Happy Holidays??? By Mel

Powerful Woman of God Blog

Encouraging, Empowering and Strengthening Women in Life, Love, Destiny and Faith.

Happy Holidays???

by Mel Kennedy

Can you believe it’s November? Thanksgiving is this week and that means that Christmas, New Year’s and everything in between is right around the corner. That often means we can find ourselves stressed. We have so many things to take care of that giving thanks to God, preparing our hearts for the coming of the Lord, and rejoicing in the possibilities of the new year are nowhere on our schedule. We might find ourselves not truly living in the joy of the season or in joy at all.

“I am the Lord your God. I am holding your hand,

so don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” – Isaiah 41:13

This time of year can hold a bit of melancholy for me. This past Saturday was the 11-year anniversary of the passing of my nephew, Jay. Next weekend would have been my mom’s 87th birthday. Maybe it is the darker, shorter days, but during these months, the struggles of everyday life can feel more difficult.

Have you ever felt this way? It could be you’re missing a family member, either through their passing or not being part of your life, and there is still a part of your heart that finds it difficult to celebrate without them. Maybe you are feeling anxiety about your financial situation. It could be you or your spouse lost a job or dream you had. Maybe you feel like you didn’t accomplish all that you should have over the past year.

We try to meet our own (and everyone else’s) expectations and we get stressed. We feel nostalgic or sad about the past and can neglect this season of joy. But no matter what the reason you might find yourself not anticipating the coming months, there is good news! It is possible to embrace peace and joy over the holidays!

“The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope.” – Psalm 34:18

I’m not talking about giddy outwardly happiness, “joy,” but rather that deep internal feeling inside our heart that allows us to know Christ’s love for us. It is that emotion that allows our soul to see and acknowledge the beauty of God’s creation within ourselves and within the world. It is the echo of God within us.

In light of that, check out these few simple reminders of how we can stay connected with our joy.

QUIET TIME

Isn’t it ironic that during a time when we should be preparing our hearts for the celebration of the birth of Jesus, we get so busy we don’t have time for Him? Recommitting ourselves to spend quiet contemplative time with the Lord daily is vital during this busy and stressful time of year. It can help us return our thoughts and actions back to the true reason for this season instead of getting caught up in the madness. I have made sure this is on my daily schedule. Can you make the time (even just 15 minutes) for this too?

KISS

Keep it simple, silly. Creative and Life Coach (and fellow PWOG contributor), Sue Mohr, calls this KISS. Sometimes, when we are trying to do too much, we move away from God. The turkey, decorations and gift wrap don’t have to be perfect. (That being said, let’s make sure to cook the turkey all the way through, LOL!!) In Matthew 6:25, we hear the simple, beautiful words of Jesus: “I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing?” Jesus understood that simplicity was a spiritual practice and was a way to experience God in the everyday.

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

and uphold me with Your generous Spirit.”

Psalm 51:12

GRATITUDE

Through the “everyday,” don’t be afraid to enjoy a moment. Even when things don’t go as planned or our expectations are not met, being thankful helps remind us that even in the struggles of life, God is with us. Often in those challenges, if we take just a moment to soften our soul, to see beyond the discomfort of the difficulty and offer gratitude to our Creator, that is where we can deepen our relationship with the Lord and come out with more blessings than we thought possible.

LAUGHTER

Finally, may I encourage you to take a moment everyday to laugh. God has told us that there is a time for everything, including laughter (Ecclesiastes 3:4). So here is a little something to get you started:

…and until we met again, may you keep safe in the gentle, loving arms of God.

Blessings, Mel

P.S. It’s okay to feel melancholy, my friends. But if you are experiencing something deeper then seasonal sorrow, anxiety, or frustration, please reach out for help. You can talk to your pastor, spiritual friend/director, or pastoral minister. Or, you can connect with a resource such as crisistextline.org or 800-662-HELP (4357).

~Grace, grace~ By Faith

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Encouraging, Empowering and Strengthening Women in Life, Love, Destiny and Faith.

~Grace, grace~

“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” Romans 7:15.

Have you ever said this to yourself? I have…more times than I can count.

It’s been so interesting being an entrepreneur. I have truly witnessed my business being a reflection of my inner self. Things like my self worth, my “deserve” level, organization, money management and time management are all reflected in the way I run things. Time after time I would set goals, see the value in achieving them and yet not exercise the self discipline to walk it out and see them realized. Thankfully, God has still provided me with so many blessings and achievements throughout these seasons even though I’ve always felt I could be doing so much more.

