For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.   

Isaiah 9:6-7

As we approach each Christmas season, it becomes more evident that the world we live in has a completely different reason for an idea of Christmas. From the commercials to the shopping mall decorations, to the yearly hot toy or gadget items that everyone says you’ve just got to have, it seems that everywhere we turn is devoid of the truth of Christmas. I'm not attempting to be cynical, but it seems that Christmas gets more watered down every year - sometimes even in our churches!

For many, Christmas becomes merely a time to exchange gifts - as many as possible. Or for others it becomes a time of year to share good tidings/do good deeds (not that there's anything wrong with that), as if they shouldn’t all year through.  I used to make sure both my children had the same number of gifts under the tree and if I was off by one, I went out and bought a gift, so it was even.  I focused more on that then anything.  

As I was putting up my Christmas decorations last weekend the first thought was this is a lot of work every year!  I started decorating my tree and stood back to see if the lights were even, I thought to myself something is missing.  Lights, balls, bows and ornaments are all on, “What am I forgetting?”  I was forgetting the true meaning of this holiday, it’s not about decorating the tree, decorating the house, inside and out, but about OUR ONE AND ONLY SAVIOR WAS BORN for all of us.  

This year they were talking on the news about shortages on Christmas gifts, so buy them early. If we can put our mindset on not the material things and focus on starting early to spread the good NEWS. I truly feel you will enjoy this Christmas more satisfied in your soul.  I need to stop thinking about how pretty things look and show how decorating for GOD’S KINGDOM is more rewarding.  Putting more effort into sharing the GOSPEL, then into the material things about Christmas.  

Is Jesus Christ the center of your Christmas celebration? As you give and receive gifts, do you also reflect on God’s gift to you, Jesus, who is the first true gift?

My challenge to you is DON’T DEVOID THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS! Have you received His gift of salvation yourself? HE is so willing to give it to you!

Kathy

If you saw, you’d know.

If you were the first to walk in, and the last to walk out, you’d know.

You’d know that when the seats are empty, when the artificial lights have dimmed to black, and the stage is just an echo of the band’s music, the resounding voice of the pastor now a journaled memory…

It’s just a building.

A beautiful building, but a hollow one. A shell absent of life, save the stories etched into stain glass.

This constant view reminds me that just as houses are made into homes by families who love within their walls, the same goes for churches. Buildings are only made into churches when God’s people fellowship within the space. When praise for Christ intermingles. When worship for the King of Glory is gathered, as believers join hands and hearts.

A building used for church is not The Church. But The Church is who makes or breaks churches, no matter what kind of roof they’re under.

Though I haven’t had the best experience with churches and other members of the Body of Christ, the spark I have for God and His people has never gone out. I think a great sorrow has made way for me to pursue the joy of the Lord’s presence all the more, and to not make an idols out of places or people.

It’s always on the forefront of my mind, that beautiful buildings such as these only hold the weight of glory when broken people made whole by a perfect God, stick together and serve together.

Without them…without that…it’s a bushel with no light to hide or to reveal.

We have been through ups and downs this year in America and all over the world.  As we approach Thanksgiving let us remember and thank God for all HIS unfailing and never changing grace in our lives.  Let us thank him for always being the same through this changing world and that we can rest on HIS promise to us in HIS Word.

Life is change! The longer you live, the more you know that the only thing constant in this life is change. Whether our changes seem hard or make us happy, change teaches us that life is fragile, uncertain and temporary. Nothing lasts forever. God doesn’t change. He has always been and will always be never changing. Psalm 33:11 says, “The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation”

Not only does God stay the same but so do His loving plans for us that are based in His Word. His Word is dependable, so we can find comfort in our relationship with Him whatever change comes our way. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” Isaiah 40:8

If God has allowed a change in your life, let that change motivate you to draw closer to Him and to His Word. Let Him be your comfort and your strength!  Dive into HIS Word and be blessed.  Recently, I have been taking time to dive into scripture more and I have been so much calmer and blessed by doing so. I am trying hard to “Let Go-Let God” into my life and not take control of everything on my own.  If you know me that is an accomplishment to achieve!  

I challenge you to keep this prayer in your prayer life. Thank You for YOUR WORD. Please reassure and comfort me based on YOUR loving plans. I trust you to be with me during this and every season and thank you for being my all.  

