THE ART OF WAITING

 
 Did you ever wish God answered prayer more like an Amazon order? You phone it in and it arrives within hours or at least a few days after your request. 

I'm currently in the process of waiting for a huge prayer request for OVER two years. In that two year window God has answered my other prayers and petitions relatively quickly with answers ranging from a definite yes, a parental no or the very much dreaded...wait.

When God says not yet, I tend to allow discontentment, and disappointment take control of my emotions. Waiting for this length of time has led to hopeless moments when I felt like giving up and giving into the temptation to stop praying. Truth be told, I have been at this point in my faith journey many times before and if I've learned anything in my years as a follower of Christ is he is faithful and hears our prayers. "Don't fret or worry, instead of worrying pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers letting God know your concerns." (Philippians 4:6-7 MSG) On the flip side of discontentment is dissatisfaction, a better place to park your emotions. When we are not satisfied with the result we can choose to persevere. Moving forward with a positive mindset sets the stage for God to bless us while we wait. God is not in the business of instant gratification. He is a loving father who wants us to trust the outcome to him and his timing. He said we should shape our worries into prayers so here goes my prayer straight from the pages of scripture. "For the vision awaits the appointed time; it hastens to it's end, it will be fulfilled. It seems slow in coming yet I will wait for it. It will surely come. It will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3) Thank you Father God. Amen

As of this posting I am still praying and waiting, although, I see a light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how long it takes I will be waiting in expectant faith for God's answer. I believe "Nothing is impossible with God." ( Luke 1:37)

HOW TO MANAGE GIANTS

 

The other morning while I was enjoying my coffee and looking over the news headlines, I couldn't help but think how similar we are today to the Israelite's thousands of years ago. The slaves at that time were miraculously delivered from bondage to Egypt, led through parted waters by Moses and wandered through the desert for forty years until  God brought them to a land that was filled with milk and honey. A remarkable journey to freedom but their story doesn't end there. 

The people arrived at their destination and Moses assigned leaders from every tribe to go spy and scope out the lay of the land. Although they encountered plentiful crops, water and grazing fields for livestock their focus was on the giants. Mighty men who were decedents of Nephilim, savage warriors known for their ferocity. Instead of confidently taking over the land God himself promised them, they pulled back and cowered in fear. Were these giants real? Yes. Was fear a rational response? Yes, but something else was the underlying issue. A greater giant seized their minds. UNBELIEF. The leaders who were sent to scope out the land and bring back a report caved to doubt, putting mistrust into the minds of the people they were supposed to lead.  Only two men, Joshua an 85 years old warrior and Caleb, brought back a good report because they believed God's promise of provision in spite of the danger that was ahead.

I can look at our headlines and clearly see GIANTS. Chaos fills the news cycle and attacks our minds like arrows shot from the enemy's bows. Some days I'm tempted to despair. But then I remember the words God spoke to Joshua. " Be strong and courageous for you will bring the Israelite's into the land I promised." Moses, Joshua and Caleb saw the same obstacles the other leaders saw but they saw these so called giants through the eyes of faith in the power of God.

The take away I get from Numbers 13  in the Old Testament is how important strong leadership is to a nation. A minority with faith always outweighs the majority who fears. We need bold, God fearing leadership or we are doomed to failure. Thankfully, we have that kind of leadership in the White House now. 

So what can we do to handle the giants we are facing in the world today? I believe "We the People" have a monumental role to play as our 250 year journey continues. We need to back up our leaders with prayer every day and have faith that 'where two or more are gathered He is with us."  Show up and vote for responsible, intelligent men and women who serve with common sense. Be bold enough to stand against evil so the culture does not change the fabric of our country but that Jesus will change the culture.

  

 

GREAT EXPECTATIONS '2026'

  What if we began our New Years Resolution from a different perspective. What if we begin the year in an attitude of surrender instead of my way or the highway. What if we surrendered our plans, dreams, desires and expectations to God's will for our lives. What might that look like?

