Ever Feel Like An Imposter?

Thank you for reading my blog. I want to confess today and say to you that I know I am not a writer. I am certain that many times my blogs are filled with incorrect grammar and many other things. But God has called me to use my blog as a tool for my ministry.

I know that many folks use their blogs as journal entries, telling everyone what is happening in their lives. I think that is wonderful and I enjoy reading many of them but for me it is different.

If I can make a difference in one person's life by merely posting truth about Jesus Christ on my blog I have accomplished a great thing for the Kingdom of God. So, that my friends is Debbie Shank's definition of blogging and that is why I do what I do.

I facilitate several mentorship groups and have been doing this for over six years. One of the discussions that has come up often in these groups, and also during the monthly Chocolate and Coffee fellowships, are feelings of not being the Christian we think we should be. Intimidating feelings that convince our minds that other women are far more spiritual and holy than we are.

Ladies, let me say this. Just because someone appears to have it all together doesn't necessarily mean that they do. We each have become very talented at putting on the churchy face and not allowing anyone around us to know that we are seriously going through something very heavy.
Doubt, intimidation and insecurities come straight from the pits of hell. Satan works overtime daily to play mind games with each of us. He strives to convince us that we are imposter's on the Christian journey to no where. That we are far from the real deal. His goal is to convince you and I that we are useless in the Kingdom of God. Satan's goal is to convince us to believe that we are not good enough to lead others to Christ. He makes it his mission to create doubt in our minds regarding our salvation.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Praise the Lord! Hallelujah and Amen!!! That is shoutin' material!

There is absolutely no reason for any of us to ever feel for one second inadequate as a woman of God. God equips us with all that we need to do the tasks He has called each of us to accomplish. We are each wired differently and our lives are not the same. We should never allow Satan to place us in the arena of comparison. Serving Him isn't about us. It is all about obedience and commitment to Jesus Christ and His plan for our lives.

Look up today and thank God for His abundant blessings. He loves us and has so much for each of us to do as we strive toward that prize!

Blessings and hugs to you today!

All or Little?

God is incredible and throughout the Bible there is story after story of miraculous events performed by Jesus. These stories are not fairy tales. God used real life people like you and I throughout His Word. Those folks were dealing with heavy duty life problems and God stepped in and performed miracles. He healed the blind man. The lame walked. He raised Lazarus from the dead. He healed the woman with the issue of blood. Time after time there are countless recordings of awesome things that God did in ordinary lives.


Why do we often times only ask God for a little when we pray for a need? We might be struggling with finances, sickness, depression, bitterness, etc. Instead of asking God for a complete fix for the problem, we tend to ask for a small portion. Do we doubt that God can totally and completely do the impossible?


My God can do anything and He does! When we pray we should be asking Him for the impossible. When we don't ask for ALL of it, we are demonstrating a lack of faith in what God can do in our lives. He is more than capable of completing the task in its entirety. We hinder His work when we only ask for a portion of the need.


Step up to the plate and exercise your faith this week. Ask God for the impossible in your life. Trust Him with that prayer and watch Him do far more than you could ever imagine.


Praying for the impossible and unbelievable!


Blessings friends!

IOW - Character

I have the privilege of hosting IOW today and I have selected the following quote.

We are only what we are in the dark; all the rest is reputation. What God looks at is what we are in the dark- the imaginations of our minds, the thoughts of our heart, the habits of our bodies; these are the things that mark us in God's sight. Character is what you are in the dark.

~Oswald Chambers ~ My Utmost for His Highest

When God examines our heart today what will He find? The content of our heart reflects our character.

There are so many distractions in the world today constantly competing for our attention. If Satan can capture our heart he is also capable of capturing our mind. And the old saying is that if we give the enemy one small corner of our heart he will walk all over the other part getting to that one corner!

Nothing in this world is worth the sacrifice of our soul. The satisfaction from sin in this world brings temporal pleasure to the flesh. Sin is satisfying for a season. Sin leaves feelings of guilt, shame and destruction.

The Bible tells us that God must be first in our lives in all things. He doesn't want a portion of our heart. He wants all or nothing. He loves us and cares for us more than anyone will ever love or care for us in this life.

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 priority in every area of our lives.

Filling our minds and our heart with God's Word, pursuing Godliness and Holiness in our lives, and picking up our cross daily and following Him will perfect our character. These are the things that we must focus on to replicate God's character. These are the things that will mold us to be solid Christians built on a solid foundation. That type of character will definitely withstand the storms of this life.

God is calling His children to a place of spiritual perfection. We cannot achieve this assignment unless we apply and practice the instructions God has given us from His Word. A Christian's life must reflect Godliness and holiness in all areas. We cannot pick and choose which scriptures would be most suitable for our lifestyles.

There are churches all over the world preaching and teaching false doctrine from their pulpits. And worse than that, Christians who are not able to discern truth from error because they don't know the Bible. Their relationship with Christ is very weak and as a result, they have placed themselves in the hands of the enemy, being led down a path of deception and destruction. The apostle Paul warned that false teachers would attempt to infiltrate the Christian church from both the outside and from within. (Acts 20:29-30) We must allow the Lord to minister to us and train us according to His Holy Word and by the power of His Spirit. We must be cautious that we do not allow deception to lead us into error.

A huge problem existing in the church today is that people simply do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. Many have settled for counterfeit religion filled with false teachings, much less than what God has to offer. A lack of spending quality time at the feet of Jesus in prayer has opened unending doors of deception. Many have negated the power of God because they do not know Him in the way that they should know Him. Our society has embraced everything or anything that comes from a pulpit. We have not yet learned to embrace the Cross and the Christ who died upon it.

