What are you waiting for?

Pastor Jentezen Franklin's message was wonderful yesterday! He brought out something from John 5 that I hadn't thought about before, but it resonated in my spirit so I thought I would share it with you.

Remember the story of the lame man who had sat beside the pool of Bethesda for 38 years? This pool was surrounded by five porches - so it was not small by any means. Each year the angel would come and "trouble" or stir the waters, and whoever got into the pool first after the angel stirred the water would be healed. There were a lot of (hundreds maybe) sick, paralyzed, blind, crippled people around this pool so it wasn't like you could take your time getting there. You had to be fast - you had to be the first responder!

I wonder if some of us are still sick, blind, crippled, stuck in our valley, still going around the same mountain because we wait too long once the waters are troubled! What are we waiting for? Be the first responder!

Maybe you're one of those waiting for billboard?! Maybe you're second-guessing God, and that's why you're still in that same place of lack. Has He stirred the water and you're still sitting there waiting ... waiting on what? Are you waiting for the answer you want rather than the answer He's giving you? Ewww, I know - that one hurts!

Yes, sometimes we have to be still and wait. However, when He does give an answer we need to learn to be a first responder! I don't know about you, but I don't want to miss out on my blessing, my healing or my miracle because I wasn't the first responder!

I hope your week is full of blessings, answers and amazing grace!

Can you handle His blessings?

Food for thought ...

Something gave me pause for thought this week after hearing a TV minister ask the question, "Can you be trusted with the blessings God has for you?"

That really got me to thinking, "can I be trusted with the blessing He has for me?" Do I believe His word is true and He will bless me? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Ouch! What did James say about wavering faith in chapter 1? I love the way The Passion Translation states it: Just make sure you ask empowered by confident faith without doubting that you will receive. For the ambivalent person believes one minute and doubts the next. Being undecided makes you become like the rough seas driven and tossed by the wind. You're up one minute and tossed down the next. When you are half-hearted and wavering it leaves you unstable. Can you really expect to receive anything from the Lord when you're in that condition?"

Yeah, that hurts ... but it's still good. I've learned that in order to receive the full effect of God's blessing for our lives, we have to be willing to totally surrender to HIS will ... not ours. We have to be willing to let go of our thought process and adapt to working and operating out of faith.

We have to be able to stand in the middle of a storm and know that we know that we know that everything will work out. When we can't see the blessing; when we can't feel the blessing; when we can't touch the blessing - we have to stand firm - not wavering - on the fact that God's got this.

When we ask and pray for our hearts desires, we have to understand that it is not in our time but in Father God's time, and we have to understand there is a price and a time and a season for all things. We have to be willing to go through so we can get through.

Are you wavering in your faith? Are you pursuing Him or just His hand? If God gives you what you're asking for can He trust you with it? Have your proven yourself faithful over little things so He can trust you with the big things? (ref. Luke 19)

Some people are just kind-hearted and giving. They will give their last. It's what they like to do; make others happy while putting themselves last.

Some give out of obedience.

Then there are those who are stingy and selfish; who only look out for themselves. Those who give with the expectation of something in return or some other ulterior motive.

Some people cry out for God to bless them, heal them, change them. But then when He does, it's as if they did it all on their own. No credit to God whatsoever.

Can God trust you to give Him credit for blessing you?

Sometimes when we're in desperate places we start to think we can make deals with God. Have you ever wanted something so badly that you pleaded with Him to rescue you? You start praying something like; "Please God, if you get me out of this situation, I promise I will never get myself back in this situation."  Did you keep your word to God?

Have you ever seen someone go from nothing to something? I mean you have watched God move miracles in this person's life to the point it is evident God's favor surrounds them like a shield? But as soon as they made, they changed ... and not in a good way. They become materialistic. A show off.

God can't trust a self-righteous person to be about His work.

I don't think there's a person on this earth that doesn't want to be financially stable. Not rich, just enough to take care of life's day to day responsibilities without stressing.

Can God trust you to pay your tithes instead of splurging on unnecessary things?

Can God trust you to give to others in need?

Can God trust you with the little before the lot?

Just thinking out loud ... Can you handle His blessings?

Hope

Have you ever been knocked unstable with news that left you reeling? Emotions high and hope seeming to take off running the opposite direction?

I've had so many times like this.
...news from a doctor
...a fight with a family member
..."no" to a long-awaited prayer
..."wait" when I need it right now

These moments happen often, and yet, for so long I have let my emotions rule my response.

As I sit here today and reflect on my response to yet another one of these moments, I am taking a minute to consider what takes me from misery to hope.

One of the biggest lies in these times of anguish is that you are wrong for feeling it. We are told over and over again to live in hope and victory, but that doesn't mean you cannot feel. It simply means that you bring those feelings to God and trust that He is with you.

When you get bad news, when you are hurt by a friend, when you are disappointed with an answer or the lack thereof, allow yourself the grace to feel it. Even Jesus experienced these emotions.

