Pat's View: Inspirational stories

Spoiler alert.

I’ve always been a play by the rules kinda girl! I don’t generally break the rules, but since it’s only a people rule, I had to do it! I read the back of the book-first!

I’m being silly. But seriously, I found a victory strategy in the last book of the Bible that I just have to share. It’s found in John’s Revelation of Jesus Christ that was given to him on the Isle of Patmos.

I found a Victory Strategy

Revelation 12:11

They have conquered him

by the blood of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony.

And they did not love their lives

so as to shy away from death.

Here’s a quick snapshot of committed believers that were distinguish by the description “they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death…. Wow! they loved God more than their lives… their reputations… their possessions.

A loud voice announced that they conquered the devil by the blood of the Lamb AND…I can’t pass the reality of these words without pausing…the reality of His Love…the reality that Jesus gave His life for you and me….

He gave His very life blood to give you…

Redemption

1 Peter 1:18, 19 BSB For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

Remember the victory strategy includes the word of our testimony.

Word is also translated utterance, message, statement, speech; there is no doubt it means spoken word here. The word used here for testimony is a legal term.

And our testimony is that we have been redeemed from the curse of the law! Galatians 3:13

Galatians 3:14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Be cleansed from all sin

1 John 1:7 BSB But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

And our testimony is Lord I choose to walk in the light of your Word! I thank you that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. All sin…ALL SIN! Thank you, Father! I cannot cleanse myself. Yet, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin!!

Confidence

Hebrews 10:19 BSB Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,

And our testimony is we praise you that because of the blood of Jesus we can come boldly (KJV) into the Most Holy Place…into your Presence.

His Presence! His Presence is so wonderful. We don’t come into His Presence fearful. We come into His Presence where we are welcomed and cherished and wanted.

Please, please realize.

There may be places that you are not welcomed, but His Presence is not one of those places!!! He made you to have fellowship with Him. He made you because He wanted you to be in His family!

Hebrews 3:1 King James Bible Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

The word translated profession here is also translated confession. It simply means to agree with what God says. Dear friend, if we set our heart to believe what we see, nothing is going to change in our life. But if we set our hearts and eyes on the Word of God we can have what the Word promises. That’s why we need to discover what Jesus purchased for us.

If He is the High Priest of our profession, we need to be saying what God says! If you say nothing, then don’t be surprised if you are not receiving what God has for you!

It’s important for us to realize that what God showed John in Revelation 12:11 is a 2 fold strategy for sold out believers that want to defeat the enemy! The blood of Jesus is powerful. Jesus made it possible for us to win over sin and defeat the enemy, but we must understand we access His power through faith and prayer.

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A Desperate Journey of Faith

Have you ever felt an urgency in your heart, an almost desperate need to take your concerns to Jesus? Maybe you’ve thought, If only Jesus were here… If that resonates with you, you're not alone. The story of a nobleman in the Bible paints a vivid picture of a father’s determination to reach Jesus and to heal his son. This story is more than just a miracle; it's a powerful message of faith and prayer strategies that can help us.

A Nobleman’s Plea for Help

This nobleman, living in Capernaum, heard about the miracles Jesus performed at Passover and felt a spark of hope ignite within him. He hurried 20 miles to Cana, where Jesus was, longing for a miracle. It’s not hard to picture him, a man of stature and status, walking with purpose and desperation in every step. When he found Jesus, he urgently pleaded, “Please, come with me to heal my son!”

48Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.”

The nobleman remained undaunted, repeated his plea.

Faith in Jesus’ Word

Rather than going with the nobleman, Jesus simply said, “Go your way; your son lives.”

And the nobleman believed Jesus’s words.

This is remarkable because the nobleman didn’t argue or demand proof. He believed Jesus’ words and started the journey back home. On his way, his servants met him, saying, “Your son is getting better.” And when they compared times, the nobleman knew without a doubt that his son’s healing happened at the exact moment Jesus spoke those words.

A Greater Miracle than Healing

But the story doesn’t end there. The nobleman and his entire household came to believe in Jesus. This wasn’t just faith in healing but faith in Jesus as the Messiah. The miracle was a sign that pointed to something greater—Jesus’ divine identity. The nobleman’s journey began with seeking physical healing, but it led to spiritual transformation for himself and his whole family.

Signs that Build Faith

John, intentionally shared this story to show us that faith is crucial. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” This nobleman’s story challenges us to build our faith by immersing ourselves in God’s Word and trusting in His promises.

The Power of Jesus’ Word

It’s significant to note that Jesus wasn’t physically present at the nobleman’s home when the healing occurred. It was Jesus’ spoken word that brought healing from a distance. Psalm 107:20 says, “He sent His word and healed them.” This is a powerful reminder that we can hold onto God’s promises today. Even though Jesus isn’t physically with us, His Spirit is still present, and His Word remains powerful to heal and restore.

Miracles Still Happen Today

The nobleman’s story also reminds us that God performs miracles not just to meet our needs but to draw people to Himself. He uses signs and wonders to reveal His love and power, as seen in countless testimonies of people finding faith through divine intervention. One such story is of a man in Guyana, who was a Buddhist priest. During a critical illness, he saw a vision of his gods and Jesus standing at the foot of his bed. When Jesus reached out and touched him, healing power surged through his body, and he came to believe in the one true God. Miracles like these continue to testify of God’s unchanging power and love.

Holding Onto Faith During Gradual Healings

Sometimes, God’s healing is immediate, but other times, it’s gradual. The nobleman’s son began to improve, and by the time his father returned home, he was completely well. This teaches us that we must continue to stand firm in faith, even when the manifestation of healing takes time. The enemy may try to bring doubt, but God’s promises are unshakable.

Invitation to Believe

The story of the nobleman and his son is a powerful reminder that faith in Jesus goes beyond the miracles we seek; it leads us into a deeper relationship with the Savior. If you’re facing challenges or praying for a miracle, I encourage you to hold onto God’s Word and believe in His promises. Believe God’s Word. Trust that the same Jesus who healed and restored in the past is still at work in your life.

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Do the things you are seeing and hearing around you break your heart? Not just for your needs, but other's needs, the prodigals, the hurricane victims, and what about the elections? I believe God is calling every believer to care and pray. We are called to intercede... to stand in the gap.

Let me share why I believe every born-again believer should be an intercessor. We live in a time where prayer isn’t just encouraged—it’s essential. Let’s dive into the Word of God and see how Scripture calls us to stand in the gap for those in authority and the world around us.

The Biblical Call to Intercede

In 1 Timothy 2:1, Paul urges us to offer petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone, especially for kings and those in authority. Why? So that we may live peaceful and godly lives in dignity. Prayer has a powerful effect, not only on our lives but also on our communities and nations. Throughout history, when Israel had godly leaders, the people followed in righteousness, and the reverse was also true when the leaders strayed from God's ways.

The Importance of Leaders

With the state of the world today—elections approaching, natural disasters like Hurricane Helena, and unrest everywhere—it’s clear that we have many reasons to pray for our leaders. When we pray, we invite God to intervene in these situations, aligning them with His will. It's time for us, the church, to rise up and get on our knees in prayer.

Spiritual Strength, Not Physical

Just like the image given in Isaiah 37 and 2 Kings 19, there’s a feeling that people are weary. It’s like a mother ready to give birth, but lacking the strength to deliver. While many of us may be physically strong, our spiritual strength is what’s lacking. And this is concerning. It’s time for the church to wake up and become spiritually strong through prayer.

Don’t Misinterpret God’s Control

We often hear the phrase, "God is in control." While this is absolutely true, it is not an excuse to relax and do nothing. God invites us to partner with Him, and one of the most powerful ways we can do that is through prayer. Jesus was a man of prayer. He also taught His disciples to pray, saying, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

It’s Time to Pray with Purpose

Jesus didn't teach us to pray simply as a formality. He showed us that our prayers play a role in bringing God's will to pass here on earth. Yet many Christians today don’t pray, assuming that whatever happens is God's will. This is a dangerous mindset. It’s time to sound the alarm! We must rise up as the church and pray the promises of God over our lives, our leaders, and our nation.

The Power of God’s Promises

Prayer is more than just words—it’s aligning our hearts with God's promises. Just as a baby develops over nine months in the womb, there’s a gestation period for the promises of God. We must take hold of His promises, meditate on them, and pray them through relentlessly until they come to pass. As believers, we have the authority to use the name of Jesus and the Word of God in our prayers. We can boldly approach God's throne, trusting that if He gave us His Son, He will surely hear and answer our prayers.

Join the Prayer Movement

There’s a significant event happening on October 12th A Million Women – An Esther Call on the Mall in Washington, D.C. (It's not just for women!) It's a day of fasting and intercession for our nation, leaders, and prodigals. If you can’t attend, you can still participate by setting aside time to pray, fast, and intercede. Let’s humble ourselves before God, praying for revival in our churches, families, and nation.

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I believe that Precious Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth guides us into all truth!

I believe that because …we have a wonderful promise in John 16:13 says, “However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.”

Before I take you to what God is dealing with my heart about, I’d like to be your travel guide on a little rabbit trail. Don’t worry—ill get you back safely!

I’m blessed to live in Florida, a state that’s known for its beautiful beaches, sunny weather, and endless fun activities. It seems like everyone wants to move here!

Most of you are too young to know this, but in mid-1950s through 1971, if you were looking for a place to vacation in Florida, your travel guide would probably have pointed you to the famous Orange Blossom Trail. Among its attractions were The Singing Tower, Cypress Gardens, and Masterpiece Gardens.

Masterpiece Gardens: A Popular Florida Gem Masterpiece Gardens was a gorgeous 38-acre showcase of towering, moss-covered oak trees and vibrant semi-tropical plants nestled along a peaceful river. It was a place where you could feed deer, watch alligators, and even enjoy a sky ride. But the real draw, the masterpiece itself, was its namesake—a breathtaking work of art that people from all over traveled to see. And believe me, it was worth the trip!

Wayne and I were at Masterpiece Gardens recently when a couple approached us, excited to see the masterpiece they remembered from their childhood. They’d taken a detour off the main highway, driving down winding back roads, eager to relive their memories. Unfortunately, we had to break the news: the masterpiece was no longer there.

The Mosaic Masterpiece: A Work of Art and Faith Curiosity got the best of me, so I did a little research. I want to tell you what I discovered and show you the real MasterPEACE.

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Have you ever felt like trusting God is a struggle? You’re not alone. I’ve been there too, wondering why things aren’t unfolding the way I expect them to, and sometimes, fear creeps in.

King Asa’s Bold Faith in God

There are moments when we want to trust, but it just feels so hard. This reminds me of the story of King Asa in Second Chronicles 15. Let me set the stage for you.

Build your faith by hearing, reading and meditating on Scripture. It is so important to trust Him because there are so many benefits!

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Do you ever find yourself hesitating to pray for someone's healing, wondering, “What if they don’t get healed?” It’s a common concern, but let’s flip the script. Instead, ask yourself, “What if they do get healed?” We don’t stop sharing our faith even though not everyone we witness to gets saved. In the same way, we shouldn’t let doubt hold us back from praying for healing.

I want to build your faith and confidence by digging deeper into Isaiah 53:5, connect it with 1 Peter 2:24, show you the why in Matthew 8: 16,17. A close look any of these 3 verses wouldn't be complete without taking you to Jehovah Rapha! Some of you pray through the redemptive names of God, so you're going to love this! It's a lot to cover, but it's worth the trip. I get pretty excited in this teaching! I strongly suggest that you listen or watch the audio or the video for this one!!!

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I am so thankful for the many times that I and my family have experienced biblical healing! I've been digging in God's Word and testimonies of modern-day healings, lately. That study has built my faith to see God's power demonstrated. In this post I want to share an inspiring story of a man that was healed because there is power in the name of Jesus.

Smith Wigglesworth: A Vessel of Miracles

God used Smith Wigglesworth in powerful ways to heal the sick. The miracles he witnessed were truly amazing. Whenever I picked up a book of his sermons, I was captivated from the very first page. One story, in particular, touched my heart deeply. It was the story of a church leader who had fallen gravely ill. I share that story in this podcast, but I also want to talk about other ways that people are healed biblically. I pray that your faith will be stirred to pray for healing and that you will experience physical or emotional as well.

#biblicalhealing #healingbyfaith #prayerforthesick

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I have some great news for you.

You can memorize God's Word even if you are horrible at memorization.

I've struggled to memorize things, my whole life, however, it doesn't have to stop me from memorizing Scripture. Although it has been one of my excuses for not memorizing Bible verses. I'm discovering that I can't afford to miss the wonderful benefits that come from memorizing Scripture. Check out my website at https:///patriciaholland.org for more inspirational posts.

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Do you want more? I've got lots of inspiring stories at patriciaholland.org

What do you do when you are facing difficult circumstances? How do you deal with hard places? I want to answer that question by begining with a look at an aurora borealis. Might sound strange, but I think you'll enjoy the stop when you understand the back story. Would you like to be strong in the Lord? You can be! And I'd like to encourage you on that journey! I'd like to give you send my free ebook "Stronger". All I need is your email address and I'll get that book and a weekly encouraging note off to you right away! Here's the link: https://patriciaholland.org/ Read More

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Do you want more? I've got lots of inspiring stories at patriciaholland.org

Would you like to be strong in the Lord? You can be! And I'd like to encourage you on that journey! I'd like to give you send my free ebook "Stronger". All I need is your email address and I'll get that book and a weekly encouraging note off to you right away! Here's the link: https://patriciaholland.org/

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Don’t Underestimate the Power of Communion

Do you ever feel too forgetful? That's a terrible question. Don't answer it! Let me tell you how my mom solved that question for me.

I was so afraid that I would forget! When I complained to my mother, she sent me to the closet to get some ribbon. When I brought it back, she cut a piece and handed it to me with the instruction, “Tie it around your finger. Now you will remember! because every time you see the ribbon you’ll be reminded that Mildred has a birthday party at 3:00 on Saturday.”

My mother, was right.

I remembered. I didn’t let her forget either because I needed her to take me to the party.

The Israelites NEEDED to REMEMBER God knows how forgetful we can be. Just like my mom God had a strategy to help them remember.

God was going to deliver His people from slavery. In Exodus 12 God laid out His strategy that would lead to their deliverance.

God’s final plague was about to be released. The precious heir, the oldest son in every family would die throughout Egypt. Even the animals were included in this horrendous plague.

God assigned the Israelites a duty that would ensure His protection and exemption from the plague.

God told them to… Kill a lamb. Take the blood. Paint the doorposts, top and sides! You will be safe in the midst of the plague.

This plague was the pivotal event that freed them from slavery. It would change their identity and distinguish them as God’s chosen people.

They needed to REMEMBER God’s faithfulness. So, before the plague ever happened, God told Moses and Aaron so you won’t forget, you must celebrate this miracle every year.

God had the annual celebration of Passover all planned before it even happened! A celebration that at its innermost core was a memorial to the goodness and faithfulness of God.

God had a covenant with these people, with this nation.

Hundreds of years later. It was at a Passover celebration that we spot the perfect lamb…the lamb of God, Jesus. He was about to fulfill the plan of God. He was about to do what no animal sacrifice could ever do. He was about to pay the full price of sin.

He was going to do more than redeem a nation. Jesus came to be the Savior of the World. He was about to make a way that anyone and everyone could be forgiven, cleansed from all sin and born into God’s family. A sense of belonging that would help them experience a new identity. A relationship with God. Peace. Love. Joy.

A new covenant. And like God declared “Remember” at the Passover in Egypt, Jesus, knowing that He was about to pay the ultimate price, said “Remember”.

This is important…it wasn’t what they expected to hear.

Jesus was telling them, “From now on, when you celebrate this event…I want you to remember me!”

Me?

What?

This was the Passover. They were to remember how God saved Israel from death and delivered them from bondage. Israel’s deliverance from Egypt was a prophetic picture of what Jesus would do at the cross for anyone that would believe on Him.

We know the saying…”Out of sight. Out of mind.” Jesus was leaving them. Before He died, He set in place a memorial, a celebration to remember Jesus!

Let me show you what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11. 23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread,

24and when He had given thanks,

He broke it and said,

(Sorry to interrupt. Jesus knew what was about to happen to Him. Did it show in His voice? Did He speak slowly for impact? Did He stop at the end of each phrase so the gravity of what He was saying could sink into their hearts? OK. Here’s what He said.)

“This is My body,

which is for you;

do this in remembrance

of Me.”

25In the same way,

after supper He took the cup, saying,

“This cup is the new covenant

in My blood;

do this,

as often as you drink it,

in remembrance of Me.”

The New Covenant Berean Standard Bible 1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”

Forgiveness. Redemption. New Birth. Peace. Healing. Wholeness. Body. Soul. Spirit. Through Jesus!

One more thought. We call it communion at my church.

It’s not snack time. It’s more than a symbol.

While the activity is symbolic, it is so much more than a symbol that calls us to remember the past.

Yes, remember, REMEMBER what He did so you can walk in newness of life right now-today. So, you can experience His love, grace, peace and power.

An invitation to come close, to experience a deep level of spiritual fellowship.

Do we do that? Do we even really understand what that means?

Sunday’s communion stirred something in my heart. I want to know what it is to really commune, fellowship, experience Him at a deeper level.

He also gave a prophetic promise. He won’t drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes!

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Check out my website at https:///patriciaholland.org for more inspirational posts.

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The war was over and Corrie ten boom was back in Germany. She was there to speak to some young people about the riches that we have in Christ Jesus. I wish there was a recording of that teaching!

In her book of stories called “Amazing Love”, she explains that although Germans are very reserved, she invited her audience to stay for a discussion after the meeting.

It took a lot of courage for seven young people to stay. One of them spoke up and said, I'm an atheist. You do what you do with Jesus. I do it without Him, and I do it at least as well as you. Then, he began to talk about his successes that he had been able to accomplish in his own strength.

Wise enough to pray. Corrie ten Boom didn’t want to argue or debate with anyone, so she prayed silently. Then she responded, “If the time should come in your life when you can no longer go on in your own strength, then remember and think about what you've heard this evening.”

Another young man spoke up “Oh, for me, the Bible is the inventory record of all that I possess in Him. I followed Hitler with all my heart and soul. But God intervened in my life and took everything away from me. I was a prisoner, and one of my comrades read the Bible with me every day when we were in prison camp. It was then that I came to know Jesus.”

Then everybody was ready to talk. They began to talk about the troubles they had seen and what they were going through.

One young man said,” I am so unfaithful. I want to believe, but my faith wavers. And now that you've told me all these wonderful things, I feel certain again. But what about tomorrow? What if I waver tomorrow? What if my faith is not strong tomorrow?

Corrie ten boom explained with an illustration. “I was a watchmaker by trade. Sometimes we got watches that didn't keep good time. There were some things I could repair myself, but there were some things that I just had to send back to the manufacture. When the manufacture repaired them, they ran perfect again.

That's what I do with my faith, Corey explained. If there's something wrong with my faith, I just send it back to the heavenly manufacturer. When he repairs it, it works right again.

I'm so thankful that Hebrews 12:2 doesn’t tell us to look to our own faith?

Corrie continued, “If it did, I might say my faith is great and that would be pride. The victory would be the devil's because spiritual pride is very destructive.”

Or maybe I would say, “Oh, my faith doesn't amount to anything. It doesn't do anything for me. And that's defeatism. That's a victory for the devil, too" .

Hudson Taylor once said, “We do not need a great faith, but faith in a great God!”

Hebrews 12:2a BSB "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,..) Fill your heart with the Word of God. Renew and strengthen your faith in a great God that does what He says He will do when we choose to believe Him instead of circumstances!

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Isaiah 61:3 shows us a dynamic picture of Jesus the Joy Bringer comforting the mourer.

to console the mourners in Zion—

to give them a crown of beauty for ashes,

the oil of joy for mourning,

and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair.

So they will be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

There are many reasons people grieve, but Jesus brings beauty out of ashes!

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https://www.patriciaholland.org/home/gods-love-letter/

Have you ever received a love letter that was so precious to you that you had to save it…tuck it away in a safe place. So amazing that through the years you retrieved it again and again to savor the sweet words?

It’s only a jumble of words, written on plain piece of paper, stuffed inside an envelope, but if you’re the recipient then you know the power of a love letter. Every word, every single word is pure gold. Every word is read and reread with pure delight. While the words may be simple, they are electrifying. While they may be scrawled and hard to read, the words are priceless.

Every “I love you” and every tender expression communicates that the reader is recognized, chosen, and valuable.

Oh, I know about love letters because when I was dating my sweetheart, he was in the Air Force and he had to go to Vietnam. And while he was there, he had to work 12 to 14 hours every day, seven days a week. And then in the evening, he would have to do courses. He didn't have a lot of time.

I don't know how he did it, but somehow, he found a way to write to me every single day. I could hardly wait until time for the mail to arrive each day. I developed an ear for the mail truck. Whenever I would hear that familiar sound grow louder, I'd run out to the end of my driveway and stand by the mailbox until it arrived.

I didn't wait till I got inside to open it. I stood at the mailbox to go through the mail as soon as it arrived. If I got a letter (even though he wrote me every day, the mail system may not deliver one every day), I would tear it open, then proceed to read every single word. Once inside, I would read it again. I was so happy to have a letter. Every word was important, because I loved him and he loved me.

I want to tell you something that you already know; God has written you a love letter.

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I am so sorry if you came to this to .pdf to listen to this podcast. I made a mistake. I just changed the challenge.

Here's the link for the postcast download link for audio.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/patriciaholland/choice_to_rejoice.mp3

I'd love to hear from you if you want to join the 7 Day A Choice to Rejoice Challenge. Here's the sign up for the challenge. https://forms.aweber.com/form/34/293103234.htm

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Hey! You can learn more about me at https://www.patriciaholland.org

Have you ever opened your Bible and a promise seemed to jump off the page? I mean it came so alive to you that if felt like it was written just for you? So of course, you reread the verse. It felt like God was talking to you personally and that this promise was for you. And because you understand the power of stewarding the Word of God, you probably opened your Prayer Journal and wrote it out long hand. Whether you typed it or wrote it isn’t the point, but you just knew this verse was so good that you just had to remember it.

Don't you just love it when that happens?

Oh, wow, I sure do. I mean, I do and I don't.

Let me explain. Any time you get a promise from God, a promise means that God's going to do it. But between the promise and the fulfillment of their promise, there's this gap. It's the waiting time.

Do you like to wait? Not me! But then I think about Abraham. Abraham wanted a son really, really bad. When Abraham was 75 years old, that’s a long time to want something, God gave Abraham a promise that he was going to give him a son.

There was a span of 25 years between the promise and the fulfillment of that promise.

How do you wait 25 years? I mean, I can't imagine. You know, I'm one of those people that I used to stand in front of my microwave and tap my foot wanting to hurry it up impatiently, saying, come on, come on. When I was just simply trying to eat a cup of coffee.

But I learned something. I learned that instead of standing there watching the microwave, I could go clean out the dishwasher or I could clean out the counters. Or sometimes I would even play a game with myself and running around a room, put on a load of clothes and try to beat that time on the on my microwave. You see, that's what God did for Abraham.

God knew that there would be a time between the promise and the fulfillment of that promise. And so… He gave Abraham some reminders. Well, at that time, his name was Abram, but he gave him some reminders that would help him along the way. How did they keep his eyes off the clock, no, the calendar? Because the span was 25 years, not 25 minutes.

Even though Abraham had to wait, his faith didn’t waver.

Romans 4:20-21 ESV No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

I want to have a story like that. I want God to say, “Pat’s faith didn’t waver.” How ‘bout you?

Abraham did something very important while he waited, something that we can do too.

I want to tell you about it in this podcast teaching. Be sure to pray with me at the end of the video. I love praying with you!

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https://www.patriciaholland.org/

A dad was desperate to find help for his son. When he finally got to Jesus, he questioned him, "If you can? Please help us." He wasn't even certain that Jesus could help his son.

People still wonder about Jesus.

Some even come to Him with that question.

And Jesus' answer hasn't changed.

He still answers..."All things are possible to him who believes!" I love the dad's answer. I think Jesus did too.

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https://www.patriciaholland.org

Paul's warning is concise and direct in Hebrews 2:1 "We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away."

He warns believers that we must be careful to keep the main thing the main thing, so we don't drift from our priority of putting Jesus first.

The trends and currents of responsibilities, desires and cravings can distract us and cause us to drift from the Truth. That drift can be disastrous. So practice the spiritual disciplines that keep you focused on

#revpatholland #spiritualdisciplines #lovinggod

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Does exhausted describe you? Maybe you're mentally exhausted or simply physically exhausted because you've been BUSY!? Or maybe you are BOTH Man, I know I've been there! And it’s not that you’re goofing around. Maybe you're giving it all you got, it’s just you ain’t got any more to give it?

Or maybe you're rested and full of vim and zest, ready for anything! But I would guess that you can still identify with that feeling of total exhaustion.

If exhausted describes you, now or at some point in your life, then I have to tell you about a special invitation I found for you and (me too)!

If you’re tired of the struggle, tired of the pressure, this invite has your name all over it.

Matthew 11:28-30 BSB

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

The rest He promises you isn't an empty promise. I know the power of responding to His invitation. I've experienced it so many times.

Sometimes, we want to rush into His Presence like we run through the drive through at our least favorite fast food. Expecting little and receiving little. We must learn to quiet our spirit and receive His peace.

I know those words are wrapped in plain brown grocery paper. Simple words, there’s nothing there to dazzle your eyes. The words are so simple they don't entice your taste buds. But if you respond to His invitation, it can transform you. The rest He promises you isn't an empty promise. I know the power of responding to His invitation. I've experienced His promise, “I will give you rest.” so many times. I am so thankful that He wants to give His children rest, peace and strength. I'd love to hear your story of how He did that for you.

But still, I have to ask the question, "Is there a way that we can live different? Is there a way that we don’t have to get to the end of our rope before we experience His rest, His peace? Is our exhaustion the only door that rest can come through? I am convinced that answer is found in the next two verses. What does that kind of life look like? How do we get there? ...stay there? ...live there?

As I was studying and praying over this teaching my thoughts visited my daughter’s desire for a laundry room make over. It was a huge project. She would have to construct enough cabinets from 4’ X 8’ sheets of plywood to fill a 10’ X 10’ wall. And then the cabinets would need doors. An electrical outlet and plumbing would have to be moved. It was a crazy big project that would have been harrowing for lots of folks! But she did something that lots of people never do. Let me tell you about it and how it relates to living different.

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Just like your body and mind needs rest, so does your soul. But how do we experience soul rest? I am convinced that Isaiah 28: 14 and 1 Corinthians 14:21 shows us that speaking or praying in tongues is a key to experiencing rest for our soul.

When I was 12 years old I was filled with Precious Holy Spirit. It changed the trajectory of my life.

I've written a book about Holy Spirit. It will help you know Him so you can enjoy the benefits of Spirit filled living. For a limited time you can get FREE SHIPPING when you purchase Precious Holy Spirit Book with the coupon code 236HHR9R Coupon Code for Precious Holy Spirit Book

Here's the link: https://www.patriciaholland.org/product/precious-holy-spirit-book/

#patholland #holyspirit #spiritfilledliving #preciousholyspirit

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You need Holy Spirit power to impact your world too.

When I was 12 years old I was filled with Precious Holy Spirit. It launched me into a life long journey of discovering the Word and the Spirit.

I've written a book about Holy Spirit. It will help you know Him so you can enjoy the benefits of Spirit filled living. For a limited time, you can get FREE SHIPPING when you purchase Precious Holy Spirit Book with the coupon code 236HHR9R Coupon Code for Precious Holy Spirit Book

Here's the link: https://www.patriciaholland.org/product/precious-holy-spirit-book/

https://www.patriciaholland.org

#patholland #holyspirit #powerofgod #spiritfilledliving #preciousholyspirit

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In John 14:16 Jesus promised His disciples…” And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—

The words “Another Advocate” are very insightful words so let’s unpack them.

When I was 12 years old I was filled with Precious Holy Spirit. It launched me into a life long journey of discovering the Word and the Spirit.

Here's the link: https://www.patriciaholland.org/product/precious-holy-spirit-book/

#patholland #holyspirit #spiritfilledliving #preciousholyspirit

Tags: paraklēton, John 2:1, John 14:16, John 14:17, John 16:7, paraklét, send you another advocate, Holy Spirit, advocate, another advocate,

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In this video I give you another bite sized teaching on Precious Holy Spirit. I dig deeper into 2 Corinthians 13:14.

Is Holy Spirit your friend? Is He? Can Holy Spirit be your friend?

https: www.patriciaholland.org

I mean, according to the Bible, can Holy Spirit be your friend? And, does it even matter?

I am convinced it does.

I believe with all my heart that God wants to use you. I believe God wants to increase your influence. I believe God wants to pour His love, power, healing and life through you to hurting people. Do you believe that?

But I believe something else just as much as I believe what I told you in the paragraph above. I am convinced it won’t happen unless you believe it enough to get full of the Word of God and the Spirit of God.

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Do you have questions about who Holy Spirit is and what He does in a believer's life? Many believers see His name, Holy Spirit, in the Bible and don't have any idea Who He is. We need to know Him. He is important enough to take the time to learn about Him.

Many churches celebrate Pentecost Sunday without really understanding what it is.

It's an important day, when we celebrate both the Word and the Holy Spirit. (If you don’t know why I say that, then you need to get my book Precious Holy Spirit. This book will answer your questions and help you experience more of what God has for you. https://www.patriciaholland.org/product/precious-holy-spirit-book/)

Just like the disciples and followers of Jesus needed and were commanded by Jesus to stay until they were endued with power, WE NEED THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

So, for the next few weeks I’m going to be talking about my precious friend, Holy Spirit. I’ve been working on some new stuff that I am super excited to share with you!

This week’s teaching is brand new. There are treasures, wonderful treasures in the Old Testament that you will never see without the light of the New Testament.

The doctrine of the Trinity is one of those things. When you use the light of the Gospel of John, it is almost glaringly obvious! I am so excited to share this teaching with you. “Who is the Holy Spirit? He is God.”

It’s short, even with my prayer.

Just a side thought.

When I pray in the video, do you pray with me and mix your faith with mine that God will answer our prayer? I hope you do, because I don’t pray in the video to look spiritual.

I pray because I want you to be blessed, so I’m asking God to do that. So please pray and believe with me.

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An event happened at the Gate Beautiful that was even more beautiful than its setting.

A 40-year-old crippled man was healed. The religious leaders overlooked the miracle because Peter and John's message of Jesus and His resurrection didn't fit in their neat little religious box. They were distraught!

7They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!

9If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed,

10then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

11This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

12Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Peter and John knew the inherent power that is in the name of Jesus! They had seen Jesus' miracles!

They understood that while they had no power to heal, Jesus does. They understood that they had been delegated authority as children of God, to use the name of Jesus. And when they used the name of Jesus a man that had never walked was healed.

The 7 sons of Sceva tried to use the name, but they were not believers, so it back-fired on them.

Jesus still heals. There is power in His name. Jesus still saves and delivers. Everything Jesus was His name still is. David Hughart

As believers, when we grasp the reality of the power in the name of Jesus, we will see the miracles we were meant to see!

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Have you ever felt so disgusted with someone that you didn’t even want to look at them? (I 'll talk about that in this podcast.)

Or maybe you’ve felt that you were so disgusting that you didn’t want anyone to see you? (I 'll talk about that in this podcast.)

An even more important question is does God ever get so disgusted with us that He looks away? (I 'll talk about that in this podcast.)

Did Jesus close his eyes when He was hanging on the cross…I mean, after all the miracles, all the fish and bread He gave them, this is how they treat Him?

Did Jesus look away from the people that hated Him? I want to share my friend’s story with you and what God whispered to her when she was going through a difficult situation.

Let me give you a hint of what I believe.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 NIV

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23 KJV

How do we feel God's love? We receive it, believe it by faith.

How do we love like God? We allow God's love to flow through us.

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Hebrews 12:2 NLT

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Pursue You Will Recover All Go get ‘em! Are you God’s child? Do you realize what that means? Do you realize that God wants you to walk in victory? Yet, it’s not automatic. We have a role to play. We see that clearly in David’s life when he faced a hopeless situation at Ziklag. Instead, of accepting defeat, he asked God what to do. God said, Pursue Them You Will Recover All! It’s never as easy as it sounds…but David would tell you it’s worth it.

It could be a line from a bank robbery scene in an old western or a mama’s frustrated command when she hears the neighbor kid took her son’s skates, but actually it’s what I hear when I read 1 Samuel 30:8.

Let me set up the verse before I read it with you. God is talking to David, not the king David yet. He’s still the vagabond David, hiding from King Saul, living in enemy territory. He is sitting crumbled in the dirt, holding his face in his hands. He though he was coming home to his family after an embarrassing, did I say embarrassing, I should have said humiliating, confrontation with the Philistine commanders.

https://youtu.be/e9vXQ0Q6BQI

Lost everything! Instead of being welcomed by family, he and his men were assaulted with the sights and stench of what remained of their homes. Everything was gone; their home, their belongings, their kids and their wives. At first the men cried, yes, they did. Strong, brave men need to cry sometimes too. This was long before anyone taught their boys such foolishness, they cried hot tears and sobbed the loud painful cries of brokenness. But those broken cries quickly turned angry and vengeful. Angry voices through clinched teeth debated and plotted of stoning David.

It looked hopeless.

No. I’m serious, it looked hopeless.

Ever felt like the enemy is trying to bring division in your marriage? Or that he has enslaved your kids with drugs, alcohol or rebellion? Somebody you love reeling under the weight of depression, unworthiness or shame? Sometimes it feels impossible for them to just be “normal” again.

There are no impossible situations for God. I believe God is bringing home prodigals. I believe God is breaking lies, deception and bondages off our friends and family. He’s delivering the broken and healing mental illnesses.

Then David asked God. Should I chase them?

Will I catch them?

Have you asked God or have you searched Scripture to find what God says about the situation you are facing?

God answered David. Here it is. Here’s God’s “Go get’em!” Well, God doesn’t say it quite like that more like…

Pursue them. You will recover all.

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For more inspirational stories go to Blog - Patricia Holland Have you ever hung around a salty Christian and left wanting to have a deeper relationship with Jesus? That’s what happened to my friend Rhonda. After watching the War Room, she said, “I want to pray like Clara.”

Rhonda did something that most people don’t do. Rhonda took action on her desire to have a closer relationship with God. One of the first things that changes when we want more of God is how we pray. Our prayer takes on a new sense of hunger and seriousness. It becomes more than words or a religious obligation. It becomes precious with God.

She prayed different. Rhonda had a doctor’s appointment the next morning so she prayed on the way there.

She prayed

aloud,
verses from the Bible.
in her prayer language.

And she felt it.

I am so thankful that we can experience the manifest presence of God!!!! She didn’t say this part, but from the results she testified about, I know, I KNOW, she mixed her prayer with faith.

It is time to pray big bold prayers.

I get it. There are some things that I am tired of praying about. I am so ready to see the breakthrough, to see my prodigals come home. To see the manifestations of healings that I am believing God to do in our midst, so He will be glorified. But as long as I have breath I am going to keep praying and believing God’s Word.

Big Challenges I know that we are facing big situations in the world around us, but we serve a BIGGER God. Don’t back down because the enemy of your soul is trying to intimidate you.

4 Ways to Keep Your Relationship with God a Priority! Hang out with Bible loving people. Value the Word. Mix it with faith. Act on what it says.

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Say it with flowers is more than a clever florist mantra. From the lowly dandelion all the way to the brightest red rose they say "I love you", when they are given to us by someone special. My camera is always full of flower pictures, but the fireweed, yes, it is a weed, is one of my favorites. Maybe, it is my favorite because it has a secret that is important to you. Why is the fireweed’s secret important to you?

Is the fireweed’s secret really important to you? If you’ve ever felt ordinary, unseen or unloved then it’s secret is important to you.

Or maybe you struggled with feeling forgotten or misunderstood, then this secret is for you.

This secret is for you, if you’ve ever felt broken, alone or not good enough.

It’s not a secret because it should be hidden or never spoken aloud. It’s a secret because so few people see it.

I want to remind you that you are loved, loved, loved! Yet sometimes we don't feel very loved. I want to give you a checklist of things that will help you feel more loved. Here's a link that will get you that link and more inspiration. https://forms.aweber.com/form/56/897608456.htm

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It is so easy to get anxious or become fearful when things are happening around you, or maybe even in your body.

It's easy to become anxious, but you don't have to give in to the pressure of life. You don't have to live under the circumstances. You can be strong in the Lord. I want to help you face and fight anxiety with God's Word. In today's teaching, I'm going to give you 2 ways that will help you know how to fight anxiety.

And so, you don’t miss them, I’m going to give you the 2 ways to fight anxiety right up front.

Hear the Word of God
Pray the Word of God.

Not only do I want you to give anxiety the one two punch of hearing and praying the Word. I want to give you 5 verses that have helped me fight anxiety and fear so many times.

God's Word is powerful

I fight anxiety with Philippians 4:6,7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. I can't tell you how many times I have prayed 1 Peter 5:7 NLT Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Proverbs 16:3 BSB Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved. Psalm 55:22 BSB Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 34:15 BSB The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. It changes things, we get a grip on the reality that God sees and listens when we cry out to Him!!!

Two ways to use these verses to fight anxiety. And, I am going to give you two resources that will build your faith muscles and help you pray more effectively. Listen, I want you to win over anxiety, but you got to get up and fight the good fight of faith. So here’s two resources that will encourage you.

The first resource is the video on this page. 1. Listen to these verses, but more importantly let them soak into your spirit. Say them with me again and again. Jot down anything Holy Spirit whispers as you listen to these verses.

Read the verses aloud yourself. I put the verses in a .pdf so you can upload them into your Kindle or whatever reader you may use.

If you have joined my tribe of hungry believers, then you will have the link in an email from me.

If you haven't joined me yet, let me encourage you to join us right now. Here's where you need to go to get that link for your free Bible Verses on Anxiety .pdf. https://forms.aweber.com/form/07/1295189607.htm

Do you realize how you think affects your moods and how you feel?

When you change how you think it can make you feel better and live happier!

Ready to feel better? https://forms.aweber.com/form/48/354268048.htm

For more inspiration go to https://www.patriciaholland.org/blog/

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Ever had someone tell you something you should have already known, but someone the obvious escaped you?

I have. Many times. Many times!

Can I tell you something in the kindness way I know how. Something that you know, but may be so busy, so distracted that you don't realize you don't REALLY know it?

Well, instead of telling you...I'm going to share how a stranger told me the truth in a shocking way. And I'm so glad he did!

This session is on how you can lean into or how you can get God's strength.

Here are two powerful verses that remind us that God is faithful to strengthen us.

Isaiah 41:10 BSB Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.

Ephesians 3:16 BSB Berean Study Bible

I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,

I want you to be strong.

More importantly, God wants you to be strong. I want to share some keys with you in my free "Be Stronger eBook."

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Are you living like your strength is enough? Are you at the end of your strength? Have you ever craned your neck back, then even further back in order to size up the situation you were facing much like David did when he faced Goliath? Maybe you are standing there right now. As you sized up the situation, you realized that your muscles, your strength and your ability were absolutely inadequate for the fight you were facing? Standing there, facing your giant, you KNOW, absolutely know that you ain't got it in you, if you are there, then you are in a great place! Cause you have reached the end of your strength and you're finally willing to reach for God's strength. I am a visual thinker. That means I almost always want to know what something looks like. Most of the time I picture strength as bold and showy like the bulging muscles that drive a bully’s drawn fist. And I forget that it can be seen even more accurately in the tenacity of a skinny-armed kid defending his brother. I forget strength can be as gentle and relentless as a bubbling current tumbling and polishing rocks in a riverbed. Strength can be demonstrated in kind words and deeds instead of hurling angry retaliatory ones. Strength that persists through difficulties. Strength that sees the best in people and speaks life into them instead of regurgitating the criticism that everyone else sees. There are times that strength seems invisible. Elusive. Totally Absent? Sometimes the strength we need can’t be seen or felt, yet it simply remains undetectable until it is needed, accessed and activated. Much like the power from an electrical outlet, which is available, yet unnoticed until someone plugs in! The power is available and is accessed as needed. As a young girl, Corrie's father gave her some timeless advice that showed her how to access God's strength. This story will help you. Corrie would need tremendous strength to go through the horrors of the holocaust first hand and God gave it to her. Day by day. Step by step. He was always there. Joshua needed strength to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. He was always there. Gideon needed strength to fight the Midianites. He was always there. . Isaiah paints a strong word picture in Isa 46:10 NLT Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isa 46:10 NLT Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. "Be still, and know that I am God!" Do you see God tenderly sitting beside you as he calmly whispers, “Don't be afraid, for I am with you.” And then He lifts your chin as He looks you in the eyes before He continues, “Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.” Right on time and right when you need it, He promises, “I will strengthen you and help you.” Then without dropping His tender gaze He takes your hand in His, “I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” "Be still, and know that I am God!" I realize there is a tremendous temptation in our busy schedule to never sit in His presence long enough to feel His presence or His gentle reassurance. We are tempted to fill every moment of our prayer time giving Him our “Please Do List.” I’m not minimizing your situation or your broken heart; but you can make it through this! And God wants to give you the strength. Trust me…holding onto the pain doesn’t solve your problem, but holding onto Jesus will give you the strength to go through this situation. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 Would you like to receive my free "Be Stronger" eBook? https://forms.aweber.com/form/41/1356933441.htm

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When we were preparing to go to Alaska I did more than pack my suitcase, I got ready physically. I wanted to see some sights. Some of those sites meant I would have to do some climbing and that requires using some muscles that I don’t regularly use. I started working out…twice a day. I exercised because I didn’t want to miss anything. I wanted to have more energy, more stamina so I could hike further and see more while I was there. I am convinced we need to do that spiritually as well. We’ve all said, I need your strength, God!” We feel our need, but how do we receive God’s strength?

It is so important that we do more than talk about God’s strength, if we want to see and experience the victories God has for us!

We need God’s strength because the enemy is real and the battle is fierce. God’s strength is critical for us to win over sin, discouragement and the lies of hell. We need strength because our enemy wants to wear out the saints. The enemy wants us to give up and give in. But I believe God is raising up a strong army of believers that are looking for and believing for a great revival. A group of believers that want to be part of that revival. They are like Habakkuk was, they don’t understand everything around, but they are desperate to hear from God. And because they are seeking Him, they are finding Him. And in that process, they are developing some faith muscles. And because of their faith they are realizing they are strong…with a strength beyond their own. They are strong in the Lord. In my heart, I know God has more for us. There are people that I am desperate to see come to Jesus. There are some victories I want to see, some battles I want to win and that is going to require spiritual stamina, spiritual endurance and strength. So yes, I’m still digging my heels in; I want to be stronger. What about you, do you want to experience God’s strength in a greater way than ever?

I promise this video doesn’t touch the stuff I’ve already told you about Habakkuk. He shares some insight about strength that I believe we need for the things we are facing today.

Habakkuk 3:19 ESV
GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

https://patriciaholland.org/blog/ Check out this full blog post

https://www.patriciaholland.org/home/amazing-feet/ I have some pictures of mountain goats licking the salt on my website.

Would you like to receive my free Be Stronger eBook and join me in pursuing more of God. https://forms.aweber.com/form/41/1356933441.htm

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Did you listen to my podcast “A Choice to Rejoice?” I hardly got that post up before my joy was tested! So, I dug deeper. When I did, I was reminded that processes can help us get keep us on track or sometimes help us get back on track. In this teaching I want to share a process, maybe more like a recipe that will help you have more joy.

I want to challenge you to go beyond being happier; to go all the way to joy. I want to define rejoice from the lens of Scripture, because it is a key to access God’s joy. I’m going to do more than give you a recipe; I’m going to give you a challenge. I want you to rejoice with me every day for one week. I’ve made a free checklist that you can download to help you develop the “Rejoice in the LORD always” mindset.

If you are a subscriber, I sent you the download link for the PDF.

It has 8 scripture cards that I use. Sometimes I pray them, sometimes I declare them over my heart and sometimes use to correct and renew my thinking.

If you're not, you can join my tribe to get this free .pdf. Here's the link https://forms.aweber.com/form/34/293103234.htm I'll give it to you again at the bottom of this post. In my last post I shared Habakkuk’s commitment to “rejoice in the Lord” and how God used his story in my life, but the same day I posted that blog a barrage of text messages came that had my heart pounding. When I read the text, I didn’t rejoice. I grumbled.

My sweetheart very calmly mentioned that he had listened to a teaching on YouTube that morning that I think will help you. He’s always listening to stuff, so I thought, “What has this man listened to now?” Then he said, “It was called “A Choice to Rejoice”.

Ahhhh! That man. That man! He was right. I needed to rejoice.

I managed to give him a smile and immediately raised my hands and began to rejoice.

Rejoicing is a choice. My grumbling made me miserable. I’m sure Wayne didn’t enjoy it either. I am so thankful that Wayne and the Lord love me enough that they don’t want me to be miserable. And because He loves us, He gives us access to His joy!

So, I dug deeper.

I haven’t backed off my statement that 2022 can be a joy filled year.

I’m more convinced than ever that it can be, but we have to make the choice to rejoice. I’m having to trust God. There will always be things that we can’t fix. Remember God told Habakkuk “the righteous live by his faith.”

https://forms.aweber.com/form/34/293103234.htm

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Making a good decision is the first step toward success.

This year I've made a choice to rejoice in the Lord. I'm not waiting until everything is perfect.

Habakkuk made that choice, he said I will rejoice in the LORD. In this post I share how this one decision impacted Habakkuk's life and what it can do for you. That decision is especially important this year.

This is my first post this year, so I really want to say...but maybe I'm too late to say it now? There's no doubt that I am late, but is it too late to say it?

Please say, "Go ahead, say it."

So here goes "Happy New Year"

There are a lot of folks that are skeptical about how happy this year is going to be especially since the last two have been one disaster after another. And here I am starting a conversation about rejoicing.

Is there a reason to rejoice? You better believe there is and that's why I am sharing Habakkuk's story with you.

Honestly, I understand their skepticism. It’s been rough, rough, rough for so many people!

I can’t tell you that this will be a “happy” year, but I am confident that this year can be a joy-filled year with reasons to rejoice.

AND…How do I know? I don’t have a crystal ball that gives me the winning lottery number or stock market insight, yet I have the words of an old song that I used to listen to on a cassette tape and Scripture for the foundation of my hope.

This message is from Habakkuk...the whole book! Don't panic it's only 3 chapters.

The key verse in this chat is Habakkuk 3:18 NLT Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. His decision to rejoice was a vital key in turning his attitude around...and we all know how important our attitude really is!

The choice to rejoice unlocks joy! We all could use more of that these days.

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What do you do when it looks like nothing is happening? You keep believing.

But what about, when you have prayed really hard and nothing has changed?

You keep praying. You keep believing.

But what do you do when things get worse instead of better? You trust God.

You keep believing!

If you’re like me, then you’re struggling with all you see going on around you? It’s discouraging, but we put our trust in God and keep believing!