~ Kathy

Why do I doubt myself?
 Why do I question my ability, my character and my right to know God?
 I doubt myself because other people doubt me. They tell me I am unqualified; God would never use someone like me to do HIS will. I have found that there is only one way to overcome the power of doubt and to overthrow the venom of people's malicious words, and that way is to remember and recite what God says about those who put their trust in Jesus.

God says you should be confident in Him! There are many verses in the Bible that tell us to be confident, but I particularly like Habakkuk 3:19 which tells us to be confident because God will keep us surefooted as he leads us to a great and high place. The verse serves as a brilliant reminder that God has big plans for us despite what other people may say about us.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of deer; he enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3:19

God says He is with you wherever you go! When we are suffering from a barrage of fear and doubt it can be easy to forget that Jesus is with us wherever we go, but He truly is. Isaiah 43:2 says:
When you pass through the waters,  I will be with you; and when you
 pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk
through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  
Isaiah 43:2

God says to commit your plans to him! Life can be a quite a challenge, especially when those around us begin to doubt us. God wants us to trust in him that he has our best interests in mind and that he will sustain, guide and strengthen us according to his plan. Proverbs 3:5-6 says:
Trust in the Lorde with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

I know sometimes I doubt if I am good enough for the job God assigns me in life. Then I get negative comments thrown at me and start to doubt again.  Then the WORD of God gives me strength and encourages me to push forward according to HIS plan.

 My challenge is for you to allow yourself to TRUST God with-it all-in life.  

You won’t be disappointed!

Start Your Day with the Lord!

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.  Psalm 143:8

When I wake up in the morning first thing when the alarm goes off, I look at my Bible app and read scripture.  It is the first thing I focus on before I get out of bed, and I feel it gives me strength for the day!  I used to wake up and check my phone for messages and other things like Facebook, I noticed I didn’t have the drive to please Christ and use my gifts for HIS Glory.  Of course, they tell you it takes more than 2 months before a new behavior becomes automatic — 66 days to be exact.  Some it might take longer and some it may be a shorter time.  Start off one day at a time and it will become a habit, an amazing uplifting habit.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22–23

How often our own lives reflect this scene. We fulfill God's call on our life, but discover that circumstances appear to contradict our expectations, and we start to question God's character, God's concern and God's care for us, and we start to ask, why? Only as we turn our eyes away from our own disappointments and look to His wider purpose and plan, do we discover that His mercies never come to an end, for they are new every morning - great is His faithfulness. Let’s get into the WORD of God every morning before you get out of bed, you too will notice a difference in your day.

It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening.
Psalm 92:2

When we encounter life’s inevitable challenges, we need to get to the place where we’re no longer being driven by our feelings, but by what you might call spiritual habits or spiritual best practices. The way we make this a reality in our life is to be very intentional about adding prayer and Bible reading OUR PLAN for each day.
Even though it’s the one thing we don’t feel like doing, it’s literally the most important thing for us to turn to when we’re feeling down and out.

~Kathy

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  
Joshua 1:7

I was told that because horses can be distracted by activity in their peripheral vision, they wear blinders to keep their eyes focused on what is straight ahead.  Without them, a rider will not be able to keep his horse from being sidetracked by what is happening to the right or left.  Blinders are essential for a horse to have the best chance of winning a race.

God encourages Joshua to wear spiritual blinders to help him maintain the focus he will need. If he lets the obstacles around him into his focus, they will grow in their capacity to lure him off God’s path.  Same is true for us. Through most of us are not called to conquer a land, we are called to conquer our fears.  To do that, we need our own spiritual blinders to help us step out in faith.  

Many times, I come out strong without blinders on to show, through my life, these teens how important it is to follow and lean on Christ, and I end up getting distracted by many things that would hinder HIS will. This can take away from using my gifts and losing my drive to bring them to Jesus Christ. Which is the most important thing.  These are times we feel limited by God’s path and want a different route.  

If we put on our spiritual blinders, they will keep you from taking other roads alone the path God is unfolding for your life.   It’s like a camera lens, with the lens set at a wide angel, you capture many things in your photograph.  When you zoom in, everything but the object you are focused on disappears from the view.  This is the focus you need to move forward in your trust.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10

Keeping your eyes focused on what God has in front of you allows you to move forward in faith. Nevertheless, their journey would not be easy. Therefore, the verses 7 states “Be strong and courageous” Joshua knew his journey would not be easy, but he didn’t lack confidence and after all he was willing to put his full trust in God. That is what we need to do put our blinders on to stop us from looking to the right and the left and focus on what God wants us to do for HIS kingdom.  


