Conquering Your Battle

I've spent the last couple days reading and re-reading the words of David in Psalm 56.

We've all heard that trials come, and trials go. We can either worry and fret unendingly over them, or learn from them and of course breathe a huge sigh of relief when the light at the end of the tunnel finally seems to appear. However, sometimes there are circumstances and life events that come at us and it literally feels like an attack on our soul itself. Can you relate? I'm talking about the heart wrenching, tear streaming, at the end of our rope and can't take the hurt anymore moments.

These kind of "moments" are the ones which seem to last for weeks... months... even years.

David had these moments, and he wrote about them in a few of his psalms. For me, Psalm 56 turned on the light bulb over my head on handling such moments, and it's instruction for us on handling them in a way that allows us to escape the sadness, fear, grief, and heartache... and accept help, deliverance and peace over it so we can stand up, move forward, and be thankful!

In this particular psalm, David calls out a prayer for help and deliverance. With a combination of evil doings of others, as well as his own fears and mistakes on his part, he finds himself in a mess that is consuming his heart and mind with grief. He walks himself through his problem in his prayer, and we can have breakthroughs of our own by following example.

First he vented.
David told God his problem. Nowhere in the psalm does it say he called up his buddies, ran to his mommy, ranted on Facebook, or discussed it at the office water cooler. He went to God crying... literally. He spilled his guts about what was bothering him. He explained his worries, fears, and what he was up against. He told God about how the people were running their mouth about him, twisting his words, and hoping he made mistakes they could call him out on. He even told God not to let them get away with it and to cast them down. Of course God already knew and saw what he was going through, but David acknowledged God as his confidant by turning to Him, and Him alone.

Is your workplace causing overbearing stress that overflows into your personal life? Are there relationships in your life that have your heart tangled? Maybe you're young and still in school, but hate going because of the peer pressure and bullying you experience?

When you can't stand it any longer... kneel. Talk to Him. He sees what's going on, but who doesn't feel better after they vent a scenario that has rocked your world. Prayer is communication between us and the throne, so fill Him in with how it's troubling your heart. The words don't have to be perfect. They can be through tears, shouting, or just whispers.

Next he acknowledged his faithful friend.
David didn't go into a "hey God how are you, thanks for hearing me out" before he spilled his guts about his dilemma. But he did acknowledge his listening Friend. He spoke of his awareness that God is with him, he has no need to fear or worry, and in God he can trust the situation.

Your dilemma may be so stressful, heart wrenching, or mind consuming that you forget to acknowledge Him before your rant begins, but as we talk, and clear our minds with our personal Confidant, the peace begins to fall, and it sinks in that we have nothing to fear. He is true to His word, nothing your worst enemy could say or do will be greater than the love of the Lord that can and will get you through it.

Lastly, he gives thanks.
David was still in the midst of his dilemma, but he thanked God as though it was already solved and over with. He knew the battle was still raging against him, but he began speaking as though it was over. He claimed God's word and His promises. He thanked God for delivering him out of the situation.

Your problem, whatever it is, may be compiling around you, building up like a concrete wall that seems to be unbreakable. Circumstances don't matter. He's the Creator of your adversaries, so surely you can trust in Him to handle them for you... because let's face it, His intervention will always be better than handling it on your own. So hold onto His promises to deliver you from it. Go about your day with a heart and mind full of joy. The enemy will come at you telling you it's getting worse, that it's not a fixable situation, and that you're just plain nuts for praising through the storm... but do it anyway. Don't feed into the words of discouragement the enemy whispers in your ear, picking it up and worrying about it some more. Let it go, and call it done.

For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
(Psalm 56:13)

Please Pass the Bread!

It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)

I love bread.

Bread and butter, garlic bread, breadsticks, bagels, cheese bread, soft pretzels, banana bread... if bread is attached, this girl is in.

Growing up I heard my share of the famous words used by many parents: "You're not leaving this table until you finish everything on your plate".

That "everything" could include anything from a pile of lima beans, a chicken leg with that jiggly fatty skin attached, brussel sprouts, overcooked squash, gristley beef pieces... all of which I despised as a kid... but oh my, that warm fresh from the oven bread topped with butter that accompanied the meal always trumped everything else as far as I was concerned.

