BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO WALKS WITH A LIMP

When we read the Bible there are some passages that are hard to digest. That was how I felt when I read the story of Jacob and his encounter with a Man who challenged him to a wrestling match.

We are told this Man (God) wrestled with Jacob till daybreak. When the Man saw that he couldn't get the best of Jacob as they wrestled He deliberately threw his hip out of joint. The Man said, "let me go it's daybreak." Jacob said "No! Not until you bless me." Genesis 32:24-26

 God cares so much about the condition of the human heart that He will challenge our choices when necessary. Jacob lived life on his own terms, rarely stopping long enough to check in with God. He lied, cheated, and manipulated his way through life until God intervened. During the course of the struggle, Jacob confessed his failures, his weakness, his sins and faced God. No more lies.

"What is your name?" The Man asked. (V27) The patriarch replied, "Jacob."  His name meant trickster or supplanter but God used this encounter to change Jacob's name.  God said to Jacob "Your name will no longer be Jacob but Israel." (v28)

For some of us, our bad decisions will take us to a place where God will meet us for an unexpected wrestling match. God wants our devotion. He wants to see changed men and women living with purpose. He is patient with us, but he also disciplines those he loves.

Jacob was determined to allow God to change his life. He was no different than you or me. He wrestled with God and obtained the blessing he so desperately wanted. He emerged with a new name, a cleansed heart and "spiritually speaking" a limp, to remind him of his victory.

We would all do well to wrestle with God. Blessed is the man who walks with a limp.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

2018 PEACE vs fear

No matter how optimistic we may be about 2018, there is always that fear of "What If" lurking in the back of our minds. We can't deny the reality of unprecedented violence erupting on our streets, increased hatred toward anyone who does not share our personal point of view and growing political unrest and tyranny all over the world.

How can we possible stay calm in the face of so much trouble?

On the night before Jesus was crucified he gave us a gift. "Peace I leave to you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives peace."

Let's be honest. What a strange thing for him to say on the eve of his death. Unless of course there is something more to this peace he gives.

We define peace differently than He intended. We think peace should be the absence of trouble. We like to see our problems tied up in nice little bows so we can FEEL comfortable. We think peace should be passive, polite and settled.

That idea is not even close to our Saviors gift to us. His peace is aggressive and fearless. John 16:33 states "I tell you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." We can't be victimized by events because we know God is with us. His peace enables us to be calm in the most wildly fearful circumstances. The peace Jesus gives is Supernatural Peace and doesn't make sense to our human mind because it's the peace that passes understanding.

So how do we get some of this good stuff? 

Simply put, we need to start trusting God with every detail of our lives and commit the outcome to Him. Trust and peace go hand in hand. He said..."Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." He doesn't promise us a trouble free life but he does promise to walk through life with us. "I will never leave you or forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

It takes practice to trust God and allow Him to fill us with faith. He is patient with us and will guide us as we let go of fear and embrace peace. Instead of worrying about the "What If's" in life let Jesus' gift give you tranquility in danger, composure in trouble and freedom from fear and anxiety.

Whatever may come in 2018 we will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Psalm 91:2

APPROVED AND ACCEPTED

We are all created to be winners in life. We are born with a need for love, acceptance and a sense of purpose. Yet it doesn't take long before we  experience a 'Goose Egg', a zero on our personal scoreboard. We learn quickly that the approval we seek is based on our performance and that idea spills over into our relationships and every area of our lives.

If we score high we get the job, the promotion, the marriage proposal etc. In this fast paced unforgiving world our self worth depends on our ability to stay on top. We are judged on our accomplishments and when they fail to measure up we lose favor in the worlds eyes and in our own estimation.

Babe Ruth was once baseball's home run king. But did you know he was also the all -time strikeout champion? He struck out almost twice as often as he hit home runs. I guess that means he was booed twice as often as he was applauded. If he let all those discouraging thoughts fill his mind he would have thrown down his bat in defeat. Instead he kept on swinging. Just like sports fans, we tend to cheer ourselves on when we are doing well, but how quickly we criticize ourselves when we fall into a slump.

If you are feeling discouraged today let me give you some great news! You can make a comeback. All you need is the proper encouragement from the right source. From my own experience I can tell you that Jesus never rejects us, no matter how many times we strike out. He actually cheers us on and encourages us to keep swinging.  Our success is His ultimate desire and he is infinitely patient with us. He told us in the Bible  His love for us is unconditional. That means there are no strings attached. Our good or bad performance has nothing to do with His acceptance and approval of us.

