Because most of the people were on Church Staffs when we paired off to practice I learned I’d rather listen than to discuss anything about myself. I also discovered that I could ask enough questions that it brought up front thinking that caused one pastor to give up some hurt feelings from his church body as he is preparing to move to another church.

God is Good! I am excited to say that ultimately the Bible can coach us as well as just meditating and praying. I believe we all must be purposeful and empowered each day. I now have only 16 hours of coaching but will gladly take more classes that will enable me to move forward so that I can help others and myself.

How are you doing? What is preventing you from reaching your goals? Is God directing you to a new task? How do you think you are going to reach your goal? What next?

Running toward the Goal……

Philippians 3:12-13  “I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. My friends, I don’t feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead.”

Despair in itself is not completely wrong. But it is what you do in life that brings your hope back up front and it is how you allow yourself to think. I recently received a text from a lady who has a cycle of ups and downs. She said, “I feel empty, and abandoned.” So I sent a text to her and asked a couple of questions:

1- What are you going to do about how you are feeling?

2-Who are you blaming for this state of despair?

3- You have a choice to walk out of this state of mind- What choices are you willing to choose to regain right thinking.

You see she was living her life based on her happiness with her adult children and grandchildren. She basically is stating a co-dependency. If she cannot see, communicate, and be a larger part of her children’s and grandchildren’s lives then she is not happy.

Yes, she lives alone, yes she is isolated by choice. She builds bridges and wall that will not let people come into her world. Life has become a game at an early age and she has definitive issues which have caused her despair.

Life is complicated enough without building walls around yourself because of insecurity which causes great despair. God declares He wants to bring success and favor into your life. God loves everyone just the same – but each person’s life is a different journey.

How do you define joy? Is it based on other people pouring and lavishing love upon you? Or is life so hard that you cannot see above the line and you feel as though you are drowning?

Beloved God has a plan and He wants you to enjoy life. If you have troubles and trials then welcome to the real human world we live. If you have fallen off, “The Princess Pedestal” then welcome to life as it is. But the journey will not be complete unless you are reading your Bible, trusting God and praying.

Lost all hope and confidence? Hebrews 10:21-23……. “We have a great high priest who is in charge of God’s house. So let’s come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let’s keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water. We must hold tightly to the hope that we say is ours. After all, we can trust the one who made the agreement with us.

By the way, the lady who I received the text from in the above statements. She later sent a text and said, “I am reading the Bible and getting ready for my class on Sunday so I can have understanding- and then I am going to to some work outside. I am better.” She looked to God for help and made choice that ultimately caused her to change the moment of despair to productivity and connecting with God.

If you want to pray the prayer to accept Jesus as Lord- look at the next text and you will find that prayer . Go to how can we pray for you and send us your prayer requests.

Are you feeling homesick in your soul? Are you sensing a void?  It seems to me that everyone is searching for a “god” but the true God in heaven is what you are seeking and you will find Him if you will all out to him–

Psalm 119:269-176 [The Message version]

Let my cry come right into your presence, God;
provide me with the insight that comes only from your Word.
Give my request your personal attention,
rescue me on the terms of your promise.
Let praise cascade off my lips;
after all, you’ve taught me the truth about life!
And let your promises ring from my tongue;
every order you’ve given is right.
Put your hand out and steady me
since I’ve chosen to live by your counsel.
I’m homesick, God, for your salvation;
I love it when you show yourself!
Invigorate my soul so I can praise you well,
use your decrees to put iron in my soul.
And should I wander off like a lost sheep—seek me!
I’ll recognize the sound of your voice.

Here is a prayer if You are truly homesick for the one true God:

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

How are you doing? Have you gone through sickness or tough times recently. God has a plan- count on Him for strength and endurance for the tough times.  I do pray the following verse will help you find comfort in Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:5-7…. “For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.”

Spend time reading scripture and remain in an attitude of prayer. No matter how the turns of life affect you, and it will; a Kingly focus on God is the most wonderful focus you could know. You gotta just look at the glass half full instead of half empty. Then you can rejoice!

I love David in scripture. His words inspire me to cling to Christ. He sinned, he failed, but he repented and kept on and on talking to God. I encourage you to read through the entire book of Psalms. Not only will it encourage you but a large portion will begin to affect you deeply because many of the Psalms will begin to be the core of your prayers.

I do pray you know the joy of the Lord and that you indeed have a “happy day!”

Below is a link to Bible gateway that will take you to Psalms. Hope you enjoy reading the New Century Version. Read the entire book- It is a wonderful Journey! Set your mind on things above so that the things on earth will begin to seem less and less frustrating.

