Unexpected Turns....

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

Mom came for a visit. Family from overseas was going to arrive and we had our summer plans all in place. And then it happened. In a brief moment Mom fell on a bit of uneven ground. There was an ambulance, hip surgery and rehab for her and hospital visits, equipment gathering and rearranging of plans for me. The unexpected always takes us by surprise. And in it we have a choice to make.

As Mom settled her heart and accepted this unwelcome change of events she gave the entire situation to God. I had to choose to do the same. After all, we either trust our great God or we don’t – there really is no middle ground on that.

Wholehearted trust on our part promises God’s direction on His part. It’s a challenge to trust that He knows best when we have our own plans all in place. Yet, trust has no middle ground, and so we do as God’s word advises and lean not on our own understanding.

As Mom quieted her heart in the hospital bed and wholeheartedly trusted the God she has always found faithful through her 88 years, He used her there. The bed next to her stayed unusually empty for several days in that busy hospital. In the quiet of the evening, on several occasions, the night time nurses would talk to Mom.

One asked the general question, “Are you married?” When Mom said she had been for 63 years the nurse was amazed! She shared her own marriage experience with Mom, cried as Mom shared the importance of faith and willingly accepted Mom’s offer to pray for her right then and there. Others who came to her bedside lingered to hear her faith stories. Another mentioned the peace that surrounded Mom.

Mom’s healing is progressing and her spirit is rejoicing and at rest as she sees God at work.

God’s ways are not our ways. Unexpected turns on the pathway are annoying and frustrating when we have plans and agendas in place. Yet God sees the cry of lonely and empty hearts and we are His hands and feet and lips on this earth. As He uses us for His kingdom purposes a deep fulfillment rises up within us. We were made to be used of God. That is our highest calling and our place of deepest fulfillment.

As we trust God through the details of the changes, acknowledging Him in all of our ways, asking Him to go before us and smooth the details of the unexpected, He works on our behalf as well and He quiets our anxious hearts.

If you are experiencing an unexpected turn in life, invite God into it and rest in His deep care for you as you journey through the change of plans. Make this your prayer.

Father God,?

When life takes an unexpected turn for me I pray that You will remind me to quiet my heart and to fully trust You. I know my own heart generally gets impatient and frustrated when plans do not go as I have arranged. Fear of the unknown can be overwhelming. I want to trust You with my whole heart. Help me to remember to acknowledge You in every detail and every twist of the unexpected. Give me the peace and calm that comes from fully trusting You to direct my path through what sometimes seems a maze in life. Thank you for Your constant love and Your never- ending faithfulness. Thank you for Your guidance and Your peace. Thank you for Your light through the darkness and Your calm in the storm. I love you Lord and I ask that You would help my heart to remain steadfast in trusting You daily! In the strong name of Jesus’ I pray, amen.

For Purpose....

“To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3: 8, NKJV

The apostle Paul had a unique conversion experience. In I Corinthians 15:8 – 9, Paul made it clear that he was specially chosen by God. “Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” (NKJV)

Paul knew that he had received a special dispensation from God, as one “born out of due time”. Knowing how vehemently he had persecuted the Church, Paul had no doubt that he was blessed because of God’s grace. It becomes pretty obvious why Paul was so passionate about his mission.

Paul understood the purpose of the mystery of Christ, and he understood his purpose in unveiling that mystery to the Gentiles. Once he received his instructions, he very quickly got busy doing what he had been called to do.

We have no less reason than did Paul to be passionate about our purposes. God created us with a plan and it should be our life’s passion to fulfill that purpose. The number of believers who are “seeking” their calling amazes me. What has He called you to do? Quite often, it is tied directly to that one thing about which we are most passionate. Teaching, exhorting, praying, preaching, evangelizing and witnessing can all be callings. Whatever your calling is, there is at least one person who will not be helped unless you step and do what you were created to do.

You can’t wait until you feel you are qualified. Don’t think about your comfort level or worry too much about other people’s opinions. If God has placed a ministry or a cause or any calling on your heart, you owe it to Him (and to yourself) to get busy fulfilling it. Fulfill your purpose. Satisfy your passion. And give God the glory in the process!-PTC

“To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.” (Ephesians 3: 8-13, NKJV)

Father, Thank you for placing a passion for building Your kingdom into our spirits. We desire it, we have a yearning for it, now we seek You for the holy boldness to do it! We love You, and we want to glorify You so that others will come to know You. Help us to not allow circumstances and situations stand between us and the purpose for which You created us. Thank You, Lord! Amen

Who is the Boss....

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”(Colossians 3:23-24)

One of my favorite sitcoms as a child was “Who’s the Boss?” with Tony Danza and Judith Light. For those that are not familiar with the show, the basic premise was about a male housekeeper who worked for a professional woman and her family. During the late 1980’s and early 1990’s this was unusual to see a male housekeeper working for a woman. Although he was an employee, he definitely exercised a large amount of authority in the household. The show was very successful.

This scenario is all too familiar in our lives. We go to work each day trying to receive praise and accolades from our superiors. All of our activities are geared to results at work so that we can get the glory, whether by recognition or compensation. We are all trying to attain “The American Dream”. However, this is a skewed view of success.

Our true boss is the Lord! We are working for Him.God places us in positions so that He may get the glory. God gives you favor with men so that you can share how His goodness got you to where you are. No reward that you receive on earth can compare to the inheritance from the Lord.

