Joy

Is there Joy in your Life? Where do you derive your Joy? Does it come from things, circumstances, people, or God? What is Joy? Is there a connection between joy and happiness?

Over the past months I have asked myself similar questions to the ones above. What I have been learning is that my Joy is completely in Christ. I have a loving family, great friends, and a good life. But my Joy, my fulfillment, my contentment comes from my relationship with Christ, then all of the other assets fall into place. According to the world, and to dictionary.com joy is an emotion of great satisfaction and happiness. Does this definition mean that when there are difficult times in my life that I can’t have joy? I don’t think so.

I have found that even in the low times of life, when there are stressors beyond what we can control, Joy is present. Why, because of my relationship with Christ. John 15 talks about abiding in Christ – when we are pruned, when we are disciplined, we are to remain in Him and allow Him to walk us through all aspects of our life.

The psalmist says in Psalm 30 -  I will exalt You, Lord, because You have lifted me up and have not allowed my enemies to triumph over me. Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. 
Lord, You brought me up from Sheol; You spared me from among those going down to the Pit. Sing to Yahweh, you His faithful ones, and praise His holy name. For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor, a lifetime. Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning. When I was secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”  Lord, when You showed Your favor, You made me stand like a strong mountain; when You hid Your face, I was terrified. Lord, I called to You; I sought favor from my Lord: “What gain is there in my death,
if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your truth? Lord, listen and be gracious to me; Lord, be my helper.” You turned my lament into dancing;
You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, so that I can sing to You and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise You forever.
There is no doubt that we are going to go through trials, frustrations, self-pity, self indulgence, or difficult times. There will be weeping, sadness, and or questions, but through it all our Joy will greet us when we trust and praise God. Where is your Joy?

God's Word Complete with Examples

What does it look like to make an adjustment in your life? I mean to change from what you want or do, to what God is calling you to? How do you know God's calling?

Over the past 13 years I have made some adjustments in my life. I've heard God calling me to change from what I was doing to what He wanted me to do. Sometimes it was my attitude and heart that needed to change. Other times it was my actual ministry. When the change required more than my attitude and heart I had people ask me why I was changing or how did I hear God telling me to change. I'm more convinced today than ever before that the answer to "why" is because God said to. And how I hear God, through His word, through my prayer time, through the church, and through circumstances.

Hebrews 3:4 Now every house is built by someone, but the One who built everything is God. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. Hebrews 3:6  But Christ was faithful as a Son over His household. And we are that household if we hold on to the courage and the confidence of our hope.  These verses remind me that God is in control and over everything. He has plans for my life - I am created in His image and I need to realize that He really does have a plan for my life. As I look at God's word I see over and over how God was faithful to all that went before me and how Christ was faithful to us and to His Father. With these things in mind how can I not listen or make adjustments to what I am doing?

As I was raising my children I would tell them about the right way to do something. I would use examples of things that I had learned or been apart of in order to make the point. Many times the kids would have to make attitude adjustments or action adjustments.We as Christians also have examples from which to learn - God's word is complete! When we need to make adjustments - changes to the way we are doing things - we need to ask God for direction, trust His word, and believe Him that He has a plan for our lives.

How Do I Say Goodbye?

I feel as if I have said goodbye to writing this blog - it's been over a month since I've posted. But that's not the type of goodbye I'm talking about. I am slowly learning that I have too many things in my life that I cling too that are not God centered or God desiring. I need to say goodbye to them. Where do I start? How do I start? How do I say Goodbye?

In order to move ahead in the life that God has for me, I need to choose Him. I need to choose to interact with God on a daily basis - and many times during the day. This is not an easy choice when "I" enters into the tract. Too often my day is about me - my time, my selfish desires, my wants, and the list continues...During the past several weeks God has made it very clear to me that much of my time is wasted on things that don't truly matter for His kingdom. Why? Because the things are centered on "me" or "I" not the I Am.

I have not been experiencing a time in the dessert, but I have been experiencing some pruning. God has been showing me more about abiding in His grace and love, something that I truly need to experience. God is faithful to walk with us when we are seeking Him. He is faithful to walk with us when we are not seeking, because he is always going to be there with an extended hand when we turn back. In the past, I've had to turn back and reach for His hand, how about you? In recent weeks, I've seen God work in my life and in lives around me and He's said to me -see "I Am" is in control and will always be at work - "I Am" has a path for you and when you venture off of it or you see others venturing off of it you can always return and learn - you can always say goodbye to the things that are a distraction from Me and I will always be here for you. Praise God for His love and grace!

