Breathe

"Breathe on me, breath of God....fill me with life anew...that I may love what Thou dost love, and do what thou would'st do... Breathe on Me , breath of God."

That's my prayer - no, actually, that is the passion of my heart.

 I was at conference this past weekend ... John Wesley would call it "Holy Conferencing."  It is a great time and a profound sense of knowing we are not alone ... when hundreds of people lift their voice and declare, "Bless the Lord Oh my Soul, Oh my soul ....I will bless his Holy name."  

It makes one think about the multitudes of heaven singing, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord."

Most of you know I had  a pretty severe allergic reaction  - at the very first meal of conference.  So I'm kind of thinking about this whole breathing thing.  For me these reactions are life threatening- it means I'm going to need medical help and fast, I'm going to fall to the floor, shake violently as a result of the Epi-pen and try to breathe.  It means I am going to go into full anaphylactic shock ...without medical intervention, well...  So off we go to the hospital, after having my shirt cut off of me, in front of the entire conference floor (yeah, not cool!) ... and according to those with me ...not responsive for 9 minutes.

What saves me, beyond the very skilled physicians, nurses and hospital staff, beyond the ambulance ride, beyond the very powerful anti-inflammatory drugs, beyond the hospital care, beyond the seven to ten day regimen of drugs, beyond the Bishop (The Rev. Mark Webb) calling our conference to prayer, beyond (Pastor Lee, Faith, Brenda and Patti) beyond the healing love and support of my family and friends, what saves me ... I will always be convinced, is God.

So yes, God is always good...all the time.  And, yes, this too was the day that the Lord had made and I will be glad (o.k. maybe a little drugged and grumpy) and rejoice in it.

What would happen to us if we were unresponsive in the spiritual sense?  What would happen if we could not feel the presence of God - at all for 9 minutes, 9 hours, 9 days, 9 months,...9 years ...or just one eternity!  Just one!

John, in His gospel gives us a powerful metaphor.  The image of Jesus, entering the room with his disciples, showing them - to their amazement that he is alive, scars and all. Then, Jesus does something incredible - He breathes on his disciples and fills them with the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus breathed on them, and their lives would never be the same. 

So it is true that Jesus, the resurrected one, is alive in our hearts. 

What if we thought about Jesus, the Christ, to be alive in our very breath?  Can we imagine Jesus being as important to our lives as our own breathing? 

Can we imagine Jesus ... being as life giving to us ...  as vital to us, as our own breath?

New life - this is what the risen Christ has given you and me. 

In Genesis (2:7) God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life so that man became a living being. 

Job 33:4 (ESV),declares, "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life."

Isaiah 42:5 (NLT) reads, "God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out.  He created the earth and everything in it.  He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth."

What we have here is a new creation story of sorts.  What Jesus did for the disciples he can do for us. Jesus breathed life onto his disciples, a group of people who were faithful to him, just as Jesus can breathe new life into us, we who carry on the faith.

I'm Just Sayin' that I find the image of Jesus breathing on me to be profound.  I spent some long, very long hours in the hospital,  trying my best to simply breathe.  At times, I am very still, for those who have never seen it,  frighteningly still, ... in those times ... I imagine God breathing with me, perhaps even, breathing for me.

Breath by breath, by slow, labored breath... and the multitudes sing, "Breathe on Me Breath of God...."

Psalm 150:6 (NIV) ' Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord."

....amen!

See Ya Soon

~Kelly

Choices

293....

Not a magic number, or a secret code ... 293 choices.

If I wanted a chocolate candy bar, the real deal, not just your run of the mill - non-chocolate candy bar - I would have 293 choices... 293!

Every day is about choice....

Stay in bed or get up.

What to eat, what to wear, where to go, who to go with, when do I .... lot's of choices.

 Some of those choices don’t have much to do with things of eternal importance and some of them have everything to do with it! (“Should I break this commandment?”). 

Sometimes we  ask, “Do my choices really matter?” Or we may think, “If no one knows what I’m doing, do my decisions really affect anyone?” The answer is yes! 

Our decisions always matter!

Choosing to keep the commandments shows God that we love Him and are willing to follow Him. The choices we make—including our attitude in making those choices—are a big part of how we grow and mature in our faith.

While you are free to choose your course of action..."It's my decision and I'm sticking to it!"  You are not free to choose the consequences. Whether for good or bad, consequences will follow as a result of the choices you make.” 

Our lives are made up of a series of choices. Some with meaning only for that day or that moment but others that can have ramifications far reaching into our futures and determine the course our lives.  The point is that we need to be more respectful of the choices we have to make in this life and recognize that they often wield a power greater than we can see. We have a habit of bringing God our problems – after we have made the choices that resulted in them.  I believe God would much rather we bring Him our choices, so that we do not have to experience the problems of poor decisions. 

So how do we get there...Paul said,

Romans 12:2  (MSG) 

12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

I'm just sayin' ...

Turn off the distractions and turn up God...

Psalm 119:130  (NIV)

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

• Is the world shouting so loudly —  that it’s drowning out God’s answer to your prayer? 

