Through the Rapids

A number of years ago Bobby and I were pastoring a church in Maryland and God called me to youth ministry. God certainly has a sense of humor doesn’t he? Anyway, we took the youth group White Water Rafting one Saturday and what an experience that was for all of us! As we navigated down the river our guides instructed us how to paddle the boat, especially when we encountered rapids. My hubby actually fell out of the boat at one point and was clinging to the side by a rope until we managed to pull him to safety. The river’s current grew fast and rough and we were challenged with some major rapids! The youth had an awesome time but I am not sure I will ever attempt that journey again……….. lol.

I often think about that journey as we work diligently each week trying to keep some balance to our busy and over-scheduled lives. Many days I feel as though I am paddling as fast as I can to navigate down the river through those raging rapids.

Philippians 4:13 says, I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Can we really do everything? We paddle vigorously some days but are we truly getting anywhere?

The power we receive in union with Christ is sufficient to do his will and to face the challenges that arise from our commitment to doing it. As we contend for the faith we will face huge rapids in the river like troubles, stress, and trials. Pray and ask God daily to strengthen your paddles so that it will be easier to navigate those horrid rapids.

We serve an awesome and powerful God. And for whatever reason, we often try to fix the problem on our own before using our paddles of prayer, seeking God’s face and asking him to help us. As we paddle through life this week we need to  remember who our source is. Allow him to take charge of the paddles and make the challenges you face much easier as you navigate those challenging rapids.

May God saturate your life this week with blessings and love.

Positive Impact

Do you desire to impact lives like Jesus did? Maybe you just walked through the driest desert in your life recently and you really are not interested in impacting lives but it happens when we least expect it!!! The enemy is slick and if he can do anything to manipulate our lives so that we demonstrate frustration, anger, bitterness and worry to those around us, he thinks he has won. But we have news for him don’t we friends? He hasn't won and he won’t win because we serve a Jesus who is all powerful and much bigger than anything the enemy can throw in our path!!!

Influence is a personal indirect power over people, events, or things, not through the exercise of physical force or formal authority, but by force of character or wisdom. Jesus modeled how to be in influential leader who by force of character, wisdom, and example influenced others’ thinking and choices. He practiced life habits that help me live an authentic Christian life so that I can impact the lives of others as he did. Six Essentials of Spiritual Authenticity by Carol Kent & Karen Lee-Thorp

Influence is powerful and this week we are going to influence everyone in our paths in a negative or positive way. Our body language, our speech, our facial expressions…. We are impacting lives daily whether we realize it or not.  Even on those bad hair days.......  we are an influence. lol

Life can be challenging BUT the enemy is a wimp no matter what! Even in the darkest trial there is always something positive about what we are walking through. Sometimes we need to dig deep to find it but it is always there.

May God bless you abundantly in your own life, your family and ministry. May the presence of God be mighty and powerful in your life today!

Many blessings!

Busyness - Danger Ahead

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.  John 10:4

When Jesus said “his sheep follow him because they know his voice,“ it shows the intimate relationship between us and our Shepherd.  We need to know God so well that in the busyness of our lives we are never fooled by impostors.  We hear many voices that may sound right but sometimes are not the ones we are meant to follow.  We can by misguided be these voices that sound so similar to God’s.

As a woman in ministry I hear voices call me to compassionate and caring actions.  Who is it that tells me to start a new program at church, send a card to a dear lady in the church, accept a speaking opportunity, mentor a young struggling woman?  How do I decide which actions to take, given the limitations on my time and busyness of my life?  Distinguishing God’s voice above all others is crucial. The Bible is God’s Word to me.  The distinctive sound of God’s voice resonates in my heart through His Word.  I need time alone with God to confidently choose my actions.  I need to listen to the unique sound of my Shepherd’s voice in order to make the right choices for my life. The closer I walk with the Shepherd, the more familiar God’s voice will become to me.

Friends, busyness can be a powerful tool in the hands of the enemy if we neglect to manage it properly.  In the midst of all you are doing this week, make sure there is time set aside for building your relationship with Christ.

Have an awesome week filled to overflowing with God’s amazing blessings!

God is My Provider, Protector and Everything Else......

I am thankful today for God's provision, protection and for always being there when life simply does not make sense. 


