Soul Surfer, Courageous, And More!

Have you ever avoided going to the movies because of the poor offerings at the theatre? Do you cringe at the storylines in the latest bestselling novels, and the highly praised shows on television? Well, there is good news. There seems to be something of a revival on the horizon.

At Easter, my family and I went to see Soul Surfer. Young, Christian surfer Bethany Hamilton’s amazing and encouraging life story enthralled our whole family. Much of the movie resonates around Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV), which says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Clearly, Bethany did not plan to lose her arm in a shark attack. However, she and her family worked hard to lean in to God and accept His will for their lives as they learned a new kind of normal. Now, so many people all over the world have been touched and encouraged by this amazing young lady’s story. I wonder how many of these people would have been touched and encouraged by her if she had not suffered through the shark attack.

A few weeks ago, we all hopped in the car and went to see Courageous. I started crying during the first few minutes and sniffled all the way until the end credits. Courageous centers around Joshua 25:14 (NKJV) which tells us, And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

My husband, Rob, and the other guys in our awesome Small Group all decided the want to be part of the “Resolution” from Courageous. I love it and I pray that others dads and husbands out there will step forward to join in.

In a way it is a little sad that my family and I are so excited that Christian movies are making it to the mainstream in the entertainment world. However, we want to focus on the positive. We are praying for a revival in all parts of people’s lives.

Let’s face it — life is stressful. There is a lot of hurt and pain and we need some good, positive distractions. But we can’t let our guard down. We need to read good things, watch good movies and television shows, and fill our minds with words, and thought, and ideas that lift us up and encourage us.

This week, I encourage you to take stock of your favorite types of fun reading, television shows, and movies. If you have been enjoying things that would not please God, ask Him to help you turn away from these things, and then lean on Him. He loves you and wants to help you. God knows we are weak, and He wants to be our source of strength. Be encouraged and be blessed!

Sacrifice of Greatest Price

Have you ever given up something you love for someone you love even more? Have you ever given up something in order to do the right thing? Have you ever gone out of your way to help someone else? Have you ever had someone give up something to help you? These things are all sacrifices.

It is pretty easy to give up something that doesn’t mean a lot to us. For example, when a child has a playmate coming over for the afternoon, he or she will often give their little buddy their least favorite toys to play with, while they keep their favorite toys for their own amusement. Adults often do the same thing. It is a natural temptation to sacrifice “a little” but perhaps “not a lot.” But is that really a sacrifice?

If you feel like you have some work to do regarding sacrificing, think about things you really enjoy. Think about if there is anything in your life that is diverting your time and attention away from your relationship with God. If it is, perhaps you should think about making some sacrifices.

For example, my husband and I have a dear friend whom I will call “Harry.” Harry loves golf to the point that he sometimes skipped church to play. Harry had plenty of time to play during the week, but he chose to do it on Sundays. Harry finally realized that this began hurting his relationship with God. He repented and now not only attends church regularly, he is actively involved in some Sunday morning ministry work. He is happy now and is really enjoying his closeness with God. And, he still enjoys playing some golf through the week!

Another thing you can do is to find other people who are working hard to make some big sacrifices. Thank someone in the military. They leave behind family and friends, their home, and everything that is comfortable and familiar to defend our freedom and our lives. Now that is sacrifice.

Then think about Jesus Christ. Really think about what He did just for YOU! He came to Earth, fully God and fully man at the same time. He came to be part of a “working class” family and was arrested without cause. He was lied about, beaten severely, taunted, and treated inhumanely. And yet, He did it all without sinning.

Jesus Christ did not have to do any of what He did. Yet He did it all with love. He paid the ultimate price and made the ultimate sacrifice. This week, I challenge you to start reading Matthew 27. And. spend some quality time with God. Ask Him to reveal to you anything in your life that perhaps you need to sacrifice in order to grow in your walk with Him. Lay it at the foot of the cross and ask for His help. He won’t let you down. He will be there to help you, every step of the way. Be encouraged and be blessed!

Why Am I Here?