We are supposed to strive to be the best at what God created us to be but often our motives are in the wrong place. God allowed you to be a receptionist so that you can greet everyone with the love of Jesus. He gave you favor and promotion at work so that you can extend grace to your subordinates. The Lord permitted you to be stationed in the Middle East to teach lost souls about Jesus Christ. You are working for a Heavenly host that has no layoffs; be glad about it!

Heavenly Father, we know that we have favor with You and that favor extends to men on earth. This favor and grace is granted so that we understand that You are our provider and our supervisor. No positions of power will be abused nor will any position of support be underachieved. In the Most Holy Name of Jesus, Amen

Stolen - Our Voice....

And He said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.’”(Genesis 4:10, NKJV)

Are you someone who has “lost” your voice? Were you told that you had no opinion and that you should not talk back? In Jesus’ time man-made religious traditions were used to ostracize, segregate and punish people who were thought to be wrongdoers.

Jesus used His voice to speak up against man-made traditions and religious teachings. He used his voice to stand up for people who had no one to “fight” for them. He used His voice to bring God’s children back to Him by revealing the true nature of God. We too can use our voices we can accomplish great things for the Lord.

If you know you have lost your voice and want to find it again, return to the word of the Lord. Start proclaiming God’s word. Communicate your needs to God through prayer. When Satan hits you with his lies repeat the word of God to him. God’s word says if you resist the devil he will flee from you.

Sing praises to the Lord no matter what your reality looks like. Paul and Silas were in prison with shackles around their wrists and feet. They started singing and an earthquake so strong erupted that the chains that were holding them broke loose. What a mighty God we serve!

Start singing praises to God, make your needs known to Him and watch Him work. He is still a God of miracles. He said He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is our Father and He loves us with an immeasurable love. There is none like Him. You belong to the King of Kings!

“May the praise of God be in their mouths.” (Psalm 149:6)

Lord, I feel that I have lost my voice but you alone can redeem me. Thank you for always being near and for the reminder that you are the King of Kings and the God of miracles. Help me remember to praise you despite my circumstances. Thank you for working in my life and this situation. Amen

Creativity Given by Holy Spirit....

“See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills — to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.”(Exodus 31:2-5)

The New Testament provides instruction on the gifts of the Holy Spirit which God bestows on believers; gifts like wisdom, faith, prophecy, healing, teaching, helping and speaking in tongues. But this Old Testament story conveys a broader picture of the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

God, the originator of beauty and creativity, gives His creation – us – the ability to create. Listen to the words used to describe the artistic ability of these people:

• “See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel…and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts.” (Exodus 35:30-31)
• “And [God] has given both him and Oholiab…the ability to teach others.” (35:34)
• “[God] has filled them with skill” (35:35)
• “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded.” (35:10)

God chose them, filled them, gave them ability and then He called them to create beauty for His Tabernacle. Do you have the ability to paint or draw, build or design, sew or weave, write or act, sing or dance? God bestowed these talents on you. He put these skills in your life for you to use to bring glory to His name.

Joy and purpose flow through me at the thought that God gave me skills for a reason! How will you use what God has given you?

Holy God, You created us to create. Fill me with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge. May I use what You have given me for Your glory. Amen

Dare to Compare....

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)

We are raised to compare things. Find the objects in this picture that are not in the others. What makes an orange different from an apple? And way too often, we are asked the question, “Why are they different fromus?”

Lately the Compare Bear has been growling in the back of my brain. A friend goes on the same weight loss program as me and loses 22 pounds. I gain six. A sibling finds a job in four days, whereas I have not been able to find one in three years—thus I am a struggling, full-time writer. A fellow author lands an agent after writing for six months, and I have had 15 rejections in three years, even though many people who purchased the novel I self-published say it’s the best they have read in a long, long time.

I feel like crying out to God, “Why do I always fail?Why can’t something good happen to me for a change?” No one said life is fair, but I’d like a fair break— just once.

I was recently brought to my knees by the daily Bible verse app on my smart phone. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”(Proverbs 3:5). In studying the Bible I have learnt that everyone has his or her own wilderness journey in which God provides just enough manna along the way. At times, it’s hard to see that other people besides me have these wilderness experiences.

For instance, a dear woman, whom I thought had the perfect marriage, confessed how controlling her husband, really is. Another friend, who is so pretty she could be a model, was diagnosed with a malignant tumor for the third time in five years. In a period of three days God told me over and over not to compare because I can’t see the whole picture—only snippets here and there. I have been concentrating on individual trees when He tends the entire forest. Once again, I bow my head and promise to trust His wisdom in my life. I tell the Compare Bear to slither away and leave me alone.

My mom was always a “glass is half-full” sort of person. I was raised with a Pollyanna attitude. But somewhere along the way, I began to slip and slide down the hill of compare into the mire of jealousy. Lately, I have been staring into my glass of blessings and whining because it is not overflowing, when really is it more than I can swallow.

Do I believe God is in control? Yes. Do I believe He loves me? Of course. Then why am I so worried about others’ timelines? This is not a competition. This is a life lived to the glory of God. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said not to be anxious about anything but to seek first the kingdom. Then all that I need will be given to me. (Matthew 6:25,33)

If I truly believe the above verse, then God has this all planned out. I may never get an agent, but my novel may save a marriage or win a soul for Christ. I may not find a job, but I am eking by and to be honest, I love working out of my house. And what about my weight? Perhaps I need to count my blessings more than I am counting calories. Perhaps I need to concentrate more on daily ingesting His Word than what food choices I make, lest I turn dieting into an idol.

