I love flowers and gardening.  In fact I just love nature all together.  It helps remind me of the fascinating world God has orchestrated.  How He made the bees to distribute pollen to help the flowers and trees find new population.  How the rain nourishes the crops, and the crops in return sustain our bodies. The cycle of life goes on and on, and is far too numerous to name.  However, today I would like to concentrate on a specific flower, the hydrangea.  These flowers can come in different colors, however, many people do not realize you can influence the color of the plant.  Based on the pH of the soil the plant can take on different colors.  If the soil is more acidic you get deep blue/silver colors.  The more alkaline the soil the pinker the flowers. "Hydrangea blue" is not a hue that belongs to any other thing in the world.  It is a breathe taking silver, blue that radiates its beauty in every scene of nature. 

So how would one go about making this flower blossom into this beautiful color- actually it is as simple as coffee grounds. By simply putting small amounts of coffee grounds (or other organic material) into the soil. As the material decomposes, the organic materials will add aluminum to the soil (making it more acidic).  This process will not take place over night, but slowly the changes will start to occur.  The plants then slowly start to show signs of the new brilliant color.  Finally, over time they will be transformed into the "Hydrangea blue" you were awaiting.

Now that you have had your science lesson I guess the question is how is this relevant? Well I am glad you asked.  Christians are so much like the hydrangea concerning the spiritual walk.  You can be influenced greatly by the things that are around you, whether it be positive or negative.  What soil are you growing in today?  Is it one of negativity and despair, or one of gratitude and thankfulness.  What nutrients are you feeding your soul? Is it the word of God that is infallible and Holy, or the truth the world would have you believe?  Everyday is a chance to build yourself up to grow the way God intended you to, but there is also an equal opportunity to flounder in the twist and turns of life. You must be willing to continually feed on the Word of God, and put it into action in your life.  You see if the coffee grounds sat on the shelf beside the the plant, they would have zero effect on it's color, but when mixed in the soil they begin to produce beautiful results.  The same is true about God'S Word. Its not enough to read or hear God's word, it has to be poured into every nook and cranny of your life. You have to be submissive to God in every facet. Certain areas cannot be boxed off, but have to be willing to die to self, in order to allow an amazing transformation. I encourage you today to look at what is being poured into your life. Then figure out what is producing deep change, and what needs to be thrown away. Only allow those things which deeply grow your character and love for others to remain.  

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Philippians 4:8 whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

​As I was watering my flowers, I had some that were less than dazzling. I thought what could be wrong? They were new flowers, and I had watered them everyday. I had put new, thick pine straw down to keep the weeds out. As I was thinking it came to me,  I might not be watering them long enough. The thick bedding of pine straw could be keeping the water from penetrating the ground and soaking deeply into the roots. 
The Lord spoke to me through that observation. We can’t just do a verse a day to keep the devil a way kind of thing. In order for God’s word to penetrate deeply into our hearts, and actually change our actions, we have to spend significant time in prayer and the Word.  You see when I was watering the plants it was surface water only. It would probably be enough to keep the flower alive, but definitely not enough to make them thrive. Sometimes we are guilty of surface religion. We come into church say and do the right things, listen to the pastor, maybe even give our money, but the whole time our heart is buried under thick layers of pride, sin, and apathy.  God’s Word is not leaving a seared mark on our heart because it never reached those depths. When we really allow God to penetrate our heart it is extremely painful at times, because it forces us to look inside ourselves.  It reminds me of the verse “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”  The Lord  longs for His children to dig deep into His word, allowing deep roots and a thriving spirit to unfold.
Are you spending enough time with the Father? Are you allowing His Word to penetrate so deeply that you cannot act in any other way? Maybe you have acted in a way not profitable to the kingdom, but because you are so rooted God would not let go of your heart until you made it right. This is a true, healthy, abiding relationship with the Father. Allow your roots to be refreshed and renewed today by diving into the refreshing pool of the Word. 

