Words of Inspiration BlogInspirational and Uplifting

Whatsoever Things Are Lovely

Philippians 4:6-9 -  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Dear Friends – Staying in peace in times of turmoil and stress, how hard it is. Settling it in your heart, what you’ve believed and received, is a must in today’s world, and certainly the foundation of a peace-filled existence. Scripture exhorts us to be anxious for nothing. But often we display just the opposite characteristics. I believe that the mind with its constant barrage of questions, concerns, doubts and fears, trips us up quicker than any other storms we may face in life. Staying in peace is both physically and mentally rewarding in that when fear and doubts come we know what we have believed and with our mouth we confess it. It sounds like a simple enough task, a rather menial endeavor, but think again. Staying in peace takes extreme discipline for even the most committed of followers. When the storms are raging in life it’s easy to start to focus on the waves. It’s easy to take our eyes off the Savior and begin to fret. And as the boisterous waves of life’s calamities and hard places continue to pick up strength and speed, it becomes even harder to stand.

But stand we must. Stay in peace at all costs. Run to God at these times and get alone with Him. He knows your heart before you call. He is aware of your needs before the prayer is spoken. But in your time alone with Him pour out your requests and supplications, make them known to Him heart to heart, then thank Him that He’s heard and will answer. How precious that no matter our problems, no matter what troubles us and keeps us on the run, we have a Savior that is ever at our side, looking for fellowship with us, to comfort us and settle us, to establish us in His way.

Yes staying in peace is a precious gift. That is why scripture says it “passeth all understanding”. For we ask ourselves how can we stay in peace in the torrential onslaught of mental and emotional turmoil? How can we stay in peace in the face of physical distress? Can we stay in peace in the midst of financial difficulties, for ourselves, for others? What about wars and rumors of wars? It is possible to truly trust God so much that these things don’t distress us and cause us to fall? Can we trust Him to such a degree that we spend our days looking for ways to comfort and strengthen others rather than worrying unceasingly about our own difficulties. This is the peace which passes understanding. This is the peace we experience through Christ Jesus, knowing He will keep our hearts and minds because they are committed to Him.

It seems impossible at times to stand believing, committed, trusting in Him at all costs, but to experience that peace that passes understanding, I promise you the end result will leave you strengthened, refreshed, encouraged, with a new perspective on your circumstances and the possible outcomes. What good is worrying about so much in life when in reality we can usually change very little? And so much time spent worrying about things that may never even happen can steal the moments we could be living, laughing, helping others, all of which have much more benefit than pacing the floor and wringing our hands in dismay when we have allowed problems or people to overwhelm us and send us reeling out of control.

No, we must not allow ourselves to lose another moment of this precious gift of life so lovingly bestowed on us by our Savior. It may not make sense to some lost in pain and despair. Some may ask how can just staying in peace change the situation or the outcome of such? First of all, it passes understanding, meaning we as mere humans can’t really understand how God can bring peace in troubled times just because we are trusting Him. But this loving Savior does bring peace when we choose to walk in it and above all stay in it. I actually put this to the test in my personal life. First I gave God a week, just baby-steps. In prayer I decided to trust Him with issues in my life that seemed too big to ever be resolved, with people that were difficult, and with situations I had no answers to and felt it had become my lot in life to just suffer through every day rather than walk in victory. One week. That’s how it all started and I can say it was the best decision of my life.

Circumstances may not have changed that much but I changed. My perspective on life changed. The realization of what was important and what was not changed. Trying to justify myself and my feelings changed. For ultimately God forgives us our frailties and failures and expects us in turn to forgive others. Let the sin debt be paid, friends, yours and others with whom you have to do. And those “others”, well they changed too because they saw the glorious work God had done in me. I started with baby-steps and am now experiencing leaps and bounds on my spiritual journey.  And all because I made the quality decision to trust God and stay in peace.

