Lyli Dunbar's Blog, page 10
January 30, 2020
When You are Refined by New Things
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We set off, my family and I, into the high desert. Unfamiliar territory, it was marked by slot canyons and stark terrain. We were mountain hikers, more accustomed to treading over soft, tree-lined paths than through stony expanses. Trailhead signs warned that heat kills, admonishing all who dared pass to carry two liters of water. Both seemed overzealous in the cool autumn morning—until I remembered: deserts change with the seasons. Spring rains and summer heat would transform this temperate landscape into something searing and tumultuous. New things emerge.
Parched though it is, Utah’s slick rock is not dry and thirsty ground ready to soak up precipitation. It comes with warning signs of its own: Be aware of the weather. In case of heavy rain, seek higher ground.
Sparsely vegetated slopes offer little resistance to the water that courses downhill, surging through canyons and gulches, creating pools, lakes, and rivers along the way. Rainfall rivers can last for days, weeks, or even months. Filling them is a monumental event. Even in dry seasons, you can see where they’ve been and where they will be again.
Twenty-nineteen started out in the usual way, with all the usual things. Late winter brought new things to my two daughters and our family. For one, a minor injury transformed into a painful, chronic nerve condition and, for the other, what looked like a dermatological issue was diagnosed as something far more than skin deep. In the space of a few weeks, a typical year became a trying one and as 2019 neared its close, I whispered that I was ready for it to end. Meaning, I suppose, that I wanted to move on and my hope, my assumption, my expectation, was that a new year would bring new scenery.
You and I know that’s not always how it works.
I’m an outdoor gal. Drawn to scripture that highlights creation because it speaks a language I understand, I look at the natural world and learn more about walking by faith from what I see. Unfortunately though, I’m not just an outdoor gal. I’m an outdoor girl with romantic notions about life. Sometimes, those romantic notions cause me to miss the truth I need to know because I’m busy looking for what I want to see. Maybe you know a little about that.
Consider these words from Isaiah: “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the dessert.” (Isaiah 43:19 ESV)
Oh, how I’ve loved this—the thought of a new thing springing forth, if only I would open my eyes and pay attention. I’ve envisioned idyllic paths through softly lit wilderness and tree-canopied rivers cradled between the banks. I’ve equated new things with relief. I’ve expected them to provide escape or even rescue. All this because, surely, a new thing will be better than the old.
While this is what I want to see, there’s deeper truth I need to know.
All things begin as something new. Navigating them isn’t necessarily easy. Ways in the wilderness are sometimes difficult to traverse and rivers can be dangerous to ford. Sometimes new things arrive in trying packages, transforming our life’s landscape into something searing and tumultuous.
This was true of my daughters’ illnesses. It has likely been true of a new thing for you.
Just as warnings and admonitions and even techniques help us negotiate inhospitable places, there is a mindset that helps us navigate faithfully the new things that unfold within the landscape of life: Even the trying terrain God leads us though has purpose.
Our new things are simply things. Sometimes they rescue. Often they refine. Whether we see them as good or bad, easy or hard, delightful, disappointing, devastating, or even dangerous, they count among the “all things” God works together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 ESV) No matter how we label them, when new things arrive in trying packages, they refine us—perfecting and completing us. (James 2:4 ESV)
This isn’t always easy to remember. When friends remind me, sometimes I believe them right away. Often I’m slow, thinking it sounds overzealous. Then I recall the desert, mild and dangerous by turns, and that our new things sometimes unfold in trying terrain.
Our God is always doing new things. Things that refine. Things that rescue. Things that do us good. Even in the most trying terrain.
Trying terrain paves the way to the new things God has purposed for us.
Trying terrain paves the way to the new things God has purposed for us.
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Meet Natalie:
Natalie Ogbourne is a speaker, teacher, and reluctant hiker who has learned that finding her way in the woods helps her walk by faith in everyday life. A lifelong Iowan with a longstanding fear of cows, she has survived a snowmobile-windshield-to-nose standoff with a half-ton bison, a trip into the backcountry with recreationally unstable fly-fishing guide, and a trek across the edge of a cliff pursued by a bear. For encouragement to navigate the landscape of your life by faith, join her at natalieogbourne.com. You can find her often on Instagram and occasionally on Facebook.
The Refined Series
Fire refines. First God, breaks our pride into tiny pieces. Then, He melts away our impurities in a crucible of affliction. Every fleck of fleshy fluff rises to the surface and is removed until we reveal His image.
This year, I want to stop fearing the fire and pray:
Lord, refine me through the flame.
For 2018, I asked God to give me a word to guide my year, and He whispered the word “Refine.” For 10 months, Bruce and I have been walking through the fire and trying to not resist the refining work He is doing in us.
I am a very slow learner, and recently it occurred to me I should step aside and create more space to listen and learn during this season. I long to sit down for a heart-to-heart chat with a wise friend who will remind me the fire has a grander purpose. Thankfully, I am blessed to know several women who’ve walked through the fire and emerged beautifully refined, and I’ve invited them to share their story here with the Wildfire Faith Community once a month.
God has promised that the fire will not consume us, but transform us.
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Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy of the Refined Manifesto our Faith Fuel Library.
If you are visiting from Natalie’s today,
welcome to my little space on the web!
Here you will find fuel for a wildfire faith to help you
LOVE DEEP: Fervently extend God’s kindness and grace to pesky people.
PRAY BIG: Go down fighting on your knees with fire in your bones.
HOPE FULL: Stay tethered to a confident anticipation that keeps your heart ablaze.
STAND STRONG: Rest courageously on God’s promises with red-hot resolve.
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SUBSCRIBE TO START RECEIVING WEEKLY FAITH FUEL IN YOUR INBOX.
YOU’LL GET A FREE COPY OF “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH”
and access the practical resources in the Fatih Fuel Library for members.
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Prayer is the best way to persevere through trying terrain and discover the greater purpose God has for you. To help you get started, I’m sharing a copy of My Pray Big Prayer Calendar with you. Join the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Print out your copy and start each morning inviting God to strengthen your step and breathe fresh wind into your weary spirit.
Discovering our purpose as we walk through
trying terrain is difficult work.
We often feel paralyzed by fear, doubt and discouragement.
I CAN PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP YOU
CLARIFY THE CALLING GOD UNIQUELY CREATED YOU TO FULFILL.
CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO START WORKING ON A PLAN TO
REFINE YOUR PASSION AND PURPOSE.
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ARE YOU READY TO FIRE UP YOUR FAITH?
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Have you written something challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box. 
January 23, 2020
How to Stay Fervent When You are Facing Adversity
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This morning I woke up and got dressed and determined to face my day with a positive attitude. However, the minute I stepped out of the bedroom door, I immediately realized something awful had happened in the middle of the night, and my resolve quickly disappeared. Something had shifted while I was sleeping, and now my day would be unexpectedly filled with adversity.
