[Therefore beware] brethren, take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him], leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God. 13But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened(into settled rebellion) by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of his sin may play on him]. Hebrews 3: 12,13 (Amplified Version)

Just when you have encouraged someone for the 160th time, and you wonder well maybe I should of just told them to get over it. Well you and I both know that telling someone to just get over it, doesn’t work most of the time. That’s mostly a flesh response to others pain, an abrupt attempt to snap someone out of their despair or pit they may be dwelling in. Since we know that doesn’t work, lets try responding God’s way, it’s just more effective and moreover it brings healing and direction to people who are hurt. Isn’t that what we would want for them? Healing and wholeness?

There are more then one life principles in the scripture above. But I want to bring your attention to is the importance of fellowship with other believers. There is a supernatural provision from God that takes place when we encourage one another to keep fighting, and keep going in life when we know all they want to do is quit. It’s the Holy Spirit talking through us to them, to press on, and persevere through it with Christ! Well, you are probably saying, gosh, how long do I have to encourage this person? Daily is the answer. I love how the word says as long as the day is called today, encourage each other. But why is it so important? So that faith will continue to rise, and you can take hold of that thing called “rest.” God’s rest is the best kind of rest you can ever take a hold of, by believing and having a confidence in God’s ability to come through for you ALL of the time, even in life’s disappointments. Encouraging one another keeps your heart from hardening and allowing a temptation of any kind to turn into  a stronghold. Having believers give you wisdom to reveal a possible lie you may be believing about yourself or your situation just could be that breakthrough you needed to see the situation from God’s perspective.

When you encourage each other daily, you are keeping lies from becoming a truth. Today, may God encourage you so you can be an encourager to others! God bless u!

Related posts:

1. Christian Conflict Resolution For Parents
2. You Matter to God!
3. A Conqueror In The New Year 2010!

If there is one thing I hear often from people who are on there way to restoration in their lives, is “but look at everything I have lost!” You know what? It’s very common to think this way. It’s our natural tendency to look at what we have lost due to tragic upbringings, traumatic experiences, loss, grief, pain, etc. But I will guarantee you that every time you choose to dwell and look at what you don’t have anymore, it’s very hard to value what you do have, and what God wants for your future. Some even say, “I had my chance, I blew it.”  “I had all those years to turn back to God and start over, and I didn’t, there is no hope.”  So now what? Whatever you believe will become your truth even if it’s a lie. That’s why God tells us to hear the word continually, stay in fellowship with believers, have a constant discipleship, so that when your mind starts to go astray to what you lost, the Holy Spirit can show you what you have, and where you are going. I heard Bishop T.D. Jakes say in one of his sermons, “God will not use the dead things in your life to bring you out, but what you have left.” He uses what you have, and meets you where you are. We have to look forward and have a confident expectation that God is and can come through for you in any and all situations.

The awesome thing about loss, yes, I said awesome. Is that no loss in our life can ever take away our faith. Our confident belief that God can and will do for us in the supernatural, what in the natural seems impossible. Believe it or not we choose to walk away from God, it’s not our situations that cause us to walk away. Does our situation have an effect on how we view our victory yes, it does. That’s why hearing God’s word is necessary to stay in faith, it will propel you forward while your circumstances want to keep you right where you are…sometimes that’s no where. So often we submit, and surrender to our hard times of suffering. When God is standing there in front of you with His arms open, asking you to give it to Him, submit to Him, surrender to Him. He is our way to an overcoming life of victory.

Job is such a good example of how we can let our past pain affect our future, but with wisdom and understanding and submission to God after he couldn’t complain about one more thing, His spiritual eyes began to see what his natural eyes never would allow him to see. God loves him, and will take his pain, and restore his loss. Job listened to what God had to say, and immediately had a revelation that he had made a mistake in his grief. Job heard God, but he also saw God (Job42:5)  through revelation of God’s word(His voice), His sovereignty and justice. Job repented of his bad attitude and acknowledged God’s infinite power. God made Job prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10).