In the last few months I have learned a lot more about the topic of neuroplasticity and “limiting beliefs” and/or “self sabotage.”

Did you know that 90% of the thoughts we had yesterday, we automatically have again today? When we have a defining moment as young children and have a strong thought about it, chances are we had that thought again and again. 30 or 40 years later we are a product of how we had been thinking all those years. These thoughts drive our actions and subsequently our habits.

Additionally, 95% of “us” is run by our subconscious mind. When we decide that we are going to change, 5% of “us” is going up against 95%. My objective here is to point out that God knows this. He sees us and our habitual ways, and He’s giving us grace accordingly.

My journey learning about neuroplasticity and getting to the root of these habitual thoughts is ever-going. I am so grateful for God’s grace and that He sees my heart for wanting to change so much and that He also sees why I sometimes do what I hate.

I have more hope than ever to experience the opposite of that and instead enjoy the fruits of the spirit all the way down to my thoughts.

Check out these resources for more on neuroplasticity:

Dr. Caroline leaf – YouTube and books switch on your brain, or Think Learn Succeed.

Or Dr. Joe Dispenza – breaking the habit of being yourself

You can do all things through Christ – even change your thoughts and create a healthier “you!”

I’d encourage you to do just that!

Faith

Encountering Mountains, Tunnels and Bridges…~ By Sharon

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Encouraging, Empowering and Strengthening Women in Life, Love, Destiny and Faith

Encountering Mountains, Tunnels and Bridges…~By Sharon

When you think of going up into a mountain, going through a tunnel or seeing a big, beautiful bridge, what comes to mind?  Are you excited, enjoying it, or are you holding your breath, not because of excitement, but because you are full of fear?  For most of my life, when I came to a tunnel, bridge or went up or down a mountain, my thoughts were, “Oh, no, just stay calm Sharon, it will soon be over.” My breathing would get faster, my heart rate would go up, my palms would get sweaty and I couldn’t think or talk past my fear.  I couldn’t see the beauty of the mountains around me or the wonders of the ocean, rivers or valleys I could view from the bridge I was on.

Over the years as I have been healing from the childhood abuse of my past, I have been overcoming many fears. This particular fear, however, seemed to be one that was harder for me to overcome.  I continued to pray about it, about what was behind this fear, and how to have victory over it.

Psalm 34:4 – For I cried to him and he answered me! He freed me from all my fears.

I’ve come to realize over the years that fears in our lives don’t just happen – they are rooted in something we’ve experienced…I began asking Father God to show me the root of my fear of mountains, tunnels, and bridges.

A few years ago, I was driving to my son’s house and we had the choice of going on the turnpike, through three tunnels, or to go over the mountain.  It was “Over the mountain to my son’s house we will go!” Now, God was already working on my fear of mountains When we moved from a small town into the country, our house was at the bottom of a mountain, and every day I looked out at it…I couldn’t get away from it. God used that to replace my fear of the mountain with a love for it. So, by the time I made this trip to my son’s house, I had conquered a great deal of my fear of driving in the mountains.

On this particular highway, when you were getting ready to go up the mountain, you could choose two ways to go.  I always chose the one to the right. I never ever wanted to go on the road to the left, but didn’t know why.  On this trip however, the road to the right was closed and I had no choice but to take the road to the left.  As I went along this road, I became more and more tense. Finally, the road came to a place where you could see it lead to tunnels.  There was a road off to the right, with a bridge, that you could pull off to look at the tunnels that were under the mountain.  The most horrible feeling came over me and a long-suppressed memory came to mind.  I remembered that this was one of the places a family member had taken me when he was sexually abusing me.  It all clicked into place, why I was afraid of mountains, tunnels, and bridges. Something wonderful and miraculous happened from that day. I gained healing and another level of freedom. But to gain that healing and freedom, I had to find the root of the fear I was crippled by. Since that day, I have gone through tunnels, drove up and down mountains and been on bridges without fear.  I’ve been on a number of trips since then where I went on and through all of these three and have had no fear, but have actually experienced joy and excitement.

