Category Archives: Faith

Walking On Water

Posted on by
4

“You need to get out of the boat and start walking on the water!”

Wait…. I need to what?

It was one of those “valley times” in my life.  I was trying so hard to trust that the Lord was at work in my circumstances.  But quite honestly, I really didn’t fully trust He could handle it all for me.  My mouth was saying, “I trust You,” but my hands were gripped tight to the helm still trying to make life work out the way I felt it should.

 

Trusting the Lord explicitly had always been a struggle for me.  I’d known it down deep for a long time, but I’d managed to keep that knowledge tucked away in my heart until the time when I couldn’t anymore.  As security began to be stripped away, the truth surfaced.  And the Lord whispered in my ear, “It’s time to deal with this.”

Over and over in Scripture, we are presented with the understanding that God is a Father1.  Isaiah 9:6 declares that He is our Everlasting Father! For those with a fabulous relationship with their earthly father, this presents a ready connection enabling them to grab ahold of God as an amazing Heavenly Father.   Unfortunately, there are far too many whose earthly father created an unhealthy understanding of what fatherhood is…  and that image is transferred to our Heavenly Father, unfairly.

I loved my dad and I know he loved me.  He loved the Lord too and carried an anointing to teach on his life.  However, he was human and like me, imperfect.  Because he was a diabetic, managing his sugar was an issue.  Many times throughout my growing up years, his sugar imbalances caused mood swings, an explosive temper, and often irrational responses to situations.   Those experiences led me to believe that even though God loved me, He also could be moody, hard to please, and impatient with my failures. Untrustworthy.

I can imagine what you’re thinking…  when I grew in my faith, I should have known that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  I should understand that God was not like my dad. I should’ve grasped that God loves me unconditionally, right?!

     Head knowledge rarely becomes heart knowledge without experience opening the door.

During this valley journey, I asked a trusted friend to pray with me.  After our prayer time, she dropped a truth bomb, “You need to get out of the boat and start walking on the water!  You need to let go of trying to control and stand back, trusting God to do His work.”

As my mind processed the idea, I came to the place where I couldn’t shove down the trust struggle anymore.  I laid it all out on the table and looked up at my Heavenly Father… who already knew all about it… and asked Him what He wanted me to do.  In the still of that moment, He showed me where I needed to let go.  I didn’t wait, I didn’t waiver, I did what I knew He was directing me to do that very evening.  I let go of the wheel in the midst of my storm and I stepped out of the boat.

I’d like to say it was easy, but it wasn’t.  I’d like to say that the storm stopped immediately, but it didn’t.  I’d like to say that I felt totally exhilarated, but I didn’t.

However, I learned that when I keep my eyes on Jesus, the storm won’t defeat me!  I learned that He IS trustworthy!  He is not moody, or inconsistent, or grumpy.  He loves me so deeply that there is nothing I can do to change that…  And He never left me, especially in the midst of my storm!

Because I trusted in Him, He brought me victory on the other side of that storm!

Recently, NeedtoBreathe came out with a song called, “Walking on Water.” How this song speaks to me!  It reminds me of my journey learning to trust the Lord, unconditionally.  There’s no turnin’ back!

Live Loved,

Please comment and share!

1Isaiah 63:16, Psalm 68:5, Psalm 89:6, Romans 1:7, Galatians 4:6-7

Favorite Music Good Friday

Posted on by
3

Sometimes, a song comes along and all I want to do is:

Sit… soak… listen… rest…

allowing peace to go deep in in my soul as awe rises in my spirit!

I can’t necessarily explain the why, but some music just makes me melt inside.

