Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible." Matthew 19:26
I have impossible situations in my life. Do you? I could fill a page with my list of "impossibles"...the circumstances of life that keep me awake at night and easily overwhelm me. But, I am here to tell you that our God is the God of the impossible. He can change impossible situations! AND, He can work in even the impossible situations for our good! (Romans 8:28) Our part is to live with open hands and obedience, surrendering everything to Him so that He can work a miracle.
I return to my Bible again and again to remind myself that everything is possible for God. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John recorded so many of the miracles of Jesus while he lived here on Earth, but my favorites are found in the Old Testament.
Exodus 14 records one of the first miracles that God did for the Israelites as they fled from Egypt. God's people were in an impossible position, trapped between the Red Sea and the army of Egypt. No way out as far as they could see, and they were in a panic. Moses said to them, "Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm." (Exodus 14:13-14) (I have those verses underlined and I read them almost every day. The Lord Himself will fight for me. Just stay calm. Selah) I'm sure you know the rest of the story...God opened a path through the water so that His people could cross on dry land. He caused confusion among the Egyptians and when they followed the Israelites into the Red Sea, He caused the sea to cover them. There were no survivors among the Egyptians. Humanly speaking, it was impossible, but with God, everything is possible.
Second Chronicles 20 tells of the miracle that God did for Jehoshaphat and the Israelites. There were 3 different armies preparing to attack, and the people of Israel were terrified. King Jehoshaphat and his people prayed, and God spoke to them through Jahaziel. "Listen all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow, march out against them... But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord's victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you." (2 Chronicles 20:15-17) So the army went out, with singers ahead of them. And they sang, "Give thanks to the Lord; His faithful love endures forever!" The 3 armies turned against each other and fought among themselves. No one survived, and the army of Israel gathered the plunder. Truly, God worked in an impossible situation for the good of those who loved Him and were called according to His purpose!
The Bible is filled with reports of God working in impossible situations. His ways are far beyond anything we can imagine. (Isaiah 55:8) Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20) Be encouraged...our God is the God of the impossible!
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Divine intervention
Last weekend, God said to me, "Thank Me for Divine intervention." My mind was filled with impossible and overwhelming situations, and I had a killer migraine trying to figure it all out. So this week, instead of praying what seemed best to me at the time, I've been thanking God for His Divine intervention in every situation. If I have told you recently that I'm praying for you, be assured that I am thanking God for Divinely intervening in your life.
God has been giving me some amazing revelation as I have been praying. Thanking God for Divine intervention is a prayer of surrender to His best because we can be confident that He works in ALL things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) Thanking God for Divine intervention is a prayer of open hands...trusting, believing, and receiving God's best in each and every situation. Thanking God for Divine intervention is an acknowledgment that He is God and I am not. He knows the plans that He has for me and for you! They are plans for good and not for calamity to give us a future and a hope! (Jeremiah 29:11) God's thoughts are nothing like our thoughts and His ways are far beyond anything that we could imagine! (Isaiah 55: 8) We don't have to figure it all out...God has already done it!
There is no gray area between God and Satan. It's either light or dark. There is no in between. Jesus made it very clear for us when He said, "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." (John 10:10) The devil tries over and over to convince us that there is gray and reason to doubt. Did God really say? Does God really love you? Does God really know what is best for you? Can you really trust God? What if...? Jesus called Satan the father of lies and those are the devil's trail markers...lie, steal, kill, destroy.
But God gives us freely and filled with grace a life that is rich and satisfying and abundant. He warned us through the Apostle Peter, "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith." (1 Peter 5:8-9)
This life of thanking God for Divine intervention is not a passive life. It is a life of active faith that stands in the face of a roaring lion and overwhelming darkness and impossible situations and thanks God that He has already intervened on our behalf. It is a life of obedience and surrender to God's best in every situation. My hands are open and I am thanking God for His Divine intervention!
Saturday, September 28, 2019
invest wisely
Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in a steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:19-21
Several weeks ago, God asked me, "Where will you invest?" There are so many layers to that question, and truthfully, I'm still processing through all of it. Writing usually helps me solidify thoughts and ideas, so here I am.
Traditionally, we have studied these verses with money in mind. Verse 24 of the same chapter says, "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." It's true. When we are obsessed with making and saving money, there isn't time or energy to pursue a relationship with God or to follow Him. The same is true if we are seeking earthly fame and rewards. Our minds become consumed with the pursuit of money and recognition.
I fully believe that we were created by God for relationship. Relationship with Him and relationship with each other. The first chapters of the book of Genesis tell of the creation of man and woman. It all sounds very relational to me! Sadly, Adam and Eve allowed disobedience to break the close relationship that they had with God. But, God already had a plan...Jesus. Their disobedience didn't catch Him by surprise. John 3:16-17 says, "For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him."
God sent Jesus to the world to restore our relationships with Him. That is our treasure in heaven. Matthew 6 also instructs us to "seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." (verse 33)
Jesus knew God's heart better than anyone. He knew that relationship was and still is God's number 1 priority. When the religious leaders asked Jesus which of the commandments was most important, He responded, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important. Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these." (Mark 12:28-31)
The more I pursue God, the more love He gives me for people. With all my heart, I believe that the most valuable things I have to invest are my time, my energy, and my love. Where will I invest those things? I'll be the first to admit that I don't always choose wisely and sometimes I choose selfishly. God is helping me to choose His priorities...loving Him and loving people. It is that simple to invest wisely.
