Unshakeable

May 17, 2012 in Devotionals, Faith with 0 Comments

This has been a strange week. The strangest being there was an earthquake about 15 miles from the hotel I was staying at one night.

Thank goodness I was asleep but that got me thinking.

There is a lot about life right now in our country that could make us uneasy, unsettled. For many, the ground that seemed firm and secure is now crumbling.

The things that we cling to for our security slowly slipping away.

But we need not fear tomorrow.

It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure. (Psalm 18:32 NIV)

Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,
and for their children it will be a refuge. (Proverbs 14:26 NIV)

Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:2 NIV)

God, remind us today that you alone are our rock, our refuge, our fortress. Our security is found in you. Though circumstances in life will try to shake us to the core, you are unshakeable.

Scarlet fever

May 11, 2012 in Devotionals, forgiveness, Freedom with 0 Comments

This week my daughter had scarlet fever. Who gets that now days? I had to do some research on this. What I found is it’s basically strep throat with a rash. The rash is viral and produces toxins in the body and starts to show up on your throat, underarms, chest and continues to spread over the whole body.

Without antibiotics, scarlet fever was deadly. It was the leading cause of death for children in the 1800s.

The bible talks about a poison and it spreads like a toxin through the body. And it’s deadly.

The poison of bitterness.

For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity. (Acts 8:23 NKJV)

It starts out as an offense. You have been hurt. Wounded. Usually by someone you trust. Then there is anger. You justify your anger. You refuse to forgive.

Another way bitterness takes root is through jealousy and envy. Comparing yourself to others and wanting what they have so much that you begin to feel anger about your own circumstances of life.

The offense or envy is played over in the mind, over and over until it takes root in the heart.

And once it takes root it the heart, it spreads throughout the body, like a toxin, destroying you from the inside out.

How do I know if I’m bitter?

The bible says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. What are you speaking?
Do your words accuse, blame, control? Are you angered by other peoples success? Are you in a place of apathy or indifference in your life? Chances are you have a bitter root.

It takes a long time to become bitter, but I believe God can heal you of it in an instant.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,
I will make them as white as snow.
(Isaiah 1:18 NLT)

Confess your anger. Ask God to forgive you for harboring those feelings against that specific person. Choose to forgive that person. Then ask God to heal you of your pain and choose to receive His healing.

Holy Spirit, let us not walk in bondage to bitterness. Break this chain of the enemy and help us walk in freedom.

Scarlet fever

May 11, 2012 in Devotionals, forgiveness, Freedom with 0 Comments

This week my daughter had scarlet fever. Who gets that now days? I had to do some research on this. What I found is it’s basically strep throat with a rash. The rash is viral and produces toxins in the body and starts to show up on your throat, underarms, chest and continues to spread over the whole body.

Without antibiotics, scarlet fever was deadly. It was the leading cause of death for children in the 1800s.

The bible talks about a poison and it spreads like a toxin through the body. And it’s deadly.

The poison of bitterness.

For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity. (Acts 8:23 NKJV)

It starts out as an offense. You have been hurt. Wounded. Usually by someone you trust. Then there is anger. You justify your anger. You refuse to forgive.

Another way bitterness takes root is through jealousy and envy. Comparing yourself to others and wanting what they have so much that you begin to feel anger about your own circumstances of life.

The offense or envy is played over in the mind, over and over until it takes root in the heart.

And once it takes root it the heart, it spreads throughout the body, like a toxin, destroying you from the inside out.

How do I know if I’m bitter?

The bible says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. What are you speaking?
Do your words accuse, blame, control? Are you angered by other peoples success? Are you in a place of apathy or indifference in your life? Chances are you have a bitter root.

It takes a long time to become bitter, but I believe God can heal you of it in an instant.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,
I will make them as white as snow.
(Isaiah 1:18 NLT)

Confess your anger. Ask God to forgive you for harboring those feelings against that specific person. Choose to forgive that person. Then ask God to heal you of your pain and choose to receive His healing.

Holy Spirit, let us not walk in bondage to bitterness. Break this chain of the enemy and help us walk in freedom.

The power of life and death

May 3, 2012 in Devotionals, forgiveness, Freedom with Comments Off

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV)

You only have two choices here. Your words either bring life or bring death. I don’t know about you but I’ve struggled in this area. I’m a very outgoing person, and sometimes it’s real easy to run off at the mouth.

Not really taking care of the words coming out. I’m quick and impetuous. Many times not meaning what I say but that doesn’t matter. You say them and they are out there.

I would be so bold to say that the fallout of many parent child relationships started with words. Words spoken that can’t be taken back. Digging into the subconscious. Destroying the soul. Giving way to the enemy to build strongholds in our life.

The bible says we will eat of the fruit of our words. That by bringing death with our words we actually bring a curse over our own life. But if we breathe words of life we are bringing blessing over our life.

This world is an angry place. I’m sure it started with words that wounded the heart. And instead of taking our pain to Jesus to heal, we lash out in anger at others.

I used to be a really angry person. And the words I spoke brought death to those around me. And the more I tried on my own to fix this problem I couldn’t. The bible tells us that our words reflect the state of our heart.

