Have you ever read about Martha in the Bible? I can relate to Martha in so many ways. If I’m totally honest, I am Martha! Maybe you are, too. 

I love reading about Martha and her siblings, Mary and Lazarus! What an incredible “real life” story we have available to us from the books of Luke and John. One of the things I love most that this family was known for is that they were close personal friends of Jesus. He seemed to enjoy spending time with them in their home. Martha hosted Jesus and the disciples on more than one occasion.

So, like any good “Martha” would do when you know that company is coming, you want to make sure the house is clean and smells good and is welcoming. You want to prepare your best meal. You want to make sure to serve that dessert you are famous for! The coffee is always ready and there are several delicious creamers to choose from….am I right? Are you starting to see yourself in this picture at all? 

While there was really nothing wrong with Martha preparing the meal that would be served and making sure her home would be comfortable and welcoming for her guests, she chose to remain busy and in so doing, missed the best part! She forgot to sit and enjoy the presence of her guest. Her dear friend Jesus was in the family room! 

Martha even felt comfortable walking into the room and complaining to Jesus about her sister Mary! (That part is a little amusing, actually.) She needed help in the kitchen and she was hoping to get Jesus to see things her way - maybe even reprimanding Mary for not helping to  prepare and serve the meal. But, that’s not at all what Jesus did. Instead In Luke chapter 10 we read what Jesus did say to her...

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’” 
Luke 10:38-42

In other words, a simple meal would have been fine. There was no need to go to all that extra effort, right? She was so worried about the serving and the perfecting that Martha took her eyes off of her Savior. In the busyness of “doing,” she lost her peace. 

I have to admit that this is me on so many occasions! Maybe you love to entertain, have people over for dinner, or just invite a friend for coffee. Maybe you go a tad bit overboard when you know someone is coming to stay for a few days, driving everyone around you crazy while you’re striving for perfection. You see, Mary chose the “good portion.” She didn’t want to miss anything that Jesus had to say while He was in their home. 

But before we are too harsh on Martha, I think it’s important that we notice something else about her in John, chapter 11: 

“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany; the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ But when Jesus heard it he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” ……. 

Next, we see an amazing statement of faith from Martha...not Mary! 

“Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, although he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’”

Notice that when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she got up and went out to meet Him! Mary, on the other hand, remained in the house in grief. Can’t you just sense Martha’s boldness in this text? “Lord, if you had been here …” 

We often overlook Martha’s faith in the statements she made. She firmly believed that had Jesus been there, her brother would not have died! And yet, in verse 22 note that her faith is still very much alive. “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you”  I love that...an “even now” bold faith. Martha believed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God who had come into the world! Martha’s faith was rewarded that very day as her brother Lazarus was miraculously resurrected from the dead. 

Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus, to listen, and to just lovingly be in His presence. She chose to worship Him. But, I like to think that Martha learned a valuable lesson from her sister and her dear friend Jesus on the day of her service in Luke Chapter 10, too! I believe she learned the balancing of her acts of service with her worship. 

Why do I believe that?  When all seemed lost, we see that Martha trusted her Lord! And she understood who He was. I especially love the way the Passion Translation phrases it in the Book of John. 

“Then Martha replied, “Yes, Lord, I do! I’ve always believed that you are the Anointed One, the Son of God who has come into the world for us!” 

Finally, in John 12, we see Martha serving...the right way. 

“Six days before the Passover began, Jesus went back to Bethany, the town where he raised Lazarus from the dead. They had prepared a supper for Jesus. Martha served, and Lazarus and Mary were among those at the table. Mary picked up an alabaster jar filled with nearly a liter of extremely rare and costly perfume—the purest extract of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet. Then she wiped them dry with her long hair. And the fragrance of the costly oil filled the house.”

Again, Mary was at the feet of Jesus. Martha was serving. But, this time Martha is not complaining or demanding help - she is simply serving her dear friend Jesus! Isn’t it so true when our attitude changes for the better, the very atmosphere around us changes? Martha is such a powerful life lesson. May we too always remember the crucial “balance” of service and worship to our Savior Jesus, The Christ, The Anointed One, The Son of God! 

