Tag: expectations

Take Hold

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“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ NIV

Let go of trying to earn God’s love.

Take hold tightly to God’s grace.

Let go of your fear of failure.

Take hold of your faith in Jesus.

Let go of perfectionism.

Take hold of the vision Jesus has for your life.

Let go of habits that sabotage your growth.

Take hold of the hope of transformation.

Let go of trying to control everything.

Take hold of trusting Jesus with it all.

Jesus doesn’t give up or let up and loves you so much that He will continually press you to press on.

“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:12 ‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Yesterday is gone, take hold of that which Christ Jesus has taken hold of you today.

Take A Minute

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As you count down the days to Christmas, take a minute to focus on what is important and in the craziness continue to refocus on your Creator.

It is His love you are celebrating.

This miraculous gift of the Son, this unquenchable love of the Father, this daily guide of the Spirit.

“For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Instead of replaying past moments or creating perfect scenarios in your head of the near future, let it be what it will be. 

Enjoy the imperfections of this day and those to come.

Know that everything “being perfect” will not create the feeling of fulfillment you are looking for.

You are looking for love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness…. and these are fruits of the Spirit (not fruits of the season). 

May you be filled with the Heavenly Peace of God’s Spirit as you walk among the complicated chaos of the humans around you.

When You Are Tired

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Rest.Tuesday.3

Life often demands that you keep going even when you are tired.

When you are burdened with grief, you still have to go to work.

When you are battling anxiety,  someone still has to do the dishes.

When you are restless to go but must stay right where you are.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Jesus invites us to walk with Him, work with Him, and watch how He lives in the fullness of God’s love every day while bearing a great burden.

Your world may be dripping with unmet expectations, foundation-shaking experiences, and unbearable obligations.

Or it may be boring and frustrating with endless monotony.

Whatever is happening around you, Jesus wants to do a work in you.

Jesus is saying, “I will take your burden and you can have my strength. I lived loved, am dripping with grace, burdened with divinely appointed purpose, and wrapped in a deep peace that is not moved by the tumultuous circumstances happening around me.” You can live this way too – that is why I came, died, and rose again. Bring me all of you and all that you carry. I will carry it for you.”

My friend, I know you are tired today.

Don’t give up.

Don’t do this alone.

“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”
1 Peter 5:7 AMPC

Give Jesus your burden today and let Him watch over you.

He was made for it.

 

 

Praying with Open Hands

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“I pray to GOD —my life a prayer— and wait for what he’ll say and do.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭130:5-6‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Today is a good day for you to pray with open hands.

Instead of trying to hold on so desperately to what you are afraid of letting go, give it to God.

Trust God with it.

Pray and let God be God.

Present your requests, petitions, hopes, and desires to Him and then let Him do what only He can do.

Give them to Jesus and leave the results to Him.

Release your expectations of how he should answer while at the same time knowing that He will.

It will transform your life.

He wants to.

He will.

Begin today to pray with open hands.

How hard is it for you to leave the results to God?

What does it mean for you to let God be God in your life?

What you Need

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When Moses asked who was sending him back to Egypt at the burning bush in Exodus, God said, tell them “I Am” is sending you.

When Jesus was standing before the Pharisees in the temple, He said: “before Abraham was, I Am”. It was the Greek equivalent to the name given to the Voice from the burning bush.

This Holy, powerful name of Almighty God embodies who He is:
1. Always Existing
2. Independently Existing
3. The “Becoming One”

Life may be surprising you right now.

Your reality may not be matching up with your expectations. Jesus knows where you are and what you are dealing with. He is not surprised.

Jesus will meet you right in the middle of your unexpected chaos and equip you to navigate through it because He is the becoming one. He can and will become what you need:

When you are hungry:
“I am the bread of life.”
John 6:48 NIV

When you are in darkness:
“I am the light of the world.”
John 9:5 NIV

When you are lost and defenseless:
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 NIV

When you are exhausted:
“The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”  Psalm 118:14 NIV

Rest in Jesus. Rest in his love. Trust in his plan. Let the storm rage all around you as you stay safe in the eye of it.

He is what you need today and will empower you to become what you need to be today.

What do you need from Jesus today?

Open Hands

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“I pray to GOD —my life a prayer— and wait for what he’ll say and do.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭130:5-6‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Today is a good day to begin to pray with open hands.

To pray with open hands instead of closed hands holding on so desperately to what you are afraid to let go of.

Pray and let God be God.

Present your requests, petitions, hopes, and desires to Him and then let Him do what only He can do.

Give them to Jesus and leave the results to Him.

Release your expectations of how he should answer while at the same time knowing that He will.

Instead of praying, “God, this is who I want you to be”, begin to pray, “God reveal who you are to me.”

It will transform your life.

He wants to.

He will.

Begin today to pray with open hands.

When was the last time you asked God to reveal himself to you or in your situation?”

How hard is it for you to leave the results to God?

What does it mean for you to let God be God in your life?

The Becoming One

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On Sunday, I got to preach a Mother’s Day Service at Harvest Time Assembly. What a joy it was.

Then I got up at 4am Monday Morning to go to work. I didn’t expect that this week all my days would be scheduled for 5am shifts.

The heart of the message I preached on Sunday was that life doesn’t run in the straight lines we fantasize it will. It is more like this:

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And we NEVER expect it.

Nonetheless, God knows where we are and what we are dealing with. He is not surprised. He is the great “I Am” as he told Moses in Exodus Chapter 3.

What that means is that God is:
1. Always existing
2. Independently existing
3. The “Becoming One”

He is “becoming” whatever we need him to be right in the middle of our unexpected chaos.

When you are hungry:
I am the bread of life. (John 6:48 NIV)

When you are in darkness:
“I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5 NIV)

When you are lost and defenseless:
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”. (John 10:11 NIV)

When you are exhausted:
“The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation”. (Psalm 118:14 NIV)

Life doesn’t EVER goes like we expect it. However, you are not alone in it and when you walk with the Great I AM, you will equipped with what you need, when you need it.

Even if what you really need is a nap.
Like me. Naps are good.

Walk and Rest

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Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NIV)

How much of the heaviness that you pick up and carry on your shoulders come from your own expectations and the expectations of others?

You are weary with the weight you put upon yourself:

who you think you should be,
what you think you should look like,
what you think you should be doing.

You are burdened with the expectations of others:

who others think you should be,
what others think you should look like,
what others think you should be doing.

Jesus’ words shoot straight to the heart, the tired weary heart.

Your life is not meant to be consumed by trying to conform yourself to your own ideals or the ideals of others.

You were made to walk in freedom, faith and wisdom.

Jesus knows how to. Every day he invites you to walk with him and learn how.

Your own yoke is dripping with unmet expectations.

Jesus’s yoke is dripping with his unmerited grace.

Walking in God’s grace: it is how you walk and rest at the same time.