Kelly Harrel's Blog, page 3

Strategy 1:Your Passion (Fervent Bible study week 2)

If they handed out Bible awards, Peter would definitely win “the most passionate follower of Christ.” The fisherman dropped everything (literally) when Jesus called him. He asked Jesus to call him out of the boat onto the water in the middle of a storm. He was the first disciple to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus even commended Peter’s great faith in Matthew 16. Yet skip forward ten chapters and our man of passion crumbles. When the pressure is on and fingers are pointed, the guy who proclaimed Jesus as God’s Son denies even knowing Him.

What went wrong? How could Peter go from fired up to checked out? Maybe because things didn’t go the way he wanted.

In Matthew 16 after recognizing Jesus as God’s son, Peter rebukes Jesus when He speaks of His death and resurrection. Peter liked a Savior who reigned but didn’t see the need for suffering. When the suffering starts to become a reality, his faith crumbles.

“That’s why, if I were your enemy, I’d make stealing your passion one of my primary goals. … If I could chip away at your zeal, at your hope, at your belief in God and what he can do, I could chisel down your face to a whimper. Make you want to quit. And never try again.” (Shirer 26-27)

Do you realize that Satan not only wants to destroy you but he knows where to hit you? Where is it that he seems to hit you the hardest?

Now, if Peter’s story ended there, it would be depressing. He would be like a one-hit-wonder. People would say, “What happened to that one disciple who started off strong? I thought he was gonna make it.” Not only was Peter forgiven by Jesus, he went on to perform great wonders and miracles in Jesus’s name. Everywhere he went (including prison) he spoke the name of the Lord.

I think it’s important to remember THAT part of Peter’s history. We are sinners. We will blow it. But God wants us to get back up and keep going. He can make the last half of our lives more sold out for Him than ever before. No matter where we were or what we’re doing now, we can step into the light of God’s grace and thrive in our faith again.

Shirer pulls four points from the story of the missing ax head from 2 Kings 6:1-7 and relates them to our lives.

1) Despite the lost ax head, the presence of God was still near.

2) The servant was doing something good when he lost his cutting edge.

3) The ax was borrowed.

4) Only a work of God could retrieve the ax head.

Which of these points made you think or made you nod in agreement? Number one hit me hard. In this season of physical and emotional pain, there have been times when I thought God stepped aside to allow Satan to do his thing.

“It mattered that God’s presence and the man’s loss occurred within close proximity to the other. Satan would like to convince you that your lack of passion is an indication that God was either never there at all or has gotten disgusted with you.” (Shirer 32)

For years I’ve watched the events of my life in somewhat disbelief. At times I allowed them to come between me and my God rather than constantly looking at them through the lens of the Bible. The truth is He is using them to purify my faith, He will work all things for good because I love Him, and God is always with me and will never forsake me. Moses tells Joshua in 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.” (NIV)

Friends, remember that we don’t need to dwell in the places of trials, hardships, even unbelief. But they are good to exam for a time to consider how we can maneuver this life more successfully.

Shirer goes on to share many verses we can include in our prayer for passion. Which did you incorporate into your prayer? My husband laughed when I sang Psalm 51:10, but that was one of the first verses I memorized as a teen. During this season of my life, it’s a verse I want to claim daily.

On page 38, Priscilla quotes Hosea 6:3 ~ “He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.”

“How does a person receive rain? Not by prying it loose from the sky but just by watching it fall, by standing in the downpour, by thanking him for opening the floodgates and sending what he knows we need and can’t get for ourselves, yet what he is so faithfully, regularly, and graciously gives.” (Shirer 38)

We have a job to do, my friend. We need to carve out the time, make the investment of our attention to prayer, and then be ready to receive all our Lord has to shower upon us. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a downpour. I am ready to dance in the rain and I’m willing to invest the time and effort on my part so I can.

 

Discussion questions:

Do you realize that Satan not only wants to destroy you but he knows where to hit you? Where is it that he seems to hit you the hardest?

Which of the four points from the ax head example made you think or make you nod in agreement?

Which verses from the end of Strategy 1 did you incorporate into your prayer?

 

All quotes not from the Bible are taken from:

Shirer, Priscilla. “Fervent.” B & H Publishing Group, 2015.

 

Fervent Bible Study Blog Introduction

Prayer. Is it your last resort or your first line of defense? Is it about taking God a list of to-dos or drawing closer to Him? One of the things that captured my attention in the introduction of Fervent was when author Priscilla Shirer writes, “This book is just not meant for pretty reading. It’s not for coffee-table curiosity and other such Cameo appearance. Think of it instead as industrial-grade survival gear.” (2)

Why? Well, according to Priscilla, “Because this is war. The fight of your life. A very real enemy has been strategizing and scheming against you, assaulting you, coming after your emotions, your mind, your man, your child, your future.” (2)

I’d like to start our discussion here. What is prayer to you? How is your prayer life? And do you feel or have you felt like you are in a fight for your life, your emotions, your family, your future?

