Blog Archives

When you can't see your way

3/17/2017

Driving to a conference that I was to speak at approximately five hours away seemed as though it was going to be a clear easy drive.The only foreseeable problem was going to be traveling through the mountain. We left early as we had received news that it may get bad. The further we climbed the worst it got. Till finally we could no longer see the road.

When this happens to me I always choose to travel along the rumble strip. When it happens to the person that was driving they choose to take their chances straight down the middle. They were driving. It was their car so down the center we went, blindly we made our way up the mountain. The tunnels I usually dreaded were a welcoming sight because for at least a few moments we could see. Then coming out the other end it was a white out yet again. We would change our speed from 70 MPH to almost a stop. Then, for a portion of the trip we drove around 40 mph.

I prayed over the trip and many times during the blinding moments I commanded angels to be released around us and for God to keep us safe, which I am sure He did. The further we drove the more snow there was along the highways but the more clear the roads became.

The thing the Lord spoke to me about is that neither the middle of the road or the rumble strip is a safe place to be. When we can't see Him we must trust Him. He only desires to preserve and protect us. Clearly in His word He speaks of picking a side and staying on the path. We desired to follow someone but there was no one to follow. In fact many chose to follow us.

So what about the times when you can't trace Him? Trust Him. He promises never to leave you or forsake you. He wants to be our ever help in trouble.

As long as we were on the rumble strip we knew we were on the road but could have easily came upon and hit something or worst yet been thrown around a bit. We each drive totally different cars. I drive a luxury sedan and my assistant drives an SUV that is both 4 wheel drive and all wheel drive. Point is, it matters what your in when traveling down life's highway as to how you will make decisions.Big church, little church, no church, relationship with God or no relationship with God, as to how well you fair when you can't see where you are going.

Bottom line is when you can't see Him you must trust Him. Listen for His voice. He will get you safely to your destination. There may not always be a clear path but pulling off the road of life and just sitting with your flashers on won't get you to where God wants you to be.

Drive on! Have faith. Keep your hands on the wheel but your life in His hands.

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Quit listening to yourself and start talking to your self?

3/16/2017

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I catch myself listening to myself saying things I'd never say to anyone else. Things like, "You're feeling really nervous.", "Your hands are getting really sweaty.", "What if they don't like you?" and "You're fat." Are you serious? Yes! I'm serious! Then I realized, I mean I had an epiphany that I needed to start talking to myself rather than listening to myself. God spoke to the darkness and said light be not, "Ugh! not ah man it is so dark. I hate dark. What if it get's darker?" "Dark makes me sad."

So I decided I'm going to start doing what God did. I am going to start saying how I want to feel not how I feel already cause that can feel pretty bad. I started telling myself, "I got this!" Then, I got a better thought and said, "God has soooooo got this!". I am feeling stronger and more relaxed and having more fun. The benefit is now I am actually helping others do the same thing. Come on! You can't preach what you don't own. I'm ready for the day! Bring it on! Me and God--me and this new voice inside me are carrying on this conversation and we really don't care whether the devil or anyone else for that matter likes it as long as God and I are good with it. Oh and by the way, He likes it! And He loves me. And HE loves you!

Colossians 3:12 "2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things"

Phillipians 4:8 "8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Psalm 1:2 "2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night."

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Some days

3/15/2017

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It's not like it's everyday but some days are just plain hard. You get up early and you don't stop and when the end of the day comes you still have so much to do you feel drained for tomorrow and it hasn't even come yet. Oh, I know there are those of you that haven't a clue what I am saying because you've never said, "no" to yourself and totally sold out to God...yet. God is a big God. He has big plans for His children. Those plans require us to be stretched to the limit-- so we can be stretched some more.

Psalm 105:19 (KJV) "Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him."

I am in a season where it seems there is not time for anything recreational or relaxing. I feel like it is spring and I am having to till the ground, throw out the rocks, fertilize the ground, put in the seed and am looking forward to the resting and waiting for the harvest. God is faithful and I know my season will change. The word of the Lord is trying me, but my time is coming. God will not fail me. There is a Harvest with my name on it.

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More people want to make a comment than a difference.

3/14/2017

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Comments are easily made and often regretted. Differences are hard to make and usually require greater effort than comments. God made us all different so we could make a difference not complain about the differences.

Rick Warren said this, "You weren't created just to consume resources - to eat, breathe, and take up space. God designed you to make a difference with your life. This is one of God's purposes for your life, and it's called your "ministry" - or service.
The Bible says, "God has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10b, TEV). These "good deeds" are your service to the world. Whenever you serve others in any way, you are actually serving God and fulfilling one of your purposes. You were placed on this planet for a special assignment. Serving is the opposite of our natural inclination. Most of the time we're more interested in "serve us" than service. We say, "I'm looking for a church that meets my needs and blesses me," not "I'm looking for a place to serve and be a blessing." We expect others to serve us, not vice versa.
But as we mature in Christ, the focus of our lives should increasingly shift to living a life of service. The mature follower of Jesus stops asking, "Who's going to meet my needs?" and starts asking, "Whose needs can I meet?"

Today when you start to make a comment ask yourself if it is going to make a positive difference in the life of another and if not don't comment. We will answer for every idle word we speak. Speak words that take you and other places not cause you to sit and idle.

