Posts

Room For A Miracle

Realistic

Practical

Pragmatic

Sensible

 

This is the way my brain thinks. This is the way I’m wired….or so I think.

 

But the bible tells us:

 

For, “Who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16

 

It also tells us:

 

 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5

 

I’m an in the box kinda person. I like structure and parameters. I like a clearly defined set of expectations. I like check lists. I make a good employee because I can follow the rules. I am realistic, practical, pragmatic and sensible. Yup that’s who I am. And while those may be some good attributes, they do not lend themselves to creating an environment ripe and ready to receive a miracle.

 

In Andy Andrews book, The Traveler’s Gift, I read these profound words that stopped me dead in my tracks.

 

“Reason never makes room for miracles; faith releases miracles. Faith is a sounder guide than reason. Reason can only be stretched so far, but faith has no limits.”

 

These words were oh so timely for me. For 2 weeks now, I’m been beseeching the Lord for a miracle. I’ve been telling the Lord plainly, “I NEED A MIRACLE!” But these words from Andrews cut me so deeply. [bctt tweet=”Though I claimed I was participating in my miracle, my pragmatic thinking and realistic reasoning was working against my miracle.” username=”inspiredfully”] Was I actually hindering my miracle from manifesting?

 

What about you? Are you an active participant in your miracle? Are you a free flowing, faithful, believing conduit? Or are you the sensible person for who reason is your compass and guide? Will you leave room for a miracle?

 

I invite you to join me in aligning our thinking with that of The Most High and expect and believe that not only is He able but He is willing to deliver that which you seek in alignment with His will.

 

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, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

 

Let us pray…

Most gracious and merciful Father, it is with an open heart, an open mind and a willing spirit that we come to you. We thank you for being an all loving, all knowing and all powerful God. Oh Eternal One, the same who created the heavens and the earth, you are indeed the same one who loves and sees us even at this very moment. God we ask forgiveness for when we have gone astray. We ask for forgiveness for when we have doubted you or tied your hands with our lack of belief. But Lord we come boldly, asking like Jabez that you would bless us indeed, that you would enlarge our territory, that you would keep your hand on us and keep us from harm. Lord let it be to us, that the word you have spoken for us will not be prolonged but the word, which you have spoken, shall be done. Let it break forth speedily Lord. You said you have well seen and will hasten your word to perform it. We reject any spirit of doubt, disbelief or discouragement. Every adversary working to delay our miracle is disbanded in Jesus’ name. Lord we count it a privilege to not only witness but to partake of your wonder working power. You at work in and through us advances your kingdom. We thank you for working through us and we thank you for the manifestation of miracles. To You and You alone be all glory, majesty, dominion and power now and forever. Amen!

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Always my pleasure to connect with these friends sharing the Good News

Mommy Moments, #MeCoffeeAndJesus, Purposeful Faith, Grace & Truth

/2 Comments/by

Don’t Lose Hope

Forever.

 

That’s how long it seems like I’ve been waiting.

 

Prayer. Supplication. Petition. Request. Beg. Plead. Negotiate. Pray some more.

 

God, I know you’re able.

 

God, I believe you’re willing.

 

God it’s been a long time. I’ve been diligent. I’ve been faithful. What I’m requesting is in alignment

with your will.

 

When will you answer my prayer?

 

Have you ever felt like this?

 

Have you made a request of the Lord and not had it answered?

 

You’ve waited patiently…One year. 3 years. 10 years and still no forward movement? In fact, you may feel that you’ve moved even farther away from seeing the prayer realized.

 

Let me encourage you friend to not give up on God. Keep believing.

 

Don’t lose hope!

 

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13

 

I was ready to give up, to say forget it. Ready to sit down right with the end zone in sight and just hand over the game.

 

In the midst of a meltdown, my friend asked, “Don’t you see how close you are? Do you not see the end zone right in front of you?”

