James 1:2-5 (New International Version)

(2)Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, (3)because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (4)Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Joy??? I’m supposed to be joyful about everything I’m going through? Lately I have been struggling with health issues, and they just continue to get worse. I can deal with the pain, and sickness, but now something is affecting my eye causing me to lose sight. I’m supposed to be joyful about all of this? I feel more like Job who begged God to take his life! I broke down last night because I don’t know how much more I can take!!

My best friend has encouraged me not to dwell on the first part of this passage. Although this is happening, and it is REALLY testing what little faith I have left, this is supposedly what needs to be done to develop perseverance. The dictionary defines perseverance as the continuance in a state of Grace to the end…

My Prayer~
Lord, please help me to continue in Your Grace so that I may be made mature and complete. Please allow my trials to be a blessing to others that may have to endure the same. I thank you in advance for the Grace you have provided to see this to the end!!

Luke 11: 1,2 (New International Version)

(1) One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”  (2) He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

I have been accused of being selfish sometimes. Naturally, I disagree with that accusation.  How can anyone think of me as such?  I tend to go with the flow.  I do things I don’t always want to do.  I give whatever spare time I have to friends in need.  I offer to drive during long trips when people are tired.  I’m the first one offering to pick up the check…

I have noticed that maybe I have been selfish with one area of my life though… my prayer life!  It’s not as strong as I would like, maybe because my prayers are always selfish.  Lord heal this, bless me with this, help me get this, why does this happen to me, why must I deal with this?  Is there any wonder why most of my prayers seem to go unanswered?  Maybe because I’m trying to put my “kingdom” first.  I’m pretty sure if I learn to get my priorities straight, I will start seeing more answered prayers and blessings!!

My Prayer:
Dear Lord, I thank you for continually taking care of all my needs.  Help me to arrange my priorities to put your will first.  Please use me as a tool to service your kingdom, because Thine IS the kingdom, Thine is the power, Thine is the glory, forever and ever, Amen!

Luke 10:40-42

(40) But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”   (41) “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, (42) but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

As I was thinking about all that I needed to do this week, I felt like I was carrying a ton of bricks!!  I had many reports to take care of for work, I had to prepare for many meetings that I had to facilitate, I had to take care of status reports for my boss who is on vacation, I have 2 volleyball teams that I have to schedule practice plans for, and then run their practices everyday this week.  With so much on my mind, the only thing I didn’t have to remember to do was fall asleep…

Ephesians 5:16 says to make the most out of every opportunity to do good. It’s hard to believe that someone is making the most of their opportunities for good when they don’t even see the opportunities. Today, why not take a few minutes to see where you are in terms of how you’re spending your time. Are you making the most of every opportunity God gives you to do good for someone? Do you recognize those opportunities? Many Christians today make the same mistake as Martha did in Luke 10, and concern themselves with tasks instead of sitting at the feet of Jesus. Make sure you aren’t too busy to sit and the feet of Jesus.

Luke 19:17 (New International Version)

(17) ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

I have been coaching or playing volleyball for a long time, and rarely do I see, or hear something that shocks me.  Last weekend we were playing a team from somewhere I’ve never been, and they did something I almost couldn’t believe.  One of my girls hit a ball out of bounds, but a girl on the other team went to the referee and admitted she touched the ball.  The referee overturned his initial call and gave the point to us; I was astonished!!  The even more amazing thing was they did that at least 4 more times throughout the match.  We lost that match eventually, but I walked away from that with some serious conviction!!  I told the other coach how impressed I was at their sportsmanship, and especially their integrity!!  He thanked me and said I was the first coach to ever acknowledge, let alone notice that.  I wish I could say I had that much integrity, but I coach my kids to deny things like that; to get the point at all cost!! Which coach do you think is the better example to their team/kids?  Which coach would you rather have your kids play for?

Integrity is so important to a Christian that it needs to be a conscious and daily decision for you. Integrity is the foundation that God builds a successful life upon. Integrity and prosperity go hand in hand in the mind of God. Just like the servant in the story of Luke 19, if you are faithful and work at small things with integrity, God can then make you responsible for bigger and better things! The catch is that you have to be faithful and full of integrity even in the small things. God will bless you when you maintain honesty, integrity, and faithfulness to Him in all things you do, whether great or small.

1 John 3:17 (New International Version)

(17) If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

About 10-12 years ago, my best friend bought a really nice parka jacket.  Not an ultra cool Members Only jacket (which he has now), but an expensive Tommy Hilfiger jacket.  Well, expensive for a punk 20 year old kid.  I noticed one day he stopped wearing it, and when I asked where his cool jacket was, he said he gave it to a bum.  I was shocked!!  He said he went to the Post Office one day and saw a homeless guy sitting outside in the cold rain.  He said he felt led to give away his jacket since the homeless guy needed it more.

I know he didn’t do it to impress anyone, but his act of compassion has affected me to this day!  I hope it affected that guy just as much!

You’ve probably heard the saying that “you may be the only Jesus someone ever sees.” There may be a desperate person who is in need of something as small as a smile or a little money, and you might be the best, or the only example of Jesus’ love to them! With this in mind, look for ways today to live with true compassion and a caring attitude toward others. That’s how you can plant seeds of God in someone. You may not be around to see the seeds grow into a large and beautiful plant, but you could make a life-changing impact where you are!

