It's Raining, It's Pouring

This week I stood in the doorway looking out at the relentless falling rain and was immediately reminded of an experience I had a couple of years ago. I had to run into the grocery store to grab a couple of things before picking up my son from rehearsal. It was just sprinkling, so I dashed inside. However, when I came out of the store it was pouring, and I was without my umbrella. I hesitated. Should I wait it out or make a run for it? I decided to run for it. Halfway to my car, an image flashed across my mind. It was from a rainy day when I was a kid.

My friends and I were in our bathing suits covered in mud. When the rain started, we had all run inside to put on our bathing suits and meet up for the best softball game EVER! We didn't care who won. (I know...those of you who know me are thinking, "yeah, right," but it's true!) The object of this game was not about scoring runs...it was about sliding into first (yes, I know that is not allowed), and diving to catch the ball. We were breaking all the rules that day. After all, we were outside playing ball in the RAIN! We were out to get muddy and enjoy every drop of that rain.

So when did I stop thinking rain was so FABULOUS?

Before I reached my car, I just had to stop. I held my arms out with my groceries and all and lifted up my face to really take it in. People probably thought I was CRAZY...but I didn't care. I just wanted to hit the pause button and enjoy the rain. 

One of my favorite quotes is:

"Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain." 

Life is filled with storms. If you haven't experienced one, you will. Storms come in all shapes, sizes, and intensities. There are little pop up showers like a disagreement with a friend, a flat tire, or a banking error. You feel it, but it passes quickly. Then there are those storms that come into your life and turn your world upside down. You find yourself in the middle of a relational typhoon, a financial tsunami, or a health monsoon like cancer or chronic fatigue. These are the storms that knock the breath out of you and leave you struggling to stand.

One thing is certain...life is filled with storms. The question is not will we have storms, but what will we do when the storms come? Will we stop living when they come, OR do we learn to dance in the midst of the rain? I don't know about you, but I don't want to stand by waiting for the storms to pass. I want to get out there and DANCE!!!!

Next time it's raining I'm gonna

Look up, mouth open wide...

Stretch my arms out to take it in...

I may even break out in song!

One thing is for sure...

I'm gonna DANCE!

Wanna join me?

Taste the Goodness of God

On a recent visit to my childhood home, I found myself over-enthusiastically sharing some of my favorite things and memories with my husband. My eyes widened as we approached a chocolatier that I frequented when I was young. A flood of “sweet” memories immediately came to mind. This place served the best chocolate covered popcorn I had ever tasted! What made it even more magical when I was a child was that they gave me FREE SAMPLES of one of my favorite treats! Needless to say, as an adult, I was so excited to share it with someone else (especially someone with a strong affinity for sweets), so he could experience the same delight. 

As I experienced all of the emotions of sharing the special landmarks and food spots, I began to think about how this same idea applies to our relationship with God.  

Psalm 34:1-2 (ESV)

"I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.”  

David is describing his commitment to verbally communicate the truth of God’s goodness. The same way that I constantly talk about and praise some of my favorite things, David delights in and enjoys God so much that he can’t help but talk about Him! Verse 8 says, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” The goodness of God is real to David - as real and exciting as those places and things I was so eager to share. The same way I urged my husband to taste and see how good the chocolate covered popcorn was, David is urging us to experience the goodness of God. 

So how do we know that God is good and that He is worth sharing? David himself answers this question.

Psalm 86:5, 10-12 (ESV)

“For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.” 

He loves you! And His word and the Christian community are full of the proof that He has done great and wondrous things. There’s nothing that we could taste, see, or experience that deserves our praise and affection more than the God that David so beautifully describes.

A friend told me a couple of weeks ago that she had the opportunity to go to an evangelism seminar, and at the end of it, they went out into their community to share the gospel. She explained how nervous she was and how she felt like she would fail at sharing her faith. As I talked to her, a story came to mind.

I was sitting in my favorite restaurant (one that I had successfully brought every single one of my local friends or visiting friends to) and a stranger began a conversation with me. Apparently, she had already identified my enthusiasm for this restaurant and thought that I would be the person to ask for help before she ordered. I proceeded to share all of my favorites, telling her the things that she absolutely had to try, and she smiled at my excitement.

