Tame Your Tongue

"Every sea creature, reptile, bird or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. We praise our Lord and Father with it, and curse men who are made in God's likeness with it. Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, these things should not be this way." James 3:7-10 (HCSB)

There are some conversations that we have with God that are simply painful enough when they take place between He and ourselves...but there are times when He pushes us even further and then requires that we share the conversation with others....For me, this is one of those occasions....
My painful conversation with God began at the onset of 2011...right about the time when most of us are coming up with ways to renege on our New Year's resolutions...God, in His infinite authority and wisdom, made it clear that the word He was imparting to my spirit was far more than something I had the luxury of weighing as an "optional consideration..." I was to hear Him loud and clear...because our relationship depended on it.....this dialogue between God and I has been an ongoing one, but one that I expected would remain private..... you know, just between He and I... well, that was the case until my Pastor preached a sermon last weekend that totally convicted me and re-enforced the conversation subject matter...and then I knew, I was supposed to share....
In actuality, this conversation found it's basis in one word...a word that God shared with me because I have been sorely lacking in this department...especially as it relates to my mouth and attitude.....the word is...."Congruous..." yep, that's the word...good ole "congruous...."
You see, congruous simply means "being in agreement, harmony or correspondence"....the question God literally spoke to my heart was...."Are you congruous? Is who you appear to be in harmony with who you really are?" and I got the distinct impression that the question nagging my heart had lots to do with the way I speak, and all too often, behave....especially with those who are closest to me.
Unfortunately, having the gift of gab has a darkside which can often manifest as a quick, sarcastic wit and  sharp tongue.... I had to admit then, and even now, that this is still a struggle for me...but thankfully, God has been lovingly adamant about keeping me mindful of my  new friend "congruous..." or in plain terms...keeping me mindful of making sure that my walk matches my talk.....the kind worth speaking; that is....
I believe that this will probably be a lifetime battle...but one I trust  God to complete in me....
Perhaps you also have a similar struggle...well my friends, if that is so; I pray for each heart that reads this and can identify with it; that you will know God's all -surpassing power to transform, redeem and restore you. I pray that you will allow Him room in your life to stir up within you and pour out of you only those things that will honor, glorify and esteem Him and those around you!!! When you sin in this area, I pray that you will confess it to Him immediately so that nothing will stand in the way of His completing the planned work that He has begun in you as well...In Jesus' Mighty Name....Amen & Amen.....

What Have You Been Called?

Judges 6:12 " Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." (HCS Study Bible)

Today's blog post came about as a result of my having had opportunity, this past week, to spend some time in prayer, study and observation of the life of our friend Gideon.
The particular portion of scripture that touched and spoke most to my heart is today's scripture reference...Judges 6:12....
I have had occasion to speak with many precious sisters about the ways in which God is working in their lives and have found that with each of them, as well as myself, there seems to be one key similarity in all of us...we tend to struggle with doubt as it relates to God being able to accomplish His work/plan through us....
Hence why, God's word to Gideon leapt off the page and ministered greatly to my weary, misguided heart!!! I pray when you're finished reading this today that your heart will have been greatly ministered to as well....
Many of us struggle with poor self-esteem...some imposed by the careless words of others; while some is self-imposed due to the lies we've chosen to believe about ourselves...it seems when you read this portion of scripture, that Gideon suffered from the very same malady....God comes to him and refers to him in a way which clearly tells much about who he WAS in God's eyes and yet, Gideon's response tells us that he in no way viewed himself the same way....worse yet, his response even clearly tells us that he carried doubts about Who God is as well.... "Gideon said to Him, "Please Sir, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? And where are all His wonders that our fathers told us about? They said, Hasn't the Lord brought us out of Egypt? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian." (vs. 13 HCS Study Bible). As soon as Gideon spoke those words, God went on, in verse 14, to interject and attempt to reassure him of the promise of His power and presence that were with Gideon, but yet again, we see Gideon respond with doubt..."He said to Him, Please Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father's house." (vs. 15 HCS Study Bible). Immediately, God goes on to attempt to reassure him again in verse 16, by restating that He would most assuredly be with Gideon if he would just go out in obedience to Him....and Gideon, so human and just like us, turned right around and asked God for a sign to prove what He had spoken... (vs.17)
Doubt, doubt and more doubt....did you hear it in Gideon, Precious Friends? Perhaps the better question to ask is.... Do you hear it in yourselves? I know I sure have heard it within myself.....but, here's our hope.... and please be sure NOT to miss it...."God called Gideon a "mighty warrior" not because of his experience, but because of his POTENTIAL- and, undoubtedly, because of what God planned to accomplish through him..." (1)
Did ya catch it, Friends...did ya see yourself in that last bit of truth???? I so, so, hope that you did!!!!
I'm not certain of what your experiences have been, what others have called you, or even what you may call yourselves...but, the exciting, hope and promise we have lies in what God CALLS us!!!! You see, just like He had a plan for Gideon's life; He also has one for ours...and just like He called Gideon a "mighty warrior" because of what He intended to accomplish in and through him, God is calling you by the name He has established in His plans for you as well!!! The beauty and blessing are.... that just like in Gideon's life....it's already done, My Friends....God's plan, from His perspective, is already accomplished in our lives...now, we simply only need to be obedient to Him and walk it out!!!!
I wonder if you've begun to hear it??? I wonder if while reading this you've begun to feel the stirrings of what God is calling you, and better yet, what planned work He is calling you to do for the cause of furthering His Kingdom in the earth.... That's my prayer for you today, Sweet Friends...that you'd settle yourself and begin to listen for His voice...I promise you, in His way and time, He'll be just as willing and faithful to reveal and call you by the name He has prepared for you as well......


1. Excerpted from: The Holman Christian Standard Apologetics Study Bible; 2007 by Holman Bible Publishers; Nashville Tennessee.

A Call To Remembrance

"Remember these things, Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant; I formed you, you are My servant; Israel, you will never be forgotten by Me." Isaiah 44: 21 (HCSB)

Don't you  love those seasons in life where God's presence is easily felt, His voice is easily discerned, and His plan unfolds before us with ease? Just this past week, I vividly recall telling a very close friend of mine.... "My life is golden...right now!"

Now, don't misunderstand me...every day of life is a gift and blessing...period!! But each day is not always an easy one....would you agree?

You see, I presently find myself in a season of life which I've often heard many refer to as "the mountaintop!!!" Life is definitely good!!!!

Oh, I've experienced "the valley" as well and after having experienced the valley; I've learned to do one important thing while on the mountaintop.....keep a prayer journal of all of God's amazing confirmation toward and interaction with me!!!

Why?... Well, because I know that some day; and maybe soon; God will lead me down from the mountaintop and I'll more than most likely find myself traversing the valley once again; and in the valleys of life, it always helps and sustains us to call to remembrance the awesome things God has done that proved His faithfulness "before" we entered the valley!!!

In her book "Jesus in Blue Jeans" Laurie Beth Jones gives a great example of this:  "Whenever it seemed that the Israelites were poised at the gates of change, God sent someone to bring them into remembrance of all of the times He had helped them in the past."  (1)

David gives us another great example of this in 1 Samuel 17 when he recounts how God proved faithful in helping him slay a bear and lion while he was tending his father's sheep...he used the memory of those separate incidences to bolster and encourage his certainty that God would do the very same in helping him defeat Goliath, the enemy of the Israelite army... "Then David said, The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:37 (HCSB)

In my own life, there have been many times where God has demonstrated His faithfulness, but there was a particularly sweet season just months before my parents died, in which, God orchestrated the most precious series of miracles that have now become for me "the premiere set" of remembrances which I love to revisit when I find myself journeying through life's difficulties....as a matter of fact, it was in that valley of grief after my parents died, that I first began to understand the practice of using my various prayer journals to "call" God's past faithfulness back to memory....quite simply.... doing so; helped me to hold ever more tightly to my faith! I truly knew if God had proven Himself trustworthy in my life once before; I had no reason to doubt, even in the midst of deep pain, that He would not fail to do it again....

