Category: Grace

In my last post I talked about Secrets and how Satan loves to whisper all kinds of lies.  One of the lies I fall for almost like clockwork is the lie that I am not enough.  This lie has festered from a very young age.  I always felt like I had to prove myself.  Prove myself to friends, to teachers, to my parents, anyone.  I tried to buy peoples affection/love.  I tried to be the “good daughter.”  Somewhere along the way I began to believe that I was not good enough and no matter what success I achieved I still ended up feeling like I wasn’t enough.  In middle school I started playing Volleyball.  I was REALLY good at it too.  I loved the game.  I was passionate about it.  Every time I got on the court somehow my worries faded and I could simply be me.  I remember the summer between my eighth grade year and my 9th grade year I was training for the next volleyball season and it was a crucial year because we understood a few girls would be cut from the team.  It was my biggest fear and yet I had confidence in my ability that I didn’t let it consume my thoughts.  The day came for the cuts to be made and I was in fact one of the 3 girls to get cut.  To say I was devastated would be an understatement.  I cried for at least a week straight.  Not only were my hopes of playing in high school crushed but my hopes of playing in college as well.  I believe the enemy used that time to speak more lies to my soul the biggest one- “You are not enough”.  

Maybe you have reason to believe you are not enough.  Maybe you like Moses are not articulate.  Maybe your shy or timid.  Maybe you are the opposite and you talk quickly or your LOUD you worry that people think your strange.  Maybe you don’t fit the “typical mold” (whatever that might look like to you).  Maybe your tired.  I know this pandemic has worn me out!  I have taken on new roles as a homeschool mom, homeschool group leader and Children’s Pastor.  I have had to re-think ministry in a number of ways due to COVID.  I’m plain tired from all of the politics.  Its a perfect opportunity for the enemy to whisper “just give up”, “your not enough”, “you never will be”, “just throw in the towel”.

Let me share a widow’s story.  You can find her story in 2 Kings 4.  I imagine this widow was crying in desperation and pain as she lost her husband and gained a huge financial burden.  The Bible tells us “creditors were coming to take her 2 son’s away to pay her husbands debts”.  When you feel like you have nothing, when you feel like you are not enough, when you feel like all hope is lost, when you feel like the world is going to end…. Remember WHO you are!  You are a child of God and HE will not let go.  This widow reached out to a friend who she knew could help her and God created a miracle.  The widow was asked what she had.  She answered “nothing except a small jar of olive oil”.  So the prophet Elisha told her to gather empty jars from all of her neighbors.    At the end of verse 3 it say’s “Don’t ask for just a few”.  I laughed when I read that.  I imagined myself going to all of my neighbors and asking for all of their old/ empty canning jars.  So the widow does this.  No questions asked.  Then she is told to start pouring oil from the small jar to fill all of the jars she collected.  Once the jars ran out so did the oil.  An amazing miracle!  God can do SO much with just a little faith.  Its all His anyway’s, Amen?!

I want to encourage you if the enemy is speaking this lie over you- that you are not enough…. Tell Him:

“I am God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for ME to do!”  Ephesians 2:10“

I recently was a mediator between two people who were having an argument.  Have you ever been that person?  I DON’T mean a fight between your kids.  This was a fight between two grown adults!  After listening to each of them and their side of the story I realized these two were “keeping each others secrets”.   Isn’t this exactly where the enemy finds his playground?  In the secret, in the hidden.  

The enemy started with a lie and in the end he will be defeated with TRUTH!  In Genesis chapter 3 the serpent is described as “crafty” in some translations he’s called “deceiver.”  In the first 3 verses he questions Eve asking her “did God really say you must not…?”   Eve confirms that in fact God did say…  At the end of verse 3 Eve states that “God said if she touches the tree she will die.”  In verse 4 the serpent says “you will not certainly die”.   He lies.  That is what he does.  Jesus says in John 8:44 about Satan:  “…not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.  When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”  

Secrets are harmful.  I’m not talking about things that ought to be confidential.  Something shared between husband and wife or between two friends.  I’m talking about things that if made known would make one feel shame.  Things that may not even be true but we’ve believed them and so we hold onto them.  Some of us don’t even know how to get out of the evil cycle of keeping secrets.  My husband is a recovering addict and he repeats one of AA’s principles often.  “We’re only as sick as our secrets.”  It basically means that a secret that grows in the dark becomes more harmful but once exposed, it loses its power.  I love the parable of the Lamp.  Jesus says “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed.  Instead, they put it on a stand, so those who come in can see the light.  For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”  Luke 8:16-17.  This is where I find my personal definition of a good secret vs a bad secret.  Once revealed a good secret will bring healing and hope.  A bad secret will bring chaos and destruction.  