At the end of the first week, I found myself at a crossroads. Would I pick up the old life of worry, anger, fearfulness, or would I go on for another week of staying in peace? It wasn’t a hard decision. I was definitely feeling “lighter”. The old baggage had been tossed aside so I decided another week would be good. At the end of the second week, well I was no longer at a crossroads asking what I should do. No, I knew I was on a bountiful path that could only lead me to beautiful new beginnings. Since this “staying in peace” journey began I have 3 books on amazon.kindle and 3 books on amazon in print. Amazing that what I had been trying to do in my own strength for so many years miraculously turned around because of that baby-step week. I say none of these things would have come my way had I continued in struggling, worrying, unforgiveness, and all that entails. I trusted God and He met me at every need. I trusted God and He gave me a new life, a new purpose, and truly joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Truly, it has passed all understanding. I would not trade the old life with it’s worries, concerns, failures, uncertainties and drama, yes, always drama, for the peace I have found in Christ alone. I’ve been blessed, truly blessed, above and beyond anything I expected at the outset of my little baby-steps. My heart is at rest, my mind is at rest. It was an even more surprising  life-changing event because I’ve always been somewhat of a worrier. Now when thoughts trouble me, when I feel that urge to pick up the old life and take matters into my own hands, I commit it to Him. I commit it to Him knowing He is taking care of all things much better than I ever could. I commit it to Him knowing He is for me and not against me, and that all things are working together for my good. I commit it to Him, take my hands off, walk away in peace, that peace that passes understanding, and focus on the good that I can do, those that I may help in some way, or just relaxing and living the life God has called me to live. It’s gloriously liberating and freeing.

I pray these words of inspiration have encouraged you to stay in peace today, my friends, and begin to live the abundant life Jesus died to give us.

In His Love,

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Inner Uncertainty

 Isaiah 50:7 – For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

Dearest Friends – The following is a poem by Jon Freeman. Jon paints pictures with his words. Jon paints tragedies and triumphs. Jon paints circumstances most of us find ourselves in, boxed in, hope is fading, yet precious and beautiful are his words. His poetry is like a breath of fresh air, the first spring rain, and always leave you a better person after reading his poetry. I am using this poem about being misunderstood because it so honestly describes the emotions that most of us have when we feel misunderstood, and yet it relates God’s love for us in spite of ourselves.  It is not merely being misunderstood by those around us but allowing ourselves to mistakenly feel worthless and useless when negative circumstances and experiences leave us exhausted, and doubtful of ever seeing the Son shine again on our spiritual journey.

“Hello Misunderstood, how are you today? Can I feed your lonely soul with a word of warm embrace? You don’t expect the world to turn a blind eye to your waste, but I refuse to settle for less than the best scenario case. You won’t accept a penny more than what your mind states it’s worth, but you were set at priceless the day of your birth. You cannot find a reason more to push through closed or open doors. You will not listen to shouts except from your own skin. I know because I know, I’ve been where you have been. So let me speak a color that you will surely know, a shade from my heart and to this heart is sewn. I will paint you beautiful for all the world to see. You thought you were nothing, but you’re very precious to me.”  by JON FREEMAN

Beloved, sometimes we struggle to relate our innermost feelings to those closest to us. Sometimes no matter what we say about how we feel, how we stand on a matter, what we want out of life, we are met with blank stares or rolling of the eyes. People often will pretend not to understand us for their own protection. After all, if they admit to understanding our pain and frustrations in relational experiences, would they not also have to own up to their responsibility in being a part of the pain, and many will not man-it-up for that reason. It may not help us in feeling less misunderstood but hang on to the fact that things may not be as bad as they seem.

But sometimes people do not truly understand us. It is at these times that we can feel isolated and begin to feel there is something wrong with us. Just because others do not understand us does not mean we are in error in our thinking or feelings. We are not always in the wrong because others look at us like we are a “fruit cake”. The scripture above says God will help us and we won’t be left confounded, confused and distraught. God will help us because He understands us. He made us and He understands everything about us for He knows us better than we know ourselves. That’s a good reason right there to cheer up and let Him have His way in your life and circumstances. For our momentary feelings of  ”lostness” are actually when we are right in the palm of His hands if He is our Savior. And when we feel the most useless, that is when He can step in and use us for the most glorious and unexpected plan. Our emotional turmoil doesn’t matter but our willingness to trust Him with it matters greatly, and will determine an outcome of victory or defeat.

Our life is a testimony to others in good times and bad, in times of trial and turmoil, or times of ease and comfort. Being misunderstood is only how we perceive things, or perhaps how others make us feel. But how awesome that God knows all. God is aware of the confusion and pain in the heart.  He knows exactly how we got that way and what it will take to deliver us again to walk in the glorious Light of His Love.

Think about it, we see ourselves as worthless at times, useless, and so weary from trying to make people understand us, that it is true, we don’t have the strength to deal with the closed or open doors standing right in front of us. But God doesn’t see us that way. He sees us as priceless and unique since the day of our birth. He had a beautiful plan for our lives the day we were born. When we hold His hand and trust in Him, He brings us through the dark places and hard times, emerging on the other side more beautiful, stronger, with a greater faith and trust in Him. We come out of tragedies and times of feeling lonely and misunderstood with a greater understanding of not only ourselves and His work in our lives, but the impact our lives have on those around us, those whose lives may not be otherwise changed by His goodness if we ourselves did not allow Him to work in us and through us for the greater good.

