Called to be WILD...Leadership Development

The Identity of Leadership

2009-05-18T09:49:00.000-07:00

There are many ways to identify ourselves. We can identify who we are by our roles, titles or positions. We can identify who we are by what we have or what we do. And, we can identify ourselves by who we are associated with.

As Christians who are leaders, we would be wise to identify with the qualities of Biblical leadership. If we are not rooted first there, we will be forever trying to re-invent ourselves with each new season. There are many things that make up the Biblical model for one used by God. This week let's look at the model of BROKENNESS.

Broken is not a word that we usually ascribe to leadership. Rather we use words like: strong, capable, gifted, talented, adequate for the task. All of those descriptions are valid and good, but as Christian women who desire to lead we must first realize that God desires for us to be broken and dependent on Him. When in that place we will then be filled with His power and gifting. It was always meant to be, His life flowing through ours and His plan to be accomplished through us. Leadership? Yes, as we fall under the authority of His power, we are then equipped to live different lives that reflect His ability through human, dependent upon God, lives.

There are three key points worth reflecting on today:
1. We have a desperate need for God
2. We can not do it ( lead) on our own
3. Brokenness is an on-going process

Desperate Need for God
1 Corinthians 1:5-9, 17-20
"For in him you have been enriched in every way, in all your speaking and in all your knowledge. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ, is faithful."

"...not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us w ho are being saved it is the power of God, For it is written:
" I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?"

I am in my own season of brokenness. These seasons come for many reasons...health, finances, relationship problems, employment problems, crazy in-laws, and messy details. Brokenness comes when our life is interrupted, our hearts are hurt, we face loss, or we are rejected once again. Broken people fill our streets, our malls and our churches. Broken people, like you and me, are everywhere. And, though broken seems bad, it is actually good, because it causes us to depend on God. I usually wrestle with broken places and broken pieces, but this time though the process is still painful...I am not wrestling quite as much as normal. I am learning a new normal.

My current season revolves around health issues. I am so tired of health issues and the constant back and forth of dealing with medications, side effects and daily activities revolving around health...it is tiring and has broken me down emotionally. In this place, I am tempted to feel like giving up....too tired...too much...too broken to even think of leading. But....in this place I am also encouraged that in my weakness, God's strength can be manifest. This is radical thinking.

The Bible is filled with such radical thinking. After all, in the world we live in, broken is not good, it's bad. Broken needs to be fixed. Broken is far from beautiful. Dependency is weakness, and weak is not the American dream. Yet, we are also told not to be conformed to the reasoning of the world we live in.

If you are strong today, thank God, humble yourself before Him...and choose a broken posture of laying out your life like a broken flask before Him. As He receives the offering of YOU and YOUR strength, He will work His beauty of broken bread made to give life...through you.

If you are weak today, thank God that this season is causing you to depend on Him. Choose to lay down your weak places, your disappointment and all that you are carrying before Him. Choose to be a broken flask, poured out, and filled again with the presence and power of God.

Yes, brokenness, as crazy as it seems, is a pathway to Biblical leadership.

You are in Need of God

You are enriched in Him in every way
You are not lacking in any spiritual gift
He is the one who gives the gift and will keep you strong
God who has called you is faithful
Not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross be empty of power
God makes foolish the wisdom of this world
Foolishness of God is wiser than man's strength and wisdom
God chose the foolish, God chose the weak

You Can't Do it On Your Own

Brokenness is a conscious awareness that you need God in all things.
A broken person has come to the end of herself, or at least what she knows to be the end of herself at this moment in time
Brokenness is a friend, and pride is an enemy
You can not fulfill God's assignments on your own.

Now, what will you do with this?
Think about what Scripture is saying. You might be smart, have degrees, and pedigrees ( ha) and a zillion other things that qualify you. But, if you are not broken before God, as a life dependent on Him...then you have missed the point, and so have I.

Today's Prayer
Lord, I really want to depend on you. I want to learn a different way. I want to find hope and help where I am weak. And, most of all I thank you that when I am weak, you are strong. Be my strength, and may I always boast in YOU.

A Leader Who Desires God's Heart

2009-03-17T08:47:00.000-07:00

Leadership can be a real "head-trip". That's why when some people are given too much authority or power they misuse it. This can be seen as women who have to rule the roost in their homes, all the way up to women who are bossy and brash in their dealings with others.

Much of this attitude is done in the name of "authority", and our current title....mom, coordinator of event, bible study leader, supervisor of the dept, director of.....
But as Christian women who lead, we must take a look at how often we use our authority in the wrong way. God has not given us authority to be brash, bossy, uncaring, or rude. God has not given us authority to be above others, snotty or belittling. God has not given us authority to be popular, envied or looked upon as someone special.

But God has given us authority for the purpose of honoring Him and serving Him in whatever He has called us to. He has given us the authority to live in His Presence, in His Power, and in His Way, in our dealings with everyone in our lives...no matter what our position of leadership is. God's rule of authority always points back to LOVE.

Truth for the Leaders Heart:
Ephesians 4:1-6 NIrV
" I am a prisoner because of the Lord, So I am asking you to live a life worthy of what God chose you for. Don't be proud at all. BE completely gentle. BE patient. Put up with one another in love. The Holy Spirit makes you one in every way. So try your best to remain as one. Let peace keep you together. There is one body. There is one Spirit. You were appointed to one hope when you were chosen. There is one Lord. There is one faith and one baptism. There is one God and Father of all. He is over everything. He is through everything. He is in everything."

Paul identified himself prisoner BECAUSE of the Lord. He strongly identified his call, authority and position in life...good or bad...to the Lord who he believed was sovereign over his life and circumstances.

Because of this identify as His, no matter what life brought...He desired to live a life worthy of what God chose Him for and encourages us to do the same.

He gives us some steps:

Don't be proud..at ALL
Be completely gentle
Be patient
Put up with one another in love
Do your best to keep unity

Why? Because there is one God over all. He is the authority, power, presence, that is at work in us today. This is the way Jesus is...caring, patient, etc...and it is the way He wants to work through us too.

How do we have God's Heart as Leader? We submit to our identification as "HIS", and humble ourselves first before our Mighty God, and then make a stand in our own heart and beliefs to line up to what Humility is...gentle, patience, putting up with people.

If we are not characterized by a growing attitude in this area, we just might be using our authority in leadership in the wrong way. A leader after God's heart, is a woman who is imperfect, but who is intentionally lining her life up to the truths in God's Word.

Join me on the journey. Let's Live Up! surrendering to God changing us. God desires to teach us to walk in him, rather than our normal walk in self. It's a wild ride, buckle in!

Today's Prayer
Less of me and more of thee. Change me Jesus. May I walk, serve, and live under your authority.

2009-03-06T09:44:00.000-08:00

Design 4 Living Conference
May 29-30 2009
Wild Faith!

Northern California Conference!
Cornerstone Fellowship, Livermore, California

Special Guests: Anita Renfroe, Leslie Vernick, Dr. Catherine Hart Weber, Georgia Schaffer, Rick Johnson " The Man Whisperer", and Debbie Alsdorf.

Worship with Justin Brier and the Design4Living Team
Special Music: Christian Artist, Tara Leigh Cobble.

Tickets Go on sale Monday March 9th. www.cornerstoneweb.org
More information to be posted on Cornerstoneweb.org, and design4living.org, next week!

A spiritual growth conference for women of all ages.

Teaching for Life Change

2009-03-02T07:33:00.000-08:00

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

In small groups, in church settings, home settings and often in mentoring roles...women in leadership are often called upon to teach. It is amazing how even just a 10 minute devotional can help re-direct someone, encourage, instruct, or give them something to ponder and pray about.

Just yesterday I attended the women's ministry monthly prayer meeting in my own church. Before we began to pray the leader spent just a few minutes talking to us about our hearts being ready for intercession. In that short 5 minutes she had a goal of what she wanted to communicate and communicated it effectively. In turn that led all of us to a place of wanting our hearts to be right with God before we began praying for others. It was powerful. And, this woman does not probably think she is a "teacher." But she was, she is, and probably in your leadership position so are you.

First things First.
When handling God's Word, we must be convinced that it is a powerful tool for life change.According to 2 Timothy 3:16, the word of God is inspired by God and useful for:
Teaching, rebuking, correcting and training us in righteousness. As it trains us it thoroughly equips us for every good work. And, as we share it with others, it is useful for these very same reasons.

Now consider the people you lead, whether it be your children, or the women in your small group, or a larger study setting....Each of these people, are God's people whom He loves, cares for and desires to work in and through. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that:
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." God has created each of us for himself, and has created each person you lead for His work and plan too.

Now catch that vision, that when you are holding out God's word to others it is equipping them to be able to live out God's good purpose in their lives. Being a leader is serious and exciting business when we think of it this way. From a nugget of truth, to a full message, God is using us to make a difference in someones life by holding out the truth of God's word.

Now make it count, when given the opportunity or call to lead, make that time count, use it wisely. We often don't stop the run away trains in our groups because we don't want to offend. But, what if you were convinced that it offended the heart of God to allow all the idle chatter when the time was supposed to be centered on His word? Take a look at this verse that follows 2 Timothy 2: 15, " Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene." 2 Timothy 2:16

Oswald Chambers says that we must learn to express truth in a way that makes a difference.
"Strive to re-express a truth of God to yourself clearly and understandably, and God will use that same explanation when you share it with someone else. You must struggle, experiment, and rehearse your words to express God's truth clearly. Then the time will come when that very expression will become God's strength to someone else. Try to state to yourself what you believe to be the absolute Truth of God and you will be allowing God the opportunity to pass it on through you to someone else." ( My Utmost for His Highest , Dec. 15th devotional)

The Goal: Transformation Not Just Information
Whenever you are teaching God's word remember that the goal is not to dish out information. People can be filled with all kinds of biblical information and have no real life transformation. God's goal is that His word will transform our lives so that we would no longer live according to the patterns, plans or ideals of this culture we live in ( Romans 12:1-2) And, we see in Timothy that He gave us his word in order that we would know how to live, and that we would be TRAINED in righteousness. This must be the primary goal when communicating truth.

How Do I Present a Truth for Life Change?
Unpack it for practical use!
Personally I use a three point guideline, that I set up for myself when speaking to women.
My goal is always life transformation, life change, relational change, not head knowledge. I set out to accomplish this by trying to follow these three things when preparing:

Recognize... This is this the head connecting with the information.What does God's word say and why? This is helping the listener to connect with and acknowledge the truth.
Rely...This is the heart part. Any one can hear the word and recognize it, that is the surface of things. Life change comes when we learn to lean into the truth for application. The question that I always ask myself when in God's Word...How can I apply this to my daily life? When teaching others...how can I help them understand this in a way that helps them apply to their every day life?
Remember...This is reminding myself of the truth so that I don't read it and never digest it's powerful life changing principles. How can I make this stick so that I don't forget it in my daily life? And, when teaching others, what can I say or what visual can I use that will help make this message stick? Jesus used practical stories known as parables. What can I do to make His timeless truth stick today?

When giving a message I always have a goal. The aim is to help women to recognize truth, learn to rely on truth, and walk away remembering truth. I want to accomplish this by the end of my talk, whether it be 5 minutes or 50 minutes. In other words, I want the truth, not my words, to make a difference in their lives. I want them to experience the abundance of life change that Jesus offers us all and the freedom that comes when TRUTH sets us free.

Often, out of pride, we think we have to give out a lot of information for something to be deep or spiritual. That simply is not true. It would benefit a person more to learn to live in 10 key verses, in a way that alters their life choices, more than it would benefit them to know 100 verses by memory while not living in out the truth in one of them. Seek to learn to live out a few verses in your own life, and then be obedient to lead others to the same life application of truth.

How to read God's Word for Life Change

Have a scheduled time : your time is your time, don't let anyone give you a limit or number, or a place it has to be. Just be sure to include the study and reading of God's word in your life agenda. "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " Matthew 4:4
Ask God to meet you in the Bible, and to draw you into deeper relationship with Him through His Word. "Direct me in the path of your command, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statues and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word." Psalm 119:35-37
Read with a repentant spirit and ask God to wash over you with his Word, cleansing you with it. And, why to you wash something? Because it's dirty. In the same way, we need God's word to wash us from the dirt we pick up throughout the day, every day. " Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish.." Ephesians 5:25-26
Read with a readiness to surrender to Him, " How can a young man keep his life pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands." Psalm 119:9-10
Take a small section and immerse yourself in it. " I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11
Take this same section and learn to apply it to your life. " Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." Psalm 119:18
Practice living in this section of truth. "This has been my practice: I obey your precepts." Psalm 119:56
Learn to express what you are learning from this section of truth. " I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free." Psalm 119:32
Hold out this truth to others in a way that is practical and purposeful.

"The author or speaker from whom you learn the most is not the one who teaches you something you didn't know before, but the one who helps you take a truth with which you have quietly struggled, give it expression, and speak it clearly and boldly." Oswald Chambers

This Week's Prayer
Lord, Your word is truth. Help us to recognize this and remember it each day. As truth and as our soul food may we not neglect it out of business. May we also not approach it out of duty, but may we approach it out of delight, that we might have our souls filled, and may be instructed how to live in your Spirit, pleasing to you. As we read your word, Lord cleanse us. As we study your word, Lord convict us. As we teach your word, Lord use us. May we stay true to you and only you. Jesus fill us, use us, and make a difference for your eternal goal through us.

Being a Leader of Compassion

2009-02-23T15:29:00.000-08:00

" The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. " James 5:11

Every woman is a leader. From the home, to the workplace, to the church and community. All women are the center of influence for someone.

Leadership in any form is tricky. There are things to tend to, issues to resolve ( even if it's just a sibling fight..) and much to get done. Leadership is all about the details, isn't it?

Leaders are in the front of the line with a trail following behind. Sometimes that trail is co-workers, often it's volunteer team members, and in the home it's usually kids, animals and the like. Whether you are a mother or the President of an association, as a leader it would benefit you and those you are leading, to concentrate this week on one single word: Compassion.

Bob Briner and Ray Pritchard in their book, The Leadership Lessons of Jesus, speak of compassion making a difference:
"Enduring leadership, the kind that makes a positive, long-range difference, is always characterized by compassion. A compassionate leader cares about people, both as individuals and as a group."

Websters Dictionary defines compassion as: Active sympathetic concern for the suffering of another. And, suffering is defined as mental or physical pain. In a single word injury.

I can relate to suffering. I have had my share of it. But in my selfishness I found that I would rather stay far from the memory of it than get actively involved in it again...even if getting involved means helping someone else through their place of pain. I spent many years wanting to distance myself from returning again to anything that caused me pain or reminded me of the painful places I had lived in.

But then I met a woman that I could not refuse. Her pain resonated within me. Yes it reminded me of places I had been and didn't want to revisit, but it also gave me pause to consider that maybe I had gone through my pain to lend a helping hand to someone in theirs. I realized how selfish I could be when left to my own brand of ministry, or my own way of doing things. I gave pause to the word compassion, and also gave pause to the word suffering. Suddenly I realized that the call to Justice was more than helping the hurting in foreign lands, it was also present right in my own backyard.

The woman that I didn't want to give my heart or time to was in my corner of the world. I didn't have to board a plane, raise funds, or get shots...I just had to say "yes, Lord."

There is a mission field in our homes, in our schools, in our local churches, work places and community. All around us people are walking as those wounded from the pain of real-life. And, as we all know...it's getting more real each day. Jobs lost, houses foreclosed, taxes raised, natural disasters, diseases that we never saw coming. Pain is all around us, and the need is great.

How can justice apply to the people who have so much? Apply it to their hearts. People can have riches, roofs, food and all the trimmings of the good life and still be seriously injured, and facing devastating loses of the heart. These same people are turned away by others as being too much trouble and often feel like second class citizens in their own churches and communities. It's time to ask God to make us leaders after his own heart of compassion.

Does this mean that we say "yes" to every hurting soul that crossed our path? Certainly we must always remember that we are not God. Jesus is the Messiah, the healer and deliverer, not us. We are but one life, and we can not take on every single person. But, we can trust that God will bring into our path people who need tenderness, care, concern, and a helping hand. God will bring into our lives people who need His love. We may not be able to give them everything they need, but we can give what we can.

But what if I have already given so much that I am about to break? That my friend is something called compassion fatigue, and it's very real. When we don't know how to say "no" and we feel that the responsibility of every life rests on us, we can get burnt out, worn out and so tired that we are not good for anyone. God doesn't call us to be burned out, he calls us to be poured out.

A poured out life is one that is first filled. It is a life that is surrendered. It is a life that is sensitive to the leading and direction of God within her. It is a life that says "yes" when yes is what God is calling her to whisper to Him first. God himself then begins to do the work of pouring through this surrendered vessel. Poured out, not burned out. Filled up but not used up. Loved first than loving others next. Open. Available.

Sympathetic, but never using sympathy as an excuse for compromise.
Sensitive, but faithfully steering others to truth.
Lending a hand, but more importantly giving a heart.

Look at what God's Word says:

"This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another." Zec 7:9
"Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion," Psalm 103:4
" The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. " Psalm 116:5
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" Matthew 9:36
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort," 2 Cr 1:3

Compassion: the active concern for the suffering of another. This is what the picture of Christ's love is to us. He is actively concerned over us, our hurts and our sufferings. If we are seeking to be more conformed into His image than compassion is a good heart prayer, don't you think?

Suggested Resource: He is My Life: Living to Love Others As Jesus Did.
Find this study resource at design4living.org, or at you local bookstore.

This Week's Prayer
Father,
You are the Father of compassion. I so want to have concern for others in a way that is pleasing to you. I don't want to be so filled with self that I can not see the hurt in another's life.Forgive me Lord for all the times I just didn't want to care. Forgive me for doing my own thing, at the expense of not answering your call to lead well. Jesus make me more like you. Have your way in me. Develop me as a leader after your own heart.

Being A Leader that Makes Soul Deposits

2009-02-16T08:51:00.000-08:00

All of us know about deposits. We deposit money into the bank, and this deposit enables us to sustain life...pay our bills, buy our food, clothe ourselves. We all need deposits, don't we?

But, this week let's think of a different kind of deposit. SOUL Deposits.

As a leader God gives you the wonderful opportunity to deposit into another person's life. And, like our bank deposit, when the soul has received a deposit of TRUTH and CARE, it is sustained and enabled to receive from God and grow in faith. This is not something to be taken lightly because this deposit brings a life change, a heart change, and a ripple effect which in turn impacts many others.

When you, as a leader, deposit into another person's life, you are not just impacting them, you are affecting all people that their lives touch. So, the next time you think your serving doesn't matter, think again. It does! All women lead in some way. From being a friend, wife, mother, grandmother or aunt....to being a vocational leader such as a nurse, counselor, teacher...to being a ministry leader such as a small group leader, mentor, teacher, hostess, greeter or a multitude of other acts of service...all women lead. And, all women can deposit something significant into the lives of others.

Think of the people you serve, in your home, your small group, at your church, in the workplace. These are people that God has placed in your life for you to make soul deposits into. A soul deposit is not just throwing a Bible verse at them, but a soul deposit is being Christ to them...in whatever way is necessary at the time.

I have a friend who makes many of these deposits. She spends time mentoring younger women, and has even gone into the labor room with one of them...coaching her through the birth of her child. She teaches women how to read their bibles, how to respond to life with faith, and even how to cook a meal! In many ways she is a modern day example of the Apostle Paul mentoring Timothy.

There is one thing I have noticed about this friend...in many ways she is self-less. She is an open vessel that is willing to make a deposit into others lives. In all the years I have known her, I have never heard her whine or complain about the time spent. From the spiritual to the practical, I think she knows that all things are counting towards eternity.

You see, the truth is, when we make deposits into another's life, we are also making a deposit into eternity. We are becoming rich, as we give out of what we have...being willing to say "yes" to God.

God is the God of Deposits.
Take a look at the following verses, and you can see that God is all about depositing into us for the purpose of eternity!

1 Cor 1:22
"He annointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
1 Cor 5:5
"Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
Eph 1:14
"Having believed you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession."

Mentor Moment:
What did Paul teach Timothy about this deposit?

2 Timothy 1:13
"What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Gaurd the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us."

First we are to GAURD the deposit that Christ has deposited into us.
How are you doing that?

Next: ask yourself this....
Am I making a good deposit into someone's life?
What does that look like?
How can the example of Christ's deposit help spur me on to make a deposit into others?