This week, it’s been this song by HIllsong: So Will I (100 Billion X)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGp_UCoPYAk

On this Good Friday, when we remember that Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for an imperfect people He dearly loved, dwell on the truth and amazingness of these lyrics:

God of salvation
You chased down my heart
Through all of my failure and pride
On a hill You created
The light of the world
Abandoned in darkness to die

And as You speak
A hundred billion failures disappear
Where You lost Your life so I could find it here
If You left the grave behind You so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You’ve done
Every part designed in a work of art called love
If You gladly chose surrender so will I
I can see Your heart
Eight billion different ways
Every precious one
A child You died to save
If You gave Your life to love them so will I

source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/h/hillsongunitedlyrics/sowilli100billionxlyrics.html

He gave His all for you because He loves you!

Live Loved,

Building Giant Killer Faith A.K.A Nurturing Your Mustard Seed

Posted on by
1

Yes, this is a mustard seed!

Have you ever seen an actual mustard seed?

Tiny, right?!  It’s hard to imagine that inside that bitty thing is a tree!

But that tree will only grow if the right conditions exist.  The same is true of our faith.

 

When Jesus challenged His “interns” to choose forgiveness instead of offense–over and over–they must have been shocked!  Their response was, (in my own words) “You have to be kidding!  You want us to forgive someone that many times?  Then You are going to have to increase our faith, because we want to knock them a good one that doesn’t seem possible!”

His response: “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” (Luke 17) He said it this way another time: “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Amazing thought, right!! (Matthew 17)

Remember that teeny tiny mustard seed?  It’s chock FULL of potential for power in the spirit realm!  It can rock mountains, uproot challenges, and knock down giants!

But that seed needs to be nurtured and cared for, so that the tree within can mature and become a flourishing tower of declaration that is well-known in hallways of Hell!

Check out the size of this mustard tree!

So… how do we nurture our mustard seed faith?  How do we provide and enhance the conditions needed for our faith-seed to grow?  Consider what every plant needs to grow:

Soil: Our faith needs to be planted in truth, the Truth of God’s Word, His love for us, and His promises to us.  Be sure that your soil is kept healthy and fresh.  Daily devotionals like Jesus Calling are helpful for stirring in Truth each day. Also, remember to add nutrients! (Psalm 119:105)

Nutrients: These are the truths of what God has already done for you!  It’s the memories of prayers answered, the miracles we have experienced, the people who have been blessings to us. (Psalm 89:1,14-18) Create a journal of remembrance that you can re-read when your faith needs a boost!

Water: Pouring thankfulness over your heart and mind will water that seed of faith!  Thankfulness is a declaration that life is far from perfect, but there are blessings all around for the faith-building heart to find.  (Psalm 103:1-14) Start each day by listing 10 things you are thankful for!  (Hot water is one of my list-toppers!)

Pruning: This is the uncomfortable part of growing.  Sometimes we need to remove that which hinders growth.  Pull out the weeds of negative thinking, tear down lies the enemy whispers, and cut off commentators comments of gloom & doom.  This will leave plenty of space for faith to grow! (John 8:44 says that satan is the father of lies!)

Sonshine: Soak up the light of His Son! There is no substitute for sitting at the feet of Jesus!  If that sounds foreign or odd to you, try finding a quiet place and calm the frantic pace of your mind; ask the Lord to come and rest on you… then wait!  His warmth and light will bring you peace that will cause your faith to bloom! (Mark 6:31)

Faith seems abstract and hard to grasp… we wouldn’t call it “faith” if it wasn’t!

Hebrews 11:1 in the International Children’s Bible says it beautifully: “Faith means being sure of the things we hope for. And faith means knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.”

 

Sometimes it’s hard to see beyond life’s struggles to the victories on the other side, but taking concrete and purposeful steps to grow our faith will help us stand strong believing that victory will come!

Watch out giants!  There’s some rock-sized faith coming your way!

Live Loved,

P.S. Click the reply button to share some of your victories to encourage other readers!  P.P.S Also, sharing this post on social media will bless others (and me!) Thank you!

 

I Just Can’t… or Can I?