So what is being misunderstood? To me it is an open doorway to a greater Love walk with Christ Jesus, our Lord, allowing God to turn the mess in your life into a message, the test into a testimony, and the trial into a triumph, as I saw it so sweetly written recently. Being misunderstood can be frustrating, but knowing God understands all and is at work in our lives even when we find ourselves at odds even with our own selves is exhilarating. You will feel a new wind in your sails with God at the helm, and being misunderstood won’t seem that important knowing He is in control. You’ll never be ashamed if you trust Him. And beloved, if God be for you, who can be against you?

In His Love,

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The Peaceful, Restful Arms Of The Spirit

1 Corinthians 3:3 -  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Dear Friends – The love of God is so all-encompassing in one’s life. There is nothing we can do, think, say or feel that is hidden from Him. And if we are seeking Him and desirous of a more intimate relationship with Him, His presence becomes even more evident in our everyday lives and circumstances. Scripture says in Luke 17:21b the kingdom of God is within you. Beloved, I say to you, when the kingdom of God resides on the inside of you your whole world is going to change. Where once you walked in hopelessness and despair, the word of God brings hope and glory. If you live in darkness and isolation, the Holy Spirit will come alongside to comfort you, and the Lord shall enlighten your darkness. There is no greater love this side of heaven, no truer friend, and no greater promises than God’s promise to us of eternal life through faith in Jesus, His Son, and the finished work of the cross.

Dear ones, today we must ask ourselves are we operating in the flesh or in the spirit? It seems like a harmless enough question. Perhaps it seems hardly worth considering if we are doing our utmost to be the best we can be for God, for others, and allowing God to transform us with the beautiful light of His love. But I recently had a first-hand experience with how easy it is to end up in the flesh and not even realize it.

I had been experiencing deep emotional pain for some time. I had been relationally injured but truly had sought God’s will in this. Earnestly prayed for help and guidance. Ultimately under the weight of the pain and turmoil, I went to speak with a dear pastor friend of mine in another city, followed by a phone conversation at a later date. I had not seen him in quite some time but our meeting was as if it had been divinely orchestrated, and in retrospect, circumstances told me it was. I always greet him when I see him as “the man of God”. He always smiles at me when I say this,  but this greeting hardly does him justice. For he always has just the right “word” for any circumstance. His words are sharper than any two-edged sword and able to divide asunder between flesh and spirit for his words are always God’s words, aiming straight for the heart and never missing their mark. Sure enough after a few moments of explaining my dire circumstances, he told me I was in the flesh.

Now wait a minute, I had been doing all I knew to get right and stay right, how could I have slipped into the flesh? I reiterated the pain and all the circumstances of how I wasn’t fighting with anyone else, just myself, thinking maybe he had misunderstood my first dissertation, and looking for some sort of empathy. But alas, he simply said to me again I was operating in the flesh. Yep, after explaining 1 Corinthians 3:3 to me it was as if I had never read that scripture before. Suddenly my eyes were opened and my heart understood. I might have been beating myself up for it but I was angry and my emotions were out of control. Yes I was trying to be stoic, perhaps even robotic, but this isn’t the life God desires for us, and isolating oneself in painful situations is hardly profitable. The battle was within me, the turmoil was simply a refusal to accept a hurtful situation, deal with it, and move on. For in isolating ourselves we create divisions, and divisions in turn create strife and the list goes on. So if you are struggling in any area today, ask yourself could it be you have slipped over into the flesh, gotten out of the peaceful, restful arms of the Spirit, and created an atmosphere of strife and division in your life? May these words of inspiration encourage you that there is a way back. If you are seeking God’s help, trust that your “man of God” is on the way. It may come in  another form but it will be the answer  you have been seeking from a true and faithful God.

So be encouraged today my friends. Understand that life hurts sometimes and sometimes life hurts unbearably. But God will make a way of escape. God will see you through your darkest hour. The greater your suffering, the greater will be the blessing when He brings you safely through and gives you a new song to sing. Remember this verse of scripture 1 Corinthians 2:9 – But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

In His Love,

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He Maketh The Storm A Calm

Dear Friends – The storms of life take many forms as most of us are well aware. There are the storms from Mother Nature, earthquakes, floods, mudslides, and yes, tornadoes as pictured above. There are storms raging in the economy and many are without jobs. There are storms in our personal lives, perhaps sickness, disease, emotional turmoil, relational collapse and family dysfunction. Yet in all these things there is but One God. And this our God is still on His throne, still in control of the world He created. We may live in a fallen world but we do not serve a fallen God.

