DAY 37: Full Control

Have you ever been in a situation where you were anticipating a difficult conversation with someone; but before the conversation ever happened, you had already orchestrated it all? It's like you held the remote control of your life up--fast forwarding, pausing, skipping through various parts until you had decided what they were going to say, how they were going to say it, what your response was going to be and what would result from the conversation. As a result of the conversation you had in your mind on behalf of all parties, you either a) decided that it made it unnecessary to have the real conversation or b) went into the real conversation with assumptions and walls that were virtually insurmountable. In your effort to feel in control, you actually walked away feeling tired and extremely misunderstood?

That controlling spirit often takes us to a lonely and exhausted place that is simply no fun. I know that you've spent many an hour thinking and rethinking and OVERthinking the options of your life and found yourself feeling more and more isolated. It's easy to do. It's easy to get lost in the web of your own thoughts, and it's easy to keep people out with that very same web. It's hard to trust because it opens us up to the uncertainty of heartache. But you have to remember that when you open up, you are not just trusting other people with your heart, but you are demonstrating a trust in God that he will be your refuge (Psalm 91:2) and that he will protect you when you feel at a loss to protect yourself.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 3:5 that we are to trust in the Lord with all of our hearts and lean not to our understanding'. I appreciate how it says "all" and not "some" or "part". We are to trust the Lord even with the part of our hearts that wants to feel known and understood in an authentic way. We are to trust the Lord with the part of our hearts that wants to feel connected. We are to trust the Lord with the part of our hearts that yearns to be in control. And when we trust him with all, when we release control, we allow God to create greater connections for us than we could have ever designed on our own. When we turn every thought and every heart's desire over to God, he said we could trust him to direct our paths. You may want to figure it out and know the next step, but God is challenging you today to let him take full control. Trust him...he's faithful to deliver "exceedingly, abundantly, above what you can ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20).

Be encouraged,
Pastor Andrea

DAY 23: Thought I Was Good...Until I Wasn't...

I was wondering what I would write about today. Today was a good day. I felt like I handled things fine and that no new negative issues came out of me. I also didn't interact with someone where I saw something negative glaring out at me. Like I said, it was a good day. So I sat down to pray about it and got distracted by instagram. Yes...I allowed the allure of the "you've got mail/notifications" draw my attention. As I ran through some of photos of the day, I stopped at one of a lady in her wedding dress and thought to myself how I could never afford such a beautiful, extravagant dress or gorgeous photographs but wishing deeply that I could. In that small moment of nothingingness the word ENVY crossed my heart.

Wow! How quickly had I gone from feeling like I was doing good to realizing that, even in my "goodness", I was still not alright. Now, don't get me wrong, this is not about condemnation. I fully understand what it says in Romans 8 that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ. Finding the roots of negative feelings/emotions/behaviors in my and others' lives is not about pointing fingers or chastising any of us. But what I believe is that words and thoughts have power. So like what happened today, it would have been so easy for me to get fully distracted by that longing for what I feel like I couldn't/don't have (as per the definition of envy). We must remember that what distracts us can also be what delays us. What distracts us can be the thing that holds us back from truly accomplishing what God wants for us because we are so focused on idolizing the accomplishments and blessings of others.

In fact, the Bible says that envy is one of the "evil things" that "defile a person" (Mark 7:22-23) and that "envy makes bones rot" (Proverbs 14:30). This is not simply about being jealous and hating on someone else and thinking that you deserve what they have more, but instead coveting what they have and putting your soul in danger of a fate that doesn't seem to appealing to most. I don't know about you, but the thought of being defiled or rotten is simply not a good thing to me. So, when I take a moment to acknowledge these moments of envy, then I can stop it in its tracks. Saying "don't envy" is not saying "don't dream". Instead it's saying that you keep your dreams flowing in the right direction. When envy shows itself, I can commit that desire of my heart to the Lord and hope that my desire lines up with God's. I can ask God to change my heart towards the things that make his heart beat. Most importantly, I can redirect my distracted focus back where it should be--on the Father.

You likely aren't envious of a silly fluffy white dress or the eye of a good photographer capturing "your good side" as I. You may desire more money, a thinner body, a buffer body, a different professional opportunity, a different social opportunity...no matter what your thing is, know that I'm praying with and for you that God would take full control of your focus and full control of your dreams on this day.