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.”
Jeremiah‬ ‭17:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Is it just me or does it seem like the most brutal questions you’ll ask yourself start popping up about 0.5 seconds before you fall asleep?

As someone who has struggled with confidence and has confronted serious moments of self-doubt, I’m bombarded with the brutal questions fairly often. “Am I good enough? How could I mess that situation up today? How can they really love me? What if this life just goes away?” The two verses immediately before the verse above in Jeremiah mention what we sign up for when we rely too much on ourselves and put all of our trust there. 

“This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land.”
Jeremiah‬ ‭17:5-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A few nights ago, I was drifting to sleep and the word “confidence” popped into my head. So, I started praying to God about confidence before the questions could start showing up. Following that up with a swift Google search for scriptures on confidence, I found myself studying these verses as God started speaking to me.

He showed me that if our confidence is misplaced, our potential is stunted. And worse than that, when we put our trust in the wrong thing, we set ourselves up to live in a place of death. You see, confidence issues don’t always present themselves the way you expect them to. They can manifest in your thinking too little of yourself or even thinking too much of yourself. 

Whether it’s self-loathing or self-importance, self-degradation or self-inflation, it’s all self, really. If you don’t think you’re good enough or you think you’re too good for something, it’s all based on what you think. It’s putting your word over the Lord’s. 

Can I share one of the most freeing truths in the world if we could just grasp it? What we think about ourselves pales not only in comparison but also in importance to what God thinks and says about us! 

What God showed me is actually what confidence is centered around. Look at the word:  C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-C-E.

The middle two letters are ID: your identity. It’s not our confidence that the enemy calls in to question, but our identity. If we base our identity on our own definitions of success or happiness, it can destroy us. And it’s not just based on who we are, but also in what we do. I’m a drummer. If I base my identity and therefore confidence in my ability as a drummer, what happens when someone better comes along? That one stings because I’ve lived it. I’ve put all of my eggs into a basket that just got tipped over. Or, what if someone is a better speaker than you? Or what if someone has this seemingly natural gift to attract friends? Or what if you’ve been serving your heart out for years on the same serve team or at work and someone comes in for what feels like 3 weeks and is thrusted into leadership?

An identity and confidence based on ourselves lashes out or shuts down. But, an identity and confidence in Christ wants to see glory go to God, not to self. A confident heart rooted in a firm foundation of identity in Christ will see people who could replace them as a reason to party, not panic. This truth can change how we serve one another. Basing our identity in how we see ourselves and what we do can crush us when we fail. God won’t fail. When we base our confidence and identity on God and His word, we will be blessed. 

We will thrive. 

“They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”
Jeremiah‬ ‭17:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Let it work for you.” This was a phrase I heard often from the director of the women’s and children’s ministry that I served at during my internship in bible college. I was a twenty-something with a big heart to serve God combined with a truckload of attitude that had yet to be dealt with. I was working in a ministry whose purpose was to help women who had been caught in the grips of life-controlling behaviors and substance addiction be set free, so they could begin to walk in freedom and be able to be the women God had called them to be. Much of the teaching and training was on heart issues - like pride, envy, jealousy, deceit, anger, rebellion, etc. that lay at the root of their life-controlling problems. 

Our director was a straight shooter. She had a strong Jersey accent and didn’t have time for nonsense. She knew the power that the truth of God’s word held, and she wanted to see it activated in the lives of the women she served and led. She didn’t sugarcoat much and could see through excuses that the ladies made for not making important changes. Newsflash: she was consistent and would shoot straight to the staff and interns as well. Let’s face it, we all have issues and hurts that need to be healed. Some of us, more visible than others, but all of us need healing. I was also a straight shooter, but much of my shooting was through an undisciplined mouth who always had an opinion about everything. (I know, I’m still a work in progress.)

I struggled with God often and the environment of structured rules (because many of these women needed structure) caused my rebellious heart to want to speak out on every issue. I didn’t always use my words, but in my heart I would rage against ‘dumb rules’ and processes that didn’t make sense, seemed outdated, or I thought were irrelevant. I didn’t fully embrace the reality that God was using this time to expose the issues in my own heart. 

