If you could pray for just one thing every single day, what would it be? Maybe for more love, more joy, an extra measure of patience, or the gift of peace?

Years ago, I began praying for wisdom. I knew knowledge of God’s Word was important, but realized without application it was just knowledge…just information. I knew I needed to apply this knowledge in order to gain wisdom and began asking the Lord for help.

Some scripture I pored over in my quest for wisdom were…

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” -James 1:5

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.” -Psalm 111:10

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” -Proverbs 1:7

“For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” -Proverbs 8:11

As I prayed for wisdom, I did my best to apply the knowledge I was learning through sermons, Bible Study, challenging books, and during my preparation for speaking.

I was making an intentional effort to be obedient and seek wisdom and thought I was doing a pretty good job at it. Then about a year ago, our 6:15 a.m. Bible Study memorized James 3:17 and my perspective changed.

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

Wow! This verse rocked my thinking and gave me a better understanding of all wisdom entails.

“First of all pure…” Was I choosing purity in what I thought, what I watched, what I read, in how I spoke? The honest answer is no. I still have work to do. Pure is an adjective, defined as, “unmixed with any other matter.” In thinking about the word, the Lord brought Proverbs 4:23 to mind. “Above all else, GUARD YOUR HEART, for everything you do flows from it”.

The verse continues, “…then peace-loving.” Did I desire peace and unity or was I causing division with words and actions in my relationships and other areas of my life?

“…considerate.” This word is defined as “careful not to cause inconvenience or hurt to others.” Synonyms include attentive, thoughtful, concerned, helpful, and patient. I had never equated being considerate with wisdom until being challenged by James 3:17.

“…submissive.” This word is defined as, “ready to conform to the authority or will of others.” I won’t get into a theological discussion because I’m not qualified and I have no desire for a debate, but I do know this – when you do not have to always be right or have the last word, it changes how you think, act and speak.

“…full of mercy and good fruit.” Being merciful and bearing good fruit is self-explanatory. Knowing this is part of gaining the wisdom that comes from Heaven challenges me to extend grace and strive to be a blessing to every person I am with.

“…impartial.” This means to be fair in every area of our lives: our relationships, our words, our actions, and our decisions. My life verse for as long as I can remember is Micah 6:8. Every day my goal is to “be kind, be fair, and to walk humbly with God.” There are days when I fail to meet this goal. I am a work in progress and am thankful for the grace of God and His new mercies every morning!

“…sincere.” This word means to act genuinely and free of pretense or deceit.

To have wisdom, EACH of these words must be practiced. When I began praying for wisdom, I had no idea what I was signing up for. I now pray for wisdom with a completely new understanding of what it means to be wise.

1. Memorize James 3:17. I typed out the verse and put it in various places around my house and in my car. Memorizing is harder for me as I’ve grown older, but it is still so important to hide God’s Word in my heart.
2. If you don’t have a life verse, pray about choosing one. It may be one you focus on for a year and then choose another. Whatever the verse is, strive to live it out every day!
3. Pray for wisdom and commit to helping and encouraging others in their quest for wisdom.

Experience can be a painful, but effective teacher.

On a Sunday night many years ago, I walked down the aisle to the song, “Just As I Am” and gave my heart and life to Christ. When I came up out of the water, I was brand new. I embraced Colossians 3:1-3, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

I was young, excited, naïve, and trusting.

I made a mistake in putting certain people in my life on a pedestal, which can be defined as “a situation in which someone is greatly or uncritically admired.” They were Christian leaders. They were amazing Christian people who served faithfully and who were in the public eye.

In all of my years as a Christ-follower, there were two moments I questioned my faith, the Bible and even God to the point of considering walking away from the church. Those two times were directly related to my over-elevating them…my putting them on a pedestal.

It was my fault. I was disillusioned*. I put people in a place where only God should be.

(*Disillusioned: A feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be)

I’m grateful I learned early on in my Christian walk one of the most important lessons in keeping my head and my heart in the proper place.

The lesson is this: My disillusionment had absolutely NOTHING to do with God. God is holy. God is perfect. God is our creator. God is powerful. God is sovereign. God is almighty.

People sin. We are human. We behave badly. We have impure thoughts. We lie. We make terrible decisions. When I put others on a pedestal, my emotions got so mixed up, I began seeing God and certain people on the same level. What an emotionally and spiritually dangerous place to be!

