Yesterday, I got some disappointing news. Normally, this would not have been a big deal but with all of the other things going on in my life, this sent me over the edge. I left work and drove to church to have friends pray for me. After our impromptu prayer session, I was in the parking lot leaving, and The Holy Spirit said, “All things work together for your good....
Disappointed No More
Yesterday, my friend Neal was teaching on thinking above the line. He encouraged us to not think the worse was going to happen, but to imagine the best will happen. “If you are going to make up a future, make it a good one,” he encouraged. As I listened to his teaching, the thought kept popping into my head, “Yeah, but I’m tired of being disappointed.” I am generally a...
Be A Strong Branch
At the end of Jacob’s life, he describes his son, Joseph as: ““A fruitful bough (a main branch of the vine), A fruitful bough by a spring (a well, a fountain); Its branches run over the wall [influencing others].” Genesis 49:22 Joseph had some bad breaks – sold into slavery, falsely imprisoned – but he did not allow any of that to change who he was. He became a fruitful...
He Has Overcome
Bad news, unexpected deaths, disappointments, heartaches, sickness, division. Is this what Jesus meant when He said “in this world you will have trouble, tribulations, trials, distress and frustration? This morning, as I glance through my Facebook feed, I’m confronted with all of this. My heart aches for friends, family, and even my own personal situation. That inevitable question of “why” pierce my heart. Why didn’t God heal? Why didn’t He...
Freedom
I’m reading the story of Jacob stealing his brother’s blessing this morning (again not one of my favorite stories). But the Holy Spirit reveals two truths to me as I am reading. Truth #1 After Jacob had deceived his father and stolen his brother’s blessing, Esau returns and begs his father for a blessing. He is rightfully angry with his brother. As firstborn, the blessing belonged to him. “Is there...
Jehovah Nissi
They complained. We have no food. Have you brought us out here to die? Would it not have been better to die captive in Egypt? God gave them Manna. It sustained them for forty years. Everyday God gave them enough for the day. They complained. We have no water and we are thirsty. Did you bring us out here to die. Would it not have been better to die in...
Hold On! I’m Coming!
Abraham was given a promise. Three times God spoke to him and reiterated the promise. Abraham had left his family, separated from his nephew, was living in a foreign land, waiting. Days turned to months; months turned to years. Abraham is aging. Sarah is aging and nothing seems to be happening. Doubt began to rise. Did I hear Him correctly? Did I leave my family and friends for nothing? Fear...
Find the Beauty
Life can be difficult. Things don’t always go the way we would like. People disappoint. The unexpected happens. Harsh diagnosis are given. But in the midst of the hard times, God is there. I am learning to see God in EVERY situation. He is IN the good, the bad, the ugly, the disappointments, the exciting, the beautiful. He is IN it ALL. That is not to say He is the...
Expect in 2018
And so it begins…Thoughts of the New Year. What will 2018 hold for us? Will this be the year that I will finally loose weight, get healthy, find a spouse, get out of debt, find a job? Is this the year of my breakthrough? Is this year when all of heaven and earth align and I will finally have the dream life I want? That’s a lot of pressure to...
Be The One Who Believes
Jesus said, “All things are possible for the one who believes.” Believes what? Jesus and three of his disciples had gone on a retreat. While away, a man in desperation for his son came to his disciples for healing. Jesus returns and begins a discourse with the man. “I asked your disciples to cast it out and they could not do it,” the man reported. Jesus said bring the boy...