I’ve been thinking about how each of those places represents something in our lives.  We each have places on our journey of life that we have to either cross a bridge, go up or down a mountain, or tunnel through the mountain.  I like this definition of a bridge: something that is intended to reconcile or form a connection between two things. Jesus is our bridge between us and God. He connects us to the Father. We can’t get from one place to the other without the connection He makes for us to the Father. And of course, we all have bridges we have to build between us and people, so we can be connected.  There are all kinds of mountains, some bigger and taller than others. Sometimes the climb is going to be rough and it might feel like it’s taking all we have to get to the top. There are times when the mountain in your life is just too much of a barrier. You know you can’t get through and you are going to need God to make a tunnel through that mountain so you can get from one side to the other. Whatever mountains you are crossing today, whatever tunnels need to be dug, whatever bridges you are needing to build, remember that you are not alone. Your Father God is there to help you and you have no need to fear any of the mountains, tunnels, and bridges you face.  He promises to always be with us and never leave us. He is not going to make us do this on our own.

~Sharon

The Temple is You~By Jessa

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Encouraging, Empowering and Strengthening Women in Life, Love, Destiny and Faith

The Temple is You~ By Jessa

You know what really gets my attention in scripture?  When God poses a question-

“This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?” Isaiah 66:1

In all things God entrusts us with free will- we are not robots nor slaves to his tasks. He is not a task master. He is a loving father who trusts his children with what he has given us and the plan he has for us. In the words of Misty Edwards, “He knew what he was getting into when he called us, and still he calls us.”

He asks his friends and those who seek his heart the question posed in the verse above. He asks anyone that will hear the cry of his heart…

It is equally important to reciprocate giving and receiving in any relationship.  God gives us everything.  In return he receives our worship, our thankfulness, our hearts, love and whatever we set out to do in accordance with him.  We love him because he first loved us!

When we get into the word of God, life becomes full of purpose – we realize everything we do has an impact. Every decision we make can influence generations after us, because of who we know and trust, the author and perfecter of our faith.

He is looking throughout the earth for a heart that is his. Do you think perhaps he is also looking for a heart containing the desire to build with him?

Let me share a little about David. David is known as a man after God’s heart. He was a true worshipper of God. In my eyes, a friend of God, because he sought after the qualities in the heart of God and wrote about them with such raw authenticity and desire. David’s desire was to know God and for God to truly know him. He became vulnerable with God and the Lord showed his favor, victory, and support for David even as David struggled to persevere through unimaginable circumstances.

2 Samuel 7:1-3 “After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you.”

What was on David’s mind? What did he want to set out to do?

David desired to build a house for the Lord. He did not get to build the house with in the time frame of his days on earth, but his son Solomon, his successor, took the call to heart and from the legacy of his father’s prayers and desire, built the temple. Of David, God said,

12 “When your days are complete, and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever”. 2 Samual 7:12, 13

First, God had a plan to build a temple, then, a plan to tear it down…

Enter Jesus…One day upon visiting the temple that was built by Solomon, he saw people buying and selling animals and goods.  He angrily overturned their tables and sent the animals running out of their cages.  He told the people buying and selling, “It is written…my house will be called a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of robbers.”   His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”  The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.

Why? He was doing a new thing.  He wasn’t only  going to open the door for us, he was going to rip it off it’s hinges. He essentially tore down the temple walls to represent no more separation between us and him. When Jesus died on the cross the power of God fulfilled this word.

“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split.” Mathew 27:51

When Jesus made the decision to open his arms on the cross, he tore down the walls that separated us from him and built an archway into our hearts. That archway to God comes when we open our hearts to him, and in that moment we see what Christ accomplished for us.

He calls us his own! God initially crafted the idea of building a temple – a place where he could dwell with his people as a temporary arrangement, physically speaking. He knew when he asked Solomon to build the temple that he was going to demonstrate his compassion and mercy to us and unravel his plan. It was only the beginning.  His ultimate purpose was to have a very personal relationship with us, through Christ!

“Who will build a house for me?”

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” 1 Corinthians 6:19.

God is saying, “I chose you to be a place for me to abide, for me to reside.” Oh that our response would be awe and astonishment and the desire to partner with the Lord in what he is doing in our hearts, minds, and lives! How amazing!

If God is a faithful builder, then he who began a good work in us will complete it. He will not fail us, he cannot. It is not in his nature. Love never fails. (1 Corinth. 13) When we join our heart’s desire with God’s we will see the goodness of his handiwork in our lives.

Will you trust God to be the builder of “you”?

~Jessa

~The Dark Black Gate~ By Rheannon

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Encouraging, Empowering and Strengthening Women in Life, Love, Destiny and Faith

~The Dark Black Gate~ By Rheannon

The gate…the wind skitters against its ashen iron teeth and creaks a haunting song into the night. Its medieval architecture stabs at the sky, mocking any attempt to climb over and be free of its entrapment. The gate is there, ever there in your mind. The icy hand of fear grips your heart as you try to imagine your life on the other side of its staunch silhouette.