When the psalmist David in the Bible was in much distress and turmoil he prayed a powerful prayer to the God of his salvation. He poured out his heart and every emotion to the God he knew was well able to comfort him and save him. In this prayer in  Psalms 55 he says if he had wings like a dove he would fly away and be at rest, he would wander far into the wilderness, and ultimately he would hasten his escape from the windy storm and tempest. That is an excellent description of how most of us feel in the storms of life. We just want to fly away somewhere, anywhere to get away from the perhaps overwhelming problems and distresses we are facing. Like David, we want to wander off somewhere, perhaps where no one can even find us, just hurry up and get past the pain somehow. Yes, these are human responses to “pit-dwelling” but let us not remain in the pit. Let us call on our God to save us and deliver us for we too know God is well able.

Beloved, God wants His people to dwell in peaceable habitations, in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places (Isaiah 32:18). We do go through times of upheaval, times of trials and tribulations, times of turmoil and unrest, but God is our rock and our fortress. He alone will see us safely through. He can make a way where there is no way. He did not say we would never face times of suffering and heartache, but He did say He would never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Whatever storm you may be in today, know that God is right there with you. Call upon Him in your time of distress for He will not leave you comfortless.

Scripture says in Psalms 142:3a – When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. If you are weathering a storm at this moment then take heart,  for God knows what you are going through and He knows that path you should take.  Let these words of inspiration encourage you to call on Him with confidence and wait patiently for Him to show you the path of escape.

The grace of our Lord be with you all.

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His Great Mercies

Daniel 9:18b – for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies.

My Dearest Friends – I recently reread the 77th Psalm. In this passage of scripture the psalmist is lamenting his seriously deteriorating mental condition. In this Psalm the writer is so troubled that his soul refuses to be comforted. He is crying out to God. He is aware that God is his only help and only hope, yet he is so troubled that he cannot speak and he is unable to sleep. His thoughts are torturing him in that he is aware of God and God’s great love for man, but in his condition he cannot find God and is reasoning within himself why God seems to have left him. In the Psalm he asks himself if God will “cast off forever”. He asks if God’s mercy is “clean gone forever”,  has God “forgotten to be gracious”, and has God in anger “shut up His tender mercies”.

Beloved, we all must confess we have been in the pit of despair, depression, emotional turmoil, mental anguish, physical sickness, the list goes on. And if we are honest we must also confess we have asked God where He is when we are hurting.  Why does God allow us to go through extended periods of time when God seems silent? Experientially, these are the hardest times for me. I know of God’s love for me.  I know God is faithful. And yet there are times I can not seem to find Him anywhere.  There are times when nothing brings comfort, and like the psalmist laments, during these times I think about the days of old, the days when I walked closely with God and felt an intimacy and closeness with Him, and wonder what has changed. In this Psalm the writer calls to remembrance his song in the night.  He speaks to his own heart and his spirit is diligently trying to understand his current condition. And we as well in that condition search our hearts, ask many questions, and the songs we so easily sing on the mountain top are seldom heard in the depths of the pit.

But our God does not want us to feel abandoned at any time in life, most especially in a pit that we cannot escape on our own, we do not understand at times how we ended up there, and our heart knows God is our only strength and our only help. In my younger days as a believer when hard times overwhelmed me my prayer was always help me escape, get me out of here, I can’t bear the pain of being in this mess. It always seemed dark and lonely and I was usually tempted to believe it was due to some failure on my part, an error in judgment, etc. Alas, I have grown in my spiritual life and rather than pray for deliverance (though at times this is the answer), I begin to ask God what is He trying to show me, what can I learn from this experience, what can I learn that can then be used to help others in life.  I now realize that all who try to live faithful in Christ Jesus are going to have times of trial and hardship. It still rains on the just and the unjust. But now when I “think of the days of old” I can only rejoice at the great work God has done in my life. I can see clearly now the “rock from whence I have been hewn”. I have to just spend some time in praise and worship for the great love He has shown me. He did not spare me the pains and losses of life, even emotional turmoil that is often accompanied by a seemingly desperate confusion. But He has walked with me and held my hand through it all. When my way was not clear, He led me in spite of my seeming lostness. When I wasn’t lovable, He loved me anyway. When my faith failed, He was faithful. When questions arose, I may not have sensed an answer, but He persisted in leading me and loving me until, on my knees and absolutely humbled beneath His mighty hand, His love would be shown, joy and strength would flood the mind and body again, refreshing the spirit, and developing a greater trust than I had ever felt possible. What time we are afraid we must trust in the Lord, and they that wait on the Lord shall never be ashamed.

