When Honoring parents is difficult

My parents in 1980. I'm the baby.

 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." 

Ex. 20:12 (NIV)

I can't remember when I first heard this verse being quoted around me but I do remember when I saw it fleshed out.

I saw honor given to parents (and in-laws) during moments of conflict. I saw people respecting their elders while clearly understanding that things could have been easier. I learned by experience that the words of the Bible have more weight than personal preferences and even human reason. 

None of these instances involved crime, danger, or violence. I believe the law and officials in place should protect us from unlawful practices. 

I also believe that God has a lot of insight to give us when He requires (it is a commandment) that we would honor the people who gave us birth.

I believe in honor not only because of what I observed growing up in Brazil but mostly because of the conviction I feel to obey the words of the God of the Bible. 

The word of God is so compelling. The more I get to know His character, the more I find myself desiring to obey Him.

Obedience in this area, depending on your life circumstances, is neither convenient nor easy. 

It isn't convenient because most digital content, from birth to adulthood, is created to insight the dishonor of parents. It is as explicit as an entire book or as subtle as a light comment such as "When I have kids I will never..." The entire culture is practicing dishonor to parents. I see Christians joining this practice without thinking about what God requires of us. 

This isn't my first (or last) writing on the subject. The last thing I wrote about it, a good friend asked me to lunch. During our time together, she said, "I read your blog post about honor. Can you tell me this: how do I honor someone who repeatedly harmed me as a child?" 

I was honest with my friend and told her I do not know. I expressed how sorry I was for what was done to her. She didn't deserve that type of treatment. 

I didn't sugarcoat the fact that while I didn't have the answers there were wise people around who could help her get the Bible application she wanted. 

We spent a little time speaking about God's character. We also spent time brainstorming who would be a better person to guide my friend's search for demonstrating honor as God requires. 

I am proud of my friend for building a life that is wholesome, happy, and free. She was doing the work. She sought help in every area of her life. I admire people who get curious about what God requires. I admire people who ask, "given my set of circumstances, how can I obey you God?"

God is not unfamiliar with questions, fear, and even doubt. Take Gideon for example in Judges 6:13. God tells him to do something bold. His answer is, "pardon me, but I really don't see how this can happen." 

I see God's patience, kindness, and care for Gideon. I see God calming fears and encouraging faith, no matter how many times Gideon asked for a sign. 

It takes courage to honor parents, depending on what type of parents you had. I want to propose that we can ask God the question: "How so?" I want to guarantee that God will answer you. 

Venting on the internet is easy. For years, I've been concerned about this culture of using phone cameras to get a laugh out of people who can't defend themselves. 

I saw a group of teenagers entering a store. Holding up their cameras, they were acting like they were up to getting a viral video come what may. A few feet in front of them was an elderly man in his 80s. He was alone. He was dragging his feet behind his grocery cart with some difficulty. His underwear was showing. I ran next to the man and whispered, "Sir, your underwear is showing. You may want to fix your pants." He said thank you and he fixed his pants. The teens went to another area of the store.

It's easy to both record a video to make fun of someone. It's easy to laugh at it and share it with others. That's the world we live in. 

The God we serve has different standards. Do we even bother to think about matters of honor as we live our digital lives? I think we can and we should. 

It may be convenient to show dishonor but God's way is the way of wisdom. We can be wise and choose to honor. 

Honoring parents isn't easy. Take my friend for example. You mean someone harms me and then I have to turn around and show honor? Well, yes. 

Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:38-47 is a good place to start. He said, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (v.44-45). 

While I hope most of my reader's parents are not their enemies, I won't make any assumptions about your past. I also will not tell you that Jesus didn't say what He did. He loved Judas. He prayed for Peter and He gave him another chance. Jesus demonstrated love towards enemies and friends who betrayed him. There was no disrespect towards parents displayed in the life of Jesus because He didn't come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. 

Back at me and my ancestors. God didn't create perfect people. You can see it in the Bible and you can see it in your bloodline. I say this because I want to tell you about a chance I had to dishonor my parents in a professional setting. 

The icebreaker was meant to be an exercise of everyone in the room telling a story of how messed up their parents were. We were asked to find a way to display a flaw or something bad they did. 

