Category: Confidence

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The Story of Possible

The Christmas story is one of hope and love. It’s a story of the impossible coming to fruition. So many times we become frightened or frozen by what appears to be impossible but…

With God NOTHING is impossible!

Nothing. Not our financial situation, not our health, not our kids or our spouse, our job, our safety, our peace of mind. Nothing! God’s gift to us is the gift of making the impossible possible.

These words were spoken to a young Jewish girl by an angel: “Mary was confused by the angel’s words and wondered what they meant. 30 Then the angel told Mary, ‘Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you, 31 and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. 33 He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.’ 34 Mary asked the angel, ‘How can this happen? I am not married!’ 35 The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. 36 Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. 37 Nothing is impossible for God!’ 38 Mary said, ‘I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.’ And the angel left her.” Luke 1:29-38 CEV

What could be more impossible than this – a young woman, who was a virgin, having a child?

No situation in your life or mine could be more impossible than this. Truly!

God’s power and Mary’s agreement with God’s promise made the impossible possible. If Mary hadn’t believed the angel’s message he would have had to go to someone else. After all, it had been prophesied for hundreds of years that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. But she accepted that NOTHING was impossible.

She believed, she conceived and she received what God gave. The hard thing would be living her conviction. She had to tell her family. She had to tell Joseph and then she had to hear the whispers and the criticism that followed. She was up to the task.

There was another woman who saw the power of God at work; she also saw God do the impossible. She was old, I mean really old. She was almost ninety and her reproductive system had never worked but God made her a promise. Sarah saw God do the impossible in her life.

“The Lord asked Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh? Does she doubt that she can have a child in her old age? 14 I am the Lord! There is nothing too difficult for me. I’ll come back next year at the time I promised, and Sarah will already have a son.’” Genesis 18:13-14 CEV

Compare our impossible situation with Mary and Sarah. Whose need is bigger or more difficult to fix?

God is the same – nothing, absolutely nothing, is too difficult for Him.

Time and time again I come back to my favorite verse. It is the foundation I stand on everyday.

“God is no mere human! He doesn’t tell lies or change his mind. God always keeps his promises.” Numbers 23:19 CEV

Our Father has given us a book filled with promises that cannot fail. Find those promises and then stand knowing that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!

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When Things Go Wrong

There were lots of images I could have used for this morning’s blog but I thought a picture of Elvis, smiling, in a cowboy hat was a good way to start the day.

Growing up I often thought that things going wrong was God’s way of teaching me something. I was mistaken.

As I got older and wiser, I realized that some things that go wrong are a result of our lack of knowledge, our poor planning or our outright stubbornness. I also learned from God’s word that we have a real enemy, who we can’t see, that is out to steal, kill and destroy. If he can’t kill us he certainly wants to render us useless.

“A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good.” John 10:10 ERV

The Bible is filled with people who had circumstances in life go wrong.

  1. Joseph was sold into slavery
  2. Moses had to lead a million grumbling people
  3. Ruth’s husband died
  4. David faced a giant
  5. Daniel was carried away as a prisoner of war
  6. Hannah was barren
  7. Jesus was born during the cruelty of Roman rule in Israel
  8. A young Jesus went missing & his parents didn’t know where he was
  9. John the Baptist was thrown into prison and then beheaded
  10. Jesus was constantly harrassed by the religious leaders
  11. The disciples were in a storm at sea and nearly sank
  12. Peter was beaten and thrown in prison
  13. Paul was beaten, stoned, imprisoned and ship wrecked

These circumstances were not easy situations to deal with but each of them came to a positive end. In each occurrence the Father had a plan to rescue and restore. Each one of these people, people just like you and me, looked to the Lord for help and found it. They were never deserted by God or left to handle things on their own.

“Keep your lives free from the love of money. Be happy with what you have. God has said, ‘I will never leave you or let you be alone.’ 6 So we can say for sure, ‘The Lord is my Helper. I am not afraid of anything man can do to me.’” Hebrews 13:5-6 NLV

I know I quote these verses frequently and that’s because they are life verses for me. They have brought me through some really tough times, and brought me through with peace. We can spend so much of life chasing after financial gain that we lose sight of ouf Father’s provision. We can make money our god and be miserable.

