A Wedding Turned Upside-Down...

I am leaning into...the amazing story of a wedding turned upside-down...

“Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.”
John 2:2

Jesus came because He was invited. He did something no one could/would dream of or anticipate. He turned something colorless and odorless into the exquisitely, most vibrant, best...ever.

I want to invite Him into every detail of my day, today. I don't want to tell Him what to do, (what was Mary thinking....that He would run out to Bevmo?), or how to do it. I want to invite Him to every event taking place in my life.... What will He do? He is calling me to lay down every preconceived idea I have and just wait to see what He does.

I want...I need...for Him to show up in every area of my life. I am inviting Him to come and turn my world upside-down...or right-side up, as the case may be.

What do you need to invite Him to today? Will you let Him do it His way? Because what He plans for you...will be over-the-top.

His Searchlight...

One of the greatest aspects of the Gospel...is His healing of our lives...from the inside-out...

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; 
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me, 
And lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalm 139:23-24

We need never fear the Holy Spirit’s searchlight into our innermost being...our hearts and minds. He can wade through all the muck and mire...shame and pride...lust and selfishness...perversion and disgust...to bring freedom and wholeness. He never once stops loving us, no matter what His searchlight reveals.

If you are tired of living with anxiety, insecurity, dissatisfaction, bondage to habits you hate about yourself, and a myriad of other soul sicknesses, the verse above is for you. Let Jesus go deep. Let His truth reveal the lies you believe about yourself. Take the time for the Great Counselor...to counsel and deliver you. He is able...you just have to be willing.

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Numbers...

We live in a numbers obsessed world...

“Then the LORD said to Gideon, "By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, 
and deliver the Midianites into your hand...”
Judges 7:7a

Except for the bathroom scale, the higher the number...the better: bank accounts, followers, housing square footage, friends, likes, even...church attendance, ...however, God isn’t hung-up with numbers like we can be. Ahem...like I can be.

The Lord whittled Gideon’s army from 32,000 to 300 men. God alone was going to rout the Midianites. He didn’t...He doesn’t...need numbers to accomplish His plans. He just needs open, tender, faith-filled hearts and then...watch out for His miraculous workings...that do not need human strength.

Yes, numbers are a good way to inventory what is happening...but not the only way. And, one hungry life following after the One and Only...is all Jesus needs. Sign me up, Lord!

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photo: Alaina Agudelo w.permission

At the Start of This Week...

At the start of this week...

If you are having difficulty hearing the Lord’s voice...it is time to slow down. Your thoughts are racing? Ask for the Holy Spirit’s help and bind any spirit of confusion in Jesus’ Name. The Lord is constantly speaking to you and it is imperative you hear Him. Get alone, get quiet, persevere, and...open His Word.

If you have a little dark cloud of sadness following you around...for whatever reason...it is time to get rid of it. Take the time to see it for what it really is...and let the Lord Jesus deal with you, heal you, and bring His mighty deliverance. You are His child and black clouds are not His doing.

This is a week of new beginnings, hopes that will be realized, and miracles to watch for. Keep your eyes open, your heart tender, and your mind from distraction. This week will be awesome in Jesus because Who is in you is greater than anything!
1 John 4:4

Comfort Zone...

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone...

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him..."
Hebrews 11:6a

Anna Finfrock, a young American friend of mine, whom I met in Taiwan, posted this on Instagram today. She and her husband, Ben, are now serving the Lord in South Africa and...yep...it’s true...

Faith in Jesus...is rubber meets the road time when it comes to bringing Him great pleasure. Because faith involves trust, and trust is just about the highest form of adoration (can you think of anything more so?). And faith ALWAYS requires risk.

This is not risk...or leaving our comfort zone for the sake of being stupid or trying prove something. But when He calls...and His invitation to me invites risk, it is not time to shrink back, hold back...or think of my comfort. I have had plenty of comfort in my life...booooring. But His thrill ride these past twelve years has been...amazing, exciting, miraculous, and wonder-filled. Could Jesus do anything less?

Nope. I’m never going back when He calls. Will you join me?

Feel free to share...
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photo: Ben Frinfrock w.permission

Battle Plan...

Years ago, I sought the Lord to break areas of addiction in my life.

“Blessed be the Lord my Rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle...”
Psalm 144:1

Jesus was calling me to meet with Him every morning and get that day’s battle plan. He was training me to break the enemy’s grip on my life and He never told me something the Holy Spirit wouldn't enable me to do.

Many days when I came to Him I would get the same nudge of the Spirit to repeat what He had spoken to me the day before. The more quickly I obeyed and responded, He would then move me onto the next step. Little did I know...I was learning to hear His voice daily. Little did I know...the devil was being defeated by my every advance. It also taught me how to maintain my freedom when absolute freedom came.

Did I not come some mornings? Sure. Did I come and then not listen? Certainly! Yet through all this failure on my part... He never revoked His invitation to meet with me. He...never failed to come.

What do you need freedom from? There are many facets to experiencing true freedom in Christ, but getting a daily battle plan from the Lord’s heart to yours is probably the sweetest.

