Tag - faith

A Spiritual Secret Weapon

November 17, 2020

There is one spiritual weapon many of us forget about. We don’t think to use it, to leverage it. It’s too bad, because this weapon keeps us strong. It prevents us from getting battle-weary and war-torn.

Before I tell you what it is, let me tell you a story…

My daughter, Madison, loves to fall. She will look at me and say, “Hey, Mommy, I am going to fall backwards. Catch me.”

She will make her body rock-hard and strong like a plank of wood and then she’ll fall backwards. Knowing I’m behind her, I catch her.

She calls it a “trust-fall.”

Again and again — she trust-falls. Everytime, she knows I will catch her. Because “I-have-her”, this INCREASES her joy. This adds to the fun. This makes her feel strong and taken care of.

How many of us are trusting God to catch our fall?

To trust-fall is to know that your All-in-All will save you. Will help you. Will strengthen you. Will be there for you. Will even — add to you…

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
They 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.” (Jer. 17:7-8)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:5-6)

Trust. It has promises and benefits tied to it.

Parents hopes their kid trusts them when they say not to have candy before dinner. There’s a good reason why…

In the same light, God has good reasons why He’s completely worthy of our trust. May we trust that He will make good even when in the bad. That He will help us, even when we don’t know how to change. That He will show us, even when we see no answers.

When we fall, we can trust God to catch us. He is the best trust-fall catcher, ever.

Rather than relying on our ability to catch ourselves — our understanding — we rely completely on Him and His better plan.

“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.” (Is. 40:31 NLT)

Prayer: Father, give me the grace to trust you more today. I want to trust you with all my heart, all my soul and all my strength. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Need more rest (aka. trust in the Lord)? Consider my new book, “Rest Now: 7 Ways to Say No, Set Boundaries and Seize Joy.”

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Things are Not What They Seem.

November 12, 2020

purposefulfaith

awe, Contentment, doubt, envy, faith, hope

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Things are not what they seem. It’s like walking at night. You think you see a person, but it is only a shadow. In the light, you can see how the darkness fooled you.

There is more than meets the eye.

I love the story in 2 Kings 6:15-17 that illustrates this point…

“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.”

He was surrounded; it looked like there was no way out, no way to win and no hope. Maybe you’re in a place like that today…

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

“And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

Just because it looks like defeat, does not mean you’re defeated. Just because you feel all alone, doesn’t mean that you are. Just because you can’t see all that God is doing for you, doesn’t mean He isn’t doing anything.

Things are not always what they seem.

Darkness can easily trick us into seeing things or believing things… But, in God’s light, there is always more of Him and His forces with us, than against us.

Can you even imagine what you might see if God opened your eyes up the way He did Elisha’s? How might He be defending you, protecting you or fighting your battle?

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Defeat the Enemy

October 29, 2020

purposefulfaith

attack, Contentment, devil, faith

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Sneaky devil!

I found myself thinking that phrase in my mind this morning, as I made coffee. I am not sure where it came from, other than the fact that a day ago I was standing strong with Christ, yet, this morning I was crying my eyes out…

Hmm… Why is it one day we are all prayed up and ready to go and the next we’re whining that we’re not okay?

Nothing changed. Yet, I’ll tell you why this happens…in part, it’s due to sneaky devil!

He roams in the night…

Seeking to discourage us…

Desiring to steal God’s goodness from us.

Hoping to kill what is life.

Aiming to destroy hope…

Same tactics, different day. So what!?

The devil never stands a chance against Jesus. This thought immediately annihilates even his best-laid plans.

The devil cannot defeat Jesus.

Beyond this, I’ve learned a couple breakthrough points, as it pertains to defeating the devil. Many of the points can be pulled from Ephesians 6:14-18 Message.

Point 1: You can’t just know about truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation, you have to have activate them in your life. This means dedicating yourself to knowing truth and to being truthful. To wearing the the righteousness of Christ morning-by-morning. To receiving the peace Jesus left you. Etcetera…

Take what is theory and make it living.

“Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life.” (Eph. 6 MSG)

Point 2: “God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.” (Eph. 6 MSG)

Read it, think it, speak it, wield it. Enough said.

