THE MATTER OF FAITH

“It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NLT.)
 
If you are a believer and follower of Jesus, by faith you have trusted Jesus as your Lord and Redeemer.

”Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him. . . “(1 Peter 1:8 ESV.)

That instant was a huge faith moment as you stepped into your relationship with God through your belief that He is who He said He was.

What about every step since that first moment of faith?

Is that same kind of FAITH and TRUST in God characterized in your daily walk with Him?

Consider the following personal faith-questions: Would you describe yourself as one who has a lot of faith?In what ways do you exercise your faith in your relationship with God? Have you ever had faith that God was going to do something for you or for someone you love? Do you usually place your faith in something you want God to do? Do you usually place your faith in God, alone – simply in WHO HE IS? 
The type of faith that is couched in “naming it and claiming it praying” can send you spiraling downward, if God chooses to answer your request in another way, rather than what you specifically asked for.

When God chooses to answer your prayer differently than what you had “named and claimed”, the resulting conclusion on your part is either I didn’t have enough faith – OR – God is not faithful.

Consider the following little (Big) scenario.

You lose your keys. You really NEED to find your keys. That NEED becomes your “name it and claim it” praying. You beseech God, telling Him YOU KNOW He will lead you to your keys if only you have enough faith. You may word it like, Lord, I’m having faith right now that You will show me where my keys are. I HAVE FAITH that You will lead me to my keys.

You may possibly accompany this praying with fasting and quoting scripture – investing all your energy on “naming and claiming by faith” strongly believing the keys will appear before you.

Here’s the truth.

It is RIGHT and WELCOMED that we present our needs and requests to God. He has told us to do so. This covers any and every detail in our lives: big things, small things, people things, and any burden-things.

”So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will
receive mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:15 NLT.)

But, are we on-track in our praying and faith walk when we base the outcome of our faith in our perception of what is the right answer?

Do we know what God is thinking and planning, as a result of our “lost keys” or are we settling down in what we think is best?

When I pray for something I have lost (that is more frequent than I would care to admit), I NOW pray in full confidence that if God wants me to find it, I will. However, if for some reason He thinks that finding my lost item is not in my best interest, then I won’t.

Remembering the interchange with God and Job, has helped me to come to this mindset. God speaks to Job (Job 38:4 NLT.)

”Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.”

There it is right there! Whether it’s finding a lost item or praying for healing or running to Him with those deepest needs of the heart – God knows more than we do!

When you took your leap of faith into The Kingdom of God, you didn’t understand all that was in the Mind of God as He brought you into relationship with Him. But you trusted Him and believed in Him.

Also true in our everyday walk; we simply do not understand much about the pathway for us that God chooses to bring us closer to Him. However, we have the choice to trust Him with the best way to handle our requests and longings.

The LORD says, ‘My thoughts and my ways are not like yours Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours’ (Isaiah 55:8 CEV.)

God's love and provision for us covers everything – from the tiniest details of struggle in our lives, to those earth-shattering events that threaten to take us under from the inside out.

As I was pondering my genuineness of faith this week, this question came to me;

Is what I have to gain more desirable than what I have to give up?

With Faith placed in God alone – trusting in His provision to give me the outcome for His glory and my good – I give up worry, striving, anxiety in trying to have enough faith that will produce the outcome that I think is best.

And here’s what I gain: peace, confidence, ability to trust, and a deeper knowledge of leaning on Jesus in a way that KNOWS He will do what is best.

I don’t know why God does what He does, but I love Him and I trust Him – and that’s enough for me.

As I told my “keyless” friend. .. We simply do not know why God chooses this way or that way. It could involve another person or another circumstance, OR, it may simply be to bring you to this crisis of faith to grow a deeper walk with Him.

After hours of stressing, searching, and praying for God to show her where they were she replied . . .

I’m just going to let it go and remember Who is in charge. I have a choice to stay in a bad mood or just thank God for Who He is. I choose to thank God. It’s too heavy for me.

I think she’s getting it, and so am I.

This hope – this confident assurance, we have as an anchor of the soul. It cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it (Hebrews 6:19 AMP.)

Anchoring My Faith in Christ Alone, Cindi

 

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JESUS, OPEN MY EYES

“O God, open his eyes and let him see” (2 Kings 6:6:17).

TROUBLE gone bad!

What the eye could see and the mind could imagine – pushed every alarm button that was holed up in the flesh.

The earthly circumstance looming ahead made it next to impossible to catch even a glimmer of hope, for fear and panic were tightening the vice.

It was certainly a death-trap of lost dreams and trashed plans for the future. Defeat was surely imminent and the soul was surrendering to that reality.
.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .
That was the way it went down that morning when the servant of Elisha stepped outside and faced the towering fighting force that had come during the night and surrounded the city with chariots and horses, with the goal of capturing Elisha and the Israelites with him.

The trembling young man who was the first to encounter this daunting opposition cried out,

Oh master! What shall we do? 

Elisha replied,
”Don’t be afraid – for there are more on our side than on theirs” (2 Kings 6:16).

And then Elisha prayed . . .
‘O God, open his eyes and let him see.’ The eyes of the young man were opened and he saw. A wonder! The whole mountainside full of horses and chariots and fire surrounding Elisha! (2 Kings 6:17 The Message).
.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .
We all have those seasons of terrible obstacles that seem insurmountable. Just like the servant of Elisha, without warning we find ourselves caught in the vice of fear and panic, and it’s difficult to even catch a glimmer of hope in the situation surrounding us.

These past weeks I’ve kept company with some who have experienced the same sort of impediments to their faith:

-    A wife navigating through the news of her husband’s cancer diagnosis

-    A mother missing her children who live far away

-    A grandmother alarmed about the newly erratic behavior of her grandson

-    A husband worried about making ends meet to provide for his family

-    A mother fearful over her son’s physical health

-    An exhausted friend dealing with a physical issue with no end in sight

-    A teacher at her wit’s end over the behavior of her students


So how do we make the jump from surrendering to hopelessness - to total faith and trust in our Lord?

We open our eyes to the TRUE REALITY holding us in His Holy Grasp.

Big turned into Small.
Impossible turned into Victory.
Depression turned into Joy.
Insurmountable turned into Defeatable.
Surrendered to Fear turned into Yielded to Jesus.

Here’s what God spoke to me through the true story of Elisha as recorded in His Word in 2 Kings 6:8-23:

Don’t Panic.

Immediately choose to trust God.

Leave it to Him, to see you (and your loved one) through.

Pray for Him to open your eyes to see the fighting army around you.

Pray for Him to open the eyes of those who share your heart.

Lord,You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; You are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue,You know all about it, LORD. You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me. This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it. Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began. God, how difficult Your thoughts are for me to comprehend; how vast their sum is! If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.
(Psalm 139: 1-6, 16-18 CSB)

Perhaps now is your time to . . .

OPEN YOUR EYES AND SEE GOD’S HORSES AND CHARIOTS OF FIRE SURROUNDING YOU (AND YOURS) KEEPING YOU SAFE . . . 

Just know; The One who created you and loves you so much is constantly on guard over you, those you love, and every insurmountable challenge you face!


Eyes Wide Opened, Cindi

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WHAT ARE YOU MISSIING?

They don’t know what they missed; they only know what they got.

That was the comforting thought that hit me last week as I was considering “what I had left out” in a recent presentation at a luncheon gathering. Those listening had no clue of the information they missed during that 30 minute sharing.

(Regretful for me that I had failed to share some findings, but good for them that they enjoyed what they DID hear and never missed what they DIDN’T hear.)