 

Yeah, I see it and I’m trying to keep the faith but my legs have given out and won’t carry me any farther. The lactic acid in my muscles has caused me to falter and my prayer has no push.

 

“That’s ok,” my friend says. She gives me permission to use a time out but encourages me to continue praying and believing in anticipation of the answered prayer.

 

Even when it seems you’ve been waiting forever…..keep the faith. I know you think it’s been a long time. I know you feel like its been forever. I know you want your miracle and you want it yesterday.

 

But what is man’s time to the Lord anyway?

 

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8

 

Since my God is not slack concerning His promises, this is what I’m going to do while waiting. I invite you to join me.

 

PRAY

Yes, I will continue to pray. When I feel like I can’t pray anymore, I will call up the Word that’s been stored in the recesses of my heart. I will pray and give thanks for what HE has released that’s on its way. I will pray for those He will work through to bring the promise to pass. I will pray against any demonic activity trying to withhold, subdue or delay my answer. I will pray that my heart is ready to receive. Yes, I’ll keep praying and giving thanks.

 

 

PRAISE

Hallelujah, He is worthy to be praise! Regardless of how I FEEL about it, He is worthy. He is righteous. He is holy. He is loving. He is gracious. He is merciful. He is kind. He is a friend. So for this, for all He is, for all He does, for all He doesn’t do, He is worthy to be praised! My mouth is set. I gotta put praise on it!

 

 

PROFESS

I will profess that my God is great. I will profess that my God hears and answers prayers. I will profess the truth of His word. I will profess the promises He’s said are mine. I will profess the visions. I will profess that my God is able, willing and it’s only a matter of time….

 

Sitting…Waiting….Strategizing….Praying. [bctt tweet=”Its 4th & 10. I’m not going for the punt. I’m going to BELIEVE God.” username=”inspiredfully”] I’m going to go for it because He is faithful to deliver.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Photo Credit
Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News Mommy Moments, #LifeGivingLinkup, Purposeful Faith

/12 Comments/by

I Still Believe

A fourth of the way into the year and I’m assessing my state of belief. Like the State of the Union address, I’m reporting in with myself on my current health, vitality and concerns regarding my state of belief.

 

For the last few years, I’ve adopted one word that has served as my compass for the year. This year my word is BELIEVE. Go back and read that post when you get a chance by CLICKING HERE.

 

To gauge where I am in my believing, I began by asking myself a few questions.

 

What would my life be like if I truly believed I could do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me?

 

Do I believe Christ can do ALL things?

 

Do I believe He’s willing to do ALL things for me?

 

Do I believe I am worthy to receive ALL the things He wants to do in my life?

 

Am I prepared to receive the things I believe Him for?

 

Are the things I believe Him for in line with His Will and His Way?

 

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:22-24

 

Man…these questions will really get you thinking. I pray you spend some quiet time with the Lord, asking yourself these questions, listening to your heart’s response then listening for what God has to say about it.

 

Even though I’ve been a writer all my life, I’ve been hesitant to call myself a writer. Since I was a very little girl, writing was my way of escape. When I was in elementary school, a reading teacher introduced me to the wonderful world of journaling, and it’s something I’ve done ever since. I’ve written in journals and diaries. I’ve written short stories and poetry. I’ve written for school newspapers, city publications and for a Fortune Top Twenty company. I’ve got a degree in journalism. And I have the pleasure of writing in this sacred space on the web. Suffice it to say…. I’m a writer.

 

Almost 20 years ago the Lord has told me I would be a published author (and I wasn’t even saved then). I’ve got many notebooks over here filled with writing, layout, cover ideas and more for several books.

 

One day while having a waking vision, I saw my book cover unfolding before my eyes. My eyes went from the top of the cover and began to scroll down. I could see color, typeset, the title and as I came to the end, where the author’s name would be, where I would read my OWN name, I abruptly stopped the vision. I aborted the vision God was writing right before my eyes. I allowed fear to keep me from SEEING what the Lord has in store for me.