I will call upon the Lord, Who is to be praised; so I shall be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:3

When I read this verse I don't necessarily think of my enemies in relation to people. I think of my enemies in the form of fear, doubt, discouragement, depression and lack of self worth or confidence. We tend to make the Bible complicated and that is not what God intended. God is our Rock and our Strength. God is our Refuge. God is our Deliverer. God is all things to everyone. As a Christian we have to tap into His resources in order to receive what God has for us. It is so easy but we tend to make it extremely difficult.

I am thankful today that I serve a simple God. Life can become complicated when we are trying to be patient waiting for direction from the Lord. Sometimes we feel lost in the forest and cannot see the forest for all the trees! But even in the midst of all the turmoil and confusion, God is there and He knows what tomorrow holds. He knows why we don't have the answer today for our future. And He knows why He is taking us on the scenic route to fulfill His will for our lives. Just plug in to your resources. God is awesome and He invites you to experience Him in your own life in an awesome way!

Blessings!

Trust in HIM

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37 (NIV)

When facing trials and the fiery darts of Satan we often tend to think that we are the only people who are dealing with such challenges. All of us face discouragement and the enemies of darkness each week. Some trials are stronger than others but we are each treading storms of some magnitude in our lives.

Facing trials encourages us as Christians to exercise our faith. We should not pray away those trials. We need to ask God to manifest His power and love in us so we can respond with Christlike character when the enemy is pounding on our doors. Remember - people can only intimidate us if we allow them to use that tool. God is bigger than anything this world and the demons of hell can offer.

No matter how much discouragement you and I have been dealing with over the past several weeks or months, our God is well aware of the circumstances. It may not be today or tomorrow but in HIS timing the Lord will resolve the issues that we are struggling with in a beautiful way. If we trust God and completely hand it over to Him the enemy will be defeated. During these trials God is building our character and integrity. He is solidifying our foundation. The Lord is making us stronger for the bigger storms that are brewing in the seas of life. He continues to groom you and I for the work He has for our lives.

The Message says it all: With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture. Romans 8:37

PRAISE GOD, HALLELUJAH AND AMEN!

God is our hope and our strength today, tomorrow and forever. He is our safety, our comfort and our encouragement. He loves His children and He always protects us. If we dread life and fear people how can we possibly say we are trusting God with our lives? If God is for us, who can possibly be against us?

Blessings and joy!

Who is Your Coach?

Confidence is generally described as a state of being certain, either that a hypothesis or prediction is correct, or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective given the circumstances. Confidence can be described as a subjective, emotional state of mind, but is also represented statistically as a confidence level within which one may be certain that a hypothesis will either be rejected or deemed plausible. Self-confidence is having confidence in oneself when considering a capability. Overconfidence is having unmerited confidence--believing something or someone is capable when they are not.


I am presently enrolled in classes to become a professional Christian Life Coach and my goal is to complete the course by year end.  There is a wealth of material available regarding personal inner power and self confidence. I received an article recently via email that was very disturbing. It was published by a Master Certified Coach and she teaches that self confidence is all about personal power and an inner awareness. An internal state of being if you will. A power that makes us feel in control of our lives. An inner knowing that we are capable of achieving goals and our ability to attain what we want in life. I beg to differ with her philosophy.

As Christians, it isn't about us. Any talent or ability that we posses has been given to us from God. It has nothing to do with us. Our confidence and strength comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who encourages us to keep fighting the good fight. He encourages us to keep our eyes fixed on Him and to achieve the goal He has set before us.

Self-Confidence is a misplaced reliance and it is offensive before the sight of God. We sin against God when we think we can be self-sufficient and the masters of our fate. How many times do we shake our fist in God's face and tell Him we know much better than He does when we defy the Word because it simply does not fit our lifestyle? God instructs us to study His Word daily so that we can reject the temptations of the enemy. But we think that we have it all together and we choose to trust in OURSELVES and OUR abilities instead of God.

Whenever we turn our hearts from God, we are telling Him that we do not want to be connected to His life coaching class. We would rather coach ourselves and rely totally on our own abilities. But in the end all we will have conquered is to commit spiritual suicide. Our life coaching efforts will go right down the drain!

Our source of life is God. God says that anyone who turns away from Him to trust in his own sinful flesh for strength will, "be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt where no one lives" (Jeremiah 17:6).

