How having a strong faith in God could be the difference between seeing God's blessings in your life or not.

The passage that Pastor Gene Tanner (Pastor of VNC in Valparaiso, IN) preached on a while back has been taught to me in several different ways over the past few months. Coincidence? I think not. In fact, shortly after I heard someone else speak about that very same passage, relating it to parenting. It became a transforming story for me during that season of life that God kept bringing it to my attention. It is one I can easily relate to, and identify with, on many levels.

Pastor Tanner preached from Numbers 13:1-14:45. This is the story where God told Moses to send 12 spies to the land that God had promised them-- Canaan. After spying for forty days, the spies were to bring back food from the land and suggest the best plan of attack for taking over the land. When they came back to share their report only two spoke out of their faith-- Joshua and Caleb. The other ten spoke out of their fear and their inadequacies because what they saw reminded them of how terribly small they were. If you are not familiar with this story, you might be interested in reading one of my older posts that goes into more depth on the details of how this historical tragedy all went down, before reading this post.

God has used this story multiple times throughout this year to speak to my heart about how I view myself and my circumstances. God used one of Susie Larson's blog posts on this passage, back in November, to show me that there are times in my life when I have to trust God even when my feelings suggest otherwise, and even when those around me suggest otherwise. This would have definitely been one of those times for the Israelite people. My focus at that time was on how we influence each other (for better or worse) by the attitudes we allow ourselves to possess. My application was that we must practice discernment when choosing who we listen to, and we have to be careful knowing that we will influence those around us when we speak out of our disbelief.

Something different stuck out to me the last time I heard this familiar story.
I found myself wondering if the story would have been different if those other ten spies had faith as strong as that of Joshua and Caleb. I felt like God was telling me that we must intentionally create a spiritual discipline of trusting HIM more than our feelings over and over again in the small things, until it becomes second nature to operate out of that faith with the big things. I want you to think on this for a minute because what I am talking about could be the difference between grabbing hold of the blessings that God is trying to place in your life, and stomping away from them in bitterness, while hanging your head in disappointment!!! That is a VERY BIG DEAL! The stakes can be quite high here. We should be careful not to downplay the radical difference having a strong faith makes!!!

When we do not think, speak, and operate out of our faith in the small things, we are creating a bad habit of focusing inward that will leave us feeling significantly inferior. That is going to be the very mindset that will keep us from boldly grabbing hold of the blessings God has for us.

When we step forward in fear, we feel weak and vulnerable. We start with the mindset that we are hopeless and if we're hopeless then what is the point? I am convinced that no feeling is worse than the feeling of being hopeless. I know, because I have been there. Hopelessness is a "cowering in the corner" kind of feeling that keeps us from experiencing the satisfaction of God's blessings in our lives.

Luke 6:45 says, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

You may have heard this children's song sung in your church when you were little:

Oh, be careful little mouth what you say.
Oh, be careful little mouth what you say.
For the father up above, He is listening with love.
Oh, be careful little mouth what you say.

And with Luke 6:45 in mind I say, "Oh, be careful little mind what you think."
Where does your mind seem to go on a regular basis? Or rather, where do you allow your mind to go???
Your mouth is going to give proof of where your mind has been... eventually.
Has God ever placed a blessing before you and you wanted it, but you didn't go after it because you allowed yourself to feel worthless, not good enough, smart enough, big enough, pretty enough, or important enough?? It can be hard to get out of the pit of despair. We find ourselves there when we pull out the shovel and dig up one inferior thought after another. The further we dig the harder it is to pull out of.

Alisha's "You will be blessed by your faith" Progression:

Wherever your mind goes, your heart will soon follow.
************
Whatever you pour your heart into, you will soon give voice to.
*********
The things you allow yourself to say will directly impact the amount of faith you have.
******
Faith in God will give you courage when there are obstacles in your life that could keep you from grabbing hold of God's blessings.
***
When you act out of that courage, God will move and you will be blessed.
-------------------------------
THEREFORE,
We should "...live by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7) ...

...and that starts with allowing our minds to dwell on God's strength 

and His endless resources more than we dwell on ourselves and our limited resources, trusting that He is working on our behalf and has our best interests in mind as we pray to him, depend on Him, and lean on His strength.

May God bless you in abundance as you develop your spiritual discipline of thinking, speaking, and acting out of your FAITH in HIM!!!

On a side note:
Isn't it so interesting how we can pull so much from one story in the Bible? We are blessed with RICH wisdom when we dig into the Bible and digest all it has to say to us. While I am sure that there have been thousands of sermons done on this passage all throughout the generations, here are just three that have personally impacted me that I would recommend:

• To hear Pastor Gene Tanner's sermon from this Sunday you may click here.