Honestly, for several weeks now, I have felt like I’m standing in the middle of a tumultuous ocean struggling to get to shore, and the waves of adversity keep pelting me over and over again. I am drifting further and further away from solid ground, and I don’t know how to stay standing.
I had an appointment to meet a friend for breakfast, so I left my husband standing solo in a pool of water in our family room, and I grabbed my car keys to exit my personal disaster area. Before I left, I moved my laptop, my Bible, and a few wedding pictures out of the flooded family room — because if the roof caved in while I was gone, I wanted to make sure I could come home and write this blog post and still have a few precious things close beside me.
I jumped in the car, and I turned on some worship music. Because praise on my lips helps me to persevere adversity. And I desperately needed to be reminded that God was still God. He is the God over my falling apart home and my finances. He is still Lord of my crazy, dysfunctional family and everything else that seems to be out of control and slipping through my fingers.
The first song that I listened to helped calm me down and filled my heart with hope. The lyrics were exactly what I needed to hear:
All the worries of this world
I will lay them at Your feet–
Surrender every anxious thought
For perfect peace, Your perfect peace,
All the loved ones I hold dear,
All my hopes and dreams and all my fears
I will choose to trust Your name
In everything, with everything.
I will look up, for there is none above You.
I will bow down to tell You that I need You,
Jesus Lord of all, Jesus Lord of all.
I needed to stop looking at my leaky roof and everything else falling to pieces around me. Instead I must choose to look up and see the Eternal God, my Refuge. He is always solid Rock under my feet.
Friend, are you facing waves of adversity today? Is your world falling apart? Look up and remember your God is greater than even this. No obstacle you are facing is too great for your Savior.
He is the Provider who replenishes what your enemy tries to steal.
He is the always present Defender who stands in the gap and fights for you.
He is the Almighty One who brings dead things back to life. He can breathe health and vitality back into any barren space.
Our hearts stay ablaze even in the midst of adversity when we see the glory of the Lord.
If the winds of adversity are strong, turn to worship. Remember He is God. Look up and let Him lift you up.
A few days ago, I sat down with my Bible and a piece of paper so that I could make a list of all the aspects of God’s character that show me He is my security and safe place no matter what might happen. Come what may, my God is constant. He never changes, and I can count on Him.
For anyone who is struggling to survive and feeling overwhelmed by difficult circumstances, I wanted to share how focusing on who God is has saved me this week and given me a firm place to stand. Let’s link arms and look up to the Lord together.
Facing Adversity by Focusing on God’s Character
God is unchanging.
He keeps His promises. Your circumstances may go awry, but your God is constant. He never varies.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17)
God is all powerful.
Nothing is too hard for Him. The obstacles in your way are just opportunities for God to show up and show off His glory. He can but speak a Word and change your circumstances.
“Ah, Lord God! It is You who have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for You.” (Jeremiah 32:17)
God is all knowing.
Nothing escapes His notice. The road ahead may be obscure and cloudy to you, but God knows the way. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He sees all and knows every detail. You can trust Him with the unexplainable and confusing.
“And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account.” (Heb. 4:13)
God is always present.
He is everywhere at all times. You are never alone. Your God goes before you and walks with you every step of your journey.
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3)
Need more inspiration on how to stay fervent when you are facing adversity? I’ve created a one-page printable to help you meditate on the awesomeness of your God and fire up your faith. Grab a copy and spend the next 7 days focusing on how your God is able to help see you through anything. You will get these 4 truths mentioned in this blog post with additional Scriptures to look up, plus 3 more characteristics of God. Every morning, you can sit at His feet and strengthen your walk as you remind yourself your faithful God is in control. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.
When we take our eyes off our shifting circumstances and start looking up to God, we will find firm footing and stay standing. Seasons of adversity are just opportunities to strengthen our faith and live an even more fervent life. When our hope rests in who God is, we will never falter.
Focusing on God’s faithful character helps us stay standing when we face adversity.
Focusing on God’s faithful character helps us stay standing when we face adversity.
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Let’s Chat: What aspect of God’s character fills you with hope on hard days filled with adversity?
Need help fueling your faith during adversity?
Are you feeling overwhelmed by your commitments and constantly running on empty? CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO HELP YOU develop a plan to Refuel with rest and soul care.
ARE YOU READY TO FIRE UP YOUR FAITH?
SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY #FAITHFUEL IN YOUR INBOX.
YOU’LL RECEIVE “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH” AS MY GIFT TO YOU.
YOU’LL ALSO GET ACCESS TO THE PRACTICAL RESOURCES IN OUR PRIVATE FAITH FUEL LIBRARY.
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Have you written something challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box.
January 17, 2020
When You Want to Live a More Fervent Life
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I started writing these words last night, but I had to close the laptop and go to bed because I was fading. My eyelids were heavier than my enthusiasm. Sadly, lately exhaustion has followed me around. like a very bad best friend. I still have 3 loads of laundry sitting on the dining room table to deal with, and don’t even mention how behind I am on responding to email. Most nights I just fizzle out on the couch in front of the TV and wonder where my day went. I want to live a fervent life, but life whizzes by so fast, I feel like it’s slipping through my fingers, and I want to call a time out to catch my breath.
Can you relate? Do you feel like you are making very little progress, but you desperately want to live a more passionate and purposeful life?
I hope to be a better wife who is in tune with the bents of her husband.
I desire to draw near to my God with a fully devoted heart — one that doesn’t fall asleep in prayer or struggle to quiet the crazy noises in her head to really sit at His feet.
I wish I could do more to truly show up and serve the people God has placed in my life instead of collapsing on the couch and having a good cry because I I lack the emotional energy. My well is running dry, and it is not well with my soul. I am letting the wrong people suck the life out of me instead of surrounding myself with uphill people heading in the right direction.
I want so much more out of life. Jesus, help me.
Are you starting this year with a holy dissatisfaction about how your life has played out over the last few years? Do you want to make an eternal difference and see things change?
Yeah, me too.
Having an unexpected Cancer diagnosis in November really shook up my life. (Side note: I am fine now. Don’t be alarmed if you are just getting this news. You can read more about that here.) I have spent a whole lot of time on my knees doing business with my God over the last 12 weeks, and let me tell you something, it’s been good for my soul. I got a lovely reminder that this world is not my home. My days here are numbered no matter what, and I need to make the most of every moment.
I want to live a more fervent life.
I want to leave my mark on the people I am called to love. When I take my last breath, I want them to say, “She loved like Jesus. She knew Him well.” And to do that, I have to get up off the couch and get to work. Want to join me? Here are 4 areas of my life I want to hold up to the Lord and work on this year.
