Christmas Torrent

This was SUPPOSED to be for last week, however it was lost in emails and it still has great value and it was decided to go ahead and post it today.

December 21st Reading 

I have a confession to make. I got completely caught up in the Christmas Craze today. I was not a very good follower of Jesus and I set a terrible example for my young children. I started the day by oversleeping. I didn’t get my shower, coffee and quiet time with Jesus before my kids woke up. That always makes me grumpy. From there, I set out to conquer my overwhelming to-do list. I spent the day doing things I really didn’t want to do.

Every year, I tell myself that I am going to be more organized. That I am going to get my shopping done early and get my Christmas cards mailed more than two weeks before Christmas. It didn’t happen this year. I was frantically trying to find the perfect family picture, just this morning, so that I could order the cards and get them addressed today. Yep, days before Christmas.

After some toppling issues, I put the finishing touches on our tree today. I was able to put away the ornament boxes and vacuum up the pine needles that stick to everything. Finally, the house was looking festive rather than trashed.

In the midst of the chaos of laundry, decorating and addressing cards, I did manage to referee several disputes between my kids. The arguments varied depending on the toy they were playing with (fighting over). But, it was mostly tattling and finger pointing mixed with grabbing and yelling.

These are not the scenes I imagine when I dream of Christmas. The Christmas in my mind looks more like a Norman Rockwell painting. Our family happily decorates the tree together, plays board games and sips hot cocoa filled with marshmallows. We would read Christmas stories before bed and enjoy cuddle time at the end of a day filled with happy memories.

Where did it all go wrong? I know that I set the tone this morning and I was definitely off-key. I started down the wrong path and then, shared my sourness with my beautiful children.

Something in the reading for today caught my eye though.

Revelation 12:15, Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent.

Oh, Dear Lord, this was me today. I couldn’t get a foothold. My to-do list crashed over my head and the undertow of the days events caused me to somersault and prevented me from finding which way was up.

There was something else that caught my eye though, the woman was overtaken by the water spewed from the serpents mouth.

What lies was I hearing and believing today? There were things I did today because I thought I needed to. My kids don’t really care whether I send out Christmas cards. I didn’t really need to put that last string of lights outside. That was my choice, and to be honest, it was more of a pride issue than anything else.

In the last few years, our family has done a better job of cutting back on our gifts and sharing with others who may not be as fortunate. Today, though, I lost sight of what this season is really about.

Now that I reflect on the ugliness of the day, God tried to help me up and I didn’t hear Him. As we were walking in to pick up the last minute cards, my five year old said, “Mom, Christmas is really all about Jesus. It is his birthday and we all get to celebrate it.” I wasn’t really listening. “That’s right”, I said. “If it weren’t for Jesus, we wouldn’t be celebrating Christmas.”

Lord, I confess that, today I was not all that you created me to be. I’m sorry for not spending time with you this morning. I didn’t give you authority over my to-do list. Instead, I took it on myself, wrongly thinking I could do it alone. I’m sorry for being stubborn and prideful. Please forgive me. I want to do better, God, for you, for my family and for me. Teach me how to celebrate Christmas your way, Father. Show me what is truly important and help me to release the things that really don’t matter. Thank you for sending your son, Jesus, to save me from my sins. I want to live my life for you and shine your light in this world, today and everyday. Amen.

Hugs,

Lynnette

Did you Know God said "HO" "HO" "HO" !

Dec 27: Zech 1-4; Rev 18

I hope all my friends and family had a Merry Christmas!

Now that the hustle and bustle of the holiday is over my family left yesterday to take a vacation to Boyne Mountain to snowboard and ski for one week! This is always a special time for us as we prepare to enter into a NEW YEAR!

Before I get ready to strap on my snowboard and hit the slopes for the day, I poured my cup of coffee and sweetly asked God to show me something to share today to all my Bloggy friends!

I must admit I chuckled when I came past the words in Zechariah 2: 6 "HO, HO, come forth and flee from the land of the north."
 I feel like I have been a busy elf living in the scenery of the North Pole for the last month preparing to make everyone's Christmas extra special. God was speaking to me saying "Come out of the North"
As I sat and pondered some more...I was reminded of something really neat.

In this verse God was speaking to the Jewish people and He arrived to them like a personal Santa Clause,  saying "HO, HO, come out of your personal prisons because I want to perform my promises to you and gather you."  God wanted to bless them and take care of them with His special gifts!

