Forgive? The struggle is real

Galatians 6:7-8

Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Do you feel like you always have to get back at the person who wronged you? Do you have a tough time forgiving? If that’s you, then the above verse should give you a wake-up call. We reap what we sow. Think about everything you did or said yesterday. Was it good or bad? We are reaping and sowing all the time. Good or bad. Makes you think doesn’t it? If you are constantly sowing bitterness, laziness, harshness and unforgiveness, that’s what you will eventually get in return. The verse above says that you will reap destruction. I know I don’t want to find out what that means. Most of us know someone who is negative. They never have anything good or positive to say, they’re always complaining and you never know what mood to expect. They are just miserable. I don’t even like being around people like that, let alone living that kind of life myself.

Choose to be like the second half of the verse. I choose to sow kindness, patience, encouragement and love. This doesn’t mean I’m perfect and I never get upset, believe me I do. Sometimes it takes a while to get to the forgiveness part, but I get there. I will not live a miserable life. I want to please God.

My encouragement for you today is that you sow great things so that you can reap great things. Treat people how you want to be treated. Show them respect. This will please the Spirit. 

Let it go... Let it go

Psalm 77:14 (NKJV)

You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. 

I’m writing this blog from sunny California and being out here has opened my eyes to some of our God’s marvelous works and wonders. In this week’s scripture we talk about our God who does wonders, and gives strength to His people. Los Angeles is a huge city but it’s surrounded by the most incredible mountains I’ve ever seen! When we were flying into LAX. I couldn’t stop smiling and just saying thank you Lord. Why was I thanking Him? Because He created this land and it’s gorgeous! 

So what does God’s wonders and him giving us strength mean to you? I know that there are times when I am weak. I need help. Sometimes it’s very hard to admit that I need help. I don’t want to admit that I can’t handle everything.  Sometimes I feel like I’m letting people down if I show signs of weakness.  Why do we feel this way?  For some of us we feel that we have to always be strong and never show signs of weakness or ask for help. Being a control freak about certain things has not helped. But God has been dealing with me in this regard. First, I’ve seen God do amazing things in my life and for people around me. If He does wonders for them, of course He’ll keep doing them for me!  Second, I know that we’re not meant to fight these battles alone. But I used to try. I have, well we all have the most powerful ally with us whenever we need Him. God declared his strength over us as the verse above states. It means He is with each and every one of us all at the same times and give us strength and courage when we need it. When we are weak, He is strong. When we can’t handle the pressure, He can. He takes all of our burdens if we give them to Him. I had a lot to learn about giving up control. But God has given me His strength, and I accept it. Does it mean that I’m not still a control freak? Nope. I am. But I also have chosen to give the stuff I know I can’t handle to the Lord and not try to be superwoman all the time. That’s exhausting!

My challenge for you is to look at your life and see if you’re trying to control every aspect of it. Are their things you’re holding onto that you need to release to the Lord? If there are, do it. Let it go! Don’t try to take on everything. Use the ally we’ve been blessed with – the Lord! 

New Year = New You

Psalm 25:15 The Message (MSG)

 If I keep my eyes on God, I won’t trip over my own feet.

Happy New Year!! I love this time of year. The holidays have always been my favorite. My excitement is escalated about the upcoming year. I know that 2016 will be my best year! What am I going to do to make sure of that? I’m getting out of my own way. I am a control freak to some degree. There are certain situations in my life that I’ve wanted total control of and I’m finally ready to do what Psalm 25:15 says and keep my eyes on God. God is my source. He is my plan. He is my everything. I’ve surrendered situations to Him, but then I pick it right back up if it’s not going the way I planned. But right now, I’m tired. I’m tired of going in circles. I’m tired of not having all of the Promises God has for me. I’m ready to stop letting Satan get in my head and I’m tired of believing his lies! I’m not the only one. I have many friends who feel the same way I do. I’m not saying that my life is terrible, because that’s not true at all. In fact I consider myself a blessed woman. But there are things I’m believing God for and I want it!

I encourage to take the same steps. It’s time to leave the past behind. Whatever is going wrong in your life doesn’t have to be permanent. Put your trust in the only one who can help you. Keep your eyes on God and he will do what He promises.

I want to put forth a challenge. When you are making your resolutions and thinking about what you want in the New Year, pray about it. Keep your eyes on God so you don’t trip over your own feet. 

Peace in the midst of chaos

John 14:27New International Version (NIV)

²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

This time of year can be very stressful. We worry about so many things, especially things that we have no control over. But we don’t have to. God promises us His peace. I sometimes worry about things that are happening in my life, my kids, my job, my career, and finances. I would really worry about the kids and finances around the holidays. I bought into the hype of the commercialism. Now we know the real reason for the season and even though I still sometimes struggle with these things, I’m not as bad as I used to be. Now when I feel the worry coming on I don’t let it overcome instead I turn to the Word of God and I speak it over my life. The peace I feel after talking to God is unmistakable and indescribable. I just feel all the weight lifted off. That peace only comes from God. Nothing and no one else in this world can give you that kind of peace.