I determined after that season in my life, I would never again put another human being on a pedestal. I would not base my faith walk on any man or woman on this earth. My faith had been tested and I almost flunked out because of the sinful actions of those I trusted.

There are people in my life I respect and admire, but only God is to be glorified! Only HE gets to be elevated in my heart and mind.

This lesson has been priceless. God has protected my heart and my mind because of my complete faith and trust in Him and only Him. I’m so grateful!

1. If you have anyone on a pedestal other than God, I’m begging you to take them off. I do not want you to experience disillusionment to the point you think about walking away from God because of the bad choices we as Christians sometimes make.
2. If you have been hurt or disappointed by the actions of other Christians, make a concerted effort to process the experience, find forgiveness, and begin your journey back to God.
3. Read Colossians 3:15-17 and rejoice as we have the opportunity to live our lives for God.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” –Colossians 3:15-17

Together, let us choose to glorify God, not people!

“A man may study because his brain is hungry for knowledge, even Bible knowledge. But he prays because his soul is hungry for God.” -Leonard Ravenhill

Several years ago during a dry season in my prayer life, I began reading books on prayer. I read books on how to pray, what to pray, when to pray, various forms of prayer, and even where to pray.

The books were helpful, but not convicting, however, when I began to study who God is, my prayer life changed. I pray to God, who created the heavens and the earth, God who took a lump of clay and made a man, took a rib and made a woman, and God who can move mountains. God, who gave us His Son so we could live lives of peace, hope, joy, and the promise of being with Him forever. He is holy and I stand in awe of being able to talk to Him.

Even now, my prayer life goes through stages and I have to constantly remind myself of who God is! He changed my heart and my life and I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

One aspect of prayer I have come to love is how God brings someone to our thoughts and minds through our daily lives. I have learned it is not random and I don’t ignore it. When someone comes to mind, I immediately ask God to give them strength, wisdom, and peace. Often, I am able to surrender it, but if not, I often call or sit down and write them a note. It is amazing how often they share how timely the call or note was. God is amazing and His timing is always perfect.

I have had several instances in my life where people have interceded for me through prayer, words, and notes of encouragement and love.

When I was a student back in the 70’s at Cincinnati Christian University, I was called to the Financial Office and told kindly, but firmly I would not be able to return for second semester unless I could pay my bill. My heart was hurting and I began to pray. I prayed for wisdom in knowing what to do—perhaps a second job or maybe waiting to return until the following school year. I shared it with a few friends before leaving to go home to Conneautville, Pennsylvania for the weekend. When I returned on Sunday evening and opened the door to my dorm room, there were several envelopes that had been slipped under the door. Each contained money. Some had $1 and others up to $50. One had a note I still have to this day to remind me of God’s provision.

“Dear Linda, I asked the Lord to speak to me as I was reading His Word one day. I read Matthew 25:31-46 and thought of you. Someone had said you needed some money and I had some, so please accept this as a gift of love and an act of obedience to Christ. A brother PTL”

I had enough for my bill and was able to stay in school. How grateful I was and still am for this brother in Christ who put feet on his prayers!

I have another note dated March 25, 1992.

Dear Linda, It’s Thursday afternoon. It’s now about 1:55pm. I was folding clothes and I’ve never felt so like the Lord instructed me to call you. I have no idea why. I called. Your husband said you were away to Kentucky for the weekend and would return on Monday. I’ve prayed for your safety and strength for the weekend. I’ve asked the Lord if I misunderstood and if so for His guidance in what it was I was to share with you. At any rate, if there’s something I can help you with, let me know. In His Service, Ruth R.

Here is what happened that day. I was traveling with a friend to speak at a ladies conference. I was traveling in the left lane of a 4-lane highway and I glanced back to the right-hand side of my car to see if I merge to the right lane. I thought I saw a car right beside me and I swerved back and then begin to fishtail all over the freeway. Fortunately, I regained control and we went on our way. (Side Note: What I had actually seen in my back right window were my hanging clothes. I now hang them on the back of my seat…never over the windows)

It was that very afternoon, God brought my name to Ruth’s thoughts and she acted upon it. Once again, I am so thankful she listened and prayed for me in that moment.

