The Greatest Gift

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:23
 
Have you ever seen the movie It's a Wonderful Life?  It has to be one of the greatest American movies of all time, released in 1946.

The film stars George Bailey, a man whose dire circumstances result in a depression so bad he makes up his mind to take his own life on Christmas Eve.  Just as he is about to jump off a bridge, George's guardian angel, Clarence Odbody, makes himself known to George and intervenes on his behalf. Clarence then takes George on a journey,  showing him the impact his life has had on others and how their community would've been vastly different if George hadn't been born. George realizes that his life has immense value, no matter his circumstances.

We are so blessed to live in a country where we can celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ as a national holiday. His birth, His death, and His resurrection made it possible for us to have the gift of eternal life.

"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." -Col 1:17
 
When we receive this precious gift, when we confess our sins and believe that Jesus died for our sins, we then carry this same gift of hope, love, grace, truth, and salvation wherever we go. God sends us as His representatives to a hurting world where His life and hope are needed. When we realize Jesus is the hope of our salvation, and when we realize just a piece of the depth of his love for us, we realize how much we matter. Jesus wouldn't have given His life for us if ours didn't matter to Him.

Do you know for certain you have received the gift of Jesus' salvation? Ask Him into your life today if you aren't quite sure. The gift of His son Jesus is the best gift we can receive in this life, and is the best gift we can give to others.

Sweet Surrender

"Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him" - 2 Timothy 2:11

What does it mean to surrender? In many contexts, surrendering has a negative connotation – one that implies resignation, abandonment, or defeat.  But, in the Christian sense, surrender is actually a good thing.  One definition of surrender means, "to give up in favor of another".*

When we surrender our lives to Christ, we give up our own way of doing things and favor His will over our own. In order for us to do this, we have to be able to trust Him.  Trusting in God’s love is the only way to experiencing the fullness of our new life in Him.

Before the Apostle Paul was a disciple of Jesus, he was a powerful persecutor of the disciples.  He was intent on stopping the spread of the gospel.  But, one day as he was on the road to Damascus he was suddenly surrounded by a bright light.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?" He was blinded for three days, but after this experience, he became one of the most fervent disciples, writing a good bit of the New Testament.  He surrendered to Jesus and the message of His salvation. (Acts 9:3–9)

There is something that happens to us when we let go and let God. When we trust Him - when we let Him take the wheel.  Even if we’ve chosen Christ in our hearts, we still need to relinquish our rights to Him.  As we recognize the depth of His sacrifice, we become ever more willing to do whatever He asks us to do so that others can experience His love. 

"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." -Col 3:3

Is there anything holding you back from giving God everything?  As a loving Father, He desires to bring us to the place of saying, “God, you can have it all for the purpose of Your glory revealed in me.” Ask God to help you surrender to His love today.

* http://www.thefreedictionary.com/surrender

Silos

"For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone." -Romans 14:7

Have you ever thought about the fact that your life matters? Sometimes we can get into the mindset that it's just us, all alone by ourselves, and that what we do doesn't affect other people. But, if you were born into this world, it took someone else to bring you here! Even if we don't think so, we have the ability to affect others, directly or indirectly.
 
My husband and I had attended a marriage conference where the teacher challenged us to remain faithful to the covenant, (or promise), we had made to each other - not just on behalf of our own family - but on behalf of our culture and the world at large. "We have a significant problem in America," he said. "If the family breaks down, the rest of society breaks down." (Paraphrased) This is a principle taught in modern secular sociology.
 
In American culture, we tend to think that our choices really don't affect those around us. We think of ourselves as silos. "Oh I can do that, it's not going to affect anyone but me," we say. But the fact is our choices (or lack of choices) do affect other people. We aren't really silos - we are more like trees, connected and interwoven amidst one another.
 
Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." -John 15:5 Trees and branches have root systems to gain nourishment. When we are connected to Jesus, He becomes our life source. We are all connected, through Him.
 
What if you are the one to help someone in need? If you don't step out, that person may never be helped! What if you are the one to free an entire nation, like Joseph? If he didn't pass the tests God gave him, he wouldn't have been in a position to help the entire nation of Israel during the famine. (Gen 41:56)
 
Even though we may not want to admit it, what we do affects our family, our friends, our cultures, our communities, our cities, our country, and the world. It's not something to make us afraid or feel bad, but it reminds us that our lives really do matter. Do you know that your life matters to others today?



God Doesn't Play Favorites

"Then Peter began to speak: 'I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.'" -Acts 10:34 & 35
 
All throughout the history of the world, things have happened that are less than ideal. People have hurt people and there have been wars. Class warfare, discrimination, and racism have existed and still exist today. In the Kingdom of God however, God plays no favorites. He loves each of us the same, much more than we will ever know. (Eph 3:17-19)

Sometimes we may think that God's blessing or approval is only reserved for "special people"; that it's based on God's criteria of random characteristics unbeknownst to us. But the fact is that each of us can choose to be one of God's favored ones, as we chose Him to be the author of the book of our lives. My husband and I always tell each other, "You're my favorite," because we've chosen the other, and we want them to know how much they are loved. 

From the beginning of the world, God gave us a gift. He gave us the gift of free will. Sometimes we use it to glorify Him. Other times, we use this gift of choice for selfish desires, and sometimes make bad choices. But, we can choose righteously. We can choose love over hate. We can choose freedom over bondage. And, we can choose how favored or close to God we want to be. The only thing separating us from God or bringing us closer to Him is our own will.