Once upon a time I considered myself quite the prayer Warrior. My bestie used to say that God always answered my prayer. I guess my training really began 12 years ago as we started homeschooling. I left my full-time job and my husband found himself without a job. Prayer becomes a daily part of your life when you are struggling just to survive financially, when you are completely dependent on God for your daily bread. I saw God do the impossible, move mountains I thought were stuck, and open the heavens to pour down blessings. But then…then I watched two people I loved the most die. Prayers didn’t save them. And my husband had one too many heart attacks for my liking. It’s not that I stop believing in prayer, I just felt helpless against the war that was raging against me. I would pray for others, but not for myself and my family’s situations. I felt like I was losing the battle Satan was warring against me, so I stopped engaging. I called upon my prayer warriors to stand in the gap for me because, well, I was just exhausted. That’s when I found out the truth of why Priscilla says we need to pray on page 3, “Because life is just too impossible otherwise—yours, mine, everybody’s. We simply don’t have the luxury of playing nice with prayer.”

I’ve felt like life was impossible for far too long. About a month ago, a friend and I went to see Beth Moore live and that jump-started my spirit. A few weeks later, I stumbled upon my copy of Fervent. The book I was reading before it seemed like all hell broke loose in my life five years ago.  And then the conora virus began to escalate. People everywhere were saying, “we need to pray.”

And I remembered.

I remembered the miracles, the provision, the blessings. All unleased in that season of authentic prayer. That’s what made me pick up this book again to finish it. I knew if I invited others on the journey, not only would I be blessed to see the glory in their life (I’m kind of a glory-of-God junkie), but I WOULD finish it this time and I would feel that rush of the Holy Spirit again.

So, what brings you here? What made you sign up for this study?

I loved on page 14 when Priscilla wrote, “We pray because our own solutions don’t work and because prayer deploys, activates, fortifies us against the attacks of the enemy. We pray because we’re serious about taking back the ground he has sought to take from us.”

It’s like that saying prayer is the key that unlocks the door. We can’t do it on our own, but with God through prayer, we are victorious.

Here’s the crazy thing. Even though the healing of my best friend and father happened in heaven rather than earth, I saw God’s glory as He transformed, refined their faith before He took them home. The loss hurt, but God’s glory shone for all to see.

We are going to pray some big prayers in the next six weeks. We are going to start believing God for a lot. Even if answers don’t come as swiftly as we’d like or in the package we’d prefer, God can be trusted. He is able.

After Priscilla touches on the strategies we will be praying through, she shares the acronym PRAY that will help us keep our prayers anchored and strong. PRAY stands for:

P – Praise

R – Repentance

A – Asking

Y – Yes (referring to 2 Cor. 1:20 – “All of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding yes!”)

During this study, we will be writing out our prayers, but I also encourage you to write out the scriptures that stir something within you that are at the end of each chapter. In fact, if you are up for the challenge, I encourage you to memorize one scripture for each section. You don’t need to have it memorized by the time we read the next strategy. Write out your favorite scripture, place it somewhere you will see it, then recite it daily. Imagine at the end of six weeks if you have ten new verses under your belt that you could claim in prayer. That, my friend, is a powerful and effective weapon!

What a journey we are about to embark upon. As we move forward, I would love to know what jumped out at you in your reading this week. Also, I asked several questions above. Feel free to answer any or all of them.

What is prayer to you?

How is your prayer life?

Do you feel or have you felt like you are in a fight for your life, your emotions, your family, your future?

What brings you here? What made you sign up for this study?

 

Fervent Bible study blog

Warning: Creating default object from empty value in /nfs/c07/h04/mnt/109529/domains/kellyharrel.com/html/wp-content/uploa... on line 60

Sunday March 29, 2020 – Wednesday May 6, 2020

IN YOUR HOME

Map and Directions | Register

Description:

These are crazy times indeed. People keep saying we need to pray more. But maybe you feel like your prayers are inadequate. Maybe you are praying but things are getting worse. Join me on a journey to learn to pray more fervently. During this six-week Bible study we will read and pray our way through Fervent by Priscilla Shirer. There will be blogs to read and interact on as well as a FB group. We are NOT helpless, my friend. Jesus wants us to be actively seeking Him and living His Word. This is a great place to begin.

If you do not own the book, I recommend purchasing the Kindle version on Amazon (you can add a Kindle app to your phone or any device) as shipping may be delayed because of the virus. HERE is a link to the book on Amazon.

Register

The Beloved—A Perfect Love Story

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I started writing The Beloved, I didn’t view it as a love story. There was so much struggle, such heartbreak. But as God shaped the story, it became more and more clear that it’s a love story on many different levels.

