In the Feels

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

When teenagers want to convey that something touches your heart, they might say that thing "gets you in the feels." Another example is if someone is emotional, or she wants to talk about her feelings, she would be, "in her feels."

Both of my children accuse me of this constantly. I have to agree, I am sensitive. I tend to cry easily, whether I am watching a sad movie or just a touching commercial. Tears come readily for me even listening to a sweet song. I can't help it! But feelings can be deceptive.  

After a discussion about the fruit of the spirit, my kids mentioned that sometimes we don't "feel" like being kind or gentle, or some of those other qualities. In God’s great wisdom, He knew that humans need help in these areas. We can't possibly pull off these qualities in our own strength. Our flesh gets in the way many times. But with the Lord's help, in His strength, we can accomplish much more.

Our feelings do not tell the whole story. We need to check our thoughts as well. What thoughts are going through our minds that are cultivating negative feelings? We have tools to use against those negative thoughts. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Phil. 4:8).

Do you think on what is true, right, and excellent? It’s not as easy as it sounds. We can get wrapped up in the bad thoughts. The good news is that we can take our thoughts captive to line up with His. When we allow God to change our thoughts, He also changes our feelings. When our thoughts are focused on the Lord, He can use us to live out the fruit of the spirit that He longs for us to share.

God, help us to think on Your truth and  walk in the fruit of the spirit so that we can show Your love to others.

Julie

No Shortcuts

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

So I have a teenage daughter. I am learning new things by the minute. She is filling my life with laughter and terror all at the same time! It's a roller coaster, and I love it. This week I'm going to catch you up to speed with communication in the style of 2016.

I'm learning that while texting, you can use lots of shortcuts like, ily for I love you. Idk means I don't know. Rn means right now. Shortcuts. Life is full of them.

There is no shortcut for finding God's Will. We often find ourselves with decisions to make. And we want to make the right choice, right? Of course! Moments like these are when we seek our Father in prayer for answers. Many times we have an agenda or at least a preference one way or another. I am ever aware of my fleshly desires, but I truly believe God's way is best. His way is what I am after.

Discernment is no easy task. We have to tease through our own feelings and the advice of others to try to see the truth. I have often heard we should seek God's will through Scripture, prayer, wise counsel, and circumstance. Your thoughts and ideas MUST line up with the Bible. If not, you are probably listening to your flesh instead of God's will. In addition to Scripture, you can seek advice from godly friends and mentors. Because these folks are grounded in God’s word, their advice is likely to be focused on Him. And lastly - PRAY, PRAY, PRAY. God will speak if you have put yourself in a position to listen. Circumstances will open up, or doors will close.

God, I pray that you would lead us to seek Your will and give us the discernment and wisdom to know the difference between our fleshly desires and Your perfect will.

Julie

He Hears My Voice

“In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I called. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.”

2 Samuel 22:7 (ESV)

My precious, elderly mother doesn’t engage in conversation like she did up until a few years ago. I live a few states away from my parents, so our communication is by phone. Dad talks freely while Mom is silent on the phone extension—until we begin our “goodbyes.” Then Mom pipes in, “It’s so good to hear your voice, Karen.” I’m grateful she still recognizes my voice and knows me by name.

Those few spoken words are priceless to me. Little penetrates and softens my heart like hearing those words. I’m in awe that the sound of my voice is enough to sustain her. Do I get tired or annoyed by the predictable repetition? No. Never. I listen for them with great anticipation.

My voice ministers to her. Her words affirm me. Heart connection takes place. Similarly, the Lord delights in hearing my voice.

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly (Psalm 5:3).

For a moment, reverse the roles with me. How endearing is the Lord’s voice to you? God wants it to be. He doesn’t want you to dread hearing Him speak. Recognize His voice and respond to it.

[Jesus] My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27).

The more we know Him, the more we hear Him speak. Grace gives us an ear for His words and allows us to tune in to Him. It hasn’t always been so for me. My hearing was impaired when I resisted His tender calling. I didn’t believe God was interested in hearing my voice. Gradually, trust opened our communication. Do you give others a voice and validate that they are heard?

Lord, I’m astounded that you hear me. May I be attentive to your voice of love and be a listening ear for others.

