I asked people for words to describe their emotions after 9/11. The top three were fear, anger and sadness. These are all justified emotions that my flesh wants to put on and wear around like a coat of armor. Is that how I should be??
If I scroll through my social media accounts today I see the same emotions on display. Now instead of coats of armor they are weapons being used to lash out at others. Definitely not how I am supposed to be.
It’s awful to feel out of control, scared for the future, and overwhelmed by my circumstances. Thankfully, as a Christian I have somewhere to turn for answers. In Philippians 4:11 Paul says he has learned to be content in all circumstances. Learned……not supernaturally granted. …….learned. Yikes 😳, That means I can learn to be content in whatever circumstance I’m in ( 9/11, crazy pandemic world, or insert problem here ) but I have work to do.
Those that know me know what’s coming next. I have to Philippians 4:8 those thoughts of despair. I have to intentionally capture them ( 2 Cor. 10:5 ) and replace them first and foremost with truth – number 1 being I may not be in control, but my God certainly is. After that truth bomb, peace begins to flow back in and I can dwell on all the goodness of God.
Thank You Jesus for being our hope in the hard times. 🙌🏻
What a lot of people don’t understand is that you need to keep things simple.
For example, my coach in basketball always starts out with the basics such as dribbling, passing, and shooting. He creates a foundation. With this foundation, he teaches us different positions, plays, and roles that each one of us need to do.
Also, by doing this he sees each of our strengths and weaknesses. He keeps it simple and then builds on it. He understands that to get out a message, you have to keep it simple so everyone understands.
He gets that not everyone starts at the same level and that the best way to coach, is to keep it simple.
This concept applies to most situations in life, especially when it involves beginners, and makes living a whole lot easier.
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6
Like ugly crying, sniffling and snotting all over the place, mascara all down my face. I’m now considering fake eyelashes because then I wouldn’t have to worry about raccoon tracks going down my face every single church service.
This Sunday’s sermon: grief and regret.
It’s something I’ve battled every single day since November 13th. The sermon was written for me – no doubt. The grief is real, and the regrets – the regrets continuously haunt me and taunt me. The last few months I’ve stepped inside of a self-made prison – one that I won’t let myself out of.
The question Pastor Trey left us with was this: Will those mistakes continue to hold you down, or will they bring you to a place that you can finally be free?
I want to be free. God wants me to be free. God wants you to be free. He doesn’t want us bound up by self-made shackles. God has the key, and that key is His grace.
Regrets are real. But God’s grace is bigger than any self-made shackles we’ve locked ourselves into.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
Don’t you just love how God can flip the script on you – often when you don’t even realize it! This year we have all experienced so much, both collectively and personally. In the midst of all the chaos and even loss, God has shown himself faithful in so many ways.
I couldn’t see it at the time, but the Lord literally began leading me on a journey, step by step, to become healthier and stronger in my body, mind, and spirit.
It all began in November when my husband and I started trying to eat healthy and lose weight. He recently turned 50 , and I was about to turn 50 in March, so we wanted to get it together to stick around for our grandkids. Once the pandemic hit full swing in April, the Lord began waking me up for prayer every morning at 3 am for 30 days. In those wee hours I would pray, worship, read my Bible, and seek the Lord until it was time to get ready for work. I had always been a night owl prior to this, so it was a major change!
After that I kept getting up early, between 5-6 am to pray, worship, and read my Bible. When July came around, the Lord put it on my heart to add exercise to my routine. On July 11th, I started getting up at 5 am to pray, read my Bible, and spend time with the Lord. Then I began to run at the track at 6 am and come back home to get ready for work.
Health is one of those things that we often take for granted or neglect until we face a major crisis. The truth is we can’t do anything for the Lord or fulfill His purpose for us if we fail to take care of our body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
I want to challenge and encourage you today to examine your heart and ask the Lord what simple, positive changes you can make to become healthier and stronger in your body, mind, and spirit. I promise you won’t be sorry that you did. He will show you the way – just like He did with me. This has definitely been a life changing experience for me, and I’m so grateful! Will you let Him flip the script for you?
Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. ~ 3 John 1:2 NLT
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mark 4:39
In Mark 4, Jesus had been teaching to large crowds, telling parables. The last parable He tells is the parable of the mustard seed. A mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds that grows into a huge plant. The Kingdom of GOD is like a mustard seed, a small amount of faith grows into a huge plant of discipleship.
After this day of preaching Jesus and the disciples get on a boat. Jesus goes below deck and falls asleep. A storm comes up and the disciples freak out. They go get Jesus and basically say “Wake up! Why are you sleeping while we’re dying? Don’t you love us at all!!!” {insert flailing arms here}
Jesus replies with verse 39. Then he asks them “why are you freaking out? Don’t you trust? Don’t you have faith? Mercy, we just talked about this!”
I’m paraphrasing here. Also adding some panic and sass and eye rolling. Because that’s probably how I would reply. Mercy, I am so glad that GOD is GOD and I am not!
Anyway…
This verse and this story is an invitation to us from Jesus. It’s an invitation to not worry. I am a recovering worry wart. I was a champion worrier. I used to lay in bed at night worrying that I had offended someone in the course of the day. Maybe they didn’t laugh at my smart remark or something equally ridiculous.
Until I heard it put this way: worrying is a way of saying you don’t trust Jesus to act. Uh oh!
That’s not what I wanted. I want Jesus to act on my behalf for my good and His glory. So, each day I start by turning over my worries to Him. I invite you to do the same.
2020 came in like a wrecking ball. You know what I’m saying?
But. There’s always a but.
