Stop looking at your circumstances…

Music Video:  Hurricane (Natalie Grant)
Stop looking at your circumstances and just look up!

I love the song Hurricane by Natalie Grant!  While I was at a Women of Faith conference this past year, Natalie spoke about several of her songs from her most recent album, Hurricane. Telling a little bit of the behind the scenes with the songs and why some of them were written and the importance they have on her life.
Natalie referred to Matthew 14, and how Jesus showed up during the storm, but the storm continued.  Even though the storm is all around us, Jesus is with us through the storm.  Just like He was with Peter.  Jesus reached out to help Peter walk on water.  When Peter doubted his faith he started sinking, it wasn’t until Peter kept his eyes on Jesus and kept his faith strong that he was able to walk toward Jesus on the water.

I love what she has to say  about this…
Something about that story jumped off the page in a new way for me that morning. What stood out to me, was that there Jesus stood, and the storm was still raging. Jesus had come to them now, and He was right there. He could have stopped the storm, but it was still raging. As Christians, we think if you have enough faith, your life will be perfect and your trials will disappear. The fact is that sometimes your trials will increase. (Natalie Grant, New Release Tuesday Interview)

Matthew 14:22-33 is where Jesus walks on the water during the storm.  This excerpt is from the Message Bible.  As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.  Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror.But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”He said, “Come ahead.”Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!”Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?”The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!”

In 1 Peter 5:10, it says that, In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. (NLT)

In this world we will have trials, but with our faith and hope in Christ we will be given new strength.  As Christians, our trials will increase and it’s how we deal and react to these trials we face that shape our lives we live.   So even though we may suffer/hurt for a little while, we will gain the strength to overcome our trials and we can rest with Christ.  God will strengthen you in the midst of your trials.  When you stop looking at your circumstances and just look up you can find the strength you may never have known you had.  So when you feel that there’s nothing more you can do and you feel weighed down with your heavy burdens, just remember that the God says, ‘come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.’  He is with you in the midst of your storm and you are being transformed from the inside out. 

Keep looking up and following HIS PLAN for you.  Just remember, He’s going to say you are worthy! Worthy of so much in your life. 

Blessings,

Raise your voice…

Scared.
Alone. Innocent.
Angry. 

Just a few of the words that can be used to describe the victims of those enslaved in human trafficking.Most of the victims here are sold against their will, they are taken into captivity and used and abused every day.  They have no voice in the situation.  They live in hope that their cries will be heard one day.  While some may have been promised money and a good life, only to find out when they arrive to their destination that it’s all a lie.  They were lied to.  Now they’re stuck as a prisoner in a world of lies and abuse.  Will you speak up for them?

Raise your voice.  Shine a light on slavery.  Take a stand.  There can be some great power spoken in just those few words right there.  If you haven’t yet heard of the agencies that work to fight against human trafficking, you should check out the A21 Campaign and/or Abolition International.  They are doing some amazing things in the world to put a stop to the human trafficking issue and they are saving lives daily.  We have to speak up and share this message to be heard.  If we can make more people aware of the situations occurring than more victims can be heard and their lives can be saved.  Be the voice to the voiceless.
Proverbs 31:8, says; Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed. (NLT)
You might be thinking, ‘what does this have to do with me?  I’ve never seen it around here.’  Just because you’ve not witnessed it personally doesn’t mean in doesn’t exist.  Trafficking just doesn’t exist in the third-world countries.  North America is quite possibly just as big of ground for human trafficking as other countries are.  Many are being rescued from this horrific form of slavery every day.
These people are silenced in there suffering as they are enslaved by traffickers.  “Because every 30 seconds another human being becomes a victim of human trafficking".”  (A21 Campaign)
Natalie Grant’s song Home, is a great song to give hope to those who have been enslaved and rescued.    
You’re home, where secrets are told see a new world unfolding where hearts are one, the pain’s undone and you’re finally belonging, yeah and you need to know, you need to know you’re home, yeah you need you know, you need to know you’re home
Everything’s gonna be alright
’cause you’re home
feel the sun, your day has come
you’re not alone you’re home

Love the words to Natalie Grant’s song, Safe, which says; In Him, I am safe.  
I ‘m not gonna hide, I’m not gonna run away, I’ll uncover the scars and show You every mistake, Your love is mending my blisters and my bruising shame, here with you I am safe, I am safe, I am safe, I am safe…

So if you have heard this and want to do something about it, check out the websites from A21 Campaign and Abolition International and start a Love Revolution! 