Whatever your situation, believe God can pull you through, but you must choose Him. He already chose you!

Related posts:

1. Encourage Each Other Daily!

What would life look like if we were not our careers, not even what our friends think we are, or how our family define us to be? What if we were more then that? What if, we were actually children of the Most High God, destined to reign in this life, because we are in Jesus, and He is seated at the right hand of the Father, in heavenly places? And where God is so are we!  What if we lived each day knowing that we are good, and designed for good? What if every time a whisper came to us of failure, and defeat, we instead confidently responded with, ” I am the righteousness of Christ!” What if we believed that God is our source of strength in our time of need? What if when we saw ourselves, we saw Jesus and His finished work on the cross for healing, wholeness, and life eternal? What would happen, if we lived for God instead of people? What if we lived to exalt Jesus in everything, instead of ourselves? What if we received the blessings Jesus died to give us? I’ll tell you the answer…He’ll give you rest in an abundant life!

What if I told you that the enemy wants to strip you of your God given identity and make you think you are not good enough, and that God is not able when He is? What if I told you that you could do all things in Christ because He strengthens you when you are weak, and that His power is made perfect right when you just want to give up? What if I told you that God is faithful and that He loves you, and is always working for your good? Did you know He surrounds you, upholds you, covers you, and empowers you to be the best that He has designed you to be?

I spent years looking to myself, my friends, my work, my family, even circumstances, and situations to give me value, and worth. And when I got to the end of all of that I still didn’t know, so I asked God. When I began to look for Him, I found Him. He picked me up from lowly places, and placed me high in heavenly places. Amen! I know who I am, I am beautifully and wonderfully made not my own, but His. There was a unshakable foundation I could draw from, and it felt so encouraging and hopeful for the first time in my life.  And when He sees me, He sees my replacement, Jesus, who paid for my mistakes. And when I make another mistake He kindly tells me I did, and I sit at His feet, and let Him wash me through the word, and my sin melts away to the point of no return. You see you have to see Jesus when you see yourself, He is Holy, and just and is always interceding for us.  We just have to draw from Him, and we will get what we need to press through to the finish! But if we keep making the world, or our problems our dwelling place, we’ll never overcome. Let God lead you towards His righteousness, then you can live your life knowing who you are in HIM.

Seek first the kingdom of God, and THEN all these things will be added unto you! You may think you know who you are, but let me tell you, your spiritual lineage  begins with Jesus! With Him everything is possible, because He gives to you according to His riches!

My prayer for you!

Father, I pray that your children will “know” who they are in you, so that they may prosper, endure, and persevere in every task that is placed in front of them. May they stop working for acceptance, instead, just receive it from you! In Jesus name, Amen!

Bless u!

Photo courtesy – by freefotouk on Flickr

Related posts:

1. Encourage Each Other Daily!

Kids and conflict!  Gosh those words go together a little too well, don’t they? Well, if you’re a parent like me, of small children, tweens, teens, or young adults you’ve realized at some point that parenting is for life and it’s tough but not impossible.

I was sitting in a doctor’s office(details have been changed to disguise the actual parties involved), and a parent asked me ” What would you do if you were in my situation?”  Here is the short version of what happened.

Her daughter’s cell phone was stolen, and her daughter knew who had taken it but it was speculation as no one saw the other girl take the phone.  Parents were called in, and a parent/principal meeting took place, words were exchanged and then was the waiting game. Not to their surprise the parent of the accused girl did not take responsibility for their daughter’s actions and did not admit fault. The mother whose daughter’s possession was stolen asked me how she should handle the situation, whether she should press charges and force their hand in the situation to demand a better outcome. They were obviously frustrated, and very upset about the whole thing.

Now you and I both know situations like this are bound to come up in one way or another especially when you have children. The big question is what lesson are we trying to teach our kids about these kinds of situations? Here are some goals to keep in mind when going through any difficult challenge with your kids.