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matthew 7: 21-23)

Partial scriptures taken out of context makes "greasy grace" preaching very popular. People love that warm and fuzzy feeling and often feel irritated and uncomfortable when a preacher challenges them with the truth from God's Word. There is danger in preaching only selected scriptures and partial truths. The Bible clearly states that sin does separate us from God and no sin will enter heaven. If only part of the Bible is preached and people do not have the opportunity to hear the truth, they are being deceived into believing that they are doing well spiritually and on their way to heaven, even if they are living in sin.

Churches are convincing people that they are fine just like they are because Jesus loves them. These folks are in church but not in Christ. They participate in all kinds of activities in the church but have no relationship with Christ. They are experiencing a Mr. Roger's neighborhood and are being told there is no need for salvation. Authentic Christianity results in life transformation but the truth must be preached because people's lives are hanging in the balance.

Spiritual perfection comes from seeking God, reading and meditating on His Word, and spending quality time with the Lord in prayer. These must be a part of our lives on a daily basis if we are serious about pursuing and demonstrating the character of a whole Christian. Can the people who you encounter each day see that you have a genuine relationship with Christ? Are you producing good fruit or is there an unholy mixture of bad fruit in your life? Are you seeking after the latest charismatic teaching with partial truths or are you really seeking after Him?

If we truly want to see the power of God manifested in our lives, we must focus our eyes on the things of God. We must be willing to allow ourselves to be saturated with His Word so that we will have the ability to discern between truth and counterfeit. Spiritual perfection as a whole Christian can only be obtained by applying the entire Bible to our lives

Who or what is influencing your character today?

Mr. Linky is not working for me today so please leave your comments.

Blessings friends!

A Resource For Everything

It was a great weekend but extremely busy! Attended Women's Ministries Day Saturday at Potomac Park Camp which was awesome. There were over 300 ladies in the tabernacle and it was just great being with them. I hosted a time together for pastor's wives and women in ministry during lunch and it was so good to see many ladies who I talk to frequently on Facebook.

There was a birthday party at our church Saturday afternoon for a dear lady who was celebrating her 95th birthday! I managed to catch the end of the party after returning early from camp.

Yesterday was an awesome day at church. God did ROCK the HOUSE! After service last night there was a fellowship celebrating our 36th wedding anniversary. It is hard to believe that Bobby and I have been married that long. But then again, when I glance in the mirror each morning that face glaring back at me reminds me of my mom!!! Time moves on for all of us. Anyway, the fellowship with the folks in our church was awesome. God has truly blessed us with a great church.

In ministry, Bobby and I often counsel people who are frustrated and discouraged about things they are walking through in their lives. As I told my Sunday School class yesterday, sometimes the baggage is so heavy that we find it very difficult to focus on God and the things He has for our lives. But, as Christians we truly need to seek His face daily and continue to grow in our relationship with Him. It is so important to build a solid rock foundation with Christ so when the rains and wind come our house will stand strong!

Why as Christians do we often tend to forget that God promises His provision and protection 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 should be tapping 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 great and simple God. Life can become complicated when we are diligently seeking God's face waiting for His direction for our life. Sometimes we feel lost 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 a scenic route to fulfill His will for our lives. Just plug into your resources. God is awesome and He is inviting you to experience Him in at a new level.

Happy Monday! Blessings!

Not To Worry!

Last night was an amazing evening with the ladies from my church. I hosted the monthly "Chocolate and Coffee" at my home and we had an awesome time! It was a night filled with great food, fun, fellowship and Bible study. We are using Beth Moore's Ascent to Psalms. There were new faces last night and it was a great way to introduce ourselves and really learn to know more about one another. We need friendships with Christian women. It is important to have that support and encouragement when we are walking through the valley. Relationships and mentoring are so important in growing in our walk with Christ. I am so thankful how God is using the Heart to Heart Gals ministry in our church.

My daughter Brooke and her family left for vacation yesterday. We are caring for their home and dogs while they are away. I miss them and they have only been gone for a short time!

Spending quality time with my grandchildren Victoria and Luke is always a special treat. Grammy's have to brag on their grand babies you know! Victoria and Luke feel a sense of security when they are in my care. They don't worry about anything bad happening to them because they trust that Grammy will take care of them.

I often find myself worrying about things in my life that should be completely given to the Lord. Do you have that some problem? As adults, we might say we trust God with everything but do our lives truly demonstrate the faith that will move mountains? Why is it so difficult to allow God to manage these things in our lives that sometimes seem to manage us?

Matthew 6:25, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life......." OUCH!!!!

God's Word encourages us not to worry about anything. His Word solidifies His promises to us that He will take care of us. When we allow worry and fear to creep into our lives we tend to focus only on the negative and miss opportunities presented to us. We become consumed by the possibilities of what could happen and sometimes that prevents us from recognizing what is actually transpiring in our lives. the enemy takes advantage of the doubt and fear which overwhelms our very being. We do not permit a place in our lives, time or desire for prayer or spending time with God when we are consumed with worry. We become useless as a Christian because we are so caught up in things we most likely cannot control or change. I believe we miss many blessings because we doubt that God can truly take care of us.

As Christians we must learn to trust God and completely relinquish all of our worries and fears to Him. We practice great lip service but do we sincerely place our trust in God and believe that He will take care of our every need? His Word explicitly assures us that we are not to worry about anything. Worry distracts us and hinders God's will in our lives. God loves and cares for us just the same as we love our children, grandchildren and spouses. Allow Him to take care of your needs. Practice releasing every worry and concern to Him. You will be amazed at how well He manages and resolves issues in our lives that seem to be managing us.

Blessings friends!

Thankful Thursday - Victory

It's Thankful Thursday and Lynn of Spiritually Unequal Marriage is once again our host. Lynn has chosen the theme of victory for this week. You can join in and link there or find other participating blogs to read.