As I talked to her, I realized how much the Kingdom would grow if we all had as many passionate conversations about the Creator as we do about His creations. True, it might be easier to convince someone to try something at your favorite restaurant than it is to convince them to take a step toward Jesus, but the good news is, you don’t have to persuade or convince, you just have to be a witness to the sweetness of who our Father is.

Count the Cost

2018 is here, filled with possibilities! Opportunity and a fresh start are the values we find in the coming of a new year, but really every new day offers the same promise. Any chance we get to move forward and leave the past behind is a path worth taking, and the option is given to us each day.

What are your goals?

It seems everyone is looking for motivation and inspiration to accomplish their goals and objectives this year. Surely you have considered areas of your life that need improvement, steps you should take in your growth journey with the Lord, and ways to love and lead your family better. You may also have occupational targets you want to hit, physical wellness milestones to reach, and perhaps a new hobby or recreational activity you’d like to pursue.

Every time I set new goals for myself, I tend to be ambitious. I believe I can accomplish anything I set my mind and heart to, and I believe in my God who is for me. Philippians 4:13 serves as a constant reminder of our potential with Jesus as our strength. However, around this time of year, I am also reminded of what the word potential really means. As an influential leader in my life says, “Potential just means you haven’t done squat yet.”

How will you accomplish those goals?

In order to accomplish the goals and objectives you have for yourself, you actually have to put in the time, energy, and effort necessary to achieve desired results. It will not be easy because life never gets easier, but anything can be done with the strength of Jesus and unwavering determination to make this year different. The hope of better, not easier, is the promise of Jesus in John 16 when he assures his disciples that he will send the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to be their peace and their guide.

It is never easy to change, but it is always necessary. No one is ever meant to stay the same. Some people tend to resist change while others thrive on it. I think we can all agree change sounds good at times, but we ultimately end up resisting or quitting when difficulty and unwillingness emerge. Another quote I read recently reminded me of what’s really going inside of us when necessary changes become apparent:

“It costs what it costs. Greatness never goes on sale.”

Is it worth the risk?

You have the desire, God is on your side, and the new year presents a clean slate. However, any change, any desired result, any step of growth, any new commitment – they all have price tags. It will cost you. It may be more than you’re willing to pay, and the price is never reduced. With every goal you set, you have to weigh the real costs involved.

If you truly want to grow spiritually this year, that goal will cost you all the selfishness that held you back last year. If you truly want to see your body change, that goal will cost you the laziness and lack of discipline that has hindered your results in the past. If you want to be a better husband, a better mother, a better friend, or a better leader, you will have to give up the attitudes and behaviors that have derailed your progress time and time again.

You don't have to do it alone!

One of the great mysteries of the gospel is that God never forces us to do anything. The opportunity to choose Him and to choose His will for our lives is a precious gift, but it’s a gift we often mismanage. It would be easier if we had no decisions to make and God forced us to live in a way that pleases Him. Nevertheless, He allows us to choose, and it’s always easier to pick ease and comfort over surrender and uncertainty.

God never shows us everything that’s ahead, and the path towards His plans and purposes for our lives is never the smoothest option. Philippians 4:6-7 instructs us about how to respond when we are forced to lean on God and trust His character and nature over our insecurity and doubt.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

It’s a new year. Change is inevitable. Plentiful opportunity lies before you. Worthwhile change will cost you. Pay the price, whatever it may be. Goals that come with a cheap price tag are not goals worth having. God will be glorified, and you will be satisfied in the choice to honor Him. Live an obedient, surrendered life this year. Commit your activity to the Lord and your plans will succeed. You will never regret living God’s way.

Looking for more inspiration for the new year?

Check out "Here's to Being Intentional"!

To Love One Another - NOT just because “Tis the Season”

“God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life,” John 3:16. Through the Holy Spirit, loving others should be easy, right? For me, it depends on the day. Ha!  That sounds crazy, but it’s true.

There are days when loving others comes easy, and then there are days when loving others is more challenging than running. If you know me, you know running is no easy task! I’ve found the most challenging time for me to love others is during a time of pain or struggle. 1 Peter 1 tells us to rejoice in times of trials. If we have the Lord in our heart, we will have everlasting peace in Heaven.   