So, what about you, My Friend? How has God proven His faithfulness to you? What miracles has He worked on your behalf? How; and what; has He delivered you from? I encourage you to meditate on the answers to these questions today or better yet, to write them out and then keep them someplace where you can return to them whenever you need a fresh reminder of Who God is and how He works on behalf of those He loves...

Answer those few questions ESPECIALLY if you find yourself in a deep valley; longing to understand the steps God is taking....I can tell you that although the answers to your questions may not change the circumstance you find yourself in; they can help you walk that circumstance out with the confidence and assurance of knowing that the very same God who proved mighty enough to save you from hardship once before; is the very same God who will see you safely through it once again......

1. "Jesus In Blue Jeans: A Practical Guide to Every day Spirituality" Laurie Beth Jones 1997 Hyperion Publishing 

Set Your Sights...Focus on what's Right

Acts 7:55-56 "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look" he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." (NIV)

This past week, I found myself struggling with what I'll call a "lapse in focus...." I forgot Who my sights were to be set on and for a few days, I felt as though I were in a complete tailspin and brainstorm....gratefully though, I have many in my life; who love me enough to "check" me when I stand in need....this past week I was absolutely in need....
I'm not quite sure how it all began...how do these things ever start? Perhaps it was something I heard that I received as a slight rather than constructive crticism....perhaps it was something that was done which I perceived to be an insult...whatever the case....I wound up all out of whack...with my focus off as well, and apparently, this is something I've practiced for quite a while now!!!
My husband is a man of few words...perhaps some of you can relate with that.... but whenever he does speak; what he says is usually filled with quite a bit of Godly wisdom and counsel; so, I'll often go to him and share my struggles with him just for that reason.... I must admit, that although he often puts a different "spin" on things; I also often don't have the good sense to appreciate that...even though I know he is most often "spot on" in what he says and in the solutions he offers....
Well on this particular day, I went to him and shared that I was feeling weary and misunderstood....not in the general sense, but as it related to a new area of ministry which God has called me to....to my chagrin, he responded immediately....with the kind of words I needed to hear, but did not necessarily those I WANTED to hear...he said... "You know, Babe...I listen to the way you speak and the things you say, and I gotta tell ya....you're good at "mentioning" the  blessings God has brought into your life, but you're great at "fixating" on the negatives and what's wrong in your life....Maybe you should focus more on God and the blessings He's brought to you???..."
Can anyone say "OUCH!!!???" That phrase...."good at mentioning and great at fixating" stuck out at me like a very,very sore thumb!!! There was something very wrong about the order in which he had used "mention and fixate" in that sentence and his grammar was not where the problem lay..... I had to take a long, hard look in the proverbial mirror....I found myself walking away from him feeling a little "stung" but also seriously having to admit to myself...that he was correct in his assessment...
Then I began asking myself...."Could the solution really be that simple???" "Is what I'm feeling truly that wrapped up in what I'm fixating/focusing on???"
The next morning, God gave me the answers to my questions....I picked up and started leafing through our September issue of "In Touch Magazine" and I came upon an article written about Stephen, the church's first deacon, who was martyred for his faith in Christ. The article was based on how we as believer's in Christ can learn to excercise forgiveness by following Stephen's example. Not only was there a reminder for me in the article on the importance of forgiveness, but there was also a lesson for me in noticing where Stephen had kept his sights set during the terrible act that brought about his death....scripture tells us that as Stephen was being stoned to death, he gazed intently into heaven!!! Acts 7:55 says "Being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." (NIV)
Even as his enemies were putting him to death, Stephen knew where to fixate/focus his attention...he knew where to keep his gaze riveted....I asked myself how differently this account would have read had he focused on his enemies instead of God and Jesus...as I did, I heard my husband's words once again....later that same morning, I ran across a blog posting which had one of my favorite scripture references as it's basis..."Finally Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworty-think about such things..." Phil. 4:8 (NIV)  and in the instant that I read those words again for what seemed like the millionth time; confirmation came along with them anew; that also proved my focus had moved away from all of those things, but most importantly; that it had moved away from God; and as I pondered this fact, my precious hubby's words came back at me again...but this time...I heard them the way I want him to be able to say them to me should they ever come up again...."You know, Babe...you 're good at "mentioning" the negatives and what's wrong in your life, but you do a great job at "fixating" on God and the blessings He's brought into your life...."
Yes my friends, unlike Stephen, I had shifted my focus away from God and Jesus and allowed my sights to be set on other, very unwlecome, companions...like weariness and misunderstanding....this doesn't mean that I had somehow imagined my feelings....no, they were very real...rather, it simply means that we each have a choice about what things we'll focus on and what things we'll only mention in passing....How about you??? Who and what are at the bullseye of your sights??? Do you find yourself struggling with something today that perhaps a shift in your focus might solve??? If so, I leave you with these parting words... "Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..." Heb. 12: 2 A (NIV)

Blessings In The Storm....

"In the eye of the hurricane; in the center of the storm; in the chaos there's a comfort; a harbour safe and warm...Though the strong winds may blow, they can't change what I know; as I hold to The Rock; that the winds can't erode....." Eye Of The Hurricane" as sung by Trace Balin~from the album "Here and Now" 1990