One last thing...often we grow weary of making these deposits. We are people and we get tired and worn out. Our bank account gets near empty. That is why we need to receive daily from the deposit that God himself has placed within us. That is also why we need to identify the things that make deposits into our Soul Tank.

What fills you?
What do you need to keep in your life? What do you need to make sure you allow time for?

For me...Music fills my tank. Many things do, but music is one of the things that quickly fills me. Often when I am empty, listening to music is like gulping water from the Lord's rock. There are many tangible things that fill us. Some women say nature opens them up again, others like to create, and others like to be in community with women....I have a friend who takes the top down of her convertible and with hair blowing in the wind, gets re-energized again.

Just be sure that you always remember that God's Word, and Jesus Himself, are the first places to run to when you need a deposit of the soul. Because, you can drink from many wells, but if you don't drink from Him, you will always be running on empty. Only Jesus Christ quenches our thirst, fills our tank, and gives us everlasting grace to then deposit into another.

Prayer
Father, I come to you as a leader and humble myself before you. I am asking you to show me what in my life is empty and where I need to go to your for fresh deposit. Then Lord, I am actively seeking you on how you would like me to deposit into others during this season of my life. I believe you will show me. Less of me, and more of You Jesus. That is my prayer.

Small Group Leader Ah-Ha Moment !

2009-02-09T09:39:00.000-08:00

A woman called me this morning. She is a small group leader and her friends are also small group leaders. They facilitate the discussion during bible study at their church. This morning's call was a leader's "ah-ha" moment. And as simplistic as it sounds, it's very important to repeat and for all of us who lead, to remember.

Here it is: She realized that leading a table group was not something, in her week, to be taken lightly. Leading others is REAL and very important eternal work. What was said, imparted and implanted in these women. at her table, was a valuable deposit that would last forever. A soul deposit.

She went on to tell me how too she forgets about the soul deposit, and often she is more worried about what "to wear" to bible study class . Her focus is on self as she drives to the meeting, and her focus is on self when she measures if the women were responsive to "her."

By the end of the day, it was either good or bad, based on how she felt the group went. This morning, in her moment of clarity, she realized the significance of leading a small group. And, yes, that it wasn't about her. Her part was just to "show up" and show up prepared to be God's vessel. In her case that would mean arriving with the bible study done and questions prepared to facilitate the group as unto the Lord.

Her concern over clothes or other's reactions to her leading style were not to be of worry or concern to her any more. Being a leader is not about how we look, or how we act, it's about who we are. So being a leader is all about the heart. It's not about popularity. It's about living out of our POSITION in Christ.

There you have it...one woman's ah-ha moment after several years of leading in her best outfit!
Let's Repeat It:

Being a leader is not about how we look, or how we act, it's about who we are.
Being a leader is showing up to make a soul deposit in an other's life.
Being a leader is not about me, and if it is, I need to go back to the drawing board and ask God to make it very clear to me what leadership is all about.

Prayer
Lord, Make us leaders who value the importance of the eternal work that you are doing, behind the scenes, in the hearts, in the renewing minds, of the people we serve. Make us leaders who want to decrease , in self, and increase in YOU.

This Blog is Changing

2009-02-07T16:40:00.000-08:00

Originally the WILD blogspot was going to be designated to Women in Leadership.
But, after finding out that I loved doing a devotional blog, I ended up blogging every day, except Sundays. All the blogs are geared toward spiritual growth, but not all have been specific to leadership tools, growth and the things I originally intended.

So...I have begun a devotional blog...this one has been moved to my web page. www.design4living.org/blog. Or just go to the website and you will see devotional blog on the top navigation bar. There I will continue the daily devotional blog. You can easily bookmark the devotional blog and read it each day or go to RSS feed to have it come directly to you. It will be easier to dialogue back and forth on the new blog.

Once a week on this page I will be posting something specifically geared to women in leadership development.

Help me spread the word! We have many women coming to this site. Keep coming if you are in leadership and tell your leadership teams. Switch to the other if you are looking for devotional truths for the day...and spread the word about the design4living devo blog!

Thanks! Let's rise up to be ALL that God died for us to be, In Him!

Debbie

What if we took a breath and remembered where it came from?

2009-02-07T08:11:00.000-08:00

I had a fitful sleep. I woke a few times trying to catch my breath, thought I was dreaming. Who knows? Maybe I was. But, I have a new addition to growing up and it's asthma. It's been fine for about 2 months now, but the new addition to my world decided to visit last night and this morning. You just don't know how great it is to breathe until you can't. It's not much fun waking up on a Saturday morning with a change in plans because you just can't breathe!

We take things for granted...like breathing.

Today's Question: What if...we took a breath and remembered where that breath came from?

Today's Verse

Acts 17:25,28

"He himself gives to all life and breath and all things...For in Him we live and move and exist." NAS

Processing the Verse

He Gives Us Life
He Gives us Our Breath
He Gives us All things
I live because of Him
I move because of Him
I exist because of Him
Period.

Processing the Question...What if..I took a breath and remembered where it came from.

I go about life not thinking of the reality that I am held together because of the God who created me. I move about, my little world, feeling strong and in control of my little life, until I can't move, can't breathe, or can't seem to get something together. It's time to wake up each morning to being thankful for things like: Breathing and Moving About.

Today's Prayer

Lord, I am thankful for things like my inhaler and medicines that open up airways. But, I am sorry that I get going so quickly through life that I forget who gives me all of life, including the ability to breathe. I thank you today for holding me together, giving me life, giving me breath, and everything else. I exist in you, because of you, and for you. I never want to forget that. So, it's Saturday....what did you have in mind for our day?

What if I Called to Jesus each time I had a need?

2009-02-06T08:08:00.000-08:00

Today's Question?
We all call people. Especially now with cell phones, people have become so accessible. Anytime day or night...driving, working, eating, whatever and whenever...we can all text or call at will. Have a problem...get in touch with a friend.

But, What if..we "called" Jesus each time we had a need?

Today's Truth
2 Samuel 22:4
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalm 4:3
Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him.

Psalm 116:17
I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.

Jer 33:3
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'

Processing the Truth

When we call out to God, we are taught in Scripture, that He does Hear.
When we call out to God, though we see immediate results, we are taught He answers.
When we call out to God, he not only answers, he shows us things that we did not know, so we gain wisdom.
Calling out to God is sometimes hard, it's a thank offering...this is true when we are stressed, hurting, confused...it is then that our calling to God out of obedience is like worship, because we are offering ourselves and our hearts and our cares to Him...a thank offering. Thank You Jesus that you hear me, even though I don't hear you today. Thank You Jesus that you answer even when I don't realize you are answering. Thank You Jesus that you hold me together even when I feel like I am falling apart.

Processing the Question...What if I called out to Jesus.....when in need....

Based on Scripture, and the example laid out, why don't I do this?
Is it because I haven't developed the habit of calling him?
Is it because I depend on people too much?
Is it because I forget?

Today's Prayer
Lord, Please remind me to call out to you. Show me how this really is a thank-offering. Develop me in this habit of going to the throne rather than to the phone.

What if I believed I was COMPLETE in Christ?

2009-02-05T07:46:00.000-08:00

"You complete me" is something that we have heard said about a couple completing each other. Two halves making a whole because of a connection that added value to the original. We usually think of this phrase in terms of love.

Today's Question
But, what if....we believed we were Complete in Christ?

Today's Verses
Colossians 2:10 NAS
and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

2 Corinthians 3:5 NIV
Not that we are competent in ourselves, to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent..."

2 Corinthians 13:11 NAS
Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Processing the Verse
Complete: Having all necessary parts
Entire, Full, Whole, Perfect

The above is the dictionary definition of our word, "complete".
Isn't it interesting that complete can actually mean perfect, or perfected.
And, more interesting that we are not perfected in ourselves, but in Christ.
Try as we might, we will only wear ourselves out trying to perfect ourselves.

Today let's Thank God that we are Complete, having everything we need to fulfill his calling on our lives.

Wives: You have all that is necessary to love your husband in a way that will be meaningful to him and pleasing to God. Come to Christ daily for your complete filling of all that you need for this calling. Ask God to love this man through you.

Mommies: You are complete in Christ. You have already been given all you need to be the Mother that your child/children are in need of. Come to Christ daily and be filled. God has a plan for each life created, you are in partnership with God in the development of human lives...High Calling, don't you think?

In the Workplace: You have all that you need to get along with people, live in integrity and be a light. You are also made complete for the task as you trust Christ in you. God lead you right where you are, trust Him to give you success in your line of work and to work through you. Be diligent.

In Ministry: You can not go another day without claiming your competence and completion in Christ! You can not change a life, you are not the Messiah, only Jesus is the Difference Maker! Come daily and be filled with his power, making you complete, whole, and ready for whatever ministry He calls you to this day. All of life is ministry, so we need to be filled and ready to walk out our completion in Christ, in His power today.

Now Processing the Question

What if Christ wasn't just a complement to our lives, but a completion of all we were made to be?
What if because of the presence of His Spirit in us, we were now complete to do all and be all that He has planned for us to do?
What if we were secure because Christ was our completion and we were made more than enough in Him?
What if a change REALLY took place at the most fundamental level, in us, the places that we can not see, when His Spirit came to make a home in us?
What if Christ, making himself real in us, completed us to the point of being valuable for his work, as ordinary women?

Today's Prayer
Father,
Thank you for your work on the Cross. A sacrifice that often seems so textbook to me. Make it a real-life part of my belief system. I don't know how to embrace or believe the significance of this on my own. Work your truth in me. And, by faith I thank you that I am complete in You and I am enough, competent, adequate, sufficient, for all that you have called me to do, because YOU COMPLETE ME, YOU are my COMPETENCE!

What if we believed we were enough?

2009-02-04T05:45:00.000-08:00

Today's Question
What if...I believed I was "enough"?

Today's verse
2 Corinthians 3:4-6 "Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God, Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life."

Processing the Verse:
My confidence is not to come from who I am, in myself.
Confidence is mine in Christ, because he makes me competent
I am not to claim to have my own competence
I am to claim the truth that what I do have comes from God, and is given from His Spirit.
I can have life-giving confidence in Christ.

Competent: in the Greek is hikanos, which means:
good, worthy, sufficient, adequate or enough

So I can say:
I am not good in and of myself
I am not worthy in and of myself
I am not sufficient in and of myself
I am not adequate in and of myself
I am not enough in and of myself

But...I am enough, am worthy, sufficient, adequate and good for God's purposes because of Christ Jesus! " our competence comes from God" that means....our enough-ness comes from God!

Now Processing the Question
What if...I believed I was enough?

How would I view myself differently?
If I viewed myself differently would I live a different kind of life?
What risks would I take that I don't take now?
Would I be less afraid and more daring to follow Christ?
Would I trust Him to do things through me that I never dared dream before?
Would I learn to quit putting myself down?
Could my life be transformed if my mind was solidly renewed in the truth that I am enough in Him?

I don't know who reads this blog, but I want you to know that it is a joy to imagine an army of women being set free right along side of me. My sisters in the Faith...Live Free Today! And, then let's wake up and live free again tomorrow!

Today's Prayer
Lord, As a woman I seem to be plagued with those two words "not enough". As soon as I beat them down they come popping up again, like weeds in my mind, trying to trick me into trying everything and anything new to improve who I am, so that I will be better. Being enough becomes a god within itself as a woman today, and I know that you don't want me to have anything or any gods before you. Lord help me to believe the truth that says...I am enough in you. And, that trying to be more, chronically doubting that I am OK, is an insecurity that is a final victory for Satan. Jesus set me free, one day at a time, and as those not enough images and thought pop up, teach me to beat them down with truth.

What if we lived a holy life?

2009-02-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Question
What if...I took seriously the fact that God has called me to live a holy life?

Processing the Question

What does holy look like in real life?
Am I willing to change or give up things in order to live this kind of life?
What in my life keeps me self focused and stuck?
Do I think that holy living is old fashioned?
Do I believe that purity of life is necessary?
Is holy living being "too spiritual" for any earthly good?

Today's Truth
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
"For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit."

Colossians 3:5
"Put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature...you used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now, you must rid yourselves of such things."

Today's Prayer
Lord, I don't often think about holy living. I am just living, and wanting to please you, but not really paying much attention to it being pure. Purity of life style would encompass so many areas. Show me what you want me to see in this today. And, lead me to ask myself the hard questions if necessary. I look to you to show me how my life is NOT lined up to this instruction out of 1 Thes., and welcome you letting me know what has to go for my life to be pure and holy unto you.

What if...?

2009-02-02T07:52:00.000-08:00

Happy February!
Do you have goals for this new month? Things you want to accomplish?Truths you want to digest? Cares you want to learn to give to God? Habits you want to break?

This month I am going to be asking some questions.

Today's Question:
What if....I believed that God really held me in His hand?

Processing the Question:

Would I worry less and enjoy life more?
Would I feel at peace?
Would I finally have security despite life's happenings?
Would I live differently here and now?
Would I hope differently for things to come?
Would I nestle into his care and start loving and living for Him?

Today's Truth:
John 10:28-29
"My sheep listen to my voice: I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

Job 12:10
"In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind."

Today's Prayer:
Father, I thank you that Truth says, I am in your hand. My life and breath are in your hand, and that because I am yours, I will not perish because nobody can take me from you. Your word says you are greater than all, this truth should completely change my life. Make that truth my reality, that You Jesus are greater than all, and I am in your hand. Today I set my mind on this truth. Penetrate me with the knowledge of this truth in a way that changes my life.

Saturday's Quote

2009-01-31T12:42:00.000-08:00

Calling all women who want something to hold on to for focus today!

Couldn't resist, today I had to use a comment made by my friend Sheree Byington on facebook. It was number #25 in her list of 25 random things about me. I think it is profound! ( well...and a little wild!)

"I choose daily not to be defined by life's circumstances."

It is full of meaning...and can really get you thinking about what DOES define you.
So, today...think about it! ( by the way...picture on today's blog is the beautiful Sheree!)

Father,
You define me. Truth says you do. But my heart and head often tell me that others things identify who I am. Help me Lord not to cave into wrong identities and wrong perceptions of what is or isn't important in my life. Today I choose You, and choose not to cave to disappointment, discouragement, or my problems.

Three Things to Start the Day

2009-01-30T07:23:00.000-08:00

It feels good to do good works, get a "well done" and feel the flush of human pride.
It doesn't feel so good to find out that the things that give me the flush of human pride and accomplishment might be the very things that keep me from experiencing God at a deeper level.

In Revelation 2, speaking to the church in Ephesus, a harsh rebuke follows what seems to be a glowing account of their good works for the Lord.

"I know what you are doing. You work long and hard. I know you can't put up with those who are evil. You have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not. You have found out that they are liars. You have been faithful and have put up with a log of trouble because of me. You have not given up. But here is something I hold against you. You don't have as much love as you had at first. Remember how far you have fallen! Turn away from your sins. Do the things you did a first." Revelation 2:2-4

I think of the words..."you work long and hard" as a compliment. But coupled with the fact that the relationship with Christ has suffered and the love towards Christ has cooled...causes a response from the Lord that holds out words like: I hold this against you....fallen...not as much love...turn away from sins...do the things.....

Yikes! We all can find ourselves in this category, doing good things, life things, seemingly spiritual things with a love tank towards God and man that is EMPTY.

What's a girl to do?
Three things...

1. Turn...to repent( used in most versions of this verse) is to turn from something, towards something else.
2. Be Filled...with the holy spirit and the new nature rather than operating solely in our flesh
3. Live Differently...Go back to basics and live unto the Lord learning to love the Lord, growing in relationship with him.

These three things cause us to face self-denial, because these three things cause us to Turn from self. Let's look at them in light of the words of Christ in Luke:

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23

Denying "us" begins with the Turn, the shift, the about face!
1. Turn from self
2. Be filled with Christ
3. Follow a New Path

Lace up your faith shoes ladies...and start following! I'm on the path with you!

Today's Prayer
Lord, I am used to following my own heart, own desires, own thoughts...anything "me" is natural. But, when I am living in the "natural" and normal for "me", I am missing the things of the Spirit. Teach me Lord, Change me....I want less of me and more of thee. Show me how to follow you in a way that would be pleasing to your heart.

Deny Myself?

2009-01-29T07:52:00.000-08:00

Wanna be a fly on the wall of a recent conversation?
Come on, all women love to snoop and get the real dirt...here you go...
A view into my mind the other day....and my conversation with the Lord.

Deny Myself? That is your answer Lord? Seriously? I am supposed to deny myself? In this situation if I don't fight for myself I will be walked on big time. I don't get what I want, when I want it...and am pretty frustrated with things in general, and now you tell me to deny myself? Please! C'mon Lord, give me a break here. I am asking for your help and all you can say is...deny yourself Debbie?

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23

Ok, Ok....I see it's clear in your word that denial of "me" must be the way to you. And the way to you is the daily and hourly coming to you...which is advancing towards you, and then I have to lay myself down every single day, and follow. Help me to unpack that and understand it for practical living Lord.

come: to advance towards and press into
deny: to refrain from satisfying one's desires or needs, practice self-denial
follow: to accompany, to pay attention to, to join on a journey

Today's example looks like this:
It's a new day and so God bids me to come to Him...again. This means that I am to begin advancing towards him through acknowledgement, prayer, and communication. I am to press into him for all that I need..."Lord, today I need you to lead me, guide me, fill me, that I may live as yours in all my situational stuff"

Then I am to actually lay myself aside. An example would be....practice self-denial through determining to think of others first today, or by giving up my favorite food today, or by not watching my favorite t.v. show today and instead reading during that time or serving someone during that time....you get the idea. Self denial also comes in the form of not demanding my rights from others or God...that is a hard one, isn't it? We demand that our husbands treat us a certain way, or that a friend responds as we would want her to, etc...etc...
Quit demanding, Stop controlling and trust God, that is practicing self-denial.

Next I am to follow. This is the action step of actually stepping into Christ as I journey through the day. Paying attention all day, to his still small voice and nudges, leadings, etc....

So...

Here I am Lord
I lay myself down Lord
I am paying attention Lord.

Denying our self is not a simplistic 3 step process. This is something that we have to pay attention to on a daily basis and it is learned, because it is not natural to us. Each of us has something different to lay down each day. Just be true to who God is calling you to be, line up with his word, and He will lead you down the path to growing deeper and closer to Him.

Follow Today. Just Today. Try it!
Daily Prayer
Father, I come to you as selfish as I can be, and ask that you continue developing me into the woman of God that you have designed me to be. I WANT TO lay my self and life aside each day. I need you to show me how to do that, what it looks like, where you are calling me to do that. It's not easy, natural or fun. And, I love to have fun. So, Jesus, give me a vision of the delight of being pleasing to you, for that is better than fun and more fulfilling than having my own way.

Living for more than Me

2009-01-28T07:37:00.000-08:00

From the time we belt out that first cry until this very day, we live to preserve, protect and in many ways promote SELF. It is our human nature. But, with the death of Jesus on the cross a new way to live became possible for those who would believe in Him. By spiritual birthright and our new identity in Christ, we now can live according to our Spiritual Nature rather than our human nature. This new way is available to us today and it's freeing.....He died so that we should NO LONGER life for us, but instead Live for Him.

2 Corinthians 5:15
"And he died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him."

Hmm....don't know how? Well girl you are in good company. That is what being WILD is all about. WILD women are not perfect, they are in process...growing developing, daily stepping towards the goal, and learning what it means to walk in Jesus rather than walk in SELF.

Today think about what Paul said in this verse. Let it speak to you. Allow God's spirit to point out some SELF life that can be surrendered over. Remember, one step at at time. Do not expect spiritual perfection from yourself. But, do insist on a growing surrender to the path of maturity. Remember when Scripture speaks of perfection, it is speaking of maturity. That is alot different than the perfection that our culture has trained us to try to achieve.

Take a breath. Read the verse. Think. Read again. Pray. Ask for understanding. Thank God for Who He came to be in your life.

Life fully in Jesus today, just today, we are learning to live one day, one victory at a time. Now that is WILD...Women in Life-Long Development.

Loving you in Jesus!

Today's Prayer
Father, Thank you so much that you came to give me a new and different life. Amazing. I want to see it, know it, live in it, rather than just talk about it. Teach me Jesus how to live for you and not for SELF. I no longer want to live just for me. I want to grow up and be the WILD woman for Jesus that you have created me to be. Jesus, I need you.

