Your Weakness Perfects His Strength

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

http://wressentials.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/strength.jpg

Isn’t it interesting that people dedicate an inordinate amount of time condemning others for their weaknesses, shortcomings, and failures? I mean I’ve witnessed and honestly, participated in verbal campaigns to identify, criticize, mock, and demoralize others when their human tendencies to fall short became public knowledge. I’ve also been the victim of this type of campaign, even when the stories weren’t based in truth, all at the hands (or mouths) of many in the Body of Christ. The irony in all of this is that this sinful, flesh-driven behavior is in direct contradiction to what God tells us about our weaknesses and how they should be viewed.

Second Corinthians 12:9 makes it quite clear that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. The Lord wants us to understand that instead of condemning ourselves when we fall short, we should turn to Him and seek His strength to transform our weakness into strength. Now, this is not a license to revel in our weaknesses that cause us to sin, but rather to seek God’s strength to help us overcome those weaknesses. For it is when we seek and rest in HIS strength that He gets the glory!

As for how this relates to the behavior I referenced at the beginning of this piece, it’s simple. As Believers, we are called to believe the best about others. When faced with knowledge that casts our brothers or sisters in a negative light, we are expected to pray for them, offer words of encouragement, and give Godly counsel. Nowhere does it say that we should spend time verbally condemning or crucifying each other using negative knowledge that may or may not be true. Our primary motive should ALWAYS be to love one another, ESPECIALLY when offering correction. If our motive involves our feeling superior, or the need to “tell them about themselves”, then our motive is contrary to the heart of God.

Purpose in your heart to submit your weaknesses to God and allow His power to be made perfect in your weakness. And when faced with the weakness of your brothers and sisters, purpose in your heart to pray for their deliverance while offering Godly counsel or words of encouragement until they are ready to experience God’s perfect power! 

All Things Can Become New!

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

 Philippians 1:6

Isn’t it amazing how people think they know a person’s whole story because they “heard” something about them? Or that they’ve elevated themselves to the level of gods by predetermining another individual’s ability or inability to change? Better yet, how about the ones who’ve witnessed an individual’s transformation before their very eyes, but insist on dredging up that individual’s past mistakes or errors in judgment in order to make themselves appear better than they actually are? Such arrogance! Where is the compassion that was demonstrated so often by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? Where is that faith in action that we claim to have when dealing with the broken, battered, and scorned? Enough!

As believers, we are supposed to understand that people are not the agents of change when it comes to the spiritual matters in our lives. Jesus is! Philippians 1:6 reminds us that God begins, directs, and completes any and all good works within us. We are spiritually inept at changing the core of our nature or even overcoming the spiritual damage that’s stained and created so many dysfunctions within the core of our being. But God!!! As we celebrate this season, remember that His crucifixion, death and subsequent resurrection should be the daily reminder that ALL THINGS CAN BECOME NEW!!! ALL THINGS!!! That means there is nothing that we’ve said, thought, or done that cannot be forgiven and renewed through the power of Jesus’ shed blood! And while the damage may not be undone, the spiritual penalty is! And that affords us all the opportunity to go forward in God and become all that He has planned for us to become. It is then that we will bring Him the glory that we’ve been especially designed to do!

Life in Abundance

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

John 10:10 (NKJV)

(Image courtesy of www.tokyoweekender.com.)

I love, love, LOVE this scripture! Why? Because it talks about the abundant life we encounter when we are in relationship with God! But I don’t tag the word abundance only to the accumulation of material things. I see a bigger, even greater meaning. With Christ, we can live within the abundance of His presence and let that life spill out wherever we go!

Shepherd vs. Thief

Jesus spoke these words in John 10:10. He was sharing a parable that explained the difference between a thief and a true shepherd. He pointed out that a thief gains entry into the sheep pen dishonestly and through ill-begotten means. Why? Because a thief’s intentions are not honorable and they are the embodiment of selfishness.  A thief takes that which does not and has never belonged to them. They steal from the bounty of others. A shepherd, on the other hand, walks through the front gate and the sheep recognize his voice because they belong to the shepherd. There is relationship between the shepherd and his sheep. The thief has no relationship with the sheep therefore has no stake in the successful life of the sheep. The sheep exist solely for the benefit of the thief, while the shepherd is willing to sacrifice themselves for the safety and well-being of the sheep within their care.