I am confident we could sit and share thousands of stories of how lives have been blessed through prayers and obedience to those prayers. May we be a people that pray and act when God prompts us to!

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

1. When God brings someone to your thoughts, trust it is from Him and act upon it through prayer or further action.

2. When you write a note to someone, instead of telling them you will be praying for them, write out the prayer in the note. I have been personally blessed by this precious gift.

3. Be aware of who God brings into your everyday life! Even at places as simple as the grocery store. I love to reflect back on a day and smile at how God’s weaving of lives makes a beautiful and interesting tapestry.

4. Pray a prayer of praise…only praise. Read and meditate on the words of Psalm 150.

“I often say my prayers, but do I ever pray? And do the wishes of my heart, go with the words I say? I might as well kneel down, and worship gods of stone. As offer to the living God, a prayer of words alone.” -Author Unknown

On a recent mission trip to Barbados to work with the Windward Island School of Evangelism (WISE), I had the privilege of speaking at their Ladies Conference using the theme, “Heart Celebration.” Our theme verse for the conference was Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Even though I was in a different country with a different culture and traditions, I realized we all struggled with the same issues of the heart. I listened to stories of hurt and bitterness being reconciled through a relationship with God and the act of forgiveness. It was evident how all of these had to do with changes in the heart and it must begin with guarding our hearts.

What do we need to guard our hearts against? I compiled a list of some of the things we must guard our hearts against. The list is daunting, but the reality is, we must “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1Peter 5:8)

We must guard our hearts against…

Complacency, hardness of heart, hate, doubt, bitterness, helplessness, broken heart, rejection, negative thoughts, loneliness, false teaching, anger, jealously, comparison, social media, division envy, allowing the world to define us, cynicism, unworthiness, despair (the sky is falling mentality), selfishness, wanting more stuff, not trusting God, entitlement, politics, insecurity, pride, stubbornness, worry, fear and discouragement.

This is by no means a complete list, but it is a glimpse of how vigilant we must be in guarding our hearts and thoughts on a daily basis. The stakes are great. Lao Tzu once said a powerful quotation on the ramifications our thoughts can have…

“Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habit. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.” -Lao Tzu

I have experienced and listened to women who have had a hard heart. This can be a result of hurt, disillusionment, or a shattered dream. When hurt comes, we have two choices. We can choose the mantra, “No one will ever hurt me again because I will never allow myself to be vulnerable enough to be hurt again.” We can choose to build a wall around our hearts and essentially choose to stop feeling anything at the risk of feeling sadness, discouragement, and brokenness. OR we can choose to work through and move past our hurt and seek a heart full of love, peace, and contentment. One makes Satan gloat in victory. One glorifies God.

Fortunately, we aren’t alone in trying to fix our hard hearts. In the book of Ezekiel, God promises to help us! He says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26) Fight for a heart that glorifies God…choose to do the hard work!

To guard our hearts, we must choose to establish boundaries of what we allow our eyes to see, ears to hear, and minds to process. An acronym I’ve learned is “GIGO.” This motto can go one of two ways…”garbage in, garbage out” OR “good things in, good things out.” What are we watching? Who are we choose to listen to? What are we reading? All of these have a profound impact on what we speak, how we act, and what we believe. I want to make a conscious effort for “GIGO” in my life to mean, “good things in, good things out.” Will you join me?

1. Did you see yourself in any of the things listed? I did! Look back at the list I created. Identify the area(s) you need to guard your heart against and take action to do so!

To guard your heart, you may need to…

-Take a media fast from TV, YouTube, or social media sites.

-Go through the difficult process of forgiving someone.

-Take captive every thought. “…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

2. Listen to the song “Slow Fade.” We don’t just fall into sin. Our thoughts can lead us to sin.

3. Let’s do the work…whatever it takes to GUARD OUR HEARTS!

“Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce; and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up.” -1 Peter 5:8 (MSG)

 

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” Teddy Roosevelt.

Comparing ourselves to others and what they have or do can become an obsession in our lives. We look around and compare our talents, homes, cars, stuff, vacations, family, lifestyles, bodies, careers, etc. and the list can go on and on. It is never ending and has been made worse by social media, where our value can be determined by likes and dislikes. It is a sad commentary on our society when the opinion of another person(s) outweighs the value God has given us through the gift of His Son.