Karen Sims

I Don’t Want to Go

“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Genesis 28:15

I can’t remember a time when I wrestled so much over a situation. My younger brother, Dave, had just died—unexpectedly and tragically. He had lived thousands of miles away, both physically and emotionally. Only in the last couple of months of his life had we begun to cautiously reconnect.

Dave’s untimely death prompted new interactions with my older brother, Ernie, who lived about a thousand miles away in the opposite direction. He called me to share the news of Dave’s passing. He said we needed to travel to New Jersey to take care of Dave’s belongings and finalize matters. I couldn’t imagine spending a few days with Ernie. We had a strained relationship at best.

Reluctantly, I said, “Ok.” That was all I could muster at the time.

I was a knotted bundle of messy emotions. I wasn’t sure of Dave’s eternal home. I grieved losing him and struggled to accept the inevitable upcoming trip. I do not want to go. I can’t imagine doing something so painful.

Anxiety consumed me until I spewed the burden onto my heavenly Father.

With teary eyes and clenched fists, I confessed, “God, I don’t want to go to New Jersey.”

Tenderly, He assured me, “I haven’t asked you to go.”

What?! I thought I had to go.

Pent-up dread erupted from deep within and evaporated. I don’t have to go.
Now I wanted to go! I needed to go!

Ernie and I met in New Jersey. We engaged as a team and completed our mission. Compassion for him poured from the core of my being. Supernatural strength and peace prevailed. God had transformed my fearful and hardened heart. Forgiveness flowed. Reconciliation began.

Thank you, Abba, Father, for your presence, grace, and power that you display through my frailties when I honestly cast my cares on you.

Karen Sims

Buttons and Triggers

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 

Galatians 6:1 

We talk about having our “buttons” pushed when someone says or does something that ignites powerful emotions. An array of ugly feelings burst forth when a sensitive spot in our souls is suddenly triggered. We all know at least one difficult person who provides opportunities for us to do the things we don’t want to do (Romans 7:15).

The word “caught” in Galatians 6:1 does not mean the act of being “found out” in a sin. Instead, it’s the idea of being trapped or ensnared by a sin after we’ve been tempted. “Buttons” and “triggers” spur us toward entrapment. We react to the trigger or button being pushed and then spiral out-of-control into a tenacious web of deceit. Once we are caught we repeat destructive thoughts and behaviors.

Buttons will be pushed. Triggers will be pulled. They launch our weaknesses and when left unchecked we are caught. Our hope is that we don’t have to snap under pressure or remain trapped.

Do you know a loved one who is caught in a harmful lifestyle? I do. At times we are the ones ensnared. Pride prompts us to believe we are able to escape on our own, but we aren’t. We need each other! God created us to depend on the community of believers who live by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit indwelling us has gifted and charged us with the amazing responsibility to restore others to harmony with God.

When we are the one trapped, we can choose to respond in humility and allow a fellow Christ-follower whom we trust, to free us of the net we’re entangled in. We come alongside each other, recognizing our comparable condition.

Holy Spirit, fill me moment by moment with your power, so that I may gently help restore those who may be caught in sin.

Karen Sims

Hope as an Anchor

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.

Hebrews 6:19,20a

The largest anchor in the world remains on the deck of the doomed luxury ship, Titanic. It was forged with sixteen tons of high-grade steel in 1910 in Netherton, England, by Hingley’s Anchor Works. This anchor held the giant ocean liner, which was the largest at the time—a massive 46,328 tons built from millions of individual metal parts. And that was when it was empty! It carried 900 tons of freight and passengers’ baggage! The anchor was tiny in comparison but it was trusted to secure the huge vessel.

What do you hope in? Things that don’t last? People who will disappoint you? Anything less than two unchangeable things leads to hopelessness The author of Hebrews states that it is impossible for God to lie, and we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged (Hebrews 6:18). This hope holds us firm and secure. . Hope will be realized when we see Jesus face-to-face.

“Hope is a wish in your heart of good things to come.” I read this statement on an internet website, but I can’t hold fast to such an uncertain notion.

Bible teacher John Piper defines biblical hope like this: “A confident expectation and desire for something good in the future." 

“Biblical hope not only desires something good for the future; it expects it to happen. And it not only expects it to happen; it is confident that it will happen. There is a moral certainty that the good we expect and desire will be done.”

We are moored by God who is our genuine hope, like a ship relies on its anchor. He alone is trustworthy.

