IT'S THE G IN ME

I never find much comfort in the grim reality of the daily grind.  If given the chance, I’d prefer to live in an animated tv series with a perfectly green lawn and butterflies to greet me every morning.

Alas, life on this side of glory is not always joyful.  It is not always fun.  I realize this.  But thanks be to God there are ways to navigate this world with joy and laughter.

Paul speaks about a Power that enables him to thrive despite a series of setbacks that would cripple just about anyone.

I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.[a] 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.  2 Corinthians 11:23-27

Paul believes that it is the Christ in Him that makes all the difference. In other words, he is able to survive prison, betrayal, beatings, depression, illness not because of his mental prowess, intellectual reasoning, strong will, financial resources; but because of his partnership with Christ that actually completes and perfects him.

Where Paul is weak and flawed, Christ makes him strong and perfect. 

Likewise, if I develop a strong relationship with Christ, I will be strengthened in all the places where I am deficient.  I too will be made perfectly suited to handle the stresses, health crises, epidemics, terrorist threats, economic instabilities, and mean spirit-ness of this world.

Notice that the Power that Paul speaks of does not manifest itself as a sense of resignation.  Paul does not wallow in the fact that the world is evil.  Paul does not hunker down in isolation with an intent to bear the world’s trials without hope.  Instead Paul continues on his mission.  He continues to live his life in the face of tragedy.  He gets up every morning with a sense of Joy that he is not alone and that the victory is already his.  Why worry about the hardships that confront you when God has promised to provide the inner Power to deal with each and every tribulation come what may.  Not only can God work miracles but God can change your countenance so that the things that used to perplex and debilitate you no longer have any effect on you at all.

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.  Phillipeans 4:13

I admit that it is staggering to even consider that the obstacles that I face daily are already taken care of by a benevolent God.  It is amazing to know that even if I was placed in a pit by my enemies, the Christ in me would work it so that I would be ok.  The Christ in me would meet my needs and infuse me  with supernatural Power no matter what.  WOWEE!  

Just meditating on the impact of these statements is transformative and will enable you to skip through the tulips no matter the obstacles. 

It bears noting that the Power of which Paul speaks does not come by accident but develops naturally when we abide in Christ.  It is the resting in Christ that results in the Power of Christ.

And how do we abide in Christ?

It’s simple really- we must pray and meditate on Him daily. In other words, we must read about Christ’s methods, his life, his responses.  We must think about these things and apply the rules we extract from His life to our daily lives.

For example, if Jesus prayed all night for guidance before He selected his 12 disciples.  Then we must pray to God before we make major decisions. See Luke 6:12

We must ask Christ to manifest Himself in our lives.  Then we must leave the rest to Him.

The result of our action combined with Christ Power is unspeakable Joy even here on this side of glory.

It is a promise, darlings!

PRAYED UP TO GET OVER

This week in my quiet time with G3 (the Son, Father, Holy Spirit) I stumbled upon a more refined definition of Prayer.  The footnotes of a Study Bible I am reading, stresses that the purpose of prayer is really to learn about God’s will for me and to obtain the Power to be able to fulfill this will.  REALLY?

Apparently, Prayer is not my attempt to change the will of God. Though, a tenacious believer can do just this…. (Remember Hezekiah 2 Kings 20:2-6) 

And, Prayer is not attempting to conquer God’s reluctance to answer through persistence (Though this too can be accomplished).

Instead, Prayer is laying hold of God’s willingness to help.  Prayer is an act of total confidence and assurance in the plan and purpose of God.

Every part of God’s plan for me is for my good. And when I go to God in Prayer it is an opportunity to learn more about God’s Plan for me.

I may want some things…and certainly my God promises to give all of us the desires of our hearts.  But in my prayer time, I should seek above all else is to follow the path God has ordained for me.  Psalm 34:7 

So, if i want a new car, I can say to God, "I want a 2018 marshmallow white Dodge Challenger RT." But my request really should be secondary.  I should really only crave what God wills for my life.  Therefore, in my Prayer, I will convey to G3 that I’d love a new Dodge.  But, and this is the important party, I trust HIM and I know that HE knows the best car option for me and that this car option can actually be "no car" at all.  In this instance, even the "no car option" can be perfectly acceptable if it is God's will. Why? Because God is good and His plans for me are perfect! 

