What Kind of Environment Are You Creating?

Not long ago Tim and I were talking about the dynamics of our home life. Especially as a single income home, for the most part the provisional/financial stability of our home depends on him, but the emotional stability of our home in large part depends on me. As wives and mothers, we dictate the emotional environment for our homes. We’ve all heard the phrase, “If mama’s not happy nobody’s happy.” And I believe there is a lot of truth to that.

If I’m stressed, frustrated and have a short fuse everyone can feel that energy...Tim, the kids, even the dog. There is nothing inherently wrong with these feelings. They are a normal part of life. But it is what we do with those feelings that makes the difference. Am I controlling them, or are they controlling me? I must ask myself, am I believing the best of others? Am I slow to anger and quick to forgive? When I slip up, am I quick to seek forgiveness, receive that forgiveness and jump back into striving to live out the joy of my salvation and let it splash onto all those in my house? I must be continually praying to be controlled by love. Love is the key, and Christ said loving God and loving others is our most important job.

So please, as we are in the midst of a wonderful Christmas season, focus on the type of environment you want to create in your home. Seek the Lord’s help and strength to keep your entire being (mind, spirit and soul) controlled by love. Take some time to sit and pray over and meditate on this topic. How do you want people to feel in your home (not just at Christmas but all year round and not just guests, but your husband and children especially)? Make a list of the qualities you want to foster. Then list the things that could (or do) keep you from attaining these, and pray about ways to prevent or control those limiting factors. Remember to take every thought captive making it obedient to Christ and to love others as Christ loves you.

Take a deep breath, push the “restart” button, and begin right now allowing God to create a peaceful and joyful environment for your home and family. And let the change begin with you!

“Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.” Proverbs 14:1

It's Christmas time! Are you rejoicing?

The verse for Mikaela's preschool this month is Luke 1:14, "Many will rejoice in His birth." So my question is,are you rejoicing?

This is a wonderful time of year, filled with lots of activity and excitement. But if we are not careful it can become an overwhelming time...especially for the women who do most of the planning, attending, and cleaning!

It is so important that we take plenty of moments to pause and think about the reason for all the rush. It should thrill us as Christians to remember that, like it or not, all of the to-do this time of year is because our Savior was born! Without Christ there would be no CHRISTmas or controversy surrounding it. :)

So when you find yourself lost in the details of going and coming and shopping and planning, I challenge you to take a minute, go into your closet (literally if that is the only place you can find peace and quiet), and take a minute to meditate on this simple verse. "Many will rejoice in His birth."

Personalize this verse and make it your motto for this wonderful season. Confess to the Lord, to yourself and to the world, "I will rejoice in His birth!" "I will rejoice in His birth!" "I will rejoice in His birth!" Say it often and your feelings will eventually catch to with your words!

Your Testimony is Powerful!

Hi there. Remember me?? I apologize for dropping off the map for a bit. Been caught up in various family events and the excitement of the season and my blogging took a backseat.

For this post I have a quick word of encouragement for my fellow faith-like-a-child believers. I have over heard many who, like myself, were raised in church and came to Christ as a very young child and who, apart from being born with a sin nature, had little time to do any really “dramatic” sins (though in God’s eyes they are all the same), say that they feel they don’t really have a very strong testimony. I too, having accepted Christ at the age of seven, have heard these same ridiculous lies whispered in my ear when hearing someone give a gut wrenching testimony of how they were high and in prison when suddenly the power of God reached down and rocked their world. These stories are awesome, powerful witnesses to the majesty and power of our great God to reach into the deepest pit and radically change a life. But we must remember the true greatness of the salvation experience is the love of a perfect God reaching down to a ruined sinner and bridging that eternal gap by the giving of His only son. It’s not about the person, it’s about the God!

Besides, the impact our story has on someone else is not our responsibility. God will take our obedience to share and run with it, opening doors and hearts in ways we never dreamed possible!