4 Priorities for a More Fervent Life
Fervent in Faith
I want to live a more fruitful life. This starts by laying aside my agenda and asking God to give me a deep, abiding love for His Word because His Word revives my soul.
“…so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity, to fully please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts.” (Colossians 1:10, AMP)
Fervent in Love
Without the love of Christ, I cannot show up in hard spaces and spend time with broken people. I need to stop expecting frail, humans to not fail me because only God is perfect and faithful and true all the time. I want to extend God’s grace to others because it’s God’s kindness that leads to repentance and His mighty love covers a multitude of sins. His sacrificial love wins, and I need to fight with the right weapons.
“Since by your obedience to the Truth through the Holy Spirit you have purified your hearts for the sincere affection of the brethren, see that you love one another fervently from a pure heart.” (I Peter 1:22, AMPC)
Fervent in Prayer
I am committed to doing the hard work of prayer — because the battle is won on my knees. I am going to stop letting the enemy of my soul discourage me and keep me from seeking God’s redemption in the lives of the people I love. The accuser of the brethren does not get the last word about the people on my prayer list. Jesus is able to to anything, and I am never going to give up fighting for their souls. I will pray on and persevere.
“My hands also will I lift up in fervent supplication to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes.” (Psalm 119:48, AMPC)
Fervent in Spirit
I will no longer let discouragement drag me down and keep me from doing the work God has created me to do. I am here on a mission, and I get to partner with God to make an eternal difference. I want to live a life of sacrificial service and stop getting distracted by shiny things and stupid temptations. I want to redeem the time God has granted me to leave a legacy.
“…not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” (Romans 12:11, NASB)
Need more inspiration on how to live more fervent? I’ve created a one-page printable to help you FUEL your quiet time. This simple 4-step format will help you focus in on one verse and see God’s Word come alive in your heart. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.
A fervent life burns brightly for Jesus and does not burn out. When we fuel up with the Word and fight in prayer, the Lord will fill us up with His overcoming strength, and we will start seizing every opportunity to share Christ with those around us. Fear and discouragement will not win the day — our faith will overcome.
What are you waiting for? Let’s get up off the couch and get started. God has even greater things planned for this year. Let’s stop looking at all the opposition as obstacles to block our path, and instead seize the day as an opportunity to lean into God and see Him do a mighty work in our world.
God is not finished with you yet. With His help you can push past fear and discouragement to live a more fervent life.
God is not finished with you yet. With His help you can push past fear and discouragement to live a more fervent life.
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Let’s Chat: My Word for 2020 is FERVENT. Did you pick a word or Scripture as a theme for your year?
Need help fueling your faith?
Are you feeling overwhelmed by your commitments and constantly running on empty? CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO HELP YOU develop a plan to Refuel with rest and soul care.
ARE YOU READY TO FIRE UP YOUR FAITH?
SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY #FAITHFUEL IN YOUR INBOX.
YOU’LL RECEIVE “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH” AS MY GIFT TO YOU.
YOU’LL ALSO GET ACCESS TO THE PRACTICAL RESOURCES IN OUR PRIVATE FAITH FUEL LIBRARY.
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Have you written something challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box.
January 9, 2020
How to Challenge Yourself and Fuel Your Faith for 365 Days
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The words jumped off the page and grabbed me as I read them. Right there in my morning devotional, I received a challenge and assignment for my year. The author mentioned that many times God brings us through a season of sickness, and on the other side of our healing, we are called to point those around us to the Healer — Jehovah Rapha — the only One who can heal us body, mind, and spirit. Physical healing is fantastic, but the greatest healing of all is spiritual.
Let’s be honest, if I suddenly discovered the cure to Cancer, then I would shout it from the rooftops. Why is it that I hesitate to share that Jesus is our only hope for true and lasting salvation?
The next day after reading that thought-provoking devotional, I jumped in the car with my man and headed to a very important doctor’s appointment. The whole way there, I laid my hands in my lap with palms open and facing up and prayed, “I surrender all.” We were driving to hear my biopsy results. Yep, I found out I had Cancer in November. A pimple on my right arm was apparently the pesky problem.
If you are reading this, and you haven’t been to the dermatologist in the last 12 months to have a full-body check, I want you to challenge you to stop here and dial your doctor’s number to make an appointment. It could literally save your life. What I thought was a tiny boil was actually a very large melanoma.
I now have a lovely 3-inch battle scar to remind me that God answers prayer, and I have much to be thankful for. My lymph nodes were clean, and we went to Paneras on the way home to celebrate.
Sharing soup and sandwich with my man is a sweet gift from God I don’t ever want to take for granted. Every couple of years, God seems to send Bruce and I a reminder that we should not take “today” for granted. Live like you are dying. Today is a sweet gift from God to be celebrated. Getting out of bed and having the next 24 hours to live is a treasure.
For the first 6 days of this year, I had no idea what the surgeon was going to say, and I wondered what my year would hold. But on January 1st, I felt God tell me that I needed to be fervent and not lag around like something was holding me back. Because no matter what the doctor said, God wasn’t going to give me a “free pass” on walking out my faith. Come what may, I am called to stay fueled and aflame for Him. Wherever He leads me, there is someone who needs to know Jesus saves. And, as long as I have breath in my lungs, I can speak His name.
So as I sat in my bed in my pajamas (I spent most of December in my pajamas), I took a picture of the.4 devotionals sitting in my lap, and I posted them on Instagram. And, I decided to challenge myself to share a little more about how we can stay bubbling up and boiling over in our hearts even when all hell seems to be afoot.
So, for the next 365 days, I am going to be sharing a little daily faith fuel challenge on my social media accounts. In case you don’t follow me on Instagram or Facebook, I wanted to give you a little taste of what you’ve missed so far and invite you to join me.
Check out Week 1 of the Faith Fuel Challenge:
Day 1
We are walking through a hard season at our house, so I am starting my day with sweet and short devotional content:
Daily Light for the Daily Path
It’s like drinking a bottle of Ensure when you are weak and need a quick, compact source of extra nutrition.
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What’s your favorite devotional? What tools and resources are you using to fuel your faith?
Day 2
If I come across a verse in my quiet time that jumps off the page and informs me how to walk in faith through my current season, I write it out on a 3×5 card, tuck it into the devotional on my nightstand, and pull it out to review every morning.
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What simple steps can you take this week to meditate on verses and arm yourself with Truth?
Day 3
My new routine for the new year is to sit on a stool at my kitchen island, light my favorite candle, and spend some time in prayer as I start my day.
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Mark 1:35 says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” Where is your solitary place where you sit quietly seeking God’s heart and surrendering all as you pray?
