Did I ever tell you how much I LOVE traditions? For our family, there is no time to practice them like the holidays! Traditions usher in a sense of familiarity and excitement within this crew. We look forward each year to knowing just what the menu and schedule of events for Thanksgiving and Christmas will be.
Our menu for Thanksgiving Day has evolved over the years as each member of the family developed a love of their favorite dish. We bake both turkey and smoked ham, followed by a smorgasbord of seventeen other complementary dishes and desserts. It’s enough to feast on for days...and we do! A special bowl is selected each year, entitled “The Blessing Bowl”. Throughout the day of fun and fellowship, each member of the family finds their own intimate moment to steal away and add personal and unique tokens of gratitude to the bowl. After the Thanksgiving meal, our children with pen and paper in hand, excitedly compile their long, awaited Christmas lists.
When our children were small, Steve and I were part of the mentally unstable group who rolls out of bed sometime around 4:00 am to fight the crowds of BLACK FRIDAY. We loved that time together and took great pride in checking off the lists the kids had made the previous day and creatively deciding upon a new hiding place for this year’s gifts. That evening, our entire extended family meets for supper in town, foregoing the traditional turkey for at least one meal.
Every Saturday after Thanksgiving is reserved for ushering in the spirit of Christmas! We attend the matinee Christmas movie of the season and as the children have gotten older we have added the Christmas symphony to our list of fun. All to be followed by the lighting and decorating of our family tree and NO trimming of the tree would be complete without Christmas music and the smell of spiced cider brewing in the background.
As a favorite song suggests, “IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!”
There is absolutely no greater earthly treasure lavished upon us by the Father above like the gift of Family! The cords of love run so very deep! This week, I am thankful for every moment I’ve been given with each member of my family...living or deceased. The part each of you plays/played in my life has shaped my heart of gratitude. Everyone of you are/were special and unique, fashioned by our Great God unto good works and notable legacy. YOU ARE VALUABLE INDEED! This is the first year we will NOT be together, following our most-loved traditions, but as I travel know that YOU are in my heart, bringing memorable smiles to my face. May the satisfying and fulfilling love of God permeate your hearts with thanksgivings!
I LOVE YOU ALL, MY BLESSED FAMILY!
Blessings,
Jeneen, Mom, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Sister-in-law, and friend
“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are MY disciples.”
Recently, the Lord impressed upon my spirit that HE desired to lavish His love upon me in fresh and new ways. He encouraged me to be watchful of all the new ways He chooses to showcase His love in my life personally. So, I have begun to watch!
One night shortly after, I was in prayer just communicating with my Lord and I said, “Father, as a mother, one of the most precious ways YOU can lavish Your love upon me would be to pour out Your love upon my children." To which, He very quickly responded, "Yes, I fully understand because the most precious way YOU can lavish your love upon ME is to love my other children as well.”
Suddenly, I wept! The love of a mother for her children runs so very deep! In fact, it is at the very core of who we are. Whenever another blesses my two beautiful children, it is as if they have blessed me personally. What the Lord spoke to me that night was such a revelation! I already knew that, as His disciples, we have been commanded to love our brothers and sisters, but what I did not realize was that the most extensive way to express our love to our Father is to lavish our love upon His “other children.” When we do so, it is as if we are lavishing our love upon Him personally!
"I tell you the truth, whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you have done it unto ME!" - Matthew 25:40
We live in a fast-paced, busy society where taking the time to love outside of our own selves, marriage and family must be performed with purpose. As humans, selfishness reigns. However, in Christ, we have been commanded to love and honor others above even our own selves. Romans 12:10 says, “Be kindly affectionate toward each other with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another...
ACTIVATION:
1. When was the last time I put another brother or sister’s needs above my
own?
2. As I go about my daily routine, am I a reflection of my loving God to
others in countenance, as well as in actions? Do I smile at others? Do I take the time to grant a
compliment?
3. How long has it been since I have blessed another brother or sister just
because?