Have you ever walked into a room, scratched your head, and looked around in a daze, wondering why you walked into that particular room? Have you ever misplaced your keys? Have you ever “lost” your car in a crowded parking lot? All of these events are frustrating, and can even cause a bit of panic. While these are not fun, how would you like to live your entire life and not have any idea why you are here and what you are doing? That would not be a good way to live. So, take heart– God sent us a “blueprint” for our lives so we can find our purpose!

We were created to worship God, to be in fellowship with Him. We have a purpose. Genesis 1:26 (KJV) tells us, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

When God created the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve, He gave them free will. This means He didn’t want to force them to worship Him. God wanted Adam and Eve to love Him and fellowship with Him of their own free will. Otherwise, God could have created a bunch of mindless robots.

God gave us a great blessing with free will, but with that blessing comes a great responsibility. People try to fill the “God-shaped” hole in their hearts with all kinds of things — relationships, romance, work, money, food, alcohol, drugs, fancy cars and houses, etc. Nothing will ever satisfy or fill that “hole” the way Jesus Christ can. Anything else will leave you wanting more.

So, how do we get satisfied? How do we find out why we are here on the Earth? First, read the Bible. Study God’s word to find out what He wants you to know. Second, pray throughout each day. Third, take a good, honest look at your life. Figure out the gifts and talents that God has given you, and ask Him to show you how He wants you to use them. Find a good Bible study group. These like-minded folks will challenge and encourage you as you seek to find your purpose in this life.

When you get discouraged, call on God. Keep reading your Bible, keep praying, and lean on your Christ-loving friends for support. This will help you to understand that you do have a purpose and that you are not alone. Otherwise, life is pretty confusing and lonely.

This week, I encourage you to take a good look at your life. If needed, call on some trusted friends to help you do an inventory of your gifts and talents. Then, get alone with God and ask Him to show you how He wants you to use them to serve Him. Be encouraged and be blessed!

God’s “Love Notes” To Us

When you were in grade school, did you ever send or receive one of those special “school kid” love notes? You know exactly what I mean. I am talking about the kind that were folded intricately, and asked, “Do you like me?” And you had to respond either in the affirmative, the negative, or nebulous land of “I have no idea” if I like you or not. How did it feel when you were the sender and you received a “YES!” from that special someone? Well, multiply that by “infinity” and you will have a little taste of how much God loves you.

God knows that we get discouraged sometimes. Bad things happen. People get hurt. God goes out of His way to encourage us and remind us that He loves us, in good times and in bad.

I think one of the many ways God reminds us that He loves us is by the wonderful people He sends into our lives. I am overwhelmed when I stop and reflect on the loving people I am blessed to call my family and friends. These are the people who “have your back” no matter what. They are the ones who are there because they want to be not because they have to be.These beautiful people are living, breathing reminders that God loves you.

Another way God reminds us that He loves us is by the beauty all around us. No matter how “smart” we think we are, we could never recreate a sunset, or the breaking dawn, or make a bird. God made the world and everything in it. He wants us to enjoy it and take care of it. He put a lot of time and care into His creation, and every time we look around us, we should reflect on these wonderful gifts God has given us.

Yet another way God shows His magnificent love for us is through His words in The Bible. The Bible is God’s ultimate set of “love notes” to us. God’s word never fails us, His word never changes. In a world that is constantly changing, it is an abiding comfort to know that God’s word is always there for us, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. God says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love;” in Jeremiah 31:3b.

God also demonstrates His love for us by giving us a hunger to serve Him. He blessed us with all kinds of special gifts and talents that we should use to glorify and magnify Him and to help grow the Kingdom of Heaven. When we use our special abilities to help others, we feel closer to God. It grows our relationship with Him and makes it deeper and stronger. The more “in sync” we are with God, the better all parts of our lives will be.

So, this week, I challenge you to enjoy God’s different “love notes” to us. Drink them in and hold them close to your heart. Be encouraged and be blessed!

Jazzed On Jesus!