~ Kathy

And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him. And Noah and his sons and his
 wife and his sons’ wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the
 flood.”

Genesis 5: 5-7



As I was preparing for my High School lesson plan today, my thoughts were time to go back to Noah when God sent the flood. In Genesis 7 Scripture states, Noah did what the Lord commanded him to do. I couldn’t imagine how he and his family were mocked daily, but Noah held on to the promise of God.

I was running a class at the Boys and Girls Club the other day and one of the teens came out and told me how he was a Christian, and in the schools, they make fun of Christians. He then told me an atheist came up to him and challenged his Faith in Jesus Christ and was trying to talk him into following Satan and Jesus Christ is not real. He told me I really don’t care what they have to say I am a Christian, and I will stand up to them. I was like WOW a bold 14-year-old! It reminded me of Noah’s family being the only ones standing up for God. This brave teenager taught me a lesson on standing up even when pressured to witness to others.

If you aren’t convinced that God’s word still matters to you in your life today, let’s go straight back to one of the oldest accounts in the Bible, the story of Noah and the ark, and see if its truths stand the test of time. You are going to be shocked at how the living, breathing Word of God can speak into your life today.

Even throughout deep sin and a worldwide flood, God provided a way for Noah and his family salvation by shutting them in the ark. He is willing to do the same for you today. It’s never too late for new beginnings because God will always provide a way.

Noah must have wondered if God’s plan was best because, after all, a worldwide flood seems very harsh. However, God had an eternal plan in mind. He knew the sinful state of the world was self-destructive and loved the world enough to intervene. His plan ultimately provided a way for you and me to come to salvation. God sees the bigger picture, so we must trust Him even when we don’t understand His ways.

Noah obeyed and held fast to what he knew was right, and God rewarded his obedience. Sometimes obeying God means believing and doing things that the world won’t understand, but we know that God honors our obedience to him.

~Kathy

“And sometimes I have kept my feelings to myself, because I could find no language to describe them in.” ~ Jane Austen

There are times we don’t have anything to say, even when we’re feeling and thinking. Times we DO have things to say, that are better left unsaid. And that’s perfectly okay.

I know this has become oh so normalized, but contrary to popular belief, we don’t have to broadcast how we feel all the time, the same way we don’t have to megaphone what we’re thinking 24/7. Not to the internet, not even to people around us. Not everything we feel or think hails a stage or a platform with an audience.

God doesn’t call us to speak publicly on every problem and issue, within our lives and the lives of others, the same way He doesn’t command us stay silent on it all, either. There’s a healthy balance. So, don’t let anyone bully you or pressure you to open your mouth, or to muzzle it. God gave you your voice, not man.

When the world demands you to speak like a clanging cymbal, let the music to ears be that of holy silence. And when the world demands silence of you, you speak - loud and clear, with pure honor. Be slow to speak and still when listening, just as Scripture says.

Honestly, we pride ourselves in how much we can write, how much we can say, how fast we can get the words out, and how relevant they can be among the whirling news of the world. In that, we forget that FEELINGS are sometimes simply meant to be FELT. That thoughts are to be just as they entail - THOUGHT. We have to remember that there are important topics and conversations that are best left within our closest relational circles and mostly, simply between the God who knows our hearts and minds better than anyone, including ourselves.

“a time to be silent and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7b).

~ Alexandria Grace

I am so very grateful to God for the praise and worship this morning with Don Miller & the Worship Team and Steven Bowers & the Tech Team. The worship music, words and the sound and visuals brought glory and honor to Him. I could worship with understanding and praise Him with joy.  Did you experience worship in a deeper way this morning? The atmosphere was clean and clear because the Holy Spirit was present among us as we listened to the truth set forth in Pastor’s sermon. I believe all their God given gifts  (Don, Steven and Pastor) made it possible to experience what Jesus referred to in John 4:23,24: “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

~ Barbara

Two are Better Than One

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!            
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10  

It was Solomon who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes and although he was a king with wisdom and his wealth outstripped every other being, he was a man who lost his spiritual direction over time because of the choices he made - and consequently he lived a defeated life.  Although he started out well, Solomon dishonored the Lord. He ignored God's Word and went his own way, which brought him to the brink of despair when he should have been enjoying a victorious and spiritually satisfying life.

