CHOOSE TO BELIEVE
I received a present today. Not shocking after all it is Christmas. I reached in the bag and pulled out a large item and tore the tissue paper it was wrapped in. I got a peek of what was inside and my heart leaped and swelled with affection. You may think such a heart warming gift was from my husband or children, but it wasn't. It was from a sweet young lady who has become connected to my heart. I have had the unique opportunity of mentoring four teenage girls for over two years now. Each one has become special and dear to me. This gift from one was a beautiful picture frame with four pictures in it. In those pictures were all five of us. Sweet tears ran down my cheeks as I remembered each picture. I knew where each one was taken, the occasion and the unique place in life each girl was in. It was as if I was staring at my very heart and it was smiling back at me. I had given those precious girls my heart long ago and over time each one has given me theirs.
Then my heart turned from gladness to heartache. My tears became ugly instead of sweet. Eric is no longer the Student Minister and it is no secret that this change in our life has been hard on me. I know longer see those precious girls three to four times a week. They are very much still a part of my life. It is just different and change is hard. I know God is in this change in our life one hundred percent. However, I looked at that picture frame then lifted my face and asked God "but isn't this a good thing?" I headr him whisper sweetly, "Yes, but I have so much more for you to do." So even though one door is closing and I am waiting for the other to open I choose to believe. I have a choice to believe God or allow my emotions to rule me. I have a choice to question God or believe God.
Do I believe God is in control? Of course but it is not always easy when life comes at you from all directions.
Do I believe God loves me? With out a doubt. However when change leaves me feeling lonely and confused it is difficult.
We have to choose to believe. Look at Joseph his life was going the way every good Jewish boys life should go. He was pledged to be married, had a job so he could support his new wife and soon to be children and then life threw him a curve ball. Mary was already with child. This is not what he had planned and he was going to divorce her quietly. Then an angel appeared to Joseph and reassured him that the baby was from the Lord. The angel told him not to be afraid and take Mary as his wife. (Matthew 1:18-21) Joseph chose to believe and my all the blessings that came from that choice of belief. I am sure you can argue who wouldn't believe if and angel came and told you what to do. I would say we have the Bible, God's words to us and we still choose not to believe them everyday.
Mary chose to believe. Joseph chose to believe. This Christmas as I celebrate the birth of my Savior I chose to believe.
I will choose to believe; Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
I will choose to believe; He is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or even imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)
I will choose to believe; God is always faithful.
I will choose to believe; He works all things out for good. (Romans 8:28)
Will you choose to believe? Choose to believe that Jesus was born not only to save us from our sins but to set us free from anything that entangles us. (John 8:32)
This Christmas let us choose to believe and not be afraid.
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 great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:8-11
We do not need to be afraid to believe because the good news of Jesus Christ has come. He has come to ALL people and brings us great joy. No matter what is happening in our life we have great joy in Jesus if we just choose to believe.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
A Sword to Wield
I love a good story. I love that I can get all wrapped up in a story and actually be there. I often travel to different places and go on many adventures. I don't mind that they are often in my imagination. My favorite stories are those filled with fantasy, and epic good verse evil plots. Nothing girly for me give this girl a good battle scene any day! I have passed this wonderful trait of mine down to all three of my children and I love it.
We have this series we are watching on Netflix, it actually a British TV series called Merlin. It tells of the adventures of young Merlin and the soon to be King Arthur. It is a great story filled with the truest friendship, sword fighting and a dragon. One night the kids and I settled in on the sofa and got ready to escape to Camelot and see how Merlin and Arthur were going to get themselves out of their newest predicament. We watched anxiously as Camelot fell and Merlin barely escaped dragging Arthur with him. Arthur was completely defeated in spirit, he lost all hope. Merlin reminded him he was a great king and need only to believe in himself. Arthur just couldn't because good kings don't lose their kingdoms. So Merlin took him to the sword. Yes the sword; Excalibur. The sword was still in the stone and Merlin told Arthur only the true King of Camelot could remove the sword. Arthur took hold of the sword and tried to remove it, but nothing happened. Merlin reminded Arthur all he had to do was believe. Arthur closed his eyes, took a deep breath and freed the sword from the stone. Arthur was free as well, free from doubt and fear because he believed!
As my sweet children clapped and cheered, they really get into things like their momma, I cheered as well. I cheered not for Arthur but because we have an Excalibur, a sword of the Spirit (Bible). As Christians we have a sword to wield. Excalibur was no ordinary sword it was forged from the very breath of a magical dragon and nothing could defeat it. We have a much better sword that has the same promise of victory as well.