1. The goal of a lot of confrontations, challenges, obstacles or difficulties is not to win, or force your hand in the situation to get the outcome you want.  The focus should be on resolving the matter in a healthy, and safe manner so that a life lesson is learned and coping mechanisms are set in place. Also, we want our kids to know that they can come talk to us about anything, be approachable and open to conversation.

2.  Be honest share your feelings about your sadness or anger regarding the issue. Remember, you can never make anyone do anything they don’t want to do, all you can do is be honest, share your feelings and concerns and request a fair outcome. Don’t get caught up in who is right or wrong, you’ll only get disappointed.

3. Be supportive of your children whether they are the accused or the victim. Encourage them to make the right choice by being honest and forthcoming of the details regarding the situation. If your child is the accused and there is evidence that they took the item and just aren’t admitting it, age-appropriate consequences should be in order.

4. Be encouraging and tell them that when difficult life situations happen, it’s how we react to them that determines our peace and healing.

5. Model to them how to cope with the stress and anger of the situation. Pray, workout, take a jog, walk, journal, engage in any activity that can allow them to express themselves in a healthy way.

6. Results that involve winning is not the point. Share with them that although the accuser has made a bad choice that affected them adversely, there could be reasons that you are unaware that could be causing this person to react in an unsafe manner. Teach empathy, and understanding. Maybe you are aware of some difficulties that other child may be going through, and ask your child what it would be like if they were in their shoes.

7. Forgiveness heals. Model forgiveness towards the accused, so that your children will see Christ’s love through you. It will be a tool they will need for the rest of their life.  Mention that forgiveness doesn’t let them off the hook, or mean the the opposing side wins, it just means that you release them into God’s hands for His healing and forgiveness, and frees them(victim)  to no longer harbor ill-feelings and have an opportunity to  be healed themselves.

8. Reaction is more important then results. Love your children unconditionally, allow them to share their feelings, talk about how to handle the situation in a healthy way, teach coping skills, and finally show forgiveness and seek healing. It’s how we deal with difficult situations that teach us how to cope and let go, so that when the next challenge comes along we have a healthy way of reacting.

9.  Prayer: Lastly, but certainly not the least important, it’s the most important. Pray through every challenge you encounter in this world with your children. No one knows better how to deal with adversity then the Lord Jesus Himself, He can heal, restore, and discipline us into a healthy direction every time. Pray over your children and the situation they are going through, show them who you depend on when you don’t know what to do.

*Parents, an important note. When you go through something in your own life and it affects the family as a whole, it is very important that you model to your children healthy ways of coping as mentioned above, because they learn a lot more from watching you react to your problems then they do just hearing it come as discipline, both seeing and hearing work together to foster a healthy family life! Also, one of the most hardest things about loving discipline is that sometimes our anger or hurt gets in the way of addressing these issues.  We have to begin to deal with our own anger in regards to the situation, calm down, take some time if we need to  and then address the issue with our child.

If you have any questions, stories or comments about parenting in this area, feel free to post them! Parenting is a journey, and we are bound to make mistakes  sometimes.  But it’s from those mistakes that God teaches us the most, so stay close to Jesus He’ll show you the way! Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter,  “coachnanc,” for daily encouraging messages…well almost daily!

Related posts:

1. Encourage Each Other Daily!
2. He Can Turn It Around!
3. Our Identity in Jesus!

In Exodus 3:7 God is speaking to Moses and expressing His grief because of the suffering of the Israelites. My NIV version explains that He sees the misery, hears them crying, and is concerned for their suffering.  And in v.8 expresses His desire to rescue them and bring them UP and Out of that pain, and into freedom.  God’s resume reveals consistency, responsibility, and accountability of being a Just and Loving God, never failing us, always empowering us to  rise above and beyond life’s temporary troubles.  Why? Because He loves us!  Exodus 3:14-15 tells us His character is unchanging through the generations, He is the great, “I AM.”