This scripture reminds me of the devotion I gave on Upward Sunday during our program.  With a marker I drew a happy face on one, a sad face on the other and a confused face on the last one.  They were filled with helium, and they were floating high in the air with string attached.  I then took clothespins and used them to tell the kids your actions/choices can build someone up or tear someone down.  Each time I attached a clothespin the balloon would fall closer to the floor.  We tend to ignore God’s Word and we choose not to lift each other up.  We use our selfish acts to weigh people down, just like the clothespins on the balloons.  

God uses members of Christ's Body to compliment the gifts and graces of other brothers and sisters and to offer encouragement and support. When Christ sent his disciples out to minister to the lost sheep of the house of Israel they were sent two by two, "for two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor," and the two men on the road to Emmaus is another reminder that during times of discouragement and pain, God always provides the support we need.

As Christians, we are all individuals with our own God-given tasks and responsibilities, but we are ONE Body that is called to live and work in partnership with one another, which is much more productive and profitable than toiling alone.            
       
 ~Kathy

Are You Trusting or Controlling?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6

As we finish off our soccer camp and tie in all details for Upward Soccer Sunday, my mind is all over the place.

Do I have enough goodie bags?

Do I have enough candy?

 Do I feel the goodie bags are not good enough?

Do I have the devotion right?

If you noticed my focus goes to “DO I” instead of let’s give them GOD'S WORD and stop drifting off on the little stuff. I need to trust with all my heart that HE is in Control. As much as we try, we can’t control everything that happens to us or around us. Even if we’ve walked with Christ for years, we can still find ourselves in a place we never dreamed. A place we never intended to be. It’s like we can get caught up in a current and drift without even realizing it, if you’ve ever felt this way, I have good news for you. You are not a failure for feeling like you do. And you don’t have to figure out all by yourself how to get out of the place you drifted.

God is eager to help you.

He’s always wanting to get you from where you are to where you need to be — no matter how far you’ve drifted. It shows up in my life when I depend too much on people acting in predictable ways, on things being done a certain way and on everything being in its place. Without meaning to, I can become obsessed with schedules and plans and wanting everyone to be working a plan.

Still, God invites me to trust Him.

Control can be so sneaky.

How many times have we found ourselves disappointed, disillusioned or heartbroken because something didn’t turn out the way we expected? All because we thought, on some level, that we could control every aspect of a project or a dream, as well as the outcome.

Heavenly Father, please help me trust you more than I want to control anyone and anything in my world. Thank You that You are always eager to help me get from where I am to where You want me to be.

~Kathy

“I suffer for it to the point of being bound like a criminal, but God’s message is not bound” (2 Timothy 2:9).

God’s message is not bound…even if we are.

It’s powerful that we can suffer for something that brings such joy. That we can be imprisoned for something that delivers such freedom. That we can be criminals for being holy in Christ. That we can lose relationships over being in relationship with Him. That we can be muzzled yet never remain silent, as the message we speak transcends our very voices, which only travel so far and wide on their own.

It sounds so contradictory, though. Doesn’t it?

I mean, how, when our legs give out, can we still run the race of a lifetime? How, when the foundations of the earth quake and give way, can we stand on a Rock that never falters or alters or moves? How, when our arms and shoulders grow weak with burdens, can we embrace and continue to carry on? How, when we have tears in our eyes and sorrow in our hearts, and thoughts overwhelm our minds in the moment, can we laugh without fear of the future?

Because even when we’re bound, the Gospel isn’t.

In this world, there are chains that break at the name of Jesus. But there are also chains we endure for His namesake. And my oh my, what an honor.

So, let your soul settle with the knowledge that every chain shall break, and that until they all do, even if we’re bound, Christ and His message cannot and will not ever be.

This is also your reminder to pray for all the Saints who are bound; our brothers and sisters who are in chains for the Good News. And to pray over your own unrighteous bounds and chains to break, at the Lion of Judah’s bold roar.