• To hear Adam Stadtmiller (author of the new book Give Your Kids the Keys) talk about what we can learn as parents from this passage, you may click here.


• To read Susie Larson's wonderfully written blog post on this passage, entitled "Silence Your Unbelief," you may click here.

When your world falls apart. Trust Him. He works all things together for the good of those who love Him.

I don't know what is in front of you, today, that looks too hard to overcome.
Maybe you are feeling that irritating feeling that comes when you are waiting on a promise from God that has yet to come to pass.
Maybe you feel like the heat in your life is escalating higher and higher-- things are getting worse and worse-- and just when you think things they can't get any worse, they do.

What do you do, when you're world is falling apart?

TRUST. That's too simple isn't it?

TRUST HIM to be at work in your life. That's not good enough, right?

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God ALL THINGS are possible."' (Matthew 19:26)

Okay, so then what? What does that mean for us?

Let that be your story too. If it weren't for God this would have been impossible, but because of God, ALL THINGS are possible, and I will (and you can) walk in faith even now!!

"For we live by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Keep walking in faith, seeking Him, and trusting Him. He will prove Himself faithful in time. He has all the resources in the world, He has not forgotten about you, He DOES LOVE YOU, you can trust Him, He is at work, and He WILL prove Himself faithful. Trust Him! Keep walking.

Comfort (Bible Verses) for those who need physical healing.

Here is just a short collection of scriptures to refer to when you are in need of physical healing. We know that God has the ability to heal because we read about instances when Jesus healed people throughout his lifetime. Those miracles were also backed up by his promises to us --His children --in regards to healing, all throughout the Bible. I pray that one or more of these verses speak directly to your heart today, and instill faith into your heart right when you need it most.

Feel your faith build as you speak each word into existence. The word of God is powerful, isn't it? Let the words infuse power into your body. Be strong. Be blessed. You have the God of all power on your side!

Acts 5:16
The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Hebrews 7:25
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Jeremiah 30:17 For I will restore health to you,
and your wounds I will heal,
declares the Lord,
because they have called you an outcast:
‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’
Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.
Jeremiah 33:6 Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security.
Matthew 18:19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Isaiah 58:8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Psalm 41:3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;
in his illness you restore him to full health.
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Psalm 34:10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Jeremiah 30:17 For I will restore health to you,
and your wounds I will heal,
declares the Lord,
because they have called you an outcast:
‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’
Matthew 8:17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Proverbs 3:7-8 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
Psalm 91:3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
Psalm 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
2 Timothy 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Psalm 107:20 He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
Jeremiah 33:6 Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 25:20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
Isaiah 50:7 But the Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
save me, and I shall be saved,
for you are my praise.
Isaiah 57:19 creating the fruit of the lips.
Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord,
“and I will heal him.
Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
Exodus 15:26 saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”
Deuteronomy 7:15 And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you knew, will he inflict on you, but he will lay them on all who hate you.
James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

How my daddy has given me a reason to be joyful today!

Psalm 145...
along with "Alisha's Personal Paraphrase" typed in pink font.

I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
I'll keep talking about you.

²Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
I'll probably just keep talking about you until the day I die actually.

³ Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.

Nobody on the planet is as cool as you, and nobody can explain away how cool you are.

⁴ One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.

One generation tells the next how awesome you are, and then they tell the next and on and on it goes, until infinity.

⁵ They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.^[b]

Each generation takes time expressing and dwelling on how incredible you are, and instilling the power of your name into the next generation.

⁶ They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.

They talk about how powerful you are and all the super miraculous ways you have worked in the lives of other people.

⁷ They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

They celebrate the fact that you are a good God that loves them and provides for them and sing joyfully of your righteousness.

⁸ The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

YOU are gracious and compassionate! YOU are slow to anger and rich in LOVE!! HOW wonderfully and magnificently brilliant of you! Such wonderful attributes for a father to possess!!!

⁹ The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.

YOU are good to all!!!! YOU have compassion on all you have made!!!! WOW!!!! What a delight you are LORD!!! I'm Speechless. Truly, you are a merciful God.

¹⁰ All your works praise you, LORD;
your faithful people extol you.

We praise you LORD.

¹¹ They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,

We tell of the glory of your kingdom and we speak of your might.

¹² so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

so that everyone who knows us can know about you and about your kingdom.

¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.

We tell them that Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and that Heaven is their safe home for eternity, free from all the hardships they face here on earth.

The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises
and faithful in all he does.^[c]

YOU, LORD, are trustworthy in ALL YOU promise and YOU are faithful in all YOU do, which is so just so hard to come by these days, so we thank you for that.

¹⁴ The LORD upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.

YOU, LORD, uphold us when we fall down and YOU, LORD, lift us up when we bow down. What a beautiful picture. We humbly bow before you, Lord.

¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.

The eyes of all look to you to provide for them and you provide for them exactly what they need exactly when they need it.

¹⁶ You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. (What precious words!!!)

¹⁷ The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.

YOU, LORD, are righteous in ALL YOUR ways, and faithful in ALL YOU do! (Amen.)

¹⁸ The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

YOU, LORD, are close to the one who is calling out to you right now!!! You are NOT distant!! Your hear each desperate plea, and you are CLOSE! Thank you Lord, for that promise!!! (Somebody needed to hear that today!)

¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.

YOU, LORD, fulfill the desires of those who fear YOU and you hear their cries and you save them from where they are at. THANK YOU LORD!!! YOU ARE A GOOD GOD!!!

²⁰ The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

YOU, LORD, watch over all who love YOU.

²¹ My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.

I will praise YOU, LORD today. I will join with all of the other creatures and praise YOU because YOU has given me a reason to be JOYFUL both now, and forever! AMEN.

The Father's Love Letter

An Intimate Message From God To You.

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad Almighty God
Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications
© 1999-2011 www.FathersLoveLetter.com

I found this "letter" at www.fathersloveletter.com and I liked it and wanted to share.
You can click here to check out the site, and what other resources it has to offer.

Be still and know. He is GOD.

"...a mighty windstorm hit the mountain.
It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose,
but the Lord was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake,
but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
And after the earthquake there was a fire,
but the Lord was not in the fire.
And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper..."
-1Kings 19:11b-12 (NLT)

Where are you at today?
Windstorm whirling around you?
Blast of rocks tumbling down on top of you?
Earthquake throwing all you've known out the window?
Fire burning it all to the ground?
. . . . . . . . .
Wait for the gentle whisper.

It's coming. It's coming. . . shhhhhhhh. . . . listen . . .

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!!

The Angel of the Lord encamps all
around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
~Psalms 34:7-8


Be blessed.

Jesus Christ is the solution, but what does that mean, and what do I do about it?

Where do you go from here?

If you have joined me in thinking on my topic the last couple of days you might be thinking, "OKAY, now what? Thanks for the guilt trip, Alisha. I think I will just go mow my yard now, because it is Saturday and Saturday is my day to mow the lawn. The only difference now is that I will feel bad for mowing my lawn instead of feeling good for taking care of the things God has blessed me with. Real cool, jerk face!" (sarcasm font)

What did I do today? I took a bunch of our stuff to a friend's house with the hopes that it would be sold at their garage sale while my kids played with their kids, and I loved it. I made a little over $30 and I had a great time doing it. Chances are good that you do not fly to Liberia today because of the video you watched yesterday. So, the question must be asked, "Where do we go from here!?!

A few things I want to briefly bullet point.
1. My passion for this topic is very small compared to Tim Ludy, whose videos I showed. I am not here to make myself out to be some sort of hero. I know I am not. I know I have not done my fair share to help with this problem. My approach is not the same as Tim's. I do not advocate that you not sleep well until ever child in Liberia has 3 square meals a day. I want you to sleep! Every single day if you can! :) All joking aside, I must say I do admire his passion, and his willingness to call believers to a higher standard of living. I showed his videos because I agree with him even if I don't have all the answers, the enthusiasm he has, or a grand plan to solve the monstrous problem at hand.

2. We cannot fix everyone's problems, and to try to do so will only wear us out until we have nothing left to give. We are not God, but we can be instruments for God to use. God is not calling his people to run themselves into the ground. He does not have an expectation of you that you would solve ALL of the world's problems. He will call you to do one thing, and he will call another believer to do something else. The fact still remains, SOMEONE must help the child in Liberia! He loves to call believers together to tackle a major issue...to join in unity and do much more good than if each person tried to work alone. He loves for the passion of one believer to spur on the passion of other believers. (you know, his idea of the church and all)

3. To avoid his nudges when he offers you practical things YOU can do to love on his children, might be a deliberate act of disobedience. This is between you and God. You know what indifference looks like in your realm of influence. I am not here to judge you. YOU are loved no matter what. This does not change God's love for you. He loves you so much! He knows that YOUR life will be better, more richly blessed, when you GIVE your life away to the cause of helping others, and so he wants that for you. He loves you and because he loves you he invites you to join him in carrying out his big plan and to experience the joy and the thrill of knowing you got to be part of what the God of the UNIVERSE is up to!

4. We must wait on God to give us our "marching orders". (this is a term I have heard Susie Larson use many times before, and I love it) Susie often times says this, "An un-appointed work is an un-annointed work". If God is not calling you to a thing and you jump forward and take action just so you can feel like you are doing something, the thing(s) you set out to do will not be blessed. You are not doing yourself, or anyone else, any favors by working ahead of God's timing.

