Day 364 It's your Last Day of Your Year in Nicaragua!

Welcome home. I missed you. ;p

Day 364 Two Days and....

....some encouragement for the road:

"When I cried out you answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul." Psalm 138:3

Be bold today knowing Christ has given you that strength in your soul!

Day 363 Three...

Tres dias, Muchachita Linda Bonita Carnita!<3

Day 362 4 + 4 = well, two 4s....

Four more days and Happy 4th of July!

Day 361 Five...

Five more days!

Day 350 Difusing Conflict

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Pr 15:1

Have you heard about the immigrant from a war-torn country who landed in America and announced, “If there’s a government here, I’m agin’ it”?

“Harsh words stir up anger.” If you want to avoid conflict, don’t create it.

The key to getting along with people who are upset or who don’t share your viewpoint is to relax and try to empathize. That doesn’t mean acquiescing to their every whim. But when you are clear about your position, you can let them be who they are. When you are okay with who you are, you don’t need to make others wrong in order to feel right.

Not only is it naive to expect everybody to see things your way, you must recognize that they have their own thoughts, opinions and feelings. Jesus said, “Settle matters quickly with your adversary…while you are with him.” (Mt 5:25)

One Christian peace-maker says, “Instead of meeting verbal attack with verbal counterattack, seeing the situation from the other person’s viewpoint is disarming, leaving the attacker with no target.”

You can't agree all the time. But, “Do all…you can to live in peace with everyone.” (Ro 12:18)

Are there times when you must defend your position? Yes, but don’t go around with a chip on your shoulder looking for arguments. Sometimes Christians are the worst offenders; we think because our cause is just, it doesn’t matter who gets caught in the crossfire.

“Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.” (Pr 19:11)

God, help us to extend to others the same grace you extend to us. Amen.

Day 358 I Can Say it Now....

....Seven days!

Day 356 No Tiene Sentido

Bendecid a los que os maldicen; orad por los que os vituperan Lucas 6:28

Fuera del ejemplo de Jesús, este mandamiento no tiene sentido. Pero Jesús no demuestra la importancia de dejar nuestro destino en las manos de nuestro Creador y Padre. De repente, tiene un sentido perfecto. ¿Cúal es la mejor manera de derrotar a un enemigo? Ciertamente no es por castigar o matarlo. ¡No, la manera de derrotar a los enemigos es por tener la gracia de Jesús para captar a sus corazones así permitiendo que El los conforme a su carácter!

 

Dios Amoroso y Bondadoso, ablanda mi corazón y endurece mi voluntad para poder amar como Jesús amó. Que mi vida sea redentiva, aun para los que me oponen, odian y se burlan de mí. Utilízame, Padre Amado, para traer los demás a la gracia de Jesús. En cuyo nombre oro, Amen.

Day 355 It Happens: Short-term Memory Loss

And God spoke all these words: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Exodus 20:1

After Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, they entered the desert in Sinai. There the people camped in front of the mountain while Moses went to meet with God and acted as a go-between for God and the people, including bringing with him the Ten Commandments.

Before they started this trip, though, God reminded them of two things: who He is and what He did for them. “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”

Isn't it amazing how easily the people of Israel forgot these things? The Old Testament is riddled with the phrases like, “and the people did evil in the sight of the Lord,” and “the Israelites again forsook the Lord.”

How could the very people who witnessed the devastating plagues in Egypt, who walked on dry ground between two walls of water, and who followed a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day into the promised land forget and forsake the very One who made it happen?

But, I also know that I can easily forget what God has done for me and return to my complaints. I forget the peace instead of pain, the restored relationships, and the endless answered prayers. God is I AM. He is the deliverer. He is the same “yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

Who knows? Maybe the journey from bondage to freedom causes short-term memory loss! Somewhere between the excitement of the journey and the reality of the road before us, we forget where we’ve come from and the One who delivers us. Today, take a few moments to re-chart your course.

Day 354 Stress is Suffering!

If you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your life to Him who created you, for He will never fail you. 1 Peter 4:19

Stress causes suffering, and suffering can lead to discouragement. If you bring your suffering to God with a pure heart, He will take it on himself to comfort you. Trust Him.

Day 353 Confession Time!

I confess. I'm jealous of a woman named Dee Williams. Dee decided to downsize and sold her 3-bedroom house to move into (my fav) an 84-square foot “tiny house.” Oh, man!

Williams says the transition liberated her from a monthly mortgage payment. She now owns her home—which cost a fraction of the price of her previous home—and she pays hardly anything each month in heating costs. But before moving in, she had to purge a lot of her possessions....precious possessions like old photos, love letters, and her college jacket all landed in the trash.

Apparently, in her quest to keep living light, Dee now allows herself no more than 300 belongings at one time. Contemplating making this (for me) tempting kind of change makes me wonder if I could do it....and whether I am still too attached to my "stuff."

In Mark 10, Jesus meets a rich man who wants to know how he can gain eternal life. The man says he has obeyed God’s commandments from childhood, and “Jesus felt genuine love for him.”

Despite the warmth of the moment, Jesus delivered some hard truth: “There is still one thing you haven’t done.... Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me."

The story doesn't have a fairytale ending. Jesus’ challenge crushed the man. His “face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions." The man knew he would have to choose Jesus or choose to stay snuggled up with his stuff.

For us as Jesus-followers, our call to “live lightly” isn't about the quantity or quality of our possessions: it’s about what we treasure.

Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart will also be also."  So. What do we treasure?

Day 352 An Encouraging Word

"Don't let unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Eph. 4:29

What kinds of words and expressions help bring love, joy, and peace in my life?

- Speak words of encouragement. When someone tells me I'm doing a good job, that I'm on track, that I have done something important--their words strengthen me for accomplishing more good things.

- Sincere compliments build us up. When people say that I gave a wise answer to their question, that my example was an inspiration to them, or that somehow I changed the course of their life, I rejoice knowing that God is at work in me.

- Thanksgiving should be part of our vocabulary always. The apostle Paul was especially good at this. In Corinth, there were difficulties that he wanted to straighten out, but Paul still expressed gratitude for the spiritual gifts the believers there were using. He encouraged them with promises of God's faithfulness.