Who? Why? Where?

2009-01-27T05:30:00.000-08:00

Who am I? A woman created by God, for God's purpose
Why am I? Created to love God and be His light in this world
Where am I going? From this life to the next life, I am destined for Heaven.

We are all dying. We just don't know when.
From the day we were born, the timer, so to speak, of our days went into motion.
God, the author and finisher, determined the times set for each of us.

It is amazing to me how unprepared I am for the most important destination of my life. Yet, when I prepare to take a vacation to somewhere I have never been, I gather maps and brochures and do the research long before I ever get in the car or board a plane. I wonder why I don't spend as much energy preparing for my ultimate destination, Heaven.

Sure there aren't brochures or travel agents, but we have God's word and the testimony of those who have gone before me. Still, heaven seems distant, far off, and not a reality. Yet, we are told that heaven and the promise of eternity is to be our greatest reality and our source of patience and courage.

Take a look:
"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...who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-2

The witnesses are those, in the faith, who have gone on before us, and now are in God's presence.
The race marked out for us is life's pilgrimage towards Heaven.
The way to persevere is to fix our eyes on Heaven, on Jesus, on things above
This fixation fixes us so that we do not lose heart.

Sadly, most of us don't have this fixation, atleast not all the time.

All of us have a hunger for things above, but sometimes we don't realize that the restless or empty place within is really a stirring for more of God's Presence in our life. We hunger but are not skilled in how to fill the hunger pangs. We've grown lethargic and have become so earthly-minded that we're of no heavenly good.

It's time to re-learn the skill of fixing our eyes on things above.

The word fix in the English language means to mend or to fasten. But in the Greek the verb skope, which is to fix, simply means the intensity of a gaze or a determined searching.

Heaven and the things above were meant to be our fixation or our Fix! It's to be our longing like being in love, where just the thought of it gives us courage. When we fix our eyes on Jesus, it fixes us.

Let's simplify this:
To fix our eyes on Jesus simply means to have a determined upward gaze and search for more of Him in the middle of our real-life happenings.

This fixing will take intentional work at first.
It might even take an alarm to remind us....Oh, the alarm went off, it's time to fix my attention upward again today.

Whatever it takes, let's make that our aim. Fixing our eyes on Jesus, that we will have strength and courage to run our individual life's race, and as we fix our eyes upward may that fixing, fix us!

Today's Prayer
Father, it's so easy for me to get lost in everything around me. I have so much to do, and places to go. I get caught in the whirlwind of my own life. In that place I often don't even think of looking up. Remind me. Teach me. Lead me. Change me. I want my fixation to be on you, on my eternal destiny. I want Heaven to be my reality. I want to Live Like It's Real, because it is.

Finding Purpose In Him

2009-01-26T06:49:00.000-08:00

From the time we are young we are curious about three things:
1. Who am I?
2. Why am I ?
3. Where am I going?

And, as we grow to be women most of us are still wondering Who am I? Why am I here, What is my purpose? and Where am I going in the future? ("What will I be when I grow up?")We can graduate with degrees, be successful in our field of employment, and have babies who need us...but still, if we don't know at CORE level who we are and why we are, we will remain forever lost in the pursuit or search for significance, which seems to keep us lost in SELF.

Colossians 1:16
"Everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him"

You and I are not the result of two love or lust struck parents. Though God's re-creation plan involves people...the creation itself happens as a result of the miracle of God. So, at your very beginning you are a miracle of creation, and your life continues to be a miracle of God...as you breathe each day and your heart keeps beating...all because it is God's plan for you to be one of the people on the planet...For Such A Time As This. You are not random. You are part of a bigger story and a bigger plan.

This bigger plan reality is the first step in laying the foundation for Who You Are.

In the beginning of this GRAND STORY, God created many animals and all kinds of creatures. And, after the animal planet was formed, God said "Let us make man in our likeness." The story goes on...
"So God created man in his own likeness. He created him in the likeness of God. He created them as male and female. He said to them have children and increase in numbers...God saw everything he had made. And it was very good." Genesis 1:27,28,31

First and foremost, God creates human life, and says, it is very good. People, you and me, are his plan. He didn't create us as a random after thought, but created people to inhabit the earth, work the earth, and have relationship with God. But, almost from the very beginning, people....first woman and first man....had the rebellion of wanting to do things their own way, and not listen to God's instructions. So, from the very beginning, people like you and me, were insistant that they knew a better way...

If we got our start in Him...and if we get our breath and life from him....shouldn't we learn to listen to him and find our purpose in him?

Today sit with the elementary truth of creation. Think of a bigger story than one you wrote, or your parents wrote. Realize that you are part of the story of 2009. Thank God that He created you, and that He sees his work as a good thing. Ask Him to begin showing you how to connect with the beauty, miracle and truth of your life as part of God's plan.
Ask God to help you with the three questions:
Who, Why and Where?
And, let the TRUTH be your answer:

"Everything (that means me) got started in him( that means God) and finds its purpose( that means fulfillment) in him."

Be filled with the Truth that you are a miracle of divine proportions! Breathe in and thank God for breath. Stop and feel your heart beating and thank God that you are ticking away because his purpose isn't over for you quite yet...there is more story...go out today and live it!

Father,
May we stand firm, at our core, in the truth that we find all we need in you because you created us and you plan to fulfill a purpose, unique to us, through us. Help us to see the daily miracle of life, not in a hospital nursery, but in the reflection of our own face...young or old, in the mirror. Use us according to the bigger story and shape us according to the God-sized picture!

Swing Open the Door of Your Heart!

2009-01-24T08:38:00.000-08:00

Today a quote from Oswald Chambers:
"Unless you learn to open the door of your life completely and let God in from your first waking moment of each new day, you will be working on the wrong level throughout the day. But if you will swing the door of your life fully open and "pray to your Father who is in the secret place," every public thing in your life will be marked with the lasting imprint of the presence of God."

I want God's lasting imprint and presence to characterize my days. So, today I am reminded to swing open the door of my heart.

Swing it Open Girls! Swing it Open!

Father,
Opening the door of my life each day to you is something that I must learn because waking up and just living for "me" is my natural habit. Teach me Lord. Remind me. Leave the imprint of Jesus wherever you send me out each day. Oh Lord, I desire to be your vessel, your woman, your set-apart girl. Jesus make that so as you teach me to follow you.

Free to Be a New Woman

2009-01-23T08:27:00.000-08:00

There's much talk about being set free from personal weaknesses, habits, addictions and the like. And, thank God, his power is the strength in which we can do all things. But, lets go back to the very BASIC idea of us being set free.

Colossians 1:11-14 New Readers Version
"We want you to be very strong in keeping with his glorious power. We want you to be patient. Never give up. Be joyful as you give thanks to the Father. He has made you fit to share with all his people. He has saved us from the kingdom of darkness. He has brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. Because of what the Son has done, we have been set free. Because of him, all our sins have been forgiven."

In the most fundamental and foundational sense we have been set free from having to live our lives any longer in the identity of SELF, the sin of SELF , or the flesh that seeks the things opposite of the Spirit of God. Our trouble isn't in the power to set us free. Our trouble is in not recognizing that it has already happened. And, when we don't realize that it has happened on the Cross, all else is just a spinning wheel of trying to attain a better human condition.

God sent Jesus to deliver us from sin and self, and ultimately death. Jesus came that we could be born again in the Spirit, live in God's original design for mankind, and to live in who this new creation in Christ Jesus is. In other words We have been set free in the Spirit sense, and we are to learn to walk in these new Spirit shoes, holding on to our Born-Again passport of identity of belonging to a different country. And, it's these Spirit shoes that we walk in on regular dirty streets in the imperfect world we live in.

But, for many of us being set free has nothing to do with being set apart, it's just being given some relief from a problem.
Yes, everyone wants relief. That's a no brainer.

But...let's think about things below the surface.

Freedom in Christ is about a supernatural act of God that changed our identity.
When you accepted Christ you were set free from self, and forgiven of your sins.
At this point in time, Scripture says you became a New Creation.

Think about what this is saying:

The old creation, human flesh only creation....died, as you came to Christ.
The new woman, born again, new and alive in the Spirit...was created.
You have been given a new power in which to live in, and a new identity to find confidence in. And your earthly body has now become his temple, a vessel in which he works through.
All of this gives you a new identity, which gives you a new purpose, and an explanation for living.

How? The Holy Spirit sealed you and made a home in you.
Why? Because you now belong to God and are being set apart for His purpose on earth for you.

We look in the mirror and see the same woman.
We get faced with temptation and have the same feelings.
We don't understand on a practical level what this means to be set apart and different at the core. But truth is truth, and this is what God's word says:

2 Cornithians 5:17 New Readers Version
"Any one who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come! It is all from God. He brought us back to himself through Christ's death on the cross."

Now in the Amplified Version:
"Therefore if any person is ingrafted in Christ, the Messiah, he is a new creature altogether, a new creation; the old previous moral and spiritual condition has passed away. Behold the fresh and new has come!

The Message:
"The old life is gone, the new life burgeons! Look at it!"

Paul prayed that they would know. Let's begin praying that we would know too.

Today's Prayer
Father,
New Life? My life so often does not feel like there is anything new about it. I often feel trapped in not being able to "get it", not being able to understand what you have for me. And, so I live afraid of not doing this spiritual life "right". Fear has many faces. But one of the faces of fear is the worry that I am not "free" enough, not walking in the Spirit shoes the right way. This fear is not of you. But, to pray to you and ask for wisdom to know how to put those shoes you so freely bought for me on...that is a different kind of freedom. The freedom of learning to embrace the journey, the process. Develop me Jesus, and may I live a life that pleases you.

Filled with the Knowledge of His Will

2009-01-22T08:11:00.000-08:00

We ask God for many things.
Lord, help me through the day...Lord, let this low gas tank see me to the next exit....
Lord, help me stay on my diet...help me forgive my aunt... help me make the house payment...etc...etc....

And, it is good to have relationship with God through Christ. Good. It is good to come to him with all our cares, casting them upon Him and learning to lean into hims arms in trust for the small things that make up life.

But, what if we began praying beyond the surface and prayed about the inner workings that we can not see, but that all of our life, attitude and actions springs forth from?

Pay Attention to how Paul prayed for people.

Paul prayed for the Colossians:
"Since the day we heard about you we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might." Colossians 1:9-11

Wow! this is a pretty wild and amazing prayer.
Filled with the knowledge of his will
Filled through spiritual wisdom and understanding

So that: We may live a life pleasing to the Lord.

What did we see from Ecclesiastes from yesterday?
"To the woman who pleases God, he gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness." 2:22

If we would pray the wild prayer that Paul prayed for the Colossians, I believe we would see amazing things happen, because we would have wisdom to do God's will and be living in a way that is pleasing to Him...which has to spell out the word FAITH

"For without faith it is impossible to please him, because anyone that comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Heb 11:6

Two Truths We Must Believe:
1. He Exists
2. He Rewards those who seek Him

One Prayer that we must pray:
To be filled with the knowledge of His will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that we may live to please him....so that we may live as if He is Real...He Exists, and Live as if His word is real when it says he answers prayers and rewards our seeking Him.

Go Out Today and Pray for Inner Strength that comes from being filled with the Knowledge of His Will. I am praying that for my life too!

Check back tomorrow as we continue seeking God and growing deeper in Christ.

Going Deeper

2009-01-21T07:15:00.000-08:00

Today I start a new class for women in my area. I will be teaching from the book, Deeper: Living in the reality of God's Love. As I look over my notes this morning, I am thinking back 25 years and reflecting on the things that I have walked through that have continually brought me back to one thing....In God Alone Can We Find True Peace, Happiness and Love.

There are many good things in this life, but if we set our heart or hope even on "good things" we will end up empty rather than full. From the time that Jesus came to redeem God's people the entire plan was to rescue us from the prince of this world and the emptiness of self life laden with sin and independence from God. We need that rescue. Unfortunately often we don't realize we need a true rescue, and look at our Christianity as some fire insurance plan. This view is a sad reduction of the LIFE Jesus came to give us.

A deeper life that goes far beyond the surface of self. A deeper life that is alive and is not reduced to black and white images, but can see things through the Technicolor lens of true beauty, God's Beauty.

People have been searching for as long as we have history to record the search.

King Solomon spoke of this search in Ecclesiastes.
"What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. A man can do nothing better than to ear and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness." Ecclesiastes 2:22-26

People have always been wondering, "what is the meaning of life? what is in it for me?"
And, here we see that without God we can not find true life or enjoyment, but with God, with a life that pleases Him, we will be granted wisdom, knowledge and happiness! This is what everyone is looking for.

Just think of how people in this world look for these three things and what has transpired:

Wisdom is what the New Age is all about
Knowledge is what Self Help is all about
Happiness is written in our constitutional rights and is what excess is about, as people search through things or substances ( and lots of them) for happiness.

Experiencing the Deeper Life happens when we first:
1. Get Real With God--examine your heart and life. Is your walk with God for show, surface or stagnant. What is getting in the way. Come out from yourself and get real before Him. There is no fear in getting real with the God who loves you.

2. Get Back to Basics--we all need a healthy foundation and for many of us our Christian walk was never built on a solid foundation, but rather it was built on works or appearances of doing good things. This is a faulty foundation, and we need to get back to the basic things in God's word and learn to walk in them and live differently.

3. Get Re-Set for Living Life--as we get real with God and begin relating on an intimate level with the God who made us, and get back to basics for our guide book, we then have put ourself into the place of being re-set, or rebooted for living according to a spiritual software rather than the worldly or carnal software that we have become accustom to as we have been shaped by the world and culture we live in.

If you are in the Livermore, CA area, come join me as we learn about going Deeper in Christ and learn the value of living in a new identity as His. If not, join me on podcast. Pick up a copy of Deeper, and follow along with us. www.cornerstonewomen.

Classes:
Wednesdays Jan 21-April8 9:30 am, 7:00 pm in Livermore
Tuesdays Jan 27- April 15 9:30 am, 7:00 pm by video in Brentwood, CA.
For more information: bethannm@cornerstoneweb.org
Today's Prayer
Lord, The search is over. In you and you alone can my heart find what it longs for. Teach me to live a life pleasing to you and was a result of that life I thank you that you will give me wisdom, knowledge and happiness. It will not be a wisdom of the world, or a happiness of things...but it will be a deep and enduring inner depth that can only come from God.

It's Official.... We Have a New President

2009-01-20T12:15:00.000-08:00

What are you modeling to your children, co-workers, and those around you?
Without trying we model our values. This is a good time to look at how we, as Christians, are handling the change in our country and government.

People are either happy...ecstatic is more like it. Or, people are afraid, negative and discouraged.
Where do you fall in the line up?
Democrat? Republican?

Today is a new day for America. It doesn't matter what your political preference is at this point. What does matter is who you belong to.... God does not ask us if we are a Democrat or a Republican, he wants to know...are you a Christian? If you answered yes to belonging to Jesus Christ, then it is a new day to pay attention to what Scripture says about how to respond to the new reign in our government.

1Timothy 2:1-3
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior."

Paul wrote this to Timothy whom he was mentoring at the time. When he gave this instruction Nero was the ruler. Nero was notoriously cruel and persecution was a growing threat for believers. And yet, in light of this, he told Timothy to make thanksgiving and offer up prayer for all those in authority. This attitude is proof in our faith that God is all-knowing and all-powerful. This lack of stress, negative energy and the like, is proof that we trust God and not man. This praying for those in authority, no matter who they may be, is proof that we are trusting God to work through the authorities and rulers that be in our government.

A negative attitude will only be proof that we don't believe in God's power and sovereignty. Remember, God is big, and He loves all mankind. Don't allow yourself to become a casualty of a political sludge pile of negativity, criticism or arguments with others. Pray for your president, and support him. This is the will of God for us.

Prayer
Father we lift up to you President Obama. We ask you to give him wisdom to guide our country. We pray for protection, peace and intercede for him today. We pray for all new elected officials and thank you God that we can trust in your hand as we come to you in intercession for our government. We also thank you that it is in we find peace. Make us instruments of peace, support, and a model of a people who intercede for our rulers as your word says pleases you.

Dedicated to Live as His Temple

2009-01-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

Temple
Webster's Dictionary Defines it as:

A place or house of worship.
A place dedicated for a special purpose.

Temple is not just a building but what Scripture uses to describe our earthly bodies.
Our body is a temple where the holy spirit dwells.
Our body, and our life lived through this earthly vessel is a place dedicated for a special purpose.

Have you thought of your life as an embodiment of worship?
How about a vessel, body, or person dedicated for a special purpose?
Something that is used for a holy special purpose must be prepared or sanctified.

"It is God's will that you should be sanctified" 1 Thessalonians 4:3

sanctified:

to make holy or sacred
to make free from sin
to purify

Everything else is secondary. He will guide us in our career choices, and the other real-life decisions that we must make, but His primary concern isn't if we are a dentist, hair stylist, teacher or sales person. For Him it is character before career and maturity before ministry. The aim is to be set-apart for his use no matter where we find ourselves, and no matter what life brings our way. The blood of Christ purifies us, frees us from our self and our sin, and makes the common woman sacred...holy...sanctified... set apart.

Everything that really matters can be summed up with: "Christ in you the hope of glory" Colossians 1:27

Again today tell yourself the truth that Christ is in you, you do not belong to yourself, you are to be set apart for His purposes, dedicated to Christ Jesus above all else.

What does that look like in your world?

Refiner's fire
My hearts one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart unto You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will.
(Brian Doerksen Mercy/Vineyard Music)

Today's Prayer
Lord, Life seems to be a constant back and forth struggle as I grow up in you. One day up the next down. Help me to stay connected to the truth that you live in me and want me to be set apart so that wherever I am you can do your will through me.

His Temple

2009-01-19T08:23:00.000-08:00

I have thought of myself as many things, but always forget that according to God's Word, I am a temple of His Holy Spirit, as His Spirit lives in me. Have you spent much time thinking about that? The picture on today's blog is one of a Jewish Temple. The temple stood for something, had a purpose, was sacred, and was set apart for people to worship God, seek God and find God. We are compared to that. Do we stand for something or do people have to guess? Do we live with a purpose, or are we always wondering? Do we know we are a sacred part of God's plan? Are we set apart so that through our lives and testimony people can find God?

I wonder if things would be different if I really "got" that truth down deep into my soul?
How would I live?
How would I speak of myself?
How would I think of myself?
Would I abuse myself through neglect as often as I currently do?
Would I stand in Awe of God more often as I realized He was in me and wanted to work through me?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Don't you know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit? The Spirit is in you. You have received him from God. You do not belong to yourselves. Christ has paid the price for you. So use your bodies in a way that honors God."

This verse is speaking of the body being used for sexual sins as often was the case in Corinth. You can see that application in context as you read the text leading up to verse 19. And, though this relates to using our bodies for sexual immorality, I think it makes a statement in general to the sacredness of our body as Christ's temple, and a statement that we do not belong to ourselves. Both of those statements made here by Paul, to make a point, can be applied to our lives today in a powerful way.

In a society where we as women are prone to negativity about ourselves, and a quest to find something to make us feel valuable...this passage can make a difference. Today dwell on the statements of truth made that relate to you as a Christian woman. Keep in mind this is not just about sexual sin or as some use it, diet and exercise. It is a powerful statement in general, that in TOTAL living, we belong to God and are His instrument, His Temple...we are to live according to these truths.

Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
The Spirit is in you
You have received God's Spirit from God
You do not belong to yourself any longer
Christ has paid the price for you
So now live to honor God and use your body, his temple, to honor God.

How do these truths impact how we choose to live our lives?
Write a post and give me your thoughts on the truth that you are His, and His temple.
What is God showing you? Share it with others.

Today you are filled with God, now go out and have a Great Day!

Today's Prayer
Lord, Take your word, which is living and active, and plant the truths deep into my heart. May the fact that my body is your temple become life changing to me.

WILD Class Today...11 am

2009-01-18T07:07:00.000-08:00

What is a WILD Class?
At Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore, California, we are intent on building women up so that they can lead, serve and follow Jesus in the fashion they were created to do so. It is our goal to provide resources for women to grow spiritually...to that end.

So a WILD class is a class focused on Women In Life-Long Development...that is another way to say, Hey Girl, if you are a Christian, you really are a leader, just developing more into one each day!