God tells us of consequences that will occur in this life and the next if we turn our hearts away from him and trust in ourselves. Isolation, deprivation and condemnation are the best we can expect if we choose that path. Bushes in the desert are small and their growth stunted because they are cut off from the rains that give life. Without God and His Word, which is the living water, we also will become like the dry lifeless bush living in a parched wasteland.

Jeremiah writes, "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8). God is the exact opposite of a barren wasteland. He gives confidence to His children. God always provided, always delivered, and always responded to the cries of His people for help.

Our trust and confidence is often misplaced, often disappointed. Our ideals lie shattered, our goals unattained, our ambitions unfulfilled. In the end, we find that self-reliance and inner power is able to produce nothing but depression and despair.

Jeremiah reminds us to place our trust and confidence in God. God has given us His Word so that we can sink our roots firmly into His promises. God confidence instills self-confidence. There is no inner personal power. Personal power CANNOT move mountains and personal power does not solve problems. Jesus Christ moves mountains. He provides Godly wisdom and coaches us when making life decisions. I rejoice today knowing that my confidence comes from God. He has blessed me with many talents and abilities but I realize that I am nothing without Him.

Thank you Lord for being our source, our strength, our rock and our encourager.

Blessings!

No Imitation Jesus Fix ..................

 Like many of you, I love coffee!  I guess you can say I am definitely "hooked". I have a routine each morning and the second task on my list after taking Jericho and Jochebed (my awesome little people with fur)  to the potty is brewing a fresh pot of coffee. I am definitely a caffeine freak! Each sip satisfies that craving I long for............  Any coffee fanatics out there?

Do you truly crave God's Word each day? What if you don't have time to read your devotion or pray? Do you receive a "gut check" or is it acceptable to skip God for several days? Are you seriously "hooked on Jesus" or is it merely something you do because you are feelin' a little guilty? Does God's Word truly enrich your life or do you see it as something else you have to cram into an already overwhelmed schedule?

Our lives are busy and if you are like me, I don't have to look for things to fill the time in my day!  Sometimes I absolutely crave a little "white space" in my life. It is a rare moment to simply curl up in a comfy chair with a good book and enjoy the evening. There seems to always be something that needs to be done. Just like you, the demands in my life never seem to cease.

Although life is arduous, I don't ever want to place God on a shelf and ignore all that He has has already done for me and wants to fulfill in my life. I am so thankful for His forgiveness, love, mercy and grace. I want to "crave" Him with all that I am. I want to be so "hooked" on God that I cannot tolerate one day without reading and meditating on His Word and praying.  I don't want to accept any substitute for my Lord.

I cannot tolerate instant coffee! It lacks everything that fresh brewed coffee offers. And I refuse to settle for substitutes regarding my walk with Christ. I don't want an "Instant Imitation Jesus Fix".  I want the real deal.  A genuine solid rock relationship with my Heavenly Father.   I want everything He has available for my life and ministry.  How about you friend?  We need to walk close to God...........

Blessings!

Creating a Mindset for Success

Another busy week in the story of life............

Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

I read a story about a very gifted singer who was facing a big audition. Alone in a hotel room far from home, she was anxious about the opportunity, but was also afraid of failing. If I fail at this audition I'll probably never get another opportunity, she told herself.

How many times have we felt that way about things taking place in our lives? I have found myself occasionally  in a pit of discouragement over things I am dealing with in my life and ministry. We need to remind ourselves daily that we are only capable of seeing the opportunity in front of us at the moment  but the awesome God we serve who loves us, sees the whole picture. We sometimes forget that God is bigger than whatever it is we are dealing with. I think many times we become disillusioned in believing that people actually control our destiny. Shame on us but we often lack faith and sometimes forget that God determines our future and He is much bigger than any obstacle or person in our path.

The singer was inspired by an article she read about a chess player who defeated the world champion. With confidence she did an incredible job at her audition and many job opportunities followed.

The Bible is filled with stories of men and women who faced seemingly insurmountable odds and with God's help, were very successful. We need to allow those stories to inspire us when the enemy is whispering doubt and discouragement into our minds. The same God who helped those men and women in the Bible is very alive and well today and is waiting to help us.

Blessings!

Live It!