Growing up I believed several lies that added up to one gigantic lie.  The gigantic lie basically was this “You are worthless”.  It was an awful secret that I kept to myself and that the enemy I’m sure enjoyed watching me hold onto.  He whispered in my ear hundreds if not thousands of times a day.  Messages like “your fat, you’ll always be fat, no one likes you, your ugly, your stupid, no one will ever want you, your garbage.”  Some of these messages we partial truths and I believed the lie because it seemed fitting.  These lies kept me in bondage.  I was in bondage to food.  It was my escape and it was my comfort.  I was also in bondage to music.   Music was another escape for me.  We all have or have had an addiction.  Addiction isn’t just alcohol or drugs.  Oh no.  Addiction is anything we allow to consume us.  You can be addicted to exercise, sex, shopping, food, cutting, gambling, gaming, social media, etc.  

When I went off to college is when I began to do some major self-reflection.  I was confronted for the first time with the fact that I hated myself.  I had roommates that had planned an intervention for me (keep in mind I did go to a Christian private school).  They said “Noelle you not only don’t like yourself but you hate yourself.”  They shared that I was a very negative person.  At the time this all cut deep and hurt so bad.  I tried to run and hide from all of them and their accusations.  They loved me through it though.  They didn’t just preach the gospel they showed me.  It was their constant and consistent love that ultimately changed my trajectory.  The Bible says “take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.”  These thoughts are the enemy’s lies.  They are his plan to destroy you and set you on a destructive path.  If the thought doesn’t line up with God, His promises, His truth (the word of God- the Bible) then we need to discard it and replace it with truth.  

Are there dark secrets your keeping?  Are there lies your believing?  Daughter you are loved.  You are a treasure.  You can’t afford to keep secrets or listen to lies.  These things will destroy you and those around you.  Today is the day to take those thoughts captive.  Today is the day to shine a light on those dark secrets and expose them.  Only then can you have true peace.  Proverbs 28: 13 (AMP) say’s “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But whoever confesses and turns away from his sins will find COMPASSION and MERCY.” 

A promise we can BANK on! That’s GOOD NEWSl!!

I had a great weekend.  Took the kids out to my parents house.  Its a good 3.5 hour car ride.  I was not looking forward to the drive.  I was expecting the kids to fight and my anxiety to run high.  I was pleasantly surprised by the drive.  The kids were quiet for the most part and they didn’t fight, AMEN!!!  I got to meet my GREAT nephew for the first time.  It was a rush let me tell you.  He couldn’t be more perfect.  My niece is a first time mom.  I remember when that was me.  In talking about all things baby; I bit my tongue when it came to offering tips or parenting advice.   I believe sometimes silence is golden!  When I was a first time mom I wish I hadn’t listened to ALL the advice and had just went with my gut.  God gave you that child and is empowering you to be his/her mother.  This brings me to my main point today.  In a world that is SO utterly chaotic today.  Where people are talking when they should be listening (myself included) lets remember that some seasons REQUIRE silence.  God moves in the silence.  See James 1:19.

“In the Silence of the heart God Speaks.  If you face God in Prayer and Silence, God will speak to you..  Souls of prayer are souls of great silence.”  Mother Theresa 

I was not silent last night.  I had a very weak moment in my humanity.  I’m defiantly not proud of engaging in the back and forth.  Its not an excuse but I was completely exhausted.  I had my kids the entire weekend and I believe the heat made me feel even more exhausted.   A friend posted (on FB) what I deem to be a controversial statement and I took the bait.  Oh man how I wish I hadn’t fallen into that trap.  Don’t get me wrong there is a time and a place to SPEAK up.  I just know in truth; Facebook isn’t the place for politics and arguments.  It will accomplish no good thing.  I seen a news clip that shared a story of some faith and prayer walks taking place.  Where black, white, and brown- ALL ethnic groups come together to pray, talk/find resolutions, heal and promote unity.  Those are the things I’d love to see more of.  Less social media posts and more actions of love and unity.  