I struggled in this area of comparison into my adult years. I would sit in church and wonder, “Why can’t I sing like her,” or “Why can’t I play the piano like him?” I would actually sit in church coveting what other people had and could do. Then, one morning I was singing “The Butterfly Song,” with the four and five year olds at church and God spoke through the song to teach me an important lesson.

Click on the image above to hear “The Butterfly Song”

When I sang the chorus, “I just thank you Father for making me, me. Cause you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile. You gave me Jesus and you made me your child. And I just thank you, Father for making me, me!” I vividly remember realizing I had never thanked God for how He had made me or for the gifts He had given me. I determined from that day forward to stop wanting what other people had and start being grateful for what He had given me. It was intentional and it was liberating. Freedom!

The process wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. I realized as long as I wanted what other people had, I could never fully enjoy or appreciate their God-given gift or embrace the gifts He had given me.

Now, I’m able to go to church and worship God with the amazing worship teams He has given us. Freedom!

I can visit people’s homes and enjoy their decorating skills, hospitality, landscaping, and organization. Freedom!

I get to enjoy their gift of gardening, sewing, canning, and growing flowers. Freedom!

I purchased a picture years ago with the saying, “Use what talents you possess. The woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those who sang the best.”

The most important lesson I have learned through this refinement, has been to respect and honor the way God has created each of us. I am so thankful that God saw it fit to gift each of us with special and unique talents, abilities, and passions. How boring would life be if we were all the exact same?

Even so the body is not made up of one part, but of many. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason top being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.”
-1 Corinthians 12:14-18

He has created us and gifted us in different ways for the sole purpose of glorifying Him.

You are the light of the world. A tower built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. -Matthew 5:14-16

When you stop comparing yourself to others and start celebrating the unique and beautiful way God has made each of us, there is freedom!

This month, I want us to commit to doing 3 things:

1. If this trap of comparison has been a stumbling block in your life, acknowledge it and begin the work to accept and celebrate how God has designed and gifted you. Stop asking “what if” and “if only.” Thank God for the gifts He has given you and discover ways they can be used to glorify Him.

2. Facebook can be a trap for me as I see what other people are doing or where they are going. If you find yourself falling into this same trap, establish boundaries to guard your heart.

3. Acknowledge other people’s gifts and be grateful. Make it a point to compliment and thank others for sharing their unique gifts. Say it in person, write a note, send a text, but choose to compliment, rather than compare.

Life can be so overwhelming at times. Family, jobs, relationships, sickness, and so many other things can add stress to our already stressful lives.

Do you ever just want to throw in the towel? Call it quits? Give up? I’ve been there and I’d venture to say many of you have too.

There is a passage of scripture I learned years ago while studying Jeremiah, under the leadership of Dr. James Smith. He brought the Old Testament to life in a way I had never experienced. I have the best memories of our study and it was even a 7:00 a.m. class! I came to love the character of Jeremiah and I cannot wait to talk to him in heaven and thank him for all he taught me through his life.

Jeremiah was called by God as a teenager to preach to the people of Jerusalem, telling them that unless they turned back to God, they would be destroyed (Jeremiah 1). It’s important to understand he thought God was calling the wrong person. In Jeremiah 1:6, Jeremiah says, “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” Despite his reluctance, Jeremiah said yes to the Lord’s calling. He preached. Those hearing his words laughed at him. He was thrown into a pit. He chose God over family and friends. He was bold, passionate, and committed.

And then comes the 20^th chapter in the book of Jeremiah. In the NIV Study Bible it is called, “Jeremiah’s Complaint.” (Jeremiah 20:7-13)

“You deceived me, Lord, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. –Jeremiah 20:7-9

Jeremiah was tired, worn out, and confused. He felt deceived by God and wanted to quit. I’ve been there, have you? In the midst of my exhaustion and discouragement, verse 9 has given me strength. Jeremiah wanted to quit….but he couldn’t. Why?

But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

He had God’s Word in his heart. It was like a fire in his bones. He could not quit.

Wow! I desire God’s Word to be in my heart, not just my head. His Word empowers us, equips us, strengthens us. His Word convicts us.

I want fire in my bones! I want to keep going when every part of my being wants to give up. I want fire in my bones to enable me to face tomorrow, whatever that may bring. I want fire in my bones to do what God has called me to do, go where He has called me to go, and share His Word.