Later - thinking about that scenario, God brought deeper introspection about how easy it is to actually MISS what He tells me in His Word. He - unlike I do, doesn’t leave anything out. He says it all!

My mind then turned to statements I knew to be true in Psalm 139. Continuing to process, I realized that even though I knew it to be true, I had never really gotten the reality of the depths of God’s love for me.

Have you?

Take a look with me at some phrases from this psalm. David, under the inspiration of God’s Spirit expresses a profound awareness of God’s intimate knowledge of him – both inwardly and outwardly.
 
God has searched me and known me (Psalm 139:1.)

The Hebrew word for “search” implies a thorough examination that goes beyond a superficial glance. Rather than a mere gaze, this is a careful investigation into the deepest recesses of the heart.

God “knows” me in a personal and intimate way with a depth of understanding that is unlike any human love. This highlights the unique relationship between God and His child. This is not just a “general awareness” but one of an intimate connection.
 

”God knows when I sit down and when I rise up.” (Psalm 139:2.)

“Sit down and rise up” is an Old Testament expression describing the details of life. God knows it all – every detail of my every day.
 
Let’s continue with some other phrases from this insightful psalm by taking a moment to meditate on the following facts of God’s love for you and me.
 Before a word is on my tongue, He knows it.He hems me in, behind and before – laying His Hand upon me.This knowledge is too wonderful, and I can’t understand it.I cannot flee His presence, and He is with me in life and in death.He formed me in my mother’s womb.His work in me – is absolutely wonderful!He is always near me,and is immediately accessible to me at any instant. There is never a moment when He is not thinking about me. 
These words are reality! They were  penned by a human writer, but AUTHORED BY GOD, HIMSELF.

These phrases affirm God’s complete knowledge of all things – past, present, and future. They cover the very minutiae of human life – every action and every thought, even before it is fully formed.

Friend, when we acknowledge and accept the truth about how God loves us, it overwhelms us with awe and humility. I am also complete in comfort and encouragement of heart as I fully realize I am known, loved, and cared for by my God who sees, knows, and loves me perfectly.

My Father - the Knower and Lover of my soul, please help me to fully come to realize how precious I am to you. Lord, I know it’s not about me and about my works – but totally about Your Grace and Mercy for those You created. I worship You in wonder and awe, considering the reality of Your love. I’ve read this psalm many times, but now I am filled afresh with new joy and praise. May I never . . . miss the wonder of how you love ME. Amen.

Forever Grateful, Cindi

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THE COMPARISON TRAP

But let each one examine her own work and then she will have rejoicing in herself alone; and not in another. (Galatians 6:4)
 
Where do you fall on the “comparison scale”? Do you compare yourself OFTEN, SELDOM, or RARELY EVER?

Simply because this is a huge “thing” with women, I took a poll. The ages of these gals range from 8 – 81. Consider some responses I received to the above question:

I’m discovering that I always compare myself with the women I see on social media - their families, their activities, and their appearance.

My children are not as well behaved as other children I see.

Her prayers in public are so eloquent. I wish I could pray like that.

My weight keeps me focused on “comparing ME with my WANNA-BE SELF.” No matter if it’s up or down, I always think I look fat.

Friends of mine get to go on a lot of trips, and my family rarely does.

Others’ grades are better than mine. They don’t even seem to work at it.

Her SPLIT in gymnastics is way better than MY SPLIT.

The way my house is decorated is not as “classy” as my friend’s.

I joined a program to help me get healthier by eating right and exercising. THAT WAS A POSITIVE MOVE FOR ME. But then, it turned NEGATIVE – because I started comparing myself with the well-toned bodies and coaches that I saw on social media!
 
Just a sampling! Did you relate to any of these comparisons?

I also tossed out another question . . . How old were you when you began comparing yourself with others?

The answers that rolled in were enlightening - revealing that most all of us began comparing ourselves with others at a very early age.
 
SIDE-NOTE  
A “quick thought of comparison” can be positive if it spurs us on to set self-improvement goals. But quite often, we turn these thoughts in a direction that brings us down and makes us feel less-than – rather than turning the comparison into a positive experience.

Let’s consider what scripture says:

But let each one examine her own work and then she will have rejoicing in herself alone; and not in another. (Galatians 6:4)

Two words of interest here.

EXAMINE – the Greek meaning of this word in the context of Galatians 6:4 conveys the idea of analyzing or testing something to prove its worth. It’s used metaphorically and spiritually to help us discern our authenticity and value.

The ONLY way to accurately make that assessment is to look to the HEART OF GOD.

For the believer, all of the righteousness of God lives within us. Each of us personally has value because God created us and put His very breath of life within us.

If you doubt your self-value, just think through these phrases from  Psalm 139 where the psalmist calls attention to God’s thoughts toward us:

Fearfully and wonderfully made

Knows when you sit or stand

Knows every thought & word on your tongue and in your mind before you think or utter it

Hedges you in – behind, before, and all around

Never a moment when He is not thinking about you
 
When we examine ourselves in God’s viewing point – which is the only accurate examination  – then we have every reason to rejoice in who we are! There is no comparison with another; only placing OURSELVES within the heart of God and determining our value to Him.
 
REJOICING – This Greek word is closely related to boasting. Boasting is always a positive thing when it is boasting in the Lord. It’s negative when it is boasting in self.

So when we rejoice in who we are – we are boasting in the Lord’s handiwork of His Creation.

There is so much more to learn through diving into this COMPARISON TRAP reality.

In the meantime, focus on the truth that Comparison is truly the THIEF of your JOY!

You are a creation of God’s heart and mind, and there is much to celebrate in WHO YOU ARE.

Check our website if you would like to host an event on this topic. Bringing women together and tackling this issue head-on may just be what the ladies in your group need to help them walk victoriously in their relationships with The Lord.

Dear Father, thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Forgive me when I look to others for my validation instead of looking to YOU who made me and gave Your very life for me. Help me to truly grasp that You want a relationship with me – just as I am – not as a better or different ME. Continue to reveal Your great love for me and help me to grasp it. I commit to seeking You as I take the steps to climb out of the COMPARISON TRAP. Amen.
 
Victoriously Free, Cindi
 

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THE SECRET PLACE

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty”  (Psalm 91:1 AMPC)

What is so special about a “secret place?”

According to “the experts” secret hiding places are special because they offer a sense of privacy, security, and control. A secret hiding place can also be a place of refuge, as well as a spot to keep emotions uplifted and encouraged.

I can remember escaping to my “hiding place” in a wooded area beside my childhood home. I   loved trekking through the scattered leaves and twigs to get to my favorite limb where I sat quietly enjoying moments of dreaming while streaks of sunlight shredded through the array of branches overhead.

Imagining my “little self” in my secret place – even now – fills me with such peace and a strong pull into the presence of God.

I’m certain that God provided that special and mysterious place for me way back then, to teach me about the “special and mysterious place” He has reserved for me spiritually, now. 

The blessings promised in Psalm 91:1 (stable and fixed under His shadow) are not automatically poured out for all believers, but for those who live in close fellowship with Him. . . for those who have learned to dwell with and in Him.

The Hebrew word dwell, conveys the idea of “settling down and remaining.” It’s an action word – written as a verb, and meaning that we do what it takes to sit and remain with Him in fellowship - exalting in His Presence. It’s inhabiting that holy location and remaining there as He reveals the secrets of His Heart.

It’s a PLACE I can’t totally describe, but I’ve experienced it from time to time, before the world grabs hold of me and pulls me back into frenetic earthly living. 

Though I’ve not fully accomplished it, I do understand the concept of being “stable and fixed” in Jesus. I know from experience, that when I guard my early morning times with Him, I am able to better navigate the unexpected stressors that can wreak havoc in a well-planned out day.

