Tis’ the season to remember, Jesus is the reason!!!
Praise the Lord!

This is a time of year that affects many of us in varied ways–some are filled with joy and wonder, while others find themselves sad, even depressed. It is amazing that this Christmas season can fill one person with unbridled joy, and yet plunge others into deep sadness.

There are ways to avoid the pitfalls of being downcast in this time of remembrance of the birth of our Savior.

1. Remember, what this time is all about! It is the time that we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Without His birth we couldn’t know Him as our Redeemer. In order to be our Deliverer, He had to come through the womb of a woman, in birth. How glorious is our story of redemption that began with the humble birth of our King! Stay focused, on what His birth brought to us–a King, a Redeemer, a Deliverer, all in Christ our Lord.

2. Make an effort to be with others. It is tempting to shut down and avoid others when sad–but that is the opposite of what one should do. Get involved. If you are far from family, visit those in need. Volunteer at a shelter; give gifts to those who cannot afford to give. Visit senior citizens at a residential facility, who are often forgotten and lonely, themselves. If your church has community outreach programs, get involved. Help someone else–it will bring you joy!

3. Avoid the trappings that we have come to think of as necessary to celebrate Christmas. In all of our attempts to make the holiday a memorable event, sometimes, we can get caught up in the trappings–the shopping, the busyness, and all of things that overwhelm us and lead to exhaustion and frustration. It isn’t the gifting that is important, but the people that give and receive. Focus on the important things–give of yourself, share your time and attention with others. It is these things that create precious memories. “Things” are forgotten quickly, but intangible giving, is not soon forgotten.

In all of this, I am not suggesting that it is wrong to give gifts, just that we should maintain perspective–in ALL things. Balance is of utmost importance. Give, but don’t give yourself into debt. Give of yourself. Spend time with others. Think outside of your usual circle. Think of those less fortunate. Keep spending in check. In everything, know your limits–in giving gifts, in decorating, in baking, cooking, parties, etc. Make sure that time for worship–personal as well as corporate is still apart of your regular activities. Don’t forget to pray, read and study the Word. Physically, it is important to get proper rest, eat right, and exercise–even while all the tempting goodies of the holiday surround us!) It is okay to indulge, but stay on track. Being physically fit, goes along way in helping us be emotionally healthy, too.

Whatever you celebrate–Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, stay focused on God, and others!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Love & Abundant Blessings,

Lisa

God can make you comfortable in the most uncomfortable places.  He can pull you out of situations you thought you’d be stuck in forever.  He can give you peace, even in the midst of trauma.

Before your life is over, you’ll live, love, and experience loss.  Losing some things will actually help you to appreciate the things you still have.  It’s the taste of failure that makes success so sweet.  How can you celebrate victory unless you’ve known defeat?

You’ll live each day not knowing what tomorrow holds, but knowing that God holds all your tomorrows.  They’re not in the hands of your boss, your broker, your mate, or anybody else.  Nor are they in your hands to manipulate and control.  No, all your tomorrows are in God’s hands!

So whatever you do – get to know Him – because you’ll need Him.  And He’ll be there for you.  He’ll be there when every body and everything else has gone.  He’ll be there for you in the dark places.  His promise to you is, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5 AMP).  However long the night, morning always comes, and with it His joy.

Just think, no matter how dark the night, you’ve always lived to see the morning.  Right?  Somehow His grace has protected you, provided for you, secured you, calmed and comforted you, and brought you through.  Times and seasons change, but not God.  He’s always “the God of all comfort,” and He’s watching over you today!

Why do we keep failing?  Because flesh will always act like flesh!  After a season of doing everything right, you can fall flat on your face because you “give place to the devil,” (Eph 4:27), or “[give] occasion to the flesh” (Gal 5:13).

The story is told of an old Native American who, a few months after his conversion, came back to his pastor and said, “It’s like I have 2 big dogs constantly fighting inside me.”  “Which one of them wins?” the pastor asked.  After thinking about it, the old Indian replied, “I guess the one I feed the most.”

The power to live victoriously comes from feeding your spirit and disciplining your flesh.  Listen, “His divine power has give us everything we need for life and godliness . . . He has give us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2Peter 1:3-4 NIV).  Spiritual growth doesn’t just happen; you have to work at it daily.

