Greater Is He...

Today I was reflecting on the past week of my life. It was a week that could barely be described with words. It was a week ago today that I received a call that one of my best friends had lost his wife....and she was a good friend of mine too. So that phone call came with great shock, and great pain. However, the days to unfold after that would take pain and turn it into praise. Would take heartache and turn it into joy. Would take confusion over a situation and turn it into unexplainable peace...the kind only God can bring!

It's in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 that we find the words "Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all."...and sometimes we can read right over a verse like this and think "yeah, I want that peace. I want God with me". But it is in days like this past week when you see that verse come to life. I saw people who should have been falling apart, living in peace. And I don't just mean peace in a way that they were just not falling apart...I mean peace and JOY. Like praising their way through the pain. Trusting God, building faith...and increasing the faith in those around them. Yes, the hurting were ministering to others. Sounds unheard of doesn't it? That's because in our own strength it is absolutely impossible. Why is that? Because God created us to NEED Him. Some may think that makes a person sound weak....I hope so! I am weak...and just like 2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us, "My(God's) grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness"...realizing we are weak helps us realize how much more we need God. When am I strong, when He is fully alive in me. So when God enters into the scene HE can lift a person up so much that even in the midst of their own pain, they are ministering to others. And I witnessed that by some amazing people this week. I also witnessed the body of Christ come together and ask God to raise their faith to a new level. I saw people healed because we called down the presence of God so strong that the healings were happening without even asking God for it. It was all based on praising Him when then enemy wanted us to be devastated, and trusting Him when the enemy wanted us to doubt. Countless people were showing God that HE is enough! And there is no doubt in my mind that so many lives around us were changed because of this. I think we will be hearing for years of the people who came to know and trust Jesus through this. It was God's miraculous plan in the midst of a situation that seemed so dark. The person that left this earth to be with Jesus could not have been any more of a representation of Jesus to those around her...so why would we even be surprised that God could do so much through her passing. He is God...and He is to be glorified at ALL times, and I guarantee you that is exactly what she would have wanted. So, we honored her, and we glorified Him! 

I want to end with this scripture. We have all heard it throughout our life, but too many times that means it can lose it's meaning. It is the last half of 1 John 4:4 "....He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world". Please, read that 2 or 3 times if you need to, but please allow the Holy Spirit to help that sink in. Greater is HE who is in you, than he who is in the world. He is in you..the God of the heavens is in you...and HE is greater than anything you can possibly come up against in this world. He is not just greater, but He also can help you get through anything you face in this world...IF....you place your love, trust, faith, security, confidence, identity and self worth in Him. When you do that, you also get to place your hurt, disappointment, confusion...and any other emotion the enemy tries to bombard you with, in Him. And when these things take place, you can come through something that the enemy meant to tear you down with...and come out glorifying God in the end! 

God, Your word is full of truth about who You are, and who we are in You. I pray Father that we would allow You to show us those truths in our every day lives, and especially at the times when the enemy wants to destroy us. And I pray that again and again You will be praised and glorified in the midst of a storm by those who love You...so that those who do not know You will see You in those moments. We Love You, we Honor You, and we Trust You. In Jesus name, Amen!

Never Think You Know...

It's been a while since I have written a blog. Not because anything was wrong, but simply because I have been in a constant state of change since around June. God has been moving very powerfully in my life over these past several months. Some of that has been through opening doors, and some of that has been through closing doors. And He has shown me that each, the closed and the opened doors, are a blessing. Just since June I have gone from single, to married. I have gone from living in one state, to moving to another. I have gone from owning a home, to selling a home. From living with my in-laws while trusting God for the next perfect house, to finding that perfect house....and each step of the way I have trusted and thanked God!

I've talked about my trust in God many many times in the blogs that I have written, and I once again can't express enough how important it is to truly trust Him. It is not enough to say you trust Him, you have to live out that trust. And that means that even when you are in a place that doesn't make sense, you don't doubt, you trust. When things are going well, you don't forget that you have to trust. The enemy wants you to forget that when things are good. He wants you to let your guard down and forget that it is because of God that your life is good...do not become self righteous, it is always because of God. And when the enemy does attack, and he will....you look for God's goodness and trust even more. Despair has no place in the heart or mind of a believer. Our hope is in God...not in the world, and not in the things around us...but in God!

