WOE TO THOSE

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.” (Isaiah 5:20-21)

Is the direction of this world weighing you down?

Do you find yourself thinking the state of general thinking is upside down?

Do you wonder what God thinks of it all?

Dear one, God is not surprised by the world.

He isn’t shaken.

He’s working.

He knows.

Are we trusting Him?

So…what should we do? It doesn’t seem right to do nothing.

Dear one, the plan is still the same…

Show them Jesus.

Live out the Gospel.

The future for those who are rejecting truth and making their own version, rejecting good and embracing evil is sure…woe!!

Make sure your life makes an imprint on this world for Jesus, for good, for the Gospel.

Don’t despair over those who won’t listen, or over the direction they influence the world in. God knows their end…

Woe!!

OUR NEED-MEETING GOD

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

What do you worry about?

Is it about a need you have or might have in the future?

If you are a believer in Christ, you need not worry.

Our God will supply all your needs.

All.

Every one.

The question may really revolve around what we actually need and what we think we need.

Since God knows the difference, we can trust His discretion.

He knows what we need.

His supply is infinite.

He knows exactly what to give us and when to give it.

How would our lives change if we lived as if we truly believed this?

Dear one, believe it and live resting in our need-meeting God.

GETTING COMFORTABLE WITH WEAKNESS

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

I am comfortable with my weaknesses! Not only that, but I am thankful for weakness!

What?

Yep! Christ’s power is clearly seen in our lives when we acknowledge an area of weakness and show others just what God can do in light of that weakness.

If you’re like me, you may have spent time trying to fight for a weak area to become strong.

You may also have felt discouraged or defeated when you couldn’t do it on your own. Not even a self-help guru could lead the way to victory.

But when you bring your weakness to the cross, the God of all strength gives His sufficient grace to you.

Then, when there are small victories He gets the glory.

Not you.

Not a guru.

So, I like Paul am actually glad for my weakness. It is a chance to hands down give God all the glory in my life.

If this were not the case I would walk in pride relishing in my own strength.

Instead, God allows me to delight in my need to need Him.

And when I need Him, I draw close.

Praise GOD. He is oh so good to us. He takes our weakness and makes us strong.

DO NOT BE DECEIVED

“…for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

Satan and his servants are master deceivers. Even the very people who do their bidding are under a cloak of deception.

The thing about deception is once you realize you’ve been deceived, you no longer are.

So, how will we know? How will we know if something or someone is truly good and from God or if it is just a cleverly disguised deceiver?

Here are a few things to consider…

1.) Examine the fruit. “By their fruit you shall know them.” Matthew 7:16.

2.) Identify who is getting the glory. God’s servants give God all the glory.

3.) Look for ulterior motives. Is power, greed, approval, or position a motive for behavior, or is it really an act of service to God?

Have you ever been deceived by someone? Can you see now how they failed one of the above listed points?

Satan is not playing games. We need to know whose we are and who are not God’s own.

Be wise dear one, look beyond the surface and you will see the difference between genuine servants and masquerades.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (Proverbs‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Wisdom cannot be found apart from the Lord.

It’s evident that an intelligent mind lies behind all creation. From how the land meets the sky to the individual functioning of the cells in our body, it’s evident that not a single part of life just happened.

God is the creator of all things. He is infinitely wise. He is timeless. He is unlimited in power and ability. Considering these things begs the question, why do we think we can circumvent God to find the path to wisdom?

We can’t. And it’s foolish to think otherwise.

I encourage you to spend the rest of your days seeking the Lord and submitting to Him. This is the true and proper foundation for life. I may not know how to cure cancer or the formula to make $1 million in a year. But I know (and am learning daily) how to navigate this life with peace, joy, love, and endurance. And it all started with submitting my life to the Lord. 💗

RULING OURSELVES

Proverbs 16:32

“Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”

Of all the things you could rule over, ruling yourself may be both the most important and the most difficult.

In this passage, a warrior with the might to take an entire city at hand is not to be compared with taking oneself at hand.

It must be of great value to rule oneself.

Think of how true that really is and all of what it requires.

You have to be…

self-aware,

yielding to the Holy Spirit,

and

willing to practice time and time again.

