Living Beyond Yourself

When faced with a seemingly impossible task, remember that God is always about what is beyond you. At times we all feel completely overwhelmed with the tasks before us. Often we struggle to reach a goal or take on a challenging situation by using all of our own strength and resources. The problem with this is our resources and our strength is very limited. God, on the other hand, has all power and all wisdom to meet any situation. In fact he either created the situation or He has allowed it to take place. Therefore, He already has the solution! As you come upon some of life’s most difficult situations or as you meet the day to day struggles of just living, keep in mind the following truths.

God is beyond you!
Remember- God is always about what is beyond you. Therefore, attitude is everything. Realize that as a servant of the Most High God that our mindset should reflect total confidence in the One who called us into service. Isaiah 55:9 says, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” So when we have the attitude of “I can’t” or “This will never work” we limit God. We are saying that Philippians 4:13 (The “I can through Christ” verse) must not be true. Oh, but it is true! Fill your mind with the truth of God’s greatness and “beyondness!” As you read further in Isaiah 55 you will see what happens when the people realize God’s greatness and see the faithfulness of His word: Isaiah 55:12, “For you will go out with joy, and be lead forth with peace . . .”

Life is beyond you!
Life brings to us such things as devastating illnesses, broken relationships, unpaid bills, and job layoffs; just to name a few. Life truly is beyond us! Without God we have no hope. But as one of my memory verses reminds me, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13) A popular contemporary Christian song is entitled, “Life is hard, but God is good.” That says it all! When we are faced with the hardness of life or faced with the discouragement of those around us, we must take hope for ourselves and give it out to those in need. When life is truly beyond them, extend to them the God that is also beyond them! Life may seem overwhelming even in the daily activities you find yourself. For example, squeezing in a commitment to spend time memorizing scripture, or consoling a friend, into your already hectic day is definitely beyond you. That is when we must claim Matthew 6:33, which says, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” Seeking the God who is beyond you will enable and empower you to live the life that is beyond you.

Love is beyond you!
Have you ever been around an unlovely person? You know what I am talking about - that person that really gets under your skin, who is obnoxious and unruly. Jesus loves the unlovely. I am glad because I am sure I am one of them at times. Anytime God puts me in a place where I must be with that unlovely person; it is an opportunity for Him to stretch me. It amazes me how God can love through me. He can only do that when I diligently seek Him with an open heart and mind. John 13:34, commands us to love one another as Christ loves us. Deuteronomy 30:11 assures us that, “Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.” Loving others is beyond us without the Lord, but with Him all things are within our reach.

You serve a God who is beyond you, who desires to walk with you through this life that is beyond you and will love others through you beyond your highest expectations!

Feasting on the Word,
Nancy
Jeremiah 15:16

Where is Your Mind?

Lately my mind wants to dwell on the dark side. It seems when I first open my eyes in the morning I am tempted to let my thoughts dwell on all the worst case scenarios that my life could take. You know the the kind that takes you to a future with poor health, no money, no family, no hope. Why does my mind want to go there? Why is fear and hopelessness even attractive to this sanctified mind? Is the world's mind set beginning to infiltrate mine? The world is going crazy it seems with gloom and doom forecasting. It is chicken little all grown up, in living color on the wide-screen!
I am not one to look for a demon behind every bush, but this does have someones hand prints all over it! I must remind myself and anyone reading this, that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers and powers and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. I must remember that the hope of glory dwells in me and that nothing can separate me from God's love. I am trying to grab hold of all the Truth hidden in my heart and hold it firmly. This Truth is the weapon that has divine power to demolish strongholds.
Where is your mind? My mind is now firmly focused on the truth that the God of hope will give me joy and peace as I trust in Him, so that I will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Lord is illuminating my dark mind with the light of His Word and I pray that this light spills over into your mind as well. Here is to a new morning filled with new mercies and with His unending love. My hope comes from Him!

Bite My Brain!

I had an enlightened moment yesterday as I put my make-up on before going to church. I was thinking about how it is easier to control what I say than control what I think. I realized that I was good at biting my tongue to keep from saying things that I know better than to say aloud in the presence of anyone else. I have learned that I can tell God anything, since He already knows what I am going to say before I ever say it anyway! This truth relieves my compulsion to blurt out half-pondered thoughts in public and thus be found to be the fool that my "flesh" woman is so apt to be!