I also know that every child of God has the opportunity to make the choice to habitually reside in the mysterious presence of Jesus, rather than to run to Him with only occasional approaches.

The promises of blessing this scripture carry are enough to make me keep at it:

Enjoying His Presence

Getting away from the pressures of daily living

Dwelling in a “place” that’s reserved for Jesus & me

Special and mysterious revelations from His Heart

Experiencing the warmth of His love

and…letting the others see a “stable and fixed” me in a topsy-turvy world.

I’m joining Paul’s team - pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14 ESV)

Running to my SECRET PLACE, Cindi
 

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OUR FUTURE REDEMPTION

“For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”  (Thessalonians 4:16-17)
 
What does “future redemption” mean for the believer in Jesus?

This is Part 3 of our redemption study. We have explored our moment of being redeemed in the PAST - that instant when we stepped into our salvation. We then examined being redeemed in the PRESENT – our ongoing sanctification process.

Paul talks about it in Philippians 2:12 when he says to “work out our salvation”.

The Greek context of that phrase is written in a tense meaning that we are to let the reality of the moment we stepped into our salvation – play out through our daily walk and talk.

LET THE PAST GIVE VICTORY IN THE PRESENT!  Get it?

Now, let’s take a look at our FUTURE redemption, which we’ll experience when we leave this world. We’ll either ride out through a physical death or get carried up in the Rapture!

If physical death, our souls will immediately be with Jesus, while our bodies remain in the ground.

2 Corinthians 5:8 plainly states that while we are absent from our body, we are present with the Lord.

Take note of this scripture again! If the RAPTURE occurs first, Paul describes it playing out this way.

”For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven with a loud command, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NIV)

After the Rapture - and while the Tribulation years are evolving on earth, we will enjoy the Judgement Seat of Christ – also called The Bema Seat.

Many Bible scholars believe this will happen right after the rapture. There will be NO CONDEMNATION at this “royal event” for Jesus has already paid the price for our sins! We will be rewarded for those actions and thoughts motivated by our love for Jesus. He looks intently inside our hearts at all that is pure, right, and done in His Name.

Everyone will not get the same rewards. In fact, according to scripture, some believers will arrive in Heaven, only because they trusted in Jesus for their salvation. They did nothing afterwards in their thoughts and deeds to merit a reward from Him. 

Jesus tells a story in the "Parable of The Talents" ( Matthew 22) to help us understand how it will all play out at the Bema Seat. You may want to take some time to read His words and imagine where YOU fit in, in the description of the servants in this parable.

Oh, I long for those rewards so I can give them right back to Jesus! I long to hear His WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.

Additionally, as we experience our redemption in our glorified future, we have a GLORIFIED BODY to look forward to. Now, that’s something to celebrate!

Our "glorified self" will also attend the Marriage Supper of The Lamb. This is when we will gather and feast with all those who have died in Jesus.

Friend, there’s MUCH for us to celebrate about our future redemption. I've just offered a highlight of what we have to look forward to, according to Scripture. The beauty of this reality – is that we can start celebrating right now!

Paul sums up his rapture description with an instruction for all of us.  .  .

”Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
 (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

Lord Jesus, I AM encouraged by thinking about my future redemption! Knowing I’ll be the REAL ME in Heaven, with a body without aches and pains – and receiving REWARDS to lay at Your Feet, keep me excited. I consider lots of wonderful food and heavenly conversations with the Old and New testament saints. I’m excited to be reunited with family and friends who have beat me into Your presence. And, I’m super pumped that MY learning will never end. You have so much more to share with me, than I could possibly understand now. Thank You Jesus, for redeeming me past, present, and future. Amen.

Joyfully encouraged,

Cindi

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REDEEMED, Present

Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. (Philippians 2:12 NLT)

For the believer being REDEEMED is being saved from our sin through the atonement of Jesus at the Cross. That happened in the past. The moment we accepted His Gift of Salvation by confessing our sins and accepting the reality of what He did for us on that Calvary hillside, is also in the past - our past.

That ONE MOMENT OF BELIEF - stepped us into life.

I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. (John 5:24 NLT)

If our moment of redemption is in our past, what is present redemption about?

Look back at Paul’s instructions to us in Philippians 2:12 . . . working hard so that we can show results of being saved!

What we know is that our spirit has been redeemed through His Spirit – and in our inner-being, we are totally righteous. But for the time being we are living this earthly life in the flesh!

The FLESH represents all that is natural to this earthly world – our human self.

The spirit holds all things supernatural and divine. God, through the mouthpiece of Paul is instructing us to work out our divine nature through our flesh. Now, that’s quite a challenge, right?

Peter also talks about this continual fight with the flesh.

Dear friends, you are foreigners and strangers on this earth. So I beg you not to surrender to those desires that fight against you. (1 Peter 2:11 CEV)

This “fight of the flesh” will be with us our entire earthly living days. But there’s HOPE in the battle! Let’s look at a couple of other scriptures:

In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul talks about “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

EVERY THOUGHT includes worry, frustration, guilt, shame, exasperation because of lack of time, angst in relationships, and every single thing that is an impediment to your peace.

CASTING DOWN these burdensome mindsets, in the Greek definition, means taking them down by force – dethroning them!

Is negative thinking sitting on the throne of your mind?

YOU ARE NOT YOUR MIND! But you do have a mindset. And YOU are the one who “sets your mind.”

As Believers, we can be victorious by grabbing hold of God’s Spirit living within us to dethrone ALL that keeps us occupied in ways that are NOT THE THOUGHTS OF CHRIST.

Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6)

We can choose – with each and every thought – “how” to think. We either choose to think like “the flesh thinks” or we choose to defer to His Spirit to help us think in Jesus ways. IT’S A CHOICE.

We can be determined to move in God’s command given to us in His Word.

Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above – the heavenly things, not on things that are on the earth which have only temporal value. (Colossians 3:2 AMP)

The command “Set your mind and keep focused habitually. . .” in the Greek is written in the imperfect tense – meaning that it is an ongoing continuous action that started in our past. 

In other words we were set free when we trusted in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Now; we get to choose to “flesh out” our freedom in our present walk and our talk.

Yep, we ARE “freed-up” from all those negatives that the enemy throws our way; we just have to remember that we're free and choose to walk in our freedom.

Dear Father, thank You for redeeming me. I - the REAL ME, am no longer held hostage by sin. You paid the price for my sin nature and for every sin I have ever committed or will commit. Help me to honor You by remembering that You can help me walk in the righteousness that You have given me. Help your pure love work its way “up and out of my spirit” affecting the way I think, speak, and behave. I love You Lord Jesus. Amen.

Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1 HCSB)
 

Cindi

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REDEEMED, Past

In preparing my heart for Easter I have been considering what it means to me practically, to be redeemed. In considering the concept of my redemption I have thought about the stages of being redeemed…past, present, future. Today’s thoughts center on my past redemption.

As a follower of Jesus, the phrase “Jesus redeemed me” carries a glorious reality. Through Jesus’s sacrifice and death on the cross, my sins are forgiven and I am freed from the bondage of sin and death. This LIFE of mine one day will be in the presence of Jesus in Heaven and I will truly experience the fulfillment of glorified living - redemption fulfilled!

I also know and experience a relationship with my Redeemer, Jesus. Through His death on the cross He paid the ultimate price for my sins. This means He freed me from the wrath of God due me – because I “inherited sin” at birth. In addition to paying the price for my sin, He forgave me for every single sinful thought and behavior. The price He paid was His bloodshed, which resulted in His death, burial, and resurrection.

