kindness lasts forever.” Psalm 118:1-4 NLV

I hope you learn to love the repetition of Scripture. God is making a point!

His loving-kindness will last forever! Amen.

 

 

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Stop and Smell the Flowers – Carefully

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Yesterday I was out in the yard, the prickly pear are filled with blooms and I stopped to take a picture for a friend.

If you look closely in the top bloom you will see a honey bee bathing himself in pollen. It was fascinating to watch. He would dive in and roll around covering himself in yellow pollen. I tried to get a video of it but he flew away.

Who taught him to do that? Who gives the hummingbirds their command to fly south for the winter and to return in the Spring? Who tells the horses and cattle in the fields to grow thick heavy coats in the winter as protection from the cold? How do sea turtles know to come to the sandy beaches to lay their eggs? And who instructs the salmon to return to their spawning grounds?

These are not creatures with great intelligence. However, they were created with the instinct for preservation of life. Who gave them that instinct? The Creator of all things!

“God said, “I command the ocean to be full of living creatures, and I command birds to fly above the earth.” 21 So God made the giant sea monsters and all the living creatures that swim in the ocean. He also made every kind of bird. God looked at what he had done, and it was good.” Genesis 1:20-21 CEV

Since God created it all and gave such great forethought to every detail of His creation isn’t it safe to assume that He is equally as concerned with the details of our lives?

““But ask the wild animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you. 8 Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you. Let the fish of the sea make it known to you. 9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? 10 In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all men.” Job 12:7-10 NLV

Jesus told us that we should be free from worry about our daily necessities by comparing the way God provides for the flowers and birds to us. I know I use that analogy frequently but it’s because I am still so amazed by His love and provision.

“I tell you this: Do not worry about your life. Do not worry about what you are going to eat and drink. Do not worry about what you are going to wear. Is not life more important than food? Is not the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds in the sky. They do not plant seeds. They do not gather grain. They do not put grain into a building to keep. Yet your Father in heaven feeds them! Are you not more important than the birds? 27 Which of you can make himself a little taller by worrying? 28 Why should you worry about clothes? Think how the flowers grow. They do not work or make cloth. 29 But I tell you that Solomon in all his greatness was not dressed as well as one of these flowers. 30 God clothes the grass of the field. It lives today and is burned in the stove tomorrow. How much more will He give you clothes? You have so little faith! 31 Do not worry. Do not keep saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘What will we wear?’ 32 The people who do not know God are looking for all these things. Your Father in heaven knows you need all these things.” Matthew 6:25-32 NLV

Each time I see an example of God’s goodness in nature like the honey bee yesterday or the hummingbirds that come daily to my feeders it makes me stop and say thank you. God didn’t have to provide for us. He didn’t have to shower us with love and affection but He chose to. Independent of me efforts or lack thereof, He chose to love me! Amazing!!

“When I look up and think about Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in their place, 4 what is man, that You think of him, the son of man that You care for him? 5 You made him a little less than the angels and gave him a crown of greatness and honor. 6 You made him to rule over the works of Your hands. You put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and cattle, all the wild animals, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and all that pass through the sea. 9 O Lord, our Lord, how great is Your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:3-9 NLV

If you’re feeling down today, thinking that no one notices or really cares about the struggles you’re facing, go find a flower. Look at its intricacies and remind yourself that God who created these flowers is your loving heavenly Father and He cares, He deeply cares about you.

Elvis Presley sang a song years ago and the lyrics go like this:

Who made the mountains, who made the trees
Who made the rivers flow to the sea
And who sends the rain when the earth is dry
Somebody bigger than you and I

Who made the flowers to bloom in the spring
Who made the song for the robins to sing
And who hung the moon in the starry sky
Somebody bigger than you and I

He lights the way when the road is long
He keeps you company
And with His love to guide you
He walks beside you
Just like He walks with me

When I am weary, filled with despair
Who gives me courage to go on from there
And who gives me faith that will never die
Somebody bigger than you and I
Bigger than you and I

Let your heart be filled with song as you stop and smell the flowers!

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My Strong Place

This morning I have been focusing my thoughts on trust. Trusting the Lord is a progressive action or at least I found that to be my experience.

I’ve been reviewing the life of King David from the time he was a shepherd for his father to his life as King of Israel. He took trusting steps all along the way.