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Granted or Gratitude

3/13/2017

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The definition for granted according to Merriam Webster is grant, concede, vouchsafe, accord, award means to give as a favor or a right. Grant implies giving to a claimant or petitioner something that could be withheld (granted them a new hearing). Concede implies yielding something reluctantly in response to a rightful or compelling claim (even her critics concede she can be charming). Vouchsafe implies granting something as a courtesy or an act of gracious condescension (vouchsafed the secret to only a few chosen disciples). Accord implies giving to another what is due or proper (accorded all the honors befitting a head of state). Award implies giving what is deserved or merited usually after a careful weighing of pertinent factors (awarded the company a huge defense contract).

The bottom line is do we take people for granted or are we grateful? We take our car for granted rather than being grateful we have a car, until it breaks down. We take our spouses for granted, that the food will be on the table, the laundry will just grow out of our drawers. That they will always answer the phone. We even take our bodies for granted until they get sick.

Colossians 3:17 (NIV) "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Today be grateful for those in your life and for the things God has done for us. Repost, comment, and share with others you are grateful for.

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When you love deeply it's sometimes hard to breathe.

3/10/2017

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Do you ever remember holding your breathe when something happened to a loved one? A near accident, a blood curling scream, a moment when you can't find the one you loved and all you did was turn your back for a moment?

People are our greatest assert. Money can't buy relationships. If you have great people in your life you can make money but you can also enjoy life and the journey of every endeavor you attempt. Since you are not performing or competing you can be your best. No stress.

If you find yourself holding your breath, ask yourself why? Then when you get the answer do something about it.

Acts 17:25 (KJV) "Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;"

Job 33:4 (KJV) ""The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life."

Come on breath! It is part of life. God gave us the breath in our lungs and He will ask us what we are doing with our breath.

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Presence and Promises

3/9/2017

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God's presence is guaranteed but his promises are optional.

Joshua 1:7-9 (KJV) 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

It is one of the busiest seasons of my life. It appears that there are not enough hours in a day. My teachers heart wants to study and know the Word more. Yet, my pastors heart wants to have more time with the sheep that God has entrusted to me. My little grand sons are growing so fast and I miss each moment they say or do something they've never said or done before. Of course I've not only been to seems like a billion Marriage Seminars over 40 years of marriage but even taught probably by now at least 50. I know we need more date nights and get-a-ways.....by the way what are those? (just kidding)

My flowers are coming up and the weeds need pulled. My guitar calls me, "what about me?". My hearts pen is one of a ready writer but I still haven't finished my Christmas "Thank you's" and haven't even begun my Birthday "Thank you's".

So I feel at times failure creeping in. The voice of the enemy of my soul telling me, "You can't do this!", "Your not good enough!" "It's too hard, just quit."

Awe but then I hear my Lord and Savior tell me, "Do not fear for I am with you..."

Today choose to follow the voice of the one who gave His life for you. Who else would do that? So care more about what He says than about what others or the enemy of your soul says. God's promises are true! Choose to believe Him! Everything else will come into place.

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When we are weak He is strong.

3/8/2017

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2 Corinthians 12:9-11(KJV)9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

Some days I seem to be at the end of myself. I feel as though I am empty and have nothing to give. Yet when someone makes a demand on the gift, He is there. He answers them through me. He heals them through me. It is no longer I that lives, but He that lives through me. The gifts are not for us they are for others.

If you have never depended on God for your needs and especially for the needs of other then you have never known Him in this area. God is waiting for you to just obey whatever He asked you to do. A heart meant "Yes", is all God needs to get His will done and many times that "will" will be done through you to those you love and maybe even those you have never met before.

Want to live a life of excitement? Yesterday He gave me a perfect parking place in the pouring down rain. Then when I was leaving the parking lot as the rain was pelleting down I saw a young woman carrying groceries and being drenched. I offered her a brand new (www.remarkablewoman.org) umbrella. It was a perfect moment where God allowed me to intervene and help another human being. At first she was apprehensive but then a guy in another car yelled, "Hey take the umbrella I will stop." He stopped traffic with his car for only a minute for her to grab the umbrella and go. The smile on her face was full of gratefulness.

God, I was so thankful I got to be a part of Your grand plan in such a small way.

Look for ways to help others everyday. Make the world a better place by being a better you and allowing Christ to work through you.

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I want it all!

3/7/2017

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Watching my youngest grandson today taught me a lot about our fallen Adamic nature. Don't get me wrong he is innocent and adorable. A very pleasant child. However he wanted his cake and to eat it too, as the saying goes. He wanted to drink his bottle, hold his ball, have me cuddle him, watch everything that was going on and cover his face with his blanket so he could go to sleep. If he dropped his ball he became frustrated. If I moved he became frustrated. Having it all was not possible even if Nonna was trying her best.

God desires to meet our needs and the desires of our hearts, but sometimes we must let go of what is in our hands in order to receive what is in His. Just like a good Nonna (Italian for grandmother) wants the best for her grandchildren, God wants even more than we can imagine.

Think about this today and realize God is not trying to keep something from you. He is trying to get everything you need and desire to you.

God is a God of hope. Never quit believing God wants what is best for you.

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Don't loose your confidence in Christ

3/6/2017

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I feed myself everyday. If you have been to any of my conferences or seminars you know how important I think it is to read your word daily and then add a video or a CD or whatever you can find that has the spiritual nutrients in it that you need to live. Today's came from https://stevenfurtick.com/ Enjoy! He is amazing.

Confidence in Christ comes from 3 things according to Steven Furtick's You Tube video I have posted here. They all begin with "C" so enjoy this video today and I will be taking a day off to fill myself with God and pray for you. Here is his link for more spiritual food when you need some confidence in Christ and can't be in a community. You need people in your life so you don't loose your confidence in Christ. https://stevenfurtick.com/