I deserve...

Titus 2:11-12New Life Version (NLV)

11 God’s free gift of being saved is being given to everyone. 12 We are taught to have nothing to do with that which is against God. We are to have nothing to do with the desires of this world. We are to be wise and to be right with God. We are to live God-like lives in this world.

Galatians 5:22-24New Life Version (NLV)

22 But the fruit that comes from having the Holy Spirit in our lives is: love, joy, peace, not giving up, being kind, being good, having faith, 23 being gentle, and being the boss over our own desires. The Law is not against these things. 24 Those of us who belong to Christ have nailed our sinful old selves on His cross. Our sinful desires are now dead.

Ephesians 2:8-10New Life Version (NLV)

8 For by His loving-favor you have been saved from the punishment of sin through faith. It is not by anything you have done. It is a gift of God. 9 It is not given to you because you worked for it. If you could work for it, you would be proud. 10 We are His work. He has made us to belong to Christ Jesus so we can work for Him. He planned that we should do this.

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday… 

None of these are bad when you have complete self-control when shopping and spending.  Last Friday, Adam and I went on our annual, Christmas shopping excursion.  We always leave excited and have fun while walking through the first few stores, but by the end of the evening we find ourselves frustrated and ready to go home.  I will make the statement, “I really want a new…” When in all reality, I don’t really need anything.  But Adam telling me that I don’t need it, upsets me.  I then begin to think of why I “deserve” that item.  Then I fester until I start to boil over.  By the time we get home, I’m finding myself thankful that we only do that once a year.  

Except this year, I really sat and reflected on WHY we end our annual Christmas excursion this way.  Selfishness, lack of self control, wanting earthly desires to fulfill something empty inside…those are just a few reasons why I come home frustrated from those trips.  

God does not intend for us to live this way.  AND this season is not about GETTING, it is about GIVING (Something I tell my own children over and over again, but need to apply it myself.)  I don’t “deserve” these things because I work hard.  I don’t deserve the love that God gives me unconditionally either.  However, He gives that too us.  That is greater than any gift we can purchase in any store.  

So, I’m putting my blinders on when I go shopping.  I will go in and purchase what is on my list and then leave.  I will be the “boss” over my desires.  I will remember the REASON FOR THE SEASON.  I will do this by spending time with HIM and in HIS word.  Being disciplined in that area in my life, will pour over and influence my daily choices and emotions.  I need to only be satisfied with serving Him daily.  

Be Blessed!

Enjoy Natalie Grant - King Of The World (Official Lyric Video)

Mucky, Yucky Debris

Philippians 4:13New Life Version (NLV)

13 I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.

1 Peter 5:10-11The Message (MSG)

He Gets the Last Word

8-11 Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

James 1:2-4New Life Version (NLV)

Take Hope When Tests Come

2 My Christian brothers, you should be happy when you have all kinds of tests. 3 You know these prove your faith. It helps you not to give up. 4 Learn well how to wait so you will be strong and complete and in need of nothing.

Driving through Naples a little over a month ago we saw a lot of devastation and debris.  Trees that still stood, but looked broken and bare.  Slowly, over time, we have seen the debris being picked up.  We have seen damages being restored.  But the one thing that catches my eye and heart, is the new growth on those trees that I thought did not survive.  The debris had skewed my vision of this growth that was happening.  My eyes only focused on the dead muck that laid around.  My eyes were drawn to the mess.  Now that the mess and muck have been taken away, in the picture below, I see growth.  I see trees starting to grow new life.  I see HOPE.  

God intends on us seeing HIS beauty and wants us to see just that.  However, the muck and debris in our lives tend to hide HIS beauty and purpose.  If we let it sit too long, it starts to take over and stink up our lives.  If you are living in mucky waters, pray.  Pray that HE gives you strength, peace, and motivation to push through this hard season.  When caught in a moment of feeling overwhelmed with the smell, take hold of His message for our lives.  God is good and is always with us.  Even when we are drowning in mucky, yucky debris in our lives.  

'Tis the Season for Self-Control

Titus 2:11-12New International Version (NIV)

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

1 Corinthians 9:25Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

25 Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away, but we a crown that will never fade away.

