They Say, We Say, I Say, You Say

We can say so many defeating and negative things about ourselves – when we need to be saying what God says about us instead. Others may cast shadows of doubt in us by what they say to us and then there’s the times when WE (you know, misery loves company) speak negative and self-deprecating things about ourselves. I love Lauren Daigle’s song “You Say”. It is an anthem to what God says about us and His is the only voice we should be listening to, unless others agree with us about what God says about us. We must silence other voices that tell us otherwise.

Lauren Daigle, two-times grammy award winning artist and songwriter, said the following about her song “You Say”. She was being challenged with the issue of her identity and was trying to figure out how to exist when she felt like so many things were pulling her in so many different directions. She said, “I think a lot of times we build these complexes based on insecurity, based on fear, based on rejection, and lies that we have to constantly overcome. And so, this song for me was just a reminder of identity. It was a reminder that I know when I’m weak, He’s strong—so how do I change that and bring that into my everyday life? When I feel inadequate, how is it that there’s always these moments where I feel like God just steps in and supersedes my inadequacies. This entire song was so every single day I would get up on stage and remind myself—no, this is the truth, this is the truth, this is the truth. Don’t get buried in confusion. Don’t get buried in waywardness. Just remember to steady the course, steady the course." Here is the chorus:

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
And when I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours
And I believe, Oh I believe, What You say of me. I believe.

Lauren’s worth, according to her song's lyrics, is found in God and whatever He says about her strength and ability. I agree with Lauren. It is so easy for me to fall into the trap of allowing what others think of me to determine my identity. There is really only ONE who has the authority to tell me who I am...and that is my Creator. This song, “You Say” encouraged me so much the first time I heard it. And, it inspired me to do a little treasure hunt for scriptures that we can all use to discover who we really are in Him. Let's discover what God's Word has to say about it and stand in faith and belief on what it says.

I am a child of God. (John 1:12)
I am a friend of Jesus. (John 15:15)
I have been justified and redeemed. (Romans 3:24)
I have been set free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
As a child of God, I am a fellow heir with Christ. (Romans 8:17)
I have been accepted by Christ. (Romans 15:7)
I am a new creature in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I am no longer a slave, but a child and an heir. (Galatians 4:7)
I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God. (Ephesians 1:4)
I am seated in heavenly places with Christ. (Ephesians 2:6)
I am a citizen of heaven. (Philippians 3:20)
The peace of God guards my heart and mind. (Philippians 4:7)
I have been made complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)
God loves me and has chosen me. (1 Thessalonians 1:4)

All of those “I am” scriptures prove who we are if we have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and committed to serve Him in word and actions. I've seen way too much evidence that He sees me right where I am today, and I know His love for me is vast. I've experienced way too many of God's blessings, and I know they didn't come to me by coincidence. I've been loved so much that it's the story of my life. And, I want it to be the story of your life as well. I want it to change everything -- including how you look at God, and yourself, and other people. I want you to live in confidence that when God looks at you, He sees beauty. He sees value. He sees hope. He sees a precious treasure beyond compare. And when you're hiding, or when you feel so beaten down, and you can't see anything clearly, He's still hard at work, crafting for you a beautiful future. He sees you. He loves you. We are SO loved by ALMIGHTY God -- doesn't that AMAZE you? It sure amazes me. Listen to this song and let it resonate within your spirit that YOU ARE HIS!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIaT8Jl2zpI

Take Up Arms and Be Hope Bearers

I’m wide awake at 2:00 am. I determine it’s a gentle call from my Father. He is wanting my undivided attention. It’s the perfect time for us to collaborate. He speaks to my heart through His Word and as I prepare my blog to post in a few hours, I see my dear friend’s post which includes her beloved mother’s words about this day – 9/11. How could this day have slipped my mind when it was such a pivotal day in America’s history? This is the day to never be forgotten because of the lives that were lost and the heroes who did what no one thought possible. We remember sacrifice. We remember courage. We remember greatness. And, following in our Master’s footsteps, we choose to love our neighbor, to love our enemies, and to forgive. C.S. Lewis put it beautifully. “To be a Christian,” he wrote, “is to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven it in us.” We hold forgiveness in our hearts, as we remember that love is greater than hate; that hope is stronger than despair; that vengeance is no match for forgiveness.

