Category Archives: Encouragement

Stolen Identity

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I rarely watch the news; the hate-filled acts across the world leave me heart broken and frustrated. Have you ever, like me, wondered…  Why is there so much hate in the world? 

Is hate caused by pride? Self-righteousness? Anger? Self-loathing? Pain? Fear?

Most likely, it’s a combination of these and more. 

But maybe you feel “hate” is too strong a word for the pervasive disregard and lack of decency we see on the news, in the store, in schools, in our neighborhood… regardless, there’s a grass roots effort to perpetuate this hatred.

The enemy of our soul is the source of hatred; Satan (meaning adversary), roams around on the earth delighting in causing death and destruction (John 10:10).  Again, why?

Biblical passages indicate that Lucifer, now known as Satan, became prideful, wanting to be like God or even above God.1  You see, angels were created by God, but they were not made in His image or to be like Him.

But who IS made in His image?  You and me! How Satan must have raged when He realized that God was creating man-male & female-to reflect His heart, His mind, and His nature!  God gave us what Satan couldn’t have, His likeness.  No wonder Satan is on a rampage to destroy us! His jealousy fuels his hatred of all mankind.

Satan and his minions have diverse tools of destruction at their disposal.  Sadly, many of those tools we put straight into their hands through our own decisions or lack of decision.  But the greatest tool he wields is that of identity stealer! 

How does he steal our identity?  Lies, whispered lies, constantly flowing through the media, through others, through our own self-criticism.  Lies that lead to pride, self-righteousness, anger, self-loathing, pain, and fear. His lies are meant to convince us that we are nothing like God, that we are alone, that we must fight to get what we want. Ultimately, these lies are meant to steal our God-given identity: Loved one.

When the enemy’s lies block out the truth of who we are, we become victims of a stolen identity!

Victims of stolen identity malfunction in thinking and in relationship.  They may think themselves better than others or never good enough.  They may feel entitled or victimized. They fear those who look, act, think, or believe differently than themselves.  Victims of stolen identity struggle with emptiness and confusion that ultimately leads them to hurt others. Does any of that sound familiar? It does to me!

The solution?  A journey of discovery!  Destination: Identity Restoration! 

In an atmosphere of love, children thrive!  They are free and expressive.   Ask them who they are and they declare their name and age.  Ask them who they belong to and they’ll throw their arms around a loving adult in their life.  Children play with any other pint-sized person that crosses their path, never requesting political leanings, portfolio proof, or family history.  They have not yet been branded by the lies that steal confidence in who they are.

That childlike confidence is still possible for you and me!  It’s a confidence born of trust in a Loving Father who created us to look like Him.  He looks on us in delight, even in the middle of our mess, because He sees in us, His own reflection!  Don’t get me wrong, He doesn’t delight in our poor choices.  They grieve His heart in the same way our children’s painful choices grieve us.  Yet, we as parents, look beyond our child’s actions and see the child, our child, precious and irreplaceable!  Why would Daddy God look at us any differently?

This is the basis of our identity: We are His beloved creation!  That’s right!  No matter who you are, what you believe, what skin you’re coated in, where you live, what you’ve done, what’s been done to you, how you dress, who you sleep with, what you’re addicted to, or how angry you are…  God loves YOU!  He is deeply smitten with you, His beloved image-carrier!  Your true identity is found in Him!  I’m sorry if anyone has made you feel less than loveable.  It’s not true!  You are worthy of being loved just because you are made in the image of God!

I challenge you… go on a journey of discovery!  Ask God to help you sense His love and develop a deep revelation of His love for you!  Look for Him in the burst of sunrise, the fragrance of a flower, and the sweet smile of a child.  Search the Bible for the truth of His love for you!2  Allow your heart to blossom to the reality that you have an amazing identity: God’s image-carrier!  You were designed to be a child of God.  As you turn your heart towards Him, you will find security and confidence in His love for you.  Your identity will be restored!