To say that “Jesus redeemed me” I acknowledge that my condition of sin separated me from holy God. However, through the sacrifice of Christ, I have been freed from that bondage and debt TO SIN, and have received forgiveness and new living in Christ. 

This is REDEMPTION explained in words – but the reality of the transaction goes way beyond what any wordsmith could even attempt to capture.

If YOU are redeemed it means there was a definite moment in the past when you admitted you were a sinner and acknowledged Jesus as The Redeemer, The One who paid the price for your sin. At that instant you stepped into the reality of a NEW and GLORIOUS living experience.

Could considering the gift of your redemption at that moment – positively affect every other moment of your life since then, along with every moment of living in the future?

Can what Jesus did on the cross FOR YOU way back then, influence how you talk, think, and walk about in your daily life?

Of course!

Perhaps you know that to be true intellectually, but are you living in the gift of your salvation? 

Do you feel hopeful, talk kindly, behave gracefully? If you do, you are operating within the fruit of His Spirit living within you.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.( Galatians 5:22,23)

It’s a challenge for sure, but for me – intentionally considering my redemption these days, is helping me to grab hold of what Jesus did for me on the cross – and THAT changes my walk, talk, and behavior. It's a way of honoring Him when I think, talk, and walk in ways that please Him.

We have everything we need in Christ. And, we didn’t go begging for Him to save us, either. He chose us, in His grace. Being redeemed means you are adopted, accepted, sealed, and secure in the heart of God through
His Son, Jesus.

Dear Jesus, I’m so humbled by intentionally turning my heart to what You did for me on the cross. I want to honor You and Your sacrifice - by walking, talking, and thinking in ways that show my gratitude for what You have done for me. I know there are times I mess up, but when I run to You – I experience Your mercy and grace flowing over and within me. Thank You Lord. So; I will continue to reflect on Your cross and the moment I received Your saving grace. You, Lord, are worthy to be honored and praised. Amen.

(If you have questions about what it means to be redeemed, please contact us at Frazzledfemale.com)
 

Cindi

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HOLY HIGH-FIVE

My friend Gail spent much of her teaching career working with children who had learning disabilities and experienced challenges with social and emotional behaviors.
 
She described to me that often there is the need for a "signal event" to occur in order to affect change. Something as simple as slapping a HIGH-FIVE on the doorframe of the classroom - upon entering and exiting, was enough to initiate a positive change of behavior for one student. This physical action at the beginning and end of his class time with her triggered a positive learning response. It strengthened his self-confidence, enabling him to transition to a new environment successfully.
 
Here's what I am personally observing, with greater frequency than ever before; God reveals spiritual truths that are often hidden in His natural world. Oh, the TRUTHS are all around, but when I keep company with Him on a regular basis, He allows me to SEE them. As I love Him and grow to know Him through His Word, God gives greater insight into truths He wants me to grasp.
 
As I considered what my friend shared, God began to reveal a practical application. (God is all about practical applications.)
 
I imagined myself getting up early each morning, initiating a signal event to start my day. Metaphorically speaking – it’s my HIGH-FIVE of entering into the upcoming day with a focused awareness of my Lord. This holy trigger strengthens my self-confidence, enabling me to face the day ahead with joy and a determined choice to accept and handle victoriously, any unexpected thing that comes my way.
 
Putting this theory into practice, I have found that as the hours roll along, I remember about GIVING THIS DAY TO THE LORD the first thing that morning. This recollection helps me to accept and move with confidence through every snag or interruption that attempts to hi-jack my joy.
 
And then – I close out my day with intentionally turning to my Father, once again – realizing He is worthy of the beginning, the end, and all those minutes between.
 
God has given us creative minds to explore and enjoy Him. Consider some possible high-fives to start and end your day. Included in your list could be getting on your knees, quoting a scripture, singing a song, enjoying moments of talking with Him, or worshiping with a particular song.
 
It could be same each morning and evening, or you could change it up. The point is, to acknowledge God at the beginning and the ending of the day He has given you. Doing this will keep you transitioned and stable in His strength and in His sovereignty over all that unfolds in your life.
 
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2 NIV
 
Lord, keep me intentional in starting my day with You. Help me to think of You all during the hours of busy living and doing. Then, bring me at day’s end back to You with a heart of thankfulness and awareness that I am never out of Your care and Your thoughts. I love You Lord, Amen.
 

Cindi

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SOUND – or – CRAZY? (a question for your mind)

As you consider your sanity status, I’ll share a message from a meme that came my way recently . . . 
So, the bills are washed, the laundry is paid, the clothes are in the oven and the last load of dinner is in the dryer. Who says I’m not all together???
 
Don’t know about YOU, but I totally understand this line of thinking!
 
When I poll women at Frazzled Female Events about their mental stability, their responses are always in the context of being stretched to the max mentally, emotionally, and physically.
 
Truth is, nerves are sensitive and easily stirred by outside stimuli. Today's busy woman has so many thoughts, plans, and commitments that her mind's in a whirl of confusion. And then as a result, distractions hop onboard and the mind feels like it’s buckling.
 
But, there's hope! Since every believer has the Mind of Christ according to
1 Corinthians 2:16, each of us has a sound mind. . . we just have to locate it.
 
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  (2 Timothy 1:7)
 
Ladies, that is straight up declaration from God's Word assuring us that His stability lives inside of us. Our part is to stir it up by remembering who we are in Christ, then moving about our day in that reality.
 
Also, we need to look for practical ways to circumvent the continual distractions. We can do this by intentionally focusing on what WE ARE DOING IN THE MOMENT.
 
Years ago, The Spirit challenged me with a prompting to . . . reduce my multi-tasking and deliberately focus on ONE THING AT A TIME.
 
I remember beginning this process the next morning when I placed my bowl of oatmeal before me. I made the intentional choice to JUST EAT – not looking at my phone, listening to the news, nor doing ANYTHING except savoring and thinking about the taste, texture, and goodness of my food.

This practice carried over into household chores and phone conversations – along with a variety of other activities that filled my days and left me with a deficit of my mental acuity skills.
 
As time passed, I became more proficient in focusing on ONE THING AT A TIME. I discovered that these benefits carried over to my early morning Bible reading and worship time with Jesus.
 
It helps me to remember that God gives me practical strategies to use in my daily  walk. These earthly strategies always carry over into my spiritual life – teaching me to refine and deepen my walk with Him.
 
The greatest strategy for me is to attack my “craziness” head-on before the activities of my day actually kick in, by getting alone with my Father. You see, God knows my schedule and He knows my heart. Remembering WHO I am in Christ, and taking the time to love Him and be with Him first thing in the morning . . . is a BIG WIN in keeping my sanity.
 
So the next time your mind wanders off and forgets to come back, remember it's only temporary. You have the MIND OF CHRIST living within you – and He will always help you locate your sound mind – but you have to be sincere in your request and intentional in your choices.
 
Dear Father, You know me and You know my heart - and I thank You. Please help me to do what I can do to keep my mind uncluttered and composed. I know this will bring You glory and will keep those around me more peaceful. Do what only You can do in my heart and mind. In the Name and Power of Jesus I pray. Amen.
 

Cindi

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TIME TO IGNORE!

I was taught that it’s not acceptable to ignore someone. It’s rude, and  does not honor the person who is speaking to you. In fact - and more than once, NOT PAYING ATTENTION caused me to miss out on some important information intended for my ears.
 

But now, I’m learning that the behavior which often resulted in a reprimand, is the very one that brings a smiling approval from the Heart of my Father. It is . . . 

IGNORING SATAN! 

Why is this true?  Because . . . 