CLICK HERE to hear me explain why The Beloved is my favorite love story. And don’t forget to pick up your copy of The Beloved February 11 either on my website or on AMAZON.

 

Continuing to Trust (Thriving in the Hard Times Week 6)

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” ~Genesis 12:1-4

God made Abram a promise not only that his descendants would be numerous, but that He would bless them and make them a great nation. Fast-forward 300 years. Yes, they are numerous, yet they are in bondage. They weren’t just slaves. They were treated horribly.

So the Egyptians worked the people of Israel without mercy. They made their lives bitter, forcing them to mix mortar and make bricks and do all the work in the fields. They were ruthless in all their demands. ~ Exodus 1:13-14

So the trials of the Israelites began. I wonder if as they told stories of the patriarchs to the next generations if they shook their heads thinking, “This is not how it’s supposed to be.”

I once thought the Israelites were extremely self-centered people lacking faith. The amount of whining they do in the book of Exodus seems to support that. But after walking through all I have, I realize the truth—they wanted to trust again. They had just endured so much pain they lost sight of the promise.

Sound familiar?

Instead of reading the book of Exodus with a judgemental eye on God’s people, I encourage you to read it with a desire to see God’s hand at work. If you do, you will see God is faithful in moving His people towards His promise.

**Though Pharoah ordered the midwives to murder the baby boys, the midwives refused because they feared God. They continue to grow in number and God blessed the midwives with their own children.  (1:15-17)

**He brought plagues to show His power and get the Pharoah to let his people go. (Exodus 7-11)

**God causes the Egyptians to give the Israelites riches (12:35-36)

**He fed His people in the wilderness for forty years (Exodus 16)

**The Lord helped them fight and win numerous battles (starting in chapter 16)

Yes, the people complained about the food. They complained they didn’t have water. They complained when Moses was gone meeting with the Lord for days. But God was faithful to continue moving them towards His promise. It was only when they showed complete lack of faith in overcoming the Canaanites that He said that generation would not see the promise land. He didn’t take it away from all the people, only the group who showed disbelief.

I know what it’s like to pray for healing on Earth only to watch the one you prayed for pass into heaven. I’ve been in pits so deep there seemed to be no light. We have had such hard times financially we didn’t know where our next meal would come from. I have experienced such awful physical pain I never thought it would end. But here’s the truth: God has been faithful and is moving me closer to His promises. There are lots of promises in the Bible, but Jesus makes us several in Matthew 5:3-10:

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,

    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

God blesses those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted.

God blesses those who are humble,

    for they will inherit the whole earth.

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,

    for they will be satisfied.

God blesses those who are merciful,

    for they will be shown mercy.

God blesses those whose hearts are pure,

    for they will see God.

God blesses those who work for peace,

    for they will be called the children of God.

God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,

    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”

The key? We must continue to trust. We can’t become like the ten spies who explored the Promise Land and decided God wasn’t enough to conquer the giants. (Numbers 13) We need to be like Joshua and Caleb, remembering His promises, recalling His victories, continuing to trust.

At the beginning of the week, my problems felt like too much to handle. I’m trying hard not to stress out, but anxiety was rising. So, every time it started to rise, I said aloud, “God, I trust You.” Then I would pray for His provision and my peace. I’d remind myself how He always provides for our needs. By the end of that day, I was praying, not stressing. By the end of the week, He had provided in abundance.

I don’t know what you’ve gone through. I don’t know the place you’re in right now. I do know God ALWAYS keeps His word. Our hurt today is bringing us closer to a better tomorrow. Even if the blessings don’t come until heaven, they will come. But we can count on the Lord to strengthen us in our struggles, be close to the brokenhearted, and provide for us when we are faithful to Him.  We need to shift our eyes from the pain to His promises. Regardless of how bad things seem, of how tired and weary you are, it’s time to trust again.

 

 

 

 

**

Unrealized Dreams (Thriving in Hard Times Week 5)

I wrote my first story by the age of seven. It was about a girl named Katie who loved horses. I didn’t love the story, but I loved creating a new world. I loved bringing life to characters and watching them take on a life of their own. For years when people asked what my hobby was, I’d say writing. Few understood, but I didn’t care. It was something that brought me great pleasure.

Fast forward almost three decades. I continued to treat writing as a hobby, something to do when I was on vacation from work or when nothing better was on TV. One night, as I thought of all I achieved, God asked me a simple question.

“What have you done with the gift of writing I gave you?”

That began the road to my writing career fifteen years ago. I still worked full-time as a teacher. I was mom and wife. Yet for thirty minutes a day, I honed my craft. I polished my story. I wasn’t in a rush. I was being faithful to what God called me to. I wanted to touch others with the gift He gave me. I wanted to inspire others to be closer to Him.