“And I pray that He would unveil within you the unlimited riches of His glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with His divine might and explosive power.

Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of His love will become the very source and root of your life.

Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is His love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!” Ephesians 3:16-19 (tPt: the Passion translation)

If you are struggling to know and believe God’s love for you, please leave me a note and I will pray for you! You are not alone in your journey!

Live Loved! You truly are!

P.S. Please share on social media if this encouraged you! 🙂

1Isaiah 14:12-17, Ezekiel 28:11-19, I Timothy 3:6

2Jeremiah 29:11 & 31:3, John 3:16 & 15:13, I John 4, Psalm 139:1-18

Be the Gold!

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Recently, I wrote a blog called “Nuggets of Gold.” It was an encouragement to each of us to search for rays of hope in our life and situations that will help us keep pressing on!

Yesterday, after another rough day in 5th grade world, my husband reminded me of this Japanese art philosophy: kintsukuroi. He said, “You’ve said the public school system is broken and you’re right! But you are the gold that fills in the broken cracks! Keep doing what you’re doing because you make the difference!” What a blessing his encouragement was to me!

This morning, as I sat in a meeting, he shot me a text reminding me that I’m the gold! His timing was impeccable as I sat across from a teary-eyed colleague whose struggle of self-doubt and discouragement mirrored my own. I was able to share the value of what we do and who we are to our students! Truly, we are the gold in a broken system.

As I determine to be a treasure-hunter, looking for gold in the dark and hurting places, I don’t want to forget to be the gold too. Join me in this: don’t just look for the gold in your difficult circumstances and challenging obstacles. BE the gold in whatever hurting system you are in! Brokenness can be made beautiful when it brings opportunities for problem-solving, healing, and growth!

Live Loved and Golden!

Nuggets of Hope

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When I decided I wanted to be a teacher, I had grandiose thoughts of inspiring the next generation to thrive in their learning!  I expected classrooms full of shining faces anxious to hear all I had to share with them.  I just knew that I could help them love reading, embrace math, and become flourishing writers!  Years later, I must confess that those dreams are quite tarnished and reality has firmly ground out the spark of this naïve educator’s lofty goals.

Please don’t judge me harshly. I’m sure there are some who’ve had much better experiences than myself.  But the reality is that today’s public schools are filled with students who accurately reflect the failing family structures in our communities.  As the family units continue to disintegrate, the impact on the school system as a whole and the educators who daily pour into those students is intense.  Most teachers I know are exhausted, frustrated, and downright discouraged.  Yet, we come back each morning with a renewed hope that today will be a better day!  In all honesty, it’s hard to keep that upbeat attitude in the midst of it all. Yes, the struggle is very real!

This week, my near-breaking point arrived as I was looking over a stack of essays.  I’d spent a significant amount of time meeting one-on-one with nearly 50 students to discuss areas of success and growth potential prior to this new writing.  As I skimmed through the stack, the lack of progress and even regression was utterly disheartening!  I felt the dark stain of hopelessness oozing over my heart.  “Why bother?  I’m not making a difference! The need is so great, I don’t know where to even begin!”

If you know me, you know that this attitude is generally unlike me.  I’d like to say that I’m able to always rise above it all, but that’d be less than honest.  Those who walk in shoes like mine well know the feelings I was experiencing! 

Such hopelessness is compounded by the sense of fighting a battle alone. This is why we need each other!1 

We need to have others in our life that are there to prop us up when we are ready to tumble!  And we need to be there for others who find themselves slipping down the slope of discouragement.2  For me, it was one of my co-workers who is well aware of all we face.  She listened to me lament and then encouraged me to stop looking at the vast needs and focus instead on the points of success.  She reminded me to be willing to accept and encourage the steps forward instead of demanding the leaps… of myself and of my students. 