He mentions two occasions where he knew God was with him while taking care of the sheep.

“But David said to Saul, “There were times when I was taking care of my father’s sheep that wild animals came to take some sheep from the flock. Once there was a lion and another time, a bear. 35 I chased that wild animal, attacked it, and took the sheep from its mouth. The wild animal jumped on me, but I caught it by the fur under its mouth. And I hit it and killed it.” I Samuel 17:34-35 ERV

And because of these two trusting steps, he knew that he could face Goliath and that God would give him the victory.

“36 I killed both a lion and a bear like that! And I will kill that foreigner, Goliath, just like them. Goliath will die because he made fun of the army of the living God. 37 The Lord saved me from the lion and the bear. He will also save me from this Philistine.”

Saul said to David, “Go and may the Lord be with you.”  I Samuel 17:26-27 ERV

That was just the start of it. The same man, King Saul, who sent David out to face Goliath, became jealous of him and soon started hunting him. Each time Saul got close the Lord protected David.

“He said, “The Lord is my rock, my strong place, and the One Who sets me free. 3 He is my God, my rock, where I go to be safe. He is my covering and the horn that saves me, my strong place where I go to be safe. You save me from being hurt. 4 I call upon the Lord, Who should be praised. I am saved from those who hate me.” II Samuel 22:2-4 NLV

In these verses we see David placing his complete trust in the Lord. You are my Rock, he says. That phrase reminds me of where we live. We are surrounded by rocky mountains. Climbing to the top you could see your enemies coming for miles. You would be protected. A secure place, a place you could trust.

This kind of unwavering trust is available to everyone.

“The poor can run to you because you are a fortress in times of trouble. 10 Everyone who honors your name can trust you, because you are faithful to all who depend on you.” Psalm 9:9-10 CEV

I think it would be a good idea to keep a “trust” journal. You know a place where we write down the times we know God has been there to be our fortress, our rock, our high tower. Then when worry comes or stress tries to overwhelm we can look back and remember that God is FAITHFUL and can be trusted.

“Some people trust the power of chariots or horses, but we trust you, Lord God. 8 Others will stumble and fall, but we will be strong
and stand firm.” Psalm 20:7-8 CEV

I find it’s also good to look at people in the Bible who encountered tremendously difficult situations and saw God deliver them. People like Noah, Daniel, Joseph, Elijah and Elisha, Peter, and Paul.

The Bible tells us that God is no respecter of persons, He doesn’t play favorites so if He delivered these people we can trust Him to do the same for us.

When we trust we will be in a place of peace.

“You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the Lord forever. For the Lord God is a Rock that lasts forever. ” Isaiah 26:3-4 NLV

I’m looking out my patio window now. The sun is coming up and I see one of those rocky mountains. It is a daily reminder that God is a Rock. He is my Rock.

Today I am determined to take another step forward. I will trust Him!

“He who lives in the safe place of the Most High will be in the shadow of the All-powerful. 2 I will say to the Lord, “You are my safe and strong place, my God, in Whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2 NLV

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Dis Has To Go

We have been given the opportunity to be free of “dis”.  What is dis?

Dis: a Latin prefix meaning “apart,” “asunder,” “away,” “utterly,” or having a privative, negative, or reversing force.

I was praying for some of you this morning and it was in my prayer. I was praying against “dis”couragment, “dis” aster, “dis”respect, “dis”placement.

So I said, “Lord it appears that you have given us so many wonderful things and our enemy is stealing what you have provided. This shouldn’t be.” And this verse came to mind.

“The robber comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came so they might have life, a great full life.” John 10:10 NLV

So I began to look at some “dis” words. Words that are stealing, killing and “des”troying our lives.

Dis-appoint    Dis-courage     Dis-aster     Dis-obedience    Dis-content

Dis-trust    Dis-respect    Dis-lodged    Des-pair    Dis-illusioned

Des-truction     Dis-associate     Dis-card    Dis-able   Dis-turb

Dis-gust     Dis-miss     Dis-dain      Dis-tort     Dis-ease     Dis-cord

 

God desires that are lives are “dis”less. He wants us to be filled and overflowing with His love and goodness.

