True Joy

We often think that we would be much more joyful if we weren’t constantly dealing with life’s challenges.  But, true joy isn’t found in the absence of trials.  True joy is found in the presence of God, despite the circumstances, and when we discover that for ourselves, it is powerful!

Nehemiah 8:10 says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Satan knows that…that’s why he is continuously trying to steal it.  He knows that if he is successful at high-jacking our joy, he will strip away our strength and our hope, leaving us weak and often wounded and unable to fight.  Don’t be fooled…he will use every tool at his disposal to accomplish that.  Whether it’s an effort to discourage, distract, or an attempt to tap into our insecurities, he will stop at nothing to steal our joy.

So, be aware!  Put on your armor and be ready for his attacks!  We know that God has not given us a spirit of timidity or fear, but of love, and power, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).  Let’s name our enemy for what he is…a thief!  He comes to steal and kill and destroy. (John 10:10) But we have a King and Savior who loves us and chose us as his daughters and wants us to not just be happy, but to live life to the absolute fullest…even  beyond what we can imagine…and He equips us with everything that we need to not only stand firm against this thief, but to defeat him!  So hang on to your joy my sisters and claim what is yours through Christ!  It doesn’t matter what is going on or what trials you are facing…God will give you the strength to persevere and to overcome!

“This is the day that the Lord has made; I WILL rejoice and be glad in it!” 

~ Psalm 118:24

Minutes With the Master

"A New Name"

Sometimes I get up on the wrong side of the bed. All day long I feel like I create havoc in my relationships and interactions with others. The enemy lies to me and says that this is who I am. I am a failure. He brings up the past and says, “See, you will never change. You might as well stop trying.”

There were many people in the bible that struggled and had a less than desirable past, but God used them mightily for His purposes. Abraham lied about who Sarah was out of fear (Genesis 20.) Sarah laughed when God told her she was going to have a son (Genesis 18:8-15.) Jacob deceived his father, Isaac, in order to steal his brother’s birthright (Genesis 27.)  Simon Peter was impulsive and out of his desire to protect Jesus, he tried to stop Jesus from his purpose (Matthew 16:21-21). Saul was a murderer but God had other plans for him…to bring the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9).

The good news is that God is in the redemption business. He makes treasures out of broken jars of clay by taking us in our humanness and brokenness and molding us into something beautiful again (2 Corinthians 4:7). With all the people mentioned above, he brought transformation to them and confirmed it by changing their name. This had to help them realize their new identity. God has a new identity for all of us, too. This name is a reflection of the destiny and purpose God has for all of us.

“To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.” ~Revelation 2:17 (NLT)

I believe God is waiting to give us a new name. It is His name for us that will change the way we see ourselves. It is the opposite of the lies the enemy has made us believe about ourselves. When we see ourselves as a failure, He sees us as a work in progress. When we see ugly, He sees beautiful. As we soak in His presence, we can hear Him calling us by our new name. As we believe who He says we are, we begin to step into our destiny. It is a beautiful thing that He wants to do in our lives.

Will you join me as we begin this new journey toward all that God has for us?

~ Marla Brenneman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfFyqSkMiUw

The God of Hope

It seems like so many people around me are struggling these days.  I’m not talking about dealing with circumstances that are inconvenient or less than desirable, but real crisis situations that have life-changing consequences… marriages that are deteriorating at a rapid pace, serious health issues with real life-altering effects, the loss of employment and/or major financial circumstances, deep loss and grief, and other BIG obstacles with BIG fallouts and implications.  When I think about what all of these people that I care so much about are going through, I think back to my own moments of crisis, of which some were not that long ago.  I remember those moments of complete hopelessness…really believing that things were not going to get better…not being able to see past the mountain of obstacles that were stacked high in front of me…feeling that although there were many people around me trying to help, there were equally as many lined up to criticize and judge me and I felt completely alone in my pain and believed that no one understood.

Hopelessness is a powerful thing.  Without hope, we have no promise of a better day…no reason to keep putting one foot in front of the other…and it’s so tempting to just give up and accept defeat, even when the consequences in doing so are dire and might impact far more than just ourselves.

But that’s what makes hopelessness such an attractive and effective tool that Satan likes to use in our lives.  We give him a foothold of despair, and he starts digging a trench a mile deep that we begin to feel like we’ll never climb out of.  He uses every failure we’ve had, every wound and disappointment we’ve experienced or caused others, every bad choice, every insecurity and weakness, every mistake and he just keeps piling it on.  “You screw everything up,” he says.  “You’re never going to change, why even try,” he taunts.  “You’ve gone too far this time, they’ll never forgive you,” he implies.  “You’re never going to be good enough,” he sneers.  “Even God can’t fix you, and why would He want to?” he snaps.

But here’s the thing…Satan is a LIAR!!!  He knows full well that nothing is impossible with God’s help and he knows that God is ready and waiting to dive in and rescue us…He’s just waiting for our willingness to let go and the invitation to do it!  Satan can ill afford for God’s power to take hold of our lives, so he deceives us again and again and uses every weapon at his disposal to keep us stuck and buried.  He wants us to believe that things will never get better, that we are truly alone, and that there is no way out.  But those are all well calculated lies meant to keep us isolated and without hope.