​Has there ever been a time in your life when you did something so many times, you were on autopilot?  Maybe there was something in your surroundings that you heard or saw so many times, you no longer noticed it? My parent’s house was on a highly traveled road when we were younger.  Before they built a four-lane road, we had traffic including large Semi-trucks.  When friends would spend the night they would comment on the traffic noise.  I remember being puzzled by the statement because I was so desensitized to it; I never noticed it at all.   In the same way, people have become desensitized (immune) to the Lord and His work.  Often time’s people might mention “what a coincidence” or how “lucky” someone was for good fortune. Often times Christians go to church because that’s what you do on Sunday, not  because they anticipate being in the Lord’s presence, but rather to satisfy a ritual. Chances are, if you are not expecting something to happen, you will miss it when it does!
 
I want us to look at Luke 2:22-24
Luke 2:22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[a]), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
The Israelite’s and their religious leaders had been praying for years for the Lord to send them a Savior. The problem was they had expectations of how the Lord would accomplish this goal. Have you ever placed expectations on anyone, including God?  What happened when things did not go as you had “expected”? Generally, the attitude is terrible, and a feeling of disappointment abides . The answer to their prayers had already been fulfilled. The expectation was a grand ruler, with great force.  The reality was a baby, in a lowly manager.

When they brought Jesus into the temple to be presented to the Lord there was no grand parade, actually right the opposite.  Mary and Joseph would have been required to bring a sin offering and a burnt offering to sacrifice in the temple.  Normally, the sacrifice would include a lamb, and a pigeon, however in Leviticus twelve it gives another option for those who could not afford a lamb.
 
8 But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a   
 burnt offering and the other for a sin offering.
 
So don’t miss this part of the story. Mary (the mother of Jesus) walks into the temple with a pair of turtledoves. She did not have enough money for a lamb. Immediately, people would have looked at Mary and Joseph with their turtledoves and acknowledged they were poor. They surely would have felt a sense of condemnation and judgement for not living up to the standard of others in the temple. Just a small side note.  How many people are written off daily because the person does not think, look, or act a certain way?  Hmmmmm...........

What the people missed about Mary and Joseph was that although they did not have “a lamb”, they had THE lamb! The Lamb of God was in the temple, as the answered prayer, and those around them did not even know it. As I write these words, in my mind I envision priest-offering sacrifices, the Pharisees reading over the law, people making donations of money, and the list goes on and on.  Because they were so busy with activities in the temple, they were missing the point “of the Temple”- the Lord! The Lord was right in front of them, the Savior, the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, but they didn’t even see Him.  Because they put expectations on the Lord, it blinded them to all the possibilities of how God could work. Today the answer to your prayer might be sitting right in front of you, but you don’t even know it because you are refusing to receive it, the way God delivered it!! It makes me cringe to think of how many times I have missed God in my own life because I would not accept the way the Lord chose to answer it. 

Priscilla Shirer told a story about a lady in Africa.  They lady said, “we here in Africa pray for you in America.”  Priscilla curiously asked, “Why? As she sat in a small hut with a mud floor.” She said “Americans try to buy their lamb with all their stuff, we don’t have any stuff, so The Lamb is all we’ve got. He is enough.” If there were ever a time to drop the mic, it would have been after these words!! It drives my heart to repentance for desiring things that could never bring real joy and contentment, and not allowing God to be enough!

God only acknowledges two people in a large crowd, that recognizes Jesus, Simeon and Anna.
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 
36There was also a prophetess named Anna, who was well along in years. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
 
Notice that the scripture said the Holy Spirit was upon him. I believe when we are saved we have the Holy Spirit in us, but I also believe when we are feverishly seeking Him, He also rest a special portion of favor upon us. Christina Caine stated, "A gifted speaker/pastor can stir up emotions in a room full of people, but lack power to break sin.  The anointed can speak, and chains of bondage are broken in the name of Jesus.  What we need are more who are anointed, not gifted." Simeon was a priest who was expecting the Lord.  He was always looking for the Lord to show up to save His people.  Simeon did not put expectations on how the Lord would show up, only that He would! Because of His willingness to accept the Lord at His word he was blessed to recognize the Savior.  Also, Anna was able to recognize Jesus as the redeemer.  Now some of you may want to hold onto your seats because Anna was a woman, and a prophetess.  She had duties in the temple, and she prophesied when she saw Jesus. Because she earnestly sought the Lord in the temple, the Lord opened her eyes to see. This is a great reminder that the Lord can speak  and allow insight through anyone he chooses, no matter the shape, size, color, or gender. 
 