~ Alexandria Grace

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

When we had our soccer camp last Thursday night, I gave them a devotion on Isaiah 41:10. I used two coaches to play on one team and used one child to play on the other side alone. I then asked how fair is it that I choose two people to play against one? They were like it’s not fair at all. So, we played up to two goals and of course the team of two won. I then explained how it is easier to work together for strength and you always need a helper in life and how hard it is to do it on your own. Just like the one child tried hard to score by himself, we too do the same we try it on our own to score in our own life. Let’s bring this to what the Bible wants us to know about Isaiah 41:10.
It has been said that the comforting words, Fear Not, appear in the bible 366 times, one for each day of the year, plus one for leap year. But no matter how many times these words of encouragement appear, let us always remember that they are spoken by the Creator of the Universe. He is the one Who tells His children not to fear, nor to be discouraged, because He is our God and that should be sufficient. We should simply take Him at His word.

There are three such extensions in this beautiful verse that was first given to Israel;
Firstly, we are not to fear for He has promised to strengthen all that are His and the Jesus amplifies this truth to Paul, when He tells him that Christ’s strength is sufficient for His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Secondly, the Lord continues, that as well as having His strength for all we need, He will be an ever-present help in trouble. Indeed, the Lord Jesus Himself promised, Lo I am with You always, even to the end of the age and furthermore He even sent His indwelling holy Spirit to be our present Helper and our resident Comforter, at all times and in all places.

Thirdly, His reassurance stretches out His arms of love still wider, with the pledge to uphold us with His righteous right hand and to prevent our steps from slipping by enfolding up in His arms of righteousness.

So always allow God to be on our team to score a perfect goal!

~ Kathy

Colossians 1:19-20

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

There is a song, “Lead Me to The Cross,” by Hillsong. The lyrics I want to talk about today are as followed:

Lead me to the cross where Your love poured out Bring me to my knees, Lord, I lay me down
Rid me of myself, I belong to You
Oh, lead me
Lead me to the cross
The verse I love the most is “Rid me of myself, I belong to you”. How many times do we feel, “Why Me”?


In every person who ever comes to Jesus Christ must do so through the cross. Yet so often we
 try to bypass the ugliness, unsightliness and gruesomeness of the crucifixion. Who wants to
 look at something so unsightly or offensive especially when I personally caused it all?
  the midst of living in the freedom found through Jesus Christ, I often forget to
  return to the place that I found my freedom and become enthralled with signs and wonders as
 God lovingly provides all my heart desires and reaches into my life. However, amid “Living for Him” but doing my own thing, there comes subtle hints that maybe I have lost my way. I assure you that God is in the control of everything good and bad in the life of His Child. Just because unexpected things come up in your life does not mean that God did not anticipate them to begin with and provide a solution down the road.

 Trials are not permanent because our existence is not as we know it on earth. We are who God
 says we are and the way He planned us to be. The things we encounter in life that lead us to
 the Cross are God’s attempt to continually reconcile us to Him. The only way to be a faith champion and perfect faith is to return to the scene of the crime. Jesus didn’t see the Cross; He saw you and decided it was worth it all. So, as you face daily challenges that upset your life and inconvenience a perfectly constructed schedule, I wonder if it is not a simple invitation to meet the Lord at the Cross today.

Hebrews 12:2-4 (NLT)

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
Kathy

He is the peace in my troubled sea
A firm presence in the tempest storm

Not the rushing water
Or the still calmness
But the One who folds the waves
Who rolls blue into white
He who holds my hand as I walk beside it
Seats me on the Rock that is higher than I
And the climbing chaos
The One who spins the world on His fingertips
Who commands fire to rise and set
And light my face with wonder
He who fashioned the moon to ebb and pull tide
As a mirror to His making of souls
Whose compassionate mercy stretches the height of crashing flood gates
Of sinking sand

I cannot see the deep of the ocean yet He calls the depths of my being His
He who considers all of me, as He knew before the beginning, and knows the besieging end of time

There is none like Him
There is no god like my God

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27

As I was coming to work the other day, I saw a sign saying we have Sticky Pigs sandwiches.  I was like, “What is a sticky pig sandwich?”  I thought it was a really gooey donut with lots of sugar on it.  But the word “sandwich” on the end of a gooey donut? Something’s not right….

  When I think of a sandwich, I think of a turkey or roast beef on bread with cheese, maybe some mayo or mustard, some tomatoes, lettuce and of course a pickle.  So, I found out that this sandwich is glazed donuts and barbecue to create the Sticky Pig Sandwich. It's pulled pork, piled on a glazed cinnamon bun donut. I couldn’t imagine putting a sweet donut with pulled pork and making a sandwich!  