God provided the total acceptance we crave because we believe in Jesus. We don't deserve it, we can't earn it, and we can't mess it up! All we need to do is accept it by faith. Your circumstances and your feelings might doubt what the Bible tells you so you have to make a choice.

Will you continue to listen to negative voices of failure and rejection or will you believe God has great things planned for your life because He loves, accepts, and approves of you unconditionally. 

You don't need to hit a home run everyday to be accepted by God. He approves of you just as you are...imperfections and all. Trust Him. His love for you is unchanging, unconditional, and eternal.

Scripture verses:
Romans 5:8  But God shows His love for us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God.

Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you."

What does unconditional love mean?   It's when someone loves us without expecting anything in return.

TRUE GRIT

Remember how exciting it was at the beginning of the new year when you were faced with a fresh beginning! You probably made a list of goals and dreams you wanted to accomplish and exploded out of the gate full of optimistic plans and a heart bursting with anticipation. I believe God gives each one of us these longing to provide purpose and direction for our lives.Yet with the mid year mile marker in our sights, we might begin to focus on how hard and long the road to success is and let our enthusiasm fizzle.

If this sounds like you...CONGRATULATIONS!! YOU'VE MADE IT TO THE CROSSROADS OF YOUR JOURNEY. The middle of every project is where we begin to feel the stress and strain of our progress meet opposition of many kinds. Even the strongest athletes are not safe as the race turns tough and the finish line is still far off. This is NOT the time to quit!

 It's time to regroup. The worst thing you can do is beat yourself up for being human. Lift up your head for a moment and BELIEVE if God planted these goals, visions, and desires in your heart He will help you reach your Summit. "My God will meet all my needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Now it's time for you to make a decision. Will you let another year come and go without giving it your best shot? Or will you get up and resume the climb to the finish line. Dig deep within your psyche and you will find that gritty person you were created to be. Fuel your passion and take small steps forward despite issues, problems, setbacks and failures. Do whatever you need to do to keep a fresh vision of your goals. No matter how far behind you have fallen...be positive. Cling to the path you are traveling with everything you've got. You're not alone. Stay focused on God's strength, not your weakness. Nothing is impossible with God.

I'll see you at the finish line!

FREEDOM FROM TOXIC OVERLOAD

In about 340 BC, Hippocrates said,
" Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."

Seems the "Father of Medicine" was spot on. Within the last 15 years there has been a shift toward nutritional research. Academic clinicians now believe food is the original medicine. Dr. Brenda Rea from the Loma Linda University says, "What people eat can be medicine or poison. As a physician, I now realize nutrition is one of the most powerful lifestyle changes you can make to reverse the effects of chronic disease." There is also growing evidence that regular detox/cleanse regiments help us rid our body of toxic residue that builds up over time in our vital organs. These toxins, due in large part to an increasingly toxic world, are poisoning our bodies, causing disease, and in extreme cases premature death. The good news... doing a cleanse is like hitting a reset button for your body. Detox drinks can be whipped up in your kitchen without a doctors prescription, and without laying out big bucks. A little bit of prevention goes a long way to boost energy, cleans the liver, aid weight loss, reduce inflammation and promote healing.

But why stop here when you can experience a cleanse at a deeper level, with eternal results? The Great Physician, Jesus Christ, explained over 2,500 years ago, the secret of inner peace and spiritual  healing. The word of God tells us to get rid of malice, envy, deceit, and slander of every kind. Science has proven that when we hold onto anger, hatred, bitterness, and unforgiveness we poison our minds, and the devastating results eventually take a toll on our overall health. Our merciful God gave us the recipe to detox our mind, body and spirit. All we need is a quiet place to sit, one on one with our creator, and let it all out. "If we confess our sins , he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."( 1 John 1:9 NIV)  If we release these toxic emotions to God, the purifying waters of his mercy will free us to experience His forgiveness, love and healing. Confession is the medicine placed in our fragile hands to help us attain peace, joy and health.

DIRECT YOUR FOCUS

 When coaches are searching for potential hurdlers they are not looking for the tallest, the fastest, or the strongest athlete but instead the person who is not afraid of hard work, has a good attitude, and is committed to the sport.  Hurdlers need to put their minds and bodies through some tough lessons to learn the techniques associated with jumping. The coach realizes most beginners, no matter how dedicated, experience the same weaknesses. Although the hurdle is an inanimate object; it just sits there- many new athletes fear it. It begins to grow in their minds eye and they lose their focus. Once the athlete stutter steps as he makes the approach, the jump is compromised, and he ends up knocking the hurdle down, disqualifying him from the race.

