Stepping Out In Faith

Last month, I shared a post from Gary Wilkerson titled "Overcome Your Fear of Faith", in which he talked about his calling to plant a church in London. I want to share part 2 of his story. Remember that God has everything in control!

Gary Wilkerson -

"A short time ago I shared the first part of the story of when the Lord led my wife and me to London to plant a church. When we thought we might have to cancel our plans because we had nowhere to live, God miraculously provided a home through a businessman we met while on a missions trip to South Africa.

We had thought there was no hope, that we were not going to be able to make it and we would have to cancel our plans. But then we met this businessman. Only our God could orchestrate it so that a couple from New York would go to South Africa to find a place to live in London.

We moved to London and a few days after we arrived I took my son to a park near the house we were living in. As I pushed him on the swing set, I prayed, “Lord, You called us here to plant a church. Thank You for the house but I don’t know anybody here and I don’t know where to start the church.”

An older man walked up to the swings with his granddaughter. He turned to me, introduced himself, and asked me what I was doing in London.

“I’m a pastor,” I responded, “and we’re here to start a church.”

“I’m a pastor, too, and that’s my church,” he said, pointing to a beautiful, big church down the street named Holy Trinity Brompton.

I told him the story of Teen Challenge and Times Square Church and what we were now doing. The pastor invited me to his home later for tea and as we visited, he said, “I’ve been praying all afternoon and the Holy Spirit has put this strongly on my heart. We have a coffeehouse in an area where young people are into drugs and the party scene, and they are coming to Christ but there is no church. We have been praying that we could plant a church there but we have no pastor. Would you be willing to help us start this church? And would you be its pastor?”

I had been worried, but God had everything under control! The truth is, if we do not step out in faith, if we are not willing to risk, we will miss God’s best."

Read this devotion online: http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/19714?src=devo-email

Trusting in God – Too Risky?

I have discovered that it is very easy for me to read books and get excited at the challenges the authors give me for living out my life wholly for Christ. And, it is easy for me to relay those messages to you through this blog. But truth is trusting anything or anyone, especially God, is incredibly risky. In fact, if there is no risk then it’s not really trusting, is it? It’s hard to trust God because he’s risky. You take the risk that he’s not real. But since he is real, you take the risk of him not hearing you, you take the risk of him saying “no”, you take the risk of him not feeling close, you take the risk of his discipline, you take  the risk of him not meeting whatever expectations you may have. You take the risk of going through some hard times for his glory. It is all of these risks that actually make trusting possible!

I know that I cannot simply say, “Trust in God.” Trusting in God is gained through daily devotion and dedication to him. You have to be intentional about trusting God. You have to risk something, some security, some comfort in order to trust in anything. Trusting God requires some sort of risk you are willing to take. You trust each day by facing those risks and making a choice each day to say, “Today, I am going to trust God in this situation.  I will pray in the midst of my pain. I will tell God I am scared and lonely, because that is honest and I know he hears me. I will believe that God is sovereign.”

For as long as I can remember now, I have worked hard to help provide financial stability for my family. My husband is self employed, so we have relied on my stable income as well as the health benefits it has provided. Together, we have pursued the many material possessions that we have wanted. I’m sure we are only half way through our list of many wants. We have been living the American dream. The thought of changing the comfortable life we have created for ourselves has never been considered…until now.

It’s nice being comfortable, but knowing what more I can be doing with my life for God has made me very uncomfortable. We have the means to make a change, but we have found every excuse not to. While I may not be ready to shout out to the world the changes we are considering, I will say that it is a risky move. There are times when I feel like I am having panic attacks over it, but there is always something that reminds me that God is in control. What excites me the most are the many possibilities that my family will have to further his kingdom.

God’s favor comes when we trust Him wholly, without reservations and doubts.  His rescue arrives when we stop doing our own ways. His blessings overflow when we put our full confidence in Him. It’s been a long time coming, but I am finally ready to start living out these words instead of just writing them. I am choosing to trust God in this situation! I pray that wherever you are in life, you will take the risk of trusting in him, too!