I will be honest with you. I froze. The first person went. A few laughs were shared during the second person's story. My heart was sinking. When it was my turn, I said, "no, I won't share." 

The leader was furious. This is a calm and collected person. I know fury and anger and I'm not scared of them. The entire room was looking at me, wondering how I was going to react. 

Out of incredible peace, I said, "You know, the older I get, the more I understand my parents. When I became a mother, my level of understanding of my parents expanded. My brother recently went to Brazil. He came back with stories from my parents' childhood none of us knew. My level of empathy for my parents and the life they lived grew. I'm sorry but I will not dishonor my parents." 

I learned so much about what it means to follow God's word that day. I also learned that Christians worry about "big" sins while daily life reminds us that God cares about all sins, dishonor included. 

It is not easy to honor but it is always a choice. I want to choose the wise thing to do daily.

Internet trends of dishonoring parents may seem easy to join. I think people want to speak their truth (and they should) as well as have someone listen to their story (as they should). 

The problem with dishonoring parents on the internet (or during work meetings), is that our root problem is not necessarily fixed. 

Yes friend, I do understand and support your free speech and your freedom to engage in any form of digital expression. 

Here's what I want to know: are you still bound after that story disappears? Do you still carry the same pain you've been carrying for years? Are you still toying with unforgiveness? 

If the answer is yes, something has to change. I know some daughter-mother relationships are so complex that you think you may never have that honest conversation. I sense some of you tried to no avail. Others wish they could have conversations but that opportunity is forever gone. 

God knows. He was there. He is still there. Honor is His invention, requirement, and way. He can show you how to apply honor in your life. 

I hope my words caused you to think. Think about your place in a culture that is supposed to have disregard for everything your God is asking you to do. What He requires, if obeyed, carries a blessing. Honor your father and your mother is the first promise with a blessing. 

I want and very much need to be blessed. I want to use my brain in a culture that expects me not to. I want to use my mind to serve God. I want to be wise in the ways I express myself online. 

God is okay with me being raw and real. Just read the Psalms. He's okay with all of those. 

God is okay with our questions, fear, and brokenness. He is not okay with dishonor. 

I invite you to pray that we can bravely apply God's command to honor parents. God created your family line so He knows the ins and outs of everyone's personalities and proclivities. 

I invite you to trust a God who can transform your relationship with your parents as an adult. I know, you didn't see this coming did you? God can. All you need to do is agree to do things His way. 

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8 things you may not have considered when reading the Bible in One Year

Listen to this episode here: 

1 • Your company - your friends may be influencing you more than you realize. It is easier to do the same things our friends are doing. While it is unrealistic to expect that all our friends will mimic our reading goals, we can always find a group of people who are reading the Bible in One Year. They will encourage you and they will provide empathy and a place to have conversations about what you are reading. 

2 • Your time - I thought I didn't have time to read the Bible. It was such a big book. I was a busy wife and mother of 3 kids who were 5, 4, and 2 at the time. Once I saw my mentor complete her reading in less than 15 minutes, I was convinced. Year after year, I set aside time to read the Bible. It takes between 10-15 minutes per day. We spend way more time scrolling on the internet than that. 

3 • Self-awareness - I was sitting outside talking to a friend while our kids played. She tried to read the Bible but it wasn't working for her. She couldn't focus. I asked her if she thought about listening to it. That option worked better for her and she was able to finish that year. Reading the Bible is not about fitting into a mold. Most of my days were not quiet. There was noise around me unless I read as soon as I woke up. I prefer to have a physical book instead of a digital version. I'm aware that the digital version has saved me time and time again when I'm stuck somewhere with time to kill. The Bible is a great companion. You will create awareness of what works for you in this season of life. 

4 • Backup plan - I honestly thought I'd start and finish the Bible with no obstacles. Well, kids get sick. I get busy. We go on vacation. Church activities consume our schedule from time to time. I never stop reading the Bible but somehow, I get derailed. I learned to have a backup plan for times like this. I may read double. I may spend extra time on weekends reading. The goal is to stay the course and finish reading the Bible in one year. 