Satan is God’s enemy, and that makes him yours. 

Satan only speaks lies and he wants the WORST for you.

Satan is cunning and sugary-deceptive. He can sweet talk you and lure you into his schemes when you listen to him.

Satan steals the GLORY that belongs to God when you give him an ear.

”But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3)

Paul was writing this to a group of believers who were listening to false teaching. They were falling for the lies of the enemy rather than adhering to the truth of the gospel.

Paul is speaking TO YOU in this verse, as well. He underscores the truth about the devil who is continually whispering lies in your ears. He is cunning and leads you astray from your focus on Who Jesus is, and who you are in Him.

Take a few moments to think about it. How recent is it that you have fallen for these lies from the devil? (Notice how he plants them in 1st person so that you will interpret them as truth from yourself.)

I’m not good enough for God to use.

There are others much more capable than I am.

I stay so distracted when I’m reading my Bible, that I shouldn’t even try.

I’m no good at memorizing scripture.

I do not have the discipline it takes to exercise or to change my eating habits to eat healthy foods.

When I see myself in the mirror, all I see is a woman who has failed miserably.

I really have not accomplished much for God in my life.

God could never approve of the way I think and act.

I feel crabby and depressed, so it’s going to be a horrible day.

When others look at me, they see nothing special about my life.

This is merely a small sampling of the “designer lies” that originate in the minds of God’s children.

Now, listen to what James, the brother off Jesus offers as a practical strategy to kick the devil out of our minds.

”So submit to the authority of God. Resist the devil, standing firm against him – and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

What a simple concept to understand, and yet not so easy to carry through.

 Helpful insights to spur you on:

-    To submit means to voluntarily give up self-control.

-    Only by submitting to God’s Authority, can you successfully resist the devil’s thoughts tossed into your mind.

-    You resist the whispering lies of the devil by standing firm on the Authority of God.

Taking a look at the phrase “resist the devil” you’ll notice that it’s written in the imperative. This is a command given by God. He does not issue any command without giving you the resources of His Holy Spirit to help you be successful in what He tells you to do.

It’s also helpful to note that this command is written in the perfect active tense, which refers to a completed action in the past - with the results of that action being relevant in the present.

What does that mean?

God defeated the devil and all his great variety of schemes on the cross with the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son Jesus the Christ.

That was a ONE-TIME VICTORY that was secured for you, with the VICTORY of that holy past moment still being THE VICTORY of all your present moments. 

In other words, you’ve already defeated the devil by submitting to Jesus as your Lord and Savior. In the moment when you step into the presence of Jesus, you will be perfectly complete. But for the time being – living here on earth in your “fleshly self” you have to do battle with Satan. 

As a Believer, the battle is never over your salvation, but within your daily thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

So; regarding Satan . . . IT’S ALWAYS TIME TO IGNORE!

YOU GET TO CHOOSE TO IGNORE THE VOICE OF SATAN SHOUTING IN YOUR THOUGHT LIFE! Nobody can do this for you. It is totally up to you to conquer him as he tries to sabotage your life of victory in Jesus.

HOW DO YOU IGNORE?

Humble yourself.

Submit to God’s Authority.

Resist the devil, by shutting out his voice and standing firm.

Replace the voice of Satan with scripture and praise music.

Remember; God will never leave you on your own to do what He has told you to do. Ask for His Help. He’ll come running as the devil flees!

”Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord Almighty.” Zephaniah 4:6

 

Cindi

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Your Run-To

Need Validating?                 RUN TO JESUS!

God created YOU in His image – Genesis 1:27
He rejoices over YOU with singing – Zephaniah 3:17

 Need Fulfillment?                 RUN TO JESUS!
”Delight yourself in Him and He’ll give you fulfillment” – Psalm 37:4

  Need Joy?                              RUN TO JESUS!
Deliberately rejoicing will fill you with joy – Jeremiah 31:13

 Need Purpose?                      RUN TO JESUS!
Your purpose for living is in pleasing God – Philippians 2:13

”He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”   (Psalm 40:2 NIV)

“Oh Father, Your Word reveals perfectly that everything I desire is found in YOU! Please teach me to run to You instead of looking to the world around me to meet my needs. Teach me to run to You instead of to the people in my life to meet my needs and satisfy my longings. It’s YOU alone Lord, Who will plant my feet on solid and emotionally stable ground. Thank You for inviting me to RUN TO YOU, over and over, and forever more. Amen.”
 

Cindi

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Do You Have Your Father’s Eyes?

“All words are loaded with the quality of the soul out of which they proceed. Words are like eyes. Some eyes are inquisitive; others are pleading; others are brave; others are searching; others are mild and tender; and still others are low and mean. There is an invisible stream of soul-quality that flows out from people’s eyes, and there is no way in the world to change the quality of that stream except by changing the eye, and the only way to change the eye is to change the immortal spirit that looks out through the eyes.”

This quote is by George D Watson, theologian from the late 1880’s to early 1900’s. I have become quite interested in reading some of his messages on the “interior life” which explore the concept of our behaviors, and even our appearance, springing from what goes on within our inner beings.

Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase “eyes are windows to the soul”, that is often associated with the Biblical teaching suggesting that our eyes reflect our focus. What we “feed our eyes” can certainly influence our hearts. Keeping our eyes intentionally focused on God’s Word helps us keep our focus - reflecting His ways in our speech and behavior.

I’ve considered these past days, what my eyes have communicated during a busy and rather unsettling week.  

Being one who is an “easy read”, it’s almost impossible for me to hide my thoughts. Just recently, I’ve realized my eyes have shown traces of the following emotional and mental whirlwind of my soul: frustration, tiredness, confusion, helplessness, and sadness. I know this from the comments of some, and by seeing my own reflection in the mirror.

On the positive side, these eyes of mine have also communicated: joy, peace, tenderness, love, compassion, and loyalty.

The latter listing, definitely empowered through His Spirit living inside of me, Who helped me reflect my Father’s eyes, thoughts, and love to others around me.

Perhaps you’d like to join me in making it your holy ambition to let the LOVE OF JESUS shine through eyes that illuminate His Character, rather than looking out of a soul where the enemy has successfully taken the lead in thoughts and feelings. When we yield control to Satan in our thought life, it shows in our facial expressions. . . and from there, shows up in our behavior, body language, and negative speech.

It's truly a challenge, for we live in a negative world surrounded by circumstances that can easily fill us with anxiety, criticism, and general negativity.

But God’s Spirit living inside the Believer is greater than the ruler and schemer of this world. We CAN CHOOSE to yield control to Him, and He will help us reflect Christ to those people who annoy us. He will help us respond in those less than desirable circumstances that surround us – and help us counter every negative thought that jumps onboard threatening to make us LESS LIKE JESUS.

We simply and intentionally make the choice to allow His Spirit to take charge rather than give the enemy the upper hand.

The greatest compliment anyone could pay me would be . . .

You have your Father’s Eyes!

“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness.” (Matthew 6:22,23 NLT)

Dear Father, I long to have Eyes that radiate through a heart and mind consumed and preoccupied with You. It’s difficult to not show disappointment and critical thoughts at times. But those “looks” are not Yours. They belong to the enemy who wants to keep me from reflecting Your Character. Keep me alert and intentional in keeping my thought life pure and positive so that You and only You will be reflected in these eyes of mine. Amen.

Julie's Home-Going

My dear friend Julie Durham, LITERALLY WALKED right into the presence of Jesus last Thursday evening around 10:30.

The phrase literally walked is significant because Julie has been bed-ridden for much of her 67 years. Born with Spina bifida, she has not done a lot of walking for most of her life. Surgeries, body casts, braces, and her wheel chair were her norm.

