Possibilities…

Do you love your alarm clock? Or, do you want to take a hammer to it when it rudely interrupts your latest dream? Do you ever hit the snooze button and try to grab a few more moments of rest? Do you feel sluggish when you arise? Do you feel excited? Or do you have a feeling of vague dread when it is time to face a new day?

A lot of people, Christians included, feel fear about what the new day holds. How will work be that day? Will the family be healthy and cooperative? Will you have enough money to pay the bills? Will terrorists do something crazy? There are a lot of things “out there” to cause us untold amounts of anxiety.

If we start the day off wallowing in negative emotions, then it is no wonder the day doesn’t go too well. We are setting ourselves up to fail. I have struggled with this over the years. I went through a major health crisis several years ago. And, each day, I woke up worried about how much pain I would be in, and wondering how I would make it through the day. My fears and worries magnified my pain and made it even more difficult to manage.

Recently, I heard about a lovely elderly man named Josiah. Josiah has been walking with the Lord for a long time. A retired farmer, Josiah has worked hard all his life to serve the Lord and take care of his family. When asked the secret to his life of contentment, Josiah said that he spends about fifteen to twenty minutes each and every morning, in fellowship with God before he even gets out of bed! He went on to say that if he is in “right fellowship” with God, then the other parts of his day will work out better.

Josiah is a realist. He understands there will be problems in this life, and sometimes there will be plenty of them. However, he chooses, on a daily basis, to put his faith and trust in the Lord. He understands that nothing “gets by God” and that if it is okay with God for a situation to come into Josiah’s’ life, then that is okay with him. He is the first to admit he often struggles with it, but he doesn’t give up.

Josiah also strives to look at problems as possibilities. He says it is hard to do, but he knows that life will be better if he does. He asks God to show him the way that He wants a situation to be dealt with and then does his best to follow what God leads him to do.

This week I encourage you to spend time with God as you are waking up. Commit each day to Him. Ask Him to carry you through it, and He will. He wants you to commit it all to Him. Ask God to turn your problems into possibilities. Be encouraged and be blessed!

Self Esteem

Have you ever looked in the mirror and winced? Have you ever tried on so many outfits that before you walked out the door you had a mountain of discarded clothing that you hated? Do you ever avoid the camera at family gatherings for fear of looking awful in a photo? Well, if you have, you are not alone. Many, many people feel really bad about how they “look” either on the outside, on the inside, or both.

We read in Genesis 1:26 (NIV), “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” We are made in the image of God. That is serious stuff. God wasn’t “playing around” when He made us. And, then, after the work of creating us, He made people rulers of all He created. Again, this is a seriously big deal.

I have heard it said, many times, and in many different ways, that when we insult ourselves and each other, we are insulting God. When we feel bad about how we look or when we make fun of the appearance of others, we are making fun of God. That is not something anyone in their right mind should set out to do. God loves us with a passionate love that is so big, and so wide, and so deep that we can’t even wrap our minds around how much He truly loves us. When you love someone that much, it is hurtful when someone else “picks” on them.

Why, then, are we so hard on ourselves? So many celebrities today seem to set the worldly tone for what is good, and beautiful, and acceptable in our culture. How many of these celebrities’ photos have been airbrushed or otherwise “touched up” to look what people consider to be “perfect”? I’ll bet the answer to that question would be quite shocking.

Then it stands to reason that if “touched up” photos that aren’t even normal are the “norm” for beauty and perfection, how many of the “real” people of the world can ever achieve such a level of beauty? God wants us to take care of ourselves and honor Him by taking good care of our bodies.

We should be proud of ourselves and make the most of what God gave us, both inside and out. When we honor Him and do what is healthy and right, we will begin to feel good about ourselves. This goes against what our culture teaches us. And, that is okay. We shouldn’t bow down to worldly pressure to starve ourselves and “touch up” our photos until we disappear out of the family album.

If we are good enough for God, isn’t that enough? This week, I challenge you to take a good, long look in the mirror and remind yourself that YOU are made in the image of God. He loves you and created you just the way you are! Be encouraged and be blessed!