Saying goodbye to the things that take priority in my life and saying hello to all that God wants for me and has for me requires faith. Hebrews 11 the faith chapter - verse 1 says "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." I am sure of what I hope for - I have seen God work over and over. So why is it so hard for me to say goodbye? Maybe because I'm afraid of feeling empty, lost, or confused. I need to return to this passage in Hebrews and be reminded of all that I have seen God do in my life and others around me. Then I need to rest in the arms of God and allow Him to fill the feelings of emptiness, loss, or confusion. I may stay in those states for awhile, but I will have God reaching out with His hand to walk with me and draw me close too Him. At some point I will experience that saying goodbye opens a whole new world of His plan for me.

I'm asking God to help me say goodbye to things that take priority in my life. I want to walk in His grip and see what He has planned for my life. Do you have things in your life that you need to say goodbye to and begin saying hello to what God has for you?

Know the Truth

Currently I am working on a Bible study written by Kelly Minter, No Other Gods, Confronting our Modern-Day Idols and I am being challenged with how I am living my life – in all aspects. This study combined with my reading of Ephesians is showing me things in my life that are taking away from my relationship with Jesus Christ.

 This week in through Kelly Minter study I am learning more about deceiving thoughts and lies that worm their way into my everyday life. I can start my day out in God’s word, in prayer, listening to praise music, or singing praise myself but, inevitably somewhere along the line the day gets consumed with daily tasks or mindless entertainment. These are not necessarily bad by themselves, but when I take my focus off of whose I am, they become deceptions. How often do I watch or listen to something that is not filling my mind with the things of God, but really going against the things of God. How many times do I let the routine of the day take precedence over sitting at the feet of God?  Then I need to ask, how often I allow the world’s view guide my life instead of a biblical view.

Ephesians 4:17-24 reminds me of how I should go through my days – putting off the way I used to be and allowing myself to be led by the Holy Spirit seeking The Truth. Ephesians 4:17-24 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts. They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts.  They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more. But that is not how you learned about the Messiah, assuming you heard about Him and were taught by Him, because the truth is in Jesus.  You took off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires;
you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; you put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.(HCSB)
Left to myself I would fall into deception and would probably be teaching some of the deceptive lies. Thank God that He is faithful to lead me, to walk with me, to protect me, and to love me! God is stronger than anyone or thing that I could imagine. We are going to have struggles or challenges in our lives. Some of them will be deception coming out of mouths of those we watch, listen to, or encounter. Knowing God’s word is the only way to get through these times. II Timothy 3:16-17 tells us All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (HCSB).
 In order for me to live a new life in Christ, with freedom and security from lies and deception, I need to be trained, taught, and corrected. Only through my relationship with Jesus Christ and studying His word will I be successful. Through God's grace, as I study seek His wisdom I will know the Truth and recognize the deceiving lies.  

Challenges - Small or Big - Where do You Get Your Strength?

Daily challenges strike in a multitude of ways. Some days they may come as a sick child, an unexpected meeting at work, a car accident, a leak in a bathroom, and the list goes on. How do we deal with the challenges that come to us? I don’t mean a major event in life; I’m talking about everyday events. Without a doubt, I believe God’s word when we are told because of our faith; we are to go to God with boldness and confidence. Ephesians 3:12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. How often do we do this?  Do we wait until there is a major event or crisis in our lives or do we go before God with boldness and confidence daily?

My desire is to cling to God’s word and practice what it teaches. Additionally, I’m working to claim the promises in God’s word, starting with His promise of providing a counselor to be with me forever- teaching me and reminding me of all that I have learned of Christ. (John 14). As I walk day to day, and deal with challenges, I have access to talk to God. I have the presence of the Holy Spirit with me every minute of every day.

Recently I have been praying through God’s word in Ephesians. In chapter 1:15-23, Paul tells the Ephesians that since he heard of their faith in Jesus he gives thanks for them when he prays. When I continue through these verses I pray these back to God for myself – asking Him to give me a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. I ask God to show me His power – the power that he showed those around when Jesus was raised from the dead. Sometimes the power that I need to see and experience is getting through the challenges in my day. When I see God working with small events in my life, it makes facing major trials easier to walk through.

God is gracious. God is merciful. God is powerful. Are you seeking Him to experience Him in an abundant life and have strength to get through challenges that you face? Start by praying His word back to Him.

Ephesians 1:15-23 (HCSB)

This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.  I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what the hope of His calling is, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.

