There's No Need To Feel...

There’s no need to feel insecure or intimidated by someone else’s God given gift.  You have your place within the Body of Christ and they have theirs.  Be secure in who God has created you to be.

Really…it’s a matter of being secure in who you are in Christ.  If you aren’t secure in who you are, you will, no doubt, be insecure, causing you to be intimidated of others…which is totally not needed.

God created each of us with a specific gift in mind.  It’s up to us to get with God, search our hearts and be led by the Spirit to determine what that gifting is and then live it out.  It’s a matter of drawing near to God, knowing who he is and allowing Him to work in us and through us to bring our purpose to fruition.  

The beauty of this is that we will naturally be totally satisfied with what it is that He’s called us to do, simply because that’s how He created us.  It really is that simple.

So, there’s no need to look at “so-and-so” and be jealous because they’re doing something that you wish you could do.  Or…when you’re doing something and someone else comes along who can do your job better and faster than you, there’s no need to be intimidated.  The question is:  Are you doing what God has asked you to do?  If the answer is “yes”…then don’t worry about it…keep doing what you’re doing.  But, if the answer is “no”…then take steps to find your gifting.  The Lord will show you.  All you have to do is ask, trust and believe.

A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.  Proverbs 16:9

There’s absolutely no room in the Kingdom of God for jealously, intimidation or insecurity…that’s not His way.  He’s made a way for each and every one of us.  It’s up to us to tap into what He has already provided.  Remember…if He did it for ________, He’ll do it for you.  And if that’s not His will for you, then He definitely has something better planned.  He’s just that amazing!! 

Do As I Say and Not As I Do?

So…I’m definitely not a fan of the “Do as I say and not as I do doctrine.” If someone in authority asks me to do something, I will do it as long as it doesn’t cause me to sin or compromise my integrity.  I don’t find it necessary to be rebellious simply because someone is asking me to do something, there’s no reason for that.  I do, however, have a problem with folks who like to make their own rules, but then don’t find it necessary to follow the rules that they’ve made.  I actually find that maddening!  I will do what they say, but it actually makes it very difficult for me to have respect for the person(s) who are making these rules and take this form of leadership on a regular basis…and I do mean on a regular basis or a lifestyle of this type of leadership.  I’m not speaking of the occasional random mistakes that we all make! 

This behavior reminds me of the Pharisees in the Bible.  They were constantly trying to catch or even trap Jesus in “wrong doing” according to their rules.  But, what I love about Jesus is that He was always honest and onto their trickery.  Even with the rules that they made, Jesus would serve people by helping or healing them and not in rebellion…He did it with great poise and self control.  Jesus never had an attitude about what He was doing.  He was confident in who He was...the Son of God, the Son of Man…the Savior of the World.

What a great example Jesus is for us.  He is the ultimate example for us.  I don’t want to be someone who makes rules and then doesn’t follow them.  Whenever I experience something like this in my life, I like to take what I see in others that bothers me and examine myself to see if I’m acting in the same manner anywhere in my life.  And, it could be anything that I see, not just this subject in particular.  When…not if…I do see things that need to be corrected, I take it to God and repent.  I ask Him to take whatever it is out of me and ask Him to fill me with more of His Spirit…essentially, more of Him and less of me.

Oh how wonderful it is that we have a loving God that will help us to see our flaws, correct us, heal us and restore us…and all we need to do is ask!  Even when we see these things in ourselves that we don’t like, it doesn’t change His love for us.  He loves us the same yesterday, today and forever because He is love.               

 

Making bad choices can...

Making bad choices can cause a ripple effect that not only affects you, but others for today, tomorrow and many more tomorrows to come.

Wisdom is choosing to do now what we will be satisfied with later. ~ Joyce Meyer

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach.  James 1:5

We have everything we need to make good choices.  God’s Word is infallible.  He has said that if we need wisdom, we only need ask for it.  His words, not mine!  However, we have the freedom to make whatever choices that we want…good or bad.  Just as good choices can cause good ripple effects for us well into our future and the future of those close to us, so bad choices can cause troubling ripple effects for us and those around us for a time and times to come.