Compare Bear, crawl back into the woods. My Lord is leading me to green pastures and still waters. Along the way, He will provide. - PTC

Heavenly Lord, Thank you for loving us so dearly. Thank you that You know exactly what we need, when we need it. Forgive us when we do not thank You or take what You give begrudgingly and compare it to what we think someone else has. Help us to once again realize You have no favorites. We are each the apple of your eye, and Your Son died for each of us so we might live in You and You in us. Give us joy in this journey called our lives, and let us see evidence of Your blessings each and every day. Amen.

Think Different....

“And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the a good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2, NKJV)

What does it really take to see our prayers answered? Without a doubt we have all seen those times when (to our surprise!) God just moves quickly and miraculously, and we know He has heard our request. However, there are other times when it just seems like nothing is happening and we just keep bumping into the same old problem.

I have found that this concept of “renewing our minds” is a major key to seeing answers to many of these issues. Often the main reason we are having a problem is because we are out of alignment with God’s way of doing something, and we are simply reaping what we are sowing.

This could relate to anything from marriage issues, to farming, to running a country! Maybe you don’t really need a miracle; maybe you just need to see from a different perspective. In other words, we could be angry and asking God why He doesn’t do something, and He could be asking us the same question.

The word of God is an instruction book for life, and you can find instruction there on pretty much anything if you take the time to look. Not only do we need to find out what the word says on a given subject, but we need to get our minds so soaked in it that we literally have a change of thinking that becomes our “new normal.” This leads to new behaviors, which leads to answered prayer as we sow good seed and prove true the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for you souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NKJV)

Lord, I thank-you that your word is a light to my path and that it will continue to renew my mind as I meditate on it. I ask that you would align me under your perfect will and understanding of my life. I trust you and commit my own understanding into your loving care. In Jesus’ name I 

Soil of My Heart....

"Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.” (Psalm 51:1-3, NLT)

I love summer! I love to watch the birds feasting at my bird feeders. I love the smell of freshly cut grass and the cool breeze after a summer shower. I enjoy the sound of a lawn mower, the zing of a fishing line being cast, the laughter of my children at play and the sizzle of steaks on the grill. Did I say I love summer? Let me say it one last time: I love summer!

However, there is one thing about summer that I don’t find so pleasant – the weeds in my flowerbeds. I relish in planting my flowers but weeding tends to be low on my list of priorities. And because it’s low, I confess I have a few flowerbeds that have long been neglected. Knowing this I decided the other day that I needed to be disciplined, get out there and weed those beds. Of course, I didn’t pick the best time of day to do it – two in the afternoon when the sun was the hottest. That was not so smart but I geared down and started the job.

I put on my gardening gloves and went straight for the roots. I dug up every weed I could see. It was quite exhausting seeing that it had been so long since I had decided to take on the task of weeding. I noticed that some of the weeds were even choking my precious plants. The weeds had embedded and entangled themselves into my plants so much that I actually had to dig up some of my plants so I could pull the weeds out.

It was tedious, exhausting work but I finally finished and was amazed at how much better my garden looked. Of course that was only one flowerbed and I had a couple more to go. I realized I had a lot of work to do and I wished that I had started on this project of weeding earlier or that I had been consistently taking care of my garden the whole time. As I was weeding, I couldn’t help but think about how easy it is to let sin creep into my life, just like those weeds had crept into my garden. I also thought that the effects of sin or weeds in my life are nothing similar to those beautiful flowers I had planted. Sin and its roots can affect the soil of my heart, which can negatively change the course of my thoughts and actions.

The need to be in control of everything was one of those invasive weeds in my life. This control had so captured my heart that I didn’t even see the damage it was causing in my life. My desire for control was affecting my marriage, hurting my children and hindering my relationship with God. After all the damage I finally came to a place of ownership for what I was doing. I realized for the first time how much it was hurting the people I loved and myself. At this point God was able to begin the weeding in my life.

It was a slow and painful process in allowing God to show me what it looked like to trust Him and relinquish control. As I continue on this journey of relinquishing control I know that this is not a one-time deal for me. I know that this area of letting go and trusting God will need to be visited on a regular basis. My need for weeding is the same for me as my flowerbed. In order to grow properly I need to face the control in my life and let God weed it out!

And this is my encouragement to you: If God’s unfailing love can take out the strongest root of control in my life; He can take out any weed(s) in yours too! Lets look at Psalm 51: 1-3 again, here David is calling on the mercy and forgiveness of God because of his sins. He pulls on God’s character, His unfailing love and His ability to purify sinners from all unrighteousness. David’s rebellion and sin haunted him but when He gave his sin to God or when He let God look at the weeds of sexual immorality and murder in his life—God did the miraculous. He forgave David because of His great love and restored David back to His God. David found forgiveness in God’s unfailing love and so can we! I encourage you to relinquish your hold, surrender to the weeding work of your Savior and become a well-tilled garden ready for Him to use.