First of all, let's examine what it means to hand over control to the Creator of the Universe. When we choose to surrender our future into God's hands we are not giving up or giving in to someone who doesn't have our best interest at heart. On the contrary, we willingly turn over our small expectations for His greater plan for our future. "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and to give you a (great) future." Jeremiah 29:11

When we hold onto our wish list too tightly we are actually asking for second best. God's plan is far greater than anything we could ask for, hope for, or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)  Surrendering to God is a leap of faith. It demonstrates to our Heavenly Father how much we trust Him to keep his word and to take care of everything that causes us anxiety. Your finances are not as big as God's provision. "And God will supply all my needs...(Philippians 4:19) Your health is in the hands of the great physician. "And the prayers offered in faith will make the sick person well,,, (James 5:15)  Relationships? Love God with your whole heart and love others as yourself. (Mark 12:30-31)

The bottom line is...when we surrender our plans in exchange for God's will, we choose to partner with the King of Kings and invest in His kingdom and mission here on earth. All the success in Wall Street can't compare to what God offers now and eternally. "Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)

 

IF THE MOUNTAINS DEPART

 

It's amazing to me how quickly we have moved through the autumn season this year. I blinked my eyes and , poof...like magic, the orange, red and golden leaves had all blown off the trees leaving a stark grey reminder of the cold winter months ahead. It made me realize that like the changing seasons, our lives are in a constant state of transition. However, God's word assures us that no matter what is changing around us we are safe in His care. "The mountains may depart and the hills be removed but God's steadfast love shall never depart from us." (Isaiah 54:10)

This verse in the Bible really spoke to my heart about letting go of the past and fearlessly embracing what lies ahead. As we move from season to season in our lives we will experience good and bad times but God assures us that He is with us through it all. His love is constant and never changes.  "Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) Our good news take away is God's character is steadfast. His love for fallen humanity is unchanging. Our feelings and thoughts fluctuate but His stay firm.  No matter what we face going forward in life always remember God loves us, and cares about us, like a loving father. His thoughts for us are for good. He remains patient with us, always calling us back to faith. Look to Him for all your needs. His love is the one and only constant in our lives.

YOU ARE SPECIAL

Statistics say there are 7 billion people in the world.  In New York City alone there is a staggering 8 million!  You might think with all those people running around you would be nothing more then a spec and get lost in the mix.
           Think again..
Take a minute and look at your fingertips.  Those little lines and ridges you see there are all uniquely yours.  No one else in the world has the same pattern that you have.  And those tiny lines are exactly the same the day you are born as they will be the day you die. If that is not enough to make you feel special, here is something else to think about.  The Bible teaches us that the creator of the universe knows you by name and has numbered the hairs on your head.  "You" are special to God and just like your fingerprints are uniquely yours he has a personal plan for your life.

It does not matter if you are an atheist or a believer; you were created by God and there is a reason you are on planet earth right now. Think of it this way. The world you live in is God's great house. You are one of his treasures that he displays across the globe for an honorable or dishonorable cause.  Your life is not a question of whether or not he will use you but what will he be able to use you for?

Let me explain. Silver and gold are useless when they are first brought in from the field. The original compounds are full of impurities that make the metal unfit for use.  The silversmith must refine it and remove all the imperfections so it can be softened and shaped.  This process involves fire and very close attention by the smith. The metal goes in and out of the furnace until he can see his own reflection in it.

If you are up to the challenge the same process applies to you.  The problems and difficulties you face each day are part of the refining process God uses to get you ready for the special job he has for you.  Like the silversmith, he never takes his eyes off you because you are his work in progress. When you allow God to work out his amazing plan for you he will help you live up to a higher standard enabling you to become a vessel of honor fit for every good work.


In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.  If anyone cleanses himself of dishonor, he will become a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for God, prepared for every good work.  2 Timothy 20 - 21






  

ARE DEMONS REAL?

 Occult.?  Innocent fun?  Or Something More?

REVIVAL

 

The Apostle Peter wrote to us during a very dangerous time for Christians a few years after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. He said "The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that YOU MAY PRAY. "  Prayer is often overlooked, even by believers, but in reality it is a mighty weapon given to us to use against the attacks of the enemy. An interesting chapter in 2 Chronicles 20 in the Old Testament tells us about the importance of our battle formation when we pray.  King Jehoshaphat was preparing for war and appointed singers to pray as they walked in front of the army of warriors. Before the army engaged in warfare the prayer warriors thanked God for the victory- in faith- before anything happened and miraculously God's people won the battle. We need prayer warriors today who are not intimidated by the the jeering crowd of unbelievers who preach prayer is useless.