That was fifteen years ago. Fifteen weeks ago I posted this on my social media—

“My rewrite of #TheBeloved was like a quarter marathon. Now it’s time for a half marathon—to finish #TheRedeemed.”

In the past seven years, I have had seven books published. Six of which I published myself. I started self-publishing when people looked down on it. You were almost considered a second-class writer. I wrote queries and I pitched each book to publishers and agents, praying if it was God’s will, He would open the door. When no doors opened, I self-published. Until the seventh. A door was opened in the spring of 2018, so I walked boldly through it.

By this time I was writing several hours a day. My laptop went everywhere with me in case I had a few minutes to spare. I still taught full-time, homeschooled (which really meant chauffeured my teens from place to place). I also taught at writers conferences, taught Bible studies, and loved being invited to speak. When people said, “I don’t know how you do it all,” I usually answered, “By the grace of God.” When I signed a publishing contract in May 2018, two months after my best friend passed away, it seemed like God had heard my prayers and my dreams were finally coming true.

With the contract came new obligations. Marketing. First-round, second-round, third-round of revisions for The Deceived. Interviews and blogs to write promoting the book series, live videos. Most every moment my mind was occupied with some idea or something I needed to do for my books or for my writing career. I wanted this to work so I could afford to walk away from my teaching job. After twenty years of working in education, it was time I was done. I only took one year off to be with the kids and even then I had to sub the last half of it. I determined it was my turn to be successful in what God created me to do.

I thought I had things under control until this summer when my dad ended up in the hospital from complications from surgery. That’s when I considered that I may be doing too much. In July my parents became my priority, which they needed to be, but the weight of keeping up with marketing obligations and writing deadlines weighed heavily on me. I told myself once Dad got better, once he went home, I could go back to my crazy, hectic life.

A month later he went home…home to be with Jesus.

It was two days after my dad’s celebration of life when I received a call from my publisher saying I had to re-write half of The Beloved—and I had two weeks to do it.

That’s when the feeling that I was drowning began. The publisher offered to push out the release, but I didn’t want to do that to my fans. They had waited a year for the next novel. I negotiated three weeks for the re-write and finished two days early despite taking a weekend off to move my son to college. I was literally writing or editing twelve hours a day. It was also the beginning of my school year. I pushed through every day, but constantly felt I was gasping for air. Once the re-write was done, I moved on to finish book three of the series that I had to get to the publisher in three months. I walked to Starbucks every day as my exercise, then wrote for a few hours. One day in October as I walked home, a new realization hit me. I hated writing.

My passion, my escape, had become something I despised. Somehow my dream had become a living nightmare. I felt like a failure, like I wasn’t enough and nothing I did was enough. Sales for the first book were not what we’d hoped they’d be. In the midst of the confusion and frustration, God asked me the same question He had years before.

“What have you done with the gift of writing I gave you?”

Over the years, I had made it about me. Writing became how I processed things, how I could make money to walk away from my teaching job. I wanted to reap the benefits of the gift He gave me. And instead of working to please God with my stories, I was working to please my publisher. I was writing for them—not for Him.

The next month my health took a turn for the worst. First, came shingles, then a weird lump on my neck. There were biopsies, talk of cancer, and a collapsed lung. Emotionally I was an even bigger wreck. My priorities couldn’t remain the same now that my mom is widowed, my son is in college, and my daughter is almost sixteen. These three people need me now more than ever. And I need them because I now understand how short and fragile life is. I also need less stress in my life so I can be a better wife. My husband has been so supportive over the past several years as I grieved. It’s time that I pour into him and our marriage so when we are empty-nesters, we continue to have joy in our hearts and home.

That’s why I asked to be released from my publishing contract. It’s important to me that I love what I do and do it for the Lord. I can’t allow the world to dictate whether or not I’m a success. My success comes from following the Lord. My success comes from allowing Him to prioritize my life. My success comes in my obedience.

My publisher was gracious and returned the rights and my manuscripts to me. The series will go on, self-published, like the rest of my books.

I have come to terms with the idea that we don’t always understand God’s plan. Sometimes there’s a turn in the road that doesn’t make sense. Though we may never have the answers, we can be assured that He redeems. He redeems time and circumstances just as He can redeem people. Funny, the third book the Once Lost series is The Redeemed. I don’t know what He’ll do with the series now that it’s back in my hands, but I’m thankful that He’s The God Who Sees. He saw me drowning just a few months ago and He opened my eyes and made the way for the changes I needed.

I thought my dream was to be a published author, but really, my dream is to tell the stories God gives me to touch His people. As long as I keep writing for Him, He will be faithful to make that dream come true.

The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me. ~ Psalm 138: 7-8

Do you have dreams you need to surrender to the Lord? Have you drifted off course from where you started? Jacob’s story in Genesis 25-33 is one of twists and turns, one of deceit, and disappointments that ends in God’s blessing. Seek Him, my friend, and He will work out His plans for your life because He is faithful.