Rather than posting the blog that I prepared yesterday, I am encouraged to re-post these compelling words written by my dear friend’s (Sheila Michie) mom, Kathryn Grant. She wrote this on 9/11/2003 – two years after the horrific event. Sheila was led to share it with us today. Kathryn's still relevant words are a “call to arms and I am led to share them, too, because the call remains to ‘take up arms’ and to be hope bearers in this world.

"The heart of our nation has not fully healed since the tragedy of 9/11. The grief of the victims' families has not been assuaged, nor has the magnitude of their loss been minimized by the passage of time. Indeed, the intervening months have brought more violence and death around the globe, in spite of enormous outlays of money and arms at the disposal of those who seek peace and do not find it.

Meanwhile, there is an opportunity that begs the attention of we older citizens to 'take up arms'-, our own -, that is, to put our arms around the children and young people of this nation. We have lived through a succession of wars and civil upheavals; we have seen the fall of Communism and Fascism; we have seen an earlier culture turned upside down by radical changes of every kind. We have lost loved ones, family and peers. By virtue of age and experience, we are singularly qualified to be hope bearers. Like the canaries sent down into the mine shafts to test for any toxicity, we bring good news that all is well. Not even the monstrous blow of 9/11 can bring us to our knees, except in prayer.

So, my, dear brothers and sisters of faith, we are called to a challenging "war effort." Our weapons are our collective voices of reassurance to our children, grandchildren, all who have lost hope for the future of our beloved country which we have historically called 'invincible.' One of us repeating Jesus' words, 'Be not afraid' is good, but when we collaborate, the collective power of our voices can turn the tide of events as they unfold. We are people of prayer. How else does one survive what we have been through in our long lives? And prayer will be our greatest weapon in bringing hope to the hopeless. The dues in our organization will be steep requiring millions of prayers for the balance of our lives for our loved ones, and others all over the world who yearn for peace and security. We will be one voice for one people!"

Thank you, Lord, for waking me up this morning to be fine-tuned to your voice through Sheila's and Kathryn’s voices. May we be people of faith and prayer – one voice for one people! We will heed the call to take up arms and be hope bearers!

I Hear You, But I'm Not Listening

A concerned husband went to his doctor and said, "Doc, I think my wife is going deaf. What can I do?" The doctor replies: “Go home and stand 15 feet from her and speak to her. If she doesn’t reply, move 5 feet closer and say it again. Keep doing this so we’ll get an idea about the severity of her deafness.” The man goes home and does as directed. He starts off standing 15 feet from his wife in the kitchen as she is chopping vegetables and says, “Honey, what’s for dinner?” He hears no response. He moves 5 feet closer and asks again. No reply. He moves 5 feet closer. Still no reply. He gets fed up and moves right behind her, about an inch away, and asks loudly, “Honey, what’s for dinner?” She replies, “For the fourth time, vegetable stew!”

I thought about that story this weekend when I was in a prayer team (common to a Holy Spirit 101 retreat or healing night) of four people. I noticed a man continuing to turn his left ear in the direction of the person who was speaking, time and time again. After we had individually prayed for each one in this group, I asked the man if he’d like prayer for his hearing. He quickly said, “I don’t have a problem with hearing, but my wife thinks I do. Actually, the problem isn’t hearing – it’s listening.” He amused us enough for each of us to compare notes on how well we listen – especially to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

I think this cartoon best describes why we're not hearing. The message is clear and true to our lives. Jesus said, "My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:" (John 10:27). I wonder if He had in mind how difficult "listening for His voice" would be in 2019? Of course, He did. And, if ever we needed to hear His voice, it is in this day and time. So many voices chiming in, so many distractions each and every day and being pulled by our social media apps and electronics that keep us nose-dived into content overload.