It is evident we are in the final days that Peter was talking about. As predicted thousands of years ago in the pages of the Bible, suffering, persecution and sometimes death has become the norm for Christians seeking a true, born-again relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A few weeks ago we witnessed the assassination of a young leader fighting a battle for our conservative values; highlighting faith, family and freedom. Young and old alike were listening to him tell the gospel story of love and forgiveness from a loving God who gave his only son to redeem us. A hater in the crowd, shot and killed him for his words. The following week, after this modern martyr's death, churches were filled with people coming back to repent and pray after years of hiding in the shadows afraid to speak up. Others rushed to the alter for the first time to ask Jesus into their hearts. Fear turned into courage and our squeaky voices became the roar of a mighty army. 

Unfortunately, the enemy of our souls has other plans. He wants to wreak havoc and cripple us with fear by using people filled with hatred to kill innocent believers while they gather to pray in churches across the country. If they can scare us away from prayer and worship their reign of terror will continue. But... if we cling to faith and pray they will be defeated. You might wonder why there is so much hatred of the gospel message? Over two thousand years ago, Jesus gave us the answer.  He said "If the world hates you, understand that they hated me first." (John 15:18) Thankfully, Jesus left us with instructions on how we need to live in these days that are increasingly evil. He told us to live intentionally.  Each one of us has a part to play as we commit ourselves to prayer and studying God's word...the Bible. Like other brave men and women who went before us we must be ready to tell our friends, family and co-workers why we have the hope that is burning inside us. While there is still time, God wants us to make the most of every opportunity so unbelievers hear the good news of salvation. Maybe you have not made a decision yet to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Maybe you have been holding back for fear of losing friends or your job. Don't let the negative mindset of fear stop you. Jesus is calling you right now to be part of his family of believers.  "If you declare with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heat God raised him from the dead you will be saved ( Romans 10:9 ) 

PRAYER   Father God, I receive Jesus Christ as my Savior, I ask forgiveness for my sins and I choose to walk with you forever. I am yours now and always.  Amen
 

DEEP DIVE

I used to scuba dive in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean. I remember the feeling of excitement as the boat, filled with other enthusiastic divers, made its way miles away from the dock. Once we arrived at our destination we donned our gear, checked our air regulators and sat on the side of the boat waiting our turn to fall over backward into the cool ocean water. 

It usually took me a few minutes to realign my focus while I watched schools of barracuda and yellow jacks hang around the new arrivals watching and listening to us bubble and hiss from our air tanks. Two by two, we paired off with our dive buddies, and began our decent into the unknown.

As we went deeper we needed to be acutely aware of our surroundings. The coral reefs were beautiful but the water beyond was murky, hiding predators, and our vision was blurred. Our focus also needed to be on our air regulators that let us know how much air we were using while periodically we had to check our compass so we didn't get lost or go to far from the boat. Things tend to get confusing when your swimming at deep depths. Diving is a great adventure and lots of fun but safety is paramount. If we don't follow the rules for safe diving our lives could be in danger.

Actually, we can learn a lot from scuba diving when it comes to our spiritual lives above the surface. As we navigate life, we need to check our equipment...our minds and hearts...and stay sharp. Life can be going well, but beyond what we can see an enemy is prowling, hoping to catch us off guard. The Bible clearly warns us of danger and how to navigate the issues we face everyday. "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1Peter 5:8 )  Spiritual warfare is nothing new, its been affecting believers from the beginning of time. Our best defense is to be alert to our surroundings. Make sure you are not drifting away from God's protection and into sin that has the power to devour your soul.  When God tells us to be sober minded he means to live our lives deliberately, making sure we are staying within the perimeters set by his teachings. Don't neglect prayer when your life is going well. Be prayed up and ready. God's words, in the Bible, are our compass to keep us from getting lost and falling for the worlds errors. We live in a beautiful world but beyond what our physical eyes can see is a dangerous enemy who glorifies sin and mocks faith. 

My advice to fellow believers...Check your surroundings. Stay focused. Be sober minded. Pray. Read the Bible and be vigilant to do what it says. Why? Your life depends on it.

PERSCRIPTION FOR HEALING

 Last summer began like most other years. I was healthy, happy and absolutely sure I had all the pieces to my health puzzle together. My blood work was up to date. I was exercising regularly and feeling good, having no issues to write home about...until...my left leg swelled to twice its normal size. No pain. No warning. Just swollen.  I knew immediately it was a blood clot. After rushing to the ER and having an ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis, I was informed that I was fortunate this clot did not travel to my heart lungs or brain and cause a major stroke or in many cases death. The doctor handed me a prescription for a tiny pill to thin my blood and keep the clot stationary. Seriously!! This little pill against a clog that could break loose and cause catastrophic damage or even death !!! Crazy thing was, I took the pills without question, expecting them to work their magic on this silent killer.  