Hurricane Irene....I'm sure I need say no more...my anxieties began last week as the storm reports associated with Ms. Irene began to worsen....words like Category 3, Category 4,  flooding, tornadoes, etc...threatened to throw me into pure panic mode....Can I get a witness????
As I gazed out of our kitchen window on Friday morning, knowing that the storm was bearing down us, there was one tree in our backyard that was of particular concern for me....having gone through other notable hurricanes such as Bertha, Fran, Isabel and Ophelia....I had learned from experience that one lone tree standing off by itself in the midst of an impending storm can mean trouble for any homeowner when the winds start to blow....As the day wound on, I was encouraged by reports that the storm had weakened, but that tree just kept needling at my mind....so I started to pray...I asked God to give His mighty angels charge over all of the trees around our home...to help them to stand and if any did fall; to guide their fall away from our home......
By 6 AM Saturday, Ms. Irene and her winds were getting into full effect...I was the only one awake in our household, our power had finally gone out and as I stood in the window watching ( something you're never supposed to do...I know) the trees sway and bend in the wind; I found my eyes drifting back to that tree and reaffirming to myself what God and I had already discussed.....Many of our friends and family had also affirmed that they were praying for us, so I immediately felt peace in my spirit....
As the hours progressed and the winds grew stronger in the process, I woke my gang and called them all downstairs for safety's sake... At some point, I must've drifted back off to sleep, because the next thing I remember was opening my eyes to find everyone else sleeping as well.... before dozing back off, I looked out my window to see that "the tree" was leaning severely and beginning to pull away from the ground!!! Before I knew it, I was yelling "Oh no!!!! It's gonna fall; the tree's gonna fall!!!" At that instant, everyone jumped up from their slumber to check and see for themselves!!!
I immediately felt bad for scaring everyone half to death...so this time, instead of affirming my conversation with God silently, I affirmed it for everyone to hear!!! Things settled right then, but about 2 hours later my son started screaming..."The tree is falling; it's falling!!!!" Before I could get to the window, all I heard was a loud crash and thud.....
Once I got to the window, I saw that not only did the tree fall, but it had taken another tree along for the ride....Thankfully, by the grace of God, the trees had completely missed our house...BUT...."the tree" had not missed our neighbor's house.....again, I immediately felt bad...I started wondering and questioning if I had left something out of my prayers for safety...perhaps I had prayed too selfishly for our well-being and not enough for those around us....I knew that these were all lies from the enemy, but I felt bad nevertheless....we ran out in raincoats to try and assess the damage done to our neighbor's home...and to me, it looked terrible...you could see a spot where the roof had been crushed, not to mention, there was a long scratch running down the side of the house where one of the branches had dug in as it slid down the house....on a positive note, I did also notice that there was a window just to the left of where the branch had scratched the house....unbelievably, it was still in tact...needless to say, I quickly thanked God for that!!!
You see, I had only spoken with our neighbors on a couple of occasions as they had moved out of their house just as we were moving into ours...they were a nice older couple who were in the process of "downsizing...." by moving into a smaller home across town...
The storm finally passed and clean-up began. I stepped outside Sunday morning to lend my gang a hand and saw a car parked in our neighbor's driveway...I was more than a little trepidatious, but felt I should go and speak with them about the unwanted guest that was now lying against their house...as I strode up the driveway and approached the lady of the house, I knew I was in for a treat, when as I apologized for the damage done to her home by our tree; she simply remarked..."Better the tree hit our house and do minor damage than hit your house and cause major damage....." I was immediately humbled and blessed by her grace and kindness....little did I know that it was only about to get better....we stood in her rose garden for the better part of an hour as she shared with me all of God's faithfulness to her through the storms of her life...she shared how God had faithfully seen her through all of the sadness, disappointment and anger she had felt struggling and battling through years of infertility....amazingly, she proudly recounted that although God had not given she and her husband children of their own, He had graciously allowed them many "children of the heart" (as she called them)....she then shared how God had miraculously spared her life in what should have been a fatal car accident....she commented that her face had needed to be reconstructed and she looked nothing like she had before the accident, but then turned right around and praised Him with great joy that she could speak and eat  on her own, because the physicians who treated her said she never would!!!
Lastly, she shared with me what she called "The  Beauty of the Roses..." She lovingly looked around her rose garden, and told me of how the young man who had planted them for her had once been married to a family member of hers...she expressed sadness that their marriage had ended, and was transparent as she remarked about how she had struggled with strong emotions against the young man for his behavior during the divorce...but then she said... "You know, I asked God to love him through me...and as soon as I did...He brought to my mind the beauty of the roses..." she went on to say that every time she felt inclined to be angry with him, she would remember his kindness shown her in planting that rose garden and God would ease her anger and lend her compassion toward him....
Perhaps most lovely to me in she and I's "Divine Appointment" was when she told me of how God had allowed "the roses" to be her "open door" to share the Gospel; the Truth of Jesus with the young man...she told him how when she thought of the roses that he had planted; she thought of 3 people, him.... for his kindness in planting them, herself...cause they meant so much to her, and Jesus...for the thorns that He wore on His brow and the "red" of the roses that matched the blood which He had shed for us...she told him that she wished that he would remember that just as Jesus had given her hope and peace in the trials of her life; that He would do the very same for him if he would only ask Him by acknowledging Him as his Savior....
Unfortunately, the young man did not receive Jesus that day, but  she was confident (as am I ) that the seed had been planted in his heart, and that God would do any watering and growing of that seed that needed to be done...
I, in turn, quickly shared with her how I was stepping out in faith and obedience by trusting God in a new ministry journey. I shared how I'd been feeling a tad down lately, but had been reminded because of her words, that God can absolutely be trusted with everything....
 As I stood there with tears in my eyes, my neighbor and I laughed as we both commented on how convinced we were that there was a reason God had allowed "the tree" to fall the direction it had....I only hope now that I adequately expressed to her how very, very much my heart had been blessed by her taking the time to share how God had proven so faithful to her over the years....it seemed only fitting that she would be speaking words of such triumph and faith despite having been through so much pain and disappointment...the fact that a literal storm had brought she and I together in the first place; only added more poignancy to her testimony....
As we embraced and promised to keep in touch, she extended me an open invitation (until their house sells anyway) to go over in her rose garden and pick as many roses as I'd like....I thanked her and assured her that I would...
Let me just say that I have more than a few rose bushes of my own growing around my house and although they're beautiful and I greatly enjoy them, this one thing I know for certain.....every time, from this point on, that I look over next door...I'll remember how faithful our God is....I'll remember the beauty of my neighbor's roses....but most of all, I'll always remember the truth that there truly is a blessing in every storm......


* Although I am most grateful to God that our encounter with Hurricane Irene ended as it has, it is not lost upon me that many did not fair as well. My prayers for God's peace and comfort continue with those along the east coast who lost loved ones and possessions through the devastation of that storm...*

No Test....No Testimony.....

James 1:2-4 (NLT) "Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything."

Many of you may find yourselves embroiled in a great struggle or battle....feeling attacked by the enemy and overwhelmed too...Well, my friends, I have been there and I offer today's blog as a channel of hope for you in the midst of this difficult season of life....
Tests come to us in many forms, but the hardship we experience is unmistakable....We're often left wondering and crying out before God as to why in the world He would allow such happenings in the first place....but let's think for a moment about the folks who have inspired and encouraged us as they have overcome great hardship and adversity in their lives.....I am reminded of people like Corrie Ten Boom; the Holocaust survivor, who through the horrible suffering and hardship which she endured, has encouraged many thousands with her writings which clearly testify to her strength, grace and all-encompassing faith in God.
Another awe-inspiring figure, is Mr. Horatio Spafford, the hymn writer, who wrote the beloved hymn "It is Well with My Soul" as a result of having lost a son (4 yrs. old) to scarlet fever, losing his home to a fire, losing 4 of his daughters (ages 11, 9, 5 and 2) at sea; when the ship they were sailing on while on vacation, was struck by an iron sailing vessel and subsequently sunk....after losing his daughters, Spafford and his wife had 3 more children only to lose another son (4 yrs. old)  to pneumonia....
Knowing their stories, I've often pondered on the lives of both Corrie Ten Boom and Horatio Spafford....marveling at their will to survive such tragedies and wondering HOW they did so....but then, I think back through the recent history of my own life....admittedly, not wrought with nearly as many trials and hardships, but certainly not without......I think back over all of the financial distress my husband and I have gone through, the marital/familial trials we've had to overcome, caring for and then losing both of my parents to cancer, etc......yes, some of our trials were self-inflicted, while some were beyond our control, most have been a combination of those 2 things....nevertheless, the lesson's we learned in the midst of them, have helped me better understand how folks like Ms. Ten Boom and Mr. Spafford kept going...kept living....for the glory of God...."How???" you might ask....they invited Him into the midst of the test with them....I imagine they may have wondered "WHY" at some point (we sure did), but in their wondering they did not turn their back on Him....and now, as we look back over their lives in the form of history, we see that God took their test and through it, He gave them a testimony to share with the world....
This my friends, is the very same lesson God has taught my husband and I....this is the very same lesson that God wants to teach us all....
I can't encourage you enough to invite Him into the middle of your test to sustain you and see you through it.... I promise you, He will most assuredly reward you with a testimony of His faithfulness, goodness, lovingkindness and mercy that you will, in turn,  be able to share with others.....not only that, but you will also be endowed with increased faith in God....because it's only when He brings us through something that we learn to believe that He can be trusted to do it again....
Even right now, like many of you, my husband and I are standing at the threshold of what looks to be a rough season approaching.....if this were perhaps 10 years or so ago, I imagine we might be fretting and worrying about what will come next for us, but because we've leaned on God through other tests and know from experience that He can be trusted....now,when one of us starts to sound fearful or full of doubt, the other of us will gently recall our favorite calming phrase...."God has brought us too far to leave us now....." and the same is true for you, my friend....the same is true for you......

Don't Hate.....Appreciate....

Matthew 5: 44 (NLT) " But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!"