Several weeks ago, God asked me, "Where will you invest?" There are so many layers to that question, and truthfully, I'm still processing through all of it. Writing usually helps me solidify thoughts and ideas, so here I am.
Traditionally, we have studied these verses with money in mind. Verse 24 of the same chapter says, "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." It's true. When we are obsessed with making and saving money, there isn't time or energy to pursue a relationship with God or to follow Him. The same is true if we are seeking earthly fame and rewards. Our minds become consumed with the pursuit of money and recognition.
I fully believe that we were created by God for relationship. Relationship with Him and relationship with each other. The first chapters of the book of Genesis tell of the creation of man and woman. It all sounds very relational to me! Sadly, Adam and Eve allowed disobedience to break the close relationship that they had with God. But, God already had a plan...Jesus. Their disobedience didn't catch Him by surprise. John 3:16-17 says, "For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him."
God sent Jesus to the world to restore our relationships with Him. That is our treasure in heaven. Matthew 6 also instructs us to "seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." (verse 33)
Jesus knew God's heart better than anyone. He knew that relationship was and still is God's number 1 priority. When the religious leaders asked Jesus which of the commandments was most important, He responded, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important. Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these." (Mark 12:28-31)
The more I pursue God, the more love He gives me for people. With all my heart, I believe that the most valuable things I have to invest are my time, my energy, and my love. Where will I invest those things? I'll be the first to admit that I don't always choose wisely and sometimes I choose selfishly. God is helping me to choose His priorities...loving Him and loving people. It is that simple to invest wisely.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
because you trust in Him
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (New Living Translation)
The Apostle Paul prayed this prayer for the Christians in Rome, and I pray it often for myself and for others. Today, I prayed it with open hands and a submissive spirit. Trusting God and willing to receive from Him. There is so much good truth in this one verse.
God is THE source of hope. Hope is found in no one and nothing else. We must have His hope or we will not survive in this dark world. Do not be afraid to hope! Hope is a gift of God and His hope will not lead to disappointment! (Romans 5:5) We who have this hope of God MUST share it with those who do not. We have hope that is beyond our circumstances and beyond human understanding. We have hope in the eternal God, who was, and is, and is to come! He is all powerful and all knowing! Hoping in Him will never lead to disappointment! We can have overflowing, confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us!
Not only is God the only source of hope, but He can fill us completely with joy and peace. Again I say, there is nothing and no one who can fill us completely but God. Let your mind and your heart dwell on that for a minute...completely...nothing lacking, no emptiness, full to the top and overflowing with joy and peace and confident hope! Selah!
All of this can be ours because we trust in Him. It sounds simple, and it is simple, but we make it so hard. We forget that God is in control. Nothing catches him by surprise. We fall for the lie that we created the problems and now we must fix them and we cling tightly to what we know. We allow our brains mull over our problems, looking for solutions and answers that will never be there. We MUST trust in God wholeheartedly, nothing held back. He has answers and solutions that our human minds cannot even comprehend.
Because you trust in Him. Open hands, open heart. Confident with hope. Convinced that God is trustworthy and He will not disappoint us. Ready to receive from Him.
The Apostle Paul prayed this prayer for the Christians in Rome, and I pray it often for myself and for others. Today, I prayed it with open hands and a submissive spirit. Trusting God and willing to receive from Him. There is so much good truth in this one verse.
God is THE source of hope. Hope is found in no one and nothing else. We must have His hope or we will not survive in this dark world. Do not be afraid to hope! Hope is a gift of God and His hope will not lead to disappointment! (Romans 5:5) We who have this hope of God MUST share it with those who do not. We have hope that is beyond our circumstances and beyond human understanding. We have hope in the eternal God, who was, and is, and is to come! He is all powerful and all knowing! Hoping in Him will never lead to disappointment! We can have overflowing, confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us!
Not only is God the only source of hope, but He can fill us completely with joy and peace. Again I say, there is nothing and no one who can fill us completely but God. Let your mind and your heart dwell on that for a minute...completely...nothing lacking, no emptiness, full to the top and overflowing with joy and peace and confident hope! Selah!
All of this can be ours because we trust in Him. It sounds simple, and it is simple, but we make it so hard. We forget that God is in control. Nothing catches him by surprise. We fall for the lie that we created the problems and now we must fix them and we cling tightly to what we know. We allow our brains mull over our problems, looking for solutions and answers that will never be there. We MUST trust in God wholeheartedly, nothing held back. He has answers and solutions that our human minds cannot even comprehend.
Because you trust in Him. Open hands, open heart. Confident with hope. Convinced that God is trustworthy and He will not disappoint us. Ready to receive from Him.
Saturday, August 31, 2019
recalculating
I do it all the time. I think about stuff while I drive. I spend hours every week driving, mostly to school and home again. If I happen to be driving somewhere that isn't school or home, I often realize that I have missed my turn along the way because my brain was working on something else and I reverted to habit, heading toward school or home.
I am a creature of habit. I embrace routine and tradition. Habits, routines, and traditions can be good and purposeful and fulfilling, but I am realizing that I have some habits that need to change! They no longer serve a purpose and they are not a wise investment of my time and energy. Albert Einstein is credited with this definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
On my drive home yesterday, I was thinking about how to step back from some old habits. I asked God, "How can I step back without losing my forward progress?" He responded instantly, "Change direction." I remembered all of those times that I missed my turn. In a sense, I was there again. I laughed out loud when God said, "Recalculating!" (I don't even own a GPS!) What do I do when I pass my corner without turning? I turn at the next corner and recalculate my route.