Much of our difficulty as seeking Christians stems from our unwillingness to take God as He is and adjust our lives accordingly. We insist upon trying to modify Him and bring Him nearer to our own image.
~ A. W. Tozer ~

Living for Christ requires obedience and submission. It requires a willingness to give up self and follow Christ. It is no longer about me and what I want for my life. Following Christ means putting Him first and seeking His face daily for His complete will in my life. It also requires great sacrifice and unselfishness.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you. Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

To give God first place in our life means to turn to Him first for help, to fill our thoughts with His desires, to take His character for our pattern, and to serve and obey Him in everything. What is really important to you? People, objects, goals, and other desires all compete for priority. Any of these can quickly bump God out of first place if we don't actively choose to give Him first place in every area of our lives.

When I read this quote from A. W. Tozer I began to think about the authenticity of my Christian walk. Being real. Walking the talk. Leaving a legacy of Christian influence. Imitating Christ in every area of my life. I crave to be real so others can see Christ in me. I don't ever want to be responsible for leading someone astray because of false actions represented in my walk with the Lord.

Many times Christians give up and bail out during the journey. We fail to discover what God is unfolding around us because we give up before the ride is completed. Some of this response is a product of weak Christianity. We need to prepare ourselves for life's journey and the pitfalls that await us. If we are trying to survive on mere microwave prayers and drive-thru devotions we will never be ready when the enemy comes on the scene.

Then he said to all, "Anyone who wants to follow me must put aside his own desires and conveniences and carry his cross with him every day and keep close to me! Luke 9:23

Accepting Christ and serving Him is not a one time experience. It requires picking up our cross daily, carrying that cross and obeying God's Word. This is where many people fall short of successfully fulfilling God's will for their lives. People often remain in their comfort zones regarding their relationship with Christ and neglect to think about how necessary it is to renew their relationship daily with the Lord. A Sunday morning sermon will not carry us through an entire week of trials and turmoil. Serving Christ is a daily walk with Jesus. It requires cultivating a strong relationship with Christ by reading our Bibles and praying. It means striving to become more like Him every day.

Picking up our cross daily requires demonstrating Godly character and integrity in all areas of our lives. As Christians we are to exemplify Christ in every aspect of our lives. We are to be imitators of Christ. We need to strive to be more like Him instead of us trying to make Him more like us.  This life isn't about US. Our focus, goals and ambitions must all be about what He wants for our lives.

So many things today are competing for our attention in this world. Obviously these things are most likely not God things. Many of these things are destructive and will certainly destroy our lives if we weaken to the temptation of the enemy.

As Christians we need to focus on cultivating a contagious attitude so that the unchurched will want what we have regarding our relationship with the Lord. God allowed us to come to Him for salvation even in our imperfect state, while we were still sinners. He is perfect and holy but He didn't wait for us to clean up our act and then allow us to come to Him. He accepted us just the way we were so we could ask God to forgive us right were we were of our sins. He cleansed us and made us white as snow at that moment. He wiped the slate clean. Our sins were forgiven and buried in the deepest seas.

God has a plan and guess what... You and I are in it! Isn't that exciting? He wants to use you and he wants to use me to further the Kingdom of God. That makes my heart jump with excitement. Serving Him is challenging and exciting. We never know what tomorrow will offer but we can know with confidence that our God will be by our side walking with us no matter what the day may bring.

Give Him priority today and thank Him for His awesome plan for your life. Tell Him how much you love Him. We owe God so much for what He has done in each of our lives. Be encouraged. God loves you!

Blessings!

Faith that Moves Mountains

I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.  Is anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27,28

As I was getting ready for church yesterday morning God clearly gave me this thought. We need to stop confining God to a box of human possibilities. Let's be intentional about believing God for the absolute impossible and watch Him do amazing things! We serve a BIG God who CAN DO ANYTHING! Just believe .......

God's Word clearly states that nothing is impossible with Him.  Nothing is too big for the God we serve.  It also says that if we have faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, we can move mountains!  How many mountains have you moved lately?

God's power has not changed and the mighty presence of the Holy Spirit can still be strong in our worship services weekly but for many churches across the world it isn't........  Have you ever wondered why?

