Ducks in a Row...

Are you a ducks-in-a-row kind of person?

"And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Acts 16:9

I kind of think Paul was that type of person. You know, someone who likes to know what the next step in their life is. The kind of person who likes almost every detail in place before moving forward. Someone who wants to know an outcome before making a decision. Is that you?

In the context of this verse, Paul and his crew were trying to move forward in their missionary venture. Yet, the doors kept closing. Their plans were coming undone. Their "ducks" were going every which way instead of lining up nicely. The Holy Spirit had other ducks for them.

I believe God is a God of order. However, HIS order isn't necessarily our order. HIS ducks are not our ducks. Get my point? It will always, always, always be about faith in Jesus' leading and our not trying to figure things out. His ways, His thoughts, and His adventures are not ours.

Someone needs to hear this: Wait on Him. Let Him position your ducks. And trust Him fully. You won't be disappointed.

Hearing His Heart...

You know, it really is important to do what the Lord is saying...

"...Then they began to cleanse the Temple of the LORD, just as the king had commanded. They were careful to follow all the LORD’s instructions in their work."
2 Chronicles 29:15 NLT

Duh. We all know we need to listen to the Lord’s voice. But honestly, so often I get a directive or a sense of what the He is leading me to, then I try to come up with the best way to get there – without following His instructions. You too?

When King Hezekiah was restoring the temple from all the abuse his father had done to it, the Scriptures tell us here that King H was careful to follow all the Lord’s instructions. How often I try to take matters into my own hands, when a huge part of our Journey in Jesus is drawing close to Him daily, for His daily instructions to us.

Trying to clean up your life, just like that old Temple we read about? Don’t even attempt it on your own. Follow Jesus. Hear His heart day by day regarding your life. Do not follow your own advice or what the world is saying. Follow carefully His instructions. Walk in His abundance.

Simple Reminder...

Because sometimes we just need to be reminded...

"The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying:
"Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you."
Jeremiah 31:3

That's it and that's enough.

Heart Transplant...

Is there anyone besides me that could use a daily heart transplant?

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." 
Ezekiel 36:26

He is doing it in each and every one of us:

Every time we put His will before ours.
Put someone else’s heart before ours.
Lay down our life for another.
Forgive.
Resist the temptation to take offense.
Walk in the Spirit instead of the flesh.
Exude His love in the face tension
Rejoice in the midst of trial.
Believe Him against the odds.

The list goes on and on, but each step forward is His heart being transplanted into ours.

And I be wanting a whole lot more of that in my life. How about You?

At the Start of this Week...

At the start of this week...

Should you lock your keys in the car, leave your phone at the last store you visited, or your just plain old want to go back to bed and bury your head under the covers, remember! The Word of God is the absolute truth: This is the day the Lord has made – for you! Make the first thing you do next be to take some time in His presence, opening The Bible and let Him restore your soul.

Should you receive a not so good diagnosis, a troubling email, or a phone call that sends you reeling, draw near to the One who holds all the answers. Who IS the answer. Make King Jesus your one and only priority and place every issue into His capable hands. He is able, He is willing, He is LORD.

This is a week of new beginnings, hopes to be realized, and miracles to watch for. Keep your eyes open, your heart tender, and your mind from distraction. This week will be awesome in Jesus because He Who is in you is greater than anything! 
1 John 4:4

The Dance...

Did you live under a cloud of feeling less-than today?

“The LORD your God in your midst, 
The Mighty One, will save; 
He will rejoice over you with gladness, 
He will quiet you with His love, 
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17

Did you know that the word “rejoice” in this passage means to dance, to twirl, to be exultant, to rejoice? Now read this in the context of the passage: Your God dances over – YOU!

I don’t think we often think of our Lord doing this over our lives – about our lives. He sees us as we are, frail, broken, wicked, and selfish – I mean, let’s get real here -- and yet He rejoices over us completely with full acceptance of the dust that we are. He sees us as we are, yet knows where He wants to take us.

So if that cloud of less-than is still hovering over your heart, it is time to give it the boot. Instead, begin to revel in this truth from God's Word, turn your heart to Him, and let Him have the final say about how He thinks and feels toward you.

Now, join Him in the dance.