So don’t give into that fear or doubt that creeps in and tries to tell you that your testimony isn’t powerful or big enough to bother telling. At this time of year when Christ is the reason for all the excitement don’t be afraid to speak up and share what that baby’s birth did to change your life!

The Storm is Coming! Are you ready?

"Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice." Isaiah 41:10 (AMP)

This powerful verse seems very timely given what many on the eastern coast have endured and what those of us in Northern Virginia and to the north are bracing for this morning. Whatever happens, may we draw strength from this verse now and for as long as we are on the earth. Regardless of what happens around us, our God reigns!

 

In John 16:33 Christ says, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”

 

You see, we are here on the earth for a purpose…to bring Glory to God, and in doing so we will point others to Him. We have a mission here. We are God’s and under His care at all times, but He will not keep us from being affected by the same things nonbeliever experience. Rather He will harden us to difficulties, give us His supernatural strength to endure trials of all kinds and will not allow those trails to ultimately defeat us. As the world watches us endure the same hardships they will notice that the source of our strength must come from something greater than ourselves. And if we will hold to our faith and walk out this Christian life they will ask questions, and the door will be opened to take them into the throne room of our mighty God and introduce them to our Lord - the Source of our strength, the Giver of our peace, the Reason for our joy!

 

So “…count it all joy when you encounter trials of various kinds…” welcoming them as an opportunity to let Christ shine in you!

 

Living By Faith

“I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Galatians 2:20 (AMP)

No doubt many of us have heard this verse over and over. But if you’re like me, you never cease to be stopped by it. There is so much power in it. And there is that moment of humbly searching myself asking, “Am I living this way? Am I continually in awe of all that Christ did for me, and is my everyday life a reflection of the change He has made? Or am I too often losing sight of His presence and power in my life and failing to let His grace be reflected in my every word, thought and deed?”

I am especially struck by the description in the Amplified Bible of the word “faith” in this text. “…adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in the Son of God…” Wow. Does my life - my everyday actions, interactions, and reactions – reflect this kind of faith? Do I live my life by faith or in spite of it?

Please take time to read this scripture over and over for a few days and ask yourself how and how much your faith factors into your everyday life. When you gave your life to Christ, did you leave it at the cross to be under His control or did you pick it back up and say, “Thanks, I’ll take it from here?” What would others around you (especially those closest to you) say about the evidence of your faith in the way you live your life?

Saturate your kiddos!

“And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then] You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (AMP)

As a mom I absolutely love these verses. It is the perfect road map for how to train our children in the ways of the Lord. Immersion! We must let the things of God saturate our every moment in every aspect of our lives.

Because Christianity is not a religion but rather an ever growing relationship, it is not something we can simply do a couple hours on Sunday morning so we can check it off the list and then move on to the rest of our lives. No, truly loving and growing in the Lord requires keeping His words and His ways in the forefront of our minds at all times. If you’re a Sunday morning Christian you’ll be lucky if your kids even hold to that much. Children can spot phoniness a mile away, and they are smart enough not to waste time with something that apparently doesn’t really matter anyway.

But here the Lord tells us how to write His words on their hearts, diligently impressing them on their minds. Speak of Him when you come in and when you go out. Let praise and thanksgiving to the Lord be on your lips when you get up in the morning and lie down at night. (No, a quick prayer before meals doesn’t cut it!  That’s great but hardly enough to saturate your family.) Tell your kids about the wonders of God. Point out His blessings in your life and in the world around us. Tell them about how God is with us always and show them in times of trouble that we don’t have to be afraid because our God never leaves us, and He is always in control. Live it and your kids will believe it!

Ambassadors for Christ

Though Paul was talking about himself, this is true of all who have been called by God and bear His name. We are all God’s ambassadors, His own picked representatives. Each of us who has accepted Christ was chosen on purpose. It was no accident.

“Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper]. Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive]. And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].” Colossians 3:12-14 AMP

We are not merely saved to get to heaven (though that is a huge perk). Once we accept Him and take on His name we have a job to do. God is love and we are to show God everywhere we go to everyone we meet. We must walk in love and discipline ourselves to display the qualities of Christ.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Chew on this one while I get my next post together…

“So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives],” 2 Corinthians 5:2a

What does it mean to be an ambassador? Think about what the job entails. What is expected? What is undertaken?  Are you being a proper representative of the One you serve?

More coming soon…

"Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]." 1 Corinthians 13:7 (AMP)

 

Think about it: Love (its strong, always-believing-the-best hope) is fadeless (doesn't weaken or falter in the slightest) under all circumstances...ALL circumstances...come what may. It endures everything without weakening.

 WOW...does your love for others (everyone) endure everything without weakening? What would that look like? It would take a lot humility and quick forgiveness that’s for sure. Allowing others to be human and make mistakes even if that means your feelings get hurt in the process…not bringing every perceived weakness to someone's attention...believing the best of everyone, instead of insisting you know what they really meant! Whoo...believe me...I'm preaching to myself as much as anyone...but trust me...when we can humble ourselves, put others first and display this Love at all times, our relationships are sooooo much better!

Here's a motto we would do good to hang on to: "Everyone Everything." Meaning we are to love everyone and endure and forgive everything.

Just something to think about....

 

Think about Love

Let's stick with this one a bit longer...

"Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]." 1 Corinthians 13:7 (AMP)

 

What does it mean (look like) to bear up under anything and everything that comes?

Think about it...Are you ever ready to believe the best of everyone? It is somehow much easier to believe the best about ourselves. We never really meant to do that or say that or to offend someone. Perhaps this is a great explanation of some of what Christ was talking about when He said we should love others the same way we love ourselves. hummm...

Do you give people the benefit of the doubt, or do you live in a constant state of suspicion? A lot of arguments and tension could be avoided if we would choose to believe the best of others and just go on instead of creating huge scenarios in our minds of what we "know" the other person was thinking.

Look for opportunities this week to believe the best of those you come in contact with. Trust me, you'll have plenty of chances! The instant you feel yourself getting offened let these words cross your lips, "I will not be easily offended. I will believe the best of every person and trust in the Lord to vindicate me if and when necessary. As for my part, I will walk in love!" This will make the devil so mad!! :)

LOVE

Hi all! Hope you had a great summer and are ready for this week of incredible weather! My favorite time of year is upon us. We are going to dive back into our quest of spiritual character building with the theme the Lord has been leading me to focus on and study over the past month...Love...not the feeling but the calling, not the emotion but the decision. As we go thru passages that may be familiar, I pray you will see them in new light, that the Lord will call you to come up higher and that you will eagerly and devoutly accept the challenge!
 

Here is the first verse of this series (we'll be using the Amplified version in the hopes that we'll see familiar scripture in challenging new ways.) :

 

"Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]." 1 Corinthians 13:7 (AMP)

 

 

Ok...Write it. Say it. Sing it. Whatever you need to do to get about hiding these words in your heart. The word of God is alive and active and will not return void. May it enter our hearts and transform our lives from the inside out!

 

 

More coming soon...

Get to Know Him

This morning in my “God-Time” I was directed to this verse that really jumped out at me.

“The person who has my commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father and I too will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and will make myself real to him.]” John 14:21

One of my greatest desires is to more clearly know Christ. And here it is. This is the key. And how do we have His commands? By continually studying the Bible and learning (and remembering) what His commands are. Then we can stand on the promise of this verse! He WILL make Himself clear to us.

I have written this verse out on a note card that I plan to put where I will see it often throughout the day and commit it to memory. I encourage you to do the same. God’s Word is full of life-giving and life-changing promises like this one. He is so good!

I’m going to be taking a blogging break for the summer. Will see you back here in September!

Enjoy life!

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it ^[a]overflows).” John 10:10

“And now I am coming to You; I say these things while I am still in the world, so that My joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them [that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts].” John 17:13

Are you enjoying this day?? Are you enjoying your life? You should be! We should all be enjoying every day of our lives. It is our right as children of God. But we don’t get to just sit around and wait for God to make all our problems go away before we start to enjoy life.  Jesus didn’t come so that everything in our lives would be great, but so that we don’t have to worry when they’re not!