Failure cannot afford to give way to defeat, but rather lead to additional alignments in tune with the Spirit.

Easy? No!

Taking over a city may be easier.

Worth it? Yes! Oh yes!

We never arrive in the area of self-control this side of eternity, but this is part of our journey with the Lord.

What areas of our life do we need to practice more self-control in? (Sorry, I know this is a probing question.)

Let’s pray today for God’s Grace to do the work that is better than ruling a city…ruling ourself.

HUMILITY IS GOOD

“He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (Phil 2:7)

We can feel like nothing sometimes. This can be due to circumstances or by means of comparison, either way that feeling is partially true. We are nothing, without Christ. He makes us what we are, whatever we are…praise Him!

If you struggle with a feeling of being nothing, consider how Jesus chose to make Himself nothing for us.

Can we even fathom His great love shown in this way?

I can squirm at the thought of feeling like nothing, women have shared with me similar thoughts they’ve wrestled with, yet God chose it. Amazing love!

If we humble ourselves in our situation, the God who chose to make Himself nothing will show us what He has for us in that place.

Humility is a tricky thing. If you’re feeling like you’ve got a good handle on it as a character trait, by definition you probably don’t.

We can either humble ourselves, or we can be humbled. The former is far more desirable as a means to an end.

Has God ever called you into deeper humility?

It’s really a good calling even though it feels…humbling.

1Peter 5:6

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand that He may lift you up in due time.”

He has a plan, it requires our humility. You have to choose it.

Choose wisely, friend. He will lift you up, in due time.

GOD IS OUR COMFORT

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Uncomfortable!

Have you ever felt uncomfortable? Maybe things in your life are changing and they are not bad, but they sure are unfamiliar waters and you feel, well…uncomfortable.

God never called us to live comfortably.

Think of all the records in scripture left for us about lives of faith. We can’t read their accounts and say they were not stretched outside of their familiarity.

How did they do it? I mean, I can’t say I like being uncomfortable.

Their stories of faith have this in common, God Himself was their comfort.

God is our comfort. Not our situation going the way we want it to, not the platitudes we utter to others or those spoken over us. It is the God of our salvation who draws us into dependent living, who also provides for all the detailed needs we have.

He Himself is our comforter.

What’s the purpose? In this passage we see as a result of having received God’s comfort ourselves, we can then comfort others. It’s not about just knowing the comfort of God, but also showing it to others as well.

Friend, today you may feel uncomfortable. Take heart and be comforted yourself by our comforter. Then, go and show someone else that same comforter. The God of our salvation.

YOU WERE HIS IDEA

Why do you do what you do?

Now there’s a question worth pondering!

Recently I have had conversations that made assumptions, big assumptions about why people may be doing what they’re doing.

While the assumptions may have been off base, they certainly give cause for pause.

Do we do what we do because we were asked?

Because we want to feel appreciated by others?

Do we want recognition?

Because we want to be the best at something, or at least better than those around us?

As long as we’re doing good, does it even matter why we do what we do?

YES!

The one true God who created the one and only you, has designed you specifically for a purpose.

Ephesians 2:10

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

“We are God’s workmanship.”

Hold up!

He planned you!!!!!!!

Are you down today?

Friend, I hope this truth stops you in your tracks and causes you to lift your head to the heavens in praise!

YOU were HIS idea.

And HE has work He has prepared in advance for YOU to do.

Don’t miss this…

It’s important that you do what you do FOR HIM.

Maybe someone asked you to do something, you should be doing it for HIM.

Maybe you are a driven person, be goal accomplishing for HIM.

Maybe you desire to do all things well, do all things well for HIM.

Friend, live for HIM.

He never fails.

He never disappoints.

He has a plan.

He wants YOU to get on board with it.

Let’s ask ourselves today…

WHY do I do what I do?

You already know what the answer should be 😉!

RUNNING THE RACE

1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

If we were all runners and entered a race together, how would we run that race?

Well, the answer to that question depends on whether or not you think you have a chance at winning the prize. A lot of people enter area 5k’s who never intend to win first, they just want to cross the finish line and for them, that is a win.

What if the stakes were high? What if the winner’s purse was grand? Would that change the way you trained and the attitude with which you entered the race?

