Today's Inspiration

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up.  The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.

~Thomas Edison

I can remember the days as a baby Christian, when I believed wholeheartedly that when I got to a certain point in my walk or when my relationship with God was at a magical point, life would be so easy.  All the tough times would be gone and it would be smooth sailing.  I am not sure why I thought that, for the bible never said that, maybe it was my ignorance to all the bible said, or just what I wanted to believe, but I have definitely moved out of my infancy in my Christian walk and relationship with God and my life is not any easier, in fact in some ways it's more difficult.

A few years ago I also reached a new level in my life as a mother.  My oldest child became a teenager.  Slowly this beautiful child that I once understood better than myself was becoming a stranger, until the point this past December, when I realized she was a stranger.  It wasn't just the normal changes that were taking place, it was far beyond those.  One day there was nothing about her that was the same.  Her walk, her talk, her dress, her attitude, her beliefs, her focus, her desires literally everything changed.  I realized that I had just entered a ferocious battle of spiritual warfare for my daughter.  Something every Christian can expect to enter into at some point in their life.

While my Christian walk had progressed nicely, there were still areas I was new to or green at and Spiritual Warfare is one of them.  For those that don't understand Spiritual Warfare (as I didn't), it's basically good vs. evil, God vs. Devil.  The devil uses those we love (people, possessions, desires) to keep us from moving forward in Christ and it's up to us to fight him using the weapons God provides in his word and prayer.

In my case, the devil finally found his hole in our hedge and my daughter was his number one target.  He has confused and manipulated my child into becoming someone she never was and believing and desiring things which goes against how she was raised and her own personal beliefs.  In short he has made my life and my relationship with my daughter a nightmare. He has used my daughter to inflict on me; pain, doubt, fear, despair, anger, resentment and hate and many more negative Satan controlled emotions.  While I am a Christian, I also am human and in moments of weakness, those feelings consume me, but only for a moment before I wake up and realize what is happening to me.

During the last 4 months of total despair with my teenager, I have learned one very important lesson; it's NEVER too EARLY to PRAY for your children.  I am not talking about the simple, keep my child safe prayers, I am talking about the deep prayers, prayers about friendships, decisions, direction, the good stuff.  It's hard to conceive if your a new mom holding a sweet and innocent infant that there would EVER be a time that your child would stray from you or worse, herself and God.  

My teenage daughter had always been a good girl, full of life and love.  She is now angry and full of hate and darkness.  She swears, she misses ALOT of school, she argues, she disobey's, she is mean and hateful.  It is terrifying.

I refuse to give up and let the Devil have her or anyone else in my family.  I fight every day, armed with the Word of God.  

Ephesians 6:10-17

 ¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

(When I pray this prayer for my teenager, or any of my children or family members, I put their name into it.  "Finally, (Name) be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  (Name) put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes........".)

The hardest part about fighting the fight with Satan for my daughter right now, is that she doesn't realize that she is even being used as his tool to destroy my relationship with God and hers.  Trying to get her to listen, that's next to impossible, so all I can do and all I have is God's word and Prayer.  But lucky for me, and anyone else in this situation, that's enough.  

Psalms 9:9

The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

God's word can comfort me and prayer can change it all.  No matter how hard it is (and at times it's HARD) or scared I am, I AM confidant the Lord is by my side and that the battle has been won. When the fear, frustration and terror of this situation consume me, or I am weary from the fight, I turn to the Lord and rest in His love, releasing to Him the problems I am facing and trusting Him to handle those problems.  In complete honesty, there are days I have to release my daughter and the situation more times than I can count, as something else happens throughout the day or I get the old urge to pull it back and handle it myself.  Each time though, it gets easier to do and I move one more teeny-tiny baby step forward.

Psalms 55:22

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

As a Christian, you and I can expect to be involved in spiritual warfare for the rest of our lives at some point or another.  Satan, isn't going to give up easy and life is going to go through some dark valleys, but rest assured that GOD wins and so will we.

I will win this battle against Satan and I will get my daughter back and I am sure Satan will try to then attack another loved one, but I will win that war too.  I will win every war that Satan wages against me, for no matter what he does or tries or who he ensnares, I will arm myself with God's word, go down on my knees and fight the fight with the Holy armor of God I have been given.

Today's Prayer:

OH Abba , 

Thank you for blessing me with this beautiful teenager.  I am not unaware of what a true blessing she is and a miraculous gift from you.  We are going through such a tough time right now, personally and in our relationship with each other, but I trust that You are in perfect control of this dire situation and that both my daughter and I will rise from the ashes of this attack, stronger, more confidant and closer to You.  I trust that you will heal any hurts we have between us or within us individually from the spiritual war being waged against us and that we will end up complete and whole in You, victorious over the scheming ways of Satan.  Until this war is over, I release to you this precious child for protection and peace and I release my own need to control and handle all that is happening.  Give me instead, peace in your works, gratitude that you work miracles and strength to continue to fight and confidance that You are in control.

