Thankful Thursday - Embracing Change

Change is a product of our environment. Seasons change. The weather changes. Our bodies change. Our families change. Each day is different. Tomorrow will change. Nothing ever remains the same. Life is always changing. Growth in Christ also brings change. Our walk with Christ should never remain the same.

"Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20

This scripture is such a powerful message to me. When we are going through changes in our lives we are to continue to praise God. Whether it is a valley that we are treading through or a mountaintop experience, we are required to give thanks to God for all of it. When a Christian finds herself or himself in a difficult situation it becomes a hunting season for Satan. We are a sitting target and the enemy will do everything possible to divert our attention from God and convince us to focus on our problems and circumstances. This is where many Christians fail the faith test. Many of us demonstrate mud puddle faith.

When we are experiencing a change in our lives we are to give thanks to God for everything. That scripture means the good and the bad. When we give thanks to God in all situations including when life changes, we ensure that the devil will not have an opportunity to plant and cultivate his evil seeds of discouragement, depression and fear.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phil. 4:6

Change isn't always easy but the sooner we embrace it the sooner we will be at peace. We need to remind ourselves that God is doing the changing and then trust Him throughout the process. Dealing with change can be perceived as negative and this can hinder our thinking.

I am thankful today for the many ongoing changes in my life. Without change there would be no seasons, new friends, new opportunities, or maturity in my walk with Christ. Change in this life is inevitable and change regarding our walk with Christ is an absolute must if we are determined to pursue holiness in our lives. It is impossible to remain constant when we are chasing God and His will for our lives. I am thankful for His will and His call upon my life today.

Embrace change and welcome the things God has placed in your path. God desires to do an incredible work in your life and He is calling each of us to step up to the plate and pursue the changes with excitement and anticipation.

I am thankful today that God loves me and continues to use me to reach those who are hurting and discouraged. He will make an incredible difference in your life if you are willing to accept the changes He desires for you.

Lynn is hosting TT today. Visit her site to read other TT posts.

Blessings friends!

God Will Use Ordinary Folks

Do you know that God uses ordinary folks to accomplish extraordinary tasks? Amazing isn't it?For some reason we tend to have this mindset that God cannot do anything great with our lives unless we are credentialed ministers, we have accomplished something absolutely incredible or have been healed from a horrible disease. Obviously these things will certainly win us some level of notoriety but not required for God to use us to accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God.

Reading my devotion the following scripture jumped out at me. When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus Acts 4:13 (NIV). The Sanhedrin couldn't take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. I realize that most pastors focus on the portion of scripture that says, "these men had been with Jesus". It is true they had been with Jesus but what really fascinates me, and I believe sometimes is lost, is the fact that Peter and John and all the other disciples for that matter, were just ordinary men.

Our success in Christ should never be limited or measured by man's opinion or evaluation. God has given each of us incredible gifts and talents. As He opens doors for our ministries we should approach them with confidence thanking God for the continued work He is completing in our lives each day. He doesn't necessarily need the most educated and the most talented individuals to accomplish great tasks. Of course He uses them also but He continues to seek for willing, committed vessels who are sold out for the cause of Christ. God equips the called.

I am speaking to myself today as well as many of you who may be reading this blog. God doesn't make mistakes. He gives us the desires of our heart. I truly believe that when we are totally committed to His will, His plan will unfold in our lives in His timing. I realize that we sometimes become impatient because plans just don't seem to be moving forward in the fast lane but God knows what He is doing. Enjoy the journey. Do some sightseeing. Relax and allow God to use you as you travel this journey. He is going to take you places you never thought were possible if you stay focused on Him and committed to His Word and calling upon your lives.You are special. God has created you for a specific purpose. Don't allow the enemy to discourage you by telling you that you are unworthy for the task God has placed before you. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary works for His Kingdom!

Blessings to all those ordinary people like me, reading this blog today! You are incredible and God has a plan!

In "other" Words - Holiness

To just read the Bible,attend church,and avoid “big” sins -
is this passionate,wholehearted love for God? ”
~Francois Fenelon, The Seeking Heart

I used the book The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges as a teaching series for my adult Sunday School class last year. This study is incredible! What is holiness and can a Christian truly demonstrate holiness in their life?