Our choir, Voices of Inspiration, had the privilege of ministering Monday night at our district Family Camp. They did a phenomenal job and were so anointed. The opening song was a medley and it began with Victory in Jesus! A few of the lyrics are, Victory in Jesus, My Savior forever, He sought me and He bought me, With His redeeming blood!!!!! With Jesus you and I can be victorious in this life no matter what we may be facing.

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 this week, 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 you and I. 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 you, who can be against you?

We are victorious with Jesus Christ! Demonstrate that victory today to those around you. Allow them to see Jesus in you.

Blessings!

Celebrating Thirty-Six Years Of Marriage Today!

Today is our 36th wedding anniversary! I know the people in these photos do not look familiar! My goodness, how time does fly!

My hubby and I met when I was 15 in high school. Little did I know when we first met that I would end up as a pastor's wife..........

Are pastor's wives called to the ministry? In my heart I feel that answer has to be a big "YES". I am certain many women would disagree with me but Bobby and I have been in ministry for 29 years and honestly, if I would not have been called, I would have convinced Bobby to change professions a very long time ago!

For 18 years I worked in Corporate America. I spent many hours commuting when my children were small. I was very much into my career, focused primarily on climbing the corporate ladder to success. Am I saying that is wrong? Not necessarily, but as I look back over my life, I know now that God wasn't first on my priority list. Too much emphasis was placed on my "career". Many evening classes at the local community college, leadership conferences and seminars. I was also very involved in Professional Women's Groups. Very little of my time was committed to serving the Lord.

Bobby was an associate pastor during most of my career. Did I have any idea what was going on in his ministry or the church? Honestly, I have to admit - in the early years of our ministry, very little. I was a young inexperienced pastor's wife that had absolutely no clue what I was supposed to be doing in my role. There was never a mentor who came alongside of me encouraging me, praying with me or guiding me.

As a pastor's wife it is our responsibility to support our husband in ministry. We must be there to love him and encourage him. And I wholeheartedly believe that God does call us into this ministry. I have seen pastors who are doing this thing alone and it is a struggle for many of them. I know how difficult it has been at times for us. I can't imagine trying to deal with some of the ministry issues we have faced as a couple on your own. Am I implying that pastor's wives cannot obtain a successful career and still be a support to her husband? Not at all but I do believe that there must be a balance between the career and her ministry.

I left Corporate America over 18 years ago with absolutely no regrets. God called me to the ministry as a young girl and I am so thankful that I was able to get my priorities straightened out before it was to late. God is using my life in ways I never imagined and He continually opens doors for my ministry.

Marriage is not always an easy journey and when you add ministry to the equation it can sometimes become extremely stressful and challenging. But if you place God first in your lives, He will help to navigate you through the challenges you will face throughout the years. The Lord has blessed Bobby and I in so many ways. I am so thankful for the man of God that the Lord has given to me. I cannot imagine my life without him.

Blessings friends. Have a wonderful day!

Peaks or Valleys

Our choir, Voices of Inspiration and praise team ministered at Family Camp last evening. It was an awesome evening. God's anointing was all over that place. I appreciate our choir members so much. They are a group of dedicated and committed folks for Christ and God truly blessed them last night. The evangelist Greg Hubbard hit a home run with his message. Incredible time around the altar!

"We are not built for the mountains and the dawns and aesthetic affinities, those are for moments of inspiration, that is all. We are built for the valley, for the ordinary stuff we are in, and is where we have to prove our mettle."~Oswald Chambers~

Life is filled with peaks and valleys. A peak is defined as reaching your highest point, crest or maxed out. A peak is something incredible that occurs in your life, something fantastic, something to celebrate and remember. The day you get married - that is a peak. The birth of your child - that is a high point in your life. The day you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior - you were maxed out. During those moments, it's easy to be a Christian. "God is so awesome," you think to yourself. There's no doubt in your mind that God is blessing you.

But we all know that life isn't one continual peak after another. Actually there are times in your life when you probably think the peaks are scarce. There are many valleys. Those difficult moments. The troubles and sorrows of life. When you have been diagnosed with cancer - that is a huge valley. When a loved one dies - that's another huge valley. It is difficult to say, "God is good." Sometimes your faith is shaken. There's some doubt lurking there, when you're in a valley, that God is blessing you and those around you.

Peaks and valleys - so where are you right now? Are you on the mountain top today? Or are you in a valley? Maybe you're somewhere in between - maybe there's a peak or valley for you right around the corner, and you don't even know it. The disciples of Jesus Christ had no idea that they were about to enter a valley - they were about to go through a low-point with Christ. Things with Jesus seemed to be going so well - He had performed miracles - walking on the water, feeding the 5000. He had been surrounded by crowds of people, listening to His parables. It was easy to be a disciple of Jesus at that time. There was no doubt that this was the Son of God, the Savior of the world. The disciples were experiencing one high-point after another with Jesus.

But right around the corner loomed the valley of the shadow of death. The crowds would soon turn against Jesus. He'd be betrayed, and arrested, and tortured, and publicly condemned, and executed in the most shameful way known to man at that time. The valley was right around the corner. The disciples would be filled with fear and doubt that Jesus was the Son of God. Soon, it would be very difficult to be a disciple of Christ.

Jesus takes three disciples to a high mountain top. He lets them experience something amazing - with their own eyes, they catch a glimpse of His glory. Right before the valley, Jesus takes them to a mountain, to a high point, and He does this to strengthen them for the difficult road ahead. Then it was all over. Jesus told them not to tell anyone and they were to go back down the mountain. There was no time to stay there and worship as Peter wanted. There was no time to stay isolated from the cares of the world below. No, they had to go back down the mountain. Jesus did not want to stay on top of the mountain. He said no to the mountain top experience. He is saying that it was good while it lasted, but we must not stay.

