HE WOULD LOVE FIRST

 

*this is an article I wrote for a magazine I contribute to, Christ Light Magazine. I pray and hope you are blessed and the Holy Spirit speaks to you through it. Much Love, Beth.*

 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:34-35

 

Have you ever been buying a coffee or getting something at the store and the server or cashier was rude to you? I know I’m not the only one who has had this happen to them. And I know it’s very frustrating, especially if you were making an effort to smile and be nice (which we always should).

For instance, in my town at our local Dollar General there is a cashier who is rather rude. She pretty much always slams things around and is hateful with you for no reason at all. It didn’t take too long for me to get frustrated with this lady. But the Holy Spirit compelled me to do something different…something beyond the frustration. Pray for her. Whoa. Now that’s something most of us don’t want to do when someone is being hateful with you, especially if it is a repeated thing. But God wants me to love her and be kind to her. He doesn’t want me talking bad about her all the time. After all, how would this be any different from the wrong she does?

In the verse above Jesus gives us a commandment to love, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” And He also says, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Wow. That is so powerful. By us loving one another and demonstrating the love of God through our actions, people will know we are Jesus’ disciples. They will know we are followers of Jesus.

We are the hands and feet of Jesus. Everything we do should represent the person Jesus Christ. People should always be able to see Jesus in us. When we love, when we show the love of Jesus by our actions, they will be able to see Him. They will see something different and they will want to know what that is. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the lady at the Dollar General saw Jesus in me, saw there was something different, and found Jesus because of it? What if the next person you came across that was unkind to you saw Jesus in you and was changed?

I try to pray now, and not talk bad, about the people who are rude to me. The people who cut me off in the Walmart parking lot and just sinful people I see in general. I have IN NO MEANS mastered this. I have still talked about the lady at the Dollar General, I have still rolled my eyes-or at least wanted to-at the things she does. But I still am praying for her. Even while writing this article, the Holy Spirit has convicted me about more things I can do to show and be the love of Jesus to her and to others around me.

Won’t you join me?

Way Maker

Recently I was riding in the car on a day trip with my family, and I was feeling really down. Well, let me back up. I was feeling down even before that. The hour before I was in the car and even the days, weeks, months, and years before that. There was so much going wrong in my life, personal attacks of the enemy against me, and so much going on otherwise-just really hard times.

And in that moment Jesus, as He always does, brought revelation to me and words that reminded me of His truth. He started to bring me out of the deep, dark pit I was wrestling in right then. But then Jesus used a song to remind me of His reality. Have you ever been driving or riding in the car and a song came on the radio that was just what you needed to hear at that moment? That has happened to me more times than I can count and this morning was one of the times it happen. The song was the worship song, Way Maker. I know a lot of us have probably heard that song and know how anointed and powerful it is. 

This song speaks of the truths of Jesus and the realities of Him, and it was what I so desperately needed to be reminded of in that moment.The songs say,

You are here, moving in our midst
I worship You, I worship You
You are here, working in this place
I worship You, I worship You

You are
Waymaker, miracle worker
Promise keeper, light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are
You are
Waymaker, miracle worker
Promise keeper, light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are

That is who You are, that is who You are

Even when I don't see it, You're working
Even when I don't feel it, You're working
You never stop, You never stop working
You never stop, You never stop working
Even when I don't see it, You're working
Even when I don't feel it, You're working
You never stop (You never stop working)
You never stop (You never stop working)

He is a way maker, miracle worker, and a promise keeper. The promises He has made to you and your family, He will keep. He is coming through. He is a light in the darkness. His bright light is shining into the darkness in your life, and it is vanishing. All these things that the song says Jesus is, He is. “My God, that is who you are.”

Even when we don’t see it, even when we don’t feel it, He is working. He never stops working. Sometimes we don’t feel God, sometimes we don’t feel like He is there or that He is working, but He is. Matthew 28:20 says, Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. We cannot go by feelings-because they will lie to us. He is our God. He is our God, ya'll! And isn't that what God does, look out and take care of His people! 

Isaiah 43:19 says, I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. And that is exactly what this song talks about Jesus doing. He is the Way Maker, the Miracle Worker, and the Promise Keeper. He is working, He is moving, and making a way in our lives even when we do not see it. Rest in Him, receive and be reassured in that. He has not forgotten us; He will come through. He will not fail us or forsake us. 

That is just who He is.

Resurrection

Resurrection

I absolutely enjoy Resurrection Sunday and this time year. I'm also passionate (Lord make me MORE passionate) about us actually making Resurrection Sunday, and the entire season, about what it should be about. 

You see, it's not about bunnies and eggs. It's about Jesus! And I might add celebrating Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection is NOT supposed to be limited to one week of the year! It's mean to be celebrated and embraced in our lives every single day!

Let's endeavor to make this Resurrection what it's supposed to be! Let's dive right in and celebrate in all the special ways the Holy Spirit leads that actually represent Jesus! We should be just as enthusiastic about this holiday as we are Christmas, Thanksgiving, and The Fourth of July!