God instructs His followers to follow His example. He wants us to remain unconditional to those we encounter. There is no barrier between God and His love. Sometimes what exists between us and our sharing God's love with others is the fears, attitudes, and preconceived ideas we have that were passed down to us from others, or from things that have happened in our own lives. But, in the book of James He makes it clear that followers of Christ should not show favoritism, to anyone. "My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism." -James 2:1
 
As we come to realize just a little revelation of God's love for us, we realize how much we are loved and favored as His children.  We chose Him and love Him more. Do you know you are God's favored one today?

Love & Respect

“However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” -Ephesians 5:33

Have you ever heard the phrases “men need respect”, and “women need love”?  I have to admit this idea was branded into my brain as a result of some amazing marriage coaching after my husband and I were engaged.  But it wasn’t until recently that these words jumped out at me as I was reading scripture –and how true they are!

We are all wired so differently – men and women, young and old, with different likes and dislikes, different desires and different motivations.  How could we best motivate and encourage each other if we knew what made the other person tick?

In the short amount of time I’ve been married, I’ve that what motivates me is different than what motivates my other half.  His love languages are different then mine.  In business and ministry, the same is true!  Some may be motivated by challenge, others, serving others.  Still, some are motivated by “getting it right”, and still others are motivated by the fun of it all.  But, at the end of the day, we do have two things in common – we need to feel loved, and we need to feel respected for what we bring to the table.

The picture of marriage and how we are to treat one another in the New Testament is quite different from some of the cultural expectations we’ve had about relationships.  Our culture says, “Serve me!” when we are called to serve.  (Matt 20:28) Some believe marriage is to “be served” when Christ said, “lay down your life for your bride.” (Eph 5:25) We think all our problems will end when someone comes into our lives to fix them for us.  Instead, it reveals our greatest inadequacies in being more like Christ, but the best way we can grow into becoming more like Him.

In all our relationships, love and respect are key.  How can you love and respect those you serve today?

Having the Grace for It

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me." -1 Corinthians 15:10

Have you ever noticed that some things are far easier when God is with us? "God is always with us," you may say, which is true, but have you ever noticed God's favor on some activities and not all activities? Have you ever done something you knew God wanted you to do? Likewise, have you ever done anything you knew God didn't want you to do?

Sometimes what God wants us to do is confirmed by several things in our lives: God's word, the agreement of other trusted people in our lives, God's peace, and, most noticeably, God's active grace accompanying us. We understand the "noun" of God's grace to be His undeserved gift of salvation. But, the Bible also talks about His grace being actively with us to help us accomplish His work on the earth (a verb).

We may be gifted or feel called to do something. But it may not be the season for it. This is discerning God's timing. We may want to step out into something, but notice that we don't feel a peace about it. Other times, we may feel at peace about something we are doing that leads to a godly goal, seems easy, and moves forward in spite of obstacles. In these situations, we work hard, do our best and also experience God's supernatural grace to accomplish the task at hand. It may seem silly, but this grace happens to me in the buying and selling of cars I've owned.

When it relates to God's active grace, we need to be careful we don't step out into something that God has not called us to, or given us the grace for. If we misinterpret our direction, desire to do our "own thing", or stay in something for too long (the grace has lifted) we could experience consequences. We need to be sensitive to God's Holy Spirit in the timing of all of these things.

Do you feel God's grace in what you are doing? Pray that God would show you and give you the grace to accomplish all you are called to. He says, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." -Matthew 11:30


The Search for Significance

"Come and follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." -Matthew 4:19  

Have you ever felt insignificant?  Have you ever felt like nothing you did would matter to anyone else?  Conversely, have you ever felt valued?  Like, what you did really mattered to someone in this world?   
 
If you ever ask a young person what they want to be when they grow up, they'll likely say something like, "An astronaut!" "A fireman!" "A ballerina!"  "A rockstar!" Even from an early age, we're searching for significance.  We're searching to do something "cool" that makes an impact on others.   
 
Unfortunately, so much of our American culture today focuses on who is in the spotlight.  We confuse the spotlight for significance.  But, once we've tasted what it means to truly make a difference, the rest of the "fluffy stuff" just doesn?t matter anymore.  What matters is that our lives mean something to others. I heard a pastor tell a story once about a few unnamed people who made a difference in his church. A small group of volunteers wanted to make a backdrop for their stage with the words "There is hope in Jesus".  A man walked in the next Sunday with his mind made up.  He had decided that that day was the day he was going to end his own life.  He thought to himself, "I am going to go to church one last time.  And then, I am going to go home and end it."
 
The man walked into their church and looked at the words on the backdrop.  As the story was told, he observed the worship, he listened to the preaching, but when he got home that day, ready to do whatever he was going to do, all that he could think of was those words, "There is hope in Jesus."  Those words inspired him not to take his life that day.
 
Are you focused on making a difference in someone's life, versus just searching for success?  Success finds us when we make it a point to bless someone else.  Blessing can be in the form of words, an action, or a smile.  Who can you bless today? 

Taking Ground - A Time to Fight

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." -1 Timothy 6:12 

One morning in Sunday service I heard our pastor talk about covering and protection.  He requested that we cover them in prayer and defend them, and also that we defend and protect each other.  But then he challenged us.  He said, "Sometimes you gotta fight - 'cause that's how you take ground." 

I thought about how much this can be applied to so many different areas of our lives.  For instance, in the workplace:  We want to be promoted or we want to excel in what it is we're doing.  In order to do this, it requires we give more attention and focus that the average person. We learn new things.  We develop a "fighter" spirit within us, doing the best we can with passion, excellence, and a dedicated will.  Sometimes it's not enough to do our work well - sometimes the battle requires that we do all that is necessary to excel - come in early, stay late - and finish the project before it's due.  