Please don't miss the main point that all these people were  in "church", but missed the Lord.  May we not be guilty of playing church, but rather God would faithfully find us being the church!  


As the journey begins for the next forty-days I am asking the Lord to open my eyes like never before. Maybe your prayer could be like mine, “Lord I am so sorry for all the times I missed your work in my life. I ask that as I intentionally walk closer with you these forty-days, you would open my spiritual eyes in ways I could never imagine. Lord that you would allow me to see where you are working in all areas of my life, and get on board with you. Lord help me to be like Simeon and Anna, that I may seek you morning and night, always expecting you to show up in my day. 

​Sometimes we allow our feelings to get the best of us. Feelings are great, but not always accurate or trustworthy.  Sometimes they quit on you when you really need them, and other times won’t go away when you wish they would. God has worked on me for a solid 15 years on this subject. I use to have a pretty good size mess because I would say or act on how I felt immediately. Do not misunderstand, there is a time and place for a reply, but only after it’s been thought through and analyzed. As Christians we are held to a higher standard that commands us to not live by our feelings, but to love one another as God loves us. People can also have a misguided understanding of God’s calling. Some think if it’s God’s call then everything will be butterflies and roses. I can tell you from the last year of our life, I feel we have been in God’s will every step of the way with these two little ones, yet we have experienced a lot of stress, tears, and frustration. We never planned it, our hearts resisted it, yet here we are a year later with four kids. Why? We knew it was God’s will, but it wasn’t the desire of our flesh. You see our flesh knew it would take money we didn’t have, patience we would have to mustard, and lots of grace.  Basically a lot of work! So we had a choice be obedient and do the work, or allow our flesh to have its way. If we had passed on the chance to be obedient, we would have missed the most refining time in our life.  God has shown up and out in our lives in ways we never could have imagined. I share this story with you to encourage you that God‘s call on your life sometimes comes with conflicting emotions. Do not let the desires of the flesh rob you of some of God’s most amazing blessings! Craig Groeschel states,”Obedience is our responsibility. The outcome is God’s responsibility.” Today if you are seeking God about His will I encourage to pray Psalm 37:4 “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” This verse does not mean God will give you whatever you want. It means when we acknowledge Him we are lining our self up under Him, which in return will allow His heart to be our heart. It doesn’t happen overnight, but God is faithful!!

 ​Are you taken back by the question in the title? Does this almost offend you? Well Craig Groeschel wrote a whole book about it. Literally the gist is that we say one thing as Christians, but completely live our lives differently. For example, we state in our faith "the Lord will provide for all our needs" (needs not wants), yet we spend hours upon hours stressing about how WE will make it work. We proclaim that "Jesus is the peace that passes all understanding", but many Christian homes are not peaceful. We say adamantly "we should love one another", however when presented the opportunity to deal with a difficult person in love, we refuse. The list could go on and on. As Christians no one wants to hear us talk, they want to see us act. Those of the world want to find hope in something. They want to experience something different and unexplainable. In order for us to live like we believe it, it will require great sacrifice. It will require dying to ourself not only daily, but hourly, maybe even minute to minute. Without the proof of our actions, our words are just that, useless words. I am reminded of the verse in Matthew, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.”

Wow, that stings!! Let’s ponder how our actions may not be matching up to our bold worship on Sunday. 