2 Peter 1:5-8New Life Version (NLV)

5 Do your best to add holy living to your faith. Then add to this a better understanding. 6 As you have a better understanding, be able to say no when you need to. Do not give up. And as you wait and do not give up, live God-like. 7 As you live God-like, be kind to Christian brothers and love them. 8 If you have all these things and keep growing in them, they will keep you from being of no use and from having no fruit when it comes to knowing our Lord Jesus Christ.

Piecing the underlined words together from the verses above seems to be a prayer that I find myself praying frequently.  

“For the grace of God has come to us, and He teaches us to say ‘NO’.  He guides us to live and exercise a self-controlled, holy life.  Living in and through our faith to have a better understanding on why we need to say ‘No’ to earthly passions.  We need to live God-like, not giving up, but growing; growing in our faith and love in and through Him.  With this comes fruit, fruit that we will be fed in our eternal home above.”  

We all have weaknesses.  The two that get me the most are emotionally eating - my sweet tooth gets the best of me - and getting “googly” eyed over material things for myself, my kids, and our home.  When I discovered Pinterest a few years back, I began to pin things and recipes that were not going to do anything other than thicken my waist line and thin out my wallet.  Discipline was something I struggled with consistently.  I would give up and give in so easily.  It snowballs so quickly in the wrong direction.  I still have these weaknesses and these self-control issues, but find myself really able to discipline myself more and say “No”.   Why?  I am in a season where my faith cannot be broken and I’m driven to be more for my family and others around me.  

What are your weaknesses?  What are you pinning these days on Pinterest?  What is causing you to snowball in the wrong direction?  Reflect on and pray over these questions, not for anyone else other than for yourself.  

Be Blessed!

The Big Picture

I pray that your hearts will be able to understand. I pray that you will know about the hope given by God’s call. I pray that you will see how great the things are that He has promised to those who belong to Him.

Ephesians 1:18 NLV

Isaiah 46:10New Life Version (NLV)

10 I tell from the beginning what will happen in the end. And from times long ago I tell of things which have not been done, saying, ‘My Word will stand. And I will do all that pleases Me.’

Ephesians 2:10New Life Version (NLV)

10 We are His work. He has made us to belong to Christ Jesus so we can work for Him. He planned that we should do this.

I have said this in the past, but I love how God weaves a theme throughout my week so that I can share what He has been directing me to put into these weekly devotionals.  

This week I kept getting caught up in “Earthly” emotions and feelings.  Sadness for others loosing loved ones, feeling overwhelmed with things that need to be done a work, wishing and wanting something I don’t have in my possession.  Then at church on Sunday I wrote this in my journal, “Minds set on Earthly things is dangerous - it can take over like weeds.”  That night I sat down to read, my current read, which is Never Go Back - 10 Things You’ll Never Do Again by Dr. Henry Cloud.  The chapter I was reading was titled, “Never again, take your eyes off the big picture”.  It discusses how there are “thrivers” in life and “strugglers”.  Those that thrive don’t live without mistakes, but live through their mistakes learning from each moment.  They know that they are not living for that moment, but for something bigger.  They go about it thinking, “My life here is not about this event, it is about what we are building.”  What that translated to me was that I need to stop really looking at my life as a moment, but really look at it as a small piece to a larger puzzle that He is putting together.  

The students that I have this year struggle academically.  I know that they are in my room for a reason.  I may never know that reason, but what I do know is that I can put my smile on daily, roll up my sleeves, get to work, and be the best that I can be for them.  With these actions, I’m reflecting His love that He has for them.  I want them to do the best they can in my classroom, but I want them to do even more beyond my classroom.  I don’t know what that looks like and I will not see their pieces of their puzzle fall into place.  However, I will help make this piece of their life glow full of God’s goodness so that it spreads to other parts of their puzzle pieces.  

Be Blessed!

Clear as Water

Proverbs 13:20New Life Version (NLV)

20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the one who walks with fools will be destroyed.

Romans 12:2New Life Version (NLV)

2 Do not act like the sinful people of the world. Let God change your life. First of all, let Him give you a new mind. Then you will know what God wants you to do. And the things you do will be good and pleasing and perfect.

Proverbs 27:17New Life Version (NLV)

17 Iron is made sharp with iron, and one man is made sharp by a friend.

Ecclesiastes 3:12-14New Life Version (NLV)

12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and to do good as long as they live. 13 And I know that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his work. It is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will last forever. There is nothing to add to it, and nothing to take from it. God works so that men will honor Him with fear.