I preached this sermon a few years ago, but it is still just as real as it was then.

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Devotion Outline Where the river goes…life grows. The account of the Samaritan woman's encounter with Jesus at the well is an amazing story of transformation. I am so thankful that Jesus still transforms people today. Yet, I am convinced there is a powerful encouragement in this account that ever believer needs to be reminded of today. Too much is going on around us, for you to miss the whisper of Jesus to come drink. Devotion Outline I am a Southern girl through and through. One of the bonuses of living in the South is the abundance of streams and rivers I deliberately and unconsciously drink in the beauty that surrounds me. That’s a bad thing and a good thing. It’s a bad thing when I travel through the desert, because I strain my eyes looking for life. But but even in the desert, every once in a while I spot something way off in the distance. Why the sudden change in the landscape? A river I know it’s there because I see signs of life. It’s a fact; where water goes, life grows. Water is a change agent. It is like a slow bulldozer cutting through the landscape. Like a highway, John 4 takes us to a well, not a river, in Samaria. Jacob's well was a very special well to the Samaritans She is on a mission and so is Jesus. Her mission is to get water…His mission is to give water. Jesus’ request was simple, “Please give me a drink.” Her response was complicated by the racial prejudices of that day, “Why?" John 4:10 NLT Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” No Bucket Jacob’s well. Do you think you are better than our ancestor Jacob? Never be Thirsty again Artesian well If you drink this water you’re going to just get thirsty again. But anyone who drinks my water, will never be thirsty again. This water becomes a fresh, bubbling spring ( artesian well) inside them, giving them eternal life. Jesus didn’t tell the lady that she would never drink again, just that she would never be thirsty again. If you are born again through faith in Jesus, the artesian well is in you. So drink some living water. How? Worship from your heart. Read the Bible. Come to God with your ears wide open and you will find life. (Isaiah 55:3) Really important. Jeremiah 2:13 King James Bible For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. How does a cistern compare to a well? Don’t just drink something…drink some living water. John 14:6 King James Bible Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. He is the only way. If you’ve never received God’s gift of salvation you can right now. ABC Steps to be born into God's family. Ask Jesus to forgive you for all your sins. Believe on Jesus from your heart. Choose to believe that you need a Savior. Confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Tell someone what happened to you.

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We were blessed to be able to take an Alaska Prayer & Preaching Adventure.

God knew it was a desire of my heart and He opened the door. I want to share with my adventure with you- not to brag on me, but to brag on Jesus.

God was so good to us.

Nahum 1:7 NIV The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,

Places we went

Girdwood Forest Ranger, not Park Ranger Walked along a waterfall. Saw a bear rambling and ambling through unlocked out buildings looking for food.

Blue Ice Trail Hiked and drove to each of the spots of the Blue Ice Trail...unforgetable!

I learned that it might not be wise to take the advice of hikers encouraging you to keep going when they are 40 years younger than you are! Note to self. It was worth the hike and thank you young folks for your your encouragement.

Hiked up to Bryan Glacier and touched the blue glacier ice.

Flat Top Mountain Looking out over the city praying for the people of Anchorage to know Jesus. Just an echo of what churches all over the city are doing. T

ony Knowles Coastal Trail was a wonderful place to hike. Didn't get to finish the trail... too much to see and do.

Hope, Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula Just a quaint town. We had two children from that town that came to camp. I sat down at the table with them and got to eat lunch with them without realizing it until we were almost finished eating.

Hatcher Pass Mining Museum, Hiking trails was breath taking!!!!

Eagle River Nature Museum more hiking trails. Lots of beautiful birch trees!!!!! I hope heaven has birch trees.

The first Moose we saw was one coming down the steep banks of Glenn Highway on wobbly legs. It so reminded me of the witty Bullwinkle on the old Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.

Little Beaver Camp at Wasilla is a place where lives are changed by encountering the Prince of Peace. Amazing place.

Preaching at the North Pole. It just doesn't get any better than encountering God with awesome folks like I met there! Great pastors with a heart to reach their city. Intercessors praying for a healing and transforming revival that would bring their community to Jesus. God’s Presence was so powerful in that place.

I got to eat at two amazing restaurants on Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives list. Denali

When we were here 10 years ago, it was still wearing the political nomenclature Mt. McKinley, but now it wears the Athabaskan name Denali which declare who it really is “the great one.” “Mount McKinley” emerged after a gold prospector named William Dickey (who was an admirer of President-elect McKinley) used the name in an 1897 New York Sun article. Although the new president had no direct connection to Alaska, the name Mount McKinley was popularized following the president’s 1901 assassination.

We saw 2 Grisly, caribou, a moose, Bali Sheep and my favorite Mt. Denali.

Juneau, the capital. We got to stay with an incredible family in a beautiful home right on the Mendenhall Glacier River that sang it’s sweet song as it tumbled over the boulders. A bear visited the neighborhood and even the back yard while we were there.

I got to pray in the capitol building, the only capital that can only be reached by boat or airplane. Let truth fill this place.

Isa 44:23Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this; shout aloud, you earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel.

https://www.patriciaholland.org/home/i-will-lift-up-my-eyes-to-the-hills/

I'll be sharing some specific stories in the days ahead.

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Who is Jesus in your life?

Who is He to you?

Can you say "And this I know!" The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem wanted to know…so they sent priests and Levites to ask John himself.

Who are you, John? There must have been a hint that they thought he might be the promised one from God.

The crowds that came…the baptisms? Could John be the Messiah. John, came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.” Then who are you? Are you Elijah? No. I can see him shaking his head firmly. Are you the Prophet?’ they continued?

No,” John answered.

Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ” Now the Pharisees who had been sent

25questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the World!

This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, Let’s stop here. John didn’t know Jesus?

What does John mean? They were cousins. Somewhere around 6 months apart in age. Surely, there were times they played together. So what is John saying? You can know someone without knowing them.

Let me explain. If I asked you, do you know Michael Jordan?” You would probably answer something like, “Yeah! Yeah! It was one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

He is a legend.” While it is true you know about Mr. Jordan, that doesn’t mean you know him.

You might know all his stats from his legendary basketball history, but you don’t know him unless you’ve spent time with Him. Unless you’ve built a relationship with him.

John is saying, I didn’t know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then he repeats himself again, I myself didn’t know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, “ ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

34I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” John said, I didn’t know him, but “I have seen and I testify.” I know Him now. “I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” And what about you, do you know Him? I’m not talking about the twisted view that our culture has painted of Him, but do you know Him personally. We can’t afford to put Him in our little box as if we could pull Him out when it’s convenient and return Him to that box when it’s not. Go to Scripture with fresh eyes.

Allow Holy Spirit to show you Jesus like never before. Listen to His words. See His actions. See His passion. See His Father’s reflection.

Who is Jesus in your life?

Who is He to you? He is your way, your truth, your life. He is your bread of life. He is your living water.

Please dear friend, don’t allow His words, His stories (accurate accounts) to become stale and lifeless. Come hungry to Scripture and feast, not just satisfy an appetite, but feast.

Don’t singularly feed your mind with information, but feed your spirit, nourish your mind, nourish your spirit with the wisdom and light of Jesus. They tell me that often we think we are hungry, but it’s actually thirst that we are experiencing. Yet, because we think we are hungry we will eat instead of satisfying our thirst with water. Way too often we think we need a new something or other. We feel empty, so fill it with a good movie.

We feel lonely so we go shopping and try fill the loneliness. I am convinced that way too often what we are feeling is the need for more Jesus. We need His fellowship. We need to access His joy, His peace, His Presence.

Do you know Him?

In probably the greatest sermon I have ever heard in my life Dr. S.M. Lockridge asks that question, “Do You Know Him?” then continues with powerful declarations of who He is. I’m including the link, but I want to share a few.

He’s the sinner’s Saviour.

He’s the centerpiece of civilization.

He’s unparalleled.

He’s unprecedented.

He is the loftiest idea in literature

He’s the highest personality in philosophy

He’s the fundamental doctrine of true theology

He’s the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Saviour I wonder if you know him today

He supplies strength

He’s available for the tempted

It’s so good!

Here’s the link. https://youtu.be/yzqTFNfeDnE Here's the Books: Alexander MacLaren Expositions Link https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=MacLaren+Expositions+Of+Holy+Scripture&submit_search=Go!

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It’s risky work! It’s expensive to plant a crop. * The machinery. * The fertilizer. * The time. * And there’s no guarantee that he will have a good harvest. * + It’s risky…but a farmer plants because he has hope.

Hope is powerful. It motivates. It inspires. It changes the monotonous into meaningful. So even though it is risky, he plants because he has hope. His hopes are not based on fantasy! That hope is bolstered by educated practices and past harvests- his harvest and those of others. He doesn’t have a promise…just hope and a need to make a living. * A need to feed his family. * A need to pay the bills. * A need to turn barren soil into lush green vegetation.

The winter seasons of pain, heartache, heart break; long, dark days of loneliness can drain our reservoirs of hope. Paul understood that; so he prayed… “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” -Romans 15:13 NIV The beginning point in this verse is trust. Trust can be confusing sometimes. Frustrating. Scary. But hold on to what you KNOW and most of all hold on to who you know. Quiet your spirit with His promises and just hold on. To that foundation Paul prayed. May the God of all hope Fill you—yes, you! with all joy –what an amazing thought—the deep kind, the warm, bubbling kind of joy that sustains us! and peace –I’ve come to love that word. The enduring kind of peace that is unbroken by circumstances and is beyond our ability to understand. as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope—not simply an adequate supply to get you through the situation, but overflowing, sparkling, gurgling over and out to others. by the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s not something we can conjure or manufacturer, it’s through the power of Precious Holy Spirit!!! Hope that doesn’t end with hope. A believer’s hope is based on a promise… It is based on the Truth of God’s Word.

So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath. So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, having fled for refuge, to take hold of the hope being set before us, Hebrews 6:17,18

So here it is. 2 Really, Really Great Reasons you should be filled with hope. Two things that will never change. 1. God will not lie. It is impossible for God to lie. 2. God made an oath that He will not break.

So if you need some hope, it begins with trusting in someone bigger and stronger than yourself. Because sooner or later you are going to realize that your strength has limits. Or if you are looking for a refuge… Grab hold of the hope that is right in front of you! Hebrews 6 verse 19 continues-

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,”

An anchor for your soul. A reason you can be filled with hope! Firm. Steadfast. Jesus! Is the anchor for your soul.

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“Well, I hope so,” doesn’t sound like hope at all.

It’s flimsy, wimpy and empty. We speak of hope more often than we believe in it.

Hope in the Bible isn’t the weak word we use in our culture. Instead, it is a living hope, throbbing and powerful. It produces action, steadfastness and stability.

1 Peter 1:3 ESV “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

Let’s look at the first time the word for hope is used in the Bible.

Joshua 2:21 NIV “Agreed," she replied. "Let it be as you say." So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.”

The lady speaking here is Rahab…and where’s the hope in this story? Or better yet, where do we find hope that makes us stable in unstable times?

I’m so glad you asked. I want to tell you about it.

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Why you shouldn’t opt-out of the Spiritual War that is going on right now!

You have an enemy that wants to kill, steal and destroy you!
There are people depending on you, family, friends and neighbors.
You were made to win this war! The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

2 Cor 10:4 As believers, we need to understand the war that is raging. The Senators and citizens of Washington DC on July 21, 1861 had no idea what war meant.

Have you noticed how some people

• are failing to respond to the spiritual war that is going on around us right now?

• think they can opt out of Spiritual warfare, because its HARD and costly?

• don’t see the destruction that is going on around them?

• are just hoping everything will be alright.

• don’t realize there is a war?

You have been given authority… not just hope… authority.

Stop believing the enemies lies.

We’ve heard the enemy’s lies so many times, from so many different places, that even God’s blood bought church has believed them.

What am I talking about?

I’ve heard people say they aren’t spiritual enough to fight.

Or that there is nothing they can do.

Ephesians 6:12

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. You have been given weapons that work

2 Cor 20: 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Psa 8:2 NLT You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.

Ephesians 6: 17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

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God is watching over His Word! Why is that truth important to you?

Does that truth change what you do and how you react to delayed victories?

It was a revelation that God gave to Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, to help him fulfil his assignment. Without the confidence in that revelation. You need to grip this reality to help you fulfill your assignment too!

Do you have some prayers that have not seen answered?

Do you have a prodigal that you are desperate to see their life turned around? Searching for answers that you just can’t turn loose of because your heart just won’t let you?

Do you have verses that you’ve clung to, but the enemy has whispered in your ear, “What’s the use?”

Me too! I've had some things on my heart that I am absolutely desperate to see happen.

But I’m telling you, I have some things that are just too precious to abandon. Do you have some things like that on your heart?

Sometimes there's just no words that describe how desperately you want to see God intervene in the situation you are facing.

That's just one reason I am so thankful that God has given me a prayer language. I just run out of words.

Lately I've been hearing God whisper, don't you love His whispers. Oh, there are times His whisper corrects me, challenges me or even redirects me.

But this whisper has been so encouraging. "I watch over my word to perform it." He has whispered it so many times that I realized it was time to unpack the revelation, so I could to understand what He was saying.

I found the verse in Jeremiah chapter 1

11The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.

Jeremiah 1:12The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”

How do you plant seeds of Gods Word?

Isaiah 55:10

10For just as rain and snow fall from heaven

and do not return without watering the earth,

making it bud and sprout,

and providing seed to sow and food to eat,

11so My word that proceeds from My mouth

will not return to Me empty,

but it will accomplish what I please,

and it will prosper where I send it.

What happens when you don’t plant the seeds?

Nothing grows, but weeds.

James 1:2 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

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I’ve gone to church all my life, but when I was twelve years old I heard something that forever changed my life. Actually, it was more than just hearing that changed me…it was believing that changed me! This may need some explaining, because it wasn’t just hearing or believing…it was receiving that changed me forever! I’ve never looked at God’s Word the same. I’ve never been the same…let me do that explaining with an illustration! There's a reason they call it a Smart phone Several years ago, I needed a new phone. I looked at lots of options. Then I-heard I could process credit cards at conferences instead of renting a point of sale machine. That move would save me a ton of money. The salesman handed us the phone and began to explain that we could download applications. I had never heard of an app. (yes I know… I know! But you’re forgetting this was a long time ago!) So he took his phone and began to show us some of his favorite apps. I was totally amazed to learn that the applications provided additional benefits and capabilities far beyond that of a regular phone. No one wants a phone that only lets you talk to someone (I see you, you are shaking your head at me, because not there are thousands of apps that provide a myriad of functions.) Imagine not even knowing the apps are available. Staying on the Bleeding Edge of Technology Some folks aren’t content staying on the cutting edge, they want to be the first to be in the know about everything involving technology! While knowing about and USING apps is important if you own any kind of smart phone, but there are things, really critical things, that way too many people have never discovered. Some people don’t know that God loves them. Some people don’t know that Jesus died for their sins. And some believers, don’t know anything about who Precious Holy Spirit is. They don’t know they can be filled with the Holy Spirit. I was one of those people. My grandma would mention the Holy Spirit sometimes. But the only thing I knew about Holy Spirit was when the pastor at my church gave the invitation. My pastor would tell us, “If you have not given your heart to Jesus and you feel the Holy Spirit knocking on your heart’s door, then today is the day for you to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior.” That’s all I knew. I was so hungry for more of God. I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me, so every Sunday I went down to the front. My dear Pastor, would remind me that I was already saved. I would go back to my seat like Samuel in the Bible, confused about what was going on. I didn’t know that I could be filled with precious Holy Spirit, but one day a friend shared the good news with me. Actually, I had more than one discussion and then listened to numerous sermons before I understood. It’ wasn’t that it was difficult to understand, it was just that I didn’t know anything about Holy Spirit. But when I heard, I believed, I received Holy Spirit. Have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed? In Acts 19:2 NIV Paul is telling the story of finding some believers at Ephesus "and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." Paul was excited to share the great news about precious Holy Spirit with them. When they heard, they believed and they received. They couldn’t receive until they knew God had more for them. We can’t use an app on our phone if we don’t know it’s available. We can’t use money in our account if we don’t know it’s there. We have to hear about it first. (Check out the book “Precious Holy Spirit” https://www.patriciaholland.org/product/precious-holy-spirit-ebook/%20/o%20Buy%20the%20book for more details.) But what if I told you about say a GPS app that will guide you from your front door to the place you wanted to go. You would have a choice. You might say “I don’t believe a phone can do that. Or you might say, “Where do I download an app like that. If you didn’t believe what I was telling you, you wouldn’t get the app. Yet, believing there is an app doesn’t get you the app. You have to download it and open the app. Paul’s account tells us they heard, they believed and they received. They couldn’t receive until they knew God had more for them. We can’t use an app on our phone if we don’t know it’s available. We can’t use money in our account if we don’t know it’s there. Hearing is the first step, but not the only step. After you hear, you must believe. What have you heard? Was it confusing? Did it make you hungry for God? Did it make you want to be filled with all the fullness of God? But today, in the modern church, many believers are confused. Far too few can say I heard, I believed and I received. Some folks seem to be totally ignorant on the subject and others are asking questions: Maybe you have some questions? That's a good thing. Maybe you want to know "What is Pentecost?" Who is the Holy Spirit? Are tongues of the devil? Was speaking in tongues just for the disciples? My book points you to some of the answers https://www.patriciaholland.org/product/precious-holy-spirit-book/"Precious Holy Spirit." There seems to be a menacing fence – complete with a huge “Keep Out” sign – surrounding Pentecost and its accompanying infilling of the Holy Spirit. Some folks say, “You receive all you need when you get saved.” Confused and frightened by the roars of tradition and skepticism , far too many believers remain silent and powerless. I am convinced that the Person of Pentecost is the missing dynamo in the modern, anemic church? Especially since Jesus told His disciples, after His resurrection, to “receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22 Removing the barriers that keep us from experiencing more of God, demands that we search God’s Word, discover so we can receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit is for every believer. Believe Like everything God has for us, we must believe to receive precious Holy Spirit. But Is receiving the Holy Spirit really important? Yes! It is really important. Why is this experience so critical? It is because it is a Gift from God. We can’t afford to miss God’s Gifts. It takes believers into a deeper, fuller relationship with God. The benefits of living a Spirit filled life is experiencing the partnership of Holy Spirit guiding, empowering and transforming every area of a believer’s life. I am not talking about a one time experience. I am referring to building on a relational experience that moves forward into everyday life, like a wedding should move into a deeper, fuller lifelong relationship. Out of this partnership with Holy Spirit flows love, joy, power to win over sin, power to witness, and spiritual maturity. Jesus made a big deal out of the reality that they should not grieve over the fact that He was leaving them, because He would send a comforter that would not just be with them, but would live in them. Mix what you heard with faith. Luke 11:13 NIV If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" I want you to be able to say I heard. I believed. I received and I shared. Not a Theological Exegesis The book “Precious Holy Spirit” is not a theological exegesis, but it is a journey through scripture to help the reader fall in love. I wrote this book in a clear, easy to understand format using seven words pictures that describe Holy Spirit. It uses interesting stories from nature and history to unlock the mystery of Pentecost. This book is for the person that doesn’t know anything about the Holy Spirit. It’s for the person that avoids the whole conversation because they think it’s all weird. And, it is also for anyone who has received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, but wants to rekindle their passion, or wants to know how to access the resources available to the Spirit filled believer. This book will inspired and ignite you. You will fall in love—all over again. Additionally, this book is written to pastors or leaders that need a little extra help making the whole topic of receiving the Holy Spirit easier to understand. It gives clear examples and illustrations that can be used in conversation, training and sermons. Download the eBook and start reading right now.

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I was twelve years old when I receiving the Holy Spirit. My friendship with Him has been priceless...He has walked with me all these years as comforter, guide, power source and help. I am so thankful for The Father's Promise fulfilled at Pentecost.

I want to share with you how you can be filled with Holy Spirit. Maybe you already have been filled with Holy Spirit. Then this teaching will help you share with a friend or loved one how they can be filled with Holy Spirit.

I'd love to give you the .pdf that goes with this teaching. Here's the link to get the .pdf and future encouraging chats that will help you connect God's Word to your everyday life.

How to Receive the Holy Spirit PDF Download - Patricia Holland

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www.patriciaholland.org/blog I love transparency When it’s coming from someone else. I don’t like to be vunerable but here goes. I judge people way more often than I want to admit. I don’t even want to admit it to God. I know judging people is wrong. It’s especially hard when they ask for my advice and then totally disregard it. Then they want me to bail them out when they get in a pinch! AHHHHH! So hard NOT to judge the heart behind the action. But if I require, or want to require that people do as I say I have stepped into arrogance and that is a dangerous place to be. 1 Samuel 15:23a New International Version For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry… I know! I can’t see their heart, but I can sure see the stupid. Sometimes I have to agree with the wisdom of Forest Gump, “Stupid is as stupid does!” Our world is so upside down! Isaiah 5:20 New International Version Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. It breaks my heart!!! Honestly, I can’t hardly stand to see people living in such darkness. On the other hand, I can be critical. Matthew 7:1 New Living Translation “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. That verse is too easy to remember. So what do I do? So when I catch myself judging, I have learned the hard way, “he that covers his sin will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes it will have mercy. I talk to my friend Precious Holy Spirit. He is in me and He came to be my helper. He knows I’m not perfect, that’s one more reason I am thankful for God’s Grace. It’s too precious to abuse and too magnificent to ignore. I need a friend that always knows what to do so I ask Him. Now don’t misunderstand me I don’t pray to Holy Spirit, but I do have conversations with Him. You do realize He is God’s active agent in the Earth today, don’t you? What do I do with the stupid, the absolute insanity of the things that people I love with all my heart are doing around me? The sin. The outlandish rebellion against God that is taking them deeper and deeper into a dark, dark hole! What do I do? Sometimes the sin I see makes me so mad! So I asked my Precious friend, my Helper, Holy Spirit, “What do I do?” He whispered so kindly, cover them with love. Should I tell Him that I’m not feeling a drop of love right now? He already knows it anyway! I know what He’ll say when I tell Him how I feel. He’ll say…in a way that conveys more love than I deserve, He’ll say “I’ll give you some of mine!” And He does. This isn’t the first time I’ve run out of love. You see I’ve learned my love is conditional…His is unconditional. My love is limited…His is infinite. My love craves recognition, acknowledgement…His is never needy in any way. His love is kind, patient, enduring…I wouldn’t even know that’s what love should look like if I hadn’t experienced it first-hand so many times. Soooo I respond to His Presence. I simply receive His love. I release my pain, my rejection, my fear, my unbelief through the gateway of tears. I give Him space to heal my heart. I let Him comfort me

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Are you sensing the need to hear God’s voice?

I have walked through some things recently where I have felt like I was walking through a minefield and every step was a matter of life and death.

I’ve been desperately aware that Precious Holy Spirit knows where the enemy has hidden the landmines (sometimes land MINDS) and wants to show me where they are hidden.

I am so thankful that He doesn’t send me off with a condescending pat on the back and a trite, “Be careful out there!”

No way! NO WAY!

In the Old Testament, Precious Holy Spirit came as a visitor empowering people for specific jobs. In the New Testament He came to take up residence within us and to guide us into ALL truth.

I understand I have a responsibility to do my part if I want to hear His voice.

Each of the writers of the gospels tell a different story following the story of “The Triumphant Entry of Jesus”. But the story in John’s Gospel resonates as I search God’s Word to learn to hear God better. It is a powerful true story that illustrates how different people heard God when He spoke.

I can feel the joy, the absolute ecstasy of the people, as I read the accounts in the Gospels of the triumphant entry of Jesus that day. The Bible doesn’t tell us what Jesus felt while the people celebrated. But John pulls back the curtain to show us the heart of Jesus after the event.

John 12:23 But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

Jesus understood the significance of this event. It was prophesied by the prophet Zechariah. Zechariah 9:9–13

Zechariah saw not only the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem but also the blood covenant that was required to release prisoners from the stronghold of sin. Jesus wanted to prepare His disciples for His death, so He continued.

27 Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say?

‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour.

28 Father, glorify Your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven:

“I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

Pay Attention.

OK! This next verse is very important. I don’t want you to miss this.

29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered.

Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.

30 In response, Jesus said, “This voice was not for My benefit, but yours.

The crowd heard thunder. But some recognized the spiritual significance. Maybe it was the religious people. Some though an angel was speaking to Jesus.

But Jesus said… “This voice was not for My benefit, but yours.”

They missed the voice of God. They missed the understanding, the significance of this moment, because they hadn’t trained their ears to hear God.

Please hear me. I know that sometimes God speaks so clearly that I have no doubt God is speaking. He speaks to me through His Word. He speaks to me through a phone call of a brother or sister.

But there comes a time for God’s children to learn how to hear God’s voice.

Luke 8:18 Amplified Bible
So be careful how you listen; for whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a longing for truth], even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”

Please don’t believe the lie that He doesn’t speak to you. If you are His child…He talks to you!!!!

Maybe you just need to get the earplugs out, so you can hear what He’s being saying!

I’m not being mean. This is just no time to miss what God is saying.

Sometimes God says things I don’t want to hear.

Sometimes He says, “You have a wrong attitude.”

Or “Your attitude stinks!” So, I repent.

Or “Love better.” So, I cry out for Him to give me some of His love.

Dear friend, God sees the beginning from the end. His eyes see the truth clearly and sometimes you don’t. Sometimes your emotions muddle the truth, so all you see is the mud and not the truth.

God has sent Precious Holy Spirit to guide you. So listen.

You won’t hear Him if you don’t listen.

Open your Bible expecting Him to answer.

Ask Him questions. As you go about your day, listen for answers. Sometimes He uses ordinary circumstances to answer, but you’ll recognize it as Him!

Listen. Listen. Listen.

If you were blessed by this podcast would you subscribe so you don't miss a single day.

www.patriciaholland.org/

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There are things in God’s Word that are absolutely amazing!

Jesus became a man. Born to a virgin woman.

He humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Because of that…

Philippians 2:9

9Therefore God exalted him

to the highest place

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

10that at the

name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

in heaven

and on earth

and under the earth,

11and every tongue acknowledge

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of

God the Father.

Then the prophet Isaiah gives us names that describe Jesus.

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given,

and the government will be upon His shoulders.

And He will be called

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.

I’ve shared with you many times how precious the redemptive names are to me in my worship time.

There are 7 Redemptive names that open and disclose the benefit package that Jesus purchased for everyone of us at the cross.

Let me briefly review them with you.

His continual Presence JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH

Shepherd, Guide, Protector, Nourisher JEHOVAH-RA-AH

Peace, wholeness, Salvation JEHOVAH-SHALOM

Righteousness JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU

Victory JEHOVAH-NISSI

Healing JEHOVAH-RAPHA

Provider JEHOVAH-JIREH

John 3:16 describes Jesus as God’s Gift.

Jesus the Lamb of God that was come to save the world from their sin.

Luke 3:16 describes Jesus as the baptizer.

He explains that I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with fire.

John 1:32 NIV Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.

33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

I love to begin my prayer time by thanking God using His name and names that describe His nature. But I don’t think I have ever used the descriptive word “baptizer” for Him.

I am so thankful that Jesus is still the baptizer.

He still wants to baptize believers with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus still want to baptize believers with the Holy Spirit and fire.

I am so thankful!

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Do you hate to make decisions?

Maybe you dread making decisions so you kick them down the road. Yes, we have to live with the consequences of those decisions.

Yet, when you have wisdom the consequences of living with those decisions are drastically different.

I didn't say information. I said wisdom.

There is a drastic difference between information and wisdom.

You are living in the information era. Knowledge is at your fingertips. With just a few keywords and a great search engine you can learn about almost everything!

Wisdom is rare. Wisdom is worth more than rubies.

for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her." Proverbs 8:11 NIV

Jason Brown was facing a crossroad.

I had never heard of Jason Brown and never dreamed when I turned on the TV in the middle of the night that I was about to hear a story that would build my faith. It would encourage me to seek God not only for provision, but for wisdom!

Not just knowledge, but wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to put knowledge in practice. That's totally different!

Growing a Greener World-From Cleats to Beets was the episode name.

A gardening show is a unique place to meet the highest paid Center in the NFL? Cleats to beets? I was wide awake.

When facing a decision

Jeremiah 6:16 NIV

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Seek His will

Proverbs 3:6 NLT

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Need Wisdom?

James 1:5 NLT

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Wisdom is found in God.

Proverbs 4: 5,6 NIV

5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. 6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.

Proverbs 3:6 NLT

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

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Most mornings I try to either walk on the treadmill or hop on the bike to start my day with some exercise. But a few days ago, the weather was perfect so we My husband and I decided to take our walk outside. I didn’t know how perfect the day was until I got outside.

There’s this beautiful park near us with gravel trails that wind past and under beautiful live oaks along the river, but there are also dirt paths cut through the woods that zig zag along the St. John’s River.

https://youtu.be/qbOswxui4m0 This post is better when you see and hear than just read it. The gravel paths are wide enough for two people to walk side by side

Beyond the gravel paths are the dirt paths are only wide enough for a single person to walk with shrubs and bushes on both sides of the trail.

Since it was such a gorgeous day, I wanted to take the longer dirt path. The massive roots of huge Bay Trees and Live Oaks crisscrossed the dirt path where we walked, providing an obstacle course that made paying attention to where stepped next absolutely essential! We hadn’t walked very long until a snake on the path reinforced my need to be very careful.

The vibrant leaves bursting from the leaf buds screamed “Spring is here!” I love Spring Green. It’s my favorite color, so I’m not gonna “Spring” by plodding through the woods like nothing is going on...no way! And you can’t watch the ground and see the beauty all around you, without stopping ever now and then to drink in the beauty that’s bursting all around you. If you’re gonna really see the beauty, you have to stop, look, drink it in!

Let me share with you what I saw. When the light hits the water just right, it looks like a million diamonds dancing on the water…and when I see that beauty through the oaks trees all decorated with moss hanging and dangling and dancing from tree limbs in the wind it takes my breathe away. I just go wow!

As we are walking the trail, occasionally a puff of wind sends a rain of dried leaves swirling and twirling to the ground. The incessant screech of a hawk finally grew quiet and we heard the sweet sound of song birds that seemed to be almost as excited as me to see Spring finally arrive.

We stopped to see the dragon shaped limb that lay beside the path. The empty nuts shells, the remains of breakfast, lunch and dinner that marked the spot where a squirrel had plunked itself on a green moss covered rotting log to enjoy walnuts and hickory nuts. Empty halves told the story of hungry squirrels with sharp teeth and a whole lot of patience. Believe me, I’ve tried to crack those nuts…and even with a hammer it’s next to impossible, I was amazed at all those empty shells we saw.

When I spotted the little yellow trumpet like blooms on the path, I had to stop to find the vine. It’s the tale, tale signs of a yellow jasmine vine. One of the first bloomers in this area. You have to look up high in the nearby trees to find it, because it is an amazing climber. Those tiny tendrils of the Jasmine stretch and twists onto the limbs of a nearby tree tighter than the twisty on a loaf of bread. They gotta hold on, cause they’re gonna climb all the way to the top of the tree so they can get the needed sunlight to produce a massive number of happy yellow flowers.

The Jasmine vine was worth the stop. Tiny burst of bright yellow blooms against dark green leaves. Their sweet fragrance fills the air. I would have missed all this if I had power-walked the trail today. Power walking is great exercise, but I needed to experience the beauty as much as I needed the exercise.

I make exercise a priority. Yet, I have spiritual disciplines that are even more important.

This life is short, but eternity is…well…eternity is eternal. I want this life to count. I want to accomplish what I was made for, just like that sunny, yellow jasmine climbs a big old tree to reach the sunlight.

There are two spiritual disciplines that are absolutely essential in my walk with God…prayer and Bible reading. You can’t power-walk through either of them and experience the intended benefits.

If you power walk through either of them, you’ll miss the beauty, the strength, the wisdom that comes from slowing down and drinking in it’s life giving message.

If we had power walked as fast as we could we would have gotten through much quicker, but we would have missed beauty of where we were.

Please, please don’t power walk through your devotions just to get them done. Linger. Listen. Enjoy them. Fall in love with the author at a deeper level. It’s the only book you’ll never understand if you don’t know the author personally. Take the time to * worship. * ...experience His love. * ...know His peace. * ...enjoy His joy.

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I was picking up the speaker for an event, Ms. Thelma Wells, at the airport. I positioned myself at the bottom of the escalator, so I wouldn't miss her. As I scanned each person to find Ms. Wells, I noticed a young woman. I knew immediately she was a Christian. There was something about her that made her stand out in the crowd of people hurrying to get their luggage. She was much younger than our speaker, so I kept looking. When she got off the escalator she approached me and asked if I was looking for Thelma Wells. I told her I was. She introduced herself and explained, "She's my mom. She came down the elevator instead of the escalator." I didn't know her daughter was traveling with her, but I knew this lady knew Jesus. During that weekend, I had the privilege of spending some special time with this young woman and what I saw what exactly right. She was a woman of God! There are some people that almost seem to shine, but Moses really shined... I mean literally shined...so bright that he put a veil over his face. Paul is referring to that specific story of Moses in Exodus 34:10-35 when he writes 2 Corinthians 3. I always thought Moses covered his face because the bright light bothered the Israelites, but Paul shares a different reason for the veil. 7Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory, 8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? Did you see that? Paul isn't telling us this story to brag on Moses' shining face, he is using that glorious moment to point us to an even more glorious ministry. 9For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness! 10Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it. 11For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which endures! 12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We get it! We understand that Moses face shined because he had been with Almighty God on the mountain top. Yet we have a more glorious ministry. The ministry of righteousness, one with glory that does not fade. When we believe on Jesus, God removes the veil that keeps us from understanding, that keeps us from experiencing the glory of God. He removes the veil that keeps us from reflecting the glory of God. Reflecting the glory of God isn't just for special people. It's not just for "SPIRITUAL PEOPLE." Look at 2 Corinthians 3:18 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Who is that glory for? Since the unveiled faces only comes when we believe on Jesus Christ, then the all in this verse is "All believers!!!!!" I get so excited when I see a sunrise creeping into view. It is absolutely breathtaking, but it doesn't hold a candle to experiencing the Presence of God and knowing Jesus...there no comparison!!! No comparison!!! Knowing Jesus is too wonderful to keep it to yourself. We, all believers need to shine. You know that. We all know we should reflect His glory! ..that we should shine for Jesus...we've sung it since our nursery days in Sunday School. "This little light of mine. I'm gonna let it shine." Yet, we scratch our heads and wonder. HOW??? Can I really do it? Do I have the ability? Do I have the courage? Can I really make a difference? I'm so glad you asked ...because God put some answers to that question in His love letter to you. I see two more ways (You know I've been talking about this a lot lately. Answered prayer is one way and if you missed that one, please go back and listen to it.) in Scripture that you can shine for Jesus.

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There are so many reasons we pray...but the primary reason is we need God's involvement in our lives. We need Him!

Prayer is God's idea.

We can come boldly into His presence because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

One of the reasons we pray is we need...we want God to answer our prayers. Charles Finney shares a vital key for getting answers to our prayers. In this teaching I want to share that answer with you.

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Isaiah 60:1Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. What a beautiful portion of Scripture! What did God have in mind when He inspired the writer to pen these words? I think it's important that we find out, so we don't miss what God has for us.

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Jehoshaphat knew what to do when he didn't know what to do. Let me share his powerful keys with you, so you can walk in the victory God has planned for you!

Jehoshaphat Invaded by Moab

(Obadiah 1:1-14)

1It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. 2Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. 3And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

Jehoshaphat's Prayer

5And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? 7Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? 8And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 9If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. 10And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; 11Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. 12O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.

13And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

The Prophecy of Jahaziel

14Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; 15And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. 16To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

18And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. 19And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.

The Enemies Destroy Themselves

20And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. 21And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. 22And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 23For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

24And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. 25And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.

The People Return in Triumph

26And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day. 27Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies. 28And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD. 29And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. 30So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.

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As you list your gifts, don't fail to enjoy the most wonderful gift of all because you fail to open it. Let me explain with a story.

Open Your wonderful gift.

You are valuable. You were made in God's image. That alone makes you priceless.

Open your Bible.

Open your eyes.

Open your heart.

Open your worship.

You are not alone.

You will never outgrow your need for a Savior.

Peace is not the absence of problems, it is the presence of the Prince of Peace.

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That’s strong language, huh, to beg you to do something , but I feel like it's that important. People everywhere are feeling the pressure. The pressure is real. It’s coming from every arena of our lives. It’s hit our pocketbooks, our ability to interact with friends, jobs, activities and hobbies. Some of it is from the natural realm and some of it is the devil. Yes. I said it. I know there’s not a devil behind every bush, buttttttt I also know there is a devil that hates our guts! Here the reference for the verses I used in this podcast. Add them to your prayer list. Luke 11:2 Isaiah 49:24 Isaiah 33:15 Paul shares about the pressure he felt in Asia 2 Cor. 1:8,9 NIV

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Abba is only used 3 times in the New Testament and it is always combined with Father…Abba, Father. Could it be that the word Father is not just one more way to identify us as His child, but that it is used strategically and purposely here in Scripture? Could it be that this combination is critical in understanding Who He is as our Father? Galatians 4:6 NLT And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Mark 14:36 NLT Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Romans 8:15 NLT So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

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I pray, first of all because I love God. I love His Presence. I love spending time talking to Him. I've loved God since I was a little girl and He is my dear friend. But I also pray for results. Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the Kingdom. -- C. H. Spurgeon While I don't believe we need to have all the right words to get our prayer answered, I believe what we believe when we pray definitely affects our results. When we know, really KNOW this one thing it will affect our outcome.  SHOW LESS

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Are you white knuckling anything? For me it was the dentist. He had an emergency so I had to wait. I was in the dentist office for 3 1/2 hours. I white knuckled the whole 3 1/2 hours. It was awful. When I got home I was totally drained... but I learned

Fear is the big deal, not the dentist. Maybe the dentist is no big deal for you…

but the world around us is giving us dozens of reasons to be afraid.

We’ve believed their reasons for being afraid.

We have believed the lie that fear is normal!

When we think it’s normal to be afraid

the fear rages inside us instead of around us.

Response to Fear Some people respond to fear with anger.

And some retreat.

Then there are times we do both.

The paralyses of fear keep us from seeking answers,

truth and

peace.

Fear of Man We think it’s NORMAL so we embrace the fear of man instead of humbling our hearts and walking in the fear of God, which by the way results in peace. REAL PEACE!

The Answer In the previous teaching I shared Hebrews 10:36 NLT with you. The first part says, “Patient endurance is what you need now.”

Maybe those words “patient endurance paint a picture of ”white knuckling” the entire experience like my trips to the dentist….

The truth is the exact opposite.

God is inviting you into hope filled waiting. Waiting that is tied to the expectation of GREAT and PRECIOUS promises being fulfilled.

Expectant waiting that is tied to the resources of Almighty God Who loves you beyond your ability to comprehend.

Like a persistent little squirrel goes after the sunflower seeds in a bird feeder has one objective, please, please don’t forget there is a thief that has one objective… …one objective…your destruction.

Why didn’t I recognize my fear and deal with it? Why did I allow myself to be so tormented?

I thought it was normal…so I agonizingly endured it.

The truth is we have what we tolerate. Yes, we are facing some tough situations that could make us crazy with fear…that’s enduring the situation.

His Presence Or we can run to Jesus, humble our hearts before Him…don’t bow to the fear…but humble our hearts before Almighty God. There we worship and begin to recognize the benefits that He made available for us through His death and resurrection.

In His presence we recognize that He, the GREAT I AM, the Almighty God is holding our hand. He is with you!! He is with you!

His presence and the authority of His Word enable us to stand boldly against fear of every kind. Out of that revelation of “WHO HE IS” we can resist fear…command that fear to go. Fill our hearts with the truth of God’s presence and love. Stand on the Word.

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I have done so many dumb things... some people are wise enough not to mention them; I mention my dumb thing because I think it drives home an important point. I am constantly amazed at how precise the Word of God can be in times of need. Recently, as I spent time in the Word I came across a verse in a different version than I normally read. Boy, did it ever jump out at me! "Patient endurance is what you need now..." Wow! God had my number that morning! There comes a time when you just gotta hold on...that's endurance. The patient part is a matter of attitude. I'm the only one that can control my attitude. I can get in a tizzy or I can be patient. There's peace in patience. Fear in tizzy. Hebrews 10:36 NLT the verse continues "so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised." It was exactly what I needed to hear, because I am desperate to receive God's promise. What about you? I know! I know! It is so much easier to hold on to fear...it has tried to live at my house lately. That's why I am reading the Word, declaring the Word and praying the Word. It is easier to hold on to blaming and complaining... but I don't want to reap the harvest of that kinda junk. I want to receive God's Promises. They are precious promises, but they aren't automatic. Please understand the times we are living in require us to live out the principles of God's Word. Do you feel like you've believed too long to give up now? I do too! That's why I want to encourage you... "Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised." No. I didn't forget the dumb thing. It's in the podcast.

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Are you hangry?

I’m hearing that word used more and more these days. Merriam-Webster has added it to their dictionaries; so, it’s officially a word. Maybe you’ve seen or experienced the irritability that is caused from hunger displayed publicly.

You know if you’ve listened to my 21 Day Think God’s Way for a Change that I don’t believe we have to allow our emotions to drive our actions, but the fact remains they often do.

But

have you ever thought about the fact…

that your actions are affected by another kind of hunger…God’s Word.

I don’t have to tell my husband

if I haven’t been feeding my spirit…he can tell.

I don’t have to tell my kids either…

they can tell.

God’s Word nourishes your spirit.

You can’t live off an occasional sermon.

You need DAILY BREAD.

May I suggest that you add God’s Word to your breakfast?

If you skip breakfast, please don’t skip God’s Word! You need it right now more than ever.

One more thought to leave you with…

it’s not how much you eat of God’s Word that nourishes you; it’s how much you digest.

Quick suggestions to help you digest more.

Think about what you are reading.
Pray over it.
Ask God to open your understanding and how He wants you to apply it to your life.

John 15: 7 New Living Translation
But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

P.S. To listen to Think God's Way for a Change scroll to my very first podcast or go to my blog page and listen there.

https://www.patriciaholland.org/home/think/

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In Math we don’t have any problem understand 8 is less than 9 11is greater than 9 Greater than and less symbols are very important Math symbols. They are used in writing computer “if then” statements.

But this kind of comparison is very destructive and divisive when we try to use them to establish a persons worth. My Mother called it the Big "I" and the Little "u". We all lose with this kind of mentality becomes the norm.

Mark Twain said "Comparison is the death of joy."

Research indicates that it is the breeding ground from some of the life's most defeating emotions...low self-confidence, jealousy and depression.

There is a diabolical spirit behind the greater than less than comparison.

I want to talk with you about what it means to bear the image of God. It's an exciting reality.

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I absolutely love the picture that Acts 10:38 NLT gives us of Jesus. “And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” Does that verse excite you? Does it inspire you…does it make you want to see the sick healed? Does it make you hungry for miracles? How it affects you will depend on how you read it. In preparation to talk to you about Pentecost I looked at Robert P. Menzies’ book Pentecost This Story is Our Story. At the very get go a quote absolutely seized my heart “The hermeneutic of the typical Pentecostal believer is straight-forward and simple: the stories in Acts are my stories—stories that were written to serve as models for shaping my life and experience.” Did you see that? “stories that were written to serve as models for shaping my life and experience.” How do I read the gospels and Acts? Do I believe His story should be my story? Of course, I do. I should love people, do good things, but do I limit that to only the ones that I can do in my strength and ability? Am I content to leave His miracles locked inside the pages of a book on my shelf? I want to ask you the same question, how do YOU read the Gospels and Acts? More specifically how do you read Acts 10:38? “And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” Do you read it only as an accurate recording of a historical event? If you do then you walk away informed, but powerless. My granddaughter Ashlyn and I decided to take a walk. She encouraged me to take my camera. I explained that we were going to stay in the neighborhood and there was nothing to take a picture of in the neighborhood. When she insisted I agreed, but only if she agreed to show me what was beautiful enough to capture as a picture. I was amazed by what I saw. How had I missed the beauty? A mailbox with ornate iron work. The fountain in the pond at the entrance of the subdivision. The stately oaks adorned with moss. The radiant red roses. I saw things in my neighborhood that I had stopped seeing years ago. Some of the things she showed me I had NEVER noticed. Sometimes we read Scripture the same way I rode through my neighborhood. When we do that we miss some really important stuff. If we read the gospels only as historical events, then we can miss truths that will build our faith and equip us to do what God has called us to do. Dear friend, I want to caution you. If you read the gospels and Acts only as historical events it will impress you, but never impregnate you. It will excite you, but it has no strength to empower you. It can inform you, but it has no compass to steer you. It’s only when you read HIS story as your story, as the model for what God wants every believer to do, does it activate your faith. Like my friend Cindy. She was on a mission’s trip. The team were going to the city dump, where lots of children lived, to hand out sandwiches. She helped make the sandwiches and even used the ends of the loaf so there would be enough sandwiches for every child. She counted the sandwiches, but more children showed up than they expected. She knew there wasn’t enough sandwiches for everyone. They prayed over the sandwiches and when they passed them out, every child got a sandwich. No one will ever convince Cindy that God didn’t multiply those sandwiches. Cindy and that team understood the reality of partnering with Jesus to do beyond what they could do. Without fanfare they simply saw the story of Jesus with a few fish and bread as their story. I believe my friend Cindy was doing Acts 10:38 When we believe His story is our story, we will do the works of Jesus. Do His stories serve as models for shaping your life and experience? I think they should for many reasons, John 14:12 is one of those reasons. John 14:12 NLT “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! But Jesus didn’t stop there, He continued the conversation by reminding them that He was going to send Precious Holy Spirit. John 14:15 NLT“If you love me, obey commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. And He came. Just like Jesus promised. All the excitement caused quite an uproar! A crowd gathered and just like some people today, there were people there that tried to explain it away. Acts 2:14 says 14Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: 17‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy. 21But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’ 22“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip 33Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today 36“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”37Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”38Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God” 41Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. St. Augustine explains this event: “He was now to come no longer as a transient Visitor, but as an eternal inhabitant.” Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke “the gifts of the Spirit are not badges of honor; they are tools for the job.” What job? To do what Jesus did… Matthew 28:19,20 explains that job is for us to “make disciples” Acts 10:38 “And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” Jack Hayford Jesus is the prototype of the Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered life. The Book of Acts is the story of the disciples receiving what Jesus received in order to do what Jesus did. We simply need what Jesus had to do what Jesus did and that my dear friend was and is Precious Holy Spirit. Jesus came to redeem us from our sins. Precious Holy Spirit came to empower us to make disciples. Like he did a dear African American sister that I watched in the mall. An elderly woman had passed out and slumped from her daughter’s arm and onto the floor. This stranger, I call her my sister because I saw Jesus in her actions, that means we are sisters. (We are all made in God's image, but we must be born into His family.)This lady knelt beside the two women and gently and graciously soothed the daughter then began to pray for the mother. I don’t know this sister, but I could tell by her actions that she believed His story was her story. That’s just what we do when His story is our story. We care for people. We pray for the sick. We expect signs and wonders. We expect God to answer prayers. We believe for miracles! My dear sister was walking out Acts 10:38. Is His story your story? It can be…receive Precious Holy Spirit…His power and release it through acts of obedience.