Seek Christian counsel from those you respect and study the Word...

Proverbs 19:20 (AMP)

20 Hear counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction, that you may be wise in the time to come.

• Look around  ... has God already placed someone in your life you can talk to and trust.  Who among your Christian friends has walked this road?

Naturally limit your choices...

Colossians 3:17 (NIV)

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

After laying out your options, cross out the ones least likely to honor God, and circle the ones that could bring him the most glory.

Humbly confront your motives: do certain choices appeal more to YOU than to him (James 4:3)? Eliminate options that are more about saving face and keeping control than about pleasing the Father.

Choices that honor God will ultimately be in your best interest!

Do something...

James 1:22 (NLT)

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

If you’re only waiting because you’re afraid to act, set fear aside and step out in faith (Joshua 1:9).

If you’ve sought God through prayer, Bible study, counsel, (and appropriate pacing) place your confidence in Him and decide. 

Just make the choice! 

Trust that God is true to his word—you ask in faith for wisdom; He will generously supply it (James 1:5-6).

Give thanks and trust God...

Instead of second-guessing the decision you’ve  made, give thanks for it. Believe that God will work good out of your choice (Romans 8:28). 

Psalm 28:7 (NLT)

The Lord is my strength and shield.  I trust him with all my heart.

He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.  I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

I wonder what Solomon was just sayin' when he said...

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.   Proverbs 3:5-6

...now about that candy bar...decisions....decisions....so many decisions....

See Ya!

~ Kelly

Devotion

 “Who and, or,  what has my allegiance and devotion?”   God's word is designed -- by God -- to make a difference in the way we think and live.

“God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and ever true to his promise, and he can be depended on)” 1 Corinthians 1:9 (Amplified)

Our ability to serve the Lord is directly related to our trust and commitment of God’s values and priorities.  But single-minded devotion is also an evidence of maturity and insight to what is truly meaningful and has eternal consequences in our lives.  So, then,  Commitment,  or, total devotion to Jesus is the evidence of our maturing faith.  (2 Cor. 4:16-18; Matt. 6:19-21, 30-34; 1 Pet. 1:17-18).

Being intensely devoted to Jesus -- creates intense desire for His word.  Acts 2:42 (NIV) says..."They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

Being intensely devoted to Jesus grounds our faith.  Romans 10:17 (NIV), "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ."

We can be comforted when we face sorrow and pain (Psalm 22:24, 56.8, Psalms 119:48-52 ) It is in the truth of who Jesus is and what he promises that we have comfort.  We can be courageous when we face giants in our lives! (1 Samuel 17:45)

Devotion to the Lord gives us stability and strength to face life.  As Christians, living our lives begins with a solid foundation of faith that comes from  hearing, taking in and obeying God’s word. The more you read God’s Word the more you see the unfailing love of God.  The more you read, the more you see the justice and judgment of God.  The more....You see His providing and protecting. 

 Romans 8:29 tells us that the purpose of God’s goodness revealed in Jesus and through the Word -- is that we would be transformed into the image of Jesus. 

More than just cute quotes, Facebook faith and Bible stories - HIS word is meant for  transformation!! 

Through devotion we are called by Jesus Christ to let our light shine so that others may see our good works and glorify God.  We are called to be lamps shinning for God’s glory.  Lamps do not talk they shine.  The way we act, and react, to each other reveals the reality of who Jesus is -- in us.  We should ask ourselves does my life reveal the character of Jesus, and my devotion to Him? 

Am I forgiving, patient, kind, good, gentle, self-disciplined and loving.  Devotion to Jesus brings clean and clear conduct. Ephesians 2:10 says....(NCV)

10 God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing. 

It takes time to develop personal spiritual disciplines—Bible study, praying, fasting, reflecting, worshiping.  It takes time to advance the kingdom of God.  But  our commitments of time are a good measure of our devotion to Christ.

I know, you know...I'm just sayin'.

See Ya'

- Kelly

Faith

Faith...  Is it yours?  Is it borrowed, rented, used?  Did you inherit it from a family member?

Yep...just plain 'ole faith.  Faith can be kind of hard and messy all at the same time. 

I think we take faith for granted. We think it’s easy to believe and easy to keep believing, but it’s not... not for most of us.

It’s the faith.  It’s what we believe about the things that matter most. Take that faith away and we have nothing left!  If we believe it, if we really, truly, absolutely believe it, then yes, it’s the faith, and friends we’d best put on our marching shoes and go wherever we are needed to put our faith to work.

The writer of Hebrews 11 would surely say Amen to that. If what we believe makes any difference, then it has to change the way we live. That’s what the phrase “by faith” (repeated over and over again in this chapter) is all about. 

Sometimes we don’t take faith as seriously as we should.  We assume something that the Bible never takes for granted.  True faith is a precious and precarious commodity.

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.There are those who have faith and those who don’t. And if you don’t have faith, you cannot please God.  Think about that for a minute!  

We are justified by faith (Romans 5:1,9).  We are reconciled to God (Romans 5:10).  We have peace with God (Ephesians 2:17-18).   We have a standing of righteousness before God, because of Christ's life and death. (1 Corinthians 1:30).  We have become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9).  

