Sitting Face to Face with a Refugee

I sat face to face with a refugee the other day.......

     Actually, I sat in a room filled with many refugees; Syrian, Pakistani, Iranian, Palestinian, Iraqi....and many others. I shook their hands and said "hello". I watched some sleep, and others pace, and some sit quietly and attentive. I watched mother's love on children who were not their own, and father's struggle to calm crying babies. I sat on a make-shift couch of crates and cushions while a middle-aged, middle-eastern man with a kind face and a sweet smile, served me a meal of spaghetti and Syrian bread. I watched as they ripped the bread and scooped up the spaghetti like a mini tortilla, devouring every last drop, not knowing when they would eat again.
     I heard stories of pain and heartache, loss and betrayal. I observed weary faces and tired bodies; sun-parched skin and furrowed brows. I saw the look of fear and dread in some, and of hope and love in others. I rode past condemned apartments which many of them are calling home, with broken windows and partial doors, wondering how they stayed warm at night. I saw others huddled under blankets on public sidewalks, oblivious to the passers-by.
    I saw humanity at it's worst, and yet, humanity at it's best. As I stood in the middle of a city in Greece, half way across the world, I observed the outcome of the atrocities that others in the human race have had to endure. Their flight from the terror and inhuman behavior have led them to this place. Their desperation for safety and freedom, for love and acceptance has not gone unnoticed. A small group of people in a large city of Greece, operating out of a small store-front are attempting to change the lives of refugees from around the world. Daily, this small group of people, wander the city streets seeking and searching for those the world has forgotten and tossed aside. They offer them food and clothing, love and acceptance, but also hope and forgiveness. One by one, they come to this tiny store-front. At first, with fear and trepidation, but it isn't long before they realize that this is the safest place they've ever been. Some spend weeks and months frequenting this place, while others spend years, but all are offered the same opportunities and experiences.
     It is in this same tiny place that the love and salvation of Jesus Christ is shared with them. Many accept this offer of salvation, turning from their only known religion and realizing they can be killed for that decision. While there, I saw faces of joy and hope. I watched as they said "good-bye" to those who gained approval to move on to other countries to start a better life. The excitement on their faces gave way to sorrow for having to leave the safety and security of those who had become family to them. I watched as others gathered round to pray for them, love on them and wish them well, hoping and praying that they would be the next recipients.
     I wish you could see the sights that I saw. I wish you could hear the stories I heard. I wish you could feel the emotions I felt. I wish your heart could break like mine broke.

I wish you could sit face to face with a refugee........

Caught in a Trap!

"Things that look attractive and appealing, often times, take you down a path of destruction."

     I know you're probably thinking, "What in the world is that picture?" Well, let me explain. 

     Every summer, we have a horrible time with wasps invading our front porch. This summer has proven to be worse than years past, preventing me (or anyone else) from sitting and enjoying the comfort of our big covered porch. One day, my dad came home with a solution, a wasp trap! Actually, it's nothing more than a glorified STICKY fly trap.

     I really couldn't imagine how this thing could possibly work, I mean, "what would entice the wasps to the trap?"

     I took a quick glimpse of the instructions before I hung the trap up and it said something about the colors and design of the trap attracting the bothersome bugs. It didn't matter one way or another to me, as long as it solved my problem.

    

     Well, not even an hour later, there were 10 wasps stuck to this ingenious contraption! Yes, they were struggling and looking pitiful, but I hardened my heart as I smiled and walked away. Over the next few days, we captured many, many more wasps, flies and various other insects. I was elated and decided to look into buying stock in this product.

     After about a week of owning this wasp annihilator, I glanced at the trap as I was pulling into our driveway. From a distance, it looked as if it was completely covered in dead bugs. Overwhelmed with pleasure, I entered the house and told my husband of my revelation. He then informed me that it wasn't dead bugs that I was seeing, but rather, BIRD FEATHERS!  

     Some poor, unfortunate bird, enticed by a free meal (and probably the beautiful design and colors) appeared to have lost all his feathers (and almost his life) on this apparent smorgasbord from heaven.  

     Isn't that just like us as humans too? We are drawn to the beautiful, alluring, enticing things this world has to offer. And even after other's warn of the impending danger, we dive in head first. After all, just one touch couldn't possibly do any harm, right? Ask that question of that featherless bird, hobbling around and I bet he'd answer you differently.

     The enemy of our soul, Satan, tries to entice us with beautifully, seductive things like money, love, perfection, possessions.....and the list goes on. But there's always a catch, and we never see it until it's too late. It's after we're caught in the trap, screaming and pleading for our life, that we realize the huge mistake we've made. 

     Think through the decisions you make before you latch on to the next latest and greatest thing. Don't believe everything others tell you about how great it will be or how it will make your life better. More than likely, they're trying to pull you in so they're not alone in their misery. Hence the saying, "misery loves company!"