In almost every interaction I had with our director, whether it was one-on-one or in a group setting she would say things like: “that’s just your pride,” or “let it work for you” or “it only hurts because your flesh doesn’t want to die.”  I would get so irritated by the trite phrases that felt minimizing to the significant issues my heart would raise. Didn’t she care that changing your life hurt? Where was her compassion for my concerns? 

Hit Fast Forward

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 NLT

I’m now in my forties and if you’d have told me even two years ago that my life would look like it does now, I would laugh at you and say, “NOT A CHANCE!” Nothing in the last several years has turned out like I had planned. My path hasn’t been anything I predicted, and I’m currently doing things I said I would never do. Sure, I could blame it on a global pandemic, if I believed that what we see is all there is, but I believe that God is working something much deeper in my heart. I would guess you believe that as well. 

I have heard the phrase “Paula, let it work for you,” in a thick Jersey accent echo in my heart more times than I can count these last few months. I know that Holy Spirit has brought it back to remembrance because He is reminding me of a truth and promise that He is working all things (even the stuff I hate, would never choose on a normal day, and the disappointments) together for my good.  Good rarely feels good, but it is beneficial. 

I looked up the word “beneficial” and this is what I found: favorable or advantageous; resulting in good.

Resulting in good….meaning the starting point may not be good. The middle may not feel good. However, the end result will be good. This reminds me that we’re in a process of growth. Whether we are starting something new, navigating challenges or needed changes, transitioning from something or facing what seems insurmountable, we can be sure of this: it is working for our good. 

So what is our response? Let it work for you. What seems like it’s working against you, what feels wrong because it hurts, the season you’re in that you hate, LET IT WORK FOR YOU. Ask God what it is that He is trying to remove, resurrect, or begin in you that feels like it is against you. Reaffirm your confidence in Him that He is for you, and then, let Him do his work in you. Embrace it. Trust His process. Let him root out the things in your heart that need to go to make more room for Him.

It’s going to be good. You can trust Him. If nothing else, You will gain more of Him which is the goal anyway. So hear me, in a thick Jersey accent say to your heart, “Friend, let it work for you.”

The moment I sat down, I knew it was a mistake. When they buckled me in, my fears confirmed it! Then I looked at the smiling faces of my son and daughter next to me and knew I could do it. Do what? As the rollercoaster ride began, my heart dropped as I thought about all the things that could go wrong. All the “what ifs” overwhelmed me. What if the seatbelt unlocks and I fall out? Or the track comes apart and we crash? Or a bomb explodes? Obviously, none of it happened. In spite of the twists and turns, ups and down, and screaming (lots of screaming), we stayed on track, finished the ride, and had a blast. 

What unknowns are you facing today? Is it something to do with your health, finances, school or family? Is it the aftermath of a death, a divorce, or a broken heart that just won’t heal? Maybe you just got married or started a new job. Stepping into the unknown is scary, unsettling, and intimidating. It stirs up all kinds of insecurities and inabilities because the unknown is so…well…uncertain, unfamiliar, uncontrollable, unexpected, and uncomfortable. 

The unknown will isolate, manipulate, & dominate your mindset if you let it. It will paralyze you and feed your fears. I’ve learned that the unknown amplifies the why’s, how’s, when’s, and where’s. 

But, the key to conquering our unknowns? It’s in the Who. 

Overcoming the unknown and thriving in your current season is possible when you place your hope in the One who knows all things and can make all things work out. (Romans 8:28) Our trust is not in how it will work out, but in Who has worked it out. 

And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Matthew 14: 25-31

Here we see the disciples in the middle of a storm, weary, scared, and overwhelmed, and they think they see Jesus walking on the water towards them. Peter says, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. [Jesus] said, Come. So, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.” He trusted who more than what. Because Jesus said “Come,” Peter stepped out of the boat, past his unknown, and into the certainty and sovereignty of Jesus. 

Jesus comes to them in their storm. He calms their hearts before He calms their storm. Conquering our unknown comes in capturing the heartbeat of Jesus and trusting him with each step we take. It was walking on the Word from God that made walking on the water even possible. 