God despises sin and the Bible tells us that sin separates us from God. The scripture says, "So be holy in all you do" (1 Peter 1:15). So what part of that do we not understand? God commands each of us to be holy in ALL, which means EVERYTHING that we do. WOW! That scripture immediately calls each of us to a higher level in our walk with Christ.

God is holy. He sets the standards for morality. Unlike the Roman gods, He is not warlike, adulterous, or spiteful. Unlike the gods of the pagan cults popular in the first century, He is not bloodthirsty or promiscuous. He is a God of mercy and justice who cares personally for each of His followers. Our holy God expects us to imitate Him by having high moral standards for ourselves. Like Him, we should be both merciful and just, like Him, we should sacrifice ourselves for others.

Every Christian is to pursue holiness. Every Christian is called to live a holy life. Every Christian is to strive to stay away from sin. Holiness is not an option. As Christians there is no exception to this call. This call is not only to pastors, Sunday School teachers or board members. This call is to every Christian no matter what your age, gender, educational or economic level. Every Christian is called to be holy. Because God is holy, He can never excuse or overlook any sin we commit, however small it may be.

Sometimes we try to justify to God some action which our own conscience calls into question. But if we truly grasp the significance of God's perfect holiness, we will readily see we can never justify before Him even the slightest deviation from His perfect will. God does not accept the excuse, "Well, that's just the way I am," or even the more hopeful statement, "Well, I'm still growing in that area of my life." God's holiness does not make allowance for minor flaws or shortcomings in our personal character. "Make every effort..... to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).

After people commit their lives to Christ, they still feel a pull back to their old ways. Peter tells us to be like our heavenly Father - holy in everything we do. Holiness means being totally devoted or dedicated to God, set aside for his special use, and set apart from sin and its influence. We're to be set apart and different, not blending in with the crowd, yet not being different just for the sake of being different. What makes us different are God's qualities in our lives. Our focus and priorities must be His. All this is in direct contrast to our old ways. We cannot become holy on our own, but God gives us His Holy Spirit to help us obey and to give us power to overcome sin. Don't use the excuse that you can't help slipping into sin. Call on God's power to free you from sin's grip.

This week we have a new guest hostess, DEBBIE who shared the quote at the top of this post and is writing on it on her blog, Heart Choices. Be sure to visit her site and the links to the other women who have shared on this quote.

Blessings to you today as you pursue holiness in all areas of your life. God is truly calling each of us to a higher level in our walk with Him.

God Is Working Where You Are Right Now

Last week Bobby and I decided to partially clean out our garage. What a mess! Our home doesn't have the luxury of a basement so all the excess treasures somehow finds permanent residence in our garage.

We recently learned of a place that would gladly receive our treasures and we were only required to deliver the items . It was amazing! As we unloaded the boxes from our car people were going through our things. What is that old saying? One man's junk is another man's treasures! Oh yeah! We were able to treasure lots of folks with several car loads of our junk. Our garage is slowly transforming into its original purpose instead of a storage bin! AMAZING!

That analogy may seem ridiculous to you but think about this. How many of us have become frustrated with where we are because we don't think God is using us? Are you becoming impatient waiting for God to open the door you have been continually praying about? Are you anxious about what God has for you but tired of being in a place you feel is not making an impact for the Kingdom of God? Are you discouraged being at a particular place in your life when you think you should be doing something else for the Lord?

Each of us are physically somewhere right now. We often pray, "God, what do you want me to do next?" but instead we should pray, "God, what do you want me to do while I'm right here?" Direction from God is not just for your next big move. He has a purpose in placing you where you are right now. Begin to understand God's purpose for your life by discovering what it is He desires you to do at the moment!

My leadership mentoring group is reading Anonymous by Alicia Britt Chole. What an awesome book and I encourage you to place it on your reading list. This is an excerpt from the book. Distracted with daydreams of tomorrow's potential, I often found today's reality pale and tasteless in comparison. Before I could even be capable of valuing hidden years, I first had to start valuing each day as something more than just a boring prelude to the exciting future. Every day is a gift from God.