Seasons (Thriving in Hard Times Week 4)

My heart sank when my co-worker told me she was diagnosed with breast cancer. “Since you were so close to Tammy, I wanted to call. I’d like to hear her story.”

I never mind sharing my bestie’s story as it’s one filled with bravery and faith, but I would have preferred it to be under other circumstances.

Last week my dad’s oldest brother and his family were on the top of my prayer list as each day he was one step closer to heaven. And now, well, he’s in heaven with my dad so my prayers are for those he left behind.

In my twenties, cancer was something old people got and the people closest to me I feared to lose were my grandparents. Now, in my mid-forties, people my age (or their kids) are fighting cancer. Death, unfortunately, seems to come too often, too soon. I’m more likely to go to a funeral than a wedding, to take someone a meal who has cancer rather than because she had a baby.

It’s all about seasons.

The wisest man in the Bible, King Solomon, explained this in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NLT):

 

 

For everything there is a season,

a time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

A time to search and a time to quit searching.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace.

The first verse refers not only to a set amount of time but to an appointed time. Yes, there will be periods of our lives that are filled with death, pain, tearing down, even hate. And these times are appointed by God.

“But why would a good God do that?” you may ask.

He is not the instigator, but He does allow it. For our good. For His glory.

Death is an awful thing for those who loved the person, but the hope of heaven is the purpose of our faith. To go to be with Jesus is to go home.

What I love about this passage is Solomon reminds us it’s not one-sided. Though it may feel like it, it’s not simply hardships. There’s birth, planting, healing, building, mending, and love. Sometimes we become so comfortable we forget that one season cannot exist without the other. There is no healing if pain doesn’t exist. Mending only occurs when something is torn. Peace comes after conflict. The best things can be built from the ruins of others. Even laughter feels so much deeper and needed after a good cry.

If you are in a season that’s stretching you, a season that hurts, keeping connected with the Lord through prayer, reading His Word, and fellowshipping with His people will remind you of what’s to come. As I read the Bible, I underline God’s promises of His faithfulness. My social media feed is dotted with friends with new grandbabies. Oh, what a sight! Although I can’t imagine my kids being parents, I know one day down the road they may be. I do love the season I’m in with my teens now…a season of watching them spread their wings and fly. A season of becoming mentor mom and friend. A season of beginnings and firsts for them. A season of watching God form them into adults. I thought it would break my heart. Instead, it fills my heart with joy.

And the blessing of having friends a decade or two younger than me? A season of weddings is starting up again. I even get to order a bridesmaids dress for myself this week, which is something I haven’t done in thirteen years.

In Matthew 28, Jesus gave his disciples the great commission.

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NLT)

I love that His last words are that of encouragement. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. We may not know what season is to come, how long it will last, or if it will end the way we want, but we can be assured He will be with us, in every season. That is what makes each sweet, in their own way.

What season do you find yourself in? What do you need to do to walk through it victoriously? Cling to God? Reach out to friends? Study His Word more deeply? What season do you see on the horizon? What blessings will God bringing through it?

Walk boldly, my friend, through every season. The God of the universe not only ordained it, He walks beside you through it.

 

Something to Ponder (Thriving in Hard Times Week 3)

It’s bound to be a stellar day when a teenage store clerk accuses you of stealing. Her exact words?

“I can’t remove the security tag from the item unless you have a receipt. You could’ve come in and stolen it.”

These were the incorrect words to say to me four days before Christmas when the item was purchased on Black Friday. The confrontation continued, however, I did eventually get the tag removed and received an apology from the store manager. Then I went on a 3-hour hunt for an item I never found. Upon returning home, my college son confessed that my gift might not make it in time for Christmas because he had just bought it on Amazon. He hadn’t spent hours fighting traffic, looking for parking spots at seven different stores to find the perfect gift for me. He had logged on Amazon a couple of days too late.

This is what Christmas is all about, I grumbled to myself the rest of the night. Traffic, inconvenience, grumpy people, and spending time trying to honor others with the gifts you give when you’re just an afterthought to them.

But then a scene from my next book, The Beloved, came to me. The main character, Danny, has left home. His sister Lydia is at church with the family on Christmas Eve though her heart is breaking. She talks to the youth pastor about what a mess her family is. Pastor Mark’s advice is simple. “The good news is God is a God of miracles. Christmas is proof of that. How about we focus on the miracle of Jesus tonight? Rather than pretending you have it together, rely on Him to hold you together.” (The Beloved)

 Lydia quiets her heart and mind to the point of being able to receive God’s Word.

“New realizations come to me as the pastor reads the Christmas story. There was no room in the inn, but God provided the shelter of a manger. The angels chose to share the good news with lowly shepherds. Mary and Joseph bring Jesus into the world without a home but with love. God used the less-than-desired circumstances for His glory.

