Day 305 – It’s not “ME”, its Christ in me.

Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 13 – Galatians 2

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

“How in the world do you do all the stuff you do?” This has been one of the most common questions I’ve gotten asked over the years. I lead many different roles on a daily basis, and just thinking about it makes me tired. But friends, I promise, this is not me. The normal me loves to sleep, read, relax and run. (Which God is giving me time for this.) However, I have this energy source in me called Christ and He is like a race horse filling me with compassion for the least of these, leading me by love, driving me toward knowledge and wisdom, and providing me with enough energy to get it all done.

It’s in that time with Him that I spend in the wee hours of the morning that He directs my path and assures me that if I do as He leads then Christ will fulfill it to completion. Yet, there are those things that I try to force into my life and my schedule, that aren’t designed for me and take extra effort, that brings me down, and Gos will in time convince me to let go for someone else. There is no way in this world that I could do this life without Him, but with Christ….well all things are possible.

Day 304 – When I am weak then I am STRONG.

2 Corinthians 11:30 “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”

Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 8 – 12

Have you ever found that in your weakest moments you gain your greatest strength?

It has felt as though my life is consumed with many weak moments, moments where in this natural world you wouldn’t want to go on. Abuse, rape, death of a child, financial flatlines, family struggles, ending friendships….these things will naturally bring you down and drain you of power and energy. Yet it was in each of these moments that God strengthened me.

He heard my cries, He saw me seek Him in my lowest of lows, but it wasn’t my power that strengthened my soul, it was His Power pouring into me that gave me strength. In these times I didn’t carry on in the natural way, but instead Glorified Him in the “Super” natural, filled with an Abundance of His light, way.

To be strengthened in your weakness isn’t “natural” it’s “Super” natural, and can only occur when we go straight to the source of the SUPER natural strength. If you find yourself in a weak place today, don’t go by the way of your natural instinct, go directly to God. Cry out to Him and feel His power filling You with a SuperNatural strength.

Day 303 – Even when things get tough, we will not be broken.

Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 3 – 7

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

When my husband and I were beginning our marriage, we began talking about having children. My one dream for them was that they would never have to go through the trauma like I went through when I was young. I felt so broken for so long. I never once questioned God, but I didn’t want them to have to struggle like I did. So, when their youngest brother passed away at such a young age, I was so afraid of what their life would be like. What choices they would make, if I would do the right thing to help them along. But God, God may allow hard things to happen in our life that hurt us, confuse us, and persecute us, But when we are in Him, He will not let them crush us, forsake us, or destroy us.

My children have shown me that their faith has grown from their hurt, their trust in God has grown from their pain, and their hope in the future has grown from their loss. God has protected them as He protects all of those who believe in Him by the power we find in the cross. The power we have concealed in our jars of clay.

I know there is a lot of hurt in this world, but remember, through Jesus’ sacrifice we have a power within us, a light in the darkness that will never leave us, never forsake us, and when we lean into Him will grow us for a brighter future.

Day 302 – Whatever you do, do it in love.

Today’s Reading: 1 Corinthians 16 – 2 Corinthians 2

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Being human and all, we tend to want to right wrongs, speak truth (or that which we believe to be true), win the race, or be the top dog. But In doing these things we put others down, we compare ourselves when walking in a room, we try to one up each other, and all this does is hurt us because we hurt others.

However, when we fight for one another, encourage one another, speak truth in love to one another, and reach out our hand to pull someone up who is down, we are being a neighbor, we are doing what God has asked us to do in love.

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

I’m tired of the way society has become a “Me” society…..look at me, what can you do for me. Thats not love, that’s selfish. What don’t we change that and utilize our faith in Jesus, our hope in what has come and is to come again, and love like Jesus in a hurting world.

So, whatever you do, today, tomorrow or the next day, think first, how can I do or say that thing in love.

Day 301 – The confusion of this world is not from God, BUT the Peace that we have available to us in this world is directly from Above!

Today’s Reading: 1 Corinthians 13 – 15

1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,”

Confusion is beginning to define normal in everything we see around us, confirming God’s prophecy of great tribulation and many being lead astray. In itself confusion or what I like to call Mass Chaos is a direct reflection of sin and evil caused by the power of sin and evil brought to us by none other than Satan. Just like in the beginning when Satan questioned Eve, and Adam questioned Truth, the lie of Confusion won and brought death into this world.

1 Corinthians 15:22 “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”

However, with the second Adam, Jesus, we were made alive again and Peace was ushered into this world.

Luke 2:13-14 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

To know if you are being guided by the Lord’s Will or being sought after by Satan’s Ways, remember Peace in a situation is from God and confusion is from Satan. We can minimize the confusion by setting around us people who will encourage our walk with Jesus and not deter us from His ways.

1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Also, devoting our time to the Lord’s work instead of seeking worldly desires will steady our feet so we are not shaken amidst the confusion of the world.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

The Victory of Peace is available to each of us who Seek the One who already Won the War.

Day 300 – Each one of us has been gifted in some way, some more ways than one, many different from one another, but all from the Same One.

Today’s Reading: 1 Corinthians 10 – 12

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.”

Over and over again I hear from adults, students, children, and all the in between, ‘I’m not gifted at all.’ Well if you are living and breathing and have a heart beat that pushes blood through your body, you were created by God, and He looked at you in the womb and said, ‘You are special, you were made for this time and this purpose. I have gifted you.’