All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrew 4:12
If we want to fly with Jesus and battle our insecurities, doubts, fears, and all the stuff in life we must wield our sword. Your sword will do nothing for you in battle if you leave it in the stone. The very breath of God is on it. The same breath that spoke this world into existence is at your hands to wield. Wield your sword. It is active and alive and God gave it to you so that you may be equipped . He knows, He knew you would face things in life and that your enemy was coming to get you (1 Peter 5:8) so he gave you a sword to wield.
Your sword will do nothing for you in battle if you leave it in the stone. Just as Arthur had to believe and trust all you have to do is believe and pull that sword from the stone and fight. God has such good things for you and to often we let life happen and we leave our sword (Bible) in that stone (table, book shelf) and wonder why nothing changes. God does not want you to feel defeated and hopeless. He longs for you to put on your helmet of salvation and pick up your sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) and live victoriously. Wield your sword when life gets tough.
How? How do you wield your sword. Pull it out of that stone, believe it and speak it. Speak his words over every situation.
When you feel alone speak his word. I will never leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5
When life beats you up speak his word. In all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37
When you feel like you just can't do it anymore speak his word. I lift my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
Your sword will do nothing for you in battle if you leave it in the stone. Believe in him and wield your sword. I promise if you truly believe you will feel Jesus by your side every step of that battle. You can be like the Psalmist who cries out I call on the LORD in my distress and he answers me. Psalm 120:1. He knows, he loves you. He gave up everything for you so that you may have access to him. He didn't just stop loving you that day he gave his life for you on the cross he gave you everything you need to live this life victoriously. Wield your sword, it will do nothing for you if you leave it in the stone.
We have this series we are watching on Netflix, it actually a British TV series called Merlin. It tells of the adventures of young Merlin and the soon to be King Arthur. It is a great story filled with the truest friendship, sword fighting and a dragon. One night the kids and I settled in on the sofa and got ready to escape to Camelot and see how Merlin and Arthur were going to get themselves out of their newest predicament. We watched anxiously as Camelot fell and Merlin barely escaped dragging Arthur with him. Arthur was completely defeated in spirit, he lost all hope. Merlin reminded him he was a great king and need only to believe in himself. Arthur just couldn't because good kings don't lose their kingdoms. So Merlin took him to the sword. Yes the sword; Excalibur. The sword was still in the stone and Merlin told Arthur only the true King of Camelot could remove the sword. Arthur took hold of the sword and tried to remove it, but nothing happened. Merlin reminded Arthur all he had to do was believe. Arthur closed his eyes, took a deep breath and freed the sword from the stone. Arthur was free as well, free from doubt and fear because he believed!
As my sweet children clapped and cheered, they really get into things like their momma, I cheered as well. I cheered not for Arthur but because we have an Excalibur, a sword of the Spirit (Bible). As Christians we have a sword to wield. Excalibur was no ordinary sword it was forged from the very breath of a magical dragon and nothing could defeat it. We have a much better sword that has the same promise of victory as well.
All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrew 4:12
If we want to fly with Jesus and battle our insecurities, doubts, fears, and all the stuff in life we must wield our sword. Your sword will do nothing for you in battle if you leave it in the stone. The very breath of God is on it. The same breath that spoke this world into existence is at your hands to wield. Wield your sword. It is active and alive and God gave it to you so that you may be equipped . He knows, He knew you would face things in life and that your enemy was coming to get you (1 Peter 5:8) so he gave you a sword to wield.
Your sword will do nothing for you in battle if you leave it in the stone. Just as Arthur had to believe and trust all you have to do is believe and pull that sword from the stone and fight. God has such good things for you and to often we let life happen and we leave our sword (Bible) in that stone (table, book shelf) and wonder why nothing changes. God does not want you to feel defeated and hopeless. He longs for you to put on your helmet of salvation and pick up your sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) and live victoriously. Wield your sword when life gets tough.
How? How do you wield your sword. Pull it out of that stone, believe it and speak it. Speak his words over every situation.
When you feel alone speak his word. I will never leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5
When life beats you up speak his word. In all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37
When you feel like you just can't do it anymore speak his word. I lift my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
Your sword will do nothing for you in battle if you leave it in the stone. Believe in him and wield your sword. I promise if you truly believe you will feel Jesus by your side every step of that battle. You can be like the Psalmist who cries out I call on the LORD in my distress and he answers me. Psalm 120:1. He knows, he loves you. He gave up everything for you so that you may have access to him. He didn't just stop loving you that day he gave his life for you on the cross he gave you everything you need to live this life victoriously. Wield your sword, it will do nothing for you if you leave it in the stone.
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