I'm grateful that God always has wisdom for me...and sometimes it even makes me laugh! I'm recalculating!
I am a creature of habit. I embrace routine and tradition. Habits, routines, and traditions can be good and purposeful and fulfilling, but I am realizing that I have some habits that need to change! They no longer serve a purpose and they are not a wise investment of my time and energy. Albert Einstein is credited with this definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
On my drive home yesterday, I was thinking about how to step back from some old habits. I asked God, "How can I step back without losing my forward progress?" He responded instantly, "Change direction." I remembered all of those times that I missed my turn. In a sense, I was there again. I laughed out loud when God said, "Recalculating!" (I don't even own a GPS!) What do I do when I pass my corner without turning? I turn at the next corner and recalculate my route.
I'm grateful that God always has wisdom for me...and sometimes it even makes me laugh! I'm recalculating!
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
fall well
There is a skill to falling well and safely. I found classes, YouTube videos, and many written articles about the art of falling and avoiding injury. I really wanted to title this blog "fall like a ninja", but I've only been able to do that once in my life. I tripped on a sidewalk curb, and as I went down, my brain said, "roll, roll!" So I did. I rolled myself right back up onto my feet, and I have to say that I was amazed. That isn't usually how it goes for me. Usually, I go down in a blaze of glory resulting in scrapes and bruises that make me look like I've been fighting.
I read an article on the Bodyfix Method website by William M. Boland that said, "Each of us will fall. It's only a matter of time and circumstance. It's part of the human experience." That same article gives tips for falling safely. Tips that are used by stuntmen, athletes, and people like me. Bending knees and elbows, rolling, protecting the head, and landing on larger muscles are some of the more useful suggestions that I found.
I loved what this article said...we will fall...it's part of being human. We will fall physically and we will fall spiritually no matter how hard we try not to. The Apostle Paul wrote in the book of Romans (3:23), "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." Sadly, this is our human condition, but we don't have to wallow in it. Ephesians 2:8 says, "God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God." God sent Jesus to be the One and Only perfect sacrifice for all of our sins, once and for all.
When we fall, there is hope. Psalm 40:1-3 says, "I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord." There is always hope...in despair, depression, or fear...Jesus will come when we call! God has made a way for us to fall well...right into the arms of Jesus.
I read an article on the Bodyfix Method website by William M. Boland that said, "Each of us will fall. It's only a matter of time and circumstance. It's part of the human experience." That same article gives tips for falling safely. Tips that are used by stuntmen, athletes, and people like me. Bending knees and elbows, rolling, protecting the head, and landing on larger muscles are some of the more useful suggestions that I found.
I loved what this article said...we will fall...it's part of being human. We will fall physically and we will fall spiritually no matter how hard we try not to. The Apostle Paul wrote in the book of Romans (3:23), "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." Sadly, this is our human condition, but we don't have to wallow in it. Ephesians 2:8 says, "God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God." God sent Jesus to be the One and Only perfect sacrifice for all of our sins, once and for all.
When we fall, there is hope. Psalm 40:1-3 says, "I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord." There is always hope...in despair, depression, or fear...Jesus will come when we call! God has made a way for us to fall well...right into the arms of Jesus.
Saturday, August 3, 2019
stability and strength and joy
God spoke these 3 words to my heart at separate times in the last week, but as I studied each of them, I discovered that they are inextricably connected. These are words that I want to describe my life, and they are words about which God has much to say.
So often, and today is no exception, I do not FEEL stable or strong or joyful. And here is the crux of the issue...feelings. I give my feelings my full attention as though they were undeniable truth. God gave us our feelings, and they are part of what makes us human. But, because we are human, we are also sinful, and we allow our feelings to lie to us and lead us away from God, instead of to Him. I am a deep feeler...I feel my emotions to the extreme, but that doesn't mean that I have to give them the power to rule over me or toss me around like a buoy on waves of water.
We have many choices. Let our emotions drive us. Deny and ignore the emotions. Put up a facade of "all is well". Acknowledge the feelings and give them to God.
God wants us to find our stability and strength and joy in Him. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." We can strip off anything that is weighing us down (including our feelings) and give it to God with open hands. Jesus, I trust you with this.
Stability, strength, and joy are direct results of being in relationship with God and keeping our focus on Him. As with any human relationship, time is a necessity to build and maintain our relationships with God. Time in prayer (speaking AND listening), time in worship, time reading the truth God gave us in the Bible.
Here are some of the truths that I found.
STABILITY:
Psalm 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.
Isaiah 26:3-4 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You. Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal rock.
Psalm 40:2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
Ephesians 3:17 Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. (One of my favorite truths!)
STRENGTH AND JOY:
Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
Psalm 84:5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord!
Habakkuk 3:18-19 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. (These verses have stability, strength, and joy!!!)
JOY:
Psalm 126:2-3 We were filled with laughter, and we sing for joy. And the other nations said, "What amazing things the Lord has done for them." Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Joy is not based on circumstances. Joy comes from being convinced of and overwhelmed by the love of God and remembering what He has done for us. First Thessalonians 5 sums it up nicely...always be joyful, never stop praying, be thankful in all circumstances. Stability and strength and joy will follow.