5 • Delight - Reading the Bible is not drudgery, it is delightful. I find it to be an easy way to delight myself in the Lord. When I get lost in His word, I find Him to be wonderful. I can't tell you how many times I tell myself: "wow, this is all here. I'm not sure why I ever wondered" or "God is better than the human imagination can conceive." Get ready to delight. 

6 • God's voice - The Bible is the word of God and the God of the word speaks through it. I'm happy to say that these words come alive in the most surprising ways. I don't need to put effort into making this kind of thing happen because it is spiritual. Jesus said, "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63 (NKJV). The prophet Micah asked, "Is the Spirit of the Lord restricted? Do my words do good to him who walks uprightly?" Micah 2:7 (NKJV). I encourage you not to restrict God's voice to the few moments you sit with His book. He's not restricted to that small amount of time and space. He is Lord of all. Let's give Him room. 

7 • Reading, not studying - The action will turn into the habit of reading the Bible, not studying it. Reading is a different method than studying. One is not inferior to the other. Both are important in our lives. My goal is for you not to downplay the reading or feel guilty for not studying at that moment. There's room for both in the life of a maturing, thriving Christian. Again, if time is the problem, cut down on mindless browsing. That's what I'm doing.

8 • There's more - Reading the Bible is not an exact science. There is so much more to learn and experience. I invite you to be open as God leads you in this experience. 

Reading the Bible should be a free activity. I understand there are courses, podcasts, books and a whole industry that benefits from dollars. I also understand not everyone can afford it. If you want free resources, here are some reliable sources:

Resources:

• Your Sunday School Teacher

• Your Pastor

• WordView Ministries

• Merry Ministries 

• Bible Gateway

• Blueletter Bible 

• GotQuestions 

• Bible in One Year  

• Bible Project 

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Before I pray

Listen here:

I have the habit of using a book of prayers to pray for my children. It was early in the morning and my coffee had kicked in. I was agreeing with the prayer completely. The next thing the author wrote grabbed my heart: 

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” Romans 12:10 (NKJV)

 

I stopped my prayer and I thought about what I was doing. I was not showing honor by giving preference. 

How was I going to ask God to allow my children to do something I wasn’t doing myself?

The previous night wasn’t easy. I was heavy-hearted. I had a few complaints (there I go again!) and I tried to let God know about them. I’m often too tired to stay up all night worrying about my worries, so I went to sleep. 

I woke up 30 minutes earlier than usual. My routine was the same until I ran into Romans 12:10. I stopped doing what I was doing and I felt convicted of my wrong. 

I compare this conviction to looking in a mirror. God’s word is like a mirror. Every mirror requires a response. 

My response at that moment was yes. I also decided to write down Romans 12:10 by hand and look at it during breakfast. I changed my actions and thoughts. No matter how hard it was, I was committed to show honor. Throughout the day, I asked myself, “how does honor show up in my current situation?” 

Showing honor and giving preference reminds me of the experience of a guest at the Ritz-Carlton. I greet the person with a warm and sincere greeting. I use the person’s name. I anticipate and fulfill the person’s needs. I give a fond farewell. I give a warm goodbye and use the person’s name. There’s more to it of course. With every action and reaction, the principles of trust, honesty, respect, integrity and commitment are included. If Jesus was to summarize it, He’d say, “I told you in John 13:35.” 

 

I have a lot of work to do. Good thing God stopped me that morning, in the middle of my prayer, and told me to show honor and give preference as a way of life. 

 

Read Romans 12:10 once again. “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” Romans 12:10 (NKJV)

Which relationships in your life do not reflect this? How can you take the first step of obedience to the Lord in this area?

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Heavy heart solution

The alarm clock rings and I get up. I think about urgent matters in my mind. There are often multiple problems to be solved. Yes, they are all on my to-do list. There's also a to-do list that is written in my heart. 

The items are circumstances that I can't solve myself. People who need healing. Circumstances beyond my control. If I could, I would have solved these matters myself. But there I am, helpless despite them. 

When I go to social media, I feel worse. The constant staring at the screen gives me headaches. The comparison with the latest highlight reel leaves me lacking. I know I shouldn't but sometimes, that immediate relief from my problems seems to be the right thing to do. 