Have you ever been so excited you had to yell and cheer? Have you ever been so pleased you could not stop grinning? What about being so pleased you wanted to dance and sing? Have you ever been so passionate about something you just had to tell everyone you know? When was the last time you felt that way about Jesus?

We live in a painful, fallen world, broken by sin. If we don’t diligently work to keep Jesus at the forefront of our lives, it would be all too easy to lose your excitement in Jesus. 2 Corinthians 4:1 (NIV) tells us, “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.”

When we stop and really reflect on the goodness of God, it is impossible NOT to get excited. We are all sinners. We do not deserve God’s mercy and grace, but He is happy to give it to us anyway. God loves us with a deep, unchanging, unending love that is sweeter and more wonderful that anything we can ever imagine.

We are told in Matthew 28:20 (NLT) to “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” We know that God will never, ever lie to us. So, we have His promise that He is with us. We know that He won’t give up on us or leave us.

When you are jazzed on Jesus it shows in your life. It is like a big, blinking neon sign in a dull, gray world. A great way to stay jazzed on Jesus is to spread the love. Go out and help someone else, in the name of Jesus. It doesn’t have to be a big overseas mission trip although they are wonderful. You could help a neighbor down the street, or someone at the grocery store. Everyone needs encouragement from time to time, some more than others. Encouraging others will encourage you, too.

Another way to get jazzed on Jesus is to challenge yourself to grow in the Bible. Read it every day. Join a small group Bible study or take some Bible classes. Get an accountability partner to make sure you stay on track. You can help and encourage each other to grow in God’s love and grace.

Make a list of people you know who don’t yet know God. Don’t put it off. We are not guaranteed a tomorrow, so there is no time like today to help these people. Ask God to show you ways to help them come to Him before it is too late. This will help you get jazzed on Jesus. As you continue to help others, your excitement will grow by leaps and bounds.

This week I challenge you to really get jazzed on Jesus. Remember Who He is and what He did for you. Spend time reading the Bible and helping others. Thank Him for every breath you take, every heartbeat. Be encouraged and be blessed!

Speak To Me, Lord

Have you ever heard someone say that God spoke to them? Have you ever felt like every other Christian in the world has some special, secret “inside track” with God, while you have been left on the side of the road? Well, the good news is that if you do, there is a way to “fix” it.

God loves to communicate with us. That doesn’t necessarily mean He’s going to go “Old Testament” on us and use a burning bush to get our attention. He can, of course, because He is God, after all, and He can do anything. But, He tends to speak to us in different ways nowadays.

When I was new in my faith, I found it pretty confusing when “seasoned” Christians would talk about God speaking to them. I was confused, and jealous. I felt left out and didn’t like it. I knew they didn’t pick up a cell phone and called Him, but it still remained a mystery.

Over time, I began to realize what people meant was they prayed a lot. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV) tells us to “pray without ceasing,”. These people prayed a lot and then got alone and got quiet with God and waited for Him to speak to them in the quietness of their hearts.

The other thing these Christians did was read their Bible regularly. They poured over passages, looked up what they didn’t understand, or asked other Christians for help to understand. They took these passages to heart and took the time to look into what God was telling them through the Bible. God’s word never changes. What was true in the Bible yesterday, is true today, and will remain true and relevant forever.

On a personal note, my husband, Rob, and I have wanted to adopt a child for twelve years. I am not a patient person, and it has been heartbreaking to wait. However, we knew we could only proceed with God’s blessing. Otherwise, we could not expect Him to bless it, and it wouldn’t be fair either to a child or to us to adopt if He didn’t want us to.

Last week, completely out of the blue, we learned about a darling girl from another country who needs a forever family. My heart leaped into my mouth and I burst into tears when I saw her photo. Rob had a very similar reaction. We have been praying and reading the Bible to find God’s answer to see if we should adopt this precious child.

Today, during my quiet time with God, I cried out to Him and asked Him to let me know what we should do. And, true to His word, as I was reading, God revealed some things to me. These passages led me directly to other passages related to the first ones, and by the time I had read them, I clearly felt God speaking directly to me.

