We are wired to want to do great work. Work looks different for each of us. You could be working for someone or working for yourself, being paid for your work or volunteering, hiring people or looking for a job yourself, serving inside the home or outside of the home. Regardless of what work means for you, the traits to thrive as a worker approved by God are consistent. Jesus is looking for great workers. Where He has us is where we are to strive to do great work. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Leadership traits learned through the Word of God will help you become a stronger worker for the Lord. Leadership guru Simon Sinek says, “How you do anything is how you do everything” and leadership is key across much of our activities. Nehemiah was placed into a world where critical leadership traits were required to accomplish what seemed to be an insurmountable task. We can learn from his journey from project inception to completion to the days following. #1 - Ground in truth Start every day in the Word of God. The Word will give you nothing but truth. Before even implementing the plan, Nehemiah grounds the workers in truth. He reminds them that, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”, Nehemiah 4:14b. #2 - Seek vision through prayer and fasting Vision is a trait for great workers of the Lord. Crafting vision informed by the Lord can only be achieved by Him being a part of your life. James 4:8a says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” God will bless the vision. We must stay close to His Word, His people, and His mission to see where we are going and leading. (*for more on Nehemiah's vision) #3 - Strive to thrive where God has you You need to do the job you’ve been given to the best of your ability. God has you where you are for a kingdom purpose whatever that work may look like. #4 - Create plans to protect from risk Depending on how in front of the likelihood of a risk coming to life you may be, you could have the luxury of a plan created over a long period of time. However, it may need to be crafted in a moment. Regardless, ask God to provide wisdom in plan making and create the plan. God will provide for every need. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”, Philippians 4:19. (*for more on Nehemiah's focus on risk) #5 - Execute risk plans A plan on paper not practiced or executed is simply words. Nehemiah communicated the plan. He then divided the workers into those building with tools in hand and those protecting with weapons in hand. Because of the great distance they were covering, he also had someone ready to sound the trumpet in case they were attacked. #6 - Keep your senses, body, and mind strong for discernment We are given five main senses. Keep your eyes, ears, nose, skin, and taste at the ready to make sure things are “right”. Maintaining your physical health helps keep these senses in check. #7 - Trust the Holy Spirit always When you get that feeling that something just isn’t right in the middle of your gut, it’s likely the Holy Spirit telling you to do something. #8 - Buy time when making big decisions It is OK to ask for more time to decide, as long as you are prepared for an answer of no when a decision must be made quickly. (*for more on Nehemiah's example of pausing) #9 - Listen intently and pay attention to your surroundings Pay attention to what is going on around you when making a decision. Listen, pause, and then respond. God gave us two ears and one mouth so we will listen twice as much as we speak. #10 - Know yourself well enough for when you need a pause “When in doubt, pause. When angry, pause. When tired, pause. When stressed, pause. And when you pause, pray”, Toby Mac. #11 - Say hello and call people by name The best place to start is simply with a name. One of the most common leadership training curricula is through Dale Carnegie. A quote in that training that has stuck with me for years is, “Using a person’s name is crucial, especially when meeting those we don’t see very often. Respect and acceptance stem from simple acts such as remembering a person’s name and using it whenever appropriate.”. The sweetest sound to someone is their name. (*for more on Nehemiah's understanding of people ) #12 - Ask open-ended questions to get to know people Learn about the thoughts, stories, opinions, and experiences of others. Using keywords like "tell me about...", "what do you think about...", "share about a...", "how do you..." can prompt a longer response than a "yes, no, or maybe". #13 - Flow kindness in every encounter Kindness always wins. You can never be too kind to those you are around. Choose kindness. "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.", Proverbs 21:26. #14 - Stay motivated Stay motivated and thrive where God has you. You need to do the job you’ve been given to the best of your ability. God has you where you are for a kingdom purpose whatever that work may look like. #15 - Show patience and grace Just because you know the answer doesn’t mean that you always need to be the one to provide it. Let others have some limelight. "The one who states his case first seems right until the other comes and examines him.", Proverbs 18:17. #16 - Keep a positive attitude Maintain a positive attitude throughout the journey. Your attitude directly connects to how well you do your work. (*for more on great leadership traits) #7 - Recognize opposition for what it is Spiritual warfare is a real thing and Satan will use all forms of attack in opposition. Recognize the attack for what it is. It can show up in your life as conflict, mental strife, or pain. (*for more on leading through opposition) #8 - Refrain from quick responses of defense Don't respond without pausing. God may tell you to do nothing. If you are led to take any action, know he’s standing by your side. Pausing and praying is exactly what Nehemiah did when he heard there were people against the building of the wall. “And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.”, Nehemiah 4:9 #9 - Repeat scriptures in heat moments Repeat the scriptures of your heart and use them to cry out to God for help in times of opposition. Psalm 34:17 tells us to cry to the Lord for help; He will hear us; He will deliver us. #10 - Respect God as your helper in the battles God is the ultimate partner in times of adversity and opposition. Respect God as your helper towards the other side of the opposition,. Alone, we can’t fight Satan in our lives. Exodus 14:14 says, “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” #11 - Recognize the basic wrongs of humanity Stand up for what is right and take care of those in need. Luke 3:11 says, “And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” (*for more on leading in crisis) #12 - Demonstrate great reasonableness and restraint in anger Anger is a natural emotion but keep it at bay. "A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.", Proverbs 29:11. Know that others may have a better way to do something. Listen and learn from others. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.", Proverbs 16:25. #13 - Provide history lessons History repeats itself and people don't always remember where they have come from. Nehemiah reminds the leaders that their entire people group had just escaped slavery and now were being enslaved by their own people. Nehemiah 5:8 says, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.” #14 - Leverage facts when pointing out wrongs Next Nehemiah clearly states that “what you are doing isn’t right” (v9). He makes it clear to them that the people are broke, starving, and enslaved and that is wrong. #15 - Praise the Lord when He moves God will get you on the other side of whatever is opposing you. He will tell you to keep going, change something, or stop. Regardless of the outcome, praise Him. Psalm 106:1 says, "Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" #16 - Finish the job with excellence When your time on earth is done, be able to say you finished strong. Commit where God has you, do the job He has you doing to the best of your ability, and rely on His power and strength to help you finish the job strong. (*for more on finishing strong) #17 - Celebrate completion with Worship, Food, and Fun The book of Nehemiah could have ended with the wall completing, but no, the Word captures the celebration that followed (Nehemiah 8)! We see get to see the party! Great workers take moments to celebrate and appreciate a job well done. (*for more on celebration) #18 - Maintain the result To be a great worker you must be intentional with how you continue to maintain and develop yourself through care, maintenance, growth, learning, and adapting. As times change, the skills and mindset you have will need to adapt and improve through experiences, education, and exposure. This includes your spirit, body, relationships, possessions, and environment. (*for more on maintenance) #19 - Learn through failure After a record-breaking building project, times of celebration, and clear revival for the people of Jerusalem, in the final chapter of Nehemiah, the story turns for the worse. The moment their eyes ceased focusing on the Lord, Satan clearly took the opportunity to attack. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”, 1 Peter 5:8-9. (*for more on the end of Nehemiah) #20 - Understand the power of the flesh and our fallen world The best of leaders can only influence so far. The best of workers can only change the world only so much. Every human has the gift of freewill. It’s a place Satan loves to derail focus away from God. There is only so much we can control. Sometimes we must let people fail, and the lessons can be difficult. Sin is a vicious cycle. #21 - Let go and let God Thankfully, we have Jesus to cover our sin. We are all sinners: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, Romans 3:23. We all need Jesus as our Savior. Nehemiah was a great leader and worker that led a people to success and strived to keep them abiding in the law. He followed his calling and led his community well. #22 - Live by example The fact is, people are watching. Make wise choices in all scenarios. When something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. "Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.", Proverbs 20:21. #23 - Show wisdom through humility Humility starts with submission to the Lord. Don’t let pride creep into your heart. There is no task that you are too good for. "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.", Proverbs 11:2. #24 - Be content and thankful Be content and thankful for where God has you at the moment. He will meet your needs and you will have enough. "A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.", Proverbs 28:25. #25 - Keep going and growing When it's going well, keep going. When it gets tough, keep going. When it feels slow, keep growing. Excel at what you are doing and invest in where you want to go. #26 - Learn from every experience Learn from through experiences. You will make poor decisions. You will observe others making poor decisions. Always watch and learn because there is no doubt that no situation is new. Someone has gone through it. #27 - Stay grounded in Truth every day This list started with this trait and ended with this trait. There is nothing more important than the Word of God inflowing into your life. Grow your ability through the Word of God as your teaching guide. When you don’t know the answer to a question or action to take, turn to the Word. Jesus is the key to being a great worker. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”, Philippians 4:13. You can do anything and everything through Him. To go deep into these topics, visit Help Wanted – Great Workers of the Lord Series.