So often, and today is no exception, I do not FEEL stable or strong or joyful. And here is the crux of the issue...feelings. I give my feelings my full attention as though they were undeniable truth. God gave us our feelings, and they are part of what makes us human. But, because we are human, we are also sinful, and we allow our feelings to lie to us and lead us away from God, instead of to Him. I am a deep feeler...I feel my emotions to the extreme, but that doesn't mean that I have to give them the power to rule over me or toss me around like a buoy on waves of water.
We have many choices. Let our emotions drive us. Deny and ignore the emotions. Put up a facade of "all is well". Acknowledge the feelings and give them to God.
God wants us to find our stability and strength and joy in Him. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." We can strip off anything that is weighing us down (including our feelings) and give it to God with open hands. Jesus, I trust you with this.
Stability, strength, and joy are direct results of being in relationship with God and keeping our focus on Him. As with any human relationship, time is a necessity to build and maintain our relationships with God. Time in prayer (speaking AND listening), time in worship, time reading the truth God gave us in the Bible.
Here are some of the truths that I found.
STABILITY:
Psalm 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.
Isaiah 26:3-4 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You. Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal rock.
Psalm 40:2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
Ephesians 3:17 Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. (One of my favorite truths!)
STRENGTH AND JOY:
Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
Psalm 84:5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord!
Habakkuk 3:18-19 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. (These verses have stability, strength, and joy!!!)
JOY:
Psalm 126:2-3 We were filled with laughter, and we sing for joy. And the other nations said, "What amazing things the Lord has done for them." Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Joy is not based on circumstances. Joy comes from being convinced of and overwhelmed by the love of God and remembering what He has done for us. First Thessalonians 5 sums it up nicely...always be joyful, never stop praying, be thankful in all circumstances. Stability and strength and joy will follow.
Friday, July 5, 2019
run your own race
I ran my first race since September yesterday. I've been running consistently with increasing distance this summer...I have some big goals ahead...and I was feeling good about the progress I have made. I am a slow runner. In fact, some might not even describe what I do as running! I've been training on my own this summer, focusing on making each day better than the day before. Focusing on enjoying the run. Focusing on God and what He wants to say to me while I run. Yesterday, was a different story. We (Team Karr) started in the back of the pack, knowing that we would be slower than some. I immediately lost the things that I'd been focusing on this summer, completely distracted by the runners around me. I stepped right into the comparison trap...and I was stuck there for 3.1 miles! Yikes!
Maybe it's just me, but it seems like I've spent the majority of my life comparing myself to people, especially to people whom I admire. In every area of my life: wife, mom, Christian, teacher, friend, runner, woman, and on and on and on, I have compared myself to the people around me who seem to have it all together and know how to succeed. Guess what? I ALWAYS come up short! It's true...comparison is the thief of joy! Comparison leaves us feeling discouraged, hopeless, and downright lifeless!
I'm determined to get out of the comparison trap! I went looking for truth in my Bible.
Psalm 139:13-17
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous-how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
Romans 12:4-6
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.
1 Corinthians 12:12-21
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where He wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. They eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Good truth! Here are the truths that we need to hold on to:
Maybe it's just me, but it seems like I've spent the majority of my life comparing myself to people, especially to people whom I admire. In every area of my life: wife, mom, Christian, teacher, friend, runner, woman, and on and on and on, I have compared myself to the people around me who seem to have it all together and know how to succeed. Guess what? I ALWAYS come up short! It's true...comparison is the thief of joy! Comparison leaves us feeling discouraged, hopeless, and downright lifeless!
I'm determined to get out of the comparison trap! I went looking for truth in my Bible.
Psalm 139:13-17
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous-how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
Romans 12:4-6
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.
1 Corinthians 12:12-21
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where He wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. They eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Good truth! Here are the truths that we need to hold on to:
- God made each of us intentionally for a specific purpose...our own purpose, not the purpose of someone else.
- Each part of the body and its role is important! Your part and purpose are important!
- We need each other! And we need each other to fulfill our God-given purposes!
- Even though our gifts often happen behind the scenes, they are needed and important. Our vital organs are the most hidden, but we cannot live without them!
- The way to avoid the comparison trap is to keep our eyes on Jesus!
How ridiculous it would be for me to try to run someone else's race! God gave me everything I need for my OWN race. It would also be ridiculous for me to try to be like someone else and run my race. I'm going to run my own race keeping my focus on Jesus, ignoring distractions, and avoiding the comparison trap!
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
quality versus quantity
Jesus lived a life focused on quality rather than quantity. He called only 12 men to follow Him so that He could train, teach, and mentor them to carry on His ministry. Jesus ministry only lasted for 3 years, but He made every minute of it count for eternity. Most of the individual encounters that Jesus had with people probably only took minutes, but they were life changing for those individuals.
My standard for comparison is often quantity, and I usually end up falling short when I compare myself to other people. God has been talking to me about living a life of quality (high grade, superiority, excellence) rather than quantity. Quality is difficult to judge and it is very subjective. Jesus acted and spoke with eternity in mind; numbers simply did not matter to Him. I've been thinking about how I can live a life of Jesus type quality.
- Take the time to connect with people beyond small talk.
- Look for opportunities to love, pray, and serve.
- Choose obedience to God over being recognized by people.
- Invest in people.
- Speak words of life.
- Be mindful and intentional.
- Be Dawn Marie Karr and fulfill MY God-given purpose.