You know on the other side of the gate there is freedom. Freedom from sin and freedom to live the dream God has given you, without fear…but, the gate…

We all understand what it feels like to be trapped by that Dark Black Gate. Maybe your “gate” is a sin in your life, or fear of failure, of what others think, or terrible sorrow and loss. Perhaps it is the frightening thought of what could lie beyond the gate. Is there really joy, or will you always be lost?

I found an intense verse this week in Micah chapter two. God’s people had been messing up again. They were sinning against God and displeasing Him with their offerings and lives – it was a mess. Not only that, but the prophets of Israel were giving false words from God. They did not tell people they were in danger of losing everything because of disobedience. Instead they proclaimed whatever the people wanted to hear…fabulous.

God’s people were in a terrible spot. About to be thrown out of their promised land, they were lost in sin and despair. BUT GOD…God loved them. He knew they were locked in by The Dark Black Gate of the sin in their lives. Yet, He was not willing to leave them lost and stuck forever!

God said to them, “I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel…One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their king will pass through before them, with the LORD at their head.” (2:12a, 13)

WOAH! “One who breaks open the way”?! YES! It’s JESUS!

I know this is a tough one, but I think we need to take a moment to pray about our “Black Gate.” If it’s a sin in our lives, we need to repent, ask for forgiveness, and stop. If fear, we can ask God what the real truth is for us, and He will show us how to overcome. If sorrow, we need His healing.

Jesus is the One who breaks open our “Black Gate”. Remember, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV) Will you give Him the opportunity to lead you out, or will you choose to stay trembling behind the gate in the darkness?

~Rheannon

~The Climb~ By Marty

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Encouraging, Empowering and Strengthening Women in Life, Love, Destiny and Faith.

~The Climb~ By Marty
My first blog for this site! So exciting!…where do I even begin? I’m in Canada at the moment, sitting in front of my sisters computer typing this..there is so much on my heart! For those of you who know me and my story, we are most likely Facebook friends, and you are already familiar with the content of my posts. I am passionate about Jesus! My life with Him, what He has done for me, and what I believe He is able to do for you!! In a nutshell..(and I’m talking a tiny nutshell here) several years ago… through a series of heartbreaking and devastating circumstances, my life and my world as I knew it imploded. What was left resembled the aftermath of an intense earthquake destroying anything and everything that was once familiar to me. I was left asking myself those questions we all face sooner or later….

Who am I?…Why did this happen?….Whats wrong with me?…..How will I ever get up again?……What will my life look like now?……and God….I know you see me….I need you….and I’m so afraid that I won’t find you…that I will be left ALONE in this mess…….so many questions…so much confusion….

I’m on the other side of that horrific season now ….and I’m still learning so much! But I’m here to encourage you and share with you from my own life the HOPE and HEALING that is available for each one of us!

I want to share with you something I wrote a few years ago…lets call it Journal Entry #1…
“The Climb…”

 
The steady upward climb has left me weary, and gasping for breath…but I am finally, and completely out of “that’ pit!…that familiar place that had been my captive home for far too long. I look down at my bare feet….I remember having to shake the dirt out of my shoes and climb with bare feet using my toes to grip the wall and steady myself.

Dirt stained cut up feet…but I’m out!!
Dirt stained cut up hands…but now lifted high in praise! I’m no longer restrained!!
I’ve become awkwardly aware of my face…I must look like such a mess!…..my tears have mixed with the sweat and dirt from this grueling climb…I long to wash it off…to be ENTIRELY clean…presentable…but I cannot miss a single thing now that I’m out! The brightness of the sunlight burns my eyes…I need to stand here and just bask in it!
I’m hungry, and tired but I cannot bring myself to move away from the comfort and warmth of this place…someone is calling to me…I hear my name!
Who would want to see me like this?! Could it be..? Is it you Jesus?….please not yet…I’m still so messy…I haven’t had time to clean myself up for You! I hear my name called again! I don’t want You to see me like this!….but You’re already coming towards me…I lift my eyes to look at You and You take hold of my hand and lead me to a table…a beautifully decorated spread just for me! The finest of food and drink! …I am in absolute awe..

IS THIS ALL FOR ME?!!!!

Every detail is perfect….designed with me in mind.

