Sunday, September 13, 2009

I Want To Believe

Faith is a funny thing. Or should I say, my faith is a funny thing. Why is it that no matter what phenomenal act God just recently performed in my life, as soon as some unexpected challenge arises I start doubting Him - AGAIN! When am I really going to start trusting Him like I should?



There's a song from Kirk Franklin's The Fight of My Life cd called "Help Me Believe" and I think it truly epitomizes what it feels like to want to get off the rollercoaster of doubt and unbelief when you face prolonged or unexpected struggles. For me, the chorus says it all:



Help me Believe

Can I believe

Let Me believe

I wanna believe

I'm no good on my own, please give me another chance

Its hard to believe in what I can't see

To give you my will cause you're what's better for me

You can look in my eyes and see I wanna believe, believe, believe, believe



It puts me in the mind of someone who had a similar conflict in his own life. The gospel of Mark tells of a grieving father whose son was bound by a deaf and dumb spirit that had constantly been trying to kill him since he was a small child. Can you imagine watching your son or daughter writhing in relentless pain and you are helpless to do anything to stop it?



Hearing about Jesus and his power over demonic spirits, the man brings his son in hopes of finally getting the help he needs. But when he gets there, Jesus is nowhere to be found. Only a few of his disciples are there, and they prove to be no help at all. I can imagine the despair that probably started to drift over his once-hopeful heart. Then, suddenly, Jesus arrives on the scene! The boy's father recounts to the Lord all that he has been through up until that point and then he makes a statement that totally contradicts all the painstaking effort he's made to get help for his boy: "If You can do anything, do have pity on us, and help us." (Mark 9:22 AMP). I can almost see Jesus looking back at the man, disturbed by his statement. What do you mean "if"? As if to say, Don't you know this is the God of the Universe you're talking to?



In his impressive, omnipotent fashion, Jesus eases the man's doubts by telling him that "all things are possible to him that believes". I love the way the Amplified Bible puts the man's response because it's the way I see myself reaching out to God while I'm fighting the good fight of faith:



At once the father of the boy gave [an [k]eager, [l]piercing, inarticulate] cry with tears, and he said, Lord, I believe! [Constantly] help my [m]weakness of faith! (Mark 9:24)



Just like that father, I too am desparate to get to a place where I just simply BELIEVE GOD! Believe His love for me. Believe His infallible integrity towards me. Believe that His will truly is better for me. But even this I cannot do without His help. I need His power to charge my faith up, not to just believe in Him, but to believe Him.



Which brings me to another point...



Did you know that suffering (for doing what God told you to do) is actually a form of worship? Well, it is. (See I Peter ch. 2). So that makes me think very soberly about how worship is handled in my daily life. Yes, it's easy for me to see myself as a worshipper when I'm dancing, singing and praising the Lord in church service or when I'm jamming to some good Israel Houghton or Fred Hammond while driving my truck. But do I really consider myself giving God worship when I'm standing in faith during a time of adversity? Just this morning I read something in an e-votional by Anita Carman, Founder of Inspire Women that deeply challenged my perspective on this:



"In our suffering, let us offer it to God as our way to worship Him. He gets to decide if we will worship Him with our abundance or if we will worship Him with our suffering. Oh the freedom to give up dictating to God the kind of worship we will give Him."



I thought to myself, "Lord, have I really been doing that?" Could it be that I have only been seeing worship as a "warm fuzzy" for me instead of a truly unselfish, heartfelt gift from me to a loving Father? Far be it from me to ever think that way again!



If I'm learning nothing else along this journey, it's that sacrifice authenticates true love. For years I've known that God is my friend. But am I really His friend? Do I love Him enough to trust what He tells me, even if I don't understand it at first? Do I really love Him enough to face the rejection when I'm doing all I can to be obedient to His will?



Time will tell. But as I stated before, I want to believe that I do and that I will.



How about you?

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Well-Wishers, Well-Meaners, and Straight Up Haters

I'm on a mission. I'm called to do exactly what I'm doing right now. My life is meant to be a walking billboard of God's awesome love, glory, truth, and power. But there are obstacles that jump in my path sometimes. They come in the form of three types of people.



Well-Wishers

These are the people in my life who aren't intimately connected to me or to what God is doing for me, but they don't mind me doing my thing. They are usually the ones who just think I'm a nice person and don't have a problem with me moving upward - probably because it doesn't affect them one way or the other. But that's cool. I can live with that. At least they're not getting in the way of my purpose.