I realize some of you on the blog don't live near California, but you too can hear the class. There is a free podcast on itunes, that goes up sometime after the class. ( just go to Cornerstone Women on podcast, or Debbie Alsdorf) So you can hear all the classes. We would also be happy to send you the hand out note pages if you let us know you would like them.

Today I will be sharing the speaking time with Kris Weaver, who is a Christian Coach.

Looking forward to the WILD women gathering together today!
Let's get completely surrendered to Jesus, determined to do His will, and daring to live the life He has planned for us!

Have a Great Sunday!

I would Run but I Keep Tripping....

2009-01-17T07:52:00.000-08:00

When we have a problem, we are to run to Jesus. Right?
But, what if we keep tripping up every time we run?

Some days I start with my heart single focused and my spiritual running shoes on, and then the day goes by and I trip on my own shoe laces....I forget to come to Him with the little things that nag at me during the day. So, after awhile, I just forget to keep running to Him.

Anyone else?

Beth Moore says,
"Godliness is not perfection. If you are striving daily to give God your heart and mind
and are sensitive to sin. I'd call you godly." ( from Breaking Free)

1 Timothy 4:8
"The training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Isn't it WILD to think that we don't have to run this race perfectly? Yes we will stumble, fall, trip up from time to time. Maybe many times! But, Our God who is developing us into His people, His women, will keep picking us up, dusting us off and putting us right back on the training track.

Keep Looking Up!

Today's Prayer
Lord, thank you that I am not required to be perfect. I am not even required to act like I am. I can be me...woman in process...woman who is learning to seek you...woman who wants to have your heart but sometimes doesn't. All I am asking for today is summed up in one word...GRACE.
Do in me what only you can do, change me like only you can change a person, teach me to run as only you can teach me. I desire to be swift and directed with my eyes on the finish line, on the goal of pleasing you. One Day at a Time.

Undivided Heart= A Single Focus

2009-01-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a note I received from a woman who reads the blog. She sums up what I have been saying all week, with real life application and encouragement for us all. Enjoy! TGIF!

Just read the Wild blog this morning. It’s exactly what I have been needing to and amazingly have been doing, going to Jesus with everything. Even the dark thoughts I think I can hide. Hiding them only gives them room and fuel to grow into something big and all consuming. Exposing them to the light of the Son makes them pale in comparison to the light of His glory and diminish by the enormity of His power. I keep picturing myself with a single focus, being alone and getting eye to eye with my Savior. My father shepherd; the one who knows me and has my very best in mind even when things “feel” like the worst.

So Girls...start running to Jesus with your problems and dark thoughts! Don't give them fuel to grow into something big enough to rob your focus.

Be Filled with Jesus!

Today's Prayer
Father, Train me to go to you with everything. To wake up coming to you, to go about my day coming back to you again and again, and to end my day with you. I want to live in the light, out in the open, in freedom...in You.

Pray for Lorri Steer

2009-01-15T23:52:00.000-08:00

My friend Lorri Steer has been on a breast cancer journey for the past 18 months. Friday Lorri is going into surgery for removal of a new growth that was found this week in a PET scan. She is very dear to me, and I am asking you to join me in asking Jesus to be with her, with her surgeon and her family during this time. Thank You! Once again I am trusting, with Lorri, in the bigger picture. God is faithful, sovereign and nothing can snatch her out of His hand.
Her blog is inspirational and informative for anyone going through cancer treatments.
You can follow her blog at www.lorriscancerupdates.blogspot.com

Are you consulting the Lord about Today's Things?

2009-01-15T07:44:00.000-08:00

An undivided heart must have one allegiance at it's source. For us, this means we have a few choices:

Self and all it's interests, dreams and concerns.
Others and their approval, seeking to meet all their expectations first and for most.
Culture and what is popular, trendy, expected, and valued by our overall society.
God and all that He is, all that He is doing, Where He is leading and working, His purposes.

Here is something spoken to the people of Israel, as they were heading back into Egypt.
Isaiah 30:1-2, 15,18-21

" Woe to the obstinate children, declares the LORD, to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not with my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; without consulting me; who look for help to Pharoh's protection, to Egypt's shade for refuge." This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength...the Lord longs to be gracious to you, he rises to show you compassion. Blessed are all who wait for him! How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it."

How many times do you go through your day just doing your "thing"never once consulting God about any of it? Life becomes routine rather than a remembrance of the reality of God's movement in each day.

I know that far too often I live like that. How beautiful it is to hear that I will be Blessed as I wait on Him and Trust Him, and as I call to him he hears and answers! And, to think that God himself will whisper in to my heart, the direction to go each day. I just have to tune in! I must have my allegiance to ONE only, if not all the other voices will yell at me to choose them.

Who have you consulted today?

Today's Prayer
Father, Ahhhh, so often I jump out of bed, rush to get ready, get on with "my" day, not realizing that it was meant to be "your" day lived through me. Help me Father for a change of focus, direction and seeking-style! I want to answer your voice, heed your heart whispers, and please you above all else.

I had single purpose but... then....

2009-01-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

Let's face it, it's much easier to have a fully devoted heart when everything is going fine. But what about when we have bad news, a bad day, a bad fight with someone...

Part of living with an undivided heart is learning to live "well" and intentionally in truth even when the sky is falling in our personal lives...especially then!

It's time to learn to battle through our moods, feelings, and emotions to the point of complete devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ. Oswald Chambers calls this, "breaking out of our own little world of experience into abandoned devotion to Him". I like that.

Let's break out of our own little world, our own little moods, our own little feelings and emotions into something bigger than ourselves! How? We must continually focus and firmly place our faith in Jesus Christ.

"Since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16

Today approach Jesus with your moods, feelings and emotions. Ask him for mercy and grace to live bigger than the smallness of yourself. Ask him for the grace to learn to walk with an undivided heart...a heart fully fastened on Him and His love for you.

Today's Prayer
Jesus,
I often forget that you desire to offer mercy, grace and compassion to me. I sometimes feel ashamed of what I am feeling or thinking and so I keep it to myself rather than bring it to you. Remind me, next time, to bring everything before you, because you care, understand and want to instruct me how to live in a place that is bigger than just "me" and filled with THEE.

The path to living with single purpose

2009-01-13T07:45:00.000-08:00

In order for us to have an undivided heart or single purpose, we will have to choose to "see" the things that God is showing us that must be set aside or taken out. This housecleaning or heart cleaning, is an important step in surrendering all of ourselves to God.

Beth Moore says:
We would rather God just fix our messes. We don't want to get into the reasons why. But God wants us to know why we continue being oppressed, so that the next time we're in the same situation, we'll make different choices. ( from Breaking Free)

Sometimes I don't want to "see" the things God is showing me about myself. My inner insecurity puts up a wall to try to protect any good feelings I might have going on. But, I have learned that I must get to a place before God where He can tell me or show me anything without it offending me....sounds silly doesn't it? God offending us? But, if our relationship with Christ, is a relationship, we might at times get upset, offended, or in disagreement with something that is being said or done. We are not robots and so we question, don't we? Our daily goal is to come into agreement with Christ and His will and word for us. And second to that is a goal to disagree with the thief of our souls whose single purpose is to destroy all good in our lives.

The most important things we need to understand in relationship with Christ are these:

He loves us deeply and unconditionally
He wants the BEST LIFE for us and is always working in our lives, even when it's hard
He will never leave us or forsake us
He is developing us constantly, we are in his process of regeneration

The most important things we need to understand about our enemy/thief are these:

He does not love us, but masquerades as a lover
He does not want the best life for us, and is always trying to trip us up
He doesn't care about our welfare, just wants to hold onto us for his own kingdoms victory
He is constantly trying to destroy, steal, kill...any good thing in our lives.

Jesus said
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd." John 10:10

Today's Prayer
Father, I am in relationship with you. You are not a far away God. Help me remember that. And, in this relationship you want to be my good shepherd, you want to lead me to what is best for me. Help me to listen. Teach me to listen and not be afraid of what you are showing me. And, help me to pay attention to when the thief tries to rob from me what you are showing me for my good. Lord, I long for an undivided, single purposed heart and life.

When something is Heavy on your Heart...

2009-01-12T08:07:00.000-08:00

One common cause of distraction is our troubles. We all have them and we all want to know how to deal with them as they come up. And, we probably can all agree that when we are in the middle of something that is heavy on our heart, it is hard to stay focused. Truth is, when something is heavy on our hearts it is natural to become distracted and sometimes our distraction leads us to a path of being distraught and maybe even depressed. Depending on the circumstance at hand, many well meaning friends will encourage us with something like, "it's natural to be troubled, distracted, depressed...just look at what you are going through!"

Part of embracing the WILD life Jesus has for us is learning to walk in what is NOT natural in our flesh. Yes, it's natural for us, when left to just ourselves, to get distracted, distraught and depressed! But, girls, we are not left to fend for ourselves. The WILD walk is about turning away from living just in ourselves or just in what comes naturally. The WILD walk is about learning to live life differently.

Do you have something heavy on your heart today?
A child who is hurting? A bill that is looming? A bank account that is empty?A job that is laying off people every day? A relationship that is sour? A medical diagnosis that is not pretty?

Life is hard. We will always encounter problems. Our hearts will get heavy with the weight of troubles from time to time. A heavy heart does not mean that you don't love Jesus. A heavy heart simply means that the weight of troubles has weighed you down and that you need to turn to Jesus to find peace again. Besides that, a heavy heart might me a signal to you to continue to pray, seek, ask, knock...on the door of faith....until you see an answer from God.

When you repeatedly pray about something, it doesn't necessarily mean you do not have faith. You need to keep bringing your requests to God as long as those unfulfilled requests are heavy on your heart.

Mark 14:39
"Once more he went away and prayed the same thing."
This was speaking about Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. He kept going to a place of prayer about the same thing, because it was heavy on his heart.

The apostle Paul admits to praying three times about a thorn in the flesh ( 2 Cor 12:8-9) The New Living Translation uses the word Begged to describe how Paul prayed, which suggests that he was emotionally distressed over the problem.

Matthew 7:7-8 ( from the Williams translation)
"Keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking and the door will open to you. For everyone who keeps on asking received, and everyone who keeps on seeking, finds and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will be open."

What is heavy on your heart today?
Keep on asking
Keep on seeking
Keep on knocking on God's door.

I would rather be distracted with prayer and seeking God, than to be distracted with distress over my situation.

Trust Him today. God is in control, He really is.

Today's Prayer
Lord, I give you my heart and all that is heavy on it. I come to you with each thing and seek you for your answer, your will, you intervention into my life's hardships. I trust you that you are in control and I come today giving you all that I am, all that I have, all that I love , and all that I desire.

What is causing division in your heart?

2009-01-09T08:15:00.000-08:00

Is it activity?
Is it a burning inner turmoil?
Is it worry? stress?
Is it sin?
Or, maybe it's things, baggage from your past.

All of us have stuff we carry around from our pasts and how the situations of our pasts shaped us and have affected us. Some of these things keep us in bondage, and some of these things keep our hearts divided or cut up into pieces.

Recently I had dinner with my friend Ali. She shared with me how during Christmas how the song Joy to the World had a renewed meaning to her this season. The words...let every heart prepare him room...seemed to stick to her this year. Previously she thought that those words were for unbelievers to believe in Jesus and prepare a place for him in their hearts. But, this year it was as if God was speaking to her saying, " You, Ali, prepare room for me in your heart." This began a whole new journey for her. As she shared it with me, it stuck with me too.

Preparing Room for Christ in our hearts might mean doing some heart housekeeping. If our hearts are too cluttered, or divided, well then....it's hard for him to have his place of prominance, isn't it?

Back to our past. Take in this verse:
"One thing I do forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:13-14

Beth Moore says,
Gods word clearly expresses what a good and effective teacher the past can be. But the past will be a good teacher only if we approach it as a good student, from the perspective of what we can gain and how God can use it for his glory. ( taken from Breaking Free)

What is it in your past that God is asking you to hand over to him? It might be an attitude an immaturity, a love, a habit. It doesn't work for you anymore. It must go. You must let your heart be uncluttered and learn from what you are taking to the spiritual dump! Why did it have to go? Why can't you pick it up and allow it back in? What is God teaching you?

Be filled today with His Presence. Sit, think, process, pray, Be still and be filled.

Today's Prayer
Father, Show me the things in my heart that must be turned over to you and taken to the dumpster. I am listening. Help me learn from the past mistakes, hurts, insecurities,bondages, family dynamics, whatever.... Help me Lord. I want an undivided heart. And, today I want to Prepare Room for You!

Undivided Heart

2009-01-08T07:56:00.000-08:00

"Teach me your way, O LORD
And I will walk in your truth
Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:11

Divided is defined as:

To separate or become separated into parts
To classify or group
To separate into opposing factions
To cause to cut be cut off

When applied to our hearts, divided is a scary place.
It is making many compartments of my heart and allowing God his own room, but not the whole house, so to speak, of my heart. In Psalms we see that God wants the whole house, or the whole of our hearts.

Look at the same verse from Psalm 86 from Eugene Peterson in the Message:
"Train me; God, to walk straight,
then I'll follow your true path.
Put me together, one heart and mind
then, undivided, I'll worship in joyful fear."

Being undivided in heart, in faith, in purpose, in how I will think, walk, and live, seems important, doesn't it?

What if your resolve this New Year was just that: Lord, I want an undivided heart!

Often this is not something we just "will" ourselves in to.
It's a bit more complicated than that, because we are complicated and compartmentalized.
But, it's God, all powerful, who by His Spirit can put that new undivided heart into place and motion.

Listen:
Ezekiel 36:33
" I'll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I'll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I'll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that's God-willed, not self-willed. I'll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands."

What do we do with our divided hearts?
Come to God and express the need for help. Ask Him to make you a woman with one sole vision, purpose and heart....the heart to be ALL for Him, and to receive Him as your all.

Don't rush or stress to try and fix your heart...come to Jesus with it.
Give yourself time and space to notice the divisions, then one by one give them over to God.
Admit the truth about where you are at to Him, " Jesus this is what is true about me, in my life right now. I am tripped up by....I am divided with....Now, Lord please work in me. What are you going to do about this, about me and all that I am giving over to you?" Then listen....reflect, listen again. He will begin working and showing you what His desires are for you and to do in you.

Acknowledgement is the first step.
Today, according to Scripture, can we all acknowledge that we need an undivided heart?

Today's Prayer
Father,
I know that I need you to work in me. I don't want to be divided into many compartments...family, work, ministry, fun. I want to be always and every moment in one single place, with you...obedient to you, listening for you...walking in you. Jesus give me an undivided heart. Do in me what needs to be done to get to that place, show me what might need to be handed over to you for this to happen.

New Year's Resolutions?

2009-01-07T15:59:00.000-08:00

According to a national study the following are the top 10 resolutions that people make:

Get organized
Help others
Learn something new
Get out of dept
Quit Drinking
Enjoy Life More
Quit Smoking
Tame the bulge
Fit in Fitness
Spend More Time With Family

Christian women usually make resolutions or decisions that involve their spiritual lives.
Things like spending more time with God, increasing our serving quotient, reading through the Bible in a year...things of that nature.

But, what about just narrowing it down to one single thing?
"Teach me your way, O LORD
And I will walk in your truth
Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:11

What if we resolved to have an UNDIVIDED HEART?

THINK ABOUT THAT TODAY.

Daily Prayer
Father I ask you to show me your way and what an undivided heart would mean in my life.

Encourage one another daily

2009-01-06T06:59:00.000-08:00

Each day we are to encourage one another.
It's easy to forget.
I even know of people who think encouraging others is unnecessary, frivolous, superficial.

I grew up with very little encouragement.
Later my mother told me she thought that encouragement would give me a "big head". I wonder if any one of that era ever worried about giving their kids a shrunken skull!

Because I wasn't encouraged it was easy to doubt everything I did and it was easy later to doubt God's love for me. After all, I was frequently told the negative but rarely told the positive.
Sometimes we treat others this way. We take for granted when they do something good or positive and remind them when they are blowing it.
What about catching them in good and telling them about that?
According to scripture encouraging others is to be part of our daily walk.

Check it out...
Hebrews 3: 12-14
"See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage on another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first."

1 Thessalonians 4:18
"Therefore encourage each other with these words."

What words? When there is a THEREFORE we need to look back a few verses and see what it is there for....In this case the verses preceding this are all about the coming of the Lord. So we see here that we are to encourage each other about the Lord's coming, and to encourage each other about the things written in scripture.

The difference between superficial encouragement and biblical encouragement is this:
Superficial encouragement is just flattery that moves us to focus more on self.
Biblical encouragement imparts courage to walk the walk and continue in the faith.

Example:
Superficial might look like: " Shelly you always look so pretty"

Courageous might look like:" Shelly you are always so kind and have just the right thing to say"

Are we never to compliment? Of course not. If your friend looks great in red, tell her. But don't flatter her and then forget to really encourage her later.
We are to pay attention to encouragement and intentionally noticing the things that someone is doing in the spirit that makes a difference...from the smallest kindness to the larger big step for God....from their small step of obedience in the right direction, to a larger victory over sin. Encouraging each other over these things goes much further than the pretty red sweater!

Remember: God wants to use us as his instruments daily. One way that can be accomplished is through encouraging one another. Catch them in something good and tell them. Show appreciation. Smile...that is an encouragement. Say "hello" that is an encouragement.

In this world we live in all of us need to be encouraged daily.

Now, go out and live God's truth today!

Today's Prayer
Father, help me to quit thinking of myself long enough to notice someone else. Remind me to smile at strangers, talk to co-workers, and be pleasant in my environment. Help me to notice when someone does something that I should mention. And, may my mentioning be done in a fashion that encourages their heart and propels them to more good works in Christ.

Today is a New Opportunity

2009-01-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

Monday, Monday....
New Year...The first Monday of the year.
How did 2008 go by so fast and 2009 open it's pages?
You may be asking....Can this year be any different for me personally?
I believe it can. There is always the possibility of change and transformation for us as believers in Jesus Christ. There is always opportunity to be made of use in God's plan. Each day we have a fresh opportunity to surrender and go out to face the day in the Spirit of Christ, rather than the emotion of the flesh. We get that choice. God's power meets us at the crossroads of that choice.

Today I will quote Oswald Chambers, as he says all I would want to express:

"Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to "go out" building your confidence in God...do not worry about your life...nor about your body...( Luke 12:22) In other words, don't worry about the things that concerned you before you did " go out."

Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be the continual willingness to "go out" in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus."

May I suggest....
Have you ever journaled? It sounds more complicated that it is. Get a blank book of any kind and begin writing. I like journaling, because being a visual person, journaling reminds me that each day is as fresh with opportunity as the new clean page I turn to in my journal each morning. There is no need to try for eloquence or anything dynamic when you write. You may just even jot down a few gratitude's. It's your deal, no one else's business. When I began journaling it helped me to begin remembering all that God was trying to show me in my daily life. I began growing more because I was then remembering more of God's voice to me. I usually write in the morning for a few minutes and close the day by jotting down a few gratitude's of that day at night before bed. But...the sky is the limit, there is not right or wrong for journaling. May I just suggest that you try it.

Luke 12:22 From the Message
"Don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more. Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can't even do that, why fuss at all?...What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so that you can respond to God's giving."

Today's Prayer
Lord, I want to live a life respecting you. This means I must learn to trust rather than worry...to depend on you rather than to depend of my self. This also means that each day must be viewed as a clean slate a fresh page in which you will write the story of that day as I yield to you. Teach me to embrace the opportunity of each day.

Resolution to Stop Being Religious

2009-01-03T09:41:00.001-08:00

Many leaders can fall into the trap of being religious.
The dictionary defines religion as: one belonging to a religious organization.

But, according to Scripture, we are to be identified with belonging to Christ himself, rather than being identified to a church or organization. Though we may be part of a church community, we are always to belong to Christ and Christ alone. The problem arises when we begin to find our identity in the community rather than in Christ, and when we find our self esteem in people and serving them rather than in the love of Christ for us as individuals.

Religious activity can cause us to by-pass the authentic life of the Spirit that God is calling us to.

We make lists and make sure we follow through.
We do right things but sometimes for wrong reasons.
We find identity in what we perform on the outside, with little regard to what is actually going on in the inside part of us.
We become busy bees in our Christian circles.
We fix things, help people, and respond to needs.
We attend studies, go to gatherings and are in several small groups.
We don't slow down long enough to know God.

