Choosing Grace First

What Do You Want For Christmas?

2011-12-02T07:41:00.000-08:00

The Christmas season is a wonderful time of year. We find ourselves busy with preparations in hopes that our celebration will be both memorable and joyful. Yesterday, I found myself wandering through stores trying to stir up ideas for gifts. However, I must confess as I submerge myself into this season, my wants tend to outweigh my needs. What do I really want for Christmas?
What if we were given the opportunity to have the ultimate Christmas gift? What if anything on our list could be ours for the asking? Would it be a new car? How about new shoes or a 40 inch flat screen TV? What if someone would just simply write us a check for any amount that we desire? Would you receive peace knowing all of your bills were paid with a little extra cash to enjoy on the side? Would your heart be filled with happiness knowing that whatever you wanted to buy could be yours? Would this kind of gift fill the desires of our hearts?
What if I told you there is a gift available that could fill every void in your life? What if all of your worries could be removed simply by receiving this gift? Would you believe me? The challenge is, this gift cannot be purchased or earned. It cannot be found in a store or obtained by cashing in a check.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives.”
John 14:27

This is a simple quote from Jesus found in the Bible that perhaps you’ve read or heard in a sermon. But have you really meditated on the impact God’s gift of peace could have on our lives? After my life was transformed by faith, God’s gift of peace brought me a new perspective. It’s not to say I don’t want nice things or that God doesn’t want to give them to us. But now, my eyes have been opened to what it means to have a Sovereign Lord. Anything I face in this life, no matter how difficult, I have a God who will get me through it. Do you believe me? Better yet, do you believe Him?

Perhaps you’re facing financial troubles, a struggling marriage or battling a terminal illness. Can one have peace in the midst of trials? If I told you yes, would you believe me? Better yet, do you believe God?

“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:27

We can call ourselves Christians, but if we don’t read the Bible and study His Word, how does one truly have faith? Every day we need a Savior. Not just at the moment of our death, but every minute of our remaining days on earth. The moment we wake up, we face new circumstances; some good and some bad. Temptation through the evil one is always crouching at our door. And yet despite what is in front of us, our Lord Jesus Christ is beside us. Do you have peace knowing God can deliver you from your circumstances? Do you believe His Word is the greatest gift you’ll ever receive?

Begin today reading His Word and meditating on His promises. The greatest gift we can give someone is a Bible. But if you don’t read it and become actively involved in studying it at some level, God’s peace is left sitting on a shelf. My prayer this Christmas season is for our desires not to be for things of this world, but for the gifts that come through faith in knowing Jesus Christ. God does not give as the world gives, but what He does give is life changing and everlasting. Merry Christmas!

Abandoned and Forsaken

2011-09-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

That’s what happened to a young dog over the weekend, tied to a handicap parking sign at our church. I can’t help but wonder what went through the mind of someone as they were tying this precious dog to a pole in the middle of a rain storm. To be honest, my first reaction was, “How could anyone be so cruel?” I was so quick to judge the character of another human being as I stared into the eyes of an innocent dog that had no idea how his life had come to this point.
But isn’t this character true of many Christians today? So often, we become so wrapped up into our own lives that we abandon what Christ calls us to do; take care of the poor, the needy and the sick. As I was judging that individual, God revealed to me the many years my heart had turned the other way from helping others simply because I felt I was too busy.
Thanks be to God that He doesn’t think like we do. For three years, Jesus walked mile after mile healing thousands and feeding even more along the way. He never said I’m too busy, or too tired to deal with you. No, in fact what Jesus did say was, “I will never abandon you nor forsaken you.”
Whatever the motive was inside the person who left this dog, God intervened by stirring the heart of this individual and prompting them to leave the dog at a church. That’s the beauty about God. Despite our fallen state, God’s love for His creation always prevails.
You should see the love inside this dog. Forty eight hours ago, he was abandoned. Yet this morning he was actively looking for his owner and studying each home to see if it might be his. I know if the owner had pulled up in a car, this dog would have run to him with complete joy. He had already forgiven his owner for abandoning him even if the owner hadn’t forgiven himself. This is the kind of love Christ has for us even if we choose to abandon Him. As I write this, I can see how much a small little dog has taught me about unconditional love and forgiveness, two areas in my life that are constantly seeking divine change.
This sweet small dog needs a permanent home where he can count on a family to always be there and never leave him out in the rain. I pray for God to bring a special family to me but in the meantime, we will continue to provide for his needs.
If you know of someone who would like a small sweet dog, this one is special. God placed it on the heart of the owner to give it back to His church, a place where he won’t ever again be abandoned or forsaken.
“I will never abandon you as orphans-I will come to you.”
John 14:18

Email me if you or someone you know is interested: jenniferj63@gmail.com

Finding Fullness in Christ

2011-09-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

"People Helping People Find Fullness in Christ"

This is our mission statement at our church. We as Christians are supposed to help others find fullness in Christ. But what exactly does it mean to find fullness in Christ? Before Jesus was crucified, He told His disciples He would never leave them as orphans. He also said to His disciples that if they loved Him and obeyed His commands, Jesus would ask the Father to give another Counselor to be with them and in them. What this means is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Almighty God will be with us and in us at all times.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12)

When we experience fullness in Christ, we experience a power beyond our comprehension, a joy beyond our understanding and wisdom that takes us outside our limited human intellect. Our lives truly become transformed.

Has this happened to you? The Bible tells us that God has no favorites. Therefore, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can do all things through Christ. So what is preventing this transformation from happening in many Christian lives today? We attend church and read the Bible, yet nothing happens. Why is this? How does one experience the fullness of Christ through the power of God’s Holy Spirit?

Be a part of a new four week Bible study this fall beginning October 5th (Wednesday evenings). The study is free beginning at 7pm to 8pm at Christ United Methodist Church in Sugar Land, Texas. Over these four weeks, we will examine the workings of the Holy Spirit and learn to overcome obstacles that hinder God’s Spirit in our lives. God delights in having His children experience His Holy Spirit. The question is, are you ready, willing and able?

It's Time to Clean House

2011-07-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

Two years ago, I did a Bible Study at the Catholic church. I thought God had led me there to learn more about the Catholic faith. However, God had a deeper purpose in mind. He wanted to show me what the light and hope of Christ looks like in the midst of suffering.
There were over 90 people participating in this study. It would entail thirty weeks of reading and studying the Bible. I didn’t know anyone except for a friend who invited me to be a part of her small discussion group. About three weeks into the study, our small group was reviewing questions when I noticed a woman enter the room. She headed our direction and by her physical appearance, I could tell she was going through difficulty. Everyone greeted her with hugs as she sat down next to me. We smiled and introduced ourselves. Her name was Kathy. She was asked to update everyone on her condition and that’s when I learned she was battling a rare form of cancer. MD Anderson had turned her away, claiming there was nothing more they could do. They said she only had a few months to live. I looked at the sad expressions of the people in our group as we quietly listened to her story. I could tell Kathy was looking for hope, but unfortunately our faces left her feeling more hopeless. My heart became stirred with emotion and I found myself boldly proclaiming her hope was not to be found in man but in Christ. I told her cancer didn’t have a claim on her life. Despite what MD Anderson believed, only God determines the day we’re born and only God determines the day we return to our heavenly home. From that moment, Kathy and I became dear friends. She graciously allowed me to be a part of her journey in her fight against this disease. Kathy was a wife and mother of young children and I could tell she was going to fight this disease as long as God would permit.
God’s plan was different from MD Anderson’s. They had given her months, however God gave her an additional three years. During that time, her faith became stronger. Never once did she ever become angry with God, wondering why this was happening to her. I’m afraid I would have fallen down that path of self pity and hopelessness but Kathy was a vision of strength. Her love for Christ grew and His love for her shined in her smile.
I will never forget when we were approaching the end of her journey how her body had become weakened and her liver was no longer able to function properly. I showed up at her house with her favorite flavored smoothie and we sat quietly on her bed, pondering what words if any would bring comfort?
That’s when she looked at me and said, “Well, I guess it’s time to clean house.” I’m sure my expression looked perplexed as I wondered why cleaning her house was so important at this moment. But “cleaning her house” wasn’t what she meant literally. She wanted to clean her heart of any remaining sin so that when Jesus came for her, she wouldn’t feel ashamed to be in His presence. I was so deeply moved by her words. Even a disease can be a blessing by allowing people time to make things right with God. From that moment on, gratefulness and thankfulness filled her prayers as she began experiencing the washing away of her sins and transgressions.I looked at my own life and realized that each and every moment should be about cleaning my own house. So many lives are taken in an instant and sadly many never repent of their sinful nature.
My last moment with Kathy was bathing her. As I washed her feet, tears of both joy and sadness fell onto my hands as she faintly said to me, “God loves you.”
Isn't it amazing how much God loves us despite the filthiness of our sins!
Thank you Lord for Kathy and all the other Saints you’ve placed in my life. May today be the beginning of cleaning out my old sinful heart and through You, receiving new life through Christ our Lord. Thank you for Your forgiveness, mercy and love. May every day be one of living righteously and holy in Your sight so that when we see You face to face, we will joyfully and confidently run to Your arms with a clean heart. Jesus provides the way, the truth and life! Let us all begin today cleaning our houses!