The Wobbly Kingdom

Have you ever met anyone who was obsessed with stuff? Have you ever known someone who wanted more and more of everything? Do you know people who can’t seem to get enough? Have you ever met someone who never seemed satisfied and you couldn’t figure out why?

If you put your faith in “stuff” you will never have enough. You will never, ever be satisfied. There will always be something newer, shinier, better, faster on the market. It will make you dizzy just trying to keep up. And those things all have price tags, some costing you more than just money.

If you focus on the wrong things, it will hurt your relationships with those closest to you. It will hurt your relationship with God because you are not focusing on Him. And, when you put God on the “back burner,” He loses priority as the “Number One” in your life. And, when you are not right with God, nothing else will make sense in your life.

In the Bible, we read, in Matthew 6:19-20, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” If you lay up treasures in Heaven, nothing will ever happen to them. Think about that. What you do for God and the Kingdom of Heaven will last forever and ever.

There is no competition in Heaven. You don’t have to worry about finding the latest and greatest of anything. You take the talents and gifts and abilities that God has given you and make the most of them. You do your very best to spread the Good News to everyone you meet and encourage them in God’s love.

God’s Kingdom is rock-solid and steadfast. It will never change rulers, it will never collapse. Any other kingdom is not permanent. It simply won’t last.

Why not put your faith, and time, and talents into something that will last forever? Why would you want to work so hard to build a “wobbly kingdom” for yourself that could collapse at any moment? It seems like a lot of work and worry and effort for something that will last, at most, until you die.

Where you spend your time and effort is where your heart is. Matthew 19:21 says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” That verse should be enough to propel us to really take a heart inventory and see what really matters to us. As long as we are alive and conscious, we can change if we don’t have our priorities right with God and our loved ones.

So, this week, I challenge you to do a “Kingdom Inventory” in your life. Think about where you are spending your time and talent and energy. Are you working to grow the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of your own life? Be encouraged and be blessed!

The Walking Wounded

Over the last few years, I have noticed a trend that seems to be growing. More and more people are “hanging in there” in spite of astronomical odds stacked against them. When others would fold up, give in, and just plain quit, they perservere and keep on going. They don’t stop no matter what. How do they do this? Why do they do this? The answer is God.

God keeps us hanging on and hanging in, no matter what the circumstances. Nothing is too big or too bad or too difficult for God to handle. When our minds and bodies feel weak, He carries us.

I have a dear friend, named Jackie, who has been battling cancer for many years. Just when it seems like she’s got it licked, it will show up in another place. She is now a grandma and loves her family dearly. But, she loves God even more. I remember wondering how she always manages to stay so optomisitc even when things look grim. She took me aside and said, “I love God with all my heart. I know that when my time on Earth is over, I will go to Heaven. So why would I be upset? I am going to enjoy my family and friends as much as I can while I am here, and then when God calls me home, I will be healed in Heaven.”

Jackie has the right outlook on life. She has her priorities straight. She has a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She loves her family and friends. She serves God as much as she can, even in spite of her health challenges. Everywhere she goes, she tells people about her happiness in Jesus. Because of her, there are people who will be hearing about God from someone who loves Him even when times look grim. That kind of testimony speaks volumes.

I have another dear friend, whom I will refer to as Kevin, who lost a job and it led to a downward spiral in his life. Yet, he refused to give up. He kept praying and waiting on God. He trusted that God would supply all of his needs. When the world would have said, “Thow up your hands and quit!” Kevin did the opposite. He remained steadfast in his faith that God would come through for him. And, God did. Kevin got a better job offer than what he had before. He ended up moving, but that led to him meeting the lady who became his wife. If Kevin had panicked, things wouldn’t have worked out too well for him. He remained calm and waited on God’s timing.

No matter what kind of wounds you have — spiritual, physical, mental, circumstances you are not alone. God loves you and will walk with you through everything. Wait on Him and His timing and be prepared to rejoice with what He will do in your life.

So, this week, I encourage you to praise God for everything in your life. Pray and pray hard. Share it all with Him. Ask God to heal your hurts and give you the strength and peace to wait on Him and His perfect plan for you. The Walking Wounded will win victory in Christ. Be encouraged and be blessed!

Look AHEAD, Not BACK!

