Geek Squad

I often think about how sad it will be for the people who live life by reason rather than by faith. I'll be watching a show and some scientist will be claiming that they need proof in order to believe in something. They exist in such a small realm, only in the framed  knowledge that they have chosen to dwell in. What a tiny and insignificant world they choose to study and be confined by. They see only the surface of life...only the topical magic that exists to the human eye.

God's majesty and wonder goes far into the infinite. It has no beginning and no end. As a Christian I have a hope forefront in my mind and heart that after this physical life I will have an eternity with the Creator of all things. He will reveal to me the secrets of all life as we travel through the heavens and He introduces me to each star. He will expose the atom and how it works, we will defy gravity, understand the power of the sun and travel through the intricacies of a rain forest! I'm not a scientist and the thought of this makes me ecstatic! So I can't even imagine how a student or professor of science could resist this offer!

I recently went to Best Buy and the Geek Squad technician removed the hard drive from my antiquated laptop. He asked me if I wanted him to recycle my old piece of technology and I said, "Yes." It made me think of our human bodies and how God designed us with a removable hard drive. Our bodies are just the monitors and keyboards but our souls are our hard drives. All that we are...our personalities, temperaments, talents, emotions...are hard drives that will move on into the next realm. God will take our cases which are our bodies and recycle them into new ones that will meet us in heaven to again house our souls one day. Yet, in the next world we will not be limited by earthly flesh but we will be in heavenly bodies that will not know gravity or limits!

What scientist wouldn't love this thought! People of reason...I plead with you to stop limiting yourself! This is not all there is and you will never discover the limitless wonders of creation if you continue to confine yourself in the prison of reason! You have an opportunity to be able to soar through galaxies and see into and beyond anything your mind could imagine! God loves your inquisitiveness and explorer spirit! He designed it and gave it to you! He wants to spend eternity with you and blow your mind with wonder! The reason you were created was to have a relationship with Him! You think so big yet so small at the same time! Do you really think that the purpose of your life is solely for you to dwell in your world of limits?

There are so many reasons why people choose to reject God but I'm asking you to open your heart and mind and consider some reasons to accept Him! Give Him a chance...He died for the opportunity you know. He suffered a torturous death and took upon Himself all the sins of all mankind so that we would not have to suffer the consequences of our own sin. He did that for you! He died in your place so that you could live in the light for eternity rather than in darkness! Think about that...think about what light reveals! The fascinations of life are a gift from Him and He wants to show you all of them!

Put aside all your fears and doubts, all your anger and hurt, and face the Lover of your Soul. Stop trying to contain Him in your reason and quit trying to bury Him in your unbelief! He is real, He is historic, He is the Creator of all things you study, and He loves you. Ask Him into your heart, tell Him you're sorry for rejecting Him for so long, surrender yourself into the safety of His love for you. Start living with the excitement of eternity! This world is wracked with sin, decay and rejection. This life we live now is not all there is! We are here for a very specific reason and that is to tell as many people that will listen about the love of Christ and the hope that is set before us! Step out of your small world and open your eyes to the bigger picture! Stop using your small excuses to keep from knowing your bigger God!

How sad it would be...to miss out on eternity simply because you chose the false safety of the confinements of this world.

Romans 1:20, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities...His eternal power and divine nature...have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future."

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."

Sunday at church our Pastor told us about an article he read that said when one small butterfly flaps their wing in South America, it effects the weather across the planet! Wouldn't you like to know if that's true and how it works? Well, there's only one way to find out :) That's what awaits us in Heaven!

Scales of Mediocrity

Have you wondered lately what ever happened to your dreams? Today has been one of those mediocre days where everything I've done has been monotonous. I have taken all the almost empty bottles of hand soap, conditioner, shampoo....and combined them in one bottle. All our med and vitamin cabby's were empty and had to be refilled for the week. I had to do my weekly scrub down of all the handles in the house with Clorox wipes and not to mention the uncooked chicken in the frig that I had to make soup out of. The list goes on and on and never seems to end! One of the thoughts that always consumes my mind as I do all this is, "How do people that work and raise children do all this and still get some personal time!?" There's laundry, repairs, errands, shopping, care-giving, cooking, commitments, service...

As my husband sits at the dining room table with all our paperwork spread out before him, I see that even he is inundated with personal and family tasks that go beyond his regular work week! He has a full time job just keeping the paperwork and making the phone calls that need to be done for his handicapped brother's needs. I haven't even mentioned the work that needs to be done outside to prepare for winter or the mess in the basement that constantly calls out to us! It seems like when we do stop, it's just to collapse rather than to have fun.

So what might the answer be to this point at issue of what seems like a futile existence of exhaustion? How about a counterpoise. The only way to balance something is to place an opposing weight or opposing force. What does Christ say about this? In Matthew 11:30, He says to take off the yoke of slavery and take on His yoke, which is light and easy. Actually, if we break down the verses it gives us step by step instructions on how to solve our dilemma. Verse 28, He openly gives an open invitation to EVERYONE who feels weary and burdened to COME TO HIM! He offers a soft place for us to fall. A safe place for us to rest! I don't know about you but when I am troubled and exhausted, I fantasize that someone safe and loving would come to me and take me to a safe home where they make me soup and show me kindness until I feel I can continue on again. Here my friends, is the God of the universe offering that to us! So, His first instruction to us is to COME TO HIM.

Verse 29, then shows us that He is offering us a respite for our souls. You see how the tasks are still there for us to do but He is offering a new way for us to do them! He tells us to TAKE His yoke upon us and to learn from Him (a better way/a balanced way). Sometimes when we get too wrapped up in our lives and wear ourselves down, we lose sight of wisdom and get angry at how cruel and exhausting life seems. In this verse He makes it very clear where He wants us to free-fall our weary selves. He tells us that He is gentle and humble in heart. Basically He is telling us that, "It's okay to let go and collapse into Me. I'm kind and you're safe with Me. I have everything covered and you can rest. Let Me catch you, comfort you, replenish you. Allow Me to take that cumbersome yoke off of you and replace it with Mine, which is light and easy. Let Me love you." The verse ends with, "You will find rest for your soul." It's so profound really, that it isn't so much our physical exhaustion that takes us down, but the state of our soul. Probably because our soul was not created to house and carry worry and stress but to be a well for God's living water of hope and joy.

