Robin Gilbert Luftig's Blog, page 30

New Decade, New Year … Now What?

Originally posted January 17, 2019

[image error]You’re deep into January now. You set your jaw when the ball dropped welcoming the new year. You promised, this year would be your year. This time you’d make it for sure. You made resolutions and have white-knuckled it for days now.

But now you’re weary and losing hope.

[image error]Or … you’re in ministry and watching those around you struggle with addictions that seem to own them. How do you help?

You’re in need of a Recovery Revival. Recovery comes in different shapes and sizes.

Maybe you want to lose ten pounds.
Maybe you want to better yourself in other ways.
Maybe you want to get out of a violent relationship.

No matter what your goal is, stop struggling alone. Check out Jonathan Daughtery‘s blog, What Might Recover Revival Look Like. He shows how God takes white knuckles and turns them into praising hands.

Everyone is broken. Some problems seem worse than others, but each can be healed.

You set the goal. Made the resolution. If you can’t do it on your own, reach out for help.

God’s Best During Your Worst: Trust

[image error]Here’s a glimpse into God’s Best During Your Worst (Bold Vision Books) scheduled for a Spring release.

Trust was a big part of seeing God’s best during my worst. I was facing brain surgery, with no guarantees of survival. Would I make it through? Would my family be okay if I died? Did God even hear my cries to Him?

Trust is Tested

Sometimes our faith is tested until we can’t see anything beyond our pain. But we must know that God sees us there. Even if we don’t see Him, His love is still constant (Romans 8:38).

God’s love for us is not contingent on anything. His love is constant. You can trust in that. Jesus said if we just trust that—if we have faith the size of a mustard seed—we can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). When we find our faith is tested to the limits, that’s when we need to clear away doubt and confusion and double down, focusing on what we know is truth. That’s what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did.

We believe our God can save us (Daniel 3:17).

We believe our God will save us (Daniel 3:17).

But even if He doesn’t, we still believe and will praise our God (Daniel 3:18).

It was that “but-even-if-He-doesn’t” part that rolled over in my mind.

What Do You Do Now?

You may be up to your chin in problems, yet I ask you to trust God. Oh, I can hear you now.

“Who’s she kidding?”

“She doesn’t have a clue what’s going on in my life right now.”

“It’s not that easy.”

My answers to you: Nobody; you’re right; and no one said it was going to be easy.

Healing doesn’t happen overnight. But after you read the steps set in front of you as well as stories those who embraced peace after their own catastrophe, you’ll be encouraged. Maybe you could find peace as well. And the answers often feel few and far between. Is there good news? Yes! There is a simple, powerful way to reconnect who you are and what your purpose really is.

Something New is Coming

[image error]Something new is coming this Spring.

You know how life goes … it’s wonderful, then WHAM! That’s what happened to me. I can truly say my life has not been the same since the rug was pulled out from under my feet that fateful day in April 2011.

My newest book, “God’s Best During Your Worst” on dealing with trauma and life’s catastrophes is at the publishers and scheduled for production.

I’ve written and re-written the manuscript, then changed it again. I’ve cried over it, prayed for God’s leading, and spent hours researching scripture. Not only did I fine-tune my own story, but I sought stories from others on the worst moments of their lives. I continually felt unworthy and often asked God to let someone else share such incredible discoveries.

But in April 2011, I heard the words, Do you trust me? in my soul. God hasn’t let me go since then.

It’s been a long journey, but like most precious commodities, it’s taken time to be right. I can’t wait to share it with you.

Stay tuned!

Off-Script and Over-Caffeinated – A Review

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Hold on to your hat for Off-Script and Over-Caffeinated, the newest release from the dynamic duo, mother and daughter team Rhonda and Kaley Rhea. The snappy dialogue of (are avocados offensive?) and honest emotions (Oh, good. Anger. My favorite emotion.) are threaded throughout. You’ll find yourself in a dilemma: do you stop reading to bask in a great line, or do you let the story take you over like a tsunami?

What’s real of make-believe? What’s right or wrong? All that, wrapped with prayers of clarity and worship. How do they do it?

Grab a copy of Off-Script and Over-Caffeinated for yourself or ant friend who loves a great read.

God’s Best During Your Worst

Sometimes our pain distracts us so badly we stop caring. But God still cares. [image error]

Friday’s Pondering

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Friday’s Pondering

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Wear Wide-View Goggles

[image error]Don’t be surprised when something happens that really ticks you off.

It helps, though, if you step back, put your wide-view goggles on, and take a broad look at the challenges you’re facing.

Look around you. What’s really happening?

Read Nehemiah 3:10, Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.”

Is your strength giving out? Are you thinking of giving up? Here’s the real question … a solution that Satan’s possibly put in your mind.

Are you considering pulling away from God? From church? Oh, you’d never say so, but you’re weary … so bone weary.

Remember, Christianity is messy. It’s common to face opposition. Satan’s a master at hammering on Christians. But when you use your wide-view goggles, it’s easy to see the full picture.

Read on in Nehemiah 4, After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes” (v. 4).

Don’t let Satan distract you and steal your joy. Be like Nehemiah and stay focused on the job God gives, even when there were distractions.

What do you see when you look for the full picture?

God’s Best During Your Worst: A Preview

[image error]How big does God need to be?

Sometimes when we’re in the midst of tragedy, it’s difficult to grasp God’s presence and comfort.

I should know.

After suffering a seizure on April 1, 2011, doctors found a tumor on my brain and told me I may only have ten days to live. I spent those ten days seeking answers. Why was I facing such horror? What had I done to cause this? Was God punishing me?

Was God even there?

[image error]As you can see, I lived past the promised ten days. Since then, I’ve written a book, God’s Best During Your Worst (Bold Vision Books, coming out in the Spring, 2020), that not only touches on my journey, but shows the reader how to find comfort during their tragedy as well. Could you be facing your own horror? It may not be a physical one. Maybe your heart is filled with questions of its own:

Why did my spouse gamble and get us in this financial bind?

Why can’t I get beyond the shame of the abortion I had thirty years ago?

Why didn’t God intervene when your spouse had an affair?

Why was my son hit by a drunk driver?

Why can’t I move past my anger?[image error]

Tragedies can shape our lives in ways we never wanted. Let me show you how God walked me through my catastrophe. And I’ll share the secrets I found along the way … from men in Scripture to trusted contemporaries … how you can find your way out of your Worst time in your life.

It’s a tall order, but God’s waiting to see you through. Keep watching. I’ll give you peeks into a chapter or two before the spring publication. It’s my hope … to bring you hope. And possibly healing.

God’s Best can tackle any of your Worst.

A Friend to All Women

To my lady friends (or to men who know a lady). Check out Jillian Lancour and her Clothes and Curves website. She is truly a friend to all women.

I love this woman! I met Jillian a few years ago and immediately connected with her. Besides being one of the funniest women I know, she focuses on what her purpose is: to share Jesus with hurting ladies. She makes you laugh while building you up at the same time. Then she makes you think.

Check out her September 13, 2019 blog, Shouldn’t Christian Women Be the MOST Confident? 

Leave her a note and tell her how her blog effected you. She’s so nice … she may write you back.

Love you , Jillian. Keep smiling.