ABOVE ALL ELSE, our daily prayer should be that God’s will be done here “on earth as it is in heaven.” This is not an easy ask, especially when God’s will goes against the plans I have set for myself.  

I am learning more and more to TRUST God’s way wholly even when it goes against earthly logic; even when it  makes no sense to me or my mentors/friends/advisors; even when it looks difficult and feels worse.  

When we choose God’s way, He provides all that we need to be successful.

There is no struggle in God’s will.  There is work.  But no struggle.

FORTIFIED?

My latest decadent pastime involves listening to someone else read Agatha Christie novels to me. Hugh Fraser and David Suchet have a real talent for bringing Hercule Poirot stories to life better than any other narrator in the audible.com arsenal.  This week, I’m deep into The Hollows, a winding story involving a slew of characters that descend upon a country estate for the weekend.  Before the murder is committed, per usual, Christie provides the most unlikely yet informative comments about life, good and evil, human nature and love.  In one passage, after weeks of searching, Henrietta, a celebrated sculptor, finds a country girl to model for her.  There was something about the girl’s vapid face, agreeable mouth and wide eyes that made her a perfect stand in for the blind woman Henrietta wanted to create out of clay.  

On the surface, the model that Hernietta discovered was perfect.  However soon after the girl arrived at the studio, Henrietta discovered that the girl's innocent expression was due to the fact that the child was severely near sighted.  Once the girl became familiar with her surroundings and began to talk, her facial lines along with her speech hardened revealing a spiteful and mean spirited personality.  

All the while Henrietta sculpted, the girl recounted her exploits, gossiped about her neighbors and boasted about her accomplishments. When the piece was complete, Henrietta paid the model and ushered her quickly out of the studio.   She covered the piece with a cloth and went to bed to rest.  A few hours later she when she removed the cloth, she was horrified.  Why?  Somehow, despite her best efforts, she had worked a bit of the meanness that the girl exuded into the clay.  How had it happened?  Easily enough… 

We are such delicate creatures.  Any addictive (good or bad) that seeps into our environment has an effect.  We become what we eat, hear, touch, see.  Is there no wonder that many of us are broken, angry, sad, weary individuals who have encountered too many pollutants, too much evil, too much heartbreak, too much pain.  Even when we know that those around us (their mannerisms, speech, actions, decisions, habits, friends) are toxic, many of us believe that  we are strong enough to withstand it or that we can fortify ourselves to block out the inevitable effects.  We are not.  We can not. 

But thanks be to God, there is a Power that can fortify us; there is a Balm that can repair us.  God has directed us to seek his presence daily.  Just consistently thinking about HIM, his goodness, His perfect love, His Spirt, His Son’s work - Reflecting on ALL OF GOD’s ways will work to reset our equilibrium. God Power enables us to: forgive when we are abused, love our enemies, endure heartbreak, smile in terrible conditions, push beyond our limits.

There is perfect peace in Christ Jesus, In the Spirit, In God’s plan.  There is no other way to move through this life without conforming to the ways of the world.  

OBEY THE PROMISES, TOO

Lawyers are an interesting group of people.  And by interesting, I mean they have an interesting way of viewing requirements, rules, laws and edicts.  

Typically, (most if not all) lawyers view laws as challenges.  They read a rule and immediately begin to contemplate ways to circumvent the rule without really breaking the rule.  I am a lawyer, therefore I feel uniquely qualified to make this sweeping statement. (smile)

I used to try this approach when confronted with God’s laws.  Sometimes if I thought the rule was a bit too hard to follow, I would begin to justify a softer approach.