But we are not yet perfect (Philippians 3:12)! 

We still sin.  We fall short of God's perfect standard every day.  We glory in the truth that... in spite of this sin, God counts us as righteous for Christ's sake, but we long to be free not only from the guilt of sin - which we are in Christ right now -but also from the presence and the power of sin. 

This is where we live!

Saved, secure in Christ, but sinful and "groaning" as we wait for the completion of our salvation, as Romans 8:23 says: "We ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body."

In Galatians 5:4-6 (MSG) we read ... "I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love."

Faith expressed in love! A love that is based -- according to Scripture -- on what's inside us! And, what's inside??? Faith!

The difficulties of faith don't come from the lack of feeling, or action, -- but from the lack of divine knowledge.  The knowledge of who God is and the depth of His love.  Your faith isn't so much about you, about what you have or haven't done ... but rather about God, about what God has done and how much he has loved us.

The worst part about faltering faith ...  is that you are missing out on how much God loves and trusts you!  The formula of faith should be, "if you will...God will..." --reaching -- seeking -- is proof of passion... God won't give you anything that you haven't pursued.  

Maybe it's time to  pursue God ... faithfully...I'm just sayin!

Kelly

Thoughts

Have you ever been thinking and ...something shiny.... what  was I saying?

Have you ever been thinking and ... squirrel ... really?

Have you ever been thinking and ... I never thought about that!  Like....have you ever been thinking these kind of thoughts....

Why do pajamas have pockets?

Why do people sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there?

Does anybody actually enjoy the music you hear when you're on "hold"?

Why is it called a hamburger when it is beef?

Why are they called apartments when they're all together?

How come permanents are temporary?

Before they invented golf balls, how did they measure hail?

Why aren't they called bakies instead of cookies?

Have you ever imagined a world with no hypothetical situations?

If a cow laughed, would milk come out of her nose?

Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways?

Get my point ... thoughts...can be really random and our thoughts can make or break us...

When we believe something, it will affect our feelings. When you believe you are a failure, you will feel like one. When you believe you are forgiven, you will act like you live in GRACE!

The difference between a guilt-ridden Christian and a happy and joyful Christian is often one simple thing... what we think about.  Guess who's thinking about the sin, the guilt and the past? And, guess who's thinking about how they have been washed clean and they are a new person in Christ?

Philippians 4:8 says,  "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

Our enemy loves to put thoughts of failure into our minds. Those thoughts (if meditated on), produce strongholds, which produces feelings, which lands us in bondage... all because we listened to the enemy... more than our heavenly Father!

In Psalms 94:1 David declares, "When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul."  

.... So it is like this, two voices are speaking: Satan likes to come along and tell you, "Look at that sin you did so long ago! That was so bad! You are such a failure!"  However, Jesus, through God's Word, tries to tell us that if we turn to Him, we will be forgiven (1 John 1:9), and our past will be forgotten!  

Isaiah 43:25... (NIV)  “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake,    and remembers your sins no more...

The Christian thought life is not the playground for the enemy, but the stage upon which the Truth of Jesus Christ can shine.  Jesus has given the saints of God everything they need in order to take command over their thought lives. 

We as Christian's are privileged to think on nothing but that which is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, and of good report...

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Whatever you keep your mind on (think about often) will affect your entire being...so if I were to sum it up with a  perfect verse...I think Isaiah was 'just sayin,' when he said...

Isaiah 26:3... (MSG.) "People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole,  Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit.  Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing."

See you soon!

-Kelly

Heart

Deuteronomy 6:5 - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."

As Christians, one of our biggest challenges is to stay focused on God.  Sometimes... doing things for God can get in the way of being devoted to Him, especially if we substitute doing for knowing Him.

We were created to find our truest satisfaction in loving God first, above everything else.   We need to constantly check ourselves to make sure nothing comes between us and our relationship with God.  We should always remember to check our "heart."

Luke 11:28 -  He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

H - hear ...  When you read the Bible for inspiration, what would happen if we were to approach a Scripture with this prayer on our lips ...  "Lord, I need to hear a word from you today. Speak to me through your Word; help me to hear and to understand what you are saying to me."  When you make a habit of reading God's word daily and you pray that prayer, you have the opportunity to experience the power of God's word.   Then you can say, "God spoke to me through His word today …."

Romans 15:5 -  "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had..."

E - encourage ...We face so many challenges at every turn, it is important for us to have people in our lives that will get behind us to tell us we can do it.  What do we need when we are struggling?  Encouragement!  William Arthur Ward said, “Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you.  Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.”

What can change the life of another person? Encouragement!

Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,  and he will make your paths straight."

A - acknowledge God ... God has promised to direct our paths if we'll acknowledge Him in all our ways.  What does it mean to acknowledge God?  It means we are to seek out, consider and have respect for God.  It means that we are to apply His word to the everyday decisions of our lives.  This is the "knowledge of God."  If we'll obey God in the small areas of our life - apply the Word - then the big areas will fall into place. For those who choose not to follow God in their daily lives ... there is no promise of divine guidance.  However,  God promises to lead and guide those who regard and respect Him ... "acknowledging Him in all our ways!"