Decide that you are going to enjoy your life in spite of your circumstances. It is a choice not a feeling. Together let’s decide that no matter what happens, if God says we can enjoy our lives, we’re going to do just that! What a better way to live!

“Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]” John 14:27

More Promises!

God is so good. He desires a great relationship with us, not merely a blanket policy to the world as a one collective body, but a true, deep, personal relationship with each one of us individually.  Merely the privilege of connecting with the God of the universe should be enough to motivate us, but He doesn’t stop there. He promises to give us so much more!

Take time to read and reread the following scripture. These are just a few of the many promises for us found in God’s Word. As you read these give Him thanks and commit to doing your part to earnestly and diligently seek and serve Him. You will not go unrewarded!

“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 cor 2:9

“Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10

“But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].” Hebrews 11:6

Promises! Promises!

The Word is full of awesome promises that we must grab hold of, firmly believe, and accept as ours for the taking! God is so awesome. As I mentioned in my last post, I have been in a bit of a spiritual stand still for a while now. I believe we all go through these times, but we will reap if we faint not! (Galatians 6:9)

It is not wrong to go through these times. It is not wrong to have questions and feel discouraged. It is wrong to give up and walk away from it all. We must press on and hold to the promises of His Word regardless of feelings. It may take a while but we will come through with His help, and we’ll be stronger on the other side if we don’t give up.

Personally, since I wrote the last post and shared some scripture I am holding to in this tough time I have been feeling a reawakening in my spirit. Why? Because the Word is alive and active! When it gets into us it goes to work and it will accomplish what God intends. Do not succumb to the pressure to fix yourself…you can’t. Just get into the Word everyday…regardless of how you feel…and God will do the rest!

“For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective];” Hebrews 4:12a

“He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].” Isaiah 40:29

It's ok!

Ever been discouraged, frustrated, or just plain confused about God and life and the whole deal? Well, you are in good company…even King David, a man after God’s own heart, dealt with these same struggles.

In Psalm 13:1-6 we find David basically saying to God, “I’m frustrated and don’t feel like you’re listening. How long will you wait before you help me out here?” But he doesn’t end there. He claims that despite his feelings he will continue to trust and rejoice in the Lord in whom he has placed his confidence. Despite his feelings and struggles, David made a choice and stuck with what he knew to be true regardless of what his circumstances and emotions were telling him.

I’m not afraid to be honest with you. This is where I am right not. I have been in a time of spiritual frustration, if you will, for some time now. Granted, I just had a baby and my hormones are wacky which I’m sure only adds to this sense if irritation and despair. But here is the point I want you to get; even though I am going through this rough patch I know that my God will deliver me, and I know that I will be stronger on the other side. I know this because He has done it before and because I believe His Word to be true even when my emotions are telling me that things just don’t add up.

As we see from David’s example, it is ok to tell God how we feel. He already knows anyway. But the key is to make a decision to trust Him and His Word, whether we “feel” like it or not. Just keep hanging on. That’s what I’m doing!

This scripture is my “go to” promise right now.

“He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].  Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.” Isaiah 40:29-31

Though I am tired and weary, though I have stumbled and fallen, I will wait for and expect God’s help and restoration. And when it comes I will once again be able to soar!

Hope!

Decide right now (set your mind and keep it set) that this is going to be a great week!

Even if things don't always go the way we would want, we already have the promise that God will work everything out for good. (Romans 8:28) So give thanks to God in all things (rejoice and pray continually) and be constant and steadfast in hope - in the expectation that good things are going to happen! God has already told us that He has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), and that even when bad things happen (as they will) we are to take heart...He has already overcome the world! (John 16:33) The world and our circumstances only have the power over us that we give to them. The truth is that in Him we are more than conquerors...we already have the victory in whatever comes our way! (Romans 8:37)

"May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope." Romans 15:13

Answered Prayers

Sorry for dropping off recently. On April 15th the Lord blessed us with the birth of our son! :) Holden's arrival is the culmination of so much prayer and the incredible fulfillment of a promise of God.