Lord thank-you for Your loving kindness that surpasses even my greatest weaknesses and sins. I pray that You would take any weeds that have accumulated in my life. Lord, have mercy on me and show me the right ways to walk and the right paths to choose. I pray that You would light up my path and if I am walking in any darkness that You would reveal that to me. Lord, I thank-you for your mercy and your unfailing love again. Help me to come to You when I sin. Thank-you that You are a good Father and that You want to make our garden beautiful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

God Works All Thing Out For Our Good....

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.”(Romans 8:28-29)

My husband enjoys Saturday mornings because I usually make chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. He has no clue what the required ingredients are but he knows it will taste good when it’s done. The ingredients by themselves would not be appealing to have for a special morning breakfast. Chances are he would gag while eating the dry mix and frown trying to gulp down oil and raw eggs. The only enjoyable thing would be the chocolate morsels, but he’d get sick if he ate a plate of them. However, when all the ingredients are mixed together and cooked they form a delicious stack of chocolate chip pancakes.

As with the batch of pancakes, you must realize that God works in “all things” for the good of those who love Him. You may not like nor fully understand why unappealing ingredients come into your life, but if it produces the result God desires everything will work to your advantage. As you love God and look to Him you will understand that He works for your good and not against you.

God’s ultimate goal is to form you into the likeness of Christ. Whatever He permits to come into your life is intended to transform you into the image of His Son. More often than not it is in the difficult and chastising times of life that God accomplishes His greatest works in and through you. God does not desire for you to experience needless suffering. It is wise to conform to His ways readily rather than stubbornly.

Even when you make a big mess out of things, God can turn it around for His glory and for your benefit. Something good will come out of your tear-filled days and hardships as long as you remain hopeful, trusting in His ultimate goodness.

God uses “all things” from your life –broken pieces, mistakes, unfulfilled dreams, and childhood tragedies– to produce a miraculous masterpiece, if you let Him. Allow Him to take all the ingredients of your life and work them together to bring about something good. When God’s good works and blessings bloom in your life remember to give Him all the glory. Give back to the Lord and choose to share all the ‘delectable things’ God bestows upon you with others.

Heavenly Father, Although I might not fully understand, I trust You have a good reason and purpose for all things that take place in my life. I realize when tough situations come it may in fact be a predestined time where You are conforming me into the likeness of Your Son. I know You can take whatever hardship I face and turn it around for my good and Your glory. In Jesus name I pray, Amen

God Given Dreams....

"Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.” (Genesis 37:5)

God spoke to Joseph in a dream and revealed the plan He had for Joseph’s future. When Joseph shared the dream with his brothers, they despised him. Out of jealousy, they sold him into slavery. Despite Joseph’s captivity and hardships, God made a way for the God-given dream to come true. Eventually Joseph was reunited with his family and said to his brothers,“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)

A similar story unfolds between Jesus and His family. In Mark 3:21 we read, “When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’” In John 7:5 we read a similar account of unbelief, “For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” It was not until after Jesus’ resurrection did his brothers believe in His mission, His God-given assignment.

Has God deposited a dream within your heart?Every time you think about it, a profound sensation stirs within. Maybe God desires you to become a missionary, an inspirational songwriter or speaker, a Bible study leader, or an author of a book that may influence many. You have no idea how or when it will come to be, but you know within your heart it is part of your purpose for living.

Maybe your God-given dream is buried within because of fear, procrastination, or rejection. Perhaps you shared your vision with others, but they did not believe in you or your abilities. Regardless of their unbelief, do not allow your God-given dream to remain dormant. God has a purpose for it and only you can fulfill it. What are you waiting for?

Great ambitions come true when you seek God, step out in faith, and take action. Go ahead and start writing that manuscript, compose those lyrics, dare to sign up for that mission trip. The equipping, time, and cost are worth the effort when you continuously recognize God is in the midst of birthing something good through you to benefit His kingdom.

When you partake in your God-given dream, life becomes more fulfilling and your destiny begins to unfold. Believe that as you do your part God is working behind the scenes on your behalf. He will line you up with the right people, resources, and opportunities at each intersection of your journey.

If your God-given dream begins to look like a nightmare, do not abort the vision. Realize the enemy is against you. Opposition rises because you are getting closer to birthing what God desires to release through you. Take courage and keep pressing onwards as you rely on God each step of the way.

Dare to become more than just a daydreamer! Step out in faith and give birth to the God-given dream within you.

Father, Instill within my heart a deep desire for the things You want to do through me. I acknowledge that nothing else will suffice unless I carry out the good works You are calling me to. Help me to prune away futile things so I may diligently work towards fulfilling the longings stirring within my heart. Guide me every step of the way. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Pride : In The Hand of Surgeon....

"A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” (Luke 6:45, NLT)

I have this issue with pride. It has been a constant struggle for me for as long as I can remember. As a young child my favorite statement was, “I know!” I didn’t want anyone thinking that they were teaching me anything new. I remember my Dad asking me, “Kristi, do you know everything?” (There was a definite sarcastic tone to his question.) Without blinking an eye I would reply, “Yes!”

As I got older I was forced to realize that I truly didn’t know everything. I also began to learn that people didn’t necessarily like someone who was a “know it all”. Consequently, my pride surfaced through another route and I became extremely talented at handing out my “verbal resume”. You know what I’m talking about, right? It’s when you boast about your connections and share your achievements. Essentially the goal is to promote yourself.