The good news is two-fold…

“A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

~John 10:10 (MSG)

First, we have complete access to the truth…that God loves us unconditionally and has a plan for our lives that is meant for our good.  He truly has our best interest at heart and wants to give us a future and hope that is beyond our wildest imaginations. (Jeremiah 29:11-14; John 10:10)

“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.  When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.  When you come looking for me, you’ll find me.  Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” GOD’s Decree.

~ Jeremiah 29:11-13 (MSG)

There is not a mountain or obstacle of any shape or size that He cannot and will not move and/or overcome and He will never leave us on our own to fend for ourselves.  It is through Him that we will find all the power and strength that we will ever need and in Him we can find peace and rest even in the middle of life’s worst possible storms.  There is nothing we can throw at Him that is beyond the scope of His power, His grace, and/or His forgiveness…He truly IS enough for us.

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust him.  For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.  He will cover you with his feathers.  He will shelter you with his wings.  His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”

~ Psalm 91:1-4

Secondly, we know who our enemy is and we have the perfect counter-attack spelled out in the pages of God’s Word that will result in victory each and every time!

“God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. 

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. 

God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”

~ Ephesians 6:10-18

The best part is that we already know the end of the story!  It’s already been written and we know who wins…God is ultimately victorious in the end and that gives us the hope of all hopes!

God has equipped us with everything we need to be victorious in this race called life.  No matter the circumstances that we face, we have the ability through Him to overcome and persevere; and if we'll choose to put on that armor and embrace & live out His truth through our lives, there will come a day that we will be able to stand at the finish line and say,

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 

(2 Timothy 4:7)

Then, we will hear the words that I long to someday hear my Savior say…

“Well done My good and faithful servant…well done!” (Matthew 25:21)

~Kris Samovitz

Gifts of Blessing

It can be exhausting and stressful to try to impress others all the time and as women especially, we are often guilty of trying to maintain this “Martha Stewart image” that doesn’t really exist.  The truth is, that while we are busy trying to appear like we have it all together and making efforts to impress someone, they are most likely doing the exact same thing in an effort to impress you!

Ladies, what if we just gave each other a break?  What if we recognized that none of us have it all together.  We’ve all been given different gifts and strengths and skill sets and what if we used those gifts and skills to bless and care for one another instead of criticizing and trying to outshine one another?
God has poured out His blessings onto us so that we can extend them to others and ultimately so that others will be drawn to Him and His name will be glorified…not so we can hoard them and keep them tucked away for our own personal use or benefit.

“God placed something inside of you to deposit in someone else.”

~Sheri Rose Shepherd

So, as you go about your day today, will you ask God to show you a way that you can bless one of your sisters in Christ?  Maybe it’s as simple as sending a quick note to say that you’re thinking about her…maybe it’s dropping off a home-cooked meal to a busy working mom…maybe it’s taking the time to teach her a skill that she was not blessed to be taught as a young girl.  Whatever it is, God has given you gifts to be shared and you will often walk away from sharing them, being the one who is truly blessed at the end of it.

“God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,

    giving to the needy in reckless abandon.

His right-living, right-giving ways

    never run out, never wear out.

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.”

~2 Corinthians 9:8-11

~Kris Samovitz

Wisdom From Above

“If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.  But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.”

~James 3:13-18(NLT)~

Jealousy and selfish ambition…certainly two things that we don’t readily want to admit to struggling with are they?  Unfortunately, they are part of our sinful nature and something we do have to deal with.

When I looked up the definitions of these words, I stumbled across something interesting.  Check it out:

“Jealousy is that unpleasant emotion you feel when you think someone’s trying to take what’s yours. Jealousy is called the "green-eyed monster" because it can make people obsessed with how they compare to others.  But don't confuse jealousy with envy, which can sometimes be a slightly more positive emotion.  It's no fun to feel envy or jealousy because both make you feel inadequate. Envy is when you want what someone else has, but jealousy is when you're worried someone's trying to take what you have.”  

~(Copyright © 2013 Vocabulary.com)

Keeping that thought in mind, I came to the conclusion that jealousy has less to do with others and everything to do with me and my own insecurities and feelings of inadequacy.  When we feel like we are lacking and we don’t clearly understand who we are in Christ and what God really thinks of us, it’s easy to be jealous of others and threatened by their strengths and successes.  Not only that, but it gives Satan a huge foothold in our lives that He can grab onto and believe me, if this is an area that you struggle with, He will hold onto it for dear life because of the power it has and the havoc he can wreak there.  He will sow seeds of discontent, deception, discouragement, and longing that can tie us up in knots and keep us distracted from the Truth and the abundant and joy-filled life that God intends us to have.

“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” 

~James 3:17

God’s wisdom gives us an alternative to comparing ourselves to others and what they have.  If we truly understand at a heart level who we are, how deeply and perfectly we are loved, and our identity is found in Him, we can yield to others without feeling threatened or jealous…we can support and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ as they experience successes along the way…and our motives and intentions will remain pure as we seek to serve and follow God’s will for our lives.