~In Jesus Name

Today's Inspiration:

You accomplish so much more than you give yourself credit for.

So many days it seems like my extremely long to do list never gets smaller, let alone done.  I lay down at night completely exhausted and worn out, with today and yesterday's to do's waiting to now be completed tomorrow.  What in the world do everyday?  I came across the above quote in a magazine and it made me think about what I do get done everyday and why it is my to do list may not get done.

I get myself and 4 kids up, dressed, groomed and fed every morning.

I run my children to school during the week, to church on Sunday's and activities on Saturdays.

I work.

I clean and do laundry.

I pick up kids from school during the week.

I cook everyday.

I make lunches everyday.

I hit doctor appointments, school appointments and other various appointments.

I go to school.

I oversee homework for 4 and do homework for one.

I manage a house

I spend a little time everyday on volunteer work.

I manage a blog.

I pray.

I sleep

I grocery shop

I pay bills

I run miscellaneous errands

I shower.

And those are just the obvious things I do on a daily basis.  I have now decided that I can stop beating myself up over the to do lists and how some of the things just get slid from one day to the next, for during the day, I really do accomplish more than I realize. 

What I do accomplish everyday, the one thing that never gets put off on any day, is time spent in prayer and in the Word, somehow, someway, I always get this done.  It is also those things which glorify God that I make sure get crossed off first on my list everyday.

Hebrews 12:29 

For our God is a consuming fire.

Today's Prayer:

Thank you Lord for the ability to do your will and to glorify you, even when it seems nothing else is getting done.  

Today's Inspiration:

Wonderful Things Happen All The Time

It really is true you know, wonderful things do happen all the time.  Sadly though, most people don't know about the wonderful things happening everyday or think about them or realize what they are.  We live in a world where most of us take everything for granted.   

For instance, it's Spring here (most everywhere) and everyday wonderful, beautiful and simple miracles are happening.  Grass is getting green, trees are budding and flowers are starting to sprout. Those are wonderful things.  They beautify our surroundings and make us feel good.

Another wonderful thing that is happening, right this minute, somewhere in the world; a child is being born.  A new baby, full of life, promise and wonder is coming into this world, a child whose life could make huge wonderful impacts on the world.

Somewhere else, as you read this, a couple are taking vows to love, honor and cherish each other till death does them apart, and they mean it.  Somewhere else a couple is about to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and THAT's a wonderful thing.

Sunrises and Sunsets are wonderful things.  Beautiful and amazing, full of God's glory and beauty.  Even more wonderful, is the fact that we are here, alive and breathing to see those wonderful creations each and everyday.

Our world is full of wonderful and miraculous things, some simple, such as flowers budding and birds chirping, others complicated. But when we open our eyes and choose to look and search out the wonderful things of this world, we will find them, God will show us.  

Job 5:9

He performs wonders that can not be fathomed, miracles that can not be counted.

Through the dark points in my life, seeing the wonder in the world, was often hard to do.  It was hard to take the focus off the pain and misery that I was experiencing and search out the goodness, the wonderful, the miraculous.  To find any semblance of those things, I had to make a very concentrated and intentional effort to look and most days, honestly, I didn't want to.  During the darkest days, I wanted to wallow in my sorrow.  It wasn't until God had enough of my wallowing and prompted me to open my eyes to what mattered, not my pain or suffering, but His purpose for me through this pain and suffering.  Once God prompted, no pushed me out of my comfortable,dark, wallowing hole, I began to open my eyes to the beautiful and wonderful world I had hidden myself from for so long.

Like a child, everything was fresh and new to me.  Sunsets and sunrises were awe inspiring.  Blooming flowers and falling leaves were breathtaking.  Even my own body and mind was wonderful and new again.  I was able to see things through God's love and purpose, which gave me a whole new perspective.  News stories about death and destruction never seemed to reach me, but the few news stories about goodness and kindness seemed to always hit my news feed.  

It is no longer a concentrated or intentional effort to find the wonderful things  God has blessed us with, it's natural and all I see.

And if you are struggling today, in your dark pit, think of this, God is a wonderful being in and of Himself, one that will, if allowed, change any life and make it full of wonder, beauty, promise and love.

Psalm 105:5

Remember the wonders He has done, his miracles and the judgments he pronounced  

Today's Prayer:

Thank you Lord, for the wonderful things you give each of us.  For the big ones and the little ones, for the things we don't always even realize at first are wonderful and for those wonderful things we take for granted. Your wonder is amazing.

