Most Powerful 3 Letter Word

" I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Philippians 4:13

This verse is known by almost everyone - Christian and non-Christian alike.  But if we really understood this verse, our world would be a very different place.  

Do you know what the most important word is in this verse?  (I'll give you a hint -it's one of the shortest.) The most important word is all.  It doesn't say "I can do some things" or "I can do the easy things".  It says "I can do all things".  This is so powerful.

With this promise from God, your life has new meaning.  It means you don't have to stay where you are right now.  It means that whatever you are going through is only temporary and you will come out on the other side of it better off.  It means that whatever the diagnosis was, God will give you the strength to get through it.  It means that if you are without a job right now, God will give you the strength to get through it.  It even means that if you are grieving right now, God will give you the strength to get through it. 

You do have a role to play however.  You can't just sit around, having a pity party, waiting on God to deliver the strength you need.  You have to get up everyday, thanking God for all of your blessings and asking Him constantly to give you the strength to deal with the day.  You have to find joy even when it is challenging.  And you have to accept His strength and talk positively about your situation.  

There is a treasure in every trial.  There is a message in every mess.  Find yours today.  Start every day listing three things you are grateful for.  I'll help you get started - you woke up today.  Live the awesome life that Christ died for you to live and know that you can do anything - not by your own works and strength, but by Christ who strengthens you.

F2F - Fear to Faith

What do you do when your circumstances are unbearable?  What if you received a diagnosis that was life changing or even worse life threatening?  What if your spouse suddenly left you?  What if you suddenly lost your job?

"I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us. Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights."  Habakkuk 3:16-19 (NLT)

The prophet Habakkuk found himself in a terrible situation that was out of his control and in the natural brought fear.  In the midst of his catastrophe, however, Habakkuk decided - made an on purpose choice - to turn to God and release his fear to Him.  This can actually be a very challenging thing for me.  To be honest, I have been struggling with this for a few weeks now.  We have a situation that has the potential to not end well.  However, truthfully, there is really nothing I can do about it.  And that is extremely hard for me as I tend to have a controlling personality.  I spend hours trying to figure out how to change it or fix it, but every time God speaks to me and tells me I can't.  It is truly out of my control.  And when I try to control it, I end up hurting myself by stressing, hurting my relationships by not being the loving wife, mother and friend I should be and hurting God because I am not giving it to Him.  Cast you care! 

When you find yourself in a situation like Habakkuk where everything around you seems to be falling apart, do what he did - rejoice in the Lord.  Remember that God wants only the best for you and if for some reason your problem does have a bad outcome, know that God has something better for you if you just put your trust in Him.  God loves you.  He never, ever leaves you or forsakes you.  So even in the midst of your circumstances, praise Him, thank Him and give Him your situation.  The Lord is your strength - stop turning to everyone else for the strength you need and look up!  God has got you - now and forever!

"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

Blood Is Not Thicker Than Love

"Instead of shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance."  Isaiah 61:7 (NIV)


I have learned one extremely important lesson in life and that is it doesn't matter how you enter the world - you are God's child and he will always take care of you.  My story began with a 14 year old young lady and an 18 year old young man.  When my birth mother found out she was pregnant with me, she was obviously scared and didn't know what to do.  After a lot of bad guidance from her mother, the state stepped in and put the process in motion for me to be adopted immediately.  At the same time that this was happening (I'm sure something she considered a bad thing), there was a couple who was unable to have children, but wanted a child very much (another bad thing).  And over the course of a few months, God brought the two bad scenarios together to form a perfect one. 

I will always love my birth mother for not aborting me and for giving me a chance at an awesome life with two of the best parents ever.  But as I got a little older - 3-4 years old - I began to feel like something else was missing.  I was an only child, which can be super awesome at times, but it can also be very lonely at times.  Around this time, we moved to a new neighborhood, but there wasn't a lot of kids around.  But after about six months, a wonderful thing happened.  A family moved in next door - parents, 4 girls and a boy.  And as I would learn later, as they drove to their new home, I was playing in the yard and they were happy to see me.  From then on, my life has never been the same.  They became my second family - two wonderful Godparents, 4 awesome sisters and one very loving brother - God finally gave me my siblings.  And anytime I was introduced and our story told, if someone said "So you are the girl next door", my godmother would always say "No, she's mine".  I will never forget that.  When I was a teenager, I was talking to my sisters about how sad I was that when I have children they won't have any aunts and uncles.  My one sister chimed in and said "That's not true - they will have 5.  We will be their aunts and uncles."  God not only gave me double - he gave me nine times over.

It was a blessing enough to have my parents.  They are the light of my life and I think God for them everyday and I try to honor them in every way I can.  And I know that I would have had a very blessed life if God had stopped there.  But He didn't.  And if He didn't with me, He won't with you.  You may not see the double right away like I did.  I know many people who have to wait 20-30 years to see their double.  But God never breaks a promise - even if for some reason you don't see it here on earth, you will receive it in Heaven.  God will always take you through whatever you are dealing with and in the end you will receive double for your trouble - or maybe even more like me.  😍


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