1 Samuel 16:7 (New International Version)

(7)…The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

My friends tell me that I am still single because I am too picky.  I think they honestly believe that I care more about what someone looks like, rather than what kind of person they are.  I won’t lie; I do find some things more attractive than others.  I do know some ugly “good looking” people, and vice versa.   I don’t want to think I am still single because I am shallow… that would never stop me from trying to get to know somebody… I hope!!  Seriously, I also hope it isn’t because I am so unattractive either…  (

When you accept Christ, He begins to work in you and through you automatically. He creates you to be a completely new person. No one else around you may notice the change, at least immediately, because man usually only sees the outside of a person – what can be seen and heard. And sometimes, you may not even see, or feel the change.  But the fact is that God changed you when you became a Christian, and He is still changing you because you belong to Him, and you have His power and strength to be a new person.  God changes people where it matters… on the inside. Don’t be discouraged if others around you don’t seem to notice a difference.  Don’t ever forget that a life-changing transformation has taken place in your
heart.

A Prayer for Today:

God, thank You for Your life-changing power and strength. Give me eyes to see people the way You see them, from the inside out. Amen.

Colossians 3:23 (New International Version)

(23) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

My best friend told me once I had a bad attitude about jobs and working.  I think it stems from when I was growing up.  I was forced to help my mom’s friend work their gardening business on weekends; I hated that job!  I appreciated what little money I got, but do you know any teenagers that like spending their weekends working manual labor jobs?  I remember saying to myself that I would never grow up to work a job that I hated!!

Some people think that loving their work means they won’t have to work hard, or that they won’t have frustrations. Not true; those things are all a part of life, but ultimately, God can help you enjoy what you’re doing. When you’re in God’s will, there will be a joy on the inside and in your spirit; you will feel a sense of accomplishment. When you’re serving in your purpose, you will be fulfilled and enjoy your life. You’ll live the best life that God intended for you and He’ll take you places that you’ve never even dreamed of! You’ll experience the abundant life He has in store. God’s deepest desire for you is that you discover and follow His perfect will – knowing your calling, so that one day you can look back and say this is why God put me here.

Acts 3:19 (New International Version)

(19) Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…

I had an appointment one day, and I just happened to be running late.  For those that know me, I hate being late for anything!  What made it worse; I didn’t know the area that well so I was already a little lost. When I saw the street, it was too late to get over to make the turn.  I then drove down the street for what seemed like an eternity looking for somewhere to make a U-turn.  Every stop light had that annoying sign: No U-Turn Allowed…

The Bible tells us that anyone can be saved, as long as they confess their sins, or repent.  I was always taught that to repent meant to turn 180 degrees, to make a u-turn, and to go the other way.  It’s awesome how the Bible promises that our sins will be wiped away, that there will be a time of refreshing which comes from the Lord.  All we have to do is confess, and make that u-turn!

Psalm 28:6 (New International Version)

(6) Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy.

Lately I’ve been thinking about all the problems I’ve had, and still have.  Then I start thinking about all the other issues I need to keep praying about.  I find that what tends to happen is my prayers turn into a laundry list of problems that I want God to fix.  It becomes my complaint session with God, as if He doesn’t already know what’s going on.  I guess it’s better to complain to God in prayer than to not pray at all, but then I think about friends and coworkers that are struggling with problems of their own.  Why are they able to remain so positive?  Why are people still able to give encouragement to me when they’re going through stuff of their own?

I think the difference is what you focus on.  The bible tells us in Philippians to do everything without complaining.  When we complain about our problems, even to God, the focus is on the wrong thing.  Ever notice how easy it is to turn that molehill into a mountain?  No matter how big your mountain is, God is bigger!  Start having faith that God can move that mountain for you.  Start giving praise to God that he will give you the grace to get over that mountain. Start giving praise to God for the healing you’ve been believing and praying for.  Stop talking to God about your mountains, and start talking to the mountains about your God.  Start giving praise to God!

1 Corinthians 16:9 (New American Standard Bible)

(9)for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

You know it’s funny.  Every time I decide to make more of a commitment to my walk with the lord, something seems to always come up.  When I decide I want to tithe more regularly or frequently, something happens to my car, or I get an unexpected bill.  When I decide I need to attend church more consistently, I have meetings and events that get scheduled for Sunday morning.  When I feel like I need to show more people God’s love for them, someone REALLY gets under my skin.  When I praise and give glory to God for healing one thing, something else starts to hurt, or requires another doctor appointment… it’s always something…

God is always giving us opportunities to move forward in life.  It is God’s desire that we grow and reach our full potential.  Any time we take a step forward, the enemy will try to bring opposition and adversity against you.  Paul knew this was the case, and it will always be the case.  The great news is God promises that through Him, you can overcome any opposition the enemy brings your way.

When you step out in faith and opposition comes, stand your ground and keep doing what you know to do.  Keep on praying, reading the Bible, going to church, and walking in love and forgiveness.  Keep your heart tender and speak words of hope and victory over your life.  When the enemy sees you are more determined than he is, he’ll back down and you’ll move forward in victory.  Remember, greater is He that is in you. Stay focused and full of joy no matter what comes against you.  You will overcome opposition and walk
through the door the Lord has opened for you.