I believe many times we get so caught up in thinking about God's purpose for our lives we totally lose sight of our purpose and what God is doing in our lives. Churches may make this mistake also. For example, the congregation may pour all of its energies into a new facility, only to become self-satisfied or fearful of letting certain groups use it. If this happens, they have focused on the building and lost sight of its purpose - to bring others to Christ.

God has embedded in my heart a huge dream regarding my ministry. I am chasing that dream with anticipation, confidence and excitement. God grants us the desires of our hearts. When? How? Where? These are valid questions to be considered but I won't allow the enemy to discourage me from pursuing what I know God has instilled in me. God constantly reminds me that His timing is not our timing. He has a work for you and for me right now where we are. This is preparation for the bigger picture in our future. Yes, it sometimes does become discouraging when we think we know what God wants for our lives, but God tells us to wait upon the Lord. We are to give 100% to the work where we are. It isn't always easy when you want something so badly but again this is preparation for the next step in our ministry and God's purpose for our lives.

Our garage is not the true definition of a garage but it is slowly being transformed one step at a time. Allow God to transform your life one step at a time as you persevere towards the goal He has placed before you.


Happy Monday! Be blessed!

Live It!

This has been a great week of vacation. Brandon and Casey were here visiting with us until Wednesday evening. We didn't do anything spectacular. Just good ole' family time. It was great! I am really missing them but I am comforted in knowing that they are in God's will which has taken them 1000 miles from home. God has used them both in amazing ways on the campus of Evangel University in MO. There is no doubt in my mind that God has a great plan for them.

Much of our difficulty as seeking Christians stems from our unwillingness to take God as He is and adjust our lives accordingly. We insist upon trying to modify Him and bring Him nearer to our own image.
~ A. W. Tozer ~

Living for Christ requires obedience and submission. It requires a willingness to give up self and follow Christ. It is no longer about me and what I want for my life. Following Christ means putting Him first and seeking His face daily for His complete will in my life. It also requires great sacrifice and unselfishness.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you. Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

To give God first place in our life means to turn to Him first for help, to fill our thoughts with His desires, to take His character for our pattern, and to serve and obey Him in everything. What is really important to you? People, objects, goals, and other desires all compete for priority. Any of these can quickly bump God out of first place if we don't actively choose to give Him first place in every area of our lives.

When I read this quote from A. W. Tozer I began to think about the authenticity of my Christian walk. Being real. Walking the talk. Leaving a legacy of Christian influence. Imitating Christ in every area of my life. I crave to be real so others can see Christ in me. I don't ever want to be responsible for leading someone astray because of false actions represented in my walk with the Lord.

Many times Christians give up and bail out during the journey. We fail to discover what God is unfolding around us because we give up before the ride is completed. Some of this response is a product of weak Christianity. We need to prepare ourselves for life's journey and the pitfalls that await us. If we are trying to survive on mere microwave prayers and drive-thru devotions we will never be ready when the enemy comes on the scene.

Then he said to all, "Anyone who wants to follow me must put aside his own desires and conveniences and carry his cross with him every day and keep close to me! Luke 9:23

Accepting Christ and serving Him is not a one time experience. It requires picking up our cross daily, carrying that cross and obeying God's Word. This is where many people fall short of successfully fulfilling God's will for their lives. People often remain in their comfort zones regarding their relationship with Christ and neglect to think about how necessary it is to renew their relationship daily with the Lord. A Sunday morning sermon will not carry us through an entire week of trials and turmoil. Serving Christ is a daily walk with Jesus. It requires cultivating a strong relationship with Christ by reading our Bibles and praying. It means striving to become more like Him every day.

Picking up our cross daily requires demonstrating Godly character and integrity in all areas of our lives. As Christians we are to exemplify Christ in every aspect of our lives. We are to be imitators of Christ. We need to strive to be more like Him instead of us trying to make Him more like us.
This life isn't about US. Our lives are Christ and His plan. Our focus, goals and ambitions must all be about what He wants for our lives.

So many things today are competing for our attention in this world. Obviously these things are most likely not God things. Many of these things are destructive and will certainly destroy our lives if we weaken to the temptation of the flesh.

