“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.

I will be to you what the sun is to the flower, what the water of the ocean is to the fish, what the sky is to the birds. I will give you life, light, and strength. I will surround you and preserve you, so that in my you may love, move, and have your being, existing in me when apart from Me you would die. I will be to you as the wide-open skies, in that I will liberate your spirit in such fashion that you will not be earthbound.

You will live in the realm where the things of earth will not be able to impede and obstruct and limit your movement; but you will be freed in me to a place where your spirit may soar as the eagle, and you may make your nest in a place of safety and solitude, unmolested and undefiled by the sordidness of the world.

You will have companionship but it will be the companionship of those like-minded with you; yes, those who like yourself are done with beggarly elements and whose sense of values has been readjusted so that they deem the unseen as of greater worth than the seen, and the spiritual riches more precious than the wealth of the world.

Be done with petty things. Be done with small dreams. Give me all that you have and are; and I will share with you abundantly all that I have and all that I have and all that I am.

Are you ready to be done with “petty things and small dreams”? In what ways do you need to dream bigger? Are you excited for a new adventure, or still holding on to your promise of a brighter tomorrow? Wherever you are, decide today to believe God has big plans for you and through those plans will reveal Who He is and Who you are IN Him…

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.

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.

Consider even the parable in the Bible where the widow keeps pestering the judge. Finally he gives in. Apparently he’s so annoyed he decides to give her what she wants so she will stop bothering him, or that is how we have interpreted this. We carry this over to our Heavenly Father and think we will wear him down with our incessant demands until He finally…begrudgingly gives in.

Yet, I’m not sure this is the true picture of persistence.  God is not holding out on us until we throw a tantrum and demand He give us what we want, and yet often times that’s exactly what our prayer times sound like!

Consider this; God rewards persistence because it reveals our true desires and our heart’s passions. Those things we seek Him for day after day, without any thought or intention; those are the things He hears and rewards. These are the things that really matter to us!

David said in Psalm 27:4:

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.

When we know the one thing we truly desire from God, we don’t have to force ourselves to repeat, and claim, and petition God. They will flow out of our hearts in our time with Him. This is when He responds to our persistent prayer…not because He is annoyed or bothered, but because He sees our true heart and responds.

“Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 1:13

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 carton 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-GET ME SOME MEATLOAF!!” Always gets a laugh, although not usually from his mother. It seems today’s world seems to think persistence =annoying= results. Consider event he parable in the Bible where the widow keeps pestering the judge. Finally he gives in. Apparently he’s so annoyed he decides to give her what she wants so she will stop bothering him, or that is how we have interpreted this.

We carry this over to our Heavenly Father and think we will wear him down with our incessant demands until He finally…begrudgingly gives in.

Yet, I’m not sure this is the true picture of persistence. God is not holding out on us until we throw a tantrum and demand He give us what we want, and yet often times that’s exactly what our prayer times sound like!

Consider this; God rewards persistence because it reveals our true desires and our heart’s passions. Those things we seek Him for day after day, without any thought or intention; those are the things He hears and rewards.

David said in Psalm 27:4:

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.

When we know the one thing we truly desire from God, we don’t have to force ourselves to repeat, and claim, and petition God. They will flow out of our hearts in our time with Him. This is when He responds to our persistent prayer…not because He is annoyed or bothered, but because He sees our true heart and responds.

“Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 1:13

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.

Hugh Hewitt comments on a similar note on Townhall.com:

“The surge of American troops, supplies and relief…tens of millions of dollars…ships carry comfort and saving medicines…doctors, nurses, medics rushing to the country have been trained in an American health care system…And all of it is flowing out of a generous national spirit that reflects the country’s deeply compassionate religious roots, which while primarily Christian are also fed by other religious traditions that emphasize selfless service in the same manner that the teachings of Christ do.”

If America will continue to be the compassionate, generous nation we are showing ourselves to be, we can activate the age-old principle of sowing and reaping. We sow hope, help, love, compassion; inevitably we will reap those things in our own nation. Our selflessness in this time can turn our nation’s inward focus off ourselves and our challenges onto the power we have to help those who cannot help themselves.

The cause of Haiti has given America the chance to look beyond our borders and the challenges at home, and realize how much we have to give, how much we still have access to even in tough economic times. Our distress cannot even be mentioned in the same breath as the plight of the Haitian people; and America needed to remember this. Our generosity in this moment may be a key that unlocks the future of our own country. It brings to the surface our deeply rooted belief that it is better to give then to receive. It feels good to help the helpless, and it feels like the right thing to do. It feels that way because it is!

We respond to Haiti, and other tragedies, because deep down we believe human life is precious and worth saving. Hearts burn with concern as we watch the pictures of children in rubble, dead bodies everywhere, the elderly lying in the road unable to care for themselves. We grow angry and indignant as we hear stories of children and young women being sold and exploited in the middle of such a tragedy. Our hearts tell us this is wrong, and we want to see justice done to those who would profit from such a tragedy and the resulting suffering. We look for causes to advance, and people to defend; the defenseless, the helpless, the forgotten. Some may perceive this as arrogance, but we honestly believe we can save lives and make a difference, even when others can’t.