My prayer this week is that God will reveal and remove those seeds of insecurity and jealousy in my heart…that He’ll bring to the surface any selfish ambitions that I might be disguising or trying to justify so that I can deal with them.  But I also want to boldly ask Him not just to remove them, but to replace them with His truth and His wisdom…His ways.  He will do that for us…He wants to do that for us!

~Kris Samovitz

A Sanctifying Work

"Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls." ~James 1:17, 18, 21 (NLT)

This is such a beautiful portion of Scripture...the picture of the Father of all lights choosing to give us birth through the implanting of His word in our hearts. Just as He doesn't force us to believe in Him for eternal salvation, He doesn't force us to do what verse 21 says, 

"...humbly accept the living word to do its finishing, sanctifying work in us."

I know, scary word huh?  Being "sanctified" however, has nothing to do with the "holier than thou" portrait that I so quickly conjure up in my head. When we take that humble step of accepting His offer to implant His word in our hearts, it's piercing, fire producing, light encompassing, purifying work that takes place in the darkest crevices of the heart, produces something that cannot be found here on earth. It literally brings heaven to earth with the unmistakable, promised gifts of divine peace, joy, and righteousness.

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

~Romans 14:17 (NIV)

~ Jeri Heintz

God's Promises are Infallible

“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

~Romans 8:37,39~

There is One who never forgets.

Could we be more loved? Did you know that perfect love is shown to us by our Father in heaven? His promises are always true and followed through on. He never forgets. He possesses no weakness. His heart is moved by us. It is not based on our worthiness or performance (“...But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8 ESV). 

There are hundreds of promises in scripture that can address all of our insecurities, trials, and situations. Something I have just begun is a notebook where I keep specific verses that the Lord has used as encouragement to my heart. I simply categorize them under subject headings such as “anxiety”, “anger”, “fear”, etc.. This will help me as I encounter difficulty in my day as a ready reference to what God says about these things. It will help steer my mind to look unto Jesus for my help, to see my emotions and life through his eyes!

These are promises we can stand on! My husband, my children, my friends, my family, my neighbors, my coworkers, and so on will never fail to fail me. Sometimes I will feel unloved because someone didn’t come through on their promise or failed me in a myriad of other ways as we so often do as sinful humans.

My earthly supports are fallible. They are as weak as I am. There is no one that can be right and faithful and always act in loving ways towards me – except for Him; the One who knit me together in my mother’s womb.

From the In Touch ministries website, I have linked to a list of the promises of God under topical references. Just click on the subject and it will give you some excellent encouragement from scripture. Sometimes we just need to remember what we have in Him! What security, power, love and tenderness we can live under!

http://www.intouch.org/you/gods-promises

~ Jaime Scharf

The Blessing of Commitment

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."

~Proverbs 13:12~

This verse reminds me of dating my now husband. I was so sure of what I wanted, but so unsure of what he was thinking. I would easily become anxious when wondering if the growing attachment between us would just end in my brokenness.

So as much as he communicated with me and tried to assure me of his affections, it wasn’t until he asked for my hand in marriage that confidence sprung up in me and I could see the picture of the longing soon to be fulfilled!

As we covenanted before our Lord Jesus and our families to be united as one in marriage, my longing was fulfilled. My marriage with all of its ups and downs has been a “tree of life” to me; a blessing beyond my imaginings. I know it is because the Lord was leading and guiding our relationship from hello until this very moment as I write these words.

I am united with a man of integrity, a man of his word...he is tender with me, he bears with my many weaknesses, he encourages me, he puts aside his own desires that he might please me, and he loves me as Christ loves the church (“husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her” Ephesians 5:25 NIV). My marriage is overflowing with blessing because of the character of my husband.

Our commitments to others, though they may not run as deeply as a marriage vow, are important. They can bless. When we are thoughtful of others and make efforts to come through for them, they feel loved. We can be a light in the lives of those around us and it can be as simple as being consistent and reliable...just being there.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

~Galatians 6:9~

Walk in the strength the Lord provides you through His Spirit that dwells in you. Listen to His promptings and walk forth in faith. Fill yourself up with the water of His Word (the scriptures) and you will overflow blessing to all those around you.

~Jaime Scharf

Breathing Integrity

“Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children…look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.”

~Ephesians 5:1, 5(ESV)~

So, does it really matter? I mean, we are weak, human, and we forget. My family and friends love me, I know I have their forgiveness…

Well, these things may be true, but I was struck this morning by the thought that our ability to follow through on the things we commit to is one way we represent Christ to the world.  If I cannot do what I say I am going to do (in whatever setting...work, home, church, etc.) then how does that look to the rest of the world? My witness of Christ to those who do not believe is then marred.

Not only does it make those I commit to feel unloved, but it surely doesn’t motivate anyone to draw closer to Christ. And He is the most faithful and trustworthy (the only 100%) that there is in life! You cannot be more true than truth itself.

The following is a quote from Glenda Light, who commented on the post from yesterday. I thought it was so perfectly said that it needed to be included in today’s thoughts.