Setting Your Heart...

What is your heart…set on?

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, 
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.”
Psalm 84:5

Our hearts can be set upon…so many things: a new home, a job, a good education, finding the right person…a baby. So many good and wonderful things. Nevertheless…we need our hearts to be set on the One and Only…first.

The author of this passage knows that having our hearts set on God…is a journey, not a one-time event. Trusting Jesus is a process of one step in front of the other…every minute of every day. A pilgrimage…a continual…looking up…lifting and setting our eyes and hearts on Him alone. And…

As the next verse will tell us, when we travel through the Valley of Baca, the valley of barrenness or weeping, we will find springs of living water, the rain and reign of the Holy Spirit creating pools of refreshment. We will journey from strength…to strength. What promises! So...

What is your heart set on? Make it only Him.

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The Time of My Life...

It is true...when God closes a window...He opens an even better door...

“For since the beginning of the world
Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, 
Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, 
Who acts for the one who waits for Him.”
Isaiah 64:4

My balloon was...popped. Almost from the outset of starting this Devo Page, I have been using awesome photos from...Pinterest. Hmmmm...I learned about three months ago that was a big no-no. I thought Pinterest photos were fair game if they didn’t have a watermark...but no...I could be sued at some point. Lord????

Then it started. The downpour of blessing. Started asking friends if I could use their photos. Pretty amazing a lot of them. I met a wonderful Christian girl on Instagram. Another round of awesome takes. Finally...my photographer son told me, “Mom...get your own camera.” Unexpected money came...and I got a camera on Black Friday. Enough said.

I am having the time of my life. I have a new outlet of creativity for my soul. I feel His pleasure. God is amazing.

Keep Going...

Have you ever followed the Lord’s leading...then hit a...storm of adversity?

“Now it happened, on a certain day, 
that He got into a boat with His disciples. 
And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.”
And they launched out.”
Luke 8:22

Found in Luke 8...Jesus tells the disciples to head to the other side of the Sea of Galilee and He promptly goes to sleep. As they cross the body of water...as He instructed...a severe windstorm whips up and their boat takes on water...they are perishing.

Yet, HIS word never changed...they did make it to the other side.
The disciples thought He didn’t care...He never left them.
Their faith was shaken...Jesus...was not.
They would have preferred calm waters...yet...what a story!

If you are going through something similar look at Luke 8. You will be encouraged...you WILL reach His destination for you...

Continue...to launch out...

The Power of Worship...

I am reminded…that worship…is often warfare…

“Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, 
And a two-edged sword in their hand,”
Psalm 149:6

When we worship…things break through in the heavenly realm that can miraculously change circumstances in our physical realm…yes…worship can do this. There are just too many Bible stories which record this…and too many life experiences to discount it.

No…we don’t worship to get. Nevertheless, when we do genuinely worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords…fears cease, the enemy falters, Jesus is glorified...and we are transformed by His presence.

So whatever you are facing right now...instead of contacting someone else…go to the throne room, first. Stay until you have touched heaven, ask for a scripture to strengthen you…then see what He does next.

Now...Your Turn...

For much of my life, I lived in the nagging insecurity of feeling... unseen.

“Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees...”
Genesis 16:13

The enemy of my soul told me otherwise. He spoke subtle lies to me and I gave him a toehold...I gave him the time of day. He made it a stronghold. It is unfortunately so much easier to believe what the devil says, what the world says...what my own insecurities say...instead of ruthlessly trusting Jesus’ Words...for you too?

However, the desperate decision to live in the Lord’s presence on a minute by minute basis, broke up those lies. I am seen by the One and Only Who is worth being seen by. Instead of torment... His truth set me free. I am seen by the God of the Universe...Who is absolutely crazy about me... and that is all I live for.

Now...your turn...

New Year's Resolution...

If you are still contemplating New Year’s resolutions...here is a good one...

“He restores my soul; 
He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.”
Psalm 23:3

The resolution? To keep surrendering full access to the Holy Spirit to restore our souls. In other words...asking Him to go deep in our hearts and minds to bring healing to our past, breaking lies we believe about ourselves and God, and delivering us from the grip of our enemy the devil.

Take it from one who was once so tormented in her soul...she almost lost her family: an amazing husband and three beautiful children. I know the heartache...and now I know the pure bliss of freedom. Jesus is the real deal and He can do it. He will be restoring us ‘til our final breath, but we have to start somewhere.

My new New Year’s resolution? Have at me, Lord.

Experience....

There is a world of difference in simply reading the Bible...and experiencing its power...

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:31-32

My dear friend, Marjorie, shared with me yesterday...

Although she dearly and deeply loved God’s Word, she once was riddled and held captive by every fear imaginable (I knew her then...oh my...this was so true!). Guilt and shame were weaved into her daily life, as well. It wasn’t until she allowed the Holy Spirit to His breathe upon His inspired Word...did she experience the transforming work of the Word. Jesus....the Written and Living Word. So...