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you” – Psalm 9:10

If You Believe...

Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” - John 11:40

When Lazarus became sick, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus. But instead of coming right away, Jesus stayed where he was for two more days. During that time Lazarus died and was laid in the tomb for four days before Jesus came. Martha said to Jesus, “If you would have been here, my brother would not have died!” Her faith had a limit. She could not see beyond the grave! But Jesus did raise Lazarus from the dead in spite of her unbelief. He had delayed coming for one purpose, so that she and the others would believe and see the glory of God.

Why did God part the Red Sea? Why did Joshua and Israel march around Jericho? Why was Daniel thrown into the lion’s Den? For His glory!

We have been talking about overcoming our fear of faith and the mighty power of God. Whatever you are facing right now, He is going to bring forth life in that situation. And although it may seem like He is delaying His answer, He has a purpose – for you to believe and to see His glory.

Compassion Moves Us

Why does it seem that everybody is willing to pray but few are willing to act?

I recently heard a pastor ask what would have happened if Jesus had been hindered by our modern thinking. More than likely his disciples would have gathered for a committee meeting to examine the problems and talk about the sins that brought the people to such a place and say, “Oh how tragic!”

But according to Matthew 9, when Jesus saw the people, He was moved with compassion. He saw them scattered and weary like sheep with no shepherd and He was stirred to action. The compassion was not just about pity or sympathy. It was also filled with the desire to help change things. If we have true compassion, it will drive us to do something!

Matthew 25:42-46 says, ^“For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

We do not have to travel far to show compassion on God’s people. God says that if we will give our bread to the hungry, bring the poor into our house, and give of our own soul to the starving and suffering, He will lead us and provide for us continually. “We will be like a well-watered garden — a spring whose waters never fail” (Isaiah 58:10-11).                                            

As followers of Christ, we should be apart of His compassionate heart to the world. The needs are at your doorstep, so present yourself to the Lord, and He will open doors for you!

Overcome Your Fear of Faith

Today’s post comes from Gary Wilkerson, son of the late David Wilkerson. I wanted to post this one because of what he says about missing out on certain things because we are afraid to risk the faith. Remember that God’s great power is superior to ours! We can trust that He will always make a way!

“People experience a broad spectrum of fears. Psychologists say that almost everyone has a fear of death; others fear being alone, while many are afraid of being in crowds. Public speaking is another common source of fear.

Some of us miss out on the greatest gifts in life because of fear. God wants to birth certain things in your heart and you miss out on them because you are afraid to risk the faith necessary to get involved in what God has.

A number of years ago my wife and I were living in New York City and working with Times Square Church. The Lord clearly spoke to our hearts about planting a church in London, England. It was a big risk and rather scary. We did not have many resources and knew very few people in England, but we were committed to trusting God.

A place to live in London had been made available to us but just a few weeks before we were due to leave, the plans for that home fell apart. What were we going to do?

We were scheduled to spend two weeks in South Africa leading a group on a short-term missions trip before going on to England to live. While there my wife and I stayed in the home of a South African businessman. One morning the man asked me, “Are you okay?” I responded, “I’m kind of worried about something.” Then I told him about our plan to move to London and shared that we did not have a place to live.

“I love London and, as a matter of fact, I own a house there,” the businessman shared. Then a few days later he said to me, “Here are the keys to my house. It’s yours to use whenever you need it.”

I was concerned that we were going to have to cancel our plans — but God was there! A couple from New York had to go to South Africa to find a home in London. Only God can orchestrate something like that!

I believe God sets us up to do things that seem difficult at the time but wind up being a God-story. After something like that happens, you walk around with confidence and boldness in your heart, knowing that God will provide.”