Friend, this life is a race and we’re all entered in it.

We run with perseverance because the prize is grand, and it’s ours. Christ has secured it.

Show up.

Give it your all.

Don’t give up.

“Run in such a way as to get the prize.”

KEEP ON PRAYING

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.” Romans 15:30

Do you ever find yourself wanting to help someone else, but having no idea how?

We see others struggling and we know they need help. Our hearts are moved and compelled to action.

There are circumstances that hinder that desire being realized. though. Maybe the person is removed by distance. Maybe the person is an acquaintance, but there are others far more closely linked in relationship.

You want to help, but how?

Paul is sharing in this verse in Romans a very practical way to offer help and it is through prayer.

We can always offer help through prayer no matter the situation.

Can you think of a time someone offered to pray for you? What a consolation it is to know the people of God act like the family of God when they “join” in a struggle through prayer.

We are compelled by “the love of the spirit” and it shows when we carry one another’s burdens in this way.

If you are a people person, naturally desiring to be helpful, you have one sure way to launch love into action.

Pray. Pray. Pray.

Praying is really the most important something you can do even though you may be feeling like you don’t know what to do.

The love of the spirit shines through you when you pray for others.

Shine on dear one and keep praying.

GETTING GOOD WISDOM

James 3:17

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

There are a lot of well-meaning voices offering words to point us in a good direction, but only heaven’s wisdom is from God.

If you’re questioning which direction to take with a situation consider running your options through the grid offered in James 3:17.

Is the wisdom I am following…

Pure

Peace-loving

Considerate

Submissive

Merciful

Fruitful

Impartial

Sincere

If the direction you’re heading in lacks any of these characteristics, think again.

What can you do to redirect in a way that is fully in tune with God’s wisdom?

Any effort made without it won’t produce the best outcome. It’s possible to get off track; relying on our own strength, knowledge, or even our own fleshly desires. We may be tempted to take the path of least resistance or choose the easy way out. Following in the ways of man can also be practiced, but it is not always biblical.

Thinking about what to do is good. Getting counsel is great. Living your life according to the wisdom of God, that is as good as it gets.

THE POWER OF SAYING NO

Being a people pleaser can be a terrible snare.

The exhaustion that comes from raggedly running to keep everyone we know happy is physical, mental, and emotional.

The aim should be to please God.

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. “Galatians 1:10

If I am seeking to please man (rather than God), I become man’s bondservent.

Do you find yourself doing things because it will appease someone? Have you been manipulated emotionally? Does someone withhold love or approval from you if you don’t do that thing they want you to do?

Be careful friend. There is a fine line between being a loving servant of God’s who helps people, and being run down and exhausted by someone for whom it will never be enough.

People who love you respect your limitations.

People who love you respect your time.

People who love you love you, not what you do for them.

Aim to please God.

It is possible to have a good name before man. This does not come through living to please him though.

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”

Proverbs 3:1-4

Let love and faithfulness never leave you. Your service to people is driven by your love and faithfulness to them, not your desire to please them.

God’s love and faithfulness to you in turn is shown to others through you.

God does what is best for us out of His great love for us.

Our response to people in our lives should mirror this model.

Sometimes the answer is…

No, I can’t do that at this time.

No, my schedule won’t allow for that.

No, that would not be wise for me.

No, that would not be best for you.

These are not easy things to say, and too often we comply to please rather than speak truth.

Love and faithfulness win favor and a good name before God and man.

This is not the equivalent to running ragged to make everyone happy.

If you aim to please God with your life, that is enough.

You may need to learn the power of a loving, “No.”

FROM EMPTINESS TO FULLNESS

“I feel empty.”

On our last evening of family vacation, these words were uttered by our nine-year-old son.

The thought of fun and family time coming to a close, leaves a sort of melancholy in the air.

We long to be filled.

We were divinely designed to be full inside.

Emptiness can prompt us to look for ways to fill up, some good, some…well…not so much.

The irony in really feeling filled is actually found in being empty. When I give, I receive.

God’s economy is exactly the opposite of what we would think of on our own. We would think we’d be filled if we gained a lot of wealth for ourselves. But, we are the most filled when we give what we have to those in need.