Oh my Lord! I am not used to such treatment! This is meant for royalty! Who else is coming to sit at this table?
…even before my rambling thoughts are finished, I know the answer…there are only two chairs here…mine and His…filthy and overwhelmed…I slowly approach…and with each step I take I am becoming clean..
“Come daughter of mine….it’s TIME for you to LIVE IN MY GOODNESS…I have EAGERLY awaited your arrival, and now i want to LAVISH on you…..sit…enjoy!”

Tears of gratitude are running down my face…I’m not dreaming this!…I’m not just longing for this moment anymore..
I am HERE!…WITH HIM!!!….this is my place of celebration! A place where a new song is born…one my soul sings with everything I am!

-Ps 40:1-3 ( I will let you look this one up)  🙂
My dear sweet sister….I want to remind you how amazing you are!..You are a daughter of the living God..His love for you is unconditional and limitless! You are so valuable to Him that He paid an extremely high price to ensure that He could have you with Him for all eternity..before you loved Him He loved you…you are the apple of His eye…He has carved your name on the palms of His hands. He is so committed to you that He has promised NEVER to leave you, NEVER to forsake you. He has gifted you with beauty, personality, talents and abilities that He wanted you to have for your enjoyment and for His honor. He imparted His spirit within you so you can be united with Him! He is your bridegroom and is faithful to you, and knows how to comfort you in your grief…

Isaiah 54:5-6,10… “For your Creator will be your husband; the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is His name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth. For the LORD has called you back from your grief—as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband,’ says your God.. For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord who has mercy on you.’” (NLT)

You have so much to offer to a hopeless world, and you bring so much joy and pleasure to God’s heart. Whatever you are going through…my prayer is that you will encounter Him in your darkest moments. You will get through this! You will come out to the other side! I believe this, and pray for you!

Much much love….

~Marty

~There’s Pooh on the Ground…~ By Rheannon

I can’t even hide it.  I am so excited for this holiday season!  I love the lights and the smiles and the laughter…and the food…!  There is so much to be filled with joy about!

“For unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6

WOW!  God literally interrupted the darkening history of mankind and sent Jesus Christ here among us!  And not only did He send Jesus, but He sent Him here under the most humble of circumstances.  As my friend Nick Clark asked us on Sunday, “Do you ever wonder why God would send His Son to be born in a manger???”

Let’s break this down – a manger isn’t really the cute scene we see on little kid’s shows – there’s pooh on the ground…it’s smelly.  There’s hay in there for the baby to lay on, sure,  but it’s not the soft stuff, it’s bristly and uncomfortable…that’s why Mary had to wrap Jesus in swaddling clothes – it’s a tough spot.  And cold.  Super cold.  Kinda like outside is right now.  Are you seeing the full picture?

That manger is JUST LIKE US.  We are dirty and stinky and rough around the edges, and yet God sees fit to send Jesus to us just as we are, to take the government of our sins on His own shoulders!  All the punishment we have earned, all the judgement, all the wrath- it’s upon Jesus’ shoulders.

God sent Jesus to a place like that because through His experience, He would literally fill all things- the entire human experience…right down to the not-so-nice stuff.  Your stuff.  My stuff.

God is so good, isn’t He? Man!  I just can’t get over it!  I am so thankful!

Thank God that He loves us through our stuff, and loves us enough to not leave us there.

You are loved!  So much!  Remember that this holiday season, and when you see others around you struggling this time of year, give them a hug and let them know they are loved too.

~Rheannon

~Not Fluffy Jesus~ By Rheannon

Jesus.

There are so many aspects to His character, aren’t there?  He’s called the Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Those Names describe a part of the character of Jesus – a very important part!  Sometimes though, I think we kind of stop there and forget that there is more to who He is than just the soft fluffy Jesus we see in art sometimes.

Sometimes we need Angry Jesus, or All Powerful Jesus, right?  God is also described as terrifying in awesomeness, with eyes that blaze like fire, hair white like wool and an appearance that is beyond all the brilliance of this world. (Revelation 1)

John 3:16 is the most quoted verse in the Bible- “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” …Think about that for a moment…What a POWERHOUSE statement!  These words come from Jesus Christ Himself- ABOUT Himself!  If ever there was a moment when Jesus beat His chest over something He said, this had to be it.  HE is the only way, truth and life.  No one comes to the Father except through Jesus!  He is the Strength and Power of Salvation!

That statement made by Christ has the power to completely rock your world if you let it.  Go ahead- pretend like you’ve never read it or heard it before… “that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life!”  MIND BLOWN.