Her simple admonishment was just what I needed to hear.  I long to be the miracle worker my students need, but honestly, the weight of such expectations will keep me tethered to frustration on a daily basis.  So, I again settle in my heart that I just can’t fix it all. BUT I can be the beacon of hope my students need in the midst of their reality… no matter how they perform, which choices they make, or what emotions we encounter in our day.  I need to be the one to search for and find those rays of hope. Those steps of success, no matter how small, are worth celebrating as progress!

It’s like mining for gold!  Each student, each co-worker, each day… harbors nuggets of gold, virtual treasures waiting to be discovered!3  These gold nuggets are reasons to hope, reasons to be thankful, reasons to press on.  That is the hope I need to remember and cling to when a breaking point looms on the horizon!  “Gold mining” is an attitude I can and need to share with others who feel suffocated by the overwhelming reality of our chosen profession.

But it’s not educators alone, is it?!  You may find yourself drowning under the flood of life’s demands… physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, or financially.  Don’t give up hope!  And don’t go it alone!  There are hope-carriers around you that will remind you to look for the gold nuggets in the dark and suffocating places.  You may have to search a little harder on some days than others, but they are there! The world needs you!  Don’t jump ship!  Find a beacon of hope on the dark days. Be a beacon of hope whenever the need arises.4 Together we can search for gold… reasons to hope and celebrate!

I’m not just a teacher, I’m a treasure hunter!  How about you? You’re not just a _____________, you are a treasure hunter too!

Live Loved,

1Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. NLT

2Galatians 6:2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. NLT3II Corinthians 13:11 Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. NLT

3Psalm 139:14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. NLT

4II Corinthians 13:11 Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. NLT

Beauty in the Waiting

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Waiting… It can be one of the hardest things to do.  While waiting, we have little control over the timing or even the outcome.  Think of the family sitting in the hospital anxiously, hoping to hear good news or the small business owner sitting, phone in hand, hoping to hear from the bank on a much needed loan.  Sometimes we feel like professional waiters! The Word of God is filled with promises that are rarely fulfilled instantly.  We spend a lot of time waiting to see the realization of what our hearts crave come to pass.

And yet, there’s beauty in the waiting. 

Think of the bride waiting for her wedding day.  She is not complacent in the waiting, she is planning, preparing, creating, and dreaming!  The wedding day will be even richer for the those seemingly unending moments of anticipation! 

Waiting… we spend much of our lives in the wait mode.  If we are not careful, our waiting will become filled with all the wrong things: impatience, laziness, frustration, jealousy, bitterness. 

How can our wait become a season of beauty?  One in which we grow and thrive?

First, look back…  I know, we think that we should never look back, right?  Forget the past and push on!  But wait! Think on the story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan in Joshua 4.  After that miraculous crossing, God had the people set up an alter as a testimony of His mighty works for the generations to come.  We want to look back with thankfulness for the blessings we’ve already seen come to pass in our lives!  Create a “memorial” to remember all that God has done for you and your family!

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord: yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” Psalm 77:11 NIV

Journaling creates a tangible “monument” to God’s faithfulness!

Then, look forward!  What are the dreams God has placed in your heart?  What are you anticipating coming to pass?  What promises have you been declaring over your life?  God is the Dream-Giver and He doesn’t place desires for good gifts in your heart without a purpose.  Look forward in faith!  If your dreams look possible without Divine help,  then maybe they’re too small.  Dream big with the faith that what you can’t see can truly be!  Write down your dreams and lay them at the feet of the Father in faith.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Now… be present in the now.  What is the Lord’s plan for you in the now?  What will you do in the waiting? As you look back in thankfulness and forward in faith, I dare to declare that your present will be filled with grace for the season you are walking through!  God’s grace will sustain you to not just survive, but thrive!  He will give you what you need to yield fruit today, now, in your present circumstance.  Trust Him!  He has created you for His Kingdom purposes long before you stood in this place.1  He is faithful in your today, no matter what it looks like.  Be patient in the waiting!

“I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 NIV

Consider these lyrics from Hillsongs’ Seasons, so encouraging!