Today I am coining a phrase from my kiddos..."Haters..." to be sure, we've all heard that word and rightly know what it means...Mary Southerland has written a book in which she calls them "Sandpaper People..." (1)
However you term them,  I'm sure at one time or another, we have all experienced the painful, discouraging reality of dealing with those for whom we have had to do nothing more than be who we are, in order to get under their skin and for them to flat out dislike us....or perhaps, and sadder still, we may have to repent and confess before God to the truth of being someone else's Hater....
Either way, I see shirts all over the place these days...I'm certain you've seen them too..."I <3 My Haters", "Gotta <3 A Hater" and yes, "Don't Hate...Appreciate..." these mantras of today are just new words used to speak to an age-old issue...enemies....
In most cases, we can't live with 'em....but, I dare to offer, that in God's economy, we shouldn't live without 'em either....Now, I know that most of you probably think I have taken leave of my senses, but we need only re-read today's scripture reference to know that I haven't....
Understand, I am not talking about inviting folks smack over into the middle of our lives to wreak havoc.... boundaries are healthy and necessary....No, I am talking about God's economy, and in God's glorious economy,  things are just....well, different....there is no waste or lack in His hands....in His Word are many promises and we can know each one of them to be true if we just trust Him....
It's taken me years to learn that our "Hater's"  or "Sandpaper People" can and do serve a very useful purpose in our lives....naturally, this requires some "adjustment of focus" on our part, but it's true....
First, as we begin to adjust our focus from them to God...we find an abundance of (His) strength in our weakness, the ability to supernaturally love others through Him, and  best of all, Holy refinement for our humanity and the coarse edges of our own personalities....
You see, God will often allow the constant grating on us by those who don't care for us simply to make us more like Jesus....not perfect of course, but more grown-up in the Spirit and far more inclined toward grace, love, compassion and all of the qualities that reveal the character of God in us....
One of the most valuable lessons God ever taught me in dealing with those who have served this purpose in my life, came on a day when I found myself in prayer...lamenting, yet again, over what I perceived as unfair treatment and hurtful behavior being leveled in my direction....suddenly.... in my mind's eye.... there we were...my Sandpaper person and I....standing at the foot of the cross as Jesus hung there....and then a question proceeded to ring out loud and clear in my spirit...."Which one of you did I die for?...." as the remembrance and conviction began to settle on me of how level the playing field is at the foot of the cross, I purposed then, before Him to endeavor (with His power) to never look at the difficult people and relationships in my life the way I had up to that point.....
I wish I could say that it has been an easy process to live in that truth every day...I wish I could say that I have always succeeded at doing so....but alas, I cannot...on either account.....
I will say though, that I have learned to be more willing to give people over to God...to allow Him room and time to work in their hearts and lives and to trust that even the hardship, difficult situations, people and relationships which He has allowed to touch my life, are in fact, serving a far greater purpose...a purpose, I admit, I may not ever fully understand on this side of life, but one I fully expect to see unfolded in eternity......
So, be encouraged today, My Friends.... Don't hate....but rather allow God to stretch, grow you and adjust your focus on that tough relationship or difficult person....begin to pray.....or continue in prayer for them, and appreciate the fact that in His hands, all things are somehow working together as they should..... 

   


1. "Sandpaper People: Dealing with the Ones Who Rub You the Wrong Way" by Mary Southerland; Harvest House Publishers 2005

One Step....One Day At A Time....

Proverbs 3: 5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths."



As I look around the landscape of my life these days, I can recall many a good pal who is standing on the threshold of a new season. Many are trusting God and standing in the midst of a ton of uncertainty while doing so....perhaps many of you can relate as well...
I suppose I can relate to so many of them because God has been moving in some of the very same ways within my own life...Back in April of this year, I finally yielded to following God in the call that He has on my life to encourage and affirm the faith of other women by serving Him in speaking ministry....as God has lovingly (and firmly) clarified His call on my life, He has given me what I like to term as a few "Guidelines of Encouragement"
 I feel led to share them here in the hope that those of you who find yourself on the "cliff of faith" waiting to take the next step with God; will use them to encourage your own hearts as well....(Please know that God has shared these with me over the course of many months so they're not written in any order of importance per say...just in the order as to which God has brought them to my heart/attention....)

1. Remember God: Always be mindful of the God you represent... (Exodus 19: 16-19)

2. Remember Obedience: God called Abraham to follow Him to the land that He would give him...Just as the particulars of Abraham's calling were God's responsibility, the same is true for us...Abraham had only to be obedient and available to God and God took care of the rest....the same is true for us as our part is to simply be obedient to God and exercise faith and trust in Him....

3. Remember God's Word: Meditate on and keep your heart full of God's Word...the benefits are endless and obvious...

4. Remember Courage: Be strong, courageous and do not fear. (Joshua 1:9) (2 Timothy 1:7)

5. Remember to be Congruous: Be mindful that people are watching and are heavily influenced by what they see in your life...Seek God and ask His help in bringing and maintaining harmony and balance between your private and public persona...

6. Remember Servanthood: Be prepared to stay the course with God...a servant doesn't give up because others bulk and criticize....rely on His faithfulness to strengthen you...

7. Remember your back story: No one but you and God know how God has prepared you throughout your life to take this next step with Him....trust that He has lovingly orchestrated every circumstance of your life for the work that he has in front of you today....know that His equipping is with you and will follow you....

Friends, we may be standing on the threshold of different seasons and callings...some may appear extremely difficult, while others may seem filled with excitement.... most are probably a combination of the 2... nevertheless, the main truth is....the God we serve is the same and His promises apply to each of us....Once He's given you clarity and confirmation, follow Him in the next step and know that I pray rich blessings upon you as you accept His invitation to the greatest adventure of your life!!!

Fan The Flames

2 Timothy 1:6  (NLT) "This is why I remind you fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you."

Let's begin today with a couple of questions.....What Spiritual Gifts has our Heavenly Father bestowed upon you? and...Are you using them?
These are vital and important questions for those of us within the household of faith....Why? you might ask...well, simply because God hand picks at least one Spiritual Gift for every believer and "A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other." 1 Cor. 12:7 (NLT) 
We find within Scripture that the human body is used as a parallel to describe the church or Body of Christ  and just as the human body has many parts that function in unison depending on each part to do it's job, the Body of Christ needs every believer to do the same through the spiritual giftings of the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 12)
Scripture mentions at least 21 different types of giftings which we often divide into 3 categories.....1.Ministry/Office, 2. Motivational/Practical, 3. Charismatic/Miraculous and these gifts carry such names as, Administration, Leadership, Teaching, Intercessory Prayer, Wisdom, Discernment, Faith, Hospitality, Service/Helps, Encouragement/Exhortation, Prophesy, Mercy....etc.
But perhaps more important than categories and names are what we do with these supernatural abilities that God has so lovingly given us in order to build up His church and one another....In other words, knowing categories and names is a great place to start in understanding how God has gifted us to better serve Him, but, out of love for God and that same love flowing through us (1 Cor. 13) we should always allow room for the Holy Spirit to quicken our hearts and lead us to serve the Body in the capacity to which God sees fit and as He leads, we should plainly trust that His equipping will follow....
Many have often wondered and also asked..."How do I know the difference between natural abilites and Spiritual Gifts?" and the best explainantion I have ever found to answer this question was one given by John Piper where he explained..."It is good for us to know that our Spiritual Gifts are given for us to use in helping others because many an unbeliever has great strengths and giftedness in teaching and administration and yes, these abilities are God-given whether they recognize them as such or not, but they would not be something we would call "Spiritual Gifts" of teaching and administration because they are not expressions of faith and not aiming to strengthen the faith of others in their use. It is our faith in the promises of God which is the channel through which the Holy Spirit flows on His way to strengthening the faith of others. Therefore, no matter what abilities we have, if we're not relying on God and aiming to help others rely on Him, then our ability is not a spiritual gift because the Holy Spirit is not flowing through it from one's faith to that of another...." (1)
The reasons for us to take the time to know and better understand our spiritual giftings are many, but a few of the more important reasons are so we might be more effective in serving God and the church, maintain an appropriate commitment to ministry, begin to more clearly know/find God's will for our lives, and finally, so we might be helped in overcoming feelings of inferiority....
Truly as we boil this all down today, my hope in highlighting the importance of our spiritual giftings is just so  we might begin to think more seriously about "WHY" we were given these giftings in the first place....we often get so hung up on the idea that we are "volunteering" within the church that we seriously undermine and negate the idea that we are in fact, "serving"...and when you line the 2 words....volunteering and serving side-by-side, you come up with 2 very different meanings....Yes, we have to be where God would have us to be and there are seasons in life where God may even side-line us to prepare us for greater service for Him, but those facts do not change the truth that serving (and not volunteering) is what we are called to do....
So with that said....I will end today, just like I began....with a question....Are you allowing God to fan into flames the gift/s He has given you in order to strengthen the faith of the people around you?