Day 4
Every morning, I do my best to crucify the grumpy girl in me by looking back at the last 24 hours and writing down 5 things I am thankful for — even when it’s a dark day, there is always a reason to say “Thank You, Jesus.” Today I get to live & will experience God’s grace in some way — I just need to keep my eyes open and my heart ready to receive.
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How will you cultivate an attitude of gratitude this year?
Day 5
Sabbath is a commandment, not a suggestion. Your mind, body, and spirit need time and space to replenish. It’s dangerous to run full throttle and not stop to be still and know He is God.
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How will you intentionally choose rest and sit at His feet this week?
Day 6
I have this little dish for my rings sitting on the bathroom counter, and this week it smiled up at me and reminded me to put my armor on and stop letting the enemy of my soul distract me with stinkin’ thinkin.’
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Every day, we must take up the challenge to “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (II Corinthians 10:5, NIV). What steps will you take to push past fear and worry and remember God is faithful and true?
Day 7
God created heaven and earth, and all creation proclaims His glory.
My response to the wonder of all God has made when I look around me should be reverence, awe, and a holy hush in my heart. But, the reality is that I am often in such a rush that I don’t stop to “be still and know He is God.” I run full throttle into my day, and I don’t stop to smile because the sun is shining or marvel at the majesty of a beautiful flower or blue sky. God is speaking loudly all around me, and I don’t want to miss it. So, I need to slow down and drink it all in. I think of that old song by Third Day and I pray, “Show me Your glory, Lord.” Amen. 
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How will you slow down today and stop to really see God’s wonder all around you?
Day 8
Every morning before little man goes to school, we say our “cheer” to remind us of who we are in Christ. We point to the sky and shout, “I know the Lord is with me.” Then we put our hands on our hips like a superhero & declare, “I am a man of valor.” And, we wrap it up by flexing to show our muscles as we say, “Strong & Courageous.” This week as I processed some hard things we are dealing with at our house, the Holy Spirit reminded me that I am a woman of valor, and I need to flex those faith muscles.
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Are you letting anyone or anything define you other than Christ? How will you remind yourself that you are more than a conqueror today because Jesus has already won the victory?
Want to join me in the 365 Faith Fuel Challenge? I will be posting daily inspiration on Instagram and Facebook.
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Need more inspiration to fuel your faith? I’ve created a one-page printable to help you FUEL your quiet time. This simple 4-step format will help you focus in on one verse and see God’s Word come alive in your heart. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.
When we are intentional about fueling our faith we will shine brightly for Jesus. The watching world will wonder how we stay fueled and aflame, and we can share we’ve a fire in our bones that comes from drawing near to Jesus. Keep the fire of the Spirit burning in your heart, friends.
Challenge yourself to intentionally fuel your faith for the next 365 days.
Challenge yourself to intentionally fuel your faith for the next 365 days.
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Let’s chat: Challenge yourself do more even if life is messy. What is one simple step you can take this next week to fuel your faith?
Need help fueling your faith?
Are you feeling overwhelmed by your commitments and constantly running on empty? CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO HELP YOU develop a plan to Refuel with rest and soul care.
ARE YOU READY TO FIRE UP YOUR FAITH?
SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY #FAITHFUEL IN YOUR INBOX.
YOU’LL RECEIVE “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH” AS MY GIFT TO YOU.
YOU’LL ALSO GET ACCESS TO THE PRACTICAL RESOURCES IN OUR PRIVATE FAITH FUEL LIBRARY.
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Friends: As a social media influencer, I have a sweet list of my favorite resources to fuel a wildfire faith in my very own shop on Amazon. (Note: I will get a little something back if you follow any of the links in this post and buy anything on this page. Thanks in advance if you do.).
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Have you written something challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box.
December 27, 2019
How to Face Unafraid the Plans that We’ve Made
I know that everything is in God’s hands, and I can face unafraid the unexpected. I know that in my head, but sometimes my heart starts racing anyway. December was hard, friends. The last 30 days have been so hard I think I developed a bad case of spiritual amnesia. Like George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, I was struggling to see the wonder and worrying about a few too many things out of my control:
I had surgery. (Got a personal call from my doctor to let me know I was in trouble.)
Our roof is leaking in some invisible place, and all the kitchen cabinets are damaged.
My mama had a freakish accident in the kitchen, and her burned hand is wrapped up like a mummy.
Bruce had all kinds of wonky side effects from a medication that was supposed to help him feel better.
Christmas felt a lot less Ho-Ho-Ho, and a lot more, “Help me, Jesus.” I’m just keeping it real here.
Maybe like me Santa left you some undesirable gifts under the tree, and you wish you could return them. (Does Santa have a return policy on chaos? I’d like to exchange my recent diagnosis for a clean bill of health and a smaller dress size.)
Here’s the thing: God never promised me a Pinterest perfect Christmas. I am reminded that Immanuel was born in a smelly stable, not a bed of luxury with satin sheets. Sometimes, you have to persevere through the stinky stuff to see God show up in a supernatural way.
A few days before Christmas, I was sitting in my car kind of feeling sorry for myself. I decided to just turn the car off and take a moment. (Sometimes, I take 15-minute personal retreats sitting in the minivan in front of my house.). I had the Christmas music playing on the radio, and I was scrolling through Facebook in hopes of finding a lovely picture of someone’s Pinterest Perfect Christmas tree. I wanted to jump into anyone else’s Christmas and forget about mine.
I was seated right there in my car having what I thought was a mindless moment when God met me there.
A woman I have never met shared these words in a Facebook group on goal setting: “I was struck yesterday while singing along with an old Christmas song, ‘Winter Wonderland.’ Through the lyrics ‘We’ll face unafraid the plans that we’ve made,’ I feel like God is sending me a message to relax as I make my plans for the year ahead.”
And as I read her words, that exact line from the song was playing on my car radio.
I felt like Jesus Himself was whispering in my ear the words, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
So many years ago, God called Mary to surrender her dreams for the future to labor in a squalid stable. She said yes, and she carried salvation to the whole world.
I want to say a wholehearted yes to my God even in this. I want to step into the next year with a holy confidence that my Abba Father is able to do anything. He still makes miracles out of messes.
Just in case you are working hard to push past fear as you face the new year, here are four simple steps you can take to surrender all and say “Let it be to me according to Your Word” to the God for Whom nothing is impossible:
How to Face Unafraid the Plans That We’ve Made
LISTEN TO GOD’S VOICE ALONE
Stop listening to the crazy voices in your head or your opinionated friends or your favorite guru. Get your nose in the Good Book and arm yourself with Truth.