Julie became dear to me about nineteen years ago when her niece Meg married our son Lane. During these years, I’ve gotten to know Julie and have grown close to her. My love for her is equaled only by my amazement of Jesus in her.

Julie became a believer, accepting The Gift of her salvation during her teenage years. There was that one moment in time when she chose to look deeper than, and beyond her circumstances - simply choosing by faith to admit she was a sinner and that it was Jesus’ death on the cross that made her righteous before our holy God.

She had lots of reasons – earthly speaking, to complain. But I never witnessed discontent from her. At every encounter, I simply saw a big smile – and when asked how she was doing, it was always I’m doing good.

I’m sure there had to be moments of crying out in despair and asking Why? That’s ok, for who of us in her situation would not have cried out to God searching for answers?

But deeper than her earthly plight, was her spiritual faith.  She didn’t try harder to be peaceful and joyful – that never works. She simply chose to believe that God loved her and had a wonderful plan for her. She knew that plan would probably be revealed in her next life, the Real One with Him for all eternity.

One reason I know the reality of what she believed, is that it came from her own mouth on the day of her Home-Going. She whispered these words . . .

I CAN’T WAIT TO WALK! 

She knew what was in store for her the moment she would leave that confining hospital bed. There was eagerness in those words – and peaceful excitement.

I was at that “watch party” last Thursday, waiting for Julie to step into the presence of Jesus. There was so much love in that room. There was such comfort poured out by those close to Julie. There was sadness intermingled with joy at what awaited her.

 I noticed “her status” written on the board in her hospital room, and it caught my attention; 

Julie Durham – Comfort Care – DNR.

As I reflected on everything that directive held for our Julie, I KNEW that soon her reality would move to a glorious status - 

Julie Durham – Holy Comfort – RR (resuscitated and resurrected).

We will celebrate Julie’s life on Friday. Family and friends will join together in a grand celebration of the reality of what happened in that ONE MOMENT when she was “freed-up” from earthly bondage. I’ve envisioned her jumping, dancing, and running . . . all after she bowed before her Lord and Savior.

And you know . . . I don’t pray for Julie anymore. I don’t have to. She has moved off my prayer list. I used to pray for …

Physical comfort – that’s been taken care of!
Emotional joy – the JOY of Jesus took care of that one!
Faith, hope, and encouragement that she’s not been forgotten – all fulfilled!

The morning after Julie moved to Heaven, I celebrated with the song written years ago by Don Moen.

If you could see me now
I’m walking streets of gold
If you could see me now
I’m standing tall and whole
If you could see me now
You’d know I’ve seen His face
If you could see me now
You’d know the pain’s erased
You wouldn’t want me
To ever leave this place
If only you could see me now

One moment of BELIEF changes your entire future, and I am celebrating
that ONE MOMENT!


 

Cindi

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FAQs

How can I experience peace when my life is so stressful?

The first step to experiencing peace is to enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ.  God has things to show you and teach you; supernatural things!  His truths are reserved for those who enter into a love relationship with Him.  You may click on HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN on the homepage (Frazzledfemale.com) or in any Bible Studies from Cindi Wood Ministries to learn how to begin your life with Jesus.

How can a relationship with Jesus keep me from being stressed?

Life is hard and it’s stressful!  Having a relationship with Jesus Christ will not get rid of all your stress.  But as you grow deeper in love with Him day in and day out, you will notice that your focus shifts to Him throughout your day.  As you spend more time with Him, your hunger will grow and you’ll long to talk with Him and seek His guidance.  Gradually you will notice you are becoming more peaceful and joyful. 

Does God really love me and want to be with me?

Oh yes!  God loves you more than you can imagine and He is interested in every detail of your life.  He cares when you feel unappreciated and hurts when your life is a wreck.

Psalm 45:11 says that “He is enthralled by your beauty,” and “He holds your tears in a bottle” according to Psalm 56:8.  He wants you to think about Him and turn to Him as you go through the details (big and small) of your days.  By doing this, you will become more aware of Him and His extravagant love for you.

Does God care about ALL the details of my life?

Yes, He does!  Anything that bothers you matters to God.  If friends dismiss you – then God cares.  If you are overwhelmed about coming home to a dirty house when you’ve worked hard all day, He cares.  Furthermore – He longs to get involved in all those details.  I’m learning to talk and listen to His voice before I answer the phone, walk into the grocery store, and psyche myself up to exercise.  The more I bring Him into each and every detail of my day, the more I experience the reality of His love.  It’s a powerfully freeing way to live!

I really love the Lord.  Why do I still mess up?

Life is imperfect and so are we.  And sometimes – we just mess up.  I’m learning to take care of those “mess-up” times quickly.  I recognize my sinful behavior and remember the instruction of 1 John 1:9. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  I’m getting better (and quicker) at confessing and repenting as soon as I realize my less-than-holy behavior.  Sometimes, it’s hard to get over it because I feel so sad that I’ve grieved the heart of God.  But I do know that according to Scripture I am cleansed and righteous in the blood of Jesus.  And when I remember that TRUTH, then I get all excited realizing that God does not define me by my current struggle, but by my identity in Jesus Christ.

I’m growing in my relationship with Jesus.  What advice can you give me to help me keep growing?

First of all – just try to realize that Jesus Christ loves you so so much!  The more you can get a grip on the reality of His great love for you, the more you’ll fall in love with Him.  Know that He enjoys you and longs to be with you.  This will lead you to enjoying Him and longing to be with Him.   Scripture says to “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).   God has made His passion known to us.  It’s an individual choice that each of us makes to move toward the heart of God.  If you long to do so, there will need to be some cost, energy, and effort on your part.  You might get up earlier in the morning to spend time with Him or refrain from watching tv or going out with friends at times.  You might choose to exercise alone so that you can have that time with Him or meditate on Scripture as you walk in your neighborhood.  However you do it, if you are truly pursuing a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, you’ll do some things and make some changes to make that happen.  For me, there is no greater activity than enjoying the presence of God. . . and to know that He is enjoying my presence, too!

Remember that loving and knowing Jesus is a lifelong progression. Each day is part of the journey of learning His Mind and Heart.

“The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”  (Zeph. 3:17).

Simply Praise

"The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fail, for the LORD holds them
by the hand."      (Psalms 37:23-25)

I have put a glorious reality into practice this week. Right when my feet hit the floor - and sometimes before, I begin exalting God by singing those great old hymns and reading aloud, psalms of praise.

With intentional worship, my mind becomes calm, and my soul very settled.
Typically, there’s a battle in my mind going on during those first minutes awake. Items on my list of things to get done fight each other over which needs to be first.

And THEN, distractions hop onboard…distractions including people things, cleaning things, devotions to write and messages to teach - things. It doesn’t matter what sort of distraction – any ol’ one will do.

But now, although not perfect, I'm getting a handle on those annoyances that hijack my peace early in the mornings.

Simply put - it is to Simply Praise.

My first thoughts, first words, first heart-talk – all about Jesus and all to Jesus.

I'm training my mind to become aware of His Love and Presence the moment my body and soul roll out of bed.

This approach helps me to have a smoother and more joyful start to my day.

• I speak to Jesus when my eyes open.

Hebrews 4:16 helps me with my prayer language. Lord, I come boldly to Your Throne of Grace. I come to find mercy and grace to help me and guide me through the details of my day ahead.

• I then TAKE TIME to praise Him through music and psalms.

These moments are not rushed, for they lay the foundation for all my other prayers.

• I then recognize and accept the help of The Spirit.

