Strength With Others

I am independent by nature. I like to go at things on my own, tackle my own problems, and face my weaknesses alone with God. I know in my head that being a Christian means that I am in a community of believers, a family who worships the Lord as a unit. However, my own inner pride and self-sufficiency keeps me keeping my own pains, faults and mistakes private. I feel that I can remedy my situations alone with God.

However, this is not scripture. The Bible explicitly tells us that we are to share our weaknesses, so that we can help each other walk the road of righteousness together:

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

James 5:16

 

Sometimes in order to attain healing, we need the prayers of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to share our burdens with each other and allow our righteous brothers and sisters to minister the healing power of God into our lives. We need to share in order to be repaired.

 

We cannot be too prideful to share our faults, especially when we cannot overcome those weak spots. We cannot distrust those who are walking in Christ with us. We cannot afford to be afraid of being embarrassed and stop ourselves from reaching wholeness in Christ.

 

So, if you are like me, independently trying to battle through your weaknesses and shortcomings alone, please take heed to the Word of the Lord today. Find yourself someone who is standing righteously before the Lord, ask the Lord to show you one of His men or women whom you can confide in. Confess your faults and allow them to pray for you and counsel you in the things of God.

 

None of us can walk this spiritual walk alone. All of us need someone to help us through.

 

Verse of the Day: Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:15, 16 (NLT)

 

12 Days of Christmas: Family Time

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! I pray that you are not too caught up in the hustle and bustle that you are forgetting the real reason for the season. Also, remember that life goes on after Christmas! There is no gift worth you going into debt.

Today, let's remember our family. One of the most important parts of life is our families. God designs the families we get. He orchestrates the people who surround us as we grow up. No matter how good or bad we think our families are, God purposed them to be the ones closest to us.

When Mary found out that she would be having a supernatural baby, she went to her family - Elizabeth - for confirmation of God's word. Joseph was persuaded by the angel of God to make Mary a part of his family even though she was already pregnant when they were engaged. Because of Joseph's commitment to his family, he saved Jesus from certain death by taking his family to Egypt to evade Herod's wrath.

Our families are here to support us, teach us, love us, and care for us. Yes, they may do these things in their own way - ways that may clash with what we might want - but they are our family no matter what. God ordained them for us.

So, as you prep for Christmas get-togethers, holiday dinners, and all the other gatherings that bring family and loved ones near, remember that you are blessed to have a family around you. No matter how they may act or act up, God has blessed you with them - and He's blessed them with you. Show some love this holiday season! Plant some seeds of love and watch what God does. You might be surprised with the results.

Have a Happy Holiday!

Verse of the Day: Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 5:16

Is Your Light Shining In Darkness, Or Just Brightening Up An Already Lit Room?

In my last class, I came across something interesting in my reading concerning evangelism. Most people get saved because of a friend or family member who leads them to Christ. The majority of people don't get saved in a church setting.

On top of that, most of the active evangelists are new Christians. Most Christians who have been saved for some years don't evangelize. We are too busy socializing with our saved friends, attending our Christian events, dealing with our Christian issues... The lost doesn't come up that much. Sure, we talk about saving souls and winning the world for Christ. Yet, when it comes down to it, we are usually preaching to the choir.

Now, as I was reading I was struck. That is me plain and simple. I have to go back to my college days to identify any friends I have that do not know the Lord. Right now, my contact list is full of saints. I'm missing it somewhere. I need to broaden my circle.

Jesus did leave us a great example. When He came to earth, He didn't hang with the rabbis, the leaders of the church, or the priest. Jesus kicked it with the tax collectors, the publicans, and those that were despised by the society of His day.

Why?

Because they were the ones who needed His light. They were the ones who needed to have the Kingdom revealed to them. They were the ones who were lost. And Jesus came right in and showed them the way to right standing with God.

So, for all of us (I am definitely included), how many people in darkness are benefiting from our light? How many friends do we have that don't know the Lord? When is the last time that we were able to share our testimony with one of our friends or loved ones? How often do we get to model Christ to someone who truly does not know Him?