Have you seen the new AT&T commercials “ok is not ok” where the surgeon pops his head into the patient's room and remarks "Are you nervous?"  The patient replies, “Yes.” The doctor then responds, “Me too.” As he walks out of the room he throws over his shoulder, "Don't worry about it we'll figure it out." I don't know about you, but if I am having surgery I don't want ok, I want the best! The statement “it’s ok” simply implies, it will do, its not great but whatever, and in general settling for second rate. Sometimes I feel like maybe we are being lackadaisical in our faith toward the Lord. Are we offering the Lord our best, or are we like the commercial "its ok." I want to remind you today, as God has reminded me, why it is so important to take your faith serious and evaluate your life as we head into 2019.

This week I was studying my Sunday school lesson about the Passover.  It was specifically speaking about the first Passover the Israelites experienced.  If you are not familiar with the story, the Lord was freeing His people from Egypt, but Pharaoh was not cooperating.  The Lord had sent plagues displaying His awesome power in order to give Pharaoh the opportunity to change his mind, but to no avail.  The final plaque would be one of great sorrow and loss.  God issued death over every first-born son in the household.  In order to protect those who believed and served Him, God instructed the sacrifice of a lamb and blood to be placed above the doorpost. The death angel would pass over the houses with the blood, knowing they were children of the Lord. You see the Israelites were sure to follow God’s directions to the letter because their child’s life depended on it, yet in other times we find them in open rebellion. So what made this time different? Often whether or not you obey depends on what you feel you have at stake. I love how the book framed it.  "The Lord brought judgment on every house in Egypt, both Jew and Egyptian.  That night every household either had a dead lamb, or a dead son. For those who placed their faith in God and took shelter under the blood, the lamb took what the son deserved." I cannot even read this without getting chills.  This was simply a foreshadowing of what Christ would later do for us on the cross.  Jesus would shed his blood on the cross to pay a debt that wasn't His, but mankind.
 
If you have taken shelter under the blood of the lamb (Jesus), are you living like someone who has been spared his or her life, or are you flippant and casual about your salvation?  Have you told anyone about Jesus lately? Have you shown an unnatural grace to those around you? Is getting the next material thing more important than doing God's will? Just as God sent judgment to the people in the Old Testament, one day He will send judgment again. If you are not under the blood you will spend an eternity in hell, but if you have taken refuge in Christ you will have eternal life.  However, as Christians we will still stand before the Lord to answer for every word and deed.  I just wonder if you stood there today would you be confident in your words and deeds.  I can assure you the thought makes me shudder. My point is to be urgent to share the gospel with others, and to be diligent in your actions. If you found an amazing product I am sure you would share it right away.  Why then hold back the greatest gift, which gives eternal life?
Our Youth Pastor, Josh Boyd, preached, "to choose our own way is to reject the Lord."  Let those words sit heavy on your heart.  Every time we choose what the flesh desires; we are making a choice not to follow the Lord.  The Bible is clear you cannot serve two masters. "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” Matthew 6:24

I pray that you will read the familiar scripture John 3:16 over again, and allow its meaning to wash fresh over you.  Salvation cannot be earned, but freely given.  Because Christ loved you so much, he sacrificed His only Son.  What would it mean to give up one of your children?  I dare say you would fight tooth and nail to keep them. How it must have broken God’s heart to turn his head away from His Son as Jesus bore all of man’s sins upon the cross. You were bought with a very high price because you are loved.   I pray that God would allow His deep, agape love to consume you, that it may allow you, as well as myself, to become more urgent about living a life pleasing to the Lord.
 

As I laid the little kids down after our nightly routine, Libby patted the small pillow beside her and whimpered, “me mom, me”, which means lay with me.  As I sat in their room Braylon tossed and turned appearing to be restless as he tried to drift off to sleep.  I lightly placed my hand on his back to reassure him I was in the room.  My hand was almost an instant peace, and shortly he was sleeping soundly, with all his stuffed animals snuggled around him.  Libby drifted to sleep as well, shortly after her brother.  As I sat in their room my spirit was over come by the thought of how someone’s presence could make such a difference. Just me being in the room gave them peace to close their eyes, let all their thoughts go, and fall into a much-needed sleep. But hear this, it makes a difference who’s presence you seek. I am not just anyone to these kiddos.  I have been their caretaker, provider, source of encouragement and love; they know me.  They not only know the works I do for them, but they know my heart because they intimately know me. People will look for things to comfort them, but in reality they are looking in all the wrong places. Then they are soundly convinced that life offers no real peace, which is very heart breaking because Christ died so that we might have a peace that passes all understanding.
 