1 Corinthians 15:58 - "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."

R - responsible ...Without question the greatest reason that we live for God is our unwavering belief in the resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is through His resurrection from the grave that we have hope and the promise of life eternal with him.  The apostle Paul touches on such responsibilities in his statement in the 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians.  He declares that, if we really believe and if we are truly thankful that our resurrection is sure, we should “therefore” demonstrate our assurance and our thankfulness by “standing firm, letting nothing move us” and “always giving ourselves full to the work of the Lord” 

The Bible teaches us that our responsibility as believers is to work as the Lord has gifted us and leads us in our lives. We must fully understand that until the Lord returns there are souls to reach and ministries of every kind. We are responsible for our money, time, energy, talents, gifts, bodies, minds, and spirits, and we should invest all that we are to the work of the Lord. 

Psalm 84:11-12 - "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.  Lord Almighty,  blessed is the one who trusts in you.

T - trust me ... God wants us to trust in the Word and the truth it contains. But more than that, we are invited to put our trust in the author of that truth, the Son of God. The apostle Paul wrote, “God puts people right through their faith in Jesus Christ”. It takes a powerful person whose heart beats with infinite love to provide us with the new life we need for daily living and the hope we need for the future. The carpenter from Nazareth, the flesh and blood human who is also fully divine, is just that kind of person. It is in his character, his caring, his ability, that we place our confidence and trust. Salvation is personal. It is a relationship.  We can nurture trust, but only God can place it within us to begin with. We can grow God’s gift and deepen it through Bible study, prayer, and exercising faith, but we cannot originate it.

So friends, "take heart" and I'm Just Sayin'.

See Ya Soon

Kelly

Words

Words are funny, they can build you up and tear you down ... in the same sentence, they can bring, life or death, in the flash of a pen or the stroke of a key. 

Words can be kind, cruel, funny, sad, encouraging, discouraging ... string enough words together and you have a thought.  Put enough thoughts together and you can write a book.  But in the end what is a book?  It is page after page after page of ... words!

It turns out that words are so important, that we are going to give an account of what we say when we stand before the Lord.

Words have real power. 

Jesus said..."But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37). 

"What does the Bible say about the power of words?"

God spoke the world into being by the power of His words (Hebrews 11:3), and we are in His image -  in part - because of the power we have with words. In creation, only man has the ability to communicate through the spoken word. The power to use words is a very unique and powerful gift from God.

The apostle Paul wrote: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6; and Colossians 3:16).

Jesus reminds us that the words we speak are actually the overflow of our hearts (Matthew 12:34-35).  The sinner’s mouth is “full of cursing and bitterness” (Romans 3:14); but when we turn our lives over to Christ, we gladly confess that “Jesus is Lord” (Romans 10:9-10). As  sinners, our mouths are silenced before the throne of God (Romans 3:19), but as believers, our mouths are opened to praise and glorify God (Romans 15:6).

Christians are people whose hearts have been changed by the power of God, a change which is reflected in our words. 

Our words are full of blessing when our hearts are full of His blessing. So, it stands to reason then, that  if we fill our hearts with the love of Christ, only truth and purity should come out of our mouths.

Peter tells us: “In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). Let the power of our words be used of God to display the power of our faith.

Be prepared to give the reason for why we love the Lord—at anytime, to anyone at any place.  

Our words should demonstrate the power of God’s grace and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 

The Psalmist says, "May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart, be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 9:14)

I'm just sayin' .... may God teach us to use our words as an instrument of His love and His saving grace.

See Ya Next Week...

-Kelly

Alone

The Bible says, "we wrestle not against flesh and blood...."  Ephesians 6:12

The Bible says, "every man is right in their own eye..."  Proverbs 21:2

The Bible says, "the battle belongs to the Lord..."  2 Chronicles 20:17

We shout, "it's not my fault, you said this, your words hurt me, you loose, you're wrong, I'm right, you're no good, I'm better than you, you don't understand, I want, you can't, we don't, you always, you never, I only"  ...  we say it all  - on the inside!  

But on the outside - we are silent.

When we face situations that force us to stand alone it becomes natural to compromise, to buy into social and religious 'fashion' for the sake of gain, or pleasure, or popularity -- yet it is divine to sacrifice all of this at the altar of God's truth and responsibility.

It is comforting, and human, to want to stand with the crowd...however, it is divine to stand alone.  It is man-like to follow the popular, to follow society and culture - to follow the world and drift with the tide.  It is God-like to follow a principle...to do all within your God-given ability to 'stem' the tide.

The battle scarred apostle wrote, "no man stood with me, but all men forsook me..." (2 Timothy 4:16) ...he stated this to defend his teaching, to defend his belief...a belief that was very contrary to the Roman world.

Noah built a boat and he sailed it  ...  alone.

Daniel prayed in a lion's den and he prayed  ... alone. 

Abraham wandered and worshiped ... alone.

Elijah sacrificed and witnessed  ...  alone.