Something was stirred in my heart after I pondered this one verse. Today many sit after the excitement of the holiday and remain in their personal prisons. Wishing Santa answered their wish lists for Christmas.

Santa received many letters this season...

Santa, I want to ask you to help us...Daddy has been really mean since mommy died.

Dear Santa, I want someone to love me, can you find that for me?

Santa, I want my mommy to feel better

Santa, I want my husband to LOVE me

Dear Santa, I want happiness in my family

Dear Santa, I need a job 

So many write letters to Santa during the holiday season BELIEVING that he has all kinds of power and promises stuffed in his big red bag. Children believe he has the power to restore families, help daddy quit drinking and fighting and bring peace to a hurt home. Santa Letters are very real...

I love to pretend and make believe that Santa is real! As a matter of fact I even sat on his lap this year. But with the hustle and bustle of Christmas, Santa comes and goes so quickly, leaving some wish lists unanswered.

I want to show you something REALLY AMAZING THIS MORNING and I hope that it stirs your heart to BELIEVE in the real Santa this new year!

Santa clause and Jesus Christ have almost EVERYTHING in common...

1. Another name for Santa Clause is "Kris Kringle" this means THE CHRIST CHILD in a German term.

2. They both are suppose to know everything.
     Santa knows whether you have been bad or good. He knows where you lived and if you moved. 
     Jesus Christ knows everything and knows all men and all things. John 2:24

3. Both are everywhere
    Santa is in walmart, target and every mall at the same time! How does he do that? He can be in 
    several places at the same time! Well guess what...Jesus Christ has the same ability!

4. Both sit on a throne
    Santa always sits on a throne like a king! Did u ever see Santa on a regular chair?
    Jesus Christ also sits on a throne in heaven. Acts 2:30

I LOVE THIS ONE!!!

5. They both say HO! HO! HO!
     God the father says "HO, HO" several times in scripture...that is what caught my attention in the 
     first place this morning!

6. Both bring Gifts
    My kids went to bed Christmas Eve with excitement of Santa's delivery in the night. He slides in like 
    a thief in the night. Jesus Christ will come as a thief in the night...read Revelations 3:3 and 16:15.

7. Both are ETERNAL
    When was Santa born? when will he die? when was the last time he missed Christmas because he 
    was ill?
    Jesus Christ is ETERNAL...Revelations 1:18 "I am He that liveth, and was dead;  behold, I am 
    alive for evermore, Amen.

Is this all a coincidence? NOT AT ALL... I just think its Gods way of reminding us that HE is the REAL SANTA CLAUSE.
 It is so important that we do not let Santa take away the power from the Savior!
Have fun, exchange presents, Believe Big during the Christmas season BUT remember that the first gift ever was wrapped in swaddling blankets in a manger!
Put the focus on the SAVIOR.

Christmas is not over in one day it lives on in your heart. If Christ is your savior and lives in your heart He will teach you to seek Gods will and HIS WILL answers all your greatest desires in your Santa letters!

Will this be a goal for you in the NEW YEAR? to write down your visions and desires to the REAL SANTA! He has your plan all figured out in HIS red bag!

Blessings as we prepare for the NEW YEAR together
I am off to snowboard folks...pictures will come, I  promise!

Merry CHRISTMAS!!!

December 24th Reading

We are one day away from our great Savior's birthday!!!  With that in mind, you would think that more people would be on a better behavior, NOT!  It is so sad to go out shopping for what you would think would be a fun day with your mom and get slammed into by carts, cut off in parking lots, almost having accidents, it is complete insanity!!! 

How many of us really found a way to exalt our Savior?  How many of us did something for someone else in honor of Jesus Christ?  You didn't do it to feel good, or to pat your self on the back, you did it specifically as a "gift" for Jesus for His birthday?  The world is in complete chaos, there is so much going on in everyone's lives, yet we have a Savior that is willing to be with us every step of the way if we only call out to Him.  There is no reason for all this stress over gifts and other stuff, just relax, let go and let God handle it all.  Maybe if we all took a step back and really concentrated on what the season is all about, we might actually enjoy the holiday season.