In the same vein, we Americans are fierce individualists. We want to choose how to respond, who to help, how much to give. We also want to give because we choose to, not because someone is making us. This independent spirit is still the core of our country, even though the political leaders may have forgotten this very important point. In this time of crisis, we did not look to our government to respond. We hoped they would, and supported their response. But we would not have given up the right to respond individually. This is a subtle shift in thinking that we need to consider. One of the things that make us great as a people and a nation is our willingness to help others. When we forget this and assume people left on their own can’t or won’t make the right decisions, we are on dangerous ground.

As a result, the world will always look to America to do the right thing; to defend the widows and the orphans, to help the helpless, to feed the hungry, and to right injustice. Like it or not, history supports this fact. Who we are at our very core shines brightly in dark times. Our response of love and compassion tells a bigger and better story of who we are and what we value. All the rhetoric and politics may try to convince the world we are not who we are; we may even try to convince ourselves at times. Is America perfect? Absolutely not. Americans exploit need, act selfishly, prize wealth. We forget how blessed we are; and neglect the responsibility that comes with our prosperity.

Prosperous we are. When Haiti was devastated by the earthquake on January 12, 2010, we jumped into action. We found resources to send. News coverage poured in through the TV and Internet. Photos, causes and stories are everywhere. Why? Because deep down we care about people. We recognize that no other nation in the world is positioned to give the sort of aid and support America can. We want to feel good as we help others. We believe our lives are better when we give what we have to save or improve the life of someone else.

These are spiritual values, America. Just as much as sowing and reaping, or whatever you choose to call it, is. As we bless Haiti, we cannot help but be blessed in return. As we give to save lives and rebuild this destitute nation, I believe we can gain a new vision for our future.  A future that is much brighter than we realize, based on the core values that unite us, engage us, and make us great.

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…

To begin with, true faithfulness should be grounded in faith. (Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it?)  Faithfulness believes that God is going to do something as a result of our efforts. If we have lost this expectation, it could be we are holding on to what God did in the past, not looking forward to what He wants to do today and in the future. If somehow we believe the best is behind us, we may need to ask ourselves, am I remaining faithful for the right reasons?

Also, I believe faithfulness should produce fruit. If we are persevering in faith we should see new crops and fresh growth in everything we do. Psalms 1 says we: “will bring forth its fruit in its season, [our] leaf also shall not wither; And whatever [we do] shall prosper.” There must be fruit throughout our season of faithfulness.  If we can’t identify the fruit of our efforts, or see any recent growth, this could be a sign that our season to remain faithful is drawing to a close.  Perhaps God is trying to get your attention to ask you to pursue something entirely different with Him.

Another trait of true faithfulness is action. Faithfulness should not be just a passive, enduring existence. There may be times when you feel God has put you on the shelf for a season, and He holds you back from doing the one thing you feel called to do. He may even ask you to remain faithful when nothing is happening in your circumstances. However, this does not mean He requires nothing from you during the wait!  He asks us to give thanks at all times, to love our neighbors, to work heartily for Him, and to look for opportunities to bless those around us. We cannot use the idea of being faithful to excuse not doing all we can when we can.

I don’t want to confuse faithfulness with seniority. Does God really look at years of service the way we do, I wonder. Is pure faithfulness or “steadfastness” always the basis for spiritual promotion? I’m not sure.  At least not as we often define faithfulness. Perhaps he looks at our hearts to see why we have persevered, and if we are remaining faithful in what He called us to, not just what is comfortable and familiar to us.

These are tough questions I think. As a person who has worked in a ministry setting for just 13 years, I can tell you I recognize the difference in my own life. I have stuck with a ministry longer than I should have because I loved what I was doing. I loved reaching people, hearing how I was helping their lives. I saw fruit at every turn. BUT when God was done with it, I had to move on regardless of what strokes it gave me and how much I would miss it. Working in a ministry position is no different. Just because you can stay in a position, or have for many years, doesn’t mean that’s all God has for you.  When He starts tugging at your heart, don’t ignore Him in the name of faithfulness.  We can’t let our fear or comfort hinder the work God wants to do in our lives.

“Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die?”
(II Kings 7:3)

This reminds me of a story in II Kings about three lepers.  They sat outside Jerusalem day after day with no where to go and nothing to do. They were as faithful as could be in what they were doing.  One day they asked themselves, why are we sitting here until we die??  In other words, we have nothing to lose, what are we going to do about it? You may know the rest of the story in that they went up against Israel’s enemies and God used them to defeat the enemy’s army. All because they were willing to believe that God might have something bigger and better for them. Their prior existence had ceased to produce fruit and they were basically waiting to die. They knew if they sat there any longer, any hope to see God move in their lifetimes was gone. They were not content to sit and remember Israel’s past victories. Instead they made a radical step and ultimately made history.

Like the lepers, we may have forgotten how to dream big dreams for God; we may have forgotten that His promises are never about the past, but always about the future.  Our place of comfort and commitment may come at a price if we miss out on what God has for us next.

” 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.

“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.