As Christians we need to focus on cultivating a contagious attitude so that the unchurched will want what we have regarding our relationship with the Lord. God allowed us to come to Him for salvation even in our imperfect state, while we were still sinners. He is perfect and holy but He didn't wait for us to clean up our act and then allow us to come to Him. He accepted us just the way we were so we could ask God to forgive us right were we were of our sins. He cleansed us and made us white as snow at that moment. He wiped the slate clean. Our sins were forgiven and buried in the deepest seas.

God has a plan and guess what... You and I are in it! Isn't that exciting? He wants to use you and he wants to use me to further the Kingdom of God. That makes my heart jump with excitement. Serving Him is challenging and exciting. We never know what tomorrow will offer but we can know with confidence that our God will be by our side walking with us no matter what the day may bring. Give Him priority today and thank Him for His awesome plan for your life. Tell Him how much you love Him. We owe God so much for what He has done in each of our lives. Be encouraged. God loves you!

Blessings!

Who Is Your Coach?

Confidence is generally described as a state of being certain, either that a hypothesis or prediction is correct, or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective given the circumstances. Confidence can be described as a subjective, emotional state of mind, but is also represented statistically as a confidence level within which one may be certain that a hypothesis will either be rejected or deemed plausible. Self-confidence is having confidence in oneself when considering a capability. Overconfidence is having unmerited confidence--believing something or someone is capable when they are not.


There is a wealth of material available regarding personal inner power and self confidence. I read an article recently that was very disturbing. It was published by a Master Certified Coach and she teaches that self confidence is all about personal power and an inner awareness. An internal state of being if you will. A power that makes us feel in control of our lives. An inner knowing that we are capable of achieving goals and our ability to attain what we want in life. I beg to differ with her philosophy.


As Christians, it isn't about us. Any talent or ability that we posses has been given to us from God. It has nothing to do with us. Our confidence and strength comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who encourages us to keep fighting the good fight. He encourages us to keep our eyes fixed on Him and to achieve the goal He has set before us. Self-Confidence is a misplaced reliance and it is offensive before the sight of God. We sin against God when we think we can be self-sufficient and the masters of our fate. How many times do we shake our fist in God's face and tell Him we know much better than He does when we defy the Word because it simply does not fit our lifestyle?


God instructs us to study His Word daily so that we can reject the temptations of the enemy. But we think that we have it all together and we choose to trust in OURSELVES and OUR abilities instead of God.Whenever we turn our hearts from God, we are telling Him that we do not want to be connected to His life coaching class. We would rather coach ourselves and rely totally on our own abilities. But in the end all we will have conquered is to commit spiritual suicide. Our life coaching efforts will go right down the drain!


Our source of life is God. God says that anyone who turns away from Him to trust in his own sinful flesh for strength will, "be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt where no one lives" (Jeremiah 17:6).


God tells us of consequences that will occur in this life and the next if we turn our hearts away from him and trust in ourselves. Isolation, deprivation and condemnation are the best we can expect if we choose that path. Bushes in the desert are small and their growth stunted because they are cut off from the rains that give life. Without God and His Word, which is the living water, we also will become like the dry lifeless bush living in a parched wasteland.


Jeremiah writes, "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8). God is the exact opposite of a barren wasteland. He gives confidence to His children. God always provided, always delivered, and always responded to the cries of His people for help.Our trust and confidence is often misplaced, often disappointed. Our ideals lie shattered, our goals unattained, our ambitions unfulfilled. In the end, we find that self-reliance and inner power is able to produce nothing but depression and despair. Jeremiah reminds us to place our trust and confidence in God. God has given us His Word so that we can sink our roots firmly into His promises.


God confidence instills self-confidence. There is no inner personal power. Personal power CANNOT move mountains and personal power does not solve problems. Jesus Christ moves mountains. He provides Godly wisdom and coaches us when making life decisions. I rejoice today knowing that my confidence comes from God. He has blessed me with many talents and abilities but I realize that I am nothing without Him. Thank you Lord for being our source and our strength and our encourager.


Blessings friends!