I think about the story of Moses and the Israelites. Who were Moses and the Israelites seeking? Why was it that Moses had such peace about where they were going, yet the people had a completely different mentality toward the journey? Moses spent time with God, while the people planned how they might kill Moses for leading them into the desert. The difference is very simple. The people knew of God’s works, while Moses knew the creator of the works. Moses knew God intimately and His character, which meant he recognized God kept His promises. When faced with a difficult situation, Moses took all he knew to be true about God into consideration before making rash decisions. When he saw the Red Sea, he remembered the ten plagues God carefully orchestrated to change Pharaoh’s mind. When he was faced with lack of food for the people, he remembered the Red Sea parting. Psalm 103:7 “he made known His ways unto Moses, and His acts unto the children of Israel.” The Israelites, however, looked only at the situation in front of them, with little or no vision of God. When the Red Sea came they only saw themselves surrounded on all sides. When they were seeking food they groaned they would surely die. Their vision was so twisted, they lamented about returning to captivity, which clearly was not the better option. Because the people did not know God intimately and had only seen His works, when God was silent, they had no belief.
 
Adrian Rodgers states, “ The difference between rest and turmoil is the difference between observing and obedience”
 
WOW! Let that statement sit with you for a while.
 
Have you ever observed something perhaps a game, profession, or do it yourself project.  In your mind you thought anyone with half a brain could do that, until you were invited to participate. Oh yes, then it becomes very real because you are now having to walk out, what you were once only observing. For example, hitting a golf ball.  I mean how hard could that be, right? Let me give you an example. Being athletically inclined, I stepped up to the golf ball, lined my club up, and swung with a vengeance.  I was looking intently to see where the ball would land.  I whispered, “I don’t see it.” Chad, breaking all the edict rules of golf, with uncontrollable laughter, declared, “that because it’s still on the tee!”
 
You observe God’s goodness all around you. You see people step out in faith answering His call, and you applaud as you observe.  Then some where down the line God asks you to step out and follow Him.  Then you are no longer observing, but being challenged to act in obedience. I can tell you from experience there is a HUGE difference between sitting on the sidelines applauding others, and being in the grind of the work yourself. When you step into that obedience role, you quickly learn to trust God in a more intimate way, because undeniably you know you can’t survive without Him.  You can spend a lifetime going to church and hearing about God, but until you seek him for Who He is, and not what He can do, you will always miss the point. Don’t you want to know what it feels like to live the verse in Ephesians 3: 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. I sure do! It will likely come with a high price and a difficult road, but will result in an intimate relationship with God, which will be our greatest prize!
 
If we call on the name of the Lord, His presence alone will give us all we need. Are you seeking God's hand today, or simply seeking Him?
 
Though the mountains be shaken
    and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
    nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
 
 
Exodus 33
14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 5 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
 
 
 
 

Recently my kids wanted to know why I did not use the back up camera in my car.  I smugly chided, I have been backing up for 20+ years turning my own head and using my own eyes, why stop now?" Isabella snickered, "well I mean you can see everything on both sides, to which I quickly replied, I am just fine on my own." Then to my horror I knocked out the back windshield of my van in lets just call it an "incident". (no sense in providing details that would make you laugh your booty off)  So guess what survived the "incident" oh yeah that is right, the backup camera.  The wind shield had to be specially ordered, so now I am forced to use the backup camera, which I will now humbly admit sees twice as much as I do.