God's wisdom is greater than men's worldly solutions. I go to God's word. Only God can help me with hope. 

This morning, as my coffee was brewing, I read:

"I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart." Psalm 119:31-32 (NIV) 

I thought, "what a marvelous solution. Instead of constantly thinking about my problems, I will think about God's words." 

So I did. I thought about what it means to trust God, despite the impossible nature of my problems. This very thought gave me peace. 

When I was obsessed with my problems, my heart grew small. It literally made me feel weak. The psalmist is telling God "I will literally run the path of your commandments. You make my heart big." 

A big heart is what I get when I trust God. I know I can't trust what I don't fully know. Therefore I am committed to immersing myself in the words of life (the Bible).

The last time I immersed myself in a pool, I got all wet. When I fully immerse myself in the Bible, I do the following:

Sunday:
I leave my phone alone and I pay attention to what the pastor is preaching. 
I take good sermon notes.
Monday-Saturday:
I revisit the sermon notes and I think about how I can apply them to my life.
I make a commitment to apply what I learned that week.
I study the Bible. My favorite place is www.merryministries.com
I read the Bible. I am currently following a "Bible in One Year" plan.
I talk about what I am learning with family and friends. 
I commit not to be a secret agent for the Lord. The words I read and study are shared out loud, naturally because they are my very life. 

I'm not sure if like me, you woke up with a small, worried heart. 
I'm here to tell you it doesn't have to stay that way.

Give God your full attention this very day as you immerse yourself in the Bible.

Prayer: Lord, I come to you with my worries and concerns. I am lost without you. Forgive me for leaning unto my own understanding. In all my ways, I acknowledge you. I know you will direct my paths. I ask this in Jesus' name.

Action step: Set aside 15 minutes to read your Bible and to think about what you read. 

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Screen times for Kids and the Bible

Listen to this episode here:

The fight for your attention is fierce. Everyone wants it. From advertisers to your favorite digital screen. People are willing to pay exorbitant amounts of money for your attention. There is also a great fight for the attention of our children. 

Video games and television are no longer the only culpable parties. These original gangsters have evolved as technology quickly evolves. The truth is, whatever captures our attention find a way to our heart. 

I take every word that God says seriously. The words of Deuteronomy 11 have a great weight in my heart. I believe it is because of my responsibility in the matter. 

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates," Deut. 11:18-20 (NIV)

I am to teach while sitting at home, walking along the road when we lie down and when we get up. We are to write them down around us too. 

In the typical first-world home, screens are with us when we sit at home when we ride to different places. They are with us when we lie down and when we get up. They also dominate our smart homes. Screens can be great servants but terrible masters. 

I often wonder who is discipling my kids: God's word or whatever they see on a screen.

I'm writing to encourage you and me to take a proactive, positive, and persuasive approach to what God is asking us to do. Obedience is what will bring blessings. Ignorance to God's words will bring the opposite. 

Here are a few thoughts:
• How proactive are you when it comes to the time your kids spend on their screens?
• What are some positive things that come from teaching your kids how to be Godly about the use of screens? 
• How persuasive are you when it comes to teaching the words of the Bible to your kids? 

Lastly, we can't give what we don't have. I often take a hard look at my screen time. I often do what I require my children to do. I set boundaries for my screen use. I also set Bible reading and studying goals for myself. 

I believe that if I insist on reading the word of God, I will better understand Him and His ways. This understanding will impact my parenting and overall living. I can't require what I am not willing to do. I am constantly asking God for wisdom in this area. 

This is my prayer and encouragement for you and me today. God, give us the wisdom to fix our hearts and minds in your word more than in whatever the world has to offer through a set of expensive screens.

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Quiet

 "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord." 

Lamentations 3:25-26 (NKJV)

Quiet. I am exploring this word with God as my guide this year. The Bible has a lot to say about this word. The inflections, uses and applications are varied. My goal is to quietly wait on the God I serve. 

Being quiet is the opposite of everything I know and practice as a human being. It's okay. Last year I learned that being open to what God is doing is always a good idea. 

Hope is my life's word. Lamentations 3 says that it is good that I should hope and waiting quietly for the salvation of the Lord. What a great thing to do and think about. Selah. 