My heart was broken. Wounded. And the words I spoke reflected that. There was only one cure. Yielding my pain to Christ. Allowing Him to heal me.

Is your heart broken? Have you been hurt by someone’s words? Choose right now to forgive that person and take your pain to the cross. Allow Jesus to heal your heart. And allow the holy spirit to breathe new life in you.
Cheryl

Trying to find balance

May 1, 2012 in Devotionals, Mom Life with Comments Off

I’ve been a working mom for over 10 years. My job demands a lot from me physical and mentally. There are mornings I have to remind myself why I work. There are days I walk in the door at 6 and want to collapse on the sofa forgetting about dishes, laundry, dinner. Oh and that their are 2 girls holding on to me talking to me a mile a minute all at the same time.

And then there is my husband who tries to get in a few words between the girls. And there is church and choir and kids activities.

Life is busy.

And I used to be so frustrated by the fact that I just didn’t have it all together. That I couldn’t find that balance.

It’s like the badge of honor. I’m supermom because I’ve mastered work life balance. Many a mom has felt failure here because they feel anything but together.

Here’s the problem. I’m not sure anywhere in the bible it says seek balance and your life will be in perfect harmony.

What we need isn’t balance but proper perspective.

The world has an order. A way in which things should flow.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33 NKJV)

I no longer seek work life balance. I seek my savior. I put my trust in Him. And I trust His lead. An somehow it seems to work out better that way.

What are you seeking?

Everything matters

April 30, 2012 in Devotionals with Comments Off

There was a several year period where I felt like nothing I did really mattered. It seemed that no matter what I did, everything still seemed broken. And the harder I tried to fix it, the worse things got. Life got so hard, and I started to feel numb. Surrounded by the plague of indifference, I just didn’t care anymore. Have you ever felt like this?

I was stuck a long time. But I wasn’t held captive by my circumstances, but by my thinking.

What if that thinking is just all wrong. What if EVERYTHING we do matters? That you only have one shot at life and it all counts.

That every day should be lived intentionally and with purpose.What you do, what you say and how you say it. God gave you the greatest power in the world. The Power to choose.

Today I choose…
To smile
To laugh
To speak kind words to my kids
To speak encouragement over my spouse
To not hold anger toward any person
To dream

What do you choose?

Be independent

April 20, 2012 in Devotionals, Freedom with Comments Off

My daughter says at school they always say Be independent!

Is that really a good message to our children as believers. I don’t think so.

Here’s the rest of that message. Be independent. You can do anything you put your mind to. You can strive and achieve. It’s got to be perfect.

No wonder so many of our children cave under pressure.

Because they can’t find perfection in themselves, but yet the message is that they can.

By Paul writes in Galatians that I am crucified with Christ. I know longer live but Christ lives in me.

No matter how much we achieve it will never be good enough. Being independent is all wrapped up in self. It’s self reliance to its core. We can’t save ourselves no matter how hard we try. To be saved, we need a savior.

And to have a savior we must yield our will. The paradox is to really be free, we must live in absolute surrender to Christ.

The old nature crucified. The self dies. Is Buried. And raised to new life.

Matt 16:25
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. (NLT)

Do you encourage your children to be independent, to rely in self? Or do you encourage them to surrender at the feet of Jesus? The best way they learn this is from you.

What do you need to lay down today. To surrender.

Running the race

April 19, 2012 in Devotionals with Comments Off

Two weeks from now will be my 3rd 5K with my 10 yr old daughter. This was my daughter’s idea.

What I learned through this is endurance is not like a microwave oven. It’s not the instant results we want or else they would call it something else. The word endure means to suffer patiently. To hold up under pain or hardship.

The first 5k this momma ran, I just thought I was prepared. I practiced. I was tired. I was sore. But 2 months of practice did not make me a runner. I did make it in our race, but slowly.

The second race 6 months later was a little better. I was less sore. My body was adjusting. Patiently.

We did our practice run for our 3rd race and for the first time, I could breathe easier. It wasn’t quite so hard.

I felt like I could keep up with her. I didn’t feel like the wind was being knocked out of me. I was more prepared. This time I wasn’t sore.

It took me a year to get to that place. But not alone. And not on my own effort. To endure takes discipline, consistency over time a little supernatural intervention.

And let us run with endurance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith

I think sometimes we think it’s our job to endure, like this is something we can do on our own. I think we miss the second part of this verse. Jesus is the perfecter of faith, not us. He never intended for us to run the race alone, relying on ourselves to achieve perfection. That’s His job!

Endurance in our self is self-reliance and in ourselves there are many things we can’t bear. Despite a very popular quote by many Christians, the bible doesn’t say that God won’t allow things we can’t bear. But in Christ He has bore our burdens, our grief. It is in Him and through Him we endure. Allowing His grace to perfect us.

Cheryl

My story of freedom – Part 3 – The promised land

April 16, 2012 in Devotionals with 1 Comment

I will never forget the first time we went to Gateway Church. It was a hot summer Sunday in August. The night before I couldn’t shake it. I couldn’t get this church out of my thoughts. It was as if there was literally a neon sign in the sky that said Go to Gateway.