What would happen if we made it a resolution to slow down and pick a few things that would actually bring us to a place of Knowing Jesus this year.

What is he really about?
What does he really require of us?
What makes him pleased with us?
What is his plan for us?
What is the sound of his voice stirring my heart like?

Oswald Chambers:
"Many people start coming to God once they start being religious, because there is only one master of the human heart...Jesus Christ, not religion."

Begin Celebrating Life by Respecting it enough to Come to Christ with All of You.
Each day can be a celebration of Coming to the Father.

It can be in a quiet place...room, closet, bathroom( for those with kids)
It can be in a car...
It can be during a prayer walk around your neighborhood
It can be on-going through short conversations throughout your day
It can be in the morning or evening
It can be anytime or anyplace...it just needs to BE.

How we come isn't the important part...that we Come to Him is what matters.
It often looks different during different seasons of life.

I can remember praying while I nursed a child in the early morning hours, and then later when I went into an adjoining room while the kids watched Mr. Rogers for an hour. I can remember later praying in my mini van after I dropped the car pool off at school. There was a time when I went into my car on my lunch hour and spent 30 minutes with God...reading, then praying and journaling. Later my time with God began to be when I walked on treadmill or around the park.

Now at this stage in my life there is the luxury to plan a time, as my kids are grown and my schedule is more adaptable. But the point is, there is always time, we must look for it, grab it and cling on to our spiritual refreshment from God with all that is within us.

If not we become religious task women, getting the things checked off our lists, looking good and doing good, but not connected to our first love...Jesus.

Listen to the words out of Revelation 2:
"I know what you do, how you work hard and never give up. I know you do not put up with the false teaching of evil people You have patience and have suffered troubles for my name and have not given up. But I have this against you: You have left the love you had in the beginning. So remember where you were before you fell. Change your hearts and do what you did at first."
Revelation 2:2-5 New Century Version

When we wander away from our love for Christ and replace that love with works, it like falling off a cliff or into a pit of deception. We need to pay attention.

How WILD would it be to REALLY be in love with Jesus, REALLY listen to His voice, REALLY pay attention to His Word, and REALLY come to Him each day with our life, our cares, and our joys.This would be WILD because not many do this, we opt for religion or Christian activity instead.

Let's strive for this New Kind of WILD!

Today's Prayer
Lord, show me what coming to you looks like in this season of my life. Help me to see the need and follow after you the way you desire me to. Forgive me for putting things, leadership things, family things, life things...in front of you. May I learn to reverse this and put you in front of all things concerning each day. I desire to be wildly devoted to you and passionately in love with you. I am not sure I know what that REALLY looks like. Change me and Show me.

Respect the Gift of Today

2009-01-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

According to Webster's, to celebrate is to observe a day with Respect.

Respect:
1). To feel or show regard for
2). To avoid violation or interference with
3). To esteem
4). To show appreciation and consideration to or for

Each morning we wake up to a new day. And each new day we have the choice to live in joy and celebration for the gift given of this new day, or to slug through it...you know the attitude....just another dumb day....too much to do...same old stuff.

Often our thoughts and words don't line up with what is true about us in God's view. We are actually in violation or interference with God's best by continually dwelling in the negative places that we have all come to know far too well.

I think that we should pay attention to the art of celebration. It would be good for us to learn how to live in respect and awe of the God who created all things,...and to live in respect of how He loves us and cares for us.

To change our patterns of worry is part of learning a new way to live up. The opposite would be to continue acting out in our childish ways of worry and thinking we have to fend for ourselves.

The mature view is to realize that God fends for us and this belief enables us to quit acting out in constant worry and instead live up towards respect and appreciation of what the Bible declares as His care for those He created.

Today try to cut out all self-deprecating remarks.
Start programming your renewed mind by first learning to discipline your mouth.
Rather than putting yourself down, down, down....
Try lifting your spirit up, up, up....

How? By replacing the negative with the positive truth in God's word.
Let's just start with a few truths for today.
Repeat them often...Add your own.

I am loved unconditionally ( Romans 5:8)
I am intimately known ( Psalm 139)
I am precious in God's sight ( Isaiah 43:4)
I was chosen before time began ( Ephesians 1:4)
I am filled with God's Spirit ( 1 Corinthians 6:19)
I have been created for a purpose ( Ephesians 2:10)

Daily Prayer
Father,
It is much easier to dwell on what I am comfortable with. I am comfortable with saying negative things about myself or life. I can point out my flaws with expertise but have trouble letting those go and committing them to you. Seems I'd rather feel bad then realize that I am blessed and that you are working in me, flaws and all. I want to turn around my mind and my mouth by respecting what the Bible says is truth about me, my life and my God. In doing so I want to learn to celebrate each day and my union with you. Help me. Teach me.

Celebrate!

2009-01-01T09:24:00.000-08:00

Celebrate:
1.)To observe a day or event with respect, festivity or rejoicing.
2.) To praise or extol.

We often think of a celebration as a party. And, according to the dictionary definition, a party would line up with the meaning of the word celebration. But, in the definition we see something that is not just reserved for special occasions. To celebrate can be a daily thing. To celebrate is to observe each day with respect.

Not one of us knows how many days we have left in the countdown of our lives. Some people die young and some live to be 100. We don't get to know the day or the hour, the months or the years...those facts are kept by the God who created us. Because we can't know, we should all live each day with the respect it deserves. Life is a gift and each day can be lived with festivity and rejoicing.

But, what about my problems?
Psa 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
1Pe 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

I guess it boils down to this:

We have been given today...what will we do with it?
We have been given today...what mind set will we carry around the next 24 hours?
We have been given today...will we be happy and merry? or moody and sad?
We have been given today...will we cast our problems on the Lord and trust His care for us?
We have been given today...will we respect the gift or throw it away?

We all get to choose what we do with what we have been given today!

Deu 30:19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live

Psa 145:7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Today's Prayer:
Lord,
Teach me what it means to celebrate the day. Teach me what it means to have festivity and rejoicing on a daily basis. Teach me what it means to respect the day you have put before me.
I am listening. I want to learn. I want to be changed. I want to have a wild-shift in the way I approach life. Teach me how.

Ending 2008

2008-12-31T07:38:00.001-08:00

2008. What has it meant for you?
Good, bad, fortunate, unfortunate, blessing....cursing....sickness...health?
Maybe 2008 has been a mix of all the above.

For me 2008 has been another turning point.
I started the year with pneumonia that became a chronic lung condition.
For a few days I awaited tests to see if I too had lung cancer, the same cancer that took my father.

Thankfully, for now, the spot on the lung appears to be just scarring of some kind. ( I have never smoked but my lungs have been affected by 2nd hand smoke exposure, which I had no control over...there are many things in life that we have no control over!)
However, the turning point came in realizing that I worry too much.

Do you worry too much?
How is that going for you? Does it change anything?

The main thing that God has been speaking to me all year is one word... PROVISION.
He continually keeps telling me, in each new situation, that He is my provision. This providence has no boundaries but applies to relationships, finances, health, emotional needs, spiritual desires. He is my Provision!

He is yours too.
Take that word today and hold it in your heart.
Begin the new year with that word...PROVISION.

How can we lead others when we don't even embrace the most basic of truths. PROVISION.

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides with with everything." 1 Timothy 6:17

Oswald Chambers says:
"He urges us to keep our minds filled with the concept of God's control over everything. Fill your mind with the through that God is there. And once your mind is truly filled with that thought, when you experience difficulties it will be as easy as breathing for you to remember, " My heavenly Father knows all about this!" This will be no effort at all, but will be as natural thing for you when difficulties and uncertainties arise. Before you formed this concept of divine control so powerfully in your mind, you used to go from person to person seeking help, but now you go to God about it. Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct for those people who have His Spirit, and it works on the following principle: God is my Father, He loves me, and I will never think of anything that He will forget, so why should I worry?"

Celebrate His Provision, Care and Love for you as you go into 2009.
Your God will supply all your needs in Christ Jesus today, and every day of the New Year!

Today's Prayer
Father,
I pray a blessing of peace and absence of worry over each woman reading this blog. Make real to her the truth that you are her Provision in every area. Help her to begin the new year with absolute trust in the God who loves her most. Be our everything Jesus, our everything.

Submitting My Will to God's Will

2008-12-29T08:08:00.000-08:00

As we approach the New Year, the resolutions, the desire for change and the hope for better tomorrows....we must be very conscious of not entering into an agreement with our flesh for change. What does that mean? It means that we must not depend on our own strength or will to bring about change in us or our circumstances. Instead we must get alone with God, and through a prayer conversation we are to give him each detail that needs changing...one by one. As we go through our list, we must come into an agreement with the Spirit that it is not by might nor by our power, but by God's Spirit that real and lasting change occurs.

What does your inventory list say?
I would love to hear from some of you.
What is it that you are being required to submit to God in 2009?

Together let's trust our will over to the will of God. Let's surrender all and see the sanctification of our life blossom before our very eyes!

Looking forward to hearing from you....

Heavenly Father,
I come to you this morning with the areas in my life that I know must be submitted to you. I am pondering how I have tried to change these in my own strength in the past with no lasting success. This year I come submitting my weakness to you and asking for the strength of your Holy Spirit to be at work in me. Change me Lord. Change Me. Less of Me and More of Thee.

Moving into somethng NEW....

2008-12-27T08:31:00.000-08:00

New Year, New Choices, Fresh Starts.

I love this time of year. There is anticipation of a clean slate, a fresh start, and a new beginning. Though that new beginning is available each day of the year, it somehow seems more "real" when the New Year rings in each January.

I encourage you to take some time taking a personal inventory. Think about what it is in your life that needs a fresh start or a new beginning. Determine to live intentionally trusting God in that area. Keep in mind that all of us can change because as believers we are filled with the Holy Spirit of power, guidance and truth.

I started yesterday with a major closet cleanse! Yes, that's right. I came up with 7 hefty garbage bags filled with clothes and shoes that I don't wear enough to keep. I will donate them today.

It's time for a new beginning, time to be Wildly devoted to God in all areas. I am excited about trusting Him, serving Him, listening to His voice, and carrying out His will in my little corner of the world in 2009.

Mark 14:1-9 Let's once again look at Mary of Bethany.

The passage in Mark is a story about Mary of Bethany, whom we know as the girl who sat at the feet of Jesus, and the sister to "busy bee" Mary, and "up from the grave" Lazarus. In this passage we are told that Mary poured an expensive jar of perfume on the head of Jesus while he was at Simon's home before the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Those who watched her criticized this action towards Jesus accusing her of being wasteful-- they thought the perfume could have been sold to provide money for the poor.
But, Jesus said,
"Leave her alone. " "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing...She did what she could." Mark 14:6,8

She Did What She Could!

Mary had taken what she had, the alabaster jar, and she used what she had, to do what she could. In this case, she anointed the head of Jesus, with what she had...and Jesus said, "She has done a beautiful thing" v. 6

Mary is an example of a WILD woman. What she did was frowned upon...from sitting at the feet of Jesus, to breaking the seal on the alabaster jar. Her love for Jesus was not politically or socially correct or understood. Yet, Jesus said that sitting at his feet would not be taken from her, and that the lavish perfume given for him was a beautiful thing. It's WILD to please God rather than people. It's WILDER still to do just WHAT we have been called and created to do--no more, no less.

As leaders we are not required to do EVERYTHING, or ALL that we can. We can learn from this and do just WHAT we can, in each moment, in each day, unto Jesus.

Are you doing what you could today?

I want to do what I can, just like Mary who "did what she could". Jesus said she did " a beautiful thing" and I want that response from my Lord too. I want to do what only I can do with the hopes of Jesus saying that my actions were to Him a beautiful thing too.

How about you?

Today's Prayer
Father, I come to you today and ask that you will begin placing on my heart the very area that you want me to trust you for change in this next year. I dedicate myself to believing that your power working in me can be the pathway to something new and different in my life. I thank you that you are my Freedom!

A Christmas Gift For You!

2008-12-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Click on the link below for a free download of Sherri Youngward's song PEACE.
http://www.sherriyoungward.com/music.aspx

Let it wash over your mind and heart this Christmas.
Merry! Merry!

Celebrate His Peace...
The greatest gift every given was not presented in a dazzling cathedral with exquisite stained glass, nor was it opened on a flashy stage with booming music and all the media bells and whistles. Rather, the greatest gift ever given came during the dark of the night, under the stars of the Bethlehem skies, in a plain field, with ordinary animals milling about. The greatest gift ever given came through the miracle of God's Holy Spirit overshadowing a young teenage girl, filling her with himself, and doing the impossible.

How could this be? Because with God nothing is impossible.
And, this God, this baby, this gift was to be called Immanuel which means, God with Us.
This baby who grew to be the boy Jesus and the man who changed the world forever, came in a most un-ordinary way, because he is an extraordinary God.

And, He shall be called....
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Christmas Prayer
Father, May we never forget you, never cease to live for you, and always be ready to please you with all that we are and all that we have. We give you our lives as a gift. Amen

Merry Christmas!

RSVP Today!

2008-12-24T07:57:00.000-08:00

You Are Cordially Invited
To A Birthday Celebration.

Guest of Honor: Jesus Christ

Date: December 25th

Time: When you're ready, ( please don't be late, though; or
you'll miss out on all the fun!!! )

Place: In your Heart...He'll meet you there ( you'll hear Him
knock )

Attire: Come as you are...grubbies are okay. He'll be washing
our clothes anyway. He said something about new
white robes and crowns for everyone who stays till the
last.

Tickets: Admission is free. He's already paid for everyone..( He
says you would not have been able to afford it...it cost
Him everything he had! )

Refreshments: New wine, bread and a far-out drink that He calls
living water, followed by a supper that promises to be
out of this world!!!

Gift Suggestions: Your Heart. He's one of those people who
already has everything else. He's very generous in
return though; just wait until you see what He has for
you.

Entertainment: Joy, Peace, Truth, Light, Life, Love, Real
Happiness, Communion with God, Forgiveness,
Miracles, Healing, Power, Eternity in Paradise, and
much more!
( All rated "G" so bring your family and friends )

R.S.V.P. Very important! He must know ahead so he can
reserve a spot for you at the table. Also He's keeping
a list of His friends for future reference. He calls it the
( "Lambs Book Of Life" )

Hope To See You There!!!

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. Amen. Romans 15:13 *NIV

Christmas Prayer
Thank you for the hope of knowing you. I am excited about celebrating your birth and joining in the party of praise. May joy and peace overflow in me now by the power of your Holy Spirit.

Focused Hustle and Bustle....

2008-12-23T11:35:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning rushed,
stressed and racing for a pen and paper.
I was about to make my final Christmas "to-do" list when I stopped and took a breath.
Breathe in, Breathe out......
Quick breath and off I went to an early before -work breakfast with some women.
Great time! Fun! Fellowship! Merry!

Off again...about my day.
In the parking lot my car would not start....
Left my lights on in the midst of hustle bustle.
Ugh!
Breathe in, Breathe out....
It could be worse!

Focus is what our life is all about!

Focus: The central point of attention or activity to aim attention at...to fix, fasten, fixate or sharpen.

Synonyms: center, core, focal point, heart, hub, target

Proverbs 23:7
"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." NKJV

"For as he thinks within himself, so he is. he says to you " Eat and drink!" but his heart is not with you. " NASB

Focus is about what we fix our thoughts on, what we pay attention to. And, according to Proverbs what we think about is really who we are at the core of us. So...where is your focus?

In the middle of the hustle and bustle, drained battery in the car and drained energy in my mind.....I am reminded that my focus is to be on the God who gives me life. Breathe...yes! Breathe....yes!
Breathe in the fresh peace that only comes from God.
not at this world gives...but as only God can give.

After all, the crux of the Christmas message was foretold in Isa 9:6...

For unto us a child is born, and he will be called:

Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace

Be filled with Peace in the midst of it all.
Smile...God is with you
Smile...the son was born to be LIFE to you
Smile...God is our source
Smile...it could be worse, you could be alone to fend for yourself
Smile...Because of Jesus you are never alone!
Christmas Prayer
Lord may my hustle and bustle remain focused and not frenzied. May I gain strength from you as I race about my errands and live through this day....2 days before Christmas. Lord, I want you. I want my heart to be fixated on you.

Make Today Count

2008-12-22T09:05:00.000-08:00

Focus is what our life is all about.
Where is your focus today?
Mine is finishing Christmas,
attending Chelsea's memorial service,
and finally...getting my hair done.

I also want to focus on Christ and obedience to Him in all things today.

That might look like a prayer that goes:

Lord, lead me to the right gifts that will be a blessing and fit in my budget.
Lord, speak to my heart about giving to those in need. Who else might I reach out to?
Lord, may I be a light at Chelsea's service. You are in me everywhere I go, I acknowledge that and pray that your grace will pour forth from me.
Lord, be with Chelsea's family and friends today.
Lord, may I be a blessing to my niece who does my hair.
Lord, may I think of you many times today, focus upwards and give thanks.
Lord, may I not forget you at all in the middle of the hustle and bustle of real life.

On and on....what is your focus?

Beth Moore on Obedience says:
"You may never feel like giving your circumstance, hurt or loss over to God, but you can choose to submit to Him out of belief and obedience rather than emotion. Obedience is always the mark of authentic surrender to God's authority." ( from Breaking Free)

Make today an authentic, walking in Jesus, obeying his still small voice and nudge, day!
Make today count. Do what "you" can do today, and listen to the Lord say...she has done a beautiful thing.
Go out and make a difference wherever He leads you!

Christmas Prayer:
Lord, Less of Me and More of Thee. Amen!

Chelsea Hedge's Memorial Service

2008-12-19T09:08:00.000-08:00

A service to remember and celebrate the life of Chelsea Hedge will be held at Cornerstone Fellowship on Monday December 22nd at 2 pm, in the chapel. Please continue to pray for the family...mother and father, Debbie and Leonard, and sisters Taylor and Nicole.
Chelsea you are loved and missed by those who knew you.

The Count Down Continues

2008-12-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

We can be stressed if we want to.
We can worry if we wish.
But, the greatest gift ever given us was the gift of peace
given by the Prince of Peace.

Jesus said,
"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 and do not be afraid."

The gift is Jesus
His offer is Peace
His Peace is different than what we know
What we know is usually how we live
There is a better way
This better way is what Christmas is all about.

Do not LET your heart be troubled!
Why?
Because Jesus said we didn't have to.
Why would he say this? Because he knew who He was.
Who is He? Immanuel, the God who is with us.

The fourth step of getting out of the Christmas Funk is... to stop fanning the flames of worry, distrust or fear. To stay in the funk you Keep these embers and dramas fanned to flame. Try something different, pour cold water, fresh living water on the flames. Douse them with Hope and new focus.

Christmas Prayer
Lord, today I focus on not LETTING my heart gravitate towards worry or fear. I look to you and your presence in my life. I choose to let joy permeate the day as I realize, once again, that my day and my life is in your hands. I will celebrate today. I will celebrate life in you!

7 days and counting....

2008-12-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

Dealing with the Christmas Funk.

First step out of a Funk...Focus...look for the sparkle or light in every situation.
Second step out of a Funk...Position...live above circumstances rather than under them.
Third Step out of a Funk is to STOP Being Negative.

Life happens. Life is hard. Sometimes life hurts.
It's easier to be negative than positive.
Often we gravitate to the negative place.
But, Christmas is the birth of Positive Possibility through Christ.
Celebrate Christ today by refusing anything negative.

No negative comments
Push away negative thoughts
No negative projections of problems
No negative expectations
Nothing Negative Today.

Hint: When negative thoughts come to your mind think of them as a ember from a fire landing on your sweater. Just flick it away or else you will catch on fire. Catch it quick and stop the burn of the Funk.

Remember: You will be as moody or as merry as you choose to be.

Christmas Prayer
Jesus, I want you to be my reality and Christmas to be the celebration of new life in you. You were born in a manger in a shepherd's field... nothing glamorous about your birth, your life, or your death. Yet, you came, submitted to the will of God...you came to save me. I have much to be thankful for. Today I choose to be positive and choose to flick away all negative thoughts or actions before they start a fire that can not be contained.

8 days til Christmas

2008-12-17T07:57:00.000-08:00

Over the next 8 days I am planning on doing one specific, repeated thing...every morning, and every night.