“What comes out of a man is what makes him unclean. For from within, out of men’s hearts come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man unclean.”
Mark 7:20-23

Mustard Seed Faith

2011-04-30T11:18:00.000-07:00

“I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." (Matthew 17:20)

Seems simple right? All Jesus asks is for us to have faith as small as a mustard seed. Have you ever seen a mustard seed? It is the smallest seed of all plants, yet under proper conditions, it can grow into a ten foot tall tree. And if our faith was just that size, nothing would be impossible for us. But why can’t we move the mountains in our lives? Disappointedly it’s because we have so little faith.
I have had the honor and privilege of being close to a 13-year-old boy who battles every day with brain tumors. Nearly eight months ago, he was living a normal life. And then suddenly a chronic headache and severe dizziness led to a diagnosis of cancer.
His life has been turned upside down and I have watched by the sidelines how this disease has slowly impacted his speech and mobility. One day you’re playing basketball with your friends and in a blink of an eye, you have lost all ability to walk and speak. In fact, every life activity must now be done with the help of his parents and loved ones. This young boy has every reason to give up but his faith tells him to hold on. Although physically he has been impaired, spiritually he has been renewed. Although doctors claim he won’t live, God has given him a new life. Although there isn’t a cure for his cancer, God continues to work miraculously through his life. His faith is the size of a mustard seed and I have been deeply blessed by watching him take control over cancer instead of allowing cancer to take control over him.
I hate to think how quickly I would have given up. Even worse, I may have spent endless hours asking God, “Why me?” But this young boy looks at his suffering as a means of bringing others to Christ. The doctors are baffled by his perseverance and he so boldly states, “It’s God within me. It's my faith that perseveres." This young boy never asks God, “Why me?” Instead, he asks “Why not me?”
When we reach that point in life where humanly there is no place to turn, that’s when God does many of His greatest works in our lives. But it becomes a choice for us to make; do we try to overcome the mountains by ourselves or do we give our mountains fully to God? He graciously gives us the Spirit within Him that allows us to do the impossible. The question is, do we really believe we have the power and authority through Jesus Christ to do the impossible? How you answer that question determines the size of your faith. Unfortunately for me, it was that question that made me realize my faith was smaller than a speck of dust that rests on top of the mustard seed.
Today, let our prayers be for a deeper and more trusting faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Pray for our faith to be the size of a mustard seed so that when mountains form in our paths, we can remove them through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Pray each day to be filled with God’s divine Spirit. Perhaps when we begin to truly have the faith that Jesus so deeply desires of us, this is the moment when our faith grows to become a ten foot tall plant.

Have you ever experienced divine change?

2011-01-21T08:57:00.000-08:00

This seems like a simple question, but for me, it wasn’t until the last ten years of my life that I can honestly say I experienced divine change. And for many Christians that I’ve met, this experience has never happened.
I experienced divine change when I started studying Scripture. Had I not dedicated time each day to God’s Word, I would have missed the experience of repentance that led to divine change.
When I began studying the Bible, that’s when God pointed out all of the areas of my life that were not in line with His Word and needed divine change. For example, He showed me how my complacency was a sin because when things were going well, I began moving further away from God. It’s not that I felt I didn’t need Him. I just thought I needed Him less. The Lord also showed me the difference between worldly knowledge and Godly wisdom. Now I can see all of the money I wasted on “self-help” books when all we need is the Bible. The Bible teaches us everything we need to know, including how to manage our finances, lose weight and live life abundantly. Most importantly it teaches us how to live righteously before God. So how does one know when one experiences divine change? In answering this question, I can only share what happened to me.
Divine change occurs when our sole purpose becomes pleasing God over pleasing the world. We can’t wait to serve the poor, the needy and the sick because we want to be all that Christ is for us.
Divine change occurs when we can’t get our fill of the Bible. Studying God’s Word becomes more pleasing than any time spent in front of the TV or computer.
Divine change occurs when taking a Bible study becomes the number one priority on our list of things to do.
Divine change occurs when you love God and I mean you REALLY LOVE GOD more than anything else, including your children.
These are just a few examples of what divine change felt like to me but to others, it may be different. However, it would never have happened had I not started taking a Bible Study and truly dedicating time to developing a relationship with the Lord.
What benefits has divine change brought to my life? I can sum it up in one word: Peace. My fears rest with the Lord. No matter what’s happening around me, I know God is with me. So what then is there to fear? The world says we should fear disease, the economy, natural disasters and death. However, when we experience divine change, we see things through God’s eyes, reminding us of His sovereignty over our lives. The challenge is to prevent our hearts from turning back to our old ways. That's why it's important to be in a Bible study so that we are continuously reading God's Word.
“Changing Hearts Changing Lives” is a Bible study that addresses those areas of our life that need divine change. It doesn’t happen overnight and the process can be painful. But if our hearts are willing to accept those areas in our lives that need divine change, the blessings that come from it are too numerous to count. Information about this study can be found at www.cumcsl.org . All proceeds go to the church to encourage members to read and study God’s Word. If you don’t participate in my study, please take a Bible Study this year. The Lord doesn’t ask us to be a light and salt in the world, He expects it of us. And God is the only One who can divinely change us.

"Do not conform any longer 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

My Christmas Wish List

2010-12-21T08:02:00.000-08:00

It's just a few days before Christmas and one can't help but look back at the year's accomplishments, struggles and memories. I truly couldn't come up with a single item I wanted this year, but I do have one thing that I so deeply desire to have 365 days a year.
"Seek the joy of the Lord in everything."

In my afflictions, I desire to seek the joy of the Lord
In my suffering, I desire to seek the joy of the Lord
In my quiet and still moments, I desire to seek the joy of the Lord
In times of uncertainty, I desire to seek the joy of the Lord
When facing persecution for my faith, I desire to seek the joy of the Lord
In my tears, I desire to seek the joy of the Lord
In my celebration, I desire to seek the joy of the Lord
In everything I do, I desire to seek the joy of the Lord

May each of us receive this same desire that only the Lord can give. Joy is not a moment of time but a spiritual blessing given for a lifetime.

May your Christmas and every day of the year be filled with the joy of the Lord.

"Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Nehemiah 8:10

Heavenly Gifts

2010-12-05T07:12:00.000-08:00

My daughter mentioned to me the other day that she wished she had a special talent. She knows many people who have wonderful talents such as the ability to dance, play sports, sing, or play a musical instrument. These are all very special talents and it’s wonderful to see others flourish with these gifts God has given. But often how we see others defines how we view ourselves. We look at the talents of others and minimize the gifts that our Father has given to each of His children. Every human being has a divine purpose in life. However, we often feel our purpose is defined by "talents" we have. And for those of us who don’t think we have special talents, we feel lost and wonder what truly am I good at?
The Apostle Paul speaks of this matter. He was a brilliant scholar of religion and highly regarded by his peers as being a leader of the church. Yet despite all of his accomplishments, God viewed his talents very differently. God didn’t see Paul as a brilliant intellect, but as His child and servant in sharing the Gospel with the people. Paul even confessed that without Christ, all of his talents were meaningless.
The Bible tells us that God looks at each of us as His greatest masterpiece; a work of art that is to be used to draw others towards Christ.
I have a friend who is so spiritually gifted and yet doesn’t see herself that way. However, her gift isn’t necessarily a talent by the world’s standards. She is a silent servant of Christ. While others seek recognition and the spot light, she remains in the shadows compassionately giving of her time, money and prayer to those in need. While others take credit for their good works, she doesn’t want her name mentioned, but desires to give all of the glory to God. In a world that thrives on being recognized, becoming a silent servant is more than a talent. It’s a gift.
As a parent, we need to stress the importance of the spiritual gifts so that our children will see themselves not as the world sees them, but as God sees them. The greatest gift that God gives is love. In everything we do, we are to do it for Christ as a reflection of His love. In a world that is filled with darkness, love becomes hard to find. I have met people who cannot fully love and therefore cannot forgive. People who cannot fully love, limit themselves in how they can serve. People who cannot fully love, cannot be fully used by God. Love, not talents, is the greatest gift we’re given and believe it or not, many hearts never fully receive it.
Today, I pray that we strive to fully love others and glorify God in everything, making this more important than any given talent. And I’m not talking about loving our children more; I’m talking about fully loving those whom we have not been able to love. Only Christ can give us this gift, but first we must be willing to receive it with a humble and compassionate heart.

“Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
1Corinthians 13:4-7

Love isn’t a talent. It is a gift freely given. And without it, life and all of our talents become meaningless.

Living In Spiritual Darkness

2010-10-15T08:59:00.000-07:00

How many of us remained glued to our television set as we witnessed the miners being rescued from several thousand feet below the earth’s surface? As each one was brought out of the darkness, I found myself praising God for His mercy upon their lives. But for me it was more than watching individuals being rescued. It reminded me of my spiritual awakening, knowing what it’s like to live in darkness and experiencing God lifting me out into His spiritual light.

