Good News for a Change

Will you do something with me today? By the end of the evening last night, I decided to head to bed because I had been inundated with negative news all day. I was able to clear my head before sleeping and this morning I woke up to a great day. Slowly, as the day started to unfold, negative news began to abound.

I started getting grouchy. I heard another piece of news that was negative and thought,

I’m sorry. I can’t fix it. I can’t fix everyone’s problems all the time and someone is always unhappy about something.

Needless to say, that was the wrong response, and I walked away asking myself, What is wrong with me?

I realized that I was letting the influx of negativity affect me in the wrong way.

But sometimes, we just need a balance. We need to hear positive, encouraging news. It lifts us up.

Maybe there’s a reason the Bible says to talk about His wondrous works.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! Psalm 105:1-2 NKJ

I want to hear good news! Will you leave a positive comment? I want to hear if your sister-in-law just received Jesus, if your doctor gave you a good report, or if your dog just came home!

I’ll start by leaving a comment about some good news. Your comments will benefit others who may be discouraged, and need to hear some encouragement.

If you can’t think of anything good, find the good in that situation!

Ready? Go!

Images via Creative Commons: plasticrevolver

This Thanksgiving my focus is not on what I’m thankful for

"Put the knife down nice and slow…now turn and walk away…"

Hello, friends! Happy Thanksgiving!

In church last week, we saw a video on Thanksgiving that mentioned something that I want to share with you today.

The video said during Thanksgiving we ask the question, “What are we thankful for?” when perhaps we should be asking, “Who are we thankful to?”

Every year the focus seems to be on what we are thankful for, and that is good. Yet, while we are rattling off a hundred item list of what we are thankful for, we can easily take God out of the picture. I’m pretty sure every story of the Pilgrims I’ve heard has included that they thanked God. Today, people talk about what they are thankful for in general, but don’t necessarily acknowledge their Source.

Let’s shift our focus.

God, I’m thankful to YOU…for all my many blessings. I thank You for my family, friends, and dear readers. I thank You for my house, vehicles, necessities and food.

And I thank You for the sweet potato casserole we get to chow down on today, even though it cost me more than $26.00 to make a double batch. Wow, those pecans are highway robbery.

So, this Thanksgiving, my focus is not on what I’m thankful for, but to Whom I’m thankful to.

Who’s with me? Are you in?

P. S. After your Thanksgiving feast, you may need to read this post on fasting and watch this video. Hahaha

Image via Creative Commons: Kevin

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Specific Prayers I Pray for You

Prayer is more than a means of communication. When we pray, we are (hopefully) using the authority God has given us and speaking forth the promises and truths He has for us in His Word. When we pray specific scriptures, applying them to specific situations, we hear them and our faith rises.

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7 NKJV

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 NKJV

I Pray for You Daily

Sometimes I miss a day, but I decided several months ago to pray for you every single day. “You” meaning every subscriber, reader, Twitter follower and Facebook liker. You are my community, and you are often on my heart. I also pray for you when a specific name pops into my head. In my experience, they aren’t always random thoughts, but have often been Spirit led. I hope that encourages you. It encourages me when you pray for me. I have asked again and again when a situation arises and I always receive an immediate response from you here or on Twitter or Facebook. I appreciate that immensely!

I Specifically Pray the Following for You

• that you would love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Matthew 22:37)
• that you would love your neighbor as yourself and be a witness (Matthew 22:39; Mark 16:15)
• that you would draw close to Him (James 4:8)
• that any hindrances in your life would be removed (Galatians 5:7)
• for physical healing (1 Peter 2:24; Matthew 8:17)
• for emotional healing (Psalm 147:3)
• that you would be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only (James 1:23-25)
• that you would be spending time with the Father daily (Matthew 6:11: Luke 9:23-24)
• that you would walk in your destiny (Psalm 37:4-5)
• for every need to be met (Philippians 4:19)
• that you would be firmly rooted and grounded in Him (Ephesians 3:17)
• that you would be strengthened to do what you are called to do (Philippians 3:14)
• that you would seek Him and understand all things (Proverbs 28:5)
• that you would hide the Word in your heart (Psalms 119:11)
• that you would walk in faith (Hebrews 11:6)

I provided the references so you would know that I am praying according to the Word of God for you. I hope you will look up all these great references!

I specifically pray for you the things I have listed above, but I will lift up any specific requests you have given me. If you at any time have a specific request, please leave a comment here or feel free to contact me. My contact information is provided on my About Page.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. Ephesians 3:20 NKJV

Do you know how loved you are?

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Domino Circumstances

Do you ever have a season of life just going wrong? I was in a season like that a couple of years ago:

My kids and I moved in with my mom to help her after her hip replacement surgery. During the two weeks I was there, my kids came down with sickness. My glasses broke; new ones cost over $400. My car broke down with a flat tire. My husband hurt his back and was laid up. I hurt my knee and couldn’t walk without being in pain. I received a not-so-pleasant email. It seemed like every time I turned around it was bad news.