4. Am I loving the unloveable?
PRAYER:
Father, I realize today that it is not even possible to count the ways of your love! I want to thank YOU for personally loving ME! I desire to become part of YOUR solution to those in my personal sphere of influence. Holy Spirit, make me mindful of Your "other children" and reveal fresh and new ways that I can lavish Your love upon them. May Your Name always be honored and glorified in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“If you want to know what God wants you to do - ask Him, and He will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But, when you ask Him, be sure that you really expect Him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They cannot make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything that they do.” - James 1:5-8
At eighteen months of age, our beautiful daughter, Alyse, was diagnosed with epilepsy. By doctors orders, she was placed on an extremely high dosage of daily medication and as baby Christians, Steve and I were placed on God’s training wheel of FAITH. It was our first experience with the feeling of helplessness - hopelessness too! I remember thinking to myself, “how will our lives ever be the same?” Worry became the new mindset of our home as we consistently observed our precious child endure one to three seizures every day. There was nothing we could do except hold her safely in our arms until each storm passed, leaving behind a very exhausted and weak child each time.
One day while attending my very first ladies’ retreat, the Lord spoke to me through a word of prophecy saying, “I want to heal your daughter.” Call it immaturity or even stupidity (as her doctor did), but I took God at His word, returned home from the retreat and immediately took Alyse off of her medication. A few weeks passed free from seizures and the scheduled appointment for Alyse’s quarterly check-up drew nigh. To this day, I have never forgotten the look on her doctor’s face when I announced the news that Alyse had been healed and no longer needed to take her medicine! Afterall, epilepsy WAS the diagnosis! It was declared to be a struggle of hers for the rest of her life! How dare I play doctor!!!!
Within minutes, Alyse was hooked to an EEG monitor. This test had periodically been performed since her diagnosis to measure and record the spontaneous electrical activity of her brain and had shown very clear abnormalities each time...UNTIL THIS TIME! Upon the acceptance of God’s Word, Alyse was healed and the test had proven it on record! We left the doctor’s office that day on a high we neither one had ever experienced!
Sharing the testimony of God’s miraculous healing of our daughter was both wildly refreshing and new. If there ever was a way to launch one’s faith to a new level, a miracle certainly did it for us, but as quickly as it came, it was also tested.
Being our only child at the time, Alyse loved to sleep on a pallet beside our bed on special occasions. On this particular night, she did just that. In the wee hours of the morning, I was awakened by that dreadful noise...the undeniable sound of violent convulsion. My heart sank as I replayed every testimony I had given about her healing over and over in my head! Our faith was jolted. Devastated, I called my pastor’s wife for advice. She lovingly assured me to stand on the declaration of faith I had confessed and to never look back. “This is only a test, Jeneen," she declared.
In the days to come, I continued to stand upon God’s promise to me. I refused to accept that Alyse was not healed. I refused to put her back on the medicine and the Holy Spirit taught me a valuable lesson - that "symptoms", although they appear as facts, ARE NOT REALITY. REALITY is whatever GOD says! Since that night, Alyse has never endured another seizure. She will be 24 years old in March!
What have you been declaring and professing in this season of life? Are symptoms and signs announcing defeat? This is only a test! Stand firm and waver not! You have been called to walk by faith and not by sight. Contrary to popular belief, seeing is NOT always believing and perception is NOT always reality. Let faith arise! GOD is waiting to show Himself STRONG on your behalf!
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on the behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward him.” - 2 Chronicles:16:9
I hear everyone declaring their love for it! The summer flowers have recently been replaced with hardy mums and the colors of orange, yellow and brown adorn the entrances to houses and businesses all around town. The change of weather allows folks to enjoy cooler evening events and wear those beloved jeans and long-sleeve shirts we’ve had safely tucked away for months.
It’s THIS time of year that I begin to get all GIDDY with tradition and expectation for the holidays! The time-change and the early onset of evening is refreshing to me. I love to light candles around the house - fragrances of leaves, harvest, and spice to welcome my family home from their long days. It’s this time of year where you can feel justified to simply sit with a warm cup of coffee, cider, or hot-chocolate and curl up with a good book or watch that favorite TV show, complete with new and exciting episodes.
To me, Fall ushers in a more relaxing season of life! The non-stop days of summer are exchanged for family gatherings in the living room, the essential time for a cool evening walk, football with friends, and a chance to merely sigh a sigh of relief. Simply put, Fall is HARVEST TIME - a season for gathering crops, but also a season for gathering your thoughts! A season for the laborer to gather and then sit quietly in solitude before God, ceasing from activity and enjoying His fresh fragrance. This can be an uncomfortable position for you go-getters out there who feel pressured to always be “doing”. However, this is THE necessary place!