Verse 30 really speaks to me as to what yoke we choose everyday to throw around our neck! His yoke, He says is easy, and His burden, light. How many of us charge into our day without consulting Jesus? We just roll out of bed and hit the floor running! Picture yourself jumping out of bed and grabbing the cumbersome yoke of self off the hook on the door and throwing it over your shoulders as you race hunched-over to the bathroom or kitchen. When all the while, the loving, perfect yoke of your friend Jesus is laying right there in your bed, next to where you were laying, but you ignored it and chose your own way instead. That one act, that one choice will set the pace and weight of your entire day and most likely define your attitude toward every one and every thing! Is it a wonder my brothers and sisters, that we are so tired and irritable?

So, let's start our days with Jesus. Let's begin seeing our mediocre acts as service unto Him. Each toothbrush you replace with a new one, each thing you fix around your home, each bed you make or load of laundry you do. Every day you go to work, every counter you clean, every bill you pay, is an act of service not only to your family but to the Lord! And, most importantly, give and serve God's children everywhere! Help an elderly person load their groceries in their car. Give someone your seat at the doctors office when it's busy. Pull out a grocery cart for someone. Go help your neighbor rake his leaves. Watch someones kids for a couple hours. The list goes on and on of how we can wear a different yoke throughout our day. A yoke that revives our weary souls of selfish monotony. We must get out of ourselves and start seeing the bigger picture that God is painting. It's a painting of out-stretched arms rather that clenched fists. A painting of Christ within all we see!

The point of life is not to wear ourselves out but to counterpoise our duties with Christ-like service. Balance is healthy. Do some, give some, get some, rest some. See God in everything and everyone, and, let everyone see God in you. Christ be glorified!

Food for thought: What list would you rather have? The insurmountable list of things you need to get done each day or the infinite list of acts of kindness that Christ puts before you each day? One of those lists will wear you out and the other one will charge you up! Trust me, I have chosen God's way many times and He always takes care of not only what He wants me to do but also what I needed to get done! He just rearranges our schedules and works everything out for good in His perfect timing!

Scriptures for thought:

Matthew 25:40, "I tell you that if you so much as give a cup of cold water to one of My children, you have done it unto Me."

Matthew 11:30, "For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

James1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God and He will give it to you generously."

James 1:22, "Do not merely listen to the Word, but be doers of the Word."

Child of God ... Your dreams are not lost in this life of duty ... they are being kept by God and you will sing, dance, create, build, design, give, share ... for eternity! What God has for you there is so much bigger than you could ever imagine!

Ratmunks

Why do we think chipmunks are acceptable but rats are disgusting? I was just sitting outside on my porch and this chipmunk was meandering just a few feet from me. All I could think was, "How adorable! He is so cute!" It reminded me of a time my husband and I were up in the Sierra Mountains sitting by a lake having lunch. These chipmunks were surrounding us and playing in our lunch boxes and we thought it was the cutest thing. But just a few feet from us was a sign that read, "Do not get near the chipmunks...they carry disease." We disregarded the warning because the event was bringing us so much pleasure.  We knew we were doing something wrong yet we continued because it was what we wanted . Deep down I knew the chipmunks were just cute rats but I chose to play with them anyway!

How often do we choose our own will over God's? We basically tell God that we know better than Him what is best for us! God wants to protect us but we turn our backs to Him and choose what we want instead. We squeeze God into our agenda because that gives us more freedom to do what pleases us. If we are truly honest with ourselves, we are no different than possums who think if they can't see something then it isn't there! It's much more civilized to avoid God than to tell Him outwardly to leave us alone.

The Lord gave me this vision one time and He showed me that He desires to be in front of me, facing me, looking into my eyes as He encourages me on to be in His will. I had choices though, of whether I would allow His Holy Spirit to fill me and move me in the direction Christ was leading or to look away and go my own way. Many times I knew where He wanted me to go but I chose to play with the ratmunks instead and there were consequences that resulted. Christ, my loving Savior, tried to coax me with His love to go "the better way", but I would not release my grasp on the way I wanted to go. I thought I knew better than Him and thus my sin led me onto roads that caused me pain and undo-hardship.

How many times do we cry out to God about our circumstances and demand an answer to our "whys"? If we would just sit quietly and trace our steps backward, asking Him for wisdom, He would show us exactly where we made the wrong turn that led us to our pain. But many times we don't take the time to ask Him for that insight, so He uses our painful circumstance to teach us what He wanted to show us in the first place. I'm not saying that all loss and pain are a result of our disobedience but much of it is. There are times where in God's sovereignty that He allows desperate circumstances to happen so that He can be glorified in it. He is God and He can do that. That's when we must humble ourselves to His will knowing that He has a bigger plan. We must adopt the scriptures that call us to share in His sufferings and keep our eyes focused on eternal things.

Yesterday was a monumental day for me. God spoke directly to me through my Pastor. When I told him what God had said through him, he told me that he didn't know why God was telling him to say it, but he claimed obedience and spoke it out in faith. He spoke a prophesy and said, "I don't know who this is for but God is telling me to tell you, "Let go! Release your grip and let go!". It was God right there before me, looking into my eyes and encouraging me to follow Him into freedom!

For many years I have used my pain to define me. My physical pain from Fibro Myalgia and Multiple Sclerosis, and the emotional pain from nasty events that have happened in my life. Also, the pain that was self-inflicted by all my choices to play with the ratmunks. It wasn't the infirmities or the events that held me in bondage as much as it was the emotions that were attached to them. Those emotions of anger, regret, resentment, bitterness, envy...were firmly in my grip and I was not letting go! Basically what I chose to do was glorify my pain over God. Not only in my own heart but that is what I proclaimed to the world too! My choice to play with the ratmunks in my mind took precedence over playing with God. Christ wanted to see me free and He wanted to be the object of my heart and attention but I chose to focus on my pain and all its dangerous associates.

