Everyone has the secret to your success for the new year. Everyone! They are all lined up to tell you how to lose weight, have your "best year" ever, or land the perfect job.. What if there is more to it than that? What if there is fear, doubt, lack of self worth, or poor self image hanging out trying to hold you down? Losing the weight ,or a new job will give you a lift but doesn't tackle the giants behind the scenes.

So what's in your hand? What are you carrying with you to defeat these loud mouth giants who want you to give up? They want you to feel defeated. They want you to feel like they are unbeatable.

In 1Samuel 17 The army of Israel was being challenged by the Philistines. There was one among them, Goliath, who was quite bold. He was HUGE and intimidating and he knew it. His mouth never stopped challenging the Israelis. It went on for 40 days. The Israeli army was defeated mentally and they hadn't picked up a weapon yet. Along comes David.  He was delivering food to his brothers. He heard the challenge from this giant Goliath and asked what will be done for the man who defeats this giant. The rest of the army thinks he is nuts. Goliath is too big, too strong, it's hopeless.

We often have the wrong perspective of the giants in our life. They seem so big, to big for us to tackle. We give them their power. The more power we give them, the more they look like they grow. We look at one who has victory over a giant in their life and wonder how was that possible.  

David picked up 5 smooth stones, put four in his pouch and one in his sling, and took Goliath down.

We need to remember what we carry in our pouch. We carry with us the weapons needed to slay the giants in our life.

5 smooth stones. 

Cornerstone, Clarity, Confidence, Committment and Commission

Let's tackle your giants together. This can be your first "giant slaying" year! 

We as a nation celebrate the new year coming in. Millions watch the big ball drop in Times Square. We make our New Years Resolutions and declare this will be our year. What did you decide was your resolution for this year?  Lose weight? Quit smoking? Married? Divorced? The follow through on these resolutions are terrible. Only 50% are still focused on it after 3 weeks. Within 6 weeks 95% have let it go.  Why? We want to change something in our life. 

Change only happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change. 

Jesus loves each of us and wants all of us to be saved. I have heard many say," Jesus loves me just as I am", this is their reason for not changing. Yet we are called to be changed into His image, this transformation brings us into deeper relationship with Him. Transformation isn't a New Years resolution, it's the surrender of self to the Maker of the universe.  It's the day by day, step by step, decsion by decsion attitude to get to the end of our life and hear "Well done."

2018 the year to surrender your life to Jesus and watch the transformation of your heart. I know if you choose today to follow Jesus with everything you have this year, you will not regret the journey when you see the person you have become.

Yesterday during a conversation with my husband, he posed this question, " In what arena do I have the biggest struggle reflecting Jesus?" Then he followed it with "The one that I need to be a reflection of Jesus the most!"

Is the atmosphere at work changing us instead of us changing it? Are we the only Jesus our families see and is it a positive reflection? I know the moment by moment struggle it can be. I didn't ask for them to base their opinion of Jesus on my actions.  My mouth gets me in trouble and how I wish I could take things I have said back!  My impatience gets the best of me, and my temper flares up as I seem to watch myself acting like this and I think "What am I doing?" I am acting like the imperfect person I am, one who is in the lifelong process of being transformed into His image. One whose sinful nature trips me up and causes me to humble myself, repent and apologize.

In John 4, we are told of a woman who comes to the well during the hottest time of the day. All of her "dirty laundry" is known by everyone. She comes when no one else should be there. Yet, this time, Jesus is waiting there. He reaches out to her. All of her past failures, choices, shame, rejections, abandonments and sin are known to Him. She runs to the village to tell them of this One she had met "who knew everything I had ever done".  Jesus has her share this news to the ones who have rejected her, shunned her from society, and called her names. Her past didn't stop her from being used to proclaim Jesus. My past choices, failures, words and attitudes are not a reflection of Jesus. My repentance and obedience is.

I read this quote today by David Platt. "My biggest fear, even now, is that I will hear jesus' words and walk away, content to settle for less than redical  obedience to Him.