I am going to start each day and end day with something like:

Thank You Lord, that you are always with me. Immanuel, the God who is with me.
Thank You Lord, that you are my Wonderful Counselor, giving me the right direction.
Thank You Lord, that you are a Mighty God, powerful to do all things.
Thank You Lord, that you are my Everlasting Father, nothing can take me from your hand.
Thank You Lord, that you are the Prince of Peace, as I focus on You my mind is kept in peace.

The first step out of any funk is Focus.
Where is your focus today?
The above exercise of Thanks and Praise will realign your focus to things that are good.

The second step out of any funk is change of position.
This position change is an attitudinal change, choosing to live as an overcomer rather than UNDER the circumstances of life. We can always climb UNDER and sulk, stress and such. Try something different. You are not some random person who must fend for yourself. Mighty God came to be your everything. Jesus, born in a manger, was sent to lead you into all truth. Receive the truth of: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! ( Phil 4:13)

Think of both today. Join me in thanking God for the Good of Who He is.

Your day will be as merry or moody as you choose it to be.
What will you choose?

Christmas Prayer
Lord, help me to choose merry, joy, and peace rather than moody, needy and helpless. I receive your strength for the day.

Please join me in prayer....

2008-12-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

Today the post is brief.
I am asking you to pray for two families.
The Hedge family who just lost their 21 yr old daughter/sister....Chelsea.
The Caprista family who just lost their mother/wife...Kerry.

It is never easy to experience the loss of someone you love. It is especially hard this time of year.
Please pray for these families and ask God to be their comfort. Both services are in the next week and the families will be preparing to say their last good-byes. My heart is so heavy for them both, that I will leave today's post at that.

Be filled with the peace that only God can give...as you go about your day.
Life is short. Live it!

10 days to Christmas

2008-12-15T07:47:00.000-08:00

The Christmas Funk
It can happen at any time of the year, but getting into a mental or emotional FUNK is common, especially for women, at Christmas time. A funk is defined as: a state of the blues or a place of depression.

The type of depression that is described as a FUNK, is not clinical depression, but a situational blues that can last a day or two...or a week or two. Some of us find ourselves in a FUNK out of nowhere, and often we don't even understand why. But, when you consider all the things women are responsible for, especially this time of year, a funk seems inevitable at times. But, in order to live well, we must also learn how to get out of the pits that we find ourselves in that are unproductive.

What are some things that cause a funk?

Unrealistic expectations
Unmet expectations
Feeling alone or living in unresolved circumstances
Feelings of fear, abandonment or loss of any kind
Feelings of insecurity
Feelings of being unloved or uncared for
Financial loss or financial stress
Future fear or uncertainty
Feeling invisible, alone or insignificant

At Christmas time it is easy to fall into any one of these categories.
I know more than I care to admit about the "Funk", because I have lived there more than once.
Here is my acronym:
F...Feelings Prevail, Focus skewed
U...Under the weather, the circumstances
N...Negative about things
K... Keeping the negative funk alive by fanning the flames of the feelings

Stepping Out of the Funk
F...Focus must change

U...Under the care of Christ, is how we must live, rather than living under the circumstances

N...Negative thoughts must be challenged, and replaced with positive truth

K...Keep my heart, Guarding it well, making sure it is not divided, for out of it comes all of life.

Christmas is not just a "one day" event, but we often race towards it as if it were. Christmas brings with it feelings of remorse, loss, and often expectations of "the perfect little life" that not many people really have. All of these added together could steal our focus, our hope and our joy. Think today about the four parts of stepping out the the funk, and stay tuned as we look at each one separately this week.

Have yourself a merry little Monday...It's the only Monday December 15th 2008 that you will ever have. Live it well!

Christmas Prayer
Lord, help me to have the courage to step out of the funk when I find myself there.

13 days and counting....

2008-12-13T07:33:00.000-08:00

The Gift of Love

Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of LOVE will endure.

The Apostle Paul speaks of Love in his letter to the Corinthians. Today reflect on what he is saying, especially the statement...eagerly desire the greater gifts.

It's easy during the holidays to think of the things we"want". Especially easy this time of the year to scan the sales ads and decide we want something that we never even knew we wanted!

With the holiday sales and media all around us we might even think that our loved ones or children "just have to have something", and we then become consumed with how to get it, often sacrificing our sleep or our sanity to stand in line for the best deal.

But, we will never find a sales advertisement for God's Love. We can not cut a coupon out and take it in for an early morning Saturday special. His love isn't cheap, but was very costly. He already paid the price, it's been purchased for us. This love is a gift. The catch is, we have to receive it. We must open the gift, and open it daily. The Bible tells us His love and Mercy are new every morning. Fresh supply!

1 Corinthians 12:31-3
But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal...if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all that I possess to the poor, but have not love I gain nothing.

How do we receive this Gift of Love?

Oswald Chambers says:
" Love is the overflowing result of one person in true fellowship with another."

We receive this gift of love by our connection, fellowship, identification with....Jesus Christ, who is God himself, and the bible tells us that "God is Love". 1 John 4

Today reflect on these things:

What do you give the greatest emphasis to in your personal life at this time of year?
Do things replace love?
Does works of service replace love?
Does the busy schedule of the holiday season replace your connection with Christ?
Are you in true fellowship with God? If so, love will be the overflowing result.

Christmas Prayer
Lord, I come to you with my holiday days. There seems so much to do, so many to see, and so many functions to attend. All are fun, and none of them are necessarily bad. But, it is a slippery slope when I put you on the back burner for a month! It is ridiculous that I take a vacation from you to try and "love others" through what I can give or what I can do for them. Teach me balance in my December Days.

14 days until Christmas

2008-12-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas Love
paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13

"If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels, attend holiday parties and sing in the church's worship team but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoiced in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of LOVE will endure."
Author Unknown

Christmas Prayer
Lord I want to be an instrument of your love, a vessel of your peace, a beacon of your encouragement and hope....and I want to begin with those closest to me.

15 days to Christmas

2008-12-11T07:08:00.000-08:00

The Countdown Begins.....

Don't panic. Don't scream.
Don't call in sick to work to get your "things" done.
Christmas is more than an event, more than a day.
In fact, Christmas is a lifestyle...Not the trees, lights, and gifts. Not parties, cookies and eggnog. But, the entrance of Christ in our midst, the entrance of Christ in our hearts, the reality of heaven's gift in our daily dealings...this is Christmas.

Christmas, the birth of Christ, was to be the beginning of a life change for people.
He came to set people free from themselves.
So really we are celebrating Christ More....More of Christ, Less of Me!

As we head towards the count down to the day we Celebrate the birth of Christ, keep that in mind.

I am to love Christ more
I am to know Christ more
I am to trust Christ more
I am to live in Christ more

Because...that is why He came.
So that, those who live for themselves would no longer live for themselves but entirely for him. He came to save us from our sinful natural selves, bringing us into the light of salvation and love.

Think about it today. What would represent Christ more in your life just for today?

Christmas Prayer,
Lord I want to know you and love you more than I ever have. Thank you for being the God who is with me more than I can imagine.

Day 10 Untangling Christmas

2008-12-10T06:26:00.000-08:00

The Spirit of the Lord is reason to Celebrate!

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness
for the prisoners...
To comfort those who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve,
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and the garment of praise,
instead of the spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:1-3

The prophet Isaiah foretold these things
about the coming Messiah. During the ministry
of Jesus recorded in Luke 4, it says that Jesus
was given the scroll of the prophet Isaiah when he
was in the synagogue on the Sabbath, and opening it
he read the words above, rolled up the scroll
and said,

"Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:21

These are things that Jesus came to do:

Bind up our broken hearts
Release us from dark places
Deliver us from personal prisons
Comfort us in our grief and mourning
Give us beauty for ashes
Place on us a crown of beauty
Fit us in an outfit of praise

"You will be with child and give birth to a son,
and you are to give him the name Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son
of the Most High. The Lord God will give him
the throne of his father David, and
he will reign over the house of Jacob forever,
his kingdom will never end." Luke 1: 29-33

Are you ready to Celebrate your freedom yet?

Be filled with the Spirit of Christmas,
Which is the Spirit of Christ...today!

Christmas Prayer
Lord,
Thank you. I need you. I am amazed to see what you came to do for people. The prophet Isaiah, so long ago, spoke words still relevant to today's need. Your help for us is timeless. Your hope in our time of need is priceless. You, Jesus, are the gift. Help me believe and help me celebrate this joy more than I stress over the things to do, the gifts to buy, or the fluff of the holiday.

Day 9 of Untangling Christmas

2008-12-09T07:09:00.000-08:00

Today let's look at the next name in Isaiah.
"For a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end." Isaiah 9:6

Prince of Peace

These are the names that the son will be called. Names given by God that describe to us who Christ was coming to be. If we ever needed peace it would probably be now! To have hope during the economic crisis, during your own personal areas of crisis, and during a time that can ignite fear, requires that we focus on who Christ is. This focus will help us get a "grip" on our emotions and cause us to have more faith. We get a picture of who God is and who He sent Jesus to be through what we find in God's word.

Prince is from the Hebrew sar, which means a head person, chief, captain, or keeper.
Peace is from the Hebrew shalom, which means welfare, health, prosperity and peace.

Add these together and we can call him: The keeper of our welfare!
Prince of Peace means keeper of my well-being, and keeper of my welfare. That is good news in a world where all does not look well according to today's news.

Today reflect on the Prince of Peace.
Add to that the other names:

Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace
Immanual, The God who is With us

Thank Him once again for WHO he is.
With each praise of who Christ is, allow the secular cords of the season to become untangled a little more.

Be filled with His Peace!

Christmas Prayer
Lord, you are my peace, Thank You. Remind me to remember you today. Show me how to celebrate you today. May I be in the Presence of Christmas as I am in your presence as I go about my day.

Day 8 of Untangling Christmas

2008-12-08T10:16:00.000-08:00

Today I am keeping it simple. I would like to just post a quote that my friend Sheryl Giesbrecht put on facebook. I think it is beautiful.

"Give Christmas Presence...gifts of your time, talents and treasure...these are gifts of worship."

Think about that today.

Christmas Presence.
Christ's Presence.
Being Personally Present.
Making your life Present.

Enjoy your day, live in the present gift of this moment!

Christmas Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to see the moments of my day as opportunities of worship.

Day 7 of Untangling Christmas

2008-12-07T07:46:00.000-08:00

Hope Has a Name...Jesus

He is Immanuel...The God Who is With Us
He is our Wonderful Counselor
He is our Mighty God
He is our Everlasting Father

Today we see that the name of Hope is also...The Prince of Peace.

More than a Hallmark Greeting, these names help us connect with the truth of the nature and character of a God whom we can not see or touch. These names help us identify the lies in our minds and in our lives that tell us that God is other than these things.

What area in your life today is in need of more PEACE?
Have you had a marital spat, a friendship disagreement, a run in with your teen, a frustrating battle with your child? Maybe you are worried about the bills to be paid, the taxes that are due.
How about feeling blue and depressed, many people do this time of year.

Jesus, the center of the Christmas story, wants to be the center of our lives in every way.

He came that we might have life in him and through him...because of Him.

Take that area that is lacking peace and sit down and ask God to take it from you.
Ask him to be a wonderful counselor to you regarding that practical piece today. Then thank him for being a Mighty God, able to heal, deliver, and change even the toughest of situations.

Yes, HOPE has a name, Jesus.
HOPE....Having Optimisim Produces Encouragement
Are we to be optimistic, just to be optimistic?
No, we are to be optimistic because of who God is.

We can be optimistic, or have faith, in the TRUTH found in Scripture.
We can be optimistic because the Christmas Story has real-life promise.
We can be optimistic because we are not left to fend for ourselves.
We can be optimistic because of the gift of Christmas, bigger than Santa, more fulfilling than any gift you could receive, this gift of Christmas offers inner peace and hope.

When we look for the good, take heart and hope, live in optimistic faith, we are encouraged.
Jesus was sent as a God who would be with us, in us and for us.

Optimistic Response? To live now for Him.

Think on these things, and have courage for your area that needs his presence and peace.

Christmas Prayer
Lord in the hustle and bustle give me peace. In the expectations that are mounting, change my heart. In the things to be done, give me strength. In the moments of these holiday days, make me holy.

Day 6 of Untangling Christmas

2008-12-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

His name is Everlasting Father
He never changes. He is timeless.
He is God our Father.
Everlasting comes from the Hebrew rood ad, which means duration, continue, and advance. I can rejoice that He is a Father who will stay with me for the whole duration of the journey, continuing with me throughout my lifetime. He is a Father who gives me the advance, the next step.

One of the definitions I found for everlasting is "around the clock." He is my around-the-clock Father! He never sleeps. He cares for you and me nonstop! Some women have experienced rejection or abandonment. the pain of such an experience is real and is often carried around for years. we must all remember that it is never God who abandons. Through people can inflict real pain into our lives, God desires to set us free, in Christ, as we realize that He will always be with us 24/7.

He is a Wonderful Counselor
He is a Mighty God
He is the Everlasting Father

Think about WHO He is today!

Christmas Prayer
Father, the sound of that words is so sweet to me. I used to call my Father, Daddy. But he has been gone for many years. I have felt the pain of being Fatherless, and have often forgotten that though my dad on earth is no longer with me, my heavenly Father never leaves me. Help me to remember that you came, at Christmas, in that manger, to be my Father.

Day 5 of Untangling Christmas

2008-12-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

Coming Untangled...One Day at a Time

Last year I decided that I was not going to miss the sparkle in the season. I was going to get out of the crazy spin of Christmas, turn the wheel around and find meaning in the last month of the year. It would be a time of reflecting, gratitude, soul-searching, and blessing others. I made a decision to breathe in the essence of the season and skip the build up of making it just a one day event. And, in doing so, I did experience a wonderful season, a spiritually breath-taking Christmas, and I didn’t miss the sparkle—not in my loved ones, not in my friends, not in the crackling of fires, the singing of carols, or the taking of communion on Christmas Eve. Yes, last year I experienced an untangled Christmas, and it was beautiful.

How do I plan to spend this December? By reminding myself not to get tangled in the self-inflicted expectations that I can so easily get caught up in—and by not allowing others expectations, or the allure of holiday marketing, media, and daily advertisements to rule my December days. Instead I plan on breathing in the beauty of Christmas, the real Christmas—The spirit of Christmas—which is the spirit of Christ in my midst.

I am going to remind myself of the two most important charges of the Christian life—to love God with all of me, and to love others. With these two things in mind, I will go into December less tangled. I will make plans that reflect those two goals. I will purchase gifts based on those two goals. And, I will begin each day with the prayer of living in those two goals. Will you join me?

Five Steps to Untangling Christmas

1. Lose the event/party mentality

Christmas is more than a beautiful Christmas buffet or single event—it is a season that announces hope in a Savior. This hope is available for us 24/7, 365 days a year.

So the first step is seeing Christmas as a celebration of hope, and not an event. In everything from gift giving to decorating, seek to remember the hope that is found in Christ.

2. Let go of holiday perfection

Christmas is not about everything being perfect. Focus on the bigger picture, rather than obsessing over the small details that go wrong. Your worth as a woman is not determined by what you do. You don’t have to have the perfect holiday dinner, table setting, or just the right gifts to make the holiday meaningful. Perfection is a trap—don’t get stuck there this Christmas.

3. Stop trying to make everyone happy

Making others happy through the perfect gift or holiday experience is not your responsibility. Trying to keep up with the Joneses can cause a lot of stress. Your worth as a parent, spouse, relative or friend is not in the value of the gift. Do your best, and then relax. Your responsibility is to love others, not make their holiday magic.

4. Change your attitude by changing your focus

Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ—Emmanuel—the God who is with us. The hope that God is present with us each season, each month and each day of the year is cause for gratitude. Christmas is the celebration of the word “possible”—for with God nothing is impossible! Take focus-breaks each day. Reflect on the reason of the season, sit with the Christmas story in the New Testament book of Luke or read from a daily devotional each day of December. Buy a new journal and keep a December praise/ gratitude journal—recording the sparkle of each day.

5. Accept others as they are

Holidays can be stressful because we are often with people that are difficult to be around. You don’t have to approve or like what your family members do, but you do need to give them the gift of love and grace. Make this a month of practicing God’s love, acceptance and forgiveness. Dr. Minirth, a noted Christian psychiatrist, warns that this is also not the time to try and fix your family. There are other times in the year to address problems.

May I suggest that you love others as an act of your faith in God, and as obedience to Him. The greatest gift we have received is the unconditional love of God for us. The greatest gift you can give is to extend this love towards others.

This Christmas let’s get untangled from the trappings of the season. Let’s step off the spinning wheel of expectation and move to a place of practicing the presence of Christ in our midst. Let’s look for the presence of Christ in others. Rather than the hustle and bustle of Christmas pressure past, let’s redefine the holidays as a month long celebration of thankfulness, hope and love!

Be Merry! Choose Joy! Be Filled!

Christmas Prayer
Lord I thank you for Isaiah 9:6. Thank you for sending a son to be my Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. I want to sit with those truths about Jesus many times today.

Day 4 of Untangling Christmas

2008-12-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

As we move towards Christmas Celebrations, let's remind ourselves what we are celebrating! Today let's look at yet another name for the Messiah from Isaiah 9:6....

His name is Mighty God
Mighty comes from the Hebrew word gibbor, which means powerful, warrior, champion, chief, giant, and strong. I can now say, " He is my powerful God, a warrior, and a champion. He is my giant God and my strong God."

The thesaurus describes mighty as sound and sure. I like that.
A quick glance at today's newspaper is a reminder that not much seems sure or steady these days. The stock market continues to drop, houses continue to forclose, and companies continue to close down. Can't it all just be put on hold so everyone can have their picture-perfect holiday?

In the real world, there are hard times that we must learn to deal with.
If we believe that Jesus is a Mighty Warrior always working on our behalf, then dealing with problems becomes a whole lot easier. ...because we learn to deal with a faith focus.

His power working on our behalf is a present reality no matter what the news reports today. The Bible's report remains the same as it has always been....

He is a Wonderful Counselor
He is a Mighty God

The next time you are tempted to buckle under the temptation to fear or doubt, remember God is absolutely jumbo, huge, vast and mighty!

Think about how big He is today!
What area of your life do you need to see His Mighty Power working?
What prayers are the nearest and dearest to your heart today?
Reflect on the gift of Jesus and His promise to be our Mighty God.
Thank Him several times today for who he is as your Mighty God.

Christmas Prayer
Mighty God, I thank you that your purpose will stand in my life. I desire to know you for who you really are, not what my little mind might limit you to. Help me in all areas where my belief is small. Give me jumbo trust in my jumbo God. Oh, Jesus...it is Merry Christmas. It is a time to celebrate. Joy to the World, for Our Mighty God has come to be our sound and sure help in all our times of need.

Day 3 of Untangling Christmas

2008-12-03T06:33:00.001-08:00

Have you put up your Christmas Decorations yet? While I put up my little Dept. 56 Village I almost "lost it" in the maze of cords and plugs in an effort to put together the little lit village. At one point I just wanted to throw my hands in the air and say " forget it!" And, at about that same time I wondered what I ever saw in this Snow Village collection in the first place.

But, after it was all up, the cords figured out, and the lights burning in each miniature window, I knew what it was I saw in the holiday houses....once put together, arranged and lit, they make a beautiful backdrop for Christmas at the Alsdorf's.

Untangling Christmas....
Jesus came with a specific purpose. In Isaiah we see what some of the specifics are.

Isaiah 9:6 from yesterday's blog tells us that the Messiah would come to be our:
Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, and Mighty God.

These aren't just nice Hallmark Greeting Card Names. These names help us understand who Jesus came to be in our life. Let's unwrap the cords of the meaning, and plug in the light of his word, so that our hearts can be lit up like the twinkling lights on our trees, or the little windows in my Snow village.

Wonderful Counselor
Today let's look at the first name given Jesus, the baby to be born in th manger.
In Isaiah his name is, Wonderful Counselor ( Isa 9:6)

Counselor comes from the Hebrew word yaats, which means to advise, resolve, guide, purpose. With those definitions I can say, " He is my wonderful Advisor, my wonderful Resolver, my wonderful Guide, and my wonderful Purpose!"

In the Webster's dictionary, wonderful is defined as: astonishing, excellent or marvelous.

Let's break this down for real life meaning:
In the middle of our December days comes this perfect gift who came to be our counselor.
This counselor gives us the right advice, helps us resolve our life situations, guides us and gives us a purpose for living. And, that's not all, He does it in a wonderful way. His way of working in our human hearts and minds is astonishing, excellent and marvelous.