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Even the baby I lost in the womb was gifted, even Hayden, my youngest son, was gifted in his short life on this earth. God doesn’t create something in this world without making it useful. However, it is possible to not see the manifestation of your gifting if you aren’t connecting daily and deeply with the One who has provided you with the gift.

The Lord is the One who empowers this gifting within us. He made it come to life in His death and resurrection through the Holy Spirit. He may even surprise you with what your gifting actually is once you realize it.

I’ve never once doubted that God gifted me, but I didn’t actually realize the gift until I grew in my relationship with Him. I may not be gifted in the ways I had hoped….singing, acting, or as a doctor, but oh how His Ways are so beyond our comprehension. He surprised me with the gift of the writing to encourage and enlighten others to His Ways and His Son, drawing the lost and weary back to Him. Go now and look for your gifting; Go look for Him!

Day 299 – Be all to all in able to win all to Christ.

Today’s Reading: 1 Corinthians 7 – 9

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law though not being myself under the law that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying to be fake. Instead, in every circumstance be the best version of yourself that you can be.

Have you ever sat down in the middle of your closet and just looked at the variety of shoes you have acquired? I’m neither a shopaholic or a shoe-aholic, but every store has so many varieties, it’s fun to try them all on. Shoes are my last thing to do every morning because if I had it my way, I’d wear no shoes at all. They all fit and if I have them I like them, however, my favorite pair is my feet just bare. There are running shoes, walking shoes, high heels and flats, slippers and sandals, and boots of all types. Every situation deserves a different pair and each outfit has a best match.

Paul admonishes us to be just like our feet, comfortable in our own skin, but willing to put on a different version for the specific circumstances and individuals. Paul knew that it took a relationship with someone to win them to Christ, and you can’t have a relationship without being able to “relate”. So the next time you have the urge to say, “I can’t be everyone to everybody,” remember you can be someone to somebody.

Day 298 – Don’t let your past define your future.

Today’s Reading: 1 Corinthians 4 – 6

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

At some point in each of our pasts we’ve been found with dirt smeared across our face, unrighteous behavior defining our actions, and the inability to find God because our surroundings won’t allow us to see the Kingdom of Heaven He has waiting for us. My past falls right smack dab in the middle of unrighteousness. I’ve done so much that I don’t agree with and once wondered how would God ever let me experience His goodness. But honestly, here’s the Great News, you may have been one way Once but if you are now in Christ, you are no longer who you Once were.

My past does not define me, Christ does.

His blood has washed me clean, sanctified me, justified me, and welcomed me into the Kingdom of God. We don’t have to worry about the unrighteousness of our past when our present is found in Christ.

Do you have dirt smeared across your face right now? Are you living outside of the Kingdom of Heaven? Knock at the door of your Heavenly Father, invite His Son into your Heart, and He will invite you into His Home without any sign of dirt or blemish on you. Don’t let the circumstances of your past or the unrighteous behavior in your present life hinder you from experiencing the Best Life in your future.

Day 297 – One will plant the seed, another water it, but only God can make it Grow!

Today’s Reading: Romans 15 – 1 Corinthians 3

1 Corinthians 3:6-9 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.”

A farmer always has workers in his field, in the same way, God uses disciples on earth to help spread the Gospel.

I’ve always loved taking care of plants. I’m not sure if it’s because of growing up on a farm, but from planting the seed to watering to weeding to watching the plants grow and produce fruit or flowers, it’s just so peaceful to me. However, I don’t have the time or the ability to do all of this on my own. I need help, and thankfully my children have found this to be something they love to do as well. But as hard as we try and work to take care of all of the plants only God can make them grow.

This earth is a BIG place and there are many people here, and out of all of it, not one person can turn an unbeliever into a believer with a deep relationship with Christ. God will send one person to plant the seed in their heart, another to water it with truth, another to nourish it with grace, and another and another until the unbeliever has become a believer and is helping to lead others to Christ. But as much as we try, only God can make their Faith grow. It’s all on His terms.

As a small child my parents planted the seed of Faith in my life, my grandparents and Sunday school leaders helped water my Faith, but it was God who grew my Faith to a place where even when I went through a season of drought I didn’t whither away. He just waited to get my attention again and continue the process until I could plant and water the faith in others.

Take the time to plant seeds of Hope and Faith, watering other plants as you go, and watch as God grows these plants into mammoth trees of righteousness along the River of Life.

Day 296 – How will people know if others do not go?

Today’s Reading: Romans 10 – 14

Romans 10:14-17 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Often we get so disappointed when we see those we think should live a “changed” life yet they still act like unbelievers. Have you ever thought maybe they just don’t know the truth of the gospel? Maybe no one has taken the time to share the Word of God with them. Maybe, just maybe, you are that “One” who is to share the Gospel with them. This is a conviction I feel often!

When Jesus left this earth, He first commissioned all of His disciples to go into Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world. God said, Who should I send, and Jesus said, Send Me. And then Jesus sent us once He’d completed His Mission on this earth. He created each of us with a special purpose in mind to specifically reach some”One” for Him. He told us to lace up our shoes and Go. Go to your family, Go to your neighbor, Go to your city, state, country, and around the world. Go. Share the specific beautiful testimony you’ve been given so that the world will know because they cannot know unless you’ve told them, and they cannot be transformed if they do not know.

What’s holding you back? Let this be your morning prayer as it is also mine for those I love, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” Romans 10:1.