“Our hope for you [our joyful and confident expectation of good for you] is ever unwavering”
II Cor 1:7 AMP

Do you expect good things to happen?  Stop and think about this question for a minute.  When you start your day do you have a positive expectation, or do you have a more “realistic” attitude, that whatever could go wrong, probably will?  When a situation arises, do you make assumptions or jump to conclusions that err on the side of a negative outcome or a positive one?

In today’s verse, Paul was expressing great confidence that God had good things in store for the Corinthians.  His hope never wavered that through whatever challenges they faced, or mistakes they made, there was a positive outcome for them.

Today, I want us to look at the heart issues that produce positive or negative expectations and attitudes in our lives.  I believe God showed me this very plainly: Our own ideas of our own worth determine our level of expectation.  It really boils down to do you believe you deserve good things?

Sometimes our past, our upbringing, our experiences leave us feeling we are not worth very much, so therefore we shouldn’t expect much.  In fact, if we risk expecting good things we will only end up disappointed.  Can anyone relate?  Unfortunately, I think we all can.  Somewhere along the road, I believe each of us has felt devalued and unworthy.

Yet, that is not how God sees us and it’s not how He feels about us!  Romans 8:32 says:  “He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?” How can we argue with this? If God wants good things to happen, I guess we should to!

So, what do you do when faced with a negative situation, or a circumstance that hasn’t changed for years?  How can we believe when our experience tells us things will never change?  That’s when we have to believe God’s Word in spite of what we see.  We choose to look for and expect the goodin the face of the bad.

This week, think about the areas you may be carrying negative expectations, of yourself, your kids, or your spouse.  Ask God to show you what His plan is in that situation, and to help you begin to believe for that.  It does not matter how last year was or how your health or finances were. THIS year can be different.  Your past does not determine your future…thankfully!  Each of us can face tomorrow with great expectation for great results, regardless of where we are right now!

Raise your level of expectation and believe that God wants to do great things in your life.

Prayer: Thank You for wanting more for me that I even want for myselfand for my family.  I pray over the areas of my life that I need to increase my level of expectation, or change my expectations to positive ones.  Send me promises that will speak to these areas, in Jesus’ name, amen.

It seems whenever something big happens in my life, God speaks to me beforehand, and often times it is through the words of Frances Roberts in her book, Come Away My Beloved. This year has been no different. As I began looking for a new job, the words of Be Not Earthbound really spoke to me. I felt like I wanted to share it with you today. Read the rest of this entry »

I am realizing that I would much rather work with people than technology. I get that technology is necessary—even essential—in reaching people.  This is not a new, or even original thought I’m sure!  Yet, sometimes I need to be reminded that technology is not an end to itself!

It is perhaps the most powerful tool the Church has ever had access to. However, we must be purposeful and intentional about how we use it; and be sure we focus on outcomes that have real value and not just numbers, followers, or being connected to the right people.

1. Our online outreach should be an outgrowth of our personal outreach.
2. Technology should always move us toward something of real value.
3. Everything we do should deliver something of value to others.
4. Technology is the TOOL—people are the purpose; NOT the other way around.
5. The internet is a legitimate connecting point; but it should not be the only connecting point if we want to build real relationships.

So, I got invited to join the “”mom” “what?” “mom!” “what!” “MOM!” “WHAT!” “hi” group on Facebook. I remembered the Family Guy commercial where this comes from. A frazzled cartoon mom lying on the bed, trying to ignore her son, I’m sure you’ve seen it. I for one do not think it’s especially funny.

My guy’s favorite line is “MA-WHERE”S THE MEATLOAF!!” Always gets a laugh, although not usually from his mother.  It seems today’s world seems to think persistence =annoying= results. Read the rest of this entry »

I was really moved by this story from Haiti involving Lisa and John Bevere’s ministry based here in Colorado. They arranged to go into Haiti and rescue 81 orphans who were waiting for adoption. They flew them to Miami to meet their adoptive families…here’s the story. A cool twist to this story. Aaron Ramsey, the CFO of Messenger International was with John in Haiti and helped bring back twins boys he and his wife were adopting. MSN covered their story

God is so good!

I am proud of my country today. I’m even proud of Hollywood. I’m definitely proud of the Church of America, and pastors like Mark Driscoll and John Bevere who took the risk and flew to Haiti to do what they could to help. I’m proud because this is who America is: a compassionate nation with ample resources and unlimited desire to help the helpless.

Often our Christian roots are “pooh-poohed” in the media and our society as a whole.  However, events like this prove they are still there and strongly ingrained in who we are as Americans; beliefs deep in our core about the sanctity of life and the importance of helping others. In times of crisis, we draw on core beliefs we may not have owned, or even admitted we possessed. These stood out to me as I was absorbing the horror from Haiti, and the impact Americans are having as they respond. As we re-learn these things, we not only give Haiti—and other nations in need—hope; we give ourselves hope. Read the rest of this entry »

What does it mean to be faithful? I work in an organization where people have served 10…15…20…even 28 years! We have a reputation for becoming “lifers” here. This got me to thinking, will I be one? The answer is, IF God calls me to stay.  I pray I won’t stay simply out of convenience or in the name of faithfulness. It would be scary to leave, but I want to be faithful for the right reasons.