Point 3: “In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.” (Eph. 6)

Pray. Pray. Pray. Get your eyes off of you (because that is a mindset the enemy loves to work through) and think of who you can love.

Be alert. There are things happening around you, that prayer can — and will — immediately defeat if you have your eyes open. Don’t be a sleepy Christian. Noticing what is happening in your world and your heart. Pray against anything that is not of God.

Stand firm and stand strong. Just like a big wave passes, so too shall this enemy attack as you continue to trust in your God.

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Stir it Up!

October 16, 2020

purposefulfaith

faith, hope, Love & Health

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If you don’t stir the pot while something is cooking, it sticks to the bottom of the pan. Before you know it, you have clumpy mess that will not move. And, that is hard to clean up.

I, in the past, got clumpy this way. I got in ruts where I mechanically read God’s Word. I became defeated because I lost hope in a greater thing. I got plowed down because people weren’t nice.

Yet, these conditions-of-heart were on me. The fact-of-the-matter was I didn’t stir my own pot. I allowed myself to get clumpy.

“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Tim 2:6 KJV)

The early Christians were reminded to stir! They were told to stir up the gifts given to them by God. To stir means to “kindle up” or to “fan into a flame”.

The responsibility here belongs to us. We fan our own God-given flame. We stir things up.

How?

Well, how has God gifted you? I am an encourager. What are you? A giver? A teacher? A helper? A builder? Consider your passion and how God likes to use you.

Even if you can’t think of your gifting, you can still stir things up. We all have been gifted with grace upon grace thanks to Jesus. Remind yourself of this fact. You are loved, equipped and empowered. Christ lives inside you. He has, and currently does, call you to great things in and through Him.

Stir up your gift. Fan your flame. You are here for a purpose and on purpose.

Another way to stir things up is to use your gifting. Love others. Speak truth. Encourage. Share what God has put on your heart. Step outside the bounds of comfort.

We don’t need continual comfort anymore than we need last month’s paper. Be a pioneer through God’s Spirit rather than retracting from this world in fear. Stir your gift up.

Activate it by engaging with it, as you love others. Love them BIG, and love them bold!

The more you do this, the more on fire for Jesus you will become. You’ll be excited about your faith. You will rekindle the excitement for Jesus you once had. Stir things up.

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What You’re Going Through

October 6, 2020

purposefulfaith

attack, awe, Contentment, faith

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Does it feel like you are going through some things? That you might not come out the other side in one piece?

I remember years ago, I didn’t think I was going to make it… It was the physical pain of what I was going through that was excruciating. If I judged the agony 1-10, I would yelled I was at a level: 100.

I thought I was going to die. The pain was that excruciating.

In my case, it was an extreme and super fast birthing-a-baby moment, with increased side-effects. As we drove down the street furiously, I remember thinking that my husband couldn’t help me escape my body. Nor, would he drive on the sidewalks like I was instructing him to. I remember coming to the stark realization that the only one who could really help me — was God. I thought — if this is a glimpse of hell — I want nothing to do with it.

Only Jesus could save me.
Only Jesus was there for me.

I was in the inferno alone. For many of us, it may feel that we are in the fire or storm alone.

But, we are not — alone. Another is there with us — Jesus. He is always in the storm.

Remember, Jesus was in the boat with the disciples when the storm hit. He was there when Jesus walked on water. Not only that, but He was in the fire when Daniel went in. He was also at the tomb when the women came, likely, sad and weary from the crucifixion.

Be it an angel sent by Jesus or Jesus himself, He was in the storm and the fire.

Jesus is in your storm. He is in your boat. He is in your fire. He awaits outside every circumstance you may see that looks like a tomb. He knows how to rise above that. I truly thought I was going to die, yet Jesus helped keep me alive. I birthed a beautiful baby girl. Jesus was with me. He was in my trial.

And, Jesus, himself — is there, with you. He, himself, is ready to help you.

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.” 2 Thess. 2:16-17

If the Rescuer, Redeemer, Restorer, Healer and Helper goes with you, what does this mean for you?