However, when we keep our focus on the Lord and His presence in our lives and things go wrong we can be at peace. We can trust that God is with us and He will be our deliverer. He will be our help.

“Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:15-16 CEV

When things go wrong we don’t have to go with them. We can come to the Maker of the Universe, the Almighty God who just happens to be our heavenly Father and when we do we will find all the help we need!

He’s reaching out to us; we simply need to take His hand.

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Forgive and Forget

We’ve all done things that we hope no one will remember. It could be something embarassing or possibly it was something horrible.

The phrase forgive and forget brings comfort and peace when facing our past. Often forgiveness comes easier than the forgetfulness. Too many times we remember our own failings and shortcomings long after others have forgotten them.

It is this very reason that I am so thankful for what I found in my Bible reading yesterday. I’ve read these verses hundreds of times before.

In the Old Testament, the Jewish people were required to come to the priests and bring sacrifices for their sins. The priests would offer the animal, blood would be shed and forgiveness would be given.

But…they had to come on a continual basis. Always facing the fact that they had sinned. Never finding freedom, true freedom, to go forward and live in peace. Forgiven but not forgotten. Held as prisoners to their actions.

Until…Jesus came.

“But Christ offered only one sacrifice for sins, and that sacrifice is good for all time. Then he sat down at the right side of God. 13 And now Christ waits there for his enemies to be put under his power. 14 With one sacrifice Christ made his people perfect forever. They are the ones who are being made holy.

15 The Holy Spirit also tells us about this. First he says, 16 “This is the agreement I will make
 with my people in the future, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts. I will write my laws in their minds.”

17 Then he says, “I will forget their sins and never again remember the evil they have done.” 18 And after everything is forgiven, there is no more need for a sacrifice to pay for sins.” Hebrews 10:12-18 ERV

Jesus made one offering for our sins. He was the sacrifice and because of what Jesus did God, the Father, has chosen to forgive us and has forgotten all that we have done. He refuses to remember it any longer.

Forgive and forget!

God doesn’t want us living a life of guilt. He doesn’t want us held prisoner to our past. He wants us enjoying the freedom, true freedom, that we can experience because of His love.

“When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! 18 All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him. 19 I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people.” II Corinthians 5:17-19 ERV

What a wonderful Father we have! He has forgiven all, forgotten all and He will never bring up our past. Our sins weren’t insignificant, not at all. However, the sacrifice that Jesus made is so much greater than our sins.

I feel like the Apostle Paul in the verses above – God gave me the work of letting people know that we have peace, real peace, with Him.

Thank God for the new life He gave us. If you’re bothered by things from your past tell the Father about it. Talk it out and then walk away knowing it’s Forgiven and Forgotten!

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Needing Direction

Have you ever had that feeling of being lost and alone?

I think GPS devices were probably invented by someone who had been lost or had a loved one who had been. As annoying as that silly voice is, there is some comfort in knowing that someone knows where I am even if I don’t.

Dave and I watched a movie a while back, “Adrift”. It is based on a true story of a couple who are lost at sea. In one particular scene the young woman is using a sextant to plot their location. In desparation she declares that they are so far off their original course that she doubts anyone with find them. Physically they were lost but they were almost emotionally or mentally lost. Alone and afraid.

I think more people experience being lost emotionally than do physically. The inner turmoil that comes from feeling lost in a big world is unnerving and creates fear. There’s a way of thinking that leaves us feeling isolated and alone even when we are in a group of people. Where’s the GPS for that?

Glad you asked.

“With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. 6 Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.” Proverbs 3:5-6 CEV

We all experience uncharted territory as we go through life but there is One who has gone before and He knows the way and will direct us safely through.

Joshua was a man who had been Moses assistant. He was being groomed to lead the Israelites into the land that God had promised them. Joshua had been there once as a young man but this was new territory. Being the leader of a nomadic nation of over a million people was also new territory. He had many reasons to feel lost and alone but he also had a word from God.

