Being More Than a Conqueror

It’s taken me a lifetime to fully understand what it means and how to live the victorious life Jesus died to give us as believers. I remember my growing-up-spiritually years. I was a whiny kid and a less-than-confident teenager, a young wife and mother learning the ropes of responsibility. I was a good-doer attending church faithfully and really loved God with all my heart. But, I didn’t have a “conqueror” mindset. As I grew in my personal relationship with Christ, studying His Word and making every effort possible to serve Him wholeheartedly, I came to understand what it means to be “more than a conqueror”. Romans 8:37 says Christians are “more than conquerors” in this world. Maybe that's far from how you feel today, but in Christ, that's who we can be. We certainly need to get that indelibly imprinted on our hearts so that we get it, understand it and become it.

That verse is in response to the Apostle Paul's questions before saying we are “more than conquerors”: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35). And, then he replies in Romans 8:37: “NO, in all these things we are MORE than conquerors through Him Who loved us.” Sounds to me like Paul could have been right here with us during our situations today. He tells us we can be more than conquerors in the midst of hardships and right in the middle of a trial. Paul certainly proved it is possible. Being more than a conqueror means whatever the enemy uses to take us out, he fails every time.

It means we stop naming ourselves “forgotten, loser, mess-up, mistreated, etc.” It means we persevere to the other side of the trial and wait, expectantly, for our new name, “more than a conqueror”. When we keep our old names, identifying with our old stories, we make the name-changing process about us. Yet this overcoming process is not about us; it’s about God revealing His name to the world.

When we fully understand that Jesus came to give each of us a life of abundance (John 10:10), then we'll see ourselves as more than a conqueror through Him. All the enemy wants to do is kill, steal and destroy what God wants us to have. He wants to diminish us – make us small-minded and small in spirit so we’ll live a small, frustrated life. Whatever your situation is today, God knows about it. He sees you and hears the cry of your heart. Welcome His overcoming love, grace and power. Live it. Own it. After all, you ARE more than a conqueror through Christ.

In the Letting Go

Letting go of treasured times, treasured people, treasured routines and traditions isn’t easy, but it’s obviously the life God designed for us during these times. Throughout the Bible we read about letting go. King Saul’s son, Jonathan, and David were best friends, but life happened and they had to go their separate ways. Moses’ mom had to put him in a basket and let him go to save his life. Jesus had to let go of His place in heaven to come to earth to rescue you and me.

Maybe those scenarios don’t provide the comfort you've needed for letting go of your routines, schedules, plans, dreams and hopes during this pandemic. It hasn’t been easy for anyone who is a planner, a doer and wants to hold on as long as they can. Status quo certainly has been disrupted, hasn’t it?

I’ve been letting go for a very long time. I can’t believe how fast time went – watching my own children grow from infants to raising their own children. I see it as a good thing. It is supposed to be that way. I’ve had to let go of friends as we’ve moved in and out of each other’s’ lives while navigating changing seasons of our own. One day, I held my husband’s hand for the last time and let go as he and I touched eternity together when he quietly went home.

It’s not easy letting go, but God gives us the fortitude and strength to conquer the “letting-goes”. My letting-goes were staged by God in a slow-methodical way. I applaud those of you who had to let go during these crazy, unplanned times and your ability to “bend and not break”.

I have witnessed those who have stood tall -- silent and strong, with arms lifted high toward heaven. I’ve seen you let go of your own ideas of how things ought to be and you’ve trusted God instead. You have let go of holding on so tightly and found the courage to look forward to what God has in store! He has a sovereign plan and we’ve resigned ourselves to trusting Him. We've made it through many seasons and we’ve come out of them braver and stronger. None of us knows what the future holds, but when we raise our hands high in the letting go, we’ll find ourselves looking upward to Jesus. He’s the One who is able to lead us through the heartaches and triumphs of the living, the loving, and the letting go.

Letting go is a daily, moment-by-moment choice. Giving it all to God is the way to come out on the other side as conquerors. I love this scripture: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) When we relinquish control, worry, doubt, fear and doing-it-my-way and give it all to God daily, we can be free to be a human-being instead of a human-doing. God is in control. We just need to recognize His authority and let Him lead. We can trust Him with all that concerns us each day. Letting go is scary at first, but the freedom in our mind and hearts will be worth it.

