Don’t Play The Shame Game
Genesis 3:7-11
⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
⁸ Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
¹⁰ He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”¹¹ And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
Romans 8:28
²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.
Isaiah 61:1
61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,^[a]

I have titled today’s blog, “Don’t Play the Shame Game,” because shame is one of the main tools that Satan uses to shut us down.  If he can make you feel guilt or shame, he knows that he can control and manipulate your thoughts and your actions.  Shame is simply another trap to hold you in bondage, even longer than the incident that brought you to that point in the first place. 

Recently I read an article, and the author expressed their fear of sharing that they had been having suicidal thoughts.  They expressed that God had delivered them from these thoughts, but they were still hesitant to share with others what they had been going through.  This broke my heart!  To have lost hope to the point that they were having these thoughts in the first place had to have been difficult enough.  I would imagine the feelings of shame that come with this, making it even more difficult to open up and share. 

I can assure you that if you are allowing shame to hold you, hostage, today; there is someone else that has been through what you are going through. You are not alone. There is nothing new under the sun. Do not allow Satan to make you think that you are alone, and do not allow him to isolate you. 

When I was sixteen years old, I was the victim of attempted date rape.  Praise God I was able to fight the guy off and escape.  I literally ran for my life, with him chasing me through a college campus.  Boy did the shame and embarrassment set in.  What would people think if I shared this?  Would they think that I had poor judgment in selecting a boyfriend?   What would my dad do to this person if I dared to tell my parents?  All sorts of thoughts ran through my head. All of a sudden, I was protecting the perpetrator.  What was I thinking?  I did not know it at sixteen, but these were all tricks of Satan.  I carried that secret until I was an adult, and why?  Because of the shame and embarrassment attached to it.

What I have come to realize is that, where there is a shame, sin is always attached.   Somewhere and somehow, Satan is involved.   Shame was first seen in the garden after Adam and Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit.  Satan had tempted them into doing something that God had asked them not to do, and then he slithered away leaving his victims in shame. Genesis 3:7-11.   This is the same thing that Satan the perpetrator does to us; he tempts us, violates us with his lies, and then leaves us, his victims in shame.

Remember this, Romans 8: 28 says that God can work good from all situations.   When God allows you to go through something and He gets you safely on the other side of it, I truly believe it is to be shared.  It is an experience that now has become your story for ministry purposes, to help someone else through their journey.  Please don’t let people think that they are alone. Share your story.  You see your story is not about you, it is about God, and His power to free us all from the bondage of Satan’s grip on our lives.  Satan comes to rob, kill, steal and destroy.  Jesus came to give life and to give it more abundantly and to free the captive.  God gives life and Satan takes life.

Be like the woman at the well.  I feel sure that she felt some shame when Jesus told her how many husbands she had, but she was willing to run and share all that Jesus had told her.  She shares with others of her encounter with Jesus.  John 4:39-42.  Instead of surrendering to shame, share with others how the power of God showed up and rescued you. You are no longer captive, you have been set FREE.

John 4:39-42
³⁹ Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” ⁴⁰ So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. ⁴¹ And because of his words many more became believers.
⁴² They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

Have You Set your Goals Yet?

 Proverbs 16:3
³ Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
Proverbs 21:5
⁵ The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Psalm 20:4
⁴ May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

Today as I write this, we are almost one week into the New Year.  The excitement of Christmas seems to bring an energy that I have to actually wind down from each year.  To be honest, I am just now getting to the point that my house and my life are quiet enough to hear God’s voice.  I really have to get quiet and listen for the direction that He desires for me to go.  

This is the time of year that I like to take a couple of quiet days and evaluate how my life is going.  I like to check in spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially and just assess where I am.  

 I have found that if I don’t check in with myself,  it is easy to get complacent in certain areas.  My goal is always to grow and to improve in every area of my life, and I hope that is your goal also.

So may I as ask, have you set your goals for the New Year?  Don’t wait too long to set your goals and write out your plans.  Before you know it, the first month of the year will be over.  Remember, your goals must be written down.  Be sure that you write down a date as to when they will be achieved by.   If it is not written down with a date, it is only a dream.   

When you pray about your goals, be totally open to what God may want to do through you this year.  Don’t limit Him.  Give Him room to work mightily in your life. Only He knows the awesome plans that He has for you this year. It is ok for us to have desires and plans, but remember God’s plans always supersedes our plans.  His ways are higher than ours and He always knows what is best.  So if the year doesn’t go exactly how you planned know that God can see farther down the road than we can.  Trust His wisdom and His timing, for He knows that plans the He has for you.