The dangerous emotions that are attached to our pain are the ratmunks of the spiritual world. They may seem quite harmless as we coddle them and use them in our quest for martyrdom and self-definition, but their little voices tell us lies! They are like a cheering squad telling us we deserve to feel all those ugly feelings because we're victims! They tell us to demand from others the attention and audience we need to display our crosses. They scream, "Who would you be if not for us! We "are" you! The loudest ratmunk voice though, is the one that tells you that if you surrender your current identity to Christ, then He will call you to be joyful and then no one will know how much you hurt!

Our pain is to be shared, not only to receive comfort but to comfort others. What our pain is not meant to be is displayed. We are called to give Christ the highest glory by displaying Him above all other things! Our pain should never trump our God. Our pain should be held in a position of surrender to the Almighty for Him to use to His glory! Pain is a gift whether we like it or not. It makes us run to our Savior's feet for help and comfort. It makes us empathetic and kind. It softens our opinions and demeanor. It brings us to deeper understanding and knowledge. It strengthens us and produces perseverance and endurance and patience. It produces the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. It puts grace and mercy in our eyes. It draws people together. It brings about repentance and salvation! Pain is a blessing but the ratmunks that try to attach themselves to it are not! We must LET GO of our affection for them and the negative attention we seek through them!

My experience at church Sunday was profound and personal. God challenged me to tell my unhealthy companions to get lost. He asked me to trust Him that He has something better for me. He assured me that His love would be better than my cries for love. He asked me to let go and let Him prove His love to me! As I sat there He also showed me all the doors in the periphery of my life that I bang on, seeking and demanding love at. One was my spouse, another a friend, some were family and some were strangers, but all of them were unable to give me what I truly needed! God spoke and told me that ALL I need is at His door. None other could satisfy or fill me. He asked me to stop going to those other doors and to just seek Him. He is the Way, the Truth and the Light.

He asked one more thing of me though, and it was a tough one. He asked me to begin being joyful instead of discouraged. Sounds ridiculous that that would be a hard request but discouragement was my long-time companion and I wasn't sure who I would be without it. But, I jumped out in faith and watched a scenario play out in my mind of me opening my hand and letting go of all my ratmunks. I then went down the corridors and closed all the doors where I sought love. Then, I looked up and met the eyes of the Lover of my Soul, Jesus, and said, "Show me who you want me to be."

Upon completion of this blog-post I asked the Lord, "Where exactly did I go astray? "What made me not choose you Lord? What enticed me to follow the ratmunks? His reply, "When you took your eyes off mine." I chose for years to worship and live my life at the alter of self-pity! Only God knows how much of life I missed out on, how many people I shared my grief with rather than the gospel and how much glory I denied The Worthy One! How much joy, health, abundance, laughter, and blessings were passed by because I was looking in all the wrong places for what was right in front of me! Yes, right in front of me, Jesus! With His arms reached out to me, telling me about His endless love toward me and encouraging me to draw closer to Him so I could receive ALL He has for me! Let's start encouring ourselves to stop knocking on those doors of false love and to just simply look into the eyes of our Lover, Jesus. Children of God, let go and stop playing with ratmunks.

"Where sin increased, grace increased all the more." Romans 5:20

Blanket Marks

This morning I did not want to get up and go anywhere! As I layed in bed still exhausted from not sleeping well I asked God to rise me to the occasion because I was not able to do it on my own. I knew that if I just took the first action step toward being obedient to God that He would encourage me on with each step and He did. At one point I looked into my make-up mirror and I had blanket marks pressed into my left cheek and I knew no amount of cover-up would resolve it. I wanted to go back to bed so bad but my heart knew that if I pressed on and drew near to Him that He would have blessings for me. I kept putting one foot in front of the other and made it to church, where the blessings were waiting.

How many blessings do we miss because we fail in our obedience? I truly believe that when we get to heaven, Jesus will take us to a room where all the unclaimed blessings will be on display. We will gaze upon them and the sheer power of His love will overwhelm us. We will see that He was always there through our lives just waiting to speak to us. I held a silent retreat at my house a few years ago and several woman showed up to spend an afternoon in silence before the Lord. Each woman found a cozy spot and just read her bible and let the Lord speak to her. The stories afterward were amazing! Ever since that retreat I find myself contemplating the thought of how much I have missed that God has wanted to say to me. In my busyness or neglect I choose as Martha did to "get things done" rather than have a Mary heart where my priority would have been to "get to Him".

There is nothing "outside of us" that can satisfy and fill us like the Savior who is "inside of us". This world we live in is hectic and overwhelming to say the least but the times I have chose to turn away from a task and turn to Him instead...I was NEVER SORRY! We have to stop being afraid of stillness, for it is in the stillness that He meets us in the most special ways.

*Seek first the kingdom of God and all the other things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

*I set before you...a blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 11:26,27

*If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love. John 15:10

*The Holy Spirit...given to them that obey God. Acts 5:32

*You have purified your souls by obeying the truth. 1 Peter 1:22

This morning God wiped the sleep from my eyes and rubbed the blanket marks from my cheeks so that I could go and receive His blessings. What a wonderful Father.

Clearly Defined

What defines you? Your past? Your children? Your pain? Your success? A degrading experience? A failure?......I often do a systems check on myself because my environment or condition can make my core definition fluctuate. There are times when my pain triggers my past emotions and I find my inner dialog speaking from a place of sadness or fear. These thoughts take on a life of their own and before I know it my core definition is skewed!

Above all things I am a child of God who is loved, adored and pursued by The Lover of my Soul, Jesus. Any definition that tries to trump that is an invader of that truth! I am not unworthy, 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "Christ became sin on my behalf that I might become the righteousness of God in Him! I am not condemned, Romans 8:1 says, "Because I am in Christ, there is no condemnation." I am not alone, Matthew 28:20 and Hebrews 13:5 say, "He is with me always, He will never leave me or forsake me." I am not a failure, Romans 8:37 clearly states, "I am a conqueror in all things through Christ Jesus!" These scriptures clearly define who I am in Christ.

