“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the holy one of Israel, or seek help from the Lord..” Isaiah 31:1

When times get tough, when life turns on a dime to the worse, when things aren’t going your way: Where do you turn for help?

Do you seek help from family and friends? Do try to do things in your own strength, with the power that you can muster up? Or do you go to Jesus and ask for help?

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7

If we don’t first go to the Lord in our time of need, we may find relief for a moment, but it will go away. We may find peace for a minute but it will pass with the wind. When we seek help from Jesus, he will build us up from the bottom. He will place us on a rock. He will begin By strengthening our foundation so we will not falter or lose hope.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the wind blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25

Those who seek help from another source are building their house on sand. It will stand for a bit but at some point the trials will become so grand that it will fall.

In high school, I was building my house in my own strength. I was using the gifts God gave me to help me, but not to glorify him. I was going somewhere, but alone. So when I went to college all that I had built was held together with my strength and my strength failed. Everything fell apart and I cried to God. I looked for help in the right place for the first time in a long time and God stepped right in and began rebuilding mean piece by piece. Now when the rains come and the storms blow in, I still stand. I still have hope and I keep running on.

So where do you go for help? Go to Jesus first, and let him strengthen you and build you up upon the rock.

“The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.”

Isaiah 29:13

Why do you do what you do?

Even back in the OT (Old Testament) some of those that believed in God did only so through ritualistic ways. They participated in all the things they’d been taught to do, but never just sought after the heart of God.

Today, the same things occur. Some of the people that leave the faith as an adult, but were brought up in the church as a child, do so because they were only doing what they were being told to do. These children, now adults, never truly knew God’s heart, they just knew rules and regulations. And honestly, that’s not God.

God is all about the heart.

Remember David, touted as a man after God’s own heart? He made mistakes, but he owned up to the mistakes he made and sought after God. To those that just follow the rules God says, “Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. To do “His Will” you must first know “His Heart”.

His Heart says: love your neighbor, love you enemy, love those who don’t act like you or look like you, walk humbly with the Lord, seek to serve others and not to be served, speak kindly, hold your tongue, respect your leaders…..

You know what? I love rules. I find comfort in doing what I’ve been told to do. But the reason I pray every morning, read the Word of God, and spend time alone with God every single day, isn’t because someone told me to, it’s because I want to know and be known by God in a more intimate way. It’s because I love Jesus and when you love someone you want to know them more.

God has been there for me through every trial, He’s allowed me to see beauty in hard situations, He’s provided just what I need in every circumstance, and He sent His Son to die for me….all because He loves me and that’s why I love Him all the more. We love because He first loved us.

So as I lay my head down on my pillow at night, I literally wait expectantly, excitedly, for the morning to come so I can spend alone time with God. Sharing my heart with Him as He shares His heart with me. That’s why I do what I do.

Why do you do what you do? Where is your heart’s allegiance? Is it time to check your heart and make sure you are seeking Him and not just following the rules of man?

“People with their mind set on you, you keep completely whole. Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit.”

Isaiah 26:3 MSG

Those who seek the Lord even when they want to give up will be kept in perfect peace.

Yesterday I wanted to give up. I actually started crying and I’m not a crier. I just felt like one thing after another was hitting me. And you know what I thought, where my mind immediately turned?

How is it that I try to do everything the way God is leading me and these things keep happening? Yet others, who are not doing things his way, aren’t experiencing the same trials I am? I should just do things their way.

Yep, I thought it, and immediately in that thought, the Holy Spirit nudged my heart, and I prayed. I prayed that God would keep my eyes on him and fill my heart with peace.

A calm fell over me, my anger subsided, and the tears dried up. My circumstances didn’t change, but my heart did and that’s when God speaks. He whispers reminders into my soul, my being, to fill me with Abundant Life when I feel abundantly lifeless.