We must always “watch and pray.”

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms&version=NCV

Chapters 1-12: Entering and conquering the Promised Land.
Chapters 13-22: Instructions for distributing the portions of the Promised Land.
Chapters 23-24: Joshua’s farewell address

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua&version=NLT

Today as we think about the literal walls in Jericho I am beginning to ask God to use this in my personal life. What walls need to be torn down around me so that I can walk in the will of God. What walls need to crumble around the city, churches in our places where we live.

Beloved, I am ready to cross the Jordan River, walk in the promises of God and see a miracle-working God cause us all to awaken and trust in Him.

Money is being wasted- our nation is in debt. Jobs are lost, families are going hungry and  loosing homes. Yet government gives away monthly payments to illegals living in our country. This part of our society hit me hard when talking to a friend in Idaho recently. She said she was turned down for Medicaid and food stamps because her and her spouse made 25 cents too much income. That is wrong! She finally fought the system and asked questions until she received what she had worked for all her life. She lives in practical poverty yet she makes 25 cents too much money to get full benefits. And now instead of 40 dollars in food stamps she is given 16 dollars per month. They have already done a reversed mortgage but still have to pay yearly property tax. She is floored by a large population who dose not work yet they have full allotment of food stamps and monthly checks to live on yet they have never pad a dime into the US system. Do you think this is wrong?

If you are like my friend, your focus will be upward. It will be seeking the Lord and finding victory in Jesus. There is no other way to focus. He is the Provider and He will never forsake us, because He cares for His own. And He is taking care of  my friend on a daily basis.

Are you struggling? do you ask What in this world is going on? If you will read the entire book of Job you will see trial and tribulation yet God never forgot Job and Job never forgot his covenant with God. I love that fact that Job was more blessed in his latter years than before his tests and trials. God is at work!

Job:42:10-12 says…..”After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. ¹¹ All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the LORD had brought upon him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.

The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.”

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

Living Sacrifice – Dying to Self
So, how do we truly present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice? In a nutshell, we must die to our prior selves. This concept is wonderfully presented in this anonymous poem…

When you are forgotten, neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don’t sting or hurt with the oversight, but your heart is happy being counted worthy to suffer for Christ;

That is dying to self.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinion ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence;

That is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus did;

That is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, and offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God;

That is dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or record your own good works or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown;

That is dying to self.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and you are in desperate circumstances;

That is dying to self.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit, inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart;

That is dying to self.

Well that introduction was to let you know that God is giving new direction and as the lazy hot days of summer come to a close- it is back to business. Bible study, prayer, some writing and lots quiet study time. I am ready to walk through the doors God opens along the journey.

How are you doing? Do you have a focus or direction? Are you reading your Bible and praying daily. I encourage you to do so. Psalm 119 has been read almost every day since July 1– I plan on reading it 119 days because it is such a rich word. Most days it is my prayer. Of course there are other scripture to read – but the Lord has placed this in my eyes view so that I can cling to it.

You can read this scripture. I placed a link on this page in the version that I am reading.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps119&version=HCSB

1 Timothy: 6:6-8 says… “But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

Now I assure you that we all struggle with being content. The world poses as a great resource and declares to us if we only had a newer car or a bigger house that we wold be happy and content! Not the truth! The more we look around the more we see we don’t have and the more frustrated we will become. Thus I have made it a habit to pray constantly. If I go shopping I ask God to set my eyes on sale prices and I also ask Him not to allow my mind “want something I cannot afford.”

What I am saying is if you want something- do you need it? We can only wear one pair of shoes at a time, why do we need 3o pair? That example goes on and one in life. Think about it today. And don’t base your joy, contentment on what you want or don’t have because you will not see victory thinking like that.

Jesus told the disciples to sell everything and follow Him. He told them they did not need to bring much with them because He would take care of them. Do you think God will take care of you in hard times, in trials, in deep sorrow? I do- I believe He waits to pour down from heaven a peace that surpasses our understanding if we will “give up” the need for things and more things. If we simply just look up every morning and say, “Lord, you gave me this day, thank you, and Lord I want to follow you and find contentment in you.”

My prayer for you: Holy Father in Heaven, Your Kingdom come Your will be done in the lives of those who read this blog. Lord, help people to set their minds on you so that they can glorify your name on earth because they can declare and witness that you are the Provider and Safeguard in the lives of those who seek your face. Do an amazing thing in our lives today. In Jesus Name. Amen