The Holy Spirit reminded me this morning of the parable of the ten virgins found in Matthew 25:1-13. This story clearly exemplifies the difference between spiritual wisdom and spiritual foolishness. Each virgin was given the exact same opportunity to light their lanterns, which is a direct representation of lighting the fire of their souls...that moment when the Holy Spirit draws you to the open door of accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, filling all who receive Him with light! However, in the parable, five virgins were wise and five were foolish. The difference? The five wise virgins continued to return to their initial Source and refuel their flames. The constant renewal supplied them with new revelation, empowerment, attitude adjustments and for that moment when the Bridegroom called out! The five unwise virgins simply went about, living off of the one-time experience they had when their flame was initially lit, but never stopping to refuel. Eventually, their fire was extinguished.
As a gentle friendly reminder today...where are YOU in this season of life? Are you like the wise virgins who understood that continual refueling from their Source was of the essence? Or, do you find yourself today following pursuit of the unwise? Your Source is God! Your Light is the presence of Jesus’ Spirit radiating from within! Only time spent alone in His presence will refuel your fire, causing you to shine everywhere you go with the glory of our beautiful God! How brightly are you shining?
In this shift of seasons, I hear Jesus ushering us, “Come unto Me(the WORD, Jesus is the Word), all ye who labor and are heavy laden(wore out, need refueling), and I will give you rest! Take my yoke upon you and let ME teach you, because I am humble and gentle and YOU will find REST for your souls.” Matthew 11:28 NLT
Today marks 24 years of marriage to my high school sweetheart,Steve. "Happy Anniversary, My Love". As I pondered the past 24 years together, I felt led to record a few of the strengths the Holy Spirit has taught me which have afforded us a long, joyous, heartfelt, intimate relationship.
First of all, I must admit...our wedding was not a joyous, fairytale occasion that every girl dreams of. Our wedding was the direct result of me getting pregnant at the tender age of 17. My mother was a complete unhappy basket case at our wedding, realizing that all the hopes and dreams she had for her little girl had swiftly been swept away without a warning! Most people gathered for the “celebration” (and I use that word loosely) making bets on just how long our marriage would last. Few experience true love and commitment at the age of 17, so the odds were certainly stacked against us.
Steve had just finished his senior year of high school and turned 18 twenty-six days before we said “I Do”. I, on the other hand, was still in school just beginning my senior year. We had nothing to our name. My parents purchased a new home complete with an apartment where we were welcomed to reside. Steve worked at Sign Craft during the day, making $5.00/hour and pulled a second job in the evenings at the Donelson YMCA. Mainly, his duties consisted of playing basketball all evening with the other members. Neither of us ever went to college...
The first year we were married we made a commitment to serve Jesus Christ with all our beings. From that day forward, we have been on a beautiful journey “together” of the good and bad, the difficult and the easy, the painful and the glorious, the joyous and the sad, and the highs and the lows. We have weathered many storms. We have overcome the odds and when asked by others about our life and relationship we like to say:
JESUS IS OUR SUCCESS!
We owe everything that we are and everything that we have to our Father above, to our Savior Jesus Christ, and to our precious teacher, the Holy Spirit!
Ladies, I hope you recognize today that YOU are your husband’s helper. As wives, this is our main duty. Aside from God, Steve is first in my life. I arise every morning with him in mind. I drop everything to fulfill a task or an errand he needs performed. His phone call gets answered above all others. His needs come before my very own. So many wives have this backwards! Usually, the unbalance comes with the children. Many wives place their children before their husbands. Marriage does not consist of YOU, YOUR HUSBAND, and THE CHILDREN! Marriage is a covenant and a commitment of promise between a man and a woman. The children are an added gift to be enjoyed together. Placing precedence on Steve has undoubtedly contributed to the happiness of our home. Now, being empty-nesters, we still have a beautiful, fulfilling relationship that was not centered around our children, but around our commitment to the Lord and to each other! It is lasting and true.
I have created a home for Steve that he likes to refer to as his Refuge! After a long hard day of work and the chaos of the world, he can relax and retreat to a clean, comfortable happy place called home! He doesn't return to an atmosphere of bickering and controversy. He is welcomed every day from work with a kiss. Whatever our evenings hold, we are together. I can testify that in 24 years of marriage, there has never been one day that my husband has gotten off from work and desired to go any place else but home!
Respect and honor have been key in our relationship. Every day prayers are prayed specifically for my husband. I am his greatest fan...His number one supporter! He looks to me for edification as well as approval. I remind him of who he is in Christ. I compel him to dream and reach for the impossible. We laugh. We take time to Love. We share. We trust. We communicate! We enjoy the fruits of our labor together. We are true partners. When I succeed He succeeds. When He succeeds then I succeed!