As a parent, I now understand the importance of vegetables and meat, the substance of a meal, and I've taught my children that balance at mealtime over the years.

Ironically though, we Christians need to learn the same lesson when it comes to the substance God's word makes available to us.

First there's the bread...

That warm, feel good comfort that comes from hearing how much we're loved and all that Christ has done for us through the cross.

Obviously no dinner is quite right without fresh warm bread... just as such, it's often the reminders of God's love, peace, faithfulness, and goodness that help get us through the hard times we endure.

Unfortunately, many Christians get full on that bread, and forget that there's more, so much more, on the plate set before us.

Enjoy the bread!

But what about the vegetables? We tell our children that the vegetables they're pushing around on their plate will make them healthy and strong. God's word offers the same for us!

Guidance, instruction, and a foundation of morals are provided. When we abide by these, we become closer to and stronger in our walk with the Lord. When we neglect the veggies of the word, we are neglecting the opportunities to grow in our walk with Him and the blessings He wishes to bestow upon us!

Then there's the meat. Sometimes it's tender and easy to chew, other times it's tough and hard to swallow... but it, too, is on our plate to consume.

God's word has its share of meat. There are many topics beyond the "love thy neighbor" and "do unto others" that are either put under fire again and again between fellow Christians, or just out on the back burner altogether, as though they're not clearly written in God's word at all. Just because it's harder to chew doesn't mean we should just spit it out and forget it's there.

Every. Single. Word. written between the covers of the Bible is there for a reason. The purpose? We can't LIVE without it! Sure, it may seem easier to neglect the touchy subjects so we don't ruffle any feathers, but that certainly doesn't lead to the healthy full life of strength, boldness, faithfulness, and endurance that the Lord intends for us to live.

"EVERY word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" does not mean:

...just the parts that make you feel warm and cozy inside.

...just the parts that we feel comfortable saying "amen" to in church.

...just the parts that make us the cool parent.

...just the parts that keep us active with the "in" crowd.

...just the parts that line up with the worldly things we want to participate in that really aren't that bad or even seem justifiable.

...just the parts that make us look like "good" Christians without having to step out of our comfort zones.

...just the parts that will "win" a debate with another believer (or non-believer!).

God's word isn't meant to be broken apart into pieces for our own conveniences. It's the all in one warm and loving feel good scripture, the instruction and guidance that strengthens scripture, and even the hard to chew (and sometimes hard to understand) scripture.

This is where the importance of balance comes in. Just as we need a balanced diet to keep our bodies healthy, we also need a balanced reverence and application of God's word in our lives to keep our spirits healthy.

Reading His word is knowing His word. Knowing His word brings understanding of His word. Understanding of His word then allows a proper application of His word to our lives. If you're not reading it regularly, you're not applying it regularly.

God wants us to know we're loved and sheltered by His peace... WHILE we submit to his guidance and virtues in our daily living and treatment of others... WHILE also standing boldly in the gap when the world tries to slip in the compromise and rebellion to all that He stands for.

Will we prefer the warm soft bread over the veggies and meat? You betcha! Will we have a hard time trying something new? Of course! Will we gag on the things that are difficult for us to swallow? Absolutely. But... just as we grew up from being a child pushing our food around on our plates, we will mature in Christ through the perseverance, and will be further strengthened by Him!

God is the Father, sitting by us at the table, desiring for us to acknowledge everything on our plate. Since we can't live on bread alone... then it's the eternal life we're cheating ourselves out of when the rest is scraped to the side.

The Whatsoevers On Our Minds

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Our minds never stop working... but what are they working on?

While we may think we are in constant control of our thoughts, there is more going on subconsciously than we realize. Whether it be humming a song stuck in our heads, getting up to get a snack during a commercial because a food ad made you hungry, or getting sleepy when you hear it raining outside. These are simple examples of how our subconscious leads us to do and act on what our minds are hearing, even if all else seems quiet and normal.