As I grew in my relationship with God, I became convicted about this issue in my life. I knew it needed to be eradicated. Admittedly it was a difficult process but I began to see some improvement. For example, I consciously didn’t tell people that it was my idea they were using. I kept my mouth shut when I wanted to share whom I had been with or what I had accomplished. It was a slow and painful process but I was encouraged with the growth I was seeing in my life.

However, one day God opened my eyes to the fact that I had been “fixing” my pride on the outside but not on the inside—I had neglected the root. It was as if I was putting a Band-Aid on cancer. I had been storing up, treasuring and holding onto pride in my heart. It looked like this: When I would see someone using my idea I wouldn’t tell him or her that it was my idea. But I would say this in my heart, “That was my idea! They’re using my idea!” I was harboring pride in my heart and it was seeping out of my pores. It seeped out through the tone of my voice, the rolling my eyes and my sarcastic comments.

The Bible speaks very clearly about the topic of pride. It is even mentioned as one of the seven deadly sins. It’s like a rotten seed that robs you of life, freedom and the ability to truly know that you are enough—separate from all your accomplishments. As Luke 6:45 demonstrates, what comes out of your mouth is truly what your heart believes. Sadly, what can come out of your heart is the rotten fruit of pride.

In my circumstance, I knew I needed open heart surgery. This was not something I could do on my own; I’d obviously tried but my efforts had failed horribly. As a result, I began to pray and ask God to cut the sin of pride out of my heart. I was tired of making myself god – I wanted Him to be God.

My surgery has been a tedious and painful process. I can’t say that pride has been totally eliminated but there is growth! After each surgery I recognize that my growth comes not from what I have done but from what He has done in me.

Where do you need to allow the surgeon’s hands in your heart? Maybe your struggle isn’t with pride but some other sin. Let’s acknowledge sin for the rotten fruit that it truly is and surrender to the cleansing power of Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Father, I want to acknowledge my pride (or any other sin) in my heart. Lord, I believe You are the most skilled surgeon and I can trust You with my heart—even when it hurts. Thank-you for exposing the hardness of my heart and I ask that You would pull out this root of pride. Thank-You that nothing is impossible with You because You are an almighty and powerful God. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen

Relationship Struggles....

Colossian 3:12-13, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” (NKJV) 




Struggles with my mother-in-law began right after my engagement to her son. Our first disagreement came when my mother in law informed me that my flower girl, who was her granddaughter, couldn’t wear what I had chosen. If I didn’t change it to her satisfaction then her granddaughter wouldn’t be in the wedding. My soon to be niece, didn’t care if she walked down the isle in pink poke-a-dots; she simply desired to be in the ceremony. For her sake, I agreed to change the dress. That, of course, met the approval of future my mother in law.


After our wedding, it was smooth sailing for a while. Then the holidays arrived and it was no party. We tried to find a compromise that made everyone happy. No one wanted to change his or her customs so we decided to alternate the holidays. My husband won the toss. When I was told that the celebration began bright and early Christmas morning at my in laws, this created a problem for me. 




Before I remarried, I was a widow with a four-year-old son. I felt that he needed to be home Christmas morning so that our new family could start our own holiday tradition. My mother understood this. Why didn’t my mother in law? I learned quickly. You can’t make everyone happy. 


It didn’t end at the holidays. The battle of our wills continued for years. It wasn’t that either of our ideas about life was wrong, just different and it saddened me. I never wanted this kind of relationship with my mother in law. I truly felt like an out law instead of a daughter in law. I longed to fit in, to please her and be her friend, but we continued not to see eye to eye. Even worse, my husband was caught between the two of us and the strain began to damage our relationship as well. 





As a Christian, I knew what had to be done. Someone had to mend the relationship. It wasn’t going to be me. I chose to ignore my convictions and hold on to my rights.
The Holy Sprit persisted. Soon, I couldn’t eat, sleep, or do my daily activities without thinking about our broken relationship.
One day, at Bible study, I raised my hand to ask for prayer about my situation. Suddenly, I began to cry so hard I couldn’t speak. A mentor in the class walked me out into the hall. I explained everything. Then came her piercing words. “You are disobeying God. He is clearing calling you to reconcile this relationship. If I were you, I’d go today.


I left immediately and drove to my mother in law’s house. As I pulled into her driveway, I prayed. “God, I’m here out of obedience to you. I don’t know how my mother in law is going to respond, but I trust that you have sent me.”
Without hesitation, I came straight to the point. I told my mother in law that I wanted to have a better relationship with her. That I was hurt over the one we had, and I knew she was hurt, too. She began to cry. 




I confessed that I was a strong woman with strong opinions, and she admitted the same. I could feel God melting away the resentment. Then I spoke these challenging words. “The only way two strong women can have a healthy relationship is to respect and accept each other’s differences.” She agreed.


From that day on we have learned to consider the other’s point of view instead of only looking at our own. Respect for one another has allowed our relationship to grow and compromises to be easily achieved. We are all happy now—my mother in law, my husband and me. Oh, yeah, and God, too, whose love we reflect to the world when we walk rightly related with one another. 



My prayer for today: 


Dear Lord, someone in my family has hurt my feelings. I’m tired of carrying this resentment so as an act of obedience to you, I forgive them. Please forgive me for holding a grudge against them as well. Now, Lord, heal our hearts and mend our relationship so that we can glorify you. Amen.