After we lost the baby in February of last year (you can read about this journey in the "Purpose In Pain" series on the archive section), I began praying Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 1:11 which says, " O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid and [earnestly] remember, and not forget Your handmaid but will give me a son, I will give him to the Lord all his life," In my prayer I vowed that Tim and I would raise our son to love and serve the Lord all the days of his life. (Of course I would have been thrilled with another daughter just as well, but this was the prayer I prayed.)

It did not happen instantly. It took us longer to get pregnant than most after a pregnancy loss but we we kept believing, and we know that God is always faithful!

Are you believing for something in your life? Above all, know that we should seek God's will for our lives because He knows what is best and He desires to bless us and give us an incredible life (even if that means not giving us some of the things we really think we should have). If the Lord has placed a desire in your heart make your request known to Him. Put your trust in Him. Ask and keep on asking, but know that He will take care of it in His way and in His time. Rest in the assurance that God's plans for you are good and amazing and better than anything you could ever plan for yourself! God loves you! You are incredibly precious to Him!

"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

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

^"Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]--" Ephesians 3:20

Love Mercy

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”   Micah 6:8

This verse has been on my mind a lot lately. The concept of mercy is quite powerful and can be quite convicting. Mercy means not giving someone what they deserve. Fresh from Easter, the mercy of Christ dying for us and paying our debt so that His mercy is lavished on us is fresh on our minds. But how about the concept of us showing mercy to others - not giving others what they may actually deserve and choosing instead to operate in love? Hmmm….

When we combine this command to love mercy with the command to love others as Christ loves us and the truths in 1 Corinthians 13 that love does not seek its own and keeps no record of wrongs suffered this is quite a tall order.

This is not easy but much of what God calls us to do is meant to stretch and grow us. As we give thought to this let us also remember the promise of Phil. 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

One more thought….heard a powerful statement from the pastor yesterday. He said, “The resurrection (and thus salvation we receive in Christ) does not merely free us to live any way we want but rather the resurrection empowers us to live the way we should.”

Talk About Love

"And going a little farther, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire." Matthew 26:39

WOW...what an example Christ set here for us of dying to self. At the most pivotal, frightful, excruciating point of his life, with the fate of all mankind resting on his shoulders and the knowledge of the cross (and the immense suffering prior to the actual crucifixion) at the forefront of his mind, Christ's prayer here shows the full extent of his "human-ness" and yet the overarching power of a love only God himself is capable of.

While you will likely never be called to die for a world of people who hate you, you may be called to go through a trail that is very painful. It is ok to ask God to take it away, but keep this scene in mind and know that whatever brings Him the most glory and points people to Him as your source of strength should be the ultimate desire of our hearts. And you can rest assured that on the other side of your trial He will raise you up again!

Don’t forget what Christ went through about two thousand years ago this week. Take time to let it soak in and to give Him thanks for paying a debt that He did not owe and that we could never pay.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

Forgive

Well, I think we’ve done a pretty good job looking into the importance of peace as an aspect of learning to be imitators of God. (Ephesians 5:1)

I want take a minute to touch on another very important aspect of God’s character. He is a forgiving God.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions,” Colossians 2:13

Forgiveness is more about us and less about the other person. We ought to forgive not because of the other person’s remorse but because of the gratefulness we have to the Lord for the grace He has shone to us.

“Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].”  Colossians 3:13

Forgiveness is a choice we can make at the onset of any offense regardless of whether the offender seeks our forgiveness or not. If we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts it is like a disease that takes root and begins to rapidly spread through our entire being making us bitter and negative and distracting us from living the life God has called us to. This can be happening to us while the other person doesn’t even know or care that they have hurt us.