All too often, we tend to let our flesh get in the way and make a bad choice simply because we want what we want when we want it instead of being patient and waiting for God’s timing in it.  Unfortunately, the popular saying, “if it feels good, do it” is not a good or healthy way to live our lives.  What if what we choose never was God’s will in the first place?  God is not obligated to honor us in choices that never were His will for us.  Until we understand that and move forward purposefully putting God first, asking for His wisdom in all things, the ripple effect can and will continue to plague us.

Let’s use wisdom in making good choices for our lives.  It’s as easy as simply asking God for wisdom, trusting and believing that He will supply the wisdom for what we need when we need it.  God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent.  Has He said, and will He not do?  Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Numbers 23:19   

Is It True? Is It Kind? Is It Necessary?

Being a Christian doesn’t mean that we have the right to spout out anything we want to say at any time.  No, in fact, I believe that being a Christian means that we should hold ourselves to a higher standard.  We should question our own motives before we make statements to others and take the high road when in challenging situations.

As Nicky Gumbel, vicar of HTB Anglican Church in London states:  ‘The words of the tongue should have three gatekeepers:  Is it true?  Is it kind?  Is it necessary?’  These are questions I keep in mind when I post something on twitter, facebook or make statement to others.  Of course I’m not perfect and I’ll be the first to admit when I’m wrong.

As a whole, my goal is to be an encourager.  I want to build people up…not tear them down. Proverbs 18:21 states; ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat of its fruit.’ Our society seems to thoroughly enjoy tearing folks down.  That behavior is so hurtful!

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.  Colossians 4:6 

As Christ Followers, let’s make a conscious effort to be kind and loving to one another.  Let’s believe the best in others.  Let’s not only set a watch over our mouths, but let’s set our minds and keep them set to do the right thing…speaking kindly to others. 

Let Go and Let God

You cannot genuinely embrace someone who you have not fully forgiven.  ~ Chuck Swindoll

Have you ever crossed paths with someone who has hurt you in some way and you feel like running away from them or you feel anger rising up inside?  More likely than not, that person hasn’t been fully forgiven for an offense that they caused.  Of course, you certainly would not want to embrace that person…not genuinely anyway. I can honestly say that I’ve been in that situation. 

It’s been my experience that I will forgive someone, I’ll be fine for a while and then I’ll see them again and anger, although less than the time before, will rise up again.  So, in this situation I forgave them again…and again…and again…until I could say that I had genuinely forgiven them.  In all truthfulness, then, and only then was I able to genuinely embrace that person.  Of course not all offenses take me that long to get over…but deep hurts have taken time for me to fully forgive.  I believe this is what Jesus meant when He said to forgive seventy times seven. (See Matt 18:22)

In order to forgive others, we have to make a conscious effort to forgive…it is a choice.  Go the extra mile and pray blessings for that person.  I have to tell you, I’ve been in a few situations where the person(s) who hurt me, did so in a massive fashion.  (Unfortunately, I’m sure that’s not unusual for many of us!)  God used this to show me how to overcome.  Although I’m far from perfect in this, it has become easier to forgive others.

If you choose not to forgive, the anger that you feel rise up within you will become like a poison to your life and well being…whether it be emotionally, spiritually or physically.

Give it to God…let Him deal with the person.  We were not created with the capability to deal with it.  We were created to need God to deal with it.  He is Justice.  Let go and let God.    

With authority comes the need for...

With authority comes the need for accountability.  With popularity comes the need for humility.  With prosperity comes the need for integrity.  ~ Charles Swindoll 

Have you ever worked for someone who has authority but chooses to not be accountable to anyone?  Maybe you’ve seen someone whose popularity went to their head and they became very arrogant?  Then there are those who you’ve probably seen who quickly become wealthy and then become ruthless because of it.  ALL of these situations will lead to a fall.

Use wisdom when authority, popularity and prosperity come your way.  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  James 1:5

God loves us and wants the absolute best for each and every one of us every moment of our every day.  When…not if… we need wisdom, we only need to ask God for it.  He will not fail us or mislead us.  He IS faithful!  Put your trust in Him and believe!

Keep your confidence in...

There’s a difference between being arrogant and having total confidence in God and what He’s doing in your life.  Sometimes those who don’t understand God’s ways, don’t understand the difference.  Don’t let the opinion of naysayers change your level of confidence / faith / trust in God simply because they criticize you or don’t understand.