 

NOT ANY MORE!

 

[bctt tweet=”I will no longer abort the vision, I will abort the lies and BELIEVE.”]

 

My husband and I were in a conversation recently and he was encouraging me to get a new laptop if I really wanted to be a writer. I quickly cleared that up, telling him I AM indeed a writer. And I agree in making the investment in myself so I will soon get a new laptop as the one I currently have has a cracked screen and 1/3 of the screen is one big blotch through which I cannot see. The computer is also slow and has little memory. Yes I will invest and believe in what I’ve been called to do.

 

I AM A WRITER.

I AM A SPEAKER.

 

Not only is it the way God wired me, He’s given me a double anointing in wiring me for writing and speaking and upon salvation giving me the gifts of exhortation and teaching. No way to escape it, I’ve been called to encourage, exhort and challenge His people and the medium for that is writing and speaking.

 

So what now?

 

My believing is in alignment with His and I’m aborting lies.

 

Now what am I to do?

 

Here’s the prescription:

 

~Assess Your Believing

~Align Your Believing with His will

~Act on what you believe

 

ASSESS. ALIGN. ACT.

 

I will stand my watch

And set myself on the rampart,

And watch to see what He will say to me,

And what I will answer when I am corrected.

Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision

And make it plain on tablets,

That he may run who reads it.

For the vision is yet for an appointed time;

But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.

Though it tarries, wait for it;

Because it will surely come,

It will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:1-3

 

We see in these versus, he stood watch, assessing. He aligned by watching to see what the Lord would say and how he would answer once the Lord had corrected him. Then he went on to act by following the Lord’s instructions.

 

ASSESS. ALIGN. ACT.

 

If I am a writer, I must be disciplined and diligent in writing. Not only that, I have to write the words HE’S calling me to write at this season. While I want to write about wellness (an area I feel very comfortable with), He’s calling me to write about parenting (insert sigh. Really God?! This area is an ever moving target). But that’s what He said so I must move forward in obedience.

 

So what are you believing God for?

 

I’m praying with you friends as you dare to believe God to do exceedingly and abundantly above what you can ask or think.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
Happy to connect with friends sharing the Good News Purposeful Faith, Grace & Truth

/6 Comments/by

Women of Style and Faith

A woman of faith?

 

CHECK.

 

A woman of style?

 

Umm, I guess (insert smile).

 

When I think STYLE, I think color, accessories, daring combinations and flair.  Hence, I wouldn’t normally use the word STYLE when I think about myself.  But the truth is, I have a clearly defined style.  It’s been the same for a long time.  My husband jokingly calls it “my uniform”. It’s classic, crisp, Americana. It’s J. Crew, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor. It’s structured, tailored, princess seams and pin tucks.

 

Yup, that’s me. I used to wish I was flashy and creative with my dress. I used to wish I knew how to layer and mix and match color and patterns.

 

But today, I give thanks that I’m comfortable with my own sense of style.  I’m good with staying true to who I am.  I did finally begin adding some color and that was fun, albeit in the same cut and style as I’d normally choose, but new colors nonetheless.

 

So imagine my delight upon meeting a blogger who is a professional stylist, entrepreneur, and minister of the Good News.  My heart leapt to see this fashionista rocking her Saintly Style with her church as the backdrop. Not only did she rock with style and grace, she was rightly dividing the Word of God.  This sister, Sybil Street is a style icon and not only puts her clients on display but shines light on everyday women of style and faith.

 

It is my honor to grace the page of her sacred space this week on her blog.  So head on over to get to know a little more about me personally and how I live as a woman of style and faith.

Women of Style and Faith 

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

/2 Comments/by
,

BELIEVE: My #OneWord 2016

This image has been my phone’s screen saver for months.