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*Find this post as a 20-part series as a daily devotional by individual princesses here: Lessons by Day We are shaped by and learn from the things we are exposed to at an early age of life. You may be able to remember the first time you saw a princess movie such as Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Rapunzel, or Frozen. If you owned a copy on VHS, DVD, or digitally (depending on your age!), you likely watched your favorite dozens of times. I believe we can use the stories of our favorite princesses to gently nudge our children and correct our own hearts towards Biblical truth. My guess is you can even relate some of the mistruths below. When we hear something enough times, we begin to believe it. By gently exposing the lie and correcting with truth, we can nudge towards faith in the Lord. The 5 core issues with the hearts of these princesses could be common in not only the hearts of the children we impact but also our own hearts. There are issues with elevation of self, a need for earthly validation, discontentedness, ignorance of evil, and escaping through isolation. Even if you don’t have a child, haven’t seen these movies, or have no interest in princesses, I believe you will see new truths! Issues with Elevation of Self: Princesses Moana & Anna
Issues with a Need of Earthly Validation: Princesses Snow White, Cinderella, Mulan, and Mirabel
Issues with Discontentedness: Princesses Ariel, Tiana, and Merida
Issues with Ignorance of Evil: Princesses Belle, Pocahontas, and Rapunzel
Issues with Running Towards Isolation: Princesses Aurora, Jasmine, Elsa, and Raya
There is a better way than living in a state of worry about the lies Satan attacks our hearts with. Just like the princesses, rest in the hope of things to come. God has a plan. God will restore. God connects. God provides peace. God is eternity.
Decide to follow Jesus today by accepting him into your heart. The best way to move forward is one step at a time. This first step can change the trajectory of your life. *4-part message as a daily devotional here: Lessons by Day Valentine's Day is just around the corner! It's a perfect time to dive into Psalm 51, a plea to the Lord for help in creating a new heart. Our hearts are messy. Much is written about the heart in scripture. Depending on Bible translation the word “heart” can be found in the Bible anywhere from ~600-750 times! A heart transformation is where real change happens in our lives. It only comes through a relationship with the Lord. Read on to learn specifically about a moment where events in King David's life caused him to fall to sin. The process of realizing the fault of his heart leads towards confession and repentance. The Trigger King David was not a perfect man. He fell to sin and his sin impacted many around him. This Psalm was written after he was personally convicted by the prophet Nathan over a chain reaction of sin. Beginning with lust and leading to murder, he knew he needed a clean heart. I encourage you to read the full story in 2 Samuel 11-12. Simply following the rules isn’t what creates a clean heart. We are sinners by nature. Our hearts are born sick. Jeremiah 17:9-10 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” God knows the health of our hearts. Faith in Jesus, desire to follow Him, and living in relationship with Him is what purifies our hearts. The cleansing of the heart starts with entering relationship with Him daily. Read more on understanding why our hearts are messy and how to clean up your own messy hearts (Messy Hearts). As you evaluate the state of your heart, here is a series of lessons specifically on focusing on the heart (Focus on the Heart Series – Week 2 of Building a Daily Habit). The Pleading As we move further into Psalm 51, we see a transition from David confessing his need for a clean heart to a series of direct-action requests to the Lord. David knows the only way he can feel anew post his life altering sins is through the power of God.
David was walking with the Lord when he fell to sin. He knew all these things were truth before he fell to sin. The key here is that sin will creep in when you aren’t watching. Satan knows how to attack your life and hit you in the weak places whether that be in your mind, your relationships, or your behaviors. The Realization After all of David’s direct-action requests, he makes a slight change in his requests to the Lord. He states understanding that his existing heart knowledge of simply following the rules will not make things right between him and God. Restitution and forgiveness come from heart change. David knew a “check-the-box” faith isn’t the way he was called to live his life. You can be doing all the right things: following the rules, going to church, giving your time and money, even reading your bible and praying. However, without spiritually breaking to the point of heart-change, submission, and surrender to the Lord, you won’t be living as He designed for you. It takes great faith to believe in something you don’t see. Even those who walked with Jesus and were directly exposed to his miracles struggled with faith. In Mark 9, we see a story where a man’s son is demon possessed. The father asks Jesus to heal him “if he can”. Those three words “if he can” shows an incomplete faith in the power of Jesus. Jesus responds with saying, “‘…If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” (v23). The father shows his faith in the following verse. “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” How often in your life do you wonder “if HE can”? When you are broken down, let the Lord build you up. He is in control of every aspect of your life and wants good for you along the journey. When you fall, it’s not a surprise to Him, but He will always call you back. The Results Psalm 51 ends with David returning to two more direct-action pleas followed by a clarifying statement. He expresses the truth he already knows in his heart. David asks the Lord to “do good” and “build up” in summation of everything he’s already asked. David desires to be a delighter of the Lord and knows with his clean heart state God will hear him and accept his sacrifices. We know how the story ends. David becomes a great king though he experiences pain because of his own sin. He loses the child conceived out of lust, experiences desperation within his children as a result of rape and murder, and lives life with a son wanting to take over the kingdom. David also sins again later in life by directly disobeying the Lord regarding a census. Regardless, David is known as a “man after God’s own heart” even with the mistakes in his life. He knew how to return to the Lord, rely on the Lord, and respect the law of the Lord. The cleaning of the heart is a repetitive process and as sin and evil creep in it’s a constant trigger, plea, and realization to return for the resulting clean heart. Here are other places we see the need for a clean heart in the Word:
Final Thoughts Are you in a moment like King David. Your situation may not be as drastic or involve as many other people as what David is going through as he pens this Psalm. We can be oblivious to less obvious sin in our lives such as pride, worry, bitterness, and control. Sin is sin regardless of magnitude and even doubting God needs a cleansing of the heart. When you are broken as David is in Psalm 51, hand over your broken spirit to the Lord and have faith in his forgiveness and goodwill towards you. The Lord wants YOU and for YOU to believe. Remember, you can only choose to follow Jesus while living (Wake-Up: Choosing Jesus). The Lord forgives you. All you must do is ask. Use Psalm 51 as a backdrop to your personal prayers as you ask God to show you your sin, forgive you for it, and create a new heart in you. Take action and spend intentional time evaluating the state of your own heart. Know we are all sinners, we all make mistakes, we are all attacked by Satan. Put your hope and faith in the promises of God and the hope of what he has planned for you beyond this side of living.