Isaiah 55:8-9 -- “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Peace in the Storm

I was reviewing my daily FB “memories” yesterday and I ran across this post from eight years ago:
“Sitting in my hall bathroom -- no windows or outside walls, following the warnings of the newscasters -- surrounded by blankets and pillows -- waiting out the tornado warnings and thanking God that I'm sheltered in His arms and knowing Jesus is on board my ship! Peace.....be still!”

Yes, I’ve been there – right alongside those of you who are weathering the storms where you are today. After all – we lived in tornado alley for many years. We witnessed many tornadoes, as well as the aftermath. We watched our barn roof be taken off, trees being ripped apart, and damage to our home that backed up to Lake Keystone -- the path of the tornado. We took to our under-the-stairs closet and prayed for safety each time when the winds were at ferocious velocity. Yes, it was scary.

Also at Lake Keystone, a tornado brought devastation to our International Faith Bible College. Dad, the president of the college, and Mom heard the reports -- they were in the line of the monster twister. They made their way to the commercial shower stalls. The twister hit strong and almost leveled the entire building, save the area where Mom and Dad were standing and praying for God to be their refuge and strength. They came out without a scratch. They knew where to go in the time of trouble – to a central area in the building AND to God.

In reality, there seems to be no certainty in anything, anywhere, EXCEPT that our God is stable, secure, and is our ANCHOR that holds in spite of storms, conflicts and any other force that comes against us. We have the choice to cave and yield to the chaos and prevailing winds and storms of our life or we can take the storm by a conquering, overcoming spirit through Christ Jesus. "We are more than conquerors." (Romans 8:37). We've been notified that WE WIN and "Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world," (1 John 4:4) We can take the offensive position against the enemy of our souls instead of cowering down to his tactics that try to paralyze us with fear of what the storms can do to us. We can find peace in the midst of the storm by trusting in God's faithfulness.

Sincerely, our thoughts and prayers go out to those in harm’s way today. Our awareness of hurting people gets stronger in times like this and we realize the need and urgency to pray for their peace, comfort, and resilience. We know that homes can be rebuilt. Healing will come and life will carry on once again as they place their trust in the Prince of Peace, Who brings peace and comfort and joy once again. We will all carry on -- and we'll even find the beauty that is found, even in tragedy.

Maybe life seems overwhelming to you today. I've been there. Each time I was there, I found my answers in the One Who is our Solid Rock. I came to realize that the overwhelming circumstances were ultimately for my good because they drew me to my Source of all answers and my Solid Rock. I urge you to go to Him today. In Jesus' words to the tremendous storm when the disciples were reeling in fear and despair, we pray He speaks to the storms in our lives today: "Peace, be still". In the meantime, let's praise Him in the storm!

I’m Growing….On Purpose

Who knew that when I headed for Austin on Saturday to be at my grandson’s baseball tournament and celebrate Father’s day with my son and his family, that I just might be growing more than I had planned on in this season of my life. But, I’ve learned that if we don’t want to grow stale, become dormant and start withering up like a plant, we need to KEEP GROWING on purpose.

The family was getting ready to go away a few days and were about to hire a couple of people to attend to Bryson’s animal kingdom while they were away. Since my time is flexible right now, I boldly exclaimed: “Let me do it!” So here I am – attending to 32 animals. Bryson, my 11-year-old trainer set out to model every detail of his animal responsibilities so that I would acquire his skills. Some say “It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks" and I’ll admit – it’s taken some tough encounters with these animal friends that almost convinced me to quit and call in the REAL pros for the job.

Not being on high alert to an enormous longhorn, I got too close to his 6-feet horns wing-span and got whacked in the face. Then, not being the pro that Bryson is, I let the goats overpower me when I was taking their feed bowls out to them and got tangled up and fell. Then there are the chickens that a new brood of seven that has been added to the already 9-chickens. The nine are quite accommodating at night when they go into the chicken coop, but the seven haven’t adapted just yet to the nine and they have to be rustled up and individually caught and put into the coop. Needless to say, I thought this is too much for this gal to take on during this "mature" season of life.

BUT, then, as I always do when life seems to get overwhelming, I muster up those spiritual muscles and apply scriptures that are indelibly imprinted in my heart to remind me WHO I AM and WHOSE I am and I begin to declare “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) And, “I am MORE than a conqueror through Him Who loves me.” (Romans 8:37) And new vitality and vigor come inside me. Yesterday, was VICTORY day as each task I was able to handle with confidence and competence – even gathering up each chicken and putting them into the coop! Whoop! Whoop!