How many times have you gotten to work still fuming about the way some guy you don't even know cut you off in traffic? Or perhaps you got into it with one of your children and caught yourself snapping at your spouse for no reason. Although you continued on with your day, your mind was still churning thoughts on morning traffic or a dispute with your kids. You have allowed that one moment to consume your day. You weren't controlling your thoughts, you were just reacting to them.

Knowing this, we have to learn to be aware of our thoughts, our minds can be our worst enemy otherwise.

If you were to go swimming out in the ocean, you're controlling your position against the current with your arm and leg movements. When you wear out, you may allow yourself to float. If you get too relaxed floating, you may look up and realized how far the current has taken you and how far away you've floated from the shore. Just because you stopped swimming, doesn't mean the current stopped... it's still moving you while you've been at rest.

Our spiritual walk isn't any different. There's no such thing as a stationary Christian. If you're not working to move toward Christ, you're floating away from Him. The currents in life will sweep you away if your not constantly aware of your thoughts and surroundings. It must be a constant process, consciously and subconsciously. We have to train ourselves to be continuously aware of and in control of our thoughts.

In Philippians chapter 4, Paul reminds us that the "whatsoevers" our minds dwell on should be true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good nature. One's natural way of thinking would be to focus on the negative in a situation... how much we despise our job, a family feud that may have surfaced, the daunting housework before us, the traffic we're sitting in, the bills stacking up on our desk, and so on. Are we just allowing ourselves to get swept up in the current of things, forcing ourselves through the day so we can call it over and hope to start fresh the next day... only to find ourselves further from the shore and stuck in the same current?

We have to choose how we react and respond to things going on around us. We can dwell on our inabilities, challenges, and life drama... or we can focus on our strengths, opportunities, and God's provision in our lives. This goes the same for how we respond to people. Are we allowing ourselves to focus so hard on their weaknesses and mistakes, or are we uplifting them in their accomplishments and strengths?

Spend a day or two noting down your thoughts. Summarize the amount of time spent thinking about the challenges in your life verses the opportunities. How about the amount of time dissecting the mistakes of others in your life verses the accomplishments and good things. My estimate is that the negative will far outweigh the positive. This is natural thought!

With natural thought we push people away from us, form a critical spirit towards others, tie God's hands in doing a work through us, and lead a very poor example for the body of Christ. It's a thought process that lacks the love of the Lord that the Holy Spirit yearns to develop within us! This natural thought allows the current to pull us away from Christ.

However, when we take control over our thoughts and allow ourselves to be led by the spirit, we receive a peace over conflicting situations, we develop a teachable spirit for the Lord to guide, we build wisdom for circumstances, and an example of Christ's love is consistently visible in us. Controlled thoughts keep us focused on the Lord, allowing us draw closer to Him.

It's okay to be aware of weaknesses... but only so we know what areas to strengthen. Life is full of surprises, drama, and unexpected situations, but when we keep our thoughts in check, we have the say on whether or not the automatic nature of negativity will be allowed to consume our minds.

What are the whatsoevers you're concentrating on? Are you at peace over a scenario, or churning a bad conversation in your head over and over? When you're on a break are you laughing at a dumb joke you were told earlier, or refreshing your mind with a scripture that will strengthen you for the remainder of the day? Are you building others up in your conversations, or tearing them down with reminders of their mistakes? Is a lack of sleep the night before giving you an excuse to be snappy and rude, or are you pushing through with a smile despite the weariness so the best can still be made of your day?

We all need improvements in our thinking... so make the whatsoevers that your mind dwells on bring glory to God and positivity to your day, regardless of your surrounding circumstances! Remember, garbage in, creates garbage out... but goodness and Godliness in, reveals the same in return!

Building a True Legacy

If your life ended today, how would you be remembered by those who know you?

Close family and friends may have a few nice things to say about you, but have you built a legacy to be remembered and cherished... something for others to grow and continue to build on?

Worldly legacy building is all about achieving bigger and better, leaving behind inheritances, trust funds, and materialistic goods. The tangible. Once the money is gone and the stuff is worn out, what's left that you will be remembered by?