Read this devotion online: http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/19414?src=devo-email

His Mighty Power

Yesterday, I shared two stories with you - one that many of us can relate to; the other from a world we no little about. The more I have learned about those sacrificing everything day in and day out in the name of Jesus, the more I understand that it is because they completely trust in the power of His Name. So, my question for you is whether or not you trust in His power?

The problem that we face in our culture is that we are told to trust in our own power. We can accomplish whatever we set out to do! Hard work, high aspirations, and the freedom to go after our goals is what the American dream is all about! There is nothing wrong with the American dream, but it is the notion that we accomplish all of these things on our own ability that is the issue. This is completely different from how Jesus calls us to live. God’s Word says we must die to ourselves, believe in the Lord our God, and trust in His mighty power.

God alone is worthy of our trust. If you question His worthiness of your confidence and trust, then you are simply not putting your "trust under the shadow of His wings" (Psalm 36:7). The follower of Christ does not ask why he should trust God; instead, he asks, "How can I trust God more fully?”

When we realize that God has all power to do anything He wants and that He always uses it for our good, then we can have absolute confidence that we are in good hands. Apart from Him, we cannot accomplish anything of value. He tells us that He is the vine and we are the branches. If we remain in Him and He in us, we will bear much fruit; apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).

I want to end with a piece from David Platt’s book, “Radical”, after he just finished talking about the church in Acts. Here he describes how he longs for that kind of church today – “A scene where we refuse to operate in a mind-set dominated by an American dream that depends on what we can achieve with our own abilities. A scene where we no longer settle for what we can do in our own power. A scene where the church radically trusts in God’s great power to provide unlikely people with unlimited, unforeseen, uninhibited resources to make his name known as great. I want to be a part of that dream.”

His power is so superior to ours! Why do we not desperately seek it?

Sunday Morning...

The rain patted softly against the window as the morning light started to make its way through the curtains. Tucked away under the covers, she laid there thinking about the chores that she had yet to do that weekend. The children were still sleeping after staying up late the night before to watch their favorite Disney movie, and her husband still snored softly next to her. She knew that the time had passed to make it to church on time, but she thought to herself that they would try again the following Sunday. Hopefully, she could find time today for her and the family to sit down together to spend time in God’s Word.

The sun had not yet risen as she snuck out of her home that morning. The temperature was just below freezing and the garments that clung to her body barely kept her warm. She pulled the wrap over her head in hopes that anyone walking about would not notice her. News had spread quickly that the week before a man, a husband and father, was arrested and tortured for holding a secret meeting in his home. She walked the two mile journey until she came to a few run down buildings at the edge of town. She looked around to make sure no one was watching her and quickly made her way to the back door. An older man greeted her kindly as she made her way into the small, barely lit room. Twenty others had already gathered on the dusty floor and were waiting quietly for the man to start speaking. The man, a missionary, had already been with them for two weeks. He had made his way through the Old Testament, and with much pleading from the people, he stayed another week to teach them the New Testament. Ten hours of every day they had listened intently soaking up the Word of God. The more they learned the hungrier they were for Him.

While no names have been added, both are based on true stories. My name should have been added to the first one. 2 Corinthians 4:4, “We can’t even see Christ because of the depth of our spiritual blindness.” Where do you fit in the story? We have the freedom to seek God’s Word, but do we have the same desire as those who do not have that freedom?

I pray that God will awaken in our hearts a deep and unshakeable passion for the gospel and the revelation of God’s Word!

The Statistics Are Staggering

You may have to forgive me if I take a lot of what pastors such as Francis Chan and David Platt have to say about what it means to live a Biblical life. It’s only because I believe they speak the truth about God’s Word. They do not sugar coat what Jesus was trying to tell us in the gospels even if it means having people walk away.