My head and my heart have been in conflict at times over how to handle life. I sometimes play tug-of war with God as I struggle with choosing what He wants over what I want. God pushes, I pull. I NEED God’s Word in my heart to stop myself from playing this back and forth game with God.

There is great joy knowing we do not walk through life alone. When we feel exhausted and discouraged, God is there. When His Word is in our hearts like a fire shut up in our bones, it encourages and strengthens us to keep going…to not give up. God is always there, showing us the way. May we trust His word and know it not just in our heads, but also in our hearts.

1. Can you think of a time you wanted to give up, but God sent someone to encourage you and pray for you? Thank that person!

2. Put God’s Word in our heart and mind through memorizing the Word. It becomes alive and real!

3. Think of a character in the Bible who has been an inspiration to you and share it with your friends, family or study group.

Together, let’s get “Fire in our bones!”

 

 

 

 

Have you ever wrestled with the questions, “Why am I here on Earth? What is my purpose? What am I supposed to be doing? What is God’s will for my life?

At various times in my life I have asked myself these very questions. I’ve struggle with the “whys “concerning life, death, difficult situations, and difficult people.

I’ve come to understand we are here for one reason, one purpose, one goal, and that is to glorify God!

To glorify is to exalt, honor, magnify, and give praise.

I’ve studied characters in the Bible and how they responded to detours or obstacles in their lives. I’ve been challenged by preachers, speakers, and books to live my life totally committed to God no matter what comes my way. But what does that look like exactly?

When faced with a blessing or burden, the question I ask now is not “why,” but rather, “How can God be glorified through this?” If we look at every situation in our lives, both good and bad and ask this question, it becomes a game-changer. Our focus changes from inward to heavenward!

I have witnessed this change of focus up close and personal through the lives of my Christian family and friends.

God is Glorified through our Words and Actions…

Several years ago, a young friend was going through a difficult divorce and we were communicating back and forth through e-mails. I shared with him, that even through divorce, God could be glorified. I encouraged him to guard his words, actions, and attitude even through the pain. I reminded him we are not responsible for what others say or do, but we are responsible for what comes out of our mouths and how we behave. We want people to see Jesus in us and when they do, God is glorified.

God is Glorified When We Trust Him…

When we face the death of a loved one, oh how our hearts hurt. No matter how young or old, our hearts break at the loss of a life and a relationship unique only to that person. I have seen God glorified in how people respond through acceptance, peace, and trusting God. When people choose to “trust in the Lord with all [their] heart and lean not on [their] own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5) God is glorified.

I have seen Jesus in people who face cancer, MS, Parkinson’s Disease, chronic illness, aging bodies, surgery, and a myriad of other health related issues. Through their pain and questions, they trust God. He is glorified!

God is Glorified through Our Generosity…

I have seen Jesus in people who have been blessed financially and share the blessing with others. Their love for God and others shines through. God is glorified!

God is Glorified through Our Stories…

Often, after a difficult season of life, people ask the question, “How did you get through it?” If we have chosen to trust God in the midst of unknowns, we are able to share how only with God were we able to still love, still trust, and still live. God is glorified!

Click on the photo above to listen to the song, “Lord Be Glorified” by The Maranatha Singers

1. Reflect on people who, when faced with unbelievable and heartbreaking circumstances found a way to glorify God. I have been inspired through the years by the life of Joni Eareckson Tada who was paralyzed after a diving accident in her teens and has used her life to glorify God through her art and ministry worldwide.

2. Read and live out Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

3. Always ask the question, “How can God be glorified through my blessing or burden?”

4. GLORIFY THE FATHER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“There is only one relationship that really matters, and that is your personal relationship to your personal Redeemer and Lord. If you maintain that at all costs, letting everything else go, God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes and yours may be that life.” -Oswald Chambers

Above all else, God wants us to seek Him and know Him with all our heart!

There are three verses found in scripture that have challenged and encouraged me through the years. The three verses all have the same message: Seek the Lord with all your heart.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. -Hebrews 11:6

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. -Deuteronomy 4:29

Then you will come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. -Jeremiah 29:12-13

When I was a little girl, we used to play hide-and-seek. One person would be designated as the finder and all the others would hide. After about 10 seconds, the finder would yell, “Apple, peaches, pumpkin pie, who’s not ready, holler I.” If someone had not yet found a place to hide they would yell back “I “and the process would start again until all were hidden. Then the search began.

