GOD CARES FOR YOU

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of sorrows; it empties today of strength."
Corrie ten Boom

In the darkest moments of our midnight hour it is sometimes difficult to believe that God is there. All too often we feel alone, deserted, forsaken and abandoned in our time of trial. Everywhere we turn we see trouble magnified and feel that blessing is minimized. We ask where God is-- why doesn't He answer--why doesn't He come to our rescue? We are feeling out of control and giving in to panic and unbelief. Is that where you find yourself today? Are you searching and seeking God in your time of distress? Well--be encouraged because He cares for you and tells you to cast your burdens on him and he will come to you. We know that our seasons of trial and suffering strengthen us in our faith and shape our character after Christ. Sometimes God will remove the trial but many times He simply walks with us through the storm giving us grace that is sufficient for the day. Life can be tough but God's promises are tougher and we can rely on Him because He is faithful. Be encouraged by some of these promises from His Word:

SCRIPTURES
Nahum 1:7 "He cares for those who trust in him."
Ps.145:18 "He is near to all who call on him"
Jer.33:3 "Come to me, and I will answer you."
1 Pe 5:7 "Cast your cares on the Lord."
Ps.41:1 "The Lord delivers him in times of trouble."
Ps.40:2 " He lifted me out of the slimy pit,out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
he put a new song in my mouth."

Now, don't those verses give you hope and expectation? Put your trust in him and he will strengthen you; he will answer you; he will deliver you from all your fears and put a new song in your mouth- a hymn of praise to our God. He is faithful and true!

Action Steps:
Pray these scriptures every day till you get your blessing
Seek the Lord in prayer every day
Speak to someone you trust and ask for their prayer, support and godly counsel
Speak positive words of faith and hope into your circumstances
Refuse to let the enemy put you down
Rise up in the mighty power of your God

Prayer:
Lord, you are worthy of praise and honor. Forgive me for the times I have taken my eyes off you. You are worthy of my full attention and complete trust. There is none like You. Teach me to better focus on your greatness and majesty so that I might have an eternal perspective in my time of trial. Faith is believing that you are exactly who you say you are. Increase my faith, Lord!

DON'T QUIT

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Heb.12:1

Have you ever been at a point in your life when you were so tired, frustrated and discouraged that you just wanted to lay it all down and quit! You say- "Enough is enough- I'm through. I give up." I think if we're honest with ourselves many of us would have to confess that we've been there at one time or another.

Do you remember the story of how the prophet Elijah struggled with this very thing. He had just experienced the amazing and incredible power of God on Mount Carmel and then immediately afterward was running for his life. Elijah was afraid of the death threats from Jezebel and so retreated to the desert. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, "I have had enough, Lord, take my life."(1 Kings 19:4) We know that God sent his angel to minister to him and prepare him for the journey to Mount Horeb. When he arrived there he spent the night in a cave. "The word of the Lord came to him: Elijah, what are you doing here?" Elijah told God how zealous he was for him but felt alone and afraid. God told him to stand on the mountain because the presence of the Lord was going to pass. God wasn't in the earthquake nor was he in the fire...........He was in the gentle whisper.

At Elijah's darkest hour God came to him and he will do the same for us. Yes- sometimes we feel alone, rejected, empty, helpless and want to throw in the towel. We tell God how faithful we are and all the good things we are doing. We question WHY these things are happening in our lives.
We ask him where he is with all his miracles and power. We forget that God will not always show up in a flashy- clanging symbol way...but in the still small voice. He does not abandon or forsake us in our trials. He wants us to rely on him and to trust him completely. He does not want us to sit down under our oak, elm, or maple tree and give up. No....he wants us to get up and get moving. As we walk in faith and perseverance, all the grace we need will be given us and more.
Let's take to heart his words, " My grace is sufficient for you. for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor.12:9

ACTION STEP: IF YOU ARE READY TO QUIT............