God’s Power in Christ

 He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavens-- far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put everything under His feet^] and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way.

FAITH

Are you like me in that you occasionally ask;  What is faith? What does faith really look like? What does faith require? Maybe I am alone with these questions. I don't question my faith in Jesus. But, there are times when I wonder if I really live my faith out loud. I wonder if people see a difference in my life because of my faith in Jesus.

Recently, I participated in a simulcast with Beth Moore. I had been preparing for this event for many months. Every time that Beth speaks at a conference I know I am going to hear from God. This time was no different! I sat in my family room with 6 other ladies, prayerfully waiting to see what God was going to teach me. Within the first few minutes one of the ladies had confirmation to an area that she had been praying about. With faith, she prayed and asked God to make some things clear in her life - He responded! In another few minutes I realized that I was where I needed to be - Beth was speaking about the reality of fear in our lives and how God doesn't desire or didn't design us to live a life of fear. This led right into my faith in Jesus Christ.

There are some things that I am fearful of, snakes, mice, fire, and dark parking lots to name a few. Do these things consume my life, no! But, do they raise their ugly heads in my life sometimes, yes! Now, I'd be less than honest if I didn't say that there are obviously other issues of fear in my life. I am working through these with God and only by His grace will they be abolished.
 Ephesians 2:4-9 says "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! Together with Christ Jesus he also raised us up and seated us in the heavens, so that in the coming ages he might display immeasurable riches of His grace through His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is God's gift - not from works, so that no one can boast." (HCSB) Ephesians 3:16-18 is part of Paul's prayer for spiritual power, "I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love,.."
I am a child of God! I am loved! I am a daughter of the King of Kings! My identity is in Christ and Christ alone. What do I have to fear - myself - my lack of faith - my weakness. Paul made it very clear that I am saved by grace. I am saved by grace through my faith in Jesus Christ. I have the Holy Spirit living in me through my faith in Jesus Christ. I need to be walking daily with this faith lived out for all to see.

As I continue to grow in my relationship with Christ, I see more clearly my weaknesses and my fears. I ask God to give me strength. I ask God to give me wisdom. I ask God to remove my weaknesses, my fears. So, in recent weeks, I created an acrostic for FAITH - Fear Abolished in True Healing. Because of God's grace, I am saved. Because of God's love, I am able to walk freely, without fear. His provisions are healing. I will continue to seek God's grace as I face my weaknesses and my fears, knowing that He alone will remove them and give me true healing.

Wisdom and Revelation come through Faith and Hope

Oh how thankful I am that God loved me so much to provide a perfect plan for my salvation. I have a hope! A hope that is secure in my faith in Jesus Christ!

Ephesians 1:17-19a  "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be englightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe,.." (NIV)

Paul is writing to the Ephesians, and yes possibly to a larger group of believers in the area, letting them know that he is thanking God for them and continually praying for them. Do you have someone in your life that thanks God for you, and the faith that you exhibit? Do you pray that prayer for someone else?

Do you ask God to be filled with His wisdom and revelation? If you ask God, do you know how to get these things from Him?  It's a matter of being in God's word, spending time with Him in prayer, and building a relationship with God. He will give you wisdom and provide revelations to you. James reinforces asking God for wisdom in James 1:5 " If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (NIV)

Do you ask God to open the eyes of your heart (sounds like a good song title!)  to be enlightened and filled with God's desires? I know that God has called me to be with Cliff in full time ministry. I know that God has called me to focus on women's ministry. I have a passion for women to grow in their personal relationship with God and to seek after Him. I wholeheartedly believe that within the calling that God has on my life he will clearly define for me what he wants me to do. But the only way that I am going to expect God to reveal these definitions is to truly spend time with Him and allow Him to take control of my heart!

I struggle with God having control of my heart - do I see you shaking your head and saying the same thing. Yes, I admit it, I'm a control freak! (Just ask my family) I can rationalize and acknowledge that God has called me. I can see Him working in so many areas of my life. Where I struggle is seeing  God break through my heart and take control of every part of me in my ministry. I have an awesome example of God leading and taking control of someone's heart in my husband. As he moves ahead with challenges facing him in ministry, he seeks God's desires and God's leading in all aspects.  Sometimes, my challenges leave me saying, "Am I being the women's leader that I need to be? Am I exhibiting God's love in everything I do? Am I being filled with God's strength or am I operating on my own?" 