Precious friends, you can find joy in the pit. These words of encouragement and words of inspiration are written for anyone feeling overwhelmed by their current circumstances, or have loved ones in a similar condition. You can know of a surety that God has not forsaken you and His mercies are still sure. It often takes persistence to hang in there, so let  your heart make a diligent search, be honest before God and He will be honest with you. Ask of Him any questions for our questions do not deter His mercies. Our pain and confusion do not change His faithfulness. His love and the gift He gave us, His precious son, Jesus, and life eternally with Him, are awaiting our acceptance. It is a very basic decision for all to make, yet life-changing for those who choose to receive His great love and share that love with others. Yes we can have joy unspeakable and full of glory in this life. Jesus died that we might have life and have it more abundantly, and He is faithful who promised.  Believe this love and let it do a work in your life that will change your heart and mind, especially if you are in the pit, for this love will show you a  more excellent way.

In His Love And God Bless Each Of You!

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Be Still And Know That I Am God

2 Chronicles 20:15b – Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

Dearest Friends – I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of time, and may I say wasted time, running around trying to put out fires, or seeming fires, or suspicioned fires, whatever the case may be, in my life. So often I realize I have reached the point of mental and physical exhaustion trying to do God’s job. He sees our lives, and the circumstances surrounding our lives, in total, while we only see in part.

I write this inspirational message today, hopefully filled with motivational words of encouragement and wisdom, to anyone  that is struggling with trying to keep all the ends tied, trying to solve every problem, or figure everything out, burning the candle at both ends as it were.  This motivational message is just that, a message to encourage you to reach deeper into the things of God, inspirational thoughts to perhaps enlighten you on your spiritual journey, and words of wisdom to relate to you that resting in God is always better than our hurried pace in life, our rushing to judgment in various situations, and carrying a load that we as humans just cannot carry by ourselves in our limited understanding of future events and/or current circumstances.

God’s word says ”Be still and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10). That is hard for most of us. In the above referenced Bible verse, God actually tells his people not to be afraid of the great multitude they see in front of them and do not get discouraged for the battle is not theirs, it’s the Lord’s.  So, beloved, when it seems there are more against you than there are for you, remember, there is a rest to the people of God and this rest is so complete it is often easy to miss. It seems too easy to just stand in the midst of turmoil and the storms of life and see the salvation of the Lord – but His word says “after you have done all to stand, then stand…” (Ephesians 6:13b). Friends, after you have done all you know to do, and especially when you do not know what to do, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. If you’re trusting Him in life He will not fail you. If you are waiting on Him you will not be ashamed but shall renew your strength as it is written in Isaiah 41:31 – But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Yes friends, though an army encamp against you, it is God that will save you, for He will stretch forth His hand against the wrath of your enemies (Psalm 138:7b). Prolonged negative circumstances and the extreme stress caused by such can leave us battle fatigued, ready to faint and just give up. But be not weary in well doing for scripture tells us we shall reap if we faint not. And what shall we reap? We shall reap a harvest of peace, bountiful blessings, joy unspeakable and full of glory. For while we may very much know that God is able when we’re not, able to hold us and help us in times of fiery trials, in times of heartache and turmoil, it is often difficult to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Be assured, in our darkest hours He is there for us, and will carry us when we are no longer able to help ourselves. Just be still and know, stand still and see!

So believe today that the Lord thy God will “hold thy right hand saying unto thee, fear not; I will  help thee” (Isaiah 41:14). The greatest gift you can give yourself today is resting in the palm of God’s hands.

God Bless!

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Peace And Tranquility

Beloved – May God that created the Universe fill you with His Shalom Peace today. May God that hung the stars and called them all by name cause His face to shine upon you this day. May God that knows our needs before we call His name touch you with His tender mercies and loving kindness. May you feel His presence in your spirit, soul and body, and rise up from your bed of sickness, be it disease, depression, emotional turmoil, financial lack, for God is no respecter of persons or circumstances. And He is able to deliver to the uttermost those that call on His name. May the love of God be shed abroad in your hearts today on your spiritual journey for a deeper relationship with God through Jesus, His Son. Amen and Amen.

God Bless!

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