Proverbs 31:11-12 declares -
“The heart of her husband safely trusts in her and she GREATLY enriches his life! She will do her husband good and not evil all the days of her life!”
Friends and fellow wives, this is the beautiful role we have been given by the Lord. YOU have the power to change the atmosphere of YOUR home and marriage! I pray that each and every one of you will renew your commitment to your husband this very day and vow to be his helpmate. Allow the order and blessing of the Lord to fill your relationship. Enjoy every single day you have been given together. Do not settle for the mundane and routine. Relight the fire and passion. Cherish growing old together and may God richly bless your marriage!
God has chosen a place of SOLITUDE for me during this season. Let’s face it... being alone for short periods of time has proven to be therapeutic. It’s when God calls you to THIS place that you begin to question your importance to society.
Solitude seems to have a way of drawing us into a place of unhealthy comparison with others. Our culture has placed high importance on individuals who seem to be BUSY all the time. Unfortunately, as a result, we have learned to measure our value according to how many appointments we have in our planner...how many people need us...how many invitations we receive to the parties, etc.
Recently, I have been challenged to see the beauty and necessity of this place called Solitude. God has revealed to me the great value of this place. Every great leader in the Bible was placed in a season of Solitude and from THIS PLACE came their greatest victories!
The apostle Paul was forced from the missionary work that he loved so well and thrust into prison. With a joyous and overcoming mindset, he penned the books of Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, and Philippians. Moses was taken from his great place of stature and influence to the back side of the desert for 40 years. It was there that he gained the knowledge and obedience to perform the greatest task of his life - delivering the children of Israel. John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos - far away from everyone he knew. Abandoned and alone, he received the greatest vision of his entire life. A vision of great hope read by millions of people even to this day!
I want to challenge YOU today...if God has chosen a place of Solitude for you during this season, STOP! Change your view of this previously dreaded place and unwrap it’s beauty. Take the time to discover God in a new and fresh way. Heed and ponder the refreshing mentality and new found direction the Holy Spirit desires to unleash upon you. Solitude is necessary and one of the most important places you will ever visit. For if you allow it, it prepares you for the greatest seasons of victory in life.
“In the morning, rising up a great while before day, He(Jesus) went out and departed into a solitary place, and there He prayed.”
God has been urging me all the more to VALUE people! ALL PEOPLE!
Let’s face it, we each possess compassions, but then there are those areas within each of us where our judgements seem to get in the way. Sometimes, we view others as too far gone to warrant our help, or too far away to capture our attention. Then, there are those that we place in the “they don’t deserve it” column.
Recently, God has been allowing me to actually see others as HE sees them, feeling their hurts, insecurities, and longings. Everywhere I go, my focus is drawn to those around me.
Repairing the Breach Ministries, Inc.(RTBM) is proud to partner with South African Evangelistic Missions(SAEM) for over two years now. My trusted friend and head moderator for SAEM, Tyrone Paul, has graciously brought my attention to a need in Umbambulu. Pastor Lucky Langa and his wife are currently fulfilling the mandate of God to house, love, and care for 27 deformed and unwanted children. Pastor Langa traveled to Prince Mashen Hospital to claim the children, who are made up of true orphans(children with deceased parents) and children simply UNWANTED by their natural birth parents due to their deformities. This loving pastor and his wife have surrounded their own personal bed with every child to ensure a sense of love, acceptance and protection to each.
The budget to care for these beautiful children each month is around $1300.00 US dollars. RTBM, Inc. WILL answer the call to support this endeavor. However, we can do exceedingly more together than I could ever do alone. I am also extending this blessed opportunity to YOU.
To those interested, you can send a tax-deductible, charitable donation to:
RTBM, INC.
P.O. Box 775
Mansfield, Texas 76063
Every cent designated for this project will go directly to support this cause.
I thank you and bless you in advance for your willingness and compassion to stop and value others. Listed below are pictures of a few of the children.
We have no control over what someone else does TO us, but we DO have control over whether or not we are going to allow their offense to trap us and keep us from the destiny God designed for our lives.
When we choose to “take offense” we accept the bait that Satan strategically places before us and we walk directly into his trap! His trap is always hidden and disguised.
