Tag Archive | suffering

Your Mess Turned to Message

Nov28

God is My HopeWars raging. Epidemics spreading. Volcanoes exploding. Persecutions and attacks. Devastation every where you turn these days. People’s lives are in utter chaos and disarray. Heart-breaking and gut-wrenching photos and video, streaming live throughout the world. Reporters losing their emotional battle while attempting to bring us the horrific stories. Instantly, lives are changed and we all feel the impact.

Yet, in their darkest hour, citizens show amazing courage, strength, hope, love, and compassion. With every dramatic scene; another story of heroism emerges. Neighbors, strangers, and first-responders, frantically trying to help those affected. Hoping they can help save one more person.

Everyday, somewhere and in some way, someone is showing the essence of heroism, hope, and encouragement. None of these people are looking for fame. None of them realize their simple act is impacting someone else deeply.

There are countless stories of how teachers keep calm and shielded their precious children. Men and women who have lost everything in a devastating storm can thank God they are alive and have the courage to say “I knew my maker and I had hope in Him. God protected us. We are alive and everything else can be rebuilt.”

Don't Let Go

That is a powerful reminder to us all. No matter what you are facing today, God can make a way. Whatever you have lost, God can rebuild. There is absolutely nothing more important than to know your maker. It is in times like these that we are to show true courage, hope, and faith that in the midst of all the chaos, one small glimpse of hope can make all the difference.

Life is the most precious commodity and everything else can be rebuilt. So today, no matter what you face, allow your light to shine brightly upon others. Because in the midst of all your chaos, “The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble.” (Nahum 1:7)

And, you never know when He will take your mess and create the most BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE for everyone else to see.

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Mess to Message

May24

Tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma.  Pure devastation for miles to see. People’s lives in utter chaos and disarray.  Heart-breaking and gut-wrenching photos and video, streaming live throughout the world. Reporters losing their emotional battle while attempting to bring us the horrific story.  Instantly, lives were changed and we all felt the impact.

Yet, in their darkest hour, the citizens of Moore showed amazing courage, strength, hope, love, and compassion. With every dramatic scene; another story of heroism emerged. Neighbors, strangers, and first-responders, frantically searching for anyone that might be held prisoner under the rubble. Hoping and praying that one more person would be pulled from the rubble alive.

None of the people interviewed were looking for fame.  None of them realized how much their simple words could impact us deeply.  Two such stories captured the very essence of heroism, hope, and encouragement.  Let’s hear it from their perspectives.

Boy saved in OKThere was a man who raced to the school.  He explained that as they were moving rubble to search for survivors, they came across a teacher who had flung herself onto the children.  She did everything in her power to shield her most precious possessions.

With tears streaming down his face, the man’s statement said it all…“Way to go teach.”

Countless stories of how teachers kept calm, had the children praying loudly, and how they used their own bodies as shields have come to light.  Their selfless acts saved many lives and testifies to the true meaning of “No one has greater love than to lay down his own life for another.” (John 15:13)

Hour by hour, interviews captured the true sense of the community who was grateful to God for being alive.  One such interview was with an Woman finds Jesus Picolder gentleman.  His high-spirited attitude along with his profound words were breath-taking.

Standing in front of a massive heap of debris that used to be his home; he proudly stated to the world…”I knew my maker and I had hope in Him.  God protected my wife and I. Over the course of the years, we accumulated a lot of stuff. We are alive and everything else can be rebuilt. We get to start over.”

Like so many others, these heroes showed true courage, hope and faith while facing the horrifying losses. We should honor them all and allow their amazing testaments seep deep within our beings.

Life is the most precious commodity and everything else can be rebuilt.  So today, no matter what you face, allow your light to shine brightly upon others .  Because in the midst of all your chaos, “The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble.” (Nahum 1:7)

Pray for Oklahoma

Many wonderful organizations are already on site in Oklahoma and are listed below.   If you would like to donate, just click on the link for direct access to their secured website.  No matter how big or small, every bit helps when placed in the hand of the Lord.

Helping Oklahoma and Other Areas

Struggles

Sep21

Have you ever found yourself facing many struggles all at once?  Has every door shut in your face and you just couldn’t understand why?  Do you ever feel like you are walking in God’s chosen path and everything seems to go wrong?

During those difficult times, I’m always reminded of two Biblical stories that really help put things back into perspective.

The Book of Job

Job was a man of God and very blessed.  He had a loving family, a home and many possessions.  However, Job had a great fear.  He feared for his sons and their sins against God.  This fear festered and was his ultimate demise.  It allowed Satan access into his life.  Job ended up losing everything; His livestock was stolen and destroyed, his servants and children were tragically killed, and everything was taken from him in a blink of an eye.  His closest friends came and tried to analyze why all of this happened and kept asking Job what he had done wrong.  Even, Job’s wife asked him to curse God and die.  Talk about pain and suffering.  Poor Job was all alone during his most trying times.

Yet, Job’s reaction to it all was to get on his knees and worship God.  When all was said and done, Job stood his ground and God rewarded him greatly.