Who could use an encouragement, compliment, or words of thanks from you today? Don't let this day end without delivering it!

God, your Word builds us up. Help Sarah (and me) to speak so that others can benefit and grow in joy and peace. Bring people into her life today who do the same for her! Amen.

Day 351 Planting Coconuts

The vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Jer. 18:4 

Did you know that if you put a coconut in sea water it can survive for a couple of months? Coconuts have also survived a lot of good and bad press...for a while in the '60s, coconuts were "bad because of their fat content. Now, like with the ramped-up use of coconut water, it’s promoted for its health benefits. Supposedly, about 100 products are currently made from coconuts in the US, and every bit of it can be used.

So can we. By God Himself. Like a coconut, we eventually need to be planted and used. And God can make and remake us over and over again to fit His purposes. Our minds, our hearts, our talents, our physical abilities, even our limitations—He can use them all—to make an impact on this world. Nothing is insignificant when prompted by God.

So, next time a coconut falls from a tree and nearly threatens your life, consider its many wonders and possibilities—the medicinal properties, the building and landscaping possibilities, or something deliciously fun like fresh coconut cake.

Think about your own talents and abilities and what you’d like to do with them. Then ask God to align your own desires to match His. Ask Him again to use every bit of you to accomplish His work.
Be open to change and flexible enough to be reused and reshaped. The steps may be small or large—but the impact may echo into many generations.

Lord, If a single coconut can impact so many, what will You have me do? My heart, mind, and body long to be shaped according to Your purposes, and reshaped as often as needed.Amen.

Day 349 Complete Prayer

Every true prayer has its background and its foreground. The foreground of prayer is the intense, immediate desire for a certain blessing which seems to be absolutely necessary for the soul to have; the background of prayer is the quiet, earnest desire that the will of God, whatever it may be, should be done. What a picture is the perfect prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane! 

In front burns the strong desire to escape death and to live; but behind there stands, calm and strong, the craving of the whole life for the doing of the will of God.... Leave out the foreground--no expression of the will of him who prays, and there is left a pure submission which is almost fatalism. Leave out the background--no acceptance of the will of God, and the prayer is only an expression of self-will, a petulant claiming of the uncorrected choice of him who prays. 

Only when the two are there together, the special desire resting on the universal submission, the universal submission opening into the special desire is the picture perfect and the prayer complete.

Phillips Brooks

Day 348 Not So Status Quo

Status quo. That’s the life we’re drawn toward living. For most of us, it’s not that life is always a walk in the park, where the skies are never cloudy and it never rains on our parade. But, status quo appears easier. It doesn’t take courage, risk, or passion. We become comfortable with our own small and selfish agendas and don’t want to upset our apple carts. Status quo seems safe.

When you settle for living status quo, your salt loses its flavor, your light begins to dim, and inside you want something more. Why? It’s because we’ve settled for something less than God desires for us. Jesus didn’t live and die so that we could live status quo. He came to give us life to the fullest. Real life begins when we reject the lie that status quo is safe and choose a life of devotion to Jesus.

Let me say it clearly: I want to be devoted to Jesus. I don’t want to be devoted to religion or Christianity. I want to be devoted to Jesus; to align my life as best I can with the radical upside down, inside out teachings of Jesus, because I know that He knows what is best. This is what I want for you too.

Devotion to Jesus makes people come alive inside.
Devotion to Jesus shatters the status quo.
Devotion to Jesus causes people to be real change agents in this world.
Devotion to Jesus is the salt that enhances and preserves the world, and is the light that illuminates the darkness.
Devotion to Jesus creates peace and joy in your heart and provides contentment in the midst of a crazy economy and a lousy job market.
Devotion to Jesus is the foundation to build your life upon.

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.” Matthew 7:24-25

But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Matthew 7:26-27

One of the things I love about God is that He gives us a choice, and the choice is clear: Devotion to Jesus leads to real life, building on a solid foundation. Ignore Him and you settle for the status quo.

Day 347 You Know it's Going to Happen...

So, my devotional this morning was about making kids eat their vegetables. It was a pretty funny mom lesson.... Thought I'd share. ;)

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred. Proverbs 15:17


As children, our mom made my sister and me finish the vegetables on our plates before we could have dessert. One night my sister looked at our mom and said that if she had to eat green beans, she would throw up.

Mom insisted she have at least one bite, or no dessert. Knowing ice cream was within reach, my sister held her nose and tried to force down a tiny bite of beans. True to her word, the second she swallowed, her whole meal ended up back on the table. It was not a pleasant moment!

Proverbs 15:19 says that,“the path of the upright is a highway.” The path of a Christian isn't easy. There are times when we have to stomach unpleasant situations, people, or circumstances. Verse 19 says that this is better than the alternative: Compared to hatred, discord, envy, and greed, the path of a Christian is smooth, with open road ahead. Compared to the temporary pay-off of a life that looks only to please self, the life of a Christian focuses on the long-term and, in the end, the reward is greater....Maybe better than ice cream (Is this possible?!)

For some of us (not you), a meal of vegetables is not the most pleasant choice. But it's there we find essential nutrients for a well-balanced and healthy lifestyle. So, while they are not always pleasant at the time, in the long-term, vegetables are just what our bodies need. The same is true with love. It is better to live a life built on a foundation of love than to get carried away in the rocky roads of hatred.

My family still looks back on that meal and laughs until we cry. It's become one of our favorite memories--because we shared it together, in love.

Day 346 Great as in .... a Lot?

Some days, I feel unworthy of my calling as a Christ-follower, friend, and mom. The “great cloud of witnesses” found in Hebrews 12 is a list of the fathers and mothers of our faith. These were not perfect people, but they depended on God’s strength and power in their lives daily. Here's a way to look at the "cloud" that has God as it's silver lining....