Maybe it's a dream that needs fighting for.  Perhaps there is something on the inside of our heart that needs to be birthed into reality.  In order for this to happen, it calls for prayer, support, encouragement, and the dedication needed to bring the dream to pass.  Each and every time something great is born there will be resistance, such as those who doubt us or our dream, or our own uncertainty and fear.  But we must overcome this resistance if we want to see our dreams come to fruition.  

Relationships also need fighting for, and perhaps most especially.  If someone offends us, the Bible says we are to go to that person and talk with them about it. If the person listens to you, you have gained a brother (or sister!) (Matt 18:15)  Maybe we need to call someone we haven't seen in awhile to check in on them.  Perhaps we need to set healthy boundaries with those who tend to take advantage.  Or maybe we need to defend AND fight for someone who we know is doing right.  

There is a right way to fight and a wrong way to fight.  We shouldn't fight with manipulation or underhandedly using procrastination or deceit (our flesh).   We have to keep in mind that we're not fighting against people - we're fighting against the principalities of darkness in ourselves and in others.  The person isn't the issue - it's the issue that's the issue. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  (Ephesians 6:12)

Are there things you need to fight for?  Make it a priority to fight for those things that are really important in your life today. 

The Prerequisites of God's Blessing

"But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today." -Deut 8:18

What do we have to do to receive God's blessing? Is God's blessing ensured for 'special' people? What does God's blessing look like, and how can we set ourselves up to receive His blessings?

 In Exodus and Deuteronomy, God describes a series of "do's" and "don'ts" that the Israelites are to follow. They relate back to the 10 Commandments, from Exodus 20:1-17, in which God gave the Israelites boundaries to abide by for their protection. Many governmental systems today are based on the 10 Commandments (see "X", pg. 11 by J. John). They are, 1) not to have any gods before our one true God, 2) not to make any graven image to worship, 3) not to take God's name in vain, 4) to remember the Sabbath, and to rest on that day, 5) to honor our parents, 6) not to murder, 7) not to commit adultery, 8) not to steal, 9) not to lie, 10) and not to covet (be jealous of) other people's things.

God set up these boundaries for the Israelites for their protection. God knew that we humans need specific guidelines so that we would not get ourselves into trouble! He knew we needed Him to be #1 in our lives. (Matt 22:37) But, even though these commandments are what we should follow, God is most concerned about the state of our hearts. Our actions are often the fruit of what's in our hearts. But, God wants to have our hearts and for us to know His love - not be separated from Him by religious ritual!

Going to church every single Sunday won't ensure God's blessing on our lives. But, it will provide accountability for the boundaries above. In tithing, we shouldn't give with a motivation to get, but it is a good indicator of whether or not we put God first in our hearts. "Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." (Malachi 3:10)

Are you creating a fertile ground in your heart for God's blessing in your life? Ask Him if there are any areas you may need to work on. God wants to bless His children with blessings so great "that there will not be room enough to store it"!

True Financial Freedom

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."  -1 Timothy 6:10

Have you seen anyone destroyed by money? I have.  Have you ever seen someone use money wisely? I've seen that too.  It's difficult to live life without money, but sometimes its presence makes life hard.  How can we make money work for us, instead of us working for it? What are God's purposes for money?

Notice that the above verse doesn’t say that money itself is evil; the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.  The fruit of someone's heart is often revealed by how and where they spend their money.  Are we spending our money on kingdom building initiatives?  Or are we spending it unwisely?  Are we investing money to grow it?  Or are we throwing it away on bad investments because we lack skill? Are we trusting God with our tithe & giving to the poor?  Or are we hoarding money like the wicked & lazy servant Jesus described?  (Matt 25:26)

God desires that we prosper.  The Bible says it is He who gives us the ability to create wealth.  (Deut 8:18)  When we put God first, the rest of our lives fall into place.  It doesn't mean we don't need skill to make and keep money - we absolutely do.  But how we earn that money, and what we do with that money once we earn it is very important in the eyes of our God. 

Most people are in debt.  Debt has become a cultural norm.  In order to be a people financially free and set apart, we have to think differently about money than most people. In order for us to get out of debt, we need to do different things than people who are in debt! Most people don't understand what money is.  Money is not just the ability to buy things; it is a tool to be used.  Money is not just a way to our wants and desires; it is "seed" for our future, and the future of others. 

Do you want to set yourself apart in the area of money?  Good training in this area is crucial so that God's purposes can be accomplished in our lives, and in the world around us.  Pray that God would make you wise in the area of money.

"But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today." -Deuteronomy 8:18

Spiritual Seasons

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build..." -Ecc 3:1-3

One night at our church discipleship group, our worship leader had something she felt needed to be shared during prayer.

"I feel like God wants some of you to know that everyone goes through spiritual seasons, much like we're in a season change right now. Some of you may be in spring, where you're excited about new ideas and new things happening in your life. Others of you may be in winter, where you don't see much going on. But I want you to know that being in a different spiritual season is all okay, and it is all a part of God's plan."

Life in God has spiritual seasons. Sometimes our lives may be in flux. We may not know quite where we are going, and that is okay. We might be shedding old thought patters and beliefs that we need to get rid of in order to take us to a new place. We need to trust God in these seasons. We may be in a harvest season, enjoying the fruit of our labors. We may find ourselves in a dry place, like winter, or we may find ourselves in a place where everything is blooming and we are seeing a lot of spiritual fruit, like summer.