God is sovereign.  He is in control of every situation.  No matter how hopeless, unpleasant, or discouraging your circumstances are, He has a purpose for them.  He has a purpose for you in the midst of the turmoil.  And that purpose does not involve giving up or doubting what God can do in your life.  It does not involve despair.  It does not involve abandoning your faith.  It does not involve panicking, lying awake all night worrying and walking around 24/7 stressed to the limit.  God isn't at all surprised by what you are facing today.

Matthew 17:20, "....I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you."

Are you facing a mountain today?  Praise God because your weakness is God's opportunity to shine.  Nothing is impossible for the mighty and powerful God we serve.  Speak to your mountains today in the name of Jesus!
 
The impossible today is well within the reach and ability of God.  All you need to do is set your eyes on Jesus.  Place your complete trust in Him and allow Him to move in your life. Faith is the key to unlocking the power of God in your life.  Just believe...........

Blessings!!

INTENTIONAL IN MY WALK WITH CHRIST!

I can't believe that we are already into the second week of a brand new year and my calendar is getting very full!!!  What about you?  It seems the older I get, the busier I become and the faster time seems to fly.  The one danger with that busyness is our lack of time with God in devotions and prayer time daily.  I am determined in 2012 I am going to dig deeper in Christ.  I am reading a book which I highly recommend called The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson.  If you don't have this book you need to get a copy today!  It is inspiring and just what I need at the beginning of this new year.

How often does the enemy mess with your mind? You are aware that feelings of insecurity, inferiority, discouragement and many other negatives in our lives comes directly from the pits of hell! And, when we are tired and weary the doors are sometimes opened wider for these feelings in our lives to come in like a flood.

"The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act."

~ Rick Warren ~

When I read this statement I can't help to think about all the "sad" Christians who are walking around our workplace, neighborhoods and churches, which are constantly dragging their lips across the carpet. Why? Because they have become overburdened with the cares of the world and life has become overwhelming to them. They have lost their joy in the Lord. Even pastor’s wives and ministry women sometimes experience these same feelings. Is that YOU today?

If we think insecure thoughts, we will feel insecure and those around us will recognize our insecurities. If we think we are losers, we will feel like losers and those around us will recognize us as losers. If we think we are defeated, we will feel like we are defeated and those around us will recognize us as being defeated. If we think we are secure in Jesus Christ, saved by the blood of the lamb, pressing towards the prize of heaven, we will feel encouraged and those around us will see us as encourager's. Our attitudes will become contagious and people will want what we have. You are what you think.........

My God is not a loser. He is bigger than anything this world can place upon us. He is our hope. He is our future. He is our encourager and He loves us. He cares about us and He is available to us 24/7. When we feel alone in the middle of the night, God is there. When the enemy speaks words of discouragement into our thoughts, God is there to assure us that we are special. We are His creation and He doesn't make mistakes nor does He make junk?

I know I am nothing without Christ. He has made me who I am today. Each day, part of my prayer to Him is, "Lord, may I decrease and you increase." I want to be a light in this dark and hopeless world. The key to our victory in Christ is spending alone time with our Heavenly Father. We all know that. We preach that to our churches but many times the busyness in our lives crowds out the most important thing we need to do.

Be INTENTIONAL about your TIME with the Lord. The doctor prescribed blood pressure medication for me and I know in order to remain healthy I must take those meds daily. If we desire to remain healthy spiritually, we must take our meds daily. Those meds are spending alone time with Jesus Christ. Studying His Word, meditating on His Word, filling our soul with God’s Word and praying to our God.

Have an incredible and blessed Sunday and an awesome week!

You are loved and appreciated,
Debbie

A Dream List - Why Not?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!  So excited to see what God opportunities are in store for me in this new year!

Many times I have been encouraged to write down my goals and dreams both personal and professional. It is interesting to review those goals and dreams several years later and evaluate the list. Some may be accomplished and others may no longer be important to you.

Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it. (Habakkuk 2:2 KJV)

Writing down our goals and dreams - whether personal or professional - is a great tool for keeping them in front of you. As time passes, it's a great encouragement. When you are going through times like you feel you are going nowhere, your list can remind you of everything that you've accomplished. God is the Author and Finisher of your life.

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 (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). God knows the future, provides our agenda and goes with us as we fulfill his mission, we can have boundless hope.

Maybe today is a good day to review your dream list ...........

Blessings and hugs!