Today, know that He sees you, hears you, and is concerned about you and your situation. Friend, listen to me. God’s character is merciful, and graceful. If He cared about the Israelites, why wouldn’t He care about you? By faith you are children of the Most High God, heirs to the throne of Grace, Jesus. He sent His son Jesus, to pay for our mistakes and now their is no condemnation. Only grace to return to Him, and live through Him. Where Jesus is so are you!

Praying that you receive all He sacrificed on the cross to give you,eternal life, wholeness, and health. In Jesus Name, Amen!

No related posts.

(Eagle Photo by Alaskan Dude, CC Flick r)

Isaiah 41:31

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.   They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. “

I was in the car this morning, praising God, just being in continual fellowship with Him. It was about 8am, and I was on my way to work out, when this song by Chris Tomlin came on the radio, “I Will Rise.”  Have you ever listened to a song, and every part of your being was screaming in agreement about what the song was saying? I cranked up the radio and sang so lound, “I will rise,” surely the cars next to me were puzzled.   I will rise through all life’s difficulties, I will rise even when others push me down, I will rise when I feel like I have no voice, I will rise because my God believes in me! I will Rise, because He calls me!

It doesn’t matter what your difficult circumstances are, you are not defined by your situation, your career does not define you! Your role as a caregiver, mother, father, brother, sister, daughter does not define you. Your trauma does not define you! You were created in His image for His Glory and your good! You hear that? Your Good! So rise above the waves and the storm, soar on eagles wings.  You can rise, rise above it all, by hoping in Him! Amen

Prayer: Father, my hope is in you, cause me to rise and stand when I don’t feel like it or don’t want to. My faith is in you, it will be the bridge that brings me closer to victory! Thank you Father! Amen

No related posts.

Wow, 2009 is coming to an end very soon. It’s 2:25 pm New Year’s Eve.  As I sit and ponder about what the last year has been, I fight thoughts of not good enough, didn’t do anything great, just a year of defeat! Does that ever happen to you? Do you ever try to fight back all those self-defeating thoughts when you desperately search for something amazing that happened in your last year, maybe a victory over something that has hounded you forever?

The media is overwhelming me with articles and broadcasts about the New Year and what it will hold for all of us. I made a resolution last year, that I had never made before. I wanted a goal that I knew I couldn’t fail at.  I was watching TV and someone was asking the other person what their resolution for 09 was. They said, they wanted to have a closer relationship with God.  And I said, that’s it! That’s my resolution, I want to go deeper with Jesus Christ in 2009! Maybe you’re wondering if I did.  The answer is overwhelmingly yes! God in His infinite mercy, yet gave me a grace, super abounding grace when I didn’t deserve it, forgiveness when I wasn’t seeking it, and love when I didn’t show it! And of course continuous deliverance from everything that tries to dominate my walk with the Lord!

And so, my resolution for the coming year is to yet again go even deeper into His never ending Love, and abide there. My prayer for you is to also maybe begin a relationship with the Lord Jesus, or grow in your walk with Him. It’s a journey with lots of twists and turns,  with everyone’s fair share of challenges for sure. But His promises remain true, and continue to have it’s weight worth in Gold. He loves us, and intercedes on our behalf every day. His desire is to see us be fruitful, and to love one another.

As 2009 ends and the new year begins, don’t leave it with regrets, be faithful, and grateful that He has brought you through another year victoriously! The great “I AM,” still is, and will continue to be forever in your hearts for eternity.  Look back with thanks, love Him in the present, and expect Him in the future for whatever life brings!

“No, in all these things we are more then conquerors through Him who loved us.” For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, niether the present nor the future, nor any powers, niether height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate  us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 8:37-39

Paul is so confident about God’s love for all of us.  My prayer for you is that you will become more and more confident of God’s love for you, and in turn be victorious in all your battles, for you are more then conquerors! His love can change you, you just have to let Him.   Remember, having victory over a situation is learning the lesson God wants for your life, it’s enduring and persevering in Christ that exalts you! Happy New Year, may His love overflow in your life every day in the coming year!