I lived in darkness for most of my life. For so many years, I called myself a Christian and thought I was living my life the way God intended. But I was blinded by the darkness of my own sinful nature, claiming to believe one thing yet living entirely different. The day I began studying God’s Word was the moment my spiritual darkness was exposed. I spent most of my life working in corporate America. Making a lot of money was one of my greatest ambitions. And I’ll never forget when God revealed to me that my dependence and love for money was greater than my love and dependence upon Him. He also revealed how I feared my boss more than I feared Him. I was living in spiritual darkness not knowing what my heart looked like through the eyes of faith. I found myself on my knees in deep sorrow because I never realized how detestable my sin appeared to God. At that moment I felt a huge weight lifted from my heart. Forgiveness was granted through His mercy and love for me.
God placed it on my heart to write a book to corporate America, revealing my sinful nature and sharing my story of His divine presence in the business world. I must honestly confess I didn’t want to write the book. I told Him no one would listen. No one would read it. No one would publish it. I even suggested that he have Bill Gates write it because people would read his book. Bill Gates was a “somebody” in this world, and I saw myself as a nobody. God patiently listened to all my excuses that stemmed from my fear of rejection from a world that had become my friend. Once I finally became quiet, God spoke softly to my heart and said, “You are somebody to me.”
This was the day I declared Christ as my CEO over my life. I felt like I was lifted out of a dark black hole of spiritual darkness that for so many years filled my life with lies. Perhaps you’ve heard some of them:
You are a “nobody” in this world
Your disease cannot be cured
Your marriage cannot be saved
You cannot get out of dept

The list of lies that stem from spiritual darkness is endless. But just as these miners were carefully lifted out of a black hole, God lifts us out and shines His love and the light of His truth that come from His Word:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish,
and it will be given to you.” John 15:7
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me.” John 14:6

These are a few examples of knowing the truth; God’s truth.

Are you still living in a black hole? Do you still believe the lies of the darkness? May today be the day we are all lifted from our black hole and placed into His light through Christ our Lord. Once we allow our darkness to be exposed, He graciously gives us a renewed life through our repentance. We are all somebody’s to God and may He reveal Himself to each of us through His love, mercy and grace that shines in His Light.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and
find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the
fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

Ephesians 5:8-11

The "Have's" and "Have Not's"

2010-08-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

Last evening I was in the emergency room with a friend. As we patiently waited for the doctors to perform the necessary tests, we watched from our door the number of trauma patients coming through the ER. I have to say it was overwhelming to watch the doctors and nurses racing from room to room, administering to the needs of those holding on to life. While we waited, my friend began a list of things she didn’t have. She told me she never had a boyfriend who loved her, she never had a husband and she never had children. She claimed her illness prevented her from having these things. I listened intently as she went down her list of “have not’s.”
After she was done, I felt this immense guilt because all of the things she didn’t have, I had received at some point in my life. Yet, so many of my years were wasted on a sense of entitlement for “things” I felt I deserved. I never saw them as purely gifts from God. And although today I’m grateful for all He has given, what I’ve discovered is, the “things” I have cannot provide what I really need.
God spoke softly and reminded me of why He brought this friend into my life. I had prayed for God to remove all things that would hinder me from fulfilling His purpose. I also prayed for people to come into my life who reflect His Spirit and light. I told my friend that although I had received many of the things she hadn’t, what she had was far greater than anything this world has to offer. She has the gift of the Holy Spirit which resides in her. She is a reflection of the love of Christ that I strive to obtain in my life. She opened my eyes and revealed the shallowness of my faith. Although faith isn’t something tangible, its value outweighs anything that I have.
God blesses every Christian who strives to walk in His Ways and He freely gives His Holy Spirit to provide everything we need. When we receive the Spirit of Truth, it becomes clear that what we have doesn’t measure up to the gift of salvation which only comes through Jesus Christ.
What my friend has is all that we need. The Holy Spirit is so prevalent in her life, even the nurses were amazed. They would rush into her room, frazzled from the previous patient. But when they left, the nurses had a sense of peace and a shield of strength to face the next trauma around the corner. It was simply wonderful to experience.
May those of us who think we are the “haves” of this world need to look at our own lives through the eyes of Christ. When we do this, it becomes clear that what we have and what we need are often two different things. Today, may we seek God and His Holy Spirit in everything so that we too can have all that God desires for our lives.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their Sheppard and carry them forever.”
Psalm 28:8-9

Brokenness To Blessedness

2010-07-20T08:27:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt broken? Has something happened in your life that has left you feeling completely hopeless? Perhaps you’ve lost a loved one and the void in your life has left you feeling broken. Or maybe you’ve just lost your job and there doesn’t seem to be a new opportunity within reach.

I have a dear friend who battles every day a rare and complicated form of cancer. I didn’t know her when she was actually diagnosed. We met several months later and that’s when I learned about her disease. This cancer is so complicated that at the time she was diagnosed, MD Anderson actually turned her away. This hospital, as many of you know, is one of the leading cancer facilities in the world. Personally, I have never faced cancer so I cannot begin to comprehend how broken she felt when she learned of this disease. Her brokenness stemmed from a loss of hope and confusion over why this was happening to her. I remember when she shared with me all that she had been through. I could tell by her voice that although she felt defeated at times, she would continue to fight until her last breath.

Despite what the doctors believed, my dear friend is still alive today and what we’ve both learned is as she continues to fight for her life, cancer doesn’t have a claim on her life. As her disease worsens, her faith strengthens. I can’t explain it but I have had the privilege of watching from the sidelines the blessings she pours out to all who come into her life. I asked her if she truly felt God’s blessing throughout this ordeal and was simply amazed by her response. She said to me that not only had she been blessed, but in many ways, she had already been healed. Every day, my friend has to get out of bed, be a mom, and has several doctor appointments in any given week. The medicine alone leaves her tired and feeling nauseated, yet her brokenness has been healed through God’s blessedness.

When we face brokenness, that’s when we can experience God’s love and strength in our lives. When we’ve reached a point of acknowledging there’s no human solution to our problems, this can become the most divine moment to be seized.
Nobody likes to talk about death and as a result, it’s the one event that we are so unprepared to face. Yet death is inevitable and how we choose to face it can be the most significant decision in our life. Death is often what makes us feel so broken. My family has lost loved ones and the grieving is very painful and devastating. But with each loss, we have experienced the transition from brokenness to blessedness because of our faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus died on the cross but that wasn’t the end of the story. Jesus ascended into heaven and lives today so that we as Christians can know that even death doesn’t hold a claim on our lives. Death is nothing more than the passageway to a new life through Christ our Lord. When we allow God into our brokenness, He mends our hearts with His blessedness and for many this becomes the moment when we experience what it means to be His Beloved.
May today we seek God in our brokenness. When we do this, the healing of our hearts begins and like my dear friend, that’s when we’re able to become a blessing for others.

"I waited patiently for the Lord;he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."

(Psalm 40:1-3)

Preparing For The Unexpected

2010-06-15T06:41:00.000-07:00

Last evening I watched my son play basketball at camp. It was a wonderful moment filled with excitement and anticipation as he ran up and down the court preparing for the next shot. The coaches had taught them several strategies of where they were to position themselves, anticipating at any time that the ball could come their way .
As my husband and I were sitting in the stands, I looked down at my phone and noticed several messages had been left. I never keep my cell phone on during a game but as I scrolled down the messages, I learned that the life of an old friend had passed away.
It was hard to maintain my composure as my heart became flooded with memories of my high school days filled with images of my friend. News like this can come at any time, and yet I found myself overwhelmed with the unexpected. So how do we prepare for the unexpected, or is this something that we must condition our hearts for knowing at any time, life can change on a dime?
In the book of Joshua, we read about a young man, chosen by God, to lead the people of Israel into the promise land after many years in captivity in Egypt and forty years of wandering in the desert. Although Joshua had no idea of the battles he would face upon entering the land, God was fully aware of what they were up against. Just as life isn’t always handed to us on a silver platter, Joshua and the people of Israel would have to overcome the unexpected and it wasn’t going to be easy.
The Bible doesn’t promise a Cinderella life on earth. In fact, many of the chapters written are filled with stories of how God’s people faced multiple trials in their life time and how God prepared their hearts for the unexpected. In each case, we can have comfort knowing that we never face the unexpected alone. God doesn’t stand along the sidelines like a basketball coach shouting out instructions to the players. God enters our battles with us, and provides all the strength we need to overcome life’s trials. In chapter one of Joshua, God tells Joshua three times to be strong and courageous and to not turn to the right or the left but instead, turn to God’s laws and commandments. In fact, God instructed Joshua to meditate on His Word day and night so that he would be successful in overcoming anything he faced. God promised Joshua just as He promises us that He would be with him and He would never forsake him.
So how do we prepare for the unexpected? So often when we face the unexpected, many will choose to turn away from God and try to overcome the unexpected alone. Yet, meditating on God’s Word every day is what strengthens our faith by filling our hearts with the hope Christ promises to all Christian believers. Although we may be surprised by life’s events, God is never left surprised. He’s fully aware of our past, present and our future. It’s a huge comfort knowing that whether we’re on a mountain top, or in a valley of life, we never face the unexpected alone and by placing our trust in God just as Joshua did, He will help us overcome the unexpected.