Posted on by
Reply

 

A humorous moment from the 1998 version of The Parent Trap has Natasha Richardson’s character launching into a stress-induced tirade and declaring, in her beautifully British voice, “I can’t handle this!” (Insert your best British accent here!)  She is about to come face to face with the father of her children whom she hasn’t seen in 11 years.  She follows that comment with the statement, “I’m not mature enough for this!”   As her rant continues, her fussing reflects her insecurities.*  While the scene provides us some chuckles, the reality is that I’ve had a few tirades like this myself!

There have been times in my life when I’ve felt the same exasperation and thrown my hands up declaring, “I just can’t handle this!” I can’t forgive like I should.  I can’t embrace the struggle I face.  I can’t ignore the difficult people I encounter. I can’t meet the demands in my mailbox. I can’t juggle the balls being thrown my way. I just can’t!

And I’m not supposed to… alone!

You see, we weren’t designed to face these challenges alone.  Even Jesus, in His greatest time of need, sought the Father’s help and asked His disciples to pray with Him (Matthew 26:36-39).  In His wisdom, He realized that He didn’t need to face His destiny alone.  So, why do we try to manage life on our own?

In the world, independence is a sign of maturity.  But the Kingdom of God is upside down!  The more we depend on God and His faithfulness, the more maturity is evident in our lives. If you’ve been around Biblical teaching for long, you’ve probably heard of the 10-finger prayer found in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me!” The Amplified version brings a deeper clarity to this declaration (but you’ll need more fingers!):

“I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him Who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”

You and I are ready for anything and equal to anything through Christ because He infuses us with inner strength and confident peace! That’s a revelation that I need to grab and embrace!  We truly can do it!  We can face each day’s challenges because of our confidence in who He is and what He can do!  It’s not us, but Him IN us that enables our “can.”  His grace is sufficient to see us through the challenges each day presents (II Corinthians 12:9).

Through Holy Spirit strength, we can forgive.  Through Him, we can embrace.  In Him, we can ignore, we can meet demands, and we can juggle whatever balls life throws in our direction.

 

Don’t misunderstand, facing our challenges will not be easy, simple, short, or painless.  But it is do-able!  We can do it!

Allow this truth to sink deep in your spirit!  You CAN handle it!  He promised to never leave you… so, whatever you encounter, you are not alone. You CAN handle it because His strength infuses you!

There is an old gospel song by Cristy Lane that said it well,

“One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That’s all I’m asking from You.
Just give me the strength
To do everyday, what I have to do.
Yesterday’s gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord, help me today, show me the way
One day at a time”**

 

  • Pause in the midst of your pain.
  • Stop when the stress comes rolling through.
  • Delay when the demands are overwhelming.

Whisper His name and invite Him to come to you in the midst of your challenge.

Look back at the victories, then look forward in faith!

When we focus on His Word, His presence, and His love for us, we find ourselves infused with confidence and peace that will enable us to be equal to whatever our day brings.  You Can Handle It!

Phew… I really needed to be reminded of this truth!  Live Loved,

Please share your thoughts below!

*Her character invites her butler/friend to accompany her for support. Spoiler alert: In the end, she and the father reconnect!

**Enjoy Lynda Tait Randle’s rendition of One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus.

 

I’m Not Afraid of the Dark… Anymore!

Posted on by
Reply

I’m excited to share that Strong & Courageous Women Magazine has featured me on their blog this week!  I’ve written an article about faith triumphing over fear in my life.  Read it here:  I’m Not Afraid of the Dark… Anymore!

What “dark places” have you struggled with and how did you overcome it?  It’s exciting to know that God loves me so much, that He will come through for me especially in the difficult times!  Please share your thoughts below!

Live loved,

The Little Word that Roars!

Posted on by
4

Hopeless… the sense or belief that there is no light at the end of the tunnel. It tries to convince us that nothing will ever be right again.  It’s claim is that God’s mercy is not bigger than our messiness. Hopelessness is giving in to what “hopeless” is whispering to our hearts.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12 NKJV

At one time, I thought this verse was referring to unfulfilled hope making our hearts ache.  However, it is possible to view this verse differently and find an applicable truth.  Deferred means to put off or delay.  Could it be that what makes our hearts ache is not the lack of what we hope for, but the lack of hope?  When we put off hoping, thinking that what we long for isn’t in our future, it is then that our hearts truly ache from the loss… the loss of hope, the loss of expectancy.