If you look closely (and honestly) at the desires of your heart, it may reveal a bit about how you will be remembered and whether or not it's an example that would be pleasing to the Lord for others. If the desires of your heart look selfish and are more about yourself than others, your legacy may not be so great either.

What we stand for and represent through our lives and relationships can (and will) speak volumes about our relationship with the Lord. Our legacy should speak "faithful servant", revealing the fruits of the spirit... not a selfish drone that has a hand out, but nothing to give.

Do your coworkers know you are a respectable and honorable person that refuses to alter from your beliefs, regardless of how juicy the gossip is at the water cooler? Does your spouse know without a shadow of a doubt that you are faithful and true to every vow spoken on your wedding day, or do lustful eyes wander and friends hear about every mistake he or she makes? Do your children know that you are a praying, encouraging, responsible, planning, loving, teaching parent that seeks the Lord for guidance in raising them, or do you take each day on a whim and just hope they turn out okay with the casual effort you've put in? Do your friends truly trust in you because of your honesty and integrity, or are you just a convenient hang out person with the latest news? Do acquaintances and even strangers see you from afar as cold, distant, and stingy, or are you loving, hard working, and giving without a selfish motive?

Obviously there will be some in our lives that know us better than others, but as a whole, how we are known now is our opportunity to set an example for the love we are given through Christ. Newsflash... It's never too late to start over or build on what we're already doing! It doesn't have to involve shoving a preaching finger in someone's face. Rather, through your words, actions, and daily life, you can be a positive example, building a legacy that gives God glory for what He has revealed of Himself through you.

With your Spouse:
Pray with and for your spouse. Listen more than you speak. Support openly. Encourage often. Edify, uplift, and honor through your words and actions. Communicate. Be honest. Be as sensitive to minor needs as you are to major needs. Keep private and sacred what should be private and sacred. Show I love you as often as you speak it. Give affection and hold hands. Little gestures make large strides in a marriage. Be the wife or husband (in all aspects) that you want your child to marry.

With your Children (while they're young):
Pray with and for your children. Teach them the ways of the Lord before someone else teaches them the ways of the world. Practice what you preach. Speak and show I love you often. Use scripture whenever possible to plant seeds in their lives. Teach through positivity, encouragement and uplifting rather than negativity, shouting and ridicule. Spend time with them often. Do it with them, not for them. Make them a part of your agenda rather than looking at them as an inconvenience for your agenda. Learn together. Play together.

With your Children (when they've grown):
Continue to pray for them. Be involved with their children. Stand your moral ground with them when the world tries to lead them astray. Show love and offer guidance through example, but allow the Lord to do the intervening. Forgiveness, even if not requested, is a must as God does His own building in their lives.

With Co-Workers:
Let your light shine! Smile. Encourage. Walk away from gossip. Positive words make a week more enjoyable where begrudging Mondays and wishing for Fridays used to exist. Uplifting good qualities gives drive to improve lacking ones. Forgiving errors and initiating success builds moral. Positivity drives away negativity.

With your Friends:
Standing firm in your morals without compromise builds honor and respect. Encourage their strengths and pray for their weaknesses. Be honest, but with love. Remind them of your appreciation for them. Pray for and encourage their children, as it could be watering a seed already planted.

With Acquaintances and Strangers:
Let your light shine! They don't know your burdens, so don't let your burdens be your first impression. Smile often. Reach out. Say God bless you. Offer assistance following the example of the Good Samaritan. Keep your speech positive, you never know who's listening.


A legacy is anything passed along, from one person to another. We are each a living example that someone will carry with them. Let's make sure what we're passing along reflects a true devotion to all Christ represents.

Genuine Happiness

Have you ever heard the saying "money can't buy happiness"? Perhaps you have said, or even overheard someone else say, "If only I (fill in the blank), then I could die a happy person".

I'm a happy person!

Things don't always go my way; obstacles come up; there are schedules to work around that can sometimes be frustrating; children present challenges; traffic piles up when I'm most in a hurry; the sink stops up...... but I'm HAPPY.