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; 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. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:8-9

Have You Ever Experienced The Glory of God?

2010-05-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

I have to brag for a moment about my niece who is graduating from high school in just a few weeks. Two years ago, her mother passed away after battling breast cancer for nearly five years. When we go through something as tragic as losing a loved one, it’s hard to pick up the pieces of life and persevere with a smile for the world to see. However, I must praise God for all that He has done through my niece, showing the rest of us how we can have joyful hearts and experience God’s glory even in the midst of our trials.
The list of my niece’s accomplishments surpasses anything written on my resume and I have lived many more years than her. But the accomplishment I’m most proud of is her faith. As I watch from the sidelines, God reveals to us His glory through her by observing how she lives life to its fullest despite what’s happened. It would be easier to remain in a state of grief after the passing of a loved one. We miss their presence and our hearts refuse to let them go. I remember shortly after my mom passed away, someone came up to me and said, “You act like she isn’t dead.”
My response must have baffled them when I replied, “That’s because she isn’t. She’s with the Lord.”
As Christians we say we believe in Jesus Christ who died for our sins and was resurrected three days later. And the Bible tells us after His resurrection, he appeared to His disciples and over five hundred witnesses for forty days before His final ascension into heaven. We say we believe in the promise of eternal life after our earthly lives have ended. But when we experience difficulties in our own lives, do what we say and what we believe become two different things? Trials can become times of testing when many will begin to question God’s promise. That’s when we quickly discover how useless our beliefs are when they’re not combined with faith. But when we do combine our beliefs with faith, God’s glory is revealed in our lives by the joy and peace that resides in our hearts.
My hope and prayer today is that every Christian experiences God’s glory, especially when going through trials. I can tell you firsthand that having joy in the midst of suffering is possible. I recognize God’s glory in my life when things seem like they're spiraling out of control and all I feel is God’s peace surrounding me.
I also pray for those who have never read the Bible and live in the shallowness of their faith, perhaps not able to recognize the glory of God working in their own life. Most importantly, I pray for those who don’t know Christ and believe that nothing exists beyond our earthly lives.
Praise God for the resurrection, the hope and everlasting life in the Kingdom of Heaven. May we all grow deeper in our faith by reading God’s Word and living as a reflection of His light for others to see. When we combine our beliefs with faith, we will experience firsthand God’s glory in our own lives.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
(John 3:16)

Meeting Desiree

2010-04-21T19:14:00.000-07:00

When my life changed from corporate executive to Christian author, it not only had a profound effect, but a personal one as well. This path has not always been easy, but the people that I’ve met along the way have made it so rewarding.
When you decide that you’re going to publicly proclaim your faith and share your story with others, be prepared that many in the world will not want to hear it, even those whom you called family and friends. Many of Jesus’ disciples abandoned Him throughout His ministry and Jesus warned those who remained that the world will turn against you because of Me and the Gospel. At one point, I wondered if I would have any friends left at all, although I’m deeply grateful for the few who have remained by my side. However, I remain committed and have prayed for God to remove those who would hinder me from doing His Will and open my heart to those who live in His light.

That’s when God introduced me to Desiree.

Before knowing Jesus Christ intimately, I shamefully must admit that I would have come up with a hundred excuses why I couldn’t be a friend to Desiree. I’ve lived most of my life blind, not physically but spiritually. I could only see people from a human perspective and not through the eyes of Christ.
Desiree relies on a wheel chair to get around. Her wheel chair would have been my excuse for never taking her out to lunch. Desiree also has a speech impairment, which would have been another excuse to limit our conversation to a simple hello. Desiree has limited muscle coordination, which would have been another excuse for me not to become close to her.
The list of excuses could have been endless due to my spiritual blindness. Yet God sees His children differently than we see each other, or even ourselves. God sees Desiree as a divine instrument to be used as a reflection of His light and love. When my eyes became spiritually opened, I saw myself from God's perspective. It became crystal clear that I was the one who was disabled in God’s eyes, not Desiree.
God has graciously placed Desiree in my life so that I could witness someone who lives their life to please God and not the world. This is a lesson we should all embrace. The Bible teaches us to be imitators of God, not man. Desiree is an imitation of God, whereas I have been an imitation of the world.
How often in the Bible do we read about God using the weak to humble the strong? Jesus himself said He came into the world not to be served, but to serve others and to give up His life as ransom for many.

“But many who seem important now will be the least important then, and those who are considered least here will be the greatest then.”
(Mark 10:31)

May we all learn to see through the eyes of the Holy Spirit, and not live in spiritual blindness, seeing others solely with our eyes and not our hearts. When we do this, we may discover someone whom the world overlooks, but whom God uses to open our hearts and be more like Christ. Thank you Desiree for loving me despite my disabilities.

In God We Trust

2010-03-25T10:45:00.000-07:00

My daughter asked me the other night if the government’s health bill had passed. She’s fourteen years old and I found it interesting that even though we don’t watch the news at home, there has been so much talk at her school on this issue. I told her that it had passed and asked if she had any concerns about it.
I have to be honest about something. I, along with many others in our own government, have not read the bill. But, I was certain God was familiar with every human motive tied to its existence. I assured her that God would protect those who place Him first in their lives despite what's happening around us. It’s not to say we wouldn’t be affected, but I have placed my full trust in Him.
We live in unprecedented times and it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of political and social chaos. I used to spend hours reading every newspaper and watching every news channel just to stay on top of worldly events. It’s not to say that we should live in a bubble, but I have discovered that when I focus on God, my world becomes centered upon His peace that He graciously gives even in the midst of chaos.
In the Gospel of Matthew (14:22-33), Jesus sends His disciples out in a boat while He remains behind to dismiss a crowd that has been with Him all day. Jesus then went up to the mountainside to pray by Himself. While He was gone, the wind picked up and the disciple’s boat began tossing and turning. Jesus was seen walking on the water towards the disciples and they became frightened. He immediately told them not to be afraid. Peter then asked Jesus to command him to walk on the water.

“Lord, if it’s you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water.”

Jesus called out, “Come,” and Peter did the impossible. He walked on water. However, when Peter diverted his focus from Christ to the wind, he began to drown. Jesus immediately reached out and caught him.
Jesus said to Peter, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
When we live our lives focused on Christ as the center of our existence, we will be able to do the impossible. We will get through tough economic times. We will find joy in the midst of our suffering. We will experience peace while the world is living in chaos. However, the minute we divert our focus to our circumstances just as Peter did, we will feel like we’re drowning. Jesus didn’t hesitate to save Peter from drowning, nor did He wait and walk around awhile on the water leaving the disciples terrified. When you read the Scripture, Jesus’ response is immediate. He doesn’t want us to drown in our fears. He is right at our side ready to pull us out of the chaos when we call out to Him.
No health bill, president, or government has a hold on our lives. God remains sovereign despite what we read in the newspapers. Praise God for His control over our lives because the only motive He has is to bring all of His children together to join Him in the Heavenly Kingdom. In God We Fully Trust.

Letting Go

2010-02-10T07:41:00.000-08:00

When our kids were young, my husband and I performed the ritual of teaching them how to ride a bike. This requires one to run along side, holding on to the seat while our child bravely steers the bike. We always started off on the grass so that if we fell, the landing would be softer than cement. After a while, our kids would build up the courage and yell, “let go.” Hesitantly, we did and as we watched them ride away, we also witnessed many falls. But each time, they got up and wanted to try again.
I’ve learned throughout the years, that letting go is often the first step in placing our trust in God, yet it's very difficult to do. Our nature is to hold on to everything we have, providing us a false sense of security. How many times have we held on to jobs, people, and things only to see them taken from our lives? And yet how often do the things we hold on to hinder our trust in God?
Many of us have read or at least heard about Moses, God’s appointed servant to lead His people out of Egypt and into the promise land. But what many may not know is it wasn’t Moses who actually led the people of Israel into the promise land. The man that completed this task was Joshua.
In the Old Testament, the first chapter of Joshua begins reminding the reader that Moses is dead.

“After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them-to the Israelites.”
(Joshua 1:1-2)

I always thought God’s words were somewhat abrupt to Joshua. Moses, the great leader was dead. Can you imagine the disappointment and fear the people must have felt knowing their leader was no longer with them? However, God’s advice isn’t always about painting a flowery picture. Moses was the past and God needed Joshua for the future. It’s not to say that Moses wouldn’t be remembered, but it was time to let Moses go and realize the One leading this venture was God. This was God’s doing, and His plan always prevails despite the downfalls of man that occur along the way.
How do we know what God’s plan is for our lives? I believe 99.9% of the time we are exactly where God needs us to be. The challenge we face is letting go of the things that hinder our trust and faith in Him. However, once we let go of the world, we find ourselves holding onto Him and it’s amazing to see His plan unfold for our lives.