5. We need to wait on God to give us our marching orders, but then, when he gives them to us we jump on them! God's good news to you is this: He has already planned good things for you to do with your life. He already has a purpose for you. You just walk in it. Who you are is unique and what he has for you to do is unique! I have been intentionally vague in these past two posts for that very reason. Check out these two verses, and see if it calms your spirit just a tad:

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
-Ephesians 2:10

and

"Your hands have made me and fashioned me." - Job 10:8

6. Draw close to God and he will draw close to you. You want to know what is weighing on God's heart? Draw close to him. What does that look like? Prayer, reading your Bible, asking God to reveal his plan for you, seeking Him, seeking opportunities to serve him, and boldly moving forward when he calls you to. It starts with prayer, quiet time, being alone with him and acknowledging where he is already at work. If you are feeling stuck, I will share my prayer so that you can make it your own if you wish, or tweak it to fit what your heart is trying to cry out to God right now:

Dear God,
I very much want to be a part of your big plan here on earth. I want to know that my life meant something to the lives you allowed me to be a part of. I do not want to stay focused on all my worries to the point that I do nothing to help others who are so much worse off than I am. I want to be a vessel that you can pour out of. Pour your love out of me so the people I touch will know you are a God that loves them. If there is something specific you want me to be doing for someone across the world, open my eyes and my heart to that person (or those people) and their situation(s). Give me eyes to see the broken-hearted, the hurting, the abused, the neglected, and the lost. Give me a heart that breaks for them and reaches out to them...both near and far. Give me my unique marching orders in my life. Teach me what it means to be your hands and feet in this world. I cannot take on all the problems of this world, but I am more than happy to join you in managing my one little tiny part of your great big plan. Bless what little I have to give and make it much. Draw me away from anything that would be a distraction to your bigger plan. Bring people around me who I can join with to make a bigger impact for your kingdom, Lord. Keep me far from the lusts of this world that give empty promises of instant satisfaction only to leave me feeling disappointed, ashamed, lost, lonely, and confused. Give me a greater cause-- one that I can be proud of, and one that brings greater fulfillment when I find my peace, joy, comfort, strength, hope and divine purpose in YOU, Lord! Amen.

It's a start. You gotta start somewhere, right?

If you are EAGER to get started in doing your part I want to throw out one option that is easy, quick, and very manageable for most people in the United States. I am a fan of Compassion International. I have heard enough stories to know that this organization is completely legitimate in what it sets out to do. You get to choose a child, by picture, whom you would like to sponsor. By sponsoring, you are agreeing to make a tax-deductible contribution of just $38 a month. Your money connects your child with this loving, church-based child sponsorship program that provides:

• Food and clean water
• Medical care
• Educational opportunities
• Important life-skills training
• Most important of all, your sponsored child will hear about Jesus Christ and be encouraged to develop a lifelong relationship with God.

Is God calling you to this one? If he isn't, will you please join me in praying, seeking what he wants to do through you to make the most impact for his kingdom? If he is, will you please jump on it? I am convinced that many lives depend on your choice to make this prayer of obedience. Okay, now go. Bless and be blessed.

Tomorrow's wrap up on this topic (I think) :
What to do if you are the one whose needs are not being met!

How can people starve to death when God says HE will meet ALL our needs? PART TWO.

I previously referred to a dream I had in May that stirred my emotions with such intensity that I could NOT fall back asleep. My heart was pounding hard. It was the middle of the night and I knew I needed sleep, but the dream felt so real to me I almost wondered if there was someone I needed to be helping right in that VERY moment! I prayed. I blogged. I cried. I prayed some more. Here was the dream...

There was a child screaming in a room with the door shut. There were sounds of the child being hit and yelled at. I was sitting on a couch in the living room, and I could hear what was going on in the other room. I yelled through the door frantically, asking if the child was okay. The boy was not yelling back to me. I figured he was afraid to say anything. The beating stopped and a big angry man stormed out of the room and was yelling at me. He seemed huge and his anger was fierce and I was afraid of him. Meanwhile, the child yelled from the bedroom, "I'm not okay Alisha! Help me!" Then, I woke up, stunned, and unable to sleep.

Woah. Tears come to my eyes and my heart hurts when I think about that boys voice saying those words...
"I'm not okay Alisha! Help me!"

In the dream I stood ready to face whatever this man was going to throw my way as long as I did not leave the boy alone there, but I was very scared. Then I woke up. I hadn't taken any action in the dream, but I woke up wishing I could. I wanted so much to figure out who that boy was! Was this a specific person around me that God wanted to lay on my heart? Lord, I am willing! Take me to him please!

Intercession.
Check out one of Eric Ludy's other videos on intercession.