I challenge you to read the Bible and pray and listen to what God is telling you. Be encouraged and be blessed!

God Doesn’t Use Call Waiting!

Cell phones. iPads. Texting. Twitter. Facebook. Life in 2011 is moving at a “faster than fast” pace, and shows no signs of slowing down. We have electronic gadgets for nearly every facet of our lives, all with the purpose of making our lives easier. We seem to run from one activity to another, hurriedly thinking about the next thing on our never-ending “to-do” lists. But, no matter how hectic our lives become, we can’t forget about the One who made us and loves us. And, God doesn’t use call waiting because He is never too busy for us. He will never turn us away. He will never put us on hold.

God loves us and loves to hear from us. It still boggles my mind that the awesome God who made the universe and everything in it is never to busy to listen to my prayers. Now that is something to really get excited about!

Back when my husband, Rob, and I were first married, Rob was brand-new in his walk with Christ. He didn’t understand why I prayed about everything. For example, I have been a little nervous about driving ever since I was in a car accident many years ago. So, I lifted up my driving, and specifically my nervousness about it, to God in prayer. Rob used to tell me that I should “only pray for something important.” Well, driving is important to me, and it was also important for me to conquer my fear of driving. I knew I would never be able to conquer my fear alone, and I knew Who would listen to me and help me. What Rob had to realize is that what is important to one person isn’t necessarily what is important to someone else.

God wants us to talk to Him in good times, in bad times, and all of those times in between. The more we talk to Him, the more we will grow our relationship with Him. And, when you realize that your prayers are important to God, you will want to talk with Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to, “Pray without ceasing,”.

When we feel that what we have to say is important to someone, it naturally makes us want to spend time with them. We all want to be heard. We are drawn to people who are good listeners. God is the best, most attentive listener of all.

This week, I challenge you to pray throughout the day. As soon as you wake up and “feel conscious” in the morning, start praying. Grab that first cup of coffee and “get to praying!” Praise God for the little miracles and the big miracles that He reveals to you throughout the day. And know that you are incredibly, beautifully, wonderfully important to God. You are so important that when you call out to Him, He will happily listen to you, anytime, anywhere. He won’t turn you away. You won’t be put on hold, and you won’t ever have to leave a message! Be encouraged and be blessed!

It’s All About A Relationship

Society today is all abuzz with helpful hints and advice about relationships — relationships with your spouse, your children, your siblings, co-workers, boss, etc. While all of that is well and good, the most important relationship you will ever have is often overlooked, and that is your relationship with Jesus Christ.

You get back from a relationship what you put into it. The more work you put into the relationship, the more of a priority it is in your life. If you want a vibrant, growing relationship with someone, you make the effort to make the relationship worthwhile. For example, if you get in trouble or need advice, you are much more likely to turn to someone you are in contact with often. You wouldn’t be very likely to call on a near-stranger for help in hard times. So, if you are in close, constant contact with Jesus, you will be comfortable calling on Him no matter what the situation.

A lot of people have misconceptions about Jesus. They see Him as so far and distant they can never reach Him. Others see themselves as so “unworthy” and “dirty” that they are ashamed to face Him. Still others are wrapped in so much hurt and anger that it is really difficult to see past their pain to look to Jesus.

One of the things that still amazes me about Jesus is how He went out of His way to care for everyone, especially those society had deemed “unworthy of love” or “untouchable.” Think about Zacchaeus, the portly tax collector in Luke 19:1-10. Everyone hated Zacchaeus, but Jesus went out of His way to encourage him. Zacchaeus was so overwhelmed by the goodness of Jesus Christ that he repented from his evil ways and said he would pay back four times the amount he owed to people whom he had cheated. Luke 19:9-10 says, “Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” “

People who already knew God weren’t in danger of going to hell. It was people exactly like Zacchaeus who needed Christ the most. That is just as true today as it was when Jesus walked on the Earth.

Revelation 3:20 (KJV) says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Jesus is ready and waiting to receive and forgive anyone who asks Him.