Who is like our God....

"Who among the gods is like you, O LORD?

Who is like You–Majestic in holiness,Awesome in glory,Working wonders?You stretched out Your right handAnd the earth swallowed them.In Your unfailing love You will leadThe people You have redeemed.In Your strength You will guide themTo Your holy dwelling.” (Exodus 15:11-13)


When Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to God, He had just saved them from the pursing Egyptians. God opened a path through the Red Sea so that the people could walk to the other side as if on dry ground. Then, when the Egyptians followed, God brought the water back into place and drowned them. This miraculous event caused praise to well up in the hearts of the people.

Praise doesn’t always flow naturally from our lips. We’re good at asking God for things. We may even be good at thanking Him for His blessings. But praise requires us to meditate on the character of God and the actions that reveal His character.

Hear again what Moses proclaimed:

· You are majestic in holiness.

· You are awesome in glory.

· You work wonders. 

· You stretch out Your hand to defeat the enemy. 

· Your love is unfailing. 

· You lead Your people. 

· You redeem Your people. 

· You are strong. 

· You guide Your people. 


God still works wonders, defeating the enemy and leading His people. His character never changes. What was true for Moses and the Israelites is true for us today. God is holy. His glory fills the earth. God is faithful. He is our redeemer. God is strong. He is our guide. - PTC

Holy, Awesome and Almighty God, I will praise You for who You are. Help me to meditate on Your great attributes. Indeed, no one is like You. Amen

Who are you Serving ?....

“So Samuel said to all the Israelites, ‘If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.’” (1 Samuel 7:3)

I have to look seriously at who – or what – I am serving. I can be easily deceived if I am not regularly submitting myself to the Lord my God. There are many things I can serve in this world, none of which honor Jesus. I can serve money, other people, and addictions to various substances or activities. I can even serve an addiction to people if what they think of me is more important to me than what the Lord thinks of me.

I can also become a servant to my emotions. It is so easy for me to become overwhelmed by my feelings, and when I do, I can begin to quickly bow down to them. When anger rears its ugly head in me, it is all too natural for me to lash out at my husband or the nearest loved one. However, the Lord says in His Word:

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1) 

When I feel discouraged and overwhelmed by a task that is before me, it is simple for me to say, “I just can’t do this!” But the Word of the Lord speaks differently:
If I have exploded at my husband or failed to do something that I gave my word I would do, I may feel that I am unworthy of the Lord and feel that He can never forgive me. However, if we believe in Jesus and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, this is not the Truth. According to God’s Word: 

If I have exploded at my husband or failed to do something that I gave my word I would do, I may feel that I am unworthy of the Lord and feel that He can never forgive me. However, if we believe in Jesus and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, this is not the Truth. According to God’s Word:
The Lord lets us know that we are forgiven andcontinuously cleansed from all our sin when we come to Him and lay our sin at the foot of His cross:
The Lord lets us know that we are forgiven andcontinuously cleansed from all our sin when we come to Him and lay our sin at the foot of His cross:

“I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency.]” (Philippians 4:13, Amplified Bible)

“If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]” (1 John 1:9, Amplified Bible) 

“‘But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.’” (Matthew 6:33, Amplified Bible)

Thank you, Blessed Savior, that You forgive all of my sins, and that You cast them as far away from me as the east is from the west. Help me to always follow and seek after You alone, and to give up any and all idols that I may be serving and to place You firmly on the throne of my life. In your holy and precious name, I pray. Amen.

Presence of God....

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5  

God’s assignment for Joshua might have caused him some concern. Being the successor to Moses was no small task. Through Moses, God had turned the waters in Egypt into blood, parted the Red Sea, destroyed the Egyptian army, and miraculously fed the nation for forty years. God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai and gave him His law. Joshua must have wondered how he could follow Moses. 

 To erase any doubt, God assured Joshua that Moses’ accomplishments had all been due to God’s presence. Joshua grew confident because the same God who walked with Moses now walked with him (Josh. l:6). 

 As you read the accounts of God’s miraculous work through men and women in the Bible, you may wonder if God still performs such miracles today. Be assured that the same God who walked with Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Peter, James, John, and Paul now lives within you. No power can defeat the God who guides you. The God who blessed them is just as capable of working out His purposes through your life. The same God who gave them victory over seemingly invincible enemies, who provided for them when their own resources were insufficient, and who guided them in their decisions, is prepared to work as powerfully in your life today. The heroes of the faith had one thing in common: They were all ordinary people with no power of their own. The difference is the mighty presence of God. Times may change, but the effect of God’s presence remains the same.

Powerless....

And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. Judges 16:20 One of the signs of a heart that has shifted from God is the absence of spiritual power. If you are like Samson, you will not be immediately aware that God’s power has left you. Only after he tried to defeat his enemies did Samson recognize that something was wrong. He went against the Philistines as before, expecting their swift defeat. But this time the Philistines easily prevailed over him. If you allow sin to creep into your life, if you refuse to obey your Lord, if you do not reconcile with those who have hurt you, your spiritual vitality is waning. You may assume everything is fine, but when you pray, answers do not come as they once did. You once had a positive effect on those around you, but now your influence is negligible or even harmful. Your life once brought reconciliation, but now you experience problems in your relationships. Those around you who have relied upon your strength are discovering that you are not as helpful to them as you once were. Your lack of spiritual power is not crying out for attention; but you are seeing subtle changes in your spirit and in your relationship with God. How can you stop this spiritual decline? You must regularly repent of any sin. You must invite God to search your life to see if there are attitudes, relationships, or activities that need to be removed. You must fervently obey His will. If you walk with God in this manner, you will grow in spiritual strength and be used mightily by Him.God bless you all!!!