Jeremiah prophesied and wept  ...  alone.

Jesus loved and died  ...  alone.

God's absolute -- His revealed Truth has been out of fashion since we changed our robes of fade-less light  --  for garments of faded leaves.

It is a lonely place we walk...  And, of this trail, Jesus said,  "Straight is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life...and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:14)

The Lord is looking for those who are willing to stand up and stand alone.  Today - and every day - you are wanted.  Men and women, young and old ...those who will obey the convictions of truth and duty...

...and by the way...

In Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) we read...

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

and...finally...

1 Corinthians 16:13  (NIV)

13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

... I'm just sayin' - that standing up may cost you fortune, friends, everything .. Jesus said that it may cost us our life.

I'm willing ... you?

-Kelly

Joy

Let's be honest - there appear to be more grumpy Christians, than those who are, well ... happy.  So, what does a happy Christian look like? (Please, no selfies)  How can you tell a joyful person from a happy person, or a giddy person, or a foolish person? You can be happy your team won, you can be giddy about a great opportunity, you can act happy ... but be miserable, so, what is it that makes joy different?

Joy is not based on circumstances.... In fact, joy will not even prevent us from experiencing negative stuff.  However ...  joy is a deep-seated sense of happiness in what God has done and what He is continually doing. The Greek word for "joy" is related to the Greek word for "grace."  That means,  joy is a grace bestowed on us by God. 

 From, "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth!" (Ps. 100:1) to "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Phil. 4:4)— There are many scriptures,  before, after,  and in between— where we are compelled to lead joy-filled lives.

According to Galatians 5:22-23 joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit but it can often seem elusive, if not impossible, for Christians.   

 Joy is unaffected by circumstances.  It is a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. Joy is deep. It is a settled state of contentment, confidence and hope. 

In many ways, perspective is key. When we look at what God has done for us, we naturally respond with thanksgiving and joy. When we look at difficult circumstances or the frustrations of life, we naturally respond with discontent. This is not to say that we don't acknowledge the difficulties of this life. But that, we do so --  while still recognizing that God is in control and that He loves us.

The Psalms display this truth. David, for example, poured out his complaints to God. He did not deny the hardships of life, his depression, his hurt, or his disappointment. Yet by the end of each psalm, he generally seems encouraged (check it out -- Psalm 3; 6; 7; 13; 16; 18).

When we voice our problems and worries, when we allow ourselves to be reminded of the goodness of God, we release our burdens.  Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). 

We can experience joy when we give our burdens to Jesus. He helps carry the heavy load. He also reminds us of Who He is. Knowing of His care for us and our ultimate victory in Him, we can experience joy even in our hardships.

In the opening words of Philippians 1, Paul writes ...

Philippians 1:3-8 

I thank my God every time I remember you.   In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.   It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.  God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

So it is with  "Joy to the World" - that Jesus has come and "Joyful, Joyful We (will) Adore Thee."   We will remember these songs, "...if you want joy, you must ask for it..." or, "..if you want joy, real, joy, God's joy, wonderful joy ... then open your heart and let Jesus come in..." and wait, "joy is the flag flown high in the castle of my heart ... for the king is in residence there."  - (that last one is going to be stuck in your head for days....just like the theme from...It's A Small World After All... - yep, you are welcome!)  

...and...really it is a very small world ... all things pale in comparison to our lives in Christ ...so c'mon... all of you...yes, you are my friends and you know I'm talking about you ...and I'm  just sayin'.

Back at it next week...

Kelly

Wisdom

"...open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus, to reach out and touch Him and say that we love Him..." 

What a great chorus, it is a song that Solomon might have sung.

1 Kings 3:9

"So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

Solomon begins his reign in desperation, having to fight for it, having to grasp at the kingship, it was anything but a smooth transition. 

Not a great beginning.

God appears to Solomon and asks what it is that Solomon would like to receive. Solomon could ask that his power be centralized; he could ask that God make sure he lives his whole life as king. He could ask that he live and rule for a long time. And it even seems that God is expecting the answer to be one of these.  But Solomon surprises us (and God?) by thinking beyond himself and asking for… and you know the story … wisdom.

Well ... not exactly. 

Solomon acknowledges that it is God who put him on the throne, and then asks God for an understanding mind to rule God’s people.

He asks to be able to discern between good and evil.  What Solomon is asking for are the skills he needs to be a good king. He is not asking for generic wisdom nor is he asking to be a philosopher.

I’ve heard it said that the difference between being smart and being wise described as follows ... Being smart is knowing the truth about something. Being wise is applying truth so that it affects the way you live.

Solomon was asking for knowledge. The knowledge he was asking for was to discern between good and evil.  But it is not enough just to know what is right and what is wrong. To truly live in wisdom, this needs to change the way he lives.

The honest truth is that we all have moments of doubt where we wonder if we are  prepared for the things that God has set before us.  What a challenge these three words present to us ~ wisdom, understanding and knowledge! 

Where would we be if we were to know and walk in the true meaning of these words! 

I'm just sayin' to allow the truth of God’s Word to fill you with faith, courage and revelation as you seek to know - wisdom, understanding and knowledge.