I knew it was time, as the seasons are rapidly changing–summer is behind us, now, and fall is changing the temperatures and the foliage. We are beginning to bundle up a bit more–and our mindset is different, as we think toward the holiday’s approaching–time for family and fellowship. These times can be difficult for many; especially those of us who are unmarried and separated from our families by miles (or other reasons). So, we sometimes, begin to reflect; and at this time, it is easy to withdraw and settle for thoughts other than the thoughts that God has toward us. His are ALL good and whole (and RIGHT)!

Sometimes, we become negative in our thinking, supposing that we will ALWAYS be alone. We fail to see others around us, attempting to reach out to us; or we may fail to see our responsibility to reach out to others. Before you have time to get caught up in thoughts of negativity, wrap yourself up in God’s precious thoughts about you! Remember, He had you on His mind before you were formed: (“My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:15-17, NKJV). His plans for you are only the best: (“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV).

If you are tempted over these coming months, to succumb, to loneliness, sadness, feelings of defeat–think on THESE things!

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8, NKJV)

Love & Abundant Blessings,

Lisa

Loneliness happens when fellowship is absent. If we are not involved in fellowship with one another, that leads to loneliness. At this point, we may view our singleness (unmarried state) as a prison, rather than the biblically intended positive experience. Let me share this, too. Even in prison, there is something to do! Remember Paul and Silas, in prison? They weren’t sitting in that jail, complaining about the bars, the jailer, or the separation from others–they chose to worship and focused on God–their Deliverer, and He brought them out of their prison–He will do the same for you! Think of Joseph, the patriarch, sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, locked away in prison–seemingly forgotten and left there to rot away. Joseph continued to work–in prison! He sought a change, he found something to do–and his efforts, along with continued faith in God wrought him deliverance and restoration. His restoration, too, exceeded the previous blessings, in his life–even enabling him to bless others, and to be instrumental in the saving of his family members (including, the ones who sold him, in the first place). Joseph understood and learned (through the process!!!) that God brings great things into fruition (out of even the direst circumstances of life), and He will utilize the tools of what appeared to be our demise! How awesome is our God??!!!

Yes, what satan sent–that loneliness–to destroy you, God will use to masterfully shape ministry, wholeness, and all manner of good “fruit”, in us!

We recognize though, that sometimes, it is difficult to see all of this when, as unmarried people we are consumed with loneliness. Sometimes, it appears to be insurmountable–and becomes very disquieting, for us. You begin to look around–and it seems that everyone has someone–except you. It is not true! It is important, for us to resist the urge to wallow in our loss. Start to look for fellowship opportunities.

Always, show yourself friendly! Make a concerted effort to reach out to others. If there is no singles’ ministry at your assembly, ask for one–and be willing to work toward its’ success. Find other singles and make time for fun events and social activities. Don’t use the excuse that it cost too much–it doesn’t have to cost anything! Plan a game night, at your place; have a picnic; start a book club, there are many ways to get friends together without cost (or little cost)–use your imagination! In all of this be careful to guard against cliques!!! Don’t exclude others, and be mindful of treating everyone the way you desire to be treated.

There are definite advantages to the unmarried state, but enjoying them has everything to do with your outlook. Try not to view this time as wasted time, spent waiting for a mate–but as precious time, that God has gifted to you, to make the most of. “Occupy” not until your mate comes–but until Jesus comes–use your time wisely and productively–it really is a gift.

Be proactive–make something happen, and find fulfillment and joy, for you and others, too!!!

Blessings,
Lisa

So today when Satan shows up with his temptations, announce that you’re going to stand in Christ.  Let him know that you’re going to stand until the shaking stops, until you feel peace again, until the wave of loneliness passes, until you come out of debt, and until the struggle is over, until the tempter loses his power to either trap you or topple you!

When you do the standing – God does the strengthening!  Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Php 4:13 NKJV).  God doesn’t just strengthen you once; He’ll strength you again and again.  He’ll strength you every time you face a difficult challenge, every time a memory comes back to haunt you, every time you’re reminded of your imperfect past,  every time you face a difficult decision.

Drawing from God the strength you need to stand up to the devil, may take effort.  It may take your praise, your prayer, and your getting into His Word with an intensity you’ve never had before.  But the fact is – you can stand if you really want to!

“My Body is About Him”
by Max Lucado

“Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT). Paul wrote these words to counter the Corinthian sex obsession. “Run away from sexual sin!” reads the prior sentence. “No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.” (v.18 NLT).