The next time you feel like God can’t use you, remember....
 Noah was a drunk
Abraham was old
Isaac was a dreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
 Moses stuttered
Gideon was afraid
Samson was a long-haired womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced...a lot
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer
and Lazarus was dead!
You aren't the message, you are the messenger. :)

Day 345 Beauty that Lasts

He will beautify the meek with salvation. Psalm 149:4

Day 344 Running into Fog

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5


John Kavanaugh spent three months in Calcutta, India, serving the poor and trying to get a handle on how best to spend his life. He met Mother Teresa, and she asked him if there was anything she could do for him. He asked her to pray for him. When she asked what she could pray for specifically, Kavanaugh asked that she pray that he would have clarity.

Mother Teresa rejected his request. She told him, “Clarity is the thing you are clinging to and must let go of.” Kavanaugh replied that he longed to have the same kind of clarity that Mother Teresa seemed to have. Hearing this, Mother Teresa laughed and said, “I have never had clarity; what I have always had is trust. So I will pray that you trust God.”

Many of us have made seeking clarity a higher priority than simply trusting God. In issues of faith, when we only seek the "safe path" and live on the basis of what we know and understand, we end up walking the Christian life by sight, not by faith: This pathway is dangerous to spiritual health.

Trust is faith in action. A great example is Abraham: God called Abraham to move from his own country to another one. God told Abraham that He would make him into a great nation. That was pretty much the extent of the direction that Abraham was given. Talk about lack of clarity. If I were in Abraham’s shoes, I would have wanted specific details on everything involved before setting out on the journey. I think I would have pepperred God with questions like “Where, exactly, am I supposed to go?” and “What am I supposed to do?” But tat wasn’t the way Abraham responded. Instead, trusting God, Abraham went.

He just went.

This is why Abraham is called the “father of all who believe.” Taking a closer look into Abraham’s life, it's clear that Abraham was also an average person who struggled with real life issues. He made risky decisions, and he made a number of bad decisions along the way. Abraham did not live a safe life. By pushing through his desire for clarity, he pursued God’s calling on his life and lived a life of trust.

God, help Sarah (and me) to take more steps towards following the example of Abraham, to take up the challenge of faith and live with less clarity and more trust. You told us to “live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Day 342 Whole Lotta Anxiety!

   We are told in God’s Word not to be anxious, yet in reality, we live in a world where about anything can bring on anxiety. Think of what’s happening globally. With the melt down of financial institutions, and the political unrest, along with the reality that most governments are making things worse, who wouldn’t be distressed unless they are living in uninformed bliss? A city not too far from where I live, is ranked second in the world for kidnappings, with only Mexico City having more.  If that fact doesn’t give you a healthy fear along with a sense of uneasiness, you are probably in denial.
     I know some of you right now are thinking, "Hey! We are told by God in Matthew 6 and Philippians 4 not to be anxious. So what do you mean by saying, 'Be anxious but do not sin?'  Isn’t all anxiety sin?"  I will answer this question in the rest of this devotion, as well as share some insights about anxiety and how to deal with it from God’s perspective.
     Let’s define anxiety from a psychological and physical point of view, so we are on the same page when it comes to what is meant by it.  A simplistic definition of anxiety is: Anxiety starts in the mind when we perceive something as fearful; this makes our body prepare for danger which includes symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety is an emotion that can have feelings of nervousness, being tense or jumpy, unpleasantness, irritability, restlessness, a sense of uneasiness, dread, panic, and so on. These feelings are often accompanied by physical symptoms. The symptoms of anxiety can be so slight you hardly feel them, or so intense you feel like you will die, such as a panic attack.  Fear is very connected to anxiety, because when you are fearful you are probably anxious.  In other words, what is fearful to you (such as your child getting hurt) is your anxiety producing source.
     Here are some everyday examples of anxiety.  It’s those butterflies in your stomach as you gave that oral report.  It’s the uneasiness you feel when someone dislikes you or you think they do.  It’s the restlessness you feel just before a tennis match.  It’s the feeling of nervousness you get when you realize your painful stomach problems are back.  It’s the dread you feel when you need to deal with your abusive father.  It’s the pounding in your heart when you realize some man has been following you in a dark parking lot.
     I think you would agree from the above definition of anxiety, everyone has been anxious.  So it won’t surprise you to hear, Psychology says - if you are human you will be anxious.  Yet, did you know God’s Word pretty much says the same thing?   Let’s go to His Word to understand anxiety from His point of view, and learn how to deal with it.
     In Job 21, anxiety is clearly defined for us through Job’s honest reaction to his suffering, and his hard experiences.

When I think about this, I am terrified; trembling seizes my body. Job 21:6 (NIV)

Job in this verse literally explains to us how anxiety begins and acts in us.  He was saying, anxiety seized him every time he thought about his terrifying experiences.  If you aren’t familiar with the book of Job, here is a summary of his nightmarish experiences.  Job lost all his earthly wealth; all his children were killed all at once; and he was smote with sore boils from his head to the sole of his feet.
PS – If you do a study of words that describe symptoms of anxiety, you will see how commonplace anxious reactions are in the Bible.  All through the Psalms - King David talks about his distresses and so on (Psalm 55:5).
     We need to understand when anxiety started, so we can clearly understand where it comes from.  Anxiety started with Adam and Eve and the first sin.  We know this from Genesis 3:10.  This verse tells us what Adam and Eve felt like after they had disobeyed God and brought sin into the world.

And he [Adam] said, "I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself." NASB^®

     The Hebrew word – afraid, is the key to understanding where anxiety came from. Zodhiates (in his Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old Testament, pg. 2323) says that two types of fear are described by this Hebrew word: (1) the emotion and intellectual anticipation of harm, what one feels may go wrong and (2) a very positive feeling of awe or reverence for God.  I think it is evident from the context – afraid in Genesis 3:10 is the first type.  Have you ever thought how horrible it must have been for Adam and Eve, to have only felt positive emotions such as happiness, and then instantaneously to feel anxious - fear and so on?  Talk about a nightmare experience!  I know all about anxiety and it still throws me off.
     Is anxiety ever a good thing to experience?  There are 4 areas where anxiety could be called good for us. (1) Anxiety wakes you up to face a threatening situation or gets your adrenaline going (fight or flight). If your house is burning down your mind should scream, “Get out of the house because you will be burnt.”  This thought rightly puts you in a panic, so you haul tail it out.  (2) As a Christian you should get anxious if you are thinking about sinning, or have already sinned. This is because you should have a healthy fear of disobeying God (which Adam and Eve didn’t seem to have).  This anxious fear should scare you away from sin!