1. John Piper: Desiring God: Series: 4 Sermons on the Spirit, Topic: Spiritual Gifts, March 15, 1981

Keeping God In Mind When Friendship Ends....

"Paul and Barnabas had such a serious argument about this that they separated and went different ways." Acts 15:39 a (NCV)






At first glance, this week's topic may not seem like a very encouraging post, but it is one I am re-posting from a past blog writing simply because there is fact to be found in the subject  of losing or ending friendships....and although this is a painful reality we may face in life from time-to-time, my hope is to encourage and bolster your faith and heart by sharing some wisdom in how to navigate through this difficult process.
Principle #6 from the article "How to be a Good Friend" which I highlighted in a past blog, discussed the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation in friendship. Although reconciliation is certainly most desirable, it is also, in my opinion, not always possible. Because reconciliation requires a willingness of both parties to "own" and acknowledge the fault that caused pain and a breech in the relationship, that always makes reconciliation an option and not a guarantee....how then, do we respond and carry on when this is the case?
As many of us have probably gone through this painful process, I have learned from experience and now firmly believe, that there are "right" and "wrong"  actions and viewpoints that can either make the process easier or more difficult...in other words, we can go about this in a way that either honors God or not...
Today, I'd like to share just a few of those points of view with you in the hope that those of you who find yourself contemplating or  are in the midst of this process will be encouraged and perhaps even find a new way of "viewing" this difficult but important issue.
Let's first consider the idea that friendships are "seasonal" in nature....by that I  mean, there are people who enter our lives who remain for a lifetime while there are others who are with us for a shorter span of time....I believe that as we consider friendships/relationships from this perspective, we may in fact, learn to hold more loosely to the people in our lives in the understanding that God has an ultimate plan for our lives, including our relationships, and the "length" of each of those relationships is no exception to that rule....Understand, holding folks "loosely" does not at all mean that we value them lightly....it simply means that we allow God room to add people and remove them from our lives as He sees fit....
I read a blog written by Natasha Richardson where she used the ministry relationship that existed between Paul and Barnabas as a perfect example of  the "seasonal" nature of relationships....the book of Acts highlights their relationship and also highlights that by way of a disagreement (Chapt.15:36-41), they decided to part ways in their ministry efforts, and perhaps, even their friendship....scripture never clearly states that they ceased to interact, but it also does not say that they continued to interact either....
As I studied this portion of scripture and Natasha's blog more closely, there were a couple of points that God allowed to stand out and used to confirm that if we must part ways with someone, there is absolutely a right and wrong way to do so....
First, In keeping with the idea that friendships are seasonal in nature, we must remember to continually seek God for clarity and guidance in all of our friendships/relationships....Ms. Richardson states this well when she says that "It is important to discern the healthiness of a relationship; and whether or not God is drawing it to a close...I have heard it said, that we get into trouble trying to turn "seasonal people" into life-long partnerships...yet, because we love a person, have become attached and value the relationship, we do not want to let go, even when it is clear that we should do so...." (1)
Unfortunately, there are also occasions when friends may simply be chronically disagreeable; let us also not forget, as Ms. Richardson so aptly reminds us, "We are called to live at peace with one another, and if that is not possible, then we may have good cause to part ways." (2)
Secondly, as we consider that both Paul and Barnabas were Godly men who shared the same passion to share the gospel, we can glean from this that although they disagreed about how to go about completing their mission, they absolutely did not mean harm to one another.... in parting ways with others, we simply MUST hold fast to this premise...DO NO HARM... admittedly, this is often a difficult principle to follow as we are emotional beings who often feel the need to be vindicated. We can also become bitter and yield to the desire to tell our side of the story which is dangerous and a tactic that the Enemy of our souls loves to exploit because it often results in further divisions among other friends whenever we take that particular approach....not only that, but it can and does block the free-flow of our fellowship with God when we entertain bitterness and hold it in our hearts.....
In her blog, Ms. Richardson was quick to point out..."We do not have evidence that Paul or Barnabas did those things...I think that Paul could not have ministered as effectively as he did after this disagreement, had he harbored bitterness and resentment in his heart against Barnabas. When placed in a disbanding situation with a friend, I encourage you to speak the truth in love, then remain silent concerning the issue or only speak words that will uplift your friend, and finally, make a clean break.....Again, it is tough to follow these lessons because a period of grieving is sure to follow if you make the tough decision to part ways. Unfortunately, these lessons could also result in rumors and untruths being told and circulated about you. However, take comfort in knowing that if your friend meant evil against you, God knows it...and just as He knows the posture of their heart, He knows yours....therefore, if you have acted in a manner that is correct and honoring of your friend and have done the right thing, God will know that too." (3)
I reiterate, reconciliation should be and ultimately is the first course God would have us always seek to take, but when that possibility is not available to us, parting ways with integrity is of vital importance, it minimizes further damage to the parties involved in the friendship and may even allow for reconciliation to take place at a later date....most importantly, the point is for us to remain purposeful in honoring God and maintaining our witness of Him even when we find ourselves walking out one of life's most difficult situations....

For more encouragement, be sure to check in today over at http://holleygerth.com/ and also, be sure to join me for a special broadcast on Friday, March 21st at 10 AM EST via Life On The Grow Blog Talk Radio when I will be sharing/discussing this topic on the show! Praying you'll join me!



References 1, 2 and 3 excerpted from "Parting Ways" by Natasha Richardson August 4, 2010: Taken from Kyria.com: Kyria's Gifted for Leadership: Women Called To Ministry

Uncommon Bonds:Sisterhood in Christ

1 Samuel 18:1 (NIV) "Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself."

For many years within my life, my friendships seemed to solely be based upon the season of life I happened to be in at the time and they also either succeeded or failed based on that same premise....by that I mean, whether I was in grade school, my adolescent years, early adulthood and even now into middle adulthood; the quality and health of my friendships always seemed to reflect the "mindset" that I held at that time in my life....
Unfortunately for many of those years, my idea of friendship was centered in generalities and surface relating...it seemed that within most of my relationships the tougher, meaner and "faster talking" you could be; the better off you were and the more respect you earned...naturally, those relationships often left me feeling wounded and worse yet, I often did my own fair share of wounding others!!! Needless to say, I've had many more failures in my relationships with other women than I've had successes.....
Thankfully,God, in His infinite grace, allowed over the years, a few of those rare people to cross my path who just seemed to know how to do friendship well...and in observing them, He whet my appetite and desire to follow their lead and learn how to become the type of friend that I desired to have....
In Beth Moore's study on the life of King David, I was encouraged and blessed to study the example of friendship that existed between Jonathan (son of King Saul) and David...theirs was nothing more or less than an absolutely beautiful example of Godly, Covenant friendship between 2 people. Taking a deeper look at the friendship shared between these 2 men, re-surged my desire to do friendship well and as I sought deeper study and prayer on the subject, God lead me to an article titled: "How to be a Good Friend" which was written by Dr.'s Les and Leslie Parrot, who are among other things, the Co-Directors of the Center for Relationship Development at Seattle Pacific University. In the article, they shared 10 powerful principles that may at first glance seem quite obvious, but just as we are often so careful to live preventive lives as it relates to our health and physical well-being, I feel strongly that a little remembrance and repetition can also go a very long way in proactively caring for and being good stewards of our friendships as well.....

Principle #1. Make Time- Make time for one another's significant life events, moments of crisis and for sharing the everyday, mundane moments of life.