Just like Jesus does for us, a shepherd creates the best environment for his sheep to thrive and succeed. A good shepherd gives His flock the best feed, exercises them, keeps them protected from vile predators, and lovingly sheers away their old coats in preparation for the heat of summer. A good shepherd tends to the contentedness of their sheep because happy sheep are often more productive, successful sheep. And so it is with us and our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

Real Abundance

Jesus came, was crucified, and rose again so that we can have a more abundant life. He left behind clear instructions (The Bible) and a guide (The Holy Spirit) to help us navigate through this thing we call life in the most successful way possible. Now, some focus completely on the financial and material when they hear “abundance”. If they don’t see dollar signs, then they think they’re completely missing the abundance Jesus talks about, but that’s not so. Abundant life involves your attitude, your perspective, your experiences, and the fullness of your life! As Christians, we’re supposed to have abundant joy, peace, an overflow of love, patience, compassion, and wisdom! We’re supposed to be so passionate about our divinely ordained purpose that we explode with joy wherever we go! And when we tap into our divine purpose, we can tap into the gifts God has given us and create financial provision for our families and to contribute to the Kingdom!

So, the next time you see or hear this scripture, remember to tap into that abundant joy and crush any fear of living out your divine purpose with abundant love, and live your life in ABUNDANCE!

Prayer Focus: Father, in the name of Jesus, help me remember to stay in relationship with You so that I can live my life more abundantly. When I get sidetracked, remind me that it’s my right and responsibility to live in abundant joy, peace and love all the while tapping into and manifesting my divine purpose. Help me to stay focused and committed to living abundantly in everything that I do so that my abundant life brings glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Hears You!

“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” 

Psalm 116:1 -2 (NIV)

Have there ever been times in your life when you’ve felt so broken and alone that you couldn’t even trace the existence of God in anything around you? I have. I’ve been so heartbroken, so angry, so deep in a pit of despair, that I couldn’t fathom God could love me let alone listen to me. My heart ached from loving, from longing, from losing…the rage from rejection boiled within my soul…WHY?!?! Why God, do I suffer so? Why does MY heart always seem to love too much, believe too blindly, absolve too easily? Why do I continue to reach out to the broken in my life only to end up further broken myself? Once the heartbreak occurs, then the withdrawal process begins. I shut down. I push people away. I self-protect. I vow no one will EVER hurt me like that again! Until, the next time…

This cycle of emotional dysfunctional was destroying my life. Whether in matters of marriage, children, siblings, parents, or even friendships, I constantly found myself feeling abandoned and alone. I so often prayed asking God to fix people, situations, and things. I even asked Him to fix me, but seemingly to no avail. What was I doing wrong? Why, did it seem, my prayers weren’t answered? And when I finally stopped talking long enough to actually hear what the Holy Spirit was saying to me, I was shocked and humbled…and awakened! I was doing two things incorrectly. First, I wasn’t always praying in line with the Word of God because I wanted what I wanted, as most of us do (if you’re really willing to be honest with yourself). The second, more egregious of my errors, was that I didn’t believe God was listening to me. My faith that He loves me and that He HEARS me didn’t win out over the doubt in my worth. Even after all of my years of studying the Word, listening to rousing sermons, and sharing the Word of Life with others, I still struggled with my own worthiness. I let low self-esteem and all of the negative things I’ve ever heard about myself continue to dictate my level of faith. I was the problem.

The turning point for me was reading Psalm 116:1 – 2. These two little scriptures drew a mental picture that forever changed the way I viewed God’s love for me. Verse one begins by pointing out the fact that God heard MY voice. That means, He doesn’t just hear random prayers, but just like ANY parent, He knows my voice specifically. When I hear any of my four children, I can usually tell who’s speaking because I hear the uniqueness in each of their voices. And so it is with our Heavenly Father. Yesterday’s devotional reminds us that God took painstaking effort to craft each of marvelously. We are each so unique because He made us that way! So, of course He hears our voices when we pray! But, even better than that, when He hears our cries and our pleas, He leans toward us just the way a parent leans toward their little child in order to focus and hear them better. What love He has for us, to incline His ear toward each of us!

No matter how sad, heartbroken, or alone you feel, know that God’s presence is there with you! He’s waiting for you to call Him so that He can lean down toward you and listen intently to your petitions. Have assurance that He knows you, your voice, and hears you, especially when you’re crying for help. Just like any parent, He’s ready and willing to come because He loves you!

Prayer Focus: Father, help me to believe that you know my voice and hear my prayers when I call to You. Remind me of your love when I allow doubt to shake the foundation of my faith. Speak to my heart, Lord, and stir up assurance in your love, and faith that will overcome all doubt. I know you hear me and I glorify Your name because you are LOVE! Amen!

Clean Your Lens

“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.”

Psalm 139:13 – 16 (The Message)

What an amazing creature you are! Why? Because God made you! You are so special that He painstakingly planned and created you to be the marvelous individual that you are! But I know that some of you reading this struggle with those compliments because you don’t see that person when you look at yourself in the mirror. You see the fat girl, the ugly boy, or the nerdy kid with the glasses who was called four-eyes and bullied all the way home every day after school. Or you see a dummy, a person who’s not that smart because someone told you that most of your life. When you open your mouth and your melodic voice flows out, you don’t hear that. You only hear the sharps and flats and every little imperfection rather than the overall beauty of your song.

