Whose words do you believe?

The words we speak carry so much weight, as well as the words that have been spoken to us.  Words have shaped us, but it is up to us whose words will shape us moving forward.  Once I was determined to figure out what my strengths were so I took this strengths inventory test.  As silly as it may sound, I was so excited to see my top strengths because I don’t have some obvious gift.  Early on in my Christian walk I approached the Lord about this and explained to him that he should give me an awesome singing voice, or some great gift.  He would always gently lead me to 1 Corinthians 13 and show me to pursue love.  I often wondered what I was strong at.  So upon taking this strengths test, I was really excited to see the results.   When I saw the results, I thought those attributes were just second nature to me but never really saw them as strengths.  Wow!  I had some strengths!   I was so excited about this I began to share with a few close people and I was told  by someone that they didn’t see it (referring to me having those strengths).  Now, I’m certain this person didn’t mean anything hurtful by it, but oh how the enemy jumped on those discouraging words and worked to replay them over and over in my head.  So much pain came from words spoken so quickly. 

This is just my small example of the weight of what we say.  How something so simple can hurt so much.  We’ve all said words that were hurtful and hopefully we have asked forgiveness for the hurt our words have caused.  Many people have struggled their entire lives to prove wrong what others have said about them. People don’t believe they have value because of what someone has said to them. Our words carry weight and the closer someone is to us, the more weight their words carry. But when someone's words are contrary to what God says about you, who do you believe?  God’s called us to believe his words over every other word spoken about us and he's given us the power to walk that out.  

To walk victorious in this area, we have to get to a place where we believe what God says about us over what anyone else has to say.  We are not victims of what others have said about us, unless we believe it.  The more negative words we hear from others, the more we need to mediate on God’s words so we can begin to believe His words instead.  We absolutely can choose to believe what God says about us over every negative word spoken over us.  The Bible is a refuge for us.  God loves us on his with his words.   His words are spirit and they are life.  Sometimes in life, peoples’ words have brought death and pain into our lives, but God’s words consistently bring life. 

Whose words do you hear replay in your head over and over?  If I replayed the hurtful words that have been spoken over me by people, I am certain I could live a life of defeat.  But, we can make a decision to do Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

To have good success and be prosperous we must mediate day and night on God’s Word.  That means God’s word is what we are playing in our heads over and over.  If our mind is filled with God’s word, there’s no room or time for the enemy to replay the words of hurt and doubt in our minds. 

Here are just some of the things that will happen when we begin to keep our minds on God’s word:

We will have perfect peace: 

·      Isaiah 26: 3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

·      Phillipians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

We will begin to know God’s will:

·      Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We will begin to speak words of faith, life and truth to others:

·      Matthew 12:34 for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

This is so powerful because if we have been around people who speak down to us, it can be easy to take on that same way of speaking to others.  Oftentimes, people who grew up with their parents speaking down to them, fear they will speak down to their own kids. But it’s all about what’s in our heart.  God’s word will transform our hearts and minds.When be begin to fill our hearts with God’s word, then that is what will come out.  

We will begin to speak blessings and life into others.  Now that’s wholeness!  When we go from believing the bad that people have said about us, to believing what God says about us and then we begin speaking those same promises into the lives of others—that’s wholeness!  That is what God wants for his children!  I challenge you to begin to soak up God’s Word like a sponge, let his Words consume you.  It will fill your heart, transform your mind, and come out of your mouth as a blessing to others! 

In truth & love,

Chrissy

In one place...

Every time I approach the Lord, in every battle, in every struggle, on every mountaintop and in the lowest valley, I approach him as his little girl.  I put down every guard, everything I think I know, every responsibility.  I approach him as his daughter and he’s my Daddy, my safe place, my protector, my strength.  Yes, I will fight.  Yes, I will be a wife and mother and answer God’s call on my life with all it’s uncertainties, and face every fear with boldness, because I know he’s with me.  I will stand strong.  I will be victorious in him.  But, in my heart, there’s one place where I can be so vulnerable, clumsy, so unsure about everything else, yet so safe.  It's in His presence. I’m just his little girl desperately wanting to be held by him and for him delight in me so when I rise from his embrace, I can face all that’s before me.