In spite of what the doctor said I didn't think luck had anything to do with the outcome of this blood clot. As a Christian I knew it was God's hand upon my life that had kept me alive. Having a near death experience got me thinking about what the Bible says about our health and healing.

PROVERBS 4:20-21  "Attend to God's word, incline your ear to them, don't let them depart from before your eyes, and keep them in the midst of your heart. FOR THEY ARE LIFE TO THOSE WHO FIND THEM, AND HEALTH TO ALL THEIR FLESH."  In other words, read the word, particularly healing scriptures. Think about them. Meditate on them. Commit them to memory. Eventually, His word will work it's way deep into your spirit and you will not be shaken by the fear of illness. 

• First off, God's word is a healing agent. It has power and is active to produce whatever it promises. Like natural medicine, the word of God when applied to the situation is the catalyst to healing of our bodies. His word and a pharmacists pill both have the capacity to produce healing when taken according to the prescription.
  
• Second. Medicine is no respecter of persons.  It works for anyone who takes it. God is willing to heal anyone who asks and applies the "medicine" of his word to their spirit. 
• Third.  Most importantly, medicine must be taken according to the directions to be effective. We can't take our meds once a day when the prescriptions clearly says take the medicine with three meals. So it is with God's medicine. Become a daily reader of healing scriptures and watch your mind and body respond with positive energy and health.
• Fourth. It takes time for medicine to work. Most people give natural medicine time, patience, and money as they wait for physical improvement. They go back to the pharmacy for refills as prescribed, being diligent to do as the doctor instructs. God is our great physician who created us and knows us inside and out. Keep reading, and digesting God's word and believe it will work the healing God intends.

 Listed are some healing scripture to get you started.

PSALM 107:20       ISAIAH 4:12    HEBREWS 4:12   EXODUS 23:25   DEUTERONOMY 7:15

PSALM 30:2    MARK 11:24    PSALM 42:11     PSALM 91    PSALM 103:2-3  

There are many more verses  in the Bible concerning physical healing. Look them up on Google and check out John Hagee healing scriptures and Joyce Meyers healing scripture print outs.

UNDER THE SURFACE

Its summer and swimming in the murky ocean water is a past time most of us enjoy. I like to hit the freezing water and ride the waves just like I did as a kid. It's all fun and games until I begin to hear those few musical notes, playing over and over in my mind, from the 1970's movie JAWS. All of a sudden panic strikes and I find myself struggling to sprint out of the water as fast as possible, imagining I'm being followed by a great white. Crazy how our thoughts affect our emotions even when we know our terror is ill-founded.

Fear sells movies but when it comes to our lives, fear has the power to cripple our faith. In the Bible, God tells us to "Fear Not" 365 times; a daily reminder. Whether its fear of failure, rejection, the unknown, or of not measuring up to expectations, this emotion can render us helpless when we fall for its intimidation tactics. Fear is used by the enemy (Satan) to trick us into doubting God's good plan for our lives. "God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of POWER, LOVE and  a SOUND MIND." (2Timothy 1:7)

The feeling of fear is universal, an inescapable emotion built into our DNA to keep us alert when we perceive danger. However, God has already equipped us with his strength, love, and mental clarity to face whatever situation has us terrified. No doubt, fear is a formidable foe and runs the gamete from stomach flutters to full blown panic attacks. So...how do we counter balance the inevitable dread of bad news.   

FAITH always trumps fear.  "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6)  We need to believe God cares about us and He is in control, no matter how bad our situation looks. I'm not suggesting blind optimism, wishful thinking or a naive denial of our misfortunes. I'm saying, we have to anchor our belief to God's promises, not our circumstance. Faith is our choice to rely on God's faithfulness even before we get the good report we are hoping for. 

We all face difficulties during our lifetime and fear will always be lurking under the surface of our thoughts but anxiety, dread and terror can't drag us under and drown us in despair when we believe God is in control and bigger than our worst nightmares. "For nothing will be impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)

IS THIS REAL? PROVE IT

 The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of our Christian faith but for some of us, it's a sticking point where doubt clouds our vision. The Bible tells a story about doubting Thomas, one of Jesus closest followers before his death and crucifixion. This guy was part of the inner circle. He spent intimate time with Jesus and his chosen twelve. He saw Jesus heal the sick, walk on water, cure diseases and raise a man from the dead, yet he wasn't on board 100%. The night Jesus died Thomas ran away and hid. He ended up not being around when the Resurrected Savior appeared to the disciples. When they told Thomas about this supernatural event he scoffed at them like they were delusional. 

"Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side I will not believe." (John 20:25 ) 

A week passed until the disciples were in the house again, and this time Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked , Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."  Then he said to Thomas , "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side  Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God." Jesus didn't condemn him, or shame him. Instead he challenged Thomas to stop doubting and believe.

Have you ever been there, where part of you believes but the other part is screaming Prove It.  I have.

 Like Thomas, I was supposed to know Jesus. I was raised Catholic. I went to church. I knew the Bible. I professed to believe...just not 100%.  One day, many years ago, I came to a tipping point in my life. I was broke, raising two children and my marriage was a disaster. My relationship with my husband hit rock bottom and we were headed for divorce. In desperation I cried out to Jesus. I literally prayed "God, if you are real,,,do something with this mess of my life." I ended the prayer and walked away disillusioned, confused, my heart full of doubt, and a mind overflowing with questions. The crazy thing was, Jesus showed up. Shortly after praying that prayer, even though I did not believe God heard me or cared, I started to read the Bible. Little by little my mindset and attitude changed. First, toward the reality of a God who sent his son to die for my sins, and secondly toward my relationship with my husband. He saw the change in me and began his own reading program drawing him closer to Jesus. Needless to say, its been 56 years and we are still together, navigating the ups and downs of marriage with the Resurrected Jesus. In effect, I did what Thomas was told to do...stop doubting and start believing.  When Jesus was finished proving himself to Thomas he said,"Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29)

THREE TIPS TO JUMP START YOUR DAY

How many of my fellow readers wake up most mornings stressed out after another restless night of anxiety? You roll out of bed, grab a quick cup of coffee and mindlessly check the internet (again), looking to find a solution for your multitude of problems. Then, in a fog like trance, you come back to reality realizing you are late for work and  have just enough time to throw on some clothes before rushing out the door to begin another hectic day. On and on we go, day after day, running on the same burned-out emotions, getting nowhere.

 Stop! 

I have good news and a few tips to change your emotional chaos into supernatural strength.

First.  Change the way you do mornings. Just coffee, and your Bible. Jesus invites us to sit and have coffee with him. He says, "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will share a meal together as friends." (Revelation 3: 20 NLT)  Spending mornings with Jesus is an invitation, not an obligation.The Creator of the Universe is asking you to take a few minutes from your hectic life to center yourself on him. In exchange for your chaos, He offers you peace. If you need less drama in your life, and who doesn't, talk to Jesus.

Second.  God doesn't just want a surface "hi and goodbye", and you're out the church door Sunday mornings. He wants a relationship where you get comfortable, everyday, speaking to him and confiding in him like you would a trusted friend. As I found out when I started having coffee with Jesus, he actually wants to help us with difficult decisions. "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives it generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to you."( James 1:5)  Maybe you feel lost and need guidance or direction for your life. Jesus promises to help you navigate the choppy waters of everyday living in the 21 st century. "I will guide you along the best pathways for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8)

Third.  Spending time to center you thoughts in the word of God will help you anchor yourself in God's truth and the things that really matter. We become less stressed when we connect with God so we can refill our mugs and recharge our focus.  If you are tired of being strung out...have coffee with Jesus. He is the answer you need. I could go on and on. There are literally 7,487 promises in the Bible written for you. That equals one promise a day for the next 20 years of your life. If you open the door of your heart to Jesus and believe he wants you to have an abundant, blessed life, He will provide all you need.

FAKE NEWS

"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves."(Matthew 7:15)

Remember as kids we were told little white lies were no big deal? If you think back to those days, maybe you thought your "fibs" were not that bad. However, in time you might have gotten comfortable fabricating the truth, first to your parents in order to stay our of trouble, then as you grew up the white lies grew in size too, until you were comfortable with fudging your resume to get your dream job or telling an outright lie to your spouse as to why you got home from work so late. Lies, like all other sin grows and mutates and can become habitual when left unchecked reeking havoc in our relationships and lives. No wonder Satan is called the father of lies.