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At the Start of this Week...

In the midst of this week...

Should your yard be overgrown, your jeans too tight, or your wallet a little too empty, look up! King Jesus is the All-Sufficient One. Set your eyes on Him alone and let Him do the heavy lifting for your cares.

Philippians 4:19

Should a loved one go sideways, a neighbor go ballistic, or a co-worker become annoying, well, remember you have issues, too! Jesus has all the patience in the world to bring you into freedom. Now, grab hold of His patience in you for others, by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Galatians 5:22-23

This is a week of new beginnings, hopes to be realized, and miracles to watch for. Keep your eyes open, your heart tender, and your mind from distraction. This week will be awesome in Jesus because He Who is in you is greater than anything!
1 John 4:4
 

Wonder-full Mystery...

Honestly. These words leave me breathless in wonder...

"To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."   Colossians 1:27

I think someone just needs to be reminded of this truth. Jesus lives in you if you have received Him by faith. That simple asking Him to come into your life and let Him rule.

He lives in you. He lives in me. Will we ever understand this fully? No, I don't think we can comprehend even a thimbleful of this truth this side of heaven -- yet, it IS the truth.

So remember. It is not up to you to get it right. It is not up to you to get your act together. It IS up to you to surrender to Him as best you can and pursue a personal relationship with Almighty by coming as you are, broken and worn, and making Him King, Lord, and the Lover of your life.

He lives in You. Revel, relish, and live in this grand mystery.

My Secret...

My secret is simple. I pray...

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit...”
Ephesians 6:18a

No, I am not talking about our alone, quiet, secret place time with the Lord Jesus where we simply come to drink in His presence and hear His immediate and always ready voice in our lives. Rather I am talking about when we are doing battle for loved ones and situations that need God’s hand to move.

The verse above falls in at the end of Paul’s discourse on spiritual warfare and our putting on God’s armor. However, how many of us – myself included – forget to suit up? How often do we forget that King Jesus has placed His authority in our hands to speak to mountains and watch them move in His name?

To see lives and circumstances healed, saved, and delivered we must take the time to listen to the Holy Spirit’s leading. We must be willing to put on His armor and stand in prayer battle mode against our adversary, the devil. We must know what God's Word reveals about who we are in Christ. And we must lay down our will for the will our beloved Commander of Angel Armies.

It is time for us to bring heaven down into the hellish circumstances around us. And it all begins with us...each of us leaning hard into the Spirit’s embrace and standing in the power of His might.

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At the Start of This Week...

At the start of this week…

Should you suffer a sudden loss…a relationship, a job, finances, security, or a loved one, look up! Your redemption is near! 
Don’t let the enemy scatter and distract you in your thoughts. 
You need more than ever to trust the One Who loves you beyond reason. He is greater than your loss and He is the only one who can help you through this. Dive deep into His Word and into His presence.
Psalm 34:17-18

Should you have a disappointment – something or someone didn’t come through for you as you had hoped – maybe, just maybe, the Lord is using this to get your attention that He alone needs to be your expectation. He knows what He is doing, even when others don’t seem to!
Luke 12:32

This is a week of new beginnings, hopes to be realized, and miracles to watch for. Keep your eyes open, your heart tender, and your mind from distraction. This week will be awesome in Jesus because He Who is in you is greater than anything!
1 John 4:4

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Perfect Peace...

An old, familiar verse came to mind this morning…

"You will keep him in perfect peace, 
Whose mind is stayed on You, 
Because he trusts in You."
Isaiah 26:3

I am remembering that the same Hebrew word, shalom, is used twice here in the original text for perfect and peace. The Lord is making a point.

Shalom, shalom! Perfect peace! Peace, peace! A double-portion of His peace.

Shalom (Hebrew): Completeness, wholeness, peace, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, and harmony.

Do you need one shalom in your life right now, or two? Choose to trust Him completely and strengthen your faith by setting your mind upon who He is and the promises of His Word. A double-scoop of His incomprehensible shalom will be yours.

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At The Start of This Week...

At the start of this week...

Should your house be under water, your checkbook nearly overdrawn, your job situation is iffy, or if it seems like everything in your life is coming undone, it is time to look up. These are difficult days, but Jesus said it would be so. Remember, He is One Who is greater still. Run to the arms of His comfort and He holds you in His mighty hand and won’t let go of you. This isn’t time to doubt. He will walk your through this wilderness.