If you have never made a commitment to Jesus, please think about it. Read the Bible and get to know the true character of Jesus Christ. He died for you and for me. So, the next time you feel worthless, think about that. Jesus Christ is only a prayer away. I encourage you to either begin a relationship with Him or work to strengthen the one you have. It is the most important relationship of all. Be blessed!

Don’t Worry . . . . Be Happy?

God does not want us to worry. But, what do you do about all of the fears, the unknowns, and the “what-ifs” in life? How are we supposed to react when something breaks our heart? What do we do when we face an unexpected health crisis, or a lost job, or the death of a loved one? God wants us to put our faith and trust in Him, even when things don’t work out the way we hoped or prayed.

I heard about an old man named Sam who had experienced a very difficult life. He had been through more than his fair share of misery and heartache. A young Christian couple asked Sam how he was able to remain so happy despite all of the suffering in his life. Sam smiled a quiet smile and said, “Well, the way I see it is nothing comes my way unless it filters down from the Good Lord first. And, if He says it’s okay for me to have it in my life, then that’s good enough for me.”

Sam’s simple words are full of wisdom. We can’t blame God for the bad things in our life. He is not sitting somewhere in outer space laughing at us. He is not out to get us or hurt us. But God did warn us that there would be pain and suffering in this lifetime. These moments refine us and teach us to trust Him. These trying times bring us closer to Him.

When we grow closer to the Lord, we realize that the suffering in this lifetime won’t last forever. We should keep our hearts and minds focused on God. And when we do that, we will be truly happy. God won’t change. Things of this earth will change. Hebrews 13:8 (NASB) tells us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” It is deeply comforting to know that God will never change, He will never let us down.

When we feel let down by things in this life, we should strive to go even deeper in our relationship with God. Lean in close to His Word in the Bible. The Bible applies just as much to life today and it did when it was first written. We can learn from the men and women in the Bible, both from the good and the bad. I am continually “blown away” by the book of Proverbs. The more we read the Bible, the more we will learn. Through each season of life, different parts of the Bible will “speak” to you in different ways.

No matter what we do, we will encounter difficult people and circumstances in our lifetime. There are just some things we can’t avoid. By looking to God, it is easier to lay our burdens at the feet of Jesus. Know that you are loved and that God will never waste a hurt or disappointment. Knowing that God is in control of things makes it easier to not worry. Be blessed in God!

Where is your treasure?

“For where your treasure is, your heart will be also.”Luke 12:34

Here is a quick Bible study covering what we need to put first in our lives.   It is from Matthew 10:32-39.

The “WIS,”  means “What it Says” and the text following is my paraphrasing of the scripture.
“WIT” is “What I Think.”  After reading the message it is what was laid on my heart through God’s word.

WIS:  Whoever acknowledges Me before men, will be acknowledged by Me before the Father.  But if you disown Me before man, I will disown you before the Father.  Do not suppose I have come to bring peace to the earth, rather I came to bring a sword.  For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother – a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.

Anyone who loves their parents more than Me is not worthy; anyone who loves their children more than Me is not worthy.  Anyone who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy.  Whoever finds his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

WIT:  Jesus is not telling the masses to disown all that we love.  Jesus wants us to love Him and follow Him over all others.  We are not to choose our parents over Him or anyone else.  We need to make God our number one priority and all of our decisions and actions need to glorify Him.  We are not to base our life off of what others need and want and put God second.  The ironic thing is that when we love God with all we are, we WANT to do great things for those in our lives.who loves their children more than Me is not worthy.  Anyone who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy.  Whoever finds his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39

Do you agree? Let me know at: inspiretomorrow@gmail.com

Try using this method of Bible study for your own reflection.  It is the most effective way I have found.  It forces you to rephrase what the scripture states and then reflect on where the text led you.Also, choose the verse which spoke to you the most or summarizes the whole passage as your theme for the day.

This is an excerpt from the November/December 2010 issue of Inspire Tomorrow Magazine