 I encourage you today to not let this season stress or worry you. Instead enjoy your family and Jesus. Time with them is the most precious gift. My birthday is Christmas Eve, and I can’t imagine a better place to be than at church for our Christmas Eve candlelight service. That’s the best gift I’ve ever gotten.  

No excuses

Mark 12:30-31 (NIV)

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.31 The second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

Earlier this month I was invited to speak at an event to raise awareness to abuse, bullying, racism, and suicide. Unfortunately for me I've been personally affected by all of these things. The woman who put on the event called No Excuses was herself a victim of domestic violence, and it was such an emotional day. On the up side you have hope. Hope that events like this will not only bring awareness, but will help people overcome these awful things when they occur. Hope that someday people will believe that they are good enough, and no matter what anyone said and they believed that, and would not take their own lives. Hope that people who are physically abused will have the strength to walk away. Hope that those kids who are bullied are strong enough to take a stand and not allow those cowardly bullies to win. On the other side you have pain. I felt real pain for the mom who got up there and told the story of how her daughter was bullied on the ballfield and was so distraught that she took her own life at 12 years old! 12!! She had her entire life in front of her, and now she doesn't. She just wanted it to stop. She just wanted to play softball, have fun, make friends and be a typical 12 year old girl.

Now we have cyber-bullying to deal with as well. I believe it is such a cowardly thing to do, but so many people are victims of it. Not just kids, but adults as well. When I wrote my book Live Fearless, one of the testimonies in the book is about someone who had to overcome her fear of bullying. Not in the traditional way that we would believe, but she allowed negative things that people said to her to keep her in bondage. That's a form of bullying. People are extremely bold when they are sitting at a computer. I don't think that 98% of the people that cyber-bully would dare to say that if they were standing in front of you. But when you are attacked at every angle, everywhere you go, it can be really hard to try and deal with. As adults when we’re struggling with things, there are times when our faith waivers. I can’t imagine being a teen today and being cyber-bullied, bullied at school, on the ballfield or other event, and even sometimes at home by their own parents. Even the strongest of people would have a hard time trying to overcome that.

God says that the second most important thing is to love your neighbor as you would love yourself. If we as a society would live up to that more often than not, I can see a big shift taking place. Treat people the way you want to be treated. Be the hope that someone needs.

God your comforter

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ~ Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Some of us always have to be in control. We feel like if we're not in control, something will go wrong or we're going to miss something. We all want to feel needed and always being in control helps us feel needed. No matter what the situation good or bad, we worry, we stress, and we do everything in OUR power to fix it. That's part of the problem. The Bible says in Matthew 11:28 to give our burdens to God. What does that mean for you? It means that you don't always have to have it together. You don't have to have the perfect life. You never will. Being in total control can be very tiring. If things are not happening the way you want, you get tired of waiting, and trusting and believing. That's when it's time to let go and give it to God. Especially if it's something you have no control over anyway. I used to worry myself to distraction about issues in my life that I had no control over. Why was I doing that? My worry isn't going to change anything. I finally figured out that I needed to not only pray about it, but surrender it. That means truly releasing it to God and NOT picking it back up. (I'm still working on this part). I hate when I pick it back up. Especially when I didn't even realize that I've done it. I want to smack myself in the forehead like the V8 commercial! 

If you find yourself like me, always trying to be in control, and letting your burdens overpower your thoughts. I want to encourage you that you're not alone. We all struggle with this issue. The great thing about God is that you can surrender it back to Him anytime! You don't have to wait until Sunday. God is always with us. He's forgiving, and He wants to take our burdens. Let Him!  

The Worst Trouble the World Has Ever Seen

It will be a time of trouble, the worst trouble the world has ever seen. But your people will be saved from the trouble, every last one found written in the Book. Many who have been long dead and buried will wake up, some to eternal life, others to eternal shame. ~Daniel 12:2 The Message (MSG)

Things are happening very quickly today. There are many signs and wonders that Jesus is coming back very soon. Our world is in trouble. A lot of trouble. It seems as though everyday we’re hearing about some type of attack. A few weeks ago, it hit really close to my home. A man with a history of mental illness attacked people at a movie theatre. Thankfully, a very observant and perceptive police officer was able to handle the situation. For us Christians, this is a call to action. We need to save as many lives as possible. There are many ways to do that. You don’t just have to be in a pulpit. We’re all the light of God, and it’s our job to let our lights shine as bright as possible to bring people to Christ. This is not a difficult endeavor. All you have to do is live a righteous life. Being righteous doesn’t mean being perfect. It does mean being nice, by being a blessing, be forgiving and being encouraging. There are enough miserable people in this world. Why do you want to be part of that? I know I don’t! I’m going to enjoy this life! I’m also going to save others in the process. Not by my will, but by The Holy Spirit who lives in me. 

The last verse says “many who are long dead and buried will wake up, some to eternal life and others to eternal shame.” Which do you want for the people you love? I want to see my loved ones with me in heaven.