Why? Why have we so easily bought into the negative things people have said to us? Because as we’ve heard the negative comments, the mean taunts, or witnessed the failure of someone to contradict those verbal assaults upon our tender hearts, we secretly began to believe them. We bought into them because our view of ourselves was already compromised. Our lenses became dirty and warped and we stopped seeing who and what God sees when He looks at us. We’ve succumbed to the negative forces that exist solely for the purpose of tearing us down, rendering us ineffective, and destroying our belief in divine purpose. How can one walk in their divine purpose if they don’t even believe they have one?

These verses in Psalm 139 are God’s loving reminder that we are special to Him! But not only special to Him, but that He created each one of us so intricately that we each have a unique purpose in this world. It’s proof that we are all powerful beyond measure no matter what we’ve been led to believe! God planned, sculpted, and formed us as an original masterpieces! We are priceless works of art! Together, we form a tapestry of such tremendous beauty that I am convinced God yelps with joy every time we walk in our purpose, individually and collectively!

Oh beloveds, you need to clean your lenses! You must look in the mirror every single day and speak the exact opposite of all the negative things you’ve been told, shown, or made to believe about yourselves! You must counteract the negative and affirm yourselves each and every day! If you believe you’re ugly, look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that you are beautiful or handsome. If you believe you aren’t smart, look in the mirror and tell yourself that you are smart and have a vast mind that yearns to acquire new knowledge. You get the picture, right? But then take it a step further. If beauty or your appearance is your concern, confide in someone you trust who has some fashion sense and learn some new ways to wear your wardrobe and trying new cosmetics or hygiene products. If you want to expand your mind, read books on new subjects or listen to books on tape to expand your knowledge base. Don’t just say it, do it! You have been given power and authority by God to create change in your life! Now take that power and CLEAN YOUR LENS!

Focus Prayer: Father, in the name of Jesus, help me to see myself the way that you see me. Help me to clean my lens so that I see all of the good that you’ve poured into me instead of focusing on all of the negative and destructive things others have forced upon me. Body and soul, I am marvelously made! Help me to not only speak these truths into my life, but to take action to change what I see when I look at me. I thank you that You’ve lovingly sculpted me for a purpose and that You have a plan for my life! Thank you for loving me THAT MUCH! In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Let's Talk About the Light

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” 

Genesis 1:1 – 5 (NIV)

(Image courtesy of damselflyfaith.blogspot.com)

“Today is the first day of the rest of your life” is often quoted in an effort to encourage someone who attempts a new beginning of sorts. It’s almost an anthem for those who are embarking on a new-found journey, redirecting their course, or simply starting all over again. It is a mandate to turn ones’ back upon the failures or disappointments of the past, throw caution to the wind, and create and manifest a new vision for their lives. Since today is New Year’s Day, people all over the world are coming up with New Year’s Resolutions, vows to do better, work harder, exercise more, and thousands of other “self-improvement” promises that may very well go unfulfilled and become quickly forgotten. But…it doesn't have to be that way!

In this passage of Genesis, the very first lines of the Holy Bible, we see that God has looked out over the heavens and the earth and made some decisions. God decided He wanted more than what He saw sitting before Him. He didn’t just want to look out and see formless emptiness shaded over by darkness. He wanted to see light! So, instead of complaining to the Son and the Holy Spirit about how dark it was, how uninteresting the lack of form was, or how empty it felt to look out over it, He opened His mouth and spoke what He wanted to see. He wanted light, not darkness. That’s where He started. If you go on to read the rest of the first chapter, you’ll see that He addresses the formlessness and emptiness as well. But first, let’s talk about the light.

You will NEVER change ANYTHING in your LIFE until you shed light on it! Until you are willing to look at yourself, take responsibility for the choices you’ve made, reconcile yourself with the wrong that has been done to you, and begin the process of forgiving everyone who’s hurt you (including YOURSELF), then real light CANNOT enter. You must want the light to illuminate truth so that you can look at yourself objectively and see where improvement is needed. Life, just like the plants in the earth, is about change and growth. Anyone who remains stagnant fails to grow and it means that you’re not connected to a life-giving source. You must broaden your mind, try new experiences, expand your knowledge of something you’re uncertain of, push past the limitations the world may have put upon you, and become the most outstanding version of yourself that you can be right now! But first…let’s talk about the light.

Once light is shed upon anything, darkness is diminished and you can see clearly. But it does not stop with just seeing clearly. When God spoke light into existence, it is because He recognized that He had the power to create a change in what He saw. He knew that if He spoke light into existence, it would happen. And so it is with us as Believers. We cannot act like situations don’t need to change. We can’t ignore situations that need light to be shed upon them for the sake of comfort or even worse, because we are afraid! We must see what stands before us, find out what the Word of God says about it, and then speak what the Word says in order to bring God’s plans to fruition! But…we cannot just speak it; we must walk according to the Word and as the Bible tells us in Romans 4:17c to “call into being things that were not (as though they are)”. We must not just identify the issues and harp on them, but shed the light of truth and love upon them by speaking the Word of God over each issue. And here’s the challenge; we must change our behavior in order to see the change manifested! The light enters to illuminate the need for changes. We then have to become enlightened by the Word of God in order to see what the change needs to be. From there, we must submit to the power of God by changing our behavior (that we have control over) and seeking God’s power to change that which we struggle with.