In Jesus Name~

You Know You Can Do It

TODAY'S INSPIRATION

You can do it, you KNOW you can!

Despite our most honest efforts, there is not a person alive that hasn't faced something in their lives that didn't caused doubt to creep in.  For every person that thing is different, but for each of us, that doubt is very real.  What is important is that each of us know that we can overcome that doubt that consumes us.

For me personally, I have always had a fear of failure.  Anytime I wanted to do something new, try something new, experience something new, that loud voice of doubt would tell me that I couldn't do it.  I couldn't possibly succeed in school, at a career change, as a wife or mother or business owner.  For a number of years this voice of doubt would literally debilitate me.  I wasn't the wife I could be, I stared longingly at those ads for jobs I knew I was qualified for, it kept me from using talents (those others said I possessed) to pursue my dreams, fear and doubt kept me stagnant.  I felt alone, lost and in essence, a loser at life.

I have always believed that I was meant to be my own boss. I have a passion for photography (so do a lot of people) and a passion to write (again, I am not alone).  But these have been with me from a very young age.  I want to support myself through my photography and also publish a children's book.  I am capable and have the talent to do both, what I have always lacked, is the confidence that I can do it.  

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord, your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

As I began to grow in my life with Christ, I started realizing that I was not allowing God into my life and that the fear and doubt I possessed trying to move forward or make gains in my life wouldn't happen until I learned to trust God and relinquish all my fears to Him.  I also learned, that I didn't have to face anything alone, not a single thing, God was there to help me, guide me and nurture me, I didn't have to be afraid of living my life and full-filling my dreams.  I am now in pursuit of those dreams.  I am working on a children's book, whether it gets published or not is in God's hands, but for me I am doing what I feel compelled and pressed to do.  As for the photography, I am moving forward there as well.  The steps are small, but the path is lit by God and He is walking beside me as I move forward.  I am learning more and more to live by His guidance and His will.  Today I am confidant and I know that I can do it, whatever it is in my life, with my Savior by my side.

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Whatever obstacle you are facing in your life or new horizon you want to conquer, don't fear it.  Know that with God on your side, YOU CAN DO IT!  Go climb that mountain, run that race, go for that job, walk down that isle, take that leap and live your life in confidence and trust in our Lord.

Today's Prayer:

Dear Father, 

Thank you that your promise to always strengthen me, stand with me and never forsake me is constant and secure.  Let me move forward in my dreams, with your love and guidance today and know that no matter what I set my mind to do, I will always succeed.

In Jesus Name

ANXIETY, WORRY and TRUST

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Anxiousness is something I definitely struggle with on a daily basis.  I am a thinker and worrier and a doer. I am constantly putting my energy into those things, which ultimately I know I can't control.  God tells us in Philippians 4:6 not to be anxious by anything but rather to turn it all over to him in prayer, petition and with thanks.  It is so simple to conceive, yet so hard to do.

The things I struggle with in regards to worry are of course, those closest to my heart, my family.  I have learned to let go of money worries, for God has never failed to provide those things I need,the things which only money can buy.  I have learned to turn over the little things in life, such as work frustrations,  car problems, and school, I know that God has my back there too.  

But when it comes to my family, my marriage especially, I seem to go blank and forget all the wonderful ways God has had my back and provided for me.  I know when I can finally let go of the worry, He will have my back here to, but yet I struggle.

Matthew 6:27 

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

My constant worrying and anxiety over my children and spouse, definitely robs me of time.  While I know that worrying about whether my teenager will pass her classes successfully at school or my spouse will remain true and faithful or decided he's ready to walk the walk of the Christian man he tries not to be, will not change the outcome of those events, I still lay awake at night worrying.  It's hard NOT to worry when your a parent or spouse and when you see the people whose lives are so closely intertwined with yours, struggle on deep and serious levels and with issues that could completely alter the path their lives are on.   It's especially hard, when you watch them make mistakes that you have already made.  

Matthew 6:34 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So what do you do, when you are struggling with worry and anxiety.  When the enemy's foothold is  robbing you of sleep and slowing you down.  You turn to GOD!  You trust GOD, you have no choice.  You lay all of your worry, all of the anxiety at his feet and TRUST him to handle the situations that are causing you so much damage.  It's hard and it's difficult to do, but it can be done.  Go down in prayer and ask the Lord to help YOU let go of your worries and anxiety and trust in HIM to handle the situations at hand.  I have to do this multiple times a day still, but each time I do, a little bit of the heaviness that was holding me down and holding me back is lifted and I gain the ability to Trust, just a little more the next time something threatens one of my family members.  