* Pray and ask God for strength to persevere
* Get in the word of God and find 3 specific scriptures to help you--
write them on 3 by 5 index cards and read them often out loud
* Find a trusted friend or mentor to pray for you and guide you
* Tell the enemy to "get lost" and reclaim your power in Christ
* Believe that you are close to victory so...........don't quit no matter what
* Believe that you CAN DO all things in Christ who strengthens you--Hallelujah!

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

Have you ever thought about yourself as a peacemaker? If we're honest with ourselves, there are probably times we encounter people or circumstances that make us raise a flag that does not represent peace. That's because we live in a world that deals with rivalry, conflict, competition, greed, and jealousy. Yet the word of God calls us to peace. Ps.34:14 "Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."
So what is this peace that we are to pursue? The dictionary calls it concord, harmony, agreement, reconciliation, and tranquility. The word of God says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Matt.5:9
As we look at this verse we need to consider 3 types of people:

#1 Peacebreakers...........they go out of their way to cause trouble and division; conflict and disagreements. Their motivation is self-centeredness and they can be very manipulative. One of the biggest ways to be a peacebreaker is with your tongue- spreading gossip, rumors, and slander.

#2 Peacekeepers.....they prefer peace over truth. They can't deal with conflict and discord. Therefore they will settle for a fake or surface peace rather than deal with the hard issues. Their motto: peace at any cost!

#3 Peacemakers......they are prepared to tell the truth and trust God for the outcome in order to have a peace that is worthwhile, genuine and lasting. They want real peace by resolving the cause of the conflict. They are prepared to put others' well-being above their own. They are motivated out of love. This is the kind of peace Jesus demonstrated in his life and ministry.

My question to you and myself is this:
Under which category do I fall? Am I a peacebreaker....peacekeeper....or peacemaker? Perhaps this week you'll choose to be a peacemaker in your home or at work or in your relationships. You can do this by:

humbling yourself (saying you're sorry)
confront falsehood with truth in a loving way
going out of your way to see the offender or offended...extend hand of peace
choosing your battles...........letting little things slide
spreading a spirit of harmony
being content with all that God has given you

Okay.........let's try it for a week! Let's see how many times we can be PEACEMAKERS!!!!!!! Let's pray for each other. Go for the GOLD IN PEACE!

EXPLORE POSSIBILITIES

A few years ago a little book came out which had amazing success.
No one saw it coming- could never have predicted it's impact on the world because it was focused on a non-descript bible verse from
1 Chronicles 4:9-10. Yes, you guessed it...The Prayer of Jabez.
As I pondered this, I realized one of the reasons it was so successful was because it spoke to each one's spirit- that part of us that we don't readily share with others. The part that imagines dreams and possibilities that we think are out of reach--at least for us. This small book challenged us to believe that no matter what our circumstances, God can and will extend our tent pegs far beyond our greatest imaginings...if we only ask. Jesus affirmed this when he said in Matt.7:7 "Ask and you shall receive."

Gloria Steinem said, "Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning."

On the outskirts of our everyday lives- there are adventures waiting to be embarked on- nothing lies beyond our dreams.
Ps.37:4 says that God gives us the desires of our heart. So believe that the possibilities are endless.

A year and a half ago, Kathryn Bonner- a Life Coach and author from Austin, Texas asked me to partner with her in forming a group called Women of Passionate Purpose. This happened during my stay there for a 2 day Life Plan. I had expected my life to change as a result of that life plan but this was beyond my wildest imagination. It was evident that we both had a passionate love for women and desired to minister to them in their life purpose, spiritual growth, and Spirit-led walk. We hosted a writing retreat in Pennsylvania last September and from that group we invited women to join us in this God-anointed venture. Today we are an official corporation with 12 members totally committed to the dream and vision that God gave our founder.

Let me ask you this:
Has there been a dream or vision that God has laid on your heart?
Is there a desire you've harbored but thought to be out of reach for you?
Is there a path you've secretly wanted to follow?
What possibility would you like to explore?