I truly hope and pray that all of you out there take a brief moment to reflect WITH your family about the blessings you have in your life and what you can do in the upcoming days, weeks, months, years and forever for others.  I don't just mean once a year at Christmas time, all year do things for other people, if you get a good deal on a toaster at a store, pick up an extra one and give it to a single parent that could use it.  Simple things like that can mean the world to another person.  You could bake a cake and drop it off to a group of teachers at a school and just say thanks for doing so much for the children.  It doesn't take a million dollars, it doesn't take a long time to just do something nice for someone else. 

God doesn't ask all that much from us, He asks us to honor Him and we can find a way to do that each and every day.

Merry Christmas!!! I pray that you all have a lovely holiday with friends or family or whatever you do. 

Much love,
Kari

END UP IN THE RIGHT PLACE ON PURPOSE IN 2011

December 16 READING

Christmas time is the appropriate season for suspense and anticipation!

I love unwrapping presents and being surprised!

However... I feel our dreams are much like a present.
The NEW YEAR leaves me with the feeling of suspense and anticipation as I begin to unwrap new surprises along the way. God has your dreams wrapped up perfectly and He will allow you to unwrap a little at a time if you desire to walk with Him in 2011.

Do you want to see your life and dreams through HIS eyes in 2011?

 If you are visiting for the first time located at the top of this Daily Devo , click the date and it will bring you to the book of Amos and show you the bible reading for today. I want to encourage you to join me in our daily readings. My blogs are based off of Gods word for the day.

The book of Amos is so perfect in reminding me that God wants to be master over all of my life. God so badly wants to fulfill our expectations and dreams but He wants us to go about it according to His ways. What a great challenge for 2011, ya think?

In Amos chapter four you read a series of natural disasters that showed up in Israel in unlikely places. Famine, drought, blight, plagues and war--any of which should have been enough to turn the nation to God. But Israel did not respond to God.
Amos begins to hold out another CHANCE to Israel to RETURN TO GOD.

God wants us to see our life so badly through His eyes  that He extends so much grace in our natural disasters. I have to admit...I caused all my BIG DISASTERS and was so stubborn and head strong that it still  was not enough to turn me to God.  My disasters always came from my shortcuts that I designed into my life.
My personal shortcuts always appeared to be a way of speeding up DREAMS and EXPECTATIONS. But, disasters began to appear in my life and quench the spark of my dreams and expectations.

Did you ever feel like a vision or dream has been abandoned?

Many years ago God sat me on a fence and helped me gain NEW PERSPECTIVE. He wanted me to put some dreams on hold. Sometimes we can become so dream focused that we chase after it so hard and end up in places HE FORBIDS!

God wants you to step into the New Year with anticipation and great expectation. However, we have to Return to Him and deny all our shortcuts. I was so focused on Dreams at one point a few years back that I was unaware of how I was abandoning God.

I needed to learn about the alignment between, conviction and action, belief and behavior. When we return everything to God, He will bring a fresh perspective and NEW chances. If God has birthed that vision in your heart, chance are you have already began exploring.
But in order to END UP IN THE RIGHT PLACE ON PURPOSE we have to maintain our relationship with GOD first. He feeds the quality of the vision. If we move ahead the vision will again evaporate and we will be left in another natural disaster.

I pray that you walk into 2011 with a heart of anticipation and expectation to Grow in your love for God. This may mean you will be surrendering more and more while sitting on the fence. But when God moves its more POWERFUL then any shortcut.

Your dream is fragile, so thank God for the NEW CHANCES and CHANGES HE will bring in 2011!~

Yesterday, I experienced God open up His flood gates. He added more quality and perspective to the dreams He placed long ago in my heart. I do not do well "sitting still".....
 one year ago today, many of you recall God asked me to lay down and surrender. It has been a huge year of God Changing and rearranging. But as I sat the connections and supernatural ways of God moved in so many amazing directions. He will row the boat and ask you to step out when the timing is right!

Will you allow God to row your boat in 2011?

I encourage you to STAY in THE BOAT, until He says "STEP OUT."

Enjoy the anticipation and expectation of this Christmas season.... BUT I challenge you to EXPECT and ANTICIPATE fresh vision for 2011.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

My Broken Heart

December 14th Reading 

While I was doing the reading for today, I kept thinking about Heather’s blog from yesterday. The people of Judah were definitely experiencing one of those “how can this be” moments that Heather described.