When the Church Doors Hurt

The enemy would love to isolate us and keep us from church.  And he would  love to at least get us sitting on the back row, slipping in late & slipping out early, and not be involved.  I figure instead of hide in shame for what the enemy tries to do, let's just expose what he's up to & what God's got to say on it.  The enemy knows who to use and what they need to do to get you offended to get out of church; or get you feeling unworthy to step foot in a church door.  Maybe you've been called a hypocrite by fellow christians, or judged for your sin or the sin of your family.  Maybe you've seen sin defended and truth rejected inside the church.  Maybe you've experienced a church split. You're hurt. Maybe you've been corrected for something you've done and are feeling condemned. I know a few who have been put out of a church as well.  Whatever it was, the enemy likes to get you doubting you should go to church at all. 

Let's look at a parable Jesus shared:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other” (Luke 18:10–14).  

Above, we read about two people at the temple or "church"  Both believed in God, both went to  church, both prayed.  So, what's the difference in them?  One acknowledged the sin of others, while one confessed his own.  One acknowledged all his good works aloud, while one wouldn't didn't dare.  One called out the other to make himself look righteous.  One criticized others and one only criticized his own heart. One weighed himself by the standards of men to feel superior, while the other humbly judged himself only by God's standard.  To sum it up, one was proud and one was humble.  

Let me just confess.  I've been both of the people in this parable above at different times. Unfortunately, the longer we're in church the easier it is to fit into the "culture of the church" and expect others to do the same, and if we're not careful we can judge others by our own standards.  Meanwhile, we miss that God can do nothing in the midst of judgments, name calling and gossip.  He moves where he's being praised, not where we praise ourselves, He moves where our flesh isn't being glorified, but his Son is.  He resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  We see how God wants us to be, but so many times in church we experience the opposite. 

So, if you've been hurt in church, by church folk, why even bother?  Why be a part of a fellowship of believers?  Why is it encouraged in the Bible?  Here's a few reasons:

Church is to fellowship & encourage one another:  not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25

We experience God's presence:  For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20

We Receive Faith: So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Romans 10:17

We have a spiritual covering: Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.  Hebrews 13:17

We experience the blessing that comes with unity of believers:  Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head,Running down on the beard,The beard of Aaron,Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon,Descending upon the mountains of Zion;For there the Lord commanded the blessing—Life forevermore. Psalms 133:1-3

I recently heard someone say, "Church isn't supposed to be perfect, it's supposed to be a home".  Our homes aren't perfect and we don't expect everyone in our home to be. We love, correct, nourish, teach, fellowship, forgive, and feel safe in our homes.  It's where we can relax and be ourselves.  Home is where we are accepted, where we grow.  If you've been blessed to experience a loving home, bring that with you to the church.  If you haven't known a loving home, then the church should be that home to you.  Jesus is the head of this home. 

So, I encourage you, come home. Yes, at some point, we're sure to be hurt by someone in our "home" and have to forgive, but learning that is part of growing up.  Receive faith, the blessing, the covering, fellowship, encouragement, and God's presence. Know there's others hurting that need your fellowship, your encouragement, your testimony.  Come home, be built up, encouraged and equipped, so you can go into the world, share Christ and invite others into God's family.  See you at church!!

Sit & Listen about the one-eyed hamster

Who's got time for that?

So many things call.  So many good things, so many helpful things that I could do.  See something that needs to be done and do it.   But they call me away, away from the best.  If the enemy can’t make us miss the mark with sin, then he would love to make us miss the mark by making us so busy doing  good things that we miss the best thing.