We were all told to go into the world and preach the gospel. Too many of us are staying comfortable in our self-made bubbles and not venturing into the world.

Today, ask the Lord to show you someone who needs your Christian friendship. Ask God to send someone who is truly lost across your path. Open up your mouth and share your testimony with that loved one that you know needs Jesus. Take some time and show concern about someone's eternal well-being today.

Every day is an opportunity for us to be like Christ. We have the benefits of salvation and freedom from sin. There is a whole world out there that is dying to get what we have.

Verse of the Day: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

Family Time

After God created Adam, He realized that it wasn't good for Adam to be alone. Adam needed a family. He needed a wife to be his helper, and he needed children to fulfill God's command to "be fruitful" in the earth.

Cunningly, the family was where satan chose to strike first. Initially, he caused Adam and Eve's union trouble when he tempted Eve in the garden. As soon as God questioned their decision to disobey Him, Adam threw Eve under the bus blaming her for the whole thing. Then, when the pair had children, satan was able to use Cain's jealousy and turn it into a murder between brothers.

The rest is history.

All throughout the Bible there are stories of how families betrayed each other... how jealousy ripped families apart... how greed caused rifts between parents and children... how favoritism wreaked havoc... how pride brought pain...

The devil knows that if a family is able to remain a strong unit, they can do great things for the Kingdom of God. If a family is in harmony, they can spread more love and joy in the earth. If a family is whole, there is one less group of people who are too distracted with drama and negativity to pay him any mind.

God designed families. He purposefully put together families to bring Him glory.

Think about it: He chose Mary for a reason. He knew that she would accept the great task of bearing the Messiah. God chose Joseph to be Mary's husband knowing that he would do the honorable thing by her when she revealed that she was pregnant and not by him. When they worked together in harmony, they were able to facilitate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

Think about your family. There's a reason why you have the mother, father, sisters, brothers, grandmother, adopted parents, guardians, etc. in your life. It's no accident how you ended up the way you have.

The devil would love for you to focus on the family dramas - the slights, the attitudes, the forgetfulness, the grudges - in order for you not to have a fully functioning unit. He would love for you to bemoan the fact that you come from a broken home. He would love for you to focus on the abuse you suffered at the hands of a loved one. Satan would love for you to continue the bitterness toward your siblings that keeps you apart from them.

But God wants to use you and your family to bring Him glory. He wants to turn all the negativity around for your good. He wants to use the hurt to bring healing. He wants to transform the chaos to peace.

Today, bring your family up before the throne of God. Ask the Lord to show you what He had purposed when He gave you the family that you have. Ask Him to show you how to begin to heal whatever pains are there. Ask Him to show you how your family - as messed up as it may be - can bring His Kingdom glory.

God loves family. He wants all of us to enjoy our families. Yes, things may be difficult and trying, but all it takes is allowing the Lord to step into those difficult and trying spaces... Then you will see the glory of God.

Verse of the Day: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Daughter of the Most High

Last Sunday, my Apostle preached a powerful word about being a child of God. So often Christians continue to act 'normal' once they accept Christ.

We continue to have the same excuses. We expect the same mediocrity. We allow the ordinary to continue to be our regular routine.

But after we have accepted Jesus into our hearts, we become joint heirs to the Father with Him! We are children of the King of Kings! We should have no excuses, we should be experiencing the extraordinary on a daily basis, and the supernatural should be the most natural thing in the world to us!

We have an extraordinary God who views us as His sons and daughters. It would be one thing if we were just considered servants... even another if we were deemed friends... but we are a part of God's family! Let that sink in... God Almighty considered you family!

Family members get special access. They don't have to do things formally or put in special requests. Family can walk right in the house. They can put their feet up. They can have deeper conversations and share more intimate details others wouldn't share. Family partakes in the inheritance. Family gets the support when there is need. Family doesn't always have to explain or give special reasons for privileges.

We are a part of God's family. He considers you His child. Why should you think it's okay to struggle, be sick, have lack, or anything else negative in your life? God Almighty is your Father! He wants to take care of your every need! He wants to shower you with privileges only daughters and sons get!