In a world where most of us can use some advice, counsel or mental/emotional untangling, this is Good News. This can give rise in our hearts to celebration. Yes, Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor is our Christmas Gift.

Be filled with the meaning of the truth!

Today:

Think about what needs untangling in your life
Sit for a moment or two and thank Jesus that He is your Counselor.
Ask Him to guide you in the area that seems like a heap of tangled lights.
Thank Him several times today for WHO He is as your Wonderful Counselor.

Christmas Prayer
Father, Sometimes I don't know which end is up. I am uncertain where to make the right connections, how to untangle my brain from the stress, pain or disappointment of real life. Then Christmas comes. I am supposed to be merry, not moody. But, often I am more moody than merry. Help me. Untangle me. Be my peace, my advisor and my true counselor. You are Wonderful!

Day 2 of Untangling Christmas

2008-12-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

The perfect gift?
We all want the perfect gift and so we look through catalogs, magazines and sales ads. We wander through shops, malls and boutiques. Somehow thinking that if we receive the perfect gift, everything will be good, life will be good.

Jesus is the perfect gift.
We have been given a gift that often goes unnoticed in our busy daily routines. The gift has a name... Immanuel. This name, Immanuel means the God who is with us. This name gives us explanation of the perfect gift. Do you know anyone else, in this fickle world, who will ALWAYS stand by you?
The very thing that will make everything good...beyond circumstance is the security and peace found in Immanuel, the God who is with us.

Years ago it was foretold that the Messiah would come. The book of Isaiah describes this perfect gift.

Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.

We have all seen these names on Christmas Greeting cards, but today let them sink into your heart, as you personalize what they might mean for you as a believer in Jesus Christ. Your Lord is the son that these are describing, and the meaning behind these names bring peace and comfort into our frenzied world.

So...our perfect gift is:

The God Who is With Us...Immanuel
Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace

Think about it!

Thank God many times today for sending Jesus to be those things in your life.
The reality is, if we focus this month on what is REAL and true about the season, not only will we untangle our hearts from the net of this world, but we will have LOTS of reason to celebrate with purpose.

Christmas Prayer
Lord, Today I reflect on what I have in you, rather then what I don't have in this world. I acknowledge that who you are can not be bought on sale or in a store. The gift of Christ in my midst is priceless. Help me to reflect on YOU and be content today.

Immanuel, the God who is with us

2008-12-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

Hope.
It is flimsy these days.
Fear
It is rampant.

The Holidays?
Maybe if we focused on what the meaning of Christmas really is, we would have a different perspective this year. We would still celebrate, but we would celebrate with hope and meaning.
This month this blog will be focusing on the Christmas story and this Messiah that came as a baby in a manger to save us from our sin and our selves. A little scripture each day, to keep the hope of the holiday alive in our hearts.

Be filled!

Matthew 1:18-22
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: HIs mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means, God with us"

Reflect on the truth that Immanuel is the God who is With You!
Thank Him many times today that He is With You!
Hold on the the Truth of Christmas, Jesus, Immanuel is with you and will never leave you.

Hebrews 13:5
God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
Never will I forsake you."
So we say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid, what can man do to me?
Christmas Prayer
Father, I thank you for sending Jesus, Immanuel, the God who is with us. Help me to connect with the truth of the true meaning of Christmas this year, and be content because I have a helper who is the Lord of all.

2008-11-30T07:44:00.001-08:00

Beginning Tomorrow...Untangle your Season with Hope for the Holidays.

Day 30 of the 30 day Truth Dare

2008-11-30T06:47:00.000-08:00

Congratulations! You have just crossed the finish line..........
The past 30 days we have challenged ourselves to Praise God through the Psalms and dare to line up to Truth by engaging in practical application...every day for 30 days. I don't know about you, but honestly somewhere around day 18 my attitude about everything seemed to mellow and soften. Something happened in me by re-arranging my focus.

But, life is not just a 30 day Truth Dare. It is a day by day, moment by moment, breath by breath experience that requires a power greater than just our own. When left to ourselves, we handle life according to "just" our human reasoning. And, as smart as we might like to think we are, we are no match to the wisdom of God. We need Him. And, We need TRUTH. He is the Truth, and His Word is Truth. So, my friend, this is not the end, but really only the beginning of the challenge of lining our lives up to truth. Each day the finish line is when our head hits the pillow at night. And, each morning brings a new day and a new challenge to dare to trust God and to dare to live by the application of what His word says. Each day we have the fresh choice of relationship with the Father. His mercy, love, and invitation to us is new every single day.
Will you join me in saying..."This is just the beginning"

Here are our 10 WILD Life Principles

To lead well, we must learn to follow well.
To lead well, we must learn to love well.
To lead well, we must submit to a renewed mind.
To lead well, we must die daily to our own dreams and trust that God has a plan for us.
To lead well, we must learn to Praise God in all things
To lead well, we must learn to focus on things above not cave in to things around us.
To lead well we must learn to give others courage, through the gift of encouragement.
To lead well, we must look for the good in all things, circumstances, and people.
To lead well, we must sow generously, because we will reap what we sow.
To lead well, we must choose an undivided heart, living by the truth of God's word, not human understanding.

Let's Cross that 30 Day Finish Line.......
Praise Prayer/ Psalm 111:2-6, Psalm 34:17-19. Psalm 111:10

Great are the works of the Lord;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
He provides food for those who fear him;
He remembers his covenant forever.

The righteous cry out
and the LORD hears them.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous man may have many troubles,
But the LORD delivers him from them all

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To Him belongs eternal praise.

Truth Dare
Proverbs 3:3-12,27,29-30
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

Trust int he Lord will all your heart
Lean not on your own understanding
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes,
fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the first fruits of all your crops,
then your barns will be overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

My son, do not despises the Lord's discipline
Because the LORD disciplines those he loves.

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it.
Do not plot harm against your neighbor
Do not accuse a man for no reason

The Challenge Steps

Read This Proverb
Digest It's Words
Ask yourself What God is speaking to your heart through it
Pray for understanding
Ask God to teach you how to walk it out.

Daily Prayer
Lord, Thank you for the past 30 days. They have proved to me once again that your Word is alive and works in us. Even though I usually did not "feel" a thing when I read and applied the truth dare, something was happening, because your word has worked in me. Now, Father may I not cross a 30 day finish line and stop, but continue to digest your word daily, daring myself to believe it and challenging myself to find life application in it. Lord may there be less of me and more of thee!

Day 29 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-29T07:46:00.000-08:00

The Lord gave each of us a heart to know Him. He inscribed His desires and thoughts on our new heart. He will cleanse our hearts and keep them clean.

But our minds have become clogged with negative self-talk, lies of the culture, bitterness and the many other things we insist on holding on to. It's much like a dirty pitcher of water, with debris floating around, contaminating the entire pitcher.

Imagine putting a glass of dirty water under a faucet. Turn on the water and watch what happens. The continual flow of fresh clean water begins to push out the dirty water. Eventually, the water in the glass will be clean...spilling over the edges.

This is what God desires to do in us...give us a clean heart. Remember out of the heart the mouth speaks, so a clean heart is pretty important. Also, take courage, if you have tried and tried to purify your own heart, you can not do this heart cleansing on your own.

This cleanse takes the Power of the Almighty.

Praise Prayer/ Psalm 51:7
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me and I will be whiter than snow.

Truth Dare John 7:37-38
"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink...streams of living water will flow from him."

Ezekiel 36:26
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from your your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws...you will be my people and I will be your God."

Jeremiah 24:7
"I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart."

Challenge Steps

Take time to recognize and yield to God's work in you.
Ask Him to fill you with Living Water, a water that has a dual purpose. It quenches the thirst of our hearts and cleanses at the same time.
What dirt particles have been recently floating around in your glass?
How has your thinking either helped or refused the flow of new fresh water?
Decide today what cup you want...dirty water or clean water brimming over.

The Choice is Ours. The power to cleanse and change is His.

Daily Prayer
Lord, It's Wild to think I can be cleansed from all the icky me by your power. Wilder still to think that you desire to give me a new heart and be my God. I know these things, but often forget them in the hustle and bustle of real life. Help me God to settle down today with a glass of fresh clean water...your living water. Cleanse Me, Purify Me and Teach me how to Challenge the Dirt that keeps trying to fill up my glass!

Day 28 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-28T09:21:00.000-08:00

Two More Days of our 30 day Truth Dare.

Jesus promised that when we know the truth,
the truth will set us free.He also declared that He was the truth.

Knowing Jesus, through the Truth of God's Word, is the answer to the crippling emotional pain we often live in. In this 30 day truth dare, we have been challenging ourselves to believe something different than what comes natural. We are challenged to believe something Good...and in this crazy world we live in....This Truth is WILD because it does not conform to what is socially, culturally or politically correct! It is truth of a different kingdom.

Challenge your Thoughts....
Today we will meditate on a very specific, seemingly simplistic verse that has powerful ramifications if we would internalize it and believe it is true.

This verse involves our self-concept.
Self-concept is the impression you have of yourself.

Some of us have a self-concept that needs to be challenged because it does not line up with Scripture at all. A self-loathing, negative self-concept keeps us locked in self focus. The challenge is to see ourselves as Christ sees us. Yes, we are sinners. Yes, we can be weak. Yes, our own understanding, at best is HUMAN. Yes, apart from his gifting and power we can do nothing of eternal consequence or value.

But....there is another Yes and that is what we will focus on today.

Yes! You are God's Masterpiece
Yes! He has created you for plans beyond yourself
Yes! He has equipped you for those plans
Yes! His love for you is real and when embraced can change you and everyone in your path.

Praise Prayer/ Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever...
do not abandon the works of your hands.

Truth Dare
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
"We are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

The Challenge
The Story of the Circus Elephant
When these elephants are still little and weak, they are chained to iron stakes in the ground, which prevent them from breaking free and running away. This allows the circus trainers to keep them close, work with them, and prepare them for their routines. What's strange is that even after the little elephants grow into huge, powerful animals capable of lifting a ton or more with their trunks, they remain restricted by those same miniature stakes in the ground. Even when they are more than strong enough to yank the stake out of the ground and roam free, they don't do it. They don't even try. They remain limited by the old boundaries. Sometimes we demonstrate this type of helplessness as well. We focus on the little stake ( or mistake, failure, or negative belief about our self or our life) from our past and forget that, with God's help, we have the power to release whatever has been holding us back.

Identify the belief that is holding you back from believing your are God's masterpiece.
Challenge that thought by marinating on the truth of Ephesians 2:10.
Thank God for Psalm 138:8 that says you are the work of his hands.

Friend...I dare you to believe the truth about yourself, and about your life.
And, I am daring myself to believe it too!

Daily Prayer
Lord, it's so hard to untangle all the junk that roams free in my mind. Sometimes my thoughts are all tied up in knots. Please untangle them, and me. Free me to believe the truth. Teach me to challenge the negative things that try to take up residency in my mind. Remind me that all bitterness, all negativity, all the stuff that I project on circumstance, really comes from within. Help me to realize that I can be joyful, positive and productive even if circumstances stink. You have created me for your good works. This is truth, this is life, and this is freedom. Take my thoughts and transform me by renewing what I believe more each day.

Day 27 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-27T06:29:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!
You and I will be as thankful as we choose to be.

Learning to live in Thanks is like one big circle...
Living a life of thanksgiving is a progression that begins with our thoughts, which produce our attitude. Our attitude comes out in what we say. What we say affects how we live. How we live is determined by what we give. Think, Speak, Live, Give.

Thanks Thinking
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind ( Romans 12:2)

We demolish every thought that goes against the knowledge of God ( 2 Cor 10:5)

We bring our thoughts into obedience to Christ ( 2 Cor 10:5)

Whatever is good or praiseworthy...think about such things ( Phil 4:8)

Thanks Speaking
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.(Eph 5:19-20)
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. ( James 3:10)

Thanks Living
Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus ( 1 Thes 5:16-18)

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself." you are doing right. (James 2:8)

Rejoice in the Lord always. ( Phil 4:4)

Do not be anxious about anything ( Phil 4:6)

For in him we live and move and have our being. ( Acts 17:28)

Thanks Giving
Be very careful, then, how you live...not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity. ( Eph 5:15)

Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
(Luke 6:38)

Praise Prayer/ Psalm 5:1-3
Give ear to my words, O LORD,
consider my sighing,
Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my
requests before you
and wait in expectation.

Truth Dare
James 2:20
"Faith without deeds is useless."

Challenge Steps
Today practice your faith by paying attention to Truth.

Think on these things: what is true and good.
Speak what is kind: bless others with your mouth
Live in Love: extend yourself beyond yourself...be patient and kind
Give to others: treat others how you wish to be treated

Daily Prayer ( today taken from Tommy Newberry, the 4:8 principle)
Lord protect me from the temptation to complain, condemn or focus on what is wrong with things. Instead elevate my thinking and open my eyes so that I see your presence in all situations. I want to appreciate the abundance that surrounds me and activate the joy that is hidden within me.
In Jesus name,
Amen

2008-11-26T16:59:00.000-08:00

4:30 PM...just settling down with some tea, and happened to notice the quote on the tea bag tag:
"The ones that give, get back in kind."
Went hand in hand with today's Truth Dare!

Day 26 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-26T09:05:00.000-08:00

Thanks...Giving

D.L. Moody, founder of the Moody Bible Institute, said, " Do all the good you can, to all the people you can, in all the ways you can, as long as you can"

Being generous means keeping your eyes open to opportunities to give to everyone all around you. Life's most persistent request is, "What am I doing for others? How am I living towards others?"
Jesus had his heart towards God, and always had his hand towards man.

The discipline of Generosity ( taken from John Maxell, Make Today Count)

Value people: This means treating everyone with respect.
Know what people value: This means listening and seeking to understand others.
Make myself more valuable: This means growing in order to give, because I cannot give what I don not possess.
Do things that God values: Since he unconditionally loves people, so must I.

Praise Prayer/ Psalm 145:13-16
The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand and satisfy the desire
of every living thing.

Truth Dare
Luke 6:38
Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Challenge Steps
Look for ways to give...

a kind word
a helping hand
a monetary help
a smile
a sincere compliment ( catch people doing good and tell them!)
a hug
a call
an email
a text of thankfulness

anything that demonstrates giving something "good" to someone else, because PEOPLE have value to God

Daily Prayer
Lord, I thank you for your love for me. I am amazed that even in my weakness, mistakes, and stupid stuff, you still love me. I realize it's because you value those you have made. You valued us enough to die for us that we might be born-again into a spiritual rebirth. I want to remember that you value each person like that. Help me to extend grace, love and giving to everyone this season.

Day 25 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks...Living begins with Thanks... Thinking

To be carnally minded is death, to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
( Romans 8:6)

"Attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious free life." ( Romans 8:6 from The Message)

Do you have an alarm on your cell phone or watch? Try setting it at specified intervals for the next few days. Each time the alarm goes off it will remind you to stop and be thankful for a moment. It is amazing how this brief pause many times in the day can change your focus and attitude.

"The battle you wage against your human nature is an invisible one that will be won or lost in the mind. Minute by minute, hour by hour, in the hidden workshop of your mind you are constructing thoughts of good or evil, depression or joy, success or failure. You are writing your own life story as a human being with each subtle and soundless thought you think." taken from The 4:8 Principle, Tommy Newberry.

As my phone alarm went off at the appointed times throughout the day Monday, I was reminded to stop and be thankful. But in between those times I was thinking according to my routine "normal" of auto-pilot random thoughts. Some of my random thoughts can begin to spiral me to a negative place. I plan today to set my timer again. And, today I am hoping to be more aware of God's presence all around me. In the busy holiday week I want to make time and space to think frequently on things above. Will you join me?

Praise Prayer/Psalm 3: 3-6, 8
But you are a shield around me, O Lord;
you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
To the LORD I cry aloud,
and he answers me from his holy hill.

I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
I will not fear the tens of thousands
drawn up against me on every side.

From the Lord comes deliverance
May your blessing be on your people.

Thank Him that He is a Deliverer
Thank Him that He Gives Us a New Shot at Life Each Day
Thank Him that He Sustains Us
Thank Him for His Blessing, Even if you don't feel like your are blessed right now!

Add your reasons to Thank God to the list!

Truth Dare Galatians 6:7-10
A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction, the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will rap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

This is powerful when applied to our thoughts! You can not think negatively and live positively any more than you can plant an apple seed and expect to harvest an orange.

Challenge Steps

Expect the Best...Because God is Good.
Trust God with the Outcome
Stand Firm, your battle is the Lords
Sow thoughts that are Good and Positive
Resist the Urge to go to the Negative Place
Decide to Do Good, Think Right, and Speak Love to people in your life.
Confess all things that are critical to God
Hold on the the Good and Dwell There
Thank Jesus that you are a New Creation in Christ!

Daily Prayer
Lord, Take my mind and let it be shaped and formed by you. Teach me to be intentional in my thoughts and the ways of my mind. Give me the strength to break the cycle of negativity or criticism. I need you Lord. You are my joy and to you I commit my mind and the outcome of my life.

Day 24 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-24T07:17:00.000-08:00

THANKS....LIVING
It's Monday and the Thanksgiving countdown has begun. In just a few days we will be stuffing our little faces and spending time with family or friends. It's a nice tradition.

I have another tradition for you to begin...TODAY.
What if over the next few days you only focused on being thankful?
Give yourself something to remind you...a cell phone alarm, a computer reminder message...something that will remind you to STOP for that moment and reflect on something you are thankful for. Then take your reflection a step further and actually Thank God because all blessings, all gifts, all of life...comes from the Father.

Praise/Prayer Isaiah 46:9-10
Remember this, fix it in mind,
take it to heart
I am God, and there is not other
I am God and there is none like me
I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say: My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.

Thank God that He is a Mighty God with power over your life.
Praise Him that He is God and that His purpose Stands!
Find Peace in the truth that if God wills something in your life, nothing can stop it.
God does what He pleases, because He has a plan, and His plan will be accomplished.
Praise Him today for WHO He says He is!

I am setting my cell phone alarm, as soon as I publish this post!
Will you join me, every hour thanking God for something?

Truth Dare
Philippians 3:1
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safegaurd for you.

Challenge Steps

Take note of something that is continually repeated in Scripture, because it must be important
Learn to rejoice in the Lord, which means thanking God that He is God, even when things are not that great. Thank God for who He is. This is a spiritual discipline that is life changing.
Praising and Thanking God is a Safegaurd...or a safety latch for our emotions, our soul, our very life. Sometimes, if we are honest, we will admit that our emotions need to be reigned in and definitely need a safety latch...or else they will be lost in self.

Here's what my friend Lorri posted thankfulness for on her blog today:
Today, I am thankful for......

The heater that warms my house on this chilly morning.
Gas that costs $1.78!
No getting up and going this morning.
The ladies that will come today to plan the Christmas Tea for our church.
Clear blue skies and snow capped Rockies.
and coffee, lots of coffee!

You can follow her week of Thanks at... lorriscancerupdates.blogspot.com

Now...Let me know what YOU are Thankful for. Log in and Praise God with Me!
Every practical moment is turned into a spiritual moment when we turn our thoughts to God and are thankful.

Daily Prayer
Lord, You are big and mighty. You are all powerful over everything. You are God and there is none like you. You are My God, and I worship you and desire to serve you all of my days.
I thank you that your purpose stands firm in our lives. My life has been such a wreck at times, but in your mercy, you have restored, redeemed and brought my life out of many times of calamity because you are faithful to accomplish your purposes in us. Thank you Lord. Oh...this is why we sing...Not to us, but to YOUR NAME be the glory! Be glorified Lord. Be glorified!

Day 23 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-23T06:39:00.000-08:00

Appreciation
We all want it and we can learn to give it!

In every person from cradle to grave there is a deep craving to be appreciated. If people don't receive appreciation at home, there's a good chance they won't get it because, in general, the world does not fill that desire. One of the most positive things you can do for your spouse, children, and people in your life is to get to know them and love them simply because they are God's children. Loving them because of who they are, not because of their performance. adapted from Make Today Count by John Maxwell

Praise Prayer/ Psalm 139:13-14,16-18
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were i to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake. I am still with you.

