Spring Fever

Mar27

ClosetI know, I know…way to early for Spring cleaning.  That’s what I thought too.  However, after writing the last few postings, I started to feel very weighed down in life.  It encompassed every area; physically, mentally, and spiritually.  I couldn’t understand what was going on and why I was being attacked so heavily.

If you have ever been in a deep spiritual battle, you know how difficult it can be to keep your mind focused in prayer.  You will start off well and then find that your mind sways to different topics or you’ll start thinking about what you need to accomplish for the day; and so forth.

Well, that is exactly what happened to me.  While I was seeking God’s guidance over the situation, He gave me a completely different answer than what I might expect.  I sure wasn’t ready for what God had in mind.

He asked me to go on a cleansing frenzy.  He showed me that while I was re-focusing my thought life, I also needed to cleanse my surroundings.  The next thing I knew, I was trying on every piece of clothing, every pair of shoes and every coat I owned.  Whatever didn’t fit, ended up going BYE BYE!

And, THAT’S WHEN IT HIT ME LIKE A TON OF BRICKS!

With all the difficulties we face in our lives, we tend to hold onto stuff.  It’s kind of like a security blanket that is attached with so many emotions.  God showed me that it was time to not just let go of the past mentally, but, also physically.  Now, before I go any further…I had cleaned out before but this was the biggest undertaking I ever encountered.  Not only did I go through my clothes, shoes, and coats; I also went through my purses, magazines, papers, books, knick knacks, pictures, and furnishings.  Basically, everything I owned.  GOD WAS ASKING FOR A TOTAL MAKEOVER!

I couldn’t understand why God felt this was so important.  But, what He showed me was that all these “things” were weighing me down heavily and it was time to let go of it all.  Now, let me just say, it was not easy by no means.  There were things that I was emotionally attached to, things that I wanted to keep.

Jumping for JoyBut, guess what?  God had other plans.  Let’s just say that Proverbs 3:5 continuously played in my mind…“trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”.

Basically, what God is saying to us all is that He has a specific purpose for everyone of us this year.  I don’t completely understand the logic nor will I pretend to.  However, I do know that if God should ask you to let go of some things that are no longer serving you, please do it without hesitation.  Because I can tell you that it is worth it in the end.

For what I found was that the more I let go, the lighter I felt.  I found a youthful, pep in my step.  Yet, even a deeper outcome sprang forth…my personal relationship with God was magnified tremendously.

So, JUMP FOR JOY for all things are new!  I pray that God will open your eyes to what might be holding you back.  For this is a new year with new opportunities.  EMBRACE THE NEW!  (See Philippians 3:13) God Bless!

No Room For Guilt and Condemnation

Mar26

Begin to healHave you ever noticed that as you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your past has its way to remind you of your ugly ol’ self?  It seems like every time you take a step forward in faith, you get bombarded by negative thoughts or people trying to remind you of who you used to be; trying to make you feel guilty, condemned or like a hypocrite.

Your past is just that…your past.  It does not define who you are now in Christ.  You are a new creation and the old has been released (2 Cor. 5:17).  So, let go of your past and let God continue working within you; creating the beautiful person you are meant to be.  For who He sets FREE is FREE INDEED! (John 8:36)

Jesus was the only person, who walked on this earth, that was perfect.  We all fall short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23) However, through Jesus, our future is very different.  He already paid for every one of our sins (past, present and future).  So, when you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior; you were washed as white as snow, your sins were forgiven and God no longer remembers them. (Romans 8:1-39)

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Whatever you do, do not allow yourself to be pulled into feeling guilty nor to respond to the negativity. For God is your vindicator (Romans 12:19).  So, let go of any guilt, condemnation, pain, anger or sorrow and ask God to send His love towards that person or thing that is causing the unnecessary emotion.  Place it in God’s hands and feel the weight of the world lift off your shoulders. 
 
Coffee Break with God
Just remember that God never calls the qualified, but, makes us all qualified through Jesus.  So, fly like an eagle and soar to your new heights for there is no room for guilt or condemnation.  Christ wiped your slate clean!  You are a NEW CREATION in Christ so be bold, brave and beautiful in all that He calls you to do! Thank God for His new beginnings, Praise His Name and grasp your FABULOUS FUTURE; for the best is yet to come!

People Pleasers

Mar25

There are so many demands and peer pressure in our world today.  If I asked you, “Who are you?” would you answer with your job title?  Would you answer with the sport you play?  Would you answer the way your friends or family see you?  What would you say?

More time than not, you would answer this question quickly and with some sort of a title.  But do you really know who you are and what truly makes you happy?

I ask this question because there are way too many people trying to be something they are not.  They want to fit in with the crowd.  They want to look like someone else.  They want to be popular.  But, the problem with this is that most are unhappy deep within themselves.  I can tell you from experience that it never is all its cracked up to be nor can you please everyone.