Soon it becomes apparent that Grace and Mercy are indeed empowering this sweet prayer time. I thank the Holy Spirit for helping me and being so patient with me as I try to stay “on task” in giving God the glory that is due Him.
 
And then, it’s time to move into talking with Him about the day’s details and moving into intercessory praying for all of those He’s called me to lift to Him.

But none of this happens BEFORE simply praising Jesus!

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth. You have set Your glory above the heavens. When I look at Your night sky, the work of your fingers – the moon and stars, which you have set in place, I wonder . . . who am I that You would even think of me? I love You and I thank You that You have made me a little lower than Your angels and have crowned me with glory and honor. With all my heart I give you thanks. I will always sing praises to Your Name, oh Jesus. Amen.

Simply Praising Him First,
Cindi

Frazzled Female Ministries
"Hope For The Weary"
frazzledfemale.com

Don't Throw Yourself Around

“Physical training is of some value, but godliness (spiritual training) is of value in everything and in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4::8 AMP)
 
I enjoy doing a video workout with the legendary Billy Blanks. Billy’s Boot Camp, it’s called. Now while I’ve gone through this exercise routine for almost 20 years, a new revelation hit me this week

The program involves both cardiovascular and strength training. In one tiny moment, Billy’s one-liner was etched into my mind. It was during an arm exercise working on the shoulders ...

Don’t just throw yourself around -you gotta stay focused.

That instant - what God has been teaching me throughout the years, once again became reality for me. Disciplines learned in the “world” have a spiritual counterpart.

Now, for this workout the message was clear; don’t let your body just wave around wildly, but keep your movement strong, focused, and consistent until you complete the exercise.

I pictured the same being true for me each morning as I get up and turn my attention to worship and prepare my heart and mind to study God’s Word and pray for things going on around me. It also includes my intercessory prayers for family and friends.

Do YOU ever have trouble staying focused in your prayer and devotional time with God? Perhaps you too, could take the nudge from Billy to not throw your mind around, but learn to stay focused and intentional in your worship and prayer life.

I truly look forward to ONE DAY having the ability to be singular in my worship with a full heart and mind fixed on my God in praise and adoration. But for the time being I simply press on to become stronger in this endeavor of keeping focused and trying to minimalize distractions.  Far from perfect, but here are some strategies that lead me onward toward this goal:

*) Eyes opened, Mind captured.
It’s imperative to seize your mind the minute it “comes to life” as you awaken. You’ve just got to jump in there with Jesus, before the flesh sends you to various (and often meaningless) distractions. Living in a physical world affords us many opportunities to do things, be things, think things – that totally keep us from focusing on the unseen spiritual world. Instead, our focus flits and scurries  in a variety of other directions.

How do you capture your mind? THE BEST WAY IS TO QUOTE SCRIPTURE!

Search His Word and select a verse – or a passage, making  it your  morning routine to grab hold of it. Say it. Pray it to Jesus before your feet even touch the floor.

*) Defer leadership to The Holy Spirit.
As you pray your morning scripture, ask the Holy Spirit living inside of you to be THE LEADER during this time. Ask Him to guide your mind, believing He will and that He wants to and that He’s so glad you asked for His help. Thank Him for helping you worship whole-heartedly.

*) Worship and Praise.
Take some time to fully worship – praising God in song and scripture reading.

Join the Christians of old in praise. You can do this by reading the same prayers of joy and adoration they voiced - praying and affirming who God is through the psalms.

Read aloud joyfully and heartily as you praise God – just for being God! Ask The Spirit to help you be creative during your worship time as you engage with the Creator, Sustainer, and Savior of your life.

*) Focus on ONE THING at a time.
 Sharpen your focus as you go about your day. Ditch your multi-tasking prowess, and concentrate on “the one thing” before you. As you eat your meals, slowly savor the food and focus on the sheer delight of eating

If you’ll keep intentional in “focusing on one thing” in your physical activities, you will begin to see the transfer to your spiritual life. Keeping your mind centered as you engage in conversation, or clean your house, or drive your car – ALL WITHOUT ANY OTHER DISTRACTIONS – will help you more easily stay focused during your worship time. The discipline of “one thing focus” will transfer over to your spiritual life.

*) After adoring God, pray for yourself.
Before praying those hard prayers for others who need God to show up in their lives, it’s critical to get yourself covered in Jesus! Praying yourself through the spiritual armor of Ephesians 6 will keep you from being vulnerable as you enter enemy territory.

As you pray for protection, revelation of truth, and ability to endure for yourself, you can then move with confidence into intercessory prayer for others.

I have found this process to be vital in my prayer life as I pray for those in great need. The enemy does not want them to experience the answers to those prayers we pray. We must be fully covered with the power of His Righteousness as we present these dear ones to Jesus.

*) Relax and Enjoy.
As you intentionally come to God your Father, Jesus your Savior, The HolySpirit your Helper and Comforter – there’s great relaxation and sheer JOY in the holy and supernatural relationship you share. You experience a blessing that is beyond explanation and a confidence that bolsters your every movement throughout your day.
 
Awake. Mind Focused. Heart Engaged. God Experienced.
 
Dear Father, I long for deep fellowship with You – a walk that is enjoyable and confident and life-changing. Teach me, Holy Spirit. Help me stay focused and plunge me into those deep vivacious waters of grace. Thank You. I love You, long for You, and praise You. Amen.
 
 Cindi
Frazzled Female Ministries
Frazzledfemale.com

The SOMEHOW Prayer

“For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26 ESV)

 

As children of God, through our relationship with Jesus, we are not left on our own to forge our way through the troubling circumstances of life.

Sometimes a particular “trouble” may pull you into despair, seizing your mind and heart.  As you become more fearful and anxious – either for yourself or a loved one – words become elusive in describing the torrent of emotions that have hi-jacked your soul.

It was during such moments, when I began to beseech my Father with SOMEHOW praying. I moved into really practicing this freeing prayer years ago when it occurred to me that I possessed no insight, nor resource, nor even the ability to give words to the anxiety that was surging in my soul. And right along with not knowing HOW to pray, I truly did not know WHAT to pray.
 
Somehow Jesus, will You take over the mind and heart of my child? This child (Your child) needs YOU to do what only You can do in this life and in this situation. According to Jeremiah 1:5 You knew all of Your children before You formed us in the womb. I trust You with Your child.

Somehow God of all knowledge and insight, will You let me know the best way to proceed – show me what’s right for me and for those I love? Your Word tells me in Psalm 32:8 that Your eyes will be my guide.

Somehow Lord, will You hold my hurting heart and mend it as only You  
 can mend? I read in Psalm 34:18 that YOU are close to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit.  I am both brokenhearted and crushed, and SOMEHOW, I need You to heal me.
 
This kind of praying is freeing – because it wipes out all self-effort, and places total dependence on God.

Perhaps you’ve had those moments when you’ve tried to pray over a situation, a loved one, or yourself. Maybe you’ve had to make a decision that would affect the rest of your life – and it simply HAD TO BE THE RIGHT ONE.

Also, there are those times when you fully confess your love and trust in God but you simply cannot understand WHY He allowed what He allowed. Moments like these can simply leave you clueless and speechless – and yes, heartless.

When we are so burdened with such pressure and pain that it’s impossible to verbalize our prayers, may we just remember that there’s hope and help available through the Holy Spirit.

As you grab hold of Him, loving Him and trusting Him – you can KNOW that God’s Spirit living inside of you is translating all those groans and sighs into “heart and spirit” language – taking every utterance straight to the Throne of God!

