Lessons 'n Blessings

Boast Up! -I Will Make My Boast In the Lord!

A few weeks ago I overheard a group of my male coworkers talking, no – debating over whose team/player was the best and why. This wasn’t a calm, casual, chattering of indifference. On the contrary, this conversation overflowed with passion, conviction, and faith. They were throwing up stats, mapping out strategic plays, and investigating the odds of their players winning under various conditions. Much thought and consideration was expressed, with the occasional disagreeing outburst from a participant. They talked about these teams and players like they had invested their life’s savings in them, like there was no possibility of them losing. These guys debating over sports were borderline emotional over whose team was better. I don’t think that it was an accident or coincidence that I witnessed this conversation. I actually was trying my best to Continue reading “Boast Up! – I Will Make My Boast in the Lord!”

 Summer Breeze Series #1

Develop a Sweet Tooth!

¹⁰³ How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! ¹⁰⁴ Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.  ¹⁰⁵ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.                                     –Psalm 119:103-105

A sweet tooth is a condition a person has when they find sweet treats irresistible. This urge to eat sweet desserts and other tantalizing creations in some social circles is seen as gluttonous and irresponsible. In other cultures indulging in sweet treats is recommended even encouraged, when shared among guests or for special occasions. Well the good news is that we can indulge our sweet tooth without the guilt and added pounds when we take on the attitude towards God’s word as described Continue reading “Summer Breeze Series #1 – Develop a Sweet Tooth!”

Breaking Routine- Spirit Led Life

I truly believe that God is a God of order, however in His sovereignty He can express that order anyway He wishes. Since God made us in His image many of us enjoy atmospheres of order, structure, and routine. We create structure and routine in our lives by the plans and choices we make. Sometimes the safety and comfort of following a routine, especially in our spiritual life, can unfortunately lead us to stagnation and loss of interest. While routine is great for administration of duties and management of time it can give a false sense of security or dull our senses to anything, including God, which may fall outside of our scheduled activities. One of the keys to remaining sensitive to the Holy Spirit is not only listening to, and communing via prayer with Him, but it is to obey the guiding of His voice. If we are too attached to following our routine, we might miss Continue reading “Breaking Routine – The Spirit Led Life”

When Jesus Breaks the Rules

So many of our teens around the world are labeled as “Hard-headed” “Rebellious” and “Good-For-Nothing” by their parents, teacher, and even their peers at a young age. When problems arise that cause them to face disciplinary action in the school system and even the judicial system, those have invested in the lives of these young people are left devastated, disappointed, and disillusioned, losing hope that any positive change will come for that child. When a teen becomes a parent, gets involved with drugs/alcohol, commits a crime, or drops out of school, blaming the parents, economic level, or outside influences are considered. The symptoms and irritants are identified but the root cause of the problem is never addressed. Even if a young person is doing well by family and community standards, the danger of that Continue reading “When Jesus Breaks the Rules”

Childlike Faith

As an adult, a believer in Christ, and a child of God my faith is consistently tested. It seems like there is no area of life the enemy will not attempt to ruin, especially when we have dedicated our lives to the Lord. I used to think that trials and hardships were only allowed by God to enter our lives so that we could learn to submit and obey Him. But there is a place where you have submitted everything: life, time, energy, finances, relationships, hopes, dreams, and intentions – and there is still great opposition from the enemy. By now you begin to ask yourself and God: “What and I doing wrong?” “When is this going to work out?” or “What is causing this?” So in your quest to understand and Continue reading “Childlike Faith”

After the Gleaning: What are You Carrying?

I love the book of Ruth, it was one of the books in the Bible that I read in its entirety when I accepted Christ as a young adult. I love the story of love, devotion, covenant, and restoration that the book of Ruth delivers. This story inspires hope of reclaiming joy, happiness, peace, and total life prosperity after enduring loss, hardship, and uncertainty of the future. As I have studied this book over the years I have seen myself through the perspective of both Ruth and Naomi – being devoted to serve and accompany people in my life on a journey to recover all, and as a woman who has lost much and became bitter from the unfulfilled promises in life. I don’t want to paint this story in the book of Ruth as a “happy go lucky” “happily ever after” type of fairy tale, and yet I also do not want to focus on all of the pain and hardship that they endured before the breakthrough and blessing came, as if that is a qualifier to receive Continue reading “After the Gleaning: What are You Carrying?”

The Mountain Side

Regardless of where you are in life right now it will take endurance, perseverance, and determination and the help of God to get you to your next place of victory. There is this song by Tauren Wells called Hills and Valleys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4rRCjrAyCs that talks about how God is with us on the mountain top (triumph) or in the valley (defeat/distress). I really like how this song emphasizes that God is always with us, that He won’t abandon us in the valley of hard times, and that He is the One who put us on the mountain top through His love and grace. What I saw as I listened to this song was a person running on this road, like they were running a race. Then as they were running another person ran up from the side to join them, as if to encourage them to keep going. I used to love watching shows like Biggest Loser or Extreme Makeover Continue reading “The Mountain Side”

Between Two Perspectives

There are two distinct ways of perceiving life while going through a test or trial. When the going gets tough it can seem like the enemy is always around trying to harm, destroy, oppress, or frustrate you. It seem like not matter how hard you try to stay positive and look on the bright side being grateful from moment to moment, that that is the precise moment that the enemy wants to rear his ugly head. It is very easy to view life through this lens of victimization – the righteous servant vs. the mean ole devil. Thank God that, that is not the only perspective that is available. This other perspective sees how God is always at work on our behalf regardless of what the enemy does, regardless of how hard things get, and no matter what obstacles rise up. While this perspective does take some imagination (at times) and lots of Continue reading “Between Two Perspectives”

ROI – Maximum Yield

For many people from stock brokers to business owners the three letters ROI are very important. ROI is the abbreviation for the financial term Return on Investment. According to Investopedia.com, ROI measures the amount of return on an investment relative to the investment’s cost. In other words ROI is an equation that helps predict the profitability of an investment. Why is this concept important for Christians? It is important because God, the Eternally Divine Investor, invested in each one of us and is expecting to get some return/profit from His investment. I don’t know what you have been through in your life, or what things are like for you right now, but I just want to inform you that divine deposits have been put in the account of your life and while you are here on earth in this life you have an opportunity to multiply and Continue reading “ROI – Maximum Yield”

When You Are Surrounded

O Lord, I have so many enemies;
so many are against me.
² So many are saying,
“God will never rescue him!” Interlude^[a]

³ But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
⁴ I cried out to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy mountain. Interlude

Psalms 3:1-4

When you are surrounded by troubles, cares, worries, un-pleasantries, and enemies know that you are also even more surrounded by God, His favor, His righteousness, His mercy, His compassion, and His love. Today, as most days seem to go, I noticed around me many things that could put me on edge, make me lose my focus, become discouraged, or spark in me a desire to quit believing that I will receive the promises of God in my life. There is a place in our walk with God that feels like God has taken the training wheels off and is allowing us to ride wobbly and somewhat unsteady through various phases in life. You can’t always feel Him, but you have come to trust that He is nearby ready to catch you if you start to Continue reading “When You Are Surrounded”