“I have often wondered if what these verses* are suggesting is that my life should be so characterized by integrity, my words so steeped in honesty, my actions so dependable and reliable that my 'yes' and my 'no' carry the weight and import of all that, making the oath unnecessary- that they in themselves, carry the force of an oath or vow, because those around me know that my yes means just that.” ~Glenda Light

*verses: James 5:12 and Matthew 5:33-37 (let your ‘yes’ be yes and ‘no’ be no)

May we all live lives that breathe integrity.

~Jaime Scharf

Making Vows

“If a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”

~Numbers 30:2 (ESV)~

“When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.”

~Ecclesiastes 5:4,5 (NASB)~

We live in a culture that does not take commitment seriously and the church has not gone untouched from the culture. Divorce in the church is as rampant as divorce amongst those who do not hold to Christian values. The typical marriage vows end “until death do us part”, but half of marriages end long before the death of a spouse.

It is not my intention to pick on divorcees, but simply to point out an obvious example of how undervalued our word is in today’s culture.

I remember my mom scolding my sister and I when we would “swear to God” that we were telling the truth.

At the time, I understood we must be doing something wrong, but I don’t recall my mother ever explaining the reasons why we shouldn’t “swear to God” when we were trying to convince each other we were telling the truth. As a child I had little understanding of the holiness of God or the seriousness of making vows to Him.

Jesus even instructed his disciples not to make vows.

“Again, you have heard that the ancients were told ‘ you shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great kind. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be ‘yes, yes’ or ‘no, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.”

~Matthew 5:33-37 (NASB)~

“The principle here is clear for Christians: do not make vows, either to the Lord or to one another. First, we are unable to know for sure whether we will be able to keep vows. The fact that we are prone to the errors in judgment which are part of our fallen nature means that we may make vows foolishly or out of immaturity. Further, we don’t know what the future will bring—only God does. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow (James 4:14), so to make a vow that we will do or not do something is foolish. God is the one in control, not us, and He “works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Knowing this, we can see that it is unnecessary to make vows and that it indicates a lack of trust in Him. Finally, Jesus commands that our word be sufficient without making vows. When we say “yes” or “no,” that’s exactly what we should mean. Adding vows or oaths to our words opens us up to the influence of Satan whose desire is to trap us and compromise our Christian testimony.” (Excerpt from a Q&A on GotQuestions.org)

It is clear that the Lord expects us to be honest, to follow through, and to do as we say we will. It is one thing to start out with good intentions, but the reality of keeping our word can be difficult. That is why it is a good reminder to me to be careful what I commit to; to be realistic. And that is hard.

“But above all my brothers, do not swear either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.”

~James 5:12 (NASB)~

~Jaime Scharf

Week 8: Promise Without Forgetting

This week will be our last week looking at ways to show others love as we look at "promising without forgetting." I can easily think of many instances when I have promised to pray for people, do something, or make a phone call and just plain forgot about it. How does it make you and I feel when we have been forgotten by someone else? Crummy. Let us journey together to see what the Lord will speak into our individual lives this week. Thanks for reading along and commenting on how the Lord is moving in your own lives! There is much to rejoice over!

“But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no.”

~2 Corinthians 1:18 (NASB)~

“I’ll call you!” “Yes, let’s get together!” “I’ll be praying for that…” “Sure, I will get that done.”

There are so many times I have said these things or things like it when in my own weakness, I forget to follow up on them. It is humbling to have to come back and admit my neglect, to ask for forgiveness. And then there are times I just shrink from interaction because I don’t want the discomfort of owning up to my failures.

There are practical things we can all do in order to help us remember the commitments we have made to others, though.

1. “Oh, be careful little tongue what you say…” This is a line taken from a children’s song, but so applicable to everyone. Do I make grandiose promises that I am unable to keep (or that might be difficult to keep)? I can make sure that the things I commit to doing are realistic for me and my schedule. It is better to not make a commitment than to commit and let down those relying on you.
2. Write things down. I try to write down my commitments as soon as possible after I make them. Whether it is as simple as an appointment with a dentist, or something more serious like promising to pray for someone. I keep a calendar with events on it and a journal for prayers. These two things help me keep my word. 
3. If I commit to praying for someone, it not only goes in a prayer journal, but I try to pray right when the request comes to me so I know I have at least prayed once. It is an immediate follow through.
4. Set an alarm or reminder. I do this particularly if I have a child in time-out. There is one of my children I would forget otherwise. My other child won’t let me forget he is in a time-out I also set reminders on my phone if I have a day full of commitments or errands. 

What are some things you do that help you remember to follow through on your commitments to others?

~Jaime Scharf

Keeping Score

Yesterday, we talked about forgiveness being an act of obedience and how God comes alongside us when we choose to take that step. Today, we’re going to go a step further. If you notice the title of this week, “It’s forgive….without punishing.”

So what does that really mean? The dictionary definition of the word “punish” is:

“To inflict a penalty or sanction on (someone) as retribution for an offense.”