The arena I struggle in the most to reflect Jesus is the one where He wants me to reflect Him. He knows I will fall down and I know He will help me back up. Every time. In every situation. I will follow where he leads and I will continue to ask for "holy duct tape" to keep my words out of play so only His voice will be spoken through me.

Jesus Christ my cornerstone. The foundation of my life. I surrender all I am to Him for all He asks of me.

We have made it through another Christmas season. I hope you had a wonderful time with friends and family celebrating Jesus. I have let the busyness of the past week interrupt many things in my life.

As I sat here at the kitchen table( well my office is a mess, but more on that later) this morning, I was looking at all the beautiful decorations. As wonderful as they look, they have NOTHING to do with Jesus. My house has never looked this "holiday cheer"ish. My daughter( who has been watching all the hallmark Christmas specials) did all the decorating while I was away.Yeah!  I hate the chaos of decorating. You have to drag it all out, move things around, find places for the "not needed right now" stuff then in a few weeks do it all over again. No thanks! Yet, I am enjoying the fruits of her labors. The lighted garland above my cabinets is beautiful but it doesn't point me to Jesus, improve my relationship with Him or lead me to share Him with others.

My office, is another story. All the boxes from the decorations and  the "not needed" have taken over. I enter into my quiet retreat at 5:15 for my one on one with God and I am so distracted by the mess. It seems like the noise from the chaos is drowning out the voice of God. I want to lean in and celebrate the reality of Jesus leaving heaven to come here to this dirty, smelly place so I can have a relationship with Him.  I put busyness of this holiday ahead of my time with Him. I let the stress of wanting it to be perfect for everyone and push aside the One who it's all about. I want ears that filter out the noise of the world and tune in the voice of my Father. John 10: 27 "My sheep hear MY voice and I know them and they follow Me."

In truth, there is nothing special about December 25th. It's just a day, probably not even the actual day Jesus was born. What is incredibly special, what Jesus chose to do for us. Jesus, the "with us God", came to pay the price for my sin, for your sin. The price, of which is death, has been paid in full.  Though Christmas day has passed, may you keep "the wonder of His love" in your heart. Continue to celebrate that our Lord has come and He will come again. Spread love, joy and peace. For Jesus is truly the reason we celebrate, not just on Christmas day, everyday we live.

Sharing from Glenda Lomax from her website Wingsofprophecy from 12/23/17

   My children, the storm that is coming will overtake your lives. It is much stronger than you imagine, and it will bring chaos, and change like nothing you have seen before.

   War is coming soon, and war changes everything it touches. The war that is coming will usher in the end, and the last trumpet sounds soon. The door will shut and the Bridegroom will be inside. Those who will enter into My Kingdom must enter soon.

   Pray. Pray for those you love who do not know Me. If you will pray for them, I will save them, for it is My will they be saved as well. Some of them have precious little time, so do not put off to pray, for soon it will be too late. I am taking many of them home soon.

NOTE: I saw car accidents, etc. taking people very suddenly from the earth, and the saints who knew them realizing they had put off praying because they were busy.

   Prioritize, My children – put what is first, first. Meditate each day on what is most needful, and do those things. Soon chaos will abound and there will be no time to think.

Matthew 25:10

• 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 

Luke 10:41-42

• 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
• 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from he

In planning our trip to Scotland, my husband said "We need a driver."" I do not want to drive a car that's backward ,on the wrong side of the road, where I have no idea where I am going! " He also refused to be stuck on a tour bus with a bunch of "old people" for two weeks. I pushed back at this expense. I didn't want to be stuck with someone I didn't know for our entire vacation.( what was I thinking, that's the tour bus!)  With the assurance of the tour company that we could ask for a different driver, I proceeded to list off several qualities I wanted in a driver.

The first few hours with "Jimmy the Driver" were awkward. His impression of us based on the itinerary from the tour company painted us as regimented, uptight, controlling tourists. Jimmy showing up in a jacket, tie and hat, I pictured him as snobby. Well, we were all laughing at these first impressions within a short time. We threw out the time schedule and Jimmy lost the tie and jacket. We could have held onto our first impression but we would have never experienced Scotland "Jimmy the Driver" style. First impressions, in my opinion, are quite often wrong. I was carrying the " what if I don't like the driver" with me so I could play that card and most likely say "I told you so " to my husband. Once again he was right.