Scripture so precisely demonstrates God's lavish love for us and we must weld ourselves to  those truths! The circumstances of life are like waves that can toss us about and rock our identity. James 1:6 speaks to that, "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." Ephesians 4:14 also says, "Then we will no longer be little children, tossed like waves and blown about by every wind of doctrine..." Children of God, I encourage you to plant yourself in God's Word and grow there! Be defined by the One who loves you! Fight the lies that surface from false definitions!

When the enemy whispers to you in your pain that you must have done something pretty bad to have God pour such a bitter cup over your life, you must yell back at that lie! Claim your scriptures and chop those lies up! Refuse to entertain them or support them! Take your scriptures and saturate your mind with them. Let them be a healing and protective balm. Learn bible verses, bible stories, bible context. Psalm 119:105 says, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Even in our darkness, He is our light! Lies cannot exist in the presence of God's light. The light of His truth burns them up!

I have found that a clearly defined Personal Life Statement written down and memorized is very helpful. At the bottom write some scripture verses that support it. When we are clearly defined, we not only live in a posture of security but those around us know exactly where they stand with us. Co-workers, spouses, children, friends....will all know who we are and what we expect from ourselves and them. If we are not clearly defined then we are victims of the storms of life and not living to our full potential. Doing a T-list is also a great confirmation. On one side write down what your feelings tell you that you are and on the other side write down what God tells you you are. Obviously one side will reflect vacillating emotions and the other cemented truth! Another exercise I like is to make it a habit that every time you take a sip of water throughout the day, tell yourself one wonderful truth about how much God loves you! Example: I love the scripture in Zephaniah 3:17, "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save you. He takes great delight in you; with His love He will calm your fears. He will rejoice over you with singing." Wow! Look how many affirmations of His love for me I can get just from that one scripture! After one sip I will say, "God sings over me!" Later, after another sip I'll say, "God delights in me!" You'll be surprised at how fast your inner dialog will change!

Scripture suggestions:

Ephesians 6:10-18 The Armor of God

Urgent Care

So often when we are wounded in our mind, spirit or emotions it doesn't get the attention that a physical wound would receive. We feel alone and misunderstood because the damage is unseen. Others cannot see our pain because of many reasons such as an inability to empathize or denial to acknowledge that a loved one is hurting. Feeling alone and abandoned with a trauma compounds the injury because of the suffering of the mind and emotions.

When our physical body takes a hit such as a puncture wound lets say, we go to the urgent care and the doctors first action is to clean the wound and then treat it for infection. The doctor administers an anti-biotic so that our physical body can fight any foreign bacteria. The same applies to an emotional wound but we so often neglect treatment. We let it fester because we think there is no approach available for such an impact. But there is.

When life throws us a jab, we can go to The Great Physician, Jesus, and He will clean our wound and treat it with an anti-demonic! Emotional wounds are compound wounds. We are not only hit by the rejection and loss but we are barraged by the collateral damage of our mind which tells us that we are not worthy or that we are failures. That invasive overtaking of our being causes an emotional infection that must be treated! And the only treatment is an anti-demonic.

Ephesians tells us of the armor of God and that the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. That is our treatment and it will save us from the infection of lies and torment. The sword of God's Word is like the physicians scalpel and it cuts away the infection of lies. We have not been promised a smooth pathway in life, but we have been promised a journey that will be accompanied by The Great Physician and Lover of our Soul. We can choose whether we will allow a physical wound to become worse by not having it treated just as we can ignore the treatment of an emotional injury. By choosing to ignore the presence of demonic infection we render ourselves weak, ineffective victims who are not only diseased with lies but we then carry all that on our journey through life and impact others with our sickness.

Brothers and sisters in Christ...why do we go about with sick and diseased souls? Why do we allow lies to live in our minds and infect our emotions? We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus! Who can be against us if Christ is for us! (Romans 8;31-39). Go to The Great Physician and let Him clean your wounds. Let Him treat you with anti-demonics so that your mind and emotions can be healthy and clear. Stop letting the infection of lies spread throughout you. Our suffering is but for a short time and the hope of our eternal home is set before us. Our load does not have to be so heavy if we would just let the Word of God wash out the lies of the enemy! Whether you are wracked with physical pain, stuck in a wheelchair, or struggle with mental illness, you do not have to have the load of lies heaped upon that! I have lived a life filled with unseen pain and I have come to believe that it was not the physical suffering that suffocated me but the heaping loads of mental lies that caused the unbearable emotional suffering. We can endure anything if we truly believe that God loves us unconditionally!

Dicipline and practice the art of using the name of Jesus Christ as your sword and scalpel! When the enemy comes with his barrage of lies, cut them down before they can take seed! You are precious in the sight of God, worthy of God's love because of Jesus. You are His child and the apple of His eye! His thoughts toward you each day are more than the grains of sand! He interceeds and prays for you constantly because He is for you, not against you! When thoughts of doubt, fear, temptation or unworthiness come to your mind, cut them down with The Truth! Read your bible, write down verses that will become your sword for battle! Stop laying down for the enemy like a defeated victim! Stand with the Sword of God's Word and fight! Your victory is guaranteed already! Why do you fear or doubt? Your chant should not be, "Poor me" but "Power in me! In Jesus Name!".

Begin praying for God's Holy Spirit to start showing you where the disease of lies has taken hold in you. Pray for discernment, wisdom and most of all the awareness of God's love for you! Ask God for a warrior Spirit within you that will not tolerate the presence of lies! Start living in the truth of His love and power! We do not have to be sick in our emotions because it is a choice. There is only room for one inhabitant in the seat of our mind and we choose who sits there, Christ's truth or demonic lies. Every micro-second of each day we are called to choose who will reign in our thoughts. Choose the truth.

1 John 4:4 NKJV, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them (demonic forces and lies), because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world!"

Isaiah 54:17, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper..."

2 Corinthians 10:5, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

Dirty Little Lies

I don't know who reads these posts but I do know that whomever does...God will speak to them about His great love. I consider it an act of humility and surrender to Him to allow His love to be exposed through my weakness.

This is a story of such a weakness...