Whatever the season, know that God has a purpose for the season that you are in right now. Like the trees outside, when we're firmly planted in Him, these season changes are a natural part of being a Christian. Sometimes we need to be pruned. Plants that aren't pruned aren't able to grow to their full potential. We need to remember to hold tight to Him and trust Him during these season changes so He can do the greater work in our lives, and so Christ's glory can be revealed in us.

What season are you in right now?

Fearless

"But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus." -Acts 9:27

What does it mean to be fearless? Does it mean we won't have fear when trying something? Does it mean that we aren't afraid of consequences? The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10) When we have a healthy fear of God, it is wise.

However, there are fears that can cripple us, rob our potential, or steal our joy. These are unhealthy fears. They are unproductive. They don't produce anything good in us. They keep us from producing fruit in our lives. And God wants nothing more than for His kids to be fruitful! (Genesis 9:7)

Becoming fearless is not the absence of fear, but it happens when we can say with surety that God is bigger than our circumstances, He is bigger than our giants, He is bigger than our fear. We choose to believe what God says, that He is greater. Nothing can get in our way with God by our side (nothing will be impossible for you)! We fear, respect & love Him more than our fear. And we decide we will step out in faith to make things happen.

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." -John 15:13

Are you able to lay down your fear today?

The Bigness of God

"His Spirit made the heavens beautiful, and his power pierced the gliding serpent. These are just the beginning of all that he does, merely a whisper of his power. Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?" -Job 26:13-14  

Every time I go to the mountains I am enamored by God's creation. The sun, the sky, the rivers and lakes, the sunset and sunrise - it's all so amazing and awe-inspiring. I am amazed by the "bigness" of God.
 
The sun, for example, is 875,000 miles across. It is so big, in fact, that 64 million of our moon could fit inside it.* Wow. Our God created that sun. (See Genesis 1:3) Our God is that big!
 
We are not aware of this majesty most days, stuck in the grind of our daily routines. And yet, although we might think of ourselves as insignificant in the grand scheme of things, we can have the most awesome, intimate, and most fulfilling relationship with the God who created the universe.
 
I don't think we as a culture or even as a Christian sub-culture spend enough time focusing on how magnificent God really is. We make little idols out of problems in relationships, the things we have to get done for the day, and our adversities, or whatever it is we think takes us away from our adversity, if only for a moment. But our God is so much bigger! And we are His children, made in His image, saved by His grace.
 
Have you received this revelation of kinship to God and of His "bigness"?

"Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light." -Psalm 36:5-9

Why not focus on the bigness of God in your life today?

*Source: http://ds9.ssl.berkeley.edu/solarweek/DISCUSSION/howbig.html

Uproot the Root!

 

Source

"And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.'" -Exodus 34:6-7

Have you ever had a problem that you simply could not get rid of?  Have you ever had something, whether an emotion, a habit, or a particular thought pattern, no matter how hard you tried, you could rid yourself of it - even after confession and repentance? After we become a Christian and we are “born again” this doesn’t mean that our battle with sin is over.  It simply means that we have become “new in Christ.”  (2 Cor 5:17)  Freedom from sin is a journey, as God reveals what is hidden in our hearts, bringing them to light and into His cleaning power.  (1 John 1:7)

Sometimes we may struggle with something that we've "always" seemed to struggle with. This problem may have had an origin long ago – even before we were born.  We may notice that those in our family struggle with similar issues, or perhaps we never even noticed it was a sin before we became a Christian. But as we walk on our journey, and the Holy Spirit begins to reveal certain things to us that were once okay and are now not as okay anymore, we may realize that something has a hold on our life that shouldn’t.

Once I heard a man speak to a church group about his struggles with sexual sin.  He explained to the audience that infidelity and sexual thoughts were something that he had always struggled with, and he had never known life without these issues.  He kept on going through “sin management”, where he confessed and repented for his actions but would see the same issue rear its ugly head 6 to 8 weeks later.

Eventually, this man received a revelation from the Holy Spirit through reading the scripture that “confession” means to “discover the root” and repent of the root in order to get free.  Since he had no recollection of when the issue began, he realized he was not the one who opened this door to sin initially. Only when he confessed the “genesis” of these issues, where they began from his father and grandfather, was he able to become truly free of their influence.

Are there any issues in your life that you struggle with continuously?  Pray and ask God to show you where they may have their root.  He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us so we can have complete freedom in Him!

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."  -Ephesians 1:7

Overcoming Discouragement

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

The Israelites were discouraged. After Moses had sent Joshua and 11 other men to explore the Promised Land for forty days, ten of them came back with a bad report, and the people were upset.
 
"All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, 'If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?'" -Numbers 14:2-4
 
Joshua and Caleb were the only ones with a positive outlook.
 
"Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, 'The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.'" -Numbers 14:6-8
 
How easy is it to look at a situation with natural eyes instead of looking past the challenges and seeing with eyes of faith? Both Caleb and Joshua had faith in their God that He was going to do all that He said He would do. They were living based on God's promises, not on what they saw. So, when they saw the size of the giants in the land, they were not discouraged. They had faith in God that He was greater. But, Joshua also knew that the Israelites had to get their hearts in the right place in order to ensure God's blessing. "Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them." -Numbers 14:9
 
How often do we miss what God is doing because we see our situations as bigger than Him?
 
Winston Churchill, British politician known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during World War II once said, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
 
Let us be "faith optimists", and allow God the opportunity to work when we think the obstacles are insurmountable. God delivers on His promises - always! Our part is having faith, trusting that He is bigger and that He has our best in mind. Our God never fails!