 

Luke 1:45

 

I rarely look at it. When I first saw it, it resonated deeply within me because the Lord had been dealing with me on my ability to BELIEVE. So Believe is my One Word for 2016. Instead of making resolutions, for the last few years the Lord has led me to a word that is to be lived out for the year. And as much as I wanted to be done with this, as much as I want this to be a non-issue for me, I won’t run from it. I’ll embrace it knowing God is going to faithfully continue to walk me through this journey of limitless belief.

 

I don’t question MY God’s abilities. I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that my God can do what he says he can do. I know my God can perform miracles. I know my God is able.

 

My question is, will He do it for me?

 

Lord will you protect my children?

Lord will you really supply all my needs?

Lord will you give me my heart’s desires?

Lord will my God dreams ever come to fruition?

 

Well, I’m still grappling with this.  While it’s been under construction for nearly six months now, the issue persists. And I’m okay with that. I’ve been learning over the past few months to not try to circumvent processes in life design for my growth and development. And the issue of believing for me is deep. Yet I thank the Lord that He’s willing to unearth whatever is hindering or hampering my ability to fully believe. He is excavating deep-rooted lies and casting on them the Light of Truth.

 

I want the kind of immovable faith and ability to BELIEVE like David when facing Goliath. In 1 Samuel 17, David made a BOLD declaration.

 

David just KNEW that Jehovah Sebaoth, The Lord of Host, would protect him and ensure the victory.

 

All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.

1 Samuel 17:47

 

Oh Lord that I would have David like belief.

 

One day God directly asked me, “Do you believe?” I answered, “I believe Lord but help my unbelief.” That belief that knows you’re able but is unsure if you are willing.

 

So I followed that up with a question for Him. “Lord, are you willing?”

 

And with a look of compassion in His eyes, He answered, “I am willing.”

 

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Luke 5:12-13

 

[bctt tweet=”No longer will I allow lack of belief to suffocate God’s desire to bless me.”]

When I doubt, it smothers my faith. It quenches that God can do and wants to do in my life. No longer will I take my own pillow so beautifully embroidered with the word BELIEVE and use it to asphyxiate God’s plans for my life.

 

If you have ever struggled with believing God, trusting God, or wavering faith, please join me in prayer.

 

Lord, the maker of all of heaven and earth, what a great and mighty God you are. You are Sovereign. You are King. It is an honor to love you, to serve you and to partner with you in building your kingdom here on earth. Lord I confess that sometimes my ability to believe is hampered. I repent for hampering your ability to do exceedingly and abundantly in my life through my lack of faith. But I thank you Lord that the prayers of the righteous availeth much. I add my faith to those reading with me now. May our prayers bombard and intercept heaven right now. I pray God that our ability to believe would not be smothered. I thank you for removing any obstacles and false beliefs that would interfere with believing your Truth. You Lord are the way, the truth and the life and when we follow and trust in you there in no need to doubt. Take our mustard seed faith, planted in your nutrient rich soil, watered by your word and make it grow into tall flourishing fruitful trees to bear witness to your glory. I thank you Lord for hearing and answering the petitions of your sons and daughters.

 

Do you have #OneWord for 2016? I’d love to hear about it and to pray for you. For more on the One Word concept, CLICK HERE.

 

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
Happy to connect with friends at Purposeful Faith, Grace and Truth, Dance With Jesus

/4 Comments/by
,

When God Breaks His Promises

Have you ever felt that God broke a promise?

 

God I thought your promises were yes and amen?

 

God I thought you were not slack concerning your promises?

 

God I do ALL I can to obey you, to worship you, to honor you.

 

I do the uncomfortable for your glory.

I serve your people wholeheartedly.

I live your statues at the risk of being ridiculed.

I fast and pray.

I study Your word.

I hungrily seek you, commune with you.

I pray according to Your will.

 

And the payback?

 

A broken promise.

 

Blows that hit below the belt. Crushing events that are in directly violation against Your Word that I prayed in accordance with Your will.