The second day, Brian pointed out to me that EVERYthing I had said that I wanted in a driver, Jimmy fit.  God hears all of our requests. Big ones and small ones. God blessed my "need to be right list that no one could meet". Because of God's love towards us, He checked off all of my "demands" and handpicked our driver. Our trip to celebrate our 30th anniversary was  filled with abundant God moments. Jimmy showed us the true beauty of Scotland, from the Highlands, to castles, ruins and mountains, God's creation held us captive.

There is never a moment when we are out of God's sight. There is never a moment when He doesn't hear us. He knows what we need before we do. He already had it set up when I was fighting it. When it seemed as if God was NOT listening to me about this trip, I wasn't listening to Him.  He calls us to trust Him. When it looks like He is doing nothing, trust Him. For nothing is impossible for God.

He was moving Jimmy into place as we were booking our vacation. We could see God's hand moving in his life as he shared his story. How God planned all of this. He knew we needed Jimmy and Jimmy needed us.

She was sitting having breakfast with her dad. Smiling and waving at everyone who walked by.  I smiled and said "Good Morning Beautiful." Her reply was the biggest pancake covered smile I have ever seen. Her joy was infectious. All of us at tables near hers were caught up in it. Even the servers would pause by her table and say hello. 

Nearing the end of our breakfast, I excused my self from the table to use the restroom. As I walked by, her small, syrup covered hand reached for mine. Who can refuse such a gift?  I took her hand and whispered "Jesus loves you."

Her smile has stuck with me all day. The joy she shared with the entire restaurant. Her enthusiasm for the moment, her excitement for each person. I met Joy today. In Matt 18:3 and 5, Jesus said that we must become as little children and whoever receives one little child like this receives Me. Her dad was not trying to stop her, hush her nor was he apologizing for her behavior. He was letting her spill her joy.

The Christmas season, the rush, the family, the presents, the stress, take away from the joy. We say "Jesus is the reason for the Season."  We stand in long lines, battle the crowds to find the perfect gift, worry about money and loose our sense of wonder. Yet, Jesus, for the joy set before Him endured the cross for each of us. The joy set before us, the gift Jesus gave us, He came here to walk among us so we can walk with Him in Heaven. I came face to face with joy today and came up short. This beautiful little girl, this package of joy, would be seen by many as disabled. I am the one who is walking around with a handicap, one that blocks me from spilling the joy of the Lord.

Joy- A feeling of great pleasure and happiness

Ps 16 :11 You will show me the path of life, in Your presence is fullness of joy: at Your right hand are pleasure forevermore.

Father, release the joy I have in You within me so it flows freely from me. Spill it over all I meet. 

Tomorrow marks the day that we have been married for 30 years. 30 years! That sounds like a long time! We spent more of our lives married than not. If you had asked me about 5 years in if we would make it this far, I am not sure it would have been a positive answer. Communication issues, selfishness and pride tripped us up daily. 

I have 5 sisters. That's right no brothers. My dad left early for work, I think to escape the insanity of 5 girls getting ready for school at the same time. The bathroom schedule was inflexible and we only had one. If you were late, too bad. If you went over your time, you would be removed. I was far down on the 'food chain" and purposely tried to bother my oldest sister. I learned how to speak "pink".  I never learned to speak or hear "blue".

We joke about it now, but it was not funny then.  I was so sure Brian was bit crazy. I thought often "who thinks like that?" I knew he was wrong and he knew he was right. Compromise? Never! In the wedding ceremony it is says "The 2 shall become 1" and I was NOT going to be the one who disappeared. We didn't fight really. He grew quieter and I grew angrier. Worked great for us! Then came the day a friend gave us the book "His Needs, Her Needs". Light bulb moment for me when I realized that we just think differently. There was nothing wrong with my husband, he's just speaking a different language than I am. 