Vision

"The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision."
~ Helen Keller ~

This is such an awesome quote. Many people struggle today in all avenues of life because they have no vision. Churches and ministries struggle today because somewhere along the journey they lost the vision. Vision is eternal goals and dreams rather than temporary benchmarks.
Many things can destroy vision. Lack of resources, lack of planning, and lack of effort can all sidetrack and hijack vision. It is so easy to become focused on simply doing what has always been done because it is familiar and easy. It is easy to get focused on the problems instead of exploring ways around the obstacles.

We live and move and make decisions by what we can physically see. Obstacles in our lives blocks our visions and our dreams. How many times have you wished that you would have done something that you knew in your heart God called you to do? But you hesitated. You reluctantly made every excuse imaginable as to why you could not be successful in that particular venue.

Too many obstacles in your path. Isn't God capable of overcoming those obstacles? They are only obstacles if we allow them to block our vision and hinder God's will in our lives. Obstacles often keep us in our comfort zone and absolutely wipe out any vision we might have for ourselves.

Obstacles such as fear is huge.Whenever we are treading on uncharted waters it is much easier for us to stay in the boat where we feel safe. Getting out of the boat means going places we have never been before. Vision is going places we have never been before. Vision is stepping out of the comfort zone. Walking into areas that we have never experienced. Vision is trusting God and exercising faith that we often give lip service too. Vision is demonstrating the hand of God upon our lives.

Our God is an over comer and He provides all that we need to chase the vision He has placed in each of our hearts. Dream big dreams. Chase after those dreams with passion and perseverance. If God has given you a vision for your ministry, He will also equip and provide what is needed in order for you to accomplish the challenge before you.

Where there is no vision, the people perish........... Proverbs 29:18. To accomplish anything in this life we must have vision. If we are attempting to navigate through each day purely by sight we are in serious trouble. Vision instills hope within us and challenges each of us to pursue God's will for our lives no matter where that may take us in this life.

Blessings friends!

IOW - Peaks and Valleys

"We're not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be." ~C.S.Lewis~

Life is filled with peaks and valleys. A peak is defined as reaching your highest point, crest or maxed out. A peak is something incredible that occurs in your life, something fantastic, something to celebrate and remember. The day you get married - that is a peak. The birth of your child - that is a high point in your life. The day you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior - you were maxed out. During those moments, it's easy to be a Christian. "God is so awesome," you think to yourself. There's no doubt in your mind that God is blessing you.


But we all know that life isn't one continual peak after another. Actually there are times in your life when you probably think the peaks are scarce. There are many valleys. Those difficult moments. The troubles and sorrows of life. When you have been diagnosed with cancer - that is a huge valley. When a loved one dies - that's another huge valley. It is difficult to say, "God is good." Sometimes your faith is shaken. There's some doubt lurking there, when you're in a valley, that God is blessing you and those around you.

Peaks and valleys - so where are you right now? Are you on the mountain top today? Or are you in a valley? Maybe you're somewhere in between - maybe there's a peak or valley for you right around the corner, and you don't even know it. The disciples of Jesus Christ had no idea that they were about to enter a valley - they were about to go through a low-point with Christ. Things with Jesus seemed to be going so well - He had performed miracles - walking on the water, feeding the 5000. He had been surrounded by crowds of people, listening to His parables. It was easy to be a disciple of Jesus at that time. There was no doubt that this was the Son of God, the Savior of the world. The disciples were experiencing one high-point after another with Jesus.

But right around the corner loomed the valley of the shadow of death. The crowds would soon turn against Jesus. He'd be betrayed, and arrested, and tortured, and publicly condemned, and executed in the most shameful way known to man at that time. The valley was right around the corner. The disciples would be filled with fear and doubt that Jesus was the Son of God. Soon, it would be very difficult to be a disciple of Christ.

Jesus takes three disciples to a high mountain top. He lets them experience something amazing - with their own eyes, they catch a glimpse of His glory. Right before the valley, Jesus takes them to a mountain, to a high point, and He does this to strengthen them for the difficult road ahead. Then it was all over. Jesus told them not to tell anyone and they were to go back down the mountain. There was no time to stay there and worship as Peter wanted. There was no time to stay isolated from the cares of the world below. No, they had to go back down the mountain. Jesus did not want to stay on top of the mountain. He said no to the mountain top experience. He is saying that it was good while it lasted, but we must not stay.