      Ask yourself these questions; "What will the ramifications be if I do this? How will it affect me and my family, next week, next month or next year? Is it just satisfying my fleshly desires or will it be best for everyone around me? Am I ashamed for anyone else to know about this?" If you have to enjoy whatever it is in secret, then that's a pretty good indication that it's a bad decision. 

     Don't buy into the world's philosophy to only focus on yourself and your happiness. To be completely fulfilled and satisfied in life, you have to focus on others. Look outside of yourself and your desires and find a need. Then fill that need. You'll be amazed at what can transpire out of that. The world is waiting for you to make a difference. Will you take the challenge? Or will you settle for a wasp trap?.........

Have a great day!

Wendy

All Natural Beauty!

     My husband, Nat, retired in January after 25 years as a fireman. With more time on his hands, he has gone back to one of his favorite hobbies, woodworking. Believe me, I'm not complaining, I have plenty of projects for him! His latest project is a beautiful farmhouse table, and I've watched him agonize over every detail of this table for the past week. Every detail and dimension had to be just right or the table wouldn't function properly.

           Yesterday, he started one of the final steps before the "fun" work (as I call it) could begin....sanding. It's amazing what the table looked like after this step! With all the rough edges gone, it was so smooth and beautiful; an all natural masterpiece!

     Well, today was the day that the next step could begin, you know, the fun stuff.....staining. I scoured Pinterest for days looking for just the right finish idea to use on our new piece of furniture and I decided on a dark stain top and a white distressed bottom. But as I was getting dressed for the day, the Lord began to speak to my heart about the table and I thought I'd share it with you.
     We, as women, get so excited to buy new clothes, shoes, make-up and accessories to  "doctor up" our exterior. We spend untold amounts of money on these purchases to make ourselves feel better and to make others believe that we're more beautiful than we feel on the inside. When in reality, what really matters, is what's underneath! God spent untold amounts of time on every detail and dimension of who we are. We are sensitive, compassionate, loving, loyal, smart, witty, creative beings, made in his image......which means we're absolutely beautiful!
     Let's stop putting so much emphasis on the exterior and start accepting ourselves and our bodies for who we are. I'm not saying you can't "doctor yourself up" any longer (I love TJ Maxx as much as the next person!) but let's do it for the right reason. We don't need to hide underneath the facade of perfection, but instead, let the awesomeness of our all natural beauty shine through for the world to see! And I believe as we begin to accept and love ourselves, other women will take notice and make a step in that direction too. Making a difference in our own lives can make a huge difference in someone else's!

By the way, here's a picture of the table with the stain on top. Tomorrow, I go shopping for the paint for the bottom!

Have a great day!

Wendy

The Women's Club

   

 Competitive, Caddy, Snotty, Stuck-up, Stand-offish....

     Here's a partial list of words women often use to describe each other. You know you've heard them used before or you've probably spoken them yourself. More than likely, they've been used to describe you and I, on occasion. Behind our backs, of course! But then again, we would never dream of saying any of these words to someone's face, let alone, expect them to say them to ours.

     Welcome to a woman's world! We have our own little women's club (whether we realize it or not) and only those who are "worthy" are allowed into our membership. It's the unwritten, unnamed, never-ending club of the female world. I think it starts in elementary school, at the age when girls start noticing differences in each other. 

You know, like..........

                        she's taller than me

                        her hair is longer than mine

                        her clothes are much more prettier than mine

                        look at how blue her eyes are

                        she can run so much faster than me

                        she gets A's on all her tests

                        the boys pay so much attention to her

     It's when girls start noticing the strengths in others that they begin doubting their own! It's starting at a younger and younger age, and it seems to continue all through life.

     Let's just call it what it is..........INSECURITY!

     There, I said it!

     We all suffer from it. Go ahead and admit it.

     It's comes straight from the pit of hell and we have no chance of getting rid of it unless we first admit it to ourselves.

     We're all insecure, in some way. And most of the time, those insecurities come about by comparing ourselves to others. We're not satisfied with how God made us, or with the gifts and talents that he gave us. Instead, we look at the strengths in others and in turn, see the deficiencies in ourselves. Then we take it a step further and place judgement and hatred on women we haven't even taken the time to get to know.

      Here's what I mean.........

             A new woman enters your job, church, or women's club. She's tall, thin, very pretty and dressed very fashionably. Some of the first thoughts of every other woman in that room (if they would admit it):

              " Who's that woman?"

               "Boy she's pretty!" 

               "She has the cutest outfit and boy, it fits her so well!"

               "Her hair is so thick and long."

               "I bet she colors it."

               "She can't be a real blonde because her eyebrows are brown."

               "For her age, she's really perky and big." 

               "I bet they're not real!"

               "Oh, wait.....she looked my way.....she didn't even smile.......I knew it, 

               she's probably a snot!"

     Our insecurities cause us to destroy ourselves and every relationship we could ever have!