What does it look like to have the strength and power of God? To truly experience His power, the same power that raised Christ from the dead, I have to have faith and hope. Philippians 3:10 tells us "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death," I am dead to my sin as a child of God. I am free from the chains. Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glorious power of God, I too have been raised and I'm to walk in a new life, a life that is filled with God's power and strength. Read Romans 6:2-14.

So, when I ask the questions that I mentioned above, I already have the power of God in my life. I already have a hope that He is going to show me what I need to do. Romans 5:5 says "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." I can't be disappointed! When I cry out to God I have the hope and confidence that He is going to respond. This hope comes from my faith in Jesus Christ - when I asked for forgiveness and turned my life over to Him, He responded - I am forgiven and filled with the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Faith tells me that I have a hope - the Hope, the promise of my Savior, Jesus Christ walking with me through every detail, every circumstance, every trial, every joy, everything that I encounter!

My prayer is that the eyes of my heart will be opened and that I will truly see what God has in store for me each day. I have faith that tells me God will respond and provide wisdom and revelation to me when I ask. I need to ask more often! I am blessed to be one of God's children. I am free from death and moving on with life eternal - Praise God!

My Strength, My Counsel, My Portion Forever!

A friend of mine shared the following devotional with me today. I want to share it with you. This is from Sarah Young's book Jesus Calling 

"Find me in the midst of the maelstrom.  Sometimes events whirl around you so quickly that they become a blur.  Whisper My Name in recognition that I am still with you.  Without skipping a beat in the activities that occupy you, you find strength and Peace through praying My Name.  Later, when the happenings have run their course, you can talk with Me more fully.

Accept each day just as it comes to you.  Do not waste your time and energy wishing for a different set of circumstances.  Instead, trust Me enough to yield to My design and purposes.  Remember that nothing can separate you from My loving Presence; you are Mine."

What an awesome assurance that we cannot be separated from God's love and presence - we are His. What an awesome promise that we can call out to God and know that He is walking with us - leading us - carrying us - healing us. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 73:21-28 (HCS)

When I became embittered
and my innermost being was wounded, I was stupid and didn’t understand;
I was an unthinking animal toward You.
 Yet I am always with You;
You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel,
and afterward You will take me up in glory Who do I have in heaven but You?
And I desire nothing on earth but You.
 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart,
my portion forever. Those far from You will certainly perish;
You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
 But as for me, God’s presence is my good.
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
so I can tell about all You do.

I am so incredibly blessed with the promise that God will not leave me. He will hold my right hand. He will be my counsels. When my heart fails, God is my strength, and my portion. There is a song, You are my Shield or Make me Glad, that reminded me of these promises many years ago when Cliff was in Africa and I was in Richmond, Va attending a Beth Moore Simulcast. The song reinforces the passage from Psalm 73 that I mentioned above. Here are the lyrics from Hillsong United

 

I will bless the Lord forever,
And I will trust Him at all times.
He has delivered me from all things,
And He has set my feet upon the Rock.

I will not be moved, and I'll say of the Lord:
You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion, Deliverer,
My Shelter, Strong Tower, my very present help in time of need.

Whom have I in Heaven but you.
There's no one I desire beside You.

You have made me glad, and I'll say of the Lord:
You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion, Deliverer,
My Shelter, Strong Tower, my very present help in time of need.

My very present help in time of need.

My very present help in time of need.

So, when my heart becomes embittered or grieved I have a hope! I have a promise of God's love, peace, counsel, and strength. He is my portion, forever!

Christ's Love, More than I can Understand, But All I Need!

Ephesisans 3:14-21

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

This passage above is Ephesians 3:14:21 New Living Translation. Over the past couple of days I have gone back to this scripture passage, with some knowledge that this was written to the Ephesians, but that right now God intends on me hearing it and  for me to receive the truth of His word!

When is the last time you fell to your knees and prayed to God? I was working on the The Psalms of the Ascent several years ago, a Beth Moore Bible study, when I was challenged to go before God face down. I was amazed at what God did in my life. I found a quiet place in my home, took His word, opened the scriptures and laid face down, praying the scriptures back to God. I would be still, and wait for God's leading. 

This week I need to be reminded of this stillness, this interaction with God. I need not only to be on my knees, but face down before  Him, waiting for His love to flow into my life. For me to trust God fully. I need to be humble and remember, nothing that goes on is about me, but completely about Christ? How about you?

Then in verse 18 of the passage above I was reminded that God's will take up residence in my heart!  I know that Christ has been in my heart for many years, but many of those years were just knowing that!  John 15:1-17 show us that Christ is the Vine.  I am a branch on that vine. In order for me to grow, and truly experience Christ taking ahold of my heart, I need to abide in His love and that means abiding in Him. Trusting Him - completely.