So, when we talk about today being the first day of the rest of your life, it actually can be! You can decide today to plan for your success on this new journey or re-dedication to bringing out the BEST in you! Don’t just sit back and wish things were different! Make them happen! Seek the power of God to help you change the complacence that has come to be your “normal”. You are an amazing individual endowed with talents, passion, and purpose! Begin walking in that purpose today! After all, today really can be the first day of the rest of your life!

Prayer Focus: Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask that you move me out of my comfort zone by shedding light upon my life. Open my eyes so that I can see all of the potential that you’ve put inside of me so that I WILL use the gifts/talents that you’ve given me, live out this life with passion all the while striving to fulfill my purpose on this earth! I recognize that when I walk in my purpose with passion and joy, I bring glory to You because I am all that I am because of You! Father, let Your light shine on me, in me, and through me each and every day! Amen!

Happiness is Contagious!

“Happiness is like jam, you can’t spread even a little without getting some on yourself.”

Anonymous

Have you ever noticed miserable people tend to surround themselves with other miserable people? Why, you ask? Because it is impossible to remain happy, joyful, or positive around misery! So, when happy people encounter miserable people, they FLEE! They might try to share their happiness with them in an effort to buoy their spirits, but more often than not, it doesn’t work. Misery really does love company!

Now, I used to be a miserable person because that’s all I knew. I was also miserable because of unchecked and unacknowledged emotional issues that presented challenges I was unprepared to deal with. But that aside, I still had a decision to make. I needed to decide whether I was going to choose happiness or stay with the internal misery I’d known for so long. Well, I choose happiness! I’m not going to give you the sugar-coated version of that process. It was HARD WORK! It was a constant challenge because I had to rewire my brain and learn a whole new way to think, react to situations, and plan my thoughts about life in general deliberately. And it is STILL a process!

However, through all of this, I learned that happiness can be just as contagious as misery! I also found that as I shared happiness, it impacted those around me. And when I’ve been down myself and I decided to try to lift someone else’s spirits, mine were lifted, too!!! So, today’s quote is actually quite accurate. It IS impossible to share happiness without it coming back to you! So, make it point to choose to share happiness rather than negativity and watch your joy soar!

Your Life is Worth Living!

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength." Proverbs 17:22

Psst...guess what? Your life is worth living! No, it won't always be easy. Yes, there will be heartache and at times, almost unbearable pain. But, oh the love, the joy, and the laughter more than make up for it! I see a lot of people talking about 2014 and how it's going to be different. That's great. But do it more than say it. Change some things. Remove some people from your life. Challenge yourself to see the beauty of God's creations rather than the shortcomings and failings all around you. Dare yourself to have a deep, knee-buckling belly laugh every single day despite the negatives you might be dealing with. Surround yourself with positive people who encourage your success, sharpen your skills, and make you laugh and smile! Determine your motto and live it out starting today! I wish you a fulfilling and purpose-filled life, laughter that helps you tap into the joy of the Lord, and love that inspires you, envelopes you, and strengthens you throughout your life's journey! #livelaughlove 

Defining Me

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Can I just say it? I AM TIRED! Why? Because I’m done with the outside impositions upon my being! I’m tired of the expectations of everyone else and I’m about done with it all! I’m tired of the people who tell me that I have to do this or I have to do that to be a First Lady. I’m tired of the other people who tell me that I have to do this or have to do that to be a “good” wife, or mother, or teacher, or whatever else they think or FEEL I should be and do. I AM TIRED! I never asked to be a first lady or wanted to be anyone’s “role model”. I am not the perfect hostess. I don’t enjoy cooking or entertaining when I don’t feel like it. I DO NOT like spending time with people I DO NOT LIKE! I don’t like phony people and the church is filled with them. I can avoid phony people at work but I’m “supposed” to nicely entertain and enable them in church. I don’t like to dress up unless I feel like it. I like to be comfortable. I don’t like hats all that much because I tend to get hot or a headache when I wear them too long. I don’t like high heels because I’ve broken one ankle and the other foot so they’re not comfortable. And truth be told, I don’t like being in church all day for the sake of being in church ALL DAY! I’ve hit the wall and things are about to change drastically in my life, and I pray that those who love me and are closest to me understand, but…

For so many years I’ve done what everyone around me wanted me to do. It started with my mom, then my teachers, followed by my church and my husband. Then gradually over the years, I became so discombobulated by the demands put upon me that I LOST MYSELF! I lost my hopes, my dreams, and the vision that God gave me! I lost MY voice, the voice that was uniquely ME, Liane. I stopped singing music that made me happy (Yes, some of it secular. Ahhh! I know! You’re just appalled aren’t you? Lol!) I stopped writing because I lost touch with the muse within me. I stopped dancing because people kept sending me to Hell because of it. And I wasn’t trying to go there! I was ALWAYS a talker because I’m a writer. I communicated my innermost thoughts and feelings via writing but mostly talking, but nobody talked with me or listened to me. At least, not those closest to me. I was told that I was too sensitive, too needy, too clingy, just too…too…too MUCH all of the time! And I when I went to church looking for love and acceptance, I was criticized and bullied into conformity.