 

So what do you do when the enemy’s darts penetrate your breastplate?

 

What happens when the arrows with their poisonous tips leech death into your marriage, into the lives of your children, into your self-esteem, your bank account, or your health?

 

I pray you DON’T do like I did initially.

 

My first response was to attack the ONE who would ensure my victory.

 

But isn’t that human nature? To turn on the ONE you are closest to? I lashed out in hurt and anger. I told my loving, devoted ONE He was a liar. I told Him He was a promise breaker.

 

As my flesh was having its tirade, my Spirit could not deny Truth. A song I had been listening to all week bombarded my thoughts. The song had me in its grip and wouldn’t let me go. The song says over and over, “You’re a great God, you are great.” This refrain was the weight that kept me anchored in Truth. It is so important to hide Truth in our hearts so that when we are faced with mountains too high to climb and valleys too deep to traverse, our hearts won’t fail.

 

With my face in the carpet I cried a river of tears. I repented for speaking contrary to His Truth. I asked Him for eyes to see. I asked Him for the mind of Christ. I thanked Him for being a promise keeper. And while I still can’t see the fulfillment of the promise, I thank Him that the promise still stands.

 

Not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.

Joshua 23:14

 

Fellow blogger Patti, writing over at All Things New Blog also presents an interesting juxtaposition on forgiving God. Like God breaking His promises, these are sensitive topics that need to be handled tenderly with TRUTH. Her words of grace in this post blessed me tremendously. Please CLICK HERE to read her post On Forgiving God.

 

I stand on His Word. I stand on His promises. I’m learning day by day that His promises are rarely delivered in the manner that I expect. His method of delivery ensures His promises are delivered to the right address, at the right time and have been handled with care, even if I don’t recognize the wrapping or the return address.

 

And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

2 Peter 1:4

 

I’ll leave you with some words from singer Alan Jackson,

 

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,

Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call

Resting in my Savior as my all in all,

Standing on the promises of God.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

/4 Comments/by

I Have Faith Issues

Thank you for joining me this week as I celebrate 1 year of blogging.  The journey has been an interesting ride.  I thought I’d just be writing, an easy task since writing’s all I’ve every done consistently since childhood.  But it’s been so much more than that.  It’s been about me connecting hearts and mind with my readers.  It’s been about me growing in my relationship with Christ.  It’s been about me learning how to truly be authentic, transparent and vulnerable.  Before those were merely buzz words, now they are personal.

 

With that in mind, I’m reposting the TOP VIEWED post in my year of blogging.  I never imagined before I began that I’d let readers into such a raw space but given the views of this post, readers can identify with honesty.  While my faith has increased since the post, I’m still a work in progress.  Coming up this weekend I’m supposed to take another faith move but right now I’m quaking in my boots trying to find an escape route.

Lawd, help me!

 

Thank you for walking alongside me on the journey.  Be blessed.

 

Bold Faith? Nope.

Radical Faith? Uh-uh.

Mustard Seed Faith? Some days.

 

Ok, so I’ve got faith issues. Twice last week God gave me a vision of what He thinks I’m capable of. And twice last week I threw blankets of doubt over the visions, smoldering them with my limited thinking and lack of belief. I know I have faith issues.

 

I was watch a teaching and the man stated, “If you say things like ‘I just don’t see how’ or ‘I just can’t see that happening’, you have a faith issue. Yup, that’s me. I often rehearse statements like that in my head. But again God in his faithfulness led me right to His word to shed light. I opened my bible to read about His willingness to heal the lepers. Then He drew my eyes a couple verses over. He tells Simon to let down his nets. And Simon responds just as I would have done, with doubt and disbelief. “Lord, I don’t see how that’s gonna work”. I know I have faith issues.