See you next time...

Kelly

Desire

"this is my desire to honor you...."

When you think of David, what is your first thought? 

Do you remember his triumph over the giant Goliath? 

Do you remember David as the man who committed adultery with Bathsheba? 

Do you remember his failures as a father? 

Do you remember Him as a humble shepherd?  

In Acts 13:22, Paul says that God looked at David as “a man after God’s Own heart!” God remembers David as a man who cared about the things that God cared about; who loved what God loved; hated what God hated; and whose heart beat in time with God’s.  

A Holy Desire – David’s wants the Ark returned as the center of worship and devotion in Israel. David was seeking to unify a divided nation with God as their true King once again.  David desired God’s presence, God’s blessing and God’s guidance.

A Honest Desire – David  was not after glory or power; he merely wanted to see God restored to His proper place as the Sovereign God of Israel.  He strongly desired that God would be glorified among the people of Israel.

A Humble Desire – David knew that neither he nor Israel would amount to anything without the presence and power of God.  He knew they did not possess the power or the ability to fend for themselves.  They needed God.... His presence and His power.  

We need a heart that beats for God, His power and His presence.  We need to learn that we can do nothing without God  (John 15:5).  We must have His presence and His power if we are going to serve Him; worship Him and carry out His will in our lives.  

May God grant us hearts that are hungry for Him; that we will not be satisfied until He comes in power and glory and transforms us into all we can be for Him.  

"Lord I give you my heart ... have your way in me."

That was David's desire ... I'm just sayin' that maybe it should be ours.

See ya next week...

Kelly

Chuck

Chuck, the goat, died of bloat! 

Chuck was our goat.  

Yep.  Chuck was a Miniature French Alpine goat.

One day Chuck got out and broke into the feed barn...poor ole' Chuck.

Bloat ...now there's an interesting word. (...and right about now you are saying ...and how is this going to make my day? ...) ...and  now you are saying...What is bloat?  ...and I am saying...bloat happens when livestock eat so much that the stomach expands and will not allow the lungs to inflate, in essence the animal suffocates.

I wonder if "bloat"  exists in the church...  I wonder if the disciples had any issues with bloat?  I wonder if we get a little .... well ...bloated...

Habakkuk 2:4 - The Message 

“Look at that man, bloated by self-importance — full of himself but soul-empty.
But the person in right standing before God through loyal and steady believing
    is fully alive, really alive." 

How is it that someone can know so much about Jesus and we never share that information with a lost person? 

Is it biblically correct to know about the Scriptures but never share that knowledge with other people?

Real Biblical Christianity is not an academic exercise; it is a living faith...it is faith living through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

I’m not opposed to the study of the Word of God, however there is a strange disconnect when someone is full of knowledge but never applies what they learn, and they never give what they know away.  

Do we become like a bloated goat...in danger of dying?

As Christians, we could take a lesson from Chuck...

For the most part the modern church has everything it needs to exist. We have have nice facilities in which to meet. We have skilled people, decent preaching and organizing for the work of the church.

Most churches have money they need to do the things they must. Many churches have all the people they want to fill up their pews and to do the jobs that need to be done around the church. 

But, I wonder if most churches are so bloated that we  lack what we need most: The power of God and the willingness to GIVE it away!

The scripture says -- "Freely you have received ...freely give!"

What if you and I ... what if our church was to say...

 “If you need God, we can help you get to Him. If your life is broken, we can show you how God can fix it. If your family is coming apart, we can show you how God can put it back together again. If you are lost, we can show you how to be saved.”

Yep ... you know the drill ... i'm Just Sayin'.

Kelly

Pillows

Pillows are like people ...they come in all shapes and sizes.  Do you remember when, no matter where you went, you had to take "your" pillow?  Some of you and you know who you are still take "your" pillow.

On occasion we travel and stay in a hotel.  On that hotel bed there are 3,000 pillows and none of them are right ... not one!  But if I have "my" pillow ...all will be o.k. for the night.

My pillow is like a brick, in fact, the colder the weather the harder my pillow becomes ...but...the minute my head hits the pillow it begins to "conform" to my head.  In the middle of the night, well you know ...the middle for me is like 11:00...  That time when you're tossing and turning, trying to find a comfortable spot and you reach us and flip your pillow over ...and ... then ...ahhhh .... the pillow conforms and all is again right in my world.

That word conforming is interesting isn't it and it leads to this question, “What’s required of us as Christians?" Are we supposed to conform...like our pillow?

Romans 12:2  (NIV)

2 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.

The standard, for all that we think, say or do, must become, “Is this consistent with Scripture?” -or-  “Is this what God wants?”

There are quite a few Christians, some churches and even denominations, that go along with worldly standards.   If we don’t accept the Bible as the authority, we have nothing that enables us to to stand against the pressure to conform to what the world sees as normal. 

If we stand on the truth of Scripture, we have a solid to resist the pressures of the world. 

If we do not stand on the truth of Scripture, then there is little reason not to go along with every popular movement and teaching.