In life we cruise through depending largely on ourself.  We may not actually say the words, but we sure think them, or demonstrate them- "I got this God." The thought of the flesh is to be completely self sufficient needing no one but ourselves, when God is longing for us to lean on Him the whole time.  Then it happens the circumstance you cannot handle, the problem you cannot figure out, the question you don't have an answer to, and then what? These circumstances are sometimes the only thing that make us turn our eyes upward to the one with the plan. In our life God has put something we cannot control and certainly do not know how it will all end, but it is teaching me everyday I never had control in the first place.  It also helps me understand how much I was missing when I relied completely on myself.  

What if today we did things differently? What if today started the day with the Lord praying, "I cannot make it through this day without your complete guidance?"  Don't wait for an experience like the backup camera to humble you, and force you to choose the better option! Just go ahead and embrace the better option, God, right now and experience all He has for you!
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.[a]

2 Kings 5 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.[a] 2 Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5 “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels[c] of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me! 8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
 
Here is have a commander decorated will as many accolades as you can imagine, and his reputation is known throughout the kingdom.  He had anything a man could want riches, fame, authority, and the list goes on and on.  However, there was one little word hooked to his name that made all this pointless. In verse one “He was a valiant soldier, BUT he had leprosy. This small three-letter word had huge implications for Naaman.  It in essence was a death sentence.  There was no amount of money, prestige, or fame that could rid him of this horrible, painful, alienating disease.  It is believed that Naaman was showing only slight symptoms on the outside, allowing him to still serve the king.  Nevertheless, he knew one day he would not be able to hide the secret he kept buried under robes and distinguished medals.  Naaman experienced hopelessness, as he waited for his body to betray him and reveal his secret. Aren’t we like him in so many ways? People carry around secrets and are always hoping no one will find out? Don’t we hope our diplomas, money, or prestige will help us keep it all together. As I looked at all the first day back to school pictures with their perfect props, lightning, and smiles, I always remember that there are sometimes tragic stories, heartache, and hard times behind the smiles and poses. Sometimes it takes so much effort to hide our real problems, which we almost buy into the fact they will some how resolve on their own.
Although Naaman had no idea the answer to his dilemma was living within the shadows of his own home, a young slave girl went about her daily chores in a foreign country, with knowledge of the true healer. The men who served under Naaman had taken the girl from her people, her country, Israel. Don’t miss this part of the story! This servant girl had every reason to be bitter, discouraged, and display a bad attitude, but in this passage she is giving helpful wisdom to her mistress.  She knows that help comes from the almighty God and tries to guide them to the Lord through the prophet Elisha. What an amazing testimony of the slave girl. Her circumstance did not define her attitude. When the king heard of the possibility of healing, he immediately began to write a letter on the behalf of Naaman.  King Aram wrote a letter imploring the King of Israel to heal his right hand man. There was a large problem with this- the king of Israel had no healing powers. Instead of seeking the God the servant girl spoke about, the King began to look horizontally for the answer. King Aram was expecting the King of Israel to be God, and then when he could not perform the task, the King of Israel knew King Aram would be disappointed, angry, and frustrated. So many times in life we misplace our burdens onto those around us eventually crushing them, because the load was never meant for them to bear, only God. No one can ever be God for us! Man can never fill the space that only God was created to satisfy. Lets camp out in this area for a few minutes and hear my heart. I believe that most people have been disillusioned to the fact that someone else is supposed to make them happy, solve their problems, or be their miracle.  In marriages today so many fail because people look to their partner to fulfill so many roles that only God can supply.  When we place such high pressure on a spouse, some will tap out before they ever get started. The same is true for children.  We cannot depend on our kids to make us happy, fulfill our every moment, or live vicariously through them, because one day they will be grown and gone. God wants us to look up to Him. Psalm 46:10 says, “be still and know that I am God.” He wants us to know that he in fact can handle every situation, every emotion, and every tear. He sees the beginning and the end and can guide your life to its fullest if you will just let go of the death grip and release your life to Him.  As I sit and write this to you today God is very much teaching my family to cast all our burdens on him.  We have a custody hearing for a 3 year old and a 22 month old that have been living with us for the past 5 months. Obviously, we believe selfishly, the kids should stay in our home where they are growing, thriving, and settling into a routine. However, we do not have that control. So as we sit in the courtroom waiting for this safety plan to be turned into something different it will go one of two ways, custody or foster care. We have agonized over this for weeks by fasting, praying, and asking others to pray.  Recently I felt like a basket case and the Lord softly whispered to me, “Do you know me? Do you trust me? If you do cast your burden upon me and I will sustain you; I will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” So today we go into court with the confidence that our Lord sees every piece to the puzzle, and He will do whatever is best for those children, even if it means not coming home with us. What burden are you trying to place on someone else to carry today?
What burden are you carrying?  The Lord said we should help bear one another’s burdens, but that does not mean someone else is responsible for the outcome; only the Lord can bear that type of weight. Are you looking horizontal instead of vertical to help solve your problems? The Lord is waiting for you to call upon His name “cast your burdens on Him and He will give you rest.”