We need the Holy Spirit’s wisdom, comfort, guidance, peace, and direction. Of course, we long to hear His voice, but in the busy-ness, the clamor and the many, many activities and distractions of everyday life, oftentimes, we may be hard-pressed to find that quiet PLACE where we can go for solace, rest and peace, and hear the voice of our Shepherd. And, even when we manage to find that place, like in this cartoon, the noise of our cell phones, radios, computers, TV, etc. -- keeps us distracted from hearing our Shepherd's voice.

We need to find that place where His voice comes through loud and clear to us. Oh, He has that place -- and we can find it, but it's up to us to disregard the distractions to "Be still (that’s a feat in itself) to hear and know our God." And, I'm not referring to a far-away island in the middle of no-where. It's possible to find that place if only for a few minutes in our day, to "Come away with Him"!

Matthew 13:13 -- Jesus said, “This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’”

Are You Being a “CAPTIVE” Audience?

CAPTIVE -- a person or animal who has been taken prisoner or confined; detained, in captivity, imprisoned, locked up.

Ever have one of those days, weeks or months, when everything you do seems to be inadequate, at least in your own eyes? Your parenting skills, being a loving and kind spouse, your efficiency at work, being a great friend. You’ve endeavored to be the best you can be, and it just doesn’t seem to measure up. “A good parent would have known their child was sick or on drugs or was missing school.” “A great spouse wouldn’t be so insensitive and unsupportive.” “An efficient employee wouldn’t be making so many mistakes.”

I hear those voices, too. “A great friend would stay in better touch.” “You talk too much.” “You’re too old to do that.” I’m here today to tell you AND me “Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy of our souls because he wants to take us CAPTIVE to those voices!” 2 Corinthians 10:5 says “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into CAPTIVITY to the obedience of Christ.”

YOU ARE a good parent. You ARE a great wife or husband. You are a wonderful friend and daughter or son. You are an outstanding employee. The enemy of our souls wants us to believe otherwise. Sure, maybe there are areas that we could do better and we can always strive to be the best version of ourselves for others, but don’t, for minute, listen to the lies of the enemy. He has one goal in mind, and that’s to take us, and our thoughts – CAPTIVE – always wanting us to think less of ourselves than God does.

The accuser lies to us all the time. God is always for us and reminds us that even when we feel spent and insignificant and too little and we’ve let the enemy take our hearts CAPTIVE, God will not have it. Through it all – the ups and the downs, the mistakes we make and the worries we carry – our messes are not too much for Him. “My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness (our messes).” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Maybe you can relate to what I’m sharing today. Are you wrapped in a bunch of lies about your inadequacies that weigh you down and wear you out? Please allow me to encourage you with this thought. Jesus doesn’t sit across the table from you or me saying “Your situation is beyond My pay grade.” In fact, I’m quite sure He leans in close, looks into our eyes, and says, “I will not ever leave you or forsake you and you will NOT be held CAPTIVE any longer.”

Jesus is our patient friend. Sometimes He speaks boldly through others and other times, He speaks directly to us with truth from His Word. Either way, when we’re tempted to believe one lie, or maybe three, we charge back with God’s truth instead.

God bailed us out of Satan’s prison. We are no longer CAPTIVE. Let’s take Satan CAPTIVE and imprison every one of his thoughts, emotions, and lies to listen to God’s voice and His truths. When we do, those negative voices don’t stand a chance!

Feeling Some Nudges? Having Some "Aha" Moments?

So you've been feeling some nudges, hearing some still small voices, having some "aha" moments? I'd like to suggest that God is trying to get through to you! If you are tight in your relationship with God -- you go to Him in prayer and study of His Word, you embrace His love and care for you, you KNOW Him -- then, it's definitely Him, and I highly encourage you to respond to His nudges.