We all love mountain top experiences, these are joyful, victorious times of our faith. These are the places we want to be spiritually, but our faith is a journey not a stopping place. We must take what we learn on the mountain top into the valley. A true God experience will change you. If you have had a mountain top experience with God then you should be closer to God than ever before. It is that mountain top experience that will carry you through the valleys in your life.

Our camp experience last night was amazing! It truly was one of those mountain top experiences that you didn't want to depart from. I am thankful for those times because that experience takes me to a new level in my relationship with Christ. I know that I am better equipped to deal with the valley experiences after I have been refueled spiritually and have been in the presence of God on the mountain top.

I don't know if you are on the mountain top or in the valley today in your life. I do not know if you are experiencing a high moment or a low moment in your walk with the Lord. And I don't know where you will be two years from now - what high moments or low moments you will be going through. In reality, neither do you. God's Word is your mountain to climb. Each time you read your Bible or attend church and hear the Word of God, you have climbed the mountain. You see Christ who has taken your sins away on the cross and has risen from the dead. You catch a glimpse of His glory, even if it's just for a moment. From these experiences you will be strengthened for the days ahead, for all the peaks and valleys that are around the corner.

Blessings friends!

Jump!

Do you minister outside the box or are you perfectly content to continue doing business as usual? I want to share an article with you that I received recently via email.

Coaching Outside the Box by David Krueger MD Executive Mentor Coach
Ben Fletcher at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom devised a study to get people to break their usual habits. Each day the subjects picked a different option from poles of contrasting behaviors -- lively/quiet, introvert/extrovert, reactive/proactive -- and behaved according to this assignment. So an introverted person, for example, would act as an extrovert for an entire day. Additionally, twice weekly, they had to stretch to behave in a way outside their usual life pattern – eating or reading something they would never have done. What do you think was the biggest change in the group?

The remarkable finding was that after four months, the subjects had lost an average of eleven pounds. And six months later, almost all had kept the weight off; some continued to lose weight. This was not a diet, but a study focusing on change and its impact.

The Underlying Principle Requiring people to change routine behavior makes them actually think about decisions rather than habitually choosing a default mode without consideration. In having to actually process decisions actively, they exercised their choice and decision-making abilities, extending to other choices such as what to eat, and what not to. Once becoming aware of actively making choices, they could decide what’s in their best interest.

“The box” most of us are in is the result of programming and conditioning. And it is self-created in adulthood. Recognizing yourself as the author, the creator of your story challenges an assumed model and leads to the deeper question, “How do I create something else instead?” And, “What will the ‘something else’ be?” Coach outside the box and watch your clients flourish!
David Krueger MD is is CEO of MentorPath, an executive coaching firm tailored to the needs of professionals, and author of The Sage and Scholar's Guide to Coaching Professionals.

Isn't this interesting stuff? "The box" most of us are in is the result of programming and conditioning and self-created. Now I am going to take this a step further. Look at this concept from the Christian view. My thoughts are this - we are comfortable in the box and many of us cannot fulfill God's purpose for our lives because we refuse to step out of the box! We are what we do. Amazing! We are what we practice. Amazing again! If we do the same thing we get the same results. And again Amazing!

Our comfort zone or "box" if you will, tends to cultivate feelings that are warm and fuzzy but our prolonged time in that box is stagnating our gifts and abilities for the Kingdom of God. I believe that in order for you and I to be productive for the Kingdom it is time that we JUMP out of our boxes and aggressively go after what God has for us! Stop listening to the lies of the enemy trying to convince you that you don't have what it takes to accomplish what you know God has commanded you to do. Embrace God's Word and His promises for your life.

So, if you find yourself in a box today - GET OUT! Little can be accomplished in a box. It is too confining and way too restricted and the scenery is incredibly boring! We limit what God wants to do with us when we choose to remain in the box. I know God has great plans for you and I and there isn't a box in those plans. Are you ready to jump? Let's go - 1, 2, 3, JUMP!!!! Now go do great things for the Kingdom!

Blessings and hugs!

Critical Spirit or Constructive Criticism

Guilty as sin! We as a society tend to judge, analyze, and evaluate various things. We can give a movie two thumbs up or two thumbs down. We can evaluate a person's attractiveness on a scale of one to ten. We also tend to make judgments about people. Is this being done with a critical spirit or a merciful spirit?

As much as 77% of everything we think is negative and counterproductive and works against us. People who grow up in an average household hear "No" or are told what they can't do more than 148,000 times by the time they reach age 18. Result: Unintentional negative programming. Shad Helmstetter in Homemade, Jan. , 1987.

A critical spirit is an obsessive attitude of criticism and fault-finding, which seeks to tear others down - not the same thing as what is sometimes called constructive criticism. The only criticism that is ever constructive is that which is expressed in love to "build up", not to tear down. Constructive criticism is always expressed face-to-face, never behind a person's back. The person who demonstrates a critical spirit usually dwells on the negative, seeks for flaws, rather than good. A critical spirit is destructive and harmful to our walk, witness, and our world. An unforgiving, unloving, and critical attitude toward another person will hinder our relationship with Christ. When we exercise a critical spirit, it is extremely harmful to our witness because the world is watching and listening to us. They will never be convinced that we serve a God of love, mercy, kindness and forgiveness. We must exhibit those traits in our lives if we are trying to reflect godliness in our character.

