Adversity! That is not a fun word to hear! Most of us do not run toward adversity. It is not some thing that we hope to wake up in the morning and face! It is actually something most of us try very hard to avoid. But avoid or not, adversity finds us!

So the question becomes…What do we do in the face of adversity?

I love Hero stories! Sure, the superhero kind are fun to watch. But I am talking about the true, real life, regular human being, hero stories! I eat them up! I can’t get enough of them! They are in the books that I love to read. They are in the movies that I love to watch. And they are throughout the pages of the Bible I cherish.  Every hero story, ancient, past or present, all have one thing in common…the hero faced adversity! 

Most of the time they were doing something with their life that made someone else take notice. Eventually, they were faced with adversity that would challenge them to hold fast to their beliefs and values, or shrink back, compromise or flee.  

The reason I love Hero Stories is because every time the hero musters all the courage they have and stands their ground in the face of adversity, no matter how great!

Their courage gives me courage!

Recently, I have been encouraged by a woman who has stood her ground in the face of adversity! 

Today was a great day in history for Christian Woman. A strong woman who is willing to stand up for her values in the face of criticism, attacks, unjust slander, differing opinions, and not cower in fear or desire public approval, won the day. Judge Amy Coney Barrett became supreme court associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett. 

In a world where it is becoming increasingly unpopular to take a stand for your Judeo Christian beliefs and constitutional values, she stood her ground as a strong, intelligent, accomplished woman and took her place as a member of one of the highest, most responsible positions in the country!

Isaiah 33:22

“For the Lord is our judge;  the Lord is our lawgiver; The Lord is our king; he will save us.”

Legislative, Executive, Judicial!

The system we all live under and have liberties and freedom within, was founded on this verse in Isaiah. 

As Christ followers our days of adversity are not over! Paul tells us to fight the good fight for the faith. Are we willing to stand up in the face of adversity when it depends on us? Will  we stand our ground firm for righteousness, Truth and justice?

The final words Justice Barrett said as she raised her hand and pledged her allegiance was…

SO HELP ME GOD!

Those need to be our words also! In the face of adversity it is only God who can help us stand firm and be the hero He’s called us to be!

I take heart and my courage grows when I witness people like Justice Barrett. I also am encouraged when I study the heroes throughout the pages of God’s word! This is where I find my hope and my courage! Will you meet me back here the next couple of weeks as we look at the heroes in the pages of God’s Word? 

Friends, I believe God is calling all of us to be His Heroes. Through the encouragement we gain from the heroes who have gone before us combined with the strength and power we get freely from God, we too can stand firm in the face of adversity!

TRUTH BOMB

With God’s help we can stand firm in the face of adversity!

Speak Truth Love

The minute Fall hits, I begin thinking of Christmas. I don’t do anything as crazy as decorate for Christmas in October, but in all honesty I get excited when it is Fall because it feels like an open door that leads to Christmas. Don’t get me wrong, I truly love Fall. I love the change that it brings in the air (although that hasn’t happened yet this year in California). I love all the Fall colors and everything pumpkin spice flavored. I love the later mornings and the earlier evenings. And I love wearing sweaters every single day.

Next comes Thanksgiving, a true Christian holiday set aside to give thanks for all the blessings God lavishes on us. It is a time to celebrate around good food and great people!  And say, “Thank you, God.” 

But nothing makes my heart skip a beat like the anticipation of Christmas. Sure, there is no denying the amount of work and effort and time that goes into the Christmas holiday. From programs to services to outings, to gifts and the perfect Christmas cookies, to roasted turkey and honeyed ham, Christmas takes work. Part of the magic of Christmas is found in the ability to put in all that effort and work, knowing that the dividends of the outcome far outweigh the time invested. Christmas is everything magical, from the twinkling lights to the pine scent of the Christmas tree, to the glistening snow-capped mountains and the indescribable glow within your heart when you share the gifts you have meticulously selected with those you love the most. Christmas is my favorite of all.

How come, then, could the best day of the year be December 25, and the worst day of the year be December 26?  For one reason and one reason only: our focus has been misplaced. When our focus is misplaced, disappointment and disillusionment is bound to happen. I would be lying if I didn’t admit to the thrill of excitement going to bed on December 24th, and the semi empty feeling of going to bed on December 25th.

This week I heard my son-in-law preach a sermon that captured all of these feelings I’ve felt for years in a nutshell. His illustration was perfect. As children, we often went to bed on Christmas Eve, full of anticipation of receiving everything on our wish list. Only to finish unwrapping all our gifts under the tree on Christmas day, and being disappointed that we didn’t receive everything we’d hoped for. This feeling repeated year after year, unless we were able to place our focus on the right priority for Christmas. Jesus Christ came to earth as Immanuel, God with us, to be “with us” each and every day of our lives. When that priority is misplaced, we feel disappointment, discouragement, let down, and even hopeless. When we re-align our priorities with the only priority that brings hope and joy, we are never disappointed. Jesus does not disappoint—ever.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call his name Immanuel—God with us.” Isaiah 7:14

And in Him we can wake up every morning, with hope and anticipation of what He will do in us and through us that day!

Truth Bomb

When Jesus is our priority, we are never disappointed!

 As we head into this holiday season, let’s align our focus to be on the single priority of Jesus Christ Himself.  He never falls short and He never disappoints!

