Pressing On

Before you throw darts or spit hairballs at me ... hear me out. I know you've heard this preached time and time again but maybe just maybe there's a different twist here. Don't you love it when you read something you've read 100+ times but see something new in it! I do, and that's what happened for me with this passage in Philippians.

I assumed that Philippians 3 referred to Paul's past struggling - his past sins when he said he was forsaking all of it (we all want to forget bad things) and pressing on. What if he wasn't just referring to past strugglings but to all the great things that had happened in his past. We know he had lots of accomplishments. How many of us take that tiara out of the closet and try it on again - for the umpteenth time - you know, the tiara that you got some bumpity bump years ago!? We keep reliving the good times - thinking if I can just get back to those times. Do you do that? I do it. I have found myself reliving times when I knew that I knew I was right where God wanted me - like teaching in Ukraine - and seeing so many amazing things happening ... and wanting so badly to relive those times. But it's not just about what happened in the past. Put that tiara away! God's ready to do a new thing in every one of us, but He can't work a new thing in us - lead us to new victories - if we're always facing backward!

It's time to embrace Him as Lord in all of His greatness (Phil 3:7b). Instead of pursuing His hand - pursue Him. Yes, it may mean we suffer some. Yes, it may be that we have to swallow some pride, some selfishness, some "me" time - but it will be worth it. Why are we stuck on what He did in the past when He's waiting on us to pursue the future and all that He has waiting on us?

He wants us to pursue Him and His full abundance. He said He came to give us abundant life (John 10:10). And the awesome news ... I don't find an expiration date anywhere in the Bible!

I know that I know that He will continue the maturation process in us and finish the great work in us if we just press on! (Phil 1:6)

Have a great week!!

Phil 3:12-16 TPT I admit that I haven't yet acquired the absolute fullness that I'm pursuing, but I run with passion into His abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. I don't depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however, I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus. So let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to them. And let us all advance together to reach this victory-prize, following one path with one passion.

When, God, when?

"0-60...Eventually." I actually saw that on the back of a car in front of me at a stop sign. And I laughed out loud. I know that 0-60 speed is a thing with cars--and car buyers. The smaller the number, the better the car's performance. But this car was making no promises - at least not promises meant to impress. "I'll get where I'm going eventually," it seemed to say. And as a subtext: "So if you're behind me, don't be in a rush."

I don't see too much enthusiasm for "eventually" anymore. Hardly anyone gets excited about "one day", and the fact is, neither do I. If I want something, I want it sooner, not later. If I long for a thing, I don't delight in waiting for it indefinitely. "In a little while" doesn't seem much better to me than "someday." Vagaries don't cut it for me... for most of us. We want to know when.

Through the years, however, I've come to know God doesn't always share my sense of urgency. And as far as I can tell, His promises to me do not come with a guaranteed delivery date or even a virtual tracking number to track their progress. (Don't you wish they did!) But with Him, "eventually" is implicitly certain. If He says a thing will happen, it absolutely will. "He is never late," a friend of mine used to say, "but He has certainly missed a number of opportunities to be early." Time to Him is not like time to us. He has all of eternity to make it all come out all right. And He will. Eventually.

Eventually, the lion will lie down with the lamb.
Eventually, there will be no more pain or tears.
Eventually, sickness and death will hardly be a memory.
Eventually, those who follow Him to the end will hear Him say "Well done."
Eventually, we will see Him face to face.

You and I will survive our "eventually" ... and be satisfied in Him forever.

"So, dear friends, don't let this one thing escape your notice: a single day counts like a thousand years to the Lord Yahweh, and a thousand years counts as one day. This means that, contrary to man's perspective, the Lord is not late with his promise to return, as some measure lateness. But rather, his "delay" simply reveals his loving patience toward you, because he does not want any to perish but all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9 TPT

Semicolons

I got my first (and last) tattoo this past summer. It's a semicolon. I did it in memory of my youngest son's good friend from high school who joined the Army right out of school and was deployed soon after. He was doing great, or so we thought. After returning to the US, he had demons he couldn't shake and memories that haunted him to the point of no return. So he interrupted his life and put a period where a semicolon should have, could have been. He ended the memories, the demons, and the nightmares. Little did he know he created so many more for the people he left behind.

I am constantly reminded to pray for his family by the tattoo on my wrist, but I am also reminded that God places semicolons in our lives in so many ways, on so many occasions and even through other people.

These days (because I'm older and about to retire) I often find myself thinking my ministry is over, my days of being a real blessing are over, the influence in my children's life is over ... and then I see the semicolon. God reminds me that He places semicolons in our lives every day. It doesn't matter if it's a ministry, marriage, relationships, careers - whatever it is - He is able to exchange a semicolon for the period we think is unavoidable. Sometimes it's in the strangest ways, the strangest places - the most extraordinary situations ... but He reminds us - if we're breathing - He's not finished with you/me yet.

Heads up! The maker of the universe - the one who hung the stars and planets in space - the one who knew you (and me) before we were even formed in our Mother's belly - He has a purpose and a plan for every one of us. It may not be the plan we have, but I guarantee you it's a plan that's so much better than any plan you and I can formulate!

Jeremiah 1:5 EXB "Before I made [formed] you in your mother's womb, I chose [knew] you. Before you were born [came out of the womg], I set you apart for a special work [consecrated you].

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!!