Read the Bible to learn, learn, learn...but also ask the Spirit to cause life, power, deliverance, healing, and restoration be your daily experience, too.

At The Start of this Week...

At the start of this week...

Should you feel alone, abandoned, or confused...remember the Lord Jesus desires to hold you close. Turn to Him now...He is a gentleman and won’t force His way into your life unless you extend an open hand and surrender your plans for His.

Should you find yourself feeling irritated, impatient, or agitated with someone...Truly! Take a minute to laugh at yourself! Talk to the Lord and shake it off! The irritation you are facing is nothing in the light of God’s unfailing love and joy for you. Get over yourself and let the Lord’s joy overflow your soul to the person who may seem difficult. He holds you close.

This is a week of new beginnings, hopes that will be realized, and miracles to watch for. Keep your eyes open, your heart tender, and your mind from distraction. This week will be awesome in Jesus because Who is in you is greater than anything!

1 John 4:4

On Our Knees...

Jesus called it...

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33

We live in a messed up world. The King of Kings had no problem naming the devil as the culprit of earth’s darkness. However, the one who rules this planet 1 John 5:19...the one who would kill, rob, and destroy, is no match for the One who came to give life abundantly. He is our Peace. He is...the Light of the World.

We need to start – if we haven’t already – to take our stand...on our knees. Let’s be praying for those who don’t know Jesus yet. Let’s be praying for...nations. And, let’s be praying for the power of God’s Word and the miraculous in the Holy Spirit to be multiplied. So that many might come to faith. And...if we haven’t yet...let’s get serious about our own walk with the Lord.

One thing for sure. Praise God. In the midst of darkness...His Light shines brighter still.

Feel free to share...

Oh. To Be like Anna...

I have a heroine found on the pages of the New Testament...

“Now there was one, Anna... this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”
Luke 2:36-37

Think about it. Anna could have missed her divine appointment with the Christ child. She could have set her own day’s agenda, doing what she thought best, ignoring the voice of the Holy Spirit leading her.

Instead, she lived sold out for and totally in love with God. She was faithful to the ministry He had called her to even when no one probably noticed or knew her name. And... most certainly she knew Him intimately. She knew His still, small voice leading her throughout her seemingly ordinary days.

Oh. To be like Anna...

Because if we are faithful and obedient to the Lord in the little things, we will be in the right place at the right time for His big things.

A Simple Recipe...

Here a simple recipe for Holy Spirit transformation...

“Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 NLT

Basically...letting God transform, heal, and deliver me from the world’s way of thinking so that I can hear from Him more clearly for my own life. Mostly...stop comparing and wishing I was someone else.

I was very much like the Charlie Brown character, Pig-Pen...not a glamorous comparison. However, the swirling mass of thoughts and confusion consuming most of my life was very much like the swirling mass of debris that little Pig-Pen’s life depicted. Jesus changed all that. And, He is still doing it.

From this launching pad of freedom in my thoughts...I started to know who I was created to be...and, my goodness, that’s what Paul writes about next in Romans 12. Take a look...and begin to let the Him speak to you how special you really are.

Some Verses for the Coming Year...

I am a huge proponent of asking the Lord for a Scripture(s) for the year...this is one of mine...

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, 
be brave, be strong. 
Let all that you do be done with love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14

The Holy Spirit is speaking to my heart to watch...to guard my heart from the world’s ensnarement. I also am to watch...for what He is doing and partner with Him to bring Jesus to those in need of Him.

He is calling me to ruthlessly believe His Word. Believe...Him. No more Plan B’s. And because I want the Holy Spirit to super-naturally enable me for what He has put before me, I need His bravery...His strength. Not mine. Lastly...let everything...yes, everything I do ...be done in His agape love. This is a tall order that only He can fulfill. I believe He will.

Do you need some verses for the year? This would be a great place to start.

Between the Commas....

Sometimes...you just have to read between the commas…

“…the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”  Ephesians 1:18

The riches of the gospel of Jesus Christ are laid out for us in a few short words from Paul’s prayer above. These few words can change your life. Really.

Try it. Simply read the verse above…savoring each phrase…between the commas. I believe the Lord has something to speak into your current situation(s)…just from these three phrases. Ponder His words to you in this moment. What applies to you? How is your heart…being moved…or wrecked for His glory?

Let’s slow down. Let’s savor God’s Word. Let’s read between the commas.

(Happy New Year Everyone!)

Looking Forward...

You know…it is kind of a big event…this New Year’s thing...

“...and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,”
Hebrews 12:2a

It is a good time to remember…how much His grace kept us and held us, even when we resisted. How the hard, even life-shattering days, were made softer by His presence…and, if we let Him…those difficult times actually turned to gold, by the power of the Holy Spirit in us.

And…the joys! Oh the joys! Did His joy permeate our lives this year? Was this a year of great gratefulness…that each day…I had received another day of life and adventure walking…with Him??

So yes…take inventory with honest eyes. Let Him make some adjustments….and then…look forward…oh yes…forward… 2016 will be grand expedition in the Lord Jesus Christ…when we set our gaze firmly upon Him.

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