Jeremiah 29:11
¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Proverbs 16:9
⁹ In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

A Pandemic New Year

Proverbs 16:3
³ Before you do anything, put your trust totally in God and not in yourself.^[a]  Then every plan you make will succeed.
Psalm 37:5
⁵ Commit everything you do to the Lord.  Trust him, and he will help you.

As I sit and write today, it’s a couple of days before New Year’s Day 2022.   Who would have ever thought at this time a year ago, that we would still be reeling from the effects of Covid, and now the new Omicron virus?

Because our world is still in a pandemic, New Year’s celebrations for many will look different again this year.  It will be much quieter than years past I am sure.

Keeping this in mind, I would like for you, not to focus on what you can’t do this New Year’s.  But instead focus on how blessed you are to still be here, and here in your right mind at that.   Take this opportunity to enjoy a quiet relaxing day.  Start by thanking and praising God, for allowing you to witness another New Year roll in.  Remember thousands didn’t make it.   Consider yourself truly blessed, and approach our King with a grateful heart.  God loves it when we express our gratitude to Him.

This is a great time to sit and write some of your thoughts down and to pray and ask God for protection, provision, and guidance for the coming year.  It is also a great time to consult with God, about the dreams that he has placed in your heart.   Get still and listen for his sweet but powerful voice.   As you wait in stillness, you will start to realize what your goals should be for the New Year.  Stay encouraged, knowing that if you are still here, He still has a purpose for your life.  Listen for your assignment, and surrender to His holy and perfect will.  When you do this and move in obedience to all that He will ask of you, you can absolutely count on having a great year.

Will you be without difficulties or challenges this year?  No, you won’t be.  You will absolutely experience some of both.  But when you are surrendered to God, even during your difficult times, you can have a life that is peaceful.   Make your first commitment of the New Year, to serve God no matter what.  By doing so, you will reap rewards that you could not have ever imagined.

 My prayer is that you are simply blessed beyond measure in 2022 and that you look for, and see God’s hands working in all that you experience in the coming year.  Whether good or bad, I pray that you will choose to believe, that He will work out all things that happen to you, this year for your good.   And trust and believe that He loves you deeper and wider than you will ever know.

May God bless you with the happiest of New Year’s, and may you be safe at every turn!

Psalm 90:17
¹⁷ And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful.
    Yes, make our efforts successful!

Nuggets From 2021 And Preparation For 2022

WOW! Can you believe that another year is quickly coming to an end?  It seems that by the time I get used to writing the correct year on my paperwork, it’s time to start over again.  It makes me wonder where on earth the time is going.

Today I just want you to take a few moments and reflect back on this past year.  I would like for you to ask yourself a few questions (Basically this could be considered as a self-evaluation).  Be willing to take a look at the good the bad and the ugly that have happened in the last twelve months and be gut-level honest with your answers.  Hopefully, this will help you to assess what you would like to happen differently in your life in 2022.  Most importantly pray and ask God for wisdom for each new day that He blesses you with.

 1.  What are the things that you are grateful for that happened in 2021?
 2.  As you look back on this past year, what things would you have done differently in 2021?
 3.  What things are you eagerly looking forward to in 2022?
 4.  Was there a time during this past year that you know for a fact, that had it not been for God’s intervention you would not have made it?
 5. What are you thankful for that God did not allow to happen?
 6.  What are the life lessons or nuggets that God revealed to you in 2021?
7.  What are you willing to commit to doing each day in 2022 that will help you to grow closer to God in the New Year?8.  What are the areas that you have found it hard to be obedient in?
9. What is your personal struggle?
10. What do you feel God is calling you to do in 2022?

May God richly bless you as you say goodbye to 2021 and hello to 2022.

The Blessings Of Christ Birth
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, I would like to share just a few of the blessings that came with His birth.   I thought of five wonderful blessings right away, and they are Love, Joy, Hope, Peace, and Forgiveness.
These are the things that really make His birth special.

God unselfishly sent His son, to sacrifice His life, so that we would have all of these things made available to us. All he asks is that we believe upon son Jesus Christ, and accept Him as our Lord and Savior.

So this Christmas as you sit and open your gifts with family and friends, think of Him, the ultimate gift.  When you gather to eat your Christmas meal, remember that He came into this world, that you may have life, and have it more abundantly.  What more could we ask for?