 

Ok, now that I made you hungry, “What does this have to do with 1 Corinthians 12:27?”  We can run our lives alone, like the pulled pork by itself tastes good, but with Christ in our lives it’s give us a sweeter taste.  Alone we are successful, but together with Christ, we make an amazing sandwich (team).  

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  John 15:12


In the church we are one body, but each person is different.  And Jesus commanded us to love one another.  But opposites can eventually irritate each other too.  So, love and respect for each other’s strengths and forbearance of each other’s weaknesses are necessary for it all to work.  Use your talents together to glorify the God who calls us to be like a light in darkness to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.  Patiently learn to work together in the church; listen carefully to each other.  

In the world today, lets challenge our FAITH and bring Christ into the lives of this hungry and hurting generation.  Let’s make our own “Sticky Pig Sandwich” together as a family in Christ, to make this world a little sweeter!  

Dear one, I wish I could tell you the number of times the Bible says to trust in God. I really wish I knew the exact number, but to be honest, I don’t know. I just know it’s far more than what I could count on my fingers, and even in my head. I bet the words are in the Bible similarly to the amount of stars that grace the heavens.

One of my favorite Psalms about trusting in God, and simply trust in general, is the Davidic Psalm of 62. The title of the poetic work in my HCSB study Bible is literally, “Trust in God Alone.” Extremely fitting for this conversation, no?

In the prayerful poem, David speaks of God as our resting place, our rock, salvation, stronghold, etc. “I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken” (Psalm 62:1-2).

Sounds familiar, correct? It’s only mentioned a thousand times in multiple other passages in the Bible.

But David, in the next few lines, uniquely talks about how many of us struggle with feeling like a leaning wall, or a teetering stone fence when we’re attacked.
I don’t know about you, but that description is one that depicts me right about now.

In 62:3, it’s written like this: “How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you attack as if he is a leaning wall or a tottering stone fence?”

Yep. Definitely sounds like me. Maybe it sounds a little like you, too.

I know for me personally, in these fast changing times and shifting seasons, I often feel like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, tilted by burdens. That, or a metal park teeter-totter, one that moves up and down like a scale measuring weights. Fear on one end, faith on the other.

Uncertainty on one side, trust on the opposite.

I’ll tell you, if you can’t already tell, that fear and distrust are more heavy on my shoulders than faith and certainty are. I battle through things like anxiety, stress, and hopelessness on the daily and it makes me hesitant to trust God, as my heart and mind cloud with lies from the enemy.

But, David’s words ring in my head, even if just faintly, whenever I’m having difficulty choosing between letting fear override faith or faith trump fear.

“Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge” (62:8).

Trusting God at all times is hard. So, so hard. Trusting in God SOMETIMES is hard!

But…I have to ask myself when I review these verses, these questions:

Have I poured out my heart to God?

Have I told Him that I’m struggling to trust Him?

Do I ask Him to help me with my lack of trust?

If the Bible says God is a refuge, and I believe the Word to be authoritative and without flaw, than isn’t God a safe place for me to unpack my emotions?
Won’t He help me to gain back the trust I once had in Him and other people, if I ask Him?

Today, if you’re struggling like I am, I want to encourage you to ask these questions or questions similar, and to talk to God. Tell Your heavenly Father that you don’t trust Him at all, or as much as you probably should as His daughter or son. Ask Him to help you regain the trust and faith you may have once had in Him as a child. Let Him know you’re afraid to close your eyes and fall into His arms. Tell Him what you’re thinking and feeling, and know that He hears your request to either have the strength to fall or the desire to do so.

~Alexandria Grace

A PRAYER OF FRIENDSHIP:

O dearest friend in Whom I find
The friends who are so dear to me,
Grant that I may grow today
Like unto Thee

Through gentle self-forgetful love
May I become Thy anodyne
So that my friendships may shine forth
Reflecting Thine.

- July, 1946

This poem of more than seventy years, found in a long-lost, little book at my local library, bears a truth that needs light.

Friendship is raised in time, but is born in God’s time - He who is the greatest Friend.

He is the dearest Friend we are found by, in Whom we find those dear to us. Those of like-minds and loving-hearts.

He is the One who grows us, so we may connect and continue to grow with others. The Vine to branches of leaves that flourish and fall.

It is only through a gentle, self-forgetfulness in relationships that we remember the One who gave us grace to know Him, and be known by those who know of Him.