Principle #2. Keeping a Secret/Confidence-We need to be able to share our confidences with people who are first and foremost trustworthy, and who consider it a privilege to hear what's on our minds and in our hearts.

Principle#3. Care Deeply-Make the effort to move beyond surface-level in your relationships...Expressing care involves both your head and heart and says "whatever happens to you happens to me."

Principle #4. Provide Space-Be careful never to become emotionally needy, smothering or overly engaged in friendship. This type of companionship quickly becomes oppressive and possessive; thereby hindering the free-flow of Godly relationship.

Principle #5. Speak The Truth-Honesty is a prerequisite for Godly friendship. There must be a willingness to speak the truth, and a willingness to hear the truth.

Principle #6. Forgive Faults-Every friend you have will eventually disappoint you. You can count on it. They are ordinary people. Lasting friendship depends on forgiveness. Some slights will need only be overlooked and forgotten; while others will require profound forgiveness. The friendship may not continue unless there is also reconciliation, which requires each party to own up to the truth of the fault and see the pain it caused.

Principle #7. Remain Faithful-Faithfulness is another evidence of healthy friendship. Friends do not desert you, even when you are in trouble, or when it costs them something to remain your friend.

Principle #8. Laugh Easily-Laughter keeps good friendships going once they're born.

Principle #9. Celebrate Successes- It is great to stick with friends in bad times, but sometimes the true test of a friend's staying power is in their ability to be supportive when things are going well. A good friend will genuinely be happy for you and rejoice with you.

Principle #10 Prayer-Prayer catapults Godly friendship into the deepest and highest work of the Spirit by involving God in the relationship and making all of the aforementioned principles do-able through Him. (1)

Please understand that I do not use this list as some legalistic set of checks and balances, but rather as a "gage" to remind myself of where I can perhaps do better and take greater care of the precious Sisters that God has grafted into my life....It is my prayer for each of us, and encouragement as well, that we might all remember and seek to incorporate these principles in the relationships that God has so lovingly and graciously bestowed upon us
"The Spirit of God sometimes cements two people together as part of His plan" (2) , this was certainly the case in the lives of Jonathan and King David... "They were uncommon friends joined by a common bond: The Spirit of God" (3)..... may we all be blessed to have at least one such friend during the course of this life....




1." How to be a Good Friend" Dr. Les and Leslie Parrot: Crosswalk.com/ Spiritual Life
2. "David: Seeking A Heart Like His" Beth Moore pg. 48, Lifeway Press 2010
3. "David Seeking A Heart Like His" Beth Moore pg. 48, Lifeway Press 2010

No Pedestals

Psalm 62:6-7  (NIV) "He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress...my mighty rock, my refuge."

I recently heard the title of today's blog used in a radio discussion segment on one of my favorite Christian radio stations....the phrase was used in reference to how society is often quick to place celebrities who profess faith in Christ on a pedestal and then become extremely disillusioned and disappointed when those same folks make mistakes and subsequently "fall from grace".... often, they will also use these unfortunate incidents as a further excuse for why, they themselves, resist going to church....by using the age-old expression..."Church is filled with hypocrites."
Well, let's just get it out in the open and say that they are absolutely right....church IS filled with a bunch of fallible people....and as long as we all remain human, imperfect and continue to live in a fallen, sinful world .....that will absolutely continue to be the case....In this world, Christians will never acquire the state of "sinlessness"...the one and only thing that we can expect in this life is that as we grow in our walk and relationship with Christ; we therefore mature and in the process, by the Power of His Holy Spirit, we simply begin to sin LESS.....we can become increasingly victorious over sin.... but sin is something we'll never completely outgrow...
Every Christian I know would be the very first to admit this and also tell you that they profess faith in Christ not because they've forgotten or overcome their imperfections, but because they are well-aware of them and their all encompassing need of a Savior.....we stand forgiven ONLY because of the work Christ accomplished through His death on the cross...nothing more and gratefully, nothing less....
Truly, the problem here is not that Christians are mistake-prone and imperfect, it's the fact that we often assign to people the glory that only God is worthy of in the first place....In the video taping of session 3 of Beth Moore's study on the life of King David, she gave what I believe to be one of the very best prescriptions/remedies for this problem when she simply said "You cannot expect of people what only God can deliver. People are worthy of our esteem, but only God is worthy of our exaltation....We can trust them to be people but we cannot trust them to be God." (1)
Yes, God does call leaders among His people, who are to be held to a higher standard of integrity and because of Whom they represent, their behavior should be above reproach and they should maintain their callings with great reverence....but how do we keep the proper perspective when those whom we serve with  fall short of their calling?....
We must first remember that the One and Only perfect Leader is Christ Himself and our eyes and hearts should ever be set on following His Word alone.....secondly, while we're charged by God to obey, esteem, support, pray for and treat with lovingkindness those earthly leaders which He appoints over us, we should never place upon them the burden of carrying the weight of God's glory....it is unfair to them and clearly unrealistic and immature on our part to do so....
So, the next time reports hit the airwaves of a professed Christian celebrity, church leader (or perhaps even someone you serve more closely with) having committed acts not worthy of their calling in Christ...instead of rushing to attitudes filled with disappointment and disillusionment leveled toward the entire Body of Christ....why not resort to the posture of prayer and greater support of those whom God has appointed to lead, shepherd  and walk alongside you???
Yes, there is and always will be a place for accountability and rebuke and unfortunately, there will always be some among us who are "wolves in sheep's clothing" who falsely profess to be vessels of God....but remember Beloved Friends, God is not mocked and that is why He gives us discernment through His Holy Spirit Who guides us into all Truth...but as for those who are genuine, yet  manage to stumble....let us put away the pedestals and remember that Only God is God.....



1. Beth Moore: "David: Seeking A Heart Like His": Session 3 Video presentation: Lifeway Press 2010

Have You Heard?

James 3: 5-6  (NIV)" Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire; and is itself set on fire by hell."

I recently read an article written by Dr. Charles Stanley, in which he discussed the harmful, often devastating effects of gossip....
Unfortunately, gossip is something we as a society have readily embraced as a favorite past time. Especially as it relates to the lives of many celebrities...after all, "Enquiring minds wanna know." Right????
Well, the Word of God would offer us a totally different perspective on this matter and it is one we would all be wise to take heed of....
If we were to take only a moment to be perfectly honest with ourselves before Almighty God, we could all truly say we have either been on the receiving end as a victim of gossip, or we have at one time or another been the perpetrators of it against someone else....I readily and freely admit, that God has called me away from associating with entire groups of individuals.....not because of THEIR behavior, but because of MY OWN when I was privy to their company....gossip was all too often the order of the day...and as we all know, the more of it we partake of; the more of it we become comfortable with and desensitized by....
In his article titled  "The Words of our Mouth..." Dr. Stanley used the above scripture reference from the book of James, in which the Apostle likens the destructive nature of the tongue to a fire that sets a forest ablaze leaving behind nothing but charred ruins in it's wake.....As we have very recently had raging wildfires here in NC that have left many thousands of acres of  forest land destroyed; the illustration from God's word rang ever more true for me...as much as for a remembrance of the hurtful effects of words of gossip which have been spoken against me;  but most and even more importantly, as a warning against the one's that I have carelessly spoken against others because.... "when we allow our words to become like flaming arrows against someone's reputation, they burn up all that is good and leave ruin in their wake." (1)
I'm sure many of us can relate to those friendships we've lost or had marred by the poison of gossip.... where despite your best efforts at reconciliation, things were never quite the same because of the damage that had been done by a few ill-thought words...All too often, we never stop to consider how gossip not only damages and harms the victim, but those who listen...."Since words by their very nature are influential, those who listen to gossip are also affected by it...few can hear negative comments and not let them shape our perception and feelings about others. Those who listen to rumors and criticism are allowing poison to enter their hearts and minds while opening the door to temptation to pass the news along to someone else." (2)
If for no other reason, God has quickened my spirit to guard my heart against gossip for this very cause and has placed within me a desire to pursue only those relationships where I (and those I interact with) are free to be vulnerable and transparent without fear of becoming the next subject of conversation.....Remember My Dear Friends, gossip not only endangers those who hear it and have it spoken about them, it snares the one who speaks it by revealing the character of their heart..."the inner character of those who gossip is always obvious to those with discernment. Gossips actually deprive themselves of good, healthy relationships and their friendships are limited because they've proven themselves untrustworthy through the words they speak...."(3)
What then, you may ask,  is the remedy for gossip? A changed heart....since words flow out of the abundance of the heart, changing the content of the heart, will also change the context of our words...."to be truly free from the sin of gossip, we require transformation from the inside out. And that is exactly what Christ specializes in doing. He can create in us new hearts which honor Him and comfort those who hear." (4) 
This battle will take daily confession as well as minute by minute awareness of what we are entertaining and expressing in and through our speech...it's not an easy fight to wage, and there will be days when we feel we've failed miserably.... nevertheless, it is a battle that God wants us to be absolutely victorious in!!! Trust Him and seek only Him...and....expect the gossip about you to increase as you seek to make this change!!! It's rather ironic that that should be the case, but if folks must talk, then Who better than Christ for them to accuse you of???