My body and mind were crying out for respite and I finally surrendered to it. This peaceful Sunday afternoon had offered me a soft place to lay, so I abandoned all my worries and duties to another day and offered myself to it. The stillness and grey of dusk crept into my room as I slumbered and upon awakening I felt a heavy presence looming. Oh, I knew who it was because he had visited me many times before. He goes by many names such as Liar, Destroyer, Robber, Discourager. He is a minion of the devil himself who gets sent to try and take down those of God's children who are growing in their faith!

I know this can sound scary to many young Christians but fear not for God only allows these trivial beings to annoy us because it is like basic training for us. Sure, at first it seems like these entities use us for target practice but the whole goal of our Great God is for us to come to the realization that they are really there for OUR target practice! For years I let these insignificant spiritual jerks push me around, never realizing the power I had IN JESUS NAME! But, today the battle turned in my favor because I finally claimed my position as Daughter of the King and put that inconsequential minion in his rightful place as a loser and liar!

As I awoke, the looming presence began whispering in my ear some sensitive issues in my life. My mind began to grab hold of them and before I knew it I was helping the liar twist and turn the truth into mis-truths! I began compiling evidence to support his case that I was not worthy of love and that I had no value or purpose! Then, in an instant, I recognized what was happening and all my basic training took over! All the years of God telling me to go back around and do it again made sense to me! I turned to the liar and in a stance of power and truth I told him in no uncertain terms that those taunts are all lies! The truth is that God died on the cross for me and that's all the display of love I need to know that I'm worthy and precious!

Child of God, don't tarry in the muck of lies! That is where the enemy wants you because it's there that you question God's love. Reach your hand out to Jesus, just as Peter did when he sank in the waves of doubt. Jesus will grasp your hand and pluck you from the lake of lies and set you upon a rock of truth! If you ever doubt His love, you are listening to a lie! God so loved you that He gave His only Begotten Son Jesus so that if you believe in Him you will not perish but you will have eternal life! That, my brothers and sisters is THE TRUTH!

Oh, believing lies is how we get into trouble. The enemy is tricky and wiley and will come at you from many different perspectives and directions to catch your foot! We will get tripped up, deceived and knocked over but if you can begin never doubting His love then you will always know what you tripped over, see the light in the darkness and you will always feel His mighty hand reach for yours to pull you up! Each training session will take us to higher levels of servant ship where God can use us to His glory! I sorrow over the lost years where doubt and lies kept me prisoner but I will not be covered with shame any longer for I know that it is God's grace and mercy that are my covering! It's His righteousness that I walk in, not my weakness. His love covers all my sins.

So, when minions come, will I hand them the stick of my iniquities to beat me with or will I take up the staff of God's truth and beat them senseless for even considering approaching a Daughter of the King with such nonsense! If we only believed how deep and wide and high His love is for us...we would never know defeat again! When you question God's love for you, the answer should never come from your seat of emotions but from His Holy Word! Stop fighting with The One that fought for you! It should not be our quest in life to try and convince ourselves that He couldn't possibly love us! He loves you and there is no amount of doubt or disbelief that can change that!

If you don't know the truth then how can you use it in your defense? Read your bible.

References: Isaiah 43:2, Romans 8:31-39, 2 Corinthians 4:7-16

Sweet Stillness

God desires two things from us before all other things. For all other things flow from these...To sit before Him being still and desiring only His will.

Song of Songs 4:15 reads, "Awake north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden so its fragrance may spread abroad." Just as sitting in a garden saturates us with the essence of the vines and blossoms, so sitting in His presence infuses us with His character.  We see in our marketplaces, oils, candles, soaps... all infused with scents and it's those aromas that draw us near, desiring it! Once we get this first act of obedience correct, it's then that we can call upon the Holy Spirit to blow upon the garden of our souls and spread God's love to others.

How often do you find yourself weary and void of the spices of life? How can we give when we ourselves are empty and bland. Jesus says, "Come unto Me, all of you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." Go, child of God, and lean hard against Him, draw His nectar like a bee and spread that sweet message of love! We were not created to be drained, but filled, and filled to overflowing!

Our desire should be to have those around us ask, "What is that fragrance that your character is wearing?" And our reply would simply be, "Jesus".

Jacuzzi anyone?

Today a man came over to our house to re-set where our spa was located. He had to empty out the old water and fill it with fresh water. It made me think of the scripture in 2nd Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has gone, and the new has come." Do we desire to be emptied though? We complain about our lives, yet we cling to old attitudes, wallow in self-pity and refuse to forgive others and even ourselves. My belief is we become so familiar and comfortable with those old habits because they are a strange paradigm that we believe protects us from the fears that accompany change. We subconsciously would rather remain stagnant and unchallenged as opposed to taking a leap into the realm of change, especially on emotional and behavioral levels. We employ busyness to distract us from the hunger of our soul.

There are two things that especially keep us from healthy changes. One is that we don't fully believe God's promises enough to relinquish our grip on the control panel of our life. The other is that we do not fully comprehend how deep, wide and high God's love is for us. Simply put...we don't trust Him. My prayer is that we begin today to step out in faith, giving our lives to God with full confidence in His fathomless love.  Let's surrender control to Him and trust that He knows better than we do what is best for us. Ask yourself, "Am I really happy being filled with the old or am I ready to trust God to empty me and fill me with the new?" There are so many layers to this surrender process but the important thing is to start somewhere. Take just one area of your life where you know that fear reigns and let it go. Then, ask God to replace it with His peace. He will.

Doing something is better than doing nothing.

What's Your Binky?

Most children have an object that brings them comfort and a feeling of safety. Some have a favorite blanket or stuffed animal and babies may get that feeling from a pacifier. As adults we all have a Binky that brings us a sense of comfort and safety whether it is food, a relationship, a behavior, a habit or something of a material form.

As a human being I have always had the kind of personality that desires to get better and as a Christian I take that root behavior and I’m constantly putting myself out there to God to heal areas of my life. Yet, I have some rooted Binkies in my life that I just will not let go of. They seem to be habits that I secretly tell myself, “This is MINE and I have All the CONTROL of this and NO ONE can take this from me!” “You people can misunderstand me, try to control me, take all you want from me through your life of no boundaries BUT you can’t take this!”