Loving others is a little easier through the power of the Holy Spirit than trying on our own. I am not saying loving one another will be easy...living life is not easy especially disconnected from the Lord. What does it mean to LOVE? 1 Corinthians 13 paints a picture of how we should love others. Love is described as patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not dishonoring, not self-seeking, not keeping record of wrongs, not delighting in evil but REJOICING in the Truth. Love protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres. We are then reminded that love never fails.  

God actually explains love as a selfless act. To be able to love another is to put others before yourself. Think on this: Would you be willing to lay down your life for a friend? How about an enemy? God loved us, He gave us - undeserving and sinful - a model, Jesus, in the flesh without sin to be our Savior. Jesus died and rose from the grave to save us, you and me, not himself.  

So, how are you doing loving others? Not just because it is the Christmas season, and most of us are joyful during this time. There is something about Christmas that brings JOY. But, we must remember that we are created to love in all seasons. We are created to love others during their pain and trials. We are created to love others even in our own pain and suffering. We are created in the image of Christ which is perfection. I am not saying we are created to be perfect; we are created through perfection from Christ.  

We must remember that we are created to love in ALL seasons

Loving others has always been somewhat of an easy task for me…well, for the most part. Not too long ago, there was a point in my life, where loving others was not easy at all. You see, during that valley I was hurting, the pain and struggle during that time was real. To be honest, I wondered if I would ever be back to my “old self.” Guess what...I am not. The Lord allowed me to grow to a deeper spiritual place that I would never have obtained without pain.

Depending on your journey at the moment, you may not want to hear this...but, the Lord takes the bad and creates something good. From my valley, I experienced pain, sadness, and guilt. As the Lord held me through that valley, He showed me a love I never knew before. He showed me how to face the pain and begin walking out of the valley not on my own but with His strength.  

Even in our trials and pain, the Lord loves us. He is willing to walk beside us to guide us out of the valley. Are we willing to do that for others? Are we willing to love others during all of the seasons? Are we willing to love others during the bad to witness the good that the Lord has in store?  

I will leave you with this: To be able to love the way Christ loves, you surrender yourself and walk by the Holy Spirit. This is a daily task, and is nothing that can be obtained on your own. Through Christ we can love others, even when we believe they are undeserving...because guess what, so are we! I encourage you to love one another more often.

The greatest commandments Jesus gives us in Matthew 22:37-38 are to

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

When you love the Lord, you walk with the Spirit. Walking with the Spirit allows loving your neighbor as yourself to be much easier.

Fogged In

Fogged In

I woke up...got ready and went to the kitchen to get some coffee. I looked out the window to take in the view of the lake and to my amazement, it was GONE! Vanished overnight! All that I saw was the back deck and shadows of trees emerging from a dense white fog. Okay...so the lake didn't actually vanish. It was just hidden by the fog that moved in overnight.

We were heading to church, so we hopped in the car and headed out. I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. TWD fans know what I'm talking about. Anything could be lurking in that fog! It was so dense that we were left with very little visibility. Our car was surrounded by this dense fog. The trees that were just feet away were merely shadows hidden by the white wall of fog that seemed to engulf the world around us. I had to slow down a little and really watch out for deer and other unexpected obstacles. Seriously...I could only see a few feet ahead. Even traffic lights were hidden until I was right up on them. YIKES!!!

I don't know about you...but I really like to see where I'm heading. It is not enough to see the road right in front of me. I want to see what's happening behind me, what's coming from the side and what lies far down the road ahead. I want to be able to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Do you ever feel like your life has gotten FOGGED IN? You go to bed seeing clearly...knowing exactly what lies ahead, but then you wake up surrounded by a dense white fog. The only thing you can really see with total clarity is the road right in front of you. Times like these can leave me feeling uneasy and on edge. I want to be prepared for whatever is going to emerge from the fog. I want to be able to plan and prepare for the days...weeks...months...years ahead. I don't want to have to worry about all the things I can't see yet....I want to sit back and enjoy the journey.  

I really think that "FOG" is God's way of slowing us down and helping us learn to trust Him more.

I really think that "FOG" is God's way of slowing me down and helping me learn to trust Him more. It puts me in a position where I am no longer charting my own course...planning out every detail of my life. No...I have to truly trust God to show me the way. It teaches me to rely on Him and trust Him completely. There is a song that I absolutely love. It says;

"I know who goes before me

I know who stands behind

The God of angel armies is always by my side

The One who reigns forever

He is a friend of mine

The God of angel armies is always by my side"

( “Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)”

Written by Ed Cash, Scott McTyeire Cash, and Chris Tomlin)

When you can't see the path ahead, focus on the One who can. God is there...He alone goes before you and stands behind you at the same time. He knows where you have been and he knows where you are going...not just the here and now....He knows it all....AND He is ALWAYS by your side.