Today, I want to share with you a little tradition (and something I highly recommend for everyone) that I started last year and I'm doing again this year. The weeks leading up to Resurrection Sunday I read about the death, burial, and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior over and over again. In all four Gospels. I really try to study it deeply, first by reading it over and over again, and really reading what it says. And then by writing notes of certain things that stood out to me. This year I'm writing out the KEY thing that stood out to me in the chapters I read. It's so refreshing, joyful, and just wonderful to dedicate your time to just reading about that very important event in History. It really refreshes me in Jesus' sacrifice, more than just reading it every so often, and reminds me of the worth of His sacrifice. And how it's enough to cover everything and anything.

Hallelujah!

He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Matthew 28:6

That NOTHING can stand against

*this is a post I shared on my social media accounts*

🎶Oh, yes I will, lift You high in the lowest valley
Yes I will, bless Your name
Oh, yes I will, sing for joy when my heart is heavy
For all my days, oh yes I will
For all my days, oh yes, I will
And I choose to praise
To glorify, glorify
The Name of all names
That nothing can stand against🎶

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

It's amazing to know in the midst of fear, we can pray and Praise and LIFT UP THE NAME OF JESUS! It's amazing to know in the midst of panic Jesus is with us wherever we go! We don't have to fear, we don't have to panic! We have Jesus and we can choose to glorify and lift up the name of Jesus that NOTHING-not even coronavirus-can stand against! We can trust in Jesus and in JESUS NAME THIS coronavirus STOPS! HALLELUJAH, AMEN JESUS!!!!! Honestly this all has weighed heavily on me like so many, but praying against it, praising, praying with other believers, and knowing Jesus is with me wherever I go... has brought me such comfort 💕 And it can you too!

Praise instead of panic! 🙌🙌

FAILURE DOESN'T STAND A CHANCE!

Have you ever felt like a complete failure? Have you ever let little lies creep in over and over until they had grown to great BIG lies? Have you ever felt untalented, not good enough, like you never did ANYTHING right? Have you ever felt like you had too much on you? Have you ever felt guilty, feeling like you had fallen short? Have you even felt guilty for feeling like things were too much? Have you ever felt like you've failed God? Have you every been so afraid of not pleasing God and making mistakes that it had you striving constantly and turning circles everyday and night? Basically, have you every fell stressed, overwhelmed, and alone? 

I don't know about you, I don't know if you have felt these things, but I have... I have had them weigh on me so heavily that I felt l like I couldn't find a way out. And when I started to find a way out, fear of going back sent me right back to that place of torment.

Today has been ruff, it's been hard all around. I've felt betrayed, hurt. I've felt God urged me to give up all this stress and show me it's just about loving Him. But I've felt very overwhelmed and even scared about how to hear Him and know what He is leading me to. I've made mistakes and felt so very low for them. But God! God is good, and here I am writing what I hope will be a very real post that God will use to reach you-right from where I'm at.

You see, God has shown me-especially lately-that these are all lies. Hallelujah and Amen! Praise God there not real!

These are lies I have to fight against, lies that CAN'T CONTROL me any longer. Lies I have to cover in the blood of Jesus. Lies I have to cast down and break ties with. Lies I have to speak out from me, and cover them in Jesus truths! 
I have to daily renew my mind in Jesus, so I know the truth and can stand against the lies! 

You see, I don't think I'm alone in these lies. I don't think I'm alone in feeling stressed and just not good enough. I don't think I'm even alone in a fear of failing God. AM I? I don't think so. I think these are lies the devil loves to throw at people, lies he likes to consume people with after he's spoon fed them these lies over a course of time. Because, if we are believing these lies and going around in circles God can't fully do His work in us. And that makes the enemy very happy.

But why do we feel like this? Why do we believe it? I'm speaking to myself here. I mean, is this who God wants us to be, is this the kind of abundant life God shows us in His word (John 10:10)? Is this really the life God wants us to live? Is this the kind of life that children of a Most High and Holy God live? Do children with eternal life and a rich inheritance in God live and act this way? Is this part of the rich gifts God has given us and wants us to dwell in (James 1:17, 2 Peter 1:3)? 

 NO, NO, NO! This is NOT the way God wants or has CALLED us to live. 

He doesn't want us striving.

He doesn't want us overwhelmed.

He doesn't want us feeling like we've fallen short.

He doesn't want us to feel alone.

He doesn't want us to be worried and afraid of failing Him, that instead of just loving Him we run around trying to dance just the right dance so He won't be disappointed in us.

 NO. NO. This is not the way God wants us to live. Fact is, He wants us to give those fears and failures to Him, Rebuke them from our lives, and be made whole and free.

You see, God has a truth for every lie the enemy throws at us! That's right and we can find them in His word, right there for the receiving.

When the enemy says you don't know how to do anything and make too many mistakes, know that God says this... He says He has given you the Holy Spirit and He will guide you into all truth, John 16:13!

When the enemy tells you that you are not talented or as talented everyone else, you tell Him that God will help you and show how to do things. Tell him, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, Philippians 4:13! And declare this, Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us! Ephesians 3:20. And personalize it, "...according the power that works in ME!"