How can people starve to death when God says HE will meet ALL our needs? PART ONE.

One of my sweet friends in the faith has been bringing me some of her deeper questions lately and I LOVE it. God wants us to ask questions. When things don't line up in the Bible, it's not just because we are stupid and cannot understand. He wants us to seek Him, to ask questions about why things aren't making sense to us. We will never have all the answers on this side of Heaven, but THAT is NOT an excuse to give up seeking answers when God shows you a problem. There are times in life when we are too immature in our faith to tackle some of the bigger mysteries before us. God's grace will cover the things you do not understand. At what point, though, do you acknowledge God's nudging on your heart to dig deeper and make your life about more than just YOU? Hmmm... (I'm talking to myself, but I am throwing it out there for you to consider for yourself as well) Read the question my friend sent me...

Okay, so I need to talk. In the bible (I've been doing the 30 min. with God thing) and I was reading in Matthew where it talks about worry. It says, "Do the birds worry what they will wear or about food? Don't you know your father in heaven cares more for you?" and in Philippians it talks about God supplying for all our needs. Okay, when I think of basic needs I think of food, shelter, water, and love. So then my mind goes to the people in third world countries like Africa, and I wonder,

"Okay, so if God supplies for all our needs why are their basic needs for food, water, shelter, etc. not met?"

This is a huge question. I don't mean to make it small and act like it is easy to answer, but I want to throw out some thoughts to get you thinking about what YOU can do to answer this question in your own life. I'm going to answer this question with a quote I stole from Eric Ludy's interview with Susie Larson, and a video that he made to drive home his point. I LOVE THIS because it presents this message in a way that makes so much sense to me, and I hope it will help you too.

"God is a father to the fatherless through His body (Christians) so if His body doesn't use their hands, their feet, their eyes, their homes, as the very answer to that orphan prayer and that orphan is crying out, "Is there a God? Please Help me." ....We are His body! 148 millions orphans!! How does this change? It changes one Christian at a time, saying, "I'm willing God, to be the answer to that orphan's prayer."
-Eric Ludy

Watch this heart-stirring video and be moved...


Prayer.
OH DEAR GOD! My house is a mess, but at least I have a house. My children whine for food, but I thank you that they are not starving. Get us out of our house, Lord. There is so much more you want us to be doing than to just manage to keep up our house and yard! There are others DESPERATE for their basic needs to be met. Dying. Hurting. In agony! Stir up the hearts of thousands of Christians. Give us a taste for more than what is in front of us. Make us hunger for more than just food, but for righteousness. Make us die to ourselves and our own desires more that we might find satisfaction in helping others who NEED you, Lord. WE are YOUR body, here to work out YOUR purposes here on earth. Use US, Lord, to establish your will on earth as it is in Heaven! What a bold thing to ask. We don't ask this lightly. You tell us to ask for it, so we do, knowing that it will require us to take action. We ask this in your Holy name, Amen.

And if my God is for me, who can be against me?

Romans 8:38-39
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Humble prayer of one who is aware of how painfully inadequate she truly is.

"...he uses you on a Tuesday, knowing you are going to blow it on a Wednesday." -Susie Larson.

Thank you, God, for the way you forgive me even before I mess up, and choose to use me in spite of myself. There are days I know I don't deserve your blessings and favor, and yet you consistently allow me to be a part of what you are up to anyway. You are so good to me, Lord. You know the depths of my heart and you love me the same. You are an amazing God. I love you and I choose to continue to pour my life out to you out of my love for you Lord. I'm sorry for the days I get off track, and I thank you for the ways you woe me back to you. I take great comfort in knowing that even though I am perfectly inconsistent most days, you stay the same and your love never changes. You love me even on my off days. You are a good God. Teach me to be confident and consistent, Lord, that you might be glorified through my life. Amen.

Does God really love us? I mean, really really?

Have you ever wondered if God loved you? If we make up a pros and cons list for why he should or should not love us, I'm sure we could come up with a very long list. God has no list. He has never been quiet about His love for you. He has been very forthcoming in scripture about how He feels towards you. Here are some of His answers to the question: "Does God love us?"

“I have loved you with an everlasting love.” —Jeremiah 31:3

Everlasting love...no end, no beginning. Not dependent on how great you are, or how well you stack up against anyone else. He loves you for ever and ever and ever. The kind of love He has for you is a divine love that you, being a human, cannot comprehend. It's greater, it's deeper, it's wider, it's more intense, and it NEVER FAILS. He loves you on your good day. He loves you on your "can't find a clean pair of pants that fit day".