Simply put, we must trust the Father and obey what we know. So, what do we know? We know that God tells us to pray, worship, learn, serve, give, forgive, encourage, and love others. God sees the bigger picture, and like Jesus did, He invites us to trust him through the storm. The Bible is full of people who conquered their unknowns by trusting Who and obeying what they know to be true. 

• King Jehoshaphat prayed, “We don’t know what to do but our eyes are on you [Lord],” 2 Chronicles 20:2,12.

• As a teenager exiled and put to work for the king, Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the king’s food and to remain faithful to God’s ways, especially with prayer, Daniel 1:8; 6:13,21.

• Abraham demonstrated unwavering faith when God told him to leave his homeland (not knowing where to go) and that he would be the father of many nations at the age of 100, Romans 4:20. 

• Ruth faced her unknown with a dangerous step of faith in following Naomi back to Jerusalem, Ruth 1:16. 

We could talk about Esther, Joseph and Mary, and Paul, with all their hardships. To add to that, history is replete with more examples of men and women who conquered their unknowns; George Washington Carver, Abraham Lincoln, Amelia Earnhardt, Desmond Doss, Anne Frank, and Dr. Mae Jemison. 

As we each walk into our own unknown, here are some other things that we do know: 

• I will never leave you nor forsake you, Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5. 

• Come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest, Matthew 11:28. 

• And his peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:7. 

• Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it, Philippians 1:6. 

• Do not be weary in doing good, for in due season you will reap a harvest, if you do not give up, Galatians 6:9.

What unknowns are you facing? You can capture the heartbeat of Jesus by trusting and obeying God even in your season of unknown. Your victory is on the other side of your obedience. You’ve come so far, and God has never lost a battle. You don’t have to worry about the unknown when you have a relationship with the One who knows it all. Stop trying to control everything and take the next step with God. Can you hear it? Jesus is calling to you, “Come,” just as you are. 

Recommended listening: As You Are, Life Church 

We live in a time when our thoughts and opinions can be shared throughout the world at a moment’s notice, with little to no accountability. Because of that, it can be easy to forget that we will all have to give an account for every empty word we have ever spoken.

“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” 
Matthew 12:36-37

When I consider the fact that John 1:1 describes Jesus as the Word, it convicts me of how many times I have used my words judgmentally, hastily, sarcastically, and even carelessly.

Some of us spend a lot of time considering the right words to say, the right tone to use, and the right time to speak. God’s Word tells us that it is not only what we say and how we say it that are important. What is equally important is what we choose not to say.

“Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”
Ecclesiastes 5:2

I have often been guilty of being very sarcastic with my words. I have frequently said things without thinking about how another person will perceive it. Unfortunately, that has led me to make some careless statements in haste without genuinely considering how they would be received.

On their own, these statements may seem harmless and well-intentioned:

• God won’t give you more than you can handle.

• God does everything for a reason.

• God is in control.

But to the person who was just diagnosed with cancer...to the person who is planning funeral arrangements for their spouse, child, or parent...to the person who has miscarried for the 3rd time…to the person who has just lost their job…

…these well-intentioned words can be heartbreaking and devastating.

“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Proverbs 12:18

You see, God always speaks purposefully into our lives. He doesn’t waste words or speak without reason. Each and every word in scripture has significance and power. Therefore, we must never underestimate the power of our own words which can be life-draining rather than life-giving.

Because God is our Comforter, and we are created in His image, we naturally have a strong desire to comfort others. For many of us, that comfort involves speaking words of encouragement. However, when people are in the midst of tragedy and experiencing overwhelming pain, it can often be our Spirit-led actions that speak louder than our words.

Jesus used His words to bring life and hope to people. When there were no words to say, Jesus listened. He wept with those who wept, served those who were hungry, ate with those who were rejected and persecuted, and healed those who were broken.

We must follow the example of Jesus. How can you breathe life into the people around you with silence, by ministering with a hug, a listening ear, a helping hand, or simply your reassuring presence?