Don’t be so busy serving me that you miss my presence

Oh, by nature I’m totally a Martha.  But in all my Marthaness, no matter how hard I try, things still get missed and some ball is still dropped.  At the end of my most productive, task filled day, there’s still more to do. That's so frustrating for a Martha.  Every day, there’s more tasks than I could dare accomplish.  One of the biggest challenges about being such a Martha is that we can be so busy serving that we forget to slow down & love on the ones we are serving. Jesus was all in her house and the Bible said she was distracted with much serving.  Can you imagine what you’d do if Jesus was in your house?  I mean, I can totally picture myself like all spiritual, sitting on the floor looking at Jesus, washing his feet with my tears, as my children float by in moments of bliss.  But in reality, It would be wild, loud, kids running, dogs barking and messing on the carpet & I’d be running around cleaning  up & serving up the fanciest food I could muster up (Cocoa Krispies or Frosted Flakes, with some Ghirardelli chocolates on the side).   Seriously, I’d be so tempted work my heart out to serve him and everyone else, that I would miss him just being there. I’m the one who would be thinking about all I could do to make his stay nice.  But what a trick of the enemy.   In the busyness of serving, if we are not careful, we can neglect the very ones we serve.  

Sometimes, it’s in the slowing down that we serve others best.  People often don’t want our service as much as they just want us.  Your attention, your care, your ear, your joy.  Ahhhh....slowing down enough to listen, to laugh, to enjoy those we serve.  That’s what Jesus wanted of Martha. I can hear him saying, “Don’t be so busy serving me that you miss my presence.”

Your value is not in what you do, but in whose you are

Another issue Martha likely faced was in finding her value in what she did.  I know, because that’s how I lived for years.  What a lie the enemy plants that we are only as valuable as what we accomplish. The lie that if we are not doing something for someone at all times, we are not valuable.  The truth is, we are valuable because we are His.  On our best day, it’s the blood of Jesus that makes us valuable, and on our worst day, it’s still the blood of Jesus that determines our value.  You are valuable because He gave his life for you.

I choose that needful thing

My relationship with my children grows the most when I slow down and sit on the floor with my kids one on one and listen; listen about something that they made in art, or listen and care why a certain sock must be found because it fits just right and doesn't have bumps like all the rest, or listen compassionately again about the one-eyed hamster that's been deceased for two years now.  It's those moments that mean so much to my kids, but are so hard for me, because I'm not doing something.  Even if I never find the sock, or don't replace the one-eyed hamster, it matters most to them that they had all my attention and that I genuinely cared.  It’s when we slow down and listen that we build relationships.  We are not here to merely serve, but to know and be known, to love and be loved, to listen and be heard.  Sometimes, that requires that our eyes be taken off our “service” and put on that one that we’re serving.  Similarly, when I sit at the feet of Jesus like Mary, and He has all my attention, our relationship grows.  When my attention is all on him, I can hear his heart.  “Lord, what would you have to tell me.  This is the most needful thing I can accomplish today.  To sit at your feet and learn of you.  Your yoke is easy and your burden is light.  Speak to me, Lord.  So many things call for my attention and energy, but you are the needful thing.  I choose you.  Show me what I am to do today in this season.  Show me what is merely a distraction from your purpose for me today.  Show me what is keeping me from the best you’ve called me to.  Let all the duties and tasks call, but they will just have to wait.  I choose you, Lord.  You are my needful thing.”   

Friend, my prayer for us today is that no good thing will pull us away from the very best thing.  May we choose to make time to sit with those we love and listen wholeheartedly, if only for a moment.  May our most needful thing be sitting at the feet of Jesus each day.  Such wholeness awaits us there at his feet.

Love, Chrissy

Mommyhood

Motherhood

My highest honor, reminding me of my inadequacies and God’s grace, my greatest joy, my struggle, my purpose, stretching me to see things from another perspective, my call to pray and intercede, my protective nature revealed, my organizational skills thrown out of the window, my realization that cleanliness is relative, socks don’t have to match, Pooh Bears are essential,  boundaries are necessary, wooden spoons are effective, and pizza is all 4 food groups in one.  My reminder to stop and enjoy, hide chocolate, play memory and basketball, win sometimes, hug often, share Truth, forgive quickly, love purely, deeply, and without restraint.  It’s my way to make an eternal difference.  My greatest reminder that God’s grace is sufficient to cover my insufficiency.  