Deception is not confined to our own private lives, it is an invasive intruder, and over the years has crept into the very fabric of society eroding our trust at all levels including our marriages, parenting, national government and our source of information...the news media. The information we ingest has conditioned us to accept the broadcasters word as gospel although many times we are being fed propaganda making it almost impossible to tell truth from lies. To further complicate matters we now have AI altering the images we see for the purpose of  controlling the narrative. Why you might wonder would our leaders and journalists want to deliberately give us false information that manipulates our thoughts? Simply put...the wolf is in the sheep pen.

How are we to discern the signs of the times if we are constantly being gaslighted? How can we keep our families safe when our leadership does not have our best interest at heart? There is only one source of ABSOLUTE truth. Jesus said to those who believed Him "If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the TRUTH and the TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE." (John 8:31-32)

God is saying when we accept His teaching, and obey the gospel message we will understand the truth and that wisdom will free us from error. If you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, don't become discouraged by the evil that is surrounding us in the world. Get connected with a Bible believing church and allow God to fill you with the Holy Spirit, the source of all truth. 

The good news is...its never too late to get ourselves right with God. "If we confess with our mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts God raised Him from the dead we will be saved." Romans 10:9

WHAT ARE YOU FOCUSED ON

 Our thoughts have incredible power. We think our minds are our own private space but whatever is going on in our heads eventually comes out in our words and actions exposing the demons we are trying to hide. 

If you have been focused on anger, bitterness or hatred at the way someone spoke to you or treated you and keep playing it over and over in your mind those feelings will take root, like an invasive weed in a flower garden, until it is almost impossible to pull out. There are countless other scenario's and you probably know first hand how these emotions lock you into a self made prison cell within your mind. 

So how do we get our negative thoughts, feelings and emotions to line up with positive action. 

The Bible calls it the Renewing of your Mind.  Simply put, we choose to let go of the offensive words and forgive the offender instead of holding onto it. Let it go. Think about how many things the Lord has forgiven you for and forgive on purpose. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Hebrews 9:11 

Your bad attitude won't just magically disappear. It will raise it's ugly head over and over again but each time it does say a little prayer for the person who hurt you. When we take that small step of obedience, God takes care of the rest. When we focus on what God says in the Bible our lives find positive reinforcement. After all...It's easier to pick flowers than it is to pull weeds.

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

With all the news feeds, opinions, and op-ed's floating around the internet it's no wonder our minds are on information overload. The way we all tend to shoot off our mouths you would think we were the most informed, understanding and wise generation that ever graced planet earth with our intelligence.

All joking aside... the wisest people among us are not those who have thousands of likes and views on their social media feeds. They are not those of us who have spent years and years studying in the top universities to acquire their Doctorate. 

According to God, wisdom and understanding are something tangible, profound, and much more personal.

In James 3:13  God asks us us a point blank question..."Who  among you is wise and understanding? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom." 

God's wisdom has nothing to do with how many degrees we can list next to our names. The wisest people in the Kingdom of God are not those of us who are considered the smartest. Instead, wisdom is applied to the people who put God and others first in their lives. In the Bible humility has to do with servant hood. The verse goes on to say "wisdom is pure, peace-loving, considerate , submissive, full of mercy, good fruit, impartial and sincere." Wow! What an incredible list of character traits we should all aspire to.

God also tells us if we lack wisdom to ask Him for it and he will give it to us generously. We are to imitate God who is always ready to forgive us for our sins when we confess our failures and turn away from our transgressions. Because of his mercy and faithfulness he encourages us when we're down, leads us when we have lost our way, and loves us even when we don't deserve it. To boil it down, if you want to be considered wise,  "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." (Matthew 7:12) WISDOM IS LOVE IN ACTION.
 

PERSPECTIVE IS EVERYTHING

 

"Into each life some rain must fall." This timeless phrase comes from a classic jazz song sung by Ella Fitzgerald and quickly became an anthem for everyone who perseveres through hardships. We certainly don't look forward to having setbacks in our lives but the good news, when we have Jesus as our anchor, we always come out victorious. 

Rain and storms symbolize hardships...so when the rain starts falling it's best to get our focus on the One who helps us in our time of need. The Bible gives us lots of perspective on adversity when it hits home. 

1) When trials come...REJOICE.  That sounds crazy but our reaction to trouble when it hits will show our enemy, Satan, we choose to trust God with the outcome and we refuse to cave to fear of our circumstances.