There was something different about this place. There was a warmth that I couldn’t really explain at the time. During worship I couldn’t even sing. I closed my eyes and listened to the sweet harmonies. Maybe this would be what heaven was like. The presence of God was there. Surrounding His people. The pastor that preached, spoke about the wilderness. He spoke about our pain. His story was similar to ours. In a sea of people, that message was for us. The wilderness can be a lonely place. But that day I felt the presence of God. And he loved me. More than I could possibly imagine.

The journey we had been on wasn’t an angry God trying to punish us. It was a loving God, trying to rescue us.

Exodus 3:8 – The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey

I can’t tell you how many times I have read the story of the Israelites over the last 2 years. I understood the wilderness. I understood the frustration of being in the wilderness. I also understood that many of them because they didn’t change their heart died in the wilderness.

The wilderness isn’t a place to fight against. God sees our suffering and wants to rescue His people. He uses the wilderness to draw about change in our hearts that otherwise couldn’t take place. The wilderness is where we cast down our idols. Where we die to old ways of living. It’s where we learn to trust in something greater than ourselves. The wilderness is not a place we stay. It is a journey to a destination. The promised land.

That day we surrendered to His plan.

Over the next 12 months, we would experience freedom that I only dreamed about.

First, we surrendered our wallet. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

We were given a copy of the Blessed Life. It changed our life. We started tithing. (That’s 10% of everything you receive). And then we began giving over and above that. We had never been faithful in this area. But when you are faithful in this area, the floodgates of blessing flow. I have story after story of God’s provision over our family. We have gone from being completely bankrupt to a life flowing with blessing.

Second, we surrendered our pain.

Instead of holding on to all that junk in our heart. We let it go. All of it. With the help of their freedom ministry, I let go of shame, guilt, fear, anger, unforgiveness, bitterness. Jesus says to come to Him, cast your burdens on Him. He will give you rest. His burden is easy and yoke is light. I understand that more now. I used to walk through life with a very heavy suitcase. Dragging my past, my pain and my judgements around. The weight of the past has been lifted.

And I am free. To really be me. The me that God intended for me to be.

Today, I am standing on the edge of the promised land. And it’s full of possibility.

Cheryl

My story of freedom – Part 2 – The wilderness

April 10, 2012 in Devotionals with Comments Off

If you missed Part 1, you can read it here – My Story Part 1

So, we pack up and leave the church parsonage and move to an apartment. My husband starts sending out resumes and bam, just like that he was back on church staff (at another church). I think when ministers get hurt like this, the worst thing you can do is jump back into another church. But we felt we had no choice.

And you know that thing where history tends to repeat itself. The next church ended in a similar way. Except this time everybody got fired.

But the same day that happened, our daughter had been very sick and ended up in critical condition at the hospital. Only one couple from that church showed up. We would spend the next 3 days in the hospital with our daughter completely alone. Completely abandoned by everyone we knew.

At that moment, my faith in people was destroyed and my faith in God was hanging on by a thread. What did we possible do to deserve this treatment by His people?

We would be in ministry for another 3 years and then it ended. Abruptly. In a failed church plant. The church plant vision was spot on. The location was perfect. Funding was there. The only problem. The two people trying to lead it were broken.

And for the next 3 years we would be wandering in the wilderness wondering if God was punishing us. That we were such a disappointment and that we had failed. Life was nothing like I had hoped for. Where was God in the midst of my broken dreams? Why did he allow us to be so hurt by the church?

I felt like we had been left out in the desert to die. I felt like dying. And I was dying on the inside. But you know what happens on the other side of dying…. LIFE… REAL LIFE. Christ died so that we could have life. But it required dying. But on the other side of dying…is resurrection. New Life.

Something amazing happened while in the desert.

I had our second daughter. She was a gift. She was oozing with life.

She was a fulfilled prophecy from my first daughter. And in a dream, God confirmed this prophecy and gave me her name. (And apparently God didn’t get the memo that I was Baptist).

I think it truly amazing that even in my absolute brokenness, God found a way to reach me. Even if it was in my dreams. That by night he called to me. Relentlessly pursuing my heart.

And this baby LOVED me with a pure love that to this day I still can’t describe. And that thick wall around my heart began to melt. It was as if the breath of God Himself was breathing life into my nostrils.

I wanted to feel this way about our whole family, but felt so much shame by how I had treated my husband and first daughter in my anger. I wasn’t sure if they could ever love me like that. But there is absolutely nothing that God can’t redeem.

And God hadn’t abandoned me after all. In fact, the wilderness wasn’t about punishment. The wilderness was my refuge. It was my rescue. The wilderness was where I would come to die. The old me dead. Buried.

The new me raised to walk a brand new life.

So let me ask you a few questions. Have you ever felt totally alone? Do you feel like you are walking in the wilderness and that God has abandoned you? What if you changed your perspective of the wilderness you are in. What if God is using the wilderness to do something amazing in your life. Will you embrace the wilderness to allow God to change your heart and bring you to a whole new life on the other side.

Cheryl

Read My story – Part 3 – The promised land

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