“With all my heart I praise the Lord, and with all that I am I praise his holy name!  With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been. 3 The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, 4 and protects us from death. His kindness and love are a crown on our heads. 5 Each day that we live, he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle.” Psalm 103:1-5 CEV

I encourage you today to make your life a “dis” free zone. If any of those words above have been trying to infiltrate your life grab your Bible and look up the verses for “dis” removal. If you can’t find them on your own you can always email me and I’ll be glad to help you find some.

It’s time that we start living the life God intended; one that’s full of courage, contentment, respect, ease, obedience and trust.

 

 

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The Final Word

I’m sure that at one point or another you have all watched a court proceeding either on television or in person. The symbol that brings order and conveys authority is the gavel.

When the judge bangs the gavel he calls for order and silences the gallery, the attorneys, the witness. It brings everything in to order. He has the authority to dismiss a case or to bring judgement. He reads the verdict and pronounces sentencing. He has the final word!

That reminds me so much of God our Father. He is the one who requires justice, justice for the sin that Adam brought into this world. God had created a perfect environment for Adam and Eve but they chose to disobey what God had said and so sin had to be dealt with. God provided that way through Jesus.

“This is what happened: Sin came into the world by one man, Adam. Sin brought death with it. Death spread to all men because all have sinned… .15 God’s free gift is not like the sin of Adam. Many people died because of the sin of this one man, Adam. But the loving-favor of God came to many people also. This gift came also by one Man Jesus Christ, God’s Son. 16 The free gift of God is not like Adam’s sin. God told Adam he was guilty because of his sin and through this one came sin and guilt. But the free gift makes men right with God. Through One, Christ, men’s sins are forgiven. 17 The power of death was over all men because of the sin of one man, Adam. But many people will receive His loving-favor and the gift of being made right with God. They will have power in life by Jesus Christ. 18 Through Adam’s sin, death and hell came to all men. But another Man, Christ, by His right act makes men free and gives them life.” Romans 5:12-18 NLV

You could say that this is the evidence that has been presented in heaven’s courtroom. Yes, we are all guilty of sin. There was only one person who was born on earth that was perfect. That person is Jesus. His birth was planned. He came to earth and provided the payment for sin and made us right with God once again.

“Christ never sinned but God put our sin on Him. Then we are made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.” II Corinthians 5:21 NLV

As the prosecutor is presenting the evidence against us, things look bad, real bad. There’s a long list of transgressions that can be found in our lives. When asked, we have to admit that yes, we are guilty. It seems inevitable that a guilty verdict will be delivered and we will be condemned.

But wait…

“When you were dead in your sins, you were not set free from the sinful things of the world. But God forgave your sins and gave you new life through Christ. 14 We had broken the Law many ways. Those sins were held against us by the Law. That Law had writings which said we were sinners. But now He has destroyed that writing by nailing it to the cross. 15 God took away the power of the leaders of this world and the powers of darkness. He showed them to the world. The battle was won over them through Christ.” Colossians 2:13-15 NLV

Jesus, our attorney for the defense, stands before the judge’s bench and says “Your honor, my client is guilty. They have transgressed the law. They have sinned. These charges are correct. However, Sir, the price for those sins has been paid on their behalf. I ask that you expunge their record. I paid the price. I gave my life in exchange for theirs.”

“God has shown His love to us by sending His only Son into the world. God did this so we might have life through Christ. 10 This is love! It is not that we loved God but that He loved us. For God sent His Son to pay for our sins with His own blood.” I John 4:9-10 NLV

To this testimony that Judge raises the gavel and says “I declare that payment has been met. Case dismiss. This is my final word!” And the gavel falls. We have been made right with God through the blood of Jesus.

There’s a song that was running through my mind this morning as I woke. The lyrics written by Cody Carnes go like this:

“The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
Sorrow may come in the darkest night
But the cross has the final word

There’s nothing stronger, nothing higher
There’s nothing greater than the name of Jesus
All the honor, all the power
All the glory to the name of Jesus

The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
Evil may put up its strongest fight
But the cross has the final word

There’s nothing stronger, nothing higher
Nothing greater than the name of Jesus
All the honor, all the power
All the glory to the name of Jesus

The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
The Savior has come with the morning light
The cross has the final word”

What’s your situation today? What are you facing that appears to condemn you? Nothing can separate you from the love of God.