Lord Jesus, you are our present hope. You are immovable. You hold us steady when waves of doubt rock our faith.

Karen Sims

Thieves in the Night

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10

We never heard a sound and there was no visible evidence left behind. My newly planted marigolds had mysteriously been stripped of all their foliage. My flowerbed looked like rows of lemon lollipops—flowers on bare stalks. Within days, the vibrant blossoms withered. Their source of life had been consumed. I stood dumbstruck. By the time I figured out what happened it was too late.

I searched the internet for answers and discovered that slugs or snails had devoured the marigolds’ leaves. They are nighttime critters and had pillaged my plants while my husband, dog, and I slept.

The same thing happens to us spiritually when we leave our minds and hearts unguarded. We let our thoughts wander. Things of the world lull us to sleep. Greed, self-promotion, materialism, and earthly comforts overtake us before we realize we’ve been robbed of life. The thief of our souls sucks out our fruitfulness. Intimacy with God our Father wanes. We struggle in relationships and we become ineffective witnesses for Jesus. We lose our beauty. I don’t want that to happen, do you?

Fear nearly paralyzes me when I consider the possibility of this happening to me or my loved ones. I haven’t yet learned how to keep slugs and snails out of my garden, but I do know how to prevent the evil one from ruining our lives. Stay rooted in Jesus and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls (James 1:21). Jesus says He came that we might have abundant life. He wants us to thrive! I trust Him to protect me from the thief. Will you? He is our good shepherd who lays down His life for us (John 10:11). He is our vine (John 15). We receive nourishment in Him. Our love, peace, and joy are replenished.

Jesus, you promise us abundant life as we stay close and connected to you.

Karen Sims

Who's the Expert?

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 3:7

My husband and I have made a commitment to eat "healthy." Have you noticed that means different things to different people?

I have a stack of books from medical doctors and nutrition "experts" that each give differing advice. For instance, one encourages a plant-based diet with no meat, no eggs and no dairy. One recommends organic meat and whole milk. Another advocates healthy oils such as avocado and olive oil. Still another "expert" recommends no processed oil at all.

I find it frustrating when one source contradicts another.

We know that happens in the world today —but I've found it in our churches and Christian circles too.

You'll find a Christian pastor who support one political candidate and others who speak out against the same person. You'll see differing views on just about every social issue within the Christian community.

How can that be? God never changes. He's the same yesterday, today and forever.

Sometimes the different views come out of ignorance. People let cultural norms cloud their views. Other times, people interpret the same scriptures differently. Still other times, we let our personal experiences color the truth.

I know not everything in the Bible is black and white. (Even that's a controversial statement.) I think that's when we have to search the scripture, seek wise counsel and pray for discernment.

Proverbs 2:3-5
Proverbs 1:5
Proverbs 11:14
Proverbs 15:22

Lord, help us to learn your voice and know your ways.

Stacy

What Are Your Markings?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23a (NASB)

"I could see its markings," my son said about the snake on our front porch. (see day one if you missed it!)
We know you can tell a venomous snake by its markings. However, we have no idea which markings are venomous and which ones aren't. So we couldn't tell if the snake was dangerous or not. Just seeing the snake's markings didn't tell us much. If we had known the markings of nonpoisonous snakes, we might have been less afraid.

My boys have continued to talk about the "markings" for weeks now. I think they just like to remind me there was a snake on the porch.

As I've thought about my son's statement, I realized we all have markings — or ways people identify us.

"Markings" can include many identifiers. Snakes have various colors and patterns. Politicians have voting records or speeches. College students often wear sorority or fraternity letters. Really any symbol or mascot can identify a person with a particular group.

As Christians, we have markings too. Our verse today tells us what they should include:

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-Control

People should look at our lives and be able to identify us as Christians when they see these qualities.

Take heart, we don't have to produce these on our own. As we spend time with Jesus, they become a natural outpouring of His love in us.

We should be able to identify true believers by their markings. So whether you're looking for friends, a spouse or the next president, you should look at their markings. What do their lives say about their character?

What does your life say about your character?

Stacy

What I Learned From A Gladiola

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

I Corinthians 15:58

Two years ago, I ordered some gladiola bulbs. I'm not an expert gardener, but I made careful preparation.

