What If?

How many people have turned back to the past with sadness saying what if this had been different or what if I had done that differently? It is so easy and most likely within our own human nature to do that. When one has a chronic illness we miss the person we used to be. I sometimes miss the things I could do before that I can't do anymore. It is natural to revisit grieving the losses we have faced. I really miss ballroom dancing and hiking.

Some of us can get stuck in the past and the sadness of losing those parts of ourselves. "What if" can be a dangerous phrase. "What if" can also be a remarkably helpful phrase too. When it comes to Christ our what ifs are endless!

What if God were to lead you to a different but better place than before? What if one day he decided to restore part or all of what you lost? With Him, anything is possible. Do you believe that? It's true! What if you started trusting God that He has a grand purpose for your life as you are right now? What if you were to count the blessings you have each day and look for the good, instead of focusing on the past and what has been lost?

So much of one's life isn't about what we have as much as what we do with what we have; in otherwords the perspective we have. This is one thing each of us has a choice about. For those who have been stuck in grieving the losses it may take some practice, but any of us can choose to focus on the positives in our lives and thank God for what we still have, which many would give their right arm for.

We can look up at those who have more, or look down at those who have less. There are many who have less. There is an evangelist named Nick Vujicic who was born with no arms or legs but chose joy in his life. You can look him up on You Tube under "Life Without Limbs," he is quite inspiring. He chose to make the best of what he has, and he is married with a child, and gives his life to bring others to Jesus.

So "What if" your best is yet to come?

To Him Who Has Ears To Hear

"Whoever has ears, let them hear."  ~Matthew 13:9

Listening is one of the greatest skills one can have. When one listens they are giving full attention to the speaker;  they are not distracted, they are not anticipating their own response. Much of what we hear is filtered through a screen of what we have taken away from our own experiences. It's kind of like adding a couple of tracks to a song; it can completely change how the song sounds.                                                                                                                                                         "So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them." ~Luke 8:18

So when one listens to a Sunday message, or a Bible reading, with a "calloused heart" what one takes away from the message would be very different than what one who prays for understanding, has forgiven others, and has let go of the past would hear. This would also be true for one reading the Bible. Is your heart open to what God has to give you? Have you asked Him to reveal Himself to you? Are you too damaged and hardened to perceive what He has to tell you?

"You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts." ~Matthew 13:14-15

This passage talks about a people that inhabited Israel over 2,000 years ago, I think it also talks about many people today. People who carry anger, unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment; also people who put idols before God such as wealth, material things, position, activities etc. When one knowingly continues to live in sin, that person's heart also hardens. So it makes me wonder, how many people in society today are actually hearing what God has to say? I know I want to be one that hears!

The best way to get to know God and have a relationship with Him is through His word and through prayer. Are you free of the chains that keep You from learning about and understanding God? Are you willing to let go and give the baggage you carry to Him? Are you willing to be honest with yourself and with God? All you need to do is ask Him to take it from you and He will. I want my perception and what I read and hear about God to be unfiltered, unbiased and heard through a heart that is filled with Jesus. I hope you can have that too.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, Please remove anything that gets in the way of hearing and seeing You. Break the chains of the past, heal the wounds, open our hearts and help us all to let go of everything that we no longer need. Replace fear with faith and help us to trust You completely. Soften the calloused hearts that we may understand You when You reveal Yourself to us. Thank You for Your help and forgiveness. In the name of Jesus' I pray, Amen.

Do I Really Put God First?

“You shall have no other gods before me." ~Exodus 20:3  
                                                                                    I grew up in church. My family went to church every single Sunday, I went to Sunday school and knew the creeds, all of the books of the Bible forward and backward, and all of what were considered the "significant" Bible stories. I had the perfect attendance award every year! I knew all about Jesus but I didn't know Jesus. In fact I didn't understand salvation. It was very easy to follow people and to do what they did, but I wasn't a true Christian because although I knew so much from memory, I had no real comprehension of what it all meant.
                                                                                                                                  It wasn't until I was older and in a bad position that I called out to Jesus and then gave Him my life. I died to myself and began a new life in Him. It was a new beginning. I was a baby Christian at the beginning of a new road. I had much to learn and still do; in fact I will have more to learn and more growing to do for the rest of my life. I have a long way to go and always will, for I always be a sinner. There is no cure, we have all been born sinners. I am blessed to be filled with God's grace since believing Jesus to be my savior and giving God my life. It is genuine and He has been working in my heart.

Honestly speaking, it wasn't that long ago that I realized that although I always said I put Christ first, in reality I didn't. My husband and children were put right there with Him. Sometimes, my worries and burdens were put right there with Him, sometimes my wants were put right there with Him, and my wish to be healed of chronic illness was put right there with Him. At times, any of these, I am ashamed to say were put above Him. I realized that the things I put above Him were idols! Idols don't have to tangible things, precious carvings of silver and gold; idols can be anything that we hold more dear than our beloved God. It took a lot of honesty and soul baring to admit how guilty I was and none of these sins were intentional or even realized at the time.