Please understand friends, God is not playing hide-and-seek with us. Merriam-Webster defines seek as, “to go to” or “to try to discover.” God wants us to go to him. He wants us to discover who He is and choose a personal relationship with Him. He is not hiding behind a tree or under a bush making it difficult for us to find him.

God wants us to seek Him with ALL our heart…not just some of our heart. I struggle at times with a divided heart. The busyness of life, the responsibilities of family, juggling work, and sometimes just plain laziness or apathy, all vie for my attention and cause my heart to be divided. We must fight against this at all costs. It is spiritual warfare. We must guard against anyone or anything that will take our eyes and hearts away from God.

Through the years I have been diligent in developing an intimate relationship with God. One of my greatest joys through years of Bible Study and prayer is this truth: The more I know God, the more I love him and the more I trust Him. He hears my prayers, my cries, my praise, my fears and my hurts. He cares. He knows my heart. He loves me.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of walking alongside friends who are facing death. What they have taught me in the last months and weeks of their lives, is in the end, only three things really matter: their relationship with God, their relationship with family, and their relationship with friends. It’s not the stuff, the accolades, or accomplishments. It’s the peace that comes from knowing God is with them, the power of human touch, and the sweet familiar voice sharing love through words or even a song.

Together, let’s seek God with ALL our hearts!

1. Identify what has been a hindrance to developing a deeper relationship with God. It’s different for everyone depending on the season of life you are in. Ask God for help in this area and move forward.

2. Find a friend or two (or more) and read the same daily devotional. Your conversations will reflect what you’ve read. One year we had over 15 people doing the same devotional. Our conversations were amazing and we were in awe of how what we read for the day was exactly what we needed to learn.

Daily Devotionals I Recommend:

–My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

–One Year Book of Encouragement by Harold Myra

–365 Moments of Peace for a Woman’s Heart– This devotional was a gift I truly enjoyed. Knowing different ladies were praying me for in our church each day in 2016 blessed my socks off.

3. As 2019 approaches, choose to stand in awe of God, to continually seek Him, know Him, and love him!

On April 30, 2017 my Mom had a stroke that left her with permanent side effects. While attending one of her rehabilitation sessions, I asked her therapist when my Mom would be “normal” again. She explained to me that my Mom’s brain was like a bridge that had been broken. She went on to say that once a “bridge” is broken, it can never be repaired, but that “detours” can be made to compensate for the damage. Essentially, detours create a way around the brokenness and act as a new bridge.

Over the last 18 months, my siblings and I have been trying to help her find the detour and are learning how to love and care for our “same, but different” Mom.

As I have reflected on her stroke and the impact it’s had on my Mom, I’ve thought about life and how the trials we face can be bridge breakers. Our broken bridge may be a divorce, a difficult relationship, the death of a loved one, declining health, an accident, the loss of a job, mental illness, abuse, betrayal or any other kind of trial we may face.

In John 16:33, Jesus tells us, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” This verse tells us that while we are guaranteed to experience “broken bridges,” God will provide detours that lead to restoration. Things will never be as they once were, but we must choose to move forward, to take the detour, rather than staying stuck in our brokenness. You can often find me singing or humming the song, “God will make a way when there seems to be no way.”

Click to Listen to “God Will Make a Way”

He “makes a way when there seems to be no way” through His Word and the gift of friends who walk alongside us as we navigate our detour. The people in our life can serve as bridge builders.

I love the story found in Exodus 17:9-12, Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

 …Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. Moses needed help. In order to fulfill God’s plan for his life, Moses needed people to come alongside of him and hold him up. Literally.

It’s okay to need others, ask for counsel, and seek wisdom. There are times when our pride makes us unwilling to be vulnerable. We pretend we have it all together. We build a wall. It’s time to get real. The pain is real. The hurt is real. Consequences are real.

When I was in my mid-thirties, I navigated an extremely difficult season. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, I later learned I was suffering from depression. It was a combination of past traumatic experiences, my struggling marriage, three small children, finances, and work responsibilities. It all came crashing down. During that season, getting out of bed was hard. Putting one foot in front of the other was difficult. Every day looked the same….dark, dreary and lonely.

