How Am I Doing At Seeing?

Hey Friend,

My guide "word" for 2016 has been "See"....as in to pray for God to open my eyes in order to "see" Him more clearly.  I'm a little late for a mid-year review, but was compelled to take an inventory as to how I am doing with this goal of mine.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  (Psalm 19:1)

The night I gave my life to Christ and invited Him in to be the Lord of my life, I was lying, by myself, in the the dark, on a grassy plateau in the middle of the mountains of western Pennsylvania.  The campfire had just broken up at the Christian camp I was attending as a thirteen year old. 

I remember lying there, on my back, in the quiet, gazing up at a star-filled sky. Thousands of tiny lights blanketed me and I remember thinking to myself, "Who am I, Lord, that you are mindful of me."  You've created the masterpiece of the heavens, yet you are concerned about what goes on in my little old life.  

Why I'm Not Worried About The Election

Hey Friend,

I generally stay out of the political arena and please don't take this to mean that I'm apathetic about the upcoming election.  I do care, but I'm not getting worked up or overly anxious about it.  Here are some reasons why...

I know a little bit about the Roman Caesars through the ages.  "Caesar" was the highest political rank in the Roman Empire (and the world for that matter). These leaders were known for being tyrannical, paranoid, narcissists who led extravagant and opulent lifestyles.  They were liars and cheaters with a thirst for power and were known to insight civil wars.  (Anything sound familiar??)

Not surprisingly, John wrote of the Apocalypse during Domitian's reign. Domitian persecuted Christians and Jews and was fond of throwing them to the lions to devour.  

What Is My Purpose? Part II

Hey Friend,

In order to get the most out of this post, I encourage you to go back in the Archives to my previous post, "What Is My Purpose? Part I"...

Theologians have debated forever on the exact number of days that Jesus' ministry lasted here on earth.  The Bible says that Jesus participated in three Passovers during his ministry, which some believe that made his ministry three years.  Others argue it was more like two or two and half since he ended his ministry with the last supper.  

Anyway, let's be conservative and say Jesus' ministry lasted for at least two years.  That's 730 days.  In the Bible there are 37 documented miracles...that's 37 jaw dropping days.  So, what was Jesus doing the other 693 days??

Before I get to that, let me share what Jesus said (during his ministry) is the Greatest Commandment.  

What Is My Purpose? Part I

Hey Friend,

I was in my mid forties when I began to ask (or re-ask) the question, "What do I want to be when I grow up?  What is my purpose in life?"  Up until that time I had learned to take pride in my role as a full-time mom.  Wise mentors helped me to see that being a mother is truly a high calling in God's eyes.  I learned to hold my head up and say, "I work out of the home - I'm a full time mom!"  I felt a sense of purpose and calling and direction.

Some days that calling was not so glamorous - like changing dirty diapers and washing load after load of laundry.  I didn't earn any "Employee of the Month" awards for cleaning up puke, but I knew deep down inside that I was doing something important.

Jennifer Dukes Lee - Guest Post & Giveaway!!

Hi Friends,

It is my pleasure to welcome my friend and writer, Jennifer Dukes Lee, to guest post on my blog this week.  Jennifer is launching her new book, "The Happiness Dare".  I am pleased to help my friend, who is the real deal, and who writes with depth and honesty, to get the word out about her wonderful new book. Will you join me in welcoming her to this place...

How Your Thought Life Influences Your Happiness

It was one very pain-filled night. I was standing in the dimly lit sanctuary of my country church. I had come there to pray with a few friends due to an overwhelming set of circumstances in my life. Suddenly, I felt such a deep panic that I thought I couldn’t breathe.

For When You're Struggling

Hey Friend,

I got to know Donna through our mutual enjoyment of a devotional blog called (in)courage (www.incourage.me).  I've shared my struggles with OCD induced anxiety and depression with you before.  I do well most of the time, but on this one particular day I was in the middle of an "episode". 

I was struggling to hold onto God's Truth.  My mind was filled with doubts, and the more it was filled with doubts, the more guilt and shame crept in along with downright fear.  I was sure God was disappointed in my lack of faith and He felt so very far away.  My mind was swimming with negative thoughts and I couldn't push them out no matter how hard I tried. 