 

The dreams of your heart are there because God placed them there.  No one else can tell you what God will or won’t do in your life.  It’s been my experience that those who cannot get behind me and my dreams are those who are either unhappy with themselves, jealous...or both.

Be cautious who you allow to influence you.  Keep your confidence in God, not in self or others.  Look to Him…not to the right or the left.  It’s amazing what God will do when we keep our eyes on Him and totally put our trust in Him.

I am a friend of God.

I am a friend of God.  This is a lyric to a song that we sang at church recently.  The guest speaker made a statement that she was so glad she knew she was a friend of God.  But, on the other hand, she wondered what kind of friend she had been to Him?  What a thought provoking statement!

Hmm, makes me think…am I helping others the way that God would want me to…or am I too self important and less concerned about the needs of others around me, whether they be friends, family or strangers?  Am I listening to Him the way I should…or am I the one doing all the talking?  Am I seeking Him for who He is… or am I seeking Him for what He can do for me?  WOW!!  These are ALL legitimate questions when evaluating our friendship with God.

I think we can all relate to “friends” in our lives that fall into one or more of these categories.  I know I do.  My hope is that I don’t fall into any of these categories with friends OR with God.  I don’t know how these behaviors make you feel, but I don’t like them.  It makes me feel as though someone who treats me in that manner really doesn’t care about me.

With that said, I can tell you there’s no way I want to treat God that way.  I want to seek Him for who He is, not for what He can do for me. (See Matt. 6:33)  I want to truly be a friend to God.  That means not only seeking God’s face…but, seeking the face of God in others around us.  Seek those around you who need help.  Maybe someone needs a ride to work.  Let that car in front of you merge in while driving in traffic.  Be ears for someone who needs to vent…ears, not a voice of solution.  Simply put…be good to others.  True friends are good to each other…they don’t use or abuse one another.  Being a friend to God means being a friend to those around you…that put’s a smile on God’s face.   J

Do all that you do...

Do all that you do as unto the Lord.  Even when man is not satisfied with your best efforts, remember that God is pleased with you and your best efforts.  Keep your standards to a high level of excellence…as Jesus’ standards were pretty high when He gave His life for us.  He gave His all for us…let’s not take that for granted!

Don’t confuse perfection with excellence.  None of us are perfect.  The only perfect person there ever has been is Jesus.


Because of His abundant love for me, I want to do everything I can to be the best person I can be.  That means relying on and trusting in Him to be all that He created me to be.


I strive to be perfect but settle for excellence because I know that no matter how hard I try, I will still make mistakes, whether I make a wrong decision, have an accident or commit a sin.  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23 (Not all wrong decisions or accidents are sins.) The beauty of this is that even when I do make a mistake, have an accident or sin, God still loves me as much as He always has and always will…no more…no less!  God IS love!  His love knows NO bounds!

So, I will continue to strive to be the best that I can be.  I will not let those around me pull me down when I make a mistake...after all, like you, I’m human.  As long as I know that I’m working the best that I can so as to be pleasing to the Lord, I know that is the best I can be.  No need perfectionism here…just excellence for my God.

God's Grace Zone

Live the life that God created you to live.  Don’t try to be someone or something you’re not.  Live in God’s grace zone…His grace IS sufficient.  ~ Brian Houston, Hillsong Church


When you live inside your grace zone...the place where God has gifted you, you are anointed to carry out every task that God sets before you.  Likewise, when you live outside of your grace zone or anointing, your efforts will be all your own.  When I write a song or one of these devotionals, it’s God giving the words and music to me.  In all honesty, if I attempt to write a song without the leading of the Lord…well, trust me…you don’t want to hear it!  J


God has given each of us our own giftings that are to benefit of the body of Christ.  We each have our own function just as our physical body has different parts that have their own function.  What if our eyes decided that they didn’t want to see any longer because they wanted to do the job of our hands?!?  It sounds absurd if I put it that way, doesn’t it?  But, that’s how it would be within the Body of Christ if we try to do something that we’re not called to do. 

Be who God created you to be.  Look to Him and trust Him.  Live in your grace zone.  God’s grace IS amazing…and it IS sufficient!