I spent all of my twenties and thirties living much of my life according to the standards of others. But every now and again, I rebelled. I rebelled and rejected that image on so many occasions only to retreat and subsequently resign myself to this existence because I was so far from who I thought I’d become. I was so terrified I’d never find her again that I’d lost my will to fight and at times, even go on. Some rebellions were obvious to others, while some rebellions were inward and quite self-destructive. In one or two cases, I was accused of rebellions and actions I’m not guilty of but because I was so broken, angry, and lost I allowed myself to be perceived a certain way and didn’t care what anyone else thought. I struggled with so much of what my life was and wasn’t that I often contemplated suicide because I just wanted the pain to end.

Ironically, through all of this turmoil, brokenness and confusion, my one constant was the Holy Spirit speaking life to me. Sometimes, He issued harsh warnings to me but was still there to Comfort me even after my rebellious tantrums and bad decisions. Despite not wanting to be in church so many Sundays, it was my worship that literally carried me through my wilderness. No matter what was going on around me or in my life, I worshiped GOD! I cried out, wailed, sobbed to Him for peace and comfort, and He obliged me. As Psalm 40:1 (Amplified) states, “I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.” Now, I’m not sure how patient I was, but I did expect God to somehow move on my behalf. I knew that He not only heard my cries, but felt the rawness of my despair and the full effect of my brokenness. The Lord knew my breaking points and quite often, too often, sent an angel to encourage me, redirect me, chastise me, or empower me in the midst of my valley. He heard my cry! And while it took me a long time to figure it out, I finally realized it was God who created me, God who designed me, God who gifted me, and God who knows what I’m supposed to do with this life, these gifts, and this purpose.

Fast forward to December 28, 2012: Jeremiah 29:11 reminds me EVERYDAY what God has been trying to tell me for my entire life, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. So, in effect, my life, my purpose, and my plans are not determined, impacted, or imposed upon me by anyone BUT God! It is God who knows my beginning and my end, not people! It is God who knows why He gave me certain gifts and abilities and determines how I use them, not people! I have limited myself long enough based on the whims, moods, issues and inclinations of others! I will no longer just be what people want. I will embody “the who” and “the what” that God desires of me. Now, this doesn’t mean I’m going to shirk my Godly responsibilities that I already have. I am a woman of my word and I will see them through. But, oh, will I ever relinquish, reject, and remove myself from any and everything that I KNOW I do that’s not within my purpose! I’m not wasting my time or my talent engaging in anything that takes time and energy away from my purpose anymore. Because I realize that in order to define me, I have to be the ME that God intended in the first place. And it is my prayer that you find the YOU that God intended you to be. Only then will our true purposes become clear and then the world will see the glory of God manifested within His people! God bless you!

Spread Love



“As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:20 – 26 (NIV)

There was a popular song back in the in mid-1950s through the mid-1960s called; Love is a Many Splendored Thing. It was written for a film by the same name (1955) and became the theme song to a soap opera in the 1960’s with the same name. However, I remember hearing the song in all of its dramatic, early 1960’s glory with swelling instrumental accompaniment and tight, emotional harmony provided by The Four Aces whose version is ranked as the most popular. What drew me in as a young girl in the mid-seventies was the signature line, love is a many-splendored thing. Now, at seven, I didn’t know what many splendored meant but based on how they were singing it, I knew it had to be good! Hence, my view of love and loving others was formed by popular culture and my need to be loved. I was often dramatic in demonstrating my love, even at a young age. I was incredibly affectionate and gave that affection freely without concern for how it looked or seemed to others. I loved anyone who came into my circle unless they were mean to me or rejected me and my demonstrations of love. I often gave those who hurt me second and third chances because I assumed everyone else wanted to be loved just like I did. So when it was all said and done, I just wanted to love and be loved!