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Resurrection is a powerful word. From life to death…that we can comprehend, but from death to life is impossible…until you meet The Resurrection.

John 11:25 NIV "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;”

Wow! Resurrection life lives in us when we believe on Jesus. Don’t you wish everyone knew Jesus?

One of the most powerful illustrations of the resurrection in the Old Testament is found in Ezekiel 37.

Ezekiel was both priest and prophet to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. He encouraged them to take responsibility for their sins, to stop rebelling against God and never stop believing that they would one day inhabitant the land God had given them. They would once again be one nation instead of two.

The Jewish people were so discouraged. To express their hopelessness They coined a phrase, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.” They repeated it among themselves.

God used their hopeless words as a basis for the vision that He gave to Ezekiel. This powerful vision was given to the Jewish people to encourage them to believe that their nation would be restored; but this vision also has spiritual significance.

Download the 5 Reasons I believe it has spiritual significance and Notecard How to Effectively Partner with God from Ezekiel's Vision. Here's the link. https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/patriciaholland/ezekiels-dry-bone-vision-notes.pdf

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Praying the redemptive names of God brings me so much peace. His name reveals His nature. Here are the 7 names and the scriptures that link them to the cross.

Below I quoted from F.F. Bosworth's, Christ the Healer. I changed the verses to NIV version unless otherwise noted. JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH is translated "The LORD is there," or present, revealing to us the redemptive privilege of enjoying His presence. Ephesians 2:13 NIV (©1984)"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” JEHOVAH-RA-AH is translated "The LORD is my Shepherd." John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. JEHOVAH-SHALOM is translated "The LORD our Peace" Jesus said, "My peace I give you." John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. JEHOVAH-NISSI-"The LORD is our Banner," or "Victor," or "Captain." 1 Corinthians 15:57 "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU- "The LORD our Righteousness." 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God JEHOVAH-RAPHA is translated "I am the LORD thy Physician," or "I am the LORD that healeth thee." 1 Peter 2:24 "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." JEHOVAH-JIREH- "The LORD will provide" Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

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Effective partnership with God!

What an amazing thought.

We understand the power of partnership in business, marriage and sports...but how do we partner with God?

Philemon 1:6 BSB says "I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ."

It's a powerful thought and can be a powerful reality when we follow this tidbit of advice tucked in the greeting of Paul's letter to Philemon.

Here's some key verses I want you to read.

Ephesians 3:8 NLT "Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ."

1 Corinthians 2:12 "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."

2 Corinthians 4:13 NIV “It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak,”

Romans 4:17b ESV says that God “calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

2 Cor 3:2 NLT "Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold."

Homework:

Write down some attributes that you see in Jesus.

Which of those attributes do you need right now to make your partnership more effective?

Find a verse that supports and bolsters your faith.

Begin to declare that promise.

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God was talking to Joshua, but this is a good reminder for you too!

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

What do you do in difficult, trying times when it is dark everywhere you turn?

As I began to pray and seek God about the whirlwind of trouble facing the world. I didn't hear much at all. As I talked with my husband he felt God was saying reset.

I began to pray, "Father, what are you saying to us?"

Basically God gave me 5 words… Reset:

Refocus

Repent

Replace

Rejoice

That was it. He didn't say much else, so I kept praying. Father, what does this mean. Give me understanding.

On Sunday I listened to Dr. Tony Evans, how I’ve prayed for that dear man in the loss of his precious wife so recently. His sermon Divine Disruptions https://youtu.be/fZYSxs5pS0M was the edge pieces of the puzzle that the 5 words God had given me had been for me. After I listened to the sermon and returned to God’s presence I was able to unpack the power of the words God had given me. Please do yourself a favor and listen to that message.

Listen closely to his powerful insight from that sermon.
“Everything that is visual and physical is preceded by that which is invisible and spiritual so if you want to address that which is visible and physical you must identify the cause and the cure to what is invisible and spiritual or to put it another way If all you see is what you see you do not see all there is to be seen."

I am convinced there’s more to see but we will only see the real root of things when we dare to see into the unseen realm. To do that we must see through the eyes of God, of divine revelation to see into the spiritual realm.

Reset- Be intentional… Refocus.

Is there a spiritual root that needs to be dealt with in your home? This is the time to zero in on what God is saying to you.
The weapons of your warfare are mighty through God. Learn how to use those weapons and then use them.

If you want to read the complete post or other encouraging articles go to www.patriciaholland.org/blog.

One last thing I want to add to this outline is Rejoice. It's just so very important that in difficult times we don't miss this vital component of victory.

Rejoice. Philippians 3:1 NLT “Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.

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Quiet Your Spirit. The engineer sounded his whistle long and LOUD at the little guy watching beside the tracks. It was loud. The ground rumbled under us as the black train engine roared past. I held Brayden's hand to keep him safe, but I wanted to put both hands over my ears. Brayden loves trains. And I love Brayden.

Noise isn't just at railroad crossings…it's everywhere. Loud radios. Screaming sirens. Angry voices. Crying babies. Phones demanding our attention. Email alerts screaming to be read. Social Media nags us to peek. Work drives us. And that's just the outer noise.

As much as noise is a part of the world around us; we need some quiet too! How do we find it?

In this podcast I look at the railroad warning to give us 4 Ways to Quiet our Spirit. I've used them for years and what a difference they have made in my quiet time with God.

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Feeling the uncertainty of life right now?

Feeling like the world is swirling in a storm around you?

It's time to pray AND it's time to worship.

Your worship is powerful.

Here are some important verses I want to share with you.

Psalm 8:1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens. 2From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praiseb on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger. 3When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place— 4what is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him? Psalms 8: 2 New International Version Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. This verse is so good that I had to share a couple different translations with you. New Living Translation You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. English Standard Version Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. Psalm 9:1-2 BSB I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will recount all Your wonders. 2I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. 9The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 28:6-9 NIV Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. 7The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. 8The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. 9Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.

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Filled with Holy Spirit?

Sometimes God raises up trail blazers, people that go before us, who pay the price so that we can enjoy the benefits that come from their sacrifice. William J Seymour, an African American pastor, was one of those people. He was one of the most influential men in the revival that birthed the modern Pentecostal movement. A movement that includes 600 million people. I want to do more than just tell you about Him. I want to look at his life, because he modeled some attributes that we need to possess as believers.

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A Love Letter

Everyone wants to feel loved. It makes you feel treasured...valuable. The experts tell us feeling loved makes you live longer, less doctor visits, healthier, happier, even less anxiety. One thing I know for sure it makes you feel happier.

I read my sweetheart's letters eagerly because I loved the author and I wanted to know what was on his heart. Also, I wanted to hear how much he loved me and I wanted to get to know him better.

That's exactly the same reason why I read the Bible. You see I...

know the author and I love Him!

want to hear how much He loves me!

am desperate, absolutely desperate to know Him better.

His Words give life

Proverbs 4: 20-23 NIV

20My son, pay attention to what I say;

turn your ear to my words.

21Do not let them out of your sight,

keep them within your heart;

22for they are life to those who find them

and health to one’s whole body.

23Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.

Life. Health. To all that find them. To ALL that FIND them. His Love Letter is for you! I'm certain about that! Absolutely certain. God loves you! No matter where you are or what you've done God loves you!! Enough that He sent His son to save you and give you new life in Him.

When you begin to read God's Word as a love letter it will change how you read it. You will realize every word of it is wrapped in love, wisdom and grace. God is good, period; even when His words correct us and directs us in a direction we don't want to Go.

There’s a question I must ask you...

Do you love the author? Have you gotten distracted? Discouraged? Busy?

Get honest with God. Ask Him to help you fall passionately in love with Jesus! Recharge your passion for the things of God by getting in His presence through thanksgiving and worship.

Have you made God’s Word a priority?
No, this isn’t a guilt trip!

It’s a reality check!!! And, we all need one from time to time. Is reading the Word of God a part of your daily routine? If it’s not, then it’s time to change something!!!

What are you saying yes to that is robbing your yes to God? What one thing needs to go so you have 10 minutes; let’s start there to spend time in God’s Word.

This is not time to make excuses. You need God’s Word in your life.
John 6:63 NLT The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

There’s more at stake here than just feeling loved.
The enemy is after your heart.

Your heart, your attitudes and actions are shaped by the things you believe. The enemy of your soul is bombarding the world around you with lies; sneaky, leaky, poisonous lies that sound good, make folks look good or important…but the end of those lies is death. If you think you can just ignore the bad, without feeding and nourishing your spirit with God’s Word, there will be a great void in your heart.

Make Bible reading a discipline… a routine…a habit. 3 Keys for more effective Bible reading. Ask God to show you things as you read. Ask for understanding. John 14:26 NIV But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Write down what God shows you. Even if it doesn’t feel like a big deal. Steward what He gives you. Then think about it. Go over it.

Luke 2:17 NIV But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Let God’s Word soak in... like you would rub hand lotion on dry, cracked hands or heels. He loves you so much that He wants you to live in His truth. He made you body, soul and spirit. His plan brings health and wholeness to every area of your life. He isn’t a big killjoy in heaven. His plan has always been to give you abundant life.

Establish God’s Word as the final authority in your life. Psalms 119:11 ESV I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Just do it!

We do things that are important to us. Decide in your heart that Bible reading is important and schedule it accordingly.

While we are on the subject-

Right Thinking Begins With Right Listening

https://www.patriciaholland.org/home/right-listening/

Does What You Think Matter?

https://www.patriciaholland.org/home/think/

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Click here to download the free cheat sheet from today's episode.

A trademark tells us some important things:

It distinguishes their product from other manufacturers.
Identifies it's maker.
Identifies its value.

The Number 1 Trademark is Love.

God's Trademark is Love

God is love.

God is the source of love.

God made you in His very image...that makes you very valuable.

Genesis 5:1 ESV This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.

Regardless of what you may have been told or even believed,
you are not an accident or a mistake.

Psalm 139:15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
God wanted you to be born.
He made you to connect with His love.

God loves you.

Ephesians 3:16-19

16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

18may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Deuteronomy 5:10 ESV

But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

Receive His love.

God will not force His love on you. He will not violate your will.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- John 1:12 NIV

Receiving His love is an ongoing process.

You will NEVER stop needing to know who you are in Christ.

You will NEVER stop needing to know who God is in you.

These truths are life giving.

God's love marks you.

His love marks you like the trademark on the back of my dishes.

Jesus said in John 15:35 "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

Worship

That's why worship, deep heartfelt worship, is so important.

Worship takes us into the presence of God where we can feel His love and

experience that love at a new level.

Confident

Knowing, really knowing, God's love produces a confidence that enables us to live loved, being who we were really meant by God to be. We can become who God meant us to be.

Romans 15

9“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

10If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

13Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

14You are my friends if you do what I command.

15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

17This is my command: Love each other.

You cannot give away something that you don't have.

Let's review trademark facts.

Identifies its maker. God is your maker. He designed and crafted you.
It distinguishes their product from other manufacturers. You are not a mistake or junk. You were made in His image.
Identifies its value. You are priceless.

It's time for you to feel the love. I shared 10 hints. You can read them on my blog. https://patriciaholland.org/home/number-1-trademark

Or you can download the complete list.

Click here to download the free "Feel the Love" cheat sheet.

Don't miss a single podcast/blog! When you subscribe to this podcast you will get an automatic reminder every time a new one comes out.

Please share the love by rating my podcast on your favorite podcast app.

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Fruitfulness is the natural outcome of healthy fruit trees and believers. It's how we glorify God and demonstrate that we are disciples of Christ. So of course we want to be fruitful.

Recently, I talked with you about "What it mean to follow Jesus."

Jesus describes the qualifications in Matthew 16:24 NLT Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

(If you missed myblog/ podcast, What does it mean to follow Jesus? Here’s the link. I'll put it at the bottom of this post as well.)

I've also put the link for the cheat sheet and the outline for this week's podcast.

I’ve got to tell you that in John 15, Jesus takes the relationship of a believer or follower of Christ to a whole ‘nother level! His challenge and command deepens both the relationship and the responsibility from following to abiding.

More than following...abiding!

Let’s look at John 15. Jesus is painting a word picture that they will understand readily, but it takes some explaining when you have not been exposed to an Agrarian culture and mindset.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

2Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

Pruning seems brutal.

Don’t forget the hands that hold the pruning shear belong to the Father that loves you passionately.

Pruning is essential for fruitfulness.

Don’t resist the pruning.

Allow God to prune you, to shape you, to remove the things in your life that distract and rob you of the vitality to produce the fruit He has called you to produce.

3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

Never doubt the power of God’s Word to clean, to prune; even train us.

Hebrews 4:12 NIV
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The Bible is so much more than information for your brain…

4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Your ability cannot produce the fruit that God is expecting from your life. You must stay connected.

Do you see the mandate?

Not just follow Jesus, but abide in Him!
It happens at the new birth. What a life changing event!

1 John 4:15 If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
Jesus purchased our redemption; paid our debt of sin. When we confess, or agree with God, Believe on Jesus and accept His gift, the result is He is in us and we are in Him.

The root stock is the source of life for the branch.

The root stock drinks the water and nutrients; turns them into sap and sends them off to the branches. The sap is the life blood of the grapevine.

5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Jesus is the vine. We are the branches.

If we abide= fruitfulness.
Don’t abide= no fruit. NONE!

Do you want to be fruitful? Where is fruitfulness on your list of priorities?

You have a part in this process. How are you abiding in Him?

What area can you grow in that process?

That requires action on our part…so understanding what and how to do that is very important.

What does God say about abiding in Him?

Abide.

What do you believe God is saying when He tells us to abide in Him?

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

But to put it in context of Scripture I believe abiding is best described from Thayer’s Bible Dictionary https://biblehub.com/greek/3306.htm “to maintain unbroken fellowship with one.”

What do you hear Jesus saying to you in this verse?

I hope you’ll spend some prayerful thought on this verse before you answer. God wants to lead you deeper in Him. It’s a very personal thing.

How do I maintain unbroken fellowship on my end?

What about you?

Does His Word challenge you to abide in Him? What does that challenge look like to you?

Stay in the Word.

7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

When His Word abides in us, we can expect answered prayers.

8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
Your fruitfulness brings glory to God.

Did you see that the Father is glorified and it proves that we are His disciples.

9As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

Obey

Obey is one of the biggest little words in the Bible. It doesn't need to be explained. It just needs to be done.

Joy

11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

His joy in you! Wow! Not temporary laughter or pleasure...I love to laugh and have fun...but you can have His enduring joy...His joy...in you!

His joy isn't fragile!

Download this week's cheat sheet.

To get even more from this blog/podcast. Click here to download the outline for this blog/podcast.

While we're on the subject... here's more blogs that will help you abide in Jesus.

What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Believe to Receive

Looking for a speaker for your next conference or to minister in your church. Text me at 904 287-2869 or email me at pat@patriciaholland.

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I want to give you a cheat sheet that will help you get the most of this podcast. Click here to download now.

What do you do when things don’t happen the way you wanted them?

We can make some great plans, but sometimes they just don’t work out…

Have you planned something recently that didn’t work out like you planned?

Our trip got longer when the traffic came to a total stop, so we took a detour.

At first, it stressed us, frustrated us, but then I realized the detour was just what we needed.

Wayne enjoyed the rustic countryside and I saw something I had wanted to see for years!

They were beautiful. So beautiful.

They were a gift. Sunflowers--magnificent sunflowers
a golden gift on tall green stems from God
just cause…no reason,
except He wanted to remind me that He loves me
and that He knew how long I had dreamed of seeing a field of sunflowers.

I am so thankful for His little surprises.

Have you heard the jingle “Everything is better with bluebonnet on it”? Well, I can tell you first hand everything is better with thanksgiving on it! So, I stood on the edge of that road and worshipped!

His gifts go far beyond the beauty of sunflowers or brilliant sunrises.

We see His fingerprints in creation, but we see His heart in the cross.

Our salvation cost God big time!

It’s freely received, but it didn’t come free. Jesus paid the price for our sins.

There are so many facets of his nature that awe me.

His goodness. Kindness. Grace. Forgiveness. Healing

What is a facet of God’s nature that awes you?

Was my frustration, my anxiety, my inconvenience actually His “DIVINE SETUP”?

Life is full of detours.

Even when you follow Jesus there will be times that things don’t work out like you planned, so you are forced to take a different direction.

So, what do we do when that happens?

Throw a fit? Yes, I’ve done that a few times, but it didn’t help the situation any.

Pout…I don’t even want to tell you how many times I’ve done that, but all pouting accomplished was to make me feel absolutely miserable. It’s crazy to do that to yourself!

You can trust Jesus!

I’ve learned Jesus is trustworthy…I can trust Him even when life gives me a detour. I can trust Him; even when He leads me down a path I’d rather not take.

Ask God for directions.

Proverbs 3:5,6 NLT

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

6Seek his will in all you do,

and he will show you which path to take.

Don’t forget…sometimes the detour isn’t a detour at all—it’s a Divine Setup!

Enjoying the blog or podcast? Please share it with a friend.

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I want to show you what I'm talking about in this podcast. Here's the link. Is Perfectionism keeping you from creating a masterpiece?

Is perfectionism stopping you?

It's not your friend!

I want to show you something.

It's only a tiny square of one of Vincent Van Gogh's earliest works.

If you're expecting to see the polished, flawless perfection of Gerret Willemsz Heda ( who painstakingly smooths all the tracks of his works; then you'll be dissappointed.

Look the heavy brush strokes.

For most people the sand in the paint would be reason enough to throw it away? Not to mention the uneven strokes!

The Big Picture

It was the messiness of the strokes, the dull beige and the sad grey colors, even the sand embedded in the paint that makes this painting powerful.

Zoomed in

As long as I was zoomed in on a single corner all I could see was messy...I don't like messy. Do you?

Perfectionism says, "Messy is bad. It has to be perfect."

Zoomed Out

But when I zoomed out to see the big picture, I didn't see messy anymore. I saw texture, movement and drama that made the painting come alive.

I'm left with some questions.

Maybe it NOT essential that each and every stroke be absolutely perfect to make a masterpiece? And maybe sand in the paint doesn't ruin the painting after all.

Maybe it NOT absolute perfection that makes a painting valuable?

And in life, could it be, just maybe, could God take our mistakes or the sand, what about the sand that gets blown onto the painting during a storm; could God take all the bad things that happen use it to make something beautiful out of them?

Absolutely, He can!

That maybe is turned into a resounding ABSOLUTELY when I remind myself of Romans 8:28 NLT "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

Perfectionism says, "It has to be perfect."

Do know that?

Visible Brush Strokes?

I am so thankful that Vincent Van Gogh understood that every stroke didn't have to be perfect according to someone else's standard to make a beautiful painting.

Everybody didn't understand that reality.

Perfectionism says "What will people think?"

1 Painting- only one!

Of his approximate 900 paintings, Vincent only sold one during his lifetime.

Everybody will not value your talent, but what matters is whether you do or not.

If you don't value your talent you won't

use it;
invest it;
share it.

Perfectionism says, "...when I get perfect...I will..."

If you only focus on what you can't do, you'll never do what you can do.

Proverbs 16:9 ESV The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.

I know I've shared that verse twice lately, but I want you to get it.

Ask God for direction.

Proverbs 3:5,6 NLT

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

6Seek his will in all you do,

and he will show you which path to take.

Ask yourself.

How important is this in the big picture?

Am I giving this one thing too much attention, too much time, too much power?

Is it really worth the frustration that I am allowing?

**Don't focus on failure.***

Learn from it and keep going.

Don’t compare yourself with someone else.

Don't focus on what you can't do.

You don't have to let it bother you.

You choose what your focus! You really do!

So change your focus.

Change your thinking.

Your best means you'll keep growing...

keep learning...
keep developing...
but your goal is perfect...
your goal is your best!

Colossians 3:23 NLT Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

I want to clarify my term "zoom out."

Since only eternity will reveal the masterpiece that Almighty God is making of your life story, I want to encourage you, lift your eyes off yourself and your abilities and look to Jesus.

Recognize that when you partner with Him, He's able to take your best and turn it into a masterpiece.

Since we're on the subject...

Here's some links for you to go deeper.

You can listen to these titles or go to my website.

How do you keep from Striking Out?

How's your race going?

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What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast so you don’t miss a single episode.

Sometimes we trust people better than we do Jesus.

Jesus says “Follow Me.”

This command isn’t just for people in the Bible. It’s for us too.

1 Peter 2:21 NLT
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

How can I follow Jesus if I can’t see Him?

Matt 16:24 NLT
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

There are numerous things we see in Jesus example… Suffering is the one He listed here .

But His example also includes His

Love
Knowledge of Scripture
Prayer Life
Miracles

John 14:12 NLT
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.

I want to give you a reminder to put in a 5X7 frame in your house. See the link below.

And why was going to the Father so significant?

Following God had been the real question Israel faced 40 years prior to the event in
Joshua 3.

Joshua 3:2 NIV After three days the officers went throughout the camp,

3giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.

4Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits (about ½ mile) between you and the ark; do not go near it.”

God was saying “Follow the ark.”

Why was that so important? They had never been that way before.

Follow the ark is a picture of following Jesus.

Obey Him at a new level. Go deeper. Grow your faith.
Who do you need to witness to?
Who do you need to have over for dinner to encourage them?

What is your step of obedience!

What was so special about the Ark?

I am so glad you asked that question…you did ask, didn’t you?

It’s a picture of Jesus.

It helps us know Jesus better!

Hebrews 9:1NLT
That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship here on earth.

2There were two rooms in that Tabernacle. In the first room were a lampstand, a table, and sacred loaves of bread on the table. This room was called the Holy Place.

3Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place.

4In that room were a gold incense altar and a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing manna, Aaron’s staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

5Above the Ark were the cherubim of divine glory, whose wings stretched out over the Ark’s cover, the place of atonement. But we cannot explain these things in detail now.

How is the Ark of the Covenant a picture of Jesus?

The Ark was made of wood Overlaid with gold- Jesus- fully God and fully man

Lid of the Ark of the Covenant

Pure gold. The gold represented God. Only God can redeem us.
We call it the Mercy Seat. That name comes from the word comes "khapporet" which simply means to make atonement, restitution or amends.
Blood on the lid once a year. The atonement- Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:14-15)
Covering- the blood of animals could not cleanse sin, it could only cover it. Jesus, the lamb of God gave His life to cleanse us from sin completely.
Meeting place Moses met with God and God talked to him from the Ark. (Exodus 25:22) God wants to meet with you. Talk to you.

Inside the Ark

Laws of God- His covenant with believers that was fulfilled in Christ
Pot of Manna- Provision
Aaron’s rod that budded- Spiritual Authority

Follow the ark

When the Israelites were instructed to follow the ark they were following more than ideology, they were following God. They were following the picture of a promise that would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Follow Jesus.

He is both the atonement and the High Priest of the atonement.
He is the final authority.
He satisfied the covenant so you can enjoy the benefits of that covenant.

Obedience is not like a buffet where you can pick and choose.

Even when His ways seem hard, follow Jesus.

You not following Jesus if you are doing things YOUR way.

You can’t follow Jesus running ahead of Him.

I want to give you a free reminder.

I like to have reminders in my home and on my phone that help me remember truths that are important to me.

I made two simple reminders for you that simply say “Follow Jesus” that will fit in a 5X7 frame that you can put beside your bed or wherever you will see it to remind you during your day.

When you see the reminder, ask yourself, "Did I follow Jesus today?"

In my choices? attitudes? with my time? with my talents?

I encourage you to change your reminder when you need a different one.

Free Reminder- Follow Jesus

Tree Background- http://traffic.libsyn.com/preview/patriciaholland/follow-Jesus-trees-5-7.jpg

White Background-

http://traffic.libsyn.com/preview/patriciaholland/remember-follow-jesus.jpg

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What is in God's heart for your year?

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV 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.

Proverbs 3:5,6 NIV influenced your goals too.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

God is trustworthy!

Envision Your Dream!

Has reality ever slapped you in the face?

What belief's and thoughts do you have that will stop you from reaching your goal?

Joshua's challenge

For Joshua it wasn't a new year that challenged him; it was a new responsibility.

Joshua1: 2 NLT

“Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them.

Do Something!

God is with you!

Jesus has given you that same promise tucked into the great commission in Matthew 28:19,20.

Don't compartmentalize your life.

3 John 1:2 NKJ shows us that reality.
"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."

Nourishing your spirit, feeding your spirit, developing your faith and learning to receive God's power and strength flows into every part of your life.

Look at Matthew 5:16 NIV "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

You need a strategy.

That's why verse 7 is so important...and I want you to hear these verse as if God were speaking them to you, cause I believe He is speaking to you through Scripture.

7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.

8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Seek wisdom.

When you don't find a clear strategy in God's Word, then you have to look for it.

But does it work in other areas of life?

His father in law began to pray and do something.

Now the soldier had a strategy.

His situation required prayer, wisdom and action.
Most situations do. Most goals do.

More than hoping!

If you are going to possess the promises of God it will require more than hoping. Hoping is a great beginning; but if you want to go all the way to finishing you've got to get wisdom or a solid strategy and then take action on that strategy. (Even if it's a single step.)

I believe that you can experience God's Heart...God's plan for 2020!
I believe you can reach your goals, but you will never reach them if you don't get wisdom and then act on it!

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Did you start your new year off with a "theme word or phrase"? Everywhere I turn people have selected words related to vision for 2020 since 20/20 eyesight means you have perfect vision. But no-one seems more excited about the idea of 20/20 Vision than Rhonda, a dear friend of mine. She was excited because she heard the clear whisper of God that he wanted to give her clear vision spiritually in 2020. And she is really, really believing God. Here words have inspired me again. There's just nothing like hearing God speak to your heart especially when it is concerning something that has been growing in your spirit for a while.

Rhonda's Dream Let me tell you how God used Rhonda's dream to influence me.
She was so tired living in "sauna Florida" (No, sauna is not a place it the hot weather.) and she dreamed of living in the mountains where it was cooler. When she found her perfect patio lounger, she put it on her Facebook page.

It was like a super, high-end hammock, made of a beautiful tan fabric instead of the roping that leaves marks on the back-side of your legs and arms. It was complete with an arched canopy to keep you cool as you relaxed and soothed your nerves swaying back and forth.

The words she had typed below the picture echoed like sounds bouncing off a canyon wall in my head for days.

They hounded me, like a persistent child repeats himself incessantly.

She said... “I want this… in the mountains so I can lay there and be cool and look beyond what I can see…”

The last phrase jumped off the page at me.

“…and look beyond what I can see.” I recognized my Father’s voice in those words. “Pat, look beyond what you can see.

See beyond what you can see.” I'm telling you those were heavy words... more like heavenly words.
Compelling
Convicting Words.

See beyond what you can see! What? Do you ever hear the whisper of God and then have no idea what He means. So I pondered the words and asked God to give me understanding. I can't see beyond what I can see or can I?

There are plenty of examples in Scripture. That was what God was calling the children of Israel to do…see beyond the giants.
But they didn’t.

That was what God was calling Joshua to do when he faced the thick walls of Jericho.
And he did.

The Israelites saw the giants... what they could see with their natural eyes; but Joshua saw beyond what he could see. He saw Almighty God; who stood behind His promise.

And what they each saw determined where they lived and how they lived.

Defeated or Victorious. What they saw determined whether they were victorious or defeated.

The choice is obvious; if we want to live victorious!
We have to see beyond what we can see with our natural eyes.

It will take more than standing on a mountain...with binoculars or even a telescope to do that.

Stumbled? The same day I stumbled onto Rhonda's post…stumbled? What a silly thought! When we walk with Jesus He guides our path.

The same day I found Rhonda’s post, I listened to a teaching that solved the question that rattled even louder than God's Words...HOW?

My take away from that podcast was– Seeing from God’s perspective requires a Biblically renewed mind. And that's how you can see beyond what you can see... you see through God's eyes to see what He sees.

If I want to see what God sees I’ve got to crawl up in His arms, look out as He points His powerful finger in the direction of what He wants me to see. It means listening to Him...sometimes...for me it is most of the time...it means hearing His whisper.

That's what revelation does... it opens your eyes and that's one of the roles of the Holy Spirit. It illuminates Scripture so you know Jesus better and what God has for you as a believer.

It requires faith to see beyond what you can see.

Faith that's rooted in God's promises.
It requires mixing the discipline of studying God’s Word with faith.
It means choosing to believe, when reason is screaming in your ears.
We must look through the lens of His Word and faith in that Word to see what God sees.

Focus It means we have to focus on the unseen instead of the seen.
2 Cor 4:18 New International Version
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

It is especially important when things are difficult. Let's zoom in for a closer look at that verse, but this time let's read it from the Berean Study Bible starting with verse 17.
…17For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

With so many problems going on around us, let's refocus on Jesus. Let's renew our minds with promises and Scriptures instead of gossip and news reports. Let's believe God's Word. Declare His promises and keep on doing until HIs will comes in our homes and in our lives.

Let's pray. Dear God, help us to look beyond what I can see to behold you
…to behold your face…
to see what you see,
so we can be what you called us to be.
So we can do what you called us to do.

Did you see what was beyond the tree?

Are you seeing what is beyond what you can see?

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I have included a beautiful, free download of the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi for you. (You may want to hear the podcast first. Here's the link. Have you ever experienced the darkness? I mean REALLY dark darkness!

I'm talking darkness beyond...

the eerie darkness of a campsite deep in the woods on a moonless night.

or the frighting darkness that comes during a hurricane; when the power goes out and all the windows are board up.

or the paralyzing darkness of fear.

or the crippling grip of the darkness of grief.

I'm referring to the

the Darkness of Sin. Sin births darkness.

In the garden... even in the midst of the first, perfect garden, Adam and Eve felt its effects immediately. And they responded by hiding from the light.

Sin's darkness blinds Ordinary people.

Good people.

Smart people.

Powerful people.

Sin twists truth, perverts love breeds fear feeds narcissism. In the absence of light, the light of TRUTH,

blinded people hatch up a reality that fits their darkness.

Their twisted darkness becomes their reality and they share their dark concoction. So the lies spread and multiply like a virus.

Infecting.

Affecting.

Effecting

Marriages.

Families.

Culture.

In the thick darkness of lies; sin looks good. It feels good.

Easier. Simpler.

more comfortable!

So darkness becomes a way of life,

a trend.

then acceptable.

And finally just normal.

Darkness like a deadly gas fills the lungs and poisons the thinking. Unchecked, unrecognized... it grows thicker.

Sin grows lies so thick that only the love of God can penetrate it. That's why God sent His Son into the world.

He knew that in the darkness of sin, people would need a light.

Let me explain HIS light with a true story Bill Wilson is one of my heroes. He has impacted my life in so many ways. He is the founded of Metro Ministries that impacts dark areas all around the world. He tells an amazing story that happened to him one Christmas several years ago. He was driving a church bus to pick up children in some of the poverty and crime ridden boroughs of New York City. It was the day of their big toy give-away. On that Sunday they give every child that attends a toy. For many children that toy would be the only toy they would receive for Christmas. The attendance was always high and the excitement matched the numbers. At one stop a little child held out a tiny package, wrapped crudely in crumpled paper. "You give me presents. I want to give you something." the child announced.

Bill smiled, but when he started to put the tiny package on the dash of the bus, the child begged him to open it right then. So he did.

All the children rushed to the front of the bus to watch Bill Wilson open his tiny package. Inside the crumpled paper was a miniature baby Jesus lying in a manger. The kind that comes in a nativity set, but all the other pieces were gone only the manger with baby Jesus remained. It was dirty and the paint was chipped and worn. It was obvious she had found this treasure in the trash.

So one more time, Bill Wilson thanked the child and started to put the gift on the dash, but she had more to show him. After rescuing the tiny Jesus figurine, she cupped it in her hands to wrap it in darkness.

"Look, did you see it? Jesus shines in the dark." Sure enough, the tiny figure glowed in the darkness of her hands. The figure was made of material that made it glow in the dark.

Out of the mouth of children... And Praise God, He does!

Jesus shines in the dark. There is no situation so dark that the light of God's love cannot shine in it.

...if we let Him in. There was no room in Bethlehem. No room, not just in the inn, but not anywhere; except a stable.

And Jesus only comes where He's invited. And when He comes, He brings Light. Truth. Peace. Joy. Hope.

That's how you know He's there.

And if He's not there, it because you haven't let Him in.

Are you living in darkness? Invite the light of the world into your heart.

The Bible says we have all sinned, but Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. Simply Believe on Jesus and Confess that you receive Him as your Savior. You can pray right now. You don't need fancy words. Just talk to God right out of your heart.

Most of the people reading this are believers I want to remind you that we have a responsibility as a Christian.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

It is our responsibility as a believer. If you are a believer that light, the light of Jesus is in you. Don't hide it. Let it shine. The prayer of St. Francis of Assisi is my prayer.

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen

I made you a beautiful copy of this prayer. Click here to download your copy.

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Luke 1 shares 3 core beliefs that are essential to help you keep believing when your prayers doesn’t happen as soon as you want them to happen. You can download a high resolution .jpg of these 3 core beliefs here. Here's the link. Elizabeth summed up the meaning of our partnership role of "Blessed" with almost surprising consciseness. I shouldn't be surprised, this story is told with the precision of a doctor, yes, our dear Dr. Luke. Yet, I don't believe their reunion would fit in a nice little concise box. Any gathering of close female relatives is never quiet or unemotional. Their reunion was filled with warmth, love and lots of emotions. Mary and Elizabeth were cousins. Mary was in her youth and Elizabeth was very old. They didn't live close enough to chat regularly, but Elizabeth is where Mary turned in the early days of her pregnancy. Maybe it was because the angel had shared Elizabeth's baby news that prompted her visit--two pregnant women always have lots to talk about, especially when the pregnancies are miracles. Excited I can almost hear the happy squeals of Mary's voice calling out, "Hello! Elizabeth! Anybody home? Hello?" Greetings that she must have called before she even got to the door. Elizabeth just knew! Amidst the happy hugs Elizabeth already knew Mary's news. I'm sorry to interrupt this story, but I want to encourage you to lean in to hear God. Expect God to speak to you. Listen for His voice. It often comes unexpectedly. Elisabeth blurted out what she knew. Verse 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Luke 1:45 CEV The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise. Did you see that? Mary had a role to play in partnering with God. She had to believe. Verse 38Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. I want to ask you is there a promise that God has given you that has happened yet? Your promise is a seed in the womb of your spirit. Don't abort it, because it hasn't happened. Mary didn't have any proof that it would happen. It didn't make sense to her mind. But she believed. In this chapter, we see Zechariah, the priest encountering the angel as he offered incense to God in the temple. Verse 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” 19Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” Let's look back at Mary's encounter with Gabriel. When Gabriel told her she was going to have a baby she questioned him. 34Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” What was the difference between Zechariah's and Mary's question? Faith. Mary believed God. Mary took her eyes off the natural realm and viewed into the unseen realm with the eyes of faith. This is what God says about Zechariah and Elisabeth: They were descendents of Aaron Righteous in the sight of God Observing all the Lord's commands and decrees blamelessly (without fault neither omission or commission purity) Why do I mention this? Because they walked with God, they obeyed God, they served God but they didn't have what they had been praying for...a son. It looks like Zechariah had given up. He misunderstood God's delay for a no answer. So when Zechariah got in God's presence, God resurrected his hope. When Gabriel told Mary about Elisabeth's pregnancy he said, "For the word of God will never fail." KJV For with God nothing shall be impossible. It is so important that we know that truth at the very core of our being. Nothing is impossible for God. God is good...all the time. I trust the goodness of God. When we don't get answers immediately, it doesn't mean God is saying no. (And God can say no sometimes, because He knows more than we do. That's where trust comes in.) But often God is not saying no, it may be that God is saying wait for it...wait for it. What happened here? How did Zechariah get his hope renewed so he could partner with God for a miracle? He got in God's presence. He was offering incense, which is worship. Worship is the normal response for a believer that knows God. It is a discipline that takes us into His presence. His presence changes us. It fills us with hope. Keep Believing 3 Keys 1. You have a role to play in this partnership. Luke 1:45 CEV The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise. 2. Worship. 3. Know…really KNOW Nothing is impossible for God.

A while back I preached a sermon related to this subject called Jehovah is a Gracious Giver. I wanted to share it with you here. Here's the link: https://youtu.be/2kgMAtQdjvg

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Will you worship with me? Yes, right now.

Mark Batterson says that the Bible isn't for reading it's for praying. I discovered that reality when I was just a young mom. It really bolstered my prayer. I felt more confident as I learned to pray the will of God for situations I was facing.

Scripture is for praising. I have also learned to use the word of God for praising. Let me explain. Sometimes I want to say something to a friend or a loved one, but I don't know how to say it. Do you ever struggle with finding the right way to express your appreciate or love to someone?

When that happens to me I go to the store and look for a Hallmark card. I read the front and the inside of each card until I find just the right card that expresses what is in my heart.

I know that worship is important. I understand it isn't worship unless it comes from deep inside my heart. I know that it must be sincere for it to be pleasing to God. But sometimes, I just need some help with the right words so I pick Scriptures that say what I'm feeling in my heart. I pulled out some of my favorites to share with you for Thanksgiving.

I'm sure you're planning your menu, buying your groceries and maybe even getting a few things cooked...but it is THANKS GIVINGafter all and isn't not Thanksgiving if we're not giving some thanks.

If you want to worship with me, fast forward beyond the talking and lift your voice with me as I worship with the following Scriptures.

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

Exodus 15:2NLT
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him— my father’s God, and I will exalt him!

Psalm 40:5 NLT
O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.

Psalm 89:1 NLT
I will sing of the LORD’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.

Psalm 98:1 NLT
Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!

Psalm 118:28 NLT
You are my God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you!

Isaiah 26:8 NLT
LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.

Isaiah 61:10 NLT
I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.

Isaiah 25:1 NLT
O LORD, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them.

Psalm 78:4 NLT
We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders.

Rom 11:33 NLT
Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

Psalms 65:11 NLT
You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.

Psalms 72:19 NLT
Praise his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!

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Problem solving is no problem... when the situation is clear cut and dry. But most problems come will a cloud of fog that seems to envelope the whole situation. So how do you navigate through difficult situations when you can't see clearly? When my coffee was ready I headed for the back porch with my cup. I was excited to drink in all the Fall color beauty, but I couldn't see anything. A bank of fog covered everything. I expected the fog to lift at any moment so I had my devotions on the porch; it didn't lift. I went inside to start my work, peeking outside every half hour or so, but the fog didn't lift at all that day. In fact it got worse before it got better. That cloud of dewy wetness covered my porch leaving the cushions too moist to use. As I strained my eyes to see I thought about times I've had to navigate through problems that I couldn't see what my next step should be. Some of those times I have been more successful than other times. As I stared at that fog I was reminded of 3 words that can help us be better problem solvers when we can't see clearly. When it's foggy you can access 1. Hindsight 2. Insight 3. His Sight Hindsight Remember what you already know. That's important because our mind goes to go ballistic on us! It wants to go off on the deep end, what if such and such happens? That feeds fear and fear makes our thinking foggy. When I look out from my porch at the fog I remind myself, it's really beautiful out there. I can't see it, but I know there's incredible beauty hiding inside this bank of clouds. We are so quick to forget. So do what David did in the Bible at Ziglag. He encouraged himself. He rehearsed what God had done in the past. Rehearse your victories. What has God done for you in the past? If you're a new believer or having trouble remembering then go to Scripture and use some of those accounts. Remind yourself how good God is. Remind yourself and begin to praise God for His great goodness, power and mercy. The God that delivered 3 men from a fiery furnace is still working miracles today! If you don't have a list of victories you should get you a notebook or file on your computer and start writing them down right now. Lamentations 3:21-23 21Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Jeremiah was intentional. Intentionally feed your spirit. Remind yourself, so you don't lose hope, so you don't lose your way! Insight Insight helps us answer the question, "What is really going on here?" Most folks want to deal with the fruit and not the root. That only perpetuates the situation. Insight comes from wisdom and understanding. Ask for wisdom about your situation. Ask for understanding, so you can approach the situation appropriately. A person without understanding uses a hammer to kill a fly. Don't do that. Seek wisdom. Seek understanding. Psalm 119:99 NIV I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. Proverbs 5:1 NIV My son, pay attention to my wisdom, turn your ear to my words of insight, Ask for wisdom. James 1:5 NLT If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. I know you know to do this, but the power of the verse is not just knowing you need to ask, but in actually asking God for wisdom. Then take the time to listen. It's just rude to ask a question and then not take the time to listen. His Sight We totally understand that when we stand on the top of a mountain we can get a better viewpoint. From that viewpoint we may need binoculars to see the redbird in the tree or details below, but that viewpoint gives us a broader perspective. Oh dear friend, I want to remind you that God sees it all. His viewpoint is wide and deep. It is both immeasurable and microscopic. God says my thoughts (Isaiah 55:9) are higher than your thoughts. His viewpoint is from a perspective that allows him to see the situation as it really is. The exciting part of this is that He wants to share His perspective with you. Psalms 32:8 NKJV I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Seek His will. NLT Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. NIV in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Don't forget. He is with you in every situation. Good and bad. He knows the best path for you to take. He will show you even when everywhere you look is foggy! God bless you. Remember I'm praying for you. God has a good plan for your life. You are an overcomer. If you were encouraged please share this podcast with a friend and/or rate my podcast. For more information you can go to my website. patriciaholland.org.

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In this podcast I want to remind you of your intrinsic value to God and why that should matter to you.

Genesis 1:27 NIV So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Created formed, shaped

Fashioned from the very imagination of God into the likeness of God to be His representative. The fact that humans are made in the image of God is the very core of the sanity of life.

Made like God...in His imagine...
Grasp what the magnitude of that reality. You are made like God.

God is

Faithful and True (Rev 19:11)
The Truth (John 14:6)
Love (1 John 4:8)
Just (2 Thess 1:6)
All powerful (Matt 28:18)
Holy (1 Peter 1:16)

Everyone...regardless of their abilities or disabilities, beauty or blemishes, everyone of us is valuable beyond measure because they are God's masterpiece.

Unique.
Valuable, no priceless,
Chosen
Designed
Loved

Psalms 139:13-16 says it best
13For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Quoting these Scriptures should be part of your regular routine.

We were trying to sell a truck.
We didn't use it very often; but it was in great shape and it should be benefiting someone. We put it up for sale at really good price. Almost immediately we began to get calls. Most of them were genuinely interested, but one man "low balled" our suggested price with the comment, "I'll give you $800 for the truck."

It was a ridiculous price. Wayne, just chuckled, "Oh, no you won't! I know what this truck is worth."

The reality is we don't know our worth. And that makes us sell ourselves short.
Do you do that? Please don't do that anymore.

3 Reasons you need to know your worth. 1. It makes you confident.
When you know your worth, you are confident. You walk in the confidence. You make better choices. You try new things. You step out of your safe little place.

It makes you more productive. You will accomplish more, because you begin to believe you are capable of achieving more... in life, in relationships and in your vocations. You will begin to value the talents and gifting inside and use them to give and/or create the things that would enrich your life and the people around you.
It even makes you more respectful of others.
When you realize that being made in the imagine of God makes you incredibly valuable; you also recognize that it is the same thing that makes the person honking their horn at you on the highway valuable too. Or the person across the isle from you at work. Or your neighbor.

That knowledge has made me more forgiving.
I realize that person that just behaved like a "bonafide rascal" (isn't that a lovely name for them) is somebody that Jesus loves. When I'm having trouble forgiving, I deliberately remind myself, God loves so and so and I need to treat them accordingly.

So how do you begin to recognize your intrinsic worth as a divine masterpiece of God?

Stop using the wrong measuring tool! Your bathroom scales cannot tell you what you are worth...they only tell you what you weigh. Stop assigning the wrong metric to your weight.

Your mirror reflects your face, but not your worth...don't give your mirror the power to assign your worth.

Your mom's opinion, your husband complaint, your grade school teacher's insult is only a viewpoint, not an accurate evaluation of your worth.

The only place you can discover your worth is through God's eyes.

He gives you a glimpse of what His divine design for you to be in Scripture...He whispers it to you when you come into His presence...as you walk in obedience when you obey His instructions you see gifts that He has deposited in you...

You were designed to plug into a power source...sorta like a hair dryer.

You were made for God's Power. He wants to empower you. He has called you to partner with Him. Wow! Think about that for a minute.

as you receive His love you'll be able to pour it out through your life...You'll experience His wisdom...His grace...to be and become all God made you to be.

You might be surprised...but He won't; He saw it in you all along.

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He had a valid reason to be afraid. David's fears were not a fantasized monster hiding under his bed. King Saul, his beloved king and father-in-law and his boss was acting like a crazy man. Can you imagine how scary it must have been to hear the whoosh of metal cutting through the air and the loud thud of Saul's spear smashing into the wall behind David was not his first clue, but it was a clear message of Saul's intentions.

David's wife Michal helped him escape in the middle of that very night. He lived with the prophet Samuel until King Saul discovered his whereabouts.

How do you wrap your mind around that kind of betrayal? After all David's faithfulness and...

bravery,
loyalty,
sacrifice and
outstanding leadership....

After all the battles David had won...

The best that King Saul could do to repay his servant...or better yet his son-in-law was acts of

suspicion

distrust

jealousy
hatred and
repeated attempts to kill David.

No idea. His best friend and brother-in-law Jonathon was clueless and refused to believe that his father could turn on David after all David had done for him and beside that what he had done for the nation of Israel. David was family! Upon investigation Jonathon verified that his dad was indeed plotting David's demise!

So with tearful goodbyes he left Jonathon and escaped for his life. I can't imagine what that must have felt like.

So many questions. Jumping at every sound.

Who could he trust?

What would he do?

All alone...
without food or weapons he went to the priest Abimelech at Nob. What David did next would turn a nob on the door of a new chapter in David's life...it wouldn't be one of David's better chapters.

As King Saul's General it seemed strange that David would be alone, so Abimelech throughly questioned David.

David covered his real purpose with lies. Abimelech gave David 5 loaves of bread taken out of the presence of God and the only sword he had available...the sword of Goliath.

David's lies and actions ultimately led to the savage murder of 85 priests, their families and their livestock.

Goliath's Sword Did holding that huge, familiar sword make him want to revisit the site of his greatest victory? It would seem so to people like me that have been so impacted by David's life. Did he stop in the Valley of Ellah at the same stream where he pulled the 5 smooth stones when he faced Goliath?

Did he rehearse the words he had screamed at Goliath on that triumphant day? I love those words. "I come to you in the name of The Lord Almighty!"

It's what I would expect him to do... but the path he took next make me wonder if instead of remembering and re-celebrating his biggest victory...maybe his conversation sounded like some I've heard.