 What has His love, joy, hope, peace, and forgiveness meant to you personally?  I want to encourage you to take a few minutes on Christmas Day and write down what these five things have meant to you personally.  It is a great way to spend time with God, by reflecting on the joys of being a Christian.  It is also a great way to remember just how special His birth is to you.  The blessings of His birth are not just experienced on Christmas Day, but every day.  It is definitely the gift that keeps on giving.   Yes, every single day we are impacted by His love, joy, hope, peace, and His forgiveness.   So no matter what happens in your life, remember you are still blessed beyond measure.  Only God could provide these wonderful blessings that continue to give.

I hope that you have a Merry Christmas!   May God continue to richly bless you, as you experience daily the evidence of His love for you.  Remember, there is no greater gift!

The Blessings Of Christ Birth
Love
 John 3:16
¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
1st John 4: 9-11
⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Romans 8: 37-39
³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 2: 4-5
⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Psalms 136: 26
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Joy
1st Peter 1:7-9
⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Nehemiah 8:10
¹⁰ Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is with you,  the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you; in his love, he will no longer rebuke you,  but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Hope
 For the present and the future.
1st Peter 1:13
¹³ Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.
Colossians 1:27
²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Psalm 33:18
²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Ephesians 1:18
¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

Peace
Ephesians 2:14-18
¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
John 16:33
³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Psalm 4:8
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Isaiah 55:5
Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.”
John 14:27
²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Forgiveness
Isaiah 43:25
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake and remembers your sins no more.
1st John 1:9
⁹   If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Ephesians 4:32
³²   Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Jeremiah 31:34
No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
Ephesians 1: 7
⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
Psalm 103:12
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Christmas Nest Feathering

This is the time of year when most women are really gearing up to feather their nest for Christmas.   Some already have their Christmas trees up, and beautifully decorated.   The Christmas lights have been hung inside and out, and their Christmas stockings are hanging from the mantel.  Their candy dishes are full, and the gifts are wrapped and embellished with large pretty bows. The only thing left to do is to decide the Christmas Dinner menu.

For others, however, all of this Christmas feathering is a bit overwhelming, and it may cause some serious stress and anxiety. If that is the case for you, I want to encourage you to take a minute and just breathe.  Sit down and make a list of all the things that you need to do.   Then do those things at the pace that makes you feel comfortable, and that is best for you and your family. 

Don’t get so caught up in the Christmas shopping and baking, that you forget to get still and spend a few moments with God each day.  Even on your most hectic day, your time with God will calm you down and keep you centered on what’s really important. It will help you not be so stressed out, and you will have more clarity to move forward with your Christmas plan.

Also, another thing that helps you feel better this season is to focus on someone besides yourself.  Who do you know that could use some Christmas joy this season?   There are opportunities all around us to bless others. When we bless others, we ourselves are encouraged, and things in our life won’t seem quite so bad after all.

Remember the real joy of Christmas is Jesus.   Everything else comes in a very distant second third or fourth after Him.   So don’t get too caught up, in the hustle and bustle of the season that you forget that Jesus really is the reason for this season.  Have a Merry Christmas, and enjoy your time celebrating the birth of Jesus with family and friends.

Oh Let Us Give Thanks Unto The Lord

Psalm 95:2
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
Psalm 86:12
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.
Psalm 69:30
I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 106:1
Praise the Lord.^[a] Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 107:21
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
1st Timothy 4:4-5
⁴ For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
Hebrews 13:15
¹⁵ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
Philippians 4:6
⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
1st Thessalonians 5:18
⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Colossians 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
Psalm 92:1-2
 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.
² It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening,
Psalm 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
Psalm 86:12
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.
Psalm 69:30
I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 106:1
Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 107:21
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
1st Timothy 4:4-5
⁴ For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
Hebrews 13:15
¹⁵ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
Philippians 4:6
⁶  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
1st Thessalonians 5:18
⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Colossians 3:16
¹⁶ Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
Psalm 92:1-2
 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.
² It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening,
Psalm 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

1 Chronicles 29:13
¹³ Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
Psalm 107:8-9
⁸ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
⁹ for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
1 Chronicles 16:34
³⁴ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 69:30
³⁰ I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 100:4
⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

November is one of my favorite months of the year.   Not only is it the month that we celebrate Thanksgiving, but it its also the month in which the Holiday Season starts.  I love the family gatherings, and of course, the food is wonderful too!  What I really enjoy is hearing what others are grateful for this time of year.  More so than ever, it seems that this is when most people hit pause, and really think about how blessed they are.