We all love mountain top experiences, these are joyful, victorious times of our faith. These are the places we want to be spiritually, but our faith is a journey not a stopping place. We must take what we learn on the mountain top into the valley. A true God experience will change you. If you have had a mountain top experience with God then you should be closer to God than ever before. It is that mountain top experience that will carry you through the valleys in your life.

I don't know if you are on the mountain top or in the valley today in your life. I do not know if you are experiencing a high moment or a low moment in your walk with the Lord. And I don't know where you will be two years from now - what high moments or low moments you will be going through. In reality, neither do you. God's Word is your mountain to climb. Each time you read your Bible or attend church and hear the Word of God, you have climbed the mountain. You see Christ, who has taken your sins away on the cross and has risen from the dead. You catch a glimpse of His glory, even if it's just for a moment. From these experiences you will be strengthened for the days ahead, for all the peaks and valleys that are around the corner.

Jennifer at Scraps and Snippets is hosting IOW today. Check out her blog and the other's who have posted today.

Blessings!

Discouragement - A Tool of the Enemy

The devil, according to legend, once advertised his tools for sale at public auction. When the prospective buyers assembled, there was one oddly shaped tool, which was labeled "Not for sale." Asked to explain why this was, the devil answered, "I can spare my other tools, but I cannot spare this one. It is the most useful implement that I have. It is called Discouragement, and with it I can work my way into hearts otherwise inaccessible. When I get this tool into a man's heart, the way is open to plant anything there I may desire.

"If there is one thing all of us experience it is discouragement. While the devil is busy doing his thing in order to discourage Christians, God is also at work encouraging us to be all we can be for His Kingdom. When the devil beats us down, God lifts us up. While the devil is convincing us to throw in the towel and give it up, God is cheering us on to finish the race!

Life can be discouraging at times. Waiting on God to open the right door or patiently waiting for the right ministry opportunity to come our way is not always an easy task. Most of us are very impatient folks and we want results yesterday. Life isn't that way and God often uses this time to prepare, shape and mold us into the persons we need to be to complete the work He has called us to do. I am thankful today that God controls my future.

Blessings!

The Power of Our Words

The power of words and improper use of the tongue can be totally devastating to individuals and families. It causes needless pain and hurt among our church families because people choose not to bridle their tongues and take responsibility for their words and actions. Pastor's families are sometimes damaged beyond repair by the slanderous words and carelessness of the tongue which creates ugly gossip throughout the community.

According to James, godliness involves bridling the free, uninhibited nature of the tongue and actively controlling the direction of our speech so that it becomes productive instead of destructive. To harness the power of navigation, we need to put our hand to the reins, take control of our words, and steer them in a positive direction.

Remind yourself today that where you go depends on what you say. Let's offer words of encouragement to those around us and refuse to be a part of any negative conversation. Allow God to use you today for His Kingdom in a way that will be positive and uplifting to all those you encounter. Even when the lion continues to roar God continues to reign!!!!

Have an awesome weekend! Blessings!

The Destruction of Bitterness

Last night the ladies from our church celebrated an evening out at Panera Bread. It was an awesome night. The fellowship was sooooooo good. We had a great time and I appreciate each of them so much. We need Christian friends so that we can encourage and pray for one another. God never intended for us to be satisfied on an island.

I am excited! Brandon and Casey are on their way to the east coast!! They should arrive late this afternoon. Bobby and I are taking vacation next week. Family Time!!!!! Love it!

I am constantly hearing so many storiees of people who are dissatisfied with their church and pastor. It breaks my heart to hear people bash their church and the man or woman God has called to shepherd the church. Folks, it isn't our church. It is God's church and His ministry. When are we going to realize that life isn't all about us? People need to dig into their Bibles and diligently seek God's face for forgiveness in their own lives. It seems like so many today are quick to criticize others but have failed to take inventory of their own house.

In churches all over the world people become disgruntled with the church, pastor, or people in the congregation weekly. Choosing not to confront the issues they elect to leave the church. Unfortunately they usually don't leave quietly and even after they leave often times they continue to sow seeds of discontent because they are harboring a bitter and contrite spirit. Oh yes, they tell everyone that life is grand and they could not be happier but the discernment of God clearly reveals the opposite. Because they did not resolve the issue that caused them anger, bitterness will overpower their lives. You can lie to yourself repeatedly but a bitter person does not attract friends or grow God's Kingdom.