About “Rest Now”
Rest Now offers permission to breathe. It exposes the lies that distract, tire, and bully us, so we don’t strive for rest but love from it, like Jesus did. Learn how to

– create boundaries that allow you to overflow with love
– say no so you don’t hate yourself later
– ditch passive-aggressive behaviors in favor of healthy conversations
– embrace permission-giving thoughts to create mental space for God

Get it.

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You’re a Reconstruction Zone

September 22, 2020

purposefulfaith

Contentment

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They are re-paving a road near my house. This past week, as I approached the end of my street, I’ve had to wait for five to ten minutes. In this, there’s no rushing. There’s no getting where I am going quickly. Once I do get on the unpaved road my car bounces up and down. It’s bumpy.

Maybe you’re going through some bumps or waits in your life… Maybe you are trying to get somewhere but you feel delayed… Maybe you aren’t so sure why it’s so hard and difficult…

You know, waits are how God constructs something great.

David waited in a cave before he became King. Jesus waited until the right time until He was to die. People didn’t experience His resurrection-life until 3 days later.

Before I knew it, that road-under-construction was finished. Then, it became — smooth sailing for me and my car. Now, I have the most enjoyable ride as I go down that street.

All the bumps and the waits are part of God’s rebuilding process.

Don’t get dismayed by what things seem. Waits re-construct what is great. Bumps are all part of the process of God building a new thing.

“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Ps. 27:13-14)

You will see God’s goodness. Just don’t give up. Don’t hop off the road. Don’t detour. Keep going.

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The Blessing of Remembering

September 17, 2020

purposefulfaith

birth, blessings, faith

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“Remember when…?”

This is what my husband says to me if I am ever feeling down.

Remember when God helped you in that situation far worse than this one…
Remember when you didn’t think you’d ever be healthy again and then you were…
Remember when God answered your prayers and how He showed up.

Remembrance recovers faith.

I believe it is why in Joshua 4, God instructed Joshua to build a memorial with stones. God had just parted the Jordan River for these Israelites, so they could make safe passage. Then, he instructed them to gather 12 stones, for the tribes of Israel and to pile them up, in remembrance.

The Lord of Lords said to Joshua, “In the future, your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” (Josh. 4:6-7 NLT)

What memorials do you need to remember? What markers and moves has God made in your life that are unmistakable? What made you stand in awe of your awesome God?

Remember back.

You know, what strikes me in this story is that the stones did not come from any old place… They came from “the middle of the Jordan” and then they were piled “at the place were you camp” (Josh. 4:3 NLT).

God wanted them to take the victory with them, never to forget it. Never to part with it. To see it. Understanding this concept, Joshua also built a memorial in the center of the Jordan. There, it would always be remembered — seen or unseen — that God is faithful.

We build altars of praise when we stop, thank, and praise God for doing the unthinkable.

What great thing is God doing in your life, even right now?

It is wise to write down, to mark, or to memorialize the greatness of God. These things encourage us in the future. They build hope. They crush discouragement. They build us up again at the right time.

Breakthroughs of God, remembered, are great reminders that God will move again! They showcase His power and might.

Do You Have Childlike Faith?

September 15, 2020

purposefulfaith

Contentment, faith, hope, Love & Health, prayer

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We make things far more complex — when, in so many ways, the Kingdom of God is simple.

My kids ran around my car last night like kids. It was simple. They had fun chasing each other down. The driveway was a playground. They were not worried about what dinner would be. They were not thinking about what they needed to do next, for bedtime. They were present in the fun, in the joy, in the moment. Complexities did not weigh them down.

“Truly I tell you anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Lu. 18:17)

The practice of receiving the Kingdom of God is not a heavy task; it is light. Childlike.

“My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt. 11:30)

Some of us love to weigh down the Christian walk. It’s so hard. I have to do this…. I’ve gotta wake up and spend time with Jesus. I don’t know how to obey. I’m always…(doing such and such).

With such a heavy burden on oneself to accomplish and figure out God’s work, one almost — can’t…

Kids, with good parents, don’t fixate on self-issues. They know dinner comes. There’s an excitement about what’s to come. Worry isn’t necessary; they’ll be taken care of. Children believe God on face-value. Faith is easy.