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 

God speaks to us all in so many ways. He most often speaks to us in prayer and through the reading of his word. But, He can also speak to us through the people He has placed around us in our lives and even through our dreams. Lately, I think my favorite way that God has chosen to speak to me is through my child. He’s taught me lessons through my son that have been life-changing for me, shifting my heart forever. 

Take this Halloween, for instance. While taking my son trick or treating with a group of friends, God spoke clearly to me. As we set off around the neighborhood, he told me adamantly that he did not need me to bring his stroller. I should have used my mother’s intuition and realized that a three-year-old wouldn't be able to keep up with all the others as we walked over two miles. But, I let him convince me that he could be a big boy and hang with the older kids. 

When we were about half way through, he began to get so tired that it caused him to fall behind. He wanted badly to keep up with the older kids but he just couldn’t. I tried to hurry him along so we could catch up, even skipping out on some of the houses along the way to make our way closer to the group. Because of all the rushing, he no longer enjoyed the moment. The joy he had when we were leisurely walking and enjoying our time together was gone because we were trying so hard to keep up with everyone else. It was in that instant that I clearly heard God's voice. 

So many of us do this very same thing in life with the seasons we face. We try to rush through times that might not seem as important as what we think our next season will look like and we don’t enjoy the small things along the way because we are so focused on what’s next. We also battle the mindset of “Keeping up with the Joneses.” God reminded me how we often compare our lives, seasons, or walk with God with other people who surround us because we think our journeys should look exactly the same. But, nothing could be further from the truth. 

As Baxley and I began to slow down again and just enjoy being on the journey together, we laughed so hard that I could see the joy and life brimming out of him once again. Once we made it back to our starting point, all the kids began to compare candy and I noticed that Baxley didn’t have some of the same goody bags as the others. One of the moms described the house they got it from and I realized it was a house we skipped when we were trying to catch up. Because we were trying so hard to keep up with everyone else, we missed out on some of the bigger treat bags. The way we trick-or-treated that night is a great picture of how many of us spend our lives. 

When we try to speed up the season that we are in, we can miss the blessings that God has lined up for us because we are rushing instead of turning our attention to what He is trying to do in our lives. 

As I reflected on our night, it reminded me to choose joy and thankfulness in every season, every situation, and in every circumstance as I look for God and what he is trying to teach me. His timing is perfect, His hand in our lives is perfect, and all we have to do is remain in His will and allow Him to guide every step we take. 

Friends, find a clock. There always seems to be one nearby these days...take note of the time. Write it down. From this point forward, your life will never be the same. I am not here to sell you something or convince you of anything. I just want to shed light on some simple concepts that have changed the way I perceive life. You see, the fact is, our minds, bodies, and souls are constantly changing and it is up to us to decide the direction they will take.

Have you ever heard the saying “You can't teach an old dog new tricks?” This statement implies that, as we age, we lose the ability to gain new skills. But, scientifically that’s just not true. The way that God designed our brains is amazing! They have an awesome ability to create new behaviors at any age. With enough repetition, these behaviors become automatic. Driving, tying your shoes, and riding a bike are examples of complicated behaviors that have become second nature to us because neural pathways have formed around them. In terms of repetition, it is estimated that it takes 10,000 repetitions to master a skill and develop the associated neural pathway and it takes 3–6 months for a new behavior to become a habit. 

Like our brains, the rest of our bodies are constantly changing also. Look at how you have changed over the years. Your body is the sum of food and exercise choices you have made over time. According to Janice Polansky, MS, MBA, food provides us with more than the sum of its nutrients - protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals.  Food is condensed and transformed energy. So every food choice you make has not only impacted you physically, but mentally as well. Think back to a time when you splurged on some dessert after a large meal. In the moment it was great, but afterward you felt stuffed and miserable. At the other end of the spectrum, think to a time when you made an effort to eat healthier and felt great afterwards. The same goes for exercise - the more effort you put in, the better the results will be. We all know exercise and physical activity are great ways to feel better, boost your health and have fun. 