There were swarms of locusts and a severe drought destroying their crops and their land. This meant their livelihood and their lives were being threatened. That sounds familiar.

You may be experiencing the locusts. What is eating away at you? Is it fear, stress, anger, un-forgiveness, hurt?

You may be experiencing drought. What is drying up? Maybe your finances, a job, love, a relationship, hope, faith, your Spirit?

In Joel 2:12-13, we discover the key to living through their, and our, circumstances: return to God “with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments.”

I did not know what “rend your heart and not your garments” meant. I had to look it up.

Rend means to tear something into two or more pieces. To rend one's garments, means “to tear one’s clothes as a sign of extreme grief or distress”.

Joel is telling the people of Judah to go to God with their entire heart, open to Him.

My study Bible notes Psalm 51:17 as a reference to Joel. The text note there says, “what pleases God more than sacrifices is a humble heart that looks to him when troubles crush and penitently pleads for mercy when sin has been committed.”

Wow! God wants our hearts more than anything else that we might offer. It may be broken, it may be bruised or stained, but He still wants it. It is not beyond His healing.

His word says, that when we turn to Him, He is faithful and will take pity on us. (Joel 2:18). He will feel sorrow and show compassion on those because of their suffering. God says that on the day of the Lord, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten” (Joel 2:25), He promises to “pour out His Spirit” (Joel 2:28) and He says, the water will return and be plentiful (Joel 3:16).

That is great news! When we turn to Him, He is faithful in healing our hearts and our lives, when the time is right. Aha! There is the catch you might be thinking (or even saying.) These things all happen in His time, not on ours. It is true, it is not on our schedule, but on His. But, don’t give up! Keep going to Him. Open your heart in prayer. Prayer gets to heaven. Want proof? Revelation 5:8b tells us, “they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” And, according to Romans 1:7 and Ephesians 1:1, you who are faithful to Christ, are a Saint!

Our prayers are lifted to heaven as incense, when the time is right, when the bowls overflow, they will be overturned and the blessings will be abundant. All that has been taken will be repaid.

You may be broken right now, but when you humbly go to Him, the healing and help will begin. He will take all of the pieces and put them back the way He meant for them to be.

Lord, my heart has been broken by my circumstances, by other people and even through my own mistakes. I am not without stain and blemish. I rend my heart and give it to you. I know that it is better in Your hands than in my own. You are my Healer, my Comforter, my Help. I know that you hear my prayer and that you will answer in Your way and in Your time. Thank you for feeling my hurt and for showing compassion. “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Rev 5:13) Amen.

Hugs,

Lynnette

HOW CAN THIS BE?

December 13th Reading

 

Fifteen years ago I sat in the balcony of a church for the first time because I had a deep, dark hurt and a reality bigger then me that kept me saying "How can this be?"

My marriage was struggling and my parents where freshly divorced after 27 years of marriage. I felt lost, hurt and hopeless. My parents both figuring out their paths in life and my husband left to go down his self centered path. I remember so vividly that day that I anxiously made my way through the doors of this big white church. I sat pregnant at 34 weeks crying while asking God "How could this be?

My reality was so Big, I could not even wrap my mind around any good possibilities that could come out of this. I was troubled, confused and scared. Scared that I would be delivering my second baby with no man at my side. I know that is and was a reality for many women today.

This morning as I was preparing to write a devotion from the daily scheduled reading, I felt a nudge to write about the message I gave this past weekend at a woman's event called "Joy to the World"

My title was Merry Christmas vs Merry Reality.
How do we have Joy when our realities are so BIG and troublesome?

I would love for you to travel with me to LUKE 1:26-35, Please take a moment to read and wrap your heart around what was happening in that moment to Mary.

This story pointed me to a very important truth for this Christmas and I want to share with all my family and friends. I hope it blesses you and then encourages you to be a GABRIEL angel in someones life this season.

When Mary heard the news from the angel that she was Highly favored and blessed among women, she was troubled from the start with the angels greeting. The angel Gabriel continued saying to Mary "Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus!
 Mary now even more troubled and confused with this BIG reality exclaimed..

 "HOW CAN THIS BE, SINCE I HAVE NOT BEEN WITH A MAN?"

The angel then answered her with something so POWERFUL that I would love for you to grasp this Christmas.

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the highest will overshadow you."

Mary's response is key....