For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.  Psalm 38:18   NASB^®

(3) Anxiety keeps you on your toes, so the Spirit can lead you to do what is right.  Your 12 year-old son needs to take a bath and change his clothes before he goes to church.  The only reason he does is, he gets afraid and starts getting nervous about being restricted for a week. (4) Last but not least, anxiety makes me close to God because only He can quiet my anxious thoughts, no matter what they are from.

Say to those with anxious heart, "Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come …but He will save you.”  Isaiah 35:4 NASB^®

     One of the main struggles of anxiety is, we can’t always get away from what is making us anxious.  Here are some fear producing circumstances that are not for the most part sin, but unfortunately you can’t easily get away from them to stop your anxiety.   (1) Genetic source: Research has shown some people are genetically more prone to anxiety; this seems especially true for some women.  (2) Medical source: Health problems can lead to high levels of anxiety - such as cancer, lupus, arthritis, thyroid problems, infections and so on.  I struggle with anxiety a lot more since I have been in menopause. (3) Substance source: Certain substances can induce anxiety - such as alcohol, caffeine, legal or illegal drugs.  (4) Traumatic experience source:  Anxiety can be a major struggle in your life after a hard experience, until you learn to deal with it.  A rape victim can have many fearful triggers that will set off anxiety.  An example - years ago, a woman was raped in a park, and every time she goes near the place, she gets a feeling of anxiousness.  (5) Relational source:  Some people you can politely avoid, but most relational sources you can’t or shouldn’t. I have found when some people make me anxious it’s not always their fault, but my sin (such as pride) might be what is sparking my nervousness.
     If you are struggling with a high level of anxiety, it would be a good thing to see a trusted doctor. There are a lot of medicines that can help you, as well as counseling. If you need medicine, it is a gift from God because it helps your body bring down your high level of anxiety so you can deal with it through God.  What is happening when you are highly anxious is:  Your mind and body get determined to get away from the fearful source (fight and flight) that is causing you those harsh anxiety symptoms.  But you can’t!  So it’s like a vicious cycle.  Your mind and body keep dealing with those symptoms, which makes it hard to deal with anything else.  PS  As you would any decision in your life, prayerfully ask God what to do or not do with your anxiety.
     When is anxiety a sin in our lives? All anxiety comes from sin, whether it is our sin, other people’s sin against us, or living in a sinful world. Remember Genesis 3.  We need to bear in mind anxiety in itself isn’t a sin in our lives (by the definition of anxiety).  It is the mind’s and the body’s reaction to the sinful world we live in.  This type of anxiety we will call reaction anxiety. Yet, anxiety can become sin when we deal with our reaction anxiety in an unbiblical way!
     Anxiety becomes sin when we allow the source of our anxiety (or what is scaring us, distressing us, worrying us, stressing us, or putting us in a panic) to control us, instead of letting God control us.  What I believe happens when anxiety becomes sin is, our mind and body are reacting to a fearful source, which is reaction anxiety. But then for various reasons we forget to go to God with our anxious thoughts, or we don’t trust God to get us through whatever is making us fearful and thus anxious.  This scenario becomes sin. We will call this anxiety - sinful anxiety (Psalm 37:3-5 & Proverbs 3:5-6).
     Let’s take a look at a person who has reaction anxiety but isn’t particularly sinning, and another who is. The first person has lost her job and can only make her house payment for 3 months without a job.  This scenario would naturally make anyone feel distressed or worried.  However, she knows what God’s Word says, so she decides to pray, and mentally tell herself to trust God every time she starts to get worried.  The other person has lost her job too and can only make payments for 5 months.  This person knows what God’s Word says, but does not figure God could really help her, so why bother Him. She gets worried every time she thinks of her plight, and feels like she is drowning with the fear of not having the resources.
     Be aware, our source of anxiety (a fear) could be from sin in our life.  An illustration:  My source of fear which makes me slightly anxious is -whether my teaching and writing are encouraging, thought-provoking and growth inspiring to the reader. This isn’t an unreasonable fear, but it is sin because this thought tells me I am relying on my abilities instead of doing what God wants and relying on His Spirit to touch others through what I am doing. Do you see a pattern that lack of trust in God leads to sinful anxiety?
Below are 4 principles from scripture that will help you deal with anxiety! Dealing with anxiety through God’s methods can set you free from sinful anxiety, and lessen reaction anxiety in your life.
1.  Transform the mind - Since reaction anxiety starts in our minds, we must start dealing with it there.
     Since anxiety starts in the mind, it just makes sense that if we change our way of thinking, our anxiety will change.  So as a Christian how do we change or transform our minds to calm our anxieties?  God’s Word! When our minds are grounded in His Word, this will allow us to have His way of thinking about the world and its disquieting and fearful influence.  This certainly will lead us to have more of His peace, which will calm down our anxiety in our lives.
Jesus is talking:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled (emotion that causes the mind to be disturbed) and do not be afraid... I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 14:27 & 16:33 (NIV)

Knowing God’s Word will allow our minds to filter out the world’s lies that make us fearful, and to replace them with God’s truth that gives us peace of mind.
     When our minds are busy thinking godly thoughts, it will get our minds off what is scaring us, distressing us, worrying us, stressing us, or putting us in a panic, and onto reality from God’s perspective.  One of the world’s lies that floats around in my head is, “You are useless,” which can lead to anxiety.  If I was thinking with God’s truth, I would think, “God tells me in Psalm 139 that I was created by Him for His purposes.”  This godly thought makes me feel encouraged, instead of anxious.
Apply to your life.  What lies of the world do you struggle with that make you fearfully therefore anxious?  What Bible verse could you use to quiet your anxious fear? I have found if I am willing to allow the Holy Spirit to lead me as I read and study His Word, He guides me to verses that calm my fearfully anxious thoughts.
2. Trust God –  The key to stopping sinful anxiety or calming reaction anxiety in your life is, trusting in God. What you should be doing is, first and foremost, relying on God to get you through whatever is making you fearful and thus anxious, instead of relying on yourself, or whoever, or whatever.