     I spent a good portion of my younger years comparing myself to others and to the unrealistic expectations of the world. I wasted years trying to be someone else......someone who God didn't create me to be. I never felt that I was pretty enough, funny enough, nice enough, smart enough...........I could go on and on. It wasn't until my late 30's that God taught me to be okay in my own skin. He showed me that I was created in HIS image, which means that I am beautiful to him! I learned that how I treat others way outshines how I look on the outside! Personality is way more important than a perfect manicure.

      It's been a process and a journey........one I wish I could have grasped hold of a lot sooner. But now, as one of the "older women", I try to pass on this wisdom to the younger women. There are still moments when my old self tries to resurface, especially when other women will drop one-liners about my appearance. You see, I have always been very thin due to a thyroid issue. Most women don't know that about me, and if they do, they say they wish they had my problem. But what they don't understand is that being "too thin" makes you feel as insecure as being "too big". Only difference is that others aren't afraid to remind you how "thin" you are! One lady once told me that "I was so thin that she would never sit behind me again"! I understand now that when people comment about my thinness, that they're just allowing their insecurities to show through, but for years, those comments crushed me.

     We all fight different battles and we can't begin to understand those battles unless we take the time to get to know each other, stop the comparison wars and truly love and care for each other. We aren't in a competition, we're all on the same team, striving for the same goal. What's that goal? To be the best woman we can be! When we understand who God created us to be, we can then begin to love and accept ourselves. From there, we can be the best wives, mothers, daughters, and friends EVER!!

Women desperately need each other! Let's overcome our insecurities and be there for each other! We can accomplish so much more together!

As true friends and supporters of each other we should:

    Cheer louder than the hecklers

    Love stronger than the haters

    Care deeper than the backstabbers

    Support longer than the naysayers

    Compliment higher than the gossipers

       and most of all.....

             Love beyond measure!

Have a great day !

Wendy

     

               

The Wrong Path.....or is it?

   

  Today is a one year anniversary for me. "One year anniversary of what?", you may ask. Well, one year ago today, the course of my life changed because of the actions/decisions of another person. In other words, the path of my life took a drastic unexpected turn in a direction that wasn't in my initial plan. 
     The details of the story really don't matter; what matters is MY reaction. I'd be lying if I told you that I reacted perfectly because in reality, I was really thrown for a loop. I felt as though the rug was pulled out from under me and I just simply wanted to lay there and not get up again. The anxiety, panic attacks, bouts of fear and disappointment over someone else's actions was quite overwhelming. 
      I know many of you reading this have gone through similar situations in your lives where other's actions have changed the course of your life. Many of you have suffered tremendously due to the intentional or unintentional actions of another. Maybe it was abuse or betrayal or maybe it was an unexpected death of a loved one. There are so many things that can happen to us, especially when we least expect them. Life throws us curve balls when we haven't even stepped up to the plate. What do we do when we get knocked down or thrown off course? As I see it, we have two choices: we either let the craziness of life take us out completely or we get back up and start over again.
     As I look back over the past year, there have been many ups and downs. Probably more low points than high points, but I'm still breathing. A major course change at this point in my life, has been a bit more difficult to maneuver. But one thing is for sure; God is STILL in control. None of this has been a surprise to him. He wasn't caught off guard by the situations in my life. Quite the opposite! He knew ahead of time, of the things that were to transpire in my life and he was prepared to guide me through the rough terrain.
     Here's the crazy thing: As I sit here today typing this blog, I realize that I'm right smack dab in the middle of where I want to be! It certainly hasn't been the road I wanted to travel to get here, but I'm here anyway. How does that happen? I don't think it's any secret how it happens. Some may call it coincidence or karma or good luck, but I KNOW that it's MY GOD who causes ALL things to work for good in my life!!
     I want to encourage you today to get back up! Don't let the situations of life or the actions of others take you out. You're still breathing, which means God's not done with you yet! Keep putting one foot in front of the other and before you know it, you'll look around and see that you're right where you wanted to be all along. God has a way of doing that when we trust him and believe that he has our best interest at heart. Your path may have changed............but your destiny hasn't!

Have a great day!

Wendy
    

When Life Goes Wrong.....God Is There "Through All of It"!

     This is a great video to watch and realize that God is ALWAYS with us...through the good times and especially through the bad times!

Perspective......Everyone's got one!