You may not have OCD or depression, but I'm sure there have been times when you've struggled.  Struggled with negative thoughts, or doubt, or fear.  Thanks to Donna's reminding...I remembered just who is at work when I am most vulnerable...  the enemy (I call him the creep).  The enemy is a vengeful foe.  He seeks to isolate and destroy us and our minds are his battlefield. 

Recognizing who and what we are battling is the fist step in victory when we are struggling.

I'd like to share a letter to me from Donna in its entirety.  It brought great comfort knowing I was not alone and helped alleviate a lot of the guilt and shame I was experiencing.  In the battle with the enemy...she joined forces with me and I am forever grateful.

"They overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony."  (Revelation 12:11)

Dearest Bev,

Yes, dear heart, I experience EXACTLY all the things you describe.  In fact, I am in that battle right now just as you are.  Yes, it is MUCH harder then to hold onto the Truth, God's word, His promises.  As you say the enemy really kicks you with lies when you're down.  He does the same to me!!!  He is the father of lies, he knows our history, our weaknesses, our circumstances, etc.......he knows right where to shoot those fiery darts, especially when we are down and weakened....he accuses me & condemns me of not trusting the Lord.  He has been doing this against God's children for a very long time and his ways are very refined. 

The enemy is ALWAYS after our faith and lies to us, accuse us, condemn us, remind us of past failures, current ones, and the worst of all.....accuse God to us, always trying to steal, kill & destroy.  This is actually nothing new....he is still doing the same old thing...as he said to Eve in the garden...."did God say?"  And of course, as he tempted Jesus in the wilderness!!  The enemy came to Jesus when he was weakened from hunger.  Also, I have experienced some of my worst times right after a victory or a blessing!   BUT, he cannot win!!!!!  For greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world, right???  And Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith; the Shepherd and Bishop of our soul!!! 

Of course the enemy wants you (and me) to believe his lie that God is somehow disappointed in our faith.....he wants to scare us and attack our very identity in the Lord.....he tries to attack our faith, he wants to steal our identity in Christ, he wants to steal God's purpose for our lives. 

I too feel that God is so far away during these times, but again I KNOW that feeling is lying to me.  Yes, it is scary, I know, but that is just what the enemy wants us to feel (fear).....he puts the lying thoughts in our heads and then turns around and condemns us for having those thoughts/feelings.  A double whammy!!! 

I HATE fear!!!  It is an evil spirit!!!  And of course, as you know, God's word says that He does not give us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind!!!  I confess that word a lot!!!  And our Father does not want us to fear....He says it 365 times in His word (one time for each day of the year)....I love that! 

And, of course, as you know I am sure, during our hardest and weakest times the enemy tries to take advantage and seems to love to get into relationships, especially those nearest and dearest to us, and cause pain to all.  And during those times it is so hard for us to "see" it as God's word says in Ephesians 6:12 that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers. wickedness in heavenly places.  It is so hard because it hurts so darn much! So we cling to God's word - the TRUTH! And KNOW this:  Even when we feel our Lord is far from us, I believe He is actually the closest....and He sees, He knows, and He feels our pain.

Bev, it is not only the "illness" that makes us think and feel all these things, but the enemy using the illness!  God's Word is in us, strong within us!  I confess His word, His promises, a lot during the day, His word telling me who and whose I am.  I spend a lot of time in the Psalms, encouraging myself in the Lord, as David did. 

I hope I haven't been too "preachy", because if I have, believe me, I am "preaching to the choir" (myself).

I pray a lot for the Lord to open my eyes to see what He wants me to see (thru His eyes, His perspective), my ears to hear what He wants me to hear.  On August 17, 2015, I was laying in bed asking the Lord for my "daily bread".  I heard Nehemiah....not a book that readily jumps to mind, so I turned to it and as I did so, my eyes went to Neh 13:14, where Nehemiah is praying "Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services."  I prayed that also and as I did so, I heard the Lord say to me: "I have not forgotten my child."  I said to Him, "but I have failed so much."  He immediately answered me and said, "Not in My eyes."  

