Category: Uncategorized

4 minute read

“For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.” (Proverbs 30:33 NIV)

Stirring up anger produces strife.

Whatever side of the political spectrum you reside, this year has proven the effectiveness of stirring up anger.  Social media posts poking and prodding at the other party are intentionally trying to anger people.  The negative emotion becomes a drug.  People wait expectantly for the next day’s news, feeding their anger further.  But the only thing anger produces is strife.  If you want less battle in your life, divorce yourself from anger.

Each morning, my husband turns on the news.  After I’ve spent time reading my Bible, journaling my thoughts and prayers to God, I sit with my husband as he begins his day.  Typically, I can only tolerate about 10 minutes of the news before I feel the anger begin to rise.  Men trying to control something only God can control, irritates me.  People’s lack of faith is annoying to me.  To stop the rise of my emotions, I divorce myself from the situation by turning off the television.  You have a choice.  You don’t have to do what everyone else does.

Divorce yourself from the anger.

One night, while having friends over for dinner, we were talking.  Honestly, I can’t remember the topic, either politics or COVID, maybe both.  Because she didn’t like what we were talking about, she simply said, “I’m divorcing myself from this conversation.”  I had never heard anyone say that phrase before that moment.  What I appreciated was her self-awareness to her emotions.  Recognizing the conversation was stirring up negative feelings inside of her, she made a choice.  She divorced herself from the conversation and didn’t feed into the negativity rising within her.  We all can learn from her actions.

When you are in a situation that is stirring up anger within you, make a choice.  Divorce yourself from the situation.  Choose what emotions you feed.  If a friend’s posts on Facebook are bringing up negative emotions, don’t follow them.  Hiding posts is easy.  Divorce yourself from their negativity.  People are making those posts intentionally to insight anger.  When they do, strife follows.  We have all seen the innocent post that turns into a political arguement.  My husband loves to read the comments, I don’t.  The words infuriate me, not him.  People losing friendships over politics breaks my heart.

Before the internet, people had political discussions face-to-face.  When you discuss politics personally, people don’t say the nasty things they say from behind a screen.  If you can’t say something to someone’s face, don’t post it on Facebook.  Remember, behind every screen name is a person with feelings and emotions.

Stirring up anger causes strife.  Divorce yourself from the anger to avoid strife.

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Question of the Day:

What anger do you need to divorce yourself from today?

Further Reading: Zechariah 10:1-11:17 NIV, Revelation 18:1-24 NIV, Psalm 146:1-10 NIV,  Proverbs 30:33 NIV

4 minute read

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” (Psalm 145:8 NIV)

God is rich in love.

In a year like 2020, one filled with strife, people may question God’s love for them.  If God loves the world, why would He send a pandemic?  Viruses are a part of life.  Man didn’t create them; God did.  They balance nature:

“Viruses keep Earth’s bacterial population in check. They break up and kill bacteria at the just-right rates and in the just-right locations to maintain a population and diversity of bacteria that is optimal for both the bacteria and for all the other life-forms.” Hugh Ross

In farming terms, viruses “thin the herd,” meaning weaker animals don’t survive while stronger ones do.  In conversation, you will hear the phrase “herd immunity,” which means the virus has run its course through the flock.  Gratefully, we are close to that point with COVID-19.  The introduction of a vaccine makes the virus’s life span that much shorter.  

Love isn’t contingent on circumstance.

COVID devastates people’s lives.  One of my dear friends lost her husband in September to the illness.  Many have lost loved ones this year, but not all from the virus.  Suicide rates and domestic abuse are rising.  Two friends lost their children to suicide because of the stress of quarantine.  The darkness that surrounds the world is heavy.  Hurting hearts exist in every part of the earth.  But God’s love is still rich.

God’s love is evident in the health care workers who nurture the sick.  We see His love in the actions of neighbors who help those around them.  Jesus’s love brightens the world through His followers as they serve others.  Currently, my church is supporting a family of six through the Angel Tree network.  Together, as a community, we are meeting the family’s needs helping them through this difficult time.

When I enter into conversations about COVID, I think of the Titanic.  On the date of the ship’s launch, May 31, 1911, an employee made this statement:

“Not even God himself could sink this ship.”

He was, in fact, wrong.  The Titanic hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage, more than 1500 people died.  Because the shipbuilders were so confident in their creation, they didn’t add enough lifeboats.  Of the 2,228 passengers on board, lifeboats could only accommodate about half of them.  Man thought he was smarter than God; he wasn’t.

God has a plan.  What is going on in the world is part of His divine purpose. Understanding isn’t necessary for us to live life fully. COVID will end, but God’s love never will.