"After all I've done...that's how he treats me!"
Were his heart and words filled with

disappointment...
betrayal stabs you in the heart...
resentment...
anger?

Did fear rock him to his very core... What do you do when the madman wanting to kill you is your king and your father-in-law?
Could he...would he kill him the next time they met?

Isn't fear, anger and resentment normal responses to betrayal? BUT GOD HAD A BETTER PLAN FOR HIS LIFE. Yet his path took him to Gath! Gath was Philistine (ENEMY) territory.

Was he that desperate to escape King Saul's cunning search or was it an angry act of retribution?

Did he think they wouldn't recognize him...or at the very least the sword he was carrying?

With his outstanding warfare credentials was he looking for a job in the Philistine army or a only a place to blend into the crowd to escape King Saul?

Had he forgotten the anointing oil that Samuel had poured on his head?
Had he forgotten the thrill of a God sized victory?

Or maybe fear was the culprit and not forgetfulness?

Fear can make you run so hard that you can hardly breathe, much less think clearly!
Fear can take you down a path to Gath...
for David Gath was absolutely the worse place he could go!

Let me tell you about Gath. If towns had signs back then, maybe they did, I don't know, but if they did, it would would read, "Gath- Goliath's Hometown." Goliath was the Philistine's favorite champion. This was not a place for Goliath's killer...especially one carrying his sword.

1 Samuel 21:10 NLT
That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

The men that served Achish were upset that David was there.

11But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances:

“ ‘Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands’?”

Did you see that? "Isn't this David, the king of the land?" They saw David differently than he saw himself.

12David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath.

The explanation at the beginning of Psalm 56 says "A psalm of David, regarding the time the Philistines seized him in Gath. Imprisonment which could lead execution gave David a very real reason to be very much afraid of Achish .

Psalms 34 and Psalms 56 are a transparent look at what He is feeling and what he actually did during this time. Let's take a look at

Psa 34 NLT
1 I will praise the LORD at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
2 I will boast only in the LORD;
let all who are helpless take heart.
3 Come, let us tell of the LORD’s greatness;
let us exalt his name together.

What did David do? I know. He did what David does. He seems to be back on track. David got his eyes on God and worshipped. He talked about and declared God's greatness. It's more than just a habit. It was a key to overcoming fear.

David worshipped.
Let's look further for another key.
4 I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
6 In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.
7 For the angel of the LORD is a guard;
15 The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right;
his ears are open to their cries for help.

David prayed. He turned his worry into prayer. Prayer is powerful. Prayer is not informing God about a problem. Prayer gives us the opportunity to partner with God.

Psalms 56:1 NLT
O God, have mercy on me,
for people are hounding me.
My foes attack me all day long.
2 I am constantly hounded by those who slander me,
and many are boldly attacking me.
3 But when I am afraid,
I will put my trust in you.

I absolutely love verse 3. Have you ever asked someone a question and they said so much and talked so long you never heard an answer...you were just glad when they stopped talking. But you needed an answer bad enough to ask someone else and they answered your question with a straightforward answer. David nails it with his answer here.

When I am afraid...I trust God.

David trusted. His story of facing fear head on gives us 3 specific keys to use when we are afraid.

Worship. Prayer. Trust. So how does this chapter of David's story end? How did he get out of jail?

1 Samuel 21: 13 So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.

14 Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? 15 Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?”

And when he got out, he skedaddled back to Israel. I wish I could tell you the war was over, but it wasn't. His new home was in the cave of Adullam. His relatives joined him there. Then men began to join him. Men who were in trouble, in debt or just discontented.... They kept coming until David was the captain of about 400 men.

He returned to Israel with three very important tools to conquer fear. Keys that I hope you will personalize and practice in your life.

Worship Him because He is good.
Pray. Turn your worry into a prayer.
Trust. Take a breath...exhale it and trust!

There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still. Corrie ten Boom

“What wings are to a bird and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul.” Corrie ten Boom

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In this podcast I want to share with you how the love of God carried a woman through the horrors of Germany's worst death camp, Ravensbruck, during the holocaust. I want to share a truth with you that she shared around the world after her release. Her story was indeed a horror story of epic proportion...she lost so much...but God turned her story into a love story. I want to share this story with you because God has not changed and His love can change your story into a love story too.

1 John 4:18 KJV There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

I can't help but approach this verse as a food lover. It's like tasting something so wonderful that you have to ask the cook, what's in this...and with a broad grin the cook explains, well most folks put allspice in their's, but not me...I put cinnamon.

John is telling us what is not in love.

NO FEAR... PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR.
fear has torment (you know that's true) so there's none of that is in God's love.

Phillips Christian love—the highest and best gift
1 Corinthians 13: 1-3 If I speak with the eloquence of men and of angels, but have no love, I become no more than blaring brass or crashing cymbal. If I have the gift of foretelling the future and hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but the very secrets of God, and if I also have that absolute faith which can move mountains, but have no love, I amount to nothing at all. If I dispose of all that I possess, yes, even if I give my own body to be burned, but have no love, I achieve precisely nothing.

4 This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience—it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive: it is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance.

5-6 Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. It is not touchy. It does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails.

7-8a Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.

Corrie ten Boom says, "...and in my life everything had fallen."

Even if you have read the hiding place please hear my heart and for that reason I ask you to go to my podcast. Believe me, this podcast is worth listening to.

What you are about to hear is an absolute horror story. The devil intended to make Corrie's story a horror story, but he didn't have the power to do that. God turned Corrie's horror story into a love story. Corrie is not the hero in this story. this story is bigger than Corrie. But what Corrie did can change your troubled, pain filled, heart breaking story into a love story.

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In this podcast I want to share with you how the love of God carried a woman through the horrors of Germany's worst death camp, Ravensbruck, during the holocaust. Historians estimate that between 11 and 17 million people were killed in the holocaust. I want to share a truth with you that she shared around the world after her release. Her story was indeed a horror story of epic proportion...she lost so much...but God turned her story into a love story. I want to share this story with you because God has not changed and His love can change your story into a love story too.

1 John 4:18 KJV There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

John is telling us what is not in love.

NO FEAR... PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR.
fear has torment (you know that's true) so there's none of that is in God's love.

Phillips Christian love—the highest and best gift
13 1-3 If I speak with the eloquence of men and of angels, but have no love, I become no more than blaring brass or crashing cymbal. If I have the gift of foretelling the future and hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but the very secrets of God, and if I also have that absolute faith which can move mountains, but have no love, I amount to nothing at all. If I dispose of all that I possess, yes, even if I give my own body to be burned, but have no love, I achieve precisely nothing.

7-8a Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.

Corrie ten Boom says, "...and in my life everything had fallen."

Even if you have read the hiding place please hear my heart and for that reason I ask you to go to my podcast. Believe me, this podcast is worth listening to.

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Shut the door. I know first hand what happens when you leave the door open.

I was running late, which I do more often than I should. I had to load the car, feed the dog, put my shoes on (Yes, I was barefooted which makes this story even worse.), and then I would be ready to go. I was in a hurry to get gone, so I left the front door open as I loaded the car.

I didn’t know that someone’s pet was on the loose or I never would have left it open. As I lowered my heavy box into and all the way to the back of the trunk, a little dog scampered over to check me out, barking and wagging his tail. The frisky visitor frightened a skink in the flowerbed. The skink both frightened and intrigued my visitor, so the chase was on with the skink running and the dog chasing. Any other day I would have enjoyed watching the pursuit, but I was in a hurry—no time to stop.

Then suddenly this chase took an unexpected turn— inside my house they went. The skink was running for his life and the dog was chasing it because that’s what dogs do. I followed the dog, as he ran through the house barkly wildly at the skink. My dog was on the back porch was really upset; he was going mad out there. He seemed to be saying, “What’s that dog doing in my house? You don’t let me in there!” Any other day it would have been hilarious, but not as late as I was. I wasn’t laughing. I was too out of breathe chasing the dog, chasing the skink, running for his life to laugh. It was the perfect plot for a Dr. Seus book. It took me a few minutes to get the dog out, but where was the skink? I searched everywhere, but the fat, purple monster alluded me. I grabbed another box and shut the door behind me, that’s right, now that the skink was inside my house. I loaded another box in the car, came back inside to looked for the skink again. No luck so I loaded the next box.I searched every room in the house again. I carefully looked for the skink, carefully because I didn’t want that thing to jump on me. Honestly, I don’t know what I would have done with it if I had found it. I couldn’t leave it in the house, but I had to leave it. Wayne would just have to find it when he got home from work! Sorry baby, it comes with being married to me…didn’t you know “Skink Chasing” was one of the requirements on your marriage license? But I learned something, something I already knew, but I didn’t practice that day…shut the door! You never know what might be in the yard. Skinks are definitely not on my invitation lists for house guests. Why did I leave the door open? Convenience. Apathy. What could it hurt?
I never dreamed that anything would go inside in the few minutes it would take me to load the car! It had never been a problem before.

But do we give the same diligence to our heart?
Proverbs 4:23 NIV Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Let's look at the Good News Translation "Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts."

Wayne's Cajun costumed character used to ask the kids in Children's Church, "How many doors be here? To their answer of two, he would reply. "No, there be three doors in this room. There be the front door, the back door and Isadore."

You have three doors. You can't afford to miss a door or live as if there were no doors to your heart. Your senses are doors that shape your heart and beliefs.

Eyes. What you see is a door to your heart.
Ears. What you ear is a door to your heart.
How you process the data you receive affects your heart.

You want to give beautiful things access to your heart. They bring the light of happiness inside. Laughter, music, good conversation and reading wonderful books shape your beliefs.. But don't forget that your thoughts or how you process that data is your third door.

It matters! It is dangerous to think that what you see, hear and process does not affect you...it does. So be careful.

When you don't shut the door to the wrong influences your give fear access to your life. As innocent as Halloween may appear it can give fear an access. Don't let the fun numb the wisdom of watchfulness. I'm not against fun costumes or even the candy treats, yet there is a foul spirit of fear from hell that is always looking for opportunities to deceive people. Be alert. Be watchful.

Fear can grip you. I'm sure I don't have to tell you about fear...you've felt it, but just incase life has numbed you I want to remind you.

Fear is a heavy weight Proverbs 12:25 NIV Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

I love Zach Williams Fear is a Liar song.

(Here's the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1srs1YoTVzs Zach)

Fear is a haughty, loud liar that backs you into a corner and immobilizes you. Fear loves to smash dreams then it points back with accusations that blame and shame you when those dreams don't happen. Fear sucks the life out of your faith, steals your hope and destroys your influence.

Fear is a greedy thief. Fear will vandalize your heart and carry off everything precious including your health.

You don't want a skink or a snake in your house, so why would you allow a predator that will take more than either of them inside your house?

You don't need a fancier door; or a stronger door;

a bigger door--

you just need to shut the door you have!

Pay attention. There are reasons that God's people have so much fear in their lives; one of which they simply don't shut the door.

Ephesians 4:27 NIV
and do not give the devil a foothold.

I think the International Standard Version makes this verse even clearer.
and do not give the devil an opportunity to work.

Romans 8:15 NIV The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." That's important. God's Spirit doesn't make you a slave; instead His gift of salvation makes you a child of the King of kings.

Let's look at that verse in the BSB

"For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"" God doesn't want a single one of his children in slavery to fear. yet I see so much fear even in believers.

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery. Jesus set you free so you can live free... but you can return to fear. encumbered, hindered, bound by a yoke of slavery. You don't have to return to fear... you can choose differently.

Proverbs 4:23 says guard your heart, but Phil 4:7 shares one more layer of protection

Phil 4:7 BSB And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Not just any peace...it's God peace. Phil 4:7 CEV says "Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel." Don't miss this...Peace gets to control what you allow the doors of your senses. It get to control what you think about. God peace gets the remote control to your thoughts, your TV, your Netflix selections.

Listen when He says, "Don't watch that." Then don't watch it. Don't take part in a conversation, when you hear Him say "Shhhh!"

It's not a diet...It's a way of life. Sometimes when we discover a truth we do it for a little while and then go back to life as normal...sorta like we do with diets. Shutting the door on fear must be a way of life. Even as I was studying this subject I had a thought grip my mind and I had to shake it off.

Know for certain that you do NOT have to be consumed or beat down by fear. God wants you to walk and live in peace. But you have a role to play in whether you have peace or fear. So shut the door..."Fear, It's your turn to hear...cause you're not gonna stay here! You have to go in Jesus Holy name."

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Maybe you can think of a dozen reasons that fear shouldn't hang out at your house, but I have one great, big, huge, hairy reason it can't stay at my house. Before I share this 1 reason you can't let fear stay, let me tell you how I learned that lesson. I was writing God's Laws for Kids, so I was studying Exodus and Numbers 13. I love the Old Testament stories especially anything about Moses. Moses is one of my heroes! My story begins at a crucial moment in Israel's history. It was time to take possession of the promise. God described His Promise to Moses when he bowed before Him at the burning bush. Exodus 3:8 NIV 8So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. Exodus 3:8 NIV Fertile. Spacious. Flowing With nourishing milk and sweet honey. They were out, and now it was time to go in… They were on the precipice… so close…so close. It was God’s idea to send spies into the land (Exodus 13:1). Moses selected leaders. Twelve men were chosen; one from each tribe to check out Canaan and bring back their report. 40 days is a long time to wait, unless you’ve already waited 400+ years! I can only imagine how hard it was to wait for the spies to get back. If I had lived back then, I can tell you for sure, everyday I would have stopped and looked. Everyday I would have shaded my eyes from the glaring sun and strained to see if I could spot a cloud of dust that announced their arrival. Finally, FINALLY, they arrived. Everyone gathered around, pushing and shoving. They spotted the two guys with the end of a staff resting on their shoulders and a huge grape cluster swinging from the middle. The others were pulling figs and pomegranates out of their sacks. Wow! It was just like God said; a land flowing with wonderful things. Shhh! Don’t you know they had to quiet that crowd down? 27They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. Numbers 13:27,28 The word Anakites sounds happy like kites are fun! But, they knew Anakites were giants! POWERFUL GIANTS TALL WALLS FORTIFIED …IMPOSSIBLE for them-but, not for God! Have you ever noticed that every promise God gives us always seems to have a giant that must be defeated or a wall that must be hurdled before we can receive the promise... that's so we can partner with God to experience victory! Ten spies said, “We are grasshoppers compared to these guys.” What a powerful word picture. Giants vs grasshoppers. They could read the headlines already! Grasshoppers Squashed Under Giant's Big Sandal. Fear gripped their hearts! Wringing their hands, they cried hot angry tears of defeat! They hadn’t done anything yet, but already they were defeated. All my life I never understood their actions.! That is until I wrote “God’s Laws for Kidz”. I saw this story through the eyes of a someone in the crowd and I saw the disappointment and fear on their face. I saw the people for the first time, just like me, afraid. While I’ve never faced anything like the situation they were facing, I’ve had dreams dashed before my eyes. I’ve been afraid of what the future held. I’ve faced strong giants and stood on tiptoes to see over walls way too tall to look over. These folks, the ordinary people just like me in the crowd, were afraid. But I held them to a higher standard. They had just walked through the Red Sea on dry ground. They had just heard the voice of God and saw the fire and smoke on the mountain. How could they forget the promise God had given them? How could they fail to trust God? But hold everything! I...we live under a better covenant. I’ve had some promises from God. There are some things that I felt God has told me to do, things that terrified me. So I prayed...the spiritual thing to do huh! (I called it prayer, but maybe I should call it whine.) OK! So I will correct that…I whined to God, “Oh God, I want to do such and such, but I’m afraid. What if: I’m not smart enough? I’m not good enough? I fail? The people don’t like me? Have you ever done that? That’s what the children of Israel were doing that day. I thought (without realizing it) that God would be really impressed with my wonderful attitude! I thought God would respond something like, “You poor little darling! Oh, that’s just awful. That’s all right, calm down. Shhh! You’re afraid, so just sit down. That’s OK. You’re afraid to obey me, that’s all right. I’ll let you have the promise any way.” But, when I wasn’t receiving the promise, I thought God was failing me. I was working hard. I was doing everything I could do. Well, except believing Him and then there’s that part about trusting Him. I wasn’t doing that part at all because I was trusting in my efforts. I was so discouraged and told Wayne, “I’m doing my part. From sun up to sun down, I work, literally, and God isn’t doing a single thing to help me.” But, when I wrote this story for my curriculum, I saw myself in that crowd. I was one of them, wringing my hands and complaining, “Oh God, I want to go into the promised-land, but I’m afraid!” And the interpretation of that is, “I want the promise. But, I’m afraid, so I’m NOT going to obey you.” Did God ignore their disobedience because it was wrapped in fear? Tweet this! No! He didn’t. I was shocked… God wasn’t going to let me get by with wrapping my fear in the warm, blanket of disobedience!!! Not gonna happen! They didn’t receive the promise because they didn’t obey! Obedience is critical, because faith without works is dead. When we trust God, we obey God. Fear stopped them and left them to die in the wilderness. Is that too graphic? It's a horrible thought. Fear is still fear. It will stop you too, if you let it! So what is the one big, really big, giant reason I don't let fear stay...because God says fear not. He says it again and again throughout the Bible. He says it for a reason. Two men in that group of spies. tHey saw the same giants, but they had a different spirit…a different attitude. No Fear. God’s promise was bigger in him than the giants around him. That's gooood! I gotta repeat that one. God's promise was bigger in him than the giants around him. He encouraged the people, “We can do it!” They were afraid...so they disobeyed and they died in the wilderness. But, Caleb and Joshua believed and they received the promise. Joshua 1:7“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 10So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11“Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’ ” What about you? Does God want you to receive the promise? Yes, a thousand times yes. But in fairness to you I must warn you. Fear will try to stop you. It can’t unless you let it. You have a choice; to choose faith or fear. You can choose to obey or disobey. Choose faith...choose life. I'd love to share my free ebook that will help you be stronger. Check it out at the link below.

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How do you keep from striking out?

While the answer may seem obvious, let’s talk about George Herman Ruth first. He was born in 1895. Some say he learned to play ball at St. Mary’s Reformatory/Orphanage and other stories say he ended up at St. Mary’s because of all the windows he broke playing stickball in the streets. When George was 16 years old he was signed on to play with the Baltimore Orioles (Minor League at that time.) His teammates nicknamed George the “Dunn’s new babe” and the nickname stuck.

Babe Ruth was a “give it all you got-slugger” at bat.

He said, “Baseball is the greatest game in the world and deserves the best you can give it.” And he did. But that "all-in" attitude earned him the unsolicited title “King of Strikeouts” five times. He struck out 1,330 times in his career! Strikeouts are serious failures for a ballplayer.

But his fans and history forgave him for the strikeouts because those all-in powerful slugs also made him the coveted “Home run King” with a record of 714 career home runs. A title he kept until Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run in 1974. He had a total of 2,873 hits and batted in 2,213 runs, which at this time ranks him #4 in RBI (runs batted in.)

The Babe said, “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.”

It seems that in the years that have passed since Babe Ruth played ball, ballplayers listened to Babe Ruth and watched how he played ball. That information changed ballplayers. Babe Ruth isn’t the “King of Strikeouts” any longer! He’s not even ranked in the top 100 list of players with the most strikeouts. He is ranked #123 on the list.

The statistics show that players are playing bolder.

Instead of playing to keep from striking out…they are playing to hit the ball. That has produced more strikeouts, but it has developed some real winners too! Babe Ruth’s home run records have been surpassed by two great ballplayers.

I’m not a ballplayer,

so I’ve never been bothered by the fear of striking out…but the fear of failure has robbed me more times than I want to think about. Without fail I have always given my fear much safer names like wise, safe, careful or too busy.

I've even wrapped my fear of failure in colorful and comforting excuses like…

I’m waiting for the right time…

If I can’t do it right, then I won’t do it at all…and I didn’t.

I'm not good at that…so I didn’t develop new skills

My fear of failure has hindered me from giving life my best!

What about you?

Has it hindered, stopped or robbed you?

Fear of failure limits success in so many areas.

Salesmen that don’t ask for the sale.

Christians that don’t witness.

Believers that don’t pray for the sick.

Warriors that don't show up on the battlefield.

Faith, talents, and dreams that are never activated and never achieved.

Dreams that never come true because the fear of failure keeps us from:

Asking for the date

Applying for the job.

Writing the book.

Joining the team.

Getting that degree.

…

The blank lines are for you

What is the fear of failure keeping you from doing?

Let me rephrase that question… “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?”

Babe Ruth was a baseball champion!

His batting average was .342. His batting average is great; but those numbers tells us that the Babe hit the ball about 3 1/2 times out of every 10 times he stepped up to the plate.

So how do you keep from striking out…the answer is

Never play ball.

The truth is “if you play ball; you’re gonna strike out.”

But never playing at all is far worse than striking out sometimes.

And in life you are going to make mistakes…period!

You can hide from failure and do nothing…

but you'll NEVER succeed.

You'll never fulfill your destiny.

Like the children of Israel as they listened to the spies report… the fear of failure was too great! They refused to obey God.

Like Saul facing Goliath, the fear of failure was too great...he failed to show up.

And like Joshua with the call to take the children of Israel into the promised land, the risk of failure was too great

…so great that He needed God's encouragement.

In order to succeed, there has to be an attitude adjustment.

Let me adjust Babe Ruth’s advice for you,

“Never let the fear of failure get in your way.”

Here are some quotes that are a new lens to view failure through.

Don't Run From Failure. Learn from failure.

When you try and fail, you learn. When you learn, you grow. When you grow, you expand your potential for success. John Maxwell “It's hard to beat a person who never gives up.” Babe Ruth “You Learn More From Failure Than From Success. Don’t Let It Stop You. Failure Builds Character.”- Unknown “Whether You Think You Can Or Think You Can’t, You’re Right.”- Henry Ford

Failure is a lesson learned. Success is a lesson applied. Anonymous Failure is success in progress. Albert Einstein Success is measured by how high you bounce when you hit bottom. George S. Patton "Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be. John Wooden"

I'd love to share my free ebook that will help you be stronger. Check it out at the link below.

I'd love to send you my "Be Stronger Book" when you sign up for my weekly "Faith Lift." You can unsubscribe at any time. Here's the link. https://www.patriciaholland.org The sign up form is at the bottom of the page.

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Have you ever experienced an electric fence? When my oldest granddaughter, Karyn, was a baby, I was invited to speak at a church in a rural community. They booked a room for me in a gorgeous bed and breakfast in the middle of farmland. The land adjacent to the house was a pasture with cows and a donkey. Saturday morning Wayne brought Karyn and joined me for the remainder of the meetings.

That evening we strolled along the electric fence to let Karyn see the animals. The friendly donkey saw us and started walking toward us so we stopped. The donkey didn’t stop. He touched the fence with his nose and had what we Southerner’s call a “hissy fit!” Maybe he wanted to be fed or petted; or perhaps he had never encountered the fence before, but when he touched that fence his pain was plain. He stood there and brayed and brayed and brayed just glaring at us. He didn’t stop braying until we walked away.

So, when I read Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman’s “electric fence” story in her book “Mommy Power,” I could relate. (It’s such an encouraging book! Light reading, but full of good stuff. The prayer at the end of each chapter is powerful. I will read it again.)

She was a bona fide city slicker that spent her summers growing up with her cousins on their farm in Iowa. They raised cows and pigs along with alfalfa and corn. Because they knew so little about the culture of farming, their cousins loved to play tricks on her and her brother, Bobby.

Like our experience, she had witnessed the power of an electric fence and knew to keep her distance. But one morning her cousin, Arie, announced, “I’m wearing rubber soled shoes, so I can touch that fence and not get shocked. You’re wearing rubber-soled shoes and you won’t get shocked if you touch the fence.

She was convinced this was another setup for one of his jokes. So she refused. Arie continued, “Watch.” Then he reached out and grabbed the fence.

When Arie invited her to touch the fence too, she was too suspicious to agree. “Then take me hand,” Arie suggested.

She cautiously touched his fingertip. When nothing happened she grasped his hand. She giggled with relief and invited Bobby, who was wearing tennis shoes to join them. No shock, not even a tingle!

No one was paying any attention to the least little cousin who had been watching barefooted nearby. That is until she wrapped her fingers around Bobby’s hand. Her older brother felt it first and hollered in pain, then Sheila yelped, followed by Bobby and then finally the little cousin who had created the path for the electricity to flow with un-insulated little feet.

Dr. Sheila draws this powerful parallel, “Without being connected to a power source, we will run out of energy, we will run out of power, we will lose our strength to be the mother we want to be.” Amen! I love that illustration!

I have ruminated (That’s a good “farming” word. It’s what cows do with their cud.) that story again and again for several weeks now. But my take away, the words I keep hearing in my spirit, is…”Don’t come into my presence with your shoes on!”

Let me explain.
It easy to discount the Presence of God. (Please don’t do that!)

As long as the children had their shoes on, they felt nothing. But, when that one little girl walked up and took their hand, they all felt the power.

I want to be that little girl. I want to be the person that has a hold on God’s power and Presence in such a way that it is felt by those I touch.

The presence of God is something I absolutely love! Let me be clearer. I am desperate for God’s Presence!

There are many areas of my life that I walk by faith; ways that I walk out God’s Word simply because it is the final authority in my life. Yet, my desperation propels me to go after God’s Presence. I experience God’s Presence regularly…

At home

at church

in my car.

when I walk.

I experience His Presence where ever I take off my shoes to honor and welcome His presence.

Moses saw the burning bush. He came closer. But God said, “Take your shoes off.” It was an act of submission, honor and obedience.

Don’t be content with only knowing the Word of God. The Word of God is so important. I am hungry to know the Word of God. It is a priority in my life, but so is the Presence of God.

Maybe you say, “Calm down Pat, God is always with us!”

And I agree. He is omnipresent like the air. But I want to remind you that there is also an indwelling presence of God that we experience when we accept His free gift of salvation. What a difference His indwelling Presence has made in my life. But, as a little girl I discovered that I could experience His manifest presence too! I realized that He wanted me to feel His power and love in a very powerful way! And I’m hooked!

Maybe you’re saying in your heart, “Then why don’t I feel Him?”

I am confident of this one thing: “God doesn’t hide Himself from us. He hides Himself for us.” Sometimes He hides Himself so we will seek Him with all our heart. So, we will seek Him like a miner searches for gold.

“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29 NIV

Take your shoes off. Sometimes we approach Him wearing shoes that insulate us. Shoes of…

unbelief
fear
rebellion
pride
self-sufficiency
the feeling of being satisfied
sin .

Ask Precious Holy Spirit. What shoes am I wearing that prevent me from experiencing your Holy Presence?

Humble your heart. Receive the truth. Repent. Take off your shoes and open your heart as you pour out your worship and faith to experience His presence in greater and greater ways than ever before.

Father, bless my dear friends. Stir our hearts. Create spiritual hunger in our hearts to know Your Word better and to experience your Presence and power so we can be vessels that your can pour your love and grace through and out into our world so people will see Jesus!

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Elisha trusted God and his life proved it. The king of Syria carefully developed a surprise attack strategy against Israel, but when it failed...again and again. It seemed obvious that there must be a traitor in his inner circle.

He summoned his officers and demanded answers and explanations. Who is the traitor?

One brave man finally spoke up, "There is no traitor among us. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, he is telling the king of Israel your most private secrets.

And that is exactly what Elisha was doing. God would tell him the enemy's plan and Elisha would tell the King of Israel. That knowledge kept them safe.

Oh how we need that kind of insight. God's insight that would protect and guide our decisions.

Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'

Elisha had to be stopped. The Syrian king sent a large army equipped with chariots and horses. They arrived under the cover of night and completely surrounded the city.

Very early the next morning Elisha's servant went outside as usual, but what he saw made him blink and whirl around. Warriors. Horses. Chariots. Everywhere. Surrounding them. He must of been hollering by this time, Elisha! Come look! What are we going to do? You gotta see this...What are we going to do? he was in panic mode!

Elisha didn't join his panic though. Instead He said, "Don't be afraid. For there are more on our side than on theirs!

I don't know what he did, but I would've been thinking...What? There's two of us Bro Elisha. Two..one two. Look again cause it looks like a whole lot more folks than two to me.

But then Elisha prayed. O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!"

And God did. And now the young man saw the hillside all around was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Seeing the unseen is kingdom living. God's kingdom has different rules than the natural kingdom. Just like baseball has different rules than football. You will never win the game of football using a round ball and a bat. You will never have the kind of prayer results that Elisha did until you see things through the lens of God's promises.

We must learn to reach with our faith instead of reaching only with our hand.My prayer is O Lord, God Almighty open our eyes to see the unseen.

2 Corinthians 5:7 BSB
For we walk by faith, not by sight

I want to tell you my dear friend what Elisha told his servant, "Don't be afraid. For there are more on our side than on theirs!

This story is about to get even better. When the Syrian army advanced toward Elisha, he prayed or declared or maybe a little of both, "O Lord, I pray, make them blind. So the Lord struck the entire army with blindness just like Elisha asked Him to do.

The confusion that erupted must have been hilarious; as the mighty army lost their confidence and groped to find their way.

Samaria here we come! Then Elisha told them, "This is not the city; follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek." Then he led the entire stumbling army to Samaria where the king of Israel lived.

When they got there Elisha asked God to open their eyes.They immediately recognized that they were inside the city of Samaria.

It was the king of Israel's turn to panic, "What do I do? What do I do? Do I kill them?"

Elisha answered the king, "No. You're not gonna kill them...feed them.

The king prepared a great feast for them; after they had finished eating they returned to their master.

Wow! This is a crazy wonderful story and it's really true! What a miracle. the bottom line--When two men faced an entire army, one man prays and the other panics until he gets a glimpse of unseen, then God gave a surprising victory.

Do you see the partnership here? We partner with God through faith filled prayer and obedience. Elisha got results because he walked with God, talked with God He listened and obeyed! And God showed up in a powerful way.

Be very careful what you believe.

Sometimes we think we believe when instead our beliefs limit us...

Do you believe... God really meet all your needs?
Or does your supply end at the end of your fingertips?
Do you trust in your ability, your money, your strength...
Or is God your all-sufficient resource?

I'm not trying to infer that you stop doing what your part. I'm not inferring that sit waiting for your proverbial "boat to come in."

But I am saying...

let God be God in your life. Partner with Him because He is the same God that revealed the enemies secrets, opened the servants eyes and made an army blind. He's the same God you serve!

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Samaria the capital of Israel’s northern kingdom was under siege. Ben-hadad, the Syrian king and his powerful army’s presence had resulted in a disastrous famine.

Israel’s king was walking along a wall when a woman cried out to him for help.

His answer expressed his sense of utter helplessness.

I quoted from the New Living translation, but the Aramean is translated in most places as Syrian.

2 Kings 6 & 7 NLT

He answered, “If the LORD doesn’t help you, what can I do? I have neither food from the threshing floor nor wine from the press to give you.” 28But then the king asked, “What is the matter?”

She told a story of cannibalization that drove the heartbreaking truth of desperation like an arrow into his heart.

30When the king heard this, he tore his clothes in despair. And as the king walked along the wall, the people could see that he was wearing burlap under his robe next to his skin.

Burlap In the Bible, whenever someone sought God with ardent desperation through prayer and fasting, they would put on burlap as a sign of their humility.

31“May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t separate Elisha’s head from his shoulders this very day,” the king vowed.

I can only guess at why the king would blame Elisha for this nightmarish situation, but Elisha wasn’t the problem. Playing the blame game started with the first sin and has been repeated again and again when a person is confronted with a problem or a sinful consequence. You can't win shifting the blame. The king backed up his vow with a personal visit to Elisha’s house and his personal assistant.

32Elisha was sitting in his house with the elders of Israel when the king sent a messenger to summon him. But before the messenger arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “A murderer has sent a man to cut off my head. When he arrives, shut the door and keep him out. We will soon hear his master’s steps following him.”

33While Elisha was still saying this, the messenger arrived. And the king said, “All this misery is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”

Chapter 7 NLT 1 Elisha replied, “Listen to this message from the LORD! This is what the LORD says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.”

1 Kings 6 describes the scarcity of food by explaining what is available and how expensive it is; the price of a donkey head cost 80 pieces of silver and a cup of dove’s dung for 5 pieces of silver. In the midst of this kind of scarcity Elisha announces the availability of choice flour and barley grain. But not just availability, he is also communicating that the flour and barley will be available in abundance by telling how much it would cost…6 quarts of fine flour or 12 quarts of barley grain for 1 piece of silver.

2The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn’t happen even if the LORD opened the windows of heaven!”

But Elisha replied, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!”

3Now there were four men with leprosy sitting at the entrance of the city gates. “Why should we sit here waiting to die?” they asked each other. 4“We will starve if we stay here, but with the famine in the city, we will starve if we go back there. So we might as well go out and surrender to the Aramean army. If they let us live, so much the better. But if they kill us, we would have died anyway.”

What a hopeless situation! Or so it seemed. The was really true. If they sat where they were they would die! It was hopeless ONLY if they did nothing. They had no idea what God would do.

5So at twilight they set out for the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the edge of the camp, no one was there! 6For the Lord had caused the Aramean army to hear the clatter of speeding chariots and the galloping of horses and the sounds of a great army approaching. “The king of Israel has hired the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us!” they cried to one another. 7So they panicked and ran into the night, abandoning their tents, horses, donkeys, and everything else, as they fled for their lives.

I just love this part of the story! This is a perfect picture of a boomerang. Intimidation had been a powerful tactic of this army, now God was using sound to intimidate them.

Please dear friend, stop allowing intimidation to stop you. It is a strategy of hell to stop you from doing what God has called you to do;

to keep you from believing God for your family;

to rob you from the victory God has promised you.

I want to remind you that no weapon that is formed against you will prosper.

8When the men with leprosy arrived at the edge of the camp, they went into one tent after another, eating and drinking wine; and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and hid it. 9Finally, they said to each other, “This is not right. This is a day of good news, and we aren’t sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let’s go back and tell the people at the palace.”

10So they went back to the city and told the gatekeepers what had happened. “We went out to the Aramean camp,” they said, “and no one was there! The horses and donkeys were tethered and the tents were all in order, but there wasn’t a single person around!” 11Then the gatekeepers shouted the news to the people in the palace.

The King didn't believe 12The king got out of bed in the middle of the night and told his officers, “I know what has happened. The Arameans know we are starving, so they have left their camp and have hidden in the fields. They are expecting us to leave the city, and then they will take us alive and capture the city.”

13One of his officers replied, “We had better send out scouts to check into this. Let them take five of the remaining horses. If something happens to them, it will be no worse than if they stay here and die with the rest of us.”

14So two chariots with horses were prepared, and the king sent scouts to see what had happened to the Aramean army. 15They went all the way to the Jordan River, following a trail of clothing and equipment that the Arameans had thrown away in their mad rush to escape. The scouts returned and told the king about it.

Finally! 16Then the people of Samaria rushed out and plundered the Aramean camp. So it was true that six quarts of choice flour were sold that day for one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain were sold for one piece of silver, just as the LORD had promised.

Just like God said. 17The king appointed his officer to control the traffic at the gate, but he was knocked down and trampled to death as the people rushed out.

So everything happened exactly as the man of God had predicted when the king came to his house.

What are we missing out on because we don’t believe? The king’s assistant missed out on the food, the bounty that the army left and his life.

Isaiah 53:1 KJV Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? John 12 tells us the story of an excited crowd that greeted Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Verse 17 explains that many of the people in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb and raise him from the dead. They were telling others what Jesus had done, so crowds of people wanted to see Jesus too.

In this context Jesus prophesied his death; then He exposes his heart in verse 27. “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came!

28Father, bring glory to your name.” Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” 29When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

30Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine.

God spoke from heaven to benefit them, to bolster their faith, to reveal Jesus to them. Part of the crowd explained it away as thunder. I've heard people explain way God's miracles. Some of the more religious people passed it off as an angel speaking to Jesus. It was God, but many didn’t get the revelation of who Jesus was because they didn’t believe.

Verse 37, But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. 38This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted:

“LORD, who has believed our message?

To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?”

Do we believe something simply because it is frequently repeated? Do we believe something because it sounds right to our ears? Or do we believe it because it IS TRUTH? John 14:6 NIV
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

What about you, my dear friend, do you believe? Lauren Dagle has captivated America’s hearts with her song, “You Say.” I would guess that you have heard it many times, but for illustration sake I want to describe what I see (Yes, see.) in her song.

Lauren sings several truths that God says about a believer and then she sings a simple but game changing line…”I believe. I believe.” And I believe she really does believe what God says about her, that’s why her songs grips us like it does.

But I’m talking to you today and I want to know about you…do you believe?

So one more time I repeat the words of the mighty profit Isaiah.

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Let’s pray.

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The cuckoo doesn't build a nest. A mama cuckoo bird doesn't need a nest and the story behind the "why" is absolutely cuckoo! Cuckoo means crazy as a Bessie bug in Southernese.

A Mama Cuckoo Bird
is able to incubate her eggs inside her body at least 24 hours longer than most birds. While many mama's have finished laying their eggs and are sitting contently or so it would appear, on their nest, the mama cuckoo hasn't even started laying her eggs.

When she is ready to lay her eggs, she watches for a nesting bird to leave the nest for a quick meal. Her favorite host is the warbler, but any vacant nest will do. Then the female cuckoo flies to the unguarded nest, where she gobbles a single egg and then deposits her own egg in its place. In a matter of seconds she is on her way to the next nest!

She never comes back to check on her babies. She lays her egg and flies off without any natural mothering instinct. I told you it was cuckoo, but it's about to get even more cuckoo!

Because she incubates her eggs longer internally, her egg is always the first to hatch. The little cuckoo chick is born with a special scoop on its backside. Naked and helpless it struggles shove every egg, one at a time, up and out of the nest. I told you it was cuckoo!

The newborn is tired, but more than tired, it is HUNGRY! It opens its bright, red-orange mouth and demands to be fed. Like all good parents, the mama and the papa warbler begin to feed the newborn in their nest. The baby cuckoo continues to beg for food. They feed this one baby as much as they would normally feed their entire family. The baby pleads so loudly that neighboring mothers will drop by with an occasional bug.

The baby cuckoo grows, and grows,

and grows . . . until it outgrows its nest.

At 14 days the cuckoo chick is 3 times bigger than the adult warbler. A brood of warblers typically leave the nest, or fledge in 12-13 days, but the cuckoo chick sticks around for 17-21 days begging to be fed. Crazy huh! Absolutely cuckoo!

he common cuckoo is a parasite. A parasite thrives at the expense of its host. The mama cuckoo isn't interested in building, so it steals and kills and as I've already stated, so do the babies. Because the baby cuckoo is only concerned about itself, it removes the competition so it can eat, and eat, and EAT! Pretty gruesome when you think about it!

Now track with me. You know me well enough by now to know that I am headed somewhere.

The Word of God contains some exciting promises. They should excite us. They are awesome promises. Promises that if we actually take possession of them, they will bring us tremendous joy, peace and victory...right?

More than excite us! But God didn't give us His Word only to excite us.

Remember the parable of the sower? (I used a whole podcast to talk about that parable in my "Think God's Way for a Change") Remember, the seed that was planted in the stoney ground didn't make it. The stoney ground received the seed with joy, but then it wilted when things got tough.

That's not fruitfulness!
God is looking for fruitfulness. I want fruitfulness, don't you?

God gave us His Word to impregnate us. Oh, my dear friend, please listen carefully. As I was studying for this podcast, this truth has just exploded in my heart. I could hardly wait to share it with you.

I believe there is a strong parallel of how the seed works in the natural to how it operates in the spiritual realm as well.

The living Word of God is a seed. Just as sperm fertilizes an egg, when you deliberately wrap God's Word with faith, that seed is planted in the womb of your spirit. That Word impregnates you.

It is out of prayer and the revelation of Precious Holy Spirit that we nurture and give birth to those things...out of the womb of our spirit.

Gestation It is so important that we grasp the reality that just as the human seed has a gestation period, so does the Word in your spiritual womb.

I understand that an elephant's pregnancy lasts over 18 months...yep,18 month! 9 months doesn't sounds so bad when you compare it to 18...I know, I might have looked like an elephant, but I am so thankful it didn't take 18 months to deliver my babies.

I don't know how long the gestation period is for the Promise that God has given you and you don't either. You could be a lot closer to victory than you realize. So don't quit believing.

One more thing... the victory is worth the wait. Quit worrying about how long it is taking and focus on Jesus.

The Word must be nurtured or brooded.

When I say brood I don't mean you worry over it and let it fester. I mean brood like a mama bird warms and turns and protects her little eggs. She broods over them and incubates them. We see Precious Holy Spirit brooding at creation.

I see a picture of brooding in Luke 2:19 NIV "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

Mary didn't hear the words of the angel and then forget about them! How do you forget an announcement like that?

No, she thought about those words...

she pondered,

discussed it in her mind,

thinking,

wondering,

chewing on them to understand what God was saying to her.

My dear friend, I want to encourage you to mediate, ruminate and digest what God is saying to you.

Mary treasured God's message. I wonder if one of the reason's we don't see more results, more fruitfulness is because we don't treasure God's Word. Something to think about!

Don't you realize that God, the God that made this Universe, has given you some precious promises in Scripture. You've got to mine them out the Gold Mine called the Bible. Don't be a George Walker, remember him from last week's post.

The thief wants your faith. I've gotta warn you though, just like that mama cuckoo robs the nest...the enemy wants to steal your faith, your joy and your peace. And when that ole deceiver steals it (any of those three), he robs you of the victory that it produces.

The thief's strategy is to deceive us so that we don't even realize that what we have hatched a lie...so we don't realize what we are feeding is a lie.

Don't feed the lie. A mama warbler will feed the lie, I'm talking about the baby cuckoo, its not her baby, but she will feed it just as if it were her own baby...I think she believes it is. Her job is overwhelming, so she and her mate will spend all their time feeding, constantly feeding an imposter-- a parasite that will repeat the same killing and stealing of it's real parents.

Isaiah 59:5 NLT

"They hatch deadly snakes and weave spiders’ webs.

Whoever eats their eggs will die;

whoever cracks them will hatch a viper."

The word that is translated snake here, actually means serpent. What is a the meaning of serpent beyond the actual snake that comes to mind? A serpent is a spiteful or treacherous person. Sounds like the serpent in the garden of Eden, doesn't it. His treachery continues to be one of his strongest tactics.

Whoever eats their eggs will die,

whoever cracks them will hatch a viper.

There's something confusing in this verse; vipers typically give birth to live offspring, so let's look at the symbolic meaning here instead of the literal meaning.

The second snake word that is used in this verse is a totally different word. It is translated viper. It comes from a word that means hissing. Again, let's look at the imagery here. What do you do when you hear the distinctive hissing sound of a snake?

Well, I can tell you what I do! I whirl in the direction of the sound and if I'm facing a venomous enemy, pure adrenaline courses through my veins. That adrenaline tells us to do one of two things run or fight. But my adrenaline tells me only one thing--runnnnnnn!

I'm telling you I know the voice of my enemy... Do you know the hissing sound of your enemy...

your enemy is probably different than mine.

That hissing sound breaks our focus,

intimidates us,

warns us,

offends our senses.

I know some people that live in Arizona... When they are confronted by a venomous snake on their property,

they don't wait for the snake to hiss at them;

they just end the confrontation with a bullet.

That's how Jesus dealt with the devil in the wilderness as recorded in Matthew 4. It's not called a bullet in the Bible. In the Bible, it is called the sword of the Spirit. When He dealt with the devil using the Word of God it ended the hissing intimation of the enemy!

I'm telling you dear friend, we have got to start defeating the lies of the enemy with the truth of God's Word.

We don't have to hatch the deceptive lies of enemy! We have a role to play in what we believe and what we do with hell's lies. And what we do sets us up for victory or defeat.

Isaiah 59:5 says "They hatch deadly snakes (serpents)" Who is the "they" that Isaiah is referring to in this verse?

If you look at this verse in it's context, Isaiah is talking about people who are comfortable with their sins.

The context describe people that have stopped realigning themselves according to the Word of God. It is talking about people that are living according to their own desires. Proverbs describes it as "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. In the biblical context, it describes people that are no longer redirecting their steps according to the light of Scripture.

How do we forget? Devil evil! God good! When we feed lies...they grow. God has called you to be fruitful; to multiply, and to take dominion. There is no doubt this instruction has physical implications...but it also has both mental and spiritual components too!

That lie, even when we think it is the truth can never

make us fruitful, so we settle for busy.

The enemy's lie can NEVER satisfy our craving... I'm talking about the good craving...

the God craving in our hearts to fulfill His purpose for our life--

to do the works of Jesus,

so we let compromise, pacify us.

In the feeding frenzy that ensues from the constant demands of the lie we have hatched,

there's no time for the spiritual disciplines

that are essential for spiritual health--

so doubt creeps into the cracks of neglect

so we let go of other promises too...

like a child clutching a rigid kite string

that grows tired and then lets go...

confused, we back down and back off ---

settling for comfort and instant gratification

instead of fulfilling God's divine design for our life.

Lies use guilt and rejection to make us slaves to our responsibilities. We find ourselves feeding a cuckoo lie that can never be satisfied. So we join the rat race of frustration called success.

Can I tell you what I see in my spirit... I see you sitting on a nest of promises--happy and contented.

Normal life happens...

so you leave the nest to take care of normal things.

Meanwhile the thief robs your nest of a promise...it's only a single promise, but what he does next can be disastrous -

he replaces your promise with his lie.

Only one...little lie,

but that lie contradicts God's Word.

When it is incubated it will hatch and when it does it will begin to push other promises out of the nest too.

But this is where the choice comes in, you don't have to let it hatch.

There are things, some promises that God wants you to birth...don't allow the enemy to abort what God is doing in and through you!!

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not making you the hero of this story. I'm just reminding you that again and again God chooses to work through people. People that will partner with God...not people with great faith...people with a great God.

Abraham believed God enough to obey Him. He had persistent faith...faith that didn't give up when the situation didn't change. God blessed Abraham.

Galatians 3:13,14

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

In verse 14 the word that is translated promise here is used 52 times in the New Testament. It also means summon.

When you see a promise of God,

He is calling you to participate in His blessings...

to participate in His love,

in His joy...

in His peace....

He is calling you to participate in His commission to be a carrier of His glory!

Dear friend,  I realize giving birth can be excruciating.  I know.

I know how easy it would be to simply give up.

And some folks do, they quit; but those folks don't get to possess their promise.

Don't turn loose of your promise. Sometimes God fine tunes us in the process, but don't quit.

I believe God is right beside you and He's whispering in your ear. In your darkest moments, He's whispering...it's time!

Come on...daughter....

Come on son,

yes, sons have spiritual wombs too!

Your heavenly Father is whispering...come on.
You can do this...it's time to PUSH.

You know what PUSH means..."Pray Until Something Happens!"