Mary took her eyes off the reality and placed her life with Trust in God. She just knew with Gabriel's encouragement that God was getting ready to BIRTH A POSSIBILITY IN HER REALITY!

Mary also did not try to ESCAPE her reality. She stood firm and let nothing move her. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

She allowed God to work through her reality to bring true JOY to the world. Her Reality became anther's possibility.


Did you ever consider that your trouble will birth a possibility in anther's life? God will use you as He overshadows you and comforts you.
God cares about your "HOW CAN THIS BE?"

I know the moment I asked God to Come into my heart, He began to show me the path of life and in His presence I found FULLNESS OF JOY (Psalm 16:11)

Do not allow your reality to steal the joy from your life. God can overshadow your "How can this be?"

The loss of a loved one, a broken marriage, sickness, loss of home and job, financial struggles, ministry problems, lost dreams, sinful consequences. All these realities the MOST HIGH can take over.

My friend, I want to be your Gabriel today and encourage you with these words..."Do not be afraid, for with God nothing will be impossible." You my friend are HIGHLY FAVORED!

I will be posting the speaking video from the conference this week. If you have a friend or family member dealing with a big reality this Christmas maybe you can use this tool to bless and settle their troubled hearts.

To all my Michigan friends, most of us have a SNOW DAY! Enjoy!

Joy to the world,

Can you even imagine?

December 10th Reading

What if God came to you and said go marry a prostitute?  As if!

Today's reading literally had me laughing as I read it.  No, I do not think God's word is a joke!  I was just sitting there thinking about my husband when I read it.  It says that the Lord told Hosea to go marry a promiscuous woman, which could mean she was a prostitute or even a woman that just keeps having affairs.

Think about your husband or boyfriend or an important man in your life for a minute.  If you are a man, sit and think about yourself for a minute.

Now, here is this man that you are thinking of (or yourself if you are a man reading this) just living his life.  The Lord comes down and says, "hey go marry a promiscuous woman AND have children with her."  I can see right now the look my husband's face.  He would have that expression, "are you crazy?"  Hosea was probably thinking wow, really, seriously?  However, he went and married a promiscuous woman and had the children that the Lord commanded him to do.  That is some blind faith!

I could not imagine being a man and being told to do something like this.  I have thought of things in my life that I have done that were probably unpleasing to the Lord, well not probably, they were unpleasing!  So why would it be so hard to do something "crazy" or "wild" or "extreme" for God?  Maybe we should all take those giant leaps of faith and step out in faith and really truly serve God???

Granted, God was making a point about disciplining Israel, but He still used real people in real situations.  I know that God has used me to make some points. I know that God will continue to use me, and quite frankly I am really excited about it.  I have taken some giant leaps lately and really stepped out in my faith.  It is so AWESOME!!! I am once again excited about God, I never ever stopped believing in Him or His vast power.  I did lose my enthusiasm though, I had gone through so much that was my own fault, I was really feeling inadequate or unworthy of His love and grace.  The thing about it is, that is when He was there for me the most, he had all these people right in front of me all along that needed someone just like me!  They were praying for a go getter, a make it happen kind of gal, and all along I was sitting there letting life pass me by.

Well guess what people...I am holding on to the very corner tip tail of my heavenly Father's robe and flying through life with more passion, more gusto, more grace, more love, more enthusiasm then ever before.  And it feels GREAT!  When you get saved, you are so amped up on the Holy Spirit, then for some people we don't stay as involved as we should so we get bored and because we are not feeding that Holy Spirit in us, it dwindles down.  Just like my bottomless pits, I mean sons, no really I mean bottomless pit children eat from the time they get home from school until I make them go to bed at night, I have to feed my bottomless pit too!  I have to keep filling my heart and soul with the truth and then my light gets brighter and brighter.  I am as excited, or probably more so, to be serving God and doing things for other people to experience Him then I was when I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart.

No I am not a fanatic, I am just filled up, to the point of overflowing with the Holy Spirit.  This is a complete adrenaline rush for me.  My kids love it, my husband thinks I have completely lost my mind, but it is so fun.  I was sitting there peeling almost 30 hard boiled eggs for our woman's conference yesterday singing, and my husband said, "Kari you hate peeling eggs, but not only are doing it, you are singing too?"  I said, "yes dear, its fun!"  He rolled his eyes and kept walking.  Typically he is my egg peeler, but I was just happy to be doing SOMETHING to serve the Lord, so yes for that day peeling eggs was serving the Lord.  I have to make sure that these ladies have something to eat when they come and hear a great message.