For lack of a better explanation…it’s making someone pay for their offense. Ouch! I can honestly say I’ve been super guilty of this one. I may have “forgiven” someone, but I certainly didn’t forget, and how often have I claimed to have forgiven someone and gone forward in the relationship and then brought up the past again and waved it in their face the next time they have made a mistake or I have been hurt? How often in our marriages, have we forgiven our spouse of an offense, but then the next time they slip up, we bring up every time they have wounded us in that way going back to our dating days and what their mother said to us, and all the ways we’ve felt unsupported over the however many years of marriage, and…well, you get the point.

A desire for justice…for wrongs to be made right…it’s part of our human nature…it’s built into us. We want those who hurt others to pay some sort of penance…to have some sort of retribution for the things they have done. We often want them to feel and understand the hurt that we have experienced at their hands…we want to be heard and have our feelings validated…not just a blanket “I understand” and apology…we really want them to know what we have experienced in order for them to fully understand what they are apologizing for and the weight their actions or choices carried out in our lives. Right?

That begs the question…if we’re holding onto those offenses, aren’t we in a sense keeping score? And if we are, and we can quickly bring them up again at a moment’s notice, have we really forgiven them or have we just somewhat made amends until the next time we are wounded and then come at them with ammunition and a checklist of their indiscretions in tow?

So…here’s the thing. What if God did that with us? What if every time we made a mistake or grieved God’s heart with our choices or lack of obedience, He came to us with a clipboard and went down the list of all the ways we have disappointed Him and how yet again, we had screwed up and He had to add yet another thing to the list?

Fortunately, our God is not a God of condemnation (Romans 8:1). He is the perfect model of forgiveness and grace. He doesn’t keep score of our failures…He doesn’t keep a running tally of our mistakes to beat us over the head with each time we come to Him with yet another thing we must confess. But more than that…He meets us in those moments with His arms open wide…with unconditional love and He extends His favor to us instead of the wrath and judgment that we deserve (grace) (Romans 3:20-24).

Grace and forgiveness is not a one-time event in the lives of Christians. (Luke 17:3-4) They are both on-going and extended over and over and over again. And, just as we have experienced them freely and as a gift from our Heavenly Father, He tells us to then extend them freely and as the same gift to others (Luke 6:36). We can do that by praying for those that sin against us…that God will work in their hearts and lives and then choosing to leave that at the foot of the cross for HIM to judge and work out (Luke 6:37). We can try to understand where the other person is coming from and what events and wounds they may be experiencing or have experienced that have created their perspective/frame of reference. Sometimes that helps us to extend a little more patience and understanding…grace (Colossians 3:12-13).

When God forgives us, our sins (transgressions) are removed…forever…never to be brought up again…never to be used as ammunition against us or to punish us with…they have been paid for and are gone…forever. (Psalm 103:12) And as we choose to draw closer to Him and to walk in obedience and extend this to others, He will help us and give us the grace and love we need (Hebrews 4:16) that we may not have on our own. Again…forgiveness is not a feeling…it’s a choice, and it’s one that God calls us to make regardless of how we feel or the difficulty. But He will always make a way for us to do everything that He asks us to…even when we don’t see it or feel it (Isaiah 43:19.)

It's not easy...and I certainly don't have it all figured out.  It IS a process and one that I'm continually walking through these days.  But I know that God is trustworthy and that He wants the best for me...and He wouldn't ask me to do anything that would harm me.  Does he ask us to step out of our comfort zones and take a leap of faith?  Absolutely!!  And not once, when I have done that, have I ever been disappointed or regretted it!  If this is an area you're struggling in, know that you're not alone in it...know that God loves you...He sees you...and He has a plan for you that will blow your mind if you will trust Him and step out in faith and obedience.  He's waiting with His arms open wide!

~Kris Samovitz

A Decision to Obey

“Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it’s personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, ‘I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,’ forgive him.” 

~Luke 17:3-4

I have to admit…this is a really hard topic for me. As I was sitting here, trying to think of something profound that I might offer, I found myself getting more and more frustrated and drawing a blank. But, I did notice something. This particular passage of scripture doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room…we can’t really get around it.

I think sometimes when we’re in the middle of a situation where we’ve been wounded and often times wounded multiple times by the same person/people, our response is to just walk away and be done. We know that we’re called to forgive, but sometimes it can just seem like too much. We can make a case for ourselves…I forgave them the first time and then they did it again, so I’m done with them. We hear statements like, “Fool me once, shame on you…fool me twice, shame on me.”

But the truth is that God has called us to forgive over and over…it’s a process that doesn’t stop. And when I think about how often I have wounded God and how many times He has forgiven me and that it will undoubtedly be a never-ending process, it causes me to pause.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean that we won’t be hurt again…it doesn’t mean that what has been done to us was okay…and it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t put safeguards in place to guard our hearts going forward.

But at the end of the day, the choice NOT to forgive can easily lead us down a road toward bitterness and more often than not, it ends up harming us far beyond the initial wound that we received.