I know what you may be thinking… “But….” Once I was dealing with having been hurt by something someone had said to me. It had been bothering me for years. It was in the forefront of my mind nearly every day and greatly affected my mood and sense of self-worth. I was praying, once again for deliverance from this pain when God spoke a powerful truth to me. I knew I needed to forgive the ones who had hurt me, but I was telling God, “I have no problem forgiving them, but they don’t even care or remember that they did anything to me!” At that moment these words slammed into my mind.

“Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34a

Ouch! I knew then and there that is was not even about them. It was about me doing as God commands me and forgiving others, whether they asked for it or not.

Are you still finding yourself controlled by pains of the past? Today you can be set free. Forgive…and walk on with the Lord. He can restore you, and He will take care of the offender. Trust Him! And let it go.

Your Peace is a Sign

Our peace is manifested in emotional and mental stability. The ability to remain stable and controlled is a powerful sign of the strength and composure we possess in Christ. It is a recognizable sign of His power at work in us…even to Satan, our most consistent adversary. (1 Peter 5:8)

“And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God.” Philippians 1:28

Our peace is a powerful weapon destined to impact every area of our lives. Colossians 3:15 commands us, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

You can only develop and utilize this peace if you are consistently, purposefully working towards this goal. Are you spending regular time with the Lord, the source of peace, love and sanity?

Fill Your Arsenal

Sorry for the delay in this posting. At over 8 months pregnant I am sometimes more on top of things than others. J

We have talked about how Christ used the Scripture to battle against Satan. And a big point here is that He really knew the Word. He had memorized it so it was there when He needed it. I want to encourage you to begin to fill your arsenal. You can’t wait until the heat of battle to scrounge up weapons. You must face each day fully prepared for whatever comes your way.  And hiding His Word in our hearts is the perfect way to do that.

Here are some great ones to start with. Keep them in front of you throughout the day. Put them on note cards around your house. Write them on your mirror. Find creative ways to get the Word into your mind and deep in your heart.

“You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

“Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.” Psalm 119:165

“HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].” Psalm 91:1

“Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] John 16:33

And we could go on and on, but these are great to start with. Don’t let the thought of memorization overwhelm you. Just read them (or just start with one) several times a day and let the Word do its work as it gets down inside you.

James 1:25 says, “²⁵But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).” I see this as basically saying don’t forget what the Word says and be tossed about. Keep studying and stand firm on it.

Choose to Remain Calm

As I’ve mentioned before, peace is a choice. Being peaceful is not something that just happens to you, just as losing your peace is not something that just happens over which you have no control. You cannot control every circumstance or incident that threatens to take your peace, but you can control yourself. If you have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit lives in you and self control is a fruit of that Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Thus you have self control regardless of whether or not you have chosen to operate in it and to let it be developed in you.  

One of my favorite scripture verses is Joshua 24:15 where Joshua tells the Israelites, “choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” I would say to you (and to myself) “Choose you this day whom you will serve, whether the voices in your head, the outside stresses and your frustrating circumstances, or the power of the Holy Spirit of the almighty God living on the inside of you.”

We have a choice, and if we want any chance at escaping each day with our joy, peace and sanity intact we must make that choice and stand firm on it, regardless of how we feel. Decide before you get in a situation how you will react should the situation arise. Don’t wait until the heat of the moment. This is great advice for dating, for emergencies, and for how to live your everyday life.  For instance…Do you find yourself trying to correct your kids by acting just like them? This will set no example and will only escalate the situation. Decide right now…no screaming at your kids. Instead, opt for a whisper. Give it a try. Take a deep breath, get on their level and speak in a firm but calm and low tone. This has a great ability to break the “crazy cycle” and grab their attention.

There are plenty of other changes and choices we can make. The number one should be that the minute we feel this surge of emotions welling up in us and threatening to take our peace, just commit to step away for a minute, take a deep breath, cry out to the Lord and then leave your worries there. Let Him deal with them and go on in peace and joy knowing your troubles are in the more than capable hands of the Master and He is on the case. We are not called to fix all of our problems, we are simply called to trust in the one Who can and to hold our peace.

