This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. Deuteronomy 30:19
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
Our 15 year old dog is nearing the end of her life and our home has become a dog hospice. Our goals are keeping her safe and comfortable and fed. It is exhausting physically and emotionally, but we made a promise to her way back in December of last year. As long as she continues to choose life, we will also choose life for her.
Once you have fought for life, there is no turning back. We fought for the life of our son, whom doctors had told me would never be conceived. We have survived colon cancer and a heart attack. I have stood in the darkness of fear and heard the devil whisper his lie...there is only one way out. I have walked through the darkness with others, speaking words of truth and piercing the darkness with the light and love of Jesus.
God set before us life and death, and then He gave us the answer...CHOOSE LIFE! The devil has one goal...to steal and kill and destroy. He is sneaky and deceptive and he will do whatever it takes to get us off guard. This is why the Apostle Peter warns us to be self controlled and alert. Because our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
God's choice for us is life, and not only life but life to the full! Abundant life! More than just surviving from day to day. More than just trying to keep our heads above water. The life God chooses for us is one of hope and joy and peace and love. A life of blessing. Does that seem impossible to you? It does to me too some days. The hard things of life can be overwhelming, blinding us to the blessings of God that are right in front of us.
Look for the blessings and take time to thank God for them! I guarantee that you will find evidence of God when you seek for Him. Ask God to help you see the blessings and then stay alert! Choose life and choose to live it fully!
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Saturday, September 16, 2017
share your gifts
We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Romans 12:6-8
God has intentionally given each of us a unique combination of gifts. He knows the plans that He has for us from the beginning of time. He knows the people whose life paths will join with our own. God sees the big picture and He puts inside of us everything we will need to live the life that He has planned for us. But, God created us for relationship...relationship with Himself and relationship with each other. We need the gifts in the people around us. And the people around us need the gifts inside of us. I need you and you need me. Simple and amazingly and intentionally planned!
I've spent much of my adult life wanting different gifts. I so admire the gifts in the people around me because I don't have those gifts. Somewhere along the path of my life, I got the idea that being Dawn wasn't good enough. I bought into the devil's deception...how that must have broken God's heart. But, God is loving and merciful, and as I pursue relationship with Him, He continues to show me that the girl He created me to be is enough. And the same is true for you...YOU ARE ENOUGH! If you don't know what gifts God has placed inside of you, ask Him to show you. They are there and they are perfectly suited for you!
The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you..." (2 Timothy 1:6) The two best ways for me to fan my gifts into flame are to share them and to be around people who share the same gifts. Both require relationships...good thing I'm a relationship person! God created us to need Him and to need each other, desperately. He will give us people who need our gifts and He will give us people who fan them into flame. I'm so grateful to have both kinds of people in my life!
Here is my encouragement to you (yes, encouraging is one of the gifts that God gave me!)...discover your gifts and share your gifts! The world needs you! That is God's plan and it is a good one!
Romans 12:6-8
God has intentionally given each of us a unique combination of gifts. He knows the plans that He has for us from the beginning of time. He knows the people whose life paths will join with our own. God sees the big picture and He puts inside of us everything we will need to live the life that He has planned for us. But, God created us for relationship...relationship with Himself and relationship with each other. We need the gifts in the people around us. And the people around us need the gifts inside of us. I need you and you need me. Simple and amazingly and intentionally planned!
I've spent much of my adult life wanting different gifts. I so admire the gifts in the people around me because I don't have those gifts. Somewhere along the path of my life, I got the idea that being Dawn wasn't good enough. I bought into the devil's deception...how that must have broken God's heart. But, God is loving and merciful, and as I pursue relationship with Him, He continues to show me that the girl He created me to be is enough. And the same is true for you...YOU ARE ENOUGH! If you don't know what gifts God has placed inside of you, ask Him to show you. They are there and they are perfectly suited for you!
The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you..." (2 Timothy 1:6) The two best ways for me to fan my gifts into flame are to share them and to be around people who share the same gifts. Both require relationships...good thing I'm a relationship person! God created us to need Him and to need each other, desperately. He will give us people who need our gifts and He will give us people who fan them into flame. I'm so grateful to have both kinds of people in my life!
Here is my encouragement to you (yes, encouraging is one of the gifts that God gave me!)...discover your gifts and share your gifts! The world needs you! That is God's plan and it is a good one!
Saturday, September 9, 2017
fighting the funk
I was in a funk last night. It doesn't take much to get me there when I am tired, and I was beyond tired last night. So I slept long and hard, but I woke up in the same funk. I wallowed in it for a while, but then the Holy Spirit spoke, "You are believing lies!" Indeed I was, and I went looking for truth in my Bible.
Lie: I am alone.
Truth: The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8
Lie: Nothing I do matters.
Truth: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24
Lie: No one cares about me.
Truth: The Lord appeared to us in the past saying: I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:3
Truth: For God so loved the world (DAWN!) that He gave His one and only Son, That whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Lie: I am not enough. I can't do this.
Truth: I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 13, 19
Truth: The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14
Lie: I am not needed.
Truth: For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Lie: I am a victim of the situation.
Truth: And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
I might be the only person on earth who buys into the lies that the devil whispers in my ear, but I doubt it. He is a deceiver and there is NO TRUTH in him. The battle is fierce when you set your heart and mind toward following Jesus and being obedient to Him. If you are fighting a funk, seek THE Truth!
Lie: I am alone.
Truth: The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8
Lie: Nothing I do matters.
Truth: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24
Lie: No one cares about me.
Truth: The Lord appeared to us in the past saying: I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:3
Truth: For God so loved the world (DAWN!) that He gave His one and only Son, That whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Lie: I am not enough. I can't do this.
Truth: I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 13, 19
Truth: The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14
Lie: I am not needed.
Truth: For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Lie: I am a victim of the situation.
Truth: And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
I might be the only person on earth who buys into the lies that the devil whispers in my ear, but I doubt it. He is a deceiver and there is NO TRUTH in him. The battle is fierce when you set your heart and mind toward following Jesus and being obedient to Him. If you are fighting a funk, seek THE Truth!
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