The Israelites were oppressed for hundreds of years.  As soon as God would do something great to free them or meet their needs the Israelites would find themselves sinning against God again.  So many times I read these scriptures and would get SO mad.  BUT if I really examine myself- that’s me.  I tell God I trust him but my actions don’t follow.  In 2 Chronicles 7 Solomon had finished rebuilding the temple of the Lord and the Lord appeared to him and said:  “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.  When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among MY people, IF my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.”  

Trouble WILL come.  We need each other now more then ever.  The coronavirus alone is enough to damage us all emotional and psychologically.   The virus doesn’t care what our race, age, sex is.  Its had a negative affect on us all.   What is the first call to action in 2 Chronicles 7?  HUMILITY.  God calls us to lay down our pride.  Ask for forgiveness.  Seek restoration.  Romans 12:16-18 says:  “Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be PROUD, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil.  Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  I was choosing pride over peace yesterday and I want to sincerely apologize.  “Do whats right in the eyes of everyone”.  That seems hard doesn’t it?  How can we please everyone?  How about by praying for them?  How about we have coffee and listen to their grievances?  Doesn’t mean we have to agree.  I believe there is nothing the enemy loves more then to see us all fight and bicker.  If he can divide us he can conquer us.

Next we are called to PRAY and SEEK God.  Have you spent time in prayer?  Have you spent time in Gods word?  “I am the bread of life.  Whoever eats this bread will live for ever.”  -John 6:35 I have heard it said “bread is biblical”.  I love that because I love bread.  Its filling.  Its extremely satisfying.  Point here is- HE is all we need!  He is the bread.  He is the nourishment we need.  Nothing will ever satisfy like Jesus will.  Spend time with him.  You want to make a difference?  You want real change in our world.  Start and end here.  He is the answer to EVERY question and every problem.  

Lastly if we want God to hear us and heal our land we also need to TURN from our wicked ways.  This is true repentance.  We can say we’re sorry until we are blue in the face but without change/action we stay stagnate.  God demands change.  Change in our heart, change in our attitude, change in our actions.  I am writing this blog to myself as much as I am to anyone else.  I feel immense conviction this morning and today I am on my knees.  Asking, seeking, and humbling myself before my Lord and Savior.  Today I seek to understand before I seek to be understood.  Today I choose to allow God to fight my battles.  That all said by the end of the day I am going to deactivate my Facebook account.  I need to practice what I preach.  I need to turn the distractions off so I can be more attentive to the Holy Spirit.  I do manage 2 Facebook pages and 2 Facebook groups.  The pages will be updated using other admin accounts and my groups have facilitators that I’m sure will step up!  I will be back eventually but in this season I must step away.  I will continue to blog (less frequently through the summer however) so keep checking those through the facebook page OR subscribe to my newsletter  (found on my web page) so that you will be notified via email when a new post goes up.  I leave you with this blessing “May God Bless You and KEEP you, May his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.”  I love and appreciate each one of you who pray and support our ministry and family.  Your prayers are SO SO important.  Thank You!!!

This blog is in honor of Mothers Day.  Let me preface this with the fact that I am by no means the model example of a great mother.  Just ask my kids and husband!  In this post I would like to share ways that I feel my mother made a HUGE impact on my life.  As a mother I feel I should list some ideas of what I feel is important to be reminded.  I like to say “progress NOT perfection”.  If your standard is perfection then you might as well hand in the towel.  Its like the person who goes on the strict diet and 2 days later throws in the towel.  Diets don’t work because they are too restricting.  You can’t be perfect so why try?  This isn’t meant to be another blog about steps to take to be the best mom ever.  Instead its simply my goal to focus on the things that will transpire time.  What do you want your children to inherit from you?  These are the things I’ve inherited from my mother and things I want my children to inherit from me.  What an amazing legacy we can hand down!