” …the one who always listens to me will live undisturbed in a heavenly peace. Free from fear, confident and courageous, you will rest unafraid and sheltered from the storms of life.” (Proverb 1:33, TPT)
TRUST IN GOD’s SAVING STRENGTH AND KEEP SINGING
Your problems are not bigger than your God. He can handle whatever makes you feel helpless. Hand it over to His care and choose to worship the Savior who stands in the gap for your every concern.
“Behold—God is my salvation! I am confident, unafraid, and I will trust in you. Yes! The Lord Yah is my might and my melody; He has become my salvation!” (Isaiah 12:2, TPT)
REST SECURE IN HIS CARE
The Creator God who keeps the universe running with precision order knows exactly who you are and what you need. He is always right on time, but He is not on your timetable. Rest in His embrace and remember He died to rescue you and will never let you go.
“Since you are so much more precious to God than a thousand flocks of sparrows, and since God knows you in every detail—down to the number of hairs on your head at this moment—you can be secure and unafraid of any person, and you have nothing to fear from God either.” (Luke 12:7, VOICE)
KEEP SERVING YOUR SAVIOR
Have you considered that maybe you are going through a hard time because you have an adversary who is trying to sideline you? Don’t give him the satisfaction. Stay active and look for opportunities to encourage others along the way. This season of service may look a little different, but you can still report for duty and make a significant difference. Tell your story and pray fervently for others in the struggle.
“…So does He remember the holy agreement He made with them and the oath which He swore to our father Abraham, to make us this gift: that we should be saved from the hands of our enemies, and in His presence should serve Him unafraid in holiness and righteousness all our lives.” (Luke 1:75, PHILLIPS)
To help you face unafraid the plans that you’ve made, I’m sharing a copy of My Pray Big Prayer Calendar with you. Start your year praying each day for God to fill you with a holy confidence that He is at work in your world. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Print out your copy and start each morning inviting God to give you strength and courage. Let’s #PrayBig and stand on God’s promises in the new year!
No matter what lies ahead, God has you covered. Lean into His Almighty embrace and let Him whisper “Peace, be still” to your soul. Trusting the Lord with all of our personal chaos will help us develop a quiet strength that stands secure even when the enemy tries to knock us off our feet. Our feet will be firmly planted on God’s promises, and we will be positioned to see God show up and do the impossible.
Persevere in faith to face unafraid the plans you have made.
Persevere in faith to face unafraid the plans you have made.
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December 19, 2019
When You Are Refined by Receiving
I was a terrible gift-giver. “Receiving” was not easy for me.
Birthdays and anniversaries would sneak up on me, and choosing gifts for my own family at Christmas time threw me into an anxious whirlwind.
I have a friend who is a natural gift giver. “How do you do it?” I asked. “I feel like a terrible person when I’m not sure what to get!”
She explained that she pays attention to cues and preferences throughout the year and makes a digital note next to that person’s contact information on her phone. Genius.
Her notes say things like: likes the color red…favorite candies are Kit Kats…loved chenille blanket we saw at Costco.
Then she asked me some interesting questions:
“Do you like to receive gifts? What sort of gifts are meaningful to you?”
I welcomed the question, but was also half-afraid that my honest answer would bum her out. (Giving gifts was clearly a source of joy in her life).
“I do like gifts, but I’d rather have a gift card so I can pick out what I want. I don’t need people to waste time trying to find something for me. I’m easy – just throw a gift card in an envelope and call it a day!” I thought I was removing a heavy burden.
“Hmm,” she wondered. “Do you really think it’s a waste of time for someone to find a gift for you?”
My stomach dropped. Did I really think that little of myself?
It was then I realized that I was uncomfortable receiving gifts. Somehow, I didn’t believe I was worthy of the time, effort, and energy someone would expend on me.
I was a terrible gift-giver because I was a terrible at receiving.
The ability to be a good gift giver does not only come from an attention to detail and premeditated thoughtfulness. It seems to come from the ability to see your own value and joy as a happy recipient.
This year, God refined me by making me a better receiver, and in turn, I became a better giver.
You see, I’m a natural helper. I love to help people work through problems and find practical solutions, which means that I am not the best at caring for myself. If you’re any type of caregiver, you know what it feels like to put other’s needs before your own.
Helpers tend to have a difficult time receiving, because we are so use to thinking of others. “I’m fine, I’m fine,” you might say, until you’re convinced that everyone else deserves to be taken care of better…than you.
I needed to change the way I valued myself, and learn to appreciate the effort others took on my behalf.
God gave us the greatest gift. Through His Son Jesus, He graciously pardoned us from a life without His love. We were lost, alone, and stuck in our sinful nature, in a messed-up world.
The baby in the Christmas nativity scene grew up to be a man and lived a life obedient to the Father, to walk the hardest road to a cross at Calvary. For you. For me.
If Jesus was looking for an easy and convenient way to give us salvation, He would not have chosen that cross. My sins sent Him there, but His love for me kept Him there.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)
He gave of Himself, with you and me in mind. We were so valuable to Him, that He thought of us centuries before we were born.
He teaches us that our worth is not in what we do, but in what He has already done. It’s who He is: He is the Giver. We are the receivers of His blessing… just because, and it’s not about me… it’s about Him.
It is almost unfathomable to a natural do-er to be done-for. It’s a spotlight we tend to shy away from, because in some twisted way, we’ve come to interpret neediness as weakness.
Sister, let me remind you again today that your needs are not weaknesses. Expressing need is an open invitation that allows someone into the precious and vulnerable places of your life. It’s an invitation to see the real you, and that openness is a gift to others that they are not alone in their struggles.
Learning to receive well is about learning to accept who you are, Whose you are, why you are valuable, and why you were made to receive love from others and from God.
Give the gift of being a good receiver this season. Allow others to bless and help you, and in turn, you will bless them.
This Christmas season, see you are valuable and start receiving.
Learning to receive well is about learning to accept who you are, Whose you are, why you are valuable, and why you were made to receive love from others and from God.
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Meet Jennifer:
Jennifer Bryant is the wife of a good man and mother of two precious kids. Her favorite things include reading, organizing, blogging, singing with her kids, laughing out loud with her husband, and making food for people. She lives in Honolulu, Hawaii and dreams of taking her family on marvelous adventures across the globe. In the meantime, she blogs about life and family at PracticalFamily.org, and encourages others to build practical skills for healthy communication, simple living, and discover their awesomeness.
Read more of Jenn’s posts: Podcast | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter
The Refined Series
Fire refines. First God, breaks our pride into tiny pieces. Then, He melts away our impurities in a crucible of affliction. Every fleck of fleshy fluff rises to the surface and is removed until we reveal His image.
This year, I want to stop fearing the fire and pray:
Lord, refine me through the flame.