• He wept when Lazarus died.
• He threw tables in anger when the temple was misused.

Emotions are a natural response, and it is okay to feel them! Just don't allow yourself to get stuck in them. Don't dig a trench and move in. Have a good cry. Punch your pillow a few times. Have a meltdown withGod. But then it's time to move on. Give it to God and let it go.

It's easy to forget (even momentarily) where our strength comes from during these troublesome times. I often find my mind combing through all the ways I can "fix" the problem. I focus my energy and focus on my own strength. And time and time again, I don't find peace because true peace comes from surrendering our pain to God.

Even if it's a feeble prayer - maybe just a few words - God knows your heart and He knows your intention. In fact, Romans 8:26 tells us In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

When you can't think of the words to say, simply placing your heart before God is enough. The Holy Spirit will intercede for you. And sometimes, I just write my prayer out. I keep a prayer journal that has become a great help when I can't find the words or just can't get them out of my mouth because the emotions overwhelm my ability to speak.

God created us to be in fellowship with each other. He knew we would need the support of friends to help us maneuver through the jungles of life. Paul wrote in Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. We need each other - sometimes more than other times. Don't hesitate to ask a friend (or a few of them) to pray with you and for you. 

It's okay not to be okay, but it's better to give it to God and let it go. He's got this. He's got you, and He cannot fail.

He Fixed the Fight!

Why do we worry? Don't we trust God? Don't we know He fixed the fight???

This morning it resounds in my spirit that whatever we're fighting, whatever we're facing, whatever we're believing for - the enemy does NOT want us to be victorious over! Sometimes I think we need to realize that facing the enemy is a good thing. Maybe, just maybe you need to check yourself if you're not facing him every now and then - if everything is just smooth sailing it could mean you're going in the same direction he is! Jus' sayin'. Maybe you need to start doing some things that upset him a bit and not be intimidated by the enemy coming against you. I know ... that's easier said than done!

Have you ever just totally freaked out over what was going on in your life? I mean a time when everything seemed to be getting out of hand ... your daughter's dancing with the devil with her red dress on ... your son's riding with the bikers that look and act like Hell's angels ... your husband's not supporting you ... there's an epidemic of stupid going around at work ... and you just FREAK OUT! I've been there, done that, got a bag of t-shirts for it. It's easy to do. We just let ourselves get overwhelmed with all that's going on around us and we forget ... He's already fixed the fight.

Take a look at King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20. Sometimes God positions us in a place to take on the enemy, but it's our job to stand firm and BELIEVE. Jehoshaphat was told there was a great multitude" coming against him basically from every side. "And Jehoshaphat feared." BUT ... he didn't stop there and camp in his fear. He didn't get stuck in his rut (see yesterday's blog entry). Instead he "set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah."

             SIDEBAR... maybe instead of running to all our friends, posting it on social media or throwing down at the local pub ... maybe if we remembered where our help comes from and begin to seek God - maybe we could get the yuck off our eyes and really see where we are and whose we are!

Have a throwdown with God! It's okay. He's a big God. He can handle it. He knows you're going to do it before you do it! Even Jehoshaphat did it. Look at v 6. He said (paraphrased), "Hey God. Aren't you the God in heaven? You rule all the kingdoms. You possess such power that nobody can oppose you. Didn't you evict all the people from this land for the children of Israel? In other words - I've seen what you can do! Now I'm reminding you! I've got enemies in front of me, enemies in back of me, enemies on both sides of me ... You're our God. Why don't you judge them? We don't have what it takes to face all these enemies. We don't have a clue what to do - so it's up to you, God!

My sweet friends here's OUR clue! Admit we're nothing! Admit we don't know what in the world to do! Remind Him who He is ... and ... wait. I know - you don't like that word. Me either.

But God appeared to Jahaziel and gave him a message for Jehoshaphat. And you know the rest of this story. God told them not to be afraid of the size of their enemy. He said (paraphrased) Hey, the battle isn't yours. It's God's. You won't fight this battle. Instead, take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Lord for you. Don't be afraid. Get up, and go out there. The Lord is with you.

In the words of my sweet friend, Ashley, "that'll preach!"

So here's the word for us today. God's already fixed the fight. We don't have to do battle. We just have to do what God's called us to do - take our position and stand there and watch God show up and show out! I'm convinced He loves to blow our minds! He does it so often. Even James told us in James 4:7 - resist, not do battle, not pick up your AR15 and fight ... resist. He fixed the fight! The battle is already won! How awesome is that!!

Getting Un-Stuck!

Do you ever feel stuck? Like in a rut? I seem to trip and fall into a rut fairly often ... a rut at work, a rut planning meals, a rut in my daily tasks, a rut in my marriage ... just a rut! The dictionary explains it like this: "a habit or pattern of behavior that has become dull and unproductive but is hard to change." Even my thinking gets stuck in a rut. Thinking the same old things. Thinking the same old way. In fact, I'll admit I don't just fall into this rut I pitch a tent and camp there! Anybody else? Just me?