Between an Ocean and an Army

You may be saying, “All this stuff about holding my peace is great when I’m stuck in traffic or lose my keys, but what about when I lose my job or am diagnosed with an “incurable” disease? What about when my problems are huge and my situations “impossible”?

When the Israelites were fleeing Egypt they found themselves in a pretty impossible situation. The Red Sea stretched out before them and Pharaoh’s army was closing in behind them. Their circumstances were hopeless, impossible, and insurmountable. Here is what Moses told them.

“Moses told the people, Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest.”

Exodus 14:13-14

When you find yourself between an ocean and an army remember we serve a God who is Lord over both!

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:14a

“But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”’ Luke 18:27

“…with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26b

Identify Your “Peace Getters”

So, let’s bring this down to the most basic level. What are your “peace getters”? What are those little pesky things in everyday life that steal your peace and take your joy?  Here are just a few of the common ones: lose your keys, running late, nothing to wear, stuck in traffic, alarm doesn’t go off, burnt dinner, stain on your favorite shirt…

I encourage you to stop now and make your own list of the ones you find most common in your life.

Now look at your list and ask yourself, “Is there anything I can do about these?” Sometimes there are practical solutions, steps we can take to head them off at the pass. For instance, do you lose your peace when you find yourself running late for work? Make a change and start getting up a little earlier. Can’t figure out what to wear…and then end up running late? Start picking out your clothes the night before. Find yourself feeling overwhelmed? Create a peaceful environment…turn off the TV, put the barking dog in his crate for a while, institute a quiet time when the kids must read or play in their rooms for an hour. We are responsible for creating and maintaining our peace and this takes being proactive.

If you find that there are some things on your list that you can do nothing about you simply have to make a choice. When you can’t prevent it say, “Well, I know God has a plan for this.” And go on. There may be a very good reason. If you find yourself stuck in traffic or trapped behind the slow driver (who in NOVA is likely riding in the left lane) it could be that by running behind you avoided a wreck.  If your alarm doesn’t go off (or in your groggy state you accidentally hit the off button instead of the snooze) just trust that God knew you needed the extra rest. There’s nothing you can do about it now, but a positive attitude can get you right back on track whereas a negative one can throw off your entire day.

Peace is a choice. You and I must choose to hold onto our peace. Accept the things you can’t do anything about. Remember that “all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Say, “Here you go, God. It’s all you.” And let it go! Take a deep breath, and step back into your life.

By choosing to put your life in the Lord’s hands you can run your life instead of your life running over you!

Fight for Your Peace!

Ok…so in talking about how to hold our peace we have mentioned that Satan (whom the scripture says is presently roaming the earth like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8; Job 1:7 )) will often make attempts to steal our peace. In the last post I mentioned that the number one way to fight the devil and defeat his attempts is to follow Christ’s example. In Matthew 4:1-11 we see Christ being tempted by Satan in the desert. And we see Him cast down the devil by using the Word of God (scripture).

So these three things jump out at me: 1. He fought with the Word. 2. He used scripture He had obviously memorized. 3. He spoke these things out loud.

We are told that the Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any two edged sword, and that it never returns void. (Hebrews 4:12; Isaiah 55:11) So obviously scripture is the most powerful weapon we can use.

Also notice that Christ did not have time to run and get His scrolls to look up a scripture that He knew was in there somewhere! No, here we have a very powerful example of why we should work to memorize scripture…to hide His word in our hearts. (Psalm 119:11) We must be prepared. We simply cannot wait until the heat of battle to start scrounging up weapons. We must work daily to fill our arsenal (spending time with the Lord, in His word and in prayer…talking to Him) so that when the time comes we are ready. This is being on the offense rather than constantly being on the defense. Joyce Meyer once said, “You wouldn’t constantly feel under attack if you would stay on the attack!”

And finally we see that Christ spoke out loud. Proverbs 18:21 is just one of the many places where the Bible tells us that our words have power. We should keep the Word of God on our lips, speaking truth and power to and in our situation.

“For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),”

2 Corinthians 10:3-5