No Fear! (Trading Satan's Lies for God's Truth)

Along the way I've struggled with life's uncertainties, allowing the fear of the future to consume my thoughts and steal my joy; but, recently, I've received a beautiful taste of God's perfect peace.

The past few weeks have been overflowing with uncertainties-exciting opportunities, unexpected challenges, and significant changes in my life and in the lives of those around me.

I like to believe that I'm an expert at dealing with change, but if I honestly assess my reactions, too often I find myself worried and concerned about the future.

But this is not how God wants us to live. The Bible is filled with encouragement and reminders that we should not be afraid (1 Timothy 1:7); it says we should let tomorrow take care of itself (Matthew 6:34); it assures us that God is in control (Proverbs 19:21); and it tells us that Jesus came to give us abundant life (John 10:10). I could go on and on and on..God makes this abundantly clear in His Word: Jesus came to give us a life of peace (John 14:27).

Clearly, God knew what kind of person I would be and He put these verses, and so many others, in the Bible to give me comfort and assurance in times of uncertainty. I'm constantly amazed at how God fulfills each and every one of His promises. I'm not amazed that he fulfills them, but at how He fulfills them in my life.

These past two weeks, I've been leaning heavily on God, asking Him to lead me beside the still waters; and the peace I've found is truly past all understanding.

So join me as I continue to walk hand in hand with God through the trials and triumphs of life, letting go of my fears and holding tightly to God.

Final Thought: Letting go is one of the most difficult tasks God asks us to perform, but the results are always spectacular.

Between the Blogs

Personal Commitment: This week I’ve come to recognize the power of thoughtful, mindful listening—giving just a few minutes of my time to listen to a friend tell me about his headache, a co-worker tell me about her kids’ antics, a church member share her writings, or my husband tell me about his bike ride. God calls us to love one another; and listening is a simple, but powerful way to express that love. So, I am committed to listening—even to those seemingly insignificant conversations—when the people in my life take a moment to share their joy and their pain.

Hills and Headwinds (Helping Others is the Best Way to Help Yourself)

Along the way I’ve discovered that when I’m encouraging others my burden is lighter and I take very little notice of life’s difficulties.

Here’s something you should know about me that will make this story a bit more impactful: I don’t often say ‘I hate,’ but this time I’m going to make an exception because I really do hate hills and headwinds when I’m riding my bike. These two things are not fun for me and, while I’m embarrassed to admit it, they often reduce me to a whiny little child complaining about how hard it is and desperately wishing I was sitting on my couch eating pasta (or some other equally delicious carbohydrate).

Recently, I participated in the Tour de Nebraska bike ride, and in those five days we were blessed with an excess of two things—you guessed it: hills and headwind. In fact, on Friday the headwind was 23+ mph gusting to 41 mph.

Did I mention that I hate headwinds?

But, despite these challenges, I can honestly say I had a wonderful time riding my bike across Nebraska. Not once did I raise my voice to lament my circumstances. Not once did I stop and refuse to go on. Not once did I wish I was sitting on my couch eating pasta. (Well, maybe once.) No, instead, I truly enjoyed the ride all day, every day—even the hills, even the headwind.

Looking back, I realized that the difference was this: I was riding with a wonderful group of people; we were all struggling together, and I was the incessant voice of cheerful optimism, loudly encouraging those who were lagging and merrily declaring that not only could we do this, but that we were having fun—I was the self-appointed cheerleader (pompoms excluded). And you know what? I was right, we did it and we had fun. Even I was surprised.

This experience made me realize that when I stop focusing on my own problems and instead take time to reach out to help others, I’m always happier. I discovered that as I encouraged others and bolstered their flagging resolve I was strengthened and I began believing the words of encouragement I spoke to others.

So join me as I truly take the words of Jesus found in Luke 10:27 to heart: “He said, ‘That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself’” (MSG). Because as I experienced that windy day on a bike in Nebraska, when I take the focus off myself and instead take time to encourage others, my spirits are also lifted.

Final Thought: Sometimes just a few cheerful words make all the difference.

“Thank You, Father!” (A Prayer of Gratitude)

Along the way I’ve discovered that God is always faithful in fulfilling His promises—always!

This week, I’ve been completely overwhelmed by God’s abundant blessing in my life! So, in this very special devotional thought, I’m simply going to share my prayer of gratitude. So please join me as I praise God for his unending blessings:

God, You are so ver...y faithful. Thank You for leading in my life. Recently, Your gentle hand of guidance has been clear and undeniable. But there have been times when I felt lost, times when I wandered in the wilderness waiting for You to guide me out—and the wait was so very difficult, Lord!

But, today, I want to thank You for those wilderness moments, Father, for it has been in those quiet, timeless moments that my faith has truly grown; and I’ve learned that waiting on You is transformative—it changes the way I experience life. And the deluge of blessings You have poured out after the interminable dryness of the wilderness is awe-inspiring! New growth emerges, flowers of joy flourish, and rivers of hope spring forth: Finally, spring!

So, today, I am celebrating Your faithfulness in my life, God. And I am daily amazed by Your limitless grace. Please hold me firm in Your gentle hand, and don’t let me ever stray from Your perfect presence.

God, You are so good—so very good all the time! You’ve poured out Your blessings…and they just keep coming—rolling like a tidal wave.

Flood me, Father, with Your continued grace, drench me in Your downpour of unending mercy, wash away any doubts in the endless flood of Your boundless love.

Amen.

Final Thought: God is always faithful: Test Him and see.

Between the Blogs

Personal Epiphany: I am not alone in this cold, dark world: When Jesus left this earth, He sent the Comforter, Who is always with me. God is in the beautiful business of wiping tears away—every day, not just when He returns in the clouds of glory at Christ’s Second Coming. God is the Great Healer and He will lead us to the source of all life, if we allow Him.

Between the Blogs

Personal Commitment: Fully surrendering to God means surrendering my fears, my sadness, my anger, my frustration, my dread, my anxiety, and my worry. So, today, I’m committing to full, unconditional surrender, allowing God to take care of the bad in my life as well as the good.

Dispelling the Darkness (Denying Discouragement, Dismissing Depression, Disallowing Despair, and Declining Discontentment)

Along the way I’ve discovered that discouragement is contagious: Like a cold, it’s passed from person to person.

I too feel it, pressing in on all sides, calling me to join the loud, mournful lament. I have every reason to celebrate, every reason to rejoice, every reason to praise God; yet, in these moments, I look around and see others being pressed by the same darkness, the same troubles, the same sorrows; like me, they are allowing the world’s general state of discontentment to act like a joy-devastating disease.

But I don’t have to allow it in! God has already given me victory over the darkness! I simply need to reach out and grasp the waiting hand of God, allowing Him to pull me from the darkness into His joyful light.

The beautiful truth is that God can wash away my sorrow, wiping away my tears, and replace my hurts and pains with joy—and not just when heaven comes, but here and now, today! Sometimes I focus on the fact that God will do all these things when He returns, and He will; however, He wants us to have a more abundant life here and now. If I allow Him, He will give me all this and more—today, and in eternity.

So join me as I continue to remind myself of this beautiful truth: God wants to save me—now; He wants to bless me—now; He wants me to be joyful—now; He wants me to feel His love—now!

Final Thought: When darkness begins pressing in, when depression knocks on your door, when those dark thoughts begin, turn to God, claim His promises, lay that darkness at the feet of God and ask Him to heal your heart.