 

This year my One Word 365 is courage. I am believing God to give me bold faith and the courage to move beyond fears so that I can carry out all He’s called me to do, uninhibited. A few weeks ago I was cleaning out a purse and found some notes from a Sunday service in October of 2014 where we had a visiting pastor. His message was from 1 Samuel 17 and was entitled “I Am A Giant Slayer”. Finding these notes was so timely as I have been engaged in spiritual warfare. It also confirmed for me my word for this year on having courage.   Then that Sunday my Pastor began a multipart teaching from the SAME text entitled Facing Your Giant! Our God is so loving and so timely that he uses others to be His mouthpiece to declare His truths so that we can be free!

 

God knows I believe but I’m scared. Scared of being let down. Scared of being hurt. Scared of being rejected. Scared of disappointment. But He is so faithful and loves me so much that He is confirming His word to me time and time again. And He loves you too and will communication His truth to you. Just have an open heart and an open mind to receive. Yes, I have faith issues, but He’s increasing my faith.

 

Jesus please don’t scold me as you did those standing around when you healed the mute boy. “Oh you faithless generation” you exclaimed. My cry Jesus is that of the boy’s father, “I believe but help my unbelief”.

 

The question is not IF GOD CAN, as the boy’s father asks. Jesus clarifies that for us in giving the man’s question back to him “If I can”. So I’ve shifted. I know you CAN God, but are you willing to do it for me?

 

And He’s already answered that for me too. He is willing. Just as He told the lepers in Luke 5:12-13, “I Am Willing”, [bctt tweet=”He’s assuring us, not only is He ABLE but He is also WILLING.”]

 

I thank God that He doesn’t leave us where we are but loves us so much that He sheds His light on every crevice, recess and crack in our hearts to expose them to His truth.

 

Oh God strengthen my microscopic faith. Magnify it Oh God. Have compassion on me. Take my mustard seed faith, plant it in nutrient rich soil and water it Lord so that it may grow radically.

 

Yes I have faith issues, but He’s strengthening my faith.

 

One commentary I read said if your faith could lay hold of His Omnipotence all is done. So Lord my faith lays hold of your limitless power. I believe you are able. I know that you love me. And I know that you are willing thus it is so.

 

Do I have issues with faith? Yes. But I am being transformed.

 

Mustard seed faith? Yup.

Bold faith? Walking toward it.

Radical faith? Right on the horizon.

 

I stretch forth, break forth and move forward in faith.

 

A few points to ponder:

 

Do you struggle with faith?

 

How have you increased your faith?

 

How had God been faithful to you?

 

For additional reading:

Matthew 9:28-29

Mark 9:14-29

Luke 5:4-11

Luke 5:12-13

Hebrews 11

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Photo Credit

 

/7 Comments/by

The Way Of The Master

A lone man methodically hanging laundry.

 

Unassuming yet powerful.

 

Those around him know there is something more beneath that quiet demeanor, something special, something deeper. After a personal attack, his true identity becomes known. A legend turns real. He is a master, the master. A young man falls at his feet in total surrender asking to be his pupil. He says to the teacher, “If you desire master, be my teacher.”

 

The scene is one from a movie called Ip Man II about the trials of a martial arts instructor. How striking it was to observe this student readily fall at the feet of this respected teacher in total submission. To come under this master’s authority, the pupil would receive guidance, training and instruction and the pupil had absolute faith that the master would deliver skills needed for survival.

 

It would behoove us to take a lesson from the student in this movie. Oh that we would be quick to fall at the feet of Jesus in total submission. Friends, that we would be QUICK to obey the Lord. As we fall, let us surrender our will and prepare our hearts to receive instruction from him. When the young man fell at the Sensei’s feet, he wanted a piece of the master. He wanted to learn how to be disciplined like him, how to fight like him, how to be like him. And as Christ followers, we to ought to want to look like, walk like and talk like Jesus.

 

A disciple is not above his teacher,

but everyone who is fully trained

will be like his teacher.