Well-Meaners

These are the people in my life who I believe geniuinely love me, but don't have a clue about who I really am. Some are friends, some are family, but they all want "what's best for me" - as they see it, that is. Whatever they measure success as, I haven't achieved it, so that compels them to do whatever they can to help me make the right "adjustments" to fit their level of understanding. For a while, I did that. But not anymore. I'm all about what God wants for me now. God's path for me makes them uncomfortable and ready to contest what my agenda really is. Rather than seeking to get an understanding, they react out of emotion. They remind me of Peter when he attempted to "save" Jesus from his impending trial and crucifixion. But Jesus had to set him straight.



Matthew 16:23 (The Message)

23But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works."



Straight Up Haters

These are the people who smile in my face, but talk about me behind my back. They don't want to see God pull off any more miracles in my life. That confuses and frustrates them to no end. They look forward to my failure. But what they don't know is failure is not what can hinder me the most; it's success. The higher I go, the more devils I'll have to confront, the more distracted I can become, the more pride can set in. If they really were as smart as they think they are, they'd be rooting for me to make it all the way to the top! But it doesn't matter what they say or do. God is with me and He trumps those who are against me EVERY TIME.



I challenge you to be bravely, boldly, unapolegetically YOU and stick to the path God has you on. Victory is yours!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Flip the Script



Proverbs 18:6-7 NIV



6 A fool's lips bring him strife,


and his mouth invites a beating.



7 A fool's mouth is his undoing,


and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Has your heart been tempted to fear lately? Mine has. Seems almost everywhere you turn, there’s a bad report; whether it be about money, health, or relationships. I’m not really one to do a whole lot of news-watching, except to stay updated on what’s happening in the world. But I must confess, since the recent unexpected deaths of Michael Jackson and Steve McNair, I’ve been visiting web pages and watching news expose’s that wouldn’t normally be of interest to me. And still, there’s no resolution that brings any real answers, just a lot of confusion and sadness. Even some of the conversations I’ve been in with other people (some of them, fellow believers) has been tainted with talk of the tightness of funds and the uncertainty of the economy. It’s amazing how easy it is to slide into that line of thinking when you’re overexposed to it.



What kind of toll does this take on our faith? It smothers it. If you know like I do, we can’t afford that. It’s what we live by – “The just shall live by faith” (Gal. 3:11b). I’ve found that when I neglect to stand on what I know to be true of God and His love for me, I start taking my cues from fear’s script. All kinds of faithless thoughts find a place to land in my soul and, if left undisturbed, eventually make their way out of my mouth. Don’t think that you’re safe if you just think doubtful, fearful thoughts but never speak them, because whatever you dwell on long enough will eventually manifest. We are just like God in that we create our world by means of what we speak. So if you don’t want it, don’t speak it. If it’s not what God says, don’t repeat it.



I recently put this into practice with something I’m working to improve on as a wife. Without going into too much detail, I was convicted of how the seed of selfishness was beginning to produce “strange fruit” in my marriage. God was requiring me stretch more outside of my comfort zone and I wasn’t too happy about it. But I wanted to change and wanted to have the benefits of that change come alive in my relationship with my husband. So I asked God to help me and he said to me, “You’ve mastered how to talk yourself out of it, now just do the opposite and talk yourself into it.” I won’t lie, I sighed and rolled my eyes, but I decided that if I really wanted to see change, I was going to have to do it God’s way. A way, might I add that I have seen work in my life before.



So I began to say to myself how much I love my husband and how much he means to me. I began to re-tell myself about all of his good qualities and attributes and how much of a blessing he is to my life. I began to tell myself that I desire to give to him, that he deserved it because God wants to show love to him through me. I told myself how much of an honor it is to have someone to love like that. After I did all of this, I didn’t feel anything. But I knew it was time to take the next step in making those words manifest into the change I needed to make. I acted on those words by faith. That’s right – I chose to ignore my flesh and feel it by faith. And do you know what? I saw change begin to happen; first in my actions, then on the inside. Hallelujah!



Perhaps you’ve been feeling God tug at your heart to change something in your life. It may be how you handle money, your eating habits, or your relationships. But whatever it is, remember you don’t have to fret and worry about things that you can’t change. I challenge you to take courage and change those things that are within your power by flipping the script from fear to faith this week.



*If this blessed you, leave a comment and let me know.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Pass the Test

“Life is a grindstone. Whether it pulverizes or polishes you depends on what you’re made of.”
- Unknown


I recently heard this quote on the radio and it struck a nerve with me. I mean, look at it – really think about it. Doesn’t it almost seem to be picking a fight with you? I don’t know about you, but I don’t like this “do or die”, “put up or shut up” kind of tone. It seems to suggest that something I don’t want to face is just around the corner, waiting to pounce - something that will put me to the test.