In Christ’s love!

Question: What resolutions do you have for 2010? What are you seeking God for this new year?

Related posts:

1. He Can Turn It Around!
2. Encourage Each Other Daily!

http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/2009/12/not-same.html

I loved this blog and wanted to share it with you! Good morning sister’s in Christ!  I hope you are all pressing in and through daily with Jesus on your side. I know there must be something difficult either you or a loved one may be going through, and wanted to share with you this encouraging blog.  It’s time to get back into His presence so He can turn your situation around for your good and His glory.  Remember, each difficulty we go through is an opportunity for God to show up and lead us through.  Notice I did not say avoid.  And isn’t that the first thing we want to do?

So many times we push it around in our heart to places we think no one else will see, especially us? And then, a situation arises that appears to be unrelated to our hidden issues, but wait…it has everything to do with our hidden issue. And somehow, in such a Godly manner there is conviction in our hearts to react in prayer and ask God for healing and restoration, maybe even forgiveness?  And you know what? He gives it willingly, and freely every time.

Something to pray about: In your quiet time with our heavenly father, ask Him what He has been wanting you to address with Him, and ask Him for direction, and wisdom regarding the issue while surrendering to Him.

Your thoughts: How has God showed you that an issue in your life needed attention and healing? Tell us how He showed you, and the process of healing you went through?

Related posts:

1. Christian Conflict Resolution For Parents
2. A Conqueror In The New Year 2010!
3. Encourage Each Other Daily!

It had been a few months that we moved from California’s bay area to Dallas Texas, orginally my home. And the Holy Spirit began to stir in me that it was time to begin looking for a church home. Slowly but surely we began church shopping.  By God’s grace, direction, and encouragement, we found a church we could call home.  One of the first spotlights God placed in that church was on the people who were praising God during the worship service.

I came from an Orthodox denomination, where we didn’t put our arms up passed our waist much less passed our chin and up in the air. It was so foreign to me. Right before we came to Dallas,  we had begun searching for a bible based church, and I had seen people worship God with their arms in the air, but I never did. What I did begin to experience was my heart melting during the worship service, and I would sob puddles of tears.

After my family and I began attending our new home church, and God began to convict my heart of unfinished business with Him, I began growing and hungry for what God was trying to give me all these years…freedom, wholeness, forgiveness and grace. But it all began with me going through the motions first after I had made a decision to seek God first.

I observed people during worship, and I would think to myself, why do they appear as if God Himself were speaking to them, and there was something they were receiving that I wasn’t?  I honestly couldn’t understand it all. I kept saying to myself, I can worship the way I want, I don’t have to put my arms up. God knows me and the way I worship is unique to me.  And I said that for about a year and a half.

As the years progressed, and I began to get a deeper revelation of God’s promises and love towards me, my heart became receptive to who my heavenly father really was. Attending bible based group studies, and immersing myself with the lead of the Holy Spirit in everything God, I began to raise my hands up in the air without embarrassment. But only half way…you see it felt uncomfortable and not natural. I have never raised my arms up to the Lord, ever!  Sadly, I have never felt worthy too.  Have you ever felt like that? Condemnation prevented me from approaching God.  To be frank with you, the enemy liked me that way and I accepted it. Because you know what? I felt like I deserved it, I punished myself!

Then, it happened, God touched my life in a big way, and this time I received His gifts of forgiveness, healing and wholeness by Jesus and His finished work at the cross and by faith took the gifts! That very next Sunday at church in worship service without so much as to even thinking about it, I raised my hands high up in the air and as natural as it could be and praised My Sweet God! Amen Hallelelujah,  Worship Sets an Atmosphere of Victory! Barriers broken, faulty thinking, shame, and condemnation gone, I was set free! I have never worshiped the same since that day!