So why did I title this "Never Think You know"? Because I believe one of the most dangerous things we can do as a follower of Christ is think we know what God is up to. Yes, we may think we know the direction He is taking us, but don't think you know so much that you get ahead of Him. There are 2 scriptures that God pointed out to me as He was pouring these words into me. One was Isaiah 55:8, and the other was Jeremiah 29:11. Isaiah 55:8 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord."...and Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Please note that both of these scriptures are words declared by the Lord! I know these are probably scriptures you have heard or read dozens of times, but this is what God was saying to me through these...He said,"You are not Me(God), so trust me, don't question me. Let me lead you, don't run ahead. Don't try to outthink me, because you don't see all I see. And don't think for one moment that I don't have you...because I do. I have plans, I have a purpose, I have safety, I am your hope, I have love for you, I have forgiveness, I have grace and I have mercy....Do not forget all of the things that I have for you!" 

Never think you know all there is to know about God. He is not a God you can wrap your mind around. If He were that simple, we would have outgrown Him a long time ago. And for some, that is the lie that satan has gotten them to believe. Pride, arrogance and ignorance are things the enemy will put in us to move us away from God, but we have to see with our spiritual eyes, and we have to hear with our spiritual ears what the enemy is up to. If you don't think that is possible, then I would challenge you to go deeper with the Holy Spirit, and allow Him to really lead you. God's plans are always at work. It is the enemy who can never figure out what God is up to, not God who can't figure out the enemy. Never forget that. 

I would not be where I am today...not spiritually, and not physically...if it were not for me surrendering my whole self to God, and asking Him to lead me...and then actually following Him with my full trust. If this isn't a place you live at with God, then please believe me when I tell you that you are missing out. God has more in store for you than you can possibly imagine....so never think you know! He is always up to more than you know. And if you want to see what all He can do in your life, then ask Him what your first step is, and then take it. Do not let fear be a factor, and do not let doubt have a place. There really is life and death in the words you speak out over your situation, yourself, and your faith. So speak life giving words, trust like your life depends on it (because it really does), and then brag on Him to everyone you can. Because the entire point of anything He does in our life is to bring glory to His name, and build up His kingdom.

It is my prayer that God gave me these words for someone tonight. I pray that you will step out, go deeper, trust more, allow Him to lead you...and most of all, find out what all He really has in store for you!

God, thank You that we really are who You say we are. And right now I rebuke anything the enemy has tried to put on us to make us think otherwise. I speak out to each person who reads this in the name of Jesus and declare an end of knowledge and a beginning of faith. Take us to a place we can't even imagine as we surrender our whole selves to You. And use our lives God to point others to You. In Jesus name, Amen!

Trust In Him...

"Trust in God",
Words often used,
But are they actions,
That you choose?

Trust in Him
And His ways,
Every moment
Of every day.

Trust in Him
Despite what you see,
Knowing He
Holds all the keys.

Trust in Him
That the sun will rise,
And just as surely
He's by your side.

Trust in Him
That His Word is true,
And He's watching over
All you do.

Trust in Him
To guide your ways,
And find His purpose
With each new day.

Trust in Him
Heart, mind and soul,
Hold nothing back,
Let your faith grow.

Trust in Him
And you will see,
The more you do,
The more you're free.

So invest your trust,
In the One above,
For His plans for you
Are wrapped in love.

And allow the world
To watch and see,
As your trust in Him
Changes everything!