Be encouraged,
Pastor Andrea

DAY 12: Be Gone Controlling Spirit

Did you know that God is real? He is Creator of the universe? He's Author and Finisher of faith... He is sovereign, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. I could go on and on and continue to ascribe to you the Greatness that is the Lord. Yet despite my knowledge of His greatness, I like to be in control of things. Is it just me? So over the past few years, my gracious Lord has been slowly but surely whittling away at my need to be in control. I really have felt great peace work in my life as I have surrendered both the big and little things in my life to Him. I watched as He diligently showed me that He's the same God that provided for Elijah at the brook by sending to ravens to feed him there during the famine (1 Kings 17). I've been awed as He has consistently showed me that He's the same God who delivered on the promises he made to Abraham when he told him to 'go' and he promised to meet him "there" (Genesis 12). I've been astounded as he's continually shown that he is the same gracious and merciful God that spared the children of Israel time and time again even though they were hard-headed. In the midst of it all, what I am reminded of daily is that He's much better at this whole controlling-my-life thing than I am.

When I can't think of what to do next, he's there. But the problem is that first I have to let go. I have to be willing to make His plans come to fruition and not mine. When I don't think I'm ready for something, he's there. When my fears kick in, he's there. When my energy is low, he strengthens me. He is detail-oriented and hasn't forgotten a single thing about me or you. I'm just in awe yet again today of how grateful I am that the controlling spirit that wants to take up permanent residence in my life is not more like a visitor now and again and I'm truly looking forward to the day when it is has completely moved away.

My prayer for you today is that you would be encouraged to rest in Proverbs 3:5-6 and that that controlling spirit in your life will stay at bay...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. 

Blessings,
Pastor Andrea

DAY 6: Grrrr...umble

It's funny how sneaky negative emotions can be. There you are, going about your day with a smile, then someone asks you a question or you are just having a basic conversation and you realize that negativity is about to slip out of your lips. That was me today. There I was, mindin' my own business, having a chat with a friend and realized that I was about to say something that wasn't necessary. It was one of those things that, had I said it it would have been like starting up an engine and taking both me and the other person on a ride through Murmurville.

Today, I caught myself, but how many other times have I failed that test miserably? How many times do I act like the Children of Israel did in the desert and murmur and complain when things aren't just the way I'd like? Countless. I have read Exodus often and thought that they seemed just like me--always with something to say about a situation and not always fully trusting the Lord to bring it all together. As I wonder about marriage and family and new direction for my life, I find myself sensitive about what words I speak. I try my best to speak life to who I am and what I will become knowing that 'death and life are in the power of my tongue' (Proverbs 18:21). So why is it then that negative words become so easy to spew?

James 3:7 calls the tongue "a fire, and a world of unrighteousness", but today I really want to set my mind, my heart and my tongue in line to be a fire that burns for Christ's righteousness and positivity. Be encouraged that you can make a decision mid-sentence to change the trajectory of any conversation for the better. If you find yourself in the midst of causing a brush fire, snuff out the flame and begin to take a different focus in your words and conversations. We sometimes forget the simplicity of making a difference in this world begins with small moments when you can choose to do something great with your small input. Choose today to be the day that your walk and talk match up in ways that bless others all for the Love of Christ.

Lord bridle my tongue. That is all. Amen.

Blessings,
Pastor Andrea

DAY 2: That Darned Pride

 One would think that I would get tired of going around and around with this issue. P-R-I-D-E...the plant of negativity whose roots seem to be so elusive when trying to pull out. But today, I realized that we couldn't have a discussion about ridding our hearts of negativity without dealing with pride early on. I believe that pride is the root of so many of our negative spaces. Our self-righteousness and anxiety or contrary attitudes are often birthed out of the idea that we know better, we would do different/better, we need to have control and so on. Pride is the weight that we often choose to hold on to even in situations when it's to our own detriment.

However, the Bible is clear on this very topic. Proverbs 16:18 says that 'pride comes before our falls and a haughty spirit before destruction'. The Word doesn't hesitate to associate being prideful with being wicked (Psalm 10:4); and one of my favorite verses being where it tells us that "When pride comes, then comes disgrace (UGH!), but with the humble is wisdom." (Proverbs 11:2) At the end of the day, we are faced with a choice. We can hold on to our false righteousness in an effort to be RIGHT or we can begin to connect our hearts with the will of God to be humble.

