God Changes Everything

In the movie we watched last night, the uber driver carried, among all the others, a man struggling with addiction. He pulled out a small black book and began reciting “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change…” The uber driver respectfully removed His hat at the mention of God.

We are so prone to show ourselves as having it all together. Yet one thing is certain we really can’t change much. But we are so very blessed that we get to partner with God, who can change everything. From our standing to our attitudes to answers to prayer – God is the only one capable of making real changes that last.

Oh beloved, think about it. One of the magnificent benefits of life in Christ is that you get to partner with God! You get to lean on His truth and walk in His faith. You may have had a hard life but Jesus came to redeem that life. You may have lost much financially, but God will take care of you as you rest your future in His hands. Your prayers are so powerful when you partner with God for Him to do what only He can do! Every believer is fully endowed with gifts and fullness and blessings. It’s better than a check in the mailbox. You can go to the bank of life on God’s truth and draw from His bounteous, over the top grace, mercy, blessings and favor.

God wants you to know about the abundant life because these are rough times. The news isn’t telling it all straight, but you and I are indeed living in perilous times. God wants you to know as well that these times don’t negate your standing in faith or what you receive as an inheritance in Christ. Rather, in times like these God shows up in wisdom, power and love even more. And you beloved, aren’t the tail, you are the head. You are seated in heavenly places – whether you are a doctor, lawyer, assembly worker or janitor. God isn’t interested in human titles. He is interested in the heart. And He is bringing hearts closer to Him and that includes you. There’s no need to fear the outcome, for you are absolutely sheltered in the arms of God. Your only concern is that you need wisdom to live for Jesus, walk in God’s precepts and learn how to stand when everyone and everything around you is falling away. And God says as you abide in Him you will live for Him as well. It’s called the victorious life and it’s yours for the embracing!

God loves you and He’s for you. When you’re in the pew at church and when you are washing your car. When you’re reading your Sunday School lesson and when you are frustrated in the store. He wants to give you more than a religious experience, He wants to change your life! Run to Him this morning and thank Him for what He has done, what He is doing and what He will do. And then Live for Jesus as you lean completely on Him for life and godliness today!

John 1:16 For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.

Romans 5:2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Ephesians 2:18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Colossians 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son

1 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

Be Very Sure Jesus Stays With You Always

We had a family of five eat super with us the other night. It was our middle child, hubby and three children! We had homemade chili and fixings. Well, except for our Caleb. He’s kinda sorta a picky eater. I looked in the cabinet and found a bowl of instant noodles. He said, “I like them but I don’t know if my momma will let me eat them.” It’s rough liking something one day and deciding you don’t like it another day. He did get to eat those noodles though. As I came into the kitchen this morning I looked at the leftovers in his cup and plate. Bless him! He picked the carrots and corn pieces out of it and ate it anyway.

All this to say we do that don’t we? We change our minds about stuff, we mess the plan up and then we think “God isn’t going to let me, or be with me or whatever…” We think He is going to give up on us, punish us or remove His hand from us. Truth be told we often are waiting for it aren’t we?

Oh beloved. But Jesus said things like “Lo I am with you always.” He didn’t say Lo I am with the perfect saints did He? Because we are all imperfect at our best. No excuses but junk happens. Your bank account falls fearfully low, your loved one’s temp rises fearfully high, your job looks shaky, your car is making noises and you don’t know where to turn. Surely it’s your fault. Maybe. Maybe not. Life happens. But beloved, God wants all of us to know today that He is with us always, always, always. Your life is not based on your goodness. It’s based on His Mercy. Your salvation rests solely on the One who did for you what you could never do on your own. And He gives out salvation so lavishly! You are saturated by the Love of Christ and the hope of Heaven. You are overtaken by His reckless Love! We go from undeserving wretches, every one of us, to unbelievably honored children of the King! Amazing, amazing, amazing!

The enemy will always heap discord in your heart – the kind of discord that makes you think God is a divine punisher, ready to pounce on you any minute. The enemy will also say it’s too late, you’ve messed up too much, or you can’t go back to God.

But you can always go back and He is always with you no matter what.

God loves you and He’s for you. In spite of whatever comes your way. In spite of your mess ups. In spite of the pain of hurts nobody knows about. He loves you with an Everlasting Love – it won’t run out and He won’t run out on you. Run to Him this morning and get His perspective about you. Ask Him for help in areas you can’t seem to get a handle on and He will help you! Then live, beloved, as the forgiven, blessed, armored, overcoming, abiding child that you truly are.

Matthew 28:20 and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

I Corinthians 1:8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Hang Onto That Crown

When I found the photo of the grandsons I also found a photo of their little sister. It was when she won a beauty pageant and she was wearing a crown and two sashes. One said Queen and the other said Beautiful Eyes. We agree with the judges 100%! But the look on her face made me pause. It was as though she was saying “Queen? I’m not so sure about that. I’m not sure what all this hubbub is about.”

Oh beloved, even the queen of England has to get up every morning and face the day. We see her life as someone who has no responsibilities or worries. But she has children, a husband and a country. She has the same types of issues most of us have. She might not have to budget for groceries each week but she does have to meet a lot of people’s expectations as well as have concern for her loved ones’ welfare.

God wants you to know this morning that He has tilted you “Daughter of the Most High God”. His daughter. While that doesn’t relieve you of life’s burdens, it gives you credentials to walk through them with your head held high and your crown sitting straight. People’s plans for you don’t matter. God’s plans for you are the real deal. If He allows you to go through the wilderness, He will provide the tent, the manna and the route. That means He will be with you and you won’t have to live there forever. Everything is temporary in the wilderness. Even the tent is not meant to be lived in always and surely you cannot hide there forever. Your real tent is the tent of meeting with the King. It’s portable – not just for church buildings but for your heart and mind each and every day. I need to know this don’t you. I have at times wondered about the title of daughter. Really? This is what a daughter’s life looks like?