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast (supported or upheld), because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

     It is evident that trusting God is essential when dealing with anxiety because of the Hebrew definition of trust. Zodhiates (in his Complete Word Study of the Old Testament, pg. 2304) says trust means – to attach oneself, to trust, rely on, confide in, feel safe in, be confident in, secure in.  It has the idea of confident hope in God and not constant worry.  It is relaxing in the fact God is in control; He is our security and not what the world offers. When we truly trust in God, He will make us feel safe and secure and therefore not fearfully anxious (Psalm 37:3, 5; Proverbs 3:5; Isaiah 31:1 & Jeremiah 17:5-8).
     Let’s take a look at Matthew 6. In this passage there are numerous times God tells us not to worry, but to trust and seek Him concerning what we need.  Looking at this passage should help you to know what to do when you are fearful about something so you won’t get anxious.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…. Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'… your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow (the what ifs…), for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)

     Here is an example of trusting in God from Matthew 6:25-34 so you can zap your anxious thoughts. Our nation will probably have another terrorist attack.  This thought makes my mind think, “Oh no, what if that happens or that or that…how will we get water if the electricity is off in Tucson and so on.”  As I think these things, of course a feeling of fearful anxiety starts pervading my body.  But then I remember what God’s Word says.  So I think, “God knows what we need and will provide it. He doesn’t let the birds die of thirst.  I need to remind myself (moment by moment if need be), to trust Him instead of freaking out.  He will lead us, as we seek Him.” Can you relate?   (PS  He has led us to store extra water and food.)
     When we know God’s truths and act upon them we are then relying on the unchanging and eternal God instead of the world’s ever-changing ups and downs.  God tells us in 1 Peter 5 to cast or throw our anxiety on Him, because He is concerned about us.  We cast our anxiety upon Him by mentally relying on Him and His Word to calm our fears.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

I believe if you are trusting God, you might still suffer with reaction anxiety, but you will not suffer with sinful anxiety!
Apply to your life. Sometimes I am trying to rely on Him but my source of anxiety is screaming in my mind to be afraid and therefore nervous, such as when I gave blood for the first time. (Giving blood turned out to be a blessing, so that fear was unfounded, like many can be.) I want to trust God with my fearful circumstance, but it seems I just default to feeling uneasy or worse. Do you find yourself in the same predicament? What do we do then?  Ask God to show you if you are trusting in Him with your reaction anxiety? Ask God to show you if your anxiety is sin.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. Psalms 139:23-24 NASB^®

     If you are relying on Him, then keep persevering with God and ask Him to help you to calm your reaction anxiety.  God gave me Isaiah 35:4 one time to help me. But if you are not relying on God then your anxiety is sin. Ask God to give you the desire and strength to trust Him instead of freaking out. If your fear is a sin such as, you lied and are fearfully anxious you will get caught, then ask God to forgive you (1 John 1:9). And ask God to give you the desire to do His will so you will not be fearful over your own sinful doing.. 
3. A lifestyle of prayer – I believe the only way you can truly rely on God is to know Him through His Word and stay connected to Him through prayer.  Philippians 4:6 makes it very clear, to stop sinful anxiety and lessen reaction anxiety, you need to pray about everything.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  NASB^®

     This verse is telling us that to be able to deal with anxiety and its fearful source in a godly manner, we need to be people who trust in God enough to talk to Him about everything.  We need to also be thankful, even for what makes us anxious, such as your mother-in law.  If prayer is our way of life along with being thankful, it tends to gets our minds off of what is distressing us and onto God who has abundantly met our needs (Philippians 4:19).
Apply to your life. At least for me, when anxiety hits, it drives me to want to talk to God.  How about you?
4. Our greatest example of how to deal with anxiety is Jesus - Yes, Jesus had reaction anxiety (at times) because He was human. Yet, He never had sinful anxiety!  So it just makes sense to follow His example of dealing with reaction anxiety.  And to also pursue His example concerning trusting God, so we can fight sinful anxiety as it starts in our mind.
     The best example of Jesus handling reaction anxiety is just before He is arrested in the garden of Gethsemane.  Let’s look at Luke 22:41-46. 

And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, "Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done." Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.  And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.  Luke 22:41-44   NASB^®

The Greek word agony in Luke 22:44 refers to trembling excitement and anxiety produced by fear or tension before something hard.  In this passage, it is very clear Jesus had the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as sweating.
     Since Jesus’ sweating was abnormally intense, I believe this meant His reaction anxiety was extremely strong.  This state probably caused His mind and body to be in a panic state, so that He felt like He would die from His anxiety.  As many of you know, Jesus did go on to literally die for us on a cross a day later after much suffering (Luke 22-24).
     However our God, who took on human form for us, allowed Himself to experience the worst reaction anxiety a person could experience, even though He easily could have avoided it or stopped it, but instead endured it for you and me.  Since Jesus endured extreme reaction anxiety for you and me… let us run to Him with our reaction anxiety as well as our sinful anxiety, knowing He will give us mercy and help so we can be conquerors in our battle with anxiety (Romans 8:26-39).

Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers.  We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. Hebrews 4:14-16 (Message)

 Luke 22:41-44 gives us how Jesus handled His reaction anxiety in a godly manner. 

Day 341 Not A Gumball Kind of God

Don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:31-33

Guess what. God isn’t a genie, just waiting for you to rub the lamp so that He can appear and grant your three wishes. He’s not waiting to hear your marketing plan for your life to determine whether He’s going to invest in you. A lot of people never realize this, and then conclude that "God doesn't work."

The truth is that God is waits for us to make the decision to really follow Jesus. That’s how God works. Will you follow Jesus even if it costs you? Will you follow His teachings and His direction no matter where it leads you?

G.K. Chesterton wrote,“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult, and left untried.”

Keep on choosing God’s agenda for your life, Sarah. You'll find that God "works" every time!

Day 340 Beyond Rights

Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31

This is a nice thought. It's also a guiding principle for everything we do. It means to honoring God by trusting him, obeying him, and imitating Christ in the situations we encounter in our daily lives...including conflicts.