As we “take offense” we focus so much on what has been done to us, on the hurt and anger and the constant replaying of the offense that we do not even realize the trap of bitterness, self-pity, and unforgiveness we walk in.
You may say, “In what ways am I trapped?”
#1 - The trap of offense will keep you from spiritual growth and service.
Just like a trapped animal in an iron cage, an offended person lives and moves, but he/she is unable to make advances toward accomplishing God’s unique plan and purpose for their life. As prisoners, we become emotionally trapped...trading joy, peace, and confidence for anger, bitterness, and a critical spirit.
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above everything else, Guard your heart. For out of “it” flows the issues of life.” As you well know, our emotions control our actions. If satan can keep you trapped emotionally, he can then keep you from advancing physically and spiritually.
#2 - Trapped people build thick walls!
Proverbs 18:19 says, “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.”
This verse tells us that it is easier to conquer an entire walled city than it is to make amends with an offended brother or sister in Christ because their walls are fortified with contentious arguments:
> I have a right to be mad!
> You have no idea what I’ve been through
> When you go through what I’ve been through then we can talk!
> They ruined my life!
> No one will ever hurt me again! “I” will make sure of that!
Behind these thick walls facts are skewed, information is twisted, and reality is often ignored. ONLY THOSE who can be trusted to agree with and justify their arguments are trusted inside these walls.
#3 - Trapped people are blind!
1 John 2:11 says, “He that hates his brother walks in darkness and has no idea where he is going because that darkness has blinded him.”
Behind these fortified walls, truth is not welcome! The absence of truth brings darkness. Somehow, we are clearly able to see the offenses, faults, and failures of others, but become blind to our very own glaring faults. Offended and trapped people develop extremely critical spirits and soon begin to engage themselves in anger, strife, gossip, and the sowing of seeds of discord.
Blindness keeps us from recognizing the sea of bitterness and unforgiveness that has so engulfed us and separated us from the presence of God. It is true, my friend, unrepented sin does separate us from God.
#4 - Trapped and Offended people are often idolatrous!
Now, you may be thinking this is a bit harsh, but listen. A few years back in one of my counseling sessions for a married couple I had a husband say this about his wife: “She cannot remember where she put her keys five minutes ago, but she can recall every detail of an offense committed against her 25 years ago!” Wow, that really opened my eyes! And God showed me this...When people allow their painful past resentment and bitterness to replace their present affection and devotion to God, then their state of offense becomes an IDOL!!!
One woman, who was grossly betrayed by her husband was asked, “What would you like to see done to your husband? To which, she replied, “hell will do!”
Often we cannot or simply will not trust God to take care of our offender as He deems necessary. Vengeance means more to us than trusting God! We want our offender to pay and we want them to pay now, according to our terms!
“When the offense means more to you than restoration, it has become an idol in your life!”
In the past weeks, my family has suffered great physical damage at the hands of an unstable, angry soul. We had every right and every means to seek revenge and cause this person life-altering consequences. After calming down and praying heavily we decided to leave this war to our God! Not only that, but the precious Holy Spirit has even given me the desire to pray for this person. I trust God to restore to my family what has been taken.
In closing, Romans 12:18 commands us, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." This is the road we chose and therefore our joy,peace, and favor remain. Take time this week to clean out the closet of your soul. Get rid of old offenses that weigh you down and trap you. Be free! I say - "Be free to live, love and serve joyfully."
Is it just me or have you also noticed how easily offended everyone seems to be lately?
I encounter offended people everywhere I go: in my daily routine of business, at church, on the news coverage, even in family. The spirit is demonstrated through the countenance of faces I meet, through the words I hear spoken and the actions displayed. Fifty-three percent of marriages are being torn apart. Long-time friendships are tossed away. Family members haven’t spoken in years. Churches are divided and seeds of discord are continually sown among the brethren!
I am only forty-one years old, but I must confess that the spirit of offense seems to be at an all-time high in my lifetime. I went to the Lord about my concerns and He led me to Matthew 24: 3-14.
“And as HE sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to HIM privately asking, ‘Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?’
And Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in MY name saying I am the Christ; and shall deceive many. And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you be not troubled. For all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom and there will be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in different places. All these things are the beginning of sorrows. Then, they shall deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you; you shall be hated of all nations for MY name’s sake. And many shall be OFFENDED, and shall betray one another and shall hate one another! And many false prophets shall arise and deceive many. Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But, he that shall endure to the end shall be saved and this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations. THEN, the end shall come.”