- Fix my eyes on Jesus.
Comparison is a hard habit for me to break. I want to reach the place that my opinion of myself doesn't matter and the only opinion that does matter is that of Jesus. I guaranty that He is looking at the quality of my life rather than quantity!
Thursday, June 27, 2019
open hands...part 2
More and more often, I find myself putting my hands in front of me, palms up and open. It is a kinesthetic reminder to myself to live with open hands. When God first talked to me about open hands, He used them in the context of loving other people. Since then, He has shown me that living with open hands is His way.
Psalm 145 says: The Lord always keeps His promises, He is gracious in all He does. The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to You in hope; You give them their food as they need it. When You open Your hand, You satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. Living with open hands is God's way. He loves us and provides for us with open hands. (See the first "open hands" blog for more.)
The other day, while I ran, God talked with me about forgiving with open hands. Forgiving and letting go. The Bible is filled with admonitions to forgive others just as God forgave us. If we refuse to forgive, we become obsessed with our hurts. As we cling to our hurts, they begin to possess us. Please believe me, as hard as it can be to forgive, especially when our hurts become a part of us, it is worth it! Forgiveness gives us freedom to live with open hands!
Open hands can receive from God and from the people in our lives. I can't imagine taking a cup of coffee offered to me by my husband with closed hands...nearly impossible! Only my open hands can receive the gifts offered to my by those who love me. Only my open hands can receive the gifts offered to me by the God who loves me.
Open hands are in position for prayer. The book of Acts records numerous times when the disciples prayed for people and laid hands on them...open hands required. The Psalms and Paul's letters to Timothy suggest prayer to God with hands lifted up to Him...open hands. I often pray with my hands folded together, but now they will be open. Open to worship, pray, and receive.
As much as I would love to be able to say that I live with open hands, it is not my human state. It is hard for me to let go. Fear says letting go will lead to hurt and abandonment. Well, fear is a liar. Fear comes from the devil. (I've written many blogs about my battle and victory over fear, but that doesn't mean that the devil doesn't keep trying to paralyze me with it!)
The bottom line for me is trust in God. Do I trust Him with my family, my friends, my future, my hurts, my heart...so that I can open my hands and stop clinging? That's a hard question and one I must ask myself daily, sometimes hourly. Trusting God requires knowing God and knowing that He is trustworthy. Trusting God requires spending time with Him. I'm building trust so that I can live with open hands.
Psalm 145 says: The Lord always keeps His promises, He is gracious in all He does. The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to You in hope; You give them their food as they need it. When You open Your hand, You satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. Living with open hands is God's way. He loves us and provides for us with open hands. (See the first "open hands" blog for more.)
The other day, while I ran, God talked with me about forgiving with open hands. Forgiving and letting go. The Bible is filled with admonitions to forgive others just as God forgave us. If we refuse to forgive, we become obsessed with our hurts. As we cling to our hurts, they begin to possess us. Please believe me, as hard as it can be to forgive, especially when our hurts become a part of us, it is worth it! Forgiveness gives us freedom to live with open hands!
Open hands can receive from God and from the people in our lives. I can't imagine taking a cup of coffee offered to me by my husband with closed hands...nearly impossible! Only my open hands can receive the gifts offered to my by those who love me. Only my open hands can receive the gifts offered to me by the God who loves me.
Open hands are in position for prayer. The book of Acts records numerous times when the disciples prayed for people and laid hands on them...open hands required. The Psalms and Paul's letters to Timothy suggest prayer to God with hands lifted up to Him...open hands. I often pray with my hands folded together, but now they will be open. Open to worship, pray, and receive.
As much as I would love to be able to say that I live with open hands, it is not my human state. It is hard for me to let go. Fear says letting go will lead to hurt and abandonment. Well, fear is a liar. Fear comes from the devil. (I've written many blogs about my battle and victory over fear, but that doesn't mean that the devil doesn't keep trying to paralyze me with it!)
The bottom line for me is trust in God. Do I trust Him with my family, my friends, my future, my hurts, my heart...so that I can open my hands and stop clinging? That's a hard question and one I must ask myself daily, sometimes hourly. Trusting God requires knowing God and knowing that He is trustworthy. Trusting God requires spending time with Him. I'm building trust so that I can live with open hands.
Monday, June 17, 2019
overwhelmed by love
I am convinced that our lives would be radically changed if we allowed ourselves to be overwhelmed by the love of God. Love and relationship are what God is all about! 1 John 4:8 comes right out and says that God is love. We are tremendously loved, accepted, and wanted by the God who created us, but the enemy does his best to convince us otherwise. It's all part of his plan to keep us separated from our Father God. Sin was part of that plan too, but God so LOVED the world that He gave His only Son as the once and for all sacrifice that bridged the separation caused by sin. (John 3:16) God made a way for us to have relationship with Him, and He did it because He loves us.
Even when we have accepted God's gift of Jesus, the devil doesn't give up. He lies to us and puts us in fear and tries to persuade us that we are unloved by our Creator. We aren't the only generation to fall for the lies. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, "Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may your have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:17-19) And in Romans, Paul wrote, "I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
I'm certain that the devil lied to Paul, using his past against him. Paul had killed Christians before he became one. Paul was shipwrecked and imprisoned more than once after He became a Christian, and I bet the devil used those times to tell Paul that God didn't love him. But, Paul allowed God to overwhelm him with love, even when he was in prison. Paul was CONVINCED of God's love...not only for himself but for all Christians...and that includes you and me!