“I can see the promise
I can see the future
You’re the God of seasons
And I’m just in the winter
If all I know of harvest
Is that it’s worth my patience
Then if You’re not done working
God I’m not done waiting
You can see my promise
Even in the winter
Cause You’re the God of greatness
Even in a manger
For all I know of seasons
Is that You take Your time
You could have saved us in a second
Instead You sent a child”2

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God designed us to live in the present, but not without the benefit of the past or the blossom of the future!  Look back in thankfulness, forward in faith, and live in His grace for the now, knowing that there is beauty in the waiting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:7-8

Live Loved,

P.S. You are not alone in your waiting! Others are waiting too… comment and share this encouragement on social media! 🙂

1Ephesians 2:10, Psalm 139:13-16, Psalm 37:3-8

2Lyrics from “Seasons” by Songwriters: Benjamin William Hastings / Ben Tan / Chris Davenport   Seasons lyrics © Hillsong Publishing

A New Year’s Revolution!

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You read that correctly… forget New Year’s resolutions and go for New Year’s Revolution!

Rev·o·lu·tion noun: to revolt, to forcefully overthrow in favor of a new system.  Out with the old and in with the new!

Not everyone needs a revolution.  Some need affirmation.  Some need encouragement. Some just need a reminder.  Only you know what you need as we charge headlong into 2019!  So, read on and take what you need…

As you contemplate the closure of one year and the opening of another, consider these words of wisdom:

“Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be His sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness {being set apart}, experiencing all that delights His heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.” Romans 12:1 tPt

I am so incredibly thankful for the unending mercies God has extended to me in 2018!  And, I’m excited to live for Him another year, realizing that my journey in Him will bring delight to His heart!  The second verse brings us to that revolution…

“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes.” Romans 12:2 tPt

How do we truly throw out the old that needs to go… the old way of thinking, unwise spending, wrongfully treating others,  judgmental attitude, devaluing ourselves, fearfully weighing the future, etc.?  In what area of your life do you need a revolution?  That’s the area that needs a new way of thinking! 

Most New Year’s resolutions involve behavior modification, a pattern of choices that change our less desirable habits.  However, as many will testify, rarely do these changes “stick” for the long term.  Why?  Because authentic change in our behavior will only result when our thinking changes!  If you want long term results, go to the heart of the matter!  Ask the Lord to change your thinking so that you are able to discern His will and live a life of abundancy (more than enough)! 

What is the best way to revolutionize your thinking? I’m so glad you asked!  😉 We need to embrace His truth as our truth!  God speaks to us through His Word, through Jesus’ life, and through the Holy Spirit in us.1  Any and all of these will give us foundations for needed change in our lives.  Dig into the Word of God and spend some time listening for His input and He will download divine strategies that will revolutionize the areas of your life that need it! 

How can you and I practically embrace His truth as our truth?  🙂 Great question! The Word of God (both logos and rhema1) goes deep when we apply it to our lives! It will empower us to revolutionize the areas of our lives that are not reflective of the person God created us to be.2  Don’t stop at just reading the Word of God, practically apply it to your life by writing out verses, memorizing them, creating positive declarations based on the Truths you’ve explored.  When God speaks into your heart, write it down!  Pray into those revelations and celebrate His affirmations.  Remind yourself of His declarations of love! 

God’s Word is filled with “strategies” to help you and I align our thinking with His.

In Jesus, I am a new creation!  I am made in His image.  I am righteous and beloved.  I walk in grace and peace. I am filled with the Holy Spirit and I have the mind of Christ. 

That’s just a taste of some revolutionary thinking!  But it’s an amazing start!  Where will you declare revolution in your life? Overthrow the stinkin’ thinkin’ by purposefully embracing Divine thinkin’!

Live Loved!

