I can't fix everything!

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:40-42)

 I can't fix everything! Man, if I could only realize that before I start trying to fix everything! How much frustration and anguish would I avoid? God is in control, not me!

Like Martha, I get distracted by this world and all the things that are wrong with it.I  have to learn to focus on the things that matter . . . spending time with God, family and the things that impact eternity. Getting things done over quality time with God and people is not the proper choice. Checking off my to-do list rather than helping someone in need is just wrong. 

Fix me Lord so I can learn that I cannot fix me or everything else wrong with this world! Cause my focus to be upon you and others.

He must become greater!

He must become greater; I must become less.(John 3:30)

John the Baptist knew his role. He was to prepare the people for Jesus and then back away. That is exactly what he did. Oh, if I and others could just learn that.

What is my role for the Kingdom?

When do I lead and when do I play the background?

When do I speak and when do I sit quiet and listen?

Help me to know the difference Lord. Help me to live out Your will for me so You can receive glory!

You must be the focus! You must become greater in my life!

Rest in His presence!

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”(Prov. 3:34)Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:5-7)

Have you ever simply rested in God's presence? Seriously . . .?

Just allow your body, mind ands spirit rest . . . relax . . . let go and experience His love, peace, and tranquility. It is a radically different feeling than the hustle and bustle, rat race world we live in today.

We just celebrated Thanksgiving, which is traditionally a time to rest, relax and enjoy friends and family. Time to sleep in, take off from work and school, and chill. Yet for many, it was a hectic few days "off"!

This is not good . . . physically, mentally, or spiritually! Old, young, middle age, we all need to learn how to rest! We must learn to rest in HIS presence. If not now . . . when?

Peace with God brings peace of God

Peace with God brings peace of God. There is a difference! Peace with God means that our conscience has been cleared. Our sinful soul has been cleansed by the blood of Christ. This must be the first step of a relationship with a holy God. The peace of God involves the mind, body and spirit trusting in the power and grace of God. This comes with knowing Him more and more and growing in our relationship with Him. This takes effort on our part!

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. . . . (Colossians 3:14-16)

Know Jesus? . . . Know peace. No Jesus? . . . No peace!

Count your blessings . . . this is the will of God!

Count your blessings....not just at Thanksgiving but everyday.

Many of us, especially young and newer believers, struggle with knowing God's will. Well, Paul lays some of His will out here very plainly: Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Basically knowing the will of God is knowing His character. We should be living out His character as we navigate through life . . . good times and bad. We need to strive to be loving, caring, forgiving, patient, peaceful, gentle, kind, understanding, respectful, and thankful. What if we focused on being like God today so others may see Him in us?

Listen and pray . . . count your blessings one by one. . . .give thanks!

https://youtu.be/Viiw6tGimHo?si=b3NQ0z9FFA0s7LT6

from my performance to His presence

Moving from my performance to His presence . . .

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works . . . (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Let these words sit and permeate our souls for a while. God did not create me to do things to be noticed. He created me to bring notice to Him. He saved me from eternal hell to know Him eternally and to share Him with others so they too may know Him.

Everything I do is for His glory and renown, not my popularity or promotion. We cannot possibly do anything to gain salvation in Christ. It is His grace. Once saved however, our works, which He establishes in us, will bring Him glory and recognition.

I am striving to move from my performance into His presence.

Just shut up already!

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)

There is waaaaay too much noise in the world today. So many talking heads with loud takes and off-the-wall opinions. Just shut up already!

For the CHRISTian, only one voice matters . . . only one opinion counts. Listening to this voice and that voice each day will cause confusion. There is one voice and one way . . . Jesus!

Jesus' words let us know the Truth and the true way to follow. We must learn to cling to His voice and seek His direction. Stay focused. Here is a loud take for you: We have to learn to tell the talking heads to JUST SHUT UP ALREADY! 

Love . . . Love . . . Love . . . always LOVE!

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:1-8)

How is love defined? Ask folks in this world and we will receive a myriad of answers . . . what is your definition of love?