"I have the right to do anything, you say, but not everything is beneficial for you.... No one should seek only their own good but also the good of others...." (Cor. 10:23-24)

Paul says that the issue is not whether you're getting your way or I'm getting mine, bu whether God is having his way in both our lives. This is the way to be at peace with eachother.

God, help Sarah to seek your will for her above all else. Amen.

Day 338 Chasing Peace

Seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14b

Usually, if someone is miffed at us, we figure it's there responsibility to come to us about it, especially if we think we haven't caused their problem. However, Jesus says, don't wait--it's your move.

Why should we pursue peacemaking even if we don't think something is our fault? Well, the first reason is that separation between believers is not what we want the world to see in us. Another thing is that we might have done something to anger the other person without knowing it...or maybe not. But in the meantime, approaching it can provide forgiveness or clear up a misunderstanding, and both are pleasing to God.

Besides this, because we love other people, we don't want them to let grudges grow in their heart. If you can help someone resolve a conflict, especially with you, take the initiative toward healing!

God, it can be hard to obey your command to love others. Sarah is already practiced at pursuing peace, so give her courage growing in the pursuit of peace with grace wherever there is a problem. Amen.

Day 337 Under Authority

Then He said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:15

Jesus told a story about a rich man who was a good businessman with a good business plan. He had been successful in his agricultural industry. His crops had produced. He was looking over his physical plant, and realized he didn’t have the facilities to store his crops. What’s a good businessman to do? Build a bigger warehouse, of course. Typical of a successful business owner, he saved his profits. He was able to say, "I’ve got enough now to kick back and take it easy; eat, drink, and be merry."

Yet, Jesus unfolds the story as follows: "But God said to him, ‘You fool!’ This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’" (Luke 12:20) Ouch. The rich man gets the bad news: Your life is over and you can’t take your riches with you.

What did this guy do that was so bad? Should every business be non-profit? Should there be no planning for the future or retirement? Should there be no enjoyment of life and the fruit of our own labors? One might reasonably draw these conclusions as a first impression.

Fortunately, Jesus steps in with the moral of the story. It’s not really about business acumen or profits, but life perspective. Jesus concludes the story with, "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." The rich man’s problem was not that he had material wealth, but that he was not humble before God. He demonstrated no concern for God’s place in his life. The rich man left God out of his life, and in the end he was left with nothing.

There is nothing inherently wrong with having hopes and dreams for the future, with developing your potential, with growing your business, with saving for your future. But, the most important issue is this: are you rich towards God? Apart from this, all other things amount to nothing. Personal achievements and personal kingdoms never last.

Be humble before God. Invite His participation and partnership in your life. Seek to develop your relationship with Him. Give Him the rightful place as Lord in your life. If you do this, you’ll be in a secure place—with treasures stored for eternity—that no one or no thing, not even death, can take away.

Day 335 Simple...and Inconvenient

And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. Matthew 10:42


Nothing quenches the thirst like water. Sports drinks, fruit juices, sodas, and coffee provide the body with flavorful refreshment, but when the body thirsts, true satisfaction comes only from water.

Giving a cup of cold water to another is both simple and inconvenient. The simple act of leaving your personal comforts to care for the needs of another demonstrates the love Jesus shared with us when He left the ultimate comfort and joy of heaven to live life here on earth.

In the passage above, Jesus explains that no act of kindness, no matter how small, goes unnoticed or unrewarded when it is done in His name. In the book of Matthew, Jesus shares the story of the sheep and the goats, illustrating the difference between those who care for the simple needs of others and those who choose to look away. In Eugene Peterson’s Bible paraphrase, The Message, he conveys Matthew 25:40 in this way, “Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.”

Serving another person is often inconvenient. It takes time, energy, personal resources, and sometimes, personal discomfort. It is so much easier to look away and to assume someone else will do it. However, Jesus invites us to serve Him by caring for the needs of others. Today and everyday the invitation remains.

Day 334 Summit

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 
Hebrews 12:1-3

One time, a youth minister told me about a key lesson his father learned about people when he was a guide for groups climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Climbing Kilimanjaro is a lot like life: the road is long and sometimes very difficult. There are tough spots along the way with moments of exhilaration and moments of intense complexity and pressure. It's a good metaphor for our lives, families, and relationships.

The guide told his son that when climbers can’t see the peak because it's cloudy, they don’t usually make it to the top because they get discouraged, irritable, and start to fight among themselves.

But when the peak is clear, and they can fix their eyes on the summit, the climbers are focused, work together, and almost always make it to the top. The difference, of course, is that they keep their eyes on the goal--the peak of the mountain.

Isn't life like that.

When we fix our eyes on Jesus and persevere, we can accomplish our goals; when we take our eyes off of Him and follow another road, we forfeit our spiritual direction.

Stay on the road. Read the Roadmap often: He knows the way. He will show you the path.

Oswald Chambers said,  “Beware of anything that competes with your loyalty to Jesus Christ.” Is there anything today that is holding you back? What is God asking you to do about it? You know the answer, make a decision to do whatever He tells you.

Day 333 Life's a....Puzzle! ;p

Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10

Ever done one of those mystery jigsaw puzzles? There is no picture on the box to follow, but once the puzzle is put together, you use the picture to solve the mystery. Some of the pieces connect easily and you can tell right away where they fit while others are more difficult.

In one of these mystery puzzles, there was a navy blue color with no pattern. You would think you found a match only to find out the pieces were slightly off. It's frustrating when the last twenty-five puzzle pieces to take forever to fit together! You have to try each piece in every spot since they are all a fairly uniform shape and color. And, even though they looked alike, each piece was different, and slamming your fist on the puzzle trying to make it fit doesn't work. ;) You just try somewhere else and it slides in effortlessly, finding its perfect spot.

Here's the moral: Each one of us has a perfect fit. For some it is easy to figure out what their purpose and role in life is. These people seem at ease, always pursuing the goal they know God has for them. But most of us are more like the dark puzzle pieces: we think we have found the right spot, we try to squeeze ourselves in, but something isn't quite right....We know we are close, but something is just a little off.