First Corinthians 12:20 – 26 instructs us to show concern for each other. Not false concern, but concern borne out of love for one another. We within the Body of Christ should express love so freely amongst ourselves that we should be overflowing with love when we walk out of our secret prayer closets and out of our church services that we infect the world around us with the love of Jesus Christ. Believers should never work to divide the members in the Body, but strive at all times to bring the Body closer together! We should be so connected to one another in the spirit that when one of us suffers, we ALL suffer. We one of us is blessed, we should ALL rejoice with them! First Corinthians 12:20 – 26 reminds us that we are all connected to one another. This connection guarantees that we will ALL be impacted, good or bad, when even one member of the Body is impacted. We must commit to loving one another, praying for one another, and working out the issues that divide us within the Body in order to rebuild the love, trust, and godly concern that should and must exist amongst Believers in order for God to move among us as He desires to move within the Body of Christ, and the world!

Prayer: Father, I have not loved Your people the way that I should. I have not loved You the way that I should. I have not uplifted those who were weak, and I’ve not rejoiced with those who rejoiced. I repent for these sins, Father, and I ask that You forgive me. From this day on, with Your help, I will love the way You want me to love. I will uplift those who are struggling or weak, and I will rejoice when others rejoice in the blessings from heaven. I want to please You above all things, and bring glory to the Kingdom, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Transformation

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



I love this translation of this particular verse because it makes this faith walk, this spiritual journey of transformation so real, so relevant, and so accessible to every believer. It takes my everyday life, my good and bad, ups and downs, highs and lows and makes all of it, and I mean ALL OF IT seem important to God. Now, as someone who grew up in the church, God was often this mystical, far away, daunting force that while He must love me, was always watching and waiting for me to screw up so He could chastise me. He wasn't portrayed as One who was concerned about my daily struggles or triumphs, just the BIG stuff and usually only when I really messed up. And again, growing up in the church, we read one translation and one translation only, The King James Bible. And whoo hoo, let me tell you, that book represented fire and brimstone to me! Not because of what it said, because truth be told I didn't know what it was talking about. I feared it because of what I didn't understand and how it was phrased. Elizabethan English is daunting to comprehend and I still struggle with it despite an English degree!

This verse challenges us, as believers, to give our "everyday, ordinary life" over to God. Most people are willing to seek God and His power when the life-changing events happen like marriage, death, birth of a child, graduations, new jobs, new homes or even retirement. They leave the daily routines out of it. But Romans 12:1-2 challenges us to give EVERYTHING over to God. We are to offer everything that we do to God, to submit our everyday, every moment to Him and His will for us. We are to seek His will for us, as individuals, for all, ALL, that we do. Our attitude toward our lives should be directed by God's Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We are to study His Word and allow it to renew us by transforming our minds by the power of His Word. Our goal, as believers, should be to allow God's power to make us like Him so that our everyday, ordinary lives resemble and model His nature and His heart. We can no longer be content with absorbing the secular culture around us so much that our lifestyles and decisions are based on the standards espoused by the secular "powers that be". We can no longer be so much like this culture that there is nothing obvious that sets us apart. When we make our will align with God's will for our lives, we will be excited about this daily transformation and chase after it like our lives depend on it. Because they do. Both ours and the lives of those who need our example.

Today's Prayer

Lord, I desire to be transformed daily by Your power and Your Holy Spirit. I long to be like You! I submit my everyday, ordinary life to You beginning right now. I offer my sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life to You and I ask You to transform me so that my nature resembles Yours. I embrace what You do for me and want for me. I know that You know the plans that You have for me and they are to prosper me and do me no harm. I trust You and know that You only want the best for me. So, I lovingly submit my will, my thoughts, my heart and my life to You for Your glory and the benefit of the Kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.



"I said, 'His grace is sufficient for me!'"

"But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."

2 Corinthians 12:9 

      Grace. Unmerited favor. In other words, a gift totally unearned and probably undeserving. God's grace is sufficient, meaning enough, full, whole, and complete. It is sufficient in spite of what I am going through. It is sufficient to keep me full of joy, complete despite my brokeness, whole in His presence and enough to get me through to my breakthrough. And not only is it sufficient, but as I rest in His sufficient grace, God gets the glory out of my weak and broken state because it creates an opportunity to move on my behalf. As I rest in His grace and trust in His might, God shows Himself mighty and shows Himself strong by delivering me out of my barren and dry place! Grace. His grace. His unmerited favor is so completely, wholly, fully and enough for me!

Countdown to Hope ~ Day 7

Countdown to Hope ~ Day 7

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (NIV)

 

Well, I must say that this scripture from Romans is a tall order! I mean, God expects us to have joy in hope (Translation: Be happy while you’re waiting, no matter how long it takes!), patient in affliction (Even though it hurts like heck, don’t try to rush through the suffering. In a sense, savor it), and be faithful in prayer (In other words, remember to communicate regularly with God despite the pain and seemingly endless waiting game). Yup, that about covers it! And so now you’re saying, how is that possible? How can I have joy while I’m waiting around for things to get better or for the promises of God to come to pass? Or, how can be patient when it hurts so bad that I can’t even focus on anything else? And, of course I’m supposed to pray regularly, but it’s almost impossible to remember that when I’ve got all of these things going on! How can I do this? (Enter God.)