Family, listen to me! When you worship God by yourself, or in your church, getting a deeper revelation of who Christ is in your life will push your arms up to praise Him for who He is in your life, it sets the temperature for everything Holy, and Pure! Amen. Today, in your worship time, don’t push your hands up because I’m telling you to. Go in deeper by hearing His word through the bible(I love the NIV, Life Application Study Bible), pastors, Christian books, listening to worship music, praying, and just talking to Him, surround yourself with everything God, you’ll never be the same! Your arms will lift without you even thinking about it, that’s true worship.

Lord, today, I pray that every chain of bondage be broken off your children, that their arms will rise to praise you through good times and bad, because when we worship you, our life becomes a place of Victory!  Thank you Jesus!

Today, I challenge you to go deeper in your walk with God, worship Him daily in your comings and goings. If you feel overwhelmed, put on your favorite worship music and cast all your cares to Him, He will refresh, and restore you! I have placed a you tube video at the beginning of this article, take a moment and worship with Hillsong from Australia! God bless you!

No related posts.

Sisters, you ever wake up and wonder why you exist? Or what purpose you have in this life? Or how about when a life storm comes your way, and then the constant nagging of even your value or worth to make it through is questionable? How about where you belong? You wake up in the morning, and you don’t quite feel up to running a marathon, but that is exactly what awaits you as soon as your foot hits the floor. You walk by people at work, or at the gym, maybe church, and people see through you like you are invisible? You ask yourself, do I matter?

Am I worthy or good at anything that matters?

Perhaps, your spouse, and your children think you are an automatic dispenser that gives every time there is a need, and available 24 hours a day? Come on Moms you know what I’m talking about! By the time your head hits the pillow you ask yourself what have I done that really matters? That’s significant!  Well, that’s a loaded question.  Somewhere in your world you have put up a list of expectations some realistic and some not so realistic.  And every time you compare yourself to your list, somehow you don’t match up, and we speak defeat over ourselves. The truth is, it all matters! God gives you the grace to do all things, but you must rest in Him and spend time in His word to refresh and restore you to keep going!

Here’s a question.  Who is the founder of your list of impossible, irrational, and unrealistic standards? Sadly, it’s us that wrote them, but they stem from dysfunctional experiences we’ve had through life. And I’m pretty sure the enemy is not too far behind, whispering words of defeat. Again, do I matter and if I do, to who?

Beloved, You matter to God! He loves you with an everlasting love that overflows in abundance! As believers we have lists that don’t measure up, because they don’t start with God. God has already made a list for you, did you know that? It’s a list where you do matter every time you look at it! That list is Jesus! The perfect sacrifice made for you and me, so that we can matter! Let me share with you today’s daily devotional I got from Charles Stanley that inspired me to write this blog today!

Pastor Stanley said, we have an emotional makeup that has three basic needs.  These needs can be fulfilled through a personal relationship with God! Here is the “list.” Belonging Romans 8:16, Worthiness-Romans 5:8, Competency-Ephesians3:20. 1. Christ’s work on the cross puts you in the  seat right next to Him as His daughter or son! You matter to God, you are accepted! 2. You are worthy, or Jesus wouldn’t have died to pay for your life’s mistakes! You matter to God! 3. As a believer you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you to live life right, to help you use wisdom that God gives you to praise Him and bless you. You matter to God!

So today, throw your old list away! And look at the receipt Jesus now shows you! The price for your shortcomings, difficulties, and overwhelming circumstances no longer have a hold on you, they have no power, they are empty. Now you have authority over your situations, they will not consume you, you are who God says you are! Blessed. You Matter to God! Now go and live life beginning with You matter to God! Amen

Prayer: Lord Jesus, today I begin again by your grace! I throw away my list of can’t do, and begin again with , ” I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Not I, but Christ in me gives me significance in this world. I choose to turn way from faulty thinking and believing. I am who you say I am, BLESSED! Thank you for paying the price for me to show me that I Matter to YOU! And if I matter to you, then that’s all that really matters! Amen

No related posts.