So, I mentioned yesterday about getting uncomfortable. Let me give you some statistics that might help you with that. Only about 18% of Americans attend any church regularly – 82% don’t. We all know that going to church does not make you a Christian but bear with me as I show you the decline of Christianity in America. Thousands of Evangelicals walk away from their churches every day and most don’t come back. Skepticism is growing and apathy about spiritual matters seems to be at an all-time high. The fastest growing faith groups in the country are atheists and nonbelievers. According to a survey of young adults conducted by Lifeway Christian Resources, 65% rarely or never pray with others; 38% almost never pray by themselves either; 65% rarely or never attend worship services of any kind; and 67% don't read the Bible or any other religious texts on a regular basis.

It does not take an expert to see the many reasons that lie beneath these statistics. We live in a country that is consumed by materialism and consumerism. Our churches are spending more money living out the American church dream by building fancy churches to put productions on each week instead of on the poor who are without the gospel, food, shelter, and clothing. Our society has painted an unfortunate picture on how life should be, and with those of us who have children, we are in an uphill battle to teach them differently.

In my upcoming posts, I want to give you a glimpse into another world where people are so hungry for God and His Word that they will risk everything, even their lives, just to know more about Him. As I heard these stories, my heart was broken because I know that I have become way too comfortable with life and my walk with Christ. We will also study Jesus’ teachings on what it means to be a follower of Him.

I challenge you today to start reading through the Gospels and really focusing on the Words of Jesus. Remember, His Words are the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). It’s time to start living the life that He calls us to live.

Let's Go Deeper

Hi Everyone! Summer is quickly winding down, but what an awesome summer it has been! For some of you, it is time to get back into the school routine, which I have to say my kids are not to thrilled about. I was just complaining tonight about the torture of having to get them back onto a school sleep schedule.

While summer has kept me busy and unfortunately away from blogging, it has not kept me away from reading God's Word, as well as some challenging books. While I love the idea of the Giggles blog, I have found myself wanting to go even deeper. As the new blog states, I am gripped by God! I am gripped by His awesomeness, greatness, sovereignty and so much more. I have recently started reading "Radical" by David Platt...insanely convicting! After the first chapter, I was very emotional and felt so insignificant. I want to know so much more about Him!

This blog is not just for women, but for anyone wanting more of Christ. As David Platt mentions in his book, we have become too comfortable as Christians. We talk about the love of the Father, but we are missing other parts of the Father as well...yes, even His wrath. As Americans, we have taken God's Word to fit to our lifestyle...it's time to get Biblical!

So, let's get uncomfortable together...

Savoring God’s Presence

I think as a woman and especially as a mom, we can relate to the times we find ourselves in a funk. I feel like I have been resting in one over the last few weeks. Maybe you could tell from my lack of writing.  I wish I could say the reason for it, but I don’t even know for sure. It could be that I am unsatisfied with my work or maybe even unsure of what direction I should be taking in life. I guess I’m going to blame it on hormones, or at least that’s always my husband’s response. With this funk though, I have kept to myself not wanting really to socialize with anyone, not even with God.

I know that I should be communicating with God every day, but sometimes I’m not even sure what to say. He knows my heart, my thoughts, and my struggles, and there are times I just don’t feel like talking about them with Him. There are days I simply say, “I love you” and “thank you.”

So, when you don’t feel like praying, how can you still feel the presence of God? How about from the simple act of closing your eyes? I have found that closing my eyes for a brief moment allows my soul to breathe. I whisper, “Jesus, you know me,” and I close my eyes and then I lean into His arms.

Even when we don’t feel like praying, He is praying for us. Romans 8:26 says, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

So, if you find yourself in a funk or if you are feeling overwhelmed, just breathe and savor His presence. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’.” Psalm 91:1-2.

Patience is a Virtue!

One of my favorite sayings to my kids is “Patience is a virtue”. Whenever they are nagging me for something, I remind them of it in hopes that they will quiet down. One thing I know about patience is that I am fairly good at it if everything is going my way. Over the last few weeks, I have come to hate the virtue quote. The patience with my healing process is wearing thin, and I almost found myself throwing a tantrum this morning after physical therapy. I am sure I am becoming a nag to my therapist as I keep asking can I do this or can I do that…can I, can I?! Thankfully, he hasn’t used the quote on me yet, but I have a feeling he wants to.