Although I know these habits and behaviors are bad for me and are not what God desires for me, I still won’t release them. It’s as if I’m even shaking my fist at God, that unless He changes the things in my life, whether it is health problems or relational issues, I will not surrender these coveted things. There’s a deep feeling of injustice in my heart that says, “This isn’t fair and until you change I will not surrender!” We hurt ourselves thinking that we are hurting those who are hurting us!

I’m finding that as I trust God more and really understand His deep love for me, I desire to begin the process of releasing these things more and more. Notice I said desiring and not that I’m actually letting go of them. It’s hard and scary and my grip is so tight because I believe deep down that if I surrender these idols that it won’t turn out fair. What is this deep rebellion that desires fairness in life so much? I believe we all have our pile of injustices that we stand upon and as long as we proclaim them, then we have an excuse for all our unattractive behaviors. We say things like, “I deserve to be angry!”, “I have a right to condemn you and blame you!”, “Look at this pile! That’s why I am the way I am!”

Entitlement. Who are we to claim we are entitled to anything! Christ was entitled to live joyfully in the Kingdom of Heaven with His Father for eternity because He is God. But He surrendered that privilege to be sent to this earth per His Father’s will and gave His life for us! We don’t deserve anything but we are blessed by God with goodness simply because of His Son’s sacrifice. If the Son of God could surrender His life then why can’t I surrender my Binkies! It’s simple…it’s only THROUGH Christ that my desires can change. I am not equipped in any way, shape or form to be Christ-like. It’s only through His Holy Spirit and a willing heart that I can change.

Why then is my heart so stubborn and afraid to relinquish my Binkies? God can change my longings but here I lay in my corner clinging to my insecurities and clutching my fears. Paul said it perfectly in the book of Romans 7:14-25, and chapter 8, (paraphrased), “We do what we do because of our sinful nature and it seems too powerful to overcome BUT now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus, for the power of His life giving Spirit has freed us! If we allow God’s Holy Spirit to control us then we have freedom and peace but if we allow our sinful nature to control us then we are doomed.” Please read all of these verses in your bible for the full impact and truth, for apart from Him we can do nothing!

We have a clear choice in our behavior and through Christ we can have victory in all aspects of our life. The only way to break the hold of our sinful nature is to saturate ourselves in the presence of God. That seems so daunting when we just think about it because we have all experienced the high of being in His presence whether at church, during worship, when engaged in fellowship or prayer but when we are in the mix of everyday life it seems we falter. The enemy tells us that we are doomed to fail and that sooner or later God will not pull through for us. He tells us that if we choose humility, we are only setting ourselves up for a kick in the teeth. If we choose sacrifice, we will eventually give up and fail. If we choose a positive outlook, it will only be a matter of time before we go negative again! The enemy convinces us that we have a default and we are destined to revert to it no matter what!

I have been through so many barricades and over so many hurtles with the Lord and I found victory through Him in all of them. Why then do I fight the notion that I can have freedom from my straggling Binkies that I cling to! Well, at least I’m talking about them and considering the surrender of them. That is a good start and I’m excited that I have even put them on the plate of consideration before my Lord. I want freedom from them and I KNOW He can set me free…it’s my own fears and doubts that are keeping me sitting in my cell even though  the door is open.

Lord, take me even deeper into Your pool of love. Wash me, cleanse me and wrap me in Your robe of righteousness. Let me see even more clearly my station as a Daughter of the King and teach me to walk in the posture of Divine Royalty as Your child. Let my heart grow and dwell with You and change my sinful desires to Holy ones. Brand me with the truth that I am set apart from this world and its desires. Renew me and make me what You desire. Fulfill Your plans for my life and crush my fears under Your truth and love. I am unable to change but I know that all You want is a willing heart…Lord, It scares me to say this but I’m going to say it, “T Ta Tak Take my Binkies.” I feel guilty saying it because I don’t want to lay them down. That’s alright though, because I’m asking You now to start changing my desires. Begin a work in me that will lead to me surrendering these things. If I wait and keep hiding with my false idols of safety and comfort then I will never let go. I’m asking You now to begin this process. I trust you. Amen

Whatever it is that is your Binky…Are you co-dependent? (Really think about that one.) Do you stuff yourself with emotional eating? Do you lie or exaggerate or use negativity to get attention? Are you hiding something? Do you use manipulation to try to get love? Are you passive aggressive and think that's more godly than being aggressive? Are you self-deprecating so you can hurt yourself before someone else hurts you? Do you do something that is bad for your body? Do you persist in staying busy? Is busyness your Binkie? Is blaming others rather than seeking self-improvement where you hide? If you can't define your Binkie or you think you don't have one then sit in the presence of the Holy Spirit quietly and He will show you yours.What are the things that you cling to? Are you willing to admit you need to let go? I understand and so did the Apostle Paul and so do millions of other people. God can and will heal us…if we will just be willing. Even just willing to admit is a good start.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price (His Sons life). So you must honor God with your body.

Isaiah 40:31, But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on eagle’s wings; they will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

2 Samuel 22:31, God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him…

Romans 8:17, And since we are His children, we will share His treasures – for everything God gives to His Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share in His glory, we must also share in His sufferings.

Not everything in life feels good or will work out the way we want it to. Great accomplishments come through great sacrifices and in order for us to sacrifice (because it is not in our human nature to desire restraint or pain) we MUST draw our strength, courage and good desires from God. He alone is able.

If we must, brothers and sisters, take baby-steps...Do whatever it takes to get to victory! Doing something is better than doing nothing. Starting is 90% of the task. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! Inch by inch anythings a cinch! We can do all things through Christ who loves us! Take a step toward freedom.

Anything but...

Anything but…sitting at the Savior’s feet, being quiet as He speaks.

Anything but…trusting Him and resting in His plan, knowing fully that, “He can.”

Anything but…slowing down and keeping pace with Him, listening to hear, “Rest or begin…”

Why do I do anything but what I know He desires? Why do I run about when I know being still in His presence is where I belong? Why do I avoid the One who loves me and has plans to prosper me and not harm me? Why do I turn from Him and indulge in busyness? Why do I not trust Him with everything?