Today, make a choice to do something a bit different: Choose humility. Choose to rid your daily situations of the horrific, cancerous leech that pride can be. Present your heart today and know that God can truly walk with you and help you. Be reminded that he is the Greatest Gardener ever and when we put our hearts in his hand, he can delicately remove roots that we allow him access to. Present yourself to Him in prayer continually until you look up and trust is built, humility is in bloom and positivity shines bright...

Lord, I have given up my pride and turned away from my arrogance. 

I am not concerned with great matters or with subjects too difficult for me. 

Instead, I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother's arms, 

so my heart is quiet within me. Israel, trust in the Lord now and forever! 

Psalm 131 (GNT)

Be encouraged and be blessed in this day!
Pastor Andrea

The Blessing Never Stops

The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting,
But diligence is man’s precious possession.

- Proverbs 12:27 -

I recently heard about a friend’s choice to leave their job. It was a job that God had clearly spoken into their life. The job was intended to be a gateway for blessing. However, the Word of God came to them saying that the job would first be a test and a cesspool of trials. They went in knowing that the job was made to stretch them and their own human sensibilities. And so I was sad as I thought of how easily/quickly this person seemed to have given up on God. But then I quickly remembered that I’ve done the same. I realized that there are times when I know others must be saddened by my decision to abandon my blessing in the midst of the struggle.

Have you ever questioned your blessings? I mean, really…be honest. Have you ever thought that something was a blessing from the Lord…no…you knew it was only something that God could have provided; then at some point into the manifestation of that blessing, you began to have some doubts? Perhaps you were almost homeless with bad credit when the Lord orchestrated a wonderful home for you that was fully paid for? Or maybe you met and married “the one” and knew that God had made a way for you beyond your single life? It could have been the child that you prayed so hard for, that you were prophesied to about, who finally arrived after infertility diagnoses from the doctors? Maybe a bill was paid that you truly believed God had made a way for? No matter what it was, you gave God all the glory for the blessing.

But some time after the house started showing signs of a leaky roof, the husband signs of infidelity, the child signs of addiction and truancy, and the bills never quite turning right side up you began to question the blessing. You began to question God. “God I know I prayed for this job after being unemployed for two years but now the folks on this job are getting on my nerves!” It’s at that time that I’ve often seen people develop amnesia. How quickly we forget that the very thing we curse with our mouths was the same thing that once blessed us so deeply.

I drove through a neighborhood the other day and saw this man sitting in a huge lawn on a bucket. He appeared to be pulling weeds. And as I drove back through that subdivision a few hours later, he was still at it and again a couple of hours thereafter. His task seemed daunting to me. He didn’t have a huge hoe or special chemicals to combat his lawn with. He used the tools God had given him (his hands) and slowly, diligently made his way across his lawn. As I watched him I could imagine that his diligence was a sign that he cherished his home/lawn and perhaps even cherished the process. As I passed him, the Lord said that’s how I want you to cherish the process.

Sometimes, you may feel like you have been shorted on tools, you may think that this huge blessing has suddenly become a curse, you may believe that God has forsaken you. But today I want to remind you that God wants you to cherish the process, to act with diligence and to continue to praise Him despite how daunting the task ahead may seem. In fact...allow diligence to be your precious possession just as Proverbs 12:27 says. Remember that your blessing never stopped being a blessing…you simply have to continue to adjust your vision to keep seeing it that way.

Be encouraged,

Pastor Andrea

Day 31: Your Word Awaits

As this series of writings comes to a close, I really wanted to leave you all with something particularly profound. I found it amazing that God chose to end this book of wisdom specifically talking about a woman who fears the Lord (Proverbs 31:30). I thought for sure that there was something to that that I should share with each of you reading along with me during the past 31 days. However, as I read Proverbs 31, all of the wisdom therein seemed to be rather personal to me. What I know is that there are so many rich nuggets in the 31 verses of this 31^st proverb. I could spin a word and make it make sense but that would be doing you a disservice. As I read, every thought I had the Lord would say “that’s just for you”. What a sweet feeling to have. And what I can tell you about the Word of the day is that it’s in your heart. God is asking you to take a moment today and open up the 31^st Proverb. Your Word awaits you there.

May the Lord bless you with the sweetness of His Word speaking to your heart in a personal way.