When you can't see the path ahead, focus on the One who can.

 

Next time you get fogged in, don't keep traveling full speed ahead. You also don't want to stop because you are afraid of what you can't see. Sure you need to slow down...but you also must keep moving forward. You will quickly notice that as you move forward you can see a little further down that road.   

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

Trust the One who is always by your side, then sit back and enjoy the ride.

Your Father Knows

Hi…I’m Mike and I’m an ‘approvaholic!'

I think I just made up a word, but hopefully you get what I am saying. For most of my life I have sought and desired the approval of others.

I don’t think I am alone in the desire to get others’ approval. In fact, I think a lot of people these days struggle with seeking the approval of others! How many times do we post on social media to be noticed or to get “likes"? I once heard someone say they read their Bible and books to see what they could post or tweet! How many blog writers add a “tweet” that's just one click away for you to promote their content? How many times do we think, “did anyone notice?”

Jesus confronted this when He told us to not do things in front of others to be applauded by them, or to be seen by them, or to be heard by them.

Jesus provided the solution to this approval issue when He simply said, “your Father knows” (Matthew 6:1-18). Our Father sees and isn’t that enough? Aren’t we suppose to only seek His approval? (Galatians 1:10) Jesus said that if we want and pursue the approval of others then we will get our reward, which will be just that - a very small temporary sense of pride. But if we seek to please our Father in Heaven, then He, who sees in secret, will reward us in secret, and His reward will always be more than what any person could ever give us.

I’ve learned a lot about my identity and who I am in Christ, but the struggle is always there. I still find myself wanting to be noticed, praised, and sometimes if I am honest, I will do things for the wrong reward…the praise and approval of men vs. the praise and approval of my Lord! The truth is, He already approves of me! I am His boy, and He loves His boy. There is nothing that I can do to make Him love me more or less. The same is true for you!

Your Father knows…and He approves!

To learn more about your identity in Christ,

check out "What Does God Say About Us?"

What Does God Say About Us?

Have you ever put thought bubbles on someone else’s head?

Maybe you were talking to someone, and you hear what they are saying, but the whole time you are thinking, "Is that really what they are saying?"

The pressure to want to please everyone around us is real and natural.

I hope that everyone I meet likes me. But the reality is when you spend your life focused on making sure everyone you meet is impressed by you, you can easily become a slave to what they think. Eventually it can progress so much that you are no longer a slave to what they think, but what you think they think. Often we are consumed not by what others actually say out loud, but what we think they are saying in their heads. When we get to that point, we are our own worst enemy.

No longer are we controlled by their thoughts, which is bad enough, but we are now controlled by our own false thoughts in our heads that have no ground to them. And all this starts with the innocent and natural thought of caring what people think about you.

If any of the above has ever happened to you, then you know what it's like to spend nights wondering what so and so really meant when they said what they said. How do we break free from this? Because if it's not stopped, we can easily trap ourselves in a place where we no longer do anything because of fear of what we actually don't know.

I believe to beat this we have to remember what God says about us.

I want to leave you with a few statements, that if you can remember and believe, have the power to set take your focus off what others may be thinking and back on what God has been thinking about you all along.

I am the Creator and you are my creation. I breathed into your nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). I created you in my own image (Genesis 1:27). My eyes saw your unformed substance (Psalm 139:16). I knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). I know the number of hairs on your head, and before a word is on your tongue I know it (Matthew 10:30; Psalm 139:4). You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

In My great love, I gave My unique Son, that all those who believe in him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). While you were still sinners, Christ died for you. While you were still hostile toward Me, you were reconciled to Me by the death of My Son (Romans 5:8, 10). Sin doesn’t have the last word. Grace does (Romans 5:20).

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Truly Thankful

Thanksgiving comes like clockwork year after year after year. We can become so comfortable with the holiday that we forget what it is really all about. Why do we press the pause button each year? What is the big deal? Is it just an excuse to have a day or two off from work? Is it all about the football...food...or frantic shopping? Has it become so routine and so hectic that we don't take time for personal reflection? If it has...we are missing out on so much.