The Power Of A Great Example

This morning God was pressing on my heart the word "example". I think partly it was because of some kids we came in contact with yesterday while doing some urban mountain bike riding around our city. We found some spots to ride that we hadn't been before, and one of those happened to be a very low income apartment complex. As we rode, small kids started to gather around and a handful went and got their own bikes. And when I say small kids, I mean probably between the ages of 5 and 9. No parents around at all, just these little kids all running around on their own. They seemed very intrigued by the things we were doing on our bikes and at first it just seemed like just fun. But then after just a few minutes I began to hear the language these kids were using. And I must say it was quite shocking to hear kids so young cussing so bad. It was clear that this was a learned way of life for them and they were simply mimicking the words (and actions) they had heard all of their lives so far. One little guy really talking to us a lot about our bikes and was asking questions, so I had the chance to say to him, "you know, we don't cuss". The look on his face was like he had never heard someone say this in his life, and that made sense, because he probably hadn't. And the only thing he could think to say back to me was, "really, cause I do". That boy was no older than 6 years old...
The reason I felt like God is pressing the word example on my heart so much is because whether we realize it or not, we are an example to someone in our life. Someone is always looking up to you, or at you, to see how you respond to situations, act in certain situations, the things you like or dislike, the things you hold value to....and most importantly, how genuine are you? In 1 Timothy 4:12 Timothy says these words, "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity". It's a teaching that goes out to us all. If you're young then it let's you know you CAN still make a difference, but I think it really goes out to us all. "Set an example" it says..."in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity". As I read that verse again and again I couldn't think of any areas of life it didn't hit on with just those few words. Do I hope we left an impact on those kids yesterday, absolutely. I hope they remember some guys came in and did some neat stuff on bikes, but most of all I hope they remember that we didn't act or talk like the people I see on a daily basis, that we were different.
I plan on going back to that place again, and this time I plan on telling them why we don't cuss. I want them to know that Jesus was different than the rest of the world too, and they don't have to be like everyone else they hear and see. I want them to know how much he loves them and me...and that's why I live differently, and they can too. That living in a way that pleases God is just one way of showing Him love back.  It doesn't hurt to explain to people why you make the choices you do, but most of all....be an example that reflects Christ!
God, thank You for the opportunities You give us to be an example for You. Please help us remember that the lives we live reflect You....or they should. Help us to always be pointing people to You, not away from You. We should do this in our speech, our conduct, our love, our faith and our purity. Help those who have not seen the importance in this realize it today. And help them to be an example to a world who needs what we have....You! In Jesus name, Amen

Avoiding Sin...