Regrets will eat you up. They take up your time, they sap your energy, and they leave you feeling like a castaway on a deserted island.Now that 2011 has wound down, it’s time to look ahead to 2012.

In the Bible, Lot and his family made an escape. They were specifically told not to look back. What did Lot’s wife do? She looked back, and things did not work out well for her. In fact, she was turned into a pillar of salt!

Luke 17:31-32 (KJV) says, “In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife.” This contains a reminder to remember what happened to Lot’s wife, and also to let us know that we need to focus on God and the future. That is what is important.

What does all of that have to do with us? First, it’s a lesson in obedience. God doesn’t want us to sit around and “stew” over the past. What is done is done. It is over. We can, and should, learn from past mistakes. However, when we give it all to Jesus Christ, we need to leave it with Him. Don’t keep taking things back from Him. He is big enough and strong enough to handle anything we need to leave with Him.

Secondly, regrets take our mind and focus off God. We get so caught up in what we could have done or should have done, we don’t take the time to look at God’s plan for our lives. We don’t think about the lessons we should be learning from our experiences. God never wastes a hurt, and He works it all for our good. (Romans 8:28)

If we continuously play the “Could Have, Should Have, Would Have” game, it hurts our testimony, too. It makes us look like we think God is not in control. It makes us look like we think everything is just some crazy, random “stuff” that just happens. We know better than that. However, our attitudes and actions are being noticed by people who don’t know Jesus, but they sure know us!

In Matthew 12:34b we read, “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” What is in our heart will show on our face. It will be in our speech and it will show what we are all about. If we are constantly focusing on the past, we will be full of regrets and we can’t look forward to what God has in store for us now and in the future.

So, I challenge you to look AHEAD to 2012 with great expectation and joy. Know that nothing comes as a surprise to God. He loves you dearly and He will be with you through the calm, the storm, the joy, and the pain. He will not leave you. Be encouraged and be blessed. Happy New Year!

Look AROUND The CHRISTmas Tree, Not UNDER It!

Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday, Jesus! After all, Jesus Christ is Who it is all about anyway. You can slice it up any which way you like, but in the end, it is the birthday of Jesus Christ we are supposed to be celebrating. He is the One who stepped down from Heaven and came to live a humble life here on Earth, to die on the cross to save us from our sins.

John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

So why do we celebrate Christmas with the giving and receiving of gifts, anyway? The whole “gift thing” has lost a lot of the original meaning. We give gifts to remind ourseleves and others of the greatest gift of all- Jesus Christ. All we have to do is believe on Him, admit we need Him, and receive the free gift of eternal salvation! Anytime and everytime we give or receive a gift, we should be reminded of Jesus.

Somewhere along the way, Jesus got shoved to the side. Jesus is a gentleman of the truest and highest order. He will never force His way into where He is not invited. With free will to choose whether or not to follow Him, many people have forgotten about Jesus.

For lots of people all over the world, Christmas is all about stuff. The more stuff the better it is. The bigger the stuff, the bigger the smile, at least for a while.

Does that mean Christians can’t enjoy gifts? Of course not. In fact, we should enjoy giving and getting gifts. It’s fun and meant to be enjoyed. We just shouldn’t lose sight of Who it is all about. We should remember, every time we open a gift, what Jesus did for each of us.

This Christmas, look around your Christmas tree. Enjoy the loved ones who are celebrating with you. Thank God for putting them in your life. You never know when it will be your last Christmas on this Earth with them. Life is short and it is precious. It is a blessing. Enjoy every moment of it.

Life isn’t about stuff. It’s about God and the people He brings into your life. They are there for a reason. Some of them will be with you for a long time. Others will only be part of your life for a season. For however long you are together, live it out in a way that will make God proud.

We have two lovely rescue dogs, Merci Me and Job FoxyBeast. Little Job is getting old and I fear that he won’t be around for too many more years. It makes our time together even sweeter. I want to savor every second of my time with my family, both the humans and our furry family members.

This year, I encourage you to spend more time looking around the tree than under it. Sure, enjoy the gifts, but spend time praising God for Jesus and the loved ones in your life. Those gifts are the ones that will last forever.

