Time For Spring Again!

Ah it's Spring time again. Trees bursting with new leaves and filling the space that once lay barren with an expanse of greenery that will shade us during those long, hot days of summer to come. The flower beds that lay dormant, now are filled with new colors that seems more intense than it did last year coupled with fragrance that fills your senses with such joy, such color, such promise.

Sometimes our lives can feel at times like Spring, bursting with uncontainable joy, laughter and love. Other times it can feel like the long, never-ending days of a hot, unbearable summer, sweating out problem after problem. Then again, some of us feel like the fall has come to our lives, things we no longer need in our life, simply fall away , to be blown away by the unseen wind to another place. Still others of us feel completely dead inside like the winter. Cold, empty, and no sign of life. Lacking in hope and faith, our belief in something better is dried up and gone, brittle and broken.

My dearest friends, God can take us at any season in our lives and completely restore us to Spring. Whatever situation you find yourself in, it's literally not the end of the world all though it can certainly feel that way. Whether you find yourself at a crossroads in your life when it comes to your job, your marriage, a difficult relationship, or loss of direction, God can be your compass and roadmap to a new and better life.

Sometimes we look at our lives and wonder, how did I get here? Wasn't everything going along just fine? Why me? God would ask the question, what not you?

We need to remember we live in a world full of sin. Nothing can change that until the world as we know it is destroyed. It is the punishment man will pay for but God can restore, and He will. Yet from time to time, we will have struggles. We will have pain. We will have loss so great we think it's more than we can bear. But if we have God in our lives, we can weather anything because we are not alone. He is with us. He will never, ever leave us, once we invite Him into our lives.

Sure it can seem like God is quiet, like He has left us to attend some bigger crisis somewhere but He doesn't. That's our own worst enemy talking to us. No matter what you are going through right now, give it to God. Stop what you are doing right now and let Him take your burden from you. No matter what it is, God doesn't want to you carry it. He wants you to hand it over and never look at it again. It is a trial by fire if you will. Will you turn it completely over to Him and let Him handle it, no matter how He decides it should be? Are you willing to let Him despite the outcome?

Go to Him in a short prayer. Just tell Him what you need. Tell Him what's on your heart, the good, the bad and the ugly. He can take it all. Ask Him to restore peace to your heart, comfort your emotional needs, and restore your joy. Then most of all, believe it with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul. God wants to help you and the more times we remember to do this, the shorter our storms will be.

Oh and while your waiting, Rejoice! Smile! Be happy! Find the good in something today! It's always present, we simply need to open our eyes and see it. Ask God to show you and be prepared to be amazed at what He can do.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Sometimes I know the cares and worries of this world can wear me down like the sands of time, yet I know that you are greater than anything I find myself going through. Though I find myself lacking your joy today, I lift up my arms and cry out to you, Lord Jesus, restore your joy unto my heart and soul. I ask that you remove any burdens I haven't placed at your feet today. I trust you completely to work in my life and ask that you guide my feet in the steps you need me to take today. Lord, open my eyes to your wonders and help me to see the beauty you have laid out all around my life. Live in me today, Lord Jesus, and restore my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength.

In Jesus Mighty Name, I pray ~ AMEN

"So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!"

Psalm 31:24 (NLT)

Finding Courage For a New Year

The Winter Olympics are just around the corner as the Olympic torch begins its tour through providence's of Canada before winding it's way across the border into the United States. There are so many Olympic hopefuls just waiting for a chance to win the gold for their sport for this country of ours.

Yet do you ever stop and wonder just what it takes for these young hopefuls to get this far? Here are the six reasons for their success and why they stand waiting for that opportunity to attempt to win Olympic gold.

1. They all have a dream.

2. They are all fired up about it or are passionate about it.

3. They bounce back when faced with difficulties or challenges.

4. They aim high.

5. The plan for trouble.

6. They never quit.

If you take all of these under considerations, you will understand just how each of those individuals got where they stand today. They have come so far through so much and never looked back and just through their arms in the air and said, "No thanks, it's too much for me!"

There are men and women in this world that will stand up for what is right instead of compromising or giving in. These are God's Olympic hopefuls.

Yet in the world today, there is growing concern to prohibit the spread of Christianity to the world while asking each and every one of us to grow more tolerant to things that we should not regarding other religions or moral conduct. If we truly represent our heavenly home, should we not practice those same Olympic principles in our lives and stand up for our beliefs and not compromise?

Looking back into Daniel, Chapter 3, we find one such story of three young men that stood up for God in the midst of certain death and did not waiver. It is a favorite among everyone who has read the Bible to some degree. It is the story of the King of Babylon at the time, King Nebuchadnezzar.

The three young men at the time: Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego.

Their dilemma? To worship the golden statue of King Nebuchadnezzar or be put to death.

Want to know their answer? First of all, it was respectful to the King at that time, and you should notice that in the context of the text.

"O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." ~ Daniel 3: 16-18

Notice the respect of addressing the king by his title? Did these three know if God would really save them from the blazing furnance? No! Notice the last line, "But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

That is amazing because they understood what is acceptable in the eyes of God whether he can pull you out of your storm or not. He waits to see where our faith will take us?

It's better to die for a conviction, than to live for a compromise!

Notice what happened later. The king was so mad at their response he had the furnace heated seven times hotter before throwing these three in, bound only by ropes? Why the need for ropes? Did he think they could escape if they were not bound?

Then the Bible states, that the king looked into the furnace to see what happened and noticed not three but four men present. Who was the fourth? God of course!

When the king removed the men from the fire, only three emerged and only the ropes burned! No clothing or hair was harmed. They didn't even smell like smoke or fire.

So what is the significance? The fourth man, God remained in the fire, why? Because God is always waiting for us in the midst of our fires or troubles. He will always be there before you even arrive so that you will not weather this storm alone.

The ropes represent the things that bind us from learning to trust whole heartily in God. These are teaching moments in our lives to allow us to see how great our God is and how He will never leave us alone. Just like a refiner is never far away from the mouth of the furnace when they are working on something, God is the same way. He stays with us through it all until we learn to trust and rely on Him.

Psalm 66:10 "For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver."

Remember to look for God in the midst of whatever you are going through and when you find Him, talk to Him and share your burdens with Him. He understands everything you are going through and will show you the way out. Have faith!