So today’s lesson is for me…and maybe you if you find your patience is running on empty. 

Galatians 5:22 talks about the fruit of the Spirit, and patience just so happens to be included in the list. As followers of Christ, we should produce patience because it reveals our faith in God’s timing, omnipotence, and love. I for one have faith in God’s timing; however, sometimes I hate that it takes so long! But, I have to remember He knows what He’s doing.

The thing about patience is that it doesn’t necessarily mean for us to passively wait with gentle tolerance. In fact, according to Hebrews 12:1, we should “run with patience the race that is set before us.” In this case, it means “endurance.” We should therefore push through life’s trials expectantly waiting for a promise to be fulfilled.

Here are some other verses in the Bible that tells us about patience: Colossians 1:11 tells us that we are strengthened by God to “great endurance and patience.” James 1:3-4 lets us know that trials are God’s way of perfecting our patience. Our patience is rewarded in the end “because the Lord's coming is near” (James 5:7-8). “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him” (Lamentations 3:25).

Lack of patience I have discovered leads to stress, anger, and lots of frustration. These are normal reactions to it! But, as Christians, we do not need to be held captive to that response. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Thank God for your situation and seek His purposes. Romans 8:28 says, “All things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Yes, even those things that test our patience.

So, I’m counting to ten now and praying while I am doing it. God will get me through this trial, and He will do the same for you. Have patience, my dear! Because, after all, patience is a virtue!

Cut It Off

You know the one thing I hate is that the devil knows my weaknesses. He knows what things to dangle in front of me that might cause me to sin. Recently, he was coming at me with something very tempting that I found myself praying every day for God’s armor. While I was able to resist the temptation, I knew that if something didn’t change soon, there was a chance that I might give into it. And, that is when I remembered Matthew 5:30 that says, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” So, I cut off my hand…no seriously, I knew that I had to cut off that one thing that could cause me to sin. 

We all have different temptations, whether it is shopping, eating, drinking, or even sexual temptations. There are ways to resist those temptations. My first suggestion is to avoid it all together if possible. Don’t go looking for Satan just to show that you can withstand his wiles. Draw boundaries for yourself that keep you away from the danger. 

One lesson we should learn about resisting temptation is that we aren’t very good at it. It is dangerous to trust ourselves to always say “no.” We might say “no” 98 times in a row, and weaken on the 99th time. One of the best ways to avoid problems is to keep out of situations that test our resolve. If we are tempted, maybe that’s a sign that we are already too close.

So, you can’t do it on your own? Get help! Peer pressure can keep us honest, if we are with the right kind of peers. The more we are open with those we trust, the better they can help us. No one has all the strengths, so we need the strengths that other people have, too.

We all fall short sometimes. Thankfully, we have a forgiving Father who knows are weaknesses and is there to help us every step of the way. Maintain that intimate relationship with Him and remember to read His Word! It is a weapon that we can use to fight off the devil and the temptations that he throws at us.

1 Corinthians 10:13, “NO TEMPTATION has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

God is Good

Today marks one week since I had surgery to repair my ACL. Let me just say that it has been an extremely long week. I celebrated my one week post-op by riding the stationary bike for five minutes. All I have to say is God is good!

He is good because He answered my prayers about by meniscus. The doctor was prepared to remove a portion of it, but found that it was just a small tear that will heal on its own. I have to admit I cried when I found out because that was my last prayer before I went into surgery.

God is good because before I got out of bed this morning, I prayed that I would be able to bear the pain which up until that point has been overwhelming. As I made my way to the bathroom to get ready for work, it was the first time in a week that I didn’t cry from the pain.

God is good because my riding the bike today is three weeks earlier than I anticipated! And, I am down to using one crutch!