I’ve never much cared for taking tests. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not like I had much anxiety about taking tests like some other kids did. I just never enjoyed having to prove what I learned. I just wanted to be left to the blissful process of discovery (learning), that’s all. Sometimes I feel the same way about my spiritual education. I love studying the Word, praying and interceding, praise and worship, even fellowship. But unfortunately (should I say that word?), none of these things can fully assure me of the authenticity of my faith. That can only be determined by how I handle the trials and the tests I encounter in life.


Well, wouldn’t you know it? I’ve been going through (yet another) test of my faith lately, and quite honestly, I’ve been really tempted to throw in the towel and call it a day on several occasions. I was becoming impatient, anxious, even depressed about my current circumstances. I know the promises that God has spoken to me, both corporately and privately, but until recently, they seemed to be fading in my mind. It looked like nothing was changing, even after all this time, and I was choosing to bow down under the pressure of the facts.


You know the facts, don’t you? They’re the mental teasers whose main job is to relentlessly remind you of the imminent impossibilities that are just too hard to overcome. They’re the joy snatchers that rob you of your desire to hope, to dream, or even to smile. Once they get their claws into your soul, you’re goin’ down if you don’t watch it.


Well, that’s where I was, but that’s not where I am now. PTL! You see, I’ve gotten a clue. It came through the memory of an old hymn we used to sing in church when I was a child:


In times like these, you need a Savior
In times like these, you need an anchor.
Be very sure. Be very sure.
Your anchor holds and grips the solid rock.
That rock is Jesus; yes, He’s the one.
That rock is Jesus; the only one.
Be very sure. Be very sure.
Your anchor holds and grips the solid rock.


I thought to myself, “That’s it! That’s what the problem is!” I had become so distracted by the what of it all that I had neglected to keep my hold (my focus) on the who of it all – Jesus. That old hymn, still nestled inside the recesses of my spirit since childhood, finally took form as a revelation for my present day situation.


Let me break it down… The anchor is my faith, and it keeps me tied to whatever it’s locked onto. From the moment I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, He has been the rock to which my faith is tied. However, just like a boat can be tossed around on stormy waters and go adrift when it’s not properly anchored, I can become the same way when my faith is not properly anchored. In a nutshell, that’s really why the anchor is there; not to control the storm, but to control the boat while it’s in the storm.


Have the circumstances gotten better? No. Do I feel like dealing with them? No. But one good thing has happened. I am no longer manipulated by the facts because I have become reconnected with the Truth. You see, the Truth is not a thing or a concept, it’s a person. Jesus said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life…” (John 14:6). He personifies the reality of God’s love, His power, and His promise. He is the standard by which our spiritual maturity is measured.


The simple truth is that life is going to bring many tests our way, and whether or not we want to take them is of no consequence to God. Why not? Doesn’t He care about what we’re going through? Of course He does, but I hope you come to understand, as I have, that God doesn’t allow testing in our lives so He can find out how faithful He is. He allows the testing so that we can find out how faithful we are. As hard as it is to admit, without the tests of life, we really don’t know who we are, or who God is, for that matter.


So I encourage you to do what I am now encouraged to do. Maintain your grip of faith in Christ, especially when things are going well, because when the storm hits (and it will!) you won’t be overcome. You will overcome!


Until next time, meditate on The Apostle Paul’s crash course on How to Pass the Test:


Hebrews 12:2-3, The Message Bible


2-3Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!


P.S. Let me know your thoughts... Leave a comment.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Get A Grip!







Have you ever come across a phrase in the Bible that keeps popping up all the time and you wondered, “What does that really mean?” You know it’s got to be important (hence the frequent appearances) but you don’t quite feel like you “get it”.

Well that’s how I felt about the phrase hold fast. These two words are found together in several scriptures throughout the Bible; mainly the King James Version. Here’s just a few of them:

Job 2:3 “…and still he holdeth fast his integrity…”

Proverbs 4:13 “Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go…”

I Thessalonians 5:21 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

Now when I go into “seeking mode” with the Holy Spirit about the true meaning of something, I usually get an answer in one of two ways: revelation or application. This time it was by application.

Our truck had been having some sort of an electrical shortage lately. We’d drive it someplace and it would work just fine. But when we’d get back in to start it up again, it wouldn’t make a sound. We went down a list of possible causes, and my husband concluded that it must be the battery. So he took it to have the battery tested and found out there was no problem with it all. It was still in good shape.

