Nothing is Impossible

With God! Mary was an extraordinary woman. Maybe that's why God picked her. The angel appeared to her in Luke 1:28 and told her that she would give birth to the Messiah. But notice, she only wanted to know, "How is this all going to happen?" not if it would happen. Basically Mary was saying, "How is all this going to go down Gabriel?". 
A lot of times in our lives we know God has made us a promise. We have no doubt that He can and will do it. It is the "getting there" that seems difficult. Almost impossible. 
As Gabriel told Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you." Isn't this true for today? Without His power and anointing, our greatest efforts can be in vain. In Him we live and move and have our being.


Recently, I have been reminded that in spite of my weaknesses and shortcomings I can still do great things! With God's help. And as Luke 1:37 says-- "Nothing is impossible with God (NLT)."

Polka dots

Today was black with white polka dots. By that I mean that it was an overall difficult day with sporadic spots of cheer. In 2001 I was figuring out who I was. So was John Mayer. And in 2003 I heard his album "Room For Squares". I remember it vividly : the guitar salesmen loved to listen to him while I worked away at my desk. And despite my holier than others facade, I did too.


Recently, I've been prompted to re-visit things in my past that bring me joy and laughter. I decided to look for "Room For Squares". Sure I could get it on Amazon, or itunes, but I wanted the real deal 2001 copyrighted CD. I'm old school like that :)


I looked for weeks and didn't find it. It wasn't necessarily a priority, so I kind of forgot about it. In a lot of ways I feel like it is 2003. I'm still trying to find out if I'm doing what I'm created for. Today was especially difficult because I tried to pursue something that was totally ten years ago (regarding my career). It was like a slap in the face when that door shut on me. I picked my face up off the floor and went to Walmart. It was the highlight of my day. Let me say this : if Walmart is the highlight of your day, you know you've had a rough day. Anyway, everything that was said in that moment of hard reality brought all my inward thoughts to light.


"Am I living it right?" This is a phrase from Mayer's song, "Why Georgia Why" (off the Room For Squares album), which happens to be my one of my all time favorite songs. It also happens to be the same song I was listening to on the way home from Walmart when I was driving on 85, four exits from my apartment, tempted to leave the car in drive...(you will get this if you've ever heard the song!) Very timely. Thank you God that I found the CD at Walmart and it mirrored what I'm going through in this exact moment.


For a moment, it was 2003 again. But this time, I'm living from the inside out and totally, thankfully identifying with Room For Squares. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has polka dotted days.

Making Decisions

Today, I think about the decisions I have made in my life. Some were made in confidence, and others I had to "step out to find out".


 We need to follow the Holy Spirit. In Galatians 1:15-17 we read, " But when He, Who had chosen and set me apart [even] before I was born and had called me by His grace (His undeserved favor and blessing), saw fit and was pleased to reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles (the non-Jewish world) as the glad tidings (Gospel), immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood [did not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone].

Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles (special messengers of Christ) before I was, but I went away and retired into Arabia, and afterward I came back again to Damascus."

We need to seek God and get a good idea of what He is saying before running to our counselors. However, we do need wise counselors. Proverbs 24:6 says that in a multitude of counselors there is safety and victory.

Too many times, I have run to others before discerning what God is saying to me first. How do we get there?

Today a passage impacted me in a powerful way. 2 Timothy 1:6,7 says, "That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control."

Pray in the Holy Spirit. Build yourself up. Spend time with Him and most importantly, spend time in the Word of God. You can't go wrong!

Secondly, surround yourself with wise counselors.

In this atmosphere, we can be assured that the decisions we make will be pretty good. We aren't perfect, and we will miss it sometimes, but our Father is there with us the whole time.

Being Bold

"After this, David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?

And the Lord said to him, Go up.

David said, To which shall I go up? And He said, To Hebron." 2 Samuel 2:1

David was bold. He wasn't afraid to ask God a question or two. Many times in our lives we pray for direction and ask God for His assistance, but do we really believe He will speak clearly to us?

Hebrews 4:16 states, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

Boldness! May God grant us the ability to be bold. May we ask whatever we need from the Father knowing that He will answer us.

2010--It's Over

Romans 8:28 says that if we love Him, God works all things out for our good.

I have really tried to keep this in mind this past year, because it was a difficult year.

So here we are, at the end of 2010. As I write this, I am weary. I didn't have the strength to sing this morning, so I thought it would be an opportune time to reflect.

In my meditation, I found the answer to my present trial. As I thought about each month of 2010, I realized that every couple of months I made a major transition, or endured a major trial.

That's why I'm tired. And it is ok to know your limits. I haven't wanted to admit it to others, because I thought "They will think I am weak". But it is amazing what a little quiet time will do for your soul. It will clarify your present dilemmas.

Perhaps this is why in Psalm 46:10 God tells us to , "Be still and know that I am God".

In His presence, I find that I'm only human and not as far gone as I thought. He remembers I am "but dust".

So I can admit my weaknesses. I praise Him for quiet moments of rest that refresh the soul.

May 2011 be a year of entering into the rest of God in the midst of life's trials.

I Will Run

"... Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1,2

This world is full of distractions. I have realized that most of my life I have been too easily distracted. This can happen in a number of ways. Do I feel overly responsible for another's emotions or situation? Do I lack the follow-through on projects I have started? Am I lazy?

We have a race to run. That is our specific calling in life. Again, this can be a number of things, but the essence of what I am saying is this: I can not run my race if I am looking at the other runners.

Proverbs 29:25 says, "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but those who trust in the Lord will be kept safe."

We must "fix our eyes" on Jesus! This is the only way we will run our race well.

So today, throw off any weight that you are carrying. Guilt is not of God. Shame is not of God. Jesus "ignored" the shame He suffered on the cross.

We must be confident in Who we are and Who God has called us to be!

I will run.

A Vessel of Honor

"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable and noble [use] and some for menial and ignoble [use].

So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.

Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue righteousness (all that is virtuous and good, right living, conformity to the will of God in thought, word, and deed); [and aim at and pursue] faith, love, [and] peace (harmony and concord with others) in fellowship with all [Christians], who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart." --2 Timothy 2:20-22

In today's society, especially our captivating world of media, we can get caught up in what the world says is acceptable and ignore the life giving truth of God's word.

It's not like God is just saying "Don't do this and that"...He gives us the right things to aim after and pursue. He gives us direction as to what we should be focusing on--Faith, love, peace, unity and fellowship with the Body of Christ.

Psalm 101:6 says, "My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land." God gives us Christian brothers and sisters to encourage us and spur us on.

May we take this challenge from the Lord seriously. In the depths of our being, let's pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace...so that we may be a vessel of honor for the Lord.