   

  It's Monday again! Did you wake up ready to face the day and week, or did you dread getting out of bed?
     No more dreading! It's a new day, a new beginning, a new adventure just waiting for you to grasp hold. Ask any of my friends, and they will tell you that even after my absolute worst days, I will say, "I can't wait to climb into bed and end this day because tomorrow morning will start a brand new day!" 
     God gives us second, and third, and forth chances to start all over again!! The Bible tells us that "His mercies are new every morning". (Lamentations 3:22) He's the God of do-overs and begin-agains. Don't you love that? I sure do!
     Are you carrying around hurts, fears, problems and stresses that keep you from enjoying life? Day after day, the weight of the problems rest heavier and heavier on your shoulders. Life becomes so burdensome that you don't even want to face the day. The focus of life becomes your problems, rather than the blessings that are all around you. All you need is a little change of perspective. What would life look like if you didn't have to worry about all the negative things going on? Wouldn't it feel great? 
     Well, I can't take all your problems away, but I can send you to someone who can! And I can't promise that He'll take all your problems away, but he can change the way you think about your problems. You see, a problem to one is a blessing to another.

A broken car...........is a dream to one who walks everywhere
A hyperactive child..............is a blessing to a barren woman
An unhappy employee...........is a fantasy to the unemployed
A fight with your spouse.............is a dream come true to the lonely
An unclean house..................is an over the top blessing to the homeless

     Change your thought process, and change your life!! I know it's not easy! But it all starts with CHANGE! And it all starts with YOU! You can't change your life by changing someone else. You have to change YOU! Look deep inside and be honest with yourself. Make the needed changes to your perspective and you'll be amazed how wonderful it will feel to face Monday morning......or any morning! 


Have a great day!

Wendy

Attitude is Everything!

     

     Well, here it is Friday and I should be thrilled, but I didn't sleep well last night and I guess you could say, "I got up on the wrong side of the bed". In other words, the woman in the picture pretty much sums up how I'm feeling towards the whole world today. This should be Fabulous Friday, but instead, it's Funky Friday for me! I could blame it on lack of sleep or on menopause or on a bunch of other things, but the bottom line is this....."I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MY BAD ATTITUDE!" Let's just call it like it is.
     Come on ladies.......we try to blame our bad moods and attitudes on everyone and everything around us. When in reality, we have complete control over how we treat others, including OUR FAMILY! I'm gonna shout "Amen" to that one because I'm preaching to myself!
     Yes, we are emotional creatures and our emotions fluctuate like a car on a roller coaster. But we are the ones who are in the driver's seat and in control of the car, so stomp on those brakes and get off the ride. It's as simple as that!
     As women, we hold a very critical position in our family. With one word, or attitude or simply a look, we control the climate and temperature of our household. When our husband, children, grandchildren or friends enter our home, do they enter into an aroma of love, acceptance, peace and tranquility? Or do they walk into a cold stench of hate, nonacceptance, chaos and turmoil? We have the power to control either one of those atmospheres by our attitudes, words and moods. Personally, I don't want to walk into a house that's filled with tension, and unhappiness. I would probably find any reason I could to stay away as much as possible. If I wouldn't want to live in that atmosphere, why would I think my husband and kids would want to? When we think about it that way, it puts a whole new spin on it, doesn't it? Did you realize that you had that much power and control? 
     I'm not saying to go through life without ever having a bad day, but let's recognize our attitudes quicker and take some steps in working through them in a healthy way.

• Find some solitude - whether it's in the bathroom, backyard, or neighborhood park, find some alone time. Read a book, listen to some music, listen to the birds chirp or simply stare at the clouds. Take your focus off of the stress in your life and take some deep breaths. Life is good and you are blessed! You just need to remind yourself sometimes.
• Phone a friend - once you're able to verbalize what you're feeling, you'd be amazed how quickly your mood will change. A few trusted friends, who will listen to your pity party and not spread it like wildfire, are invaluable! Make sure you return the favor!
• Say a simple prayer - asking God to help change your mood may sound foreign to some, but you would be amazed at the results! We have a direct line to our heavenly Father, it's called prayer, and he's just waiting to hear from us. Nothing is too small or insignificant to say to him, and he really wants to answer us!
• When all else fails.....EAT CHOCOLATE! - I really think research has said something about it releasing happy endorphin's or something! I don't know what research has said, I just know that I feel better after eating it, so give it a try!

     Now that I've poured my heart out to you, I'm feeling much better! I think I'll go have dinner with a friend.

Have a great weekend! (Do something fun with your family!)

Wendy

Looking for Happiness

     We've all heard this saying before, usually being mumbled by a husband who has put quite a few years into a marriage and has learned that in order to have peace in his life, he must constantly strive to keep his wife happy, at all costs! I've been married for 30 years and yes, I admit to not being the easiest person to live with, at times. I will also admit that my husband has gone above and beyond to make me feel happy, content, and loved over those 30 years. But I've learned some things that only time and experience can teach you, and one of those things is that we should never rely on a relationship to bring us complete and total happiness. To put that much pressure on another human being will only end in disappointment and destruction. Real happiness has to start within ourselves.

