What Are You Enslaved To?

Now the LORD is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

Do any of these hold you captive:Fear, burdens, disappointments, rejection, others opinions of you? Many can be enslaved without actually being behind bars.

Right now the enslavement for many is the paralyzing fear of catching Covid 19. Some are so fearful they can’t hardly live a semi normal life as they look for germs around every corner. Don’t get me wrong, I know all about pre existing conditions and age factors but my age is not causing me to be fearful and I am in the ‘zone’. I have peace from God. This doesn’t mean I ignore warnings and don’t do anything but simply that I have perfect peace. 

My friend you have to be able to laugh. I was misinterpreted on a Facebook post early on for making light of this ‘shut in time’ comparing it to a ‘snow day’ simply meaning it was super quiet outside not that I thought we should all go out and play. After that she took offense and I was unfriended. Offense is a tool the enemy uses, even with Christians, to cause division. Talk to God, stay off social media and spend time in prayer and thanksgiving and give your burdens to the Lord. 

PRAYER: Oh Lord I pray for those who are suffering from Covid 19 but I also pray for fearful people to give their concerns to you, turn off bad news, and trust God. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Note: click link for a song of worship to help burdens be lighter.https://youtu.be/DaRRDfSlYr0

Recycled America

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.Matthew 24:14

Nobody ever could have imagined the scenario we are slowly emerging from here in America and other places in the world where a virus originating on foreign soil makes its’ way into the safe harbor of these United States and starts to do major damage.Was it intentional? Some say yes. Never the less it has happened and there are differing opinions of course. Adjustments have been needed at least for the time being. 

 It is similar to being  put in the spin cycle on your washing machine and spun around then out you come a little wrinkled until you get fluffed up again. A recycling of sorts. This emergence period hopefully is a time you can appreciate the beauty of freedom. You can look at the Red, White, and Blue of our US flag and truly appreciate those who fought to defend liberty. 

So in this recycling  have you learned anything new? Will you change the way you have done things? Do you appreciate what you maybe took for granted much more? Did you pray and stay close to God? It is a wake up call for many. The church rose to the occasion and held unique services online, on zoom, in parking lots, even preaching fro a rooftop at Victory in Tulsa. The enemy can not keep us down. So look for good ways to reach out and let the new recycled you live a life worthy of honor and bring glory to God.

PRAYER: Father God I thank you for my health. I thank you for friends. I thank you for communication. I thank you for hearing my prayer. Thank you for protecting me and my family and showing us new ways to adapt. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Lilies of the Field

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, hoe they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Matthew 6:28-29

“Trust me, trust me” The Lord says. “I know that Lord but I am having a hard time being still, please help me” you utter back in a feeble attempt to remain focused and peaceful.

What are you waiting for friend? You prayed right? Many times perhaps and others even joined in agreement with you. What is going on and what is God trying to teach me? “Get your mind off yourself” you mumble under your breath.

I am not sure what you may be going through today, what you are trusting God for or maybe you may be having one of those days the enemy tries to sideline you and take your focus off of the King of Kings but stop where you are right now and stand up and say “I can do this Lord. Thanks for having my back. Forgive my doubting and worry.” Now charge on in faith and go have a wonderful day knowing the Lord has a plan.

PRAYER: It is easy to get in a slump when I am having one of those days Lord and to start caving into doubt and starting to have a lack of faith. Forgive me Lord and I choose to stay focused. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Worry, Fear, Oh My!

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

Are you fearful about our current situation scared of ending up in the hospital or on a respirator because you focus on worst case scenarios? Guess what, fear and worry are tools of the enemy. God is for you friend remember that. Stop entertaining ‘what if’s’. 

Do you believe good stuff can come out of a bad situation? Well it can and will. If all you do is watch nightly news or continue to run to your computer news feeds before anything else, of course your stomach will be in knots. You can not read bad things and it not affect you. 

Purpose today you can give up a need to know the morning news every day. Leave it off! Instead of reading news feeds start subscribing to daily devotions and read scriptures and pray to get your day started. Don’t dwell on the coronavirus or you will do nothing else but be scared. 

PRAYER: Father help me to be a joyful witness in this time of doom and gloom. Use me to bring gladness instead of heaviness. Help me separate from people who are pessimists and try to drag me along with them. Help my speech reflect the glory of God and not the cares of the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

What’s Good About It?

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10

Is this Covid 19 lockdown a blessing or a curse? Depends on how you look at it. 

I engaged a couple on our town track in conversation, 6 feet apart of course, and was at first just going to say hello and keep walking passing them but then I decided once they said “nothing good is happening out of this time of quarantine“ that I would slow my pace and chit chat. Turns out they had just moved from Nashville so I guess I could say I was a welcome wagon ambassador of sorts. 

Friend you never know when God is calling you to impact or make a footprint for the kingdom in someone’s life. Had I sped ahead I would not have had this chance to plant a seed of hope in their hearts. I hope I did. 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus it is easy to lose hope when you find yourself immersed in a negative hopeless world. Use me Lord to share joy and peace for those whose lives are impacted more by this time of being closed off. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

God Is Up To Something

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14

What is going on in our world? Is this a shaking of sorts to get our attention?When we have no time for God, for people, for love then voila, all sense of control is lost and natural man wanders around trying to figure it out. 

Unfortunately due to many people having tons of time and being cooped up without employment they may relegate to surfing the internet and possibly believing all they see. God is doing something my friend and he is going to show up in a big way. It is not something to be scared of. 

My prayer is many will come to seek Jesus during this time. Also my prayer is for Americans to realize just how good they have had it, spoiled in a way. God wants to hear from you. He hates being ignored and sometimes allows things to bring us to our knees. So what do you think? 

PRAYER: Oh God in Heaven I cry out to you. Forgive me for my complacency of not making any time in my busy schedule for you. Oh Lord teach me to be still and to be humble to let go of my desire to control. Use me as your instrument to sow peace during this confusing time. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

In Despair?

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Everyone has been in despair and this junk happening now with a new normal for now certainly only adds to possible despair and sadness. 

You could be in despair over all sorts of stuff. Loss of income, sickness, not being able to have human contact, family things going on in addition to the chaos surrounding this pandemic scare.

I have to admit I have had some rough moments and it is necessary to really get control of your thinking. Think on all the good things you are blessed with and how God is working even when you may not feel it. Don’t stop praying. Press on! 

PRAYER: Oh Lord thank you for the gift of friends who are only a call away. Help me Lord not entertain self pity which is an endless pit and goes nowhere. Instead show me people who need a touch from you now and help me act. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Click link and take time to listen to this song of worship:

https://youtu.be/n4XWfwLHeLM