January/February is an important time for her because it is peak routine learning season for Winter Guard (think of a marching band flag line with much higher levels of difficulty, twirling of additional apparatuses, and in a gym). In 2020, flu and a bad reaction to Tamiflu that sent her to the ER. In 2021 dislocating and resulting recovery of her shoulder. And now, in 2022, you guessed it…COVID after almost 2 years of avoiding it. Each interruption was faced with disappointment (and tears), but having the heart knowledge that God is in control, and it’s up to her in how she responded, pulled her through each time.
We have a choice how we respond to a life interruption. Beyond prayer, worship, and fasting (see the Between You & God Series), there are additional ways to respond. Below is a list of 20 specific ways you can chose to respond when an you experience an interruption in your life. Also, at the end of the post, check out a list of detailed stories to learn how others have responded to interruptions. I've sprinkled in a couple of my personal stories as well. 20 Ways to Respond: 1. Respond with Fuel – Fuel your faith walk with stronger intensity And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:19 2. Respond with Understanding – Demonstrate sympathy or empathy towards anyone involved in the interruption And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” - John 8:7 3. Respond with Love – Love others like Jesus loves you. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:13 4. Respond with Strength – Sustain pressure with healthy routines. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9 5. Respond with Surrender – Abandon control of your life to God’s will Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you - 1 Peter 5:6 6. Respond with Kindness – Show examples of friendliness and generosity. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. - Ephesians 4:32 7. Respond with Patience – Accept delay, trouble, or suffering without becoming upset Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. - Romans 12:12 8. Respond with Flex – Adapt your daily activities from the interruption I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. Philippians 4:12 9. Respond with Power – Increase your intentionality in your focus on the plans of the Lord for you May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. – Romans 5:13 10. Respond with Grace – Demonstrate goodwill towards all involved in the interruption work The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. Proverbs 16:4 11. Respond with Peace – Find ways to calm the mind, heart, and spirit You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. – Isaiah 26:3 12. Respond with Care – Provide for the physical and emotional needs of others. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. - James 1:27 13. Respond with Stamina – Build endurance in the calm times for to ready in the future. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. - Hebrews 12:3 14. Respond with Comfort – Ease your pain and the pain of others that there is an end to the interruption So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. - John 16:22 15. Respond with Release – Let God’s plan for your life flow freely Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you - Hebrews 4:16 16. Respond with Recovery – Pause and allow time for healing A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up - Ecclesiastes 3:3 17. Respond with Forgiveness – Stop feeling resentful towards anything or anyone involved in the interruption Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you - Ephesians 4:23 18. Respond with Change – Create new habits, rituals, and routines in your life …to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness - Ephesians 4:22-24 19. Respond with Acceptance – Stand on the promise of God that he is in the driver’s seat The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. - Proverbs 16:9 20. Respond with Thankfulness – Remain thankful for the interruption for what it could be protecting you from in the grand scheme of things For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. - Jeremiah 29:11 Stories to Learn From: 1. Bible Stories: Noah's Fuel & Power Response Daniel's Flex & Change Response Mary and Martha's Love & Care Response Mary and Joseph's Peace & Comfort Response Paul's Strength & Stamina Response 2. Leadership Stories: "Don's" Grace & Kindness Response (when losing his job) My Surrender & Release Response (when things changed at work) 3. Life Stories My Patience & Recovery Response (when suffering injury) My Forgiveness & Understanding Response (when a car deal went bad)
Reignite Your Walk 1. Make intentional time with Jesus. Prioritizing time with Jesus will set the trajectory of your entire day. Those days become weeks, weeks into months, and before you know it, your entire year has transformed. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” 2. Find a plan and set a goal. Having a goal doesn’t seem like the most spiritual action, but it starts a behavior of time in the Word of God. A goal is a form of personal discipline. Proverbs 12:1a says, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge” and creating this knowledge with a new plan will guide your life. 3. Count your blessings. Spending time each day physical writing a few things you are thankful for creates a quick reference to leverage when Satan attacks or God’s plan doesn’t make sense to you. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Practicing daily gratitude helps deepen the joyful heart muscle. 4. Attend a church. Serving others doesn’t directly require a church community, but the power of a group that will provide opportunities for service can’t be missed. In the Bible, the church is directly called to meet the needs of people and a healthy church will have programs to support food insecurities, widows and orphans (James 1:27), and spreading the good news of Christ. Romans 12:5 says, “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” There is power in numbers. 5. Join a Bible study group. Spending regular time with a group of individuals hungry to learn the Word of God will create healthy relationships. The subject matter of the Bible creates a common link and environment for relationship building. Some of the best friendships I have made are through Bible study groups. I know with a likeminded belief foundation, I can call any of them in time of need. John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”. I’ve seen this time and time again through relationships formed in Bible study groups. It truly takes a village to get through this life. Check out It Takes a Village. Redirect Your Focus 6. Choose something to fast from. Fasting can be a strange topic if you aren’t familiar with it. I encourage you to read Between You and God: Fasting to understand it if it’s new to you. Fasting eliminates something from your life to then encourage you to turn to the Lord when you crave it. It doesn’t necessarily mean food. It could be social media, an activity, or even Netflix. Fasting should have a set start and end date. 7. Go somewhere different. Changing up your physical surroundings permanently or temporarily can open your heart and mind to a fresh word from God. It can be as small as moving from the kitchen table to the couch or as big as going to a new city. For me, my strongest new views are in nature. When I get away from the distractions within my home or the busyness of the needs of my family, God’s voice is louder in my heart and mind. 8. Eliminate noise and negativity. Identifying unnecessary noise or unfruitful relationships is the first step to cutting out noise and negativity. This could be people, places, or things in your life. Titus 3:10 says, “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him”. 9. Give money or time to charity. Being intentional at who and what you give to is key. If you have time, give time. If you have money, give money. It’s not about how much or how you give to serve but the fact that you do so. Your focus will improve when you give towards others. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” For more on giving see Between You and God: Giving and Remembering 2021: Increased Intentional Giving. 10. Establish relational boundaries. Evaluating if a relationship is fruitful in your life and then if not, taking steps for change, can be a tough activity. We are called to love people, but sometimes others can take advantage of our openness and willingness to be present, help, or talk. Galatians 6:5 says, “For each will have to bear his own load.” Reenergize Your Life 11. Cut back on something unhealthy. Reducing or completing getting rid of the yuck in your life and grow your energy to new heights. Keep in mind that something that is unhealthy to you may be ok to someone else. This is what is right for you. It can link back to fasting as a starting point. Something as simple as reducing sugar intake can grow energy. 1 Corinthians 6:12a says, “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful.” Moderation is key. 12. Make physical movement a priority. Moving our bodies takes care of the temple God has provided for us. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. The more you move, the more energy you hold to create new views in your life. 13. Evaluate your entertainment choices. Thinking about if the shows/movies you watch, the music you listen to, and the places you go through the lens of “is this good for my mindset?” and “is this kingdom-worthy?” will cause you to pause and think before you choose to allow something to enter your mind. Several years ago, I realized that my daily addition to a soap opera wasn’t a good entertainment option for me. For me, it was an unwise entertainment option (though if you are a soap fan and it’s not hindering your mindset, have at it!). Changes in entertainment options won’t look the same from person to person. 14. Schedule time to give. Making a point to give back is a necessity. Though some giving is to meet urgent needs, there are important needs all around you. Use some of your vacation time to go on a mission trip or volunteer at a non-profit. 15. Take care of someone or something other than yourself. Though most of the actions listed above are about the impact of relationships with others towards you, there is an element of your relationships with others towards them. If you are only concerned about you, open yourself up to caring for others. If life with people is too much to start with, begin with a pet or even easier a plant. Have something rely on you will help you take a little focus off yourself. The flesh is selfish and the spirit is selfless. See more in Flesh vs. Spirit. Final Reflection Here are questions to help you think as you reignite your walk, redirect your focus, and reenergize your life in this new season:
Prayer Matthew 6:6 - But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. The first step to setting the stage to start strong is preparing by focusing on prayer. Prayer is a partnership between you and God (See Between You and God: Prayer) and puts you on a pursuit of daily conversation with Him. He wants to hear what you want in life. Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Talk to God consistently, openly, and confidently. God will show you things, give you ideas, and support you in whatever goal is in your heart. He hears you and responds to you. If prayer isn’t something you’ve adopted as a practice in your life, start small. Tell God, “hello” and “I am here”. Then, thank Him for all that he is doing in your life, ask him for direction and blessing, and pour out your fears and hopes to him. He is listening and wants to hear from you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” As you look ahead in this new year, talk to God about it. You never know what He’s going to say and how he’s going to use the journey you are on in the coming year. He has a purpose for you. Prepare Proverbs 16:1-3 - The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Thinking and planning for what’s coming isn’t something all personality types enjoy. Some people love a good goal, plan, and checklist and others would rather live in the moment and go step by step through life as it happens. I believe there is a healthy middle ground to preparing for the new year or next phase in life. It was intentional that the first message in this series was on prayer (read Setting the Stage to Start Strong: Prayer). To prepare starts with a foundation of prayer. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”. Seek Him first and He will show you how to prepare for what’s next. It is biblical to prepare. Proverbs lays out several short verses about the importance of preparation:
Preparing for what’s next doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a full plan for an entire year. It means you know where you are and where you want to go. You’ve gained knowledge and identified at least the next right step. (learn more about taking the next right step: Going from Point A to Point B) It’s a bonus if you take the time to tell someone. By the end of the year, I’ll be sending out a free e-book to my subscribers to help prepare you in knowing the next right thing in building a daily habit in a walk with God. I won’t be pushing it out on social media so be sure to subscribe on the site to receive this gift from me! Reading this e-book may be the first step of preparation for your goal! Committing your plans to the Lord and knowing that His plan for you will prevail gives confidence to know that He will prepare you and be with you in the next right step. Pause Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” On July 1, when I began sharing my heart each day, I had no idea I’d still be writing at the end of the year and so many of you would be reading. I’ve posted 142 devotionals and know as I write, I am growing spiritually and living in obedience of what God has called me to do early every morning. (Read more on my writing Journey: Remembering 2021: The Journey of Writing) Even I needed a break, and if you look back at the daily devotionals, I went silent from 12/24 until 1/3. I encourage all of you to pause at some point just before or early in the new year. Taking a moment to pause from normalcy will recharge, reignite, renew, reshape, and reassure us in life. Breaks are crucial for our physical, mental, and spiritual health. Pausing and being still in the Lord is something we are to regularly do. Even God rested on the 7th day after creating the universe. “And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” (Genesis 2:2-3). God blesses times of rest. I was reading a daily devotional last week and the author made a statement that has been ringing in my ears since then. “Many people run from one thing to the next. Because their minds don’t know how to be still, they don’t know how to be still” (Joyce Meyer). To be still is acting as a “human-being” vs. a “human-doing”. I tend to be a “human-doing”. I have a hard time stopping my mind from thinking about what's next. I need a pause of just being. The rewiring of our brains to pause and to accept it is OK to pause isn’t an easy feat, but through the Lord, he will give us strength to do so. Psalm 28:7 says, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” Pause and be still for just a few moments early in the year. He will speak more clearly to you, refresh you as you enter a new year, and He will be exalted in your life. Final Reflection Here are a few questions to help you think through setting the stage for your life THIS year!
Moments In Society Anger & Discord in America Romans 16:17-18 - I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve. Satan loves confusion, disorder, and bloodshed and uses a spirit of discontentedness and dissatisfaction in the hearts of men and women to catapult a society into pain. 1 Corinthians 14:33 says, “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.”. There are better ways to express love and truth to others instead of violence. 2021 started off with intense opposition with and a desire to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. On January 6th supporters of the losing party stormed the capital building full of anger and armed with weapons. 5 people died during shortly after the event, 138 people were injured. Civil unrest continued to impact America in 2021 and has impacted dozens of communities. Peaceful protests turned violent with death and destruction. My intent is not to express opinions on what happened, but to center us on truth and what the Bible says when it comes to living and loving in peaceful community. Divisions in society isn’t a new thing. Division can occur in families, churches, communities, nations, and across the world and has happened since the beginning of time. The Serpent vs. Eve and Cain vs. Abel are some very early biblical examples. Even as Christ-followers, it takes continually walking with him in the Word and prayer to fight the human nature of battle. This protects our hearts and actions to not engage in fights leading to deeper and deeper pain. Approaching discord, anger, and opposition with the below tactics can diffuse situations that will lead into pain.
People need to love people and support one another in love. Change happens through centering our hearts and minds around peace and discernment on how to fight back when anger and discord prevail. Vaccine Mandates Romans 13:1-2 - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. In 2021 we lapped the one-year anniversary of the global pandemic. The year started with vaccines in the early stages of distribution. Later in the year vaccines for the virus became one of the most highly debated topics across the country. Some people were ecstatic and ready for a “back to normal” world and waited in line to receive the vaccine. Others were apprehensive due to the speed of creation and the new biological technology used in the vaccine itself. A third type of group regarding vaccines was an “absolutely not” mindset. The debate reached new highs as corporations and business began to require the vaccine as a condition for employment. Today’s post isn’t to state my opinion about the vaccine itself. My goal today is to look at the Word of God through the lens of authority and to share what I believe regarding God working throughout all things. Hebrews 13:7 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
Jeremiah 29:11 was one of the earliest scriptures I memorized in my Christian walk. It says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” I take great hope in this verse because it helps me live knowing “God’s got it” in every situation. Regardless of what is happening in the life of you, your family, your workplace, your community, your country in regard to the requirement of vaccination, I pray that the Lord will lead you, open doors for you, and create peace within you for the decisions you make and acceptance of the decisions made by others. Moments of Change A New Normal Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 2021 began just over 9 months after the world shut down from the global pandemic. January was full of questions like:
It was clear fatigue from isolation was setting in, but change was around the corner for my family. Even this self-proclaimed introvert, was beginning to need some glimmers of what normal used to be. No matter what changed in our lives over the last year, one thing remains. Jesus. Let me say that again…Jesus didn’t change when our worlds were turned upside down. He loved us before the pandemic, during the pandemic, and continues to love us today. Having the peace that everything happens as designed by his plan gives us the freedom to understand that as things change in the way we do life and how as some things go back to the way they were, it’s all how God has designed things to be. Overscheduling is a trigger for anxiety for me. Doing life completely from home for me and my family made it easier to set boundaries and maximize time. As our calendar events began to grow in January, I felt anxiety creeping in. Matthew 6:33-34 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.” God blessed me with a slow re-entry to a new normal. As I look back on the year, here are some of the changes my family experienced. I hope you can relate to or even apply some of these into your life next year.