1. Love for Jesus

I never questioned if my mother loved Jesus.  I knew she did.  She is a devoted follower.  This is something that I too have devoted my life to.  I inherited her love for Jesus.  What an incredible gift?!  There is no better gift.  My prayer for my children has been that they would love the Lord with all their heart, with all their soul, and with all their mind (Matthew 22:37)

2. Love for others

My mother was always sharing Jesus.  She worked with many young people and they all loved her.  She wasn’t always “preaching” Jesus (though she wasn’t hiding from her beliefs either).  Her actions showed Jesus.  People constantly commented that something was different about her.  Thats what Jesus calls us to do 1- Love him and 2- love others.  The word love is found in the Bible over 500 times!  “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:35. I love that saying “Preach the gospel and if necessary use words.”  As christians it is our responsibility to live in a way that honors God and displays his love.  Its God’s job to do the heart work.  This is something I pray my children will live out.

3. Prayer 

My mom prayed a lot.  I remember several times that God used my mom’s prayers to heal.  He also used her prayers for simple things like finding something that was lost.  Whatever it was she was a prayer warrior.  I know she believes whole heartedly in the power of prayer.  I pray with my children before school each day, at dinner time and just before bed.  I try to pray scripture over them as much as possible.  My words fall flat and often I’m not sure how to pray so I ask the holy spirit to guide me and he does.  Two scriptures I pray that are on repeat:

-“Lord go before _____ and behind ______.”  Deuteronomy 31:8

-“I pray ______ would grow in wisdom, and stature, and favor with God and man.”  Luke 2:52

4. Honesty

My mother was brutally honest and if she didn’t know she said she didn’t know.  I respected that.  I remember honesty was a core value my parents upheld.  My parents were great at deception detection.  I have found over the years however that if your not careful its easy to allow one lie to turn into a multitude of lies which eventually turns into something where you believe your own lies.  Its a slippery slope.  My prayer for my children is that the Lord would do whatever he needs to, to keep my children humble and honest.

5. Hard Work

My mother was a hard worker.  She owned her own business for many years and managed a dairy queen for several years.  They encouraged us to work from young ages.  I remember having a paper route when I was in about 4th or 5th grade.  When I was 12 I detasseled corn in the summer months (I did this for about 4 or 5 years).  When I was 16 I got a my first real job at a nursing home as an assistant cook.  I worked hard.  Since I was 16 I didn’t ever not have a job.  I always had work.  I want to pass this along to my children as well.  Hard work helps develop a host of work ethics that are important for success in life.  

I love how Mary (the mother of Jesus) was described several times as having pondered or treasured moments.  That is my prayer for you this mothers day.  Whether you are a grandma with adult children, a mom with young children or a single mom.  My prayer is that you will find time to pause in this season and ponder the beautiful moments.  We can get so caught up in the pace of time and forget the importance of pause.  May you find treasures in the pause this Mothers Day.

To all of the mothers out there.  Happy Mothers Day!

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth”. 3 John 1:4

“My son, keep your fathers command and do not forsake your mothers teaching.  Bind them always to your heart; fasten them around your neck.”  Proverbs 6:20-21

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  Luke 2:19 

“But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.”  Luke 2:51

I hope you all had a great Easter.  I’m sure for most of you it felt different.  I know for us it did.  It was the first major holiday that we spent at home.  I have to admit personally it felt refreshing.  I was able to spend some quality time with my family and with God.   I had a profound yet simple thought that hit me like a ton of bricks.  “This (this season/this pandemic) is NOT about me!  Its about God!”  Insert mind blown emoji.  I won’t pretend that life has been easy or I haven’t had some really tough days but knowing that God has a PLAN and PURPOSE makes all the difference.  I finished a book this week called “You’re Already Amazing” by Holly Gerth and in it she say’s “when we mess up, it can feel as if the sky is going to crash down around us.  But as much as it may seem like it our lives are not about us.  They’re about our maker.”  I want everything I do to glorify him.  I know for some of you that sounds like a lot of pressure right now.  Let me ease your concern and tell you that God does NOT expect us to be perfect or to have everything together.  You are HUMAN.  You are not God.  You are allowed to have a bad day!  I want to share with you 5 ways that we can point to Jesus in this season.  