     Let me share some advice on this Woman Wednesday:

• Love yourself - it all starts with these simple two words. If you don't love yourself, or even like yourself, no one else will. You are beautiful! You are made in the image of God, which is magnificent! Put aside all the negative things anyone has ever said about you and just simply trust that God made a one-of-a-kind masterpiece when he made you!
• Look inside - the most beautiful person can have the ugliest personality. Who are you when no one is looking? Quit doctoring up the outside and start working on the inside! It's okay that you don't have the perfect model figure, what's on the inside of you is what really matters. Make sure your personality and character outshine your exterior. 
• Look up - the ONLY thing that will ever bring complete happiness in your life is your relationship with your Heavenly Father - God! When that relationship is right, all will be well within you and the world around you. Have you accepted his invitation for salvation? We are all sinners, in need of a Savior, and Jesus Christ is that Savior. He shed his own blood to save us from ourselves, so that we can live a life of freedom on this earth and spend eternity with him. If you have never asked him to be your Lord and Savior, I encourage you to do that today.....this very moment!
• Look outward - take the focus off of yourself! We are all born with a selfish nature and constantly want to focus on ourselves and our desires. But to find true happiness and contentment, you need to look outward.You have been placed on this earth for a reason. You're meant to reach out and share the love of Christ with others and to help them in some tangible way. What are you gifts and talents? Look for some tangible ways to help others. There are so many volunteer opportunities all around you, if you will just make yourself available to participate in them. 

     Do you really want to be the "Happy Wife" or "Happy Mom" or simply the "Happy Woman"? Stop relying on others to fulfill that need inside of you and start doing something for yourself. The first step is always the most painful, but the final reward is worth it!

Have a great day!

Wendy

She is unstoppable!

     I spent a good portion of the weekend feeling discouraged and defeated. To be completely honest, I wanted to "call it quits" on the very dream I have carried in my heart for many years; the very thing I feel God has placed me on this earth to fulfill. Fear and doubt held me back from pursuing this dream for quite a few years and now, at the ripe age of 50, I'm feeling pressed by time to accomplish the task. In spite of all the negative things about getting older, some of the more positive attributes is the confidence and carefree attitude that you gain with each passing year. So, throwing caution to the wind, I spent the last eight months working diligently toward my goal.
     With the birth of my dream right at my fingertip's, something suddenly and unexpectedly happened.........DOUBT and FEAR arrived on the scene!! Not only did it creep up on me, but it hit me like a ton of bricks! After two days of carrying around this uninvited duo, I came to a place where I literally wanted to call it quits and walk away. I wanted to throw away years of dreams, plans and prayers.......in a single moment.
     Call it what you will......fear, doubt, lack of sleep, PMS, bad pizza, a fight with my husband, it all boils down to one thing. As women, we question and doubt our existence, our value, our ability and our worth. It's what holds us back from everything. We don't believe in ourselves. We've been shot down, devalued, and humiliated one too many times and we don't want to put ourselves out there and suffer repeat hurt and pain.
     I GET IT! I'M RIGHT THERE WITH YOU! I WAS THERE THIS WEEKEND! You may ask, "What did you do, Wendy?" 
     Well,I stood still for a few moments, waiting for the tears to come, contemplating whether I should cancel the meeting that was to take place in less than an hour. But then, I looked down at the Bible that lay open on the counter beneath me and I remembered. I remembered WHO I belonged to.....I remembered WHO called me to task in the first place.....I remembered WHERE my value and worth really comes from..... And after God reminded me of all those things, I stopped and prayed and asked Him to help me.Then, with all the confidence of heaven, I tossed aside "fear and doubt" and continued on in spite of them! 
     What was the outcome of the meeting? Well, let's just say......"The dream IS becoming a reality!"
     Keep moving forward today!! Don't let fear, doubt, depression, discouragement, hurt or anything else hold you back from accomplishing the dream that's in your heart. Look to the one who put that dream in your heart to begin with.....GOD! He's all you will ever need!

Have a great day!

Wendy


   

Regaining my voice!

Philemon 1:6 

     I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.

     It seems that one thing after another has taken place over the past two months which has caused me to forfeit my time to contribute to this blog. This blog is just one of many ways in which I am offered the opportunity to share my faith with those who are hurt, hungry, discouraged and hopeless, and who choose to search the internet looking for an answer to their problems. I understand that many people may be turned off by another blog “cramming the Bible down their throat” but I also understand that for every one person that may be turned off or offended, there are many others that are at the end of their rope, and this blog may be the very thing that encourages them to hang on one more moment, while God sweeps into their life and transforms their very existence. In other words, I believe God can use words on a page to help influence someone’s life, especially if those words are HIS WORDS and come straight from his book, the Bible.

     The events of the past few months, in one way or another have caused me to lose my voice. Not literally, but in a spiritual sense. God placed a call on my life, from the moment of conception, to speak and share the Good News of his gospel, which is the free gift of his salvation. All of us, as fellow Christians, have that same call on our life. When we understand and comprehend the fact that our lives have been spared from the judgment we deserved because of our Savior, Jesus Christ and the price that he paid for us, on the cross, we can’t help but share that Good News with everyone we come in contact with. It’s our VOICE. Christ gave it to us, in hopes that we would use it.