Change would have happened regardless of the pandemic. However, God has used the pandemic to redirect us back to him, help us see what’s important, give us new experiences, and provide people in our paths. I’m thankful he’s at the center of it all. Beginning and the End Ecclesiastes 3:1 - For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven 2021 brought beginning of my youngest’s formal education years and the final year for my oldest. Though our lives will have many starts and finishes, the one thing that remains is that God is the ultimate beginning and the end and will never change. He was here when the world began. In the very first two verses of the Bible it says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2) He will be here when he returns and the world as we know it will cease to exist. In the final chapter of the final book of the Bible, it says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:13) Doors will open and close through life. Alexander Graham Bell is credited as saying “When one door closes, another one opens”. As you go through the beginnings and ends in life, where are a few ideas on how to live through those moments:
Rest in knowing God was here before the world even began, he is the ultimate beginning and end, and nothing is a surprise to God. He has you on a journey of beginnings and ends. Embrace it! Increased Giving 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. This year we took the statement “you can’t out give God” to heart. As we reviewed our finances from 2020, we realized that our financial giving as a family was lower than it had been the previous year. We’d obeyed the word of God and tithed properly but beyond tithing our giving wasn’t where we wanted it to be. In 2020, life was different. The world stood still for most of the year. Living life primarily in our homes lowered the chances for impromptu giving. We decided to give intentionally in a new way in 2021. God has given us “more than I deserve” to quote Dave Ramsey. Giving not only blesses the receiver but also you. It is core to our foundational belief system. Giving is between you and God, (see Between You & God: Giving) so this is not about me tooting the horn of what we gave in 2021, but about teaching you about how important it is to give and some easy ways to implement this in your life.
The more you give, the more you will be blessed. The more you are blessed, the more you can do for the kingdom. Demonstrate you can be trusted with a little and you will receive much more. Luke 16:10 says, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.” Giving is a great way to demonstrate this! Moments of Celebration 20 Years Strong Ephesians 5:22-23 - Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. This year my husband, Jonathan, and I celebrated our 20-year wedding anniversary. The 23+ year story of our relationship (2 years dating, 1 year engaged, 20 years married) can’t completely be covered in a single post. However, today I’ll share biblical principles on why I believe we have continued to live and thrive together. Keeping God at the Center – When two people are growing in their faith together, the relationship will naturally bloom, and God will bless that relationship. When we started attending church regularly about a year and a half into our marriage, there was a significant improvement in our relationship. Having the same belief systems keeps God at the center. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14) Prioritizing Marriage – Our marriage takes priority over all other relationships. That includes our children, our parents, and our friends. This is as God designed. Some seasons this is more difficult than others to do this but we do our best with lots of grace. We love others but strive to prioritize each other first. Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24) Creating a Team Environment – Jonathan and I are a team when it comes to raising our children, leading our small group, and doing life in general. Though we do have some of our own separate hobbies, we are a team and partner together in decision making for our livelihood and family. Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” (Genesis 2:10) Doing Life with Others Together – Having other couple friends to do life together makes life more fun. It also creates an accountability system for doing marriage right and a haven to learn from each other and talk through things. I’m incredibly thankful for our friends. Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) Understanding the Roles of Husbands and Wives – The Bible clearly lays out the role of the husband and wife. Though some of the descriptors are not popular in America today the core point to understand is that wives are to submit to their husbands and husbands are to love their wives “as Christ loves the church”. Submission isn’t a dirty word. (read more here: Keeping it Simple: Submission). These roles must be rooted in love. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) Trust me when I say that the last 20 years haven’t all been rainbows and sunshine but a commitment to one another and God at the center is why it works. There is no one else I’d rather do life with. I love my husband and look forward to the next 20 years to come! Right Side of Salvation Isaiah 1:19 - If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land Early May brought spiritual awakening not only in my church but also my family. We had a guest pastor preach on a Sunday in early May that challenged our congregation in 2 ways:
This was the trigger that caused Zachary, Malea, and even me to resolve over the next couple of months much that was stirring in our hearts. God moves in mysterious ways. None of us knew about what was going on in each other’s hearts. All three of us were baptized between May and July. Here is a summary of each of our stories. Zachary’s Story – Zachary was originally baptized during summer vacation bible school after second grade (about 6 years ago). At the time, we were confident that he had surrendered his life to Christ, and it was right for him to be baptized. Fast forward to May 2021. Zachary was at our church’s annual Men’s conference. When the invitation to come forward, accept Jesus, and be spontaneously baptized was presented, he went forward and alongside dozens of other men and teens. He was baptized. “I was at a point where I had come to a realization that in the past, I gave my life to Christ and then I started to think about why and then I realized it was because my friends were doing it. … I realized my life hadn’t changed and there was no real feeling. My mind was distracted, and I wasn’t even thinking about it when I said yes the first time. I had the mental knowledge, but I didn’t have it in my heart. For a long time, I felt empty, and it was not OK. In that moment at the men’s conference, I realized what I did wrong, and it was the time then to give my life to Christ and do it then to where I could grow spiritually. ~Zachary Malea’s Story – Probably the most surprising to me was when Malea came home from church camp and announced, “I was saved at church camp”. Like Zachary she was baptized the summer after second grade (about 10 years ago), and we were confident she had been saved. However, she didn’t believe she was truly changed at that time and finally gave her complete heart to Jesus at church camp. She was baptized under the crosses, outdoors, on the 4th of July. “In the process I began questioning if I was really saved with thoughts in the back of my head, but I didn’t realize how big of a deal it was to have those thoughts…And then at church camp one girl asked me, “on a scale of 1-10 how certain are you that you are going to heaven. In my head I thought I was a 6 out of 10 so maybe that meant I wasn’t actually saved.” ~Malea My Story – I had believed I was saved around the age of 14 at a Living Christmas Tree performance. When we were joining Cross Church in our early 20s, I shared this with the pastor and decided to get baptized before the service that morning so I could become a member. However, it was after that exact same service, during the invitation, I recall coming down to the alter and accepting Christ as my Savoir. God had been prompting me that my baptism was on the wrong side of my salvation for years and pride was getting in the way. I was baptized just 1 hour prior to my salvation, so did it really matter? The answer is yes. I battled with God every morning for over a week and many tears were shed and I was physically feeling ill, but when I made the decision to get my baptism on the right side of my salvation, God showed up. I was baptized on a Wednesday night with our small group members and my family in attendance. Our God is big, and he works in big ways. Baptism is a step in the Christian walk and I am thankful He has continued to work on my heart and the hearts of my two older children this year. This is one of the most meaningful moments of 2021. Don’t let pride get in the way of getting your baptism on the right side of your salvation. Moments in Experience Explore and Experience James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. After a year spent in isolation, we decided to explore and experience more of what God has physically blessed the world with in nature. This summer we went on a vacation to Hawaii which is close to 4,000 miles away from our home. It took us out of our comfort zones to see the beautiful gift of the Hawaiian Islands God created for us to enjoy. It was an amazing experience to sit in awe of his beautiful creation. To make this giant leap away from the comfort of home, we had to intentionally leave our bubble. Go on trips near and far. It doesn’t have to be a plane ride across the word. It can be as simple as a day trip to another city an hour away. Ceasing your normal day to day for a time in a place that is not familiar can spark new thoughts and ideas in your heart. In a pandemic there was a fear of travel. We rested in Psalm 91:11 which says, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways”. Since most of the time there isn’t enough margin in our schedules to take extended vacations, we found shorter time commitment ways to experience the Lord’s creation. We hiked trails and started geocaching on weekends. These hobbies allowed us to go to places we never would have found on our own and sparked new creativity as we saw the splendor of God in nature. Psalm 145:5 says, “On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.” When you go off the trail of familiarity you will be blessed with seeing God’s works in a new way. It was after the trip to Hawaii God’s voice spoke loudly in my heart to start writing and sharing daily. I had no idea how I would do it and he simply said, “just write and trust me” (I’ll write more on this in the coming days!) The beauty of this world is a gift for us to explore and experience. Find ways in 2022 to see the beauty in the Lord’s creation. Journey of Writing Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Sharing and publishing my words is a major milestone of 2021. After my baptism to ensure it was on the right side of my salvation (read more on that story here), my family went to Hawaii. While separated from my normal routines and vocation, God clearly told me to “just write”. It wasn’t an audible voice, but clear enough to know that once I got home, I needed to beginning writing as a part of my daily quiet time. In mid-June I simply started typing my thoughts regarding what I was learning in my morning quiet time. I had no plan beyond journaling my learnings. As I wrote I began to question if anyone else could benefit from what I was writing. Harmony in High Heels as a site was established several years ago, in 2015, with the intention of doing just that. I was going to blog on my love of Jesus, leadership, my life, and learnings to share with others. God knew the timing wasn’t right in my spiritual development to impact the kingdom as he desired and used the next several years to pour into me through his Word. God planted the seed for me to write and publish years ago but made sure I was equipped to do so. July 1st, I published my first post and shared it with only a couple of friends and family members. (read it here) Those early readers were massively encouraging and through word of mouth and my personal social media, I’ve slowly increased the reader base. In parallel to deepening my own understanding of the Word of God, I’ve learned a ton about digital marketing, communication tools, and search engine optimization. I’ve adapted my schedule, for example only posting on weekdays vs 7 days a week and gotten better about planning ahead for my posts. There are three specific scriptures God has led me to the last 6 months in times when I am feeling fatigued, disappointed, or even apathetic on my writing.