God, can You use this mess for Your glory?” (The Beloved)

Even if you aren’t facing major trials this holiday season, rude people and the search for parking spaces can be enough to push you over-the-edge.

Mary and Joseph traveled ninety miles to Bethlehem. After almost a week of traveling, I’m sure going into labor in a foreign city was overwhelming to Mary. But then to not have a room? To be ushered to the stables by your husband-to-be? Yeah, I’d say that makes for a very bad day. Did she feel the sting of disappointment? Maybe a twinge of regret? Possibly that overwhelming feeling that steals your breath came over her. As she stared into the baby face of God, did she wonder if they were doomed to a life of trials?

As Mary and Joseph sat exhausted, shepherds were receiving a visit they’d never forget.

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” (Luke 2:8-14 NLT)

Mary and Joseph didn’t see the angels. They had already heard from the heavenly beings. God didn’t send the chorus to encourage the couple. On the contrary, He sent the couple to encourage the people. The shepherds couldn’t have made the ninety-mile trip to see God’s Son, so He brought His Son to them.

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (Luke 2:15 NLT)

Sometimes our discomfort is for the sake of bringing others closer to God.

The shepherds came. Not only did they believe, they went out to tell anyone who would listen what they saw. Luke 2:18-19 says, “All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.”

It doesn’t say Mary was rewarded with a shower and hot meal, or even a comfy bed and a warm blanket. She kept all the stories in her heart. Maybe the stories of Jesus, most likely the stories of others’ salvation. That was her reward.

All it took was one bad day for me to forget what Christmas is all about. The salvation of God made flesh for all mankind. In light of that, is anything impossible for God?

What if we did as Mary modeled and pondered the stories in our heart? What if instead of carrying the hurt, injustices, and sorrow into 2020 we take with us God’s miracles and glory? What would that look like?

For me, it would be voice texting sixty percent of the third book of the Once Lost series because I couldn’t type at the beginning of the year. I would remember the feeling of being loved and cared for by my family when I had to ask them to do everything for me. I would hold tight to the dozens of conversations I had with my father in the hospital about his life, my family, and God. It would be the feeling of glory and overwhelming peace the moment my dad past from this life into heaven. I’d also remember that moment God answered the prayer I’d prayed for three decades.

“Lord, let my entire family know about You and Your salvation.”

That prayer was answered as I shared the gospel to them at Dad’s memorial. And instead of remembering the complications and hassles of biopsies, I’d cling to the support and encouragement of friends and my family knowing that regardless of what comes my way I’m covered with prayer and love. If I carry all that into 2020, well, my heart will be full.

As you spend time reading the Christmas story (Luke 2, Matthew 1-2), ponder what of God’s glory He wants you to hold on to. Consider how your attitude in what you are going through can be a witness to others. Then lift it all up to Him in prayer.

Dear Lord,

You know what I’ve been through. You know the hurt, the hardships, the disappointments. God, right now I lift that up to You. Take my focus from that to Your glory. Show me how You are using my circumstances to farther Your kingdom. Open my eyes to who You want me to witness to. As I consider the gift and miracle of Jesus this week, encourage my faith by showing me the miracles You want to perform in my life. May this be a new season of standing on Your promises and seeking Your glory.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

When it’s not Your Fault (Thriving in Hard Times Week 2)

My bags were packed by December 3 to fly to Texas the following morning. For months I’d been planning my trip. The week was bound to be filled with laughter and joy as I was spending time with some of my favorite people. After a stressful month filled with increasing pain and talk of cancer, I NEEDED this trip. And nothing, I determined, would stop me from taking it.

Except for a collapsed lung.

When the doctor who performed my first biopsy called the morning of December 3rd and said he hadn’t got enough of a sample, I told him I’d do whatever was needed to get a second biopsy done before I left town. He assured me the doctor in Riverside was experienced and would get enough of a sample. The doctor did get enough of a sample, but his needle also went a little too far and pierced my lung. Not only did I spend the next two days in the hospital but I had two chest tubes put in. That is, without a doubt, the worst pain I have ever endured. My husband stood by my side during the placement of the second tube. Afterward, he told me he almost passed out from seeing me in such pain.

And I did nothing to cause it.

Maybe you know the feeling. Not of chest tubes (I hope!), but of suffering due to no fault of your own. A car accident, an illness, being persecuted, even the death of a loved one. 2019 has held several injustices for my family. The first was my husband losing his job because of the lies of others in April. Next, the death of my father in July due to inadequate care in the hospital. And now, this. Pain. Suffering. Two days would have been bad enough but I got a cold while in the hospital. I’m going on ten days of feeling awful. I can’t cross the room without feeling winded. Coughing still hurts my abs and chest. All because of the slip up of a doctor.