Like a jigsaw puzzle, the best thing we can do is: continue the search to find the right spot. We get in trouble when we try to make ourselves fit somewhere because we think (or someone else thinks) we should, when in reality God’s perfect plan is waiting around the corner.

God has something special planned for you, Sarah. He has something particularly planned for YOU. You have a spot in Gods plan, a specific purpose. Take the time to explore your gifts and abilities to see how you fit.

Right now: 
Think of at least five ways God has gifted you.
Now write down what are you doing right now in your life that matches God’s giftedness for you.

Day 332 I'm Done....

I'm done with living like a Christian:

• I’m done serving the poor.
• I’m done going the extra mile.
• I’m done visiting the sick.
• I’m done opening up my life to Christian community.
• I’m done loving my neighbor.
• I’m done living with integrity.
• I’m done loving my enemies.
• I’m done giving finances to global causes.
• I’m done opposing violence and oppression.
• I’m done speaking out against hatred.
• I’m done standing up for the marginalized.
• I’m D-O-N-E done…

Doing all these things won’t change the world unless God changes me. Ups and downs have defined my spiritual life. Some moments in  the journey were some of the most intimate encounters with Jesus that I’ve known....real, almost tangible experiences that can't be explained by anything but the power of the Holy Spirit.

Other moments, when I showed love to a neighbor, prayed for an enemy, served the poor… these were times when Jesus was right there with me.

Then there were times when I got stuck "trying to live like Jesus." In the Christian world we call these “good works” or “ethics" and I made my goal "doing" rather than "being."

By “doing,” I believed that my “being” would be consumed by an experience of the life of God.  Unfortunately, God encounters usually fade when all my time is spent “doing” or theorizing about “doing.”

It’s time to stop doing. It’s time to simply be done.  Be done “doing” because the Holy Spirit invites us to stop. And to "be." 

• To be the kind of person who serves the poor.
• Be the kind of person who goes the extra mile.
• Be the kind of person who visits the sick.
• Be the kind of person who opens my life up to Christian community.
• Be the kind of person who loves my neighbor.
• Be the kind of person who chooses integrity.
• Be the kind of person who loves enemies.
• Be the kind of person who gives generously to global causes.
• Be the kind of person who responds to evil with creative nonviolence.
• Be the kind of person who not only speaks out against hatred, but who suffers for the sake of the hated.
• Be the kind of person who stands in the margins with those who’ve been placed there by society (and even the church).

 I want to BE, and in the process become a different kind of Jesus follower.

Why the distinction? It's easy to follow the ethical teachings of Jesus and then miss the Christ who taught them. Dallas Willard (old guy) says:

Jesus never expected us simply to turn the other cheek, go the second mile, bless those who persecute us, give unto those who ask, etc.  These responses, generally and rightly understood to be characteristic of Christ-likeness, were put forth by him as illustrative of what might be expected of a new kind of person – one who intelligently and steadfastly seeks, above all else, to live within the rule of God and be possessed by the kind of righteousness that God himself has, as Matthew 6:33 portrays. Instead, Jesus did invite people to follow him into that sort of life from which behavior such as loving one’s enemies will seem like the only sensible and happy thing to do. For a person living that life, the hard thing to do would be to hate the enemy, to turn the supplicant away, or to curse the curser…  True Christ-likeness, true companionship with Christ, comes at the point where it is hard not to respond as he would.

So, I’m done with living like a Christian. I’m trading that in for living in a deeper relationship with Christ.  I want to know Jesus. I want to hear Jesus. I want to be empowered by Jesus. Not simply in theory as I do the good things that he calls us to do, but as the natural outflow of intimacy with God.  The former way “gets the job done.”  The latter way changes the world.

This means the intentionality of placing myself in a position to hear from the Spirit.  Spiritual practices like – solitude, Sabbath, lectio divina, silence, confession, prayer, and practicing the presence of God – these neglected areas of life have led to a Christianity defined by “doing” rather than “being.”

God, help our intimate relationships with Christ to make it impossible to not respond with the ethics marked out by the Kingdom of God. Not out of effort to do good things, but out of our efforts to know Jesus Christ through an awareness of the presence of God’s Spirit. Help this to become our normal, so that we won’t be able to help it… we will just start looking like You. Amen.

Day 331 More than Peace

I will keep you in perfect peace because your mind is steadfast and trusts in me. Is. 26:3

The Hebrew word "shalom" is a beautiful word. In the Bible it's a blessing that Aaron was commanded to speak over the people of Israel. Shalom is more than our idea of the absence of fighting. It's a positive picture of a life filled with well-being--everything working in the right way. God's way.

Shalom results in rest for your soul, a confident mind, harmonious relationships and a prosperous walk through life. When you say "Shalom" to someone, you're proffering this kind of peace....not one rising from our war-torn, conflict-ridden world, but real peace that comes from a deep, enduring knowledge of God and complete trust in him.

It's through our relationship with God that we can live with the blessing of having "his face shine upon us" and his granting us his Shalom.

God of all grace, in the midst of fights and feuds, we yearn for your shalom through Jesus. Let Sarah see and feel your smile on her today, and especially when things go wrong. Amen.

Day 330 All the Time

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:28


We tend to notice God’s goodness when things are going well, don't we? When everyone in our family is healthy, when we get a raise at work, when rain doesn’t ruin our picnic. But what about when family or a friend gets cancer? What about when we lose a job or a marriage heads for the rocks? When was the last time you heard someone say, “I can’t afford to pay my school debts this month, but God is so good?”

It’s entirely appropriate to reflect on God’s goodness in the good times. And, there’s nothing to be happy about when difficult life circumstances come our way. Circumstances, however, never determine God’s character. God is good. All the time. Period.

You know that there is no escaping pain in life. It comes in all different kinds, shapes, colors, and personalities. It falls on us without warning or concern for our schedules and regardless of how much pain we are already facing. Sometimes, just when you feel you can’t handle another ounce of pain, one of life’s dump-trucks stops by and drops a load of it right on your doorstep. Pain is an equal opportunity distributor.No one can avoid it.