Many people will unsuccessfully spend their entire lives attempting to find happiness. Sadly, these attempts are so far from THE way to find happiness, that the lifetime flies by, and so much time is wasted on materialistic items, void relationships, and much heartache along the way. It's important to understand the difference between a happy moment, and genuine happiness.

Did you have an unusually good week at work while the norm consists of simple putting up and avoiding co-workers? Did you fit in a date night with your spouse? Did you find a great sale and finally get the shoes you've been eyeballing for months? Did you take a trip to Disneyland? Did the children bring home a decent report card? Did you enjoy a phone call catching up with a friend that you haven't heard from in ages?

Those are happy moments.

Are you aware that you have the ability to live a life of genuine happiness without giving up happy moments that may come day by day? I say ability, because it's a choice. It's a lifestyle. It's a trust in the One and only One that is the source for genuine happiness.

Psalm 119:35 says:
Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

In my thesaurus, the first available word for delight is happiness. Keeping the Lord's commandments can bring us a happiness like no other. Embracing that happiness will bring you an inner joy that no shoe sale, ride in a fast car, promotion, or amusement park will touch. A genuine happiness overlooks an everyday life circumstance that could otherwise cause frustration, and instead brings forth a smile, keeps a joyful song on your lips, and pleasure in serving others.

The lifestyle change of following those commandments is a struggle, whether you're just recently born again, or have been saved for the last forty years.

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Anything that comes before God in your life (your spouse, children, career, home, possessions, hobbies, etc) is being made a god in your life. If God isn't being put first, you've made that other person or thing the center of your life... the god you are living to serve.

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
Is there an actor, singer, or even a neighbor you admire and wish to be like? Be careful you're not making that person your idol, when Jesus has set the example for anything and everything we could aspire to be. Just remember, a "graven image" (idol) doesn't necessarily mean a statue carved of stone, it's anything that impresses you deeply enough to follow it.

3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Keeping it put simply, if you're saying "oh my God", I surely hope you're in the middle of a prayer. According to the dictionary, when something is taken in vain,
it is done "without real significance, value, or importance, it is baseless or worthless". None of that describes God, especially the obvious no-no of giving God a last name. Use His name in utmost reverence.

4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
We run our minds like crazy through the week attacking agendas, to-do lists, errands, meetings, and working to ensure our wants are covered. It's certainly not too much to ask to give a day to the Lord, honoring His day of rest. When something is kept "holy", it is recognized as sacred, and dedicated to the service of God.

5. Honour thy father and thy mother.
For some this is easy, because their parents were a genuine role model while growing up. For others, this may be harder... but we are to honour (respect, regard, and serve) our parents. There is a reason God chose them to be your parents, so it should be a privilege to serve them, regardless of past or present circumstances.

6. Thou shalt not kill.
Skipping past the obvious interpretation of this command not to blow away your neighbor with a shotgun, keep in mind there are other ways to kill than with a man-made weapon. There is more power in your words than there is gunpowder in a single shot. If your words to another person aren't uplifting, encouraging, and motivating them to be a stronger and better person... than your words are killing them in spirit. Many of us were taught this at a young age with the phrase "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all". The command and the phrase coincide greatly.

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Although divorce is running rapid in society, there are still many married couples that will go to their grave without cheating on their spouse by having sex with someone else during marriage. With that in mind, also remember that Matthew 5:28 tells us that "whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart". Make no mistake that this goes for ogling the big names in Hollywood just as much as it applies to your next door neighbor or co-worker. Keep your heart and mind pure!

8. Thou shalt not steal.
If you want something, find a way to pay for it or ask God to provide... don't take something that isn't rightfully yours. This includes time. Make sure God gets His share of your day, as well as His 10% of your pay.

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
If you don't know the facts, keep your mouth shut. Running your mouth, gossiping, and being a drama queen not only hurts those around you, but it's displeasing to the Lord.

10. Thou shalt not covet.
God made you a special, unique, and precious individual. Just because you don't have a trust fund, the hottest wife, the biggest house, or the best behaved children, doesn't mean it's ok to look longingly at the neighbor that does. Embrace the life you are in, because God has a purpose for you being right where you are, at this very moment.