Before we beat ourselves up too badly know that we are in good company. Even the apostle Paul got into a rut. Before God gave him the name Paul - he was Saul of Tarsus, and it was all about him! How many times do we fall into that narcissistic rut of thinking it's all about us? It's true - we all fall into that rut at some point or another (and some of us more frequently than others). We get stuck in the rut! Even if we are all that and a bag of chips ... we are only that through the grace of God. Paul had an extraordinary resume! He was educated to the nines. I wonder how many degrees would follow his name in today's society? Of the 27 books in the New Testament, he is credited with writing 13! But even he had to get un-stuck.

While he was in prison he wrote of being stuck. Look at Phil 3:7. All those things he used to count as valuable, all those impressive educational degrees he had, all his impressive highly thought of societal experiences ... he is now counting as worthless for Christ. He had to change his point of view ... his way of thinking.

Maybe, just maybe if we would follow suit get off our high horse and begin to realize where we are today is ONLY by the grace of God. Where we've been saved from ... how many times God has been there to intervene ... how many times He has sent someone to lift us up when we were at the bottom of the barrel ... how many times has He protected us from what could have ... what should have happened? Maybe if we begin to give Him credit (instead of thinking it's all about us) - we would realize it's our stinking thinking that is keeping us stuck in the rut! Maybe if we see ourselves - not just look at ourselves - but actually, see who we are we will realize without Him we are nothing. All those "things" (that a whole other entry) that we think are so important aren't important at all. What is important is WHO we believe and what we do with what we believe.

That thought immediately takes me back to one of my all-time favorite Bible studies by Beth Moore - Believing God. It's not enough to just believe in Him - we have to believe Him. We have to believe: God is who He says He is. God can do what He says He can do. We are who God says we are. We can do all things through Christ. God's word is alive and active in us. Then our point of view will change and we will get un-stuck!

No Filters Needed!

On the way to work one day last week, God just seemed to drop this is my spirit.

I am a frequent user of filters - snapchat filters, youcam filters, etc. etc. I don't like the way the wrinkles in my face wrinkle, the lines show up, the turkey skin on my neck wobbles ... you get the picture ... or hopefully, you don't. So I use filters. As soon as I find a new one that makes me look better, younger, smoother, less wrinkly, I install it. I'm all about filters. After having gotten frustrated with the latest photo of myself last week - even WITH filters. I looked myself in the mirror and said, "Girl, you gotta face it - you're looking old."

I was thinking about all the things we females do to try to look better for those we love (or is it for ourselves??), and Isa 44:2a popped in my head. The Lord formed you in the womb and will help you. Then my mind went to Psalm 139:14 I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.

Wowsa! So ... if I believe even just those two scriptures - who am I to complain about His creation? Really?! Does putting a filter on my picture really make me feel better about myself - about His creation. What's really amazing is the fact that He doesn't see all my faults and wrinkles - He sees me as His righteousness! 2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

I don't need to put a filter on this corruptible body - God created me the way He wanted me to be - to look - knowing that I would age, knowing that my body would decay - and He's good with that.

So why aren't we? Jus'sayin'

He's Excited to See Me

I am so excited!! For the first time in 140 days, I am going to see and hug and kiss my son! He's in the USAF and is in training in Florida. While that's not all that far away - six hours driving time is huge to someone like me who suffers from multiple autoimmune disorders. Sitting in a car for long periods of time is absolutely excruciating for me. All that being said ... I would do it in a heartbeat to see my son - if only for a few minutes/hours. I love him that much!!

I don't sleep well (ever) so when I got up to get ready for work this morning my body ached, my mind was fuzzy and I so wanted to roll over and try again to sleep ... but then I remembered ... James is coming home today. I don't know for sure what time he will be home (it doesn't matter), but he said he'll be here! My heart skipped a beat, and I got out of that bed (body snaps and cracks included) and began the morning routine. Put Tyson outside, make the coffee, fix Tyson's breakfast, drink my water, take meds, bring Tyson in, grab my coffee and get back upstairs to find something suitable to wear, see Tyson has come back upstairs, put him on the bed while I get in the shower ... etc. etc. Turn on YouTube to one of my favorite speakers to preach to me while I'm in the shower.

On my drive to the office this morning it hit me that James will be home tonight. What should I cook for him? What goodies will I bake? O my goodness! I'm so excited to see that sweet rugged face of his. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks!

O God ... is that how YOU feel about us? Are you excited about seeing us? Can it be that the maker of the universe is anticipating being reunited with us the way I am anticipating being reunited with my son? I think it must be so! As a parent, we give up many things to raise children but think about what God gave up for us! He gave up His only son to bring us - adopt us - into His family! Tears began to sneak down my cheeks as this settled into my mind and heart and as I admitted to Him I haven't been as excited about the return of Jesus as I should be.

My prayer today: O God renew that excitement over your love in me. My finite mind has trouble processing the depth of your love, but renew the excitement in me. I want to be as excited to see you as you are to see me. Renew my first love for you!