Luke 6:40

 

Likewise we must bring ourselves under the subjection of our Master. As I was working on last week’s post on discipline, it got me thinking about people we view as disciplined and martial artists came to mind. You can read that post by CLICKING HERE. In addition to being disciplined we view martial artists as obedient. The master is held in great esteem for his knowledge, skill and ability. The master is often seen as having quiet courage, gentle fierceness and absolute discipline and self-control.

 

Doesn’t our own Master possess all these qualities and then some?

 

Is Jesus not all knowing, all-powerful and everywhere all at the same time?

 

Is HE not the bravest of the brave?

 

Is HE not the sacrificial Lamb and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah?

 

Is HE not one who always does the right thing at the right time?

 

Submit to God and be at peace with him;

in this way prosperity will come to you.

Accept instruction from his mouth

and lay up his words in your heart.

Job 22:21-22

 

We obey our bosses, law enforcement officers, coaches, and doctors. We would do well to have at least that same level of obedience to Christ, submitting to Him wholly, without reservation. How many of you have received a prescription from a doctor, taken it to the pharmacy, paid your hard earned money and taken the pill all without asking the doctor any questions, without seeking alternative treatments, without researching the medicine or even reading the literature that comes with the medicine?

 

Yet our flesh screams in opposition to fully submitting and obeying Christ. Even now you might be mad at me and ready to close this post. Our flesh, the carnal man, the SELF that needs to be tamed is always at enmity with God, but praise Him that greater is He that is within YOU! The spirit at work in you enables you to submit to Christ’s authority in your life. If you are a kingdom citizen you come under the subjection of your ruler, Christ and you are expected to adhere to His commands. And Jesus himself showed you that even He submitted, doing the will of Him who sent Him. When you gave your life to Christ, you surrendered your rights.

 

I have been crucified with Christ;

it is no longer I who live,

but Christ lives in me;

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me

and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

 

Many see submission as:

Bondage

Prison

Suffocating

 

Submission IS:

Freeing

Liberating

Security

Protection

 

And submitting to Him, as scary, daunting and crazy as it may seem, is a sure way to be led in paths of righteousness for His namesake. It is a surefire way to have goodness and mercy following you all the days of your life. Submitting to Him is a mark of a true disciple.

 

Stick with me on this journey because I have a feeling we’ll need to dig deeper in this topic as we fall in total submission, following the way of the Master.

 

I know…this can be a tough one. Let us pray.

 

Lord you be high and lifted up above all the earth. Father I thank you. You are good and your mercy endures forever. You are faithful and communicate your love to us time and time again. Without you God we are nothing so I thank you for your promise to never leave nor forsake us. Only You can create in us a clean heart and a right spirit and that is what we need in order to fully submit to your Lordship. Without your guidance and leadership we are as sheep without a shepherd. But praise be that you are the Good Shepherd. Let us be obedient sheep that know, hear and follow your voice as you lead is in THE WAY everlasting.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Photo Credit

Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News Purposeful Faith

/3 Comments/by
,

Walking On Water

I am honored to share this space today with my sweet friend, Brittney Carlson. A worship leader at my church has a new song out called I Am (Miracle). Part of the chorus says, “I’m a living, breathing, walking, talking, moving miracle.” And this is what I see when looking at Brittney. I have witnessed her live out her faith. When faced with life threatening illness, I have seen her look death in the face and proclaim, “Oh death where is your sting?” Whether in a class to grow, teaching students & adults or serving, Brittney consistently ministers grace to those who come into contact with her.

 

Having grown up in a broken, dysfunctional, blended family, Brittney discovered the hope, peace, love and security that can only be found in Jesus Christ. With a heart for at-risk youth and broken women, Brittney serves nationally and internationally. This past year she resigned after dedicating 11 years to teaching at-risk children here in the states to pursue her dream of returning to Japan to share the gospel.

 

The Lord had recently been speaking to me about water. So when I read Brittney’s recent newsletter about walking on water, I knew I just had to share it with you. It was confirmation of what the Lord is calling many disciples to in this season. In fact, I was attending an aerospace convention just yesterday and a woman I just met there relayed that she too was trusting God and walking on water!