First, I planted the bulbs at just the right time in a raised bed with fortified soil. I knew I couldn't just plant them in our yard. We have lots of clay in the soil, which can get very soggy.

Second, I covered the raised bed with mesh, so varmints couldn't eat the bulbs. We have squirrels, snakes (see day one) armadillos, birds, rabbits and even deer who could make a meal on the bulbs.

Third, I watered the newly planted bulbs and waited for them to grow. From the bulb catalog, I expected to see blooms by late summer.

Within a few weeks, I saw green stems growing. But I waited for blooms, which never came.

I must have done something wrong. Or maybe the bulbs needed a full year to bloom. So I was hopeful for the next year.

Still nothing. I pretty much gave up on the flowers assuming I had done something wrong.

Then last week, I looked out to see a single white gladiola! I could hardly believe my eyes! One was blooming after two years!

I was delighted to watch the gladiola develop more blooms and get even more beautiful. Now I see others start to bud.

My preparations were paying off after all. It just took a lot longer than I thought.

Isn't that how life works sometimes? We make preparations but don't see results right away. We pray but don't see answers immediately. So we're tempted to give up.

My gladiola reminded me to hang on when things take longer than I thought. Chances are, you're waiting on something. Or you will be soon. Don't give up. Stand firm.

Lord, give us encouragement while we wait.

Stacy

Jesus: Our Only Hope; Heaven: Our Real Home

If only for this life we have hope in Christ,

we are of all people most to be pitied.

1 Corinthians 15:19

My boys love Star Wars. And I've come to love it too.

Even if you've never watched the movies, you probably have heard this quote from Princess Leia: This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.

Can you relate to Princess Leia? Ever had plans fail? Ever felt desperate?

Some dear friends lost their 23-year-old son this past weekend, just before Mother's Day. It's every parent's nightmare. Right now, I can't think of a more desperate situation where all hope seems lost. Their son is gone, and nothing will bring him back.

My friend is a prayer warrior. She's prayed over her two sons since birth — for everything including safety and their future spouses. Were those prayers unanswered? Why didn't God stop the deadly car accident? He is all powerful. Certainly, He could have.
Those are the questions we ask in desperate times. We need hope.
As Christians, our hope is far more powerful than Obi-Wan. Our hope is Jesus, who conquered death and promises everlasting life to those who trust in Him.

As I looked for verses on hope, I found our verse for today.

I was surprised by Paul's words. If we only have hope in this life, we should be pitied. Seems kind of strong.

As I continued to search the scriptures, I found what I already knew to be true.

Heaven is the only place where all suffering will end forever. Sometimes, we must look at the big picture to find hope. And that's hard in desperate moments.

Sometimes I just have to meditate on truth no matter how I feel.

1 Thessalonians 4:13
Titus 1:2
I Corinthians 15:54-58

Lord, please comfort those hurting. Please bring encouragement to those who desperately need it. Show me how I can encourage those around me.

Stacy

The Snake on My Front Porch (And Yours)

 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the

wild animals the Lord God had made.

Genesis 3:1

I told my 13-year-old son to watch for snakes as he stepped out the front door. Spring in Texas means snakes are out.

He came back with his eyes wide open.

"There IS a snake out there," he said, surprised that I would actually be right.

I still can't figure out why he left the door open while he came back to report the snake coiled up by our front door. Yet I digress.

As I look back on this situation, I started to think about the incident in a spiritual light. In scripture, the snake represents Satan. See Genesis 3:1 and Revelation 12:9.

Here are some six things I learned:

1. Satan looks for people to devour, so we must always be alert. 1 Peter 5:8

2. Satan is a stumbling block that causes us to dwell on human concerns instead of God's. Matthew 16:23.

3. Satan doesn't always look scary. He can masquerade as an angel of light. Corinthians 11:14

4. Satan is a liar who wants to deceive everyone. Revelation 12:9, John 8:44

5. We must take advantage of God's armor to protect ourselves. Ephesians 6:11

6. God is stronger. Satan will be destroyed in the end. Revelation 20:10

I don't like to think about Satan. Just like I don't like to think about snakes. But the reality is, both are out there. And both can be difficult to spot. They blend in with our environment.

So we must be alert and prepared at all times. 

Lord, help me to be aware of Satan's schemes in my life. Show me how to use Your armor to protect myself. Thank you for defeating Satan.

Stacy