Psalm 91:2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Because I desire to overcome Satan and eventually banish him from my life and the lives of my loved ones, my only TRUE choice when worry and anxiety (which are some of Satan's weapons he uses to bring us down) is to turn it all over to my GOD.  I have learned, that though it's hard for me to do, by turning everything over to God and releasing those worries and anxieties to him, I essentially am getting out of his way and allowing him to really work on those things that have caused me so much worry and anxiety.  If I hold on to even a smidgen of the anxiety or worry, I will be in God's way.  Trust our Father to handle whatever situations cause you worry and anxiety and remove from Satan that foothold with which he is trying to get in and destroy your life.


Today's Prayer:


Oh Father,how thankful I am to have You, who loves me so much, you are more than willing to carry the burdens and worries in my life.  I release to you all the anxiety and worry that consumes me.  You know the the circumstances that I worry about and how I struggle with releasing them to You.  I am leaning on you to help me release those situations that I feel compelled to worry over and I trust that you have the situations in Your perfect control; therefore releasing from me the need to control, worry and stress.


In Jesus Name

GARY RHEA-TRUST IN THE LORD

Seasonal Marriage

God did not give me an easy man to love, understand, support or commune in marriage with.  God did not give me an easy marriage, what God has given me is the courage to continue, the strength to press forward and the desire to please not only Him, but myself and spouse also.

I have been married to my spouse for 10 years.  The first 2.5 were hard, the next 5 joyous and the last 2.5 trying and incredibly painful.  What I have learned through this journey of peaks and valley's is that I am much stronger than I had ever believed and far more determined to see my marriage succeed and reach the flat plains of consistency than Satan is to destroy it and that as unbelievable as it seems, God does have a perfect plan for me and my spouse.

My marriage has faced many difficult problems:  devastating and life altering injuries, financial ruin, legal problems, debilitating mental illness, divorce and adultery to name a few.  But yet I feel pressed by God to press on.  I am not going to lie and pretend there weren't times, numerous times, when I was ready to throw in the towel and move on, but each time, God brought me back to a place of forgiveness, determination and desire to not let the enemy win.   I won't be defeated by Satan and I won't let him steal my marriage, my children's family or God's desire.

I spend a lot of time in prayer currently for my husband, he is struggling with something and is slowly and deeply becoming withdrawn.  It's a very difficult season for me in this marriage, his desire to withdraw and push me away is very painful and hard for me to deal with, but I press on in prayer.  It's very difficult for me to sit back, my spouses withdrawal creates in me severe anxiety.  Because he has cheated in the past, my first inclination is to assume that is the cause for this new behavior.  It's hard for me to let go of those old fears and refrain from questioning him or being suspicious about why he is suddenly withdrawn.  God is working something in me through this scary season in my marriage and working in my husband something, as well,  I am confidant.

I do know from our past experiences that trails make me grow spiritually.  I am not sure that what is happening in my marriage could be classified as a trail, at least not compared to what we have experienced in the past, but it is certainly a dark period and difficult one, at least for me.

So for now, as hard as it is, I will submit to my God, my Father, all the fears, worries, anxiety, loneliness, desperation and hope that is within me Him, my husband, my mate, my love, and all of his fears, anxieties, stresses, strongholds and Satan's manipulations.  God is the only one who can renew the marriage and lead us by the hand out of this deep valley of darkness and back into the plains of sunshine and joy.

Today's Prayer:

Thank you Father, that your love for us is so pure.  Today, I lift up my marriage, my spouse and myself to your abundant care.  While I do not know what my husband is internally struggling with, you do.  While I don't know how to help him or talk to him, you do know how to guide me and use me to help my husband.  While I do not know the plans you have for each of us or our marriage, you do and I am confidant that through your love, mercy and guidance, we will come through this valley successfully and triumphant with a stronger relationship with You and each other.  Thank you Lord for taking our hands and leading us forward.
In Jesus Name.....

Mark 10:6-9

"But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.'  'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,  and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one.  Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Words don't come easy

The past few days, I have really been struggling to write out what I want to say and share.  For me this is very odd, I am usually very good with pen and paper, but for the last several days I am struggling heavily with getting  my thoughts in order and written down.

When I can't do this, I struggle more in all areas of my life.  I feel almost as if my, normal clear mind is under attack from the enemy.

Whatever the reason, I just can't today, put anything out there that will make any sense to you or me.

Romans 15:13  

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Today's Prayer:

Dear Father,

Draw me close to you today.  It seems to be that I am struggling today and don't really know the reason why, so I ask that today, you just draw me close to you and hold me there as I get through this day.

In Jesus Name