Do you know what it means to have Christ fill your heart so that you trust without question? I struggle with that sometimes. But then, God with His ever loving approach reminds me that He is always here. I don't completely understand His love, but I know that His Love is all that I need. As I begin to trust more and more, I know that the roots of Christ, The Vine, are deep and strong and they will support me and grow me to be a fruitful child. I will still struggle from time to time with trust - but oh how grateful I am that Christ doesn't struggle with loving me and and drawing me back to Him with the assurances of that with Him all things are possible and that with all things I encounter Christ is faithful to walk with me.

Today, I challenge you to lay face down before God. Take the Word of God with you and praise His Holy name, pray His word back to Him, and ask Him to give you the strength and power that only His love can provide.

Do you Hear from God?

For many, many years, I have had people ask me, "how do you hear from God?"

As a young teen I remember feeling God's voice leading me. I couldn't explain it, I just knew He was there and telling me where to go and what to do. Why couldn't I explain it? I believe it was me learning about a relationship with God, and I was a baby!  As a young adult, I still could hear, but at many times I chose to ignore His voice and direction, and went where I wanted to go and did what I wanted to do. Can you identify with this?

I vividly remember a time when a young man, that I had date as a late teen, and I ran into each other as young adults. (Lets call him GO) We were in the same "Gas Line" (anybody remember those from the 1970's?) and began talking and catching up. This was at a time in my life that I was choosing NOT to hear God. When GO asked me about church, (we used to go to the same church) I stumbled and proceeded to tell him that I wasn't as involved and was doing things that I wanted to do. GO said, 'well, I wondered when you would wake up and realize that there was more to life than church!'  I remember stopping everything, my movements, my speech, my heart! Did I really here GO say that there was more to life than church? Really, that meant that there was more to life than a relationship with God, the Creator of the universe, the Savior of my soul. It meant that I had placed my desires, my ideas, my life, before God's. It wasn't about the building that I went to on a regular basis. It was about my relationship with my God! I politely ended the conversation with a 'I see the line is moving. I guess we had better get back to our cars and move along.'

As I returned to my car, I felt my heart start pounding in my chest and moving it's way to my throat. I felt tears filling my eyes. I heard God say, "Where have you been? Why have you been so distant? Will you join me and spend some time with me?" Now did I hear an audible voice - no, but with every beat of my heart, and every tear that fell from my face, I heard every single word! I continued to wait in the gas line to get the tank filled in my car. During that wait, God began to fill my tank! He began to remind me of His love, of His plans for my life;  read Jeremiah 29:11 and ask God to show you.  I began to hear Him loud and clear as I confessed my sin of walking away, of living my life, and putting my God on the back burner and not being involved in an active relationship with Him!

I had heard from God for years. I chose to ignore Him for some years, and I missed out on so much with Him. As I continued to reach out for God, to grow my relationship with Him, I began to see so many ways to hear from God. God's word tells us that we hear from God. I believe he used Henry Blackaby, author of Experiencing God, to make it clear to me as he wrote -"God speaks by the Holy spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways."  Do you want to hear from God? Start with a simple prayer, asking Jesus Christ to forgive you. Ask Him to fill up your heart and soul with His love and grace. Ask Him to teach you through His word. Ask Him to use the circumstances in your life, and other believers in your life to reveal Himself to you.

Psalm 37:1-7a  (HCS)

Trust in the Lord and do what is good;
dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the Lord,
and He will give you your heart’s desires.Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in Him, and He will act,  making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday. Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him; 

Notice the last part of these verses - 'Be silent before the LORD and wait expectantly for Him;' Do you want to hear from God - Be silent! Wait for Him. He will be faithful to be there with you. He will be faithful to respond. 

I don't get this right all of the time. I struggle just as you do. But I do know that when I seek God, and desire Him, and I am waiting expectantly, I hear from God. Give it a try! 

Whats Next?

How often do you start a day with a thought like, "this is going to be a great day! I have things to get done, nothing real stressful, so it's going to be a great day!" Then the day begins...For me, my day typically begins with getting up, checking in with my dad to see what's on his agenda and how he slept, spending some time with Cliff , and then settling in with some OJ and my IPAD. When I sit down I read some of the devotionals that I follow, reading the scripture passages that I'm focusing on, and thanking God for another glimse of the beauty he has provided and asking direction for the day. Now the previous statements are what I would consider a normal, "great", day. How often does the day start like that? Not as often as I'd like!