A critical tongue causes damage and dissension within marriages, churches and workplaces and families. We ought to examine ourselves first before criticizing others. As Christians, we must avoid the sin of being critical. We tend to speak destructive criticism in very subtle ways. We grumble, we complain, we become sarcastic. We talk about what we should have all the time. We talk about what someone else has that we don't have. When we talk in such negative ways, we run the risk of becoming more destructive in our relationships. We hurt and offend people that we love. When we talk critically all the time, we will hurt someone else. In the New Testament, it is called "judging one another". Friends, don't complain about each other. A far greater complaint could be lodged against you, you know. The Judge is standing just around the corner. James 5:9 (The Message )

Four ways to overcome a critical spirit are:1.Stop walking through life like a whiner. 2.Work to see the positive in each situation and each person. 3.Trust that God wants to help you to overcome your critical behavior. 4.Teach others to be encouraging.

Make an effort to stop criticizing. Actually count how often you criticize your spouse, your children, your friends, your church, your leaders. You may be surprised to see how often you complain and grumble. Stop it for a week. See how much better your relationships will improve because you made a concerted effort to hold your tongue. Then for each time you wanted to say something negative or critical, speak something encouraging. Edify others. Don't tear them down. Matthew 7, A Simple Guide for Behavior 1-5 "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment.

That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor (The Message). Is there anyone in your life that you have judged wrongly? Ask God to forgive you today for the negative thoughts you have toward this individual. Even if this person has sinned we are not their judge. That is between them and God. We must concentrate on our relationship with the Lord. If you have ill feelings toward this person seek God today and ask Him to fill your heart with forgiveness and mercy for this person. Pray for the Holy Spirit to saturate your heart and mind today with love and understanding.

Blessings!

Thankful Thursday - Love

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." I Corinthians 13: 4-7 (NKJV)

When I think about this scripture the first thing that comes to my mind is the responsibility we have as pastor's wives and leaders of our churches. In the early church, leaders modeled love to their churches. They lived by these words in the scripture. Love was the foundation and motive for the leaders' action.


As a pastor's wife, minister and a woman in ministry, I have repeatedly experienced everything but love from some folks throughout our tenure in ministry. I am thankful today that God has taught me how to love those who don't love others. I realize that if I were not able to love those who demonstrate a cold heart that I could not be an effective leader. When we dwell on the hurts and pains of life we become very bitter and indifferent. God's love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves. It is utterly unselfish. This love is not natural. It is possible only if God supernaturally helps us set aside our own desires and instincts. The closer we come to Christ, the more love we will express to others.

~ Today I am also thankful for my husband who loves me unconditionally. He is truly my very best friend in the world.

~ I am thankful for our children we thought we would never have. After seven years of fertility drugs, numerous tests and a difficult and life-threatening delivery God finally blessed us with our beautiful daughter. Two years later after a high risk pregnancy we were again blessed with our son who is now an Evangelist. I am thankful for the love of my children.


~ I am thankful for the opportunity to minister and encourage other women to serve Christ and to develop into the women of God He has intended for their lives.


~ I am thankful for Luke and Victoria. There is nothing like the feeling of little arms wrapped around your neck giving Grammy a big hug!


~ I am thankful for other Christian women, for the women I have met in blog world and Facebook, who are a continuous encouragement and mentors in my life.

Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage is hosting TT today. Check out her site and the other women who have posted today.

Blessings!

Genuine Relationships

Friendships are absolutely priceless and can add so much value into our lives if we are willing to invest time into the relationships.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (New International Version) Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

The writer of Ecclesiastes wants us to understand that friendship is a good investment. When the author says in verse nine, "Two are better than one, because they have good reward for their labor" the words "good reward" can also be translated "good return" for it means - dividends paid on a wise investment. The very best investment you will ever make in life will not be a financial one, but rather the investment made in relationships. We will get the best return on that investment over any other investment that we will ever make.

As we go through life there are two kinds of things we can give our lives to. Some people try to accumulate possessions. They are constantly trying to get more or better stuff. It is attributed to the late Malcolm Forbes to have said, "He who dies with most toys wins." However, since he has died, he knows that not to be true. If we spend all our lives trying to accumulate more and more possessions, we will never truly be happy and fulfilled. On the other hand we can decide to focus on building relationships, trying to make friends and BE A FRIEND.

Let's look at a few characteristics of a true friendship:
1. ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) Each of us has experienced times in our lives when life throws obstacles in our paths. It is during these times that we need true friends. True friends will encourage and support each other in the midst of storms. True friends offer emotional strength. True friends will encourage and help us do what we have to do by supporting us in the midst of it all.

Encouragement means coming alongside to impart courage to another. This is what a true friend does for us when we find ourselves facing things that we have to go through. They come alongside us to lend support. A true friend encourages you. A true friend exhorts you. A true friend will help you do what you ought to do. A true friend seeks to bring you strength.

2. PICK YOUR FRIENDS UP WHEN THEY FALL. Verse 10 - "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no none to help him up!" "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Proverbs 17:17)

We're the only outfit I know that shoots its wounded. We can become the most severe, condemning, judgmental, guilt-giving people on the face of the planet Earth, and we claim it's in the name of Jesus Christ. And all the while, we don't even know we're doing it. That's the pathetic part of it all." (Leadership, Vol. 4, no. 1)

Let your friends know loud and clear that you are there for them! The next time it may be you in that situation. A true friend does not act like a judge when another friend makes very poor choices. Although we should never support their bad choices, we also need to express God's love to them and encourage them as they pull their life back together. Many people will criticize them and most likely condemn your decision to support this individual. Don't be intimidated by those who refuse to forgive.


3. A TRUE FRIEND EMPOWERS YOU. A true friend will help you do what you need to do. They will seek to bring success to you. We all have things in our lives that need to be addressed in order that we might be the success that God has in mind for us to be. Often, it will involve life change or character development. A true friend will help us. A true friend expresses honesty and constructive criticism to help refine us.

Jesus spent leisure and ministry time with the disciples so they could have a transparent relationship. Jesus impressed even Simon the Pharisee, when He was willing to go to his house and dine with him. Christ's willingness to meet people on their home court proved to be a most effective teaching lab.