Should your soul be under water, your reserves of patience nearly overdrawn, your relationships seem iffy, or if it seems like everything in your life is coming undone, it time to drop to your knees. Seek Jesus who has the power to work miracles in your midst, but may be waiting for you to take your hands off as you try to control your life. Because if you are in control, even just a little bit, that means He isn’t.

This is a week of new beginnings, hopes to be realized, and miracles to watch for. Keep your eyes open, your heart tender, and your mind from distraction. This week will be awesome in Jesus because He Who is in you is greater than anything!  1 John 4:4

Out of My Comfort Zone...

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone...

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Anna Finfrock, a young American friend of mine whom I met in Taiwan, posted this opening sentence on Instagram today. She and her husband are now serving the Lord in South Africa and yep, it’s true...

Faith in Jesus is rubber-meets-the-road time when it comes to bringing Him great pleasure. Faith involves trust, and trust is the highest form of adoration. Nevertheless, faith always requires risk.

This is not risk or leaving our comfort zone for the sake of being stupid or trying to prove something. But when He calls my name and His invitation invites risk, it is not time to shrink back, hold back, or think of my comfort. I have had plenty of comfort in my life – booooring! But His thrill-ride these past twelve years has been amazing, exciting, miraculous, and wonder-filled. Could Jesus do anything less?

Nope. So, I am willing to leave my comfort zone when He calls. Will you join me?

A Love Affair...

One component of living on purpose, with purpose, is having an intimate love affair with God's Word. As my beautiful sister in Christ, Marjorie, likes to say, "I used to read the Bible, but now I experience it." This is Lord Jesus, the Living Word, causing Himself to speak directly into our lives through His written word. John 1:14.

"For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart."

Hebrews 4:12 AMPC

Pray. Praise...

Oh my. A little gratefulness and a little praise time can do so much...

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.  Acts 16:25

The Book of Acts is about real people, with real stuff, real trials, and an ever present God Who works real miracles. Nothing has changed.

I am a real person, with real stuff, and real trials, but God remains bigger still. You know, a little cup of thankfulness can break the enemy’s back in our lives. A sentence of genuine worship can move mountains. A grateful heart declaring God is good, loves us to pieces, and is ever for us, speaks a death knell for chains of bondage.

What do you face today? Instead of dwelling upon it, remember Paul and Silas. Pray. Praise...

See heaven move in your heart and your circumstances.

At the Start of This Week...

At the start of this week…

If your joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction levels are kaput, nada, zilch, or zero, it is time to take time to be replenished and directed to True North. Take time with your Creator and feast on His Word ‘til you sense His presence, His passion for you, and His purpose for this day – and your life!

If you are still smarting from a hurtful comment or action by a loved one; take inventory with Jesus. Ask Him: should I talk to the person? Should I just drop it because the issue isn’t really that important and Your grace is bigger? Why does it matter to me in the first place? Is the Lord trying to bring healing from something in my past?

This is a week of new beginnings, hopes to be realized, and miracles to watch for. Keep your eyes open, your heart tender, and your mind from distraction. This week will be awesome in Jesus because He Who is in you is greater than anything! 
1 John 4:4

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Less Drama, Please....

Mama, gimme less drama!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17

Honestly, I had to laugh out loud.

A woman that attends the Bible Study I have the joy of leading in my healthcare setting workplace had rededicated her heart to King Jesus when we first started meeting. When enjoying a family celebration with her large family, one of her adult children commented sincerely, “Mom, I am SO glad you aren’t crazy anymore!”

Not that my friend was an off the rails drama queen, but stuff that once caused her angst, anxiety, and unrest was no long able to hold her captive. She was -- and continually is -- still increasing in her trust in the One Who holds her breath in His hands. She now lives in Holy Spirit power and the truth of God's Word. Drama is over and overwhelming joy, peace, love, and freedom in our soul now reigns.

Is drama your identity? Make a change for a much prettier outfit. The one you are wearing just isn’t that cute. Really. That old way of living is just that – old. Receive a brand-new outfit of no more drama and whole lotta trust in the One Who makes can make all things new. Including you.