Possessions are not the only thing worth giving, it could be our time, talent, or treasures.

When I give any of these away, I am the blessed one.

When you give any of these away, you are the blessed one.

Give with no strings attached.

Give expecting nothing in return.

Give as unto the Lord.

Give out of the abundance that has been given to you by God.

Give without shouting it from the rooftops or having your name attached to the gift when at all possible.

“Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” Matthew 6:3

If you do this, empty yourself for the sake of others, you will be the blessed one.

So, if you are looking for ways to be filled, start by looking for ways to give.

When you empty yourself, you will be filled.

UNPACK THE BAGS

Summer brings road trips and vacations with it; fun in the sun and the like.

All the necessities get loaded up, and off onto great adventures we go!

Not only do these journeys require time and effort for proper packing, but they also necessitate the same for unpacking as well.

Taking care to sort everything and put it in it’s proper place is of great value and helps us return to a normal routine more easily.

Take time to unpack after a journey.

Some chapters of life leave us with an abundance of baggage bursting at the seams.

Some items need to go straight in the trash and should not waste any more of our time or mental space. And once it is put in the trash bin, don’t go back for it. Leave it there. Let it go.

Other things need a little cleaning up and restoring to be useful again. Go ahead. Bring back to good order what has worth. This may take awhile. There’s no rush. Do what’s necessary.

Along the way, precious new treasures may have been picked up. As you continue to unpack, find their home alongside your older treasures. These may be lessons learned, perceptions shifted, steadying nuggets of wisdom gained.

You may have to reorder some things to give your new treasures a place of priority. That’s no problem. Make the changes you need to.

Baggage needs attention.

Unpacking is a part of journeying that cannot be skipped.

Take time to unpack.

Dear one, your return to normal is calling.

Let the unpacking begin.

CONTENT WITH GOD

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

1 Timothy 6:6

To gain means to get something you desire.

It’s not uncommon to be in a state of want.

If you wonder what you long for, think about your recent conversations. The words we speak tell the desires of our heart.

I dream of things that I will more than likely never attain. Just me?

Things like…

vacations

careers

family proximity

skills

“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4

Delighting in the Lord leads to Him taking the things I used to desire and replacing them with brand new ones. When I chase after God with my life, I start to long for completely different things.

I want what He wants.

And I am thankful for what He grants.

The thing about wanting for godliness is…you can always get it.

This passage in 1Timothy is warning against false teaching and states that some are interested in godliness for their own financial gain.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

When we want God,

When we want what He wants for us,

When we are content with what He grants,

This is better than any financial gain or (otherwise).

This is great gain.

Dear friend, what do you want?

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.” (Acts 22:16)

Here in Acts, Paul is recounting his conversion.

He is literally blinded by the light when the Lord questions his practice of persecution.

After Ananias restores Paul’s sight, he tells him he will be a witness to what he has seen and heard to all people.

He was blind one minute and the next he is confronted with, “And now what are you waiting for?”

If you have been restored by God, you too are to be a witness to what you have seen and heard.

His light has impacted you too.

It has caused you to see the sin you were blind to in your life.

Now you must go and tell those you encounter along life’s path what has happened; who you were, how you met God, and how He has changed your life.

Our purpose as Christians can get clouded or complicated as a result of being steeped in our Christian culture. We can get weighed down with all of what we think we should do in order to be a good Christian.

The beautiful simplicity of our purpose is this:

Go tell others about your Jesus.

We do a lot of things, many are good. Don’t miss the one call on your life that is universal for believers. Share Christ.

And just as Ananias asked Paul…“And now what are you waiting for?”

GOD IS TRUSTWORTHY

I am a terrible driver.

I can drive, and do so well, but I really don’t like driving. Motion makes my stomach feel queasy, and my nerves get the best of me. I am a white-knuckle driver.

Recently, we took a trip back home and thankfully my husband drove the whole way. That helps a little.

We awoke to a beautiful lighting show the morning we left. That doesn’t help. At all.

We loaded up and headed out and I hoped the new car top carrier really was weather proof as it claimed to be.

Thoughts of analogies started swirling round amid the roars of thunder and panics over items left behind.