God is sovereign, I have mumbled to myself more times than I can count in the past eight months. But there’s been pain, frustration, even anger because it all seems so wrong.

Here’s the truth that sometimes we gloss over: IT IS WRONG. So very wrong.

What we need to remember as Christians is a situation being wrong or bad doesn’t mean God is wrong or bad. He is still sovereign. He still loves us. But we live in a fallen world. You can open your Bible to the book of Genesis to see the truth in this. God pours His love out upon His people. Some worship Him, some lie, deceive, steal, and even kill. The epitome of a person enduring one wrong after another against them? Joseph.

Joseph’s drama begins in chapter 37 of Genesis with a dream and a band of jealous brothers. Ten of them, to be exact. Yes, Joseph was their father’s favorite. Yes, the retelling of his dream could have been seen as bragging. But they plotted to kill him…until Reuben grows a conscience and recommends they sell him as a slave instead. For two decades, through Genesis 39-41, Joseph experiences highs and lows. He is raised to a higher status only to be falsely accused and imprisoned.

But God was there.

He was with Joseph in the cistern, He was with him on the auction block. He was with him in Potiphar’s household, in the prison, and in Pharaoh’s presence. You know, not only because of the blessings that come but because Joseph continues to do what is right. He doesn’t sin against God—he follows Him. Twenty years is a long time to weather the storm. It’s a long time to continue to believe that God is good, even in the dark dungeon. I’ll be honest, after eight months I’m ready for some sunshine. I’m anxious for the blessings to flow. I thought the rainbow at the end of this long road was benign test results…until my doctor ordered a CT scan from my neck to my waist “just to make sure we didn’t miss anything.” And now the wait begins again.

So, what does Joseph’s perseverance mean to us? Hebrews 13:6-8 tells us:

“So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?’ Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

I encourage you to read Genesis 37, 39-45 and take note not only of the problems Joseph faces but of how God saves him. God is there, time and time again, working things out not only for Joseph’s good, but for Joseph’s entire family.  As Joseph says to his brothers when he, at last, reveals his identity:

“But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.” (Genesis 45:5-8 NLT)

Friend, I don’t know what you’re struggling with. I don’t know how you’ve been hurt or how you feel wronged. But I know our God is the same God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I know He will right every wrong and at the end of it all, He has salvation in mind. Joseph being sold into slavery positioned him to save the nation of Israel from a terrible famine. Never think for a minute that your pain, your hardships, are wasted. God wants to use you as a witness to bring others closer to Him. He wants His glory to shine through the trials in your life. For that to happen, you need to continue to obey God. You need to place your trust and faith in Him and His plan. As you do, He will provide in every circumstance. It may not be how you expect Him to, or even want Him to, but it will be in abundance.

Money has been tight since my husband lost his job, but every month God provides for our needs. Yes, the list of needs is growing, yet God remains faithful to us as we remain faithful to Him. We prayed for the salvation of those who persecuted my husband. Perhaps we’re the only people who prayed for their salvation. We also continue to believe God will open a bigger door, a better door, for Jeff’s career in coffee.

I hate that my father is gone, but in the month leading up to his death, I watched him draw closer to God. Then at his memorial, I had the opportunity to share the gospel with hundreds of our family and friends.

My health issues? Well, I still don’t understand what’s going on or why my trip to Texas needed to be high-jacked by a collapsed lung. But I pray I was a witness to those I interacted with in the hospital. I’m thankful for the love of friends and our church family who have offered prayers and help. And every day I pray for His glory, keeping my eyes wide open so I don’t miss it. I’m reminded now more than ever that God literally gives me the breath in my lungs. That is something I never want to take for granted. Everything I have—my family, my health, my possessions—is a gift from God offered to me by His grace. I can’t earn His blessings.

We would be wise to remember Job’s comment to his wife in Job 2:10: …“Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?”

In all circumstances, my friend, choose to seek God. Choose to obey Him. Choose to trust Him. You are not the victim—you are victorious in Christ Jesus our Lord. It’s time to live that way.

What hardship is the Lord seeing you through? How does the story of Joseph offer encouragement or insight into your struggles? Pray about what God would have you do in the waiting, who He wants you to witness to, how you can be a blessing to others. Then get busy about His work as you wait for His glory.

The Thought of Cancer (Thriving in Hard Times Week 1)

“Oh no,” the ENT doctor said when he saw the lump on my neck. “That’s not good,” came once he felt it. “We need to get a sample today.” He turned to his computer and began to type.

For six weeks this lump has been growing. I went to my primary doctor the week after I found it. No one has said it’s not a big deal. One test has led to another. Labs, ultrasounds, CT scans, and now, a biopsy. In all this time, no one has said not to worry. And unfortunately, I know the truth about cancer. It is a big deal. It grows. It can kill.