Our minds, hearts, and souls are very similar to a clear glass.  You can fill that glass with pure, clean water and you will see just that, pure, clean water.  If you fill that glass with muddy, stagnant water, you will have a hard time looking through that glass.  The same goes with our minds…If we fill our brains with pure clean entertainment, friends, work that empowers us, and activities, things that are from HIM, we will be filled with life that is pure and from HIM.  If we fill our minds with “junk”, whether it be what we listen too on the radio, watch on TV, or even the people we hang around, we won’t be able to see HIM clearly.  We will loose focus on what HE is wanting us to accomplish.  

This is easier said than done.  Living in a world that is exploding in sin, we can’t avoid it. So what can we do to keep the pure, clean water flowing fluidly through our glass?  We have control over several factors in our lives.  Do what you can to stay pure to HIS word and mission. 

Be Blessed! 

Stretching...It's not just for the gym.

Hebrews 11:6New Life Version (NLV)

6 A man cannot please God unless he has faith. Anyone who comes to God must believe that He is. That one must also know that God gives what is promised to the one who keeps on looking for Him. 

Jeremiah 29:11New Life Version (NLV)

11 For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope.

Our bodies are very much like a rubber band.  The Law of the Rubber Band, states that "Growth Stops When You Lose the Tension Between Where You Are and Where You Could Be.”  

When at the gym, I stretch before and after a workout so that I get the full potential that I can get from a workout.  If there is no stretching, I’m not growing and most likely I will feel pain.  If you feel more pain, then you will be less likely to move.  If you are less likely to move, you will stop challenging yourself.  You will potentially stop growing.  

In life, we have situations that we know, without a doubt, we are being stretched.  We may also be in a season of life where we don’t feel the tension, but feel a slight tug pulling us to learn something new.  Below is a list of ways God may want you to stretch your faith today:  

• God may want you to DO something.

• God may want you to STOP DOING something.

• God may want you to GIVE something.

• God may want you to SAY something.

• God may want you to STOP SAYING something.

• God may want you to SELL something.

• God may want you to BUY something. (presumably for a person or ministry in need)

• God may want you to START something.

• God may want you to END something.

• God may want you to LOVE someone.

(taken from http://www.biblestudytools.com/blogs/chris-russell/10-ways-god-may-want-to-stretch-your-faith-today.html)

So are you taking time to stretch your faith, grow to your highest potential, and being more for others around you?  It is time to get your Spiritual Fitness a good stretch!

Be Blessed!

The Stinch in Life

Lamentations 3The Message (MSG)

22-24 

God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,

    his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.

They’re created new every morning.

    How great your faithfulness!

I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).

    He’s all I’ve got left.

25-27 

God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,

    to the woman who diligently seeks.

It’s a good thing to quietly hope,

    quietly hope for help from God.

It’s a good thing when you’re young

    to stick it out through the hard times.

28-30 

When life is heavy and hard to take,

    go off by yourself. Enter the silence.

Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions:

    Wait for hope to appear.

Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face.

    The “worst” is never the worst.

When we are in the midst of something heavy in our lives we can easily be distracted and loose focus.  An analogy that comes to mind is the following: 

Imagine you are coming home from a long day at work. You look forward to walking in your front door, taking off your shoes, and just breathing (for most of us it is very brief, but it happens).  As you walk into your home, you take in a deep breath and immediately realize that something truly stinks, literally STINKS!  You check the garbage, refrigerator, the garbage in the garage, the kids rooms, your dirty clothes hamper…NOTHING!  It is at that time you start to investigate all possibilities.  You rack your brain trying to figure out what is setting off this repulsive smell.  If you are like me, you won’t give up until you find the culprit.  It consumes your mind and activity.  

Now, take that analogy and replace it with an event that has been heavy for you.  God is faithful!  He doesn’t leave you alone to deal with that “stinch”.  He walks with you hand-in-hand.   He will face this head on with you.  You just have to pray, be patient, and be quiet while listening to Him.  Horrible situations will consume you, take you over until you are racking your brain to come up with a solution.  Or they will consume you to the point of where you start to sink into a dark place in life.  God didn’t create us to come up with solutions on our own or to sit alone in darkness.  God is what we have, and God is all we ever have that is guaranteed.  He does not leave our side!  

Be Blessed!