More and more often, the prayer of my heart is, "Show us Your love, God. Overwhelm us with your love." I am certain that He will answer!
Even when we have accepted God's gift of Jesus, the devil doesn't give up. He lies to us and puts us in fear and tries to persuade us that we are unloved by our Creator. We aren't the only generation to fall for the lies. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, "Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may your have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:17-19) And in Romans, Paul wrote, "I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
I'm certain that the devil lied to Paul, using his past against him. Paul had killed Christians before he became one. Paul was shipwrecked and imprisoned more than once after He became a Christian, and I bet the devil used those times to tell Paul that God didn't love him. But, Paul allowed God to overwhelm him with love, even when he was in prison. Paul was CONVINCED of God's love...not only for himself but for all Christians...and that includes you and me!
More and more often, the prayer of my heart is, "Show us Your love, God. Overwhelm us with your love." I am certain that He will answer!
Saturday, June 1, 2019
open hands
Put your hands in front of you where you can see them. Are they open? Are they clenched in tight fists? Are they somewhere in between? Several months ago, God started talking with me about loving with open hands. He showed me my own hands, open and palms facing up (in human anatomy it's called supinated), and He said, "This is how I want you to love."
In my usual style, I've been slowly processing that...thinking, talking, and asking questions. I think I am starting to understand what loving with open hands means. The opposite would be loving with clinging hands that hold on tightly to the people we love. Clinging hands are fearful...afraid of being hurt, rejected, or abandoned. Clinging hands are controlling. Clinging hands put us AND the people we love in bondage. No one is free to be himself or herself. No one is free to love. And no one is free of fear.
God loves us with open hands. He wants us to enter His embrace, to love and to be loved, but He gives us freedom to choose. He gives us grace to come back to His open hands each time we go our own way. He doesn't cling or control us. In John 13:34, Jesus said to his disciples, "Love each other. Just as I have loved you, love each other." Jesus loved His people with open hands, allowing them to make their choices and make mistakes, but He always received them back with open hands. He is our role model. He wants us to choose to be more like Him.
Open hands allow us to give and receive love. Open hands give freedom. Open hands are trusting. Open hands are a sign that we are living in the perfect love of God which expels all fear. (1 John 4:18) Jesus lived and died with open hands, loving us into eternity. I want to be more like Jesus!
In my usual style, I've been slowly processing that...thinking, talking, and asking questions. I think I am starting to understand what loving with open hands means. The opposite would be loving with clinging hands that hold on tightly to the people we love. Clinging hands are fearful...afraid of being hurt, rejected, or abandoned. Clinging hands are controlling. Clinging hands put us AND the people we love in bondage. No one is free to be himself or herself. No one is free to love. And no one is free of fear.
God loves us with open hands. He wants us to enter His embrace, to love and to be loved, but He gives us freedom to choose. He gives us grace to come back to His open hands each time we go our own way. He doesn't cling or control us. In John 13:34, Jesus said to his disciples, "Love each other. Just as I have loved you, love each other." Jesus loved His people with open hands, allowing them to make their choices and make mistakes, but He always received them back with open hands. He is our role model. He wants us to choose to be more like Him.
Open hands allow us to give and receive love. Open hands give freedom. Open hands are trusting. Open hands are a sign that we are living in the perfect love of God which expels all fear. (1 John 4:18) Jesus lived and died with open hands, loving us into eternity. I want to be more like Jesus!
Saturday, April 27, 2019
what you say flows from what is in your heart
A strange thing happened to me this week. I was talking with a work friend, who is truly a kindred spirit. I had told her earlier in the week that I was tired and discouraged. She asked me what I thought was making me so tired, and when I answered, I was a bit surprised by the words that came straight from my heart without passing through my brain. As I processed through my own words, two Bible verses came to mind.
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
Luke 6:45
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23
I'm glad that I was listening to myself because my words exposed what had taken up residence in my heart. As I pondered what to do with this newly acquired information, I realized that all of the situations that are weighing on me are out of my control. The only person I can control is me.
My first instinct is always to run away from situations like these. If I'm not there, my heart is safe. Not an option. I began a mental run through of my other options... Build a wall around my heart. Change my personality. Stop loving and caring for people. Become a hermit. The longer I thought about it, the more ridiculous my ideas became.
And then, quietly, Jesus whispered to me, "Let Me fill your heart." Perfect answer, perfect solution. Why didn't I go to Him first? Why do I always try to figure it out on my own?
If Jesus fills my heart, there isn't room for anything else. If Jesus fills my heart, He protects it from the inside. If Jesus fills my heart, what flows from it is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
That is what I want. It takes time, just like any relationship. Time reading my Bible, time praying, time listening to Him. I want my heart to overflow with Jesus so that what I say flows from what (and WHO) is in my heart!
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
Luke 6:45
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23
I'm glad that I was listening to myself because my words exposed what had taken up residence in my heart. As I pondered what to do with this newly acquired information, I realized that all of the situations that are weighing on me are out of my control. The only person I can control is me.
My first instinct is always to run away from situations like these. If I'm not there, my heart is safe. Not an option. I began a mental run through of my other options... Build a wall around my heart. Change my personality. Stop loving and caring for people. Become a hermit. The longer I thought about it, the more ridiculous my ideas became.