Every time I did this, however, my disobedience caused serious problems.  When any of God’s children disobey Him, we cause the Spirit of God that lives within us to shrink in power.  When we lose our Holy Ghost Power, we no longer have access to the 7 gifts of the Spirit: (1) discernment; (2) capacity to perform even when the body is tired, sick and resistant; (3), judgement - craving & pursuing only the things that are good for us; (4) reception - an ability to hear the voice of Truth and respond accordingly (5) ability to love even when hurt, angry, abused; (6) telepathy - an ability to communicate spirit to spirit; and (7) intuition - abillity to hear God's still small internal voice and to respond accordingly. Without access to the Spirit it is more difficult to successfully navigate through Life on this side.

Jeremiah 42:6

Whether we like it or not, we will obey the LORD our God to whom we are sending you with our plea. For if we obey him, everything will turn out well for us.”

This week, as I journaled, I learned about another aspect of obedience.  As children of God, we are not only admonished to obey God’s commandments, but we must also be obedient to God’s promises!

This means that when God promises to deliver you from a bad situation, you must likewise be obedient to the promise by responding to the promise in faith.  You should not laugh at the promise because it seems so outlandish. You must not take matters into your own hands to bring the promise to fruition. You must not wallow in depression as you wait for the promise to be fulfilled.  Instead, you must rejoice in the promise of God and whistle as you prepare for the promise to occur.

Obedience to God requires that you not only follow the law as written but to also believe (and act like you believe in real time) ALL the promises of God.

ENCOURAGE YOURSELF

This week, I felt like I faltered a bit in my faith.  Despite all that God has done for me, I felt overcome with anxiety and fear.   These feelings worked like an ancient dark elixir sapping my joy and my vitality.  I felt so agitated that a few times while I worked, I had to actually get up from my desk and actively encourage myself.  Picture me walking around my home office in a Hello Kitty kimono reciting the following Principles aloud.

Principles:

1. To know God is to love God.  
2. And to love God is to trust God.  
3. And to trust God is to rely on God.  
4. And to rely on God is to live without anxiety or fear.  
5. And a life without fear or anxiety is a happy life.

Reciting these Principles helped me to calm down so that I was in a position to quietly reflect on why I was so anxious.  

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4: 6-7

It turned out that I was anxious because I was fearful that God had not heard my most recent Prayer for assistance.  For 5 years, I have prayed for help to for a specific issue.  Yet, God had not moved.  In my mind, I was running out of time. 

When I finally got quiet and began to reflect on God and how He has moved in my life, I began to relax because I began to see a pattern. 

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4: 6-7

In the past, whenever I have asked God for seemingly impossible things, He has moved in a very particular way.  In my experience, God uses every situation, good and bad, to improve my character, endurance, ability to love and knowledge of Him.  In other words, every situation I face is used by God for the purpose of making me more like Christ Jesus, the ultimate example of a spirit filled man.

No matter what I place on my Prayer List, I must remember that God is more interested in the journey to obtain the goal than about the actual goal itself.  Yes, God will answer prayer.  But, the process will not always be pretty or pleasant.  The lesson that I get from this journey of Life is that If you trust God and His way, you will not only reach your goal but you will become a better person in the process.

This means that if I pray asking God to heal my leg that was broken in 3 places so that I could not only walk without a limp but I would be able to dance in heels, God will do it.  And in the process God will take me on a journey to learn discernment, patience, forgiveness, joy and eventually healing.

If I pray asking to be approved for a home equity loan despite student loan debt, I will eventually get the loan, but the process may take 2 years during which time, I learn how to streamline my business, improve my credit score and save for my retirement.

God is a healer and a “way maker.”  But, his methods are not for the timid.  Instead, God’s methodologies will yank you out of your comfort zone; and stretch your resolve, your love ethic, your faith and your courage. 

I encourage you to follow God’s precepts come what may because when the dust settles, you will be a stronger, better YOU!

It is a promise, darling.

Relax, It's Magic!