“What a salmon scripture! No message swims more up-stream than this one. You know the sexual anthem of our day: “I’ll do what I want. It’s my body.” God’s firm response? “No, it’s not. It’s mine.”

Be quick to understand, God is not antisex. Dismiss any notion that God is anti affection and anti-intercourse. After all, he developed the whole package. Sex was his idea. From his perspective, sex is nothing short of holy.

He views sexual intimacy the way I view our family Bible. Passed down from my father’s side, the volume is one hundred years old and twelve inches thick. Replete with lithographs, scribbling, and a family tree, it is, in my estimation, beyond value. Hence, I use it carefully.

When I need a stepstool, I don’t reach for the Bible. If the foot of my bed breaks, I don’t use the family Bible as a prop. When we need old paper for wrapping, we don’t rip a sheet out of this book. We reserve the heirloom for special times and keep it in a chosen place.

Regard sex the same way? as a holy gift to be opened in a special place at special times. The special place is marriage, and the time is with your spouse.

Casual sex, intimacy outside of marriage, pulls the Corinthian ploy. It pretends we can give the body and not affect the soul. We can’t. We humans are so intricately psychosomatic that whatever touches the soma impacts the psyche as well. The me-centered phrase “as long as no one gets hurt” sounds noble, but the truth is, we don’t know who gets hurt. God-centered thinking rescues us from the sex we thought would make us happy. You may think your dalliances are harmless, and years may pass before the x-rays reveal the internal damage, but don’t be fooled. Casual sex is a diet of chocolate? it tastes good for a while, but the imbalance can ruin you. Sex apart from God’s plan wounds the soul.

Your body, God’s temple. Respect it.”
These days, we hear all kinds of things in regards to sex and “our” bodies. People really do think that whatever pleases them is okay. That is such a deception. If you carefully devote time and attention to making something, do you then, allow it to make decisions that will cause all of your work to be for naught? For instance, I design and make jewelry. After I have designed a piece and put my work into the detail of the design, do I allow someone to come along and abuse my work? Not likely! Why, then, do we think that God will allow His creations to use and abuse themselves, with each other, simply because it feels good, or because we feel like it?

He has created so much beauty–in us and for us to enjoy; but God is a God of order. He has determined how and when we can appropriately use everything that He has created. If we choose to do things our way–and against His principles, then we suffer. There are consequences for ALL of our choices–some are good, but some will kill us–it depends on our choice.

What is really sad is that even in many churches, there are people who identify themselves as born-again Christians, who think that sexual immorality is not really a bad thing–or that it is excusable. It is bad and it is not excusable–it destroys. It destroys the family unit, as God intended it to be. Sex outside of the confines of marriage has a multitude of consequences. There are spiritual, emotional and physical consequences. Those consequences are often so life altering, that many never really recover from the misuse of the temple of God (“our” bodies). I am sure you can name some of those consequences:
1) Loneliness–to engage in sex, without a marriage partner, leaves a feeling of emptiness and a longing for something more–particularly, with women. Why? Because, women are receivers. It is our nature to become emotional–whenever a woman has sex, she needs more than the physical act to truly be satisfied. Without commitment of marriage, there is NO guarantee of commitment. Men generally are not as emotional about sex, as women, but they give a part of themselves (emotionally), in the act of intercourse, as well. Most women, admittedly or not, are looking for more than the physical act–and have a hope of something permanent, when they engage in sex, outside of the confines of marriage. Unfortunately, it often doesn’t work out that way–but even if they do marry, these marriages are often troubled.
2) sexually-transmitted diseases–they aren’t only a nuisance, but they can take lives. HIV/AIDS, has wreaked havoc on the family. When AIDS first became known to us, most heterosexuals thought they were safe. Not so, AIDS doesn’t discriminate. Mothers get AIDS and pass it on to their children. Men engage in risky behavior and bring HIV and AIDS home to their wives. Teenagers are contracting HIV and AIDS, in record numbers. Some diseases that aren’t as deadly as AIDS, take a woman’s ability to have children when she decides that the time is “right” for her to settle down with one man, and marry. Some diseases, caused by risky sexual activity, in youth, may cause cancer–later. Is it really worth the risk??? Many people are of the opinion that you shouldn’t marry someone until you have “tested the waters”. They say, how will you know if you are compatible, sexually??? It is much safer, as well as right, to trust God, in choosing a husband or wife. (Actually, HE that findeth a wife, findeth a good thing!) But, the point is, WE won’t choose correctly, with or without sex–if we don’t allow God to be in the equation!
3) Children growing up with only one parent–It’s hard enough for two married people to parent, in this day and age, but it becomes a gargantuan task for a single parent! Effective parenting is difficult enough, without the benefit of both parents being fully engaged in the process. That is very difficult for two unmarried to do–we witness the problems that children of divorce suffer, all of the time. What about the child who grows up, not knowing who one of his parents are? What about women trying to raise sons to be quality men and husbands–women can’t teach boys, how to be men! Women can’t show their daughters how they should be treated by men, like Daddy can–when he is a positive presence in the family home. The home is where little girls learn what to look for in a man, when they grow up. Finally, it is emotionally and physically draining to parent alone–it can also be very lonely; especially in the church (where it may feel like everyone is a couple, except you, or those who aren’t couples, don’t have children).