And then, quietly, Jesus whispered to me, "Let Me fill your heart." Perfect answer, perfect solution. Why didn't I go to Him first? Why do I always try to figure it out on my own?
If Jesus fills my heart, there isn't room for anything else. If Jesus fills my heart, He protects it from the inside. If Jesus fills my heart, what flows from it is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
That is what I want. It takes time, just like any relationship. Time reading my Bible, time praying, time listening to Him. I want my heart to overflow with Jesus so that what I say flows from what (and WHO) is in my heart!
Sunday, March 31, 2019
THRIVE
Thrive: to prosper, be fortunate or successful, to grow or develop vigorously, flourish.
Synonyms include: shine, blossom, rise, radiate, progress, bear fruit.
My spirit and soul long to thrive. I have been in "survival mode" for far too long, and I suspect that many of us feel that way. Just getting by and not really expecting anything else. God dropped the word "thrive" into my spirit this morning as I was getting ready to go to church, and He gave me a plant analogy to go with it. I have plants in the three large south facing windows of my classroom. The spider plants and the wandering Jews are surviving, but just barely. They don't get watered often enough, and they definitely need some fertilizer. However, the 3 aloe plants are thriving in the very same spot. They have taken over their pots and grown tall and strong. They are the most beautiful green, and each leaf is plump with healing aloe gel.
Plants don't get to choose where they are planted, but God has given them the most amazing adaptations to allow them to THRIVE in their environments. They grow where the sunlight, and soil conditions, and water amounts, and temperature are just right for them. God meets their needs each day, just as He longs to meet our every need. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) We should be like sunflowers, turning our faces to the Son and receiving what we need from Him.
The sign of a THRIVING flowering plant is that it bears good fruit, and lots of it! If I were an apple tree, I'm sure I would be guilty of thinking, "I'm tired of bearing apples. I want to be like that tree over there...I want to bear peaches! Everyone wants peaches...apples are boring!" Sound familiar? Each fruit bearing plant is specially designed to create its specific kind of fruit. Likewise, we humans are each created uniquely to fulfill our own special God-given purposes. The only person we should want to imitate is Jesus.
I shared the word THRIVE with my pastor this morning and he enthusiastically responded, "You need to read Hosea 6:3!" It says, "Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in the early spring." There is the key to THRIVING...pressing on to know the Lord. I will admit that I am just learning how to press on to know Him. I'm so grateful to have pastors who challenge me, encourage me, and point me to Jesus. They want me to THRIVE!
In John 15:5, Jesus says, "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me, you can do nothing." How do we "remain in Jesus"? It takes time...in the Bible, in prayer, in learning about Him. It sounds simple, and it is, but this world is filled with distractions. The enemy does not want us to THRIVE and he will use whatever it takes to keep us from focusing on Jesus and pressing in to know Him.
My heart's desire is to display the synonyms of THRIVE: shine, blossom, rise, radiate, progress, bear fruit, develop vigorously, flourish! I'm choosing to press on to know the Lord. I'm choosing to remain in Him. I want to do more than just survive. I want to THRIVE!
Synonyms include: shine, blossom, rise, radiate, progress, bear fruit.
My spirit and soul long to thrive. I have been in "survival mode" for far too long, and I suspect that many of us feel that way. Just getting by and not really expecting anything else. God dropped the word "thrive" into my spirit this morning as I was getting ready to go to church, and He gave me a plant analogy to go with it. I have plants in the three large south facing windows of my classroom. The spider plants and the wandering Jews are surviving, but just barely. They don't get watered often enough, and they definitely need some fertilizer. However, the 3 aloe plants are thriving in the very same spot. They have taken over their pots and grown tall and strong. They are the most beautiful green, and each leaf is plump with healing aloe gel.
Plants don't get to choose where they are planted, but God has given them the most amazing adaptations to allow them to THRIVE in their environments. They grow where the sunlight, and soil conditions, and water amounts, and temperature are just right for them. God meets their needs each day, just as He longs to meet our every need. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) We should be like sunflowers, turning our faces to the Son and receiving what we need from Him.
The sign of a THRIVING flowering plant is that it bears good fruit, and lots of it! If I were an apple tree, I'm sure I would be guilty of thinking, "I'm tired of bearing apples. I want to be like that tree over there...I want to bear peaches! Everyone wants peaches...apples are boring!" Sound familiar? Each fruit bearing plant is specially designed to create its specific kind of fruit. Likewise, we humans are each created uniquely to fulfill our own special God-given purposes. The only person we should want to imitate is Jesus.
I shared the word THRIVE with my pastor this morning and he enthusiastically responded, "You need to read Hosea 6:3!" It says, "Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in the early spring." There is the key to THRIVING...pressing on to know the Lord. I will admit that I am just learning how to press on to know Him. I'm so grateful to have pastors who challenge me, encourage me, and point me to Jesus. They want me to THRIVE!
In John 15:5, Jesus says, "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me, you can do nothing." How do we "remain in Jesus"? It takes time...in the Bible, in prayer, in learning about Him. It sounds simple, and it is, but this world is filled with distractions. The enemy does not want us to THRIVE and he will use whatever it takes to keep us from focusing on Jesus and pressing in to know Him.
My heart's desire is to display the synonyms of THRIVE: shine, blossom, rise, radiate, progress, bear fruit, develop vigorously, flourish! I'm choosing to press on to know the Lord. I'm choosing to remain in Him. I want to do more than just survive. I want to THRIVE!