I believe in magic.  I believe that a spark exists in all of us that when cultivated can spur us on to do great, noble, wonderful things despite hurdles, counter forces and popular opinion.  The magic I speak of is not Disney branded magic, it is not ushered in by a clicking of “ruby slippers”.  This magic does not emanate from a “Fellowship of the Ring” nor is it properly described as “the Force.”  Though my name is not Harry Potter, I see/feel/wield magic all around me.  

There is magic in Christianity.  There is good and evil.  There is sorcery, miraculous healing, battles to the death.  There is intrigue and resurrection and super natural power that takes the form of the most unlikely characters.

Each of us are lead characters in our own saga.  We like all super heroes/heroines are given supernatural gifts at birth from an all Powerful Force.  We like all supers must cultivate these gifts through study, training, and mentorships with other great warriors.  After our training we are set up to face a series of tests that grow in difficulty.  Sometimes we get wounded so badly that we have to retreat.  Other times we barely defeat the Evil One - appearing so bruised at the final battle scene that we can hardly stand.

What I know is that no matter the test, my God has already ensured that I will win- meaning I will learn what I need to learn to move up a little higher in my development.  My only job is to train diligently, try my best, remain obedient to the Principals of God, and discipline myself to spend daily quiet time with God to be refreshed, renewed and ready to meet the next challenge.

We don’t have to look to Hollywood for our next adventure.  We are the heroine/hero of this Epic Life Story and we have all we need to triumph!  

Ephesians 6:10-18

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

A New Reality

Reality TV theatrics are being adopted by the general population at an alarming rate.  The pattern is simple: A feels slighted because of something B said or did; A seeks advice from C; B seeks advice from D;  Soon thereafter A and B encounter each other and the "hair puling" ensues.  

But, what would have happened if after feeling slighted, A and B went (separately) to a neutral omnipresent G for advice before taking any action?  What if after receiving guidance, A and B followed the advice of G to resolve the conflict instead of taking matters into their own hands? 

Since we are finite beings we can never fully understand the complexities of our neighbors, friends, colleagues, family members, enemies.  Truth is relative and has many sides.  Therefore it is best to seek advice from an omnipotent being who knows all the angles instead of a mere mortal.  

The God that I serve is so accessible that I can actually converse with him like I converse with a good girl friend.  I can share my fears, my disappointments and my hurts with my God.  I can seek forgiveness for my missed opportunities.  I can ask for help to fix a complicated situation.  I can seek specific guidance on issues as mundane as where to get my lashes done.  I can also seek guidance on life altering issues like: whether to quit my job to pursue a hobby full time.

Seeking help from God requires a listening ear, discipline, patience and obedience.

But, God promises to answer us.  And He never goes back on His word.

"Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened for you." Matthew 7:7

To clarify, God’s timing while perfect is not akin to our timing.  In other words, He does not always answer immediately. But He will answer in time enough to act.  We must then learn to WAIT on God before taking matters into our own hands.

“Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing. 9 For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.” Psalm 37:7-9

While we wait, we are not to wait idly.  Instead, we must work to cultivate a listening ear.  This means, we must spend consistent time with GOD to learn to distinguish His voice from the chatter of others.  We must spend consistent time praising GOD, thanking GOD, reflecting with GOD on each day’s activities in order to spot patterns in how He interacts with us.  In other words, we must pray constantly.

14 Dear brothers, warn those who are lazy, comfort those who are frightened, take tender care of those who are weak, and be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to everyone else. 16 Always be joyful. 17 Always keep on praying. 18 No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

In my walk with God, I have discovered that He speaks to me in several ways: 1) personally by sending messages that pop into to my mind like a new idea; 2) through advice from other Spiritual Warriors (other believers with faith that has tested over many many years); 3) through vivid and detailed dreams; and 4) through patterns in my life that seem to repeat (upon reflection, I can gauge a lesson from these acts).

Because I try my best to set aside quiet time to sit with God, I am being rewarded.  I am developing a listening ear.  I am learning how to hear God’s direct guidance and advice in real time. 

There is an alternative REALITY in Christ, darling.

Seize it for yourself today.