2) Obstacles, big and small, test our faith. "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11: 6)

3) Faith produces steadfastness that empowers us to stand firm, immovable, confident in God. When we make it through, God tells us we are perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 

Best of all, the promise of victory is found in First Peter Five verse Ten  "After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen , and establish you."  So remember...when bad news comes... perspective is everything so hang on and..DANCE THROUGH THE STORM.

HOPE IS ON THE HORIZON

It's crazy how much time I invest in doomscrolling or doomsurfing as it's called. Seriously. It is a term that means excessively scrolling through bad news on social media. I get it. I'm guilty of it... but there is very little good news anymore. The world we live in is black as pitch especially when you look at current events through a secular worldview. The main stream media has us constantly on high alert as we wait for the next traumatic event to light up the computer screen. We are bombarded with statistics on crisis fatigue and we wonder where and when all the chaos will end. 

Let me give you some good news. When we are feeling most burned out by the events surrounding our lives and what we read on social media that is precisely the moment when we must push back harder in prayer. I'm talking warfare prayer. On our knees. Focused. Thankful. Filled with Faith. Think of the world you see on the news today as a smoke screen. It's the enemy trying to keep us filled with fear and dread about the future. Instead, look around...we are winning these battles. Think about all the positive things that are being exposed to the millions and millions of us who are waking up to see who is creating all the problems. There is no doubt we are engaged in a spiritual war for our country, our people and our faith and we need to engage the enemy with spiritual weapons of war. Make no mistake, God is working behind the scenes and in faith we need to keep looking at the horizon.

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer . (Romans 12:12)
 

THIS PRESENT DARKNESS...has a bright side

 Did you ever notice when a storm is brewing you can feel your skin prickle, taste the presence of danger in the air, smell the incoming chaos, and watch the storm rumble to life from afar off. I've been in Florida during a hurricane and the day before was bright, sunny and beautiful...not a cloud in the sky. However, the weather forecaster acted like the sky was falling. I have to admit, its during these uncertain moments that I feel most unsettled not knowing if our family should evacuate or shelter in place. For me its the same hair raising, heart pumping feeling I get when I consider the changes in our political atmosphere. Are we rushing headlong into a New World Order or is it all hype to keep us in constant fear and dependent on our leaders.

Being prepared when a natural disaster is at your door and in the face of our ever changing world can set our nerves on edge. Inflation, food shortages, voter insecurity and widespread corruption are blowing through our beloved country at an alarming rate. We are bombarded with the latest conspiracies and conflicting news on a daily basis and its becoming impossible to discern truth from lies. 

However, behind all the lies, more and more people are realizing something sinister is coming. Will it be the grid going down, a civil war, a terrorist attack in our own country? The question we need to ask ourselves becomes...where will we hide when the storm makes landfall? 

Will we cower at the feet of our leaders like we did during the pandemic or will we run to the cross and trust the promises of God, even while the winds are raging out of our control around us.  Yes, we are living in uncertain times but God "Is the same yesterday, today and forever."

We can be sure of three things... (1) God loves us (2 )His promises are trustworthy and reliable (3) God is working on our behalf, no matter what our circumstances look like. The most powerful thing we can do during dark times is Speak God's Promises Over Our Lives . Words are powerful weapons. Below are a few of His promises to get you started.

"In the shelter of your presence you hide us from all human conspiracies; you keep us safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues." Psalm 31:20 

"You must not fear them, for the Lord your God Himself fights for you."  Deuteronomy 3:22

"When I am afraid I will trust in You."  Psalm 56:3

"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid ?" Psalm 27:1

"The Lord is the one who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8

There are many more promises in the Bible. As a matter or fact, there are 365 verses that tell us not to fear! A verse to help us face life with courage every day of the year. As for me...I am choosing to trust my God and His promises of protection, provision and faithfulness written in His book to us for such a time as this.

 

FILL YOUR BUCKET LIST WITH TREASURE

If you're like 99% of the population you believe life is all about being happy. The magic formula to living that euphoric existence is to work hard at realizing your dreams. With so many options we spend countless hours getting a better education, so we can land the perfect job, then  make tons of money to buy lots of stuff, and eventually have a bigger and better bank account as the years fly past.   Finally, when we reach retirement we can kick back and enjoy everything we worked so hard to achieve to make us" happy."

Don't get me wrong...I'm right there with you, with my personal "Bucket List" overflowing.  But I found an old Arabian Tale that might shed some perspective on our priorities.