Too often my plans for a great day get sidetracked before I really get out of bed! Does anybody else experience this, or am I alone? Have you noticed that there are things in everyday life that creep in and cause distractions, pulling you away from the quiet and quality time in God's Word or in talking to Him? When the distractions, or interruptions show up, how do you deal with them?


I have been learning over the past 20+ years that there is no "normal" day! Each day is a gift from God and how I interact with the events  of the day will make it great, even when there are challenges, distractions, or interruptions! I am learning to Praise God, the provider of everything, every day. The book of Ephesians is rocking my world. I have been reading these scriptures for months, over and over. Each time I read the scriptures I learn something new. Ephesians 1:3 says "Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens." How can any day be bad, when I can cling to the promise that God loves me so much , that He blessed me with with my salvation through Jesus Christ, and as His child, I am blessed with every, get that EVERY, spiritual blessing in the heavens. I have a promise! I have a hope! 

I am going to have a great day! It probably won't be normal, but its going to be great! What about you? Can you find a blessing from God today? Open your eyes, take your next breath, and look around you. Do you see the blessings of God? Are you willing to ask God, What's Next?

Do We Show Favortism in our Daily Lives?

James 2:1 "My brothers, do not show favortism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ" Wow - do you show favoritism in anything - your children, nieces, nephews, or friends? How about our lifestyles and those of others? I think God's word makes it clear that we are not to show favortism and that God sets that example. (Romans 2:11)

Even more often I think what happens in our day to day lives is that we look at things around us that we desire to have, or people that are different and things that they have and try to adjust our lives to fit, then we say, 'Oh God would want me to have this' or 'Oh God would want me to be like this'. What we are really doing is putting God into the box that we think He should be in, instead of living the life that He has put in front of us. God wants us to be who He made us to be. He wants us to be faithful to what He has called us to do. Yes we can have things. Yes we can do things. Yes we have give things to our family and friends. But, we are not to put ourselves, our families, our friends above anyone else.

When I teach in a classroom I stress to my students that we are all alike. I don't see one student as being any different than another. I don't see a different skin color, a different socioeconomic background, etc. What I see is a student that needs to learn. I work to build a sense of community within the classroom, a sense of respect and cohessiveness. Typically it takes 21 days to build the routine in the classroom. If you have a break in that 21 days, you have to start over. I have been blessed to hear from students years after they left my classroom room that they had been successful and that sense of respect and community was carried through with their mindset. Did this work everytime - no, but did we try - yes! Was there favortism - no! This is a securlar example, carrying out a godly principle.

I guess if you are going to show favortismis should be in one place - in our faith to Jesus Christ!

How do you view trials?

I have to admit that week two, day one's lesson really made an impact on me when I did this study the first time. Doing the study the second time, made me fall down on my knees and praise God for being my Savior and allowing me to learn something every time I open His Word!

It was late February when I was doing week two the first time, and one of the questions asked me to talk about a recent time of hardship. I felt I was in a period of down time in my life right then. A year before  I took my mom to the hospital with a severe fall, which ultimately ended in the final two weeks of her life. So at the time I was doing this week of the study I was reliving the final couple of weeks of my mom's life. I had cared for my mom day in and day out for many, many months, before she passed away. It was difficult to lose her and a year later, I was defintely, and am still, missing her. One of the next questions asked me to describe in colors the hardship - I said blue and white - blue for the grief and white for the security of Christ's salvation and knowing that one day I'll be with my mom again.

Late in April, I'm doing week two again, with another group of ladies, and I come across these questions and as I answer this question and I think well, this time I'm facing back surgery for the second time in two years. The colors I chose blue and green - blue for safety of my home that God has blessed me with (the color of my living room walls) and green the color of the beautiful trees that I see each day as I am able to sit with my dad on the porch and look at God's creations as I recover!

James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, becasue you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."  

Do you consider the trials, hardships, whatever you would describe what you have gone through, are going through or will go through, "pure joy"?  As a child of God do you realize that these are times that we learn and grow. Do you realize these are times that God can prune us? Do you realize that as Beth Moore told us these are times that we become reapers! We have an opportunity to become reapers of God's blessings. A year ago, I sat beside my mother's bed and read John 15 to her over and over. I shared with her with I was going to say at a women's conference a month after she passed away. I was able to share with her what God was doing in my life and I didn't even really know what He was doing. What a blessing. I wasn't robbed. This year as I recover from a second back surgery, I am blessed by a family of sisters and brothers in Christ that have provided meals for my family so that my husband doesn't have to cook while I recover. I am blessed by a family of sisters and brothers in Christ that are praying for me to be completely healed from a problem that I have dealt with physically for some time. I'm not being robbed. I am reaping blessing upon blessing.