1. Have hope because of Jesus
2. In this hope you will see his goodness in the land of the living
3. In this hope you will experience perfect peace
4. In this hope he is working all things out for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose
5. In this hope there’s perseverance through trials
6. In this hope he is building Jesus-like character within you
7. In this hope there is an anchor for your soul, trusting in what you cannot see – Faith

Don’t give up! Don’t stop trusting in Jesus, and his goodness. Don’t stop following his Ways because other ways seem easier. It may be easy another way for a little while, but it leads to darkness and loneliness; only God’s way leads to light and life.

“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easy-going formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life – to God! – Is vigorous and requires total attention.”

Matthew 7:13-14 MSG

“In that day Israel will be third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.”

Isaiah 19:23-25

In that day, a day yet to come, ALL will gather in peace to worship God.

The book of Isaiah, one of my favorites, holds prophecies fulfilled and prophecies of things yet to come. So, essentially, the book of Isaiah is filled with HOPE.

In the passage above, Isaiah describes the work to be done in Egypt and how “one day” they will turn to the Lord their Savior and worship him. Not only them, but there will be a road from Egypt to Assyria (modern day Iraq) where both nations will come and go to worship together the Lord our God. This prophecy is nestled between the first and second coming of Christ, so in the days we are currently in. Meaning, we may be able to witness this ourselves….what HOPE we have of peace!!!

This may seem so distant to you, far out of sight, but think of it this way… There is Hope. Not just hope afar of what is to come, but hope right where you are. God is still at work all around you. That thing you’re in, the thing you’re struggling with, that relationship you need healed, whatever it may be, Have Hope. God’s not done yet! He is working all things out for the good of those that are called according to his purpose. If you are breathing, you were created in his image. And if you believe in Him, Jesus, as Your Lord and Savior, you have been CALLED, you can Have Hope! Hold it Near. He’s NOT done yet.

“You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remember the Rock, your fortress. Therefore though you set out the finest plants and plant imported vines, though on the day you set them out you make them grow, and on the morning when you plant them, you bring them to bud, yet the harvest will be as nothing in the day of disease and incurable pain.”

Isaiah 17:10-11

When striving ceases, trust in God increases.

I work hard at everything I do, and I’ve done things this way all my life. But all my life I haven’t worked hard for the right reasons. I’m not saying I ever worked hard for bad reasons, just not the right reasons. When I was young I would work hard to please my parents, to help someone in need, to build friendships or make friends. Most of the time though it was to please people so they’d like me. But that was striving, that was exhausting, and it never seemed to fill me. It was never enough. I was never enough.

All this striving was during the time that I was trusting in my own abilities and not God’s ability to use me.

As I turned back to God, I began to trust him and his plan for my life. The striving decreased and the work came with peace. I began to see life grow from my work as I followed his lead, and my work became joyful and no longer exhausting.

When we forget God, life is hard work. But when we trust in God and work for him, life may still be hard but the work is no longer burdensome.

Jesus says it best, in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Come to God, Remember God, Trust in the Lord your Savior, and witness the Beauty that comes from the work you do.

“David said to God, “was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd, have send and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Lord my God, let your hand fall on me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people.” 1 Chronicles 21:17

We all make mistakes, but the problem comes in when we don’t own up to our mistakes.

It seems so much easier to blame others, it’s their fault, right? We say and hear others say: “My child did this because of the friends to hang out with.” No, they did that because they made the choice to (unless someone was holding a gun to their head). Or, “I said that because They did this.” No, you said that because you chose to react that way. They are just so many ways to not except the responsibility of the things we do and say, but that’s not leading well. That’s learning to blame well.

David realized the mistake he made after he made it, and he saw that everyone was paying the price for his sin. So David pleaded with God to take it away from the people of Israel and place the consequences on himself. He excepted the consequence of his sin and by doing this lead the people well.

We have to do a better job of this, Laying down our pride and humbly excepting our sins. When we acknowledge the sin that we have committed we can ask God to forgive us and he will. However, when we blame others we aren’t diminishing the problem we are making it even bigger. Whereas excepting our mistake allows us to take on the hurt with the help and strength of Jesus, and work through the problem so we don’t hurt others too.