1 For deeper understanding, study: God’s Word-Greek: logos, Jesus modeled for us a lifestyle full of demonstrations, Holy Spirit’s guidance, living word-Greek: rhema

2“For we have the living Word of God, which is full of energy, and it pierces more sharply than a two-edged sword. It will even penetrate to the very core of our being where soul and spirit, bone and marrow meet! It interprets and reveals the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts.” Hebrews 4:12 “Every Scripture has been written by the Holy Spirit, the breath of God. It will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness.” II Timothy 3:16 tPt

A Teachable Heart

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Knowledge is not the same as wisdom.  In fact, some of the wisest people you’ll encounter may have little to no formal schooling while some knowledgeable people lack the understanding to know when it’s time to listen rather than talk!  So, what’s the dividing line between smart and wise?  It’s certainly not gray hair!

So, at what point do we stand and say, “I’ve arrived!  I now wear the crown of wisdom and no longer need to learn!”?  Is it when you’ve earned your doctorate?  When you’ve raised successful children?  When you’ve achieved x number of milestones in your career?  When you’ve written a best-selling manual?

I would say that no such point exists! 

One who is thought of as wise would be characterized as being willing to learn, considerate of the thinking of others, and humble enough to realize that they really don’t know it all!  Interestingly, as I read the word of God, I see wisdom repeatedly linked to willingness to learn!

When I first started working in the public school system, I came with 16 years of experience working with children and teens.  During that first semester, I shared a classroom with a teacher that was fresh out of college.  How easily I could have placed myself in the mentor role, relegating the fresh-faced graduate to being my mentee.  But wisdom wouldn’t allow me to dismiss all that she brought to the table!  Her updated understanding of pedagogy, combined with her knowledge of current educational resources, were just what I needed to navigate my first year as a public school teacher.  In turn, this new teacher was also open to my ideas and suggestions learned through years of experience.  We made a great team then, and I still learn from her today! 

Wisdom is so much more than knowing stuff!  Being able to spout off tidbits of knowledge or information will cause us to do more talking than listening!  This “rolodex syndrome” can keep us focused on hearing our own voice instead of valuing the art of listening and learning from others.

“The heart of the wise will easily accept instruction. But those who do all the talking are too busy to listen and learn.”  Proverbs 10:8a TPT

Worse than the “rolodex syndrome” is the “I know better delusion.”  This is the idea that we know ourselves so well, or we have so much experience, or we are plenty intelligent (or old) enough to not need input, direction, or correction from anyone else.  This lack of humility breeds disdain for the ideas of others, even those who should have the opportunity to speak into our lives.*

Knowledge is having information.  Wisdom is knowing when and how to apply that information effectively!  Sometimes that means tapping into others and learning from their experience and understanding.  Sometimes that means delaying action based on the Lord’s direction or the counsel of a wise friend.  Sometimes that means taking our plans to the Father and simply leaving them at His feet. Always, wisdom requires that we humble ourselves and value input that comes from outside of us!  What we do with that input is dependent on the Lord’s direction.  But being willing to receive that input is the mark of wisdom. 

It grieves my heart when I encounter someone who is unteachable.  I’m sure you’ve met a few people like this too.  They are not interested in growing as a person and see no need to glean wisdom from others.  This heart posture waves off instruction and misses the opportunity for deep understanding.  No one offers them input that is valued as higher than their own.  Honor is only their expectation, not their gift for another. 

Conversely, being teachable is a beautiful attitude of the heart!  One who is teachable glows with expectation and appreciates time invested in them.  A teachable heart and mind is equally delightful in the old as well as the young. When I encounter teachability in another, it makes me want to reflect that character trait even more!  Proverbs 21:11 in the Passion Translation says that the wise are teachable.  I want to jump up and down and say, “That’s me! That’s me!”

Wisdom is so valued by the Lord, that He had Solomon write repeatedly about its value.  James reminds us that if we feel that we lack wisdom, to ask for it!  But in asking for wisdom, you and I must humble our hearts to receive that wisdom, even if it doesn’t come from where we’d expect it.  The ultimate source of wisdom is the Holy Spirit!  James 3 tells us that wisdom from above is always pure, considerate, willing to yield, and teachable.  It is filled with love, peace, and mercy.  When you receive input, correction, or direction from others, the Holy Spirit will enable you to know if, how, and when to apply that knowledge.