If we let 2020 (and all that it encompasses) win this war the prize will be:
Anxiety
Aggravation
& Anger
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want none of that.
But if we let God win this battle within our heart and soul then the prize will be:
Growth
Grit
& Grace
I know which trophy I want, and hopefully I can display it for all of my little world to see.
2020 has been hard – no doubt. But don’t let 2020 define who you are as a person.
▪️Don’t let it steal your reactions.
▪️Don’t let it put words into your mouth that you can’t take back.
▪️Don’t let it make you someone that you’re not.
You are God’s girl, and the world (your world) is counting on you to shine God’s light in spite of a “bad” year.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
I remember the first time I read these words penned by author and IF:Gathering Founder, Jennie Allen. She’s probably not the first time to question this idea, but it was through her that I first pondered these words.
These six words cause me to sit in silence, humbled and convicted on a frequent basis. It’s these words that gives me discipline and life-giving correction.
A few days ago, my mom and I were debating over evacuating from Hurricane Laura. Neither of us wanted to make the decision (for me, it meant leaving my husband behind). We joked as I wanted HER to make a decision for the both of us and she wanted ME to make the decision. The truth behind the indecisiveness was summed up in one sentence from my mom, “I’m just weary from the last 2 years and I don’t want to have to do this.”
May I introduce you to my mom? She’s the most grace filled woman you just might ever meet. She has a heart as big as Texas. That same heart also has wounds the same size as our beloved Lone Star State. In the last 33 years, my mom has buried a husband killed in the line of duty as a police officer, buried a son who died from drug overdose, a brother who died from suicide, and a mother who died from cancer. This doesn’t include the sufferings from random everyday life- like the natural disasters that living on the Texas coast can bring (they had to clean up 3 homes from flooding during Imelda).
I share these things not to be heavy, although there might not be a way around it. Just a few days ago, our area of Texas had immense suffering predicted from the fate of wherever Hurricane Laura landed. We prepped and prepared, said goodbyes, traveled, and did not sleep until it was over. I’ve heard so many praise God with reflections like “God heard our prayers!” and “God is so good!” Both are true. But, were there not praying people in the areas of Laura’s landfall? Do we not say “God is good!” for all? Either God is real or He’s not. He’s either good or He’s not.
As the recipient of the same sufferings as my mom (albeit by different relations), I can say this about suffering:
IF God is real, then suffering is…
Inevitable. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4
Necessary. “But we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
A grace. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18
Think about it this way: read 2 Peter 2 about eternity. If what I read about heaven and hell is real (and if God is real, then eternity is), then it can only be an act of love of God to do whatever He deems necessary to reach me. Even if it means suffering on THIS side of heaven. As a matter of thought, if heaven/hell/God is all real, then I would only HOPE that God would do everything possible to reach me in this vapor called life. If heaven/hell/God is real, then the suffering that brought me to Him is not JUST pain, it is grace. It is a gift. I’m currently watching not one, but two friends grieve the losses of their husbands due to car accidents. They would not see their suffering currently as a gift. We can not confuse the grace of God with pleasantries. See, we are so quick to shout from the rooftops “GOD IS GOOD!” when good stuff happens that we have no idea what to do when life is painful. We have to decide what we believe about God because it’s that belief that will give us hope and joy in the midst of sorrow. For the Christ follower, grief and joy can co-exist. Note I didn’t say happiness.
Many people in Southeast Texas were both spared and share in the devastating effects of Hurricane Laura. It’s a both/and. As followers of Christ, we have two of my favorite words to live out and give to others- grace and peace. These two words, because of Christ in us, go with us wherever we go and whatever we go through. “Grace and peace” sum up what it means to be spared and yet to share the sufferings of life with others.
Whatever circumstances God has allowed for you today, think on those life-changing six words… if God is real, then what?
So, I’m writing this while riding in the car. I’m about 8 hours from home, with my dog in my lap and my kiddos playing in the backseat. One suitcase a piece in the trunk and fixing to stop for lunch. Can you guess what we are doing? If you guessed evacuating, you guessed right. Not exactly a trip to the Bahamas, but a trip nonetheless! • Yesterday I got a call from my husband to pack us all a bag and that we were gonna go ahead and evacuate because of a coming hurricane. My heart SANK. You ever have a moment where it’s like your brain just goes completely blank? “What do I pack? What if we need this? What if, what if, what if….” My mind is racing and my body isn’t moving an inch. Y’all, I could tangibly sense the Spirit of Fear in the room with me. Immediately out of my heart flowed this Truth: “There is no fear here. I have a spirit of power, love and a sound mind.” • “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (AMPC) • Re-read that. Now read it again. Now listen to this Truth: The “What If’s” of life are faith stealers. • I fully believe there will NEVER be a time in our lives when we aren’t faced with different opportunities to fear. There isn’t some certain level of spirituality that we reach when there aren’t obstacles anymore. But, how we choose to respond to the different circumstances that fear will offer determines if peace and victory will be the result or not. It’s not God coming down and magically working everything out that gives us the victory. It’s us CHOOSING to see that God and His Word will never fail if we take our stand in victory. • “Yet even in the midst of all these things, we triumph over them all, for God has made us to be more than conquerors, and his demonstrated love is our glorious victory over everything!” Romans 8:37 (TPT) • So, here we are, headed to Oklahoma to spend time with family and friends and continuing to rejoice in the Lord. You know why we can do that even in the midst of so much unknown? Because He is Greater! He is faithful! And we are MORE than conquerors through Him. Now we get to sit back and watch Him work this all out for our good as we continue to believe and trust in Him. • “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 (NLT)
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