Pure Vessels

"And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in Him." -1 John 3:5

Are you a pure vessel? Being committed to be a Christian involves a continual process of sanctification, and even more so if you are a teacher of God's word.  (John 17:19, James 3:1)  Although Jesus has paid the price for our sins, and we continually receive His forgiveness, there are still things He will require of us so that we become complete and more like Him.  (James 1:4)  This most often has to do with issues of our hearts. "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life."  -Proverbs 4:23

Recently my husband and I went to a marriage conference and one of the sessions was about transparency.  The couple that was speaking talked about their journey of sanctification, which involved the man getting free from issues of adultery.   This of course caused a lot of strife in their marriage, and even though the man had repented to his wife for those things that had happened long ago, he found himself in "sin management", trying to manage the effects that this spiritual root of sin had on him.

This couple had been invited by a pastor to minister to a group of people at a leadership conference, but before they arrived, they had had an argument.  The man felt convicted that they should not minister to this group of people due to the fact that there was strife in their hearts.  As the pastor introduced him, he told him that they were not prepared to minister, and that their hearts were not pure.  The crowd went completely silent.  After a few moments the pastor held the microphone and repented for times when he and his wife ministered with strife in their hearts.  Ninety percent of the crowd got on their knees to repent and the Holy Spirit ministered to the large crowd for more than an hour.  It was very powerful!

As this couple described what had happened, the woman said that when we minister the truth of the gospel but have strife in our hearts, people can receive a double message:  one of God's truth, but then also of whatever unresolved sin is dwelling in our hearts. 

Are you a pure vessel?  Do you make repentance a regular practice in your life?   Pray that God will reveal and remove anything that may block His grace, light, and power in your life.  His word says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." -1 John 1:9

Living by Faith vs. Living by Emotion

"A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones." -Proverbs 14:30 (MSG)

We tend to live by emotion in our culture. "Just do what feels right," seems to be the general norm. Many of our thoughts about right and wrong are based on our emotions, on what we perceive is right, or wrong.
 
When someone hurts us, we stand on the perceived reality that they "hurt our feelings." Sometimes we imply a motive behind others' actions which causes us to wrongfully judge them instead of asking about their intentions. We fail to employ discernment to see if the wound had a deeper root from something from our own past or even theirs. And then, we often do not do the even deeper work to discover and let God restore and heal what's broken through the power of forgiveness.
 
Faith, although a substance like emotion, is different from emotion. Faith comes as a response to God's words that knows that what the Bible says is true. It is a response to situations which says, "My God is in control."
 
When we live by emotion, it's like our faith hasn't fully taken root in our hearts. It hasn't yet extended to those situations that make us upset. Jesus described it in this way: "The seed cast in the gravel - this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it." -Matthew 13:20
 
Character is what we do when no one else is looking. It's also what we do in the midst of challenge. Do we bend and fold, or are we able to stand strong on the foundation of our faith? Living by faith ensures a firm foundation. Although it is natural to feel emotion, we should not make decisions based on our emotion. We should make them based on our faith.
 
"The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." -Matthew 7:25
 
Let us be like the house on that firm foundation of faith, as we place our faith and trust in God with whatever difficulties come our way - no matter how we feel.

Discovering the Source of Anger

"'Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath..." -Ephesians 4:6

Things happen in life that are bound to provoke us to anger. There are parts of life that are not fair, and there are people who may drive us crazy. Consequently, at some point of time we will be dealing with anger. Anger is not wrong - anger is a part of life. Jesus was angry. He was angry that the Pharisees began selling in the temple. His anger was righteous anger (some may call it jealousy) that the priests turned a house of worship into a house of greed. (John 2:13-17)

When we are angry a lot, or when we become angry in the same type of situation, we'll know there's something more to our anger, something that we may need to resolve. We'll need to check under the hood, as our emotional engine is overheating.

We may be angry due to an injustice or due to bitterness and unresolved hurt. Whatever it is, we need to be cautious that we deal with what is causing the anger, and not let it go unresolved. Some of anger's effects are fatigue, rage, and depression. We can easily hurt or isolate ourselves from others if we let our anger get out of control. "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." -Proverbs 15:1 Anger is always a secondary emotion. Rarely do people who become angry get to the source of true thing that needs to be dealt with. But, effectively resolving these emotions result in more freedom and peace in our daily lives. God tells us to resolve our anger - because He knows we will experience more freedom as a result.

I know someone who used to have lots of anger. She became angry when she felt like too many expectations were being placed upon her. She grew up in a home with a performance-based mindset, that is, love and acceptance was based on her ability to achieve or believe certain things. As a result, she felt that she would only be loved and accepted for what she did. As a teenager she was really depressed and angry at herself but didn't know why. Later in life she realized she had to forgive her parents for placing so many expectations upon her and and give herself the grace to try and perhaps fail without feeling like it was the end of the world. She also had to learn to set realistic expectations to set herself up for success.

Do you struggle with anger? Pray that God would help you discover the source of that anger, so that you can experience more of His joy, freedom, and peace.

Use Your Gifts!

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ." -1 Peter 4:9-11

What is your gift? The Bible calls us to use the gifts that God has given us to serve others and to minister to Him. The Bible also says His gifts and His call are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29) Through the discovery of our gifts, we can bless others through the "various forms of grace" that God has given to us.
 
"...so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach..." -Romans 12:5-7
 
Often we may not know what our gifts are. There are many great self-assessments and tools you can use that will help you discover your gifts and talents. One I have taken is The Call. Sometimes a leader or friend can see your gifts in you. There are many spiritual gifts which include prophecy, teaching, healing, helping, discernment, and miracles, but also "natural" gifts that God has given as well. (See 1 Corinthians 12:27-29)
 
Sometimes, we might be in a place where we're afraid to use our gifts and talents.  Nonetheless, God instructs us to. Sometimes we might think another person has a greater gift than us, so we are ashamed of our gift. But God doesn't feel that way about it. He gave us our gifts for a reason. He had a purpose in mind. There is no hierarchy in gifts, and in order to operate as Christ's body, everything must be working! God will give us grace for the things He's called us to.
 