Leading well through the mistakes we make is taking responsibility for our actions and rectifying the choices we make through the forgiveness and mercy of Jesus Christ. This will heal our hurt and protect others from being hurt from the spiral of our mistake. Being a leader is Hard, but being a Good Leader leads others to see Jesus in us.

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

I don’t know about you, but as a Leader I’m always seeking to grow. And what I realized, To grow you must be learning. So if you flip that coin, if you aren’t learning then you aren’t growing, and instead you’re dying.

If you ask my husband he’d say I’d stay in school all my life or read every day if I had nothing else to do. But even in all of that, our best avenue of growth isn’t through any old book or class, it’s in truth. Not everything learned in school or in a book points you to truth, but everything learned in God’s word, the Bible, is truth.

I agree with the statement, leaders are readers, but I believe true leaders read Truth in the Word.

“I meditate on your precepts and consider your Ways.” Psalm 119:15

When we choose to meditate or dive into the word of God day and night, it says will be like a tree planted by water with our roots diving deep into rich soil, drinking all the water necessary. We will bear fruit from what we learn and we will never grow weary or lose heart.

I know, I know… Reading the word of God day and night sounds like a big undertaking. I’d recommend more of taking time once a day to dive into your Bible and pray over what you read. Then throughout the rest of the day keep your mind on how God is speaking to you by reading short devotionals when you’re usually perusing social media, turning on a podcast when you’re cooking or cleaning, or listening to worship songs on a long ride. Making sure that what is flowing into you is True and Good. All these things keep the word of God ever before you, Speaking truth into you throughout the day.

This ever flowing movement of the word into you is like ever flowing water in you that will keep you growing which will keep you learning which will help you to meditate on the Truth and lead well.

“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story – those he redeemed from the hand of the foe; those he gathered from the lands, from East and west, from north and south.” Psalm 107:2-3

My story, many of you know one piece or another. Every since God revealed to me that it’s really the story He gave me, I haven’t hidden it. But with that in mind, when telling my story, I need to point to His Glory.

My story is one of Hurt, Help, Healing, Hope….Repeat and Repeat and Repeat and so on. I like to think God has sectioned my life, my story, off in Parts then Chapters.

Here’s a quick outline:

1. Part 1 – Childhood
   1. Hurt – Abuse
   2. Help – Trusting to tell truth to Pastor’s Granddaughter
   3. Healing – God wooing me to Him through His Word and Prayer
   4. Hope – Fully in God and Dreaming for my Future
2. Part 2 – Adolescence
   1. Hurt – Poor Decisions and Date Rape
   2. Help – Meeting God at an intersection in Gainesville, Hoping for Heaven, but getting Salvation
   3. Healing – God truly turning my life around at that intersection and getting back in church
   4. Hope – Fully in God and Meeting my Husband
3. Part 3 – Newly Wed
   1. Hurt – Marriage wasn’t all the glitz and glamor and Heading for Divorce
   2. Help – Sunday School class from a different town reaching out unbeknownst to them of our struggles
   3. Healing – God revealing Himself and His Ways to us in truly studying His Word and a church family
   4. Hope – Fully in God and Blessing is with our first child (Hunter)
4. Part 4 – Start of a Family
   1. Hurt – End of first Trimester Miscarriage and Depression
   2. Help – Truth (Scripture) Spoken from a Friend
   3. Healing – Morning Devotions and Women’s Bible Studies
   4. Hope – Fully in God and Blessing of Twins (Hannah and Hailey)
5. Part 5 – The Calling
   1. Hurt – Financial Downfall and loss of it all
   2. Help – Church Family stepping in during our need
   3. Healing – Serving at Church and in the Community and the Beginning Of Writing Devotions
   4. Hope – Fully in God and Birth of last Baby (Hayden) and Beginning a Career in Ministry
6. Part 6 – Leading our Children (in process)
   1. Hurt – Loss of Hayden and Loss of Dreams
   2. Help – Peace through our Christian Community and Family
   3. Healing – Currently Here – Learning and Seeking. This Chapter that I’m in is definitely taking longer than all the rest. I’m 6 years in and more hurts are being revealed and needing to be healed. It’s been like ripping off a bandaid and allowing the fresh air to heal the wound.