I learned how to take my complaints to God first. I tell young couples we mentor that the best arguments I had with Brian were the ones he wasn't even there. I unfortunately I would complain to God about him, ask God to fix him and to change him. Yep, none of that happenend! Instead, God led me to Proverbs 31. Yep, I DID NOT like that! I was raised to be strong and independant. Women's Lib! Never submit! I had even refused to say "obey" in my vows.

For 2 years, I read Proverbs 31. God wasn't interested in how I wanted Brian to change, He was after me changing.  I look back at the young woman I was and I do not recognize her. Of course, selfishness and pride rear their ugly heads. Over these years we have learned the art of "Speaking Purple". We get it right more times than not. We have learned to listen with love not self. To speak while holding their heart in our hands. To sprinkle grace, forgiveness and laughter throughout our day. Have we arrived? Of course not! Our relationship is stronger, deeper and more in love than yesterday. I have been crucified in Christ and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. Jesus is the center of our life. The transformation is real. The relationship with the 3 of us is real. Proverbs 31 is still directing my life today. Prov 31:11-12

"The heart of her husband safely trusts her, so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good nad not evil all the days of her life."

So here is to the first 30 years. I cannot wait to see the level of transformation in the next 30!

This came after my devotion time Friday morning. I believe it is a word inspired by the Holy spirit.

Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey all I command you to do. Do not turn to the left or the right- stay on target. Always keep my word forefront in your mind, on your lips and your heart. Do not be afraid or discouraged. I am with you always. As I have called you- I am going with you always.

Go tell the people "Get your provisions in order- in 3 days you will cross over into the field where I have called you." Take hold of the promise. Claim it as your own- stand the ground- face the giants, slay them and finish them off. I have given you the same power within you that raised Jesus from the grave. Walk in it.

Release your past

Reclaim your inheritance

Restore what the enemy has taken

Renew hope within hearts

Now go- the time of waiting is over. Leave your chair! Pick up the weapons I have armed you with and take back this land! My people are perishing for lack of vision. Go tell them My vision. Show them the way to freedom. Put on your armor, pick up the stones, pass on what I have taught you.

Time is short. Souls are crying out "No one has told me." Go tell them!

Now is the time. I am close at hand. I am standing at the door. Fling it open! Walk through it! Can you not hear the battle cry? The sound of the shofar being blown? Arise mighty warrior, arise! Time is increasing ever faster. Open your lips and declare your alliengence to ME. I AM God- The Creator of all things. The First and the Last. Come join me. I will  not tarry. There is no tomorrow. Only today. Seek Me while I may still be found. Surrender and live. The time of waiting is past, it is time. I Am a God of free will, it's your choice. Choose today whom you will serve.

This scripture followed. Jeremiah 18:3  "How long will you wait before you take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you?"

Walking the tree lined drive, in the dark was not something I wanted to do. There I was, carrying my  luminary bags, with the rest of the group placing the bags. The goal was to line this entire 600 foot drive with luminaries from house to road. Standing at the road and looking back at the lights that now lit up our dark walk, singing "Go Light Your World" was such a powerful moment. A reminder that the light Jesus has placed inside each of us, when combined with others, changes the landscape.

As I turned to walk back to the main house I noticed a bag that had no light. I reached in to turn on the light but no light was inside of it. I began to weep over the this bag. I found a second bag. In all on the way, I found 6 bags like these. My heart was being pulled out of my chest. As I looked back down the drive, so many lights were there pushing back the darkness, showing us the way to go. These bags in my hand were given the same opportunity but missed. 

I had come to this retreat looking for a word from God, what I was given were empty bags. Bags that were designed to hold light and let the light shine out of them. These bags were not doing what thier creator designed them for.  They were set out among all the rest. They looked the same as the rest. The difference was only visible in the darkness.

When sharing my "take away" from this weekend, I will hold up an empty bag. For I will allow the light of Jesus to shine in me, through me in the midst of the darkness we live in. Showing others the love, hope and life with Jesus within you. We all have a calling God crafted us for. As for me, I will not be an empty bag.