“I’d like you to be honest with me,” I said to the doctor. “I’m not freaking out, but my best friend died from cancer so I really want to know. Do you think that’s what this is?”

“I’m almost positive.” Just the thought of his words still stings. He went on to say the prognosis with lymphoma is good, we caught it early, we can start to treat it as soon as we know.

But at that moment, so much changed.

I’d like to share with you the process of thinking. The realities that have come about. These are not bad realities, nor are they ones that only come in the face of our mortality. These realities have the power to shape and change your life as you never thought possible.

What the thought of cancer changes:

It changes your priorities. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

For years I’ve multi-tasked to the highest degree. My days are full from beginning to end. It was not necessarily too much nor even from a lack of ability to say no. I’m a wife, teacher, homeschool mom, author, speaker, minister of the Lord. Thinking I have cancer doesn’t change any of that, but it does change my priorities. Now, nothing is more important than God, my family, and my health. How can I draw closer to God? What do I need to do for my family? What is most important for me to be well? Those are the thoughts that fill my mind each day. Everything else falls lower on my to-do list.

It changes your friendships. A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. ~ Proverbs 17:17

I haven’t been the super social person I once was for years. When my bestie had cancer, my free-time went to help her. Then it was easier to lose myself in my writing while going through grief. The possibility of what I may face has reminded me of the friendships I have. I’ve cried on the phone with friends I haven’t spoken to for years, but I know when they say, “Whatever you need,” they mean it. I know if this is the road I must walk, God will bring to the front new friends who know the way. It has also reminded me to have coffee or dinner with friends rather than simply talk about it. Time is precious, as are conversations and hugs. Sometimes we lose sight of that in this age of texting and social media.

You notice more when people smile and perform acts of kindness. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. ~ Romans 12:10

Maybe because everything within you feels out-of-sorts. Maybe because you feel unlucky. I would guess that even the biggest saint has his or her “why me?” moment when diagnosed with cancer. When you face the public carrying this silent burden inside you, a smile from a stranger, someone holding the door open, or offering to let you cut in front of them at the grocery store, shows that they care. It means someone sees you, even if they don’t see your burden. And it makes a hard day a little more manageable.

It changes your relationship with God. Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice. ~Psalm 55:17

This is something that could go either way. I did have the moment of “why” and “how,” but no sooner did the questions come then the Holy Spirit said, “Stop.” Only God knows the answers to those questions. If I dwell on them, I will succeed in dividing my heart and pulling farther from God. Instead, I call on the Lord to be with me. I look for Him in the midst of the hardships, in the doctors and the people I encounter. After the first ENT did the biopsy I mentioned above, he placed his hands on my arms, stared into my eyes, and said, “You’ll be okay.” A peace rushed over me as I felt the words were from the Lord, not him. I read the Bible when I’m scared. I read it when I’m discouraged. I listen to it when I can’t sleep. I will allow this to change my relationship with the Lord. I will allow it to draw me closer to Him than ever before.

Worship music becomes an anthem for your soul. Praise the Lord! Let all that I am praise the Lord. I will praise the Lord as long as I live. ~ Psalm 146: 1-2.

For the first several days I used worship music to drown out my negative thoughts. I tell you, my soul worshiped on a level it never had. Maybe because now more than ever I need God to be my rescuer, my redeemer. The words of the artist became the cry of my heart. They released hope in my spirit. They renewed my soul. I’ve started my FIGHT playlist, those songs that carry me to that new level of worship so whether I’m facing tests, diagnosis, or chemo, I can sing my way to victory.

Time stands still. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” ~ Matthew 6:34

A friend recently asked if the kids were getting excited. I just stared at her, not understanding. That’s when she added “About Christmas.” It’s almost a week into December and we still have Thanksgiving decorations up. I don’t know when, or if, I will have the strength to put up Christmas stuff. It’s not that I’m dwelling on the negative, I’m just truly trying to get through each day. I can’t see past next week, and that’s okay. As the Bible says, today has its own worries.

You rely on the prayers of others. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. ~ James 5:16

It’s not because of a lack of faith but from exhaustion. The thought of fighting for your life is a burden that’s too big to carry alone. When you surround yourself with praying people, the burden lifts. I still pray for myself, though most of the time I simply say, “God, please” because He knows my heart. But the peace that surrounds me all day long? I know that comes from the prayers of warriors who are walking this road with me.

My one week wait has turned into two. But God is still good, despite the complications of the second biopsy (that’s a blog for another time). Regardless of the diagnosis, I’m thankful for what this wait has taught me. That whole “working things for the good of those who love Him?” Yeah, this is just a few ways God will do that. Now to sit back and continue to watch for His glory.

Consider the lessons I shared above. Which are realities in your life? Are there any you need to put into practice? Share your struggle if you feel comfortable so we can come alongside you in prayer. The hard stuff can change us, friend. Our job? To allow it to change us for HIS glory.