I am a white-knuckle passenger.

I grip my pillow that was made for rest with all my might.

My husband is a good driver, I should trust him and sit restfully.

My God is a good driver of my life.

The storm is great.

He has driven through storms before.

God created the storm.

It’s hard to see.

He knows the road.

God made the road.

Conditions are fit for hydroplaning.

He put new tires on the vehicle.

God controls the vehicle.

Could we just slow down?

He is driving a safe pace with traffic.

God has perfect timing.

The cargo is so precious.

He knows how precious the cargo is.

God made the cargo and loves more than I ever could.

I close my eyes. Somehow it’s better when I don’t look at the things that make me nervous.

I repeat in my head…Just trust the driver. Just trust the driver. He knows what he’s doing.

Dear Lord, please stop the storm.

If you don’t, please keep us safe. Surround us with your protection. Bring us through the storm. Lead us safely home.

God knows the storms in our lives; their coming and their going. He is a trustworthy driver of life. Not one anxious thought of ours controls anything. Not one. Not anything. He loves the passengers. He breathed them into being. He knows the way home.

Dear white-knuckle passenger, rest your head on your pillow, and

trust your trustworthy God. He will lead you home.

John 8:26

“but he…is trustworthy.”

SHARE EACH OTHER’S BURDENS

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2

My mom suffered from a movement disorder disease that brought on all sorts of awkward glares.

Her disease made it very hard to move about normally and at times she struggled to walk.

Sometimes it was tempting to pull her or nudge her along from behind. Neither of those approaches really helped her to move forward.

She had an amazing team of neurologists. One doctor taught us how to best help her walk.

The technique was very specific. It involved standing right beside her, walking in step with her while linking our arms in front of us in a crisscross fashion.

It may sound crazy, but it worked! Sometimes when she got “stuck”, the only way to get her moving again was to employ this technique.

Ironically, once she got going, she had all she needed to keep moving. She just required assistance to begin the process.

When we see messes in the lives of others, it is all too easy to cast a distant judgmental glare.

If we have a bit of compassion, we may think we can help by pulling or pushing a person along.

This picture of helping my mom causes me to consider how we can be of real help.

We need to get close enough to come alongside, walk with them while holding their hands, and set a healthy pace for moving forward.

We need to get close to help bear the burdens of others.

Being stuck is no fun. Sometimes all it takes to begin a journey forward is a willingness to help bear a burden.

Dear friend, is there someone in your sphere of influence who needs you to walk with them today?

Your willingness may be all that is required to get someone started moving forward on their own.

COMMIT ALL THINGS TO HIM

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)

The world’s best ice cream shop is very close by. You may think you’ve had better, but trust me when I say they serve the creamiest, most flavorful varieties I have ever had. And of course they offer everything from a sundae with a brownie or cookie base, to the single scoop of your dreams.

There’s only one problem…there are so many options to choose from! This may not seem like a problem, but for someone who likes many flavors, it can be down right stressful.

While choosing ice cream flavors may not rank in the top ten of crucial life decisions, there certainly are other areas of life that really do weigh on us when faced with options.

A few basic questions to ponder may prove useful in such cases;

•Which option will bring God the most glory?

•Which option will be best for my family and my family’s spiritual well being?

•Which option will best utilize the gifts God has entrusted me with?

•As I commit a decision to prayer, which option do I sense the Holy Spirit’s prompting towards?

Why is this grid an important one to think through? I am glad you asked. After a decision is made, especially if it’s a weighty one, doubt may creep in. If that happens, looking back and trusting the process by which you made your decision will be a good place to hang your hat of security.

Difficulty in a situation doesn’t mean it’s bad or the outcome of a wrong choice necessarily. It may mean great things are coming!

Great things, many times are found on the other side of difficult seasons.

Difficulty may also mean you are in a learning time where growth is happening. So, challenging times may ultimately be what is best for us rather than an indication that we took a wrong turn.

Ice cream is ice cream. You can hardly go wrong.

When you make decisions for your life, whatever you do, commit it to the Lord. Living for His glory above all else may have many opportunities and options involved. Whatever the path, if it’s truly for Him, He’ll make it good.