For 2018, I asked God to give me a word to guide my year, and He whispered the word “Refine.” For 10 months, Bruce and I have been walking through the fire and trying to not resist the refining work He is doing in us.
I am a very slow learner, and recently it occurred to me I should step aside and create more space to listen and learn during this season. I long to sit down for a heart-to-heart chat with a wise friend who will remind me the fire has a grander purpose. Thankfully, I am blessed to know several women who’ve walked through the fire and emerged beautifully refined, and I’ve invited them to share their story here with the Wildfire Faith Community once a month.
God has promised that the fire will not consume us, but transform us.
⇓
Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy of the Refined Manifesto our Faith Fuel Library.
If you are visiting from Jenn’s today,
welcome to my little space on the web!
Here you will find fuel for a wildfire faith to help you
LOVE DEEP: Fervently extend God’s kindness and grace to pesky people.
PRAY BIG: Go down fighting on your knees with fire in your bones.
HOPE FULL: Stay tethered to a confident anticipation that keeps your heart ablaze.
STAND STRONG: Rest courageously on God’s promises with red-hot resolve.
⇓
SUBSCRIBE TO START RECEIVING WEEKLY FAITH FUEL IN YOUR INBOX.
YOU’LL GET A FREE COPY OF “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH”
and access the practical resources in the Fatih Fuel Library for members.
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To accept our value and start receiving, we must first sit at the feet of our Savior. To help you get started, I’m sharing a copy of My Pray Big Prayer Calendar with you. Join the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Print out your copy and start each morning inviting God to strengthen your step and breathe fresh wind into your weary spirit.
When we don’t know our value, we are stuck in a cycle of defeat.
We live paralyzed by fear and stop receiving His love.
I CAN PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP YOU ACCEPT YOUR VALUE
AND CLARIFY THE CALLING GOD UNIQUELY CREATED YOU TO FULFILL.
CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO START WORKING ON A PLAN TO
REFINE YOUR PASSION AND PURPOSE.
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December 8, 2019
4 Simple Ways to Promote Peace
I turned around to face the sink as my husband brushed by me into the garage. I wanted to discuss when we would sit down for dinner, but he was busy working on a project. His curt response cut me to the quick.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll fend for myself this week,” he retorted as he disappeared back into his man cave.
The tears welled up in my heart as I thought about the load of groceries I’d just stuffed into the refrigerator. I’d spent several days menu planning, and now he was telling me he’d rather eat cereal alone.
My tears quickly turned to icy anger. We’d exchanged vows just four weeks earlier, and now I wondered if I’d made a mistake.
As I wrestled with my rollercoaster emotions, my oblivious groom stepped back inside to grab a piece of equipment. He saw me standing at the sink and nuzzled up in my ear. I felt completely suffocated. I wanted to throw the dirty dishes at him, but instead I responded by excusing myself to gain my composure.
Both my husband and I grew up in homes where the philosophy was “he who screams loudest wins.” Neither of us wanted to have a marriage established on selfish animosity, so we began studying the Scriptures to help us learn how to live peaceably with one another.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9, ESV) You can’t create a happy haven unless you are willing to do the hard work of setting aside your selfishness and responding with meekness. Rather than pummeling each other with angry words, we can purpose to promote peace.
Let’s talk about 4 simple ways to promote peace….
To read the rest of “4 Simple Ways to Promote Peace,” join me here.
Let’s resolve to not push back, but instead to promote peace.
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Let’s resolve to not push back, but instead to promote peace.
IF YOU ARE VISITING FROM LGG today,
WELCOME TO MY LITTLE SPACE ON THE WEB!
HERE YOU WILL FIND FUEL FOR A WILDFIRE FAITH TO HELP YOU
LOVE DEEP: Fervently extend God’s kindness and grace to pesky people.
PRAY BIG: Go down fighting on your knees with fire in your bones.
HOPE FULL: Stay tethered to a confident anticipation that keeps your heart ablaze.
STAND STRONG: Rest courageously on God’s promises with red-hot resolve.
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SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY #FAITHFUEL IN YOUR INBOX.
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When you need promised provision, you should persevere in prayer. I’m sharing a copy of My Pray Big Prayer Calendar with you. Join the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Print out your copy and start each morning inviting God to rock your world. Let’s #PrayBig and stand on God’s promises!
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ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO LIVE LIFE BASED ON YOUR VALUES RATHER THAN OTHER PEOPLE’S EXPECTATIONS? I CAN PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP YOU CLARIFY THE CALLING GOD UNIQUELY CREATED YOU TO FULFILL.
CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO START WORKING ON A PLAN TO REFINE YOUR PASSION AND PURPOSE.
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November 21, 2019
Dismantling: When You Are Refined by Trials
My attendance was routine. My allegiance was unwavering. Everything was functioning just as it should–until it wasn’t. I slowly started dismantling.
For as far back as I can remember, church played a significant role in my life. If the doors were open, my family was somewhere inside, so it should come as no surprise that this carried into my adult life.
When stormy seasons hit, my church family steadied me. When my children had birthdays, my small group brought gifts and sang with gusto. When loneliness smothered my joy, mentors and would-be sisters filled the void. This connection was the foundation of my identity; the sinews of my soul.
However, somewhere along the way, there was a subtle shift I managed to miss. An imbalance between love and duty threw my motivations into a tailspin. As ministry opportunities and responsibilities grew, I elevated my roles over my relationship with the Lord. Anything elevated above the adoration of Jesus is idolatry. However, the last thing I would have called myself was idolatrous. Church, after all, is a good thing.
Jeremiah 2:13 says, “For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns–broken cisterns that can hold no water.”
Cisterns were an artificial reservoir carved out to hold water. There were manufactured to hold water that didn’t naturally rise in the area. The need was not the problem. Unfortunately, a broken cistern would allow impurities to render the water undrinkable, and the cracks would allow the water to escape into the surrounding soil. Consequently, broken cisterns eventually run dry.
Serving at church was my broken cistern, and I regularly went to it for my identity. My worth was entangled with my service. I did not see the blurred lines. How could a good thing be wrong?
Sometimes trials hit like an unexpected summer storm. This was certainly true as I began feeling the nudge to set boundaries with my yes and move away from finding my value in being at every meeting, sitting on every committee, and being a part of the behind the scenes planning. Eventually, my husband and I felt the call to step outside our comfort zone and chase our faith into the unknown. We were being called from our church of many years without knowing where we were being called to. This seemed like the absolute opposite of logical.
Have you heard the phrase refiner’s fire? John Piper defines it beautifully: “A refiner’s fire does not destroy indiscriminately like a forest fire. A refiner’s fire does not consume completely like the fire of an incinerator. A refiner’s fire refines. It purifies. It melts down the bar of silver or gold, separates out the impurities that ruin its value, burns them up, and leaves the silver and gold intact.”