Now, back to the make-up mirror. As I sat there thinking I realized my mind had been uninhibited as well while my thoughts had been reflecting on a situation from the day before. I wanted to have a really bad attitude. That is when it hit me - just bite your brain, Nancy! If only I could actually sink my teeth into the flesh of my brain whenever a thought of jealousy, judgment, or worry came slithering in! I think I know how to bite my brain, or at least how to corral the thoughts that go over and over in it. It is going back to where Mary, the Mother of Jesus treasured and pondered all these things in her heart. When I treasure or memorize a verse of scripture and ponder or meditate on it's meaning as I look for application options I am giving my brain ammunition against those thoughts of jealousy, judgment and worry. If I am intentional about taking my thoughts captive, in order to sift out the trash thoughts from the treasured ones, I then, in essence, bite my brain!

Okay, I am ready, my teeth are clinched, His Word treasured, and my mind alert to possible brain derailment! Let the biting begin! 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Romans 12:2; 1 Peter 5:8.

Can I just get a little honor here?

I have been thinking a lot about honor lately. As I studied for my last Bible study where I taught about living at your best, I came across verses about God being our Shield. As I dug a little deeper I discovered that God shields our honor, protecting it from outside forces that want to snatch it from us. He showers us with honor and blesses us with favor. As I think about my life as a young child, the daughter of an alcoholic father, I remember seeking refuge in my bedroom. It was there I felt safe and secure from the verbal tongue lashings of my father. I would work so hard to seek his approval and praise, wanting his honor instead of his wrath, only to find myself once again sinking in shame. My honor, stolen. I was ashamed of my life and wanted to experience a "normal" family where peace, harmony and honor reigned. Now, I know that "normal" doesn't exist, this side of heaven, anyway. As I grew up I kept seeking to find approval, acceptance, and honor from my friends, especially with boys. This only led to more shame and less honor. Then, after being laid off from my college job and being dropped by my boyfriend all in the same week, I cried out to God, whom I knew only as my Savior, and on that day He became my Lord and my Refuge from the storm of life. I fell madly in love with the Lord Jesus and discovered what it meant to be lavishly loved and honored by the One who created love and honor. Now, I flee to my Refuge and Shield each morning and like a warm fuzzy blanket He wraps me in His love and speaks words of honor, truth, and power over me. He lifts my head and enables me to walk with confidence. I am tempted on occasion to seek the praise of people and the approval of others. Hey I am human, I want others to like me and think highly of me! But, I no longer base my honor on what others think or say, instead I am learning to grip tightly the truth that God is my sun and shield, no good thing does He withhold from those who are His. I am His daughter - highly favored and honored. Do you want to experience honor, true honor? Flee to your Refuge, seek to honor the One who honors you- even when you don't! Think about it. Psalm 18:28-35

A Closet Meltdown

I had a closet meltdown today. I woke up extremely sore after my boot camp torture yesterday. I could barely get out of the bed and then after sitting in my "having coffee with Jesus" chair for an hour, my muscles felt frozen. Even with all the soreness, I tackled the elliptical at the gym this morning and enjoyed Sara Groves on my ipod. My day was going so well as I studied for my Sunday Bible study lesson and reviewed over my notes for the scripture memory class I teach tonight. The Lord was giving me some insights to share and illustrations to use. I was on a roll! Then, it happened. I took my shower - stayed in extra long under the hot water to ease my sore muscles - and then I went to my closet to find something to . . . . . wear! I looked through every piece of clothing hanging in my closet and found that most of the items no longer fit and those that fit were not quite right for "teaching." As I looked through the skirts and pants I was reminded that I had gained a good bit of weight since the last time I was able to wear most of them. They have been hanging in my closet for over a year without being worn. I keep telling myself I am going to lose this weight and be able to wear these again. I go on a diet and exercise my self into oblivion and lose a pound or two and then . . . . nothing! All my "poor me" emotions came flooding out and I found myself sobbing in my closet and muttering to myself, "You are so fat. How could you let yourself get like this. Now you are too fat to wear any of your clothes and you have no money to buy anymore!" I cried out to the Lord in my meltdown and He just listened. He is really good at listening to me when I cry out in meltdown mode. Then, right on cue, my husband calls to see how my day is going. I confessed that I had a closet meltdown again. He then proceeds to say what he always says, "Nancy you are beautiful and godly and God is using you greatly." Then he volunteered to give me $20 to buy another dress like the one I bought yesterday at Chico's for $18(originally cost $118!) At that moment I felt really small - not physically, but spiritually. I turned down his offer, but thanked him, just the same. Thank you Lord. Thank you for a husband that speaks grace, mercy, and love on Your behalf. I don't deserve it, but am overwhelmed by your grace and love. Mark 4:19 came flooding to my mind. "But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the Word, making it unfruitful." Along with my closet meltdown, the Word was being choked right out of me- the Life was being choked by my worry over what to wear, my desire to be thinner, and thinking that if I just had enough money I could fix everything! How on earth could those lies get into my brain that is flooded with God's Word? Easy - I hadn't been alert! But God was- He provided a way out of my self-obsession - through my husbands phone call- and into realization of the Truth! Thank you Lord for proving your Word true again in my life. Attention: I am now leaving the closet meltdown, clothed with Christ!