We should use the gifts God has given us so we can be a blessing to others. But we will also find that when we serve in alignment with the way God has gifted us, we will experience joy as a result, because we are being used by God in the ways that He created us. In this, we discover our purpose to be uniquely used by Him to further His kingdom.
 
Are you using your gifts?

Waiting on God

"Be still and know that I am God!  I will be honored by every nation.  I will be honored throughout the world." -Ps 46:10

We humans don't like to wait on God.  We are naturally impatient.  We want everything to happen - right now!  But sometimes our walk of faith requires patience.  In fact, most of the time, it does.

You might have already noticed, God's timing is very different than ours.  He doesn't work by our standards.   Did you know it took 15 years for Sarah to have a baby after God's promise to Abraham?  When God told Abraham the first time he would have a son he was 86 years old.  But when Sarah actually had Isaac Abraham was 100!  God's timing is definitely different than ours.

When I think of people who have inspired me in my faith, it's not necessarily those ones who are busy doing lots of things for God.  It's those people who take the time to really hear His voice, and get His anointing and presence on their lives. This is what truly changes us, and those around us.

To know God's timing we must wait on Him.  Sometimes when we don't know what to do the best thing is just be still and listen.  The answer may not come right away, but God's presence, grace and peace can get us through just about anything.  

Have you waited on God today?

New Things

“Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.”  -Isaiah 43:19

Has God recently done something new in your life?  Often when we’re going through the drudgery of life, in what can seem like a wilderness, we need Him to!  When we’re stuck in a rut we can’t wait for God to show up to show us what He has.   When we’ve stayed steady when our hand to the plow but haven’t seen any results, when we’ve been faithful with little but haven’t seen a return on our investment, we may begin to wonder when our ship will come in.  But, are we looking in the right place?  Are we looking for the new thing?  Or are we looking in the same place, perhaps the most likely place, doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result? 

It’s so interesting to me in the verse above that God makes “a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”  In my mind, the last place I’d be looking for a road would be in the wilderness.  And the last place I’d be looking for a stream would be in a desert. But that’s where God says they are!  Are we looking for a move of God not just in likely places, but in the most unlikely places as well?  Are we not limiting ourselves in the ways God can provide?  Are we allowing ourselves to be open to His plan?  It’s often not what we think.  That’s why trusting Him is so important. 

When my dad began writing his TGIF devotional he had no idea it would turn into a “stream” in the desert.  In his mind, it was the most unlikely thing that God could’ve used to affect other people.  But, it was that “new thing” that God was doing in his life.

What new thing is God doing in your life? Look for God’s activity in the most unlikely places.   Be open to His movement in your life.  You might be surprised where His Spirit leads you. 

Love One Another

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." -John 13:34&35

Life can get stressful at times. The bills need paying, the job is insane or isn't quite what we hoped for; the kids are running around crazy, we've gotten a cold. During these times of pressure is when we're pushed to our limits-and our true colors show. Whatever is in us comes out of us - and it can be quite revealing - and embarrassing.

But what we need to remember during these times of pressure is what really matters. Seeds may have been planted early on  in our lives to suggest we're nothing without stellar performance, we're nothing without money, we're nothing without achievement, we're nothing without beauty & a sleek physic. Yes, these things are nice to have, and we should set goals for our lives. But the reality is, without LOVE, it means nothing.

What remains in our lives after we're gone and all is said and done is our love for others. The Bible says only three things will remain - faith, hope, and love- the greatest of these being love. So the next time we are tempted to think our performance is what matters, the amount of money that we make is what matters, or how much we've achieved is what really makes us count, we need to think again. Love is the only thing that truly matters. Have love, and we win the world over. Lose love, and we lose all that Jesus died for.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." -1 Cor 13:13

The Art of War

"Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle." -Ps 144:1

 
"I am just so fed up!" said my friend. "I don't understand why all this negative stuff keeps happening to me. I am so tired of things working out for others and not working out for me. What am I doing wrong?!?" I thought for a moment, giving the question some space.
 
"You know what I think?" I said.
 
"What?" she said.
 
"I think He's training your hands for war."
 
Sometimes we run around in circles, hoping for a different answer to our problems. We try to move forward in our lives only to discover we have come up against the same wall, the same unfulfilled dream, the same obstacle in our lives. What now? Do we blame God for our inability to get past our obstacle? No. Do we blame ourselves? Not necessarily. We need to discover God's process in preparing our hands for battle.
 
When there are giants, obstacles, or enemies in front of us, we need to treat the situation strategically. Doesn't an army come up with a battle plan? Likewise, we need to sit before God to find out what it is we should do to get past our obstacle, much like the Israelites did when they were about to enter the Promised Land. Is it time to wait, or is it time to move forward? Is it time to fast and pray, or is it time to take action? When we aren't certain some sort of movement is usually helpful.
 
But, the most important part of this strategic process is how to fight in the spiritual realm. Is there negativity we're listening to in our minds? Are we speaking negative words aloud? Are we living with discouragement? We need to deal with those things first before we can be effective in conquering our giants. Then and only then can God give us a battle plan. Our spiritual enemies need to be bound.
 

If you find yourself running in circles, it could be that God is training your hands for war. Spend time with Him to hear His perspective on the situation. We will come away with a much different perspective when we view our lives through His eyes.