“Then Moses called Joshua. All the Israelites watched while Moses said to Joshua, “Be strong and brave. You will lead these people into the land that the Lord promised to give to their ancestors. You will help the Israelites take that land and divide it among them.  8 The Lord will lead you. He himself is with you. He will not fail you or leave you. Don’t worry. Don’t be afraid!” Deuteronomy 31:7-8 ERV

Don’t worry. Don’t be afraid. Let God lead!

Joshua followed that word and the Israelites were successful in conquering the new land God had given them. The first step into this uncharted territory was the step Joshua took in his heart. He put his confidence in the Lord, not in his own abilities. He trusted God to direct his steps.

What are our uncharted territories? Relationships, career, education, medical, financial, political or maybe a combination of these. We are not alone; we don’t have to have all the answers and in our finite minds we won’t. However, there is One who will guide us through. He will never leave us on our own.

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 NLV

We can take comfort in that!

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Happy Cast Away

I don’t know how many of you have had any experience fishing but some of my best childhood and teen memories are centered around fishing with my dad.

When I was quite small Dad would buy my sister and I bamboo cane poles for our fishing excursions to the lake. No reel necessary. Just a bamboo pole, a length of fishing line, a hook and a bobber. We would sit for what seemed like hours waiting for the bobber to go under indicating we had a bite and more than likely a fish.

Our older brother and our dad had the fancy poles with the spinning reels. They could cast a spinner bait or a live bait half way across the lake where the big fish were. How I wished I was old enough for a spinning reel. Eventually, dad bought me one and now I have several of my own.

Yesterday afternoon I sat thinking about those good ole days and then I remembered a story a friend of ours told us about fishing with his three year-old son. They were in the boat, on the lake. He said he had described in great length how to properly use a spinning rod. He had even showed his son, a couple of times, the way to release the line at just the right time.

The explanation was finished and he felt confident that his son was ready to take the rod in hand. He handed the pole, with baited hook, to his son and said “ok, throw it in”. He turned to pick up his own rod and heard a “ker-splash”. He turned around to see that his son had done exactly that. He threw the whole thing in – hook, line and sinker. There is was – the rod and reel beginning to sink. Dad quickly grabbed the fishing net and was able to retrieve the gear. We certainly all got a good laugh at our friend’s expense.

However…that is a perfect example for today’s Scripture verse.

“casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” I Peter 5:7 NKJV

So many times we are the ones with the spinning reel and rod. We cast our cares out to the deep water, far from us, but when nothing happens we anxiously reel them back in and try to take care of them ourselves. Once again we become anxious and overwhelmed so we cast them out their again. We wait on God to do something about our cares. It appears God is being slow, so we reel them in again.

But that’s not what this verse says…Casting them all upon Him. Just like our friend’s little boy in the boat, God wants us to throw our cares in – hook, line and sinker. It’s then and only then the Father can retrieve them. He takes our cares, makes them His own and we are left empty-handed.

While we cast away our cares there is one thing we are told NOT to cast away.

“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:” Hebrews 10:35-36 NKJV

Oh what joy – to be care-less and confidence full!

I was convicted about some things that I keep reeling back in. So, I encourage you to do what I did yesterday on the sofa in my living room. I grabbed those cares and made the biggest cast I could and got them to the Father with no strings attached. When I did I saw God cast the confidence of His Word to me.

I hope you will do the same.

I very thankful that I get to be a “cast away”!

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Where Do You Hang Your Hat

I got up this morning and headed to the front door to let in the cool morning air and there it was. The hat rack.

Dave made it a couple years ago so we would have a handy place to hang our coats and hats. I love it! There’s room for our big cowboy hats and also smaller hooks for the ball caps that we wear on our walks. It’s always full.

This morning as I opened the door I was reminded of the words of an old expression – not a Scripture, just as expression. “Now that’s something I can hang my hat on”. For those of you who have never heard it let me share the meaning.

When you can “hang your hat on” something it means it’s dependable, reliable, trustworthy and believable. i.e. They’re someone I can hang my hat on, they’ve never let me down.

As we start into November, the month of giving thanks, it’s important to evaluate what we can depend on. Where do we hang our hat?