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1. Spend Time in Gods Word & in Prayer 

If you don’t do another thing all day, do this!  EVERY morning I have made this a priority.  I spend about 30 mins on our 4 season porch with a cup of coffee and my Bible.  This time prepares me for the day ahead.  I have incorporated a time of Bible reading and prayer time with the kids before bed as well.  My son Theo and I have been working through the Kids Bible App (YouVersion).  Its a lot of fun.  Its interactive so we get to answer questions and collect points, make characters do stuff.  We’ve enjoyed it.  The other night one of the questions that popped up was “Does God ever stop loving us?”  Theo very abruptly says “NO! AND we never die, because Jesus died, was raised and now lives!  So we never die!”  He caught me by utter surprise but while I was still pondering what he just said – he was onto the next thing.  I almost stopped him and paused the teaching so that I could explain more to him but the Holy Spirit gently told me NO!  I was overcome with so much emotion at that moment.  We think our kids don’t get it or that they aren’t listening BUT they are!!  Not only that but they also have access to the Holy Spirit!  The Holy Spirit didn’t just come to speak to us adults.  He is living in our kids also.  What great news?!

2. Spread Joy

Ding Dong Ditch, Good old fashioned snail mail, a phone call, etc.  Instead of sharing what we have done personally to spread joy (because I’m an avid believer in “not letting your right hand know what your left is doing”) I will share a couple of moments that have blessed my heart and my family during this crisis.  In fact just as I am writing this post I heard the doorbell rang and outside our front door was a box of fresh fruit.  Any day I would have been blessed by this kindness but especially now.  Going to the grocery store these days are hard and very stressful for me.  

Recently also I had 2 friends send me encouraging messages (email and messenger).  They really touched my heart.  The messages were simple but made me feel like I was not alone I had friends who genuinely care.  Moments like these give my soul fuel.  This leads beautifully into my next point.

3. Be a Friend

We were never meant to do life alone!  I know in this season the isolation can drive us mad.  How can you be creative so that you can abide by the guidelines of social distancing but still let your friends know that they are not alone?  The Bible verse that comes to mind here is Ecclesiastes 4:9-10  “Two are better then one, because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help pick them up.”  We can get caught up in the first part of that verse but I actually want to look at the end of that verse more closely.  “But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help pick them up.”  Friendships are an investment.  A lifelong investment.  In order to have a friend there to help you when your in need, you also need to be that friend.  Proverbs 18:24 says “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin.”  If you want a reliable friend you need to BE a reliable friend.  How can you be a reliable friend right now?  Make a phone call.  Check in with your friends.  Ask God “What does so and so need today?”  We need each other.  Life is hard.  Be a good friend.

4. Make the Most of this Time

When this crisis first hit I was all like okay this sucks but I am going to make EVERY DAY Count!!!  About 2 weeks in I hit a wall.  I crashed.  Hard.   Yes, make this time matter but remember to give yourself grace (I will hit on this more later in the post).  My new goal has been simply; NO REGRETS!   We are living in historic times.  We will forever remember this time.  I want to look back on this time and feel proud.  I want my family to grow closer to God and grow closer as a family.  What are some ways that you can make this time special for yourself and your family?  I’ve been trying to journal 1-3 sentences everyday.  I’m also trying to build in special moments with the kids.  We’ve done some special crafts, had more family game nights, baked and went on lots of walks/bike rides.  Now is a good time to make some of those “special projects” that you’ve pushed aside happen.  David recently added to our play structure outside.  A project we’ve had on the list for over a year.  Every family is different so our goals here will look different.  That’s OKAY!  

5. Give Grace

Give grace to your kids, husband, family, friends and MOST importantly YOU!  Why is it that we have no problem giving the stranger at the market grace or a friend grace but we don’t afford ourself grace?  Times are tough.  Its hard.  I told my husband this morning “people are finally seeing how hard it is to work from home when you have kids”.  Something I’ve been doing for several years now.  This time is still a challenge in that I don’t have outlets to go to and take a breath- like the coffee shop, target, Barns and Noble, or even the kids drop in daycare.  Places I used to go to for a little reprieve.  Also the level of workload I have has increased since the kids both started school this year.  So having them at home all day everyday while taking on all of the new projects hasn’t been ideal.  HOWEVER-  I have learned to give myself grace.  Im a work in progress.  Some days I’m super hard on myself and other days I allow myself to cry and eat ice cream.  I would say the same to you my friend.  Allow yourself to cry and eat ice cream.  Don’t do it everyday but DO allow yourself those moments.  There is a podcast I recently started listening to called “The Lazy Genius.” Her philosophy is to be lazy about the things that don’t matter and productive with the things that do matter (my summary). Its a great podcast that I have found great freedom in. I am a perfectionist through and through but God does not require perfection. Perfection is a myth.