 ‘Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.”       (Romans 8:26 The Message)
 
Dear Father – my great Somehow God – I come before You today with anxiety in my heart. The “what-ifs” overwhelm me and the uneasiness consumes my thoughts and seems to paralyze me, keeping me from moving forward. I know Your desire for me is PEACE. Thank You that I can know that somehow You will make it all ok. I love You and I trust You. Amen.

The Terrible Wonderful Life

Eight days ago the Dawson family was enjoying a normal day of work and school. Robbie serves as Youth and Young Adult Pastor - and Erika, Communications Coordinator at Parkridge Church in Coral Springs, Florida. Robbie is one of five pastors, along with our son Lane at Parkridge Church.

At the end of her workday, Erika left for home.

Hours later, life dramatically changed!

Robbie returned home to discover that his beautiful (young and vibrant) wife had stepped into the presence of Jesus.

-     -     -     -
 

It’s difficult to process and to understand WHY and HOW something so tragic could have taken place in the lives of these loving and faithful followers of Jesus. The world responds with cynicism and mockery regarding how a good God could allow such tragedy.

But for the Believer, our choice is to trust in God’s Sovereignty, anchoring our faith in Him when heartache, doubt, and hopelessness jump in to hi-jack our peace.

Last Sunday, four days after Erika’s Home-going, Pastor Eddie delivered God’s hope and encouragement to the many who filled that place of worship. It was a CALL to trust God during tragedy when confusion explodes inside hearts and minds.

Here’s my paraphrase of a small portion of his message - which is accurately meaningful to every Believer in Jesus, when tragedy strikes. It’s couched in John 16, and is for us – right here, right now.
(You can find the message in its entirety @ parkridgechurch.com)
 
 
Life Brings Confusion – That’s Reality

John 16 records a conversation between Jesus and His disciples. They had not yet put together all the pieces of what was about to happen. Jesus speaks to His friends, knowing that each one would either be martyred or exiled. He speaks in figurative language, along with the object lesson of a woman giving birth in pain, but experiencing sheer JOY at the birth of her baby.

His words outlining the future - what was about to happen, made no sense at all to those bewildered disciples.
 

Jesus Understands Our Confusion

This combination of “pain, sadness, and joy talk” caused them to question among themselves, What is He saying and what does He mean?

Jesus knew what was in their hearts, so He addresses their struggling questions.
Is this what You are asking yourselves?

God knows we can’t possibly understand WHY HE ALLOWS TRAGEDY IN OUR LIVES. He understands our heartache and our grappling with the unfair and unreasonable circumstances this world sometimes hurls at us.

He understands that we sometimes forget (and dismiss) that we live in a broken world with broken people.
 

In Our Struggling, He Calls Us To Trust Him

He, knowing we can’t POSSIBLY comprehend it all, wants us to run to Him – trusting Him when NOTHING makes sense.

Jesus comments to His friends that night . . . Here's the truth; you will weep and mourn – but your grief will turn to joy.
 
HOW CAN THIS BE?

It is so counterintuitive to think of sorrow & suffering turning into Joy.
And yet, JESUS!

God is miraculous and HE can do it.
  
HE SEES WHAT WE CAN’T SEE. HE KNOWS WHAT WE CAN’T KNOW.

HE SEES THE ENTIRE STORY, WHILE WE SEE ONLY WHAT’S IN FRONT OF US.

HE KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS TRAGEDY.

HE KNOWS THAT – ONE DAY – ALL OF OUR HOPES AND DREAMS WILL BE
        TOTALLY MET IN HIM.
 
And, by faith, here’s what WE know –

Erika Dawson is not dead, she’s alive!

In fact, she’s more alive than she’s ever been. She has “sweetly and simply” stepped into the presence of Jesus. She beat us THERE, receiving a royal welcome into His Arms. One glorious day we will join her.

"Then our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will give you a glorious welcome into His Kingdom that will last forever.” (2 Peter 1:11 CEV)
-      -     -     -     --     -     -     -
Erika’s Home-going service is now scheduled. There will be a packed-out crowd watching, listening, observing and wondering . . . how in the world this family can handle such a tragic loss.

Robbie will let them know, for in his heartache coupled with disbelief and confusion – he KNOWS it has nothing to do with this world – and he will share that truth as his heart and soul hurt.

The hope that fills his heart in the midst of grief – is where his faith rests and where his soul is anchored. He will share the gospel of Jesus in a strong way that day, in the conviction that he will be with her once again.

Death IS our enemy. Death robs us of the ones we love. Death steals our moments with them. For this reason it is so painful when those we love die. We were not made to die – but to live.

“He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” (Mark 12:27)

Challenges lie ahead for this family. A husband is grieving the loss of his wife. Children are grieving the loss of their mother. Parents are grieving the loss of their child. Siblings are grieving the loss of their sister.

The Parkridge church family is also facing challenges: The youth and young adults are struggling in their grief as their pastor hurts and is not with them. Erika's role as Communications Coordinator is left vacant, while there are continual reminders throughout the facility that she is no longer with them. There will be extra effort to do the work that Robbie and Erika have responsibly done for years. The entire church staff and membership mourn her death and seek to console and offer the practical love of Jesus to this family, and to each other.

Meanwhile, the Joy of Jesus will keep Robbie moving. He will be reminded that JOY IS A PLACE WHEN IT IS NOT A FEELING.

The TRUTH of Who God is and Who we are in Him through Jesus, The Christ -  will keep all of them - and us moving!

Knowing that God has defeated our last enemy – DEATH – keeps us filled with joy as we look forward to stepping into His presence, fully alive in Christ.

Meanwhile, when tribulation hits, we can be confident and comforted by Who is truly in charge.

”In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world!”
(words of Jesus to each of us – John 16:33)

WHAT KIND OF FRIEND ARE YOU?

I am quite impressed with the woman who shared her qualifications for forming new friendships.  "I pay attention when I'm in a group of women. If I hear anyone criticizing her husband, I'm sure we will not become close friends."

This gal was making choices that were pleasing to God, and based on His Word. God never forces us into relationships that would cause us to live less than holy lives. No, we are free to choose our friendships. Proverbs 4:23 admonishes us to . . . "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." She continued to share with me, that when she heard others complaining about their husbands and home-life, it became easy for her to come alongside them and chime in about the disappointments in her marriage. "So it's just best" she said, "that I remove myself from the temptation."

How discerning for this young wife and mother to look for friendships that are both honoring to God and edifying to self. Friendships with women who love the Lord are very important. But it's equally important to carefully examine the matters of the heart that we share with our girlfriends. I've witnessed too many conversations that took a wrong turn and ended up as gossip fodder. It can happen in a moment. That's why we must guard our hearts before opening our mouths! 

I have learned to go to God first, when I'm troubled. After pouring it all out, I ask Him to let me know if I should share with a trusted girlfriend. He always gives me a sense of what to do. Sometimes, I know that the matter is between the two of us, and there's no need to consult with another. At other times, I know I'm to share my concern so that my girlfriend and I can pray over it together.

Friend, there's no one who knows you like your Heavenly Father knows you. You are created in HIS image, remember? Loving Him first, is always the right choice. He then shows you how to love (and share with) others.

May we remember that our greatest FRIENDSHIP is the one we have with Christ Jesus. By growing that holy friendship first, we will become a better friend to those around us.

Dear Jesus, may Your Spirit prompt me when I am about to criticize another. May my conversation always be filled with only uplifting and encouraging comments. If there is something unfavorable I’m aware of – help me to keep my mouth shut instead of speaking negatively - even if true, to others around me. By Your grace, help me to be like You, Jesus, with words that edify and build others up, rather than tearing them down. Amen.

“Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.” Proverbs 10:19 NLT