He sees us so differently than the way we see ourselves or the way the enemy wants us to see ourselves.  Our Father sees us through His eyes of love for us, He sees us as we are going to be.  Our lives are like a tapestry....on the backside are all the knots, mistakes, etc., but when it is turned around there is a beautiful tapestry that has been created.  That's what the Lord sees!  May we see it as well.

Also, I am going to give you my cell number and if you EVER want to call me PLEASE do so.  Sometimes just hearing another's voice (one who "gets it" and will listen and pray with you), or just chat....helps so much to know that there is someone who hears, who cares, who understands. 

Also, I would like to share with you one more thing as I close:  One morning as I was laying in bed asking the Lord for my daily bread, I heard 2 Timothy 4:18 and this is for you too Bev:  "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom.  To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen".  May the Lord bring comfort and peace to you today, my sister.  We WILL overcome and see that greater weight of glory!!! 

Love & blessings,

Donna

---

I am so thankful that God brought Donna into my life...this is no coincidence...it's a God Thing (no other explanation).  Will you pray with me?

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you and praise you that you never leave us alone in our suffering.  You give us the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, as our counselor and comforter.  You are right there if we just turn to you.  Thank you that you give us/me wise Christian friends, like Donna, who are willing to be prayer warriors and speak TRUTH into the lies that the enemy is throwing at us.  May we never grow too busy or too weary to lift a fallen sister or brother with your TRUTH.  There is power in Your Word and I am so thankful for that.  Help me, in turn, be a light to someone else who is in pain.  Help us all to keep your light burning....because in YOUR Light there is hope. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Be blessed...


ps.  Redeemer Christian Foundation, Inc. is currently running a

Christmas in July Campaign!!

A $25 contribution will provide one child with:

*  The "Joy of Christmas" program December 2016
*  A hearty and nourishing Christmas meal
*  A gift of warm clothing, a small toy, and some treats

"What if you woke up on Christmas morning and there were fewer gifts under your tree because you GAVE to those whose NEEDS are greater than your WANTS?"

CLICK HERE TO GIVE...

Thank you...

Dependence Is Not A Four Letter Word

Hey Friend,

Today we celebrate our great Nation's independence.  By "independent" we mean that the United States of America is free from outside control.  We are not depending on another's authority.  We associate great freedom with our independence.

In our society "dependence" has become a four letter word.  We are supposed to be self-sufficient - not depending on anyone or anything.  We talk, in negative terms, of dependence on drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, and co-dependence on each other.  We go to counseling in order to be free from our dependence.

What if there was a form of dependence that could be liberating and life-giving?  What then?

I believe that dependence on God can be liberating....

Instead of having to try to strive, and earn, and perform for the applause of God and others, I know that only Jesus was perfect.  This, for me, is liberating.

Since Jesus was perfect FOR me, I can now walk in FREEDOM!

Because Jesus was perfect, I don't have to be...PRAISE!

He did it all.  He paid the price.  He satisfied the Law and therefore I am set free to live life to the full.  I can now walk in freedom.

I also believe that dependence on God can be life-giving...

The more we depend on Him, the more we lean in and utterly rely on Him for our every breath, we find the abundant source of life that comes from abiding in Him.  We, in essence, tap into His life source.

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you have fruit unless you remain in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  (John 15: 4-5)

A living union with Christ is absolutely necessary; without it there is NOTHING.

I believe my highest and most difficult calling is to raise my children to be independent of me, but totally dependent on their Creator.  In that abiding dependence is the most liberating life source one can find.

I'll end this post with one of my favorite passages from the book entitled "Abide In Christ":

"Abiding in Him is not a work that we have to do as the condition for enjoying this salvation, but a consenting to let him do all for us, and in us, and through us.  It is a work He does for us - the fruit and the power of His redeeming love.  Our part is simply to yield, to trust, and to wait for what He has engaged to perform." 

May you have a wonderful Independence Day while growing in dependence and reliance upon the One who loves you beyond words and wants to give you life to the full.

Be blessed...


ps.

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Hard to believe it's the same little boy??  RCF, Inc. is transforming lives...

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