This caliber of offense being demonstrated in our world today is surely a sign of Christ’s return. Notice that the scripture does not say, “many shall OFFEND”, but “many shall be OFFENDED.” You see, there is a huge difference. The word “offend” is a verb meaning to ‘transgress morally or lawfully causing hurt, difficulty, resentment or pain.' Jesus said in Luke 17:1 that it is IMPOSSIBLE that offenses will not come.
It is true that people often offend with motive, but then there are times that we offend without even knowing it. Example being - I could say something that was never meant to be offensive, but someone might still be offended. My choice of outfit might offend someone. My personality might be offensive in some way to another person. We all have the capacity to offend just simply by being WHO WE ARE! Jesus was an absolute perfect man, but many were offended by Him. Offenses will always come. We are never going to be able to stop nor control them. However, there is something you and I CAN control and that is the choice whether or not to take offense or be “offended” by anyone or anything. To be “offended” one must accept “offense”. There was a time in my life when I accepted offense. I can honestly say there were people who purposely chose to offend me and I could use the excuse that I had the "right" to be offended, but Jesus began to show me that I wasn’t hurting anyone but myself.
The word “offense” is a noun. Therefore, it is something we can take hold of. John Bevere states in his book, The Bait of Satan, that the word “offense” comes from the Greek word “scandalon” which literally means “the bait used to trap a wild animal”. Offenses come to trap us! They trap us with hurts, pains and sore attitudes which eventually steal our joy and hinder our relationships with God and others. The trap of offense will isolate you, alienate you from fellowship and strip you of your purpose.
What offense has left you alienated, stripped of purpose and left for dead? Is it an offense against someone else? Maybe it is even that you are offended with yourself? Perhaps your own choices have left you defeated and feeling like a failure, causing you to actually be offended at YOU. Lastly, could you admit today that you just might even be offended at God? Do you feel that HE has somehow let you down or disappointed you in this life?
What I want to get across to you today is this: the offense you are harboring is a trap! It is not hurting anyone else but YOU. Galatians 5:7-8 says, “You were running so well. WHO hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who called you.” This spirit of offense has come to kill, steal, and destroy you. It is hindering your progress and suppressing your joy in life. Choose this day to be free of offense. Choose this day to forgive...Forgive others! Forgive yourself! And ask God to forgive you for the bad attitude you’ve harbored against Him.
Slowly begin to speak these verses of scripture over your life:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12
I somehow seem to be drawn to the troubles surrounding Christians! You may be experiencing trials of various kinds in your own life right now. There always seems to be some form of trouble lurking in the Kohler household and most of the time I am really good at seeing it for what it is and overcoming it by remaining focused on God’s Word and His truth about my family.
Recently however, trouble seemingly came from every side! One particular day I found myself questioning whether or not the Kohler family was even a “Christian” family anymore. Has the enemy of your soul ever fired a dart through your mind like that? Negative thoughts penetrated my mind until I snapped out of it through a much needed phone call from a faithful friend who knows us well...haha.
The consensus in the church for years has been: “If you are a powerful Christian, then you should be spared from conflict or trial.” Satan wants us to believe that we are experiencing trouble because our lives are not pleasing to God. I understand that is a legitimate cause for trouble at times because disobedience DOES have it’s consequences, but I am speaking to the woman or man of God today who feels like you have faithfully followed God and you are STILL surrounded by much trouble.
In my study time alone with God today I came across this passage of scripture once again that was written to us by the Apostle Paul:
"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. We are perplexed, yet not in despair; persecuted, but NOT forsaken. Cast down, but not destroyed. Through this suffering, our bodies are “constantly” sharing in the death of Jesus so that the LIFE of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-10
God granted me new revelation concerning verse 10. As powerful Christians, we will always be surrounded by trials and sufferings. I now realize that it is the existence of “TROUBLE” that can actually distinguish the POWERFUL from the POWERLESS. By “overcoming” the trials that others witness us going through, the overcoming power of Jesus is made manifest in our lives unto the world. We should never again ask God why this trouble has come to our household, but rather, ask Him for the wisdom and perseverance to stand and victoriously overcome so that the Power of Jesus can precisely be represented to this lost world!
If you are a Believer in Jesus Christ, the question is not “Will trouble come because it is sure to.” The question is: “Will you allow your troubles to be a definition of Christ’s overcoming power at work here in the earth?”