We Are What We Think

"As a man thinks... so is he." -Proverbs 23:7

Have you ever had a hard time with the way you think about yourself? I know I have. Fat, ugly, stupid, never good enough - it seems I've "subconsciously" called myself everything. Of course, those things couldn't be further from the truth!

 
In reality, most of us think things that are not true about ourselves, resulting in insecurities, fears, and doubts - doubts about how others see us, about our own lives, and about our futures in God. But do you know what this does? It reinforces the lies the enemy tries to make us believe. We can't expect to ask other people to value our worth if we already think we are not worth anything. They will most likely come to that same conclusion as we have. Why? "As a man thinks, so is he."
 
How have you thought about yourself lately? How have you thought of other people? More often than not, these two are related. If we tend to have a negative perspective about ourselves, then this will manifest itself in our lives. We are a mirror for the world around us. Weird, huh. Don't believe it? Ask a jealous person how they feel on the inside. More than likely, (and I've been there), the majority of the time, they will feel as though they have no worth. 


 
The truth of the matter is, we have so much to offer. We don't need to continue to believe the lies about ourselves that we are without value. What do you have to offer? If you can't think of anything, begin with the fact that you are first a child of God.
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father... So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31
 
Don't let the enemy steal your destiny from you. Own your worth in Him today. You'll feel much better seeing yourself through God's eyes.


Keeping Good Company

"Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you, don't go along with them." -Proverbs 1:10

I'm sure you've heard the saying, you are what you eat. Well, you could say the same is true for the type of company we keep.

I've noticed in my own life that if I hang out with someone long enough, I may start to develop some of their characteristics.  For instance, if I'm hanging out with my husband a lot, I might get to sounding a little more southern! 

But the Bible makes clear mention to be careful who we hang out with, and to chose our friends wisely.  "The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray." Proverbs 12:26  Do you hang out with people who build you up?  Do they have characteristics you admire, or do they encourage you in the right direction? If so, you are blessed!  If not, perhaps you haven't struck gold yet.

I remember of a time in my life that was very lonely.  That was when God was working out some things in my heart.  But then, as God kept leading me, I found my way to some great relationships.  I know some of these friendships will be there through thick and thin - they already been proven!  

When times get tough, you need positive, God-fearing people who can help you along the way.  Church is a great place to foster these relationships, although it's not the only place.  We need to remember that the type of company we keep directly relates to the type of person we will be.  This doesn't excuse us to reach out to those who need a hand up or who may not know Jesus yet.  But we also shouldn't have too many of those types of relationships so we don't get pulled back down.

Are you hanging out with the right crowd? May God continue to bring you authentic friendships that are lasting, and may He grow those relationships into fruitfulness to impact the lives of others.

Hearing God’s Voice

"Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track." -Proverbs 3:6

It was Monday morning, during our staff bible study time.  My dad asked, “How do you hear God?”  Out came a myriad of responses.

“A thought pops into my mind of someone, and that’s how I know I’m supposed to pray for them.”

“I get a sense of His Spirit, then I get a word or a phrase.” 

“I hear Him when I’m driving in the car.  It mostly comes in pieces throughout the day, but then all the pieces link together to form a picture.” 

“When I’m talking to someone, I get a certain emotion.  It’s like God gives me empathy for that person and I know what to pray on their behalf.” 

Have you ever thought about the fact that we all hear God differently? 

Because each of us is wired uniquely, with different gifts and talents, we will not all hear God the same way.  God speaks to each of us in a way that we can understand Him, often through our gifts or love language.

Learning to hear God’s voice is a unique process of reading the word, perceiving God around us, and “opening our ears”, so to speak, to be able to hear what He’s saying to us.  It took me a while to learn to hear God, because I didn’t know what was me and what was Him.  But, after we learn God’s character and how He operates, through reading the Word and being discipled, we begin to discern His voice from ours. 

Are you able to hear God’s voice in your life?  Seek this out – it is the most valuable attribute of a Christian – to be able to hear the voice of our heavenly Father in our lives.

Two-Faced

"When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the 'sinners' and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: 'Why does he eat with tax collectors and "sinners"?' On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'" Mark 2:16-18

I love the character of Two-face in Batman movies. I know it may sound a little morbid, but to me he identifies with the reality and compromise of life in the flesh. "I do what I don't want to do!" Paul cries, identifying with the human condition. But although we are in desperate need of God's grace to live a life of holiness and love, did you know that God created us this way with His very purpose in mind, to be "two-faced?"
 
There is a pastor in Singapore who, after several years of being in ministry felt called to the Arts. "God, are you for real?" he quiried, quite perplexed by his awkward predicament. No sane Baptist pastor would try to pursue this avenue, it was of the devil!
 
But still, he felt the Holy Spirit's promptings. He and his daughter decided to start to rehearse magic shows they had put on for friends and family but on a grander scale. Soon, they had opportunities to perform in auditoriums. And not long after, they sold out the largest venue in downtown Singapore for their magic show, "The Magic of Love."
 
Thousands came to Singapore to see them perform. And although this loving pastor did not directly share the gospel during the show, his faith was evident in the way he conducted himself, and he was able to share with fans afterward.
 
His story is a great testimony for how God can use all of us to be two-faced to reach the world for Him.
 
 
 


*If you feel called to the arts and the media world, you might enjoy this book. It's called Give Me the Multitudes by Lawrence Khong.

Understanding Covenant

David asked the men standing near him, “…Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” -1 Samuel 17:26

David was the youngest of 8 sons.  His 3 oldest brothers were off to war in King Saul’s camp.  During this time, the Philistine army had been camped at Sokoh in Judah.  The Israelites were camped in the valley of Elah, with just a valley between them and the Philistine army.