What does all this good information have to do with your faith? It’s just this: your spirituality is tied to your mental and physical health. Most researchers agree that there is a positive relationship between religious and spiritual practices and better health outcomes. In the same way that our food choices, exercise routines, and behaviors affect our bodies, our spiritual practices affect our bodies as well. Neuroscientist Andrew Newberg, MD, says "The more you focus on something — whether that's math or auto racing or football or God — the more that becomes your reality, the more it becomes written into the neural connections of your brain.” 

Feel like you’ve learned something today? Good! There’s a way we Christ followers can apply this in our every day. 

“Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.” 
2 Corinthians 5:17 

What does this verse mean for us? When we make the choice to follow Christ, we not only become a new creation, but the choices and mistakes of our past don’t determine who we are today. This doesn’t mean that the cheeseburger you ate for lunch won't affect your body, or that you will be free of that credit card bill from your retail therapy habit, or that everything in your life will be sparkles and rainbows from now on. But, it does mean that your past sins, your old way of thinking, your old beliefs, are made new in Christ. You are now a son or daughter of the Most High King. You are a part of a larger family, one without race, gender, or social divides. And with that family comes the power to be the person God has called you to be.  

So take this time to make some changes for the good of yourself from this moment forward. Here are some 2021 challenges we could all benefit from:

• Make time for God everyday - go to your secret place and meet with Him.

• Start exercising - aim for 150 minutes a week!

• Choose healthier food - eat more of what God made and less processed food. 

• Expand your mental state - learn at least one thing new every day.  

Just by making small changes daily, over time you will notice a change in your mind, body, and soul. 

Before we can put any of that into practice, there’s one important thing you must do or the rest of your efforts are in vain. If you have not decided to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, find someone to talk to about doing just that. You can email amen@boldcitychurch.com or text “Decision” to 860-850-BOLD to talk to someone at Bold City Church! Make salvation your first change and you’ll never regret it! 

Who else loves road trips? I mean really loves a good, adventurous vacation? I do!

Honestly, it really doesn’t matter to me if I’m headed to a place just two hours from home or setting off on an adventure for ten hours or more, just the thought of getting in a loaded down vehicle with those I love most makes me smile! It gets me excited just thinking about the adventures that await us as we gear up and head out. 

Will we possibly try a new route? Maybe we will miss our exit and discover something new! I know that probably drives some of you crazy, but I love the sense of adventure it brings. Or maybe we’ll be taking the same route as we have many times before and the trip will be a chance to relax as we head to our destination. This time, I might even stop at a new cafe or, my personal favorite, discover a new coffee shop that turns out to be incredible! (I discovered the most delicious cinnamon hazelnut latte you’ll ever have the pleasure of tasting in Beaufort, South Carolina once...but that’s a story for another time.) 

Whether it’s my annual trip up to the Smoky Mountains or just a few days right on the beach a little closer to home, I’m all about the journey. You see, it’s the actual process that gets me to my destination that I love. Don’t get me wrong, we need to get to our destination - without it, we will lose our focus! But, I think more often life is about the journey. 

 “Life is a journey, not a destination.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson 

While our destination is important and the goal of where we are headed, we should remember that joy is found in the journey...breathe in the journey! 

You’ve probably read all the bumper stickers and heard all the quotes...but still it remains true - life itself is a journey. It will be full of encounters, twists and unexpected turns in the road. We’ll face hills and valleys and we may even trip and fall along the way. After all, rarely is this journey called life “easy.” At some points, we may even find our faith challenged. In times like this, there is a verse I’ve often turned to in 1 Peter in The Message translation: 

Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.
1 Peter 1:18-21 MSG 

There is a destination in front of us that is beyond our imagination, that is truly indescribable! But until then, I choose to enjoy this life journey with God. I’ll travel along wherever He leads me, overshadowed by His presence, following his lead, knowing it’s never perfect by any means, but that He establishes my steps. I think back on life and I like to think this path I’ve walked with Him for so many years, this journey I’ve been on, has reaped a bit of a harvest along the way. I’m grateful for all He has led me through and what He will lead me to! 