Trust God’s word. He is compassionate.  He is slow to anger and rich in love.  No one loves you more than Jesus.

Question of the Day:

Who can you share God’s love with today?

Further Reading: Zechariah 9:1-17 NIV, Revelation 17:1-18 NIV, Psalm 145:1-21NIV, Proverbs 30:32 NIV

4 minute read

“Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:15 NIV )

Jesus gives us hope.

On this day, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, enjoy the blessing.  Relish in the hope of who you are becoming as you follow Jesus.  He forgave your sins; you have life anew.  Each morning, fresh mercy awaits for the day ahead.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV)

Believe in the power of Jesus to transform your life.  Whatever you can’t forgive yourself for this year, Jesus can help you.  His grace flows to you the minute you confess whatever to Him.  Embrace His grace; let go of the past.  Charge boldly into the day, knowing you are a child of God.  Because you have given Him your heart, He’s given you His peace.  Whatever trial you face, He has the answer.  In Him, find hope for your future.

Christmas is about Christ.

The day Jesus was born, the calendar changed forever.  Before His birth, B.C. or “Before Christ,” marked years.  After his birth, the calendar changed to A.D. or “Anno Domini,” which is Latin for “Year of the Lord.”  However, a movement is underway to change these abbreviations to BCE, “Before Common Era,”  and CE, “Common Era.”  Changing terminology doesn’t change events.  Jesus still lived, died, and was resurrected.  Today’s world is trying to take Christ out of Christmas.  People may ignore history, but that doesn’t change its existence.

Take time today to celebrate Jesus’s entrance into the world.  Spend a few moments thinking about your life with Him.  Recall times over the past months you’ve felt His presence.  Talk to Him today about whatever is on your heart.  Ask Him to give you an extra measure of love to share with the world.  Manifest the hope you have in Jesus through your actions.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:7 NIV)

As you deal with difficult family members or grumpy friends, remember they’re suffering too.  Each of us is carrying pain.  Just because you can’t see the hurt doesn’t mean it isn’t there.  People need hope today.  They need to know their pain, God will use it for the good if they trust and believe in Him.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)

You have hope in Jesus.  Because your faith is in Him, His light is in you.  Shine brightly today for Him.  Let the hope you have flow through to all those you encounter today.

Question of the Day:

Who can you share the hope you have in Jesus with today?

Further Reading: Zechariah 8 NIV, Revelation 16:1-21NIV, Psalm 144 NIV, Proverbs 30:29-31 NIV

4 minute read

“Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails.  Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.” (Psalm 143:7 NIV)

Ask God to answer quickly.

Christmas Eve comes with a level of stress felt no other day of the year.  For some, the day emphasizes feelings of loneliness and despair.  Others deal with quarreling families and tense filled moments.  And for some, the financial burden of gift-giving steals any remnants of joy left. Whatever the distress, ask God to answer your pleas for help quickly.  If you feel like you’re sliding into a pit, pray God swiftly pulls you out.

Whatever situation in your life is causing you the most distress, develop a prayer to address it.  Make the phrase into your mantra for the day, counting on God’s quick answer.  By thinking ahead, you can create a strategy to win the battle.  

Battle with belief.

Creating a prayer mantra for the day ahead is battling with belief.  For instance, when dealing with someone who makes my blood boil, I pray the same prayer—grace, not anger. Then trust, when my anger begins to rise, God replaces it with grace. So far, He hasn’t failed me yet.  If feelings of envy arise, pray, joy, not jealousy, knowing God will give you what you need.  Other prayer mantras I use in the moment that help me battle believing God will answer quickly are:

• Love not hate.
• Faith, not fear.
• Forgiveness, not justice.
• Peace not anxiety
• Self-control, not greed.
• Margin, not excess.
• Good, not evil.

When you develop a prayer mantra to tackle the day ahead, God will answer quickly.  He will give you what you need to move through your circumstances.  Control your thoughts with words you choose to focus on that will uplift and encourage you.  If we don’t tap into the source of our greatest strength, we’ll never receive it.  

The beauty of developing a prayer mantra, they are easy to remember and always accessible.  Some days, I use every one of the prayers listed above.  Other times, I only use one.  Different days require different prayers.  Once we travel through one situation, we move into the next.  Having go-to prayers make the transitions easier.

Every prayer mantra is something God wants for us.  He wants us to love, not hate.  When we pray that simple prayer, He will always answer quickly.  God pours His love into us when we open ourselves up to receive it.  But if we never ask God for His love, we can’t accept it.  Instead, we’ll respond in hatred, something God never wants.  Short and sweet doesn’t mean weak .  The length of a prayer isn’t what determines its strength.