Have you ever looked out over a lake that didn't have one wave yet, or at least seen pictures like this. The water looks like glass, and it just seems so peaceful. The idea of there being any danger associated with that water probably doesn't even cross your mind. Now compare that to the thought of a rushing river. One where the water has the appearance of being white because the current is so strong and it is moving down stream so fast. The idea of even putting one foot in this water could seem scary. You know just by looking at it that you could be swept away and drown. But the reality is, you can drown in both of these bodies of water, one just has the appearance of being safe.
This is very much how the enemy comes at us with sin. There are certain sins that have danger written all over them, and so it is quite obvious to stay clear of them. However, what about the ones that don't? Isn't that the ones that satan gets us to be the most attracted to? For example, "the little white lie"told to "protect", or the "compliment" to that man or woman, even though your married. Or how about this one, when satan lies and tells you the "thing" you want to do doesn't have an impact on anyone but you, so just do it. Satan can disguise sins to seem harmless, but they never really are. It's his goal to make them look attractive enough to distract you in that moment and at least get you to consider it. He knows if he can get you to this place long enough, then eventually you will do it. Now go back to the 2 different kinds of water I mentioned earlier....do you know the best way to make sure you never drown in either? You just don't go near that water! That's right, you can't drown in water you never got in to begin with. And sin is the same way. You will never find someone who got in over their head by walking away from the temptation, or telling the truth instead of flirting with the lie. The best way to avoid getting in trouble with sin is to avoid the sin all together.
I'm writing this today because I just felt God was speaking to me about how too many times we (Christians) are ok with sin when it doesn't "look bad" on the outside. But I want you to know that those are the sins that satan uses to desensitize you. He wants you to become too confident that you have power over this sin, it doesn't have power over you. He wants you to continue down that "harmless" path. Let me give you an example.....Let's say a new person starts in the office. You immediately recognize they are attractive, but think nothing of it. Then a "hi" gets said in passing, then a compliment is passed back and forth, and before you know it your talking on a pretty regular basis, but you'eve never mentioned this to your spouse. Now you find out there is a company event coming up and spouses are invited. The fear that goes over you is "what if that person comes up and talks to me in front of my spouse? How will I explain this?" And it's all because you started by putting one foot in the water, when really you should have kept your distance. I know that example may be a bit extreme to some, but I hope the point came across. The enemy will make something look so innocent, and then he will turn the tables on you. He doesn't care about you, so he wants to see you go down. And he knows if he just leads you down the path with temptation, and you follow, then eventually he will get you to fall. But not if you avoid it all together!
It doesn't matter what the sin is, what matters is why are you entertaining it? If it isn't drawing you closer to God, then there is a good chance it's getting in the way of God. And that's a problem! We, as Christians, need to look at what we have become ok with. Whether you think so or not, the rest of the world is looking at what we think is ok, and when we accept it, what are we saying to them? Ask God to help you take a look at the things you are entertaining, the way you talk, the things you are ok with in this world...and then let Him show you the places where you simply got to close to the water, orthe time you jumped right in. Don't wait until your drowning to realize there's a problem.
God, thank You for the Holy Spirit. Your Word says You sent Him as a helper, so it's my prayer today that we would let His voice be louder than satan's in our lives. Give us spiritual eyes to see the danger of things BEFORE we let them have a place in our life. And give us the strength to walk away from sin, not because one looks worse than another, but simply because none of it is pleasing to You. And remind us that when we claim Your name, we are saying to a lost world "I stand for what God stands for"....and let us KNOW the seriousness of that. In Jesus name, Amen

You Are Gifted And Talented...

Have you ever looked at someone who was extremely gifted and talented, but did not live their life for God, and wonder why they were so blessed with this talent? I don't mean that you look at them with envy or jealousy, but more like you look at them and ask yourself why God would make someone so talented if He knew they were never going to give Him the glory?
I love to mountain bike. It is the one thing my son and I love to do together. And with time we have become better at what we can do and what we are willing to try. However, I have a young friend who is good...I mean like extremely good. He actually travels and competes, and wins a lot. He has been good on anything that had wheels since he was a little kid. It's just a talent he has. The other day I was speaking to him about how his racing season has been going and as we spoke I found my myself saying to God (like God didn't already know this...), "wow, if this kid was sold out for you he could be making such an impact in the kingdom by giving you all the glory for his talent". As my day went by I came back to that thought again and again. I wasn't really questioning God as to why this kid was so talented, but I was wondering why people get blessed with a talent if they will never give God the glory for it. And later that night I felt that God had answered that question for me. I was alone when I felt like God said "let me tell you something...", and so I just sat and listened. And this is what I felt God said to me. "When people are born I bless them with a gift or a talent. I do not wait until they find more or give their life over to me, I bless them before they have even taken their first breath. It is who I have made them to be. Some discover it, and some never do. I don't take the talent away if they never give me the glory, but it does break my heart. From birth they have a choice, to either honor me with the talent and see how much more I can bless it, or use the talent just as I have given it to them and receive all the glory themselves. I do it out of love! It is my hope that they will see me in their gifts and talents....but not everyone does. But I give anyway." As I thought about this I literally pondered what I had heard from God for days. It just wowed me to think we serve a God who gives so much, even if we never give back. But then it also broke my heart for all of the talent floating around out there in this world that He has never received the glory for. And I don't mean the 5 seconds after a win when someone says "oh yeah, I want to thank God...". Even though that is always great to hear, I love it when I see a life that is being lived for Him, not just some words in a speech. And I strongly believe He loves it too!
All that we are and all that is in us is because God has blessed us with gifts and talents. We have 2 jobs, one is to tap into them and discover them, and the other is to honor Him with them and make sure He gets the glory. In Jeremiah 1:5 God spoke, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations". This verse doesn't just go to Jeremiah, it goes to us all. God knew us and set us apart before we were even born. What we do with the things He has put in us to set us apart can either bring Him glory, or just bring us attention. He is a good God, and even if it is hard for us to understand, He does not take away a gift because it was used to serve self or the world. Romans 11:29 says "for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable", and even though that doesn't fit into our minds sometimes, it is not for us to understand. We will stand before Him and give an account for what we did with what we had (Romans 11:12 and 2 Corinthians 5:10). So think about your gifts...think about how you use them, and who is getting ALL of the glory for them. And then take the time to thank God for trusting you with such gifts and talents even before you showed Him how you would use them. He gave because He loves you...
God, thank You for so many gifted and talented people in this world. It is my prayer today that not only would I discover all that You have put in me and glorify you with it, but also that others would discover just where their talents have come from. How different would this world be if we each glorified You with what we have been given. Holy Spirit help us ALL see God in our gifts and talents and make sure honor is given where it is due. In Jesus name, Amen