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Whatever If you are a parent I know you've heard it or maybe you've even mumbled it to your spouse... most of the time it's used to end an argument it's only a single word and when it's spoken it is barely audible... actually it more of a mutter, just a quiet, defiant mutter... I'm referring to the word "whatever." It depends on how you use it. But I'm not referring to the way the word was intended to be used... not the expansive, no restrictions at all meaning I'm sure you've used the word "whatever" to mean anything no matter what any and all ?! This meaning is spoken with a question mark and an exclamation mark. The question mark asks, "What is that I need to do?" And the exclamation is a firm yes, whatever I need to do, I'm going to do it because I am desperate for results! The word "whatever" is used differently these days...it's almost the total opposite of what it originally meant. A different attitude changes the word If "whatever" is spoken with an attitude and a period at the end the word has a totally different meaning. The intended meaning is very clear I quit. I'm through arguing. Why bother? It's not worth arguing about. Whatever. George Walker was a coal miner with gold sized dreams. In Africa, he was hired to help build a cottage for a widow lady named Petronelia Oosthuizen. (There is no way that I am going to try to pronounce that for you!) But he was a prospector. He convinced the widow lady's family to grant him a license to prospect on the property. He literally stumbled over a gold-bearing rock. When it was examined, they found high gold content, so George staked a claim. Filed a legal claim to mine for gold. On his claim he declared that he found a significant claim. But for some reason, for whatever reason, George sold his claim for 10 pounds. Pounds are like dollars in America. Now I realize 10 pounds had a lot more buying power way back in 1886 than it does now. Yet 10 pounds didn't make him a rich man in anybody's opinion. I read in one place that it was comparable to a hundred or hundred and fifty dollars. His actions said something different. He declared that he had found gold, but George's actions said, I quit. It's not worth it. I'm outta here! Too bad, George! That claim turned out to be the richest goldfield ever discovered and he became know as the million dollar loser, maybe a more accurate name for him would be the billion dollar loser. Why? Because we value money, we understand what he lost. We want to look him square in the eyes and ask him, "What were you thinking?" Any excuse would leave me with the same answer...whatever!" No excuse would warrant walking away from a claim that big! It's important that we understand that George isn't the biggest loser! Mark 8:36 KJV gives us a picture of the biggest loser. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? The answer is obvious... Absolutely nothing! Eternity is a long time. On our way to minister in a "Family Experience" in Alabama we stopped at Tuskegee to see George Washington Carver's museum. If you've listened to my "Think God's Way for a Change" series you know he is one of my heroes. Tuskegee is a gorgeous university and a simple, yet profound tribute to the life of a man who walked with God. Mr. Carver was a man that saw great needs. He wanted to help "his people" put more in their dinner pail. The soil was ravaged from the ferocious appetite of cotton and its repeated planting by the land owners. Agriculture in the South was in trouble. Mr. Carver got up at 4 a.m., yes, that's 4:00 in the morning. He started his day by reading his Bible, then simply walked and talked with God the rest of the day. As he walked with God, he asked God questions, put feet to those times with God in the laboratory researching and developing; but also in the fields planting, growing and observing. The nonchalant "whatever" of consumers and growers gradually turned into passionate listeners, passionate believers; that did whatever Mr. Carver told them and it worked. God used a man, a man of faith and diligence to revolutionize agriculture in the South. God wants to be a part of your everyday life. Mr. Carver lived the reality that God wants to be a part of every area of our lives. He was a brilliant Scientist, thinker, problem solver because He accessed wisdom beyond his own; he listened to the Great Creator and He (God) shared His secrets with Mr. Carver. Nonchalant? Have you ever noticed how easy it is to become nonchalant about spiritual things? We can become totally overwhelmed with busy lives and heavy responsibilities. And in that process we leave God out of our lives our decisions, jobs, families, and finances. It is so easy to moan "whatever"; instead of crying from the depths of our hearts, whatever it takes! I put you first. I want more of you. I'm hungry for your presence. I'm desperate to see souls saved. I'm desperate to see your kingdom come in my family in your church! Whatever... Complains I'm too busy. Questions could it possibly be that important? States: Once a week is enough for me! Whatever with a question mark and an exclamation mark Cries out... Hungers... Thirsts... Obeys... Listens... That kind of "whatever" receives and pours out and receives some more. Whatever. or Whatever?! Which ever "whatever" you use is derived from an attitude rooted in your values. What do you value? What do your choices reflect about your values? Deuteronomy 10:12 ESV “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, Does this verse make your mind groan... whatever (with a period). Or does it stir your heart propel you to activate your faith, fear Him--honor, respect and reverence Him as Holy and true, obey and walk in His ways, love stronger, and serve diligently... from your heart, that deep, sincere place of love for God and from your soul... your mind, will and being. Maybe you're asking, "But how do I get there? How do I do that? I want to love Him more. I want to obey Him and serve Him with the diligence He requires, but I'm just not there. You change what you value. I know, I know! That answer only circles us back to the original question, "How do I do that?" You change what you believe by changing your thoughts, your focus, your actions. Choose... to make Him a priority and the feelings will follow. Repent. Acknowledge that your priorities have been out of wack.Turn away from a time waster. Tear down an idol and build an altar. We schedule priorities. Schedule a time and a place with God. Seize opportunities. What you really value is proven by what you pursue.
You will never have what you are unwilling to pursue.

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Preserved Forever The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson. It declared independence from England in 1776. It is 29 3/4 inches long and 24 ½ wide. Strong light and careless handling caused excessive fading in America's founding document. This founding document was far too valuable to lose. Something had to be done to preserve it.

American leaders decided to display it in a special building called the National Archives Building. Three founding documents are housed in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom. The Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights are enclosed in a beautiful bronze case with slightly tinted green glass. The air inside the case is replaced with helium. The soft lighting is one more measure to prevent fading.

Guards and a scanner safeguard the entrance, while armed guards stand on either side of the documents. At night and in the event of an emergency the document is immediately be lowered into a specially designed, massive cement vault for safe keeping.

Israel had its own founding documents After the Israelites left Egypt, God proclaimed 10 laws from a fiery mountain top to a trembling Jewish nation of former slaves. I can only imagine how frighten they must have been when they heard God’s voice and saw the fire and smoke. They were so terrified that they begged Moses to tell God not to talk to them anymore, but to him, (Moses) instead. They promised they would obey God’s laws.

God called Moses into the mountain and wrote the 10 commands with His finger on stone tablets. And no that’s not even close to the same thing as your Kindle tablet.

The people felt like Moses was never going to come back down the mountain. So they asked Aaron to make them a god they could see. It was only a matter of days until they broke their promise and God’s oral law… the one about the idol. That’s right, they built and worshipped a golden calf. God wanted His people to remember His laws and keep them, so Moses carried the tablets down the mountain. When he realized the people were worshipping an idol it made him so mad that he threw the tablets down on the ground and smashed them into pieces.

Oral instructions can be forgotten. Paper documents like the Declaration of Independence can fade or get torn or ripped. Stone tablets can be broken. So how do we keep them?

America wanted to preserve founding documents for posterity to see Declaration of Independence for posterity, God wanted to preserve His people.

Ezekiel 36:22

“Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations.

23 I will show how holy my great name is—the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign LORD, then the nations will know that I am the LORD.

24 For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.

25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols.

26And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

27And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

Hebrews 10: 8 is very similar.

First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses).

9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.

10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.

12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet.

14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,

16“This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

17 Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.”

18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices. A Call to Persevere

19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.

20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.

21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house,

22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

What a wonderful promise! A new heart and a new spirit. Not physical, but spiritual heart.

“I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.”

God didn’t give us rules to be a kill joy! He gives us rules and guidelines to protect us. Yet the reality remains we can’t keep the laws of God in our strength, so God give us a new heart, a heart that longs to please God AND He gives us His Spirit, His power and ability to obey.

God wants to write his laws in your heart, a perfect place to keep them preserved for all eternity. And when His laws are written in your heart they will preserve and protect you!

A little girl stretched out her chubby little hand to show her mom a tattered rose bud. Her mom understood why it looked so ragged looking when she saw all the pedals in the little girl's other hand. She asked her mom, “Why is it when I try to open a rose it's so ugly and when God opens it it is so beautiful? Without giving her mom a chance to answer she continued, "Oh, I know, God does it from the inside out.” And He does! He gives us a new heart and a new Spirit…His Spirit! Walk in newness of life. Walk in His righteousness instead of continuing in your carnal nature.

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The Sound of Music Julie Andrews stole the hearts of Americans and Canadians with her passionate "The hills are alive with the sound of music." The music, the heart wrenching story and yes, even the magnificent Alps contribute in making "The Sound of Music" a classic. She seems totally lost in the beauty around her. While I've never seen Mont Blanc or the Alps and I certainly can't sing, I find myself wanting to join Ms. Andrews in belting out that famous tune. I want to sing simply because the mountains do that to you. But I promise you, you won't hear a note out of me, cause I don't sing, not even in the shower. My singing can be compared to a deafening coyote howl. From the Grand Tetons, to that top of the world feeling you get in the Rocky Mountains, all the way to the blue haze of our Blue Ridge Mountains, I've never seen a mountain I didn't love.

And my favorite, Denali.  I understand why the Native Americans still refer to it as Denali, the Great one. The name Mt. McKinley doesn't even begin to conjurer it's majesty and at least Denali begins to go there! I digressed. Every time I think of my experience at Denali, I always wind up at Psalms 121:1,2. The spectacular beauty of Denali points me to a place far more precious than a mesmerizing view.

It takes to me all the way to the words of another mountain lover From another part of the world

The lines scrawled in Psalms 121 are the passionate words of David, shepherd and psalmist. Jerusalem, the royal city was situated on a high plain or plateau surrounded by deep valleys and dry riverbeds. While King David didn't write all the Psalms, many experts believe he wrote Psalms 121.

And like most musicians, he sang about the things he loved.
High on his love list were the mountains that filled the desert terrain. Psalms 121 is called a song of degrees, not temperature degrees or college degrees but more accurately, the song of ascents. It was a climbing chant for worshipers to use as they made their way to the ark housed under David's tent.

Each line is progressive. The tent containing the ark was placed in an elevated location in Jerusalem. The song begins, "I will lift up my eyes to the hills—"

Whether they are the giants of the Alaska Range, the red rocks of Sedona or the tree covered Blue Ridge baby sized mountains, they make me crane my neck to look. Oh, how I drink in the magnificent scenery! And with every vista I gasp. Do you do that?

The magnificent glory of the mountains. The...

waterfalls.

arches.

caves.

I know, the beauty is overwhelming, but David didn't stop with looking up at a mountain. The beauty of God's artistry wasn't his stopping point. Their jagged point seemed to point David to the Source, the Creator of it all--Almighty God.

I realize the wording in the KJV of this verse is a little confusing, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help." It sounds like David is looking to the hills for help. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Other translations of this verse, even the New King James, ends the verse with a question mark.

NKJV reads: I Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the hills-- From whence comes my help? When I read these verses I feel like I'm right there with David as he says, "Look up. Awesome mountains, huh?" I know the feeling, because I felt it when I saw Mt. McKinley. And I gasp with this Mighty Warrior King, "Wow!" (How that for expressing beauty!I'm quite the wordsmith..aren't I!LOL)

Tall
Impressive
Daunting
Insurmountable
Breath taking.

Then he continues, "Does my help come from there?"
I can see him shaking his head no. And I shake my head no in agreement. Did I confuse you? Yes, I agree with David, Chosen Shepherd of Israel. And No, my help doesn't come from the mountains, either dear brother.

I can almost see a wide grin come across his face, a grin that comes from remembering...
remembering times, frequent times, recent times that God's help had enabled him to win. To triumph in the middle of impossible situations.

I feel confident he grinned widely as he declared his faith loudly, MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD. (I know it had to of been loudly, because how do you get a revelation like that and remain stoic?)

I wonder if he's so happy by this point that he's half way dancing a jig as he adds, "who made heaven and earth."

And I have to join the celebration with him, "I know what you're talking about, dear King David! No, I haven't fought a lion or a bear, but I've fought lots of giants.

No, dear brother, none of them were named Goliath, but they were giants just the same!

Big problems!

With glaring eyes ,

hurling condemnation and

demeaning accusations.

I'm sad to say, I didn't run to meet them like you met Goliath.

Sometimes, I coward-down like the army you met on that fateful day. Sometimes I'm braver than others, but even on my bravest day I have discovered, like you tell me, my dear mountain loving, friend,

"my help comes from the Lord...WHO MADE HEAVEN and EARTH!"

Did you get that?
The same God that made everything, is my source and I don't want to leave you out dear friend. He helps us...ME and you both!

Yes, me!

And you too...

if you let him!

Your situation isn't too big for him to handle... You're not too weak

or too old

or too whatever it is the enemy of your soul is declaring over you...

nothing is too hard for God. But we have to ask for and receive His help. It's not automatic.

Yes. It does sound too good to be true, but no,

it is true.

Really true! It's not a fairy tale! It's the TRUTH!

Think of that!

What a power source!
Fabulous mountains.

Stately.

Majestic.

Fiery Stars.

Oceans...

kissing the shoreline...

ebbing in and out...

orderly...

rhythmically.

God spoke and made it all. He established it. He set it in His divine order. And my help...your help comes from the one that made it all.

Why do we continue to put God in our little box and limit what He can do in our lives?

Why do we try to accomplish everything that needs to be done with our muscles and strength and talent?

Could it be that we only view the beauty of His creation? We visit His beauty as if going to a museum...

nice artifact...

nice tree...

nice star...

nice mountain...

nice!

If we stop had only recognizing what He has done, without knowing the Person that created it all, without knowing the God that King David saw behind it all, then we miss the best part. He is wonderful beyond words.

God Almighty was the source of David's strength!
I don't know about you, but I refuse to only enjoy the beauty of His creation. I want more. I'm going to have more than a glimpse of beauty or the photograph to remember it. I'm going to go where it all points me...to the Creator of it all. There is where the fullness of joy is found.... in Him!

Ahhh!

Now that's a wonderful place to be

...and it's even better than Denali!

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What are you doing with your sword? While I understand that Beauty is in the eye of the beholder; it is more than exquisite beauty, extravagant design or even the intricate craftsmanship that made the Napoleon Bonaparte sword the 2nd most expensive sword in the world. The supporting story that the golden studded handle was held in the hand of the French emperor and used on the battlefield was a major factor that brought the $6.5 million selling price. The Bible gives us a list of notable swords, the primary tool of defense; swords that brought freedom and deliverance; swords held in the hands of triumphant warriors- the sword of: Gideon Goliath Saul Jehu No Swords? As valuable as the sword was, we see a time in Israel's history where the people didn't have swords or spears. 1 Samuel 13:16-19 NIV 16Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Mikmash. 17Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah in the vicinity of Shual, 18another toward Beth Horon, and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboyim facing the wilderness. 19Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!” 20So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles f sharpened. 21The price was two-thirds of a shekel for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads. 22So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them. How do you win wars with an army that has no weapons? Well God did it by raising up a man, one man, with one of only two swords in the whole land. A man of courage, and faith...a man that would seek God's will, a man named Jonathan-King Saul's son. You should read this amazing story of Jonathan in 1 Samuel 14. Stop believing the lie that because you are just one person that there's nothing you can do. Too often we do nothing because we feel that our little doesn't make a difference anyway. That is simply not true. Sword of Goliath Probably the most famous of the above mentioned swords is Goliath's sword. It is fascinating that this sword is famous for what Goliath didn't do, instead of what he did do with it. 4Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! 5He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. 6He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. 7The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield. David answered Goliath's accusation 1 Samuel 17: 45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” Continuing in 1 Samuel 17 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. 51Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. Did you see that? Goliath wasn't even holding his sword; it was still in its sheath. David pulled it out and cut off the giant's head. Saul's scared, chicken hearted army were rallied when they saw the head of their defeated enemy in David's hand. Fuel your courage with someone else's victory. What if that army had whined, "Why doesn't anything like that happen to me?" No! Instead, they understood they were part of one army! David's victory was their victory. It catapulted the whole army from chicken hearted, knee knocking fear that caused them to cower and hide into a courageous pursuit of their enemy. Saul appointed David as commander over his army. David was a very successful leader and loved by the people. I believe it was in this role that David learned to use a sword quite skillfully. A parade! After a successful battle David and his army were welcomed home with something like a ticker tape parade where the women sung a triumphant song as the soldier paraded past. "Saul had slain his thousands. David has slain his ten thousands." Their sweet tribute was bitter in Saul's ears. King Saul's jealousy festered into a ravenous plot to murder David. Saul was jealous. After yet another jealous rage where King Saul threw his spear at David, David escaped. He ran to the High Priest Ahimelech. And this is why I believe David was skillful with a sword, He asked Ahimelech for a sword or a spear. 1 Samuel 21:9 “I only have the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah,” the priest replied. “It is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. Take that if you want it, for there is nothing else here.” Wrapped in a cloth in a safe place...that's what you do with something valuable; you tuck it in a safe place so nothing happens to it. But look at what David says. “There is nothing like it!” David replied. “Give it to me!” Ahimelech retrieves the sword from it's hiding place and hands it, still wrapped, to David. David unwraps the sword crafted for a giant as he remembers the moment he held this very same sword in his hand for the very first time. He remembers the exhilaration that flooded him; the fight-God's fight. The victory-God's victory. The defeat- the enemy's defeat. He had never gone back home; his life would never be the same; but He served a God that would never change-- Would He...Could He? Could God be faithful again...now in this situation- in this difficult situation as he ran to save his life. His actions seem to prove that He believed God would be faithful even in the darkest situation; because he ran to the high priest. I saved the best sword for last. The sword of Bonaparte may be the 2nd most expensive sword, but I want to be sure you know the most valuable sword is the "Sword of the Spirit." Paul reminds us that God has not left believers defenseless. We've been given both defensive and offensive weaponry so we can stand against the devil's strategy. Ephesians 6:17 NIV Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The sword of the Spirit. It is the Sword of Spirit that fought through Jonathan. It was the Sword of the Spirit that defeated Goliath. And it is the Sword of the Spirit that God has provided for you to win the battle that you are facing right now. You know that? Of course you do! There are dozens, maybe even hundreds of books, maybe thousands of sermons that have been preached on the subject...yet the landscape is strewn with defeated believers! Is it God's plan for believer's to be defeated by addictive habits and enslaved by sin? Have God's weapons failed us? You know the answer to that question; you know with your heart that God has a different plan than that for His church! God's Words says in 2 Corinthians 10:4 "King James Bible (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) If our weapons are so strong, then why are we so weak? I see 3 reasons in the stories I've listed above. 1. No blacksmith. 2. Fear stopped them. 3. A stored sword. 1. No blacksmith. A blacksmith forges a blade. When you read the Scriptures causally, without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit you'll never forge it into promises that you can grip with your heart and speak with your mouth. When you look at 2 Corinthians 10:4 the word used "word" is rhema. It means the spoken word of God. Become a student of God's Word. Take Scripture personally. Let it become a whisper, a promise, a strategy for your life. But, not a student that collects, like world famous sword collectors, instead use it skillfully by declaring and speaking God's Word into your situation. 2. Saul's army was afraid. So they cowered, shook, dreaded, stared, grumbled, but never raised their weapon against the enemy until David came on the scene. Again and again we see God works through partnerships! God wants you to step out and use your sword. Whatever lie has you cowering in a foxhole, get up, use your sword and declare God's Word. 3. A stored sword. No one can win your battle for you! You may have the greatest sword, a Goliath sword...none like it...tucked into a safe place...even in a holy place, completely useless. When David came on the scene and defeated the giant, the army rallied from their fear and used their swords. I want to remind you that a Savior from the lineage of David has come on the scene- Jesus. He defeated the enemy...death, hell and the grave on the cross. And, because He defeated the enemy, you can too! But you can't do it hiding. You have to use your sword...speak God's Word...specifically designed by God into your situation. Pray it. Declare it. Sing it. There is power in God's Word. Inside your Bible it is living seed, but dormant. When you take that seed and believe it and declare it, persistently and diligently, listening for God's strategy. God brings the victory. So you know exactly what I've been patiently waiting to ask you... What are you doing with your sword?

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My teacher challenged me. Do remember when your Sunday School teacher or maybe your children's church teacher challenged you to memorize God's word? If you were like most of us that first verse was "Jesus wept." And probably the second one was either John 3:16 or Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Wrapped with a prize. My teacher's challenged was usually wrapped with the promise of a prize...they were usually about as valuable as a cracker jack prize, but oh how I loved those prizes. Something even better happened as I memorized Scripture I also learned to love God's Word and God. I learned to take Scripture personal... for instance Genesis 1:2 NIV "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." When I read that verse, I feel like I'm standing beside God as he describes what He saw with two words...empty and dark. Then He continues by explaining His Spirit was there, hovering over the waters. The two words God used to describe the earth are tuho (to hoo) and boho (boo hoo). And believe me the sight that is being described here could make anyone boo hoo! Tohu (to'hoo) means formless and chaotic. Buho means empty. Only God could have seen the chaos and emptiness, because it was totally dark-darken than you can even imagine. This disorder and confusion definitely NOT God's plan for the earth. So what did God do? He spoke. In the midst of the darkness He said, let there be light." Like a well aimed arrow pierces the skin and flesh of an apple, the word of God pierced and shattered the darkness. And what about you, when you look into the chaos and emptiness of our culture, or when you stare into the darkness and deceptiveness of the pleasure crazed masses, does it make you want to boo hoo too? It is easy to become cynical and critical, but instead what we see should unlock our passion. I'm talking about the God kind of passion that spoke the Word and sent the Living Word, JESUS, into the darkness. The love of God, poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, should propel us as, children of God, to do the same thing. We... no, I need to really get personal with you my dear friend... you, but you know this already, I'm just reminding you... you are called to carry the light... to do the works of Jesus. Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." Frankly, as a general rule, I don't see believers responding with passion and compassion-- instead I see apathy and fear. I see people...God's people playing the blame game or excusing themselves with "It's not my job! Let the preacher... teacher... politician-- you get the idea... let somebody anybody else do it!" Listen I get it! I really do! I realize things look dark around us... the enemy...whispers, actually he's started screaming lately... and he's in our faces screaming stuff like-- it's hopeless... there's nothing you can do... While God's powerful church cowers with fear, frozen in place by unbelief and hopelessness. the demonic darkness grips the hearts of many leaders and educators, people of influence with deception and outright lies. These deceived leaders have followers. So the story grows darker. I must remind you it's not just a story, it's a heart breaking reality. People both young and old follow these leaders with crazed delight like the children in the fable of the Pied Piper. It doesn't take a weather forecaster to warn of the impending storm. We can see the encroaching black storm already darkening the sky... so what have we done? What have we done? Way too often, we have simply dropped our gaze, hurried inside our safe little place where we have medicated our fears with entertainment- our phones, movies, reality TV and games. It's scary! As we stare into the cultural fissures and crevices created by the earthquake of lies and deception...we wish that God would do something. Like the account in Genesis where God looked into the darkness and saw the chaos and the emptiness of it all... oh if only once again God would hover over His creation. But I want to tell you something... please listen carefully... God is in you! You are the temple of the Holy Spirit. God wants to do it through His church...his family...you! This is no time to be complacent. There is thick darkness over the land. The earthquake of lies and deception is shaking the very foundation of our culture. It is dividing the nation, families and the church. God has called you for such a time as this. You have a role to play in God's plan. God could have done it different, but He chose to partner through His sons and daughters. God made the rules. Just like God used the womb of a woman to birth Jesus, He uses the spiritual womb of a believer to birth His will in families, communities and cities through prayer and presence. God works through people. He wants to use you. There are things that He wants to do in your life, in your church, in your community that must be birthed in prayer and/or walked out as you let your light shine through acts of obedience and faith. Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. Isaiah 60:1,2 ESV Stop believing the lies that you aren't talented enough or that the situation is hopeless. Believe the truth! If you are a child of God you are not weak...you are not powerless because the almighty God lives in you! Become the agent of change that God intended you to be right where you are. John 14:12 NIV Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. God looked into that dark world and He spoke. Genesis 1:3 NIV And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. The English Wesleyan minister William Lonsdale Watkinson said in his sermon called "The Supreme Conquest" It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. Our human response is to curse the darkness. We gripe grumble gossip. It's time to light a candle. That candle is prayer. It's time to speak into the darkness. Don't speak what you see...speak the promises of God. Send the arrow of God's Word into the darkness. Romans 13:11 & 12 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. The role of every believer is to pray. I want to challenge you just like your Sunday School teacher's used to challenge their students...pray. Pray for leaders in places of influence. Pray for people that you used to pray for, but you gave up on them. Go deeper in prayer than you've ever gone before. I want to challenge you... Arise and shine for the light has come... let His light shine through you!

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Prayer is a responsibility and a privilege. But is it really a priority?

How do you make or keep it a priority?

I am so thankful to be a child of God. Belonging to God's family means that I have the privilege of coming boldly into God's presence. I can open my heart and share it with Him without shame or fear.

Because there are so many different kinds of families, some great and some dysfunctional, I want to give you a snapshot of my dad to explain why I love to pray.

My dad is holding my sister. My mom is holding my brother. And my older sister is standing beside my mother. I'm the little girl playing in front of my dad.[/caption]

There are so many things that I could say about my dad. He was quiet.

Kind.

Good looking- I look like my daddy. LOL!

He was hard working. I'm like my dad in that respect too.

He loved to garden. I'm not sure if he loved gardening because he enjoyed watching it grow or the influence of living through The Great Depression drove him to gardening.

He was generous with the seed and the fertilizer so he always had bumper crops! I think the law of sowing and reaping produced those abundant crops. He always shared his harvest with friends and strangers too.

He couldn't hear very well. As the years crept up on him, his hearing began to fail. He hated his hearing aids, so he didn't wear them very often. When I came to visit he would either be in the garden or on the front porch waiting for me to get there. I knew he was excited to see us. (Now, I understand how he felt. I love it when my kids or grandkids come home.)

But after a warm hug, he would disappear to the back of the house and return with his hearing aids in his ears. He wanted to be able to hear me. I can't begin to tell you how much that meant to me. It made me feel so valuable.

He hated those hearing aids. As much as he hated those hearing aids, he wanted to hear what I had to say more than he hated the buzz and the whistle that he had to put up with when he wore them.

HE WANTED TO HEAR ME! I was that important to him. Nothing communicates value more than really listening to someone.

I realize that each of us come from different backgrounds. Some of us had awesome dads and some people had no dad in their lives at all. If you are one of those people without a dad, I am so sorry. That's why this picture is so important.

I share it to remind you that your heavenly Father wants to hear you! That's important. I want that to really soak in...He listens to you. He wants to hear about the things that concern you. His ear is tuned to your voice. He made you to have fellowship with Him.

Our religious minds have complicated our conversations with God. But the simple truth is--prayer is simple. It is conversation.

talking.

listening.

loving and being loved.

Prayer is expressing your love and receiving His love.

Prayer is so simple, yet it is profound! It's connecting with Heaven.

It's connecting with the Creator of the Universe in a personal way.

It's almost unbelievable, but if I don't believe, I strip that connection of its rightful value and power. So talk, cause He listens. But don't forget to listen, because He talks too!

Life is busy! Because life is busy, we must make prayer a priority. Saying prayer is a priority and making it a priority is two very different things.

We schedule priorities. Scheduling a priority is the only way to keep it a priority. Do you have prayer on your schedule? If you don't, then it's not a priority.

I know the reality of how life works. If I don't make prayer a priority then I don't pray regularly. So prayer is part of my regular routine.

Prayer is a believer's life line. Prayer is more than asking for stuff. It is...

positioning myself in God's presence,

loving on Him,

listening to Him,

and receiving His love

is an important part of my walk with Jesus.

When I do that... everything else has a way of falling in place. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 ESV

Be a blessing to someone today. Please share my post with your friends. Thank you.

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I really want to know... "How is your race going?" It's so important to me that I struggled over this post for two days. While you think about your answer...and will you please share it with us in the comment section below. Will you take a walk with me? Washington D.C. is one of my favorite places to walk...especially for a prayer walk.

The Thomas Jefferson building, one of the four Library of Congress buildings is my absolute favorite building. Then my 2nd favorite is the Capitol Building.

The architecture of the Capitol is breath-taking. Housed inside the Capitol building is the National Statuary Hall Collection. It is absolutely fascinating collection of 100 statues of important people. I was curious..."Who are these people and why are they there?"

I later discovered the main exhibition space was once used as a hallway for the House of Representatives; after the House moved it became Statuary Hall. This two story, semicircular room is one of the most popular rooms in the Capitol. In 1864, Congress invited each state to contribute statues of two of their most important, most influential citizens to represent them in Statuary Hall. When Statuary Hall became too crowded, 38 statues were beautifully rearranged, while the remaining statues were distributed throughout the Capitol Building and Capitol Visitor Center.

Who? How? I can't imagine how a state would pick a person to represent them.

The

most distinguished...

well-known...

the person that could represent their state in the very best light.

All sorts of people made it there,

a farmer,

inventors,

soldiers,

doctors,

even lawyers.

Since I am an Alabama girl I was anxious to see who actually made it, I mean their statue made it, to the Capitol. Out of all the historical people that could have been selected Helen Keller and Joseph Wheeler made it. Helen Keller's name was one that I remembered from my school days, but I wasn't familiar with Joseph Wheeler or his role in making Alabama.

Surprised! I was surprised that there were so many names in that Hall of Heroes that I didn't recognize. I may not recognize their names...but every single person is there because their lives made a difference in their state.

When I think of that hall of heroes, it always takes me to another Hall of Heroes...for me one that is even more important, the Heroes of Faith.

Paul writes about in Hebrews 11. I know...there is a little debate about the author of Hebrews, but most folks (some a lot smarter than myself) agree that it was Paul.

Paul takes us down a biblical hallway of heroes of faith. Unlike the hallway in the capitol building, every single name is identified by one trait--faith. While that might seem odd, Paul begins our walk down the hallway with an introduction on why faith is so important.

So Important... that I don't want to mess up his words, so I'm gonna let him speak for himself. I'm going to use New Living Translation. You can read it out of your favorite.

1Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

2Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

3By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

Then Paul begins to point out specific Heroes of Faith and a brief overview of what they did...
Abel brought a sacrifice
Enoch didn't die
Noah built a boat
Abraham traveled to an unknown place.
Isaac blessed his sons
Jacob blessed Joseph sons.

Wait a minute! Did you see that? Blessed? Of all the things that God could have put on Paul's heart to share about Isaac... about Jacob. But it says they blessed sons.

Are you blessing your children? It is so easy to speak what you see instead of speaking the promises of God over them.

Let's go back to Scripture. 23It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.

24It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

25He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.

26He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.

27It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.

28It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

29It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.

30It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.

31It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

32How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets.

33By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions,

34quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35Women received their loved ones back again from death.

But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.

36Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons.

37Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated.

38They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

39All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.

What was Paul saying? Redemption was part of God's plan, but it couldn't be fulfilled until Jesus came. These Old Testament heroes had faith that accomplish amazing things, but Jesus had not paid the price of our sins yet. His death gave us access into God's presence. He torn down the veil that prevented people from entering into the Holiest of Holies! (Hebrews 10:19-22)

Because of Jesus we can come boldly into His presence. In the new covenant He puts His laws in our hearts and writes them in our minds. (Hebrews 10:15-16)

Paul has more. He had a very important reason for walking us down the Hallway of Heroes of Faith. Let's keep going in Chapter 12. I want to read from The Message version.

Hebrews 12: 1-3

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it.

Strip down, start running—and never quit!

No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it.

Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever.

And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.

When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

4-11 In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed!

So don’t feel sorry for yourselves.

Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?

My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline,
but don’t be crushed by it either.
It’s the child he loves that he disciplines;
the child he embraces, he also corrects.
God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out.

He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children.

Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God?

We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live?

While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun.

It always feels like it’s going against the grain.

Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.

12-13 So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet!

Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out.

I realize that today's post is different than most. I've used lots of Scripture because these verses paint a picture of where so many believer's are right now. I struggle with it too.

We get discouraged when we feel like we are not accomplishing enough. But it's no time for us to allow discouragement to stop us.

There is too much at stake for you to just watch the race from the sideline.

Run your race! not somebody else's race... your race. Do what God is telling you to do. Be encouraged.
Run with endurance the race that is set before you!
We must keep our eyes on Jesus.

He is the author and the finisher of your faith. He wants to enable you to run your race well. He didn't call you to this race to frustrate you. He wants to help you! It's a race you can win.

There is a reward for winning! And the reward is worth the trouble you're going through.

Right now you are feeling the burn...the pain...but God has a reward that far out weighs the pain.

It your eyes off how hard it is and back onto Jesus! Let's pray.

Father, I ask you to help my friend to run their race well. Help them not to be weary in well doing. Help them to lift their eyes off the race and onto your face. You are their strength and song. Help them to bring glory to your name through their attitude, their words and their choices. Thank you, Father. Amen.

Are you running a good race? What are you doing by faith?

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The mighty Colorado river, known historically for its disastrous Spring time floods, zigzags from the gleaming snowcapped mountains of Colorado southward all the way to Mexico. There, it finally empties into the Gulf of California.

The lofty dreams of actually wrangling and harvesting the flood waters that would produce power and reclaim the bleak wastelands of the dessert began with the construction of a railroad that would carry essential supplies to the site of what would later be called the Hoover Dam.

The angry claws of the Great Depression left people jobless and desperate. Unemployed Americans rushed to the bleak wilderness to claim jobs that would employ 21,000 people to build the “world’s largest dam”.

It was a whopping 60 stories tall and at the time it was finished the highest dam in the world! The base of the dam was as thick as two football fields. Can you imagine that? But the dam had to be huge in order to withstand the pressure of all that water.

It was an unbelievable feat of engineering!! It stretched the minds and skills of the brilliant team of engineers and workmen. Construction began in 1931 and ended in 1935. 96 men lost their lives in the construction of this arduous task.

Yet they accomplished their goal… they harnessed the power of the mighty Colorado River which protected Arizona from the disastrous floods.

The water was reclaimed to irrigate fields, provide drinking water and power… incredible POWER to whole cities. The Hoover Dam is capable of producing 4.5 billion kilowatt hours yearly.

But the Hoover Dam accomplished something else. Even before it was completed people began to travel long, difficult miles through a bleak dessert to see the dam. This technological wonder during a terrible depression seemed to be a door of hope.

Which reminds me of Ziglag… David’s place of overwhelming despair that became a door of hope.

But let me back up… running from King Saul had taken its toll on David.

1 Samuel 27:1

And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

2So David and the six hundred men with him left and went over to Achish son of Maok king of Gath.

3David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal.

4When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.

5Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”

6So on that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and it has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since.

7David lived in Philistine territory a year and four months.

In chapter 29 we observe a challenging confrontation between David and the Philistines. Although, Achish trusts David the Philistine do NOT. Achish sent David and his men home. What a divine intervention this event was for David, but I’m not sure whether he saw it that way or not. He had managed to manhandle the situation successfully.

1 Samuel 30 paints broad, dark strokes with only a few details to describe what has happened.

After 3 days of travel, the men arrive in Ziglag. I can imagine that before their eyes saw anything, they smelled smoke. It wasn’t the welcoming smell of meat roasting, you know the kind makes you salivate. Instead, it was the stench of destruction.

When they got closer they could see Ziklag was burned and everyone…their wives, their children…everyone was gone. No one was killed…but they were all gone. They were devastated.

They began to weep and sobbed... the ugly kind,

right out loud.

the gut wrenching kind.

They wept until they were exhausted.

Then they were angry—

at David.

They blamed him and talked about stoning him. Here’s David, hurting just as bad as everyone else in the group and they want to blame him for the situation. What a nightmare!!!

I don’t know what you see…but I see a man folded in half near the smoldering remains of what had been his home…

crying…

pain so deep…

he can’t even speak.

But what he did next would change his valley of disaster into a door of hope— for him his wives and their children

the men that followed him…

his men

their families

and even a sick slave boy

that the enemy army, the Amalekites, had thrown away.

What did He do that changed this horrible valley of disaster into their door of hope? “David found strength in the Lord his God.”

Out of 601 men…

one man…

found strength in God.

Can we pause here…this is important... this band of men were

strong,

valiant warriors,

unafraid,

bold,

risk takers,

skilled,

brave,

that had come to the end of their strength.

Yet David found strength in God. Look back with me at the Colorado River. Every member of the Reclamation Bureau understood the latent potential within the raging waters of the Colorado River. Seeing the potential wasn’t enough.

They needed

a plan,

tools,

workers,

money,

railroad,

tunnels,

a dam,

spillways

a power plant

and more stuff that neither of us want to list.

They used their God given brains and found a way…a plan and then worked the plan. A plan that included moving the river! That’s insane! When they worked the plan they accessed the power.

How did David access God’s strength? If we look at events from previous victories we see both a relationship and a pattern or process. (God is using the word "process" in my life everywhere I turn.)

David's relationship with God led him into worship.

David was a worshipper. Look at what God says about David.

Acts 13:22 ESV

And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’

He rehearsed His victories. I think it’s safe to say that he probably repeated that same pattern in this situation. Both of these things will redirect your eyes off the problem to see a solution.

If you keep your eyes are your problem it will stay "your" problem. When you get your eyes on THE answer, you’ll find your answer.

1 Samuel 30:8 shows another way David accessed God’s strength.

and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”

He needed to know what to do! So he asked God.

He had an idea that seemed logical, but logical wasn’t enough.

Do you need to ask God what to do? After you ask…listen…

not just for the few seconds that your impatience dictates…but lean in to really listen.

Keep reminding God that you are listening and then listen.

Look for solutions. Sort your thoughts in God’s presence.

God had a divine setup waiting for them, which probably didn’t feel divine at all to the sick, slave boy that got left to die in the middle of nowhere without any food or water.

After giving the boy something to drink and eat, David discovered the boy was an Egyptian who had been the slave of an Amalekite. When the boy got sick, his master left him to die. The boy named the cities and places where the Amalekite Army had been plundering; Ziglag was on that list.

David asked the boy if he knew where the Amalekites were going.

In exchange for his guaranteed safety, the boy was willing to take them right to the men David was looking for…now only God could do that! Only God!!!

1 Samuel 30:16

He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah.

17David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled.

18David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives.

19Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back.

20He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, “This is David’s plunder.”

Hosea 2: 15 ESV And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.

Tucked in that verse is a phrase you need to believe... "and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope."

Achor means trouble. God's Word Translation uses the word "disaster." I believe God can make your valley of trouble...even your valley of disaster a door of hope.

What really matters to you is what you believe...

Do you believe that God will make your valley of trouble a door of hope?

Let's pray.

Father, I pray for my dear friend. I thank you that you are with them. That you love them and you have a good plan for their life. Help them to be rooted and grounded in your love. Help them to know the truth, because truth brings freedom. Help them to know what their next right step is and then have the courage to obey you. Guide them. Father, turn their valley of trouble into a door of hope. Thank you, Father. Amen.

Thank you for listening or reading this post. God bless you.

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In 1996, the Olympic summer games were held in the United States. The Olympic torch traveled across America to communities containing 90% of the America population. Ten thousand Americans were given the high honor of carrying the Olympic torch before it reached its final destination in Atlanta, Georgia. People, of diverse ethnic groups and ages carrying the Olympic flame, ran, walked, or rode their route to the next torch bearer and handed it off. They traveled in all sorts of weather. It was rainy when the flame came to my city. The wind was howling and the rain pelted the runner as he crossed a tall bridge carrying the Olympic flame. Because the torch was carefully designed, the flame continued to burn in spite of the inclement weather. I waited to get a closer look at the runner with his famous torch. He was dripping wet and sloshing through puddles, but you should have seen his face; it was beaming. The dismal rain didn’t douse his spirits. He held the torch triumphantly high. The crowds clapped and cheered; the torch was passing!

What an awesome experience! I was caught up in the ecstasy of the moment. We weren’t there to see a person; we were there to see the Olympic Flame. Seeing the flame didn’t change my life. As a matter of fact, I’ve never read any account that the Olympic flame made any significant difference in anyone’s life.

What a honor. While there are no crowds lining the streets to applaud your passing, you are chosen by Almighty God to carry the flame of God. We believers love John 3:16. But we should also love Luke 3:16...

it's just as life changing.

John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

What a graphic picture fire paints for us. But, what does it mean to us? Often in the Bible fire represents the presence of God. Helps Word Studies says "In Scripture, fire is often used figuratively – like with the "fire of God" which transforms all it touches into light and likeness with itself." The fire of God transforms us and makes us more like God.

Another symbolic use of fire is passion. In our culture fiery love is called passion. When we speak of the death of Christ we call it the Passion of Christ.

Lots of folks talk about love. We want to be loved. We want to give love... Yet in our culture love only lasts as long as it's:

convenient,

self-gratifying,

pleasurable,

fulfilling.

We see people being

used,

abused and

destroyed

by the same people that say they love them.

It's tragic. It's... heartbreaking.

just plain WRONG!

not what God had in mind at all!

Love doesn't destroy people. 2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV “For Christ's love compels us...” KJV “For the love of Christ constraineth us...” But wait a minute. Compels means "to go"; constrains stops. How could both of these translations be correct? They are opposites!

I found my answer in the love chapter 1 Corinthians 13. When you look at it there are some things that love does and some things that it doesn't do. Let's look at that closer.

Love is... patient

kind

rejoices in truth

bears

believes

hopes

endures

Love is not... jealous

boastful

proud

self-seeking

easily irritated

Love doesn't... harbor a list of faults or wrongs

think the worst

rejoice when bad things happen.

I made my list from the King James Version. You might want to make you a checklist from your favorite version. Regardless of what version you use, when you look at the checklist do you respond the same way I do when I look at it. Every time I look at the list I respond the same way.

Wow! What an amazing description. Wow!

I CAN'T DO THAT!!! And the reality is, we can't.

One time... I remember so clearly going through a really rough time. I was being mistreated. I had done everything I knew to do. I had forgiven. I had taken it to the cross. (Remember, I talked about processing hurt. If you haven't read that post. I'll share the link at the bottom of this post. )

Not feeling it. But I wanted to do more than get through the situation. I wanted to respond with love. But I wasn't feeling it. I know! I know! Love is more than a feeling.

I was struggling! Yes, but my struggle was real. I know sometimes you do what's right and the feeling comes later. I was doing that, but I knew I wasn't walking in God's best. (I wasn't carrying His flame of love for sure!) So I prayed...and prayed...I ran out of words...so I prayed in the Spirit.

One morning as I was praying in the Spirit, I saw a picture in my mind of an oil refinery. I saw a tall tank and a smaller, fat, flat-topped round tank sitting beside it. Attached to the tall tank was something that looked like a pipe or a hose that was also attached to the smaller flat-topped tank. I heard God whisper, "If you'll stay hooked up to me, I'll give you some of mine."

I had totally depleted my love. I had no more love to give, so God gave me some of His!!!! You see 1 Corinthians 13 is a picture of the God kind of love. We can't manufacture that kind of love. It only comes from God. But the good part of this story is we don't have to wait until we run out.

As we stay connected, we can receive God's love on a regular basics. So, one of the roles of Precious Holy Spirit is to pour His love into our heart...so His love can flow through us!

Look at the last part of Romans 5:5 …because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. That's how we do it! We receive His love!

Splash in it!

Enjoy it!

Dance in it.

Revel (make merry, have a party)

Giggle and laugh in it. (Isn't that what rejoice means?)

AND... THEN...

give it away! Not

pretentiously.

glibly.

meaninglessly.

but in power Paul said powerfully what I am struggling to say...

1 Thessalonians 1:5 NLT For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. That's the cry of my heart! Oh Lord! Help us to carry the flame of your love into places where there is hopelessness. Help us to demonstrate your love in practical ways so your name will be gloried! Amen.

Here's the links I promised. Olympic Torch

What I learned when the Olympic torch came to Jacksonville Processing Pain (Let me give you two links. I talk about this subject a lot.)

Jesus Forever Changed the Meaning of the Cross

What do you do with a broken heart?

This post is taken from my book "Precious Holy Spirit." Click here to learn more. 3 formats to choose from!

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Is Living Water Flowing Out of You?

We were in Sedona AZ and I was looking for places to visit when I spotted the words Montezuma's Castle National Monument. I had to see it. The next morning we made our way through the doors of the visitors center and onto a winding path shaded by giant sycamore trees. I was anticipating a king’s castle.

Not What I Thought! I quickly realized that Montezuma’s Castle was not the royal castle of the cruel Aztec monarch Montezuma. It was incorrectly named by white settlers that thought the apartment's were built by the Aztec Indians that escaped Mexico during the Spanish conquest. Montezuma never even came that far north. Although the name was incorrect, it remains unchanged except for the addition of national park.

Better! But, what I saw was even better than a castle. I saw the homes of an ancient group of cliff-dwelling Indians. It had always been a dream of mine to see them and without even meaning to here I was. I gasp at the sight. I wanted to go inside, but they don't let you go inside them anymore. Years ago you could climb wooden ladders from elevation to elevation to see them. I don't think I would have done that!

Amazing sight! These industrious people built their homes high in the crevices of the mountain, like a cliff swallow’s nest. They formed walls with rocks, dabbing crevices like a mud dauber, to construct private residences. “This twenty-roomed, high-rise apartment nestled into a towering limestone cliff tells a 1,000 year-old story of ingenuity and survival in an unforgiving desert landscape.”

Sinaqua Indians

Scientists named these people the Sinaqua Indians. Sinaqua means “no water.” When you have a faucet hooked up to public water facilities, you don't worry about water. When you live in a desert where there is very little water, you worry about water. There is a law in the desert...a fatal law. "Where there’s no water, there’s no life.

I want to pause here to point out...the end of sin brings death, just as surely as being in the desert without water brings death. This fact is true, whether referring to a church, a family, or a person. If you don’t have Jesus, the living water, you are spiritually dead. But, Jesus is the life-giving water. He says, "If you are thirsty, come to me and drink. We see signs in our culture that people are very thirsty...they just don't know that money or things can't satisfy their thirst! Only Jesus can satisfy their thirst.

The Sinaqua Indians found water. Maybe they found the river the same way most travelers do, they saw the tree line. A tree line can be seen from far away and when you see trees know there is water there. The Sinaqua Indians, like the trees, wanted to be near the water, so they built their homes in the cliffs above the water. The high places protected them from flash floods and attacks from their enemies. Building materials were readily available.

My adventure didn't end there. Eleven miles away was another Sinaquan apartment complex and this one was built around...

wouldn't you know it-- Montezuma’s Well.

This artesian well was “formed long ago by the collapse of the roof of a limestone cavern. Over one million gallons of water a day flows continuously into the well from beneath. This constant supply of fresh water provides an aquatic habitat like no other in the world and has served as an oasis for wildlife and humans for thousands of years.”

They built their lives around this life-sustaining well. The birds and animals that gathered there provided food for the cliff dwellers, and fresh, clean water bubbled up every day for their drinking and cooking.

The walk past the ruins of a pueblo leads down to an overflow creek, shaded by more giant sycamore trees and huge boulders. The soothing orchestra of water tumbling over rocks and the songs of happy birds greeted us as we entered the lovely canopied sanctuary. It was at least 20 degrees cooler there.