“Forever, O Lord, Your Word will never change in heaven. 90 You are faithful to all people for all time. You have made the earth, and it stands. 91 They stand today by Your Law, for all things serve You. 92 I would have been lost in my troubles if Your Law had not been my joy. 93 I will never forget Your Word for by it You have given me new life. 94 I am Yours. Save me, for I have looked to Your Law. 95 The sinful wait to destroy me, but I will think about Your Word. 96 I have seen that all things have an end, even if they are perfect, but Your Word is without end.” Psalm 119:89-96 NLV

There is only ONE that I know to be completely faithful and trustworthy, that is God and His word. God’s word is the exact representation of Him in this world. If we want to know how He thinks we read His word. If we desire to see how the Father will act and respond we read His word. When we search for instruction and wisdom we find it all in His word. I am thankful for the infallible Word of God. It has stood the test of time. It will never pass away.

Years ago we used this expression, “God said it, I believe it, that settles it”. However, the real truth is this. God says it and whether we believe it or not it’s settled. God’s Word is always reliable, always true.

Yes, the Word of God is where I hang my hat!

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Mistaken Identity

Yesterday Dave and I went for drive to some small ranching towns near where we are camped. I was talking about a friend who lives there and how it’s been over thirty years since we’ve seen her. I wished we had thought to contact her and tried to arrange a meet up.

We stopped at a bar-b-que place for lunch and were seated near the window. Dave looked out and said “I think that’s her”. I did a double take and sure enough, it looked like her. I headed out of the restaurant and down the street. I called her name but no response. When I got closer I realized it was a case of mistaken identity and I apologized to the woman.

It was a disappointment to say the least.

Has anyone ever mistaken you for someone else? I know I’ve had it happen to me a few times. It’s pretty easy to do. It’s also something that happens every day when it comes to character.

A person who is clean and sober runs into someone they knew when they were an addict and they get treated as if they hadn’t changed. A person who was selfish and self-indulgent turns over a new leaf but they’re held at arms length by those they have slighted.

David, the shepherd boy, had a case of mistaken identity. Golaith, the seasoned warrior, mistook David for an unskilled, scrawny youth. What Golaith didn’t see was the bold, God-fearing, young man who had killed a lion and a bear. Goliath’s case of mistaken identity brought him to his death.

“Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory.” I John 5:4 CEV

We are as guilty as Golaith in some of our misjudgements.

We look in the mirror and see ourselves as weak or inadequate. Moses told God that he couldn’t deliver the Israelites because he stuttered. But God saw the man Moses was on the inside and used him anyway. I’ve heard it said that God doesn’t choose the qualified, instead He equips the willing.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” II Corinthians 5:17 NLT

What are some of the things you, or others, have been saying you can’t do? You’re not qualfied, you’re not equipped to handle. We have a new identity – we are empowered by God for the task at hand.

“I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.” Philippians 4:13 NLV

Don’t look back at who you once were. Look forward at who God has called you to be!

I am so thankful for my new identity in Christ!

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Carrying the Load

Do you see the little boy in this picture? What stands out to me the most is the son is spending time with the father but it’s the father who is carrying the load.

Being a Christian doesn’t mean we are free from disappointment and heart ache. It does mean that we have someone who will carry the load of our cares.

We are faced with the same challenges and problems as everyone else in the world. We experience relationships that fail, physical sickness and disease, death of loved ones, family crises and financial lack. What makes the difference in our lives is our faith and trust in a loving heavenly Father who is willing and able to come to our aide in every situation.

We don’t live with our heads in the sand but we do live with our hand in HIS!

“The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (the Messiah),Because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent Me to announce release (pardon, forgiveness) to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy), 19 to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the favor of God abound greatly].” Luke 4:17-19 AMP

This was the reason Jesus came. He didn’t just talk the talk, He walked the walk.

“Jesus answered, “Go and tell John what you have heard and seen. 5 The blind are now able to see, and the lame can walk. People with leprosy are being healed, and the deaf can hear. The dead are raised to life, and the poor are hearing the good news. 6 God will bless everyone who doesn’t reject me because of what I do.” Matthew 11:4-6 CEV

His purpose is the same today as it was then! When we are feeling overwhelmed we don’t have to fall into the same pit of despair as others around us. We can lift up our heads (a sign of hope) and go to the One who comforts, heals and sets right.