     Unfortunately, many things can quiet or even halt our voice; fear, doubt, unbelief, stress, turmoil, sickness, anger, unforgiveness, discouragement, and distractions. With that being said, I have allowed some situations in my own life to quiet and almost halt my voice. The verse above tells us that if we are not actively sharing our faith, we cannot continue to understand the good things we have in Christ. We become so entangled in our own self-pity, and self-absorption, that we are unable to give out to those around us, so that, in turn, we can’t receive back from the Lord. Our perspective takes a complete nose-dive, right into the depths of our self-centered soul. It’s right where the enemy wants us to live; defeated, discouraged and voiceless.

     I awoke this morning with a new resolve……a resolve to regain my voice. I choose this day to take back what the enemy has attempted to steal. Jesus Christ gave me my voice, and I will use it from this point forward, regardless of the circumstances going on around me, regardless of my feelings and emotions, and regardless of what others may say about me. It is in using my voice that I become aware of who Jesus Christ is, but it also makes me aware of who I am, through him, and with that combination, the future looks bright and clear.

     Today is a new day………..and I’ve got my voice back!

Merry CHRISTmas!!

Have you ever felt like you lost your voice? What’s holding you back from sharing the love of Christ with others? Make a list of those things, and then run that list through a shredder, as you make a new covenant with the Lord to regain YOUR VOICE!

Have a great day!

Offering Hope!

Jeremiah 29:11

     “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

 

     Last night was Halloween and instead of parading around neighborhoods searching for our favorite candy treats, we chose to serve at our church’s yearly Hopefest event. It is through this event where we offer not only food, fun and games, but also the opportunity to experience hope.

    In the day and age that we live in, many people have lost all hope and are walking around bewildered and lost, gravitating toward anything that will ease the pain. We as Christians have the answer for them, and instead of sharing the liberating news, we stay bound up within our four walls of the church hoarding hope, freedom and joy to ourselves.

     Many would say that we shouldn’t celebrate Halloween because it’s a pagan holiday, but I would say that we’re not celebrating Halloween, but rather taking advantage of a night where many are already out and about looking for a something. Why not offer them hope along with their candy? Jesus, often times, stepped into the midst of people’s troubled lives and pagan traditions and offered his love and hope, how much more should we do the same?

     I so enjoyed seeing the joy on the adult’s and children’s faces last night as I offered them a free hot dog, but even more so, I understood that as all the people wandered the grounds of our church property, the Holy Spirit had the opportunity to begin to soften hearts and draw souls to him. One day when the veil is pulled back, we will be able to see the eternal results that our little Hopefest event made on the hearts of those who attended. After all, Jesus Christ came to give each of us a hope and a future, even those dressed as ghouls and goblins. They’re just waiting for someone to tell them!

     Do you have hope? Do you believe that Christ has a future for you? Take some time to ask him about the future that he has for you. Understand that even in the midst of turmoil and pain; he STILL has a hope and future for you!

Have a great day!

Do you hear voices in your head?

I Corinthians 2:10-15

     But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his

Spirit and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets. No one can know what anyone else is really thinking except that person alone, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And God has actually given us his Spirit (not the world’s spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you this, we do not use words of human wisdom. We speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t Christians can’t understand these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means. We who have the Spirit understand these things, but others can’t understand us at all.

     The moment we ask Jesus Christ to come and live in our heart, the Holy Spirit begins to reside inside of us. It is from that point forward that we can begin to know and understand what God is thinking and speaking to us because the Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of God and he can translate them to us. This whole process sounds ludicrous to those who don’t know Christ because the Holy Spirit doesn’t live and dwell within them.

     A good portion of the Christian culture won’t talk about or make reference to the Holy Spirit due to lack of knowledge and understanding of who He is, but once understood, the He becomes a powerful, vital force bringing comfort, guidance and direction to a believer’s life. Living a Christian life without acknowledging the role of the Holy Spirit severely limits the hand of God on our life. Think of him as our tour guide through this life, leading and guiding us in the right direction, enlightening us with the knowledge to navigate the rough terrain and empowering us with the tools to overcome any obstacles. But we must first acknowledge his existence then submit to his guidance, in order to move forward successfully and strategically.

     Often times, fear of ridicule and rejection causes us to downplay and reject the inner voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts. He has much to say if we will simply learn to distinguish his voice and listen.