More Than Enough...

Guilt. Do you ever experience guilt?

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, 
the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
which He made to abound toward us..." 
Ephesians 1:7-8

I used to live in chronic guilt. For years. For decades. I loved Lord Jesus with all my heart, I served Him in full-time ministry. Nevertheless, I lived in tormenting guilt. I am not talking about Holy Spirit conviction that brings hope and release; I am talking about the dark weight of guilt that robs one of joy. That robs one of abundant life.

So, I ask: do you live with chronic guilt?

You don’t have to. In fact, this guilt that you experience comes straight from the pit. The serpent of old, whom the Bible calls the Accuser, well, His number is up. And yet we play straight into his scheming lies. Truthfully, we let – and I once let guilt – rule my life. And by doing so, I was basically saying: Jesus shed blood on that horrific cross wasn’t enough; that His Word was not the truth.

There is no match for the precious blood of Jesus. And to let guilt rule my life reveals that I think my sin is greater than His sacrifice. Guilt declares that it is all about me, not what Jesus did. And that is pride in its purest form. Think about it. I mean, really think about this.

Heavy words indeed. But oh so freeing. We can’t even let the Holy Spirit bring freedom into lives until our guilt issue is laid to rest and we receive His full forgiveness. Yes, we must still wholeheartedly respond to Holy Spirit conviction, but guilt? It should have no place in a believer’s life. The Lord Jesus’ absolute forgiveness is the platform we stand on.

So, when waves of guilt come knocking, sent it packing. Don’t dally with it. Don’t live under it anymore. Because forgiveness has been lavished upon you and His once for all sacrifice is more, way more, than enough.

Prisoner of Hope...

Are you a prisoner…to something?

“Return to the stronghold, 
You prisoners of hope. 
Even today I declare
That I will restore double to you.”
Zechariah 9:12

Let’s make the prophet’s words personal. We can do this because Paul tells us in the New Testament that we who have surrendered our lives to King Jesus can declare God’s promises over our own lives.*

So now, back to the original question. Are you a prisoner to something?

I think I am a prisoner of hope. I mean that without pretension. At one time in our lives, my husband and I lost almost everything through some foolish, self-willed decisions, but God in His boundless love brought us to repentance. We turned back to Him with our hearts in our hands and He turned our lives around completely. No, no overnight, but in such a way that only He could have done it. When a person goes through something like that, their faith is built for a lifetime.

So yes, I am a prisoner of hope. Fear has little to no place in my life. He has restored double to us. No make that about ten-fold over, at the least.

So, I ask again what are you a prisoner of? Completely surrender your expectations for His. Like us, you may need to learn a few not-so-good-things about yourself, but it will be worth it. Then exchange that bondage for His hope.

* Galatians 3:14-16

Real-Real...and Still He Loves Us...

{Thoughts from Dayspring...I didn't see she had sent me this in the midst of December! However, it is so good and so real, I mean real-real, I wanted to pass it on...}

While reading my Bible this morning, I thought to myself, “I haven’t really confessed any sin lately, maybe it’s time.” So I did and then I ended with, “…and I wish so-n-so would die. And that’s got to be a sin, so add that to list!”

Perhaps this doesn’t shock you because you tell God everything. Or maybe you are appalled by my honest and raw confession to Him, but here’s the thing: He already knows!

As I contemplated how cool it is that I am free to come before God with the worst of me I am also reminded of the times I’ve been too angry at Him to talk, too ashamed of my sin to talk, and even too independent to talk to Him. And I thought of my dear friend Hannah in the Bible who had no problem going to God.

“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish.” 1 Samuel 1:10

See, Hannah was carrying on and on to God so that only her lips were moving as her heart cried out, and the priest accused her of being drunk. To which she said: “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.” 1 Samuel 1:15b

So in this gift-giving season, I pour out to God the worst of me. I wish it was perfectly wrapped in beautiful paper, with neat and crisp corners and a beautifully tied bow, but it’s not. It’s just me. In all my junk. I can’t hide it from Him and neither can you; He already knows. Just bring your bitterness of soul and give Him the real you. That’s what’s on His Christmas list.

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