"God is love…" —1 John 4:16

It's not just this thing he DOES because he feels sorry for you. He IS love. God is love. God never changes. Therefore, God's is love all-the-time. There can never be a time when He does not love, because who he IS is love. Told you you couldn't comprehend it. ;) It's okay, I can't either. Just know (and trust) this...there is NEVER a time EVER that God is not loving you...ever.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” —Jeremiah 29:11

God has a BIG picture of how things will work together for the good, and you are part that BIG picture. ("And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28) He wants to keep you from harm. He offers you hope and a future that is far beyond what you can imagine, if you just trust Him with your life. He loves you and He has GREAT things in store for you, here, and in Heaven.

"God created us in His image - and you as a person are important to God.Indeed the very hairs of your head are numbered." —Luke 12:7

He's just wild about you, okay? He created you and knit you together, and decided on the perfect number of hairs for your cute little head. You are no accident. He planned you and put you here on this earth at just the right time. He's nuts about you. YOU have a special place in His heart that only you can fill.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." -John 3:16

To make sure that you could always be with Him forever and ever, He died on the cross for your sins, making it possible for you (as a sinner) to be in Heaven (a perfect place free from sin). He paid the ultimate sacrifice that YOU could be with HIM in eternity. That is the kind of love He pours out on you. This kind of love is the kind that says, "let me just lay down my life so that you can come be with me forever" and then actually does it!

YOU ARE LOVED! There's your proof.

You don't have to wonder anymore. :)

Go out and live as someone who has a purpose; as someone who was not put here by accident, as someone who is loved, adored, accepted, and treasured every single day. God says you are His Beloved and NOTHING can change that.
So, take a deep breath and embrace His love for you today.

Another strange dream I had.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23).

I woke up the other day with a very vivid dream still fresh on my mind...

MY DREAM.

I was in a mansion, with high ceilings and beautiful furniture. There were tons of people roaming and hanging out throughout the entire house. It felt like an open house, sort of. Everyone was excited and having a great time.

As I was going up the winding staircase I saw an alligator crawling into a room. Immediately I knew that I had made the arrangements to have this alligator delivered to this house. I was nervous. I went into the room and saw that it went under the bed. I looked around. Everyone acted like they didn't see it go in there, so I stood in the room trying to think of how I could get the thing out. I was racking my brain trying to decide how I was going to apologize to the person who owned the house. I felt a huge sense of guilt. I was stuck. On the one hand, asking him to forgive me for something so ridiculous would be embarrassing. On the other hand, I knew there was no way I could get this alligator out of the house by myself, so I was going to have to say something.

As I approached the owner to tell him what I had done, a large truck pulled up to the curb outside of the house. A few strong men came out of the truck and got the alligator out of the house with no trouble at all, like they were used to doing this sort of thing. We were just one more stop on their route or stops. I was shocked. I watched as the owner of the house turned to a young person and made it clear that HE was the one who orchestrated the plan for the alligator being in the house and he would have to leave the house. Everyone seemed relieved to have that person leave the house, because in the owner's explanation we all learned that this person was actually plotting all along to ruin the party by bringing in these alligators.

In the dream, I knew it was true. I felt a huge sense of relief in knowing that the burden I was carrying was not mine to carry. It was not my fault and with that, I could go on having a great time with everyone in the house.

Then I woke up.

The problem, as I see it.
Strange, right? Random, stupid dream right? :) Or is it? I've been thinking a lot about sin lately... the consequences of sin, and how being tempted is part of being human...that kind of stuff. Sometimes we let our guard down and in our weakness we entertain a bad thought, or allow ourselves to sin. We carry the shame and the guilt from doing what we know is wrong. We determine we are defined by our sin, and we operate out of the mentality that we are no good and should be ashamed of ourselves. We make future compromises because we feel we are "less than" and we deserve to be "less than". We take on any blame for our actions. Over time it is hard for us to tell where Satan ends and we begin. We don't recognize who we are anymore. It's hard for us to know where to even start if we were going to ask for forgiveness. There's so much wrong.

Here's what I am thinking.
At any time the process can be halted, and corrected, and you can be made new. Take the blame off of yourself for a second. God is all-knowing. He sees your world and the spiritual realms that you can't see. He offers grace and forgiveness when you ask for it. He's aware of where you have fallen short of His glory. He knows where Satan brought you down, and He doesn't want you to stay stuck there. Your identity is NOT wrapped up in your sin. Your identity is found in how God sees you. He gently woes you back because He loves you and wants you back, and because He knows it is in your best interest. When you come to God, asking for forgiveness He immediately offers you forgiveness and then directs the attention away from you. "Satan, you're not welcome here. You must leave." FREEDOM! You can let down your baggage. There is no condemnation in Christ. He loves you and is in the business of protecting you and bringing you to a new way of living when you ask for it. He makes all things new.