I sat in my car alone; my tears matched the rain falling on the windshield. A blanket of depression suppressed my spirit.

God, why are you letting all this happen to me?

A pathetic sigh escaped my lips; I knew I should ask Him what He wanted me to learn so I could get out of this dreadful feeling of not looking forward to tomorrow. He led me to verses on affliction.

This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. Psalm 119:50

Comfort in my affliction…Your Word has quickened me…  The circumstance is not what I believe. I believe what His word says, and gain comfort by that.

I needed that, so I prayed:

According to 1 Pet. 2:24 by Jesus stripes we are healed!

Matthew 8:17  Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses!

Isaiah 54:17  No weapon formed against me shall prosper!

Luke 10:19  We have power over all the power of the enemy!

John 15:7  If Your words abide in me, I can ask what I will and it will be done!

Isaiah 41:10 You will strengthen me and help me!

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble!

Psalm 55:18 He has delivered my soul in peace from the battle against me!

Psalm 34:17  The Lord hears and delivers the righteous from all their troubles!

I gained victory and comfort in the spirit, but my circumstances didn’t change.

The doctor said my knee was a flare-up from a previous case of tendonitis and I had to stay off my feet for a week or two. I am supposed to be helping my Mom! Great! Not the best news, but we’ll just get some friends to come and help me.

In that same week my youngest son had croup and my oldest son had a virus with vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.  My husband got flu symptoms. Yeah…come on over, friends! In a few more days my husband’s family members from Florida were supposed to visit. We tried to postpone that, but they had already driven half way. You’ve gotta be kidding me! I’ve got to prepare for company and get the house cleaned in the middle of all this?

By the end of those three weeks I was depressed again. I have been here before… “This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has quickened me.” I started praying the Word again.

All of this was 2 years ago. I have learned this truth, but sometimes we forget. Almost every day last month was continual bad news. I feel like it was a month that got flushed down Hell’s toilet tubes. I knew the devil was robbing from me, but I was passive.

After a week of hives, I called my parents at 2 AM last Thursday night because I was ready to head to the ER. You know what the word was? “This is a demonic attack against your body, but you need to quit looking at the symptoms and declare your healing!”

I repented, and we spent the next hour in warfare. I am healed and walking in victory. The devil has robbed from me long enough!

What about you? Are you dealing with domino circumstances, or are in need of His comfort?  What verses are you going to pray to bring you comfort and life? 

Photo by Ben Stassen (Creative Commons)

Gaining a New Reputation

My husband, Justin, is co-authoring today!

“Why do they still think of me the way I was three years ago? Can’t they see I’ve changed?” Chuck had given his heart to the Lord about 12 years ago, but had seen little change in his spiritual life until the last three. He knew of the heart-wrenching moments when he had come to a place of surrender and allowed the Lord to work in him a heart change of pride to humility. Nothing was more precious to him than seeing his own weaknesses transformed by the power of the Word. He walked in new places of strength as he let go of the sins that he had given into repeatedly. One thing was bothering him now. He knew he had some major changes, God certainly knew that he had matured as a Christian…why didn’t others understand the same thing?

The Possession of a Reputation

You aren’t the one who holds your reputation. The other person is the one who holds a reputation of you, and it may or may not be accurate. The fact is, you are a new creature when you are saved, but you are also a work in progress. God is changing you in different areas as you continually grow and mature in Him. You are building a new reputation. In Matthew 12:33-34 you can see that you are known by your fruit, and you’re going to speak what is in your heart good or bad.

Others can’t begin to see what is in your heart until you open your mouth. That’s why you need to be talking about what God has done in you. Your testimony is a platform for those around you to see how you have been an overcomer. Satan may use pride as a temptation to choke it out. Don’t let him. Lay the pride aside, and let others know how God showed you specifically what was in you and you repented.

Apply Wisdom

It takes a lifetime to gain a favorable reputation, but only one act of foolishness can cause it to slip away. Wisdom needs to be applied when you share an intimate heart change. Paul did not hesitate to share his past, but he did not share it in every city to which he wrote. You need the balance of being led by the Spirit. Maybe you did hate your sister because of envy, but sharing it could wreck the relationship. On the other hand, you may feel that you need to share it because God knows she suspected that of you and asked Him for evidence of a change of heart. The story of Joseph and his brothers comes to mind here.

Let’s Flip Your Role

Maybe you’re not in Chuck’s shoes; maybe you’re the one looking at Chuck. Perhaps you can think of someone who has a reputation for gossip or who has a critical nature. You shake your head, “He hasn’t changed, hasn’t changed, hasn’t changed!” Remember, you don’t often see the heart changes of others. Your thoughts and feelings toward that person should be “love thinks no evil” (1 Corinthians 13:5d). God sees you as a work in progress, see that other brother as a work in progress, too. Realize that we are all at a different place in our walk with God.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

What can you share right now about a recent heart change God has worked in you? Do you need to change your thinking towards someone because his reputation has preceded him?

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