 BUT even in times of pain: God is good. God always provides growth opportunities for us in the midst of pain. God uses our painful experiences to build character in our lives. James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

God wants us to use what He teaches us in the painful seasons of our lives for the benefit of others: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

The challenge today—and everyday—for us who follow Christ, is to be able to say whatever our circumstances, “God is good.”

God, give Sarah grace to trust in your goodness in the good times and bad times alike. Amen.

Day 323 Praise

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne with the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. Revelation 5:11-14


Praise is music to God’s ears. God loves to hear His children offer Him praise. How can you make God happy? Praise Him! Why should God be praised? He is our Creator, our Redeemer and our Comforter.

Praise releases the power of God. Praise is our expression of gratitude for His mighty acts of power and His surpassing greatness. Praise releases your life into the hands of God. Praise releases the Holy Spirit within you to call upon His almighty authority. Praise releases your spirit to sing of His awesome greatness!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Psalm 150:6

Day 322 Guidance you can Trust

Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance. Proverbs 1:5


Ever seen the book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success? It gives "guidance for life." Here's a sentence from the first chapter:“If I embrace the present and become one with it, I can experience a fire, a sparkle of ecstasy throbbing (!?) in every living cell of my being.  I’m on a cosmic journey, star dust twirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity.”

Please. Whirlpools of infinity? That's what happens when the toilet won’t stop running. This book was a bestseller....People actually made decisions based on this stuff!

When it comes to seeking guidance, there's a better plan. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching us what is true and making us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” It says that everything we need for guidance in life is in the Bible, either specifically or in general principle. It’s right there, laid out for us.

Examine God’s Word. Does the decision you are considering fall in line with the clear teaching of Scripture? If not, don’t do it. It doesn’t matter how good the decision looks or how great a promise it is supposed to be, or how much it will enrich you, or how happy it will make you. If it doesn’t line up with God’s Word, the answer should be “no.” Why? Because later, there will be some consequence that you won't like.

Read a little bit of the Bible everyday. Don’t feel guilty for not reading the entire New Testament on Monday and the entire Old Testament on Tuesday. Just read a little bit everyday. The more you read, the more you’ll be familiar with God’s guidance for your life.

Let God's Word grow into your heart, and it will bear fruit in your life. Then, when you’re faced with a decision, it will come to your mind and you’ll know the kind of direction God wants you to take.

Day 321 Nothing Wasted

Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” Deuteronomy 1:29-31

 The Israelites had traveled through the desert for more years than they wanted to count. Spies were sent out to inspect the Promised Land, and when they came back, the men reported that the people already living in the land were larger and stronger than them The people of Israel were scared. They cried out to Moses and asked why God had brought them there to die.

Then, Moses said something along the lines of, “Quit looking forward and being paralyzed in fear. God will fight for you! Look at all He has done in the past. He carried you in your time of need. He guided you in the darkness when you couldn’t find your way and was with you in the light when things seemed easier and clearer. Trust in Him!” It's a good reminder today.

There's a saying: “Life’s a lot like rowing. You only know where you’ve been.” We usually don't know what lies ahead of us, but we know where we have been. Even when you don't know what's coming next in your work or life, God is with you. The Israelites demonstrated to us over and over that it's easy to forget how God has carried us in the past when challenges face us ahead.

If you're wondering where God is, or feeling paralyzed with fear over what is next, hold tight to this:  The Lord, Sarah's God, who is going before you, will fight for you as you find your next job and place in the world. God will carry you as He has done before, as He always will.

Day 320 Moses

The book of Deuteronomy says that there has never been another prophet like Moses. Moses spent 40 days on a mountain talking with God. He spent so much time in God's presence that his face glowed with it.

But Moses didn't get all of his advice and answers directly from God. Deut. 18:24 says that "Moses listened to his father in law..." Moses went to Jethro, his father in law, for good advice. The same way, God uses other people to speak to us.

Sometimes God puts people into our lives who give us wise advice. Other times he gives us people who set an excellent example of handling tense moments with grace. God has regularly chosen to work within communities.

We (erm, me) like the idea of being self-sufficient. We don't want to need help from other people. But, God calls us into a community of believers We grow closer to God as we enjoy fellowship with others. Life can be simpler, less stressful, when we realize that God can speak, lead, encourage, and caution us when we make it a priority to develop relationships with other Jesus-followers who are willing to speak the truth to us in love.

Holy Spirit, thank you for the gift of fellowship. Work in Sarah so that she can offer your insights to others and be ready to receive your wisdom as well. Amen.

Day 319 Powered by...

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear it's sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3:8

Today is Pentecost, the day we remember the way the Holy Spirit's power was evident fifty days after Jesus arose from the dead.

Practicing spiritual disciplines is a bit like wind blowing the turbines on a wind farm--we can mistakenly think that our spiritual growth is powered by our disciplines. But really their practice is just a vehicle that helps us grow nearer to God.

The disciplines don't compel the Holy Spirit to work on our behalf, but develop the habits that draw us to God where we are better positioned to be propelled by the Spirit's power when he moves.

Holy Spirit, prepare Sarah's heart to be moved by you so that she is ready to respond whenever you call her. Amen.

Day 318 We, the Unwilling

We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. Mother Teresa

Day 317 One Day at a Time

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34


Do you know this saying, "The two days that people worry most about but should actually worry about the least are yesterday and tomorrow." We can't control either of these. They're out of our grasp and a waste of energy

When we don't waste our worries on yesterday or tomorrow, we are...free to live in the present. Today you can make decisions about your life. Today you can set your course, take off in a new direction, or alter your path. Sure, you'll still make your share of mistakes, and you'll still have worries. Each day brings enough to be concerned about, but they get unbearable when the worries of the past and future gang up on us too.

Jesus teaches us to live one day at a time. He knew that so much of what we worry about is out of our control. He wanted us to understand that God gives us today. As we live our lives seeking Him, we are in a safe place. Jesus promises that our heavenly Father will provide us with everything we need.

Do your best to live today, just one day at a time! Most of the things you worry about will never come to pass! And, when you find yourself tempted to worry again, remind yourself that, “Your heavenly Father knows all your needs, and He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” Matthew 6:32-33