To this day, I am so grateful a friend recognized something was wrong and stepped in. He and his wife gifted me with a weekend away. It was generous and kind. That weekend didn’t make me better, but it made me want to get better. Their gift communicated value and love to me and was a catalyst for my journey back to life. As I began the road to wholeness I had friends, who like Hur and Aaron, held me up when I didn’t have the strength to stand on my own. I had friends who served as bridge builders on my way from brokenness to restoration.

As brothers and sisters in Christ, may we look for people navigating detours and choose to be a bridge builder in their lives.

1. Express gratitude to God for providing detours that lead to new bridges, for the gift of grace, and the gift of friends.

2. Reflect on a time in your life when a bridge broke and God provided someone in your life to be a bridge builder on your journey to healing.

3. Write a note of gratitude to them. I’m writing mine today for a gift given 30 years ago.

Several years ago, I was privileged to speak at a camp for a Ladies Retreat and asked one of my dear friends to join me. Diane had recently experienced a loss in her life and it was good to spend time together. When we arrived at the camp, she asked where we would be sleeping and I pointed to a cinderblock building across the way.

As we got settled in, we both heard a sound. Startled, Diane, who was lying down on one of the beds said, “What was that?” I didn’t know, but as I turned toward the vanity, I saw the culprit. On the sink was a fan and crawling out of the fan, was a snake! I screamed, jumped up on the bed (fortunately for both of us, Diane had moved), and plastered myself against the wall…all while continuing to scream. To put it mildly, I am not a fan of snakes. We were both in shock and not at all happy about our wildlife sighting. After what seemed like forever, the camp manager came and removed the snake from underneath the vanity. Our hero!

I’m not sure what I said that evening, but it was spoken with great conviction and passion, as my heart was still racing from the snake incident.

Later in the evening, while visiting around the campfire, some ladies came up to me and said, “You know what they say, Linda…where there’s one snake, there may be two.” I am still here to tell the tale, which means there were not two snakes. Thank goodness.

While speaking at the morning session the next day, I challenged the ladies with the verse from Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

With some humor, I told the ladies I did not need to hear about the possibility of two snakes and they needed to repent of their words. We all had a good laugh and I learned an important lesson…words matter.

In my last blog post I talked about the value of listening and hearing the heart of people. How we respond to their heart can be either helpful or hurtful.

To be helpful, instead of hurtful, we need to be willing to practice empathy, discernment, and to draw near.

Practice Empathy…
To help instead of hurt, we have to allow people to feel what they feel, without judgment. We experience fear, anger, frustration, disappointment, and a myriad of other emotions. We have difficult days, decisions, and delays. God gave us emotions. We hurt, we cry, and it’s okay. As Christians we tend to minimize our pain and think of ourselves as not trusting enough or not believing enough because of the way we feel, when the reality is, God created us to feel and uses those emotions to draw us closer to Himself.

A friend was sharing her pain and anger as she was recalling the loss of her child. About halfway through, she stopped, looked at me and said, “Is it okay if I feel this way?”I responded, “It sure is.” and she continued on. After a time, I emphasized she could feel that way, but it was important for her not to stay there. We began the process of moving forward and I realized there is no such thing as closure. A loss is a forever loss. We establish a new normal and long for the day when “joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

We need to give people time to feel and everyone has a different timeline.

Practice Discernment…
We must also be careful when using “Christian quips and clichés.” Comments such as, God’s got this, this is all part of His plan, or God will use this, are all true, but can be hurtful in the moment. Instead of trying to say the right thing or “fix” their brokenness, the best way we can love someone in the midst of pain, is to join them in it. To feel their pain. Allow them to hurt without judgment. Be patient. Eventually, there will come a time when we can share truth and hope from God’s Word and provide words of encouragement, but we have to be compassionate and discerning with the timing.

Draw Near…
A lot of times, nothing we say will bring any comfort in the midst of brokenness and heartache. In those moments, we speak more through our hugs, shared tears, and our presence, than words will ever be able to say. The act of drawing near and being present speaks volumes, without you having to say a word.

Will you go a step further and put love into action with me?

This month, I want us to commit to doing 3 things:

1- Memorize Ephesians 4:29– “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

2- Pray before you speak. Ask God to give you wisdom in knowing what and when to speak. Listen to the heart of the person sharing.

3- Stay in the Word. Jesus is the perfect example of love, compassion, and drawing near.