His love endures forever and there is nothing that can separate me from that divine love! He pursues me with love and never relents in that pursuit! The only way I will come to trust Him with all things is to begin trusting Him with some. It’s “my” heart that needs to see His faithfulness so that I can trust Him more. He is always faithful, compassionate and mighty and in His long-suffering He waits for me to run alongside of Him and take His hand. He is patient with me but will nettle my nest when needed. All He does…He does from love.

Run to Him when your thoughts are puzzled. Run to Him when your heart feels sad. Run to Him when you feel slighted. Run to Him when you feel bad.

Run toward, not away…from the Lover of your Soul. Sit with Him until His blessings flow. Those blessings come wrapped in joy but many more times in pain. Either way child…remain. Begin to choose “Anywhere but away from Him.” Don’t run where wisdom's light is dim. Choose “In His presence” to rest your soul and give to Him complete control. Anywhere but away from Him…now begin.

John 16:33, “In me…peace.”

Why do we try to fill our empty souls at every fountain but His? It's human nature to resist stillness and plunge forward in our own strength. Then, when we wear ourselves out we wonder why God would allow our sickness or weakness to disturb our busyness! Our nature is to empty ourselves then crawl in our deficit to the fountain of life to get filled just so we can go out again like lone wolves and wear ourselves out again! Jesus knew this and gave us wonderful wisdom to avoid this mad cycle..."Stay attached to the Vine! Stay attached to ME, your source of all you need! Make Jesus your flow-station, not your fill-up station.

Snowflakes

Since moving to Upstate New York I am enjoying the privilege of experiencing the snow again! I know it's different for me since I get to sit at home and view it through my window as I write while others are shoveling and driving in it but take a moment and see it through my eyes.  Although I lived in California for almost 40 years, my roots in the northeast are deeply embedded in me. I have wonderful memories of the snow from growing up here and now that I'm back in it, all those memories are filling my heart again! I'm an unusual breed of person that actually loves the cold weather and enjoys the snow. The cold makes swirlies in my cheeks that make me smile and I feel invigorated and jolly! I've always been like that and it's one of the few wonderful memories that I have from my youth.

I can recall feelings of joy and exhilaration from playing in the snow, skiing, skating, sledding, going to get our Christmas tree! I can still feel the happiness of opening the door at my parents’ house and embracing the chilly wool coats and cheeks of our relatives and friends who came to visit! My heart warms at the visions of walking in the snow down Park Avenue with my niece and going in and out of the scented shops along the way! The sides of my mouth curl up and a smile pops onto my face when I remember all the nights out with my girlfriends driving in snow storms but not being afraid because we were together, innocent and just simply laughing and living in the moment. And the nights looking out on freshly fallen snow and seeing colors that I knew only existed in God's palette and how that fascinated me! I would stare at the glistening snowflakes that looked like a lavender blanket of sparkling diamonds thrown across my lawn and a deep awareness that there was a heaven and it was beyond anything I knew would sweep over my soul. 

Being back here and experiencing the snow again has allowed God to add to my wonderful memories! Kissing the rosy, cold cheeks of my grand-children after they pound across my front porch stomping the snow from their boots. Seeing them poking their little red noses against the glass in my front door in anticipation of me coming around the corner and smiling from ear to ear with joy of their arrival! And laughing with my dear friend who moved here from California with us, just to have a new adventure, about how cold it is and we must be nuts for leaving the beach for this! But the most special of my new memories is a gift God gave me during the first falling of the snow. "Each one is different." is all He whispered to my heart. Then the Holy Spirit watered that seed and insights beyond my imagination blossomed from it!

I’m not sure I have the words to express the depth of God’s love that was revealed to me in that moment. I can simply say that He opened up a door and showed me how awesome He is! I realized beyond my ability to reason just how spectacular He is and that everything we have, from breath, procreation, photosynthesis, galaxies, human love and compassion…are all in and of Him! That profound thought spider-webbed out into a million revelations of His love! I felt overwhelmed by the truth that no person can count or account for every snowflake and its uniqueness. Only God designs and builds each human, each snowflake, each creature that roams the earth, flies in the air or swims in the deep. No two ever alike and not just different in physical appearance but down to the DNA and even deeper into what sets our talents and personalities apart! I saw even deeper things in that time with God, but put simply, He showed me a small portion of His majesty in a snowflake…all because I stopped for a moment and listened for Him.

Why do people fight Him. He is beauty, power, majesty, forgiveness, healing, love…. Yet they rejected Him and continue to do so.

Sit in your car a bit longer…turn off your t.v. for a bit…stare out your window more….settle into a calmness and a quietness that you tend to avoid. Be still….and know that He is God. (Psalm 46:10) 

Shame On You?

Shame is a secret that you keep with the enemy of your soul. It’s like a boil that festers and infects your spirit, never allowing it freedom to rest or heal. Do you have a habit that you’re ashamed of that makes you feel bad about yourself? That’s shame. Is there or was there someone in your life that you couldn’t help and you feel guilty about it? That’s shame. Have you gotten up in someone else’s business when it really wasn’t any of your business and caused a rift in the relationship that’s never been resolved? That’s shame.  Has someone hurt you and you’ve never gotten an apology or an admittance of guilt yet you feel bad and carry a sick feeling? That’s shame.

Shame is like being hooked up to an I.V. of poison that is slowly killing you. It not only kills your spirit but it has a myriad of physical ramifications also! We tuck our shame away deep in the recesses of our psyche because it doesn’t feel good to think about it and no person wants to feel bad. We think that if we hide it away or don’t acknowledge it that it will stay buried but it doesn’t. It festers and corrodes our hopes, our dreams and it holds us prisoner. How many of us live lives that are sick and weak because we let the fear of exposure hold us captive? Or maybe you enjoy playing the martyr and it allows you to spend your lifetime blaming others rather than taking personal steps toward healing your own spirit through the guidance of the Holy Spirit? How many of us choose to distract ourselves with hobbies or obsessions just so we don’t have to face the root problems? Is there any hope for us and our small thinking?

I believe that all of life comes down to two things, desire and choice. Saint Frances of Asisi made a choice in his prayer when he said, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love, where there is injury, pardon, where there is doubt, faith, where there is despair, hope, where there is darkness, light, where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, not so much to be understood as to understand, not so much to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.”