I think of all the sweet memories I’ve made while on journeys: Maybe we were being silly singing along with whatever is playing on the “Oldies'' station or eating way too many snacks in the car. I think back on the time we were at a rest stop and I met someone new and started chatting about where they were headed as I found out that we have common interests and created an unlikely friendship. (I’m laughing even now as I think about the look on my sister’s face! She is truly embarrassed that I will stop and chat with just about anyone.) I love thinking back on all the wonderful friends and family members that have joined me on so many adventures! Oh what crazy and wonderful times I’ve had. 

When we recognize that our lives are not just a literal journey, but a spiritual one we all must go on, we can see the places God has given us to have influence. When we sow seed into the lives we have influence over on this journey, including those we love and those that we come across along the way, we have an opportunity to share the gospel. In your journey, don’t forget the destination and remember at every stop to be a light that reflects the good and loving Father who set you on your path. And if you think your journey is over, find hope in knowing that the Father can do abundantly more than anything we could ask, think or imagine! Perhaps He’s not finished with you and your journey has only just begun. 

Recommended listening:  “Hills and Valleys” by Tauren Wells 

“So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One. For the “law” of the Spirit of life flowing through the anointing of Jesus has liberated us from the “law” of sin and death. For God achieved what the law was unable to accomplish, because the law was limited by the weakness of human nature. Yet God sent us his Son in human form to identify with human weakness. Clothed with humanity, God’s Son gave his body to be the sin-offering so that God could once and for all condemn the guilt and power of sin. So now every righteous requirement of the law can be fulfilled through the Anointed One living his life in us. And we are free to live, not according to our flesh, but by the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit!”
Romans 8:1-4 TPT 

Your repentance is valid. 

Have you ever felt a condemning voice coming against you in your life? Maybe it was the last time you lost your temper with your kids, got into a fight with your spouse, broke a promise to yourself or someone else, or went back once again to that same old vice you thought you’d finally given up. 

Your repentance is valid. 

You see, to repent is a sincere sign of remorse. But, it’s also so much more than that. It means to walk away from, to turn, to change direction completely. When you become a Christian, this repentance is validated through the life and death of Christ Jesus. When we ask for forgiveness, it is immediately extended to us by our Father in Heaven. Forgiveness from the Father moves faster than the speed of light. It’s why He’s so insistent that we be forgiving, too. 

But, even after we repent and forgiveness is fully given, we still feel...well, bad. Why is that? What is that feeling that makes us feel yet still distant from God if it’s true that He’s already forgiven us the second we thought about true repentance? We feel separated. 

Therein lies our great cosmic conundrum; the mystery of the human condition. Sin separates us from God in His holiness and Satan uses the tool of shame to drive home the point of our ineptitude and all our failures. As the enemy of our souls, he wants us to be in league with him, separated from our Heavenly Father. Luckily, God knew this is where we would find ourselves, so He left us a few reminders just in case (undoubtedly when) we forget. 

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 NLT

Maybe it’s because I’ve always had a penchant for justice (somewhere my Mom has a photo of me on career day in Pre-K in which all the other kids were teachers, firefighters…ya’ know, great, normal jobs for a toddler to be thinking about; I was dressed up like Sandra Day O’Conner) but this verse gives me a vision of Satan and his demons like a team of attorneys with the worst losing record in history. It’s as if they spend all their time in the court of heavenly appeals, to no avail.

You see, against me, God’s child, the CASE IS CLOSED. The second you and I decided to live a life of repentance, we won. It’s like the best plea deal in the universe. As soon as we can come to the end of ourselves and realize our helpless spiritual nature without God, we can admit guilt and walk into unfettered freedom, never looking back. The thing that’s trying to condemn and shame us might as well have never happened. The record of our guilt has been expunged, wiped clean, utterly forgotten. 

The enemy has no standing. His grounds for continuation are unsubstantiated. His objections are overruled. Whatever motion to proceed he might consider filing next already has the stamp of denial on it...because JESUS. 