They faced another problem; their fields were dry. They needed water for their fields so they could feed their children. Without the aid of modern machinery, using crude hand made tools they carved a canal through solid rock. Slowly, laboriously, they chiseled an irrigation canal to the fields to water their crops. Hundreds of years later, the canal is still there, with fresh, crystal clear, life-giving water flowing through it. They paid the price to enjoy the benefits of water.

Jesus paid the price so you can enjoy the life-giving benefits of spiritual water. Aren't you thankful for that?

In John 7:37-39

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.

38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Let's look closer. "If you believe in me, come and drink! Look how Jesus expands that metaphor.."For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within." (John 7:38)

We know about rivers. They twist and turn, changing the topography or landscape of mountains and fields. As the water courses through cities and forests, its movement tosses and tumbles rocks until their edges are smooth. We know about rivers. We swim in them, fish in them, hunt wildlife around them, picnic on their banks and name songs after them. Wildlife hides in the brush and trees along its edges and drinks its life-giving water. From the earliest times, cities and homes were built around rivers.

We know about rivers, but one flowing from a believer needs some clarification.

God was giving readers a picture to help us understand what the Holy Spirit baptism would be like. Just as a river coursing through the land brings life, a believer brings the life of God to people.

A river changes a desert into an oasis. A river brings abundant life to a desert and transforms it in almost every way. People are God’s representatives in the Earth. We are His agents of change. His love should flow through us and out to people, so they can experience His love, His power, and His grace.

I want to ask you, "Is the living water river flowing through you?" Are people drinking from that river because you brought it to them?

Don't let it become clogged by selfishness or prayerlessness!
Keep it flowing by praying in tongues. Stir up the gift that is in you!

Archaeologists have sifted through the ruins in this area for years. It was the home of several different groups of Indian people including the Yavapai and Apache. Each tribe had distinct pottery and ways of doing thing that identified them. Their homes, shards of pottery, and primitive tools that have been uncovered distinguish the Sinaqua Indians from other tribes.

A Mystery The Sinaqua Indians seemed to have mysteriously disappeared. Some scientists believe that the Sinaqua Indians must have joined other tribes of Indians, adapting and blending into their lifestyles until their distinctiveness was totally lost.

They lost their identity, the uniqueness that made them a special group of people.

Pentecost The baptism of Holy Spirit that occurred on Pentecost was a distinctive of the early church. Holy Spirit enabled believers to continue the work of Jesus through them. It was a distinctive that made them powerful and effective in life and ministry. And that distinctive continues to mark and identify God's church. The love of Jesus should be our trademark and the rivers of living water that flow through our lives is the only thing that satisfied spiritual thirst.

Don't be content just surviving...thrive! God has things He wants to do through you. He wants to pour His gifts through you, His power through you. The river brings life...believe God for His life giving power to flow through you! He wants to use you!!!

The early church was not pentecostal in a denominational sense. They were pentecostal because the events of Pentecost, the infilling of Holy Spirit affected their lives in every way. It identified them. When we leave Holy Spirit out of our belief system, we can not experience the power that enables us to be all God intended for us. We can't afford to lose our distinctive identity. Allow Holy Spirit to clean you, to flow through you and out to others.

God's power in your life is not automatic! We must access it, yet it's not a step one...step two-three process! It's a relationship. Listening, believing and obeying.

I want to challenge you...ask for more...believe God for more...expect more.

God bless you! I really appreciate you for reading my blog and listening to my podcast.

If you were blessed please share this post with your friends.

This post was taken from my book "Precious Holy Spirit." My book is designed to help you experience more of the benefits of Spirit filled living. 3 formats are avaiable. Click below to purchase.

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Instead of asking "Do you want to hear God better?" some people are unsure whether He speaks in this age or not. But aren't you glad that He does. His most common way to speak to speak to us is through Scripture. Although we can understand the words with our mind, we need the revelation of Precious Holy Spirit to help us grasp the meaning of Scripture. He also speaks to our spirit. I remember the first time God spoke to my heart. I was so concerned about my dad's salvation, so I was praying as I walked to my grandma's house. I saw a big hardened rock of clay in the ditch. I continued my prayer "God, My dad's heart is as hard as that rock." God whispered, "I can melt the heart of stone." That one whisper was a promise I held onto for years and years until he was saved. I can't begin to tell you what it did for me. Let me try to frame it this way, instead of fear I had hope that fueled my faith. Did I really hear God? I also remember an incident that made me doubt that I could really hear God's voice. I felt impressed, which means a strong feeling in my heart, like I should stop by the church on my way home from work. But when I got to the church, the office was closed. I pulled my car under the portico and waited for awhile. I left feeling so stupid. I figured that I had totally missed God and didn't hear God’s voice. Win-Learn And I can miss Him! I have missed it. Humans make mistakes. And when I make a mistake I repent and keep on learning. I embrace the win-learn philosophy; not the win lose one that stops people from even trying! But when I actually prayed about the situation, I felt God tell me, "Are you willing to obey me even when you don’t understand...even when you don't see any results?" It was a truth I needed learn at that stage in my life. There have been so many times God has asked me to do things that I didn't understand! His Word is proof. Yet, there is a more important reason that makes me believe that God speaks today- His Word. We can't afford to base our beliefs on our experiences. The foundation for our faith and life must be based on Scripture. So much I want to tell you Look at John 16:12-15 NLT

12“There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.15All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’

My Sheep know my voice John 10:1-5

1“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”

Are you thinking, “Not me! I don't know His voice.” We’ve all been there. But maybe the problem is not that God is not talking, but only that we are not listening. Psa 78:1 NLT O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your earsto what I am saying, There are radio waves all around you right this minute! But in order to hear any of them you must tune in, then and only then will you hear them. As believers we have to learn, that's right learn to hear God. Pay attention how you hear Luke 8:18 NLT 18“So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” Matthew 13:11-12 11He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. I talk about these two verses in Episode 6 Right Thinking Begins With Right Listening. It is an episode in my launch series "Think God's Way for a Change." If you haven't listened to that series you are missing an opportunity to seriously change the way you think. You can always listen to them on my website as well.

https://www.patriciaholland.org/blog/ Hearing God’s voice is so important. The albatross are magnificent seabirds. Both the mom and dad albatross take turns sitting on the eggs. That's not particularly unusual, but what is unusual is that they talk to their eggs. They crane their neck close to speak in their sweetest albatross language; eek, eek, eek! Yet, these birds aren't doing it to be sweet, it is critical that their baby learn to recognize their voice. The albatross nest in colonies, so when this baby hatches from it's egg, it must recognize it's parents voice. Only it's parent will feed it and if it can't recognize its parent's voice it won't make it back to the nest or to it's parent to be fed. It is just as critical that you learn to recognize God's voice. There are many voices in this world...they can be very convincing! If you don't train your ears, you can get confused, sidetracked and lost! Look at Moses in Exodus 3. It's a familiar story, but let's look at it from the lens of how he listened to God. 1O One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3“This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” 4When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. 5“Do not come any closer,” the LORD warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. He was curious. He wanted to know more. So he moved closer to the fire. He recognized it was Holy ground. Most of the time God speaks to us through the voice of Scripture. It is also the filter than you must use for whether it is God speaking to you or not. If it contradicts Scripture, then it’s not God. He gave the Holy due reverence. Humble yourself. Respect it for what it is.(Richard Crisco carried his Bible would never put anything on top of it.) Make it a priority. Submit your opinion to embrace God’s. We don’t want the Bible to change our opinion; we want it to reinforce what we already believe. It’s supposed to change you. It’s supposed to challenge you. Heb 4:12 ESV For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. God can talk to you all sorts of ways and in all sorts of places. Mary Boyd will often ask children "Where was the most unique place you prayed this week?" I want to change that question a little, "Where was the most unique place God talked with you?" On a treadmill or a bicycle? On a roof? In a tree? Watching TV? In church? The point is you don't have to be sitting in a prayer posture somewhere for God to speak to you. Isaiah 30:21 NLT And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.” God has all sorts of ways of getting our attention. God is not a silent partner. A.W. Tozer says "It's the nature of God to speak." He wants to guide you and instruct you. Yet, you must lean in to listen. Without caller ID you recognize your husband's or best friend's voice because you know them. You've spent time with them. You know how they say things and the tone and quality of their voice. As you spend time with God you'll learn to recognize His voice better and better. He knows what is best and directs us toward it. Issaac Hoopii is a good example of how the Holy Spirit guides us. He was a Pentagon police officer when the Pentagon was hit on 9-11. Amidst the confusion and burning debris he called into the flames, "Come to my voice," Then he carefully guided the victims to safety. That is one of the roles of Precious Holy Spirit. He is an awesome guide. He'll never get you lost...but if you make a wrong turn you'll probably hear Him say something like recalculating as He guides you back on the correct route for your life. I'd like to give you a free download... this .pdf includes: 4 keys to help you hear God's voice, 3 filters to help you answer- "How do I know that I really heard God?" 10 reasons we don't hear God speak to us. Here's the link: https://www.patriciaholland.org/hearing-god/

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While I agree bonsai trees are both beautiful and treasured, still I find them to be profoundly sad. Trees are designed to be big! You climb in them, swing on their branches, or rest in the shade of their bushy canopies. The bonsai trees are too small for any of those activities.

Mature trees will reach heights of 50 to 150 feet, but a mature bonsai tree will only reach 12 to 14 inches. Bonsai trees are not dwarfed by genetics; they are miniature by deliberate design. The blueprint locked inside the DNA of the young seedling promises a mighty giant, but that destiny is deliberately altered to create a bonsai.

To grow a bonsai, the taproot is clipped, and the branches are pruned. Then, the developing seedling is planted in a shallow container. The bonsai reaches maturity, but it never reaches its potential. The miniature lives in a shallow dish, while its giant relative grows unconstrained outside. Locked inside every bonsai is the unfulfilled potential to kiss the sky.

The reality that there are bonsai Christians goes beyond sad to heartbreaking. A bonsai Christian is the result of unrealized and unleashed potential—God-implanted potential. God’s incorruptible seed was destined to produce believers who would be called “...trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified” (Isaiah 61:3 KJV).

You are called to be like a tall, magnificent tree, visually displaying the nature and glory of God. You are called to be like a giant sequoia, a tree of righteousness, so God can receive glory from your life. He doesn’t get glory when you live your life chained and defeated by sin or stunted with tiny faith and miniature results. Too many believers live satisfied and content as bonsai Christians instead of being the giants God intended.

The giant sequoias that grow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains are among the oldest and largest living things of the earth. The bark on these towering wonders is over 12 inches thick. A picture doesn’t capture the enormity of the sequoia. These supersized giants are spectacular, reaching heights of 250 feet. When I stood at the base of the General Sherman tree, named for its exceptional stature, I commented to my husband, “Look how small the branches are.” My husband read the sign to me: The lowest limb was so high that it appeared to be very small; yet, it was six feet, eight inches in diameter, more than the average man’s height. (www.nps.gov/seki/naturescience/sherman.htm/ accessed May 27, 2011).

I felt like a tiny bug in comparison to their towering majesty.

Although God put the seed of potential in every believer to live super-sized Christian lives, too often we live like a bonsai with bonsai results. Something is missing. That something is actually “Someone.” We are missing precious Holy Spirit.

Our unbelief has frozen Pentecost into a myth or a relic of the past, like a dinosaur. Whether by deliberate neglect, fear of the unknown, or skepticism, we have pushed Holy Spirit into a dark corner in the basement of our lives. Our inability to produce desired results leaves us questioning Him instead of questioning our beliefs and values. Oh yes, we have an abundance of activities, programs, and ideas - but no power. We have plenty of knowledge but little wisdom. We know how to compromise, organize, and economize, but we refuse to evangelize. Every believer has the DNA to be a spiritual king, but we have dropped the scepter and shirked away from the responsibility. We live as if Christianity was another self-help program, picking and choosing scriptures as though they were suggestions. We employ self- discipline to produce righteousness and holiness just as we would if we were trying various tips to stay on a diet. Our theology insists Holy Spirit exists, but divorced from His living presence, we live like deserted, hopeless orphans.

The early church was born in the fire and power of Holy Spirit. If the early church needed power, why don’t we still need it? Did God intend for the church to be born in a dynamic fire only to fizzle out? Or, has the lid of wrong teaching kept us from expecting and experiencing the infilling of Holy Spirit? Has unbelief cut our taproot, so we fail to reach for and receive the deep things of God?

Taken from my book "Precious Holy Spirit". Available in three different formats. Buy now.

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I can't wait to tell you about some new projects that I am finishing up. It's been such a busy few weeks. Because I am in the process of finishing them this won't be a regular blog.

It is mostly a podcast. So please, please listen to the podcast so you can hear my heart.

In my prayer time this morning I felt the need to share some Scripture with you that I know will encourage your heart-that's what Scripture does.

1Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,

To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for aJesus Christ:

2Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

3Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.

Then Jude continues by describing situations that are going on in the world. I am so thankful that he didn't stop with only describing the problem.

There are problems all around us, but we can't stop with the problem. God has solutions. Jude shares how beginning in verse 20...

Remember 20But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

21keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Build yourself up with God's Word and praying in the Spirit! It's no time to allow busy schedules to keep you from God's Word.

It's too important for you to neglect praying in the Spirit.

Build yourself up!

Renew your mind with Scripture. Pray in the Spirit. When we moved to Jacksonville after I unpacked everything I couldn't find the lids for my plastic bowls. I reasoned that the bowls were no good without the lids, so I threw them away.

A few weeks later I found a single box under some stuff in the back of the garage. When I checked the box, there was my lids.

That mistake has been a reminder that I should be careful NOT to throw away my confidence.

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. Hebrews 10:35 KJV So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. Hebrews 10:35 NIV Did you listen to the podcast?

I'm praying for you. I want you to be encouraged and run your race to win. I'm rooting for you.

I can't wait to show you the new videos that I'm working on.

God bless you.

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Hey! I hope you are doing well.Thank you so much for taking to time to join me. Maybe you are in the middle of a busy day, we all have those kind of day, can I tell you about one of my busy days.

I remember that day so well. I was getting ready for a family conference and I hadn't finished my blog post.

In the middle of my hurry mode, I stopped and why I stopped is what I want to tell you about today.

I was hunting for the perfect picture for my blog. I had more to do than I could finish in a single day, so I was flipping through pictures that a crazy woman, when I felt a stop in my spirit.

Most of the time, my friend Holy Spirit whispers, but this was more like a "STOP" from an onlooker over my shoulder. So I did.

I clicked backward this time looking until I found THE picture. While it didn't fit the blog post I was writing, it fit where I was living.

It was a picture of a huge cedar tree with dark emerald colored needles and as i looked closer I realized it was a picture of a tree growing out of solid rock!

But how?

How could a huge tree like that grow from shear rock? God spoke quickly and quietly, "There wasn't room for a tree, so I planted a seed."

It was a God moment. God was talking to me. Every day since that moment those words have echoed through the caverns of my mind and heart. I've seen the same thing happening in mountains all over the country.

Trees growing out of solid rock. Fat roots bulging and bursting through rock to get a foothold in the soil.

While it is intriguing to see a tall tree growing from a huge boulder, we understand it didn't start out as a mature tree.

Only a crack A seed was dropped by a bird or blown aimlessly by the wind which found a crack. A tiny crevice, probably not much bigger than the seed itself and the seed simply began to grow.

As the trees branches climbed heavenward the roots grew stronger. The roots flexed their muscles and without fanfare did what roots do.

A root In places where there's no room for a tree.... They didn't reach for the stars, instead they dug, deeper and deeper...sipping water and savoring whatever nutrients they could find.Tiny roots grew stronger and thicker.They reached farther and deeper.Twisting to drink nourishment,turning and reaching,bursting the tiny crevice, now a crack wider.

Protruding like tentacles...
wrapping,
digging,
feeding,
pushing,
cracking.

All the while nourishing not just the tenacious roots, but the trunk and branches that were reaching on tip toes for the sky.

Simply growing in a place where there was no room for a tree...only room for a tiny, unnoticed, inconspicuous seed.

God's voice was so clear. I savored His words like decadent chocolate.
Chewing slowly.
Quietly, I responded, "What are you saying to me?"

Let me explain. It had a busy year. I'd

studied hard.
prayed really hard.
prepared.
repented.
gone after God tenaciously.
tried...not always successfully...(how do you measure that? I mean when I use my measuring tape is that really the measure for success?
but I'd tried to believe God for powerful results.

I hadn't seen the fruitfulness that I wanted to see. I wrestled with Prayers that seemed unanswered. Problems that remained unresolved. People that seemed calloused and hard hearted concerning the things of God. People that I love, that seem to be thumbing their noses in rebellion against God. And I let my unmet expectations discourage me. Lean closer to understand. I don't know how God deals with your heart, but often He says things that I don't understand at all! But when I ask Him questions and then listen, He clarifies and gives me understanding.I call it leaning in to hear what He is saying.

I made it a point to lean in to understand His message to me. I realized that often when I share God's Word, when I pray I look for results...mature trees...branches bowing with mature fruit.

Miracles still happen! Praise God. And I have seen miraculous times that God did expedite growth, almost like time-lapse photography...where I saw people's lives radically changed. And those times are happening more and more frequently.

And while I am believing and going after God for more and more of those kind of encounters...God was encouraging my heart with His whisper..."There wasn't room for a tree, so I planted a seed."

That's what God has called me to do... called us to do... is plant seed. Precious seed... the Word of God.... Powerful... Eternal... Life-giving... Life-changing... SEED The trouble with seeds... You can't see that they made it into a crack. Wasted seed? It feels like your wasting perfectly good seed.
Seeds require patience and time.

Did I mention there is no physical evidence that anything...
anything at all is happening?

(That's so hard! AHHHHH!
I guess it's obvious which fruit isn't doing so well in my garden. Sometimes, I forget patience is a fruit that I have to cultivate.)

But things have been easier since I understood that I don't always get to plant mature trees from the local nursery.

...the family camp? God showed up in a powerful way! I love it when He shows up. I ministered with a new level of confidence. I knew God was working...
I just KNEW IT!

Did I see all I wanted to see? No, God has more. I'm going after more of Him than ever before.

But after the last service I hear testimonies of powerful...
life changing...
'way of thinking-changing' God encounters.

Encounters that I had not didn't know about. I realized God was moving in ways that I could not observe with my eyes.

Why am I sharing this with you? Why am I being so vulnerable with you? Because God has called all of us to plant seed somewhere. And it's tough planting,
especially when you don't see it germinate as quickly as you think it should.

We want instant gratification. We want to know we are doing something that counts.We want to know that we really heard God's voice.

We want to see fruitfulness... answered prayers...
immediate results!

And sometimes we do. Like the hearts of little children that have been nurtured with God's Word...
tiny little hearts,
still protected, tender and open,
there's plenty of room for seed there.
(That's why children's ministry is so important! But don't get me started on that.)

Prepared heart Or any heart that has been saturated with prayer and Scripture. Prepared hearts hungry for more of God.Those hearts are ready for mature plants,
like those grown in a nursery.

Plants that mature and bare fruit quickly. You can transplant young trees into enriched soil, but never in solid rock.

That's when and why you use seed. They can thrive in tiny crevices.Especially when we water it with faith-filled prayer! And faith filled prayer always comes from a Word filled spirit.

Faith energized prayer is Word energized prayer. That's why most of the time our job is planting seeds...
and yes, sometimes even in rock-hard hearts.

In places where there's no room for a tree.... in places where there is only room enough for a tiny seed.

So be encouraged and keep planting those seed!

Isaiah 55:11 NLT It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

God bless you dear friend. If you were blessed please share this post with a friend.

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This podcast is a combination of this post and the blog post entitled "Jesus Changed the Meaning of the Cross" If you are reading the post only and not listening then I want to encourage you to read both posts.

Exchange your money! One of the first things you do when you arrive in a foreign country is to exchange your money for currency that can be spent there. Sometimes your currency rate is strong and you get additional money. I love it when that happens. I have extra money to bring home souvenirs.

Then sometimes, your currency is weak and you loose money in the exchange. The rate of exchange determines the fair value of your money at the time of the exchange.

Another Exchange System It is also important where you go to get your money exchanged so you get a fair exchange instead of getting ripped off by a dishonest person.

Better than fair! God's Divine Exchange is not a fair exchange! No, I'm not inferring that He is dishonest. Instead I am saying He is generous...or to be even more accurate He is extravagant!

I am so thankful for that.
If it were a fair exchange we would get what we deserved.

And we deserve death- eternal separation from God!

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NIV

Sin has consequences. Sin must be judged by a just and holy God. The penalty for sin has to be paid. So Jesus came to save us from our sins!

God judged sin at the cross when.. His sinless Son took our place.

When Jesus gave His life as a supreme sacrifice on the cross He paid the price for our sins. He paid our debt in full. His blood redeemed us from our sins! But because Jesus had never sinned, death could not hold Him. Through His gift we can become children of God.

Jesus made the cross a place of Divine Exchange! Look at the picture of Divine Exchange at Jesus' illegal trial prior to the crucifixion.

They stripped Jesus and put a purple robe on Him. Then they twisted a crown of thorns and jabbed then onto and into his head. They mocked him with pretentious praise. (John 19:2,3)

Here's the divine exchange, when we come to Jesus, we surrender all we have to Him. Everything. Our sins, our brokenness, our fear, our lack...we just surrender it all to Him. Now look at Isaiah 61:10 says He gives us in exchange.

"I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels." Isaiah 61:10 NLT

They took his beautiful seamless robe and gambled for it at the foot of the cross. He drapes a robe of righteousness around our shoulders.

Righteousness...right standing with God.
Undeserved
Unearned

Identity A robe that says we belong to God.

A robe that identifies us as His child--

His precious,

loved

and cherished child.
His robe of righteousness identifies us as royalty, a child of the king of kings.

He wore a crown of thorns, yet He crowns us with beauty.

He crowns us with love and compassion.

Look at the divine exchange through the lens of scripture:

"provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." Isaiah 61:3 NIV

"who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion," Psalms 103:4 NIV

Repentance is powerful. When we repent, we exchange our self-righteousness for His righteousness. What a fabulous exchange.

Self-Righteousness? Let me try to describe the actions and attitudes of self-righteousness for you.

Striving in our strength to do right, to act right, to be right.

Convincing ourselves that our best effort to do right is enough.

Pretending it doesn't matter anyway.

Measuring our righteousness with that of another person, priding ourselves on the fact that we act better than they do.

Priding ourselves that we are good enough.

Hoping our moral goodness is sufficient.

Settling for good instead of GODLY!

As if our best efforts could qualify us for heaven or we could opt out of God's Redemptive Plan.

Living as if our self-righteousness could replace our need for a Savior?

God has a better plan. All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6 NIV

Self-righteousness stinks. Just incase you did grasp how disgusting self-righteousness actually is.

It is like a nasty rag that is used to clean up dog vomit. (Now that's a graphic picture for you. It even includes a scratch and sniff area.)

Is God really willing to exchange his spotless, beautiful righteousness for your vomit filled rags? I mean really????

Absolutely!

That doesn’t make sense. No, it's not fair...NOT EVEN.

So humble your heart, bring your self righteousness to the cross and exchange it. Simply believe and receive God's holy righteousness!

It's a picture of amazing God's grace and the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross which makes God’s Divine Exchange possible.

Don't stop there! He's got more for you! God planned for believers to walk newness of life because of that Divine Exchange.

It's Big! The Divine Exchange is broader than you might think.
It includes healing and wholeness.

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. Isaiah 53:5 NLT

Wholeness Did you see it? Because of the cross you can be whole.

Here's another Divine Exchange! Exchange your brokenness for His wholeness.

Peace Do you have peace?

Surrender your fear at the cross, exchange it for His peace.

Sound too good to be true. But it’s God’s Divine Exchange.

Healing Exchange your pain, receive His healing. He purchased it when He purchased your salvation.

Have you seen this video (powerful stuff) by the Billy Graham Association and peacewithgod.net

I'd love to share my free ebook that will help you be stronger. Check it out at the link below.

"Be Stronger" ebook (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/14/1987724514.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, "script", "aweber-wjs-go9oq8hg2"));

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Life is fragile. People are fragile and sometimes life breaks their hearts. Luke tells about a broken woman. His story is concise. No name. No history. Just the bare facts.

Some people have tried to name her by tying her to other stories in scripture similar to hers, however, most commentaries agree this story found in Luke 7:37-50 is unique to the book of Luke.

I wish I knew more about her I hope you will read her story with fresh eyes later after I've shared my view of her story. Here is my view. I don’t know who she was or what color of skin she wore or what color her eyes were. I don’t know how old she was, but knowing people like I know people, I believe her actions are so loud I must share what I see. Not for her benefit, but for mine, for yours, for women, for little girls, and yes even for men. Her story could be my story, or your story.

Untethered from today’s politically correct boundaries, Luke the physicians' description was also a diagnosis … he said she was a sinner.

Sinner And while our culture tries to sterilize the word “sinner” or sugar coat it to make it palatable, this woman knew first hand the ravages of sin; like trying to scoop fire into your lap and pretending it doesn’t burn. She saw the way people looked at her when she crossed the street. She heard the people’s whispers, the laughter and the hateful remarks and the way they refused to look her in the eye.

The condemnation fed her shame. As did the negative mirror-talk as she combed and pulled her hair away from her face.

The nagging guilt gnawed at her confidence.

Shame flourished and festered in that hotbed.

I need to pause here to address shame. Shame is an epidemic in America.

Everyone has it. They’ve either dealt with it or buried it.

It started with Adam and Eve in the garden when they sinned. They were ashamed so they hid from God.

Buried shame does the same thing a seed does when it is buried…it grows. It doesn't lose it’s toxicity when it is buried

When shame erodes self-worth we often try to prop it up externally.

So we go to extremes to change our looks, spending more than we can afford, buying more than we need.

Perfectionism drives us to overachieve or underachieve. (I can’t be perfect, so why bother!)

It can wear a mask. A loud, boisterous mask that loves to shock and blast people with “This is who I am and you better like me!”

Or it can retreat into isolation.

It steals our creativity and makes us too afraid to share our gifts and talents with anyone. What will they think? What if I fail?

She heard that Jesus was in her town and she wanted to see him. Maybe desperately needed to see Him was more accurate. Strategically, she clutched the bottle of perfume in her hand.

I believe she had rehearsed this moment over and over again in her mind. She had to let Jesus know, just had to let Him know what He meant to her and words would not be enough. She had to do something.

What did women do before the day of plastic grocery bags or big purses? I would have wrapped that bottle of perfume in paper and kerplunked in the bottom of my purse. But, I believe she clutched her perfume that day. Partially to keep anyone from seeing how bad her hands were shaking.

You see when shame has a real grip on you, you just want to be invisible! But that day, to do what she had to do, she couldn’t be invisible any longer!!! Because in order to see Jesus she would have to go to the house of a Pharisee.

Luke labeled the host, Simon, as well. Pharisee, but most Pharisees wore the label proudly as a badge of honor! They were separatist. Jesus had lots to say about Pharisees. You probably remember from your Children’s Church days that Phaisees were fair you see and the Sadusees were sad you see. They were legalistic. They pointed out the sins of others, but never seemed to have any sin themselves.

While they believed the Messiah would come, they didn’t believe it could possibly be Jesus. Their self-righteous attitude blinded them so they could not see God’s precious gift.

But this Pharisee was curious, so he invited Jesus to come eat at his house. And as was the custom, they left their shoes at the door and reclined on couches with their feet stretched out to eat their food.

From what I read entering the room uninvited may not have been as strange to them as it is us, but what she did next made everybody, except Jesus, very uncomfortable.

She had to have known that it would make them uncomfortable…but she did it anyway! She stood behind Jesus and began to cry. I don’t think she had planned this part. The sense of gratitude, relief, healing produced a flood of tears.

Have you ever seen anyone cry like that? One time I prayed for a lady like that and she cried profusely. I had my hands on the side of her face and she cried so hard that the tears ran down my arms and dripped off my elbows.

When this precious woman realized that her tears had dripped on Jesus, she undid her precious hair and wiped her tears off and kissed his feet. Then she took the perfumed oil and poured it on Jesus feet.

Luke’s words adequately describe the event, but they are unable to convey the worship, the love she poured out so extravagantly that day. While there was nothing inappropriate or sexual in what she did, if I had been there I would have looked away. That kind of worship is too personal, too intense to gawk at.

While the host didn’t comment, he thought to himself, well, if this man was really a prophet he would know who and what kind of woman this woman is that is touching him…she is a sinner!

Simon knew exactly who and what this woman was, but he certainly didn’t know who Jesus was. Yet, the woman knew Jesus like few people knew Him! She knew...and she believed! In spite of what everyone thought and believed, she had to worship! She had to pour out her love on Jesus, the Son of God!

I need to stop her story here because I want to explain what I saw, but I can’t leave this banquet without paying very close attention to Jesus’ words to this precious woman…

Luke 7:50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Let's look closely, the word that Jesus used for saved is from the word sozo which means save, heal and “MAKE Whole.”

She sinned. She was guilty. Jesus forgave her sins. He’s the only one that can.

Recognizing our guilt is a good thing. It is an on going process of growing in Christ. We will fail , miss the mark, and be tempted. We will get bad attitudes, but when we do, we must run to Jesus. Guilt and shame are not the same thing. Guilts says you did something bad. Shame says you are bad.

When you ignore the guilt, when you try to cover it or hide it, then shame festers. That mask we hide our guilt behind doesn’t work. That anger and self loathing is distourous! God has a better way! He wants you whole.

When you recognize what you’ve done is wrong, ask for forgiveness. Jesus paid your penalty at the cross. He forgives us when we ask. Repentance is turning from your sin. It recognizes there is a higher truth-His truth.

Exchange your guilt and receive His grace. Leave the guilt. Leave with His grace.

You don’t need to beg or explain to Him why you did what you did or make excuses or blame someone else. None of that works.

When the accuser, the devil screams accusations at us we talk back to Him and say "I have the nature of Jesus, so I am:

forgiven.
strong in the Lord and the Power of His might.
an overcomer through Him that loves me.
loved.
precious."

Jesus told the lady "your faith has saved you; go in peace". # 1515 eirḗnē (i-ray-nay) (from eirō, "to join, tie togetherinto a whole") – properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God's gift of wholeness).

The word that Jesus used for peace is eirḗnē (i-ray-nay). This form is only used 25 times. It is translated peace, but let's look closer into what it means; join, tie together into a whole; when all essential parts are joined together; wholeness...God's gift of wholeness.

John 14:27 NLT "I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.

God gives us the kind of peace that makes us whole, that gives us permission to show up wholeheartedly.

This woman arrived with shame, but as she fell at Jesus feet and worshipped,

Jesus said your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.

The peace of God It doesn’t mean your heart hasn’t been broken.

It doesn’t mean you’ve never been done wrong.

And, it doesn’t mean you are perfect, but when you see sin, you repent.

It means what God says about you defines you and not the size of your nose or your hips.

It means that you quaranteen lies and build your life on truth, not cardboard fads.

I believe Mr. Carver is an incredible example of living wholehearted. I’ve already shared with you how Mr. Carver was able to revolutionize the economy and agriculture of the South. It was the early 1900's, he was a black man in the deep, deep racially prejudiced South. He was able to convince white plantation owners and farmers to change what they planted.

How did that happen? He was brilliant. He worked long, hard hours. It took years of showing up. Years and years of relentless work. Patience. Persistence. Prayer. Forgiveness.

In a letter written to encourage one of His former students going through a great struggle he said, “ My friend I love you for what you are and what you hope to be through Jesus Christ. There are times when I am surely tried and am compelled to hide away with Jesus for strength to overcome. God alone knows what I have suffered, in trying to do as best I could the job he has given me in trust to do, most of the time I had to work without the sympathy or support of those with whom I associated. Many are the strange paths God led me into. He is and will lead you likewise. 1 Kremer, 172.

He did the same thing the woman did at Simon’s banquet.

What do I mean? Satan wanted to label Mr. Carver, the culture around him tried! But because He learned as a child to run to Jesus…to walk with Jesus…none of the insults stuck. When one door slammed in his face, God just opened a different one. He lived whole heartedly, because his heart was whole. He could love and be creative.

“…sometimes it is wise not to look for too much appreciation. The main thing is to be sure you’re right and go ahead regardless of whether people appreciate it or… don’t, because in time they will appreciate it.”

It’s more than adventure Wholehearted means engaging the whole person, spirit, soul and body.

It means living fully alive and allowing the God kind of life to flow into every part of us; our thinking, our attitudes, our actions.

Wholehearted means loving myself without making myself an idol. (Excess is an enemy)

It means receiving God’s love, so I can give it away.

Wholehearted living embraces peace, faith, forgiveness, mercy, grace, joy, happiness, pain, courage, health, adventure, self-control,

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22 NLT

The Bible calls it walking in the Spirit. You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Gal 5: 13 NIV Mr. Carver lived his life congruent with His God given purpose. He was dedicated and hard working. He knew who He was; a child of God. Mr. Carver walked with God, talked with God and listened to God. He lived out of that confidence and served out of that confidence. He truly served with the heart of a king and led with the heart of a servant. Mr. Carver stewarded God’s secrets well. He didn’t hoard them, but developed them…shared them.

He loved God and people. Mr. Carver refused to allow circumstances to stop him; his birth, hindrances, what people thought or didn't think, even his frail health. He was persistent. He wasn’t looking for a shortcut or an easy way. Mr. Carver refused cultural labels, stereo types and confinding boxes. He didn’t refuse them in the normal blustery, defiant way, but just simply lived on a plane so far above the cultural norm that none of them applied to him. So, he didn’t need to defend himself or set anyone straight. He was confident, poised, gifted, resourceful and articulate.

He lived fully alive- experiencing the wonder, the joy, the excitement of listening and walking with God.

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Why do I always have to be to one to forgive? On so many occasions, I've told my children and people that I've talked with, "You have to forgive." And time after time, I've seen the look on their face or heard the words, "Why me? Why are you getting on to me? Do you know what they did?"

And dozen of times (especially my children) I've answered, “I’m talking to you, so let’s focus on what you need to do. You can’t change what they do, but you can change you. You are only responsible for you."

Peter's Question I wonder if that feeling is what prompted Peter's question for Jesus. I would love to know his back story or at least his feelings behind his question, “Lord, how many times do I have to forgive a person that does me wrong? Seven times?" Sounds like a lot of times to me!

Knowing Jesus like I know Him, I wonder if He smiled and shook His head as He answered, “No, not 7 times. 70 times 7.”

I can almost see Peter’s jaw drop in response to Jesus’ outlandish number.

Jesus had a story too. Jesus continued with a heart-wrenching story that began with “The kingdom of heaven is like this.” Matthew 18 beginning at verse 23 in the Good News Version says:

Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants' accounts. 24He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt. 26The servant fell on his knees before the king. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay you everything!’ 27The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go.

Are you still with me? 28“Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he said. 29His fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back!’ 30But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into jail until he should pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him everything. 32So he called the servant in. ‘You worthless slave!’ he said. ‘I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to. 33You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.’ 34The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount.”

Worse than Jail I want to zoom in on verse 34. The way the story is worded here it sounds like jail was this servant’s punishment; which would be bad enough when you realize he would never be able to get out because he wouldn’t have a way to make any money to pay back his debt if he was in jail, especially a sum that big.

But, when you look at version after version they all read closer to what the NIV says. The NIV says, “In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured….” So not only did the servant have to endure unending imprisonment, he was tortured.

According to Matthew 18:34; What were the consequences of un-forgiveness? Prison and torture.

Jesus continues in verse 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

That is exactly, exactly what I see repeated in the hearts of people everywhere I go. Un-forgiveness makes you a prisoner. And every time you think of that event or that person, you will be tormented. But that’s not the end of this toxic choice, it will poison you thoughts and your heart.

If you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:15 NLT

If you want to receive forgiveness, and EVERYBODY needs forgiveness, then you must give forgiveness. How? I know! I know! It’s hard!

And the truth is there are some things you can’t forgive! There I said it…does that make you feel better? But, let me finish that sentence with the bigger truth, There are some thing you can’t forgive without God’s help. Did you forget living for Jesus is not one more self-help program? He never intended for you to do anything alone. He wants to help you in ever area of your life- including forgiveness.

Ask God to help you forgive. I don’t mean one of those quick, in between commercials on TV, prayers. Open your heart to God and deeply and sincerely ask for His help.

Choose, as an act of your will, to forgive. Forgivenss is not an emotion. We will talk about the emotion in a minute, but chose to forgive.

Forgive from your heart.

It is a deeper place than your mind. HELPS Word-studies calls the heart “the affective center of our being.”

Give your hurt to God. It is toxic in your heart. When you give your pain to Him, a Divine Exchange can take place- He gives you wholeness.

Psalms 147:3NIV “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.”

It may take some time for your emotions to heal, but they will if you don’t feed them by rehearsing the situation over and over in your mind. This is a prime example of pulling down every thought.

Process the emotion through the lens of truth. Don’t inflate the situation.

Seek understanding.

Ask for wisdom. Why did this action hurt you? Is there something deeper in your heart that needs to be healed?

Sometimes a reliable person can help you process the situation.

Choose mercy instead of judgment.

Choose love instead of resentment.

Pray for them. So many people miss this step in the process of forgiveness. It is critical! If you refuse to pray for them, then you won’t get whole.

Matthew 5:44 NIV “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”

When you pray for the person that offended you, the situation becomes a key in God’s hands to release you from the prison of offense and heal you. But, the process doesn’t stop there because you are praying for them. God is able to go to the root of the offender’s heart and heal them too. Hurting people hurt people. God wants to use the situation to bring life to the offender.

Support your choice to forgive with your thoughts. When a thought comes up about the person or the incident that occurred, capture that thought and replace it with one that builds up instead of tears down.

Don’t let your thoughts become toxic. Remind yourself “I’ve forgiven them of that” and then pray for the person. If you feel pain at the thought of that person, then take it to the cross again.

I pray something like this; “Thank you Father for healing my emotions and if there is any little bit of un-forgiveness left then, I repent Father. Heal this hurt. Take the sting out of this memory."

Remember that emotions are signals. What is the signal telling you? "Father, I choose to love them. I release them and believe that you are transforming them into the image of your dear Son."

Your thoughts are like a stream of water. When it is pure, it nourishes your soul, body and spirit. But, when it is polluted with un-forgiveness, bitterness and anger, it poisons you at every level.

Guarding your heart begins with a single thought.

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Have you ever wondered what that little nugget tucked in 1 Corinthians 2:16 means...the one that says "for we have the mind of Christ"?

Let’s look at the NLT “For,

“Who can know the LORD’s thoughts?

Who knows enough to teach him?”

But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.”

“We have the mind of Christ,” what does that mean?

Isaiah 55:8 ESV For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. We understand that is very true, but why is He telling us that?”

3Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live;”

In the context of these Scriptures, God is saying, "Listen. Pay attention and really hear. I want to show you a better way to think and live. I want to show you my ways and my thoughts.

We understand that our mind is a processing plant just like our stomach processes and digest food. Your mind processes thoughts and ideas that enter through your ears, eyes, smells, taste and emotions.

Your mind assigns values and meaning to each of your thoughts. But could there be another source of your thoughts?

“For we have the mind of Christ… do you think…there’s that word again…think…but do you believe that since the Spirit of God lives in you that He could actually share His thoughts with you?

John 14:25, NLT I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative--that is, the Holy Spirit--he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

How does Holy Spirit teach us? Scripture

That’s why I’ve been telling you for 20 days, renew your mind with God’s Word. It is powerful because it is God’s Word. The Bible is God’s Love Letter to you. It is His will and covenant and it never changes. It is the only book that you will never understand unless you know the author.

He also speaks to our spirit. Acts 8:29 NLT The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and walk along beside the carriage."

He didn’t find that specific instruction in the Bible, it was God’s Spirit talking to him.

Holy Spirit hasn’t stop talking. Jesus says in John 16:12-13 12“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Let’s go back to 1 Corinthians 2. Let’s start reading at verse 6.

6Yet when I am among mature believers, I DO speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten.

7No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of Godc—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began.

8But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord.

9That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

and no mind has imagined

what God has prepared

for those who love him.”

10But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

13When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual trut 14But people who aren’t spiritualg can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.

16For, “Who can know the LORD’s thoughts?

Who knows enough to teach him?”

But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

If God’s Spirit is in you…He can inspire your thoughts. Let me tell you about a man that lived the reality of listening to the “mind of Christ.”

Cotton was king in the South. It was the primary cash crop throughout the South. But cotton is a hungry thief that strips away the soil’s nutrients. Landowners, anxious to repeat their monetary success, planted their fields with King Cotton year after, but the poor soil could only grow poor crops. The final death-blow to King Cotton was a little bug, the boll weevil with an appetite for cotton blooms and cotton buds. By 1920 every area in the US was infested with boll weevils that devastated the industry and the people working in the American South.

Meanwhile, God was preparing a giant of a man. George Washington Carver, a small, frail black professor with a master’s degree arrived at Tuskegee Institute in 1896 to teach agriculture to students. His motive for leaving his position at Iowa State was “the one great ideal of my life [is] to be of the greatest good to the greatest number of ‘my people,’”

His daily habit was to get out of bed at 4:00 in the morning. Prayer for Mr. Carver was a precious visit with a dear friend. He would walk through the woods at that early hour and talk with God. “There He gives me my orders for the day”, he said. God talked with Mr. Carver as he gathered specimens to take to his laboratory. He asked God questions and God answered them. One of Mr. Carver’s favorite stories to tell was a conversation he had with God.

“’Dear Mr. Creator, please tell me what the universe was made for.’ The Great Creator answered, ‘You want to know too much for that little mind of yours. Ask for something more your size.’ Then I asked, “Dear Mr. Creator tell me what man was made for.’ Again the Great Creator replied, ‘Little man, you are still asking too much. Cut down the extent of your request and improve the intent.’ So then I asked, “Please Mr. Creator will you tell me why the peanut was made?’”

And God answered his question. Mr. Carver worked and God whispered secrets, ideas and uses for the peanut. But equally important, he discovered that growing peanuts enriches the soil. Not only did he teach students, but once a week he invited the local farmers. He encouraged them to plant peanuts to enrich their soil. But the only thing most of them did with peanuts was to feed them to their livestock. To think of eating a peanut was laughable. Mr. Carver began to share what he had learned. Mr. Carver discovered dozens and eventually hundreds of uses for the humble goober. He wrote a pamphlet “How to Grow the Peanut, and 105 Ways of Preparing It for Human Consumption.” God used his humble servant George Washington Carver to revolutionize agriculture and the economy of the South.

“I never have to grope for methods. The method is revealed at the moment I am inspired to create something new… Without God to draw aside the curtain I would be helpless.”

“God is going to reveal to us things He never revealed before if we put our hands in His. No books ever go into my laboratory. The thing I am to do and the ways of doing it are revealed to me.”

“There is literally nothing that I ever asked to do, that I asked the blessed Creator to help me to do, that I have not been able to accomplish.”

“Marvel of marvels, how I wish I had you in God’s little workshop for a while, how your soul would be thrilled and lifted up.”

“How I thank God every day that I can walk and talk with Him. Just last week I was reminded of His omnipotence, majesty, and power through a little specimen of mineral sent to me for analysis, from Bakersfield, California.

I thank God for Mr. Carver and for the inventions that God gave him. Meanwhile, it is crucial that we understand he simply grasped the truth found in 1 Corinthians 2:9,10 again.

9That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

and no mind has imagined

what God has prepared

for those who love him.”

10But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.

God wants to show you His deep secrets. Mr. Carver walked with God, asked questions, listened and followed through on what he heard with hard work.

Maybe you’re thinking, "God doesn’t talk to me like that." There are hundreds, even thousands, of radio waves with songs, information and conversations being transmitted around you right now. In order to hear them you must have a receiver that is tuned to the right frequency. In order to hear God you need to tune in to hear Him speak.

I can’t give you a number to call or a location on your radio so you can hear from God, because He speaks to your Spirit. When He speaks your mind understands it as a thought. Sometimes you’re good idea is actually a God idea. He talks to you out of relationship…just like a good friendship develops as you both share your heart with each.

God talks to you. So, learn to listen. Here are some suggestions to help you hear what God is saying to you.

Believe God wants to and will talk to you.
Expect Him to talk to you.
Listen for His voice when you read Scripture or pray.
Keep a notebook handy when you pray/read to write down any thoughts that come to your mind. I’ve found that simply giving diligence to what I hear by writing it down allows me to be aware of more things that He is whispering to me.
He can talk to you anywhere and at any time, so be aware.
Sometimes it will be a strong feeling or it can be a gentle knowing. You don’t know how you know what you know, you just know it is true. Test those promptings wisely.

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Don't worry! Have you ever felt like...

"If I hear “don’t worry” one more time I think I'll scream!" While the picturesque words peace and rest sound so inviting, most of our lives are more like a hamster wheel of work, worry, repeat.

Work is healthy and necessary, but worry is not. Worry steals your peace. Worry makes you indecisive and less productive. No one enjoys worrying, yet like a vortex it sucks you in before you realize it.

So many times I’ve opened the drain in the bottom of the bathtub as I instructed one of my children to get out of the tub. Often I gathered them in my arms, wrapping them in a soft towel, while rubbing them dry and hugging them all at the same time. Sometimes they would lean over the tub and watch a small yellow boat swirl in the harmless vortex that was created as the water drained from the tub. And, sometimes to my dear husband’s chagrin, I’ve watched as one of their little toys made it’s way down the drain before I could grab it. (Sorry, Wayne!)

Watching the whirling water in the bathtub is fun, but watching people whirl in the vortex of fear and stress of life’s problems is heartbreaking. As I listen to people and look around me, I see families drowning in worry. I see the flood waters of problems, serious life alternating situations, that are sweeping and sucking people into a vortex of disaster. I grasp the gravity of what is happening in our culture. But, as a child of God, I want to remind you that you don’t have to worry. Maybe you’re tired of hearing folks say “Don’t Worry!"

But Jesus said it in Matthew 6:31 NLT so I think we need to hear it until we stop doing it.

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Let me stop here for one minute. If you are feeling anxious and fearful…if you feel like you are drowning right now, here are some relief strategies.

Quiet the inner storm. Calm your emotions. Psalm 131:2 NLT “But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me.”

Talk to yourself. No, don’t say the mean hateful stuff…be nice. Talk quiet and calm.

Just like a mother calms her baby, talk to yourself in a quiet reassuring way. Tell yourself to calm down. Talk to yourself with quiet, short sentences.

Then begin to pray, “Jesus, I need you. Help me, dear Jesus. Father, you are here. Thank you. I need your peace, Jesus. Thank you Jesus. There is power in your name. Jesus you are Lord. You are Lord in this situation. I receive your peace. I need wisdom. Thank you Jesus for wisdom. Praise you, Father."

Breathe. When we get upset, we take shallow breathes. Take a deep breath. Finish by lifting your hands and praising God. Praise God aloud for His goodness, faithfulness, strength, power and love. Praise Him for specific times that He has answered your prayer.