Jesus Christ — The Most Precious Gift Of ALL!

Have you ever received a gift that was truly awful? Did you ever unwrap a hideous sweater that was so busy it could confuse small planes trying to land? What about a gadget or gizmo that you had no use for? Most of us can relate to the “Oh!-I-wish-I-hadn’t-unwrapped-that!” moment. What really counts is the thought behind the gift, of course. However, it creates a really awkward moment when the gift giver looks at you with breathless anticipation, waiting for your truly happy reaction. Well, the one gift that “fits all” is Jesus Christ!

As we roll into high gear during the Christmas season, we are thinking about doing kind and loving things for others. What a blessing that is! We know it’s not all about the “stuff.” We give and receive gifts to remind others and ourselves of the best gift of all — Jesus Christ. The fact that He stepped down from Heaven and came to Earth in human form, knowing He would suffer and die for our sins, is a blessing for all.

My dear husband, Rob, has a clueless relative whom I will call “Darla” in order to protect her identity. Darla is obsessed with gifts. She has a lot of money and enjoys spending it. Unfortunately, she doesn’t think of the recipients when she purchases the gifts. For example, our kids have very sensitive skin and can’t wear certain fabrics. One of my children has such a severe fabric allergy that he has trouble breathing if the offending fabric touches his skin. Rob and I told Darla about this many, many times, but she kept sending both of our children clothing made of this fabric. She had a temper tantrum when we didn’t let them wear the dangerous clothing.

For Darla, gift giving is all about her. It is a selfish thing and this doesn’t do anyone any favors. In this case, gift giving is not a labor of love. Most people have a Darla in their life. In our case, Darla is not a Christian and this is reflected in all parts of her life. She is constantly searching for the “next big thing,” but can’t ever seem to find it. People like Darla are completely focused on the material things.

We are told in Matthew 6:20 (NIV), “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” This means we need to focus our hearts, our time, our talents, and everything on the eternal. If we have the right focus, what we do and what we care about will never be wasted. The reward we seek will be granted to us in Heaven.

This week, as you contemplate Christmas, get alone with God and thank Him for Jesus. If you haven’t received the precious gift of salvation, please don’t put it off. If you are already in a relationship with Jesus, tell Him again how much He means to you. And, don’t keep Jesus a secret. Share Him with others! Be encouraged and be blessed!

Don’t Forget Your Carry-On!

Do you like to see new places? Do you enjoy meeting new people? Do you thirst for adventure? Do you hunger to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with people all over the world? With all of today’s technological and traveling advances, spreading the Good News is getting easier and easier. Travel is not as difficult as it used to be. But one thing is remains a headache—luggage! Most people struggle with how much “stuff” they can or should bring when they travel. And thinking about traveling and luggage makes me think about Jesus!

Over the years, my husband, Rob, and I have been blessed to do a lot of traveling. Before we had our kids we often did a lot of last-minute traveling. Since our precious children arrived, traveling has taken on a whole new meaning and requires highly-skilled, advanced planning. Sometimes it feels like a military operation. I will never forget how we made the fifteen-hour drive to visit Rob’s family when our daughter was four months old. I was completely amazed by how much “gear” she required!

When we travel by plane, I spend a good deal of time thinking about our “carry-on” situation. I always what do we absolutely have to have while we are away. Then I think about all of the “nice” goodies that we would like to bring along, but don’t necessarily need to take with us. Of course, the “essentials” all go in the carry-ons, just in case the other luggage gets lost.

I want to live my life with Jesus Christ as my “carry-on” everywhere I go. I don’t ever want to take Him with me and just “leave” Him somewhere. He is the essential for my life. Over the years I have learned that if things are in line with Jesus, everything else will work itself out, too.

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During all of our travels, Rob and I have had to deal with lost luggage. What a pain that can be! Once it is lost, there is not guarantee that it will be found. And, if it is found, there is no guarantee that it will be unharmed. That is why we have learned that the “less important” stuff gets relegated to the checked luggage department.

In life, there are certain obligations and commitments we all have to deal with. Those tend to be the checked bags. If they get lost or changed our heart doesn’t break. Life will go on.