Pick your mantra for the day.  Pray, believing God will quickly answer.

Question of the Day:

What is your prayer mantra for this day?

Further Reading: Zechariah 6:1-7:14 NIV, Revelation 15:1-8 NIV, Psalm 143:1-12 NIV, Proverbs 30:24-28 NIV

4 minute read

“So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:6 NIV)

God’s Spirit will get you through Christmas.

Even though Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’s birth, for many, celebrating is hard.  Especially in this year of loss.  As I write, a young friend, only 22 years old, is battling for her life in the Cleveland Clinic.  Unforeseen complications turned a routine surgery into something far different than anyone expected.  Why my young friend suffers, I do not know.  Her faith remains constant in the face of adversity.  God is the source of all her strength; He has power for you too.

On Christmas day, many years ago, a child was born in a manger.  During that period in history, political upheaval and unrest similar to ours today existed.  Everything our world is enduring, the same as in the days of old.  What is different today than on the day Christ was born? We have His hope.  Jesus’s birth was the beginning of the hope we have today.  His life and ministry yet to come that blessed morning in Bethlehem.

Joy: Jesus, Others, You.

This year, look to Jesus for your joy, no one else.  Spend time reading Luke chapter two,  relive His birth.  Bake a birthday cake and sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus.  Celebrate Him like you would a beloved family member because Jesus is family.  He is with you on your tough days as well as your good days.  No one is closer to you than Jesus; no one knows you better than Him.  And He adores everything about you.  He is your hope.  In Him, you can find joy.

A teacher friend years ago introduced me to JOY.  Each Christmas, she finds ornaments spelling out the word.  Then she teaches them the principle of loving God, loving others, themselves last.  I’ve never forgotten the lesson.  Now, when I need JOY, I know how to find it. Remembering this simple acronym can help you find JOY!  

Each Christmas, I find a little “give-to-friends” gift.  Sometimes the item is something I make, other times not.  This year I’m giving away angels.  Some of the angels are crystal, some metal. Most of them are hand-delivered, a few mailed.  Praying over the winged ladies as I prepared them for their recipients brought joy to my heart.  The first one I gave away was to a sales associate working at the Dollar Tree.  Her smile as she peered at the ornament is forever in my mind, bringing me joy for years to come.

Enjoy the next two days.  Find strength in Jesus. Find JOY: Jesus, Others, You.

Question of the Day:

Whose strength are you relying on to get through the holidays?

Further Reading: Zechariah 4:1-5:11 NIV, Revelation 14:1-20 NIV, Psalm 142:1-7 NIV, Proverbs 30:21-23 NIV

4 minute read

“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” (Psalm 141:2 NIV)

Praying pleases God.

When you pray, God listens.  He just wants you to talk to Him.  As you begin to converse with Him more, your prayers begin to change.  Each conversation leads to a deeper relationship with God, which, in turn, changes your heart.  Lifting your desires ends with wanting God’s instead.  His will becomes more important than yours.

“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4 NIV) 

Our relationship with God is a heart bond. Placing your trust in God is an internal transaction.  Your heart connects with God’s heart.  When you pray, the language used is not verbal.  Yes, we say words, but God listens to the emotion of the heart.  When I am down on my knees in despair because of a circumstance in life, God hears the feeling I can’t verbalize.  Releasing the heartache to God gives it to Him.  He then replaces it with His peace.

Prayers don’t require words.

Think of a moment when something great happens to someone.  As a coach, I gratefully get to see this look often.  A student who is struggling to hit the ball finally hits it.  Or when a weaker student becomes “Champion of the Court” for the day, the look in their eyes is indescribable.  No words are necessary for me to know what their heart is saying.  On the other side of the spectrum, pain is visible as well.  If a child falls, the level of pain is seen quickly in their reaction.  Not hitting the ball ten times in a row brings a look easily interpreted.  And when a student loses, they all share the same momentary expression.  Heart language is different from verbal language.

Everyone has a heart language only understood by God.  Since He is your Creator, He wrote the speech.  Communication requires two things: sending and receiving.  In other words, God can’t interpret what you don’t send.  Relationships require both parties to act.  God is sending you messages of love; whether you receive them or not is up to you. If you aren’t talking to Him, you won’t receive the memo. Conversely, if you’re not sending anything to God, He’s not getting it.  He can’t answer what He doesn’t receive.

Talking to God will deepen your understanding of God’s love for you. As you begin to receive His love letters, your desires start to change.  Instead of doing all the talking, begin to listen. Don’t just send information; accept it as well. Let His desires for you become your desire for others. 