A decade or so ago, I thought a lot about this Bible verse:

“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Is. 30:15 

God's ways really are not like ours. The fact that strength can come from quietness and trust is supernatural. I'm open to it this year. 

Quietness brings about all kinds of feelings. Insecurity. Doubt. Let's put it like this: it can be a quiet circus! But God. He is so good to hear us and to fix whatever is broken. Zephaniah 3:17 says that He will quiet you by his love. 

Imagine being so completely loved that it quiets you. I want that type of relationship with the God I serve. 

I'm not sure if the year that was brought about a lot of noise. I invite you to get quiet in God's presence. I invite you to hear what He has to say as you read His word. I invite you to open your being to God's very best for your life. 

Prayer: Lord, I gladly seek you this day you have made. I want your goodness. I hope and wait quietly to see your salvation. Being quiet is uncomfortable. Quiet my soul with your unfailing love. I will do my part by waiting in silence armed with hope in You. You never fail. I love you and I wait on You to do good. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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The Ministry of Encouragement

I believe the ministry of encouragement is needed all around us. The world is fertile ground for encouragement. The Bible speaks a lot about encouragement. God is a God of encouragement. We also read in the New Testament about people sent as encouragers to a group of people on purpose. We can be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith. I often think about how I can encourage others. I know I can’t give what I don’t have so I must get all the encouragement I need from God and His word. The Bible is a good source of encouragement and the very anchor of our eternal hope. Here are a few Bible verses on the subject:

 • Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8 • I’m sure Joshua was feeling pretty overwhelmed with the amount of work He needed to do. God’s words to Joshua are also ours. He is with us wherever we go as we serve and glorify Him.

• For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 • There isn’t true hope and freedom outside of God’s word. We can find all the encouragement we need there. We just have to show up and dig deep.

 • Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thes. 5:11 • I love this reminder to encourage one another and build one another up. We all know how to withdraw from one another. We can learn how to encourage one another on purpose. If we use God’s words to encourage others, they will be truly blessed now and eternally. Give it a try.

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Witness

Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:26 (NRSV)

My home was quiet after the kids went to school. I sat at my kitchen table to eat breakfast. I was thinking about my to-do list when I heard a lot of birds singing outside my window. The piney woods of East Texas are home to hundreds of species of birds. From my kitchen window, I saw bluebirds, cardinals and eastern towhee freely grazing. There was a freedom about the way the birds moved. The levity and beauty of their movement filled my heart with joy. 

As the birds flew away, I remembered Jesus’ words of care and courage in Matthew 6. The Bible teaches us that God cares for the birds and He cares for us. I thought about my cares for the day and I found courage as I started to pray. 

Prayer can be a lot of things:  monologues, Christmas lists, and even formulas. That morning, I learned that prayer can also be a witness to Christ. Witnesses testify of what they see. Christ is the Anointed One sent from God be our wonderful Savior. As I prayed that day, I told God of all the goodness I saw Him do around me. The sight and sound of birds reminded me that I am a person of value and He cares for me. This practice brings much hope. My tendency to be a woman of little faith is changed when I pray with this perspective in mind: God is at work all around me. I can recognize it and tell God about it as a witness in prayer. Where do you see Christ the Anointed One at work right now in your life?

Thought for the day:

God is at work all around me. How can prayer be a witness to Christ? 

Prayer: Creator God, you never cease to amaze us. Help us to see you at work and find trust in you. Amen. 

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The art of encouragement

Encouragement is an art. It is also a choice. In order to learn it well, we need to practice it often. Where do we start? 

We can always start by talking to God about who He wants us to encourage. 

We can verbally encourage others. It costs absolutely nothing and it makes a world of difference. During the many races I run, encouragement from the crowd pushes us to keep going and not to give up. I remember getting special encouragement from friends when I was on mile 20 of my marathon. A couple of friends came to encourage me in person. I was strengthened by their words, their presence, their voices cheering me on. I will never forget how their encouragement got me to the end of that challenging race. 

We can do the same thing when we choose to encourage our friends with our words, our presence, and a simple "you got this." 