Are you in a job that causes you to compromise your integrity, but fear the job market is so bad, you won’t find anything else?

Are their people in your life that discourage you from doing God’s work, but you don’t want to lose the friendship?

Are you holding on to a grudge against someone in your past and you can’t let it go?

If you want to know the plans God has for you, it begins by letting go of the things that come between you and faith. When Jesus walked on this earth, He didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword to cut out anything that comes between us and His love. Pray today for the Holy Spirit to provide discernment and the courage to let go of anything hindering our faith. Although we may have falls along the way, God will be at our side, holding our hand and steering us into a promising future.

Standing Firm

2010-01-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

“If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”

Those words are from Isaiah 7:9. Isaiah was a prophet in the Old Testament and was speaking to King Ahaz who was facing his enemy in battle. Ahaz was so fearful of the enemy that the Bible tells us “the hearts of his people were shaken as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind” (Isaiah 7:2). But the Lord sent Isaiah to King Ahaz, assuring him the enemy would not win. This wasn’t part of God’s plan for Israel.
Standing firm in one’s faith is a battle every Christian faces because faith is constantly challenged by human intellect. The world says our security lies in the things that physically surround us such as homes, bank accounts, and even family and friends. Yet like Ahaz’s situation, we learn all of these things can easily become jeopardized and when they are, where do we turn for our security?
This year will hold many changes in our lives, some good and some bad. Most of what happens may be completely out of our control. From my own personal experience, I’ve discovered God often shakes the foundation of our lives so that we learn to stand firm on the foundation of our faith.
When we face adversity, how often do we turn to friends for comfort or human intuition for solutions? What if we looked at change as the workings of our Lord in our lives? We can’t expect others to understand our actions that stem from standing firm in our faith when others rely on human intellect to rationalize all that is happening. When I think back on my own life, how crazy it must have sounded to some people when I told them about leaving my job to write a Christian book. Yet, as we grow deeper in our relationship with Christ, we become foreigners to the world and at times, may even appear crazy.
Standing firm in one’s faith reminds me of the story about Noah found in Genesis. Only one man on the earth found favor in God’s eyes by standing firm in his faith. The world was filled with corruption and Scripture tells us God grieved over His creation. (Genesis 6:6) Can you imagine God grieving over his children for their actions? Do you think God grieves over us today when our ways don’t reflect His and we don’t stand firm in our faith?
Noah never lowered himself to the actions of slander, gossip and corruption of those around him. Back then, people had never seen rain, so because of human nature, we can presume neighbors were mocking and ridiculing Noah as he stood firm in his faith and built an ark to withstand a flood that was about to wipe out the earth. Despite what the world thought about Noah, Noah only cared about what God thought of him.
Whatever we face in the upcoming months, we must remember God faces it with us. He never goes on vacation and will get us through anything we encounter when we earnestly seek His counsel. That should be motivation enough for us to want to live favorably in His eyes, and most importantly, stand firm in our faith.
Stand firm in your faith no matter what happens. God has a history of shaking our world and taking us out the norm so that He can play a larger role in our hearts. Change doesn’t have to be an obstacle, but a divine moment to be seized. May this year and every remaining year be one of facing change with a divine perspective and embracing adversity with the power of our Holy Spirit.

“Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary”

(Isaiah 8:12-13)

The One Constant in our Lives

2009-12-29T09:30:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2009 is now a memory. Many of us celebrated with friends and family gathered together again as in year’s past. We hold onto our traditions so that each Christmas celebration becomes a certain constant in our lives. But even traditions can’t hold back the constant of change for our lives.
Many families may have experienced a different kind of Christmas celebration this year. Perhaps someone at the dinner table was no longer there, or maybe there weren’t any gifts under the tree. I’m sure there were some who celebrated with an outwardly smile on their face, but inwardly devastated by the news of a diagnosis of a terminal disease. There are others whose lives have been torn apart and Christmas isn’t a celebration, but a whirlwind of painful memories embedded in one’s heart, living each day in a state of darkness.
If, for a moment, we can look back at Christmas solely for the reason behind its celebration, the birth of our Savior, perhaps we could face our circumstances with an enlightened perspective as we approach the New Year.
I’ve attended many Christmas Eve services over the years. It’s one of my traditions and sadly for many years, it was the only time I attended church. In my youth, I’m sure I sat in the seat of a loyal attendee, thus robbing them of one of their Christmas traditions.
However this year, the service provided an enlightened perspective. This is the first year I celebrated without my mom, so I didn’t know how it would be. Would I feel empty and sad, or would I experience God’s peace and love for my life? Towards the end of the service, every person in the congregation lights a candle. As the lights in the sanctuary are dimmed, the faces in the crowd become shadows as the flame of the candles illuminate the room. As I stared up into the balcony of the church, all I could see was the beauty of the flickering candlelight glowing in the midst of shadows. It was amazing to witness such a small flame cut through the darkness of a large room. Christmas Eve was a cold night, yet the church was warm and inviting as the warmth from the candles felt like a blanket wrapped around me. The candles were more than flickering flames, but symbolic of the light of Christ as His love and peace cuts through the darkness of our lives. Through Him, joy can be a constant in our lives despite the circumstances we face.
The New Year is a few days away and many will return to their familiar darkness. Perhaps your darkness stems from grief, stress and anxiety, battling a terminal disease, or bitter heart. During the holidays, we temporarily place our darkness on the back burner, but by January, its shadow has returned.
What if I told you that strengthening your faith by reading the Bible and daily prayer could eliminate your darkness forever; would you believe me? Darkness doesn’t have to be a constant in our life. It can be eliminated forever simply by choosing to grow deeper in one's faith. But the choice is ours to make. We can look at 2010 simply as a year to make more money, lose weight, or exercise more and feel we’ve accomplished something significant. Or, we can decide to be the children God intended for us to be and spend more time in prayer, studying the Bible, serving those in need, and building our trust and faith in God. The choice we make becomes one of living in darkness or living in the light.

Life is too short to live our remaining days in darkness, especially when Christ is the Ultimate Healer of all pain. Eliminating darkness doesn’t happen over night, but it can happen to those who choose to deepen their relationship with our Lord.
May 2010 be the year of getting rid of darkness by choosing to grow deeper in our faith so that every day, we can feel the warmth of His love and peace as the light of Christ illuminates from our hearts. God Bless all of you and Happy New Year!

“The Lord is my light and my salvation-
whom shall I fear?
Of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;
Though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”

Psalm 27:1-3

Life's Simple Miracles

2009-12-04T09:10:00.000-08:00

Life’s Simple Miracles

As I’m writing this Blog, God delivered a beautiful, yet simplistic miracle occurring outside my window. It’s Friday, December 4th, 2009 and snow is pouring from the sky. Growing up in the north, snow was a common occurrence this time of year but in Texas, this is simply a beautiful gift to treasure. Ironically God gives us simple miracles every day, yet we tend to only notice the elaborate, like the falling of snow in this part of the country. However, the simple pleasure of pouring a cup of coffee in the morning is a miracle. Getting out of bed is also a simple miracle. The list goes on and on. But as we live out our days, what God gives as miracles, we tend to perceive simply as a mere occurrence.
The birth of our Savior is just a few weeks away. Many will celebrate this day overlooking the miracle of a virgin being the mother of our King of King’s because Christmas for us has become just another holiday where we find ourselves overwhelmed by the list of preparations behind planning the perfect event.
For years, I fretted over Christmas cards, shopping and what to cook. When Christmas Eve finally arrived, I found myself too busy in the kitchen to enjoy the simple pleasures of conversations occurring in the other room. Never again will I allow this holiday to rob me of what it truly means for the Christian believer: Jesus is the reason for the season!
We must remember Christ wasn’t born under perfect conditions. In fact, He was born in a barn with animals and very little provisions. Yet, I believe the conditions and place of Jesus’ birth wasn’t what God deemed important. The significance lies not in the preparations of the event, but in the preparation of our hearts as we celebrate this miraculous event with the understanding of God’s mercy and grace for our lives. God didn’t have to lower Himself to our level and save us from our sinful nature. He didn’t have to walk on this earth as a man showing us how to live as an example of our faith. He didn’t have to perform the hundreds if not thousands of miracles that we read about in the Bible. Nor does He have to provide the miracles today, big or small as a reflection of His love for us. When we really think about it, the number of miracles God has given us are too numerous to count. The real question becomes,
“What are we going to do to honor Jesus this season and every
remaining day of our earthly lives?”

This holiday season, I pray that we spend time every day thanking God for all the things He didn’t have to do and also thanking Him for all that He continues to do in our lives.
Merry Christmas. Say it with pride, honor, love and respect. May this day be filled with the simple miracle of the gift of life given from our gracious Lord.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of the great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.”
(Luke 2:8-12)

Getting Rid of the "What If's?"