Question of the Day:

Are you doing all the talking when you’re praying?

Further Reading: Zechariah 2:1-3:10 NIV, Revelation 13:1-13:18 NIV, Psalm 141:1-10 NIV, Proverbs 30:18-20 NIV

4 minute read

“Rescue me, Lord, from evildoers;  protect me from the violent, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day.” (Psalm 140:1-2 NIV)

God consistently protects.

People’s lack of faith this year is disappointing.  In a culture that receives most of its news from the internet and social media, truth has become subjective.  For someone to understand the truth of God, they must first know Him. People aren’t turning to God for protection because they don’t know they can.

‘Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ (Jeremiah 33:3 NIV)

Faith defeats fear.

Placing your life in God’s hands is the best decision you will ever make.  He is conqueror of enemies, victor of battles, lover of our heart.  With Him, all things are possible.  Without Him, I can’t even bear the thought.  People in our country are living in fear.  Satan is stealing their joy without even trying.  They are living without God.

One of the joys of my life is my weekly tennis league.   Last week when I played, I realized our court was the only one having fun.  People were playing, but they weren’t enjoying themselves.  Disputes over line calls were tempering the mood.  I realized, as my eyes scanned the courts, COVID has stolen their joy.  Before COVID,  laughter came from all the courts.  Now, I saw tense faces and heard no chuckles.  My heart ached for the pain I saw.

Our role, as Christ-followers, is to lead people to Him.  None of us will ever save anyone.  What other people do isn’t our responsibility.  But we are to set the right example; that’s what Jesus did for us.  We are to take no offense when wronged, but instead, return it with love. Instead of forcing our beliefs on others, with grace and mercy, we agree to disagree.  And when we need protection, we trust that God has our backs.

COVID is a topic I don’t like to discuss.  However, I must discuss the virus because that is what people are talking about these days.  My husband and I both had the illness.  His case was mild; I was asymptomatic.  We quarantined and followed guidelines.  God protected us; we are grateful.  The truth is viruses spread.  God is the only one who truly protects. 

Remind people about God.  Our court laughed that day because God was in the center of our match.  All four of us agreed, God was in control.  When we discussed COVID, I reminded them of God’s sovereignty.  Once we started talking about God, the laughter flowed.  We all knew Who’s leading the way.

Lean into God’s protection.  Show others, they can lean into God too.

Question of the Day:

Who can you set an excellent example for today?

Further Reading:Zechariah 1:1-21 NIV, Revelation 12:1-17 NIV, Psalm 140:1-13 NIV, Proverbs 30:17 NIV

4 minute read

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me,  and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV)

Let God search your heart.

Shining God’s light into the dark spaces of our hearts brings freedom.  All of us are operating under some kind of lie.  We frequently believe things that aren’t true.  Our limited perspective allows easy deception.  If we don’t give God access to the nooks and crevices of our spirit, we will never know His truth.

Over the years, I’ve heard many messages on this passage.  Typically, the pastor talks about how brave you are when you pray this bold prayer over your life—in other words, actively asking God to search your heart takes courage.  However, for me, having God search my heart isn’t brave; it’s necessary.  If I don’t allow God into the crevices, I can’t live my life to the fullest as He intends.  Only with complete transparency can I live in total fullness.  Therefore, when I ask God to search my heart, I know the one who benefits most is me.

Transparency decreases anxiety.

When we are transparent with God, He reduces our anxiety.  Beginning a conversation with Him is necessary for God to act.  Asking Him to search your heart leads to peace that surpasses all understanding.  Peter tells us we are to:

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)   

Each of us have hidden things in our heart which are causing us anxiety.  Only when we open ourselves up for God’s inspection can He reveal what is unseen.  Then, we can truly cast our cares to the One who loves us most.

The other part to God’s searching, He reveals areas of offense.  For me, these revelations usually lead to an action.  Maybe my communication in a conversation wasn’t loving.  Or perhaps, I’m deceiving myself in someway.  The closer I grow to God, the more sensitive my spirit is to the sin within me.  None of us are without sin, only Jesus.  God showing us our sin, gives us the opportunity to repent and grow deeper into Him.

Allowing God to search my heart illuminated my fear of people.  Past relational hurts only feeds into the apprehension I have.  When God enters into the part of my heart where those hurts live, He brings healing.  God also shows me my part in the conflict, which helps me make amends.  If we don’t allow God to search our hearts, we never find our way to the place that is everlasting.  

Start small.  Open a piece of your heart to God you are afraid to give Him.  Let Him search you.  In Him, you will find life to the full.