And, when I talk about "nudges", I'm talking about the Holy Spirit Who Jesus promised would come when He went away. "However, I'm telling you the truth. It's for your advantage that I'm going away, because if I don't go away, the Helper/Counselor won't come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." John 16:7.

I talk a lot about "being on assignment" -- and it's so simple to know what that assignment is when we realize He who knows everything about everything lives big in us. We don't have to jump through hoops or any other actions to merit His favor or love. He is our Father so we should just live "tuned in" to His nudges and still small voice and the "knowing" that He is leading and guiding us. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27

So, let's start following Him -- His little nudges. He has so much wonder and awesome experiences awaiting us -- let's start pursuing them. We could take the "safe" route and the easy way by living a mundane life, or we can follow God’s impulses that lead to the "above and beyond" in our lives. Let's tune into the nudges that God is giving us -- those nudges to live, pursue, hunt, give, climb, dig, jump, walk, run, research, and focus on the assignment -- the nudges -- and the "aha" moments will surely follow close behind!

I Believe I Can Fly -- If Dumbo Can -- So Can I

Yesterday, I posted "I believe I can fly!" Let's take it a step further. Do you remember Dumbo -- the Disney character that had huge ears? Other elephants ridiculed him, until he met Timothy Mouse that changed his perspective. Timothy convinced Dumbo that his little feather had magical powers that could turn his ears into wings. He created a sense of hope and expectation in Dumbo that was missing. The more Dumbo BELIEVED "anything is possible", the more Dumbo was convinced he could fly. Finally, despite the voices of opposition from the crows, Dumbo rose to the challenge and elevated his faith with courage. He turned his doubt into faith and turned those huge ears into an asset that helped him fly.

What changed for Dumbo? That brilliant little mouse helped Dumbo see that the power to fly begins in the belief that it's possible to fly. And the same with us -- when our hope rises, so does our perspective.

And what about you? What are the "ears" or "voices" that might be the cause for your discouragement, rejection or weakness? The voices of others who say you can't, or the voice of Father God -- that voice of TRUTH and FAITH, that says "With God, all things are possible"? With those "ears", we can rise above our challenges, our past, and those voices of opposition. Dumbo could fly. I believe I can fly…..AND I believe YOU can, too!

Peace, Be Still

On this incredible faith journey, though we are confident in the good work God is doing in my sweetheart, I'll admit there have been highs and lows in emotions. Ron, is truly my hero, today, more than all of our yesterdays, as I watch him refuse to succomb to pain, as well as to the many voices he is hearing.

Last night was one of debilitating pain -- he said it felt like knives going into him -- the pain much worse than it was before the surgery -- trying to find a place of rest where the pain would not be so intense, he finally found his recliner in the den to be a place of comfort at 3 am in the morning. Thankfully, he woke several hours later with the pain much less intense.

Of course, I felt I needed to be my Hero's She-ro, so first thing, this morning, I called doctors' offices to voice my concern about this new-found pain in his body. Then all the voices began to increase in volume in our ears -- one saying, "it might be this"; "do that"; "take this medication"; "don't take that medication"; "eat this"; "don't eat that" and on and on! Before long, he and I, both, were a bundle of nerves. So, what do I do in times like this.....even before I call on God? Call my daughter! With always the just the right words, she immediately began to pray words of peace over us..."Jehovah Shalom (God our Peace), be very present with Mom and Dad!" "Mom & Dad, breathe in Jesus; breathe in peace!"

Immediately, the light bulb came on and, once again, the scripture, "Him I will keep in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on me" (Isaiah 26:3) came to me and my Sweetheart and I welcomed our Father God, Jesus, our Prince of Peace, and sweet Holy Spirit into our home and our day. We put on praise and worship music and the atmosphere that was prevalent with anxiety, concern and distraction, was replaced with calm peace and assurance that God had us and all our cares in His control and we have nothing to be concerned about. God knows about this journey we are on and has known about it long before we did.....He even knows the outcome! So why should we worry, fret or be concerned? I hear and share these words of Jesus with you......"Peace, be with you!"