Scripture is pretty clear…

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” 

~Ephesians 4:32

Forgiveness IS a choice…if it was simply a feeling, chances are a whole lot of the forgiveness that I have both received and extended probably wouldn’t have taken place, and I’m sure you could say the same thing. But then there are those times when we've been more deeply wounded...and we're so hurt that forgiveness is just beyond any feeling that we are capable of grasping. So then what?

I believe that there are times that God is waiting for our decision to step out in obedience…then He comes along beside us to teach us something about Himself or our ourselves and He begins to work in our hearts…eventually the feelings of forgiveness and grace come, but it’s about the act of obedience to what He is asking us to do. What I do know is that when we choose obedience, despite the obstacles or our feelings, God shows up every time and He always honors and blesses it. AND…when I have chosen not to obey, I have missed out on some blessings and opportunities that He had for me.

Why choose forgiveness? It’s a pretty simple answer…because God tells us we need to. And when we do, He will walk through that with us…we aren’t left on our own to navigate that path. He’ll love us through it and help us to work through all that troubles our hearts.

How have you seen God show up or honor an act of obedience, even if it was difficult to choose in the beginning? On the flip side, how have you seen unforgiveness or disobedience in general play out?

~Kris Samovitz

Week Seven: Forgive Without Punishing

Over the last several weeks, we’ve touched on a number of topics including the power of our words, choosing joy over complaint, and last week we talked about trust.  It struck me that regardless of who was leading each week, and what the topic was about, every single week, the point was made that as we spend more time with God, we grow and continue to develop in each of these areas…He begins to instill more of a desire to do things His way and we’re more tuned in to what He’s asking of us and how He wants to help us as we seek Him.  It’s an amazing privilege to be able to seek God out and spend time with Him and I love that He has a specific journey mapped out for each one of us and He’s ready and waiting for us to join Him on the path.

Forgiveness, like many of the other topics we have looked at, can be a challenging area in our lives.  But as we experience God’s forgiveness and grace in our lives and spend more and more time with Him, we can’t help but be changed and forgiveness does become easier.

Here’s what I know about forgiveness…

• It is a choice.  It’s a decision…not a feeling and it most certainly does not always come easily.
• Forgiveness results in freedom and joy...freedom from hurt, bitterness, anger…all that holds us captive and replaces it with His joy and love.
• God tells us to forgive and makes a way for us to do so.
• It is always in our best interest to choose to forgive.

We’re going to take a closer look at all of these things this week.  As we launch into this subject, what are your initial thoughts?  Are there any fears or anxieties you feel when the word forgiveness is mentioned?

Forgiveness is not always the easy choice, but we need to choose it out of obedience to our Father and when we do so, we will experience the amazing reward of true freedom and God will honor it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIbCpy0CQEo

~Kris Samovitz

What Does "Trusting God" Mean?

So, how are you doing this week ladies? Talking about trust can bring up a lot of anxiety for some of us...especially if we have been deeply wounded by people who were supposed to be safe in our lives. I wanted to share this with you today, while keeping in mind that we are all works in progress. As I mentioned yesterday, this is a process. The more we see God at work in our lives and experience Him delivering us safely to the other side of various circumstances and seasons, the more our trust will build and grow. At the same time, the more we experience and understand how much He truly loves us, the more likely we are to trust Him further and take steps to allow Him into those deeper parts of our hearts.

If this is an area that is especially challenging for you, don't get discouraged and don't give up! He IS worthy of our trust and we can safely expose our hearts to Him...and the amazing thing in my experience, is that He will take the time to walk slowly with us as we navigate what can be a scary road...He is patient and gracious and He doesn't tire out or give up on us. And as we learn to trust Him deeper, we can help others along the way and love on them and extend them grace and patience because of what He has extended to us. Love you my sisters and praying that each one of you has an amazing day and experiences His love and grace for you in a new way today!

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose."

~Romans 8:28

"Trust is not one of my strong suits. 

I could try to blame my struggle on not knowing enough trustworthy people, but I know the problem is rooted in me . . . in my desire to protect myself and in my fear of getting hurt or let down. I know that not trusting others is one of my defense mechanisms. Whenever I’m faced with an issue requiring trust, I skip right over it and jump into evaluation mode. I think to myself, “If I can gain a comprehensive knowledge of the problem, perhaps I’ll master it and escape trusting altogether.” (Sounds like a guy named Gideon, doesn’t it?)  

My issue with trust isn’t new; my attempts to grow in this area aren’t new either. I’ve studied the word trust thoroughly, but my studies didn’t make me feel much better about trusting. I discovered that trust is about having tremendous confidence in someone or something, depending on someone or something for help. A lovely thought but not very encouraging. I also learned that real trust assumes that the one whom we trust demonstrates a fortified character of honesty, fairness, truthfulness, justice, morality, ethics, and consistency. By this time, if you’re like me, you’re thinking, “There’s no way! No one and nothing is that trustworthy!”  

Here’s the conflict: Scripture says that there absolutely is someone that trustworthy. God’s Word calls us to trust in our heavenly Father without reservation, believing that He will sustain us and cause all things to work for our good (Romans 8:28).  