But thank the Lord, even though I’m still healing, my Hope is Still alive and well because God has been here all along – Emmanuel – God With Us – Every Day and in Every Way.

My Story, as hard as it is, it’s still my story all for His Glory. I reveal my wounds to find healing from God alone. And when He heals them, He makes them stronger. He is where I seek my Help and find my Hope.

“Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God.” Psalm 146:5

What’s “Your Story”? When you tell it, make sure you point to Jesus. If you don’t know Him, you haven’t found true healing and hope in the rest of your story to be lived out. Trust in Jesus, and I promise you will find Help, Healing and Hope in Jesus. Then Tell Everyone! Tell YOUR STORY for HIS GLORY ❤️💙

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice, “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did. For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” Psalm 95:6-11

We are a generation that is quick to speak and slow to listen. Quick to see what we think, to speak our mind, prove our point, yeah we don’t take the time to listen to the other side.

I was like this up until I went to college, up until God got my attention for not listening to him for a “few – high school” years. In my learning to listen to him, I also learned to listen to others, so much that I stop speaking at all (in conversations that is). It’s actually when I begin to write. I started getting my voice back through writing.

Listening to God and others is the only way We’ll ever be able to know the Way to go, to understand what others are going through or have been through. Listening Allows for us to grow in wisdom, knowledge, compassion, love, grace, and mercy.

But as I began to listen more to others I learned how not many people wanted to listen back, they only wanted to be heard.

I firsthand witnessed that when a break in a conversation would come and I’d have a chance to speak, to share my thoughts or opinions, I’d get someone speaking over me…someone pointing my thought back to them…someone defending their statement or many times just no space to speak at all. There are so many thoughts buried in the back of my mind in the core of my soul that over the past month I realized how much I actually love to speak, yet I never will, because I refuse to speak over anyone. It’s truly frustrating.

I know this must be how God feels. He thinks, if only we would listen to his voice then our life would be different. If only we would hear what he had to say then our world would be changed. But instead of listening, we choose to do it our way, to question him, to cry to him but never wait for him to speak back. If only we would be more willing to listen instead of fighting to be heard. I’m positive there would be better communication and we would get to the heart of the matter. We would learn what great plans God has for us, and we would experience his goodness in the land of the living. If only we would listen.

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.“ Psalm 27:13-14

Listen.

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel. “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Do you know what I love most about Jabez? He fought against the name of his youth with prayer.

We all have things in our past: things we’ve done, names people have called us, situations done to us, and things we’ve been brought into. Each of these can form grooves in our lives that can stay with us forever if they’ve never been dealt with.

Most of the time these things haven’t been dealt with because they were either hidden secrets from our childhood, pride telling us we’re fine, being told to sweep it under the rug, or we decide leave it in the closet. Then all that is hidden, all that hurts down deep, comes festering up in our adulthood like a disease that feels uncurable.

I’m sure Jabez felt this, but Jabez was honorable, and instead of trying to drown his pain with other things, he cried out to God. Jabez asked for multiple things in his prayer but truly the most significant was freedom from pain. Freedom from his NAME. Freedom from the past that tried to hurt him and hold him there. And God granted his request.

Oh, if we were all to go to God in prayer over all that holds us down or holds us back, for all that causes our pain, what a difference God can make in our lives and the lives of those around us. The ripple effect would be great, one to another, reaching the world. Isn’t our world really the way it is because hurting people hurt people?

And I’m praying this prayer because I know there are some undealt with pains in my past that are beginning to come to the surface. And I know that because of Jesus, he wants to heal all those hurts, he desires to fill me with abundant joy, life, love, and peace.

When we pray to God in Jesus name, he hears us and answers us, Just like Jabez! He will heal all our wounds, he will take all of our burdens, and he will give us rest from our pain.

Are you dealing with past hurts, childhood trauma or drama? Stop burying it, stop keeping it hidden, and give it to God by going to God in prayer.