He is the Almighty Authority in all the universe!  He alone Has the power to heal and to save!  He is a warrior, fighting for our very souls, and a victor!  He defeated death and Hell and satan and sin and created the universe and all that is in it!  Think of it!  You are alive right now because He holds the very air you breathe in His hands.  Everything you see in creation around you was designed and crafted by a Master Creator!  If there is a building, there is a builder, a design, there is a designer- an Almighty God who has placed everything in the galaxy in its order!

Now….with the Awesomeness of God on our minds, let’s examine our current situations.  What is it that seems too big for you right now?  What is too much to handle?  What are you struggling with?  What “mountain” needs moved in your life?

“Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.”  (Psalm 55:22) And- “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

Toss your stuff to Jesus tonight.  He is Mighty enough to handle it.  Cast your doubts- the “Hey, I’m not sure you’re actually real” type things, the “I need healing” prayers and the “I don’t know how we are going to pay for this” type worries.  He CARES for you.

Do not be afraid.  Jesus is more than kind and good.  He is mighty and fierce on your behalf.

~Rheannon

~Failing Forward~ By Faith

Failure

What an intimidating word.  None of us want to experience it.  Failure can take a toll on our pride and leave us feeling like we just got punched in the stomach.  It can sound so adventurous and romantic to chase our dreams or set goals but then we are required to do things that scare us, or are unfamiliar and stretch us. When we finally do the thing that is so intimidating, it can and will likely at some point present obstacles.  This does not feel good.  Our flesh wants comfort, it wants the familiar, wants to protect us from pain.

Why would we knowingly risk pain again?  Risk rejection, embarrassment and the unknown?   This is how we grow!  We don’t grow when things are easy.

We must learn to acknowledge that a temporary defeat is not permanent failure.  It is a very small number of people who will continue on after 3 or 4 “temporary defeats,” choosing not to make them more than what they are…not making it personal or permanent.  Instead, they keep their focus, not looking to the left or the right.

As Paul Tobey so wisely states, “Success is not for the chosen few – it’s for the few who choose.”

I find that keeping my focus on the eternal perspective really helps me when it comes to failure. What am I really working towards in my time here on earth?  Chances are I can still be a shining light for the kingdom even if I made mistakes today.  The angels are still cheering me on even if someone rejected me.  God is still getting the glory when the right person is ready to hear.  In fact the platform that will be available to me to be able to give Him that glory, if I simply chose to be one of the few will be worth all of the times I fell flat on my face.

 

James 1:12

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

 

~Faith

~The “S” Word~ By Leaona

Submission – to subordinate.  Gotcha right there, huh?  That word raises hackles and turns stomachs upon utterance.

I think the truth is it isn’t submission that bothers us.  Not really.  Sure, submitting to illegitimate or abusive authority is difficult.  But so is submitting to legitimate, loving authority.  It is an action whereby we purposely put ourselves in a place where we look up to someone else, among other things. 

But I am not trying to preach.  I am trying to get each of us to look way deeper than usual.  WAY deeper.  What is the real problem?!  Why do we fight it so?  Male and female.  Slave and free.  All colors, all cultures, all who are awake!  Take a moment and just be quiet.  Really hear the inner struggle.  Un-clench your jaw, settle your tummy, and look into yourself.

Sure, it can be a pain to submit, but the bigger angst is not being submitted to!  The struggle isn’t against being at the bottom, it is against not being at the top!  We want validation.  Most of us prefer it came in healthy ways, but if not, we are willing to struggle with others to get it.  Mostly passively; sometimes aggressively.  Often, without even stopping to think about it.

The less we are at peace with who we are,  the more desire we have for others to submit TO us.  If we really knew who we were, not only would it be okay with us to give to others, to submit to authority…  If we really knew who we were, we might not NEED to SEEK submission from others.

Jesus spent a lot of time praying, and waiting on God.  He knew Himself, and His job.  It was His Passion, and His Burden.  He was not shocked when people didn’t listen.  He never forced anyone to hear.  In fact, He gave them opportunity to ignore.  He wanted all to follow, but knew many wouldn’t.  He spent Himself for those who would, submitting Himself for those who submitted to Him, and letting others go as they willed to do.  Submission from the bottom, AND from the top – out of humbleness, and truly knowing who He was…all for the good of others, and the Glory of God. 

1 Peter 5:5-7:   “Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”   6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”  NKJV

~Leaona