Praying for all the Mom's out there today, that you will draw all you need as a mom and woman from Jesus.  He is more than enough, our teacher and example, empowering us to walk in love and truth and to instill the same within the next generation : )

 Love, Chrissy

He is enough

Today, I am so thankful for God's grace & I want to share why.

Recently, a dear friend shared this statement and it has resonated with me ever since:  "There's a difference in being transparent and being vulnerable.  You can be transparent and still not be vulnerable."  We all need to know that we have a place where it's safe to be vulnerable.  So often in the church, we feel we must always appear strong and if we were to be vulnerable or admit we are struggling, others would look down on us or judge us.  Yes, God is always wanting us to grow spiritually.  He wants us to lead others to him by example.  But there is such freedom is knowing it's not our strength that makes us great, it's not our abilities that make us adequate, it's not
our "put together" appearance that makes us anointed.   I am so truly honored with God's calling on my life as a mom, wife, Pastor's wife, and sweet purposes and convictions God has put in my heart.  I see my husband minister God's Word to so many and see so many lives changed, and I am just honored to get to be a part.  I see this school that God has placed under our care, and I am honored I get to be a part.  I see my children, their gifts, their uniqueness, and I get to be a part of shaping their lives.   So many times I am reminded that I, in and of myself, am not enough.  I see myself speak an unkind word to my children, I get frustrated with others, I feel inadequate for all that is before me.  I know my heart and am disappointed in the judgements I may be so quick to pass, or sharp words I let come out of my mouth.  I fail and falter.  I get frustrated and overwhelmed.  I know I am not enough.  I am insufficient for all that He's called me to.  Then, I get quiet.  It's these times where God so gently reminds me of a great Truth.  In my spiritual walk with the Lord, this is something that I have often been reminded of and found to be so freeing for me.  I hope it is for you too….

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. II Corinthians 12:9

I love Jesus!  I love that He takes my weakness when I acknowledge it before him and he puts his anointing right there and shows his strength in that very area.  He loves to do it. It's in those areas that He gets all the glory, because I know how weak I really am that I don't dare take credit.  I am so humbled by how good He is.  

So, for those of you reading this that feel weak; that feel like a failure; that feel shaken, inadequate, and as though you will never be "good" enough:  His grace is enough.  Maybe this is just a momentary thing for you.  You are just going through an emotional "funk".  Or maybe this has been the story of your life.  You have never been "enough".  Maybe someone made you feel inadequate for years and you can't get passed it.  I want to encourage you:  Don't hide your weakness, insufficiency and bury it in some hidden part of your heart, hoping to never be seen by anyone.  Don't think your inadequacies eliminate you from being called and used mightily by God. Quite the contrary.  God uses weak ones. 1 Corinthians 1:26 says "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”[c

God loves to use weak ones!  Acknowledge your inadequacies, don't hide them.  See it for what it is.  See it as a place for God's strength to be made perfect!  And then confess it.  Confess it to God. It's so freeing! It's okay that I am weak sometimes.  The Bible also tells us to confess to one another  " Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed" James 5:16.  Find someone where you feel safe to be vulnerable and share your weakness.  There's a healing that begins. 

I am far from perfect.  I am often weak.  I don't have some great awesome gift..  But, bigger than my weakness is this great mighty God.  He is bigger and greater than any insufficiency I may have. All I have to do is surrender to Him and his perfect strength will flow right into my weakness and He will be glorified!  With Him, I can do all things.  With Him, nothing is impossible for me. With him, I can fulfill the call he has placed on my life.  With him I can control my tongue.  With him, I can love others the way He has loved me.  With him, I can stop focusing on my weakness and insufficiency, and instead focus on His great strength.  He will cause all His plans & purposes to come to pass in my life as I acknowledge Him.  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".

your sister in Christ,
Chrissy