Offering Hope...Offering Jesus

With the power of Jesus we can overcome so many things in life. And for some of us there are some things in our life that used to hold us a slave to them. What is it that you have been set free from? How often do you remember that, and thank God for it? How often do you ask God to use you to help set someone else get free?
A lot of times I write about what God can do for you, ways He can change you. But today I would like to take a little different perspective. Today I would like to ask you to think about what it is that He has done for you. I'm not trying to get anyone to think of a very ugly or painful past, please understand that's not my point. But I do feel it's very important to remember where we came from. It strengthens our faith to remind ourselves how faithful God has already been to us. And it can also help keep us humble, because we have to remember where we could still be if it wasn't for God's grace and mercy. The other reason why our past plays such an important role in our relationship with God is because He may want to use it. As I've stated before, I don't think it is wise to think we can go back into something right after God has rescued us from it and try to pull others out of the same mess. There needs to be time for healing and for God to give you strength to fulling overcome that thing. Remember, there was a time when you were once held captive by it. But once we have been restored and we know God has broken those chains, we need to begin to ask the question "how can you use my past to help others". Our story never needs to stop by saying "we were healed" or "we were set free". Instead, this need to be the end of one thing and the beginning of another.
I woke up today with the lyrics "I'm no longer a slave to fear. I am a child of God" running through my head. And it made me think back to the days when I was a slave to fear. I was a slave to fear and sin and doubt and so much more. But today I hear God saying the words "no longer". And because I am "no longer", I have the ability to help others be "no longer". I have something to offer them because of my experiences...and it's called hope. And that hope can only be found in Jesus. If you are no longer a slave to something, then you also have a calling on you. Jesus came to set the captives free (Luke 4:18), and today He uses people like you and me to do that. Yes, His Spirit still moves and does what only it can do, but we are the hands and feet of Jesus. So who better to use to help those that are in deep over their head in sin then a bunch of people who were once in deep over their heads too.
There is a saying to reads "experience trumps knowledge" and it some areas this is so true. You can read how to do something, or you can know how to do it because you've had to do it. For example, you can learn how to survive in the woods if you ever got lost by reading about it, or you can know how to survive because you once had to. What is your testimony? What are the words you can share that will help someone because you've been there? Who would God have you reach out to? These are all questions that I encourage you to pray about. You may be on the best walk with God now, but it doesn't mean it's always been that way. And He has someone out there that only you can relate to. Help them no longer be a slave to whatever has it's grips on them....
God, thank You for rescuing us from the endless list of things that You have, but don't let our stories end there. Help us to be Your hands and feet. Put a burning desire in us to not just be satisfied by our own redemption story, but put a passion in us to help other create their own redemption story. Help us to love those who are still entrapped by sin, and find a way, through Your love, to reach out to them. Holy Spirit, guide our steps, our words and our actions, and protect us as we reach back into what was once our mess to help a brother or sister in need. In Jesus name, Amen