Blessings,

MinD

 

Day 30: Let Him Shield Your Heart

When we look around this world at all of the atrocities of life, it is sometimes hard to believe in God. As we experience death in our lives, financial ruin, divorce, depression, relationship traumas and so much more, it's hard to think that this good God that Christians sing about is real. How do you convince a mother who lost their child that God truly is "working everything for her good" like it says in Romans 8? This God walk that we are forging through is not an easy one. And, even if you read through the Bible, you see story after story of people's pain and trails. And the question of the day then becomes, "What is the point?' Why serve a God who allows such madness? And today the answer came to me in the form of the Proverbs. You see, in Proverbs 30:5 it says "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him." It's not that God allows bad things to happen to those who don't trust Him. That's not it. But what I think is the gift that He gives is in the word "shield".

Shield is about protection. We imagine that it means physical protection, but what I realized when I read this was that the shield that is being referred to here is not a physical one but a spiritual and emotional one. You see, the difference between Christians and the rest of the world is supposed to be the heart of the matter. Trials will come. If they killed Jesus, how much more would the world and evil forces strive to make us suffer and doubt God. But the scripture says that those who TRUST God will be protected from their sufferings and shielded from their doubts.

Today, you may be besieged with doubts--wondering what God is doing, where He is in the midst of your storm--but when you get quiet and rest in trust, he'll send you that peace that surpasses understanding to guard and shield your heart and mind. As the floodgates of trials and tribulations pour open in your world, allow God to use the purity of His Word to filter out the impurities from those experiences and build in your a new hope and a renewed joy. Trust in Him. He will do it. You just have to let Him.

Be encouraged.
Blessings,
MinD

Day 29: The Honor of Humility, The Gift of Grace

A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor. Proverbs 29:23

There is a scripture in James that I often reflect on. It says, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." (James 4:10) It's one of those verses that often sticks in my heart as I reflect on the idea that humbling is something that we do for ourselves and not this thing that God does for us. So I appreciate today's proverb that preaches along this same vein--humility brings honor. It's not just okay to say that we want to be humble, but it's necessary to understand that intention and action must accompany this desire. Walking in humility means putting aside your sense of entitlement and clothing yourself with the understanding that there is nothing that we deserve. While God has made promises to us, His words are ones of grace and not earned blessings. While He hears and understands our cries of "why me", the Lord wants to see our heart changed to "why not me". We may not want to hear this, but when we chose Jesus, we elected to join Him in His suffering (that's what it says in Philippians 3:10 ..."that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death"). If we are sincere, we decide that we love Him more than our creature comforts, we love Him more than what makes sense to us, we love Him more than even our own reputations. The tears you've been crying because your whole world has gone south and you feel like you don't "deserve" it are signs of grief mixed with pride. No one deserves heartache any more or less than the next person. The grace of God lets us know that Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted so that we don't have to live in that space of grief continually. He gave us a gift that is irreplaceable. Thus, as you approach this new week, do so with the cloak of humility surrounding you. Approach others with the thought that we all are in this together with none of us more or less deserving of grace than the next; and watch as people respond with awe and love--honoring the gift you've given them through your humbled spirit.

Be encouraged!
Blessings,
MinD

Day 28: Say What You Mean

"He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue."

Proverbs 28:23

There is a saying that goes "Say what you mean and mean what you say." Today's word from the proverbs is simple and to the point. The weight behind our words is immeasurable. This does not give us the license to say anything, but it does give us the responsibility to live in the middle of truth. Saying "I'm just keepin' it real" is not the same as rebuking a man in Christian love. Love is the key word. There has to be compassion and a sincere desire to improve the other person in order for it to be truly "real" and not just your opinion. So this is the day that you have an opportunity to speak in truth and love and refrain from simple flattery.

Be encouraged in truth and love.

Blessings,
MinD

Day 27: This Season Doesn't Last Always

Have you ever looked closely at a bird's nest? Sometimes they are a blend of both natural elements like twigs and branches mixed in with evidence of the modern world like plastic straws and string. But no matter the construction, we think about a bird's nest as a place of safety and nurturing--the place where eggs are protected and baby birds hatched. But as you read more about nesting, you will find that baby birds don't usually stay in the nest more than a few days. Once born, the nest full of chicks becomes a beacon to predators and they are basically kicked out of the nest to begin a new season in their lives. It's at this point that birds become what is called fledglingsas they are not quite babies any longer but still require the protection and guidance of their parents.