The ability to persevere is admirable; the inability to continue moving forward and embrace new seasons and new frontiers in life is not.  Sometimes we admire someone’s faithfulness, when in reality they are mostly fearful of letting go and taking a step toward something new. How can we tell if we are acting out of faithfulness or fear? This is really the question… Read the rest of this entry »

God is reteaching me this lesson…I think it’s a great reminder as we start this new year!

” She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard” Prov 31:16

I’d like to ask you a question. How do you decide how to spend your time?  Think about that for a moment, and jot down an honest answer…perhaps according to your kid’s activities (co-ops, Awana, or sports), the baby’s schedule, or your husband’s schedule. Maybe you have a job or own a business and you have to plan around those hours spent outside the home. Or the schedule you set for your home school day may set the pace for you. I’m sure there are many, many answers.

I would like to challenge you a little today. I have learned some hard lessons over the past 12 months, dealing with health challenges that left me drained and unable to function at the energy level I was used to. I have always been a busy person. (My grandmother used to say, “You can always count on a busy person.” I don’t know if that’s true or not, but it was ingrained in me young!) I had to start choosing what I could do and what I had to let go of. It was extremely difficult for me to know what to do. I had to get really honest about my priorities and let go of those things that were not high on the list.

That’s really the key with time. If we live according to our priorities then time becomes our ally…not our enemy. When we keep our priorities right, we save time and strength, just like the woman in our verse. She wisely considers her actions before she accepts a new responsibility. She says no if necessary, and then with her savings of time and strength, she plants in her own vineyard. There is so much here that we can apply to our lives. If we are frugal about how we spend our time, than we can save both time and strength. With that savings, we can plant into our own lives. Just the opposite is true, when I’m over-extended; I use up all my time and strength and have nothing left to put into my home, family, or relationships.

Now, I can hear you saying, “You don’t know how busy I am!” Being busy isn’t necessarily the problem; however if you aren’t living your priorities, then we need to make a change. If we are consistently frustrated and worn-out, then maybe we need to save some time and strength to plant in our own “vineyards.” It’s really about being in control of our time, making wise decisions, and not feeling a slave to the clock or our schedule.

Prayer: Father, I admit that I have not enjoyed life to its fullest—help me to enjoy my life in spite of my problems, in site of the things that I so want to change. You know each of these things Lord, and I commit them to You. I will not worry or fret over them, but instead will leave them in your hands and go about enjoying life anyway! I will not let any of them be an excuse for a lousy attitude or a short temper. Thank You for Your grace and ability working in me to do this, in Jesus’ name, amen.

“Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God…a life-giving perfume.”
(II Corinthians 2:15 NLT)

Has this ever happened to you?  I got in my car the other day, and something didn’t smell right.  I’m not sure what it was, but I almost went and bought an air freshener.  How about when you open the fridge and the mysterious smell hits you?  You search and search and can’t seem to figure out what it is.  Maybe it’s just me, but those persistent smells really bug me!

You know, just like a car, our lives have an aroma; a fragrance emitted to those around us, and most importantly, to God.  This fragrance is either drawing others to us, or repelling them.  Even our homes and relationships release an “aroma” that attracts others or just the opposite, repels them from us.

In the natural, this concept needs no explanation.  I remember our pastor telling about a man who used to come to their church named Arthur.  Arthur stunk; on the outside that is.  He was a slap-in-the-face poster child for body odor.  But his heart was pure, and as big as all get-out!  So whenever a visitor came to church Arthur plopped down right beside them.  As my pastor jokingly says, “That could be why we had so much trouble growing in those early days.”  Maybe you’ve known someone like that.  You loved them, but it was hard to be around them.

The opposite is true as well. Some people look and smell good on the outside, but inside their attitude and their outlook just stinks!  These are examples from the physical world; however, I believe the principle is just as real in the spirit realm.

Our verse today tells us our lives are a fragrance; one that can be pleasing to God.  We need to consider what fragrance our lives, homes, and families are giving off.  Consider how our attitudes, mindsets, words, and actions “smell” to those around us, and most importantly, to God.  This revelation can impact not only our personal and spiritual lives; it’s the perfect illustration to help our children understand that inner thoughts and attitudes matter to God.   As a result, our lives will be more pleasing to God, more attractive to others, and more effective in accomplishing what God has called us to do!

Prayer: Lord, we thank You in advance for this revelation. I pray You help me receive and put into action the thoughts and ideas relating to the fragrance of our lives.  May it be a truly transforming moment for me, and a tremendous teaching moment for my children, in Jesus’ name, amen.

“If faith is the foundation of a belief system, then religion is the façade and the landscaping. It’s easy to get caught up in the foibles of corporate culture and the systems that have been built over time, but they have nothing to do with the faith that built the system in the first place. When you fall in love with the system, you lose the ability to grow.”

“Some tribes are engaged in change. Many are not. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s a church or a corporation, the symptoms are the same. The religion gets in the way of faith. Static gets in the way of motion. Rules get in the way of principle. “

“Soon enough the new thing will be better than the old thing. But if you wait until then it will be too late. Feel free to wax nostalgic about the old thing, but don’t fool yourself into believing it’s going to be here forever. It won’t.”

These are a few of the gems I’m absorbing from Seth Godin’s book, Tribes. I got this book thinking it would be about one thing (growing an online following and developing better connections through social media); come to find out it’s about something entirely different (challenging the status quo from where I am and being a unicorn in a balloon factory).  It’s a surprising, challenging, and compelling read.