Boot Camp Blues

I thought I was doing fine. . . I had been prayer "walking" with my friends four days every week. My prayer life was strengthened and we were so encouraged when we finished. Two of my prayer walking buddies have been sick, so I am on my own this week. I had felt for a while that I needed to up my routine, so I thought their sickness was my opportunity to try out some "more intense" exercise. This morning I went back to boot camp, after not going for several months. I love my prayer walking friends and haven't wanted to miss our times together, so was content to do very low impact exercise paired with high-impact prayer. This morning I could have used some high-impact prayers! After one hour of sheer torture to this 50+ body, I came to the realization that my friends had led me down the path of destruction - destruction of my muscles, that is. After boot camp/torture, I could barely make it up the stairs to my condo this morning! Just leaning over to shave my legs was painful! What a dilemma I find myself in. What shall I choose? Torture and rock- solid abs and triceps or Prayer walking and sagging cellulite with a Rock-solid heart? Oh my, decisions, decisions. There must be a balance here. Maybe I will just soak my sore muscles in the tub tonight and pray about it!

My finger is healed!

A few weeks ago I cut my finger while slicing potatoes for vegetable soup. My mom was visiting while my husband was out of town. When I first felt the knife slice into the edge of my index finger, I knew I was in trouble! I immediately put pressure on it, to keep it from bleeding worse and covered it with a dishtowel, so I wouldn't see the blood. Blood makes me faint! I really can't control it- it just happens. Anyway, my mom helped me to clean it up and put a bandage on it. She wasn't a very compassionate nurse however, because she laughed when I mentioned that I thought it may need stitches. In the hours and days to follow my finger went through a metamorphosis of sorts. It went from red, to blue, to brown and yellow in color. First it looked like a chunk of flesh had been cut out and then laid back on top of my finger. I didn't think it would ever grow back together! It was extremely sore and tender to the touch. After about a week, I decided to keep the bandage off. Being out in the open seemed to speed up the healing. And besides no one even noticed that I had a hurt finger, with or without the bandage. Little by little the finger has healed. I hadn't thought much about it lately, until this morning. I looked at it and the chunk of flesh has miraculously grown seamlessly back in place and there is only a pin-sized scar left. You are probably wondering why on earth I am telling you about this. Well it dawned on me that my finger is a lot like my heart. When I am hurt, bruised, or broken by another it overwhelms my thoughts and my life. Some people never notice that I bear the scars and others may laugh it off when I share the hurt, but that doesn't lessen my pain. It is only when I go to the Healer of my heart, who brings me the salve of His Word and the bandages of His Spirit that I begin to heal. It is a slow process, yet over time, I come to a moment when I realize that it is only a little pin-sized nick in my heart that is barely even noticeable. I am amazed at the healing power of God. He takes my often hurt heart and not only heals it but makes it stronger in the process. My heart is healed! Psalm 107:20
Lord, give me eyes to really see those hurting around me and Your healing Word to apply to their hearts. Forgive me when I laugh to myself, "Can't they just get over that or get a little tougher?" Help me to be a bearer of healing words not hurting words. Praise the Healer.