But when desire comes, when hope rises in us, there is life and expectancy!

Hope… it’s the little word that roars in our spirits!  Hope is that ember of burning coal in an otherwise spent fire.  It is the fallen warrior who rises up on the abandoned battle field.  Hope is the tiny flower that dares to bloom in the dry and thirsty place.  Hope.

Photo credits: Andre Scultori

Often times I have thoughts stirring in my mind and heart and I jot notes down to go back to when I have some time.  One of my recent entries simply said this:

H-Holding
O-Onto
P-Promises
E-Expectantly

 

A few weeks ago, Pastor Rita Langeland of Hidden With Christ Ministries, a precious woman with an amazing heart, dropped in to share a word the Lord had given her for our church family.  I was excited to hear that her word was titled: Get Your Hopes Up!  As I took notes, I appreciated her explanation of two different hopes:

Hope in the Changeable
Hope in the Unchangeable

If you are like me, you probably don’t have to go too far back in your memory to find a time when you were hopeful for something and ended up with a bucketful of disappointment! Unfulfilled hopes are a part of life.  It’s not that we shouldn’t desire these things… a certain job, a newer car, a better living situation, etc.  But rather that we shouldn’t put our hope IN or our reliance ON those things.  Hoping in desired circumstances is hope in the changeable.  It is hope that more often than not, may disappoint.

But… hope in the unchangeable will not disappoint!  Hope in God’s faithfulness, His unchanging love, His lovingkindness, His mercy, and His grace… that is hope that will never let us down!  No matter the circumstances that we encounter, we can confidently trust that God’s plans for us are to prosper us!  Romans 8:28 states that when we are lovers of God, all things in our lives will ultimately work out for our good.  That is something worth placing our hope in!

I’ve revised my notes to say:

H-Holding
O-Onto HIS
P-Promises
E-Expectantly

What word has the Lord whispered into your heart and spirit?  Is it a verse you are clinging to?  Is it a promise you are standing on?  Hold onto hope in the Unchangeable One!  Though you may have to wait, you will not be disappointed by His faithfulness!

“Let Your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone.” Psalm 33:22 NLT

Dive Deeper: Romans 5:1-5, Jeremiah 29:11-13

Please share your thoughts below, I appreciate hearing from my readers!

Live Loved,

 

 

 

 

Sweet Yet Savory

Posted on by
2

Years ago, we didn’t know we were trend setters by dipping our French fries into our milkshakes!  As kids, smearing icing on saltines was simply scrounging for a yummy snack. But somehow, the desire to eat salty yet savory snacks became a rage leading to store shelves bearing Pretzel M & Ms™, Pecan Pie Pringles™, and Salty Caramel candies galore!  There’s something about the tangy flavor of salt combined with delicious sweetness molded into one bite!

 

What if you and I were sweet yet savory people?  Crazy idea, huh?!  What if followers of Jesus purposed to live in a way that offered those around us a “salty sweet” presence that reflected who we are and Whose we are?  Let me explain…

It was Jesus who declared you and I the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13).  What is the purpose of salt?  In a nutshell… this is what salt does1:

  • Preserves quality
  • Enhances flavor
  • Removes bitterness
  • Provides nutrients
  • Binds together
  • Increases brightness

 

Hmmm….

Now apply those characteristics to personal interactions.  Do you and I bring good things to the table?  Do we preserve others, enhance conversations, remove bitterness, speak wisdom, promote unity, and brighten lives?  Wow! When I consider the characteristics of salt, I sense a strength, an authenticity even, that presents itself while engaging with others. It’s living and interacting in an integral way that brings glory to God.

So where does the sweetness come in?