Too often, we forget that life is not easy because we live in a fallen world. Jesus came that we might have live and have it more abundantly, but we are still experiencing the effects of Adam’s sin. God gave us freewill, and that dates all of the way back to Adam. When Adam exercised his freewill, he put a cycle of sin into place that we are still fighting to overcome today. Jesus came to set things in order and give us access to the Kingdom of God and all of the power and benefits that go along with Kingdom membership. But, in order to tap into that power, we must choose to follow the example that Jesus set before us using the Word of God to teach us how to represent the Kingdom in excellence.

So, in order to live Romans 12:12, we must first, submit our will to God’s will for our lives. It is His will that we have joy, patience and be faithful in all that we do. Second, as we submit our will to God, ask the Holy Spirit to be like Christ and help us to tap into the joy and peace that only God can give to us. Finally, consciously choose to be joyful. When you are presented with a situation that could very well sap your joy well, choose to see the joy in your life. Remember that patience is simply the presence of peace within your life. And in order to be faithful, you must purpose in your hurt to do something, and then do that thing in excellence!

So, in order to live Romans 12:12, like a popular slogan, “Just do it!”

Countdown to Hope ~ Day Six

Countdown to Hope ~ Day Six

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.”

Jeremiah 17:7(NIV)

I have a question for you. Mind you, it is somewhat rhetorical in nature, but I’ll ask it nonetheless. Do you want to be blessed? Now, you’re either thinking or saying to yourself, “Duh, Liane, who in their right mind wouldn’t want to be blessed?” And, I would have to agree with you. But then again, I have to wonder if people really want to be blessed, or do they just want to have a lot of money, stuff and favor wherever they go.

I’ve learned that in order to truly be blessed, you must be in relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our Savior and sacrificial Lamb. Too many people, especially those in church, are confused and misguided when it comes to understanding what it means to be “blessed”. Having a lot of money and stuff does not make you blessed. It simply means you have a lot of money and stuff.

The actual definitions for blessed are defined by www.dictionary.com as “consecrated; sacred; holy; sanctified and divinely or supremely favored; fortunate”. Now, how can one be consecrated, sacred, holy or sanctified if they are not in relationship with the only one who can save you, cleanse you, sanctify you and subsequently show you divine and supreme favor? Jesus Christ, the Holy Lamb of God, is the only one that can cause us to be all of those things through the shedding of His blood. We can only access the blessings that are connected with Him when we enter into relationship with Him. And it is through commitment to this relationship, spending time with Him in prayer and getting to know Him as we study and meditate on His Word, that we cultivate the connection that creates trust. It is only when we learn to trust Him that we are truly blessed! Once we put our confidence in the God of our salvation and not in money, stuff, the economy, politicians, jobs, friends, family or any other entity, we become blessed! We become consecrated because we are subject only to Jesus and His Word and will for our lives! We become sacred, holy and sanctified vessels because we are washed by His blood! And we walk and live in divine and supreme favor that only God can provide!

So, what are you waiting for? Stop wasting time and submit to the one, true God and become blessed and highly favored!

Countdown to Hope ~ Day 5

Fishing for Hope

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” Psalms 55:22

Casting your cares is a wonderful concept, when you can grasp that concept. Unfortunately, I struggled with how to apply this wisdom to my life and my walk. As a new Christian, I spent countless hours reading books, listening to tapes and surrounding myself with people who were strong in the faith because I, too, wanted to be strong and grounded in my faith walk. I spent time in church services, attended bible study classes, prayed and put forth my best effort to be the best Christian I could be. I read the scriptures and memorized as much as I could. I felt good about my growth and the direction in which I was headed. But despite all of this success, I still struggled to grasp the deeper meaning of “cast your cares”.

Because I am a “need to know how” kind of individual, I question things. I am the search engine queen! My smartphone gets smarter each day simply because of the endless stream of information that I search for each day. So, when I needed clarification regarding this scripture, too many explanations came up flat!  I am a visual learner. I need pictures, graphics or a really thorough description of something in order to comprehend the concept.  I needed to be able to visualize this idea of “casting my cares”. Well, after over twenty years trying to live a committed Christian life (with shortcomings I might add), I finally got it the other day while playing a video game! LOL!

                Let me put out that I am not the outdoorsy type. I like nature, in its place, which means outside of my house. I’ve never hunted, nor trapped my food. I like my food good and dead before I ever come in contact with it. Hence, this explains my inability to make the correlation between casting and fishing. Last year, I bought a game about fishing for our game console because it seemed interesting to me (just not enough to actually go and do it). I grew up in a city and fishing was something done in the country. But, again, this game intrigued me. The tutorial took you through all of the necessary motions to successfully catch fish.  It taught you how to cast the line in different ways, how to hook the fish, and how to reel it in. The other morning, I was up early and decided to spend a few moments fishing in my living room. As I quietly cast the line over and over again, I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit point out the obvious image that I’d been searching to find for so long! He said, “Think of casting your cares the way that you cast the line. The way that you cast the line will determine how far away your cares will travel. And as the line, with the bait, sinks into the water so shall your cares sink into the sea. And as you thumb the line, you’ll hook hope just like a fisherman hooks a fish. From there, all you have to do is reel it in.” Well, wow! What an amazing image! God knew what I needed and I got it just in the nick of time!