Teachable heart check:

  • Do I think I’m always right?
  • Am I willing to receive ideas from others of any age, any ethnicity, any gender?
  • Is the goal of my communication to convince others to believe the way I do?
  • Am I open to conversations with those of a different religious persuasion?
  • Do I honor my peers or only those in authority?
  • Am I willing to hear the thoughts of someone whose opinion is different than mine?
  • Do I value political agreement more than relational connection?
  • Am I a respectful listener, regardless of who is speaking?
  • Do I believe that I know more than most of those around me?
  • Am I authentically engaged or am I rolling my eyes on the inside?

Amen or oh my? I’m challenged to purposefully choose to be teachable in heart and spirit!

As we enter into a new year, we have a new opportunity to choose to be teachable again! 

Dear Father, I choose a heart posture that honors You and allows the Holy Spirit to have His way in me!  May my teachable heart and spirit enable me to grow in every area and receive the blessings found in honoring others that You place in my life! Make me more like you, Daddy! Amen!

Live Loved,

P.S. If this blog challenged and encouraged you, please share on social media! I welcome your input as well, so please comment. 🙂

*Caveat: Not everyone should have the authority to speak into your life.  But hopefully, you’ve cultivated honorable relationships that allow others to speak truth, challenge, and encouragement to you!

A Fair Trade?

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I love this promise and needed to hear it today.  I crave His guidance and need His healing strength!  I know that God is faithful and He will give me everything that I need. 

But… if I focus on my needs, I will miss His heart in the process!

To fully enjoy the promise of His presence and provision, we need to embrace His heart, His passions! So, what is God’s heart passionate about? Look closer at Isaiah 58:6-12. God talks to us about what brings Him delight, and as a princess daughter, I want to please my Father!  So, what brings Him delight? When we:

  • Correct injustices
  • Enable others to find freedom
  • Help those less fortunate
  • Are present/engaged with our family
  • Lighten the burdens of others
  • Are a source of grace and peace

As we are purposeful to invest in others, we bring light to the dark places!  Our world is filled with darkness, and Jesus told us that we are the light!1  But our light doesn’t shine just because we show up… it shines because we show Jesus when we show up!

When we bless others, He will bless us!  Isaiah continues in verse 9 saying, “Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ He will quickly reply.”  Not only that, but He will come to our rescue, heal us, protect us, restore us, strengthen us, and lead us forward!  Wow, those are some serious benefits! 

Is it a fair trade? No way! It’s far more than we deserve!  Jesus summed up this trade when He said, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.”2

That’s a trade worth investing in! Light up someone’s darkness today!

This world needs you!

Live Loved,

1Matthew 5:14

2Matthew 6:33 NLT

Read more about injustice here: Food for Thought

No Longer A Slave

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“When I found I had crossed that line, I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person. There was such a glory over everything; the sun came like gold through trees, and over the fields, and I felt like I was in Heaven”.

Harriet Tubman, Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman By Sarah Hopkins Bradford.

Selfless, brave, determined… these are all character qualities my students used to describe Harriet Tubman after reading about her life.  Tubman fell to her knees in prayer after crossing the Pennsylvania border exhilarated by her newfound freedom.  She then pressed on and began her new life in Philadelphia.  But the money she made working was for the primary purpose of gaining freedom for others who were still enslaved.  History tells us that Tubman was also a nurse, cook, and spy during the Civil War.  Later in life, she opened her home to those who were in need.  Through it all, she trusted the Lord to be her Source and Strength.