You do not have to be super skilled, or super smart, or super anything.  God will use YOU however He sees fit, you just have to open and available and see where you can get in.  God will make it happen for you!  Have the kind of faith Hosea had and just be ready to do whatever God asks you or calls you to do.  You could be the one to help change the world!!!

I urge you to be available for God, make some time for Him in your life, sure I have 900 other things I should be doing, but whatever, I have my priorities straight and God is first, then the hubby and then the bottomless pits, I mean sons.

Find a way to do something to help others feel that same overflow you do, or once did.  If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior, contact me or Heather or someone TODAY!!!

Much love,
Kari

Lessons from the Lions Den

December 7th Reading

Daniel was a good man. He sought God and obeyed His commands. God had a plan for Daniel. King Belshazzar needed information and none of the wise men in his courts could help him. Someone suggested Daniel. Daniel was brought to the king, and by seeking God, Daniel was able to provide the information the king desired. From that moment, he continued to do well within the courts. He impressed the king’s successor and became even more successful.

Daniel was thriving in his work! In that time and in our time, success often comes with a target for you to wear. Daniel entered his “first lion’s den”. The other people in his “office” became jealous.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

There was talk of promotion and that did not sit well with the others. They decided that Daniel had to go. They watched every move he made in order to catch him doing something illegal or to compromise his character. They found nothing. Daniel was a person of integrity.

The coworkers decided the only thing that would cause Daniel to fall would be his dedication to God. The administrators went to the king and encouraged him to make a new law. The law stated that for the next 30 days people should only pray to the king. Anyone caught disobeying this law would be thrown to the lions.

Daniel knew about this new law. But, he was dedicated to God. He continued the Jewish practice of praying three specific times throughout the day. He did not hide his prayer or his beliefs, he continued just as he always had. I believe that Daniel feared God more than he feared man. He did not compromise who he was even with the possibility of death hanging over him.

The authorities reported to the king that Daniel was continuing his daily prayer times. The king liked Daniel and did not want him to be killed. The king tried to find a loophole, but he could not. So, with more pressure from the coworkers, the king sent for Daniel. They threw Daniel into the lions den and as the den was closed the king said, “May your God, whom you serve continually rescue you!” The king did not like that he had sealed the fate of a good man.

At first light, the king rushed to the lion’s den to see if Daniel had made it through the night. Daniel was alive! All of the glory belonged to God. God rewarded Daniel’s dedication and character. The king sent for the men who had wrongly accused Daniel, they were killed. The king also issued a new law that everyone in the kingdom should “fear and reverence the God of Daniel”.

In his time, Daniel was a captive, a prisoner, but today he was my teacher. There are so many things I can learn from Daniel.

Jealousy is an ugly thing! It makes us act and behave ugly. It makes us say things we wish we hadn’t. It makes us do things we often regret. Jealousy is not of God. It is human nature and it is difficult to fight that nature alone.

I need to work on being happy for others when they are blessed or when they are successful. By seeking God, I will be filled with the Holy Spirit and the fruit that He provides. When I am filled with His love, I can love others and honestly share in their success.

In the face of adversity Daniel did not compromise his character. Integrity is a beautiful thing! It is refreshing to see someone so faithful to God that he is willing to put his life in jeopardy rather than stop worshipping Him.

I need to work on being true to who I am in Jesus. He has changed me for the better. I am not perfect and I won’t be as long as I am on Earth, but I am better with Him than I am without Him.

In a world full of lies and deceit it is easy to get caught up in all of it. It is often easier to pretend I am someone else rather than risk being looked at as a “Jesus freak”. It is often easier to go along with the crowd rather than stand up and say, “These are my beliefs and I will follow them at any cost”.

I need to work on being more afraid of God than of people. I doesn’t matter if I lose my social standing or the worldly image that others want to see. What truly matters is that I am seeking Him first.

Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 2 John 1:8

Lord, I thank you for providing such great examples in Your Word. I praise you that a book written 2600 years ago is still applicable to my life. Only you could accomplish such a magnificent feat. Thank you for teaching me lessons that bring me closer to you and closer to the plan that you have prepared for me. Please help me to become a person of integrity who is dedicated to you and not ashamed to say “I love my God and will follow Him at any cost”. In Jesus precious name. Amen.