When He makes you feel stressed, overwhelmed, worried, and tossed about every which way, declare that God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, 1 Corinthians 14:33! 

And when you feel afraid and worried about how to love God, and have fear of disappointing Him, declare this... For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind, 2 Timothy 1:7! Personalize it again, "God has not given ME a spirit of fear..." Declare and believe this over yourself and against the devils lies of failure right now.

God didn't call us to be worried and afraid about disappointing Him, He just called us to love Him (Deuteronomy 6:5). And if we're loving Him with all our heart like He says, then we will live Holy and true lives that are pleasing to Him. And even when we make a mistake and go the wrong way, God is merciful and faithful to forgive (Ephesians 2:4)! He is nothing but kind to us (Ephesians 2:7)!

 He will always be there for us and pull us out of these nasty lies of failure, He doesn't want us to stay there, He wants us to rise up and be free.

We have to renew our mind to Jesus' truth when the doubt and lies come, Praise our way through the breakthrough, and overcome.

Is it easy? Sometimes not. Especially when it's a daily and hour by hour fight. But God gives us strength! 
And, sometimes, you're best fighting against the enemy is just being still. 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.

When we continue to cover ourselves in Him, in His truth, when we renew our minds, I know we'll send the devil running in these areas.

I know failure doesn't stand a chance in my life.

Amen!

Who do YOU Say He is....

Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?”

 So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”

 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”

 Mark 7:27-30

Who do you say Jesus is? 

To me, He is my Everything. I've asked myself several times recently who Jesus is to me. Is He my Defender? Is He Worthy? And what The Holy Spirit showed me was Jesus is my Everything.

I think there comes a time in all our lives when we have to ask who Jesus is to us? Who do WE say He is? Who is He to us personally? Is He Jesus in our lives or just our parents lives? Do we think He is our Lord and Savior just because we grew up in a Christian home and went to Church on Sundays and Youth Group on Wednesdays?

I grew up in a Christian home, I was taught the word of God everyday.  But I didn't invest in Jesus personally like I should. Sure I got saved and had times when I was in love with Jesus but it was fleeting (it can't be fleeting ya'll, it has to be true, consistent, steadfast, and always). It wasn't until I was sixteen and was hit with a situation I couldn't handle on my own that I got serious about seeking God for myself. About knowing who He was to me.

And you know, Jesus presented the question of who He was to His disciples too (read the passage above). Jesus had caused quite the stir when He started His ministry. He was healing people and doing things NO ONE had done before. And there was a lot of talk about Him. Some thought He was prophets that had been before, some wonder if He was the Messiah. And His disciples had heard this talk...and Jesus posed the question to them, who did they say He was. 
He first asked who others said He was? And then He asked who they said He was... He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” 

And Peter's answer was this, "You are the Christ." 

We can't always just take the word of others, we have to seek Jesus for ourselves. 

And what a glorious thing, when we seek Him and search for Him with our whole hearts (Jeremiah 29:13)! When we see His heart and see how much He loves us. When we see how He calms fears and tell us not to be afraid, when we see His divine promises for us. When we see what He's done for so many other people....

When we seek Him, Jesus, and we'll see, He is Who He says He Is... Our Savior, our Redeemer....

Amen. 

The Rock That is Higher Than I...

The Rock That is Higher Than I

Life can get pretty messy sometimes, can't it? Life can get so hard that feeling down and depressed is normal for us. A family member is causing heartache, you never feel like you measure up with your walk with God, you get overwhelmed trying to be there for everyone else-feeling like it's just too much and you don't know how to cope... All and all, just a lot of stuff seems to fall on us hard-like a avalanche of rocks sliding down and crashing on you all at once.

Well, David had quite a few moments like this in His life as well. He was in hard times often. He was betrayed by the King he loved and honored, He lost his best friend on earth, He was betrayed by His own son, and even messed up some. But do you know what He writes? Read this and listen closely. 

Hear my cry, O God;

Attend to my prayer.

 

From the end of the earth I will cry to You,

When my heart is overwhelmed;

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, Psalm 61:1-2. 

What? How beautiful, Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. When we're overwhelmed, when that avalanche of rocks is crumbling down on us, we can go to the Rock that is Higher than us. We can go to the Rock that is higher than all the problems facing us. 

When our heart is overwhelmed and we don't even think we can even be still in His presence...there something we can do. Beautiful soul, we can come to Him, we can give it all to Him, and we can let Him relax us and help us rest in Him....

Why? Why do we go to Him? How do we know He'll be a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1)?

For You have been a shelter for me,

A strong tower from the enemy.

 

I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;

I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah, Psalm 61:3-4.

Hasn't He always come through? Hasn't He always showed up? He has been a strong tower from the enemy. He has been everything we need! We can trust Him...We can abide in Him...we.can.rest.

Hallelujah!

It's so refreshing to know in times of turmoil, we can go to the Rock that is Higher than us and find refuge in the storm.

Amen.