For the next few days afterwards, the truck ran great. But it wasn’t long until the same thing happened again; and again, my husband was led to check the battery. Everything looked fine, that is until he looked a little closer. It turns out that one of the posts that the cable hooks up to had a loose bolt. Now at the time, he didn’t have any tools to tighten it with, so he had to just use his fingers to try to screw it on as best he could. However, that only held for a little while, and then the same problem occurred again. And every time we reconnected the battery cable, we’d have to reset everything again (the alarm, the clock, the radio).

Finally, he got a wrench, and with a few good hard turns, our problem was solved. Apparently the everyday bumps and rattles the truck encountered while on the move were loosening the bolt’s grip little by little until it eventually caused a disruption in power.

That’s when it hit me! That’s the true meaning of the phrase “hold fast”. It means to get a firm grip on something. As a matter of fact, isn’t that what you tell someone when you want them to focus or take something seriously? You say, “Get a grip, will ya!” or “Girl, get a grip on reality!”
Do you find that sometimes you’ve lost your grip in your spiritual walk? I do.

It happens just like it did with that bolt on our truck’s battery. The everyday bumps and rattles of life can sometimes shake me loose from what I know to be true about God and His loving care for me. And if I don’t keep a firm grip of faith on what He’s said, my flesh will start twisting my thoughts in the other direction. The end result (which was the enemy’s goal all along) is to separate me from my power source and stop me from continuing down the path that God has me on. And again, just like with our truck, I have to “reset” my mind on the Truth instead of the facts in order for me to get back to where I need to be in my faith walk. Guess what happens then? My spiritual discernment (alarm) is more sensitive and I don’t get led around by my emotions. I’m better able to sense the season God has me in and I’m not as easily tempted to get move ahead of His timing (clock). I’m able to tune into what the Holy Spirit is saying because God’s Word is settled in my heart (radio).

The key is spiritual maintenance. If we’d be honest, we’d have to admit that most times we’re so focused on the journey that we neglect to maintain our connection (through prayer and hearing God’s heart through His Word). Eventually, that’s what disrupts the manifestation of God’s power in our lives.

So I encourage you today to get (and keep) a grip on the timeless principles of faith that are laid all throughout the Word of God. Get a grip on the reality that God loves you and has nothing but good thoughts toward you that will lead you into His wonderful plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). Then when life shakes things up a bit, you’ll still be well-connected to the power of God that keeps you going.

I think The Message Bible puts it best:
“Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word.”
(Hebrews 10:23)

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Are You Having Crop Failure?


You know how you come across a passage of scripture that you’ve become so familiar with that you could recite it in your sleep? I felt that way about The Parable of the Sower (found in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8). That is, until I a couple of days ago when I was struck with a crucial revelation.

Jesus told this story to the masses in a figurative manner, but when he got alone with his disciples, he revealed the hidden message in the story, and it’s a message that I had the privilege of discovering AGAIN for the “first time”:

Matt. 13:18 – 23 (The Message Bible)
18-19"Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn't take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person's heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.
20-21"The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.
22"The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.
23"The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams."

I used to think that this passage just related to the condition of one’s heart once the plan of salvation was introduced. But now, after invoking the wisdom of the Holy Spirit on my own personal inner emotional struggles, I have found what I believe to be the missing link to getting the FULL understanding of this story.

Think about this: When a real farmer plants, he doesn’t just plant for one kind of crop, but a variety of crops. He also knows that he can’t just sow seeds, but he must maintain the right environment for each crop in order to reap a full harvest from them. That’s the practical. Now let’s flip it to the spiritual.

Our “farm” is the heart of our inner man. Our “crops” are the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23): Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Temperance (self control). And just to clarify, the “fruit” simply means the character aspects of the Holy Spirit that will increasingly manifest in our lives as we strive to live under His direction and not our own.

Now, if you’re like me, some of the fruit in your life is always a little less fresh and ripe than others. In my case, my crop of joy and temperance was teetering on crop failure, and now I know why. I found it in verses 20 and 21. I am very receptive of any exposition of the Word of God and I do my best to diligently apply it to my life. However, as much as I hate to admit it, my flesh is not yet as immune as it should be to trouble and persecution. And rather than blame the situation for my reactions, I now accept that I should take responsibility for not maintaining the standard of Truth in that area of my emotions.