“For I know that nothing can keep us from the love of God. Death cannot! Life cannot! Angels cannot! Leaders cannot! Any other power cannot! Hard things now or in the future cannot! 39 The world above or the world below cannot! Any other living thing cannot keep us away from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NLV

Just remember – The Cross of Jesus Has the Final Word!

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What Time Is It?

I’m late, I’m late for a very important date!

We seem to be a people obsessed with time. Everything is scheduled; appointments must be kept. No room for variance. Heaven forbid that something or someone interrupts our schedule.

Sun dials, sand timers, church bells striking the hour, and now probably the last thing many see each night is the clock on the dresser and alarms are set for morning rising.

I’ve hear it said that time is the most valuable commodity. When it’s lost it’s impossible to get it back. No one person has any more time than another. Wealth can’t buy it and poverty can’t deprive us of it.

The important question is what do we do with the time we have. Do we use it wisely or do we waste it? With the recent passing of Barbara Bush many have referred to a speech she gave at a college graduation. She talked about the important things in life, time. Time spent with loved ones, time invested into their lives far outweighs the time that is spent making a deal or gaining another step up the ladder.

If we follow the example that Jesus gave we will be more concerned with people than with things. He had time to play with the children, talk to a beggar, heal the blind and provide emotional healing to the outcast.  He had time for all these people because He first took time to spend with His Father.

“Jesus healed many of those who had different kinds of sicknesses…The next morning Jesus woke up very early. He left the house while it was still dark and went to a place where he could be alone and pray.” Mark 1:34 & 35 ERV

What time is it for you? Since we are connected through the internet it may be early morning – midday or perhaps you are reading this in the evening but whatever time it is  it is time to praise the Lord!

“I will sing praises to you, my source of strength. You, God, are my place of safety. You are the God who loves me!” Psalm 59:17 ERV

You could be in a time of trouble, a time of fear, good time, dinner time, party time, time of loneliness, time of sickness or time of concern. No matter, it is time to praise the Lord!

Why? Because He is Lord of all and Lord over all and all who trust in Him will never be ashamed! Just so you know, all those times listed above – I’ve been there and the thing that ALWAYS brings me through is praise time! Remembering that my heavenly Father is bigger than anything here and that He has a plan for me to prosper and have good success gives me reason to praise.

“I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace. 2 I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. 3 Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name.

4 For I cried to him and he answered me! He freed me from all my fears. 5 Others too were radiant at what he did for them. Theirs was no downcast look of rejection! 6 This poor man cried to the Lord—and the Lord heard him and saved him out of his troubles. 7 For the Angel of the Lord guards and rescues all who reverence him.

8 Oh, put God to the test and see how kind he is! See for yourself the way his mercies shower down on all who trust in him. 9 If you belong to the Lord, reverence him; for everyone who does this has everything he needs. 10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those of us who reverence the Lord will never lack any good thing.

11 Sons and daughters, come and listen and let me teach you the importance of trusting and fearing the Lord.” Psalm 34:1-11 TLB

Did you notice these verses are relational? King David wasn’t just focusing on his situation. No, he was taking time with others. Telling them what he had learned and experienced. He was investing in those around him and telling them of the goodness of God.

What time is it? Time to look up and be glad. Time to invest in the lives of those we love.

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What To Do with Condemning Thoughts

Am I the only one who wakes up at 4:30 am and says “I’m late”?

Just when I was getting ready to condemn myself this Scripture verse came to mind.

“You rise up early, and go to bed late, and work hard for your food, all for nothing. For the Lord gives to His loved ones even while they sleep.” Psalm 127:2 NLV

Thank you Father for giving me the rest I needed and thank you for providing me with your peace where there had been condemnation.

You see I have lived most of my life with the attitude that being late is almost a sin. We used to say that if we weren’t 15 minutes early we were late. Being punctual is a big thing to me and it can be very upsetting to be late.

Now that we’ve dealt with the thing that tried to start my day out wrong let’s look at your day. What type of things bring condemning thoughts to steal your joy?

It might be a failed relationship, an affair, a bankruptcy, a test grade that was lowered than anticipated. Perhaps you are dealing with position failure, you know what I mean, you thought you would be in a better position (whatever it is) at this stage in your life and so you fight feelings of failure.