My defense mechanism of not trusting others completely backfired when it came to God. You see, there is no stronger defense than Him. He is the answer to my struggle with trust—when I follow His call to trust, I discover that His character is fortified with honesty, fairness, faithfulness, truthfulness, and justice. He is the ultimate example of one who is moral, ethical, and consistent. He is unfaltering. He is dependable. Each time I trust Him, this truth settles deeper in my heart and my struggle with trusting grows less. 

May I say today, I have learned that there is absolute freedom, joy, rest, and peace in trusting the sovereign, faithful Lord. I want you to know this freedom, joy, rest, and peace for yourself.  

If I can trust God, I bet you can do it too. Come on, take the leap!" 

~Colleen Swindoll Thompson, Insight For Living

http://www.insight.org/library/articles/special-needs/what-does-trusting-god.html

Falling For Him

(I encourage you to take a minute and watch this video before you read any farther this morning.  It's just a couple minutes long.)

"Trust Fall"

By Onetimeblind

http://skitguys.com/videos/item/trust-fall

This video is very humbling for me because it’s an accurate picture and representation of how I have trusted God over the years. He asks me to do something…I question whether or not He really knows what He’s doing…if He’s really got me. So He shows me again…reassures my heart of who He is and I obey. BUT…then He asks me to step into a deeper level of trust…perhaps one where I don’t see the potential outcome…where I have to blindly follow Him and truly TRUST Him…that He sees me and sees my circumstances…I have to trust that He KNOWS everything that is going on and all of the obstacles in the way…that He gets all of the adversity and that there is nothing hidden from His sight. I have to focus my eyes completely on Him and just fall, not knowing how He will catch me or how things will play out. THAT is trust and it goes against our human nature…our need for control and our desire for everything to be spelled out ahead of time.

“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith…”

~Hebrews 11:8

“To trust where we cannot trace God is the ultimate test of our willingness to follow Him. There are times in every believer's life when God requires him to step out into the unknown--to take a leap of faith--to go out on a limb. These occasions almost always defy our ability to reason and to make sense of it all.
Abraham faced a similar predicament when he was commanded by God to go to a foreign country leaving behind all the securities and familiarity his homeland had offered. Hebrews 11:8 records that "By faith Abraham . . . obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." And later he was commended by God for His unswerving faith despite the overwhelming obstacles that he faced. Reverend Charles Inwood wrote that "When God is going to do something wonderful, he begins with a difficulty." . . . When he is going to do something miraculous, "He begins with an impossibility." God loves to defy odds, accomplish the impossible, operate in the supernatural, and amaze us with His creativity and power. We serve a big God---not one that is confined and limited to our understanding and our ability to figure out His ways. A God so awesome, and so infinitely capable of accomplishing His will in our lives, deserves our trust and obedience. If He could create the world in 6 short days, He can certainly figure out how to work out the details of your life and order your steps appropriately.” (http://www.knowjesus.com/Dev_trust.shtml)

So, where does this find you this morning? I have a pretty tough question to ask, and I encourage you to take some time to really think about it before you answer.

Are you trusting Him only with the things that you can predict the outcome of or are you truly choosing to TRUST Him with the things you cannot see…with the hard things that you cannot answer? Are you looking forward, focusing your eyes on Him, and falling backwards, trusting that He’s got you?

~Kris Samovitz

Who's Got You Covered?

A couple of you touched on the subject of dependence on God yesterday, which is awesome as it’s what we’re going to talk about today.

It seems like society in general wants us to be self-sufficient and dependent on no one but ourselves.  I don’t know about you, but left to my own devices, history has proven that I’m not that competent!  LOL  Don’t get me wrong…I’m all for taking personal responsibility and taking the initiative to be an independent and productive member of society.  But, I’d much rather do it according to God’s plan for my life than anything I can come up with on my own.

When I have done it on my own, it’s involved a lot more pain and discomfort than when I have depended on Him and what I have found along the way, is that He has made a provision for every obstacle or issue I have encountered or can come up with.

Check this out, just to name a few:  And btw, I know the list is long, but it’s also just scratching the surface, and that’s kind of the point.  We can trust and depend on Him for everything…He’s got it all covered.  There’s nothing we can throw at God that He can’t handle.  I know that’s not true about myself.  So, I guess the question this morning is who is more dependable?  I know that God’s never ever let me down or failed me.  I, on the other hand, have had more failures than I care to recount.