In this process, birds reflect the story of our Christian journey. Even the Bible likens man to this fledgling bird saying, "Like a bird that wanders from its nest is a man who wanders from his place" (Proverbs 27:8). So many of us are in places where we have been unceremoniously kicked out of or even choose to wander from our comfort zones, we are hopping around and learning our way, but we still need the protection and guidance of our Heavenly Father. If we look to the birds for better understanding, we will learn that birds don't remain in this unstable place forever. The fledgling season simply lasts until they are able to fly and be completely independent. As Christians, this is the point where we are somewhat different from that young bird. While the insecurity of the fledgling stage lessens with time and guidance, there is never a time when we become fully independent from our Father. Thus, it is good to know that He has promised that (unlike bird parents) He will never leave or forsake us. He's there when we are hopping around and learning our way and He is there when we are flying high with confidence and certainty in our faith.

Either way, it's my hope that you will take heart that fledgling season doesn't last always. As you find your place and stretch your wings, the Lord will cover and comfort you beyond your wildest dreams if you let Him.

Be encouraged,
MinD

Day 25: Choose Your Weapons Wisely

I often find when speaking to fellow adult Christians that we sound like children in some ways when it comes to how we deal with conflict. Our sense of entitlement to lash out supersedes any desire to be a good witness. Our spiritual reasoning goes out the window when we feel we've been wronged. We operate with that "he hit me first" type of mentality that says it's o.k. to gain vengeance when the recipient of said response is "deserving". Somehow it makes us feel better if the person is mean or rude or annoying or simply just so different from us, but the truth is we know better than that. Being a Christian, an ambassador for Christ, means we've made a conscious decision not to live tit for tat. Specifically, we are called to take the higher road and not even boast about it. Proverbs 25:21 tells us, "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;". Instead of getting someone who got you, this Christian journey is about getting them with a different tool than the one they used on you--repaying evil with kindness and stinginess with generosity. It's easier said than done in the heat of the moment. But it's possible when you have the Holy Spirit guiding your every move. When you've decided to place no other god before The God (not even self-righteous indignation) then you allow God to get the glory. It's as simple as that.

I know you know this. I'm not saying anything earth-shattering or ground-breaking. It's the A-B-C's of The Golden Rule (Do unto others...), but sometimes you need a reminder. So today, as you encounter people along your way, tests will come but be encouraged to choose to use joy and peace as your weapons of choice even when they "hit you first" with evil and disruption.

Blessings,
MinD

Day 24: Preach, Life. Preach!

³⁰ One day I walked by the field of an old lazybones, and then passed the vineyard of a lout; ³¹ They were overgrown with weeds, thick with thistles, all the fences broken down. ³² I took a long look and pondered what I saw; the fields preached me a sermon and I listened: ³³ "A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next? ³⁴ Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, with poverty as your permanent houseguest!" --Proverbs 24:30-34 (MSG)

The story of this lazy man caught my eye in today’s reading of the proverbs. The immediate question that came to mind was, “What sermon does my life preach?” The author of Proverbs describes this man whose overgrown vineyard was evidence of where he had not been attentive through the years. It further helped him to understand his future in permanent poverty. So what about us? What about you? What's overgrown in your life? What area of your life have you allowed to govern itself—not really paying close attention to how it develops? What part of your world sends the message to onlookers that God is a part of your life and what witness do other parts send? Or is it a consistent message across the board?

As we self-evaluate and prepare to finish this year strong, it is important that we are honest with ourselves about where we truly are, how far we have to go, and what role we play in that process. Perhaps we’ve become “lazybones” who need a little prodding so we understand that our vineyard needs attention. Perhaps we’ve simply been content to let things fester—relationships go down a slow spiral, businesses lose face, weight gain leading to one ailment after another. No matter where you are now, you simply need to understand that it’s never too late. Sometimes before a good harvest must come a good pruning and weeding season. Sometimes others will do the work for us while most of the time it’s work we must do ourselves.

Today, be encouraged to do the work so your life will begin to preach the message that both you and God will be proud of.