I believe that Harriet Tubman’s life journey reflects the Kingdom of Heaven culture.  Each person that God creates has a purpose, something they bring to this world that no one else can.  Whether or not we fulfill that purpose has much to do with the decisions we make in our personal journey.  Sometimes those decisions mean determining whether or not we will allow ourselves to stay enslaved… enslaved to self-pity, rejection, pride, pain, greed, or broken dreams.

Ultimately, the things that drive or enslave us can all be summed up by the word “fear,” fear of failure, fear of loss, fear of hurt, fear of abandonment, fear of rejection.  “I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God,”1  This morning, I found myself singing this line, along with everyone else, but I felt the words deeper in my spirit than I ever had before. I had been enslaved by fear in the past.  It drove me to do things I wouldn’t typically do and it drove me to not do things that I should do.  Knowing that I don’t have to be driven by fear any longer is liberating!

Being strong or confident is not the opposite of fear; it is faith in His love that is the antithesis of fear! We all long to be known and loved.  It is only in knowing the perfect love of our Heavenly Father that the chains of fear can be rendered useless. Why does perfect love drive out fear?2  Because when we get a revelation of His perfect or unconditional love for us, we can trust His plans for us.  Perfect love is the truth that when life is difficult, loss rocks our world, or pain is suddenly staring us in the face, it is not for the purpose of tormenting us or punishing us!  Our circumstances are NOT a reflection of God’s love for us or His value of us!  We can be confident that no matter what comes our way, He is always with us, loving us, and causing everything to work out well for us… eventually!3

We might be tempted to stop there, basking in the knowledge that we are perfectly loved by this amazing God!!  Sometimes we do need to just soak in His presence (after all, He IS love!) and allow the joy of knowing His love to go deep.  But there’s more to the journey.  Isaiah 58 talks about what is pleasing to the Lord.  He doesn’t want us to keep love’s freedom to ourselves!  He wants us to help others who are enslaved find freedom too;  much like Harriet Tubman did when she took multiple trips south to lead others to freedom.  Was it convenient?  No. Was it safe? No.  Was it easy? No.  But it was her destiny and purpose to help others find {physical} freedom.

How much more important is it for you and I to help others find spiritual freedom!  Freedom from the fear that strangles out life and hope, freedom from the fear that keeps us from reaching out, freedom from the fear that chokes our trust, and freedom from the fear that breeds bitterness.  That’s a tall order, isn’t it?!  How can we help others find the freedom of knowing that they are unconditionally loved by their Creator? We become virtual conduits that allow the love of our amazing Father to flow through us to others!

By tapping into Him, our Source, and relying on His strength, we become the concrete example of God’s unconditional love to others.  As those walking in freedom, we set the vision and standard of freedom for EACH person we encounter!  We believe and declare that He loves them in the middle of their mess, just like He loves us even when we were at our worst.

Will loving those enslaved in fear be convenient? Safe? Easy?  No, no, and no, but it’s our destiny and purpose to help others find freedom in His perfect love!4  This precious freedom then enables them to walk in their destinies setting even more people free! It’s the circle of Kingdom life!

I’d like to say that I’m a pro at this thing of helping others find freedom from fear.  It would be great if I could tell you that I’ve got the perfect love thing down pat.  I don’t… I’m working on it, stumbling along, sometimes failing, and sometimes succeeding.  The good news is that there is always hope!  Each day is a new beginning and nothing is set in stone until we breathe our last breath!  Each encounter with another person is an opportunity to value one of God’s precious creations and demonstrate fear-freeing love.

Lord, Help me not to waste these opportunities!

Live Loved!

P.S.  If this encouraged, challenged, or blessed you, please share on social media! 🙂  Also, thanks to my Aunt Sandy Hall for the great shot of Mount Fuji!

1Lyrics from: ”No Longer Slaves” Bethel Music

2“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” I John 4: 18

3 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

4Read more: I John 3:16-23, Mark 12:29-31, All Embracing Love… Really?