But then God speaks to our hearts, yours and mine, and says do not worry, do not be afraid, do not doubt. His do’s are awesome but so are His do not’s! You are an emissary of faith and how can you be so without the times that increase your faith? A professor or a teacher must go to school to be proficient. You too beloved, must go through schooling to become proficient at believing God’s Word and sharing His miraculous ways.

God loves you and He’s for you. In the wilderness. In the castle. In the church. In the world. In the good times (Yahoo) and the bad (thank You Lord). He has already said you are seated in heavenly places with Him. He has already said you have a home not built with human hands ahead of you. Run to Him this morning, ask Him to help you adjust your crown, remember your title and then live in the Light of His wonderful, amazing, supernatural ways!

2 Corinthians 6:18 And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.

Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

Galatians 6:15 God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children.

Ephesians 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus Film Project

Psalm 57:2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill His purpose for me.

Whole Heart Living

While looking for a particular photo I came across one of two of my grandsons who are brothers. They were sitting at my piano and one was obviously singing with all his heart. The other one was fiercely playing the piano with total abandon. They were enjoying themselves thoroughly.

What makes for the best life and the most fun? Wild abandonment and releasing anything that wants to hold you back. The Word contains phrases like “with all your heart” from the Old to the New Testament. There must be something to that phrase.

Oh beloved, don’t you want to just let go and enjoy life? Don’t you want to release the things you cannot change? Wouldn’t it be nice to give up on the what if’s and the feelings of danger and fear? You can! God has never intended His children to fear anything in life. Talent requires practice, but doing something with all your heart will take a small talent and turn it into a huge anointing. Not everyone lives in the Spirit, but you can. Not everyone takes Jesus seriously, but you will. Not everyone lives their whole life with their whole heart, but those who do have the best life now!

God wants you to know that you are worth Him giving all for you. And He is worth you giving all for Him. Just fear the Lord only – have reverence and honor and awe for Him. That’s where you will find true power to forge ahead in spite of all your fears. This amazing relationship He wants with you is your best relationship to have ever. He stays the course when others are through. He sweeps you up in His arms when the world throws you limits. He carries you through the fire of adversity without so much as a single singe. Living for yourself may bring a benefit or two along the way, but it will not in the end give you peace. True peace comes in the abandoning of self and giving yourself away to God through Christ. He changes things about you, with you and for you. Stop wondering if He will meet your next need and thank Him with heartfelt abandon for all the things you know He got you through! He didn’t fail anything yet, so why wonder if He will fail now? People who live with abandon in their faith are the people who have the true joy and peace of God. Who doesn’t want that?

God loves you and He’s for you. He only wants you to return that love and fidelity to Him. The life of faith is the most intimate, beautiful life you can live. So run to Him this morning and give yourself to Him fresh and new. Fall on the altar of His Presence and let 2019 be the most faith filled and faith lived year you’ve ever had. And live, beloved, for Jesus with all of your heart! You’ll never regret it no matter what.

1 Samuel 12:24 Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

Deuteronomy 6:5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Psalm 86:12 I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever.

Ruined for the ordinary

My hubby and I attended the memorial service for a friend this weekend. They met in the 50’s when they were boys and went to elementary, junior high and high school together. There was a gap of years where they went their separate ways. But the Lord brought them back together. Their renewed friendship was awesome. As though they’d never been apart, they just took right back up where they left off. Kind of. The extraordinary thing was that they both were living for the Lord and that made the fellowship and friendship even sweeter. God is so good.

At the memorial service we got to stand up to honor this friend’s life. And we got to encourage his lovely wife, who is our dear friend as well. She and I got the privilege of meeting and marrying two amazing men – who are anything but ordinary. So her life is never going back to ordinary. She’s been touched by two immutable things – the love of Christ. And the love of a holy man of God. So even though he is gone, she will never be the same. She has been ruined for the ordinary. I understand that. I feel the same way about my life.

Oh beloved, when Christ touches a life, things change. Now instead of hopelessness at the sight of trouble we have the God of All Hope touching the situation and touching us. We are no longer slaves to our earthly desires. We have the hope of heaven and the focus of this walk of faith as our standard. Yes, we have troubles and temptations – but who wants to go back to living the before life? We have been ruined for the ordinary by our Extraordinary Savior. The natural tendencies of life no longer hold sway over us. You and I are no longer in the natural, for we have been touched by the supernatural.

You, precious believer, are not in the clutches of the enemy’s plans for your life. Nor are you under the shadow of worry, fear or futility. You have the seal of heaven on you. You have the truth of God within you and you even live and move and have your being in the Spirit of the Only Living God. God wants you to know that He grieves when you grieve and He delights in giving you joy in the sorrow. He calls you daughter and you’ve been adopted to the point that His DNA now runs in your veins. There’s no chance you can be forsaken or given away – for He sealed your fate at the Cross and finished it all in the Resurrection. Signed, sealed and delivered. You never have to worry if you are good enough. You never have to worry that He won’t forgive. You never have to wonder if He still loves you. This is no ordinary friendship – this is covenant.

God loves you and He’s for you, forever and ever. His love is like nothing the earth can ever comprehend. You are in His love, in His heart and on His mind for eternity. Run to Him this morning and thank Him for all the supernatural meaning of this love. And don’t worry about anything else – you are accepted, appointed, and anointed always for the love of your life – Jesus.

Psalm 143:8 Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life.

2 Thessalonians 2:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

Romans 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit

I John 4:10 This is real love–not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.