His Strength, My Weakness: A Great Exchange

There are moments when I am completely sapped of strength: physically, mentally and spiritually. Sometimes situations, people and just my own thoughts can wear me out! It is in those times that it's easier to become discouraged because the enemy takes FULL advantage of our weaknesses...if we let him. I've learned that it takes a conscious decision to give into defeat, depression, and dismay. With that same acquiescing (giving over or into) of letting the enemy have access to my heart, mind and soul, I can muster up the strength to surrender to God. Yes, it takes strength to admit when you're weak. And I've found the only way to renew my strength is to humble myself and go before the Lord to seek His love, His mercy, His grace, His forgiveness and His power. Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

We have no real strength outside of the presence of God; what we can do in our flesh is temporary. Oh, but when we seek the face of God, there is a strength that is full of peace and that comes from His eternal throne. Psalm 16:11 says, "...In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Let's take this opportunity to lay our burdens down at the feet of Jesus; He's strong enough to take it. And let's walk away renewed, refreshed and revived by His power divine!

Heart's Cry

Waiting, believing, trusting, seeing, knowing it's all about You
Thirsty, seeking, hoping, racing, resting and reminded that You're not through
Held, helped, healed, broken and everyday, constantly being renewed.

A Change of Garments

This morning, though brisk and cool, has such a sense of promise and expectancy. Or is it me? Within myself, I sense a determination to change my way of thinking and to expect the unexpected. Sometimes when you've been waiting for a promise for so long, when it does not yet manifest, if not careful, one can become bitter in soul and down right depressed. At the beginning of a new year, expectations are high and faith seems unstoppable. Plans are made and energy is high! However, as the year draws on, that same energy begins to wane and the light that was shining so brightly, begins to dim. One questions if they really heard from God. Will He really come through? And if not careful, a seed of doubt is planted and begins to grow into unbelief.

However, God is so faithful. When He has spoken a promise, He watches over it to make sure it performs what HE intended. This morning after reading 1 Samuel 1:1-18 and Romans 15:13, I'm encouraged to KEEP believing. Paul prays, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing..." There is JOY and PEACE in BELIEVING! So what does that tell me? The very opposite (sorrow and confusion) is a sure foundation of unbelief. The longer we wallow in doubt and sadness, the heavier we become. When we take our focus off the strength and power of God to fulfill His promises, we become weak and unable to fulfill our purpose in Him.

The wonderful thing about God is that He's always providing opportunities for us to change our position. This morning, let's make a conscious decision to change our garments (from doubt and worry to praise and hope). Isaiah 61:3 promises that He will give us the "oil of joy for mourning" and the "garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness". We can unload all of our burdens and walk in the peace of God today! The latter part of Romans 15:13 says, "...that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Wow, there's power behind hope. We're not walking blindly, we're simply trusting in the power of God to perform what He promised to His children.

So, join me in faith today believing that God is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all we ask or think! Let's change our garments and rejoice in the God of our salvation!

TWILIGHT in Carson

Hello World,

Well, for my first blog ever, I thought I'd share a very true and very short story of my experience at a local hotel last month. At the time these events took place, it was entirely too early in the morning to call anyone, so I jotted my thoughts in an email. After reading it, my mom suggested I get ready to transform it into a script. Let me know what you think. :-) ENJOY!

Hello Family:

I didn't want to call you all and awake you so I thought I'd share this tale via email.

At approximately 3:30 a.m. I could hear a lot of banging going on above me and then yelling out in the hallway. I got scared so I tried to call the front desk and OF COURSE no one was here. So I called the police and as I'm talking to the operator ALL of the fire alarms in the hotel/motel go off. My heart is really racing now. I was instructed to grab my hotel key and ID and leave the room. As I, and most of the guests, am leaving out of the hotel room you can see "weave" hair and plants all over the lobby floor. As I go out the front door a white woman with black hair said, "She pulled out my weave!" And as we all begin looking around we find out that one of the people involved in the fight pulled the fire alarm. Most of the guests are now in the lobby or out in the cold (and rain) outside of the hotel/motel. A few minutes later the fire department shows up to investigate the main fire alarm. Seconds later the sheriffs arrive just in time to see the culprits (a man and a woman), heading to their car as the man pushes the woman on the ground. The sheriffs turned on their headlights to see the woman laying out on the ground and the man standing above her. Subsequently they were both arrested.

Now an hour later the firefighters finally got the alarms to stop ringing. I am done with this location. It's obvious that this is the hood of Carson.

I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. Good night and Godspeed.