Our acts of service can offer encouragement. It can be as simple as helping a neighbor with a task. It can be offering an unexpected gift to someone in need of encouragement. 

I am sure that you are wondering who you should encourage. It can be someone you know in need of encouragement. It can be a person who came to your mind this past week. It may be someone God placed in your heart. 

Sometimes, a cheerful text message with a word of encouragement can make a world of difference. Be sure to listen to God for direction on who to encourage and how. 

The more you practice encouraging others, the easier it gets. Encouraging others is a skill that gets easier each time you do it. 

While I believe you can't give what you don't have, I also believe that when you feel down you should encourage others. Why? It is a good way to get out of your feelings and do something great and honorable. Instead of crawl in self-pity, think: how can I offer encouragement today? And do it. I guarantee you that your attitude will improve. 

We can encourage ourselves in the Lord. David, in 1 Samuel 30:6 did just that. He was in distress so he found strength in the Lord his God. That's what encouragement means: being strengthened. The little-known fact about this particular circumstance with David is that he prayed and asked God what He was supposed to do. We can encourage ourselves in the Lord and we can pray and ask Him for direction when we are distressed. 

Encouragement is like fresh water being poured out in a thirsty land. It revives the soul. We read about many in the Bible who encouraged others on purpose. Paul encouraged others on purpose. He assigned people to go to certain communities to purposefully encourage believers. The goal of the encouragement was to find the strength to serve the Lord. 

The world around us is thirsty for encouragement. The greatest source of encouragement is God's Words. I believe that as we walk with God we should use His words our own to encourage others. 

It is a choice and a decision. Will you do it?

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First and foremost

Listen to this post here:

I find it difficult to separate myself from the word of God. Here is what I mean. I grew up in a home that placed great value in the word of God. The Bible was read, recited, meditated on, sang, talked about, preached and there were even comments on the funny parts of the Bible. The word of God was our everything. 

This was before the internet was accessible to us, people who grew up in the third world. We didn't have the fancy gadgets many in the first world had. We lived in an unstable society. Our only stability, our foundation was God. His word, our refuge, and hope. 

I didn't realize any of this until I grew up, of course. My parents and grandparents gave me the gift of my childhood. They didn't showcase their issues for me to see. They freely, constantly prayed, praised, and turned their problems over to God, who heard their cry and helped. 

When I graduated from College, I was lined up and ready to go get my diploma. My family came to greet me before taking their place in the auditorium that beautiful Spring. I remember my dad laughed and said "and to think about the difficulty I faced paying for English classes. Look at what God did!" 

I had no clue my dad could barely afford those classes. I'm sure they were expensive. I just didn't know because dad took it to God in prayer and basically kept going with life. God is indeed amazing. I'm humbled by His care for me.

Today as I write this, I'm faced with some challenges. While I'm tempted to record a video of myself telling you about it, I prefer not to do that. I don't think a video will be as helpful as going to God's word first. 

So I did. I read a few passages of scriptures in the New and Old Testaments. My faith grew stronger. I looked for something even more specific: 

"The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
    he also hears their cry and saves them." Psalm 145:18-19 (ESV)

My friend, start with God's word. That is what I am encouraging myself to do today. Instead of going to social media for Godly wisdom, go to God Himself first. Seek ye first the kingdom of God is the commandment of old. I am encouraging myself to do that too.

I remember my early years as a married 26-year-old. My husband and I were very young in ministry. I learned from my mentors to go to God first and foremost. Only He has the salvation we need. So we prayed, fasted, served and God was wonderful to us.

I realize that most of what I write is not pretty, catchy, or even viral. I'm okay with that as long as you see that my desire is for you and I is to develop the desire to go to God first, foremost, and quickly. 

Prayer: God, I am calling on You. I am calling on you in truth. I pour out my heart to you today. You know the circumstances I am working with. I know you are the answer. I am yours and I do fear you. Hear my cry and save me. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.

Thought for the day: How will I be sure to go to God before I go to the internet for help with my problems?

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Not yet

"For God alone my soul waits in silence;

    from him comes my salvation.

2 

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

    my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. 