We need to extend grace to our spouse and kids as well.  They are going to have tough days too.   Give them the space they need.  My son was having a tough morning with school work one morning and he tells me “your not my teacher, your not even my substitute teacher!”  He’s seven- 1st grade.  Although he’s adjusted well he also has moments of frustration.  At first I wanted to laugh (if I’m honest) but I simply told him to go find his “calm” spot and take some time to cool off.  He did just that and the day went off without a hitch.  Allow yourself that same space.  Its okay to not be okay.  Don’t beat yourself up for not being “cupcakes and rainbows” everyday.  We are living in dark, scary times.  We don’t need to live in fear but we also don’t need to have it all together.  “Progress, not perfection” it my mantra.   I say it a lot because I know I need to hear it.

I would like to leave you with this:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of MANY kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

James 1:2-4

Now before you answer NO!  Really think about this question.  Are you loyal to a lie or a series of lies?  I was loyal to the lie that I was not good enough.  So loyal in fact that nothing I did was ever good enough.  Unfortunately this is a lie that I still struggle with today.  The worst part about it is that today I have a family that is also affected by this lie I have believed.  My “perfectionism” has made it hard for those closest to me to feel valued.  This is my WHY!  I have to put this lie to rest!  I can not afford to give it one more minute of one more hour of one more day to breathe or take up residence in my heart. 

What does the Bible say about 1.  Lies  and 2. Our value?  Proverbs 6:16 says “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:   haughty eyes (pride), a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to run into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who sirs up conflict in the community (rumors).  In Colossians 3:9 it says “Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its evil practices.”  Two things that really stand out to me in these scripture verses.  1.  God hates Lies.  The Proverbs reference shares 7 things the Lord hates three of which include Lying!   2.  Colossians describes an embracing of our new nature and a turning from our old nature.  This convicts my spirit.  It is SO hard to change.  Seriously.  When you tell yourself something long enough (whether it be truth or lie) you begin to believe it.  This is where it all starts.  In our minds.  If we don’t change the way we think our hearts will be affected- gravely.  “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”  (Proverbs 4:23 GNT)

Take a serious look at this question again.  Are you loyal to a lie?  If so I challenge you to look to scripture.  Challenge your belief (lie).  Sometimes we lie to ourself to get away with something but if we really need to lie to ourself to “get away” we are only deceiving ourself.  Better to deal with this pain now then 3 years from now or 10 years from now when it has taken root in our heart.  If your confused whether your belief is a lie ask yourself if it lines up with what scripture teaches?

What does the Bible say about our value?   The Bible has an exhaustive list of references pointing to how GREAT our value is.  Now there is a trap here.  Sometimes we can get so caught up in “our value” that it can become pride and that is exactly what happened to Lucifer.  I believe however that in our world today and in our culture there is actually a lack of healthy pride.  I believe the enemy loves to tell us how “unworthy we are” how God surly can’t accept us because of how “bad” we are.  Its nothing new.  He still uses this same lie and it is a trap!  When Jesus was led into the desert and tempted by Satan the very first lie he crafted was Jesus’ identity.  (See Matthew 4:3).  Scripture says that Satan is the “father of lies” (see John 8:44).  Don’t allow yourself to believe the lie any longer.   Instead look to scripture for truth concerning your value.  I love reading Isaiah because I find the prophesies are just so profound.  Many of Isaiah’s prophesies have been fulfilled and there are still some to be seen.   Isaiah 62:3 says “You will be a crown of splendor in the Lords hand, a ROYAL diadem in the hand of your God”.  Another favorite verse of mine is Proverbs 31:26  “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”  I want to challenge you to dig into scripture.  Find some scripture that will combat the lies that you are struggling with today.  I never read my Bible and later wished I hadn’t spent that time reading it.  The Bible is our BEST weapon against the enemy schemes.  Open it today and don’t allow yourself to be Loyal to a lie!  

The world seems to be spinning out of control right now with the COVID-19 Pandemic. I’ll be the first to admit a few weeks ago when this news came out my initial thought was “oh China, here we go again.” I really hadn’t given it more thought. Even when there was evidence that it was here (in the U.S.) I didn’t take it too serious. I realize now that I was in fact a skeptic. After having researched a bit and learned (what there is to learn) I realize there is cause for concern! When I scroll social media I also realize there are still SKEPTICS out there?! So much information at our finger tips and yet people still don’t believe! What?!