Live your life worthy of your calling.
God has more for you. Stop taking blame for the alligator in the house. Has anyone ever tried to hold you to you to your past, and not let it go? You are NOT only as great as your worst sin. That is what Satan wants you to believe. Seek God, be made new, and enjoy the party. He has BIG things in store for you when you are willing to lay down your burdens at His feet. He loves you and you can trust Him with your everything. :)

The difference between salvation and sanctification, as I understand it.

I wanted to make a really cool (or what I thought would be cool) illustration, and I just couldn't muster it up...so here's my second best option for making the point I want to make.... (great set-up, I know)...

YOU-GOD

YOU-SIN-GOD

YOU-SIN-SIN TO COVER UP PAST SIN-GOD

YOU-SIN-SIN TO COVER UP PAST SIN-NEW SIN-GOD

YOU-SIN-SIN TO COVER UP PAST SIN-NEW SIN-DEEPER SIN-GOD

YOU-SIN-SIN TO COVER UP PAST SIN-NEW SIN-DEEPER SIN-JUSTIFICATION FOR SIN-GOD

YOU-SIN-SIN TO COVER UP PAST SIN-NEW SIN-DEEPER SIN-JUSTIFICATION FOR SIN-REALLY UGLY THING YOU NEVER IMAGINED YOURSELF DOING-GOD

YOU-SIN-SIN TO COVER UP PAST SIN-NEW SIN-DEEPER SIN-JUSTIFICATION FOR SIN-REALLY UGLY THING YOU NEVER IMAGINED YOURSELF DOING-GUILT AND SHAME- GOD

YOU-SIN-SIN TO COVER UP PAST SIN-NEW SIN-DEEPER SIN-JUSTIFICATION FOR SIN-REALLY UGLY THING YOU NEVER IMAGINED YOURSELF DOING-GUILT AND SHAME- HURT, PAIN, DISAPPOINTMENT- GOD

YOU-SIN-SIN TO COVER UP PAST SIN-NEW SIN-DEEPER SIN-JUSTIFICATION FOR SIN-REALLY UGLY THING YOU NEVER IMAGINED YOURSELF DOING-GUILT AND SHAME- HURT, PAIN, DISAPPOINTMENT- GOD

YOU-FORGIVENESS-CLEAN SLATE-HOPE FOR THE FUTURE-GOD

YOU-GOD


THE BAD NEWS ABOUT SIN FOR THE UNBELIEVER.
The bad news is that your sin separates you from God and all the blessings he has for you. The road that leads us to indulge in our sinful nature is the road that leads to death. Period. If you are human, you are a sinner. There is no way around that, and the sin that separates you from God is the one that keeps you from getting into Heaven. Heaven is perfect, so sin can't exist there, so YOU can't be there...unless, of course, someone perfect pays the price, and offers themselves as a sacrifice for you.

THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT SALVATION.
Salvation is the process of being saved. If you pray the prayer asking for forgiveness, acknowledging that God is who He says He is and that He died on the cross for your sins, asking God to take away your sin, then YOU are saved by the power of Christ that is in you. Salvation really is that simple. It really is just a moment of declaration that God is THE God of your life, and accepting that He calls you to be with Him. With salvation, there is immediate freedom in knowing that our sins are forgiven. The cleansing of our souls is rejuvenating and energizing. Awesome, one time experience.

WHAT IS SANCTIFICATION?
Sanctification is something different. Sanctification is a process. Where Salvation is a solitary act that wipes away all of the sin from our past and becomes the bridge that gets you into Heaven when you die, sanctification is a process that continues on for the rest of your life here on earth until you are in Heaven.

Unfortunately, we are still human, and we are still drawn to worldly things. We let our guard down. We forget what God told us was important. The old boyfriend comes back around and puts temptation in front of us again and we fall into a trap of sin we never intended to fall into. We're not perfect, but with God in our hearts, we can be made perfect. Sanctification is the process of being made more and more into the likeness of God until the day we are made perfect in Heaven. God wants you to be close to Him, so He will continue nudging you and drawing you closer to Him. His spirit convicts you when you go off course, and you can ALWAYS come back at ANY time, ask for forgiveness, and get a clean slate again.

THE BAD NEWS ABOUT SIN FOR THE PERSON WHO IS STRIVING TO LIVE FOR GOD.
If you decide to let things come between you and God, (sin) you will find yourself feeling off. Where is that hope I once had?? All sins start with a wrong thought left unchecked. If you ignore that still, small voice telling you to bolt in the other direction, entertaining thoughts of how fun, satisfying, or liberating indulging your sinful nature would be, you are setting yourself up for making a bad choice. Every sin has a consequence. We still have to deal with the consequences of sin here on earth, whether we choose to acknowledge that we are sinning or not. If we allow sin to creep into our life, little by little Satan gets a stronghold over us until we don't know how to get back to where we were. We feel lost. God's will won't seem clear anymore. It will be very hard to discern where God is at work in your life and around you. You'll start to doubt God because you won't be able to see Him. If someone asks you where God is at work it will seem foggy. Your prayers will seem strained, at best. You'll miss out on the blessings that come with obedience to God. Satan is a thief and a liar.