2009-11-17T18:31:00.000-08:00

Last week I was visiting my Dad back in Illinois. It’s been several months since my Mom passed away and going home brings back a lot of memories, both happy and sad. Last summer I actually braved visiting her grave because many had told me it would bring closure, but at that time, closure was the last feeling I experienced.
However on my latest visit, I decided to return to the cemetery. I had a lot of unanswered questions and maybe God would reveal the answers in some divine way. Perhaps the sky would be filled with singing angels, or butterflies would be circling my mother’s memorial. I went from feeling reluctant to somewhat anxious with wonder.
When I finally arrived, I looked around and saw nothing. It must have been wishful thinking that God would do something amazing. I decided to sit down in front of her memorial and drink my coffee. The grounds of the cemetery, surrounded by trees were carpeted with fallen leaves of every color. As I sat quietly, it would have been easy to go through all of my “what if's” with God. Perhaps part of the grieving process is wondering if the outcome could have been different. Human logic asks “why” because we base our level of intellect on knowing all the answers. But at what point does human intellect become ignorance? Perhaps it’s when we discover that many of the answers to life’s questions are beyond our comprehension. I have a friend whose mother died three years ago and she is still living in a state of “what if’s.” Eventually we must turn to our faith and trust God’s sovereignty over our lives. With a strong foundation of faith, we accept the fact that things happen as part of God’s purpose for our lives. His purpose is always for the good and a deeper faith ends our desire to know all of life’s answers, while teaching us to seek God in both good and bad times.
Up in the sky, a hawk was circling above me. Perhaps he thought I was road kill. He eventually flew away seemingly disappointed that my time had not yet come. God still had a purpose for me on this earth, and the questions I was asking were irrelevant in discovering His Will for my life.
As I got up to leave, a deep sense of peace and joy overcame me. The peace was from knowing it’s ok to have unanswered questions, and the joy I felt was from believing my mother is healed and celebrating eternal life that has been promised to the Christian believer.
This holiday season, I pray for those who have lost loved ones and continue to ask the “what if’s.” My hope is the hearts of those grieving will turn to God who holds the gift of peace freely offered to those who seek Him. Instead of longing to know the "what if's, let’s choose to seek a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father. Reading and studying His Word provides all of life's answers that we really need to know.

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 8:38-39)

How Well Do We Know Christ?

2009-11-01T13:40:00.000-08:00

“Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as Lord, but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. On judgment day many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name. But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.”
(Matthew 7: 21-23)

This passage certainly gets the attention of the Christian believer. Many of us know the name of Jesus Christ, yet we still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. When I first read this, my heart hurt over the truth that many of us who call ourselves Christians don't know Christ intimately. The Bible tells us God knows His children intimately, so what does it mean when Jesus says, “I never knew you?”
I attended church my whole life. It was a ritual for my family to get up every Sunday morning and go to church. Sadly to say, the only thing I remember from that experience is the free glazed donut I received before Sunday school. I knew who Jesus was and became familiar with the stories about Noah, Moses, and of course Mary and Joseph. But that was the extent of my Christian knowledge. I thought just believing Jesus was the Son of God was enough, but when we read this passage found in the Gospel of Matthew, my life reflected what it means to be religious, but certainly not godly. Although this experience planted the seed of faith, my beliefs came from my mouth and not my heart.
I think many of us approach our Christian beliefs the same way as believing in Santa Claus. We wanted to believe it because it meant toys in our stockings. And, because our parents said it was true, we assumed it was. As a child, why wouldn’t I want to believe Jesus is my Savior and through Him, I receive eternal life? It was certainly better than the alternative. But for many, we stop there. We never explore anything deeper. We attend a one-hour sermon on Sunday morning and that becomes the extent of our Christian walk. When Monday morning rolls around, our hearts have turned to the ways of the world, and whatever our preacher said twenty-four hours ago is long forgotten.
I only knew Jesus Christ by name until six years ago when I got involved in a thirty week Bible study, requiring me to read over eighty-percent of Scripture. Needless to say, I was reading God’s Word every day for forty minutes in keeping up with the homework. Many of us shy away from a study requiring this level of commitment, but what impact would this amount of time spent in God’s Word have on our lives? Although there are many wonderful pastors who provide exceptional sermons, this should never be our fall back for growing deeper in our faith and knowing Christ intimately. A deeper relationship with God can only come from reading and studying His Word so that He can reveal what it means to live godly in His eyes.
Starting today, let's become committed to knowing Christ beyond His name. Thirty minutes of daily prayer and reading Scripture will absolutely change your life by changing your heart. So when our time comes, instead of hearing our Savior say, “I never knew you,” His words will be, “Welcome home my godly faithful servant.”

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through a narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.”
(Matthew 7:13)

Turning Off The Noise in Our Lives

2009-10-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

Just this past week, so many people have commented to me how busy their lives have become. Sometimes our “to do” lists seem overwhelming and there’s nothing worse than facing the end of a day feeling like nothing was accomplished. Shutting work off after coming home became a daily challenge for me. My family wanted one-hundred percent of my attention, but often I was only able to give them about thirty-percent. My mind was filled with the noise from my day which left me lying awake for hours until finally I could fall asleep. Are we busier today than ever before? Does it feel like time is racing by? A girlfriend shared with me an acronym for busy; Being Under Satan’s Yoke.
The noise in my life equates to the “busy” of my life, encompassing the stuff that robs me of time with both family and faith. Think about this for a moment:

How much time do you spend in front of your computer?
How much time do you spend in front of your TV?
How much time do you spend reading the Bible?

If we truthfully counted the hours dedicated to each of these activities, it becomes quite clear where our true allegiance lies. So what are we willing to do? If I told you having a stronger faith would create a more balanced life, would you believe me?
I love the story in the Bible about Mary and Martha found in the Gospel of Luke. The lives of two sisters illustrate how many of us utilize our time today. Jesus and His disciples came to Martha’s home and while she focused on the details of preparing a meal, Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus, consumed by His presence. Martha is exasperated by Mary’s lack of assistance and demands Jesus to say something to her. Here is Jesus’ response.

“But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
(Luke 10:41-42)

This story is comprised of four sentences, asking us to distinguish the “busy” of our lives from the “good part”. Why do we spend endless hours being busy and few hours if any reading God’s Word? There’s a real battle going on for our time, a strategic attempt to divert our allegiance. The question becomes, who’s winning your time?
Are we the “Martha’s” of the world, preoccupied with the noise that fills our days? If we placed our lives at the feet of Jesus, what impact would this have on changing our circumstances? I think we Christians today suffer from what Jesus describes as having “so little faith”. Most of us believe, but our faith is indeed smaller than a mustard seed. However, the little time we give to God can have the biggest impact on our lives. When we pray, our problems may not go away immediately, but what God gives us is a new perspective on how we should deal with it. I empathize with Martha because my instincts would have mirrored hers. But the “good part” as Jesus says, doesn’t encompass the details of our lives, but the depth of our faith. Even today we all can enjoy the “good part” simply by sitting at the feet of our Savior and meditating on His Word. Find a quiet still place today to open your heart, pray for forgiveness and earnestly seek God on all matters occupying your day. When we turn our lives over to Him, watch how quickly the noise suddenly becomes silenced, and the battle for our time becomes a divine moment to be seized.

How Do Christians Survive in Corporate America?

2009-10-19T05:29:00.000-07:00

This was one of many insightful questions asked last week during my talk with business students at Texas A&M. Before we address this, let me say what an honor and privilege it was to speak to these students whose wisdom goes beyond what many of us will ever achieve. I’m not talking about their level of knowledge and intellect gained from the textbooks they read. Nor am I referring to the degrees they’re striving to obtain. The wisdom I’m referring to came from their desire to know God deeply and to learn how to live as an example of their faith in the business world. I thought my purpose was to inspire them but when I left the campus that evening, I was the one deeply inspired.
It was simply one of the most humbling moments of my life to be in a room with Christians who strive every day to live as an example of their faith in a secular environment.
So, back to the question; “How does a Christian survive in Corporate America?”
First it’s important to know how deeply God desires each of us to succeed in everything we do, but we must succeed on His terms and not our own. God needs Christians in corporate America, but I’m not talking about the kind of Christian I was when I attended college. Back in those years, God was simply someone whom I spoke with occasionally on Sunday morning. I certainly spent time with Him on Christmas and Easter. But my relationship with God never involved reading Scripture or daily prayer. Jesus Christ was a name I was familiar with, but I certainly didn’t know what His name meant for my life.
As I look back on my life, had I known then what I know today, perhaps many of the mistakes I made would have been avoided.
I shared with the group three basic fundamentals found in the Bible which teach us how to lead a successful business, family, and personal life.
1. Pray: Jesus spent endless hours in prayer. He was God, yet He prayed to the Father for guidance and direction throughout His ministry. We should pray every day especially when we’re confronted with having to make difficult decisions. Many of us have worked for bosses who love to give advice and sometimes it’s helpful. However, there are other bosses whose advice may be questionable. Pray to God for His advice, knowing in our hearts He will never mislead us in anything we do.
2. Remain in the Word: Reading the Bible every day is imperative to knowing God intimately. A college degree may open many doors, however, God’s Wisdom will never be found in a college textbook. Solomon was an exceptional business man. Nehemiah knew how to motivate hundreds of people to rebuild a wall around Israel. David was known as one of the Bible’s greatest kings. Yet none of these leaders will ever be discussed in a college textbook. The Bible is our source for advice on every matter affecting our lives. If you don’t read it, you’ll never gain the wisdom God so graciously has to offer.
3. Last, but certainly not least, never forget who the real CEO of your life is: Never forget Jesus Christ who went before us, sacrificing His life for ours. Bosses may have an impact on our careers, but God has an impact on our lives. God will never tempt us and always desires what’s best for us. His Word remains consistent especially in a world where the only thing that’s consistent is change.