We all have treasures inside of us -- there are skills, talents, and potential that God put there, and it's up to us to grow and develop them. If we don't, we'll find that rocking chair or recliner and just switching channels on the remote control, becoming "that's all there is" to us. We will have stopped growing and when we do, we'll start dying to ambition, risk-taking, living life large, and refusing adventure and excitement.

I'm going to keep learning new skills, reading books, taking internet courses, going to seminars, gleaning from mentors – like my 11-year old Bryson. I refuse to coast through life. I'm purposing to make the moments count -- I'm going to keep on KEEPING ON...I am going to live and grow on purpose and help a lot of other folks GROW ON PURPOSE with me!!!

What's Wrong With Me?

I had three siblings that graduated to heaven; two of them had Alzheimer's disease and the other had Diabetes so severe that she lost one foot to the disease. My Mom, now in heaven, had congenital heart disease. My Dad, also in heaven, had a malignant brain tumor. Goodness gracious. With all that medical history, you'd think I'd be saying "What’s wrong with ME?”

Honestly, when I forget someone's name or where I've put my keys or where I was headed in my house and forget why I was going there.....my mind tries to tell me "You've inherited your family's issues." I take a baby aspirin each day to fend off heart problems. I take mineral and herb supplements to help keep me healthy. I walk and work out to keep my body strong. I do the things that I can do to be healthy and strong as though it depended on me, but I've learned to pray, speak God's Word and BELIEVE God as though it ALL depends on Him. The best antidote against the lies of the enemy and the threats he tries to place over me when it comes to my health and well being is I purposely change my thinking to keeping my mind on the ONE who paid the ultimate price for my healing, my freedom and my victory.

BUT, stuff happens, regardless of our strong faith. How do we handle those times? I really am a very healthy gal. Thanks be to God. I've refused to get a Flu Shot because I hear feedback more about the negative side effects. So this week, right when I was making my move to my new house, the pain in my throat, the fever, the coughing and the lack of energy assured me I needed to go the doctor. Sweet Denise Gerrich was a life saver for me as she directed the movers in my absence, has been an incredible nurse and responded to my every phone call for picking up things I need. It would certainly be easy to question God about this timing, because it most certainly is not without His knowledge. And to make matters worse because this flu is so contagious, I had to cancel going to Tulsa to see Mom, attend my godson's little sister's First Communion and to spend time with my besties, Mick & Sheila Michie.

I have a choice -- to wallow in self pity or to BELIEVE and stand on God's promise that “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us…” (Romans 8:37) Period. The end.

Jesus paid the ultimate price for our healing and our victory in every area of life. All those sicknesses, diseases, challenges in every area of life were broken and paid for on the cross. It's time we lay hold of the victory Christ brought us in overcoming and defeating the enemy. A little shepherd boy, David, defeated the giant with his words and his slingshot. The same holds true for us today in defeating the giants in our lives. It starts with a simple word....BELIEVE...and you shall receive! Matthew 21:22

Here are the TRUTHS of the ONE who loves and ONLY speaks TRUTHS to us: "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57
"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
BELIEVEELIEVE

Hey Leader! Strike Up the Band!

Day 276 of Photo Inspirations -- Hey Leader!  Strike Up the Band!
I love these photos of a group of kids hugging the gal in the middle of them -- the Drum Major for their high school band!!

At the end of school year this last Spring, a dear friend reached out to me with her "mother's love" for her daughter.  She was looking at her "Senior" girl and wondering if I could share wisdom to help her daughter through a tough season of low self esteem and value.  She said:  "My daughter is seemingly capable of accomplishing anything she sets her mind to, but she revealed to me the other day that she has a fear of not being perfect -- a fear of being judged by OTHER people as not being perfect. We've always told her "just do your best, no one's perfect".   And she wondered if I could recommend a book for her that might help her to see that she doesn't have to be perfect -- just good enough?  And went on to ask if my daughter, Staci, had gone through something similar at one point?