I Am What I Am....

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10, ESV)

I grew up watching Popeye the Sailor cartoons. He would sing, “I am what I am and that’s all that I am”. How would you fill in this blank, “I am _______________”?

Some may name their profession. I am a counselor. I am a teacher. I am an accountant.

Some may give their names. I am Mary Smith.

Some may list their role. I am Sarah’s mother. I am Ian’s wife.

Some will describe their appearance or ethnicity. I am redheaded. I am Latina.

Some will admit their faults. I am fat. I am depressed. I am an alcoholic.

Whatever is at the forefront of our minds will likely dictate how we answer. It is how we define ourselves. But, how many of us would say first and foremost, “A child of the living God who is forgiven and loved”?

Paul was not part of the first group of handpicked disciples. In fact, he had been one of their main persecutors. But he doesn’t deny his past—the good parts or the bad. Instead he states that God has covered his past with His grace. God took Paul with all of his experiences, education, ethnic background, and beliefs to mold him into the bridge between the Hebrew and Roman worlds. Through Paul, who was both Hebrew and a Roman citizen, God spread the Gospel throughout the Empire and beyond its borders. Paul was the perfect man for the task in spite of his flaws and mistakes.

Our gracious Lord does the same for each of us. Whatever you are today, God’s grace can not only cover it but use it to His glory. Don’t let all your past experiences, mistakes and you’re your triumphs be in vain. Give all your talents, failures, desires and dreams to the Almighty. He knows you better than you know yourself, and loves you even more. - PTC

Precious Father, I am your creation. You know me inside and out, and knew me even before I was a twinkle in my mother’s eye. You know my faults, my failures, my good points, my successes and my past mistakes. But you also know my potential. Only You can take it all and make good of it. Today, I place myself in Your hands to use me as You will to Your glory. I am what I am, because I am Yours—forgiven and loved through Your Son’s sacrifice on the cross. Amen.

Treasures in the Sand Box.....

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)

Yesterday my grandson dug up “treasures” in his sand box. We both knew the little cars were in there because I had carefully covered them over lightly so he could have the fun of re-discovering each one.

This morning I thought of that as I looked into God’s word and saw two amazing treasures that I knew were there all along. Digging them out again I re-discovered the shining truths that simply blessed my heart.

”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)

“May the GOD OF PEACE, … equip you with everything good for doing His will, and my He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus.”

(Hebrews 13:20 & 21)

May the God of Hope & Peace fill you with all you need today – and more – as you simply trust Him to do just that!

Father God,

We so often take Your familiar word for granted. Thank you that You continue to help us dig out Your treasures. May we walk in today with a joy and confidence, a peace and assurance that is steady and amazing because we have freshly uncovered the wonderful timeless truth of Your word. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, 
you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you 
an example that you should do as I have done for you 
- John 13:14-15 (NIV)

Marriage is like a symbolic foot washing. 

• Putting on servant clothing 

• Laying a towel over your arm 

• Gently washing away the dust on your spouse's feet 

• Quietly drying them with warmth 

• Warmly touching and kissing 

• Laying down your life for your spouse/family 

• Doing all this with a smile, humility and grace 

This World Is My Home....

“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.’”(Jeremiah 29:4-6)

Perhaps you are familiar with these lyrics written by Jim Reeves:

This world is not my home I’m just a passing through,
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.
Oh Lord you know I have no friend like you.
If heaven’s not my home, then Lord, what will I do?
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

It’s a comforting song to sing, especially when the cares of everyday life threaten to submerge us into the blackness of the sea. The prospect of heaven, of living eternally with the Friend like no other, is like light at the end of a tunnel.

If any group had reason to long for heaven’s joy, it was the Jewish people enduring the trials of exile. In the poetry of the psalms we read that, “By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion”.

But God had a message and a purpose for His children. They were not to sit in idle grief, removing themselves from their neighbors, uninvolved in the country in which they found themselves. They were not to live in movable tents, ready to escape at any moment, but instead to “build houses and settle down.” The building of houses, the planting of gardens and the eating of their produce indicates a long term view. Not only were they to avoid living in a “holy huddle,” but they were specifically asked to “work for the country’s welfare” (The Message).

The people of God, living in rich fellowship with their Heavenly Father and in loving community with each other, will have influence and impact on their surroundings. At least for now, this world IS my home.

Father, Remind me that while Heaven is the promise of tomorrow, You have placed me here in this place for a reason. Help me to see the ways I can bring Your love to the people right in front of me today. Amen

Born of God....

"No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:9)

John continues to hammer the truth into our hearts. To believe in God or as he now phrases it – to be born of God – means we have been changed. Listen to John’s description of those who are born of God:

• everyone who does what is right has been born of Him (1 John 2:29)
• no one who is born of God will continue to sin (1 John 3:9)
• he cannot go on sinning, because he is born of God (1 John 3:9)
• everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God (1 John 4:7)
• everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (1 John 5:1)
• everyone born of God overcomes the world (1 John 5:4)
• anyone born of God does not continue to sin (1 John 5:18)

No difference remains between word and deed.Belief and action become perfectly united. The new life God brings breathes consistency. This is the miracle of rebirth!