​Hello! I hope you are having a great day so far!  It seems like it has been forever since I have been on my blog, and for that I apologize.  I have been working on a writing assignment that has been taking up a lot of time, but here we are today, all together. Have you ever known rejection? Have you ever thought a situation was going to go one way, but turned out to be completely different?  Well today we will join Jesus in what I am sure was a very disappointing day.
 
In Mark chapter six Jesus enters His hometown of Nazareth, and I am certain He was eager to see loved ones.  However, this anticipated reunion would soon be filled with pain of rejection from those Jesus knew and loved.  As He entered the synagogue He preached the Word with complete authority and power. 
 
“Many who heard him were astonished, ‘Where did this man get these things. What is the wisdom given to Him? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, and Judas, and Simon? And are not his sisters here among us?’ And they took great offense to Him.” 
 
The people could not come to grips that the lowly, carpenter boy from Nazareth, was now an expert on scripture. We have all been guilty of these thoughts at one time or another.  What about when you went to your high school reunion and were shocked to find out, the party boy was happily married with three small children. What about the girl with nerdy classes, and a shy personality, that walked into the room as a gorgeous bombshell. What about the class clown that is now the CEO of a major corporation. You get my point. These people were faced with the same thoughts.  Growing up they knew Jesus as any other child, they had played together, lived among His family; in their minds He could not have authority to speak the scripture in this manner. 
 
The next verse is so sad as it states, “And Jesus could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled at their unbelief.” I have only recently unpacked this little phrase in verse 5 “he could do no mighty work”.  This certainly does not mean Jesus did not have the power to do miraculous works, but the people tied His hands because of their unwillingness to believe.  I think if we each had a chance to do something for our hometown we would be eager to do it, whether we grew up in a poor, tainted neighborhood, or a posh neighborhood. I think equally Jesus yearned to heal, teach truths, and be accepted in His hometown. Perhaps the sting of rejection is never more brutal, than when dispensed by those you love. Jesus knew the deep agony of rejection by his own people. He felt the heartache of not being able to help those whom he knew intimately.  It was not Jesus’ power that was unable to perform the miracle, but the wall built by the people around their heart, that made it impossible to receive it. I must ask you today are you receiving all God has for you, or are you tying his hands with disbelief, disobedience, or maybe apathy to the Word.  Just as we want what is best for our children, and splurge our love on them lavishly, the Lord wants to do the same for us. Mathew 7:11 “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
The people had heard Him preach with authority, seen with their own eyes the miraculous works, yet still they did not believe. Are you in that crowd? Have you heard the Word, experienced His goodness, yet still refuse to put your faith in Jesus. Maybe you have put your trust in the Lord, and are going through the motions with an absent heart. Perhaps you have experienced significant hurt and rejection in your life, and are unsure if the Lord can mend your wounds. Jesus understands your pain, he sees your struggle, and He desperately wants to work in your life. Wherever you may be in your journey today, the Lord wants to meet you there!
 
Ephesian 3:20
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us