This may take courage. It is hard to resist peer pressure and when we resist, it may lead to confrontation, to mocking and ridicule, to rejection and other consequences. 

2 Corinthians 10:3-6  (MSG)

...we don’t live or fight our battles that way —never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

During our ordinary lives, we tend to compartmentalize things, to put some things in a “church” category, some things in a “work” category, some things in a “home or life” category, and some things in a “recreation” category. 

But Scripture tells us to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to pray constantly. Everything we think and do should be dedicated to God. 

Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV)

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

..and..

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) and praise

... fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We must conform ourselves to the image of God.  We need to feed ourselves with Scripture, prayer, study and praise. Our primary focus needs to be on the eternal things of God.

When we do, hopefully, we will help some of our  fellow Christians stand firm in their faith no matter what happens. We cannot do everything, but by the grace of God, what we can do, we will do.

Now...grab your pillow and take a nap!

...just sayin'...

Kelly

Where's God

You're sad ... you seek comfort.   You're troubled... you pray. You're distressed ... so you cry for God to answer you.  Then you listen...

But all you hear in reply is silence--a silence so deafening it drowns out every thought but this: God isn't listening.

Psalm 77:7-9  

“Will the Lord reject forever?  Will he never show his favor again?  Has his unfailing love vanished forever?  Has his promise failed for all time?  Has God forgotten to be merciful?  Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

Sometimes we forget that God is near. Sometimes we forget that we are not alone. Sometimes we forget that when we are sad, scared, confused, or disappointed, He is right there.

Have a look at this...

Isaiah 54:7-8

“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back...I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.

God's compassion for us is deep. He draws near to us with passion. He is watching, not from a distance, but with intense concern and attention to every detail of our lives.

Our every thought, every emotion, every word, and every act is the subject of His passionate interest. He feels our pain, and He delights in our joy.

... And He is kind...

He brings us back when we don't deserve it. He keeps us through all our stops and starts, all our double-mindedness, all our misguided efforts. 

God never leaves us, and, really, He is never angry with us, even though we are sometimes angry at ourselves. 

God's kindness carries us through the most difficult circumstances. 

God's kindness draws us back whenever we get off course. 

God's kindness let's us know that we are His chosen, that we are never without His love and care.  

His kindness says, "You are not alone!"

and you know ...I'm just Sayin'

Kelly

Hands

Psalm 63: 7 - 8

Because you are my helper,  I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.  I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.

Hands!  Look at them.  No, really, look at them.  French manicure's, (yes I know what that is - Brenda told me) painted nails, busted  knuckles, history, life.  

Remember when they didn't have all those spots?  Remember when we didn't call them spots and they were freckles? 

These are hands for folding and holding and working and playing and praying and praising ... these are your hands.  Hands for catching...

For us to catch God we must have the same heart as David.  We must seek after God with the intention and purpose of catching him.  We must be thirsty for God alone and realize that His hands are the only thing that can truly sustain and satisfy our soul.

His hands...look at them.  No, really, look at them.  Do you remember when they didn't have those scars?  Yes those scars ...those nail scarred hands!

In Psalm 63:8 the King James version says, "...my soul followeth hard after thee..."

Are you following hard after God ... God desires to be caught!  And if we seek him with all our heart he will let us catch him. David says, "not only will I catch you ...but I will hold on to you."  And when I have you I will sing for joy.

Listen....be still...be quiet...there it is again.  Softly at first...but if you really listen you can hear it - encouraging you, cheering you, calling you, that's the applause of heaven. 

The applause of nail scarred hands!  That applause is for you ...

God is saying catch me...with your hands...and hold on to me with all your heart.

I'm just sayin', that when we catch Him we will have all we need! 

...see ya next time...

Kelly

Storms

Storms are a certainty.  Howling winds, crashing waves ... sheets of rain and lightning bolts across the sky.  Storms can be messy and bad things often happen ... just like life.  However, every storm, every crisis is an opportunity to trust God.

God calls us to see the storms of life as He sees them - opportunities to see the hands and power of God ... at work.

Hurtful words, broken hearts, broken lives.  Marriages adrift, friendships ruined.  Shattered promises. Addictions, epic failure!

David had storms too, he cried, " Create in me a clean heart, O God ... and renew a loyal spirit within me." Psalm 51:10 (NLT)

 Are you kidding me ... a loyal spirit?  Really?  Even during the storm? 

To be loyal literally means to be faithful.  Are we, even during the most severe storm?

In 2 Corinthians 6:6 (NLT) Paul says, "...We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience..."

Purity first ...and Paul was no stranger to the storms.  The message from Paul is that integrity and power for daily life... "life during the storm" ...  is the result of a heart committed to purity, or as David says ...  a clean heart.

Then comes understanding.  Sometimes our greatest lessons are learned in the "heart" of the storm.  Every circumstance - every situation that we face will "eventually" bring understanding, a fresh view point, or the ability to "see" what God sees. We have the ability to face every storm with the confidence that God is there!

Patience ..  did you just step outside of your mind?  O.k. ...I confess, I am not the best example of patience.  Maybe that explains some of the storms in my life.  Take a look at what the scriptures say  in James 1:2 (NIV), "Consider it pure joy...when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

Patience gives God permission to work!  

