I Promise...

 So often I confidently make plans or statements regarding my plans without first consulting God.  How can I be so selfish?  My life does not belong to me, but to God.  As Christians, we should be asking God for his daily guidance in every situation of our lives.  Be careful not to promise things out of our own power.  In Acts 17:21 Paul says “I will come back if it is God’s will.”  Are you living according to YOUR will, or God’s?  Praise God for accepting us, even is our imperfections

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

     Ever have one of those days when everything is going wrong?  The more you struggle for control, the less you have.  I remember, as a young believer, having a few misconceptions about Christianity.  First, Christians are perfect…boy, was I wrong on that one.  Second, nothing bad ever happens or goes wrong if you are Christian…wrong again.  I long for the faith I had in God when I was only eight years old.  Now that I am older, I have come to learn that we are all human, capable of right and wrong.  I also have learned that sometimes, bad things happen to good people.  It may not make sense to us, but it makes sense to God.
All things work together to accomplish His purpose.  Peter writes on this.  “You may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”  This is only a test of your faith, which is a process that serves to glorify God.  So, if you are going through some rough times, just remember that God is using you in those struggles to mold you, or someone else, and change the world.  How awesome it is to feel included.  Do not forget to say thank you for the good times and the bad times, and for making you a part in His master plan.

Related Scripture:
1 Peter 1:6-7;  “6 for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Does Work Have You Worked Up?

     Let’s face it, even the most rewarding job has its downsides.  Everyone suffers from the occasional bad day, but where can we turn for a quick “pick me up?”  The bible mentions work over two-hundred times, all starting with God in Genesis.  What an awesome example to follow.  Some may disagree, saying: “God didn’t have to work as many hours as I do” or, “He didn’t have a boss man breathing down his neck”. While these things may be true, there are still a few things we can learn from the creation found in Genesis.
     Genesis 1:3 writes “And God said, let there be light and there was light.  God saw that the light was good.”  Even God himself knew how to appreciate a job well done.  Sometimes, we are so focused on all of the negative aspects of our own job situation that we fail to give ourselves some inward praise for a good job.<l
     We also learn that God, the creator of the universe, “had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day, he rested from all his work,” (Genesis 2:2).  If God, as powerful as He is, took time to recharge, then how important is it for us to do the same?
     The bible encourages us to “be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded,” (2 Chronicles 15:7).  Proverbs instructs us to “commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed,” (Prov. 16:3).  As long as we can carry God with us throughout our day, we will be blessed.  Do you make time for God in the office?  I encourage you to take a short, fifteen minute break to read some scripture, or maybe go on a walk outside where you can appreciate the weather and start a conversation with the Father.  No matter what the circumstances, remember that you are never alone.

How to chill when losing your cool

     This morning, while using some software that I frequently use, nothing was functioning properly.  The first step in the troubleshooting process is to reboot the computer.  After this failed to fix the situation, I went through an extensive checklist to finish the troubleshooting process. This checklist brought added frustration with each failed step.  I could feel my blood begin to boil, so I decided to take a walk to a room in the back of the building to say a quick prayer.
​Sometimes our pride can get in the way, which often gives Satan an open door to step in and cause havoc in our lives.  He will use this access to trick us into thinking that we can do everything with our own power.  Resist him, and do not hesitate to tell him to back off.  My family has an exercise we use when Satan gets the best of us.  We simply shout, “Satan, get away from me!”  If we still feel frustrated, we repeat the phrase until a smile is on our face.  This makes way for us to ask God for help in our current situation.  Philippians 4:13 tells us “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  After my God time, I returned to my computer and was able to fix the situation within ten minutes (without losing my cool). 
​We have all been in a situation where things do not go as planned.  Getting upset only seems to make things worse.  "Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper-it only leads to harm,” (Psalms 37:8).  Instead, ask for help from the almighty one and learn how to “chill out.”

Hello... God, is that you calling?

    Pastor Rick Warren writes: “If you’re going to follow God’s calling on your life, you’ve got to believe it’s never, never too late”.  This is such a nice encouragement to those individuals who God has called, but it’s not intended for everyone… right?  Wrong!  God has a specific calling and purpose for every person ever conceived.  Whether revealed through a struggle, a great sacrifice, or a sickness that shows and demonstrates God’s love and will, He does have plans for us all.
      It is our responsibility to seek God’s navigation.  Most likely, we will not be comfortable with the direction he points us, but remember that He does not make mistakes.  “It is unthinkable that God would do wrong” (Job 34:12).  Too often I doubt myself, thinking I am not worthy enough to carry out His purpose. I am encouraged with remembering the calling of the first disciples (Matt. 4:18-22), teaching us that God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called. Don’t be afraid to ask him to reveal your purpose to you.  He will be with you every step of the way to guide and direct you.

God bless.