Go to God’s Word Find promises that apply to your situation. Read them aloud. If you don’t have a list of promises or comforting Scriptures, use the 23 Psalm.

Dr. Charles L. Allen, in "God's Psychiatry", explains the power of that short chapter.

“The Twenty-third Psalm is a pattern of thinking, and when

a mind becomes saturated with it, a new way of thinking and a

new life are the result. It contains only 118 words. One could

memorize it in a short time. In fact, most of us already know

it. But its power is not in memorizing the words, but rather

in thinking the thoughts.

Listen to music. Take a walk and listen to music. Really listen by paying attention to the words of the song. Sing along. Pray.

Call a friend and ask them to pray for you. Yes, I’ve done it! Sometimes I didn’t even explain why I need prayer, only that I needed peace.

It doesn’t do any good to worry. I know. I know! You knew that already. Then don't do it. Jesus said in Matthew 6: 27, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”

Worry makes your problems heavier. Proverbs 12:25 NIV “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”

I don’t like what worry does to me. Do you? It affects your spirit, soul and physical body. There is a long list of medical issues associated with worry. Worry will rob your faith, make your body sick and hinder you from thinking clearly enough to problem solve efficiently. It’s extremely difficult to think about solutions when you are drowning in worry.

You don’t have to worry. Worry takes place in your mind. It’s a nasty habit that does the same thing to your mind that nicotine does to your lungs. Since it takes place in your mind you can control it. God won’t control it for you. You have to do it.

“All worry is caused by calculating without God.” Oswald Chambers

You can stop worrying. God wouldn’t tell you not to worry if you couldn’t stop. You can. You have to stop the wrong thoughts. It sounds like a daunting task, but never fear, God’s Word is here-and He’s got a strategy.

You can worry or have peace. It’s your choice. Peace is not the absence of problems but the presence of a person…Jesus.

Remember God has a solution. Psalms 34:17 NLT “The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.” 1 Corinthians 10:13b NLT “…And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.” This verse is the reason why you can live confident and filled with peace. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:8 nlt

Let’s look at God’s Peace Strategy. It is such a simple strait forward strategy. Not easy to do, but very easy to understand. I like to break it into bite-sized pieces for easy digestion.

Philippians 4:6 NIV says

“6”Don’t worry about anything;

instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need,

and thank him for all he has done.”

Did you see that? Here’s the strategy. 1. Turn your worry into prayer. 2. Tell God what you need. 3. Thank God.

Verse 7 of Philippians 4 says 7Then you will experience God’s peace,

which exceeds anything we can understand.

I gotta tell you the last part of that verse really excites me. It is worth repeating.

“Then you WILL experience God’s peace.” Oh praise, God!

Peace isn’t an illusive fantasy or obtainable only to someone that doesn’t have a problem in the world. It’s important that you understand the outcome of this process is not natural peace; it’s God’s peace. It is not a human peace that you can manufacture with a process. This peace comes from God. It is supernatural.

God’s Peace is not automatic. It’s always available, but unattainable if you choose worry instead. And because it is a process; it must be repeated again and again. It is a way of life; not a one time thing you do when you have a panic attack.

As we partner with God in obedience and submission to God’s authority He provides peace. God’s peace is powerful enough to guard your heart, which includes, your mind, will, motivations, and desires.

But the simple strait forward instruction in 1 Peter 5:7 is my favorite.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

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Toxic Words Ever been dumped on with fiery toxic words that burn you beyond explanation or sometimes just frustrating and irrational words. For me...I need time to process things and cool off so I can think more clearly and Pinterest is my favorite distraction.

I love Pinterest! When I want to relax, really relax, I go to Pinterest. As I was glancing through the pins on my feed, a picture of a woman grabbed me.

You could see something extraordinary in her face.

It wasn’t anger.

or meanness.

It was finality.

DETERMINATION!

And what her face didn’t say, her body did. Her shoulder was turned away and her hand extended out and beyond her body like a traffic cop stopping traffic at a school crossing.

I lingered, mesmerized by the strength I saw in her face. I couldn’t help but wonder how that kind of courage got there. Was the strength cultivated or did it bubble up spontaneously?

There’s something special about courage * Intimidated people… * fearful…weak people… * powerless people… * absolutely love that kind of courage!

That kind of tenacity. The firm-footed tenacity that refuses, absolutely stands resolute, without outrage or red-faced disgust to accept whatever garbage is being dumped.

I don’t know about you, but I have found myself way to often accepting with wide-open arms the nasty garbage being dumped by satan. I knew it came from satan although the delivery truck driver was a friend, a relative or a believer I trusted.

Still, they delivered repulsive toxic garbage (sometimes unintentionally). These toxic words that left me feeling:

Intimidated.
Rejected.
Unworthy.
Shameful.
Worthless.
Fearful.

Has that happened to you too?

It stinks doesn’t it. Way too often, after the delivery person is long gone, I find myself sifting through the mental garbage of their toxic words,

Memorizing every detail and: * Rehearsing every word, sometimes embellishing them with my wounded emotions. * processing every single inflection of their voice, * grieving over what they said or didn’t say and what they did or did not do.

These days…I’ve learned a better way to process toxic words and deeds.

Truth? If there’s truth in their words, I take that truth to the cross and ask for God’s help.

Lies? But, every other ounce that is not truth is nothing but stinking lies and I get rid of it.

Trigger? Or, when I realize the garbage they delivered actually triggered a lie(s) in my heart.

Lies that I have believed about myself and my abilities, that

show their ugly heads and spiteful gleams of delight while I groan with pain.

Lies that trigger my

insecurity
self-consciousness
doubt
fear
rejection

When that happens I know it’s time to.. * de-clutter. * get healing. * think different.

Your mind is not a garbage dump! You don’t have to receive rejection, fear or intimidation.

You can

refuse it!
refuse toxic words mentally and emotionally!
declare with finality…

No Dumping Here! You have a choice here.

Don't embrace it, gather it in your arms or give it a place in your heart!

It begins with knowing who you are. You are chosen and loved. Without Him, you are incomplete. But, with Him you are whole and complete.

And can I make this very personal? You are priceless! Absolutely priceless.

You are not rejected, worthless, stupid, ugly or whatever else you’ve been hearing in your head.

And, you are loved…precious to God and that changes everything.

Did you hear me? I’m in your face…

His love changes everything…

EVERYTHING!

Bask in His love! And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. Ephesians 3:18 NLT

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7 NASB

Your mind detox continues by knowing who He is!

“O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you! Jeremiah 32:17

Embrace His strength, instead of trying to muster your own!

Those are two great...powerful verses that remind me that I can access His strength.

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT

As I looked at that picture of that courageous woman on Pinterest, I thought to myself, “I need to remember this. I’m gonna pin this post on my Pinterest Board.”

Then I felt a whisper in my heart, “It’s not her determined face you need to remember…it is your:

face…
determined face…
set jaw…
rigid stance…
hand outstretched like a traffic cop…
voice

saying to the devil:

“No!”
"I will not believe your lies anymore."
"I will believe truth. God's Word is truth and I will allow it to shape my thoughts, my beliefs and my choices.

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God wants you to be whole...mentally, physically emotionally.

And the best way I know to talk about what wholeness looks like is to tell you a story!

CRAYONS! A new box of crayons along with a few other supplies signal the beginning of a new school year. Pencils, pens, paper and notebooks were always simply BORING! But new crayons were wonderful, especially when I got the big box that had sea foam green inside! That was and still is my favorite color. I remember that feeling of absolute delight when I opened that box of NEW crayons.

The smell, oh how I love the smell of new crayons: * Perfect crayons. * Sharp crayons. * My crayons. Just mine. (Smile.) * Shiny, waxy, happy colors to make beautiful pictures. * Wonderful options, a rainbow of beautiful colors with beautiful names written on the side.

New crayons! A brand new box of shiny crayons doesn't transform you into an artist, but it certainly makes you feel like one.

I loved the new, shiny crayons, but for some reason I tucked the broken ones from the previous year in the back of my closet. The paper wrapping that identified the shade and the manufacturer were gone, as well as the sharp points and most of my favorite colors. My least favorite colors remained in the clear zippered pouch; brown, orange and a yucky, drab green crayon. Well, there was a red and a yellow in the bag, but in their broken condition, they didn't look beautiful anymore. I had saved them, not because they were valuable, but because I hate throwing anything away. (I had to buy myself a new box…so I could color with my grands!)

Like People Those shiny crayons remind me of beautiful people; beautiful opportunities. Each person, like a crayon is designed by God. He loves to make beautiful pictures and stories from our lives, to bring His beauty, His love into the world.

But, when I look at the people around me, I see lots of broken people- that are missing their point. The point, the main point and purpose of our lives, continues to be that we were made to love Jesus and bring glory to His name. Without Jesus; we are missing the most precious point and purpose of life.

Broken Often the pressures of life break people. People are broken by disappointments, abuse, fear, anger and rejection. Like broken crayons in the back of a closet; their potential goes undeveloped and their dreams unrealized; no pictures, only the dark scribbles of human effort, desperate stabs at producing the great work of art God intended. We do our best work in God's hand. There we flourish and become beautiful.

God loves people. People that are broken by life, abused, lonely and crippled with pain. He doesn't recoil at the ugliness. He doesn't look away when He passes bleeding, broken people that fail at life or struggle with addictions. They are valuable to Him. They are His treasures. He moves close to them.

Psalms 34:18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.

Whole I love the picture that verse paints. He leans in. Not as a casual, critical or nosy observer, but with genuine concern and the power to heal. God wants to make broken people whole.

Psalm 147:3 (NIV) He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Praise God! Jesus still works miracles. He heals.

He restores.

Jesus' death on the cross was redemptive and regenerative. He came to bring wholeness.

Whole? I've held broken things in my hand. Broken things that I desperately wanted to put back together: Beautiful plates. Beautiful vases. Beautiful Humpty Dumpties "that all the king's armies and all the king's men couldn't put back together again." Oh I could glue them together, but they're still broken, useless and ugly!

But God's power goes so far beyond ours. He loves to restore broken people.

Not repair--restore. There is a drastic difference.

Restoration is wholeness, nothing missing, nothing broken-sozo.

Sozo is an important word. Sozo is used 110 times in the KJV. It is often translated "save", but it is also translated "whole." Matthew 15:28 "Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt . And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."

Made whole, not just saved, but made whole. Jesus died to save us, but His work on the cross has additional benefits. He wants to make you whole. Are you broken? Are there places in your life that still ooze with pain? Jesus wants to make you whole.

Your Choice Still, the reality is, wholeness is your choice. God has already chosen it for you, but He will not violate your will. You must give Him access through faith and prayer.

The account in Matthew 15 tells a story of a woman with a broken daughter and a broken dream. The thing that makes this story stand out is she brought her brokenness to Jesus. His response is surprising. He ignored her. But, she persisted. His comment was excluding. But, she persisted.

And because she had faith, persisting, pushing faith, her daughter was made whole. Jesus complimented her faith. Did her faith feed her activity or did her activity feed her faith? Maybe it's both ways? We act when we have faith. When we obey with an appropriate activity, it feeds our faith.

What she did reflected her faith. She… * realized who Jesus was. * responded by going to Jesus. * requested that Jesus heal her daughter. * reveled through worship * repeated her request * received wholeness

God wants you to be whole! I'm not saying that everything will be easy. Still, God wants to heal your hurts and give you the grace and strength to go through difficult times. He wants to make you whole!

One more thing, when God restores, He even gives us a new wrapper, sorta like a crayon wrapper. It protects us from being broken and identifies us as His treasured possession. But it is beautiful and it labels us. He is the only one that can do that you know! He calls it a robe of righteousness. It identifies us as His child!

Isaiah 61:10 KJV "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

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God with you? Jehovah Shammah, one of the names of God that I include in my prayer almost everyday is only used once in the Bible. Ezekiel shares his prophetic dream of a city that God calls Jehovah Shammah which means "God is there.' Easton's Bible Encyclopedia says the city that Ezekiel saw is a type (symbol or picture) of the gospel Church.

Jehovah Shammah is considered by theologians to be one of the 7 redemptive names of God because Jesus' death made it possible for God's spirit to dwell in believers. Jesus promised in Matthew 28:20 that He would always be with us. Even though there is an abundance of Old and New Testament verses that assures us of God's presence, there seems to be some doubt that God is really with us. '

Brady Boyd, in his book' Sons and Daughters: Orphans on our way Home, writes that God spoke to his heart..."Brady, people are overwhelmed by the circumstances they face, because they've stopped believing I am near. Don't give way to the panic. And tell others to stop panicking too. I am closer than the air you're breathing, and my presence brings all the power you need.''

It breaks my heart to think that people have stopped believing God is with them. People seem to be wondering where God has gone, so I want to remind you' God is with you!

Really? I know you already know that, but do you really know that?

If I asked you "Do you know that God is with you?' you would probably answer "Of course I do'! God is omnipresent like the air that is all around us. We don't see the air, but it's there.

We know and believe verses like: Psalms 139:7 NLT "I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!'

Jeremiah 23:24 NLT "Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?" says the LORD.'

God is omni-present You've seen His fingerprints in creation and His Divine design as you've held a brand new baby or watched the reproductive process of a seed.

You've stood silently in awe as a glorious sunset painted the sky with color and you've craned your neck to see a sky full of stars. No one has to tell you that only God could do that! But, if you only know Him as a distant creator, it's like recognizing Michael Jordan or Warren Buffet at a restaurant.

God wants you recognize Him, but He wants more out of your relationship with Him. He wants to share Himself with you! It is important that we experience four distinct dimensions of God's presence.

Omni-present. 2. Indwelling presence. 3. Infilling. 4. Manifest presence.

Indwelling Presence Every born again believer has received God's indwelling presence. It is like what a baby does when it is born. It breathes air into its lungs and it lives. If you have been born again, He is with you!!! He's in you! Ephesians 3:17 NLT "Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.' Ephesians 2:22 NLT "Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.'

Be Filled with the Holy Spirit Ephesians 5:18 NLT Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.

I love, love, LOVE to talk about the benefits of being Spirit filled. I have so many pages on my website about Precious Holy Spirit, so I won't allow myself to pause here. (You can check them out' here.)'

It's important for you to believe He is With You. When you believe that you need to change your thoughts and words to reflect the belief that you are never alone, you don't need to pray for Him to be with you. He already is. You simply need to become more aware of His presence.

Manifest Presence Still there are times like those on a cold day that you can actually see your breath or times you see steam rising from boiling water on the stove.

Exodus 19:18 NLT "All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently.' He manifests His presence when we seek Him.

Jeremiah 29:13 NLT "If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.'

Colossians 1:27b NLT "And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.' (His glory is His manifest presence.)

In His manifest presence we are enfolded with His radiant love and joy. We were made to connect with God. Often as we move from thanksgiving to praise and then to worship, we can sense His nearness.

Not all the time, but often as I open my heart to God in the morning before my day begins or when I begin to tell someone about Jesus and how precious He is to me I can feel His nearness. It is a wonderful, wonderful feeling. Those precious God encounters have marked my life with His love.

He is With us! Yet even when I don't feel Him, He is still there. I am aware of His presence so, even when I don't feel His presence I talk to Him, ask Him questions and ask for His help.

I've gone through Peggy Williams'' 21-Day Formula for God Confidence three times. The first time I went through it I was caught off guard by her bold declaration "You are the woman/man God is with.' When I read those words, I got a mental picture of myself at a party.'

The happy party was in a location with wide doorways emptying into several rooms with lots of people filling the space. I was a guest at the party when another guest leaned over and asked me quietly "Who is he with?' and nodded toward a guest just inside the next room.

I knew immediately whom she was talking about. The guest was famous. His face and prestige was recognizable by everyone there. Everyone wanted to talk with him, touch him or at the very least get near him.

I smiled and answered, "He's with me!' as I moved to go to where He was.

I am the woman God is with! I am not trying, neither was my friend, to say that we have an exclusive claim that no one else can share. Anyone can experience an intimate relationship with God. It begins by becoming aware that He is with you. But the fact is, I can and do have that kind of relationship with Him. My relationship with Jesus is a game changer.

Game Changer Let me explain why I say and believe that because Jesus is with you it is a "game changer.'

Let's say something happens and you think'¦'Oh no. I don't know what to do! But, because He is with you, you immediately begin a conversation with Him'¦Father, I don't know what to do, so I ask you to give me wisdom. Show me what to do. Where do I need to go to find the wisdom I need for this situation?"

Another example. Let's say a friend asks you to cover up something by telling a lie for them. Because Jesus is with you, you can lovingly, but courageously, reply "I love you, but I won't lie for you because lying grieves the heart of Jesus and violates my values as a believer.'

Benefits There are many fabulous benefits that come with having a friend like Jesus'¦because He is with you, you can'¦

be confident, peaceful, joyful, bold, loving and obedient to God.
speak and live the truth boldly without harshness. You don't have to hide behind lies or make excuses.
be free from addictions.
be released from every prison of un-forgiveness or fear.
release your faith to experience provision, favor with God and man, and wisdom.
enjoy eating and sharing the good fruit that His Spirit develops in you: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faith, Gentleness, Self-control.

I am learning to set myself up for success by believing and trusting God more and changing the way I think. Part of my strategy is to talk to myself, especially when I am facing something difficult.

Yes, I talk to myself. My self-talk used to be destructive and discouraging, but I don't do that anymore! (Praise God!) Since I believe that Jesus goes with me everywhere I go, I can confidently say,' "I am the woman God is with.''

Here's an example if I'm dealing with a difficult person. I say Pat, God is with you. He's with you girl (Sometimes I don't pay attention to myself and I need to repeat it!)

Pat, because He is with you, you can do the right thing. God's gonna help you! You can be kind, Pat, cause God is giving you some of His kindness. He loves this person. You may not feel like you have any love to give, but He's giving you some of His love to love them with.

I’d like to pray with you. Father, I pray for my dear reader. Help them to have a new awareness of your presence. Help them to walk in greater confidence because they are confident in your greatness! Amen.

Here's the link to sign up for Peggy Williams 21 Formula For Christ Confidence

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I’ve heard countless conversations, books, messages and declarations that address the question..."Am I Worthy?"

Can I ask you a personal question? Is the question "Am I Worthy?" one that rattles around in your head?

And, just so I understand your answer, is the questions asking "Are you worthy to be loved?" or "Are worthy to be accepted?"

I want to come back to that question later, but first I want to ask you a critical question, "Do you know who you are?"

Maybe you’re answering, “Of course, I’m…" and you fill in the blank with your name or a title that everyone knows you by…

but that doesn’t tell me who you are. Most of us answer that question internally very differently than we would answer someone asking it.

Who are you? Some people answer this defining question by naming a failure or limitation...

I am a: * disappointment to my mom and dad. * loser. * wreck. * stupid idiot. * orphan. * poor person. * divorcee. * criminal.”

Or, some people label themselves with a sickness that defines them:

I am a cripple.
I am a diabetic.

None of those things define you, nor should they. Please don’t let them keep you from being and doing what God called you to do.

Can I use a joke to explain? A lady stopped in the pet store to buy her cat its favorite treat. She strolled past the row of bird cages on her way to the cat treats. As she passed a cage that housed a beautiful green and yellow parrot, it squawked “Ugly lady! Ugly lady!” at her. She was annoyed and complained to the management. The management punished the bird and promised the lady it wouldn’t happen again.

In her frustration she forgot to buy the cat treats so, she had to go back that afternoon after work. When she passed the cage, the bird squawked “Ugly Lady! Ugly Lady!”

The lady was really mad and demanded that the management do something immediately.

Again, the management apologized and punished the bird even more sternly. The woman left in a huff.

When she passed the store on the way to her work the next day, the parrot was in its cage outside the shop door. The bird said, “Hey lady!” She paused, and said, “Yes?”

The bird squawked, “You know!” And we do know, because the truth is... inside all of us a timid little voice...that we hardly recognize... whispers…Yes I know. I know the real me.

And because we think we know, we look in the mirror and we tell ourselves things that would make us very angry if someone else said anything close to what we are telling ourselves. The scary thing is, sometimes, we don’t even realize it!

What you believe about yourself is vitally important. You can believe a lie or you can believe the truth. The truth is what God says about you.

Congruent Your inner self-talk needs to be congruent with what God says about you.

Not bigger.
Not smaller.
Simply line up with or conform and match what God says.

The first thing God says... He made you in His image. You are loved. You are priceless. So valuable that He sent His Son into the World to bring you into His family. He wants to share Himself with you! There’s nothing you can do that will make Him stop loving you. But there are things that you can do and believe that will keep you from being and living as a child of God. Believing the truth about you begins with believing the truth about Him.

Believing the truth about you isn’t automatic. It won’t happen unless you renew your mind. Only YOU can do that. That’s why it is so very important for you to take your thoughts and heart to the cross on a regular basis. Repent of sin. Embrace forgiveness.

Reshape your inner self-talk by discovering what God says about you?

Look at John 1:12 NIV ‘Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

God says if you have received Jesus and believed in His name you are a child of God.

Is that what you say about yourself? Do you still struggle with that thought? Are you waiting until you are perfect to step into all that being His child means?

If you have been born into God’s family, you are a child of God. That is your identity. Live out of your identity as a child of God.

When Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River; God declared right out loud from heaven that this was His Son (Matthew 3:17). In the very next verse (Matthew 4:1) it says that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After Jesus fasted for forty days and nights, the tempter said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Basically, he was daring Jesus to prove that He was God’s Son.

The deceiver is still doing that; "Are you really God’s child? Prove it? You’re not good enough, special enough or worthy. You don’t know the Bible well enough.” Listening to the enemies lies creates doubt and robs you of confidence.

Jesus didn’t defend Himself and demand His rights. He knew who He was.

Instead of flooding your mind with excuses and explanations of why you “aren't” good enough to be God’s child, do what Jesus did. He spoke God’s Word. He didn’t need to argue because He had kingdom authority and so do you.

Let me answer the question I started with, “Are you worthy?” Do you deserve God’s grace and love?

Can you earn it by being good, or pretty, or smart or whatever you dictate the price must be paid to earn it and keep on earning it?

No. You can’t earn it. And you don’t need to either.

Ephesians 2:8, 9 NIV is very clear that we don’t become God’s child because we deserve it. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.” My children didn’t have to do anything to earn my love.

I loved them before I ever saw them. Wayne and I planned for them and wanted them. The instant I saw them I discovered a new meaning for love. Did they deserve it? What a ridiculous thought, they were my children and loving them was one of the greatest joys of my life. If a person earns something, they have to continue to do what they did to continue to be worthy. Stop trying to earn your place with your worthiness and simply receive His love.

1 John 3:1a NIV See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! … Yes! Because you answered yes to God’s invitation to become His child, you have nothing to prove and everything to gain by walking in His love and His overcoming power. That doesn’t mean you can live in rebellion against God. But, it means you will grow. And, as you grow you will become more and more like Jesus.

Ephesians 3:19 NLT May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Who am I? I humbly and gratefully respond I am:

a child of God.
forgiven.
blessed.
valuable.
loved.
wise.
the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
healed
whole
able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

And the truth is...I believe it!

Now it’s your turn… let me ask you again…

Who are you?

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Do you enjoy your life?

Do you ever think about that? I know...I get it...we're so busy...so...

distracted by…

- - - Noise. * Weariness. * Busyness. * Worry. * So many voices clamoring for our attention.

We simply don’t take the time to notice or think about the wonderful things that enrich our lives. Thoughts that reflect on the precious things in life that we've been given will fill our hearts. That's full thinking.

But what about you... Do you think full or empty? It is very easy to fill our thoughts with lack and need instead of thinking about the things that make our lives full, the blessings, the happy things and people that encourage us. Why is it we have the tendency to think about things that drain us emotionally, but fail to think about things that enrich and encourage us? And, why do we allow our thoughtlessness to make us miss sunsets and licking the last drop of syrup off our fork after pancakes?

Why do we think about the person that ignored us and not the radiant smile of the person that was genuinely glad to see us?

Thinking full refocuses our thoughts to whisper a prayer for the distracted or disgruntled friend and enjoying...yes, actually enjoying the friend that was so glad to see us. Think about that relationship, that person's warmth. As you take the time to reflect, to enjoy it instead of minimizing it...it will bring joy to your heart.

Think Different Why do we think about the grumpy sales clerk instead of the warm friendly one?

Thinking full refocuses your attention from the grumpy sales clerk to how much God loves that person. Instead of joining them in having a bad day, pray for them. Refocus your thoughts on the enjoyable part of your shopping trip. The bargain you found, the look on your child's face as he/she buried their face into the center of the hamburger.

Or, why do we fail to deliberately and strategically think about our blessings? Reflecting on your blessings is full thinking, because those thoughts will fill your mind and heart with joy.

When we fail to think about our blessings, we miss the joy, the fullness that comes from savoring them.

Ever felt unappreciated? Maybe you’ve complained, “they don’t even realize all that I do for them!

They don’t realize how hard I work...give…sacrifice…etc".

We all have! As a parent, one of our goals is to teach our children to appreciate the sacrifice and services of others, but when it comes to other people there will be times when people totally overlook your sacrifice and hard work.

But, you don't have to allow their lack of understanding or appreciation to rob your joy of serving. Think full. Enjoy the privilege of using your talents to serve Jesus.

It's your mind. It's your choice. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather have joy instead of frustration...and these days I'm choosing joy!

Have you ever… Complained that you didn’t have anything to wear, as you looked through your closet full of clothes?

Or, stared into a pantry of food choices and complained that you didn’t have anything to eat?

Or, have you compared your family or friends, house, income with someone else’s and realized their’s was much bigger and grander and better than yours?

I've done it, and it's draining. But, we don't have to think that way!

What is really going on that makes us feel that way?

When we have so much, why don't we enjoy it more? I know for the most part we aren't thinking about our blessings enough. The lies we hear from so many arenas of our culture have produced faulty patterns of thought. I want to challenge you to look honestly at your heart, "Why don't you really enjoy the blessings that God has given you?

If we can recognize it for what it is, then we can deal with it.

What is it? Is it:

Ingratitude?
Entitlement?
Busy lifestyles? (Not thinking about the good stuff enough.)
Greed?
Comparison?
We simply don't value what we've been given, so we take it for granted?

Think full. You can choose your thoughts, so change them. Begin right now. Stop comparing what you have with someone else. That includes your...

looks
clothes
children
abilities
home
job.

Think about the wonderful things that enrich your life. Really think about them.

But thinking full is just the first step. And this next step is the game changer!!!

Thank God for it! When we open our heart to express our gratitude, it enriches our lives beyond words. Let me explain with a story from Jesus’ life.

In the past two devotions I’ve encouraged you to allow your problem or need to be a trigger that caused you to look to God. There were so many people in the Bible that saw Jesus, but didn’t recognize who He was. Oh, they might have known that His name was Jesus…but that didn’t recognize His power and authority.

Luke 17 tells us the intriguing story of ten men ostracized by an extremely contagious disease that recognized Jesus and acknowledged Him as Master. Luke uses a word here that denotes they recognized his authority. They kept their distance as the law demanded, but instead of crying out, “Unclean. Unclean;” they cried out “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

Jesus instructed them to “go show yourself to the priest.” As they went, not before, but as they went they realized they were healed. I can’t imagine what that must have meant to them to actually be healed of such a dreaded disease. Healing would change everything. They could go home to their families, communities and their livelihood. They were no longer outcasts—rejects--lepers.

Anxious? I'm sure they must have been incredibly anxious to get to the priest…to show him that they were well. He was the only person that could release them to go back to their homes and families. Do you think they ran? I wouldn’t want to waste another minute.

However, one man didn’t seem to think turning around and running back to Jesus was a waste of time. I personally think he sorta celebrated and danced and hopped and skipped back, but the Bible simply states a single leper came back with loud shouts of “Praise God!” When he got to Jesus he fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what He had done. This wasn’t just a polite thank you. This man celebrated with shouts and then deep gratitude at Jesus’ feet.

Celebrate? Talking about something to celebrate, this man had something to celebrate. But how did he celebrate…with thanksgiving!

You know the story (Luke 17:11-17), so let’s keep focused on this solitary man at the feet of Jesus. Your faith has healed you, Jesus told him.

Jesus said “Were not all ten cleansed.” They saw healing because all they could see was their physical body. When Jesus spoke to this man at his feet, He uses an entirely different word. It is from the root word sozo which means wholeness…nothing missing, nothing broken…spirit, soul and body.

I understand the other nine wanted to hurry…they wanted to get back to life…but in their hurry they missed wholeness. What a terrible choice!

Gratitude makes us whole… Gratitude fills our heart…while a gift can only fill our hands or a space in our home.

And, what about us…since I can only answer for myself and you can only answer for yourself, let me talk to you. I talked to myself when I was writing this, so don’t think I’m asking you to do something that I didn’t do.

Do you love the gift so much that you miss the Giver? If you miss the Giver, you miss the best part of the gift-- His love.

Do you love what is in His hand more than you do Jesus?

When you reach beyond the gift with your thanksgiving and praise, you reach all the way to the heart of the Giver. Then, you see that His gift reflects His nature.

Do you want to be whole? Do you want your life to be better? Think Full then express it by being thankful.

One Step Farther Isaiah 61:10 KJV

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Rejoicing is more than rote “thank you.” It is:

deliberate. (More than a feeling.)
strategic. (I will.)
purposeful. (Give God Glory)
demonstrative.
an act of faith.
transformative.

It is a heartfelt celebration! There's no party like a "Thank you Jesus party"! You can have it anytime and anyplace! So the next time you want to grumble and gripe, have yourself a party!!!

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Would you like to think like a Problem Solver? Life can be tough, so how do you make the best of things when they don’t work out like you want them too? I suggest that you think like a problem solver.

It's one of my goals for sure. I want to be great at solving problems. I understand solving problems is one of the paths for real success in life. It doesn't come natural for me, so I have had to learn from some of the greats.

John Wooden

“Things Work Out Best For Those Who Make The Best Of How Things Work Out.”

"Fix It!" has always been his motto. My husband, Wayne, can fix anything…OK almost anything…but his list of things he can fix is pretty impressive.

His family lived in a small rural town in Mississippi. His dad used his GI Bill to buy mules to pull stumps out of the woods so he could sell them to a turpentine plant. When he realized he couldn’t make enough money to take care of his family he became a sharecropper.

When Wayne was 9 years old his dad moved his family to Mobile where he found a job recapping tires. They lived in a small house in the projects. His mom and dad worked really hard, but there was no money for extras. The other kids had bikes, but that was a luxury his family couldn’t afford. So he found old damaged bikes and pieces of bikes in people’s trash. He salvaged enough parts to make one whole bike. His desire helped him develop thinking skills that made him an effective problem solver and God honoring employee, husband, dad and neighbor.

Solution Minded His challenges fueled a life long process of solution-minded thinking. Wayne is a great problem solver. His pattern of thinking in its simplest form is something like this.

1. 1. 1. What is the problem? No light. 2. What is the root of the problem? The lamp is unplugged. 3. How do I fix the problem? Plug in the lamp.

Let’s build on that simple foundation. Mr. Roger’s taught children a very important principle. “When you experience a disaster or something bad happens always look for the helper.” I whole-heartedly agree, especially when you realize the best helper is Precious Holy Spirit.

A Good Trigger Instead Problems can trigger a myriad of emotions. I want to encourage you to use your problem to trigger a different response…instead of panicking or becoming overwhelmed-call on God. Let Him be your first call, and then He can be your first responder. He promised He would be with you, so talk to Him first. Ask for help. I’m not suggesting fancy words or long prayers-just honest ones. Prayer gives you access to all God’s resources.

I suggest a strategy something like this.

1. 1. 1. Call on God. 2. Quiet your heart. 3. What is the real problem? 4. What are some possible solutions? 5. Decide, “What is the right thing to do?” 6. Follow through.

Quiet your heart. Maybe you have a strategy that works for you, but when I feel anxious or overwhelmed I whisper His name…Jesus. Jesus. (Then I slowly and quietly whisper something like this from my heart.)You are the prince of peace. I ask for your peace to flood my heart.

Get the facts. * What is the real problem? * It helps me to grab a piece of paper and write out my thoughts. * What are some possible solutions? * Access God’s wisdom. Like a seed, His wisdom contains the power to accomplish what needs to be done. * Ask God to give you insight, wisdom, and answers. * What does God’s Word say about this situation? * Who knows about this kind of problem? * Can you read their book or talk to them? * Do you have a safe friend that can pray with you or give you some advice? * Ask God to show you what your right next step should be. * John 16:24 “You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.” * What can you learn in this situation?

“Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.” Alfred E. Newman Be careful! It’s a cute little quote, but that is the kind of thinking that makes folks terrible problem solvers. Solving problems brings change. Change is painful, but necessary to grow.

Albert Einstein said

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results”

What do you need to learn?
Is there something that needs to change?
Do you need to change?
Do you need to repent to God or apologize to someone?

Dr. Henry Cloud said in Secrets of God

“Mature people learn from their problems. Immature people repeat their problems.” This one is so important yet so few people do this one.

Make an action plan and follow through with the necessary actions. Believe “Whether You Think You Can Or Think You Can’t, You’re Right.”- Henry Ford

Have you seen this version of Philippians 4:13? It has become my favorite.

Philippians 4:13 AMPC 13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].” Mix with faith. You don’t question a recipe when it tells you to mix liquid into the dry ingredients to make a cake. When you spoon the thick batter in cake pans and shove them into the oven, you know you are going to eat some delicious cake when it is done.

Yet somehow, when it comes to receiving God’s promises, it seems we are missing a step. Could it be that we aren’t mixing faith with the promise?

Hebrews 4:2 KJV For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

The author is saying mix the gospel with faith so that you have a new and improved compound. The batter is better when baked to make cake.

Don't miss this! When you see a promise in Scripture, you must mix it with faith; faith that is birthed out of knowing and trusting God to receive the fulfillment of that promise. Pay attention to God’s Word, give it supreme authority and priority in your life. Believe what it says and let it soak into your mind, heart and spirit so it shapes your beliefs and builds your faith to receive from God.

I hope you'll make this your prayer and faith declaration for today. I think like a problem solver.

I'm praying for you. I really appreciate you listening and reading my podcast. I love you. God bless you!

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Episode 11: What do you do when life gets hard?

I want to ask you that question, "What do you do when life gets hard?" If you do what most folks do you complain, “It’s too hard!” If yours are like mine were, I've heard them whine dozens and dozens of times, "It's too hard! But what they were really saying is “I quit!”

It's just natural. Our natural response to a problem is often anxiety or fear. Think about the first time you spoke in front of an audience or the last time you did something you had never done before; do you remember how hard your heart was pounding in your chest? Your brain did that. When your brain sensed danger it sent set off an alarm in your body.

It's your brain's fault. Your brain is an amazing organ. It has so many functions. One function is to protect you…the first responder part of your brain sends off those warning signals to help you either fight or run. It wants you to avoid anything and everything that causes you pain. But there’s a problem…the part of the brain that recognizes danger (the Amygdala) can’t distinguish between real danger and potential danger.

While your brain tries to protect you from pain, your fitness trainer will tell you “No pain. No gain!” That fitness trainer struggles to retrain you and your brain to realize, “if you want to build your muscles you gotta push through some pain.”

No pain! When you experience pain your brain tells you something like, “This is awful—gotta stop this pain!” All pain isn’t bad. It hurts, that’s not good, but it’s necessary pain. Every pregnant mom understands that labor pains are not bad, they mean she is about to give birth. She understands that this pain is normal and she prepares herself with skills to manage the pain.

Pain is a part of process 1 Peter 4:12 NLT “Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.” Even though you are believer, you are not exempt from pain.

Pain is part of life. It is painful to push through the obstacles of building a business, raising kids or pursuing a dream. A timid person has to push through the fear of meeting new people or making those sales calls. Successful people have to push through fear and/or a myriad of obstacles that is just part of reaching your goal.

Whether you push through that pain to reach your goal or stop in the middle of the pain begins with your thoughts. A wrong attitude about pain makes you look at your problem through the dark lens of hopelessness.

Craig Groshell said "Most of life’s battles are won or lost in the mind." Isaiah 43:2 NLT “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”

I have held on to that promise so many times…so many times. God has always, always brought me through the fire. I’ve been burned by relationships and situations; but now I am healed.

Sequoias are magnificent giant trees that live only in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Many are over a thousand years old.

Fire dependent? In spite of the fact that they are fire resistant they are fire dependent. Every sequoia that has stood the tests of time has a fire story. They have black scars that declare their story of pain and their testimony of healing. Because a Sequoia is bug, drought and disease resistant, fire and shallow roots are it’s major weakness. Sometimes although a Sequoia is fire resistant, a major fire can burn through its fire resistant, thick, fibrous bark seriously wounding the tree.

The fire hurts…but in God’s divine nature He designed a healing process for trees and people. When it comes to people, sometimes healing is a process…sometimes it is a miracle. In trees it is a process that leaves a dark scar. The scar is a reminder, a testimony that this is a place that healed.

Ugly? You may think the scar is ugly, but to the tree it is the difference between life and death. Don’t let your story end with the pain. Some people never let God heal them so their story ends with the pain. Wounds that don’t heal get gangrene…and you know how serious that is.

Does your scar say, ”This is where a healing took place” or “Ouch! Don’t touch me!” Don’t waste your pain; your scar can be the triumphant story of God’s healing. I’m going to talk about more about brokenness in a later podcast.

This attitude shift comes by changing the way you mentally approach problems. It helps to talk to your self. I recently had a problem in my business. Instead of being overwhelmed with anxiety, I grabbed my attitude by the nap of the neck and told myself, “I am about to see God show up in a powerful way.” I felt God’s peace flood my heart as soon as I said those words.

I haven’t always handled anxiety that way. In the past I looked at the situation through a lens of hopelessness! I’ve complained. I’ve said things like, “Not again! Why does this always have to happen to me?”

Romans 8:28 NLT works in every area of our lives…”

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Look for God! Some folks say look for the good in your problem, but this verse reminds us to look for God when we have a problem. He’ll turn it or put it together in such a way that is produces something valuable, something good in or for us.

Promises like these allow the light of hope into our situation. Light helps you see things differently. Hope helps you feel differently. When you go through a problem find a verse(s) that fits your situation.

Write it down.

Put it in a special notebook or note cards so you can grab them quickly and nourish your thinking. When you read the verse, think about its meaning. Pray the verse. Turn the verse into a faith declaration.

Song Find a song that fits the situation or one that encourages your heart and play it on repeat. Refocus your thoughts on His promises when your mind wants to worry.

John Adams said "Every problem is an opportunity in disguise."

Napoleon Hill said "Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit."

James 1: 2 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well developed, not deficient in any way. Consider my problem a gift? Wow! That thought is an attitude changer.

Henry Ford wanted to produce an affordable car.

Andrew Carnegie wanted to produce affordable steel.

Bill Gates wanted to put a computer on every desk and in every home.

There were so many problems, obstacles and challenges that stood between them and their dream.

At the time it seemed impossible, but they found a way.

They asked questions...
looked for solutions...
and the world is a different place because they did!

Fire dependent? What? Earlier I said that sequoias are fire dependent, it needs a fire to reproduce. Sounds crazy, huh!

Most of the Sequoias grow in areas that are now National Parks (NPS). Because they are so rare and magnificent, the park service took their responsibility to protect the Sequoias very seriously. Anytime there was a fire, whether it was ignited by lightning or carelessness, the NPS extinguished it with the same intensity you would put out a house fire.

But they soon noticed there were no new sprouts. And they also noticed that when a fire got started it was much harder to extinguish because the lack of regular fires allowed the dry shed limbs and the kindling growing around the Sequoia to accumulated. The piles of dry kindling made huge, very hot fires.

Sequoia trees are enormous, but their cones are small, about the size of a hen’s egg. Locked inside these green cones are lots of seeds about the size of a piece of oatmeal. Those green seed bearing cones will hang on the sequoia for up to 20 years. The cones need a fire to dry them so they can release their seeds.

But first the ground needs a fire…underneath the tree is a heavy mat of thatch, that would literally choke and smoother the seed. Growing around the sequoia is a variety of smaller trees that are gobbling up the nutrients in the soil. When a fire comes it removes the thatch mat and the competition. After a fire, the ground is nourished and ready to grow the baby giant.

Removes the competition that hinders their growth. As the fire is burning up the heavy thatch and underbrush, the heat from the fire drafts up the tree and dries out the cones. As the cones dry out they open like a flower, releasing seeds onto prepared ground. Now a new sequoia can begin to grow.

Are you going through a fire? Stop trying to put out the fire. Stop trying to run from the fire. Look for God. God is able to bring good things out of bad circumstances. God is able to bring growth in you that will enrich your life instead of destroy it. Yes, your test can produce a powerful testimony.

Let me ask you again, “What do you do when it’s hard?” Don’t miss the next session we will look at How to develop a problem solving mind set.

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Episode 10: Is it time to call in an expert?

Sometimes our course of action isn't working...and sometimes we don't know what to do or how to do...and those are the kind of times that I ask- Is it time to call in an expert?

I sincerely appreciate counselors, coaches and mentors. Each of these categories of experts have enriched my life. But, let me explain what I mean with a story.

What’s In There? It was Mother's Day and Kimberly wanted us to do something special together as a family. So, she packed us a lunch and we took off right after church was over.

We were excited to begin our search. We had driven almost two hours to find some “big” shark teeth. Which is pretty amazing since we live in Jacksonville which is much closer to the ocean than Gainesville, but that’s one place where the big ones are found.

We parked, grabbed our water bottles and headed for the trail, when a warning sign caught my attention. We stopped and read the sign together. There were high levels of fecal matter in the water, so the health department had issued the warning to stay out of the water.

All the articles that Kimberly, my daughter, had read in preparation for our search stressed that most of the shark teeth were found in gravel areas of the stream. That meant we had to get in the stream to find them.

The stream looked crystal clear. Still the official sign warned us to stay out because of fecal matter pollution, what a yucky thought. I realize that water doesn’t have to be littered with visible debris to be polluted. I understand that some of the really bad guys that can make you very sick cannot be seen with your naked eye, so I trusted the sign and stayed out of the water. Kimberly, found 3 tiny black shark teeth when she squatted down over some wet gravel.

It took an expert. In order for the health department to determine if the water is safe, someone had to take samples from the creek. Someone that recognizes what fecal matter looks like had to examine the sample under a microscope. They had to count the concentration of fecal matter to know if it was above the high enough for it to be considered pollution. It took an expert, because to me…the water looked great, not great enough to drink, but it looked good enough to swim in for sure! I’m glad that the experts could see what I couldn’t!

Spiritually David understood that reality exists spiritually as well. He understood that there could be things in his heart that he wasn’t aware of, things that only God could know and see. So he prayed a prayer that I have used so many times.

It is found in Psalms 139:23 NIV. “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” Sub-conscious thoughts can trouble us just like our conscious ones! So how do we know what’s going on deep in our minds?

Truth Father, please show me truth. Search my heart. “Is there a lie in my heart that I believe?”

The truth is; what we believe must be filtered through the filter of God’s Word.

Proverbs 21:2 “A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.” When God exposes a lie to the light of Truth then we can deal with it. It’s not digging up the past, which is very different thing . It’s asking Precious Holy Spirit to show you things that are in your heart and mind that is troubling you or keeping you from walking in victory.

Hebrews 12:15 NLT “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”

The axe tooth vine is a thin, wiry vine that grows in the South. It winds around shrubs and trees climbing to the top where it flourishes and I mean FLOURISHES in the sunlight. I’ve seen it cover and shade the entire top of bushes in my yard. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve clipped the vine close to the ground they come back with a vengeance!

When I finally get tired of fighting with the vine, I get a shovel and dig up the root. Sometimes the tuberous root is larger than a large sweet potato. Spiritually, roots of bitterness, fear, un-forgiveness and rebellion must be dealt with for there to be lasting change.

Are you tired yet of just cutting off the vine?

Father, search my heart, my motives, my desires. Are they pleasing to you? I want to be pleasing to you. My words and actions flow out of my heart so make my heart pure. Amen.

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Will power is great when you have it, right? I want to help you not only have more will power, but to turbo charge your will power!

Will Power All of us have things in our lives that we want to change—habits, attitudes and feelings that need to change. And, if you are like me, I grab my willpower and attack my new goal ferociously. You might even hear a few robust declarations “I can do it! I will do it!” And sometimes I bolster my will power like all the books tell me to do with a solid actionable strategy and a completion date hoping to forge a "Steel Will" that will take me to my goal. But, when the numbers on my bathroom scale don’t budge I have to look further.

Feel Power I realize that my emotions can stop me or catapult me. Emotions can fuel my actions. I can’t tell you the number of times a sale at the mall has gotten my tired body off the couch and into my car to shop with my daughter. I’ve watched love get my exhausted daughter-in-law out of bed because of the cries of a sick baby.

You can feel power from your emotions. It’s important that we recognize depression and sadness drains our energy, while excitement recharges it. Rage can fuel murder, acts of road rage and violence. We can feel the power of our emotions.

Your thoughts and what you believe about those thoughts create your emotions. Did you see that? I have to say it again, your thoughts and whether you believe those thoughts or not creates your emotions. When you alter either what you believe or what you think; you can change your emotions. That change can produce some valuable emotional energy.

Overwhelmed? Sometimes I get overwhelmed and when I do I have some toxic thoughts. When I start thinking about how much work I have to do; how hard it is; that I never get it all done; that work just keeps piling up; I can’t do it right anyway; I never get to have any fun because all I do is work—something terrible happens to my emotions and I don’t even want to work. Then, I feel defeated before I even start. It is really, really hard for me to keep ploughing forward when I “feel” that way.

But, if I think about how beautiful my dishes are; how precious my family is as I wash their clothes; if I thank God for the hot soapy water in my sink and for the delicious food we just ate (even though the skillet reminds me I left it on high just a little to long) then washing the dishes or any of my work is a joy instead of drudgery. My attitude, which I shape with my thoughts and beliefs, will cause me to enjoy the task instead of hating every moment.

Your brain has ruts. There is a deer rut across the street from my house. It is a well-worn path through the woods that the deer have taken again and again through the years. They have taken the path for so long that the ground is hard; the underbrush is all gone from constant trampling so it is easy to traverse.

Our brain takes shortcuts; some of those shortcuts take us to places that are dangerous and destructive. Let me explain by sharing a rut or default that I had to overcome.

My Sweet Husband Let me begin with saying Wayne is really, really smart and he is the most loving man I have ever seen. He is unselfish, kind and generous.

Almost every single time that Wayne and I would argue, I would feel like “he thought” I was stupid and I would tell him so. He would tell me he didn’t think that, but I adamantly insisted that he thought I was stupid. I thought he thought that about me, because when I made a mistake my default path was to think, “Pat, you are so stupid.”

Steal Power It was a rut, a thought pattern, a stronghold in my mind that was robbing me of confidence and peace in my home. The experts call it “neural pathways.” “The pathway along which information travels through the neurons (nerve cells) of the brain is a neural pathway.