Hugs,

Lynnette

IS YOUR FRONT LOAD WASHER A BURDEN?

December 6th Reading

                                     

I have to honestly admit that in my college years I was scared to move forward in a deeper relationship with Christ. It meant that life would no longer be "FUN."

The world tempts us to believe that obeying God's commands is not as satisfying as disobeying them and we tend to agree with the world, at least I did! When I thought about God and His ways I felt that it pushed hard against my flesh, following Christ seemed very hard. However, my life for several years was so unstable it reminded me of my LARGE FRONT LOAD WASHER.

The pretty, red, large, front load washers come with so many great features that the average women is dreaming of what life would be like with a Bright Cherry washer! However, the reality is you do not spend that much money for an unstable washer that runs away all the time and better yet when  it's on the spin cycle it so powerful it sounds like a train is going through your house.

For the past year I have struggled and complained about this washer I dreamed of having and never experienced most of the great features. My husband and I have tried everything in our own wisdom and might to balance this washer so it would spin strong and firmly. I desired so bad for this washer to stand still and firm allowing nothing to move it!

Today was the day for change friends! Me and the pretty, red washer had a little chat this morning...
I also had a light bulb moment and decided to read and study the owners manual. This is why my blog is posted later today, I needed to take focus and take action.

This washer is beautiful and it was costly but the burden of an unstable, extremely loud washer was more then I could handle. After a year of dealing with the same situation day after day it just blew up this morning!

Taking the time to read a manual and study all the great features seemed like to much work for me, it was a real BURDEN. I would  just push the "normal wash" cycle button and let it run its course. I would always choose the low spin cycle thinking this would help with the spin cycle. It never did, the washer would run across my floor!
Today... I found something TUCKED in the owners manual that read "Hold the "stain sensor" button for 3 seconds before the wash cycle begins and it will allow for less vibration during the spin cycle."
 WOW, who would have thought that the stain feature was going to help my spin sensor to activate? A little hidden piece of information tucked into the manual has made my reality so much better today. I have washed 2 loads and seem to be on to something good. I also found many other secrets tucked in this manual that will help me to have a balanced washer!

This whole stressful situation reminded me of something today after I did my morning reading...
 1 John 5: 3 " For this is the Love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not BURDENSOME."


Like I stated earlier, following Christ and His manual seemed burdensome to me at the moment But if you look at things from His perspective you'll see how much He loves you and desires for you to experience His joy.

 God wants us to stand firm and for nothing to move us.

 However the realities that we all face in our daily lives can be very hard. The real burden is  the consequences we face when our sinful deeds and pride takes over and we do not look to His commands to lead, guide and direct us.

It took me a year before I decided to sit down and  read the owners manual for this washer. How often do I rush around burdened with the realities of my life and not look to the Perfect manual for direction. Gods word is full of secrets that will help bring our life into a balance before it spins out of control! 
I remember a specific point in my life when everything was spinning out of control and I had no balance. It was then I decided to take an honest look at the owners manual.

Gods word seemed difficult at times and it would push against my flesh but through Christ I could joyfully do what He asked through  His strength.

 Christ did not pay the ultimate price to give us an unbalanced life.

 God never intended us to be stuck spinning out of control.

 Jesus came to bring us eternal life to keep our life running smooth.

When the Angel of the Lord came to Mary, he reminded her that "Nothing would be impossible with God."
 Christ came to bring possibility into our reality.

 I am thankful that God's word has not become a burden but a Joy. Christ has supernaturally strengthened me and taught me what to activate in the owners manual to help my present day reality.

I had to make a choice to READ the Owners manual.

Do you ever feel like your life is spinning out of control?
Does the Christmas season leave you feeling more unbalanced and hurt?
Do you feel like Gods word is more burdensome then joyful?

I want to promise you today that God has JOY and POSSIBILITY for your current REALITY.

 He taught me through my unstable crazy washer that we just need to take the time and allow Gods truth to activate new perspectives and show us how to push new buttons. I promise His word (the owners manual) will settle your life to a place of firmness and joy, nothing will move you my friend.

Pull out the owners manual today!

Merry Christmas,