Blessings and Be A Voice to the Voiceless,

Before you speak…T.h.i.n.k.

Coffee Chat #4

It’s coffee time! I love being able to go grab a cup of coffee with a friend and just be able to talk with each other about what’s been happening in our lives.  It feels great to be able to really connect with friends, it’s how we are able to keep so close.  So why not make that same commitment with our God, Our Father.  Schedule a coffee date with Him every day and catch up on life’s standings.

I can’t believe that it is already March!  So much has happened and so much is getting ready to happen as we speak.  I just want to say that, it is so true that with God, all things are possible.  Even when trials come your way, the trials with give you more strength that you could ever imagine.  God is with us in our trials and He is always there in our lives.  So let us rejoice in the trials just as we rejoice in the great things that happen in our lives, they only make us stronger. 

   I love the T.h.i.n.k. picture to the left here.  Some great questions to ask yourself before saying something to someone.

   I was listening a message and the speaker was reading from James 1.  It says in James 1:2-4 (AMP) that, "’to consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, when ever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.  Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring our endurance and steadfastness and patience.  But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.’
There’s that saying that God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason.  We are to listen to one another twice as much as we are to speak.  While for some listening is actually a great spiritual gift of theirs, whereas, for others it’s a daily battle each day.  The mouth is said to be known as sharper than a double edged sword, and if you know anything about swords…that can really hurt when it pierces you. 
It’s quite possibly one of our biggest challenges as humans…watching what we say, because let’s face it, we are human and sometimes that ‘filter switch’ doesn’t get flipped in our brains and we tend to blurt out whatever is on our mind without even thinking about it.  For one, you never know how someone is going to take a criticism and if you are too blunt with your words you could hurt someone more.  We need that empathy for people, we need to be able to see ourselves in their situation to be able to see how we would like to have someone react to us.  Without empathy, you could end up hurting feelings and doing far more damage to the self-esteem in people. 
People don’t like to be pushed around.  Although, some people tend to be ‘go with the flow’ people a little bit more, but don’t try and take advantage of their kindness just because they don’t say much.  They are observing the situation going on, they are noting behavioral patterns, if they feel taken advantage of or not understood, chances are they are not going to trust you as much as they would someone who is more real and willing to listen to them. They will ‘clam up’ more if they feel you’re pushing them.  So speaking harshly to them could hurt them as well, so listen to them more, understand them and be honest with them, in a loving matter, and the trust will be stronger.
Kindness will give you strength and others will respect you for it.  Be real, be genuine, be honest and think before you talk and act.  You’ll be respected for it in the long run. 
Sometimes people will hurt you with words.  But we don’t have to retaliate and sink to their level.  If we can rise above of the situation and put one foot in front of the other and keep moving on and past them, we show that we have the dignity to come away from a bad situation and show love with our actions rather than words of anger.
I love listening to Lysa TerKeurst and reading her posts. She always tends to have those real-life honest moments that we all have in our life.  She seems to get the reality of being real with people. It is so true that in order to reach someone you have to be real and be honest with them. But you have to do it in a loving way. People may not want to hear what you have to say but if your honest with them they will hopefully be honest with you. Sometimes we end up in situations we don't like but if we trust Jesus and can keep moving forward. 
I'll end with this great gut-honest prayer by Lysa TerKeust, “God I don’t love this situation.  But I love You.  Therefore, I have everything I need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and will walk though until I get to the other side of this.  I trust in You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Blessings,