My definition comes from the bible: (1 John 4:8)He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ("Dios es amor.")

Could you imagine if every time we said "I love you" it came with the meaning of God's love? Patience, humility, kindness, respect, unselfish, sacrificial, truthful, hopeful and enduring . . . what a world in which to live as opposed to selfishness, disrespect, anger, hostility, pride, deceit, and woe is me attitudes. 

Love wins. It will always win. God wins! try love today.🤟

"I got this!" - God

"I got this!" Have you ever heard God say this to you?

And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:32-33)

Jesus had just finished explaining parables to the disciples. They finally realized a lot of things. He went on to let them know that He too has and will face some really tough times, yet He was not alone . . . He had the Father with Him! It would get Him through and it should get us through as well.

One reason Jesus had to go back to heaven was to leave us all His presence within us. He would send His Spirit to every believer, just as He had the Spirit of God in Him. We too have Him with us, as He had the Father with Him!

So when we face challenges, know that God is with us. Trust Him more than the world . . . more than people . . . more than anything. Just chill a bit . . ."I got this!", He is saying. Can you hear His voice?

Livin' in eternity . . . what is your zip code?

Ever feel strange or out of place? Have you ever felt like you do not belong . . . something weird about the place where you are? Welcome to the CHRISTian life! This is the norm for us . . . or should be! We should be livin' in eternity now!

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:24-25)

Do you know your zip code? Are you identified by where you live? Most of us are when it comes to car insurance, home loans, health insurance, life insurance and more. Certain neighborhoods and even zip codes are considered high risk/low risk. Yet with Christ, we are not seen as a zip code, but a a Spirit-filled child of God.

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

God is transforming us daily into His image so we will be ready when we get home. So, in the mean time, let's live like we are already there. Identify with eternity. Who knows, we may even get some to follow us home!

Christ in us . . . .

. . . . the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. (Colossians 1:26-28)

It is so crazy . . . that God would allow us to even know Him, much less to allow Himself to be present in us to show the world Who He is! The God of the universe places His Spirit in every believer to represent Himself to the world. He could easily just do miraculous things day after day for the world to see, yet He chooses you and me! 

So my prayer, as was Paul's in the following verse, is that we will experience that hope . . . that joy . . . that peace within us today so that others may experience Him as they are in contact with us. May we reflect Jesus to others today!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Keep the main thing the main thing.

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. (Jude 20-23)

These are definitely the worst of times . . . and yes, the best of times. I try daily to please God, but with all the stuff going on around me . . . it is tough. As a life coach/teacher, it is challenging to stay focused upon God and His will when so many lies are being floated around and so many are accepting these lies. It becomes difficult to teach and model Truth, when so many are living examples of the lies of Satan.

I must remind myself to keep the main thing the main thing. I have to see the world as God does; sick, depraved and in need of help . . . the help only Jesus can offer! When others doubt me and my words . . . even the Words of Jesus Himself, I still must stay focused. Many times my motives and methods are questioned, yet I simply want to see people . . . especially our youth . . . come to know and serve Christ. It can be depressing indeed. I have to stay focused upon His will and His presence. It can get lonely doing His will when others don't get it.

I must keep the main thing the main thing!

Why worry?

"Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. . . . And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. (Luke 12:23,29-31)

We worry too much and pray too little. I know that is my issue. I even worry in my prayers....repeating things over and over as if God did not hear me the first time! I know Paul says to "pray unceasingly", (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17)but does that mean to repeat my desires over and over again within five minutes? It's like, "God, did you hear me the first time?"

Deep inside, I know God hears me and knows my desires for my life, my family, and the students I teach. However, when I do not see results in my timing, I do get anxious and I worry.

While I desire to do His work, as most of us do, the worries of the world get in the way. We know God is in control but we would like Him to work a bit faster! I guess it is human nature . . . but for us it should be His Spirit-nature controlling us!

Lord help us trust you today and tomorrow . . . why worry?

Looking back . . . .thank God!