Best of all, God remembers this. We are the ones who forget who we are and what we’ve won in Christ Jesus. Maybe we’re more like the sheep Jesus often compared us to in Scripture than we realize - forgetful creatures that need a shepherd to guide them to safety, community, and shelter. (John 10:11-15, Matthew 18:12-14) 

I see a picture of Jesus, our Great Shepherd, telling us to turn around, repent, decide to turn the other direction from the sin that seeks to bind us. He’s warning us off, “Don’t walk back into the courtroom, child. I’ve already shown up in your place. You don’t even have to show your face here.” 

Don’t give Satan the dignity of condemning yourself when the priceless, precious, holy blood of Jesus has already covered your conviction. The sentence has been served. 

The tool of the enemy is to tempt you into sin, not to stop there, but to shame you. The very second the act is done - as soon as the fit of rage is over, right after you send the text or close your web browser, the moment the words you would give anything to take back escape your lips - he sends in the demonic forces of shame. 

“I can’t believe you did that. Who says that? What kind of ‘Christian’ are you anyway? Do you even love God? What would the people at your church say if they saw you right now? Best to not even go back. Just. Give. Up.” 

It’s a shame lie. And he does this all the time. Same story, different day. Same tool, different tactics. This lie is meant to trap you in a pattern of sin and self-loathing. But, all the while, Jesus is reminding us, with love in His eyes, that the price has been paid. Simply ask and your repentance validates your acceptance. You are free to go, child. 

As I see this picture more clearly in my mind, I envision the God of Heaven and Earth standing up from His Heavenly judge’s seat in His celestial courts turning to leave because the evidence is clear, as Satan frantically screams “Just one more thing!” But, Jesus steps between them as He joins His Heavenly Father, walking away our Victor, having won the case again. Satan is thrown out of the court and back into the bellows of hell for his contempt, where you and I will not be joining him. Case closed. 

There are many types of boundaries in life - most with a great and specific purpose. For instance, physical boundaries keep our bodies safe and whole, emotional boundaries keep our mind from being overburdened and overwhelmed, and professional boundaries help ensure that we adhere to a moral code without letting our work lives bleed too much into our home lives. But, the thing about the boundaries we create is - they end up defining who we are. They enforce the limits of what we will and will not do and they draw the lines so that others will do the same. 

Have you ever been through a time when it seemed like life was coming at you from all directions and the weight of it could almost crush you? Have you ever felt pulled in so many different directions that, surely, you would just be torn to pieces? Most especially in a season of business, the demands of life can make it seem like you are spiraling through your days completely alone and they often try to pull you from the one person that can provide you the strength and peace you long for - the Holy Spirit.

You see, Jesus himself created boundaries.  He knew that the only way to carry out His purpose was to stay aligned with His Heavenly Father through a personal and consistent relationship. He often got alone to pray (Mark 1:35) and encouraged the disciples to do so as well. (Matthew 6:6) He rested even in the midst of chaos (Mark 4:38) and allowed others to come to Him instead of chasing after them. (John 10:40-41)

What if you could give yourself the gift of setting healthy boundaries this holiday season? A lot of us second guess our boundary setting capabilities. We think...what if I say “No?” What if someone reeaally needs me? What if no one else will do it? 

But, Jesus had far more resting on His shoulders than you or I will ever experience, and yet He set boundaries with joy in His heart, peace in His soul, and a calmness that permeated through Him to those around Him.

Jesus also allowed others to take part in their own healing - a great example to us that we can equip those around us, but they too must do their part. In John chapter 9, we encounter a blind man who must venture to the pool of Siloam where he was to wash the mud from his eyes. (John 9:5-7) Jesus didn’t actually wash the man’s eyes for him. He simply instructed him what to do and the rest was up to the man.

You might be struggling with saying “no” today, but I would encourage you to reframe your thinking. What if instead, you said “yes” to freedom from being at the mercy of others? What if you had time to be listening and available when the Holy Spirit urges you to move? What if, by not doing something, you give someone else the opportunity to walk in what God is calling them to do?

When we understand who we are in Christ and Him alone, we can begin to understand that our identity is not determined by how much we do, how many people we help, or how successful we are in our careers. Placing Godly boundaries in our life doesn’t limit us at all, but setting boundaries actually brings us closer in relationship with the One who most deeply desires us.