Blessings,

MinD

Day 23: Don't Waste Your Breath

I have a teenage friend who knows just about everything there is to know...or so she thinks. Talking to them can be frustrating at times because you can't tell them anything. I'm sure I was like that at their age (and much like that even today). "Stubborn" is a characteristic that I've been marked with, and so I recognize it so easily in others. Stubbornness aside, I do not like to debate. So, as I have interacted with my teenage friend, I have to admit that I've found them to be a good example of using wisdom in knowing when to argue and when to simply let it go. You see, knowing that a conversation will likely be an uphill battle with them, I rarely spend a lot of energy trying to convince them. You know what I'm talking about. We've all got a few people in our lives who simply like to debate and like to push our buttons while doing it. At the end of the conversation, you leave worse for the wear and on the border of having a stroke. It's simply not worth it! So it's nice to affirm that that tiny piece of wisdom is not just made up in my brain but also something that was written into the Bible. Proverbs 23:9 says, "Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words." Stop allowing your blood pressure to skyrocket as you must make your point. Sometimes we have to allow people to make their own mistakes (even our children). Sometimes people need to come to the same conclusions we have through a journey of their own trials and tribulations. Even sharing the Gospel should never become a battle of wills. The New Testament phrases it sweetly telling us not to "throw our pearls before swine" (Matt 7:6)--not to put what is most precious to us in the mud to be stomped on by others. We present the Gospel. We present what's important to us. Then we let it go and leave the rest up to God.

Today, be encouraged to practice letting go. Don't spin your wheels in conversations that are going nowhere.

Blessings,
MinD

Day 22 (Yesterday): He's Got Your Back

In this season of economic hardships, there is a growing number if people who fall under the poverty line. Whether out of work or simply trying to make it by on minimum wage, there are so many families who have virtually fallen out of the shrinking middle class. But even for those who have physical means, there are a growing number of folks who are poor and afflicted in spirit. The enemy has stolen their peace, killed their joy, and destroyed their spirit with the slightest of effort (i.e. without even having to try hard). Perhaps that is you. You feel as though 'if it's not one thing it's another' and you spend restless nights trying to figure out how to keep your family from falling deeper and deeper into strife and stress. And, while your joy has been gone for a while now, you feel like you're facing the last straw now that your peace is wavering. Well there is is hope. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 22:23 that 'the Lord will plead their (the poor and afflicted) cause, And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.'

While I can't guarantee that your circumstances will change outwardly, I can reassure you that God has your back. When you are feeling "poor and afflicted", He has taken up for you and has already won the fight on your behalf. It's a fixed fight. When you realize that then you can hold tight to that 'peace that surpasses all understanding' that is promised by God.

Be encouraged in the understanding that God's got your back.

Blessings,
MinD

Day 21: Five Minutes...You're On

The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.  

~ Proverbs 21:1 ~

Today I am reminded of a saying that I once wrote about. It was a phrase that one of my supervisors once told me a few years ago that I find great comfort and encouragement in when I reflect on it. She said, "It's five minutes until change." As long as we wait for life to change and for things to work out in our favor, it seems as though change takes a long time. However, change and blessings come in the instant of an eye. It simply takes one right decision, one nod from the right person, provision from the right direction and your life can change in a moment; and sometimes it's good to be reminded of that fact. As you wait and wish for life to happen around you, realize that it's all in God's hand. And, while it may take a lot of energy and pleading and prodding from us as humans to make change, when we leave it in God's hands then we allow Him to make His wishes come true. Proverbs says that God can turn the head of even the king to accomplish what He wishes. That means that you and I can stop trying to do the work. Stop beating your head against the walls trying to convince other people of who you are or what you are capable of. Stop trying to make life happen. Trust only in God and what He wants to do for you.

Be encouraged to make room for His wishes. They will far exceed anything you can ask or think (Eph 3:20).

Blessings,
MinD

Day 20: Kindness...What A Novel Idea

They say that everyone will get their 15 minutes of fame. In today's media, it seems that so many people are getting more than their fair 15 though they seem to be doing nothing noteworthy. Do you know who I'm talking about? I'm talking about the lovely men and women (and now toddlers) of reality television. Now let me preface this by admitting that I'm a bit of a reality junkie and actually watch many shows. However, I do have a line. You see there are some shows where the people getting all the air-time and exposure are simply a hot mess. They do everything except honor God and manage to get paid to do it.

But as I began to meditate on the life of a reality star, I realized that many of them are here today and gone tomorrow. You see, they can't seem to sustain. They have no staying power--a fact that, in part, could probably be attributed to a simple lack of one character ingredient, lovingkindness. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 20:28 that "Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne." So many of us are looking for that staying power and can't seem to get it. We try one thing and it seems to fizzle. We try another and just can't get things to flow for us. Our fuses seem to get shorter and shorter as the trials in our lives seem to get longer and longer.