Maybe, just maybe ... it is not about joy during the storm - maybe, just maybe ... it's about joy in spite of the storm.

Warren Wiersbe says, "When God permits his children to go through the furnace, He keeps His eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat."

More heat anyone?  Just sayin'....

-Kelly

Caves!

In Psalm 61:1-2, David, finds himself in a cave…

1 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.

2 From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint;

    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

In a dark, damp, dreary, depressing cave, David has experienced the loss of everything and everyone he has leaned on in his life.  He is alone, defeated and discouraged.  David is in one of the cave experiences of life.

Interesting isn't it?  The same things that David could not "see" are things we struggle to “see” for ourselves.   What David did not see at the time, but soon came to understand, was the fact that God was behind and in control of it all.  David did not know it at the time but God was going to use his time in the cave to help him grow stronger in the Lord. 

There are times when we too find ourselves in one of life’s cave experiences.  We think all of our help and strength is gone.  We feel alone, discouraged and deserted.  Occasionally...down right angry>  Ever been there?  Sure you have.  In fact, some of us are there right now! 

When needed…God will bring us to the place where we are alone with Him and shut off from the rest of the world.  We fear those times, but they often precede the times of God’s greatest blessings in our lives!  

Think about this…David alone in the cave; Jacob alone in his tent; Elijah alone by the brook; Job alone yet surrounded by his friends; Moses alone on the backside of that mountain; Jesus alone in the agony Calvary. 

Each of these experienced their greatest triumph after that time of being shut up and shut off by the Lord. 

Sometimes there are things that are learned in the dark that cannot be learned in the light!

We may not like it, and we may not understand it, but when the Lord has brought us to a place where we have no one and nothing but Him …we learn that He is more than enough!

Yep…just sayin’

See You in Church!

Kelly

Hope

Psalm 84

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,

   Lord Almighty!

2 My soul yearns, even faints,

   for the courts of the Lord;
   my heart and my flesh cry out
   for the living God.

3 Even the sparrow has found a home,

   and the swallow a nest for herself,
   where she may have her young—
   a place near your altar,
   Lord Almighty, my King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;

   they are ever praising you.

David wants to spend his entire life in the house of the Lord.  He wants to be in that place where the Lord dwells and where the Lord’s presence is real.  He wants to linger...near the Lord.

That ought to be our desire as well.  

We need that same passion to be where the Lord is ... and where He is worshiped!  There ought to be a desire to find that place of closeness and intimacy with the Lord.  We can have that place where we can linger in His presence all the hours of the day and all the days of our lives. Those who want to be near the Lord will find a way.  And, when we make a move toward Him, He will make a move toward us, James 4:8.

David wants to “behold the beauty of the Lord.”  That is, he wants to “seek His face.”  You see, not only is David committed to being where the Lord is; but he is also committed to worshiping the Lord.  That is a worthy goal for life!

This should be the goal of every believer as well.  If we are going to worship the Lord, we are going to have to do it His way.  Jesus told us how to worship in John 4:24.  

When we yield to the Spirit of God and worship God for Who He is  - we will be engaged in the business of loving Him. 

How long has it been since you just loved on the Lord?

David looks beyond his own abilities and sees the limitless provisions of the Lord.   David sees that God is faithful!

Living with our faith give us hope; but  living faithful to the Lord provides a measure of hope that cannot otherwise exist.  As David was we are...

... invited to pray, Jer. 33:3; Matt. 11:28.  We are promised that God will hear and answer our prayers, Isa. 65:24; John 14:13-14; John 16:23-24.  

So... I'm Just sayin'  let us learn to lean on Him!  

- Kelly 

Bumping into Jesus!

Somehow, Somewhere, Sometime and at some place... this woman heard about Jesus. Maybe she had heard how He had healed that leper, (Mark 1:40-42) Maybe she had heard about that crazy dude just across the lake. (Mark 5:1-20)

Really, we have no idea what she had heard but there is little doubt that she had heard about the power of His touch.

Regardless of what she heard about Him, she knew she had to get to Him. She had come to realize that Jesus was her only hope! She believed with all her heart that if she could just get to Him, she would be healed.

She had to be determined, because by the very nature of her disease, it would have taken all the energy she had to drag herself out of her bed and struggle through that crowd to get to Jesus. She was desperate!

Have we reached that place...are we desperate... to just "bump" in to Jesus? There were tons of people touching Him and bumping into Him that day (v. 31,) but her touch was different...

That day many touched Jesus, but only one touched Him with the fingers of faith!

Many touched Jesus...but only one was completely transformed...why? Because she did whatever she had to do to touch Jesus! Will we?

In the crowd of life, the hustle. the hurried, the too busy for this...we have a choice - bump up against Jesus and whisper a quick, "excuse me," - or- run into Jesus and hold onto Him...with the fingers of faith.

... and surely you know by now...

I'm Just Sayin',

-Kelly

P.S. - too those who are receiving Just Sayin' for the first time - welcome, we're glad to have you.