As hard as it was to swallow my shortcomings in this area, I’m glad for this liberating revelation, and I know what I need to do. I need to “water” those particular crops more with relevant Word (both in reading and in hearing). I need to tend more to pulling up the weeds of procrastination and laziness so that I won’t be led around by how I feel anymore. But I also know that I will need to take the challenge of this effort seriously and soberly. No longer do I need to just rest in the joy of a “knowing” the Word, but I need to make a practical effort to connect with it each day of my life. I know when I do this, and do it from now on; I’ll get the harvest I’ve been longing for.

How about you? Have you been experiencing any crop failure where the fruit of the Holy Spirit is concerned?

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

What's Your Frame of Mind?






Hey there all!


I know.... Once again it's taken me a "minute" to post something new. But bear with me and please extend me your supportive grace. I'm still transitioning into the information age you know. However, I do promise to keeping sending encouraging and motivational highlights to you, and you'll be happy to know that my blog will now be updated bi-weekly, starting TODAY!


And now - for today's topic...



Have you ever heard the phrase "It depends on your frame of mind"? I was recently pondering this and had an a-ha! moment. How exactly do we "frame" our minds?



Consider the purpose of a frame. The frame we use for pictures protects the photo inside, while also providing directing attention to what's actually in the photo. Hmmmm...



The frame of house is the very thing that keeps it standing, no matter what's happening on the outside. Hmmmmm...




See where I'm going with this? Well, it stands to reason that there are two important factors involved in this thing called "framing": focus and foundation. So what frames our minds? Those things we're focusing on, which are ultimately derived from our foundational thoughts. Check out this example:



Foundational Thought

"I don't think I'll ever get out of all this debt!"



Focus

Overdue bills, calls from bill collectors



Frame Produced

Worry, Doubt, Fear, Depression



Now let's flip it-





Foundational Thought

"My debt is huge, but my God is greater. He will provide for all of my needs and make my name great!"



Focus

God's promises, present blessings, new opportunities



Frame Produced

Joy, Hope, Encouragement, Peace



See how that works?


The Word of God should be the foundation of EVERY believer (see Luke 4:4). But let's be honest. Many of us haven't exactly made "hiding the Word" in our hearts a daily practice - and as a result, we easily allow our minds to be influenced on things that are depleting instead of completing. It's not just about committing words to memory, but it's about keeping those words alive and active in our thought bank. It's about making it a point to meditate on them and say them out loud to eventually override our struggling belief system. Once that happens - and it can - we will focus more on what we BELIEVE (what God says) and less on what we FEEL and SEE. That's the point at which the power of God really manifests itself to us.


Remember, God generates love toward us. In response to His love, we generate faith in Him. Faith generates hope on the inside of our hearts. Our hearts represent the seedbed of our mind, will, and emotions. Once our hearts are filled with hope, it spills over into our words. "Out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks." - Luk. 6:45 ESV


Ready for the challenge? Come on! It'll be worth it.



I invite you (along with me) to venture into the practice of Custom Framing your mind for the next couple of weeks. And to get us kicked off, here's some wise counsel from the Apostle Paul:


Philippians 4:8 (The Message)


8-9Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.





See ya in two weeks (I promise)!


-Tracy







Thursday, January 29, 2009

Don't Let the "I"'s have it!



Greetings Sisters!

It's 2009. We've got ourselves a brand spankin' new African-American President, ya'll! It's a new season. Something big is on the horizon. Can you feel it? I can. And I'm just giddy with excitement about it all (excuse the "corny" in me, but I can't help it!)

But in the midst of all these changes, there's one thing we've got to avoid and that's letting the "I"'s have too much say. You know the "I"'s don't you? They are those prideful thoughts that lodge us into an attitude of fear and selfishness, and they keep tend to drown of the voice of the Holy Spirit at critical times when we need a fresh Word from the Father.

I sense that many of you, like myself, have a God-size dream on the inside of your heart just bursting to come alive. A dream that was sown into you a long time ago, and you've been in God's waiting room for quite some time now, just waiting to be released into destiny. Thats all good... but let me caution you - don't let YOU get in your way with how YOU FEEL, what YOU THINK, and WHAT YOU KNOW.

Take a tip from a once-fabulous heavenly angel's huge mistake:

Isaiah 14: 12 - 15
12How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Satan fell prey to the worst sin of all and cheated himself out of the bright future he could have had with God: P-R-I-D-E

Don't be like him. Take stock of your thought life. If you find that most of the statements coming from your mouth lately are starting "I", it's time to back up and do a soul check up. Remember, we are NOT our own, but we were purchased with the high price of Jesus' precious blood. Girlfriend, your life is not your own. (And it's not your family's either!) It belongs to God. Plain and simple!

I leave you with this verse to meditate on until we chat again next time...

Proverbs 3: 5 - 8
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.