A lot of the programming of our body is “hard wired” into us already, but we also create new neural pathways every time we experience something new and different.” Your brain wants to conserve energy, so it takes shortcuts. The pathway that I had created from years of thinking and believing that I was stupid was there, even if I didn’t realize it. Wrong thinking can steal power that is needed to fuel your will power.

My problem. It took me a long time to realize that rut or neural pathway was my problem, not Wayne’s. I’m really not stupid, but I felt stupid because I believed a lie. Don’t miss this. It is really, really important. Honestly, I wasn’t even aware of how I was thinking until I started paying attention to why I felt the way I did.

A lie is dangerous. Do you realize that when you believe a lie you give that lie power in your mind to shape your thinking? Precious Holy Spirit helped me see what my thought pattern was, but I had a role to play in my freedom.

I had to deal with that rut in my brain.

Kneel Power I had to deal with that thought so, I submitted my thoughts at the cross and repented for believing a lie.

I exchanged my lie for His truth. New neural pathways in my brain were required so, I found specific scriptures and began to renew my mind, which actually made new paths in my brain. It was a process. And, processes takes time. And, that’s OK.

Now I pay attention to my thoughts. I am especially vulnerable to that thought when I make a mistake. Every time the thought comes to me that I am stupid, I talk to myself. Something like…”I made that mistake because I lacked information, now I have learned some new information that I will use in the future. But, I am not stupid. That is a lie.”

I have processed truth in that area so frequently that I recognize it much quicker. If that old thought comes into my mind now, I know it is a lie and I call it a lie. Calling it a lie is a game changer for sure!

The Battle Rages… but it’s a battle you can win. You can change your brain with right thoughts. You can retrain your brain, but it is a process.

Feel Power I totally get it sometimes we don’t feel it! Sometimes we feel strong and sometimes we feel so weak.

It is vital that you realize the power of your thoughts. Your thoughts create your feelings; feelings fuel your choices; your choices make your life. Don’t let your thoughts “steal your power” to win in life. You don’t feel the electricity in the room, but it is there for you to access by plugging into the outlet.

Use your will power! Because changing your thoughts is a process that leads to change, you have to persist. And, sometimes your will power, the determination to change that leads to actionable steps that bring the change, can fail you!

There are some wonderful ways to strengthen your willpower. 1. Get a clear vision of the why behind the what. More than just setting a clear goal (And that’s very important-write down your goals), you need to know why you want to achieve that goal. What would it feel like to reach that goal? I wanted to climb “Angel’s Landing” in Zion National Park for bragging rights! But, that goal was enough to motivate my husband to go to the top. 2. Share you goal with someone that believes in you, that will encourage you and hold you accountable (Keep you moving toward that goal.) 3. Break the goal into action steps. I have found that I absolutely love to physically cross off an accomplishment on my list. So, I list specific things so I can cross it off. 4. Encourage yourself to work just a little bit harder. If my goal is to exercise 30 minutes. I push myself to go 1 minute or 5 minutes longer. If my goal is to clean for one hour, what is one more thing that I can clean in just a few minutes? 5. Be your best cheerleader. Talk to yourself. Encourage yourself. Believe that you can do what you are supposed to do! 6. Celebrate little victories along the way. This is my greatest weakness. I don’t celebrate enough, but I’m working on this one, because it really energizes future successes! 7. Identify toxic thoughts that suck the energy right out of your willpower! Stop saying things like, “I don’t have enough willpower!” or “I never reach my goals.” When that thought comes exchange it with this new thought.

Philippians 4:13 Amplified Bible (AMP) 13 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.] Real Power Philippines 4:13 takes us to the source of real power. You were not made to live this Christian life alone. Christianity is not one more self-help program. You were made to connect with God and to plug in or access His power to accomplish what you cannot do.

Listen, I realize some people have a steel will, but your steel will isn’t enough to please God.

It’s your faith that pleases God. It pleases God when you access His power in order to simply obey what He says. He didn’t design you to do it alone---it’s a relationship!

Align your “Feel Power” with God’s Word to strengthen your “Will Power” that is turbo charged with God’s “Real Power” which is accessed through “Kneel Power. Now that’s a mouthful! Ephesians 3:20 NLT Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

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There is a very popular belief that “Thoughts make your feelings. Feelings make your actions. Actions make your life.”

And for many people that is completely true.

We hear stories about people that are destroyed by following their emotions in the news everyday. While I believe thoughts can create my emotions and I believe they can fuel my actions, I think there is a better way to live than allowing my fickle emotions to fuel my actions and choices.

Jesus did. Jesus made decisions from purpose, values and truth, not emotions. Even as a child when Jesus stayed behind at the temple, his mother was surprised that Jesus’ divine purpose, “doing His Father’s will”, had fueled Jesus’ actions.

In Hebrews 12:1 the Apostle Paul paints a vivid picture of a passionate runner, running to win the race. You run very different when you run to win; you strip off every weight and tie your shoelaces so you don’t trip.

I am so glad that Paul continued by telling us how to “run to win” spiritually.

“2We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”

Jesus initiates and perfects, which means He is the author and completer of our faith. He fuels our purposes with His divine energy when those purposes line up with His Word.

Jesus was able to look beyond the terrible pain of the cross to see the joy of what His obedience would accomplish.

I realize our emotions can overwhelm us. In spite of our best efforts to stuff them inside, they can come out of nowhere exploding and protruding like what happens when trying to squeeze a fat belly into tight jeans.

Emotions can take you to the highest highs and the lowest lows. They can propel you or derail you. They can pop your dreams or prompt your success. Also, they can energize your activity or exhaust your efforts.

Emotions, strong feelings and whims are produced when events are processed, almost instantly, by your brain through the well-worn neural pathways in your brain. (Remember the path through the tree-like neurons.) Emotions are produced by thoughts you believe and the value you have assigned to that thought.

Let me explain. I have assigned (without meaning to) a very, high value to the goal that I don’t want to inconvenience anyone. I don’t want to make life hard on people, so asking someone to do something for me is very painful. It affects the way I drive, when and how often I call someone. It affects virtually every decision that involves someone else. Honestly, I worry too much about this.

And, I need to create new thought patterns in that area, because it robs others and me. Sometimes I miss ministry opportunities and fellowship that would enrich vital relationships.

What value have you given it? Is there something that you have assigned an inappropriate value?

Maybe it is something you want to own and you don’t feel like you can be happy until you have it.

Maybe there is someone that what you think they think about you or what they say (or don’t say) about you upsets you way too much?

Perhaps it’s a failure that plagues you and stops you from doing something you should be doing?

Emotions are part of what makes us human. They enrich our lives, but if you allow them to drive your actions you are headed for a wreck.

Emotions can lie to you.

They can exaggerate and distort the truth.

Your emotions go haywire on you and blow stuff way out of proportion.

Sometimes they are simply inaccurate. Just because you believe something, doesn’t make it true. Yet when you believe it, it becomes your reality.

I know of a mom that didn’t believe her daughter loved her. No matter how hard the daughter tried to prove her love, it wasn’t enough. The mom was jealous of every relationship the daughter had. Finally, she totally shut the daughter out of her life; all because she simply believed a lot of little lies. She assigned meaning to things that didn’t mean what she thought at all.

Seek Truth. Emotions need to be evaluated in the light of Scripture and your values as a child of God. Take your mindsets and emotions to the cross. Ask God bold questions, like

What is the truth in this situation?

What do you want me to do with this emotion?

Emotions are important warning signals.

They can tell you something is wrong; that you need to stop or slow down because there is danger.

So think prayerfully. Precious Holy Spirit,

What is this emotion telling me? Danger? Devastation? Distraction?

Is its message to me true?

Is this emotion an attack from the enemy to discourage or sidetrack me?

Could this be a prompting from Precious Holy Spirit that I need a course correction?

Is it a prompting to pray? Something like an amber alert that goes off on your phone?

What value am I assigning to the event that has stirred this emotion?

What asset/benefit am I surrendering to this event? Peace, joy, confidence, love.

Is my goal and purpose to be comfortable in a life of ease or is it to please God?

Emotions don’t have a driver’s license. Don’t allow emotions to drive your actions. Give the keys to the right driver- truth, desired outcomes, goals that the please God and bring glory to Him.

If an angry neighbor came running over and demanded that you give them your car keys or if your confident toddler wanted your car keys, would you hand them over? Of course not. Neither your angry neighbor nor your toddler have the emotional maturity to handle your car at that moment, so why would you give your flighty emotions the keys to drive your choices? Don’t do it.

If you want to reign through Christ…Jesus must reign on the throne of your life. Every decision must be submitted to God. Make His Word the ultimate authority. Put Truth in the Driver’s Seat John 17:17 Santify them by the truth. Your Word is truth.

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How do I take every thought captive? I was excited when I saw this question on Facebook, because I realized someone understood they needed to think differently. She realized that her thoughts were problematic.

So what do we do? Let’s go to God’s Word. 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV tells us to do that. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” This is one of my husband’s favorite stories and it happened while he was serving our country in Vietnam. I think he loves to tell it because it gives everybody the heebie jeebies! He was working long, hard 12-hour shifts, seven days a week. He was repairing airplanes in boiling hot open-ended Quonset huts and the glaring heat on runways. Sleep was precious.

At the end of a long day, Wayne climbed into his top bunk and pulled up the sheet. As he pulled up the sheet, he felt something begin at his ankles and run along the outside of his leg. When it got to his waist he grabbed it.

Yuck! The room was dark but he could feel it wriggling and writhing frantically in his hand. With one swift move, Wayne flung the lizard to the other side of the room, rolled over and went to sleep.

Just an inconvenience? While it is true the very thing that is one person’s inconvenience is another person’s nightmare. How we deal or don’t deal with situations makes all the difference in the world.

What happens to you is less important than what you do with what happens.

What you do with what happens can make you strong or destroy you.

Oh, by the way, that little minor distraction never bothered Wayne again. He dealt with it and it was over. He didn’t worry about it crawling up his leg again or if there was another one on the mattress. Wayne just went to sleep.

Take every thought captive. We need to take every thought that contradicts the word of God captive, like a policeman takes a thief captive. The Voice (VOICE) version of 2 Cor. 10:5 articulately explain our role in taking captive every thought. “We are demolishing arguments and ideas, every high-and-mighty philosophy that pits itself against the knowledge of the one true God. We are taking prisoners of every thought, every emotion, and subduing them into obedience to the Anointed One.”

Wayne didn’t even look at that lizard. He wasn’t going to fight with it. It didn’t belong on him. End of story. There are some thoughts that don’t need analysis. You just need to replace it with truth.

Surrender. As I was studying and meditating on Scripture I thought to myself, “in order to correct wrong thinking I need to surrender my opinion to God.” Then I took that thought to Scripture to discover if that was really what God wanted me to do. I was so confident that my thinking was correct.

But, when I searched the Bible I realized that surrender was used in the context of what a person does when they lose a battle and they have lost all hope. They choose to surrender because it is the only choice they have. Instead, God wants us to submit our thinking to Him and embrace His better, broader and more perfect thoughts. Let me explain what He taught me.

When we were touring some of the national parks out West, especially Yosemite, we stood in beautiful meadows and looked up in awe at tall, tall walls of solid granite. We saw peaks of mountains poking into heavy clouds and the dazzling gleam of sunlight dancing off the face of wet granite. We saw blue lakes, like mirrors, reflecting wavy green trees, golden leaves and gleaming, white mountains.

A hand hewn Sanctuary Honestly, I felt like I was standing in one of God’s hand carved sanctuaries. It was magnificent.

As I humbled my heart in HIS presence, I began to worship Him, the creator of it all. It was more than beauty that wowed me…it was God that designed and fashioned it all.

In His great wisdom, He put processes in place that would be perpetual!

Seeds.
Seasons.
Water
Sunlight.

And from that place of worship, recognizing that His ways are higher than my ways and that He knows way more than I know, I simply submitted my thinking to embrace His. From that place of submission I make room to receive what He had for me.

I exchanged my human reasoning for His Truth. Do you see the process?

Examine.
Expose.
Embrace or Exchange.

Philippians 4:8 NLT And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Like a Spat Your mind is like the tiny oyster larva called spat. They float freely in the water until they find a suitable permanent home, then it produces a very strong cement to attach itself to another oyster shell or a pylon standing in the water. But, sometimes it cements itself to wrong things like a bottle that washes ashore killing the oyster. (God’s amazing creations never cease to amaze me!)

If spat survives, it matures into a soft mollusk that lives inside a hinged shell. When the mollusk opens its shell, its gills filter food and oxygen from the water. The oyster eats whatever is in the water that comes through its open shell and it can become polluted in the process.
NOAA, What is spat?, https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/spat.html , 6/25/18.

Filter Feeder Your mind is a filter feeder and like the saying goes, “Garbage in. Garbage out.” (GIGO) Your mind processes what it gets, often with unintended results. It will process a lie the same way it processes truth. Lies, hatred, frustration and anger are toxic to your brain, but that’s the only choice your mind has. If you want it to work right, then give your mind truth, pure input and excellent information.

Focus Focus your thoughts or like the spat, cement yourself to the right thing. Because Jesus is truth, establish His Words as absolute truth and base your life on that truth.

Establish boundaries. The fence surrounding a playground does more than establish boundaries. It gives children a place to play safely. When you establish boundaries tied to your values of what you will watch on TV, of what you will and will not read, of what you will and will not listen to, then you are well on your way to thinking right. Establishing boundaries include what you say to yourself. Just because you are an adult doesn’t mean you can fill the precious real estate of your mind with garbage.

Because you enjoy something doesn’t mean it is good for you. Toxic thoughts will sabotage your best efforts. Fear, self-doubt, negative self-talk and abusive name-calling will stop you in your tracks. They are thieves that rob your energy and productivity.

Use a filter. After I boil a chicken for my gumbo, I remove the chicken and pour the broth through a sieve, which filters any little pieces of bone or fat that would ruin the texture and taste of my gumbo.

Become responsible for what you think, hear, see and say by paying attention to your thoughts. Paul established a filter for thoughts in Philippians 4:8 (https://biblehub.com/philippians/4-8.htm)

Is this thought… * true? * right? * honorable; to others, to me, to God? * pure? * lovely? * admirable?

If it won’t go thru this filter, then it doesn’t get to stay in my mind. It gets replaced with a healthy, life giving thought.

Have you ever felt sad and thought to yourself, “What’s wrong with me?” If you answered yes, you’re not alone. The writer of Psalm 43:5 did that exact same thing.

Psalm 43:5 NLT – Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again--my Savior and my God. This verse shows us how the psalmist redirected his thoughts from discouraging, sad thoughts into questions.

Why? Why am I sad? Then he refocused his thoughts and words to reflect the goodness of God.

What thought troubles you? * Examine it in the light of Scripture and prayer. * What does Scripture say? * Do you have peace in your heart? * Ask Holy Spirit to guide you to truth. * Seek God’s wisdom.

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Because right thinking begins with right listening it is important to listen to understand.

I vividly remember trying to feed my baby grand niece pureed green beans on a dark back porch when we were building our cabin. What I didn’t know until I had a face full of green puree on my face was that she hated green beans. I learned quickly, you can’t force feed anyone!

Jesus knew that too. And that understanding influenced Jesus’ teaching. A huge crowd had gathered, so huge that Jesus got into a boat and taught the people from the boat. Jesus told them stories, simple illustrations to help them understand God’s kingdom.

One of his stories is now called the Parable of the Sower. It is recorded in 3 of the gospels. (Matthew 13: 1-9; Mark 4:1-12; Luke 8:4-15.) Each author adds different pieces of the puzzle for us to understand the importance of this simple little story. It is a simple, but important story! When Jesus finished telling it, He gave them a strange invitation, “who ever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

Sounds like a leading question Wasn’t anybody curious enough to ask? Had they joined the crowd to see what was going on—to see a miracle or maybe eat the food? It seems apparent that the people didn’t grasp what Jesus was saying; because when the disciples and his close followers were alone with Jesus, they asked him why He used parables to teach the people.

Mark 4:11 is baffling. Jesus explained; “the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.”

Huh? Why would He teach them if He wasn’t going to give them understanding?

If you reflect on what happened He offered it to them. He told them a story. He even encouraged them to hear, to listen and to learn, but they weren’t curious. They weren’t interested. They didn’t seem to have an appetite for the bread of life. You can’t feed people that don’t want what you are offering them, just like my baby grand niece.

This is so important. Look at Mark 4: 23-25 NLT

24Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. 25To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” More? This verse says that those that understand will understand more. Those that don’t have understanding, even what they think they have will be taken away from them. This verse challenges me to be diligent, receptive and attentive.

Matthew 13:13 in the NLT “That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really listen or understand.” You have a role in the process of receiving revelation. * You must value it. * Desire it. * Receive it.

Digest the Word of God. Only what your body digest will nourish your body.

Think about it. Ask Precious Holy Spirit for revelation. God’s Word is the only book that you MUST know the author to understand. Precious Holy Spirit wants to give you understanding and application.

Jesus reminded them of Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 6:9) that people would not listen to nor understand what Jesus would say. Mark 4 also tells the story, but it adds a very important question that He asked His closest followers. “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?

This parable is a pattern that will help us understand and receive revelation from God’s Word that produces real fruit in our lives. It’s not how much you know, or how many seeds you possess that produces the good harvest that God wants you to enjoy.

It’s what you do with the seed that brings a harvest. Jesus explained what the four types of soil represent so we can grasp the revelation of how to really “hear” the Word of God so that it will produce a harvest in your life.

Hear to Understand Matthew 13:19 says the hard soil is like the person who hears the Word, but doesn’t understand it. They don’t understand it because they don’t value the Word and because they use carnal understanding. Spiritual truths require spiritual revelation from God. This is another aspect of the ongoing partnership with Precious Holy Spirit.

Hearer That Abandons Their Faith Jesus explained that the hearer with the stony ground received the Word, but it wilted because it didn’t develop deep roots. Without deep roots troubles and persecution cause the hearer to become offended and the tender plant dies. When results don’t come soon enough or problems set you back when you’re trying to go forward, the hearer with the stony ground gives up.

An Offended Heart Offense takes place in a person’s heart when they form beliefs from circumstances and not from God’s Word. It begins with doubt and underminds your faith.

What do you do when you didn’t get what you asked for?

Or, when your faith is tested by health or financial problem?

or, when the enemy whispers “God failed you!"

The offended heart stops believing. Do you only trust God when everything is going good?

Do you base your trust on your circumstances or His goodness?

We develop roots by persisting even when trouble comes. Push through! Hold on to God and His promises and He will take you through tough times.

He never promised that you would have a trouble free life, but He promised He would never leave you.

In troubled times go deeper. How do I get the stones out? * Think on the promises of God. * Keep believing. * Deal with underminding thoughts. * Submit the part you don’t understand to God. * Persist. * Go deeper. * Don't give up on the promise from God.

Hearer Lost Their Priority Weeds don’t need to be planted. Just pass a vacant lot and you’ll see plenty of weeds that no one planted. I have grown lots of weed gardens.

I’ve planted great seeds, hoping for a great harvest. The seeds come up and I am so excited. I can almost taste the tomatoes or green beans from the seeds I’ve planted. But soon I get distracted.

Life happens. I have responsibilities, hobbies and goals and the next thing I know I got a garden full of weeds. I have to get a hoe handle to push back the weeds to even find the malnourished little plants struggling for life under the weeds.

Gardens have to be tended. Weeds are automatic, but the good stuff has to be cultivated and you can’t put that on automatic.

It is a process... that requires diligence.
Cultivate what you want to grow.
- Water it.
- Fertilize it.
- Protect it.

Cultivation is a process that requires priority. It means keeping number 1 NUMBER 1. If Jesus is your priority then live like it.

My take away- be a weed puller. Feed your faith. Starve your fear.

Hearer With a Huge Harvest I am so glad we are finally on the good ground. I’ve seen that demonstrated too. Wayne’s dad loved to grow things. He worked very hard over a screaming hot mold recapping tires to provide for his family. But when he got home, no matter how tired he was, he went to his garden with a hoe. He hoed out the weeds and aerated the soil around the plants growing in perfectly straight rows.

A weed didn’t stand a chance in his garden. And oh the harvest, the abundant harvest we all enjoyed from his garden, from his diligence.

Luke 8:15 nlt And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God's word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. The seed was the same. It’s different hearers and different responses to the seed that made the difference between bareness and fruitfulness.

Are you paying attention to the promises of God? Are you cultivating the Word of God in your heart? Is the seed struggling in rocky ground or being choked to death by weeds?

But wait a minute... I believe that you are a cultivator of precious seed. You are hungry for a harvest and you are spiritual like my husbands’ dad.

Let me describe for you what that good ground, that good heart looks like.

Oh, and by the way I believe I am describing

your heart… * Honest * Good-hearted * Hear God’s Word * Cling to it * Patiently persistent

I am convinced that God wants you to produce a huge harvest! That's why He gave you such powerful seeds!

Hear to understand
Act on what you understand.
Be persistent, even when it's hard.
Enjoy the harvest.

What kind of hearer are you?

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What a bargain! You can listen to this podcast in iTunes.

When we saw the price on the beautiful two-storied brick house, we knew we had to see it. But, when the realtor unlocked the door, we covered our nose and held our breathe—it stunk…really stunk…bad. The tall walls, elaborately crowned with carved molding, wore the tattered strips of what had been wallpaper.

The big old house had numerous amenities that hinted it had once been beautiful, but time and it’s most recent and unusual residents had almost destroyed it. The owners had wintered their unruly kids, KIDS as in goats, in the house.

And believe me when I tell you, it was a terrible…horrible…no good…really bad idea! As bad as a skunk!

What were the owners thinking? Their crazy idea gives new meaning to Zig Ziglar’s term “stinkin’ thinkin'!” Allowing the goats to live in their house turned it into a stinking mess. And your stinking thinking will do the same thing to your mind, heart, emotions and choices! Stinking thinking affects you physically, spiritually and emotionally!!!

Stinking thinking can turn a molehill into a mountain. It can twist perceptions and turn a family gathering upside down. Suspicious or fearful thoughts can turn a wedding into a tragedy. Jealous or angry thoughts that fester and boil can lead to criminal and deadly choices.

Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

What is your stinking thinking doing to you?

God has a better plan for you.

Please read these verses from Ephesians slowly. They are so important.

Ephesians 4:17-24 NLT

17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. (their opinion, their human reasoning)

18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.

22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

You can control your thinking. And you better control them because they will either poison you or position you for God’s best.

How? If you are like me, maybe you are asking, “But how?”

Basically, it’s a lot like farming. Weeds, like stinking thinking, are automatic, but the good things that we want to grow in our lives must be planted and nurtured. Fertilized. Watered. Weeded. We don’t want weeds. We want the seeds of good things to grow in our lives. So what are you planting?

Even the youngest child understands If you want corn to grow, then you plant corn. They know if they plant birdseed they’ll grow birds…ha! Just teasing! Stinkin’ thinkin robs us, makes us feel yucky and afraid, which often causes us to make wrong choices. And we KNOW if we sow bad actions, we reap bad consequences! Right? But did you realize that it works in the positive too?

An ordinary question that grabbed me A pastor answered my generic “How are things going?” with “Great. I’ve sowed good things and I’m reaping good things.” His reply was so much more than an empty mantra. It was an honest, unemotional reply to my question. That one sentence has hounded me!

I’ve used that verse like a goad to encourage and sometimes manipulate my children into doing what they need to do! But why couldn’t I see that the verse works in the positive equally as well. Why haven’t I believed God that when I plant good things that I will reap good things?

I want to get better at planting good stuff. Sometimes I am better at it than other times. I’ve noticed everywhere I go I see smiling faces. One day I realized that people are simply responding to my smile. That’s reaping what you planted at it’s simplest level. That is God’s law working in the positive! I plant kindness and thoughtfulness and I look for it in other people. And the wonderful thing is…I find exactly what I am looking for…almost every time!

You’ve probably seen it work with something as simple as a smile, but can God’s Word change our stinking thinking?

Powerful enough? I wouldn’t say this if I didn’t know it personally, but yes, God’s Word is powerful enough to change not only what you think, but also what you believe. His Word is pregnant with hope. It will birth hope in your heart. God’s words are like buckets full of cool water on a sizzling hot day, like buckets full of His love. Don’t underestimate the power of God’s Word.

Peggy Williams says, “praise God for the power of His written and spoken Words. Words that create, heal, resurrect, calm waters, create abundance out of lack, wine out of water, and make saints out of sinners.”

The problem is not in the seed. God’s Word is powerful enough to accomplish what needs to be done, so the problem is not in the seed.

You have a role in this process. Weeds thrive without any assistance, but good crops must be nurtured. Are you nurturing and cultivating God’s Word in both your mind and heart? Are you cultivating it by renewing your mind, examining and ruminating on specific Scriptures in your heart? Then, do you align your choices with Scripture so you walk in the truth that produces the fruit you want instead of choosing to believe only what you see?

Big deal? Maybe you are thinking, why do you keep harping on feeding your spirit, planting the Word, meditating on Scripture? What's the Big Deal?

It is a huge deal because it affects your heart. Your heart shapes the core of who you are. It is where you grow your beliefs, strengthen or undermine your will and hone your character.

Luke 6:45 NIV “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” I want good treasure to come out of my heart. So what do I need to do? Proverbs 4:23 NIV “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. The NLT says "for it determines the course of your life."

Above everything? Really? The things that make their way into your heart, the thoughts and ideas that you mix with faith and believe will affect everything- mind, body and spirit.

Most of us understand the value of caring for our body, yet we don’t seem to practice that same wisdom when it comes to our thoughts. Real wholeness begins with wholesome thinking.

Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. That is both a scary thought AND a wonderful thought. It is scary because it is a huge responsibility and wonderful because I can plant and nurture the right seed to produce the virtues that I want to enjoy and share with others. You can’t have a good harvest without strategic planting and it all begins with right thinking!

This is not a rigid formula. Walking with God is a relationship. Right thinking affects right believing; right believing leads to obedience and obedience positions us for a good harvest.

2 Corinthians 9:10 NLT For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course. Proverbs 23:19 BSB

So let me ask you again...What are you nurturing? If you haven't subscribed to my podcast, please do. You'll get a notice on your phone when new podcasts come out and you can listen while you work. iTunes

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I am so thankful that we can be stable in unstable times. That stability brings confidence and peace. Let's look a t how.

This podcast is available on iTunes.

Out of the Mouth of Babes The little girl stood in the middle of the back seat tossing the coins in her hand up then catching them. She repeated the rhythmic tossing and catching until her mother realized what was “really” going on in the back seat. It was Sunday morning, she had just picked her daughter up from Children’s Church and the only money she had with her today was her offering money. The mom replied over her shoulder, “Did you give your money in the offering this morning?”

Continuing her tossing game she replied casually, “Sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t.”

Sometimes we do and sometimes we don't. The truth is that we approach our thought life with the same casualness. Sometimes we notice our thoughts and sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we guard our thoughts and sometimes we don’t. Also, Sometimes we let our emotions go haywire and sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we believe God’s promises and sometimes we don’t. And that will make us double minded.

James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. KJV It has consequences. Unstable in all his ways…sound familiar?

Uncommitted.
Apathetic.
Doesn’t follow through on promises.
Vacillating.
Indecisive.
Aimless.

Hinders problem solving. Instability and indecisiveness can make problem solving difficult. And even after finally making a decision, indecisiveness can complicate the process of finding the resolve to follow through. And that can be castropic in times of crisis. To be stable in unstable times, in unstable situations; we must anchor to something that is stable, unchanging and consistent.

You know what to do in a shaky situation, you instinctively know to grab something stable. Jesus is that stable, unchanging rock where we can anchor our hope and faith. Grab the promises and steadfastness of Scripture.

"Faith in God’s promises is the only way to find peace in the midst of trouble."--Warren Wiersby Isaiah 33:6 NASB And He will be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The fear of the LORD is his treasure. Look at what He brings into your situation when you give Him access. A wealth or storehouse of salvation. That word alone is pregnant…aid, deliverance, prosperity, healing, help and security. The verse continues with wisdom and knowledge…which shows you what to do and how to do it. Do you realize the brilliant storehouse that God has given you access to?

A seasoned fisherman drops his anchor in a place he trusts…where do you trust?

Proverbs 3:5 NLT Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

Trust? Trust is built. The more we know Him, the more we will trust him. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you know Jesus more, to reveal Him to you. That is one of the works that He came to do in your life. The more we fix our thoughts on what He has done, is doing and who He is the greater our confidence in Him will become. A fixed mind is a steadfast, stable mind. Reflect on His nature and His goodness. Respond to His goodness with praise and worship.

Fix your thoughts. Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. Hebrews 3:1 NIV

Grand Canyon National Park
I am always eager to read the information on signs in America’s national parks. When we were in the Grand Canyon a placard told about a mountain peak that could be seen from where we were standing. I searched the horizon for the peak, but everything looked the same to me. Then I noticed what I thought was a telescope so I looked through it. There was the peak I had been searching for.

I was wrong To my surprise it wasn’t a telescope. It was only a tube of pipe mounted in the direction of the point of interest that I was trying to find. And it worked. All I needed was to be pointed in the right direction and then focus my eyes there.

Worship helps you focus on Jesus. Declare out of your spirit who Jesus is in you. Something like this, “Thank you Jesus that you are my Savior! You are my healer. Thank you, Jesus, you purchased my healing, my peace. In your presence is fullness of joy. There is power in worship. It quiets your heart and takes your eyes off problems so you can see more clearly.

Make it a discipline to worship from your heart everyday. Think about His goodness and His greatness. Take those thoughts, mix them with heartfelt love and adoration, then express them with your words. The more you worship from your heart, you’ll fall in love.

Focus on Jesus As you focus your thoughts on Jesus, you’ll want more, you’ll move closer, you’ll see Him in ways that only a relationship with Him offers and you’ll experience more of His Presence. I believe that you will even discover things about yourself!

I shared with you in the previous lesson that we get the English word “pupil” from the word “pupa.” It is the transformation stage of the butterfly. Pupil has a second meaning. The pupil is that black hole in the center of the eye. It lets light into the eye.

But, in the 1590s it meant the "small image of oneself in another's pupil" and in the 17th century it was a colloquial expression to "stare lovingly into another's eyes."

I am convinced... as you become an earnest pupil, setting your focus on Jesus, you will draw closer and closer to Him. When you come close, you look into His eyes, into the eyes of His Word, then you will see your reflection in His eyes.

You might not recognize what you see at first, because it will not be the reflection that you see when you look in the mirror. It will be the reflection of who He sees when He looks at you. He doesn’t see you the way you see yourself. He sees you through the lens of what you can be in Him. Also, He sees you through the lens of His perfect will for your life.

His eye And the second thing you will see when you focus on Jesus is that His loving eye is on you!

Psalm 32:8 NIV “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Don’t you just love that verse? Not only does He see you, I want you to see how He sees you. I want you to look into His eyes as He instructs, teaches, and guides you. Look in His eyes of Scripture.

Do you feel His love, patience and goodness?

Even if you have not experienced it in the natural, I want you to know, without a doubt that God leans in to guide you with absolute delight and a heart that overflows with love for you. He is your loving Father. His eyes radiant warmth, kindness and joy as he whispers hope into your steps. He sets you up for victory. He points you toward paths that produce life.

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Transformed…the word brings a smile to my face. The first picture that comes to my mind is that of a dirty, ragged Cinderella. I can picture her pitiful, ash smudged and tear tracked face suddenly grow radiant as she is transformed into a beautiful princess. Can you see it too?

Only a Fairy Tale. But Wait, that’s a fairy tale and fairy tales only exist in storybooks! And besides that, I just described conformity not transformation!!

All she had was new clothes and a great pair of shoes. A new outfit can go a long ways toward making you feel better, but it can’t transform you! Conformity copies and imitates to make you feel accepted, valued and included. Conformity changes the look, the opinion and the appetite to camouflage the darkness inside. It is the enemy of transformation because it is rooted in deception.

Romans 12:2 NIV Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Don't conform, transform.

Transform…transform by renewing your mind.

The word used in Romans 12:2 is metamorphoó, which is closely related to metamorphosis. The butterfly is one of the most amazing illustrations of metamorphosis. In this process the caterpillar is totally transformed into a butterfly.

Just ask any preschooler, that has read “The Hungry Caterpillar", and they can tell you how the butterfly egg hatches into a hungry caterpillar. They know it eats and eats and eats. And, you know that too if you have ever had caterpillars on a bush at your house. And, because it eats so much, the caterpillar grows very fast. The purpose of this stage is growth.

I need to stop here to ask you, “Are you hungry for God’s Word?” If you’re not hungry something is wrong. It’s essential to your growth.

God has more in mind for you than just growth. God’s purpose is greater than just a fat caterpillar. He wants to move this creature to a place where it can be fruitful or reproduce.

Next, the caterpillar spins a sack around its whole body and the pupa stage begins. In the pupa stage of development everything changes; its tissues, its legs, its organs--EVERYTHING. The changes that go on inside the strong sack like covering are mind (Pun intended.) boggling! The caterpillar literally dissolves into a rich fluid. This fluid contains the building blocks that are transformed into one of God’s most beautiful creatures.

Pupil We get our English word pupil/student from the word pupa. Just as the pupa stage is the transformation stage for a butterfly, a believer must become a pupil or learner of God’s Word for transformation to take place. Make time in your schedule to be a serious student.

Wrap yourself in the cocoon of God’s presence and ask Him to guide your thinking and open your understanding.
Students are looking for more than facts, their goal is wisdom that can be applied.
Read or listen with an open heart; diligently studying, pondering and assimilating God’s Word.
Pray over what you are learning.
Ask God for revelation and inspiration.
Look for “What is God saying to me?”
Write it down.
Ask; “How do I live this out?”

Assimilating and digesting Scripture means that the Bible is more than facts or seeds stored in a jar with the lid screwed on tight that you tuck in the back of your garage. God’s Word are bite sized nuggets that you mix with faith and digest so that it nourishes your mind, spirit and body.

Although the butterfly you see on your bush is probably the same creature that was just recently eating all the leaves off somebodies favorite shrub, you’ll never see a butterfly munching its way across a leaf; because it doesn’t have a mouth that can chew. Its body has six long skinny legs that fold instead of 16 short, stubby ones that it crawled with as a caterpillar. It is totally changed!! Totally.

And God says the same thing about you. 2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The Old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

Transformation It is a miraculous transformation that is an ongoing process in the life of a believer to become more and more like Christ.

It is critical that I make sure that I have made one thing clear. The kind of transformation that I am talking about can only take place because you are a child of God. You cannot stick a worm in a cocoon and expect it to transform into a butterfly. God is the transformer! 2 Timothy 3:5 NLT “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.”

The butterfly sucks nectar because it is a butterfly, not because it is acting like a butterfly. It is God’s power that makes you a new creature, but you can and should continue to grow in faith and become more like Him—that is a process.

In God’s divine design... He perfectly equipped the butterfly with everything it needs to live and reproduce in this new stage of life. It needs a proboscis, a party-horn like straw that unfurls to suck the sweet nectar that fuels its flight. The butterfly needs wings to fly from flower to flower tasting the flower with its feet. Some butterflies fly hundreds and thousands of miles to migrate to warmer regions in the winter. On its way back home, it will lay its eggs to begin a new cycle all over again. Reproduction is the purpose of this cycle of its life.

God’s goal and purpose behind transformation is to make you like Christ.

Colossians 3:10 NLT Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. Philippians 2:13 NLT For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Because of the process of transformation, a butterfly has everything it needs for its next assignment; fruitfulness via reproduction. And God has done the same thing for you.

2 Peter 1:3,4 3By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires

https://www.etymonline.com/word/pupil

https://www.thebutterflysite.com/life-cycle.shtml

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Have you ever asked someone how they were doing and they answered sadly, “Fine, under the circumstances.”

It’s a nice way to tell you that things are not going good. Maybe they even continued by telling you about all the problems that are going on in their life.

Problems are a part of life. I understand that the only people that don’t have problems are buried in a cemetery. I have been around long enough to understand that when people develop a mentality of simply “living under the circumstances”, they are robbing themselves of victories that could become theirs.

Listen on iTunes Are you tired of living under the circumstances? Romans 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Partnership and Process When we are born into God’s family, we receive both God’s abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness.

Reign in life through Jesus Christ. God wants you to reign! Did you see that? It’s not my idea, it’s God’s idea from the beginning. It’s not His plan for you to live under the problems of life, under stress, under fear, under lack, under depression. He wants you to reign.

But, whether you do or not will depend on what you believe and if you access what is rightfully yours. And, what you believe comes from what you feed your mind and spirit.

Survive? When people walk through dark places it is very easy to develop a “survival mentality.” I believe God has more. I believe “He always causes us to triumph through Christ.”

Let me strategically step off the path I was taking for just a minute. Can I share some powerful thought changing, victory taking verses with you? And, would you mind if I put my name in the verse and maybe you should put yours in their too.

Isaiah 40:27 NLT says

O Jacob, (But I’m going to put my name in there, because sometimes I’ve felt like God wasn’t noticing what was going on!) So, here goes. O Pat, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles?

O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?

28Have you never heard?

Have you never understood?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of all the earth.

He never grows weak or weary.

No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

29He gives power to the weak

and strength to the powerless.

30Even youths will become weak and tired,

and young men will fall in exhaustion.

31But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

Psalms 78 lists miracle after miracle that God had performed for the Children of Israel. Then verse 40 KJV tells us “they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.”

Fear! With the exception of Joshua and Caleb, a whole generation of God’s people failed to receive God’s promise because they were afraid. Their fear is an emotion that comes from wrong thinking. Their fear robbed their faith. They didn’t believe and they didn’t obey. They could control what they believed and what they did, but they couldn’t control their consequences. Therefore, they didn’t receive the promise and they couldn’t blame it on God. Do you see how what they heard fed their fear? Even after Joshua and Caleb tried to encourage them, they didn’t believe. They saw the magnificent fruit, but the stories of giants loomed bigger in their minds and then their hearts.

1 Timothy 4:7 BSB But reject irreverent and silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness.

Train your thoughts... because they are critical to every area of your life.

A baby isn’t born knowing how to walk or talk.

It has to learn to do tons of stuff. A baby is curious so it reaches for things, tries to sit up, roll over and crawl. As its body grows stronger, it practices until it becomes proficient at each step of the progression toward walking.

Body. Soul. Spirit. You are a triune being with a soul and a spirit that lives in a body. Your soul is made up of your mind, will and emotions. Your mind is to your soul what your brain is to your body. It is important to realize that your mind can change your brain; affecting your health, emotions and beliefs.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Romans 8:5 NIV

(A tug of war. Who is going to win? The stronger side! )

We have a storage shed at our house. It is shaped like a two story barn. Wayne stores all kinds of stuff, including junk inside. I could live out in the barn if I wanted to live there. I don't want to live there because the house is a much better place to live. There’s no air conditioning or beds or bathrooms in the barn.

You can live out of human reasoning or out of wisdom of God. God made you. He knows what is best for you, so it doesn’t make sense that we would ignore His plan and/or instructions.

Since He designed how our spirit, soul and body function together, it is abundantly clear from Scripture that our thoughts REALLY matter. When we understand the mind is to the soul, what the brain is to the body; we will begin to think different.

Bee Survival The queen bee is essential to keep the bee colony alive. When a hive of bees needs a new queen bee they select an ordinary bee, then develop a new queen by feeding it royal jelly. The ones that don’t eat the royal jelly are ordinary worker bees. The bee is transformed by what it eats.

Transformed The Bible clearly tells us how to be transformed. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 NIV

What is feeding your thoughts? The Word of God does the same thing to a believer that royal jelly does to a bee. It transforms us!

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Romans 8:5 NIV

That Scripture identifies that where you focus you mind is where you will live. If you live according to the flesh you’ve got you mind focused on what the flesh wants. Did you see that?

But the converse is also true. It is imperative that we deliberately and strategically shape and conform our thoughts by thinking on God’s Word. God won’t do it for us. But the powerful Word of God produces change when we assimilate it like your body assimilates food. God’s Word nourishes, it develops faith and shapes beliefs and values.

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I am so excited that you are joining me on this Think Bible Study. The way we think can fuel our dreams or sabotage our future. I was shocked, absolutely shocked when I began to see all the places God talks about our thoughts, attitudes and heart. I want to share what I see in Scripture with you, because what you think is a critical key to your success, peace and joy. This first lesson is very basic, but stay with me. I want to be sure everyone is on the same page.

Does what you think matter? Do you ever feel like your opinion doesn’t matter or that nobody cares what you think?

Your thoughts matter-especially to you.

Your thoughts shape your destiny. They can limit you, stop you or guide you. In this Bible Study we are going to look at more than positive thinking, we are going to look at biblical values that shape our thinking and beliefs

Sometime even seeing something right before our eyes doesn’t change what we think. In 1875, Martin Vivian hired some men to cut down one of the giant Sequoia’s. It took two men 9 days to topple the giant. The stump of the giant measured 24 feet in diameter. You read that right…24 FEET! He wanted to transport it to the East, but how do you transport a 24 foot irregular slice of wood? He selected a slice higher up the trunk which measured 16 feet in diameter. Had it sliced into 8 pie shaped wedges and shipped it to the East on the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Mr. Vivian reassembled the pieces and exhibited the 16-foot slice of tree at Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia. People purchased tickets and stood in long lines to see “the hugest thing ever made by Mother Nature.” But people didn’t believe what they saw. Maybe it was because the pieces were fit together like a puzzle. But people just couldn’t believe there could possibly be a tree that big. They had seen big trees, but this slab of wood was too big. They called it the “California Hoax.”

But the fact that the trees could grow that big was true. They missed the truth because what they believed was based on their personal experience.

Whether the people at that Centennial Exposition believed the truth about the Sequoia wasn’t life changing, but what you believe will shape your life.

When we base our beliefs on our personal experience and limited vision, it shapes our lives! “Sow a thought and you reap an action;

sow an act and you reap a habit;

then sow a habit and you reap a character;

sow a character and you reap a destiny.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

When we trust in our human reasoning, we leave God out of the equation. We put our trust in ourselves instead of God.

Jeremiah 17:5 This is what the Lord says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,

who draws strength from mere flesh

and whose heart turns away from the Lord.

6That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;

they will not see prosperity when it comes.

They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,

in a salt land where no one lives.

7“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,

whose confidence is in him.

8They will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit.”

9The heart is deceitful above all things

and beyond cure.

Who can understand it?

10“I the Lord search the heart

and examine the mind,

to reward each person according to their conduct,

according to what their deeds deserve.”

We can trust Him, because He is worthy of us trust.

Albert Einstein said "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

Sari wanted a baby really, really bad. But when a special guest showed up in her yard and announced that she was going to have a baby, she laughed. It was ridiculous to even think that an old lady like herself that had never, I mean NEVER had a baby could have one at her age.

It sounded funny. Genesis 18: 14, 15

The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, “shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?” Is anything too hardd for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”15But Sarah denied it,e saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

But something happened that developed faith in Sarah’s heart. The word used here is ago’ It means a belief that doesn’t come from a feeling, but by considering, thinking, pondering, weighing the facts. It reveals a deliberate thought process that shaped her belief that God would keep His promise. The kind of faith that pleases God and produces miracles.

Hebrews 11:11 NLT It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

NIV And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.

You opinion, what you think, really matters to you, make it count. Let those thoughts be healthy and productive and life giving cause they matter the most to you!

A 21 day process. In the days ahead we are going to talk about a process, a new way of thinking and believing that is life giving because it is based on the life giving Word of God. Thinking that will cause you to walk in peace, joy and obedience.

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Over the years my husband and I have learned that if we want to keep our relationship alive we have to make each other a priority. We have to keep doing the things we know works. It is essential that we talk and listen…not just listen, but listen attentively. We have to forgive, love and give generously. My husband has taught me the importance And the truth is the really important stuff have to stay a priority.

Most important relationship can grow stale. The truth is our relationship with God can grow stale too. It’s not that we exactly stop loving Him or anything like that, it’s just that life piles in on us. And, before we know it we are over committed and over whelmed. It is so easy to skip the things that are not tied to a due date or an emergency. Prayer. Bible Study. Worship. All fall in that category. Necessary. Essential even, but if we aren’t careful can lose their place on our schedule.

I believe Mark 12:29-30 holds a very important key to keeping important things a priority. “Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. 30And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’

Have you ever really looked at the words in that verse? And while I memorized the verse years ago, I missed the words…”all your mind.” Somehow I didn't realize that my spirit (heart and soul), mind (thoughts) and body (strength) were all involved and worked together in the loving process.

A Sad truth... I loved God with all my heart…but because I let my emotions get in the way, there was some areas that I didn’t obey Him. I can wrap my disobedience in all kinds of pretty excuses, but it’s still sin. Lately, I’ve learned I need to love God with my mind too.

Emotional maturity is shaped out of mental maturity 1 Corinthians 14:20 NIV Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.

How do children think? They think it’s fun to play in the street. They think the wall is a great place to draw and they think they should stick sharp things into the outlets.

And what they believe will get them in big trouble. Their thinking is influenced by their lack of knowledge and their immaturity.

So what does a parent do? Parents train their children. They guide them. They give them facts and a value system that guides them in making right choices instead of simply reacting.

Train your mind like you would a child. 1 Timothy 4:7 But reject irreverent and silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness.

As a believer, the thoughts and ideas that shape our beliefs and attitudes must be filtered through truth. I know a lady that loved her mother deeply, but nothing she did could change what that mother believed. She believed a lie and that lie kept her from having a relationship with her daughter. Pain from the mother’s childhood deceived her heart.

The first sin came as a result of deception. Deception continues to be a dangerous trap. That is why it is so important to make Scripture a priority in your life.

I know all to well how easy that we can become so busy that it is difficult to find time to nourish our thinking with God's Word. With technology we have the opportunity to turn precious moments into spiritual nourishment, reminders and goads that get us back on track. If you are like me, podcasts are one of those ways to learn and grow while I drive or clean house.

New Podcast That’s why I'm starting a new podcast. I want to give you regular reminders, encouragement, stories and illustrations to build your faith and help you stay connected with God. I want to help you stoke your fire and I want to help you keep your relationship with God a priority. It's called Pat's View.

Click here to listen on iTunes. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss anything.

I'll be launching it in the next few days.

It will be a 21 day focus on "Thinking God's Way for a Change."

I don’t know where you are in your walk with God, but I’m hungry for more of Him. I want my life to bring glory to God. If I want change, I must change what I believe. I must base my life on truth, not public opinion.

Let me explain with one of our adventures. We were making our way home from a conference in Kansas when we decided to stop in Jackson, MS to see their capitol building.

Built in 1903 in the ornate Beaux Arts style. Like 30 other state capitol buildings it had a large magnificent dome that crowns the building regally. I love the mindset of the Architect Theodore Link, “The style adopted is a pure renaissance classic of dignity and elegance of proportion which will fittingly express the power, honor, and stability of the State.

Pat's View: Inspirational stories: Recent Episodes

Patricia Holland Sharing Inspirational Stories For Everyday Life