"Everything is possible for him who believes." Mark 9:23

"Dwell in Possibility." Emily Dickenson

ACTION STEPS:

Pray for discernment and counsel.
Identify a vision or longed for dream...write it down.
Look at all the possibilities this dream will offer.
Be joyful, hopeful, and full of expectation.
Write down at least 3 specific steps you can take to reach this goal
Find someone to share this with and hold you accountable.
Be courageous and go for your dreams.
Start today.......we're not sure of tomorrow.

Meditate on Hab.2:3
"Write down the revelation,
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.
For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come,
and will not delay.

Taking Risks...

Divine Challenger,
when did I stop risking?
When did I lose my edge
for adventure and surprise?
When did I start pretending
that what I now know
is all there is to know?
When did I give in to fear
and bow to security?

When did I let uncertainty
press against my free spirit?
When did I start moving
toward the easy, sure thing?
When did I give away
my ability to be disturbed?
When did I start refusing
to pay the price
for fuller depth and joy?
When did I let panic
of the unknown future
wrap its barbed wire fingers
around my desire to grow?

Inner Source of Courage,
nudge me toward my growth.
Urge me away from my strongholds.
Convince me of my potential
to leap beyond the barriers.

"And if anyone longs for wide experience,
she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come."
Wisdom 8:8

The above prayer is taken from "Prayers to Sophia" by Joyce Rupp

Journal Applications..........

What are the challenges and obstacles in your life at this time?


Who and what encourages you to face your fears and take risks? How?


Who and what holds you back from taking risks...who are the border bullies?


How willing are you to let go of your security blankets in order to grow?

I love this prayer about taking risks! I find it challenging and it's making me search my heart for the answers. Giving way to our fears always holds us back and God has so much more for us, doesn't He? I'd love to hear some of your thoughts and reflections on this piece. Let's chat about it...shall we?

NEW YEAR...........NEW DAY

"We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, and cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives-- not looking for flaws but for potential." Ellen Goodman

Isn't this a thought provoking statement? Does it sound familiar to the way you start out a new year? I don't have a problem looking at the past because I believe we can learn valuable lessons for the future, we can see patterns of thought and behavior that weren't healthy or live giving, and most importantly we can remember the blessings and favor that God showered upon us. The trap can be when we focus on the flaws, cracks, weaknesses and failures thus becoming discouraged and feeling helpless. This is not God's plan for us this New Year. I believe He wants all of us to engage in our present lives whatever the circumstances........Thank Him, worship Him, serve Him, and most importantly seek Him knowing that with Him all things are possible and He will bring about the best for our lives. So often, it's a matter of timing and waiting on Him. I want this year to be a year of Unbelievable Belief in a miracle working God who has awesome plans for my future and who has invited me to come follow Him. How about you? Are you game? Let's do it together.
"Let your eyes look straight ahead.
Fix your gaze directly before you." Pr 4:25

"Today a new sun rises for me; everything lives, everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me of my passion, everything invites me to cherish it."
Anne De Lencios

ANOTHER LOOK AT KINDNESS

Speak Gently

by David Bates

Speak gently!—It is better far
To rule by love, than fear—
Speak gently—let not harsh words mar
The good we might do here!

Speak gently!—Love doth whisper low
The vows that true hearts bind;
And gently Friendship's accents flow;
Affection's voice is kind.

Speak gently to the little child!
Its love be sure to gain;
Teach it in accents soft and mild:—
It may not long remain.

Speak gently to the young, for they
Will have enough to bear—
Pass through this life as best they may,
'Tis full of anxious care!

Speak gently to the aged one,
Grieve not the care-worn heart;
The sands of life are nearly run,
Let such in peace depart!

Speak gently, kindly, to the poor;
Let no harsh tone be heard;
They have enough they must endure,
Without an unkind word!

Speak gently to the erring—know,
They may have toiled in vain;
Perchance unkindness made them so;
Oh, win them back again!

Speak gently!—He who gave his life
To bend man's stubborn will,
When elements were in fierce strife,
Said to them, "Peace, be still."

Speak gently!—'tis a little thing
Dropped in the heart's deep well;
The good, the joy, which it may bring,
Eternity shall tell.