Although unaware, I was entering a long season of refining that felt an awful lot like dismantling. When you walk away from a longstanding relationship, it is messy. Not everyone was happy, and people felt disappointed and abandoned by our decision to chase God outside the lines of familiarity.
The greatest lesson I learned in the valley was this–hard things don’t have to be harsh, and difficult things don’t have to be destructive.
My refining included an awareness that the context of my confidence was not Jesus. That’s a hard truth to face. I didn’t want to admit the trial of leaving church was rooted in my own idolatry driven by insecurity.
My husband and I lost friends. We lost connections. A part of dismantling we forget to consider is that things must be torn down before they can be rebuilt. The impurities of my affection for roles and recognition had to be burned off. While it felt like more loss than my heart could handle, a change within was my big win. Church wasn’t the problem; I had a heart issue.
It is almost instinctive to feel an absence of God in hard times. In my season, I had not made room for God. I was serving without engaging in relationship. Because I elevated my role above my relationship, my faith had grown stale. Duty had replaced delight, and a refining was God’s gift of grace to me.
It is counter-intuitive to think of loss as gain, but that is exactly what I learned in the season of dismantling. While I generally run away from hard things or expend too much energy finding someone to blame, I learned to stay the course, endure the fire, and trust the process. Difficult things don’t have to be destructive.
My season of refining tarried over the course of three exhausting years. In fact, I often felt my spirit would be crushed before I experienced healing or relief. Enduring through the middle is not without challenge. I am prone to run away or turn a blind eye, so enduring the messy middle was a critical lesson I learned on my field trip through pain.
Whatever trial you are facing, consider the hope that awaits. Endure the fire. Avoid the blame game during your dismantling. Surrender yourself to the Refiner’s hands. Trust His heart of love for you. I know it hurts, friend, but in just a little while, you will emerge as pure as gold.
“And that’s not all. We also celebrate in seasons of suffering because we know that when we suffer we develop endurance, which shapes our characters. When our characters are refined, we learn what it means to hope and anticipate God’s goodness. And hope will never fail to satisfy our deepest need because the Holy Spirit that was given to us has flooded our hearts with God’s love.” (Romans 5:3-5, VOICE)
The dismantling of our idols will turn duty into delight once again.
The dismantling of our idols will turn duty into delight once again.
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Meet Alyssa:
Alyssa DeLosSantos is a woman pursuing a deeper relationship with Jesus, raising three darlings, loving John, teaching high school, writing whenever she can, and cultivating the #sowkind movement. You can read more of her words at alyssadelossantos.com.
The Refined Series
Fire refines. First God, breaks our pride into tiny pieces. Then, He melts away our impurities in a crucible of affliction. Every fleck of fleshy fluff rises to the surface and is removed until we reveal His image.
This year, I want to stop fearing the fire and pray:
Lord, refine me through the flame.
For 2018, I asked God to give me a word to guide my year, and He whispered the word “Refine.” For 10 months, Bruce and I have been walking through the fire and trying to not resist the refining work He is doing in us.
I am a very slow learner, and recently it occurred to me I should step aside and create more space to listen and learn during this season. I long to sit down for a heart-to-heart chat with a wise friend who will remind me the fire has a grander purpose. Thankfully, I am blessed to know several women who’ve walked through the fire and emerged beautifully refined, and I’ve invited them to share their story here with the Wildfire Faith Community once a month.
God has promised that the fire will not consume us, but transform us.
⇓
Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy of the Refined Manifesto our Faith Fuel Library.
If you are visiting from Alyssa’s today,
welcome to my little space on the web!
Here you will find fuel for a wildfire faith to help you
LOVE DEEP: Fervently extend God’s kindness and grace to pesky people.
PRAY BIG: Go down fighting on your knees with fire in your bones.
HOPE FULL: Stay tethered to a confident anticipation that keeps your heart ablaze.
STAND STRONG: Rest courageously on God’s promises with red-hot resolve.
⇓
SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE WEEKLY FAITH FUEL IN YOUR INBOX.
YOU’LL GET A FREE COPY OF “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH”
and access the practical resources in the Fatih Fuel Library for members.
[image error]
⇓
During dismantling seasons, our best response is to get on our knees and ask God to show us the way. To help you get started, I’m sharing a copy of My Pray Big Prayer Calendar with you. Join the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Print out your copy and start each morning inviting God to strengthen your step and breathe fresh wind into your weary spirit.
During a dismantling trial, we can feel stuck
and fear taking another step.
I CAN PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP YOU CLARIFY THE CALLING
GOD UNIQUELY CREATED YOU TO FULFILL.
CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO START WORKING ON A PLAN TO
REFINE YOUR PASSION AND PURPOSE.
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ARE YOU READY TO FIRE UP YOUR FAITH?
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Have you written something challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box.
November 13, 2019
How To Celebrate Thanksgiving In The Chaos
I am tempted to cancel Thanksgiving this year. The whole affair just seems like way too much work, and the return on my investment seems way too low. I mean, I cook and clean and set a lovely table, and then people show up and misbehave and make me miserable. Maybe instead of celebrating Thanksgiving this year, I will just go on a cruise and float away from the the chaos.
I toyed with the idea for a whole 10 minutes, and then I remembered escaping from reality is never a healthy decision. Plus, the Holy Spirit also reminded me that I am called to let my little light shine in dark places. Sometimes those dark places are at the dinner table with stuffing and cranberry sauce.
So, in addition to pulling out my sweet potato casserole recipe, I am going to open up my Bible and ask God to help me sweeten up my bad attitude.
How about you? I hope I am not the only one who wants to hide from Thanksgiving. Are you tempted to order take out instead of inviting people to your table?
Maybe like me, you’d like to take an extended break from
Dealing with unhealthy people who use their words like a weapon
Striving to meet exhausting demands and unreasonable commitments
Stuffing your face with food, yet having an empty heart
Overextending yourself and feeling guilty for needing to take a time out
Nursing a grudge instead of nourishing your soul
Right now, I am walking through a chaotic season in my family, and God has been whispering a clear message to my soul: Slow down and seek me.
My circumstances may be out of my control, but my response is not. I can choose to give thanks even in the midst of the crazy.
Here are 5 ways I’m resolving to trust Christ will see me through and help me to celebrate Thanksgiving.
How to Celebrate Thanksgiving in the Chaos
Surrender Your Expectations
Stop mentally replaying that picture perfect portrait of holiday cheer. The people seated at your table will not be fictional characters reading the lines you wrote for them. You are not a puppet master, and your family will not dance to your liking. Real people are imperfect, and you need to be prepared for their humanity. Silence the “shoulds” in your head and stay in tune with the Spirit.