If we treat ourselves with as much mercy as we would treat others, then our desire to be healed and whole will not be something we need to get from others but it will come from ourselves. Treating ourselves with kindness and concern sets us free rather than thinking  we need all that from others in order to have freedom. I believe that the mind-set of, “Someone else causes my pain.” is what holds us in a constant state of need and resentment. We must ask the Lord to be our all and desire only Him to be our salvation, freedom and source of healing. Our freedom will not come from someone else changing, but in our desire to change ourselves.

Healing is between God and us. It would be wonderful to get resolve and healing from those we have issues with but we can’t live a life of waiting. That’s a life of imprisonment. Our quest to be set free from shame is on our plate and Christ is present and willing to share that meal with us. We must pray for the courage to pull our shame from our dark closet and offer it before the Lord. If we are willing to realize that although others may cause us pain, it is ultimately our journey to sit alone with our Savior and break bread with Him, allowing His nourishment to heal our tattered spirits. His Holy Spirit is our source of healing and it will only be through God that we will be set free of our shame. As Saint Frances of Asisi said, “Lord, make “ME”…” not “Make others”.  It is time my brothers and sisters to take responsibility for our own shame and stop focusing on the shame of others. Healing comes only through quiet time with our Lord. We have to stop our busyness and start desiring that time at His feet. Shame makes us run from quiet because it is in that quiet that our fears are revealed and felt. The secret that the enemy keeps with you is a lie and we are falling for it! We are choosing to live lives of fear, shame and ineffectiveness rather than lives of freedom and joy all because we believe that our fears are bigger than our God! Choose now who you believe is bigger, more powerful and more compassionate! Is it satan or Jesus? Who desires freedom for you, satan or Jesus? Who wants you to experience joy, satan or Jesus? Which do you desire? Until we make that decision we will remain sick from the poison of shame.

Isaiah 41:10, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”

Blaming others is just an excuse we use to remain in our shame. We proclaim that we are helpless to be joyful because “they” won’t set us free. Many times too, “we” are “they”. The prison door has been unlocked by Christ our Savior and it sits before us open.  We are free to leave….so why do we remain?

1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.”

Isaiah 61:1-3, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lords favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, He will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the Lord has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for His own glory!”

For whom do you live your life, for God’s glory or your own? Is your life all about “you” or all about “Him”?

I have to go now and take my own advice in these matters. This lesson is a tough one to dive into but I know it’s the right thing to do. Letting go of all my excuses is scary. This is going to be a process and I can only do it by abiding in Christ every step of the way. Make "ME" Lord....

New Season

Every day I see God in everything.

It’s been a month and a half since I moved from California to Upstate New York. The leaves have gone and bare branches now have their arms stretched out catching snowflakes. We’ve had snow storms, warm days, winds and fog. The deer have paraded their families then hid for days. I’ve seen fox shoot across the yard in a gallop and other days they stand and stare for the longest time. Some days the bird feeder outside the window is a local hotspot whereas other days all have flown the coop for fairer estates. Every day brings changes not only in my surroundings but in my heart and life.

I have suffered the pain of exhaustion and the peace of stillness while here. The flu has visited yet I know now that it will move on. Today I realized that I am not the same person that left California. My journey has crested the mountaintop for now and I feel the cool breeze and momentum of the downward ride. My hopelessness and sorrow have been cremated and from those ashes my spirit has risen. My mind is filled with assuredness and praise even when I see depression passing by my door. Everything is new and so much change brings anxiety but now it knows its place. Hope is the icing over my realities and it tastes so sweet.

Are there the old things waiting? Right there, but I don’t accept the ride anymore. My choices are clean and precise like praise over pain and gratitude rather than complaints. The cold feels refreshing and not lonely and my heart is above my body breathing in the air that I was deprived of for so long. Was it kept from me or did I choose not to breathe it? I don’t know except that I’m breathing it now and I feel alive. The stale, still presence of hopelessness is cleared and every cell is awash with refreshing hope! I love my new life. I love that the sadness has dissipated. Deep, deep within my soul I have joy and hope. For the first time I know He loves me! Shameless, guiltless and loved. All is well.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV), Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

I don't know why things happen in our lives that don't make sense. I do know that we have a choice of how we will accept them as they come though. Most of my pain came not from my circumstances but from my fight against accepting them. It was never about God being mean or unfair....it was all about me not surrendering and trusting Him with everything. Now that I live in the middle of nature at its finest....I see more clearly now what it means to rest in our Creator.

Broken Branches

As I prayed this morning I praised God for all that He is. Loving, caring, full of grace and mercy, kind, strong, giving... then I thanked Him for all my blessings that are seen and unseen. As I entered His courts with praise I began to confess areas of my heart and life that I struggle with and He gave me a vision. I saw the effects of previous sins and how they bore bad fruit in my life now as an adult. Choices that I made as a young woman that have caused stains in my life that now have to be dealt with. God showed me that those bad choices need to be pruned off the tree of my soul. I asked the Holy Spirit to track my current struggles back to their roots and with my eyes closed I asked God to saw off those branches, cutting off the flow of my past sins. As I watched the branches fall to the ground I realized that their existence ended and the sin that flowed from them lost its power over my life.

Where in your life do you need to prune? What past choices are still flowing their sin into your life today? Did you at one point harbor a hatred toward someone and you let it stew till it turned to rage? Did you once make the choice to view pornography and that choice has spilled into a secret sin in your heart and life now? Is there a burning contempt that can still be triggered even by the innocent? Does your current impatience cause your loved ones to suffer a life of vexation? Then sit quietly and alone with your God and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal those areas. As they come to your consciousness hand God the saw and tell Him you want Him to cut those branches off. Visualize the flow of sin being cauterized at the root and watch the branches that have held you prisoner lay on the ground and wither. Embrace your new freedom and claim your victory! Freedom is only found in Christ and He is the only One that can set you free. You are what you hold on to.

Isaiah 40:27-31, O Israel, How can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of His understanding. He gives power to those who are tired and worn out, He offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up.  But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.