In my estimation there are two types of skeptics. There is the analytical skeptic and the ignorant skeptic. The analytical skeptic has a hard time believing the numbers or how the scientists have come to their conclusions they question everything. The ignorant skeptic has an attitude problem and doesn’t care to learn or even look at the research, he is basically lazy. Either way you look at it both skeptics are in the same boat because they don’t believe. This skepticism WILL cost people their lives. Its such a tragedy when we let ourself get in the way.

The Lord revealed to me today that this skepticism that I’m seeing in our world today is the exact same skepticism that Jesus and His Church has suffered since the beginning of time. There is SO much scientific evidence to prove several stories in the Bible. As well as numerous written accounts of people who seen and walked with Jesus after his resurrection. Yet so many are still skeptical. I highly recommend the book “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel if you are interested in reading from a very analytical perspective- this so good! Lee was an atheist who after investigating Christianity (to disprove it) became a follower of Jesus himself!

There are so many examples in the Bible of skeptics. Jesus’ very own disciples had at least moments of skepticism. One such moment: In Matthew 17 the story of a man who brought his son who was having seizures to Jesus to heal and in verse 16 it says ” I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” Later the disciples asked Jesus why they could not heal the boy and Jesus said “because you have so little faith.”

I’m not saying that skepticism is all bad. In fact if we believed everything we heard and didn’t question it we could be in serious trouble. The problem comes when our faith (or lack there of) is tested. Like in the world today for example. Will we use this time we have to hoard, stockpile, cling to/protect our own family or will we think of the needy, elderly, the sick/frail, and reach out? Some of us are facing other very tough situations. Marriages are falling apart, cancer is threatening your life, you’ve miscarried, your son or daughter is using drugs, etc. I’m going to a movie tomorrow that shares Jeremy Camp’s story-he lost is wife to cancer. So many desperate situations. Will you cling to the truth or will you allow the skeptic in you to take over and lead you down a deep dark path?

If you continue reading in Matthew chapter 17 verse 20 Jesus said to his disciples “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, MOVE from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” I’m a very visual person. I want to challenge you to do a little craft. Write that verse out on a piece of paper and either tape a real mustard seed to it or print a picture off the internet of a mustard seed and tape that onto the verse. Hang that verse up on your mirror, refrigerator, wherever you’ll see it everyday. Be reminded that your faith is being tested right now and if you can conjure just a teeny tiny amount of faith -your mountain WILL MOVE! There is this saying: “Jesus said it, I believe it and that settles it.” Lets not forget that we have a small part to play here. Its all for not if we don’t BELIEVE. I believe Jesus is going to show up and show off in these turbulent times. Do you believe it?

“Mama said there’d be days like this.”   -Luther Dixon & Willie Denson

“In this world you will have trouble.  BUT take heart!  I have overcome the world.” -Jesus

YES, we were warned by Mom & Jesus!  Life is not easy.  Still, knowing this doesn’t make the process better.  The pain lighter.  What do you do when your world starts to crumble?  When you come into a season that is heavy?   I recently found out that my sister was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.  Processing this kind of information is tough.  I just recently lost a friend to breast cancer.  In fact there was only about 1 month between when my friend passed and my sister was diagnosed.  After my friend passed I was having nightmares.  My heart was heavy.  I woke up from these nightmares checking my breast for lumps.  I wasn’t sleeping well.  I thought it was just my way of grieving subconsciously, and maybe it was.  

When I found out my sister had breast cancer I didn’t initially believe her.  When I finally did believe the news I felt guilty.  Guilty for not believing it.  There is much more to this story that I will not go into.  

When pain strikes, when cancer hits, when life feels like its literally choking you to death, where do you turn?

There is a song by Cody Carnes called “Run to The Father.”  The chorus goes like this:

“I run to the father

I fall into GRACE

I’m done with the hiding

No reason to wait

My heart needs a surgeon

My soul needs a friend

So I’ll run to the Father 

Again and again

And again and again

Oh, oh, oh”

This is what we do.  We go to the one who holds all the cards.  Seriously no one can fight cancer alone.  Jesus is the only one who concurred death.  We can trust him whether we live or we die.  When you can’t reason or logic just doesn’t make sense anymore- run to the father again and again and again and again!