“Hear my cry, O God; Listen to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I call to You, when my heart is overwhelmed and weak; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I [a rock that is too high to reach without Your help]. 3 For You have been a shelter and a refuge for me, A strong tower against the enemy.” Psalm 61:1-3 AMP

“We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. That is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. 15 Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:14-16 CEV

Let Him carry the load.

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Threading the Needle

This will probably be one of the most obscure things I will tell you about.

Yesterday I had time to sit down to the sewing machine to finish one last project for the RV. I was making a table runner and needed to add seam binding to the edge.

Now I know many of you will relate to what I’m about to say next. As we get older our vision needs correction. I, for one, have worn glasses since I was ten years old. Now I have bifocals. When I am doing “close” work I generally remove my glasses, that works best. But yesterday I had my contacts in so the project before me was a bit more challenging. Can anyone relate?

The color I choose for the binding tape and matching thread are pumpkin. Although I had never really thought about it, the color of our leather table top is very similiar. When I was trying to thread the needle on the sewing machine the color of the thread kept blending in with the background of the table making it difficult to place.

I made several unsuccessful attempts and my frustration level was rising. I didn’t want to take my contacts out and I certainly didn’t want to leave the table runner unfinished. I said a simple prayer: “Father, this is such a tiny thing but I need Your help. I don’t want to waste anymore time. Please guide the thread through the eye of the needle”.

He did and I finished!

Some will say why did you ask God to help with something so trivial. I asked because He’s my Father and I know He cares about the things that matter to me. This mattered.

When the kids were small and I was teaching them to sew I helped them thread a needle. I have also had times when my mother was working on a project and she had difficulty as well. Since I felt compelled to help those I love with such a situation I just knew my Father would feel the same way about helping me.

“Ask, and what you are asking for will be given to you. Look, and what you are looking for you will find. Knock, and the door you are knocking on will be opened to you… 11 You are bad (*natural, human) and you know how to give good things to your children. How much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?” Matthew 7:7,11 NLV *explanation mine

My prayer was a simple request. “Dad, I need help.” His answer was simple as well. “Daughter, I’m glad you asked”.

Religion tells us that we shouldn’t bother “Almighty God” with the trivial. Relationship with the Father tells us to come boldly to Him in our time of need.

I am so thankful for my Father/daughter relationship. I’m thankful that I’m not restrained by religion. The day is so much better when we recognize that our Father wants to be a part of all we do.

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Thankful for Direction

Need direction today? Wondering which way to go, which decisions to make?

We learned early on to ask people if they have GPS when they are coming for a visit. After they answer that question with yes, we follow it with one simple instruction. Take exit 22. You see GPS would have them take exit 20 and there’s no way you can get here from there.

It amazes me how many times in my life I have felt that way. There’s no way I can get there from here. Personal growth. Marriage. Parenting. Managing a business. Graphic design (computer skills). Happiness. Joy. Peace. Trust.

“Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you. 25 Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you. 26 Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright. 27 Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:24-27 AMP

God has practical instruction for each day. We just need to be willing to listen and obey!

Sitting here this morning while it’s still dark and feeling the cool of the fall air, I am enjoying the warmth of a good cup of coffee and seeking the Father for the day’s direction, I am very thankful.

Thankful that my Father is still in control; He hasn’t fallen off His throne and His omniscience is superior to the knowledge of the world’s wisest men and His omnipresence penetrates to the farthest reaches of the universe.

With everything He has before Him this day the Father has time for me. He wants to show me the best direction and bring me to a place of rest.

“My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who truly knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so that they can know him too. 28 If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. 29 Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.” Matthew 11:27-29 CEV

Jesus has taken the time to tell us about the Father and not only that, Jesus made a way for us to be adopted by the Father so that we can call Him “Abba Father” (Papa or Daddy). We can experience firsthand His love and compassion. I don’t have to have all the answers and I don’t have to learn by “hard knocks”. I can trust the Father and learn from Him.

“With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. 6 Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.” Proverbs 3:5-6 CEV

Enjoy your day. Let the Father lead. He knows the right direction and there we will find rest!

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