Although I'm not an athlete per se; I am a hurdler in a spiritual race, and totally understand this concept since life if full of obstacles. We are told in the bible to, "Fear nor, for I am with you; Be not discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10 NIV) As a spiritual athlete in training, the Holy Spirit began to teach me how to successfully jump life's hurdles.

The first thing I needed to learn was how to condition my mind and emotions daily in order to make them strong. The best way to develop spiritual muscle is by soaking up the word of God. This might seem like hard work in the beginning but when you stick with it, studying the word energizes you. The second thing we need is a good attitude so we can "mentally" approach a hurdle without fear. When we focus on our problems they seem bigger than they really are and we forget our God is with us. My coach taught me not to look at the hurdles in life as obstacles to be avoided or stressed out over. These temporary problems are used as training tools by God to strengthen us so we learn to trust and rely on him. The last thing a spiritual athlete must do is stay committed to the race. As believers, our growth in the Lord takes time, effort and prayer.

Once I learned to deliberately direct my focus on God, I began to have a steady stride that propelled me forward in faith. No matter what hurdle you might be running toward in your life God promises to be with you, to strengthen you, to help you, and to uphold you.

WAITING FOR A MIDNIGHT MIRACLE

  

It's Christmas again and this year you might feel the magic and wonder of the season has faded, leaving you empty and disillusioned.

Maybe your life has taken a nose dive and you find yourself skidding out of control into the midnight hour, that black hole of hopelessness, where even your last chance has disappeared into a dark and disappointing future.

 We have all experienced setbacks from time to time that leave us feeling depressed and defeated. It's at that critical point of despair that we need a reminder that "nothing is impossible for God." Allow me to tell you a true story of a man who lost all hope and hit rock bottom.

Steven Lavaggi was a successful graphic designer, with a beautiful wife and young son. He was up and coming in the competitive business world with tons of talent and plenty of potential. He was a rising star until his life fell apart. One day, Steven's wife unexpectedly left him for a Rolling Stone magazine writer. Steven was left to raise their son alone, who was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.With the challenges of caring for his child, Steven lost his edge and his budding business. As bills mounted, his life began swirling out of control. In desperation, Steven turned to God for help. He was abandoned, broke, and filled with worry; only a miracle could put his life back together.

So one night, sitting on his bedroom floor, he began searching the Bible for answers. As he read about God's love and His gift to the world ( His only son Jesus,) Steven Lavaggi gave his life to God. In that moment he was forever changed. As he began to follow God's plan for his life he developed a passion to create hope for people around him. Since he lived without hope for a while, he knew how powerful hope could be when it came flooding in. After reading Psalm 91:11 ("for He will give his angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways.") he used his talents to paint an angel.

A friend encouraged Stephen to make the angel three dimensional, so he worked with a sculptor to cast the image. The first edition of those sculptures were an instant sensation, but God had an even greater plan. Later, while speaking in South Africa as a guest of Parliament, Steven held up one of the angels to a crowd of 3,500 people. The sculpture had a black patina finish, and when the audience saw it they jumped from their seats in joy. He was told that a few days before a preacher declared, "One of the things we need is for international artists to express the love of God through art, perhaps even painting angels' in black."

When he heard this Lavaggi grabbed a white angel and held it over his head and said, "These angels were created to be like brothers and sisters, as we are supposed to be." Later, as he thought about that moment , he decided to call the sculptures The Angels of Reconciliation. That set of angels was sold at auction and were presented as a gift to Nelson Mandela. Today, Steven is known as the "Artist of Hope", and his work is seen all over the world.

God has a plan and purpose for each one of us. Your problems may be mounting along with the bills but God is bigger than anything you might be facing in your life right now. ANYTHING. Luckily for us, God does not sleep during the dark midnights of our lives. He does some of His best work when all hope is gone. Every day is a new beginning with God and the possibilities are endless. Miracles' still happen to ordinary people like you and me. The thing is, we stopped expecting them.


 PRAYER...
Lord God and Heavenly Father, I come before you today broken and afraid. I turn my life over to you and trust that you have made a way for me through the darkness. I'm open to your plan, even if it's not what I envisioned because I believe nothing is too hard or wonderful for you to accomplish in me.
In Jesus name. Amen

Scripture reading
John 3:16
Psalm 3:2-6
Luke 18:35-43
Psalm 91