What we know is that as Christians we are called to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and kindness is a part thereof. And while we watch those who are the most negative or least benevolent in our lives get this or that earthly reward, what we can rest in is that our eternal reward is much greater and that our ultimate staying power far exceeds theirs.As we are tested in life, it is up to us to decide to make the wise decision to choose kindness over being rushed or rude. It is up to us to look beyond our schedules and schemes to find God's ultimate plan for our continued success. It's so simple (and certainly not a novel idea) that I'm almost ashamed to write about this but I feel as though someone out there needs a reminder about the extreme power of kindness.

Be encouraged as those tests come think on that old saying, "you catch more bees with honey," and make kindness a priority in your walk.

Blessings,
MinD

Day 19: Return Home

I admit it. I've been pouting this evening...

Oh don't look at me in that tone of voice...It's not like I'm alone. So many of us are struggling. We are in places where we are waiting until 11:59pm minute to see God produce "just in the nick of time" miracles in our lives. And sometimes when we don't see our miracles once our countdown has run out (since we put God on a timer), we assume that He isn't in the business of answering prayers. Tonight, I was about to go down that road with God. I was about to ask, in my best self-entitled voice, the age old question of "Why?" (It's amazing that I would have the gall to think that God owes me an explanation. He surely does not.) However, what I realized was that it wasn't that He wasn't going to answer, it was that I had asked amiss to begin with. How often do we get to that point? We've asked God for this or that and He doesn't deliver like Santa Claus on Christmas morning so we slip into a space of doubt in God or depression around our dreams.

What I love about God is that He meets us where we are. As I was about to slide into that pouty place I read Proverbs 19:23 which says that "The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil." Oh how wonderful it would be to abide in satisfaction--what a glorious thought that you live there. But, just like our earthly homes, there are times when we walk out of the doors and have been presented with the opportunity to simply go back home when we're ready. When we make the intentional decision to focus on what God wants more than what we want, we open the door. When we face new days with room for God to change our prayers and our hearts, we step over the threshold. When we praise Him despite what we do or do not get and worship Him just because He's God, we take a seat and "abide".

I don't know about you, but I think I've decided to turn my pout into praise this evening, open the door, step over the threshold and abide in the satisfaction of the Lord. Be encouraged to do the same...

Blessings,
MinD

Day 18: Time To Unpack

“Stuck”…It’s a four-letter word in spirit though made up of five. It’s so easy in life to hit moments when we you simply feel stuck. What’s more, getting “unstuck” can feel daunting and impossible. Beyond simply understanding that "nothing is impossible with Christ" (Luke 1:37), you must take steps to begin to wiggle out of that stuck position. This means you have to actively decide to unlock vision, unchain dreams and unpack the gifts that you’ve managed to stifle inside. There’s something in your heart, a passion that may even be accompanied by a skill set, that seems to be encased in a blanket of slumber (and reeking of moth balls). Do you remember it is there? Do you remember what it felt like to use that gift? Do you remember what it felt like to fly high on your dreams and let that flight catapult you into the next phase of your life? If you answered “no” to any of the above, perhaps it is time to rekindle your fire. Perhaps it is time to unpack the gift and give it the air it needs to breathe and grow wings. We’re told in Proverbs that “A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.” (Pr 18:16).

Begin today by telling someone about that gift and putting it on display. Be encouraged to unpack and stay a while knowing that a room will be made for you soon.

Blessings,

MinD

Day 17: Hold Your Peace

Have you noticed as we are reading that in this book on wisdom, one common theme seems to repeat itself over and over again? The final words of Proverbs 17 are a perfect example and spark the memory that this is not the first time we hear Solomon reference our talking aparatus. It poignantly reads:

Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; 

when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. (vs. 28)

It's enough to prompt a search of the chapters up to this point and determine that there are 69 references to mouth, lips and tongues in the chapters 1 through 17 and 112 references in all of Proverbs. Here is this book that is all about directing Christians in ways to make decisions--a book that serves as an ode to wisdom and understanding--and one of the repeated concepts is about the mouth. It thus becomes easy to draw the conclusion that God is sincerely interested in what it is that we have to say. Someone reading this is like me and needs this point to be driven home. We need our hearts to be sensitive to what is about to come from our lips. We need our minds to match our mouths and not have the disconnect that sometimes occurs when we speak before we think.

If you are looking to better understand what is going on in your life, perhaps it is time to hold your peace. Perhaps it is time to listen twice as much as you speak. Perhaps perception will come when peace proves powerful over what you will and will not say.

Be encouraged today to hold your peace...

Blessings,
MinD