Pray, read the Bible and live a Christ-centered life. These three fundamentals will provide success beyond what the world has to offer.
I also wanted to commend the parents of each of these students whom I was so honored to be with. The values of faith have been instilled in their hearts and I was blessed by each of them. Let’s pray our actions as parents reflect a God-centered life so that by the time our children leave home, the seed of faith has been planted. An education is critical in providing the means to survive in the business world, but a firm Christian foundation is imperative to surviving in this world and most importantly, receiving eternal life.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.”

(Colossians 3:23-25)

When Fear Becomes A Four-Letter Word

2009-10-05T05:30:00.001-07:00

We have reason to fear what’s going on in the world today. We live in unprecedented times. Unemployment is at its highest level in years. Statistics show fifty percent of all marriages will end in divorce. Crime is sweeping our cities and there are more people today battling terminal illnesses than ever before. With everything going on, do you ever wonder where God is in the midst of this chaos?
What if I told you the only thing we need to fear is God. Would you believe me, especially when we’re living in a world filled with tragedy and suffering?

“I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all of my fears.”
(Psalm 34:4)

Do you fear God more than the economy?
Do you fear God more than your boss?
Do you fear losing your job more than you fear God?

So what does it mean to fear God?
The word “fear” is used 260 times in the Bible, and this doesn’t include all of its other word forms such as fearful, fearless or fearsome. According to Webster’s dictionary, the definition for fear is apprehension or to be afraid. It also means awe, reverence.
So, to fear God is to revere God, having a deep respect for His omnipresent power, authority and love over our lives. Do you think our society today fears God?

“Oh that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always that that it might go well with them and their children forever.”
(Deuteronomy 5:29)

Think of the most awful thing that could happen in your life. How would you approach it; with fear or with faith? Being human, we tend to lean towards fear because it’s easier to fear what is visible rather than have faith in what is invisible. But when we allow fear to control us, we forget God is sovereign over us.
I’m always amazed by the faith of my friend who battles breast cancer. After her diagnosis, she said something one rarely hears from an individual facing a terminal disease.
“It will be interesting to see how God will use me to help others living with this disease.”

Fear wasn’t part of her vocabulary. It’s a four-letter word she chooses to omit from her life. She lives today with this disease but wears a shield of faith knowing God, not cancer, determines her eternal destiny.
The enemy doesn’t have a claim on our life. Only Christ has a claim on our life. Faith cannot prevent bad things from happening, but it can prevent the grip of fear from overtaking us. Always remember God never takes a vacation from the events in our lives so no matter what is happening around us, the Holy Spirit remains in us.

“His mercy extends to those who fear him.”
(Luke 1:50)

May we all work towards having the level of faith that my friend exemplifies, and may God be glorified knowing whatever we fear, He is our refuge. Today, let’s all treat fear like a four letter word, and work diligently to remove it by strengthening our faith and reverence for our Creator.

How do you define stealing?

2009-09-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

My daughter came home from school the other day without her daily binder. This notebook carries her school life filled with projects and assigned homework. She had left it at school and the next morning it was found in a classroom but all of its contents were missing. Not only had she lost all of the completed homework, but the thought of someone stealing from her made it even worse.
As parents, it’s easy for us to say we don’t raise children who steal, or we can’t be accountable for everything our children do. But is the act of stealing limited to taking physical possessions that don’t belong to us, or does it encompass much more?
I believe the face of stealing wears many disguises. In corporate America, we think of stealing as manipulating reported earnings or fudging our expenses, but it also includes robbing someone of their successes. I once worked for someone who notoriously took credit for accomplishments that weren’t rightfully hers. There are also bosses who steal from their employees by focusing only on the negative aspects of their performance and fail to acknowledge the successes. Even as a mom, I’m painfully reminded of a number of times I robbed my children of their accomplishments by drawing attention to the one bad grade they received among all of the good grades. I was an expert at stealing the thunder and focusing on the rainstorm.
Or how about when God blesses us with something wonderful in our lives and we pass it off as being at the right place at the right time. Are we not robbing God of His joy and gifts?
I think one of the most dangerous disguises used in stealing is jealousy. Haven’t we all been jealous of someone for something wonderful that has happened in their life? Instead of being happy for them, jealously turns to envy and we rob them of God’s generous blessings.
I’m reminded of the story of David and Goliath where a young man named David kills a giant-sized Philistine warrior who for years tormented the people of Israel. Saul, who was King of Israel, became jealous of David. Instead of praising God for the strength and courage given to David, Saul’s jealousy overtook him and eventually led to his death.
Stealing isn’t just taking physical possessions. “Thou shall not steal” must also be accompanied by a state of righteous and moral living. By planting the seed of faith in our children, we armor them with protection for the fight against temptation. We’re not asked by God to do this, it’s required of us. His laws were created because of His love for us, providing a divine shield against an immoral life. The Laws handed down to Moses combined with the teachings of Christ represent the fullness of living favorably in God’s eyes.
Today, may our children be blessed with God’s wisdom through parents who lead by example, are encouraged to read the Bible, teach their children God’s ways over the world’s, and may we all pray for discernment so that we can know the difference.
“The Lord our God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in his ways, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws and that you will obey him.”
(Deuteronomy 26:16-17)

2009-09-21T05:30:00.000-07:00

When God Speaks

One evening, I was listening to my twelve year old son share with me the details of his day. He was upset over a comment one of his friends made about him and was contemplating ending their friendship. His heart was hurting and I was trying to determine what words would bring him comfort. The only thing I could think of was asking my son if he’d pray before making a final decision. He told me when he prays, he doesn’t hear God speak to him.
I kissed him on the head and asked if he would pray one more time, assuring him that our prayers never fall upon deaf ears.
As I thought about our conversation, it occurred to me how often many of us have shared this same sentiment. Do you hear God when He speaks to you?
Truthfully, I didn’t hear God for a long time, although I knew from reading Scripture, He speaks to us all the time. Perhaps I was waiting to hear His voice in the same way Moses did when God spoke through a burning bush. But that’s just it. We want to hear God with our ears and often He doesn’t speak in a way we’re accustomed to. We also want immediate answers and God doesn’t always answer in our time line. Therefore, we turn to friends who are happy to share their advice, but how often does God’s advice differ from the world’s? God’s voice isn’t always audible, but can be heard in the hearts of those who earnestly seek Him.
For example, have you ever regretted saying something after the fact and now you’re feeling guilty? I believe the guilt is God’s way of speaking to our hearts, telling us to ask for forgiveness as He forgives us.
Or perhaps, you’re upset over something, and then realize it’s not worth getting upset over. Maybe this is God telling you to, “Let it go.”
The next day, my son had to face his friend. Once again, this boy was harsh with his words. When my son came home from school, I asked him how he dealt with it. I was waiting to hear his rebuttal remarks or maybe he gossiped behind this boy’s back, building an army of defense. But neither of these things happened. My son chose a different solution. He walked away quietly from the situation. The friendship was more important than engaging in a fight.
That night, as my son and I were saying goodnight, I told him his response was God’s voice speaking to his heart. My son knew in his heart what the right course of action would be. I was so proud of my son for hearing God and most importantly, obeying Him. We all have a track record of knowing what God expects of us, but not always obeying His Word.
Today someone may offend you and there’s even a greater possibility your words will be the wrong response. As we face our daily battles, pray and listen with your heart for God’s guidance and direction. The Apostle Paul stated,

“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)

When we see our battles from this perspective, God’s voice becomes audible over the noise in our lives. Begin today by seeking God through prayer. What you’ll hear is His quiet still voice speaking to the hearts who earnestly seek Him.

“Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
(1Kings 19:11-12)

What's A Blog Anyway?

2009-09-14T05:30:00.000-07:00

What’s A “Blog” Anyway?

This question was asked of me from a dear friend who is seventy-eight years old. Quite frankly, I didn’t know the correct technical response, so I’ve decided to come up with my own definition. My hope is this Blog will be a constant reminder for us to:

Be Like Our God.