“My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.” (Psalm 62:5, AMPC)
Set Aside Time to Sabbath
Holiday stress will happen, so it’s important for you to cultivate your calendar to make room for rest and renewal. You don’t have to do “all the things” and cram your week so full that you have no room to breathe. The most important “to do” for this season is to be still and know He is God.
“Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.” (Psalm 37:7, AMPC).
Serve Someone in Need
The enemy of our souls wants you to focus on what you are missing this season, but you can circumvent his schemes by giving yourself away. Rolling up your sleeves to help the hurting reminds you how little you truly have to complain about in comparison. As you pour out love to another, God will fill you up with His peace and joy.
“The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.” (Proverbs 11:25, MSG)
Set Healthy Boundaries for a Happy You
Safeguarding your family and your sanity come before fulfilling obligations to unhealthy people who do not respect your personal space. You can love people well without losing your soul by defining your own limits and sticking to them. There is no shame in saying no to someone in order to protect your personal well being.
“Don’t visit your neighbor too often, or he will become tired of you and grow to hate you…Like a tooth that is rotten or a foot that is unsteady, so is relying on a person who can’t be trusted in times of trouble…Like a conquered city with no walls, so is a man who has no self-control. (Proverbs 25:17, 19, 28, VOICE)
Seek to Embrace Grace
Jesus modeled restoration for us, and we are called to be His ambassadors of reconciliation. Believe the best in others and be quick to forgive. His supernatural love will help us cover a multitude of sins.
“How satisfied you are when you demonstrate tender mercy! For tender mercy will be demonstrated to you.” (Matthew 5:7, TPT)
[image error] To help you celebrate Thanksgiving in the chaos, I’ve created a one-page printable for you to count your blessings from A to Z this month. Download a copy and grab a cup of tea. Then, find a quiet spot to sit down for a spell to reflect on how God has shown up for you in unexpected ways this past year. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.
Bonus: I’m also going to count my blessings from A to Z on my Instagram and Facebook for the first 26 days in November, and I’d love for you to join me there and share yours.
We can celebrate Thanksgiving in the chaos by making wise decisions that help us find balance. As we purpose to put the oxygen mask on first, we will overcome all the holiday stress and stay sane. Our attitude of gratitude will help others remember He is God and raise their own hallelujah.
Courageous choices can help you celebrate Thanksgiving in the chaos.
Courageous choices can help you celebrate Thanksgiving in the chaos.
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Let’s chat: What is one way you can celebrate Thanksgiving even when life is chaotic?
Want to figure out how to celebrate Thanksgiving
and get your joy back?
Are you feeling overwhelmed by your commitments and constantly running on empty? CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO HELP YOU develop a plan to Refuel with rest and soul care.
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YOU’LL RECEIVE “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH” AS MY GIFT TO YOU.
YOU’LL ALSO GET ACCESS TO THE PRACTICAL RESOURCES IN OUR PRIVATE FAITH FUEL LIBRARY.
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November 7, 2019
3 Terrific Reasons to Give Thanks during Troubled Times
Right now I feel like a pending monsoon of misery is looming over my life. Severe atmospheric conditions and spiritual warfare are clouding my view of God’s goodness. The enemy of my soul is raining down discouragement. and I am not sure I have an umbrella big enough to protect my heart. I know that Thanksgiving is in just a couple of weeks, and I desperately want to see beyond this downpour and focus on glimmers of hope on the horizon. Even though it’s dark, I want to believe there are still reasons to give thanks during these troubled times.
I know in the depths of my soul that God’s grace is covering me. I want to trust He will protect me and provide everything I need. But it’s hard to wait and believe when I can’t see beyond all this darkness.
I have no idea where you are standing today, but I am guessing that you have experienced some unforeseen rain and rough times, too. Our adversary wants us to believe that the unrelenting rain is never going to end, and that we will drown in the depths of despair. But that is a lie from the pit of hell.
Come what may, God will safeguard us. Our Defender can still the storm with just one word.
If we can just quiet the noise, we will hear our Heavenly Father whispering peace be still over us.
So I want to invite you to join me and sit in a chair by the window to watch God at work. The storm may rage outside, but the Lord of the wind and waves will shelter you and keep you warm.
Pick up a pen and make a list of all the times God has parted the waters and walked you through the onslaught in the past. Don’t let a short season of trouble fill you with fear.
Just in case you are struggling to see the sunshine, here are three reminders that the sunshine of God’s grace never leaves you.
3 Terrific Reasons to Give Thanks During Troubled Times
You have been saved and set free.
Jesus conquered death itself to rescue you, and sin and shame can no longer sweep you away into a pit of despair. The blood of Christ covers you and keeps you safe. Hell has no power to hurt you because of the love of Christ has liberated you.
“Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans He took such delight in making.” (Ephesians 1:7-8, MSG)
You are standing firm and secure.
The Rock of ages undergirds your life and shields you from all opposition. He encircles you with His strength and makes your pathway solid and straight. You can trust God will direct your steps and delight in every detail of your life.
“He stooped down to lift me out of danger from the desolate pit I was in, out of the muddy mess I had fallen into. Now He’s lifted me up into a firm, secure place and steadied me while I walk along His ascending path.” (Psalm 40:2, TPT)
Your steadfast God is seated on the throne sovereign over every circumstance.
The voice of the Lord speaks over the stormy waters. He sits enthroned over the flood, and He continually showers you with His peace and strength. You can come to God’s throne of grace with confidence and find certain help when you most need His care. His Spirit dwells in you, and you cannot be destroyed. The Lord’s purposes for you cannot be thwarted by the temporary troubles of this world.
“God’s heavenly throne is eternal, secure, and strong, and His sovereignty rules the entire universe.” (Psalm 103:19, TPT)
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To help you give thanks during troubled times, I’ve created a one-page printable for you to count your blessings from A to Z this month.
Download a copy and grab a cup of tea. Then, find a quiet spot to sit down for a spell to reflect on how God has shown up for you in unexpected ways this past year.
Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.
Bonus: I’m also going to count my blessings from A to Z on my Instagram and Facebook for the first 26 days in November, and I’d love for you to join me there and share yours.
You can be sure that your God will see you these troubled times. One day, you will stand on the other side of the storm and look back and see His goodness and grace. You can praise Him though the waters rise and trust He will rescue you.
All around you, people will be sinking in despair and wondering how you are still standing. Your life can point to God’s powerful presence and help a lost soul find salvation.
In every season, you have a reason to sing. You can declare God has saved you, given you a firm place to stand and remained steadfast.
During troubled times, you can give thanks because God is trustworthy.
During troubled times, you can give thanks because God is trustworthy.
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Let’s chat: What is one reason you can give thanks this week — even if you are facing troubled times?
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