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41:10)

Let's think back to challenges we have had to face over the years. For students, it may be making it through middle school or finally seeing graduation in the very near future after four years of struggles. For adults and parents it may be wondering how we ever raised our teenagers to be young adults: how did they make it through?

We all have faced challenges in life no matter our age and yet here we are today! We made it. Looking back, can we just take a minute to thank God?

Read this familiar poem once again and carefully look back . . .

One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."

Here it is in song: https://youtu.be/dCsZNalcaXM?si=FeYqZiibLucB-EZ1

A trust factor.....

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

Let's face it . . . we have all been lied to in this world. Get an education. Get a career. make money. Have a family. Grow old. Be happy and die. Beautiful life . . . beautiful family . . . beautiful home . . . After all, the one with the most toys at the end wins . . . right?

• A believers, we are told just the opposite. Do not trust in possessions. (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2020%3A7&version=NIV) 
• We are told to let go of this world and embrace what God offers. (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204%3A19&version=NIV) 
• After all, we are not of this world anymore, we are Kingdom citizens! (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2018%3A36&version=NIV)

Man, it is a struggle seeing so many prosper when we might be struggling. Some seem to obtain things so easily and we ask "Why?" 

• Why can't I? 
• Why don't I?
• Why me?

God is patient so we must be patient. His plans for us is eternal while the plans others have are temporary and finite. We just gotta trust Him!

not me and my agenda

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)

Day after day, if the believer is to really serve God and impact the world for Him, this has to happen. We have to think less about what I can do and what I can achieve and more about what I can do for Christ and what Christ can do through me. The focus must be upon Him and His Kingdom work and not me and my agenda.

Why did He put us upon this earth anyway? Do we ever really think about that? Is it really about the job, the title, the money, the scholarship, the degree, the retirement account? Boy, do we have to change our mindset. 

It starts with today! It begins with me. Think about our lives . . . . why does God put us in position to obtain a scholarship . . . get a career . . . earn money . . . be able to travel? All He gives us are opportunities to serve Him and His agenda here on earth . . . not me and my agenda! 

Starting today . . . He must increase and I must decrease!

No pain . . . no gain!

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him . . . (Philippians 3:7-9)

We tend to gain a lot of things over the course of a lifetime. If we simply look back over the last year, we can probably name a few things we have now that we did not have a year ago. Not all things are good either!

However, what we have gathered . . . what we have accomplished . . . what we have obtained has not real value if Christ was not included in the gathering. Most of what we name has good memories. We gain education, friendships, rewards in sports, job promotions, and the like. Some may have gathered wealth, homes and cars. Yet what have we really gained?

I have found that it is the losses that we really gain in life. This is where we learn the real life lessons . . . lessons that last an eternity! 

We all have heard the expression in the gym; No pain, No gain! It is true in our spiritual walk as well. The pains and losses we go through in life are where we gain the closeness of God. We feel His presence. We run to Him and trust in Him more. Failures cause us to communicate with Him more and we receive the richness of His presence and comfort. The pain we experience leads to a gain in our relationship with Jesus!

Be filled

Feeling a bit empty? Be filled . . .

“That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith- that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:16-19)

It is indeed a challenging world. Yet for the CHRISTian, we have a power that goes beyond anything this world can offer . . . yes even AI! We have the love of God within us that goes beyond any human understanding!

When we find ourselves weak . . . He strengthens us.

When we lack knowledge . . . He offers wisdom.

When we are lonely . . . He says He has never left us.

When we fail . . . He forgives.

When we are lost . . . He is our Good Shepherd.

When we feel lifeless and without hope . . . He breathes His Spirit into us and we are born again!

May we all come to understand Him more today and every day! Be filled with His love today!

Yet in all these things . . . don't ever give up!

Now this is good news! We may not always get it right. We may not include God and His Spirit in everything we do every day. We sin. We fall. We forget. But God will never allow us to slip away! Thank you Jesus!!!!

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)

He still loves us despite our failures and frailties. Do not ever give up on God!

https://youtu.be/_D6Lqsl4lPs?si=QbygfGL6Cjc5dxVH