How will you view the next hardship or trial you face? Will your faith develop perseverance? Ask God to grow your faith! I'm praying for God to grow mine.

How would you have reacted?

How do you think you would have reacted living in a household with Jesus? Do you think you would have known that something was different about Him? Do you think there would have been signs that He was God? Would you have asked questions? Would you have been jealous? I don't have answers to these questions, that's why I'm asking them!

When we first learn about James we see him as an unbeliever. He's the brother of Jesus - raised in the household with Jesus, under the same roof, yet he does not recognize Jesus as the Son of God. We know that after Jesus is resurrected He appears to James (1 Corinthians 15:4-7). What we don't know is what took place at this meeting. I can't wait to hear about this acount. What turned James around. Was a something like you and I encountered? Was it more? We know in Acts 1: 4-15 James is with others that followed Jesus - others that had followed Jesus for a long time.

How would you have felt in a meeting like this group of followers? Bring it to a real life today group - say you are asked to join a Bible study with a group of people from a church where you know a lot of people, but you don't attend the church where the study will be held. Do you feel apprehensive walking in the door? What holds you back? What makes you feel comfortable? My hope would be that in the situation of the Bible study, that the group, no matter where it's being held, would be open and welcoming, and would make all feel welcome to attend the Bible study to hear and learn the truth of God's word so they walk away changed. Don't you think that Jesus's followers' would desire this so much more! Who would have the problem at the meeting James or you, the one coming in. If James or you are being led by God to be in a specific place, that's a piercing of the heart that only God can do and only God can fill.

Sometimes being outside of our comfort zones is required in order for us to grow and become the leader that God intends us to be. I don't know how I would have responded to Jesus living in the same household with me. I would like to think I would have recognized Him as my Messiah, but I can't say that with confidence. What I do know, is that I have recognized Him as my Lord, my Savior, my Messiah, and I can't live a moment without Him. When He pierces my heart I have to move and I know He will fill every part of the opening.

Preplanned, Flexible, or Available - What is your Life Like?

Is your life preplanned? I mean down to every tiny detail? As a mom, you might think so. As a teen, you might think so. As a young adult, you might think so. But, really is your life preplanned. Do you do exactly what your mother did? Does your husband, or father, do exactly what his father did? Probably not. So to some degree, our lives are similar to what Mary and Joseph experienced - unexpected! Joseph and Mary were a typical Jewish couple that were to follow typical Jewish traditions with everything being planned out for them; Joseph would do what his father did as for a trade; Mary would do what her mother did - keep home and bear children! But then the unexpected happens - Mary is going to be the mother of the Messiah - the Lord Jesus Christ and Joseph was going to have to follow God's plan and be available for His leading.

What does flexible look like in your life? How does that differ from Mary and Joseph's life? What do you think God desires for your life? Does He want all flexability or availability?

Am I the Only One, or Does John 15 Keep Coming Up

On day 4 in week six we started looking at James 5:13 -  ¹³ Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises (HCSB)  Other versions use similar words for "suffering" - trouble, afflicted, ill-treated, hurting - all of these lead us to prayer. When we are feeling good, cheerful, happy - we are led to sing praises. I don't know about you, but many, many times in my prayer time, when I'm hurting, suffering, troubled, I find myself singing praises. I believe that's the power of prayer. I believe as we spend time in prayer, in the presence of God, abiding in Him, we move from the hurt to embracing His mercy and are able to sing His praise.

We can't begin to move out of a suffering state of life, a victim state, a hurting state, if we aren't living a life with God! I mean truly lving a life with God day in and day out. Jesus tells us in John 15 starting in verse 1  that He alone is the True Vine - our support and that God is the Gardener. We, His children, are the branches on the Vine. We are going to be pruned so that we bear more fruit during our life here on earth. Without the pruning and remaing in the Vine we cannot bear fruit! (I encourage you to read John 15:1-17 several times) To remain in the Vine - is to abide in Christ, which is to live life with God day in and day out. It is to go to God in prayer when we are hurting, suffering, troubled, and allow God, and God alone to turn it into joy, so we can sing praises!