JOSEPH

Then, you have Joseph.  From a very young age, God had a real purpose for Joseph.  But Joseph’s brothers were jealous and hated him.  They wanted to be superior and in good favor of their father.  So, what did they do?  They sold Joseph into slavery and told their father that Joseph was killed.  Just imagine how Joseph must have felt through all that betrayal.  You know he must have asked, why?

Nonetheless, Joseph excelled during his hardships.  He was even thrown into jail for something he didn’t do.  But, even in jail, he excelled.  By Joseph keeping his eyes on God, Joseph became one of the greatest men alive.  He was placed in a very high position where God’s favor shined through him for all to see. (Genesis 37-50)

These amazing stories are a great testament of God’s ultimate best! They had to STAND STRONG and dig their heels in deeper; totally relying on the Lord, and God rewarded them for it.

I will be the first to tell you, it is sometimes easier said then done.  As I was being attacked from every angle possible and attempting to dig in deeper; things were spiraling out of control.  I knew I needed to call in reinforcements.  My PRAYER WARRIORS came to the rescue.  I desperately needed them to pray with me and since the Bible says, “when two or more agree, it will be done”(Matthew 18:19); I knew everything would be alright.

We may not always understand God’s plan during the whole transitional period of difficulties.  But one thing is for certain…in His perfect timing, all will be revealed.  So, DON’T GIVE UP!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY PERSONAL PRAYER WARRIORS

Bobby, Denise, and Grams…From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for your love, support and prayers when I needed them the most.  You are all amazing and are very special people who I’m blessed to have in my life.  May God prosper each of you beyond your wildest imagination, for your futures are BRIGHT!

If you need a prayer warrior, send me an email.  I will be happy to pray in agreement with you so God’s incredible plan for you shines through.  God Bless!

Stinkin’ Thinkin’

Aug17

Everyday we are bombarded by thoughts.  Maybe you heard a song on the radio and started to reminisce about days gone by.  Or, you’re at work and a thought pops into your head and you wonder where did that come from?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with thoughts.  They are a part of our everyday life.  With all the memories created throughout our life, it would be impossible not to think of them from time to time.  However, there is a different side to our thought life that has devastating consequences.

When you are going through difficult times, your thoughts tend to be on the negative side.

Thoughts like:

  • I don’t have enough money.
  • I’ll never make something of myself.
  • I don’t have the right education or skills.
  • I can’t do it, it’s too hard.
  • I will never get over this sickness.
  • I’m a failure.
  • And so on, and so on, and so on…

One of the quickest and sure-fire ways to pain and suffering is to allow STINKIN’ THINKIN” into your life.  They are extremely harmful.  John 10:10 tells us that “the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy”.  One of his ways of trying to destroy you is through your mind.  As soon as a negative thought pops into your mind and you allow it to stay there; mulling it over, the devil has you under his control.  Yet, the worse part is, is that if we allow ourselves to constantly think these stinkin’ thinkin’ thoughts; we remain in the difficult situation and it actually begins to spill into other areas of our life, becoming much worse than before.

Proverbs 23:7, tells us, “as he thinks, so is he.”  So, let’s stop for a moment and really grasp this concept.  If I am thinking that I’m a failure then, by this scripture, I am a failure.  If I’m thinking that I’ll never have enough money then it tells me that I will continue to live in poverty.  So, as you can see, just by this scripture alone, the Bible makes it very clear that our thought life is powerful.  What we think about ourselves and our lives is exactly what it will become.

Then, what should we do about it?  Overcoming stinkin’ thinkin’ can be quite simple.  The best way to start is by realizing that Jesus defeated everything that could ever come against us.  In 1 John 3:8, it explains the very reason why Jesus came to Earth, “…The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”  It simply doesn’t matter if you are being attacked in your health, relationships, finances, or in any other area of your life…Jesus WON long time ago.

So with this in mind, what does the Bible have to say about the things we should keep in our minds?

  • Philippians 4:8   “…whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely…dwell on these things.”
  • 1 John 3:1            “…great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we be called children of God….”
  • John 10:10          “…He came to give us life and life more abundantly.”
  • Psalm 23:1           “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not lack.”
  • 2 Samuel 22:2     “The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer.”
  • Isaiah 55:8           “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways.”
  • Philippians 4:13  “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

If you stop and really think about these scriptures, any stinkin’ thinkin’ that comes into your mind has absolutely no right to be there.  God’s word simply tells us that no matter what we’re going through…We are WINNERS!  We are VICTORIOUS!

Since, Jesus already WON the battle and He is certainly more than capable of handling our situations, then, all we need to do is keep our thoughts on Him.  And I for one believe that there is absolutely no better place to be, but, in the hands of Jesus.

So, as you can see, maintaining positive thoughts is detrimental to your well-being.  Take a stand against negative stinkin’ thinkin’.  Keep your thoughts on His word and become aggressive, for you are already a WINNER!

THINK LIKE IT…ACT LIKE IT!  For your best days are just ahead!