Before this Thanksgiving is over, I plan to take time to look at my life and make a list of all the things I have to be thankful for. My list will probably look a lot like yours:

1. Salvation
2. Family
3. Friends
4. My Church
5. My Job
6. A Beautiful Home

These are all true...and all things I am deeply thankful for. But I realized that if I'm not careful, I will "phone-in" my list. If we really want to fill our gratitude tanks we need to take time to elaborate on each of the things on our list. 

Why am I thankful for Salvation?

Without it...there is no hope...no peace and no future. What Christ did was not easy...it cost His life....He endured the cross for me. Sure I put Him at the top of my list...but He deserves more than that. He deserves to be first in my life each and every day. Without Him....I am nothing...with Him....I am a child of the Most High God. Reflecting on His sacrifice motivates me to live for Him and grow in Him. 

Why am I thankful for family and friends?

I realize they are a precious treasure, and those we sit around the table with year after year are not promised to be there the next time we gather together. We take it for granted and need to cherish each of the relationships we have been blessed with not just on Thanksgiving but throughout the year. Thanksgiving is a great time to put those relationships in perspective and remember what makes each person in my life so dear to me.

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Why am I thankful for my church?

My church is more than just a building or a place I go on Sunday. I don't know what I would do without the men, women, students and kids God has put in our lives that make up His church. They are family. It is a place where I am accepted, loved and challenged. I get to make a difference by being a part of something so much bigger than me. I am thankful for the spiritual journey God has me on. I love the groups of women I meet with every week and the women I have shared life with throughout the years. We have laughed, cried, prayed, cheered, encouraged, challenged and supported one another over the years...doing life together.

Being truly grateful is more than a list...it's a lifestyle! Thanksgiving isn't just a day...it should be a way of life for each of us. 

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever!

Giving Thanks for each of You today and always!

Thankful, Grateful, Blessed

Thankful…Grateful…Blessed. You see it everywhere. It is hanging in our homes, in our offices,  we see it posted on social media…we are even wearing the t-shirts. It’s sounds really great, but do we really know what it means? Do we believe these words enough to live them out or is it just a cute trendy thing to say? As we approach Thanksgiving, it is a perfect time to take a moment to sit back and reflect on what these words really mean.  

We are thankful. We are grateful. We are blessed. If we truly believe these things then it should affect how we live our everyday lives. Moment by moment with a heart filled with gratitude, with a spirit of thankfulness knowing we are truly blessed by God.  

I thought I knew what it meant to be thankful…grateful…blessed until I traveled to India. As we drove from the airport to the hotel I was overwhelmed by the poverty. The streets were filled with chaos, and everywhere I looked there was trash and filth. Then I visited the slums. In the midst of the most deplorable conditions, I met the most precious children. They were so thankful for the opportunity to go to school. Grateful for the chance to have an education. Blessed to have people in their lives to care for them, clothe them and teach them about God.

We went to bless them, yet we walked away the ones who were blessed. Hearing the laughter. Seeing the smiles and listening as these children sang, “My hope is in you Lord. My strength is in you Lord,” was a reminder of how blessed we are to have a Heavenly Father that can bring contentment and joy in any situation. To say these kids have a hard life is a gross understatement. They are defying the odds every single day. They are an inspiration of what it means to be thankful in all things.  

Pastor Ken always says, "We have been blessed in order to be a blessing." How can we be more of a blessing to others? First, we have to get our focus off of ourselves. We must look at the world around us. When we do, we see the abundance that we have in our lives, and we can’t help but turn around and share it with others.  

We have been blessed in order to be a blessing.

The ultimate blessing we have is salvation through Jesus. What an amazing gift God has given us. Words can’t describe it, and there is nothing we can do to earn it. All we can do is accept it. When we have the gift of Jesus and the Holy Spirit is living and active in our lives then we can wear the shirt…Thankful, Grateful, Blessed…and realize the depth of what that means.

We are thankful for a God who loves us. We are grateful for a Savior who gave his life, and we are blessed beyond measure. Let’s take Thankful, Grateful, Blessed to a deeper meaning. Let’s not make it our focus one day a year or use it as trendy decor. Instead, let’s impact the world around us by living Thankful, Grateful, Blessed lives 365 days a year.