David was young, probably around 17.  From time to time he went back and forth to the Israelite army to bring food to his brothers and see how they were doing. This particular time, when David went to bring food to his brothers, he heard the giant Goliath from the Philistine camp shouting at the Israelites and challenging them.  He had been doing this for 40 days.  The Israelites were all afraid of him because he was so big.  No one had yet had the courage to challenge him, and when the Israelites saw him, “They all fled in great fear.”  (v.24)

Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. ⁹ If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” (1 Sam 17:8-9)  It’s interesting to note that Goliath wanted to make the Israelites think they were just serving their leader, Saul.  But David had a different perspective. As people overheard him asking questions about what would be done for the man who killed Goliath, word was sent to king Saul who sent for him.  “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him,” David said. He explained to Saul that he had good training killing lions and bears tending sheep, and this would be no different.  Probably because he had run out of options by this time, Saul let David try. 

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel  (v.45-46).  And so, David used a stone in a slingshot, and killed him. 

Often the story of David and Goliath is taught with reference to having courage in God.  But, it was because David understood God’s covenant with the Israelites that he knew he could defeat him and had courage. Like marriage, a covenant is a promise broken only by death, whereas in a contract, the obligations of that contract must be met by both parties for the contract to remain in effect.  In David's day, covenants were very serious matters.  No one broke a covenant, even if the other party didn't fulfill their end of the bargain.

When we serve God, we have God’s protection. We should therefore place our trust in God’s faithfulness and promises, as His word is true and can never return void.  Have you recognized the power in God’s covenant with his sons and daughters?  May it be a reminder and an encouragement that we can overcome anything that comes in our path, because we are sons and daughters of the living God. 

Know Your Worth

"Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?" Matthew 6:26

Sometimes in life we may feel undervalued, unappreciated, and understated. Things happen which make us think that other people don't care about us, and we do not feel valued us as a human being, employee, friend, son or daughter, or brother or sister. We take it upon ourselves to think that we are not worth enough to them whatever the circumstance may be.
 
We sell ourselves short. We think we are not worth the effort, the money, the resolve, or the energy. We think somehow that by playing the miser or self-denier we will make our humanity right. That perhaps, in some way, we will justify ourselves to the world. That our reason for being will be, well? explained.
 
But why do we keep on making excuses for ourselves? Why do we have to be explained? If God destined for us to enter this world, then surely there must be a reason for it. Jesus said, "If I care so much for sparrows, how much more do I care for you? The hairs on your head are numbered." (Matt 10:30)
 
The fact is we are not worthy. We are not worthy of anything that is given to us. It is through His grace that we are made worthy. Worthy of our calling, worthy of His mercy, and worthy of His best for us, personally. We may mess up, yes. We may hurt others, yes. We may choose wrongly, yes. And others may hurt us, too. But at the end of the day, when all is said and done, when we've renounced our mistakes, and asked to start over, God is faithful to forgive us, see us as the children that we are, and love us no matter what. We are worth that much to him.
 
You didn't have to do anything to be somebody. God has already made you a somebody. There is a great quote that says, "God didn't have one of you, and he wanted one of you, so he made one of you." Choose to believe that today.

Make It Right

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." -Romans 3:23

Have you ever done something you've regretted? Have you ever said something, and wished you could have captured your words before they entered the atmosphere? We've all done things we're not proud of. Regret is a part of being human.
 
When we do things we regret, what should we do? How do we make things right? We can apologize, we can be sorry, we can go above and beyond the call of duty to try and "pay-back" the people we've wronged. But in the end, what's said has been said, what's done has been done, and there is no way to erase the damage it may have caused.
 
When we do things we regret, there is no possible way to make it right. No way, that is, apart from God.
God can turn circumstances into good. He can erase them like they never happened.
 
I am continually amazed by the grace of God. He gives so much grace, it covers every sin, every bad thing said, and every regret we've ever had. Anything I try to do by myself is stifled by the message of trusting God for the outcome, no matter what my wrong has been. Sometimes our wrongs separate us from others. Sometimes they may have painful consequences. But we can trust our God to make whatever it is right and to make our hearts clean again.
 
What needs to be made right in your life? Are there circumstances, events, or situations you've regretted? Turn to God and ask him for forgiveness. And then trust him for the outcome. He is more than able to right any wrong.

Countering Excuses

"When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, 'Come, the banquet is ready.' But they all began making excuses. One said, 'I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.' Another said, 'I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.' Another said, 'I now have a wife, so I can't come.' " ~Luke 14:17-21

If God asked you to a party, would you come? I mean, really... would you? I'm sure you're saying yes, because that would be a the best party ever! But if God asked you to do something, would you do it? Sometimes we feel the gentle nudging of his hand, sometimes we feel the slight conviction as we know we're called to more. But yet we just settle for mediocrity and explain ourselves with excuses.
 
But, you know what? God has not called us to live behind excuses. He has called us to be great men and women of God who accomplish great things. He does not call us to live in the molds of the past - He destines us for something new.
 
It has been the hardest thing for me to stay on a consistent workout schedule and loose my "freshman 20" I gained in Bible college. It has been a constant struggle that I never thought would be! I know what the right thing is; I just have a hard time focusing enough to get it to happen. The same is true of a mission with God. If the desire He's placed in your heart is to earn money, to bless the church and to bless others, then you must focus on it. If He's placed it on your heart to be a musician in the house of God, then you need to focus on that. Focuses require consistency. And people who are consistent aren't in the habit of making excuses.

Tell God today what you're going to do. Write it down. Take a step of faith. You'll see amazing things happen when you do.