So, this week, I challenge you to plan for a mental “trip.” Make a list of what is most important in your life. Think about what you just have to have with you at all times. Place that in your mental carry-on. Then, pray and ask God to show you how to focus your priorities to reflect what is most important in your life. May the love of Jesus Christ be carried in your heart and in your life every day. Be encouraged and be blessed!

Playing Hide And Seek With God

Do you ever yearn for yesteryear? Do you ever ponder the past? Have you ever thought back to the carefree days of your childhood, when everything seemed simple and uncomplicated? It sure would be nice to bring the innocence of youth into adulthood, wouldn’t it? I had a moment this week when the goodness of childhood met adulthood in a most unexpected way, and it made me think about God.

I was in the car with my kids, Bella and Noah. There were happily chatting in the backseat, and I just enjoyed listening to them for a while. I didn’t want to interrupt their sweet talking, so I kept quiet. Then, the conversation somehow turned to a game they love to play, Hide and Seek. How they got on that particular topic, I don’t know, but their insight blew me away.

We had been talking about God at home and then we went to do some errands. As they were chatting and talking about Hide and Seek, Noah brought God into the conversation. By this time, my ears had perked up. He then said, “Well, if God played Hide and Seek, He’d be the Seeker because He wants everybody to find Him!”

I felt tears stinging my eyes at his statement. It was so full of meaning on many different levels. Too many adults don’t “get that” simple, yet eternity-changing fact. God doesn’t hide from us, but we sure try to hide from Him.

Too many people do things thinking they are alone and that “no one will ever know.” God sees and hears and knows everything. He even knows what is going on in our minds and in our hearts. Psalm 139:1-3 (NKJV) tells us, “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.”

The simple fact is God loves each and every person in the world. We each matter to Him so much that God sent His beloved Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross so we could have forgiveness if we only believe and ask for it. God wants us to love Him but He won’t force it. He wants us to come to Him through our own free will.

Revelation 3:20-21 (NKJV) says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

This week, I encourage you to look for God every day. Open your heart and your mind and your life to Him. He wants to be found. He wants you to join His family and find the peace and freedom that can only come from Him. Be encouraged and be blessed!

So Happy Together

Have you ever had one of those special moments that takes your breath away? You know the kind of moment that you want to “freeze” in your memory forever so you don’t forget one detail? I had one of those moments on Thanksgiving Day and it reminded me of something even more special that I never want to forget.

My family and I enjoyed a quiet, low-stress Thanksgiving, which is my favorite kind! We spent the day watching the parade, playing games, enjoying the mild weather where we live, and consuming some tasty food. Most importantly, we took time to give thanks for the many wonderful blessings God has lovingly bestowed on us this past year.

We each took a turn, while sitting at our dinner table, to tell what God has done for us and why we are thankful. When it was my turn, it took my breath away to look around the table at who was sitting with me. I don’t deserve the blessings God has given me, but I am grateful and I want to honor God by loving the ones in my life to the best of my ability.

By all accounts, my dear husband, Rob, and I should never have met. It was a once-in-a-lifetime set of circumstances that brought us together. It was God’s doing. We should never have been able to have kids, but, again, God orchestrated it and brought us two sweet, healthy children. Our beloved dogs are both rescues, and only God could have brought about their rescue into our family.

Our kids will grow up all too soon and have their own families one day. They may live far away, no matter how much my heart will break over it. Our oldest dog is getting really old. I can’t stand the thought of him not being here, so I want to cherish the time we all have together now.

Take the time to praise God every day for the people in your life, even the “difficult” ones. You never know when your time together will be over. If you live each day, each moment, with gratitude, then you won’t have to deal with regrets later. Be so happy together. Be encouraged and be blessed!

I pray that I will always remember that God loves me and He blesses me with the people in my life. Some will be with me for a long time and others only for a season. But each one is there for a special reason.

So, I encourage you to live each day like it is Thanksgiving Day. Praise God for the big blessings, the little blessings, and all the blessings in between. He loves you and shows you how much He loves you each and every day. Look around and look up and you will see what He is doing for you and through you. Read Romans 8:28 like it’s the first time you’ve read it. Be encouraged and be blessed!