I don’t know what God has planned for Harmony in High Heels in the future, but I do know that I am in obedience to God by continuing to write. I have more to share and speak! Thank YOU for reading the words I write and for being such an encouragement to me. I may not know all of you personally, but you mean a ton to me and impact my life more than you’ll ever understand. I am praying for you, your walk with Jesus, and your impact to the kingdom of God. Thank you for being a part of my life and the journey of Harmony in High Heels. Final Reflection Here are a few questions to think through as you reflect on the end of 2021. Prayers and blessings to you and yours in 2022. Thank you for reading!
Choosing Jesus
1 Corinthians 15:29-30 - Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? Why are we in danger every hour? The first takeaway in this passage is that choosing Jesus is a choice only the living can make. In this passage the people of Corinth are baptizing people after they die to help the deceased go to Heaven. Paul is challenging the people that if they believe in baptism of the dead for the dead to be raised, why aren’t they believing that Christ died and rose again for their individual sins. The only way to be saved is through personal faith in Christ and that’s a choice among the living. We attended a funeral yesterday. In the moments of grief for family and friends, the preacher shared he knew the deceased had decided to accept Christ while living, and we’d see him again in heaven. It’s amazing the amount of hope that gives the ones who are left behind to live out the remainder of their time on earth. John 5:25 says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” Jesus is saying “is now here”. The moment we die is unknown to us. The moment Jesus returns is unknown to us. Without being able to write these dates on the calendar, the wake-up call is to choose Jesus now. Don’t let any excuse in your mind stop you from waking up and making that decision for you now.
If you are allowing excuses to stop you from choosing Jesus now, know that there is always another excuse right around the corner. Fact is there is no better time than now. When you die, it’s too late. The Physical Body 1 Corinthians 15:31 - I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! As you age it becomes clear that the body isn’t what it used to be. As children we grow taller, bigger, and stronger, as teens and young adults we push our bodies to the limits, and in later adulthood, the body starts to noticeably break down. I’ve been an on-again, off-again runner for the last 13 years. Where I used to be able to run without warming up and cool down with minimal stretching, if I’m not disciplined to do these things now, I wind up injured. When I’m training harder, I wind up sorer when I wake up in the mornings. Fact is that my body is dying a little bit every day no matter what I do to maintain it. Our physical bodies are our temporary dwelling place while on earth. Once Jesus returns, we will be reunited. Here are some facts about our dying physical bodies.
It may feel strange to think about your body dying a bit every day. Thinking this way will help you maximize your time, accept aging gracefully, and maintain an eternal focus and hope that the physical pain in your body is temporary. This week we celebrate my grandmother’s 90th birthday. I’m just shy of half a century younger than her, and my physical body already groans. I can only imagine her groaning since at 90, lots of parts of the physical body are dying. I’m thankful to know that she hopes in what is to come, and she knows her body will be perfect when Jesus returns. Risk Taking 1 Corinthians 15:32 - What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Have you ever been put in a situation or felt a nudge to do something that feels like it came from a place of crazy-town? It’s possible the off the wall idea that popped into your head is a prompting from the Holy Spirit to take steps out of your comfort zone. When God speaks, it doesn’t always make sense, but sometimes we are called to move or act. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” The longer you wait, the more your heart will stir until you finally take action. If you wait too long, God could use someone else, and you could miss out on incredible blessing. We aren’t called to live our entire lives calm, comfortable, and collected. I’m not advocating to make rash, risky, uninformed decisions. It’s crucial to use the tools in your toolbox to clarify the risk and design the steps to take. Pray, read the Bible, and seek wise counsel in any major life decisions. If the risk is meant to be you will be blessed with discernment, clarity, and a path forward that can only come from the Lord. The closer you walk with God daily, the more clearly you will hear the Lord speak. There are so many stories in the Bible of those who took risks. Here are a few.
Take advantage of the time God has you on earth. Do what he calls you to do even when it isn’t even close to the story you would have written for yourself. Your Influence 1 Corinthians 15:33 - Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Have you ever heard the saying, “you become who you spend your time with”? The more time you spend with individuals, the more likely you are to pick up on their words, actions, habits, and even beliefs. This goes true for your personal influence around other people. Believe it or not, the people you are around are directly influenced by you. God puts people on your path for a reason. Some people stay in our lives for decades, and others are for short seasons. Whatever the relationship, awareness to what of you may be rubbing off onto them is key. We must maximize the time we do have to positively pour into and influence those around us on the right path. The Bible clearly calls out the requirement to influence children the right way. Matthew 18:6 says, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” The requirement is massive to not influence a child in a negative away. Like a child, those that haven’t found Jesus or are early in their Christian walk are highly influenceable. Here are some ways to protect your influence:
People are watching you. Be positive, be good company, and be a light in this dark world. Intentional Sin 1 Corinthians 15:34 - Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. You are not perfect. Fact is, you will never be perfect. I’m a sinner, you’re a sinner, everyone is a sinner. However, even though perfection is unattainable, and we know we will sin, it doesn’t mean it’s OK to live a life of intentional sin. The bible is very clear when it comes to intentional sin. Hebrews 10:26-27 says, “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.” Satan knows what sin is attractive to you, and he will use that sinful nature in you to do everything in his power to turn you away from the Lord. James 1:14-15 says, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” Sin will lead to death and destruction of well-being, provision, and relationships. Sin doesn’t look the same for everyone. Simply put, sin is sin and there is no differentiation between types of sin. Sin can be as simple as not always doing the right thing. James 4:17 says, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” It can also big as big as breaking one of the Ten Commandments. With Jesus coming to save the world, the way to wash away our sin is belief in Jesus. Acts 17:30 removes the excuse of ignorance. “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,”. Believing in Jesus and accepting him as your savior is a substitution for our own sin. (Keeping it Simple: Substitution) However, when we sin, recovery from it is a cycle. Once you realize you are in sin or experience a heart change to stop an intentional sin, these are the steps to take: Reveal/confess your sin, repent from your sin, receive forgiveness and grace from your sin, refrain from temptation or activity causing sin, and repeat the process (because you will sin again). No sin is too big or too small to break from. God is big and once you want to stop, he will be your rock to make it happen. Wake up and stop intentionally sinning today. For more on sin specifically, read Keeping it Simple: Sin. Final Reflection Here are a few questions to think through to decide how awake you are in your life today. It's never too late to Wake-up!