Are you a child or do you feel weighed down by religious expectations that feel impossible to meet?

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13)

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things….” (Ro. 11:36)

“(Now the God of peace)…make you perfect in every good work to do his will…” (Heb. 13:21)

Somewhere along the lines, we picked up a bag of “self-effort” and began to think the work was up to us. But, every work of God belongs to the Lord. It starts from Him, it is by Him, and then, it is back to Him.

Let’s not get confused, lest a yoke of heaviness weigh us down.

Prayer of Repentance: Father, forgive me for carrying a heavy burden that is not mine to carry. This is pride. I repent of thinking that I have to do more or be more to be loved more by you. Jesus, you died for me while I was yet a sinner. I receive your grace today. Equip me and Empower me to be like a child. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Good Father

September 10, 2020

purposefulfaith

awe, Contentment, faith, hope

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I stood looking over a box filled with cash. Should I give her two dollars or should I give her five?

Earlier in the day, my daughter said, “Mommy, mommy, please give me a five-dollar bill tonight — for the tooth under my pillow.”

I replied, “Madison, this is your third tooth you’ve lost. For the first tooth, you get a lot but for ones after, you get a little less. Don’t expect a five-dollar bill, you’ll maybe get a couple dollars.”

She asked me again for the $5 bill and then I shuffled her off to do other things…

Yet, when night came, and I stood looking over the cash box…I realized how badly I — wanted — to give her more. I wanted to delight her. I wanted my daughter to have the very best. I just love her so much.

I grabbed the $5 bill, snuck up to her room, and tucked it under her pillow, with joy.

“If you then, evil (sinful by nature) as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him.” (Mt. 11:7 AMP)

If I love to give what is good, how much more does my Father in heaven want to give good, to me? If I want what is advantageous for my little one — and I’m not even nearly half as amazing as God is — how much more does God give what is advantageous?

Sometimes I long to do the most amazing things for my kids… I desire so deeply that hard situations change… I want, absolutely, their best…

This makes me see, the enemy has been telling me lies. Namely that: God doesn’t give me good things, God doesn’t want to give, and that He won’t help me. He might be busy with other people. I’m last on the list.

What lies have you been hearing?

The truth is that God has a heart to give: He gave His son. He gave us eternal life. He gave us the flowers, the birds, and the stars out of kindness.

He gave everything for us. He loves us, incredibly, absolutely, and eternally.

Believing we have a Father who gives is important.

If we don’t believe God is good and that He gives, we will keep our head down and miss all the goodness He has set before us. We may even develop a victim-mindset. I think I’ve missed God’s good gifts before. I’ve likely walked right by them, but I am determined on lifting my head and seeing what He has for me now!

What about you?

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Little Foxes

September 8, 2020

purposefulfaith

awe, blessings, Contentment, faith, hope

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We just had a fire-drill in my house!

A must-act-now email popped up in my inbox demanding my immediate attention… I got flustered because of what it was requiring me to do. My son was demanding that I play chess with him now. The world needed everything I had in that very milli-second. I couldn’t take it.

Can’t you just wait a second, son?! Give me a break!

I was so aggravated, both at what was coming at me, and because of this needy child, I lost my composure. Then, I felt guilty about it.

Grr… A stupid email set my house on fire.

Small things cause big damage just as little foxes spoil whole vineyards…

“Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.” (SOS 2:15)

What little fox tries to attack you? Is it a mistimed word from a family member? Is it your boss’ critiques? Is it a house out of order? Is it people with different political points of view.

The enemy desires to use small things to create big havoc. If we let him… But, we don’t have to.

““Blessed [spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor] are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will [express His character and] be called the sons of God.” (Mt. 5:9 AMP)

When I keep the peace I literally express God’s character. When I maintain calm, I am blessed with life and joy and God’s favor. When I remain calm, I am a child who trusts God.

I want all to see the character of God being expressed through me. For then, He will calm them. He will heal the situation. He will add himself to my situation, whereas before my anger and frustration would have stopped me from seeing Him. This is favor.

Where is God calling you to new calm and peace?

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