"But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you."  ~Matthew 6:33

It is so easy to put other people or things before God without even thinking about it.But when we do put Him first the rewards are numerous-- we can "hear his voice,"  and we can actually lay down our burdens. We are open to receive everything he has for us and can live in his strength and do things through and with His assistance. The list of things that happen when we put God first is endless. He is our creator, He is responsible for all the good in our lives and in us.

How many times do we have to go back to start to learn this?

Here are a few simple questions to help you determine if You are putting God first in your life. I hope that you work on it and ask for His help in doing it (He will) like I do.

1. List the five most important things to you
2. List the order of importance
3. Do you feel like you have been growing in the Lord?
4. Are you satisfied with the amount of time You spend with God and the quality of that time?

Thank You Heavenly Father for loving one like I who doesn't deserve the grace and mercy that I live in! I pray that you help us all to put You and keep You first in our lives, where You belong, for You are the great I Am. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

The Freedom of Forgiveness

And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well."  ~Mark 11:25

Forgiving can be such a hard thing to do. When someone has betrayed you, hurt you to your core, how do you just forgive them? Isn't that letting them off easy? How could they deserve your forgiveness? What if they aren't sorry, or don't even see what they did wrong? How on earth can you forgive someone like that?

There was a time when I had those thoughts. I had been betrayed by someone very close to me, in ways that were unimaginable. I didn't understand how I could forgive something that had such a profound impact on my life. But I had the wrong ideas about forgiveness....

Forgiveness is not the same thing as pardon. You are not excusing the other person for what they did. What you are doing, is letting go of the anger and bitterness, and cutting the chains to the past. You are freeing yourself of the effects of what happened and giving yourself a chance to heal and move on. 

It's so easy to think that there are things we shouldn't forgive. When I read the Bible and realize the way my God forgives you and me and all of us every day for our sins, it makes me think twice. 

When I hear stories, like Corrie Ten Boom's story from World War II, where she and her sister were put into a concentration camp because they were caught hiding Jews, it really makes me think.  She watched as they killed her sister. Corrie miraculously escaped only days later and ran into a soldier who was directly part of the atrocities there. She forgave him. That is hard to imagine. You can read more about her story of forgiveness here.

Forgiveness is always possible, maybe not in our flesh, but with God, as He can forgive through us and in us. I experienced this and it is freeing in a way that is beyond description. It also removes a wall that we create between us and God. We are being disobedient when we don't forgive. When we continue to be disobedient our hearts harden.

If you harbor a grudge, if you have bitterness in your heart, don't you think it's time to let it go? It will eat you from the inside out if you don't. God will help you to do it if you just ask. Forgiveness, contrary to what many believe, is not done for the other person but for yourself. It is the best gift you can give yourself. For me, it was like a huge weight was lifted off me, one that had been there for a long time. 

I pray for each one of you who is dealing with this issue, that you will seek to forgive with God's assistance, and experience the freedom and joy that it brings. I pray that you can fill the room it leaves with good things, that will restore peace and bring joy. 

You Are So Beautiful To Me

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

~Psalm 139:14

Do you ever look at someone and think about how beautiful they are? I have. I have admired the waistline or the legs that someone has or the beautiful green eyes that another person has. The thing I find interesting is the more I get to know a person, the more or less beautiful they become to me. That is because what is inside is shining through, and it affects how they look to me.

We worry so much about how we look on the outside, going to so much trouble to keep our bodies in great shape and preserve our youth. The truth is outward beauty makes a great first impression and attracts people. It is not what people value. True beauty does not come from the shape of one's body, or one's complexion. It doesn't come from mesmerizing eyes,luscious lips or gorgeous hair. 

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.  ~Proverbs 31:25,30

True beauty comes from a beautiful heart; it radiates from the inside. It comes from someone who is unselfish, loving, content, and spiritual. Some of the most beautiful women and men I know aren't confined by their age. They didn't have any work done, and don't do crossfit. They love life and people but most of all, they love the Lord. It shows! There is a sparkle in their eyes and a genuine smile that lights up their faces. People are drawn to the light within them.

I have friends that are truly beautiful but they cannot see it. They are so worried about extra weight or how different they look now as opposed to when they were younger. I understand, it is easy to feel that way. Their beauty is timeless. It doesn't age, it grows as they grow and mature in the Lord. It is a lovely thing to see. We cannot stop the aging process, but we can renew ourselves inwardly with God's word. 

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  ~2 Corinthians 4:16

So I pray for every reader, that you find the beauty of God's word and are transformed inwardly by keeping Him in your heart. May His light shine through for all to see.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  ~Colossians 3:12