Let’s look at what God has to say about things that condemn or try to condemn us.

“So now anyone who is in Christ Jesus is not judged guilty. (condemned) 2 That is because in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit that brings life made you free. It made you free from the law that brings sin and death.” Romans 12:1-2 ERV

Condemning thoughts have a way holding us in a prison of fear. God never intended us to be afraid.

“ For God did not give us a spirit of fear. He gave us a spirit of power and of love and of a good mind.” II Timothy 1:7 NLV

When thoughts of self-doubt come- you can’t do it, you’re not good enough, no one wants to be around you, give up now, you’ve failed too many times – we take those thoughts and give them to Jesus. He will replace them with His loving thoughts.

“We live in this world, but we don’t fight our battles in the same way the world does. 4 The weapons we use are not human ones. Our weapons have power from God and can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments, 5 and we tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We also capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.”                 II Corinthians 10:3-5 ERV

Still I can hear someone saying “but you don’t know what I’ve done”. True, but God does. Because He knows that we fail in lots of different ways, and that we sin in lots of different ways He tells us to come to Him and to confess what we’ve done and we will find forgiveness and help.

“If we tell Him our sins, He is faithful and we can depend on Him to forgive us of our sins. He will make our lives clean from all sin. ”              I John 1:9 NLV

“With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 ERV

And God not only forgives, He forgets. How is that possible, I don’t know, I’m not God. When someone wrongs us and we forgive them we need to be more like God and also try to forget it. We shouldn’t hold them in captivity by reminding them of the wrong they’ve done – we need to free them the same way God does us.

“I will show loving-kindness to them and forgive their sins. I will remember their sins no more.”  Hebrews 8:12 NLV

“Love does not do the wrong thing. Love never thinks of itself. Love does not get angry. Love does not remember the suffering that comes from being hurt by someone. ” I Corinthians 13:5 NLV

God’s love is truly amazing! He doesn’t condemn, He covers. He doesn’t criticize, He convicts. His words are never “you awful thing, how could you do something like that” no, He says “you’re better than that, that was wrong, trust me to help you next time and I’ll give you the strength you need not to fail”.

When we do fail and do something again that we have asked forgiveness for He’ll be there to forgive again. Why? Because He loves us!

So what started out as a morning thought of “I’m late”, now what”, has become a reassuring lesson from the Father that I am dearly loved.

“The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.” 18 The Lord has promised: Your sorrow has ended, and you can celebrate.” Zephaniah 3:17-18 CEV

Let God’s love free you from condemning thoughts today!

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Over, Under, Around or Through

Those of you who had young children in the 70’s, or perhaps you were a young child then, know that phrase well. It came from the characters on Sesame Street.

 

It was repeated continually to teach kids the directional concepts of over, under, around or through.

So many times we look for ways to get over (above) our circumstances instead of being under them. We would like to go around difficulties but are never too anxious to go through them.

A while back I did  a search on the word “bridge”. I wanted to share with you some wonderful thoughts about Jesus being our “bridge over troubled waters” (yes, our church youth choir actually sang that when I was in high school). But there is no bridge in Scripture.

And then I got to thinking about times in the Bible when people would have needed a bridge. Crossing the Jordan, The Red Sea, Sea of Galilee. You know what I found – God either parted the water or gave power to walk on it.

Some may be looking for a bridge. Looking for something to help you cross a river of circumstances in your life. I want to offer you a new prospective. Instead of looking for a way over, look for a way through.

“But now the Lord who created you, O Israel, says: Don’t be afraid, for I have ransomed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, your Savior, the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 43:1-3 TLB

The Father has victory for us if we keep our eyes on Him.

“At once, Jesus said to them, “Don’t worry! I am Jesus. Don’t be afraid.” 28 Peter replied, “Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come on!” Jesus said. Peter then got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward him.” Matthew 14:27-29 CEV

The first thing you will hear from the Lord is “don’t worry, don’t be afraid”. In other words I can hear Jesus saying, “I’ve got this!” Peter’s problem came when he got his eyes off Jesus and on the circumstances. We must keep our focus and not become distracted from God’s promises.

But if we do, like Peter, we call out for help and Jesus will grab ahold of us and bring us to safety.

So instead of trying to build a bridge today go through and see what God will do!

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