Jesus refused to give up on His friends. He asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Each time Peter meekly said, "Lord, you know that I have a brotherly affection for you (he could not bring himself to say that he loved Jesus in the sense that Jesus loved him)." John 21:15-17 Jesus' relationship with His disciples was based on an intimate knowledge of each person's strengths and weaknesses.

In order for us to have genuine friends in our lives we need to be a genuine friend. Dear Lord, I pray today that you will help me to be transparent, loving and forgiving. Help me Lord to be the true friend I need to be to those around me. Help me God to search my heart daily and get rid of any criticism or bitterness I might have for anyone in my life. Help me God to be the true friend I want from others. Help me to be patient as these friendships are cultivated in my life.

Have an awesome day! Blessings friends! You are truly special!

In "other" Words - God's Awesome Plan For Our Lives Far Exceeds Our Imagination Or Expectations

This week NINA is hosting IOW and is sharing on the following quote and is writing on it on her blog, Mama's Little Treasures. Visit her site and the links to the other ladies who have shared today on this quote.

"If all you ever attempt is that which you know you can do, or have the resources for how will you ever discover what He can do?"

My Jesus is ... Everything!

by Anne Graham Lotz

Talk about culture shock! When my family and I arrived on the mountain in Garrett County Maryland, I felt God certainly had made a mistake! How could a family from Northern Virginia, where there were millions of people, cars and houses, possibly minister to this laid back community 3,000 feet above sea level? Even though I was praying that God wasn't really calling us to this ministry, I knew the minute we pulled onto the church parking lot that this was going to be our new home.

The next 5 1/2 years are history but the ministry proved to be many things for our family. For me it was a time of incredible spiritual growth and a great lesson that God can use anyone to do anything if we simply are obedient and willing to obey His call on our lives. Jeremiah 29:11, says it all, I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

God has an awesome plan for each of us but so many times we hinder that work. We tend to look at things through our eyes and become discouraged because we only see the possible. Things that seem impossible to us create fear in our lives and many of us will never accept the challenge God has strategically placed before us because it involves risk. When God planted the burden for youth ministry in my heart shortly after we had accepted the pastorate in Oakland, Maryland, I was totally bewildered and scared to death! How could a former bank executive from Corporate America pastor a group of screaming teens who possessed roller coater emotions and raging hormones? I knew absolutely NOTHING about pastoring young people and had absolutely no experience in ministry. I had overwhelming emotions of insecurities and intimidation. I was afraid to accept the risk that God placed before me. But as I began to seek God's face for guidance and direction He began to saturate my heart with excitement, new ideas and peace.

God equips the called. When He nudges our heart and whispers that it is time for us to step out and do something for the Kingdom, He gives us everything we need to accomplish the task. Those early years of ministry were some of the most precious years of life. Our son Brandon and daughter Brooke were a very active part of the youth group. There were times when Brandon stretched his mom more than you can imagine. Yes, those years were challenging and I became weary, worn and discouraged at times but God was awesome!

The youth group, Holy Fire, became the heartbeat of our church and was very active throughout the community. I have many fond memories of those years. Several of the young men (including our son) are now ministers. To think that maybe I played a very small part in encouraging them to take a risk for Christ excites me even today. What if I would have ignored God's calling? What if I had refused to take that risk?

God made what seemed like the impossible come to life. He wants to do that with all of us. Pray with expectancy about what God has for your life. I truly believe that God's desire is to do great things in each of us. People need to know who Jesus Christ is and we have a responsibility to tell them. I encourage you - be willing to take a risk and watch God do the rest. When things look like they are absolutely impossible look up and hold on for the ride of your life. We truly miss so many blessings because we are looking at things through our eyes and not His. Don't restrict Him. Put God first in all things. Seek Him and allow this to be an awesome year for you and your ministry.

Blessings!

God Isn't Absent

I was reading recently that the book of Esther is the only book in the Bible where God is never mentioned. In fact, many people over the years questioned whether it should even be included as one of the books of the Bible for that reason.

Esther is the story of how God used one woman to change the fate of an entire nation. Although God's name is not mentioned in this book you can certainly recognize His fingerprints on every page! The book of Esther shows the choice we make between seeing His hand in our circumstances in life and seeing things as merely coincidence. God's plans are never moved by the actions of evil men and women in our society. The silent love language our Father often uses to communicate directly to our spirit is illustrated in this book.

Esther proved to mirror a Godly and teachable character that exhibited incredible strength and awesome obedience. Esther was unique and this caused her to be elevated into the position of Queen. She certainly demonstrates to us that remaining respectful and humble even in difficult if not humanly impossible circumstances often set us up to be the vessel of untold blessing for both ourselves and others. She is a positive role model that can influence us with her repeated Godly attitudes in difficult positions. You won't read of any complaints or bad behavior on her part in this book. She often won the favor of those around her. That favor is what ultimately saved her people.

By utilizing Esther's example of maintaining a positive attitude, united with humility and the determination of leaning on God and seeking His will and favor in our circumstances, we will recognize that God is absolutely amazing. I rejoice today in knowing that God walks with me through the pit of the valley and high on the mountain top. No matter what it is I will face this week, God will be with me. His encouragement, peace and strength is just a prayer away.

If you are struggling today with difficult circumstances just seek Him. He has all the answers even when we think there are no answers............

Blessings!

Thankful Thursday - Embracing Change

Change is a product of our environment. Seasons change. The weather changes. Our bodies change. Our families change. Each day is different. Tomorrow will change. Nothing ever remains the same. Life is always changing. Growth in Christ also brings change. Our walk with Christ should never remain the same.

"Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20

This scripture is such a powerful message to me. When we are going through changes in our lives we are to continue to praise God. Whether it is a valley that we are treading through or a mountaintop experience, we are required to give thanks to God for all of it. When a Christian finds herself or himself in a difficult situation it becomes a hunting season for Satan. We are a sitting target and the enemy will do everything possible to divert our attention from God and convince us to focus on our problems and circumstances. This is where many Christians fail the faith test. Many of us demonstrate mud puddle faith.

When we are experiencing a change in our lives we are to give thanks to God for everything. That scripture means the good and the bad. When we give thanks to God in all situations including when life changes, we ensure that the devil will not have an opportunity to plant and cultivate his evil seeds of discouragement, depression and fear.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phil. 4:6

Change isn't always easy but the sooner we embrace it the sooner we will be at peace. We need to remind ourselves that God is doing the changing and then trust Him throughout the process. Dealing with change can be perceived as negative and this can hinder our thinking.

I am thankful today for the many ongoing changes in my life. Without change there would be no seasons, new friends, new opportunities, or maturity in my walk with Christ. Change in this life is inevitable and change regarding our walk with Christ is an absolute must if we are determined to pursue holiness in our lives. It is impossible to remain constant when we are chasing God and His will for our lives. I am thankful for His will and His call upon my life today.

Embrace change and welcome the things God has placed in your path. God desires to do an incredible work in your life and He is calling each of us to step up to the plate and pursue the changes with excitement and anticipation.

I am thankful today that God loves me and continues to use me to reach those who are hurting and discouraged. He will make an incredible difference in your life if you are willing to accept the changes He desires for you.

Lynn is hosting TT today. Visit her site to read other TT posts.

Blessings friends!

God Will Use Ordinary Folks

Do you know that God uses ordinary folks to accomplish extraordinary tasks? Amazing isn't it?For some reason we tend to have this mindset that God cannot do anything great with our lives unless we are credentialed ministers, we have accomplished something absolutely incredible or have been healed from a horrible disease. Obviously these things will certainly win us some level of notoriety but not required for God to use us to accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God.

Reading my devotion the following scripture jumped out at me. When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus Acts 4:13 (NIV). The Sanhedrin couldn't take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. I realize that most pastors focus on the portion of scripture that says, "these men had been with Jesus". It is true they had been with Jesus but what really fascinates me, and I believe sometimes is lost, is the fact that Peter and John and all the other disciples for that matter, were just ordinary men.

Our success in Christ should never be limited or measured by man's opinion or evaluation. God has given each of us incredible gifts and talents. As He opens doors for our ministries we should approach them with confidence thanking God for the continued work He is completing in our lives each day. He doesn't necessarily need the most educated and the most talented individuals to accomplish great tasks. Of course He uses them also but He continues to seek for willing, committed vessels who are sold out for the cause of Christ. God equips the called.

I am speaking to myself today as well as many of you who may be reading this blog. God doesn't make mistakes. He gives us the desires of our heart. I truly believe that when we are totally committed to His will, His plan will unfold in our lives in His timing. I realize that we sometimes become impatient because plans just don't seem to be moving forward in the fast lane but God knows what He is doing. Enjoy the journey. Do some sightseeing. Relax and allow God to use you as you travel this journey. He is going to take you places you never thought were possible if you stay focused on Him and committed to His Word and calling upon your lives.You are special. God has created you for a specific purpose. Don't allow the enemy to discourage you by telling you that you are unworthy for the task God has placed before you. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary works for His Kingdom!

Blessings to all those ordinary people like me, reading this blog today! You are incredible and God has a plan!

In "other" Words - Holiness

To just read the Bible,attend church,and avoid “big” sins -
is this passionate,wholehearted love for God? ”
~Francois Fenelon, The Seeking Heart

I used the book The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges as a teaching series for my adult Sunday School class last year. This study is incredible! What is holiness and can a Christian truly demonstrate holiness in their life?

God despises sin and the Bible tells us that sin separates us from God. The scripture says, "So be holy in all you do" (1 Peter 1:15). So what part of that do we not understand? God commands each of us to be holy in ALL, which means EVERYTHING that we do. WOW! That scripture immediately calls each of us to a higher level in our walk with Christ.

God is holy. He sets the standards for morality. Unlike the Roman gods, He is not warlike, adulterous, or spiteful. Unlike the gods of the pagan cults popular in the first century, He is not bloodthirsty or promiscuous. He is a God of mercy and justice who cares personally for each of His followers. Our holy God expects us to imitate Him by having high moral standards for ourselves. Like Him, we should be both merciful and just, like Him, we should sacrifice ourselves for others.

Every Christian is to pursue holiness. Every Christian is called to live a holy life. Every Christian is to strive to stay away from sin. Holiness is not an option. As Christians there is no exception to this call. This call is not only to pastors, Sunday School teachers or board members. This call is to every Christian no matter what your age, gender, educational or economic level. Every Christian is called to be holy. Because God is holy, He can never excuse or overlook any sin we commit, however small it may be.

Sometimes we try to justify to God some action which our own conscience calls into question. But if we truly grasp the significance of God's perfect holiness, we will readily see we can never justify before Him even the slightest deviation from His perfect will. God does not accept the excuse, "Well, that's just the way I am," or even the more hopeful statement, "Well, I'm still growing in that area of my life." God's holiness does not make allowance for minor flaws or shortcomings in our personal character. "Make every effort..... to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).

After people commit their lives to Christ, they still feel a pull back to their old ways. Peter tells us to be like our heavenly Father - holy in everything we do. Holiness means being totally devoted or dedicated to God, set aside for his special use, and set apart from sin and its influence. We're to be set apart and different, not blending in with the crowd, yet not being different just for the sake of being different. What makes us different are God's qualities in our lives. Our focus and priorities must be His. All this is in direct contrast to our old ways. We cannot become holy on our own, but God gives us His Holy Spirit to help us obey and to give us power to overcome sin. Don't use the excuse that you can't help slipping into sin. Call on God's power to free you from sin's grip.