                Now, when I am burdened down, I know that I just need to go fishing! I’m prepared with my rod, my hook and the bait of praise. I’ll make sure that I cast my cares as I throw out the line, then hook my catch, and reel in some much needed hope! So, I’ll see you later because I’m going fishing!

Countdown to Hope – Day 4

The Renewing Power of Hope

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

 

Today is simply dreary and dismal. We’ve gone from beautiful, sunny days to an overabundance of clouds, dampness and a vicious chill in the air. It is not a day that easily inspires hope, not even a little spark. It’s on days like this that the burdens and challenges we face seem to wrap around our necks and choke out any small trace of hope that exists deep within us. Defeat looms on the horizon and our faith becomes shaky at best. But, if we get to a quiet place, shut out the world and listen intently for that still, small voice, we can grab hold of the remedy for these valley days.

This scripture is an oft quoted reference that has become somewhat of a cliché in church circles. In my experience, it’s thrown around and responded to so much that for many, it has sadly lost its meaning. But if we take a step back, remove the “churchiness” and really concentrate on the message, we find the answer to this level of despair and any other debilitating experience. It states that “those who HOPE in the LORD” will receive some pretty amazing benefits from that hope. But once again, there’s a catch. We’re back to this whole choice thing. It points out that those who will, not that all will or even that all must. Trusting in God is a conscious, active choice. Hope, like faith and trust, are verbs! They are actions! This faith-journey is an active choice, not happenstance. Those who are at peace and walk in the fullness of God’s love, joy, peace, prosperity and abundance of spirit all make an active choice to do so. God honors the choosers because He chose to uniquely design and create each and every one of us. So, it’s only logical that if we want the fullness of who our Father is and what He wants us to have, we must choose Him each and every day, all day. We must actively hope in Him and His Word because that should be our litmus test, our standard and our goal.

While valley days (and sometimes valley seasons) make this daily choice a challenge, it is a must do in order to not only live the life He has ordained and secured for us, but to honor Him and glorify Him in all that we do. So, note to self: I will hope in the Lord because He is my strength each and every day. And because I choose to hope in my God, I will soar like an eagle, I will not get weary or faint on this journey because the power I receive from hoping in Him, sustains me.

Countdown to Hope ~ Day 3

Activating Your Shield

“But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.” Psalm 3:3

 

What an enlightening scripture this is! After reading this particular scripture this morning, I had the most amazing “Aha!” moment. Now, you would think that I’d already know these things, but I must remind myself that we all have a different learning curve at different times in our lives. Right now, my faith learning curve is a little delayed! LOL!

Any who…as I read this scripture for the third or fourth time, I realized that my faith is my shield to deflect any and all attacks, adversity, or challenges that come my way. God said that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Now, to those who are tactile learners (or kinesthetic learners), we need hands on demonstrations in order to really grasp a concept. We need physical interaction in order for that concept to become concrete even though it may be abstract in nature. (Hence, the whole shield/faith thing for me.)

 I recently watched the film about Captain America. While watching the film, the theme song from the cartoon that I watched kept replaying in my head. I kept hearing, “When Captain America throws his mighty shield…!” Now, I recall a brief conversation with my sons maybe a year prior to this when the consensus amongst them was that Captain America wasn’t very impressive because all he had was a shield. I also remember fervently defending him because it wasn’t the fact that he had a shield, but how he used that shield against his enemies that mattered! And so it is with our faith walk! It is impossible to maintain or even embrace hope when we are constantly being attacked, wounded and weakened throughout each day; however, maybe we’re not using the shield of faith that has been granted to every believer. Today, I plan on using my shield of faith rather than letting it sit in a corner somewhere useless.

How about you?

Countdown to Hope ~ Day 2

“May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.” Psalm 22:22

 

After reading this very short and succinct scripture, I came to the conclusion that hope is a choice. We can choose to have hope and rest in the knowledge that God is in control and has our best interests at heart. Or, we can choose to be downcast, depressed and embrace every dark and desolate thought, feeling or fear that surrounds us. Hope is sometimes so far away from us and our current state of mind that we need to file a missing persons report on it and “hope” that the proper authorities will track it down. However, our challenge in this life journey is to seek hope will unending fervor and diligence despite what we see, feel and touch.

God compels us to put our hope in Him. It is through His love for us that we are given the gift of hope and the constant opportunity to revisit and re-embrace hope every day. But again, hope is a conscience choice just like joy is a choice. Choose to hope in God and his unfailing love and hope will be yours always.