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

God commands each of us to get along with one another. The Bible also instructs us to go to the person who has offended us and discuss the offense. Anger turns to bitterness and bitterness grows like a cancer causing hearts to become very cold and callous. Bitterness is sin and if the devil has convinced you otherwise you have certainly been deceived. Sin always blocks our vision of God.

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:15 (NIV)

Bitterness is clearly described as a root. Most of the time you cannot see a root because it is buried deep within the ground. If the root of a tree is damaged the tree will perish. If we harbor bitterness in our hearts it will most definitely affect every area of our lives. When we bury bitterness and anger deep within our hearts we can never live in victory. We will never be happy. We will not experience peace and joy is totally out of the question. Our walk with Christ will be tainted. If things are not resolved with the person who hurt you, bitterness will contaminate everything about your life. Your personality, your attitude, and most importantly your walk with Christ. When bitterness shows up in our hearts it overshadows even our deepest Christian relationships. Bitterness brings with it jealousy, dissension, and immorality. When the Holy Spirit fills our lives, however, he leaves no room for bitterness.

Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God's lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God's blessing - but by then it was too late, tears or no tears. Hebrews 12:14-17 (The Message)

If we are sincere about chasing God and fulfilling His will for our lives, holiness and God's character must permeate our lives. There is no place in a Christian's life for bitterness. If you have elected to leave your church and have recently started to attend another church don't criticize and destroy the work of the former pastor and church. You are living in a very dangerous place if you are constantly gossiping. No sin will enter heaven. The Bible doesn't say some sin or a little sin will enter heaven. The Bible clearly states that sin separates us from God and no sin will enter heaven.

We are truly living in the last days and people who served the Lord all their lives are being deceived and have turned away from God. Seek God daily by reading your Bible and praying. Grow a close relationship with Christ. Walk so close to God that you will know without a shadow of a doubt that when that trumpet sounds you will be gone! Life is too short to carry bitterness and anger in your heart. Make things right today. No one is worth missing heaven. And besides that ....... God has a great plan for your life!

Blessings to you today! Have an awesome weekend!

Thankful Thursday

Laurie at Women Taking A Stand is hosting TT this week. Visit her site to read other TT posts that will certainly inspire you.

"Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed." Psalm 57:1 (NIV)

God is always there for us when life seems to be full of discouragements and disappointments. He is our strength in all situations. We can take refuge in Him when life seems difficult and challenging but He also rejoices with us when we celebrate victorious moments. I am thankful that my God is always with me.

I am currently facilitating two mentorship groups of ladies. I am so thankful for those women. They have been such an encouragement to me. They have spoken into my life numerous times and I am thankful for their transparency and honesty. God encourages us to invest in others. Each of us are a product of someone who took the time to invest themselves in us. I am thankful today for those who were obedient to the voice of God to invest in my life. I am a much better person today because of their unselfishness and discipline.

I am thankful for the special people God has sent into my life who speak words of encouragement for no reason, give me a heartfelt hug, believe in me and truly love and respect me for who I am. I look forward to seeing them each Sunday and they have greatly impacted my life in such a positive manner.

I am thankful for the women God has called me to counsel. They are going through a difficult time and need Christian counsel and direction. I feel honored that God has elected me for this assignment. I am thankful that these women feel comfortable to be transparent. I am thankful that God is truly changing their lives.

I am thankful for music! I love music and when I am feeling particularly low for whatever reason music strengthens my soul. I lead our praise team and direct the choir in our church and I am thankful for these opportunities. I am thankful for God's anointing in our services and during our worship times.

I am thankful for opportunities that continue to unfold in my life. Patience is not a strong attribute of my character but I am learning to wait upon the Lord. His ways are always better than ours!

I am thankful for my mom who I don't see often but talk to everyday on IM. She is a great lady who has been through so much in her life. She has taught me so many positive life lessons.

And I am thankful for my wonderful hubby. He is an incredible man of God, a great dad and grand-dad and my best friend.

Blessings to each of you today!