I understood her.  It's hard to believe it, but, at one point, I had a daughter with low self esteem.  She questioned her value, her abilities, her future, her friends, and her self worth.  So, in my reply to her, I told her my girl had gone through the same concerns and fears, but conquered it and became the strong, determined, resilient, confident woman she is today.  I gathered up Staci's teaching series on "Developing a Healthy Self Image", her book "Mission Possible" and other materials and gave them to my friend for her daughter.

Just a few weeks later, I saw a video her Mom posted of her on FB in her element.  She had been selected as the Drum Major (the leader of the band) for her high school band, and was leading with such self confidence, strength and determination.  There was absolutely NO SIGN of questioning herself.  I was sending out thanksgiving to God for the difference in her from just a few months before to her Mom and said, "I had chills as I watched this! That sweet girl is leading with confidence and attitude! YES -- a tremendous LEADER in all ways! 'Oh, The Places She Will Go!'"  Her Mom replied, "And to think that a few short months ago, she was afraid of being judged by others as inadequate. I think that God had this planned for her as we were worrying over her fears. If we could have heard Him then, He would have said 'I have plans to bring her out of that shell into splendor!'"

This precious young woman was struggling with fears and concerns that we have, too!  "Am I good enough; pretty enough; smart enough; liked enough?"  Friends and peers sometime make us feel less than best.  Rejection is a tough pill to swallow.  But, when we realize how loved we are by God, how beautiful we are to Him, that He made us in His image and likeness and that He formed and made us to be just who we are -- with a destiny and purpose in mind......then, like this precious young woman, we find self worth, value, and even great joy in knowing we are loved and approved.   He even makes us MORE THAN CONQUERORS in life!  (Romans 8:37)

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not harm you; plans to give you a future and a hope."

Isn't it time we opened our hearts to the possibility that God has a perfect plan, with just who we are today AND tomorrow -- a plan that is packed full of promise and possibility?  No doubt, He has plans to bring us out of our shells  into splendor, too!

What's Wrong With Me?

Day 197 of Photo Inspirations -- What's Wrong With Me?
I had three siblings that graduated to heaven; two of them had Alzheimer's disease and the other had Diabetes so severe that she lost one foot to the disease.  My Mom, now in heaven, had congenital heart disease. My Dad, also in heaven, had a brain tumor.  Goodness gracious.  With all that medical history, you'd think I'd be saying "What’s wrong with ME?”

Honestly, when I forget someone's name or where I've put my keys or where I was headed in my house and forget why I was going there.....my mind tries to tell me "You've inherited your family's issues."   I take a baby aspirin each day to fend off heart problems.  I take mineral and herb supplements to help keep me healthy.  I walk and work out to keep my body strong.  I do the things that I can do to be healthy and strong as though it depended on me, but I've learned to pray, speak God's Word and BELIEVE God as though it ALL depends on Him.  The best antidote against the lies of the enemy and the threats he tries to place over me when it comes to my health and well being is I purposely change my thinking to keeping my mind on the ONE who paid the ultimate price for my healing, my freedom and my victory.

We must put a halt to the voice and the lies of the enemy.  The more we put up our "shields of faith" against his fiery and lying darts, the stronger we are in defeating him.  God doesn’t want us to allow the enemy to convince us we are defective or infected.  He doesn't want us entertaining the enemy who loves to cast a shadow of doubt over us.  His sly tactics are to get us to focus on what could be wrong with us (real or perceived), instead of focusing on ALL THAT IS RIGHT with us.

To put it bluntly -- Satan is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44) and his main intent is for us to worry, doubt, fear, be dismayed and discouraged. That's just the way he operates.  But we can change that -- starting today. First, we need to realize Satan’s schemes are the same for us as they were for Eve.   She fell into his trap.  Second, we need to determine we are not going to keep falling into his traps. Instead we BELIEVE an stand on God's promise that “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us…” (Romans 8:37) Period. The end.

Jesus paid the ultimate price for our healing and our victory in every area of life.  All those sicknesses, diseases, challenges in every area of life were broken and paid for on the cross.  It's time we lay hold of the victory Christ brought us in overcoming and defeating the enemy.   A little shepherd boy, David, defeated the giant with his words and his slingshot.  The same holds true for us today in defeating the giants in our lives.  It starts with a simple word.....BELIEVE.....and you shall receive!  Matthew 21:22

Here are the TRUTHS of the ONE who loves and ONLY speaks TRUTHS to us:  "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  1 Corinthians 15:57
"Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
BELIEVE