It’s by His wounds we’ve been faithfully healed, and how the faithful wounds of a friend are more powerful than the blowing pain of enemy kisses, punched to the turned cheek.

It is by a family He created, that we have companions closer than brothers and sisters. By His life laid down, we don’t love ours so much we won’t lay them down for those we love.

For He is the Sun we run around, from dawn to dusk, that reflects the shine of the midnight moon we walk underneath.

Jesus understands this struggle of joy and sorrow. For just as we pray over those we dream of being in real relationship with, those we are in relationship with now, He prayed for us - His once-enemies // now-friends.

~ Alexandria

“A wise heart instructs its mouth and increases learning in its speech. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the taste and health to the body” {Proverbs 16:23-24}.

The truth isn’t always pleasant.

There are many scenarios where it rightfully stings, like a protective and defensive bee. But even and especially when the truth is harsh as the spike of a stinger, should the tone of our tongues be ever-so pleasant.

Now, that being said, pleasantry isn’t niceness. Rather, kindness.

Niceness isn’t attainable when honest-to-goodness truth lacks appeasement. We aren’t meant to make ourselves or others FEEL good in the moment, which entails by exuding niceness. Niceness can and often will be contradictory to kindness, which is DOING good by God’s standards, to our own souls and to the souls of others.

Pleasant words - or morally uplifting speech - is the honey produced from the truthful bee that tends to sting strong. This honey is sweet, not sickly, but healthily so. It’s helpful and hopeful, in large joy instead of little happiness.

I truly love honey, as it’s a natural sweetener, rather than an artificial one. A simple spoonful can physically ease a sore throat of sickness, just as much as the spiritual proponent silences scratchy talk, both give-and-take. And it all comes by wrapping the tongue in the gold of wisdom. For true pleasantry added to truthful words, is an aid of richness, rather than a fool’s gold bandaid for brokenness.

The struggle to be kind when speaking the truth is hard to bear, but the battle is worth it.

~ Alexandria

Lord, hear the cries of your children!

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.   Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:12-17
As we were playing water dodgeball in youth group last week the competition was intense.  They would be playing and one minute happy as can be and the next minute angry and mad at each other.   One would tag the other one and here it was, “not fair”.  Who does this sound like?  Good guess -- it’s all of us.  As we run to first base-second base-third and then home to score a run-in dodgeball there are many things to stop us.  Think of this in the thing we call life, especially a Christian life!
We run to get to home base and many obstacles get into the way.  How many times do we say “not fair” in our walk with Christ?  We put love aside and form a bitterness to our fellow believers.  In Colossians 3, it tells us to we are chosen people, we should clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another, wow, what hard thing to do sometimes.  It is needed in our Christian walk to have love and support from other believers.  So, let’s put aside our anger, bitterness and greed and do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father.
My challenge to you is to bear each other burdens and let love dwell in you, so we can all reach the ultimate Home Base peacefully!  

Kathy

We each need to ask ourselves what we want to the utmost.  Do we want a comfortable life economically for ourselves and our family?  Do we want to see our children doing well? Do we want recognition in our job or in the use of our spiritual gifts? The list of what do “we want badly enough” could go on and on.  However, where is our desire for revival for ourselves, our family, our church, our community, our state and our nation?  If we really want revival “bad enough” will not our spiritual longings begin to crowd out every other interest?  In addition, will not our gravitation to safe and conventional prayers be less and less?  Consider this fervent prayer for revival by the minor prophet Habakkuk in Habakkuk 3:2: “ I have heard the report about you and I fear.  Oh Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make  it known; in wrath remember mercy.” Reflect and meditate on this prayer!  Make it your prayer.
Maybe the essence of wanting revival “badly enough” is found in the following verse: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and I will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
True revival has four conditions: humbling ourselves before God, praying, seeking God’s face and turning from our wicked ways. Of course, meeting these conditions is not possible except under the leading and power of the Holy Spirit; but it will take time. With progress in these conditions, God will hear our prayers, forgive our sin, and heal our land. Thus, “He is unable to grant us our hearts desire till all our desires have been reduced to one.” And ask God to search your heart as to where you are at these four conditions ask him to help you want His will in your life!

~W.L. Seaver

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
   James 1:2-4    

Anytime God allows trials in your life, He has a purpose for them. We often won’t know His specific aim at the time; nevertheless, we should squeeze out every possible ounce of spiritual growth instead of falling into despair and discouragement. With a shift in perspective, the trial that looks as if it might destroy you could become a blessing.