Words of the Christian faith can be hard to understand. Whether you are a new Christian, someone that has been a Christian for a long time, or someone who is simply curious about the Christian faith, this post is for you. Translating the Hebrew and Greek original manuscripts of the Word of God into English leaves room for complexity and interpretation. Below are personally crafted definitions and scripture references to keep these hard words simple. Each word also links directly to a full post on the word. Simply put, the characteristic of righteousness is “the quality of being morally right or justifiable”. Righteous and righteousness are used over 540 times in the Bible across Old and New Testaments so it must be important! Looking at “righteousness” through the eyes of the Christian faith, the key thing to note is that it is impossible for you to be truly righteous unless you have accepted Christ as your savior. Link to full post 2. REDEMPTION The root word “redeem” is a late Middle English word from Old French or Latin and simply translates to “buy back”. It is used in all forms and over 150 times throughout the Bible: redeem, redeemed, redeemer, redeems, and redemption. Redemption means the action of being saved from sin, error, or evil and the actual action of gaining possession of something to clear a debt. Link to full post To be content is to be in a state of peaceful happiness and good with where you are in any given moment. In today’s world we aren’t wired to be content. We are encouraged to do more, have stuff, get better, become stronger and all of those are well and good. However, when progress towards those things isn’t up to your own or society’s standards you can be attacked by losing your state of contentedness. Read more on Why You'll Never Be Satisfied. Link to full post 4. COVENANT A covenant is simply an agreement, contract, or deal between individuals or groups. It’s used in the Bible anywhere from around 270 to 350 times, which is no surprise since the Word of God is full of God’s promises. Link to full post 5. SIN This 3-letter word is probably one of the most difficult terms to understand completely. Though it’s simple to pronounce, it is complex in meaning. The word, sin, begins in Genesis and runs through the entire Christian faith as the reason we need Jesus. Where the definition is simple: “an act considered wrong against divine law”, interpretation of what IS sin varies across belief systems. Link to full post 6. FRUIT Fruit may seem like a bit of a silly word to include in a study on difficult words of the Christian faith. I mean, who doesn’t know what fruit is!?!?! Just in case, the most common definition of fruit: the sweet, fleshy product of a tree or plant that can be consumed. In the Christian faith, “fruit” has similarities but also core differences. Biblical fruit is character, actions, and results in and through us for good kingdom impacts. Producing, bearing, receiving, and consuming fruit are all biblical concepts. Link to full post 7. SUBSTITUTION The general definition of substitution is the action of replacing someone or something with another person or thing. Substitutionary atonement is a significant piece of Christian doctrine. It states that Jesus’ death on the cross replaced us as a sacrifice so our sins can be covered allowing us to live in heaven for eternity. In life, we experience the concept of substitution. Link to full post 8. SURRENDER To surrender invokes thoughts of a battle where one side gives up, waves the white flag, and stops fighting. This battle can be a game, an argument, living, a job, or literal war time event. In its most simple form, surrender means to stop resisting. In the biblical context, surrender to Jesus occurs when we stop resisting his continuous chase after our hearts and lives. Link to full post 9. SUBMISSION Submission and surrender go together. Where surrender is the stoppage of resisting, submission is the yielding to another party for decision making and leadership. Surrender is a willing act and involves a decision, but submission could include an unwillingness to accept someone’s authority. In a biblical context it is clear on who and what to submit to in our lives. Link to full post 10. SALVATION Sometimes it’s easiest to understand a hard word or concept by beginning with the end. Salvation in a biblical context directly impacts your eternal future. Eternity is a LONG time and is something we can’t even completely comprehend. We enter eternity when we leave this earth. Our time on earth is compared to a “mist that appears for a little time” which is a small blip vs eternity. (James 4:14) Link to full post 11. SANCTIFICATION Sanctification can sound like a big scary word in the Christian faith. Like several of the words in the Keeping it Simple series complete books are written on this single word. To make it simple, sanctification is a process. It is the process of continual setting apart. Once you have accepted Jesus as your savior, you are on this journey. Jesus died so we can be sanctified. Hebrews 3:12 says, “So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.” Link to full post 12. PROPITIATION The word propitiation is only used in the Word of God about four times. However, it is another Christian word that is foundational to the faith. It’s only used in the New Testament to describe what Jesus did for us. In its simplest definition, propitiation is the act of gaining or regaining favor of someone or something. Favor must be gained with God. Link to full post 13. TRINITY Though the word trinity is not explicitly used in the word of God, the concept is foundational to the Christian faith. Simply put, the word trinity means a group of three people or things. In a biblical context it is God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The union of these three encompasses one divine being. Link to full post 14. REVELATION Though the word revelation is only used about 10 times in the Bible, it’s a key word to believing in something not always visually seen. The final chapter of the Bible is even called “Revelations”! In its most simple definition, revelation means a secret or surprise made known. Link to full post 15. RESURRECTION To believe in something you must first understand what it means. In its most simple definition, the word resurrection means to bring back to life. The resurrection of Jesus is the proof of our hope that there is life beyond our brief moments on this earth. Jesus is the resurrection, the way, and the life. Link to full post Leadership is hard and to grow as a leader takes intentional focus. From working with diverse people, leading through times of change, and making small steps towards big impacts, there is no shortage of skills to develop as a leader. The Bible gives direct leadership lessons throughout on these topics! Value Everyone Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! From a young age we are all taught the importance of playing nice on a team. We participate in play groups, play dodge ball at recess, and involve in organized sports. We engage in group projects in the classroom, ensembles in music, study sessions in church. As a child or teenager, teams are typically led by an overseeing adult and the largest focus is to be nice and get along. Easy, right? WRONG! There is nothing simple and natural about creating a high performing team where all individuals appreciate one another's diversity on thoughts and experiences. The base layer of teamwork is appreciation and understanding of everyone's role. Though getting along and being nice is important, we often miss this foundational step. A year into my career I was a part of a team with three different areas of technology expertise. I was able to learn two of the three areas and had been told by someone that the third was an area to stay away from. That area tended to receive significant night support calls and unrealistic deadlines. It was also not recognized as the newer, more cutting edge, technology. One day, several members of the team were chatting in the workspace about our upcoming project. I stated, "I don't ever want to be a mainframer". A lady, 20 years my senior said, outraged I might add, "I'm tired of you saying bad things about what I do!". She was right. I was insensitive to the people who work on that platform every day. I wasn't respecting or showing my understanding of the value her specific work provided to the team. I was undermining it and behaving in a way that placed my role on a pedestal above hers. I didn't respond well. I wound up in my managers office. This was the first time I cried at work (which is OK, I'll write about this topic another time! By the way, of you lead people, it's a MUST to have a box of tissues in your office!) I wasn't upset with my teammate but was convicted of my own personal behavior. Here are a few tips to both demonstrate and show appreciation for the roles of others:
So, how did my story end? The lady on the team and I wound up having a face-to-face, private conversation. She initiated the dialog, which is a positive reflection on her professional maturity. We talked through it, we both apologized, and we made it through the project. Funny thing, a year or so later, due to a need, I also learned how to work on that technology platform! I am thankful this occurred so early in my career. We can't accomplish anything on our own. It takes a team!!! Be sure to understand and appreciate everyone's roles! Contribute Consistently Colossians 3:23-24 - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Have you ever been in a conversation with someone at work and comments like below are made about a fellow co-worker or manager?