This week we have a new guest hostess, DEBBIE who shared the quote at the top of this post and is writing on it on her blog, Heart Choices. Be sure to visit her site and the links to the other women who have shared on this quote.

Blessings to you today as you pursue holiness in all areas of your life. God is truly calling each of us to a higher level in our walk with Him.

God Is Working Where You Are Right Now

Last week Bobby and I decided to partially clean out our garage. What a mess! Our home doesn't have the luxury of a basement so all the excess treasures somehow finds permanent residence in our garage.

We recently learned of a place that would gladly receive our treasures and we were only required to deliver the items . It was amazing! As we unloaded the boxes from our car people were going through our things. What is that old saying? One man's junk is another man's treasures! Oh yeah! We were able to treasure lots of folks with several car loads of our junk. Our garage is slowly transforming into its original purpose instead of a storage bin! AMAZING!

That analogy may seem ridiculous to you but think about this. How many of us have become frustrated with where we are because we don't think God is using us? Are you becoming impatient waiting for God to open the door you have been continually praying about? Are you anxious about what God has for you but tired of being in a place you feel is not making an impact for the Kingdom of God? Are you discouraged being at a particular place in your life when you think you should be doing something else for the Lord?

Each of us are physically somewhere right now. We often pray, "God, what do you want me to do next?" but instead we should pray, "God, what do you want me to do while I'm right here?" Direction from God is not just for your next big move. He has a purpose in placing you where you are right now. Begin to understand God's purpose for your life by discovering what it is He desires you to do at the moment!

My leadership mentoring group is reading Anonymous by Alicia Britt Chole. What an awesome book and I encourage you to place it on your reading list. This is an excerpt from the book. Distracted with daydreams of tomorrow's potential, I often found today's reality pale and tasteless in comparison. Before I could even be capable of valuing hidden years, I first had to start valuing each day as something more than just a boring prelude to the exciting future. Every day is a gift from God.

I believe many times we get so caught up in thinking about God's purpose for our lives we totally lose sight of our purpose and what God is doing in our lives. Churches may make this mistake also. For example, the congregation may pour all of its energies into a new facility, only to become self-satisfied or fearful of letting certain groups use it. If this happens, they have focused on the building and lost sight of its purpose - to bring others to Christ.

God has embedded in my heart a huge dream regarding my ministry. I am chasing that dream with anticipation, confidence and excitement. God grants us the desires of our hearts. When? How? Where? These are valid questions to be considered but I won't allow the enemy to discourage me from pursuing what I know God has instilled in me. God constantly reminds me that His timing is not our timing. He has a work for you and for me right now where we are. This is preparation for the bigger picture in our future. Yes, it sometimes does become discouraging when we think we know what God wants for our lives, but God tells us to wait upon the Lord. We are to give 100% to the work where we are. It isn't always easy when you want something so badly but again this is preparation for the next step in our ministry and God's purpose for our lives.

Our garage is not the true definition of a garage but it is slowly being transformed one step at a time. Allow God to transform your life one step at a time as you persevere towards the goal He has placed before you.


Happy Monday! Be blessed!

Live It!

This has been a great week of vacation. Brandon and Casey were here visiting with us until Wednesday evening. We didn't do anything spectacular. Just good ole' family time. It was great! I am really missing them but I am comforted in knowing that they are in God's will which has taken them 1000 miles from home. God has used them both in amazing ways on the campus of Evangel University in MO. There is no doubt in my mind that God has a great plan for them.

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 lives are Christ and His plan. 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 flesh.

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!

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.


There is a wealth of material available regarding personal inner power and self confidence. I read an article recently 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 and our strength and our encourager.


Blessings friends!

Vision

"The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision."
~ Helen Keller ~

This is such an awesome quote. Many people struggle today in all avenues of life because they have no vision. Churches and ministries struggle today because somewhere along the journey they lost the vision. Vision is eternal goals and dreams rather than temporary benchmarks.
Many things can destroy vision. Lack of resources, lack of planning, and lack of effort can all sidetrack and hijack vision. It is so easy to become focused on simply doing what has always been done because it is familiar and easy. It is easy to get focused on the problems instead of exploring ways around the obstacles.

We live and move and make decisions by what we can physically see. Obstacles in our lives blocks our visions and our dreams. How many times have you wished that you would have done something that you knew in your heart God called you to do? But you hesitated. You reluctantly made every excuse imaginable as to why you could not be successful in that particular venue.

Too many obstacles in your path. Isn't God capable of overcoming those obstacles? They are only obstacles if we allow them to block our vision and hinder God's will in our lives. Obstacles often keep us in our comfort zone and absolutely wipe out any vision we might have for ourselves.

Obstacles such as fear is huge.Whenever we are treading on uncharted waters it is much easier for us to stay in the boat where we feel safe. Getting out of the boat means going places we have never been before. Vision is going places we have never been before. Vision is stepping out of the comfort zone. Walking into areas that we have never experienced. Vision is trusting God and exercising faith that we often give lip service too. Vision is demonstrating the hand of God upon our lives.

Our God is an over comer and He provides all that we need to chase the vision He has placed in each of our hearts. Dream big dreams. Chase after those dreams with passion and perseverance. If God has given you a vision for your ministry, He will also equip and provide what is needed in order for you to accomplish the challenge before you.

Where there is no vision, the people perish........... Proverbs 29:18. To accomplish anything in this life we must have vision. If we are attempting to navigate through each day purely by sight we are in serious trouble. Vision instills hope within us and challenges each of us to pursue God's will for our lives no matter where that may take us in this life.

Blessings friends!