Colossians 4:6 reminds us, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”  I believe the sweetness comes through us in the form of grace!  Grace takes mercy to a whole new level!

Mercy is when we don’t receive consequences we deserve.  Grace is when we not only don’t receive what we deserve, but we are blessed with something we don’t deserve and didn’t earn! Grace is the ability to treat others with kindness and value regardless of whether we feel it is deserved.  It allows us to answer anger with gentleness; to give blessing to those who curse us; and to forgive the ones who break our hearts (Prov. 15:1, Matt. 5:44,18:21-22).  In a nutshell… Grace brings a sweetness to interactions, even if they are in painful or uncomfortable situations.

Sweet and salty, grace and strength…  a powerful combination, a recipe even.  As ambassadors representing the Kingdom of God, when our interactions with others are patterned with salty qualities and the sweetness of grace then wrapped in God’s love, we will walk in favor and influence like we never have before!   Each personal connection is an opportunity to love others, be encouraging, dismantle bitterness, and promote goodness!

What a powerful opportunity for us!  Sweet yet savory!  Be a life well-seasoned! I’m up to the challenge, how about you?

Live Loved,

 

P.S. Please share your thoughts by clicking the reply button!  I appreciate your input.

P.P.S. Try one of my favorite salty sweet combinations here: Rolo Pretzel Turtle Bites

1   Functions of Salt

Shake Off Those Broken Chains!

Posted on by
2

“There’s no shadow You won’t light up
Mountain You won’t climb up
Coming after me
There’s no wall You won’t kick down
Lie You won’t tear down
Coming after me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn’t earn it
I don’t deserve it
Still You give yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God”1   

Reckless Love by Cory Asbury

Last night, these lyrics stirred in my spirit as I dozed off to sleep and were my first waking thoughts.

How amazing is God’s pursuing love!

He came to set me free, to heal my heart, to give me abundant life!

God pursues me. And He pursues you!

God pursues us because He loves us.  But He also pursues us because He wants us to live an abundant life and enjoy relationship with Him.

Here’s the caveat though…  do you WANT to be rescued, free, healed, and loved?

Seems like a silly question, I know.

Enjoying relationship with any person involves some amount of trust.  The depth of your vulnerability will determine the depth of your relationship. Deeply loving requires the courage to be deeply open to others.

If you’ve been alive for a decade or longer, you’ve experienced the pain that also comes when trust is violated.  Friends betray us, acquaintances gossip about us, co-workers sabotage us, loved ones leave us… with each additional hurt, we begin to build walls around our heart.  We start to believe that no one is trustworthy.  We determine it’s better to only rely on ourselves.  Sound familiar?

This prison of choice keeps us safe from pain,  but it also insulates us from authentic love!

 

It’s here, in this place, that God’s love pursues us!  He wants us to know His love… but we need to trust His love!  We need to trust that God loves us enough to kick down our heart-walls, tear down the lies we’ve believed, and find us in our lonely place.

When Your Heavenly Father charges in kicking down those heart-walls, pouring out His unending, unconditional love, and declaring truth that topples lies, you have a choice to make…

A: Stay safe inside your fortress, risk free but love free

B: Shake off the chains of fear and step into love’s embrace!

Jesus came to bring us good news, to heal the brokenhearted, to bring liberty to captives, to open prison doors, to replace mourning with joy (Isaiah 61:1-3)! Our responsibility is trust!  It’s simple, yet complex!

*Trusting the Lord requires believing that He has your best interest at heart.*

It’s much like Peter stepping out of the boat.  The waves look insurmountable, the water seems overwhelming, but look into the eyes of Jesus!  Those eyes promise His eternal presence, His never-ending love, and His covenant relationship!

Let Him light up your shadows!  Let Him kick down your walls!  Let His Truth replace your lies!  Shake off those broken chains and step into the Light. Our God is trustworthy; He won’t break your heart!

Go Deeper: Isaiah 61:1-3, Proverbs 3:3-8, II Timothy 1:7

Live Loved!