In Touch Magazine: May 2011; "Guarding Against Gossip: The Words of our Mouth" Written by Dr. Charles F. Stanley
Reference # 1: Pg. 6
Reference #2: Pg 9
Reference #3: Pg.9
Reference #4: Pg.10

Do You Know Who You Are?

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)

As I vacillated for a few days on the topic that I should write on this week, God "loudly" confirmed the direction that He had been coaxing me in after I read this Facebook post from a dear Sister In Christ (I share this post with her permission).....  "Is not impressed that my daughter wants ice for breakfast because one of the daycare workers at the gym had ice for their dinner...I hope this is more innocent than it sounds. Please ladies, step up to the plate and be a good example to our girls. They do not need to see us doing outlandish things like this or saying cruel things about our bodies. We need to show them the beauty of a healthy woman." (1)
You see, God has been reminding me for about 4 weeks now; of the complete and sheer importance of we, as women, knowing who we are in Him.....
We live in a world where fad diets and airbrushed photos of stunningly attractive women are clearly what's considered today's "beauty standard..." yet, every single woman I know, including myself, is often, in some way, shape or form, left feeling like she is far "less than" the images we are bombarded with and expected to keep pace with...
Do not get me wrong, I am not at all saying that seeking to maintain a balanced, healthy, fit, lifestyle is in any way a bad thing....it is absolutely good stewardship of our bodies for us to do just that....what I am saying though is...anything that swings to the opposite extreme of this premise is not good for us to accept as truth as my friend's FB post so clearly explains.....
Although I must admit that I need to take more seriously the importance of healthy living and good stewardship over my own body, one of the greatest life lessons God ever taught me was in showing me my identity in Him through His Holy Word. He taught me that although every Believer is gifted to serve Him, it's knowing who we are in Him that will sustain us for a lifetime of service on His behalf......every single one of us who professes faith in Christ as Daughter's of the Most High God, already possesses the certainty of these truths being applicable in each of our lives....
You may be wondering exactly what I am speaking of when I talk about our knowing who we are in Christ....well, in her latest Going Beyond Conference, Priscilla Shirer did a tremendous job of searching the word of God and writing out two whole pages of  "Identity Statements" in her conference guide that readily describe or tell something about each of us who are in Christ....the following are just a few examples.... (2)

1. I have been made complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)
2. I have been given a Spirit of Power, Love, and Self-Discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
3. I am assured that all things are working together for good. (Romans 8:28)
4. I have been adopted as God's child. (Ephesians 1:5)
5. I am a member of Christ's body. (1 Corinthians 12:27)
6. I cannot be separated from the love of God. (Romans 8:35)
7. I am completely forgiven. (Colossians 1:14)
8. I am the sweet fragrance of Christ to God. (2 Corinthians 2:15)
9. I am hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)
10. I am Christ's Ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20)    


Again, these are just a few of the truths/affirmations that tell us about who we are and what we possess in God through our Savior, Christ Jesus....My encouragement to each of you is that you would write these down, tape them on your bathroom mirrors so you can see them everyday as you get ready to make contact with the world, keep a copy in your purse or put them on your car dashboard.....keep them anywhere nearby so you can grab them and reaffirm them to yourself whenever the Enemy attacks with lies and "less than" statements concerning you and please, please.....don't forget to share them with your daughters and your friends because we're all in this thing together!!!  Lastly, and most importantly, continue to search His precious Word for yourself so that He will make His promises to you even more evident as you seek and fellowship with Him and begin to learn, perhaps for the first time ever, to see yourself through His eyes!!!
Remember Sweet Sisters, these truths outstretch positive thinking and far outlast our youth...they are solid and true promises spoken from the very mouth of God over and concerning each one of us!!! What a  wonderful foundation on which to build an awesome dose of good, healthy self-image!!!


1. Many Thanks to you Sara!!! Your words are timely and true and God certainly used them as an answer to prayer!!!

2. Going Beyond Life Interrupted Simulcast Guide; Pgs. 10-11; Priscilla Shirer/Lifeway-Women 2011

There Will Be A Day

"The day of Christ's return will surprise people obsessed with their busy, happy lives- and the surprise will be an unpleasant awakening to God's wrath. Believers should keep watch, living in plain sight of God and doing right until he comes. Then whether Jesus returns before or after we die, we can be confident we will live with him in heaven."  ~The NCV Student Bible

"Now, brothers and sisters, we do not need to write you about times and dates. You know very well that the day the Lord comes again will be a surprise, like a thief that comes in the night." 1 Thes. 5:1-2 (NCV)

I'm certain many of you recognize the title of today's blog as also being the title to one of Jeremy Camp's hit songs. Might I also add that I love that particular song. It always propels me forward... into thoughts of the day of Jesus' triumphal return....the day that our faith will finally be made sight as we will then see Him face to face and be reunited with loved one's who have already been ushered by death into His presence....Oh, what a day that shall be!!!
For all who profess belief and trust in Jesus Christ, I do not believe that I exaggerate to say that the promise of that day lies at the very crux of all we hold dear because the promise of that day is, always has been and always will be so closely tied to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ....the promise of that day is a huge part of what, in fact, makes us Christians in the frst place....
As we have by now all heard of Harold Campings predictions of "Judgment Day", I find it completely ironic and exciting that although his predictions are utterly wrong, they still only serve to prove the true Biblical prophecies that speak to assure us of how very real that day, at some point, shall be!!!
How, you may ask, can I be so sure that Mr. Campings predictions are wrong? Well, for one thing, they have never come to fruition....but most importantly, is the fact that Jesus Himself left word for us concerning these things in Matthew 24:36 (NCV) where He said..... "No one knows when that day or time will be, not the angels in heaven, not even the Son. Only the Father knows."  And He goes on to make it very clear that no one but God will ever know when that day or time will be....we are simply admonished by Jesus... "to always be ready, because you don't know the day your Lord will come. Remember this: if the owner of the house knew what time of night a thief was coming, the owner would watch and not let the thief break in. So you must also be ready for the Son of Man will come at a time when you don't expect Him." Matthew 24:42-44
 Thankfully, even though Jesus Himself does not know when He will be called on by the Father to return. He did leave very clear "signs of the times" as to when we might anticipate His return and I know I speak not only for myself, but many others when I say that I feel sheer comfort and excitement as I look into news headlines and happenings around the world and see the very clear unrolling of these signs right before our very eyes!!! Yes, it would appear that it won't be long now before we behold our Savior face to face, but what if it turns out to be another thousand years before He returns??? Should our posture in waiting be any different??? Does that render the truth of God's Word any less effective and believable??? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!
Although the Enemy has and will continue to use many like Camping to try and discredit the real truth of God's Holy Word, the end and final result will be the same....Christ shall return just like He said He would....It is true, according to scripture, that the days leading up to His return will not at all be pleasant or easy ones for us to endure, but it is also not for us to "sideline" ourselves watching and waiting for His return.... rather, we are to keep busy just as Peter wrote...."we are to live holy lives and serve God, as you wait for and look forward to the coming of the day of God." 2 Peter 3: 11-12 (NCV).....  we are to work for the continuance of the cause of His kingdom in this earth all the while knowing and anticipating that one sweet day...."The Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And those who have died believing in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive will be gathered up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words." 1Thes.4:16-18 (NCV)