Move out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary. Don't allow your life to be 'normal'. Tap into the abundant life Jesus spoke of when He was here. (John 10:10) Live your life to the max! Why not? You're a King's kid!

Verse of the Day: Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God... 1 John 3:1a

Thanksgiving Friday!

Praise God! We're still here, able to live and love on God's great earth.

I am thankful that today is Friday! I honestly feel like it was just Monday! Usually, it's the other way around. This week flew by, and I'm happy to see the weekend. I really want to take a long nap.

This week I am grateful for God's arms of love. I've had to run to them pretty much every day these past few weeks. He's always been there to help calm me down, encourage, uplift, and sustain me. You cannot get love better than this! Thank you, Lord, for your unfailing love.

I would also like to give God a special thank-you for blessing me with a sister. We may be polar opposites, she may (sometimes) get on my nerves, she may dislike how I always have a word of instruction... but I love her! I'm glad we figured out how to be around each other without constantly arguing and were able to spend some time together last weekend. I'm also proud of the fabulous woman she's become! Love you, Sis!

Finally, I'm thankful for God's peace. I know I've said it before, but having peace in my life is priceless! If I didn't have the peace of God... I don't even want to think about how my life would be. Lord, thank you for your blessing of peace!

What are you thankful for today? Make sure you send up a prayer of thanksgiving to your Heavenly Father today.

Verse of the Day: Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14

Hidden Gems

Today I would like to ask for all of your prayers concerning my father. Right now he is undergoing a barrage of tests. His doctor wants to re-verify what we are fighting to make sure that we’re using the right methods.


I look at this as a good thing. Who knows? God could have some new item revealed that makes a world of difference in my father’s treatment. Something that was overlooked originally could now pop out… I’m hopeful.

So, your prayers are greatly appreciated.

It’s interesting how sometimes we can go back and look at something and see things we never saw before.

I’ve taken the same route to work every day for the past three and a half years. Yet only recently did I notice that the highway passes by a place that manufactures army trucks. I just saw the parking lot full of them, and I couldn’t believe that I never noticed them before.

Sometimes God has to take us back down paths and show us things of value that we may have overlooked.

Samuel, led by God, had to press Jesse whether he had presented all of his sons when Samuel visited them on his quest to find the next king of Israel. Jesse had not even considered his youngest son David, and it was this young boy that God chose to lead the nation. (I Samuel 16)

Elijah had his servant go back numerous times to scan the skies for the signs of coming rains after about a three year drought. It was on the seventh time that the servant finally saw a cloud the size of a hand floating in the blue which signaled the coming deluge. (I Kings 18)

So, keep your spiritual eyes and ears open to the tug of the Holy Spirit. Even in those areas where you consider yourself an expert, God can reveal new things and bring you into a greater revelation of His love.

Verse of the Day: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. Daniel 2:22

Holiday Prep

This week, we are officially entering the holiday season!

For some, this is a joyous time full of family, friends, delicious dinners, special church services, volunteerism, and festivities. For others, this is a time of stress, worry, fighting, resentment, and depression. At times it might even be a mix of both joy and frustration. Funny how people can experience the same exact things but have different and opposite reactions to them.

This year let’s all try to remember what these holidays are about. We all have something to be thankful for. No matter how much so-and-so gets on your nerves every year at the holiday dinner, be grateful that you have family and friends to sit with at your table. Somewhere, someone is mourning the loss of a loved one.

Don’t stress over trying to create a blockbuster year for your family this Christmas. Remember that the day is not about how many gifts we can give. It’s about the one gift that our Heavenly Father gave to us in His son. No wrapped present can top the eternal life that we all have through Jesus.

Let this holiday season be a time to reflect on the goodness of the Lord. Remember all that He has brought you through this year and in times past. Show love to your family and friends while you still have them with you. Take some time out to offer the love of Christ to the one who doesn’t know Him.

Remember to laugh and enjoy yourself. It’s the holidays. Have some fun.

Verse of the Day: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16