... Trust in him at all times, O people;

    pour out your heart before him;

    God is a refuge for us. Selah"  

Psalm 62:1-2,8 (ESV) 

I was supposed to be in Rio celebrating my dad's 71st birthday. 
I am writing from my husband's wonderful hometown in North Mississippi instead. 
We planned and planned our trip. We started with prayer. We believe that God is a present help and He hears us. 
We proceeded with our planning. Unfortunately, we didn't have all our documentation in place so we canceled our trip. 

I found myself holding on to hope that I would go home until two weeks ago. I knew we needed a plan B. Still, how in the world am I supposed to be hopeless about something I was hoping for? 

We talk, prayed, and decided it was safer to cancel than to risk our investment on the trip. My friends were very sweet. This whole thing was stressful. I told my friends that I saw this as God saying, "not yet." 

Waiting for God is a constant in life. I know to wait expectantly. I also know to keep going while I wait. 

Faith and trust are developed when we decide to rely on God to lead our every move. I know how to take initiative, what I am learning is how to wait expectantly on the Lord. 

Waiting in silence is another practice that I want to develop. 

What I want you to know is that God is worthy of our trust. He is worthy of our unshakable belief because He is good and He knows things you and I don't know.

Let's trust God's brilliance today and always. 

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Bible Study and appetite

 

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15 (New American Standard Bible)

It was a busy day so I ate light. I had a light breakfast and a light lunch. By dinner time, I was rushing to finish getting ready to teach a Bible study class. I prepared a few snacks for the class as well. 

The class went well. By the end of it, I ran out of gas. I had not eaten well, so I had a massive headache. I ate something light and promised not to do the same thing to myself the next day. 

Eating the proper amount of food with the proper amount of nutrition is so important to our bodies. Too bad we do not see the same importance when it comes to our spiritual life. 

We only feed of the word of God occasionally. Sundays are good times to do that. I'm not sure when you tried eating only once a week. How about eating only twice a week? I'm sure if that is a habit, it will lead to mortality. 

What if we spent most of your nutrition budget on cake icing? The truth is, our bodies were not built for this. Healthy bodies need all of those foods mom told us were good for us. God created them to nourish our bodies, minds, and even our soul. 

The best way to care for our spiritual life is to feed on the word of God. 

I am aware that there are other spiritual disciplines that are relevant to our spiritual walk and growth. I want to suggest that Bible reading and studying is highly neglected. 

We hope others will do it for us. We also want them to be funny, entertaining. We don't want them to step on our toes. We want scriptures that will be relevant to the situation we are going through. We want our ideas to fit the text. We want concierge service when it comes to the Bible.

Too bad God didn't write the book to fit our ideas of what the world should be. It is the other way around. We get to fit in the story of God. 

The Bible is a book about God, not a book about us. It is a book that speaks about God's plan for humanity. It is a book that tells us about Jesus from cover to cover. 

The Bible will offend you. If you are reading it correctly, it is highly offensive to the current culture. The Bible will step on your toes. If you are interpreting it as God intended, you will realize that the Bible it is a mirror and every mirror requires a response. 

We need to show up each day ready to work. We need to accurately handle the word of truth. We must get over the embarrassment of our last attempt to do so. 

We must forget about putting this responsibility on someone else. We must start from where we are, for this is what God asks of us. 

He never asked you to be a scholar an ultra teacher or a preacher. He called you to be His beloved child. He calls you in love. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Shake off any pressure to perform or to be seen as a church know it all. 

God is calling you to study, to read, to discover His word anew. 

Appetites are developed. Bible reading works the same way. The only way to created an appetite for Bible reading is to read the Bible. 

When I want to try a new food, I ask people who eat that certain food how I should eat it. I recently asked two friends about their country's food. They prepared it for us and they told us how to eat it. We only developed an appetite because we ate the food ourselves. Watching them eat the foods and tell us about it did nothing for my appetite. 

Hunger can blind you. You might be starving spiritually and you don't know it. You do feel distant from God. You won't do anything about it because your spiritual hunger is leading you to think that God will magically appear to you and just make gold glitter rain on top of your head. 

While God is all-powerful and He can appear magically, He often walks with those who choose to walk daily with Him. 

The best to do this is to read His book. 

Forget about your former experiences. Seek God anew. Read His book for yourself.

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