1Lyrics from “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury

All I Need

Posted on by
1

What is it that you need in 2018?

I love learning about the names of the Lord sprinkled throughout Scripture!  When I need healing, He is Jehovah-Rophe. When I need provision, He is Jehovah-Jireh.  When I need forgiveness, He is Jehovah-Tsidkenu. When I need His presence, He is Jehovah-Shammah.  He is my Counselor, my Everlasting Father, the God of Angel Armies, and King of kings. When Moses asked God what name he should give to the children of Israel, God’s response was, “I AM WHO I AM.”

Sometimes… I don’t know what I need. I don’t know what to ask for.  I don’t have the words to ask.  But He knows!  I simply need Him! The I AM!  HE IS what I need and He knows what my heart needs… He reminds me “I AM enough!”

He is I AM…

He is enough for you! He is enough for me!

I was meditating on this idea when I read from one of my Christmas gifts: “I Hear His Whisper” by Brian Simmons.

“I {God} am enough for you.  When you face difficulties and limitations, I will whisper into your heart, “I am enough.”  I will not shield you from every hardship, but I am enough as you walk through them with your eyes set on Me.  I am enough.  I will be your wraparound shield in the midst of difficulty.

Your thoughts cannot contain the love I have for you.  And you will never be able to comprehend with your mind the plans that I have for you.  Yet I am enough, and all you need to know is that I am here for you.”

No matter who you are or where you’ve been or what you’ve done, you are deeply loved and treasured by God!  Turn your eyes to Him and open your heart to His love and grace!  You don’t need to change to receive His love; it’s a done deal!  He loves you and there’s nothing you can do or not do that will change His love for you!

Whatever 2018 brings, don’t face it alone!  You have an advocate in Jesus!  He is your Comforter, your Healer, your Deliverer, and the Lover of your soul!  Our Heavenly Father, the Great I Am is enough!

May the Lord richly bless you and your family in 2018!  May it be a year of wonderful surprises, amazing victories, and Kingdom revelations!  May you know God’s deep, unconditional, abiding love more than you ever thought that you could!

Live Loved,

 

One Word…

Posted on by
6

As the clock ticks towards midnight… not just any midnight, but the end of 2017… I confess, I’m excited!  Not to see 2017 end, but to see 2018 begin!

For the past few years, I’ve embraced the One Word Challenge… asking the Lord to give me a word to characterize the upcoming year.  It’s a word that would reflect what the Lord wants to do in and through me during this season. (I gave up on New Year’s resolutions a long time ago!)  My sweet friend, Deanna Shrodes, writes more about the One Word Challenge.

For 2017, the word He gave me, “training” wasn’t too exciting!  But quickly the Lord confirmed in my heart that this was His word for me and why.  Now, looking back over the past year, I can see where I’ve been trained and had the opportunity to train.  The result has been growth in many areas of my life!  There is value in what has transpired in my life and I am so thankful!  Yet, I’m ready to embrace the new things the Lord has for me!

“But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”       Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLT)

Last Sunday, I realized how close we were to the end of the year and I reminded the Lord that I needed a word for 2018. Suddenly, I felt Him drop a word in my spirit with a kiss on my forehead!  Truly, the Lord holds precious gifts for us and is just waiting for us to pause and listen!

After this “mic drop” moment, I meditated on the word the Lord gave me for 2018.  Immediately, I searched for a Scripture to confirm the word.  I can’t help but smile and feel His favor on me for this new season.  (Cliff hanger… I’m not going to share the word yet!)

What about you?  Have you had it with resolutions that have rotted away?  Are you ready for a fresh approach to a new year?  Steal away for a few moments and seek His face.  Ask Him to whisper His heart into yours.  What word can you embrace for your new season?  Set your sights towards how He will move in and through you in 2018!

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!” Psalm 103:1-5 (NLT)

I would love hearing the word the Lord gives you, so please share!  I’ll share mine too… soon!

Live loved!