Psalm 119, as I referenced to for happiness at the beginning, wasn't just stating that following these commandments was the source of happiness, but it guides us on how to obtain it! We're shown that we can ask the Lord to teach us His ways (Psalm 119:33), give understanding to make it possible to follow His ways (Psalm 119:34), to open our hearts to so we can accept His ways (Psalm 119:36), and to turn our eyes away from the things that will distract us from His ways (Psalm 119:37).

I'm not perfect, God still has a lot of work to do in me. However, the more I strive to keep His commandments, the lighter the spring in my step becomes, the louder the song in my heart sings, and greater the joy that comes my way in doing things with and for others. I encourage you to embrace His commands. Be a set apart Christian that is a doer of the Word, not just a hearer that still lacks the genuine happiness God has in store for you!

It's Time to Get Serious Folks

To many proclaiming Christians, getting into heaven seems as easy and thoughtless as making a quick stop at the store for a gallon of milk.

In fact, I would say many put more thought into what they're going to wear for the day, than they do on The One who woke them up that morning.

Romans 13:14 tells us to "put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ". If you spent hours each morning getting ready, it's all useless and in vain if you haven't put on and wrapped yourself up in the traits of Christ. When you "put on Christ", you're being mindful of the way He lived, the lessons He taught, and the life He sacrificed. You're opening your day to be an example of what He represented and gave His life for.

Consider this scenario:

Jesus wakes up in the morning, says a prayer to the Father in heaven, asking Him to bless His day. He grabs some breakfast, and heads to work as a carpenter. Once He gets to work, he sees John Doe working on a project out of earshot. He leans over to a friend working nearby to fill him in on what he saw John Doe doing the night before. He talks about how hot the woman at the well was. After His boss walks by to check on work progress, Jesus exclaims what a jerk he is and how much he'd like to slap the attitude right out of him. After lunch he's running late getting back to work, and he flips a bird at the guy causing traffic on the path, delaying him even more. Finally making it back to work, He's getting tired and irritated, wishing it were Friday, so he snaps at everyone that speaks to him for the rest of the day. On the way home after work he stops at a nearby pub to have a few drinks with some guys from work to trash talk the boss a bit more. When He gets home for the night, he sits alone, frustrated, trying to figure out why His life is so hard sometimes. Before going to bed for the night, He prays, asking God to make tomorrow a better day.

I don't know about you, but I am most certain this is NOT how a typical day in the life of Jesus went!! So, why is it so many "Christians" think that their typical day can be carried in such a way, yet wonder why their life isn't joy-filled, prosperous, stress free, financially secure, and with blessings overflowing with favor from their Father in heaven??

Look friends, if you want to claim the peace and blessings that come with being a child of God, then it's time to start living like a child of God. Gossip in the work place or at school, negativity and the sharing of unGodly things on social media, belittling your spouse, being two-faced and harsh to friends and/or co-workers, putting yourself before others... none of these are the traits of Christ.

Jesus will be coming back to claim a pure and holy people... not those who claim it and say an occasional "thank you Lord", yet live a life based on their own fleshly desires and fly by night thinking. I'm not pointing fingers, I am well aware of "he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone" (John 8:7). However, having put on Christ, I am given the boldness to shush the nonsense and filth spoken in my presence. I am able to share compassion with others that He has shown to me. I am given the chance to be an example rather than one that ridicules out of frustration or hate. I have the opportunity to love those who are least lovable.

Spend some time reviewing your last week. How much of your time was spent belittling, criticizing, complaining, lusting, being lazy, and thinking of yourself? Now compare that to how much time was spent showing compassion, forgiving, encouraging, saying I love you, uplifting those around you, putting others before self. After comparing the two, is it time to set some goals and pray for strength for making changes?

Only you can decide to follow through with those changes and make it happen! Put on Christ each morning and realize that being a Christian is being Christ-like. It's not just slapping a title on yourself with an accompanying free pass into heaven, despite how you live your life.

I urge you to take this seriously...
Your time here is precious, don't waste another minute of it!