As Christians, we tend to be “yes” people.  Yes, I’ll help you.  Yes, I’ll be there.  Yes, I can do that project.  And so on.  Unfortunately, most of us take on too many obligations which create pressure and stress within our own lives; losing the very essence of who we are.

When we try to please people around us, we tend to make them happy while making ourselves miserable.  The key here is to learn how to make ourselves happy first.  This is not selfish, by no means.  When we make ourselves happy and be who we really are, then that happiness overflows onto the people around us; creating a wonderful, loving environment that has more impact on others than just trying to fit in.

Let’s see what the Bible says about who we are:

  • We’re a child of the Most High God (John 1:12)
  • We are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17)
  • We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
  • You’re a friend of Jesus Christ (John 15:15)
  • You have been chosen by God (Ephesians 1:4)
  • God looks at the heart of a man, not his outward appearance (Samuel 16:7)
  • The king greatly desires your beauty (Psalm 45:11)
  • You are a sweet aroma to God (2 Corinthians 2:15)

If God sees us as a beautiful child then don’t you think the best thing we can do is love ourselves in a meaningful, humble way.  I’m not talking about having an ego and thinking you’re all high and mighty.  What I’m talking about is, loving the person you are, loving yourself just as you are, and knowing that you are beautiful just the way you are.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t wear what everyone else is wearing or you’re not driving the best car or you don’t have the biggest home on the block…what matters is that you are happy from deep within your mind, body and soul.

There are always going to be naysayers or people who want you to be something you are not.  In Romans 12:12, we are specifically told “not to conform to this world…”  For when you are walking in God’s love and loving yourself, it will spill over onto others.  It will bring such peace and joy within your life; you’ll wonder why you haven’t done it before.  In Colossians 3:15 we are told to “be led by peace in making decisions”.  That is so much more important than doing things out of obligations.

Things don’t need to feel like a chore when you help someone.  If it comes from a deep passion within yourself, it will catapult the love you feel onto those around you.  This calm, stable and relaxing state of mind is the ultimate, rewarding experience.  People will notice the change.  People will realize that they too can enjoy life fully and will want to know how you do it.  That’s what it is all about…helping others from this standpoint of peace and leading by example.  It is more powerful than you realize.  Making a difference comes from the love inside of you; knowing who you truly are in Christ and allowing it to flow into others.  We all have received our very own special gifts and abilities (1 Peter 4:10) and we need to walk in these given talents.  It is a very rewarding experience.

SO…TODAY IS A NEW DAY!

EMBRACE YOURSELF!  For when you do, you will become an amazing person that will make a huge difference in the world around you.  For there is no better place to be than walking in your DIVINE DESTINY, being the person you are meant to be.  Believe it!  Live it!  There is no one else like you so stop trying to be like everyone else.

CELEBRATE YOUR UNIQUENESS…YOU ARE VERY SPECIAL!  YOU ARE ONE OF A KIND!

Patience

Mar24

Have you ever found yourself wanting something to happen right now, but it seems to take longer than expected?

Well, I sure have.  We live in a world of instant gratification.  Just take a quick look around and you’ll see fast food restaurants, drive-thru pharmacies, quick remedies for weight loss and the “quick draw McGraw” of news…the internet.  Isn’t it amazing how addicted we are to instant things?

It really becomes prevalent when you have to wait in a checkout line at the grocery store and you realize just how impatient you are to get out of there; even if you don’t have anywhere else to go.

When time is of the essence and you have absolutely no understanding of what is happening; the most important thing you can do is have PATIENCE!  It is certainly one of the hardest lessons to learn.  Yet, it is one of the most crucial in your daily walk with God.

Here’s why…In James 1:2-4, God is very specific why we must learn patience.

“Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.  Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.  But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed, lacking in nothing.”

In other words, God is telling us that we should rejoice in difficult situations, knowing that God tests our faith to bring out patience.  During trials, all kinds of junk are brought to the surface.  Things like anger, rebellion, self-pity, complaining and pride.  It is so important to deal with this stuff so that God can take us to the next level.

So, let’s put it in a step-by-step process:

  1. Trials come and we face all the “icky” stuff
  2. This in turns helps us develop Patience
  3. Patience helps us develop Endurance
  4. Endurance creates a mature character
  5. A mature character brings us to absolutely nothing lacking within our lives.

Let’s face it; most of us have absolutely no clue what God is up to when He calls us.  But one thing for certain is that He knows the end from the beginning.  Ecclesiastes 7:8 reminds us, “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patience in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” And Galatians 6:9 tells us, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

So, I don’t know about you but the ending sure sounds better than the beginning.  It doesn’t matter how long we have to wait, it is far more rewarding to wait on the Lord’s timing because His timing is perfect and the outcome will exceed all your expectations.