Psalm 34:1-10 (Message) says, “I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with His praise. I live and breathe God; if things aren't going well, hear this and be happy: Join me in spreading the news; together let's get the word out. God met me more than halfway, He freed me from my anxious fears. Look at Him; give Him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from Him. When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot. God's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray. Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see— how good God is. Blessed are you who run to Him. Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all His goodness.”

Thank you to those that that have been praying for me. I have felt all of your prayers! I am very blessed to have such a great family and friends!

Holy Anguish

Last night, I was listening to a very convicting sermon given by Francis Chan that was titled “Holy Anguish”. The main point of the message was about how we grieve over things that really don’t matter when what we really should be grieving over is the thought of the people around us who might spend eternity in hell.

As I was listening to the message, my son came in the room to listen. I almost turned it off because I was worried that the sermon might scare him. But, Francis Chan was speaking directly from God’s Word, so I knew it was important for him to hear what he was saying. When it was over, I asked him what he thought about it. One of his concerns was on what eternity really meant. For him and for us, we cannot truly grasp just how long eternity really is.

I just so happened to have one of my daughter’s necklaces near me that had little tiny beads on it. I told him to imagine that the necklace was so long that it just kept wrapping around our house again and again and again. Then I asked him to take a look at one of the tiny little beads on the necklace. This, I told him, was our time on earth and what we decide to do with that very tiny amount of time will determine where we get to spend eternity. As the realization settled in, I could tell he was overwhelmed. It ended up leading into a great discussion on how important it is to have a relationship with Christ, but also how important it is share the gospel with others.

Francis Chan mentioned that he once heard someone say that you must really hate someone to not share that you know the way to eternal life. Hate seems like such a harsh word, but the point is made. Eternity is never ending, and we should be grieving for those that are lost and doing what is needed to share the gospel with them.

Take the time each morning to pray that God will put one person in your path that day to be a witness to. I think you will be amazed at the doors God will open!

"And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Luke 10:2 ESV

Ouch!

Well, I have to say that this month started out with an unexpected turn of events. In less than two weeks, I will be having surgery to fix a ruptured ACL and torn meniscus. It happened on March 4 during a women’s soccer tournament. With four minutes to go in our last game of the day, I was racing against another girl for the ball in hopes of being able to set up a play to tie the game. I did beat her to the ball, but as I turned to head the other direction, my body went one way, while my left knee went the other. It happened so quickly that all I really remember is that I was rolling around on the ground in a lot of pain. Never could I imagine that I had done so much damage. I kind of wish I had a better story other than I was running and went the other way, but unfortunately, that’s how most ACL injuries happen.

So, I must confess that I have been in a major funk since then. Not only has the weather been gorgeous out lately, but it’s all the start of cycling season. And, I am missing out! I was literally counting down the days to my first ride with a local bike shop. So, as you can imagine, my mood has not been the greatest. I have had my good days when I am trying to be positive because I know that this is only temporary, but it still bums me out.

Another confession, I’ve put God on the back burner. When I shut people out, He unfortunately gets included. I have really been feeling the affects of it, too. I am so glad I am realizing just how much I need Him all the time…in every single situation…in every area that touches my life.

I read a great devotion this morning by Gary Wilkerson, and He asked these two questions: “What do you do when everything you try brings no result? Where do you turn when every effort you put forth does not accomplish its purpose?” There comes a time when we have no resource but Jesus alone. I have not relied on Jesus to get me through these next few months even though I know He will be with me every step of the way. I have been trying to do things on my own, and well, I have not been the easiest person to be around. Thankfully, I have a very understanding husband and children.

Whatever event, situation, or circumstance you find yourself in, remember that Jesus has everything you need. When you have no hope, no resources, no ability, Christ breathes His supernatural life into your circumstances. Writing those words makes me feel as though I can conquer anything…and I can, through Jesus Christ!