Three merchants were traveling across the desert on camels to a great city.  Suddenly they heard a heavenly voice say, "Stop riding!" The men stopped.  The voice continued, "Get off your camels and gather up some sand in your hands."  The men obeyed.  The voice continued, "Hold the sand in your hands for the rest of the journey."  The men did as the supernatural voice commanded.  As you can imagine it was not an easy ride, but they made it to their destination.  When they opened their hands they saw that the sand they were holding had turned into jewels!  They were ecstatic, but at the same time lamented, "If only I had known; we would have gathered up so much more sand while we had the chance."

Life is full of opportunities, yet sometimes we don't realize how valuable those opportunities were until it's too late.  Jesus tells us,"Don't hoard treasure on earth where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or -worse!- stolen by thieves.  Stockpile treasure in heaven where it's safe..."

Fortunately, it's never to late to start filling our "Bucket Lists" with eternal treasure.  The bible tells us no deed will go unrewarded - even a cup of cold water to a stranger, a kind word to a hurting soul, or a prayer for your enemy in the middle of the night.

How big is your Bucket?

Scripture Reading:  Revelation 22: 12,  Mark 9:41 
                                

WAITING FOR A MIDNIGHT MIRACLE

It's Christmas again and this year you might feel the magic and wonder of the season has faded, leaving you empty and disillusioned.

Maybe your life has taken a nose dive and you find yourself skidding out of control into the midnight hour, that black hole of hopelessness, where even your last chance has disappeared into a dark and disappointing future.

 We have all experienced setbacks from time to time that leave us feeling depressed and defeated. It's at that critical point of despair that we need a reminder that "nothing is impossible for God." Allow me to tell you a true story of a man who lost all hope and hit rock bottom.

Steven Lavaggi was a successful graphic designer, with a beautiful wife and young son. He was up and coming in the competitive business world with tons of talent and plenty of potential. He was a rising star until his life fell apart. One day, Steven's wife unexpectedly left him for a Rolling Stone magazine writer. Steven was left to raise their son alone, who was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.With the challenges of caring for his child, Steven lost his edge and his budding business. As bills mounted, his life began swirling out of control. In desperation, Steven turned to God for help. He was abandoned, broke, and filled with worry; only a miracle could put his life back together.

So one night, sitting on his bedroom floor, he began searching the Bible for answers. As he read about God's love and His gift to the world ( His only son Jesus,) Steven Lavaggi gave his life to God. In that moment he was forever changed. As he began to follow God's plan for his life he developed a passion to create hope for people around him. Since he lived without hope for a while, he knew how powerful hope could be when it came flooding in. After reading Psalm 91:11 ("for He will give his angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways.") he used his talents to paint an angel.

A friend encouraged Stephen to make the angel three dimensional, so he worked with a sculptor to cast the image. The first edition of those sculptures were an instant sensation, but God had an even greater plan. Later, while speaking in South Africa as a guest of Parliament, Steven held up one of the angels to a crowd of 3,500 people. The sculpture had a black patina finish, and when the audience saw it they jumped from their seats in joy. He was told that a few days before a preacher declared, "One of the things we need is for international artists to express the love of God through art, perhaps even painting angels' in black."

When he heard this Lavaggi grabbed a white angel and held it over his head and said, "These angels were created to be like brothers and sisters, as we are supposed to be." Later, as he thought about that moment , he decided to call the sculptures The Angels of Reconciliation. That set of angels was sold at auction and were presented as a gift to Nelson Mandela. Today, Steven is known as the "Artist of Hope", and his work is seen all over the world.

God has a plan and purpose for each one of us. Your problems may be mounting along with the bills but God is bigger than anything you might be facing in your life right now. ANYTHING. Luckily for us, God does not sleep during the dark midnights of our lives. He does some of His best work when all hope is gone. Every day is a new beginning with God and the possibilities are endless. Miracles' still happen to ordinary people like you and me. The thing is, we stopped expecting them.


 PRAYER...
Lord God and Heavenly Father, I come before you today broken and afraid. I turn my life over to you and trust that you have made a way for me through the darkness. I'm open to your plan, even if it's not what I envisioned because I believe nothing is too hard or wonderful for you to accomplish in me.
In Jesus name. Amen

Scripture reading
John 3:16
Psalm 3:2-6
Luke 18:35-43
Psalm 91