 

The spirit is moving friends!

 

So let’s hear from Brittney.

 

Stepping out onto the Water

 

But Jesus immediately said to them: 

“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied,

“tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said. Matthew 14:27-29

 

The story of Peter stepping out of the boat is always brought up in discussion on stepping out in faith vs. waiting and preparing. For the past four years I have gone back and forth wondering if it is time for me to step out in faith. Each time I decided to be smart and practical. I thought about the security and certainty of the things I had: a home, stable salary, medical insurance, retirement, benefits and more. I overanalyzed all the things that could happen to me without those things. As a result, each summer I resigned my teaching contract and each year since has been like Ground Hogs Day. For the past four years, I have moved houses and changed jobs hoping that would settle my restlessness and silence the tugging on my heart and mind, but it didn’t and it hasn’t.

 

I keep hearing God’s voice: “Come. Step out of the boat. Trust me and come.”

 

So I am.

 

So I will.

 

As of June 24th, I chose unemployment; as of July 1st I chose homelessness; as of Oct. 1st I will chose to be uninsured… I chose all these things to free myself to step out of the boat. After four years of hesitation and storms, I step out in faith, confident in God’s promises. Though like Peter the winds are strong and the voices of nay sayers can be heard… “What are you doing? What about a salary? What about insurance? Where will you live? What if you don’t raise the funds? What will you do? Maybe it is not your timing? Why don’t you wait another year? Get back in the boat! What are you thinking”… I am stepping out of the boat and trusting God to guide, provide, lead, and catch me if I start to fall.

 

I am stepping out onto the water. Keeping my eyes on Jesus. Praying for God’s help as I try to ignore the sounds of the wind and waves around me. Reaching out to Him as He reaches out to me calling me to “Come”.

 

Your Sister and Friend in Christ,

 

Brittney

 

Brittney

 

 

To learn more about Brittney and to partner with her in sharing the gospel with the 2nd most unreached people group on the planet, please connect with her by visiting:

 

www.BJC2Japan.org

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

/4 Comments/by

What Dreams May Come

What Dreams May Come….

 

A movie featuring one of my favorite actors, Robin Williams. It’s also one of my favorite genres of film, fantasy. Sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, man I just love movies where imagination takes flight and other worlds become reality.

 

If…only I could dream those dreams.

 

If…I could give myself permission to dream an alternate reality and dare God to bring it to pass.

 

If…I could allow my dreams to unfold long enough to reach their fulfillment.

 

My dreams come but I smother them.

 

God gives the vision and I place it under a cloak of darkness.

 

I guess what I love about my favorite genres of film is that I believe those alternate realities can truly exist. I believe that one day we could actually live in a dystopian society. I believe that one day we might be able to connect with life forms that exist in space as illustrated in another one of my favorite movies, Contact.

 

But if I could only dare to believe what God says about me. If I could only allow the dreams God has shown me to completely unfurl and see them through to the credits rolling.

 

Well now is that time.

 

I’m daring to take God at His word. He said:

 

“Then you will know that I am in Israel,

that I am the Lord your God,

and that there is no other;

never again will my people be shamed.

And afterward,I will pour out my Spirit

on all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your old men will dream dreams,

your young men will see visions.”

Joel 2:27-28

 

I will stop getting up in the middle of my life’s movie and will sit through to see what the end will be.

 

I will stop playing it safe and will take the risk of trusting God. He certainly has a good track record with me.

 

I will take my hands off of my eyes and stop peeking through the cracks of my fingers and I will stand and watch to see the salvation of the Lord.

 

I have visions.

 

I have dreams.

 

What Dreams May Come? Not sure, but let them come.

 

Now I release them to unfold.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Happy to connect with #FiveMinuteFriday on this word #dream

/6 Comments/by