• Anxiety -  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  ~Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) 

• Defeat – “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair ...” ~2 Corinthians 4:8 (NIV)

• Doubt – “I tell you the truth, 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.” ~Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

• Failure – “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.”  ~Proverbs 24:16 (NLT)

• Fear – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” ~2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) 

• Grief – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” ~Psalm 23 (NIV)

• Impossibilities – “Jesus replied, ‘What is impossible with men is possible with God.’"  ~Luke 18:27 (NIV) 

• Inability – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” ~ 2 Corinthians 9:8(NIV)

• Inadequacy – “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”  ~Philippians 4:13(NIV) 

• Lacking Direction – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” ~Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) 

• Lacking Intelligence - “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” ~James 1:5 (NIV)

• Lacking Wisdom – “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” ~1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV) 

• Loneliness – “... the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” ~Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) 

• Mourning – “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”  ~Matthew 5:4 (NIV)

• Rejection – “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  ~Romans 8:39 (NIV)

• Sorrow – “I will turn their mourning into joy and will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow.” ~Jeremiah 31:13 (NASB)

• Temptation – “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” ~1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) 

• Tiredness – “... but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” ~Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

• Unforgiveness – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” ~1 John 1:9 (NIV) 

• Feeling Unloved – “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” ~1 John 3:1 (NLT)

• Weakness – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  ~2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

• Weariness – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ~Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

• Worry – “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”  ~1 Peter 5:7(NLT) 

(List taken from http://christianity.about.com/od/prayersverses/qt/faithbibleverse.htm)

~Kris Samovitz

Week Six: Trust Without Wavering

“I want this year to be different.”    “This year I really mean it, God.”    “I just need peace in my life.”    “I’m going to set some goals.”    “I’m going to do things Your way.”

Sound familiar?

The beginning of a new year brings about a fresh start…a chance to make some changes and do things differently…a chance to again, recommit our hearts to God and do things His way. I mean, we know that God wants the best for us, right? Then why is it that we don’t seem to want the best for ourselves? We say we trust God, but then we often do our own thing. Anyone else relate?

I know that January for me, starts a list of all of the things I want to focus on in my walk with Him…all the ways that I want to do life better…to be a better wife…a better mom…a better friend…to grow in my walk with God…to do things the way He wants me to do them. But many times, I end up over-riding His plan and implementing my own, which most of the time takes me down a bumpy road and ends up pretty messy.

Why is that anyways? Why is it that even when I know His ways are higher and better, and I know He has a plan and my best interests at heart, I still end up relying on my own strength…on my own plans, over and over and over?

I believe that it’s because of one simple word…TRUST.

Sure, we can say that we trust God…I say it all the time and I actually believe I mean it…but, do our actions really reflect that? Do we really TRUST Him in the heat of the moment? In the daily grind? When we have to make big decisions with big ramifications? Or do we take things into our own hands?

“The word ‘trust’ in the Bible, literally means ‘a bold, confident, sure security or action based on that security.’ Trust is not exactly the same as faith, which is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). It’s what we do as a result of the faith we have been given…it’s believing in the promises of God in all circumstances, even in those where the evidence seems to be to the contrary.” ~Kenny Luck

That’s our topic for this week…Trusting without wavering. The Bible is pretty clear:

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!” 

~ Proverbs 3:5-7

In my own life, I struggle with trust issues in general, let alone in my relationship with God, which is part of why I chose this topic to study. But, I do want to do things differently, and this year, my one and only “resolution” if you will, is to grow in the areas of trusting God and understanding who He is at a much deeper level. It's really the foundation of everything else. How much we trust God is reflected in how we live...how we handle situations and circumstances...how we function in relationships...and how vulnerable we are willing to be in our relationships not only with others, but most importantly with God.

So, where do you find yourself as far as trusting God on a scale of 1-10? When problems arise and chaos ensues, do you find that you are more likely to run to Him or to take things into your own hands? What about when life is calm? Do you depend more on yourself and “save” God for the big stuff or do you find it easier to trust Him when there aren't crises to deal with?

~Kris Samovitz

Wrapping Up Week 5

“But let us not lose heart in doing good; for in due time, if we do not faint, we shall reap.”

~Galatians 6:9 

So how was your week? Were you able to guard you mouth and tame your tongue? I know I struggled and so I have a jar with some money to give away. But it was a good exercise for me to pay attention to what was coming out of my mouth. I hope those of you that joined in the challenge were able to find some benefit in it.

Our precious Father, the One who loves us beyond all imaginings; the One who breathed the worlds into existence and holds them together with His Word soften our hearts to your will and direction for us. We are so weak and appreciate that you understand these things. Forgive us for wallowing in self-pity so often and complaining to others around us before we even seek your face. Help us to search out the causes for our complaint in light of You and Your truth; to take our cares and troubles to you first before seeking the counsel of men. We ask for wise counsel from godly people in our lives that we might be like iron sharpening iron. We praise you for your faithfulness to us and for the gift of a redeemed life through your Son Jesus. It is in His name that we ask these things, Amen.

For additional study on this subject I included a link to a study page online.

http://www.village.nobleford.ab.ca/community/Postings/ConqueringComplaining/index.html

And just for fun, I thought I’d post a video that was humorous to end our discussion with. I really like the taped balloon on the nose…

http://skitguys.com/blog/post/be-thankful-you-have-more-than-you-deserve

~Jaime Scharf

Silence Allows Listening

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." 

~Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

I found these words to be pertinent to what we have been delving into this week and thought I would share them.

"Silence should be the default mode of your tongue. This is your second-best strategy [prayer being first]. Practice self-discipline. Take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ Jesus. Your mind can produce plenty of material for your tongue to execute at just the right moment. James 3:5 reads "So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!" When your tongue is silent your ears can listen. Listening will bring greater understanding." 

~Jeannie Gerhardt