Question of the Day:

What area of your heart are you not letting God into today?

Further Reading: Haggai 1:1-2:23 NIV, Revelation 11:1-19 NIV, Psalm 139:1-24 NIV, Proverbs 30:15-16 NIV

4 minute read

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;  with your right hand you save me.” (Psalm 138:7 NIV)

God preserves you.

God is the ultimate protector. We don’t even know He’s protecting us when He is protecting us. When people pull away from us, chasing after them isn’t always the best option. Sometimes, God removes people from our lives as a form of protection. Unexpected delays are ways God keeps us out of the wrong place at the wrong time. One of my favorite cartoons from years ago: a little boy sleeping soundly in his bed, meanwhile outside the window, a police officer is arresting a thief. The child had no clue he was ever in danger. How many times has God acted on our behalf, and we never knew it?

When I was in college, rebelling against God, He protected me anyway.  On more than one occasion, excessive drinking put me in perilous situations.  When I say, “By the Grace of God, there go I,” it’s the understatement of the year.  God protected me from car accidents, men who could have taken advantage of me, and my own bad choices.  Each day, He was with me and I was clueless.  One night, I walked over a mile in the snow, without a coat, to get home from a party.  Praise Jesus, I didn’t freeze to death.  He carries us in His hand.

His time, His way.

God has a purpose for each of us.  He knows why He put us here on earth, and what He wants us to do for Him.  When that time is up, we will go back home to Him:

“For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21 NIV)

People often ask me, “Why did God let so-and-so die?”  In other words, “Why didn’t God protect them from death?” Death is a part of life we all have to come to terms with at some point or another.  God’s word is clear, a limit exists to our days on earth.  God protects us while we’re on earth so we can do His work.  When our job is complete, He calls us home. 

Whatever trouble you’re facing today, God is with you. He is protecting you, covering you with His hand. Trust that in His time and His way, this too shall pass. As you move through this storm, keep the Son in your eyes. Remember, Jesus calms the waves:

“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” (Mark 4:39 NIV)

God protects you in the storm. His peace reigns over any adversity.

Question of the Day:

How has God protected you in your life?

Further Reading: Zephaniah 1:1-3:20 NIV,  Revelation 10:1-11 NIV, Psalm 138:1-8 NIV, Proverbs 30:11-14 NIV

4 minute read

“How can we sing the songs of the Lord  while in a foreign land?” (Psalm 137:4 NIV)

How you live sings your song.

Psalm 137 is a lament of the Israelites and their exile in Babylon.  In this case, the refusal to sing God’s song for the Babylonians is singing with their actions, not their words.  The Babylonians wanted the Israelites to sing praise and worship songs verbally for their entertainment.  But the Israelites didn’t sing because they wouldn’t have God mocked.  Instead of using lips, their actions sang a song of commitment to their God.

We sing with actions every day of our life.  Not musically, but realistically.  When we study and apply God’s word to our situations, we’re singing.  Each step of faith we take is another note.  Sometimes we’re a little off-key; other times, we’re in perfect pitch with God.  Our symphony is playing on with each new day.   God captures even the smallest hum as we attempt to live our lives for Him, glorifying Him in all we do.

Stay in tune.

The only way we will stay in tune with God is if we seek Him daily.  Nothing substitutes for making God a priority in your day.  Whether you spend time with Him first thing or last thing, your rhythm is best when you include Him.  Whatever time you give God, He multiplies it in your life.  You’ll begin to recognize Him more in your activities when you spend time with Him.  As your relationship grows, you trust Him more, not less.  His truth becomes a necessary part of who you are as a person.  In Him, you find freedoms you find nowhere else.  But first, you must seek Him.

When I started reading through the Bible in a year, it took me about 15 minutes to do the daily reading.  My first reading plan was chronological, front to back.  About three months in, I stopped reading.  Immediately, something changed in me.  I lost a peace I didn’t realize I had found.  My life started downhill quickly.  Thankfully, God gave me a friend who sang her song into my life.  She had gone through what I was experiencing.  With love, she asked me if I had stopped reading my Bible.  When I told her I had, I realized immediately; I was missing God.  That day I started reading again.  Over two decades later, I still start my day with my Bible.  Only in His word can I find His peace.  When I find His peace, I sing His song.

We each have a song to sing to God.  As we get to know Him better, we’ll sing louder and louder.  Remembering, God cares more about who you’re becoming than who you were. Sing your song today!

Question of the Day:

What song are you singing to God today?

Further Reading: Habakkuk 1:1-3:19 NIV, Revelation 9 NIV, Psalm 137:1-9 NIV, Proverbs 30:10 NIV