As I started writing, a particular individual came to mind as I was thinking about my definition. It’s funny how God will place people in your life if only for a season. My season was this past January during one of the most difficult moments of my life; the death of my mother. I remember flying in the week before she died, not knowing what to expect. Her health had declined dramatically and the role of caretaker had reversed. When I landed in St. Louis, I made arrangements for a car service to drive the three remaining hours to my hometown because I didn’t need the added stress of facing icy roads. As I was walking towards the baggage claim area, I silently prayed for something miraculous to happen. Perhaps God would send me a beautiful angel draped in white to come to my rescue, wrapping his wings around me and provide assurance that everything would be ok. Well, that’s not exactly what happened.
As I approached the baggage claim area, a tall, heavy set black man approached me. He had the hugest smile which exposed the gaping holes where teeth once resided. I noticed his coffee-stained shirt was too small as the buttons struggled to stay in their buttonholes. He introduced himself as Jimmy, the man who would be driving me to my hometown. I chuckled to myself because this wasn’t what I prayed for. I envisioned a beautiful angelic being and instead, I received a large “Santa Claus” type man. As we were waiting for my bag, he kindly asked what the occasion was for my visit. I looked up at his big broad smile and quietly stated, “My mother is dying.”
Well, you can imagine the thick silence that formed between us. Nothing more was spoken until we got into his van. While exiting the airport, Jimmy asked if he could pray for my family. I said that would be nice, but again, the unexpected happened. Jimmy started to pray out loud quoting Scripture and singing psalms of praise. For a moment, I wasn’t sure what was happening. I contemplated jumping out of the van, but we were traveling seventy miles an hour and my family certainly didn’t need two funerals to plan. Jimmy must have noticed my expression in the rear-view mirror. He asked if I believed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I responded that I did. He then proceeded to share the Gospel of Luke and the story of Jesus’ return to earth. I found myself listening intently to every word and was simply amazed at this man’s passion for Scripture. I asked Jimmy if he was a preacher and he chuckled at my question. Jimmy shared with me his dark past of selling drugs as a young man to support himself and his family. He confessed he never killed anyone, but the thought had certainly crossed his mind. The last thing he said was at the lowest point in his life is when Jesus Christ revealed His love.
Tears were streaming down my cheeks as we pulled up to the hospital where my mother was staying. I hugged Jimmy in the parking lot and asked if our paths would ever cross again. I will never forget his response: “Oh Ms. J, you can be certain of that. I’ll see you at the feast!”
When he released me from his bear hug, it felt like an angel releasing me from his wings. I suddenly felt that no matter what, everything would be ok.
I haven’t seen or heard of Jimmy since my mother’s death, but I know my prayer that day in the airport was answered. God did send me an angel, although I didn’t recognize him because of my judgmental eyes. Outwardly, Jimmy didn’t look like an angel, but inwardly, he reflected the qualities of Christ more than I had ever seen. Praise God for the Jimmy’s of the world who strive every day to Be Like Our God.

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
(Psalm 91:4)

"It's ok God, I Have it Covered"...

2009-09-07T05:30:00.000-07:00

“It’s Ok God, I’ve Got it Covered”…

As I’m writing this, I can’t help but chuckle over the number of times my actions reflected this exact sentiment; “It’s ok God. I’ve got it covered.”
I had a personal track record of taking matters into my own hands. I often prayed God would lead me in the right direction, but truthfully I was choosing the direction I wanted to take. It’s not that I didn’t trust God. The truth is I placed more trust in what I could see than what I could not.
My life is a testimony of God placing us in situations which are beyond our capabilities. I do believe in most cases, we are exactly where God wants us to be. But God does have a track record of pulling people out of their comfort zone so that His purpose for our lives can be fulfilled.
I wasn’t supposed to be a Christian writer. I was supposed to be a CEO of a company, or better yet, have my own company. I was climbing the corporate ladder of success when suddenly, my situation changed. I was placed between a rock and a hard place, having to choose between integrity or profitability. After many sleepless nights, I knew I shouldn’t be praying, but obeying by doing what God would expect of me no matter what the cost. I chose integrity but that choice ended my career because I could no longer play the corporate game. I was now facing the question,

“What do I do now?”

God had another purpose for my life which differed greatly from my own. After finally surrendering my life over to Him, my prayer became, “God, help me to be what You need me to be.”
The lesson I learned is be careful what you pray for. By placing God first in our lives, He reveals through Scripture how often our actions go against His Ways. It’s no longer about conforming to the ways of the world, but transforming to the ways of Christ.
When we decide to relinquish our control over to Him, we begin trusting Him more than our own instincts. Placing our trust in God eliminates the desire of wanting to have all the answers. In fact, it’s a relief knowing that when my life seems out of control, God remains in control. Yet, if God knows our struggles even before they happen, why do we want to take matters into our own hands rather than giving it all to Him?
Surrendering control is not an easy thing, especially for people like me who naively believed I was in control. Now when I find myself facing uncertain times, I know one thing is certain. God is sovereign and no matter what, He has it covered.
If you find yourself facing uncertain times, God’s desire is to help you through it. Anything important to you is also important to Him. Daily prayer is the remedy for receiving peace even in the midst of a storm. The Bible says the only thing we need to fear is God. We should find great comfort in this because the one thing we should fear is the One who loves us most. God is the One who has it covered.

“Be still, and know that I am God.”
(Psalm 46:10)

How Do You Define Popular?

2009-08-31T05:30:00.000-07:00

As we were pulling up to school one morning, my daughter pointed out a group of girls standing in a circle. She told me these were the “popular” girls at the school and went on to say that this group had the self-ordained power to determine which group a person belongs in: The Popular, The Nerds or The Losers.
I asked her which group she fell into. “I’m either part of the nerdy group, or I guess I’m a loser,” she answered. My heart sank as I observed how she identified her importance by a title someone else had given her. I remember being so upset, I had to do everything possible not to run my car up the curb and give those girls a piece of my mind. How could anyone be so cruel to judge another human being like that? Well, before my anger reached a boiling state, I was quickly reminded how I was no different than those girls. Suddenly I recalled a list of times I exerted my “self-ordained” judgmental attitude. In a flash, this list became so long I actually pulled my car over, took a deep breath and prayed, “I’m sorry God. Help me to be what You need me to be.”
I felt like a puppy being punished, slinking away with its tail between its legs. Yet God’s divine discipline is what helps us distinguish between His ways and the world’s ways. God was right and I was wrong. The fact that I even judged those girls showed me how quickly I could become guilty of this sinful nature too.
The conversation with my daughter stayed on my mind throughout the day. It made me think about what group Jesus must have belonged to while He walked on this earth. He certainly wasn’t part of the “popular” group since this group had Him crucified. I suppose He would have been placed in either the nerdy or loser group. In fact, if we consider the people whom He chose to be His disciples, they were probably in one of the latter groups also.
We’re all guilty of judging others and often our opinions are based on outwardly appearances. We love to live our lives vicariously through the rich and famous, yet God wants us to live our lives through Him. He looks inwardly while the world looks outwardly. His Word teaches us that our most priceless asset stems from the depth of our faith.
God doesn’t care about the possessions we have or outwardly appearances. He looks for the contents of our hearts. Moses, a poor Sheppard was chosen by God to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. David, a poor Sheppard and musician became one of the greatest kings ever. So if God is capable of looking inside our hearts, why is it so difficult for us? A common dilemma we face is deciding whose favor we seek more: God’s or the world’s?
If your child is not part of the popular group, remind them that Jesus wasn’t either. Jesus didn’t come to this earth to win a popularity contest. His mission was to save us from our sinful nature. No matter what group the world places us in, there are no groups in God’s eyes. We are all His children whom He loves and designed in His image.
When we read the Bible, God teaches us His ways are often unpopular with the world, but living like Christ means loving Him more than loving the world. When you place God first, chances are you won’t be popular, but what you gain from having faith exceeds anything this world has to offer.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only at your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 2:3-5)

How do we define our significance?

2009-08-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

What roles do titles playing in defining our significance? Do we measure our worth by the titles we wear, or the standards of our faith? Do we fear losing our titles more than we fear God? Only an honest answer can come from our hearts. When we live for the things of this world, the answer becomes very clear. Living for this world means defining our purpose by the world's standards, and not by God's Word.
What is the purpose behind our titles? Is it solely to generate revenue, analyze reports, or manage a team? Sadly to say, I never considered God's role in my business life. In fact, the only time I spoke with God was on Sunday mornings. When Monday came, I never asked God for advice on business matters. I had a team of experts to provide the answers. Then, one day, God humbled me by pointing out, He is the ONLY expert.
Even worse, I allowed my title of Vice President to become more important than the title God had given me of motherhood. My significance was tied to the size of my paycheck and the title on my business card, until the day I didn't have a job or a paycheck. I remember waking up, feeling very insignificant.
We have to remember that our purpose in life may be different than God's purpose for us. I went twenty years without ever considering this notion. Whatever title you have at work, be proud of your accomplishments and work hard. But remember, our titles represent such a small part of a much greater purpose for our lives. God wants everyone to be successful, but it's important to know our success is His blessing upon our lives.
Take a moment today and reflect on everything you have in your life. These are more than gifts, they are blessings given to us by our Creator. God does not define our significance by the titles we wear. God defines significance by the depth of our faith.
Jennifer W. Johnson
Published Author of the book, "What Have You Done For Me Lately?"