Surviving All Things

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his pupose." Romans 8:28 ESV

My pastor recently taught a message where he spoke on the topics of perseverence, hope and overcoming life's hurts....in this message, he used the above scripture reference from the book of Romans. There was no way he could know this, but the whole premsie of his lesson is one of my life's greatest mantras. Nothing, and I do mean nothing, will get me on my "soapbox" quicker than discussing or hearing about God's promise to work all things in life to the benefit of those who love Him and are living out His purpose for their lives!
I've told my children many, many times....(especially those we adopted, as they have already had to survive a great many things), if we will simply allow God to help us learn to trust in and hold onto this one promise from Him, we'll have the art of persevering in life and continuing on in Christ locked up....
In a world where we are promised to have trouble, how then do we face that knowledge head on and without fear and anxiety ruling our hearts? We face it by remembering God's promise to us in Romans 8:28 and by remembering Jesus' own admission that we are to take heart because He has already overcome the world...."I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33 NLT
I understand that I run the risk of trivializing this truth in writing about it and it is my sincere hope NOT to do so....as that is the exact opposite of what I'm hoping to portray....I don't mean to make this sound simple....there is absolutely no "easy button" for this life lesson...I will readily admit, that where this particular lesson gets tricky is that it is one which is often learned in hindsight and not foresight...by that I mean, you can "know" this scripture by memory but it's the "living it out", in walking through something hand-in-hand with God, where you actually "learn" it by heart....
Granted, there are some lessons I'd rather learn in theory than by experience...I'm sure most of you would agree with that....but I will also offer, that there are some things which are just too sweet to miss out on....some things that we simply will never see or realize  about God and ourselves until we're on the other side of the "something" we would never have chosen to live through had the choice been left up to us.....for each of us that "something" is different, but I beleive that God intends for the end result to be the same.....for us to emerge better and stronger for having walked it out....not bitter and weaker....as those words are not part of God's eternal vocabulary as it relates to His children...yes, better and stronger and just a tad bit more like His Son, Jesus...it's true that we will never attain His perfection, but we can have our minds and thinking renewed and transformed to be more like His....suffering is one aide which often brings about that result and I pray that in the midst of our suffering we will always remember that it also has a very precious promise stamped on it....He shall cause ALL things to work together for good......

Thank You

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 (NIV)

As we are on the threshold of another Memorial Day weekend, I find myself pondering and mulling all that this most solemn holiday really means to me...I hope to do those thoughts justice as I attempt to share them in today's blog....
Since my hubby's return to active duty military service a few years back, I have to admit my perspective has radically changed concerning his choice of occupation, It has gone from being casual and nonchalant to serious, reverent and respectful, but I believe that most everyone can relate to that statement because on 9/11/01, I also believe that to some degree, everyone's perspective changed......
Since we reside in a military town, the reminders of duty and sacrifice are forever with us....Since staying fit is part of his job, I watch my precious hubby roll out of bed every morning at "zero-dark-thirty" as I call it, just so he can hit the gym before work so as not to take away from our family-time in the evening.....I have lost track of the number of countless friends and acquaintances who have spouses deployed right now, not to mention the one's who have already, or are once again, packing up all of their earthly belongings to move to a new home because they have new military orders, and a new life to begin someplace else.....worse yet though, are those whom we have witnessed pay the ultimate price via loss of limb and life...just last week, I called my hubby, as I often do for a quick chat during the day, and when he answered the phone, I immediately knew in hearing his voice that something was terribly wrong...he had lost a friend, a Brother-in-arms, who was slated to retire, but at the last minute decided he would do one more tour in Afghanistan...now, my hubby explained to me, that his friend would never come home......
In hearing all of this, you might wonder what it is that keeps folks committed to willingly making such sacrifices....I've wondered that myself from time to time, but every time I step foot on the military base that adjoins our town, I no longer have to wonder....the sense of purpose and honor that flows from all of the young men and women in uniform, also makes their sense of commitment abundantly clear. Even more than that, it rubs off....it makes me proud to be the wife of a United States Marine.... It makes me proud to do my small part to aid in the protection and continuation of this great nation in which we live... I grant that America is not perfect and may have her fair share of troubles, but there is truly no other place in the entire world that I would rather live....God bless the USA and all who serve to keep her safe!!!!  Thank You!!!!

Mr.Hawking, I Beg To Differ....

Job 40:1-2 " Then the Lord said to Job, "Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God's critic, but do you have the answers?"


"A man can no more diminsh God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word "darkness" on the walls of his cell." ~C.S. Lewis

I recently read an article based on the life of British Physicist, Stephen Hawking. In this article, he expounded greatly on his opinions of heaven, the afterlife and God. Let me just say, that although Mr. Hawking is certainly entitled to his opinion...I must vehemently beg to differ with him...
He clearly said that "There is no afterlife." and  "Heaven is a fairy story that has been made up by those who are afraid of the dark."
Of course, given that mine is a Biblical worldview,  it saddens my heart that he would rather worship the created rather than the Creator, but I do find one fact in this whole story that saddens me even more...Mr. Hawking was diagnosed with ALS (a.k.a Lou Gehrig's Disease) at the age of 21 and is now, remarkably still alive and sharing his opinions at the age of 69....again, as my worldview is based in what I consider to be absolute (Biblical) truth.... I observe in the very fact that he is even still alive, a sheer, utter and complete miracle and because Mr. Hawking believes that "his brain is merely a computer that will cease working when it's components fail" I further believe that he is missing the miracle which has been bestowed upon him!!! How very sad....
Even the author of the article commented on and seemed to marvel at how unprecedented it is that Mr. Hawking has lived for so many years with such a lethal diagnosis....I, on the other hand, do not marvel at all because I see God's hand all over the very fact that he's still here with us...I don't marvel because I serve a God who tells us in His word that "What is impossible with man; is absolutely possible with Him."
Although I can't begin to imagine the struggle Mr. Hawking has faced in living with ALS for the better part of 48 years, I nevertheless, also can't help but wonder what he might have accomplished on behalf of God's Kingdom  had he been living with that diagnosis for all this time as a believer in Christ....
I'd be lying if I said I can begin to understand why he has gotten to live for so long with a highly terminal illness while showing absolutely no reverence for God...especially in light of the fact that there are many who have loved God with their whole hearts, suffered from less lethal illness and yet are no longer with us on this side of life, but I also recognize that to entertain such a question for long and seek the answer to it is crossing over into the area of God's sovereignty and therefore is......none of my concern....yet again, I can see that it is just like God in his longsuffering and lovingkindness to extend Mr. Hawking the grace and gift of more time in order to ensure that he, like the rest of us, may have every opportunity possible to enter into relationship with Him.....
In closing I would finally like to say....Dearest Mr. Hawking, I can assure you that I learned a very long time ago not to fear the dark ....it was at precisely the moment that I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, received the free pardon of my sin  and came to the realization that He conquered darkness on my behalf via His death on the cross....He is not my "crutch", nor is He my "coping mechanism" for life..... He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords...and yes, Mr. Hawking, I believe that even you will one day bow before Him and confess this with your own  mouth....in the meantime, I and many others will continue to praise the God and Creator of this universe that you love to study and worship...I and many others will praise Him for the miraculous way that He has lovingly and mightily sustained your life....I and many others will praise Him for His mercy that endures forever and I ( and I pray many others) will pray for you without ceasing in hopes that oneday, before you breathe your last, you might also come to do the same.....