#thankful

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Have you noticed the new t-shirt trend?  Sure, there are still the sassy ones out there: “Sarcastic comment loading,” or “What makes you think I care?”  But there is also a wave of t-shirts available now that celebrate… celebrate strong girls, celebrate world changers, and celebrate positive attitudes: #thankful, #gratefulheart, #blessed, #spreadkindness.  As a teacher, I see the trend and I’m loving it.

When life is tough, your attitude can make or break your day! 

A few days ago, I {finally} relaxed on a massage table as I used the gift card my husband gave me last Christmas.  As the therapist started working on the knots in my shoulders, I actually had to work at calming my mind and letting go of my “To-do” list as well as my “Problems to solve” agenda.  As I listened to the soothing music, I began to talk to the Lord.  I thanked Him for my job, even though it’s stressful.  I thanked Him for my home, even though it needs some upkeep.  I thanked Him for our cars, even though the payments are coming due.  I thanked Him for my family, even as I wondered how I was going to budget Christmas.  I thanked Him for His goodness, even though I know I don’t deserve it.

By the time the therapist got to my hands, I felt overwhelmed with thankfulness!  But this thankfulness was different. I was thankful for simply having all 10 of my fingers!  I began to think of not just what I have, but also what I don’t have… an insurance claim for a house lost to a fire, a doctor’s appointments for a terminal condition, or an addiction to manage.  I don’t have empty cupboards or a home infested with pests.  I don’t have to visit a family member in jail today or a missing loved one to file a police report on.

Is life perfect?  Not for anyone!  But if I don’t choose thankfulness, what’s left to choose from?  Complaining, whining, bitterness, self-pity, jealousy.  None of those sound particularly pleasant.  In fact, all of those attitudes will make me a less than enjoyable person to be around.  Don’t get me wrong, sometimes we need to “vent” to an understanding ear.  But if we stay in that place of perpetual complaining, our attitude {and facial expression} will scream #sourpuss, no t-shirt necessary!

The other day, my friend said, “We can complain ourselves right out of a victory!”  That statement was an eye opener for me!  The reality is that life feels like a battle at times.  What will my battle cry be?  #whyme? #Idon’tdeservethis! #lifeisnotfair!  These battle cries will lead to discouragement and failure.  Our battle cries should be declarations of victory! #Icandothis #blessed #Godisgood #endurewithgrace #thankful!

I am thankful!  I have the best Dad ever!  He is a faithful God and trustworthy Father.  Even when life sends me spinning, I know that He has me in the center of His Hand.  If you need that same confidence, turn your face heavenward!  God created you and He loves you!  He IS love!  He has good things in store for those who trust Him!  Hebrews 12:28 in the Passion translation says, “Since we are receiving our rights to an unshakeable kingdom we should be extremely thankful and offer God the purest worship that delights His heart as we lay down our lives in absolute surrender, filled with awe.”  Your right to an unshakeable kingdom comes when you acknowledge God as your Father, Healer, Deliverer, and Savior!

#extremelythankful

Please comment and share what you are most thankful for today!

Live loved!

P.S. My husband just walked in and told me what the chickens are thankful for: they are not turkeys! 🙂

To All Who are Weary…

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What are you facing today?  What giant is blocking your path?  What struggle is stealing your breath?  What pain is battering your heart?  Are you weary? This word is for you!

“Yet I totally trust you to rescue me one more time, so that I can see once again how good you are while I’m still alive! Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for He will never disappoint you!” 

Psalm 27:13-14 tPt

 

Hold tight!  God is in yesterday, today, and tomorrow; but He wants you focused on His presence in your present.  He will give you what you need to endure today’s battles.*

No matter what is wearing you down, it won’t always be like this… You will endure this season and come through stronger!

Let this be your battle cry: “My God is faithful! He won’t disappoint! I will trust in Him!”

This word is for you, this word is for me! Our God is faithful!

*Updated: I wrote this on Saturday and was so blessed by this song on Sunday morning: King of My Heart. He is good and He is never gonna let us go!

Live Loved and Victorious!

*Matthew 6:33-34

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