The most natural response to plead with the Lord to remove it. If that doesn’t work, we might be tempted to look for our own way out or blame whoever caused the problem. But no matter where affliction originates, by the time it reaches you, it’s been shaped according to the Father’s good purposes.

I know in my personal life sometimes I ask, “Lord why am I going through this”?  Later in life I realize what I did and that God has walked me through it.  Then even better HE brought other people in my life to help them get through the same thing I did.  Wow what a blessing!

The question is, will you cooperate with Him or resist? When you let adversity do it's work in you, it becomes an opportunity for growth.  Although we can’t see all the specifics of God’s plan, we know His goal is to use our hardship for good. So we are wise to let it mature us in the meantime?

 Even though the experience is painful, rest in the Father’s comforting arms, and trust that it’s all for a greater purpose.

Kathy

So this morning’s little revelation:

Now that the daily rains are back here in Florida, the straw is now grass — and weeds. They’re starting to crop up in the sidewalk, the front flower bed, the driveway. I’ve glared at them for the last few days, assuming that the intensity of my stare would fry them.

No such luck.

So this morning, after half a cup of like warm coffee, I decided to start pulling a few. I don’t find pulling weeds relaxing or in any way, shape of form, “fun”. It’s a major nuisance that needs to be eradicated from time to time. So my bum shoulder and I ban together to take on fake grass.

As I was tugging on a particular weed that didn’t want to let go, I almost started grumbling. Then, for whatever reason, I stopped. (Major accomplishment for me when combining only a fraction of coffee and weeding.)

I took a second to look at the culprit, even went so far as to turn it over in my fingers.

The roots were broken, dirty, messy.

Not altogether unlike the state of our nation right now.

So after I took a moment to question how in general world I went from pulling a weed to questioning a fractured nation, I felt that little nudge of “keep looking”.

I did. Not for very long, but just enough to have another thought.

Gratitude.

For a weed?

I guess the answer to that would be a “yes”.

I’ve been up since 4am, so my brain rapid fires in the morning hours and sometimes feels hard to slow down. It went something like this:

I just pulled a weed from in between the bricks.

The bricks are part of the house.

The house is the home, the roof over my family’s head.

We have the home. We are blessed.

There I am, standing on my property, the American flag waving next to me in a gentle breeze, pulling the weeds.

I thought about the situation in Afghanistan. Evil that’s running over it,  people being slaughtered already, women and children who will be sold into sex trafficking, the horrors that await for them, the people — ours and theirs— who are trapped and afraid.

Our nation, who’s very back bone is breaking under the weight of evil that’s washing over it. We the People are trying to hold the line.

So, in the chaos right now, I’m reminding myself that I’m grateful for the nuisance of a weed in the brick since it reminds me of so much more.

~ Jenn 

                                              Do You Say Yes to God Each Day of Your Life?

If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. — Luke 9:23-24

I delight to do Your will, O my God. — Psalm 40:8


When looking for that right house you want to call home, it often takes looking at many the area you want to live in.  

When you find the right one, you purchase it, then you make a large down payment.

In order to keep the house, you must make smaller payments every time it comes due.

You can’t change your mind and say, “I don’t feel like making payments!” without serious consequences of losing your home.  If you are like me, I stay in my house for years and years.

My commitment to God should be the same for years and years, forever.  

God gives you personalized direction so He may ask you to do something He is not asking anyone else to do. For example, He may be directing you to leave a specific job or move to another city. You must trust that God has your best interests in mind and be willing to do what He asks of you, even if you don’t understand why at the time. Obedience starts with having a heart that says yes to God. We can never live in God’s will if we haven’t learned to say yes whenever God gives us direction for our lives.

The same is true of your relationship with God. To make Him your permanent dwelling place, your initial down payment consists of making Him Lord over your life. After that, ongoing payments must be made, which means saying yes whenever God directs you to do something. They are all a part of the purchase, but one happens initially, and the other is eternally ongoing (just like house payments!).

Taking the initial step of making Him Lord over your life is the same for everyone. Saying yes to God every day is an individual matter.

Are you listening to His voice?

Are you responding immediately?

Sometimes God is going to direct us away from what we think we really want (maybe even an idol).

Are you willing to say the quick yes to God no matter what He says to do?

~ Kathy