Speak Truth Love

Have you ever had to forgive someone and it seemed impossible? I’m not talking about the person who bumped into you at Starbucks as you were reaching for your latte. Or the person who cut in front of you at the grocery store. I’m not even talking about the woman with the guts to pull in front of you and take your parking place. I am referring to the person who never should have hurt you, let you down, forget you, mistreat you, deny you what you deserved. The one who disappointed you, looked past you, even betrayed you.  

As you read these words and they soak into your soul, you can see the persons face. The memory of the event can feel like it happened yesterday. Feelings and emotions surge as you recall the incident. This person does not deserve to be forgiven!

Yet, forgive we must!

This type of forgiveness calls for us to act contrary to our human nature. It takes a power much greater than we possess on our own. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, can we forgive when it is unmerited!

We do not forgive because someone deserves to be forgiven. We simply forgive because we have been forgiven!

When Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross as a perfect, sinless, sacrificial lamb of God,

He showed us how to forgive.

“Jesus said, Father forgive them for they don’t  know what they are doing.”  

Luke 23:34

Jesus died on the cross for my sins and yours. He was wrongly accused, beaten and crucified and still FORGIVES! Jesus knows that by not forgiving we are held captive to the unforgiveness and all that comes with it.

The phrase in the Greek implies that it was repetitive! When Jesus was saying these words He was repeating them over and over again!  

I do not know what pictures and memories came into your mind as you were first reading my opening words. But the people that popped into my mind did hurtful things to me that pierced deep and left a mark!  I knew I needed to forgive them because Jesus has forgiven me. But I needed to do it one day at a time, over a period of time, out of obedience, repeating their name and the phrase, “I forgive ___________.”  There were times this process took longer than others. But each and every time God was faithful to give true forgiveness to my heart, spirit and peace in my soul! 

How wonderful and encouraging it is to know that Jesus Himself used a similar process.

TRUTH BOMB

FORGIVENESS DOESN’T MAKE THE OTHER PERSON RIGHT, IT MAKES YOU FREE.

We forgive because we have been forgiven!  We did not deserve it, but Jesus gave it to us freely!  We are to forgive others freely so that we can be set free and have reconciliation.

In this tumultuous time that we are living through, what a difference we could make if we would forgive. I believe that God demonstrates for us that RECONCILIATION is not possible without FORGIVENESS!  

Jesus forgave the people who did not think like Him, act like Him, speak the same language as Him, and who mistreated and even killed Him!

Corrie ten Boom suffered the loss of family, torture and mistreatement in a concentration camp, only because she was “different!”  She is quoted saying;

“Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.” 

Corrie ten Boom

Powerful words from someone who gave forgiveness when it was not deserved.

Martin Luther King is most well known for His ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. His life was threatened time and time again, he had hate language and words yelled at him and his family. He was imprisoned, beat and bruised and eventually killed. But I love his quote on forgiveness even more than his famous speech because he lived it out.

“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.” 

Martin Luther King

Powerful words again from someone who gave forgiveness when it was not deserved.

These heroes of the faith, along with many others, were able to forgive because they had been forgiven! They lived the Truth of the New Testament…

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.”

Matthew 6:14

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”  

Colossians 3:13

“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

Ephesians 4:32

Friends, our world needs RECONCILIATION on every level.  If we are willing to forgive we may see things made right, right before our very eyes!

Speak Truth Love

Fall has finally fallen!  It is here! The colors on the trees have begun to change, football has started, the coffee drinks are boasting of shots of pumpkin spice, and I see fall flowers, gourds and pumpkins decorating front porches. Then why does it still feel like Fall is looming but has not yet landed?

Is it because the outside temps are still sizzling (at least here in California) and it feels like Summer will never end?

Is it because the humidity is still so high that my hair falls flat the minute I style it and my clothes stick to every part of my body?

Is it because nothing started on time like usual, not school or sports?

Is it because the climate around our world feels unsettled and not fresh and calm like the first day of fall?

Maybe one or all of these factors play a part and maybe you could add a few of your own.

This year has been one for the record books, and one I do not think any of us want to repeat!

It is so easy to allow the negative events of our lives to take over and demand our full attention! But I am convinced that God wants the opposite from us.

Instead of listening to the loudest voices around us, I believe God is calling us to listen to His Voice as it whispers softly, “I Am Still In Control.”

“And your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right and when you turn to the left.”  Isaiah 30:21

Friends, I believe that too many times we allow our ears to listen to the loudest voice around us and then are influenced to walk in those ways.

God wants His voice to be the primary voice we listen to! Problem is, He doesn’t shout,

He whispers. Isaiah calls it, “A Still Small Voice.“

God whispers to us, are we listening?  Or are we allowing the loud shouts of the world to be our greatest influence?

In a study I did by Lysa Terkeurst she put it this way…

“WE MUST EXCHANGE WHISPERS WITH GOD BEFORE SHOUTS WITH THE WORLD.”

TRUTH BOMB

THE BEST VOICE OFTEN COMES IN A WHISPER.

The loud voices will always be around us, often making us feel like our favorite seasons may never arrive.

 However, we must chose to listen to the still small voice of God as it whispers, “I AM IN CONTROL AND I WILL SHOW YOU THE WAY TO GO!”

Speak Truth Love