Note: God Created everyone He is asking you to encourage.
He loves them because they are His. He is asking you to be an extension of His love on earth by encouraging others, appreciating them, believing the best in them, and focusing on anything good that is in them. This requires turning away from negativity and bad attitudes about people in general. This also means obeying God and being an extension of His grace even to people who have actually hurt you.

Truth Dare ( verse references below)
"Encourage each other daily, as long as it is called Today" Heb 3:13
"We urge you brothers, encourage the timid" 1 Thes 5:14
"we must encourage and strengthen the brothers" Acts 15:32
"my purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love." Col 2:2

When we encourage another person, we are imparting COURAGE to them. Courage to live, to love, to express themselves, and to trust the God who made them who they are. Encouragement is a gift. Give the gift of encouragement today.

Challenge Steps

Ask yourself what keeps you from encouraging others? Is it pride? Is it because you forget? Is it because you are too self-focused? Is it because you don't think they deserve it?
Look at what God's word says about encouragement. Ask God to make you an encourager, and to remind you to remember to notice other people.
Encouragement often happens in just asking someone how they are, and listening.
Encouragement can be noticing something they have done and being thankful
Encouragement can be catching them in something good and mentioning it
Encouragement can be praying for them, and letting them know you care enough to pray
Encouragement can be simply a "hello" and a hug.
Encouragement is appreciation in every form.

Daily Prayer
Lord, Forgive me for the times I refuse to encourage. Maybe it's my pride...take care of that Lord. Maybe it's my memory...refresh my mind Lord. Maybe it's that I just don't know how without feeling it's flimsy flattery...teach me Lord. I desire to line up with your truth in this area. You are the God of all comfort. You comfort and yes, encourage your people. I want to be an extension of your love, so that means I must learn to be an encourager.

Day 22 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-22T06:53:00.000-08:00

Life is Good
God is the Giver of Life

"We have all been in situations where we've almost enjoyed wallowing in negative emotions. we carry on angrily about the driver who cut us off...long after he has disappeared from view; we nurse a grudge against someone who said something hurtful;or we sulk in response to being disappointed. But what is the end result? Will entertaining and acting on the negative emotion move us in the direction of our highest good? Will that negative emotion bless those closest to us? Will it help us reach our goals? In a marriage for example, is the goal to be right or to be happy?" (from The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry)

Praise Prayer/ Psalm 150
Praise the LORD
Praise God in his sanctuary;
Praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
Praise him for his surpassing greatness,
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet.
Praise him with the harp and lyre,
Praise him with tambourine and dancing,
...Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the LORD.

Truth Dare
1 Thessalonians 5:14-20
"Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire...hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil."

Challenge Steps

Living in peace requires looking for any good and dwelling in that
Living in peace with others requires first trusting and thanking God for your own life
Encouraging others does not happen when we are negative, all negativity must be turned around
Pay back for wrongs done is a work of the flesh...steer clear of that
Don't give your joy away because you have problems, a bad day or have been hurt
Don't cave into your hurt, trust God with it
Pray many times throughout the day, so that you learn to live in a prayerful life
Thank God for anything and everything. This feels weird at first... but, it will change you.
Keep in mind, it is God's will that you are thankful and hold on to the good.
Finally, avoid or stay away from, all kinds of evil and negative influence.

Daily Prayer
Lord, the rubber meets the road in my faith walk when I am asked to stretch beyond my normal negative or low level of emotional functioning and praise you. It is far easier to look for bad. There is more action and activity in that kind of life...the drama, you know it Lord. But, your word says to stay away from it, avoid it, and hold on to only good, pleasing and pure things. Loving others, loving you, being thankful...all good things. Lord I declare to you today, the maker of my life, that life is GOOD and you are GOOD and I praise you GOD! Help me to look for Good and to capture the sparkle in each moment...one moment at a time, one day at a time, for life is short...and life is good.

Day 21 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

Pearls are formed one irritating grain of sand at a time. I was told it takes 5 years of this kind of irritant to create these black pearls. Aren't they beautiful?

"Little by little we are changed by this daily crucifixion of the will. Changed, not like a tornado changes things, but like a grain of sand in an oyster changes things. Please remember we are dealing with the crucifixion of the will not the obliteration of the will. Crucifixion always has resurrection tied to it. God is not destroying the will but transforming it." Richard Foster

Praise Prayer/ Psalm 91:14-16
Because he loves me, says the LORD, " I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.

Truth Dare
Hebrews 12:1-1
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.

"Our outer person, our flesh or our self-centeredness, must be broken to release spiritual power from Christ within. The unbroken flesh is what hinders Jesus from being all powerful within us." Jennifer Kennedy Dean--from He Restores My Soul

Challenge Steps

Throw Off all that hinders you ( stop and think about what this is asking of you)
Say "No" to the sin that has you tangled in knots ( the first thing that came to your mind)
Run the race that is marked out for you to run ( don't run anyone else's marathon, only yours)
Fix your eyes on one focus only, Jesus. ( He wants to be your everything)
Refocus and rethink as often as needed throughout the day

Daily Prayer
Lord I long for your Spirit's present tense power. I want the indwelling life of Christ to be my greatest reality.

Day 20 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

Wild Leadership Principle
To lead well, you must learn to guard your heart from the evil one.

Proverbs offer wisdom for living. Proverbs 4:23 tells us, " Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the well spring of life." The deep well of our hearts is what motivates our actions, words, attitudes and choices. Our hearts can be affected by bitterness, sin, greed, worry, unforgiveness and a variety of other things. Knowing this, we must keep watch on our hearts. We can not control what others do to us, what others say about us or what life throws our way. But we can guard our hearts from losing faith in the middle of it all. In the middle of what we see, we need to be reminded of what we don't see...there is a spiritual battle, and we do have an enemy who seeks to devour us. Our hearts must be guarded against the lies from Hell and anything that does not line up with Biblical truth.To lead well, we must learn to guard our hearts from the evil one.

Praise/ Prayer Psalm 51
Create in me a pure heart, O God
and renew a steadfast spirit within me
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Truth Dare
Colossians 3:5-19
Put to death whatever is worldly in you:
your sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed
(which is the same thing as worshiping wealth)

It is because of these sins that God's anger comes on those who refuse to obey him.
You used to live that kind of sinful life. Also get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins.

Don't lie to each other. You've gotten rid of the person you used to be and the life you used to live, and you've become a new person.

Challenge Steps

Imagine the woman you would like to be.
How does she react and respond to life?
What is her attitude towards others?
Now, begin today to walk in that woman...the new woman you are in Christ.
One step at a time, allow God to penetrate the areas of sin that you hold tightly to.

Daily Prayer
Lord help me to keep my focus on you. Take my heart and mold it continually according to your good and perfect will. Teach me what it means to guard my heart. Show me what walking before you with a broken and contrite spirit looks like. I put my trust in you and ask you to continually restore to me the JOY of my salvation. I am grateful for the gift of Jesus. I am grateful for grace and mercy. I praise you for your love for me. Now, teach me your ways.

Day 19 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

Perspective. Life is all about perspective. My vision isn't what it used to be, so I need the help of glasses or contacts to see correctly. This need for vision correction reminds me that sometimes my faith and attitude about life isn't what it use to be either.

Hurt upon hurt can cause a callous to form and a dimming of spiritual vision. I need help seeing life through different lenses....the lens of truth...the lens of God's Word, the lens of God's love.

Perspective: A mental view
What's your perspective today?

Let's add another Wild Leadership Principle:
To lead well you must learn to focus on things above, not cave into things around you.

Praise/ Prayer Psalm 32:8,11
The Lord says,
I will instruct you.
I will teach you the way that you should go.
I will advise you as my eyes watch over you.
Be glad and find joy in the LORD, you righteous people. Sing with joy!

Truth Dare
Colossians 3:1-4
Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above...where Christ holds the highest position. Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things. You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Christ is your life.

Challenge Steps

Examine your focus, is it on Christ and his purposes, or on your hurt , fears, and circumstances?
Decide how you will keep your mind on things above.
Today choose to intentionally meditate on Scripture, and let it fill you with God's will for you.
Make today count. Choose a new perspective, a new focus, and a clearer vision for your life in Christ.

Daily Prayer
Lord, it is so easy for me to focus on all the wrong things...what I don't have, what I don't like, what hurts me or what has hurt others. Help me not to cave into my hurt or my feelings, but instead to turn my attention to you in the midst of all things. I need new eyes, new perspective, and a new attitude. I need you.

Day 18 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

Is the theme of your life Friendship with God?

The most important aspect of Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the surrounding influence and qualities produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to give our attention to, and it is the one thin that is continually under attack...Oswald Chambers

Praise Prayer/ Psalm 144: 1-2
Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield, in whom I take refuge.

Truth Dare
1 Corinthians 1: 20,27-30
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God, that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: " Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Challenge Steps

Bring before God all that you have..time, treasures and talents
Acknowledge what this passage says...that your best is nothing compared to the Greatness of God, His strength is made perfect in your weakness
Ask God to forgive you for all the times you have tried to "make things work" on your own
Go out today in the power, strength and gifting of God to leave his mark everywhere He sends you...
Be mindful of the God who is with you, the God who guides you, and the God who empowers you
Say of yourself, " My God is My strength: My God is in me accomplishing Heaven's work today"
Pray the WILD prayer, "Less of Me and More of Thee!"

Remember: It is not a matter of our ability or equipment, but a matter of our poverty; not of what we bring with us, but of what God puts into us, not a matter of natural virtues, of strength of character, of knowledge, or of experience...all of that is of no avail. The only thing of value is being taken into the compelling purpose of God and being in friendship with Him.

Daily Prayer
Father, I am so thankful that I don't have to depend of myself. But this is also a challenge as it is my "self" that I have learned to depend on. It is my "self" that I have learned to trust. I need a change in the theme of my life. Father, may my life reflect only you, and may my trust be ever in you and you alone. You are strong and mighty...I ask you today to shine through me.

Day 17 of the Truth Dare :)

2008-11-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

What is the theme of your life right now?

All of us know about themes. A theme is something that sets a tone for an event, party, class, etc.
We all also have a theme, if you will, for our life. Sometimes the theme changes based on what we are going through or where we are at. Wouldn't it be great if our THEME could remain steadfast, firm and unmovable. I guess that is what FAITH looks like!

Praise Prayer/ Psalm 37:4-7
Delight yourself in the Lord
and he will give you the
desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD:
trust in him and he will do this.
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn
the justice of your cause
like the noonday sun.

Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him.

Truth Dare
Acts 17: 24,25b,28
The God who made the world and everything in it is the LORD of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands...He himself gives all men life and breath and everything else...For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, We are His offspring.

The Challenge is to Believe

I am not a random act of nature nor have I been created by a random act of love or sex.
I have been built by God, created by the God who made the world and everything in it.
He gives me life...daily
He gives me breath...daily
I move each day, each step, because in Him I have my being.
I am His
I am His offspring

Now***Go out and live like all of that Significance assigned to your very life is true, because it is. Live today as God's vessel, his very own, his woman of influence. May this be the theme of your life...and don't forget to pray the WILD prayer...Less of Me, More of Thee!

Daily Prayer
Lord God thank you for creating me for your very own purposes. Make me an instrument of influence in this world. Shape me and use me. May I decrease as you increase. Live through me, breathe your life in me, walk the streets of my community in me.

WILD leadership class

2008-11-16T07:03:00.000-08:00

Today at 11 am, room U1 at Cornerstone Fellowship!

Day 16 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-16T06:48:00.000-08:00

It is not what we do that determines who we are, it is who we are that determines what we do!

We don't labor in God's work to make God love us,
we do God's work and follow after him as a response to the love He has for us.

Praise Prayer/ Psalm 5: 2-3
Listen to my cry for help.
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
In the morning, O LORD, you
hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.

Truth Dare
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers,
stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

The Challenge Steps

Don't allow your emotions to rule you.
Stop at the point of emotional response, Drop to your knees( this can be a figurative dropping to your knees...) Roll your care over to the Lord. Repeat as often as necessary to distance yourself from merely living by emotions rather than faith in God.
Stand firm in faith of His love for you
Each new day lay your requests before God
Are you hurt? Then tell him so.
Are you depressed? Then cry out to Him.
Are you happy? Then thank him for the joy within your heart
Give yourself fully over to God's plan for you, one day at a time.

Daily Prayer
Lord, I come to you this morning laying all of "me" down before you. I ask you to take the ME out of my day in favor of YOU being the larger more prominent aspect of all I am and all I do. Teach me how to stand firm against all that life throws at me that would capture my attention from you and the work you have for me this day.

WILD Leadership Class This Sunday!

2008-11-15T15:37:00.000-08:00

If you are in the Bay Area of Northern, CA, join me for a WILD Leadership class at Cornerstone Fellowship. This class meets the 3rd Sunday of each month from 11am-12:30. You can find out more or register online at www.cornerstoneweb.org ( registration is free).

Day 15 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-15T11:47:00.000-08:00

We are 1/2 way through the 30 day Truth Dare!
Here are the 5 Wild Leadership Principles we have been focusing on...

To lead well, you must learn to follow well
To lead well, you must learn to love well
To lead well, you must submit to a renewed mind
To lead well, you must die daily to your own dreams and trust in God's plans for you
To lead well, you must learn to Praise God in the hard times.

If we would pay attention to these themes our lives and our influence would be changed.

Praise Prayer/ Psalm 1:1-2 ( God's Word Translation)
Blessed is the person who does not
follow the advice of wicked people,
take the path of sinners,
or join in the company of mockers.

Rather, he delights int he teachings of the Lord
and reflects on his teachings day and night.

Truth Dare
Galatians 5:16
"So I say live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

Challenge Steps

Look at all 5 WILD principles of leadership and ask yourself, "am I living in this?"
One by one pray over each principle asking God to give you conviction to make these a reality
Think of what living by the Spirit would look like to you. Picture yourself in a "living by the Spirit" reality. What looks different?
Now think of what living in your sinful nature looks like. Picture yourself as a leader, with secrets of sinful nature living...what does that woman look like? How could this affect the leader and those whom she is leading?
Continue with Praise. Think of One Thing today to Thank God For.

Remember our choices, of thought and action, have consequences.
Choose Christ Today!

Daily Prayer
Lord, you know me and you know the secret areas that are carefully hidden and covered over with the gloss of "nice Christian things." I am asking you to develop me into something more genuine than a "pretend" spirit follower, and make me into an authentic follower of Christ and the ways of His Spirit. Lead me into a more daring, different and determined walk of longing after what God wants, and turning away from the things that displease you.

Day 14 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-14T07:24:00.000-08:00

To lead well, we must learn to Praise God in the hard times.

Praise Prayer/ Psalm Psalm 57: 1-3
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,
for in you my soul takes refuge,
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.

I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who fulfills his purpose for me.
He sends from heaven and saves me,
rebuking those who hotly pursue me
God sends his love and his faithfulness

Truth Dare
1 Thessalonians 5:12-15
Live in peace with each other. Encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and everyone else.

Peace: the absence of hostility, harmony, freedom from disquieting feelings or thoughts.

Challenge Steps

Are you in a hostile or disquieted place with someone? Ask God to lead you to a place of living in peace.
Think of at least one person you can encourage today.
Realize that being patient is a step of death to self, and life unto God
Do you have a habit of paying others back for wrongs done to you? Take that habit to the Lord, because it must change.

Daily Prayer
Father, To you I come today in the midst of life challenges, news of Southern California fires, knowledge of people I care about being in pain or in the hospital. I come to you, Jesus, I come to you. Pull me to a place today that will be quiet and at peace with you, encouraging to another, and your best for me " just for today". In you Lord I take refuge and in you I find a resting place.

WILD Leadership Principles

2008-11-13T07:58:00.000-08:00

Today let's add to our Wild Leadership Principles....We are up to 4!
Here is a review of the leadership principles we have been learning:

To lead well, you must learn to follow well
To lead well, you must learn to love well
To lead well, you must submit to a renewed mind
To lead well, you must die daily to your own dreams and trust in God's plans for you

Day 13 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

Make Today Count!
If there is anything GOOD: Focus There
Now is the time to take responsibility for attitudes that are negative and counter-productive. Today is the day to challenge attitudes that are less than loving, and filled with criticism. With God all things are possible, including attitude adjustments and other personal miracles of heart.

Praise Prayer/ Psalm 100...The Message
On your feet now--applaud God!
Bring a gift of laughter,
sing yourselves into his presence.

Know this: God is God, and He made us.
We didn't make him.
We're his people, his well tended sheep.

Enter with the password: " Thank you!"
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank him. Worship him.

For God is sheer beauty,
all generous in love
loyal always and ever.

Truth Dare
Romans 8:12-14 The Message
"So don't you see that we don't owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There's nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike " What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are."

The Challenge

Death to self involves coming to God, like a child, with dependence and faith
Death to self involves surrendering our moods and attitudes to God
Death to self produces more life in Christ
Death to self leads us to praise God even when we don't feel like it
Death to self is living outside of our own reasonings

Questions to Ask Yourself

What attitude of yours needs to be given a burial today?
Are you believing lies that are based on today's mood?
Does moving in emotion lift you up, or bring you down?
Will you join me in making today count for something spiritual by surrendering the mind and all loose or stray thoughts to God?
Will you practice the secret password " Thank You" and go about your day thanking God for at least ONE specific thing?

Daily Prayer
Lord I give you my attitude today. I desire to bring anything to you, in my thought life, that is counter productive, negative or not uplifting. Help me to find ONE thing today to hold on to and ONE thing to praise you for.

Truth Dare Day 12

2008-11-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

The Renewed Mind is a Joy-Filled Mind!

Praise Prayer/ Psalm 126
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations
"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy...

Life is complicated. If it were not so complicated it would be easy to be peaceful, joyful and in control of our emotions, wouldn't it? What if I told you that despite a complicated world, we can all learn the secret to true joy? What if that joy actually had something to do with your choice of thoughts? Hold on...because that is exactly what I am wanting to shout out, and it's not my philosophy, it's God's. You can turn your day around by changing your habitual bent towards a negative attitude. Choose God's way today...and just know, girlfriend, I am choosing it too.
God help us!

Truth Dare
Philippians 4:8,9b
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praise worthy--think about such things...And the God of peace will be with you.

The Challenge Steps
The message in Philippians is to "think like God thinks"
To understand how God thinks, we must understand who He is.
In the Bible we get a picture of who God is. Today think about who God is, and let that be your "is there is anything good" in your day. While you are at it, personalize who He is, and believe that this is who God is towards you!

God is love
God is merciful
God is forgiving
God is ever present
God is powerful
God is holy
God is just
God is faithful
God is unchanging
God cares

Daily Prayer
Dear God, today I desire to turn my thoughts around. I bring to you my negative, dull way of thinking. And, I exchange it for the sparkle of who you are in the midst of everything in my life.
I desire to have a new way of thinking, a different way of responding, and a free way of living.

Day 11 of the Truth Dare

2008-11-11T08:56:00.001-08:00

Today we add a NEW Wild leadership principle.....

In order to lead, you must first learn how to follow
To lead well, you must learn to love well
To lead well you must submit to a renewed mind.

You can not have a positive life with a NEGATIVE mind.
We are well into the Truth Dare and now is the time to
begin focusing on what our "thinking" really is.
Negative?
Positive?
Self-Defeating?
Obsessive Worry?
Nit-Picking?
Looking for what's missing?
Assuming the worst?

Being Wild in Jesus is being TRANSFORMED a little more each day, by our minds changing and being renewed.

Praise/ Prayer Psalm 23
You prepare a table before me in
the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love
will follow me
all the days of my life.

Truth Dare
Proverbs 23:7
"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he"

Romans 8:5
"Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires;
but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."

Challenge Steps
Take a thought survey:

What has your outlook been like lately?
Does your outlook produce a good outcome?
Does your outlook produce worry, stress, fear or insecurity?
Does your outlook line up with the truth: "surely goodness and mercy will follow me?"

Retrain your brain

Ask God to search your heart and thoughts
Fill your mind with what Scripture says today ( even just the Psalm 23 Praise Prayer)
Internalize what it means that God prepares a banquet for you in the presence of your enemies.

Note* Your enemies are not "people" but your enemies are the lies that Satan tries to get you to buy into, and your enemies can be your own stinking thinking.

Daily Prayer
Lord, I need your help. I am asking you to show me the areas of thought and process that are not of your Spirit. Show me where the enemy of my soul is trying to defeat me. Lead me Jesus and I will follow.