Praise God that His word goes together from the very beginning to the end. James is a small book, with a mighty message. We only have a little more to study, but oh so much more to learn! I can't wait - how about you?

Don't Rush God

Have you ever tried to push or rush God? I mean, have you asked God for something or for direction, then when you didn't get an answer that you wanted, or didn't get it in the time frame you wanted, did you move ahead on your own? Were you satisfied? Were you miserable? Were you somewhere in betweeen?

Many times in some of our discussions, in previous studies, we have talked about spiritual gifts. Do you know yours? I Corinthians 12:1-11 tells of some spiritual gifts, Ephesians 4:11 tells of some more. A good way to identify your spiritual gift if you don't know it, ask someone close to you!

Now back to my origianl question - Have you ever tried to push or rush God? If you know your spiritual gift, and you know what you are supposed to be doing, because God has told you, are you doing it - great! Are you trying to move ahead too fast and do things that are more than what God has told you to do? Just food for thought. Do what God tells you to do. Join Him where he is working. Don't rush God. Don't push God. Let Him grow you and equip you for what He is calling you to do!

You have a couple of weeks to get the work for week 7 done - keep working. Keep checking the blog. I'll be posting some things. If you have comments or questions, post them so that we can see what you are thinking! Love you guys!

Are we Reluctant to go to God?

Last week on day 1 of the study, we had 9 questions that made us think. Then if that wasn't tough enough, and in our face enough, we were faced with the reality of there are times we are reluctant to go to God with things in our life or desires/longings. Now come on don't leave me hanging here - I don't want to be the only one in the world feeling this way....

James 1:16-17 tells us "Don’t be deceived, my dearly loved brothers. 17 Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above..." (HCSB) If we have something in our hearts that we are longing for or desiring, and we are reluctant to go before God and ask for it, then rest assured it is not from God, because God's word does not lie. If God put the desire in our hearts, He wants us to continue to come before Him and ask Him for direction, wisdom, leading, confirmation, and the grace to move forward.

If you are reluctant to go before God and ask Him for the desire/longing, then go and asking Him to remove these from you and put a hedge of protection around you so that Satan will get behind you!

I love you all! Can't wait to see what this week's study will bring.

A Tongue that is Blistering Hot can Scar or Light the World on Fire for God!

The personal question for Day 4 was "When was the lst time you were aware of the tongue's capacity to blister and scar?

Have you ever been so sunburned that you have blistered? When I lived in south Florida as a young girl, we spent every day in the sun either by a pool or at the beach. Sometimes we overdid it and got sunburned. When we did, we went to the front yard and cut off a piece of an aloe plant, cut it open, and put the liquid on our skin. It helped take the pain away from the burn. If a friend was from out of town and was not used to the sun, the burn was blistered and the aloe didn't help alot - and there would probably be some scarring.

It used to be said "sticks and stones can break your bones but words can never hurt you." How wrong was that saying! Words can be blistering! Words can be Scarring.

A few years ago, while team teaching 5th grade, we gave our students small tubes of toothpaste and paper plates. We had them squirt all of the toothpaste out on the plates, then we told them to try and put all of the toothpast back in the tube - very soon they realized they couldn't do it. We tied this concept into the words that come out of our mouths. When we quickly say something out of anger, or rush to conclusions, make rash judgements, or many other situations, we can't take the comments back. Our tongues can be blistering. Our tongues can be scarring.

We can look back at James 1:19-20 and be reminded be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. We need to use our tongues to praise God, to be a light in the community that we are called to serve, and to spread the Gospel of Christ. Our tongues can bring comfort.

Where are you? Do you find yourself lighting the world on fire for God as you spread the Gospel of Christ? Or, do you find yourself trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube? How have you overcome some of the struggles with your tongue? I'm sure we could all use some examples here!

Teachers - are you called?

Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment James 3:1 With this were you asking yourself why would I ever want to be a teacher? Or did you look at this with the idea of...Ok then, I had better be prepared that I will stumble and I had better be seeking God's face and be hungering for God's word more than ever?

Too often I think we look at things with a negative view. Instead, we need to stand on the truth of God's word, be aware of the accountability we have as teachers, and definitely keep our motives in check if you are called!

Is James Direct?

What do you think about people that are direct? Are you direct? Do you tend to beat around the bush when you have something to say or do you just jump in with both feet and say what needs to be said? I think James is direct!

Is he different than Jesus? Does he have the same message? Does he get the message across? Are you getting the message?

I hope you are enjoying this study as much as I am enjoying it! Can't wait to see you tomorrow night!