In his gospel, John quotes Jesus saying, “I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) Jesus describes a spiritual process. “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:6-7)

Deadened by sin, my true self – my spirit – requires regeneration. Being born of God refers to transformation of the spirit brought about by God’s Spirit.

God in heaven, I believe Your Spirit has the power to change me. Show me how to live in the reality that I have been born of God. Amen

Be a Good listener....

Ten Ways to be a Good Listener in Marriage....        

• Don't jump to conclusions 

• Don't give unsolicited advice 

• Don't change the subject until he has finished the subject 

• Make verbal responses such as, "I see", "Really", Uh Huh", to show you're paying

  attention. 

• Turn off the TV 

• Put down the dishcloth, book, hairbrush, etc. 

• Encourage him to tell you more 

• Let the telephone ring if he is in the middle of telling
  you something 

• Don't ask him to hurry 

• Don't act bored 

ABC's of a Healthy Marriage

The ABC's of a Healthy Marriage

• A Allow for Diffrences 

• B Be Loving 

• C Communicate Daily 

• D Date Regularly 

• E Evaluate Your Past 

• F Forgive 

Promises of God....

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!” (Psalm 68:1)

The Word of God is filled with promises from Genesis to Revelation. As children of the King, in covenant relationship with Him, all of these promises belong to us. Think of it this way, if you signed up to be a member of some sort of an association, there would be a clear statement of what the “benefits” of belonging to that association would be. It would also be clear what your part of the contract was in order to qualify to receive those benefits. When you do your part, the association is duty bound to deliver what it has promised, and you certainly would expect it to do so.

My favorite list of the promises of God is in Deuteronomy 28, where there is a clear statement of what is required of us, “to diligently obey the voice of the Lord and to observe carefully all His commands,” and then clearly states the results we can expect when we follow through. Sometimes it seems like it is easier to expect a man to follow through on contracts, than to believe God to uphold what He has promised to His covenant children through His Word.

Mark 11:23 states that whatever we ask for, if we believe we receive it, we will have it! The Greek translation for the word “receive” means “to take it.” It is an action and expectation on our part that when we have fulfilled the requirement to obey, we can believe and expect the promise to manifest according to the covenant relationship we have with God. Remember, His promises are “Yes and amen”. (2 Cor. 1:18-20) Obey His voice and expect Him to faithfully deliver according to His Word.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)

Father in Heaven, Teach me to trust that You will deliver on Your promises. Don’t let me waste a single hour in doubt, but instead through obedience and prayer to know You will do what You promised. Amen

Answered Prayer....

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.” (Jonah 3:1)

I am part of the single women’s group at my church. We have a Potluck in the Parlor on the second Sunday of each month. The week before one of these luncheons, I woke up in the middle of the night thinking how women are inclined to pray for their brother, their sister, their parents, their children, their friends. Most of us are prayer warriors and happy to be. But God kept drumming through my brain we are so busy praying for others, we forget to pray for ourselves.

We believe God knows our heart so why ask out loud for our desires? I started to wonder, are our needs more insignificant than those of others? God gave me the idea that at the luncheon I should ask every woman what prayer she needed for herself—not for the family, friend or pet. During that week, I felt like I was living out Jonah 3:1, “…the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.” Only for me it was a second, third, and forth time. The urge came strong.

But my doubt crept in. I thought, “It’s such a simple thing, did I hear Him or was it some silly nighttime thought?” But His voice kept saying, “Just do it.”

The day of our lunch arrived and I still found my flesh doubting His call but with the strong, continuous call, I felt I had to follow the command. Towards the end of the potluck, in a lull of silence, there came an opportunity. I spoke up and explained what God placed on my heart. I received nodding heads when I said that women often pray and do for everyone else and neglect to themselves. The request was for each woman to share something she needed prayer for, something for herself.

I noticed that two of the women were misty-eyed so I started the sharing at the opposite side of the group. One by one, each woman shared a personal need. It quickly became obvious that God had a plan; I was only the instrument. When one of the teary-eyed women took her turn, she blurted out, “This is an answer to my prayer.”

Relief flooded my heart. I did what God asked in spite of my doubts and now I knew why. These specific women needed to share something personal with their sisters in Christ. At the end of sharing time, one of the teary women told me that all week she had needed to share her issue with someone. She had been thinking she would ask me for a minute after the luncheon. But instead, God meant for her to share with everyone in the group. Her issue was something two of the other women had experienced. I had not. If she had shared with me only, I wouldn’t have offered the sound counsel that these other woman gave.

We had a blessed time of sharing, giving sound advice, and lots of encouragement. I thought it was just a simple thing, but God’s plan is always sublime. It was a solid reminder to me that if the Holy Spirit talks, I need to listen and obey, and not doubt and turn away. I shudder to think of the blessings that would have been missed if I’d not done what He asked.-PTC

Father in Heaven, Incline my ear to listen for Your voice. When You speak, let me respond with the words of Samuel, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” I don’t want to miss out on the blessings You want to do, for me and through me. May I be quick to listen, and quick to act. Protect me from doubts so that I may serve You better. Amen