"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:9-10

Satan's attacks on you are inevitable. Satan is the thief that steels your joy, and zest for life. Don't fall into his trap.

A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING, AND WANT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT ACCORDING TO GOD.
When you catch yourself coming off the path that leads you closer to God, stop yourself, ask for forgiveness and get yourself distracted with what God has for you. Make a choice to run from the appeal of the sin that presents itself in a pretty package. Find an accountability partner...someone you trust who will hold you to the standard God asks of you. Check out the post after this one if you feel you are weak in standing up to the lure of sin in your life. It's verse after verse of what God has to say about how you can avoid sin in your life. You have the power of God on your side. You can be more than a conqueror when you seek God, and tap into the power He provides.

In the words of Susie Larson, "Be strong and last long! God is the one who will keep you strong to the end."

God bless.

God's assessment is all that matters.

I never actually met the guy myself, but I have heard a lot about him. He wasn't known for his singing, his amazing looks, the status he carried, or the way he threw a ball. He was ordinary in the way he looked. He didn't try out for a bunch of sports, a bunch of clubs, or groups that would bring up his worth in the eyes of everyone around him. He would have NEVER had a shot at American Idol, and he certainly would not have been the star quarterback on a football team. He was alright with that. He didn't really care too much about what other people thought about him, actually, which was part of what made him stand out so much. All he really cared about was what his dad thought of him. He devoted his entire life to his dad. Everything he did, every single day, was done in an effort to please his DAD. He was told from the time he was born that it was his "destiny", and he agreed to that destiny.

People tried to knock him down and tell him it was silly. "Just have fun! Stop being so serious about making your dad happy! Who cares what your dad thinks!?"

Partying with other friends might have proved to be more fun for the night, but he could never bring himself to make it what his life was about. There were too many other important things to be done. Was it because he just loved his dad so much, and didn't want to disappoint him? Other people's opinions of him seemed so inconsequential compared to what his father thought of him. I mean, don't get me wrong...he loved his friends, but he didn't live and die according to what his friends thought of him.

Instead, he was going to live and die, according to the cause of making his dad happy.

He seemed to always be aware of where he stood with this dad. Maybe he didn't want to mess that up. Maybe he got some kind of kick out out of seeing his dad smile at him. Whatever joy he received from making his dad happy seemed to be enough, though, because he stayed intent on making that his goal in life. If there was an area of his life that seemed shady, and it wasn't clear whether to go right or left, he just asked his dad. His dad gave him an answer, and he obeyed his dad's direction because he trusted his dad.

His dad comforted him, gave him advice along the way, and He gave him all the things in his life he would ever need. He couldn't imagine life without his dad. As long as he had his dad, he didn't need anyone else, or anything else.

Some people thought it was cool that he liked his dad so much. They heard him talking about his dad and wanted to know more. They were intrigued by the things they heard about his dad, and it made them want to get to know his dad and have their own relationship with him. They could never take the place of his son in his life, but they would love to be at the table with the both of them and just be part of the fellowship between them. They would ask questions, and come hang out with him and his dad. Some people fell in love with his dad, because of the way he talked about his dad. Some of those people would go tell other people, who in turn told other people, and so on, until there were people coming to meet his dad, just because they "heard" about him.

There were other people, though, who were REALLY getting kind of tired of hearing about how great his dad was. I mean, seriously, they would all be having a great time and this guy would show up and start talking about how his dad would not approve of the things going on. Some people cared, but other people would just get upset. Those people would think, "You know what? We're kind of tired of hearing what your dad thinks about everything!! Be quiet already." Some people thought they knew his dad better than he did. Those people would think, "You're not anyone special to be talking about him the way you do."

It got so bad, that one day a handful of people plotted to kill him. They thought if they killed him they could go back to doing things the way they wanted.

For the record...
Jesus knows what it's like to be on the receiving end of wrong assessments and judgments. In the Old Testament, people had a hard time believing God was who he said he was. In the New Testament, people had a hard time believing Jesus was who he said he was. People now, have a hard time believing the Holy Spirit is who He says He is. Even so, God is God. He is who He says He is and He's coming back in all of His glory!



PRAYER
Your assessment of me is the only one that truly matters, God. I will seek you, follow you, and devote my days to you. I will trust my life to you and your plans. Thank you for the way you comfort, sustain, and and renew me daily with your gracious and patient leading, Lord. Amen.