     A number of years ago, when my husband and I were newly married, I went to visit my parents for a few days. They lived about 60 miles away from us at the time, and about half way into my return trip home I felt a voice speak to me, telling me to pull over and call my husband to come and meet me and follow me home. (This was in the days before cell phones) Thinking that I had lost my mind and understanding that my new husband would really think the same thing, I chose to keep driving. With the setting of the sun, I exited through a large city and soon entered into a relatively dark, deserted stretch of highway. Within moments, my car began to shake violently causing me to pull to the side of the road to survey the situation. I soon realized that I had blown a tire and was unaware and unprepared to resolve the problem on my own. There I sat, on the side of road in complete darkness, vulnerable and susceptible to anyone who would decide to stop and help me. Fortunately, I was fairly close to the next exit, so I made the decision to continue forward, slowly creeping along until I came to a deserted gas station that happened to have a pay phone in the parking lot.

     Needless to say, my hero of a husband came and rescued his damsel in distress, but all the stress, turmoil and fear would have been averted had I just listened to the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking into my life. After a few other similar situations, I soon learned to not only value that voice, but to act upon it quickly and obediently.

     God didn’t place us on the earth to live our lives apart from his help and guidance. He didn’t just plop us down one day and say, “Ok, you’re on your own, figure it out.” Once we accept him as our Lord and Savior, he sends his Holy Spirit to help us. We’re just usually too stubborn and prideful to accept that help. He is constantly speaking to each of us. It’s up to us to slow down, quiet the noise out of our lives and simply listen. Just like in my life example, you will be able to avert a lot of stress, turmoil and fear. Are you listening?

     Take some private, quiet time today and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you. He’s waiting to commune with you, if you will simply listen for his voice. Make this a daily practice and you will soon begin to recognize his voice more quickly and understand his direction for you more clearly. Take advantage of all God has provided for you through his Holy Spirit.

Have a great day!

Pay it forward!

I Corinthians 1:18-19

     I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy human wisdom and discard their most brilliant ideas.”

     God’s plan of salvation, often times, sounds crazy to those who don’t truly understand it or are in a place where they aren’t ready to receive it. A man claiming to be God’s Son, came to earth, died on a cross, came back to life on the third day, ascended to Heaven, and not only must we believe that all that took place, but we must also lay down our own lives and desires so that we can have eternal life with him forever.

     When you put it into words, on paper, it does seem a little crazy. But God’s ways are much higher than our ways and experiencing the wonderment of his salvation puts senseless, meaningless words to rest. No amount of philosophical thinking and logic will ever make sense of God’s plan of salvation. It’s only when we believe by faith and step through the realm of logic that we can understand, accept and experience God’s gift for ourselves.

      That’s why it’s so important to realize that as we share the Good News of salvation with others, we must also wrap those words in prayer as we’re offering them. Simple words will never make sense to those who are lost, unless undergirded in prayer so that God will help them to understand his truth. We, who are saved, have the key to eternal life and everlasting freedom; we have a responsibility to share that truth with others. But it will simply fall on fallow ground unless we first ask God to prepare the fertile ground of another’s heart to be able to receive and understand. Someone prayed for you and I before our salvation, let’s take the time to pass it forward for someone else.

     Have you ever taken the time to simply sit and reflect on the miracle power of God’s salvation? Are you fearful and shy about telling others? Take some time today to pick one person who needs to hear about the Good News. Cover that person in prayer, asking God to make them receptive to his Word. Then ask God to provide the opportunity for you to share the salvation message with them and be bold and courageous enough to follow through.

Have a great day!

Enough already!

I Corinthians 1:10-13

     Now, dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so there won’t be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. For some members of Chloe’s household told me about your arguments, dear brothers and sisters. Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow Christ.” Can Christ be divided into pieces?

     I once attended a church where a staff Pastor left to pursue other ministry opportunities. This caused a huge loss to many who looked to him and his family for spiritual guidance, wisdom and leadership. He provided such a rock-solid foundation, spiritually speaking, so that when he resigned, many were left feeling unstable and unsure of their footing. He was not the lead Pastor, just simply a staff Pastor who many had come to deeply love and admire.   

     I say all that to make the point that in the Christian community and culture, we all tend to favor certain leaders and Pastors over others, and often times find ourselves idolizing certain people, even to the point of causing divisions and dissension within the body of Christ because of our loyalty. If the person we’re idolizing gets hurt or misrepresented in any way, we fight to the death to defend their honor. Loyalty and honor is one thing, but allowing Jesus Christ to be replaced by a human being is detrimental to the church as a whole.

     I’ve watched Christians destroy one another and undermine the body of Christ over another person. Human nature causes us to choose sides in situations of unfairness and disloyalty but we all need to remember that as Christians, we are all on the same side and that’s the side of Jesus Christ and His kingdom. There should be no room for petty arguments or idol worship.

     Satan is desperately trying to divide and conquer and we, too often, allow ourselves to be used as his pawns, all in the name of loyalty. Think very carefully the next time you’re tempted to take sides and fight for the injustice you seem to think has taken place. Instead of fighting in the flesh, remember that the Bible tells us that we are not fighting flesh and blood, but rather spiritual strongholds that the enemy is trying to establish. Go to battle in the spiritual realm through prayer and fasting and allow God to win the victory according to his will. If we would choose to take that route, relationships would be restored and church bodies would be united rather than split down the middle; all because we would choose to keep our eyes on Christ rather than on human beings.