Saturday, March 9, 2019
the truth will set you free
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:32, 36
This has been my prayer for myself and many others in the last year...that we would know the truth, and the truth would set us free. We are held captive by lies. They wrap chains of fear, insecurity, jealousy, anxiety, anger, selfishness, and strife around us, holding us in bondage. Whoever first said the words "paralyzed by fear" really understood the power that we allow the devil to have over us when we believe his lies.
We must be proactive seekers of THE Truth so that we recognize the lies for what they are when they come at us in their deceptive ways. The Bible is filled with THE Truth...about who God is, about who we are, about our enemy the devil, and about anything that we might face. It is imperative to our survival that we KNOW the truth, in our minds and in our hearts, because the devil is incessant in his barrage of lies against us.
My quest for truth has lead to a deep desire to be real...no facade, no pretending...just genuine Dawn with Jesus in me. I spent much of my life trying to be the person I thought my friends and teachers and family wanted me to be...fitting in and not rocking the boat. I was confused and frustrated and I failed because making people happy is an impossible goal.
The truth can be hard to take when we have believed lies for so long. Rejection might be a reality when we choose to live outside of the bondage that we have been in. But I remind myself that Jesus promised us that we would know the truth and the truth would set us free. More than anything, I want to follow Jesus and I want to be free.
God is calling us to be real. To be the people that He created us to be. To seek the truth. To follow Him. To know the truth and to be set free.
This has been my prayer for myself and many others in the last year...that we would know the truth, and the truth would set us free. We are held captive by lies. They wrap chains of fear, insecurity, jealousy, anxiety, anger, selfishness, and strife around us, holding us in bondage. Whoever first said the words "paralyzed by fear" really understood the power that we allow the devil to have over us when we believe his lies.
We must be proactive seekers of THE Truth so that we recognize the lies for what they are when they come at us in their deceptive ways. The Bible is filled with THE Truth...about who God is, about who we are, about our enemy the devil, and about anything that we might face. It is imperative to our survival that we KNOW the truth, in our minds and in our hearts, because the devil is incessant in his barrage of lies against us.
My quest for truth has lead to a deep desire to be real...no facade, no pretending...just genuine Dawn with Jesus in me. I spent much of my life trying to be the person I thought my friends and teachers and family wanted me to be...fitting in and not rocking the boat. I was confused and frustrated and I failed because making people happy is an impossible goal.
The truth can be hard to take when we have believed lies for so long. Rejection might be a reality when we choose to live outside of the bondage that we have been in. But I remind myself that Jesus promised us that we would know the truth and the truth would set us free. More than anything, I want to follow Jesus and I want to be free.
God is calling us to be real. To be the people that He created us to be. To seek the truth. To follow Him. To know the truth and to be set free.
Friday, January 4, 2019
something new, something different
I love beginnings! A new calendar year. A new school year. A birthday declaring a new year of life. Beginnings fill me with hope and expectation. The possibilities are endless for an enthusiastic optimist such as myself.
2019 is new and different and I am excited about it! Change is on the horizon. I'm not sure what it looks like yet, but it's coming. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of change just for the sake of change. What I am looking forward to are the changes that are much needed...in me. 2019 is a year that will be lived in freedom from the fear that has held me captive for so long. My chains are gone and I am free to be the Dawn that God lovingly designed. I am free to take risks and meet the challenges of life head on. I am free to love and laugh and live the way that God planned for me from the beginning of time! I am free to be confident in who I am and whose I am!
I get to enter into my 50's this year, and I can't wait! Each new decade of life has been better than the last ones, so my 50's are gonna be amazing! I still have so much to learn, and I'll be learning until the day that I reach heaven. I've been greatly encouraged this week by Philippians 1:6...I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue to work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns! Wahoo! That is good news!
I'm not sure if I will continue to blog. The blog has been a "safe" place for me to share what God is doing in me with you. It reduces the risk of rejection, but the fear of rejection doesn't rule me anymore! (Yep, I'm having my own little celebration here!) I pray that God will give me face-to-face opportunities to share what He teaches me this year with the people around me.
2019 is definitely going to be something new, something different for me...and I pray that it will be for you too! Blessings!
2019 is new and different and I am excited about it! Change is on the horizon. I'm not sure what it looks like yet, but it's coming. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of change just for the sake of change. What I am looking forward to are the changes that are much needed...in me. 2019 is a year that will be lived in freedom from the fear that has held me captive for so long. My chains are gone and I am free to be the Dawn that God lovingly designed. I am free to take risks and meet the challenges of life head on. I am free to love and laugh and live the way that God planned for me from the beginning of time! I am free to be confident in who I am and whose I am!
I get to enter into my 50's this year, and I can't wait! Each new decade of life has been better than the last ones, so my 50's are gonna be amazing! I still have so much to learn, and I'll be learning until the day that I reach heaven. I've been greatly encouraged this week by Philippians 1:6...I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue to work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns! Wahoo! That is good news!
I'm not sure if I will continue to blog. The blog has been a "safe" place for me to share what God is doing in me with you. It reduces the risk of rejection, but the fear of rejection doesn't rule me anymore! (Yep, I'm having my own little celebration here!) I pray that God will give me face-to-face opportunities to share what He teaches me this year with the people around me.
2019 is definitely going to be something new, something different for me...and I pray that it will be for you too! Blessings!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)