The aforementioned consequences are but a few–and there are more that come out of these! It should be obvious to any born-again believer, that sex, is for marriage–ONLY! Sadly, many of us compromise, allowing our flesh to rule–rather than walking after the Spirit. It is a choice, though! Choose the way of life; choose to follow the plan that God has given to us, and avoid the consequences of sin.

Lord, keep us from wayward thinking. Give us minds that are singularly devoted to You; cause us to choose Your perfect way, and find life. Help us to devote “Your” bodies, that we live in, to holy living and all that pleases You.
In Jesus’ Name,
AMEN
Abundant Blessings!!!

Lisa

It may sound harsh, but it is fact–when we sin, we choose to. You see the signs, but you ignore them. Sometimes, it is sinful pride that leads us out of the way. We forget that it is only God’s grace that can keep us–and we fall. There are key things that we must all look for in our lives, if we will avoid sin.

Watch the thoughts that you allow to be sown in your heart–self-examine, because there is an action to follow, the initial thought. Again, sow things that “are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report”. If you think on these things, you will reap a bountiful harvest of blessings! If, however, you choose to sow malice, envy, and backbiting–even laziness (in particular, spiritual laziness), talking too much or having a bad attitude–guess what kind of fruit you will reap? See Galatians 6:9, 14-26.

If we want to walk holy and be kept by God’s precious and abundant gift of grace–we must sow the Word of God, sow prayer, sow fasting, sow worship, sow love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance–and you will reap God’s best. Not sowing good things into your life is just as damaging to your spirit as sowing evil things. There is no neutrality in God’s Kingdom! You must choose a side and devote your full attention to it. Not choosing, consciously, or unconsciously will lead to destruction. That’s the “laziness”, I mentioned earlier. Being spiritually lazy and lax is a setup (of your own making), for failure.

Being unmarried, makes us more susceptible to some kinds of temptation–for instance, sexual immorality. We have to be on guard, to avoid that temptation. Once allowed to take root, it is very hard to fight–avoidance is much easier. As an unmarried man or woman, we cannot watch everything on television–or see every movie, we shouldn’t read every book. These things can become footholds for satan’s influence in our lives. Learn yourself. Get to know which things trigger ungodly responses, in your life–that’s the battle–see Romans 7.

Make the right choice, and be “delivered from the body of this death…so then with the mind, I myself serve the Law of God…” Don’t walk haphazardly–stay focused; protect your heart, mind and body.

CHOOSE the way that leads to life everlasting. Be ever mindful of your destiny!

Abundant Blessings!!!            Lisa

 How can we glorify God in our bodies?  Today, I read these statements, “SOW A THOUGHT, REAP AN ACTION. SOW AN ACTION, REAP A HABIT. SOW A HABIT, REAP A CHARACTER. SOW A CHARACTER, REAP A DESTINY.“  Each statement is profoundly accurate in and of itself, but altogether, they teach a powerful lesson. They can all, individually or collectively be positive or negative. We decide; each and every one of us.

 Oftentimes, when we speak of sin in our lives, we refer to it as “falling or being fallen in sin”, as though it slipped upon us, completely unawares! We say it as if sin came out of nowhere and swooped down, making us its victim. We say, “We just couldn’t help it”, or like Flip Wilson, a comedian popular in the 1970′s, used to say (in his, then famous Geraldine act), “the devil made me do it!” But, understand this–Flip was wrong and so are we when we say these things. The adversary does not have unbridled power over any child of God! When we sin, we make a decision to sin.