You have probably either thought or spoken these statements. It's important to remember that perception is the reality of the one observing. As a leader, you can't be oblivious towards how other are perceiving you. A “Leader” agnostic to position or title. Leading occurs 360 degrees around you. It's a true statement as you move up in an organization, typically the degree of responsibility and amount of work accomplished through influencing others increases. There are needs to direct tasks, set goals, and define success for teams. What's important is to make sure those around you see you are also a contributing part of the team. To the leader in charge of guiding others through direct authority or influence:
To the leader serving as an individual contributor:
Take note that any one person could do everything on the above lists. It’s not a this or that, but an all. It’s easy to say, “that’s not my job” or “I'm doing all the work". Take the higher road, investigate your balance of lead vs. do, and strive to maintain this balance. Remain Adaptable Events and occurrences happen in your life: planned/unplanned, intended/not as intended, feel good/cause pain, personal/professional lives, impact us/impact those around us. Regardless of the type and impact of change or how the change feels, there are a series of principles to apply to help get through any change. The key is simply releasing control. It’s clear change is on the horizon for me and my family. Though parts of our lives have already returned to a near normal state of what life was like prior to the Global pandemic, significant change is coming. I will be working from an office again (with a healthy amount of flexibility) and this will feel different for me, my family, and even my team. As transitions happen, the below principles will help pull me through. Respect: People are put into authority, not by chance but by divine appointment. People in authority over you is anyone leading you (government, bosses, pastors, parents for a time, etc) It isn’t an accident a person is in charge and empowered to make change. Respect the decisions of those in authority. You may disagree, but this should not be done in a way that is disrespectful of the appointed leader. Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. Romans 13:1 (HCSB) Reflect: What does the change mean to you, your family, your friends, your team, etc.? Take time to internalize what the change means and what impact it will have today, tomorrow, and in the future. Try to find the positive in the change and share it with others. If you’re respecting decisions and looking at the change through a different lens, it becomes easier to adapt and identify what the path means going forward. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV) Remember: It’s funny how quickly you forget the previous weeks and months when something new changes in your environment. Celebrate the highs and learn from the lows. One tactic to help with remembering is to journal. If you journal the now, it’s easy to see where you’ve been and how God has pulled you through. Remember the days of old; consider the years long past. Deuteronomy 32:7a (HCSB) Recharge: The change may mean you need some time to step away and just breathe. There still may be questions post reflection and remembrance. Recharging oneself isn’t a one size fits all tactic. Some people need time away to think in a quiet environment and others want to be with a group to talk about it. Some people need to be still, while others want to be active. Knowing yourself and your needs is important. It is key to build this muscle prior to any sort of significant change in your life. The key here is to break away from routine and come back stronger. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NLT) Reignite: By knowing your purpose in life, taking the time to understand the change through varying lenses, and maintaining long-term focused, reignite your life and impact those around you! Be supportive to those around you and keep driving towards your passion. Increase your energy so you’ll be ready for the next change. Life is a series of seasons and change will be constant. Building spiritual skills to adapt your view and actions through change will help you through any time of transition. Transition Gracefully Ecclesiastes 3:1 - For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven Life is full of transitions. Just when comfort and complacency set in, something changes. Transitions can be self-imposed, the idea of a family member, business-need driven, or caused by unknown factors. Every change has a transition period. They key is learning from the experiences of others, leaning into a support system, letting go where possible, and lavishing in the alone-time moments. Learning from experiences of others - Find an individual or network to talk to about the season you are transitioning into and ask questions. People will listen and can share from past experiences. Most likely, there are others who have experienced the same transition. The Internet is another source to ask questions, but take caution on what you read. The Internet is full of opinions… on everything...and that's just what they are...opinions. Leaning into a support system - Different from learning from others, a support system isn't necessarily to give advice, but is there to help and listen. Individuals in a support system are those who when called are receptive, open, and authentically care about the transition. They listen and only offer advice if you are asking for it. A support system may take pick up groceries when you can't get out, watch the kids when you need a break, or offer a friendly hug when you're feeling down. Letting go where possible - Seasons of transition may require a break from daily chores or favorite activities and create a need of flexibility around schedules. I'm very "Type-A". I thrive on checklists, goals, and schedules. I struggle with a sense of personal perfectionism in certain areas of my life. Through seasons of transition I've had to temporarily let-go while maintaining the mind-set that this season is temporary. It’s about progress over perfection. Lavish in the alone-time moments - It feels selfish at times, but time to re-charge through alone time is key to ease transition periods. You must make time for YOU! It's important to get enough sleep and to fuel the body properly. Transition times may also cause for a time to be less social. It's OK to skip social events, re-prioritize activities, and even say NO at times. Change is hard, but by taking these simple steps in the middle of it, the transition can be smooth as butter. Remember, you are not alone, someone near you has gone through the same change, people want to help, things may feel and be different, and you will make it through to the other side. God’s timing is perfect. Move with Impact Proverbs 3:6 - In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. The fall season is always incredibly busy for my family. Years ago, I remember a time when we were trying to get our family out the door before a double-event night of flag football practice for my then 8-year-old son followed by a softball game for my then 12-year-old daughter…and all with a baby in tow. In our hurried state of finishing dinner, putting on cleats, wrapping up homework, changing clothes, and a quick bathroom break before leaving the house, my husband and I realized we were both telling our son things to do. He wasn't making progress on any of it! My husband paused and said, "Son, stop what you are doing and let's do one thing at a time to get from point A to point B." Think of getting from point A to point B on a larger scale. Do you ever walk into a room in your house and wish you could completely remodel and decorate the room? Your brain says point A is current state and point B is the completed project. The key is to pause and plan on how to get from point A to point B and realize there may be a points C, D, E, and F before you get to the end, which is now point G! Moment by moment "to-dos", projects, and goals can seem extremely daunting when looking at the full scale of what needs to be accomplished. No matter if it's the home, work, or a personal goal, it can be difficult to get started. God has you on his perfect path for your life. His Word even tells us he is guiding you and throughout any sort of journey, we are to rely on him first. Here are some simple steps to make daily activities, projects, and goals less daunting.
The burning question is...did my family make it to flag football practice on time for double event night? Though my son was finally able to get from point A to point B, the answer is we were still late! The key is we are all works in progress and even if we'd planned our point A (home) to point B (football fields) steps perfectly, we could have still been late. Whether you are managing daily tasks, taking on a major home project, tasked with a larger work project, or setting a personal fitness goal, it's important to think through how you will get from point A to point B. |
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