     

     Who have you placed on a pedestal? Is Christ your central focus in the church that you attend or have you allowed it to become a social club and political arena? Take some time today to reevaluate “why” you attend church and “who” you worship while you’re there.

Have a great day!

At the end of your rope?

II Corinthians 12:9

     My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

     The years between 2005 and 2009 were the most difficult years of my life, up to this point, with 2008-2009 ranking as the worst. It was during that last, most difficult year that God became quite silent in my life. As I continued to try to walk by faith and not by sight, I longed to hear the voice of my heavenly Father. I desperately needed to hear words of encouragement and hope, but instead sat in silence day after day, in my prayer closet.

     Embarrassed to admit it now, but I questioned everything from my own salvation to the very existence of God, during that time. God’s silence has a way of revealing the truth in our own heart.

     At about mid-point in that year, I remember begging and pleading with God to say something to my troubled heart; something to calm my fears and restore hope to my hopeless situation. As I sat in desperation, a small, still voice finally spoke through the silence and said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

     I wish I could tell you that my response was a positive one, but I would be lying if I told you that it was. Instead my response was, “That’s it! After all this time of silence, that’s all you have for me?”

     I wanted God to speak words of encouragement and deliverance; words that would promise an immediate answer to my problem. But instead, God’s words seemed to imply that I would have to continue to walk in my difficult circumstances. That was definitely not what I wanted to hear at that time. I felt that I was at the end of my rope, unable to withstand any more hurt, heartache or pain. But God saw things from a different perspective.

     It wasn’t until long after my hopeless situation ended that I realized what the rest of II Corinthians 12:9 had to say; “His power is made perfect in our weakness.”  The words “made perfect”, in the Greek means to be fulfilled, so in other words, “His power is fulfilled in our weakness.”

     For you see, my hopeless situation continued for another 6-8 months after the Lord spoke those words to me, and it wasn’t until I concentrated on the second part of that verse, that I realized why the Lord chose to speak that portion of scripture to me at that specific time in my journey. I was literally at the end of my rope and unable to withstand one more moment, and it was the Lord’s grace (which is also his power) that carried me through to the end. When my weakness forced me to relinquish all control to him, he gladly, picked me up and carried me through. I didn’t see it while I was in the midst of the fiery furnace, but once removed from it; my vision and recognition became clear.

     My strength will never be enough to sustain me; it will always be God’s grace that will see me through. His words to me during that time didn’t seem to be what I needed, but looking back, they were the perfect words at the perfect time.

     I learned a lot about his grace during that time. It proved to be something quite different than what I thought. His grace not only makes salvation available to us, but it’s also the powerful, sustaining force that carries us through this life. The sufficiency of his grace is available to you too!

     Are you at the end of your rope? Consider letting go and falling into the arms of his grace. Ask God to pick you up and carry you through. Your situation may not end immediately but one day you’ll be able to look back and realize that he sustained you through it.

Have a great day!

Calgon, take me away!

Mark 6:30-31

     The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and what they had taught. Then Jesus said, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.”

     Later this afternoon, I will be leaving to attend a Women’s Conference for a few days. The title of this conference is “Save the Hero.” I know that may sound like an odd title, but it refers to the fact that we all need to take a needed rest and sabbatical every now and then in order to preserve, renew and restore ourselves. If not, we’re no good to our family, friends or ministry.

     Even Jesus took intimate, private time alone with his disciples because he not only needed it for himself, but he understood that burn-out could be the outcome of uninterrupted ministry. I also believe he was trying to teach his disciples a valuable lesson; one they could reflect upon and draw from, long after he was gone.

     When you and I are able to steal away from the busyness of life and ministry for a few days, where we can gather together with others of like faith and receive refreshment, renewal, encouragement, prayer, fresh ideas and inspiration from the Word, we come home a new, energized person ready to tackle the world.

     Sometimes, as women, we allow guilt to rob us of investing in ourselves and our ministry. If Jesus himself felt that it was important for his own life, how much more do we need it? Let’s not allow others to dictate what we need and don’t need. We ALL need time away every now and then. Often times, our spiritual life hangs in the balance and we’re too prideful or fearful to expose the truth to others out of fear of judgment. When in reality, if we would just admit that we’re weak and tired and in need of a fresh touch from God, we would end up being used more effectively for the Kingdom of God, rather than burning out and possibly giving up on God all together.

     Today, I admit to you that I’m tired and weak and in need of a fresh touch from God. So, I’ll see you in a few days!

     Are you in need of rest and renewal? Have you ever considered investing in yourself and your ministry? Check out some conference options, whether it has to do with your ministry, marriage, family or just simply for yourself. Understand that God thinks you’re worth it. “Save the Hero!”

Have a great day!