 In James’ letter to the Jewish saints, he wrote, “let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err my beloved brethren.” That word “sow“, leads to conception. Whatever we sow in our minds, will be conceived in our hearts and spirits. Think of the process of conception of life–the sperm is “sown” in a woman, and only then is a child conceived; or think of sowing seeds, with the purpose of reaping a harvest of crops. What you plant is what you will reap–if you sow corn then you will reap corn–if the harvest is successful. We don’t plant corn, and expect potatoes. It is the same with our spiritual lives. Sowing and reaping is a law that translates to many areas of our existence.

 Let us be clear about the thought process. “HAVING“ a thought, is not synonymous to “SOWING” one. ALL of us have ungodly thoughts. What we do with those thoughts, determines our path. When evil thoughts come, we always make a decision–instantaneously, whether we will entertain the thought (sowing it–causing it to grow and germinate, in our minds). In that case, it extends to our hearts and we are well on our way to defilement. On the other hand, when we decide to rebuke the evil thought (choosing rather to think on things that are “true…honest…just…pure…lovely and of good report Philippians 4:8), we have a “better” outcome. As we refuse to allow satan’s influence to take root in our minds, that halts the growth of wickedness, and satan is unable to proceed further with his devilish contamination of our hearts. That is how we guard our hearts.

 In close examination of the sowing process, in Scripture, we get a clear picture: ”The operation of a sowing with the hand is one of so simple a character as to need little description. The Egyptian paintings furnish many illustrations of the mode in which it was conducted. The sower held the vessel or basket containing the seed in his left hand, while with his right he scattered the seed broadcast. The “drawing out” of the seed is noticed, as the most characteristic action of the sower”—Smith’s Bible Dictionary. It can then be understood that sowing involves the attention and purposeful action of the sower. Another point, in Scripture, regarding sowing is the prohibition of sowing “mixed” seeds (see Leviticus 19:19). We cannot sow both godly thoughts and evil thoughts–we must choose. There is no serving of two masters! Another picture, in (Isaiah 32:20), shows the process of sowing in wet soil–for this process, animals were used. The seed was “trodden” by the feet of animals. Picture that, loose wet soil and heavy beasts of burden, forcing the seeds deep into the soil! Don’t allow satan to tread upon filthy thoughts in your mind, forcing them deep into your consciousness, where they will then be transferred to your heart, only to produce the fruits of unrighteousness!!! Once this occurs, you will begin to act unrighteously and so reap the penalty of unrighteousness. Watch out for that slippery slope!

 Sin, then, does not sneak up on us and catch us off guard–it happens only when we allow ourselves to “sow a thought”. That is how it begins. It can be difficult–for the writer of the Proverbs, tells us, “Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard.” What makes one a transgressor? Allowing ungodly thoughts to take root in us–then it is hard, to remove them before we act upon them. Don’t be a transgressor. Remember, it never starts with a big thing–if it did, we would not be so easily caught up in sin, but satan is cunning. It is the “little foxes” that destroy us–eating away at our destiny. 

Ever hear of a pitcher plant?  It attracts insects with its bright colors.  Once inside, the insects lose their footing and slide down a sugar-coated tube into a liquid that drowns them.  Satan does that too; he sugarcoats the way to ruin and before you know it, you’re hooked. 

 Adam Clark worked in a store selling silk.  One day his boss suggested he stretch the silk as he measured it; this would increase profits, and also Adam’s value to the company.  But he refused.  Adam Clark told his boss, “Your silk may stretch but my conscience won’t.”

 Nixon aid, Jeb Magruder, commenting on the Watergate scandal said; “We conned ourselves into thinking we weren’t doing anything wrong, and by the time we were doing things that were illegal, we’d lost control.”

 The book, The Day America Told The Truth, reports that 91% of those interviewed lie regularly, and 70% believe there are “no absolutes” when it comes to good and evil.  God says:  “Don’t move back the boundary lines”  (Pr. 22:28 TM).  Why?  Because they’re there for your protection!  Paul writes, “Hold fast that which is good”  (1Th 5:21), because right’s right, even when everybody’s against it, and wrong’s wrong, even when everybody’s for it.

 After fasting 40 days, Satan said to Jesus:  “Change these stones into …bread” (Mt 4:3 NLT).  Now eating’s okay when you’re hungry, but following the devil’s suggestions is not.  So, while Satan twisted the Scripture to justify sin, Jesus used it to withstand him.  And you can do that too!