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

There is Power

Over the past few months, I have become a huge fan of the group “Jesus Culture”. One of their songs, “There is Power”, seems to repeat itself over and over in my head. With her amazing voice, Kim Walker-Smith proclaims that there is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain. Sometimes I don’t think we fully understand what it means to speak His name. 

The name of Jesus carries power, authority, and distinction. His name is not a magic word. The power comes from our understanding and believing all that the name of Jesus signifies. His name represents His finished work on the cross, fulfilling God's plan of redemption and salvation, victory over sin, death, and Satan. When the name of Jesus is called upon, it contains all of the power and distinction God gave to it. God raised Jesus from the dead, raised Him to His right hand, and gave Him a name above all names.

Matthew 28:18 says, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth’." For those who really do believe in the name of Jesus there is no pit that Jesus cannot deliver them from. “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14).

Do you need a miracle? Are you going through something and need extra help from God? Do you feel lost, confused, and depressed? I challenge you to call on Jesus. When you call on Jesus, your situation will change. When you say His name, you are saying, “Greater is He that’s in me than he that’s in the world” (1 John 4:4). “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). “No weapon formed against you shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17).

When you believe in His name, you have no reason to be afraid of anything. He always was, He always is, and He always will be unmoved, unchanged, undefeated, and never undone. Remember, He lifts you up when you stumble, He forgives when you fail, and He is your strength when you are weak. He mends your broken heart, He heals your hurts, and He comforts you through your trials. The list could go on and on.

It is by our faith in this most precious name that we are saved and set free from the bondage of sin and made whole. There is no other name more powerful than the name of Jesus. Philippians 2:20, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth.”

He Works For Me

In a couple weeks, I have the opportunity to share my story at a women’s breakfast event at a local church. The theme of their event is “Celebrating God’s Love”. As I prepare for this day, I find myself repeatedly overcome with emotions when I think about how much God loves me and you. The One who gave me the gift of grace which I did not deserve has become my greatest joy in life!

I John 3:1 says, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God.  And that is what we are!!”

When I read this verse, I often think about the love I have for my children. There is nothing that they could ever do that would take away my love for them. I know that no matter what paths they chose in life, I will always be there for them. But my love for my children doesn’t even come close to the love that our Heavenly Father has for us. Even in the midst of our darkest hour, He is right there fighting for us. Isn’t it awesome knowing that we are His children!

I love what Beth Moore says in her book, Breaking Free: “If I had to define my relationship with Him by one general statement, I would tell you that He is the absolute joy of my life. I don’t just love Him. I love loving Him. Surrendering my heart to Him has not been a sacrifice. I don’t know any other way to say it: He works for me.”

She later goes on to say, “I want God to be the greatest reality in your life. I want you to be more assured of His presence than any other you can see or touch. This can be your reality. This is your right as a child of God. We are destined to this kind of relationship with God.”

Praise God for his ever-abiding presence in our lives!

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”  – Isaiah 43:2-3

Checking In

Hi Everyone!

Wow, it's January 16 already, and I am just checking in for the first time of the New Year. I am hoping everyone had a wonderful holiday! I was able to enjoy spending lots of time with my family, so I am thankful for that.

So, as I mentioned, I am just checking in. Unfortunately, I am in my busy season at work. Did I ever mention I am an accountant?  This time of year, everything hits at once! So, for the next five weeks, I will pretty much be consumed by my work.

I have to admit that I was a bit discouraged by my busyness because I feel as though it is keeping me from spending time with God and doing what I feel He wants me to do. Then a friend reminded me that we all go through seasons and that God is using this season for preparation of things to come. And, I know great things are to come, so I will keep running towards that goal.

One passage I always remember: Habakkuk 2:2-3, "Then the LORD replied: Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."

If you feel God is calling you for a specific purpose but it seems as though it is taking forever to get here, know that it will happen in His time. Just like the verse says, it will not delay. So, while I may have to put aside my blog and a few other projects for a little while, my eyes will still be focused on Him. I hope you will do the same when you find yourself overwhelmed by the busyness of life!